Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for April 25, 2025

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Andor and Star Wars in general, Star Trek in general, the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general, news from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general, season 7 of Black Mirror, season 2 of  The Last of Us, season 3 of The Wheel of Time,, Sinners, Doctor Who past, present and future, Fréwaka, Until Dawn, The Legend of Ochi, The Ugly Stepsister,, tributes to Damien Broderick and David Schleinkofer and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Heloise Wood talks about new trends in horror fiction.
• Olivia Waite talks about teatime in space, culture and colonialism in SFF
  
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction works about unlikely global superpowers 
• Jeff Somers shares thirteen books set in magical houses. 
• Ratika Deshpande shares five SFF stories to tell around a fire.
  
• Alex Gonzales declares that extreme horror has its place, because the world is horrible. 
• Bobby Derie takes a look at the early work of C.L. Moore, before she made her professional pulp debut. 
• Andrew Rossi profiles science fiction and screenwriter George Clayton Johnson. 
• Paperback Warrior shares an overview over the work of crime fiction, science fiction and western pulp author Kendell Foster Crossen  
  
• Lila Shapiro reports that Neil Gaiman is sueing Caroline Wallner, who accused him of sexual assault, for 500000 US-dollars for allegedly breaking a non-disclosure agreement. 
• Vampire fiction author Nancy Kilpatrick has died aged 78.
  

 

Tributes to Damien Broderick:

• Australian science fiction writer, critic and scholar Damien Broderick has died aged 80.
• Rich Horton remembers Damien Broderick.
  

 

Tributes to David Schleinkofer: 

• Science fiction artist David Schleinkofer, best known for his Transformers and Battlestar Galactica artwork, has died aged 74. 
• John Freeman remembers David Schleinkofer.
  

Comics and Art:

• Steven Heller profiles Frank Frazetta.
• Bradley Powers interviews artist Yorgos Cotronis
  
• Katy McAfee reports that a propane gas leak caused the explosion of artist Sara Felix's house in Austin, Texas. 
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about Dan Brown messing up an Easter Egg hunt, 

 

 Film and TV:  

• Jenna Scherer calls Shatter Belt Black Mirror meets The Twilight Zone  
• Alex Lei declares that David Cronenberg goes back to his science fiction roots with The Shrouds 
• Cheryl Eddy calls the Vietnamese vampire movie Daydreamers a blood-soaked guilty pleasure
  
• Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on The Day the Earth Blew Up
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Surrealestate.
• Catherine Bray calls Goldbeak an animated tale strangely reminiscent of Jonathan Livingston Seagull
  
• Writers of the Guardian share their favourite movie Easter eggs. 
• Jacob Oller lists eleven live-action video game movies that were never going to work
• Rai Furniss-Greasley revisits the 1979 science fiction horror film Alien.
  
• Steve Vertlieb revisits the 1980 time travel romance Somewhere in Time.
  
• Paul F. Verhoeven revisits the 1984 science fiction film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension?
  
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1996 Babylon 5 episode “Dust to Dust”  
• Emma Cole takes a look at the gothic horror films of the 1990s.
• Ben Beaumont-Thomas reports that the song "Steve’s Lava Chicken" from A Minecraft Movie, which is only 34 seconds long, became the shortest song ever to hit the UK Top 40.
  
• Andrew Pulver reports that Ben Affleck hated wearing the Batman suit, because it was very hot and uncomfortable.
• Catherine Shoard reports that the Actors Guild of Nigeria calls for better regulations after two actors died while filming.
• Catherine Shoard reports that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has called going to the cinema outmoded and claims that audiences want to watch movies at home right away. 
  
• Ryan Gilbey shares an obituary for Ted Kotcheff. 
  

 

Comments on the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general:

• Joe George declares that Daredevil: Born Again offers a much-needed corrective to relentless copaganda
• Ben Child shares some speculations about Fantastic Four: First Steps.
• Sydney Bucksbaum interviews Julia Garner who plays Shalla-Bal a.k.a. the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: First Steps.
  

 

Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:

• David Brooke interviews artist Freddie E. Williams II and editor Brett Israel about the Turtles of Grayskull comic mini-series.
• Dad-at-Arms interviews artist Freddie E. Williams II and writer Tim Seeley about the Turtles of Grayskull comic mini-series.
  
• Dad-at-Arms and Adam McComb talk about the Masters of the Universe Golden Books from the 1980s.
  

 

Comments on Andor and Star Wars in general: 

• Justin Carter shares early reactions to season 2 of Andor.
• Jack Seale calls season 2 of Andor as thrilling as ever (and funnier too)
• Sabina Graves declares that season 2 of Andor proves Star Wars stories remain essential and timely
• Garrett Martin declares that Andor soars with a confident second season
• Chris M. Barkley shares his appreciation for season 1 of Andor and his anticipation for season 2. 
• William Hughes shares his thoughts on the first episode of season 2 of Andor. 
• William Hughes shares his thoughts on the second episode of season 2 of Andor. 
• William Hughes shares his thoughts on the third episode of season 2 of Andor. 
  
• Sabina Graves shares her thoughts on the first three episodes of season 2 of Andor. 
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on the first three episodes of season 2 of Andor. 
  
• Gita Jackson notes that even though Star Wars has always been political, watching Andor is no substitute for actual resistance. 
• James Whitbrook discusses the importance of the wedding dance scene in episode 3 of season 2 of Andor. 
• James Hibberd interviews Tiny Gilroy, showrunner of Andor.
  
• Walter Marsh interviews Genevieve O'Reilly who plays Mon Mothma in Andor, Rogue One and the Star Wars prequel trilogy. 
• Sabina Graves interviews Genevieve O'Reilly and Tony Gilroy, showrunner of Andor.
  
• Tara Bennett interviews John Gilroy, executive producer and series editor of Andor.
  
• Anthony Lund reports that Lucasfilm has finally acknowledged the 2012 animated series Star Wars: Detours, which has never been shown, even though there are 39 completed episodes. 
• Watch a trailer for Volume 3 of Star Wars Visions.
  

 

 Comments on season 3 of The Wheel of Time:  

• Melody McCune interviews Davina Lamont and Sharon Gilham, hair and make-up and costume designer on The Wheel of Time.
• Melody McCune interviews Robert Strange who plays an Eelfinn in The Wheel of Time.

 

Comments on Star Trek in general: 

• Avery Kaplan takes a look at the cat-like Caitians in various Star Trek episodes.
• Ben Weiss reports about a case where a woman's job application was rejected, because she mentioned being a Star Trek fan in the job interview.  
• Watch a mash-up of Star Trek Strange New Worlds and Spongebob Squarepants.
  

 

 Comments on season 2 of The Last of Us (spoilers):

• Caroline Siede shares her thoughts on “Through The Valley” , the latest episode of The Last of Us.
• Molly Templeton shares her thoughts on “Through The Valley” , the latest episode of The Last of Us.
• Graeme Virtue shares his thoughts “Through The Valley” , the latest episode of The Last of Us.   
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts “Through The Valley” , the latest episode of The Last of Us.   
• Katcy Stephan interviews Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman, creators and showrunners of The Last of Us.
  
• Tim Lewis interviews Bella Ramsey who plays Ellie in The Last of Us.
• James Hibberd also interviews Bella Ramsey.
• Nick Romano explains how a certain shocking scene in the latest episode of The Last of Us came to be. 
• Stuart Heritage calls a certain shocking death in the latest episode of The Last of Us a masterpiece.
• Watch a behind the scenes documentary about "Through the Valley, the latest episode of The Last of Us.
  

 

Comments on Black Mirror:

• Ann Michelle Harris declares that season 7 of Black Mirror offers strong acting and innovative stories explore our difficult relationship with technology
  
• Keith Stuart notes how the Black Mirror episode "Plaything" was inspired by Charlie Brooker's time as a games journalist for the magazine PCZone in the 1990s.

 

Comments on Doctor Who past, present and future: 

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
  
• Grant Watson shares his thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Martin Belam shares his thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Isobel Lewis shares her thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
  
• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Melody McCune shares her favourite Easter eggs in "Lux".
  
• Hannah Al-Othman reports that showrunner Russell T. Davies responds to complaints that Doctor Who has become "too woke".
• Jessica Holmes revisits the 1970 Doctor Who serial "Ambassadors of Death".
  

 

Comments on Sinners:

• Leah Schnellbach calls Sinners an instant horror classic and modern masterpiece
• Wendy Ide calls Sinners a phenomenal-looking, blues-infused supernatural tale 
• Andrew Lawrence calls Sinners a horror film about the highs and lows of the Black experience  
• Justin Carter declares that in Sinners, honesty leads to freedom  
• C.T. Phipps calls Sinners incredibly good on every conceivable level with something meaningful to say. 
• Jesse Hassenger declares that Sinners combines genres to come up with something wholly original and fascinatingly complex
  
• Nick Romano talks about the post-credits scene of Sinners.
• Sabina Graves reports that Sinners had a very good opening weekend for an original movie and that director Ryan Coogler has thanked the audience. 
  
• Raquel Harris reports that various actors and directors have criticised Variety for downplaying Sinners' good opening weekend. 
• Craig D. Lindsey notes that the media downplaying Sinners' good opening weekend by noting that it still hasn't made back its budget shows how movies by black filmmakers are treated differently.
  

 

Comments on The Legend of Ochi:

• Jesse Hassenger calls The Legend of Ochi a 1980s throwback family fantasy movie. 
  
• Andy Crump declares that The Legend of Ochi‘s rich design props up its divided narrative
• Lyvie Scott interviews William Defoe, one of the stars of  The Legend of Ochi 

 

 Comments on The Ugly Stepsister:

• Peter Bradshaw calls The Ugly Stepsister an ingenious body-horror take on Cinderella 
• Jacob Oller calls The Ugly Stepsister an impressively nasty body horror film. 
  
• Matt Schimkowitz interviews Emilie Blichfeldt, director of The Ugly Stepsister.

 

Comments on Fréwaka: 

• Jim Vorel declares that the mystical Irish folk horror film Fréwaka weaves an unnerving spell.
• Cheryl Eddy calls Fréwaka, a dread-infused folk-horror narrative that’s one of the first Irish-language horror films. 
  

 

Comments on Until Dawn: 

• Benjamin Lee calls Until Dawn an efficient, if unscary horror video game adaptation.  
• Jacob Oller calls Until Dawn aa parade of endless empty horror clichés
• Jesse Hassenger declares that Until Dawn cleverly adapts a videogame, but then outplays its welcome
  

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2025 BSFA Awards have been announced.
  
• The winners of the 2025 Philip K. Dick Award have been announced.
• The winners of the 2025 Sir Julius Vogel Awards have been announced.  
• The recipient of the 2025 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award has been announced.
  
• The finalists for the 2025 Colorado Book Awards have been announced.
  
• The winner of the 2024 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize have been announced
• The 2025 Filk Hall of Fame Inductees have been announced.
  
• Voting for the 2025 Hugo Awards is now open. 
• File 770 lists the contents of the 2025 Hugo voter packet.
  
• Nicholas Whyte takes a look at withdrawals and disqualifications from the Hugo ballot. 
• Brooks Barnes reports about new Oscar rules, including about the use of AI. 
  

 

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Art Bell talks about building suspense in nonfiction narratives 
• The SFWA alerts writers to problematic clauses in the contracts of Asimov's, Analog, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. 
• Melina Spanoudi reports that the British MPs argue that the proposed AI text and data-mining exemption to British copyright law lacks effective an ‘opt-out’
• Ella Creamer reports that UK publishers and authors propose a collective licence to make sure writer get paid when their books are used to train AI.
  
• BBC Witness History discusses the origin of World Book Day.
  
• Susan Wise Bauer reports that her longtime US-based printer dumped her small press Well-Trained Mind Press, because Penguin Random House is moving its printing operations from China to the US in response to the Trump government's tariffs.

 

Interviews:

• Marissa Van Uden interviews Ai Jiang.
• Christina Orlando interviews Erin Morgenstern. 
• Alex Puncekar interviews Nat Cassidy.
  

 

Reviews:

• Runalong the Shelves reviews Rabbit In The Moon by Fiona Moore
  
• Adrienne Martini reviews When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
  
• Clara Cohen reviews If Stars are Lit by Sara K. Ellis  
• Natalie Zutter reviews The Sea Eternal by Emery Robin
  
• Camestros Felapton reviews Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead 
• Adam Roberts reviews Luminous by Silvia Park  
• Chris Kluwe reviews Luminous by Silvia Park  
  
• Alexandra Pierce reviews Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi 
• Leah Ning reviews One Level Down by Mary G. Thompson.
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman 
• Rai Furniss-Greasley reviews The Exile by Ryan Cahill
  
• Marlene Harris reviews A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J. Penner 
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Summoned to the Wilds by A.K. Caggiano 
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews A Song of Legends Lost by M.H. Ayinde
• Bill Capossere reviews The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence 
• Leah Ning reviews A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang.
• Rob Bedford reviews The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig.
  
• Paul Weimer reviews The Estate by Sarah Jost
  
• Z.B. Steele reviews The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
• Liz Bourke reviews Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin 
  
• Marion Deeds reviews Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
• Colleen Mondor reviews Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill
  
• Marlene Harris reviews A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett 
• Paul Weimer reviews Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay.
  
• Fiona Denton reviews Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu 
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews Dance With Me by Livia J. Elliot
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews Don’t Sleep With the Dead by Nghi Vo
• Rob Bedford reviews When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy.
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh 
• Maya Gittelman reviews Hungerstone by Kat Dunn.
  
• Camestros Felapton reviews The Politically Incorrect Guide to Science Fiction & Fantasy by D.J. Butler.
   
  

 Classics reviews:

• Sam Reader revisits the 1895 weird horror story “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers
• Brian Collins revisits the 1932 horror novella “Wolves of Darkness” by Jack Williamson
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1936 Conan sword and sorcery novella "Red Nails by Robert E. Howard. 
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1950 science fiction story “The Listening Child” by Margaret St. Clair 
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1951 science fiction story “Brightness Falls from the Air” by Margaret St. Clair
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1966 science fiction novel The Doomsday Planet by Harl Vincent.
• Gideon Marcus revisits the May 1970 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction,
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1978 weird fiction collection Half in Shadow by Mary Elizabeth Counselman 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1992 near future science fiction novel Correspondence by Sue Thomas
  
  

 Con and event reports:

• James Bacon calls for solidarity with the comittee and volunteers of the 2025 Worldcon in Seattle, Washington, and the 2026 Worldcon in Anaheim, California, in the face of the actions of the Trump government.
• S.J. Groenewegen shares their experiences at Reconnect, the 2025 Eastercon in Belfast, UK. 
• Octothorpe share their experiences at Reconnect.
  
• Mike Glyer reports that the sites for the 2026 and 2027 Eastercons have been selected. 
• Justin Carter shares a round-up of news from the 2025 Star Wars Celebration in Chiba City, Japan.
  
• Decca Muldowney reports about the rise of fantasy balls, where fans of romantasy books can dance and interact with actors portraying characters from the novels.  
• Andrew Kersey reports about a panel discussion on the subject " Octavia E. Butler’s Seeds of Change" at the Huntington Library and Museum in San Marino, California.
• Sinèad Campbell reports about a new wave of literary events and live readings in the UK. 
• Watch a video about a discussion of religion in SFF at the Chicago Public Library in Chicago, Illinois, featuring N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Nghi Vo and Matthew Kirby
• John Freeman reports about the “Building Bigger Worlds” exhibition in London, UK, featuring the science fiction art of John R. Mullaney 
• Scott Roxborough shares the full line-up of the Annecy International Animation Festival in Annecy, France.
  
• Sabina Graves discusses the line-up of the Annecy International Animation Festival in Annecy, France.
  

 

Crowdfunding:

• The Adventures of Lion Man, a comic by John Jennings and Damian Duffy, Bill Campbell, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu and David Brame, which stars the first black superhero, is looking for funding.

 

Science and technology:

• Robin McKee reports that samples taken from the asteroid Bennu suggest that life may have arrived on Earth via an asteroid strike. 
  
• Miles Klee reports that even Katy Perry's fans are not impressed by her twelve minute spaceflight.
• Ian Sample reports that scientists claim to have found a colour no one has seen before. 
• Michelle Valles and Génesis Miranda Miramontes report that robot-operated convenience stores have opened in Glendale, California.    
• Dr. Lourdes Bobbio talks about innovations in metallurgy for science fiction
  
• John Anthony Disotto reports that OpenAI is annoyed that ChatGPT users are costing them money by thanking the AI large language models.
  
• Isaac Schultz reports how a fake scientific term created by a scanning error has been adopted by AI. 
• Julia Jacobo reports that geoscientists have discovered a magma cap at Yellowstone National Park that is likely playing a critical role in preventing a massive eruption in one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world.
  
• Lucas Reilly shares photos of the world's largest beaver dam in Alberta, Canada.
  
• Kaye Dee reports about the Apollo 13 emergency in 1970.
  
• Maureen Cavanagh reports that the ashes of space travel pioneer Willy Ley were found in a basement in Manhattan and about the decision what to do with them. 
• CaLea Johnson lists the ten US states most likely to survive an alien invasion.
  

 

Gaming: 

• Haley Zapal reviews Assassin's Creed Shadows
  
• Ynes Sarah Filleul reports about the popularity of so-called Ojisan trading card games featuring ordinary middle-aged men in Japan.

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Two Mattel designers explain how they created the Masters of the Universe Origins Necro-Conda action figure.
• Justin Carter shares a look at some upcoming Hasbro Star Wars Black Series and Vintage Collection action figures.  
• Watch "Horde Invasion", a stop motion animated short film featuring Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection action figures.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "Two Great Thinkers Discuss the Post-Apocalyptic Condition" by David McGillveray in Interzone.
  
• "Shield of the Glasslaw" by Isobel Mackenzie in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
• "The Island with the Animals" by Stephanie Malia Morris in Uncanny Magazine 
  
• "The Other River" by Jon Lasser in Lightspeed. 
  
• "TALK: “The Siren Song of the Otherworld Goggles” by Dominica Phetteplace in Lightspeed. 
  
• "Praise Song for the God of Restless Hands" by Phoenix Alexander in The Dark. 
• "Nian: A New Year Story" by Leeyee Lim in Strange Horizons.
  
• "In My Country" by Thomas Ha in Clarkesworld.
  
• "As It Comes" by Derek Alan Jones in Apex Magazine.
  
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for season 2 of Wednesday. 
• Watch a trailer for volume 4 of Love, Death + Robots.
  
• Watch a trailer for Predator: Badlands.
• Watch a trailer for Fountain of Youth.
  
• Watch a trailer for The Toxic Avenger.
• Watch another trailer for The Toxic Avenger.
• Watch a trailer for HIM. 
• Watch a trailer for the new I Know What You Did Last Summer.
  
• Watch a trailer for season 8 of Rick and Morty.

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for April 18, 2025

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Star Wars in general, Star Trek in general, Daredevil: Born Again and the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general, news from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general, season 7 of Black Mirror, season 2 of  The Last of Us, season 3 of The Wheel of Time, season 3 of Yellowjackets, Sinners, Doctor Who past, present and future, A Mincraft Movie, tributes to Mario Vargas Llosa, Ted Kotcheff and Jean Marsh and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Lisa Tuttle shares her favourite recent science fiction, fantasy and horror books.
• Alex Brown shares their favourite speculative short fiction for March 2025.
  
• Cole Rush shares his favourite barbarian and bard pairings in fantasy.
  
• Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu talks about African gothic fiction. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction books featuring world-changing visionaries. 
• Nat Cassidy lists seven terrifying tales examining the nature of fear itself 
• Lorna Wallace shares five SFF stories featuring rats and mice. 
• Rachel Cordasco takes a look at postwar Italian science fiction and fantasy.
  
• Charlotte Higgins wonders why the Odyssey is currently having a moment. 
• Sam Freedman wonders whether science fiction or rather tech bros enduring fascination with science fiction will destroy the world and quotes Charles Stross' 2023 blogpost without attribution.
• Robert Jackson Bennett talks about writing a fantasy murder mystery.
  
• Rob Ferrett and Beatrice Lawrence profile Karen Wynn Fonstad, the cartographer who created The Atlas of Middle-Earth     
• Steven Morris reports that a letter that Bram Stoker wrote shortly after completing Dracula is up for auction.
  
• Ella Creamer reports that a book about the trial and execution of the 1827 murderer William Corder, that is bound in Corder's skin, will be put on public display in spite of controversies regarding the morality of displaying this artefact.

 

Tributes to Mario Vargas Llosa:

• Peruvian writer and Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa has died aged 89.
• Alberto Manguel remembers Mario Vargas Llosa. 
• Nick Caistor shares an obituary for Mario Vargas Llosa.
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Samantha Nelson explains why now is the perfect time to get into Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
• Robert Justice interviews the contributors to the anthology Captain American: The Shield of Sam Wilson.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1969 comic strip collection The Collected Works of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century by Philip Francis Nowlan, Dick Calkins and Robert C. Dille
• Mark Evanier discusses the divide between comic and science fiction fans in the 1960s and 1970s.
  
• Lizzie Dearden reports that two police officers dressed up as Batman and Robin arrested a con artist scamming tourists on the street in London, UK.
  
• Tara Brolley reports that the house of Hugo winning artist Sara Felix in Austin, Texas, exploded for unknown reasons. 
• Sara Felix shares an update on the explosion of her house and the state of her family. 
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about creating an action movie.

 

 Film and TV: 

• Isaiah Colbert declares that the anime Moonrise is a gorgeous space opera, but that its story is a mess  
• Phil Hoad calls Kaiju No 8: Mission Recon a punky anime tale of a volunteer army’s battle against the Godzilla-like kaiju 
• Đăng Tùng Bạch calls The Glassworker Pakistan's first full-length animated feature film, which is strongly influenced by Studio Ghibli.
• Jesse Hassenger calls The Legend of Ochi a 1980s throwback family fantasy movie. 
• Jim Vorel calls Daddy a confoundingly vague science fictional fatherhood dramedy.
  
• Jacob Oller calls The Ugly Stepsister an impressively nasty body horror film.
  
• Haley Zapal calls Hell of a Summer a camp slasher homage that gets an A for effort, but doesn't really deliver thrills or chills
  
• Rai Furniss-Greasley shares his appreciation for the character of Ellen Ripley from the Alien films. 
• Caroline Siede declares that Resident Evil remains the exception rather than the rule for female-led action franchises 
• Leah Thomas shares her favourite vampire animes.
  
• Rafael Motomayor interviews Shinichiro Watanabe, creator of Cowboy Bebop and Lazarus.
• Raquel Harris interviews Bruce Miller, creator of The Handmaid's Tale.
  
• Jason Sacks rewatched the 1970 science fiction film Colossus: The Forbin Project. 
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1996 Babylon 5 episode “Voices of Authority”
• Kali Wallace revisits the 1999 animated film The Iron Giant. 
• Martin Edwards revisits the 2017 science fiction film Life.
  
• Ramon Antonio Vargas reports that actress Bella Thorne has accused Mickey Rourke is bruising her genitals on the set of the thriller Girl in 2020.
• The Guardian shares more details about the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. 
• The Guardian also shares more details about the death of Michelle Trachtenberg.
  
• Actor Nicky Katt, best known for his appearances in Insomnia, The Dark Knight, Batman and Robin, Dazed and Confused, Sin City, Planet Terror, The Limey and many others, has died aged 54.
  
• Ted Kotcheff, director of  First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s and Fun With Dick and Jane, has died aged 94.
• Andrew Pulver remembers Ted Kotcheff. 
• Jean Marsh, star of Willow, Return to Oz, Doctor Who, Upstairs Downstairs, Frenzy, The Eagle Has Landed, Fatherland and many others, has died aged 90.  
• Aneesa Ahmed remembers Jean Marsh.
  

 

Comments on Daredevil: Born Again and the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general:

• Leah Schnelbach shares her thoughts on “Straight To Hell”, the season finale of Daredevil: Born Again. 
• Jarrod Jones shares his thoughts on  “Straight To Hell”, the season finaleof Daredevil: Born Again. 
• Justin Carter shares his thoughts on “Straight To Hell”, the season finale of Daredevil: Born Again.  
• Meagan Navarro discusses a shocking death in the Daredevil: Born Again season finale.
  
• Justin Carter notes that Daredevil: Born Again and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man gave us bad guys who are jerks first, and it's a great change of pace. 
  
• Zack Sharf interviews Florence Pugh who plays Jelena Belova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 
• Stuart Heritage wonders whether Florence Pugh's skyscraper stunt in Thunderbolts* will make her the next Tom Cruise.
  
• Watch a trailer for Thunderbolts*. 
• Watch a trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps.
  

 

Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:

• For Eternia reports that James Wilkinson has been cast as Mekaneck in the upcoming live action Masters of the Universe movie. 
• For Eternia reports that Stephen Adentan has been cast as Moss-Man in the upcoming live action Masters of the Universe movie.
  
• James Eatock revisits the 1984 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe episode "Evilseed". 
  
• James Eatock traces how the robotic horses sporadically seen in the Filmation He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon gradually morphed into Stridor, the robotic horse from the toyline.
• Allison Troy takes a look at the many forgotten minions of Catra from the early Princess of Power tie-in media.
  

 

Comments on Star Wars in general: 

• Eammon Jacobs interviews Tony Gilroy, showrunner of Andor. 
• Sabina Graves interviews Tony Gilroy and Diego Luna, creator and star of Andor.
• Abigail Lee interviews Kelly Marie Tran who played Rose Tico in The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker. 
• Jim Vorel declares that Orson Krennic is a perfectly pathetic Star Wars villain
  
• Ben Child muses on the original theatrical cut of Star Wars being shown in London, UK, for the first time in almost thirty years and wonders whether the Special Editions from the 1990s will actually turn out to be superior after all.

 

 Comments on season 3 of The Wheel of Time:  

• Sylas K. Barrett shares his thoughts on the season 3 finale of The Wheel of Time.
  
• Melody McCune shares his thoughts on the season 3 finale of The Wheel of Time.
• Anney White interviews Rafe Judkins, showrunner of The Wheel of Time.
  
• Vanessa Armstrong interviews Josha Stradowski who plays Rand Al'Thor in The Wheel of Time.
• Vanessa Armstrong interviews Zoë Robins who plays Nynaeve in The Wheel of Time.
• Vanessa Armstrong interviews Robert Strange, who plays Eelfinn in The Wheel of Time.
  

 

Comments on Star Trek in general: 

• Monita Roy Mohan shares seven dark holodeck episodes of Star Trek Voyager.
• Avery Kaplan notes that Star Trek captains tend to retire in rural settings.
  

 

 Comments on season 2 of The Last of Us: 

• Germain Lussier shares six crucial things to remember before season 2 of The Last of Us
  
• Caroline Siede shares her thoughts on “Future Days”, the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us.
• Molly Templeton shares her thoughts on “Future Days”, the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us.
• Jack Seale shares his thoughts on “Future Days”, the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us. 
• Graeme Virtue shares his thoughts on “Future Days”, the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us.   
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on “Future Days”, the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us.   
• Adam B. Vary interviews Craig Mazin, showrunner of The Last of Us.
• Josh Wigler interviews Kaitlyn Dever who plays Abby in The Last of Us. 
  
• Inspired by The Last of Us and Fallout, Duncan Barrett discusses how video game adaptations became prestige TV.
  

 

Comments on Black Mirror:

• Cheryl Eddy ranks the episodes of season 7 of Black Mirror.
• Cheryl Eddy lists eight Black Mirror episodes that deserves sequels. 
• Natalie Zutter finds some parallels between the Black Mirror episode "Eulogy" and the science fiction series Severance. 
• Leila Latif discusses how Black Mirror learned to stop worrying about the future and deal with the present
  
• Jackie Strause interviews Toby Haynes, director of the Black Mirror episode “USS Callister: Into Infinity" 
• Jackie Strause interviews Cristin Milioti who plays Nanette Cole in “USS Callister: Into Infinity"
• Abbey White interviews Haolu Wang, director of the Black Mirror episode "Hotel Reverie" as well as stars Issa Rae and Awkwafina
  

 

Comments on Doctor Who past, present and future: 

• Sylas K. Barrett shares his thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
  
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Jack Seale shares his thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Martin Belam shares his thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Isobel Lewis shares her thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
  
• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on “The Robot Revolution”, the first episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on “Lux”, the second episode of series 15 of Doctor Who. 
  
• Mike Bloom interviws Russell T. Davies, showrunner of Doctor Who.  
• Susana Polo interviews Russell T. Davies.
• Shaad D'Souza interviews Varada Sethu who plays Belinda Chandra in Doctor Who. 
• Lacy Baugher Milas interviews showrunner Russell T. Davies and stars Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu about the new series of Doctor Who.
  
• Melody McCune shares her appreciation for the character of Belinda Chandra.
  
• Ian Youngs reports that British Eurovision commentator Graham Norton will appear in the Eurovision themed Doctor Who episode.
  
• Isobel Lewis discusses whether the cooperation between the BBC and Disney Plus on Doctor Who has changed the series.
  

 

Comments on Sinners:

• Owen Gleiberman calls Sinners the rare mainstream horror film that's about something weighty and soulful: the wages of sin in Black America. 
• Jesse Hassenger calls Sinners a potent film about vampires, racism and music from the heart and the gut
• Tara Bennett calls Sinners a sumptuous southern vampire delight
• Sabina Graves calls Sinners an exuberant and hypnotic vampire movie that will rattle your bones 
  
• Steve Rose interviews Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther and Sinners.
  

 

 Comments on season 3 of Yellowjackets:

• Jen Lennon shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Yellowjackets.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Yellowjackets.
• Natalie Zutter shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Yellowjackets. 
• Claire Lustig interviews Sophie Nélisse, who plays Shauna Shipman in Yellowjackets.

 

Comments on A Minecraft Movie: 

• Nick Romano interviews Jared Hess, director of A Minecraft Movie. 
• Justin Carter reports that even star Jack Black now has to remind viewers of A Minecraft Movie to behave themselves in the theater.
• Tasha Robinson notes that reports about unruly audiences at screenings of A Minecraft Movie make her feel nostalgic for the "Gentleminions" trend of 2023, where audience members dressed up in suits for screenings of Minions 3.

 

Awards:

• The finalists for the 2024 Cóyotl Awards have been announced.
• The finalists for the 2025 Aurora Awards have been announced.
  
• The finalists for the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Awards have been announced. 
• The shortlist for the 2024 Aurealis Awards has been announced. 
• The finalist for the 2025 Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire have been announced.
  
• The winners of the 2025 Premio Italia have been announced.
  
• The winner of the 2025  Prix Jeunesse des Univers Parallèles has been announced.
• The shortlist for the 2025 Tolkien Society Awards has been announced,  
• The finalists for the 2025 Prometheus Awards have been announced.
  
• The winners of the 2025 L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Achievement Awards have been announced. 
• The winners of the 2025 FAAn Awards have been announced.

 

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Ira Nayman talks about taking humor writing seriously 
• Jake Lynch recounts how he went from journalism via academia to crime writing. 
• Rhys Thomas reports about the rise of book subscription services and book boxes.
  
• Vauhini Vara reports about Inkitt, an online publishing start-up that gobbles up the right for popular works published on its free platform to create AI generated sequels, screen adaptations, etc... 
• John Ismay takes a look at which books were removed from the library of the US Naval Academy, following edicts of the Trump government, and which still remain. 
• Ella Creamer reports that demands to remove certain books from libraries are on the rise in the UK as well due to US pressure groups crossing the Atlantic. 
• The Guardian reports how citizens in Chelsea, Michigan, came together to help a local bookstore move from one location to another.
  

 

Interviews:

• Ellen Peirson-Hagger interviews Kaliane Bradley.
• Locus interviews S.A. Barnes.
  
• Scott Edelman interviews Carolyn Ives Gilman.
  
• Elizabeth Tabler interviews Evan Leikam.
• Brandon O'Brien interviews Akua Lezli Hope
  

 

Reviews:

• Alexandra Pierce reviews Future’s Edge by Gareth L. Powell
• Paul Du Filippo reviews Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Last Chance to Save the World by Beth Revis
• Russell Letson reviews Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Trap Line by Timothy Zahn
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Dissolution by Nicholas Binge 
  
• Marlene Harris reviews One Level Down by Mary G. Thompson 
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews We Are Not Anonymous by Stephen Oram 
• Tobias Carroll reviews Luminous by Silvia Park
  
• Jen Lucas reviews The Cure by Eve Smith. 
• Sharon Richardson reviews The Cure by Eve Smith. 
  
• Liz Bourke reviews Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djélí Clark 
  
• Lesa Holstine reviews A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J. Penner  
• Alexis Ong reviews Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Gates of Hope by J.E. Hannaford
  
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews The Crimson Fire by Abel Montero 
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews A Promise of Blood by R. A. Sandpiper
• Mark Yon reviews Godkiller by Hannah Kaner. 
• Rob Bedford reviews The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson.
  
• Roseanna Pendlebury reviews City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley 
• Bobby Derie reviews Innsmouth Park by Jane Routley  
• Melissa A. Watkins reviews A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang
  
• Roseanna Pendlebury reviews Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman
  
• Marlene Harris reviews The Sirens by Emilia Hart 
• Ian Mond reviews The Fake Muse by Max Besora
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews They Bloom At Night by Trang Thanh Tran  
• Phoebe Wagner reviews The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones 
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews A Trail Of Blood On The Snow by Sam Lee
• Ed Crocker reviews Dark Crescent by Lyndsey Croal
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Judith Tarr revisits the 1870 science fiction novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne.
• Brian Collins revisits the 1934 Lensman space opera novel Triplanetary by E.E. Smith.
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1935 science fiction novella Proxima Centauri by Murray Leinster
  
• Jonathan Cowie revisits the 1940 science fiction novel Slan by A.E. van Vogt.
• Brian Collins revisits the 1951 science fiction story “The Pilot and the Bushman” by Sylvia Jacobs 
  
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1954 science fiction story “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury 
• Alan Brown revisits the 1969 science fiction novel Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
  
• David Levinson revisits the May 1970 issue of Venture Science Fiction. 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1977 science fiction novel Cluster by Piers Anthony
  
• Sandy Ferber revisits the 1978 sword and sorcery novel Vazkor, Son of Vazkor by Tanith Lee 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1983 science fiction novel The End of the Empire by Alexis Gilliland 
• Alissa Burger revisits the 1991 YA horror novel The Fire Game and the 1996 YA horror novel Night Games by R.L. Stine. 
  

 

Con and event reports:

• Gary Westfahl wonders whether there should be no more Worldcons in the US going forward. 
• The Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog declares that Worldcons shouldn't completely freeze out US fans and conrunners, but that maybe every second Worldcon should be outside North America. 
• John Toal reports about Reconnect, the 2025 Eastercon in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• Mike Glyer shares some programming at Reconnect that is of particular interest to writers. 
• Alex Wallace shares his experiences at the 2025 AwsomeCon in Washington DC. 
• Steven French reports about the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland. 
• Mark Yon reports about the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland.
  
• Ian Hunter reports about the 2024 Fantasycon in Chester, UK.
  
• Kevin Standlee reports that no bids have been filed for the 2027 Westercon.
  
• Matt Schimkowitz reports about a Starship Troopers panel at the 2025 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo in Chicago, Illinois. 
• Chris M. Barkley reports about an author event featuring Meredith R. Lyons and John Scalzi at  Joseph Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, Ohio
  
• Matt Schimkowitz reports about the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• The 2025 Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival in Baltimore, Maryland, shares its program. 
• Caitlin Cassidy reports that several Australian academics are refusing to attend onferences in the US for fear of being detained  
• Kelly Burke reports that a statue of a spaceman which is supposed to be set up in Perth, Australia, has caused some controversy. 
• Sabina Graves shares  ten things she learned about the Star Trek: Red Alert Experience at the Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood, California.
  

 

Crowdfunding:

• Artist Sara Felix and her family need some help after their new house exploded.

 

Science and technology:

• Joel Achenbach reports that the James Webb Space Telescope has detected a possible signature of life on a distant planet.
  
• Hannah Devlin reports that astronomers have found the ‘strongest evidence’ so far for life beyond our solar system
• Edward Helmore reports about Blue Origin's latest spaceflight with an all-female crew, including pop star Katy Perry. 
• Moira Donegan notes that the all female Blue Origin flight showcases the utter defeat of American feminism 
• Marina Hyde calls the all female Blue Origin flight more vacuous than an endless vacuum
  
• Josh Dinner reports that conservationists have raised alarm over the US Air Force's plans to land SpaceX Starships on the Johnston Atoll bird sanctuary. 
• Jasper Ward reports that the Bahamas have suspended all SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landings in the country, pending a full post-launch investigation of the environmental impact.
  
• Joel Mathis wonders whether AI chatbots could replace mental health therapists.
• Kyle Wiggers reports that an MIT study has found that AI does not in fact have values. 
• Shalma Wegsman reports about paraparticules, a new category of quantum particles. 
• Mark Yam profiles seasteaders who want to colonise the ocean.
  
• Sonja Anderson reports that two people using metal detectors have found a 2500-year-old dagger on a beach in Pommerania, Poland. 
• Nell Greenfieldboyce reports that researchers have found that crows have some understanding of geometry,

 

Gaming: 

• Chris Napier reviews Avowed by Obsidian Entertainment.
  
• Germain Lussier reviews Donkey Kong Bananza

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Pixel Dan reviews the latest wave of the Mattel Turtles of Grayskull crossover toyline.
• Adam McComb takes a look at the 1986 Mattel Masters of the Universe Meteorb toys. 
• James Whitbrook shares a look at several Star Wars themed Lego sets. 
• Aimee Ortiz explains why rare Lego sets are now a popular target for thieves.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "Cry, the Carob King" by Thomas Ha in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
• "Dark Creature, Dream Her" by Charlie Valenti in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
• "Meditations from the Event Horizon" by Deborah L. Davitt in Lightspeed. 
• "The Potter, His Daughter, and the Boy with Tribal Marks on His Face" by Oyedotun Damilola Muees in Lightspeed.
  
• "Seven Ribbons" by Beth Goder in Apex Magazine.
  
• "Eternal" by E. Florian Gludovacz in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
  
• "Higher Powers" by Steve Rasnic Tem in The Dark.
• "Liberation" by Tade Thompson in Reactor.
  
• "Ain’t Missing You" by Joanne McLaughlin in Mystery Tribune.
• "Symbiotic" by Carolyn Zhao in Clarkesworld.
  
• "Still Water" by Zhang Ran, translated by Andy Dudak in Clarkesworld. 
• "Glory Hole" by Neal Auch in Nightmare Magazine.
  
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Nautilus.
• Watch a trailer for The Life of Chuck. 
• Watch a trailer for season 2 of Poker Face.
  
• Watch a trailer for Twisted Metal.
  
• Watch a trailer for 28 Years Later. 
• Watch a trailer for Jurassic World: Rebirth.