It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with the best SFF of 2025, the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Star Trek in general, Wonder Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, Cold Storage, tributes to James Van Der Beek, Robert Duvall, Tom Noonan and Eric Dane and much
more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of the best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror
- Alex Brown shares must read short speculative fiction for January 2026
- James Davis Nicoll notes that science fiction is full of pseudoscience and similar nonsense.
- Natalie Zutter shares five signs you might be crushing on a book
- Ella Risberger discusses how tropes took over romance, having apparently never noticed any tropes in romance novel (or read any romance novels) before.
- Molly Templeton asks how much (or little) info do you need before you pick up a book.
- Gary Westfahl talks about the unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.
Best of 2025:
- Fantasy Faction share their 50 favourite SFF books of 2025.
- Alexandra Pierce shares her favourite SFF works of 2025.
- Maria Haskins shares her favourite SFF works of 2025.
- Eugen Bacon shares her favourite SFF works of 2025.
- Alex Brown shares their favourite SFF works of 2025.
- Jake Casella Brookins shares his favourite SFF works of 2025.
Comics and Art:
- Scott Edelman interviews artist and pulp historian Chris Kalb.
- James Bacon shares his appreciation for the little known golden age superhero The Gay Ghost and the amazing prescience of his adventures.
- Cheryl Eddy shares a look at the upcoming comic series Absolute Green Arrow by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque
Film and TV:
- Peter Bradshaw calls The Blood Countess a surreal vampire fantasy
- Carlos Aguilar calls Dust Bunny a morbidly fantastical shoot-’em-up
- Germain Lussier calls Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie hilarious, out there and filled with pop culture passion
- Phuong Lee calls the anime Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: The Immortal Bloodline eye-popping fan-service
- Isaiah Colbert declares that the anime Scarlet follows a medieval princess fighting through purgatory to avenge her father.
- Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on the French animated film Arco.
- Ann Michelle Harris shares her thoughts on the anime Rurouni Kenshin
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on Predator: Badlands.
- Benjamin Lee calls Psycho Killer a bland horror thriller which should have stayed in development hell where it belongs
- Clay Pittman shares the four most impactful science fiction films.
- Cheryl Eddy shares ten romantically spooky horror movies to stream for Valentine’s Day
- Lorna Wallace lists five horror mockumentaries that feel scarily real
- Xan Brooks interviews Amy Madigan, star of Streets of Fire and Weapons.
- Simran Hans interviews Miles Caton, one of the stars of Sinners.
- Sasha Mistlin interviews David Jonsson, star of Alien Romulus and Wasteman.
- J.D. Knapp interviews Matt Selman, showrunner of The Simpsons.
- Simon Bland interviews Brian Helgeland, writer and director of the 2001 medieval fantasy film A Knight's Tale, and star of Paul Bettany.
- Jacob Oller revisits the 1969 Czech horror film The Cremator.
- Jessica Holmes revisits the 1971 Doctor Who serial "The Mind of Evil".
- Kali Wallace revisits the 1979 science fiction mystery Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel
- Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1997 Babylon 5 episode“The Deconstruction of Falling Stars”
- Caroline Siede revisits the 2004 superhero film Catwoman,.
- Germain Lussier ranks the various Ghostface actors in the Scream series.
- Amelia Tait explains why many TV shows should not be longer than one season.
- Ben Child wonders if The Hunt for Gollum is a step too far for the endless Lord of the Rings franchise
- Josh Weiss explains how Mel Brooks was able to lure Rick Moranis out of retirement for the long awaited Spaceballs sequel.
- Hasbro apologises for killing off Optimus Prime in Transformers: The Movie in 1986.
- Isaiah Colbert shares an update on Neflix's attempt to buy Warner Bros.
Tributes to James Van Der Beek:
Tributes to Robert Duvall:
- Actor Robert Duvall, best known for his roles in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, THX 1138, The Handmaid's Tale, Bullitt, To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Road and many others, had died aged 95.
- Peter Bradshaw remembers Robert Duvall.
- Director Steve McQueen remembers Robert Duvall
- Matt Schimkowitz remembers Robert Duvall.
- Alex Lei remembers Robert Duvall.
- Ronald Bergan shares an obituary for Robert Duvall.
- Cheryl Eddy takes a look at Robert Duvall's appearance in the 1962 Twilight Zone episode "Miniature".
- Ryan Britt takes a look at Robert Duvall's appearance in the 1971 dystopian film THX 1138.
- Joseph Houlihan discusses the real life inspiration for Robert Duvall's character in Apocalypse Now.
Tributes to Tom Noonan:
Tributes to Eric Dane:
Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:
- Colt Crane explores the relationship between He-Man and Teela across the many iterations of Masters of the Universe.
- He-Mania interviews Eddie Thoneick who composed the music for the trailer for the Masters of the Universe live action film.
- Scott Neitlich shares his thoughts on various unfilmed scripts for a Masters of the Universe live action movie he's seen over the years.
- James Eatock revisits the 1984 episode "No Job Too Small" of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Comments on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Star Trek in general:
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on "Ko’Zeine”, the latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
- James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on "Ko’Zeine”, the latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on "Come, Let's Away”, the latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
- Val Nolan explains how the ghosts of the past haunt Starfleet Academy’s future
- Jamie Lovett reports that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy did not make the top ten of streaming originals in the week it debuted, which does not bode well for its future.
Comments on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:
- Tyler Dean shares his thoughts on "In The Name Of The Mother", the latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Jarrod Jones shares his thoughts on "In The Name Of The Mother", the latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on "In The Name Of The Mother", the latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Jim Vejvoda shares his thoughts on "In The Name Of The Mother", the latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- James Whitbrook shares some background on the Blackfyre Rebellion mentioned in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Saloni Gajjar interviews Ira Parker, showrunner of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Sarah Shachat interviews A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner Ira Parker, director Owen Harris and supervising sound editor Al Sirkett
- Nick Romano interviews cast and crew of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Marco Spagnoli interviews Bertie Carvel who plays Baelor Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Therese Lacson interviews Bertie Carvel.
- Cheryl Eddy reports that Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms accidentally spoiled future plot developments revealed to him by George R.R. Martin himself in a TV interview.
Comments on Wonder Man and the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general:
Comments on Cold Storage:
Comments on Good Luck. Have Fun. Don't Die:
Awards:
- The finalists for the 2025 Los Angeles Times Book Awards have been announced.
- The recipients of the 2026 Skylark and Jack Gaughan Awards have been announced.
- The winner of the 2026 Robert A. Heinlein Award has been announced.
- The 2026 inductees into the Eisner Hall of Fame have been announced.
- The winners of the 2026 MUAHS Awards.have been announced.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Houman Barekat reviews Trip to the Moon: Understanding the True Power of Story by John Yorke
- Locus reports that a group of speculative fiction writers represented by The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency has filed a complaint against the Topps Company for breach of contract; specifically for their failure to account or pay royalties.
Interviews:
Reviews:
- Janet Webb reviews Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb
- Gayle Surrette reviews Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Slow Gods by Claire North
- Rai Furniss-Greasley reviews Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Jonbar Points by Allen Stroud
- Melissa A. Watkins reviews The Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. Key
- Jenny Hamilton reviews George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett
- Marlene Harris reviews The Rainseekers by Matthew Kressel
- Stew Hotston reviews All That Is in the Earth, by Andrew Knighton
- Marlene Harris reviews After the Fall by Edward Ashton
- Alexandra Pierce reviews The Essence by Dave Hutchinson
- Lesa Holstine reviews The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
- Mark Yon reviews Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett.
- Marlene Harris reviews Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett.
- Doreen Sheridan reviews The Shop On Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz
- Blue Book Balloon reviews In This City, Where it Rains by Lyndsey Croal
- Jonathan Thornton reviews The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride
- Bill Capossere reviews The Forest On The Edge Of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride
- Runalong the Shelves reviews A Forest, Darkly by A.G. Slatter
- Mahvesh Murad reviews On Sundays She Picks Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield
- Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Mistlight by J.A. Andrews
- Rob Bedford reviews Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity
- Esmay Rosalyne reviews The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
- Niall Harrison reviews The Apple and the Pearl by Rym Kechacha
- Ian Mond reviews Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews Nonesuch by Francis Spufford
- Jen Lucas reviews Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
- Rrunalong the Shelves reviews Loss Protocol by Paul McAuley
- Colleen Mondor reviews Secrets of the First School by T.L. Huchu
- Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews A Murder of Crows by Steve McHugh
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Catherine by Essie Fox
- Mary Picken reviews Catherine by Essie Fox
- Fiona Sturges reviews Old Songs by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns
Classics reviews:
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1905 science fiction novel A Submarine Tour by Frank Balch
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1953 science fiction crime novel The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1956 time travel story "The Man Who Came Early" by Poul Anderson.
- Fiona Moore revisits issue 201 of New Worlds, Maureen Hogan revisits the 1971 fantasy novel The Truth About Dragons: An Anti-Romance by Hazard Adams, Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1971 science fiction novels The Starseekers by Dav Garnett and Gardens 1 2 3 4 5 by Peter Tate and Amber Dubin revisits the 1971 dystopian novel The Eclipse of Dawn by Gordon Eklund
- Winona Menezes revisits the 1971 science fiction novels Beyond Capella by John Rackham and The Electric Sword-Swallowers by Kenneth Bulmer and Cora Buhlert revisits the 1971 science fiction thriller Tomorrow is Too Far by James White
- Robert Mammone revisits the 1984 sword and sorcery novel Legend by David Gemmell.
- Alissa Burger revisits the 1994 YA horror novel Pretty Please by Diane Hoh and the 1996 YA horror novel The Perfect Date by R.L. Stine.
- Alan Brown revisits the 2002 science fiction novel First Landing by Robert Zubrin
Con and event reports:
Crowdfunding:
Science and technology:
- Alfredo Carpineti suggests turning the International Space Station into a museum, once it reaches the end of its lifespan.
- Rusty Surrette reports that a US woman has been sentenced to federal prison after making false claims that astronaut Anne McClain illegally accessed her bank account while deployed to the International Space Station
- G.M. Nair talks about faster-than-light travel.
- Adrian Villellas reports that NASA has conducted the first test of its nuclear engine for interstellar travel
- Maya Yang and Edward Helmore report that former US president Barack Obama has clarified that there is no evidence that aliens ever tried to make contact with Earth.
- Maya Yang asks if we should be worried about China's dancing and martial arts robots.
- William Hughes reports that Disney has sent a cease and desist to the Chinese generative AI image generator Seedance 2.0.
- Garrett Martin notes how modern theme park rides have their roots in Victorian morality and the desire for private time with one's sweetheart.
Gaming:
- Matt Larkin reviews the video game Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
- Justin Carter reviews the video game Aerial_Knight’s DropShot
- Geoffrey Bunting reports about about bigotry on Steam, the world’s biggest PC gaming storefront
- Matthew Byrd declares that The Legend of Zelda endures as a piece of modern folklore
Toys and collectibles:
- Toy Habits shares photos of the new Masters of the Universe Chronicles and First Ones toys on display at New York Toy Fair in New York City.
- Pixel Dan shares a video of the Mattel Masters of the Universe Chronicles and First Ones action figures on display at New York Toy Fair.
- Pixel Dan unboxes the Mattel Masters of the Universe Chronicles He-Man and Battle Cat action figures.
- Jay Glatfelter shares a hands on look at some of the new Masters of the Universe movie action figures.
- The DorkLair reviews the Mythic Legions Nevé action figure from Four Horsemen Studios.
- The DorkLair reviews the Mythic Legions Exiles Under the Mountain action figure two-pack from Four Horsemen Studios.
- The DorkLair reviews the Mythic Legions Venaliss Ardenscale action figure from Four Horsemen Studios.
- Justin Carter shares a look at some new Transformers figures from Hasbro based on the 1986 Transformers movie.
- James Whitbrook shares a look at a Mandalorian and Grogu Razor Crest LEGO set, which also spoils some plot developments of the upcoming film.
- James Whitbrook shares a look at Playmate’s new line of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x G.I. Joe crossover toys
- Pixel Dan shares a look at Mattel's KPop Demon Hunters toys on display at New York Toy Fair.
- Jesse Schedeen shares a look at the Super Mario Galaxy Movie figures and toys by Jakks Pacific.
Free online fiction:
- "Bloom Where You Are Planted" by Melanie Mulrooney in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "Hollow in The Hope" By Aimee Ogden in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "Melkart And The Witch" by Mark Mellon in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
- "The Definition of a Second" by Carrie Vaughn in The Sunday Morning Transport.
- "The Salt and the Cure" by Rukman Ragas in Lightspeed.
- "Sensor Ghosts" by Deborah L. Davitt in Lightspeed.
- "A Sleeper Ship Is Like a Game of Go" by Claire Jia-Wen in Clarkesworld.
- "Chip" by D.A. Xiaolin Spires in Clarkesworld.
- "Unsettled Nature" by Jordan Kurella in Apex Magazine.
- "Of Two Bloods" by Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward in Reactor.
- "Twelve Facts About the Dermestid Beetle" by Marisca Pichette in Nightmare Magazine.
- "On the Anthology Entitled “Frames of Colour and Un-Colour” by Dmitri Akers in The Dealands.
- "Hunger" by Michael Kelly in The Dark.
Trailers and videos:
