It's time for the weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Spider-Man: Far From Home, season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale, season 3 of Stranger Things, Midsommar, the new Lion King, tributes to Artur Brauner and Rip Torn, Finncon, SpikeCon and much more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- The Tor.com reviewers share their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror books of 2019 so far.
- Eric Brown offers a round-up of the best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror novels.
- Emily Hughes shares five Southern Gothic horror novels for summer.
- Meghan Ball shares five science fiction and fantasy books that demand a soundtrack.
- Leah Schnelbach shares seventeen fictional and factual stories about space exploration.
- Sylvia Spruck Wrigley discusses the portrayal of older women in science fiction and fantasy.
- Leo Elijah Cristea explains why science fiction and fantasy need better portrayals of LGBTQ characters
- James Davis Nicoll talks about slide rules and the nuclear apocalypse.
- Kevin J. Anderson shares the five deadliest dragons.
- James Davis Nicoll compares Robert A. Heinlein's and Andre Norton's YA science fiction from the 1950s and beyond.
- Ada Palmer attempts to explain the appeal of Stoicism to the rich and powerful.
- Caleb Crain shares his appreciation for the works of Ted Chiang.
- C.D. Covington talks about linguistics as depicted in Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life and the movie Arrival.
- Jeremy Finlay shares his appreciation for the Dragonlance books.
- Jacopo Prisco profiles Simon Stålenhag.
- Sofka Zinovieff asks if cancel culture is really driven by the young or if older editors and publishers are cancelling books, because they fear negative reactions.
- Justine Jordan reports how Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers series has been updated for modern times.
- Alison Flood reports that Cressida Cowell, author of the How To Train Your Dragon books, has been named the new UK children's laureate.
Film and TV:
- Mark Kermode declares that the horror movie In Fabric rides on the line between horror and humor.
- Camestros Felapton shares his very brief thoughts on the alternate history movie Yesterday.
- Liz Shannon Miller shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- William Hughes shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Archer.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of The Rook.
- Alex McLevy shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Legion.
- Beth Elderkin reports why the Netflix produced Arabic fantasy series Jinn is so controversial.
- Peter Bradshaw declares that the 1973 horror thriller Don't Look Now is still scary 46 years later.
- Natalie Devitt revisits the 1964 science fiction movie Robinson Crusoe on Mars.
- Perri Nemeroff wonders why this summer's blackbusters are so weak.
- Mark Sweeney wonders whether the lackluster summer box office is a sign of Hollywood franchise fatigue.
- Kayleigh Donaldson shares the twelve biggest SFF box office bombs of all time.
- Guy Lodge declares that Disney should be broken up for the sake of cinema.
- Xan Brooks interviews Jim Jarmush, director of The Dead Don't Die.
- Gabrielle Tutoni offers a medievalist's guide to Godzilla and other kaiju.
- Ryan Britt shares the 25 most likely Star Trek Next Generation characters to appear in the upcoming Picard series.
- Emer O'Toole reports that the success of the TV show Outlander has led to a flood of tourists endangering various historic Scottish sites seen in the show.
- The Guardian reports about the Game of Thrones tapestry.
- Brian Greene revisits Val Lewton's and Jacques Tourneur's horror and suspense movies from the early 1940s.
- Cora Buhlert shares her appreciation for the Dr. Mabuse film series of the 1960s.
- German film producer and Holocaust survivor Artur Brauner, best known for producing the Dr. Mabuse movies, has died aged 100.
- Cora Buhlert remembers Artur Brauner.
- Actor Rip Torn, who appeared in Men in Black and Beastmaster, has died aged 88.
Comments on Spider-Man: Far From Home (possible spoilers):
- Simran Hans calls Spider-Man: Far From Home a winning and witty entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Richard Newby declares that Spider-Man: Far From Home is the first Spider-Man movie that gets the characters social circle right.
- Alasdair Stuart shares his thoughts on Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Matt Goldberg finds several parallels between Spider-Man: Far From Home and the Trump era.
- Tor.com shares seven lingering questions remaining after Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Vinnie Mancuso shares every question he has after Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Brandon Zachary explains the ending of Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Perri Nemiroff interviews Jake Gyllenhall who plays Quentin Beck a.k.a. Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Germain Lussier interviews Jon Watts, director of Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Inspired by Spider-Man: Far From Home, Emily Asher-Perrin asks if the Marvel Cinematic Universe can support a multiverse.
- Renaldo Matadeen shares all the clues to the big twist in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- James Whitbrook discusses the comic related implications of one of the big twists in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore declares that one of the big twists in Spider-Man: Far From Home actually touches on an important aspect of the character from the comics.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore declares that the pre-release marketing of Spider-Man: Far From Home was an illusion worthy of Mysterio himself.
- Matt Goldberg explains how a certain cameo appearance in the Spider-Man: Far From Home post-credits scene came ot be.
- Tor.com discusses an unlikely cameo appearance in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
- Preeti Chibber ranks the three different 21st century live action cinema takes on Spider-Man.
- Renaldo Matadeen declares that he still feels that Sam Raimi's take on Spider-Man is the gold standard.
Comments on season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale:
- David Canfield shares his thoughts on "Unfit", the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Allison Shoemaker shares her thoughts on "Unfit".
- Kristen Baldwin feels that The Handmaid's Tale has nothing new to say in season 3.
- Beth Elderkin interviews Bruce Miller, showrunner of The Handmaid's Tale.
Comments on season 3 of Stranger Things:
- The io9 reviewers share seventeen things they loved about season 3 of Stranger Things and six they didn't.
- Daniel D'Addario notes that the young stars of Stranger Things are getting older and that is a good thing.
- Sam Adams declares that the nostalgia well has run dry for season 3 of Stranger Things.
- Stuart Heritage declares that the finale of season 3 of Stranger Things is perfect, but that the way there is often boring.
- Darren Franish declares that the ending of season 3 of Stranger Things proves the limits of nostalgia.
- Adam Chitwood declares that season 3 of Stranger Things has improved on what worked in season 2 and jettisoned what didn't.
- Emily Asher.-Perrin discusses the good, the bad and the body horror of season 3 of Stranger Things.
- Adam Chitwood discusses the prost credits scene of season 3 of Stranger Things.
- Erik Adams and Randall Colburn list the many Easter eggs and references of season 3 of Stranger Things.
- Jacob Oller reports that several fans are not happy with the portrayal of police officer Jim Hopper in season 3 of Stranger Things.
- Tim Stack interviews Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven in Stranger Things.
- Josh Wigler profiles Maya Hawke who plays Robin in Stranger Things.
- Vinnie Mancuso interviews Dacre Montgomery who plays Billy in Stranger Things.
- Todd Spangler reports that Netflix has promised to cut down on smoking scenes after criticisms of Stranger Things.
- Christian Long looks ahead at season 4 of Stranger Things.
- Vinnie Mancuso declares that season 4 of Stranger Things needs to turn its villain upside down.
Comments on Midsommar:
- Simran Hans calls Midsommar a meandering and dread-free horror film.
- Steve Rose offers a spoilerish review of Midsommar.
- The BBC offers a round-up of reactions of Swedish film critics to Midsommar.
- Dave Trumbore explains the mythology of Midsommar.
- Inspired by Midsommar, Charles Bramesco asks why movies about cults are so popular.
- Emma Madden is bothered by the ableism of Midsommar and its eugenic implications.
- Kristen Lopez interviews Ari Aster, director of Midsommar.
- Steve Rose interviews William Jackson Harper, one of the stars of Midsommar.
- Sam Reader shares six fantastic folk horror tales for fans of Midsommar.
Comments on the new Lion King:
- Peter Bradshaw calls the new Lion King a deepfake copycat that's not very good.
- A.A. Dowd calls the new Lion King a pointless remake.
- Kristen Lopez calls the new Lion King a gorgeous, but completely pointless remake.
- Beth Elderkin shares some early reactions to the Lion King remake.
Awards:
- The winners of the 2018 Leo Literary Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Prometheus Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Baen Fantasy Adventure Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Chesley Awards have been announced.
- The nominees for the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award have been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Helicon Awards have been announced.
- The longlist for the 2019 Glass Bell Award has been announced.
- Chris M. Barkley, Juli Marr and Mark Richards are planning to submit a proposal to create a Hugo Award for the Best Translated Novel.
- Neil Clarke weighs in on the proposal for a Hugo Award for Best Translated Novel.
- Taiyo Fujii wieghs on the proposal for a Hugo Award for Best Translated Novel.
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on the proposed Hugo Award for Best Game or Interactive Experience.
- Ian Moore explains where to find the 1944 Retro Hugo finalists online.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Dan Brotzel explains how you can use Paul Grice's maxims in your writing.
- S.L. Huang explains how her background as a stuntwoman and armourer helped her to become a better writer.
- John Scalzi responds to some people who hope that Tor Books, traditional publishing and with it Scalzi's career will soon die off.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch continues her series on licensing for writers.
- Danielle Turchiano takes a look at Neil Gaiman's writing retreat.
Interviews:
- Chris Urie interviews Yoon Ha Lee.
- Chris Urie interviews Arkady Martine.
- Renee Montagne interviews Kurt Vonnegut (in 2003).
- Alex Wermer-Colan interviews Samuel R. Delany.
- Juliette Wade interviews Sam J. Miller.
- John DeNardo interviews Ann and Jeff VanderMeer.
- Writing Routines interviews Fonda Lee.
- Tina Jordan interviews Neal Stephenson.
- The Qwillery interviews Rena Rossner.
- Adri Joy interviews D.B. Jackson.
- The Gernsback Machine interviews Paul Levinson.
Reviews:
- James Davis Nicoll reviews This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
- Bill Capossere reviews This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
- Liz Bourke reviews Fleet of Knives by Gareth L. Powell.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Jade War by Fonda Lee.
- Tadiana Jones reviws Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep.
- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books review Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep.
- Kelly Lasiter reviews The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire.
- Kelly Lasiter reviews A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire.
- Kat Hooper reviews Bewitched and Betrothed by Juliet Blackwell.
- Carrie Sessarego reviews Steampunk Darcy by Monica Fairview.
- Adri Joy reviews Pimp My Airship by Maurice Broaddus.
- Vicky Who Reads reviews Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim.
- Paul Weimer reviews The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter.
- Paul Weimer reviews The Devil's Guide to Managing Difficult People by Robyn Bennis.
- Carolyn F. Cushman reviews Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer and Cast in Oblivion by Michelle Sagara.
- Sam Reader reviews Salvation Day by Kali Wallace.
- For Winter Nights reviews The Last Astronaut by David Wellington.
- Russell Letson reviews The Chaos Function by Jack Skillingstead.
- Kat Hooper and Tadiana Jones review Limited Wish by Mark Lawrence.
- Mark Yon reviews Exhalation by Ted Chiang.
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews Exhalation by Ted Chiang.
- Mahvesh Murad reviews Sealed by Naomi Booth.
- Chris Kluwe reviews Claiming T-Mo by Eugen Bacon and Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden.
- Charles Yu reviews Fall, or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson.
- Paula Guran reviews Collision by J.S. Breukelaar.
- Alex Brown reviews The Toll by Cherie Priest.
- Brian Bandell reviews The Dark Above by Jeremy Finlay.
- Jason Sheehan reviews Growing Things by Paul Tremblay.
- Nicole Ruddick reviews The Future Is Female!: 25 Classic Science Fiction Stories by Women, from Pulp Pioneers to Ursula K. Le Guin, edited by Lisa Yaszek
Classics reviews:
- Matthew Raese revisits the 1907 dystopian novel The Iron Heel by Jack London.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1943 science fiction novel Earth's Last Citadel by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore.
- Tadiana Jones revisits the 1943 children's fantasy The Magic Bed-Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons by Mary Norton.
- Camestros Felapton revisits the 1956 time travel story "A Gun for Dinosaur" by L. Sprague de Camp.
- Camestros Felapton revisits the 1958 time travel story "Poor Little Warrior" by Brian Aldiss.
- Camestros Felapton revisits the science fiction novel A Case of Conscience by James Blish, winner of the 1959 Hugo Award for best novel.
- Camestros Felapton revisits the 1963 science fantasy collection Savage Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
- Gideon Marcus revisits the August 1964 issue of World of If Science Fiction.
- Fabio Fernandes revisits Gene Wolfe's 1975 novel Peace.
- Paul Fraser revisits the February 1976 issue of Science Fiction Monthly.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1996 time travel and alternate history novel Making History by Stephen Fry.
Con and event reports:
- Ryan Deto reports about Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Edmund Schluessel shares his experiences at Finncon 2019 in Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Karl-Johan Norén shares his experiences at Finncon 2018 in Turku, Finland.
- Newton Ewell shares his not so great experiences at SpikeCon in Layton, Utah.
- Mike Glyer reports that writer Eric Flint was hospitalised due to pneumonia, while at SpikeCon in Utah.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore shares an open letter to everybody going to San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California.
- Gabriella Tutino shares a guide to the literary panels at San Diego Comic Con.
- Mike Glyer reports that Tonopah, Nevada, has won the 2021 Westercon bid.
- Mike Glyer reports that Columbus, Ohio, has won the 2020 NASFIC bid.
- Mike Glyer reports that Corflu 37 will take place in College Station, Texas.
- Mike Glyer reports that a court of arbitration has decided against Arisia in Boston, Massachusetts, after they cancelled their hotel contract because of a strike, and that they have to pay significant damages to the hotel.
- Trae Dorn reports that Walker Stalker LLC, a company which runs several conventions, has been accused of scamming fans and guests.
- Trae Dorn reports that the Steampunk convention Athertopia 2019 in Tampa, Florida, was cancelled two days before it was due to begin.
- Trae Dorn reports that the Charmed Again convention in London, UK, was cancelled as well.
- Trae Dorn reports that the anime convention A.g.S. Con in Mobile, Alabama, appears to have been cancelled as well.
- Elizabeth Foxwell announces that there will be an Anthony Boucher themed literary walk in South Berkeley, California.
Science and technology:
- Richard Hollingham takes a look at the technology that took Apollo 11 to the moon.
- Richard Goodwin wonders why so many people still believe that the moon landings were faked.
- The BBC reports that the Jodrell Bank Observatory has been named a Unesco World Heritage site.
- Jodi Helmer reports about an attempt to engineer a beanless coffee.
Free online fiction:
- "Shattered Sidewalks of the Human Heart" by Sam J. Miller in Clarkesworld.
- "The Visible Frontier" by Grace Seybold in Clarkesworld.
- "The Mysteries" by Karen Lord in Lightspeed.
- "Sand Castles" by Adam-Troy Castro in Lightspeed.
- "The House Wins in the End" by L. Chan in The Dark.
- "Antripuu" by Simon Strantzas in Nightmare Magazine.
- "Breaking the Enchantment" by Mari Ness in Daily Science Fiction.
- "For He Can Creep" by Siobhan Carroll at Tor.com.
Odds and ends:
- Watch a trailer for Another Life.
- Watch a trailer for the live action version of Mulan.
- Watch a trailer for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
- Watch a trailer for Sadako.
- Watch a trailer for Dora and the Lost City of Gold.
- Jordan Zakarin shares ten nerdy hotels to visit.
- Deana Whitney shares some recipes inspired by Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere books.
