It's time again for our weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Star Trek Discovery, The Orville, Blade Runner 2049, Thor: Ragnarok, Stranger Things as well as the usual mix of awards news, writing advice, interviews, reviews, awards news, con reports, crowdfunding campaigns, science articles and free online fiction.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Publishers Weekly shares its list of the best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2017.
- James Davies Nicoll shares a list of twenty speculative fiction novels featuring cities that every fan should have on their shelves.
- R.E. Stearns shares five books about running away from your problems to join a space pirate crew.
- Melissa Caruso offers a passionate defence of writing and reading for fun.
- Liz Bourke wonders why the question of quality is only raised with regard to books by and featuring women, people of colour and LGBT people.
- Farah Mendlesohn and Julie Bozza talk about romance in the works of Robert A Heinlein.
- Nnedi Okorafor discusses the past, present and future of afrofuturism.
- Nalo Hopkinson discusses some issues with the definition of afrofuturism.
- Sam Kates talks about the attraction of post-apocalyptic fiction.
- Bob Pastorella discusses the state of the horror genre in October 2017.
- The participants of the latest Mind Meld share their favourite vampire novels.
- Doris V. Sutherland takes a look at the 1927 horror novel Seven Footprints to Satan by Abraham Merritt and its 1929 film adaptation.
- Austin Grossman revisits the 1916 story Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen Nineties by Max Beerbohm.
- Phronk explains why horror movies are scary and why people like them anyway.
- Alasdair Stuart shares a list of the perfect horror movies for Halloween.
- Charles Pulliam Moore calls the 1995 movie Vampires in Brooklyn, starring Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett, one of the most underrated horror movies of all time.
- Courtney Enlow revisits the 2002 horror movie Queen of the Damned.
- Germain Lussier calls Jigsaw pretty bad, which still makes it one of the better movies in the Saw series.
- Germain Lussier also declares that the Saw movies actually work pretty well, when viewed as a gory TV soap opera.
- Emily Asher-Perrin discusses the trope of kids befriending the unknown via candy and other treats in science fiction, fantasy and horror films and TV shows.
- Cassam Looch calls Outlander the most captivating TV show of the year.
- Martha Wells explains how Star Wars has influenced her writing.
- James Whitbrook reports that actor Nicholas Pegg, who is one of the Dalek operators in Doctor Who, has been fired from Doctor Who Magazine after hiding an offensive message in an article.
- Anthony Rapp, Broadway actor and one of the stars of Star Trek Discovery, has accused actor Kevin Spacey of sexually assaulting him when Rapp was fourteen years old.
- Kevin Spacey has apologised to Anthony Rapp and claims not to remember the incident.
- Director Robert Rodriguez explains that he cast Rose McGowan in Planet Terror, his half of the Grindhouse duology, specially to piss off Harvey Weinstein.
- John Mollo, Oscar-winning costume designer for the Star Wars films, died aged 86.
- Maureen O'Donnell shares an obituary for science fiction writer Julian May.
Comments on Star Trek Discovery (and The Orville):
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw shares her thoughts on episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Keith DeCandido shares his thoughts on episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Camestros Felapton shares their thoughts on episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Zack Handlen shares his thoughts on episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- J. Garcia shares his thoughts on episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Katharine Trendacosta is really happy with episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Angel Wilson is less thrilled by episode 7 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Angel Wilson talks about LGBT representation in Star Trek Discovery.
- Cora Buhlert uses Star Trek Discovery as a springboard to talk about fictional parents and the Darth Vader Parenthood Award for Outstandingly Horrible Fictional Parents.
- Ethan Siegel shares his thoughts on episode 6 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Eric Diaz shares seven things Star Trek Discovery needs to do in season 2.
- John E. Price claims that the producers of Star Trek Discovery don't understand Star Trek.
- John E. Price also compares Star Trek Discovery to a bully and its fans to enablers.
- Tiffany Kelly asks eight science fiction writers where Star Trek should go next.
- John Orquiola discusses a fan theory regarding Star Trek Discovery.
- John Orquiola also wonders about the mental state of Captain Lorca in Star Trek Discovery and discusses some more fan theories regarding this character.
- Eric Diaz interviews actor Doug Jones who plays the character Saru in Star Trek Discovery.
- Anthony Cuoto explains why many Star Trek fans like The Orville more than Star Trek Discovery.
- Anthony Cuoto also reports that The Orville has been renewed for season 2.
Comments on Thor Ragnarok:
- Marykate Jasper calls Thor Ragnarok very funny, very weird and very much a Thor film.
- Cassam Looch declares that Thor Ragnarok shos the power of great storytelling.
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on Thor Ragnarok.
- Jonathan H. Cantor explains the back ground of Hela's army of the dead in Thor Ragnarok.
- Peter Sciretta interviews Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige about Thor Ragnarok.
- Brian Cairns interviews Eric Pearson, one of the screenwriters of Thor Ragnarok.
- James Whitbrook explains the background of Ragnarok in mythology and the comics.
Comments on season 2 of Stranger Things:
- Angie Barry talks about Stranger Things, It and the rise of nostalgia horror.
- Peter Crawley declares that season 2 of Stranger Things is becoming nostalgic even for itself.
- James Poniewozik calls season 2 of Stranger Things derivative but fun.
- Rebecca Nicholson declares that season 2 of Stranger Things is as delightful as ever.
- Leah Schnelbach declares that season 2 of Stranger Things more than lives up to its predecessor.
- Tara Lynne calls season 2 of Stranger Things the perfect follow-up.
- Marykate Jasper declares that Stranger Things grows and changes in season 2, but that it still has the same heart.
- Camestros Felapton shares their thoughts on season 2 of Stranger Things.
- Germain Lussier shares nine things he loved about season 2 of Stranger Things and four things he didn't.
- Renaldo Matadeen declares that season 2 of Stranger Things addresses the criticisms of season 1.
- Renaldo Matadeen also explains the ending of season 2 of Stranger Things.
- Kevin Melrose reports that season 2 of Stranger Things offers justice for the character of Barb who vanished in season 1.
- Issy Sampson shares the diary of the character Barb in the Upside Down.
- Lauren Cochrane describes how Stranger Things has influenced fashion.
- Matthew Jackson declares that Stranger Things is the ultimate show for Dungeons & Dragons fans.
- Kevin Melrose discusses the two 1980s arcade games which are of crucial importance to season 2 of Stranger Things.
- Rebecca Nicholson profiles Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of Stranger Things.
- Jack Seale interviews Noah Schnapp, one of the young stars of Stranger Things.
- Renaldo Matadeen reports that season 3 of Stranger Things is already in the works.
- Joel Cunningham shares nine books for Stranger Things fans.
Comments on Blade Runner 2049:
- Lauren Jernigan declares with respect to Blade Runner 2049 that bad representation is not representation at all.
- Art L. Powell explains why Christians need to see Blade Runner 2049.
- Germain Lussier reports that there were plans to cut Blade Runner 2049 into two films.
Awards:
- Voting has opened for the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards for science fiction, fantasy, horror, YA speculative fiction and many other genres.
- The winner of the 2017 BookNest Fantasy Award has been announced.
- The winner of the Seat 14C Writing Contest has been announced.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Chris Winkle shares some lessons to be learned from flat writing.
- The Puppet Show shares some tips for researching a story setting.
- Jeff Somers shares 13 books which provide a master class in science fiction and fantasy writing.
- Chad Gills shares seven secrets of writing from the some of the best writers in the world.
- Lance S.A. Nielsen shares his top ten writing tips.
- Chris Mandeville shares a list of useful tips and tools for NaNoWriMo.
- Dan Belmont wonders whether to cheat at NaNoWriMo.
- Chuck Wendig shares a recipe for NaNoWriMo success.
- James Prescott explains how to unlock a tsunami of words.
- Ryan J. Pelton advises writers to forget all advice and just write.
- Julianne Q. Johnson explains how to write an effective blurb.
- Heather Rose Jones talks about her new promotional activities.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch discusses the worrying practice of copyright squatting.
- Maggie Stiefvater talks about the hazards of book piracy.
Interviews:
- Michaeline Duskova interviews Lois McMaster Bujold.
- Joel Cunningham interviews Kameron Hurley.
- Matt Staggs interviews Myke Cole.
- Devin Coggan interviews Ken Liu.
- Andrew Liptak interviews Joe Hill.
- Rob Bedford interviews Joe Hill.
- Kelly McEvers interviews Grady Hendrix.
- Jose Luis de Vincente interviews Kim Stanley Robinson.
- Shellie Horst interviews A.J. Grimmelhaus.
- Farid Ul-Haq interviews Thomas Goyette.
- Erin Carson interviews Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of Avengers: Infinity War.
Reviews:
- Liz Bourke reviews Barbary Station by R.E. Stearns.
- Shana DuBois also reviews Barbary Station by R.E. Stearns.
- Paul Weimer reviews Behind the Throne by K.B. Wagers.
- Mark Yon reviews Infinite Stars, edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt.
- Aaron Pound reviews Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey.
- Farid Ul-Haq reviews Addict by Matt Doyle.
- Rob Bedford reviews Siege Line by Myke Cole.
- Corrina Lawson reviews Jade City by Fonda Lee.
- J.C. Kang reviews The Crimson Queen by Alec Hutson.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Weaver's Lament by Emma Newman.
- Mark Yon reviews The Lost Child of Lychford by Paul Cornell.
- Brit Mandelo reviews Six Months, Three Days, Five Others by Charlie Jane Anders.
- Sam Reader reviews Malice of Crows by Lila Bowen.
- Michelle Garza reviews Ugly Little Things by Todd Keisling.
- Sam Reader reviews Kill Creek by Scott Thomas.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Volume 5 of Halloween Carnival, edited by Brian James Freeman.
- Ceridwen Christensen reviews Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr by John Crowley.
- Clifton Hill reviews Fatemarked by David Estes.
Crowdfunding:
- Sword and Sonnet, an anthology of stories about battle poets edited by Aidan Doyle, Rachael K. Jones and E. Catherine Tobler, is looking for funding.
- The Empress of Timbra, a fantasy novel by Karen Healey and Robyn Fleming, is looking for funding.
Con reports:
- Laurence Mackin reports about the Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin, Ireland.
- Deirdre Falvey reports that some Stoker scholars claims that the Bram Stoker Festival does not have sufficient links in Stoker and is instead more of a commercial Halloween event.
- This Is Horror reports about two panels at Necronomicon in Providence, Rhode Island, and the Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon.
- Karla Adam reports about the exhibition "Harry Potter: A History of Magic" at the British Library in London, UK.
- Howard Jacobson wonders whether we need literary festivals.
Science and technology:
- An interstellar asteroid might have been spotted for the first time.
- Why don't we have artificial gravity in space?
- A hidden chamber has been detected inside the Great Pyramid in Gize.
- Brain imaging may help to prevent suicides.
Free online fiction:
- "To Us May Grace Be Given" by L.S. Johnson in GigaNotoSaurus.
- "The Mutable Borders of Love" by Leslie What in Lightspeed.
- "The Faerie Tree" by Kathleen Kayembe in Lightspeed.
- "Presque Vu" by Nino Cipri in Liminal Stories.
- "The Tablet of Scaptur" by Julia Keller in Tor.com.
- "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving at Tor.com.
- "Blue Sky Volume 2: Redemption" by M.A. Powers.
- "Just to Be Clear, the Witch-King of Angmar was an Insignificant Volunteer in the Great Army of the Dark Lord Sauron" by Bob Vulfov in McSweeney's.
Odds and ends:
- Watch a trailer for The Last Jedi.
- Watch a trailer for Justice League.
- Watch a trailer for Downsizing.
- Watch a teaser and a behind the scenes clip for Stargate Origins.
- Watch a vintage jazz style cover version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" performed by Wayne Brady.
- Make robber steak as described in Dracula by Bram Stoker.
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