Open Thread: Minicon 54

Designed by Melissa Howela

Open Thread: Minicon 54 My involvement with Minicon started early this annum, as I was approached by one of the co-chairs about becoming head of Programming. Citing my entire lack of managerial experience and continued inability to organize, I declined. But I did agree to help the Programming department out. I pitched a bunch of… Continue reading Open Thread: Minicon 54

Book Review: The Rise of Io

Book Review: The Rise of Io by Wesley Chu Note: This review contains SPOILERS for the previous Tao trilogy, of which I have previously reviewed The Deaths of Tao. It has been a decade since the end of the Alien World War, when nations under the influence of either the Genjix or Prophus factions of… Continue reading Book Review: The Rise of Io

Book Review: Murder on the Titania

Book Review: Murder on the Titania by Alex Acks Colonel Geoffrey Douglas is experiencing a lot of stress recently. He’s just gotten a new job as chief of security for the Grand Duke of Denver, and his first task is to ensure that the jewelry made for the Grand Duke’s daughter’s wedding gets safely from… Continue reading Book Review: Murder on the Titania

Magazine Review: Wonder Stories January 1934

Magazine Review: Wonder Stories January 1934 editor-in-chief Hugo Gernsback Wonder Stories was one of the first dedicated science fiction magazines, started up after Hugo Gernsback lost control of Amazing Stories.  It started in 1929 as two magazines titled Air Wonder Stories and Science Wonder Stories before being consolidated in 1930. He held onto it until 1936 when financial considerations made him sell it to Beacon Magazines. They… Continue reading Magazine Review: Wonder Stories January 1934

Comic Book Review: Last Pick

Comic Book Review: Last Pick by Jason Walz Three years ago, aliens invaded. They easily crushed Earth’s militaries, and rounded up all the humans between 16 and 65 who were not deemed “unfit” for their purposes. Why beings with such advanced technology needed physical slave labor was not a topic the invaders chose to discuss. The remaining children, senior… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Last Pick

Comic Book Review: Kaijumax Season Two: The Seamy Underbelly

Comic Book Review: Kaijumax Season Two: The Seamy Underbelly by Zander Cannon Note: This review contains spoilers for the previous volume, and you may want to read the review for that one first. After last season’s explosive ending, Electrogor and Green Humongo have managed to escape the title prison. Electrogor’s anxious to get to the cave where he left his children, but they need… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Kaijumax Season Two: The Seamy Underbelly

Book Review: Cat Pictures Please and Other Stories

Book Review: Cat Pictures Please and Other Stories by Naomi Kritzer This is the first collection of speculative fiction stories by Naomi Kritzer, headlined by the title piece, which won a Hugo Award in 2016.   There’s seventeen stories in all. “Cat Pictures Please” is a sweet story about an artificial intelligence accidentally created from a… Continue reading Book Review: Cat Pictures Please and Other Stories

Comic Book Review: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018

Comic Book Review: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018 edited by Tharg The long-running 2000 AD British comic book has had many spin-off projects over the years, including various forms of once-a-year annuals.  The traditional time in the British comics industry for these is December, so that young people can get them as Christmas presents.   But if… Continue reading Comic Book Review: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018

Book Review: The Lost Millennium | The Road to the Rim

Book Review: The Lost Millennium by Walt & Leigh Richmond | The Road to the Rim by A. Bertram Chandler It’s time, again, to review an Ace Double, one of those formats so dear to my youth that has since vanished. The Lost Millennium has as its frame story an engineer being approached by an archaeologist about his… Continue reading Book Review: The Lost Millennium | The Road to the Rim

Comic Book Review: Ben 10: Deep Trouble

Comic Book Review: Ben 10: Deep Trouble written by Jason Henderson, pencils by Gordon Purcell, inks by Scott McRae When Ben Tennyson was ten years old, he went on a summer vacation with his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max.  Seemingly by coincidence, Ben stumbled upon an alien pod containing a device named the Omnitrix.  Bonding itself… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Ben 10: Deep Trouble