Magazine Review: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction April 1978

Cover by David Hardy, riffing on the classic War of the Worlds scene where the Thunder Child battles the tripods.

Magazine Review: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction April 1978 edited by Edward L. Ferman This issue of the long-running speculative fiction magazine is “All-British”, which the editorial material notes was one of the easiest theme issues to do, since they already had a number of stories by British authors on hand. They dug… Continue reading Magazine Review: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction April 1978

Webtoon Review: Kid Cosmic

From left: Jo, Tuna Sandwich, Papa G and Kid. (Rosa's sitting opposite them.)

Webtoon Review: Kid Cosmic “Kid” lives in a wide spot on I-70 in the American Southwest desert. There’s Mo’s Diner, a truck stop where most of the regulars have their own favorite stools, Flores Florists, the junkyard where Kid lives with his grandfather Papa G (a found objects artist), and that’s about it. Orphaned some… Continue reading Webtoon Review: Kid Cosmic

Book Review: A Treasury of Science Fiction

Book Review: A Treasury of Science Fiction edited by Groff Conklin “A Treasury of Science Fiction” was first published as a hardback in 1948; the edition I read was the paperback reprint from 1957 which only contains eight of the original thirty stories. This was one of the first major science fiction collections, and set… Continue reading Book Review: A Treasury of Science Fiction

Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventures May 1954

Cover by Clarence Doore, neither of these scenarios appear in this issue.

Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventures May 1954 edited by Harry Harrison This is the final issue of the magazine, one of the Lester del Rey-edited issues of which I reviewed earlier. We open the issue with “The Science in Science Fiction”, an editorial by Harry Harrison. He’s thrilled about the expansion of types of science… Continue reading Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventures May 1954

Manga Review: Basara Vol. 1

Manga Review: Basara, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tamura In the early 21st Century, a disaster befell the Earth, drastically altering its climate and causing Japan’s civilization to crumble. But that was in the distant past, and the islands have become united again under a feudalistic society ruled by the Golden King. Fearful of being overthrown… Continue reading Manga Review: Basara Vol. 1

Movie Review: Terminator 2: Judgement Day

T-1000 reveals its default form.

Movie Review: Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) directed by James Cameron In the near future year of 1995, two visitors from the slightly further future of 2029 arrive. One has been sent by the hostile artificial intelligence Skynet to kill the leader of the future Resistance, John Connor (Edward Furlong) while he is still a child,… Continue reading Movie Review: Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Book Review: The Time Bender

Book Review: The Time Bender by Keith Laumer Lafayette O’Leary’s life is not exactly going well. He’s an underpaid draftsman at a small town foundry, whose diet consists largely of sardines and the cheapest grade of taffy. His entertainment is books from the library, viewed with suspicion by his nosy landlady and sponging neighbor. Tonight,… Continue reading Book Review: The Time Bender

Movie Review: The Breed (2001)

Computer graphics of the future!

The Breed (2001) dir. Michael Oblowitz It is the “near future” and the United States of America has become an openly authoritarian state with a vaguely East European vibe. Despite this, there are still more or less regular cops. When a young woman is kidnapped, police detective Steven Grant (Bokeem Woodbine) and his partner track down… Continue reading Movie Review: The Breed (2001)

Movie Review: Ready Player One

Art3mis and Parzifal react to yet another 80s reference.

Movie Review: Ready Player One (2018) directed by Steven Spielberg It is the dark future of Columbus, Ohio in the year 2045. Ecological disaster and economic collapse have made the outside world unbearable for many of the world’s citizens. Fortunately, there’s an online virtual world known as the Oasis that they can escape to. But worse… Continue reading Movie Review: Ready Player One

Movie Review: Total Recall (1990)

Quaid demonstrates how to use the new at-home COVID-19 test.

Movie Review: Total Recall (1990) directed by Paul Verhoeven Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has a recurring dream set on Mars. In it, he is exploring the landscape with a woman who is not his wife Lori (Sharon Stone) when he has an accident and his helmet breaks, causing Quaid to suffocate. When he awakens, Quaid wants… Continue reading Movie Review: Total Recall (1990)