Comic Book Review: The Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics

Comic Book Review: The Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics written by Jeff Lemire, art by various. Michael Holt, codename Mr. Terrific, has been off-planet for some time dealing with extra-dimensional threats. During that time, his company, Terrifitech, was taken over in an underhanded manner by ethically dubious multimillionaire Simon Stagg. Mr. Terrific had written… Continue reading Comic Book Review: The Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics

Book Review: All Systems Red

Book Review: All Systems Red by Martha Wells Murderbot does not want to kill all humans. Or even very many humans. It just doesn’t feel comfortable interacting with humans outside its security unit (SecUnit) duties, and would rather spend its spare time watching the endless hours of human entertainment available in the various archives. (Right… Continue reading Book Review: All Systems Red

Movie Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Roy's new project.

Movie Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) directed by Steven Spielberg We are not alone in the universe. There are beings from beyond the stars, who have visited Earth from time to time. Sometimes there have even been “close encounters”, sightings and nebulous evidence. Now, perhaps, it is time for a true meeting in… Continue reading Movie Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Movie Review: Atom Age Vampire

Professor Levin mid-transformation

Movie Review: Atom Age Vampire (1960) directed by Anton Giuilo Majano (original title “Seddok, l’erede di Satana”) Brilliant scientist Professor Alberto Levin (Alberto Lupo) is working on a revolutionary cure for skin cancer and scarring, inspired by his research on radiation survivors. With his faithful assistant Monique Riviere (Franca Parisi) and mute manservant Sacha (Roberto Bertea),… Continue reading Movie Review: Atom Age Vampire

Manga Review: The Crater

Manga Review: The Crater by Osamu Tezuka In the late 1960s, Osamu Tezuka’s career was facing a crisis. He was still popular, with publishers quite willing to buy more of the kid-friendly material he’d become famous for. But he wasn’t a trend-setter anymore. The new generation of manga creators was into gekiga, more serious and… Continue reading Manga Review: The Crater

Book Review: Costigan’s Needle

Book Review: Costigan’s Needle by Jerry Sohl The time: the very near future of 1953. The place, Chicago, Illinois. Engineer Devan Traylor would rather be at his Florida winter home with his wife and children for their first long break in years, but he’s just learned that Inland Electronics, the company he’s on the board… Continue reading Book Review: Costigan’s Needle

Anime Review: Marvel Anime: X-Men

Hisako is shiny and new.

Anime Review: Marvel Anime: X-Men The Tohoku region of northern Japan has an unusually high number of mutants in its population. Recently, some of them have gone missing. Given the general prejudice against mutants, there hasn’t been much interest in looking for them, especially after a couple of police officers who tried wound up dead… Continue reading Anime Review: Marvel Anime: X-Men

Book Review: Away and Beyond

Book Review: Away and Beyond by A.E. van Vogt This paperback anthology is a partial reprint of the first hardcover collection of A.E. van Vogt short stories from 1952, with 7 of the 9 1940s tales. It’s not explained why two stories were dropped, but my research suggests they were lesser works. “The Great Engine”… Continue reading Book Review: Away and Beyond

Comic Book Review: Fleetway Picture Library Classics Presents: Rick Random

Comic Book Review: Fleetway Picture Library Classics Presents: Rick Random art by Ron Turner In the far future of the 2040s, Earth belongs to the Interplanetary Board, a coalition of worlds both in the Sol System and beyond. As it just so happens, it’s headquartered in what used to be the country of Great Britain.… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Fleetway Picture Library Classics Presents: Rick Random

Book Review: Rediscovery: Science Fiction by Women Volume 2 (1953-1957)

Cover by Frank Kelly Freas--not illustrating any of the stories in this volume.

Book Review: Rediscovery: Science Fiction by Women Volume 2 (1953-1957) edited by Gideon Marcus As the introduction by Janice L. Newman points out, women have written science fiction all along. The percentage of them getting published at any given time in the magazines and books waxed and waned, but they were always there. In the… Continue reading Book Review: Rediscovery: Science Fiction by Women Volume 2 (1953-1957)