Recent Book Reviews
SciFi and Beyond: A Librarian's Log
A bold adventure into realms unknown
Space Opera
Humanity has just been discovered by aliens. As part of the deal, they must send a representative to participate in the Megagalactic Grand Prix, a galaxy-wide singing competition. The Grand Prix is more than just a celebration of questionable musical choices, though. Ever since the Sentience Wars almost destroyed all civilizations in the galaxy a […]
Posted in Genre, Science Fiction
A conversation with Kevin Hearne, Chuck Wendig, and Fran Wilde.
Kevin Hearne, Chuck Wendig, and Fran Wilde stopped by the Free Library of Philadelphia on July 14, 2017. You can watch the entire program here or listen to it here. In conversation with Dena Heilik, Department Head of Philbrick Hall, the fiction department of the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Kevin Hearne […]
Posted in Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen/Young Adult
The Haunted Mesa (1987) by Louis L’Amour
When paranormal investigator Mike Raglan receives a panicked phone call from his friend Erik Hokart, he finds himself thrust into one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Southwestern United States. His investigation of Hokart’s disappearance while drawing him into a dimension spanning battle against a mysterious force and an ancient enemy. A couple weeks […]
Posted in Science Fiction
Adventures Through the Black Hole: Interstellar (2014) and Others
This weekend, Interstellar (2014, Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain) was released in theaters Interstellar promised to be a visionary science fiction film about hope, space exploration, and the future of mankind. But does it deliver on this promise? In my opinion, yes, but not without having a […]
Posted in Franchises, Movie Reviews, Science Fiction
Code V for Viral: Vampirism and Viruses
This week our column takes a look at a recent trend in vampire horror and science fiction where vampirism is not so much a supernatural condition or curse, but a science based disease. The works discussed here represent attempt to ground the vampire in a more naturalistic way, explore new societies in post-apocalyptic settings, and […]
Posted in Book Review, Horror, Movies, Science Fiction
New Movies: Only Lovers Left Alive, APP, Jodoroswky’s Dune
It used to be that tracking the latest in cutting edge horror, fantasy, and science fiction films required traveling to film festivals, tracking down second hand videotapes, of staking out the local art house or revival cinema to catch a limited engagement. And living in a non-major film market (or really anywhere outside of Los Angeles […]
Posted in Documentaries, Horror, Movie Reviews, Science Fiction
The Horrors of Domesticity: The Works of Ira Levin
Facing the complications and stresses of pregnancy as a couple attempts bring new life into the world. Striving and fighting to raise a child that can function in society as a compassionate, successful adult. Staring out the window at your suburban neighborhood and watching your identity stamped into conformity minute by passing minute. These are […]
Posted in Franchises, Horror, Science Fiction
Women of SF/Fantasy
March is Women’s History Month and I’d like to highlight some of my favorite women sci-fi and fantasy authors: Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Mercedes Lackey. In 1934, Andre Norton had her first novel, The Prince Commands published by Appleton–Century. One of her more well-known series is her Witch World saga. One […]
Posted in Fantasy, Science Fiction, Uncategorized
Science Fiction: Answering the Big ‘What If’ Question
Fantasy is the genre that explores our imaginations and takes us on glorious adventures. In a similar vein, horror flirts with the darker nature of humanity and gives rise to those things that go bump in the night. Science fiction, though, is meant to answer the question “What if?” What if science gave us the […]
Posted in Science Fiction
