Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024 edited by Trevor Quachri Let’s look at a recent issue of this long-running science fiction (and fact) magazine. The opening editorial by Howard V. Hendrix, “Machines Passing for People Passing for Machines”, which among other things discusses the Turing Test, where a simulated person tries to… Continue reading Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024
Tag: daughters
Book Review: Gene Autry and the Ghost Riders
Book Review: Gene Autry and the Ghost Riders by Lewis B. Patten Gene Autry (1907-1998) was one of the world’s great cowboy singers, who did well in live performances, record sales, radio, movies and television. You may remember him from such classic songs as “Back in the Saddle Again” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Like… Continue reading Book Review: Gene Autry and the Ghost Riders
TV Review: Star Trek: Prodigy
TV Review: Star Trek: Prodigy The mining asteroid Tars Lamora is ruled with an iron fist by the ruthless being called The Diviner, his right hand robot Drednok and their army of robotic Watchers. Their “prisoners with jobs” are called “the Unwanted”, a motley assortment of criminals, slaves and abductees sold to the Diviner by… Continue reading TV Review: Star Trek: Prodigy
Comic Book Review: The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr
Comic Book Review: The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr by Nicolas Debon Louis Cyr (1863-1912) was undefeated in feats of strength during his lifetime, and was billed as “The Strongest Man in the World” when he performed for audiences, including as the main attraction of his own circus. This children’s book is a… Continue reading Comic Book Review: The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr
Movie Review: Sword of the Beast
Movie Review: Sword of the Beast (1965) directed by Hideo Gosha It is 1857, towards the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Commodore Perry’s ships have forced Japan to open its ports, and social change is rippling across Japan. Yuuki Gennosuke (Mikijiro Hira) thought he was going to help bring reform, but instead wound up killing his… Continue reading Movie Review: Sword of the Beast
Movie Review: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Movie Review: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) directed by Peter R. Hunt James Bond (George Lazenby), agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is a bit at loose ends. He’s spent the last two years trying to track down Ernst Stavros Blofeld (Telly Savalas) with no luck. M (Bernard Lee) would like 007 to move on… Continue reading Movie Review: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Movie Review: The Return of Dracula (1958)
Movie Review: The Return of Dracula (1958) directed by Paul Landres It is a known fact that Count Dracula (Francis Lederer) is a real person, a vampire who drains the blood of the living and creates others of his kind. He’s been terrorizing central Europe for decades, evading attempts to permanently destroy him. At the beginning… Continue reading Movie Review: The Return of Dracula (1958)
Movie Review: Killer Clans
Movie Review: Killer Clans (1976) directed by Chor Yuen, (Chinese title “Liu xing hu die jian”) Meng Hsin-Wan (Tsung Wa) is a top assassin of the Chinese underworld, working out of a brothel the madam of which is his boss. There’s another assassin on the premises, but he’s become an alcoholic since a certain incident… Continue reading Movie Review: Killer Clans
Movie Review: Monster from Green Hell
Movie Review: Monster from Green Hell (1957) directed by Kenneth G. Crane The Space Race is on, but before a human can be shot into orbit, the risks need to be assessed. Therefore, the United States has put scientists Dr. Quent Brady (Jim Davis) and Dan Morgan (Robert Griffith) in charge of a program for… Continue reading Movie Review: Monster from Green Hell
Book Review: The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries
Book Review: The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler While stories that could be considered “mysteries” in some sense have existed as long as writing, and perhaps a bit before, the short story mystery came into its own during the lifetime of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). This volume collects forty-nine notable stories from… Continue reading Book Review: The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries