Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine January/February 2024

Cover art by Tom Roberts

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine January/February 2024 edited by Janet Hutchings Despite the cover date, this issue of the venerable mystery story magazine hit newsstands in December 2023, so is the Christmas issue as well as the Sherlock Holmes tribute. I bought this issue and promptly had it buried under a to read pile,… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine January/February 2024

Movie Review: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Aunty Entity oversees the trial by combat.

Movie Review: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) directed by George Miller It has been a number of years since Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) somehow evaded the remainder of Lord Humungus’ raiders at the end of The Road Warrior. How many years? Uhh…look! He’s got camels now! And a monkey! But not for long, as an aviator named… Continue reading Movie Review: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Book Review: The Case of the Mythical Monkeys

Book Review: The Case of the Mythical Monkeys by Erle Stanley Gardner Working as a secretary for scandalous writer Mauvis Meade was a pretty good gig for Gladys Doyle. She didn’t ask too many questions when Mauvis asked her to take a meeting at a ski resort with a Hollywood publicist. Her boss even gave… Continue reading Book Review: The Case of the Mythical Monkeys

Comic Book Review: Future Quest Presents Volume 1

Comic Book Review: Future Quest Presents Volume 1 edited by Joey Cavalieri One of the effects of the many corporate mergers that have taken place over the last few decades is that the rights to the old Hanna-Barbera cartoons are now owned by Warner Communications, the same folks that own DC Comics. A few years… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Future Quest Presents Volume 1

Anime Review: Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Naruto has goals.

Anime Review: Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006) directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru The ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire have been hired for a new assignment. The epicurean Prince Michiru of the Moon Kingdom and his spoiled son Hikaru are returning home after a long tour… Continue reading Anime Review: Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Book Review: If This Goes On

Gotta love this cover "old man yells at rocket."

Book Review: If This Goes On edited by Charles Nuetzel The “if this goes on” story is a staple of short science fiction. Pick a current trend like “women not wearing hats anymore” or “cat videos” and extend it out to an exaggerated conclusion. For example, the Robert Heinlein story of that name, which posits… Continue reading Book Review: If This Goes On

Book Review: Five Weeks in a Balloon

Book Review: Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne It is 1863, and Dr. Samuel Ferguson has a plan to do something no man has done before, cross the entire continent of Africa from west to east! But he’s not going to do it on foot or riding animal, but in a balloon. You… Continue reading Book Review: Five Weeks in a Balloon

Manga Review: Fruits Basket Volume 8

Manga Review: Fruits Basket Volume 8 by Natsuki Takaya Tohru Honda’s extended family sucks. After her mother died, her aunt and uncle made it clear they wanted nothing to do with the child. But the optimistic compassion and strong work ethic Tohru inherited from her mother served her well. She got a part time job… Continue reading Manga Review: Fruits Basket Volume 8

Movie Review: Dead-Alive (1992)

Movie Review: Dead-Alive (1992) directed by Peter Jackson Times have been tough on Skull Island since the colonialist exploiters stole the island’s biggest attraction, King Kong, back in the 1930s. And now another colonialist has come for a specimen of the Sumatran Rat Monkey, which despite the name is found only on Skull Island. Explorer Stewart… Continue reading Movie Review: Dead-Alive (1992)

Movie Review: Chamber of Horrors

Chamber of Horrors (1940) directed by Norman Lee When Lord Charles Selford dies, he leaves his fortune to his young son John or in the case of John’s death, to his equally young niece June Lansdowne, who lives in Canada. He appoints his friend Silva as guardian for John. However, the Selford family jewels are locked… Continue reading Movie Review: Chamber of Horrors