Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction Science Fact December 1984

The cover by Jack Gaughan for "The Elemental" is more symbolic than an actual scene from the story.

Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction Science Fact December 1984 edited by Stanley Schmidt Continuing to dig through my pile of stuff that I’ve been meaning to reread, I found this issue from the year I actually subscribed to Analog.. This was an indulgence as I was underemployed at the time, but a magazine in the… Continue reading Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction Science Fact December 1984

Book Review: Rod String Nail Cloth

Book Review: Rod String Nail Cloth by T. Aaron Cisco The subtitle of this book is “An Afrofuturist Mixtape.” You can read more about Afrofuturism at this Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrofuturism but for the purposes of this review, it’s the intersection of speculative fiction with the African Diaspora experience and cultures, and in particular the experience… Continue reading Book Review: Rod String Nail Cloth

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021

Cover by Brian Stauffer

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021 edited by Janet Hutchings “The years keep coming and they just keep coming.” It seems like just a few months ago I reviewed a 75th anniversary issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, but in fact it was five years ago, and here’s the 80th anniversary issue. It’s… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021

Anime Review: Godzilla: Singular Point

The Big G eventually shows up in person.

Anime Review: Godzilla: Singular Point It is the year 2030, and a crystal radio set in an abandoned mansion suddenly starts receiving a transmission. It’s a lullaby from India, seemingly broadcast from a government installation with a secret in the basement. The installation calls in graduate student Mei Kamino, who has a double major in… Continue reading Anime Review: Godzilla: Singular Point

Movie Review: Evil Dead 2

If Ash looks this bad after ten minutes of the movie, you can imagine how damaged he is by the end!

Movie Review: Evil Dead 2 (1987) directed by Sam Raimi Ashley “Ash” J. Williams (Bruce Campbell) has located an isolated cabin for he and his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) to spend some quality time together. He’s pretty sure the owners aren’t present. And indeed, when the young couple arrives, they find the place empty, though it… Continue reading Movie Review: Evil Dead 2

Comic Book Review: 2000 A.D. Progs 2206-2209

Comic Book Review: 2000 A.D. Progs 2206-2209 edited by Tharg Over the years, the long-running British speculative fiction comic paper 2000 AD has strayed from its original demographic of British schoolboys somewhat. As in, it’s got a lot more “not safe for school” content. As a way of allowing younger readers to enjoy a taste,… Continue reading Comic Book Review: 2000 A.D. Progs 2206-2209

Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Volume 2

Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Justice League of America Volume 2 edited by Julius Schwartz The Justice League of America debuted in The Brave and the Bold #28 (March 1960.) It was a retread of the Golden Age Justice Society of America, teaming up several of DC Comics’ superhero characters to promote all of them.… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Volume 2

Book Review: World’s Best Science Fiction: Third Series

Book Review: World’s Best Science Fiction: Third Series edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Terry Carr (also printed as “World’s Best Science Fiction 1967”) The introduction to this volume of science fiction stories from 1966 mentions that there was a tendency to longer stories in the field, perhaps because many of the ideas required more… Continue reading Book Review: World’s Best Science Fiction: Third Series

Comic Book Review: Judge Dredd Megazine #427

Cover by Nick Percival

Comic Book Review: Judge Dredd Megazine #427 edited by Matt Smith It’s time for another issue of this 2000 AD spinoff monthly. “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping” art by Agustin Padilla, script by Rory McConville, is a mainline Judge Dredd story. It parodies the “toy of the year” frenzy in which a hot new… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Judge Dredd Megazine #427

Movie Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

"Aunt Witch" is fast on the uptake.

Movie Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) directed by Mamoru Hosoda Makoto thinks of herself as an ordinary high school girl, neither brainy or stupid, neither athletic or clumsy, usually good luck slightly outweighing the bad. She also enjoys hanging out with her buddies Koutaro (a serious lad who wants to be a doctor… Continue reading Movie Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time