Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein
So what does an author do after writing one of the most beloved science fiction novels of all time and in the process picking up his third out of an eventual four Hugo awards? That was precisely the conundrum that future sci-fi Grand Master Robert A. Heinlein faced in 1962, after winning the Hugo for Stranger in a Strange Land, and he responded to the problem by switching gears a bit. His follow-up novel, Glory Road,
October 23rd, 2015. Sandy Ferber and Kat Hooper´s rating: 2, 4 | Robert A. Heinlein | Audio, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 9 comments |
A Time of Changes by Robert Silverberg
After four years of successive losses, sci-fi great Robert Silverberg finally picked up his first Nebula Award in 1972. His 1967 novel Thorns had lost to Samuel R. Delany‘s The Einstein Intersection, his brilliant 1968 novel The Masks of Time had been bested by Alexei Panshin‘s equally brilliant Rite of Passage, 1969’s time travel tale Up the Line had succumbed to Ursula K.
October 23rd, 2015. Sandy Ferber, Stuart Starosta and Kat Hooper´s rating: 5 | Robert Silverberg | Audio, Nebula Award, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
The Four Skulls Of Jonathan Drake directed by Edward L. Cahn
Back in the early 1960s, The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959) used to be aired quite often on NYC television. But somehow, I managed to miss all those many showings, although my young mind couldn’t help feeling that the film boasted one of the coolest-sounding titles that I’d ever heard. And then, as happened with so many other cheaply made “B” films of the time, it seemed to disappear, and remained virtually impossible to see for many years to come.
October 23rd, 2015. Sandy Ferber | Film / TV, Horror | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
It’s time again for one of our favorite games!
Please help us rename this atrocious-looking science fiction novel by John Rackham and DAW books (November, 1973).
Got a suggestion for a horrible cover that needs renaming? Please send it to Kat.
We love this game!
October 22nd, 2015. FanLit | Thoughtful Thursday | 20 comments |
Science of the Magical: From the Holy Grail to Love Potions to Superpowers by Matt Kaplan
I was wholly intrigued by the idea behind Matt Kaplan’s Science of the Magical — an attempt to lift the thick veil of myth and see if any of its typical magical elements (elixirs of immortality, love potions, oracles, etc.) might have any basis in reality. To be honest, I ended up a bit disappointed, finding the premise stronger than the execution, but Kaplan’s charmingly breezy voice and his willingness to dive right into his exploration went a good way to ameliorate my disappointment in the substance.
October 22nd, 2015. Bill Capossere´s rating: 3.5 | Non-fiction | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Pnume by Jack Vance
The Pnume is the final book in Jack Vance’s PLANET OF ADVENTURE quartet. These four short novels, which were published between 1968 and 1970, combine to tell the story of Adam Reith’s adventures on the planet Tschai after his spaceship crash-landed there. Adam has been trying to gather resources so that he can build a new spaceship and leave Tschai. Besides just wanting to return home, he also wants to warn Earth that there are other sentient creatures out there who may threaten Earth.
October 22nd, 2015. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Jack Vance | Audio | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
I Bury The Living directed by Albert Band
Featuring a story line worthy of inclusion in the soon-to-premiere Twilight Zone TV show on CBS, 1958’s I Bury the Living would seem to be a natural pick for “sleeper” status, and indeed, the reputation of this minor classic has only grown over the years. Deservedly so? Well, having just watched the film for the first time, I would have to say “yes” and “no.” The film is a surprisingly effective thriller for most of its 76-minute length, but unfortunately – for this viewer,
October 22nd, 2015. Sandy Ferber | Film / TV, Horror | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Ursula K LeGuin was born on this date in 1929. Her father was an anthropologist and her mother was a writer. LeGuin got her bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe and a Master’s from Columbia, and received a Fulbright grant to study in France. She began writing science fiction stories when she was nine, to keep up with her brothers, she has side. She sent her first story out when she was eleven years old, to Astounding Science Fiction, but it was rejected. After that, though, things turned around, and she has won four Nebulas, two Hugos,
October 21st, 2015. Marion Deeds and Skye Walker | World Wide Wednesday | 7 comments |
The Terminal Beach by J.G. Ballard
J.G. Ballard is best known for his autobiographical novel Empire of the Sun (1984), along with his early novels like The Drowned World (1962), The Crystal World (1964), The Atrocity Exhibition (1970), Crash (1973), Concrete Island (1974), and High-Rise (1975). But many consider his best work to be his huge catalog of short stories,
October 21st, 2015. Stuart Starosta´s rating: 4 | J.G. Ballard | Edge, Short Fiction, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
From a Buick 8 by Stephen King
Stephen King tends to get hammered in the press and by literati. He’s pulp, they say. He’s popular, they say. Nobody can be as productive (he publishes an average of two books per year) and still write quality, they say. I remember starting college in Boston in 1988, shortly after U2 released their huge Joshua Tree album. The established U2 fans rejected it outright as a ’sell out’. They couldn’t believe that their heroes sold out to ‘the man’ and became…
October 21st, 2015. Jason Golomb´s rating: 3.5 | Stephen King | Horror, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 14 comments |
It's hardly a private conversation, Becky. You're welcome to add your 2 cents anytime!
If the state of the arts puzzles you, and you wonder why so many novels are "retellings" and formulaic rework,…
I picked my copy up last week and I can't wait to finish my current book and get started! I…
Gentlemen, I concur! (Forgive me for jumping into your convo)
The cover is amazing. I love how the graphic novel (and the review!) hewed close to the theme of "good…