March 17, 2020
Are you hiding from the outside world right now? Practicing “social isolation”? Welcome to my life! There are always good reasons to stay inside, especially if you’re an extreme introvert. However, there are other good reasons to sequester yourself. You may live in an area where COVID-19 has arrived. I’m so very sorry to hear that. If you’ve completed your…
March 13, 2020
This month’s Roundtable — the most tragic moments in sci fi, fantasy, and horror — was pitched by Kelly McCarty, and it’s so good because there’s a lot to choose from. One of the key components of a traditional epic is tragedy; and in all good storytelling, there must be stakes and the threat of danger to motivate characters and…
September 14, 2018
Music is everywhere! Our favorite moments in movies, video games, and television almost always have some kind of musical accompaniment. From the hauntingly beautiful “Light of the Seven” which accompanied a crucial scene in season six of Game of Thrones (no spoilers at the link) to the plethora of musical tidbits from the highway scene in the first Deadpool (seriously,…
August 21, 2018
Last month, we ventured into the bleak world of adult dystopias, offering warning signs to help you identify and flee. I noted that venturing into these speculative territories is highly discouraged, and that if you do unwisely visit, you will find your outcome bleak. There is little to no hope in the dystopian worlds – the adult versions at least.…
August 16, 2018
When a Buffy the Vampire Slayer television reboot was announced last month, it pretty much broke the internet. Many fans (myself included) couldn’t believe that Joss Whedon would dare reboot these characters. Initial reports said it would feature an African American Slayer as the lead, and Midnight, Texas creator Monica Owusu-Breen would serve as the new showrunner with Whedon as…
December 20, 2017
Every year on Christmas Eve, my friends and family perform an epic rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” People group up and choose numbers. We have a conductor. It’s loud and ridiculous, and probably the reason this idea popped into my head. So, my friends, come forth and join me in a chorus of “The Twelve Days of Spec…
April 19, 2017
Editor’s Note: Today we bring you not something a little different than our usual Sound Off for film review; today, we bring you an academic critical essay, and the title says it all. Yes, there will be spoilers. Enjoy! “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?…
October 6, 2016
Welcome to the bookstore, where conversations such as this can happen: Customer: Hi. I know this book just came out, but can I get it in paperback? Me: I’m sorry, ma’am, but it’s only available in hardcover. Customer: Well, I saw it at Target and they had it in paperback. Me: Ma’am, if you find the paperback at Target, I would love for…