Hello once again! I’m writing to you from lovely Kumamoto as the Heisei era winds down to its final days, and the new emperor Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. That sounds so majestic as I write it! And I think it’s exciting to be able to say I’m living through my third Japanese era (Showa to Heisei and now Reiwa as of May 1st). Of course, it also makes me sound old. That being said, let’s dive into this week, shall we?
Monday
Poet Troy Harkin celebrates his new collection Casting Shadows and honors us with the latest MFT! Harkin’s post is a love letter to The Twilight Zone, whose unique format and use of talented writers developed an appreciation of all things anthology, including short stories from such authors as Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, and Charles Beaumont. Harkin found that “middle ground between light and shadow,” and it shapes his work and interests today. Check it out!
Tuesday
Carey Ballard swoops in with a punderful title and post in our Chain Reaction series. This time Casey examines a special motif in fantasy fiction: standing stones, monoliths, and menhirs, oh my! These formations have fascinated for thousands of years, especially with their roles in religion, rituals, and magic. It’s a perfect source of material for fiction writers and fantasists, and this post covers some great works that go beyond Stonehenge. Open the portal here.
Wednesday
Kendra Merritt shares her experiences in parenting with a review of Shannon Hale and Dean Hale’s The Princess in Black, a chapter book that plays with superheroes and fairy tales. She hails it as one of the rare books adults can enjoy for nightly reading with their kids due to its humor, illustrations, and playful phrases. And how can you not delight in a name like Frimplepants the Unicorn?
Thursday
With the Nebula Awards forthcoming, Nancy O’Toole Meservier reviews one of the nominees — R. F. Kuang’s The Poppy War. The story follows Rin, a poor girl accepted into the prestigious military academy Sinegard, as she deals with a slew of not-so-small problems, including awakening shamanic powers and an old enemy lurking across the sea. Nancy guides you through her reading experience and offers solid recommendations for those who would seek out this buzzworthy book.
We also have a Sound Off! from Nicole Taft on the latest movie to grace the screen: Hellboy, the third movie (and reboot) of the franchise, starring David Harbour in the titular role. With new faces and new adventures, how does the next iteration of Hellboy hold up? Check out a spoiler-free, fun breakdown here.
Friday
Merrin leads this month’s book club discussion of Patricia A. McKillip’s The Bards of Bone Plain. A novel of hidden realms, secret histories, and mysterious languages (plus a gorgeous cover by Kinuko Craft), Merrin supplies the premise and her take on the book. What’s yours? Join in the comments — we’d love to hear what you think!
Book Club
With our Book Club discussion wrapped, it’s time to get cracking on the May selection, Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. Because “May the Fourth be with you” is a geek holiday courtesy of Star Wars, we’ve offered up an action-packed intergalactic space opera to tide you over until The Rise of Skywalker comes out. Also, don’t forget to vote for June’s Book Club pick!
Thanks for stopping by this week! I hope your April wraps up nicely and your May starts sunny, warm, and breezy. In the meantime, I look forward to the coronation of the emperor and the dawn of the Reiwa era. Hmm…if you were crowned ruler, what name would you give your reigning era? Comment below, and hold tight ’til next week for some more Roundup coming your way!
Look, Hellboy has a crown! What would his era be called?
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