Hello once again, friends and readers! Welcome back to the Weekly Roundup, where I practice the art of summary (with a bit of awkward alliteration thrown in for good measure) in order to recap our recent genre delights. Buckle your safety belts, keep your hands inside the vehicle, and let’s ride the rollercoaster that was this week!
Monday
Michael Libling is our guest in the House of MFT this week, and we’re celebrating the upcoming release of his debut novel, Hollywood North. Libling’s brought us a speculative sampler that appeals to your auditory and visual sensibilities. From classic films to radio plays, comics to novels, and even pop music thrown in for good measure, these are the favorites that inspired Libling, and we’re sure you’ll find inspiration here, too.
Tuesday
Calie continues her exploratory series Changing the Map, with the second of her three-part look at urban fantasy. After covering Emma Bull’s game-changing The War for the Oaks in part one, this leg of the journey examines the work of Charles de Lint and his ubiquitous town of Newford, the pivotal characters he’s created, and how he plays with gender, villainy, and heroism. Take a look!
Meanwhile, our Tuesday is tubular with the addition of our second post, a Sound Off! on the third season of Stranger Things. Join Shara and Sherry as they discuss both new and returning characters, crazy plots, budding relationships, nostalgia trips, fabulous uniforms, and much more. How does this season compare to the others? Read their verdict here.
Wednesday
Erin offers us a look at Hulu’s anthology horror series, Into the Dark. A unique series with the tagline “Twelve Months. Twelve twisted tales,” Erin reviews the first six episodes of the series, starting with October and working through to March. Each episode has a different taste not only due to the varied holiday themes, but with the use of different writers and directors. Erin gives you spoiler-free, rated reviews for each. You don’t want to miss it!
Thursday
Nu takes on the fourth season of the newly-resurrected Lucifer, which found a home at Netflix after Fox cancelled the series. Now that Lucifer has severed ties with network TV, does the change to web-streaming have any bearing on the show the fans brought back to life? How does season four manage after season three’s shocking cliffhanger? Does the devil get his due? Get the delicious, spoilery lowdown here.
Friday
The gang at Speculative Chic comes together for a Roundtable to celebrate what LGBTQIA+ creators have to offer! From quintessential cosplay to murderous mermaids; from a retributive deer deity to the ending of an epic hero, these are the works that fill us with pride and gratitude for the contributions from the LGBTQIA+ community. Join J.L., Kelly, Nancy, and me in sharing the love!
Book Club
How’s your first semester at Brakebills coming along? There’s still time to enroll if you haven’t already! We’re talking about Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, our back-to-college themed pick for August’s Book Club! If you’re a fan of Syfy’s TV series, why not check out the book that started it all? If you’re interested in seeing what a grown-up cousin of Harry Potter would be, give it a look. You’ve got plenty of time still, so get to work!
Welcome back from the Roundup! Did you enjoy the ride? Isn’t that a big part of what summer’s all about? Festivals and fireworks…’tis the season, after all. Back in the States, Independence Day has come and gone, but county and state fairs are ramping up, and there’s always time to visit your favorite amusement park for thrills and fun. It’s the same here in Japan — it’s 祭り (matsuri) season, where towns and cities all over hold their summer festivals based around shinto and local traditions. No matter where you are, dress for the warm weather, load up on your favorite greasy food, take in some fireworks, and have a fun time at a fair near you. See you next time!
No Comments