I have returned!!! Many thanks to Shara and Casey for covering for me during a break that started awesomely (Golden Week! Yay!), then abruptly deteriorated (respiratory infection! Boo!). Two weeks of disconnection ended up feeling more like two months, and I’m all discombobulated from the passage of time. I’m sure there were lots of exciting things happening in the speculative world this week, so let’s catch up together, shall we?
Monday
Author Kate Story graces us with her presence for our weekly MFT! What made Story’s favorites list? Why, a little bit of everything: epic fantasy à la J.R.R. Tolkien, the haunting fairy tale ballet Swan Lake, the wondrous worlds of Ursula Le Guin, the nostalgic enchantments of Elizabeth Goudge, the boldly-goings of Star Trek, the gripping Parable series by Octavia Butler, and more! Celebrate Story’s new release Antilia: Seer and Sacrifice with us by checking out her genre picks on MFT!
Tuesday
Merrin opens her Resolution Project by visiting Percy Jackson & the Olympians. In this post, she discusses rereading all five books in the series, including how she happened upon it (hello, Hollywood!) and gives her overall impression of the works as a whole. Author Rick Riordan has written more demigod books since Percy Jackson, and Merrin’s vowed to tackle them all for her project. But of course, one must always start at the beginning — so join us with the Percy Jackson reread and follow along as Merrin works her way through the rest of the pantheons!
Wednesday
We have a double-dose of awesome for Wednesday: a Sound Off! of Pokémon Detective Pikachu and a look at the addictive game Stardew Valley.
First, J.L. Gribble, Nancy O’ Toole Meservier, and Nicole Taft give their spoiler-free impressions of Detective Pikachu — the movie we weren’t sure anyone wanted but maybe turns out to be something we needed! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ As the contributors have shared, I too have grown up on Pokémon and raised an eyebrow when I first heard of this movie coming out. But after reading their post, I’m excited to give the film a chance. Pika pika!
Then, Casey Price shares her experience with the farming RPG/simulation Stardew Valley, a game that simultaneously escapes from and connects to the real world. In escapist terms, this game eats your time, as Casey will explain about the number of hours she’s logged. In real-world terms, this Stardew Valley isn’t just about farming, but creating (and sometimes ending) relationships, and tackling issues like mental health and gentrification. Take a look at Casey’s coverage here.
Thursday
We’ve created an epistolary “In Memoriam” for the fallen Avengers from End Game — so yes, definitely spoilers! But if you’ve seen the film and want to bask in heartfelt farewells with Nu Yang, this is the post for you. Who do you want to say goodbye to? How will you say goodbye? 
Friday
Riding high on the Endgame spoiler train, J.L. Gribble hosts special guest Dennis Gallagher of Wandering Comic Bookstore to speculate on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how it will impact the comic market. Dennis definitely knows his stuff, and the article is a unique look into the world of comic book collection and retail. How will characters continue on? Which series (or characters end), and which could restart? What does this mean for the value of comics? Check out his take here.
Book Club
On Monday we announced the winning title for our June Book Club, David Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks. Mitchell, known for his masterwork Cloud Atlas, brings us a book about a runaway teen with psychic powers and a varied cast of characters, locations, and eras. And the summer solstice has a role to play in the tale — which is what the June Book Club theme is all about! Get reading and ready for our discussion on June 28.
We also want you to vote in the poll for the July pick! Merrin, our intrepid Book Club host, has a July birthday (me too! High five!), so in her honor the book choices are tied to her current TBR list. We’ve got works from V.E. Schwab, Rachel Caine, and Cassandra Rose Clarke to choose from. Vote today!
This is my first post of the Reiwa period (令和) and the hope of the era is for “beautiful harmony.” In this tumultuous time many of us look to escape and imagine what the future will bring. This is at the heart of speculative fiction — to wonder — and while the world feels like dystopia (and it’s been a long-running trend in the genre), I like to look forward to the future and make the same wish as Japan. I’ll be thinking of my own ways to create harmony, and I’ll find comfort and escape into the fantasy and sci-fi that dreams of this same peace. What is your hope? How does the speculative genre fulfill your wishes?
Have fun pondering the future! Until next time, friends!
Drowning by Kristopher Roller via Unsplash
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