Category: Reviews
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AI video short Mnemonade hints at a new genre: Review
The AI short film Mnemonade (2024, Drama, MetaPuppet), winner of the inaugural Culver Cup for generative AI, is the the product of a talented filmmaker and storytelling, with good structure, believable dialog, and a twist that will make you hug your mom.
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Better Than Us is a feminist’s nightmare, but I still loved it.
Better Than Us is a American feminist’s nightmare. But the Netflix sci-fi series is Russian, not American, which makes it all the more fascinating.
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Netflix’s “Alien Worlds” takes you to planets no one has visited, and likely never will
Netflix’s Alien Worlds combines fiction and science, exploring life on exo-planets using known physics. While visually striking and speculative, its final episode lapses into clichéd storytelling.
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“The Midnight Sky” is barely a sci-fi movie, but that’s okay
“The Midnight Sky” features George Clooney as a dying scientist navigating connection and regret amidst a cataclysmic backdrop. Although lacking traditional sci-fi thrills, it offers a compelling emotional journey.
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Solarpunk world engages despite a problematic protagonist: Review
Author Brenda Cooper’s Wilders, the first of a two-book series dubbed “Project Earth,” ticks off all the main boxes for solarpunk.
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Review: What science teaches writers about storytelling
Wired for Story explains storytelling in the context of brain science and human evolution. For me, it clarified some of the truisms of writing, while shedding light on why storytelling matters.
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Review: Watermelon Snow needs more to reach its ambition
William A. Liggett’s debut novel, Watermelon Snow, explores the complexities of science through climate scientist Kate Landry, whose ethical struggles overshadow her paleontology discovery amid personal and professional challenges.
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Review: Weather Woman is a fantasy about control and illusion
How would you like to order up the weather, just like you order a pizza with pineapple, but no anchovies? That’s the fantasy that comes to life for Bronwyn Artair, a weather forecaster for a rural New England TV station in the novel, Weather Woman.
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A poetic approach to the emotional consequences of a changing world: Review
Author Robin MacArthur shows how to demonstrate climate change’s impact without the necessity of thrilling drama.
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Lost in Space: I miss the old Dr. Smith and Robot in the Netflix reboot.
The love/hate dynamic between Dr. Zachary Smith and Robot in the original Lost in Space surpasses the 2018 reboot, where Dr. Smith lacks the charm of the original character and connection with Robot.
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Review: New novel tackles sexual assault on campus amid the #MeToo debate
Yes Means Yes is at once a seminar on the law concerning sexual assault on campus and the story of a young woman discovering its complexities at a personal level.
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Chinese science fiction: You’d better start reading it right now
China is a rising global power with a significant economy and population. Liu Cixin’s “The Three-Body Problem” explores historical themes and alien encounters, reflecting contemporary Chinese society and aspirations in science fiction.
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Protagonists must grow: What happens when they don’t?
The television series, The Last Kingdom, is an exciting historical drama, but the way it treats the arc of protagonist Uhtred of Bebbanburg doesn’t measure up to the material. Fishermen love a good fish story, especially the one that got away. I was hooked by the BBC America television series The Last Kingdom, but the…
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Review: Don’t worry. Everything will be fixed by 2037, says this XPrize book
In 2037, the wealthy will dominate through NiceCoin, earned by kindness. Seat14C.com features sci-fi stories envisioning a techno-utopia, though many narratives feel repetitive and lack depth on social issues.
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Review: Thank God King Arthur will survive ‘King Arthur’
The Hollywood movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a disappointing addition to the King Arthur books and movies, especially given my personal interest in the story. The legends of King Arthur and the Round Table are possibly the most abused of the West’s mythic texts, more than the Greek myths, and certainly more…
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Overheated: A weak narrative undercuts the urgency of climate change
Andrew Guzman’s book, Overheated, discusses climate change’s uncertain impacts on humanity, advocating for fiction to better explore its emotional and social consequences, beyond mere facts.
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Star Wars: Rogue One’s peculiar dance with death & resurrection
Star Wars: Rogue One entertains younger audiences but may confuse seasoned fans with its plot connections. It uniquely addresses death, featuring digital revivals of characters, which provoke nostalgia and unease.
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Black Mirror: I’ll remember ‘Shut Up and Dance’ until I’m dead and buried.
Black Mirror’s greatness lies in memorable moments, particularly from Season 3, like the haunting conclusion of “Shut Up and Dance,” which elicits deep reflection on accountability and consequences in a digital age.
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Aliens, linguistics, and disruptive storytelling make Arrival must-see sci-fi
Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life” and its film adaptation “Arrival” explore time perception through non-linear storytelling, showcasing how language alters consciousness and perception, ultimately revealing alternative views of time.
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Ted Chiang’s sci-fi genius arrives with laser-like precision
The article discusses Ted Chiang’s acclaimed collection, “Stories of Your Life And Others,” highlighting his precision in writing and the profound themes in stories like “Story of Your Life,” which inspired the film Arrival.