Tag: reviews
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Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers and the veneration of veterans
The election of Donald Trump inspired book lovers to explore dystopian fiction, particularly Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, highlighting the glorification of veterans and its implications for societal power dynamics.
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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.
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Reviews: It’s true. Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder is science fiction.
Writers often resist genre categorization, yet it aids readers. Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder blends science fiction with literary themes, revealing significant elements that enhance its narrative despite some structural issues.
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Review: Doctor Strange: It’s All Benedict Cumberbatch
The review highlights the author’s indifference towards comic book movies, emphasizing their enjoyment of Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance in Doctor Strange, which showcases his talent in portraying complex characters.
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Review: Augments of Change salient in a time of racial tension
In a time of racial tensions and national reckoning with uncomfortable pieces of our history, Augments of Change attempts to satirize race, noting that it’s mostly an illusion. America is going through another paroxysm of racially tinged violence, reminding everyone of our failure to reconcile our history with our ideals. In my own lifetime, the…
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The Girl in the Road: Literary fiction with a sci-fi overlay
Monica Byrne’s The Girl in the Road intertwines two women’s journeys in a future shaped by climate change, exploring technology’s role in economic colonialism while challenging dominant narratives and human resilience.
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Review: In Hieroglyph, sci-fi exists to explore the possibilities of change
Science fiction reflects societal hopes and anxieties, evolving from optimism to realism. The anthology Hieroglyph seeks to inspire and debate sci-fi’s purpose, focusing on human experiences amid technological advancements.
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Review: A faux-paleo world with email stumbles on its ‘re-wilding’ contradictions
The content critiques a perspective that views civilization as a historical mistake, advocating for a return to hunter-gatherer lifestyles. It examines romanticized views of the past and highlights attempts at rewilding.
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Review: The appropriated world of The Guild of Saint Cooper
The text discusses cultural appropriation in art, focusing on Shya Scanlon’s novel inspired by David Lynch’s work. It questions originality, highlighting characters and narrative style while exploring theft versus influence.
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Review: A Le Carré tale of disappointment and two endings
Not every book can have a satisfying end, and some books have disappointing endings, even one by the master storyteller, John Le Carré. Spoilers ahead, including details of book endings You’ve invested days, maybe weeks of time in a relationship, but at the end, you’re disappointed. It happens in real-life relationships, and it happens to…
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Review: Gold Fame Citrus is tangy, acidic, and tasty
The post discusses Claire Vaye Watkins’ debut novel, “Gold Fame Citrus,” set in a desolate, dystopian Southwest. It explores themes of environmental degradation and human resilience amidst extreme conditions.
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Why The Martian’s success probably won’t spawn a sequel
The author discusses why The Martian should not have a sequel, emphasizing the film’s unique narrative, its successful avoidance of Hollywood clichés, and the need for more optimistic storytelling in science fiction.
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Review: The Subprimes is primo satire
Karl Taro Greenfeld’s The Subprimes presents a satirical economic dystopia where libertarians thrive amid environmental collapse, exploring themes of justice, community struggle, and the impact of the 2008 recession.
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Mad Max: Fury Road sputters, despite its feminist cred
Mad Max: Fury Road gets a lot of feminist buzz, but this reviewer wonders if the chatter has overwhelmed a pedestrian film with political high-fives. My college-age daughter Emily and I saw Mad Max: Fury Road over the weekend and we left the theater wondering what all the fuss is about. Film review aggregator Rotten…
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Review: The Water Knife is bleak, but uncomfortably possible
Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife invites us to imagine a drought like no other, in which the lack of water brought on by climate change disrupts life from beginning to end. The western drought has forced everyone to know their rights. From San Diego to Seattle, talk shows, newspapers, and blogs overflow with debates over…
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Review: Why aren’t ‘serious’ writers writing about climate change?
Adam Trexler argues that while climate change dominates discussions, fictional narratives are scarce. He critiques the literary world’s neglect of novels that convey climate challenges and emotions, advocating for compelling storytelling.