“THE POWER”—THREE MOVIES ABOUT POWERS
This week, Steve examines how differently powers, like telekinesis, can be handled by Hollywood. Some movies do it well, and some less well.
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MAGAZINE REVIEW: F&SF FOR JAN/FEB 2016
The January/February issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (F&SF) is under review by Steve, who likes it a lot, even though a couple of the stories kind of depressed him. You will probably like it too!
MY YEAR IN REVIEW: A LIST OF 2015 COLUMNS
Today’s really short column (but it took a lot of work!) is a way for you to catch up on any of Steve’s 2015 columns you may have missed, complete with links. And a few bits of commentary.
MOVIE REVIEW(s): A VERITABLE “B”-HIVE!
Back from the holidays, Steve tackles three (!) B-movies at once. Why B-movies particularly? Like Everest, they’re there… and they significantly outnumber the really good ones! See what YOU think!
BOOK REVIEW: CHILDHOOD’S END by Arthur C. Clarke
In advance of the SyFy mini-series of Arthur C. Clarke’s classic “Childhood’s End,” Steve reviews the actual book and finds it worth a read!
BOOK REVIEW: Stephen King’s BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS
Steve once again covers the ubiquitous Stephen King, who’s got a new collection of short stories out. A new collection of King is usually something to crow about, and this one’s no exception.
SHORT FILM REVIEW: Alba Garcia’s TIME/SPACE REFLECTIONS
Steve looks at a brand-new SF/F stop-motion animated short film by the talented film-maker and director Alba Garcia-Rivas.
BOOK REVIEW: SATURN RUN by John Sandford and Ctein
Steve picks up and reviews a brand-new hard SF book—a thriller—by best-selling mystery writer John Sandford and SF pro artist & photographer Ctein, and finds it a fast, fun read!
MOVIE REVIEW: UNIVERSAL’S MUMMY DEAREST (1932-33)
This week, Steve travels back to Ancient Egypt with Boris Karloff as “The Mummy.” No CGI, but scarier than Brendan Fraser’s “Mummy”!
MOVIE REVIEW: NOSFERATU (1922), Copyright? What copyright?
Steve travels back to 1922 to look at the first vampire movie, Nosferatu, and its influence on modern vampire movies.
MOVIE REVIEW: FRANKENSTEIN (1931), Just in time for Halloween!
For Halloween, Steve looks at one of the oldest, and perhaps the best-known “monster movie” of them all, James Whale’s “Frankenstein,” starring Boris Karloff.
REVIEW—CONSTANTINE: A surprisingly good movie!
This week Steve drops back ten years to review an underapreciated movie, “Constantine,” with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz, telling us why he thinks the movie deserves another look.
LASER BOOKS: Science Fiction from Harlequin Books?!
Laser books was a flash-in-the-pan series of SF books put out by romance publisher Harlequin, and edited by the late Roger Elwood. Steve takes a quick look at the series, hoping to pique your interest. Steve also offers a book Giveaway!
MAGAZINE REVIEW: The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Nov/Dec 2015
This week Steve reviews the latest issue of long-running (but not as long as Amazing Stories!) magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (F&SF). Some good reading here!
BOOK REVIEW (THE LAST PRATCHETT): THE SHEPHERD’S CROWN (Sob!)
Steve talks about the late Sir Terry Pratchett, and his last book–last DISCWORLD book, too!–which just came out. A new Pratchett is usually a joyous occasion, but this book brings mixed emotions.
STEAMPUNK JEWELRY, VCON, PHILIP K. DICK STORY BUNDLE, AND MORE!
Steve jumps around a lot this week, from VCON to Steampunk Fashion Jewelry to the Philip K. Dick Bookbundle, and back again to Ed Howdershelt!
VCON, HOWDERSHELT REVIEW AND MORE ON SELF-PUBLISHING!
This week, Steve hypes his local convention and talks to best-selling ebook writer Ed Howdershelt, plus there’s advice on writing and selling ebooks!
MARS! And Some Reviews…
This week, Steve visits Mars (really! Sort of…) and reviews a new book and an overlooked movie from 2014. Check it out!
REALLY “REACHING”—Jack Reacher is NOT SF/F! (Book Review)
Steve wonders whether the non-SF/F series about Jack Reacher, by Lee Child, could actually be an “underground” SF/F series. Hmmm.
LESLIE CHARTERIS’S “AMAZING” SAINT
Is it old? Is it new? Is it even SF/F? Steve examines the ever-popular Saint series by Leslie Charteris.
Book Review: Dave Duncan’s Irona 700. (BTW—I’m baaack!)
Upon his return from Missouri, Steve reviews a new fantasy book by master storyteller Dave Duncan.
WRITING 101: WHERE DO I SEND THE SF/F BOOK I JUST WROTE?
If you’d love to sell your new book to one of the big SF print publishers, Steve–with a little help from his friends–tells you how to start!
AN ANNIVERSARY and a FUN BOOK (Review): “JUSTICE GIRL”
After congratulating himself on his 40 years doing conventions, Steve discusses a quasi-SF-ish book about superheroes on TV in the 1950s. It’s fun!
MOVIE REVIEW: INSIDIOUS 3—A Better Sequel
Steve dismembers… uh, reviews… a couple of horror movies, then enjoys the sequel. And you might too!
MOVIE REVIEW: POLTERGEIST (2015): “They’re here!” (Again…)
They’re here! Or They’re Back! Steve asks the movie review question: “WHY?”
CREATED: THE DESTROYER (Book Series Review)
This week, Steve looks at the popular book series The Destroyer and their Film and TV counterparts. (Caution: this series is more violent than Game of Thrones!)
TV REVIEW: Netflix’s SENSE8 (SENSATE)
Steve looks at Netflix’s new SF offering by The Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczinski. The season starts slowly but begins to build quickly after episode 1.
MOVIE REVIEW and a TV Pilot: CHAPPIE, AN UNDERRATED SF MOVIE, and SUPERGIRL
Steve returns with two reviews: a film and a TV pilot. The film’s a good one; the pilot not so much. See what you think!
OPUS 100: A GOOD BOOK and a MOVIE
Steve reaches a milestone 100 columns, and reviews the new Writers of the Future anthology and the film Big Hero 6.
MOORCOCK vs. ULTRON: Two Reviews
Two new reviews by Steve: the new Michael Moorcock book and The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Are they worth it? You bet they are!
About Author
Steve has been an active fan since the 1970s, when he founded the Palouse Empire Science Fiction Association and the more-or-less late MosCon in Pullman, WA and Moscow, ID, though he started reading SF/F in the early-to-mid 1950s, when he was just a sprat. He moved to Canada in 1985 and quickly became involved with Canadian cons, including ConText (’89 and ’81) and VCON. He’s published a couple of books and a number of short stories, and has collaborated with his two-time Aurora-winning wife Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk on a number of art projects. As of this writing he’s the proofreader for R. Graeme Cameron’s Polar Borealis and Polar Starlight publications. He’s been writing for Amazing Stories off and on since the early 1980s. His column can be found on Amazing Stories most Fridays.
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