This week Steve’s all over the map. He reviews an old YA by Andre Norton, talks about cover artists (including Ed Emshwiller) and answers a comment from a reader. Oh, and he throws in a little egoboo for himself.
Ebooks and more ebooks! Cheap and plentiful; Steve finds them for you! Oh, and Steve reviews two so-so “horror flicks” that should have been better. But that’s what the film industry seems to be offering this week!
This week, Steve says a very sad goodbye to longtime fan and friend Mary-Karen Reid from Edmonton, Alberta–and reviews two books by Writers of the Future Grand Prize winner Randy Henderson.
No fooling! Steve’s April 1 column is about the Canadian Aurora Award, plus Robert J. Sawyer’s brand-new book, “Quantum Night.” Is it a goodie? Read the column and find out! (The answer is an unqualified “Heck, yes!”)
This week Steve looks at some correspondences between 1952 fandom and 2016 fandom by way of an old magazine, and reviews two movies he found to be terrible. If you’re fifteen years old you might think they’re good movies; Steve assures you they’re not.
This week Steve looks at a new horror anthology—all stories by women writers—edited by Billie Sue Mosiman, and talks a bit about the Hugo and Aurora awards (in self-promotion); plus another snippet of Pinterest boards for writers. Take a look!
This week Steve takes a second look at Marvel’s two most recent movies, Deadpool and Ant-Man, and finds one much better than the other… but YMMV! Also a couple of tips for writers who may be stuck.
Steve takes a look back at 1952, and the first issue of “IF Worlds of Science Fiction”–plus a word of advice for newer writers from Chuck Wendig (link) and some personal news.
This week, Steve reviews a new, upcoming book by Hugh A.D. Spencer, the second episode of 11.22.63 on Hulu, and tells of a unique offer for Robert A. Heinlein fans. (Check out the final photo!)
This week, Steve travels into the future with John Whalen’s “Space Western,” and into the past with Stephen King’s novel about events surrounding John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Both future and past hold our interest!
This week Steve reviews the new March/April issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (F&SF), and talks about a postage stamp series that never came about, honouring SF writers, and the reasons behind it.
This week, Steve reviews the 2015 Horror-humour film “Freaks of Nature” and finds it rather flat, then alerts the media (us!) about a new semi-pro Canadian SF/F e-magazine!
This week, Steve examines how differently powers, like telekinesis, can be handled by Hollywood. Some movies do it well, and some less well.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
Steve looks at a brand-new SF/F stop-motion animated short film by the talented film-maker and director Alba Garcia-Rivas.
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!
This week, Steve travels back to Ancient Egypt with Boris Karloff as “The Mummy.” No CGI, but scarier than Brendan Fraser’s “Mummy”!
Steve travels back to 1922 to look at the first vampire movie, Nosferatu, and its influence on modern vampire movies.
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.
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 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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
This week, Steve visits Mars (really! Sort of…) and reviews a new book and an overlooked movie from 2014. Check it out!
Steve has been an active fan since the 1970s, when he founded the Palouse Empire Science Fiction Association (PESFA) 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 chairing or helping run Canadian cons, including ConText (’89 and ’81) and VCON. As a fan, he’s published a Hugo-nominated (one nomination) fanzine, New Venture, and he’s founded two writing groups (Writers’ Bloc and Writers of the Lost, Ink). He’s emceed and auctioned art at many West Coast and Northwest conventions including one Westercon. As a writer, he’s published a couple of books and a number of short stories (including one in Compostella [Tesseracts 20], 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 Rhea Rose’s 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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