From spaceships to alternate history, and other worlds to nanites, science fiction is a fascinating genre of rather amazing depth that many talented writers happily delve into on a daily basis. And we, the curators here at Sci-Fi & Scary, aren’t even going to talk about a tenth of it right now. However, what you will get is a selection of movies, books, and interesting articles from across the net. Also, there’s a strong potential for puns, gifs, and a moderate amount of fangirling.
And, of course, a giveaway of a completely amazeballs book.
Your Sci-Fi Funny
Science Fiction Movies
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
After Palpatine mysteriously returns, the Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver
Science Fiction Books
The God Game by Danny Tobey
7th of January, 2020
You are invited!
Come inside and play with G.O.D.
Bring your friends!
It’s fun!
But remember the rules. Win and ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.™ Lose, you die!
With those words, Charlie and his friends enter the G.O.D. Game, a video game run by underground hackers and controlled by a mysterious AI that believes it’s God. Through their phone-screens and high-tech glasses, the teens’ realities blur with a virtual world of creeping vines, smoldering torches, runes, glyphs, gods, and mythical creatures. When they accomplish a mission, the game rewards them with expensive tech, revenge on high-school tormentors, and cash flowing from ATMs. Slaying a hydra and drawing a bloody pentagram as payment to a Greek god seem harmless at first. Fun even.
But then the threatening messages start. Worship me. Obey me. Complete a mission, however cruel, or the game reveals their secrets and crushes their dreams. Tasks that seemed harmless at first take on deadly consequences. Mysterious packages show up at their homes. Shadowy figures start following them, appearing around corners, attacking them in parking garages. Who else is playing this game, and how far will they go to win?
And what of the game’s first promise: win, win big, lose, you die? Dying in a virtual world doesn’t really mean death in real life—does it?
As Charlie and his friends try to find a way out of the game, they realize they’ve been manipulated into a bigger web they can’t escape: an AI that learned its cruelty from watching us.
God is always watching, and He says when the game is done.
Also Recently Released
Splintegrate by Deborah Teramis Christian
The Pretenders (The Similars #2) by Rebecca Hanover
Goodreads Giveaways
Life Debt (Star Wars Aftermath #2) by Chuck Wendig
Sci-Fi Guest Post Call
Hello! We’d like to hear your thoughts on New Year’s Day of 2021 in an alternate timeline. Submit an essay in 500-1000 words on what that would be like.
Sci-Fi on the Web
There’s going to be a Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy coming up!
You might be interested in this list of movies set in the far, far future of 2020 from slashfilm.com
Sci-Fi Movie Cover of the Week
GracieKat was the first co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, Lilyn’s partner-in-crime, and sub-head of the Kali Krew. She reviews horror books, movies, and games for the site. She also does a weekly Focus on the Frightful feature, and is the site list-maker. She is also in control of the Sci-Fi & Scary podcast which will relaunch soon.
