This is Sci-Fi, Issue 16 is a sampling of science fiction news across the mediums. From movies to books, to real life, and any bits in between that I can think of to list. This is by no means a comprehensive list of what’s happening, but it should whet your appetite!
This is Sci-Fi’s Weekly Quote:
“A writer is very much like the captain on a star ship facing the unknown. When you face the blank page and you have no idea where you’re going. It can be terrifying, but it can also be the adventure of a lifetime.”
― Michael Piller
Science Fiction Movies
Opening This Week (August 4th):
The Dark Tower Synopsis: The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black, determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black
Starring: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Taylor
Runtime: 1 hr 35 minutes
Rating: PG 13
In Theaters Now
War for the Planet of the Apes (review)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Science Fiction Books
3 New Releases (July 19th – August 4th)
A Man of Shadows – Jeff Noon – August 1st, 2017
The brilliant, mind-bending return to science fiction by one of its most acclaimed visionaries
Below the neon skies of Dayzone – where the lights never go out, and night has been banished – lowly private eye John Nyquist takes on a teenage runaway case. His quest takes him from Dayzone into the permanent dark of Nocturna.
As the vicious, seemingly invisible serial killer known only as Quicksilver haunts the streets, Nyquist starts to suspect that the runaway girl holds within her the key to the city’s fate. In the end, there’s only one place left to search: the shadow-choked zone known as Dusk.
Noumenon – Marina J. Lostetter – August 1st, 2017
In 2088, humankind is at last ready to explore beyond Earth’s solar system. But one uncertainty remains: Where do we go?
Astrophysicist Reggie Straifer has an idea. He’s discovered an anomalous star that appears to defy the laws of physics, and proposes the creation of a deep-space mission to find out whether the star is a weird natural phenomenon, or something manufactured.
The journey will take eons. In order to maintain the genetic talent of the original crew, humankind’s greatest ambition—to explore the furthest reaches of the galaxy—is undertaken by clones. But a clone is not a perfect copy, and each new generation has its own quirks, desires, and neuroses. As the centuries fly by, the society living aboard the nine ships (designated “Convoy Seven”) changes and evolves, but their mission remains the same: to reach Reggie’s mysterious star and explore its origins—and implications.
Children of the Divide – Patrick S. Tomlinson – August 1st, 2017
No matter how far humanity comes, it can’t escape its own worst impulses…
A new generation comes of age eighteen years after humanity arrived on the colony planet Gaia. Now threats from both within and outside their Trident threaten everything they’ve built. The discovery of an alien installation inside Gaia’s moon, terrorist attacks and the kidnap of a man’s daughter stretch the community to breaking point, but only two men stand a chance of solving all three mysteries before the makeshift planetary government shuts everything down.
Goodreads Science Fiction Giveaways: (Some may be ending soon, so make sure you enter now if you’re interested.)
The Sci-Fi Zone
Those Crazy, Crazy Kaiju
Kaiju are very cool, very big monsters. Looking up the literal translation it seems to translate as either “massive rock formation” or “strange beast”. I think the latter version is the particular translation we’re looking for. Strange Beasts are certainly what the traditional Kaiju are. Not only in size but in plot and their powers. Some are just downright weird. They’re fun, usually bizarre monsters that can either help or hinder (and by hinder I mean ‘squish’) humanity. So, I’ve picked a few of my favorites to share with you!
1. Godzilla: Probably one of the most famous of these monstrosities, literally having the title of ‘King of the Monsters’ and having fought most of the other big monsters. sometimes his actions are a bit ambiguous. Sometimes he’s the terror of Japan while later he’s more often portrayed in a protector role. American remakes have not been kind to poor Godzilla. To future Godzilla movie makers – More Godzilla! Less people. He is also the only one with the honour of having his own song: ‘Godzilla’ by The Blue Oyster Cult (“Oh, no, there goes Tokyo, go, go Godzilla! History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man, Godzilla!”).
2. Gamera: Truly the first Mutant Ninja Turtle, Gamera has a few…odd abilities. Abilities which include a blast from his stomach and the ability to pull his extremities into his shell and fly like a demented, deadly Frisbee. On one hand I’d love for my turtle to be able to do that. On the other hand I’m not sure how I’d like a careening, laser-shooting turtle flying about the living room. He also has fought his fair share of enemies but we have yet to see a Gamera vs. Godzilla match-up outside of a YouTube video.
3. Rodan: A flying pterodactyl type creature that looks like a cross between a pterodactyl and a dragon. His main features are his sonic waves and windstorms from the beating of it’s gigantic wings. He also made an appearance in Stephen King’s ‘IT’ as Mike Hanlon’s fear. This version of Rodan is a lot more bird-like.
4. Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster – A golden three-headed dragon from space. It’s evil presence propels Mothra into trying to negotiate peace between Godzilla and Rodan, in order to protect Earth. They’re quite uninterested. So, Mothra bravely faces the golden beast alone but eventually Godzilla and Rodan put aside their differences (temporarily) to help Mothra out. Combined, they overwhelm Ghidora and save the world. While I can’t remember Ghidorah’s exact abilities but he’s pretty cool looking and that makes up for a lot!
5. Mothra: One of the few outright stated female Kaiju, Mothra awakens because an evil villain has kidnapped the tiny little women who sing to Mothra to lull it to sleep. After they are kidnapped, despite their warnings, Mothra awakens from it’s cocoon. Godzilla also shows up briefly near the end.
Tiny singing women, golden three-headed dragons, Godzilla and a princess whom is possessed by a martian. How can you not love these movies? Yes, they’re cheesy. But at least you can actually see the monsters. Because really, in regards to giant monster movies, the latest Godzilla was a cut-off, dark, disappointment. Next time we want to see the monsters. I’d even pay more for an excellent (well-lit) Ghidorah movie with the three (or four if they decide to include Gamera)monster brawl without all of the unnecessary human drama.
Weekly Science Fiction Poll
Loading ...
Science Fiction on the Web
- The Singularity Hub has an interesting bit on sci-fi shorts online.
- The Hyped Geek offers up a review of the movie Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child (it’s not a good review.)
- Vulture gives us a look at dystopian films released between Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049.
- ScienceFiction.com talks about a new sci-fi comic for us all coming this November called Port of the Earth.
- Wired argues that Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets would make a great silent movie.
- Konbini says that Keloid is the new science fiction web series we deserve (diversity positive series!)
I have a copy of A Man of Shadows but have a few books to read before it, although thanks for the reminder. 🙂