Archaeologists in Space
Over on The Cultural Gutter, I’m looking at two series of scifi novels by Jack McDevitt in Archaeologists in Space.
Syfy Gets Diverse, Scifi Benefits
On The Cultural Gutter, I’m taking a look at diversity in science fiction. Specifically, Syfy Gets Diverse looks at the Syfy Channel television shows Killjoys, Dark Matter, Defiance, and The Expanse, all of which feature gender and racially diverse ensemble casts.
In This Green and Pleasant Land
Over on The Cultural Gutter, In This Green and Pleasant Land examines Children of the Stones, regarded to this day as one of the smartest, weirdest, scariest slices of children’s television programming ever produced.
Beyond the Black Rainbow
The surreal swirl of stark futurism, psychedelia, and neon indulgence is…pleasantly overwhelming? Comfortably disturbing? Certainly it’s something that demands one’s attention even as it lulls you into a fugue state.
An Alternate Galaxy Far, Far Away
A long time ago, George Lucas hired Alan Dean Foster to write a sequel to Star Wars, operating under the assumption that Star Wars might not make much money, that the sequel would need to be really low budget, and that Harrison Ford would refuse to reprise his role as Han Solo. On the Cultural Gutter, In An Alternate Galaxy Far, Far Away looks at what Foster came up with
Now Cthulhu is Blofeld
Over on the Cultural Gutter, I’m taking a look at Brian Lumley’s first three Titus Crow novels, in which he turns Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos on its ear. Now Cthulhu is Blofeld examines Lumley’s preference for men of action, eschewing Lovecraft’s terrified academics in favor of two-fisted psychics flying around in magic clocks, shooting lasers at Cthulhu and his minions, which have been reduced to a bunch of B-grade Ultraman monsters.
The Challenge of the Challenge from Beyond
In 1935, Fantasy magazine contracted five of the most popular pulp magazine authors to write a round-robin style story, with each contributing a page or two before passing it on to the next author. On The Cultural Gutter, The Challenge of the Challenge from Beyond looks at how these five accomplished professionals created something about as good as a fourth grade class undertaking the same assignment.
