Child’s ‘Death Match’ (2004) invigorates ‘scary AI’ trope
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Lincoln Child breathes new life into an SF subgenre that dates at least back to “2001.”
Science Fiction
Child’s ‘Death Match’ (2004) invigorates ‘scary AI’ trope
‘Love and Monsters’ keeps apocalypse upbeat
Movie review: Perhaps the cast and crew got the gloom out of their system in previous projects. Here, the apocalypse isn’t so bad.
Child’s ‘Utopia’ (2002) a thrilling debut
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Set in a cutting-edge amusement park, Child’s solo debut recalls Crichton’s “Westworld” and “Jurassic Park.”
‘Firefly: Watch How I Soar’ a flighty nod to Wash
Comic book review: I don’t know if we needed a second Wash tribute (after “Float Out”). Then again, I’m not gonna say no to a second Wash tribute.
Preston takes on God in ‘Blasphemy’ (2008)
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): It’s not blasphemously bad. But if one were to rank Preston’s work, this would not be among his Good Books.
‘Tyrannosaur Canyon’ (2005) a rip-roaring thriller
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Unlike Crichton, Preston doesn’t resurrect dinosaurs. Yet the spirit of the great lizards permeates this tale.
Lebbon’s ‘Firefly: Generations’ teases Earth-That-Was
Book review: Unfortunately, it mostly remains a tease in this fourth “Firefly” novel, which also hints at the backstories of River and the Hands of Blue.
‘Greenland’ carries weight of (the end of) the world
Movie review: “Greenland” makes disaster flicks cool again. Killer asteroids haven’t been this much fun since the summer of 1998.
Valerian makes surprise return in ‘Future is Waiting’ (2019)
‘Valerian and Laureline’ flashback (Comic book review): Mezieres and Christin deliver one last gift to fans with Volume 22 of the saga.
John’s top 10 movies of 2020
2020 movies: This unusual year nonetheless offered some movies worth celebrating. Here are my top 10 films of 2020.