‘Powerless’ taps into the funny side of living in a superhero world
First episode impressions (TV review): “Powerless” finds the funny side of living in a superhero world.
Science Fiction
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Jedi Trial’ (2004) (Book review)
“Jedi Trial” (2004) isn’t on anyone’s list of the great EU novels, and indeed, I did put off my re-read for a while, recalling it to be a slog. However, it was a pretty easy read […]
‘Labyrinth of Evil’ (2005) goes to brink of ‘Revenge of the Sith’
‘Star Wars’ flashback (Book review): James Luceno takes us right up to “Revenge of the Sith” in this thrilling prequel that tells Grievous’ backstory.
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The Clone Wars’ (2008) launches in a small way on the big screen (Movie review)
Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is getting a lot of buzz, an odd contrast to the last time a “Star Wars” film outside of the numbered episodes premiered. In August 2008, I mentioned “The […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The Clone Wars’ movie novelization (2008) (Book review)
Having just read Karen Traviss’ first four “Republic Commando” novels, it’s abundantly clear that she’s handcuffed on “The Clone Wars” movie novelization (2008). She tries to do what Matthew Stover did for “Revenge of the Sith” three […]
Cerebral alien visitation yarn ‘Arrival’ lacks a satisfying payoff (Movie review)
Like many alien visitation films before it, “Arrival” asks “What is their purpose on Earth?” After the requisite opening where the world tenses up as 12 giant egg-shaped spaceships take up stations around the globe, “Arrival” zeroes […]
The 10 best short stories in ‘The X-Files: Secret Agendas’ (Book review)
I’ll take my fix of new “X-Files” material where I can get it, but it’s irritating that in IDW’s third volume of “X-Files” short stories, “Secret Agendas,” Jonathan Maberry and his team (if there is one) still […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel’ (2008) (Book review)
“Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel” (2008), the meaty fourth book in Karen Traviss’ five-book “Commando” saga, is an example of a story that was wiped out because of a later addition to the saga by […]
First episode impressions: ‘Mars’ (TV review)
“Mars” (9 p.m. Mondays, National Geographic Channel), the year’s most hyped science show, fails to capture the wonder of 2014’s “Cosmos,” which brought science to mainstream audiences with remarkable entertainment value. This is partly because “Cosmos” […]
Eighties nostalgia is strong with ‘Stranger Things’ Season 1
TV review: We look back at the first season of this breakthrough Netflix series.