Science Fiction and Fantasy news, reviews and discussion

This movie will rip the Star Trek fan base in two like nothing before. People will either love or hate it. As someone who enjoyed most but not all things Trek, I loved how the movie both pays homage to the original series and films, while kind of flipping off the purists at the same time.

Chances are, if you enjoyed J.J. Abrams first big screen adventure with Kirk, Spock and their crew, you will have a lot of fun with this one too. If you think he took too many liberties, this one will probably make you cringe in anger. A well-known alien race gets a makeover that could have been more convincing, there are scenes cheekily referencing some classic Trek moments almost word for word while the look of it all couldn't be further from the originals.

That being said, the movie is a well-crafted, highly entertaining and visually stunning thrill ride with great performances, especially by Benedict Cumberbatch's villain who's providing some well-kept secret twists. Most characters get their moments to shine, there is plenty of humor and spectacular eye candy. It all doesn't feel as entirely fresh as the predecessor, but ...

Every once in a while, one comes across a book of history, or other non-fiction, that makes for as gripping a read as any novel. Sometimes this comes at a price in the shape of diminished depth, or detail, or a polemic tone that, while not necessarily a bad thing in itself, threatens the objectivity and reliability of the work. But sometimes, quite rarely, you get historians who manage to write such a gripping work, while still adhering rigidly to the highest standards of accuracy and objectivity. Robert Kee's monumental "The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism" (published ...

The Fourteenth Book of the Dresden Files is a definite improvement on its predecessor, Ghost Story, which was more of a transitional book as the situation of the character has undergone a radical alteration of his setting and status. It is possible that upon retroactive consideration, this volume also improves GS by proving to have consummated issues and details brought forth in that one.

Anyway, while I am not qualified to discuss the literary merits ...