Murderbot, Rand al'Thor, Paul Atreides, and Con Artists

Photo of an open book with its central pages folded in to form a heart

SHIPS IN THE NIGHT

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Romantasy?

JENNY HAMILTON

"Whatever you think of the advent of romantasy onto the SFF scene, be assured that it's not a problem to be solved. It's an opportunity."

Jenny Hamilton discusses where romance and romantasy sit within genre fiction–and how to deliver the right book to the right person.

[Read more]

Rand from The Wheel of Time and Paul from Dune

FEATURED ESSAYS

Desert Warriors and White Saviors: The Shared Destinies of Rand al'Thor and Paul Atreides

PATRICK J. D'SILVA

A young messiah-in-training winning over a tribe of desert warriors...Dune and The Wheel of Time share some key elements. What can we learn from the depictions of the Fremen and Aiel in recent adaptations?

[Read more]

The cover of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, art by Paul Kidby. Hermes in golden clothes holds a letter aloft, surrounded by two men, a rottweiler, and a smoking woman

FIVE BOOKS

Five Books About Imposters, Swindlers, and Con Artists

JAMES DAVIS NICOLL

Science fiction and fantasy abound in stories about frauds and hustlers preying upon trusting dupes; James Davis Nicoll discusses five highly compelling tales involving con artists and the motivations that drive them! What are your favorite examples?

[Read more]

BOOKS

Five Sci-Fi Stories About Things Going Wrong on the Moon

LORNA WALLACE

The Moon looks so peaceful, but beware: even the Sea of Tranquility can be treacherous! Here's five stories about things going horribly wrong for astronauts, tourists, and other lunar visitors!

[Read more]

The book cover for Martha Wells' Wheel of the Infinite. A giant tapestry rests in an opulent room

MARTHA WELLS BOOK CLUB

Martha Wells Book Club: Wheel of the Infinite

ALEX BROWN

Welcome back to the Martha Wells Book Club! Join us for a reread of the high fantasy tale Wheel of the Infinite (originally published in 2000 and reprinted in 2024), following a murderer and a swordsman working together to reweave the very fabric of the world...

[Read more]

MURDERBOT

Murderbot Moves to a New Medium in Exciting Television Premiere

ALEX BROWN

It's Murderbot time!

AppleTV+'s long-awaited adaptation is big and fun while feeling true to the original books. Check out Alex Brown's review and recap of the first two episodes!

You can also read out some behind-the-scenes interviews with showrunners Chris and Paul Weitz as well as Tamara Podemski (Dr. Bharadwaj) and Akshay Khanna (Ratthi) at Reactor!

[Read more]

Image from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind; Princess Nausicaa looks into the distance, Teto on her shoulder

SCIENCE FICTION FILM CLUB

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: Living and Dying in the World We Create

KALI WALLACE

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a classic for so many reasons. Let's discuss the best aspects of this epic environmental fable about saving the world through scientific curiosity! And next week, get ready for a (slightly) infamous animated throwback...🐰

[Read more]

Images from three anime series: Hidamari Sketch, Glasslip, and A Place Further From the Universe

ANIME SPOTLIGHT

Anime Grab Bag: Iyashikei Cozy Corner

LEAH THOMAS

Are you ready for cozy comfort and healing vibes? This week, we're reviewing a selection of iyashikei anime, hoping to capture the mood that defines this soothing subgenre...

And let us know if the next genre deep dive should be ISEKAI or DYSTOPIA?

[Read more]

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES

Final Destination Bloodlines May Be the Best of the Franchise

LEAH SCHNELBACH

Final Destination Bloodlines does the deeply unexpected six movies deep into the franchise: combine campy, bloody deaths with surprisingly convincing emotional stakes. Come share your thoughts–or maybe just your favorite freak-outs!

[Read more]

A man accidentally summons a shapeshifting demon with anger management issues...

ORIGINAL FICTION!

"Asymmetrical"

GARTH NIX

A man accidentally summons a shapeshifting demon with anger-management issues...

Read more

Follow Reactormag.com to get updates on all of our original fiction

Newslurp

Murderbot, Rand al'Thor, Paul Atreides, and Con Artists

Reactor Magazine <reactormagazine@n.macmillan.com>

May 22, 4:08 pm