Eifelheimβ β β β β
Michael Flynn Detailed and thoughtful exploration of first contact with aliens in the midst of the Black Death.
Flash Forward (TV Pilot)β β β β β The first episode of Flash Forward is one of the best-constructed pilot episodes I've seen in a long time, especially of an arc-driven series.
Flashforward (Novel)β β β β β
Robert J. Sawyer A fascinating exploration of time, destiny and free will after everyone on Earth gets a glimpse of the same moment 20 years in the future.
Fuzzy Nationβ β β β β
John Scalzi Not sure it's better, but it is more enjoyable than the original, with better characterization and less deus-ex-machina. Same overall story of colonization, corporate greed, enviromnental exploitation and who counts as people, but different enough to enjoy both.
Head Onβ β β β β
John Scalzi The sequel to Lock In is a fast read with intriguing concepts, fun characters and an interesting mystery. This time locked-in FBI agent Chris Shane investigates the death of a locked-in athlete in a sport too extreme for human bodies, played with remotely-controlled robots.
Key Out Of Timeβ β β β β
Andre Norton Lost in time, lost in space, out of their depth, a handful of humans are caught in the middle of a four-way power struggle on the high seas of an alien world.
Little Fuzzyβ β β β β
H. Beam Piper An enjoyable tale of first contact, colonialism, environmental stewardship, corporate greed vs. ethics, and most importantly, who counts as "people" on an alien world that turns out not to be uninhabited after all.
Mysterious Galaxyβ β β β β Bookstore specializing in sci-fi and mysteries, involved in local community and conventions.
Outer Wildsβ β β β β A fascinating game of discovery in a finely-crafted, tiny solar system trapped in a time loop. In a ship made of plywood, sheet metal and duct tape. Where you can roast marshmallows on every planet.
Quantum Nightβ β β β β
Robert J. Sawyer Intriguing premise, well explored: Quantum entanglement, psychopaths, and mob behavior. Can we reboot humanity amid a rising tide of xenophobia?
Ready Player Oneβ β β ββ
Ernest Cline Back when I read it, the nostalgia and scavenger hunt were enough for me. Now, not so much.
Rocannonβs Worldβ β β ββ
Ursula K. Le Guin A serviceable quest story that melds fantasy and sci-fi. Engaging enough, but I'd only recommend it to someone who's read her later work.
Semiosisβ β β β β
Sue Burke A fascinating take on space colonization, intelligence, and language, following multiple generations of humans on a world dominated by sapient plants.
Solo: A Star Wars Storyβ β β ββSolo isn't high art, and it's got some rough edges, but it's a fun ride.
Space Operaβ β β β β
Catherynne Valente Fun sci-fi social satire from Catherynne Valente: The world is a mess, but we can find the sublime in chaos.
Stan Leeβs Starborn #1
Stan Lee, Chris Roberson, Khary Randolph An unpublished writer discovers that the science fiction saga he's been building since childhood is actually very, very real. And it wants him dead.
Star Bornβ β β β β
Andre Norton An adventure woven through the post-war struggles of an alien world, with humans caught on both sides, exploring identity, colonialism and prejudice. Definitely worth the read.
Star Hunterβ β β ββ
Andre Norton A standard survival adventure with mismatched partners and ruthless rivals, only with weird stuff going on and in space.
Star Trek: Discovery - Season 1β β β β βStar Trek with the pace of Farscape, weaving through existing lore and focused on one crew member's quest for redemption.
Star Trek: Discovery - Season 2β β β ββThe stand-alone episodes are good, and the Burnham/Spock family dynamics, but the main arc gets really frustrating in the second half.
Star Trek: Discovery - Season 3β β β β βI liked Season 3 a lot better than season 2. It finally got to be its own Trek. And they did some really interesting things with the future of the 'verse and how the Discovery crew adapted to it.
Star Trek: Lower Decksβ β β β βHilarious self-parody of TNG-era Star Trek. Funny on its own, but even better if you know the shows it's riffing on.
Star Trek: Picard - Season Twoβ β β ββHard to pin down, with a weird start, then a few good time travel episodes, before throwing in not just the kitchen sink but everything in the sink.
Star Wars: Andor - Season Oneβ β β β βA more serious take on *Star Wars*, with a bit more personal scope showing how oppression grinds people down, and what sacrifices rebellion can require.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clonesβ β β ββI think itβs the weakest of the prequels and of the six that George Lucas was actually involved in.
Star Wars: The Last Jediβ β β β βThe performances are way better than most of the prequel trilogy, and the story is the first theatrical Star Wars to break new ground in ages.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menaceβ β β β βBetter than I remember. Itβs well constructed, and there are incredible subtleties and thematic elements hidden among the flashy (and cheesy) A-plot.
The Defiant Agents
Andre Norton An enjoyable space western with Apaches as the good guys, wrapped up in the cold war and tossing in the Golden Horde, a lost alien city and Russians with a mind-control ray.
The Kaiju Preservation Societyβ β β β β
John Scalzi Escaping the pandemic by learning to survive on a world with gigantic monsters.
The Lathe of Heavenβ β β β β
Ursula K. Le Guin A surreal tale of dreams changing reality, global stakes anchored by the three people involved. Be careful what you wish for.
The Outer Worlds (so far)β β β β β Immersive space RPG that at once satirizes corporate control while asking you to make hard choices within it.
The Time Machineβ β β β β
H.G. Wells A bit dry, but it draws you in, and if the plot is simple, it's enough to wrap around some thought-provoking speculation about the future of humanity - and a critique of industrial society.
The Time Tradersβ β β β β
Andre Norton A fun time-travel spy thriller through the bronze age that's very rooted in the cold war.
Transformers (Movie)β β β ββBetter constructed than I expected, with impressive effects, plausible story logic, but a lot of the humor is forced and it feels like they missedthe big picture in trying to get the details right.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallenβ ββββIn some ways it wasn't as awful as I'd heard, and in some ways it was worse. I'm glad I waited for the second-run showing and only spent $1.75.
Triggersβ β β ββ
Robert J. Sawyer It's an interesting take on memory and identity, but not one of Sawyer's best.