Summer 2020 reading: queens, bandits, goblins, and a galaxy far, far away

Lockdown summer reading

I got my reading bug back halfway through lockdown, just in time for summer. So instead of going out with my friends, I’ve been reading some standalone fantasy, a little bit of science fiction, and a whole lot of Star Wars.

‘A Better Class of Soldier’: Stormtroopers and Clone Troopers

First Order stormtrooopers stand to attention in front of an enormous First Order flag.

Since the decanonisation of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, we know next to nothing about how the Empire – and subsequently the First Order – creates its soldiers. So with the release of Episode VII and our introduction to (darling, lovely, adorable) Finn, the question is begged: why does the First Order prefer stormtroopers to clones? […]

My Top Ten Most Iconic Moments in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Last week, SFX celebrated its 250th issue with a bumper edition publishing their 250 greatest moments in scifi, fantasy and horror, as voted by readers. Of course, this is the internet, and if there’s something the internet cannot abide, it’s publishing subjective opinion as objective fact, especially when SFX’s subjective opinion is just wrong, dammit. While […]

Linkfest the Second

Linkfest is back again! Let’s celebrate that with – that’s right – some delicious, nutritious outside content.  Where Are All The Fat Girls In Literature? – Huffington Post. Mariko Tamaki on the dearth of fat women and girls in literature, particularly YA literature, and what that lack of representation meant to her growing up. Literature Still […]