After two mediocre novels from Charles Grant, the “X-Files” book series turns things around in a big way with “Ground Zero” (1995). Remarkably, this book is by Kevin J. Anderson, who around the same time was writing four “Star Wars” novels (the “Jedi Academy Trilogy” and “Darksaber”) that haven’t aged nearly as well. But for whatever reason, […]
Just as “The X-Files” took a couple seasons to figure out its identity, Charles Grant gets a better handle on the material in his second original novel, “Whirlwind” (1995). But while the book has fewer departures from the canon than were found in “Goblins,” it’s a weaker book overall. The New Mexico desert setting is evocative, and […]
In 2002, I watched “The X-Files” series finale with a couple of friends at a friend’s apartment. Obligatorily, we watched it with no lights on. I had been keeping up with the series, and was generally an apologist for it even though I didn’t pretend to understand the details of the alien colonization/government conspiracy mythology. […]
With “The X-Files” returning for the start of a six-episode miniseries tonight, I thought it’d be a good time to go on an “X-Files” kick. Having already done reviews of the nine TV seasons and two movies, that means it’s time to move on to other media, starting with Charles Grant’s “Goblins” (1994), the first of six original […]
Aaron Allston is best known for his Wraith Squadron novels, but his two “New Jedi Order” novels – the “Enemy Lines” duology – are sneaky good, too. They don’t make as strong of an impression as other his “Star Wars” novels because they lack a main character or even group of characters. Indeed, “Enemy Lines II: […]
Commentary: Captain Phasma is not the first female “Star Wars” villain, let alone the best. Here are my picks for the best female “Star Wars” villains.
Commentary:Despite the hype, Phasma is not the first female “Star Wars” villain. Here are 10 other characters who could stake that claim.
Aaron Allston enters the “New Jedi Order” fold with the saga’s 11th book, “Rebel Dream” (2002). As with Michael Stackpole’s “Dark Tide” duology earlier in the series, Allston’s “Enemy Lines” duology (to be followed by “Rebel Stand”) is not an “X-Wing” story on the sly. However, “Rebel Dream” does have a significant “X-Wing” flavor, mainly because Wedge […]
Rey from “The Force Awakens” has gotten a lot of hype as a breakthrough female Jedi, but as fans of the Legends canon know, Rey had many predecessors. Perhaps the most richly characterized was Jaina Solo, and the book that focuses on her the most is “Dark Journey” (2002), the 10th novel in the “New Jedi Order” […]
“The X-Files” returned to comics in 2013, it will return to the small-screen for six episodes starting on Jan. 24, and last year it returned to bookshelves with “Trust No One,” a collection of short stories published by IDW, which also produces the comics. With the exception of the “I Want to Believe” movie novelization in 2008, […]