Science Fiction

Verisimilitude cruises away from ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ (2021)

When Richard Donner made “Superman” (1978), he regularly pitched the word “verisimilitude” around the set. He knew believability of the material – and universal cast-and-crew

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‘Soldier’ finally gets (somewhat) appreciated in ‘From Script to Screen’

Whatever you say about Danny Stewart’s “Soldier: From Script to Screen,” a 25th anniversary 134-page slice of obsessional archaeology about the Kurt Russell-starring sidequel to

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M.K. England makes crisp ‘Firefly’ debut with ‘What Makes Us Mighty’ (2022)

With some “Firefly” novels, a reader can sense an author is willing themselves to summon the TV series’ vibe. It’s just in M.K. England’s bones,

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‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022) has heart, not enough soul

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022) knows it misses the late Chadwick Boseman’s O.G. Black Panther. The opening Marvel Studios banner loads up on images of

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‘Carnival’ (2021) the weakest of the first six ‘Firefly’ novels

Characterization is a tricky thing; we tend to say a tie-in fiction writer gets characterizations “right” or “wrong.” Getting it right can sometimes mean they

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‘Piranha 3D’ (2010), ‘3DD’ (2012) have gory fun with modern effects

George Lucas used to talk about how he waited to do the “Star Wars” prequels till the special effects technology caught up with his vision.

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‘Piranha II: The Spawning’ (1981) launches Cameron’s career

Late last year, director James Cameron released his ninth film, “Avatar: The Way of Water.” If you’re counting his films on your fingers and forgetting

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‘Firefly’ books show ‘Life Signs’ (2021) in Lovegrove’s latest

James Lovegrove has shepherded “Firefly” into books, writing four of the first five. Books six, seven and the upcoming eighth, though, are by different authors.

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‘Buffy: Big Bad’ (2022) a fun alternate-dimension romp

“Big Bad: A Novel” (September 2022) announces up front that it’s set in an alternate “Demondale” in 1999. It’s obviously a fun novel from the

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‘John Dies at the End’ (2012) a flat adaptation, as expected

After David Wong’s “John Dies at the End” became a surprise hit debut novel in 2009, it of course became a horror-comedy movie soon after.

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