Science Fiction

‘The Simulacra’ (1964) is PKD’s grand absurdity

“The Simulacra” (written in 1963, published in 1964) is one of Philip K. Dick’s grand absurdities. It’s an expansion of his amusing short story “Novelty

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‘Firefly’ goes full-on Western in ‘Magnificent Nine’ (2019)

James Lovegrove’s first “Firefly” novel – 2018’s “Big Damn Hero,” co-plotted with Nancy Holder – spans several genres. But his second is a straight-up Western,

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PKD explores post-apocalypse in ‘Dr. Bloodmoney’ (1965)

The hydrogen-bomb war (or atomic, or nuclear – pick your poison) was a regular obsession of Philip K. Dick’s. Many of his contemporary-set stories find

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‘Firefly’ flies into novels with ‘Big Damn Hero’ (2018)

A line of “Firefly” novels was advertised in the back of the “Serenity” novelization in 2005, but it wasn’t until 13 years later that we

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Tom Hardy stands out in ridiculous ‘Venom’ (2018)

Tom Hardy gives one of the best turns in a thankless role you’ll ever see. Known behind the scenes as Sony’s attempt to cash in

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‘Back to the Future Part III’ (1990) chugs to finish line

After “Back to the Future” (1985), a pitch-perfect comedy, and “Back to the Future Part II” (1989), a thrillingly inventive time-hopper, “Back to the Future

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‘Time Out of Joint’ (1959) an early PKD masterpiece

“The Man in the High Castle” (1962) put Philip K. Dick on the map, but “Time Out of Joint” (written in 1958, published in 1959)

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‘Firefly’ Dark Horse era impressively wraps with ‘No Power in the ’Verse’ (2016-17)

The Dark Horse Comics era of “Firefly” closes out in admirable fashion with the six-issue “Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse” (October 2016-March 2017), which

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‘Virus’ (1999) is derivative but endearing

I was gung-ho for “Virus” in 1998; I gobbled up the 1992 comic series by Chuck Pfarrer (who co-writes the screenplay), and I recall the

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‘Back to the Future Part II’ (1989) unfortunately drops the comedy

“Back to the Future Part II” (1989) is a master class in plotting, as Bob Gale tells the latest adventure of time-traveler Marty McFly (Michael

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