Charlie Jane Anders

What’s the best system of magic in any fantasy world?

Every fantasy book or movie treats magic differently. Sometimes, magic is a totally unknowable force, and controlling it is like steering the ocean. Sometimes, magic is logical, and you just need to know the rules. But which fantasy story has the absolute best system of magic of all time? Please include a picture of your…

Falling Skies is a graduate seminar in why science fiction fails on TV

Seriously, last night’s Falling Skies season finale was like a masterclass in fail. Pulled punches. Alien clichés, done badly. Characters with no purpose. And most of all, a story that seemed to be going nowhere. Spoilers ahead… I’ve had profoundly mixed feelings about Falling Skies season three, which seemed to be trying to make a…

This Week’s TV: The Marvel Superhero Team-Up You Never Saw Coming!

We still have to wait a month and a half for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but this week Marvel is giving us the next best thing! Plus the final episodes of Breaking Bad are here. And is Shark Week still worth watching, or has the focus on education and conservation gotten tossed overboard? Watch clips from…

Does The Phantom Menace have better worldbuilding than A New Hope?

The original Star Wars doesn’t start out by explaining much. You’re just thrown in the deep end with a space battle. Meanwhile, The Phantom Menace tells us about trade disputes and negotiations and taxation. So does this prequel have better worldbuilding than A New Hope? This question came up over the weekend, as a result…

Is Continuum really the story of two brothers who take dark paths?

Kiera Cameron is ostensibly the main character of Continuum, but A) she’s less and less sympathetic lately, and B) it’s less and less clear what her goals are. Meanwhile, last night’s episode makes a strong case that the real protagonists of this show are Alec and his step-brother Julian. Spoilers ahead… The basic plot of…

The io9 Calendar: Your Ultimate Guide to August’s Science Fiction!

Time for another heady glimpse into your future. There’s almost too much amazing science fiction and fantasy for anyone to handle in August, which is why we’ve compiled this indispensible calendar. There are tons of conventions, mind-bending books, television shows… plus Elysium and Kick-Ass 2. It’s the io9 calendar! Top image: Cover detail of Satan’s…

The Insanely High-Concept TV Show That Launched a Bidding War

On the face of it, Extant sounds like the most insanely high-concept premise ever. A married couple is living with their android son, created by the dad. But they’re also expecting another child… who might be an alien. Weirdest family ever. And yet, this pilot spec by new writer Mickey Fisher has won Hollywood, with…

What’s the greatest huge crossover story of all time?

When stories collide, everything gets more massive and insane. There’s nothing cooler than a crossover or a big “event” story that brings everyone together. But what’s your absolute favorite crossover of all time? Please include a picture or clip of this epoch-making story, so we can appreciate the greatness.

Smurfs 2: The Last Seduction of Smurfette

Short of a Strawberry Shortcake snuff film, you couldn’t imagine a more cynical and soul-destroying repackaging of a 1980s cartoon than the Smurfs movie from two years ago. And now they’re back. This time around, we’re focusing on Smurfette, the only female Smurf, and it’s actually sort of interesting. Spoilers ahead… This is definitely a…

7 Deadly Sins of Worldbuilding

Worldbuilding is an essential part of any work of fiction. But especially for science fiction or fantasy, it’s the lifeblood of storytelling. But when worldbuilding fails, it can wreck your whole story, and leave your characters feeling pointless. Here are seven deadly sins of worldbuilding. Top image: Under Tomorrow’s Sky by Daniel Dociu. 1. Not…

Snowpiercer is the biggest hit movie in Korean history

As in, a million people went to see it in the first two days. And the early reviews in English for this post-apocalyptic train story are pretty great. So Korean readers, have you seen this film yet? What do you think?

Robocop steals your fried chicken in this weird ad from Korea

We can’t stop staring at this compilation of bizarre Korean TV commercials. Including dancing robots, some kind of pelvic thrust exerciser, telekinesis on the bus, a depressed lobster… and RoboCop breaking into your home for fried chicken. [Crusader Cast via Laughing Squid]

Warren Ellis is publishing a book in 2014 called Spirit Tracks about “the future of the city,” based on this talk. He wants us to get back to talking about “the city as haunted space” and “the present as haunted by the future.”

Scientific Proof that Having Money Makes People More Evil?

Research published a while ago shows that people who have lots of money behave less ethically — and are less generous — than people who have less. This video from the PBS Newshour makes a pretty alarming case that money actually erodes your morals. Among other things, drivers of luxury cars are way less likely…

Behold the city of Los Angeles as it could have been

An upcoming exhibition in Los Angeles focuses on the projects that were designed and proposed but never actually came to pass — including a robust public transit system, greenbelts, a Santa Monica Causeway… and a Tower of Civilization. It’s a fascinating look at paths not taken in urban development. Curators Greg Goldin and Sam Lubell…

35-foot-tall straw Dalek terrorizes British countryside

It’s the superior life form in the universe… and it’s made out of straw. Your move, clay Cybermen. Seriously, is this the coolest thing we’ve seen today or what? It’s the creation of an ice cream shop called Snugbury’s, which does giant straw sculptures every year. And apparently it could have been a giant Royal…

All the Science Fiction and Fantasy Books You Can’t Miss in August!

Summer movie season is pretty much over — but books are just getting started. This month’s books include bracing space opera, poignant magical realism, dark subversive futures, epic fantasy. And most of all, lots and lots of mind-blowing action. Here are all the books you can’t afford to sleep on in August. Image: Jon Sullivan…

Two new indie horror trailers that will curdle your soul

Nowadays, a lot of the weirdest concepts and funniest jokes come from low-budget horror films. To prove it, here are two brand new trailers. First, Bad Milo!, the “butt demon” movie from the Duplass Brothers. Below is another completely insane film. Bad Milo! hits VOD in the United States on August 29 and coming to…

Hilarious new About Time trailer explains the rules of time travel

Time travel lets you have do-overs, like in those instances where you’ve just blurted something about oral sex in front of your girlfriend’s parents. That’s the novel spin on time-travel in About Time, the new movie from Richard Curtis (Blackadder, Doctor Who). Check out a new trailer! This was already one of the most intriguing…

What’s the most contrived twist ending in a science fiction story?

One major reason we love science fiction is for its ability to surprise us — and a great twist ending makes the whole preceding story feel better. But when a final twist feels random or silly, then there’s nothing worse. What’s your least favorite twist ending from science fiction or fantasy? https://gizmodo.com/most-mind-blowing-surprise-endings-from-science-fiction-5911265 Please include a…