Charlie Jane Anders, Author at Gizmodo

Caprica’s Ratings: Much Worse Than BSG Or Stargate Universe

Nobody should be surprised that Caprica’s debut pulled in weak ratings on Friday. The pilot was on DVD for months, and viewable online. And the show was opposite a Haiti fundraiser telecast. The real test? This Friday’s all-new episode. [THR]

Television Charlie Jane Anders Jan 25 '10

War Of The Worlds Is The Ultimate Mythology For Our Times

To celebrate Penguin Books‘ 75th anniversary, the London Times asked writers to name their favorite Penguin book. Novelist Will Self writes an eloquent tribute to The War Of The Worlds as the ultimate modern book, proof that we can still create enduring myths in the modern era, and a token of H.G. Wells’ genius in…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Jan 25 '10

Supernatural And Smallville Renewed — But Is There Any Place Left For Them To Go?

Cinemaspy is reporting that the CW has renewed both Supernatural and Smallville for one more season each. In the case of Smallville, presumably this means more baby steps towards Clark becoming Superman — maybe next year, he’ll put on red boots but keep the all-black ensemble otherwise? But after Eric Kripke was so outspoken about…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Jan 25 '10

Maximum Spoilers For Lost, Plus Steven Spielberg’s New Alien-Invasion Saga!

With Lost coming back in about a week, the spoiler floodgates are opening. A press release explains Spielberg’s alien-invasion series. There are Tron, Percy Jackson, Repo Men and Wolfman posters. Plus Chuck/Supernatural/Smallville/Caprica clips. Also: Iron Man, Doctor Who and Chuck. Tron Legacy: Because your desktop pattern demanded it, here’s the ultra-high res version (something like…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Jan 25 '10

Which Movies Really Have The Best And Worst Science?

The debate over bad science in science-fiction movies has gotten a major new source of ammunition: Phil Plait, writing for Discover Magazine, has rounded up a fairly definitive list of the best and worst moments in movie science. Some of the inclusions for bad science won’t surprise you too much. There’s The Core, of course,…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Jan 23 '10

10 Science-Fiction Heroes Who Don’t Need Origin Stories

These days, every science-fiction hero needs to have an origin story — as if they’re all superheroes. But some heroes are actually way better off without cookie-cutter origins. Here are 10 classic scifi heroes whose origins should remain mysterious. There’s nothing wrong with a good origin story — especially if it’s actually the first thing…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 22 '10

Own Your Own Firefly Replica For Just $10

Couldn’t afford the deluxe 19-inch replica of Serenity? Now Quantum Mechanix is unveiling a keychain version for just $10, going up for sale on their website later today. And you can win a one-of-a-kind chrome-plated version. https://gizmodo.com/love-keeps-her-in-the-air-but-you-can-keep-serenity-on-5319928 For more details on the Firefly keychain — and info on how you can win the chrome-plated model…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Jan 22 '10

Is The Golden Age Of YA Science Fiction Already Over?

We thought we were living in a golden age of young-adult science fiction, with authors like Cory Doctorow turning to YA protagonists and authors like Scott Westerfeld and Suzanne Collins hitting big. But two bloggers say YA SF is scarce. There’s been a lot of talk in science-fiction circles over the past year or two…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Jan 22 '10

Stunt Casting In Science Fiction: Does Anybody Care?

Here’s your first official look at James Marsters in Caprica, and he looks… well, just like James Marsters always does. (Full image at EW.) Does anybody still care about science-fiction stunt casting at this point? To be absolutely clear, this is not a knock on James Marsters, who is a decent actor and, I’m sure,…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 22 '10

Newly Discovered “Comet” May Actually Be Result Of Asteroid Collision

We may have witnessed what happens after a high-speed asteroid crash for the first time ever. A mystery “comet” in the asteroid belt, P/2010 A2, is now believed to be asteroid-collision debris. The “comet”‘s head includes an asteroid fragment.

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 22 '10

Let The Right One In Remake Sounds Hideous. Plus Weird Caprica Spoilers, And A Startling Lost Screenshot

Chloe Moretz describes Let Me In’s “Romeo And Juliet” story. On the plus side, Esai Morales’ Caprica spoilers are so odd, you’ll be left wondering. We may have the first Lost season six screencap. Plus Doctor Who, Fringe and Chuck. Let Me In: Okay, brace yourself, because this doesn’t sound good. Chloe Moretz describes the…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Jan 22 '10

Windup Girl Officially The Best SF Book Of 2009

First Time Magazine named Paolo Bacigalupi‘s The Windup Girl one of the best novels of 2009 (of any genre), and now the American Library Association’s named it 2009’s best science-fiction book. And just a reminder: It’s our February book-club book.

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Jan 21 '10

Los Angeles Is More Science Fictional City Than New York, Says Charlie Huston

Charlie Huston‘s new novel Sleepless is the most science-fictional thing he’s ever written. And he partly credits the influence of moving from New York to Los Angeles, because L.A. is a more science-fictional city. Let the debate begin! In Sleepless, a weird epidemic of insomnia overtakes the world, and as people go for months without…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Jan 21 '10

Tim Minear Producing An Android Journey Of Self-Discovery? Yes Please!

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are developing a new TV show based on Gene Roddenberry‘s scrapped android-angst show The Questor Tapes. Bland, preachy and insipid, Questor doesn’t seem like a good template… unless it’s true Tim Minear is on board. Imagine the most boring “Data questions his humanity” episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation,…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 21 '10

Paranoid Cyberpunk Religious Thriller Gets A Movie Deal

Is Trevor Sands the new go-to guy for science-fiction movie adapations? He’s written the screenplay for Dan Simmons‘ Hyperion Cantos and the Six Million Dollar Man movie. And now he’s taking on Jeff Somers‘ The Electric Church. Somers’ The Electric Church, the first volume in a series, seems like a slam-dunk cool concept for a…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Jan 21 '10

Nebulas And Neighboring Galaxies, Photographed From A Garden Shed

Office worker Peter Shah took this picture by sticking an eight-inch telescope through the roof of his garden shed. He tells the Mirror, “It just goes to show that a window to the universe is there for all of us.” The above image of the NGC6960, the Veil Nebula, was taken using an ORION OPTICS…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 21 '10

New Details On Jeff Bridges And Bruce Boxleitner In Tron Legacy, Plus Spider-Man Reboot Hints

Tron Legacy fleshes out some plot details, and unveils a poster. Meanwhile, just how Ultimate will the new Spider-Man movie be? A ton of Fringe questions are answered. Plus Caprica, Star Wars, Justice League videos, and Lost and Supernatural shockers. Tron Legacy: The film takes the first movie as historical fact, and picks up the…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Jan 21 '10

Alien Love Scenes, Strange Allies And Blade Runner In Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect was among the most important science-fiction works of the past few years. And Mass Effect 2 promises better alien worlds, more “alien love scenes,” and a Blade Runner-inspired space station. Bioware’s Casey Hudson gave us a misison briefing. Spoilers ahead… We were lucky enough to sit down with Hudson, Project Director for Mass…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 20 '10

Drones

Air Assault Drone Ground Assault Drone Sea Assault Drone Stop! Hammer Drone! Hammer Drone Again Justin Hammer Series 35 Tactical Assault Drone

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 20 '10

Meet Iron Man 2’s New Assault Drones!

Iron Man 2 won’t just feature new suits of armor — it’ll feature assult drones, including air, sea and ground drones. Toy images give us our first look at these drones, including Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell)’s drone army. Thanks to Matt with Diamond Select Toys for sending us these early images of Iron Man 2‘s…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Jan 20 '10

Charlie Jane Anders

Caprica’s Ratings: Much Worse Than BSG Or Stargate Universe

War Of The Worlds Is The Ultimate Mythology For Our Times

Supernatural And Smallville Renewed — But Is There Any Place Left For Them To Go?

Maximum Spoilers For Lost, Plus Steven Spielberg’s New Alien-Invasion Saga!

Which Movies Really Have The Best And Worst Science?

10 Science-Fiction Heroes Who Don’t Need Origin Stories

Own Your Own Firefly Replica For Just $10

Is The Golden Age Of YA Science Fiction Already Over?

Stunt Casting In Science Fiction: Does Anybody Care?

Newly Discovered “Comet” May Actually Be Result Of Asteroid Collision

Let The Right One In Remake Sounds Hideous. Plus Weird Caprica Spoilers, And A Startling Lost Screenshot

Windup Girl Officially The Best SF Book Of 2009

Los Angeles Is More Science Fictional City Than New York, Says Charlie Huston

Tim Minear Producing An Android Journey Of Self-Discovery? Yes Please!

Paranoid Cyberpunk Religious Thriller Gets A Movie Deal

Nebulas And Neighboring Galaxies, Photographed From A Garden Shed

New Details On Jeff Bridges And Bruce Boxleitner In Tron Legacy, Plus Spider-Man Reboot Hints

Alien Love Scenes, Strange Allies And Blade Runner In Mass Effect 2

Drones

Meet Iron Man 2’s New Assault Drones!

Con Artists Posing as Ice Agents Are Using WhatsApp to Bilk Vulnerable People Out of Their Savings

Here’s One Change We Didn’t See Coming at ‘Star Wars: Galaxy Edge’

NASA’s Lithium-Fed Nuclear Thruster Flares to Life in First of Its Kind Test

The Rest of Big Tech Piles in to Take the Pentagon Deal That Anthropic Wouldn’t

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Now Without the Premium Price Tag as Older Models Clear Out on Amazon

Scientists Exposed Flies to Crushing Hypergravity. The Results Were Unexpected

The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in May 2026

May to Bring Early Summer to the West While the East Freezes

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Hits Near Used Prices After Major Price Cut Since Last Black Friday

The Best Tech Gifts for Mother’s Day 2026

Asus’ Dual-Display Gaming Laptop Will Ruin Your Single-Screen Lifestyle

Steam Controller Review: Trackpads Change Everything for PC Gaming

Soundcore Space 2 Review: A Shockingly Stellar Value for Budget ANC Wireless Headphones

Anker’s UV Printer Can Handle Almost Anything… If You Know What You’re Doing

HP’s EliteBoard Keyboard-Computer Proves We Can Stick a PC in Anything

Sleep-Tracking Earbuds Didn’t Fix Me, but They Did Open My Eyes

I’ve Tested a Lot of Bad Smart Glasses and These Are the Worst Yet

Roborock’s Qrevo Curv 2 Flow Is the Ultimate Robot Mop—If You Don’t Have Corners or Walls

Alienware’s $350 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Nixes Everything for a Pretty Screen

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets