Books

Can You Solve These Seven Riddles Inspired By The Hobbit?

Even Bilbo Baggins would have a hard time tackling this week’s riddles. The third installment in The Hobbit trilogy debuts this week. We’re celebrating with brainteasers inspired by the riddles exchanged between Gollum and Bilbo in the fifth chapter of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. You’ll find them below, under the sub-heading “Sunday Puzzle(s) #11: Riddles…

Movies Robbie Gonzalez

What’s The Most Shocking Moment In Any Science Fiction Or Fantasy Book?

Television shows and movies don’t have a monopoly on “holy crap, what just happened” moments. Science fiction and fantasy books are full of twists and events that make you throw the book across the room… then run to retrieve it, so you can know what happens next. What’s the most shocking scene you’ve ever read?…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Why Are Tolkien’s Elves So Damn Welsh?

The BBC has a fascinating, exhaustive report on why the Elves of Middle-Earth sound as if they might have come from Wales. Given that Tolkien was one of the most English English professors who ever lived, the answer is not quite as random as you might think. Cellar doors are involved. [Via TheOneRing.net]

Movies Rob Bricken

These Science Fiction And Fantasy Books Make Absolutely Perfect Gifts

As Emily Dickinson famously said, there is nothing as frigging awesome as a book. And there’s no better present than a cool-looking book, that can adorn someone’s coffee table but also provide hours of mind-expanding entertainment. Here are 23 science fiction book gifts your friends will love. The Art of John Harris – Beyond the…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Disney’s New Frozen Book Sounds Like Gone Girl On Ice

Frozen is branching out its extended universe and releasing a book based on the relationship of Hans and Anna, and it’s going to be told from each character’s point of view. So basically, it’s reverse Gone Girl. Spoilers for Frozen and Gone Girl ahead! According to Stitch Kingdom, Disney’s new Frozen spinoff book is titled…

Movies Meredith Woerner

Best books of 2014 by Bill Gates animated with Lego

Bill Gates does a segment on his favorite books of 2014 on his blog, gatesnotes. He has used clever animation to do these reviews in the past, but this is the first that I’ve seen that utilizes Lego. There is no credit to an animator, so I’m just going to hope that he did this…

Tech News Michael Schulte

What’s The Best (Or Worst) Genre Mashup You’ve Ever Seen?

Sometimes taking two genres and putting them together just makes everything that much more wonderful. And sometimes… it’s just they clash, like stripes and plaid. What’s the absolute best, or very worst, combination of two genres that you’ve ever witnessed? Please include a picture, clip, poster, comics panel, book cover or other representation of your…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Little Prince Trailer Is Stunning And Not What We Expected

The French trailer for the new CG Little Prince movie is both beautiful and something totally unexpected. The whole movies’ premise is not just about the Little Prince, but a story within a story! Directed by Mark Osborne, the film stars a voice cast of Marion Cotillard, James Franco, Rachel McAdams and Jeff Bridges. The…

Trailers Meredith Woerner

Does Anyone Really Think Star Wars Ruined Science Fiction?

The meme has been going around pretty much since Star Wars first came out in 1977: Star Wars wrecked science fiction. George Lucas’ extravagant space opera messed up a genre that was fumbling towards grown-up sophistication. This idea made a bit of a come-back with the Force Awakens teaser, and it’s time to kill it.…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Will Game of Thrones Have A “Deliberately Unsatisfying” Ending?

Most of us have at least a vague idea of how we think George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, and the Game of Thrones TV series, will end. But those expectations are shaped by the usual course of epic fantasy — and as Winter is Comingpoints out, Martin has maintained an…

Television Charlie Jane Anders

Bill Gates’ favorite books of 2014 are the smart gifts for the holidays

Watch Bill Gates—in Lego form no less!—tell you about his favorite books of 2014, an impeccable list that has a little bit of everything for everyone. I’ve included all his recommendations and short reviews below so you can easily buy any of them (I recommend getting all of them for yourself too. Good stuff.) The…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

What’s Your Absolute Favorite Book Ever To Introduce Other People To?

Whether you’re buying a stack of the same paperback to give out as gifts, lending out (and then retrieving) the well-turned copy you’ve had for the past decade, or simply pinging an e-copy over to as many friends’ e-readers as you can, we want to know about which book you most love to share. Tell…

Books & Comics Ria Misra

What Character Did You Hate… Until They Turned Unexpectedly Badass?

Science fiction and fantasy are full of characters who seem useless, good only for weak comedy or weaker “audience identification.” But it only takes one great “fuck yeah” moment to change a character from “waste of space” to “all-time favorite.” Which character annoyed you, until they suddenly revealed how badass they could be? Please include…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Revealed: Mystical Cover Art for Jodorowsky’s Autobiography

More good news for Alejandro Jodorowsky fans: the famed and proudly bizarre Chilean director’s autobiographical novel, Where the Bird Sings Best, will be translated into English. Publisher Restless Books offers this tantalizing description: Where the Bird Sings Best tells the fantastic story of the Jodorowskys’ emigration from Ukraine to Chile amid the political and cultural…

Books & Comics Cheryl Eddy

Game Of Thrones Designer Says Sand Snakes’ “Nipple Armor” Was A Mistake

Readers of George R.R. Martin’s novels will be excited to see the legendary Sand Snakes appearing on Game of Thrones this spring. But some people’s enthusiasm was slightly tempered when the first set photos of the Sand Snakes appeared, revealing… armor with nipples. Costume designer Michele Clapton says this was a mistake. Talking to New…

Television Charlie Jane Anders

J.K. Rowling To Release 12 New Harry Potter Short Stories This Month

J.K. Rowling just dropped a huge holiday gift to her fans. The writer is about to put out 12 additional Harry Potter stories this month! Over at Pottermore(J.K. Rowling’s official site), the author has just announced that “Starting Friday, December 12, we’ll be releasing a festive surprise for you every day at 1pm GMT (8am…

Movies Meredith Woerner

Top 10 Most Useless Star Wars Droids Of All Time

Next year sees the first new Star Wars movie in a decade, and that means one thing: brand new droids. But not all droids are necessarily as resourceful or neat as R2-D2. Some droids, nobody would ever want to look for. Here are the 10 most completely useless droids in the Star Wars universe. Some…

Movies Diana Biller

Here’s One Genre That Could Replace Post-Apocalyptic Stories

We’re in the middle of a huge boom in post-apocalyptic storytelling, including some of the most acclaimed novels and some of the biggest media properties. Will the apocalypse ever stop? What could replace it? Here’s one idea: Instead of the apocalypse, maybe we can start writing about colonizing other worlds, which is much the same…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Which Subplot Was Missing From The Adaptation Of Your Favorite Book?

Sometimes when you adapt a book or a comic for the screen, sacrifices have to be made. Stories have to be streamlined, stuff has to be cut. But which subplot did the adaptation of your favorite story leave out, and you felt like it was a mistake? Please include a poster, picture, clip, book cover…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Sotheby’s Is Auctioning These Rare Tolkien Illustrations

British auction house Sotheby’s is gearing up for a huge sale of “antiquarian books and manuscripts from an English country house” December 9. The collection includes several items that you’ll wish you could have for your library. Detail from John Blanche’s Battle of Five Armies via www.fantasyartoriginals.com For everyone who doesn’t have tens of thousands…

Books & Comics Cheryl Eddy

Can You Solve These Seven Riddles Inspired By The Hobbit?

What’s The Most Shocking Moment In Any Science Fiction Or Fantasy Book?

Why Are Tolkien’s Elves So Damn Welsh?

These Science Fiction And Fantasy Books Make Absolutely Perfect Gifts

Disney’s New Frozen Book Sounds Like Gone Girl On Ice

Best books of 2014 by Bill Gates animated with Lego

What’s The Best (Or Worst) Genre Mashup You’ve Ever Seen?

Little Prince Trailer Is Stunning And Not What We Expected

Does Anyone Really Think Star Wars Ruined Science Fiction?

Will Game of Thrones Have A “Deliberately Unsatisfying” Ending?

Bill Gates’ favorite books of 2014 are the smart gifts for the holidays

What’s Your Absolute Favorite Book Ever To Introduce Other People To?

What Character Did You Hate… Until They Turned Unexpectedly Badass?

Revealed: Mystical Cover Art for Jodorowsky’s Autobiography

Game Of Thrones Designer Says Sand Snakes’ “Nipple Armor” Was A Mistake

J.K. Rowling To Release 12 New Harry Potter Short Stories This Month

Top 10 Most Useless Star Wars Droids Of All Time

Here’s One Genre That Could Replace Post-Apocalyptic Stories

Which Subplot Was Missing From The Adaptation Of Your Favorite Book?

Sotheby’s Is Auctioning These Rare Tolkien Illustrations

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‘Steel Ball Run’ Will Return This Year…Eventually

‘The Mummy 4’ Is Getting the Family Back Together

JD Vance Says UFOs Are Actually Demons

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine Hits Its Lowest Price of the Year for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, Cut Your Daily Coffee Costs at Home

Amazon Clears Out Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs (2-Pack) at a Record Low, Each Bulb Costs Just a Few Dollars

The First Proper ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Trailer Is a ’90s Anime Fever Dream

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

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Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

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