Books

Which Mutineer Or Traitor Actually Had A Valid Point?

Nobody likes a turncoat. When somebody abandons their friends and becomes an enemy, we always assume they’re a monster. But what if they’re right? Which characters from science fiction and fantasy had good reasons to betray or abandon their comrades? Please include a picture, poster, clip, book cover, comics panel, or some other illustration of…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

The Earliest Illustrations Of Literature’s Great Classic Monsters

We have our own idea of what modern English and American creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Creature, and the horrors of H.P. Lovecraft look like based on countless adaptations and re-adaptations. But what did these monsters look like when they were first introduced? In some cases, the original illustration of a monster holds through the decades—for…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

In The Brilliant New Hunger Games Film, Katniss Can’t Escape The Arena

The third movie in the Hunger Games series is supposed to be the one where the frame pulls back and reveals a bigger world than the teen arena of the first two. Instead, Mockingjay Part 1 does something more daring: it shows how all of the dystopian land of Panem is just the Arena writ…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

7 Pieces of Album Art From the Golden Age of Disco Design

What’s hot, sweaty, and filled with sexual innuendo? I’m talking about disco—what did you think I was talking about?—but I’m also talking about the design that was created to sell this era of suddenly decadent lifestyles. The new book Disco: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Cover Art of Disco Records includes over 2000 (!) album…

Tech News Alissa Walker

RIP R.A. Montgomery, Creator Of The “Choose Your Own Adventure” Books

Few book series celebrated narrative possibility and experimented with branching storytelling in as unique a way as the Choose Your Own Adventure novels. They were largely the work of R.A. Montgomery, who died aged 78 on Nov. 8. The Choose Your Own Adventure blog has a great account of how the series got started: In…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Why Books Are Still One Of Our Most Durable Technologies Ever

With limited free time for reading, tight publishing markets, and the rise of e-readers, people have been sounding the death knoll for the book for quite some time. But they haven’t died. Not even close. So what is it that makes them so enduring? In response to a question about the technologies that inspire the…

io9 Ria Misra

Ursula Le Guin: We Need Fantasy Because “Hard Times Are Coming”

Last night, fantasy and science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin, author of The Left Hand of Darkness and the Earthsea series, won the medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the National Book Awards. She gave a speech about the importance of fantasy in a world of ugly realities. Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Carrie Vaughn Explains The Downside Of Becoming Famous For One Thing

Carrie Vaughn is the author of the mega-successful Kitty Norville novels — but she didn’t want to rest on her laurels. Instead, she fought to break out of the “urban fantasy” category, which she hadn’t even known existed until she was put into it. Her story is fascinating. Talking to Westword, Vaughn, explains how she…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Who’s The Best (Or Worst) Brand New Character In An Existing Universe?

Stories change over time, and characters get added or subtracted every time a story is retold. And sometimes, an existing universe gains a new character who adds something special. Or not so special. Who’s the best (or worst) brand new addition to an existing group of characters? Please include a picture, poster, clip, book cover,…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Listen to an Excerpt from Brandon Sanderson’s Legion: Skin Deep

Stephen Leeds, the man with a thousand (superpowered) personalities, is back in this sequel to Brandon Sanderson’s novel Legion. Now he’s up against new bad guys — and has a creepy new mystery to solve. You can listen to an excerpt now! The book comes out November 24. Here’s the official description: Stephen Leeds, AKA…

io9 Annalee Newitz

An Astounding History of Scientific Space Art from the Past 200 Years

Ron Miller’s new coffee table book The Art of Space is a gorgeous history of scientific illustrations, full of retro rockets and stunning planetscapes. It’s also a glimpse back at the cutting-edge astronomy of yesteryear. We’ve got a gallery of some of the most striking work from the book. Top image by Chesley Bonestell The…

io9 Ed Grabianowski

Paul Greengrass Will Bring Orwell’s 1984 Back to the Big Screen

Sony’s setting up another adaptation of George Orwell’s classic, this time with Paul Greengrass in the director’s chair. Well, it’s not like it’s a book that gets less relevant as time goes on. The question remains if this’ll come before or after Greengrass’ return to the Bourne franchise, which is supposedly going to come out…

io9 Katharine Trendacosta

Dragonriders Of Pern Movie Gets A Screenwriter Who’s Also A Novelist

Few recently announced movie projects have inspired more excitement — and more “please don’t fuck this up” trepidation — than the movie based on Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern. The good news? The movie has a writer, and she sounds like she has some real storytelling chops. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the task of…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Who Is The Sexiest Book Character, Ever?

Earlier today, Asgardian god Chris Hemsworth was crowned King Sexy Pants of People Magazine. And while the “real life” actor is nice, we’d still rather bang the fantasy (Thor). Which lead us to this question: who is the hottest fictional literary character of all time? Our answer is Robb Stark, the less needy version of…

io9 Meredith Woerner

First Look At The BBC’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Series!

We finally get to see actors Bertie Carvel and Eddie Marsan as Strange and Norrell, respectively, in the BBC’s adaptation of the best-selling novel by Susanna Clarke, and they look outstanding. Alas, they only released this one promotional pic, but we had to share it because we’re absolutely salivating for this series. Here’s the press…

io9 Rob Bricken

What Absolutely Everyone Needs To Know About Isaac Asimov’s Foundation

Soon, Isaac Asimov’s legendary Foundation trilogy will be coming to HBO. But what do you need to know about this series, which explores questions of fate versus determinism and the cyclical nature of history? Here’s our complete primer on this enduring science-fiction classic. Top image: Foundation and Empire, art by Chris Foss. The news that…

io9 Mark Strauss

Deals: Six Lego books on sale at Amazon

Amazon currently has several Lego titles up for grabs at a great discount. Most of these are older books but at 24-44% off, you can’t beat the price. The Lego Ideas Book – $14.09 (was $24.99) 44% off Lego Play Book – $14.87 (was $24.99) 40% off The Lego Book – $17.39 (was $24.99) 30%…

Commerce Michael Schulte

What Are You Reading?

What’s on your reading list these days, and what did you just cross off it? Whether you’re currently working your way through some brand new fiction, a long-awaited classic, or even a stack of assigned textbooks, we want to hear about it. Tell us in the comments about the books you’re currently reading or just…

io9 Ria Misra

Barbie F*cks It Up Again

I recently paid a visit to my sweet friend Helen Jane and was excited to find this book at her house. (The second book of the “2 Books in 1!” is “Barbie [i can be…] an Actress.” We’ll get to that later.) Helen Jane has two little girls under the age of six. I have…

Books & Comics Pamela Ribon

10 Dystopias That Are More Relevant Than Ever Before

Dystopias rule our imaginations today — just ask Katniss Everdeen. But the dystopias that speak most powerfully to our world weren’t necessarily created in the past decade. Here are 10 great dystopias that are more relevant to the real world than when they were first created. Note: We didn’t include 1984 or Brave New World…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders and Diana Biller

Which Mutineer Or Traitor Actually Had A Valid Point?

The Earliest Illustrations Of Literature’s Great Classic Monsters

In The Brilliant New Hunger Games Film, Katniss Can’t Escape The Arena

7 Pieces of Album Art From the Golden Age of Disco Design

RIP R.A. Montgomery, Creator Of The “Choose Your Own Adventure” Books

Why Books Are Still One Of Our Most Durable Technologies Ever

Ursula Le Guin: We Need Fantasy Because “Hard Times Are Coming”

Carrie Vaughn Explains The Downside Of Becoming Famous For One Thing

Who’s The Best (Or Worst) Brand New Character In An Existing Universe?

Listen to an Excerpt from Brandon Sanderson’s Legion: Skin Deep

An Astounding History of Scientific Space Art from the Past 200 Years

Paul Greengrass Will Bring Orwell’s 1984 Back to the Big Screen

Dragonriders Of Pern Movie Gets A Screenwriter Who’s Also A Novelist

Who Is The Sexiest Book Character, Ever?

First Look At The BBC’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Series!

What Absolutely Everyone Needs To Know About Isaac Asimov’s Foundation

Deals: Six Lego books on sale at Amazon

What Are You Reading?

Barbie F*cks It Up Again

10 Dystopias That Are More Relevant Than Ever Before

Ranking 2016’s Superhero Debuts, 10 Years Later

Fourth Most Populous Country in the World Bans Most Social Media for Kids

How to watch UFC Fight Night Adesanya vs Pyfer live this Saturday

‘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

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

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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