Prince Caspian (1951) isn’t as exciting as I remembered

Hello readers! It’s time for another deep-dive into the Chronicles of Narnia. Last time we discussed The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was the first book in the series to be published; this time we will discuss Prince Caspian, which released just one year later, in 1951. I remember preferring this story as … Continue reading Prince Caspian (1951) isn’t as exciting as I remembered →

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a very enjoyable read!

Hello readers! Towards the end of last year I read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is a collection of three short stories by George R. R. Martin, set in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire (or Game of Thrones, for the TV-brained). Because I live under a rock, I … Continue reading A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a very enjoyable read! →

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) is weirder than I remembered

Hello readers! Last weekend I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, having not picked up the book since I was about ten years old. This book is possibly the first fantasy story that I ever read, and I have fond memories of it – and for the Chronicles of … Continue reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) is weirder than I remembered →

Blog plans for 2026

Hello readers! Happy new year! I’d like to post a quick update regarding upcoming projects on this blog. I’m not planning any major overhauls of its structure: all posts will remain related to science fiction and fantasy (sometimes tangentially). But last year, some of my favourite post formats were underused, with only two six-minute summaries … Continue reading Blog plans for 2026 →

Frankenstein (2025) is not for fans of the book

Hello readers! Last week I watched Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which released on Netflix on the 7th of November. The film has received very positive reviews from audiences and critics alike – but now that it has breached containment and is reaching people beyond the del Toro fanbase, I am sensing a shift in opinion. … Continue reading Frankenstein (2025) is not for fans of the book →

Attempting to understand “romantasy”

Hello readers! Have any of you visited a bookshop lately? A few weeks ago I was browsing Amazon, and I ended up scrolling through an endless stream of “romantasy” novels. I wasn’t seeking these titles intentionally (far from it), but as soon as I entered the fantasy section, Amazon assumed that romantasy was what I … Continue reading Attempting to understand “romantasy” →

Dune (1965) is a timeless classic

Hello readers! I finally got around to reading Frank Herbert’s Dune. Not sure why it took me so long, as I’ve been curious about the book for as long as I can remember. It is so well-known, so well-loved, and so well-integrated into the public imagination that most of us have felt its influence, either … Continue reading Dune (1965) is a timeless classic →

The Last Man (1826) is a miserable read…

Hello readers! I recently finished reading The Last Man, a dystopian novel written in 1826 by Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. I first learnt of this book’s existence when I was researching the origins of science fiction, as The Last Man is often listed as the earliest example of the dystopian, apocalyptic genre. The … Continue reading The Last Man (1826) is a miserable read… →

Science fiction and the future: Part Two

Hello readers! In the previous post, we explored the challenges associated with setting a speculative science fiction story in a particular future year. The writer must choose a date that feels plausible to the reader, or else their credibility will be eroded, the foundations of their fictional world will be shaken, and their otherwise carefully-crafted … Continue reading Science fiction and the future: Part Two →

Science fiction and the future: Part one

Hello readers! I’ve been pondering the science fiction genre again – specifically, science fiction stories which are set in our universe, with some connection to our world. I haven’t done a thorough survey, but I get the impression that most science fiction falls into this category, rather than being pure science fantasy. And within this … Continue reading Science fiction and the future: Part one →