What if humanity discovered aliens, but they were far, far smarter and more animalistic than us? In A. E. Van Vogt's short story "Black Destroyer," paranoia and terror abound as a group of astronauts encounter a cat-like alien on a distant planet. In the end, I believe it offers a realistic view of what would … Continue reading Black Destroyer Review
Some of the best science fiction short stories have the capacity to inject feelings of horror in just a few pages. One of the greatest examples of this, I think, comes from Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder." I absolutely love Ray Bradbury's work. I read Fahrenheit 451 in high school and never looked back. … Continue reading A Sound of Thunder Review
Another Arthur C. Clarke review (I'm starting to notice a pattern here)! But in the grand scheme of things, does the short story "The Sentinel" hold up to his other work? Honestly, I have some mixed feelings about the story as a whole. Time to ramble. You might have heard me mention this story before, … Continue reading The Sentinel Short Story Review
Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon might be one of the weirder science fiction books that I've reviewed, though it's definitely one of the most influential. Also, it's more philosophical. By the time it was written in 1937, a lot of the concepts and ideas introduced in the book were new to sci-fi. It would profoundly … Continue reading Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon Review
I've always been fascinated by science fiction that includes and discusses religion. It might seem like a dichotomy at times, but I don't see why they can't work together, just like religion and science in real life. Despite Arthur C. Clarke identifying as an atheist, he included a lot about religion and tackled religious themes … Continue reading The Star – Arthur C. Clarke Review
I knew even before I began reading this story that it would be one of those stories that would stick with me for the rest of my life. The relatively short narration offers a profound look at the world and ourselves. I think it's easy to see why this won the Hugo Award for Best … Continue reading The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas Review
Note: I mistook another story I mentioned, "Harrison Bergeron," for being written by Harlan Ellison, but it was actually written by Kurt Vonnegut. Science fiction is no stranger to confronting the ways society controls us. Harlan Ellison himself isn't a stranger to discussing this topic in his own stories. In his "Repent, Harlequin!" story, he … Continue reading “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman Review
There's something so exhilarating and daunting about reviewing one of the most influential sci-fi books of all time by one of the most influential authors: 2001: A Space Odyssey. But is it as transcendent an experience as the 1968 film? I honestly think so. You might already know the plot of 2001, but I'm going … Continue reading 2001: A Space Odyssey Review
