I don’t know about you, but I love a good team effort. Personality clashes, slippery loyalties, and found family–I just can’t get enough of these stories, which is probably why I love the Avengers so much. The novels on this Avengers-inspired book list might not all be about superheroes, though …
Continue ReadingRetellings: Cued from the Classics
Fairy Tale retellings, ala Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles, have been ala mode in the book world for quite a while. These days, though, it seems like re-told and re-imagined versions of classic literature are packing the shelves. Here are some of my favorites–and a few more I’d love to check …
Continue ReadingThe Umbrella Academy Fan’s Book List
Umbrella Academy is the best thing I’ve seen on television in a long time. From the dark humor to the electric visuals and rockout action scenes, it was solidly awesome from episode one on. Mostly, I found myself invested in the characters. I particularly love Klaus. Vanya is a standout, …
Continue ReadingFictional Oddballs Who Own Their Strange
~~Contains spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War~~ They’re weird. They know it. And we can’t get enough. These fictional characters know that when the going gets strange, the the strange survive. Liv Moore, iZombie She’s got major Tasty App skills, and she’s not afraid to use them to assemble some major …
Continue ReadingThe Guardians of the Galaxy Fan’s Book List
Guardians of the Galaxy might be my favorite film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first one falls among a handful of movies I never tire of–and I have to love how Vol. 2 doubles down on the found-family dynamics. I’ll never forget the surprised delight of watching Chris Pratt …
Continue ReadingHow to Set Up Your Supervillain Lair
Are you a supervillain who dreams of world domination? Do you have a patent pending on a superpower-suppressing serum? Do you possess 5/6 infinity stones? If you replied “yes” to any of the above, you’re going to need a secret lair ASAP. Here are some tips to get you started. …
Continue ReadingValentine’s Day in Space & Beyond: SFF Couples We Love (And Ship)
Ah, love. It’s bound to strike when you least expect it. Like while you’re battling to the death in a televised game. Or when you’ve almost just been sacrificed for the sake of breaking a pirate curse. Or…well, you get the idea. Love may not be the main focus of …
Continue ReadingScene-Stealing Sidekicks
How would Frodo get to Mount Doom without Sam? (He wouldn’t.) Where would Dr. Frankenstein be without Igor to cackle at his side? (If we’re being honest, probably the same place–Igor’s not in the book, after all.) Who would we hate in Batman without Robin to shout “Holy” everything? (We …
Continue ReadingHow to Defeat a (Fictional) Trickster
From Loki to Peter Pan, tricksters trick—it’s what they do. Follow these simple steps, and you will no doubt emerge victorious from your next trickster encounter. The Roadrunner (Nemesis to one Wile E. Coyote) Step 1: Build world’s biggest crockpot. Step 1A: Ensure crockpot is battery-operated. Seriously. I see you …
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