Star Trek: Chain of Attack (1987) – Gene DeWeese

Don’t be fooled by the depiction of the Enterprise on the cover, this story is set just after the Original Series, so very definitely still within the setting of the Five Year Mission. It also does something that would later be revisited as a television series, as a Federation starship (in this case the U.S.S….

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Hollow Pursuits, and The Most Toys

Captain’s log: stardate 43801.4 First airing on 30 April, 1990, this episode, written by Sally Caves introduced fan favourite Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz) to the Trek Universe. Barclay is smart, but shy, suffers from some anxieties, and releases them through escapes to the holodeck. In fact, he slips away every chance he gets, as, within…

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) – Vonda N. McIntyre

This week’s Book Shelf brings me to the movie adaptation of Star Trek IV, as I continue to enjoy, discover new stories and revisit old ones with the Pocket Book novels. Working from the film’s original script, McIntyre expands on the film’s story, as well as tying it more strongly into her own stories and…

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – David Lean

Another recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of The Great Escape is this David Lean classic starring William Holden, Alec Guinness,  and Jack Hawkins. The film walked away with seven Academy Awards, taking home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Guinness), Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography,…

Alien: Covenant (2017) – Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott returns to the science fiction genre again and retreads things that have gone before in Alien: Covenant. The latest film in the seemingly indefatigable series connects the previous film, the divisive Prometheus with the first film in the series, 1979 Alien, both directed by Scott. And while I didn’t hate it, the film…

Doctor Who (Sylvester McCoy) – Battlefield

The 26th and final season of regular Doctor Who got under way with this four part story written by Ben Aaronovitch which aired from 6 to 27 September, 1989. The Doctor (McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) are joined in this adventure by a familiar face, the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and UNIT. I love that there is…

Titan A.E. (2000) – Don Bluth

  The next tale from the Sci-Fi Chronicles book that Joss Whedon had his hand in was this animated feature that featured the voice talents of Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Bill Pullman, Nathan Lane, Janeane Garofalo, John Leguizamo, and Tone Loc. Humanity is struggling to survive in a galaxy that has seen the destruction of…

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) – Ishiro Honda

  The Sci-Fi Chronicles book continues to pay off as I now get to spend some time with that kaiju known the world round as Godzilla. I’ve previously reviewed the original film here. His competition in this film, Mothra, had a film of its own, but in this one, the two beasts go head to…

Doctor Who (Tom Baker) – Genesis of the Daleks

  The Doctor (Tom Baker) encounters the Daleks, once again, but in a completely new way, in this landmark, six-part story written by Terry Nation that aired from 8 March to 12 April, 1975. When the transmat beam from Earth back to the Ark is intercepted, the Doctor, Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry (Ian Marter)…