Lonesome Dove (1985) – Larry McMurtry

According to USA Today, if I only read one western in my life, it should be Lonesome Dove. I’ve enjoyed western films, and now thanks to the spreading Taylor Sheridan universe, I thought I may dip into it. Clocking in at 858 pages, the 40th anniversary edition is introduced by Sheridan, and I saddled up…

The Stand (1994) – The Dreams

The second instalment of the Mick Garris/Stephen King miniseries adaptation of King’s epic yarn of good and evil, The Stand, first aired on 9 May, 1994. Honestly, I remember it airing, but what I really remember was how it did gangbusters when they released the mini-series to home video. People who had missed it (or…

Artificial Condition (2018) – Martha Wells

Martha Wells delivers another entertaining entry in the Murderbot Diaries with Artificial Condition. Much like the first story, this is only a novella as well and it rips along at warp speed, filled with action beats, laughs, and a small exploration of the worlds that Wells is building. The story picks up shortly after the…

Dead of Winter (2025) – Brian Kirk

Emma Thompson stars in this white-knuckle thriller that features a layered performance, and some stand-out moments. With Finland standing in for Minnesota, Thompson braves the cold as Barb who sets out for Lake Hilda for personal reasons. A goodbye needs to be made. Along the way, she has an unnerving encounter with a man in…

TIFF 25: Frankenstein dir. Guillermo del Toro

I’ve been a fan of Guillermo del Toro since I took home the film Chronos one night from my video store. Since then, I haven’t missed anything he’s done, and look forward eagerly to each new project. When I heard that he was taking on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I was delighted. The classic monsters have…

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (2022) – Becky Chambers

I have to say, I love the writing of Becky Chambers. I have one more book to read written by her, and I already have it on hold at the library. There is so much hope, joy, wonder, and self-care in the narratives, that they feel like a salve for the soul. A Prayer for…

Ancillary Justice (2013) – Ann Leckie

Ann Leckie delivers an interesting space opera read that uses the feminine pronoun she throughout, as a part of its language, not as a descriptor of the people themselves, who are predominantly genderless. It’s a great touch, and really plays nicely with the casting of characters in the mind’s eye. We are introduced to Breq,…