SFF Role Models, Homeric Epics, and Godzilla

To view this email as a web page, go [here.]( [Tor.com Newsletter]( [Forward to a Friend]( MARK AS READ [What Do You Want to Know About a Book Before You Read It?]( Have you ever read the back cover of a book, thinking you know what you’re getting into, only to be completely surprised by the book itself? The constant problem with jacket copy, if there is one, is that it can’t be for everyone—so what do you want to know, when you pick up a book? What makes you pick up that book in the first place? In a new Mark as Read column, Molly Templeton dives into what makes us want to spend hours with a book, and what information we could potentially do without. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( FROM CHARLIE JANE [Twelve Male Role Models From Science Fiction and Fantasy]( What does it mean to be a good dude? And what can fictional men teach us about what it means to be a man? Fortunately, science fiction and fantasy offer us so many excellent examples of guys who are secure in their masculinity and ready to do the right thing, even when it’s tough. Charlie Jane Anders shares twelve of her favorite male role models. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( HEROES AND HOMER [Wilson’s Iliad and Le Guin’s Battle Between Good and Evil, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Sword]( This fall, Emily Wilson’s translation of Homer’s Iliad was released, to both critical acclaim and concern—particularly for the way she has translated words around war and masculine achievement. Kristen Patterson examines the reactions to the new translation, along with Ursula Le Guin’s thoughts on Homeric epics and fantasy war, and what it says about our commonly held notions about the past (and why we still find meaning in these ancient stories). [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( SPEED DIAL [Five Stories Featuring Spooky Phones and Supernatural Communication Devices]( A quirk of old-timey phones and phone-like devices is that they gave no hint as to who might be calling. It could be your beloved granny. It could be the bad guy. The only way to find out is to pick up the call. James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction and fantasy stories featuring spooky calls and mysterious transmissions. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( PLEASE ADAPT [Tess of the Road Is the Compassionate, Personal Fantasy Journey We Need on Our Screens]( Rachel Hartman’s Tess of the Road was published in 2018, and it’s surprising that this touching personal journey hasn’t been optioned for film yet. With a strong and complex main character, a compelling straightforward narrative, and many adventures on the way, it would make for a perfect limited series. In a new Please Adapt column, Cole Rush shares why Tess of the Road is the type of touching fantasy we all need to see. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( RAISE YOUR VOICE [Seven SFF Stories Featuring Rebellions Big and Small]( Stories of rebellions are reminders that change is possible—and that it doesn’t always have to be on a massive, global scale. In times of crisis, stories help inspire us and remind us that one person can make a difference. Ratika Deshpande shares seven recent SFF short stories featuring rebellions. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( GRAVITY SHMAVITY [Doctor Who Lets Horror Take the Wheel in “Wild Blue Yonder”]( We’re back with another 60th anniversary Doctor Who special, and this one harkens to one of Russell T. Davies’ best with horror elements and witty quips galore. Emmet Asher-Perrin reviews the episode here. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS [Godzilla Minus One Will Make You Believe in Godzilla]( Godzilla Minus One might just be one of the best movies of the year—with its honest engagement with the tragedy of PTSD balanced perfectly with some of the most terrifying kaiju attacks on screen, the newest Godzilla movie is a stunner. Read Leah Schnelbach’s review of the film here! [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( ORIGINAL FICTION [“Sun River” by Nisi Shawl]( Princess Mwadi of Everfair teams up with American actress Rima Bailey on a reconnaissance mission in Egypt in an attempt to thwart the European spies intent on destabilizing Everfair and its business interests… “Sun River” is set in the world of Nisi Shawl’s acclaimed Everfair and its upcoming sequel, Kinning, available everywhere on January 23, 2024. A version of this story appeared in the anthology Clockwork Cairo: Steampunk Tales of Egypt, published by Twopenny Books. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( Follow Tor.com to get updates on all of our original fiction. FOLLOW US: [Follow Us on Facebook]( [Follow Us on Twitter]( [Follow Us on Tumblr]( [Follow Us on Pinterest]( This email was sent by: Macmillan 120 Broadway New York, NY, 10271, US We respect your right to privacy - [view our policy]( Macmillan believes piracy hurts writers, readers and everyone who loves books. Learn more and report suspicious activity [here.]( To subscribe to this or other email communications from Macmillan, please click [here](. Visit our [profile center]( to update your email address and/or other information. If you no longer wish to receive this email communication, click [here]( to unsubscribe.