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Hammering Away at the Here and Now

Posted by James on August 19, 2010

I wrote an article for The Cultural Gutter: Hammering Away at the Here and Now

Sawyer has made the near-future tale his specialty, and he gets around most of the problems inherent in the hybrid genre by focusing tightly on character.

Noir, With Feelings

Posted by James on July 15, 2010

I wrote an article for The Cultural Gutter: Noir, With Feelings

So if I’m surprised at the way Harry is a sensitive man, that might just be the idea in my head that genre protagonists have become more action-hero-esque over the years.

A Matter of Human Agency

Posted by James on June 17, 2010

I wrote an article for The Cultural Gutter: A Matter of Human Agency

Wells’ time traveller is in control of his destiny (but not really, as we’ll see in a moment), and that makes this book science fiction, in the modern sense

Drastically Out of Context

Posted by James on May 21, 2010

I wrote an article for The Cultural Gutter: Drastically Out of Context

The Picture of Dorian Gray is perhaps the worst epic fantasy I’ve ever read. Where are the dragons? The violent decapitations with a magical sword? All the author seems to care about is witty rich people making smart remarks to each other.

Home Stretch

Posted by James on April 22, 2010

I wrote an article for The Cultural Gutter: Home Stretch

I have a theory that television shows get a lot of practice in the cliff-hanger, in hooking the viewer to come back next week, but almost zero experience in creating satisfying endings.