When Lieutenant Uhura took her place on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek, the actress Nichelle Nichols went where no African American woman had ever gone before. Yet several decades passed before many other black women began playing significant roles in speculative (i.e., science fiction, fantasy, and horror) film and television-a troubling omission, given that these genres offer significant opportunities for reinventing social constructs...

Since the 1970s, the name Stephen King has been synonymous with horror. His vast number of books has spawned a similar number of feature films and TV shows, and together they offer a rich opportunity to consider how one writer's work has been adapted over a long period within a single genre and across a variety of media-and what that can tell us about King, about adaptation, and about film and TV horror. Starting from the premise that King has transcended...

2017 saw the triumphant return of the weird and haunting TV show Twin Peaks, with most of the original cast, after a gap of twenty-five years. Twin Peaks and Philosophy finally answers that puzzling question: What is Twin Peaks really about? Twin Peaks is about evil in various forms, and poses the question: What's the worst kind of evil? Can the everyday evil of humans in a small mountain town ever be as evil as the evil of alien supernatural beings?...

Famous Robots and Cyborgs is a high-octane voyage through the history of our metallic friends and foes. Dan Roberts narrates the history, strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and foibles of a plethora of fictional robots, cyborgs, and mechanical races-taking in the pronouncements of sci-fi visionaries and eminent robotics scientists along the way. Roberts guides us through the evolution of the deadly Cylons of Battlestar Galactica in its various forms to...

Michael Crichton's thrillers traverse the cutting edge of science and then push the envelope. How realistic are his takes on subjects ranging from dinosaur cloning to global warming, nanotechnology to time travel, animal behavior to human genetics? The Science of Michael Crichton gathers essays from prominent experts that examine the amazing inventions of Crichton's books and lift up the hood, revealing the science underneath-exploring which Crichton...

The Back to the Future series of films is, in a word, timeless. From the original films to spin-off cartoons, toys and more, generations of fans never seem to get enough of Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and their adventures through the space-time continuum. In this celebration of all things Back to the Future, author Brad Gilmore discusses the films, the fascinating history behind them, and why they mean so much to so many. Pairing his knowledge with his...

How many planets has the TARDIS visited? Can you name the Doctor's favorite Gallifreyan bedtime stories? What's the best way to defeat a Sontaran? Put your Time Lord knowledge to the test with an extraordinary journey through fifty-five years of Doctor Who. Now fully updated to take in the Twelfth Doctor's final episode, this unique tour of space and time is packed with facts, figures, and stories from the show's entire run. Peek inside the...

May the Force always be with those who believe in God, both on Earth and in the universe. "It appears the spirit of George Lucas is related to Zoroaster and the strong images of Light and Darkness and Jedi came down. The battle for Space Justice has been happening not only in the fictional world of movies but also in reality through the past, present, and future." ― Ryuho Okawa, Preface― In January, 2020, author and spiritual leader Ryuho Okawa...

The trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens made a strong impression on fans. Many were excited by what they saw as a return to the spirit of George Lucas's 1977 creation. Others--including several white supremacy groups--were upset and offended by key differences, most notably the shift away from a blond, blue-eyed, male protagonist. When the film was finally released, reactions similarly seemed to hinge on whether or not The Force Awakens renewed...

New York Times–Bestselling Authors: Diehard fans share opinions and debate questions about the beloved series from the funny to the philosophical. •Should we pity Voldemort or hate him? •Is Severus Snape really a hero? •Should J.K. Rowling have left Dumbledore's sexual orientation a secret? •Did Harry actually die in Deathly Hallows? •Were the Slytherins too demonized, the Hufflepuffs too lame, and the Gryffindors too glorified? •Should...