This book was read at Kalimna, Yeranda cottages, near Dungog in early January 2026. What a magical story is contained in the novella-length pages of Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newtitz. Set in a post-apocalyptic mid-21st century California, which has just won its independence after a brutal war with an insidiously Continue Reading
“I was born to play this character.” The meta fun of Wonder Man
(courtesy IMP Awards) SNAPSHOTWonder Man is a meta live-action Disney+ series with a “story about acting and the journey of an actor in Hollywood.” Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Simon Williams, a working actor who auditions for the lead role in Wonder Man, an upcoming reboot of a classic Wonder Continue Reading
Graphic novel review: The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos by James Tynion IV and Tate Brombal (writers) and Isaac Goodhart (artist)
(courtesy Tiny Onion / Dark Horse Comics) This book was read at Kalimna, Yeranda cottages, near Dungog in early January 2026. Who are the real monsters? It’s question often asked in storylines where the obvious monsters turn out to be the good guys, or at least not the most reprehensibly Continue Reading
A mini-mass of movie trailers 2025 #1: The Sheep Detectives, Jimmy + Greenland 2: Migration
(via Shutterstock) Another year and lots more movies to watch! Hurrah! Apart from reading books, my other great enduring love is losing myself in a lovely, long movie and with eclectic tastes, that opens a lot of movies to watch when I’m in the mood. Which, yes, is pretty much Continue Reading
Book review: Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye
This book was read at Kalimna, Yeranda cottages, near Dungog in early January 2026. If you’re a book lover, you will be well acquainted with the magical power of bookstores to soothe the stressful soul, to calm the rapidly beating heart and to make you feel like all the things Continue Reading
The short and the short of it: A lonely robot selflessly looks after others in Sunspark
(courtesy official Sunspark site) SNAPSHOTIn a post-human wasteland, a robot scavenger unexpectedly finds the broken body of another robot while looking for spare parts. After failing to fully revive her, he must decide how much of himself he’s willing to give in order to bring her back to life. Sunspark Continue Reading
Back on the job: Thoughts on Man on the Inside S2
(courtesy IMP Awards) When it comes to sitcom royalty, you would have to consider Michael Schur, who has had a hand in creating and delivering standouts of the genre such as Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place, as occupying the top of a very hilarious heap. He Continue Reading
From villain to zodiac hero: how Zootopia 2’s snake character has made the film a global hit (curated article)
(courtesy IMP Awards) Yanyan HongPhD in Media and Film Studies, University of AdelaidePublished: The Conversation Nine years after their first adventure, Zootopia’s “dream team” are back. This time, perky optimistic rabbit cop Judy Hopps and charming fox Nick Wilde must to solve a reptilian mystery. Zootopia 2 has won the Continue Reading
Book review: Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain
(courtesy Simon & Schuster) If the festive season is all about love and renewal, then novels set in summer are all about the capacity of a time of sunshine, outdoors activity and time with friends and family in relaxed setting to recharge the soul and give you a brand new Continue Reading
Ready to move on? So, after lots of grief and forgiveness, is Shrinking S3
SNAPSHOTShrinking follows a grieving therapist named Jimmy (played by Jason Segel) who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his own training & ethics, he makes huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives… including his own. Shrinking is a streaming series created and written Continue Reading