(courtesy IMDb) Remember when you were a kid and as Christmas approached, all you wanted, all you could think to ask for from Santa, was one particular toy or thing. You were, in a way only kids can ask for, obsessed, and all that mattered was getting that present and Continue Reading
#ChristmasInJuly book review: A White Christmas on Winter St. by Sue Moorcroft
(courtesy Harper Collins Publishers Australia) If you read a few Christmas-themed books, you will be well acquainted with the recurrent themes of this most festive of genres. At least one member of the couple at the centre of the story must be emotionally broken or traumatised and in need of Continue Reading
The short and the Christmas in July short of it: The life-transforming, cocoa-sipping revelations of Hey Deer!
(courtesy IMDb) SNAPSHOTHey Deer! Short Animated Film about an adorable, cocoa-drinking deer who is eager to tidy and shoveling in front of his house every day. However, there is a suspicious earthquake every night which causes the mess day by day and make unbearable our fella’s life. Between two cups Continue Reading
It ends where it all began: Thoughts on Sweet Tooth S3 (the final season)
(courtesy IMP Awards) What a journey this has been! What started as a reasonably small story about a hybrid boy/deer living in the depths of Yellowstone National Park, or really just Yellowstone since civilisational constructs have largely fallen into disuse in just under a decade of apocalyptic decay, has grown Continue Reading
Book review: The Day Tripper by James Goodhand
(courtesy Allen & Unwin Book Publishers) In recent years, there has a been near-chronological avalanche of stories that make merry with ideas of time and space and use our increasing understanding of how these two concepts work and interact to spin some incredibly involved and immersively beguiling storytelling. Having someone Continue Reading
Movie review: Twisters
(courtesy IMP Awards) How do you have a sequel when you don’t have a sequel? When you have a film that sits well and truly within the universe of a previous film, with clear allusions to it, visually, narratively and character-wise, but which tries as much as it can be Continue Reading
Standing up for who you are and what matters: Thoughts on Sweet Tooth S2
The COVID pandemic gave rise to many a strange dynamic. One of them, and the one that impacted this reviewer most when it came to consuming everything from movies to streaming shows to books, was a willingness to dive into all kinds of plague-related and end of the world-set storytelling; Continue Reading
Book review: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
(courtesy Pan Macmillan Australia) There a re a great many superstars of the literary sci-fi genre, authors whose minds not only go there but who are then, almost miraculously, able to take their wildly imaginative musings and doing something profoundly impressive them. One of the leading stars of this pantheon Continue Reading
Graphic novel review: Eight Billion Genies by Charles Soule and Ryan Browne
(courtesy Image Comics) On the surface, the idea of a genie appearing before each and every one of the people currently alive on Earth and offering them one wish would be something miraculous and full of wondrous possibility. Think of the things that could be righted – world hunger, climate Continue Reading
Because we need more Christmas in July music! Thoughts on Mark Tremonti, Kate Rusby, Samara Joy, Chloe Flower + Bing Crosby
(via Shutterstock) Christmas music in July? What, what, WHAT are you even thinking?! Well, I’m thinking that the world is a dumpster fire of climate change and fascistic chaos and listening to music that is dedicated to conjuring up a warm-and-fuzzy winter wonderland of loveliness is no bad thing (and Continue Reading