speculative fiction

Readers Never Actually Fell Out of Love with Space Opera

For years, science fiction seemed determined to convince us the future would be smaller, darker, and more cynical than the present. But readers never actually abandoned space opera. They still wanted starships, exploration, galactic civilizations, and futures worth fighting for. Now, as film, television, and publishing slowly rediscover large-scale science fiction, it feels like space opera is finally stepping back into the spotlight — jet packs and all.

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Are Modern Storytellers Afraid of Happy Endings?

The new Dune 3 trailer should have filled me with anticipation. Instead, it left me uneasy. Not because Denis Villeneuve lacks skill as a filmmaker—far from it—but because the films seem determined to undercut Paul Atreides’ triumph before it ever truly lands. Which raises a larger question: Have modern storytellers become afraid of heroic endings? From Dune to grimdark fantasy to prestige science fiction, modern stories increasingly distrust hope, sincerity, and unapologetic victory. But is that really what audiences want—or simply what the industry keeps giving them?

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When “Agentic” Suddenly Became a Thing

Why has “agentic AI” suddenly become the term everyone’s using? What looks like an overnight trend is really the visible edge of a rapid shift—from passive tools to systems that can act, decide, and iterate. For science fiction readers, it’s a familiar moment: the future we’ve long imagined beginning to take shape, with all the promise—and unease—that implies.

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THE WOMAN WHO REMEMBERED YESTERDAY Is Now Available

This story didn’t behave the way I expected it to.

I wrote it during a workshop, surrounded by writers whose approach to science fiction leans inward—stories that pause, linger, and examine.

This one didn’t.

It kept moving. It kept asking questions. It insisted on being about something concrete: memory, loss, and what happens when no one remembers the people who mattered.

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Sci-Fi Movies to Watch in 2026 (and Why This Year Feels Different)

Science fiction cinema in 2026 isn’t following the usual blockbuster script. Instead of obvious juggernauts, the year is shaping up to be a mix of risky adaptations, franchise experiments, and quieter films that could surprise everyone. From Project Hail Mary to lesser-known titles flying under the radar, this may be the year sci-fi stops playing it safe—and starts getting interesting again.

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Why Indie Authors Don’t Appear on “Most Anticipated” Lists — And Why That’s a Good Thing

Why do indie author books never show up on “Most Anticipated” lists? It’s not about quality—it’s about how the indie world works. From short release timelines to direct-to-reader communication, indie publishing plays a different game entirely. Here’s why that’s actually a very good thing for readers who love immersive series, creative freedom, and stories that don’t wait for marketing schedules.

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Farewell to On Spec: A Pillar of Canadian SF Bids Goodbye

After 35 years, On Spec magazine is closing its doors—a loss not just for Canadian science fiction, but for the speculative fiction world at large. Based in Edmonton, On Spec championed stories with a uniquely Canadian voice and offered a home for emerging and established writers alike. Its final issue, The Final Voyage, marks the end of an era and raises the ever-relevant question: is this just another case of magazine churn, or a sign of the times?

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Superheroes, Sanderson, and the Genre Spectrum

Brandon Sanderson is stepping into science fiction with Tailored Realities, and at the same time, I’ve been watching Daredevil: Reborn — a superhero story that feels a lot more like fantasy than you’d expect. It got me thinking: where do superhero stories fall in the speculative spectrum? Is sci-fi and fantasy really a spectrum at all? This week, I’m diving into how genre boundaries are shifting, and what that means for readers, writers, and masked vigilantes alike.

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Where Spacecraft Go to Die: The Sci-Fi Allure of Point Nemo

There’s a place in the Pacific Ocean so remote, the closest humans are often aboard the International Space Station. Known as Point Nemo, this eerily empty stretch of ocean is where dead spacecraft go to die—and it sounds exactly like the kind of setting you’d expect in a science fiction novel. In fact, it’s sparked more than a few story ideas already…

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TV Review: Alien: Earth

Alien: Earth doesn’t just mimic Ridley Scott’s industrial horror vibe—it builds on the franchise’s core themes with chilling relevance. Expect corporate overreach, synthetic humans with suspect motives, and alien lifeforms that are somehow even grosser than the originals. With standout performances (hello, Timothy Olyphant as a philosopher-soldier), tight character arcs, and a gritty, claustrophobic setting, this series delivers more than just jump scares. It’s a smart, unsettling evolution of a classic universe.

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