The Problem with Prequels, plus Redwall and Orcs!

plus Original Fiction from Tegan Moore To view this email as a web page, go [here.]( [Tor.com Newsletter]( [Forward to a Friend]( EPISODE ONE [Is There Such a Thing as a Necessary Prequel?]( The Magician’s Nephew was the hardest book to write in the Narnia series. So if even C.S. Lewis struggles with writing a prequel, why do so many screenwriters and novelists think they can toss off a prequel that’s genuinely satisfying? Why are prequels so hard to pull off, and do we really even need them? Ferrett Steinmetz examines what makes successful prequels work—it’s all about asking the right questions. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( AND HOME BEFORE DARK [Five Books That Will Make You Think Twice About Walking in the Woods]( There’s something about the way the woods teeter on the edge of peaceful and eerie that we just can’t get enough of. The woods have a way of making us believe in magic and monsters, even though we know the dangers that lie in their midst. Rachel Griffin shares five books about mysteries and magic amongst the trees. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( TAKING THE HELMET OFF [This Is The Way: Fanaticism and Found Family in The Mandalorian and She-Ra]( Fanaticism has helped define our current era. The popularity of passionate adherence to a belief system over everything else has resulted in a series of unprecedented events in American politics and society. It’s no wonder that this occurs in fiction too. Elyse Martin analyzes The Mandalorian’s Children of the Watch and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’s Horde to explore how support from found family can save someone from cult mentality. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( TO THE STARS [Five SF Works Featuring Dyson Shells (and Not Dyson Swarms)]( The basic concept of the Dyson Sphere is straightforward: rather than permitting energy from stars to radiate into space, one can surround the star with a shell to intercept light that can be used. There are at least two kinds of Dyson Sphere, and science fiction writers have a clear favorite. James Davis Nicoll shares five books that feature Dyson Shells (rather than Dyson Swarms). [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( MEAT'S BACK ON THE MENU [Tolkien’s Orcs: Bolg, Shagrat, and the Maggot-folk of Mordor]( Orcs, amirite? The shock troops of the Dark Lord’s armies. The rank-and-file of the bad guys in Middle-earth. Called a “hideous race” bred in “envy and mockery of the Elves.” Everyone’s got feelings about them. But do we know all the facts? Jeff LaSala gives the lowdown on Orcs, and how Tolkien’s conception of them changed and evolved over time. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( FRAN FINAL FRONTIER [12 SFF Reboots of Nostalgic Sitcoms I’d Like to See]( As we’ve learned from WandaVision, combining SFF elements and classic sitcom tropes can create delicious televisual chocolate and peanut butter. The rumored revival of classic ’90s sitcom Frasier got us thinking, how much fun would be if one of these inevitable reboots relocated characters to a magical realm, or flung them into SPACE? Leah Schnelbach imagines the possibilities. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( EULALIA! [Five Questions About Netflix’s Redwall Adaptation]( On February 10th, Netflix announced that they had acquired the entirety of Brian Jacques’ beloved Redwall series, causing an entire generation to cry “Eulalia!” But with such an extensive series and so much ground to cover, what will the Redwall adaptation look like? Emily Hughes shares a few hopes and questions about the upcoming series. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( ORIGINAL FICTION [“The Tyger” by Tegan Moore]( “The Path Through Time” is Jules’s favorite part of the museum, a marvelous exhibit that brings the past to life, from the present all the way back to the prehistoric. Tonight at his aunt’s wedding reception as Jules walks along the path, it comes alive like never before. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( Follow Tor.com to get updates on all of our original fiction. FOLLOW US: [Follow Us on Facebook]( [Follow Us on Twitter]( [Follow Us on Tumblr]( [Follow Us on Pinterest]( This email was sent by: Macmillan 120 Broadway New York, NY, 10271, US We respect your right to privacy - [view our policy]( Macmillan believes piracy hurts writers, readers and everyone who loves books. Learn more and report suspicious activity [here.]( To subscribe to this or other email communications from Macmillan, please click [here](. Visit our [profile center]( to update your email address and/or other information. If you no longer wish to receive this email communication, click [here]( to unsubscribe.