Fatphobia in SFF, and What's the Point of Prequels?

To view this email as a web page, go [here.]( [Tor.com Newsletter]( [Forward to a Friend]( RECOGNIZING BIAS [SFF’s Big Fat Problem]( The ways in which fatphobic stereotypes inform basic social interactions, institutional design, and especially medical care, routinely devastate the mental and physical health of fat people. So it can sting especially painfully when we see these stereotypes replicated in our favorite speculative fiction. In this essay, R.K. Duncan calls upon the science fiction and fantasy community to do better when it comes to fatphobia in fiction and in real life. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( A LONG TIME AGO... [What Do We Want From Prequels?]( We are experiencing, for better or worse, a prequel boom. Mostly it’s on TV, but many of those stories come from (or spill over into) books. And it’s worth pondering the question: what do we want from prequels, anyway? What are we looking for when we turn back the clock in Westeros, in Middle-earth, on the USS Enterprise and in that galaxy far, far away? Molly Templeton looks at the latest batch of prequels and their storytelling purpose. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( ASEXUAL AWARENESS WEEK [Five Young Adult SFF Books Starring Asexual Characters]( Often, we interact with asexual characters before we interact with asexual people in real life. While the asexual experience, at its core, centers the spectrum of identities that experience little to no sexual attraction, it also encompasses a vast array of experiences that are often best captured by fiction. In honor of Asexual Awareness week, Rosiee Thor shares five young adult novels that offer compelling portrayals of the ace experience. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( ALLONS-Y [When Goodbyes Are Painful, Yet Playful as a Game of Tag: “The Power of the Doctor”]( The Chibnall era of Doctor Who has certainly had its ups and downs, but this episode is one giant truckload of pain and catharsis. Emmet Asher-Perrin reviews Jodie Whittaker’s final episode as the Doctor. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( FOR YOUR BOOKSHELVES [Urban Legends and Wicked Spells: The Rise of Black YA Horror]( With the resurgence of young adult horror has come the rise of YA Black horror. Some of it shares space with science fiction or fantasy, while some leans in on the teen slasher format. Regardless, almost all of it deals with race and racism, with the horrors of being a Black teen in a world that has been designed to crush you at every opportunity, and with the thrill and power of fighting back. Alex Brown recommends some essential Black YA Horror titles. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( DRACARYS [Grief and Rage Spiral Out of Control in House of the Dragon’s Season Finale]( The finale of this first season of House of the Dragon sets the stage for all-out war, ensuring that season two will definitely be a bloody affair. Tyler Dean delves into the episode and the season as a whole, examining the ways in which the series is bringing careful nuance to Martin’s source material and how the show might improve even further going forward. (High on the wish list: a sense of humor.) What did you think of season one, and what else would you like to see when House of the Dragon returns? [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( SPOOKY SEASON [Five Chilling Horror Novellas to Read This Fall]( Days are shortening, winter is coming. It’s the season for melancholy and spooky entertainment, and happily we live in a golden age of novellas, perfect for those of us who enjoy short, satisfying reads! James Davis Nicoll recommends five recent works that will chill you to the bone. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( MIDDLE-EARTH [The “King” Goes South: Delving Deep Into The Rings of Power Overall and Episode 8 Specifically]( The first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sure has been polarizing. One thing this show has been, across the board, is big and bold, both in its story choices and its character depictions. Jeff LaSala digs into the twists and revelations of the final episode and analyzes the way the showrunners have changed, built upon, and (in some cases) dispensed with Tolkien’s lore and authorial intent. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( GET READY FOR SCREAMS [Five Fun But Semi-Forgotten ’80s Horror Movies]( The 1980s were an incredible decade for horror, seeing the birth and/or continuation of many iconic franchises, from Halloween to Friday the 13th to A Nightmare on Elm Street. But if you’re so familiar with these classics that you know all the jump scares by heart and you’re looking for something fresh this Halloween—something that still has that signature ‘80s feel—then it’s time to dust off some delightful cult horror comedies, remakes, and sequels! [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( ORIGINAL FICTION [“Skeleton Song” by Seanan McGuire]( Children have always disappeared under the right conditions—slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere . . . else. Adventures are always interesting, but they’re not always happy. From the worlds of Wayward Children comes a story of love, of devotion, of bones wrapped in flesh. [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.