Food & Science in Star Trek, Plus T. Kingfisher's American Narnia

To view this email as a web page, go [here.]( [Tor.com Newsletter]( [Forward to a Friend]( [A screencap from Star Trek Discovery]( EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE [Star Trek’s Science Advisor Explains the Burn, Star Burps, and More]( Star Trek’s characters face a slew of space-related challenges, almost all of which are based on the best-known science—made possible by Erin Macdonald, who uses her Ph.D. in astrophysics to keep the latest Trek series as scientifically savvy as possible. Vanessa Armstrong chats with Macdonald about all things Trek. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( CLASSIC SFF [Five Vintage Works of American Comedic Fantasy]( While we tend to think of classic literature, even in SFF, as being serious and solemn, humans have always loved to laugh. If you think that there might have been no American authors writing comedic fantasy before the Eighties, James Davis Nicoll is here to remind you of these five funny fantasies–feel free to add your own favorites in the comments! [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [A screencap from the BBC's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]( FROM CHARLIE JANE [Don’t Say Characters Lack “Agency.” Here’s Something To Talk About Instead…]( As a rule, Charlie Jane Anders tries to avoid talking about “agency” as a desirable trait in fictional heroes, because the term can be very culturally loaded and individualistic. Instead, let’s talk about characters having “authority.” Here, Anders suggests a new way to think and talk about how characters move through a story. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [Covers of books by Isabel Allende]( MAGICAL REALISM [Magic, Memory, and Power: The Storytelling Brilliance of Isabel Allende]( Isabel Allende has written 26 books and has been translated into over 42 languages, making her arguably the world’s most widely read Spanish-language author. But the common thread running through all her books is the power of storytelling as a force which shapes how we perceive the world around us. Whether fairy tales or family history, the act of telling stories is transformative to both the teller and the listener. Jonathan Thornton explores the power of storytelling in the work of Isabel Allende. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [A view of earth from very far away]( SPACE IS HORRIFYING [Five Books Filled With Existential Anxiety]( How often do you think about the fact that you’re just hanging out here on our little rock called Earth, doing your piddly human thing, while the universe expands into infinite unknowns? Sci-fi is a great tool for exploring our place in the universe, but there’s no doubt that pondering how small we are can fill us with existential dread. Here, author J.S. Dewes shares five books that tackle the anxiety of life, death, and outer space. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [Cover of the book Summer in Orcus by T. Kingfisher]( SFF BESTIARY [American Narnia: T. Kingfisher’s Summer in Orcus]( Orcus, the magical land in T. Kingfisher’s Summer in Orcus, is as American as Narnia is British; it’s full of talking animals and talking birds, and large parts of it bear a striking resemblance to the American Southwest. The creatures who populate Orcus are numerous and varied, from flocks of mid-Victorian-esque birds in waistcoats and cravats to hideous horse-spider hybrids, and, of course, shapeshifters. In a new SFF Bestiary, Judith Tarr explores the fauna of Kingfisher’s work. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [A photo of the board game Sorry]( ROLLING DICE [Five Board Games Fantasy Fans Will Love]( Looking for a way to make devastating competitive moves against your friends while occupying an imaginative fantasy world? Look no further! There’s been a recent onslaught of new games which take place in unique fantasy worlds or use fantasy concepts in intriguing ways–Cole Rush recommends five of the best board games to bring to your next game night! [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [Coyote and Road Runner Looney Tunes]( READ ALONG [Jo Walton’s Reading List: March 2023]( Jo Walton is back to discuss all the books she read last month, including the new Vlad Taltos novel, letters between poets, A.S. Byatt’s short stories, and more Rivers of London. Find something new to read here! [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( [A screencap from Star Trek: Deep Space 9]( CLOSE READS [An Ode to Odo’s Cooking and the Food Culture of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]( The food culture of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is vast: from spring wine to the spicy tang of hasperat or the extra-strong Klingon coffee the officers love so much. Double sweet, double strong, your replicator or mine? In a new Close Reads column, Chana Porter celebrates the DS9 crew’s love of cooking, and the show’s understanding that food is more than just nourishment. [Read more]( SHARE THIS: [Publish to Facebook]( [Publish to Twitter]( ORIGINAL FICTION [“Salt Water” by Eugenia Triantafyllou]( While all her friends’ fish are changing into mermaids, is 12-year-old Anissa’s fish becoming something else? [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.