Body modification books, The Boy and the Heron, and an ode to Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka

[View in browser](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZH5kvg0W7lCGcx6lZ3ljW47NQ103QR4tWW1TTTZR8zXMClW5bxQsX7plTfKN3nmHM98w4XlW1LM4tV3wc_9qW9cNWkS7K06ZBW2ntWM13HCJJgW89RTlb6QWZRcW3Rn5pM1fsCTDW66ylPT3-0p7XW84c0Nb7NDC-HW15V8hR4TVQw6W2fCt7n7NqG-ZN15YN26L2FNpW1-BjN85sHvnTW3c5Cml1JC-M3W7jVMZK29NNsGW5Cc9xr8D6HGzW57JslC1R7yHGN1m4vZW5W-lPW3BK4df1-HnCkW8PYWz63MHFHkW7cPy4B4PQrpmVBxg0j6y1DCzW5QKKts36LvJxW48XMdv30ZXpXVz_hZP7dD4BXW1hGVjX2Z_qKwW7chK6q8qSKhXW3FSYHY1hlGHjW7hzk6X4ywsvbW7GVGj92P8HP3N7zpmMwQ5dvHW2XL_H65XPdycW7-nsSP46g9zNW8Q0_mf3z85mGW8yt94n6hfy5XW25kTC17LJ1W0N7mGpMsZ8TbTW7ft6gC8LKxYpf7L75Lv04) [tor_cropped-header] [TV, Movies, and Pop Culture Best of 2023](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXH-z3lYMRW95jsWP6lZ3nfW754c8C5y0cyFVrwP-f79CZBGW3675Yn1m1VNLW3LwxqJ8kgjs9W4mjdCx1kZclTN3HjvfSlv8TdW8PlsFP1W_cGHW4PV5qy6GTYZvW3sDjf43mlbpLW4Y1bd24QP03kW1r_yCp1XDzbrW3chZpm8Dj6lSW3Knb3h3SdVLcW3DfzTF6fDmKVW3Cgmtp3bKgFMW3-CqNh248RG9W92G5nj3XVpfCW4nP7W78t5h5zN3c_QYf3_TGzW5QQxGQ8W2K6TW2tDvgc2sFWx0W1DdjXc7M9Yj5W4y1YdN4ZqxktW7sFGJw2rGV1gVXnZx03t72lmW8Pr1c130Y8pTW2pbqZs5bg4fpW2vyT_r4ydtxGW3dJnGP1DnM66N81mKWdL0KRZf1wvS9604) BEST OF 2023 Some of Tor.com's Best Articles About TV, Movies, and Pop Culture Happy New Year! We've talked about Tor.com's essays on fiction, reading, and all other things book-related, but here we wanted to underline other favorites from pop culture, particularly film, television, and video games! From discussions about disability in the Alien franchise to Baldur's Gate 3, we don't want you to miss out. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXH-z3lYMRW95jsWP6lZ3mSW6Pk55-3Pj-mGW1xvKl-5DS4cSW3qJrjR2g5SHLVlgGsL3M_cD-W50Y3GN7vBds0W4fsnPm3M-XxJW6KPy2n6wvpB3W7CTnqZ1N747HN47mhqnbF4n1W17GnP65XT7pzW2W8XJ39hddy2W39bVP02VgVjkW1dHGHr938Kf0W3V5nf43QGdmDW5vpGTb4QgtdWW61DbWg9jR0NWN2MjqDZXkS58W49RVJT8KJ5TjW5DlTmk7hsv6_W89rPrB4H6zXxN4sxWS27-SlrW5fbmwF1Wm2S8W2cgRGg5v5SfSW8xBLGW7vn3mvW8vKtHX3b_HdpW8-D-Tk8_rTTLW1_9PKc6wdptFW4825Tr7SQwxMW5rBJl14S_q8mVg5Vzg3ymTsyf7v8wzC04) [Pen and notebook](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZH3lYMRW7lCdLW6lZ3pwVYcbmB46TF2QW692k3k1KW-ZJN59gnF9JVyhHW4wgC204s-5VMW1k3XCJ8Xq0RNW9jDJw63nxKYwW6tMgM66ssv9NW1Xhhyg3Kwnm6W24dqYK2v0pj0W7vv0pd3xd2vXW80782T4SKbDvN3N0vL1K7b_cMnxxlpLMgpWW63cXQ318Cd_QW7br6Bb9gN30vW85mW_w1DWyW6W19_x_p6LqjQZW94vt9z7g7QNzW164VsT1qJ6wRN5fJ8j1YK2vLN1JYfkYGpx5PVXnbgF5Z8hHgN6H11MxWY0TZW5Hd9_n5t16Gxf1mH2t204) MARK AS READ Rethinking the End of Year Book List MOLLY TEMPLETON "A good list is personal and knows it." Around the end of the year, we can expect a deluge of lists: Best Of, Worst Of, Most Weird, and more. Molly Templeton asks us to reconsider what the year-end book list serves, and how we can make it better. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZH3lYMRW7lCdLW6lZ3nBVgGhpW5dNMrZW1B5KLH4XDQlCW7jj3fH8rXDHdVcFCGS9chFF1VmmFSk8cT8bcN1WP9-JY96XMW7gsd5C5GF8yJW7HjJHg2J9YN4VgVfX87639bBW4bvzlw38RDwhW8hCVpX8NvmY2W7Q8zwH4jbFQYW3qHBdr143lKzW7SlN0j9b75Z-W2LM8ss88JcwcW4m8bHq6qZL3fVYKp1Q1FZq_GW2MJNR82MQ_jSW2J0mwc5KWYN4W30l6Lb1Z87jpVZKNTW1R6GfxW72BvHx5t5Nz4W6HdCQM2msFg2N1qC3VPdlvpff37Xnm604) [David Drake books](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ-3lYMRW7Y8-PT6lZ3m1McKGMdB55xsW49-qKY4J-jyMW2lwC8S1td8w4Vnmm694zNVbgW5MN7Q5893_PSW3xVhKH1vDRbHW18gBhX6RXGhDW2hYfN64qhhn7VhRLh03y7FNDW4wLZqD8VL6fQW5_SSnV5JxnVLW3kxqD21X0FDFN5blZKfvMrdyW5tDkYx59LnJpN4ckzmg9fJgbN4F7TFVtcgDgW8vx0y68kVQMzW6ztKGN2D2RFTW2ZJDG83WsnJ-W2mlskT12GTssW14NSNG9jmRjQW8xN8rm5H8S3jW70tpBz1GcmsBW1zh27v15QYyJW6sf1dj6LXcDxW6jkJMR4RzkCZdY-xKd04) AUTHOR APPRECIATION Where To Start With the Work of David Drake JAMES DAVIS NICOLL We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of science fiction author David Drake on December 10th, 2023. Drake was both prolific and well-loved by the community, and we wanted to offer an entry point to readers curious about getting into his work. From the classic military sci-fi Hammer's Slammers to Arthurian fantasy retelling The Dragon Lord, here's where to begin. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ-3lYMRW7Y8-PT6lZ3lDW6tLNy32R2Pk4W5Lbk4B8BDXy2W5vy_F42-9MFMW6tLy4d7l2YfkW3zDz8y47mN5zW7dGjpt9hf45vW2Zc3wz6R5_xkW42ry5R114Q2gW4RYyR93bn0fZW7kQ01n1y_WKlVhPTSg4zLwS2VVh6tD4gK40ZW7Mj8-g4rPPtVW97RgQ65kdSLsW58Fhsr4Dt15JW2kDHR03W1C5rW11qRR26xZSqVN2ly055G31jzN60tK89TQg12N7BVkMCPy-NGW44YThT4JZmpYN1cX-MhGBGQ3W8kXdps41ZQhcW53yKPz6v_wFXW6yrVKN2fT7gWW74Sq922QVzYJf2fgzzn04) [Body modifications](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXH-z3lYMRW95jsWP6lZ3nbW4MHYLb8stkNcW6BQ_t66jN4vxW47DHYL8xBHzJW65hS_41nybl2V9cTGQ3l7Z6yW28nVyh7L-MLpW98nS1m7nP9d_W46Shv-4LP4GkW46j7n02TqmD3W3kgZwq17m-qxW5WhKq231n9R0W6j_XgP44MNzjW7Y5bK159-kDCN8B2jPHwjPQbW3rDSPf5F3XXKW63F4Yt60YJqZW1HvVvm5TzfDkW7WxxSv1B3gMjN12nD5DGc5yDN5HPKsHlcCcDMC5R_zgpD2wW3_h5hG8j5K-NW3XtMSK7wcglgW1drfgX3GShTXW3469Vw7vQmVlW4PKB141yctQcVcptqt4RP_VMW2QZf_28zBQrnM19tny-p0xgN4pb7ywcvYH_f5SZ1KC04) SCIENCE FICTION Five SFF Stories Involving Intentional Body Modifications and Transformations JAMES DAVIS NICOLL Speculative fiction allows us to explore the weirdest and most uncanny versions of ourselves. We recently shared a list of recommendations with externally-mandated body modifications, but here we're examining what happens when we choose to do all that to ourselves. An extra limb? Cognitive enhancement? Sure, why not. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXH-z3lYMRW95jsWP6lZ3kTW83Grmm8tz96DW5fh6FQ8dZGZ0W70mXQC1XmcD0W2rFRZf75Z-bFW8W5JXf25WBdSW19Bc262VtGfdVVgKS_5VCYdJW8jDPy06FplG_W73s3Sk5QFDdNW6qP92p7BfJ-rW1hS9b67VKsVxW5pQPkG7kT7QNW7gtH_c4fBRN6W805Nyh5_nbMsW1Blprp4lFCMnVv8R5y2F7XwGW24szh_2k4hT9W5vTsTn215L9_W75dqtn909zgYW5qrZmc42zLrzW5fkPb758jhpnW5Nsxgd5QxTm5VhwhxT5Pr0svW27HGyW61C8dkW4JNYkP7TyqcbW2DGDKM7kB6_QM6j5MdWbf_VW38mfNf1npsfRW6s4n9f2tTT8KW1Q8Gds73K0chf9jG5zj04) [Wonka](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXH-g3lYMRW8wLKSR6lZ3l3W3pxHtc9hkh46W6Gsj7Y1SxvnDW89yDDV29D_qLW6SmhTm4Spmf8F43Qbc21JFdN48XsSHkY2lYW2ppQBM3flsQlW3c-zX131BsDyW4l4wvZ1j1FnxW2KBYR_5cHmLGW4qmR396BfstyW2_F-QW2wCXbXW4wJ4kQ5bqH7TW94srfr6C3TCtW5Y69lf3_4LXbW6-1Dh385FWxwW7tLcrz4xvt7CW7VC3r78vC7nTW2pxBc_7j43J8W8Y5S4S9dm2dbW4kvThk78Ntt5M6CGBDSv0QRF6t0W29cmwGN3hd6_RvKyDFVZ39H62tHVQFW59YFYV7q2mdMN2GrCSjLTY43W4SF06m2bnPmXf557PC004) WILLY WONKA The Fey Candy Man: Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka Is Unlike Any Other EMMET ASHER-PERRIN There's been a lot of discussion about who embodies the most "true" Willy Wonka. Unrelated to any movies which have come out recently, I'm sure. Emmet Asher-Perrin argues for 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory from a number of angles, including how it improves upon Dahl's classic novel. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXH-g3lYMRW8wLKSR6lZ3m8W2XG34P2qrRDNMXgdVmwJyqHW7pb5fS51-wkpW2sJKJx5j2qVlW1dzkPX44p3RBN7Cs9_Rz-8NTW7CXpCH3xQyPMW1x59KQ161DzRVHPKvw4nN3MJW47hylc7P7GBGVwD2vt5CJK1YW53C4q72kvg9TF1l7G1H-fd_W497scS8Ch3LsW8zmHPK7X73nYW15dQtg5fJc2DN52r6Jw46nn5W5hV6zH6ZZnG9N2j0HDbdQV4JW91M_Lp2y3YKMW9dwH5X5D1mQgW1YCX8Q7kmFNKW5SmTmW9cK4XtW31mphn4K7LfCW1SpNW_7ygMDgN3lxrNpnkg7rW6wgcVv6rpp7yN2hwPlP2Fp2tf5r4BmY04) [Doctor Who Christmas](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ-3lYMRW7Y8-PT6lZ3msW3mTVFY8vP9XTW6vknyV5v6klDN4VYVzbK7WMBW8nLfR776t9ZFW38bN211ZLjgJN6HVzS3wSQLNW1qFYrB8lnjkSW6n43l42PJzWCW8KT91R3Z1g99W7zd8sv5wm48nW3ftMCN4qy6nCW2r3Z044k0d9FW5m9F9j92WmshW4mDdYs6pLJM5W25-Jtj6qZQ4FW68m9yP8rlZTYW8YyGKC3kMM6MW6RDFCy5psh_HW8M_5pt6tndyWW63B_nR5kKChBVDMCZT6FDtXhW18fnhn574N9MN3QNTrPgKQFjW5trmmB8-Cn_xW1l5Qm985p7q8W6825xk5qHdrQf7Y9Z2j04) DOCTOR WHO Doctor Who Learns the Language of Luck in "The Church on Ruby Road" EMMET ASHER-PERRIN Gather round the Tor.com fireplace and listen as we participate in a time-honored tradition: the Doctor Who Christmas special. Here we introduce a new companion, Ruby Sunday, and experience an iconic dance scene that even the author of this newsletter (who has not seen Doctor Who - I know, I know) has watched multiple times. While Christmas Who is always something to celebrate, Emmet Asher-Perrin underlines the Good and the Bad of this episode in this weekly recap and discussion. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ-3lYMRW7Y8-PT6lZ3p9W6yYbcR4dpDsrW675khz1tXtXNV_WJs135_WZDVqKSyV4Sl1h-VXWSRB2SC9MgW7HWbCv3vs8f6N8Nh6y86Qnc_W2n_lj81vD4nqW3sqZVS6ZsQrVW6jx7PB6-Nfg0W7s7MHS3yCb-TN8x8yqcshlCnW7CwgtX73_NKjW4XYQ9X5NLHJYN99yL7WJYm_6W79Fywj51-TSrW85Jqjx2L9GbGW60Lrst2FptDyVNcPvj6hr9DjW4Br9Lk7RYT6xW2z3n5w3gMvclW5k7QQJ4bCZlMW7Dgk1f6gcFhxW5hSWp-8QCRq9N1wxzPh-YvpMW8ryDz09bvZmwf4h3CC804) [The Boy and the Heron](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ-3lYMRW7Y8-PT6lZ3n4VPZxgl9f9hMGW8_TBnb64D6zNW2_HWVG1n4tN5W3B4B3R5fQ32fW3lvLcF8xhgwlW4c-T5k6zfmP4W1QM8_S7BGpQ9W4r39B99l251kW5YpTPs87cbvdW2nC2688Q9Y-kW6fp1MX7KQGF7W7RnCW6469vZGW2BPKT17zy3h7W2yLtdP1PP0QZW1s9H7P5B3cN7W7zhw887LDRQ-W6WQcr44HvQc7W6nxKSb63fJG7W5cSR6Z4l9PNcW37CcdJ8bzKWyW67wt-T65z5jsW9hfsJy7jqvxXW1_yT-Y2Tsk5nW6v2-zX7VYNQTW9kQ8zM7qGqM5N9gyZ_L7523Sf1z1pGl04) MOVIE REVIEWS A Masterpiece of Dream Logic: Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron LEAH SCHNELBACH "From the opening scene, The Boy and the Heron wrestles with mourning, irrevocable change, and death." Miyazaki's first full-length film since Ponyo in 2008 is dark, haunted, and at times confusing. Leah Schnelbach reviews this latest movie through the lens of Miyazaki's past works, taking a microscope to a film ultimately about legacy and escapism. [Read more](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ-3lYMRW7Y8-PT6lZ3lRVtzDnf878WnWW9dJdXr5QnrvTW6LMP2119DmsnN2BNZ3mjSzHkW41wy5B5MQ76bW36z7HS2BhvrjW2svsKS20_JtkW2Y65K97yhjNlN5clwQFVtqQTVbfGzX4RXVp6W7rk7sf4s0tgmN2L128-rP342W32k4pd1rXWLcW6HWR248jnqwnVNjDdS5y85YJW4fs7Nx3-5vK8W1tmDQK3WqMj4W5H1B6v34SK1dW2XKb6P1y91P2W51wzPB6G-J77N52ghlfZ9HHtW6wtpzz98-J8ZW38Kmn02RBBQ-W8Ncr7l2mXmh_W2PZMNB1dBjGfN4CzP8pRD4g8d15QHn04) Follow Tor.com to get updates on all of our original fiction [Facebook](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ43lYMRW69sMD-6lZ3p5W5d0tXk6-phDCVG9jH46zj4-VW5Yd06q3NGP4TW1bq19j6dKxGVW5B3kbn5JPKcJW4l6lRq441qhKW37lhsT92PJfGW9dyhrx56DDCTW7C8S8V1xhCStW7zdrzJ5x8F-7W6XXfcd48_GZ8W8q1Bs_5Krb0KW1r3-kj7S7t_9W7z2t6163v3lhW6WxS4S31Kt5gW2l3f0w9cVDZMN5d6t3kQXfKyW4MG8m15gp2N6W20V8Yb1sCFNvW4cgtPX7hv4pDd2dYbx04) [Twitter](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZ43lYMRW69sMD-6lZ3m7W5-VM6Y2rD_qnN11-cpkGJcSWW55KFQV4LVHDBW2fRnv96l8cJGN1Y2wzbdsgvjW7lw_kD4Tp2MzW1HNlPW8Q6PV9W3GgCLz24gMgKW7smPsw6mNrkDW7-HnGz8mKW5xV-ZtGr2qZqb5W1DLT-X6d0q2WW4l2Czk7y6703W6x6ccG4L0-j5W4xCy3f3vTfffW1kcnJ94J2F6vW1t2GJK6fM3WQN4thlDTPkb_XW1PJJSv2ZKlkKW5pbm7H5kK0Mjf58tST004) © 2024 Macmillan Publishers | [Privacy Notice](113/d4GfKf04/VVXjBS2SN6vgW6dv3Jf6Zf5YsW5SJqyG57VGcfN6WXHZn3lYMRW6N1vHY6lZ3pYN1pW0t3vWBZhW5W4dsW10dmqxW36nsDT5yBFqFW8j-gtr5zbCSpW7FyBsY52xPDYW6wCNN431ZRP3V2sFRQ6_cgc1W6zGvyr2xRs6vV1R8vB4XPfBGVds0v92Gby-pW7V7H9C8VHZ8SW3g-5Cg1WzFHyV16pcN92TWLkW8MTRZ320GKMCN2fdW7Z1cbySW89pKL-74wklzW4dbzFd5gx9_6W50n0pH2fD-fmW5wFRbb2YwZF9W3xRq-J3V946JW19Gmx38bRRyVW1PK0Kr4ytsdrf6KSCHj04) Macmillan Publishers, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 [Unsubscribe]( [Manage preferences](