So, is anyone else out there watching Hulu’s TV horror anthology series Into the Dark? I haven’t heard much hubbub about it, but I also feel like Hulu hasn’t been featuring it as much as they could. They tout each episode for the week or so after it releases, but it seems like then they’re […]
Changing the Map: Newford and the Newfound Man – Speculative Chic
(This is part two of three on the genesis of Urban Fantasy and the colonization of the cities by the fantastic. Part 1 covered Emma Bull and her seminal novel, The War for the Oaks.) Urban fantasy is a melting pot of myths and mythology applied in a (mostly) modern, urban setting. The first main […]
Weekly Roundup: July 8-12, 2019 – Speculative Chic
The weather is chaotic. The earth is chaotic. Humans are chaotic. The universe is chaotic. When everything and everyone feels like a storm of bees around your head, what do you do to relax? We recommend getting lost in speculative fiction — the place where you can escape, where you can imagine a variety of […]
Roundtable: Speculative Pride – Speculative Chic
While June has come and gone, here at Speculative Chic we’re continuing Pride by bringing you the creators, creatives, and creations from the LGBTQIA+ community that we absolutely love. Just as there are many colors in the rainbow, there are many things that enrich our lives and bring us joy. Take a look! With Jessica […]
Book Club: August Announcement – Speculative Chic
Hello friends. First of all, thank you to everyone who has participated in book club, whether it’s just reading along or reading along and commenting, or voting in the polls hoping your book would win. I appreciate all of you. There are some changes coming to book club in the future, but I hope you’ll […]
Faerie Fight Club Finale: Sparrowhawk 5 by Delilah S. Dawson – Speculative Chic
Sparrowhawk #5 (2018) Written by: Delilah S. Dawson Genre: Fantasy Series: Sparrowhawk Publisher: Boom Studios Why I Chose It: The finale is here, and I am thrilled to reach the end of the series. The Premise: Teen Victorian fairy fight club! As the illegitimate daughter of a Naval Captain, Artemesia has never fit in with […]
Sound Off! Spider-Man: Far From Home – Speculative Chic
Welcome back to Sound Off!, a semi-regular column where members of Speculative Chic gather together to chat about the latest BIG THING in entertainment. This time, pack your superhero suit and discuss Spider-Man: Far From Home, which premiered in the United States on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Sound Off! is meant to be a reaction, but not […]
That Thing That’s Getting Ready to Eat Your Head: A Review of Seanan McGuire’s Discount Armageddon – Speculative Chic
Discount Armageddon (2012) Written by: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid (Book #1) Genre: Urban Fantasy Length: 11 hours, 20 minutes (Audiobook) Publisher: Audible Studios Why I Chose It: I am staff on a new speculative media convention called MultiverseCon (shameless plug! Come visit us in Atlanta in October!). Seanan McGuire is our Author Guest of Honor, […]
Her Own Spots: Reviewing Gunmetal Magic – Speculative Chic
Gunmetal Magic (2012) Written by: Ilona Andrews Series: Kate Daniels #5.5 Genre: Urban Fantasy Pages: 326 (Paperback) Publisher: Ace Why I Chose This: My 2019 Resolution Project for Speculative Chic is to read the books in the Kate Daniels series and finish up with a first read of the final book. I first read Gunmetal Magic in […]
My Favorite Things with Steven Archer – Speculative Chic
They might not be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but that doesn’t mean that we love them any less. Welcome back to My Favorite Things, the weekly column where we grab someone in speculative circles to gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we sit down with award-winning artist and musician Steven […]
Weekly Roundup: June 18-22, 2019 – Speculative Chic
Make it happen! Hello, denizens of geek! How are things in your corner of the world? In a previous roundup I rambled about the rainy season in Japan, and since posting, a strange phenomenon has taken place in my area: almost no rain. As much as I dislike the rainy season, this isn’t a good thing. […]
Black Mirror Season 5 Underwhelms Despite Strong Performances – Speculative Chic
Black Mirror returned to Netflix on June 5, 2019, after a year-long hiatus (if you don’t count their full-length interactive film Bandersnatch that came out in December). I’m one of the fans that has watched every episode from day one when the series debuted in 2011, so I was eagerly waiting for the new season. […]
Everything Plus the Kitchen Sink: A Review of Dan Stout’s Titanshade – Speculative Chic
Titanshade (2019) Written by: Dan Stout Genre: Urban Fantasy Pages: 407 (Hardcover) Publisher: DAW Why I Chose It: Because Carter’s a disgraced human cop; because Ajax is a new-to-town Mollenkampi rookie cop; together they fight crime! I am a total sucker for that premise, as I believe I’ve mentioned before. Less flippantly, I picked this […]
Steel Shadows Cover Reveal – Speculative Chic
Happy summer! This is your Sound Off editor, J.L. Gribble. When I’m not watching movies, I can be found working on my urban fantasy/alternate history series. Join me today in celebrating the cover reveal for Steel Shadows! From the back cover: The shadows are talking and they won’t take no for an answer. Victory has […]
