ReviewAnime/manga
Neon Genesis Evangelion (anime review).
In 1991, Gainax, the anime studio that would later go on to create ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995), made an OVA entitled ‘Otaku No…
The SFcrowsnest archive
John Rivers
December 2021
November 2021
ReviewBooks
Star Wars Mazes by Sean C Jackson (book review).
Are there many mazes in Star Wars? The labyrinthine corridors of the Death Star come to mind as do the dark caves that…
August 2021
ReviewBooks
The Art Of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by Amy Ratcliffe (book review).
I haven’t yet been lucky enough to visit Galaxy’s Edge, a slice of the ‘Star Wars’ universe carved out of Disney’s two major…
February 2021
ReviewBooks
How To Speak Astromech With BB-8: A Communication Manual I.M Rollin and illustrated JAKe (book review).
‘How To Speak Astromech With BB-8: A Communications Manual’ is a follow-up to the ‘How To Speak’ books on R2D2 and Wookies, previously…
January 2021
ReviewIllustration
The Art Of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker by Phil Szostak, foreword by Doug Chiang (book review).
I’ll be honest, readers, I’ve put off reviewing ‘The Art Of The Rise of Skywalker’ ever since I emerged, blinking into the sunlight…
ReviewMovie books
Star Wars: The Jedi Mind – Secrets From The Force For Balance And Peace by Amy Ratcliffe and illustrations by Christina Chung (book review).
‘Mindfulness’, a recent term designed to cover a range of meditation and breathing techniques is big business, worth now at least $1bn. The…
September 2020
ReviewFantasy
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (book review).
‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke, the long-awaited follow-up novel to 2004’s fantasy epic ‘Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell’ has finally arrived and is very…
August 2020
ReviewBooks
The Moviemaking Magic of Star Wars: Ships + Battles by Landry Walker (book review).
In episode 2 of ‘The Mandalorian’, now streaming on Disney Plus in the UK, our eponymous hero finds his spacecraft disassembled, cannibalised and…
August 2019
ReviewMovie books
Industrial Light & Magic Presents Making ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story by Rob Bredow, Foreword by Ron Howard (book review).
‘Solo’ the story of how smuggler Han Solo and best friend Chewbacca got together and attempted a couple of heists was an odd…
November 2018
ReviewBooks
Women Of The Galaxy by Amy Ratcliffe, foreword by Kathleen Kennedy (book review).
‘Women Of The Galaxy’ by Amy Ratcliffe is a timely and welcome book celebrating the female characters who have entertained and enthralled us…
August 2018
ReviewBooks
The Military Science Of Star Wars by George Beahm (book review).
When I first saw the title of this book, I did a double-take: ‘The Military Science Of Star Wars’ by George Beahm. The…
ReviewBooks
The Moviemaking Magic Of Star Wars: Creatures And Aliens by Mark Salisbury (book review).
Growing-up watching ‘Star Wars’, I was often amazed at the quality of the creature-making and mask work that the series had. Don’t get…