Science fiction, fantasy and horror Books

Book SynopsisQueer for Fear analyses the relationship queer people have to horror film, building upon decades of theory that previously emphasised horror’s queerness as being subtextual, allegorical and figurative. This groundbreaking interdisciplinary empirical study of the LGBTQ+ community not only offers the first inclusive understanding of the horror-loving queer spectator’s opinions, habits and tastes, but also evidences how and why queers have a distinctive relationship to horror. Leveraging original survey data, in-depth oral histories and theory, Petrocelli evidences that queer people have ontological connections to the horror genre, and concludes that horror is queer to the queer spectator. This study also establishes that queer spectators actively engage with horror to work through their trauma, knowingly have a camp relationship to horror, and joyously commune through horror screenings featuring drag performance. Queer for Fear is an overdue contribution to the fields of queer, film, horror, trauma, camp and live cinema studies.

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Book SynopsisAs featured in Fangoria, Movieweb, ComingSoon, Queerty, Rue Morgue, Yahoo News, Bloody Disgusting, and more!In 1983, Robert Hiltzik’s Sleepaway Camp was quickly disregarded by film reviewers. Variety called it a “tired version of teen oriented horror film formulas," The Philadelphia Enquirer "had more thrills untangling paper clips," and The Cincinnati Post branded it "more horrible than horrifying."But fans saw something different. Very different. 40 years since its release, the film’s unique blend of horror, tongue-in-cheek comedy, sexuality, and gender roles—along with an ending to end all endings, was seemingly ahead of its time. Sleepaway Camp is now discussed and debated more than when it was initially released.Longtime official Sleepaway Camp webmaster, writer, and filmmaker Jeff Hayes goes behind the scenes like never before, revealing the development and making of the film, its immediate aftermath, and the more than four decades of fandom since its release. This definitive Sleepaway Camp compendium includes interviews with much of the cast and crew (with many new exclusives), more than 75 production and memorabilia images (including previously unreleased on-set stills), and takes you backstage to the reunions, retro screenings, and convention events that have united fans and reignited interest in this beloved horror tale.Two sequels later, plus Hiltzik's retcon film Return to Sleepaway Camp, Sleepaway Camp continues to resonate in a big way with ’80s film buffs, global horror fans, and the LGBT community, all of whom enjoy their horror films…with a twist.Welcome to Sleepaway Camp. Meet you at the waterfront, after the social.Trade ReviewHoliday 2023 Gift Guide Mention: /Film."Jeff Hayes might be the absolute best person to write a book on this cult classic and the franchise it spawned...If you call yourself a Sleepaway Camp fan, you can’t live without this." — Rue MorgueTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Pre-Production2. Casting3. Production4. A Campy Environment5. Murder, Mayhem, Two Eds, and a Bill6. Revelations from the Big Climax7. Post-Production8. Frankie Vinci Interview9. Distribution/Release10. Cast and Crew Reactions11. Critics’ Reviews12. So Bad It’s Good, or Misunderstood?13. VHS Release and Cablecast14. Sleepaway Camp II and III15. The Website16. The First Big Break17. Searching for Felissa Rose18. Coming Soon: Sleepaway Camp on DVD19. Felissa’s Apartment and Interview20. Last-Minute DVD Arrangements and Commentary21. The Comeback Trail: The Sleepaway Camp Reunion22. Alamo Drafthouse / 200123. Flashback Weekend / 200224. Red Cross Box Set25. Return to Sleepaway Camp26. Sleepaway Camp Reunion 2 / 200927. Judy28. Later Releases29. Desiree Gould (Aunt Martha) / 1945-202130. A Critical Reevaluation31. Return to (the Actual) Camp Arawak / 202232. Gender and HomoeroticismFinal ThoughtsAcknowledgmentsImage CreditsAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisA definitive and surprising exploration of the history of Black horror films, after the rising success of Get Out, Candyman, and Lovecraft Country from creators behind the acclaimed documentary, Horror Noire.The Black Guy Dies First explores the Black journey in modern horror cinema, from the fodder epitomized by Spider Baby to the Oscar-​winning cinematic heights of Get Out and beyond. This eye-opening book delves into the themes, tropes, and traits that have come to characterize Black roles in horror since 1968, a year in which race made national headlines in iconic moments from the enactment of the 1968 Civil Rights Act and Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in April. This timely book is a must-read for cinema and horror fans alike.

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Book SynopsisIn About Time, the whole of Doctor Who is examined through the lens of the real-world social and political changes as well as ongoing developments in television production that influenced the series in ways big and small over the course of a generation. Armed with these guidebooks, readers will be able to cast their minds back to 1975, 1982, 2005, and other years to best appreciate the series' content and character. The Second Edition of About Time 4 greatly expands upon the commentary and essays offered on Doctor Who Seasons 12 to 14: some of the most beloved material ever, starring the iconic Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor. Essays in this volume include: “Has the Time War Started?”, “What were the Cybermen's Daftest 'Only' Weaknesses?”, and “Mary Whitehouse: What was Her Problem?”Table of ContentsEssaysDo Robots have Rights?Why Couldn’t They Just Have Spent More Money?Which is Best, Film or Video? Has the Time War Started?What were the Cybermen's Daftest 'Only' Weaknesses?September or January?What Does Anti-Matter Do?Where (and When) is Gallifrey?Why Does Earth Keep Getting Invaded?Who Are All These Strange Men in Wigs?Doctor of What?Does the Universe Speak English?Eldrad Must Live – But How?Could Scratchman have Happened?Seriously, Did Rassilon Know Omega?Was This an SF series?Cultural Primer:?Top of the PopsMary Whitehouse: What was Her Problem?

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Book SynopsisIn About Time, the whole of Doctor Who is examined through the lens of the real-world social and political changes as well as ongoing developments in television production that influenced the series in ways big and small over the course of a generation. Armed with these guidebooks, readers will be able to cast their minds back to 1975, 1982, 2005, and other years to best appreciate the series' content and character. The Second Edition of About Time 4 is such an upgrade, it's split into two volumes! Volume 2 greatly expands upon the commentary and essays offered on Doctor Who Seasons 15 to 17: the Graham Williams Era of Doctor Who, including the "Key to Time" season, all starring the iconic Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor. Essays in this volume include: “Is Doctor Who Unsuitable for Adults?”, “Why Does the Doctor's Age Keep Changing?” and “It's the Panto Essay, Isn't It Boys and Girls?”Table of ContentsEssaysDo Robots have Rights?Why Couldn’t They Just Have Spent More Money?Which is Best, Film or Video? Has the Time War Started?What were the Cybermen's Daftest 'Only' Weaknesses?September or January?What Does Anti-Matter Do?Where (and When) is Gallifrey?Why Does Earth Keep Getting Invaded?Who Are All These Strange Men in Wigs?Doctor of What?Does the Universe Speak English?Eldrad Must Live – But How?Could Scratchman have Happened?Seriously, Did Rassilon Know Omega?Was This an SF series?Cultural Primer:?Top of the PopsMary Whitehouse: What was Her Problem?

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Book SynopsisIn 1980s India, the Ramsay Brothers and other filmmakers produced a wave of horror movies about soul-sucking witches, knife-wielding psychopaths, and dark-caped vampires.Seeing Thingsis about the sudden cuts, botched makeup effects, continuity errors, and celluloid damage found in these movies. Kartik Nair reads such failures as clues to the conditions in which the films were made, censored, and seen, offering a view from below of the world's largest film culture. By combining close analysis with extensive archival research and original interviews,Seeing Thingsreveals thespectral materialities informing the genre's haunted houses, grotesque bodies, and graphic violence.Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments Introduction: Accidental Exposures 1. Paper Cuts: Inside the Bureaucratic Encounter with Darwaza 2. Celluloid Splatter: The Graphic Violence of Jaani Dushman 3. Unsettling Design: Built Atmosphere in Purana Mandir 4. Making Monsters: Veerana and the Craft of Excess 5. Hidden Circuits: Kabrastan from Film to Videotape Epilogue: An Archive of Failures Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWritten and designed in collaboration with the cast and crew that brought JK Rowling's celebrated novels to the silver screen, this book delivers an enchanting interactive experience, transporting readers to the wizarding world by sharing filmmaking secrets, unpublished photography and artwork, and exclusive stories from the stars.Trade ReviewVisually scrumptious, filled with fun gimmicks and cut-outs, and acts as a guide to the series as well as the production challenges * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"White Terror is a much-needed, original, and provocative analysis of race and the American horror film in the early 2000s."—Aviva Briefel, author of Horror after 9/11: World of Fear, Cinema of Terror"Given the rising awareness of entrenched racism and the accompanying resistance to white supremacy that marks the current moment, this book couldn't come at a better time. A welcome addition to the growing body of work assessing the racial dynamics of the horror genre, the book offers a cogent assessment of Obama era horror, especially as it pertains to normative conceptions of family, home ownership, gender, and socio-economic class."—Natalie Wilson, author of Willful Monstrosity: Race and Gender in 21st Century Horror"A chilling look not only at the horrors we can't stop watching on screen — demonic possession, evil children, home invasions, and ghostly forces, to name a few — but also at the horrors we can't stop living off screen. Meeuf deftly weaves together economic forces, political realities, and Hollywood strategies in order to demonstrate how the three of them work together to shape the way we see the world, as well as how we choose to live in it. Don't make the mistake of thinking that what happens on screen is purely entertainment. As Meeuf demonstrates, there is no such thing."—Dahlia Schweitzer, author of Going Viral: Zombies, Viruses, and the End of the World"Through a thematic overview of mainstream horror films divided into six cycles, Meeuf evokes the simmering discontent that boiled over with the rise of MAGA rhetoric and the election of Trump. Despite early-Obama era media speculations that the US had reached a post-racial turning point, horror films told a different story."—Marc Olivier, author of Household Horror: Cinematic Fear and the Secret Life of Everyday Objects"Ably dissecting a dizzying range of recent horror films, White Terror makes a strong contribution to the scholarship on horror films in general and race in horror in particular. Its focus on whiteness is something long overdue, and Meeuf's book will be of interest to academics and to fans of the horror genre alike."—Murray Leeder, author of Horror Film: A Critical IntroductionTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Whiteness, Politics, and Horror1. Whiteness Under Siege, Part 1: Haunted House Films2. Whiteness Under Siege, Part 2: Home Invasions3. American Dreams: Fantasies and Social Mobility in Dream House and Drag Me to Hell4. Sad White Men and Their Demons: Possession Films5. Suffering and Reluctant Mothers Meet Their Match: Horrific Children6. Motor City Gothic: White Youth and Economic Anxiety in It Follows and Don't Breathe7. Surveilling Whiteness: The Horrific Technology Film8. Making Horror Great Again: The Horror RemakeConclusion: Horror in the Trump EraBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThrow aside the 9-to-5 and discover the joys of going freelance! In a big wide galaxy you''ll find every personality type. There are those who want to work for a large, stable employer like the Imperial Navy, pushing buttons on a space cruiser. There are also those who are content living the simple (but dull) life of a merchant or moisture farmer. And then there are those special few who long for the freelance life. If you aren''t afraid of grueling (and sometimes frowned upon) work, traveling to exotic locations, and being your own boss, you may find guidance in the wise words of those who have been there. Be More Boba Fett will help guide you on your path to the independent life of a successful entrepreneur. and 2021 Lucasfilm LTD

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Book SynopsisExplore the science behind some of your favorite popular science fiction tropes--from escaping a black hole to riding a space elevator to the stars—in this illustrated guide from NASA advisor and host of the popular Tested podcast Offworld.  Whether it's researching new technology, theories, or possible extraterrestrial situations, the showrunners and directors of our favorite science fiction shows and films are often extending the boundaries of real science, leaving viewers and fans to wonder, 'Could this really happen?'    In Out There: The Science Behind Sci-Fi Film and TV, author and filmmaker Ariel Waldman dives into the fascinating real science behind some of the most beloved space-themed science fiction tropes, from faster-than-light travel to AI ships, hypersleep, and imagining life on other planets. Each chapter dives into particular situations or scientific questi

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Book SynopsisNow considered an enduring classic, the allegorical nature of the show provides a window into the many overlooked issues that plagued Cold War America.In Monsters on Maple Street: The Twilight Zone and the Postwar American Dream, David J.Table of ContentsIntroduction Living in the Shadows of White Supremacy Fighting a War, Combating a Myth Cold War Space and Technology Duck, Cover, and Accuse Cold War Childhood White Collar Weariness Consuming Conformity Conclusion

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Lea Gerhards traces connections between three recent vampire romance series; the Twilight film series (2008-2012), The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017) and True Blood (2008-2014), exploring their tremendous discursive and ideological power in order to understand the cultural politics of these extremely popular texts. She uses contemporary vampire romance to examine postfeminist ideologies and discuss gender, sexuality, subjectivity, agency and the body. Discussing a range of conflicting meanings contained in the narratives, Gerhards critically looks genre's engagement with everyday sexism and violence against women, power relations in heterosexual relationships, sexual autonomy and pleasure, (self-) empowerment, and (self-) surveillance. She asks: Why are these genre texts so popular right now, what specific desires, issues and fears are addressed and negotiated by them, and what kinds of pleasures do they offer?Trade ReviewInsightful, compelling and provocative, this book offers an enlightening analysis of the global phenomenon of vampire romance that has as much to tell us about gender, sexuality and post-feminism as it does the vampires that we love, or love to hate. A must-read for fans and scholars alike -- Stacey Abbott, University of Roehampton London, UK.Interrogating the tricky terrain of post-feminist discourse via a close reading of three vampire juggernauts of the early 2000s, Gerhard's book offers an incisive deep-dive into contemporary gender politics. -- Natalie Wilson, California State University San Marcos, USA.Gerhards offers a comprehensive look at three populist vampire texts that provides a strong introduction to vampire studies for undergraduates across the liberal arts. Using a sophisticated analysis, she reconstructs arguments from many well know feminist and cultural theorists to help guide new scholars through the ways vampire products can help students navigate gender and identity in the 21st century. -- Melissa Anyiwo, Curry College, USATable of ContentsAcknowledgements Series Editors’ Introduction Introduction: The Cultural Politics of Contemporary Vampire Romance 1. More than a Backlash: The Contradictions of Postfeminist Culture 2. Paranormal Romance: A Quintessentially Postfeminist Genre? 3. The Politics of Looking: Female Protagonists between Subject and Object 4. Vampire Transformation as Makeover: The Making of Ideal Postfeminist Subjects 5. Fantasy Solutions to Postfeminist Culture: Vampire Heroes and Postfeminist Masculinity Conclusion: Paradoxical Pleasures Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisInvestigates how horror films have rendered the human body as a media artifact, dramatically dis-figuring it with optical effects and visual fragmentation.Trade Review"Visceral Screens argues eloquently for horror's centrality to essential debates in contemporary film and media studies theory. By framing horror beyond conventional notions of cautionary or anxious relations to media technologies, Allan Cameron presents a fascinating new account of horror as an 'intermediate' genre: between meanings encompassing bodies, images, and image-bodies." -Adam Lowenstein, University of Pittsburgh

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Book Synopsis Star Trek has transcended science fiction through its use of elements that have crucial roles in classical utopian tradition. New technologies change a civilization, a miniature society unfolds on a spaceship, and an android teaches humanity. Star Trek has been answering many questions about our own world for 50+ years, and since the days of Captain Kirk, the franchise has become one of the world''s best-known cultural phenomena. This book documents what the Star Trek franchise has in common with classic utopias. Chapters analyze how technology changes society and how the Federation embodies utopian ideals. Also explored are the political relations among alien species that reflect past and present conflicts in our real world and how the Borg resembles an anti-utopian society.Table of Contents Table of Contents Preface 1 Introduction: Why Star Trek Matters 5 1. The Meaning of Utopia  11 2. How Technology Changes Society 41 3. Life in Space: Utopia on a Ship 57 4. Politics in Star Trek 73 5. ­­Anti-Utopia: The Borg 125 6. ­­Post-Utopia: Does Star Trek Become Darker? 141 7. How Utopian Is Star Trek? 158 Chapter Notes 165 Works Cited 175 Index 191

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Book SynopsisCurated from the pages of Star Wars Insider, go behind the scenes to discover how the most terrifying Star Wars villains were brought to the screen in this incredible collection of in-depth interviews and articles. The actors and filmmakers behind 15 of Star Wars' most popular villains discuss the process behind creating some of the most iconic characters in cinematic history. Includes David Prowse (Darth Vader), Ray Park (Darth Maul), and Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), with input from George Lucas (the creator of Star Wars), Lawrence Kasdan (writer: The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens), J.J. Abrams (writer, director: The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker), to name just a few.

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Book SynopsisPrevenge (2016) is an entertainingly dark 21st-century horror movie detailing the serial killing journey of heavily pregnant Ruth. It’s a cleverly crafted narrative full of stark social commentary, traversing the delicate line between comedy and tragedy by fusing together a kitchen sink approach with a supernatural revenge plot. This book, as part of the Devil’s Advocates series, examines how the film deconstructs the slasher mythology and the sexism therein, and upends stereotypical representations of the ‘weak’ woman and ‘delicate’ mother. With new exclusive input from writer, director and star Alice Lowe, the text also looks at the production’s inception and development, assesses its debts to cult British cinema, and inspects its umbilical connections to Rosemary’s Baby, Alien, Village of the Damned and many other ‘Monstrous Child’ silver screen features. Trade Review'Andrew Graves offers a suitably appreciative, perceptive celebration of a movie that never wanted to be pigeonholed for the sake of its commercial prospects... This concise, engaging DEVIL’S ADVOCATES monograph is... a witty, insightful read that will inspire you to revisit Lowe’s glorious back catalogue.'Steven West, FrightFest

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Book SynopsisThis Devil’s Advocate explores the cinematic wonders of Brian Desmond Hurst’s much loved 1951 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge, through the prism of horror cinema, arguing that the film has less in common with cosy festive tradition than it does with terror cinema like James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein, Robert Weine’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and F.W. Murnau’s Faust. Beginning with Charles Dickens himself, a prolific writer of ghost stories, with A Christmas Carol being but one of many, Colin Fleming then considers earlier cinematic adaptations including 1935’s folk-horror-like Scrooge, before offering a full account of the Hurst/Sim version, stressing what must always be kept at the forefront of our minds: this is a ghost story.

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, teen witches have become highly visible figures. Fictional adolescent witches have headlined popular television shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2021) and American Horror Story: Coven (2013-2014), while their real-life counterparts have become minor celebrities on Instagram and TikTok. As such, now is the ideal time to revisit Andrew Fleming’s 1996 supernatural horror film The Craft. A cult favourite, especially amongst young women, The Craft is a story about teen witches that employs the conventions of occult horror to explore themes of power, friendship and responsibility. This entry in the Devil’s Advocates series is a deep dive into the history, production and meaning of The Craft. Situating The Craft within the teen horror revival of the 1990s, Miranda Corcoran analyses the film within the context of nineties popular and political culture, while also discussing its treatment of issues such as race, gender, sexuality and class. Delving into the history of witchcraft beliefs and persecutions, this book also investigates how The Craft modifies the archetype of the witch and traces the film’s influence on subsequent popular culture.

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Book SynopsisMany fans of Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man (1973) may know that this classic is considered a fine sample of folk horror. Few will consider that it’s also a prime example of holiday horror. Holiday horror draws its energy from the featured festive day, here May Day. Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a “Christian copper,” is lured to the remote Scottish island Summerisle where, hidden from the eyes of all, a thriving Celtic, pagan religion holds sway. His arrival at the start of the May Day celebration is no accident. The clash between religions, fought on the landscape of the holiday, drives the story to its famous conclusion. In this Devil’s Advocate, Steve A. Wiggins delineates what holiday horror is and surveys various aspects of “the Citizen Kane of horror movies” that utilize the holiday. Beginning with a brief overview of Beltane and how May Day has been celebrated, this study considers the role of sexuality and fertility in the film. Conflicting with Howie’s Christian principles, this leads to an exploration of his theology as contrasted with that of Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) and his tenants. Such differences in belief make the fiery ending practically inevitable.Trade Review‘Wiggins proves an engaging, erudite commentator on assorted interlinked elements, with the recurring holiday horror themes (notably, sacrifice) running parallel to an examination of the origins of what we know as “holidays” / “vacations” and a consideration of religion’s transformation through the centuries… Wiggins’ highly perceptive and refreshing study will provide yet another excuse to revisit and celebrate one of Britain’s greatest achievements in the genre.’ Steven West, FrightFestTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Holiday Horror Chapter 2: May Day Chapter 3: Scary Sex Chapter 4: The Horror of Theology Conclusion: Conflict and Legacy

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 A little girl throws up Gloria-Jean's teeth after an explosion at the custard factory; Pax, Alexander, and Angelo are hypnotically enthralled by a book that promises them enlightenment if they keep their semen inside their bodies; Victoria is sent to a cursed hotel for ailing girls when her period mysteriously stops. In a damp, putrid spa, the exploitative drudgery of work sparks revolt; in a Margate museum, the new Director curates a venomous garden for public consumption.In Grudova's unforgettably surreal style, these stories expose the absurdities behind contemporary ideas ofwork, Britishness and art-making, to conjure a singular, startling strangeness that proves the deft skill of a writerat the top of her game.Trade ReviewUtterly triumphant... I can't remember the last time I read satire of the Great British institutions so crisply rendered, so exquisitely batty... Grudova has an instinct for queasily precise imagery that few can rival... She's a thoroughly sui generis visionary - and, after reading The Coiled Serpent, I'd say one of the most startlingly original writers we've got. -- A K Blakemore * Guardian *Camilla Grudova's books make other young writers seem meek... It's weird, dark and graphic, but as her new collection proves, it's also funny and poignant and distinctive, so inventive that it makes other writing seem uncourageous. * Sunday Telegraph *A prodigious instinct for story... careering majestically between the astonishing and the terrible to create something uniquely gripping. * Irish Times *It's gruesome fare, served with cold precision... One imagines these stories pairing perfectly with the painter Paula Rego's paintings of women subverting fairy tales... The simmering undercurrent of rage... is all too recognisable. * Financial Times *Grudova's stories are dark, creepy and strange, each a little off-kilter in a world where mental anxiety and fleshy reality are twisted into surreal scenarios by her fertile but festering imagination... for those with a penchant for gothictinged body horror, these are the business. * Daily Mail *Queen of the grotesque... These stories are not for the faint of heart, and reading them is as sharply satisfying as picking at a scab. * The Skinny *Strange, weird, twisted, sometimes surreal and always absorbing. * The Bristol Magazine *Unsettling... refuses to gloss over the grimy reality of years of austerity with Grudova's signature abstract flair. * Big Issue *An excellent second collection of exultantly gross-out tales * Telegraph Best Fiction Books of 2023 *

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment Star Wars burst onto the screen in 1977, audiences have been in equal parts fascinated and appalled by the half-man/half-machine hybrid Darth Vader. In 1999, creator George Lucas began the story of how Anakin Skywalker grew up to train as a Jedi under Obi-Wan Kenobi, found love with the Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, before turning to the dark side of his nature and becoming more machine than man. After driving the development of nascent digital technology, George Lucas perceived how he could create new creatures and new worlds on a grander scale than ever before. He created the first digital blockbuster, and met fierce resistance when he pushed for widespread digital cameras, sets, characters, and projection - all of which are now used throughout the industry. He essentially popularized the modern way of making movies. Made with the full cooperation of George Lucas and Lucasfilm, this second volume covers the making of the prequel trilogy - Episode I The Phantom Menace, Episode II Attack of the Clones, and Episode III Revenge of the Sith - and features exclusive interviews with Lucas and his collaborators. The book is profusely illustrated with script pages, production documents, concept art, storyboards, on-set photography, stills, and posters.Trade ReviewThe best work on the greatest saga in the world... For the Star Wars fan, this book is a revelation. * Welt am Sonntag *The Star Wars Archives pulls off the impossible: a fresh look at one of the most picked-off franchises ever. * Chicago Tribune *A book from another galaxy. A must for every fan! * stern *

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Book SynopsisIn the genre of horror, elderly people are often used as a trope to evoke both a fear of death and a fear of aging. Old age is therefore equated with bodily, mental, or social decline. The contributors of this book investigate what exactly we are afraid of when we posit old age as a source of horror. The aim is to harness the thrills and pleasures of horror to think about how quality of life can be improved in old age and how elderly people can be better integrated in our ever fearful and suspicious societies.

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Book SynopsisJourney to amazing worlds as Star Wars: The Mandalorian, the critically acclaimed series that expands the Star Wars universe, continues to tell the acclaimed story of the mysterious Mandalorian warrior Dyn Jarren and The Child. This collector's edition includes stunning artwork from chapters 5-8, featuring the droids, rogues, and soldiers of the Empire as seen in the hit series. A unique mix of photography, art and concept illustration showcases the Mandalorian, his allies, his foes and his incredible adventures.

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Book SynopsisDirected by Richard Donner and written by David Seltzer, The Omen (1976) is perhaps the best in the devil-child cycle of movies that followed in the wake of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. Released to a highly suggestible public, The Omen became a major commercial success, in no small part due to an elaborate pre-sell campaign that played and preyed on apocalyptic fears and a renewed belief in the Devil and the supernatural. Since polarising critics and religious groups upon its release, The Omen has earned its place in the horror film canon. It’s a film that works on different levels, is imbued with nuance, ambiguity and subtext, and is open to opposing interpretations. Reflecting the film’s cultural impact and legacy, the name ‘Damien’ has since become a pop culture byword for an evil child. Adrian Schober’s Devil’s Advocate entry covers the genesis, authorship, production history, marketing and reception of The Omen, before going on to examine the overarching theme of paranoia that drives the narrative: paranoia about the 'end times'; paranoia about government and conspiracy; paranoia about child rearing (especially, if one strips away the layer of Satanism); and paranoia about imagined threats to the right-wing Establishment from liberal and post-countercultural forces of the 1970s.

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Book SynopsisFollow the wisdom of Buffy, Willow, Xander, Spike, and others with this beautifully illustrated tarot deck inspired by the beloved series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.In every generation, there is a chosen one—explore your destiny like Buffy the Vampire Slayer with this magical and bold take on the traditional 78-card tarot deck. This set features the heroes you love, casting Buffy, Willow, Angel, Spike, Xander, Giles, and more in gorgeous original illustrations based on classic tarot iconography. Featuring both major and minor arcana, the set also includes a helpful guidebook explaining each card’s meaning and simple instructions for easy readings. Packaged in a sturdy, decorative gift box, this alluring tarot deck is the perfect gift for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan or tarot enthusiast. ORIGINAL ART: Each of the 78 cards in this deck and the booklet features never-before-seen original Buffy the Vampire Slayer-themed art. GUIDEBOOK INCLUDED: This unique deck includes a guidebook to help tarot practitioners of all skill levels do fun and informed readings. BEAUTIFUL GIFT: The tarot deck and guidebook are packaged in a deluxe gift box perfect for gift-giving. OFFICIAL LICENSED BUFFY DECK: This is the only official licensed Buffy the Vampire Slayer deck and guide. 25TH ANNIVERSARY: This deck is the perfect way to celebrate 25 years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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Book SynopsisA guide to Marvel Studios’ action-packed Disney+ series, featuring Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. Includes interviews with the cast and crew of Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, along with exclusive photos and art. This special collector’s edition focuses on Captain America’s fighting companions, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, played by Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan.

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Book SynopsisBefore Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The X-Files, there was Carl Kolchak, a world-weary Chicago newspaper reporter with a cheap, seersucker suit and a penchant for uncovering monsters lurking in every corner. Kolchak first appeared on American screens in the 1972 ABC television movie The Night Stalker, which was then the most-watched television movie in history. The success of this initial offering led to a sequel, The Night Strangler, and a television series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker

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Book SynopsisCrochet your own costumes, familiar creatures, and classic artifacts from the Harry Potter films in this follow up companion to the bestselling Harry Potter: Knitting Magic.Conjure the magic of the Wizarding World with your crochet hook with this deluxe collection of more than 20 official patterns for toys, keepsakes, and costume replicas inspired by the Harry Potter films.  A comprehensive, officially licensed guide to crocheting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Harry Potter: Crochet Wizardry includes projects for every skill level and a wide range of stitches and techniques featuring yarn expertly matched to the true colors used in the films. Harry Potter: Crochet Wizardry also includes behind-the-scenes facts and quotes from the films, as well as concept art and film stills to inspire your creativity and relive favorite movie moments. With beautiful full-color photography, step-by-step instructions, and clearly presented charts and schematics, Harry Potter: Crochet Wizardry is the ultimate crocheter’s guide to the Wizarding World. 

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Book SynopsisPost-Horror is the first full-length study of one of the most important and divisive movements in twenty-first-century horror cinema.

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Book SynopsisBring the magic of Hogwarts™ on your next adventure with the Harry Potter Platform 9-3/4™ Travel Set.Like Harry Potter stepping through to Platform 9-3/4™-it’s time for a travel adventure! This deluxe gift set features a travel journal to log your experiences and memories, a passport holder to organize important documents, and a luggage tag to keep track of your suitcase-all housed in a collectible, Hogwarts™-inspired luggage case. 184-PAGE TRAVEL JOURNAL: This deluxe, vegan-leather travel journal includes daily spreads to record the sights you visited, a full page to capture your most memorable experiences of the day, and an address book section to record the contact information of people you want to correspond with, places you visited, or friends you made along the way PASSPORT HOLDER: Keep the magic of Platform 9-3/4™ and your important travel documents close at hand with this beautiful passport holder. Four card slots and two larger pockets make it easy to summon your passport, identification, credit cards, and boarding pass at a moment’s notice. The holder will fit any passport 4 x 5.5 inches or smaller. LUGGAGE TAG: Let every witch and wizard know which bag belongs to you with a luggage tag featuring the artwork of the HogwartsTM Express train ticket. Included are two identification cards, one for your home address and one for two different destination addresses, to ensure your luggage safely arrive wherever you are traveling COLLECTIBLE TRAVEL CASE: Carry your travel journal and passport holder in the travel case inspired by the luggage carried by Hogwarts™ students, or use it to store tickets, small souvenirs, photos, and other travel mementos collected along the way

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Book SynopsisExperience the creation of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune like never before with this startling collection of photography by Chiabella James.From the cliffs of Norway to the deserts of Jordan, unit photographer Chiabella James was on set to capture every moment of Dune, director Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-nominated sci-fi epic based on Frank Herbert’s classic novel. Curated from thousands of stills shot throughout the filming of Dune, this deluxe volume compiles the most compelling photos to form a remarkable visual journey that fully captures the unique spirit of the production. Encompassing the epic vistas witnessed on location shoots, through to candid moments between Villeneuve and key cast members including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Jason Momoa, this book also features a foreword by executive producer Tanya Lapointe (The Art and Soul of Dune), a preface by Ferguson, and an afterword by Brian Herbert. DAZZLING IMAGES: Curated from thousands of photos shot throughout the filming of Dune, this visually stunning compilation features the most remarkable photos from the set, including the epic vistas of location shoots. BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONTENT: Witness candid moments between director Denis Villeneuve and key cast members, including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Jason Momoa, plus never-before-seen photos from the set. THE IDEAL COLLECTOR’S ITEM: Dune Part One: The Photography is the quintessential collectible for fans of director Denis Villeneuve and film enthusiasts everywhere. COMPLETE YOUR DUNE FILM COLLECTION: Dune Part One: The Photography is the perfect companion volume to the gorgeous Insight Editions book The Art and Soul of Dune.

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Book SynopsisWith a focus on media forms through which southern identity gets articulated and questioned - including horror movies, Swamp Thing comics, and popular music - The Dirty South probes the sustained fascination with southern dirtiness while reflecting on its causes and consequences since the end of the civil rights era.Trade ReviewA unique and multilayered analysis of what and who makes the South legible in its modern iterations, The Dirty South offers some new language and approaches to push back against the lazy assertions of the region being a singularly white, conservative, and monolithic experience. . . . It's a helluva read." - Regina N. Bradley, author of Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South

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Book SynopsisHow science fiction films in the 1950s were marketed and helped create the broader genre itself. For Hollywood, the golden age of science fiction was also an age of anxiety. Amid rising competition, fluid audience habits, and increasing government regulation, studios of the 1950s struggled to make and sell the kinds of films that once were surefire winners. These conditions, the leading media scholar J.P. Telotte argues, catalyzed the incredible rise of science fiction. Though science fiction films had existed since the earliest days of cinema, the SF genre as a whole continued to resist easy definition through the 1950s. In grappling with this developing genre, the industry began to consider new marketing approaches that viewed films as fluid texts and audiences as ever-changing. Drawing on trade reports, film reviews, pressbooks, trailers, and other archival materials, Selling Science Fiction Cinema reconstructs studio efforts to market a promisinTrade ReviewJ. P. Telotte offers a thoughtful, well-researched overview of how these films were marketed to audiences at their height in Selling Science Fiction Cinema...Telotte also offers a thought-provoking look at contemporary sci-fi marketing approaches during such a fascinating time in which so much content is available to users via streaming platforms rather than the past 'traditional' approach of attending the cinema. * Hometowns to Hollywood *Focusing on various promotional campaigns, publicity strategies, and cultural products, this fascinating study offers a material-based history of the selling of mid-20th-century science fiction cinema...Deploying precise critical insight and drawing on an array of archival findings, Telotte considers the marketing of such films as The Thing from Another World (1951), Forbidden Planet (1956), and Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1954), and he adroitly generates new insights and readings of these films and their significance to history and culture. Considering the discourse circulating around science fiction film’s place in literary fan culture, the genre’s position in society, and the shifting attitudes toward speculative cinema of studios in both Hollywood and Japan, Telotte’s work emerges as an engaging addition to film studies. * CHOICE *Table of Contents Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Marketing and Making Science Fiction Chapter 2. What Is This Thing? Framing and Unframing a New Genre Chapter 3. Pondering the “Pulp Paradox”: Pal, Paramount, and the SF Market Chapter 4. Moppets and Robots: MGM Markets Forbidden Planet Chapter 5. Another Form of Life: Audiences, Markets, and The Blob Chapter 6. Selling Japan: Making, Remaking, and Marketing Japanese SF Conclusion Notes Select Filmography Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Liverpool Companion to World Science Fiction Film offers critical insights into SF far beyond the more common Anglo-American narratives. Contributors take either a national or transnational approach, and stretch the geographic and conceptual boundaries of science fiction cinema. Recurrent themes include genre discussions, engagement with Hollywood, and the international subgenre of science fiction parody. Chapters contain a variety of perspectives and styles: from gender and race studies, to the eco-critical, and the post-colonial; from the avant-garde, to socialist realism, and the Hammer film. Edited by Sonja Fritzsche, the collection contains fourteen chapters written by specialists from around the world. Film traditions represented include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. There is also a chapter on digital shorts. From the dinosaur myth that became Godzilla to Brazilian science fiction comedy, from China’s Death Ray to Kenya’s Pumzi, this book will broaden the horizons of scholars and students of science fiction.Trade Review'A welcome and overdue addition to the critical discourse surrounding science fiction cinema. This book provides an important point of entry for those academics and students who wish to broaden their understanding of science fiction film as a global phenomenon rather than simply as a Hollywood or Anglophone practice.'Peter Wright, Edge Hill UniversityTable of Contents Introduction - Sonja Fritzsche PART I: AFRICA 1. The Environmental Dominant in Wanuri Kahiu’s Pumzi - Ritch Calvin PART II: ASIA 2. Death Ray on a Coral Island as China’s First Science Fiction Film - Jie Zhang 3. Indian Science Fiction Cinema: An Overview - Jessica Langer and Dominic Alessio 4. On the Monstrous Planet: or, How Godzilla Took a Roman Holiday - Takayuki Tatsumi, translated by Seth Jacobowitz PART III: EUROPE 5. Invaders, Launchpads and Hybrids: The Importance of Transmediality in British Science Fiction Film in the 1950s - Derek Johnston 6. Gender and Apocalypse in Eastern European Cinema - Jason Merrill 7. Casting for a Socialist Earth: Multicultural Whiteness in the East German/Polish Science-Fiction Film Silent Star (1960) - Evan Torner 8. Looking for French Science Fiction Cinema - Daniel Tron 9. Science Fiction Interventions in Irish Cinema - Katie Moylan 10. The Uncomfortable Relationship Between Science Fiction and Italy:Film, Humor, and Gender - Rafaella Boccolini PART IV: NORTH AMERICA 11. Are Black Women the Future of Man? The Role of Black Women in Political and Cultural Transformation in Science Fiction from the US and Cameroon - Robyn Citizen PART V: SOUTH AMERICA 12. Maradona on the Moon: Postcolonial Politics and Cultural Hybridity in Argentina’s Goodbye Dear Moon - Mariano Paz 13. Alert Limit! A Short History of Brazilian Science Fiction Film and Its Fight for Survival in a Rarefied Atmosphere - Alfredo Suppia PART VI: DIGITAL CINEMA 14. Digital Film and Audiences - Pawel Frelik Recommended Viewing

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Book SynopsisThe Liverpool Companion to World Science Fiction Film offers critical insights into SF far beyond the more common Anglo-American narratives. Contributors take either a national or transnational approach, and stretch the geographic and conceptual boundaries of science fiction cinema. Recurrent themes include genre discussions, engagement with Hollywood, and the international subgenre of science fiction parody. Chapters contain a variety of perspectives and styles: from gender and race studies, to the eco-critical, and the post-colonial; from the avant-garde, to socialist realism, and the Hammer film. Edited by Sonja Fritzsche, the collection contains fourteen chapters written by specialists from around the world. Film traditions represented include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. There is also a chapter on digital shorts. From the dinosaur myth that became Godzilla to Brazilian science fiction comedy, from China’s Death Ray to Kenya’s Pumzi, this book will broaden the horizons of scholars and students of science fiction.Trade Review'A welcome and overdue addition to the critical discourse surrounding science fiction cinema. This book provides an important point of entry for those academics and students who wish to broaden their understanding of science fiction film as a global phenomenon rather than simply as a Hollywood or Anglophone practice.'Peter Wright, Edge Hill UniversityTable of Contents Introduction - Sonja Fritzsche PART I: AFRICA 1. The Environmental Dominant in Wanuri Kahiu’s Pumzi - Ritch Calvin PART II: ASIA 2. Death Ray on a Coral Island as China’s First Science Fiction Film - Jie Zhang 3. Indian Science Fiction Cinema: An Overview - Jessica Langer and Dominic Alessio 4. On the Monstrous Planet: or, How Godzilla Took a Roman Holiday - Takayuki Tatsumi, translated by Seth Jacobowitz PART III: EUROPE 5. Invaders, Launchpads and Hybrids: The Importance of Transmediality in British Science Fiction Film in the 1950s - Derek Johnston 6. Gender and Apocalypse in Eastern European Cinema - Jason Merrill 7. Casting for a Socialist Earth: Multicultural Whiteness in the East German/Polish Science-Fiction Film Silent Star (1960) - Evan Torner 8. Looking for French Science Fiction Cinema - Daniel Tron 9. Science Fiction Interventions in Irish Cinema - Katie Moylan 10. The Uncomfortable Relationship Between Science Fiction and Italy:Film, Humor, and Gender - Rafaella Boccolini PART IV: NORTH AMERICA 11. Are Black Women the Future of Man? The Role of Black Women in Political and Cultural Transformation in Science Fiction from the US and Cameroon - Robyn Citizen PART V: SOUTH AMERICA 12. Maradona on the Moon: Postcolonial Politics and Cultural Hybridity in Argentina’s Goodbye Dear Moon - Mariano Paz 13. Alert Limit! A Short History of Brazilian Science Fiction Film and Its Fight for Survival in a Rarefied Atmosphere - Alfredo Suppia PART VI: DIGITAL CINEMA 14. Digital Film and Audiences - Pawel Frelik Recommended Viewing

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Book SynopsisAfter the end, the world will be un-American. This speculation forms the nucleus of Un-American Dreams, a study of US apocalyptic science fiction and the cultural politics of disimagined community in the short century of American superpower, 1945–2001. Between the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which helped to transform the United States into a superpower and initiated the Cold War, and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which spelled the Cold War’s second death and inaugurated the War on Terror, apocalyptic science fiction returned again and again to the scene of America’s negation. During the American Century, to imagine yourself as American and as a participant in a shared national culture meant disimagining the most powerful nation on the planet. Un-American Dreams illuminates how George R. Stewart, Philip K. Dick, George A. Romero, Octavia Butler, and Roland Emmerich represented the impossibility of reforming American society and used figures of the end of the world as speculative pretexts to imagine the utopian possibilities of an un-American world. The American Century was simultaneously a closure of the path to utopia and an escape route into apocalyptic science fiction, the underground into which figures of an alternative future could be smuggled.Trade Review‘The tone throughout ties together the impressive mix of genre theory, cultural interpretation, political commentary, intellectual history, and biography. It balances critical theory with interpretation and argument in the exegesis of its five central texts/ideological formations. It is a pleasure to think with and a delight to read. Un-American Dreams is worth reading for those interested in the complex workings of hope for and deferral of radical alternatives to the present state of things. It is a coherent and cohesive project that presents deep research on its material from solid footing in a critical tradition. For these reasons and more, it is worth thinking with Ramírez about how to resuscitate hope the hard way, through an immanent critique of hope’s shadowy form in apocalyptic sf of the American century.’ Brent Ryan Bellamy, Science Fiction StudiesTable of ContentsPrefaceThe Dreams in Which I’m DyingIntroductionThe Uses of Pseudo-ApocalypseChapter 1The Last American: Earth Abides, Speculative Anthropology, and Settler UtopianismChapter 2The Revelation of Philip K. DickChapter 3National Insecurity in Night of the Living DeadChapter 4How to Bring Your Kids Up Alien: Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis TrilogyChapter 5Waiting for the Martians: Independence Day and the Second American CenturyConclusionPseudo-Apocalypse after the American Century

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Book SynopsisIn this examination of violence and masculinity in George R. R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation Game of Thrones, Tobi Evans offers a queer reading that revises the idea that the texts glorify violence. Moving from monstrous men characters and sovereigns to female, disabled, and genderqueer masculinities, Violent Fantasies understands the novels and television series to offer a complex and ambiguous negotiation of different types of violence. Deploying queer feminist poststructuralist and psychoanalytic approaches to the acts of violence that masculine characters use, Evans views hegemonic violence as part of a destructive cycle wherein characters use violence to dominate others but have their violence turned against them in such a way that their bodies become disgusting and they are unable to enter into systems of patriarchal reproduction. The only characters who succeed in proliferating their values and knowledges are those who use violence to care for others. These characters are also threatened with a bodily undoing when they use violence, but their bodily borders are secured because of their connections to others and their queer kinship bonds. Violence transforms the body, Evans argues, in ways that are both circular and ideologically ambivalent. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Some Knights are Dark and Full of Terror 2. Undoing Sovereign Violence 3. Vile, Scheming, Evil Bitches? 4. Disabled Masculinities and the Potential and Limits of Queered Masculine Violence 5. Queer Magical Violence and Gender Fluidity

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Book SynopsisPrevenge (2016) is an entertainingly dark 21st-century horror movie detailing the serial killing journey of heavily pregnant Ruth. It’s a cleverly crafted narrative full of stark social commentary, traversing the delicate line between comedy and tragedy by fusing together a kitchen sink approach with a supernatural revenge plot. This book, as part of the Devil’s Advocates series, examines how the film deconstructs the slasher mythology and the sexism therein, and upends stereotypical representations of the ‘weak’ woman and ‘delicate’ mother. With new exclusive input from writer, director and star Alice Lowe, the text also looks at the production’s inception and development, assesses its debts to cult British cinema, and inspects its umbilical connections to Rosemary’s Baby, Alien, Village of the Damned and many other ‘Monstrous Child’ silver screen features. Trade Review'Andrew Graves offers a suitably appreciative, perceptive celebration of a movie that never wanted to be pigeonholed for the sake of its commercial prospects... This concise, engaging DEVIL’S ADVOCATES monograph is... a witty, insightful read that will inspire you to revisit Lowe’s glorious back catalogue.'Steven West, FrightFest

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