Third 'Star Trek' film a solid franchise offering

The reinvention of a beloved pop culture property is never going to be easy. Finding the proper balance between loyalty to preexisting fans and finding ways to welcome new ones has proven to be the downfall of numerous films in recent years.

Debut novel a compelling, quality work of literary science fiction

One could argue that we're currently riding a wave of literary science fiction unlike any we've seen before. Genre tropes have been embraced by 'serious' writers in a way that has opened up seemingly endless possibilities and allowed for new ways to ask some of the age-old questions addressed by literature.

Trilogy's second book another excellent dystopian offering

Sci-fi trilogy reaches conclusion

There's a definite bittersweetness when a trilogy comes to an end. If you've been truly engaged by an overarching work of literature, seeing that work reach its conclusion while satisfying can make for a difficult goodbye.

The time has come to bid a fond farewell to a good one.

Sci-fi tale offers outsider's take on humanity

The best science fiction acts as a sort of funhouse mirror, reflecting aspects of our existence back at us in ways that, while twisted, remain recognizable. The genre provides a certain degree of freedom when it comes to exploring ideas; it offers us a removed glimpse at ourselves.

Author Matt Haig has given us one such glimpse with his latest novel 'The Humans' (Simon & Schuster, $25).

Science fiction epic offers snapshot of humanity's future

The science fiction epic has become an increasingly rare thing. The genre has become a world of multi-book storylines and ongoing series to its ultimate benefit, truth be told. However, there is no reading experience quite like the well-done inches-thick doorstop of a sci-fi novel. Sometimes, you just crave 1,000 pages of future thriller.

Novel offers a gradual end of the world

When we think about the end of the world, we tend to think of it happening in a single moment. One minute here, next minute gone. But what if it wasn't like that? What if society held together long enough for us to actually bear witness to each phase of its ultimate deterioration?

We might see the world of Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author John Varley's 'Slow Apocalypse' (ACE, $25.95). It's a story about what might happen if the world as we know it ended not in one giant flash of Armageddon, but piece by piece.