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The Rehearsal's Problem is Traditional Masculinity
The Rehearsal Season Two tries to fix the communication issues between pilots, but doesn't quite make the connection to masculinity. I bridge the gap on Fielder's behalf.
Jun 15 min read
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Telling It Like It Is
When it comes to issues you're deeply passionate and knowledgeable about, why stick to subtlety? These books put their messages front and center, and might be better for it!
May 293 min read
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Attention & The Speed of Fight
My brand of ADHD and personal experience makes emotional conflict a devastating interruption. How can we relate that to narrative combat in fiction?
May 254 min read
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ADHD, Queerness, Chaos & Categorization
Musing on categorization in terms of ADHD and our human tendency towards in- and out-groups. Why doesn't the same useful tool work the same way for every situation?
May 224 min read
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Ghost’s Missilia Amori, Umbra: Love & Manipulation
Two Ghost songs about sex, one article for me to get from there to a moral about mindfulness. Can we do it?
May 185 min read
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The Murderbot Diaries – What's It About?
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells are an incredible series of books that achieve a perfect tone of humour and love in the face of overwhelming odds. Will the adaptation succeed?
May 155 min read
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ADHD & Faster-Than-Light Travel
Neurodivergent minds bear a striking similarity to faster-than-light travel when it comes to maintaining relationships. Is that a good thing? Up to you!
May 115 min read
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Sinners: When You’re Dead, You’re Family [Vampires VIII]
'Sinners' explores how vampires can often exist in a symbolic grey area, and how they relate to ideas of life and community. Join me as I discuss this fantastic film!
May 84 min read
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Tragedy: The Binding of Isaac Retold in Hyperion
Abraham and Isaac's story is retold in the 2700s, with time wackiness and the Lord of Pain in place of God – and it's brilliant.
May 45 min read
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Vampires VII: Self-Acceptance in Ghost's "Lachryma" and Nosferatu
Lachryma by Ghost looks like a simple breakup song at first glance, but offers a deeper reflection on how we deal with our inner demons. I compare the music video to Nosferatu (2024), which deals with similar themes.
May 16 min read
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'Marks of the Evil One' by Ghost: Revelations
Ghost's album Skeletá is out! One of my favourite tracks explores a terrifying real-world perspective, how it arose and what it will inevitably lead to.
Apr 275 min read
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Dystopia & Privilege
Exploring meaning beyond the binary of right and wrong, and how dystopian fiction can help us recognize real world oppression.
Apr 244 min read
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The Symbol of the Cruciform in Dan Simmons' Hyperion
One story from Dan Simmons' 1989 novel involves faith and resurrection, though Jesus is nowhere to be seen. A fitting exploration for Easter Sunday?
Apr 204 min read
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Transhumanism IV: Digital Consciousness in Black Mirror
Black Mirror has focused a lot on digital consciousness over the years. What morals do these depictions present regarding transhumanism, when taken as a whole?
Apr 176 min read
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Is 2025 the Year of Speculative Fiction on TV?
There's lots of exciting TV coming our way in 2025! Hopefully it will mean more important ideas being shared with more people in the future!
Apr 133 min read
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How ADHD Corrupts the Purpose of Guilt
Useful, adaptive guilt vs. toxic, maladaptive guilt: How do we tell the difference? I explore examples from The Stormlight Archive.
Apr 104 min read
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Touching Allegories in 'The Tomb of Dragons'
From interpersonal communication to the responsibility we have to victims of colonization, Addison's novel offers us a lot to think about!
Apr 65 min read
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Escaping the Unconscious Collective
How do we recognize our role as cogs in a massive system? Looking at Senlin Ascends and The Masquerade books and The Banality of Evil!
Apr 34 min read
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Clarity from the Worst Possible Advice
Why does it feel easier to learn from the worst possible advice than from straightforward, positive guidelines? Let's get evil & miserable.
Mar 304 min read
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![(Universali)Tea in Speculative Fiction [Swift Riffle]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aaea48_eeebe61e77014ce1920f98ca37f319ca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/aaea48_eeebe61e77014ce1920f98ca37f319ca~mv2.webp)
![(Universali)Tea in Speculative Fiction [Swift Riffle]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aaea48_eeebe61e77014ce1920f98ca37f319ca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_444,h_333,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/aaea48_eeebe61e77014ce1920f98ca37f319ca~mv2.webp)
(Universali)Tea in Speculative Fiction [Swift Riffle]
Tea is near-omnipresent in stories of speculative fiction! I take a look at why, by looking at real world history and a number of examples.
Mar 275 min read
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