The post Pyrantel for Cats: Dosage‚ Uses‚ Side Effects (Vet Answer) by Dr. Emma Chandley‚ BVetMed MRCVS (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Pyrantel pamoate is an anthelmintic (dewormer) drug that is frequently used in cats‚ dogs‚ small animals‚ and birds. Its use is “off-label” in cats but many vets safely prescribe it as an effective treatment. Pyrantel can be used on its own or in combination with other anti-parasite drugs for the treatment of heartworm and intestinal parasites. What Is Pyrantel? Pyrantel pamoate is a popular anthelmintic deworming drug. It is commonly used in cats to combat hookworms‚ intestinal roundworms‚ and stomach worms. Pyrantel is also used in other species such as rabbits and birds “off label.” Pyrantel acts as a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent. It works by causing sudden contraction followed by paralysis of the worms. This means they cannot latch onto the lining of the cat’s intestines‚ so they are removed from the body as the contents of the guts are moved down the gastrointestinal tract. Pyrantel is not well absorbed by the cat’s intestines‚ so the cat is unaffected by the drug. The worms are usually passed out along with the feces. Occasionally vomiting and diarrhea can be seen. Your cat may stretch out their abdomen and strain when passing larger worm burdens due to the space it occupies. Pyrantel in cats is used for the treatment and prevention of hookworms and roundworms. It cannot be used to treat tapeworms or whipworms. Pyrantel pamoate should be stored away from direct sunlight‚ in a closed container. It should be kept at room temperature—approximately 15°C–30°C or 59°F–86°F. It should always be kept out of reach of children and pets in an appropriate child and pet-proof container. How Is Pyrantel for Cats Given? Pyrantel pamoate comes in various forms so you can decide which one is best for your cat. You can use capsules‚ tablets‚ chewable tablets‚ and a liquid suspension. The usual dose for Pyrantel pamoate is 2.5 to 5 mg per pound (which is 5 to 10 mg per kilogram) as a single dose‚ then a repeated dose in 2 to 4 weeks. Ensure you give the product for the correct length of time as recommended by your vet. Pyrantel pamoate is dosed by the oral route. It can be given with or without food. If your cat vomits after receiving the drug on an empty stomach‚ it may be suggested that you give it with food after this. If your cat does vomit‚ consult your vet for advice. If you are using the liquid form‚ ensure you shake well before administering it to your cat. Extra care must be taken when measuring out liquid amounts. Always ensure that you consult your vet before giving any products that contain pyrantel pamoate and always keep to the dosing instructions given by your vet. Image Credit: thodonal88‚ Shutterstock What Happens If You Miss a Dose? It is not the end of the world if you miss a dose of Pyrantel. You can give the dose when you remember or as soon as you are able to. This is acceptable unless the next dose is due‚ then you must only dose once and miss a dose. Once you have given the later dose‚ you must wait the appropriate period as recommended by your vet before dosing again. Do not give two doses at once or give any more doses than what is recommended by your vet. Pyrantel is normally very well tolerated by cats‚ but if there are signs of toxicity‚ or you think you have overdosed them‚ you may notice signs such as: Breathing difficulties Lethargy Hypersalivation Vomiting Diarrhea Disorientation Weakness Collapse If you see any of these signs‚ contact your vet immediately. You can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline or Animal Poison Control Centre. Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 Potential Side Effects of Pyrantel There are very few side effects of Pyrantel pamoate as long as the drug is dosed correctly. However‚ as with all drugs‚ there are always some clinical signs seen in some cases. These may include: Vomiting Diarrhea Nausea Loss of appetite Other side effects that are not directly related to the drug but occur due to the action of the drug can also include intestinal obstruction. This happens if a heavy worm load is present. The obstruction usually occurs due to an impaction of the worms. It is more commonly seen when a smaller cat with a big parasite burden is treated. This is because pyrantel is a spastic paralyzing agent. It causes all of the worms to release their latch on the lining of the intestinal wall and be expelled together. This can cause vomiting‚ diarrhea‚ and heavy straining. The medication usually takes 24 hours to take effect‚ so these signs should stop then. If they do not‚ consult your vet for advice. Caution should be taken if using pyrantel in elderly or very weak patients‚ or any cats with an underlying health disease. It is safe to use pyrantel in cats that are nursing their young. Consult your vet to discuss the specific safety guidelines for the use of pyrantel in pregnant queens as there are different dosing instructions that need to be followed. In very rare cases‚ pyrantel can be toxic if used over a long period. If you are worried your cat may be suffering from an adverse reaction to the product‚ consult your vet immediately. Frequently Asked Questions Which worms does pyrantel pamoate treat in cats? Image Credit; Todorean-Gabriel‚ Shutterstock Pyrantel pamoate is used mainly for the treatment of a group of worms called ascarids. These include roundworms such as Toxicara cati and hookworms‚ such as Ancylostoma tubaeforme‚ Ancylostoma braziliense. Which worms are not covered when using Pyrantel? Pyrantel is very effective at treating roundworms‚ however‚ it has a limited spectrum for the treatment of other parasites. If you are using pyrantel‚ you will need to add in something else to cover giardia‚ toxoplasma‚ whipworms‚ tapeworms‚ and coccidia. Your vet will be able to advise you on different treatments that can be used in combination. Why do I see worms in my cat’s feces after using Pyrantel? If you are seeing worms in your cat’s feces after administering pyrantel‚ this is because the drug is working and the worms that have been attached to the lining of your cat’s intestines are now being expelled from the body. This is a normal response to the treatment if intestinal worms are present in your cat. Conclusion Pyrantel is a popular anthelmintic treatment prescribed off-label for use in cats. It is used for the treatment of intestinal roundworms and hookworms. It does not cover many other parasites. Pyrantel is well tolerated in cats and adverse effects are rare unless an overdose is given. If your cat has a very large worm burden‚ they may suffer from intestinal obstruction if they are trying to pass out a lot of worms at one time. Your vet will be able to advise you on doses and frequency of use depending on the weight and age of your cat. Pyrantel must not be used without veterinary instruction. Sources https://www.fda.gov/ https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&;catId=102894&;id=4952177#:~:text=When%20a%20new%20puppy%20or‚development%20in%20the%20host’s%20intestine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2048286/#:~:text=When%20administered%20in%20paste%20form‚of%20the%20drug%20were%20noted. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2368952/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X17734065 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/pyrantel-pamoate https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00497788   Featured Image Credit: David Herraez Calzada‚ Shutterstock The post Pyrantel for Cats: Dosage‚ Uses‚ Side Effects (Vet Answer) by Dr. Emma Chandley‚ BVetMed MRCVS (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Manx Syndrome in Cats: Our Vet Explains the Causes‚ Signs &; Treatment   by Dr. Lindsay Bisset appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. The Manx cat is a breed of domestic cat originating on the Isle of Man. Although it’s possible for a Manx cat to have a normal length tail‚ the breed is best known for being tailless or having a small stub of a tail. While this unique feature sets the breed apart from other cats‚ it’s also associated with various health issues. Some Manx cats suffer from a range of spinal and neurological defects known as Manx syndrome as a result of their absent or short tails. What Is Manx Syndrome? Manx syndrome is a collection of health issues seen in Manx cats. While the syndrome is most common in Manx cats‚ it’s possible for mixed breed cats without tails to be affected. The syndrome is associated with the Manx breed’s characteristic feature – an absent or shortened tail. The same gene that causes an absent or shortened tail‚ also causes developmental abnormalities of the spinal cord and the nerves supplying the bladder‚ colon‚ hindlimbs‚ and perineal region. As a result‚ cats with Manx syndrome have issues with defecation‚ urination‚ and hind leg movement. Manx cats with a short tail are also prone to painful arthritis in the joints between the deformed tail bones. Not all Manx cats develop Manx syndrome‚ although the likelihood of a cat developing neurological issues is related to how short the tail is. Some Manx cats appear normal‚ apart from their short tails‚ and show no signs of spinal cord issues. Others have major abnormalities of the spine and spinal cord and cannot lead normal lives. Image Credit: Seattle Cat Photo‚ Shutterstock What Are the Signs of Manx Syndrome in Cats? The signs of Manx syndrome vary depending on how severely a cat’s spinal cord is affected. Signs of Manx syndrome include: Absent tail Inability to control the release of urine Secondary urinary tract infections Inability to control the release of feces Constipation due to loss of nerve function Megacolon (distension of the colon) Partial paralysis of the back legs Incoordination of the back legs Lack of sensation of skin around the anus and genitals Rectal prolapse‚ where some of the rectum protrudes and prolapses through the anus What Are the Causes of Manx Syndrome? Manx syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation‚ passed on from parents to their kittens. This genetic mutation causes the abnormal development of the last vertebrae (bones) of the spine that make up the tail. Fetal Development While a kitten is still a fetus‚ the development of the spine is closely linked to the development of the spinal cord. So‚ if a cat has any developmental abnormalities of the spine (like being tail-less or having a shortened tail)‚ there will often be spinal cord abnormalities present. It is these problems of the spinal cord that cause the neurological issues seen in cats with Manx syndrome. Cats with Manx syndrome can have varying degrees of spinal defects and therefore the severity of the condition can vary. Image Credit: Dixon Photography‚ Shutterstock The Role of Genetics Tailless-ness in Manx cats is due to a mutant‚ autosomal dominant gene. “Autosomal” means that the specific gene is located on one of the numbered chromosomes and not on a sex chromosome. The disease is therefore not related to the sex of the cat and both male and female Manx cats can be affected. “Dominant” means that a single copy of the mutated gene (from one parent) is enough to cause the defect. In fact‚ having two copies of the mutated gene causes such severe problems that kittens usually die before they are born. The mutant gene does not always “penetrate fully” or show its full effect‚ therefore different tail lengths are seen. Varying tail lengths carry different descriptions: Rumpy – no tail Rumpy riser – a bump‚ or rump of a tail Stumpy – a small‚ partial tail Stubby – a short tail Tailed or longy – a half-length or normal tail The likelihood of a cat developing issues is directly related to how short the tail is. What Is the Treatment for Manx Syndrome? There is unfortunately no curative treatment for Manx syndrome. Instead‚ treatment is supportive and varies based on the individual cat’s condition. Treatment may include: Stool softeners to treat constipation Manually emptying the bladder of cats that are unable to control their bladders Antibiotics to treat secondary urinary tract infections Daily grooming for cats incapable of controlling their bowels or bladder. Some cats are so badly affected that it’s impossible for them to have a good quality of life. In these cases‚ euthanasia is recommended. How Do I Care for a Cat With Manx Syndrome? Daily grooming is essential for cats that can’t control their bowels or bladder. Chronic contact of the skin with urine or feces can lead to urine scald‚ dermatitis‚ and infections‚ so it’s important to keep your cat clean. You’ll also need to make some changes around the house to help your pet. Make sure that your cat’s food and water bowls are easily accessible‚ and opt for a low-sided‚ spacious litter box to accommodate any mobility challenges that your cat may have. Ramps or steps can help your cat access elevated surfaces like beds or couches. If you have slippery floors‚ it’s worth investing in non-slip rugs to help with grip. Cats with Manx syndrome should be kept indoors. Cats with mobility issues are more vulnerable to attacks by other cats and dogs. They’re also at greater risk of accidents‚ such as falling‚ getting stuck‚ or being hit by vehicles. Manx cats should also receive regular veterinary check-ups to monitor their overall health. Image Credit: Marc Dumont‚ Shutterstock Frequently Asked Questions How is Manx syndrome diagnosed? Although a vet may suspect that a cat has Manx syndrome based on their physical appearance (i.e.‚ an absent or a short tail) and the clinical signs they’re showing‚ diagnostic tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and to exclude other diseases that can look similar. These tests include: Physical exam including a neurological exam X-rays Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Myelography to visualize the spinal cord Urinalysis and urine culture Can Manx syndrome be prevented? Manx syndrome can be prevented by no longer breeding tailless cats. Some organizations feel that breeding cats without tails‚ simply for human gratification‚ is unethical. Cats use their tails for balance and to communicate with other cats. There is no benefit to breeding a cat without a tail‚ and in some cases‚ it’s detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the animal because of the associated spinal abnormalities. Conclusion Manx cats are known for their shortened or absent tails. Unfortunately‚ this defining feature is linked to a range of spinal and neurological defects known as Manx syndrome. While not all tailless cats are affected‚ some will develop issues with urination‚ defecation‚ and hindlimb movement. These issues range from mild to severe‚ with the degree of severity depending on how badly the cat’s spinal cord is affected. While there’s no curative treatment for Manx syndrome‚ it’s still possible for some of these animals to enjoy a good quality of life with the right care. Sources I Cat Care Veterinary Partner NCBI PetMD UFAW Featured Image Credit: PradaBrown‚ Shutterstock The post Manx Syndrome in Cats: Our Vet Explains the Causes‚ Signs &; Treatment   by Dr. Lindsay Bisset appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Books Art and Illustration Becky Chambers Shares Art From a New Illustrated Edition of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet Exclusive Art From the Folio Society Edition By Reactor | Published on January 25‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed More From Art and Illustration See All Posts Excerpts Read an Excerpt From Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland By Marie-Helene Bertino January 24‚ 2024 Comment 3 Rereads and Rewatches Military Science Fiction Hope Amid Horrors: Redliners by David Drake By Alan Brown January 23‚ 2024 Comment 1 Book Recommendations A Vicious And Enthralling First Contact: Seth Dickinson’s Exordia By Charles Bonkowsky January 23‚ 2024 Comment 0 Rereads and Rewatches Star Trek: Enterprise Star Trek: Enterprise Rewatch: “Terra Prime” By Keith R.A. DeCandido January 22‚ 2024 Comment 6 icon-left-caret Caret See All Posts Explore the far future with the first illustrated edition of The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet—now available from The Folio Society in a truly galactic limited edition. We’re thrilled to share several of the exclusive interior illustrations by artist Zoë van Dijk alongside commentary from Becky Chambers‚ plus the author’s introduction to the new edition. The Fishbowl Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society On one of the shelves in my office‚ I have a small clay figurine of Dr Chef that my wife made for me almost a decade ago. Zoë had no knowledge of this‚ and yet‚ the resemblance between her rendition and said figurine is downright uncanny. That’s him. That’s my otter-caterpillar-gecko friend. Ashby &; Pei Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Nowhere in the text do I say that Ashby is jacked. I am so glad Zoë understood‚ intuitively‚ that Ashby is jacked. I mean‚ come on. Pei’s a woman of good taste.  Also‚ I love this depiction of an Aeluon body. I sometimes see fanart of Pei that is more traditionally feminine by human standards‚ and while that’s all good‚ I can really tell that Zoë paid a lot of attention to how I described Aeluons and Pei in particular.  Kizzy and the mines Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Once again‚ I’m floored by how well Zoë managed to capture the shot in my head. That slow crane upwards‚ the dawning realization of ‘oh no.’ I had trouble writing this chapter‚ for reasons I can’t remember now‚ and this gives me such an incredible feeling of oh wow‚ managed to get it out‚ apparently. Toremi Attack Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society Illustration © Zoë van Dijk 2023‚ from The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet‚ The Folio Society It’s a requirement of my profession that I am a sucker for brightly colored spaceship art. This is some damn fine brightly colored spaceship art. Introduction A year is not a measure of time‚ but of movement. It messed me up when that was pointed out to me‚ and I hope‚ grinning as I write this‚ that I’ve now paid the feeling forward. Time‚ you see‚ is an inescapable component of our universe‚ woven into the fabric of space in ways I don’t fully grasp‚ marching ever forwards and never looking back. A year‚ on the other hand‚ measures a single lap of our planet around the sun. A year itself is broken down into days (which mark the rota.tion of said planet around its axis)‚ weeks (which mean nothing) and months (which roughly match the orbital period of our moon). We’re not measuring time‚ because we can’t‚ not really. Time is ineffable‚ on its own. It can speed up and slow down. It can twist around the edges of black holes. We can’t touch time‚ even though our lives are ruled by it. What we keep track of instead are the changes we possess the ability to perceive. A sunset. A grey hair. A seed splitting into a sprout. Ten years ago‚ my life was quite different. I was living with my wife in her home country of Iceland in a tiny‚ quietly terrible apartment‚ fostering a vitamin D deficiency that would one day make a doctor say ‘no wonder you feel terrible‚’ constantly plugging holes in the sinking ship that was our bank account with paycheck after flimsy paycheck. Good sense dictated I should go get a job at a coffeeshop or whatever and stop trying to make the writing thing happen‚ but I am nothing if not stubborn and a little bit stupid. Instead‚ I hammered away on a nine-inch netbook I could’ve fried an egg on as it perched upon my knees. I was in the midst of my last rewrites for a book‚ the first I’d ever written. I’d promised the Kickstarter backers who’d kept a tiny‚ quietly terrible roof over my head the previous spring that I could do this‚ that I could finish this manuscript and get it out into the world. The trouble was‚ I didn’t know if I actually could. I’d never done this before. And I was scared all the time‚ scared that I would fail‚ scared that my ideas sucked‚ scared that I would let people down. Today‚ I am sitting in the house that my wife and I own in my home state of California. I took my vitamin D capsule with breakfast‚ as I do every morning‚ and I no longer agonize between bills and groceries. I’m writing on a thirteen-inch‚ super-fast laptop resting in glacial calm upon the ergonomic lapdesk that I believe claimed to be made of ‘eco.friendly materials‚’ which I suspect is bullshit in one form or another. If I glance up over the screen‚ there’s a ladder shelf leaning against the opposite wall. It’s got many books on it‚ all of them by me. It’s got notebooks filled cover-to-cover‚ each of which is tabbed and dog-eared and has travelled the world. Alongside these are curios gifted to me by people on those trips – folks at bookstores‚ at conventions‚ over café tables where I couldn’t read the menu and was delighted to try what.ever got put in front of me. There is framed fan art hanging on another wall‚ a pair of Hugos sitting on the mantel downstairs‚ a Scrivener file on this hard drive that will become another book in turn. And I am scared all the time‚ scared that I will fail‚ scared that my ideas suck‚ scared that I will let people down. A year is a measure of a closed orbit. A closed orbit means you return to the point you started from. One question I get asked often and have yet to come up with a good stock answer for is that of where my titles come from. The honest-to-God truth is ‘I just throw words together until it feels right‚’ but this never satisfies the asker‚ so I always have to fumble around until I man.age to sound smarter than that. Okay‚ so‚ if I dig a bit deeper: a title can’t feel right until I know the core concept I’m aiming for. Much to the chagrin of my very patient publishers‚ I don’t title my work until it’s done‚ or close to it. I don’t outline‚ either‚ and I don’t write linearly‚ so I have no idea what it is I’m writing until I’ve written it. I was at a loss‚ at first‚ over what to call this meandering collection of road-trip stories in space‚ which had no real protagonist and only a hint of plot (both qualities by design)‚ expressly intended to challenge the idea that science fiction had to be about explosions‚ high drama‚ and lone heroes on pedestals. I had grown up feasting on space opera‚ and sometimes there reaches a point where you love a thing so much you want to crush it in both hands and mould it into something else. But what was this book about? This was the thing that hamstrung me for years before I finally sat down in 2012 to cobble those notebooks full of half-baked ideas together. I believed‚ wholeheartedly‚ that I didn’t have a real science fiction novel in front of me‚ that this wasn’t a real book. All I had was vibes and conversations‚ I thought. Nobody would like this‚ and how could they? I couldn’t even explain what this was. It was a book about people‚ the stubborn part of me replied. It wasn’t about the entirety of their lives – those had begun elsewhere‚ and would keep branching after the fact. It was a book about a single stretch of time in nine respective lives‚ a temporal cake slice they all shared. But you can’t measure time. You can only measure the perceivable movement within it. The Long Way to a Small‚ Angry Planet. It’s funny that I thought of this book as a time capsule in a narrative sense‚ because both it and every book I’ve written since serve as time capsules of me as well. I think all books do. If anybody ever asked me to write an autobiography‚ I’d just tell them I’ve already written and am writing it‚ and will be doing so forever. When I look back through The Long Way‚ after I stop nitpicking the ten thousand things I would change‚ I see nothing but my twenties. When Rosemary wakes up in the deepod miserable and groggy and needing to pee‚ I see myself‚ bleary-eyed on transatlantic flights during the early years when my wife and I stuck it out long distance. When Jenks and Lovey talk all night without being able to touch‚ I think of the endless months between those visits (and the phone bills we racked up). When the gang meets the modder sibs on Cricket‚ I see the house I shared with friends the year before I moved to Iceland. I see a coworker I couldn’t stand in Corbin‚ my late-night existential tangles in Ohan‚ the kinds of people I wanted to be in Ashby and Sissix. Every member of this crew is me‚ tip to toe. They’re also nothing like me‚ not even a little. It’s just a story‚ after all. The me I am now couldn’t write this book as it is‚ even if I wanted to. I look at the girl in my author photo from that time – taken by a friend‚ on her couch‚ when her now-tween son was a baby and her daughter didn’t exist yet – and I couldn’t be her again. I know her‚ but I don’t know how. And as such‚ I can’t be the crew of the Wayfarer anymore‚ either. I’ll always know them‚ too‚ inside and out. I can tell you without putting any effort into it that if Dr Chef overheard me saying I’m afraid of letting people down‚ he would make me a cup of boring tea and tell me to come chat with him while we harvest vegetables together. I can tell you that Kizzy would explain orbits and the ephemerality of time with a few ball bearings she yanked out of some machine that shouldn’t have things yanked out of it. I can tell you that‚ yes‚ Rosemary and Sissix are doing great. But their voices are something I can’t summon anymore‚ not in a genuine way. I’m not melancholy as I write that – far from it. It’s merely a measure of movement‚ like the stamps in my passport or the wrinkles I’m getting around my eyes (I love them‚ for the record). I’ve changed; the Wayfarer never will. But there are things that me today and me ten years ago have in common‚ just as I can say the same about the mes that existed fifteen‚ twenty‚ thirty years ago. My mom sometimes jokes that I didn’t get older‚ I just got taller‚ and when it comes to things like space and bugs and books and video games and trips to the museum‚ she’s right. In regards to this work‚ though – the one you’re holding now – I may not be the person who wrote this anymore‚ but what she and I will always‚ always agree on is this: when you exit the airlock into that patchwork metal corridor‚ when you are greeted by an AI and a feathered alien in short succession‚ when you adjust to the artigrav and have a look around‚ I want you to feel safe. I want you to know that you are wel.come in this corner of the galaxy exactly as you are‚ and you can live a good‚ satisfying life here‚ if you want to. There is always a place for you at the table‚ a chair that will fit your body‚ a meal that will suit your needs. If you fall‚ someone will come running. If you are hurt‚ you will heal. You can wonder. You can rest. You can ask questions and grow. You can fuck up irrevocably and still be loved. You are loved. How could you not be? You are a piece of the universe‚ blood and thought and bone. And what is the universe‚ if not beautiful? Come out of the open and into our home. –Becky Chambers The post Becky Chambers Shares Art From a New Illustrated Edition of <;i>;The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet<;/i>; appeared first on Reactor.

News Molli and Max in the Future Molli and Max in the Future Aspires to Shoot the Rom-Com Into Space Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari star in the new film from Michael Lukk Litwak By Molly Templeton | Published on January 25‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed Pause Play More From Molli and Max in the Future See All Posts News Stopmotion Stopmotion Trailer Gives You Your Daily Dose of Terrifying‚ Murderous Puppets By Vanessa Armstrong January 24‚ 2024 News Eternal Eternal Trailer Gives Us A Climate Change-Infused Sliding Doors Story By Vanessa Armstrong January 24‚ 2024 News Avatar: The Last Airbender Hold On to Your Cabbages! Netflix Released an Avatar: The Last Airbender Trailer By Vanessa Armstrong January 24‚ 2024 News Doctor Who Andor’s Varada Sethu Will Climb Aboard the TARDIS for Doctor Who’s Fifteenth Season By Molly Templeton January 24‚ 2024 icon-left-caret Caret See All Posts “Oops‚ two people tried to get into the same cab at once” is not a scene you’ve never seen before … but in Molli and Max in the Future‚ it happens a little differently. This is in part because‚ as the title may have tipped you off‚ it’s in the future. Also‚ Max (Aristotle Athari) and Molli (Zosia Mamet) already know each other. It’s less a meet-cute than a meet-again. And then again. And again. Also‚ there are space cults. And Max is dating a robot. Here’s the synopsis: A charming‚ unexpected mix of When Harry Met Sally by way of Futurama‚ Molli and Max in the Future is the story of a woman (Zosia Mamet‚ The Flight Attendant‚ Girls) and a man (Saturday Night Live‘s Aristotle Athari) whose orbits repeatedly collide over the course of twelve years‚ four planets‚ three dimensions‚ and one space cult.Created by a group of friends‚ featuring hundreds of handmade sets and otherworldly backdrops‚ and made with nothing but unabashed love for romantic comedies‚ this plucky‚ lo-fi misadventure blasts the “meet-cute” into deep space while perfectly – and adorably – tackling the ups and downs of Earthbound relationships. Mamet and Athari are both also executive producers on the film‚ which is directed by Michael Lukk Litwak (Snatchers). If you look up the word “quirky” in the dictionary‚ you probably find this trailer—but that’s a good thing! We live in a world of extremely serious science fiction‚ where things tend to get real life-and-death real fast‚ and there is room for quirkiness and play and‚ yes‚ rom-coms. It’s all too rare that we get to have fun in space. Let us have this. Molli and Max in the Future is in theaters February 9th. The post <;i>;Molli and Max in the Future<;/i>; Aspires to Shoot the Rom-Com Into Space appeared first on Reactor.

Books Horror Five Horror Books Featuring Weird‚ Spooky Mountains Mountain Climbing Meets the Strange and Supernatural By Lorna Wallace | Published on January 25‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed More From Horror See All Posts Rereads and Rewatches Weird Fiction Memento Mori: Nadia Bulkin’s “Seven Minutes in Heaven” By Ruthanna Emrys‚ Anne M. Pillsworth January 24‚ 2024 Comment 2 Rereads/Rewatches Weird Fiction Into This World We’re Thrown: Max Gladstone’s Last Exit (Part 12) By Ruthanna Emrys‚ Anne M. Pillsworth January 17‚ 2024 Comment 0 Rereads/Rewatches Dissecting the Dark Descent “Larger Than Oneself” by Robert Aickman: Performative Spirituality‚ Absurdity‚ and Irony By Sam Reader January 16‚ 2024 Comment 0 Rereads/Rewatches Teen Horror Time Machine Not So Happy New Year: R.L. Stine’s The New Year’s Party  By Alissa Burger January 11‚ 2024 Comment 0 icon-left-caret Caret See All Posts Mountains are undeniably alluring and awe-inspiring. But mountain climbing can be fraught with life-threatening dangers—falls‚ frostbite‚ avalanches‚ and oxygen deprivation are amongst the most common ways to die. And yet‚ the attraction of scaling lofty peaks like Everest continues to exert a hold on humanity. I love reading non-fiction survival stories about mountain climbing (despite not actually being a climber myself!)‚ so it’s no surprise that I also love it when writers of fiction take that kind of story and add a dash of SFF and horror into the mix. Here are five books which take the already perilous activity of mountaineering and amp up the fear factor even further by adding ghosts‚ monsters‚ and possession. Ascension (2023) by Nicholas Binge I think it’s crucial to go into Nicholas Binge’s Ascension with the right expectations. It’s typically billed as a speculative thriller‚ which to me evokes the works of authors such as Blake Crouch and Michael Crichton. It’s fair to say that Ascension starts off in that vein‚ but it definitely takes a turn for the horrific and fantastical‚ making it more in line with the works of H.P. Lovecraft. The bulk of the story is told via letters that Harold Tunmore‚ a scientist who mysteriously dropped off the map‚ has written to his niece Harriet. The letters reveal that Harold has been recruited to be part of a team tasked with exploring a massive mountain that has suddenly appeared in the Pacific Ocean. Harold quickly realizes that time behaves strangely on the mountain and that members of the previous expedition are acting cagey. Driven by a desire to unravel the mystery of the mountain‚ Harold finds himself compelled to continue climbing despite the difficulty of the endeavor. To make matters even worse‚ the team encounter some bizarre and decidedly dangerous creatures on their way up. Ascension is a fun and lightly frightening story  wrapped up in freezing cold atmosphere. It may wear the coat of a sci-fi thriller‚ but at its heart it’s pure pulp horror. The White Road (2017) by Sarah Lotz The White Road begins with a perilous journey through the fictional Cwm Pot cave system in Wales. Simon Newman hires a guide to lead him through the claustrophobic tunnels‚ but he isn’t just seeking adventure; in the hope of driving traffic to his website‚ Journey to the Dark Side‚ he’s planning to film the bodies of three students who were trapped years earlier by a flood. Simon nearly ends up trapped in the cave himself‚ but he manages to escape with both his life and the footage. Simon’s viral moment leads to him trying to replicate his success by attempting to climb Mount Everest‚ in order to (once again) film dead bodies. Clearly‚ Simon isn’t a great guy. But his messed-up sense of morality doesn’t make things any less tense when he starts to experience something potentially supernatural on the mountain’s snowy slopes. Everest is a terrifying enough location as it is—the summit is literally in the “death zone‚” the name for altitudes above 26‚000 feet (8‚000 meters) where there isn’t enough oxygen to live—but adding a specter or two into the mix adds yet another layer of fear. Echo (2022) by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (translated by Moshe Gilula) Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s Echo turns away from ghosts and monsters and instead offers up a possession story. Nick and Sam are a couple with very different hobbies; Nick loves to go mountain climbing‚ while Sam doesn’t understand the appeal and fears for Nick’s life. His fears come true when Nick and his climbing buddy‚ Augustin‚ attempt to summit Mount Maudit in the Alps. Something goes wrong‚ leading to Augustin’s presumed death‚ and while Nick makes it down alive‚ he’s suffered severe facial injuries and mental trauma. Nick’s behavior becomes increasingly odd after the mysterious accident and Sam begins to suspect that something from the mountain might still have a hold on him. Far more of Echo is about the aftermath of the incident‚ rather than the incident itself‚ but we do find out what happened through a manuscript‚ written by Nick‚ which revels in mountainous imagery that’s both spectacular and deeply scary. The horror in Echo goes in some weird and unexpected directions (this isn’t your usual possession story!)‚ but it all feels grounded by Nick and Sam’s love for each other. This Wretched Valley (2024) by Jenny Kiefer Technically This Wretched Valley is about a cliff face and the valley at its feet‚ but it feels very much in keeping with the mountain stories on this list. Taking inspiration from the eerie Dyatlov Pass incident‚ Jenny Kiefer’s novel opens with the remains of three missing people being found in the woods. The state of the bodies leaves investigators perplexed‚ with one body being stripped to the bone‚ another eviscerated‚ and the final one mutilated. Plus‚ there’s a fourth person still missing. The story then jumps backwards in time to explain how these people met their grisly fates. Clay‚ a geology student‚ discovers a hitherto unknown cliff face deep in the wilderness and for the research trip he brings along research assistant Sylvia‚ professional rock-climber Dylan‚ Dylan’s boyfriend Luke‚ and a very good dog called Slade. Clay’s research about the cliff could help complete his PhD thesis‚ while rising star Dylan plans to make her mark by being the first person to scale it. But when the group ends up stranded‚ relationships quickly start to sour. This Wretched Valley isn’t just survival horror‚ though—it’s supernatural survival horror‚ with the woods having a mind-bending effect and the cliff face proving to be disturbingly magnetic. Although it’s established at the outset that at least three of these characters meet gory ends‚ the mystery of how they ended up like that maintains the tension and drives the novel forward. The Other Side of the Mountain (2011) by Michel Bernanos (translated by Gio Clairval) Originally published in French in 1967‚ I read Gio Clairval’s 2011 English translation of The Other Side of the Mountain (which can be found in The Weird: A Compendium of Strange and Dark Stories)‚ but a standalone edition of an older translation is also available. The novella is told in two parts: the first part is set aboard a ship that becomes trapped at sea thanks to a lack of wind—carnage ensues; the second part sees two survivors from the ship wash up in an otherworldly land—weirdness ensues. The landscape is drenched in red light and the plants behave oddly‚ but with death nipping at their heels‚ our two survivors—a cabin boy who serves as the unnamed narrator and Toine‚ the ship’s cook—have no choice but to push onwards. A mountain looms over the forest beyond the beach and Toine is convinced that if they can just make it to the other side of the mountain‚ they’ll be saved. The setting feels like it came out of a fever dream‚ but for all of the novella’s surreal imagery‚ the actual narration is recounted with complete clarity. Surreal stories run the risk of becoming confusing (this is sometimes quite purposeful‚ of course!)‚ but The Other Side of the Mountain manages to chart a lucid path even when things gets weirder and weirder as the characters draw closer to the menacing mountain. * * * So‚ these are my favorite horror novels featuring strange and spooky mountains! Let me know which of your own favorites I’ve overlooked in the comments below… The post Five Horror Books Featuring Weird‚ Spooky Mountains appeared first on Reactor.

From covering up the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to using dangerous apps like TikTok to compromise Americans’ personal information‚ the Chinese Communist Party has long cloaked its nefarious activities in secrecy. As a new report from The Heritage Foundation assesses‚ China’s lack of transparency is part of a larger strategy to deceive its adversaries. Based on data pulled together from various sources‚ the report exposes many things China has gone to great lengths to hide‚ including its inhumane practices in Xinjiang‚ its influence operations to distort global media‚ and the unreported millions of Chinese citizens who likely died from COVID-19 within its borders. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news and commentary outlet.) The 2024 China Transparency Report assesses the current state of the People’s Republic of China’s transparency on eight key issues: its economy‚ energy and the environment‚ human rights‚ influence operations‚ the military‚ outbound investment into other nations‚ politics and law‚ and technology. In each section‚ the report reviews the data China makes publicly available—the information China wants the world to know. But that data alone does not tell the full story. To get a better understanding of what is really happening‚ the report surveys nearly 100 private and nongovernmental databases‚ reports‚ and researchers that shed light on the reality in China. The report includes many eye-popping statistics. For example‚ despite publicly claiming to be adopting environmentally friendly policies‚ China is rapidly adding to its already existing 1‚100 coal plants‚ while the U.S. has fewer than 250. And while China reports an annual defense budget of around $225 billion‚ the true figure is likely to exceed $700 billion. The report also includes essays from distinguished experts that dive deeper into subjects such as human rights‚ the U.S. defense industrial base‚ influence operations in the Pacific‚ Wall Street financing‚ COVID-19 coverups‚ and Chinese inner-circle politics. For example‚ Dr. Adrian Zenz‚ the world’s leading expert exposing China’s genocide against the Muslim Uyghur population in Xinjiang‚ offers new evidence examining China’s mass internment and birth prevention measures. Using classified internal state documents from the Chinese Communist Party‚ Zenz shows that Beijing is fully intent on targeting the Uyghurs for genocide‚ finding that the Communist Party enacted measures‚ such as female sterilization‚ to prevent the births of up to 2.6 million children because they didn’t belong to China’s dominant ethnic group (the Han).   In another essay‚ Dr. George Calhoun‚ the director of the Hanlon Financial Systems Center at the Stevens Institute of Technology‚ uses China’s own data to expose its systematic suppression of COVID-related information and assesses the true impact COVID-19 had within China. While the official Chinese statistics pegged the official COVID-19 death toll at around 90‚000 people by the spring of 2022‚ Calhoun concludes: “The number of Chinese killed by COVID is believed to be between 1.5 and 2 million‚ with estimates ranging up to 3.5 million at the high end‚ underscoring how the Chinese government’s efforts to cover up the virus outbreak and suppress vital information about the disease have imposed terrible costs‚ not just on the rest of the world‚ but its own citizens as well.” For the United States to win the New Cold War against the Chinese Communist Party‚ it must have access to accurate data and resources. As Dr. Kevin Roberts‚ president of The Heritage Foundation‚ notes in the report’s preface: In honor of President Reagan’s legacy‚ the 2024 China Transparency Report equips our leaders to both shine a light on and bring the heat to the [Chinese Communist Party]. As he famously said‚ “When you can’t make them see the light‚ make them feel the heat.” The American people take the threat from China deadly seriously; it’s time for our leadership to do the same. Heritage’s 2024 China Transparency Report‚ found here‚ will help lead the way in exposing the truth about the Chinese Communist Party and the consequences of its authoritarian rule and the secrecy and deception it practices with the rest of the world. Armed with credible‚ in-depth‚ and transparent data on China‚ America’s policymakers can ensure they know as precisely as possible the nature of this adversary they must confront. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post What’s China Hiding? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Senator Josh Hawley has appealed to the Supreme Court‚ advocating for an intervention in the censorship by major technology firms‚ a situation he believes is endangering Americans’ freedom of speech. In a show of support for recently enacted laws in Texas and Florida‚ which aim to prevent social media companies from censoring content based on political bias‚ Hawley has filed an official brief with the Court. We obtained a copy of the filing for you here. Joining Hawley is the First Liberty Institute‚ alongside Consovoy McCarthy PLLC‚ and other groups that have submitted an amicus brief to the court. Representing the interests of the Babylon Bee LLC and Not the Bee LLC‚ the legal teams are challenging the actions of social media platforms that they argue unfairly target and suppress conservative and religious viewpoints. Jeremy Dys‚ Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute‚ emphasized the seriousness of this issue: “Censorship is no laughing matter. For too long‚ social media giants have censored conservative and religious speech with which they disagree.” He contends that the laws in question are essential for ensuring that social media companies are held to the standards of neutrality they claim to uphold‚ aligning with both federal law and the First Amendment. We obtained a copy of that filing for you here. These state laws‚ which have become the subjects of legal contention‚ have escalated to the Supreme Court. Hawley expressed his viewpoint on X‚ stating‚ “The Supreme Court should rein them in – and the government should break them up.” He is openly critical of the censorship tendencies of major tech companies like YouTube‚ Facebook‚ Instagram‚ TikTok‚ and Google. Hawley’s brief challenges the argument made by these tech giants. These companies claim that the Texas and Florida laws‚ enacted late last year‚ infringe upon their First Amendment rights. This claim comes amidst their actions that‚ according to critics‚ suppress the free speech of American users. In his brief‚ Hawley calls out the perceived duplicity in Big Tech’s stance and cautions against accepting their contradictory assertions. He warns that endorsing their claims could shield these platforms from legal and regulatory accountability. The issue gained prominence following legal challenges in 2021 after the governors of Texas and Florida‚ Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis respectively‚ introduced laws targeting political bias censorship by Big Tech. Industry groups NetChoice and the Computer &; Communications Industry Association sued‚ citing violations of First Amendment rights. Florida’s approach differed‚ enabling residents to seek compensation from tech firms that suppress their speech‚ and imposing fines of up to $250‚000 per day for censoring political candidates. However‚ this approach was not universally accepted‚ as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the social media companies‚ leading to a split in judicial opinion on the matter. The outcome of these crucial lawsuits‚ set to be decided in the Supreme Court on February 26‚ is eagerly anticipated by both sides. The post Senator Josh Hawley‚ Babylon Bee‚ and Other Groups Ask the Supreme Court To Favor Florida and Texas Anti-Censorship Laws appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

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