The post Working Cats: Felines That Have Important Jobs &; How to Have One by Catster Editorial Team 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. As your cat basks in the glow of the high noon sun‚ you may be wondering if felines ever do anything except eat‚ play‚ and sleep. The truth is‚ cats are so domesticated now that some are spoiled beyond employment for heavy-duty jobs such as pest control. My own cats have become so lazy that they don’t always bother to catch the occasional annoying fly‚ but simply follow it with their eyes (which‚ I also do apparently since the fly got away in the end). Unlike my cats‚ not all felines are fortunate enough to live in loving homes where everything is provided for them. Some cats live on the streets with the minimum necessities for life. They’ve never known the love of a human and aren’t typically fit to be good pets since they’re partially wild. However‚ working cat programs can give these cats a second chance when they’re caught in trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs and find themselves unable to be released back into their former environment. What Is a Working Cat? A working cat is a feline who’s “employed” as a pest control alternative to harsh chemicals. It’s a symbiotic relationship for humans and felines‚ since humans are able to eradicate rats‚ and the cats generally enjoy a lifestyle that’s a step above what they’re used to. Working cats usually come from shelters as part of the TNR program. Under this plan‚ feral community cats are caught‚ neutered‚ treated with medicine and vaccines as needed‚ and then ideally released back into the wild. However‚ sometimes there’s an outstanding reason why they can’t go back home. Maybe they lived in a dilapidated shed that’s now torn down‚ or whoever notified animal control hated the cats in the first place. If the cat is in poor health‚ they also may not be able to be released. Since they’re unfamiliar with humans‚ feral cats who can’t go home are in serious danger of being put on the euthanasia list since they can’t be adopted either. Most community animal shelters or humane societies have implemented a working cat or feral cat program to save these animals that would otherwise slip through the cracks. These cats are often called “barn cats” or “warehouse” cats‚ denoting their typical places of employment. A working cat will catch mice just like they did in the wild‚ but on the grounds of a farm‚ church‚ or warehouse. Otherwise‚ that facility would have to implement alternate pest control measures that might not be as healthy for their crops or congregation‚ such as chemical pesticides. How to Acquire a Working Cat If you have a pest control problem at your business or if you own a facility such as a small farm that needs constant maintenance‚ you might consider contacting your local humane society to inquire about their feral cat program. Just know that the process is a little different than adopting a pet. Feral cat adoptions are usually free. However‚ oftentimes you must take a minimum of two cats‚ and you aren’t necessarily allowed to choose which ones. Feral cats are scared of humans and wouldn’t tolerate people “shopping” in their shelter all day long‚ so the staff usually picks the cats to relieve them from the stress of constant visitors. To adopt a feral cat‚ you’ll need to make sure you can always provide: Food Water Litter An enclosure or shelter that’s safe from rain or harsh weather This list is your working cat’s “minimum wage.” Some cats may even develop a friendship with their employer‚ even if they’re not quite as friendly as devoted house cats. What Is a Therapy Cat? I welcome cat snuggles all day any day (even now while I’m writing this article)‚ but they’re especially appreciated whenever I feel lonely or upset. Therapy cats use their purring skills to provide calming and healing benefits to the people they meet. They’re often taken to nursing homes to comfort residents who may be feeling lonely. Unfortunately‚ the current Americans with Disabilities Act only grants the title of service animal to canines‚ which means there are many restrictions on where a therapy cat can go. For example‚ no laws currently permit felines to visit restaurants or grocery stores‚ or unconditionally allow cats in any public area. However‚ a trained and licensed therapy cat may be received into specific hospitals‚ schools‚ and other public places where they can work if their handlers obtain prior permission. How to Train Your Cat as a Therapy Cat Cats and their handlers must undergo several hours of supervised training and pass individual inspections to be qualified as a therapy team. If you’re interested‚ research organizations like Love on a Leash for more details and requirements. How to Adopt an ESA Since they’re not granted the full rights of a service animal‚ therapy cats basically function as emotional support animals (ESAs) for the community. Individuals may also acquire an emotional support cat to give them comfort day and night. There are no strict requirements for registering a cat as an ESA‚ and you can even register a pet you already have‚ but you’ll need a letter of recommendation from a licensed mental health professional to qualify for registration. Since there really aren’t any qualifications for the type of cat‚ you might try to visit your shelter and ask for a feline with a calm demeanor to serve as your ESA if you don’t currently have a kitty. The benefits of registering your cat as an ESA include fewer housing restrictions. Per the Fair Housing Act‚ your landlord must accept an ESA under their roof without requiring a pet deposit—even if the house isn’t deemed “pet-friendly.” Only a few exceptions apply‚ such as if the landlord also lives in the house or if the complex is designated for senior living. Some airlines may also allow emotional support cats to fly in the cabin without an additional fee‚ although this practice has been on the decline over the last couple years. Just For Fun: Cats Can Be Booksellers‚ Too Cats can serve pivotal roles in pest control and therapeutic assistance‚ but they can also gather their community over a shared love for felines and fiction. The thick black cat watched me from the deep‚ old-fashioned shop window at The Haunted Bookstore in Mobile‚ Alabama. He had been taking a nap‚ but when he noticed he had a customer‚ he crawled off his daybed and came over to greet me. Affectionate‚ he rubbed his body against my hand and waited for the pettings which were eagerly given. After my friend and I crooned over him for a few moments‚ the human bookseller behind the counter told me that his name was Mr. Bingley. I immediately appreciated his prestigious name‚ which comes from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice‚ and seemed fitting for the resident bookstore cat. I can attest that Mr. Bingley takes his job very seriously‚ bonding with the customers so they don’t want to leave the store. If you search the shop on Google Maps‚ you’ll see “cat” is actually the most mentioned word in the bookstore’s reviews‚ and some people have jokingly said he’s the most overworked employee. I hope he earns employee of the month. Conclusion They may try to fool us by napping for long stretches on the couch‚ but cats are capable of many different types of jobs‚ depending on the particular cat. Even your own cat may be registered as an emotional support animal if you obtain a letter of recommendation from a licensed mental health professional. Feral felines who are unfit for adoption may be drafted into a local working cat program‚ where they’re guaranteed to have at least food‚ water‚ litter‚ and shelter in return for catching pests. Some cats‚ like the affectionate Mr. Bingley‚ may take on odd jobs such as booksellers‚ or groundskeepers like Mrs. Norris in the Harry Potter trilogy. While felines currently don’t have the same service animal protections available to canines‚ cats may serve as therapy animals in certain settings‚ as long as they’re trained‚ registered‚ and have particular permission from the hospital or school where they’ll be visiting. Sources https://www.loveonaleash.org/Therapy-Pet/ https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x889a4fdcb17fed19%3A0xbe336c2227b07815!3m1!7e115!5sGoogle%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&;hl=en&;imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipM7bIVvNhrchmzGxy98yr-tvFHsaVPMa0ZmugFs&;sa=X&;ved=2ahUKEwjqyqCD3tP7AhWKlGoFHc1fASIQ9fkHKAF6BAgBEBY https://humaneanimalrescue.org/programs-and-services/other-programs/working-cats/ https://www.dailypaws.com/living-with-pets/pet-owner-relationship/therapy-cat https://ocgainesville.org/working-cat-program Featured Image Credit: Jumpstory The post Working Cats: Felines That Have Important Jobs &; How to Have One by Catster Editorial Team 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 Can You Turn an Outdoor Cat Into an Indoor Cat? Facts &; Tips by Catster Editorial Team 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. Cats instinctively like to be in nature‚ but the outdoors is not always the safest place for a cat to live. Many cats that are born inside a home or get adopted from a rescue center end up living happy and healthy lives indoors with their human companions. It is a different story when dealing with stray cats or those that are used to living outside most of the time. It’s possible to turn an outdoor cat into an indoor cat‚ but the process may not be easy. Once a cat gets used to living outside‚ they may resist being kept indoors—at least at first. It can seem like you’re being cruel to your kitty‚ as they will paw at the doors and windows‚ whine throughout the day and night‚ and try making a run for it anytime someone enters and exits the home. Rest assured‚ though‚ keeping your cat indoors is not cruel. It’s a safety measure that ensures their health and happiness when all is said and done. Why It’s a Good Idea to Turn an Outdoor Cat Into an Indoor Cat Keeping a cat indoors increases their safety and minimizes the chance that they will develop an illness or deadly disease. Diseases like parvo‚ feline AIDS‚ herpes‚ leukemia‚ and peritonitis are common in stray cats. The more time that a cat spends outdoors‚ the more prone they are to acquiring one or more of these diseases. This alone is a good enough reason to consider making sure your cat stays indoors at all times. Outdoor cats are also more likely to get into fights with other animals and are prone to dangers like cars‚ dogs‚ and uncaring people who want to hurt them. Staying indoors‚ a cat does not have to face these kinds of dangers. How to Transition a Cat From Living Outdoors to Living Indoors It takes time and patience to transition a cat from living strictly (or even partly) outdoors to living indoors full time. The key is to make the indoors as interesting and exciting as the outdoors would be. You must consider all the things that cats like about the outdoors‚ such as trees and other structures to climb on‚ natural obstacles to work their way through‚ and prey to pounce on. Keeping these things in mind‚ you can create a magical wonderland for your cat to explore. Here are a few suggestions on how to do that. Incorporate Multiple Climbing Structures Cats love climbing and adventuring‚ so make sure you incorporate multiple climbing structures into your home for your feline family member to enjoy. Place a climbing tree in front of a large window in your living room so they can see what’s going on outside. Put a smaller one in your bedroom or near your dresser where they can perch and survey their surroundings. You can also put one near their food station so they can keep an eye on what’s happening with their sacred area from above. Climbing trees come in various shapes‚ sizes‚ colors‚ and styles‚ so it is possible to seamlessly incorporate them into your home’s décor. Try Multi-level Living Ensure that your new indoor cat has multiple vertical levels to investigate and hang out on. As natural predators‚ they always want the best vantage point when it comes to seeing what’s happening in the area that they are spending time in. Consider installing floating shelves on the walls for them to climb on. Clear off a shelf on your bookcase for them to snuggle into. Install window perches‚ put tables in front of your windows‚ and/or create “tunnels” out of pliable metal to hang on the walls. Know That Interaction Is the Name of the Game Cats like to play‚ hunt‚ and explore as much as they like napping. They need things to keep their interest‚ teach them new skills‚ and stimulate their brains when you aren’t there to interact with them. A great way to make sure your cat has plenty of interaction is to have things like puzzle toys be available in the house. This doesn’t have to be a pricey investment. You can cut holes in cardboard boxes to create puzzles and mazes‚ tie knots in old socks to create play toys‚ and buy wind-up toy mice for them to play with when you leave the house. The more interactive toys and items that you leave for them to explore throughout the day‚ the more enriched‚ happy‚ and healthy they will be. Prepare for Nighttime Living Most cats that are used to living outdoors tend to keep nocturnal schedules. It’s easier for them to hunt for food and avoid predators and dangers at night when it’s dark‚ rather than during the day when people and animals are out and about. So‚ you should be prepared to deal with a cat that’s awake while all the humans in the house are trying to sleep. There are a few things that you can do to curb nighttime activity: Offer dinner right before bed‚ as cats tend to take long naps after having a tasty and filling meal. Play a game with your cat to help them burn off pent-up energy. This should help them get comfortable and snuggly while you sleep. Hide your cat’s “prey” toys in the furniture and other places to give them something to do during the night. This should decrease the number of times that they wake you up. Exert Extra Efforts There are many things that you can do to ensure that your cat has a fulfilling life when they can no longer go outdoors. For one thing‚ make sure toys are available in every room of the house that they are allowed to spend time in. Whether it’s cotton mice‚ plastic balls‚ or little crinkly toys‚ all that matters is that your cat can enjoy different textures‚ interactions‚ and results for a dynamic living experience. Resist the Resistance Your cat will likely howl‚ meow‚ hiss‚ and scratch at the doors when they are being transitioned into indoor living. Be sure to expect such behavior and resist giving in when it persists. It is natural for a cat to want to go back to the environment that they are used to‚ but don’t give in; maintain patience throughout the transition period. Before long‚ your cat will start feeling comfortable and content indoors‚ especially if you have taken steps to ensure that their environment is interesting and interactive. In Conclusion Cats are naturally curious creatures that require places to investigate and explore. Fortunately‚ you can turn your house into a cat’s dreamland with a bit of imagination and commitment. Hopefully‚ the steps outlined here will help ease transitioning a cat from outdoors to indoors. See Also: Why You Should Grow Cat Grass: Benefits &; Uses Explained Sources PETA: Feral Cats   Featured Image Credit: AjayTvm‚ Shutterstock The post Can You Turn an Outdoor Cat Into an Indoor Cat? Facts &; Tips by Catster Editorial Team 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.

From August 2017 – January 2020‚ Keith R.A. DeCandido took a weekly look at every live-action movie based on a superhero comic that had been made to date in the Superhero Movie Rewatch. He’s periodically revisited the feature to look back at new releases‚ as well as a few he missed the first time through. After a string of movies that were‚ at best‚ uneven in terms of quality and/or financial success‚ and all of which were incredibly serious and dramatic and heavy‚ 2019’s Shazam! (along with 2018’s Aquaman) proved to a breath of fresh air in the DC Extended Universe that kicked off six years earlier with Man of Steel. A sequel was green-lit almost instantly. Like so many films‚ the Shazam! sequel‚ subtitled Fury of the Gods‚ was delayed by the apocalypse of 2020‚ as filming was originally scheduled to start in the summer of that year. However‚ contrary to expectations when it was announced that Dwayne Johnson was also starring in the title role of a Black Adam film‚ Black Adam is not the villain in this one. And‚ contrary to the expectations set by the closing of Shazam!‚ Doctor Sivana and Mr. Mind aren’t‚ either. Indeed‚ there is no mention or reference to Black Adam anywhere in this film beyond a brief reference to the Justice Society in the mid-credits scene (a scene that was originally intended to be at the end of Black Adam‚ but Johnson nixed it). Sivana and Mr. Mind at least make an after-credits cameo‚ promising their return in a third film. That third film’s likelihood is not known‚ given that the film itself did poorly at the box office (as have many big-budget films in these post-pandemic times)‚ not to mention the reorganization of the DCEU under James Gunn and Peter Safran (though the latter is also the producer of the the Shazam! and Aquaman films‚ as well as The Suicide Squad). Having eschewed the character’s three primary comics villains‚ the story instead leaned into Shazam’s mythical roots by having the antagonists be the three daughters of Atlas from Greek lore. They cast the great Dame Helen Mirren and the amazing Lucy Liu as two of them‚ with Rachel Zegler‚ fresh off her Golden Globe Award-winning turn as Maria in 2021’s West Side Story‚ as the third sister. Back from Shazam! are Zachary Levi and Asher Angel as the two versions of Billy Batson‚ Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as the two versions of Freddy Freeman‚ Ross Butler and Ian Chen as the two versions of Eugene Choi‚ D.J. Cotrona and Jovan Armand as the two versions of Pedro Peña‚ Meagan Good and Faithe Herman as the two versions of Darla Dudley‚ Grace Caroline Currey as both versions of Mary Bromfield (the only one of the Shazam family who isn’t played by two different actors‚ with Michelle Borth not returning despite having signed a multi-picture deal)‚ Marta Milans and Cooper Adams as foster parents Rosa and Victor Vásquez‚ Mark Strong as Sivana‚ and director David F. Sandberg as the voice of Mr. Mind (the latter two in a post-credits scene). Back from Black Adam are Djimon Honsou as the wizard and Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt. Back from the Peacemaker TV series is Steve Agee as John Economos. Back from Wonder Woman 1984 is Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Also in this film are Rizwan Manji as a docent‚ Diedrich Bader as a teacher‚ P.J. Byrne as a pediatrician‚ and Michael Gray—who played Billy Batson in The Shazam/Isis Hour in the 1970s—as a civilian who calls Billy “Captain Marvel.” With the DCEU in flux‚ as stated before‚ it’s unclear what the future of Shazam! films even is.   “Fun is for children‚ dear—we are at war!” Shazam!: Fury of the Gods Written by Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan Directed by David F. Sandberg Produced by Peter Safran Original release date: March 17‚ 2023 Image: Warner Bros. Pictures In Greece‚ a docent is giving a tour of an exhibit‚ which includes the two pieces of the wizard’s staff‚ which Billy Batson broke in Shazam! The docent comments that it was found in a garbage dump in Philadelphia. Two people dressed in ancient armor break into the case containing the staff‚ which inexplicably doesn’t set off any alarms. A security guard runs in from another room‚ but one of the two people‚ Kalypso‚ uses her godly powers to hypnotize the guard into causing chaos. That chaos spreads through the gallery‚ which is soon locked down by museum security. The other thief‚ Hespera‚ turns all the people in the gallery to stone. The sisters return to the Realm of the Gods‚ where they have imprisoned the wizard. They force him to repair the staff‚ though a splinter of it winds up under the wizard’s fingernail. Now the sisters need to find the seed of the tree‚ and they must also be ready for the wizard’s champion. Said champion is visiting his pediatrician—who‚ of course‚ doesn’t recognize him—and attempting to get psychological help from him. He and the other members of the family‚ who have been dubbed “the Philadelphia Fiascoes” by the media due to their varying levels of competence‚ have continued to try to protect the city. We see them engage in a rescue at the Benjamin Franklin Bridge—while they fail to keep the bridge from collapsing‚ they do save everyone’s lives. Later‚ in the Rock of Eternity—a realm the family can access through any door‚ and which also has multiple doors leading to various places—Billy does a post-game analysis‚ which the others are barely interested in. Indeed‚ the family is bristling under Billy’s almost smothering leadership‚ and his insistence on the one rule of “all or none‚” that they will do everything together. Billy is also concerned because he’s coming up on eighteen‚ which means he’ll age out of the foster care program. Mary has already aged out‚ and she’s been working and paying rent while going to college. Billy thinks that’s silly—Wonder Woman doesn’t work‚ at least he doesn’t think she does—but Mary insists on helping the Vásquezes out. A dream Billy has about a date with Wonder Woman is interrupted by the wizard‚ who has used the splinter of the staff to contact Billy through his dream and warn him about the daughters of Atlas. At school‚ Freddy meets a new girl named Anne‚ and they’re both very taken with each other. Two bullies try to hit on Anne‚ and Freddy interpolates himself in‚ despite the risk. The bullies bend his crutch and threaten to toss him into the garbage can before a teacher intervenes. (Said teacher assures Freddy that he took up residence in that garbage can when he attended the school.) Anne is impressed by his bravado‚ and also queries him about the reference to him by the bullies as “Thundercrack Make-a-Wish.” Freddy explains that a couple superheroes sat at lunch with him a while back‚ as seen at the end of Shazam! Billy interrupts Freddy having lunch with Anne at that very table to say they need to have a family meeting. Billy shares the dream with the rest of the family‚ and Pedro reveals that there’s a library‚ complete with a sentient pen (whom Pedro has named “Steve”) that knows everything. Eugene is a bit put out that Pedro never mentioned this‚ since he’s been exploring the various doors and figuring out where they go. With Steve’s help they do some research‚ and discover that the staff that Billy broke and tossed away (and subsequently forgot all about until now) was what kept the gods imprisoned by the council of wizards. The wizards were able to confer the power of the gods to others‚ which is when the family finally learns what “Shazam” is an acronym for. (The fact that Solomon isn’t a god is not mentioned‚ though Mary has to correct Billy’s mispronunciation of the Biblical king as “Solo Man.”) They also discover that there are three daughters of Atlas—and one of them looks just like the girl Freddy was talking to at school. Freddy has taken Anne—whose full name is Anthea—to the roof of the school‚ which is a place he goes to think‚ in lieu of attending the family meeting. Freddy then “calls” his alter-ego on the phone‚ and then he “appears” and talks up how great Freddy is to Anne. However‚ it’s a trap. Kalypso zaps Freddy with the staff‚ and he reverts to his kid form. The teacher from earlier comes to the roof to see what the commotion is about‚ and Kalypso makes him walk off the roof to his death. The rest of the family arrives‚ but they are unable to save Freddy. Hespera puts a magical dome around the city‚ which keeps Billy from getting to Freddy. The sisters return to the Realm of the Gods and toss Freddy into the same cell as the wizard. Darla learns that you can write a letter to the gods using parchment they have in the library‚ folded into the form of a bird. They send a bird letter to Hespera—which Steve transcribes literally‚ thus leading to great confusion on Hespera’s part when she reads it—asking for an exchange. Billy and Hespera meet at an outdoor restaurant‚ and while the meeting starts cordially‚ Hespera makes it clear that she will not tolerate her and her family’s powers being stolen by a bunch of children. She and Kalypso fight the family with Kalypso zapping Pedro with the staff‚ reverting him to kid form as well. However‚ the family does manage to defeat Hespera and bring her to the Rock of Eternity. The new plan is to exchange Hespera for Freddy—but it turns out that Hespera got captured on purpose‚ as the seed of the tree of life is in the Rock of Eternity. With no more use for the wizard or Freddy‚ the sisters toss them into the pit with Ladon the dragon. However‚ Anthea rescues them‚ enabling them to escape. When Hespera returns with the seed‚ the sisters argue over its disposition. Hespera and Anthea want to restore the Realm of the Gods‚ but Kalypso wants to plant the seed on Earth‚ which will cause tremendous chaos and death. Freddy and the wizard—who are having trouble finding the egress—discover this and try to steal the seed. While Freddy’s attempted stealthy theft is found out‚ he does manage to touch the staff with his crutch and say “Shazam!” which restores his powers. The family tries to figure out which door Hespera might have taken when she absconded with the seed. When they go for one door‚ Eugene says not to bother‚ it’s just a big maze‚ and Mary reminds them that the labyrinth is a thing in Greek myth. Sure enough‚ that’s the door to the Realm of the Gods. Billy and the rest of the family show up and take the staff and the seed. Kalypso takes the staff back‚ but the family escapes with the seed. Kalypso frees Ladon. The family run back to the Rock of Eternity and then into the house proper‚ waking up the Vásquezes to reveal that they’re really the Philadelpha Fiascoes. (Pedro also reveals that he’s gay‚ which everyone already knew‚ to Pedro’s surprise.) Ladon destroys the house and goes on a rampage‚ zapping each of the family in turn save for Billy and Mary. Mary tries to fly off with the seed‚ but Kalypso zaps her‚ and she plummets to the Earth. Billy saves her‚ but now Kalypso has the seed. Kalypso rides Ladon to Citizens Bank Park and plants the seed‚ which causes all manner of creatures from myth to appear. Hespera and Anthea are appalled‚ but Kalypso has Ladon stab Hespera in the heart and then takes Anthea’s powers away. All kinds of creatures from mythology—minotaurs‚ cyclopses‚ etc.—show up on the streets of Philadelphia. The Vásquezes and the now-de-powered family do their best to help. When they ask Steve for help‚ the pen writes that the monsters are all scared of unicorns‚ who can be lured with ambrosia. Darla—who loves unicorns—hits on the notion of luring one with Skittles‚ which works. The unicorn then summons other unicorns‚ and the family ride the unicorns into battle‚ goring the creatures right and left. Billy‚ meanwhile‚ comes up with a plan when he realizes that his lightning powers charge up the staff. He’s going to overload the staff‚ turning it into a bomb; but he needs the dying Hespera’s help. She agrees to compress the dome so it only covers Citizens Bank Park. Billy lures Kalypso and Ladon there‚ and then he zaps the hell out of the staff‚ with the final blast coming from the lightning strike that occurs when he says‚ “Shazam!” There’s a huge explosion‚ taking out Kalypso‚ Ladon‚ and Billy. The staff is now inert. They bury Billy in the Realm of the Gods‚ but then Wonder Woman shows up (Billy had written her a bird letter‚ also). She is able to re-power the staff and bring Billy back to life. The family rebuild the house (with a new sign that says‚ “No Shazamming in the house”). Anthea intends to rebuild the Realm of the Gods‚ but she wants to spend time on Earth‚ too‚ to get to know humanity. She and Freddy are also dating. The wizard also shows up and takes the staff back for safekeeping—he‚ too‚ intends to spend some time on Earth. At some indeterminate future point‚ Billy is in a remote location zapping bottles for some reason‚ and John Economos and Emilia Harcourt of Task Force X try to recruit him for the Justice Society. Since that’s not the one with Wonder Woman‚ Billy isn’t interested. He also thinks that having a Justice Society and a Justice League is unnecessarily confusing… Finally‚ Mr. Mind shows up at Doctor Sivana’s cell in the asylum. Sivana is pissed that it’s been two years with no movement on Mr. Mind’s big plan; Mr. Mind points out that he’s a tiny worm and he doesn’t move that fast. But soon!   “There’s only so many minotaurs I can run over with this van” Image: Warner Bros. Pictures First of all‚ let me say that‚ holy cow‚ was this movie not filmed in Philadelphia. My wife is from the Philly area‚ and I’ve been lots of times‚ and I also go to Atlanta pretty regularly (for Dragon Con‚ among other reasons)‚ and it’s so incredibly blindingly obvious that they filmed this movie in the latter and not the former. Anyhow‚ the biggest problem I had with Shazam! was the disconnect between the character Zachary Levi was playing and the character Asher Angel was playing‚ which was a problem insofar as they were supposed to be the same person. Angel gave us a nuanced‚ damaged teenager‚ while Levi was playing a dim-witted goofball. It is therefore disappointing—but not at all surprising—that they leaned more heavily on Levi (who is‚ after all‚ the star of the show)‚ and relegated Angel’s role to a glorified cameo with screen time that can be numbered in minutes. The problem is a script that desperately wants to address issues of anxiety over abandonment‚ but which (a) doesn’t really get into it in anywhere near the depth as the first movie did‚ and (b) is very much not in the wheelhouse of the persona Levi has created for the protagonist. Honestly‚ (a) is the bigger issue here. The first film had a depth of feeling and of character that is wholly missing from this sequel. More to the point‚ the first film was very much about the power (both positive and negative) of family‚ where Fury of the Gods just talks about family without really getting into it in any meaningful way. Worse‚ the movie is unwilling to commit itself to being the Shazam family film that the climax of the prior film promised. Instead‚ the movie goes out of its way to marginalize and/or write out the rest of the family in order to make sure that Billy does all the cool stuff. (Freddy does a lot of cool stuff‚ too‚ but it’s all almost entirely as teen Freddy‚ not super-powered Freddy. And I will say that the banter between him and Djimon Honsou’s all-out-of-fucks-to-give wizard is one of the film’s high points.) The worst is in the fight against Hespera where the daughter of Atlas wraps Mary and Darla in electrical wire and they just sit there helpless. For whatever reason‚ Hespera doesn’t do the same to Billy and Billy gets to save the two girls. Sigh. Worse‚ we barely see the fightin’ unicorns‚ which promises to be a crowning moment of awesome‚ but it only lasts for a second before we cut back to Billy‚ and then the next time we see them is when Billy has saved the day and all the creatures disappear. Speaking of Hespera‚ one of the joys of watching this movie is watching Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu do their Evil Sisters of Evil act. The pair of them are obviously having a grand old time‚ and they definitely make for excellent bad guys. And I have to admit to laughing my ass off when Mirren solemnly reads the letter from the family‚ which includes every digression and weird thought and correction transcribed literally. As a straight-up superhero story‚ this works‚ as the plot actually follows nicely from the character’s mythological roots and the events of the previous film. But as a movie about a family of superheroes‚ it’s far less than it should’ve been.   We’re gonna be taking the rest of the year off for the holidays. We’ll be back on the 3rd of January 2024 with Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. May you all have a safe and fabulous season and a joyous new year! Keith R.A. DeCandido’s recent work includes short stories in the magazine Star Trek Explorer (issues #8 and 9) and in the anthologies Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird‚ The Four ???? of the Apocalypse‚ Joe Ledger: Unbreakable‚ and The Good‚ the Bad‚ and the Uncanny.

It’s been a very good year for reading. The book releases in the genres of science fiction‚ fantasy‚ young adult‚ and beyond took us to faraway kingdoms‚ beyond the stars‚ into haunted houses‚ and even back in time—and we are so lucky to get to read them all. Our reviewers each picked their top contenders for the best books of the year‚ which feature spooky trips across the American West‚ swoony romantic entanglements‚  brutal dystopian futures‚ new gods‚ old gods‚ A.I.s‚ and family curses. We’ve got magic‚ mystery‚ adventure‚ and much more. Below‚ Tor.com’s regular book reviewers talk about notable titles they read in 2023—leave your own additions in the comments!   2023‚ for me at least‚ was the year of reading books that center around some sinister and/or supernatural happenings around an old film. There’s Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Silver Nitrate‚ of course‚ which is deservedly on many “best of” lists because of its strongly developed protagonists and its harrowing portrayal of a Nazi occultist looking to live forever via a presumably destroyed film. But then there’s also The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers and The Devil’s Playground by Craig Russell‚ two books that feature mysterious films that may or may not be cursed. And while the structure of these two is superficially similar—both unfold over two separate timelines—The Devil’s Playground veers into our thriller/horror territory while The Star and the Strange Moon is more fantastical‚ and with a much happier ending. On the epic fantasy front‚ perhaps the book I was most excited about was The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab. I’m a big fan of the first trilogy set in the overlapping Londons‚ and the first book in her new series met my high expectations. I can’t wait for the next installment. I also read the entire Savage Rebellion trilogy by Matt Wallace this year‚ with the third book‚ Savage Crowns‚ arriving in the summer. The series includes some phenomenal characters in addition to the one that graces the cover of each book in the series‚ and has an engagingly crafted world. Last but not least‚ I also really enjoyed The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry‚ a historical fantasy that contains rich worldbuilding and fully developed characters. It’s a book I got lost in this year‚ and one of the few I’ll likely read again. –Vanessa Armstrong   When I was picking my favorite books for this year‚ I thought they had nothing to do with each other: a fantastical Western‚ a thriller about a how-to murder school‚ a deep and skeptical look at the practicality of space settlement. Then I realized that their uniting factor is that all are deeply ambitious books‚ with scopes that could be overwhelming in scale—yet the authors manage to drill down into the ways that individual actions matter‚ the ways that they can meaningfully shape these larger stories. First up is Alex Grecian’s Red Rabbit (the fantasy Western). It’s the story of an impromptu posse out to kill a witch in Kansas. It’s also the story of that witch‚ and a sheriff’s deputy‚ and a widower‚ and an outlaw‚ and a hunter‚ and a shopkeeper‚ and a dozen more besides. It’s a bloody‚ atmospheric‚ enthralling story in which Grecian demonstrates his skill in sketching out rich‚ real characters in just a few paragraphs. I picked it up hardly knowing anything about what I was getting into‚ and it only took a chapter or two before I found I couldn’t put it down. Next is Rupert Holmes’ Murder Your Employer (the how-to murder school). It’s a cathartic book‚ about three students who have ethical‚ justified reasons for “deleting” someone who is making their lives hell. This has been determined by the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts‚ who gives each of them the tools and training to delete their targets effectively and get away with it. But it’s also just a fun book‚ like a reverse murder mystery where the joy is in seeing how this complex plan all comes together. Finally‚ in nonfiction‚ was Kelly and Zach Weinersmith’s A City on Mars (the space settlement book). The last couple of years have seen a resurgence in broad‚ optimistic claims that humanity can and should set out to settle the Solar System as soon as possible‚ often with overly generous or poorly researched claims. The Weinersmiths’ book takes a hard look at whether we really understand zero-G biology‚ ecology‚ and policy‚ and finds that in many cases we don’t. It’s a sobering book‚ but also‚ ultimately‚ a hopeful one—and perhaps recommended reading for lots of sci-fi fans out there. –Charles Bonkowsky   This year contained a plethora of excellent books. I’m sure other writers will talk about Ann Leckie’s Translation State‚ or Martha Wells’ Witch King and System Collapse‚ outstanding examples of those authors’ works. So let me focus on less well-known contenders. Valerie Valdes’ Where Peace Is Lost is my favourite novel of the year. It’s a well-executed‚ rip-roaringly good planetary space opera adventure with an incredibly skilled warrior protagonist—a protagonist whose commitment to the cause of least harm involves a willingness to die rather than kill‚ because her enemies’ lives are also valuable. A refreshing and entertaining look at the ethical conundrum of armed pacifism. Daniel M. Ford’s The Warden is great sword-and-sorcery fun. Hotshot necromancer graduate of magic college gets prestigious position in government service—serving a village in the arse-end of nowhere. Surely nothing can go more wrong than her leaky tower roof and the sheep in her living area? She soon discovers boredom is underrated. Queer‚ quirky‚ and very enjoyable. Hannah Kaner’s Godkiller is a fantastic debut. Gods‚ like rats‚ can be dangerous. Sometimes—often—they need killing. But when your local god-exterminator runs into a cute kid with a god (and a conspiracy) problem‚ shenanigans ensue. And a road-trip. A Fire Born of Exile‚ the latest romantic outing from Aliette de Bodard in her Xuya space opera continuity‚ is a wonderful take on The Count of Monte Cristo. Secrets‚ revenge‚ concealed identities‚ riots‚ and exactly the wrong time to be falling in love: It has it all. While Foz Meadows’ All the Hidden Paths is another delightful fantasy adventure of romance and intrigue. So you’ve made an arranged marriage to seal peace between nations—but to the young lord rather than the young lady. Not everyone’s as happy as you are. Now what? I could go on (Barbara Hambly’s return to epic fantasy in The Iron Princess‚ Melissa Scott’s new space opera The Fallen) but I think I’ve already overshot the wordcount here… –Liz Bourke   There are so many books I want to shout at you about‚ but I’ll contain myself to the following four titles. Stelliform Press described Tiffany Morris’ Green Fuse Burning as “transformative Indigenous eco-horror novella‚” and they weren’t kidding. This story is about a queer Mi’kmaq artist who isolates in a cabin to reconnect with her work and roots and is slowly consumed by thoughts of death and dread. It’s surreal and poetic‚ unsettling and compelling. Of course Victor LaValle’s Lone Women was going to make my list. The first draft of my massive review/essay tordotcom graciously posted was over 5‚000 words long because there’s just so much to talk about! LaValle vividly‚ brilliantly‚ imaginatively combines history with horror‚ highlighting a region and perspectives that are often ignored. I can’t wait to reread this. A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert might not be on most people’s radar‚ but this futuristic SF novella is a must read. If you liked How to Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone‚ then you’ll love this. Fantasy‚ science fiction‚ and dystopian all blend together into this queer romance that is fiercely anti-imperial. I am obsessed with Witch King by Martha Wells. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about it. Kai‚ the morally gray‚ resurrected demon‚ and his merry band of witches‚ survivors‚ and warriors traverse a fantastical realm recovering after being nearly destroyed by an invading empire. There’s a murder mystery‚ political intrigue‚ and a meditation on the cost of colonization. The world is lush and creative‚ and the characters are fascinating and unique. For short fiction‚ kudos to “How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub” by P. Djèlí Clark‚ “A Witch’s Transition in the City of Ghosts” by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe‚ “The Ghost Peach Pet Rescue” by Eden Royce‚ “The Cursing of Herman Willem Daendels” by A. W. Prihandita‚ and “Negative Theology of the Child from ‘The King of Tars’” by Sonia Sulaiman. I read a lot of tremendous short speculative fiction this year‚ but these are the ones that I just can’t seem to let go of. If you’re wondering where my young adult recs are‚ I’ve decided to save them for my Most Notable YA list. Keep your eyes peeled for that 2023 wrap-up coming soon. I’ll leave you with a teaser of Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues by H.S. Valley and Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith. –Alex Brown   You’re seeing Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah everywhere‚ its razor-sharp and fiery cover‚ for a good goddamn reason: It is simply one of the best books I’ve read in the last decade. Its fury‚ its heart‚ its splendor and condemnation‚ when coupled with the empathy‚ love‚ and fellowship that Adjei-Brenyah invokes as remedy to the countless brutal systems humanity has both created and trapped each other in‚ will make this a foundational text of capital-L literature for many‚ many years to come. Friends‚ it really doesn’t get better than this. One of the first books I read this year and reviewed‚ The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz kept a grip on me for all of 2023. Newitz balances the epic and the intimate‚ telescoping from one to the other with envious ease‚ employing the passage of time to illustrate‚ on multiple levels‚ how a planet is born‚ but a world is created. Through three generations‚ Newitz uses the terraforming project of planet Sask-E to showcase and explore ideas of community‚ sapience‚ sentience‚ justice‚ gender‚ sex‚ and more‚ while also having a blast showing us these generations through the eyes of peoples of all kinds‚ not just bipedal humanoids but also flying moose‚ earthworms‚ and yes‚ a train. The latest collection from a fabulous fabulist‚ this titan of short tales‚ White Cat‚ Black Dog showcases Kelly Link at her very best‚ and is a wonderful introduction to her work. Each story begins as the seed of a fable from our narrative past‚ one which Link infuses with her very own brand of love‚ oddity‚ horror‚ humor‚ and dark playfulness‚ making it something wholly unique. Reading these stories filled a well in my heart I didn’t know had run dry‚ and I hope you’ll find them just as fulfilling. (Spoilers: You’re going to see Link’s novel The Book of Love on my list next year‚ I promise; I’m calling my shot now). Once again‚ I flail hopelessly at just picking three top reads in a year chock full of beautiful‚ transcendent work‚ so in addition to those above‚ I’m also shouting out Chana Porter’s absolutely delicious The Thick and The Lean‚ Victor LaValle’s haunting and sharp Lone Women‚ the thorns and blooms of Roshani Chokshi’s The Last Tale of the Flower Bride‚ the sleek‚ enthralling magic of Brent Lambert’s A Necessary Chaos‚ and the blood and snow of Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy. In addition‚ short fiction continued to be both balm and blade in trying times‚ my heart pried open and healed by the works of Suzan Palumbo‚ Eugenia Triantafyllou‚ John Wiswell‚ Nino Cipri‚ Theodora Ward‚ Ai Jiang‚ Lyndise Manusos‚ L. D. Lewis‚ Isabel J. Kim‚ and many more. –Marty Cahill   You don’t need uncanny moments or supernatural beings to summon up a sense of horror these days; a glimpse in the newspaper or into a history book will often do the trick. Still‚ there’s a long tradition of juxtaposing historical horrors with paranormal ones‚ like Sebastià Alzamora’s Blood Crime‚ about a vampire making his way through the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War. This year brought two notable examples of that juxtaposition‚ with Mariana Enriquez’s Our Share of Night (translated by Megan McDowell) and Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory both standing out for a few reasons. They’re both books grounded in familial experiences‚ set against a starkly-rendered historical background; Due’s reckoning with the Jim Crow South and Enriquez’s evocation of Argentina’s Dirty War are gripping enough even before the supernatural elements come into play. Juan Martinez’s Extended Stay doesn’t reckon with real-life history‚ but it does feel decidedly current in its tale of a hotel near Las Vegas that’s become a waystation for people on society’s margins—and is also alive and hungry. And Laird Barron’s The Wind Began to Howl takes his crime fiction protagonist Isaiah Coleridge into more surreal territory‚ as he tracks a missing musician who may be connected to a hallucinatory government project. The resulting work is haunting on both a rational and a dreamlike level. –Tobias Carroll   Yvette Lisa Ndlovu’s Drinking From Graveyard Wells is a force of a debut. An acclaimed Zimbabwean sarungano‚ she delivers a short story collection that positions her unequivocally as a commanding voice in this space. Absolutely a writer to watch. Lee Mandelo’s Feed them Silence packs so much excellence into a taut novella it left me breathless: a wild and brilliant premise executed to devastating perfection. A brutal excavation of research ethics in the face of evolving tech—monstrosity‚ dissociation‚ duty in a dying world‚ and complex queer appetites. Some Desperate Glory is the queer‚ anti-war‚ thoroughly imagined answer to Ender’s Game I never knew I could hope for. It gets at the complex work of what it means to unlearn a colonialist militia mindset—deprogramming and rebuilding‚ on both personal and systemic levels. It’s wildly fun‚ brutally real‚ and so cathartic to read I laughed aloud with joy at some of the moments of biggest impact. One of my favorites of the genre. Silvia Moreno-Garcia stuns again with Silver Nitrate. A sleek‚ cinematic magic system‚ a shitty Nazi exploiter‚ and bisexual disaster best friends uniquely equipped to take him down. A real delight to read. It’s hard to nail a series ending‚ but Freya Marske does it in A Power Unbound and I’m so grateful. She knows what we want! Found family magic‚ a finale that hits hard while breaking only what needs to break‚ and some of the kinkiest‚ most romantic sex in the series. I saved the last few chapters for when I needed a pick-me-up because I knew they’d fix me and also I didn’t want the series to be over. It worked—they did—and Freya’s since announced a new book! Grateful for the magic so many writers brought to the page this year. Looking forward to what’s to come. —Maya Gittelman   My 2023 was busier than I would have liked‚ and so I didn’t have the chance to read or review half as much as I would have liked. Ed Park’s Same Bed Different Dreams and Adam Roberts’ The Death of Sir Martin Malprelate‚ to take just two examples‚ might have made my list if only I’d had a little more reading time. Jonathan Carroll’s Mr. Breakfast was the first book I reviewed this year and remains a favorite. Generous‚ unpredictable‚ funny‚ and occasionally harrowing‚ it’s a perfect introduction to a major fantasist. Sue Burke’s Dual Memory was a satisfying thriller about art‚ climate‚ conspicuous consumption‚ and artificial intelligence. Burke remains one of our foremost science fiction writers. Alan Garner’s Treacle Walker‚ finally released in the United States a year after its British publication‚ is a slim and powerful novel of memory‚ mortality‚ and landscape. Though it stands entirely on its own‚ it gains new resonances if read with other Garner books‚ particularly his 2018 memoir Where Shall We Run To? Finally‚ Lisa Tuttle’s My Death‚ reissued in October‚ is a perfect uncanny novella about two writers and their blurring identities. It’s not conventionally scary‚ but it will haunt you. –Matt Keeley   Walking Practice by Dolki Min (translated by Victoria Caudle) remains my favorite novel for the year‚ for the same reason I wrote back in my Queering SFF Pride Month piece: It absolutely rang my brain like a bell. Walking Practice forwards a dynamic‚ unsettling‚ and electrifying vision for what queer artists can still do within speculative fiction. Next up‚ I adored two new books from familiar voices‚ Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (“what if Hill House wanted to be your friend?” meets Appalachian gothic romance) and He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan (the sequel to She Who Became the Sun which continues its expertly agonizing explorations of queer masculinity‚ empire-building‚ and hunger). From the literary-but-relevant-to-sf-readers end of things‚ I must recommend Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow‚ and Tomorrow‚ and Tomorrow because it knocked my goddamn socks off—I haven’t wept that hard reading a novel in a while. As for one lil’ taste of nonfiction‚ I’d recommend The Male Gazed: On Hunks‚ Heartthrobs‚ and What Pop Culture Taught Me About (Desiring) Men by Manuel Bellancourt (Lastly‚ I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t sneak in at least a mention of my other favorite novel this year‚ which was The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor. He never disappoints!) –Lee Mandelo   The first on my list is Lauren Beukes’ latest thriller Bridge‚ a story of mothers‚ daughters and grief. It’s about a young woman who finds a strange object in her dead mother’s things‚ an object she thought she imagined‚ a ‘dreamworm’ that allows her to travel between worlds. And travel she does‚ with the sole purpose of finding her mother‚ who she is convinced is still alive in an alternate universe. Like with Beukes’ earlier novels‚ this too is a clever puzzle box thriller‚ capturing the zeitgeist of the moment. It’s also a really poignant look at love and grief‚ and how to survive both. Rouge by Mona Awad is another—though vastly different—story of the fraught bond between a mother and daughter. It’s a strange‚ tense story about a young woman who is attempting to come to terms with her mother’s sudden death‚ and in doing so‚ trying to understand what had been happening in her mother’s life in the last few years when they had drifted apart. Belle finds herself drawn to the strange beauty spa her mother had been caught up in‚ and in Belle’s own fixation with skin care‚ Awad just drowns us in a luxurious gothic-feeling fever dream about the cult of youth and beauty. But as with Beukes’ book‚ Rouge also harbours a dark heart that pulses with grief and loss. And then there was Furies: Stories of the Wicked‚ Wild‚ Untamed‚ a fun collection of shorts from feminist publisher Virago to celebrate their birthday. Each story is named for a word women have been called over the years‚ women who challenged society‚ spoke up‚ stepped over some imagined line set up by the patriarchy. Dragon‚ hussy‚ siren‚ wench‚ churail‚ tygress‚ fury‚ termagant—they’re all here‚ in a series of stories from fifteen writers who take back the power in every word used to belittle or vilify a woman. The writers are from all over‚ their stories representing different genres‚ times‚ places in the world‚ cultures‚ and they are all just excellent writers with their own unique voices. Margaret Atwood‚ Kamila Shamsie‚ Helen Oyeyemi‚ Kirsty Logan‚ Ali Smith‚ Calire Kohda are some of the writers included in this smart‚ poignant collection that covers everything from generational trauma‚ to women’s rights‚ migration‚ menopause and sexual identity. –Mahvesh Murad   Malarkoi by Alex Pheby is dense‚ grim‚ and at times downright cruel‚ but it’s such a rich vein of arcane fantasy that a particularly dedicated reader could (pointlessly) mine it for meaning‚ forever. It’s an extraordinary world that follows its own opaque logic—a mad chaser to the Dickensian shot of Mordew that relied on familiar flavors of class and social order. Pheby is excellent at subtly telegraphing so many interstitial possibilities for his characters—so many things are possible‚ after all‚ if you can manipulate the Weft—and then throwing everything into perfect disarray before you get too comfortable. I’m dying for the third and final book‚ Waterblack‚ so that the trilogy can be examined as a whole. Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt is easily the most viscerally upsetting book I’ve read in a while (perhaps since Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings‚ which is a rather different kind of existential nightmare)‚ and also a transcendent piece of body horror and razor-sharp social commentary about fetish and trauma and survival. Rumfitt will rub your face in the hot‚ fetid guts of a sick‚ rotting England until you come out through the other side with clear eyes and a new purpose. –Alexis Ong   Let’s begin with vampires two ways! Samara Breger’s A Long Time Dead is‚ I think‚ the perfect read for anyone who’s hooked on Rolin Jones’ Interview with the Vampire update. Instead of Louis and Lestat’s toxic love‚ we have the bumpy‚ thorny‚ twisty‚ complicated relationship between Poppy‚ a newly-turned sex worker who’s trying to figure out how to create a new life in un-life‚ and Roisin‚ a startlingly Hozier-esque Irish vampire who’s trying SO HARD to tamp down her feelings for Poppy so she can focus on vengeance. The object of said vengeance? Her abusive ex‚ Cane… the ancient‚ extremely powerful vampire who turned Poppy to taunt her old partner. But if you prefer your vampires a bit more sleek and modern‚ you can sink your teeth into Sucker by Dan Hornsby. Sucker starts out as a note-perfect satire on Silicon Valley‚ with our scruffy protagonist‚ Chuck Gross‚ the scion of an evil‚ powerful family whose current rebellion consists of running an indie label under a fake name. When Dad threatens to cut Chuck off‚ he turns to Olivia Watts‚ his old Harvard classmate—whose own pet project involves immortality through chemistry. What starts as a fun survey of techbros and “disruptors” turns darker with each page‚ until Chuck finally has to confront some truths about his relationship with Olivia… and his relationship to reality as he knows it. Reading Opposable Thumbs might be the most pure literary fun I had this year. I read Matt Singer’s shared biography of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in a joyful rush over Thanksgiving. (I would say I give it two thumbs up but according to the book that would be copyright infringement???) Anyway‚ I loved it—this book kind of made me fall back in love with my job. Anyone with any interest in movie‚ criticism‚ or journalism should check this book out‚ and stick around for the end credits‚ where Singer rounds up some of the underappreciated films that Siskel &; Ebert championed over their all-too-short time together. Finally‚ Camp Damascus shocked me. I knew Chuck Tingle was a legitimately good writer. I knew he was a champion of weirdness and creativity and that he was all about PROVING LOVE. But I was still shocked by Camp Damascus. It’s a horror novel that goes to unsettling extremes without ever feeling gratuitous. It’s a heart-wrenching family story‚ and an uplifting found family story. It’s also hilarious in spots. Tingle has written a fantastic autistic main character whose autism is integral to her character‚ and not a “character trait” that’s tacked on or fetishized‚ or anything—it’s simply part of who she is. And of course‚ best of all as far as I’m concerned) the book handles religion with grace and sensitivity. The horrors of white supremacist misogynist homophobic christian nationalism are on full terrifying display‚ and some of the characters discard their faith as a result. But there are also characters who decide that their faith is stronger than the people perverting it—and Tingle‚ to his great credit‚ doesn’t pick a side. –Leah Schnelbach   I love the eclectic mix of this annual article‚ and thought I’d lean in further. I’m not sure anyone needs another recommendation for‚ say Assistant to the Villain (40‚137 Goodreads reviews). Instead‚ four books that may have slipped under your radar: The Last Blade Priest by W.P. Wiles—The Kitschies’-winning fantasy that reads like K.J. Parker writing Joe Abercrombie. Maybe even better. An eldritch cult‚ an expansionist empire‚ a destiny to be fulfilled‚ and some truly disturbing elves. It is surprising and twist-y; clearly written with a deep love for the epic. Appliance by J.O. Morgan—A throwback to the old-fashioned ‘stitch-up’ novel: interconnected SF shorts‚ exploring the invention‚ adoption‚ and adaptation of technology. (Matter transmission!) A bit like the above‚ this is an appreciative‚ imaginative approach to a classic format‚ packed with warm and thoughtful stories. The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by Zoe Thorogood—Thorogood’s debut graphic novel is ‘art about art’‚ which normally sends me running. But this is a heart-breaking‚ inspiring‚ and genuinely beautiful story about an artist who gets her breakthrough opportunity at the same time she learns she’s going blind. It is a personal‚ ironic apocalypse; how Billie copes makes for a powerful story. The Goldblum Variations by Helen McClory—Another collection of nearly-flash-length fiction inspired by the greatest actor of a generation. This is a sassy‚ bonkers book with surprising depth‚ and shows that a great writer can write about‚ well‚ anything. –Jared Shurin   First‚ a brilliant story collection from an all-time great: Kelly Link’s White Cat‚ Black Dog. Every time I talk to someone about this book‚ they have a different favorite story‚ and mine remains “Prince Hat Underground‚” a story about love and quests and listening to snakes and not just staying home even when you’re middle-aged (or older). Among other things. This book is‚ like all Link’s collections‚ a joy and a wonder to read. How does she make it look so easy? The latest YA novel from Alaya Dawn Johnson‚ The Library of Broken Worlds‚ is everything I could have wanted and more from the author of The Summer Prince. The inventiveness‚ the heart‚ the worldbuilding‚ the way she approaches violence‚ the role of friendship and family and the world in this story—everything I want in SFF storytelling is here‚ in an epic package that involves gods‚ planets‚ tesseracts‚ secret histories. And more. It’s a very big book‚ is the thing. A big heart and a big story. One nonfiction book‚ because it’s relevant‚ I think‚ to everyone who reads and watches and considers and thinks about art and the people who make it: Monsters‚ by Claire Dederer‚ which tackles the question of whether one can (or should) separate the art from the artist‚ and beautifully comes down on neither side. There is no answer‚ but there is power in looking for it all the same‚ especially as wisely and thoughtfully (with a gimlet eye and a sense of humor) as Dederer does here. Two debut novels I can’t get out of my head: Vajra Chandrasekera’s The Saint of Bright Doors‚ for which I will carry metaphorical pom-poms until the end of time. I did not expect a single thing that happened in this book‚ and at the same time‚ every single thing that happened made perfect sense in the world Chandrasekera created‚ full of cast-off chosen ones‚ crowdfunding messiahs‚ and unstable cities. And then‚ the book I read just in time to include: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh‚ which presents a quote-unquote “unlikable character” and then lets her dig her way under the reader’s skin‚ despite her ego‚ despite her cruelty‚ despite her incredible misguidedness. Have I ever loved a brainwashed teen quite this much? Unlikely. –Molly Templeton   The theme of my favorite 2023 reads this year I particularly liked leaned toward the fantasy side of SFF‚ perhaps in reaction to my all SF 2022. Where Peace Is Lost by Valerie Valdes is Science Fiction‚ but with a character who is very much a Space Paladin‚ including wings and a kick-arse sword. The science fantasy result is indeed peanut butter and chocolate. And‚ her story of the last of her kind learning that she can’t escape her nature or her fate‚ and needs to step up again‚ is a timeless story for this moment. Martha Wells’ Witch King has another character dragged into matters somewhat against their will. Along that way‚ however‚ we learn the long story of the titular demon‚ Kai‚ and we see just how Martha Wells’ longstanding skill in writing fantasy has not lost a single step in the age of Murderbot. A Curse of Krakens by Kevin Hearne finishes up my favorite trio‚ and finishes his Seven Kennings trilogy at the very same time. The end of a three volume epic that is all about story and storytellers and the use of those tales in provide hope‚ and a chance for better worlds—even in the middle of an intercontinental conflict. –Paul Weimer   Every year I think I’m choosing my favorite books in a vacuum‚ but in hindsight I always find touchpoints. Here it’s families and grief‚ not surprising as I’m growing mine around an absence that only becomes more pronounced with each new life change. But what I love is that each of these stories tackles those shared themes so differently‚ adorned and buoyed by SFF tropes. Translation State‚ the latest standalone in Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch universe‚ boldly pushes back against what the Radchaai have established as universal gender and even personhood‚ building on debates raised by Ancillary Mercy and Provenance: If a station AI can be counted as a Significant Species‚ can the same be said for humanoids with seemingly “inhuman” genetics? More than that‚ it’s about the idiosyncrasies of families‚ whether clans or clades: Characters adopt new names through genetic quirks of fortune or by actually buying their way into a family tree‚ reuniting with new and old relations via vacations or treaty conclaves. There’s an equally epic voyage at sea in Shannon Chakraborty’s delightfully swashbuckling The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi‚ which sees the eponymous retired pirate queen and mother called back to the waves to recover something greater than a treasure: a missing child. More than any other book this year‚ it’s just a trove of everything I could possibly want in one story: a dynamic found-family crew‚ a middle-aged protagonist who’s fearsome‚ and tender‚ magical sights and capers rooted in historical Islamic travelogues. You know who I would love to see on the same crew? Amina and Alana from Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ space opera comic series Saga. Somehow a decade has passed in that universe‚ yet Vol. 11 still takes baby steps toward processing grief—here‚ with the question of whether it’s worth trying to use magic to bring someone back. Freya Marske’s A Power Unbound does just that in a passage that had me sobbing cathartically in a way I rarely expect to do in a romance‚ fantasy or otherwise. This year I read more deeply into SFF short fiction‚ which is how I found Isabel J. Kim’s body of work. “Zeta-Epsilon” introduces us to a bonded brother-sister pair who are technically a human and an AI‚ but their identities are so interwoven that you could argue the reverse as well; I would love to read an entire series about their space escapades. Then there’s “Day Ten Thousand‚” a profound take on reincarnation as the same pair of guys reenact their final confrontation across time and space. –Natalie Zutter  

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Researchers studying the effects of death on the brain have finally identified the sequence of events that lead up to the permanent cessation of neural activity. Not only do these findings shed light on the strange phenomena reported by people who have undergone near-death experiences‚ but they could also lead to new medical interventions designed to reverse the process of brain death.Until now‚ scientists have struggled to pinpoint the moment of cerebral expiration because‚ unlike the body‚ the brain doesn’t just stop working in a single instant. Rather‚ when oxygen supplies run out‚ neurons rapidly deplete their stores of cellular fuel - known as ATP - and become destabilized.This triggers a massive release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate‚ leading to a burst of neural activity as a person dies. “Neural circuits seem to shut down at first... Then we see a surge in brain activity – specifically an increase in gamma and beta waves‚” explained study author Séverine Mahon in a statement. “These waves are usually associated with a conscious experience‚” Mahon says. “In this context‚ they may be involved in near-death experiences reported by people who have survived cardiorespiratory arrest.”After a short while‚ this neural activity fades to electrical silence – although even that isn’t the end of the story‚ as the stillness is then suddenly interrupted by a high-amplitude wave that spreads across the brain‚ causing permanent functional and structural changes. Known as the "wave of death"‚ this phenomenon is caused by neurons becoming depolarized in their final moments.“This critical event‚ called anoxic depolarization [AD]‚ induces neuronal death throughout the cortex‚” said study author Antoine Carton-Leclercq. “Like a swan song‚ it is the true marker of transition towards the cessation of all brain activity.”Fortunately‚ this whole process can be reversed if the brain can be reoxygenated before the wave of death completes its work. However‚ until now‚ researchers didn’t know where in the brain this mortal ripple begins‚ or how it spreads.To investigate‚ the study authors measured electrical activity in the brains of rats as they underwent AD. In doing so‚ they discovered that the wave of death begins in the excitatory neurons within the deeper cortical layers‚ probably because these nerve cells have particularly high energy demands.“The onset of AD was not uniform across layers. AD initially occurred in layer 5 or 6 and then propagated bidirectionally in the upward and downward direction‚” write the researchers.However‚ when the researchers reoxygenated the rats’ brains‚ the entire process was reversed as ATP stores became replenished and neurons became repolarized. “We have observed this same dynamic under different experimental conditions and believe it could exist in humans‚” said Mahon.By teasing out the steps that the brain goes through in its final moments‚ the study authors have demonstrated that death is anything but a clean cut‚ and that a person can potentially be brought back from the brink even after their brain activity readings have flatlined. More importantly‚ by tracking the course of the "wave of death"‚ this work provides new insights into how to better protect the brains of patients who undergo cardiorespiratory failure. The study has been published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.

The scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah)‚ a species of antelope that was declared Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN‚ has been downgraded to Endangered. Conservation efforts to protect different species of animals usually take either an ex-situ approach‚ meaning the animal is looked after away from their natural environment‚ or an in-situ approach‚ meaning the animal is looked after in its native home or surrounding habitat. This species has changed status as a direct result of both these kinds of conservation efforts.The scimitar-horned oryx is a large antelope species adapted for desert life. The species has elegant horns curved in the manner of a scimitar sword‚ giving them their name. Previously‚ these antelope were present across much of North Africa – however‚ prolonged droughts and hunting for their horns and meat in the 1980s plummeted the population numbers. In 2000‚ the species was declared Extinct in the Wild and has only existed in captive collections across the world. Fortunately‚ in 1985‚ an ambitious recovery project was started with partners such as ZSL London Zoo and the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF). The project took an in-depth approach to try to find out if a potential reintroduction program could succeed in the future. In 2009 and 2013‚ surveys were conducted that showed suitable areas of reintroduction: namely‚ Chad’s Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve.“The return of the scimitar horned oryx is the result of a long-term conservation effort for the species – following in-depth‚ careful preparation‚ and championed and supported by the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi‚" said Tim Wacher‚ ZSL’s senior conservation biologist‚ in a statement sent to IFLScience. “All Saharan antelope species are severely threatened‚ but this project is proof that with the right will and resources‚ we can secure a future for them all.”In 2016‚ 21 scimitar-horned oryx were returned to the wild in Chad in a protected fenced area‚ with each animal fitted with a GPS satellite collar to allow the experts to keep track of them. The team was delighted when‚ around six months after the release‚ the first scimitar-horned oryx calf was born in the wild for more than 30 years. The following year in January 2017‚ 14 more oryx were released into the same area.      The goal of the project has always been to create a healthy‚ self-sustaining population. Since the release of the oryx back into Chad‚ 510 calves have been born in the wild. The publication of a research article in the journal Science examining 95 species of plants and animals that have all been declared Extinct in the Wild but have been cared for in captivity by humans since 1950‚ including the oryx‚ coupled with the population in Chad has lead to the species being downlisted from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered.     “The change in status of scimitar-horned oryx from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered is a testament to the power of collaborative conservation action‚ and gives us all hope that we are able to make a real difference and restore nature‚" Dr Tania Gilbert‚ Head of Conservation Science at Marwell Wildlife‚ said. “The species is still at risk from extinction (Endangered)‚ but the conservation work in Chad‚ Tunisia‚ Morocco and Senegal greatly reduces this risk and has given the species a real chance of recovery.”The study suggests that only one-fourth of the current Extinct in the Wild species have been part of a reestablishment program‚ but the success of the project shows that the reintroduction programs can work with international cooperation and conservation efforts from multiple organizations. “Projects like the Scimitar horned oryx show that reversing the fate of these species is possible - we just need to be able to give the same resource and commitment to the other Extinct in the Wild species that survive only under human care.” said Professor John Ewen‚ researcher at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology and senior author of ZSL’s Extinct in the Wild study. 

If you want to know what an esthetically pleasing male butt looks like‚ look no further. A new paper has the answer for you‚ showing the right proportions and angles for what is to be considered the most desirable masculine rear-end one can find. And we have to agree those are good butts.Plastic surgery researchers conducted an online survey of 2‚095 individuals who were asked to rate three views of male buttocks: from the side‚ a three-quarter view‚ and facing them. Each view was digitally altered across five variants to present possibilities in terms of how much it sticks out‚ its general roundness‚ and its width. It seems that there is a happy middle when it comes to enjoying a man’s butt."Our results demonstrate that there is a preferred male gluteal aesthetic‚" lead author Dr Ashit Patel‚ of Duke University‚ said in a statement. "The findings suggest that a moderately enhanced‚ well-proportioned appearance is most desirable."The team found that the preferred thigh–to-buttock ratio (measuring the side length of the butt in the middle‚ and the thigh just below the butt) is 1.18. The team also estimated what the height of the butt should be compared to the width‚ coming out with a ratio of 0.66‚ and the angle between the crack and the edge in a three-quarter view‚ which came to 66 degrees. Round and thick‚ but still retaining muscular features."In our survey‚ raters thought the ideal male buttocks shouldn't be flat‚ but also shouldn't stick out too far‚" added Dr. Patel. "The buttocks shouldn't be too wide‚ and should retain the characteristic dimple on the sides."The survey respondents were moderately diverse‚ and looking at the different responses from different groups reveals that the average is not exactly a Platonic ideal. African-American respondents preferred slightly larger buttocks‚ both in ratios and angles. Asian-American respondents were on the other end of the spectrum. Gay‚ bisexual‚ and heterosexual men all preferred a butt that sticks out more‚ but there was a distinction in terms of the angle – men who have sex with men preferred a fuller one. The researchers highlight how different cultural influences in the United States have played a crucial role in these desires‚ which then fuel expectations when it comes to cosmetic surgery. That said‚ there were no major differences across genders‚ with non-binary people‚ men‚ and women (both cis and trans) broadly agreeing on what a good butt looks like.Similar to expectations for women’s physiques‚ the expectations for a man’s “ideal” body are important when it comes to cosmetic surgery to enhance one's physical attributes. The researchers point out how their paper helps inform how to sculpt a good butt in gender-affirming surgery for both cis and trans men. Or‚ indeed‚ anyone who wants to have a masculine derrière.The study is published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Deep beneath the permafrost on Svalbard‚ a Norwegian archipelago‚ a long-entombed threat is stirring. Although this may sound like the introduction to a horror movie‚ it is a reality that could have implications if it is ever released.Under the ice‚ millions of cubic meters of methane are trapped‚ but scientists have learned that this gas can migrate beneath the cold seal of the permafrost and potentially escape. If a large-scale escape were to occur‚ it could create a cycle of warming where melting ice releases trapped gas‚ which then contributes to further melting. This would ultimately result in methane emissions soaring.In addition‚ as Svalbard's geological and glacial history is similar to the rest of the Arctic region‚ other migrating methane deposits are probably out there‚ waiting to escape."Methane is a potent greenhouse gas‚" Dr Thomas Birchall of the University Center in Svalbard said in a statement. "At present‚ the leakage from below permafrost is very low‚ but factors such as glacial retreat and permafrost thawing may 'lift the lid' on this in the future."Icy imprisonment Melting permafrost‚ a frozen layer on or under the ground that is constantly below 0°C (32°F)‚ has received a lot of attention in recent years as its retreat reveals new aspects of our world’s ancient past. However‚ the loss of permafrost is a direct result of climate change‚ and is an alarming problem.The permafrost on Svalbard is not uniform or continuous; there are areas‚ especially in the west‚ that are warmer due to ocean currents‚ and so there tends to be thinner or patchier areas. Also‚ permafrost in the highlands is drier and more permeable in contrast to the ice-saturated frost of the lowlands.The rocks lying under this frozen layer are often fossil fuel sources that release methane‚ which is then trapped under this cold lid. However‚ new research shows that some geological features may allow the gas to escape.The researchers used historical data collected by scientists and various commercial companies who‚ over the years‚ have bored holes into the permafrost in search of fossil fuel deposits. They used this information to map the permafrost across Svalbard and to pinpoint the methane gas accumulations."I and my supervisor Kim looked through a lot of the historical wellbore data in Svalbard‚" said Birchall. "Kim noticed that one recurring theme kept coming up‚ and that was these gas accumulations at the base of the permafrost."When drilling into the frozen mud‚ the wellbores are often heated to help soften the process‚ but this can lead to distorted temperature measurements. However‚ observing the trend of temperature measurements and monitoring boreholes in the long term allowed the team to identify permafrost. They also kept an eye out for ice forming in the wellbore‚ changes in the drill cuttings produced while digging‚ and changes in the background gas measurements.They found that there were gas influxes into the wellbore‚ suggesting the accumulation of methane in the permafrost‚ as well as abnormal pressure measurements indicating the ice served as a kind of seal.But in other places‚ even where permafrost and underlying geological features were suitable for trapping gas and the rocks were known sources of hydrocarbons‚ there was no gas present. This‚ the team believe‚ shows the gas had already migrated elsewhere.Interestingly‚ the gas accumulations were more common than previously thought. Of 18 hydrocarbon exploration wells drilled in Svalbard‚ eight showed signs of permafrost‚ and half of these struck gas accumulation."All the wells that encountered gas accumulations did so by coincidence – by contrast‚ hydrocarbon exploration wells that specifically target accumulations in more typical settings had a success rate far below 50 percent‚" Birchall added."These things seem to be common. One anecdotal example is from a wellbore that was drilled recently near the airport in Longyearbyen. The drillers heard a bubbling sound coming from the well‚ so we decided to have a look‚ armed with rudimentary alarms designed for detecting explosive levels of methane – which were immediately triggered when we held them over the wellbore."The study is published in Frontiers in Earth Science.