Featured Essays Artemis II The Best Moments From the Artemis II Mission The best moments from a 10 day journey that made the world feel a little less bleak By Matthew Byrd | Published on April 13, 2026 Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky Comment 0 Share New Share Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky On April 1, 2026, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen began a 10-day voyage into space as part of NASA’s Artemis II program. The technical purpose of the Artemis II program was to expand what NASA learned from the unmanned Artemis I flight and test the capabilities of the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft in deep space environments. Through this mission, NASA hopes to broaden its understanding of the capabilities of its modern technology and make a giant leap forward toward the dream of landing more astronauts on the moon and eventually sending a crew to Mars. Artemis II has become more than that, though. As the first crewed voyage to deep space in over 50 years, Artemis II represents hope in the minds of the many who still dream of humanity one day exploring the deepest reaches of space. Perhaps more importantly, this mission comes at a time of often overwhelming global atrocities and divisiveness that contradict the humanity, knowledge, and unity that such expeditions were once intended to represent. It is a testament to the mission’s power that so many have found so much comfort in this voyage during days when the vacuum of deep space somehow feels less dark than the average day on Earth. More than a symbolic trek, Artemis II has thus far rewarded us with a number of incredible moments that have made following the progress of the Orion spacecraft dubbed Integrity one of the greatest pure pleasures in recent memory. These are just some of those moments. Everyone Was Watching the Artemis II Launch (Even From an Airplane) The launch of any spacecraft tends to be a magical moment bolstered by collective excitement, tension, and, naturally, rocket propulsion. Thankfully, the Artemis II crew enjoyed a successful (if certainly no less thrilling) launch on April 1, 2026 that kicked off their 10-day mission.  And while living during a time when everyone has a camera can be both beneficial and frustrating on a case-by-case basis, the launch of Artemis II was impressively documented by many who witnessed it from slightly different angles. One of the most memorable pieces of fan footage came from an airline passenger who happened to spot the Artemis II craft flying towards the heavens outside of their window. Would this author have been too preoccupied with a book and the shade down to ever spot such a generational moment? The world will never know.  The Artemis II Crew Recreates the Full House Intro The social media savvy crew of the Artemis II and their terrestrial teammates have done an incredible job of utilizing various platforms to keep people updated about the mission’s status and explain why it is so important. More importantly, they’ve never forgotten to be a little silly about the whole thing.  So far as that goes, the team’s masterpiece may just be this Instagram Reel that introduces us to the crew by recreating the Full House intro. Presumably, that intro was chosen because of its instant recognizability, strangely appropriate lyrics (“when you’re lost out there, and you’re all alone”), and the fact that the crew is living in an incredibly full “house.” Having said that, one wonders if it’s too late to have each member of the crew perform a rendition of the theme from The Golden Girls.  Rise, the Zero-G Indicator Ball If you watched the above Instagram Reel, you probably have questions about the undeniable star of that show: Rise, the Zero-Gravity Indicator.  Technically, Rise is there as a quick indicator of when the crew entered a weightless environment. It is so much more than that, though. Designed by eight-year-old Lucas Ye as part of a global competition, and modeled after a photo of the Apollo 8 mission, Rise is the mascot of the Artemis II mission. Rise also has a built-in storage chip that contains the names of over 5 million people who submitted their best wishes to the crew.  The Apollo 8 Patch Returns to Space Speaking of Apollo 8, the reason that mission is so significant to the Artemis II crew is that the Apollo 8 voyage represents the first time that a crew of astronauts reached the moon. Furthermore, both are seen as endeavors meant to broaden the minds and open the hearts of the millions who follow their historic journeys. And in a very special video update, the Artemis II crew revealed that their ship contains astronaut Jim Lovell’s patch from the Apollo 8 mission. It’s a simple, powerful reminder of the history and significance of these missions, and it wasn’t the last time the Artemis II crew would be reminded of their connection to the Apollo 8 team. Astronaut Jim Lovell Recorded a Special Message for the Artemis II Team Shortly before the Artemis II crew made history by traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them (about 252,756 miles), they listened to a very special message from astronaut Jim Lovell which began with the words “Hello, Artemis II, this is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood.” As we later learned, Lovell had actually recorded a message for the Artemis II crew just two months before his death in August 2025. Along with being a member of the aforementioned Apollo 8 crew, Lovell led the famous Apollo 13 journey that previously set the record for the longest distance traveled from Earth before its crew encountered mechanical difficulties that led to their dramatic re-entry. Lovell was actually played by Tom Hanks in the 1995 Apollo 13 movie.  The Artemis II Team Pays Tribute to a Lost Family Member When the Artemis II crew reached their historic distance from Earth, they spotted a couple of craters on the moon that had not been previously identified. As their discoverers, they had the right to name these craters. The first was dubbed Integrity: a reference to the name of their Orion spacecraft.  The second crater was christened “Carroll.” As many on Earth soon learned, Carroll was the name of Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman’s wife, who tragically passed away in 2020. A Solar Eclipse Provides One of Artemis II’s Most Stunning Photos Photo: NASA The Artemis II mission has gifted us with a number of incredible photos (many of which you can view here), but the biggest showstopper may just be this incredible image of a solar eclipse as seen from the other side of the moon.  That remarkable photo is perhaps most easily labeled as “cinematic,” though its true beauty may be found in the relative commonality of the event itself. Roughly a few times a year, we on Earth get to witness a solar eclipse. It’s not that we necessarily take events for granted, but over time, it’s easy to lose a little appreciation for their full significance. This photo not only shows that the event is just as stunning from a couple of hundred thousand miles away but puts into perspective the grandeur of what we are actually witnessing in those moments.  Jeremy Hansen’s First Spaceflight Ceremony I was tragically not allowed to be an astronaut (I was found physically, mentally, and emotionally wanting), but I’m told that astronauts receive two special pins as part of their first voyage. They receive the first, a silver pin, when they complete a rigorous training program. The second, a gold pin, is reserved for the moment they actually make it into space.  And on Easter, astronaut Jeremy Hansen finally received his gold pin. It was an incredible moment for Hansen who joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009 but has never had the chance to travel into space until now. It is also a reminder of how rare that honor is even in organizations dedicated to advancements in that field. The Constant Struggles of the Artemis II Toilet Though much of the Artemis II mission will be remembered for its historic, technical, and cultural significance, a not insignificant amount of the conversation surrounding the mission so far has revolved around the crew’s toilet.  See, the Artemis II toilet has been acting up and malfunctioning for pretty much the entire journey. But that story that began as a literal piece of toilet humor for many has grown into something else entirely. As NASA struggles to understand why they can’t seem to get that toilet to work as it very much should, we are reminded that the challenges of space travel aren’t limited to big ideas like terraforming, FTL, and first contact. Even getting the toilet to flush is a trial-and-error endeavor of epic proportions.  Is That a Floating Jar of Nutella? Our fascination with what astronauts eat and how they eat it goes far beyond toilet technology drama. From NASA helping Tang become a cultural cornerstone to the unlikely rise of astronaut ice cream, we just can’t seem to help but be a little curious about everyone’s intergalactic brunch plans.  So maybe it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that a runaway jar of Nutella became one of the seemingly unlikely stars of the Artemis II mission. Those watching the crew attempt to break the record for the longest distance traveled from Earth likely caught a glimpse of a jar of Nutella that floated so perfectly into frame that you’d swear the Nutella company must have put it there themselves (they didn’t, but they were quick to capitalize on it). As it turns out, the Artemis II team gets to enjoy a variety of largely freeze-dried food that is prepared to meet the unique demands of outer space. Nutella, it seems, is one of those treats that they get to eat in a slightly purer form.  As a bonus, be sure to check out this infographic breakdown of the Artemis II pantry, which includes Barbecued Beef Brisket, Mango Salad, quite a few tortillas, and five different hot sauces. Amaze, Amaze, Amaze Working for NASA is, of course, an incredibly serious endeavor that requires some of the smartest people in the world to undergo years worth of training and education simply for the chance to join the space program. It is, however, also rooted in a childlike love for all things space. At times, that love shines through all else.  Actually, one of the more adorable moments of the Artemis II mission occurred when a NASA team member was checking in with the crew. Caught up in the wonder of the visuals and information they were receiving, the NASA member uttered the words “Amaze, amaze, amaze,” a reference to the words the alien Rocky delightfully utters in Project Hail Mary. Is there any connection to NASA quoting an alien and President Barack Obama’s publicly stated belief that aliens are real? Of course not. Unless, of course, there very much is.  Impact Flash Sightings Bring Out the Kids in NASA Scientists Speaking of the NASA team members back at home, they’ve actually had a few times to shine throughout this journey despite (much like the rest of us) being cursed to be stuck on Earth. Arguably the most endearing of those team members we’ve caught a glimpse of so far has to be this NASA scientist who was very, very excited to hear about impact flashes.  See, an impact flash is an intense burst of light that may occur when an object strikes the moon. They’re not especially common (at least from our perspective) and we obviously don’t get the chance to see them up close very often. So it’s understandable that the NASA science team shared the Artemis crew’s “giddiness” when they reported seeing several impact flashes during their voyage. Anyone with a love for science will likely feel their heart melt when they see one of those scientists fail to contain an expression of pure joy.  Microsoft Outlook Also Doesn’t Work in Space When NASA first started sending people into space, they relied on technology far more advanced than the average person could ever dream of having access to. Now, your phone is significantly more powerful than the earliest NASA computers. While NASA still relies on the most advanced equipment to make the seemingly impossible possible, it’s certainly common to see pieces of civilian technology in space.  A pretty hilarious reminder of the “value” of that technology occurred early in the Artemis II mission when Commander Wiseman reported that his Microsoft Outlook program had stopped working on multiple devices. Here on Earth, an email program crashing yet again likely means a light day at work. In space, it’s a bit more dramatic, though no less funny.  The Wake-Up Songs More recent crewed missions have seen NASA use “wake-up songs.” As the name suggests, those songs are broadcast to the spaceship and used as an alarm to ensure that NASA and the crew are working on the same schedule. As anyone who has struggled to put together the perfect playlist can tell you, picking these songs is an intimidating and enjoyable endeavor. The perfect wake-up song is inspiring and, if possible, somehow thematically appropriate.  Here’s a list of the wake-up songs that the Artemis II crew has heard during their journey: Day 1: “Sleepyhead” by Young & Sick Day 2: “Green Light” by John Legend (feat. André 3000) Day 3: “In a Daydream” by Freddy Jones Band Day 4: “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan Day 5: “Working Class Heroes (Work)” by CeeLo Green Day 6: “Good Morning” by Mandisa and TobyMac Day 7: “Tokyo Drifting” by Denzel Curry and Glass Animals Day 8: “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie Day 9: “Good Morning” by Mandisa and TobyMac Day 10: “Run to the Water” by Live Bonus Song: “Free” by Zac Brown Band “Pink Pony Club” proved to be an especially big hit among the crew who requested that NASA let the song reach the chorus next time around. The Splashdown Leading up to the return of the Artemis II crew, various publications were quick to point out that the landing (splashdown, really) was arguably the most dangerous and trickiest part of the entire voyage. That’s partially due to the inherently complex nature of that process, but in this particular instance, the danger was amplified by a known flaw in the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield. Leading up to the slightly less than 15-minute-long re-entry procedure, tensions were understandably high. And yet, things went off without any real hitches. On April 10, around 8:00 PM EDT, the Artemis II team landed just off the coast of San Diego and were brought aboard the deck of the USS John P. Murtha about two hours later. The end of their journey echoed the rest of the experience in that it was a surprisingly smooth historical endeavor that offers hope for the future from both a technical and emotional perspective. More importantly, it let the brave crew finally return to their kids, dogs, and all other loved ones.[end-mark] The post The Best Moments From the Artemis II Mission appeared first on Reactor.

News The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Trailer Welcomes You to the 50th Hunger Games May the odds… yeah, you know the rest By Molly Templeton | Published on April 13, 2026 Screenshot: Lionsgate Movies Comment 0 Share New Share Screenshot: Lionsgate Movies Gather round, everyone! It’s time to watch teenagers murder each other for entertainment again! Or rather, it’s time to fictionally watch fictional teenagers murder each other for entertainment again. Yes, that’s right, it’s time for another Hunger Games—or at least the trailer for one. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is a mere seven months away. I’d say it’s time to place your bets, but we all know who comes out on top in this, the 50th Hunger Games. It’s young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada), who will grow up to be a very troubled Woody Harrelson by the time of the 74th Hunger Games. How did he get that way? Well, let Suzanne Collins—as interpreted by writer Billy Ray and director Francis Lawrence—show you. The 50th Games is, of course, the second Quarter Quell, which is when the Gamemakers put a perverse little twist on the typical setup. For this particular year, that means 48 doomed kids instead of 24. That is a lot of kids to keep track of, yes; you’ll want to keep your eye on Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner. Around the arena, the movie is packed with stars, many playing characters we’ve already met: Elle Fanning is an on-the-nose Effie Trinket (the role previously played by Elizabeth Banks). Jesse Plemons is young Plutarch Heavensbee (previously Philip Seymour Hoffman); Ralph Fiennes is President Snow (previously Donald Sutherland and Tom Blyth); Maya Hawke is Wiress (previously Amanda Plummer); Kelvin Harrison Jr. is Beetee (previously Jeffrey Wright); Lili Taylor is Mags (previously Lynn Cohen), and Kieran Culkin is Caesar Flickerman (previously Stanley Tucci). Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will appear as Katniss and Peeta. The most important new character is Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend; she’s played by Whitney Peak. Billy Porter joins up as Magno Stift, and Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle. Sunrise is an odd book; since anyone reading it already knows who’s going to win the Games, there’s certainty about the outcome—but that doesn’t lessen the horror of how we get to that outcome. And as any fan of the first trilogy knows, plenty of terrible things happen outside the arena as well. The fact that Snow knows about Lenore Dove isn’t great! But the beginnings of rebellion happen outside the arena, too. The real heartbreak of this one might be knowing how long it takes for that rebellion to build. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is in theaters on November 20, 2026.[end-mark] The post <i>The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping</i> Trailer Welcomes You to the 50th Hunger Games appeared first on Reactor.

Books SFF Bestiary White Cat at the Gates of Death: Garth Nix’s Sabriel There is a great deal more to this cat than appears on the surface… By Judith Tarr | Published on April 13, 2026 Comment 0 Share New Share I blush to admit how long it took me to get to Sabriel in the TBR pile, aka Mount TBRest. But it worked out, because we are talking about cats in genre, and Sabriel has a rather epic representative of the species. It takes a while to get to him, but the wait is worth it. After many alarums and highly fraught excursions, the titular protagonist finds him sitting at the gate of her father’s magical stronghold. He manifests to her as a small, green-eyed white cat. He talks, of course, and he has clearly expressed and frequent Opinions. The name he tells Sabriel to call him is Mogget. I am guessing that Nix is being a little bit wicked here, because the British term “moggy” refers to what in the US we would call an alley cat: a cat of questionable parentage. There is a great deal more to Mogget than appears on the surface. He is a magical being, a creature of the Free Magic, and he is ancient. One of her ancestors bound him at least a thousand years ago. The binding appears to her as a red leather collar with a tiny bell. Bells are significant in this magic system. Sabriel is the heir to the Abhorsen, one of the most powerful magical practitioners in the world. He is, in superficial terms, a necromancer, but what he does is different. Instead of raising the dead and trying to control them, he maintains the border between life and death. He undertakes to keep the dead on their own side of the line, and protect the living from the ravening dead. He, or rather they because it’s a long line of both genders, works magic in part through a series of seven bells carried on a bandolier across the chest. It’s sound magic, music magic. It can be wielded other ways, such as by whistling or by playing on pan pipes, but the bells are strongest and surest. The bell on Mogget’s collar is a miniature version of Saraneth, the Binder. The collar can be removed, and he tries to trick Sabriel into doing it when they first meet. Sabriel may be young and not as well educated as she might be, but she knows better than to fall for that. It’s good she doesn’t, because later, when she needs the powers that Mogget can raise through the Free Magic, she discovers his dark side. Mogget unbound is a humanoid figure of white light, tremendously powerful and determined to kill her in revenge for his centuries of binding. It’s all she can do to get him back under control, with the help of an enchanted ring. Mogget under binding is a highly valuable guide and mentor. He teaches Sabriel what she needs to know in order to find her father the Abhorsen and finish what he began. Some things, important things, he can’t say; he’s prevented by the magic that constrains him. But he gets a great deal of it across and assists her in every way a small and supernaturally intelligent cat can. He is, in this form, very catlike. He has the body language, the sound effects, the cattitude. He’s highly portable: he can ride around on a human’s shoulders, he can perch pretty much anywhere, he can get into spaces a larger creature can’t manage. He has not always appeared to the Abhorsens as a cat. Sabriel’s father knew him as a “a sort of albino dwarf-boy” who stayed close to home. That’s quite unlike the cat who follows Sabriel all over the world. Sabriel at one point wonders why he chooses to be a cat. The question is never answered in the first volume. If you’ve read the rest of the series and there’s been an answer, do let me know. I haven’t got that far yet. In the meantime, I am guessing that the reason is portability, but also certain other aspects of feline existence. Keen senses, rapid reflexes, sharp claws and teeth. Cats are magical creatures anyway. They’re beings of the borders, the liminal times between dark and light. They’re most active at dawn and dusk. They hunt the things that haunt the twilight. That’s very much in tune with the Abhorsen. They stand between life and death, and can pass the borders in both directions. Like cats, they’re powerful and deadly hunters. They hold the dead at bay and defend the living. Also like cats, they’re prey as well as predator. Great powers of the dead hunt Sabriel and her father before her. She needs all the skills and knowledge and powers she can muster. A good part of that knowledge comes from Mogget. There’s another thing about cats, that fits who Mogget is. Cats are never far from their wild selves. Humans can bind them, whether with bell and collar or by keeping them indoors, but they can go feral with remarkable speed. Some in fact, if born in the wild, can never be domesticated at all (as many a cat rescue knows; a feral mamacat can be so dangerous she has to be handled with Kevlar). Mogget in his collar is a valuable and loyal ally. Mogget freed is a deadly enemy, but still, in his way, valuable—like what we call “working cats,” ferals who can’t be tamed but do good service as rodent control in barns and warehouses and ranches. It makes sense to me that he chooses to be a cat for Sabriel. That’s what she needs, on multiple levels. It’s notable that he gets to choose. He may be bound, but he’s not completely without freedom. He gets a say in what he is and does, and how he does it. That’s a cat. Technically they’re domesticated, but it’s on their terms. There’s always a part of a cat that belongs to the wild, no matter how many generations it’s been bound to humans.[end-mark] The post White Cat at the Gates of Death: Garth Nix’s <i>Sabriel</i> appeared first on Reactor.

Books Science Fiction Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon This is how we imagined humanity’s first trip to the moon before Apollo 11… By James Davis Nicoll | Published on April 13, 2026 Credit: JSC/NASA Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: JSC/NASA People the world over welcomed the distraction offered by astronaut Jeremy Hanson as the Canadian and some others made their way to and around the Moon in the spacecraft Artemis II. Now, the idea of a journey to the Moon is nothing new. The Moon has been in the sky for a very long time. I have no doubt it will still be there when humans are a fading memory1. It’s only natural that storytellers have long pondered journeys there. Before the nineteenth century, these journeys were only fantasies. Of late we have begun to imagine Moon travel via technology. You might enjoy these early works. Autour de la Lune by Jules Verne (1869) Having in 1865’s De la Terre à la Lune, trajet direct en 97 heures 20 minutes solved the trifling problems of financing, constructing, and successfully firing the stupendously large Columbiad cannon, the occupants of the Columbiad’s shell—Barbicane, Nicholl and Ardan—are on their way towards Earth’s Moon. Their goals are comparatively modest. No landing is intended, only circumnavigation and return. Nevertheless, nobody has ever made this journey before. Some of the hazards are known, but others will come as unpleasant surprises. The trio may never return to Earth again. As was the custom in those days, the translated edition available in my school library was appalling. Verne was not taken seriously in l’anglosphere, and publishers were content to print slap-dash translations. The single positive change in that edition was printing both 1865’s De la Terre à la Lune, trajet direct en 97 heures 20 minutes and Autour de la Lune in a single volume. I would have been quite vexed to read the first volume to discover it ended just as the three men were fired into space. Die Frau im Mond by Thea von Harbou (1928) Helius possesses the technical know-how needed to construct a Moon rocket. His associate Professor Mannfeldt provides the necessary motivation; Mannfeldt is convinced that the Moon harbors abundant gold. Therefore, should Helius turn theory into a functioning rocket, he could be assured of vast material reward for having done so. The fly in the ointment: gangsters catch wind of Mannfeldt’s claims. Helius is forced to accept a criminal, Turner, as part of the crew. The surprisingly large crew—Helius, Mannfeldt, assistants Windegger and Friede, Turner, stowaway Gustav and a small mouse named Josephine—embark in the spaceship (also named Friede) for the Moon. The journey is complicated by technical challenges and romantic triangles, but the true danger is, of course, the extremes to which men like Turner will go to satisfy their greed. This novel is the basis for the famous Frau Im Mond, film directed by Fritz Lang. Gustav is very lucky that the Friede is wildly over-engineered. Otherwise he might well have been dispatched out through the airlock as soon as he was discovered. The Spirit on the Moon by Will Eisner, Jules Feiffer, and Wallace Wood (1952) The Interplanetary Flight Commission is determined to put men on the Moon. The problem is that any man with the requisite skills has far better options than a quite-possibly-one-way trip to an airless, deadly world. Any free man, that is. Hardened convicts can be enticed into volunteering, in return for freedom should they return. Someone will have to accompany the crooks, to keep them on-mission and ensure the success of the venture. That man is, as the title suggests, masked crimefighter Denny Colt, AKA the Spirit. But is even a two-fisted man of action up to the challenges of keeping panicky convicts alive on an alien world? Sending masked crimefighters to the Moon? What next? Dick Tracy? Efforts to test crewed spaceflight with animals infuriated animal welfare agencies. Nobody seems all that bothered about sending convicts. This is just one reason why this atypical Spirit arc is incredibly depressing…the art, the Spirit’s internal monologue, and the unpleasant fatalities all play a role. On a marché sur la Lune by Hergé (1954) (Translated to English as Explorers on the Moon) Professor Calculus’ atomic-rocket-powered spacecraft is more than up to the task of delivering a crew of highly trained professionals to the Moon and returning them safely. However, for reasons that were no doubt compelling at the time, the Moon rocket is crewed by the Professor, assistant Frank Wolff, plucky boy reporter Tintin, Tintin’s dog Snowy, Tintin’s alcoholic friend Captain Haddock, not to mention an astonishing number of stowaways, accidental and deliberate. The added mass does not prevent the Moon rocket from reaching and landing on the Moon, nor do the wacky hijinks of stowaway detectives Thomson and Thompson. Even the violent antics of stowaway Jorgen cannot prevent success. However, with far more crew than planned, the Moon rocket may well lack sufficient air to return them all to Earth. Vintage science fiction really underplayed the difficulty of stowing away on space craft. Or perhaps tales like this one so persuasively argued in favour of preflight checklists that nowadays nobody ever sets off for space without glancing into closets and airducts for unauthorized passengers. Venture to the Moon by Arthur C. Clarke (1956) In this series of linked short stories (later collected with additional stories in The Other Side of the Sky), the British, Americans, and Russians2 pooled resources for the first expedition to the Moon. Still, someone has to be first among equals. More exactly, simultaneous landing seems unlikely. Which great nation’s ship will be the first to reach the Moon? This good-natured competition is only an early complication. Navigational mishaps, all too successful scientific research, and unsanctioned commodification of the Moon also put in appearances. However, all these pale next to the challenges presented by the British tax system. That last detail might seem like an odd one, if one is not aware of the existence of British tax exiles in bygone days. Would someone really subject themselves to an extended stay on an airless, radiation-soaked world to reduce their tax bill? Too right they would. These are only a few of the pre-Apollo 11 SF stories about first trips to the Moon. I didn’t even mention Lucian of Samosata or Cyrano de Bergerac. No doubt you have your favourites and unless they were one of the five above, no doubt I missed them. Comments are below.[end-mark] Will that be a million years from now… or next week? Won’t it be an adventure to find out? ︎I wonder why the French weren’t invited. ︎The post Five Vintage SF Works About Traveling to the Moon appeared first on Reactor.

News Tales From The Crypt Tales From the Crypt Will Finally Start Streaming on Shudder in May It’s not clear how they did it, but Shudder has finally revived the long-lost piece of horror history By Matthew Byrd | Published on April 10, 2026 Photo: Universal Pictures Comment 0 Share New Share Photo: Universal Pictures That scream of joy you recently heard probably came from horror fans who learned that Shudder is bringing HBO’s beloved horror anthology series Tales From the Crypt to streaming for the first time ever. As announced by Shudder during the Overlook Film Festival, Tales From the Crypt‘s first season will be added to the streaming service starting on May 1. From there, subsequent seasons will be added to Shudder every Friday until the show’s seventh and final season is uploaded on June 12. So you’ll have to wait a bit until you can finally stream the entire series through a major service, though that wait pales in comparison to the years fans spent waiting for some way to watch the show outside of the series’ ancient DVD sets and the occasional YouTube upload (as well as two movies of wildly varying quality). So why has Tales From the Crypt never been available on streaming? According to John Kassir, who voiced Tales From the Crypt‘s host the Crypt Keeper on the HBO series, the rights to the Tales from the Crypt comics the television series was based on reverted to EC Comics Publisher William Gaines’ family after Gaines passed away. At that point, the rights to the series, the existing episodes, and the Crypt Keeper character himself were effectively split between multiple parties that included the Gaines estate and the show’s original producers. To hear Kassir tell it, nobody was really willing to budge and make the moves required to bring all of those pieces back together. TNT did try to revive the series with M. Night Shyamalan several years ago, but the project fell apart when the legal issues that have long plagued this series resurfaced once more. Those same issues have seemingly prevented HBO from ever simply adding the series to one of is streaming services despite being the show’s original home for seven seasons. As for how Shudder was finally able to secure the full streaming rights to the series… well, that’s a great question. One would have assumed that Tales From the Crypt would stream on HBO Max if it was going to stream anywhere, but it seems that Shudder and their parent company AMC have finally found a way to untangle the legal mess that has prevented Tales From the Crypt from making the leap to streaming (or even updated physical media releases and syndication specials) for decades. On that note, Shudder has confirmed that every Tales From the Crypt episode will be presented in its uncensored, original form, but they have not stated whether or not they will be remastering the series or upgrading it in any other technical ways. Assuming they will not, then the episodes will likely look and sound similar to the versions of them you can find on the show’s out-of-print DVD collections. That’s not a deal breaker necessarily (the grimy look arguably fits the series quite nicely), but it would be incredible if they are able to offer at least slight updates and upgrades to the 37-year-old series at some point. And if you’ve never seen Tales From the Crypt (an increasingly likely possibility given the aforementioned legal issues), then let’s just say you’re in for a truly bizarre time. When it debuted on HBO in 1989, Tales From the Crypt immediately drew acclaim and controversy for its violent, sexual, and often simply shocking updates to the also controversial Tales From the Crypt comics of the 1950s. Tonally, imagine Creepshow (also inspired by the EC Comics of that era) but with more gore, nudity, and macabre silliness. Though arguably quite tame compared to what HBO would eventually air, Tales From the Crypt offered an early glimpse at the extent of the network’s “not TV” approach that still has the power to outrage to this day. Look past the series’ more superficial shock value moments, though, and you’ll find arguably the best TV horror anthology outside of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. In its heyday, Tales From the Crypt featured the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Benicio del Toro, Brad Pitt, Robert Zemeckis, Catherine O’Hara, Demi Moore, Tim Curry, Kyle MacLachlan, Bob Hoskins, Michael J. Fox, and many, many, more major names as both guest actors and directors. Some of the most talented industry figures of the late ’80s and early ’90s used the series’ “almost no rules” approach as a playground that allowed them to unleash their wildest visions onto an unsuspecting world. And while many of those names raced to outdo each other in terms of wonderful campy absurdity, Tales From the Crypt occasionally offered something so much more substantial. For instance, the Robert Zemeckis-directed episode “Yellow” is one of the greatest and most powerful World War I stories in television history. That is to say that fans of campy, gory horror filled with sex, puns, the biggest stars, and more than the occasional moment of genuine brilliance should check out Tales From the Crypt when it is added to Shudder next month.[end-mark] The post <i>Tales From the Crypt</i> Will Finally Start Streaming on Shudder in May appeared first on Reactor.