I read the Gaea trilogy in the mid-80s and loved it, but I've always been afraid it wouldn't hold up to my teen memories. They're sitting on my shelf waiting for me, though.

I read the Gaea trilogy in the mid-80s and loved it, but I've always been afraid it wouldn't hold up to my teen memories. They're sitting on my shelf waiting for me, though.

I've been saving up both Steel Beach and The Golden Globe. I love his early Eight Worlds stuff—which is some of my favorite SF short fiction, not to mention The Ophiuchi Hotline is a terrific novel.

I've been saving up both Steel Beach and The Golden Globe. I love his early Eight Worlds stuff—which is some of my favorite SF short fiction, not to mention The Ophiuchi Hotline is a terrific novel.

Varley has always seemed to me like an updated and improved Heinlein. I've never particularly cared for Heinlein. There's just something about the tone of his work that I find off-putting: some level of smugness coupled with a certain sameness to most of his characters. Obviously, he's one of the essential SF authors,…

Varley has always seemed to me like an updated and improved Heinlein. I've never particularly cared for Heinlein. There's just something about the tone of his work that I find off-putting: some level of smugness coupled with a certain sameness to most of his characters. Obviously, he's one of the essential SF authors,…

I felt for her, and it made me wonder how much this is going to psychologically screw her up in future races. But at the same time, why didn't she get up and at least finish the damn race? She didn't seem physically hurt and this is the Olympics, after all. Am I the only one who lost respect for her? I mean, Elise…

I felt for her, and it made me wonder how much this is going to psychologically screw her up in future races. But at the same time, why didn't she get up and at least finish the damn race? She didn't seem physically hurt and this is the Olympics, after all. Am I the only one who lost respect for her? I mean, Elise…

Anyone want to back up Keith with some love for the The Faculty? It's been a few years since I last saw it, but I always thought it was tremendously entertaining. Moving the body snatcher idea to a high school setting paid off beautifully.

Anyone want to back up Keith with some love for the The Faculty? It's been a few years since I last saw it, but I always thought it was tremendously entertaining. Moving the body snatcher idea to a high school setting paid off beautifully.

I choose to read this as less a pointlessly long fit of maniacal laughter and more as an extended sequence recording your moments of insight.

I choose to read this as less a pointlessly long fit of maniacal laughter and more as an extended sequence recording your moments of insight.

I dunno. The staging of at least a couple of scenes was pretty dreadful. The statue falling on the Doctor was contrived enough, but it wasn't well handled visually, either. Then the staging of Tasambeker murdering Jobel was just woeful.

I dunno. The staging of at least a couple of scenes was pretty dreadful. The statue falling on the Doctor was contrived enough, but it wasn't well handled visually, either. Then the staging of Tasambeker murdering Jobel was just woeful.

But at least there was no appearance by the Black Guardian in this one.

But at least there was no appearance by the Black Guardian in this one.

Also, it helps that Garron comes across like the Harry Mudd of Doctor Who.

Also, it helps that Garron comes across like the Harry Mudd of Doctor Who.

Of all the serials we've watched so far, this is in the running for my favorite. There seemed to be very little dead weight over the course of the four episodes, and there's just something delightfully low-key and charming in dealing with con-men that undercuts the Doctor's typically high-stakes adventures. Plus,…

Of all the serials we've watched so far, this is in the running for my favorite. There seemed to be very little dead weight over the course of the four episodes, and there's just something delightfully low-key and charming in dealing with con-men that undercuts the Doctor's typically high-stakes adventures. Plus,…