A Q Carol: Star Trek's Christmas episode
With its humanist outlook, Star Trek has never produced a traditional Christmas episode. But one of its most popular instalments is based on Charles Dickens' classic tale A Christmas Carol.
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The Fall of Númenor: a redundant but beautiful addition to Tolkien's canon
The reordering of previously published text fragments is now the driving creative act behind the Tolkien industry - as if moving the puzzle pieces of these unfinished writings will somehow reveal new insights.
Alis Lesley: the ‘female Elvis’ on Bob Dylan’s new book cover
Positioned between Little Richard and Eddie Cochran is a rock ’n’ roll star who had a short-lived music career. So why has Bob Dylan chosen this relative unknown to front his essay collection?
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth shows the scale of Tolkien's achievement
Foster describes his book as the culmination of “ten years of intermittent labour.” Whether fans have a previous edition or are coming to it for the first time with this reissue, they will agree that it was labour well spent.
Christopher Tolkien's legacy shines in The Great Tales Never End
Christopher’s approach always gave the sense of someone working faithfully in the background, out of the limelight. This new essay collection shines a light on his powerful impact on Middle-earth.
Captain Kirk's Favourite Poem
Kirk’s poetic reference highlights the tension that often comes with scientific progress – whether we belong to the age of seafarers or the age of starfarers.
Remembering Priscilla Tolkien
Living in the shadow of a famous father can be difficult. But Priscilla Tolkien always spoke of her father’s work with pleasure and pride. Fans can honour her memory by continuing to preserve that fellowship they share in their passion for J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.
The Nature of Middle-earth enhances Tolkien’s world
Even as The Nature of Middle-earth expands our knowledge of Tolkien’s world, it also shows us how unfinished it is. We can never fully catch up with the imaginings of a man who every day falls further into the past.
Star Trek at the Oscars
Few franchises can rival the enduring success of Star Trek. With 13 films across some 40 years, it is no surprise that it has also been a consistent presence at the biggest event in filmmaking – the Oscars.
A Closer Look at Benny Russell's Library
In 1998, one episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke the mould in a radical way, shining a light on the great works of African American literature.
How the United Nations Helped Shape the Federation
On UN Day, Christian Kriticos looks at how the United Nations influenced Star Trek and how Trek fans can return the favour.
Another Side of George R.R. Martin
George R. R. Martin's earlier work seems to have been forgotten, or at least overshadowed by, his colossal success with A Song of Ice and Fire and its TV adaptation, Game of Thrones.
How W.B Yeats Captured the Essence of Star Trek a Century Before its Time
To celebrate National Poetry Month, Christian Kriticos takes a look at how a W. B. Yeats poem captures the spirit of Star Trek.
Stories Behind Classic Book Covers: The Great Gatsby
Francis Cugat’s painting is perhaps the most famous book cover in American literature. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s editor understood its significance immediately, declaring it “a masterpiece for this book”.
J. M. Coetzee’s “Bread and Beans” Writing
Man shall not live by bread alone. But add some unsalted bean paste and you have all the nutrients needed for healthy, hard-working life. At least, that is, according to J. M. Coetzee's latest novel, The Schooldays of Jesus.
James Joyce and the Yuletide Epiphany
As we leave the festive season, James Joyce's The Dead represents a return to reality. For Joyce, true epiphanies do not come during Christmas, amidst wine and tinsel, but after the celebrations have died down, when we find ourselves alone.
A Reading Resolution
I am making a New Year’s resolution to embrace the unexpected book; to make an effort to read things I have never heard of, on subjects I know nothing about.
Made of Sterner Stuff: On Roald Dahl and 'Love From Boy'
This newly published collection of Roald Dahl's letters shows how devoted he was to his mother—and how lucky he was to survive the travails of English boarding school life.
Five Great Film Adaptations of American Literature
For as long as Hollywood has been making movies, it has looked to America's literary greats for inspiration. Christian Kriticos selects his five favourites adaptations—from the page to the big screen.
An Invitation to Hesitate: John Hersey’s 'Hiroshima' at 70
In August 1946, The New Yorker eschewed cartoons and “Talk of the Town” in favour of something less frivolous: a 30,000-word article on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
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