User Unfriendly by Vivian Vande Velde

 

This book takes place in the same universe as Heir Apparent but is about a completely new cast of characters. Like in the other book Arvin and his friends are playing in a fantastical virtual reality game where they are the characters they invented. But when Arvin’s mother, who is also playing, starts to get deathly ill, they will need all their wits to beat the game and return to the real world to save her. This I would say straddles the line between fantasy and science fiction. On the one hand, our characters are playing a extremely advanced virtual reality game. On the other hand they are playing a fantasy game. Vande Velde always does a great job. 

Brothers in Arms by LuthienTauriel

 

Another one of mine. As I have mentioned in previous posts about my own work I have limited the access to my fanfic. I had too many con artists writing to me saying “I drew you this picture, now you owe me money.” I monitor all comments now and only registered users can read my work. Anyway, this is a Star Wars Rebels fanfic. The epilogue of Rebels informs us that Zeb brought Kallus to Lira San, the Lasat home world. This is that story. I had fun writing it because their friendship is one of my favorite relationships in the series. 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57530905/chapters/146377864

The Herculoids (1967-1968)

 

In this cartoon, King Zandor with his group of crazy looking creatures including some that just look like giant blobs must keep their world safe from aliens from other galaxies. This was one of those shows that I wouldn’t seek out but would always watch when it popped up on Boomarang. It’s enjoyable. 

Across the Spiderverse (2023)

 

The sequel to Into the Spiderverse. This finds Miles Morales once again teaming up with Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker and a whole new host of Spidermans to stop a villain that was created in the previous movie. It’s a fun movie even if it ended on a major cliffhanger that has yet to be resolved and I found Spiderman Miguel to be extremely annoying. I did enjoy the reference to Spiderman: No Way Home though as another multidimensional Spiderman movie. 

Green Lantern (2011)

 

I don’t think this movie deserves all the hate it gets. Is it good? Not really. Is the CGI horrible? Yes. But hey, Ryan, it got you out of the romcoms and you met your current wife on set. Anyway, the movie follows Hal Jordan, a pilot, who is chosen to be the next Green Lantern. It has a few fun references to other franchises when he is trying to access his lantern. It’s a stupid superhero movie and I still kind of like it. 

The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1987)

 

Jane Watson is bankrupt. She has to sell her English country estate belonging to John Watson (yes, that John Watson). When she goes in, she finds a cryogenic chamber containing one Sherlock Holmes who had come down with Bubonic Plague when he received a booby trapped gift. After curing Holmes, they both go back to America. Jane and Holmes are then pulled into a modern mystery greatly resembling the classic Conan Doyle story “The Sign of the Four.” It is really a decent modern Holmes story. 

Rogue One (2016)

 

Taking place shortly before the events of A New Hope, Rogue One is about the people trying to get the plans for the Death Star safely into the Rebellion’s hands. There are no Jedi, although Chirrut Imwe is a sort of Force wielder. What I loved about this movie is that it was all new characters. Yes Darth Vader makes an appearance and so does an AI Moff Tarkin. Bail Organa does make an appearance. And a bad AI Princess Leia. But for the most part the main characters are people completely new to the franchise. So you don’t know how their story is going to end. And it’s refreshing.