Fire and Ice - Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta [Movie Poster]

 

OK. Its not a book cover, exactly but I would say it is pulpish. The Italian poster for Ralph Bakshi, and Frank Frazetta's movie Fire & Ice!

Conan the Barbarian [L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter]

 

Nothing much to add. I think this will be a new feature, posting Pulp/Science Fiction covers.

The less politically correct, the better.

Joker [And Our Unhinged Media Elite]

Let me begin by saying. I think those who worked on this movie's first purpose was to create a breakdown of what makes Batman's greatest villain, who and what he is.

When JJ Abrams Gets his Mitts on Superman [It Won't be Pretty]

If you hate Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, and the present state of the DCEU now, just wait until JJ Abrams gets his mitts on Superman. It won't be a pretty picture. However I bet it will be highly praised by establishment media. If the state of Star Wars and Star Trek can help us gauge the result.

A Revitalized Republic and Jedi Order

The Star Wars Prequels were about the Republic and Jedi Order's downfall, The Original Trilogy, the middle part of the story was about reclaiming what had been lost...

The Sequel Trilogy should have been about a revitalized Republic, and Jedi Order facing a new threat, or even the vestiges of Palpatine's Empire, but in that case the Empire should have been the insurgents, not "Resistance" as there would be no such thing since the Republic would be functional and not destroyed in one fell swoop... Instead we got Sequels Showing us, our original heroes, actions were all in vain. They were depicted as failures, and cowards.

Here's how I would have broadly done the Sequels.

Kissing Cousins [Rey and Kylo Ren: The Rise of Skywalker]

Did no one at Disney think to tell JJ Abrams, that Sheev Palpatine is Anakin Skywalker's father?

I'm totally OK with Disney making Sheev Palpatine Anakin's father - This is one of those little tidbits which actually enhanced the overall Star Wars story for me, and is far more satisfying than having an off screen, never revealed Darth Plagueis mess about with the Force to get here.

Its also the simpler explanation.

But it makes this...

All sorts of icky...
....
...

Star Wars: The Original Trilogy [Harmy Despecialized Edition]

I used to have no problem with the Star Wars: Special Editions. After all, Star Wars was Lucas's baby, he could do with it what he pleased.

And than, Disney happened...

Given the current wreckage that is Star Wars, outside of The Mandalorian, I've lately been reconsidering "The Special Editions" and have come to regard them as no less cultural vandalism than the recontextualization that Disney itself has been attempting, and will probably complete by the end of The Rise of Skywalker.

The Mandalorian and General Thoughts About Star Wars

I like the The Mandalorian, its not a perfect show, but so far its the best Star Wars we've gotten from Disney. I fear though, that might not last.

I also like Rogue One. It took great pains to not stomp on A New Hope, or the Original Trilogy, even going as far as to kill off its new characters to preserve canon. I can only assume at the time, Disney's Star Wars Social Justice Writers Room had not yet become brave enough to jump off that cliff when this movie was made.

Ishtar In Space [The Rise of Skywalker]

Its quoted, by Doomcock that someone in the Disney Star Wars writers room congratulated the writers on making "Ishtar in Space". This happened in regard to retconning Rey, to be the Chosen One and the Last Hope of the Galaxy. The figure Yoda alluded to Obi-Wan to, in The Empire Strikes Back.

The Leaks Are Real [Rise of Skywalker]

Doomcock was correct, his sources are real and The Rise of Skywalker is a dumpster fire that destroys the Original Trilogy.

Books I Like: The Romulan Way by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood

Blurb:

They are a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all. They are cousin to the Vulcan, ally to the Klingon, and Starfleet's most feared and cunning adversary. They are the Romulans – and for eight years, Federation Agent Terise LoBrutto has hidden in their midst. 
Now the presence of a captured Starfleet officer forces her to make a fateful choice between exposure and escape. Between maintaining her cover – and saving the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy. 
Here, in a startlingly different adventure, is the truth behind one of the most fascinating alien races ever created in Star Trek – the Romulans.

Not only is this a good Star Trek book, from a time when Trek novels were allowed to go off on their own threads, and be their own thing - Its a highly enjoyable Sci-fi read.