Under Apocalyptic Skies

Monstrous Women, Black Holes, and Dystopian Futures

Dear Weirdlings,

I’m writing this under apocalyptic amber skies. Evidence of the devastating California wildfire that continue to rage. In this heat and sickly orange light, it’s never felt more like the end of the world.

Over the past two nights, we’ve also experienced two power outages — both of which set back my writing process a smidge.

Which is say, my apologies for sending this week’s newsletter out a day and a half later than intended. I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s assemblage of the weird.

Movies

Brown Girl Comes Into Her Power in a Dystopian Future (Once Weird)

Sharon Lewis spent 18 years bringing her film Brown Girl Begins to the screen. Acting as a prequel and adaptation of Nalo Hopkinson’s novel, Brown Girl in the Ring, the story follows a young women who comes into her power in her fight to protect the people of the Burn.

The Elusive Accurate Stephen King Adaptation (Book Riot)

More than 80 film adaptations have been produced from Steven King’s work over the years, presenting various degrees of accuracy to the source material. Why are King’s stories so difficult to accurately adapt?

TV

Monstrous Women with Bite! The Vampiric Women of Buffy & Angel (The Nevers)

The vampires that stalk the dark streets in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel represent some of the most interesting characters in the series. Part I of this set of articles looks at the charismatic appeal of Drusilla.

The X-Files Rewatch: ‘Conduit’ (Once Weird)

When a girl goes missing in a flash of white light at Lake Okobogee, the investigation dredges up an event Mulder’s past that continues to haunt him.

Lore

The Ghost of an Angry Black Hole Still Haunts This Galaxy (SyFy)

A new image from a radio observatory unveils the secrets behind a strangely shaped, long-dead galaxy.

Literature

Bright Days, Dark Fiction: 5 Horror Reads for Summer (Tor Nightfire)

As the end of summer continues to layer on the heat, you may be longing for the cool nights of Autumn and the Halloween Haunts that come with it. Here are five horror reads to sate your appetite.

Short of the Week

In the horror comedy “A Play,” two friends attend a friend’s play and discover how terrifying supporting the arts can be.