edicated to the dean of science fiction writers, Wegrokit is a storehouse of information on Robert A. Heinlein. Visually quiet, with a journalistic tone and matter-of-fact writing style, this Web page is a great introduction of this author's life and writing career.
The backbone of the site is its listing of all Heinlein's published works, which comes with reviews, notes on various editions and a gallery of book cover scans. There is also an FAQ, of course, one that opens with a biography and then moves on to tackling subjects like the differences between Heinlein's juvenile and adult fiction, the three early stories the author dubbed "stinkeroos" and the various periods of his career. The FAQ also thoughtfully provides a listing of Heinlein discussion topics sure to start spirited—even heated—online conversations.
Additional contents of the Wegrokit information archive include sound files (including audio clips of Heinlein interviews), information on the Heinlein memorial blood drives and a range of feature articles—some serious, some less so. One essay, for example, compares Starship Troopers with Joe Haldeman's Forever War and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, while another is a filk tribute to Heinlein and a third is about the thematic use of polyamory in the work of Heinlein and Aldous Huxley.
One of the most delicious tidbits on the site is a transcript from NASA's Apollo 15 mission, detailing a moment when the crew quotes the blind poet Rhysling from the story "The Green Hills of Earth," reflecting on their fondness for the story and the accuracy of Heinlein's imaginative vision. This brief discussion is a powerful reminder of the links between space exploration and science fiction, between the works of writers and the people they inspire.
Wegrokit's links point outward to a host of other excellent resources on Heinlein—tributes, humor pieces, other essays, discussion forums and foreign-language pages. Though with diligent reading a fan might consume every scrap of Heinlein information this site has to offer, this thoughtful index of links will open up a nearly inexhaustible supply of data on this remarkable and often controversial author.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—June 21, 2004
he Texas Bigfoot Research Center is quick to point out that Sasquatch sightings have never been confined—as some may expect—to the Pacific Northwest. Rather, reports of this elusive (or is it nonexistent?) creature span the North American continent. And wherever he may be lurking, it falls to cryptozoology organizations from Arizona to Virginia to track Bigfoot's
various appearances.
This site, created by Texas-based Bigfoot trackers, is one of the best of a nationwide network, offering extensive links to Sasquatch-watching clubs in other states, cryptozoology events listings, a map of the Texas Bigfoot range, a history of the creature's appearances in the state, book recommendations and reviews and even an online store. The Web page also features a detailed online form for visitors wishing to report a sighting, as well as links to any and all media articles about Sasquatch encounters in Texas and elsewhere.
Perhaps the most entertaining section of this page—for believers and skeptics alike—is its FAQ, which among other things defines Bigfoot, discusses his physiology and behavior, explains why nobody has ever found Sasquatch roadkill, analyzes evidence of the creature's existence and discusses well-known Bigfoot sightings while discussing whether they are hoaxes.
Whether a Web surfer genuinely wants to believe or simply wishes for a tour of the world of those who do, the Texas Bigfoot Research Center is a comprehensive guide to one of North America's most enduring and widespread mysteries.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—June 14, 2004
ver since his first appearance in the pages of 1962's Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man has been a pillar of the superhero genre. Even fans whose first serious introduction to this most self-doubting and human of heroes came with the 2002 feature film must have some sense of the depth of Peter Parker's story. It is impossible to imagine pop culture without Spidey—without radioactive spiders, the Hobgoblin or the enduring catch phrase "With great power comes great responsibility." Even the theme to the cheesy 1960s cartoon version of Spider-Man is iconic, one that has been repeatedly covered by musical artists, including jazz crooner Tim Tamashiro and, most famously, The Ramones.
It takes a site like Spiderfan, though, to show how deep the lore goes. The tireless and devoted staff of this amazing Web site has put together a massive database of facts covering collectibles, reviews of individual comics, titles, artists and writers. If there is something about Spider-Man this site hasn't covered, it must be beyond obscure: Every comic issue is
listed, every television show not only mentioned but indexed episode by episode, every Spider-Man theme park ride or trading card itemized. Even the people in Spidey's life, from the beloved Aunt May to the homicidal Venom, have complete biographies.
Spiderfan offers news, letters, fan art, polls and tongue-in-cheek top-10 lists with titles like "Worst Things Marvel Can Do to Spider-Man" and "Villains That Need to Return." What it doesn't provide is a fan fiction archive or message boards. For these services, Spiderfan refers visitors, via a long and well-indexed links page, to excellent web resources elsewhere. This is a site, in other words, whose creators would rather do some things spectacularly than try being all things to everyone.
— A.M. Dellamonica
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