s movie-oriented sites go, Hollywood Elsewhere leans to the serious end of the spectrum, caring far more about the substance of films than the buzz that surrounds them. Heavy on text and light on glossy celebrity photos, it is a place where Web surfers can read old-fashioned film criticism from writers like Brazilian film critic Pablo Villaca or outspoken teenage reviewer Jett Wells.
The writers behind this site are a discerning and thought-provoking group, people who look past the hype to a film's true merits and flaws. Well informed, articulate and honest, they offer up quirky features on everything from what constitutes a good "downer" movie (meaning the super-depressing Leaving Las Vegas or Casino genre of film) to religious and anti-smoking themes in Constantine ... and the lack of any truly interesting contenders for this year's upcoming Academy Awards.
Talk of serious film criticism shouldn't scare visitors away, though—Hollywood Elsewhere is never dry or academic. Its snarkily delicious "Trailer Trash" section examines movie previews for upcoming films, while an irreverent news area provides offbeat and obscure factoids about movie projects and filmmakers. The site has a DVD review section, naturally enough, as well as an area for reader rants.
The lack of flash at Hollywood Elsewhere makes it a rarity among movie sites, a calm, uncluttered and eminently readable Web page whose creators have a passionate but clear-eyed affection for movies of all types, and whose reviews will bring fans back time and again.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—February 14, 2005
he Internet home of SF author Kim Stanley Robinson is a place where fans can find out about his newest novels and older works, even as they glean a few tiny insights about the versatile creator of The Years of Rice and Salt and the hilarious Escape From Kathmandu. Visitors can also use this site as a launch point for connecting with Robinson fans across the world.
Winner of several Hugo and Nebula awards, Robinson keeps the focus within his site on his writing and career, providing interview links, book descriptions, a comprehensive bibliography, reviews and quotes from critics. This is not one of those author pages that's crammed with essays about a writer's hobbies and family photos—it is cool and straightforward in tone. The page isn't lacking for personal touches, though—for readers new to his work, for example, Robinson recommends The Gold Coast as an entry point into his fiction, identifying it as a good place to start before jumping into the famous Mars trilogy. It is a useful tip, the more so because Robinson does not have sample chapters posted from any of his works.
Another element that distinguishes this site from other author Web pages is "The Demimonde," a discussion forum whose topics include general SF chat, science and nature research, philosophy, current events and politics as well as Robinson's own work. For those who can't get enough of hard SF and the rigorous scientific thinking that goes with it, this forum also contains a very active discussion specifically about the terraforming and space sciences research Robinson engaged in while writing the Mars trilogy.
Robinson is an author whose work satisfies on many levels, providing top-notch science, interesting characters, lots of suspense and intriguing political thought, all in one textual package. His site is less multifaceted—it lacks the sense of fun that characterizes those of many other authors—but it makes up for it by being clear, concise and informative.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—February 7, 2005
uturismic's FAQ says it all: It is a site "for people interested in the future and the effects of science and technology on the present." Equal parts blog, essay archive and fiction magazine, this site grapples cheerfully with humanity's future—not merely questioning where
we are going, but pointing out all the scenery along the route.
A glance through the site's recent blog entries shows links to articles on the Chinese space program, information about tsunami detection technologies and a piece about downloadable "SHHH!" cards that Web surfers can print and then hand out to rude cell-phone users. Every day brings new gems to light: the sort of items that inspire SF writers, delight gamers and thrill anyone interested in the advance of science. There are few puff pieces and no entertainment news: The site publishes fiction, but in every other way Futurismic's focus is on the real world.
Futurismic was created by SF writers—among them Judith Berman and John W. Campbell Award nominee Tobias Buckell. Hip and charming, it is a site whose blog alone would make daily visits worthwhile. But there's more: For one thing, terrific SF stories by Jay Lake, Tom Doyle, Carrie
Vaugn and others began appearing on the web page in May 2004. The Futurismic team is also constantly adding to its small archive of essays, with pieces on writing, the ongoing Industrial Revolution and futuristic traffic enforcement.
Barely a year old, this site is already one of the best gateways to the most interesting science and technology writing—not to mention fiction—on the Web.
—A.M. Dellamonica
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