WWWednesday: February 17, 2021

James Herman Banning

James Herman Banning was a Black American aviator, part of the Bessie Coleman Aero Club in Los Angeles, and the first black pilot to fly across the continental United States. 

Contests:

Waukegan Public Library’s Ray Bradbury Writing Contest announced its winner: Orton Ortwein. Waukegan is Bradbury’s birthplace.

Writers, Writing, Reading, Books:

Scott Edelman offers hors-d’oeuvres with Mary Robinette Kowal in this episode of the Eating the Fantastic podcast.

L. Penelope Guest wrote this essay for Locus back in August, but it’s an interesting take on the purpose and meaning of fantasy.

Jason Sanford offers up a free article on his Patreon, in which he analyses comments made and amplified on Baen Books’s private forum the Baen Bar. These topics support violence against political opponents, domestic terrorism and insurrection.

The Mary Sue offers  up a lively mix of books to read in February.

Lots of books from the 1920s moved into the public domain in January. Publishers Weekly highlights some of them.

Speaking of PW, here’s a glimpse of the fantasy bestseller list this week.

Transgressions of Power

Transgressions of Power, the second book in Juliette Wade’s The Broken Trust series comes out next week. Here is a synopsis.

Movies, Streaming, TV:

With a new lead and a new Batwoman, the CW is taking the opportunity to delve into some different storytelling with the show. In this Entertainment Weekly interview, Javicia Leslie discusses Episode Four.

In the aftermath of Valentine’s Day, Robin Wright takes us back to the days of The Princess Bride.

Here’s an interesting review for Disney’s first Sci-fi mystery kids’ show, The Secret of Sulfur Springs. This reviewer has an eye to advising parents whether the show is right for their children, but touches on the main plot elements: time travel, mystery and science fiction.

Internet:

Beer is important, so here’s a story about a prehistoric brewery.

A Japanese artist who goes by lito_leafart carves images out of green leaves, and they are amazing.