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Places to Tesseract To

In Madeleine L’Engle’s classic A Wrinkle in Time, the characters quickly come to realize the advantages of using a tesseract (the titular wrinkle in time) in order to travel instantaneously to other planets. The Newbery Award-winning novel tells the story of the Murry children as they rescue their father from Camazotz, a dark planet of conformity. But as sequels to A Wrinkle in Time demonstrate, tesseracting can take the Murrys anywhere or anytime, from the farthest reaches of the galaxy into the tiniest cells.  Since the Murrys have unlimited frequent flyer miles to tesser to any time and place, we’ve got some recommendations for their next vacations!

Posted by Nick Beard

Recommended Reading List While You Wait in Line to Vote

On Election Day, some people are lucky enough to have a flexible schedule – popping in and out to vote quickly during a quiet time or sorting out early voting. Yet for others, taking time out to vote requires proper preparations, like packing snacks, clearing an indefinite amount of time, and mentally preparing to wait. Bringing a book is key. We have some suggestions on books to bring with you, from escapism to books which demonstrate our democracy at its best.

Regardless of which book tickles your fancy, what matters is joining that line to exercise your right to vote and having a say in the country’s future. So get in line and read up!

Posted by Nick Beard

Greatest Fears of Star Trek Characters

[stills from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount Television]

October, the month of Halloween, has long been the time to revel in fears and scares. For the crew of Starfleet vessels, however, they have no time for safe cathartic thrills when constantly threatened by hostile species, new forms of alien life and the harsh environment of space. It could seem counterintuitive to believe that Starfleet officers are afraid of anything when they so regularly prove themselves to be cool under pressure, calmly handling the week’s latest potentially deadly crisis. Yet these Starfleet officers have rather unconventional fears – nonplussed by a Romulan sneak attack, but intimidated by something far less deadly.

Posted by Nick Beard

The Muses: Zelda Fitzgerald & Co.

The literary incarnations of Zelda Fitzgerald are, perhaps, the original Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Though the term wasn’t coined by critic Nathan Rabin until over 50 years after Zelda’s death, the various characters based on her bring life, spirit, wealth and power to their chosen suitors.

Posted by Nick Beard

The Star Trek Suicide Squad

The rise of the anti-hero has been long heralded in pop culture, especially in the era of Peak TV. The Tony Sopranos and Walter Whites of television have battled their inner demons as morally ambiguous protagonists. While this is a less common archetype in recent science fiction and fantasy films, there are a few who step forward to test their level of morality.

Posted by Nick Beard

London Locations: Cursed Child Bucket List

If you're near the West End of London this July, you're probably like, "What's with the long lines outside the Palace Theatre?" That is, until you remember that the Palace Theatre is home to the debut production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  As London’s answer to the buzz around Hamilton (which has yet to reach the UK), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is sold out until June 2017 – and the next round of tickets are eagerly awaited.

Posted by Nick Beard