Gary Paul Varner

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When a Robot Commits Suicide — an Elegy for What?
What’s frustrating about Episode 1 of Orville, Season Three is that robot Isaac’s claim to personhood is not ambiguous so much as confused and…
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Gary Varner
Should We Love or Hate an Intelligent Robot? Or Care at All?
In Season 3 of Orville that becomes a serious question
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Gary Varner
2
Who Watched the Watchmen Part 5 (Final)
Jared and Gary conclude their conversation about The Watchmen.
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Gary Varner
The MacGuffin: Big Fuss About Nothing Is Not Good Science Fiction
A MacGuffin creates a lot of action but doesn’t in any way advance the plot
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Gary Varner
September 2022
Renegade Reviews Episode 2: Who Watched the Watchmen Part 4 of 5
Gary and Jared continue their discussion of the Watchmen.
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Gary Varner
Storytelling: The Liar is Revealed! But Does Anyone Still Care?
Stories where the central character lies about something important often waste audience time without building tension
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Gary Varner
Science Fiction: Time Travel Can Work — If Clear Rules Are Chosen
I despise the Butterfly Effect in time travel stories because there is simply no way to establish what is at stake.
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Gary Varner
Episode 2: Who Watched the Watchmen Part 3 of 5
Listen now | Jared and Gary continue their discussion on the Watchmen.
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Gary Varner
Who Watched the Watchmen Part 2
Listen now (17 mins) | Gary and Jared continue discussing the watchman.
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Gary Varner
Madness: Why Sci-Fi Multiverse Stories Often Feel Boring
In a multiverse, every plot development, however implausible, is permitted because we know it won’t affect our return to the expected climax
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Gary Varner
Renegade Reviews Episode 2 Part 1: Who Watched the Watchmen?
Listen now (16 mins) | Gary Varner and Jared Hinde discuss the merits of the Watchmen (2009)
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Gary Varner
Multiverse of Madness?: It’s a Letdown for the Marvel Universe
I can’t really recommend it because spectacle trumps any sense of the story hanging together and we can infer nothing from past events
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Gary Varner
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