I may be a fantasy writer, but I also enjoy a solid sci-fi now and again. Given how much the streaming platforms are investing in shows, it's never been a better time to be a sci-fi TV show fan. My husband is currently obsessed with The Expanse, and I absolutely can't wait for the second season of Picard. The title music alone takes you straight back to the glory days of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Have a listen:
Did I buy this track to listen over and over as I write new books? Yes, I did.
But if we're talking sci-fi and outstanding musical score, there's one show that's always stood out for me: Cowboy Bebop, an anime about space cowboys released over 20 years ago about space cowboys eeking out a living in the desolate wilds of space. The soundtrack is done by blues and jazz musician Yoko Kanno, and according to her, the music began production before even the characters and storylines were finished.
If anime is not your thing, Netflix just made a live-action version of Cowboy Bebop starring John Cho (who also reprised the role of Hikaru Sulu for the Star Trek movie reboots). I was really skeptical they could bring this quirky little anime to life, but after the opening bank heist scene of episode one, I was sold. It's a wonderfully different kind of sci-fi that blends in its Japanese roots while weaving in space, cowboys, and jazz.
And Yoko Kanno came back for the soundtrack! Nothing's better than the title track Tank!
Are you a fan of Cowboy Bebop or any other great recent sci-fi show? My husband and I are always looking for a new series to watch. Send me a line at [email protected].
Books to Read in Between Shows
Draki Twins is a free story (no sign-ups required) about dragon shifter twins Zephyr and Dante. When they're out training a reckless young ice draki, they’re attacked by a mage with a vendetta, but it's only a distraction from what's really going on.
Arianna and the Spirit of the Storm is the free first book in a YA fantasy series. Hoping to rid herself of the quick-tempered Lightning Spirit trapped within her, Arianna embarks on a treacherous journey to retrieve the lost relics that could halt a devastating drought.
Monster Punk Horizon is a GameLit series of epic proportions. Pix and Jaz are two girls who just want to hunt monsters, craft armor, and pay off their college loans—but when a colossal new monster falls through the portals in the Dazzling Skies, it’ll take all their skills to survive it.
The Silents is a free YA supernatural thriller. The Silence is a group who pledge their lives to the Provider, the deity responsible for their town's good fortune and magic. Kat enlists to avoid an arranged marriage, but soon discovers there are worse things than marrying someone you don't love.
Until next time, happy adventuring!
-DM Fike
Stories by DM Fike
Available in Ebook, Paperback, and Kindle Unlimited
Magic of Nasci Nature Wizard series
A secret society of wizards live in our national forests, protecting nature against supernatural threats. Ina may command the four elements at her fingertips, but she can’t stop the savage creature leaving corpses along the Oregon coast. Will summoning forbidden lightning defeat her enemy, or will the storm destroy Ina first?
Legends of Llenwald Portal Fantasy Trilogy
As Avalon gets pulled toward a secret world where others covet her legendary powers, she must decide whom to trust—an amnesiac fairy, a shapeshifting trickster, or even her former doctor—all of whom may only be exploiting her for their own gain.
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