This site is updated Thursday at noon with a new article about an artistic pursuit generally considered to be beneath consideration. James Schellenberg probes science-fiction, Carol Borden draws out the best in comics, Chris Szego dallies with romance, and each month we feature a Guest Star writer on a gutter subject on their choosing.

While the writers have considerable enthusiasm for their subjects, they don't let it numb their critical faculties. Tossing away the shield of journalistic objectivity and refusing the shovel of fannish boosterism, they write in the hopes of starting honest and intelligent discussions about these oft-enjoyed but rarely examined artforms. Click here for the writer's bios and their individual takes on the gutter.

Superheros on a Slant "Justice pared down to punishment"

Evil Will Not Enter the World Through Me "Fantasy novels can be like a violent club"

Love For Sale "Untruths about Romance books."

Hopped Up on Speedrunning "Keeping up with the Joneses in the fast lane"

Tired of Saving You "Worn down and fighting the good fight"

The Well is Dry "Tolkien was king, at least when I was young"

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Chris Szego reads romance. Along with poetry, mystery, sf, non-fiction of all kinds, cereal boxes (but not horror, because she’s kind of a chicken).

Fascinated by the ocean's abyss? There's a gallery of mysterious wonder and beauty--and even more mysterious occasional cuteness--at the website for Claire Nouvian's new book about abyssal species.

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Over at Salon.com, Douglas Wolk writes a dense article about comics culture, graphic novels, collecting and nostalgia and urges comics fans, whether art or pop, to grow up: "The medium's new enemies are internal: the much less casual snobbery of the commercial mainstream and the art-comics world toward each other, and cartoonists' nostalgic yearning for the badness of the bad old days."

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Gamers With Jobs looks at the pendulum that's swinging from fantasy back to science fiction: "After ten years of elves and magic, I could use a bit of a change."

And The Escapist is the new home of Shoot Club! Awesomely nerdy dialogue reproduced faithfully, and some insights too: "There's nothing like bald math to undermine a game. The scales fall from my eyes and I cannot bear to earn another XP."

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Steam Trek: The Moving Picture is a silent setting the starship Enterprise in the steam era. In space, no one can hear you--though the music cues are neat. Go here for a full version and here for more information. (Updated and thanks to Hellblazer.net).

~View all Notes.
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