If you watch only one Netflix show this year, please let it be this one. In the surprise hit of the decade, this 80s-style instant classic has swept the streaming world as the big must-see series.

A nostalgic throwback to the good old days of offbeat sci-fi thrillers, Stranger Things had me hooked from the opening scene. There's a bit of Dark Angel (the good parts with the young X5s, not the cheesy Jessica Alba parts), there's a lot of Silent Hill, and elements of The Goonies are sprinkled around like fairy dust.

The result is a strong and riveting series that captures not only the recent past but the style of storytelling that so often defined it. It's the perfect blend of funny and unsettling, dark yet whimsical humor with that classic feeling of creeping, undefinable horror lurking in every corner.

The characters are flawed, unpredictable and intriguing, with solid performances from the adults and older teens. However, the younger kids are, hands down, the highlight of the show.

These five child actors are absolutely awesome - "toothless wonder" Dustin in particular is a real gem - and have some of the most natural on-screen interactions I've ever seen. The whole group of them hit it out of the park but I doubt that anyone would disagree that young Millie Bobby Brown steals the screen as the long-suffering superpowered runaway, Eleven.

The premise, while not completely unique, is done so perfectly that you have to wonder why no one got it quite right before. It starts out eerie and intense, progressing slowly but persistently to a highly dramatic finish. Although much of the story is resolved, new questions are posed by the cliffhanger ending and a few things in particular set the stage for what everyone is hoping will be an even better second season.

I have nothing but praise for Jim Butcher's unique and inspired fantasy epic. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, it's the single greatest story of the genre and one of the best book series of all time.

The writing style of this series is smooth, descriptive and doesn't waste a word, the level of worldbuilding is absolutely incredible, and the plots are exciting on a level that I really can't convey. As enthused as I get about many good books, I think this is the first time I've ever actually cheered out loud, jumped out of my chair and smacked said book(s) on the couch yelling "HOLY SHIT" because it's just that exciting. The story builds up and up and up to the point where you finish each book saying "well, there's no way he can top that..." and then he does.

Furies of Calderon starts out a bit slow because there's simply so much to introduce, but it picks up about halfway through and plows ahead like a runaway steamroller, getting better and better with every book, each one bigger and more mind-blowing than the last.

First Lord's Fury, the grand finale, may be the single most epic thing I've ever read. I don't think I've ever rooted for characters as hard as I did for Tavi and Kitai. Their development from the first book to the last is really something else...they're almost completely different people by the end but it feels entirely natural as you watch them grow into these amazing, powerful roles. The supporting cast is strong as well, from Tavi's best friend, Max, to the fierce and unpredictable canim.

The Aleran universe itself is gorgeous, a perfect mish-mash of pure fantasy with the influence of ancient Rome. I've read each book 2 or 3 times now and they haven't ceased to impress me. Hands down one of my top recommendations for anyone who hasn't yet had the pleasure.

There really haven't been any worthwhile science fiction shows on TV since Stargate: Atlantis went off the air, so discovering this was a wonderful surprise. I had no idea what it was about beyond the basics, or what to expect at all, really, but once it started, I couldn't stop watching.

Humans is an extremely well done sci-fi series that, for the first time in a long time, doesn't rely on the boring, obnoxious stereotypes and tropes that plague most modern TV shows. The story is well-written and solidly developed. The characters are realistic and relatable, and their progression is believable throughout. The acting is great and very natural, and there is no cheapening of the female characters to fit some teen boy's fantasy (which seems to have become the norm for most networks, especially within this genre). Every single episode ended with me clicking straight to the next one because I just had to know what came next.

Colin Morgan in particular shines as the damaged and emotionally tortured cyborg, Leo, and the trauma of his character's life comes through in a raw, intense and beautifully heartwrenching performance that highlights just how far he's come since his Merlin days.

The only negative reviews that I've seen seem to be from MTV generation types who want everything handed to them right away and can't handle shows with a more classic feel, where the story slowly unfolds. Humans is the sort of cerebral character-driven sci-fi show that we used to get in the 90s / early 00s, not a fast-paced Hollywood style thriller, and it's perfect.

What I love most about the first season is that it's only 8 episodes long, but so much happens. The pacing isn't rushed at all and yet it packs a lot in. Things simply come together here and there, slowly, in ways that you're not expecting. I haven't been this engaged in a "real world" sci-fi series since The 4400. There's a distinct Crichton-esque feel to it and I'm looking forward to Season 2 more than anything else on TV right now.

As I barrel towards the closing page of the first manuscript in a space opera tetralogy that I started writing several years ago, I'd like to make note of some of my personal favorites of the genre. While I was outlining my own series, a childhood friend (and fellow sci-fi geek) was kind enough to give me his entire collection. Reading those many, many classics gave me a whole new understanding of science fiction literature and helped me to develop both my ideas and style in far greater detail. So in recognition of that, here's a list of "the best sci-fi books ever according to me."

Hyperion by Dan Simmons
A riveting journey across space and time as an unlikely group of pilgrims sets out on a dangerous and likely fatal mission in search of a creature that will either grant their most desperate wishes or tear them apart. Beautifully written, deeply disturbing and wildly creative. The second half, The Fall of Hyperion is intriguing as well but not quite on the same level.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A future war story that spans the cosmos, told from the perspective of a single soldier during his thousand-plus years of service as he experiences massive jumps in humanity's social and physical evolution due to relativistic effects caused by near light-speed travel back and forth from the front lines.

Old Man's War by John Scalzi
As much as I enjoyed The Forever War, this one is even better due, in large part, to the humor that it's written with. The main characters are a bunch of sarcastic, bitchy, washed up old fogeys who volunteer for military service and are subsequently transplanted into brand new super soldier bodies. Said bodies are green with silver blood and come with a neural interface called "BrainPal" (or nicknamed "asshole" by an impressive number of those serving). Although it's got it's dramatic moments, this book is primarily funny, exciting and whimsical, and I actually laughed myself to tears while reading certain parts of it on the train (drawing several "she's batshit crazy" stares). The ending leaves me wanting much more than the single short novel we got.

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

Blindsight by Peter Watts

Robot series by Isaac Asimov

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton

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I could rave about this author for days. I could write a lengthy, in-depth review of each and every individual book, but that would be a waste of time. Just go read them. Go read them all.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best book series out there. Sure, my being a lifelong ancient mythology buff enhances the experience, but even if you know nothing about the source material, his modernization of classic tales and figures is thoroughly engaging.

I stumbled across this little gem in the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe collection (Christmas and werewolves; how can you possibly go wrong?) and it is easily the funniest story I've ever read. I was literally doubled over, in tears, laughing so hard that it hurt, from start to finish. The outrageous narrative really shouldn't work but it does. This author has completely won me over with comic creativity. No matter how many times I read this one, I find it just as hilarious and ingenious. It's weird, completely ridiculous and totally over the top...so if you're looking for something more traditional and broody, this certainly isn't for you. But if you can let go and enjoy something for the preposterous, insane ride that it is, Shapeshifters Anonymous is an absolute must-read! For that matter, I recommend the whole Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology, although this was certainly the winner of the bunch.

I'm not going to bother with a full review for this one because you just need to see it. That's all, just go rent it, buy it, watch it and be blown away.

I remember sitting through Hereafter in theatres and, while I didn't love the movie overall, I found the tsunami scene impressive at the time. After seeing The Impossible, the flood in the other film just looks like a giant CGI mess. The way in which they filmed the tsunami in this one (segmented scenes with real water) takes the realism to a whole other level that I haven't seen matched by any other movie yet.

The story, based on true events recorded by a family lucky enough to survive the Boxing Day disaster, is incredibly powerful and heartwrenching. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that felt so brutal and raw. It's horrible to watch but beautifully done, and the performances will blow you away.

As a side note, I also highly recommend the documentary Tsunami: Caught on Camera, which intercuts home video footage of the tsunami from several different countries with devastating interviews with some of the survivors from those locations. It's pretty hard to watch since, unlike the family here, most of them did not have a happy ending, but it is definitely worth seeing.

This guy is so incredible, I have no words.

An intentionally generic title for one of the most creative and brilliantly non-generic films of the genre, Joss Whedon's standout supernatural horror will satisfy the nostalgic yearnings of anyone who misses the "Jossverse," as well as drawing in those who have yet to discover it.

An all out romp through crazyland, The Cabin in the Woods is, in true Joss fashion, both disturbing and humorous in equal measure. Those familiar with Whedon's work will appreciate the usual ensemble of quirky, atypical characters that defy stereotypes, accompanied by the clever, snarky banter that we've all come to expect. Former fans of Angel will particularly enjoy the obvious Wolfram and Hart feel of the company behind the curtain, whose employees alternate between being ultra professional about the demons they worship to hilariously callous about their macabre jobs.

I went into this film knowing nothing about it and that's probably the best approach. Trying to sum up the sheer imagination packed into this work of horrifying art simply wouldn't do it justice. Rest assured, it's a unique experience that will likely have you glued to your seat and entertained the whole way through. As can often be said about Joss's work, there's really nothing else like it out there. And, as a good friend of mine so eloquently put it, the last twenty minutes are simply "a clusterfuck of awesome that is not to be missed." So do yourself a favor and do not skip this one.

Any negative reviews that I've seen of this book seem to have little to do with the writing or storyline, but rather people having trouble with the content itself. The plot and characters are extremely disturbing, yes, primarily because they are so realistic. Are the nay-sayers afraid to acknowledge that such horrible things DO in fact happen in this world? I understand that Gardner did not base this story on one true event, but much of the plot is highly reminiscent of the famous abduction cases of Steven Stayner and later Shawn Hornbeck. It's a horrifying psychological study of the effects of long term child abduction and abuse, and it does its job.

I have immense respect for Gardner for not only tackling a highly controversial subject matter, but for doing it in such raw, brutal and devastating fashion that rips your heart out at every turn. If you can handle the harrowing events enough to keep reading, it is one mind-blowing novel. The unapologetic nature of the writing is what makes it so powerful, but admittedly hard for some people to stomach.

The story is told on multiple timelines from multiple points of view, which is not unusual for thrillers but is done in an especially intriguing way here. For much of the book, you aren't sure who is narrating certain chapters (which is the point, because the experiences of the young boys are so interchangeable as the cycle continues), and when things are finally made clear at the end, it's that much sadder. You despise and yet feel so much pity for the characters all at once.

Say Goodbye is far from an easy read and many people will struggle with it or flat out hate its ruthless depiction of real-life horror. But for those of us who appreciate the relentless approach, disturbing and depressing though it may be, this is one hell of a masterpiece and a truly riveting read that is not to be missed.