Psychology Bad

by Ed Connoron shows created by Joss Whedon

In the Buffyverse, the bad guys are arch-demons and their minions. Their most potent and fearsome weapon is magic. In the Firefly ’verse, the bad guys are Alliance government higher-ups (“key members of parliament”) and their operatives. What is their most powerful and frightening weapon? It’s not military–armed conflict is fairly conventional, the unsuccessful war for independence is over, and the government maintains only an occasional military presence near the border planets. It’s not information technology–Captain Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of Serenity fly beneath the government’s radar and neatly elude detection at every turn. It’s not genetics or cybernetics–Joss’s vision of the future is refreshingly free of aliens, mutants, and robots (all the characters are very recognizably human). Instead, the really scary stuff in the series Firefly and the movie Serenity, the homologue to magic, the most insidious weapon, is neuroscience.

The two central mysteries that drive the larger story … read more»

Recent Free Essays (Still Available!)

Available Until
Mon 11/25

An Analysis of Slayer Longevity

by Tracy R. Gleason, Nancy S. Weinfieldon shows created by Joss Whedon

“A Slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn’t in the brochure.”

-Spike, “School Hard” (2-4)

The following report has been commissioned by a concerned party who seeks to understand issues related to slayer effectiveness and longevity. Once called, slayers, due to the nature of their mission, have … read more»

Available Until
Fri 11/22

Many Faces

by Sharon L. Plotkinon CSI

It is very early in the morning and once again, I have seen a beautiful sunrise with a man who is not my husband. And as if this man is not enough, I share myself with several. Men who have seen me look my worst, in the filthiest conditions and … read more»

Available Until
Thu 11/21

Accountability for Acts of War in the Hunger Games

by V. Arrowon the Hunger Games trilogy

Although Mockingjay is easily the least popular of the three Hunger Games series novels, it is not due to any lack of intrigue, excitement, romance, world-building, or character development. Most commonly, this is attributed to the final novel’s lack of continued delineation between “good characters” like Gale and Peeta and … read more»

Available Until
Wed 11/20

How Panem Came to Be

by V. Arrowon the Hunger Games trilogy

Although conjectures about geological cataclysm would explain the physical borders–perhaps even the provincial organization–of Panem, its true dystopian horror comes from a cataclysm of a more anthropogenic nature. Panem is post-apocalyptic because of the end of our known world geography, but it is dystopian because of its political, socioeconomic, and … read more»