Matthew Kresal
@kresalwrites.bsky.social
Author, bookseller, and podcaster with many and varying interests. Doctor Who fan, writer of alternate history for Sea Lion Press & geeky analysis for Obverse Books including a book on the 1990s TV series Dark Skies.
Happy Doctor Who Day!
For this anniversary, I spent some time this evening revisiting City of Death. a utter delight to watch, full of wit and humor but not enough to overwhelm a tale that's actually got some serious stakes to it.
Here's to you, Doctor!
(Artist Unknown)
For this anniversary, I spent some time this evening revisiting City of Death. a utter delight to watch, full of wit and humor but not enough to overwhelm a tale that's actually got some serious stakes to it.
Here's to you, Doctor!
(Artist Unknown)
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Happy Doctor Who Day!
For this anniversary, I spent some time this evening revisiting City of Death. a utter delight to watch, full of wit and humor but not enough to overwhelm a tale that's actually got some serious stakes to it.
Here's to you, Doctor!
(Artist Unknown)
For this anniversary, I spent some time this evening revisiting City of Death. a utter delight to watch, full of wit and humor but not enough to overwhelm a tale that's actually got some serious stakes to it.
Here's to you, Doctor!
(Artist Unknown)
This November 10th marks also the centenary of the birth of my favorite actor: Richard Burton. To paraphrase Michael Sheen on a BBC radio documentary over a decade ago, he could make the good great, and the great magnificent.
A lasting legacy, to be sure.
A lasting legacy, to be sure.
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 AM
This November 10th marks also the centenary of the birth of my favorite actor: Richard Burton. To paraphrase Michael Sheen on a BBC radio documentary over a decade ago, he could make the good great, and the great magnificent.
A lasting legacy, to be sure.
A lasting legacy, to be sure.
The Mouse is out! Looks like we’ll be waiting until next Christmas but, hey, one of my panel suggestions for Chicago TARDIS this year might be a moot point now!
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The Mouse is out! Looks like we’ll be waiting until next Christmas but, hey, one of my panel suggestions for Chicago TARDIS this year might be a moot point now!
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
My heart aches this afternoon. Zelda passed away unexpectedly this afternoon. I hope that in those final moments she knew how much she was loved and how much I’m going to miss hearing that purr box or having her lay on me as I type on the laptop.
Rest in peace, Baby Z.
Rest in peace, Baby Z.
October 12, 2025 at 8:27 PM
My heart aches this afternoon. Zelda passed away unexpectedly this afternoon. I hope that in those final moments she knew how much she was loved and how much I’m going to miss hearing that purr box or having her lay on me as I type on the laptop.
Rest in peace, Baby Z.
Rest in peace, Baby Z.
What stopped me, you may ask? The fact that I had just a couple of days earlier on Amazon I had bought the out-of-print 1998 Doctor Who novel The Infinity Doctors by Lance Parkin. Having spent nearly $30 to acquire it, it seemed a terrible waste of money to buy it and not read it. 7/14
September 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
What stopped me, you may ask? The fact that I had just a couple of days earlier on Amazon I had bought the out-of-print 1998 Doctor Who novel The Infinity Doctors by Lance Parkin. Having spent nearly $30 to acquire it, it seemed a terrible waste of money to buy it and not read it. 7/14
Enjoy a good historically based spy story? Or like a good "what if?" alternate history tale? Our Man on The Hill asks what might have happened if the Cold War’s most infamous Red Hunter was a Soviet agent all along.
September 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Enjoy a good historically based spy story? Or like a good "what if?" alternate history tale? Our Man on The Hill asks what might have happened if the Cold War’s most infamous Red Hunter was a Soviet agent all along.
A response I saw on Instagram in regards to someone complaining about the new Superman movie and how they felt Superman didn’t “change or grow” during it. Which I’d never thought about before but which is 100% on point.
August 24, 2025 at 12:35 AM
A response I saw on Instagram in regards to someone complaining about the new Superman movie and how they felt Superman didn’t “change or grow” during it. Which I’d never thought about before but which is 100% on point.
If the best weapon the “Deep State” has on hand is a sandwich and THIS is your response, I’d say someone has a persecution complex (but we knew that anyway).
August 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
If the best weapon the “Deep State” has on hand is a sandwich and THIS is your response, I’d say someone has a persecution complex (but we knew that anyway).
I'm pleased to announce that I've returned to the latest issue of Chromakey from the wonderful folks at Pencil Tip Publishing. Join me for a look back more than seven decades when James Bond first came to the screen in a live TV version of Casino Royale.
July 22, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I'm pleased to announce that I've returned to the latest issue of Chromakey from the wonderful folks at Pencil Tip Publishing. Join me for a look back more than seven decades when James Bond first came to the screen in a live TV version of Casino Royale.
There’s the odd moment of clunky dialogue, sure, but fleeting moments only.
But, in a packed cinema as the credits rolled, I think the guy the row in front of me said it best:
“THEY DID IT: THEY GOT IT RIGHT!”
Welcome back Supes & I hope you’re here to stay this time. 5/5
#Superman #LookUp
But, in a packed cinema as the credits rolled, I think the guy the row in front of me said it best:
“THEY DID IT: THEY GOT IT RIGHT!”
Welcome back Supes & I hope you’re here to stay this time. 5/5
#Superman #LookUp
July 9, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I can see the influence of All-Star Superman on the film: Silver Age scale and fun with a modern eye for depth and characters. 4/5
July 9, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I can see the influence of All-Star Superman on the film: Silver Age scale and fun with a modern eye for depth and characters. 4/5
I think, at long last, I might have finally got one.
If you like your superheroe films brooding, dark, and morally ambiguous, this isn’t going to be for you. But if you’re looking for something full of heart, joy, and fun, something hopeful but with no less emotional punch, this is for you. 3/5
If you like your superheroe films brooding, dark, and morally ambiguous, this isn’t going to be for you. But if you’re looking for something full of heart, joy, and fun, something hopeful but with no less emotional punch, this is for you. 3/5
July 9, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I think, at long last, I might have finally got one.
If you like your superheroe films brooding, dark, and morally ambiguous, this isn’t going to be for you. But if you’re looking for something full of heart, joy, and fun, something hopeful but with no less emotional punch, this is for you. 3/5
If you like your superheroe films brooding, dark, and morally ambiguous, this isn’t going to be for you. But if you’re looking for something full of heart, joy, and fun, something hopeful but with no less emotional punch, this is for you. 3/5
July 9, 2025 at 3:44 AM
July 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Random late Sunday night thought: The All-Star Superman audio drama missed an opportunity by not casting Colin Baker as the head of P.R.O.J.E.C.T. Dr. Leo Quintum.
#IYKYK
#IYKYK
June 30, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Random late Sunday night thought: The All-Star Superman audio drama missed an opportunity by not casting Colin Baker as the head of P.R.O.J.E.C.T. Dr. Leo Quintum.
#IYKYK
#IYKYK
No offense BUT if your official magazine is having to put a question mark on its front cover regarding a piece of casting, it’s probably not a good sign. 1/3
June 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM
No offense BUT if your official magazine is having to put a question mark on its front cover regarding a piece of casting, it’s probably not a good sign. 1/3
I seem to recall certain people insisting that a certain someone had to be voted for because Harris would get us into a major shooting war within six months.
For the record: It’s been five months since Inauguration Day.
For the record: It’s been five months since Inauguration Day.
June 22, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I seem to recall certain people insisting that a certain someone had to be voted for because Harris would get us into a major shooting war within six months.
For the record: It’s been five months since Inauguration Day.
For the record: It’s been five months since Inauguration Day.
“They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son.”
June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
“They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son.”
Well, that's my entry for this year's Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trips Opportunity submitted. Despite being 0-9 after previous years. I'm still trying. We'll see if it leads anywhere or not!
June 11, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Well, that's my entry for this year's Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trips Opportunity submitted. Despite being 0-9 after previous years. I'm still trying. We'll see if it leads anywhere or not!
I realized the other day that I'd not listened to @bigfinish.bsky.social since February. That changed with a re-listen to my 1st ever audio: the 2003 Shada. Still an utter joy from McGann & Ward's chemistry to a superb cast and the right mix of comedy & tension. "Exquisite. Absolutely exquisite."
May 28, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I realized the other day that I'd not listened to @bigfinish.bsky.social since February. That changed with a re-listen to my 1st ever audio: the 2003 Shada. Still an utter joy from McGann & Ward's chemistry to a superb cast and the right mix of comedy & tension. "Exquisite. Absolutely exquisite."
And, I presume, Doctor Who as well!
May 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
And, I presume, Doctor Who as well!
Actual Draconians are appalled at this administration’s actions.
H/t to my fellow author Rick Cross over on Facebook for this.
H/t to my fellow author Rick Cross over on Facebook for this.
April 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Actual Draconians are appalled at this administration’s actions.
H/t to my fellow author Rick Cross over on Facebook for this.
H/t to my fellow author Rick Cross over on Facebook for this.
The memory cheats (a bit), but I have an answer at least as to where I first encountered the Doctor though it would be almost six more years before I discovered the series properly. So here (in the 8am Eastern listings) they are. 7/7
March 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The memory cheats (a bit), but I have an answer at least as to where I first encountered the Doctor though it would be almost six more years before I discovered the series properly. So here (in the 8am Eastern listings) they are. 7/7