Seth Lukas Hynes
@sethhyneswriter.bsky.social
I'm a writer and film critic from Australia. I'm the weekly film critic for the Star Mail newspaper chain (10+ years), and write articles, essays and science fiction. I enjoy movies, prog-rock, video games, collecting vintage Macs and walking for exercise
Did you know that Peter Gabriel has a voice role and a song (Curtains) in the game Myst 4: Revelation from 2004?
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Did you know that Peter Gabriel has a voice role and a song (Curtains) in the game Myst 4: Revelation from 2004?
"Oh wait — you mean Dead Tim? Went to his funeral Wednesday last, I did. Tiniest coffin I ever seen."
(Source: Chris and Jack's brilliant comedy short film If Scrooge Slept In.)
youtu.be/HZVE1Tb9Vdo?...
(Source: Chris and Jack's brilliant comedy short film If Scrooge Slept In.)
youtu.be/HZVE1Tb9Vdo?...
December 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"Oh wait — you mean Dead Tim? Went to his funeral Wednesday last, I did. Tiniest coffin I ever seen."
(Source: Chris and Jack's brilliant comedy short film If Scrooge Slept In.)
youtu.be/HZVE1Tb9Vdo?...
(Source: Chris and Jack's brilliant comedy short film If Scrooge Slept In.)
youtu.be/HZVE1Tb9Vdo?...
Avatar: Fire And Ash is fine. 🤷♀️
Like the previous two Avatar films, the action is exciting and the visuals are beautiful and staggeringly realistic, but the characters are bland and the conflict carries little weight.
Like the previous two Avatar films, the action is exciting and the visuals are beautiful and staggeringly realistic, but the characters are bland and the conflict carries little weight.
December 19, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Avatar: Fire And Ash is fine. 🤷♀️
Like the previous two Avatar films, the action is exciting and the visuals are beautiful and staggeringly realistic, but the characters are bland and the conflict carries little weight.
Like the previous two Avatar films, the action is exciting and the visuals are beautiful and staggeringly realistic, but the characters are bland and the conflict carries little weight.
I was so sure that General Frances Ardmore in Avatar: Fire And Ash (she’s also in Avatar: The Way Of Water) was played by Robin Wright, but nope – it’s Edie Falco.
December 19, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I was so sure that General Frances Ardmore in Avatar: Fire And Ash (she’s also in Avatar: The Way Of Water) was played by Robin Wright, but nope – it’s Edie Falco.
Some shelves can store significantly more — you basically get an extra row/level — if you turn them upside-down.
December 19, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Some shelves can store significantly more — you basically get an extra row/level — if you turn them upside-down.
After Man is one of my most cherished books from my childhood.
This, Spacecraft: 2000 To 2100 AD, Barlowe's Guide To Extraterrestrials, Galactic Aliens and Tour Of The Universe fostered in me a love of science fiction artfully presented as non-fiction.
I don't really like Man After Man, though...
This, Spacecraft: 2000 To 2100 AD, Barlowe's Guide To Extraterrestrials, Galactic Aliens and Tour Of The Universe fostered in me a love of science fiction artfully presented as non-fiction.
I don't really like Man After Man, though...
December 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
After Man is one of my most cherished books from my childhood.
This, Spacecraft: 2000 To 2100 AD, Barlowe's Guide To Extraterrestrials, Galactic Aliens and Tour Of The Universe fostered in me a love of science fiction artfully presented as non-fiction.
I don't really like Man After Man, though...
This, Spacecraft: 2000 To 2100 AD, Barlowe's Guide To Extraterrestrials, Galactic Aliens and Tour Of The Universe fostered in me a love of science fiction artfully presented as non-fiction.
I don't really like Man After Man, though...
If I find one at a decent price, I'm tempted to get an iMac Pro.
They're not as upgradable as the Mac Pro, but they're still extremely powerful Macs and lack the compatibility issues of the 2019 Mac Pro, which is limited to 10.15 Catalina and later.
They're not as upgradable as the Mac Pro, but they're still extremely powerful Macs and lack the compatibility issues of the 2019 Mac Pro, which is limited to 10.15 Catalina and later.
December 18, 2025 at 1:52 AM
If I find one at a decent price, I'm tempted to get an iMac Pro.
They're not as upgradable as the Mac Pro, but they're still extremely powerful Macs and lack the compatibility issues of the 2019 Mac Pro, which is limited to 10.15 Catalina and later.
They're not as upgradable as the Mac Pro, but they're still extremely powerful Macs and lack the compatibility issues of the 2019 Mac Pro, which is limited to 10.15 Catalina and later.
So does the severe shortness of much of modern pop.
Maybe I’m too far in the other direction – I love prog-rock, which can be 5, 8, 10, 15, 20+ minutes long – but I listened to My Oh My by Kylie Minogue, a nice enough love song, and thought with some dismay, ‘This isn’t even three minutes long.’ :(
Maybe I’m too far in the other direction – I love prog-rock, which can be 5, 8, 10, 15, 20+ minutes long – but I listened to My Oh My by Kylie Minogue, a nice enough love song, and thought with some dismay, ‘This isn’t even three minutes long.’ :(
December 17, 2025 at 11:21 PM
So does the severe shortness of much of modern pop.
Maybe I’m too far in the other direction – I love prog-rock, which can be 5, 8, 10, 15, 20+ minutes long – but I listened to My Oh My by Kylie Minogue, a nice enough love song, and thought with some dismay, ‘This isn’t even three minutes long.’ :(
Maybe I’m too far in the other direction – I love prog-rock, which can be 5, 8, 10, 15, 20+ minutes long – but I listened to My Oh My by Kylie Minogue, a nice enough love song, and thought with some dismay, ‘This isn’t even three minutes long.’ :(
I just wrote an article about the novel There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, and my analysis draws upon The King In Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, The Man In The High Castle by Philip K. Dick, the work of Nick Bostrom, and Doctor Who in a couple different ways.
I really enjoyed writing this. :D
I really enjoyed writing this. :D
December 17, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I just wrote an article about the novel There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, and my analysis draws upon The King In Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, The Man In The High Castle by Philip K. Dick, the work of Nick Bostrom, and Doctor Who in a couple different ways.
I really enjoyed writing this. :D
I really enjoyed writing this. :D
Have you seen the Doctor Who special Last Christmas?
Doctor Who Christmas specials generally aren’t very good, but Last Christmas is a GREAT episode that essentially combines Alien and Inception, but with Santa Claus (played by Nick Frost!) as a main character.
Doctor Who Christmas specials generally aren’t very good, but Last Christmas is a GREAT episode that essentially combines Alien and Inception, but with Santa Claus (played by Nick Frost!) as a main character.
December 17, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Have you seen the Doctor Who special Last Christmas?
Doctor Who Christmas specials generally aren’t very good, but Last Christmas is a GREAT episode that essentially combines Alien and Inception, but with Santa Claus (played by Nick Frost!) as a main character.
Doctor Who Christmas specials generally aren’t very good, but Last Christmas is a GREAT episode that essentially combines Alien and Inception, but with Santa Claus (played by Nick Frost!) as a main character.
I'm still grateful to the Star Mail for publishing my year-end best and worst film lists every year (they published my worst list in last week's issue), and my regular film reviews every week (since April 2014), but what in the hell were they thinking REMOVING THE NUMBERS from my best films list?
December 16, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I'm still grateful to the Star Mail for publishing my year-end best and worst film lists every year (they published my worst list in last week's issue), and my regular film reviews every week (since April 2014), but what in the hell were they thinking REMOVING THE NUMBERS from my best films list?
Have you seen Possessor?
Possessor, directed by David Cronenberg’s son Brandon Cronenberg, is probably my favourite film of the decade so far.
Possessor, directed by David Cronenberg’s son Brandon Cronenberg, is probably my favourite film of the decade so far.
December 16, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Have you seen Possessor?
Possessor, directed by David Cronenberg’s son Brandon Cronenberg, is probably my favourite film of the decade so far.
Possessor, directed by David Cronenberg’s son Brandon Cronenberg, is probably my favourite film of the decade so far.
I should try Control again.
Despite the amazing atmosphere, intriguing concepts and dynamic combat, I gave up on it earlier this year because, like Silksong, I found it very hard and a bit tedious, but in hindsight it wasn't nearly as tough as Silksong.
Despite the amazing atmosphere, intriguing concepts and dynamic combat, I gave up on it earlier this year because, like Silksong, I found it very hard and a bit tedious, but in hindsight it wasn't nearly as tough as Silksong.
December 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I should try Control again.
Despite the amazing atmosphere, intriguing concepts and dynamic combat, I gave up on it earlier this year because, like Silksong, I found it very hard and a bit tedious, but in hindsight it wasn't nearly as tough as Silksong.
Despite the amazing atmosphere, intriguing concepts and dynamic combat, I gave up on it earlier this year because, like Silksong, I found it very hard and a bit tedious, but in hindsight it wasn't nearly as tough as Silksong.
I should play Ripper, which has Paul Giamatti as part of one of the most stacked casts ever in a video game.
Ripper got a Mac port, and I can run it on several of my old OS 9 Macs. :D
I learned about Ripper from The Spoony One (@thespoonyone.bsky.social). I still really enjoy his FMV Hell videos. :)
Ripper got a Mac port, and I can run it on several of my old OS 9 Macs. :D
I learned about Ripper from The Spoony One (@thespoonyone.bsky.social). I still really enjoy his FMV Hell videos. :)
December 14, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I should play Ripper, which has Paul Giamatti as part of one of the most stacked casts ever in a video game.
Ripper got a Mac port, and I can run it on several of my old OS 9 Macs. :D
I learned about Ripper from The Spoony One (@thespoonyone.bsky.social). I still really enjoy his FMV Hell videos. :)
Ripper got a Mac port, and I can run it on several of my old OS 9 Macs. :D
I learned about Ripper from The Spoony One (@thespoonyone.bsky.social). I still really enjoy his FMV Hell videos. :)
So how does Mendel factor in this?
December 14, 2025 at 11:20 AM
So how does Mendel factor in this?
Sam Bridges carries an unborn baby in his artificial womb.
That would make Sam a woman by Musk's definition.
That would make Sam a woman by Musk's definition.
December 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Sam Bridges carries an unborn baby in his artificial womb.
That would make Sam a woman by Musk's definition.
That would make Sam a woman by Musk's definition.
@katwatchesfilms.bsky.social
What do Train Dreams and 2001: A Space Odyssey have in common? ;)
(This isn't a joke, to be clear.)
What do Train Dreams and 2001: A Space Odyssey have in common? ;)
(This isn't a joke, to be clear.)
December 13, 2025 at 9:55 AM
@katwatchesfilms.bsky.social
What do Train Dreams and 2001: A Space Odyssey have in common? ;)
(This isn't a joke, to be clear.)
What do Train Dreams and 2001: A Space Odyssey have in common? ;)
(This isn't a joke, to be clear.)
I’m rereading the enthralling novel There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm.
The novel is a product of the SCP Foundation online fiction community. I read the self-published original version a while back, and this professional new edition has all the SCP references removed for rights reasons.
The novel is a product of the SCP Foundation online fiction community. I read the self-published original version a while back, and this professional new edition has all the SCP references removed for rights reasons.
December 13, 2025 at 5:23 AM
I’m rereading the enthralling novel There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm.
The novel is a product of the SCP Foundation online fiction community. I read the self-published original version a while back, and this professional new edition has all the SCP references removed for rights reasons.
The novel is a product of the SCP Foundation online fiction community. I read the self-published original version a while back, and this professional new edition has all the SCP references removed for rights reasons.
I'm very glad to see Iron Lung, a small indie horror film and Markiplier's directorial debut, receive such an enormous cinema release, with nearly 1800 cinemas (across all fifty US states) at last count.
I really hope Iron Lung comes to Australian cinemas. 🤞🤞
I really hope Iron Lung comes to Australian cinemas. 🤞🤞
December 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I'm very glad to see Iron Lung, a small indie horror film and Markiplier's directorial debut, receive such an enormous cinema release, with nearly 1800 cinemas (across all fifty US states) at last count.
I really hope Iron Lung comes to Australian cinemas. 🤞🤞
I really hope Iron Lung comes to Australian cinemas. 🤞🤞
I quit after a while.
It looks like the Reptiles will keep advancing and regressing in atomic fire until the Sun dies. :(
I LOVE this game.
And I love the computer I ran it on — my transparent, SSD-upgraded iBook with a slot-loading optical drive. ❤️
It looks like the Reptiles will keep advancing and regressing in atomic fire until the Sun dies. :(
I LOVE this game.
And I love the computer I ran it on — my transparent, SSD-upgraded iBook with a slot-loading optical drive. ❤️
December 11, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I quit after a while.
It looks like the Reptiles will keep advancing and regressing in atomic fire until the Sun dies. :(
I LOVE this game.
And I love the computer I ran it on — my transparent, SSD-upgraded iBook with a slot-loading optical drive. ❤️
It looks like the Reptiles will keep advancing and regressing in atomic fire until the Sun dies. :(
I LOVE this game.
And I love the computer I ran it on — my transparent, SSD-upgraded iBook with a slot-loading optical drive. ❤️
If any dummies still think lizard people secretly run the world, this simulation, and how the Reptile civilisation has devastated my planet and never progressed beyond the Atomic Age, should cure them of their delusions.
December 11, 2025 at 11:58 AM
If any dummies still think lizard people secretly run the world, this simulation, and how the Reptile civilisation has devastated my planet and never progressed beyond the Atomic Age, should cure them of their delusions.
Trichordates are animals with three-sided body plans from about 550 million years ago. They have no living descendants, and their inclusion in SimEarth was intended as a second chance.
With a three-sided body and presumably three limbs, aren't humanlike trichordates basically Wellsian Martians?
With a three-sided body and presumably three limbs, aren't humanlike trichordates basically Wellsian Martians?
December 11, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Trichordates are animals with three-sided body plans from about 550 million years ago. They have no living descendants, and their inclusion in SimEarth was intended as a second chance.
With a three-sided body and presumably three limbs, aren't humanlike trichordates basically Wellsian Martians?
With a three-sided body and presumably three limbs, aren't humanlike trichordates basically Wellsian Martians?
@bhaalspawn.bsky.social
Inspired by our SimEarth "flirting", I ran a game of SimEarth on my iBook. :)
A Radiate (jellyfish) civilisation emerged and quickly died out. A highly successful Trichordate civilisation developed, reached the Nanotech age and left for the stars (the effective win state).
Inspired by our SimEarth "flirting", I ran a game of SimEarth on my iBook. :)
A Radiate (jellyfish) civilisation emerged and quickly died out. A highly successful Trichordate civilisation developed, reached the Nanotech age and left for the stars (the effective win state).
December 11, 2025 at 11:58 AM
@bhaalspawn.bsky.social
Inspired by our SimEarth "flirting", I ran a game of SimEarth on my iBook. :)
A Radiate (jellyfish) civilisation emerged and quickly died out. A highly successful Trichordate civilisation developed, reached the Nanotech age and left for the stars (the effective win state).
Inspired by our SimEarth "flirting", I ran a game of SimEarth on my iBook. :)
A Radiate (jellyfish) civilisation emerged and quickly died out. A highly successful Trichordate civilisation developed, reached the Nanotech age and left for the stars (the effective win state).
Do trichordates open the possibility of a third person with us? 😏
December 11, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Do trichordates open the possibility of a third person with us? 😏
As a teenager, I probably would never have finished Riven, Myst's sequel with notoriously difficult puzzles, without a walkthrough.
Going back to difficulty, I think Myst 4: Revelation is the worst game in the series, and it has an awful monkey puzzle that almost made me quit the game.
Going back to difficulty, I think Myst 4: Revelation is the worst game in the series, and it has an awful monkey puzzle that almost made me quit the game.
December 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
As a teenager, I probably would never have finished Riven, Myst's sequel with notoriously difficult puzzles, without a walkthrough.
Going back to difficulty, I think Myst 4: Revelation is the worst game in the series, and it has an awful monkey puzzle that almost made me quit the game.
Going back to difficulty, I think Myst 4: Revelation is the worst game in the series, and it has an awful monkey puzzle that almost made me quit the game.