D.C.'s International Spy Museum salutes '50 years of Bond Villains'

Do you have what it takes to be James Bond? You can test yourself at the new exhibit “Exquisitely Evil: 50 years of Bond Villains,” which just opened at the International Spy Museum. It runs through 2014. | 11/19/12 10:15:53 By - Tish Wells

‘The Watchers’ offers Elizabethan intrigue, history and espionage

If you’re looking for something that combines Elizabethan intrigue, history and espionage, try Stephen Alford’s “The Watchers.” | 11/14/12 15:02:25 By - Tish Wells

Holiday season for ‘Star Wars’ book fans

If you have a “Star Wars” fan in your family, you may end up wondering what to get them. Don’t worry — Lucasfilm has got you covered. It’s intent on providing all your book needs this Christmas season. | 11/07/12 11:59:05 By - Tish Wells

Graphic comics of H.P. Lovecraft enough to give you nightmares

Don’t read either volume of the “The Lovecraft Anthology” before going to bed. You may never want to turn out the light. Two new graphic collections, edited by Dan Lockwood, are enough to give nightmares to any imaginative reader. | 10/24/12 09:14:07 By - Tish Wells

‘Star Wars Reads’ invasion of schools, bookstores, libraries, set for Saturday

Don’t be surprised if you see Imperial Stormtroopers, Jedi, Rebels or various configurations of R2-D2s on the streets of America on Saturday. They will be enjoying “Star Wars Reads Day” at your local libraries, schools, independent bookstores, Barnes & Nobles and Books-A-Million. | 10/04/12 10:42:43 By - Tish Wells

In ‘Samurai Awakening,’ Japanese culture, history, demons come alive

When a typical American boy spends a year in Japan on an exchange program, he’s expected to have his mind opened to new experiences. In “Samurai Awakening,” young David Matthews achieves that and more — for a price. | 10/03/12 08:44:02 By - Tish Wells

New ‘Sherlock’ board game to be sold in U.K. only

If you have a hardcore “Sherlock” fan, make plans to go to the United Kingdom in November. That’s when a new limited edition of the board game Cluedo — or Clue, as it is known in the United States — will be released featuring the popular mystery series. | 10/02/12 12:25:24 By - Tish Wells

Brits vs. Americans in ‘Chef Race’ across America

According to the first two episodes of “Chef Race,” the United States is a nation of grillers. Please pass the bison burgers. A new reality show made for BBC America, it pits 16 chefs split into two teams, in a race across the United States. Eight chefs are from the United Kingdom and the other eight are Americans. The culture clashes are jarring at times. | 09/28/12 11:47:35 By - Tish Wells

The voice behind the Clones in 'Star Wars' speaks out

Who is Dee Bradley Baker? If you’ve turned into “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” then you’ve heard him many times, slightly differently each time, and never seen him once. He’s the voice actor behind the numerous Clone Troopers on “The Clone Wars,” the fifth season of which starts Sept. 29 on Cartoon Network. | 09/24/12 11:42:12 By - Tish Wells

Author offers a fresh perspective on Thomas Jefferson

In “Thomas Jefferson’s Crème Brulee,” Thomas J. Craughwell has put together a history of our third president through the prism of agriculture and food, in particular, French cuisine. | 09/19/12 16:57:41 By - Tsh Wells

PBS, Acorn Media bringing back ‘Foyle’s War’ in 2013

You have to wait a year, but new episodes of “Foyle’s War” will be returning to PBS in 2013. “Masterpiece Mystery,” along with Acorn Media and Eleventh Hour Films, have come together to do a trio of episodes starring Michael Kitchen and Honeysuckle Weeks as Inspector Foyle and his assistant, Sam (short for Samantha). | 09/14/12 12:08:08 By - Tish Wells

Ashley Eckstein’s ‘Her Universe’ a flourishing success among media fans

In June 2010, actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of the Ahsoka Tano on the animated TV series “Star Wars: the Clone Wars,” opened a booth at the Celebration V convention in Orlando.

It was for her new company Her Universe, which aimed directly at an elusive demographic in the media fan-geek world — women.

Two years later, Her Universe is a success with licensing from “Star Wars,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “Star Trek.” Its shirts and jewelry are sold in stores like Hot Topics and online at ThinkGeek.com | 09/13/12 12:18:20 By - Tish Wells

It’s going to be a Lucasfilm couple of months

Leading up to the rollout the new Blu-ray box set of the “Indiana Jones” adventures, Lucasfilm has re-released the four films in theatres. Next will come the new season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” the release of earlier seasons on broadcast television, and finally slopping over into October, a plunge into literacy. | 09/06/12 11:45:19 By - Tish Wells

Origami: an eternal and pop-culture favorite

There’s more to origami than cranes. It started centuries years ago, likely in Japan, and has had widespread appeal ever since. New variations appear all the time. Traditionalists will enjoy “Amazing Origami” and pop-culture enthusiasts can try their hand at folding Darth Vader’s black helmet. | 09/05/12 08:24:44 By - Tish Wells

Irish ‘Copper’ faces down 1864 New York City

By setting “Copper” on the East Coast, award-winning creators Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana, and Academy Award nominee Will Rokos, brings in the turbulence of the 19th century as well as the clash of ethnic and racial politics on the small island of Manhattan. All this makes an intriguing stew. But despite the harsh, brutal beatings, and whorehouse shenanigans, it’s almost too gentle in its recreation of the rough-and-tumble period. | 08/15/12 15:18:59 By - Tish Wells