Futureative Favourites: July 2026
Whalefall, Muse, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
Happy July!
7/12 months into the year and the official end of the financial year. Hopefully, you’ve gotten your tax returns in!
We’re introducing yet another new series to our little corner of Substack - Futureative Favourites, a list of the media that both Steve and I have consumed over the past month that we have some thoughts on. A book recommendation can tell you a lot about a person, so hopefully you get to know us a little better!
Kaye’s Favourites
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus - 4/5
The Martian meets 127 hours.
While diving to retrieve his father’s bones, a scuba diver is swallowed by a sperm whale. He has one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. Poignant, gripping and with exceptional prose, Whalefall is a dual timeline novella that will leave you emotionally invested, incredibly claustrophobic and rooting against the impossible.
I would recommend listening to the audiobook, like I did, while being under a weighted blanket. Makes for quite a unique experience. The movie comes out in October and if you’re not too claustrophobic, I recommend watching the trailer!
The Poppy War by R.F.Kuang - 4/5
Game of Thrones meets the Priory of the Orange Tree.
After acing the Keju, orphaned nobody Rin gains admission to Sinegard Military Academy. There, she realises she has a gift for the forgotten art of shamanism.
With its lyrical language and thoroughly researched and blooming world, The Poppy War beautifully captures the toil and turmoil of war on a nation and a singular person.
As an avid fantasy reader I can’t believe I’m waiting this long to read The Poppy War, but it lives up to its hype. I’ve gotten the trilogy for my birthday so I’ll be going through the books in rapid succession.
you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, Olivia Rodrigo - 5/5
The third album from the pop singer doesn’t disappoint. Alongside Sour and Guts, this third installment beautifully encapsulates the tragic-comedy of being in your early twenties and is a microcosm for girlhood and change.
On par with her first two albums, this third one hits all the right notes. Though, the cure might be my favourite.
The Book of Mormon - 3.5/5
Two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attempt to preach their faith to the people of a Ugandan village oppressed by a local warlord.
Balancing the nervous discussion around religion, faith and real world problems, Book of Mormon toes the line of comedy and heart.
As someone who went into the show without knowing anything about the show, I was very surprised and entertained. The songs are catchy, the cast was fantastic and as someone who didn’t watch South Park, I’m now intrigued by their other works.
Steve’s Favourites
The God We Made: The Treat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence by Anna Goldsworthy - 5/5
Gosh. So, I was really trying to think of something else that I could rapidly read, because this probably points to the weirdly nerdy, analytical part of my brain, more than my creativity, but here we are. I’m actually reading the latest quarterly essay, which I find fascinating because it is written by a creative person. They’re reflecting in a very thoughtful, theoretical, and research-backed, but also practical way on the current state of AI and how it’s impacting the world. In particular, there’s a lot of discussion about how it’s likely to change and reshape the creative industries.
I’m finding it a fascinating read, just as a way to pause and reflect on the world that we are moving into. It’s definitely getting me thinking more and more about the importance of how we find ways to protect human creativity.
Deadloch, created by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan - 4.5/5
When a local man turns up dead on the eve of the Winter Festival in Deadloch, Tasmania, two detectives and an eager junior constable are sent to investigate the crime.
This is one of the best pieces of Australian TV that I’ve seen in some time, and it is on so many accounts. If this was created by anyone else or in another country, I just don’t think I would be into it. But if you haven’t seen either of the blocks, they are brilliant because of the writers, the creators of the show, known colloquially as The Kates.
This is, start to finish, one of the best scripts I think I’ve heard recently. It has over-the-top, rapid-fire lines that place a lot of trust in the viewer to follow along and keep up with the gags, which are constant, clever, and crass.
The overall season two of Deadloch does not disappoint. It follows the story and narrative of another kind of detective series, which usually isn’t the sort of thing that I’m into. But with the way it’s been written and cast, it’s an exceptional show and well worth the time.
The WOW! Signal, Muse - 4/5
I’ve been a Muse fan since the beginning. Absolution was one of the albums of my adolescence that inspired me to keep wanting to get better at guitar. They were for many years one of my favourite bands. And here we are, with their latest album, The WOW! Signal.
It can be a rocky road, I think, following a band like this for such a long period of time. It can be your favourite band for a number of years, and then their genre and style changes and evolves, as do your tastes. I’ve even had moments where I’m unsure if Muse is for me still, but I put on this latest album, and it took me one full listen through to work out “Is this an album I’m going to like or not like?”
After the second listen, I was just absolutely hooked. It’s like some type of snapshot of all the different eras that Muse has been through. It has aspects of their newer, more pop side, but also aspects of their earlier rock side. There’s even some of their older-style guitar solos starting to shine through.
It’s an epic album, and I can’t turn it off right now. It’s definitely bringing the vibes; even if those vibes are somewhat dystopian. Funnily enough, it would also be an outstanding soundtrack whilst reading the latest issue of The Quarterly Essay. Maybe it’s the perfect album for the times.
What have you been reading, listening to or watching? Let us know in the comments below. See you next week for a brand new article.
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