Blood & Rhetoric

This strange object shooting accross the sky was filmed in Winnipeg on Monday July 21st by Sylvia McLeod.

Comet? Meteor?

Watch the video here.

From the Wiki article:

Watchmen was a twelve-issue comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. DC Comics originally published it as a montly limited series from 1986 to 1987 and it was later republished as a trade paperback, which popularized the graphic novel format. To date, Watchmen remains the only graphic novel to win a Hugo Award, and is also the only graphic novel to appear on Time Magazine’s 2005 list of “the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present.”

Watchmen is set in 1985, in an alternate history United States where costumed adventurers are real and the country is edging closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union (the Doomsday Clock is at five minutes to midnight). It tells the story of a group of past and present superheroes and the events surrounding the mysterious murder of one of their own. Watchmen depicts superheroes as real people who must confront ethical and personal issues, who struggle with neuroses and failings, and who—with one notable exception—lack anything recognizable as super powers. Watchmen’s deconstruction of the conventional superhero archetype, combined with its innovative adaptation of cinematic techniques and heavy use of symbolism, multi-layered dialogue, and metafiction, has influenced both comics and film.

The film:

The Watchmen film adaption, set for release sometime in March of 2009, is directed by Zack Snyder of 300 fame – so we already know that even if it does suck story-wise, it’s going to look really, really cool.

The film stars Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode, Stephen McHattie and Carla Gugino.

Set in 1985, Nixon is still president, and we’re on the verge of war between the U.S.A and the Soviet Union.

More news to come!

Stephen King to Judge SHOMI book trailer contest.

“Dorchester Publishing and Circle of Seven Productions have teamed up to present a contest offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for amateur and professional filmmakers who also love books. Participants will create book trailers based on their favorite novel in the SHOMI series of modern-day fantasy fiction. The best trailer—as selected by internationally bestselling author Stephen King—will be shown at a movie premiere in New York City as well as a theater in the winner’s home market.”

Holy crap, Batman!

That actually sounds really cool. I still hate book trailers and the whole idea behind them because they seem like a cheap marketing gimmick that will lose popularity in the same way other trends do. Generally they’re boring and cheesy and really, really badly made. But then again, I also tend to act like a crochety old woman afraid of progress and change at times. I actually do want to keep an open mind on this.

Deadline is December 30th. Contest is open to U.S residents only 18+. Read submission guidelines here.

We’ve been waiting for months now; wondering what the Watch the Skies campaign would yield; downloading our free ebooks and wallpapers, and finally, it’s here.

The site features more free ebook and short story downloads, art, blog posts by well known science fiction and fantasy authors, and a community of fans, giving the whole project a real interactive feel.

It will be interesting to watch this grow and develop over the next year, and I think only good can come from this.

Recently Random House launched something similar with Suvudu, a word I had to google to learn it’s definition (I got bored, someone just tell me what it means, or like Lululemon does it mean nothing?) and it will focus on all things science fiction and fantasy related: books, movies, television, gaming, anime, etc.

What does this mean? Well for one, some really cool websites with some potentially awesome inside information brought to us by well-connected people; and for the other, major publishers are embracing the blogosphere in a major way.

An interesting interview with L. Lee Lowe, a blogging novelist whose first book, a young adult fantasy novel titled Mortal Ghost, was serialized via blog last year and is still a popular download.

Her second novel, Corvus, will be serialized this fall. Lee runs no ads on her site and has made no money off of this venture…yet, but it will be interesting to see where it goes. A few bloggers have been picked up for publication over the years, though the ones that seem to stand out in my mind are the more controversial ones (Girl with a one-track mind) or humourous (Stuff White People Like or The Phat Free.) I don’t believe this is the easiest road to publication, but I don’t think anyone actually starts up a blog and puts that kind of effort into it with the expectation of it being noticed by an editor or agent.

Nathan Bransford blogs about HarperStudio, in his Imprint of the Future series; which, much like Vanguard Press and Jonathan Karp’s Imprint 12, is another imprint to look closely at. I’m not qualified to say if these are sound business models or not. But they sure do sound that way, and more so, I respect them for actually doing something that seems in the best interest of publishing, their authors, and literature in general. These are not book mills, and this can only bode well for authors now and in the future as publishing slowly changes.

For lovers of dark fiction, two social networking sites worth checking out are Wonderlands and Darklands.

Another prime example of someone with little to no experience reading science fiction or fantasy, speculating on whether “any good science fiction novels are still being written.”

I honestly have no further comment on this.

A new novel writing course for writers of fantasy and science fiction in the Yukon.

A couple years ago I looked into renting a remote cabin in a far flung region of the Yukon to “work on my writing” in that asshole isolationist way we sometimes do. For reasons I won’t bore you with, that never worked out, but this reminded me of that time and desire.

University of Warwick launches £50,000 writing prize, with science fiction author China Miéville (Perdido Street Station) named as chief judge.

Buzz Aldrin slams Sci-Fi.

I’m going to confess something here: I had kind of a crush on Spock when a child. I don’t know why. There’s just something about an emotionally unavailable, cold, logical man that excites the Catherine Earnshaw-Linton in me. I like Vulcans in general. With that said, I genuinely dislike Star Trek. It’s cheesy, lame, and the science is laughable. However, I would disagree with the following statement from Aldrin:

“But, if you start dealing with fantasy and beaming people up and down and traveling seven times the speed of light, you are doing damage. You’re not helping. You have young people who have got expectations that are far unrealistic, and you can’t possibly live up to the expectations you have created in young people. Why do they get bored with the space program? That’s why.”

I would think that if young people are bored with the space program, it’s because it can be quite boring for someone not fascinated by the minute steps humanity is making in exploring space. Finding water in moon rocks may be a startling discovery, but ultimately, it’s a bunch of freakin’ pebbles and general public interest can only ooh and ahh so much over that.

Whether Star Trek creates unrealistic expectations or not (and I don’t think people are that stupid but don’t quote me) is our imagination when it comes to space and space travel not as important as the hard facts and scientific data? Our imaginations made us want to go up there in the first place, so let us have our little fantasies.

And seriously, pebbles are boring.

After being snubbed four years in a row, Mary McDonnell (BSG’s President Laura Roslin) is rumored to be on the short list of ten potential nominees for the Best Actress in a Drama Emmy.

I will refrain from saying “that’s just frackin great.” Because it’s just too obvious, really.

The rest of the cast remains at large. And keep in mind it just the short list, which will eventually be whittled down to five final nominees. And also keep in mind, it’s still just a rumour and if history has taught us anything, she will not remain on the still-a-rumour-short-list.

Prolific science fiction author Andre Norton left behind a puzzle of a last will that has caused conflict over her estate amongst the many greedy friends and family who each want a piece of the pie. Norton began writing in the 1930s and defied gender stereotypes by becoming the first woman to win the Grand Master of Fantasy Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Nebula Grand Master Award.

Time travel isn’t happening. Hollywood needs to get over it.

Or do they? I have no clue. I’m not big on time travel plots in books or movies since it really does seem so implausible and the story tends to revolve around the same cliche of any small change in the past drastically changing the future and blah blah blah don’t make out with the younger version of your mom blah. That scenario seems to unlikely for me and mostly I’m just bored by it.

Lastly, because I’m lazy: Vote for the Top 10 Obsure Books over at Femenist SF.

Ballista magazine calling for submissions: Ballista publishes ‘fresh and inventive tales considering the supernatural, psychological, paranormal, modern horror, mythos, macabre, SF, dark fantasy or just the downright bizarre.’

More information on their website.

Locus Award Winners Announced.

In science fiction, we have Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, and for fantasy Terry Pratchett’s Making Money: A Novel of Discworld.

An interesting discussion on Designer Babies.

Survival of the fittest and natural selection have taken a back seat to the almighty SCIENCE! Is it any wonder we’re doomed as a race?

Terry Goodkind changes genres:

“Terry Goodkind’s next book will not be published by Tor. With the release of The Confessor last year, the Sword of Truth saga is officially complete and now Mr. Goodkind is looking to switch genres from fantasy to mainstream fiction. To do so he has joined the ranks of Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler and Jack Higgins by signing a three book deal with G. P. Putnam’s Sons.”

Guillermo del Toro On Starting Hobbit Preparation. I am nerdily excited about this.

Galleycat blogs about Can You Sell One Story By Telling Another? An alternative to the standard booktrailer — which I LOATHE — in the form of backstory. Now that has promise. That actually sounds interesting — provided it’s well done of course, though that holds true for anything, even the standard, dreaded book trailer that sets my teeth on edge in all it’s cheesy badly-produced glory.

A Conversation With Jacqueline Carey: one of my favourite modern authors. If you haven’t read her Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy, you’re missing out. I mean who doesn’t love sado-masochistic sex and political intrigue? Hm?

More endless and (ultimately) fruitless conversations of science fiction and fantasy generes and subgenres.

According to Alexa, these are the 20 most popular SF sites.

I’m a little confused as to how some of these were nominated. Family Guy? Dexter? No Country For Old Men? That’s stretching the fantasy/science fiction thing a bit.

And where’s Battlestar Gallactica? It’s the best written science fiction show on television right now. One of the few non-cheesy ones. What happened?

Anyways, The Saturn Awards Complete List of Winners:

Fantasy Film: “Enchanted ”

Science Fiction Film: “Cloverfield ”

Horror Film: “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street ”

Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: “300 ”

Actress: Amy Adams (”Enchanted”)

Actor: Will Smith (”I Am Legend”)

Supporting Actress: Marcia Gay Harden (”The Mist”)

Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (”No Country for Old Men”)

Performance by a Younger Actor: Freddie Highmore (”August Rush”)

Direction: Zack Snyder (”300″)

Writing: Brad Bird (”Ratatouille”)

Music: Alan Menken (”Enchanted”)

Costume: Colleen Atwood (”Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”)

Make-Up: Ve Neill, Martin Samuel (”Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”)

Special Effects: Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl, John Frazier (”Transformers”)

Animated Film: “Ratatouille”

International Film: “Eastern Promises”

Network Television Series: “Lost”

Syndicated / Cable Television Series: “Dexter”

Presentation on Television: “Family Guy: Blue Harvest”

Actress on Television: Jennifer Love Hewitt (”Ghost Whisperer”)

Actor on Television: Matthew Fox (”Lost”)

Supporting Actress on Television: (TIE): Summer Glau (”Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and Elizabeth Mitchell (”Lost”)

Supporting Actor on Television: Michael Emerson (”Lost”)

DVD Release: “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari“ (remix)

DVD Special Edition Release: “Blade Runner” (5 Disc Ultimate Edition)

DVD Classic Film Release: “The Monster Squad”

DVD Collection: “Mario Bava” (Box Sets 1 & 2)

Television Series Release on DVD: “Heroes” (Season 1)

Retro Television Series Release on DVD: “Twin Peaks” (Definitive Gold Box Ed.)

The Life Career Award: Robert Halmi, Jr.

The George Pal Memorial Award: Guillermo del Toro

The Filmmakers Showcase Award: Matt Reeves

The Special Achievement Award: Tim & Donna Lucas

The Service Award: Fred Barton

Victoria Kasten on her debut fantasy novel IronHeart. She’s 17. 17!

Revenge Ink, a new independent Anglo-Indian publishing firm, has been launched by author siblings Amita and Gopal Mukerjee, specialising in “subversive and cutting-edge” writing from young first-time writers.

Two new clips for The X-Files: I Want to Believe! The X-Files finally hits theatres July 25th.