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August, 2007 Archives | Homepage

Robert J. Sawyer, Honored At Chengdu International Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival

Canadian author Robert J. Sawyer has been named "the most popular foreign author of the year" at the Chengdu International Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival. So why is the Dean of Canadian science fiction so revered in China? The Globe and Mail explains:

According to London-based science-fiction scholar Lavie Tidhar, China has experienced a rise in the production of, and interest in, science fiction since the late 1980s. Mao Zedong and his supporters encouraged science fiction as a "literature of development" in the 1950s as China embarked on a program of industrialization. However, the idiom went into decline during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), only to undergo a revival with the rise of Chairman Deng Xiaoping. Before his death in 1997, Deng proclaimed "science and technology is the number one productive force" and science fiction as a way to spark the scientific imagination.

This practical aesthetic continues to this day, according to Sawyer. "Chinese readers prefer hard science-fiction, with real science rigorously extrapolated," he observed, and "and they're partial to optimistic views of the future." In fact, "the domestic science-fiction is very much at the stage science-fiction was in the 1950s in the United States - lots of spaceships, robots and aliens." Moreover, when it comes to foreign authors, whatever courses taught on science-fiction in Chinese universities tend to focus on "old-guard" authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, instead of Philip K. Dick, Roger Zelazny and Harlan Ellison. Perhaps unsurprisingly, homosexuality, AIDS, drugs, religious practices and positive references to Taiwan are avoided as topics or, if addressed at all, are presented as "a foreign problem," according to Tidhar.

Still, the situation is ripe for change, Sawyer noted. William Gibson's pioneering cyberpunk novel Neuromancer was authorized for official publication in China in 1999 - 15 years after its debut in North America - and it's spawned a host of Chinese emulators. Moreover, "with its tools of disguise and metaphor - setting stories in the future or with alien civilizations - the genre allows discussion of issues that might not be otherwise openly broached," Sawyer said.

It's wonderful that the Chinese are embracing foreign sf authors. But it's not so wonderful that they have absolutely no respect for copyright laws. J.K. Rowling has to be pulling her hair out over all bizarre, unauthorized Harry Potter books that have been published in China.

Posted on August 30, 2007
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Takezo Kensei: Sword Saint

We can't wait for the new season of Heroes to start. In the meantime, we've been checking out the mock documentary called Takezo Kensei: Sword Saint, which tells the stories of Japan's legendary (fictional) hero. Takezo Kensei is a hero to Hiro Nakamura and was the original owner of the smaurai sword that Hiro now possesses. The producers of Heroes have set up an entire website for the Yamagato Fellowship which has lots of interesting backstory. You can see the Yamagoto Fellowship's website here. The faux documentary is here.

The video documentary of Takezo Kensei's life is narrated by John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from The Lord of the Rings) and is presented in several three minute installments.

To our complete and unrelenting joy, Kensei will be played by none other than Mr. Sark himself (Alias), David Anders. He is, of course, not Japanese so we can't wait to see how they explain that. The premiere is on September 24th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

Posted on August 29, 2007
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Jeff Fahey Joining Cast of Lost

Photo of Jeff Fahey

Actor Jeff Fahey has been cast in the new season of Lost.

[S]hooting on the first episode is underway, and the show's five new cast members are officially in place. Yes, we said five: Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse tell EW.com that Jeff Fahey — a cult-pop fave most famous for The Lawnmower Man and most recently seen in Grindhouse — has been added to the show, joining previously announced newcomers Jeremy Davies (Saving Private Ryan), Lance Reddick (The Wire), Ken Leung (The Sopranos), and British actress Rebecca Mader (The Devil Wears Prada, Love Monkey).

The producers wouldn't comment on the character that Fahey will be playing, but said he was the first and only choice for the role. "The Lawnmower Man and [the 1995 TV series] The Marshall are personal faves," says Cuse. "And he has the most intense eyes of any guy out there, and I say that as a non-gay man." Adds Lindelof: "Fahey is one of those actors who feels like he fits into the Lost model: He's enormously talented and will be vaguely recognizable to some people, but he'll be able to land on our island without most people going, 'Oh, I know who that guy is.' And especially for the part we cast him for, he has exactly the right sensibilities."

He's the new Jacob, isn't he? He has to be! Not that we really know of course, but think about it....he has to be Jacob.

Posted on August 28, 2007
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Eliza Dushku Inks Deal With Fox

Photo of Eliza Dushku

Eliza Dushku (Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and the star of Fox's ill-fated series Tru Calling, has inked a development deal with Fox.

Dushku last toplined Fox's "Tru Calling," which was produced by 20th. Both sides remain enamored of the actress, who most recently starred in the Fox pilot "Nurses" (also from 20th). "Clearly we've had a very long-term relationship with her," 20th Century Fox TV chairman Dana Walden said. "We wanted to be in a more significant business relationship now. She's such an interesting, smart, soulful person and that all comes through on the screen."

The studio is now starting to integrate Dushku in the development process, giving her a chance to familiarize herself with some of the scribes who have deals at 20th. "You have to have a tremendous amount of passion for a person you make a deal like this with," Walden said. "You're not just sending them a script and asking them if you like a role. You're bringing them into the development process and integrating them into the fiber of the company."

Both Fox and 20th said they were impressed by Dushku's versatility, given the thesp's experience in comedy (the feature "Bring it On"), action and drama. "She's a Fox star," said Fox Entertainment chairman Peter Liguori. "She's rare -- an incredibly beautiful and feminine actress with a specific strength and playfulness. I just find her very unique. Kevin and I fans of the work she's put down on film."

Oh, please. We saw what Fox did to Serenity and to Tru Calling. What is it with Fox, anyway? Serenity's episodes were shown out of order and they never even finished the season. Same with Tru Calling, which was no Serenity, but was entertaining. No word on what vehicle they'll cast her in and then pull the plug on it four episodes in. Yes, we're still bitter over the whole Serenity thing. What of it?

Posted on August 27, 2007
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Dragon War Comes to Los Angeles

Here's something you don't see every day. This is a trailer from a new South Korean film called D-War or Dragon War. Shim Hyung-rae (who IMDB called South Korea's Uwe Boll) directs the film which is based on Korean legend that ancient creatures will return to the Earth and cause great destruction. What this apparently means (according to the trailer) is that giant dragons are attacking Los Angeles and eating lots of cars and buses. D-War hits theaters Sepetember 14th.

Posted on August 24, 2007
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New Book Reviews

New book reviews from our online magazine, The Internet Writing Journal, include:

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (Fantasy/Young Adult)

The Dark River by John Twelve Hawks (SF)

Pendragon: The Pilgrims of Rayne by D.J. MacHale (Fantasy/Young Adult)

The Taste of Night by Vicki Pettersson (Eos) (Urban Fantasy)

Posted on August 23, 2007
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Battlestar Galactica to Live On in Comics

Battlestar Galactica will live on in comics after the upcoming final television season.

Dynamite Entertainment's Battlestar Galactica Season Zero will be released this month. The six issue comic will rewind to two years before the Cylon attack on Caprica and fill in some of the details leading up to the fateful war.

Aside from the comics, fans will soon have the Battlestar Galactica movie Razor to tide them over until the series returns in January. Razor will tell two stories: first, the story of Lee (Apollo) Adama's first mission as commander of the Pegasus, and second, the story of Admiral Cain and her conduct and misconduct in the wake of the Cylon attack.

Around the time of Battlestar Galactica: Razor's release, Sci-Fi will be preparing the webisodes for release. As with last seasons run, the webisodes will prep audiences for the events that await them in the fourth and final season of the Peabody award winning series.

Battlestar Galactica returns for its fourth and final season in January, 2008. And the writers had better be up to the task -- what with Starbuck showing back up in the season finale and the odd assortment of characters that were revealed to be Cylons. It'll either be totally awesome or total jump the shark time. We hope it will be amazing.

It's odd how much more likable the Cylons have become over time. Let's face it, the Cylons have the cooler ship, cooler technology and they are really quite interesting -- in a homicidal, sociopathic kind of way. And another thing: if the writers don't stop those endless "we're poor and out of food and medicine and/or the miners are revolting" storylines, we're going to need tranquilizers.

Posted on August 22, 2007
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Zach Quinto Talks Spock, Nimoy

Photo of Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto, who plays Sylar on Heroes, talks about his new role as Spock in the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie and how he's become friends with Leonard Nimoy.

Quinto and Nimoy have become fast friends since meeting briefly at San Diego's Comic-Con sci-fi convention last month. They had more time to connect during a recent tour of the Griffith Observatory. That led to Nimoy inviting Quinto to his home for dinner. Though there is speculation about how Abrams will make use of both Spocks in the film, no one is talking. "I honestly … can't say," Quinto, 30, says during lunch at the observatory's cafe after bidding farewell to Nimoy.

But perhaps a tiny clue is revealed. "I think there's going to be a sense of guidance through this film and beyond," he says. In Nimoy, 76, Quinto has found a father figure of sorts.

*****

In November, he will check out of Heroes to beam aboard Trek's 85-day shoot. He says 11 stages have been built on the Paramount lot, and two weeks will be spent shooting in Iceland. "I really identify with Spock's struggle," he says. "We're going back to a time before anything (Nimoy did in the original series) was established. These characters are in a completely different stage of their lives." After he turns in his Spock ears, Quinto hopes to live long and prosper on the series that made him a star. "If I could be on Heroes for the next 10 years, I would absolutely do that. But when something like this (movie) comes along, and you step away from one thing to do another thing, you never know what the future holds."

We think Zach will do a great job as the young Spock. So far we have Leonard Nimoy and Quinto as Spock, and Anton Yelchin as Chekov.

But what about Kirk? We need Kirk casting news, and we need it now. You can watch a horrifying video below in which Damon says he talked to J.J. Abrams who told Damon that he wanted a really young Kirk and that Damon was too old! Damon clearly wants the part, saying if they progressed the age, maybe he could still play him. We want Damon -- he's not too old. The editor of our sister site, Shoppingblog.com, informs us that with some injections of Botox and Restalyne and good makeup, that Damon could easily pass for early 20s. We are very unhappy about this. For the Love of the Federation, J.J., please reconsider!

Posted on August 21, 2007
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Rumors Swirl Around the Film Version of Neverwhere

Neil Gaiman addresses reports that the film version of Neverwhere will be directed by David Slade.

[I]t is a bit early I'm afraid.

It's my fault; I'd mentioned to the journalist from MTV, after the filmed interview was over, that Lisa Henson and I would be seeing David Slade, who loves Neverwhere, at Comic-Con, but I'd assumed that bit of the conversation was off-the-record. And we did see him, and he's enthusiastic, and so are we, but nothing's set and signed yet, so it isn't news. (And this will, I suppose, remind me to say less when the cameras aren't rolling.)

So, nothing's been finalized, it's all just a rumor so far. David Slade directed 30 Days of Night and Hard Candy. We do hope that Neil writes the script, regardless of who is directing.

Posted on August 20, 2007
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Anne Rice Announces Pro Life Position and Support of Hillary Clinton

Bestselling author Anne Rice rejected the Catholic church at a young age. After the death of her husband, Anne moved to California and started a new life. She re-embraced her Catholicism and dedicated her writing from here forward to Jesus Christ. Her latest novel, Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, was a bestseller. She says she's picked up a lot of Christian fans who are very disturbed about her earlier "dark" work, such as Interview With a Vampire and she has taken great pains to show that her newfound faith is not in contradiction to her previous work.

In a new letter to fans on her website, Anne announces her opposition to abortion, her support of Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States and explains why her previous work is still valuable, even to Christians who don't like occult themes. Anne's views are lengthy, complex and -- of course -- well written.

Posted on August 17, 2007
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Sci-Fi Channel Announces Fall Lineup

Photo of Cast of Stargate Atlantis

Sci-Fi Channel has announced its fall lineup and schedule.

The fourth season of Stargate Atlantis debuts on Sept. 28 and will air Fridays at 10 p.m. Atlantis will have a midseason finale on Dec. 7, a finale that will feature the return of Torri Higginson as Dr. Elizabeth Weir. The Atlantis team must ally itself with a known enemy to join forces against an even greater foe.

Beginning in October, SCI FI will air Battlestar Galactica "mini-sodes" entitled "Razor" during episodes of the hit series Flash Gordon, Fridays at 9 p.m. The two-to-three-minute shorts will lead into the Nov. 24 premiere of "Razor," the two-hour Battlestar special TV movie, which will tell the story of Lee Adama's (Jamie Bamber) first mission as commander of the Battlestar Pegasus and will reveal the story of how Adm. Cain (Michelle Forbes) served her ship during the original Cylon attack on the Colonies. "Razor," which airs at 9 p.m., will provide a backdrop to events in the rest of Battlestar, which returns for its fourth and final season in early 2008. "Razor" is written by Michael Taylor and directed by Felix Alcala. It also stars Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer and introduces Stephanie Jacobsen as Kendra, Adm. Cain's protege.

Throughout the fall, SCI FI's summer series will have their finales: Who Wants To Be a Superhero? at 9 p.m. Sept. 13, Painkiller Jane at 10 p.m. Sept. 21, Eureka at 9 p.m. Oct. 2 and Doctor Who at 8 p.m. Oct. 5.

In December, SCI FI will air its original miniseries Tin Man; the exact date and time are yet to be determined

It's a good lineup, except for the fact that The Dresden Files and Stargate SG-1 won't be around. Because we're still ticked off about those omissions. Still, Samantha Carter will be moving over to Stargate Atlantis, so that's good. And speaking of Stargate Atlantis, fans who don't want to be spoiled should be careful what they read online -- there are massive spoilers for the whole season everywhere. Apparently, they've already shown part of the season in Canada, which makes absolutely no sense to us. You've been warned.

Posted on August 16, 2007
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Professor Says Hollywood Movies are Ruining Science For Students

A UCF professor says that all the inaccurate physics in movies is actually hurting students' understanding of science.

Movies such as Spiderman 2 and Speed generate excitement among audiences with their cool special effects. But they also defy the laws of physics, contributing to students’ ignorance about science. Two University of Central Florida professors show just how poorly Hollywood writers and directors understand science in an article published in the German journal "Praxis der Naturwissenschaften Physik." Common sense may indicate that people should know the stunts in movies are just make believe, but the professors say that's not necessarily true.

Some people really do believe a bus traveling 70 mph can clear a 50-foot gap in a freeway, as depicted in the movie Speed. And, if that were realistic, a ramp would be needed to adjust the direction of motion to even try to make the leap, said UCF professor Costas J. Efthimiou, who co-authored the article. "Students come here, and they don't have any basic understanding of science," he said. "Sure, people say everyone knows the movies are not real, but my experience is many of the students believe what they see on the screen."

And that's not just a UCF problem. Efthimiou said students across the United States seem to have the same challenge with science. It starts young. The Science and Engineering Indicators 2006 report seems to support his observations. The report shows that the average science scores among 12th graders in the U.S. dropped from the previous year. The scores remained stagnant in the fourth and eighth grades. Worse, only about one-third of all students tested were proficient, meaning they had a solid understanding of what they should know.

Is the professor trying to say that the big freeway chase in Die Hard 3 where Bruce Willis driving a huge truck on an elevated freeway while being chased by fighter plane wasn't perfectly plausible? Because we beg to differ. That happened to us just the other day in L.A.

Seriously, though, we do think more science should be taught in schools, along with math. That's why we love the show Numb3rs -- math is cool, people. And speaking of Numb3rs, season 3 premieres Friday, September 28th, 2007 on CBS.

Posted on August 15, 2007
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Lost: The Orchid Orientation Video

Screencap of Lost Orchid Orientation Video

Screencap of Lost Orchid Orientation Video

Entertainment Weekly analyzes the mysterious (and hilarious, if you ask us) new video from the producers of Lost which purports to be a long-lost Dharma Initiative orientation video.

Q: Have you seen that new Dharma Initiative orientation video that everyone's talking about?

A: I did! And if you haven't, some background: at their Comic-Con fan summit, the producers claimed they had found and edited together strips of film found inside a Hanso Foundation warehouse in Iceland. The footage is comprised of outtakes from a botched attempt to produce an orientation film for a Dharma facility known as "Station Six, or The Orchid." You can now find the clip in the Lost section at abc.com.

Q: Is it true that in the Comic-Con version of the film, Dr. Marvin Candle - or "Dr. Edgar Halowax" as he calls himself this time around - dropped an F-bomb?

A: He did! It was pretty funny. In fact, the uncharacteristic expletive - combined with bits like Candle/Halowax complaining about having to wear makeup ("I'm a scientist!" he conspicuously insists/protests) and fastidiously smoothing the wrinkles his white lab coat - give this strange artifact the feel of being a parody of a Dharma orientation film.

Q: So what's your analysis?

A: For starters, it would be inaccurate to call this thing an official orientation film. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this film was never finished because the Orchid project was abandoned due to the dangerous, unpredictable environment inside the station. (Could this station be the one that mysteriously "divested" from the Dharma Initiative, according to the Blast Door Map?)

Q: By "dangerous" and "unpredictable," we presume you're referring to the part in the Orchid film in which Dr. Halowax freaks out over the mysteriously replicating bunny?

A: Bingo. At one point, we see Dr. Halowax holding a white rabbit with the number 15 inked on its side - and then, suddenly, unexpectedly, another bunny with the number 15 inked on its side appears behind him. Halowax starts to panic. He clutches Number 15 (No. 1) tightly to his chest, desperate to make sure that the twin bunnies don't share the same space. Then he demands that the cameraman stop filming. The last thing we see is Halowax, now calm, stroking the rabbit and saying, "As you have no doubt surmised, Station 6, or 'the Orchid,' is not a botanical research unit."

The Orchid orientation video, with the mysterious replicating bunny can be seen below. So what's going on? Why is Dr. Candle pretending to be Dr. Halowax? Why can't the bunnies occupy the same space/time? Is one an anti-bunny that will cause a massive explosion if it touches the bunny? Is there time travel involved? What happened to The Orchid station, anyway? We can only hope that Dr. Candle is still alive on that island, somewhere and that he's sane enough to give some explanations of what in the world he was up to.

Posted on August 14, 2007
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Is Peter Jackson Back on Board for The Hobbit?

We hardly dare to hope that this is really true, but The L.A. Times is reporting that New Line is once again speaking to Peter Jackson about the possibility of directing The Hobbit.

Eager to move ahead with "The Hobbit," New Line has quietly been trying to mend fences with "Rings" filmmaker Peter Jackson, who has sued the company over his share of profits from the first "Rings" films. When asked if it was true that company insiders had been in talks with Jackson's reps, Shaye replied, "Yes, that's a fair statement. Notwithstanding our personal quarrels, I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in 'The Hobbit.' "

Fans want Jackson in the director's chair for The Hobbit and no one else. Shaye needs to make it happen. Grovel if need be, but make it happen.

Posted on August 13, 2007
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Finalists Announced For British Fantasy Awards

Locus reports on the finalists for the year's British Fantasy Awards:

Finalists for the year's British Fantasy Awards include Best Novel nominees Chaz Brenchley, Mike Carey, Mark Chadbourn, M. John Harrison, Tim Lebbon, Scott Lynch, Sarah Pinborough, Mark Samuels, and Conrad Williams... plus Ian McDonald, Neil Gaiman, Ellen Datlow, John Picacio, Julie Phillips, and others in categories for novella, short fiction, anthology, collection, artist, small press, and non-fiction. The winners will be announced at Fantasycon, 21-23 September 2007 in Nottingham, UK.

See the full list of nominees here. Get more info about the 2007 FantasyCon here. You can subscribe to the print edition of Locus, which is worth every penny, here.

Posted on August 11, 2007
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Saw IV Coming in October

Poster for Saw 4 blood drive

On October 26, 2007, Saw fans will be deliriously happy once again. Yes, there's going to be a Saw IV. Yawn. But what is cool is the annual Halloween Blood Drive which is undertaken in association with The Red Cross. Joblo reports:

Since the first SAW blood drive in 2004, SAW filmgoers have donated nearly 38,000 pints of blood. Some from their eyes.

Horror fans have big hearts. And lots of blood that they don't mind sharing. It's a good cause, so why not donate some blood? Even if you have no intention of ever seeing another Saw movie as long as you live. For us, two of the movies was more than enough. But if you're already planning your outfit for October 26th, we won't judge.

Posted on August 9, 2007
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Will Tom Cruise Join the Star Trek Cast?

Here's an interesting and somewhat disturbing rumor: Tom Cruise may do a cameo as Captain Christopher Pike in the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star Trek film.

Better get those "Tom Cruise is an alien" jokes out of the way, because everyone's favorite Scientologist is reportedly being considered for a part in J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek reboot. Abrams knows Cruise from their time together on that schlock-fest Mission Impossible III, and there's long been word that the Lost creator has been looking for an A-lister to make a cameo in Star Trek. Just one question: does Cruise still qualify as an A-lister?

According to IGN's source, Tom is being asked to play Capt. Christopher Pike, Kirk's predecessor as captain of the Enterprise, as well as Spock's first commanding officer. He was portrayed in the original - and unaired - series pilot by the late Jeffrey Hunter. After Cruise's very public feud with Paramount, it'd be a little surprising to see the actor back in a studio film but, if anything, he'd be doing the cameo as a favor to Abrams, not Paramount heads. Cruise is currently filming the WWII-drama Valkyrie with Superman Returns director Bryan Singer.

Hey, we loved Mission: Impossible 3 -- that was no schlock fest! We love us some J.J. Abrams around here, being long time Alias and Lost fans. We're not as concerned with who the cameo is -- we want to know if Matt Damon will be Kirk? Will he or won't he? It's driving us nuts. And after the Bourne Ultimatum's $70 million+ opening weekend, Damon will be expensive.

Posted on August 8, 2007
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The Dresden Files Is Cancelled

Cast photo of The Dresden Files

After messing with fans' minds for months, the Sci-Fi Channel finally admitted that it has canceled The Dresden Files. Paul Blackthorne is moving on to a new ABC show this fall.

Sci Fi has officially dropped the series about a wizard-private eye and there will not be a second season. It was fairly obvious that the cable channel had already decided to drop the ax a couple of weeks back when I spoke with Sci Fi executives at the Television Critics Association's semiannual press tour. But no one wanted to come right out and say Files was dead. The official word comes just as it's announced that Paul Blackthorne, the show's star, has signed on to the cast of ABC's Big Shots as a high-powered CEO.

This is infuriating. The Dresden Files was a great show and Sci-Fi deliberately held off the cancellation notice until it was too late to shop the show to another channel and the lead had already signed on for another show. We are not happy about this. Oh, and Painkiller Jane? Just kill us now so we don't have to watch another episode.

Posted on August 6, 2007
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ABC Offers Masters of Science Fiction

ABC will offer an anthology series this fall called Masters of Science Fiction. It sounds like The Twilight Zone meets Amazing Stories.

The show at hand is "Masters of Science Fiction," a limited series of adaptations of short stories, offered in August by ABC. In some ways, this is pretty amazing stuff: material from top-flight authors like Robert Heinlein and Harlan Ellison, directed by well-known directors like Mark Rydell ("On Golden Pond") and Michael Tolkin ("The Player"), with actors like Sam Waterston, Judy Davis, Brian Dennehy, Anne Heche and Malcolm McDowell. On the other hand, the series will be broadcast in the dead of summer on Saturday nights, suggesting that the network sees its likely audience as pudgy misfits in "Star Trek" costumes, their vintage plastic phasars set for "stun."

*****

"Masters of Science Fiction" doesn't have Serling. Instead, it has renowned brainiac Stephen Hawking, whose machine-generated voice introduces and summarizes each episode with Delphic pronouncements and questions like "If necessity is the mother of invention, what will drive our ingenuity when our needs have been fulfilled?" This is just the kind of thing that charges the imaginations of 14-year-old boys, or of older boys who sit at home on Saturday nights, phasars at the ready.

Sounds worth checking out, for the source material and guest stars alone. We know Judy Davis and Anne Heche can do weird and spooky.

Posted on August 1, 2007
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