J.K. Rowling hints that at least one more character will die in the final two Potter tomes…I presume she’s not referring to Voldemort.
Tag: Fanboy
Voice of Trillian.
Zooey Deschanel checks in to discuss progress on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, probably my most eagerly awaited fanboy film of next summer (and, yes, unfortunately, I’m counting Episode III and FF.)
Sim and Simulacra.
Two choice links courtesy of Tomb of Horrors: The Infocom Hitchhiker’s Guide game gets a 20th anniversary makeover, and a site emerges to preserve the correspondence between Dave Sim and Neil Gaiman.
The Road to Hell.
“The redemptive power of suffering is, in my experience at least, vastly overrated.” Over this past weekend, I finally got the chance to read Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow, and, while it becomes a dark journey indeed for Emilio Sandoz, our Jesuit protagonist, over the course of the novel, I heartily recommend it. In fact, it’s probably the best science-fiction book I’ve read since Perdido Street Station (although Russell’s book is much less phantasmagoric than Mieville’s more fantasy-tinged stuff.)
A former paleo-anthropologist and academic jack-of-all-trades, Russell has retold the standard First Contact type of story here with a blend of straight-up hard sci-fi, Columbian commentary, and devastating ruminations on the price of faith and the laws of unintended consequences. While the story here seemed self-contained, I’m now rather looking forward to picking up her sequel, Children of God (although the reading queue is pretty backed up right now.) At any rate, if you like your sci-fi literate, intelligent, and ultimately somewhat nightmarish, think about checking out The Sparrow. Update: You can read the first chapter here. Also, if you haven’t read The Sparrow, stay out of the comments, where the end of the book is being discussed.
Rohan vs. the Martians.
Human reinforcements arrive as Team Human Nature/Ian and Eowyn, a.k.a. Tim Robbins and Miranda Otto respectively, spell Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning in Spielberg’s War of the Worlds. Good. I generally root for all of these actors, Code 46 notwithstanding.
The Travels of Crichton.
For frell’s sake, don’t forget to set the Tivo, ’cause – as Quiddity notes, Sci-Fi will be showing all 88 episodes of Farscape (“the best science-fiction series on TV” – TV Guide) beginning this Friday at 8am. Seriously, if you’re looking to catch some of the funniest, sexiest, best-written sci-fi out there in recent years, check Farscape out while you have the chance. (And remember to boycott Sci-Fi once again as soon as they air The Peacekeeper Wars.)
What news of Gondor?
With the seal broken on the RotK:EE, news is starting to fly fast and furious. DVD Answers has posted a few screenshots which include Aragorn challenging Sauron in the palantir and the names of some of the 18 new chapters (Eowyn’s Dream, The Decline of Gondor, The Corsairs of Umbar, Merry’s Simple Courage). Meanwhile, USA Today shares a new shot of Saruman atop Orthanc, tiny images of the Mouth of Sauron and Faramir at the Houses of Healing pop up here, and E! News (and Elflady) share an extended Paths of the Dead sequence. Update: High-res images here.
Red Quadrants, Blue Quadrants.
“‘A good war is based on honor, not deception,” says K’tok (Earth name: Clyde Lewis), a 40-year-old Klingon from Lair Hill.’” Finally, some good news on the political front…Kerry is winning handily among Portland-area Klingons. Hopefully, they can offset Dubya’s considerable pull with the Ferengi in and around Salem.(By way of Usr/Bin/Girl.)
Filming the Fantasy Shelf.
Much recent news on fantasy-fiction-to-film projects has materialized of late: Christopher Nolan preps for The Prestige post-Batman, WETA readies Prince Caspian as the second film in the Narnia series (after The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe), and director Chris Weitz discusses his adaptation of His Dark Materials.
Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima!
“Mr. Frodo, there’s light and beauty up there, that no shadow can touch.” Really, Sam? Tell it to the Witch-King. At long last, New Line officially announces the Return of the King Extended Edition, with 50 new minutes of footage, to be released on December 14. (Pre-orders begin Oct. 1.) For this, I am very thankful. Update: More info here, including a good bet at who kills PJ the Corsair Captain.
