The Sword and Laser discussion

New thread for a New Year. What news is happening around the SFF Community of interest to you?

Due to a dispute, Spectrum cable customers may lose some of their channels. Unfortunately one of those is ScFi so no more Expanse, Magicians, Killjoys, Dark matter etc :(

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2016...

Neil Gaiman has a record label called "Neil Gaiman Presents" on audible.com!! This is not "new news" in terms of it's existence in the world, but it is new and news to me in that I didn't know of it before and was excited to discover it.

Looks like he basically gets to hand pick works he wants to turn into audiobooks that don't currently exist in that form and then oversee the production and selection of narrators etc. I've been trying out "Swordspoint: A Melodrama of Manners, by Ellen Kushner" and it's pretty awesome thus far.

The book aren't exclusively SFF but there is a good handful of potentially interesting looking ones in there.

http://www.tor.com/2011/10/26/neil-ga...

http://www.audible.com/mt/Neil_Gaiman...

Today is Science Fiction Day, chosen in honor of Isaac Asimov's birthday. Also, some other stuff.

From Galaxy's Edge magazine :
"We have a new blog called Signals from the Edge managed by Lezli Robyn. Check it out...we plan to develop it as a general site for all SF/Fantasy news and to have discussion on stories published by us (with author participation). We'd love to hear your feedback on what you would like to see."
https://signalsfromtheedge.com

The Man in the High Castle Gets A Third Season and New Showrunner

http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-man-in-the...

Marlon James announces Dark Star fantasy trilogy: 'I hope 12-year-olds read this book'

The concept of this sounds really awesome.

Los Angeles will be home to George Lucas' $1-billion museum.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/...

Lies Lies Lies Lies Lies and more Lies


http://time.com/4631350/george-r-r-ma...

At least do a backup of his brain, just in case.

Tamahome wrote: "At least do a backup of his brain, just in case."

A wild Tamahome has appeared!

Nokomis.FL wrote: "Lies Lies Lies Lies Lies and more Lies


http://time.com/4631350/george-r-r-ma..."

Martin is now the boy who cried dire wolf.

Some random guy got the cover for this article on top SF+F for 2017 over on Kirkus Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/feature...

Fresno Bob wrote: "Some random guy got the cover for this article on top SF+F for 2017 over on Kirkus Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/feature..."

Tom Merritt? I hear that kid's goin' places!

Well George RR Martin did the same thing for A Dance with Dragons and it took another 6 months. So there is hope.

More books coming out from the amazing NK Jemisin, including a contemporary fantasy dealing with themes of race and power in New York City. It has a projected publication date of April 2019.

Press release here: http://www.orbitbooks.net/2017/01/10/...

StarWars.com and Lucasfilm has weighed in on rumors of using a digital Leia for Episode IX ever since Carrie Fisher's passing and reports had surfaced that Disney was in talks with her estate over her "continued appearancein the Star Wars franchise." http://io9.gizmodo.com/report-disney-...

This prompted a rare response to internet rumors from Lucasfilm:
http://www.starwars.com/news/a-statem...

We don’t normally respond to fan or press speculation, but there is a rumor circulating that we would like to address. We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa.

Carrie Fisher was, is, and always will be a part of the Lucasfilm family. She was our princess, our general, and more importantly, our friend. We are still hurting from her loss. We cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honor everything she gave to Star Wars.

Another writer passes away. William Peter Blatty, author of 'The Exorcist' died last week :(

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/...

AndrewP wrote: "Another writer passes away. William Peter Blatty, author of 'The Exorcist' died last week :(

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/...-..."

4 hours later he was seen roaming the cemetery looking very cross indeed.

Robert wrote: "StarWars.com and Lucasfilm...want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans* to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa."

*Except for (view spoiler)[that one time in the movie that just came out (hide spoiler)]. But that was the only time. Oh, and technically the CGI version of her in Rebels is a digital recreation. But only technically.

John Anelio posted on FB that Clarke's World is starting an online SF&F Magazine thru Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/clarkesworld/...

SporadicReviews.com wrote: "John Anelio posted on FB that Clarke's World is starting an online SF&F Magazine thru Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/clarkesworld/..."

Clarkesworld has been an online magazine for 10 years now--Neil has just finally quit his day job and is going to be an editor full time (see here: http://neil-clarke.com/frankly/) He did change the Patreon goals for direct salary & healthcare though.

David wrote: "Clarkesworld has been an online magazine for 10 years now"

My mistake!

CBS orders pilot for Andy Weir's NASA set drama, Mission Control

http://deadline.com/2017/01/cbs-dana-...

Louie wrote: "CBS orders pilot for Andy Weir's NASA set drama,
Mission Control

So they're remaking 'The Cape'? Is Corben Bernson available?

There's a nice story in the New Yorker about Ted Chiang, author of "Story of Your Life and Others". It was an interesting read about how he conceives of his writing, how he comes up with ideas, and a little look at what he's like as a person. http://www.newyorker.com/culture/pers...

Also, James Cameron is apparently working on a "History of Science Fiction" series for AMC.

From the first couple paragraphs of the story: "Tentatively titled James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction, it will examine the history of science fiction from the early days of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to the pop-culture juggernaut it is today. [...]
Each episode will tackle a "big question" that humankind has pondered over the ages, AMC said. As part of that, it'll dig into the genesis of beloved sci-fi films, TV shows, video games and books, and where they're going in the future. The series will also feature Cameron and other notable sci-fi personalities debating "the merits, meanings and impacts of the films and novels that influenced them." "

https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/16/j...

Louie wrote: "CBS orders pilot for Andy Weir's NASA set drama,
Mission Control


http://deadline.com/2017/01/cbs-dana-..."

My coworkers and I are having a good laugh over this. Some of the comments on Facebook today:
"I like staying awake and eating M&Ms"
"I bet the CBS version will have way more explosions..well, OK, maybe not."
"Also probably not as many expletives."
"They have producers to make it more high drama. We just have I and T managers..."
"Oh, the I&T managers make it high drama"
"You forgot about the cake. Or, knowing there's cake but having to be on console and getting last picks from the seagulls who come to watch"

Definitely a couple of inside baseball jokes there, but also what it's really like. For the record, on the cake, if the launch scrubs, they put it in the freezer for the next attempt. This lead to what is now known where I work as "cakegate" and many "the cake is a lie" jokes.

Amazon along with the BBC are producing an adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's Good Omens:

Amazon has just announced that the series, being co-developed with the BBC, will also have Gaiman as a showrunner. It’ll air globally on Amazon Prime Video in 2018, but will be followed shortly after by a broadcast debut on the BBC in the UK. As well as showrunning and writing the series, Gaiman will be joined by former Doctor Who producer Caroline Skinner, Fleabag’s Chris Sussman, Rob Wilkins, and Rod Brown as executive producers.

Full story at IO9: http://io9.gizmodo.com/terry-pratchet...

Good Omens is coming to Amazon Prime as a limited 6 episode event.

https://tvline.com/2017/01/19/good-om...

Joe Informatico wrote: "Robert wrote: "StarWars.com and Lucasfilm...want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans* to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa."

*Except for (view spoiler). But that was the only time. Oh, and technically the CGI version of her in Rebels is a digital recreation. But only technically...."

Technically, she was also alive when those were done.

Dara wrote: "Good Omens is coming to Amazon Prime as a limited 6 episode event.

https://tvline.com/2017/01/19/good-om..."

Robert wrote: "Amazon along with the BBC are producing an adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's Good Omens:

Amazon has just announced that the series, being co-developed with the BBC, will also have Ga..."

Gaiman will apparently also write all 6 episodes.

http://www.thewrap.com/neil-gaiman-to...

Star Trek: Discovery casts Sarek but is delayed again. Looks like CBS is no longer trying to set a premiere date.

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/star-...

Trike wrote: "Star Trek: Discovery casts Sarek but is delayed again. Looks like CBS is no longer trying to set a premiere date.

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/star-..."

It can be taken as it's still in trouble. But as it's set to start filming in a week and the cast is set, who knows? On the plus side, they may longer want to be rushed or crammed into a set date. That's one positive about being a streaming series as opposed to having a definite air date I guess.

Official title of Star Wars Episode VIII released.

http://www.starwars.com/news/the-offi...

The Arrival was among the nominations for Best Picture Oscar today.

Continuing the trend for SF getting nominated! It won't win, although I think it should. Every aspect from acting to cinematography was spot on and the construction of the story was perfect.

http://www.vulture.com/2017/01/2017-o...

Indie bookstores are booming thanks to Amazon

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/than...

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/24/us/geor...

1984 is experiencing a swell in sales, above and beyond sales expected for a book read in schools.

Correction: with Ben H. Winters instead of Ben Winters
Another correction: the URL for Mr Winter's blog. CAN'T CUT/PASTE ANYMORE!

A near future project that could be terrifying!

Ben H. Winters worked with Slate.com on the Slate Fiction Project, a collection of short stories all about life during the Trump presidency. Read his comments on his blog

http://benhwinters.com/slate-fiction-...

and the Slate Fiction Project is at

http://www.slate.com/topics/t/trump_s...

Contributers include

Héctor Tobar
Ben Winters
Edan Lepucki
Saladin Ahmed
Lauren Beukes
Jeff VanderMeer
Elizabeth Bear
Nisi Shawl
Kashana Cauley
J. Robert Lennon

"Looking good's a full time job"
The new NASA space suit:
http://tinyurl.com/zf9f58h
I still prefer silver but it does look better then
that Buzz Lightyear suit that was floating around (so to speak)

It looks like the producer of Arrival will be making a movie based on Inconstant Moon by Larry Niven.
It's one of my favorite Niven stories and I look forward to this. It was previously made into an episode of the Outer Limits in the 90's.

George R.R. Martin’s publishing a Game Of Thrones story this year (no, not that one)

A new story will be in the Book of Swords short story collection by editor Gardner Dozois.

Dara wrote: "George R.R. Martin’s publishing a Game Of Thrones story this year (no, not that one)

A new story will be in the Book of Swords short story collection by editor Gardner Dozois."

This is also the same anthology that will contain Ken Liu's "The Hidden Girl," which was optioned by Studio 8 last May. "The story is about a team of assassins who are able to navigate between dimensions."

I've been looking forward to this anthology for ages--it comes out October 10, 2017.

David wrote: "The story is about a team of assassins who are able to navigate between dimensions."

I don't know why but I though that said "team of assholes".

Er, by the way, Dara, Dozois's author profile is at Gardner R. Dozois--someone must've deleted the alternative "Gardner Dozois" profile. The book is Book of Swords

Thank you, David! :-)

John Hurt (Alien, Spaceballs, Doctor Who) has passed away from cancer.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/joh...

Trike wrote: "John Hurt (Alien, Spaceballs, Doctor Who) has passed away from cancer.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/joh..."

Boo! He also voiced the dragon in the BBC show Merlin.

Snitter from The Plague Dogs, as well.

Trike wrote: "John Hurt (Alien, Spaceballs, Doctor Who) has passed away from cancer.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/joh..."

He had a great career. Many fine SFF roles.

Nineteen Eight Four
Harry Potter
He voiced Hazel in "Watership Down"

I mentioned on another forum that this years Oscars "In Memoriam" is almost going to need it's own show.

Just this week we've lost Hurt and Mary Tyler-Moore. (Both Oscar nominees)