Download Middle-earth Talk Radio Episode 5

The 5th session (recorded on November 2, 2008) of Middle-earth Talk Radio is now available for download at Middle-earth Radio. Go to the DOWNLOADS page. You will have to log in to get the file but registration is free and there is a password reminder tool.

Topics for this episode included:

• Opening music: Echoes from Rivendell by Gnomusy


• Alan Lee, er I mean, John Howe ( ;-) ) and his blog.


• Tolkien letter auction.


• The Hobbit in 3D.


• Lembas Recipe


• Tolkien Letter #131, "Other Minds and Hands" quote - Debate over publishing LotR with The Silmarillion, and Tolkien's insistence on the interdependence of the two.


• Tolkien's attempt to create an English mythology


• Other Hands Magazine discussion


• Trying to improve the "accuracy" of Middle-earth Role Playing, 2nd Edition and even 3rd edition (unreleased).


• Other Minds Magazine discussion


• Explanation of levels of "authenticity" in Other Minds Magazine for articles: "Core", "Optional", and "House".


• Overview of content in upcoming Issue #5


• Michael Martinez Other Hands article on .....


• Michael Martinez unfinished project History of Middle-earth


• Closing music: Tinuviel by Amethystium

You can discuss the episode at SF-Fandom in the Tolkien Forum discussion thread for episode 5.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Is Voyage of the Dawn Treader last Narnia film?

The news that Disney has decided not to fund any more Narnia films suggests there may only be three in this incarnation of the film franchise, although that remains to be seen.

The trailer for the film (which cannot be embedded in third-party sites) looks okay. You can view it on YouTube if you wish.

Something I have to wonder about, however, is whether the same actors will play the roles throughout the entire seven films, given how long it is taking to produce the movies. This latest financial glitch certainly doesn't bode well for the production schedule.

On the other hand, the Harry Potter film franchise doesn't seem to have been hurt by the growth of the three lead actors over the past 8 years -- we've still one more film to produce, and we're waiting on the 6th film to be released in 2009.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

The lighter side of SF movies

I found these two trailers for upcoming films. You may have seen them already, but I had not.

In "G-Force", a small team of crack agents protect the free world.



Do you think these types of movies ever raise the question of why genetically altered critters would WANT to protect the free human world? I mean, it's not like they can go out and rent and apartment or buy a house.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" might look like a sequel to "Monsters, Inc." but it's not. Produced by Dreamworks (Disney/PIXAR gave us "Monsters, Inc."), "Monsters vs. Aliens" reminds me more of "Chicken Little".



I don't know that I would want to have to pick and choose between the two of them. The trailers don't seem to have much appeal for adults but the movies may be more family-oriented than the trailers suggest.


SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Upcoming SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror books

There are a lot of new books coming out in the fantasy and science fiction markets. For the past several months we have been following new book announcements in the General SciFi & Fantasy Authors forum.

You can browse lists of SciFi and Fantasy books due out in January 2009, February, March, and April.

At SF-Fandom we always keep an eye out for interesting news of interest to science fiction and fantasy fans. If you know any upcoming conventions, books, television shows, or movies, please be sure to let us know. We're always glad to share information with the rest of fandom.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Rowling's Beedle book selling fast

Iranian fans can rejoice. The Persian translation of J.K. Rowling's Beedle the Bard book has been published.

The Guardian in the UK says that 2 copies of the book are sold every second.

The Harry Potter phenomenon doesn't seem to have peaked yet, and maybe that's a good thing. Perhaps, like other authors of popular franchises, Ms. Rowling will find new stories wanting to be told in her imaginary world, even if Harry stays permanently retired.

Harry Potter fans still have a lot to look forward to, what with two movies still to be released.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

New Andre Norton book coming out

Andre Norton passed away in 2005 but her dreams are still with us. Word over in the Andre Norton forum is that Mercedes Lackey has begun work on the Elvenbred novel, fourth in the series begun with Elvenbane.

Andre Norton remains a very popular topic at SF-Fandom, where we keep her memory alive. Another recent discussion focused on the Seven Riders of Arvon (a Witch World subject).

Drop by the Andre Norton Forum and let us know which of her books you loved best.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Correction on Paradox: it's a feature film not a series

In my enthusiasm for seeing two great action-adventure actors team up, I overlooked the fact that Christopher Judge and Kevin Sorbo are starring in "Paradox", a movie, not a new television show.

I was corrected in the Paradox discussion in our Stargate: Universe forum.

Mea culpa.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Fans discuss upcoming Wolverine movie cast

The X-Men film franchise extended to three movies and has helped to reinvigorate the comic-book based film industry. As many of you probably already know, Marval Comics has greenlighted a "Wolverine" movie to explain the mysterious origins of this great character on the silver screen.

We've been discussing the Wolverine cast lineup at SF-Fandom and speculating on how the various character storylines will play together in cinematic drama. Some differences from the comic canon are expected but the movies have been very popular with comic book fans nonetheless.

Come share your thoughts with us in our Super Hero Movies Forum!

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Kevin Sorbo returning to science fiction television!

Fans at SF-Fandom are excited. Cast announcements have been posted for the upcoming science fiction show Paradox, co-starring Christopher Judge and Kevin Sorbo.

Christopher Judge is best known to Science Fiction fans as Teal'c from the Stargate franchise. Kevin Sorbo starred as Hercules in the 1990s and early 2000s and led the cast and crew of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda as Captain Dylan Hunt in the mid-2000s.

SF-Fandom hosts the Official Kevin Sorbo Australian Fan Club Forum and we're pleased to have see these great actors co-star in a new science fiction show.

Come share your thoughts with us!

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.

Legend of the Seeker fans viewing the show in millions

"Legend of the Seeker" is the first television series produced by hit team Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert out of New Zealand in several years. Based on the Terry Goodkind novels, the show follows the adventures of Richard Cypher (the latest Seeker) as he struggles to overcome the villainous Darken Rahl.

SF-Fandom has been following the progress of the show in its Legend of the Seeker Ratings discussion. August, a hard-core Raimi/Tapert fan, has been keeping a close eye on how well "Legend of the Seeker" is performing in the American markets.

We've got plenty of other LOTS discussion in our Fantasy Television Shows Forum. Come join us and share your thoughts!

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network.

Calling all Farscape fans!

Hey, were you a Farscape fan? Did you grit your teeth in frustration when SciFi announced the end of a great television show?

Well the franchise is alive and well.

Rockne O'Bannon has teamed up with SF writer Keith R.A. DeCandido to create two new Farscape mini comic book series. We've got a nice discussion about the project at SF-Fandom's Science Fiction Television Forum.

Farscape isn't over -- it's just evolving!

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network.

SF-Fandom SciFi Calendar of Events

The SF-Fandom Science Fiction and Fantasy Events Calendar is packed full of movie openings, convention dates, and other notable dates relevant to fans of science fiction and fantasy.

The calendar also covers many U.S. holidays.

If you have an upcoming science fiction or fantasy-related event you would like listed in the calendar, please drop by our Feedback Forum and let us know. Registration is required to post but registration is free.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network.

SF-Fandom launches Twilight and True Blood forum

SF-Fandom has launched a new forum devoted to Twilight and True Blood. Vampire fans have been enjoying our Vampires Forum but we felt it was time to create a Twilight Forum & True Blood Forum.

SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network.