The Daily Tell is reporting that Russell Crowe spontaneously donated about $1600 to a cancer research shop in the UK while he was eating lunch.
Crowe is working on a "Robin Hood" movie in which he plays both the Sherriff of Nottingham and Robin Hood.
I've posted a thread about the donation at SF-Fandom's General Movies Forum. Please drop by and comment.
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.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Listen to "Raw Hobbit" from MERPCon V
MERPCon V is now over and Hawke has had a chance to rest up from his LOONG weekend. Among the many tasks he had set himself was uploading the audio file from my "Raw Hobbit" session, which was recorded live on Saturday, July 25.
I was scheduled to do a standard speaker's session but I've done so many of those through the years I wanted to do something different this time. We had a sizable audience in the room and video of the session was being streamed live.
So I borrowed the format from William Shatner's "Raw Nerve" and I sat in a chair facing past my "guests", randomly selected members of the audience. We chatted about a variety of Tolkien-related topics including the books, movies, and more.
You can now listen to "Raw Hobbit" here. The site promises that you'll eventually be able to download the video -- and I think that will be here.
I'll post something when I am sure the video is available.
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.
I was scheduled to do a standard speaker's session but I've done so many of those through the years I wanted to do something different this time. We had a sizable audience in the room and video of the session was being streamed live.
So I borrowed the format from William Shatner's "Raw Nerve" and I sat in a chair facing past my "guests", randomly selected members of the audience. We chatted about a variety of Tolkien-related topics including the books, movies, and more.
You can now listen to "Raw Hobbit" here. The site promises that you'll eventually be able to download the video -- and I think that will be here.
I'll post something when I am sure the video is available.
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.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Live broadcasts from MERPCon V
If you have not tuned into MERPCon V yet, you should do so. We're doing a panel with young Tolkien fans at 10:00 AM this morning (Pacific Time Zone) and also a live broadcast of Middle-earth Talk Radio this evening at 5:00 PM (PST). You can watch gamers gaming throughout the day on the Webcams.
Yesterday I introduced Tolkien and gaming fans to "Raw Hobbit", a talk show format I put together on a whim when I decided I didn't want to just stand in front of an audience and give another lecture. I set up two chairs similar to the set of William Shatner's talk show, "Raw Nerve".
Grabbing people at random from the audience, I had a blast asking them questions about Tolkien, science fiction and fantasy, gaming, and their lives. Everyone enjoyed it and several people who have attended past MERPCons where I've done sessions told me they really liked the format.
Maybe I'll take "Raw Hobbit" on the road. I'll have to think about that.
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.
Yesterday I introduced Tolkien and gaming fans to "Raw Hobbit", a talk show format I put together on a whim when I decided I didn't want to just stand in front of an audience and give another lecture. I set up two chairs similar to the set of William Shatner's talk show, "Raw Nerve".
Grabbing people at random from the audience, I had a blast asking them questions about Tolkien, science fiction and fantasy, gaming, and their lives. Everyone enjoyed it and several people who have attended past MERPCons where I've done sessions told me they really liked the format.
Maybe I'll take "Raw Hobbit" on the road. I'll have to think about that.
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.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Willem Dafoe to play Tars Tarkus in John Carter movie
This is old news by the time you read it, but Willem Dafoe has accepted the role of Tars Tarkus in the upcoming "John Carter of Mars" movies. Some fans have expressed reservation over the use of Dafoe in this role, but I think he is exactly the kind of actor who can carry the character.
Either they'll redefine what the Green Men of Barsoom look like or they will use CGI technology to make the actors look like 12-foot-tall, four-armed humanoids from the books. Tars Tarkus has to be a strong, powerful character. The audience has to believe that a true leader of the Green Men becomes Carter's best friend on Mars. I think Willem Dafoe is a good choice to fulfill that role.
His work in the "Spider-man" movies also provides me with hope that there may be a franchise in the making. If the first movie is successful then there is surely room for more to follow -- and Dafoe having already participated in a fantasy movie franchise seems a good choice for another.
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.
Either they'll redefine what the Green Men of Barsoom look like or they will use CGI technology to make the actors look like 12-foot-tall, four-armed humanoids from the books. Tars Tarkus has to be a strong, powerful character. The audience has to believe that a true leader of the Green Men becomes Carter's best friend on Mars. I think Willem Dafoe is a good choice to fulfill that role.
His work in the "Spider-man" movies also provides me with hope that there may be a franchise in the making. If the first movie is successful then there is surely room for more to follow -- and Dafoe having already participated in a fantasy movie franchise seems a good choice for another.
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.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
H.P. Lovecraft graphic novel being made into film
The L.A. Times Blog reported that Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have entered into a deal to bring the graphic novel "The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft" to life on the silver screen.
Ron Howard is or may be involved in the project in some measure. I have not read the graphic novel but I'll keep an eye on this project as it moves forward. We like to track Lovecraft-inspired movies and books in the H.P. Lovecraft 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.
Ron Howard is or may be involved in the project in some measure. I have not read the graphic novel but I'll keep an eye on this project as it moves forward. We like to track Lovecraft-inspired movies and books in the H.P. Lovecraft 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.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Canadian SciFi writer, Phyllis Gottlieb, passes away
If you're familiar with Canadian science fiction you may have read some of Phyllis Gottlieb's work. She passed away on July 15 at age 83, leaving behind her husband and three children, as well as a legacy of poetry and science fiction that the science fiction and fantasy community pay homage to.
In mainstream media, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and National Post recognized her contributions to literature and the SciFi genre, as well as the fact that she helped lead the way for Canadian authors into the U.S. science fiction markets.
IO9 and SF Crows Nest paid tribute with brief obituaries of their own.
Best wishes to her loved ones for their loss.
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.
In mainstream media, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and National Post recognized her contributions to literature and the SciFi genre, as well as the fact that she helped lead the way for Canadian authors into the U.S. science fiction markets.
IO9 and SF Crows Nest paid tribute with brief obituaries of their own.
Best wishes to her loved ones for their loss.
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.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Bruce Hopkins joins cast of Barrier
New Zealanders probably know that Bruce Hopkins has been acting professionally for almost 20 years. International fans of television shows like Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Power Rangers have seen him in many roles through those years. Bruce also played the Rohirric warrior Gamling in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings".
In 2003 I had the pleasure of interviewing Bruce Hopkins about Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings". Several of my friends have met Bruce at conventions and they really liked him.
In 2007 New Zealand writer Sheldon Whittaker contacted Xenite.Org about a science fiction television show he was putting together. The original site no longer exists but you can visit this archive of the Barrier TV site.
After learning about the production I decided to help support the project by creating a Barrier TV fan site to help promote the project. Although Sheldon did not acquire the backing he was originally looking for his team persevered and they have been working on developing a made-for-Internet movie based on the concept.
Sheldon posts news and information to the Barrier TV Blog for interested fans and to help build visibility for the project. In June, for example, Sheldon announced that Bruce Hopkins is joining the cast, taking on the role of Dante Lau.
There is also a Barrier teaser trailer on the blog to help you get an idea of what they are aiming for. There is also concept art, information about the producers, and credits for other crew members. The Xenite.Org Network will continue to support Sheldon and his team. We're looking forward to seeing the final production!
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.
In 2003 I had the pleasure of interviewing Bruce Hopkins about Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings". Several of my friends have met Bruce at conventions and they really liked him.
In 2007 New Zealand writer Sheldon Whittaker contacted Xenite.Org about a science fiction television show he was putting together. The original site no longer exists but you can visit this archive of the Barrier TV site.
After learning about the production I decided to help support the project by creating a Barrier TV fan site to help promote the project. Although Sheldon did not acquire the backing he was originally looking for his team persevered and they have been working on developing a made-for-Internet movie based on the concept.
Sheldon posts news and information to the Barrier TV Blog for interested fans and to help build visibility for the project. In June, for example, Sheldon announced that Bruce Hopkins is joining the cast, taking on the role of Dante Lau.
There is also a Barrier teaser trailer on the blog to help you get an idea of what they are aiming for. There is also concept art, information about the producers, and credits for other crew members. The Xenite.Org Network will continue to support Sheldon and his team. We're looking forward to seeing the final production!
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.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Kevin Sorbo seeks donations to help kids program
Actor Kevin Sorbo is seeking help from fans and community for the charitable organization A World Fit For Kids.
Sorbo, best known as the star of hit television shows such as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, has been a spokesperson and board member of A World Fit For Kids for twelve years.
The California state budget crisis has forced many charities to look for new resources, and A World Fit For Kids is one of those non-profit organizations that has been hard hit by the reduction in state and local government support.
In an open letter on Baby Couture Kevin Sorbo asks anyone who can to make $6 donations to A World Fit For Kids. Here is an excerpt:
Kevin Sorbo's fans are spreading the word about this urgent need. If you are in a position to help, please consider making a donation. I've done what I can by posting announcements here and here. I'll try to get some more out later this weekend.
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.
Sorbo, best known as the star of hit television shows such as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, has been a spokesperson and board member of A World Fit For Kids for twelve years.
The California state budget crisis has forced many charities to look for new resources, and A World Fit For Kids is one of those non-profit organizations that has been hard hit by the reduction in state and local government support.
In an open letter on Baby Couture Kevin Sorbo asks anyone who can to make $6 donations to A World Fit For Kids. Here is an excerpt:
This is an urgent call to action… our kids and families desperately need your help. Delayed payments from state and local granting agencies pose immediate threats on our ability to serve the elementary through high school students who most need us, particularly this summer as thousands of youth have no safe place to go.
...
For a mere $6.00 a day you can provide 3 hours of programming for a child during the afternoon hours when kids are most vulnerable to gangs, drugs, violence and risky behaviors. Your donation will help provide the programming, equipment, snacks, and coach/mentors needed to serve 1,200 kids through July and August.
Kevin Sorbo's fans are spreading the word about this urgent need. If you are in a position to help, please consider making a donation. I've done what I can by posting announcements here and here. I'll try to get some more out later this weekend.
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.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
2009 Phoenix Film Festival seeking submissions
Keep an eye on our General Movies Forum at SF-Fandom.
A representative of the Phoenix Film Festival asked for permission to post the announcement below there and we've agreed.
If your organization wants help in promoting a film festival or other event of interest to science fiction and fantasy fans, do please contact the Xenite.Org Network Administrators and we'll consider your request. Make sure we can contact you if we have any questions (or answers to your own questions).
FROM THE PHOENIX FILM FOUNDATION
Arizona's Premier Genre Film Festival wants you! From the producers of the Phoenix Film Festival, the International Horror & Sci Fi Film Festival is now accepting Horror & Sci Fi Feature and Short submissions, as well as Screenplays and Student Shorts!
The International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival is Arizona's largest genre Film Festival featuring competition and showcase films from both the Horror & Sci-Fi genres from all over the world. Or goal is to bring in the freshest new films and emerging talent within the Horror and Sci-Fi genres. A recent attending filmmaker commented, "The weekend was a pleasure to attend. Not one detail was left out. I was truly blown away. Other festivals should take notice, the IHSFF is smart & on the edge of independent filmmaking. All the filmmakers in attendance felt a true appreciation for their efforts".
So don't miss out, submissions are being accepted now through August 7! Go to www.horrorscifi.com and submit your film or screenplay today.
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.
A representative of the Phoenix Film Festival asked for permission to post the announcement below there and we've agreed.
If your organization wants help in promoting a film festival or other event of interest to science fiction and fantasy fans, do please contact the Xenite.Org Network Administrators and we'll consider your request. Make sure we can contact you if we have any questions (or answers to your own questions).
FROM THE PHOENIX FILM FOUNDATION
Arizona's Premier Genre Film Festival wants you! From the producers of the Phoenix Film Festival, the International Horror & Sci Fi Film Festival is now accepting Horror & Sci Fi Feature and Short submissions, as well as Screenplays and Student Shorts!
The International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival is Arizona's largest genre Film Festival featuring competition and showcase films from both the Horror & Sci-Fi genres from all over the world. Or goal is to bring in the freshest new films and emerging talent within the Horror and Sci-Fi genres. A recent attending filmmaker commented, "The weekend was a pleasure to attend. Not one detail was left out. I was truly blown away. Other festivals should take notice, the IHSFF is smart & on the edge of independent filmmaking. All the filmmakers in attendance felt a true appreciation for their efforts".
So don't miss out, submissions are being accepted now through August 7! Go to www.horrorscifi.com and submit your film or screenplay today.
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.
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince
I have written a review of Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince on the SF-Fandom Wordpress blog. And I have added a few more thoughts about Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince in our Harry Potter Forum.
So you have to ask, what else can I say that I haven't said already? Well, let's start with some video.
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince trailer
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince premier
And enough with the video.
Things to look for in the movie, if you want to play a little game of Detail Spotting:
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.
So you have to ask, what else can I say that I haven't said already? Well, let's start with some video.
And enough with the video.
Things to look for in the movie, if you want to play a little game of Detail Spotting:
- In how many scenes do they show Cho Chang (Katie Leung) in the background?
- What is up with Hermione when she leaves the Three Broomsticks? Are they implying she cannot hold her Butterbeer, or did she sample some of what Slughorn was drinking?
- How much of the Felix Felicis does Harry actually gulp down? The battle between Dumbledore's Army and the Death Eaters does not occur, but I got the impression that Harry did not drink the entire potion.
- I only saw one moving painting. How many do you see?
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.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
News on MERPCon V and other things
MERPCon V will be held in Spokane, WA the weekend of July 24 - 26. This convnetion is the last of the series of five free gaming conventions that Hawke Robinson has been hosting in Spokane, WA at his own expense. MERPCon has combined con-style gaming with lectures by Tolkien scholars and game designers, including Thomas Morwinsky, Chris Seeman, John Rateliff, and me.
Hawke has tried to make MERPCon as open as possible, broadcasting it over the Web and allowing fans to send in questions through a chat room and email. This year the entire event will be broadcast live via multiple Webcams with audio feeds.
As this year's guest speaker I will have a breakout session on Saturday, July 25. You'll be able to watch it live and submit questions via the chat room. You can check the Web site for the schedule. I hope you'll find time to tune in, although the session will be recorded and made available download at a later time.
On Sunday morning we'll host a live panel discussion with young Tolkien fans. Be sure to have your questions ready for them.
In 2010 Hawke will launch Tolkien Moot to replace MERPCon. Tolkien Moot will be membership-supported and will include expanded programming, although gaming will still be an important part of the convention.
In other news, Hawke and I just wrapped up another episode of Middle-earth Talk Radio, which should be available for download later this week. We're also planning to do a live broadcast from MERPCon on Saturday evening. I've asked Hawke to see if he can arrange a phone-in guest but if not then we'll have fun anyway.
Besides working on MERPCon and Middle-earth Talk Radio this year, I've also been publishing the Hobbit News Newsletter. You may have noticed that I haven't found much interesting news in the past few weeks. The idea behind the newsletter is to publish news that isn't being covered on more traditional Tolkien news sites. Still, I hope to put together a new edition later this week.
Finally, Xenite.Org has relaunched its LoTR movie news site with a new design and expanded content. Now Xenite.Org will cover Hobbit Movie News, Guillermo del Toro News, and Tolkien News. Each section has its own archive of news reports.
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.
Hawke has tried to make MERPCon as open as possible, broadcasting it over the Web and allowing fans to send in questions through a chat room and email. This year the entire event will be broadcast live via multiple Webcams with audio feeds.
As this year's guest speaker I will have a breakout session on Saturday, July 25. You'll be able to watch it live and submit questions via the chat room. You can check the Web site for the schedule. I hope you'll find time to tune in, although the session will be recorded and made available download at a later time.
On Sunday morning we'll host a live panel discussion with young Tolkien fans. Be sure to have your questions ready for them.
In 2010 Hawke will launch Tolkien Moot to replace MERPCon. Tolkien Moot will be membership-supported and will include expanded programming, although gaming will still be an important part of the convention.
In other news, Hawke and I just wrapped up another episode of Middle-earth Talk Radio, which should be available for download later this week. We're also planning to do a live broadcast from MERPCon on Saturday evening. I've asked Hawke to see if he can arrange a phone-in guest but if not then we'll have fun anyway.
Besides working on MERPCon and Middle-earth Talk Radio this year, I've also been publishing the Hobbit News Newsletter. You may have noticed that I haven't found much interesting news in the past few weeks. The idea behind the newsletter is to publish news that isn't being covered on more traditional Tolkien news sites. Still, I hope to put together a new edition later this week.
Finally, Xenite.Org has relaunched its LoTR movie news site with a new design and expanded content. Now Xenite.Org will cover Hobbit Movie News, Guillermo del Toro News, and Tolkien News. Each section has its own archive of news reports.
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.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Gaea's Island by Erin Lowe and Andre Norton
When Andre Norton passed away in 2005 she like so many creative spirits before her left a few unfinished projects in the hands of others. According to long-time Norton friend and fan Paul Goode, Baen Books is considering publishing Gaea's Island, which could be the last fiction by Andre Norton to be published.
Andre collaborated on the project with Erin Lowe (of whom the online Norton fan community has not heard of before). Originally there were going to be three books, and Andre worked on the first two. Erin completed the third book. According to Paul, it appears that the books are being considered for publication as a single volume.
Erin, if you're out there, contact us at SF-Fandom. I'd love to help you promote the book when it is finally published. Even if Baen passes on the project, someone will publish it, I'm sure. I trust Paul's judgement, as will many other Andre fans.
Good luck!
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.
Andre collaborated on the project with Erin Lowe (of whom the online Norton fan community has not heard of before). Originally there were going to be three books, and Andre worked on the first two. Erin completed the third book. According to Paul, it appears that the books are being considered for publication as a single volume.
Erin, if you're out there, contact us at SF-Fandom. I'd love to help you promote the book when it is finally published. Even if Baen passes on the project, someone will publish it, I'm sure. I trust Paul's judgement, as will many other Andre fans.
Good luck!
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.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Dark Man: Journal of Robert E. Howard Studies, publishes new issue
I posted this announcement over at Wordpress but I'm a big Howard fan and want to support Mark's work, so I'm reposting it here, too.
Mark Hall, editor of The Dark Man: The Journal of Robert E. Howard Studies, announced a couple of weeks ago that Volume 4, Issue 2 is now available. Here are a few highlights:
Contents:
80+ pages
$12 + postage ($2.50 domestic first class; $8.00 airmail overseas)
Disclaimer: Although there is no financial connection between SF-Fandom/Xenite.Org and the Dark Man journal, Mark is one of our volunteer forum moderators. Mark provides regular Dark Man Journal updates in our Pulp Authors 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.
Mark Hall, editor of The Dark Man: The Journal of Robert E. Howard Studies, announced a couple of weeks ago that Volume 4, Issue 2 is now available. Here are a few highlights:
Contents:
- Elements of Sadomasochism in the Fiction and Poetry of Robert E. Howard, by Charles Hoffman
- Giant Intelligent Crabs, Oh My! Haggard and Howard, by Robert McIlvaine
- Sumathi Ramaswamy, The Lost Land of Lemuria: Fabulous Geographies, Catastrophic Histories, Review by David R. Werner
- Ken, Asamatsu, editor. Night Voices, Night Journey Lairs of the Hidden Gods Volume 1., Review by Charles Gramlich
- Opinion: An Honorable Retreat: Robert E. Howard as Escapist Writer, by Brian Murphy
80+ pages
$12 + postage ($2.50 domestic first class; $8.00 airmail overseas)
Disclaimer: Although there is no financial connection between SF-Fandom/Xenite.Org and the Dark Man journal, Mark is one of our volunteer forum moderators. Mark provides regular Dark Man Journal updates in our Pulp Authors 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.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Larry King debunks Michael Jackson's ghost
By now you have probably seen this first video.
Okay, I have to admit that I thought it was faked. It looks so real, it just HAD to be faked, right? Wrong.
According to a follow up report by Larry King, the video is real:
It's a real ... shadow of someone walking past a light in another room down the hallway.
Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.
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.
Okay, I have to admit that I thought it was faked. It looks so real, it just HAD to be faked, right? Wrong.
According to a follow up report by Larry King, the video is real:
It's a real ... shadow of someone walking past a light in another room down the hallway.
Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.
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.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Xenite Hobbit Movies News site redesigned
Xenite.Org launched the oldest continually updated Lord of the Rings News site in January 1998. We've been publishing or republishing Tolkien-related news for 11-1/2 years. That's a loooong time, but as many of you know I really love J.R.R. Tolkien's books and I'm a big suppporter of film and stage adaptations.
Nonetheless, for the past several years I just haven't had time to focus on the old LoTR Movie News site like I once did. Things change and all that -- and the last of Peter Jackson's three films was released in 2003 anyway.
But now we have Guillermo del Toro's 2 "Hobbit" movies coming and in this year alone two fan film productions were released. So it seemed high time I do something about a site which had, admittedly, grown stale and was no longer as useful and relevant as it once was.
So for the past few days I've been working hard to upgrade and expand Xenite's Hobbit movies news. I think it was worth the effort.
You can check out our Hobbit Movies News site and see that the new design is compatible with Xenite's current look overall (a few custom sections of Xenite are still not yet using the new template).
As part of the reorganization I've moved Old LoTR Movie News pages into their own sub-directory, as that information is no longer as relevant and useful as it once was. I've also removed many old links to sites that no longer exist (thus depriving domainers of some of the link value they've enjoyed for the past several years).
I've also updated the original LoTR Movie News Archive index. This was a complex, evolving document that just did not want to ever use a single template, but now every page in it uses the standard template we introduced a year-and-a-half ago.
In the process of cleaning up the old content I found that one news page really wasn't adequate. I was just trying to cover too much news. So now I've created two sub-sections, each with their own special archives. Here is a quick run down of the new pages (including the main news page that I linked to above).
The daily archive pages will link directly to the most recent news archives in the directories. The directories are organized by year, month, and day to help people look for news stories in as many ways as possible.
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.
Nonetheless, for the past several years I just haven't had time to focus on the old LoTR Movie News site like I once did. Things change and all that -- and the last of Peter Jackson's three films was released in 2003 anyway.
But now we have Guillermo del Toro's 2 "Hobbit" movies coming and in this year alone two fan film productions were released. So it seemed high time I do something about a site which had, admittedly, grown stale and was no longer as useful and relevant as it once was.
So for the past few days I've been working hard to upgrade and expand Xenite's Hobbit movies news. I think it was worth the effort.
You can check out our Hobbit Movies News site and see that the new design is compatible with Xenite's current look overall (a few custom sections of Xenite are still not yet using the new template).
As part of the reorganization I've moved Old LoTR Movie News pages into their own sub-directory, as that information is no longer as relevant and useful as it once was. I've also removed many old links to sites that no longer exist (thus depriving domainers of some of the link value they've enjoyed for the past several years).
I've also updated the original LoTR Movie News Archive index. This was a complex, evolving document that just did not want to ever use a single template, but now every page in it uses the standard template we introduced a year-and-a-half ago.
In the process of cleaning up the old content I found that one news page really wasn't adequate. I was just trying to cover too much news. So now I've created two sub-sections, each with their own special archives. Here is a quick run down of the new pages (including the main news page that I linked to above).
- Hobbit Movie News
- Hobbit Movie News Archives Directory
- Hobbit Movie News Daily Archives Page
- Guillermo del Toro News
- Guillermo del Toro News Archives Directory
- Guillermo del Toro News Daily Archives Page
- J.R.R. Tolkien News
- J.R.R. Tolkien News Archives Directory
- J.R.R. Tolkien News Daily Archives Page
The daily archive pages will link directly to the most recent news archives in the directories. The directories are organized by year, month, and day to help people look for news stories in as many ways as possible.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)