Sci-Fi Storm

Jewel Staite (Kaylee of Firefly, more recently Dr. Keller on Stargate Atlantis) at the 2008 Supernova Pop Culture Expo in Melbourne, Australia said that a new special edition DVD box set of Firefly was in the works, and she was asked to do a commentary for it. TV Guide checked with Fox, and they confirmed it – and that it will be Blu-Ray, but nothing on a release date. Update: unable to spell or type last night.

Sci-Fi Maverick writes “This is a sci-fi directory which also includes some fantasy and horror websites. PsiProne’s Sci-Fi Portal [Doc: Link removed – site is defunct]. Its been around since 2001, while it experienced some difficulties for a couple years, its been back in business since September 2007. It has a listing of over 1400 websites and is one of the largest sci-fi directories on the web. Its has a sidebar with a list of various websites, and the main part of the main page has a large list of categories. The categories can be confusing, but the first one is a general science fiction category, followed by a some categories for popular tv series in alphabetical order. If you click on a series name, you will go to a page with subtopics for that TV series. The last TV category is a broad category called More SciFi TV with subcats for other TV shows, the next categories are movies listed in alphabetical order. Some of the categories include Babylon 5, Farscape, General Science Fiction, Buffy, and BattleStar Galactica to name a few! In addition, every website listed has a spot where you can rate the website. Check out this site! Add your website to the directory!” Thanks to whoever rated Sci-Fi Storm a 10!

PsiProne writes “A new social network, much like MySpace, opened its doors to Sci-Fi Fans this month, March 2008. Its called The Sci-Fi Dominion . When new users sign up, they get their own member page, plus access to The Sci-Fi Dominion forums, discussions and much more. Users can even start their own groups and add their favorite sci-fi videos to the video page. Check it out and join up! See you there!” Hmmm…this was one of the things I was thinking about to “expand” Sci-Fi Storm…drat. I probably would have never gotten to it anyways.

Will Smith’s vehicle I Am Legend came out this past week on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc. I finally managed to take some time (despite it being Easter) to work through it for a review. Read More for the details.

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Kate from AtomFilms wrote us to let everyone know that AtomFilms is running the 2008 Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge: “Over here at AtomFilms we’re right in the thick of the 2008 Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge in partnership with Lucasfilm. We?d love it if you’d give the Closet Sci-Fi Geek readers a heads up that submissions are due by MAY 27 for the 2008 contest.

Star Wars fans should submit their parody, fan fiction or MASH-UP (new this year we even have a special tool for fans to create a mash-up online) by MAY 27 for consideration in this year’s Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge. Top fan movies will be selected by AtomFilms and Lucasfilm including GEORGE LUCAS as one of the judges! Awards will be announced at San Diego Comic Con on July 24th and at least one of the award-winning movies will air on SpikeTV!” The entries last year were pretty impressive – if you’ve been waiting to make your own Episode, or just have some SW-related fun, now’s your chance.

Arthur C. Clarke, who has written more than 100 books, including the classics 2001: A Space Odyssey and Rendezvous With Rama, has passed away at the age of 90, in Sri Lanka where he has lived for many years.

Tye Bourdony (from The Lighter Side of Sci-Fi) wrote in to let us know about Star Trek: Voyager and Stargate Atlantis star Robert Picardo’s Second Annual Charity Auction, whioh takes place August 10th at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and will benefit Habitats for Humanity. Tickets are already available for the event.

Anonymous Coward writes “SpaceWesterns.com is dedicating Women’s History Month to “The Women of Space Westerns.” The sidebar on the home page has a list of Women writers appearing on SpaceWesterns.com, and check out the feature article ‘The Women of Space Westerns’ that details some early pioneers of Science Fiction, and their Space Western exploits.

Some of the stories they’re highlighting include:
“A World is Born” by Leigh Brackett
“A Llama’s Tale” by Shauna Roberts
“Mars Ain’t No Place for Ladies” by Filamena Young
“A Few Sunsets Too Many” by Amanda Spikol
“The Clone-Wrangler’s Bride” by Camille Alexa
“Hidden Answers” by Cheryl McCreary
“For the Good of the Settlement” by Vonnie Winslow Crist

http://www.spacewesterns.com/“

The sequel to 2004’s Appleseed, Appleseed Ex Machina continues the story of the the city-state of Olympus, born out of the ruins of a devastating world war, along with ESWAT officer Deunan and her partner Briareos, a “hecatonchires” cyborg. Read More for a review. It comes out this Tuesday on single-disc DVD, two-disc Special Edition DVD, combo HD-DVD/DVD and Blu-Ray Disc.

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Gary Gygax, one of the co-founders (along with Dave Arneson) of the best known role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, passed away this morning at the age of 69. I first read about it in a forum post, and hoped it was a gag, but he was in declining health. D&D is about to release the 4th Edition ruleset. I may have to dig up my 1st Edition books and dice and have a game in his honor…