Sci-Fi Storm

So, J.J. Abrams pitches an idea to Paramount brass – let’s do the original Star Trek crew, but when they are younger, before they all end up on the Enterprise. What’s the worst that could happen? Perhaps this. A humorous video on the pitch to redo Star Trek as a college life movie…

Scott Laming writes “AbeBooks has just posted an interview with Elizabeth Hand about her new book Generation Loss. There is also a contest (free to enter), with the chance to win a signed hardcover copy of the book“

TheThunderChild writes “http://thethunderchild.com/GhostTrain/ is the URL for a new feature in The Thunder Child, in which we present photo books of science fiction serials. Ever wondered what to do with 15 minutes of your day every Saturday? Worth watching an SF serial? Take a look at our photo books and see if any interest you. Currently on offer: Undersea Kingdom (1936) and Buck Rogers (1939).”

Kenth Johansson writes “Last year Elfwood celebrated 10 years and promised many exiting years yet to come. Now the world?s larges gallery of fantasy & sci-fi art and fiction is on the move, presenting a number of new features.

?We are refining Elfwood and want our users to be able to interact with each other more then before. Now everybody can register an account, whether or not you want to publish anything. Elfwood should be the obvious meeting place for people interested in fantasy and sci-fi art and fiction,? says founder Thomas Abrahamsson

One of the new features is the possibility to be notified when new material from a favorite artist is published. With an astonishing 500 000 pieces of art in the gallery, this is an easy way to keep up to date on the ever expanding gallery.

More of this kind of features will be launched throughout the autumn. And there are other more innovative features underway that will give publishing users new ways to express themselves.

www.elfwood.com“

Amidst gasps and applause, J.K. Rowling revealed to the audience during a question and answer session after a short reading at Carnegie Hall in New York City, that Dumbledore was gay, and was in fact in love with his rival Gellert Grindelwald. [Yes this news is a couple days late – I was busy this weekend moving and building furniture…]

With Blade Runner: The Final Cut due out on December 18th, Warner Home Video has opened the official site, where there is a contest to win a $1,000 home theater package – just given them something inspired by Blade Runner: a video, music, a fashion design, a piece of art – or even a poem. Read More for the full press release.

(continue reading…)

Paul McGillion has apparently lost out on a chance to become part of another franchise. Instead, casting for the upcoming Trek movie has gone with Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) in the role of Scotty and John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) as Sulu. Given all the roles they filled, who else could they cast? Nurse Chapel? Yeoman Rand? How about the usually-speechless Lieutenant Leslie? After all, he appeared in more episodes than either Sulu or Chekov.

TheThunderChild writes “Michael Sinclair, known as the Commodore because of the railroad gear he usually wore, was very active in fandom in the 1970s and 80s (attending conventions in cities such as Chattanooga, Bowling Green,and so on) and is sharing his recollections with The Thunder Child. In addition to his anecdotes about RiverCon, Chattacon, and so on, we’ve got pages featuring his collection of badges and program booklets. You can check out his stories at:
http://thethunderchild.com/Conventions/CommodoresR amblings/
Also at The Thunder Child, a couple of pages in our When Worlds Collide (1951) sourcebook, featuring a biography of star Richard Derr and some behind the scenes photos. Check that out at:
http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/1951/WhenWorldsCollide/“

N.E. Lilly writes “SpaceWesterns.com is officially opening to poetry submissions. To celebrate we’re holding a Space Western Limerick Contest! And to top it off it will be judged by three celebrity judges: Gary Trainer (song-writer), Keith R.A. DeCandido (author), and Jane Espenson (screen-writer).

Jane Espenson is a former writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and has written episodes for shows including: Angel, Firefly, Gilmore Girls, Ellen, The O.C., Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dinosaurs, Andy Barker PI and others. She is currently under a development deal with NBC/Universal television while working as Co-Executive Producer on Battlestar Galactica.

Keith R.A. DeCandido has written several billion novels, short stories, eBooks, essays, and comic books in a huge variety of media universes, as well as editing anthologies, playing percussion, and generally making trouble.

Gary Trainer is currently a songwriter, producer, and bass player for The Atomic Swindlers . Trainer began as a main songwriter and founding member of New Math and Jet Black Berries. In 1987 Gary Trainer attended the summer creative writing program at Naropa University’s, Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics . There he studied with Allen Ginsburg and William Burroughs, whose beat writing styles continue to influence his writing and art to this day.

All limericks must be submitted by November 10th for judging. The winners will be announced November 25th on SpaceWesterns.com.

Visit http://www.spacewesterns.com/contest/ for more information.”

TrekMovie.com has an interview with Roberto Orci, who is working on the script for the upcoming eleventh movie installment of Star Trek. He gives details on the characters, some casting, and more. It looks like it focuses on the Big Three of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy (with Spock being a focal point of the story), but Chekov and Uhura have been cast as well, with Anton Yelchin (Alpha Dog) and Zoe Saldana (Premium) respectively. It does seem that they are squeezing a few too many of the original characters in…and I head rumors of former Stargate Atlantis regular Paul McGillion may be up for the role of Scotty. Unlike the late James Doohan, he was actually born in Scotland, although he moved to Canada when he was 2, so he also puts on the accent when needed. Update 10/10: The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Chris Pine (Smokin’ Aces) is in talks to take the role of Kirk, and Eric Bana (The Hulk) has already signed as the villain, Nero.