Sci-Fi Storm

Today is the U.S. release of Doctor Who: The Complete First Series, and I was able to get a copy for review. For a long-standing Whovian like myself, this was very eagerly awaited. And all I can say is: Buy it. Now. If you haven’t seen it, you don’t know what you are missing. Read More if you want to know more about it. And lets hope we don’t have to wait so long for Series 2.

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Gen X Press writes ““Daughters of Digital Alchemy” is a 48-page hardbound book featuring the art of popular fantasy and horror artist Jason Beam.
His frenetically detailed illustrations and unique style have established him as a prevailing artist in the digital medium. His award-winning work has been featured prominently in the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres for nearly a decade. Viewers to the website will also get a sneak peek at Jason Beam’s newest completed work, a barbarian femme fatale styled piece titled ‘Hellrider’.” Read More for more details. Update: Fixed truncated title – not sure what the original submitted title was. Another thing which will be fixed in the new software.

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Finally!! The second half of Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica will be release on September 19th. Details are sparse, but it should contain episodes 11-20 of Season 2, and according to SCI FI Wire an extended version “Pegasus”, which they claim is the season ending cliffhanger (it was the cliffhanger for the first half). Pre-order your copy now!

Alas, Jim Baen, publisher of Baen Books, which printed many SF titles, did not recover from his stroke two weeks ago and has passed away. For an author’s take, please read this. Update: Read more from Jerry Pournelle’s web site.

In an interview from the Richard & Judy talk show in the UK, J.K. Rowling talks of the final Harry Potter book – and tells that two people she didn’t originally intend to die will die, while one got a reprieve from their fate. Links to transcripts and video are available on MuggleNet.

They may not have made it out of their freshman seasons, but the three broadcast SF series of 2005 will see quick DVD releases – and even then, they are competing for fans. Surface will hit shelves on August 15th, one week ahead of Invasion and Threshold. Also added to the Sci-Fi TV Store is Volume 2 of the Irwin Allen classic Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

JMS has mentioned in the past about how he was involved with a pitch to Paramount about helping out the flailing Star Trek franchise. Well, Bryce Zabel (The Crow: Stairway to Heaven), who met JMS on a plane and suddenly was teaming with him, details the plan on his website. Think a “re-imagining” of the original series, much like Battlestar Galactica. Would the hardcore fans really have followed as they say? Remember, this was before Galactica got the treatment, and those fans perhaps weren’t quite as rabid…Updated: Correct link now…really… 🙂

Jim Baen, owner of Baen Books which publishes a lot of the SF novels out there, and also helped pioneer freely available electronic editions of print books, has suffered a stroke and is in serious condition in the ICU.

With the release of Fan Collective – Q this past week, iF Magazine is running an exclusive interview with actor John DeLancie, who talks about the entity known only a Q.

Anonymous Coward writes “WHEN DID PLAYING WITH TOYS ON THE INTERNET BECOME ILLEGAL?

On May 30th 2006, Benny and Rafi Fine received a ?Cease & Desist? letter from Hasbro, Inc.. The company demanded they take their popular Internet series ?G.I. Joe: The Epic Saga? off of their website at RavenStake.com for the use of Hasbro?s action figures and logos which constitutes copyright infringement.

The letter states the videos must be taken down by June 9th, 2006 at 5pm EST, and the Brothers plan to comply. In a time that Internet rights are such an issue, the shutting down of the series only strengthens fears that the web is not a place for free expression. If the Fine Brothers? toy-size comedy satire is at risk, where they made no monetary gain, then what is next.
?G.I. Joe: The Epic Saga? is a trilogy of feature films split up into mini-series format to accommodate the online community. It stars figures from G.I. Joe, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and more. The series had been running for one year, and two of the three feature films were released before the letter was received. To the dismay of the films? fans, it appears the third film will not be allowed to see release.

The videos can be seen until June 9th, 2006 at http://www.RavenStake.com/gijoe

The Cease and Desist Letter from Hasbro: http://www.RavenStake.com/desist.pdf“