Sci-Fi Storm

First, the bad news. Actor David Prowse, the man inside Darth Vader, has been stricken with a mysterious affliction which has left him partially paralyzed, according to
SFX Network. Apparently it started in his arm, and has spread to his back overnight. Doctors appear to be baffled.

In better news, George Lucas has revealed Christopher Lee’s character name for Episode II – in the introduction to a book about the actor. Read More for the name…

Update 3/9:SFX Network reports that Prowse appears to be recovering from the still-unknown illness…

(continue reading…)

The U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis is honoring famed SF writer Robert A. Heinlein (Starship Troopers) by naming a Chair of Aerospace Engineering after him. Heinlein graduated from the academy in 1929.

Gathered from recent headlines all over the Web: Viacom has confirmed development of a new Trek series; Witchblade begins filming today (Feb. 20th) for TNT; Bryan Singer is almost set to direct X-Men 2; Richard Harris isn’t happy with Potter, while the official site gets updated; 3rd Rock sees an end; and a Doctoral Thesis on Religion in Star Trek?

(continue reading…)

The Soft Science Fiction Writer’s Association sponsors an annual contest (top prize: $100) for the year’s best “Soft SF” – defined as where character, emotion and artistic effect take precedence over plot(?) and science. The winners for 2000 were just announced. Read more for the list of 2000 winners.

(continue reading…)

Various tidbits, mostly from Science Fiction Weekly: Ethan Phillips says Neelix is not in a hurry to reach Earth; Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) will be shooting extra scenes for Episode 2 as late as November; Boxleitner doubts a new B5 series; Denise Richards would like to be a Trooper again; Akira is to be re-released to theatres, DVD, and VHS; and Jurrasic Park 3 promises to be much darker…

(continue reading…)

Science Fiction Weekly is reporting that author Gordon R. Dickson, best known for his Childe Cycle stories, passed away on January 31st.

A London tabloid (the Sunday Express) is apparently reporting that Sigourney Weaver has signed on to do Alien 5 for £15,000,000 ($22,000,000). Reuters and Yahoo have picked it up – but apparently, they didn’t take into account the source. That doesn’t mean its not happening, but as tabloid is the only known source of the info for a movie that hasn’t left the rumor stage, take it with a grain of quadrotriticale…

Update 2/7: Weaver is now denying the report…

rinkjustice writes “There’s a compelling article at HardcoreLinux about how aliens devised the internet to gather the collective consciousness of the human race. Regardless of whether you find the whole alien internet conspiracy to be spectacular sci-fi (as I do) or hard fact, author David Pacheco illustrates how some have been prevented from publishing their views online. A great read whether you’re a sysadmin or conspiracy buff.” Perhaps that explains all the spam in my inbox this morning – It’s all mind control or something.

CNN.com is running an article about the prop-master himself, Bob Burns, and his new book, [asin=0811825728]It Came from Bob’s Basement: Exploring the Science Fiction and Monster Movie Archive of Bob Burns[/asin]. The article is a bit off (it says Rod Serling, not Rod Taylor, stepped into The Time Machine). Some may remember Bob from earlier days on the Sci-Fi Channel as a regular on Sci-Fi Buzz, a news-ish program, wher ehe would often show off his collection…

Gleaned from the headlines at Sci-Fi Wire: Charlton Heston will make a cameo as an ape in the Planet of the Apes remake; Dimension Films is developing a film version of Ellision’s classic Outer Limits episode, Demon With a Glass Hand, with Ellison doing the script and David Twohy (Pitch Black) directing; A fifth Trek series could be ready for the Fall, but the impending strike could delay it; and testing for Digital-to-Film transfers for Episode II are underway…