Sci-Fi Storm

tchansen writes “According to the Rumor Mill at The Digital Bits, George Lucas is going to make some changes to the original Star Wars series before it is released on DVD.

First, at the end of Return of the Jedi Luke will remove Vader’s helmet to reveal a scarred and aged Hayden Christensen. Also, in Star Wars: A New Hope, it would show Han shooting first again in the Mos Eisley cantina.

No word on whether or not the changes will push out the rumored September 2004 release date for the Trilogy.”

Several sites are reporting that actor Jonathan Brandis, best known as smart-alecky Wesley Crusher-clone Lucas Wolenczek on seaQuest DSV was found dead in his apartment.

Update: CNN has confirmed the report, saying that Jonathan died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center early on the 12th after a friend called from Brandis’ apartment shortly before midnight claiming Brandis attempted suicide, which is being investigated.

One of these days I intend on doing a MAJOR revamp of Sci-Fi Storm, and I’m talking from the ground up – starting first with dumping Slashcode (which is way too bulky for this) and writing my own software, with the eventual goal of a complete integrated site with both blog-style news and forums and other areas. It’s a way off (I have to steal my wife’s iBook and get it set up for programming), but I’m planning now.

So, speak up! What features should Storm 2.0 have? What should I toss? And how can I get you guys to submit more stories? 🙂

Update 11/20: just bringing back to the front for more comments.

Quite a while ago I remember talk about turning Arthur C. Clarke’s 3001: The Final Odyssey being turned in to a film. Well, there’s ben some movement on a movie called 3001 – but I’m pretty sure this ain’t it. Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, is working on a script with fellow King writer Etan Cohen which involves a man who wakes up 1000 years later (sounds like Clarke’s), to find everyone is so dumb he’s the smartest person on Earth (don’t remember that…)

Warner Bros. has released the teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on the official web site. The kids are obviously growing up, but this has the looks of a much better movie in my opinion than Chamber of Secrets – which was the same opinion I had of the books (CoS was my least favorite).

tchansen writes “The classic and wonderful short story/essay by Larry Niven about the Man of Steel’s reproductive problems is online with permission at Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex.

Please note that the above link, while not crude, does talk about human/alien reproduction in both clinical and colloquial language and if you are easily offended (or under the age of 18) you should probably follow this link instead.”

Richard Salter writes “Two new high-quality fanzines from DWIN (North America’s longest-running Doctor Who fan club) have been released to celebrate the series’ 40th anniversary.

Myth Makers Presents: Essentials is a fiction anthology featuring stories from top Who book authors Andy Lane, Daniel O’Mahony, Jonathan Blum, Mark Clapham and more, which also features “Essential Elements of Doctor Who” chosen by Robert J. Sawyer, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Raymond E. Feist, Piers Anthony, Larry Niven and many others.

Enlightenment #118: A Forty Year Adventure in Time and Space is a huge year-by-year examination of the series by acclaimed Doctor Who author Lance Parkin, with an introduction by Lloyd Rose.

For more details and to order copies, visit www.dwin.org“