SCI FI Channel has finally revealed their "deep" entry into the realm of Internetelevision, SCI FI Drive-In. When SCI FI announced the broadband channel, the stated a release date of January 21st, but I wasn't able to find the site until this morning.
So far the offerings are pretty limited, but worth a visit. If they meet their proposed content this will become one of my favorite sites of all time. Currently, you can watch The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Metropolis, both films that you should rush out and see immediately.
What are you doing reading this still? Go watch Metropolis, then come back and complain that the Flash Gordon serials aren't available yet. Right now I have to settle for The Lost City, Undersea Kingdom, and Radar Men from the Moon. I guess that can tide me over for a while.
Who am I kidding? This is awesome!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
What Local Quality Authors?
It is understandable for the New York Times to look down upon Los Angeles and refer to it as a small city when writing articles about humorous counter-academy film awards. I can understand how Bob Harris, writing for the NYT can say, "And last week, the Golden Raspberry Awards, invented by a small-town California film buff, announced its Razzie nominations for worst movies." Mr. Harris is, after all, writing for the local paper of a city where the only thing bigger than its population is its ego about its importance.
Typical of articles written from a distance by someone looking down one's nose at an inferior Mr. Harris is incorrect in his assertion that the Golden Raspberry's were invented by a small-town California film buff." As Cathy Seipp points out writing about Razzies found John JB Wilson, "while it's true that a short while ago he moved to Cerritos (not a small town, but part of Greater Los Angeles/Orange County's sububran sprawl), he started the Razzies around 30 years ago while living in Hollywood. Then for many years he lived in the Valley, also part of the city of Los Angeles." But one can't expect someone in New York to have any respect for the West Coast and its offerings, it is (you should know) the center of American culture. Or should that be Culture?
Regardless, it is still understandable that a city 3833 miles away might not know the particulars of what that other city might have to offer. What isn't understandable is that the Los Angeles Times suffers from the same anti-Angelino disease. It is a newspaper that has almost without exception, in recent times, failed to understand and appreciate the city around it. To quote Fritz, "The Los Angeles Times is the last place to know what is going on in Los Angeles."
Let me give you an example. When former Runaways drummer Sandy West died last October the Los Angeles Times obituary was a wire-service story. It wasn't until December that the Times did their own in depth article. One might think that timely in depth coverage of the local community might be one way that the Times might increase readership.
In an effort to be more like the New York Times the Los Angeles Times began a Sunday magazine. The magazine is good, but it lacks some quintessential must read component. Essentially, it contains material that ought to be in the regular paper and lacks anything uniquely Angelino. One might think that if one is imitating the New York Times one could take a page from their book and serialize a novel by a local author. The New York Times is currently serializing a novel by Michael Chabon as their newest "Sunday Serial." The "Sunday Serial" features work by popular genre authors, though it is interesting to note the snobbishness of the NYT Chabon press release which claims that, "The selection marks a departure for The Magazine, which previously has featured genre fiction writers." What do you call a writer who has written a Superhero novel and whose most recent writing, the very one being serialized, is reminiscent of Robert Howard and dedicated to Michael Moorcock? Personally, I call him a genre fiction writer. But I guess when he's won the Pulizer (for the aforementioned Superhero book) and is from New York he's called a non-genre writer.
Why doesn't the Los Angeles Times run a serialized novel by one of our own local Southern California genre authors? I am certain that it would draw an audience. Why am I not reading Tim Powers' next book in the LAT? How about Stephen Barnes, Jerry Pournelle, Harry Turtledove, David Brin, Raymond Feist, J.V. Jones, Vernor Vinge, or even Cory Doctorow (I may disagree with him about intellectual property, but I like his writing)? We could even ask Mark Salzman, among many others, for non-genre writing.
I would postulate, I'd have to test it, that the LAT doesn't think of the Los Angeles area (and Southern California generally) as a place where authors of merit are to be found. It is likely that they think of Los Angeles as the place where broad entertainment aimed at the lowest common denominator is created and that Art is the purview of other cities, places like New York, Paris, and London.
Don't take any of the above snarkyness to be actual attacks at New York City, it is a wonderful place. I just don't like how Angelinos undervalue the city, and community, where they live. Since moving to Los Angeles, technically the Crenshaw District, in 2000, I have fallen in love with this crazy town. Though I have to admit, it is a little like a geode. It looks rough and ominous on the outside, but when you crack it open you can see all the glittering quartz. Hidden treasures are what Los Angeles is all about, but if you want to find those treasures you aren't often best served by the Los Angeles Times. You have to dig.
Typical of articles written from a distance by someone looking down one's nose at an inferior Mr. Harris is incorrect in his assertion that the Golden Raspberry's were invented by a small-town California film buff." As Cathy Seipp points out writing about Razzies found John JB Wilson, "while it's true that a short while ago he moved to Cerritos (not a small town, but part of Greater Los Angeles/Orange County's sububran sprawl), he started the Razzies around 30 years ago while living in Hollywood. Then for many years he lived in the Valley, also part of the city of Los Angeles." But one can't expect someone in New York to have any respect for the West Coast and its offerings, it is (you should know) the center of American culture. Or should that be Culture?
Regardless, it is still understandable that a city 3833 miles away might not know the particulars of what that other city might have to offer. What isn't understandable is that the Los Angeles Times suffers from the same anti-Angelino disease. It is a newspaper that has almost without exception, in recent times, failed to understand and appreciate the city around it. To quote Fritz, "The Los Angeles Times is the last place to know what is going on in Los Angeles."
Let me give you an example. When former Runaways drummer Sandy West died last October the Los Angeles Times obituary was a wire-service story. It wasn't until December that the Times did their own in depth article. One might think that timely in depth coverage of the local community might be one way that the Times might increase readership.
In an effort to be more like the New York Times the Los Angeles Times began a Sunday magazine. The magazine is good, but it lacks some quintessential must read component. Essentially, it contains material that ought to be in the regular paper and lacks anything uniquely Angelino. One might think that if one is imitating the New York Times one could take a page from their book and serialize a novel by a local author. The New York Times is currently serializing a novel by Michael Chabon as their newest "Sunday Serial." The "Sunday Serial" features work by popular genre authors, though it is interesting to note the snobbishness of the NYT Chabon press release which claims that, "The selection marks a departure for The Magazine, which previously has featured genre fiction writers." What do you call a writer who has written a Superhero novel and whose most recent writing, the very one being serialized, is reminiscent of Robert Howard and dedicated to Michael Moorcock? Personally, I call him a genre fiction writer. But I guess when he's won the Pulizer (for the aforementioned Superhero book) and is from New York he's called a non-genre writer.
Why doesn't the Los Angeles Times run a serialized novel by one of our own local Southern California genre authors? I am certain that it would draw an audience. Why am I not reading Tim Powers' next book in the LAT? How about Stephen Barnes, Jerry Pournelle, Harry Turtledove, David Brin, Raymond Feist, J.V. Jones, Vernor Vinge, or even Cory Doctorow (I may disagree with him about intellectual property, but I like his writing)? We could even ask Mark Salzman, among many others, for non-genre writing.
I would postulate, I'd have to test it, that the LAT doesn't think of the Los Angeles area (and Southern California generally) as a place where authors of merit are to be found. It is likely that they think of Los Angeles as the place where broad entertainment aimed at the lowest common denominator is created and that Art is the purview of other cities, places like New York, Paris, and London.
Don't take any of the above snarkyness to be actual attacks at New York City, it is a wonderful place. I just don't like how Angelinos undervalue the city, and community, where they live. Since moving to Los Angeles, technically the Crenshaw District, in 2000, I have fallen in love with this crazy town. Though I have to admit, it is a little like a geode. It looks rough and ominous on the outside, but when you crack it open you can see all the glittering quartz. Hidden treasures are what Los Angeles is all about, but if you want to find those treasures you aren't often best served by the Los Angeles Times. You have to dig.
The Obligatory Meme to Make Up for Sketchy Posting Post
SF Book Meme
If it's good enough for Tenser the Archmage, it's good enough for me.
If it's good enough for Tenser the Archmage, it's good enough for me.
1. Science fiction, fantasy, or horror?
The best way for me to answer this question was to look over at my bookshelves and see what I own more of with regards to speculative fiction. The hands down winner is fantasy.
2. Hardback, trade paperback, or mass market paperback?
Depends on the author. If I really like the author's writing, or I know the author, hardback is the only way for me. Otherwise I will go with the Mass Market due to space considerations.
3. Heinlein or Asimov?
I like Asimov a lot and I like Heinlein a great deal. Both authors sold out when they tried to "unify" their fictional narratives; one of the single largest wastes of time was the merging of the Foundation and Robot series. I'll keep my psychohistory a human creation if you please. That said, I think that I would choose Heinlein. He has writings for all of my moods. Do I want a kitschy fantasy yarn in the "skiffy" mold? Glory Road here I come. Do I want speculative fiction with political undertones? The Moon is a Harsh Mistress makes for a nice read. Heinlein could write more styles and like the Giving Tree has something for every stage of life.
4. Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
I purchase about 60% of my books at brick-and-mortar stores. I rely on Amazon primarily for the stuff I don't want the clerks frowning at me for purchasing (I am unusually susceptible to shame, Plato would be proud), and when I am looking to save money on Hardback copies.
5. Barnes & Noble or Borders?
There was a time when I would have said Barnes & Noble because of their "lounge" atmosphere, but that seems largely absent now. The local Borders has a better layout for non-ghetto fiction, but the B&N is better for my SF&F.
6. Hitchhiker or Discworld?
Discworld hands down. I like my humorous fantasy and mourn that there isn't more of it. Kids today, am I really that old geez, aren't often aware of the wonderful Compleat Enchanter series, which breaks my heart. Too many of the modern authors take themselves way to seriously, as do too many of the readers.
7. Bookmark or dogear?
A business card or a receipt.
8. Magazine: Asimov's Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction?
I have subscribed to both in the past, but I currently only subscribe to F&SF. If you include others though, you can add Realms of Fantasy (the People of F&SF mags) and Locus.
9. Alphabetize by author, by title, or random?
Alphabetize? That's for bookstores and libraries. I use the "genre pile" method. I do at least try to keep authors together if not in alphabetical order.
10. Keep, throw away, or sell?
I could build a house with my books and I would never throw away what could be donated to charity or sold.
11. Year's Best Science Fiction series (edited by Gardner Dozois) or Year's Best SF Series (edited by David G. Hartwell)?
I'll let you know next year, I haven't purchased either in the past.
12. Keep dustjacket or toss it?
Keep.
13. Read with dustjacket or remove it?
On, it makes a great bookmark.
14. Short story or novel?
Novel. I read very few short stories. They are hard to do well and I am often disappointed. I am very sick of the "suprise twist" convention most fall into. I will read them from an author I admire, or by recommendation.
15. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter, but if pressed for what "young adult" fantasy series I prefer, it'd be Lewis hands down.
16. Stop reading when tired or chapter breaks?
When tired.
17. "It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
"It was a dark and stormy night" is just bad writing; "once upon a time" is convention. I'll take convention over poor craftsmanship. When isn't a stormy night dark? If it isn't that is a more interesting opening.
18. Buy or borrow?
Buy like crazy. Have you read Polysyllabic Spree? That's me in a nutshell.
19. Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse?
Browse, recommendation, and then reviews. I like to find new things and really like brick-and-mortar for the ability to read book backs.
20. Lewis or Tolkien?
This seems a false dichotomy in many ways. I like both. Lewis for his allegory and his willingness to lift imagery from any source. Tolkien is a worldsmith who created an internally consistent milieu based on Anglo Saxon and Norse mythology. Lewis had humorous word play and Tolkien wrote poetry I skip when rereading. In the end...Tolkien.
21. Hard SF or space opera?
Space Opera, hands down. Anything too rooted in current scientific understandings will collapse under future scrutiny. No one cares that the world isn't hollow or that Deja Thoris can't exist, it is the imagined qualities and the characters that matter in Space Opera. And today's Hard SF that has science that becomes outdated, but has imaginative settings and memorable characters becomes tomorrow's Space Opera.
22. Collection (single author) or anthology (multiple authors)?
I really like both, but anthologies featuring authors I enjoy have introduced me to new authors. On the other hand, a P K Dick collection doesn't have the variable quality of some anthologies. Anthologies are deeply dependent on their editors. Chris Roberson's Adventure anthology was a fun read that introduced me to many new authors.
23. Hugo or Nebula?
Hugo.
24. Golden Age SF or New Wave SF?
I like both, but the preachy nature of much New Wave SF which often confuses progressive political screeds for cultural criticism sometimes turns me off as a reader and the conservatives are just as bad. I didn't like Terry Goodkind's oppressive inclusion of Objectivist philosophy in Wizards First Rule and when Cory Doctorow writes about intellectual property I want to run down to USC and strangle him.
25. Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Finish the story, don't leave it up to me. When a book, or series, is done, it is done in my mind. If the author leaves unanswered questions, I will leave them unanswered and not speculate about them.
26. Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
Lunch and nighttime.
27. Standalone or series?
I love a good standalone story, but being able to comeback and see what has been happening in the lives of characters I like. This is like asking Movie or TV series. A well made movie doesn't require a sequel, but a well made TV series deserves to continue.
28. Urban fantasy or high fantasy?
While I disagree with Michael Moorcock's Marxist critique of high fantasy as "bucolic bourgeois banality," I do tend to favor Urban Fantasy. Some of the folks over at Tenser's blog got up in arms about what he considered Urban Fantasy, so let me give an example of what I mean. I consider Fritz Lieber to be the master of Urban Fantasy. For me, Urban Fantasy is fantasy which takes place in an Urban environment and deals with the moral issues of industrialized society and high density living.
29. New or used?
New if it is new, used if it is out of print. Unlike Cory Doctorow, I like to see the authors I like get paid. I also like to see the people who got them published get paid, and the people who work at the little printing presses, and the people at the bookstores. New, it is hard enough for an author to make a living off their writing without a secondary market.
30. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Like I have the hubris to claim to have "discovered" something. The Future of the Mass Audience by W. Russell Neumann. It isn't fiction, but it is a great speculation of what the future of entertainment will look like. It was written in 1991 and is a fairly accurate look.
31. Top 5 favorite genre books read last year?
I always hate "Top X" lists, but here are five I enjoyed:
Dzur by Steven Brust
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Chinatown Deathcloud Peril by Paul Malmont
Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
32. Top 5 favorite genre books of all time?
Here are five genre books I think everybody should read.
King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Dune by Frank Herbert
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
Everyone should also read:
Beowulf
The Iliad by Homer
The Nibelungenlied
Hans Christian Andersen
The Brother's Grimm
33. 5 favorite genre series?
What is the obsession with top 5s?
I have enjoyed the following:
Thieve's World edited by Robert Asprin and Lynn Abbey
Wild Cards edited by George R.R. Martin
The Drizzt Series by R.A. Salvatore (totally mainstream, I know, sue me)
The John Carter Series by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Eternal Champion Saga by Michael Moorcock
and I'll add that the Chalion series by Lois McMaster Bujold will likely be up there when I am finally finished with the series
34. Top 5 favorite genre short stories?
Don't read enough short stories to provide a good list.
Friday, January 26, 2007
The Future Appears to be Behind Schedule
On January 12, at the Telvision Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, the Sci Fi Channel made two announcements that made cinerati's editor squeal with joy. Sadly, it appears that they are behind schedule on the release of one of products.
The first was the announcement of a new 22 episode series based on Flash Gordon featuring the classic character along with his dastardly foe Ming. SCI FI's representatives at the TCA described the new series stating, "Stellar adventures and heroic battles mark this inventive new take on the perennial science fiction classic." I am excited about the prospect of the series, but the "inventive new take" statement makes me reticent to run around giddily while squealing for joy, I am still squealing for joy. I hope that RHI Entertainment and producers Robert Halmi Sr. (Earthsea) and Robert Halmi Jr. (Farscape), remember to include the Plantetary Romance tone of the original concept. It was the Planetary Romance aspects, and not the SF elements, which really set Flash Gordon apart from Buck Rogers and similar SF serial.
Fans of Space Opera films should note that it was the original concept, and not some "inventive new take," which inspired George Lucas to create Star Wars and that the inclusion of Planetary Romance goddess Leigh Brackett in the screenwriting process of The Empire Strikes Back added to the tone of that film. I am hopeful, but skeptical given the dark tone of the new Battlestar Galactica, that the show will capture the wonder of the earlier narrative. Sadly, much of modern SF seems to think that "darkness" equals narrative complexity and forgets that hopeful utopian views of the future can be just as deep an analysis of today's problems. For every George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, there is an Edward Bellamy and Jules Verne.
As for the future being late, SCI FI promised to bring their deep entry into internetelevision to the internet on January 21, and I have yet to see hide or hair of the project. SCI FI already has their "shallow" entry into internetelevision, you can watch the most recent Dresden Files online and watch a good amount of Battlestar Galactica footage online (including online exclusive material), but I was anxiously awaiting their deep entry. SCI FI announced their broadband destination site (what I call internetelevision) SCI FI Drive-in at the TCAs claiming that it would launch on January 21st giving access to "cult films, serials, campy documentaries, and trailers...includ[ing] such films as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligare and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, not to mention the original Flash Gordon serial" (geeee!) Sadly, the only mention of SCI FI Drive-in I have been able to find on the SCI FI site are in the forums (booo!).
The first was the announcement of a new 22 episode series based on Flash Gordon featuring the classic character along with his dastardly foe Ming. SCI FI's representatives at the TCA described the new series stating, "Stellar adventures and heroic battles mark this inventive new take on the perennial science fiction classic." I am excited about the prospect of the series, but the "inventive new take" statement makes me reticent to run around giddily while squealing for joy, I am still squealing for joy. I hope that RHI Entertainment and producers Robert Halmi Sr. (Earthsea) and Robert Halmi Jr. (Farscape), remember to include the Plantetary Romance tone of the original concept. It was the Planetary Romance aspects, and not the SF elements, which really set Flash Gordon apart from Buck Rogers and similar SF serial.
Fans of Space Opera films should note that it was the original concept, and not some "inventive new take," which inspired George Lucas to create Star Wars and that the inclusion of Planetary Romance goddess Leigh Brackett in the screenwriting process of The Empire Strikes Back added to the tone of that film. I am hopeful, but skeptical given the dark tone of the new Battlestar Galactica, that the show will capture the wonder of the earlier narrative. Sadly, much of modern SF seems to think that "darkness" equals narrative complexity and forgets that hopeful utopian views of the future can be just as deep an analysis of today's problems. For every George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, there is an Edward Bellamy and Jules Verne.
As for the future being late, SCI FI promised to bring their deep entry into internetelevision to the internet on January 21, and I have yet to see hide or hair of the project. SCI FI already has their "shallow" entry into internetelevision, you can watch the most recent Dresden Files online and watch a good amount of Battlestar Galactica footage online (including online exclusive material), but I was anxiously awaiting their deep entry. SCI FI announced their broadband destination site (what I call internetelevision) SCI FI Drive-in at the TCAs claiming that it would launch on January 21st giving access to "cult films, serials, campy documentaries, and trailers...includ[ing] such films as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligare and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, not to mention the original Flash Gordon serial" (geeee!) Sadly, the only mention of SCI FI Drive-in I have been able to find on the SCI FI site are in the forums (booo!).
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
You Know You Have Fallen into the Abyss of Gaming Geekdom When...
You order a movie from Netflix because, David Parlett, the author of "The Oxford History of Boardgames" was a game staging consultant for the film. I have finally stepped over that line and should be receiving Onegin from Netflix tomorrow afternoon. The Rotten Tomatoes crew, including Roger Ebert, don't think highly of the film about a bored St. Petersburg aristocrat played by Ralph Fiennes. Ebert found the film elegant, but with a dead center.
That's too bad. I have had a stream of disappointing movies in my mailbox lately. Not that this actually affects the reason I am going to watch the film. I am watching it to see what a game of Faro ought to look like when it is being played.
I am such a geek.
That's too bad. I have had a stream of disappointing movies in my mailbox lately. Not that this actually affects the reason I am going to watch the film. I am watching it to see what a game of Faro ought to look like when it is being played.
I am such a geek.
It's a Snap
I have now added a feature to the website which gives a preview window for any hyperlink you put the cursor over. For example, if you put the cursor over these words you will see Matt Forbeck's site. I chose that website because it was at that site where I was first introduced to the feature. You can apply this function to your website by visiting the Snap website and following a few simple steps.
Please feel free to hover over any hyperlink on this page, maybe even the following...
Unlocked Wordhoard
Rickety Contrivances
Order of the Stick
and naturally,
William Shatner or even...ShatnerVision
Please feel free to hover over any hyperlink on this page, maybe even the following...
Unlocked Wordhoard
Rickety Contrivances
Order of the Stick
and naturally,
William Shatner or even...ShatnerVision
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