Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
John Scalzi on science fiction outreach. Star Wars may basically be fantasy with a crunchy SF shell, but I’m pretty sure we have quite a few CJers who read the hard stuff.
I’m pretty much a fantasy reader, mainly because I enjoy books that are more character-oriented and I haven’t had much luck finding that in pure science fiction. As readers, what are your thoughts? Are there any contemporary authors who are writing SF for the masses?
Star Wars in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies. With outakes!
Maybe you have to be a news blogger to get excited about this kind of thing, but Hyperspace members now have access to Variety archives and subscriber content.
Meanwhile on the blogs, Paul lets us know that ROTS is up for USA Today’s “Best of 2005.”
Ewan McGregor has spent five days in Malawi in his capacity as Unicef ambassador visiting children whose lives had been affected by HIV/AIDS.
The motorcycle trip from John O’Groats to Cape Town is still on and further visits to support Unicef are in the plans.
And we wonder why none of the bigger stars of the Prequels want to come to sci-fi conventions!
TheForce.Net points to this UPI article where some “fan” went up to Hayden Christensen to accuse him of ruining Star Wars.
Ohhhkay.
Virgin Galactic announced plans for a $225m spaceport in New Mexico. Virgin has a deal with the SpaceShipOne folks to build five spacecraft for ‘space tourism, ‘ and 38,000 people have already paid a deposit for seats. The flights are expected to start in 2008 or 2009 out of California, with the New Mexico facility open by 2010.
Changes made to Star Wars Galaxies are alienating the games’ long-term fans. Among other things, the game redesign took place two weeks after the release of the Trials of Obi-Wan expansion pack, which promised upgrades to several character classes that ended up being terminated. Harsh.
Paramount Digital Entertainment, which is responsible for the site, will be shut down at the end of the year, leaving the official Star Trek site in limbo. (via Fanthropology.)
It’s that time of year again – when the fanboys fancy turns towards the Star Wars Holiday Special. Mock ye well, merry gentlefolk! Here’s some links to get you in the spirit:
Only three days left to enter our Nativity Contest!