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Out
of the Woodwork 162. March 2010
Welcome to our newsletter, it contains up to the minute news and gossip as well as awards details and items requiring help from the collective consciousness. If you wish to contribute please do so! We welcome your thoughts, your news items and any gossip! We do love a bit of gossip here at Fantastic HQ. Contents:- US singer Courtney
Love has told of her passion for quantum physics
and Greek myths External Blinks: Kim
Stanley Robinson - profiled in NY Times US singer Courtney Love has told of her passion for quantum physics and Greek myths while addressing 300 students at the Oxford Union. The widow of former Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain - who killed himself in 1994 - took the stand for an hour. She said "The first time I came to Oxford I was with Echo and the Bunnymen and I walked around, and the bricks were so black and it was so magical." She also said Robert Graves was her favourite author, that she would take Mozart's music to a desert island and that the work of poet Rilke, along with watching quantum physics videos on YouTube, had affected her music. BBC story
Our competition winner reports back on the book she won as a prize, if you recall it was "The Adversary" by James R Bowman - Hi Simon and Laraine, Well, I don’t think I’ll be buying the next part. It’s too big and heavy for one thing! It could do with some proof reading and more editing. Why the American spellings? There are a lot of good ideas but they need polishing up, he’s thrown every idea into this book and it doesn’t do it any favours. The girly bit annoyed me, they end up hugging and in tears every time we come across them. It’s like he’s trying to please everyone and he needs to find his own voice instead. Sony Pictures has picked up the movie rights to a series of SFnovels by Jeff Somers, tapping Trevor Sands to adapt the first book, titled "The Electric Church." Jimmy Miller is producing the adaptation, which is working under the moniker of the "The Avery Cates Project," named after the book's main character. Somers has so far written three books, all set in a near future where Earth is run by a federation of nations and governed by a council. Cates is a bodyguard-assassin who, in "Church," is forced by the governing police force to kill the founder of a church that converts people by transplanting their brains into pliant robotic bodies. The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame has announced the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees: Octavia E. Butler, Roger Zelazny, Douglas Trumbull, and Richard Matheson. The induction ceremony will be held June 26, 2010 at the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum in Seattle, Washington as part of the Science Fiction Awards Weekend, June 25-27, 2010. SF Hall of Fame Fans snap up Doctor Who costumes at auction. Hundreds of Doctor Who fans crammed into a London auction room on Wednesday to bid on classic costumes and props from the BBC sci-fi show. The most expensive item of the day was a Dalek from the 1985 story Revelation of the Daleks - which sold for £20,400, including the auctioneer's fee. Kylie Minogue's waitress costume, worn in the 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned, fetched £3,120. The auction of more than 160 lots took place at Bonhams in Knightsbridge. BBC story and a lovely picture of Kylie!
According to the Hollywood Reporter. HBO has greenlighted highly anticipated fantasy series "Game of Thrones." The premium network has picked up the project for a first-season debut next spring. Nine episodes plus the pilot have been ordered. Production will begin in Belfast this June. The pickup comes on the heels of another HBO big ticket series order, for Terence Winter and Martin Scorsese's drama "Boardwalk Empire." From the moment "Thrones" was first announced in development, the series based on the George R.R. Martin novels has generated enormous, perhaps unprecedented, online interest for a series at such an early stage. Hollywood Reporter Harry Potter author JK Rowling has said she plans to ask a court to dismiss accusations that she plagiarised parts of the best-selling book series. Legal action accusing her of stealing ideas about the wizard from another British author was filed on Wednesday. The estate of late author Adrian Jacobs, who died in 1997, are suing Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. Mr Jacob's estate has alleged that substantial parts of The Adventures of Willy the Wizard - No 1 Livid Land can be found in the fourth book in Rowling's best-selling series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Full BBC story First Superman comic sells for $1m A copy of the first comic to feature caped hero Superman has been sold on the internet for $1m (£646,000). The 1938 edition of Action Comics No 1 - which originally sold for 10c - was sold by a private seller to a private buyer, neither of whom was named.
Guy Ritchie looks set to take on another great British icon, King Arthur, following the box office success of his all-action Sherlock Holmes movie. The film-maker is being tapped to direct a new reimagining of the dark ages tale of the Celtic leader who fought against Saxon invaders (and in many stories, marauding magical creatures). Variety The 2009 Nebula Awards nominees have been announced: Novel:
Batman auction shock. A comic showing the debut of superhero Batman has been sold for more than $1m (£655,000) at an auction in Dallas.The rare 1939 copy of Detectives Comic No 27 was bought by an anonymous bidder from a seller who also wished to keep their identity secret. BBC story
Ian Watson has announced the winners of the 2009 International Aeon Award contest for unpublished short speculative fiction. First place winner is "Frogs on My Doorstep" by Annette Reader, with a cash prize of €1000. Second place, with a prize of €200, goes to "Bridges" by Nick Wood, and third place, with a prize of €100, goes to "Canis Lupus, Rosa Canina" by Judith Brown. The three winning titles will be published in Albedo One. Where you can also find details for next years entries.
The 2009 Stoker Awards Final Ballot has been released: Superior Achievement in a Novel Audrey's Door, Sarah Langan (Harper) Superior Achievement in a First Novel Breathers, S. G. Browne (Broadway Books)
Dreaming Robot Monster, Mort Castle (Mighty Unclean)
"Keeping Watch", Nate Kenyon (Monstrous: 20 Tales of
Giant Creature Terror) Superior Achievement in an Anthology He Is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson, Christopher
Conlon, ed. (Gauntlet)
Martyrs and Monsters, Robert Dunbar (DarkHart) Superior Achievement in Non-fiction Writers Workshop of Horror, Michael Knost (Woodland) Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection Double Visions, Bruce Boston (Dark Regions) Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) will honor Vonda N. McIntyre and Keith Stokes with SFWA Service Awards for 2010 during the Nebula Awards® Weekend May 13-16 in Coco Beach, Fla .McIntyre is being honored for her many years of maintaining SFWA member websites and Stokes helped found the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame (which was latter incorporated into the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle) and was chairman of the SFFHoF from 1996-2001. SFWA Doctor Who's new companion, actress Karen Gillan, says she's "completely nervous" about the airing of her first episode. The 22-year-old admitted the series debut was always going to be daunting but that the production team were all "really proud" of their work. Doctor number eleven - Matt Smith - will also be introduced when the show returns at Easter. BBC story
Dreams of Decadence to relaunch. Publisher Warren Lapine and editor Angela Kessler have announced that magazine Dreams of Decadence will be revived. While previously devoted to vampire fiction, the new incarnation will focus on urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Full details of how to submit stories on the Dreams of Decadence website Writer Dick Francis, famous for his horse racing-based crime novels, has died aged 89, his family has said. Francis, who wrote some 40 best-selling novels during his career, was also a champion jockey in the 1940s and 50s and the Queen Mother's jockey. BBC obituary British film executive Gareth Wigan, behind such movies as Chariots of Fire, Star Wars and Alien, has died at the age of 78 following a brief illness. "He was there for me when I needed him and I'll always be grateful," said Star Wars director George Lucas. BBC story Andrew Koenig. The
actor son of Star Trek veteran Walter Koenig has been found dead
in a wood in Vancouver, police have said. Koenig said his 41-year-old
son Andrew, who suffered from depression, "took his own life".
BBc
story Corey Haim: The Lost Boys actor Corey Haim has died aged 38, the Los Angeles coroner's office has confirmed. A spokeswoman said he passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Providence St Joseph Medical Centre.A post-mortem will determine the cause of death and no other details have been released as yet. BBC story TV presenter in superglue horror - On Feb 22nd on ITV's "This Morning lovely, fragrant Holly Willoughby said "I will be literally glued to the television at 9pm tonight" Doh! No you won't Holly. FREE
Preview Mini Comic of VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE Graphic Novel coming 2011. A FREE preview mini comic of the 140 page full colour VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE graphic novel based on Derek Gunn's novels (see www.vampireapocalypse.com), that's coming in 2011 is now available from New Baby Productions. 2000 copies have been printed to advertise the forthcoming graphic novel primarily during Free Comic Days in the US and Ireland. It will also be available at various conventions during 2010. Retailers, reviewers and readers can visit www.newbabyproductions.com to find out how to get free copies. Alternatively it can be downloaded for free now at Drive Thru Comics. Department of Smug Self Satisfaction. 1) To Whom it May Concern: I wanted to drop you the briefest of notes to thank you for the exceptional service and the exceptional book. The book is in flawless condition and is a wonderful addition to my modest collection. I look forward to ordering more books from you in the future. Warmly, David Roth 2) Your store has been a wonderful resource for me, and I appreciate
your accurate descriptions and careful packing of items for shipping.
Have a great day, Jad 3) Laraine, Just to let you know item turned up in great condition. Many thanks, Rob Shaw 4) excellent fast service - would highly recommend to anyone to use - Amazon UK 5) Great condition and AMAZINGLY FAST SHIPPING, US sellers don't get the items as fast as these Brits do. Amazon US 6) A beautiful copy of a rare, out of print book, sent fast an packed with care! A very nice transaction! Amazon De 7) Excuse me for not writing has been slow to evaluate. Packaging
is robust, and is described as almost brand new, one could arrive
within a week who we're seeing and ships quickly. Thank you very
much really. Amazon Jp
http://www.fantasticliterature.com We also buy books and travel around the country to purchase, we will pay a finders fee to anyone who puts us in touch with a collection we later purchase. Instant ordering on our web site in small press, magazines and special offers. http://www.fantasticliterature.com Good reading and watching - Simon & Laraine. Fantastic Literature Limited 35 The Ramparts Rayleigh Essex, SS6 8PY United Kingdom Previous OotW - archives OotW121. OotW122. OotW 123, OotW 124, OotW 125, OotW 126, OotW 127, OotW 128, OotW 129, OotW 130, OotW 131, OotW 132, OotW 133, OotW134, OotW135, OotW136, OotW 137, OotW138, OotW 139, OotW 140, OotW141, OotW 142, OotW 143, OotW144, OotW145, OotW146. OotW147, OotW148, OotW149, OotW 150, OotW151, OotW 152, OotW 153, OotW 154, OotW155, OotW156, OotW157, OotW 158, OotW159, OotW 160, OotW161, OotW162
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