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Out
of the Woodwork 170. November 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! Contents:- Goodreads - our ongoing feature so you can see what's being read here at Fantastic HQ, and add to it if you wish by sending us your reviews. Or join us on Facebook The World Fantasy Life Achievement Award winners
for 2010 have been announced - who won the award? External Blinks: The
Independent has Phil Harbottle's obituary of E C Tubb 
Please send us your reviews and we will add them, to create a complete list of what we are all reading. Please also join us on facebook
to keep abreast of our news and reviews. The World
Fantasy Life Achievement Award winners for 2010 are Brian Lumley,
Terry Pratchett, and Peter Straub. The original 1952 cover art for children's book Charlotte's Web has sold for more than $155,000 (£97,000) at a New York auction. The artwork for EB White's book, about the friendship between a spider and a pig, was drawn by Garth Williams. It fetched more than five times its pre-sale estimate, scoring a record for the artist's work. BBC story
In an Independent interview Guillermo del Toro revealed that his set to make a huge-budget 3-D adaptation of HP Lovecraft's horror novella At the Mountains of Madness, del Toro is planning it with the backing of Avatar's James Cameron, who has come on board as producer. "Jim and I have been friends for 20 years and we've been very close. I've been in all his editing rooms. And we've given each other consultation and assistance on a friendly basis. But we have been very careful not to work together in the past." It is evidently far more of a pet project than The Hobbit; del Toro has been trying to get the film made for 13 years. While Cameron first read his script eight years ago, it was only when the Jackson project fell apart that it felt like the right moment for them to launch their inaugural collaboration. "With Mountains, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to attempt a big-scale 3-D adventure – a cosmic horror in the Lovecraft style. But this is a movie that needs a scope. And we need to protect the three things that I think are essential to the narrative: keep it period, so don't make it a modern movie; keep it a hard R-rated [meaning an 18 certificate in the UK] movie; and make it a painful movie, without a happy ending." Full Independent article If you are looking for a Christmas present for a nephew or niece, son or daughter then we may have the solution to your problem. We've just received a very nice Manga aimed at 13+ called "The Chronicles of Gyzra" by Sarah Childs. Volume 1 is out now and further details can be from Sarah at her website www.gyzra.com or by e-mail. It's beautifully penned and has a very clever story line.
Brighton-based horror writer James Herbert has been awarded an OBE by the Prince of Wales - and surprised the royal by telling him "you're in my new book". Herbert, 67, has frightened millions of readers with his novels featuring the supernatural or threats to mankind like nuclear war or flesh eating giant rats. During the 1970s a succession of novels like The Fog and Lair were must-read books which left readers with their hearts racing and he has hogged the best-seller lists ever since. The Argus
FANTASYCON 2011 will be held over the weekend of 30th September to 2nd October 2011 at the Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton; venue for the highly successful 2010 World Horror Convention. The first two GUESTS OF HONOUR TO BE ANNOUNCED are: World Fantasy
Award-winning author and critic GWYNETH JONES, also known as Ann
Halam, and Swedish horror writer JOHN AJVIDE LINDQVIST, author of
the best-selling LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, which was adapted into a
movie first in his native Sweden and more recently remade in the
U.S. as LET ME IN, starring Chloe Moretz from KICK ASS. Current cost of registration stands at £45 (£40 to BFS members), costs will increase incrementally between now and the convention. To book your ticket, and for more information about the Guests or MC, please visit the website: www.fantasycon2011.org The
World Fantasy Awards winners for works in 2009 were announced at
an awards banquet on Sunday, October 31, 2010 . Rory Clements has won the £3000 CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award 2010 with Revenger, published by John Murray. The runner up was CJ Sansom, with Heartstone (Mantle). CWA chair Tom Harper said: “The Ellis Peters Award has seen the judges given a really tough choice. The strength of the field confirms the robust health of historical fiction.” The judging panel added: “Two books were very close, which was unusual, and overall the standard was incredibly high.” The other four books on the shortlist were highly commended: The judges also mentioned several more books that just missed out: Mark Kermode on the remake of "Let the Right One in" As you probably know, there's a Hollywood remake by the Cloverfield
guy of my favourite film of last year, Tomas Alfredson's Let the
Right One In. But how does it measure up? Can it measure up? And
did you ever see an American remake of a European movie that did
measure up?
The 2010/11 running of the CWA Debut Dagger kicked off on October 30th and will run till 5th February 2011. This competition for unpublished crime writers has launched the careers of a score or more of writers since its inception in 1998. The most recent example is Belinda Bauer, runner-up for the CWA Debut Dagger award for unpublished authors two years ago, who this year scooped the CWA Gold Dagger, the biggest prize in crime fiction. The Debut Dagger is open to anyone who has not yet had a novel published commercially. If you fancy a stab at it you can submit the opening chapter(s) and a short synopsis of your proposed crime novel. For more detailed information on what to write and how to lay it out, visit the Debut Dagger pages. All shortlisted entrants will receive a generous selection of crime novels and professional assessments of their entries. The first prize is £700, but it’s not the money, it’s the attention that winners and everyone on the shortlist get from top-notch agents that is the main benefit. CWA A UK campaign to build a truck-sized, prototype computer first envisaged in 1837 is gathering steam. More than 1,600 people have pledged money and support to build Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Although elements of the engine have been built over the last 173 years, a complete working model of the steam-powered machine has never been made. The campaign hopes to gather donations from 50,000 supporters to kick-start the project. BBC story
It has long been a staple of science fiction films - the idea that you could send a moving 3D representation of someone to any location, even the far side of the galaxy. Now, US researchers claim this fantasy is very close to reality. BBC story A University of Arizona team says it has devised a system that can make a holographic display appear in another place and update it in near real-time. The group tells the journal Nature that the development has huge potential. "We foresee many applications, for example in manufacturing," said Professor Nasser Peyghambarian from Arizona's College of Optical Sciences. "Car manufacturers or airplane manufacturers could look at holograms and design their systems in real time. They could look at 3D models and make changes as they go. Also Princess Leia can appear from a robot!
After all the shenanigans that we reported in OotW 169 at last some good news about "The Hobbit" Filming on The Hobbit is set to begin in February after it was finally given the go-ahead by film studio bosses. Warner Bros also announced that Peter Jackson, who directed the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, would helm the two-part prequel. The films, based on JRR Tolkien's book, had been delayed for months due to MGM Studios' - which owns half the project - ongoing financial woes. BBC story Martin Freeman – who starred in TV's The Office – is reported to be favourite to land the role of Bilbo Baggins. Other names touted for major roles are former Cold Feet star James Nesbitt and Irish actor Michael Fassbender, from Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. It is believed that Sir Ian McKellen will reprise the role of Gandalf the Grey and that Andy Serkis will again play Gollum. Former Doctor Who star David Tennant has also been named as likely to appear according to the Independent On October 27th it was finally agreed that the two movies based on The Hobbit will be filmed in New Zealand as planned, the country's prime minister has confirmed. The announcement follows two days of talks with Hollywood executives over whether the Lord of the Rings prequels should be shot in the country. Warner Bros and New Line had considered taking the production elsewhere after acting unions threatened to boycott the films in a row over wages. BBC On October 29th New Zealand's parliament announved that it had passed legislation that will keep the production of two Hobbit films in the country. The government agreed to amend labour laws as part of a deal with Warner Bros to retain the $500m (£315m) project. Oh the power of big business... James Nesbitt is the latest actor to join the cast of the Hobbit films. The 45-year-old Cold Feet star will play Bofur, "a disarmingly forthright, funny and occasionally brave dwarf". Director Peter Jackson said Nesbitt's "charm, warmth and wit are legendary as is his range as an actor in both comedic and dramatic roles". It was also announced that newcomer Adam Brown will play Ori. Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins in the two-part Lord of the Rings prequel. BBC story Realms
of Fantasy is shutting down for financial reasons.
Publisher Warren Lapine issued a farewell note on the magazine’s
website, which reads in part: According to SF Scope, publisher Warren Lapine has announced the sale of fiction magazine Realms of Fantasy to Damnation Books. As a result, the December 2010 issue of the magazine will now be in print instead of online only. The new owners will publish the magazine starting with the February 2011 issue, and hope to continue to produce “the same quality fiction magazine in print and to expand digital editions for e-book and desktop readers. J.K.
Rowling won the first Hans Christian Andersen Literature
Prize, presented October 19, 2010 at Andersen’s home town
of Odense, Denmark. Rowling accepted the award, which includes a
plaque and a cash prize of 500,000 Kroner ($93,500). Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has blamed fans of boy wizard Harry Potter for their role in the dwindling number of wild owls. He said that Harry Potter books and films featuring his feathered friend Hedwig are popular in India and had contributed towards the demise of owls. Mr Ramesh said there had been an increase in people wanting to buy them from illegal bird traders. BBC Story A rare Darth Vader costume made for Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back is to be sold at auction next month. It is expected to fetch up to £230,000 when it goes under the hammer at Christie's in London on 25 November. Comprising a helmet, a mask, shoulder armour and shin guards, it is believed to be the first complete Vader costume ever to be offered at auction. BBC story Emmy Award-winning BBC show Walking With Dinosaurs is to be made into a 3D movie, the corporation has announced. The teams behind hit films Happy Feet and Finding Nemo will be involved in the production. The project is the first part of a three-film deal with Indian company Reliance Big Entertainment. BBC story James Cameron has taken a swipe at studios who add 3D to films in post-production, saying that 3D retro-fitting should only be used for classic movies like Jaws or ET. The Avatar director said it had been a "mistake" to attempt to add 3D to the latest Harry Potter film, the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. And he predicted that the practice of adding 3D to movies in post-production would end with the widespread take-up of 3D by TV broadcasters. BBC story Amazon
has released their 2010 Top Ten List for Science Fiction and Fantasy: One for the Collective Consciousness: Ok, here is the gist of the story. Start with a planet that always
faces it's star(tidal lock) and surrounding the planet at the terminator(I
think that's the word) is a large wall that no one knows what is
on the other side. Throw in a young man who determines that he will
find out and spends his life in the pursuit of his dream to find
out. I don't want to give away the end of the story cause it made
quite an impression on me as a child. John Boston was on
it like a shot: Sounds like "Wall of Darkness" by Arthur
C. Clarke Help required - anybody? I am looking for a rare children's book: Title: Stranger Than
People Publisher: Young World Productions Year: 1968 Have been searching
the world's book stores for the last 3 years. One came up for sale
at Alibris about 3 weeks ago - and it was sold before I could get
hold of it. Will pay well for it. I have also searched the world's
libraries and it appears in only two libraries in the world: The
University of Oxford, and the National Library of Scotland. Do you
have it? Thanks, Brad. Australian bibliographer Donald H. Tuck, 89, died October 11, 2010 in Melbourne. Tuck was born in Launceston, Tasmania on December 3, 1922. His comprehensive and exhaustive bibliographic work began with A Handbook of Science Fiction and Fantasy (1954; expanded and revised in 1959); the second edition received a Worldcon special award in 1962. His most significant work was The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy through 1968: A Bibliographic Survey of the Fields of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction through 1968 in three volumes, published in 1974, 1978, and 1983. The third volume won a Hugo Award, and the work remains valuable to SF scholars and historians, we use ours constantly. Encyclopedia of SF working text
Eva Ibbotson. The author for most of her working life of worldly adult love stories and irreverent fantasies for children, Eva Ibbotson came to late fame at the age of 76 with the publication in 2001 of her stirring Amazonian adventure story Journey to the River Sea. Written as a full-blooded romance for young readers, this new departure sold more than 200,000 copies and won the Smarties Prize Gold Medal. Died 20th October 2010. Independent Dutch writer Harry Mulisch, author of The Assault (De Aanslag) and The Discovery of Heaven (De ontdekking van de Hemel), has died at the age of 83. Mulisch, considered by many a candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature, died of cancer at his Amsterdam home. Prime Minister Mark Rutte called his death "a loss for Dutch literature and the Netherlands" Mulisch wrote more than 30 works, several with a World War II theme.. BBC news Glen Goodknight,
69, died November 3, 2010 after several years of poor health.
Department of Smug Self Satisfaction. 1. Hi just bought a book from you thru amazon...long time coming....r. goddard...I think I got screwed up and valued your book as another book...I have been buying so many of goddard books lately, that I got mixed up. The book that you send me...order # 69078958934410 is the most perfect book. If I were in England and bought this book in a shop, I could not have gotten it home in the perfect condition that it arrived to me here. Thank you so much, I am so lucky to have it. 2. Brilliant company! So refreshing to receive a book not only in a secure container, but also protected by a cardboard cover and then wrapped in paper. Will always look to this company as the bench mark for quality customer service. 3. Although this purchase arrived a day late, I am sure it was the USPS's fault, as they have 'issues' delivering to our rural route. The book was well packaged, and exactly as described. A little yellow on the pages, but for a paperback published 22 years ago, it has clearly been 'gently treated' the entire time. I will be buying from this vendor again. 4. Book shipped VERY quickly; well protected for mailing; book
in EXCELLENT CONDITION, LIKE NEW! Very, very pleased! Great value!
Perfect transaction! A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 6. Received the book today in the condition as described. You do
wrap your packages well. Thanks ever so much for the prompt processing.
J. Pat Cook BRMB - Birmingham. Jo Russell: Which 1996 Leonardo di Caprio film was an adaptation of a famous Shakespeare play? Caller: er....Titanic? The Weakest Link. Anne Robinson. Which brutish people created by Jonathan Swift in Gulliver's Travels share a name with an internet search engine? Competitor: Google! Independent Crossword - Oh! I used to be shaped like Quasimodo (7) Latest new arrivals: Just to add we'v re-stocked four Ex Occidente press titles as well: Ghetu Dam T (Editor) CINNABAR'S GNOSIS -
A Homage to Gustav Meyrink - limited edition Ex Occidente
Press fine hardcover copy in a fine dustwrapper, 2009 1st printing.
Limited to 350 copies. Gustav Meyrink Cinnabar's Gnosis is the first
Ex Occidente Press anthology in a series of homages dedicated to
European lost masters and exquisite fantasts. FX10.771
59.95
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, OotW 163, OotW164, OotW 165, OotW 166, OotW167, OotW168 OotW 169
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