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Battlestar Galactica Wins Television Critics Award

Battlestar Galactica has won the Television Critics award for Program of the Year. What wonderful news. Sort of makes for the Emmy snubs of BSG. This is a great way to start a day.

2008 Hugo Awards

The 2008 Hugo Awards for excellence in science fiction were presented this weekend at the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Denver, Colorado. The winners are:

I wish I could have been there. I have not attended a WorldCon since 1998 and I do miss it. Maybe next year in Canada.

Source:  http://file770.com/?p=407

Campbell Award

: Mary Robinette Kowal

Best Fan Artist

: Brad Foster

Best Fan Writer

: John Scalzi

Best Fanzine

: File 770, ed. Mike Glyer

Best Semiprozine

: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong, & Liza Groen Trombi

Best Professional Artist

: Stephan Martiniere

Best Professional Editor, Short Form

: Gordon Van Gelder (F&SF)

Best Professional Editor, Long Form

: David Hartwell

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

Doctor Who Blink Written by Steven Moffat Directed by Hettie Macdonald (BBC)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

: Stardust Written by Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn, Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Charles Vess Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Paramount Pictures)

Best Non-fiction Book

: Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction by Jeff Prucher (Oxford University Press)

Best Short Story

: Tideline by Elizabeth Bear (Asimovs' June 2007)

Best Novelette

: The Merchant and the Alchemist;s Gate” by Ted Chiang (Subterranean Press; F&SF Sept. 2007)

Best Novella

: All Seated on the Ground by Connie Willis (Asimov's Dec. 2007; Subterranean Press)

Best Novel

: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins; Fourth Estate)

The 2008 Hugo Awards for excellence in science fiction were presented this weekend at the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Denver, Colorado. The winners are:

I wish I could have been there. I have not attended a WorldCon since 1998 and I do miss it. Maybe next year in Canada.

Source:  http://file770.com/?p=407

Campbell Award

: Mary Robinette Kowal

Best Fan Artist

: Brad Foster

Best Fan Writer

: John Scalzi

Best Fanzine

: File 770, ed. Mike Glyer

Best Semiprozine

: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong, & Liza Groen Trombi

Best Professional Artist

: Stephan Martiniere

Best Professional Editor, Short Form

: Gordon Van Gelder (F&SF)

Best Professional Editor, Long Form

: David Hartwell

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

Doctor Who Blink Written by Steven Moffat Directed by Hettie Macdonald (BBC)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

: Stardust Written by Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn, Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Charles Vess Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Paramount Pictures)

Best Non-fiction Book

: Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction by Jeff Prucher (Oxford University Press)

Best Short Story

: Tideline by Elizabeth Bear (Asimovs' June 2007)

Best Novelette

: The Merchant and the Alchemist;s Gate” by Ted Chiang (Subterranean Press; F&SF Sept. 2007)

Best Novella

: All Seated on the Ground by Connie Willis (Asimov's Dec. 2007; Subterranean Press)

Best Novel

: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins; Fourth Estate)

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day. May your holiday be exactly what you want it to be. I can hear fireworks as I type this at 10:24pm, but I can't see them.

I can't believe it has been three months since I have updated this and my other blogs. Not because I haven't wanted to. I have been ill again and trying to work, at least part of the time. This takes almost all of my energy, with little or nothing left for posting, but I do miss it and want to get back to at least some regular positng as soon as I can.

Galactica Season 3 DVD

Battlestar Galactica season three DVD set and music CD will be available in August 2007, per Galactica composer Bear McCreary. The CD will include "All Along the Watchtower", which was heard in the season finale.

Source: The CIC

2006 Nebula Award Nominations

The Science Fiction Writers of America have announced their final ballot for the 2006 Nebula Awards nominees. The awards will be presented in New York City at the 2007 Nebula Awards Weekend, May 11-13, 2007.

The nominees are:

NOVELS

The Privilege of the Sword

by Ellen Kushner

Seeker

by Jack McDevitt

The Girl in the Glass

by Jeffrey Ford

Farthing

by Jo Walton

From the Files of the Time Rangers

by Richard Bowes

To Crush the Moon

by Wil McCarthy

NOVELLAS

"Sanctuary" by Michael A. Burstein [Read a preview]

"Burn" by James Patrick Kelly [see SF Signal review]

"The Walls of the Universe" by Paul Melko

"Inclination" by William Shunn

NOVELETTES

"The Language of Moths" by Chris Barzak

"Walpurgis Afternoon" by Delia Sherman

"Journey into the Kingdom" by M. Rickert

"Two Hearts" by Peter S. Beagle [see SF Signal review]

"Little Faces" by Vonda McIntyre [see SF Signal review]

SHORT STORIES

"Echo" by Elizabeth Hand

"Helen Remembers the Stork Club" by Esther M. Friesner

"The Woman in Schrodinger's Wave Equations" by Eugene Mirabelli

"Henry James, This One's For You" by Jack McDevitt

"An End to All Things" by Karina Sumner-Smith

"Pip and the Fairies" by Theodora Goss

SCRIPTS

Batman Begins

by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer

Howl's Moving Castle

by Hayao Miyazaki, Cindy Davis Hewitt, and Donald H. Hewitt

Battlestar Galactica

, "Unfinished Business" by Michael Taylor

Doctor Who

, "The Girl in the Fireplace" by Steven Moffat

ANDRE NORTON AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY

Magic or Madness

by Justine Larbalestier

Devilish

by Maureen Johnson

The King Of Attolia

by Megan Whalen Turner

Midnighters #2: Touching Darkness

by Scott Westerfeld

Peeps

by Scott Westerfeld

Life As We Knew It

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

*************

Battlestar Galactica has been nominated in the Best Script category for the episode "Unfinished Business", written by Michael Taylor

Source: SFSignal

April 08, 2007 in Science Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

Battlestar Galactica Saturn Awards Nominations

Battlestar Galactica has been nominated for four Saturn Awards, in the

Galactica Saturn Award Nominations

Battlestar Galactica has been nominated for four Saturn Awards, in the following categories:

Best Syndicated/Cable TV Series

Best Actor in a TV Series: Edward James Olmos

Best Actress in a TV Series: Katee Sackhoff

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series: James Callis

For a listing of all the nominees, see here

Source: The CIC

Happy Easter

Have a happy, beautiful Easter Sunday.

Edward James Olmos

             Today, February 24, is the 60th birthday of Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica's Admiral Adama.

Galactica 3.5

Battlestar Galactica's season three resumes tomorrow night (Sunday, January 21) at 10:00pm Eastern time.Though it has only been slightly over a month since the first half of season three ended, it seems much longer to me.

To make the season 3.5 debut even more interesting for me, since I am an avid Indianapolis Colts fan, it is premiering after the Colts/Patriots playoff game tomorrow night. Now, if the game happens to run long or go into overtime, I have a tough decision to make. However, I know already what I will do. I will record Galactica on my DVR and watch Peyton Manning and the Colts. I couldn't stand the suspense if I didn't. We might be going to the Super Bowl!!

                      

                        

Cylon Jack-o-Lantern

Make magazine gives us the instructions for making this wonderful Cylon jack-o-lantern. See the instructions here. I may actually try this. I haven't made a jack-o-lantern for a long time and this looks amazing.

Source: sfsignal.com

The 2006 Hugo Award Winners

The 2006 Hugo Award winners have been announced:

NOVEL: Spin by Robert Charles Wilson

NOVELLA: "Inside Job" by Connie Willis

NOVELETTE: "Two Hearts" by Peter S. Beagle

SHORT STORY: "Tk'tk'tk" by David D. Levine

RELATED BOOK: Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop by Kate Wilhelm

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION - LONG FORM: Serenity

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION - SHORT FORM: Doctor Who - "The Empty Child" & "The Doctor Dances"

PROFESSIONAL EDITOR: David G. Hartwell

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST: Donato Giancola

SEMIPROZINE: Locus

FANZINE: Plokta

FAN WRITER: Dave Langford

FAN ARTIST: Frank Wu

Also presented, the winner of the John W. Campbell award for Best New Writer (Not a Hugo) is John Scalzi.

Source:  http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/004240.html

Galactica Season 2.5 DVD Extras

Here is  list of the bonus features to be included on the second half of the season two DVD release of Battlestar Galactica. The DVD set will released September 19, 2006.

Ronald D. Moore's Podcast Commentaries -- Producer Ronald D. Moore provides a behind-the-scenes peek at the making of "Battlestar Galactica," previously available only online.

David Eick's Video Blog -- Producer David Eick takes viewers onto the set to reveal the inner workings of "Battlestar Galactica," including a personal tour of the new Battleship Pegasus.

Audio Commentary -- More insider information from Eick and Moore about the expanded midseason cliffhanger "Pegasus."

RND TV Logos -- A compilation of the animated logos at the end of each show -- depicting the two executive producers -- David Eick and Ronald D. Moore -- killing each other off in creative ways.

Deleted Scenes -- All new and never aired on TV

Source: battlestarblog.com

Galactica Season Three

Battlestar Galactica season three will begin Friday, October 6 at 10:00/9:00 Central. The season will run for ten consecutive weeks through Decmeber 8, and will return for ten more episodes in 2007 (January?).

Do we really have to wait three months for its' return?

Surce: battlestarblog.com

Galactica Season 2 Soundtrack Received

I received my copy of the Battlestar Galactica season two soundtrack on Thursday. I had pre-orderd it from LaLaLandrecords.com several weeks ago. I finally had time to listen to it Saturday afternoon. It lasts just a bit over 78 minutes and is absolutely glorious.

I liked every track on this CD, which rarely happens for me. Usually, there is at least one track on any CD I listen to that I don't like, but not on this one.

My favorite tracks are: Baltar's Dream, which uses the drums I love so to create an almost swingy rhythm. Something Dark is Coming; Scar, which uses the drums and percussion very effectively; and Dark Unions.

My second favorite track is Reuniting the Fleet, which uses the Irish melodies which first appeared in season one during scenes between Admiral Adama and Apollo. This music is so hauntingly beautiful it makes my heart ache when I hear it. This made me cry.

My very favorite piece on the CD is Prelude to War, which is eight minutes of sheer brilliance. This piece uses all the elements I love most in Galactica's music, especially the drums and percussion, to create a rising tension and expectancy in the listener for the coming confrontation and battles.

If you haven't heard this CD yet, buy or borrow it ASAP. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Colonial Anthem (Theme from Battlestar Galactica) From FINAL CUT (4:02) Contains "Theme from Battlestar Galactica" and "Exploration" by Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson  Adapted and Arranged by Bear McCreary Baltars Dream From "Valley of Darkness" (2:45) Escape from the Farm From "THE FARM" (3:09) A Promise to Return From "The Farm" (3:03) Dedicated to the Recovery of Ludvig Girdland Performed by Supernova String Quartet Allegro From HOME Part One (4:59) Martial Law From FRAGGED (1:51) Standing in the Mud From BLACK MARKET (1:45) Pegasus From PEGASUS (2:46) Lords of Kobol From PEGASUS Featuring Raya Yarbrough, Vocals (2:50) Something Dark is Coming From LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS Part One (8:51) Scar From SCAR (2:26) Epiphanies From EPIPHANIES (2:43) Roslin and Adama From RESURRECTION SHIP Parts One and Two (2:49) Gina Escapes From RESURRECTION SHIP Part Two (2:00) Dark Unions From LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS Part Two (2:53) The Cylon Prisoner From PEGASUSâ Featuring Bt4, Vocals (3:51) Prelude to War From PEGASUS and RESURRECTION SHIP Parts One and Twoâ (8:22) Reuniting the Fleet From HOME Parts One and Two (2:45) Roslin Confesses From LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS Part Two (2:09) One Year Later From LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS Part Two (1:43) Worthy of Survival From LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS Part Two (3:35) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Main Title Music by Richard Gibbs (0:45) Engineered and Mixed by Gordon Fordyce Featuring Michael Now and Caitanya Riggan, Vocals Black Market From BLACK MARKET Featuring Steve Bartek, Guitar (5:48)

Galactica Season 2 Part 2 DVD

TVShowsonDVD.com reports an as yet to be substantiated rumor that the second half of Battlestar Galactica season two will be released September 19, 2006. The set will include season two episodes 11-20 and the long version of Pegasus.

Galactica Season Two Soundtrack

The season two Battlestar Galactica soundtrack will be released June 13. La-la-land Records is now taking pre-release orders for copies sighed by composer Bear McCreary. The autographing is free, and this is a limited time offer.

Source: battlestarblog.com

Galactica Emmy Promotion

SciFi.com has created a special page promoting Battlestar Galactica in a whole host of Emmy categories. Nothing like tooting your own horn, but Galactica certainly deserves all the Emmys it can possibly win.

Outstanding Drama Series

Supporting Actors Jamie Bamber, James Callis and Michael Hogan

Lead Actor, Edward James-Olmos

Supporting Actresses, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park and Katee Sackhoff

Lead Actress, Mary McDonnell

Guest Actor in a series, Michelle Forbes, Lucy Lawless and Dean Stockwell

How do you decide who you would like to see win? Everyone listed above is outstanding.

Source: battlestarblog.com

Galactica Simpsons Style

SFSignal.com recently posted about some wonderful Battlestar Galactica caricatures drawn in the style of The Simpsons. If you haven't seen these, go here for a good laugh. These are great, all of them. I can't choose a favorite. See them for yourself.

Galactica Wins Saturn Awards

Battlestar Galactica won three Saturn Awards earlier this month. I am late posting this, for various personal reasons, but I am trying to catch up on posting things that are important to me, starting with this. The awards won are:

Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series

Best Supporting Actor on Television
JAMES CALLIS

Best Supporting Actress on Television
KATEE SACKHOFF

Source: battlestarblog.com

Galactica Season 2 Music

The music from Battlestar Galactica season two is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The price is $16.98, and the CD will be available June 20. Wonderful news! Now, we need the release date for the second half of season two on DVD.

Source: battlestarblog.com

Katee Sackhoff

Today, April 8, is the 26th birthday of Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica's Starbuck. She was born April 8, 1980.

Adama in 2008

This past September, a blogger posted asking readers which science fiction character they would like to see as president. Now, we have this site advocating Adama for president in 2008.

I love it!!

Source: battlestarblog.com

Jamie Bamber

Monday, April 3, was the 33rd birthday of Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber. He was born April 3, 1973, in London.

Galactica Season 2 Music

The music from season two of Battlestar Galactica will be released on CD in June, per lalalandsrecords.com.

I am really looking forward to this release. I love the CD of the first season music and play it often. I so love the drums McCreary uses in the music. So wonderful; they can send shivers up my spine. Below is the announcement text:

JUNE

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON 2
The best musical moments from the second season of the acclaimed Sci Fi Channel series, composed by Bear McCreary.

Source: battlestarblog.com

I am really looking forward to this release. I love the CD of the first season music and play it often. I so love the drums McCreary uses in the music. So wonderful; they can send shivers up my spine. Below is the announcement text:

JUNE

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON 2
The best musical moments from the second season of the acclaimed Sci Fi Channel series, composed by Bear McCreary.

Source: battlestarblog.com

Lucy Lawless/Marina Sirtis

               

Today, March 29, is the 46th birthday of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Marina Sirtis. She was born March 29, 1960.

Today is also the 38th birthday of Battlestar Galactica's Lucy Lawless. She was born March 29, 1968.

Galactica "Pegasus" Nominated for Hugo

The Battlestar Galactica episode entitled "Pegasus" has been nominated for the 2005 Hugo Award in the category Dramatic Presentation Short Form. The Hugo Awards are the annual fan selected awards given for excellence in science fiction.

Hugo Awards Nomination List

L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Anaheim, California, 23-27 August 2006, has released nominations for this year's Hugo Awards. Here are the nominated titles:.

NOVEL

Accelerando, Charles Stross (Ace; Orbit)

A Feast for Crows, George R. R. Martin (Voyager; Bantam Spectra)

Learning the World, Ken MacLeod (Orbit; Tor)

Old Man's War, John Scalzi (Tor)

Spin, Robert Charles Wilson (Tor)

NOVELLA

Burn, James Patrick Kelly (Tachyon)

"Identity Theft", Robert J. Sawyer (Down These Dark Spaceways, SFBC)

"Inside Job", Connie Willis (Asimov's Jan 2005)

"The Little Goddess", Ian McDonald (Asimov's Jun 2005)

"Magic for Beginners", Kelly Link (Magic for Beginners, Small Beer Press; F&SF Sep 2005)

NOVELETTE

"The Calorie Man", Paolo Bacigalupi (F&SF Oct/Nov 2005)

"I, Robot", Cory Doctorow (The Infinite Matrix 15 Feb 2005)

"The King of Where-I-Go", Howard Waldrop (Sci Fiction 7 Dec 2005)

"TelePresence", Michael A. Burstein (Analog Jul/Aug 2005)

"Two Hearts", Peter S. Beagle (F&SF Oct/Nov 2005)

SHORT STORY

"The Clockwork Atom Bomb", Dominic Green (Interzone May/Jun 2005)

"Down Memory Lane", Mike Resnick (Asimov's Apr/May 2005)

"Seventy-Five Years", Michael A. Burstein (Analog Jan/Feb 2005)

"Singing My Sister Down", Margo Lanagan (Black Juice, Allen & Unwin; Eos)

"Tk'tk'tk", David D. Levine (Asimov's Mar 2005)

RELATED BOOK

Science Fiction Quotations, Gary Westfahl (Yale)

The SEX Column and Other Misprints, David Langford (Cosmos)

Soundings: Reviews 1992-1996, Gary K. Wolfe (Beccon)

Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop, Kate Wilhelm (Small Beer Press)

Transformations: The Story of the Science Fiction Magazines from 1950 to 1970, Mike Ashley (Liverpool)

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: LONG FORM

Batman Begins

(Warner Bros., directed by Christopher Nolan; Story by David S. Goyer; Screenplay by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goye; Based on the character created by Bob Kane)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

(Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media; Directed by Andrew Adamsom; Screenplay by Ann Peacock and Andrew Adamson and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely; Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(Warner Bros.; Directed by Mike Newell; Screenplay by Steven Kloves; Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling)

Serenity

(Universal Pictures/Mutant Enemy, Inc.; Written & Directed by Joss Whedon)

Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit

(Dreamworks Animation/Aardman Animation; Directed by Nick Park & Steve Box; Screenplay by Steve Box & Nick Park and Bob Baker and Mark Burton)

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: SHORT FORM

Battlestar Galactica: "Pegasus" (NBC Universal/British Sky Broadcasting; Directed by Michael Rymer; Written by Anne Cofell Saunders)

Doctor Who: "The Empty Child" & "The Doctor Dances" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by James Hawes; Written by Steven Moffat)

Doctor Who: "Dalek" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Robert Shearman)

Doctor Who: "Father's Day" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Paul Cornell)

Jack-Jack Attack

(Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation; Written & Directed by Brad Bird)

Lucas Back in Anger

(Reductio Ad Absurdum Productions; Directed by Phil Raines; Written by Phil Raines and Ian Sorensen)

Prix Victor Hugo Awards Ceremony (Opening Speech and Framing Device; Written and performed by Paul McAuley and Kim Newman; Directed by Mike & Debby Moir)

PROFESSIONAL EDITOR

Ellen Datlow

David G. Hartwell

Stanley Schmidt

Gordon Van Gelder

Sheila Williams

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

Jim Burns

Bob Eggleton

Donato Giancola

Stephan Martiniere

John Picacio

Michael Whelan

SEMIPROZINE

Ansible, David Langford, ed.

Emerald City, Cheryl Morgan, ed.

Interzone, Andy Cox, ed.

Locus, Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong & Liza Groen Trombi, eds.

The New York Review of Science Fiction, Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell & Kevin Maroney, eds.

FANZINE

Banana Wings, Claire Brialey & Mark Plummer, eds.

Challenger, Guy H. Lillian III, ed.

Chunga, Andy Hooper, Randy Byers & carl juarez, eds.

File 770, Mike Glyer, ed.

Plokta, Alison Scott, Steve Davies & Mike Scott, eds.

FAN WRITER

Claire Brialey

John Hertz

Dave Langford

Cheryl Morgan

Steven H Silver

FAN ARTIST

Brad Foster

Teddy Harvia

Sue Mason

Steve Stiles

Frank Wu

For more information on the nominated titles and the Hugo Awards, go to locusmag.com

L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Anaheim, California, 23-27 August 2006, has released nominations for this year's Hugo Awards. Here are the nominated titles:.

NOVEL

Accelerando, Charles Stross (Ace; Orbit)

A Feast for Crows, George R. R. Martin (Voyager; Bantam Spectra)

Learning the World, Ken MacLeod (Orbit; Tor)

Old Man's War, John Scalzi (Tor)

Spin, Robert Charles Wilson (Tor)

NOVELLA

Burn, James Patrick Kelly (Tachyon)

"Identity Theft", Robert J. Sawyer (Down These Dark Spaceways, SFBC)

"Inside Job", Connie Willis (Asimov's Jan 2005)

"The Little Goddess", Ian McDonald (Asimov's Jun 2005)

"Magic for Beginners", Kelly Link (Magic for Beginners, Small Beer Press; F&SF Sep 2005)

NOVELETTE

"The Calorie Man", Paolo Bacigalupi (F&SF Oct/Nov 2005)

"I, Robot", Cory Doctorow (The Infinite Matrix 15 Feb 2005)

"The King of Where-I-Go", Howard Waldrop (Sci Fiction 7 Dec 2005)

"TelePresence", Michael A. Burstein (Analog Jul/Aug 2005)

"Two Hearts", Peter S. Beagle (F&SF Oct/Nov 2005)

SHORT STORY

"The Clockwork Atom Bomb", Dominic Green (Interzone May/Jun 2005)

"Down Memory Lane", Mike Resnick (Asimov's Apr/May 2005)

"Seventy-Five Years", Michael A. Burstein (Analog Jan/Feb 2005)

"Singing My Sister Down", Margo Lanagan (Black Juice, Allen & Unwin; Eos)

"Tk'tk'tk", David D. Levine (Asimov's Mar 2005)

RELATED BOOK

Science Fiction Quotations, Gary Westfahl (Yale)

The SEX Column and Other Misprints, David Langford (Cosmos)

Soundings: Reviews 1992-1996, Gary K. Wolfe (Beccon)

Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop, Kate Wilhelm (Small Beer Press)

Transformations: The Story of the Science Fiction Magazines from 1950 to 1970, Mike Ashley (Liverpool)

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: LONG FORM

Batman Begins

(Warner Bros., directed by Christopher Nolan; Story by David S. Goyer; Screenplay by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goye; Based on the character created by Bob Kane)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

(Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media; Directed by Andrew Adamsom; Screenplay by Ann Peacock and Andrew Adamson and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely; Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(Warner Bros.; Directed by Mike Newell; Screenplay by Steven Kloves; Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling)

Serenity

(Universal Pictures/Mutant Enemy, Inc.; Written & Directed by Joss Whedon)

Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit

(Dreamworks Animation/Aardman Animation; Directed by Nick Park & Steve Box; Screenplay by Steve Box & Nick Park and Bob Baker and Mark Burton)

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: SHORT FORM

Battlestar Galactica: "Pegasus" (NBC Universal/British Sky Broadcasting; Directed by Michael Rymer; Written by Anne Cofell Saunders)

Doctor Who: "The Empty Child" & "The Doctor Dances" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by James Hawes; Written by Steven Moffat)

Doctor Who: "Dalek" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Robert Shearman)

Doctor Who: "Father's Day" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Paul Cornell)

Jack-Jack Attack

(Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation; Written & Directed by Brad Bird)

Lucas Back in Anger

(Reductio Ad Absurdum Productions; Directed by Phil Raines; Written by Phil Raines and Ian Sorensen)

Prix Victor Hugo Awards Ceremony (Opening Speech and Framing Device; Written and performed by Paul McAuley and Kim Newman; Directed by Mike & Debby Moir)

PROFESSIONAL EDITOR

Ellen Datlow

David G. Hartwell

Stanley Schmidt

Gordon Van Gelder

Sheila Williams

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

Jim Burns

Bob Eggleton

Donato Giancola

Stephan Martiniere

John Picacio

Michael Whelan

SEMIPROZINE

Ansible, David Langford, ed.

Emerald City, Cheryl Morgan, ed.

Interzone, Andy Cox, ed.

Locus, Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong & Liza Groen Trombi, eds.

The New York Review of Science Fiction, Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell & Kevin Maroney, eds.

FANZINE

Banana Wings, Claire Brialey & Mark Plummer, eds.

Challenger, Guy H. Lillian III, ed.

Chunga, Andy Hooper, Randy Byers & carl juarez, eds.

File 770, Mike Glyer, ed.

Plokta, Alison Scott, Steve Davies & Mike Scott, eds.

FAN WRITER

Claire Brialey

John Hertz

Dave Langford

Cheryl Morgan

Steven H Silver

FAN ARTIST

Brad Foster

Teddy Harvia

Sue Mason

Steve Stiles

Frank Wu

For more information on the nominated titles and the Hugo Awards, go to locusmag.com

L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Anaheim, California, 23-27 August 2006, has released nominations for this year's Hugo Awards. Here are the nominated titles:.

NOVEL

Accelerando, Charles Stross (Ace; Orbit)

A Feast for Crows, George R. R. Martin (Voyager; Bantam Spectra)

Learning the World, Ken MacLeod (Orbit; Tor)

Old Man's War, John Scalzi (Tor)

Spin, Robert Charles Wilson (Tor)

NOVELLA

Burn, James Patrick Kelly (Tachyon)

"Identity Theft", Robert J. Sawyer (Down These Dark Spaceways, SFBC)

"Inside Job", Connie Willis (Asimov's Jan 2005)

"The Little Goddess", Ian McDonald (Asimov's Jun 2005)

"Magic for Beginners", Kelly Link (Magic for Beginners, Small Beer Press; F&SF Sep 2005)

NOVELETTE

"The Calorie Man", Paolo Bacigalupi (F&SF Oct/Nov 2005)

"I, Robot", Cory Doctorow (The Infinite Matrix 15 Feb 2005)

"The King of Where-I-Go", Howard Waldrop (Sci Fiction 7 Dec 2005)

"TelePresence", Michael A. Burstein (Analog Jul/Aug 2005)

"Two Hearts", Peter S. Beagle (F&SF Oct/Nov 2005)

SHORT STORY

"The Clockwork Atom Bomb", Dominic Green (Interzone May/Jun 2005)

"Down Memory Lane", Mike Resnick (Asimov's Apr/May 2005)

"Seventy-Five Years", Michael A. Burstein (Analog Jan/Feb 2005)

"Singing My Sister Down", Margo Lanagan (Black Juice, Allen & Unwin; Eos)

"Tk'tk'tk", David D. Levine (Asimov's Mar 2005)

RELATED BOOK

Science Fiction Quotations, Gary Westfahl (Yale)

The SEX Column and Other Misprints, David Langford (Cosmos)

Soundings: Reviews 1992-1996, Gary K. Wolfe (Beccon)

Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop, Kate Wilhelm (Small Beer Press)

Transformations: The Story of the Science Fiction Magazines from 1950 to 1970, Mike Ashley (Liverpool)

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: LONG FORM

Batman Begins

(Warner Bros., directed by Christopher Nolan; Story by David S. Goyer; Screenplay by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goye; Based on the character created by Bob Kane)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

(Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media; Directed by Andrew Adamsom; Screenplay by Ann Peacock and Andrew Adamson and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely; Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(Warner Bros.; Directed by Mike Newell; Screenplay by Steven Kloves; Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling)

Serenity

(Universal Pictures/Mutant Enemy, Inc.; Written & Directed by Joss Whedon)

Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit

(Dreamworks Animation/Aardman Animation; Directed by Nick Park & Steve Box; Screenplay by Steve Box & Nick Park and Bob Baker and Mark Burton)

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: SHORT FORM

Battlestar Galactica: "Pegasus" (NBC Universal/British Sky Broadcasting; Directed by Michael Rymer; Written by Anne Cofell Saunders)

Doctor Who: "The Empty Child" & "The Doctor Dances" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by James Hawes; Written by Steven Moffat)

Doctor Who: "Dalek" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Robert Shearman)

Doctor Who: "Father's Day" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Paul Cornell)

Jack-Jack Attack

(Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation; Written & Directed by Brad Bird)

Lucas Back in Anger

(Reductio Ad Absurdum Productions; Directed by Phil Raines; Written by Phil Raines and Ian Sorensen)

Prix Victor Hugo Awards Ceremony (Opening Speech and Framing Device; Written and performed by Paul McAuley and Kim Newman; Directed by Mike & Debby Moir)

PROFESSIONAL EDITOR

Ellen Datlow

David G. Hartwell

Stanley Schmidt

Gordon Van Gelder

Sheila Williams

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

Jim Burns

Bob Eggleton

Donato Giancola

Stephan Martiniere

John Picacio

Michael Whelan

SEMIPROZINE

Ansible, David Langford, ed.

Emerald City, Cheryl Morgan, ed.

Interzone, Andy Cox, ed.

Locus, Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong & Liza Groen Trombi, eds.

The New York Review of Science Fiction, Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell & Kevin Maroney, eds.

FANZINE

Banana Wings, Claire Brialey & Mark Plummer, eds.

Challenger, Guy H. Lillian III, ed.

Chunga, Andy Hooper, Randy Byers & carl juarez, eds.

File 770, Mike Glyer, ed.

Plokta, Alison Scott, Steve Davies & Mike Scott, eds.

FAN WRITER

Claire Brialey

John Hertz

Dave Langford

Cheryl Morgan

Steven H Silver

FAN ARTIST

Brad Foster

Teddy Harvia

Sue Mason

Steve Stiles

Frank Wu

For more information on the nominated titles and the Hugo Awards, go to locusmag.com

Free Nebula Award Nominee

Fictionwise.com is now offering the Nebula Award nominated novella "Identity Theft" by Robert J. Sawyer as a free ebook in all standard ebook formats at this url:

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook37235.htm



If you prefer other formats, the full text of "Identity Theft" is available through Sawyer's  website as:

an unrestricted (printable) PDF file

a Microsoft Word document

an RTF file


*****

If you haven't read Sawyer's novella, it is excellent. He is one of my favorite SF writers, always a pleasure to read. Also, check out his website, with the wonderful name: sfwriter.com.

Source: sfwriter.com

Trek Passions

Trek Passions is a new online dating site aimed at Star Trek fans and science fiction fans in general. This is the welcome message from the site:

A free personals site for science fiction lovers, including but not limited to Star Trek. Find others who share your passion for Sci Fi. Meet people who read Asimov, Bova, Heinlein, Adams, Clarke & more. Sign up now to enjoy free Sci Fi chat, message boards and email

*****

I wonder if we could amend that welcome to include "science fiction" fans, not "sci fi". The latter term is not held in high esteem by most hard core science fiction fans.

Source: sliceofscifi.com

Trek Passions is a new online dating site aimed at Star Trek fans and science fiction fans in general. This is the welcome message from the site:

A free personals site for science fiction lovers, including but not limited to Star Trek. Find others who share your passion for Sci Fi. Meet people who read Asimov, Bova, Heinlein, Adams, Clarke & more. Sign up now to enjoy free Sci Fi chat, message boards and email

*****

I wonder if we could amend that welcome to include "science fiction" fans, not "sci fi". The latter term is not held in high esteem by most hard core science fiction fans.

Source: sliceofscifi.com

Galactica "Lay Down Your Burdens" Part 2

I just finished watching the season two ending episode of Battlestar Galactica about five minutes ago, and I am stunned. Baltar (James Callis) won the presidential election, ordered everyone to settle on New Caprica, and all of a sudden it is one year later, and we see a ragtag tent settlement suffering from a cold winter and unable to get the medicines they need to fight pneumonia.

This ending is so totally unexpected, so completely different from what I was expecting to see. At first, I felt a bit cheated, and I still do, somewhat, but am beginning to be interested in the situation and wondering how it will play out next season.I don't feel the excitement and expectancy I did after last season's cliff hanger, I miss that and want it back.

I'm not going to write much now about the story line; I want to wait a little while and think about it. There were some interesting developments in the lives of several of the characters. Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) married "her man", only to see him apparently dying of pneumonia in the tent city. She has alienated Apollo (Jamie Bamber) by her behaviour when he viisted her to meet Anders. Apollo has not been able to forgive her.

Chief Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) and Cally (Nicki Clyne) are apparently married, and are expecting a child. The chief is now the president of the workers union, and advocating fighting Baltar for their freedom. Former president Roslin (Mary McDonnell) has become a teacher again, and is being assisted by the woman who adopted Sharon's (Grace Park) baby.

Galactica and Pegasus have been assigned "light house" patrol duty around the planet, with only skeleton crews left. The ships have not been maintained for war and are far from ready in case of a Cylon attack. They have to jump away when the attack materializes, leaving over 39,000 people on the planet to be dominated by the Cylons.

One of the final scenes in the episode shows the Cylons (the metal variety) marching into the tent city, and we see the reaction to them on the faces of the humans. This is an amazing scene, highly effective and beautifully done.

The third season does not begin until October, so we will have to wait seven months. Entirely too long to wait. I am glad I didn't read any of the spoilers for this episode, and I will be glad to see the cast off this planet and fighting back again.

I will write more in a few days, when I have had time to absorb what I saw tonight. 

Galactica Prequel Novel Due Soon

Science fiction writer Craig Shaw Gardner has announced the completion of his Battlestar Galactica novel. Below is an excerpt from the announcement:

From Craig Shaw Gardner's blog:

So, if you're reading this blog, you probably already know that I do the occasional "media project." The next one out from Gardner Central will be the first original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA novel from TOR, due out this August. The title of this opus is THE CYLONS' SECRET, and it's a prequel to the events on the show, delving more deeply into the background of three of the show's regular characters.

*****

This is great news. I can't wait to read it.

Source: battlestarblog.com

Galactica Nominated for Saturn Awards

Galactica has been nominated for five Saturn Awards. The awards are in the following categories:

Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series:

Battlestar Galactica

Best Supporting Actor On Television:**
Jamie Bamber, "Battlestar Galactica"
James Callis, "Battlestar Galactica"

Best Supporting Actress On Television:
Katee Sackhoff, "Battlestar Galactica"

Best Television Release On DVD:
Battlestar Galactica, Season 1 & 2.0

Source: battlestarblog.com

Edward James Olmos

Friday, February 24th, was the 59th birthday of Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica's Admiral Adama. He was born February 24, 1947.

Scar

Tonight's episode of Battlestar Galactica, "Scar", was "so frakkin' good", it is indeed the "toughest, smartest thing on television" (per Rolling Stone).

Scar is a Cylon raider that is considered by the fleet Viper pilots to be the most dangerous of all Cylon raiders. This episode focuses on the attempt by Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), to kill Scar. Starbuck is remembering her lover in the underground back on Caprica. She believes him to be dead, leaving her nothing to live for. She is drinking heavily and is arriving late for briefings and sending out other officers on patrol in her place when she is too hungover to go herself.

A wonderful touch in the drinking scenes between the Viper pilots is a special tall lidded beer stein, which has Galactica Top Gun lettered on the side, from which Starbuck drinks her beer. She is challenged by Kat (Luciana Carro), who tells her she will soon be drinking from the stein, and Starbuck will be filling it for her.

The episode cuts back and forth between time stamped scenes on Galactica before the battle to kill Scar, and scenes of the battle itself. In one of many powerful scenes, Starbuck and Apollo (Jamie Bamber) are drinking together, alone, after the death of a pilot. They are trying to remember the face of the dead pilot, but can't, then try to remember the names of all the dead pilots. Starbuck says they are unlikely to experience the bright future of finding Earth and living there, as they go out daily to protect the fleet. Apollo says bright futures are rare, and Starbuck tells him they should live for the moment, then says "why don't we?" When Apollo answers "why don't we what", she kisses him.

During the frantic foreplay, Starbuck keeps flashing back to her lover on Caprica and surprises Apollo with her demanding behavior. They never make it to bed, but end up in an argument, with Starbuck kissing him again, grabbing a bottle, and leaving angrily.

The battle between Starbuck, Scar, and Kat had me bounding up out of my chair. This scene is riveting, as Starbuck seems to be in a trance as she is remembering events on Caprica again while Scar is approaching her rapidly on a collision course. She finally recalls telling her lover she would return to him and pulls out of her trance and lets Kat make the kill.

Back on Galactica, the Viper pilots are celebrating Kat's kill with the usual drinking party, with Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Colonel Tigh (Michael Hogan) in attendance. Kat reminds Starbuck that she should fill the beer stein for her, which Starbuck does,telling her she earned it. Then Starbuck begins naming all the pilots who have died in a remarkably moving, eloquent scene that had me in tears. When she finished, she couldn't say anything to end it, so Apollo toasted "all of them". Admiral Adama then said "so say we all", which was repeated by everyone, including me.

Kate Sackhoff is outstanding in this episode,as is Luciana Carro as Kat. Jamie Bamber also turns in a fine performance, but this episode belongs to the two women.

There are many fine components to the episode besides the performances of the actresses. The camaraderie between the pilots is finely portrayed, as is their fear of confronting Scar and the chance of being killed.

Scar himself (I can't refer to him as an it) is brilliantly done. He seems so very malevolent, with the red light moving around his visor-like window like a vicious red eye. He moves out of his hiding places behind space rocks like a powerfully graceful shark. In a scene between Sharon (Grace Park) and Starbuck, Sharon tells her that Scar and the other Cylon fighters are indeed alive and when they die, their consciousnesses are placed into new bodies, like the other Cylon models. Scar is such a stunningly menacing prescence, I was rather sorry to see him destroyed.

This episode is one of the best of Galactica, probably the very best I have seen. It would be hard to choose between this and Resurrection Ship. What a problem, to have such riches to choose from.

Rolling Stone is right in calling Galactica the toughest, smartest thing on television. So say all of us!!

Galactica "On the Cover of the Rolling Stone"

Rolling Stone magazine recently published a cover picture and an article about Battlestar Galactica. Here is an excerpt from the article:

"As with the original, the new Battlestar starts with a surprise attack on humanity by the Cylons. Only 50,000 or so people survive, fleeing in a ragtag fleet protected by the Battlestar Galactica, a third-rate ship with an unpolished crew. As they escape, they try to build a new society under the strain of constant attack."

"But this time around, the show resolutely avoids bumpy-headed aliens, the casino planet and other sci-fi TV cliches: There's plenty of drama to be found in paranoia, grief and politics. In the original, Cylons were large chrome robots with an oscillating red eye and not much personality. Now, the Cylons can look like any other human (or in the case of Tricia Helfer, a lot sexier). The synthetic life-forms are sleeper agents inside human society: monotheistic religious zealots, in contrast to humanity's secular polytheism. "I know God loved you more than all other living creatures, and you repaid his divine love with hate, corruption, evil," one Cylon tells his human interrogator. She responds by having him tortured."

Read the entire article here.

Source: Battlestarblog.com

New Yorker Magazine on Battlestar Galactica

New Yorker magazine recently published a highly complimentary article about Battlestar Galactica. Here is an excerpt from the article:

One of the fighter pilots, a hot shot named Kara Thrace (Katee Sackhoff), whose call sign is Starbuck, was engaged to Zak Adama. She's a smart-mouthed tomboy, too, ”when she's thrown in the brig for punching a colonel, she says she's there for striking a superior asshole, and then smilingly admits that she'd been saving up that phrase. It takes a pleasant while before you learn how much more there is to her than her flygirl swagger. The story isn't ridiculous, ”something that viewers are on the lookout for in science fiction more than in any other genre, ”and it raises questions that nag at you in the same way that life on Earth does. Battlestar Galactica,refreshingly, is as real as science fiction gets.

Read the entire article here.

Source: sfsignal.com

Resurrection Ship Design Source??

A reader of TVSquad.com's post on the Battlestar Galactica episode "Resurrection Ship" commented that the Resurrection Ship looks very much like the Air Force Cadet Chapel. See photos of the ship and the chapel which prove his point here.

Read the full post here.

Source: TVSquad.com

Bowietrek

Today, January 29th, is the (age left blank, thank you) birthday of moi, Bowietrek, aka Bobbie. I will be celebrating later today by enjoying a dinner prepared by my mother, with friends and family in attendance.

Right now, I am going to bed, as it is 12:33am, and I am getting a bit chilly. The temperature outside is 46 degrees so the furnace doesn't come on very often, which is good for the gas bill, but leaves me "cold".

Good night to all bloggers, Trekkers, Battlestar Galactica fans, science fiction fans, Indianapolis Colts players, staff, and fans, and any other readers not covered by the aforementioned

Bear McCreary Interview

An interview with Galactica music composer Bear McCreary has been posted at www.infuzemag.com. Free registration is required to read the interview, but it is worth it. McCreary talks about how music is written for the series, and his creative process.

Read the full interview here.

Source: battlestarblog

Michelle Forbes

Belated birthday wishes to actress Michelle Forbes. formerly of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and currently playing Admiral Cain in Battlestar Galactica. She was born January 8, 1967.