October 2003 Offworld Report: Science Fiction and Fantasy
01/10/2003 . Source: Stephen Hunt 
Spider Robinson blasts the genre and asks 'why are our imaginations retreating from science and space, and into fantasy?', Kir Bulychov dies, plus interviews with Jerry Pournelle, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Bob Eggleton, Robert J. Sawyer, Ben Bova and Vernor Vinge. A prime crop of SFF gems found offworld the 'Nest for October 2003, in this month's monthly round-up of the 'best of the rest'.
ARTICLE OF THE MONTH Forward, Into The Past
Why are our imaginations retreating from science and space, and into fantasy? SF author Spider Robinson gives the genre a well-aimed kick up the pants.
INTERVIEWS Being Bova
The world building of SF author Ben Bova comes into the spotlight in this interview.
A Vinge on the Verge
An interview with Vernor Vinge and his dreaded 'singularity' gets trotted out again.
Meeting Margo
Oz-based fantasy author Margo Lanagan on writing fantasy and the smallness of the Australian market.
Seeing Sawyer
An interview with writer Robert J. Sawyer by Stephen Humphrey.
The Egg-Man
SFF illustrator Bob Eggleton chats with Edwina Harvey.
Going Gothic
More gothic gumff from writer Simon Raven. Feel the Rusch
Kristine Kathryn Rusch sits down for an interview with Infinity Plus.
Jeepers!
Eric Nenninger, Kasan Butcher, Nicki Aycox, Josh Hammond and Lena Cardwell chat about falling prey to demons in the movie Jeepers Creepers II.
More Pournelle
Legend-in-his-own-lunchtime Jerry Pournelle spills the secrets of writing SF.
The Rotter Roth
Eli Roth, Director of the movie Fever, interviewed.
Kicking Kessel
John Kessel the author behind Freedom Beach and Good News From Outer Space gets interviewed.
CONS & AWARDS
Aurora Win
The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association presented the 2003 Aurora Awards for best Canadian SFF.
SF Fans Flock to Toronto
A convention first established in the 1930s and devoted to all things interstellar touches down in Canada. Yep, they're talking about the WorldCon.
Will Sawyer Win?
Robert J. Sawyer was on tenterhooks awaiting the Hugo award ceremony.
Genre In A Time Warp?
The odd thing about the SFF fans gathered in Toronto for Torcon 3, is just how focused they are on the past … rather strange for a group famous for changing the present by predicting the future.
Sawyer Wins SF Prize
Lucky seven was the number written in the cosmos for Mississauga SFF author Robert J. Sawyer. After being passed over six times, Sawyer captured the award for best novel for his 2002 work 'Hominids' at the Hugos.
NEWS Lessing on Bulgakov
Writer Mikhail Bulgakov used allegory in his SF tales of mad professors and deadly rays to attack the Soviet regime. Doris Lessing pays tribute to a writer with a gift for survival
Bulychov Dies
Science Fiction's Kir Bulychov Dies
Last Frontier meets Final Frontier
In Star Trek, James T. Kirk became a starship captain at age 32. Fangirl Fairbanksan Jennefer Ernst has earned the rank - and command of her own vessel - at just 21.
ARTICLES Music of the Spheres
Jeff Berkwits looks at SF authors and their music. Hmmm. Nice.
Star Wars Suffers
The U.S. love affair with Lord Of The Rings is threatening its relationship with Star Wars. Oh dear.
Dragon Notes
John Grant gives you some pass notes on his latest work, The Dragons of Manhattan.
Slipping Up?
James Patrick Kelly looks at matters slipstream that can be found on the web.
Utahns Scribble A Galaxy Of SFF
Is it the culture; is it the religion or the landscape? Perhaps it's something in the water. Whatever the reason, Utah contains some of the U.S.'s most prolific producers and ravenous readers of science fiction and fantasy.
The Alien Watcher
Reviews of Blind Lake and Singularity Sky.
When SF Forgets its Science
You can forgive Skywalker, Kirk and Flash Gordon for messing with the laws of physics in the interests of a good storyline, but does bad science make a poor science fiction film far worse?
MEDIA Science Fiction Falls
A look at all the new SFF TV series coming to our goggleboxes the Fall (Autumn) of 2003.
Running Rings
London's Science Museum puts on a new exhibit area dedicated to Tolkien's Middle Earth epic.
I Created SmallVille (Really)
Not many people know that it was Tim McCanlies who created the television series 'Smallville' for Warner Brothers. Well, that's fine with him … and here is why.
Trek Gets Serious
The new season for 'Enterprise' heats up the action.
The Return of the King
Richard Taylor from the WETA Effects workshop talks about the final Middle Earth movie.
Following Farscape
Review of Farscape Season III, Volume Four.
Tolkien's Monkey
Tolkien trilogy Director set to remake the King Kong movie.
Caring For Carter
Interview with Stargate SG-1's Samantha Carter, AKA actress Amanda Tapping.
Shatner To Play Kirk's Grandfather?
Our William tells us all that Berman approached him about a possible 'Enterprise' guest appearance.
Under the Underworld
Interview with thespian Kevin Grevioux about the Underworld film.
Timecop II
Is the new Timecop movie going to be twice as bad as the first film?
High Spirits
Why the Oscar-winning Japanese animated flick Spirited Away is one of the most beautiful and original movies for quite a while.
SCI-FI Channel Gets Hot
The Sci-Fi Channel breaks its own records for television ratings.
TRAILER TRASH The following movie trailer downloads all require the latest version of Apple's QuickTime Player for PCs or Macs (and a fast connection helps). Kill Bill
Jeepers Creepers 2
Timeline
Modern types get stuck in the Middle Ages with no way to return to our time.
The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
The Incredibles
The Punisher
Alien: The Director's Cut
FICTION See Jack Run: An Intergalactic Primer
Wade Albert White short story about an alien enforcer called Q-zarc.
Brightly Shining
Jay Lake's alternative reality tale about a World War II where Nazi zeppelins have all but vanquished the RAF. 
|
