Sci Fi Guys Newsletter Vol. 9 Issue 1

THE SCI FI GUYS
Volumn 9 - Issue 1
http://www.scifiguys.com/

Welcome to the Sci-fi Guys, a free biweekly e'zine for fans of science
fiction, fantasy and humor. Distribute freely and as often as possible. If
you like us, let others know. Come visit the home page for the latest and
back issues.

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Content:

(1) Long Range Scan: News/Rumors with strained humor(s)

(2) The Issue Arena:
"Which of the 6 Star Wars films was your favorite and why?"
Next: "What would you like to see in our newsletter?"

(3) Sci-Guy Views:
Book: Phantom
Book: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths

(4) The Sci Fi Guy Says:
"So, I bet you are asking yourself. The Sci-Fi Guys? Aren't they dead?"

(5) Sci Fi Guru
"I love the 4400 on USA, but something puzzles me..."

(6) Feedback: You said what?

(7) Fellow Sci-Fi'ainians

(8) Who are we? Why are we still here? A Kosh-esq history of the Guys.
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[1] LONG RANGE SCAN
- Kevin Wagner, Grant Zurko, Benjamin Winn, Julia Walker-Rayne

Can't wait to read the news? Visit http://www.scifiguys.com/ (Sci Fi Guys)
and get the latest in sci-fi news as it happens.


-- Star Trek Auction!

Still looking for that ripped Kirk shirt? Want to know if that thing Uhura
wears could really puncture your ear drum? Well, now's your chance. CBS
Paramount Television is auctioning off original series memorabilia in
celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first "Star Trek" TV episode.
Items include costumes, a Kirk command chair (replica made for the DS9
episode) and so much more if you have thousands of dollars sitting around.
The stuff is on display in London and will make a four city tour before
being auctioned in New York at Christies. Save your box tops now.


-- The Joker is Who?

Yep, turns out that the almighty has a sense of humor. Actor Heath Ledger
(Brokeback Mountain) goes from not your average cowboy to not your average
villain, "not that there is anything wrong with that." Ledger has been
signed to play the Joker in the upcoming sequel to Batman Begins. Rumor has
it that Philip Seymour Hoffman might appear as the Penguin. Christian Bale
will return, but the Katie Holmes has been replaced. Morgan Freeman and
Michael Caine (Alfred) will return.


-- Batman the Musical?

In the alternate reality segment of the Sci Fi Guys, plans were underway to
make a musical stage version of the first Batman flick. Yeah, that's old
news, I know. Thanks to divine intervention, the deal was scuttled. But,
if you want to live a moment of what it could have been, AICN has posted a
clip of the original song "Wonderful Toys" which would have been performed
by the Joker. I wonder if they would have had scantily clad Joker girls
dancing in the background. You know, this might have worked . . . . Nah.
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2006/steinmanbatman.mp3 (Batman)


-- Iron Man to the Movies

Seems like every superhero is destined to be made into a Hollywood movie
eventually. Most of the A list (Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men,
Fantastic Four) have already been made; so on to the B list. Iron Man looks
like the next big budget try. No word on who gets to wear the armor, though
rumor has it that Gustle and Flow's Terrance Howard has been offered the
role of Iron Man friend James Rhodes. I'd still rather see Wonder Woman.
Yeah, I had a big crush on Linda Carter, so sue me.


-- John Carter of Mars: The Movie

I have a confession to make. I loved the John Carter of Mars series by
Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan). I liked it better than the Tarzan books,
though I liked those too. So every time I hear about a film project for
John Carter, I have to run with it. Hey, when you write for Sci Fi Guys,
you can choose your stories too. Anyway, Jon Favreau (Friends) gave an
interview to AICN about the Iron Man film (blah, blah, blah) and then said
that John Carter was his next project and it was a labor of love. I knew I
liked that guy. For those not familiar with JC, read the books. They are
great, and you know I rarely say that about anything I haven't written myself.


-- Star Trek: Klingon

If you are one of those people that like to dress up like Klingons - you
know who you are - good news. Paramount recently released a Star Trek DVD
compilation of Klingon episodes across each Star Trek series. Yeah, that
means you get a Voyager episode (Barge of the Dead). You also get plenty of
Worf, warriors and of course tribbles. I must be part Klingon, cause I hate
those little furry things too.


-- Justice League Lives!

If you were sad to see the well written and produced Justice League
Unlimited get dumped by Cartoon Network; stay sad. They are not bringing it
back. But, there is some good news. DC and Warner Animation are making
some straight to DVD films including: New Frontier: Justice League;
Superman: Doomsday; and Teen Titans. Well, the first two sound promising.
We'll keep ya posted on the details as they develop.


-- More Mouths to Feed on Lost

Am I the only one that finds it hard to understand how a show about people
left on a deserted island seems to add new cast members each year. By the
way, what happened to the polar bear? Anyway, Lost is adding Elizabeth
Mitchell as one of two new female cast members. Mitchell played the lesbian
doctor on E.R. that caused Dr. Weaver to reexamine her sexual orientation.
Hmmm.... The possibilities . . .


-- Back From Hell

Looks like a sequel to Hellboy is going to get made with a projected release
date in 2008. Can't say I really liked the first film, but didn't hate it
either. Just another special effects-athon with meandering plots and
forgettable acting. Ron Perlman and Selma Blair are expected back, though
I'm not sure I will be.


-- More National Treasure

I don't suppose it's a shock, but a sequel to the surprise hit National
Treasure is in the works. Yes, it is true the film feels like a ripoff of
the DaVinci Code, but it was an enjoyable one. Director Jon Turteltaub told
the LA Daily News that the entire cast is expected back except for people
that are dead or in jail. That means we are stuck with Nicholas Cage. But,
the good news is, the stunning Diane Kruger returns. No word on the plot,
but we might see Mt. Rushmore.


-- Torchwood Slowed

The Dr. Who spin-off Torchwood needs extensive re-shooting according to
Sci-Fi Pulse. The show was intended to be filmed without a lot of lighting
to give it a dark feel. Apparently, it was too dark. No word on how long
the delay will be for the show which was suppose to debut in the UK later
this year. For those unfamiliar, Torchwood concerns the character of Captain
Jack and a group of criminal investigators who use alien technology in
modern day Cardiff. Which leads one to wonder, if you have advanced tech,
why stay in Cardiff?


-- Matt Damon is . . . Kirk?

It's been rumored for a while, but IMDB is reporting that actor Matt Damon
(The Bourne Identity) will play one James T. Kirk in an upcoming new Star
Trek film being produced by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias). While not
confirmed, the scuttlebutt is that this will be a prequel film with Kirk and
Spock at Starfleet Academy. Have I mentioned how much I hate prequels. Sigh...


-- Potter Casting and News

Any Harry Potter news appears to be big news these days, so here is a
little. Helena Bonham Carter (Planet of the Apes) will play Bellatrix
Lestrange in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The
latest Potter film is slated for a summer 2007 release instead of its usual
Fall premiere. Meanwhile, author J.K. Rowling is making the rounds telling
people the next book will be the last and two characters will die. No word
on Harry's fate, but I'm betting he survives . . . or I burn all my books.


-- Another Vampire Show?

Can we really be this interested in the life of vampires? If Blade and the
defunct Buffy/Angel and Forever Knight series (just to name a few) were not
enough, yet another vampire series is in development. According to Variety,
Fox is working on a series about a woman attorney who discovers she is a
vampire. Is that a comedy? Wait, didn't she train to be a vampire? Look
for "Amy After Dark" (title stolen from a Cinemax Feature?) this fall.


-- Enterprise Finds a Home

According to the Sci-Fi channel website, the increasingly trite science
fiction channel has purchased the rights to air reruns of the final Star
Trek spin-off: Enterprise. Wasn't watching that series once punishment
enough? Maybe I'll just tune in for the T'Pol massage scenes. Now that's
good television. If you must, look for Enterprise this fall on the Sci-Fi
Channel. Or, do what I do, and keep to the Next Generation and Deep Space
Nine on Spike.


-- Star Wars Series Before 2010

The planned live action Star Wars series is projected to reach audiences
sometime before 2010 according to Steve Sansweet; Lucasfilm's Head of Fan
Relations. During a talk at Comics Con, Sansweet revealed that the animated
series should premiere in 2008. He also said that the first scripts for
both shows were done and pre-production could begin this year. That's
really a lot of lead time for television, but let's hope they get it right.
The series are said to take place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope
(Star Wars). Sounds like a pretty dull time period to me, but who knows.


-- Dr. Who Casting (Spoiler)

The BBC announced that Martha Jones, played by Freema Agyeman, will be the
new companion for season 3 of the current run of Doctor Who. Agyeman
already guest starred during season 2, so I guess the producers liked what
they saw. The new series of Doctor Who launched with Rose Tyler (Billie
Piper) as the Doctor's companion, but the actress wanted to move on to other
projects.


-- Creature Feature?

Classic Media is releasing the original and uncut Japanese-language version
of Ishiro Honda's GOJIRA (1954). The film was critically acclaimed as a
bold anti-nuclear allegory and one of the greatest monster movies of all
time. The release also includes the English edited version "Godzilla, King
of the Monsters," starring Raymond Burr. I remember staying up late as a
kid to watch these movies on Creature Feature. Yeah, even as a kid I had no
life.


-- Beowulf Lives

When I had to read Beowulf in high school, I kept wishing there was a movie.
Well, there is. Union Station Media is releasing Beowulf and Grendel on
DVD on September 26th! Based on the epic poem, Beowulf (that I read, cough,
cough) the film is a medieval adventure, starring Gerard Butler, Stellan
Skarsgard and Sarah Polley. For those of you who never read Beowulf, it is
a blood-soaked tale of a Norse warrior's battle against a great and
murderous troll, Grendel, who has laid siege to the kingdom of Hrothgar.


-- Surface on DVD

I can't say I ever watched Surface, though I did have more than a few
episodes on my TiVo. I can say that I have heard very good things about the
short lived Sci-Fi ocean adventure. If you missed it like me, you get
another chance when all 15 episodes of the series are released to DVD on
August 15th. The plot concerns oceanographer Laura Daughtery (Lake Bell)
who discovers a massive underwater creature. Her obsession to uncover the
origins of this dangerous "unidentified species" leads her and others on a
mysterious adventure through the sea and other shady places on Earth. DVDs
include deleted scenes and special effects.


-- Futurama Returns

News has leaked out that the well loved, but often overlooked Futurama will
be revived and air new episodes on Comedy Central beginning in 2008. The
show, from Matt Groening (the creator of the Simpsons), chronicles the
unreal life of a former delivery boy named Philip J. Fry who is frozen and
awakened 1000 years later. If you like satire, and who doesn't, then
Futurama is worth your time.


-- Farscape Recaps

The website Television Without Pity is currently recapping all 88 episodes
of FARSCAPE; plus the Peacekeeper Wars miniseries. There are about 15 recaps
so far, with the rest due over the course of the summer and fall. The
FARSCAPE recappers include many of the same writers who cover everything
from Buffy to Veronica Mars to Battlestar Galactica.
href="http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/category_2797.html">Farscape;


-- Shatner All Over the Media!

Bill Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk) is out and about. He is currently
being roasted on Comedy Central; which is being repeated more than a few
times. Talk about an easy target. The hair jokes alone could be the first
half-hour and then there is the singing... Maybe I should have been the MC?
Shatner is also the voice of Kirk in a new Star Trek game. Star Trek:
Legacy, will let players captain starships from all five of the franchise's
live-action TV series against enemies such as Klingons, Romulans and, the
latest Swedish invasion, the Borg. The game is due out in October.


-- Hero Talk

With the smashing success of the superhero genre, there is no doubt that a
few sequels are on the way. The Fantastic Four will be back to combat the
Silver Surfer and Dr. Doom in what looks to be a retelling of one of the
classic FF stories. Jessica Alba is back as Sue, and that's really all I
need to know. It looks like the Hulk will get a second film despite the
disaster that was the first. One interesting, but unconfirmed rumor has
Dominic Purcell playing Bruce Banner. Purcell is best known for "Prison
Break," but some of us fondly remember his from the prematurely canceled
"John Doe."


-- 24 Meets Deep Space 9

According to T.V. Guide, which has transformed itself into a pretty good
entertainment magazine, Alexander Siddig (Dr. Julian Bashere) will play a
bad guy on the upcoming season of 24. I suppose I could say something about
racial bias and Siddig only being able to land terrorist roles, but
considering the track record of most Trek alum... Great part! Eric Balfour
who played computer jockey Milo Pressman in season one returns as does poor
Jack Bauer and a new President named Palmer.


-- Star Wars in HD

Cinemax has purchased the rights to show all six Star Wars films in HD
beginning in November. Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith have
been shown in HD before, but this will be the first time for the original
trilogy, which should be interesting. The HD format will be 1080i and the
actual versions of the original trilogy being shown will be the special
editions, not the unaltered films. Don't blame me, I just report the news.


-- Aquaman Gets Flushed

The new Aquaman series did not get picked up by CW. Yeah, that is old news.
Here is the interesting part. If you want to see the pilot that was made
for the show, just go over to iTunes and you can buy it for $2. To answer
your question, I don't know if a massive buy will revive the pilot and
potential show, but who knows. Stranger things have certainly happened.


* Thanks to our unpaid roving news gatherers including - Jonas S. Madsen,
* James A. Reinhardt, Davrosdw, H.G. Wells, and Benjamin Winn.
* Also thanks to Shaun Lyon at the Dr. Who Alliance and Sean Jordan from
* Zentertainment.
* If you see any sci-fi news, send it to us at feedback@scifiguys.com

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[2] ISSUE ARENA
This Issue: "Which of the 6 Star Wars films was your favorite and why?"
Next Issue: "What would you like to see in our newsletter?"

* Drop us your opinion on the Next Issue in 250 words or less to
* feedback@scifiguys.com and we'll print the best two responses we get.

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[3] SCI-GUY ON THE STREET REVIEWS

-- Book: Phantom
-- Sword of Truth Volume 10
-- Reviewed By: Kevin Wagner
-- URL: http://www.terrygoodkind.com/ (Terry Goodkind)

Last week I spent a few days in Las Vegas playing some poker. They use a
term there called "pot committed." It means that a player has bet so much
into a pot, that they are forced to play it out even if things are starting
to look bad. My mother had a phrase for it too. She called it throwing
good money after bad.

Which brings me to Terry Goodkind and his Sword of Truth series. The first
few books in the series were tremendous and the last several, well let's
just say, not on anyone's must read list. Nonetheless, when the newest
volume (#10), "Phantom," hit the shelves I felt compelled to buy it. I
guess I'm "pot committed." Or as my mother would say, just foolish.

Let me give you some background. The Sword of Truth Series is an epic
fantasy of good versus evil (see, Robert Jordan). The protagonist is a
former woods guide named Richard who must maneuver his way through prophecy,
bad magic, and any number of obstacles to save mankind from both the Keeper
of the Underworld (The Devil) and more recently from the unstoppable
Imperial Order. Richard has his own magical resources and heritage and
turns out to be pretty good with sharp metal objects.

There is a lot to recommend Goodkind as an author. First, his fantasy world
is top rate with an innovative magic system and plenty of creative and
interesting plays on traditional fantasy elements. While we have magic
swords and dragons these themes are presented in ways that are not only
entertaining but thoughtful and engrossing.

Second, Goodkind has no fear of hitting taboo subjects like rape, torture
and mayhem and does it with a fair amount of gusto. Sometimes he seems to
go a bit farther than my tastes allow; but I respect his ability to ground
his fantasy in a very human struggle. Too much fantasy is so light and airy
that it lacks any emotional punch. This is clearly not so with Goodkind.

Where Goodkind seems to falter is in the increasing amount of talkiness and
preaching that seems to accompany the writing. The struggle between Richard
and the Imperial Order is explained at length as being between freedom and
individualism versus self-hating conformity. Ok, I got it. I got it
several books ago. But, Goodkind doesn't seem to want to leave the
philosophical discussion as much as I and, I suspect, many of the readers
desperately do.

I do respect the idea of underlaying fiction with meaning, but at the end of
the day a novel can't stagnate talking about the import of socio-economic
systems on human development. It's just not that interesting. The Order
kills, rapes and destroys. That's really evil enough for me.

Phantom, the middle book in what is to be the concluding trilogy of the
series is almost a map of the good and bad in Goodkind's writing. The 1st
third of the book is made up of a great deal of conversations and
philosophy. The remainder is actually quite good and brings not only
compelling action, but human drama to the forefront. The book also touches
on terrorism and the rational for unconventional warfare. Certainly thought
provoking stuff in this day and age.

Because I enjoyed the later half of the novel, I'm inclined to recommend the
book. I'm not sure if being pot committed at this stage is good, but there
is no way that I'm not going to find out what happens.


-- Book: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
-- Reviewed By: Michael Stevenson
-- URL: http://www.dragonlance.com/ (Dragonlance)

Every time I see a new Dragon Lance book, I wince a little. It's not that I
don't like Dragon Lance, frankly I've read the first two trilogies too many
times to actually give an accurate number. What makes me grimace, is the
number of poorly written sequels, prequels, novellas and other Dragon Lance
licensed material.

If ever there was a good thing driven into the ground (besides Star Trek) it
has to be Dragon Lance. Some of the blame goes to the many authors that
took over for Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Some of the blame goes to
Weis and Hickman who did there share of world killing in some of their own
sequels.

With that said, If you liked the original novels, than stop reading and go
out and buy Dragons of the Dwarven Depths. Weis and Hickman return to the
series' original heros and fill in the gap between the first two novels
Dragons of Autumn Twilight and Dragons of Winter Night.

The initial Dragonlance books began with a standard role playing game type
of opening with a group of companions thrown together on a quest. What
makes it work is that these characters are so very different and interesting
with so many differing goals and ideas about the world, but held together by
the leadership of an outcast half-elf and the search for an answer to the
assault by the forces of a dark god Dwarven Depths. It reminded me of what I
liked so much about the first few books. The characters were interesting
and both heroic and flawed. The plot was paced nicely and divine
intervention was more subtle and mysterious.

In addition, Dwarven Depths provides a nice look into the character of some
of the original heros like Tanis, Riverwind and Raistlin, but especially
Flint. In the end, the richness of the characterization is what made the
first books such great reads and it is really great fun to do it again.


* Send us your reviews of Sci-Fi movies, videos, games, and books at
* feedback@scifiguys.com

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[4] THE SCI FI GUY SAYS
"So, I bet you are asking yourself. The Sci-Fi Guys? Aren't they dead?" - Kevin Wagner

So, I bet you are asking yourself. The Sci-Fi Guys? Aren't they dead? "I
know a dead parrot (er.. website) when I see one, and I'm looking at one
right now."

Well, the rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated. By that I
mean, we were dead and decided not to be dead. That could really work as a
sci-fi plot on a weakly written show. See: Enterprise.

Truth be told, I got busy and tired. During our short lapse (by short I
mean about a year), I finished a PhD and got a new job. Allen and Grant had
their own life changing moments that I would share with you, but unlike me
they keep their lives to themselves. Believe me when I tell you it's not
that interesting anyway.

We do this little Sci-Fi funny paper because we like to do it. When life
starts getting pushy about our time, well, some things have to give and
that's usually not going to be the stuff that earns money to pay the
mortgage. Besides, I have to make time for Lost and Battlestar Galactica.
A man has his priorities. Personally, I start cutting with anything
produced by Berman and Braga.

Regardless, we are back.

Now, by back I mean we are probably going to do one of these news letters
more than annually. How often? That depends some on you. If you want to
see more of us, email and let us know. If you want to see less of us, email
and let us know that. Just try and keep the cursing to a minimum, my
daughter can read now.

We have always been about a little fun, a little friendship and a whole lot
of making fun of Bill Shatner's singing. If that works for you, then
welcome back to our little club of real sci fi fans. Truth is we missed you
too. Now don't get all mushy on me.


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[5] THE SCI FI GURU
"I love the 4400 on USA, but something puzzles me..."

Q: I love the 4400 on USA, but something puzzles me. Why was Lilly dumped
from the show? Her character was very important.

-- Sarah

A: Well, it wasn't so much that Lilly (actress Laura Allen) was dumped as
much as she and the show went in different directions. Laura Allen was
supposed to appear in the current season, but had to be written out and the
show's plot was adjusted. Producers would only say it was a business
decision. What that usually means is it was about money. As in, she wanted
more, and they didn't want to pay her more.

-- Kevin


* If you have a question about science fiction past, present and future ask
* the Sci Fi Guru at guru@scifiguys.com
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[6] FEEDBACK

-- From: Mark

I am having trouble locating a Scifi cartoon movie title that was released
sometime in the 70s or 80s. I am able to recall only vague memories of the
film - I remember a part were there is a tank driving towards a long haired,
dark skinned character on a horse. The tank stops, and at some point a red
spaceman, with a sort of antenna on his helmet, jumps out of the tank and
attacks the caveman being. The red spaceman ends up getting shot and dies,
at this point he also deflates. The guns used were laser guns. I am unable
to recall much more than that.

EDITOR: Can anyone help Mark?


-- From: Michael

I was searching the web for the title of this movie that was driving me
crazy, when I put in all that I could think that would Google it, I came
across Volume 8, Issue 3. I really wanted to rent it again because it had
been a long time since I'd seen it.

It was definitely the same movie "Anitra" wrote to you. It was about a
"heavy metal"-like animated sci-fi film. However, your page was the only
thing I found without knowing anymore info like who did the voices.

It was driving me crazy, however I finally found it in the 'videohound's
golden retriever', after I started reading every entry for animated film
that I didn't know. It was called "Light Years" with Glen Close, Jennifer
Grey, and Christopher Plummer.


* What do you think? Your opinion matters (a little). Let us know at
* feedback@scifiguys.com

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[7] FELLOW SCI-FI'AINIANS

* If you are a sci-fi related site and are interested in an ad exchange,
* please contact us at webmaster@scifiguys.com (we can't guaranty that we
* will accept the ad, we will try to accommodate as many as possible).
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[8] WHO ARE WE? WHY ARE WE HERE?

The Sci Fi Guys is the brainchild of Kevin M. Wagner with the aid and
abettance of fellow enthusiasts and technology wizards Grant Zurko and Allen
Servedio. Read more about us at http://www.scifiguys.com/ (Sci Fi Guys)