Cool Links

Starship Farragut, one of the recent classic Star Trek fan-made tribute series, has gone where no other fan series has gone before - animated Star Trek. They've finished their first animated episode, "Power Source", which can be downloaded in several different formats at http://www.farragut-animated.com/episode.html. It recreates the style of the Filmation animated Star Trek series and even uses incidental music from that series.

http://paulkienitz.net/skiffy.html

Apparently,

I am: Hal Clement (Harry C. Stubbs) A quiet and underrated master of "hard science" fiction who, among other things, foresaw integrated circuits back in the 1940s.

Which science fiction writer are you?

In my quest to obtain autographs from science fiction authors, here's some links to authors who will provide autographs:

A place to start is Locus Online's Authors/Editors webpage (http://www.locusmag.com/Links/Authors.html), with links to author webpages.

Ursula K. LeGuin (http://www.ursulakleguin.com/UKL_info.html). She will send up to six signed bookplates (two different styles) with a SASE (http://www.ursulakleguin.com/mail.html#Autographs).

Orson Scott Card (http://www.hatrack.com/). Signed copies of some of his books are available for purchase (http://www.hatrack.com/store/store.cgi?loc=us&item=BOOKS). Signed bookplates are available for $1 each (http://www.hatrack.com/store/store.cgi?loc=us&item=BOOKS_BookplateHatrack&opt=), I purchased two recently.

Alexei Panshin (http://www.enter.net/~torve/contents.htm).
Author of Rite of Passage, Heinlein in Dimension, etc. He has several of his books for sale on his website (http://www.enter.net/~torve/books/booksby.htm), and will autograph them. He e-mailed me yesterday, informing me that he is out of the hardcover printing of Heinlein in Dimension, but the trade paperback is still available.

Frederik Pohl (http://www.frederikpohl.com/) has a blog (http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/). I first met him at Visions '91 in Chicago, then again twice last year (Denvention 3 in Denver and Windycon 35 in Chicago); he signed all the books I brought.

Some authors I haven't tried yet:
David Brin (http://www.kithrup.com/.brin/index.html). Signed copies of some of his books are available for purchase (http://www.kithrup.com/.brin/offers.html).

Sylvia Engdahl (http://www.sylviaengdahl.com/index.htm). Signed copies of some of her books are available for purchase (http://www.sylviaengdahl.com/purchase.htm), and signed bookplates can be obtained with a SASE (I plan to request some soon).

Karen Hancock (http://www.kmhancock.com/). Signed bookplates can be obtained with an e-mail.

An interesting site on obtaining celebrity autographs, including authors, is FanMail.biz (http://www.fanmail.biz/). Includes mailing addresses and some success stories in obtaining autographs.

Another Star Trek icon has passed away. She was able to reprise her role as the ship's computer in the new Star Trek movie, to be released in May 2009. I once met her at a Star Trek convention in Omaha in 1993.

http://www.roddenberry.com/

http://trekmovie.com/2008/12/18/majel-barrett-roddenberry-passes-away/

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/12/majel-roddenber.html?cnn=yes

Alexander Courage, composer of the original theme to Star Trek as well as music for many TV shows and movies, passed away on May 15th:
http://trekmovie.com/2008/05/28/star-trek-composer-alexander-courage-dead-at-88/#more-2013
http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2008/052808.html

followed in a few days by the passing of Earle Hagen, another great television composer:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-me-hagen28-2008may28,0,3791913.story
http://www.earlehagen.net/

and the passing of Joseph Pevney, director of many original Star Trek episodes including "The City on the Edge of Forever":
http://trekmovie.com/2008/05/25/tos-director-joseph-pevney-dies-at-96/

and now Robert Justman has joined them:
http://trekmovie.com/2008/05/31/tos-tng-producer-robert-justman-has-passed-away/#more-2024

From cannellfan's blog (http://cannellfan.livejournal.com/):
This is what you're supposed to do...Hit reply, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you. Cannellfan's altered rules -- copy to your blog, substitute your own answers for mine, leave a reply post on my blog saying you've made your own posting, sit back and see who replies to your own entry!

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Paper Route
2. Custodian
3. Army Reservist
4. Ground Water Geologist

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Star Wars
2. The Iron Giant
3. The Rocketeer
4. The Hobbit

Four places that I have lived:
1. Lincoln, Nebraska (near 28th & Washington)
2. Lincoln, Nebraska (near 80th & A)
3. Oshkosh, Nebraska
4. Fort Knox, Kentucky

Four TV shows that I watch:
1. Stargate: Atlantis
2. Jericho
3. Numb3rs
4. Heroes

Four places I have been:
1. Chichen Itza, Mexico
2. Windsor, Canada
3. Paris, France
4. Nassau, Bahamas

Four people who e-mail me (regularly, and non-work related):
1. Scott S.
2. Kathy
3. Merle
4. The members of Star Base Andromeda, via our Yahoo group

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Pizza
2. Hamburgers
3. French dip sandwich
4. Doritos

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. cruise ship – anywhere
2. Yucatan, Mexico
3. Europe
4. International Space Station

Four people I think will respond:
1. Scott
2. ...?
3. ...?
4. ...?

Things that I am looking forward to this year:
1. Dad’s 80th birthday – March 13
2. Peregrine 25th anniversary – April 9 (for those who know)
3. My 5th wedding anniversary – June 28
4. Denvention 3 (World Science Fiction Convention) – August 6-10

Science fiction pulps (magazines) are a mainstay of science fiction liturature; many authors had their start writing short stories for them. The three main magazines currently published are:

Analog (formerly Astounding) http://www.analogsf.com/, beginning in 1930

Fantasy & Science Fiction http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/, beginning in 1949

Asimov's Science Fiction http://www.asimovs.com/, beginning in 1977

Many other SF/Fantasy magazines have come and gone over the years. The covers of many of them can be found at http://www.noosfere.com/showcase/pulps__magazines_americains.htm

Two important SF magazines no longer published are Amazing Stories, beginning in 1926 as the first SF magazine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Stories, and published sporadically up until 2005; and Galaxy Science Fiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_magazine, published from 1950-1980

Information on the next World Science Fiction Convention, to be held August 6th-10th, 2008 in Denver (and reasonably close to where I live) can be found here: http://www.denvention3.org/

The final progress report has been released: http://www.denvention.org/publications/Denvention_3_PR_Four.pdf

In scanning the membership list, I see that science fiction authors, artists, etc. who are attending include:

Stephen Baxter
Greg Benford
Ben Bova
David Brin
Charles N. Brown
Lois McMaster Bujold
Glen Cook
Juanita Coulson
Ctein
Cory Doctorow
Phyllis Eisenstein
Michael Flynn
Phil Foglio
Joe Haldeman
James Patrick Kelly
Nancy Kress
David Kyle
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
Jean Lorrah
George R.R. Martin
Wil McCarthy
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Jody Lynn Nye
Mike Resnick
Roberta Rogow
Robert J. Sawyer
Stanley Schmidt
Robert Silverberg
Dean Wesley Smith
Melinda Snodgrass
Rick Sternbach
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Connie Willis
Eleanor Wood

Update: August 1, 2008
The Denvention Quick Reference Guide is now available:
http://www.denvention.org/programming/Denvention3_QuickRef_Final.pdf

Additional science fiction authors, etc. who are attending include:
Kevin Anderson
Steven Barnes
Greg Bear
Ed Bryant
Robert Buettner
Paul Cornell
William Dietz
Eric Flint
David Gerrold
David Hartwell
Larry Niven
Robert Reed
John Scalzi
S.M. Stirling
John Stith
Charles Stross
Harry Turtledove
Marc Scott Zicree

and Frederik Pohl!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/ap_en_mo/obit_lane

http://www.tk421.net/character/

Websites helpful to keep track of radio programs include:

Otter (http://www.otrr.org/Pages/Database/db_pg.htm)
Provides radio logs for many older (and some newer) radio programs, researched by the Old Time Radio Researchers Group.

Jerry's Vintage Radio Logs (http://otrsite.com/radiolog/index.html)
This site also sells many of the listed shows.

RadioGOLDINdex (http://radiogoldindex.com/frame1.html)
Another useful radio log site, with more detailed information about episodes.

RadioListings (http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/index.html)
Lists BBC radio programming.

Old Time Radio (OTR) is an interest I've been pursuing for about two years now, after obtaining a copy of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds broadcast (http://www.archive.org/details/WAROFTHEWORLDS2). Although many radio series episodes were lost over the years or not recorded at all, many still exist and can be downloaded from the internet for free. They are an intersting look at the past and generally good, clean, fun entertainment. There are several groups that regularly post episodes and will respond to requests, if the material is available. The following groups require registration (which is free) to access all of the benefits of their site.

The Cobalt Club (http://testbox.cob.rit.edu/)
My favorite OTR site, where people generally post several episodes each day for requested series, until all available episodes have been posted. Material is generally removed after several weeks. There are also discussion areas for books, television, etc.

Zoot Radio (http://www.zootradio.com/)
Lots of discussion about OTR, links to downloadable recordings, and some series available for download from the site.

OTR-TNT (http://x.otr-tnt.com/phpBB2/portal.php?sid=17567c73812d61b1971df8e1bc821954)
Discussion, some downloads, but geared more for those with streaming accounts to send material to each other.

Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/details/oldtimeradio)
A number of series are available for download from this site, with more being added.

OTR@154.ca (http://otr.154.ca/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=e7838cada6f60d3849fbc4eccf55df56)
Downloads posted here include some newer material, and recordings from the BBC, which still produces many radio dramas and comedies.

Best known for his role in The Mod Squad, he also played the Klingon Kras in the classic Star Trek episode "Friday's Child".

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/06/obit.andrews.ap/index.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0028872/

Saturday morning SF TV was great while I was growing up in the '70s, and Filmation was one of the main production companies. Their library is finally being released on dvd; Space Sentinels and Ark II are already out, and Star Trek animated will be released tomorrow. Coming soon are Space Academy and Jason of Star Command. Some background information can be found here: http://www.andymangels.com/BCI_DVDs.html

A good place to purchase them: http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/

For those interested in or wanting to learn about Star Trek fanzines (magazines by and for fans, containing fan-written stories and commentary), a nice history of the first 20 years of output can be downloaded (or bought) here: http://www.ftlpublications.com/bw.htm

Many Star Trek (and other fandoms) fanzines can be purchased here: http://www.crossovers.net/makeitgoaway/

An interesting Star Trek news site, including news on the remastered classic Star Trek episodes: http://www.trekmovie.com/

I tend to agree with the criticisms of the remastered
episodes at this site: http://www.betafive.com/wordpress/
The space effects, particularly space ships, have been somewhat weak, while other updated effects have been rather good. Fortunately, it looks like they're going to work on improving the space effects shots and will update the episodes already released.

A comparison of effects: http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/bst/article/28135.html

In honor of the near-future dvd release (November 21, 2006) of the animated Star Trek series, two related links for this sadly neglected part of Star Trek history:

The first site which I stumbled onto a number of years ago, and the most comprehensive, is Curt Danhauser's Guide to the Animated Star Trek (http://www.danhausertrek.com/AnimatedSeries/Main.html).

Another extensive site is Star Trek: The Animated Series (http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_main.html). This site has some nice comic books done in the animated Star Trek style, including several crossovers with the internet fan series Starship Exeter.

Kiddie Records Weekly (http://www.kiddierecords.com/) is a treasure trove of old children's records converted to mp3. A three year project, currently in its second year.

Another archive of children's records (http://www.artsreformation.com/records/).

Power Records Plaza ('nuff said) (http://www.powerrecordsplaza.blogspot.com/).

Thriller-type records can be found at Scar Stuff (http://scarstuff.blogspot.com/).

More thriller-type records at Mostly Ghostly Music Sharing Blaaahhhggg!!! (http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/).

Film Projects set in the Next Generation era include:

Star Trek Hidden Frontier: http://www.hiddenfrontier.org/
This is the longest-running Star Trek internet series, currently in its seventh season.

Star Trek Intrepid: http://www.ussintrepid.net/
Produced in Scotland, this promising-looking series is set to release its first episode before the end of 2006.

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/FanFilmProjects/
A Yahoo Group for various fan film projects.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/29/AR2006082901421.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0825010/