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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 105
Our Interview With Aaron Rosenberg
from Crazy 8 Press and The Scattered Earth Saga
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The SciFi Diner Podcast
Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,
Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com
or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.
Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles
Welcome to the Diner.
If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at https://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching!
The Music at the end of the episode is from Aeon Flux. You can find it here. Live long and podcast!
Tonight’s Menu:
* An Interview with Aaron Rosenberg from Crazy 8 Press and the Scattered Earth Saga
* New Trivia
* Fringe Teasers
* The Fall Line-Up of SciFi TV
* Harry Potter Rocks the Theaters
* Superman Reborn
* Batman: Year One
* This week in Trek
* J.P. Harvey brings us his top 5 shows he watched when he was a kid in the SciFi Five in Five
Trivia:
Promos
Aaron Rosenberg
AARON ROSENBERG doesn’t limit himself to one media or genre. He’s written novels (including the PsiPhi winner Collective Hindsight for Star Trek: SCE, the Daemon Gates trilogy for Warhammer, Tides of Darkness and (with Christie Golden) the Scribe-nominated Beyond the Dark Portal for WarCraft, Hunt and Run for Stargate: Atlantis, and the upcoming Substitution Method for Eureka), children’s books (including an original series, Pete and Penny’s Pizza Puzzles, and work for PowerPuff Girls and Transformers Animated), roleplaying games (including original games like Asylum and Spookshow, the Origins Award-winning Gamemastering Secrets, and sections of The Supernatural Roleplaying Game, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and The Deryni Roleplaying Game), young adult novels (including the Scribe-nominated Bandslam: The Novel and books for iCarly and Ben10), short stories, webcomics, essays, and educational books. He has ranged from mystery to speculative fiction to drama to comedy, always with the same intent–to tell a good story. You can visit him online at gryphonrose.com or follow him on Twitter at gryphonrose.
The Birth of the Dread Remora
Nathaniel Demming is a midshipman aboard the HMES Remora, the very first ship to go beyond their world’s waters and out into the ether. He and the rest of the crew are ready for adventure, eager to explore the unknown and chart a new course for the rest of their world to follow. But what they find out there will change their lives, and their perspective, forever. The ether is not empty at all, but teeming with life–including vicious marauders waiting to prey upon the hapless Remora. Can Demming help his friends and fellow officers through the crises that await? Can they survive the dangers all around them? And can he convince them to transform their ship and themselves into the antithesis of everything they trained for, while still holding true to everything they believe in? Birth of the Dread Remora is the first tale of the epic Scattered Earth saga, and the first in a series of swashbuckling adventures about the space-pirate ship the Dread Remora!
Crazy 8 Press
ABOUT CRAZY 8 PRESS
Crazy 8 Press, the new internet-based publishing venture, has unveiled plans to sell original novels and short stories by established authors directly to their readers. Crazy 8 Press will initially offer new titles on a bimonthly basis, with an increased publication pace to follow.
Crazy 8’s founders are veteran science fiction/fantasy authors Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman, Aaron Rosenberg, and Howard Weinstein. Together they have written hundreds of books and comics over the past 30 years, with combined sales of more than 15 million copies.
TV News:
1st Fringe season 4 trailer teases the future of Peter Bishop
Fall SciFi Show Dates
The five networks have announced their fall TV schedules, and so we’ve put together a list of the sci-fi, fantasy and weird mystery shows that might be sci-fi and spy-fi shows. We also threw in a couple of cable shows, just because we had premiere info.
Here’s our list of fall TV shows by premiere date. New series are in bold:
Death Valley (MTV) — Series premieres Monday, Aug. 29, at 10:30 p.m.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW) — Season three premieres Thursday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m.
The Secret Circle (The CW) — Series premieres Thursday, Sept. 15, at 9 p.m.
The Big Bang Theory (NBC) — Season five premieres Thursday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m.
Person of Interest (CBS) — Series premieres Thursday, Sept. 22, at 9 p.m.
A Gifted Man (CBS) — Series premieres Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.
Nikita (The CW) — Season two premieres Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.
Fringe (Fox) — Season four premieres Friday, Sept. 23, at 9 p.m.
Supernatural (The CW) — Season seven premieres Friday, Sept. 23, at 9 p.m.
Terra Nova (Fox) — Series premiere Monday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.
The Walking Dead (AMC) — Season two premieres in October
Bedlam (BBC America) — Series premieres Saturday, Oct. 8, at 9 p.m.
Chuck (NBC) — Season five premieres Friday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m.
Grimm (NBC) — Series premieres Friday, Oct. 21, at 9 p.m.
Once Upon a Time (ABC) — Series premieres Sunday, Oct 23, at 8 p.m.
Alcatraz (Fox) — Series premieres in midseason on Mondays at 9 p.m.
The River (ABC) — Series premieres in midseason
Touch (Fox) — Series premieres in midseason
Awake (NBC) — Series premieres in midseason
Movie News
‘Deathly Hallows’ Breaks Domestic, International Records http://bit.ly/mVWmpU
Comics News:
DC’s changes to Superman will be even bigger than we thought
Information has been slowly trickling in from DC about its new 52-issue relaunch. Today we recieved some major news about the Man of Steel himself—Superman. Let’s talk about what’s happening … and what it means.Action Comics, where Superman made his first appearance, now written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Rags Morales, will tackle his new origin, explaining how our hero becomes America’s greatest champion. How different will it be? Take a look at the press release and see for yourself:
“This Superman is very much an alien, one struggling to adjust to his adopted home. In the series, he must come to terms with both the loss of his home world, as well as the loss of both of his adopted parents. He is more Kal-El from the planet Krypton than Clark Kent from Kansas. He’s a loner trying to find his place in the world.”
For our money, these shifts make for a radically different character. Gone is the boy who grew up feeling the tug of human roots, and instead we have a man who has lost both his birth and adoptive parents. That’s the kind of angsty backstory that could give two Batmen a run for their money.
What this means, from a reader’s perspective, is that we’re switching from a character who starts out connected with humanity (and thus with us) to a character whose narrative plays out slowly through his disconnection from us. Rather than beginning with a desire to protect the people around him, he must adapt to that world and develop a reason to care for humanity.
He’s still identifiable. After all, who hasn’t looked at his fellow man from time to time and felt a complete disconnect? We struggle to understand each other every day, and this new Superman origin looks to be attempting to tell that story.
There’s a little more info on what to expect from the new Action Comics:
“The series’ first storyline will explore the origins of Superman’s costume, as it evolves from a look that includes jeans and work boots to a new look: a suit of battle armor that pays tribute to his Kryptonian past.His great powers have limits. When the series begins, Superman can leap tall buildings, but his ability to fly is in its infancy.”
The idea of an evolving costume has potential. What Superman wears while he’s flying around and saving the world says nearly as much about the action he takes. This isn’t the first time Superman hasn’t been able to fly. In particular, this may be an attempt to pull in fans of the recently completed Smallville TV series. Narratively speaking, it simply means that our hero has a long way to grow before he becomes anything like the Superman we’ve come to respect.
It’s not all origin stories, though. We’ll also be reading a present-day story written by George Perez and drawn by Jesus Merino with the ongoing comic Superman. Here’s a little background on that one:
“Clark Kent is single and living on his own. He has never been married. Lois Lane is dating a colleague at the DAILY PLANET (and his name isn’t Clark Kent) and she has a new position with the paper.”
That confirms the long-held suspicion that Clark and Lois would not be the immediate love story. That gives the writers an opportunity to grow both characters separately. It also means we may see Superman locking lips with a certain Themysciran who is into lassos. Or maybe it’s just more fodder for Clark to brood over. Only time will tell.
What do you make of these changes? Well you read the tales of the New Man of Tomorrow?
DVD News:
Full Specs for Batman: Year One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi7WgM_IWMI&feature=related
Warner Home Video has released the full specs for Batman: Year One, coming to Blu-ray
and DVD on October 18. They are followed by the cover and the previously-released trailer:Comics legend Frank Miller’s classic retelling of Batman’s gritty, formative days makes its full-length animated debut in Batman: Year One, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives October 18, 2011 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Download. Order due date is September 13, 2011.Batman: Year One is based on the landmark 1987 DC Comics titles from 12-time Eisner Award winner Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli. The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City in his first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante. The playboy billionaire chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham.Primetime television stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) provide the core voices for Batman: Year One. Three-time Emmy® Award winner Cranston gives voice to young Jim Gordon, while McKenzie makes his animated voiceover debut as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Fanboy favorites Dushku and Sackhoff fill the roles of Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Detective Sarah Essen, respectively. Alex Rocco (The Godfather) is the voice of crime lord Carmine Falcone.Animation master Bruce Timm is executive producer of Batman: Year One. Directors are Lauren Montgomery (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) and Sam Liu (All-Star Superman) from a script penned by Academy Award® nominee Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse).
“Batman: Year One offers fans and newcomers alike an animated perspective on one of the true benchmark works in Batman comics history,” said Hersin Magante, Warner Home Video Marketing Manager, Family &, Animation.. “Bruce Timm and the Warner Bros. Animation team have gone to great lengths to realize Frank Miller’s ground-breaking, influential vision. Batman: Year One stands tall as the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie.”
Batman: Year One Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has almost 3 hours of exciting content, including:
• Feature film
• Sneak Peek at Justice League: Doom, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
• DC Showcase Animated Original Short – “Catwoman”: This all-new entry to the growing canon of DC Universe animated shorts features the first first solo tale centered around Catwoman. The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Catwoman is voiced by Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Tru Calling).
• Featurette –“Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots”: “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman’s life. Frank Miller’s next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary uncovers the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.
• Featurette –“Conversations with DC Comics”: The Batman creative team at DC Entertainment discusses the personal influence of “Batman: Year One” on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors and artists of the Batman lore, focusing their dialogue on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli
• Audio Commentary with Alan Burnett, Sam Liu, Mike Carlin and Andrea Romano
• “Batman: Year One, Chapter 1” Digital Comic Book
• Two bonus episodes from “Batman: The Animated Series,” handpicked by Bruce Timm
• Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
• Digital copy on disc of the feature film compatible with iTunes and Windows
BASICS
Street Date: October 18, 2011
Order Due Date: September 13, 2011
Languages: English and Spanish
Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo
Color / Closed Captioned
MPAA Rating: PG
Batman: Year One
Blu-ray Combo Pack – $24.98 SRP
SD 1 Disc – $19.98 SRP
BD Combo Pack UPC: 1000165432 / 883929153602
1-DiscUPC: 1000165430 / 883929153589
Read more: Full Specs for Batman: Year One – ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=79783#ixzz1SfnmRHav
The TWIST:
Rumor: Chris Pine In Consideration As New RoboCop? July 12, 2011
by TrekMovie.com Staff
It has almost become a Hollywood cliche that whenever a major project is in development, Star Trek star Chris Pine’s name ends up being reportedly attached. The latest project reportedly looking at Pine is MGM’s reboot of RoboCop. More info below.
Chris Pine as new RoboCop?
For the last few years MGM has been developing a reboot/remake of RoboCop, Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 cult classic about a Detroit cop turned cyborg. The new RoboCop is currently being written with Jose Padiha tapped to direct. A number of actors have been said to be under consideration to star, including Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp. All were more in line in age with Peter Weller when he originally played Officer Alex Murphay/RoboCop. Now a new report at Twitch says that MGM is interested in a younger actor to take on the role, with Star Trek’s Chris Pine (who is 30) at the top of their list.
Chris Pine is already taking on two major franchise recastings, as Star Trek’s James T. Kirk and as the new Jack Ryan from the next Tom Clancy movie. Pine is expected to be spending much of the next year playing Kirk and Ryan for Paramount so it isn’t clear if he would even be available to MGM for RoboCop. And while MGM may be interested in Pine, it isn’t clear if Pine would be interested in taking on yet another action-film franchise role.
Peter Weller (L) in original RoboCop (1987) – Could Chris Pine step into is cybernetic boots?
Chris will next be seen in the the action comedy This Means War, where he battles with Tom Hardy (Shinzon of Star Trek Nemesis) over the affections of Reese Witherspoon, as well as Welcome to People, a family drama written by Star Trek scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and directed by Kurtzman. Both films have wrapped production and will be released in early 2012.
The Captains Screening Feat. William Shatner In NY & LA; With Costume Contests & A Chance To Meet The Man Himself
As all of you probably know by now, William Shatner’s The Captains documentary is set to premiere on EPIX July 22nd. In fact, we have a special contest were you can win The Captains schwag and be a part of Trek fandom history. Aside from that, there are two special events set for July 25th & 30th that include The Shat, Trek costuming (or cosplay as the kids call it), and a whole bunch of dead celebrities. Okay, okay, so maybe that last part seems morbid, but it’s not, we swear. Oh, and best of all, it’s FREE.
On July 25th, EPIX will be holding a special screening of The Captains at the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park in Los Angeles that includes a showing of the doc (of course) with an in person appearance and introduction by Shatner, himself, plus a Trek costume contest with the lucky winner getting a chance to hang with the original James Tiberius Kirk. So be sure to show up in your best Landru, Mugatu, or even Nomad costume to win the special meet and greet with The Big Man.
For those who don’t know; the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park is the final resting place to more of Hollywood’s founders and stars than anywhere else on earth. Founded in 1899, the cemetery was an integral part of the growth of early Hollywood. Paramount Studios was built on the back half of the original Hollywood Cemetery, where the studio is still in operation today. The cemetery of choice for most of the founders of Hollywood’s great studios, as well as writers, directors, and, performers, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Visitors come from all over the world to pay respects Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and hundreds more of Hollywood’s greatest stars. (source hollywoodforever.com)
Later in the week, all East Coast Trek fans will get the same opportunity at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum in New York City. Be sure to check out all of the pertinent details below.
The Captains LA Screening:
Monday, July 25
Hollywood Forever Memorial Park.
Doors open at 7pm.
www.epixhd.com/the-captains-la-screening
The Captains NY Screening:
Saturday, July 30
The Intrepid Air & Space Museum.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
www.epixhd.com/the-captains-ny-screening
Leonard Nimoy Makes It Official: Retiring After Just 3 More Conventions [UPDATED] July 20, 2011
by TrekMovie.com Staff
Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy has been talking about (and dipping in and out) of retirement for the last couple of years, but today he made it official that he will retire from convention appearances after two more official Star Trek cons (Las Vegas in August and Chicago in October). More details below. [UPDATE: Nimoy also slated for Dragon*Con]
Please consider supporting our friend Mary the Televixen in her quest to be the new Dr. Dehner in the new Star Trek movie.
SciFi Five in Five –
JP Harvey – My Five Favorite SciFi TV Shows from Childhood:
1. Star Trek
2. Space 1999
3. UFO
4. The Prisoner
5. Ark II