Coming soon? March 2007, maybe? The first episode may be a free download? And a podcast? And you’re thinking of a Logan’s Run show too?
You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
Author: admin
Review of Guardians Of The West by David Eddings
Guardians Of The West (Book #1 of the Malloreon)
By David Eddings; Read by Cameron Beierle
14 CDs , 1 MP3 CD or Cassettes- Aprox. 15 hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Books in Motion
Published: 2006
ISBN: 1596072377 (MP3-CD), 1596072369 (CDs), 1596072350 (Cassettes)
Themes: / Fantasy / Magic / War / Magical Creatures / Wizards / Gods /
Guardians Of The West is the first book in a five book series called the The Malloreon. There’s a previous five volume series, The Belgariad, that takes place in this same fantasy setting. In fact, Guardians Of The West picks up shortly after The Belgariad’s ending. I had never read The Belgariad series, so I had to play catch-up listening to this title.
After a prologue that was obviously written as a refresher to those who had read the previous series, the story gets underway. The tale unfolds slowly enough. The large cast of characters are easy to get to know and are varied and interesting in themselves. There is Errand, a naive child with special gifts. Polgara, who is a motherly near-immortal. And her father, Belgrath, a boozing, womanizer, a real Falstaffian character until things get serious.
The novel’s central characters switches to the young king, Garion, who we find to be having trouble with his new spirited queen, Ce’Nedra. The plot really begins to move when there are hints of a new dark power known only as Zandramas. The pacing remains leisure through the first half of the novel. After the climatic ending to the first series, I suppose Eddings needed to maneuver and reintroduce the cast to his readers and create a new major conflict. This could have been frustrating if wasn’t for Eddings’ gift for dialog and characterization.
This book needed a talented voice actor to carry off the large and varied cast. Sprawling fantasy novels may be the most challenging genre for an actor to convey. Cameron Beierle does it all with unequivocal panache. His very intonations carry enough characterization that Eddings’ descriptions of characters become redundant. He uses many accents that seem entirely appropriate to the characters. Like Harry Potter’s narrator, Jim Dale, he has a seemingly endless repertoire of voices. I’d go so far as to call Cameron Beierle the American Jim Dale.
If you haven’t read or listened to Eddings’ Belgariad series, I’m sure that’s the place to start. The first book in the series is called Pawn of Prophecy and it along with all the books in the two series are available from Books In Motion. And all narrated by Cameron Beierle!
Another University Course on Science Fiction – Political Science 190
Just over a year ago I posted a story about how SF had an influence in the real world. I offered the proof of Courtney Brown Ph.D, he’s an Emory University prof who had offered a Political Science course entitled Science Fiction and Politics (Political Science 190) and that he’d been making the lectures available as a podcast. Well I’m here today to say that Science Fiction STILL HAS an influence in the real world. And further to that I offer the exact same proof. New year, new semester new Science Fiction and Politics (Political Science 190) course!
The spring 2007 semester has already started, but just like last year there’s still no cost to audit.
Here’s the course’s schedule:
Weeks 1 & 2
Theme: Empires I
Featured Author: Isaac Asimov – Foundation, and Foundation And Empire
Week 3
Theme: Empires II
Featured Author: Isaac Asimov – Second Foundation
Week 4
Theme: Information control and the circumvention of revolution
Featured Author: Aldous Huxley
Week 5
Theme: The struggle between collectivism and individualism
Featured Author: Usula K. Le Guin
Week 6
Theme: Genetic engineering and liberty
Featured Author: David Brin
Week 7
Theme: Genetic engineering and evolution
Featured Author: Greg Bear
Week 8
Theme: Children soldiers, genocide, and morality
Featured Author: Orson Scott Card
Week 9
Theme: War and exploitation
Featured Author: Joe Haldeman
Week 10
Theme: Blockades and their circumvention, forced group isolation
Featured Author: Wilson
Week 11
Theme: Ethics in the context of desperation, manipulation, warfare
Featured Author: Isaac Asimov – The Gods Themselves
Week 12
Theme: Mass manipulation and control, corporatist balkanization of government, cyberpunk
Featured Author: William Gibson
Week 13
Theme: Review
You can subscribe to the podcast via this feed:
http://www.courtneybrown.com/classes/scifi/mp3/cb_SciFiPoliticsClass1.xml
Review of Conan The Barbarian Movie Adaptation LP
Conan The Barbarian
Based on the Motion Picture directed by John Milius; Performed by a FULL CAST
33 1/3 RPM LP – Approx. 43 minutes [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Power Records
Published: 1982 (Out Of Print)
Product #: 1134
Themes: / Fantasy / Revenge / Battle / Mythology / Gods / Snakes /
“I was born on the battlefield! The first sounds I
heard were the screams of dying men!”
It took almost a half of century for Robert E. Howard’s legendary thief, warrior, barbarian and eventual King to debut on the silver screen. In the fifty or so years prior to the 1982 theatrical release of Conan The Barbarian, and against all odds, Conan had clutched fate by its throat and demanded success in practically every media it was translated into. Novels, magazines, newspaper syndication and comics, they were all conquered by this sword-wielding barbarian. These conquest continually garnished him a growing legion of loyal followers. So by Conan’s God Crom, it only made sense for Hollywood to be this fantasy character’s next path to tread under his sandaled feet.
Ridley Scott… Oliver Stone… Many talented directors attempted to bring “Conan The Barbarian” to theaters before writer/director John Milius’ inspired script finally got it right and brought the project to fruition. John’s vision, which some critics called “horribly violent” and “sexist”, captured the true lifeblood and essence of the Hyborian Age and all its brutality and sinister ways. Directed on location in Spain for Universal Pictures, it starred world renowned bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan of Cimmeria and Shakespearean actor James Earl Jones as the dreaded snake cult leader Thulsa Doom.
As always, making a motion picture about any character with a large fanbase creates controversy, and Conan The Barbarian was no different. Many fans questioned most of the inexperienced cast and their acting ability. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a world champion bodybuilder. Valeria, played by Sandahl Bergman, was a professional dancer. Even the director’s surfing partner took on the role of Subotai. Overwhelmingly, other than James Earl Jones, the cast was perceived as great lot of physical specimens rather than accomplished actors. Confusion also lingered among purists regarding Milius’ choice to retell Conan’s origin, which somewhat contrasted with the purist understanding of the barbarian’s earlier years. But other fans defended the retelling, arguing that creator Robert E. Howard never truly fleshed out Conan’s childhood, only briefly touched upon it. Moreover, they were quite pleased that Milius honored the legacy of Conan by sampling script ideas from many of Conan’s original tales like “The Tower of the Elephant” and “The Thing in the Crypt”.
Whichever side fans took, most couldn’t help not to revel in the sure beauty of the film… especially its Fantasy panting-like cinematography, awe inspiring original score and its seriousness in tone (something sorely missing in the later and utterly inferior sequel.) So, like all forms of media before it, the film Conan The Barbarian was a success and is now considered a classic among fans of the sword & sorcery genre. Conan was once again triumphant.
That same year, Power Records released the story of “Conan The Barbarian” which was surprisingly good among movie adaptation albums of its time. Known more for creating stories for adolescents, it was really quite astonishing to see Power Records adapt a “R” rated film, gloriously filled with masses of graphic violence, explicit nudity and even an orgy! The adaptation did exclude the “worst” parts of the film of course, but most mothers I know would balk upon their children listening to lines like “The last image I saw was my parent’s heads on a pair of Vanir pikes!” This adaptation was obviously made for young adults.
A whole new cast of actors were used, and the actors chosen for Conan, Subotai and The Wizard were an excellent choice. Conan is more intelligent than he appeared in the film, in the vein of the original Robert E. Howard writings. Actually, the original film script called for Conan to have more dialogue and narrate his own story rather than Mako’s ‘The Wizard’ doing the chronicling. But due to Schwarzenegger’s thick accent, much of Conan’s lines were trimmed down and/or removed in trade of Arnold’s powerful visual presence, which is where a problem lies. I actually had trouble appreciating this adaptation at first. Being a great fan of the film, I had the original actor’s voices and their dialogue (or Conan’s lack thereof) imprinted in my mind so deeply, it was hard to listen with a fresh perspective. Challenging yourself to give it a second “go around” is where the reward lies!
Conan narrating his tale is not the only difference between the adaptation and the actual film. Though fans of the film will be pleased to know that practically all of the story differences you hear were actually in the original John Milius script, before they were edited for various creative and/or monetary reasons. Some differences are subtle, like Thulsa Doom’s high priests are named Yaro and Rexor (rather than the familiar Rexor and Thorgrim). Others are larger events, like when Conan and Subotai enter the cities of Zamora looking to plunder the riches of the snake tower. While traveling through the filthy city of Shadizar, the script & adaptation details an extra scene of Conan and Subotai witnessing a snake cult procession moving through the streets. This is where Conan first hears the cursed chant of his nemesis Thulsa Doom since his parent slaying so long ago. He also gets his first glance of the haunting Princess he would later steal for King Osric, as she calls out to Conan from her platform, commanding him to “throw down his sword” in the name of Set. It’s a great scene.
My only gripe with the record adaptation is I wish it featured the film’s original score. While the orchestration Power Records uses is vast and surprisingly well done, it’s hard to stand against the classic work of composer Basil Poledouris. Though, with their excellent cast and matching production values, this can be easily overlooked. Especially when listening to the “new” dialog and scenes ultimately left on the cutting room floor. As a fan of all things Conan and especially the films, it creates quite a thrill and leaves you slightly imagining… what might have been.
BBC 7 has 2 weeks of ALL NEW Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Stories
BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension has a specially commissioned anthology show starting on Monday. Blood Lines is a “dark and gripping collection of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror readings that showcases new and emerging short story writers.” To launch the series, a brand new story will lead off the series, written especially for BBC 7’s The 7th Dimension by award-winning author, Susanna Clarke! During this series’ two week run, you can listen for “intriguing conversations with mythical beasts; haunting tales of lost souls; dystopian visions of a future that’s just around the corner and demonic goings-on in internet chat rooms.” Blood Lines is being broadcast on BBC7 in the 7th Dimension slot between Monday 26th February – Friday 9th March, 2007 at 18:30 (repeated at 12:30am).
Programmes become available online from the first date of transmission. And should be available via the “Listen Again” service for 6 days following each broadcast. Here are the episode details:
WEEK ONE:
The Dweller In High Places
By Susanna Clarke; Read by Georgina Hagen
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: February 26th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
Across the water, the Napoleonic Wars rage but a young girl discovers a danger much closer to home when she encounters a mysterious visitor from Ancient Greece who has taken up residence in the attic of her London boarding school.
Ghost In The Mechanic
By Sarah Dobbs; Read by Clare Lawrence
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: February 27th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
A tragic accident atop Cherrybrook Hill leaves car-mechanic, Mickey-Joe, devastated. Unable to face up to his guilt he retreats into a world of rituals and habits as a way of keeping his emotions in check. When his dog dies during a dust storm, the memories come flooding back and Mickey-Joe finally goes to meet the ghost that calls out to him from the top of Cherrybrook Hill.
ID
By Phil Emery; Read by Sam Dale
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: February 28th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
Terror grips a man as he regains consciousness and discovers he’s lost his identity card. He’s lying in a deserted alleyway in the middle of a city with no memory of who he is. His only clue is a name and address on a scrap of paper in his pocket. He sets out to find this person, all the time, consumed by a fear that unless he tracks down his card, his very life is in danger.
Conviction
By Kate Scott; Read by Anthony Glennon
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 1st 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
The UK in the near future. The population is divided into the privileged that live in a sanitised “perfect” environment and the workers who live in polluted shanty towns, performing the menial jobs that sustain the lifestyles of the privileged. A runner, uneasy about his so-called “perfect” existence, likes to escape from his world and each day run through these off-limit shanty towns. When, on his run, he encounters a young boy scarred from polluted water, he’s forced to confront what is wrong with his way of life.
Expecting
By Catherine Mant; Read by Emma Noakes
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 2nd 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
Pregnant and abandoned by her boyfriend, a young woman moves into a semi-derelict Georgian house in Whitechapel to housesit for friends. She starts hearing running feet and a baby crying and becomes obsessed with finding out whether in the past, a baby has died in the house. All she can think about is finding a way to stop the crying. Out of desperation, she triggers off a series of events that puts her own baby at risk.
WEEK TWO
Cthul-You
By Damien G. Walter; Read by Adam Sims
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 5th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
An occultist signs up to the website “Cthul-You” in the hope of meeting like-minded people. This is a demonic version of “My Space” where instead of attracting fellow humans, the desired outcome is to attract demons. Just who exactly is “Mark” who answers this lonely occultist’s call and what plans does he have for his new devotee?
The Quick and The Dead
By Nick Moulton; Read by Christine Kavanagh
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 6th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
The setting is Victorian London and a scientist has just discovered how to keep death at bay. The dead are brought to the Asylum of The Deceased where they are resurrected. An illicit romance begins to blossom between one of the new inmates and a young doctor. The plight of being brought back to life and forced to live in limbo is explored in all its complexity.
Elegy Underground
By Fiona McFarlane; Read by Bethan Walker
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 7th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
Angels arrive on Earth with an important message to impart, only to find that no-one knows who they are and what they represent. The world is greatly changed and humankind’s collective memory is failing. Death is no longer officially recognised, forcing it to go underground – travelling cemeteries arrive in the middle of the night to take away the dead and a thriving market in illegal elegy smuggling has emerged. Lachrimae Bird, circus performer and chief elegy writer, is the only one to remember angels and she wonders why they have chosen to make their presence felt now.
A Lasting Impression
By Alexandra Bayliss; Read by Rachel Bavidge
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 8th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
In a last ditched attempt to save their relationship a young woman persuades her boyfriend to come on holiday with her to Canada. Things get off to a bad start – they have a terrible row as soon as they book into the hotel. He storms off and she is left to contemplate her disastrous love life. Suddenly the ghostly apparition of a woman with half a face missing appears in the room. She has a chilling message for the young tourist.
Father’s Day
By Ian Dudley; Read by Jasmine Callan
1 Broadcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7’s The Seventh Dimension
Broadcast: March 9th 2007 @ 18:30 and repeated at 12:30am (UK time)
The UK in the near future. This is a forbidding place where individuality is frowned upon and in extreme cases punished. Following the death of her mother, a young woman becomes estranged from her father. He unquestioningly embraces the new world order, whereas she remains stubbornly defiant, only just living on the right side of the law. He even undergoes a medical procedure to cut her out of his life. The daughter comes home one night to be greeted by a sinister official calling himself “Truth”. It would seem any hope of reconciliation between father and daughter is fading fast.
eBay lot of 17 Vintage Science Fiction LPs
eBay seller “jerryweist” has a very impressive auction of vintage Science Fiction vinyl LPs up as a lot. He’s estimated that the collection of seventeen mid-1970s to early-1980s SF records will sell for between $100 and $200, but right now it has only been bid up to $40.09. If you love vintage Science Fiction audio, you should definitely have a peek before the auction ends:
–Heretics Of Dune – Chapters I and II
By Frank Herbert; Read by Frank Herbert
1984 (unopened)–The Truths Of Dune “Fear Is The Mind Killer”
By Frank Herbert; Read by Frank Herbert
1979 (unopened)–Dune: The Banquet Scene
By Frank Herbert; Read by Frank Herbert
1977–Sandworms Of Dune
By Frank Herbert; Read by Frank Herbert
1978–The Battles Of Dune
By Frank Herbert; Read by Frank Herbert
1979–The Dragonriders Of Pern: The White Dragon
By Anne McCaffery
1978 (unopened)–Robert E. Howard
1975–Burgess Meredith Reads Ray Bradbury
–Robert Silverberg Reads To See The Invisible Man and Passengers
1979–The Mayors from Foundation
by ISAAC ASIMOV
1977 (unopened)–Isaac Asimov – Nightfall
1976 (unopened)–Yonder: Seven Tales of the Space Age
By Poul Anderson
1980 (unopened)–Survival Ship and The Shrine Of Temptation
By Judith Merril 1978 (unopened)–Mimsey Were The Borogoves
By Henry Kuttner; Read by William Shatner
1976–Gwilan’s Harp and Intercom
By Ursula K. Le Guin
1977–City
By Clifford D. Simak
1980–Dying Inside
By Robert Silverberg
1979
Check out these scans:
