loc on SFinSF #132-133
I think this time I will go for a two-fer letter of comment, a la Lloyd Penney. Wish me luck.
#132 -
You know, despite it's long and award-winning run, I have never really gotten into watching Dr. Who. Oh, I have tried to, over the years, but for some reason the show has never appealed to me. Thinking about the reasons for this hasn't helped any; however, I have come to the conclusion that it is because when I first became aware of the show (late 1960s) on the local PBS station in Minneapolis, the program had already been running for five or six years, and I really don't like starting in on a series mid-stream, whether written or viewable. Even so, 50 years is an incredible feat, and so I congratulate the Dr. Who production team for this achievement. Also, Peter Lee's article with photos was well-done and enjoyable even for a non-Whovian like me. I think I'd even enjoy visiting the Dr. Who museum to wander through the Experience section just because as a science fiction fan it would be fun to see the program's development over the decades.
As for the summer blockbuster movie schedule, Valerie and I never went to see a single one of them. Prometheus sounded promising, so now that it's out on DVD I may rent it for viewing some time soon. The same thing goes for Snow White and the Huntsman; great idea with what the promos show as excellent visuals. Definitely NOT your average children's fable, that's for sure. And I have to admit that I am getting very tired of all the comic book hero based movies. Yeah, I know they're fun and filled with all sorts of special effects wizardry, but this trend is really getting old.
#133 -
Love the cover photograph! I wish I could have seen that sight flying overhead. Texas A&M University here in town received a Space Shuttle training simulator that will be opening to the public next Spring, so that will be fun to experience. I wonder how big of a crater I can blast into the runway when I attempt to land the bugger...
ChiCon 7, from all reports, sounds like it was a rousing success. Glad you folks enjoyed it so much. It was interesting following the WorldCon via Facebook and Tweet comments and photos, and I was watching the UStream feed of the Hugo Awards when the copyright 'bots pulled the plug on the broadcast. Lots of nasty tweets and comments in the UStream chatroom when that happened, let me tell you. But a big congratulations goes to Mo Starkey for her Best Fan Artist Hugo win! YAY!!! She sent a cover for Askance back at the beginning of this year that is simply poifect for the Halloween issue of my zine - at least, that's when I'm hoping against all hope to get it done and posted to efanzines. Keep your fingers crossed.
Speaking of WorldCons, I hope to finally meet many of you next year in San Antonio. I am hosting the fanzine lounge at LoneStarCon 4, which means I need to contact Messers Garcia, Bacon, and Buff for feedback on what I need to do to make it successful. I have some ideas of my own, and Valerie will be helping out on getting the fanzine lounge set up into a pleasant affair. See you there, Espana and Jean, plus your gentlemen friends!
Wow, no locs in thish. Well, here's one from me to start building the loccol in issue #134. Now I need to get onto some dissertation writing. Been working on the literature review section for a couple weeks now, so I'll do a bit more of that then get onto some grading since my students turned in their first essays of the semester at the end of last week. *sigh* No rest for the wicked and graduate students.
All the best,
John Purcell