Big Dumb Object Comments

The Dumbies 2008 - TV : Don't forget the tape recorder

2008-12-28T10:14:03Z

No space for Merlin, OK, it was a Kids program, but so is Doctor Who.

Bad SF Novel Adaptation : The Running Man : Ender

2008-12-26T19:35:52Z

I couldn't disagree more. The book is ok, I guess. It didn't interest me that much. The film is Schwarzenegger in his heyday. An energetic romp in the hilarious and enjoyable tradition of Total Recall, and a nice satirical mass media gameshow turn from the gameshow host, in the tradition of all sorts of good sci fi. It's like Starship Troopers. The book is a different kettle of fish from the film, but in its own way, taken as media in its own right, rather than measured as an adaptation, the films are rather good.

The 4th Annual Dumbies : David

2008-12-25T22:28:29Z

Battlestar Galactica for best television.

Anathem - Neal Stephenson : Sam

2008-12-24T08:41:38Z

I agree... though to leave it with the suggestion that it isn't as satisfying as The Baroque Cycle is like saying your favourite meal isn't as satisfying as your favourite meal three days in a row! Or something like that... crap analogy, but I'm tired and at work (today of all days). I loved Anathem... the completely different setting, the alternate world and alternate language was all awesome. The ideas he put forward were superb and all made sense come finish. Great book. Definitely one to read again and lives right up there with Baroque and Cryptonomicon for me!

American Surburbia In The Eighties, Science Fiction And Growing Up In The Black Country : David

2008-12-20T11:04:15Z

Yes, and I believe I introduced Shana to this blog via b.rox.com It's almost like all these blogs are on some huge, interconnected . . . WEB! Maybe a Tholian device of some sort.

My Perfect eBook Reader, A Nintendo DS : Neal Asher

2008-12-19T17:59:10Z

Books by John Scalzi, Clive James, Peter F. Hamilton, China Mieville and Neal Asher can now be purchased for the iPhone, as Pan Macmillan partnered with the e-reader company, Lexcycle--becoming one of the largest publishers to step into this new digital realm. The first round of titles are available on the iPhone and iPod Touch using Lexcycle's Stanza application, and the companies expect to add more titles over the next year. In addition, the partnership will allow Stanza readers to sample bestsellers in special excerpts. Sara Lloyd, Digital Director of Pan Macmillan, said her company had studied the market carefully before the partnership. From the press release: "Since the iPhone launched its App Store we have been watching developments closely to see which reading apps became most popular. Lexcycle's Stanza emerged very quickly as a clear leader in its category and so we immediately made contact to ask about developing a strategic partnership to bring our ebooks to readers through this new channel," she explained.

American Surburbia In The Eighties, Science Fiction And Growing Up In The Black Country : Shana

2008-12-16T23:08:55Z

EXCELLENT post! Amazing, I never thought that sci fi made US suburbs look good, but I think you're right, especially in the 80s. I posted a link to your blog from mine, http://scifilessons.wordpress.com cuz I think my readers would love your blog. I do!

American Surburbia In The Eighties, Science Fiction And Growing Up In The Black Country : David

2008-12-15T16:08:43Z

Yes, the magic of Hollywood can make the most banal places seem exotic.

American Surburbia In The Eighties, Science Fiction And Growing Up In The Black Country : James

2008-12-15T10:33:34Z

I can understand now how that could be true, the same thing seems to be happening in the UK now to some extent. However when I was young those US suburbs were so foreign and amazing, most of it the sum of little things: the roads were really wide! There were "malls"! The streets were lined with trees! Teenagers had cars! Everyone had adventures (in the movies)! And so on... In ET I remember being amazed by everyone wandering the streets in costume on Halloween, and then the BMX chase was astonishing (I think BMXs had only just made it to the UK, I definitely didn't have one, so they were objects of lust). That's what I was trying to say, it felt foreign and exciting to me, because of where I grew up. And consequently those films will always be special to me.

My Perfect eBook Reader, A Nintendo DS : James

2008-12-15T10:07:02Z

My problem with the Sony reader is that it's too expensive to justify for myself, especially as I have so many books on my shelf still to read. However if there's a DS already in the house.... :-) I haven't had a hands on go with the Sony reader, I hear the screen is great. Eventually I'm sure ebooks readers will come down in price enough to make them ubiquitous like MP3 players.

My Perfect eBook Reader, A Nintendo DS : Sam

2008-12-15T08:53:05Z

I bought the missus a Sony ebook reader for Christmas and I have to say... it's very very nice indeed. Not sure how I'd get on with a small screen reader like that. I'd sooner not bother, I don't think. It's a bit like the gadget I saw in some eco-shop in Sidmouth last week... made by Trevor Bayliss, it is a wind-up MP3 player. It has a little one inch wide screen and can show pictures and is an ebook reader. Now... who on earth thought that would be a good idea? One inch?! Madness.

American Surburbia In The Eighties, Science Fiction And Growing Up In The Black Country : David

2008-12-14T21:32:15Z

Your take on American suburbia is interesting. Having spent part of my childhood in an American suburb, I found it homogenized, commodified, and soulless. Of the films you mentioned, I think the one that has the most to say about suburbia is "ET." Notice the way they live in a suburb, still under construction, that encroaches on the wilderness.

Dr. BDO's Problem Page : Can You Name This Book? : Jurjan

2008-12-09T13:26:51Z

or: Bob Ham's Overload series (especially book 3: Highway Warriors). My 'knowledge' comes from googling, NOT knowing either the author or the books. enjoy. BTW: thanks for the Dr. BDO series

Dr. BDO's Problem Page : Can You Name This Book? : Darren T

2008-12-09T13:17:28Z

Well, only a guess, but one of the 'Mutant Chronicles' tie-in novelisations, perhaps? Or one of Games Workshop's 'Dark Future' books? Both were post-apocalyptic, mutant road-warrior flavoured, iirc.

BBC to remake The Day of The Triffids : James

2008-12-04T09:13:05Z

Except that: it wasn't made by the BBC, it was a film, and it was a story of pseudo-zombies rather than human killing plants. If your point is that there have been other apocalyptic TV series, well yes, but you can never have too many.

BBC to remake The Day of The Triffids : Steve

2008-12-03T23:39:34Z

I thought they already did a remake of Day of the Triffids ... 28 Days Later?

Heroes versus Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles : Chris K in Indiana

2008-12-02T19:04:40Z

Yes, Yes Yes! You couldn't be more right. Casting Lena Headey was a stroke of genius. She really grounds the show. You can see that she knows she has to lead, but only up to a point. You can always see that her responsibility with respect to John takes an enormous emotional toll. She's partly eager and partly reluctant for John to assume his role. I think Dekker is great too. As a contrast, I keep thinking of Hayden Christensen in Star Wars. He went through the motions but I never felt the menace that was supposed to lingering beneath (i'll blame a lot of that on Lucas though, who shares some of James Cameron's flaws). Obviously John Connor isn't a Vader figure, but that "mad genius" quality that leaders sometimes have is rearing it's head. The character is asserting himself this season, which is just a joy to watch. He's stopped acquiescing As you mention, it's all being rolled out slowly. I should add I was never a huge fan of the movies. They're great entertainment, but apart from the usual time travel paradoxes they don't really set the wheels of your mind turning. The TV show on the other hand is exploring all these issues of trust, fate, and faith more in depth. The movies could only pay these ideas lip service between explosions, but the show is able to dig deeper due to the pacing and (perhaps) also due to the budgetary constraints. I wasn't a big fan of Derek's old flame showing up, and yet another wispy 5'4" femme fatale, but I'm being won over gradually. I've come to trust these writers to give most everything a chance. Heroes does what too many shows do - the characters have been twisted to serve the plot and the whims of the writers, where it should be the other way around. Galactica has done this from Season 2 forward. Another day, another incarnation of Lee Adama.

Heroes versus Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles : James

2008-11-30T12:44:51Z

It's interesting that quite a few people I've talked to have had the same reaction to TSCC, its quality is beginning to win people over.

Heroes versus Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles : Dave T

2008-11-29T21:09:12Z

http://coolstuffandmovies.blogspot.com/2008/11/response-to-heroes-vs-tscc-from-bdo.html

In A Word 26/11/08 : Sam

2008-11-28T10:12:18Z

Awesome book though. Loved every word, even if my left wrist is forever buggered from holding it up in bed at night!