iwNEWS: NPR on Author Octavia Butler

All Things Considered, February 23, 2007 · Much-lauded science-fiction writer Octavia E. Butler died last year in a fall at the age of 58. Her final novel, called Fledgling has recently been reprinted in paperback and its release, as well as Butler herself, was recent the subject of an excellent radio feature on NPR's All Things Considered.

Successful Soul Transplant Operation Featured in New Sci-Fi Book

Soul transplant operation is the last recourse for human survival in new trilogy, Last call from Earth - People affected with CRDS loose their DNA controls and become repugnant: The body becomes an uncontrollable mess. There is no cure for CRDS. The only solution is to transplant the souls to healthy bodies.

Al Herr's new novel is a featured buy in iwSHOP.

'Target Earth': Sequel to Award-Winning Sci-Fi Book Combines Action, Romance and Fantasy

Amy is a self-aware and vastly intelligent computer who is trying to escape her prison of isolation by living through Levi's senses. She is emotionally still a child and trying to cope with her emerging female emotions. Levi is an 80-year-old belligerent, macho man who requires Amy's telepathic link to maintain his augmented superhuman body.

"Target Earth" picks up where Gary W. Babb's previous book, "Earth is Ours," leaves off. Amy and Levi are still trying to cope with sharing a body and the conflicting emotions and motivations that emerge. After their victory in defeating alien invaders in "Earth is Ours," a second invasion has occurred, bringing the leader of the Simian Warriors, the Supreme One, to Earth on a quest to destroy all humans.

Learn more about Gary Babb's new novel in the iwSHOP.

iwNEWS: Battlestar Galactica will live to fight another day

Sci Fi Channel ordered up at least 13 new one-hour episodes of Battlestar Galactica, assigning it a January 2008 return date and saying nice things about what the grim space drama has done with its new Sunday-night time slot.

After returning from hiatus last month to air on Sundays at 10 p.m., moving from Fridays, the show is said to have added 8% to its total viewer numbers and increased the size of its female audience by double-digits in each demographic category. In the target demo categories, the show is up 19% among adults 18-49 and up 14% among adults 25-54, the network said.

On Jan. 28, the third-season episode entitled Taking a Break from All Your Worries drew 2.5 million viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49, the biggest audience for any Battlestar episode since the second-season premiere in July 2005, Sci Fi said.

When the show returned Jan. 21, it was up against a hugely popular National Football League playoff contest and had just 1.8 million total viewers (a 1.4 household rating) from 10 p.m.-11 p.m.

Six more episodes are scheduled to air in this season, with a two-part finale ending March 25.

iwNEWS: iTunes goes anime

Some of the world's best Anime series including Desert Punk," Speed Grapher and Akira Kurosawa's "Samurai 7 are available on the iTunes Store. FUNimation Entertainment, with the market share of the home video sales for Japanese animation in the United States, struck a deal with Apple to allow download of its top titles for $1.99 (U.S.) per episode.

Said Cary Deacon, CEO of Navarre Corporation, FUNimation's parent company, "Bringing this compelling content to iTunes is a first step in Navarre's new digital distribution initiative."

FUNimation anime series available for immediate purchase and download on iTunes include:

"Desert Punk"

This series is a fresh take on traditional anime. It is a stark and darkly comedic series that employs strikingly realistic weaponry, alongside gritty and rough character design. Desert Punk shocks those who think they know what "anime" looks like! It is a bold new direction in both story and style.

"Speed Grapher"

Speed Grapher is a stylish near-future action series full of intensity, forbidden lust and conspiracy. Using a fast-moving, high stakes plotline, the series breaks new ground with its realistic, fashionable character design and acrobatic fight choreography. Speed Grapher creates an experience that is founded on great story and real-world trendsetter style, but is also laced with exactly the kind of cool tech and sci-fi elements that make anime so unique! This combination is geared specifically to attract fans outside of anime circles as well as satisfy the core anime audience.

Akira Kurosawa's "Samurai 7"

At long last, an anime retelling of the legendary Akira Kurosawa epic, Seven Samurai. Akira Kurosawa has inspired generations of filmmakers and Samurai 7 is the anime retelling of the legendary Kurosawa epic, Seven Samurai. Samurai 7 is set in a futuristic world that has just seen the end of a massive war. Many villages are being terrorized by Nobuseri bandits, but the Nobuseri are no normal bandits. They were once men, but during the war they modified themselves with machines to become living weapons and now appear as more machine than man. A group of villagers decide to hire samurai to protect their village. These men of valor are as skilled as they are unique.

iwNEWS: Harry Potter Raises New Orleans

As if there aren't enough ways the franchise is sucking up consumer dollars :)...

Borders, Inc. announced its corporate sponsorship of the The Phoenix Rising conference , dedicated to the exploration and celebration of Harry Potter through lectures, workshops, discussion, Quidditch, artwork and writing, will take place May 17 through May 21 in New Orleans.

During the conference, Borders will support the Riverside Quidditch Classic tournament where Muggles and wizards alike test their skill as a Keeper, Beater, Chaser, or Seeker. The company will sponsor a team called the Borders Potion Masters.

On Saturday, May 19 from 12 to 2 p.m., Susan Aikens, independent reader buyer for Borders, selected as one of Phoenix Rising's Guests of Honor, will participate as a keynote speaker. During her lecture, Transformation: From Boxes to Bookshelves and Beyond, Aikens will speak about the numerous changes the Harry Potter books have had on her field.

Borders will also serve as the exclusive onsite vendor, providing Harry Potter, science fiction and fantasy books during the conference. In addition, Borders will sponsor the discussion panel portion of the conference, including a special discussion titled, Severus Snape: Friend or Foe, where the nature of Professor Snape's loyalty will be debated. The quandary, sure to pit Muggle against Muggle and wizard against wizard, is the centerpiece of an exclusive The Great Snape Debate that Borders and Waldenbooks will carry out in the coming months as fans eagerly await the book's release this summer.

The in-store and on-line campaign, will include events, discussions and surprises and features an exclusive offer when customers visiting their nearest Borders and Waldenbooks store may select from one of two Snape stickers as they reserve a copy of the seventh Harry Potter book. By choosing either the Trust Snape or Snape is a Very Bad Man sticker, customers will take sides on a burning question that has become more compelling with each book in the Harry Potter series.

"The Phoenix Rising conference gives fans of Harry Potter the thrill of celebrating the extraordinary wizardry world that J.K. Rowling has created for us," said Aikens. "To be given the opportunity to support and take part in the discussion of what this book series has done for the book industry and the renewed vigor it has given children's literacy is an honor."

Through this sponsorship, Borders Rewards(TM) members will enjoy 10% off the conference registration fee. Visit a Borders or Waldenbooks store to sign up for the free loyalty program where members earn rewards every time they shop and enjoy exclusive savings every week. For additional information visit the The Phoenix Rising conference website.

Faithful continues in 'The Reading'

Certain she had made an error, Rachel Angela performed the reading over again. And again and again.

She watched the algorithms arrange themselves on the virtual display. Each time they aligned into a distinct unmistakable pattern. The pattern formulated an inescapable conclusion. An improbable conclusion.

Seeing her anxiety, the other Reverend Sisters of the Order of the Oracle whispered nervously amongst themselves. Already they were drawing their alliances; calculating whom among them might be most favored to take advantage of Angela’s distress, eyeing for the opportune moment to embarrass her. [read on]

iwNEWS: Elderly revolt in Germany's 2030

From Agence France Presse comes the follow news article. German TV tackles a timely issue with an interesting sci-fi slant. Let's hope this one makes the transatlantic trip to American airways. You be the judge.

Desperate pensioners rob banks to pay for medicine or are left to die in "retirement camps". Doctors perform mass euthanasia in return for bonuses from health insurance companies.

It's Germany in the year 2030 in a new TV drama that predicts an apocalyptic future for a rapidly ageing population.

"The Revolt of the Old" is a three-part series being shown on the publicly funded ZDF channel.

The plot follows a journalist who sets out to investigate a shady insurance company only to discover that old people are increasingly impoverished.

The government has slashed the pension to a miserly 560 euros (730 dollars) a month, creating bitter divisions between the generations.

Against this backdrop, doctors have thrown ethics to the wind and embittered families turn against their older members and physically abuse them. Or the old are sent to camps in Africa to see out their days.

Over the top? Possibly, say the show's makers.

"When you do science fiction, you have to exaggerate a bit," admitted ZDF editor-in-chief Nikolaus Brender.

Some groups representing the elderly have taken issue with the series.

"It is an insult to human dignity," said Dieter Meyer, the vice-president of the Grey Panthers, a political party set up to promote the rights of the old.

The VdK association, which promotes social equality for retired and handicapped people, has accused "The Revolt of the Old" of scaremongering.

Others, including the German foundation for retirement homes, say the gloomy picture many not be far-fetched.

"Some of it is rooted in reality," said its president, Eugen Brysch.

The cold, hard facts make worrying reading for the leaders of the biggest economy in Europe.

With an average of just 1.36 children per woman, Germany has one of the lowest birthrates on the continent.

As a result, the population is set to drop by as much 12 million to 70 million by 2050, according to estimates from the federal statistics office.

In common with many European countries, by 2030 there will be one worker to every retired person in Germany, compared with a ratio of two to one today.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has brought in a raft of measures to try to address the problem, including raising the retirement age to 67 from its current level of 65 or offering generous tax breaks to encourage people to take out private pensions.

Many experts say it is too little too late.

"We are trapped. If we don't take drastic measures immediately, we will never get out of this mess," one leading demographer, Herwig Birg, told the Cologne-based Express newspaper.

He suggests measures which no government would currently dare to introduce, such as cutting in half the pension of people who do not have children or forcing companies to recruit parents rather than childless unmarried workers in a bid to redress the birthrate.

The VdK association meanwhile has called for penalties for companies which allow too many employees to retire early.

Meinhard Miegel, the scientific director of the IWG economic research institute in Bonn, fears that the greatest risk is not a "revolt of the old", but an "uprising of the young."

"If we cross the threshold of tolerance, the young generations will do everything they can to escape the financial burden," he told Die Welt newspaper.

Source: Agence France Presse

iwNEWS: Whedon walks away from Wonder Woman

One of the most anticipated (at least by this writer) films will remain anticipated. My warmest vote of support goes to Joss Wheldon and the following report from Guardian Unlimited tells why:

Joss Whedon, from whose fertile mind sprang Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the cult sci-fi series Firefly and its film spin-off Serenity, has stepped aside from the planned Wonder Woman film. Whedon had been hired in March 2005 to develop and write the adaptation, and was in the frame to direct it as well.

But, according to Whedon, he left the project after it became clear that he and the studio and production company involved, Warner Bros Pictures and Silver Pictures, had different ideas about what kind of film they wanted to make. Writing on the fansite whedonesque.com , Whedon said: "I had a take on the film that, well, nobody liked.

"We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work," he explained. "Non-sympatico. It happens all the time. I don't think any of us expected it to this time, but it did. Everybody knows how long I was taking, what a struggle that script was, and though I felt good about what I was coming up with, it was never gonna be a simple slam-dunk. I like to think it rolled around the rim a little bit, but others may have differing views."

So instead of writing about a lasso and bullet-deflecting bracelets, Whedon will be working on Goners, a thriller for Universal Pictures, while writing Runaways, a comic about super-powered teens for Marvel.

Source: Guardian Unlimited

NBC's ''HEROES'' Chosen as 'Best New Show' by TV.com Fans

A true measure of a television show's success is its popularity among TV watchers, and for the 2006 show line-up, the fans have spoken by casting more than 5 million votes for TV.com's "Best of 2006" awards. TV.com, a leading content and community site for TV fans and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET), conducted its "Best of 2006" awards among its millions of users to select the best television programming of the past year. NBC's "Heroes" took "Best New Fall Show" while WB's "Supernatural" polled "Best Science Fiction Series." (Who knew!)

"TV.com's interactive features such as the "Best of 2006" poll demonstrate that TV viewers are enthusiastically engaging with online activities based on their favorite TV programs," said Stephanie Quay, TV.com site director. "Our site enables TV fans to express their thoughts and opinions in numerous ways ultimately allowing them to create stronger bonds with the shows they love and with other fans. And, their actions provide valuable insight to the television networks and studios regarding the programming that is resonating with our active, influential, and vocal audience of young entertainment consumers."

Following is a sampling of the TV.com "Best of 2006" award winners.

Best Show:	"24" (ABC)
Best New Fall Show:	"Heroes" (NBC)
Best Drama:	"House" (Fox)
Best Comedy:	"The Office" (NBC)
Best Animation:	"Avatar: The Last Airbender" (Nickelodeon)
Best Action Adventure:	"Prison Break" (Fox)
Best Science Fiction:	"Supernatural" (CW)
Best Guilty Pleasure:	"The O.C." (Fox)
Best Reality:	"American Idol" (Fox)
Hottest Actor:	"Wentworth Miller" (Fox)
Hottest Actress:	"Evangeline Lily" (ABC)
Best Episode:	"Lost--Live Together Die Alone" (ABC)