NEW US PAPERBACKS

Just arrived:

SHANA ABE - QUEEN OF DRAGONS
MADELYN ALT - NO REST FOR THE WICCAN
LINDA BUCHLEY-ARCHER - THE TIME THIEF
JAMES AXLER - DEATHLANDS; PLAGUE LORDS
JAMES AXLER - OUTLANDERS; DEATH CRY
RICHARD BAKER - FORGOTTEN REALMS; SWORDMAGE
WAYNE BARLOW - GOD'S DEMON
CAROL BERG - BREATH & BONE
JOHN BIRMINGHAM - DESIGNATED TARGET
JENNA BLACK - DEVIL'S DUE
JEAN BROOK - DEMON BOUND
ERIC BROWN - NECROPATH
EMMA BULL - TERRITORY
S.C. BUTLER- QUEEN FERRIS
ALLISON CHASE - DARK TEMPTATION
BRUCE CORDELL - FORGOTTEN REALMS; PLAGUE SPELLS
CARLOS CORTES - PERFECT CIRCLE
IAN DOUGLAS - GALACTIC CORPS
ALAN DEAN FOSTER - PIP AND FLINX
DIANA FRANCIS - THE BLACK SHIP
TERRY GOODKIND - CONFESSOR
SIMON GREEN - THE UNNATURAL INQUIRER
JUSTIN GUSTAINIS - BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
JOE HALDEMAN - FUTURE WEAPONS OF WAR
CHARLAINE HARRIS - LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS
KIM HARRISON - THE OUTLAW DEMON WAILS
ROBERT HEINLEIN - FOR US THE LIVING
HENDEE - CHILD OF A DEAD GOD
MADELINE HOWARD - A DARK SACRIFICE
FAITH HUNTER - HOST
ALLYSON JAMES - THE DRAGON MASTER
MATTHEW JARPE - RADIO FREEFALL
J.V. JONES - A SWORD FROM RED ICE
MERCEDES LACKEY - RESERVED FOR THE CAT
ANNE McCAFFREY - DRAGON HARPER
GREGORY MAGUIRE - WICKED
LARRY NIVEN - FLEET OF WORLDS
JOHN RINGO - VORPAL BLADE
JOHN RINGO - SISTER TIME
JOHN SCALZI - THE LAST COLONY
CHARLES STROSS - THE MERCHANT'S WAR
HARRY TURTLEDOVE - OPENING ATLANTIS
BRENT WEEKS - THE WAY OF SHADOWS

ARRIVING THURS 3RD APRIL

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24
$2.99

AUTHORITY #9
$2.99
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL MAN BAT #1
$2.99
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #4 (RES)
$2.50
DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR TP
$19.99
DEAD ROMEO #1 (OF 6)
$2.99
FLASH REBIRTH #1 (OF 5)
$3.99
JONAH HEX #42
$2.99
JONAH HEX BULLETS DONT LIE TP
$14.99
JSA TP VOL 02 THY KINGDOM COME PART 01
$14.99
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25
$2.99
LOONEY TUNES #173
$2.50
MIGHTY #3
$2.99
MIRRORS EDGE #6 (OF 6)
$3.99
STRANGE ADVENTURES #2 (OF 8)
$3.99
SUPERMAN BATMAN #57
$2.99
TEEN TITANS #69
$2.99
TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1
$4.99
TRINITY #44
$2.99

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #14
$2.99
JERSEY GODS #3
$3.50
NOBLE CAUSES #40
$3.50
WITCHBLADE ANNUAL 2009 BASALDUA CVR A
$3.99

AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 DKR
$2.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590
$2.99
ASTONISHING TALES #3
$3.99
AVENGERS INVADERS #9 (OF 12)
$2.99
BLACK PANTHER 2 #3 DKR
$2.99
CABLE #13 XMW
$2.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1
$3.99
DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #2 (OF 5) DKR
$2.99
DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 02
$29.99
JAN092502
DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #3 (OF 4)
$2.99
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #12 DKR
$2.99
MARVEL ASSISTANT SIZE SPECTACULAR #1 (OF 2)
$3.99
MARVEL YOUR UNIVERSE #3
$5.99
NEW AVENGERS REUNION #2 (OF 4) DKR
$3.99
NEW MUTANTS SAGA
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #4
$3.99
* PRIDE & PREJUDICE #1 (OF 5)
$3.99 SECRET WARRIORS #3 DKR
WAR OF KINGS #2 (OF 6)
$3.99
WHAT IF TP SECRET WARS
$19.99
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS TP WOLVERINE BY NIGHT
$12.99
WOLVERINE MAGAZINE #1
$6.99
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #3 (OF 8) 2ND PTG YOUNG VAR
X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #3 (OF 4)
$3.99

ARMY OF DARKNESS #18
$3.50
CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #3 HANNIGAN RETRO CVR
$3.99
FARSCAPE #4
$3.99
IRREDEEMABLE #1
$3.99
KADE RISING SUN #2 (OF 4)
$3.95
MASQUERADE #2
$3.50

HUGO AWARD NOMINATIONS

Best Novel (639 Ballots Cast)
Anathem by Neal Stephenson (Morrow; Atlantic UK)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins; Bloomsbury UK)
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (Tor Teen; HarperVoyager UK)
Saturn's Children by Charles Stross (Ace; Orbit UK)
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (Tor)

Best Novella (337 Ballots Cast)
"The Erdmann Nexus" by Nancy Kress (Asimov's Oct/Nov 2008)
"The Political Prisoner" by Charles Coleman Finlay (F&SF Aug 2008)
"The Tear" by Ian McDonald (Galactic Empires)
"True Names" by Benjamin Rosenbaum & Cory Doctorow (Fast Forward 2)
"Truth" by Robert Reed (Asimov's Oct/Nov 2008)

Best Novelette (373 Ballots Cast)
"Alastair Baffle's Emporium of Wonders" by Mike Resnick (Asimov's Jan 2008)
"The Gambler" by Paolo Bacigalupi (Fast Forward 2)
"Pride and Prometheus" by John Kessel (F&SF Jan 2008)
"The Ray-Gun: A Love Story" by James Alan Gardner (Asimov's Feb 2008)
"Shoggoths in Bloom" by Elizabeth Bear (Asimov's Mar 2008)

Best Short Story (448 Ballots Cast)
"26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss" by Kij Johnson (Asimov's Jul 2008)
"Article of Faith" by Mike Resnick (Baen's Universe Oct 2008)
"Evil Robot Monkey" by Mary Robinette Kowal (The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume Two)
"Exhalation" by Ted Chiang (Eclipse Two)
"From Babel's Fall'n Glory We Fled" by Michael Swanwick (Asimov's Feb 2008)

Best Related Book (263 Ballots Cast)
Rhetorics of Fantasy by Farah Mendlesohn (Wesleyan University Press)
Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art by Cathy Fenner & Arnie Fenner, eds. (Underwood Books)
The Vorkosigan Companion: The Universe of Lois McMaster Bujold by Lillian Stewart Carl & John Helfers, eds. (Baen)
What It Is We Do When We Read Science Fiction by Paul Kincaid (Beccon Publications)
Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded: A Decade of Whatever, 1998-2008 by John Scalzi (Subterranean Press)

Best Graphic Story (212 Ballots Cast)
The Dresden Files: "Welcome to the Jungle" Written by Jim Butcher, art by Ardian Syaf (Del Rey/Dabel Brothers Publishing)
Girl Genius, Volume 8: "Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones" Written by Kaja & Phil Foglio, art by Phil Foglio, colors by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
Fables: "War and Pieces" Written by Bill Willingham, pencilled by Mark Buckingham, art by Steve Leialoha and Andrew Pepoy, color by Lee Loughridge, letters by Todd Klein (DC/Vertigo Comics)
Schlock Mercenary: "The Body Politic" Written, art by Howard Tayler (The Tayler Corporation)
Serenity: "Serenity, Vol. 2: Better Days" Written by Joss Whedon & Brett Matthews, art by Will Conrad, color by Michelle Madsen, cover by Jo Chen (Dark Horse Comics)
Y: The Last Man, Volume 10: "Whys and Wherefores" Written/created by Brian K. Vaughan, pencilled/created by Pia Guerra, inked by Jose Marzan, Jr. (DC/Vertigo Comics)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form (436 Ballots Cast)
The Dark Knight Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer, story; Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, screenplay; based on characters created by Bob Kane; Christopher Nolan, director (Warner Brothers)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army Guillermo del Toro & Mike Mignola, story; Guillermo del Toro, screenplay; based on the comic by Mike Mignola; Guillermo del Toro, director (Dark Horse, Universal)
Iron Man Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, screenplay; based on characters created by Stan Lee & Don Heck & Larry Lieber & Jack Kirby; Jon Favreau, director (Paramount, Marvel Studios)
METAtropolis edited by John Scalzi; Elizabeth Bear, Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, John Scalzi, and Karl Schroeder, writers (Audible Inc.)
WALL-E Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter, story; Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon, screenplay; Andrew Stanton, director (Pixar/Walt Disney)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Frank Miller is eyeing up the rights to Buck Rogers for movie production.

Hmmm. Grim & gritty Buck Rogers? If Frank did it I would watch it but it doesn't seem a particularly apt fit.

RELEASES FOR MARCH 25th

BERSERK TP VOL 28
$13.95
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #9
$2.99
INDIANA JONES & TOMB OF THE GODS #4 (OF 4)
$2.99
STAR WARS LEGACY #34 STORMS PART 1 OF 2
$2.99
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #5 (OF 6)
$2.99
USAGI YOJIMBO #119
$3.50

BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL COMMISSIONER GORDON #1
$2.99
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #11 (OF 12)
$2.99
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3
$2.50
CHECKMATE CHIMERA TP
$17.99
GEARS OF WAR #5 VAR ED
$3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #31
$2.99
MARCH ON EARTH VOL 01
$9.99
ORACLE #1 (OF 3)
$2.99
PENGUIN REVOLUTION VOL 07
$9.99
SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY HAWKSMOOR TP
$19.99
SHOWCASE PRESENTS AMBUSH BUG TP VOL 01
$16.99
SUPERMAN #686
$2.99
SUPERMAN BATMAN ENEMIES AMONG US TP
$12.99
TOP 10 SPECIAL #1
$2.99
TRINITY #43
$2.99
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #11 (OF 12)
$2.99
WILDCATS #9
$2.99
WONDER WOMAN #30
$2.99

SPAWN #190
$2.95
TED MCKEEVER LIBRARY HC VOL 03 METROPOL
$39.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #589
$2.99
AVENGERS INITIATIVE FEATURING REPTIL #1
$3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #48
$2.99
DAREDEVIL #117
$2.99
DAREDEVIL TP LADY BULLSEYE
$14.99
DARK AVENGERS #2 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR
$3.99
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #1 (OF 5) DKR
$3.99
FANTASTIC FOUR #565
$2.99
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #12
$2.99
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #24
$2.99
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #127 DKR
$2.99
MIGHTY AVENGERS #23 DKR
$2.99
MS MARVEL #37 DKR
$2.99
NEW AVENGERS #51 BACHALO VAR DKR
$3.99
NOVA #23
$2.99
PUNISHER #2 2ND PTG OPENA VAR
$2.99
RUNAWAYS 3 #8
$2.99
SECRET INVASION CHRONICLES #1 (OF 9)
$5.99
SECRET INVASION TP AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
$14.99
SECRET INVASION TP THOR
$14.99
SKAAR SON OF HULK #9
$2.99
WAR MACHINE #4 DKR
$2.99
WAR OF KINGS DARKHAWK #2 (OF 2)
$3.99
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #13
$2.99
X-FORCE CABLE MESSIAH WAR PROLOGUE XMW
$3.99
X-INFERNUS #4 (OF 4)
$3.99
X-MEN SWORD OF BRADDOCKS
$3.99
X-MEN TIMES AND LIFE OF LUCAS BISHOP #2 (OF 3)
$3.99

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON WAR #3 (OF 4)
$3.99
CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #3 HANNIGAN RETRO CVR
$3.99
FUTURAMA COMICS #42
$2.99
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS DEAR BILLY #3
$3.50
INCREDIBLES FAMILY MATTERS #1 (OF 4)
$2.99
MAGICAL JXR GN VOL 04
$11.95
MERCY SPARX #3 (OF 3) BLAYLOCK CVR B
MUPPET SHOW #1 (OF 4)
$2.99
READING CLUB GN VOL 01
$11.95
STITCH GN
$10.95
STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #5 CRUZ CVR A
$3.95

ROBERT HEINLEIN'S RULES ON HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WRITER

1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

These rules appeared in the 1947 essay "On the Writing of Speculative Fiction."
We believe that they are as true today for all would-be published writers, whatever the field, as they were for writers in the golden age of science fiction magazine pulps.

The Heinlein Society.

WATCHMEN - REVIEW

It was great.

It is a very faithful remake. Almost all the scenes & even dialogue are word perfect though the order, particularly of flashbacks has been changed. Also quite a lot of sub-plots have been removed This is perfectly sensible since a film, even a 2 1/2 hour film, is less complicated than a book.

Differences:

Rorschach's role is slightly toned down, particularly the sub-plot with the psychiatrist is much shortened which is one of my favourite parts, though a few seconds is added to try & make up for it. As I say some simplification is needed.

The fighting is pretty vicious which is pretty much as it should be - the Watchmen convincingly look like SAS in hand to hand combat mode, which they should be to be respected as much as they are & which is actually slightly less impressive in the book. The fighting does involve an inordinate amount of improbable damage to walls, furniture etc though the single most improbable feat is actually made more credible by Ozymandias wearing gloves.

The use of 1970s & 80s songs in couple of scenes is masterly.

For the first time I realised the nature of Dr Manhattan's Martian citadel & how it is an expression of his boyhood ambition.

The only thing that really jarred is that in the rape scene the Comedian is shown as fully adult when in the book he is about 17 (the film also changes his official age to make it fit). The fact that he tries rape & that it is forgiveable is precisely because he is a confused teen. A few years later he would be able to talk himself into her bed & indeed does. They should have used a different actor to portray the young Comedian.

The thing that has annoyed some fans is that the deux ex machina at the end is changed. Good. This is definitely the greatest weakness in the book which I have been convinced over a beer or 2 would simply fall apart under forensic examination. The film's wouldn't. It also elevates Dr Manhattan to a more tragic figure.

Just as the Watchman graphic novel (well ok then comic book) elevated superheroes we have the first truly intelligent superhero film. I love the first 2 Batman films, much of Dark Knight, the first Spider-Man movie & the 2nd X-Men but this really is quality. It has been fully faithful to the source material & in some ways improved on it which is not something easily done of Mr Moore's creations.

UPDATE I later figured out the weak point of Rorschach's treatement. When he kills the child killer in the movie it is certainly violent but it is quick. In the book it is done more slowly & the audience is given time to appreciate both how horrible it is & how it is the only sane answer - if he was brought to trial he would walk because there is no evidence. This is central to inderstanding the character & while I understand backing off from such violence I think it was, artisticaly, a mistake.

RELEASES MARCH 18TH

KULL #5 (OF 6)
$2.99
STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC #39 DUELING AMBITIONS PAR
$2.99

AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #1 (OF 3)
$2.99
BATMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 07
$14.99
BATMAN HAUNTED GOTHAM TP
$19.99
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #6 (OF 6)
$2.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33 (ORIGINS) 2ND PTG
$2.99
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #3 (OF 6)
$2.99
OUTSIDERS #16
$2.99
STORMWATCH PHD #20
$2.99
SUPERGIRL #39
$2.99
TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT CYBORG TP
$19.99
TRANSMETROPOLITAN # 1 SPECIAL EDITION
$1.00
TRINITY #42
$2.99
VIGILANTE #4
$2.99
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #17
$2.99
X-FILES #5 (OF 6)
$3.50

** AGE OF BRONZE #28 reccommended
$3.50
AMERICAN FLAGG DEFINITIVE COLL TP VOL 02 (RES)
$19.95
INVINCIBLE #60
$3.99
PLATINUM GRIT TP VOL 01
$14.99
SAVAGE DRAGON #146
$3.50

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #588
$3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EXTRA #3
$3.99
DARK AVENGERS #3 DKR
$3.99
DEADPOOL GAMES OF DEATH
$3.99
ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #4 (OF 5)
$3.99
ETERNALS #9
$2.99
MOON KNIGHT #28
$2.99
NEW MUTANTS CLASSIC TP VOL 04
$24.99
POWERS TP VOL 12 COOLEST DEAD SUPERHEROES
$24.99
PUNISHER #3 DKR
$2.99
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #4 (OF 4)
$3.99
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #9
$2.99
SQUADRON SUPREME TP PRE WAR YEARS
$16.99
SQUADRON SUPREME TP VOL 01 POWER TO THE PEOPLE
$16.99
THUNDERBOLTS #130 DKR
$2.99
ULTIMATE X-MEN #100
$3.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #507
$2.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #507 GOLDEN VAR
$2.99
WOLVERINE #71
$2.99
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #34 DKR
$2.99
X-FACTOR #41
$2.99
X-FORCE #13
$2.99
X-MEN FIRST CLASS TP WONDER YEARS
$19.99
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #4 (OF 4)
$3.99
X-MEN LEGACY #222
$2.99
YOUNG X-MEN #12
$2.99

COURTNEY CRUMRIN TP VOL 04 MONSTROUS HOLIDAY
$11.95
FATHOM #6 GARZA CVR
$2.99
GOLDEN AGE SHEENA QUEEN O/T JUNGLE TP 02
$18.99
HOTWIRE #2 (OF 5) BROOKS CVR C
$2.99
SHERLOCK HOLMES & KOLCHAK #1 (OF 3) CORRONEY CVR
$3.99
SIMPSONS COMICS #152
$2.99
STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS CHUN LI #2 (OF 4) CRUZ CVR B
$3.95
TRUE TALES O/T ROLLER DERBY DOPPELGANGER A/T HANGER
$4.99