ÜberSciFiGeek – Page 133 – Celebrate Your Geekdom

The Final Battle Begins in “The Wheel of Time Book 12: The Gathering Storm”

Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.

When Robert Jordan passed away in 2007, the final book of his Wheel of Time series remained unfinished. As one of the most cherished fantasy epics ever written, spanning nearly 20 years and 11 volumes, his wife Harriet McDougal (who was also his editor) called upon author Brandon Sanderson to help complete her husband’s work and bring a conclusion to the Wheel of Time saga. His unfinished work, A Memory of Light, was so extensive in scope of story that it will be released in three parts, the first of which, The Gathering Storm, will be released by Tor/Macmillan in just 5 days on October 27th. You can find it in your local bookstores on Tuesday or you can pre-order it now on Amazon.com.

In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward — wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders — his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower — and possibly the world itself.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Be sure to check out The Gathering Storm and, if you haven’t already, read the series. It’s never too late to start! While you are waiting, check out Team Jordan, as they have come to be called, as they talk briefly about the task of gathering and putting together Jordan’s notes to complete the Wheel of Time series.

VIZ Signature Presents Inio Asano’s “What A Wonderful World!”

"What a Wonderful World!" vol 1 by Inio Asano

Truth: life as a young adult is hard. Straight out of high school, your dreams and hopes are still fresh. You constantly feel like you’re on the verge of something big. Dreams seem attainable. Time passes and nothing happens. You compare yourself to friends and fellow graduates, and wonder: what went wrong? How did I get here? How do I change it now? Can I go back? What a Wonderful World! doesn’t answer these questions; it illustrates the paths chosen by a cast of interconnected characters and how they find hope in the face of reality.

The two-volume series by Inio Asano (Solanin, Nijigihara Holograph) contains nine short “tracks” about modern life. Each track begins with a character’s internal monologue about how utterly dismal everything is. Life happens (encounters with friends, family, even enemies and strangers), and by the end of each track, the lesson is learned: this is reality; accept it, find joy in the little things, and be happy. The story is then handed off to the next character, usually a friend or relative of the previous story’s main character. This suggests that everyone feels lost at some point — it’s just part of life.

Sound depressing? A little. But I believe it’s a gem of a book. I grew up reading shoujo manga, so I was a little hesitant after reading the blurb on the back cover: “What do you mean it’s about real life? Rated for ‘older teens’? Where’s my bishounen and love story?!” But the yellow and brown colour scheme for the cover was eye-catching, and the design was rather unique as it didn’t resemble those of traditional Japanese manga (of course, you should never judge a book by its cover). The drawing style was believable, in between cartoon and real life (no oddly proportioned people here!). Character design was accurate in portraying average, twenty-something people in an average town, living average lives.

I ended up loving it. Sombre, but with just the right amount of humour. In fact, I laughed out loud in the middle of a semi-quiet cafe during the last short story, titled “Syrup.” The story focuses on Syrup’s friend Tamotsu, who almost gives up his dream of becoming a photographer because of an argument with a mutual friend. Syrup, nicknamed thus because of his addiction to cough syrup, saves Tamotsu’s faith in photography during a tussin-induced high. In doing so, Syrup almost kills himself in a hilarious manner. The story doesn’t end there, but I’m not going to spoil it. The ending was bittersweet and brought a smile to my face.

Other stories include a girl who talks to and outwits a shinigami (Japanese death god) in the form of a crow; a kidnapper/thief who ends up befriending and giving stolen money to the girl he takes as a hostage; a girl who rediscovers love for her long-term boyfriend; and, a jaded bully who restores his belief in life again after being forced to talk to his victim, and that’s just to name a few. The quotes out of this book are enlightening. A few of my favourites include:

“Living sucks. And yet, I still want to live.”

“Don’t stress. We all live in our own ways. And we all have doubts about whether it’s right or wrong. But there isn’t a right or wrong way to live.”

“…You’ve probably realized that happiness never lasts. That fleetingness is why we have to cherish each and every day…”

They’re really common quotes, but they’re things people need to remember in order to be happy wherever they are in life.

What a Wonderful World! is written and drawn by Inio Asano, and is published by VIZ Signature. This two-volume manga is available for purchase at your favorite stores and online retailers today and can be purchased directly through the publisher here:

What a Wonderful World! Volume 1
What a Wonderful World! Volume 2

Legend of Neil Live Cast Chat Today

In celebration of today’s release of the season finale, Atom.com is hosting a live chat with the cast of The Legend of Neil this evening at 6 p.m. PST. Join creator Sandeep Parikh and stars Tony Janning (Neil), Mike Rose (Old Man) and Felicia Day (Fairy) as they answer your questions about The Legend of Neil.

For more information about how you can get your question asked, check out Atom.com. Additionally, if you are on Twitter, just tweet your questions with the tag #legendofneil and Atom will forward them to the cast. Make sure to add Atom and The Legend of Neil on Twitter while you are at it.

While waiting for all the excitement, be sure to check out The Legend of Neil‘s season finale and if you haven’t already, re-watch season 1 and 2 on the Legend of Neil channel!

“The Guild” Season 3, Episode 8: “+10 to Bravery”

from The Guild:

The Guild Season 3 Episode 8: “+10 to Bravery” is now up on MSN. Codex takes desperate measures to save the Guild. She even goes outside! PLUS, there’s a new gag reel from episodes 5-8 online.

Streaming on MSN | Downloadable in HD on Xbox | Downloadable on Zune

Also, this link to MSN’s Parallel Universe hub is a good one to bookmark, as it defaults to the newest episode.

You can still get tickets to Whedonopolis Charity Screening in LA on 10/30. Also, the Jeff Carlisle “Spires of Dragonor” poster featuring The Guild is now available for purchase.

Wendy Pini “Masque of the Red Death” on Facebook

from ElfQuest:

Hello all,

This is just a bit off-topic (if the topic is purely Elfquest), but we’re excited about it so you’re getting the news.

You may already know that Wendy, in addition to working on continuing Elfquest tales, veered into dark delicious storytelling territory with her adaptation of Poe’s Masque of the Red Death. Where the original was an eight-page tone poem, this new vision is futuristic, erotic, and quite unexpected. The web comic has been running for a while now at Go! Comi and there’s a forum topic as well at Wendy Pini & Masque. (And be on the lookout for Masque‘s move to a new web site in the next couple of months.)

But that’s not this email’s big news! We’ve just brought Masque to Facebook as a page that you can become a fan of, and get news and other tidbits as often as Madame Masque herself (aka Wendy) posts.

If you’re on Facebook already, log in and take a look; Mme. Masque would love to “be-fan” you. If you’re not yet on Facebook, consider joining — there’ll be content available there that can be seen nowhere else.

As the crimson lady herself might say: “See you there, darlings!”

Shade and sweet ruby-red celebration,
Richard Pini

Split Reason’s First Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

from Split Reason:

October, it’s one of our favorite months. SPLITREASON.COM was born on October 31st, 2003, so the Halloween season holds a special place in our hearts. Not only do we get to play video games all day and spend every waking moment looking forward to the next great release, we can also dress up like Master Chief, Clone Troopers, Zombies, or our favorite character from Street Fighter IV. It’s a wonderful moment where reality takes a back seat and imagination runs wild bringing fantasy to life, if only for a short time.

This year, we’re taking pumpkin carving to new heights in our First Annual Pumpkin carving contest. Contestants stand to win a bunch of SPLITREASON gear and a free video game will be awarded to the pumpkin carving champion. Do we have any challengers?

We’re also offering 10% off all orders between now and fright night, so don’t miss the opportunity to save a few bucks and pick-up some new wardrobe. To take advantage of this promo, enter the code: TRICKORTREAT during the check-out process. Offer expires October 31st, 2009.

Happy Halloween! Play safe, don’t blow off your limbs, check your candy boobie traps, and beware of ghosts and goblins! Now, on to the new stuff…

New Horror/Thriller Web Series “Camera Obscura” Trailer

Camera Obscura Trailer from MWG Entertainment on Vimeo.

When Clara’s reclusive Grandfather Sam, a grizzled LAPD crime scene photographer, passes away, she soon discovers there was more to his life than she ever could have imagined. Quickly realizing the world is on a desperate precipice between reality and a nightmare dreamscape where unimaginable creatures freely walk the earth, she must finish her grandfather’s quest before all hell breaks loose.

Find out more at cameraobscuraseries.com.

Dangerous Game: Steph Song Talks About Her Role as Roulette on Smallville

When we last spoke with Steph Song, she had just finished principal photography on the films The Thaw and Paradox and was about to begin the film festival circuit promoting the wonderful Dim Sum Funeral. She was kind enough to catch us up recently on what she’s been up to.

Be sure to watch Steph as Roulette on Smallville this Friday October 23rd. The Thaw is now available on DVD and Paradox is still in post-production. jPod is available to watch streaming on CBC.com and TheWB.com, and can be purchased from Amazon.com. Also, don’t forget to stop by stephsong.com and islandfilms.net to keep up-to-date on Steph’s latest projects.

Other Steph Song Links:
Steph Song on Twitter
Steph Song on Facebook

Catherine Taber Talks Undercover Padmé

from StarWars.com:

The latest episode of The Clone Wars features Padmé Amidala in the thick of enemy intrigue as she undertakes a controversial spy mission on the behalf of the Jedi Council. She is tasked to spy on a former flame who is believed to be conspiring with the Separatists. Actress Catherine Taber, who provides the voice of Padmé Amidala was kind enough to answer a few questions about this episode, “Senate Spy.”

This episode takes a break from the battlefield action to slip Padmé behind enemy lines to spy. Did you enjoy the opportunity to explore a bit of Clone Wars espionage for a change?

This episode is full of action — just a different kind than we are used to seeing. I had a lot of fun recording this episode — the back-and-forth with Matt Lanter (Anakin) was so much fun for starters. And of course the idea of being a spy is so cool, I loved it!

What do you think makes Padmé particularly suited for this mission?

I think she is pretty calm and collected — good attributes for a spy. She doesn’t panic easily and she is very smart. Plus, she is pretty adept at being able to use her, shall we say, “feminine charms” to distract… kind of like her own version of a “Jedi mind trick”!

While Anakin is over-protective of Padmé by nature, it almost seemed to strengthen her resolve to go forward with the mission — one she had initially refused. Do you think Anakin’s over-protectiveness (and underlying jealousy) may have contributed to her decision to spy on an ex-lover?

To me, there is a strong stubborn nature running through both Padmé and her daughter Leia — so, I love when we can explore that character trait. It is not wise to tell either of these women they can’t do something. You are pretty much guaranteeing they will do it. Which is fun for me to play because I think anyone who knows me would say I am the same way. “Never tell me the odds!”

Any chance the Jedi Order might come to her again for future missions on the sly?

She is sure up for it. Not only is she always looking for any way she can personally help the cause of the Republic but I think she is also very eager to get out of the stuffy old Senate building and into the action any chance she gets. I know I am!

Little Frakkin’ Toasters Cylon Centurion Animated Maquette

centurion-promoCrop

from Quantum Mechanix:

Standing a steely six inches tall, the Little Frakkin’ Toasters Cylon Centurion Animated Maquette is hand-painted, cast in resin and available in an edition of just 1,000 statues. He’s individually numbered and comes on a mirrored black stand. Based on an original design by Battlestar Galactica CG artist Dustin Adair, our Little Frakkin’ Toaster comes complete with attitude as he beckons you to “come get some”.

If it’ll make you feel a little safer, you can always paint a red stripe across his back.

Screamfest 2009 Starts Tomorrow

Screamfest 2009 officially begins tomorrow at Grauman’s Chinese Theaters! Scheduled for October 16th through 25th, Screamfest features full-length and short films in the horror and sci-fi genres. Screamfest was created by producers Rachel Belofsky and Ross Martin (and partnered with Stan Winston) in 2001 as a way to help filmmakers and writers showcase their work to other people in the industry. As a result, many of these gems have received distribution over the years.

This year’s line-up includes features like The Tournament, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, Mutant Swinger from Mars and The Fourth Kind, and shorts such as The Familiar, How I Survived the Zombie Apocalypse and Tinglewood. The complete listing of features can be found on their website at screamfestla.com.

VIZ Media Publishes “RIN-NE” the Newest Manga Series from Celebrated Manga Creator Rumiko Takahashi

RIN-NE

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will launch RIN-NE, the brand new manga (graphic novel) series from famed creator Rumiko Takahashi with the publication of the debut volume under VIZ Media’s Shonen Sunday imprint on October 20th. RIN-NE is rated “T+” for older teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

RIN-NE is the first manga series that will be available in stores at the same time as the Japanese release of the same volume. Through an unprecedented collaboration, RIN-NE is also the first manga series to appear simultaneously in Shogakukan’s popular Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine in Japan and online on TheRumicWorld.com for North American fans. A new chapter is released each week for domestic fans to enjoy at the same time as their Japanese peers.

As a child Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma’s home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura’s has been empty since the start of the school year. One day her always-absent classmate shows up, and he’s far more than what he seems!

RIN-NE is the first new manga from Takahashi since her epic Inuyasha (published domestically by VIZ Media) ended in 2008 in Japan. Shogakukan’s popular Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine has featured Takahashi’s work since the early 1980’s. With over 170 million copies sold in Japan alone, Takahashi’s substantial catalog of work continues to be loved by legions of devoted readers.

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi’s career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan’s annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another — Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel. Takahashi won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award twice in her career, once for Urusei Yatsura in 1981 and the second time for Inuyasha in 2002. A majority of the Takahashi canon has been adapted into other media such as anime, live-action TV series, and film. Takahashi’s manga, as well as the other formats her work has been adapted into, have continued to delight generations of fans around the world. Distinguished by her wonderfully endearing characters, Takahashi’s work adeptly incorporates a wide variety of elements such as comedy, romance, fantasy, and martial arts. While her series are difficult to pin down into one simple genre, the signature style she has created has come to be known as the “Rumic World.” Rumiko Takahashi is an artist who truly represents the very best from the world of manga.

“Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most successful and celebrated manga creators of all time having produced multiple series that are massively popular and widely considered to be classics,” says Elizabeth Kawasaki, Sr. Editorial Director for VIZ Media. “RIN-NE again shows Takahashi’s talent for blending endearing characters with an imaginative plot that can be equally funny, dramatic and exciting. Takahashi’s skill as both an artist and storyteller has won over millions of fans around the world. With the promise of new plot twists and characters still yet to emerge, we look forward to RIN-NE becoming a new fan favorite.”

RIN-NE is also featured online on TheRumicWorld.com, the official North American web site for all Rumiko Takahashi-related news and information. Through an unprecedented collaboration with Shogakukan’s popular Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine, which publishes RIN-NE in Japan, a new chapter is released each week for domestic fans to enjoy at the same time as their Japanese peers.

For more information on RIN-NE and other titles by Rumiko Takahashi please visit TheRumicWorld.com.