George Clayton Johnson (1929-2015)
One of the most fan-friendly pros ever, George Clayton Johnson passed away at 12:46 p.m PST on December 25 from cancer. He had been in hospice care in his final days and there were many premature reports of his death. Born in … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/26 May The Fives Be Few With You
(1) PLASTIC FANTASTIC. “That’s No Moon: The Models and Miniatures of the Original ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy” at One Perfect Shot. They were aged to perfection, they had had battle scars and blaster marks, grime and grit. Vehicles, ships, cities and … Continue reading →
Disney Casting For Star Wars and Untitled Han Solo Movie
Here’s the announcement: “Star Wars: Episode VIII casting new lead and supporting roles”. Make your career move now! Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm in association with Kasdan Pictures and Genre Films will begin shooting “Star Wars: Episode VIII” principal photography in … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/25 All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Pixel Scrolls
(1) RHINO RACES SANTA. Jim Mowatt ran a 5K on Christmas Day as part of his campaign to Save the Rhino. It’s Christmas Day in Ayr and Carrie and I are celebrating this festival of wine, beer, pigs in blankets and … Continue reading →
The Geography of Eden
By James H. Burns: When I was walking in Brooklyn, Wednesday night, I kept expecting to see a werewolf wearing a Santa hat, popping out of the fog. This morning, waking unexpectedly at five A.M., I went outside. The fog was so … Continue reading →
The Too Late Santa
Is that one of the elves or Pinocchio wishing the people on your list a merry “Hey-they-said-it-shipped-in-time-for-Christmas”? This is the very last moment you can still order that significant sf fan in your life a holiday gift for Christmas. Or … Continue reading →
Remember Another Child Born on December 25
December 25, 1924 – Rod Serling Anne Serling told an LA Times interviewer one reason her father became a writer. Not only did your father have physical issues because of the wounds he suffered in World War II, he also … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/24 Yes, Virginia, There Is A Pixel Scroll
(1) A DREAM. Pat Cadigan on Facebook: It’s Christmas Eve, and you know what that means––it’s time for my favourite Christmas story! One night, Confucius had a dream about chopsticks….. (2) THE CASE FOR EMAIL. NASA calculated the surprising amount … Continue reading →
Sixth Volume of Free Stories Eligible for 1941 Retro Hugos
Short Fiction Eligible for the 1941 Retro-Hugos Vol. 6, a collection of 31 public domain short stories published in 1940 assembled by File 770 commenter von Dimpleheimer. (Earlier posts contain links to Volume One, Volume Two, Volume Three, Volume Four and Volume Five.) … Continue reading →
Non-Spoiler Reassurance About “The Dark Knight III”
By Daniel Dern: For comic book fans who were concerned that The Dark Knight III: The Master Race — Frank Miller & Brian Azzarello’s 8-part comic book/graphic novel follow-up to Miller’s graphic novels The Dark Knight Returns (“TDKR”) and its … Continue reading →
Where’s Santa?
Is this a technological or a theological question? Two internet Santa Trackers claim he’s in different locations. A minute ago the Google Santa Tracker said he’d just finished delivering presents in Helsinki. The NORAD Santa Tracker said he was in … Continue reading →
Journey Planet Letters Issue
Journey Planet #26 delivers “Letters from Absentia” – about the art of letter writing, penmanship, stamps, philatelia, fountain pens and ink, as well as letters in time of war, and gameplay. Get your copy here. The theme issue was assembled by … Continue reading →
Bonus Bradbury
(1) 451. The Internet Engineering Steering Group has approved a new internet status code – 451, “An HTTP Status Code to Report Legal Obstacles.” It will be the protocol displayed when a user requests an illegal resource, such as a … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/23 Baby it scrolls outside
(1) YULE LOVE IT. Camestros Felapton sends holiday greetings to the Filers in his video “The Christmas Tree.” (2) SCHWARTZ YES. “Mel Brooks’ ‘Spaceballs’ sequel is a go – ‘The Schwartz Awakens’ posters spoof ‘The Force Awakens’” at Inquisitr. The … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/22 I Saw Mommy Reading Pixel Scroll
(1) IN SFWA TIMES TO COME. Cat Rambo in “What I’m Hoping For SFWA in 2016” tells about the organization’s accomplishments and shortfalls in 2015, and what the future holds. Here’s an excerpt from each category — SFWA’s 2015 Accomplishments … Continue reading →
Leiber Collection Online
The University of Houston Libraries has the largest collection of Fritz Leiber’s papers. They have scanned and posted at their website many publications Leiber brought home from conventions over the decades – complete program books (particularly for the World Fantasy … Continue reading →
After Supper
By James H. Burns: I found myself with my eyes growing moist a few times at the new Star Wars. No spoilers here! Now, as my old friends know, I’m easily moved. And although I was among the very first … Continue reading →
Citations Provided
In the 1970s I attended several conventions where Randall Garrett was on the program. I never personally interacted with him. Not even when I was co-chair of the 1978 Westercon, where we had to discourage Garrett from signing drinks to … Continue reading →
Gerard Quinn (1927-2015)
A leading artist in British sf magazines of the late 1950s and early 1960s, Gerard Quinn died November 30 at the age of 88. Quinn was a self-taught artist who lived most of his life in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He … Continue reading →
MAC II Call For Papers
“Tomorrow is Now” will be the theme of the 2016 Worldcon’s academic programming track. The theme… based on the 1939 World’s Fair, both explores what tomorrow might be like as well as celebrates how far we have come. See the … Continue reading →
Shattered Prism Launches
The first issue of Rosarium Publishing’s new prozine Shattered Prism is out. The contents can be read online, or an ecopy can be purchased for download ($2.99). Editors Carmelo Rafala and Amir Naaman set the magazine’s agenda in “The Human … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/21 Rudolph the Scroll Nosed Reindeer
(1) SHE WAS ON WHAT KIND OF TRIP? The Mirror knows we can’t resist looking: “Woman ‘photobombed by alien’ during selfie on passenger jet on business trip”. A woman has posted a selfie taken on a plane in which she … Continue reading →
Star Trek “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Mashup
By James H. Burns: Last Christmas File 770 featured Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” with the cast and crew of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera… This year, I just discovered a rather remarkable piece of film…. … Continue reading →
Doug Hoylman (1943-2015)
Doug Hoylman’s six championships in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament are the exclusive focus of his Washington Post obituary, however, the longtime sf fan, who died on November 2, once was an active fanzine editor. He grew up in the small … Continue reading →
Pixel Scroll 12/20 Grandma Got Run Over By a Filer
(1) HARRY POTTER ON STAGE. The lead roles in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child have been cast: Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger, and Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley. First look at cast of Harry … Continue reading →
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Trailer
The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Official Announcement Trailer #1 went online earlier this week. The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in … Continue reading →
