Story

Jaime Waterman was part of the first mission to Mars. During his exploration of the barren surface he found signs of life, structures built for some unknown purpose. Thanks to a celestial claims law, and Jaime’s Native American heritage, the Navaho Nation is in charge of Mars.

That was more than twenty years ago. Now Jaime is dealing with a crisis that could shut down all research on Mars. The New Morality is a religious movement that has been gaining ground since global warming started to sink coastal cities. This and other religious groups believe the findings on Mars are a threat to their faith and to their power that must be dealt with.

This comes just as the most important discovery on the red planet since Jaime’s structures were found is being made. How long can Jaime and his friends keep up the battle of perception back on Earth? Can the funding for research on Mars be saved? Will they have enough time to unearth the secrets of Mars?

My Opinion

Mars Life is the type of science fiction I’ve always enjoyed. You get the feeling that this world can be real with the right research. There are amazing advancements, but not all are so outlandish that they seem impossible. This could be our future very soon.

Hot Topics

I would imagine that some people will read this book and view it as an attack on religion. It does come across like that in a few early parts of the story. Soon we begin to see other denominations and faiths. Then the target is abundantly clear. Maybe even understandable.

It takes a very special blend of ignorance and insanity to ignore facts and evidence to protect something that, by it’s very nature, should not need protection. Strong faith can look at something that it thought impossible and marvel in the continuous miracle that is our universe. Both of these points of view are well exemplified in this story.

The scientists aren’t all portrayed as heroes. There are rigid control freaks and jerks aplenty on that cold red marble. Individuals are given realistic personalities that help to make the story even more believable.

Verdict

Mars Life is a great science fiction story. If I hadn’t known that this was a new book, I would’ve said it was a classic that I’d overlooked. It’s got what it takes to become a classic, that’s for sure. Believable characters that are likable, and dis-likable which is sometimes more important, populate a future in which we may soon be living.

Rumors have been circulating for months regarding Tennant’s possible departure from the BBC program but now it’s been confirmed. You can check out his official announcement, made while accepting the award for Outstanding Drama Performance at National Television Awards, here. Tennant was quoted by the BBC as saying,

“I’ve had the most brilliant, bewildering and life changing time working on Doctor Who. I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the TARDIS console forever and I fear that if I don’t take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I simply never will. You would be prising the TARDIS key out of my cold dead hand. This show has been so special to me, I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”

The start of the fifth season of Doctor Who will bring many changes. First and foremost, a new Doctor. Also, Russell T Davies will be turning over helm of the program to Steven Moffat. Questions abound on the direction the show will take. And now, even more questions linger in the air as to who will take on the role of Eleventh Doctor. Since the final four specials featuring Tennant will air in 2009, and season 5 not beginning until the following, it will be sometime before his successor will actually take the role of the Doctor.

I, personally, am sad to see David Tennant go. I was initially resistant to his portrayal of Doctor Who but I have grown to love his trademark mixture of impish playfulness and haunted melancholy. The new Doctor will have some big shoes to fill, in my opinion. And so, it is with a sad heart that I say goodbye to the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. To paraphrase the Master, “A cosmos without David Tennant as the Doctor scarcely bares thinking about.” But somehow, we must manage.

As reported by The Sun, Stewart, best known as captain Jean-Luc Picard of television’s Star Trek The Next Generation, is a long time fan of Doctor Who. After appearing with the current Doctor, David Tennant, on stage in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet, Stewart and Tennant have reportedly become friends. Tennant reportedly suggested Stewart should appear on Doctor Who with him. The role planned for Stewart is that of a renegade Time Lord known as the Meddling Monk. The character was first seen in the series in the 1960’s.

Nothing is set in stone but talks are continuing between BBC officials and Stewart’s agent. Patrick Stewart would be a wonderful addition to the current cast of Doctor Who so I remain hopeful that this is more than just a rumor. I’ll keep you informed!

Spoiler Warning: There are spoilers ahead. This is an episode recap after all.

Tracy Strauss…

…isn’t Nikki

That’s right. We found out that Nikki really did die and we even saw a body. So Tracy isn’t crazy. She also isn’t Nikki. We know this because Tracy went to the address in New Orleans that she found when looking for this woman named Nikki who looks like her. When she got there she found a funeral, Nikki’s funeral.

That means one of my theories gets thrown out. Make that 2 theories…

The freezing was her power, we see her use it again in this episode. I’m still not convinced that’s the last we’ll see of William Katt, but that could just be wishful thinking.

Nikki may be gone, but it seems there could be a good storyline to explain why Ali Larter is still on the show after her character died.

It seems Tracy and Nikki were born in the same hospital on the same day and delivered by the same doctor. When Tracy goes to see the doctor, he thinks she’s someone else. When she corrects him and tells him her name, he seems to know her. When she asks about that he replies “Know you? I created you.”. So maybe we can expect a spin-off of Heroes where the entire super team is made up of Ali Larter.

One can only hope. (and maybe write fan fic)

Matt Parkman

Looks like Matt’s story is going to be getting more interesting. When Future-Peter first sent him to Africa to cover up being the one to shoot Nathan, I figured Mat would do some walking and catch a flight back, maybe arriving in time for some new plot twist. Wow, I was wrong about that too.

The guy that finds Matt (can we call him Travelling Matt now?) turns out to be a painter, like Issac. Also like Issac, he paints the future. Unlike Issac, his power seems to be focused on Matt’s life, whereas Issac seemed to be focused on moments of extreme danger.

He brings Matt to an area covered with paintings of moments in Matt’s life. Only thing is, some of those moments haven’t happened yet.

Matt decides to try this for himself. The guy (what’s his name?) gives Matt something to eat, let’s Matt borrow his walkman and Matts eyes cloud over just like Issac’s.

Looks like Mohinder could learn a few things about inducing powers.

Claire and Her Two Moms

A power struggle went on between Claire’s real mom and her biological mom. In the end they seemed to come to a, probably temporary, truce. This was after Miss Hot Pants tortured her invulnerable daughter until she agreed not to run off and get fitted for her cape. Of course, it was also before Claire stole her dad’s secret files and ran off, in her cheerleader uniform, to be a Hero anyway.

Noah and Syler

Mama Petrelli tells Syler that he’s her son and convinces him to go help his brother Peter. Oh, and to do that he’ll need a partner. Hmmmm… Looks like Noah Bennet is available.

Noah tries to keep Syler under control, but things go wrong. After Peter stops the bank robbery being committed by the escaped Villains, then disappears with Future-Peter, Syler eats Jessie. (And yes, I know Syler doesn’t eat ‘em.) Good thing Peter got out of that body already.

Peter Petrelli (x2)

After being dragged along with the escaped Villains Peter is discovered during a bank robbery. After beating the crap out of Peter the escapees turn their attention to Noah, who got himself captured. That’s when Peter discovers Jesse’s abilities, a sonic scream.

Before Peter can use it to save Noah, Future-Peter shows up stops time and snatches Peter away.

Hiro and Ando

Hiro and Ando track down Daphne the speedster, but she’s already sold Kaito’s half of the formula. There’s still a chance, because she’s looking to steal the other half now. She plans to take it during an exchange at a movie theater, but for some reason her powers stop working. That’s right before The Haitian walks in carrying a case.

Hiro, Ando and Daphne keep an eye on him. While they’re doing that, she take the time to drive a wedge between Hiro and Ando. She does it by calling Ando “…Robin to his (Hiro’s) Batman”. Nobody likes that. It probably even bugs Robin.

In the end, Daphne gets the formula while Hiro and Ando get caught by The Company.

This will be my first “con” experience, and I’m looking forward to it.  Of course, I’ll be sure to take a ton of pictures and give an update on what happened when I get back.  But, if you are going to be there as well send me a note (in the comments or shoot me an e-mail to brandon[at]greengelstudios.com.)

More to come next week, after the big event is done.  If you’ve got any questions or suggestions I’m open to that too, just leave a comment and I’ll try to answer it next week.

Following that the regularly scheduled anime updates will continue.

I’m going to take a little time and look at a few of the questions that were raised, at least in my mind, by the 2 episodes last night. I’ll try to go into what I think of it now, and where I think it might lead. I doubt I’ll come up with anything on par with the Kensei Prediction, but we can have a little bit of fun talking about what might happen. Let’s get started.

What’s up with Ando and Hiro?

Ok, that’s a blanket question because there are a few questions about the pair that all lead back to the same thing.

What did Hiro really see?

Was that Future-Ando and Future-Hiro that Hiro saw?

We know there are gifted people that can change how they look (We didn’t know about the robots though, thanks for the tip Ando.), so that may not be Ando… or even Hiro.

What did Future-Ando do to Future-Hiro?

What was that? It almost looked like a Chi attack from Dragonball Z, maybe not the Kamehameha Wave, but something similar, if smaller in scale. Was that a killing blow or just a knock-out? I don’t believe Ando would hurt Hiro if he could help it. I do think that Ando would knock him cold if by doing so it would help Hiro or protect him.

Is Ando one of the gifted?

This one I’m very interested to find out the answer to. Ando could be gifted with a power that hasn’t fully developed yet. He could be a late bloomer like Hiro. He could also have artificial or temporary powers thanks to Mohinder’s research.

What’s up with Mohinder?

Has Mohinder found the source of the powers?

I doubt it. He may have found the source of Maya Herrera’s powers, and others like her, but I really doubt that all the powers possessed by all the gifted are a fight or flight response. If that were the case then some other questions need answers.

• Why does Hiro have to concentrate so hard to use his power?
• How can Claire, Adam and Peter heal when they’re unconscious or even dead?

Those can’t be explained as a fight or flight response.

I believe Mohinder found an explanation of one set, or even one type, of powers. He’s a long way from finding an explanation for all of ‘em. I think he may be a long way from even understanding a lot of things.

What’s up with Nikki?

This is probably the strangest part of the show so far this season. Nikki shows up without Michah and has no clue who Nikki is. This time she’s Tracy Strauss. This raises several questions.

Is Tracy really Nikki?

I think so. I think this is just another one of her personalities. It would be pretty darn interesting if she wasn’t.

Where’s Michah?

I got no clue, but I’d be pretty disappointed if that’s the big mystery this season. I like the kid, but that’s just lame.

Woah! Did she just freeze that dude?

Ok, this looks interesting. Maybe all of Nikki’s different personalities have different powers. That would be pretty cool. I don’t think that’s what it is though.

Why?

I don’t think she did it. I think that was his power. Why would he do that though. Is he working for someone, the company maybe? I think we’ll be seeing more of him.

Oh, and when he froze, did anyone else think “Look at what’s happened to me. I can’t believe it myself.“?

No?

Moving on…

What’s up with Peter?

Ok, let’s wrap this up with the character that seems to have caused the problems this time around. Peter, or more specifically Future-Peter, who I’m tempted to call Bishop for some reason.

Can the damage Future-Peter caused be undone?

Ummmm… Doubtful. If he tries he’s likely to make things worse. That’s kind of how these things go.

Should he stay out of things now that he realizes his mistake?

The damage to the future is done. He’s now living in an alternate timeline where events are quickly diverging from the “history” he knows. He can’t use his knowledge of events because he no longer has that kind of knowledge.

To put it simply…

Now that he’s altered the future so radically, he poses no more of a danger to the future than anyone else. Now he’s just another dude with super powers.

Great Scott!

Heavy.

What do you think?

What questions do you have about the upcoming season of Heroes? Think I missed a good one? Think my answers are wrong?

Let me know because I’d love to hear what you’re thinking.

Heroes/Villains

Heroes will be introducing quite a few new characters this season. We’ll see characters from the comics and probably some introductions of entirely new characters. With the season focused on the villains, this season has a lot of promise.

Debbie over at WatchingHeroes.com posted an interview Ken Lally, the actor who will be playing “The German”, one of the villains we’ll be seeing this season. He was pretty tight lipped about what’s coming, but even the tiny hints he let slip make this season sound like a winner. Check out the interview and you’ll see what I mean. This bit for example…

I got to coach one of the other actors who’s a martial artist but doesn’t do stunts…on how to make it look right for the camera and how to adjust his speed, because he was just too fast. The other actor was just a really skilled martial artist but was so fast, I was like, “Hey you gotta slow it down or the camera’s not gonna catch it.”

Any guesses who the very fast martial artist cast member is? I’m curious about that one.

Want to write about your favorite TV show?

I’m going to try to do a better job of covering these shows this season. If you would like to join FanaticSpace and devote your writing to one of these shows, or your favorite TV program, then check out how to be a writer for FanaticSpace.

Fans of the programming block were given little time to recover from this sudden and unexpected announcement. It was followed by a short, bittersweet announcement made on air following tonight’s Naruto episode. You can see it for yourself here. It didn’t end with a bang, despite their feeble attempt. It ended with a gasp and a whimper.

This was an unnecessary death caused by out of touch program directors and impatient marketing pros who enjoyed Toonami’s success but wouldn’t give it a chance to flourish again. The ones who chose to move it from different time slot to different time slot. Each time courting a different age group. There are so many wonderful animes out there, not to mention the large number of action cartoons, that CN could have chosen to revamp Toonami. Naruto is a great anime but it’s not enough all on it’s own.

Toonami is largely responsible for my, and many others, discovery and love of anime. I have
followed Toonami from it’s humble beginnings in 1997 to it’s slow, painful death Saturday night; from Moltar to all of Tom’s incarnations. It started with such classics as ThunderCats and Voltron. Then moved on to anime favs like Robotech, Sailor Moon,Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Tenchi Muyo, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin and Astro Boy. It hit it’s peak with Dragonball and Dragonball Z. At the end, the cartoon block was only anchored with one program, Naruto.

And so we mourn the loss of a true friend. A companion that helped spark imaginations and brought some of the best entertainment out there straight to our living rooms five days a week. Thanks for the memories and fun. You will be missed.

“…bang!” The parting words of both Tom and Spike Spiegel.

Acclaimed composer Bear McCreary, of Battlestar Galactica renown, does a masterful job of musically mixing it up.  Of his own creation he says, “Whether or not you’ve seen Eureka, this CD is worth checking out.  The music is a totally unique and twisted blend of folk, blues and zydeco with 80s New Wave synths, 8-bit and 16-bit video-game-inspired FM synthesis, 70’s keyboards, accordions, dobros, didgeridoo and a little Spanish Flamenco. “

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  For one thing, I’m a sucker for accordion music, ever since my south pawed brother taught me how to play “Three Blind Mice” on my Dad’s accordion (turned upside down and backwards) when I was a sprat of six.  The zydeco takeoffs are always fun and sometimes gritty, and the subtler accordion melodies are clever.

I’m not going to comment on each track, but I will list them all at the end of this post.
The Main Title theme, by former Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh and John Enroth always inspires me to attempt to whistle along with it.   To say it’s “catchy” is cliche, but  I’m okay with that.

Sheriff Carter’s Theme makes me happy.   It’s an eclectic mix of jazz with a country beat, and some bluesy vocals thrown in that remind me of the Cookie Monster.

Allison’s Theme is terribly pretty, just like the character.    It’s almost pastoral, but not saccharine.

Through the Vortex, from The Games People Play episode, grew on me with multiple listens.  The power in it is undeniable.  It’s reminiscent, though not derivative of, McCreary’s work on BSG.

The Mask of Fargo, from Noche de Suenos is without a doubt one of my favorites.  Featuring sultry Flamenco guitar by Carlos De La Paz and a wild trumpet by Peter De Siena, it doesn’t get much better than this.  Being a poor to mediocre acoustic folk player, I appreciate De La Paz’s Flamenco guitar all the more for its technical expertise as well as its beauty

Brendan McCreary’s performance on his self composed ballad, Let’s Get Hitched, from the episode, Sight Unseen manages to be soulful, yet understated.

Henry’s Theme is sooooo serious, and borderline dark.  Tormented.  Pain filled. Portentious.  Lovely.

Not so, Taggart’s Theme.  It’s xylophoned, stringed, and quirky, series thematic, with a rough rhythmic edge, not unlike his character.  Sigh.

The Laser Cannon, from a Night at Global Dynamics, has a Rock Opera overture run through a synthesizer feel to it.

Captain Ahab’s Jonathan Snipes wrote and produced Eurekaerobics, from the Duck, Duck, Goose episode.  Techno meets fitness without becoming disco.  Ya gotta love it.

Jack and Callie’s halting relationship is well expressed in their song, featured in both the Sight Unseen and Maneater episodes.

The Heathers at the science fair (Duck, Duck, Goose) and Erotomania from Maneater are great comic pieces.

A Night at Global Dynamics, from the episode of the same name, is one of the most dramatic selections on the cd.  It conveys danger, darkness, and suspense with an orchestral movie soundtrack quality.

Also from A Night at Global Dynamics, we’re treated to a zydeco introduction that blows into hard drums punctuated with a synthesizer in  Threat of Nuclear Cleaning.  The rest of the piece is sinuous, woven with wind instruments, keyboard/piano, until its abrupt dobroed end ties back to the intro.

Don’t take my tin eared word for it.  This cd is a must-have for any Eureka fan.   I’m sure the Eureka soundtrack could stand alone.  But for me, it is a pleasant reminder of the music that moves my beloved Eureka along each week.

Track Listing:

1.    Eureka On My Mind (Eureka Main Title) (0:30)
2.    Sheriff Carter’s Theme (3:27)
3.    Prehistoric Love Spores (2:38)
4.    Allison’s Theme (2:52)
5.    Through the Vortex (5:02)
6.    Fargo’s Theme (2:49)
7.    The Mask of Fargo (2:27)
8.    The S.A.R.A.H. Mobile (1:16)
9.    Let’s Get Hitched (3:54)
10.    When You Wish Upon Falling Debris (3:10)
11.     Little Big Bang (2:33)
12.    Henry’s Theme (5:21)
13.    Taggart’s Theme (2:02)
14.    The Laser Cannon (1:54)
15.    Noche De Suenos (3:23)
16.    A Nuke for Fargo (5:41)
17.    EurekAerobics (2:31)
18.    Victor’s Getaway (0:34)
19.    Henry and Beverly (4:24)
20.    Jack and Callie (2:31)
21.    Everyone’s Dumb (1:48)
22.    The Heathers (0:37)
23.    Zane on the Lam (2:42)
24.    Erotomania! (2:26)
25.    A Night at Global Dynamics (3:52)
26.    Threat of Nuclear Cleaning (2:19)
27.    A Town Called Eureka (2:10)
28.    Eureka On My Mind Reprise (Eureka End Credits)(0:51)

What To See…Beats Me!

With a cacophony of choices in a wide variety of fandoms, you can’t see everything.  Lines for many popular media based events are long, and give you no guarantee of entry even after you’ve waited for frakking ever.  For me, the choice is simple.  I don’t try.  That has it’s own pitfalls, though.  If I had tried to get into the Firefly panel with Nathan Fillion and supporting cast members, I would have been able to get in.  Instead I watched it on Dragon*Con TV .

I never seem to get to the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant either.  I’ve wanted to free my inner Klingon and be a participant myself, but dang it, I don’t know any practicing Klingons to ask for help.  Maybe next year… At 6 ft. tall, I could make a passable Klingon.  Hint, hint, is anyone out there listening?

The Dragon*Con Dealers Room is one of my favorite places to do early Christmas shopping.  Okay, yeah, I know, you can find most of the stuff online.  BUT, the Dealers Room and Exhibition Halls are like a giant bazaar of the bizarre and beautiful.  Who can resist?

I’ve been out of what I would call participatory fandom for years.  Once upon a time, I did filk and theatrical stuff back in Virginia.  Once upon a later time, I participated in the Writers Track programming at Dragon*Con.  Some years ago I went into gaffiation for a while, writing, but not attending any conventions.
Then my sister-friend and SCA maven, Dinah, reawakened my dormant fannish gene…and I started filking again.  It was all downhill from there.  Um, I mean it renewed my fannish sense of self.

I also happened to have a post-apocalypse short story published in a magazine and anthology.  Thus I participated in the Apocalypse Rising program track this year.  Discussions were lively, and the rhetoric occasionally heated.  I don’t know what it was like from the audience, but it was a blast from where I sat .

Program Track sounds so dry, doesn’t it?  There are many fandoms contained within Dragon*Con (officially or not), and each is almost a mini-con of its own.  This evolution in the ever burgeoning Dragon*Con makes it possible for fans to connect, share, and not get lost amid the proverbial teeming masses that conglomerate to make up Dragon*con (yes, I meant to say that, not congregate).

It’s exciting to walk down the halls and see the Weyrfest, Brit track, X track, gaming track, and of course, the venerable Anime/Manga track rooms, to name just a few.  Dragon*con can be as big or as small as you choose.  That factor, along with a metaphorical masochism inherent in my soul, made me return to Dragon*Con, like a stealthy prodigal fan.

If you go to nothing else big, attend the Dragon*Con parade! As a former costumer (yeah, did that, too), I am impressed by the sheer magnitude.  Costumes range from beginner level to amazing, and all promenade together.  The entire weekend is full of costumed fen, but this is definitely on my “don’t miss” list!

Tempest in a Tambourine & The Sound of Music

There was plenty of music for all tastes around the convention.  There was Jedi karaoke at a nearby café on Saturday night.

A spirited violin jam complete with a Celtic dancer/violinist happened on Monday.

Absent from filking for many years, I’m from the “old school.”  That means I am of the pitch in and try to make it work school of fandom.  Filking had changed quite a bit during my gaffiation.  I only recognized a few names, and knew even fewer in the community.  I was acquainted with a goodly amount of their music, though.

There was a dismaying flame war going on at Live Journal about past Dragon*Con filking.  Due to a variety of circumstances, there was no Filk Director this year until a few weeks before the convention.

I’d volunteered to help with the Filk track.  Eventually, one Robby Hilliard, the new Filk Director, contacted me and asked if I was still interested in helping.  Sure, what did I have to lose?

Nothing, as it turns out.  Robby Hilliard is a Celtic musician from Chattanooga   with a good head for organization and a very positive attitude (you can pay me later, Robby :-)   Working with Dragon*Con, he was able to address many of the complaints of the Filk track attendees, which had definitely outgrown its previous space.

Concerts were held in ballroom sections, and the Filk Room was dedicated to that track 24 hours a day.  Many of the usual area filkers boycotted the convention.  Both the Brobdignagian Bards and the Bedlam Bards performed to near capacity crowds before it was all over.  The Great LukeSki held two shows, despite being hampered by being asked to step up to the plate at the last minute.  Carrie Dahlby was featured as well.

Open filking was sparse this year.  We were invaded by a group of frat boy geeks on Saturday night who wanted to take over the room.

Yet, before they left, they were singing the choruses of a Battlestar Galactica filk.  Taking chorus for an easy credit paid off for them, because they weren’t bad at all.  The delightful and talented Ridikulus Music folks stopped by, featuring Luke She, and did a couple of songs as well.

With Robby the Fearless slated to be at the Filk ship bow in 2009 as well, I look forward to writing about and participating in an expanded Filk track for next year.

Ghost Hunters!

Oh, I almost forgot!  I’m a huge fan of Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International!   Due to other obligations, I didn’t get to see their panels.  I’d seen Dave Tango arrive on Friday.  However, Rob, Dustin, and Dave were in the lobby on Monday as we were taking our leave, and they allowed me to take a photo!  Woo-hoo!

And in the End…

If you asked twenty people (or 30,000+) to describe Dragon*Con, there’d be no consensus, probably not even a quorum.  Dragon*Con is as many different conventions as its fans make it.

(Photo credits:  Jedi Karaoke – Amber Hansford; Brobdignagian Bards – Les Howard
All others by Shiny1 & Chuck deVarennes.)