Then order your copy here:
www.betterworld.com
Better World will be using $5 from each copy of the last Harry Potter book sold to build five libraries in Sri Lanka and Nepal. Free shipping too!
July 20, 2007
Don’t have Deathly Hallows on pre-order yet?
July 19, 2007
Things I Like, 7/19 ed.
I’m hoping to make this a weekly thing, if I can manage; I think I can, but I can’t promise I’ll always have links to go with my Things.
But, a brief explanation, to inaugurate this set of Things: It’s very simple, really. I am not, by nature, a compulsively irritated person. I want to like the stuff I read, and I try to keep an eye out for the stuff I like, and when it turns out I’m right, I’m happy. I Like Things.
This is a small set (three to five, no more, no less) of Things I Like. These will often be Things I don’t feel get enough notice, so I’m going to show them to you in hopes that you’ll like them too and want to give them the notice they deserve.
The Luna Brothers announce THE SWORD for Image. Billed as a mix of Asian kung-fu cinema and Western fantasy (picture KILL BILL crossed with HIGHLANDER and that seems about right), it stars a 20-year-old female college student named Dara Brighton and, like all Luna Bros. productions, looks absolutely beautiful.
YOTSUBA&!, by Kiyohiko Azuma, the guy who’s responsible for AZUMANGA DAIOH. The continuing adventures of a charmingly odd little girl named Yotsuba. Cute, whimsical, but full of heart and fun, and the fourth volume just came out a week or two ago.
COPPOLA’S DRACULA, a full novella you can read for free online, by Kim Newman. Technically it’s set in his ANNO DRACULA alternate universe, but you don’t need to have read those (utterly wonderful) books to enjoy this tale of how the filming of DRACULA could have gone. I love vampire stories, and this one hits all my favorite notes.
These are a few Things I Like. Let me know what you think.
Francesco Explains It All
I’ll admit it. I have a terrible brain-crush on Francesco Marciuliano. I want to start an imaginary indie rock band with him, and take him to movies, and gaze into his eyes over coffee while we discuss our favorite euphmisms, and generally be his platonic girlfriend.
For you poor benighted souls who don’t know who Francesco Marciuliano is (and shame, shame, shame on you!), he’s the genius behind Sally Forth, one of the best comic strips currently in syndication.
“Okay,” you may say, “But what has triggered this sudden outpouring of love?” Well, I’ve just discovered Francesco Marciuliano’s blog, Francesco Explains It All, and it is even more brilliant than I could ever have guessed.
I mean, Jane Austen’s Summer Newsletter? The man is a genius.
July 16, 2007
Supergirl Reinvented
Interview with Tony Bedard over at Sequential Tart.
I’m stoked about this. Supergirl is one of those characters that I’ve always wanted to like, but I’ve been put off by Kara’s missing ribs and that crotch-length fluttery thing that I think is a skirt?
My favorite part of the interview:
But the point of the book isn’t how she looks in her skirt. It’s that growing up and finding your role in the world is hard to do, but that making the right choices is ultimately the most rewarding thing to do.
Wait a minute, back up here! Did he just say…that how a female character looks doesn’t matter? And that maybe, just maybe…the things she says and does and thinks matter more? Zoh. My. God. No way.
The Engine: Remake/Remodel
Belatedly, I discover a thread on The Engine where people reimagine Witchblade’s Sarah Pezzini. Many good submissions, most of them with pants, but I believe Bryant Paul Johnson’s really gets the core of the character.
FSF&FF Carnival! Yay!
The 15th Carnival of the Feminist Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fans is up at Feminist SF – The Blog!
Dear Kirby,
I regret the delay between letters, but sometimes life gets in the way of correspondence and I had some important work-related issues to handle. We stumbled across a remarkable find in the North Centuria II site. Last month’s dig yielded evidence of a yearly festival held in this area known as “Wiscon.”
Yep, it’s the WisCon31 round-up: con reports, panel write-ups, and discussions inspired by WisCon31! But if that isn’t your bag, there’s also plenty of other great links. Fantastic as always.
July 15, 2007
History of Dazzler
At one point in her creation, Dazzler was going to be black. (Scroll down for a concept picture by John Romita.)
I don’t know enough about the character to know whether that would have been a good thing or a bad thing but it could certainly have been interesting.
Old But Great
Via Daegaer.
Merle Hoffman’s “Facing the Dragon: Reflections on Female Heroism” from the On The Issues archives examines the need for female heroes, and the shameful way the media approaches real life examples: