NASA Predicts Non-Green Plants on Other Planets April 11, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in NASA, Science, science fiction, sciencefiction, scifi.add a comment
from the fact is stranger than fiction dept..
Apparently Earth is likely the exception when it comes to having green plants. Green, yellow or even red-dominant plants may live on extra-solar planets.
As you probably remember from biology it’s chlorophyll that makes plants green. In most plants on Earth they absorb blue and red light and less green light. Therefore, chlorophyll appears green. Though some green color is absorbed, it is less than the other colors.
According to NASA scientists, our Sun has a specific distribution of colors of light, emitting more of some colors than others.
Gases in Earth’s air also filter sunlight, absorbing different colors. As a result, more red light particles reach Earth’s surface than blue or green light particles, so plants use red light for photosynthesis. There is plenty of light for land plants, so they do not need to use extra green light. But not all stars have the same distribution of light colors as our Sun. Study scientists say they now realize that photosynthesis on extrasolar planets will not necessarily look the same as on Earth.
Read the full story on the NASA site.
Stephen King Dark Tower Gunslinger Born issue #3 review April 11, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comic books, comics, dark tower, darktower, Gunslinger Born, Marvel Comics, science fiction, sciencefiction, scifi, stephen king.2 comments
I don’t remember my father’s face.
That is, it’s been along time since i picked up a Stephen King Dark Tower book. Thanks to the new Marvel Comics Dark Tower Gunslinger Born series I’ve become a fan (again).
First off Gunslinger Born has what is arguably the best artwork ever seen in a modern comic book. Each page is visually glorious.
It’s always a challenge trying to visualize what Stephen King writes, the comic does a fantastic job of showing one vision of it…Gunslinger Born is not a sequel to Dark Tower but it is a prequel.
The third issue is as good (if not better than the first two) with young Roland meeting his future love and coming face to face with the big coffin hunters.
Beyond the awesome story in the front part of the book, Marvel has also included a text heavy appendix in this issue which explains the world in which Dark Tower occurs. I had always thought of it to be some sort of other universe – but it turns out that the world of Dark Tower is a post-apocalyptic Earth (and thus clearly SciFi material).
This is the best comic book series yet produced by Marvel and proof positive that comics truly are Art.
Star Wars : Zam Wesell set to be part of volume 4 of 30th anniversary hardcover series April 10, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Boba Fett, BobaFett, comic books, comics, Jango Fett, science fiction, sciencefiction, scifi, Star Wars, Star Wars Comic Books, Star Wars Expanded Universe Books, starwars, Zam Wesell.add a comment
Zam Wesell has a very brief role to play in Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones.
As such, it’s easy enough just to write this sentient off as a bounty hunter scum associate of Jango Fett right?
WRONG.
In this graphic novel Zam Wesell teams up with Jango Fett to actually….get this…
SAVE THE REPUBLIC.
Turns out they gave a real nutcase a weapon capable of destroying Coruscant and both Jango and Zam actually do have some kind of conscience.
This is an excellent graphic novel, solid story with decent art.
ShowMeSciFi highly recommends this graphic novel to those interested in seeing another side of this misunderstood bounty hunter.
If you can’t find the original graphic novel – not too worry you’re going to get a second chance real soon.
The original graphic novel is also set to be included in Volume 4 of Dark Horse’s 30th Anniversary Star Wars Series – so if you want to wait to see this in a freakin awesome hardcover edition..it’ll be out in June.
What if George W. Bush Was a Jedi? April 9, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in George Bush, jedi, Robot Chicken, Star Wars, starwars, The Force, YouTube.67 comments
What if George W. Bush Was a Jedi? Or at least had some Force abilities?
The dudes at Robot Chicken have a hilarious bit that tackles that issue. Clinton, Laura Bush and Abe Lincoln Beware! heheh Tacos Rule!
Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection Volume 1–The Freedon Nadd Uprising (review) April 9, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comic books, comics, Dark Horse, jedi, scifi, sith, Star Wars, Star Wars Books, Star Wars Comic Books, Star Wars Expanded Universe Books, starwars.3 comments
As mentioned recently ShowMeSci is luckly enough to have a copy of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection Volume 1–The Freedon Nadd Uprising Hard Cover.
Beyond just admiring the brilliant construction of this book (hardcover, paper stock, color) we finally got around to actually reading the comic.
The Feedon Nadd Uprising is a pretty good comic – it’s not the best – . It fills in an interesting time gap after Fall of the Sith Empire and well before Jedi vs. Sith.
In this period there are no ‘real’ Sith – but there are those who hoping that the Sith will return and are trying to bring them back. We’re still several thousand years before the rise of Palpatine.
The art is o.k, the plot solid though not extra-ordinary. No crazy plot twists occur but it’s still a fun read that is very enjoyable and a must have for any true Star Wars fan.
Without this hardcover edition, this story has been out of print for nearly a decade. Dark Horse has done a marvelous thing by making it available in such an awesome format.
The ancient Republic and their struggles with the Sith are a really exciting time period in the Star Wars Universe – For better of for worse it is with rare exception a time period that is only explored in the Dark Horse Comics (KOTOR the game and Darth Bane : Path of Destruction being the two obvious exceptions).
By choosing this era as the place to start their 30th anniversary series of Star Wars, Dark Horse is clearly reminding us all of the important role that their comics have played in the creation of the Expanded Star Wars Universe.
Stargate Atlantis Season 3 – The Return April 8, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in science fiction, scifi, stargate, stargate atlantis.add a comment
FINALLY! It’s back Stargate Atlantis is back…thank the ancients!!
AND what a great episode too.
No surprises really as the main Stargate Atlantis crew retakes the city from the replicators.
It’s too bad that the replicators killed all of the ancients – or so they claimed – might make for some interesting future plots. Then again the Atlantis crew tends to run into ancients at least 3 times a season as it is.
Also it’s not likely that we’ve seen the last of the replicators either – they still have their whole replicator world and next time around likely won’t be as ‘easy’ to defeat.
All in all a very welcome return for season 3.5 of Atlantis – a solid show with non-stop action.
What happens when New Cylons Find Old Cylons? April 6, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Battlestar Galactica, battlestar galactica comics, battlestargalactica, BSG, comic books, comics, scifi.3 comments
Just because SciFi network has no new episodes of Battlestar Galactica for another 8 months doesn’t mean that their aren’t ‘new’ BSG stories being told.
The Battlestar Galactica comic series is one such outlet
The current thread in Dynamite Entertainments main BSG #7 has a wickedly cool plot line where the fleet finds an ancient antebellum Cylon fleet (that is pre-cylon war cylons – the cylons that the colonies used to fight earch other at one point and look like te ones from the classic series – By Your Command – and all that..)that ends up taking commands from Adama. He then uses the old cylons to fight the new ones.
Why can’t the TV show do stuff like that?
I guess it’s cause Mr.Moore and crew are too tied up worrying about big moral issues and frakking around with character issues rather than trying to whoop it up with some good cylon on cylon smackdown action.
AT this point, with the show off the air for 8 months, Dynamite’s BSG comics series really is the BEST BSG ticket around.
Oh and if you ever doubted that Starbuck is a Cylon…don’t. Just check out the cover (above) for issue number 7!
TV website Seeks SciFi Writer/Editor – but don’t expect big $$ April 6, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in blog, craigslist, science fiction, scifi.3 comments
ShowMeSciFi is a volunteer enterprise with no one being paid for anything. That aside, it’s always interesting to see what others are willing to pay for this type of activity.
A new job posting on Craigslist’s in SF pegs the value at around $20 a post or so.
Here’s the job listing:
TV website Seeks SciFi Writer/Editor
Reply to: job-306903134@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-04-05, 7:12PM PDTTV website seeks part-time Writer/Editor who lives and breathes SciFi TV.Responsibilities:
– Manage the SciFi section of the site by writing or assigning, editing, posting and marketing a minimum of 5 stories/week (at least 400 words each).
– Performing telephone interviews as assigned by Managing Editor
– Marketing stories via message boards, SciFi blogs, etc.Compensation:
– $100/week
– $100/week bonus if traffic numbers are met.Requirements:
– 1-2 years experience writing and editing for online/offline publication
– Familiarity with the following shows:
• Supernatural
• Battlestar Galactica
• Heroes
• Stargate SG-1
• Dr. Who
• Smallville
– Interview skills
– The ability to turnaround stories and reviews the morning after a show airs
– Familiarity with Typepad and/or other Content Management Systems
– A love of SciFi like no otherIf you’re interested in applying for the position, please email us the following:
– Resume
– 1-2 paragraphs on why you think you’re perfect for the job (no more, no less)
– 2-3 URLS to writing samples about SciFi, one of which must be a review of a SciFi show
– List of favorite shows
Star Wars Legacy Issue # 10 : Who’s Your Mama? April 5, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comic books, comics, Dark Horse, darkhorse, science fiction, sciencefiction, scifi, Star Wars, Star Wars Comic Books, star wars legacy, starwars, starwars legacy.1 comment so far
WOW.
Star Wars Legacy is a series that just doesn’t quit. Cade Skywalker is still on the run and doesn’t make an appearance in this issue.
You might think that would be a problem – but that’s not the case at all.
Writer John Ostrander throws loyal readers are real curve with a startling revelation in this issue..
**NOT A SPOILER ALERT SINCE THE ISSUE IS ALREADY OUT BUT STILL THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING**
The female bounty hunter from Issue #9 that is also in this issue, Morrigan Corde – has a very special relationship with the person she is hunting – Cade Skywalker.
She’s he’s mother!!!
WOW.
It’s not anything that anyone could have seen coming and is proof positive that Star Wars Legacy remains the best Star Wars comic book series ever created.
The only ‘draw back’ (pun intended) in this issue is that Jan Duursema is still absent as the artist – so though the art is good – it’s not ridiculously fantastic.
Is Doctor Who the most popular SciFi show today? April 4, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in bbc, doctor who, doctorwho, Dr. Who, DRWHO, science fiction, sciencefiction, scifi.17 comments
Though Doctor Who gets short shaft in North America, if recent numbers are accurate –
Doctor Who isn’t just popular, it could well be THE MOST POPULAR SCIFI SHOW on Earth currently airing.
BBC is reporting that 8.2 million viewers watched the season three (or 30 ) premiere.It marked the premiere of a new assistant for the Doctor with the debut of Freema Agyeman.
At 8.2 million viewers Doctor Who is likely more popular than any recent episode of BSG or Stargate SG-1 or even Stargate Atlantis.
Apparently SciFi channel will be picking up the new season later this year but why should American wait? Why can’t the US get Doctor Who at the same time (or maybe a one day delay so BBC has bragging rights?).
Real die-hards are unlikely to wait till later this year and will find other means/methods to get the episodes they want to see. The BBC and SciFi would be well served to provide the content that viewers want quickly or risk missing out.
Star Wars Allegiance review April 3, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Mara Jade, scifi, Star Wars, Star Wars Allegiance, Star Wars Books, Star Wars Expanded Universe Books, Timothy Zahn.4 comments
Star Wars Allegiance by: Timothy Zahn.
Zahn is undoubtedly one of the greatest Star Wars writers working today, with his milestone Heir To Empire, Hand of Thrawn and Outbound Flight books among his accomplishments.
Unfortunately Allegiance does not rank among Zahn’s great works.
In my estimation it’s actually the worst Star Wars book he has ever written.
While all Star Wars books are written to the same formula, it’s a formula that is very poorly executed by Zahn in Allegiance.
The primary plot line – what would happen if Stormtroopers deserted their post but still remained loyal to the Empire? is a solid thread and the only thing that works.
Mara Jade makes an interesting subplot line as the Emperor’s Hand, but the plot itself is very weak as Jade herself doesn’t really understand who she is chasing or what’s going on – unfortunately neither do the readers.
The weak subplots of Leia trying to pull together Rebel factions and the other subplot with the various pirate groups (which may or may be traitors to the Empire that Mara Jade is chasing) are both very weak and barely understandable.
In fact, I felt like giving up on this book midway through since it was so poorly written from a plot point of view.
Zahn has left the door open for more books in which his deserter Stormtroopers have adventures. I would hope that when/if Lucas Licensing allows such a work to go forward that that the concurrent plot lines are properly developed with characters and not caricatures.
Allegiance is a book that was disappointing and IS NOT recommended by ShowMeSciFi.
Serenity Trounces Star Wars ?! April 3, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in firefly, scifi, serenity, serentiy, Star Wars.11 comments
There is no question that Firefly and the Serenity movie are great works of pop SciFi.
BUT..are they better than Star Wars?
Apparently that’s what readers of SFX voted in a recent poll.
At first I thought the poll was some kind of April fools joke..turns out it’s just SFX that is the fool.
Star Wars is the greatest SciFi enterprise of all time period. While others can be extremely good nothing yet produced in the history of the planet earth is better. PERIOD. Nuff Said.
2007 Hugo Award Nominees – or why SciFi is more than just Star Wars/Trek/BSG etc.. April 2, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in scifi.8 comments
While this blog spends far too much time reflecting on ‘pop’ SciFi – there is of course a much larger (and some would argue vastly more interesting and innovative) universe of SciFi that is evolving every year.
It is the job of the Hugo awards to identify the brightest stars in that universe.
The Hugo Award was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, “The Father of Magazine Science Fiction,”. The award is is given annually by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) which this year for the first time ever is being held in Japan Aug. 30-Sep. 3 (thnx William Shunn!)
‘Pop’ SciFi like Star Wars/Star Trek/BSG/Stargate and the like are easy in that they are all now established franchises that offer a very low barrier to entry. Many of us already are familiar with the constructs of those universes so it’s easy to jump in. Admittedly it is a somewhat ‘lazy’ approach to being a true SciFi fan and one that ShowMeSciFi is going to correct..starting with the Hugo’s.
(As a side note it’s interesting though to realize that ‘pop’ SciFi dominates the Dramatic Presentation, Short Form nominees list with BSG, Stargate and Dr.Who)
This year’s list of nominees are impressive and over the next few months expect to see reviews of each work of fiction listed on this blog.
Without any futher ado..the nominees are:
Novel: Eifelheim by Michael Flynn, His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, Glasshouse by Charles Stross, Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge, Blindsight by Peter Watts
Novella: “The Walls of the Universe” by Paul Melko, “A Billion Eves” by Robert Reed, “Inclination” by William Shunn, “Lord Weary’s Empire” by Michael Swanwick, “Julian: A Christmas Story” by Robert Charles Wilson
Novelette: “Yellow Card Man” by Paolo Bacigalupi, “Dawn, and Sunset, and the Colours of the Earth” by Michael F. Flynn, “The Djinn’s Wife” by Ian McDonald, “All the Things You Are” by Mike Resnick, “Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter” by Geoff Ryman
Short Story: “How to Talk to Girls at Parties” by Neil Gaiman, “Kin” by Bruce McAllister, “Impossible Dreams” by Timothy Pratt, “Eight Episodes” by Robert Reed, “The House Beyond Your Sky” by Benjamin Rosenbaum
Related Book: About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews by Samuel R. Delany, Heinlein’s Children: The Juveniles by Joseph T. Major, James Tiptree, Jr. : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon by Julie Phillips, Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio by John Picacio, Worldcon Guest of Honor Speeches edited by Mike Resnick and Joe Siclari
Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Children of Men, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Prestige, A Scanner Darkly, V for Vendetta
Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Battlestar Galactica, “Downloaded”; Doctor Who, “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”; Doctor Who, “Girl in the Fireplace”; Doctor Who, “School Reunion”; Stargate SG-1, “200”
Would you like to see more Jedi Starfighter ships and if so who? April 1, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Darth Vader, hasbro, science fiction, scifi, Star Wars, Star Wars Toys, starfighter, starwars, Yoda.3 comments
With the 30th anniversary of Star Wars upon us Hasbro has gone nuts releasing (and re-releasing) tonnes of Star Wars toys.
I just saw a Darth Vader Sith Starfighter (not a tie fighter) at Target and was totally freaked out by it.
Apparently Hasbro has even more up its sleeve and is running a poll in association with YodaNews.com to see what other starfighter fans one.
VOTE NOW voting ends on April 16th, 2007.
Personally i want to see Yoda’s starfighter…..though any new starfighter is a cool one..i’d buy Mace Windu’s too..
Get Your Own R2D2 Star Wars USPSjedimaster.com Mailbox! March 31, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in R2D2, scifi, Star Wars, starwars, USPS, uspsjedimaster.3 comments
They’ve appeared all across America and now you too can have your very own Star Wars R2D2 mailbox.
KIND OF.
Lucas Online has a PDF (linked here) which lets kids make their own little mailbox replica – sure it’s not quite the same as what the USPS has …but for now it’s what we’ve got.
300 – the hard cover graphic novel March 31, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in 300, scifi.add a comment
Sure it’s a big budget Hollywood blockbuster now – but what about the original hard cover graphic novel?
IT’S AWESOME.
First off Dark Horse has printed this in a landscape format which i’ve never seen before for a graphic novel – sort of like widescreen for comics. The story is pretty straightforward of course..it’s the art that sets this apart.
Some might keep a book of Monet prints on their coffee table – on my table (for now at least) it’s 300 all the way.
It’s not madness it’s Sparta – as drawn by one of the greatest artists who ever lived Frank Miller.
ShowMeSciFi On Twitter March 31, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in scifi, twitter.add a comment
ShowMeSciFi feed is now available on Twitter.
What does that mean? Who knows ..Twitter isn’t something that is easily explained – is it a micro blog, a stream of thought or just a waste of time? Only time will tell.
Star Wars Legacy – Is Darth Krayt a Jacen Solo descendant? March 29, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comics, han solo, jacen solo, science fiction, sciencefiction, scifi, star war legacy of the force, Star Wars, star wars legacy, star wars legacy of the force, starwars.469 comments
Star Wars Legacy which has often been reviewed here on ShowMeScifi is one of the best comic books today and likely the best Star Wars comic book series ever created.
Set far beyond any other Star Wars series -the only lineage connection we’ve had so far is Cade Skywalker – a descendant of Luke.
But what about other Star Wars family trees? Dark Horse Editor Randy Stradley recently tackled that topic in a letter to the editor q&a.
1. Are we going to learn what happened to the Solo family of this time?
There are no plans for an exploration of the Solo lineage for the forseeable future. We’re not in denial about them, it’s just that there isn’t a place for them in the story. Yet.
2. Any chance of running into any other descendents of of any other Star Wars Characters?
Oh yes my friend. Oh, yes.
4. How long are we going to have to wait until we learn who Darth Krayt is under the mask?
The answer will be revealed in issue 15.
Jacen Solo is set to become a to be named Sith in the upcoming Star Wars Legacy of the Force Sacrifice book .
My guess is that Darth Krayt is a descendant of Jacen Solo.
Anyone want to take that bet?
Steve Jobs Is A Cylon !!! March 28, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in apple, Battlestar Galactica, battlestargalactica, cylon, scifi, steve jobs, YouTube.2 comments
Steve Jobs is a cylon! Explains a lot doesn’t it?
Think about it a human looking entitiy bent on having good looking technology infiltrate and take over our lives..
It’s also the title of a really cool Battlestar Galactica fan flick in which a pair of geeks running a Mac with an iPod attached are illegally downloading a BSG episode and get a ‘virus’.
The vid really gets interesting 1:50 seconds into the video. One dude says, “Mac’s don’t get viruses’ AND then…well just watch the FRAKIN YouTube video. Great stuff, a must for all Apple haters and BSG lovers.
(oh and be sure to keep your iPod nailed down or risk get blasted)
USPSJediMaster.com is TOTALLY live now – VOTE for your fav Star Wars stamp! March 28, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in cool, jedi, scifi, sith, Star Wars, upsps.2 comments
From a galaxy far, far away…to your mailbox and just like we’ve been talking about on ShowMeSciFi for weeks.
For only the second time in its 256-year-history, the U.S. Postal Service is letting Americans vote for your favorite stamp. The winning stamp will become its own stamp sheet. The choice is from one of 15 iconic images: Darth Vader, Yoda, Luke Skywaker, Princess Leia and others
So far Vader is in the lead !
Star Wars fans everywhere will delight in the issuance of these exciting new postage stamps,” said David Failor, executive director of Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service, who hosted the stamp preview. “Because of the movies’ popularity, we believe these stamps have the potential of reaching the blockbuster status of the Elvis stamp, a milestone only the Force could attempt to surpass. The Star Wars films have timeless qualities that cross generations, just like the United States Postal Service,” said Failor, who made the announcement of the new Star Wars stamps along with R2-D2, Darth Vader and Howard Roffman, president Lucas Licensing.
Voting for the most popular Star Wars stamp will take place online at www.uspsjedimaster.com beginning today, March 28, through May 23. The winning stamp will be announced at the first-day-of-issue ceremony on May 25.
Show Me SciFi 