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AMAFSR Newsletter for February, 2006
Our Featured Member's Of The Month
Universe Pathways is a sci-fi, fantasy, horror literature and art magazine from Greece. In Greek and English (scroll down a bit). All about gothic, comics, anime, science, music,paranormal, cinema, digital art, photography, RPG, fantasy and war games, paintings, alternative art and cinema. All writers and artists are welcome to submit work to the magazine. URL: www.innerzed.com/sites/kosmic/main4.html
Camarila's Image Galleries : Includes over seventy image galleries by popular artists. There are also episode guides, photos and links for 35 Sci-Fi and Horror TV shows. (Also a Sci-Fi and Horror Movie Poster page!) URL: members.fortunecity.com/camarila/
Darren's Sci-Fi Freak Site : The Sci-Fi world according to Darren (not Garp). Reviews, episode and character guides, links, opinions and free e-books. Information on fourteen different television shows, and more to come! URL: www.scififreak.me.uk
Editorials, Opinions and Special Interest Articles
Don't Try To Change Me by Amy Lynn
I have an interesting attraction to odd and unusual things. This goes for the company I keep as well. I certainly hope they aren't insulted by that, because it's true. I don't like typical 'normal' people. And I don't like the thought of ever becoming one either. Only in business am I somewhat 'normal' and expect others to be too. But I'm not in business mode all the time nor most my friends when we speak. I speak strangely online saying 'buy' instead of 'bye' and 'nyte' instead of 'night' much like my 'cooliage' instead of 'cool' or pardon me while I shiver at the spelling of this 'kool.' Many think my unique way of wording things is cute and makes me special. Which I'm not trying to be either, I'm just trying to be me online without conforming to Borgness. I have been spelling this way since 1997 in messengers and chat rooms. I'm not about to change now because of anyone but me. I certainly don't expect my friends or family to change their way of speaking, simply to please me.
Those that don't really know me simply try and change me. Correcting me, or teasing me. Got a family member like that, who insisted I spell check all of Annika's and change the words 'allot' to 'a lot', which is a common mistake, and has thusly been corrected. You’d think that's where it would stop but it hasn't. It's progressed to the fact I spell many things in Proper English. By that I mean British, favourite instead of favorite. I understand wanting to help out with spelling mistakes but it's a bit different when it comes down to changing someone's language. I'm sure many can relate to being teased for being you and not fitting in one way or another. And here we thought it was only in school we would face these types of issues. Seems we will never get away from the judgement of others.
I am reminded of the song "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore: "You don't own me, don't try to change me in any way." "Oh I don't tell you what to say, I don't tell you what to do, So just let me by myself."
AmyLynn is a regular contributor to the AMAFSR. To read more of her excellent work, please click on Annika's.
Letters to the Editor
From: K'Chara at Klingon Cultural Institute
Re: Captain k'alaa's Corner for February, 2006
I have to say that I don't feel so. Of course, I don't get to watch nearly as much as I used to (lack of cable..lol), but the things I see on the Sci-Fi channel when I get a chance to watch, I would never let my children watch. Although I've not seen the new Doctor Who, things like BattleStar Galactica and Stargate (take your pic which one) are not intended for children by any stretch of the imagination, in my honest opinion. That, and most of the movies that come on are more of a horror/slasher genre rather than Sci-Fi, and my children don't watch. I never got into the shows on the network channels that come on during primetime. I don't even remember the names of them... something like Surface, I think, and there was another one? So I can't comment on those.
Captain k'alaa's Corner
This article was originally published April, 2003, and republished to honor the fortieth anniversary year of Star Trek. Enjoy!
Suspend Disbelief, Use Real Ideals
The great thing about science fiction is the idea that we can suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy whatever television show, book, movie or audio drama we are listening to, and in the deepest part of our beings hope, even wish that some of it could come true or may come true. I know that most people over the age of eleven are aware that it is science Fiction, but is the Science part we latch onto. In its many forms, sci-fi takes us to other worlds, other realities, other points of view, adding to our world and sparking our imaginations. How many times have any of us heard a science fiction fan say what their favorite story inspired them to do! Astronauts, doctors, engineers, actors, lawyers, politicians…the list is endless.
The Man In The Mirror
I think we as fans tend to also underestimate just what a good story can inspire us to achieve. There are two sides of the coin. Most people turn on a science fiction show, or any television show to escape reality, even if it is only for thirty minutes. If we could capture what it is that keeps us watching, that bit of inspiration that makes a television show a positive habit, and use it in our own lives to make the world a better place, I believe it would improve our lives and our outlooks as well. We are all the "man in the mirror"…we look at ourselves everyday, but what do we see? Do we see ourselves in our favorite science fiction? Do we hear the ideas and philosophies of good science fiction viscerally, and pay no heed, or do we take them into our hearts and souls and use those good ideas to help ourselves and others?
I ask that we look more deeply into the ideals of whatever your favorite science fiction brings, find the positive traits that are so appealing, and use them as best we can in our everyday lives. It's not necessary to quote your favorite show ad nauseum, til your friends, family, school mates or coworkers tease you or turn away in frustration. Use the objective part of your brain. Suspend disbelief long enough to look at the motives of the characters, and the ideals the show seems to be bringing to you. Then, when you make decisions, or in your dealings with your fellow human beings, bring some of the wonder, compassion, curiosity and fun to play. It can make a difference in someones life, it has in mine. I have listened to groups of Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars and Babylon 5 fans talk about their favorite shows (not to leave out quite a few others). The same theme seems to run through all these conversations. The theme of caring for your fellow beings, making a difference in other lives, and teaching us to be curious about the universe. The quest to know, and the inspiration to learn. The idea that what someone does can make a difference.
Getting Back To Our Roots…Looking To the Future
Science fiction began in books and newspapers. One thing I think all true science fiction fans should do is open their minds to the past. Read and watch other science fiction stories. Pay attention to science fiction in as many forms as possible. Old science fiction can tell us how far we have come, and new science fiction can tell us where our favorite genre is headed. Also, biographies and backstories of our favorite stories can show us what it takes to make good science fiction, and to appreciate the real human effort involved in these projects.
Do You Have A Creative Streak?
Write. Draw pictures. Take photographs. Do whatever it takes and wherever your interests lie to keep your creative spark flowing. When I was a kid, I wrote stories just for fun. I had no intention of allowing anyone to read them. I did this for my own enjoyment. A friend of mine is an avid "air guitarist"! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has a spark of creative imagination that should never be allowed to wink out.
I can almost hear someone say "but I'm…", as in "but I'm too
old…" "but I'm too busy…" "but I'm not talented…" Tell yourself you will not say "but I'm". Give yourself the rare and beautiful gift of trusting in your creative spark. Even if no one else sees or appreciates it, it is your gift to yourself that counts.
Ever since I was six, I have been a science fiction fan. It has
sparked my imagination for decades. As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate more aspects of science fiction. I hope we all learn to appreciate more as time goes by, and integrate the things we like most into our lives in one form or another. Positive ideals and goals can enrich our lives and make our spirits soar.
Would you like to make a comment or share your opinion on this or any other article in this Newsletter? Please email us at kinda@msn.com, with your comments. Please let us know what month, which article, and where you read this. Your letter could be in the next Admiral Mudd and Friends Site Ring Newsletter.
Reviewer's Retreat
This month, another in our series of Drew's Reviews : Everlasting Matches and Name Dropping - The Adventures of the Eighth Doctor (The Big Finish Audios), starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor and India Fisher as Charley Pollard.
2005 saw the BBC broadcast two new Doctor Who series, but only one of them hit the headlines. The second series saw the return of the Eighth Doctor to the BBC but this time it was to radio. BBC 7 broadcast the first season of Big Finish Eighth Doctor audio adventures.
The Eighth Doctor, as played by Paul McGann, had only one previous BBC outing in the 1996 television movie. This received mixed reviews but not enough interest to spin-off into a new series. There it seemed the Eighth Doctor would languish, almost forgotten (accept by Doctor Who fans arguing about his being a "real" Doctor) until Big Finish came along.
In January 2001 they released their first Eighth Doctor adventure, Storm Warning, and now, the Eighth Doctor finally had new Doctor Who adventures. With Storm Warning also the Doctor got his own companion, Charley Pollard - a 1930's "flapper" and adventuress in her own right.
The following four years saw four complete seasons of audio adventures, plus a special to mark the fortieth anniversary of Doctor Who, and also saw the Eighth Doctor and Charley go from strength to strength. Both of these characters were given a breath and chance to grow unseen in Doctor Who, until Russell T Davies gave us the Ninth Doctor and Rose.
Like all previous Doctor Who seasons there have been highs and lows to the Eighth Doctor's stories, but over all the standard here has been high. The standout stories, thought, were Neverland and, the special marking Doctor Who's fortieth anniversary, Zagreus. Neverland was the finale of the second season and Zagreus was the culmination of the events set in motion in Neverland, it also saw The Doctor and Charley leaving our universe for the anti-time universe. The second season also saw an interesting and ultimately challenging story acre involving Charley. The Doctor first rescued Charley from the doomed British airship R101, and so created a paradox because she should have died in that crash. The second season followed through with that paradox; the sinisterly dark The Chimes of Midnight actually dealt with some of the consequences of Charley's death/disappearance, and culminated in Neverland - which revolved around one of Gallifrey's more darker secrets.
The third and fourth seasons were set in the anti-time universe (a place revealed in the Zagreus story) as the Doctor and Charley wondered through The Interzone. There they met C'rizz, who became the Doctor's second companion, introducing a new dynamic into their relationship. This certainly gave us some of the strangest Doctor Who stories from Big Finish.
Mark Gatiss, Rob Shearman and Paul Cornell, writers on the recent television series of Doctor Who, all have written *****s for these Eighth Doctor stories (Rob Shearman writing two very different stories), all providing very different stories; and it does lead to the question, did their work here lead onto them writing for the new television series?
The most memorable thing, though, about these Big Finish Audios has been the relationship between the Doctor and Charley, perfectly handled by Paul McGann and India Fisher. These are two friends, two very close friends, who live through extraordinary adventures together. Throughout these audios, especially during the first two seasons, we are shown the development of this friendship. When, in Neverland, the Doctor has to seriously consider allowing Charley to be killed it is almost painful to listen to. When, in Zagreus, Charley has to go on an elaborate quest to save the Doctor you believe in her single-minded determination. The introduction of C'rizz, in the third season, could have so easily upset the whole dynamic. Fortunately, this too is handled well. Charley is the experienced time traveller while C'rizz is the character who is new to the whole experience - and C'rizz came with his own set of demons.
It’s becoming a cliché but one that's all too true, the acting and production values of all these audios have been high, but with Big Finish that is something you can almost reply upon. There are also some interesting and memorable guest stars here (Gareth Thomas, Michael Sheard, Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson and Don Warrington, to name a few). But the real acting credits must go to Paul McGann and India Fisher. Finally given the Doctor Who series television denied him, Paul McGann develops and deepens the quirky and impulsive character he created in the television movie, but he also brings heart and emotions to the role. With Charley Pollard, India Fisher could have easily fallen back on the cliché of the Doctor Who companion, the well-spoken screamer. Instead, she fills Charley with more pluck and self-confidence then really should be good for her. She makes Charley's desire for adventure all too real, yet also invests her with strength and resourcefulness. Together they have an all-too-real chemistry that makes their characters' deep and strong friendship equally real.
Unfortunately, due to the return of Doctor Who to our television screens, Big Finish announced that The Next Life was the last in the Eighth Doctor's serial adventures. Now, like the other Doctor Who audios they produce, the Eighth Doctor will be stand-alone-stories. Gone are the story arcs and on-going struggles. This, certainly, feels like a loss because so much of the strength and enjoyment of these audios was the development of characters and storylines (especially so in the second season of stories). But the Eighth Doctor will still live on in Paul McGann's assured hands.
Summer 2005 saw the first season of Big Finish Eighth Doctor stories broadcast on BBC 7 (the BBC's digital radio channel). Finally, the Eighth Doctor has come back to the BBC, and a whole new audience have discovered Paul McGann's quirky and idiosyncratic Doctor. Big Finish should certainly be proud of the life and scope they breathed into these Eighth Doctor audio adventures.
Drew Payne is a regular reviewer for the AMAFSR. To read more of his interesting work, please go to Drew's Doctor Who Zone, at: www.drewpayne.co.uk/pages/07_doctor_who_zonepag.html
Would you like to see your opinion in print? Are you a science fiction fan with a lot to say about your favorite story, game, book, or show? Send your opinions or reviews to kinda@msn.com, with the title of your review and where you read this article. It could be in the next edition of the AMAFSR Newsletter.
Member's Announcements
jc1701.com has been revamped! Open for browsing again, it has many new links, including all the Treks, firefly, Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis, Star Wars, and many more! Pics from DragonCon conventions as well. We welcome you to get lost in the links and information! URL: jc1701.com/
Join us at Science Fiction in the month of March for a group read of Octavia Butler's critically acclaimed novel Parable of the Sower. We'll be taking a look at this glimpse into the near future together and discussing and posting about it here in the Books & Authors forum. Octavia Butler is a writer that many of our regulars have expressed interest in checking out, so this is a great opportunity. All are welcome to join in the fun!
   
Carmine Falcone: [frantically loading his shotgun] What the hell are you?
[Batman breaks open the limo's sunroof and pulls Falcone out]
Bruce Wayne: I'm Batman! -- Batman Begins
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