Here’s to Halloween, with an eye on November!

Vampire Hunter D, drawn by one of my favorite artists, Yoshitaka Amano.

As I don’t forsee much work being completed this weekend, let me fire off a shot before this mad weekend begins… HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Now that I got that out of my system, let me say that if I don’t dress up as War Machine this time next year, my life can be summed up as an all-around failure. Until then, we got some good stuff coming in the near future. I’m charging through Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings (literally 75% done), and hope to have a review done for the coming week. I also have something major to announce on the site next week in honor of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month!), as well as some tips to get my other aspiring writers on their grind.

Good things are coming folks, so stay tuned!

p.s. – we’re also looking for a few good writers for the site, so if you’re interested, get in touch with me at shaka@paperspaceships.com

And since I actually have been using it lately (to stalk great writers), hit up the twitter account and we’ll make fun of the internets. TOGETHER.

Fall’s Bountiful Harvest

I think it is safe to say that fall has arrived.  While it is still technically summer ( I know because Coney Island is still open everyday),  the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees and crunch underfoot, network television channels are announcing new line-ups, New York Comic Con approaches and Spiderman: Turn off the Dark has officially annouced a start date on Broadway. … Continue Reading

The Second North American Discworld Convention is announced!

Hello out there all you Terry Pratchett fans!  Already I can hear some of you thinking…”Terry Who?” I know he is not a very well known author here in the states, but he is a terrific fantasy/satire writer.  He has written over 36 books in the discworld series, all of which satirize a few different themes found here on planet earth (rock and roll, religion, crime procedurals, the banking system, the postal system, etc). 

Yes, this is basically a convention for one author.  It takes up a whole convention space, and is filled with crazy people like myself that love Terry Pratchett and all the wonderful books he has brought into this world.  We watch movies, have masquarades, banquets, and seminars on that range in topics from Terry’s works to how to write your own book and get it published.  There is drinking and singing and dancing and board games and free food and great people from all over the world (I met a guy from Switzerland at the first convention). Again, all gathered in one place to celebrate one author.  But really, how many authors can claim to have written a truly funny and educational/thoughtful book about the banking system?  I mean it sounds like an oxymoron.  Or to be the most shoplifted author in 1996? (I have no current stats).  How about over 55 million copies sold in over 36 languages?  Also, Terry Pratchett has been knighted for his work in literature.

Knighted for work in fantasy literature! 

Too cool.    How did we not know about this guy in the states? … Continue Reading

Attention Word Nerds: It’s National Poetry Month!

If you have ever attended the National Poetry Slam, you will know that one of the largest daytime events that occurs there annually is the Nerd Slam. We nerds take the stage and pour our hearts out to you regarding our deep emotional losses as related to LARPing or Mario Brothers or comic books. One example of iconic nerd bravado:

April is National Poetry Month, and to celebrate, here are a couple of spots to geek out online, poetically speaking:

Geek Haiku “Forgot your flashlight? / In the darkness you have been / Eaten by a Grue.”

Godzilla Haiku “King of All Monsters / Protector or Destroyer / Soothe my troubled heart.”

Amber Tamblyn You might know her as Joan of Arcadia. You might roll your eyes because she was in those Traveling Pants movies. But her book “Bang Ditto” was recognized as one of the most noteworthy of 2009.

It’s a great month to be a word nerd. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go compose that love sonnet to my own personal Scott Pilgrim…

I want to go to there

I’m one of those people that’s still waiting for their letter, anxiously. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan for about half my life (I read the first book when I was in sixth grade, a few months after it was published), which makes me feel old. But it’s given me quite a bit of time to cultivate a healthy obsession with all things Harry Potter.

So, it’s no wonder that I almost hyperventilated when I found this video–albeit just glimpses of the park–on Scholastic, Inc.’s blog earlier this week from a piece USA Today did.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Also, if you’d like to check out the really unique rides and other attractions that’ll be in the park, head on over to the official website here.

I’ve already started saving for my trip.

Dorktastic #1! EXTERMINATE! AUCTION!

Hopefully better condition Dalek's are available.

Just like Peter Dinklage, this will be short and sweet.

I wish I was rich and was able to come and go as I pleased because on the 24th of February starts the big Doctor Who auction where they’ll be selling tons of items from the show’s years of wonderful sci-fi goodery.

Yes, it’s so dorktastic, I’m making up words as I go along.

It’s going down at Bonhams in Knightsbridge. Anyone want to lend me £3,000 so I can buy myself my very own Dalek? I know I don’t have any room in my apartment but I’m thinking I need it to live now.