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Happy Star Wars Day! :)

And the Nominees Are...

Hugo Awards were just released yesterday. This award is the most prestigious award in the speculative fiction dramas, awarding everything from best novel to best fan writer. Nominees, and winners, are chosen by members of Worldcon. However, it is possible to have no winner for a category.

The nominees and categories strive to offer seasoned writers, and newcommers, a chance to be recognized and added to the growing list of estemeed writers who have won in years past.

To view the complete list of nominees, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3sjajrw

Mourning in April

The month of April has seen the lost of two of the genres' influential women, and both from cancer:

Diana Wynne Jones

"How's Moving Castle is perhaps" the novel and film that first comes to mind when thinking of Jones. Her esteemed story of Sophie and Howl is full of memorable elements, including wizards and fire demons. Her novels were written typically in the Fantasy genre for children and adults, though she has written a small amount of nonfiction. Her stories typically range from amusing to social criticism.

Jones had grown up, with her two younger sisters, in a rather neglected household. She studied in Friends School Saffron Waldon, and attended St. Anne's College in Oxford, where she heard C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien give lectures; graduating in 1956.

Neil Gaiman wrote a nice long entry on his blog concerning the death of his mentor. Jones was 76 years old, and died of lung cancer. You can read his entry here: http://tinyurl.com/4epmp2x


Elisabeth Sladen


Sladen started her career as one of the most famous "Dr. Who" companions in 1973, after Katy Manning left the show. Playing opposite Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor, Sladen became the beloved Sarah Jane Smith, and stayed on for three and a half seasons; as Pertwee finished as the Third Doctor, and Tom Baker picked up as the Fourth Doctor. Her departure from the series made front page news, and she returned later as guest appearances. Later she went on to have her own successful television spinoff series: "The Sarah Jane Chronicles."

Sladen began her performing life at the age of five by dancing in a production with the Royal Ballet. After attending drama school, she later traveled across England and appeared in numerous plays, such as Desdemona in "Othello."


Sladen worked on "Dr. Who" and "The Sarah Jane Chronicles" until 2010. She died at age 65 from cancer.

Review: Sucker Punch

Zack Snyder is known for pushing the limit on his films, and "Sucker Punch" is no exception.

While this film is not the most brilliant science-fiction/fantasy film ever made, it is not terrible. It is clear Snyder worked on the plot of the film for many years. While it was originally planned to be filmed and released prior to "Watchmen," the extra years probably did the story good. To be honest, it might have needed just a few more months to sit before fully moving forward with the project.

Snyder has said in interviews that he had argeuments with WB on whether or not women can hold a film. Snyder argued that there are not enough strong female leads like this out there. While this idea is good to start a basis of a film, when glancing at the surface of the film, it can be seen as a contradiction. Snyder names his characters things such as "Babydoll" or "Sweet Pea." Not to mention the first perception in a brothel. While the intention is there, there is concern as to whether the execution was right. However, Snyder's early career as a comic artist and writer, as seen in his adaption of his graphic novel "300" helped him balance the exoticism of women. By presenting the scenes in the film in views of a comic lens, he places before the audience the obvious extremism of the film, forcing the audience to think past what they see.

Emily Browning was not the original choice for the lead role, but was certainly the better. Compared to the first choice, Amanda Seyfried, she plays on her short stature and delicateness to its full potential when seducing the men to distract them from her plans of escape. While in the second layer of perception, the steampunk fantasy world, she proves just because she is little, it doesn't mean she cannot pack a punch.

While the acting was a little flat, and the Madame Gronski (Carla Gugino, also in "Watchmen") narration near the end grew a tad old, the overall execution of the film, I found was enjoyable. The story focuses on Babydoll losing everything she has known and loved, and being sent to an Institution. The film takes place in the year 1955, which is just on the edge before the Institution reforms. The main set of girls she works to escape with, Rocket, Sweet Pea, Blondie, and Amber, are all sent in for reasons that, after the reform, would not be considered grounds for institution. Babydoll has five days to escape before the "high-roller" comes in for her. Essentially, her father bribes the main orderly, Blue, to send Babydoll for a lobotomy.

Snyder also effortlessly creates remakes of popular songs such as "Where is my Mind" by The Pixies, and "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane, to fit the film. These songs weave in and out of the plot to assist the storytelling, rather than inhibit it; offering another perspective of Babydoll's mentality in this destructive world. I would definitely suggest this film if you're a female in the mood for some action and "girl power." However, if you are expecting brilliant Snyder science fiction, you will not find it here. Entertainment and visually appealing classic steampunk fantasy would be all you would receive.

While I have already posted the trailer in my last piece on the subgenres of science fiction, I will simply leave you with the remake of The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows."

New Season of Doctor Who

Doctor Who's new season is just around the corner. Matt Smith and Karen Gillan have managed to settle into their roles, and fans are excited for the upcoming season. On Easter, the show will premier in both America and England at the same time. American fans can now relax that they will not have to wait weeks after the show airs, trying to avoid spoilers, like they have for other famous BBC shows.

The new season will also showcase some well-known science fiction/fantasy writers, such as Neil Gaiman. While he is also currently remaining quiet on what his episode contains, he wrote the trailer has eight shots of his episode, as well as dialogue. It has, however, been revealed on Geeksofdoom.com (http://tinyurl.com/45p823d) that the name of the episode is "The Doctor's Wife," and will be the fourth episode of the season.

Watch the full-length Doctor Who promo:

A Genre of Subgenres

Science Fiction is often referred to as a genre, but it is possibly best explained as an umbrella genre. There are three types of Science Fiction, five eras, and at least tweleve sub-characteristics. As the genre grows each year, emerging in and out of the mainstream eye, as do these subgenres.

Three of the most famous of these are: Space Opera, Cyberpunk, and Steampunk. While these are some of the most common, it cannot be forgotten that most of the subgenres blend together to create the final product. With Zac Snyder releasing the first mainstream Steampunk film, here's a look back on some of the more famous of the three subgenres:

Space Opera

There is only one space opera that has claimed the hearts of millions of viewers in the world, both sci-fi fans and simply moviegoers alike: Star Wars.

George Lucas spent years into putting together the first film. Originally intended to just be Star Wars, the popularity surprised Lucas, and thus persuaded him in creating the Star Wars saga. Star Wars set the standard for science fiction films. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, is even considered the best science fiction film ever made. While the franchise has expanded to novels, video games, and expanding on both the Old Republic, and the issues of the New Republic, nearly 34 years later, and the saga shows no signs of slowing down.

Cyberpunk

With titles such as "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" and the film, "Neuromancer" cyberpunk emerged from the science-fiction genre as an era in the 80s/90s. Coined by Bruce Bethke with his short story "Cyberpunk," the era featured advance science, information technology concepts, themes of a breakdown or radical order in the social order, hackers, AI, and more.

"The Matrix" is perhaps one of the most remembered of the Cyberpunk era films. With Keanu Reeves playing the protagonist, Neo, and Hugo Weaving as his antagonist, Agent Smith, the story follows the course of the humans fighting to be awakened and reclaim Earth. While the triology found itself taking turns into different, dark corners of the subgenre that possibly should not have been addressed, it managed to create a complete story that affected novels, and even anime, in the Cyberpunk era.

Steampunk

The youngest of the movements, currently still in a characteristic/subgenre phase. Although it is slowly making its way to declare itself as a movement. With the first ever Steampunk Expo in 2010, in Michigan, Steampunk has garnered a following of millions, creating a subculture as it works to declare itself an era.

The concept of Steampunk is best described with a question: What would happen if the Industrial Revolution was pushed back a century? Throw in mythological creatures and you are now a part of Steampunk.

Zac Snyder (Watchmen, 300) will be releasing the first mainstream Steampunk film later this month. "Sucker Punch" may not be your average Steampunk story, but it has a lot of potential of setting the groundwork for future Steampunk films. It follows the story of a young girl, played by Emily Browning (A Series of Unfortunate Events), who is institutionalized by her evil stepfather. With the advice of Madam Gorski, played by Carla Gugino (Watchmen), she retreats into an alternate realtiy to devise a way for her, and the other girls, to escape.

Watch the trailer: