For Schmallturm, mainly....

...but of possible interest to the rest of you. Here's an essay written, apparently, in the early 1950s by Sam Youd, known better to us as "John Christopher" (i.e. the author of the "Tripods" books among many other things). It's sort of a look back at the first school meeting of his branch of the "Science Fiction League," one of the first attempts at fan organization introduced by Hugo Gernsback in the 1930s. It's a fun little piece and gives us a glimpse back at the "pre-Golden Age."

(And yes, his friend is right; they were used as ballast, as comic books would be later.)

I suppose finding this is another indication that I should write that "what Golden Age SF I've been reading" post at some point, huh?

UPDATE: For more great vintage stuff (from Fanzines that stretch all the way back to the early 40s at least!), check out this page. It's really neat. :-)

Ok....

...so I'm just vaguely watching The Phantom Menace on the CBC (yes, it's the only thing on and it makes a nice background) and I just saw an ad for Doctor Who. In it's first run. On a major commercial television station!

Yes, yes, I know. But it's just neat to see it for this long-time fan. That along with the amazingly good ratings on both sides of the Atlantic just makes me feel glad and, well, justified in my support of the show in some silly way. (As if to say, "See? It is awesome! Not just a 'cult classic,' but an honestly good show!" I guess it's that urge for recognition or something....)

Another observation from TPM is how much better effects have gotten just in the last 6 years. Compare digitalish creatures in RotS to this movie and it's really visible. Which is also kind of neat. You can really see the improvements in the technology....movement is more subtle, integration is better, etc. Makes me wonder what kind of things we'll see in the even-further future. King Kong, anyone?

Ok, time to go watch this week's Doctor Who now....

"The Long Game," real quick...

Saw this week's Doctor Who, written by Russell T. Davies. Very nice and creepy, especially thanks to a fantastic performance by Simon Pegg! (I have got to see "Spaced" and "Shaun of the Dead," both of which are supposed to be fantastic.) It would have been better as a multi-parter (more development) and there were a few other issues (Rose pretty much dissed the new guy for having exactly the same reaction to time travel she had, for example), but all in all it was fun, creepy and a good time.

Next up, "Father's Day," the plot of which reminds me of (among other things) a Red Dwarf episode. Kind of. As well as something else that's just on the tip of my mind, but I'll try not to dwell. ;-) I won't be watching it "live" since I promised Amythyst she could watch the season finalé of "NCIS" on at the same time. But I'll tape it and watch it sometime this week. Not a big sacrifice, and it makes her happy. Especially since she's ceded the TV to me every other Tuesday night....