News and Blog Updates: May 25, 2008

News Headlines:
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Pacific Fen Spotlight's latest episode is now up for viewing: http://www.pac-fen.com/episodes/E109-Emerald_City_ComiCon_6/

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The Leap Back 2009 Quantum Leap Convention - March 27-29, 2009, Los Angeles, CA
Featuring Scott Bakula & Dean Stockwell with 48 additional special guests and stars!

Website: http://www.leapback2009.com/

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CNN - "Giant 'telescope' links London, New York"
CNN has an astounding article that should be of interest to the Steampunk crowd. Put on you brass goggles read about the Telectroscope!

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Are We Alone - Next show available May 26, 2008 "Robots on the Move"

They can walk, roll, swim, and even dance to that funky music. Okay, so they're a little stiff on that one. But today's robots are not content to just sit and hum in a corner - they're movers and groovers, and not only on this planet. We'll go to the International Conference on Robotics and Automation and meet the latest in automatons - from aluminum chefs that whip up omelets to underwater machines that undulate like fish. Also, the robot challenge - building autonomous robots to scour the Red Planet. And, touchdown for the Phoenix Mars Lander. Guests: To be Announced. You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/

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Are We A Blog? - Sure, they can survey Mars for us, but can they make breakfast?


Headlines From SF News Sites:
io9 has several posts about the happenings this week at Wiscon, plus a post about PKD's "Cosmic Puppets, resurrecting Tazzie, and apparently we need to keep an eye on our cooking oil ** Locus Online posted news of the SF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and the passing of Robert Asprin ** RevolutionSF has a Newsblast, and remembers Robert Asprin ** Science Fiction Awards Watch writes about the Compton Crook Award Winner ** SF Signal has Darth Vader on Sesame Street, space travel lessons from Disney, and lot's of tidbits ** SFScope writes that Barbara Roden has sold a collection to Prime Books, and Norilana is establishing new imprint exclusively for the works of Tanith Lee ** StarShipSofa listed two new podcasts

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io9: Cool and Crap Awards of the Week [Cool And Crap], Life Deep Beneath the Ocean Floor Bodes Well for Aliens [Extreme Living], Hey, Hey, It's The Zeroids! 1968 [Retro Futurism], The Dreams of Doctor Who and Star Trek Fans vs. the Realities of Their Lives [Research], See You at Wiscon! [Wiscon], The Evolution of Philip K. Dick's "Cosmic Puppets" [Philip K. Dick], GM's "Futurama" Exhibit: Three Wheeled Rocket Car [Concept Art], Resurrecting the Extinct Tasmanian Tiger from Preserved DNA [Mad Science], & Fuel-Hungry Pirates Steal Used Cooking Oil to Run Their Cars [Dystopia]

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Locus Online: News: SF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Death: Robert Asprin, Monitor: Classic Reprints, & Awards News: Compton Crook Award Winner

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RevolutionSF: RevolutionSF Newsblast : Cinematic Titanic, MST3K, Futurama (News), RevolutionSF Remembers Robert Asprin (Feature), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Review),

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Science Fiction Awards Watch: Compton Crook Award Winner

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SF Signal: Darth Vader Recites the Alphabet and Counts to Ten, Everything I Always Wanted to Know About Space Travel I Learned From Walt Disney, SF Tidbits for 5/24/08, This Week's Free Tor Book: Touch of Evil by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, Friday YouTube: A Bunch of Batman Wall-Climbing Cameos, SF Tidbits for 5/23/08, Tube Bits for 05/23/2008, & RIP: Robert Asprin

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SFScope: Updates to Previously Published Articles (18-24 May 2008), Author Robert Asprin Dies, Barbara Roden sells collection to Prime Books, New POD/ebook publisher looking for fantasy, Fantasy Magazine buys seven short stories, David Walton wins second annual Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest, World Science Festival to celebrate science in New York City, & Norilana establishing new imprint exclusively for the works of Tanith Lee

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StarShipSofa: StarShipSofa No 90 StarShipSofa Back Shows mp3, & StarShipSofa No 89 John Scalzi mp3

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The Website at the End of the Universe: Top 7 list of science fiction lists I read this week


Selected Blog Updates:
Take a look at the lastest news from Fantagraphics Books ** announces that "Prophet’s Choice" is coming June 1st! ** Heather S. IngemarJAMES AND DADDY (& MUMMY) head off to London for vacation ** Jeremy C. Shipp finds "The best horror site in the universe" ** Kung Fu Grindhouse is looking for photos of you in your KFG t-shirt ** Lois McMaster Bujold finds someone is reading her books in Antarctica ** has several news announcements ** Spokane ComiconTor Books posted 5 new entries ** Yasmine Galenorn posted "Faerie Tales, Health, & A New Dragon Wytch Excerpt! "

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Alethea Kontis - "Robert Asprin, RIP ", & "Tea in Space & Bright Yellow Silly Putty "

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Boxcar Astronaut - "Paper Airplanes Are GO! "

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Cathy Clamp - "Meijer READ THIS! book tour authors announced! "

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Cynthia Leitich Smith - "Tantalize Fan Trailer by Jaden; Darren Shan Fan Art; Official Soul Enchilada Trailer ", & "Children’s-YA Book & Writer News; Giveaways; Narnia Movie "

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Echelon Press, LLC - "The man, the mystery, the magazine! "

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Fantagraphics Books - "Fantagraphics invades MoCCA 2008! ", & "June 7: The World of Steve Ditko at Jim Hanley’s Universe! "

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Fantasy Book Critic - "NEW Fantasy Book Critic GIVEAWAYS for the Month of May 2008!!!"

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HARPER PERENNIAL - "Armistead Maupin - New Paperback On-Sale Now "

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Heather S. Ingemar - "Prophet’s Choice coming June 1st! "

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Horror Library Blog-O-Rama - "It’s All About Commitment By AJ Brown "

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JAMES AND DADDY - Update 25th May 2008

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Jeff Carlson - "MIND PLAGUE MIND PLAGUE MIND PLAGUE "

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Jeremy C. Shipp - "The best horror site in the universe"

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Kung Fu Grindhouse - "Your Kung Fu Grindhouse "

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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - How to blend in with crowds

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Lois McMaster Bujold - "Bujold books in Antarctica confirmed "

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Marianne De Pierres - "Falcata Times "

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Planet Pride - "Cassini Flies By Titan, Readies for Extended Tour "

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PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME (aka Jaret Ferratusco) - "UPDATE: Preview of chapters in userpics section. "

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Spokane Comicon - "Who Wants a Gift Bag? ", "DC comics supports Spokane Comicon ", & "Spokane Comicon exclusive giveaway "

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Tor Books - "Sly Mongoose review and book trailer ", "Review of Steward of Song ", "Curledup.com review of The Stars Down Under ", "Book Trailer for Patti O’Shea’s In Twilight’s Shadow ", "A few recent reviews for The Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass ", & "Our MySpace video channel is up "

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Willie Meikle - "Story publication in Spanish "

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Writer's Digest - "Moving with the Trends "

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Yasmine Galenorn - "Faerie Tales, Health, & A New Dragon Wytch Excerpt! "