STAR WARS VS. STAR TREK: COULD THE EMPIRE KICK THE FEDERATION'S ASS? -- book review by porfle

Originally posted on 7/16/11

 

If you want to stir up a fanboy fracas, just start theorizing about which classic sci-fi franchise is more badass--Star Wars or Star Trek.  Each side has its legions of fanatical followers, and even those who enjoy both are likely to have their druthers.  Me, I love Star Wars as much as the next geek, but Star Trek is my life.  In fact, I actually remember when ST:TOS was the most sleek, modern-looking show on TV, and Star Wars was just a gleam in George Lucas' bong. 

Anyway, about that fracas--that's exactly what author Matt Forbeck is aiming for with his new book, STAR WARS VS. STAR TREK: COULD THE EMPIRE KICK THE FEDERATION'S ASS? And Other Galaxy-Shaking Enigmas (Adams Media, $14.95).  Forbeck (whose own bias seems apparent in the title) places the various characters, hardware, philosophies, and other concepts into conflict in a series of hypothetical encounters that might occur if the two galaxies were to somehow overlap.  Each segment includes a description of each participant, a brief play-by-play of their imaginary run-in, and the resulting victor, with a tally of wins and draws at the end of each chapter.

The hefty paperback (240+ pages) is loaded with background information about each franchise and its characters, plus forewords by Jeremy Bulloch ("Boba Fett" of Star Wars) and Tim Russ (ST:Voyager's "Tuvok.")  Each chapter ends with a trivia quiz.



The book starts out strong by pitting Ben Kenobi against Captain Jean-Luc Picard.  Kenobi enters Ten Forward looking for a fast ship, but meets resistance from Picard, who summons security.  Worf loses an arm.  Kenobi is trapped by a force field, but uses his lightsaber to slice a hole in the floor and disappears into the lower decks. 

Other intriguing matchups include Luke Skywalker vs. Commander Riker, Yoda vs. Spock, and, in a variation of the Millenium Falcon's escape from Mos Eisley spaceport in "A New Hope", Han Solo vs. Captain Kirk.  Heroes, villains, men, women, droids, aliens, minions, starships, weapons, governments, religions, and entire cultures are similarly pitted against one another in subsequent chapters.

The stories are mostly pretty interesting although the results often seem rather arbitrary--since there's no way of really knowing who'd win most of the battles, everything is pretty much up to the whim of the author.  Things are a little one-sided at times as well, as in the pairing of the Mos Eisley cantina against Quark's Bar from ST:Deep Space Nine (no contest).



Still, most of these snapshot "what if's" are fun to read. You can skip the ones that don't interest you, especially if you aren't fully versed in every comic book, videogame, spin-off, etc. and have never heard of some of the more obscure characters that show up now and then.  (Or don't really care, as in the "Oola vs. Marta" or "Wicket vs. Tribbles" segments.)  And then there are the perversely interesting pairings such as Jar Jar Binks vs. Wesley Crusher, which is kind of like watching one of those TV shows where Screech gets into the boxing ring with Horshack. 

Some of the best stuff is saved for last, with the Galactic Empire going up against both the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.  Entering the arena at various points are the Borg, who tend to win most of the time, and the Q Continuum, who, as you might guess, are above it all. 

Even the basic real-life cultural elements are thrown into contention with Star Wars fans vs. Trekkies, "Main Title from 'Star Wars'" vs. "Theme From 'Star Trek'", and, getting right to the nitty-gritty, Star Wars vs. Star Trek.  The final chapter closes things with a nifty mini-epic of good vs. evil, with the heroes and villains of both galaxies entering into full-scale war when the Emperor manages to turn the Death Star II into the Borg Star and launches an attack on the Federation.  This crossover story, which would make a pretty awesome movie itself, allows Star Wars and Star Trek to call a truce and join forces against a common threat, ending the book with a bang.   

Author Matt Frobeck (whom the press release states has "designed games, and has written short fiction, comic books, novels, nonfiction, magazine articles, and computer game scripts and stories") gives Star Trek its due in many ways, mainly in regard to such things as technology and politics.  But the impression I get is that, deep down, his heart belongs to Star Wars.

I won't say who eventually comes out on top, but suffice it to say roughly half the readers of STAR WARS VS. STAR TREK aren't going to be too pleased with the final tally.  Still, it's a pretty fun-filled book, and--let's face it--way too lighthearted and nonsensical to cross lightsabers over.

STAR WARS VS. STAR TREK: COULD THE EMPIRE KICK THE FEDERATION'S ASS? -- book review by porfle

THE TOM WEAVER INTERVIEW

 

[NOTE: This interview originally appeared online in October 2005.]

If you watch a lot of horror and sci-fi movies on DVD, chances are you've listened to a Tom Weaver commentary track. You may also have read some of his many celebrity interviews in magazines such as "Fangoria", "Starlog", and "Video Watchdog." He has penned several books of interest to genre fans, including ATTACK OF THE MONSTER MOVIE MAKERS, SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY FILM FLASHBACKS, and THEY FOUGHT IN THE CREATURE FEATURES.

Tom lives in Sleepy Hollow, New York, which is a pretty good place for a noted horror film historian to live. Recently he was nice enough to offer his responses to some some questions that I'm sure a lot of horror fans would like to ask.

porfle: Thanks very much for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Can you give us a preview of any current projects you may be working on?

Tom: For better or worse, my attention span has gotten so short that, to keep my enthusiasm way up, it helps to have a bunch of projects going at once, so that when one gets to be a bit of a drag, I can jump to something else. I'm still pumping out the interviews--I just did one that I really enjoyed, talking to Lee Meriwether about playing Catwoman in the old BATMAN movie. The Brunases and I are updating and slightly expanding UNIVERSAL HORRORS, and my friend Steve Kronenberg and I are doing a sequel, UNIVERSAL HORRORS--THE 1950S.

I've also just finished helping an actor named Paul Picerni--he was the hero in HOUSE OF WAX, he was the number two man on THE UNTOUCHABLES with Robert Stack--write his autobiography.

porfle: Who were your best interview subjects? Most fascinating, most cooperative, most informative, etc.

Tom: Well, I consider ALL of them cooperative--the ones who WEREN'T cooperative, didn't talk to me at all! The Donnie Dunagan [young Peter von Frankenstein in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN] interview I did last year was very well-received--he had fabulous stories, and that's certainly ONE of my favorites right now. But one that got less attention, but which I thought was just as good, was the one I did with Arch Hall Jr.
No, his movies, EEGAH and THE SADIST, don't have the number of fans SON OF FRANKENSTEIN does, but for a guy who supposedly won't GIVE interviews, I found him to be fabulously forthcoming. He answered every question--and I had SCORES of 'em!--in detail, and I don't get the impression he held ANYthing back. There was so little behind-the-scenes info "out there" about some of his movies that I really felt like the interview he gave was really something special. Well, for fans of Fairway Films, anyway!

porfle: And now I have to ask -- who was the worst?
(No names necessary, but it would be nice.)

Tom: The worst are the ones who you call up...who say, grudgingly, "Okay, okay, I'll give you an interview, call me next week." So you re-watch some of the movies and you hit the library and you prepare a list of questions, you put a lot of time into it, and then when you call back, they say, "Y'know what? I've thought about it some more, and...no thanks." Dan Haller did that to me, Bert I. Gordon, Arthur Franz--there've been a bunch, I'm afraid.

porfle: You've met a lot of celebrities associated with the genre. Who would you say was generally the nicest one? Who was the biggest jerk? (No names necessary, but...)

Tom: Well, the nicest ones are UNBELIEVABLY nice--after the interview, THEY do half of the work involved in maintaining contact and maintaining a FRIENDSHIP, even. Some have even, out of the blue, encouraged me to stay at their HOUSE whenever I come to California! Robert Shayne, who was Inspector Henderson on SUPERMAN [the TV series], was the first to make that offer, I think--I didn't take him up on it, but he was obviously sincere. Robert Clarke, THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON, and Paul Picerni were both that way too.
William Alland remembered me in his WILL, he left me a lot of his photos--which I since gave back to the family, but...wow.

A lot of them, after I've interviewed them, say, "Hey, you know who I'm friendly with? So-and-so. Do you want to interview HIM/HER?" It's amazing how one contact, one interview, will lead to another and another and another.

As for the biggest jerks ... well, Arthur Franz wasn't very nice. I'd ask him if he wanted copies of some of his horror/sci-fi movies, and he'd bark, "What would I wanna watch THAT (bleep) for??" The whole conversation was like that. Yeah, he was a real charmer!

porfle: Who do you most regret never getting the chance to interview?

Tom: Well, the "standard" answer, naturally, would be Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney Jr., etc. But the "ones that got away" that piss ME off are the ones I contacted, and said yes to an interview, and then **I** stupidly dragged my feet, and they died within a few weeks.

Every time I watch MIGHTY JOE YOUNG I remember that I called up Ben Johnson and he seemed so nice and said yes to an interview, and I blew it by diddling around. Same for Kay Aldridge from the Republic serials, and...you know what?, I'm don't even like to think about those [laughs]!

porfle: Do you recall one particular horror, fantasy, or sci-fi movie you saw as a child that first sparked your interest?

Tom: Honestly, no. I can tell you, though, that here in New York, I started watching the old horror/sci-fi stuff at a time when the real classics weren't on TV much or at all. In the mid- to late '60s, I grew up watching on TV the 1950s movies, good and bad, and the old '40s Monograms and THAT stuff. It wasn't until I was about 12, around 1970, that the GOOD stuff, the classic Universals and movies like that, started playing in New York again, after having been off TV throughout my childhood. So I have to admit, it was some good but mostly BAD movies that got me into this hobby!


porfle: Is there a genre film that is loved by fans and revered by critics, and you can't for the life of you figure out why?

Tom: I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE. I've probably seen it eight, ten times but except for a couple key scenes, it all goes in one eye and out the other, and I can't remember sitting here now which brother walks into the ocean at the end and which one survives!

porfle: What do you feel is the most underrated genre film ever made?

Tom: ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN. Sheer perfection!

porfle: If you could choose any previously-unfilmed novel to bring to the screen, what would it be?

Tom: I'd love to see some more of Lovecraft done. I've always been such a sucker for his stuff that even the NOT-so-good Lovecraft movie adaptations float my boat.

porfle: Which film would you totally erase from existence if you had the power to do so?

Tom: Well, about 95 percent of the horror movies made in the last 25 years could vanish off the face of the Earth and I could go to bed tonight and sleep like a baby!

porfle: You're well known for your DVD commentaries. Which one(s) did you have the most fun doing?

Tom: Well, for "fun," it would have to be the ones I did with Bob Burns for the two Creature sequels, with Lori Nelson sitting in on the REVENGE OF THE CREATURE one also. And to be doing it AT Universal, in the Henry Mancini Building -- Henry Mancini having done some of the music for those movies -- and walking distance from the sets where they were shot ... well, for a guy who grew up, and STILL lives, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, where there are farms on the other side of town ... it felt kinda strange.

porfle: Is there a film that has yet to be released on DVD that you would jump at the chance to do the commentary for?

Tom: Oh, gosh, dozens. Especially if I could drag some of the people who MADE those movies in the room with me too. I'd love to think that the early, black-and-white AIP monster movies will start coming out soon, while the guys and gals who made 'em are still with us. And THOSE I'd love to be a part of.

porfle: For those of us who have never done one, what is the process? Do you view the film on a television monitor? How much of the commentary is done in real-time?

Tom: It's done in real time until you get TOO tongue-tied, or you've screwed up and started missing some of your cues. Then you ask 'em to stop recording while you get your wits about you again. Yes, in most cases you sit in front of a TV, and you've got your script that you've written with the help of a tape of the movie with a time-code on it. Or, better yet, you're sitting there with one of the people who MADE the movie and then you don't even NEED a script, you just have a list of questions for him or her, and some general notes in front of you, and you just enjoy yourself.

porfle: There are a lot of remakes being done these days. Do any of them surpass the original films?

Tom: The only one I ever saw that I liked better than the original was the 1988 THE BLOB. Most of the rest--just about ALL of the rest, that I can think of off the top of my head, sitting here today -- I wouldn't want free DVDs of, I wouldn't know what to DO with them. Certainly not WATCH 'em again -- that'd be the LAST thing I'd ever do with 'em!


porfle: What do you feel is the general state of the horror film today?

Tom: I think I've given you clues to that a COUPLE times already [laughs]!

porfle: Are young people losing interest in the classic horror films of the past? Or will there always be an audience for them?

Tom: Yeeeeesh. I hope so, but I doubt it. When I was a kid, I was interested in "current" stuff, of course -- TV shows, movies, music -- but I also liked the older stuff on TV, and the old-time music my parents had on the radio, and so on. Today, just every young person I know -- not that I know that many, but most of the young people I know, or am exposed to, just turn up their nose at anything that isn't up-to-the-minute. And I love that they call two-year-old movies "old," and something that's like FIVE years old they call "OLD old." When they get to be older, are they going to change their ways and start sitting around watching WHITE ZOMBIE? In a word, "Pfffffffffft!!" So, yeah, I'm afraid I do have a bad feeling that, once we're gone, a lot of these movies are gonna be headed for Boot Hill.

porfle: Any subjects you haven't covered yet in book-form, but would like to?

Tom: I won't lie to ya, I'd have had more fun writing a FILMS OF LON CHANEY JR. than I did writing a FILMS OF JOHN CARRADINE. But there's a perfectly good Chaney Jr. book already out there -- and of course Lugosi and Karloff and Price have been written about to death, and VERY well. Sooooo...I got "stuck" with Carradine. But I would get a kick out of going into an alternate universe library and seeing what "my" FILMS OF LON CHANEY JR. would have been like. I bet it would have been fun to do.

porfle: If you could interview Edward D. Wood, Jr. (PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE, GLEN OR GLENDA?), what would you most like to ask him?

Tom: When Richard Bojarski interviewed you, did you really go after him with a broken bottle [laughs]?

porfle: Being such an experienced interviewer, what question would you have asked yourself that I neglected to ask?

Tom: [Laughs] It's funny, I often end interviews with "What great observation, what fun story do you like to tell, and I haven't asked you to tell?" -- and the interviewee usually dries up at that point, and CAN'T give me one more. And I always think to myself, "Oh, COME on, there must be one more good one. Come on, THINK!" Well, guess what? Now you've pulled that one on ME, and I can't think of a freakin' thing!

 

THE TOM WEAVER INTERVIEW

“Elysia: The World in Children’s Dreams,” Making the Dream Alive on Screen — TV Show or Film

 

“Elysia: The World in Children’s Dreams,” Making the Dream Alive on Screen — TV Show or Film 

 

London, UK, September 23, 2021 – It’s time to wake up in the fabulous world of Elysia. With now fully completed film treatment and screenplay, Malcolm Chester’s “Elysia: The World in Children’s Dreams” is now eyeing to become the next great series or film adaptation.

After his publishing success on both the first book and sequel, Chester endorses his beloved story to be produced and turned into a movie. It’s a magnificent tale filled with a whimsical charm that has the potential to become a box office success.

A coming-of-age story in a fantasy setting about a young girl and boy whose nightly adventures in a dreamland teach them compassion, bravery, and love. Waking up in a strange and surreal place, Courtney finds herself in a dreamland. Welcome to the world of Elysia, a place of wonder and magic, light and beauty, purity and evil—an endless imagination of adventures and friendship.

The book begins with young Courtney, unsettled by the lights and sound of a police car, covering her ears as she lies down in bed. As she closed her eyes and fell asleep, she finds herself waking in a front of an iron gate with a sign reading ELYSIA.

Where… Where am I? Is this a dream or…

Inside the gate, greets a fantasy Funland with iridescent colors, candy mounds, fantastic creatures, and different amusement rides that every kid would enjoy. Each time Courtney falls asleep, she is transported into the dreamland. There, she meets new odd friends and encounters frustrating series of events.

In the real world, Courtney has troubles at home and only longs to come back to Elysia. She also fears puberty and hates to confront the thought of becoming a fully grown woman. As the story unfolds, the fine line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred. Although rich in fun and magic, Elysia is in grave danger as the Crystal of Light has been stolen. Apparently, the walls of Elysia are becoming weaker as days passed, and a journey to retrieve the crystal must be done in haste. The journey to the Maelstrom begins.

It’s a perilous quest that no one even dared to tread and most adventurers have failed to come back ever. Along their voyage, the Light Swords have to defeat a huge black snake, a pack of wolves, the Dark King’s soldiers, and a speaking dragon. Together with her newly formed friends, Courtney must complete the quest to return the magic crystal from the evil king and restore balance to the land.

“Chester keeps the vocabulary and subject tightly geared toward those things that interest and confuse children as they begin to grow up. At the same time, he provides children with a message of empowerment no matter what difficulties they may be facing in the sometimes all-too-real world of adults.”

--US Review of Books

Readers around the world love the wonderland Elysia, a convincing world of imagination that speaks of terror and tenderness, innocence and chaos in life. Book reviewers praise the author for depicting a fantasy novel that is not only fit for kids but also offers a timeless lesson for adults alike. It’s a beloved book that stirs your imagination with poignant words, keeping you in slumber into the dreamland, Elysia.

Away in the real world, reading Chester’s Elysia brings you into a dreamy land of childlike wonder. As interesting and imaginative in the text, creating a film about the world of Elysia will dazzle young ones and educate them with lifelong lessons. 

Lovely and enjoyable, author Malcolm Chester charms his reader into weaving an extraordinary world while introducing fantastic and charming characters. And also, these tales are about many things, like growing in different phases is also talk about: learning to feel, getting in love, and becoming an adult. Indeed, it’s a brilliant story that has a making of a great film, plunging the viewer into the extraordinary hidden beyond the ordinary.

 

Get a copy of the book, Elysia: The World in Children’s Dream from:

www.aegadesign.co.uk
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.kobo.com

 

- - -

AEGA Design Publishing Ltd
www.aegadesign.co.uk

Elysia: The World in Children’s Dreams
https://www.aegadesign.co.uk/product/elysia-le-monde-dans-les-reves-des-enfants-french-edition-malcolm-chester/

US Review of Books
https://www.theusreview.com/reviews/Elysia-Chester.html#.YUuXpbgzZD8

“Elysia: The World in Children’s Dreams,” Making the Dream Alive on Screen — TV Show or Film

"Death On the Amazon: My Memories of Eric Fleming" -- Lynne Garber's New Book About "Rawhide" Star Eric Fleming

In "Death On the Amazon: My Memories of Eric Fleming", Lynne Garber’s romance with Hollywood star Eric Fleming bursts off the page. 


Fleming, the shining light of "Rawhide", one of the most successful and loved TV westerns in history, his romance with former Miss Pennsylvania Garber, and his tragic death while shooting a movie in the Peruvian Amazon form the basis of Garber’s incredible story.

But what she learned about Fleming, Hollywood, and beyond would have been too much even for an episode of "Rawhide."

Garber’s memoir leaves no stone unturned. She debunks Hollywood and media myths about Fleming and his death. She reveals details about his drunken father who persistently beat him, and dives into his professional relationship with CBS, the network that produced.

Garber pulls the Eric she knew and loved from her memories, from his diary, and from the more than two hundred love letters he sent her during their time together.

But it is Fleming’s untimely and unnecessary death in the Amazon to which Garber leads us. Through the courting, personal histories, and devious contract dealings, the pieces that pushed Eric to the brink and led to him agreeing to run rapids raging so fast that even the local Amazonian elders shied away.

Regrettably, Eric shot the perilous Huallaga River rapids and drowned. Weeks later, his battered body was recovered. He had been pummeled against boulders and ravaged by piranhas. Garber opens our eyes to the man behind the good looks and knowing glances of  trail boss Gil Favor of "Rawhide."

It’s an incredibly tragic story. A professional book editor who graduated from Yale (BA) and NYU (MFA) edited the manuscript. The book cover and book interior design were completed by an employee of Texas Tech University Press. The Director of Marketing at Cornell University Press is directing book promotion. The book is on NetGalley and there’s a Goodreads Giveaway. The book will go on sale starting September 28.


Buy it at Amazon.com
 

"Death On the Amazon: My Memories of Eric Fleming" -- Lynne Garber's New Book About "Rawhide" Star Eric Fleming

Rooster Teeth & Scholastic Announce "RWBY"-Inspired YA Series -- RTX Austin 2018

Rooster Teeth And Scholastic Team Up On RWBY-Inspired YA Series Out Next Year

“RWBY: After the Fall” To Be Penned By Award-Winning Author E.C. Myers

Austin, Texas - August 2, 2018 - Rooster Teeth, the pioneering entertainment and media company behind some of the biggest online series in history, is excited to announce a RWBY YA series published by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.

Featuring brand new RWBY content in the form of original novels, the first book in the series, After the Fall will be available in 2019. The series will be written by award-winning author E.C. Myers (Fair Coin, The Silence of Six) with consulting writing from RWBY head writers Kerry Shawcross and Miles Luna.

A little about After the Fall:
After Beacon Academy fell, Coco, Fox, Velvet, and Yatsuhashi made a vow: No one else is getting left behind. It’s been more than a year since Team CFVY saw their school destroyed by the Creatures of Grimm, their friends felled in battle or scattered across the world of Remnant. Since then, they’ve been settling into life at Shade Academy in Vacuo, fighting hard to finish their training so they can reunite with their friends and save their world.

When a distress message comes into Shade, asking for huntsmen and huntresses to defend refugees from a never-ending stream of Grimm, Team CFVY answers the call without hesitation. But in the heat of the desert, they’re forced to relive their former battles, both from the Fall of Beacon and from everything that came before.

“When Scholastic approached us about doing a series of novels, we knew we wanted to explore some untold stories in the RWBY universe,” said Shawcross. “We’re excited to share a new adventure with Team CFVY in this first book and we can’t wait for people to be able to read it.”

RWBY is the first western-style anime to be distributed in Japan and is produced by Rooster Teeth in Austin, Texas. Stay tuned for more announcements about the upcoming series of RWBY novels!

ABOUT ROOSTER TEETH
Rooster Teeth is a pioneering media and entertainment company responsible for some of the biggest online series in history, such as the award-winning and longest-running web series, Red vs. Blue. They also produce the globally acclaimed animated series RWBY, the first western anime series to be distributed in Japan; the award-winning Rooster Teeth Podcast; and Immersion, a reality format that brings video game theory to the real world. Rooster Teeth has a massive global footprint of more than 45 million subscribers to its YouTube Network, 5 million unique monthly visitors to its RoosterTeeth.com hub and 3 million registered community members. The company was founded in 2003, and is now a subsidiary of Otter Media, a joint venture between AT&T and The Chernin Group. Discover more at RoosterTeeth.com.

Rooster Teeth & Scholastic Announce "RWBY"-Inspired YA Series -- RTX Austin 2018

"GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN" Teaser Trailer and Photos Here!

GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN
Comedy
October 12, 2018

Columbia Pictures: A Sony Company
Sony Pictures Animation

Halloween comes to life in a brand-new comedy adventure based on R.L. Stine’s 400-million-selling series of books.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Directed by: Ari Sandel
Written by:     Rob Lieber 
Based on the Goosebumps Books
Written by:      R. L. Stine

Produced by: Deborah Forte
Neal H. Moritz
Executive Producers: Timothy M. Bourne
Tania Landau

Cast:       Wendi McLendon-Covey
Madison Iseman
Jeremy Ray Taylor
Caleel Harris
Chris Parnell
Ken Jeong

This film is not yet rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.  For future rating information, please visit www.filmratings.com.  Credits not final

GOOSEBUMPS and associated logos are trademarks of Scholastic Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

"GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN" Teaser Trailer and Photos Here!

"GIANT: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Making of a Legendary American Film" -- New Book By Don Graham

"GIANT: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Making of a Legendary American Film" By Don Graham

“A noted authority on all things Texas, Graham turns his attention to film with this authoritative tale of 'Big Texas Oil' and the epic movie Giant . . . A delightful work of film/cultural history for movie fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Lively . . . deeply researched and efficiently paced.” —Publishers Weekly

“Don Graham is a masterful storyteller . . . Just as Giant the movie was the talk of the town back in 1956, I know Don’s lively narrative will be the talk of the town today. He captures West Texas and the big screen stars perfectly.” —Mrs. Laura Bush

George Stevens's ​​Giant is one of the most iconic films in American history. It made the list for the American Film Institute's 100 best American movies announced in 2007 and in 2005 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance. 

Now in Don Graham’s ​​GIANT: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Making of a Legendary American Film​ (St. Martin's Press / On Sale: April 10, 2018),​​​ Graham presents a larger-than-life narrative of the making of the classic film, marking the rise of America as a superpower, the ascent of Hollywood celebrity, and the flowering of Texas culture as mythology.

In this compelling and impeccably researched narrative history of the making of the film, Don Graham chronicles the stories of Stevens, whose trauma in World War II intensified his ambition to make films that would tell the story of America; Edna Ferber, a considerable literary celebrity, who meets her match in the imposing Robert Kleberg, proprietor of the vast King Ranch; and Glenn McCarthy, an American oil tycoon; and Errol Flynn lookalike with a taste for Hollywood.

Drawing on archival sources Graham’s ​​GIANT is a comprehensive depiction of the film’s production showing readers how reality became fiction and fiction became cinema.

GIANT: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Making of a Legendary American Film
By Don Graham
St. Martin’s Press
On Sale: April 10, 2018
Hardcover: $27.99 USD
eBook: $14.99 USD

"GIANT: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Making of a Legendary American Film" -- New Book By Don Graham

"HEIDI" -- Lavish New Adaptation of the Children's Classic Coming April 4

"A familiar crowd-pleaser is back...young kids will eat this up"
-- The Hollywood Reporter

THIS APRIL, JOIN OMNIBUS ENTERTAINMENT FOR
A LAVISH, AWARD-WINNING ADAPTATION OF
A TIMELESS CLASSIC

HEIDI

An international box office smash, filmed on location in the Swiss Alps, this Dove Foundation "Family Approved" live-action feature based on one of the best-selling children's novels of all time, makes its U.S. debut on DVD and Digital April 4, 2017

DVD AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT WALMART

HEIDI Official Trailer


With more than 50 million copies in print, Swiss author Johanna Spyri's beloved 1880's novel, "Heidi," is one of the all-time classics of children's literature, which has also spawned numerous adaptations - from a 1937 Shirley Temple vehicle and several Japanese anime series to a Hanna-Barbera feature.  This April, Omnibus Entertainment invites families everywhere to head for the hills with HEIDI, a new, lavishly produced adaptation starring Bruno Ganz and marking the big screen debut of Anuk Steffen as the titular Swiss mountain girl.

Orphan girl Heidi spends the happiest days of her childhood with her eccentric grandfather, Alpöhi (Ganz), cut off from the outside world in a simple cabin in the breathtaking Swiss mountains. Together with her friend Peter, she tends to grandfather's goats and enjoys freedom in the mountains to the fullest.  But these carefree times come to an abrupt end when Heidi is whisked to Frankfurt by her Aunt Dete.  The idea is for her to stay with the wealthy Sesemann family and be a playmate for his wheelchair-bound daughter Klara, under the supervision of the strict nanny, Fräulein Rottenmeier.  Although the two girls soon become close friends and Klara's grandmother awakes a passion for books in Heidi while teaching her to read and write, young Heidi's longing for her beloved mountains and her grandfather grows ever stronger.

 

Spyri originally published "Heidi" as a two-volume novel - "Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Learning" and "Heidi: How She Used What She Learned" - and, according to the original subtitle, was written "for children and those who love children."  Aside from being translated from the original German into over 50 different languages, HEIDI has also become an enduring figure in children's entertainment through many theater productions; television programs, including one by the BBC and one by Walt Disney; films, including a silent one; a musical play co-written by Neil Simon; a video piece with Paul McCartney and Mike Kelley, and a talking dog version with Angela Lansbury.  There is even a "Heidiland" in eastern Switzerland.

Called "handsomely crafted" (Edmund Lee, South China Morning Post), this most recent adaptation, an international box office smash that has played at top children's film festivals across the U.S., also captured the award for "Best Children's Film" at last year's German Film Awards.  Omnibus Entertainment's DVD features both the original German language version with English subtitles, as well as a dubbed version.

 

HEIDI (111 minutes) Directed by Alain Gsponer. Starring Bruno Ganz, Anuk Steffen, Isabelle Ottman, Quirin Agrippi, Katharina Schuettler, Hannelore Hoger, Maxim Mehmet, Peter Lohmeyer, Anna Schinz, Jella Haasse. 

An Omnibus Entertainment release, distributed by Film Movement.

"HEIDI" -- Lavish New Adaptation of the Children's Classic Coming April 4

"Our Rescue Dog Family Album" -- New Book from Polaire Entertainment Group, Inc.

Rescuing An Abused Or Neglected Dog Comes With A Reward - A Lifetime Of Unconditional Love

Dallas, TX, December 2, 2011 - Diane Pomerance will be the first to tell you that she and her husband didn’t set out to save or rescue dogs but the dogs ‘found’ them. In her latest book, Our Rescue Dog Family Album (Polaire Entertainment Group, Inc.), the love she has for these neglected, injured or abandoned animals is conveyed through every heartwarming story of 45 rescued dogs that were given the chance to replace pain and despair with joy, hope and contentment.

The author of seven books about all aspects of living with and caring for animals and for sharing life with a special pet, Dr. Pomerance's most recent book Our Rescue Dog Family Album is a memorable tribute and collection of heartwarming stories and beautiful color photographs of the lives of 45 dogs they had rescued and adopted over the past several decades.

In addition to this wonderful compilation of stories, Dr. Pomerance previously wrote six books in The Animal Companion Series that cover the gamut for every imaginable scenario for pet owners; from adopting the right animal companion and caring for aging animals, to helping cope with the loss of a beloved pet. She is also the narrator of her books on audio CD’s and a description of all of her books and CDs can be viewed. They can be purchased on her website at www.animalcompanionsandtheirpeople.com, amazon.com, etc.

These books are a must read for animal lovers and anyone who owns or is contemplating getting one. They belong in any pet lover’s library and have great appeal to readers of all ages. In fact, these books make a wonderful Holiday gift for any animal lovers in your life. They illustrate how pets interact in every part of our daily lives and how they are not only our best friends, but they provide us with limitless emotional and spiritual benefits. In fact, the calming and soothing effect they have on people is just one reason they are used in nursing homes, in children’s hospitals, helping with autistic children – and even in prisons.

Where else but from our pets can we get such unconditional love and loyalty? They let us just be ourselves without pretense or affectation and don’t even care if we have brushed our teeth or if we’re clean or dirty – they love us just because we’re us!

Dr. Pomerance and her books have been featured on CNN Headline News, Fox News, Lifetime TV, Montel Williams and The Daily Buzz, as well as in countless radio interviews and numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Diane Pomerance has a Ph.D. in Communications and is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist who counsels those grieving from any loss, but particularly those mourning the loss of a beloved pet.

This benevolent husband and wife team admit there is often a great deal of pain, hard work and sadness involved with these animals, nonetheless, they feel it’s always a privilege to be a part of their journey by providing the necessary love and care to give these wonderful dogs a chance at a new life.

In Our Rescue Dog Family Album, the Pomerances’ pay homage to the many dogs who have shared their lives over the past decade; some who have stayed to become cherished members of their own ever-expanding family, as well as those who have moved on to find new families. They believe the gifts these dogs brought them are beyond measure and the life lessons they have taught are invaluable. The gratitude, innate wisdom and unconditional love from these animals brings profound joy to every life they touch.

Seattlepi books: “If ever a book was appropriately named, Our Rescue Dog Family Album is the book. Details of over forty dogs that were rescued … are shared, along with scores of pictures of these lucky canines.  What Pomerance - and anyone who has ever rescued a dog — knows is that once you rescue an animal, you have a devoted friend, ‘til death do you part.  (Her) …books for dog owners and prospective owners, covering topics that include the death of a pet, adopting the right companion, older animals, and the roles companion animals play in the lives of the humans with whom they live.
People who read (it)…will be charmed by the histories of these dogs that no one wanted…from puppy mills (boo! hiss!), others were abused and abandoned, and still others share unknown backgrounds… (she) draws the reader in with her obvious respect for her furry family. Filled with irresistible photos and enchanting stories of improved lives… (It) makes a lovely gift for any dog lover or wannabe-dog-owner, and should be found in the waiting rooms of veterinarians across the world. Maybe it will inspire others to adopt a shelter dog…or two…or three…”

DogTipper.com: “Our family has included a number of rescue dogs over the years…all but one came to us from shelters or by being dumped near our country home.  We …were immediately impressed by Dr. Pomerance’s Our Rescue Dog Family Album…being a nationally-recognized pet expert who works with several organizations including the SPCA of Texas, K-9 Friends Visiting Therapy Dogs of GTDOG, and Alaskan Malamute Assistance League.  (It)… documents some of the many dogs who have been adopted into her loving home…is an entertaining book, enhanced with color photos of her pets and details of…day-by-day efforts to save as many distressed dogs as possible. Their gradual introduction and integration into the lives of abandoned and mistreated pets is an inspiring journey. The Pomerances’ inspiring story is a quick read but will long linger in the hearts of all dog lovers.”

"Our Rescue Dog Family Album" -- New Book from Polaire Entertainment Group, Inc.

New Book: "Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire Kick the Federation¹s A**? And Other Galaxy-Shaking Enigmas"

What's the story?

A paperback compendium jam-packed with detailed information about both universes, as well as trivia, quizzes, quotes, and information drawn from these two iconic settings

This debate is so heated, even Boba Fett (actor Jeremy Bulloch) and Tuvok (actor Tim Russ) got in on the action to write the forewords! So phasers on stun and light sabers at the ready - it's time for the duel to begin.

About the book:

Could a Jedi knight use his light saber to deflect a beam from a phaser?
Which aliens are cooler: the Cardassians or the Chazrach?
Have any Federation ships ever made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs?
And most important . . . in a fight between the Empire and the Federation, who would win?

From Tribbles to Lightsabers - enter the book that attempts to quell this decades-long debate: "Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire Kick the Federation’s Ass? And Other Galaxy-Shaking Enigmas" (Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, May 2011).

Ever since Princess Leia's starship hove into sight on the silver screen, fans of Star Wars and Star Trek have been debating these questions. Now, side-by-side, they can line up aliens, technology, story points, weaponry, and heroes from the two great science fiction/fantasy stories of our age.

About Matt Forbeck:

Matt Forbeck has worked with many companies, including Games Workshop, Mattel, and Wizards of the Coast. He has designed games, and has written short fiction, comic books, novels, nonfiction, magazine articles, and computer game scripts and stories.

Buy it at Amazon.com

New Book: "Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire Kick the Federation¹s A**? And Other Galaxy-Shaking Enigmas"

Feral House Unleashes Mike Howlett's THE WEIRD WORLD OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS

Feral House has unleashed THE WEIRD WORLD OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS, a book that looks at the sickest comics to ever disgrace the newsstands!

Eerie Publications’ horror magazines brought blood and bad taste to America’s kids from 1965 through 1975. Ultra gory covers and bottom of the barrel production values lent an air of danger to every issue, daring you to purchase them.
 

THE WEIRD WORLD OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS introduces the reader to Myron Fass, the gun-toting megalomaniac publisher who, with tyranny and glee, made a career of fishing pocket change from young readers with the with the most insidious sort of exploitation. You’ll also meet Carl Burgos, who, as editor of Eerie Publications, ground his axe against the entire comics industry. Slumming comic art greats and unknown no-names were both employed by Eerie to plagiarize the more inspired work of pre-Code comic art of the 1950s.

Somehow these lowbrow abominations influenced a generation of artists who proudly blame career choices (and mental problems) on Eerie Publications. One of them, Stephen R. Bissette (Swamp Thing, Taboo, Tyrant), provides the introduction for this volume.


Here’s the sordid background behind this mysterious comics publisher, featuring astonishingly red reproductions of many covers and the most spectacularly creepy art. Researched and written with love by Mike Howlett and featuring an all new Dick Ayers 6-page horror comic, THE WEIRD WORLD OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS delivers the gory goods to those twisted enough to take a peek.

The Weird World of Eerie Publications:
Comic Gore That Warped Millions of Young Minds

Mike Howlett | Introduction by Stephen R Bissette
8 x 11 • 310 pages • ISBN: 978-1-932595-87-1 • $32.95 • Pub date Jan 10, 2011 • A Feral House Original Hardcover

Buy it at Amazon.com

Feral House Unleashes Mike Howlett's THE WEIRD WORLD OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS

POE BICENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY BASH IN BALTIMORE

From actor/filmmaker Mark Redfield's MySpace blog:

The Commission for Historic and Architectural Preservation, The Baltimore City Department of Planning, and The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum announce the world-famous Edgar Allan Poe Special Bicentenial--a two-weekend birthday celebration and Baltimore tradition since 1982--on Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18, 2009, plus a second weekend of performances on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, 2009.

Celebrated at the Westminster Hall, Burial Place of Edgar Allan Poe (519 West Fayette Street, Baltimore Maryland). Start making plans to kick off the Poe Bicentennial and part of Poe history by attending the Poe Bicentennial Birthday Celebration!

SPECIAL GUEST JOHN ASTIN: Back by popular demand, actor John Astin will present his special and unique Poe Tribute as only he can. You've waited years for Mr. Astin to return to the celebration and now he's back! You will not see this performance at any other venue.For more info. about John Astin visit http://www.astin-poe.com/

In addition to Mr. Astin's Tribute to Poe, we are pleased to present three of Poe's most unusual stories for your enjoyment:
"HOP FROG"
On Saturday, January 17th, Mark Redfield (creator of the film The Death of Poe) will present a theatrical performance of "Hop Frog" using live actors, masks and life size puppets. "Hop Frog" is a horrifying tale of revenge upon a cruel king and his seven ministers.For more information about Mark Redfield visit http://www.redfieldarts.com/
"THE TELL TALE HEART"
Performed by Tony Tsendeas (The Wire, The Death of Poe).
"SOME WORDS WITH A MUMMY"
On Sunday, January 18th John Spitzer of Fraudulent Productions returns to the Westminster stage with "Some Words With a Mummy". This comedy revolves around an Egyptian mummy that is brought back to life through electricity (shades of Frankenstiein!) and proceeds to spar with the doctors and scientists that resurrected him. In "Some Words With A Mummy," first published in 1845, Poe created the history's first reanimated Mummy. Poe was always keen to capitalize on the popular imagination, and the Egyptian craze had been steadily building in Europe and America for two decades.

In addition, it gave Poe a perfect vehicle for his acerbic social satire. Surprisingly, comedy comprises fully one-third of Poe's tales, and he was possessed of an exquisite and robust sense of humor. "Some Words With A Mummy" is a compelling mix of thrills and comedy, and is believed by many to be Poe's finest satire. In his living Mummy, Poe devised not only another literary first, but also a brilliant device to satirize our culture, and human nature itself.

Other surprises will be announced as they are finalized! Baltimore will be celebrating the Bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poethroughout 2009 with many events!

visit: http://www.poebicentennial.com/ for more information!

POE BICENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY BASH IN BALTIMORE

If your in San Fransico 11/4, you need to go get your copy of "Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monster" signed by August Ragone!

This coming Sunday, November 4th, author August Ragone will be appearing at an in-store signing for the release of his first book, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTER, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Border's Books in the Stonestown Galleria (233 Winston Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132). Former "Creature Features" host, author John Stanley, will be joining him to sign copies of his latest book, "I Was a TV Horror Host."

EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTER is marching into better retailers near you as you read this from the world-renown Chronicle Books. "Who is Eiji Tsuburaya," you might ask? Tsuburaya (1901-1970) was one of the technical pioneers of Japanese Cinema in the Silent Era, who went on to create the visual effects for GODZILLA and ULTRAMAN. This official 208-page, heavily-illustrated (200 images), coffeetable hardcover, is the first fully-authorized book of its kind published outside of Japan, and is the first biography of this important figure of Japanese Cinema ever written in any language other than Japanese!

Already available in Canada, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS, is receiving positive reviews: "The difference between this book and other coffee table volumes that have covered daikaiju before, though, is the staggeringly researched detail that Ragone has put into the text itself. This is not just a picture book to flip through, nod approvingly at and stick on the shelf; this is a record easily in scale with the monsters Tsuburaya created—a critical and historical look at the creation and output of an industry that spanned (and has continued to span) the decades." - Tooth & Dagger.com

Tim Lucas, publisher and editor of the award-winning Video Watchdog magazine had this to say about the author, "There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value--not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English."

More signings to be announced in the near future -- stay tuned! If you live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area and can't make it, you can also pre-order your own copy today from Amazon.com!

If your in San Fransico 11/4, you need to go get your copy of "Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monster" signed by August Ragone!

Who Framed Boris Karloff the new murder mystery by Dwight Kemper!

We're going to be reviewing this amazing book about murder in the classic age of Hollywood and Universal horror. HKCFN will also have an interview with author Dwight Kemper in the near future. For now check out the info on how to get this great book.

PRESS RELEASE

Midnight Marquee Press, Inc. will be taking its second venture into the realm of fiction with WHO FRAMED BORIS KARLOFF? The novel takes real people and settings and places them in a wholly fictional murder of a real person. Dwight Christopher Kemper, the mastermind behind Murder for Hire, wrote the novel. Murder for Hire is Mr. Kemper’s mystery theater Production Company. The company motto: We Will Scare Anywhere!

ABOUT WHO FRAMED BORIS KARLOFF?

The time: November 1938. The story concerns the murder of a Universal Studios Executive on the set of SON OF FRANKENSTEIN. Well after production has wrapped, a Studio security guard discovers Boris Karloff in full Frankenstein Monster makeup on the Stage 7 Laboratory set. A body is lying on the operating table, the body of Martin F. Murphy, Head of Production. The executive has been burnt to a crisp by one of Kenneth Strickfaden’s high voltage monster making machines. Boris's fingerprints are found on the fatal lever. Karloff proclaims his innocence. The studio wants to cover up the scandalous crime, so Cliff Work calls in a favor and has M-G-M Vice President Eddie “The Bulldog” Mannix, the best “fixer” in Hollywood, come to Universal Studios to sweep the murder under the rug. Now a real murderer may go free. Who is the diabolically clever killer using Boris Karloff to commit the perfect crime? Who can beat this villain at his or her own game? Why, none other than Boris’s co-star Basil Rathbone, fresh from his performance as Sherlock Holmes for 20th Century Fox’s production of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. Can Rathbone use what he learned playing the Master Detective coupled with his experience as a World War I Intelligence Officer to discover WHO FRAMED BORIS KARLOFF?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dwight Kemper is an accomplished character actor with over 13 years stage experience including an engagement at Carnegie Hall in New York City as Sergei Diaghilev in Anna Pavlova, a biographical ballet he co-authored. He appeared six years on stage as Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, as well as Doctor Copellius in Copellia, and Catallebutte in Sleeping Beauty. He is also a stage illusionist and member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. As Murder for Hire’s Producer and host sleuth Detective Chief Inspector Kemper of Scotland Yard, Mr. Kemper presents original mystery plays for hotels and bed and breakfasts throughout the United States. His mystery shows frequently haunt The Sherwood Inn in Historic Greene, NY. Dwight Kemper is also a film critic for Phantom of the Movies VIDEOSCOPE Magazine where he applies his "critical chain saw" to really bad movies. Visit Mr. Kemper at Murder for Hire’s web site: www.murdermysteytheater.com.

WHO FRAMED BORIS KARLOFF? will be released during the summer, 2007, and features a foreword by Sara Jane Karloff, daughter of the titular Mr. Karloff and is available at Amazon.com, murdermysterytheater,com and midmar.com.

Who Framed Boris Karloff the new murder mystery by Dwight Kemper!