Category Archives: Science Fiction Media

Doctor Who: Paterson Joseph Replaces Matt Smith…?

No press releases, no nothing…  Everything is all very “hush-hush” since the news regarding the Doctor’s new companion for 2010 (Karen Gillan), who could pass for a younger Professor Riversong might I add.  However, there is nothing to quell these rumors at the moment… Only that Paterson Joseph may have replaced Matt Smith (or maybe the English actor was always in the driver’s seat to begin with).  Then there’s this photograph below.  What is Doctor Who writer Stephen Moffat planning? 

Paterson Joseph

Official BBC Doctor Who Homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Supposedly Tennant already filmed the regeneration sequence.  I’ve seen the pics where he’s in a lot of pain, staggering, and a pre-2004 Billie Piper — yes, she returns for the two-part Christmas finale — along with her mother Jackie, bump into the soon-to-regenerate David Tennant.  Tennant encounters Ood Sigma at one point (again!), but it is unknown whether he makes it back to his TARDIS alone or not (according to Russell T. Davies, alone, because back in 2004 Rose Tyler would not have known the Doctor.  It’s said, however, that the ending is both a “surprise” and a real “tearjerker”. 

But how do you explain these sudden rumors of Matt Smith being replaced, and the Paterson Joseph pic? No recent photographs of Smith in his new Time Lord outfit at the very least? Nothing else leaked? Or is the pic above really bogus?

Previous Doctor Who links (related to Matt Smith):

https://lawrencedagstine.com/2009/01/05/doctor-who-matt-smith-is-not-the-eleventh-doctor/

https://lawrencedagstine.com/2009/03/16/doctor-who-series-five-monsters/

 

Lawrence Dagstine: “The Death of Magazines…”

…Or, the BEST BLOG EVAH! This made my day.  But then I think the “smart” folks out there knew this kind of thing was going to happen ages ago.   Next to go is print-on-demand; that’ll take time, and LSI will be like rare relic baseball cards in the age of the MLB steroid scandal — a specialty market.  And a collector’s pastime.  It’s more like the music industry.  Props go out to The Magazine Death Pool.  Credit given where credit is deserved.  Also, to the following comments below.

STARLOG MAGAZINE – R.I.P.

Starlog1

The Magazine Death Pool:

www.magazinedeathpool.com

Science Fiction Linkage:

http://www.magazinedeathpool.com/magazine_death_pool/2009/04/starlog-rip-april-2009.html#comments

Paul Riddell wrote: “I agree that the Internet is one of the reasons why “Starlog”, “Cinefantastique”, “Sci-Fi Universe”, and a plethora of other magazines went under, as their core audiences are generally so cheap that they use both sides of the toilet paper. That cheapness, though, is the real reason. Advertisers weren’t interested in buying ad space because the only response would be from “reviewers” who wanted freebies and from pocket psychotics who wanted to bitch about how they weren’t being hired for their obsessive knowledge of “Star Trek” trivia. On the newsstands, the copies would either be read and then discarded or shoplifted. Oh, and just try to get the cheap bastards to buy a subscription, even if the publisher got the subscriber copies out before the newsstand copies appeared, instead of three weeks to a month later. The only thing more pathetic than the science fiction media magazine market is the science fiction short story magazine market, which is why the few literary science fiction magazines left will probably be making the deadpool within the next year. I have money down on “The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction” being the first casualty of the season.”

Shoplifting is a little pushing it.  To be honest, with advertising aside, my money was on F&SF until about 2011-2012 tops.  I guess time will tell; after all, there are only so many infusions and bailouts.  Many old-school writers and editors who work these publishing ends will most likely be shoveling snow to pay their mortgages and make ends meet.   The Age of Freelancing is here, people, hold on.  We are now our own bosses and our own vacuum cleaner salesmen forever!  Obscurity is going to take on a whole new meaning.  In ten years time, Borders and Waldenbooks will not exist.  Hold on to your royalty checks.  Content-wise, things are about to get bumpier!

Edited to Add: Be sure to also check out the Sept. 08, 2008 entry.

SATIRICA ANTHOLOGY: Nominated for IPPY Award…

Cowboy Logic Press’s 400+ page post-apocalyptic, scifi blockbuster of an anthology, featuring such talented writers as Steven J. Dines, Bill Housley, Jason K. Chapman, Roger Haller, Gary Cuba, Mike Philbin, Lawrence Dagstine, and various others have been nominated for an IPPY award.  Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed.

Satirica Anthology

Satirica Anthology

 Published by Cowboy Logic Press; Edited by Roy Dudgeon

IPPY AWARD NOMINEE 2009

http://www.cowboylogic.net/CLP_Books.htm

Edited by Roy Dudgeon; published by Roger Haller

Edited by Roy Dudgeon; published by Roger Haller

Also available on AMAZON

and through various book retailers

Satirica Author Ballot

Satirica Author Ballot

In other news, chalk up another six stories.  Two repros and four new diddies.  Some genre, some not.

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

Doctor Who: Series Five Monsters…

New Monsters! It’s about time… Hmm, am I making any sense? I don’t know, I might not make any sense ever again.  Fanboy-ism aside, and as a science fiction writer to boot, I’m here today to declare my love yet again for one of the longest running shows in TV history.  That’s right — Doctor Who! Torchwood would probably come in second or third for me.  And, as we all know, David Tennant regenerates after this year and becomes The Eleventh Doctor.  This role will go to the then 27-year old Matt Smith. 

regeneration_stunt

Now I will admit, at first I wasn’t too keen on the idea of Smith taking over the role; I had fingers crossed for Paterson Joseph, Adrian Lester, or even Colin Salmon.  But I guess it’s only right that we give the boy a chance.  After all, Stephen Moffat is a remarkable writer and it’s as if he were born to lead such a fantastic show.  Also, Matt Smith promises to bring a lot to the role as the Doctor — retracing the 70’s show model, Matt and Stephen? — and you know these newbies, one night they’re nobody, the next they’re a guaranteed success and eating the pie from the Actor’s Guild.  Matt Smith you have my attention.  I will give you a chance, I promise.  But what adversaries will you face? What monsters will you go up against? What surprises does Moffat have in store for us in 2010?

Official BBC Doctor Who Homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

I know the one monster I don’t want to see anymore is The Daleks — NO MORE! They’ve been done to death.  Russell T. Davies abused them enough, I think.  I love the Cybermen, don’t get me wrong… but please exit right.  And it’s safe to bet that the Sontarans were just a “one-time” gig.   I want monsters that harken back to the Baker years.  Or they should be, at the very least, considered.

matt-smith-doctor-who-1

I have read rumors (and they are only that), that the “Weeping Angels” will be making their return.  I’ve seen The Sea Devils being tossed about the Net.  The Troclafane were mentioned on one “source” forum, but I hope they weren’t serious.  And like the Sea Devils, my money is on the Ice Warriors all the way! I wouldn’t be surprised if they are a major villain in Series Five. 

There are so many monsters that haven’t returned, that should.  I mean, what about the Nimon? These were Minotaur-like monsters who could shoot you down with their horns.  In the insect department, you have the Wirrn, who are most memorable from Baker’s second story, The Ark in Space.   A Horror of Fang Rock-like story involving the Rutans would be kind of interesting.  Or how about using CGI to remake The Gravis and a new sort of Tractator? Perhaps The Zarbi? No, even better, how about the Rani?

nimon

As I get ready for PLANET OF THE DEAD, I wonder what surprises are in store for Matt Smith.  And us… 

What monsters do YOU want to see return to Doctor Who? Would you like to cast a vote?

Come, take a Doctor Who poll with me…

For another Matt Smith/Doctor Who related poll, go here:

https://lawrencedagstine.com/2009/01/05/doctor-who-matt-smith-is-not-the-eleventh-doctor/ 

Like monsters? Then read my latest collection, FRESH BLOOD.  There’s plenty to be had there, in PG-13 color:

https://lawrencedagstine.com/books-anthos/ 

 

Cheers,

Lawrence R. Dagstine

M-BRANE SF: Issue #2, March 2009… (Now Available!)

The second issue of M-BRANE SF has just hit the Internet with a March edition to die for.  It’s a fast-growing venue with a positive future ahead of it.  Some decent writers have already submitted to it, like Rick Novy and Cat Rambo.  I have a story in Issue #2, and not only is the magazine well-formatted and very affordable for this economy, but I believe it is available in a few formats.  I recommend trying it out.  The PDF is only $12.00 for a whole year! For twelve issues, how can you beat that price? Christopher Fletcher gives his personal summations, too, on who’s who and what’s what involving the genre.  Not just Hard Science Fiction.  Love the retro 60’s feel!

CIRCULATION FOR 1st ISSUE – OVER 2000 HITS, EXPECTED TO RISE!

M-BRANE SCIENCE FICTION

Issue #2; March 2009

M-Brane SF Issue#2

M-Brane SF Issue#2

ORDER/DOWNLOAD HERE:

www.mbranesf.blogspot.com

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

http://mbranesf2.blogspot.com/

M-Brane SF

M-Brane SF

Featuring Work by: David McGillveray, Michael Griffiths, Lawrence Dagstine, Tim Mulcahy, Abby ‘Merc’ Rustard, Lawrence Barker, Jannett Grady, James Hartley, and Jeffrey Sims.  Edited by Christopher Fletcher.

A print version should be available on or around March 15th, 2009.

Other New Entries: “Magazines”

Doctor Who: Matt Smith is NOT the Eleventh Doctor…

No, it has to be a PR stunt as Russell T. Davies leaves the show and Stephen Moffat takes over.  It’s a terrible lie, I tell you! No, the next doctor is not some goth kid who just “happens” to look like Peter Davison and Beethoven.  Are they blowing the series like John Nathan Turner did back in the 80’s with Colin Baker and Sylvestor McCoy, just blowing it right the hell off television for good? Did they just choose him because his hair was “cool”? Who knows.  All I know is that I would have preferred a much older actor — not a “companion” as the Doctor; they might as well have gone with Radcliffe now — maybe a black actor.  Colin Salmon, Paterson Joseph, or even Adrian Lester! As a science fiction writer myself, I would have even bargained for Morrissey, Nesbitt, or Sean Pertwee.  But who is Matt Smith? Well, if you look at the picture below, that’s him.

Matt Smith... The Eleventh Doctor

Matt Smith... The Eleventh Doctor

 Official BBC Doctor Who Homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

He was just introduced the other day on Doctor Who Confidential, and it appears that this man is the Doctor my son will most likely grow up to.  And while I am a fan of “young” doctors (Peter Davison is by far my all-time favorite), and while I have faith in Moffat’s writings, I just don’t particularly like the wild card choice he made with some no-name talent;  Smith also has a few unmemorable shows behind him.  Matter of fact, Moffat and Paul Cornell’s writing in particular are some of the BEST! But Matt Smith doesn’t remind me of a Time Lord.  Sorry.  OK, so maybe I am jumping the gun.  I’ve been to Outpost Gallifrey, Den of Geek, and every other website and forum in-between hoping the news was really just a big old PR stunt — praying that Paterson Joseph walks through the TARDIS door and says in 2010… SURPRISE!!! But at the age of 40, Tom Baker was relatively a no-name actor with only a few creds to his name… look at what he accomplished.  Peter Davison was, at one time, the youngest Doctor to take on the role.  He was fantastic, too, but he had a hit series like All Creatures Great and Small behind him.  Acting experience! Maybe the scripts will make the difference here, not so much the “hairstyle”.  Because this, to me, seems like why they chose him.  That and his odd finger mannerisms.  I guess we have to watch and see, eh? I mean, David Tennant made the part all his own in one season.  He grew on us.  But how long will Matt Smith last as The Eleventh Doctor? Will he even be any good? What are some of your thoughts on Matt Smith (aka Doctor Number 11)?

Matt Smith promo shot

Matt Smith promo shot

A while back I held a few Doctor Who fan polls, where you could vote for your favorite Time Lord and so on.  This time I have TWO POLLS… Both dedicated to Matt Smith…

Come, take TWO different DOCTOR WHO polls with me…

 Cheers.

 Links to PREVIOUS Doctor Who polls:

https://lawrencedagstine.com/2008/11/12/doctor-who-and-the-eleventh-doctor-is/

https://lawrencedagstine.com/2008/10/30/doctor-who-david-tennant-says-goodbye/