The Klezmer Nutcracker, a theatrical adaptation of Ellen Kushner’s book The Golden Dreydl, now is onstage through January 3 at the Vital Theater in
Kushner herself appears in the production, and also discusses the development of her story from book, to radio, and now to theater.
The full press release appears after the jump.
[Thanks to Andrew Porter for the link.]
Tom Purdom describes Philcon, and science fiction conventions generally, in his recent post on the Broad Street Review. He begins with a great hook:
The “Women in Science” panel at the recent Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference attracted some ten women, all scientists or technologists. The moderator was a NASA astrophysicist, and the audience included a nuclear engineer and a molecular biologist who had switched to medicine after several years in pure research. All had overcome the barriers that confront women scientists, including the junior high “Boys don’t like smart girls” syndrome. They had stuck it out, from what they said, primarily because they’d become fascinated by a scientific field when they were young and decided they would work in it no matter what.
All the women on that panel, incidentally, cited science fiction as one of the reasons they became interested in science and technology. Nobody ever became a wizard because they read fantasy. But plenty of people have become physicists and biologists because they read science fiction.
[Thanks to Andrew Porter for the link.]
Fusion Designs Gallery displays and sells the work of Leo and Diane Dillon and their son Lee Dillon. The gallery opened this month and its first show is “Shakespeare covers of the 1960s.” (140 Atlantic Avenue,
[Thanks to Andrew Porter for the story.]
Anticipation, the 2009 Worldcon in
The competition called for designers to incorporate an aspect relating to
Just added to Bruce Edwards’ C.S. Lewis-themed blog is “A Christmas Gift Guide for Those Who Love Jack.” On his list of 10 items is the new paperback of The Company They Keep by Diana Glyer ($19.80; pb.
A towering, magnificent work on the Inklings that peers behind the curtain of Lewis and Tolkien’s personal and writing relationships…
This is just the kind of holiday shopping hint that warms our hearts here at File 770 headquarters. I should have suggested it first!
Mike Deckinger sends a link to
Beverly Garland, the B-movie actress who starred in 1950s cult hits like “Swamp Women” and “Not of This Earth” and who went on to play Fred MacMurray’s TV wife on “My Three Sons,” has died. She was 82.
Read how the online sf community rallied around Vera Nazarian, publisher of Norilana Books, when a blizzard of financial and family crises menaced her with the possibility of losing her home.
As of Monday night, over $19,000.00 was donated. The fund’s organizers report that there were 524 donors who gave an average of $10 each.
Sometimes it is a wonderful life…
[Thanks to Andrew Porter for the link.]
Five developments of interest to fans:
(1) I found Robert J. Sawyer’s answer to critics of “product placement” in his Hugo-nominated novel Rollback very enlightening. It’s now available online in the October 17 issue of MT Void.
(2) Luke Skywalker’s light saber sold for more than £130,000 at an auction of
(3) Patricia Marand, who portrayed
(4) Anticipation, the 2009 Worldcon in
(5) The Crotchety Old Fan has interviewed Billy Gray, probably the best known (and maybe only) surviving actor from the original The Day the Earth Stood Still. (Did Crotchety make a mistake by passing on a chance to ask whether Klaatu or Father knows best?)
[Includes links provided by David Klaus.]
Bill Warren has a suggestion: “Based on the long-time fannish semi-joke that no matter where the Worldcon was held, the first person you saw was Forry Ackerman, I’ve suggested that LASFS pay for a nice mounted portrait of him to be sent each year to that year’s Worldcon committee. It would be displayed behid the registration desk, so the first person at a Worldcon people would see would still be Forry Ackerman. No response from LASFS bigwigs as yet….”
Two plays by Ray Bradbury, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit and Falling Upwards, will be staged in the