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 Hollywood props and memorabilia.

(3) Patricia Marand, who portrayed Lois Lane on Broadway in It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman!, has passed away at 74.

(4) Anticipation, the 2009 Worldcon in Montreal, is accepting online registration with payment processing via PayPal.

(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.]