Welcome to the SciFi Diner where we serve up spicy conversations off the latest menu of SciFi Movies & Television Shows. For almost ten For almost fourteen years Scott Hertzog and Mile Mclaughlin began podcasting their love of all things sci-fi on the Sci-Fi Diner Podcast, informing their listeners on the latest sci-fi news and keeping the conversation going with them as they continue to celebrate this thing we call Science Fiction. Now they are joined by Dave, Chrissie, and M.

SciFi Diner Classic Ep. 21

Our interview with Torri Higginson

(TekWar and Stargate: Atlantis)

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In our twenty-first episode of the SciFi Diner Classic, we interview actor interview Torri Higginson (TekWar and Stargate: Atlantis). Since we do a news and interview show, it goes without saying that the news portion of our episodes often date themselves fast. And while the interviews with the people that make Science Fiction happen remain relevant and in our opinion important, most listeners will not listen back 100 episodes and wade through old news just to get to the interview. So what the SciFi Diner Classic aims to do is to share these interviews with you. If you have been with us from the beginning, then bear with us as we introduce some of our newer listeners to voices from the past. We're bringing you just the interview and nothing else.

"Torri" Higginson

 

Sarah Victoria "Torri" Higginson (born Burlington, Ontario, December 6, 1969) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her roles in the TekWar movies and series, The English Patient, Bliss, and Stargate Atlantis. She is also a theater actress and has appeared in Three Tall Women, Weldon Rising and Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

Career

In 1995, two years prior to Stargate SG-1's premiere, Higginson starred in the movie Jungleground with three other actors from the Stargate franchise: Peter Williams (Apophis), JR Bourne (Martouf), and Lexa Doig (Dr. Lam).

Higginson took over the role of Dr. Elizabeth Weir from Jessica Steen in a guest spot on the season eight opener of Stargate SG-1. She was then carried over as the leader of the Atlantis expedition on Stargate Atlantis and continued playing that role until the end of the show's third season, afterwards being reduced from a main cast member to a recurring role in the fourth season. She did not reprise the role for the show's fifth season.

Awards

Won: 2000: Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for: The City.
Nominated: 2004: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television: Stargate Atlantis.
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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 146

Our Interview with J.W. Holmes and Mark Brayer

(Creators of the comic book The Nordic)

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview: J.W. Holmes and Mark Brayer

J.W. HOLMES

J.W. Holmes is the former CEO and Chairman of a FOX News Radio affilate, he was an executive producer and host of a local ESPN show, a broadcaster, producer, currently an author, and a U.S. Army veteran. He began his career in writing in the early 1990's. His screenplay for "The Nordic" was first pitched to the BBC and Sky in the UK market, later transforming it into a sci-fi book selling in 7 countries, thus giving way to the comic book series for the book of the same name.

MARK BRAYER

Mark Brayer is a freelance illustrator/cartoonist with his own studio, Lightspeed Studios, and has been working in the field for over 25 years. He has created a vast amount of art from greeting cards, comic books, illustrated characters, book covers and illustrations, magazines, corporate logos and branding, websites and graphic design. Mark has been drawing since he was very young. "I drew all the time--at home, school, wherever I could find a piece of blank paper. I would sit down for hours and fill the page with drawings...By creating and drawing things around me, it opened the door to my imagination, and new creations have been coming out ever since.” He not only loves bringing life to his own creations, but teaching the craft as well. He has taught cartoon workshops for kids at schools and libraries whenever he has the chance. "They love it when they learn how easy it can be to create a cartoon character of their very own...it makes their day." Mark resides in Indiana with his wife and daughter.

ABOUT THE NORDIC

"The Nordic" is a comic book series based on the adventures of William Davidson who is singled out by an alien race to find the truth of the human race here on Earth.

Taking place in the UK in a town called Sunbury, "The Nordic" is a story of William Davidson, who discovers his genetic make-up is far closer to those of the Nordic alien race than anyone else's on Earth. Because of his near perfect DNA, he has been sought out and befriended by a liaison of the Nordics named Bertil, to mentor and prepare him for announcing the truth of human history on Earth and how we came to be. But first, William and Bertil must work together to find out what that true history is! Beaten down constantly, William must persevere through the annoying trials given to him by his political power-hungry aunt, out run the real Men in Black, as well as outhink, although sometimes ally with, the U.S. military who are trespassing on UK soil to keep William quiet about whatever truths he finds, and battle back nefarious aliens who also have reasons to keep William quiet, all the while somehow keeping his personal life somewhat balanced.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

They have a kickstarter campaign with some perks you just gotta check out.  You can do so here.

What Will the Money Be Going For?

After Kickstarter takes their percentage and taxes are paid on your contributions, the remainder will be used to help us get over the hump of printing cost, mass marketing, promo materials, and lets not forget the expense of conventions, something we are in dire need to being able to do to successfully make this a strong year for The Nordic.

Launching The Nordic

If our Kickstarter campaign goes well, we will be able to run first printing almost immediately, giving us the ability to launch in print and digitally with 30-45 days, so we should have the first issue of The Nordic in stores by August. If we overshoot our budget and depending by how much, we should be able to have the next issue out right away after that, the following month of the month after. On thing Mark and agree on is 1) not making readers wait long for the next issue, and 2) giving readers not only strong artwork, but also a strong detailed story-line. This is what we deliver in The Nordic. The Nordic is not another b&w comic, but is in full color. Directly after launching comic book series, the fiction book for The Nordic will be released and we will start in on a graphic novel for the holidays, hopefully. All this depends on whether or not we have a successful campaign here on Kickstarter, and how much we overshoot our mark on here as well.

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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 145

The Art of the Celebrity Interview Panel at Farpoint 2012

(Steve Wilson, Miles, and Scott)

 

 

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

What is Farpoint Con?

FARPOINT is an annual gathering for fans of all genres of imaginative fiction - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, SuperHeroes - in all the media formats in which they might appear - Cinematic Movies, Television, Direct to DVD , Books on Tape, Podcasts, Web Video - you name it, we want to celebrate it!

The con was established in 1993, by a committee led by Bev Volker and Steve Wilson.

Our focus is on Fandom, and all the wonderful, creative people who comprise it. Our mission is to encourage, to educate, to enable. So, while we certainly bring in some exciting professionals from the industries which bring imagination into the mainstream, our real goal is to give you the opportunity to meet others like yourself, to forge friendships, and to develop your own creative gifts.

We're here to welcome you, so, if you don't see what you're looking for, drop us a line. We're always happy to help.

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SciFi Diner Conversations 61

Digital Versus Paper Comics: Listener's Weigh In;

Listener's Also Review Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and 

Iron Sky, Discuss the Potential Stargate Movie, 

The Arrow (CW), and Star Trek on TV.

In this listener feedback show, Digital Versus Paper Comics: Listener's Weigh In; Listener's Also Review Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and Iron Sky, Discuss the Potential Stargate Movie, The Arrow (CW), and Star Trek on TV.

The song at the end of the episode is The Final Rewind by Tyrad 

Direct download: The_SciFi_Diner_Podcast_Converations_Ep._61.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:30am EDT
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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 144

Our Interview with Michael Dougherty

(Z*Con & Browncoats Redemption)

 

 

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview: Michael Dougherty (Z*Con & Browncoats Redemption)


What is Z*Con?

Z*Con is feature length film about four teen podcasters who are trapped at a comic convention when the zombie apocalypse breaks out. They use social media to share what’s going on inside with the outside world. It’s kind of like “Goonies” meets “Shaun of the Dead” set in…well….a comic convention.

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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 143

Our Interview with Nathan Lowell

(Author of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper Novels)

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview: Nathan Lowell


Author of the podcast novels Quarter ShareHalf ShareFull ShareDouble ShareCaptain's Share, Owner's Share, South Coast and Ravenwood, Nathan Lowell has been writing for forty years. His first published work was a short poem in a high school poetry anthology. His non-fiction includes articles on educational technology, distance education, and special education. He started theGolden Age of the Solar Clipper series in January, 2007. He is off to a prolific start, and has a dedicated fanbase at Podiobooks.com.

Most of Lowell's novels so far are set in a science fiction universe he calls the "Golden Age of the Solar Clipper". The "... Share" novels follow the adventures of Ishmael Wang, a young man who becomes orphaned at the start of Quarter Share and signs up to work on a merchant ship, the Lois McKendrick. The books' titles refer to how much share of the ship's profits a crewman receives at different job levels. South Coast is a spin-off but stand-alone novel sub-titled "A Shaman’s Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper", set in the same universe but focused on St Cloud, a single fishing planet and the coming of age of Otto Krugg, the only son of Richard Krugg and heir to the Shaman’s Gift.

Lowell has also written a fantasy novel, Ravenwood.

Some of Lowell's novels have been published in print and as ebooks, as well as in the original podcast format. The novels were slightly rewritten to suit the printed medium.

Dr. Nathan Lowell holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology with specializations in Distance Education and Instructional Design. He also holds an M.A. in Educational Technology and a BS in Business Administration. He grew up on the south coast of Maine and is strongly rooted in the maritime heritage of the sea-farer. He served in the USCG from 1970 to 1975, seeing duty aboard a cutter on hurricane patrol in the North Atlantic and at a communications station in Kodiak, AK. His shipboard experiences serve as inspiration for much of the shipboard life on the Lois McKendrick.

He currently lives far from the sea in the plains east of the Rocky Mountains with wife and two daughters.

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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 142

Our Interview with Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal

(Creators of Shelf Life and Con Artists) 

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Menu:

  • Interview:  Our Interview with Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal (Creators of Shelf Life and Con Artists) 
  • Trivia:  You can win Kate Vernon
  • TV News: Tom Baker Returns, 10 Emmy-worthy sci-fi performances we're hoping earn a nomination
  • Movie News:  A Swinging Time at the box office....Robocop sneak peaks, Roland Emerich eyes a possible ID4 Sequel and Star Gate.
  • PodioBook Review: Star Wars: In the Shadows
  • Con Update: Chris and Charity
  • TWIST: Karl Urban reveals possible villain.  Robert Orci says  who won’t be in the new movie.
  • SciFi Five in Five:  Chris and Charity share top recent con moments.

 

Trivia:

Question: In the episode of Falling Skies "The Armory": Having captured Tom and the others during the raid on the armory, John Pope gives Tom this nickname. What is it?

Prize: A signed Kate Vernon Print

You will have until August 7 to send us your answers. Please include the code word mentioned in the first 15 minutes of the show. Send your answer with your mailing address to scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com, call us at 18885084343, or DM us on Twitter at @scifidiner. Make sure you include your e-mail with all entries! Only one entry per person.   The SciFi Diner is not responsible for any injuries occurring if you secretly decide to go all shiny and dress in a browncoat and walk into your local bar.

Promos

Cyborgs: A Bonic Podcast

Trekcast Podcast

Our Interview:

SHELF LIFE (web-series) is an irreverent single-camera live action comedy web-series about 4 action figures on a young boy's shelf.


Based on an idea by Tara Platt, Season One directed by Paul Jenkins, written by Yuri Lowenthal and Paul Jenkins and produced by Monkey Kingdom Productions and Ultimatum Entertainment; Season Two directed by Steven Calcote, written by Yuri Lowenthal.

Featuring Travis Willingham as Hero Man, Tara Platt as Hero Lass, Yuri Lowenthal as Bug Boy and Bryan Enk as Samurai Snake. Anyone who is a fan of comics, action figures, comedy and irreverent humor is in for a treat!

TV News:

Tom Baker will return for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary after all

Dust off your long, winding scarves, dear fellow Whovians, and stock up on those jelly babies, because it looks like Tom Baker is definitely returning for Doctor Who's big whopping 50th-anniversary bash next year.
The Daily Express reports that the 78-year old actor is going to reprise his role in 2013, the year of the big timey-wimey shindig.
A show insider has revealed that Baker—who played the Fourth Doctor for seven seasons, from 1974 to 1981—will join forces with the current Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, to celebrate the show's half-century milestone:
"It will be fitting to have Tom back to mark the 50 years. He was a big part of the show's success and is much-loved by the fans."
Not too long ago we told you that Baker was willing to return to Who—perhaps because of his notorious absence during the 20th-anniversary special, "The Five Doctors," which he had refused to do—IF he was asked nicely.
"I think if they ask me nicely or I can see what they want me to do, I'd consider it. I think the fans have been so good to me, they'd expect me to at least make an appearance."
As for the details surrounding that special episode, the Doctor Who honchos are keeping mum on that little anniversary thingie, but there are speculations (when are there not?) that the special will serve as Matt Smith's last hurrah as the beloved Time Lord, even though the actor has stated that he wanted to stick with the role for, well, like forever.
So what do you guys think of this news? Are you excited that Tom Baker will get to step back into the TARDIS for the 50th once more? And do you believe it will also serve as Matt Smith's last appearance on Who?

10 Emmy-worthy sci-fi performances we're hoping earn a nomination

We're still a few weeks away from seeing who got nominated for an Emmy, and until the official announcement, we plan on living in hope that some of these stellar sci-fi performances of the past year manage to make the cut.
It's a cutthroat business getting an Emmy nomination, and it tends to be even tougher for performers from sci-fi series. But that doesn't mean there aren't tons of worthy competitors out there.

So here are 10 sci-fi actors and actresses that definitely deserve to be included come July 19.

Jason Isaacs, NBC's Awake
The show may have mostly been ignored by the viewing public, but this short-lived series about a man living two lives was one of the highest concepts we've seen in years—and star Jason Isaacs knocked it out of the park as a father and husband dealing with the loss of his son and wife in different realities.

Jon Bernthal, AMC's The Walking Dead
Bernthal's Shane was one of the most hated characters in the show's second season, but he was also one of the craziest, most tragic and most nuanced characters on television. His arc kept season two moving, and the epic conclusion was positively insane.

Peter Dinklage, HBO's Game of Thrones
Dinklage's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister is one of the highlights of this hit fantasy series, and we wouldn't be too surprise if he followed up his Emmy win last year with another nomination in 2012.

Benedict Cumberbatch, PBS (BBC)'s Sherlock
Cumberbatch is one of the greatest actors on television today, and with a few major films coming down the pike, the actor is poised to be a much bigger name very soon. But it's his fantastic turn in Steven Moffat's hit Sherlock series that really put him on the map.

John Noble, Fox's Fringe
Everybody's favorite mad scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop, is the glue that holds this series together, and Noble was able to take the character through several transformations this past season due to the shifting timelines.

Jessica Lange, FX's American Horror Story
Jessica Lange was, hands down, the best thing about the first season of FX's creepily awesome horror series—and she was just a supporting actress. Lange is definitely worthy of a nomination, and a win, for her unforgettable turn as the cold-blooded Constance.

Anna Torv, Fox's Fringe
Torv is asked to do a lot of things as agent Olivia Dunham, and her ability to ground even the most fantastical sci-fi plot point in reality makes her more than worthy of a nomination. After everything her character went through in the latest season, plus her turn playing alt-reality versions of herself, Torv has definitely earned some respect.

Lena Headey, HBO's Game of Thrones
Her role in this fantasy drama is definitely different than her awesome take on Sarah Connor in Fox's short-lived Terminator series, but her character grew into one of the most exciting in the series during the latest season.

Karen Gillan, BBC America's Doctor Who
Amy Pond has been a highlight of Steven Moffat's run on this classic British sci-fi series, and she has definitely shown her strength as an actress tackling some of last season's storylines dealing with the theft of her daughter.

Anna Paquin, HBO's True Blood
Despite its age, the hit vamp soap remains a big draw at HBO, and Anna Paquin is still the one that ties it all together.

So who would get YOUR vote?

Movie News:

"Amazing Spider-Man" Swings To Top Spot

The Amazing Spider-Man got off to a sizzling start and then continued to do solid business, sending the reboot of the superhero franchise to the top spot at the box-office. In its opening weekend, the movie took in $65 million and since it’s opening last Tuesday has taken in $140 million.
That figure is off from where each of the Sam Raimi directed installments opened, but is probably still enough to get a second and third installment of the proposed trilogy about the web-slinger.
Meanwhile, last week’s top money earner Ted dropped a spot to second with $32.5 million. Third place went to Pixar’s Brave with $20.1 million.
Oliver Stone’s new movie Savages opened in fourth with $16.1 million and Magic Mike rounded out the top five with $15.6 million.

 

Omnicorp's products revealed in 1st viral peek at RoboCop reboot

We're still more than a year away from the release of director Jose Padilha's RoboCop, but with the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con right around the corner the filmmakers have rolled out our first official glimpses of the reboot. The mega-company Omnicorp has a website, and they're promising all kinds of robotic goodies.

The fictional company's official web presence went live this weekend to tease us with the various powers and creations of the corporation that gives birth to RoboCop himself. The site is still only one page, but there's a lot to look at.
First of all, there's the re-designed ED-209, which you can see above. Then there's the XT-908 aerial drone that could end up playing up a big part in the new technological landscape of the reboot. And if you look a little further down the page, you'll notice a project in development called the RC-2000, "When Human Resources Meet Robotic Engineering."
But most exciting is the video unveiling the Omnicorp product line, including ED-209 and the XT-908. Yes, it's the first real footage we've seen from the flick, but more important than that, you get to watch ED-209 blow stuff up

 

Roland Emmerich Eyes Another Independence Day and More Stargate

It's been some time since his Stargate and Independence Day hit theaters in the 1990s, but director Roland Emmerich today tells The Hollywood Reporter that both sci-fi properties could be headed back to the big screen.
Independence Day, which is slated for a 3D re-release on July 3rd of next year, would go the sequel route and Emmerich has been working with his former creative partner Dean Devlin to get the story together.
"[C]reatively, for the very first time since we did the original, I feel we have a worthy concept, a worthy path to go," he says. "...Whether or not we can make this happen, if we can get all the pieces to come together, that’s gonna be challenging."
Plans for Stargate, meanwhile, are bit less distinct. "Stargate has always had this empty hole," he adds. "When we made the first one, we always intended on doing part two and three, and we were prevented for years. And our hope is that we can get another chance at Stargate and tell the entire story we wanted to tell."
Emmerich's next, White House Down, is set to star Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal and deals with a paramilitary takeover of the White House. Today, Variety revealed that James Woods is in talks to join the cast, playing the head of the President's secret service detail.

Podiobook Review:

Star Wars : In the Shadows

Based on the Star Wars universe created by George Lucas

Written by Dany Pépin

Produced & Directed by Dany Pépin

Music by John William

Sound design by Ben Burtt

Born and raised in a military family, Emma Wermis will slowly discover that the Empire is not what she always been taught it was. Her allegiance to the Empire will be tested and she will, during her adventures, uncover something about her family and a secret weapon kept hidden even within the Empire.

This week in Star Trek:

Star Trek' Star Karl Urban Reveals Possible Sequel Villain

In a recent interview to promote his current project Dredd, Karl Urban may have inadvertently revealed the actual name of the character who’s squaring off against the crew of the Enterprise: Gary Mitchell.

In an interview with SFX, Urban relayed his feelings about working alongside Sherlock Holmes actor Benedict Cumberbatch, revealing his long-concealed identity. “He’s awesome,” Urban said. “He’s a great addition, and I think his Gary Mitchell is going to be exemplary.”

What’s particularly noteworthy about the revelation – other than the fact that his name isn’t Khan – is that Mitchell was effectively the first villain in Star Trek history. Although the episode in which he appears, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” was broadcast third on television, it was created as a second pilot for the series after NBC rejected its predecessor, “The Cage.”

In the episode, Mitchell, played by 2001 star Gary Lockwood, is a longtime friend of Captain Kirk’s who develops superhuman abilities including telepathy and telekinesis after the ship encounters a mysterious barrier. Kirk is eventually forced to kill Mitchell after attempting to banish him on the planet of Delta Vega.

If screenwriters Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof and Roberto Orci adhere at all to the narrative of the episode, Mitchell will be a formidable enemy for Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. In a recent interview with THR, Kurtzman revealed that in the sequel, “Kirk doesn’t understand what it means to be captain,” suggesting that the fledgling commander has yet to experience the unenviable responsibility of sending crew members to their deaths.

Mitchell’s storyline could make for some particularly interesting dramatic possibilities if Kirk is not only forced to see his crew killed, but be responsible for the death one of his oldest friends from Starfleet Academy.

Screenwriter Roberto Orci lists five characters who will not be in Star Trek 2

In a recent radio chat, STAR TREK 2 screenwriter Roberto Orci was asked about characters who will or will not be in the upcoming sequel. With all of the discussion back and forth regarding whether Benedict Cumberbatch would be playing Khan, Orci decided to name five characters, some villains and some not, who will 100% not be in the sequel.

Those characters are Gary Mitchell, Charlie X, Ruk, Janice Rand, and The Borg.

It seemed pretty apparent The Borg would not be in the movie, but assuming that Orci is being honest, this begins to lend merit back to the Khan theories. I started to get my hopes up that it would be Gary Mitchell after all, but I am one of the few that would like to see a rebooted Khan enter the fray. My problem with a lot of franchises these days is that they kill off villains after one appearance instead of prolonging them through multiple films to build that animosity between good and bad guys.

Orci also mentioned the movie title has a "75% chance" of using the words STAR TREK but no confirmation on the final name of the film. I would be willing to bet the movie has a subtitle but no number. That seems to be popular these days.

CBS and Orci have discussed a possible STAR TREK animated series, but no word on what generation would be the focus of the story. With both THE CLONE WARS and TRON: UPRISING successfully translating storied franchises into the world of cartoons, a new STAR TREK cartoon may not be so farfetched.

The Sci Fi 5 in 5:

Chris  & Charity’s top 5 things they liked at recent Cons.

Comments[0]

SciFi Diner Conversations 60

Listeners Analyze Digital Versus Paper Comics,

Review The Amazing Spiderman, 

Discuss the Impracticality of Super Hero Outfits,

and Respond to the Possibilities of an 

Independence Day and Stargate Sequel.

 

In this listener feedback show, listeners analyze digital versus paper comics, review The Amazing Spiderman, discuss the impracticality of super hero outfits, and respond to the possibility of an Independence Day and Stargate sequel.

The song at the end of the episode is The Final Rewind by Tyrad 

Direct download: The_SciFi_Diner_Podcast_Converations_Ep._60.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am EDT
Comments[0]

SciFi Rewind Episode 18

Total Recall

On this SciFi Rewind, Scott and Miles from the SciFi Diner Podcast and Jim Arrowood rewatch Total Recall, a masterpiece in the Science Fiction, and share their favorite scenes and delve deep into the facts and stories behind it. The episode is rounded out with listener thoughts and feedback as well. In our next rewatch, we will be rewatching the iconic film Logan's Run. Be sure to watch Logan's Run with us and send in your thoughts by August 10th.  If you want to share your SciFi Rewind with us and have us talk about it on the show or if you want to comment on our rewinds, please e-mail us at scifirewind@gmail.com (you can attach an mp3 audio file if you want) or call us at 18885084343.

 

Direct download: SciFi_Rewind_Episode_18_-_Total_Recall.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:47am EDT
Comments[0]

SciFi Diner Conversations 59

Listeners review Prometheus, Battleship, Tron Uprising,

and Falling Skies, talk about how Star Trek is trying bilk fans

out of more money, and try to convince Wayne

to give Dollhouse a second chance.

In this listener feedback show, listeners review Prometheus, Battleship, Tron Uprising, and Falling Skies, talk about how Star Trek is trying bilk fans out of more money, and try to convince Wayne to give Dollhouse a second chance.

The song at the end of the episode is The Final Rewind by Tyrad 

Direct download: The_SciFi_Diner_Podcast_Converations_Ep._59.mp3
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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 141

Our Interview with David Gadali and Itay Gross

(Secular Quarter 3 and Europa)

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

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Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Menu:

  • Interview:  David Gadali and Itay Gross (Secular Quarter 3 and Europa)
  • Trivia:  Who won Michael Hogan?
  • Special Interest: Firefly's Browncoats + 15 more sci-fi freedom fighting forces, Firefly's Mal and Jayne + 9 more unlikely sci-fi friendships
  • Movie News:   Rumor of the Day: John Rhys-Davies' Gimli returning for The Hobbit
  • PodioBook Review:  7th Son Series by JC Hutchins
  • TWIST: William Shatner’s new docuementary, Robert Picardo says he would guest star in a new Star Trek movie.
  • SciFi Five in Five:  Iconic Movie Music Movie Scores
 

Trivia:

Question: Name an actor on BSG who played 2 different characters.  Clue. Not a cylon. Prize:  A Michael Hogan signed print. Winner: Scott Chandler Here is Scott's e-mail to us with his answer: "Hi Guys....so, is this a trick question? Because you don't mention whether BSG means just the 2003 reimagined series or BSG the original and the 2003 version. So, here we go....if it's both series, then the obvious answer is Richard Hatch as Apollo and Thomas Zarek. And if it's just the 2003 version, then there's a list of several: James Ashcroft as "Spectator #1" and "Security Officer", Eric Breker as the "Captain of Gemenon" and "George Chu", Biski Gugushe as "Pilot #1" and "Sekou Hamilton", John Mann as "Major Jackson "Dipper" Spencer" and "Linden", and Ryan Robbins as "Armistice Officer" and "Charlie Conner". I'm guessing the answer you're looking for is Richard Hatch. :-) But I included all the others just in case. Thanks as always, and as always.........Good Night, and Good Luck!" Well Scott, the answer we were looking for was Ryan Robbins, but we obviously didn't do your homework.

Promos

Gatecast Promo Satureday B Movie Reel Promo

Our Interview:

Special Interets:

Firefly's Browncoats + 15 more sci-fi freedom fighting forcesWith Independence Day nearly upon us, it's a great time to remember all the freedom fighters who battled (fictional) baddies in sci-fi movies and on TV. From battles against aliens to foreign forces, the quest for freedom has been a part of sci-fi for decades. Considering that everyone loves a good underdog, most of these sci-fi fighters are overmatched from time to time, but they all share the one trait that's worth remembering this week—a quest for freedom, regardless of the potential consequences. So from recent hits like Falling Skies to classics like Star Wars, here's to you, fearless heroes.  

Movie News:

Rumor of the Day: John Rhys-Davies' Gimli returning for The Hobbit

Another Lord of the Rings favorite could be dusting off his costume for The Hobbit. We already know that Elijah Wood (Frodo), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) and Andy Serkis (Gollum) are set to return. But what about John Rhys-Davies' Gimli?

A while ago, Rhys-Davies was spotted in New Zealand visiting the Hobbit set. It led fans to believe he was on official business, perhaps reprising his role from the previous Lord of the Rings films. To add fuel to the fire, the actor attended a recent convention where he was asked point-blank if he'd appear in the movie.

A fan revealed:

At first he denied it, but after a little pressing he smiled really big, laughed, winked, and said that maybe it was possible. His smile... his laugh... I'm taking this as a pretty big indicator that he will be involved in some small way. Can't wait to see it!

Rhys-Davies also provided the voice of Treebeard in LOTR, so if he doesn't reprise Gimli, maybe he could do a voice cameo? What other character could he play?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters Dec. 14.

Do you think Rhys-Davies will reprise his role for The Hobbit?

(via TheOneRing)

 

Podiobook Review:

Seventh Son Series by J.C. Hutchins

7th Son: 7 Days (Prequel)

7th Son: 7 Days cover7th Son: 7 Days is a free audio prequel anthology to J.C.’s thriller novel, 7th Son: Descent. Set two weeks before Descent’s extraordinary events, the series reveals the lives of seven seemingly unrelated men, and their everyday challenges.

In the world of 7th Son, “everyday” challenges are far from ordinary. Each of these seven stories stars a unique John Michael Smith. Witness criminal profiler Dr. Mike’s quest to hunt an unstoppable serial killer. Watch blue-collar musician John realize a lifelong dream. Ride shotgun with USMC captain Michael on a dangerous black ops mission in the Middle East. Behold the worldwide influence of deranged computer hacker Kilroy2.0 … and more.

7th Son: 7 Days represents the creative reboot of the popular 7th Son thriller series. Designed to tightly integrate with 7th Son: Descent’s print novel storyline, 7 Days is a perfect introduction to the 7th Son universe. Meet the Beta clones … before they knew they were clones.

This week in Star Trek:

WATCH: William Shatner’s “Get A Life” Preview As we first reported last month, William Shatner’s Get A Life! is set to premier at San Diego Comic Con on July 14th and later on EPIX and EpixHD.com on July 28th.

 

Robert Picardo Says He Could Appear in Abrams’ Next Star Trek Film

Robert Picardo, who played the Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager, recently praised Star Trek director J.J. Abrams and crew’s handling of the franchise, during an interview with the UK Press Association. Picardo noted that there’s a possibility that he and other former Star Trek actors could appear in an upcoming film, as Leonard Nimoy did in the 2009 movie.

“Well, it’s always possible that they’ll use one of us. I’ve met JJ, he was very kind and complimentary to me, and I know he watched the show because he’s a fan of Star Trek. Nothing is impossible.”

Picardo went on to discuss how the new films have boosted interest in some of the old Star Trek series.

“What’s wonderful about Star Trek having been rebooted so successfully by the JJ Abrams movie franchise, is that the corollary effect is that it creates a new generation of fans, and they’re interested in all of it.

“They don’t just sit around and wait for the next movie to come out, they’ll go back and re-examine episodes.

SciFi 5@5:

Five Top Five Music Scores

5. Stargate

4. Superman Richard Donner Films

3. Terminator

2. Star Wars

1. Star Trek

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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 140

Our Interview with Mike Schilling

Why Go To A Con? Shore Leave 34:

Boldly Going Where No Con Has Gone Before.

 

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview:

Mike Schilling is in charge of publicity at Shore Leave 34. Shore Leave is a fan-run Science Fiction media convention held on August 3-5, 2012 at Marriott’s Hunt Valley Inn. The convention features appearances by actors and writers from a broad variety of TV shows and movies ranging from current hits to classic favorites.

This year's guests include:

 

  Kate Mulgrew
Kate Mulgrew
ST:Voyager's Captain Janeway; Warehouse 13'sJane
  Ryan Robbins
Ryan Robbins
Sanctuary's Henry Foss;Falling Skies' Tector,Stargate Atlantis' Ladon Radim, Caprica's Diego,Battlestar Galactica'sCharlie Connor
  Thomas Dekker
Thomas Dekker
The Secret Circle's Adam Conanat; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' John Connor,Heroes' Zack
 
Musetta Vander
Musetta Vander
Stargate SG1's Shan'auc;Xena's Ilainus,ST:Voyager's Derran Tal,Buffy's Natalie French,Babylon 5's Felicia
LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton
ST:TNG's Lt. Cmdr. LaForge; Roots' Kunta Kinte, Reading Rainbow
Jane Wiedlin
Jane Wiedlin
The Go-GosBill & Ted's Excellent Adventure'sJoan of Arc; Scooby Doo,Pinky and the Brain,King of the Hill (voice work)
Vic Mignogna
Vic Mignogna
Fullmetal Alchemist's Edward Elrick,Dragonball Z's Burter,Soul CaliberFinal Fantasy (voice work), Director/Producer - Star Trek: Continues
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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 139

Our Interview with Peter David

(Novels: Star Trek: The New Frontier Series and Babylon 5,  

Comics: The Incredible Hulk, Aquaman, Young Justice, Supergirl)

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The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s DinersScott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview: Peter David (Novels: Star Trek: The New Frontier Series and Babylon 5,  Comics: The Incredible Hulk, Aquaman, Young Justice, Supergirl)

Peter Allen David (born September 23, 1956), often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning, 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on AquamanYoung JusticeSupergirl, and Fallen Angel.

His Star Trek work includes both comic books and novels, such as Imzadi, and co-creating the New Frontier series. His other novels include film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5,Young JusticeBen 10: Alien Force and Space Cases, the latter of which David co-created.

David often jokingly describes his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and is noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.

David has earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and 2011 GLAAD Media Award.

Peter David’s paternal grandparents, Martin and Hela David, and Peter's father, Gunter, came to the United States in the 1930s after the political situation inNazi Germany deteriorated to the point that Martin's Berlin shoestore became the target of antisemitic vandalism. David was born September 23, 1956 in Fort Meade, Maryland to Gunter and Dalia, an Israeli-born Jewish mother, to whom David credits for his sense of humor. He has two siblings, a younger brother named Wally, who works as a still life photographer  and musician, and a sister named Beth.

David first became interested in comics when he was about five years old, reading copies of Harvey Comics' Casper and Wendy in a barbershop. He became interested in superheroes through the Adventures of Superman TV series. His favorite title was Superman, and he cites John Buscema as his favorite pre-1970's artist.

David's earliest interest in writing came through the journalism work of his father, Gunter, who would sometimes review movies, and take young Peter along if it was age-appropriate. While Gunter would write his reviews back at the newspaper’s office, Peter would write his own, portions of which would sometimes find their way into Gunter's published reviews. David began to entertain the notion of becoming a professional writer at age twelve, buying a copy of The Guide to the Writer’s Market, and subscribing to similar-themed magazines, in the hopes of becoming a reporter.

David lived initially in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where he attended Demarest Elementary School, but later moved to Verona, New Jersey, where he spent his adolescence. By the time he entered his teens, he had lost interest in comic books, feeling he had outgrown them. David's best friend in junior high and freshman year in high school, Keith, was gay, and David has described how both of them were targets of ostracism and harassment fromhomophobes. Although his family eventually moved to Pennsylvania, his experiences in Verona soured him on that town, and would shape his liberal sociopolitical positions regarding LGBT issues. He would later make Verona the home location of villain Morgan le Fay in his novel Knight Life, and has often discussed his progressive views on LGBT issues in his column and on his blog.

David's interest in comics was rekindled when he saw X-Men #95 on newsstands, and discovered the "All-New, All-Different" team that had first appeared inGiant-Size X-Men #1 (October 1975), which he subsequently purchased at a comic convention, his first in years.

A seminal moment in the course of his aspirations occurred when he met writer Stephen King at a book signing, and told him that he was an aspiring writer. King signed David's copy of Danse Macabre with the inscription, "Good luck with your writing career.", which David now inscribes himself onto books presented to him by fans who tell him the same thing. Other authors that David cites as influences include Harlan Ellison, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert B. Parker, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Robert Crais and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Specific books he has mentioned as favorites include To Kill a MockingbirdTarzan of the ApesThe Princess BrideThe Essential EllisonA Confederacy of Dunces,  Adams Versus Jefferson, and Don Quixote.[23]David has singled out Ellison in particular as a writer whom he has tried to emulate.

David attended New York University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. His first professional assignment was covering theWorld Science Fiction Convention held in Washington in 1974 for the Philadelphia Bulletin.

David eventually gravitated towards fiction after his attempts at journalism did not meet with success. His first published fiction was in Asimov's Science Fiction. He also sold an Op-ed piece to The New York Times, however, his submissions overall were met with rejection that far outnumbered those accepted.

Comic book career

Peter David and Larry Stroman at a comic book signing for X-Factor in the early 1990's

David eventually gave up on a career in writing, and came to work in book publishing, first for Elseviser/Nelson, and later working in sales and distribution for Playboy Paperbacks. He subsequently worked for five years in Marvel Comics' Sales Department, first as Assistant Direct Sales Manager under Carol Kalish, who hired him, and then succeeding Kalish as Sales Manager. During this time he made some cursory attempts to sell stories, including submission of some Moon Knight plots to Dennis O'Neil, but his efforts were unfruitful. Three years into his tenure as Direct Sales Manager, Jim Owsleybecame editor of the Spider-Man titles. Although crossing over from sales into editorial was considered a conflict of interest in the Marvel offices, Owsley, whom David describes as a "maverick," was impressed with how David had not previously hesitated to work with him when Owsley was an assistant editor under Larry Hama, and thus, when he became an editor, he purchased a Spider-Man story from David, which appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man #103 in 1985. Owsley subsequently purchased from David "The Death of Jean DeWolff", which ran in issues #107-110 of that title in 1985. Responding to charges of conflict of interest, David made a point of not discussing editorial matters with anyone during his 9 to 5 hours as Direct Sales Manager, and decided not to exploit his position as Sales Manager by promoting the title. Although David attributes the story's poor sales to this decision, such crossing over from Sales to Editorial, according to him, is now common. Nonetheless, he says he was fired from Spectacular Spider-Man by Owsley due to editorial pressure by Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, and has commented that the resentment stirred by Owsley's purchase of his stories may have permanently damaged Owsley's career. Months later, after Shooter was replaced by Bob Harras, Harras offered David The Incredible Hulk, as it was a struggling title that no one else wanted to write.

During his run on Hulk, David explored the recurring themes of the Hulk's multiple personality disorder, his periodic changes between the more rageful and less intelligent Green Hulk and the more streetwise, cerebral Gray Hulk, and of being a journeyman hero, which were inspired by Incredible Hulk #312 (October 1985), in which writer Bill Mantlo (and possibly, according to David, Barry Windsor-Smith) had first established that Banner had suffered childhood abuse at the hands of his father. These aspects of the character would later be used in the 2003 feature film adaptation by screenwriterMichael France and director Ang Lee. Comic Book Resources credits David with making the formerly poor-selling book "a must-read mega-hit".

It was after he had been freelancing for a year, and into his run on Hulk, that David felt that his writing career had cemented. After putting out feelers at DC Comics, and being offered the job of writing a four-issue miniseries of The Phantom by editor Mike Gold, David quit his sales position to write full-time.

David also took over Dreadstar during its First Comics run, with issue #41 (March 1989) after Jim Starlin left the title, and remained on it until issue #64 (March 1991), the final issue of that run. David’s other Marvel Comics work in the late 1980s and 1990s includes runs on Wolverine, the New Universe series Merc and Justice, a run on the original X-Factor, and the futuristic series Spider-Man 2099, about a man in the year 2099 who takes up the mantle of Spider-Man, the title character of which David co-created.

At DC Comics in 1990, David wrote a seven-issue Aquaman miniseries, The Atlantis Chronicles, about the history of Aquaman's home of Atlantis, which David has referred to as among the written works of which he is most proud. He would later write a 1994 Aquaman miniseries, Aquaman: Time and Tide, which would lead to a relaunched monthly Aquaman series, the first 46 issues of which he would write from 1994–1998. His run on Aquaman gained notoriety, for in the book's second issue, Aquaman lost a hand, which was then replaced with a harpoon, a feature of the character that endured for the duration of David's run on the book. He also wrote the Star Trek comic book for DC from 1988–1991, when that company held the licensing rights to the property, though he has opined that novels are better suited to Star Trek, whose stories are not highly visual. He and Ron Marz cowrote the DC vs. Marvel intercompany crossover in 1996. David also enjoyed considerable runs on Supergirl and Young Justice, the latter eventually being canceled so that DC could use that book's characters in a relaunched Teen Titans monthly.

David's work for Dark Horse Comics has included the teen spy adventure, SpyBoy, which appeared in a series and a number of miniseries between 1999 and 2004, and the 2007 miniseries The Scream.

Other series David worked on in the 1990s include the 1997 miniseries, Heroes Reborn: The Return, for Marvel, and two creator-owned properties: Soulsearchers and Company, which is published byClaypool Comics, and the Epic Comics title Sachs and Violens, which he produced with co-creator, artist George Pérez.

David's early 2000s work includes runs on two volumes of Captain Marvel, which debuted in 2000 and 2002.

David and his second wife, Kathleen, wrote the final English-language text for the first four volumes of the manga series Negima for Del Rey Manga.

In 2003, David began writing another creator-owned comic, Fallen Angel, for DC Comics, which he created in order to make use of plans he had devised for Supergirl after the "Many Happy Returns" storyline, but which were derailed by that series' cancellation. That same year, he also wrote a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series for Dreamwave that tied into the animated television series broadcast that year. DC canceled Fallen Angel after 20 issues, but David re-started the title at IDW Publishing at the end of 2005. Other IDW work included a Spike: Old Times one-shot and the Spike vs. Dracula mini-series, both based on the character from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel television series.

David with writer Dan Slott at Jim Hanley's Universe in Manhattan, October 25, 2007, promoting the beginning of David's tenure as writer on She-Hulk.

In 2005, David briefly returned to Incredible Hulk, though he left after only 11 issues because of his workload. He also started a new series, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, beginning with a twelve-part crossover storyline called "The Other", which, along with J. Michael Straczynski's run on Amazing Spider-Man, and Reginald Hudlin's run on Marvel Knights Spider-Man, depicted the webslinger as he discovered he was dying, lost an eye during a traumatic fight with Morlun, underwent a metamorphosis and emerged with new abilities and insights into his powers. As tends to be the case when fundamental changes are introduced to long-standing classic comics characters, the storyline caused some controversy among readers for its introduction of retractable stingers in Spider-Man's arms, and the establishment of a "totem" from which his powers are derived. David's final issue of that title was #23.

David also wrote a MadroX miniseries that year, whose success led to a relaunch of a monthly X-Factor (volume 3) written by him. This was a revamped version of the title starring both Madrox and other members of the former X-Factor title that David had written in the early '90s, now working as investigators in a detective agency of that name. David's work on the title garnered praise from Ain't it Cool News, and David has stated that the opt in/opt out policy and greater planning with which Marvel now executes crossover storylines has made his second stint on the title far easier.[2] However, his decision to explicitly establish male characters Shatterstar and Rictor as sharing a homosexual attraction to one another (a confirmation of clues that had been established in X-Force years earlier), drew criticism from Shatterstar's co-creator, Rob Liefeld, though Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada supported David's story. David would eventually win a 2011 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for his work on the title.

On February 11, 2006, David announced at the WonderCon convention in California in that he had signed an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics. Fallen AngelSoulsearchers and Company and David's Spike miniseries were "grandfathered" into the contract, so as to not be affected by it. The first new project undertaken by David after entering into the contract, which he announced on April 5, 2006, was writing the dialogue for The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, the comic book spin-off of Stephen King's The Dark Tower novels, which would be illustrated by Jae Lee. He would also script the subsequent Dark Tower comics as well.

David took over Marvel's She-Hulk after writer Dan Slott's departure, beginning with issue #22. His run, which won praise, ended with issue #38, when the series was canceled. He also wrote a 2008-09 Sir Apropos of Nothing miniseries, based on the character from his novels, which was published by IDW Publishing.

David's other 2000s comics based on licensed or adapted properties include Halo: Helljumper, a 2009 miniseries based on the Halo video game, a 2009 Ben 10: Alien Force manga book published by Del Rey, Ben Folds Four, a "Little Mermaid" story in Jim Valentino's Fractured Fables anthology that was praised by Ain't It Cool News, an adaptation of the 1982 film Tron that was released to tie in with that film's 2010 sequel, and a John Carter of Mars prequel to the 2012 feature film.

On November 24, 2011, David was one of the balloon handlers who pulled the Spider-Man balloon during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Novels

David's career as a novelist developed concurrently with his comic book writing career. David had been working at a publisher that went out of business, and a former coworker from that publisher became his agent, through whom he sold his first novel, Knight Life, to Ace Books. Although the sale was made before he wrote any comic books, the novel was not published until eighteen months later, in 1987. The novel depicts about the reappearance of King Arthur in modern-day New York City. Another early novel of his, Howling Mad, is about a wolf that turns into a human being after being bitten by a werewolf. Ace Books also hired David to write the Photon and Psi-Man novels, though they published them under the "house name" David Peters, over David's objections. David updated Knight Life years later when Penguin Putnam brought it back into print in 2003, and made it a trilogy with the sequels One Knight Only and Fall of Knight, which were published in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Penguin would also rerelease Howling Mad and the Psi-Man books under David's actual name.

David first began writing Star Trek novels at the request of Pocket Books editor Dave Stern, who was a fan of David's Star Trek comic book work. His Star Trek novels are among those for which he is best known, including Q-in-LawI, QVendettaQ-Squared; and Imzadi, one of the best-selling Star Trek novels of all time. He created the ongoing novel series, Star Trek: New Frontier, a spin-off from Star Trek: The Next Generation, with John J. Ordover in 1997. New Frontier continued until April 2011, with the publication of Blind Man's Bluff, the final New Frontier novel on David's contract at the time, after which the series' future was unclear to David. David's other science fiction tie-in novels include written five Babylon 5 novels, three of which were originals, and two of which were adaptations of the TV movies Thirdspace and In the Beginning.

His other novel adaptations include those of the movies The Return of Swamp ThingThe RocketeerBatman ForeverSpider-ManSpider-Man 2Spider-Man 3HulkThe Incredible HulkFantastic Four, and Iron Man. He also wrote an original Hulk novel, The Incredible Hulk: What Savage Beast, based on story ideas that he was not permitted to use in the comic book, and an adaptation of an unused Alien Nation television script, "Body and Soul".

David's 2009 novel Tigerheart is a re-imagining of Peter Pan with a mix of new and old characters, told as a Victorian bedtime story, much like the classic tale. It was praised by Ain't It Cool News, and honored by the School Library Journal as one of 2008's Best Adult Books for High School Students. His Sir Apropos of Nothing fantasy trilogy, Sir Apropos of NothingThe Woad to Wuin andTong Lashing, features characters and settings completely of David’s own creation, as does his 2007 fantasy novel, Darkness of the Light, which is the first in a new trilogy of novels titled The Hidden Earth. The second installment, The Highness of the Low, was scheduled to be published in September 2009, but David has related on his blog that it has been delayed until the winter of 2012.

David's 2010 novel work includes Year of the Black Rainbow, a novel cowritten with musician Claudio Sanchez of the band Coheed and Cambria, that was released with the band's album of the same name, and an Fable original novel The Balverine Order, set between the events of Fable II and Fable III. In April 2011, David announced that, in addition to another Fable novel, he and a number of other writers, including Glenn Hauman, Mike Friedman and Bob Greenberger, were assembling an electronic publishing endeavor called Crazy Eight Press, which would allow them to publish e-books directly to fans, the first of which would be David's Arthurian story, The Camelot Papers. David explained that the second book in his "Hidden Earth" trilogy would also be published through Crazy Eight.

David (at far right) on a panel on comic book writing at the 2009 Brooklyn Book Festival. Beside him (left to right) are Jim McCann, Dan Slott and Fred Van Lente.

David has stated that he tries to block out different days and different times to work on different projects. He usually works in the morning, for example, on novels, and does comics-related work in the afternoon. Having previously used Smith Corona typewriters, he writes on a Sony Vaio desktop computer, using Microsoft Word for his comics and novel work, and Final Draft for his screenplays. When writing novels, he sometimes outlines the story, and sometimes improvises it as he is writing it.

David previously wrote his comic book scripts using the Marvel Method, but due to his tendency to overplot, as during his collaboration with Todd McFarlane on The Incredible Hulk, he switched to the full script method, which he continues to use as of 2003. He has stated that he prefers to plot his comics stories in six-month arcs. He has also stated that when he works on a particular title, he always does so with a particular person or group of people in mind to which he dedicates it, explaining that he wrote Supergirl for his daughters, Young Justice for a son he might one day have and The Incredible Hulkfor his first wife, Myra, who urged him to first accept the job of writing that book. David has further explained that the events of his own life are sometimes reflected in his work, as when, for example, following the breakup of his first marriage, the direction of The Incredible Hulk faltered, with the Hulk wandering the world aimlessly, hopelessly looking to be loved.

David has stated that his favorite female character of his own creation is Lee, the protagonist of Fallen Angel, which he says is derived from the positive female fan reaction to that character. Characters that David has not written but which he has expressed an interest in writing for the comics medium includeBatman, Tarzan, Doc Savage, the Dragonriders of Pern, the Steed/Peel Avengers, and Dracula. He has specifically mentioned interest in writing a Tarzan vs. the Phantom story.

Direct download: SciFi_Diner_Podcast_Ep._139_-_Our_Interview_with_Peter_David.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:19pm EDT
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