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.

On this episode of the SciFi Diner, we look back on our favorite moments of 2020 (yes, there were some good moments amidst the chaos) and we talk about what we are looking forward to in 2021. We also spend a nice amount of time discussing Star Trek: Discovery and The Mandalorian.

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Star Trek: Enterprise, titled simply Enterprise for its first two seasons, is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It originally aired from September 26, 2001, to May 13, 2005, on UPN (see list of Star Trek: Enterprise episodes). The sixth series in the Star Trek franchise, it is a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, set in the 22nd century, a hundred years before the events of The Original Series and just prior to the formation of the United Federation of Planets. It follows the adventures of the Enterprise, Earth's first starship capable of traveling at warp five, as it explores the galaxy and encounters various alien species. Following the culmination of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and with Star Trek: Voyager scheduled to end, UPN asked Braga and Berman to create a new series to continue the franchise. Rather than setting it in the 24th century alongside Deep Space Nine and Voyager, the duo decided to set Enterprise in an earlier period, allowing them to explore new parts of the Star Trek fictional universe. Wanting a more basic, relatable, character-driven series, Berman and Braga concentrated on a core trio of characters: Captain Jonathan Archer (played by Scott Bakula), Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer) and Sub-commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock). The show broke with Star Trek convention in several respects. In addition to dropping the Star Trek prefix, Enterprise used the pop-influenced song "Faith of the Heart" (performed by Russell Watson) as its theme. It was filmed on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles, California, on the same stages that housed the Star Trek series and films since the abandoned Star Trek: Phase II in the late 1970s. The first two seasons were characterized by stand-alone episodes that explored topics like humanity's early relations with the Vulcan, and first encounters with the Klingon and Andorians, aliens already familiar to the Star Trek franchise. Seeking to attract a wider audience, UPN called for changes for its third season. The series was renamed (from simply Enterprise to Star Trek: Enterprise) and reconceived to focus on action-driven plots and a single, serialized storyline: the crew's mission to prevent the Earth being destroyed by a newly introduced alien species, the Xindi. In 2005, UPN cancelled the series after its fourth season, despite a fan-led campaign to continue it. The cancellation marked the first time in 18 years that no new Star Trek episodes would be produced, the beginning of a hiatus that lasted until the launch of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017.

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Charles Dunbar is graduate of Hunter College, CUNY, where he received a BA in Religion and Anthropology and an MA in Cultural Anthropology. His thesis, Pilgrimage, Pageantry and Fan Communities was published in 2011 and focused on anime convention participation, including spending habits, cosplay, demographics, communal behaviour and convention culture. Charles has previously given talks before the Joseph Campbell Foundation, has worked in the music industry as an A&R talent scout and promoter, excavated a Roman Villa in the United Kingdom, studied Irish Literature at Trinity College in Dublin, acted as a teacher and mentor for at-risk students in a charter school, shipped books for a comic shop and had his own weekly radio show for 5 years. These days you can usually find him at a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, working diligently on whatever project is currently occupying his time, or traveling the roads of the East Coast to various anime conventions. In addition to his own site, he also has written for the websites Insert Disc and Real Otaku Gamer. He can be reached at charles@studyofanime.com Some random facts: -Charles is an audiophile, with over 2000 albums in his collection. -He loves military history (especially sarcastic military history) and urban exploration. -Loves watching the sun rise, despite not being a morning person. -Charles' favorite animated show of all time is "King of the Hill." Charles' favorite anime are: BECK Mongolian Chop Squad Cowboy Bebop Hell Girl His favorite manga are: Fullmetal Alchemist Chobits Rurouni Kenshin His favorite games are: Persona 3 Final Fantasy IX Chrono Trigger

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There’s a flashback to Elena and Gavin making a bold move to defeat Erawan for the time being. Elide is trying to find Aelin and Celaena, for whom Kaltain has sent the mysterious stone. She is struggling, low on food and water. Lorcan spots her and tells what she is by her scent. He wants to question her but watches her first. Aelin, Rowan, Aedion, and Lysandra have traveled to a secret meeting area of Aedion’s. He’s called the lords he trusts to gather for a meeting. The lords want to meet at a different location. Manon is called to a meeting with Vernon and Duke Perrington. Erawan has totally taken over Duke’s body now. He gives Manon orders to attack Rifthold and bring Dorian to him if he survives. Aelin and her crew grudgingly comply and meet the men at the inn. Ren, Murtaugh, Darrow, and several others are there. Darrow is the speaker, is not impressed with her court, and does not accept Aelin as leader of Terrasen. The lords signed a document saying Aelin is not a queen, only a princess. If she defies it, it will be considered an act of war. Aedion says The Bane (his army) will follow her into battle with Erawan. Darrow says The Bane are at the discretion of the lords of Terrasen. He asks her to find him allies, perhaps through marriage to foreign royalty. A messenger arrives with news that the Ironteeth clan is flying to Rifthold to attack. The only one who might be able to make it in time to help is Rowan. Aelin tells him to rescue Dorian, get a boat, and go to Skull’s Bay. Dorian sees the witches approaching on their wyverns. They are sacking the city. Several of them are headed straight for his tower. He fights several witches. Manon enters. She tells him to escape. He now owes her a life debt. Rowan arrives, having flown two full days without food or rest. He’s too late to save Rifthold. He and Dorian leave. Manon killed one Yellowlegs witch and allowed Rowan to kill four others to save Dorian. Lorcan sneaks up on Elide. The human/dog things chase them. They run together since they have a common enemy. They get separated and each fight one separately, Lorcan with his sword and Elide with her mind. They find each other. Lorcan puts Elide over his shoulder, and they make a run for it with his Demi-Fae speed. Manon and her thirteen return to Morath. The three clans conduct a small trial about Dorian’s escape. They decide Manon made mistakes. Her second (Asterin) is sentenced to death. Aelin, Aedion, and Lysandra arrive at the kingdom by the sea, which contains the monument to Brannon. Aelin reveals part of her plan to her companions. They secure passage on a ship. The captain tells them about Maeve’s fleet moving now. Lysandra has suspicions about the gods’ possible role in this and a use for Aelin and Dorian. Aelin, Aedion, and Lysandra defeat Illiyum soldiers at the temple. Aelin burns one of the men from the inside out by merely breathing on him. Aelin brought them to Illiyum and raided the temple at Brannon’s request. He sent a private message to her through the little people of the forest. Aelin asks Brannon’s ghost how to kill Maeve. He doesn’t know. Brannon tells her to find the lock in the stone marshes to sink the wyrdkeys into the door and do away with them forever. Aedion eavesdrops. A troop of men led by an Endovier guard appears. They battle. He says they were sent to show her what’s waiting should they make it to Morath. Erawan is hiding in him and speaks to Aelin. He knows Rowan rescued Dorian. His soldiers are tracking them. Aelin starts burning away the body Erawan is speaking from with her fire magic. He hits her but somehow misses the amulet of orynth in her necklace by a few inches. He might’ve sensed its power had he landed a blow there. It’s the one piece of the puzzle he’s missing to open the doors to the other world and rule. Asterin arrives bloody and beaten to the morning of her execution. Manon’s grandmother is going to allow more beatings from the other clans before the execution. But Manon exercises the power of execution. Her grandmother is furious. She will kill Asterin to spare her the torture. Asterin could tell Manon’s secrets and be free. She remains silent. Asterin whispers where to bury her body. Manon draws her sword. Manon slashes at her grandmother. They fight with their iron nails and teeth. Her grandmother reveals Manon’s father was a Crochan prince. Manon is wounded and ends up intentionally falling over the side of the cliff. Abraxos catches her. They fly off. Two of Manon’s thirteen were waiting on their wyverns in case she got away. They take off, with Yellowlegs witches tailing close behind. They end up losing their followers through narrow rocky passes the Yellowlegs’ wyverns can’t negotiate. Elide and Lorcan arrive in a town and need to try to link up with a traveling group to negotiate the next part of their journey. In a tavern, they find a group in need of money to continue their travel. They will help them pay the tolls if they can perform with them. Rowan and Dorian arrive in Skull’s Bay and go to visit Captain Rolfe. Rolfe tells them what they have recently seen and heard from nearby Morath. Some of his men were captured and changed. Rowan tells Rolfe about Erawan and his plan. They ask Rolfe to join forces with him against Erawan. He doesn’t respond. He calls in two of his men, who are Fae. Rowan knows them, Gavriel (Aedion’s father) and Fenris. They’re not friendly. They’re bloodsworn to Maeve. They ask if Aelin is with them. They tell them Maeve is sending her armada to Ellywe right now. The men argue. Rolfe says he won’t talk to them until the queen arrives. Gavriel admits they’ve been sent by Maeve to kill Lorcan. Rowan asks his former cadre members to fight with him to defeat Erawan. He says it will be a battle talked about for years. And Lorcan will cross paths with them as he’s looking for Aelin. Rowan tells them he knows of Gavriel’s son. Gavriel doesn’t know he had a son. He’s speechless and intrigued. If Maeve hears of Gavriel’s son, the deal is off. Aelin and Aedion are on a ship headed to Skull’s Bay. Lysandra is perched on a high mast in bird form. Manon awakes in a forest. She’s injured. Only Abraxos is with her. One of Erawan’s minions appears across the stream from her. Manon poisons the bloodhound and escapes. Dorian is training (physically and magically) with Rowan as they wait in Skull’s Bay. They wait for news about Aelin or Dorian’s mother and brother, who Erawan wanted to lead Adarlan now that Dorian is gone. Dorian grows tired of waiting for real news. They make a fake letter that tells of big news. Rolfe’s spies see it. Mere hours later they are called to speak to him again. Aelin is in Rolfe’s office. She acts liked Celaena and flirts with Rowan and teases Rolfe. Rolfe commands the Fae to kill her to win his loyalty. Then Aelin introduces the other Aelin. It was Lysandra in disguise. She soon changes into her normal human form. Aelin challenges Rolfe to join them. If he does, she will make him the king of pirates. Gavriel demands to see his son, if he’s there. Aelin refuses to reveal where he is. Aelin, Rowan, and Dorian meet to swap information. Aelin thinks they’ll need the map on Rolfe’s hands. She still needs to convince him to work with them. Elide and Lorcan travel with their caravan, posing as newlyweds to sneak off to continue her descriptions of Morath to him. He asks why she wants to find Aelin. He shares a small piece of information…that Celaena Sardothien is in the employ of Aelin. They are forced to sleep in the same place for the first time on this journey. Lorcan gets water for Elide’s bath and stands guard outside while she bathes. He washes her clothes. His Fae hearing picks up on the moment she takes the necklace off and stows it under the hay mattress. He wonders what she’s been hiding. In exchange for the bath, Elide shares another piece of information with Lorcan. Her Uncle Vernon is a commander at Morath. He locked her in the dungeons. Lorcan asks if she wants him to kill her uncle. She asks what it will cost. He says nothing. Elide tells Lorcan of the breeding experiments and how Vernon was going to use her to see if his bloodline could mix with the Valg’s. Lorcan surmises the explosion was no accident. Elide confirms this but won’t say who did it. Aelin and Rowan talk with Fenris and Gavriel about Maeve, how their bond with her works, and what she might be planning. They don’t trust each other much, so limited information is exchanged. Aedion meets Gavriel at breakfast one morning. He is overcome by anger about what came of his mother when he sees his father. It doesn’t go well. Aedion and Lysandra leave to talk it over. Aedion’s afraid he may have ruined their chance to work with the two Fae. Lysandra assures him this is not the case. Rolfe tells Aelin and Rowan that Morath’s fleet is sailing for Ellywe. Aelin knows it’s in retaliation for what she did at Illiyum. She’s knows he’s striking there because he knows of her love for Nehemia. Aelin asks Rolfe to send his Mycenian fleet to fight with Ellywe. She promises to give him back Illiyum if he complies. A warning bell sounds. Rolfe looks at the maps on his hands, showing the Valg are approaching. Rolfe thinks they are coming because they are searching for Aelin after a surge of power she sent out a few minutes ago. She denies it and gathers her group to leave instead of help in this fight unless Rolfe agrees to her plan. He finally agrees to Aelin’s plan. He wants a lord title. She will only make him a lord of this area and recognize his heirs as such. Dorian knows Aelin lied. Her power surge is what called the Valg to Skull’s Bay. They make plans to save it. Aelin will sail into the fleet’s center. Lysandra shifts into a sea dragon. Aelin and Rowan join their power on the boat. She reaches so deep that she somehow changes into Malla through the wyrdkey. Aelin throws her out of her mind and body. Fenris recuses her from the water. Lysandra fights off sea wyverns. The last one escapes and swims toward Aelin and the men. Lysandra gets a mental message from Aelin to swim away. Three adult sea wyverns are swimming toward her. Aedion kills the last one to save her life. Aedion makes it to her first and promises to marry her someday. She can’t respond because she’s still in her sea dragon form. Aelin and Rowan meet with Rolfe. They discover the cost of the map tattoos was something he didn’t realize he was bargaining with…his mother and sister. Aelin needs to get out of town for just a little while. Rowan follows her. They are intimate on the beach. When the group is assembled together, Elena appears to them. She tells them the lock is in the center of a temple in a marsh. Her mother gave her life to preserve it. Gavin and Elena used it years ago to seal Erawan up (when they claimed they had killed him). Elena also shares who her mother (and thus Aelin’s relative) is…Malla Firebringer. They take off on a ship, headed for the marsh. They see Manon riding toward them on Abraxos. She is unconscious and falls off the wyvern and into the sea. Elide and Lorcan are performing now, fortune telling and sword play. Lorcan’s display is much more popular. They both realize they are attracted to the other. Demons attack their camp looking for Elide. They tell Lorcan her real name. He tells the demon she’s not there. He confronts Elide after the fight is over. They share some truths about their backgrounds. Manon awakes on a ship with Aelin watching over her. Aelin warns her not to run away or hurt anyone. Dorian is there when she wakes up again days later. She tells him how and why her injuries happened and asks him to find her thirteen. Elide and Lorcan go to several taverns for news of Aelin. Some of their carnival companions give them away. Lorcan hears them coming. The two escape on a boat. Lorcan kills the captain, which makes Elide furious. Something triggers Lorcan, and he examines the amulet Aelin gave him. He realizes it’s a fake and roars in anger. He steers the shop towards Ellywe, the best lead they got at the taverns as to where Aelin is. Aelin wakes up on fire. Rowan has to pull her back. He apologizes for panicking that Malla had taken her over again. They are intimate. Dorian goes into Manon’s cabin late in the night. She wants them to trust her enough to unchain her. She wants Dorian, too. He gives her neither. The next day, Dorian asks Aelin to unchain her and let her roam free on the ship. They go down to unchain her. There is an imposter, one of Erawan’s minions sent for Manon. He reveals her as a Crochan queen. Dorian kills him. Manon is furious but rushes up to the deck because they hear more demons landing. They’re attacking the other pirate ships. One of the creatures reveals to Aelin that Erawan knows she has a wyrdkey. Many of them are injured, Fenris the worst. Aelin heals him. Gavriel admits he only left Aedion and his mother at her request. He would’ve rather stayed but loved them enough to leave when she asked him. They are all trying to recover as they continue to travel. Something Fenris says sparks a memory. Aelin asks Manon if some witches can see the future. Manon confirms some of the ancient ones act as oracles. Baba Yellowlegs said something to Aelin before she killed her long ago that Aelin just now understands. She runs away, locks herself in the bathroom, and is sick over and over again. Rowan is worried. Aelin asks him to get Lysandra. Lorcan and Elide stop their journey for supplies. They separate to get different things. Elide is cornered by Uncle Vernon. He takes her to a box to carry her to Morath in. Lorcan sees her grab her uncle’s knife and move to kill herself. He helps her fight her way out instead. They make it back to their ship and continue on. The ship sails by Ellywe, which is burning. Aelin and Rowan try to put the fires out as they sail by. Rowan asks if she’s pregnant. She’s not. That’s not why she fled to the bathroom that night. The group has a day or two journey on foot to get to the marshes. Lorcan and Elide are getting close to the marshes, too. They kiss. Lorcan says they need to run; an army of demons are coming. Manon notices the eye of Elena charm on Aelin’s necklace. She says it has a different meaning to witches. She tells the story of the Crochan wars and the resulting curse on witches. Gavriel and Fenris warn Rowan they think Aelin and Manon have been pushed here together by some unknown force. They think he should take Aelin far away before it’s too late. They tell him who Maeve put in his place: Carin, a cruel male Rowan was never able to train. Aedion questions Aelin’s shows of power and lack of consultation with him and others. Rowan says they have to plan, so the Fae males begin. Aelin wants the first shot at their enemy, so she goes ahead of the others. When Lorcan and Elide arrive, he senses the immensity of Aelin’s power. He throws a magical shield over the two of them. Her power easily overwhelms the demons. Lorcan has never seen anything like it. The lion and white wolf attack Lorcan. Elide jumps in the way. The wolf accidentally latches onto her arm. Fenris and Gavriel can heal her if he takes the shield down. But then they’ll kill him because of Maeve’s order. He drops the shield. Rowan says it will be an act of war against Aelin if they continue their battle with Lorcan. They all comply. Lorcan runs to Elide’s side. Elide gives Aelin the stone from Kaltain. Manon introduces Dorian as the king of Adarlan. Aelin thanks Lorcan for bringing Elide and tells Manon she claims her. Rowan notices a difference in Lorcan. Dorian wonders if the gods guided them all here for a reason. Aelin opens the chest. No lock is inside. It’s ancient mirrors with the eye of Elena on the corner. Manon tells them about witch mirrors’ powers and the witch towers, which use the mirror weapons and could destroy them in a couple of blasts. The Fae males carry the mirror between them. Everyone is exhausted. When they return to the coast, they see 100 ships, Melisande’s fleet. Soldiers are already on shore. Aelin surprises everyone by striding directly toward them. The leader of the troops is Ansel of Briarcliff, who Aelin met years ago in the desert. Ansel brought these ships and warriors at Aelin’s request to repay the life debt she owes her. Ansel and her army from The Wastes sacked Melisande’s army and brought them to Aelin. Aedion and Lysandra want to start a relationship and decide to begin at friendship. They will all sail north tomorrow to protect Terrasen. Ansel says it’s Maeve, not Erawan, who had been setting the fires, trying to make it look like it’s Aelin. Rowan talks about the armies Aelin’s assembled and how he loves it when she surprises him. Dorian visits Manon in her room that same night. Lorcan and Elide talk quietly that night from their hammocks on the deck. Another armada is headed toward them. It’s Maeve. They know she will wait for daylight to ask for Aelin’s surrender so everyone can witness it. After Aelin is asleep, Rowan flies to many of Maeve’s ships one by one to make a request of his cousins aboard. They will each consider it. Dorian takes Aelin and Manon down to the mirror stowed below deck to show them something. He thinks Deanna’s riddle about it suggests that Aelin and Manon can use it to see the future, determine how to defeat Maeve, and use the keys. The two join hands, press them to the mirror, and disappear. Aedion is furious. Rowan says they’ll continue to ready for battle. Maeve sends messengers asking for their surrender. Rowan says the Queen is not on the ship to answer. He asks for safe passage for both fleets as they pass each other. Maeve answers with a barrage of arrows. Aelin and Manon are in the past, seeing Gavin and Elena. They see Elena use the stone in the eye of Elena and know it’s the lock. She used it to seal Erawan in that mountain. She distracted Erawan with Gavin. He’s injured now. She knows the lock can only be used once. Erawan’s minions tell Elena she was foolish to use the blue stone (a small witch mirror) to lock Erawan up. Instead, it was supposed to be used to unite the keys and eventually send them all back home. She says she will give them anything to undo what she’s done, to give someone who’s more prepared someday to end this using the stone for the right purpose. The demons look at Gavin. They say she will have to lead Malla’s bloodline to bleed again and use Malla’s gifts to forge the lock again, with Elena leading them. They will have to give every drop of their life force to do it, to send them home and eternally seal the lock between the worlds. Gavin only heard her words and ask what deal she struck when they are gone. Elena says the deal will be paid in the future. Nehemia, the princess of Ellywe, approaches the chest. Elena greets her. Nehemia thinks she’s there to pay the price to save them. Elena says it’s not her. She says its Malla’s bloodline who must pay. She says it must be two…Dorian and Aelin. She tells her to go north because these two houses will converge there. Elena tells her it’s necessary, but the price will be her life. While Aelin’s gone, the battle ensues. Lysandra fights in her modified sea dragon form, attacking the ships marked by Rowan. Some of Maeve’s ships are flying different flags, silver Whitethorn flags. These ships begin firing on their own fleet. Then Rowan asks his ships to open fire in full. Lorcan notices Maeve isn’t among her ships. He sees her ashore, near where he left Elide with a few guards for safety. Aelin and Manon then see glimpses of what happened afterward: Elena’s fight with her father over what she had done, her choice to live out her life as a mortal with Gavin, and Brannon forging and hiding the three wyrdkeys, labeling them and the room with wyrdmarks, hiding the third and final wyrdkey in Malla’s temple, and then descending into the fiery abyss for eternity. The last Crochan queen helps, too. Elena apologizes that Aelin is the one who must now pay for her mistakes. Aelin realizes Elena saved her that night when she should’ve died years ago so she could die later on. She had enough strength back then, but Elena couldn’t bear to let her die just yet. She revives Aelin and awakes the nearest adult, Arobynn Hamel, to come rescue her. Elena pays for this with her soul. She will not get to spend eternity with her husband or her children. Aelin asks why. Elena wanted her to grow up, be strong, and experience love, even briefly, with the man who had unknowingly been waiting for her for so long in Wendlyn. Elena says the mirror’s power and her power is almost expired, but she will tell them what they need to do and will be with them all the way to the end. Aelin and Manon crash back into the real world. They land near Maeve, who has Elide over her knee. The battle is vicious despite the help from Rowan’s cousins. Manon’s thirteen arrive, with Abraxos leading the way. They are a big help. Maeve reveals that she planned each thing Aelin has recently encountered to deplete her magic. She waited until it was on very low reserve to attack. Fire explodes around them as Aelin attacks Maeve. Lorcan uses the opportunity to kill the guards and rescue Elide. He wants her to run. She doesn’t want to be a coward. Maeve’s darkness lashes at Aelin. Maeve only stands a chance because Aelin’s magic is depleted. Elide begs Manon to help Aelin as Maeve gains the upper hand. Fenris and Gavriel arrive. All of Aelin’s magic is gone. The distant battle is quiet. Maeve tells Manon she’s free to go if she stays out of this fight. Manon agrees. Gavriel begs Maeve to leave Aelin alone and let them return home. Maeve scolds him for not killing Lorcan on sight, as they were ordered to. Gavriel asks her to take his life instead of Aelin’s, but Maeve refuses. Aelin wonders if the offer is to spare Aedion pain. Maeve severs his blood bond with her and takes away his title. Maeve tells Aelin she knew she would lead her to all three wyrdkeys. She saw it all. She saw her mate, Rowan. She knew their children would be powerful enough to rule the world. She knew how to get her to hand over the keys when she was strong enough to get them all. Maeve gave Rowan to his first mate, had her get pregnant, and then killed her while she was with child. She ensured their paths would cross when Aelin was of age. She knew Aelin would give her whatever if she pulled the right strings. Maeve couldn’t believe when they met they were so broken they didn’t recognize each other as mates for a long time. Aelin has known it since the battle with Manon at the temple months ago. She kept it from Rowan since then. She tells Aelin she would’ve had 1,000 years with him and she’s probably five years from settling in her Fae form. Maeve calls for Carin. Maeve says Aelin must come willingly. If she struggles, she’ll bring Elide along with them, too. Maeve orders Lorcan and Fenris to be perfectly still through the blood bond. Aelin surrenders. She gives Elide messages to give to Aedion and Rowan. Maeve makes Aelin bow before her and take off her shirt for Carin to give her ten lashes. She orders Aelin to count each lash. Aelin refuses. Maeve starts the ten lashes over and over again. They hear others approaching, so they stop the beating to leave. The put Aelin in a metal box, chain her with iron chains, and put an iron mask over her face. Aelin slipped the wyrdkeys into Manon’s pocket as she walked past her. Manon knows she needs to get them and Elide far away from Maeve. They carry the box towards Maeve’s boat. Maeve orders Fenris to follow them. Maeve releases Lorcan from the bloodbond and all of his titles and possessions. Maeve’s boat disappears. She has left without the wyrdkeys. Whether she thinks Aelin has them is unclear.

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Star Trek: Voyager is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor. It originally aired from January 1995 to May 2001 on UPN, lasting for 172 episodes over seven seasons. The fifth series in the Star Trek franchise, it served as the fourth sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series. Set in the 24th century, when Earth is part of a United Federation of Planets, it follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager as it attempts to return home after being stranded in the Delta Quadrant on the far side of the Milky Way galaxy. Paramount Pictures commissioned the series following the termination of Star Trek: The Next Generation to accompany the ongoing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. They wanted it to help launch UPN, their newly established network. Berman, Piller, and Taylor devised the series to chronologically overlap with Deep Space Nine and to maintain thematic continuity with elements that had been introduced in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. The complex relationship between Starfleet and ex-Federation colonists known as the Maquis was one such element and a persistent central theme. Voyager was the first Star Trek series to feature a female captain, Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), as the lead character. Berman served as head executive producer in charge of the overall production, assisted by a series of executive producers: Piller, Taylor, Brannon Braga, and Kenneth Biller. Set in a different part of the galaxy from preceding Star Trek shows, Voyager gave the series' writers space to introduce new alien species as recurring characters, namely the Kazon, Vidiians, Hirogen, and Species 8472. During the later seasons, the Borg—a species created for The Next Generation—were introduced as the main antagonists. During Voyager's run, various episode novelizations and tie-in video games were produced; after it ended, various novels continued the series narrative. Keith R.A. DeCandido was born and raised in New York City to a family of librarians, which pretty much explains everything. He has written more than 50 novels, as well as short stories, nonfiction, eBooks, comic books, and blog entries, many of them in various media universes, among them Star Trek, Alien, Supernatural, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Marvel Comics, Cars, Farscape, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stargate, Serenity, Resident Evil, Kung Fu Panda, Doctor Who, Sleepy Hollow, Leverage, Orphan Black, and more. Among his many works of original fiction are the fantasy police procedural series of novels and short stories that started with Dragon Precinct, as well as a series of urban fantasy short stories set in Key West, Florida, many of which are in Ragnarok & Roll: Tales of Cassie Zukav, Weirdness Magnet, fiction about cops in a city filled with super heroes, and an urban fantasy series about a nice Jewish boy from the Bronx who hunts monsters, starting with the novel A Furnace Sealed. Keith is also an editor (having supervised several book lines and put together dozens of anthologies), musician (percussionist for the Don't Quit Your Day Job Players, the Boogie Knights, and others), pop culture commentator (he writes for both Tor.com and his own Patreon at patreon.com/krad) and a third-degree black belt in Kenshikai karate (he both trains and teaches). He still lives in New York City with various humans and animals.

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Zenkaikon was created in 2006 through the merging of two Philadelphia-area events -- Kosaikon, an anime convention held at Villanova University, and Zentrancon, an anime and science fiction convention held on the University of Pennsylvania campus. In 2006, Zenkaikon held its first event at the Valley Forge Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Approximately 450 fans attended to attend educational panels, watch anime and science fiction screenings, meet celebrity guests, and participate in video gaming. By 2008, membership had nearly tripled. Having outgrown their previous venue, the staff decided to expand into the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge in 2009. In 2011, the convention grew again, using the combined spaces of both the Valley Forge Convention Center and Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center. In 2012, due to construction at the Valley Forge Convention Center Complex, Zenkaikon held its annual convention at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center complex. In 2013, Zenkaikon moved to the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

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Frank Herbert’s magnificent Dune saga sprawls across countless planets and tens of millennia. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have written thirteen international bestselling novels set in this epic universe. But the wealth of material leaves many side tales or interesting ideas that can be told, hors d’oeuvres to accompany the exotic main course.Sometimes, a short story is exactly what’s needed.Tales of Dune collects eight of Herbert and Anderson’s Dune short stories, ranging from the period of the Butlerian Jihad, to the time of young Paul Atreides, to a story set during the events of the novel Dune, to the very end of Frank Herbert’s future history. These are the missing pieces in the epic of Dune.

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Frank Herbert’s magnificent Dune saga sprawls across countless planets and tens of millennia. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have written thirteen international bestselling novels set in this epic universe. But the wealth of material leaves many side tales or interesting ideas that can be told, hors d’oeuvres to accompany the exotic main course.Sometimes, a short story is exactly what’s needed.Tales of Dune collects eight of Herbert and Anderson’s Dune short stories, ranging from the period of the Butlerian Jihad, to the time of young Paul Atreides, to a story set during the events of the novel Dune, to the very end of Frank Herbert’s future history. These are the missing pieces in the epic of Dune.

Direct download: Dune_Saga_Podcast_34_-_Tales_of_Dune__expanded_Edition.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16am EDT
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Direct download: Dune_Saga_Podcast_33_-_The_Dune_Trailer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:51am EDT
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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. It originally aired from January 1993 to June 1999, in syndication, spanning 176 episodes over seven seasons. The fourth series in the Star Trek franchise, it served as the third sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series. Set in the 24th century, when Earth is part of a United Federation of Planets, it is based on the eponymous space station Deep Space Nine, located adjacent to a wormhole connecting Federation territory to the Gamma Quadrant on the far side of the Milky Way galaxy. Following the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount Pictures commissioned a new series set in the Star Trek fictional universe. In creating Deep Space Nine, Berman and Piller drew upon plot themes developed in The Next Generation, namely the conflict between two alien species, the Cardassians and the Bajorans. Deep Space Nine was the first Star Trek series to be created without the direct involvement of franchise creator Gene Roddenberry, the first set on a space station rather than a traveling starship and the first to have a person of color—Commander (later Captain) Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks)—as its central character. Changes were made to the series over the course of its seven-year run. For the third season, the starship USS Defiant was introduced to enable more stories away from the space station, while the fourth saw the introduction of Worf (Michael Dorn), originally from The Next Generation, as a main character. The final three seasons dealt with a story arc, that of the war between the Federation and an invasive Gamma Quadrant power, the Dominion. Although not as popular as The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine was critically well received. Following the success of Deep Space Nine, Paramount commissioned Berman and Brannon Braga to produce Star Trek: Voyager, which began in 1995. During Deep Space Nine's run, various episode novelisations and tie-in video games were produced; after the show ended, various novels and comics continued the crew's adventures.

Direct download: SciFi_Diner_Pilots_395_-_Star_Trek__Deep_Space_Nine.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:39pm EDT
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Doug Drexler (born in New York City) is a visual effects artist, designer, sculptor, illustrator, and a makeup artist who has collaborated with such talents as Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, Meryl Streep, and Warren Beatty. He began his career in the entertainment industry working for makeup artist Dick Smith on such films as The Hunger and Starman. He has also contributed to Three Men and a Little Lady, The Cotton Club, FX, Manhunter and Dick Tracy. Dick Tracy earned Drexler an Oscar,[1] as well as The British Academy Award[2] and the Saturn Award[3] for his special makeup effects on characters such as Big Boy Caprice (played by Pacino) and Mumbles (played by Hoffman). Two Emmy[4] nominations in the same field followed for three years working on Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he performed such tasks as aging Captain Picard for "The Inner Light". His final make-up job for the series was the Mark Twain makeup worn by Jerry Hardin in the two part episode "Times Arrow" In 1992 Drexler moved over to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as designer, digital artist and effects artist. He continued in that capacity on the subsequent Star Trek films as well as Star Trek: Voyager. In April 2001 Drexler worked as senior Illustrator and CGI designer on the fifth Star Trek series, Enterprise. Following Enterprise, he was hired by Visual Effects Supervisor Gary Hutzel as CG Supervisor on Battlestar Galactica, "Caprica", "Blood and Chrome", and "Defiance". Doug won two Emmy Awards and a Visual Effects Society Award for Galactica. Doug grew up on Long Island and attended Newfield High School. As of 2015, he is also a member of the board of directors for the Hollywood Science Fiction Museum.

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Jerald began her career with small guest roles, appearing in The Paper Chase from 1984 to 1986, General Hospital in 1986, and Do the Right Thing in 1989 before playing the title character's unflappable personal assistant, Beverly Barnes, on The Larry Sanders Show. Throughout the 1990s, Jerald guest starred in several television series, including Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Grace Under Fire, Cosby and Family Law. Following Larry Sanders, Jerald appeared in the 1997 film Absolute Power and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine playing freighter captain Kasidy Yates, the love interest for the series' main character Benjamin Sisko, a recurring role which she played from 1995 to the show's end in 1999. She also had a recurring guest role on ER as Lynette Evans from 1998 to 1999. She then appeared as Roscoe Dellums in the Emmy Award-winning TV movie The Color of Friendship. Jerald also guest starred on Frasier, The Practice, Touched by an Angel and The X-Files. Jerald's arguably most-recognized role came in 2001 when she appeared in the pilot episode of the Kiefer Sutherland-led Fox series, 24, playing Sherry Palmer, the wife of Senator David Palmer. She appeared in all but two of the first season episodes and multiple episodes of the second and third seasons. In 2003, Jerald portrayed Condoleezza Rice in DC 9/11: Time of Crisis, a TV movie about the September 11 attacks in 2001. She reprised the role in the miniseries The Path to 9/11, which aired September 10–11, 2006. Jerald also guest-starred on the sitcom Eve, playing Shelly's mother Beverly in four episodes. She guest-starred in three episodes of sci-fi series The 4400 in 2007. Penny had a recurring role on ABC midseason drama October Road for the 2007–08 season. Jerald also teaches acting workshops and produces and directs for Outreach Christian Theater Company, which she and her musician husband Gralin Jerald founded in 1994. She also had guest appearances on episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Jerald joined the cast of ABC's Castle in its fourth season as the new captain of the 12th Precinct, Victoria "Iron" Gates, replacing Ruben Santiago-Hudson's deceased character Roy Montgomery as captain of the precinct.[2]

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Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past… She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return. The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Direct download: Orbital_Sword__Queen_of_Shadows_by_Sarah_J._Maas.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:44am EDT
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Star Trek: The Next Generation Pilot - Encounter at Farpoint In 2364, the new flagship of the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet's USS Enterprise, travels to the planet Deneb IV for its maiden voyage. Enterprise is to open relations with the simple Bandi people who have somehow been able to tap immense energy reserves and construct Farpoint Station, much to the surprise of the Federation. En route, the Enterprise is met by an omnipotent being who identifies himself as Q, a member of the Q Continuum and declares that humanity is being put on trial—posing in appearance as a Grand Inquisitor—and deciding that their actions in their upcoming mission will be used to judge their worthiness and determine their fate as a race. Before letting the ship resume its course, Q warns Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) that he is destined to fail. As the Enterprise arrives, the crew members explore the offerings of Farpoint Station and establish relations with their Bandi host, Groppler Zorn (Michael Bell). The crew becomes suspicious when items they desire seem to appear out of nowhere moments later, and are unable to identify the power source that feeds the station. Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), an empath, senses a being with powerful yet despairing emotions nearby, and the crew discover a strange labyrinth beneath the station, but Zorn does not offer an explanation. As the Enterprise crew continues its explorations, a large unknown alien craft enters orbit and begins to fire upon an older Bandi settlement near Farpoint Station, and abducts Zorn. Before Picard orders the ship's phasers to be fired at the craft, Q appears to remind him of humanity's trial and prompts Picard to send an away team to the alien craft. The away team discovers the craft has passages similar to those under Farpoint and they are able to free Zorn. Their actions cause the alien craft to transform into a jellyfish-like space creature, and Picard is able to deduce the mystery of Farpoint Station. He confirms with the apologetic Zorn that the Bandi found a similar lifeform injured on their planet and, while attempting to care for it, they also exploited its ability to synthesize matter to create Farpoint Station. The creature now in orbit is trying to help free its mate by attacking those who hold it captive. Though Q goads Picard into punishing the Bandi, Picard refuses, instead ordering the Enterprise to fire a vivifying energy beam onto Farpoint after the station is evacuated. The beam allows the land-bound creature to transform back into its jellyfish-like form, and it flies into orbit to join its fellow being. As the crew watches the reunion of the alien creatures, Q reluctantly tells Picard that they have succeeded in their test, but hints that they will meet again.

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We were fighting on the wrong side, of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved. The UN Expeditionary Force hitched a ride on Kristang ships to fight the Ruhar, wherever our new allies thought we could be useful. So, I went from fighting with the US Army in Nigeria, to fighting in space. It was lies, all of it. We shouldn't even be fighting the Ruhar, they aren't our enemy, our allies are. I'd better start at the beginning....

Direct download: The_Orbital_Sword__Expeditionary_Force__Columbus_Day_by_Craig_Alanson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:13am EDT
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Indie Rights Picks Up ‘Star Trek’ Parody Film ‘Unbelievable!!!!!’ Featuring Former Cast Members Plus Snoop Dogg Indie Rights has acquired domestic distribution rights to Unbelievable!!!!!, the Steven L. Fawcette-helmed sci-fi film that stars Snoop Dogg and over forty former Star Trek cast members from the movies and TV series. The company will also launch foreign sales at the Virtual Cannes Film Market on June 24. The pic stars Kirk Stillwood, a puppet created by the Chiodo Brothers. It follows the crazy exploits of four off-beat astronauts (one is a marionette) who travel to the Moon on a rescue mission to determine the fate of two Space Agency comrades who have not been heard from in several days. The individuals they find at the Lunar Base are not who they appear to be and, through acts of trickery and deception, nearly succeed in killing them. Soon the astronauts find themselves trying to save the Earth from Plant Aliens! Additional co-stars include Michael Madsen, and Gilbert Gottfried, with cameos from Robert Davi, Sam Asghari, Casper Smart, and Nadia Lanfranconi, and newcomers Katarina Van Derham, Angelique Fawcette, who also produced the film, and singer/songwriter Emily L. Stanton. Former Star Trek stars and guest stars in the film include: Chase Masterson, Garrett Wang, Tim Russ, Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, Linda Park, Manu Intiraymi, Armin Shimerman, Vaughn Armstrong, Gary Graham, Anthony Montgomery, Marina Sirtis, Nana Visitor, Walter Koenig, Michael Dorn, Julie Warner, Dina Meyer, Olivia d’Abo, Jeffrey Combs, John Billingsley, Max Grodenchik, Casey Biggs, Gary Lockwood, Michael Forest, Jack Donner, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Brenda Bakke, Patti Yasutake, Steve Rankin, Michael Dante, Sean Kenney, BarBara Luna, Beverly Washburn, Celeste Yarnall, Bobby Clark, Jasmine Anthony, Menina Fortunato, McKenzie Westmore, Crystal Allen, Christopher Doohan with original Star Trek composer Gerald Fried, and one of the harmonica players, Tommy Morgan, also from TOS. SUPERMAN: MAN OF TOMORROW animated release details announced It’s the dawn of a new age of heroes, and Metropolis has just met its first. But as Daily Planet intern Clark Kent – working alongside reporter Lois Lane – secretly wields his alien powers of flight, super-strength and x-ray vision in the battle for good, there’s even greater trouble on the horizon. Follow the budding hero as he engages in bloody battles with intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo and fights for his life to halt the attack of power-hungry alien Parasite. The world will learn about Superman … but first, Superman must save the world! Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss (Glee, American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) and Emmy nominee Zachary Quinto (Star Trek franchise, Heroes) lead a star-studded cast as the voices of Superman/Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, respectively. The cast also includes Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas, Baywatch, All My Children) as Lois Lane, Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Parasite/Rudy Jones, Ryan Hurst (The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Remember the Titans) as Lobo, Ike Amadi (Mass Effect 3, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge) as Martian Manhunter, Neil Flynn (The Middle, Scrubs) as Jonathan Kent, Bellamy Young (Scandal, Prodigal Son) as Martha Kent, Cristina Milizia (DC Super Hero Girls) as Maya, Petey & Kaylie, Eugene Byrd (Bones, LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures) as Ron Troupe, April Stewart (South Park) as Mrs. Ross, and Piotr Michael (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle) as Perry White, as well as Cissy Jones (Firewatch) and David Chen (Gotham). Superman: Man of Tomorrow introduces a new producing vision to the DC Universe Movies series, which now numbers 41 films over its 13 years of existence. Supervising Producer Butch Lukic has a rich pedigree in DC animated productions, serving as producer on Constantine: City of Demons, Justice League Action and the Batman Unlimited franchise, as well as directing episodes of Justice League, Batman Beyond and Beware the Batman. Lukic brings a new visual aesthetic to Superman: Man of Tomorrow that departs from the animation styles – of previous producers Bruce Timm (23 films) and James Tucker (17 films) – thus far represented in the DC Universe Movies. Michael Keaton May Return as Batman in a Flash Movie, Because DC Just Wants to Watch the World Burn In yet another strange, but not unwelcome, move from Warner Bros.'s chaotic DC superhero universe, it's being reported that Michael Keaton—the best Batman—might return as the Dark Knight in the studio's upcoming Flash movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter: If a deal makes, Keaton wouldn’t just return for Flash but possibly for several other DC-oriented film projects. Sources tell THR that the role being envisioned for the veteran actor is akin to the role played by Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something of a mentor or guide or even string-puller. Batgirl is one the projects in development that could fall into that category. After a number of twists and turns—with overlapping and sometimes independent movie universes containing multiple Batmen and Jokers—adding another Batman, played by the man who famously dawned the cowl in 1989, is deeply confusing and unexpected. It's a weird move from a studio that lacked any consistency in its tentpole superhero properties throughout the 2010s. Let's recap: In 2013, one year after Christopher Nolan completed his groundbreaking Dark Knight trilogy, DC launched its new era of interconnected comic book movies to compete with Marvel's MCU. This consisted of Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), and Justice League (2017). During that time, DC introduced both a new Batman (Ben Affleck) and a new Joker (Method Actor Jared Leto). But, after only two movies, Justice League marked Ben Affleck's final movie, and after the disappointing results of DC's first Avenger's-like film, the studio switched gears. From there, the next DC superhero films consisted of Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), Joker (2019), and Birds of Prey (2020). Some of these took place in this greater interconnected universe, others did not. Some of these starred returning characters, others starred new characters, and one starred an old character played by a new actor set decades in the past. From there, DC has a confusing list of films coming out, including the "Snyder Cut" of Justice League, a different Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson, and sequels for Aquaman, Shazam!, and Wonder Woman. Then, there's also this Flash movie, which marks the return of Ezra Miller as the titular character, and, reportedly, Keaton returning as Batman, but not Affleck as Batman (even though Miller and Affleck both starred in Justice League). I'm not sure how that will work out, but I also don't entirely care. After the rigid, predictable consistency of the MCU, it's nice to see that DC doesn't give a single fuck! And if it means Keaton as an old, grizzled Bruce Wayne, then I'm not going to complain. Some movie studios just want to watch the world burn, and maybe that's kind of fun. With Big Summer Films Delayed, AMC Theatres Puts Off U.S. Reopening The nation's largest movie theater chain is delaying its U.S. reopening until the end of July because film companies have postponed release dates of two anticipated blockbusters. AMC Theatres announced that a first round of approximately 450 locations will resume operations two weeks later than initially planned, to coincide with the updated August release dates of Warner Brothers' Tenet and Disney's Mulan. "Our theatre general managers across the U.S. started working full time again today and are back in their theatres gearing up to get their buildings fully ready just a few weeks from now for moviegoers," CEO Adam Aron said in a June 29 statement. "That happy day, when we can welcome guests back into most of our U.S. theatres, will be Thursday, July 30." The company said it expects its more than 600 U.S. theaters to be "essentially to full operation" by early August. AMC Theatres made headlines earlier this month when it announced patrons will be required to wear masks, reversing course on a controversial reopening plan that had only encouraged them to do so. AMC Theatres Will Now Require Guests To Wear Masks When It Reopens CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES AMC Theatres Will Now Require Guests To Wear Masks When It Reopens "We will constantly monitor the scientific community's latest thinking as to the efficacy of mask usage," Aron said on June 19. "We also will be looking at the varying health conditions in specific localities around our theatres all across the country. This will help us to determine what our mask policy will be as we go forward, as well as to make any other needed changes to this policy." The company also released detailed health and safety steps that included reduced auditorium capacities, enhanced cleaning procedures and simplified menus with no refills. Still, face masks and disinfectant spray may not bring moviegoers back en masse, even in states where theaters are open. The company acknowledged in public filings that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted its business and will adversely affect its future operations. "Even when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we cannot guarantee that we will recover as rapidly as other industries, or that we will recover as rapidly as others within the industry due to our strong footprint in densely populated areas," it said. As coronavirus cases surge in parts of the country, some states are rethinking their approach to reopening movie theaters. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo removed cinemas from the list of establishments allowed to open in Phase 4 of the state's reopening plan, and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Monday a month-long pause on the operations of movie theaters and other businesses. Also on Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delayed movie theater openings in the city. The U.S. is AMC Theatres' last region to begin a phased reopening. The company operates in 14 European and Middle Eastern countries, and said theaters there either opened in June or are expected to open in July. UK Exhibitor Cineworld & U.S. Chain Regal Delay Re-Opening Until July 31 Cineworld, the UK cinema chain that also owns U.S. exhibitor Regal Cinemas, has delayed its re-opening plans by three weeks due to continued coronavirus disruption. The operator had been set to start re-opening theaters from July 10, but a number of important markets including Los Angeles and New York are yet to get the green light, so that date is moving provisionally to July 31. The film slate has also shifted, with key titles Tenet and Mulan delaying to August 12 and August 21 respectively. Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged, which is being touted as the first major release post-lockdown, recently shifted to July 31. Sony’s The Broken Hearts Gallery is set for August 7 and could become the first significant studio theatrical release if it holds.

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Sidney Williams Sidney Williams, as of 2020, is the author of 11 novels including recent releases: Disciples of the Serpent, Dark Hours and Midnight Eyes. His early books include When Darkness Falls, Blood Hunter, Night Brothers and Azarius. Additionally, he wrote three young adult horror novels under the name Michael August. Sidney’s short work has also appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eulogy, Sanitarium and in diverse anthologies including Quoth the Rave, Under the Fang, Demon Sex, Crafty Cat Crimes and Hot Blood: Deadly After Dark. Sidney’s Silverline checklist: The Mantus Files 1-4 Marauder 1-4 The Scary Book GN Sirens 1-4 Sidney’s social media links: Website: https://sidisalive.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/SidneyWilliamsBooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sidney_Williams

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Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS), originally aired as Star Trek and as The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, is an American animated science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. It originally aired from September 8, 1973 to October 12, 1974 on NBC, spanning 22 episodes over two seasons. The second series in the Star Trek franchise, it is the first sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series. Set in the 23rd century, when Earth is part of a United Federation of Planets, it follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Enterprise as it explores the Milky Way galaxy. After the cancellation of The Original Series in 1969, the live action show proved popular in syndication and generated significant fan enthusiasm. This resulted in Roddenberry's decision to continue the series in animated form. Much of the original cast returned to provide voice-overs for their characters. Show writers David Gerrold and D. C. Fontana characterized The Animated Series as effectively a fourth season of The Original Series. The adventures of the characters continued in cinematic form, the first being the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The Animated Series was the original cast's last episodic portrayal of the characters until the "cartoon-like" graphics of the Star Trek: 25th Anniversary computer game in 1992 as well as its sequel Star Trek: Judgment Rites in 1993. Both appeared after the cast's final film together, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, released in December 1991. The Animated Series was critically acclaimed and was the first Star Trek series to win an Emmy Award when its second season won the 1975 Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment – Children's Series.

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SCIFI DINER PODCAST 388 - WHY ANIME ADAPTATIONS FAIL; THE CURSE OF THE DEPARTING SHOWRUNNER; AND OTHER DISCUSSIONS Our stories and discussion tonight:Author Michael Jan Friedman's The Immigrant and Other Stories Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1354092292/the-immigrant-and-other-stories SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch was NASA's most-watched online event ever Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Setting Up A James T. Kirk Spinoff? Farpoint 2021 Guest ListRuby Rose's Batwoman Exit: The Story Behind Her Shocking Departure NBC’s Peacock event previews Battlestar Galactica reboot from Mr. Robot creator

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Dune Saga Podcast #31 - Dune News and Listener Feedback Visit us at: dunesagapodcast.com and at https://www.facebook.com/dunesagapodcast/

Direct download: Dune_Saga_Podcast_32_-_Dune_News_and_Listener_Feedback.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:38am EDT
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Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak—but at an unspeakable cost. Lost and broken, Celaena’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend. But she must instead travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth…a truth about her heritage that could change her life—and her future—forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat—and his own deadliest enemy. The king’s assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight.

Direct download: The_Orbital_Sword__Heir_of_Fire_by_Sarah_J._Maas.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:21pm EDT
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R. A. Jones Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he still resides, R.A. Jones has been a professional writer and editor for more than 35 years. He first came to the attention of the comics field through the bi-weekly review column he wrote for the popular comic book fan magazine Amazing Heroes. For his work there, he was voted “Favorite Writer About Comics” by the readers of Comics Buyer’s Guide magazine. Moving into actual comics work, he was hired as Executive Editor for a short-lived but fondly remembered independent publisher called Elite Comics, working on such titles as Seadragon and Epsilon Wave. When Malibu Comics started their line, one of the earliest titles they published was Dark Wolf, written by R.A. and drawn by Butch Burcham. A prolific writer, R.A. went on to produce many titles for Malibu and contribute to several others. Among them was Scimidar; Fist of God; Merlin; Sinbad; White Devil; The Protectors; Ferret; Nightman; Prototype and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Over the course of a long career that included stints as a newspaper columnist, R.A.’s work appeared for a range of other comic book publishers, including Marvel (Wolverine/Captain America; Weapon X: The Draft); DC Comics (Showcase ’95); Dark Horse (Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor) and Image (Bulletproof Monk). The latter series served as the inspiration for the motion picture of the same title. Two short comics stories written by R.A. (“Cold, Hard Facts” and “Three on a Match”) were also adapted to film as episodes of the French television series Metal Hurlant Chronicles. In recent years, R.A. has focused primarily on prose fiction. Among the works he has written or co-written are three volumes of “The Steel Ring Saga.” These novels — entitled The Steel Ring; Twilight War and The House of Souls — feature the same Golden Age superheroes R.A. used in his Protectors comic book series, but reimagined and placed back in their original time period amidst the chaos of World War II. He has also written Scimidar, a new and original novel featuring the comics character he created. Other books include Deathwalker; Gun Glory; Comanche Blood; The Equation; Motor City Manhunt and most recently Bass Reeves: Frontier Marshal Vol. 3. Happily returning to his comic book roots, R.A. is now writing the vampire series Twilight Grimm for Silverline and his longtime buddy and former Malibu editor Roland Mann. Reuniting as collaborator with R.A. on the book is another old and good friend: artist Rob Davis, who not only illustrated many of the issues of Scimidar but also worked with him on such titles as Merlin and Straw Men. When asked how it felt to be thus back in harness, there was only one thing R.A. could say: “Make Mine Silverline!” R.A.’s Silverline Checklist: Cybertrash and the Dog one-shot RA’s Social Media links www.facebook.com/ra.jones.9

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"Where No Man Has Gone Before" is the third episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series, Star Trek. Written by Samuel A. Peeples and directed by James Goldstone, it first aired on September 22, 1966. In the episode, after the Enterprise attempts to cross the Great Barrier at the edge of the galaxy, two crew members develop powerful ESP abilities which threaten the safety of the crew. The episode was the second pilot, produced in 1965 after the first pilot, "The Cage", was rejected by NBC. Reportedly, Lucille Ball, who owned Desilu Productions (where the pilot was produced), persuaded NBC management to consider a second pilot, thereby exercising a special option agreement it had with Desilu, because she liked Gene Roddenberry and believed in the project. The episode was eventually broadcast third in sequence, and it was the first episode to be shown in the United Kingdom by the BBC on July 12, 1969. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was the first episode of Star Trek to feature William Shatner as Captain James Kirk, James Doohan as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, and George Takei as Lt. Sulu (in this episode, the ship's physicist, whose character became helmsman in subsequent episodes). The episode title is the final phrase in the opening voice-over which characterizes the series and has entered popular culture Michael Jan Friedman Michael Jan Friedman is the author of nearly 70 books of fiction and non-fiction, about half of them set somewhere in the wilds of the Star Trek universe. In 1992 Friedman wrote Reunion, the first Star Trek: The Next Generation hardcover, which introduced the crew of the Stargazer, Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s first command. Over the years, the popularity of Reunion has spawned a number of Stargazer stories in both prose and comic book formats, including a six-novel original series. Friedman has also written for the Aliens, Predator, Wolf Man, Lois and Clark, DC Super Hero, Marvel Super Hero, and Wishbone licensed book universes. Eleven of his book titles, including the autobiography Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Ghost Hunting (written with SciFi’s Ghost Hunters), have appeared on the prestigious New York Times primary bestseller list, and his novel adaptation of the Batman & Robin movie was for a time the #1 bestselling book in Poland (really). Friedman has worked at one time or another in network and cable television, radio, business magazines, and the comic book industry, in the process producing scripts for nearly 180 comic stories. Among his comic book credits is the Darkstars series from DC Comics, which he created with artist Larry Stroman, and the Outlaws limited series, which he created with artist Luke McDonnell. He also co-wrote the story for the acclaimed second-season Star Trek: Voyager episode “Resistance,” which guest-starred Joel Grey. Currently, Friedman is working on a variety of projects, including a contemporary fantasy novel featuring characters and themes from mythology tentatively called Blood of the Gods, a young adult fantasy novel set in Renaissance times, the true story of an extraordinary Little League team in 1955, and an epic-scale science fiction adventure. As always, he advises readers that no matter how many Friedmans they know, he is probably not related to any of them. For more on Michael Jan Friedman and his fiction, visit his personal website, follow him on Twitter @FriedmanMJ, and like him on Facebook.

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Brent Larson Brent’s father was career U.S. Army, and moved the family around every few years. Thus, as he tells his friends, he is from everywhere… and nowhere (“Nowhere” ended up being a small town in southern Arizona). The first comic he ever bought was G.I. Joe #12, which was coincidentally the first chapter in a major story arc that ran for months. After that, there was no escape. He started his writing career in the seventh grade with a short, Encyclopedia Brown-type mystery. People liked it, or were at least polite. It was eventually read by a teacher to a captive audience (a school assembly, where all are captive). He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a communication degree, which he finds useful because he does that a lot. He worked with students for several years before finally finding a love for short film and, incredibly, an ability to support himself writing for it. He has written and produced dozens of shorts that have reportedly been seen as far away as Tibet, which caused him the sort of shock that was rather culturally inappropriate. And, during this time, he kept reading comics. In the past few years he’s written books, pamphlets, curricula, corporate communication, and a web series. You can see some of his work at vimeo.com/brokenphonebooth. Kayless is the first comic he’s created and written. He wants the U.S. Government (or Elon Musk) to hurry up and perfect time travel technology so he can tell his teenage self, “Don’t believe what they say… read more comics!” Brent lives and works in Orlando, Florida, with a wife he adores, two dogs he loves, a cat he is just fine with, and an assortment of superhero tchotchke, which, as his wife has pointed out, is the only thing he knows how to buy.

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Reminder that the SciFi Diner Podcast is now take out only. We share what is going on in our SciFi World, share some late breaking Shoreleave 42 news, share some Time Travel shows to pass quarantine time and to remind us what life was like before quarantine, and finally, we discuss how the pandemic will impact future ,movie releases.

Direct download: SciFi_Diner_Podcast_384_-_How_Covid_19_Will_Change_Movie_Theaters.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT
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New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in the worlds of fantasy and science fiction. He's best known for his Star Wars and Star Trek work, including Star Wars: Kenobi, his Scribe Award winning novel from Del Rey; Star Wars: A New Dawn; the Star Trek: Prey trilogy, and Star Trek: Discovery - The Enterprise War. He's also written comics included the long-running Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comics series, as well as comics for Battlestar Galactica, Halo, Lion King, Mass Effect, Iron Man, Indiana Jones, and The Simpsons. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site (farawaypress.com). Miller is also a noted comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, Comichron (comichron.com). He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.

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John was born in New York and currently resides near Baltimore, Maryland. He first encountered Robert Heinlein’s work as one of the cool books with the “atom” sticker on the spine in the library’s fiction section. After college, he read the uncut Stranger in a Strange Land for the first time and was prompted to go ‘online’ to the new Prodigy network to see if anyone else wanted to discuss Heinlein. He found a simple subject line entitled “Heinlein Forum” and posted a reply. Over twenty years later, the discussion of Heinlein’s work is still a pretty good way to meet interesting people online and in-person. John works for the federal government as a mid-level IT management professional. He has served on the board of his local community association and is still its webmaster. He spent eight years on the national board of his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, and serves as his chapter’s Alumni Association Secretary. He is married with two sons. He enjoys reading and collecting comics when not engaged in volunteer work. John is a charter and Lifetime member of the Heinlein Society and has volunteered at blood drives and local conventional panels. He was also pleased to attend and help out in a small way with the Heinlein Centennial effort, including a panel presentation about Heinlein Fandom Online that was unfortunately scheduled opposite a Spider Robinson talk. He was an early Membership Services chair of the Society where he was pleased to become acquainted with Mrs. Virginia Heinlein. He was appointed to serve out a term in 2012 as a director and Treasurer of the Society and elected to a three year term beginning in 2014. He was re-elected in 2017. John was chosen by the Board of Directors as the sixth President and Chairman of the Board in 2019.

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The following is a panel discussion from Farpoint 2020.

Direct download: SciFi_Diner_Podcast_381_-_The_Mirror_Universe_A_Farpoint_2020_Panel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:24pm EDT
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This week on the Scifi Diner Podcast we discuss trailers for the Vagrant Queen and Black Widow (this was recorded before it was delayed), Shore Leave's response to the Coronavirus, and our thoughts about Picard episodes Nepenthe and Broken Pieces. We also share our Farpoint 2020 interview with Cosplayer Jay Justice.

Direct download: SciFi_Diner_Podcast_380_-_Our_Interview_with_Cosplayer_Jay_Justice.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:43am EDT
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Tiamat's Wrath is a science fiction novel by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, and the eighth book in their series The Expanse. Following the successful establishment of an interstellar empire, High Consul Winston Duarte pursues the evolution of human life through the use of the "protomolecule" that has driven galactic exploration. James Holden, former captain of the gunship Rocinante and a protagonist of the previous novels in the series, is Duarte's captive. While Duarte's scientists explore the uses of the protomolecule, the surviving members of the Rocinante's crew work to free humanity from Duarte's dominion.

Direct download: The_Orbital_Sword__Tiamats_Wrath_by_James_S.A._Corey.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:51pm EDT
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Dune Saga Podcast #31 - Dune News and Listener Feedback Visit us at: dunesagapodcast.com and at https://www.facebook.com/dunesagapodcast/ The news stories we discussed on this show are as follows: Why The Original Dune Star Is Excited For The Remake https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2490404/why-the-original-dune-star-is-excited-for-the-remake Get a look at a pair of Ornithopters on the set of Dune https://winteriscoming.net/2020/01/20/leaked-photos-set-dune-reveal-ornithopters/?fbclid=IwAR2MVgcJ1gvzVTgKTyPI9xEjhU-_f27QI9wJa6QVdeNP1Ive0m31J6846xc First Dune Remake Footage Earns Big Praise, Gets Compared to Lord of the Rings https://movieweb.com/dune-movie-2020-first-footage-description/?fbclid=IwAR0OsDuLSDeDTgRNH2BW8SNYsegPq6eCf1Tx3unsDcdJo7lA2ClFk1Lbn3g See first images from the Dune graphic novel https://ew.com/books/2020/01/07/see-first-images-from-the-dune-graphic-novel/?fbclid=IwAR3z7F-3GEB_Co3KiYI4XHEdUyjkZZGyMSfzYtuVJ-7m4_Ln471skU8fJi0

Direct download: Dune_Saga_Podcast_31_-_Dune_News_and_Listener_Feedback.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:48am EDT
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Anthony Dwayne Montgomery (born June 2, 1971) is an American film and television actor, as well as graphic novelist. He is best known for his portrayal of Ensign Travis Mayweather on the UPN science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise (the fifth live-action series in the Star Trek franchise). Montgomery is currently playing Andre Maddox on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. He is the grandson of guitarist Wes Montgomery.

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Star Trek: Picard is an American web television series created for CBS All Access by Kirsten Beyer, Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon and Alex Kurtzman. It is the eighth series in the Star Trek franchise and centers on the character Jean-Luc Picard. Set at the end of the 24th century, 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), the storyline focuses on the impact of the destruction of the android Commander Data, which occurred in the climax of that film, as well as the destruction of the planet Romulus, which occurred in the 2009 film Star Trek. Patrick Stewart is the executive producer of the series and stars as Picard, reprising his role from Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as other Star Trek media. Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, and Isa Briones also star. Several actors from previous Star Trek series also reprise their roles, including Brent Spiner, Jeri Ryan, Marina Sirtis, and Jonathan Frakes. The series was first rumored in June 2018 when Kurtzman began his expansion and was officially announced that August after months of negotiations with Stewart, who had previously said he would not return to the franchise after Nemesis. Filming began in California in April 2019, with the series' official title announced a month later. Star Trek: Picard premiered on January 23, 2020, and its first season will consist of ten episodes. Ahead of its premiere, CBS All Access renewed Star Trek: Picard for a 10-episode second season.

Direct download: Scifi_Diner_Podcast_378_-_Picard.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:59pm EDT
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She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But where will her conscience, and her heart, lead her? After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.Keeping up the deadly charade-while pretending to do the king's bidding-will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. Where do the assassin's loyalties lie, and who is she willing to fight for?

Direct download: Crown_of_Midnight_by_Sarah_J._Maas.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:19pm EDT
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Alex Mallari Jr is an actor known for Dead Genesis (2010), Robocop (2014) and Debug (2014). Alex portrays Ryo Tetsuda in Season 1, 2 and 3 of Dark Matter. Early Life Alex Mallari Jr was born in the Philippines on February 19, 1988, and raised in Canada. He played competitive basketball in high school until he was injured. Alex was also successful at a national level in Tae Kwon Do. Career In 2010 Alex took on the role of Hiro in True Justice, an action series starring Steven Seagal. Following this he had several guest roles in shows including Nikita, The L.A. Complex, Cybergeddon and Beauty and the Beast. In 2014 he played a role in the sci-fi horror film Debug. Alex then landed a lead role in Dark Matter, playing Four, aka. Ryo Tetsuda.

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Thirty years have passed since the events of Babylon's Ashes and Earth is back on its feet after the attack that crippled the planet in Nemesis Games. The crew of the aging gunship Rocinante are still together, working contracts for the Transport Union, who have control of the Ring station and the 1,300 worlds the gates lead to. No one has heard from Admiral Duarte and his rogue fleet in the thirty years since they broke away from the Martian Congressional Republic Navy, until now. They have spent their time in the Laconia system building an advanced fleet using leftover technology from the protomolecule creators. They return through their gate to take over Medina Station and launch an attack on the Sol system.

Direct download: The_Orbital_Sword__Persepolis_Rising.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:48am EDT
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Dune Saga Podcast #30 - Dune News and the Dune Game Review

Direct download: Dune_Saga_Podcast_30_-_Dune_News_and_the_Dune_Game_Review.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:01pm EDT
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