Showing posts with label Gail Carriger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gail Carriger. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Three qualified experts (and me) discuss the Amazon/Hachette showdown

Amazon Packaging
Amazon Packaging (Photo credit: Nic Taylor Photography)
After a well deserved absence from the SF Signal podcast, Hugo-Winning audio-auteur Patrick Hester got desperate and allowed me back on the show to discuss the showdown between Amazon and Hachette, which saw books by Stephen King and JK Rowling suddenly unavailable from the most powerful bookstore on Earth.

Fortunately, Patrick got some actual, qualified experts on the line to tamp down my corrupting influence, including acclaimed authors Gail Carriger (best known for the Parasol Protectorate series) and Michael R. Underwood (best known for the Ree Reyes series), and the world's most under-appreciated sci-fi movie reviewer, Derek Austin Johnson (best known for always being right about sci-fi movies). They more than make up for my inane utterings.

You can listen to the podcast here.

You gluttons for auditory punishment can peruse my complete rapsheet of past podcast crimes here.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Looking back on 2013 in science fiction and fantasy

Marvel's Agents of Shield
For reasons that defy explanation, I am somehow considered a viable authority on the general fields of science fiction and fantasy media, because the poor fools over at the SF Signal Podcast allowed me to inflict myself upon their 2013 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Year in Review episode.

Fortunately, an actual best-selling genre author (Gail Carriger) and an actual seasoned podcast authority (Jeff Patterson) were on hand to make sure Patrick Hester wasn't trapped with just me on the line to make himself look bad. Gail is worth the price of admission alone, and Jeff is...well...he's spent several decades working the dark underbelly of television. It's done things to his mind...unnatural things...but it makes for good podcasting.

Give a listen.

Per usual, the unending tale of my podcast buffoonery is available here.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Female superheroes who deserve their own movies (according to professional authors and fans)

House of M #1 featuring the Scarlet Witch. Var...
Here's the sound of Marvel Comics head honcho Joe Quesada pulling the pin on a nerd-rage grenade and tossing it in our direction:
- In a chat [with Ain't It Cool News], Joe told me that he’d love to make a tentpole movie with a female lead, but that he really doesn’t think there is an actress right now who could carry it, or a character that would work either. I’m thinking I might agree with him on this one actually.
Okay, Joe, so you can't think of a single female character or actress worthy of a tentpole superhero movie? Here's the SF Signal Irregulars' collective response:
"Challenge: Accepted."
Stina LeichtJeff PattersonGail CarrigerPaul WeimerPatrick Hester and I discuss not only which female characters and leads could carry a tentpole superhero movie, but also why poor ol' Joe can't seem to see the potential here. Get the full rundown in the Hugo-Nominated SF Signal Podcast Episode 131.

This is usually the part where I decry my own meager contributions to the topic and, compared to published authors like Ms. Carriger and Ms. Leicht, that remains the case. But when it comes to the underuse of superheroines in film, Joe Quesada is so wrong even I can make a few cogent points before succumbing to audible idiocy. Listen for yourself.

And, yes, the list goes well beyond Wonder Woman, She-Hulk, Marvel or DC.

As always, my litany of previous SF Signal podcast sins are confessed here.