(1) UK MEDIA FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGES NEIL GAIMAN STORY. [Item by Nickpheas.] This isn’t news to us, but it’s still a sign of something significant. The UK media was happily ignoring the Gaiman abuse allegations, but it looks like the logjam has finally been broken.  

File 770 covered the stepping back from Good Omens 3 a few days ago, and it seems that this has provided something news reporters can hang a story on, given the UK libel courts, where “a podcast you’ve never heard of said…” is pretty much an invitation to be sued. 

• The main lunchtime Radio 4 news show, The World At One covered the story on September 12: “World at One – 12/09/2024”.
• The Guardian newspaper had an article the following day: “Neil Gaiman screen adaptations halted after allegations of sexual misconduct”.
• Satirical magazine Private Eye had hinted at the story (see attachment) about a month ago, but they’re more willing to take risks.

(2) A NAME TO CONJURE WITH. This installment of The Midnight Society breaks me up. (Laird Barron liked it too, though he gave one note.) Here’s how it begins:

(3) WATERMELON GRANT TAKING APPLICATIONS. The inaugural The Watermelon Grant for Palestinian Creators is accepting applications through December 6, 2024.

The Watermelon Grant offers $2000 USD in unrestricted funds to an emerging Palestinian creator in the field of speculative arts. Applications are judged on a criteria which considers artistic merit and potential impact.

The 2025 grant considers works of speculative fiction and poetry.

Due to the success of the Match Me campaign, we are now able to offer a prize in fiction and in poetry. Entries must be rooted in the speculative genres.

For more information, visit the website.

(4) ARMY WELCOMES SPECULATIVE FICTION. [Item by Francis Hamit.] The Army publishes science fiction.  No pay but an opportunity for aspiring writers of hard SF in the Jerry Pournelle mode.  (As a young man, Jerry led an artillery unit in the Korean War.  So I suggest that this opportunity is best suited for those that have “seen the elephant”.) Complete guidelines at the link: “Future Warfare Writing Program Submission Guidelines” at Army.mil.

General

The Army cannot know nor predict its next fight but it can imagine the future of warfare. Fiction is a tool of the imaginative process. Fiction allows us to imagine the details of reality-as-it-might happen in order to understand potential consequences of decisions that we need, or might need, to make. It helps us imagine how current trends might play out or how new innovations might have an impact. As a tool, fiction is cousin to war-gaming. It creates opportunities to play out potential scenarios and prepare for them.

The Army University Press publishes the Future Warfare Writing Program (FWWP). This venture seeks to answer the question: What might warfare look like in the latter half of the 21st Century? Works of fiction and nonfiction should address the addresses multiple dilemmas as outlined in the Army Operating Concept. Submissions are open to current and former members of the DoD (active, guard, and reserve) and their dependents. Others may submit on a case-by-case basis based on expertise and writing skill (please query).

Consider the following guiding examples of subject matter as you compose your original works:

– How might the Army respond to sudden increases in aggression of state actors and how might budget cuts affect this?

– What role will information operations take in shaping or manifesting the climate of warfare?

– How will the Army handle humanitarian campaigns such as virulent outbreaks, natural disasters, or displaced persons in the next 20-80 years?

– What changes to values, health, and knowledge can we expect in light of Army University, an increasingly technologically advanced population, and reactions to changing social norms?

– How will the focus and capability of Army medicine and Army acquisitions change in 15-90 years?

– What technologies will shape the battlefield and the warfighter in the foreseeable future?

FWWP welcomes works of valid and sound speculative fiction; well-written essays; and any combination between the two addressing the questions above or related concerns. The intent behind this program is to give creative thinkers at all levels and positions—both within and outside the Army—the space to contribute to the conversation by generating ideas about the possible complexities of future warfare. The Army is at a critical time that requires reflection on its recent history, examination of its present reality, and exploration of its near and mid-future.

All submissions must include the publication agreement available for download. Submissions will be evaluated by the Army University Press and FWWP editorial board for relevance, writing quality, and ability to engage the reader. Review the links below for insights into what the board considers operationally and strategically relevant. The Army University Press and FWWP offers no compensation for publication. Works appear online in a blog format only, but FWWP retains the right to print or reprint published works. When possible, FWWP provides personalized feedback on all pieces….

(5) CIRCLE THAT THOUGHT. Phys.org reports on research suggesting that “Earth may have had a ring system 466 million years ago”.

In a discovery that challenges our understanding of Earth’s ancient history, researchers have found evidence suggesting that Earth may have had a ring system that formed around 466 million years ago, at the beginning of a period of unusually intense meteorite bombardment known as the Ordovician impact spike.

This surprising hypothesis, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, stems from plate tectonic reconstructions for the Ordovician period noting the positions of 21 asteroid impact craters. All these craters are located within 30 degrees of the equator, despite more than 70% of Earth’s continental crust being outside this region, an anomaly that conventional theories cannot explain….

… Normally, asteroids impact the Earth at random locations, so we see impact craters distributed evenly over the moon and Mars, for example. To investigate whether the distribution of Ordovician impact craters is non-random and closer to the equator, the researchers calculated the continental surface area capable of preserving craters from that time.

They focused on stable, undisturbed cratons with rocks older than the mid Ordovician period, excluding areas buried under sediments or ice, eroded regions, and those affected by tectonic activity. Using a GIS approach (Geographic Information System), they identified geologically suitable regions across different continents.

Regions like Western Australia, Africa, the North American Craton, and small parts of Europe were considered well-suited for preserving such craters. Only 30% of the suitable land area was determined to have been close to the equator, yet all the impact craters from this period were found in this region….

(6) THE FELLOWSHIP WORKED FOR PEANUTS? “Cate Blanchett Barely Got Paid for ‘Lord of the Rings,’ Cast Salaries Explained” at Business Insider. We linked to Cate’s comment in another article recently, so here’s an new excerpt:

Orlando Bloom got $175,000 for playing Legolas

While taking a retrospective look at his career on “The Howard Stern Show” in 2019, Orlando Bloom said working with iconic actors such as Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee was a “magical time,” but like Blanchett, he said didn’t get paid much for the trilogy. Bloom was 22 years old when the studio signed him.

Asked how much he was paid, laughing, the actor responded: “Nothing, nothing, nothing. I got nothing. $175 grand for three movies.”

He continued: “No listen, greatest gift of my life, are you kidding me? You’d do it again for half the money.”

(7) SERIAL DIER. “’Mickey 17′ Trailer: Robert Pattinson Toplines Bong Joon-ho Warner Bros Pic” at Deadline.

At long last, Warner Bros has unveiled the first trailer for Mickey 17, the Robert Pattinson sci-fi pic marking Bong Joon-ho’s follow-up to his Best Picture Oscar winner Parasite, which is slated for release on January 31, 2025.

Based on the the novel Mickey 17 by Edward Ashton, the film follows unlikely hero Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), who is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous —even suicidal — the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it…

(8) TODAY’S BIRTHDAY.

[Written by Paul Weimer.]

September 17, 1928 – Roddy McDowall.  (Died 1998.)

By Paul Weimer: Roddy McDowall’s genre work came into my awareness early.  He was the voice of V.I.N.CENT., the robot in the much maligned (but a favorite of mine) movie The Black Hole.  I might not have an ear for voices overmuch, but even I could hear his distinctive voice and connect it to the actor I then saw in episodes of Buck Rogers and Tales of the Gold Monkey. His voice popped up again in my ears as Sam in the Return of the King animated movie. 

And from there, he continued to become a very welcome actor, in and out of genre when I encountered him.  And it seemed like I kept running into him and his work everywhere I turned.  His portrayal of the TV show host in Fright Night might be my most favorite role. The original Planet of the Apes films. An episode of the Twilight Zone (where he winds up as an exhibit in an alien zoo). An episode of the 1960’s Batman TV series had him so very nearly kill Batman and Robin (who had to be saved by O’Hara and the police rather than themselves as normal). He even shows up in the 1963 Cleopatra as Octavian. 

One last thing I didn’t learn until some years ago, but delights me now (it would have made no impression until this century) is that he was an avid photographer, specializing in actor and actress portraits.  Truly, a multi-modal talent. 

(9) COMICS SECTION.

• Frank and Ernest find a possible news link.
• The Argyle Sweater is present at some odd moments.
• Speckticles is surprised by a message.

(10) COWL FOUL? Comicbook.com says “Batman to Get Hollywood Walk of Fame Star”. I always thought they only went to people – preferably living people, an impression not contradicted by the Frequently Asked Questions – Hollywood Walk of Fame. But what the hell do I know.

On Monday, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that Batman will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, September 26th, making the DC Comics character the first superhero to receive the honor. The 2,790th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be dedicated next to the stars of television’s Batman actor Adam West and the Dark Knight’s co-creator, Bob Kane.

Jim Lee, DC’s president, publisher, and chief creative officer, and Anne DePies, DC’s senior vice president and general manager, will attend the Batman Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony at 11:30 a.m. PT at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum. The Caped Crusader himself will also appear in costume to accept his star in the category of motion pictures, plus the Guinness World Records title for the first superhero with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a special presentation by official GWR adjudicator Michael Empric…. 

(11) GRANT GEISSMAN Q&A. “’I’ve made several little stamps on pop culture’ – Grant Geissman discusses his storied and varied career with Joseph Antoniello” in The Comics Journal.

… You mentioned in another interview that your mom had thrown away a bunch of your comics. But you said, “Okay, but don’t throw away my MAD magazines.” What was it about MAD that, over your [other] comics, you were like, no, this is the important one?

I had to draw the line somewhere, and MAD was more important than Superman and Batman. It just was. The other thing she threw away were two and a half sets of Mars Attacks cards. A buddy of mine showed me these things at school, and I went down to the five and ten where he found them, and they were gone. But then right after that, I found them in a little card vending machine at Shopwell Market. So, any time my mom would go to the market, I said, can we go to Shopwell? I would have a handful of nickels, and would keep buying cards until I got two and a half sets of Mars Attacks cards. Every now and then, she would go through my room and throw stuff away. I was like, “What are you doing? You know what? You are not to throw my MAD magazines away.” And I never put that on my daughter, I never made her throw away stuff. So she might have other issues with me, but that’s not one of them! [laughter]…

Do you think that EC fanzine culture played a significant role in the longevity of EC Comics, or do you think that it was just being kept in print by Ballantine that kept it alive?

EC really never went away. These fanzines kept the flame burning. In 1978, Cochran announced the first title in the Complete EC Library—and he announced his intention to create these box sets, complete EC titles. There was a fair amount of “He’s never going to be able to do this. This is an impossible task.” But little by little, each volume would come out, Cochran did it. It took him like 30 years, but it happened. And that really is what kept EC going. There were more comic shops, and what that meant is a producer could go in, buy the entire set of Weird Science or Tales from the Crypt and go, “Hey, there might be a TV or a movie project here.” That’s why the HBO Tales from the Crypt series happened…

What was it like working with Feldstein?

Well, I knew Al from before. I met him in 1992 at a convention in Los Angeles, and later spent some extra time with him through Jerry Weist, because Weist arranged this meeting between Al Feldstein and Ray Bradbury here in Santa Monica. He rented a hotel room and they shot video. It was the first time Feldstein and Bradbury had ever met in person. Jerry brought original EC art and books and reference stuff. I had been commissioning paintings from Feldstein for quite a while, one of them was an oil painting of the Weird Fantasy 20 cover, which is related to “I, Rocket,” a Ray Bradbury story. Jerry said, “Bring that cover painting down and we’ll show it. We’ll have Ray look at it and Al will be there, and he can show Ray what he’s been doing with these paintings.” And then we all went out to dinner, and we even went to see one of Bradbury’s plays. He would put on these little local kind of 99-seater plays based on his books….

(12) HOW RUDE! As Comicbook.com heard it, “Arrow’s Stephen Amell “Didn’t F-cking Appreciate” Peacemaker Jab”.

Arrow star Stephen Amell took aim at new DC Studios co-chief James Gunn in a new podcast interview, saying that he felt Arrow was routinely disrespected by the people behind DC’s movies and Gunn’s series Peacemaker. Amell, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow from 2012 until 2023 in Arrow and its various spinoffs, has apparently seen Peacemaker now and isn’t too pleased about a joke made at Green Arrow’s expense. In an episode of the series, Peacemaker says to Vigilante that Green Arrow “goes to Brony conventions dressed as the back half of Twilight Sparkle,” with a hold drilled into the back of the costume. 

Peacemaker made a number of such off-color jokes about characters including Wonder Woman and Aquaman, who had brief cameos in the season finale. After initially saying he had not yet seen the episode, Amell now says that he has, and wasn’t a fan….

(13) DAWN DATA. The Verge tells readers “What the Polaris Dawn mission could reveal about human health in space”.

…The research in the Polaris program, planned to be three flights, is particularly focused on human health and the effects of spaceflight on the body. The current mission will be studied by Baylor College of Medicine, with the astronauts giving blood and going through extensive biomedical testing both before and after the flight.

But what sets the Polaris Dawn mission apart is its altitude, 870 miles above the Earth’s surface to be exact. That’s far higher than the typical altitude of the International Space Station, at around 250 miles, and makes Polaris Dawn the farthest humans have been from Earth since the Apollo missions. 

That altitude took the craft through Earth’s inner Van Allen belt, a region of charged particles that protect the planet from dangerous radiation. The crew members are fitted with sensors to measure their cumulative radiation exposure over the mission, and the spacecraft interior is fitted with a sensor to detect the different types of radiation in the environment.

“It’s an opportunity to see what kind of [radiation] exposure that we get as they get further and further away from the surface of the Earth,” explained Baylor’s Translational Research Institute for Space Health deputy director Jimmy Wu. “That’s something that we don’t have a whole lot of data on, because we’ve been limited to the number of humans that have been that far. So that’s critically important to understand.”…

(14) CLOG DANCING. CNN explains why “47-year-old Voyager 1 spacecraft just fired up thrusters it hasn’t used in decades”.

…Voyager 1 used the thrusters for a variety of purposes as it flew by planets such as Jupiter and Saturn in 1979 and 1980, respectively.

Now, the spacecraft is traveling on an unchanging path away from our solar system, so it just requires one set of thrusters to help keep its antenna pointed at Earth. To fuel the thrusters, liquid hydrazine is converted into gas and released in about 40 short puffs per day to keep Voyager 1 oriented correctly.

Over time, engineers discovered that a fuel tube inside the thrusters can become clogged with silicon dioxide, a byproduct of the fuel tank’s rubber diaphragm aging. As the thrusters become clogged, they generate less force.

In 2002, the team commanded Voyager 1 to switch to its second set of attitude propulsion thrusters when the first set showed signs of clogging. Engineers switched again to the trajectory correction thruster set in 2018 when the second set also appeared clogged.

But when the team recently checked on the status of Voyager’s trajectory correction thrusters, they were even more clogged than the previous two sets of thrusters.

When the team initially switched Voyager over to the trajectory correction thrusters six years ago, the tube opening was 0.01 inches (0.25 millimeters) across. But now, clogging has reduced it to 0.0015 inches (0.035 millimeters) — half the width of a human hair, according to NASA.

It was time to rotate back to another set of attitude propulsion thrusters….

(15) WHAT’S THAT SMELL? “Astronauts reveal what life is like on ISS – and how they deal with ‘space smell'” at the BBC.

…A lucky few are asked to do a spacewalk, leaving the ISS for the space vacuum outside. Mr Hadfield has done two. “Those 15 hours outside, with nothing between me and the universe but my plastic visor, was as stimulating and otherworldly as any other 15 hours of my life.”

But that spacewalk can introduce something novel to the space station – the metallic “space smell”.

“On Earth we have lots of different smells, like washing machine laundry or fresh air. But in space there’s just one smell, and we get used to it quickly,” explains Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, who spent eight days on the Soviet space station Mir in 1991.

Objects that go outside, like a suit or scientific kit, are affected by the strong radiation of space. “Radiation forms free radicals on the surface, and they react with oxygen inside the space station, creating a metallic smell,” she says.

When she returned to Earth, she valued sensory experiences much more. “There’s no weather in space – no rain on your face and or wind in your hair. I appreciate those so much more to this day now,” she says, 33 years later….

(16) MONSTER WHEELS. You might enjoy these “10 Killer Facts About Herman’s Munster Mobile Koach – The Munsters” at CarStarz.

The Munster Koach from the 1964 show “The Munsters” is a legendary automotive icon that perfectly encapsulates the series’ unique blend of horror and humor. Designed by George Barris, the Munster Koach is a stunningly macabre hot rod, fashioned from multiple Ford Model T chassises, complete with a body resembling a sleek black coffin. The vehicle is adorned with eerie spider-web detailing, a towering Dragula-shaped front end, and a crimson interior, adding to its distinctive and ghoulish charm. This one-of-a-kind creation served as both transportation and a source of endless comedy on the show. It has since become a beloved and instantly recognizable symbol of the Munster family’s quirky, endearing, and ever-memorable lifestyle, leaving an indelible imprint on the world of classic television.

(17) ROD SERLING STATUE. If you’d like to see the real thing, here’s a video of last weekend’s official unveiling: “September 15, 2024: Statue of Rod Serling Dedicated in Binghamton, NY”.

[Thanks to Teddy Harvia, Mike Kennedy, Andrew Porter, Paul Weimer, Francis Hamit, Nickpheas, John King Tarpinian, Chris Barkley, Cat Eldridge, SF Concatenation’s Jonathan Cowie, Steven French, and Kathy Sullivan for some of these stories. Title credit belongs to File 770 contributing editor of the day Jon Meltzer.]