Scifi News Updated Every Weekday
Slice of SciFi » News
Fraggle Rock Makes Big Screen Comeback
Written by: Samuel K. Sloan (FarPoint Media Executive News Director) I am a grown man easing into my sixth decade on this planet and I’m not ashamed to say that one of my favorite television programs of all time was Jim Henson’s “Fraggle Rock.” When HBO decided to cancel the series back in 1988 I [...]
Throughout the next several weeks one of our contributors we have situated at the network upfronts will be giving updates on programming news and events that have taken place as networks such as ABC, CBS, CW, Fox and NBC give advertisers their first look at what can be expected for the upcoming television season. On our [...]
Weekend Box Office Final — May 9-11, 2008
All totals are U.S. box office only. SF and genre-related films in bold. Title (Dist.)….Reported Weekend Box Office….Engagements…. Cumulative 1. Iron Man (Paramount)….$51,190,629….4,111….$177,825,024 2. What Happens In Vegas (20th Century Fox)….$20,172,474….3,215….$20,172,474 3. Speed Racer (Warner Bros.)….$18,561,337….3,606….$18,561,337 4. Made Of Honor (Sony)….$8,116,323….2,734….$26,791,494 5. Baby Mama (Universal)….$6,225,790….2,627….$40,836,370 6. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Universal)….$3,837,240….2,376….$50,781,745 7. Harold And Kumar Escape From Guantanamo (Warner Bros.)….$3,106,424….2,264….$30,667,308 8. The Forbidden Kingdom [...]
Glenn Calls for Shuttle Life-Extension
Written by: Derek Kessler (Trek United News Director) Both a former U.S. Senator and a legendary astronaut, when John Glenn speaks about NASA, people have a tendency to listen. Glenn not only was the first US astronaut to orbit the Earth, but also is the oldest astronaut, having rode the space shuttle into orbit in 1998 [...]
The Incredible Shrinking Eddie Murphy
Actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter Eddie Murphy is getting ready to star in another remake of a classic film, turning what was originally seen as a 1950’s SF drama that probed serious questions about the nature of humankind and its place in an ever-expanding universe, into a sci-fi comedy. Murphy will next star as “The Incredible [...]
Eureka, Caprica add cast members Two SciFi original series have expanded their casts. Eric Stoltz has joined the cast of the upcoming Galactica prequel Caprica as Daniel Graystone according to SciFi Wire. Graystone is a wealthy computer engineer who, after an emotionally crippling family tragedy, uses his technological wizardry to forever change the future of Caprica. Also [...]
“Iron Man” Plummels “Speed Racer”
“Speed Racer” debuted this weekend in theaters across the globe but did anybody notice? Not many! Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man,” starring Robert Downey Jr. beat out the cartoonish live-action Racer by as much as $30 million at the box office leaving the Mach 6 eating Iron’s fumes. If box office estimates continue to hold [...]
Written by: Mike McCafferty (SoSF Guest Contributor) Mother’s Day is here and so it’s time for me to give a shout out to my mom. Now even though it is Mother’s Day and it is a nice gesture, it would be a little off topic if I didn’t justify why I’m posting this on Slice [...]
Slice of SciFi Poll Question For Week Beginning May 11, 2008
n n Will Edward Norton succeed where Eric Bana failed....Finally make The Incredible Hulk a successful big screen franchise? Yes No That still remains to be seen View Results
“Timber Falls” — Slice of SciFi DVD Review
Written by: Samuel K. Sloan (FarPoint Media Executive News Director) Before I begin this review I first have to be totally honest and say that I am not the world’s greatest horror movie fan. I like them well enough, but prefer a sci-fi or fantasy B-movie over most chiller-thrillers, especially those that have been produced [...]
Slice of SciFi-Dragon*Con DVD Contest
Slice of SciFi has a special contest featuring highlights from the past 4 years of Dragon*Con. Dragon*Con is the largest multimedia, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film in the US. The event is held every Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta GA. This prize pack features one [...]
[Courtesy of StarWars.com]
Written by: Emilio D’alise (SoSF Staff Journalist) The sky looks different. The air “feels” different. Strange noises break the silence as a group of our ancestors gathered around the fire to listen to the elder. It’s a hundred thousand years in our past, and entertainment is as scarce as food and shelter, [...]
Doctor Who — Theories, Facts, Speculations
Written by: Michael Martinez-Mann (SoSF Guest Contributor) As we head into the mid-season for of series four of Doctor Who with the rumor that this, coupled with the three specials next year, will be the last outing for showrunner Russell T. Davies, we have been left to speculate what old Russell has been ramping up to [...]
“Speed Racer” — A Movie Pulse Review
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/ Fantasy and Adaptation Running Time: 129 min. Theatrical Release Date: May 9th, 2008 MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence, language and brief smoking. Directed By: The Wachowski Brothers Starring: Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Matthew Fox “The racing scenes are like Star Wars’ podracing, without the realism…of which there [...]
SCI FI Wire
Caspian's Barnes Worked Virtually
Ben Barnes, the star of the upcoming sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, told SCI FI Wire that it was a challenge to work on a project where so many of the sets and characters were all left to the actor's imagination.
NBC newsman Lester Holt, who hosts the upcoming SCI FI Channel investigative special Mystery of the Crystal Skulls, told reporters that it opened his eyes to the possible power of the title artifacts, the inspiration for the upcoming feature film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Director Breck Eisner told SCI FI Wire that his episode for NBC's upcoming horror anthology series Fear Itself was originally titled "Red Snow," but that it had to be changed to "The Sacrifice" because it didn't snow in Canada when they were shooting.
Jeanette Winterson told SCI FI Wire that her latest novel, The Stone Gods, was inspired by the idea put forth by Stephen Hawking that man must colonize space if he is to have a viable future.
Fonda Joins SCI FI's Revolution
Peter Fonda has joined the cast of SCI FI Channel's upcoming two-hour pilot Revolution, about a planet colonized by humans, Mark Stern, executive vice president of original programming, told SCI FI Wire.
Ben Barnes, who plays the heroic title character in the upcoming sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, told SCI FI Wire that he starts out as a bit of a tragic character because of his sad upbringing in the land of Telmarine.
Eric Stoltz (SCI FI Channel's Triangle) has signed on to star opposite Esai Morales in SCI FI's two-hour Battlestar Galactica prequel pilot Caprica, while Frances Fisher has been tapped for an eight-episode arc on Eureka, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sheriff Jack Carter will find a love interest on SCI FI Channel's original series Eureka in the upcoming third season--and so will his automated house, S.A.R.A.H., producers told SCI FI Wire. (Possible spoilers ahead!)
The Fox broadcasting network gave a series order for J.J. Abrams' SF drama Fringe for the fall, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Elisabeth Moss, who appears in an episode of NBC's upcoming horror anthology series Fear Itself, told SCI FI Wire she had to learn how to hold a gun and do some stunts for the role.
Science Fiction in the News
Robot Surgeon - Autonomous Tabletop Robotic Surgery At Duke
Remarkable precision from this autonomous robot; it can perform needle biopsies and other procedures without human guidance. (SF in the News)
Pilot View FPV 2400 Sees Out Model Plane Window
This is a pretty cool idea; for those who don't have the time or the money to get a pilot's license and plane, here's a way to get up in the air more cheaply. (SF in the News)
Robots May Get Compound Insect Eye Vison
Interesting biomimetic research from the Naval Warfare Center, done in collaboration with the common housefly, Musca domestica. (SF in the News)
CAMRAS Recycles Every Breath You Take
NASA continues developing new space technology for use in the upcoming Orion crew capsule, the Altair lunar lander and lunar rovers. (SF in the News)
E-paper You Can Write On From Seiko Epson E Ink
Collaboration produces a very nifty e-paper display that you can write notes on if you wish. (SF in the News)
XNAV Steer Your Way By X-Ray Pulsar
A couple of papers suggest that XNAV might provide us with solar system-wide 'GPS' - good thing sf writers were already thinking about space beacons. (SF in the News)
Zingo Local Anesthesia Like Star Trek Hypospray
Although Star Trek is not the origin of the hypospray idea, take a look at this new applicator. (SF in the News)
SEMAINE Project For Sensitive Artificial Listener (SAL) Robots
It looks like these real-life computer scientists are trying to follow in the footsteps of the fictional Dr. Chandra - they're trying to create SAL 9000. (SF in the News)
Rag Tag Space Fleets Line Up With Magnetism
How can those space fleets stay in formation without constant use of reaction mass? In space, CGI graphics can't make up for reaction mass. (SF in the News)
'McSleepy' Automated Anesthesia Machine
This device seems to provide anesthesia quality that is as good or better than an ordinary human anesthesiologist. (SF in the News)
Honda Walking Assist Exoskeleton Video
Honda lets you strap on this partial-exoskeleon and walk a bit easier. At least, that's the theory behind this experimental device. With video. (SF in the News)
Pixie Dust Magical Pinkie Regeneration
Amazing story, if true. Even more amazing, if it can work on larger and more complex structures in the body. (SF in the News)
Smart Buoys Say 'Slow Down, Whale Crossing'
Fascinating example of interspecies communication and cooperation. Right here on Earth. (Beyond Technovelgy)
Your Brain Knew It Would Click This Link Before You Did
This story about studies of brain activity, and the associated sf short story, make good reading. You've already decided, so click the link already. (Beyond Technovelgy)
When is it plagiarism to borrow from another writer? An aspiring sf writer wants to know. (Beyond Technovelgy)
Nokia Shoot-to-Translate Camera
This is a pretty neat application; see a sign in Chinese, take a picture and then read the English translation. (Beyond Technovelgy)
High Technology In Vintage Ad Style
Here's an idea - what would it look like if you tried to sell cellphones and Segways at the end of the 19th century? (Beyond Technovelgy)
JewelEye Extraocular Implant Video
Would you get this piercing done? Not me. (Beyond Technovelgy)
Psychoprobe by Arthur K. Barnes
Get to the truth. From the 1938 story Satellite Five (new Technovelgy item)
Surface Car by Arthur K. Barnes
A specialized vehicle for traveling on a planetary surface. From the 1938 story Satellite Five (new Technovelgy item)
Paralysis Ray by Arthur K. Barnes
A special ray that produces paralysis. From the 1938 story Satellite Five (new Technovelgy item)
Automatic Commercial Deletion by Arthur K. Barnes
Device automatically detects commercials and turns off the set for the duration. From the 1938 story Satellite Five (new Technovelgy item)
Visi-Screen by Arthur K. Barnes
A display device. From the 1938 story Satellite Five (new Technovelgy item)
Pry-Vie (Robotic Detective) by Philip K. Dick
A robotic private eye; autonomic detection services. From the 1964 story Clans of the Alphane Moon (new Technovelgy item)
Cephalic Sniffer by Philip K. Dick
Device can locate an individual using brain patterns. From the 1964 story Clans of the Alphane Moon (new Technovelgy item)
Auto Course-Finding Pilot by Philip K. Dick
A device that not only pilots the craft, but will also plot out a course for you. From the 1964 story Clans of the Alphane Moon (new Technovelgy item)