Two Great Tastes, Taste Great Together-Disney and Marvel join forces
Anyone who knows me can guess my reaction to this merger. I love, love, love Disney and I love, love, love Marvel Comics.
To illustrate: I have been a reader and collector of primarily Marvel Comics since I was eight years old. 32 years ago. I have “mostly” enjoyed the Marvel movies and still enjoy a comic here or there as I can afford them.
I first visited Disney World when I was eighteen years old. I received my college degree in animation and have long dreamed of someday working in animation at Disney. Since marrying my wife Colleen we honeymooned at Disney World and have made a point of returning every year at least once a year since then.
So to sum this news up from my point of view: I AM OVERJOYED!!! I can’t wait for Marvel/Disney events at Disney World. Pixar produced Marvel animated films. Marvel produced Disney comics. The list could go on and on with the great possibilities to come.
I offer my heartfelt congratulations to both companies and look forward to their many great collaborations in my future.
Add comment August 31, 2009
The Raindancers by Den Dotson
Joe felt the weather changing in his bones; the fading sunlight backlit boiling grey clouds. They would be riding in a steady rain by morning. The misery of driving their horses through mud would do his students good. He feared becoming soft and lenient in his old age. He wouldn’t be doing these kids any favors by going easy on them.
Joe dug in his saddlebags for his book. He found a piece of his old life instead. The artifact was a small leather pouch his partner used to carry on his belt. Symbols had been burned into the surface, after years of use and abuse, the writing made a light pattern in the soft hide. The small bag had been a gift given to remind Joe of their friendship now lost. Joe ran his fingers over the script; the sensation of touching the leather stirred his memory. He brought the memento to his nose and tried to smell the past. He had brought his students here to the plains of Allaway to train where the desert, the mountains, and the prairie came together. He thought he could live with the memories living in this place. He might have been wrong.
Continue Reading Add comment May 21, 2009
Saturday Afternoons with Ellie by Den Dotson
Elias “Eli” Wells felt the cold thick coffee crawl down his throat. He had left the light brown beverage sitting too long and the heat drained from it. His life felt the same. He had waited too long. He had let himself become preoccupied with things that in the long run turned to dust.
Continue Reading Add comment May 16, 2009
New Star Trek, a lot like The Old Star Trek Only Better!
Last Friday, I was lucky enough to get out to see the new Star Trek movie directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
What follows is my review of the film as a Star Trek fan and new science fiction writer:
First a little history. My father dreamed of me being an astronaut. I was born around the time of the first moon landing and the beginning of Star Trek. My dad bounced me on his knee while he watched the show. I became a fan at an early age and have continued to follow the voyages of the Starship Enterprise and the history of Starfleet ever since. I never became an astronaut. Being fitted for prescription glasses at an early age and my first math test took care of my dad’s vision of my future.
I do not now nor have I ever owned a Starfleet uniform or any of the Star Trek character costumes, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Star Trek to me has at its best been about exploring the human condition and fun. It is my opinion, the folks at Paramount have lost sight of both of these concepts in all their recent attempts at Star Trek TV and cinema. I believe the franchise “jumped the shark” somewhere around the time they made Star Trek : Generations for some reason they were never quite able to translate the Star Trek : The Next Generation concept to the big screen. At the same time the makers of Star Trek on the small screen began to lose their way, as well. I continued to watch from time to time but I continued to be disappointed.
My disappointment ended last Friday. The new Star Trek film goes back to the beginning of the original crew’s adventure. The new movie even goes back before we first met the characters from classic Trek originally. We see one character’s birth. To save the franchise Star Trek needed no less than a brand-new beginning.
The writers of the new movie have boiled down the characters we know and love down to their essence. Sure some of the details have been changed. Let’s be honest they needed changing. This thing was an ol’ saw in need of some tender loving overhaul.
This film is first and foremost fun. Star Trek hasn’t been fun since before Star Trek : The Motion Picture. I don’t mean they are making fun of themselves as in Star Trek : The Voyage Home. No, here there is action, adventure, romance, danger and fun. The characters we know and love are portrayed by new actors and being young and fresh they seem to be having the time of their lives.
Other reviews have faulted the story for playing fast and loose with science. They do. Watch the old show they gave a scientific reason for why one planet was run by 1920’s era gangsters, and another episode featured space hippies. This movie goes no where near that far. What they do is make an exciting movie about characters thrust into an amazing futuristic adventure. If science got in the way they ran it over. This isn’t a lecture, it’s a movie.
I can’t recommend this film enough. If you have never watched a second of Star Trek don’t worry. They start from scratch and catch you up as needed you won’t be lost. And you old Trekkers who are afraid of something new…give it a chance…it will win you over. If it doesn’t you may have forgotten to have some fun at the movies.
2 comments May 12, 2009
Just Like Starting Over
On February 20th 2009 I lost my “day job” as a web designer and graphic artist. So if anyone reading this needs an artist or knows of an opening anywhere please let me know.
My job search has taken first priority of late and so unfortunately this blog has gone “un-updated”
For the foreseeable future I am going to alternate my usual essays with some short stories presented here for your enjoyment. I am not looking for critiques on these works, but please let me know if there are certain kinds of stories you would like to see more of. Thanks for reading… it is good to be back.
Add comment May 12, 2009
My Report from Archon
I attended mostly the panels focused on writing (big surprise) but I thought I would share some of my thoughts on the experience and give a shout out to some of the folks I met there. The panels were set up with two to three authors in attendance sharing on a particular aspect of writing. For example, Horror and How to Scare Your Audience Half-to-Death or Mundanes and Transhumans, Making Memorable Characters. The writers would open with a discussion among themselves with usually one of them acting as moderator, then the discussion would be opened up to include us, the audience.
Continue Reading 1 comment October 8, 2008
Why Do So Many New Writers Have A “Real” Job?
Sadly, it has become increasingly more difficult for writers to make
a living, writing. If you wander the bookshelves at your local bookstore a
large group of the people responsible for the books you enjoy earn their livelihood
with another job, besides writing. In the old days, the legends like Heinlein,
Bradbury, Asimov, Clarke were able to slip into writing by crafting short stories.
In the good ol’ days, short stories paid enough that a writer could survive
long enough to craft their first novel.
Continue Reading 1 comment August 27, 2008
Ecommerce, the new Amway
Ecommerce can be very profitable. It is still very hard work. The people who put in the time and the effort necessary will see results based on their level of commitment and exertion.
A wise man, Robert Heinlein once wrote, TANSTAAFL “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.” Even on the internet, lunch comes with a bill.
Continue Reading Add comment May 7, 2008
God is like a traffic accident, stop me if you have heard this one
First let me say, my beliefs are my own and I am happy if they remain mine alone. I am not preaching here just giving my point of view.
I believe God is like a traffic accident…
Continue Reading 2 comments April 9, 2008
