Year: 2004

You know, I had just about managed to grasp the notion that DC didn’t believe in the return of Kara Zor-El in “Supergirl” as remotely marketable until I did it, whereupon they canceled the comic and then did it again in a new series…

But Marvel roundly and publicly excoriated my return to the 2099 Universe in “Captain Marvel” as an example of everything that was wrong with my writing (because who gave a dámņ anymore about 2099?). The book eventually wound up being canceled…and now there’s a launch of 2099 one-shots in September. New characters, to be sure, but it’s still aimed at readers who have fond memories of the Marvel future-verse…just as my much-maligned Spidey 2099 guest appearance in “Captain Marvel” was.

I used to take pleasure in being proven right. Now…not so much.

PAD

Word is out that Ray Bradbury is torqued with Michael Moore over Moore’s titling his film “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Seems he doesn’t like the homage, if you will, to his classic tale of book burning and censorship.

I can see both sides of this one. On the one hand, Moore should’ve gotten Bradbury’s blessing. Then again,if he asked Bradbury’s permission, he’d have to be willing to toss the title if the response was negative, and Moore likely didn’t want to do it. On the other hand, I don’t exactly see where the author of “Something Wicked This Way Comes” gets to bìŧçh about riffing another author’s words. At least Moore changed his title rather than using a verbatim quote. And considering there’s going to be a new edition of “F451” coming up in a few weeks, what’s the harm in some free publicity?

I think Moore should stand firm with the title but offer to put a big ‘With thanks to Ray Bradbury” in the credits or, if that’s no longer possible, in the DVD release. Maybe even interview Bradbury for a DVD extra to get his take on what’s going on these days.

PAD

To everyone who is a father, or has a father, or watched “Father Murphy,” a Happy Father’s Day to you all.

We had a fairly low key celebration of the day. Kathleen covered for me so I could sleep late (which, by me, is a pretty big deal), and then she, Ariel and Caroline gave me neat presents they’d gotten for me (although I suspect Caroline had a great deal of help in making her selection.) We went out to brunch, then went miniature golfing. Then we came back, Ariel studied, Kathleen took a nap (which is what happens when she gets up early, see above), I went bowling (worked purely on my strike ball, shot a 212, 204 and a 179 which ain’t bad for practice), came home, and this evening we’re going to watch “La Femme Musketeer” on the Hallmark Channel which focuses on the daughter of D’Artagnan with Michael York back in gear as the swashbuckling Frenchman. Now if only Richard Chamberlain could have been gotten for Aramis.

PAD

I think I’m going to start putting together a scrapbook of the enthusiastic reviews this series is getting. It’s easily the best reviewed series I’ve ever written.

Currently, thefourthrail.com has a glowing write-up for the trade paperback, while aintitcoolnews.com had nothing but praise for issue #12.

Let’s hope some fans start noticing.

PAD

Several years ago, although I was publicly supporting Harlan Ellison’s lawsuit against AOL over internet theft of copyrighted material, privately I was expressing to him my concern that the case was unwinnable. That AOL was too big with too many lawyers. And that the case would be a devastating endurance test that would suck the health out of Harlan. And Harlan said to me, “There’s one thing you have to understand about me: I always win. Always.”

Ðámņëd if he wasn’t true to his word, as a reading of the info referenced below will prove.

http://www.authorslawyer.com/c-ellison.shtml

PAD

So… what’dja think?

Like Douglas MacArthur, or perhaps last night’s lasagna, I have returned.

The entire family spent the weekend down at Dreamcon, a first time convention in Jacksonville. I don’t normally do first time cons, but Shana, my eldest daughter, lives in Jacksonville and the con was willing to fly the whole family down there, so why not? Overall, aside from a few glitches, the con was smoothly run although it didn’t draw as many people as I think anyone would have liked to see. Ron Perlman was the headliner. Met Mercedes McNab (hey, if Mercedes McNab moved to Massachusetts and married Julie “Darla” Benz, she’d be Mercedes Benz), Brian Thompson (the Judge who uttered the famous line, “What’s that do?” before being annihilated by Buffy with a rocket launcher). But the high point was seeing Jewel Staite again. Before playing an engineering genius on a spaceship in “Firefly,” she played an engineering genius on a spaceship on “Space Cases,” co-created by Bill Mumy and me. It’s wonderful to see people paying attention to this wonderful and up-and-coming actress.

After the convention, we went up to Disney and stayed there a few days. It was Caroline’s first exposure to the House of Mouse, and she spent it in two modes: Wide eyed or asleep (I guess the wide eyes helped make her tired.) Managed to hit the three major parks, not to mention our favorite hang out, the Adventurers Club. They’ve outdone themselves for the new novelty cup, by the way: Specialty drinks are now served in a purchasable carved wooden monkey head.

PAD