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Arthur Conan Doyle Interview
Arthur Conan Doyle was a very interesting man. He’s best known for writing what may be the most logic-driven character to ever exist, Sherlock Holmes, in stories which time after time proved the seemingly mystical to have rational causes. While doing so, he also spent most of his life investigating and publicly supporting spiritualism, often famously promoting acts that were later debunked. This is an interview that was posted on Reddit earlier in the week in which he explains how he decided to approach writing the Sherlock Holmes stories. He’s clearly fed up with the character and is much more interested in his spiritual investigations. I don’t know if there…
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The Book Thief Trailer
I didn’t even know they were making a movie based on The Book Thief, which I read this time last year, but this was released a few days ago: I was really digging the trailer until the 90s voiceover started, but it does really look promising. It seems they’ve dropped Death as the narrator, which is a shame as that really added a lot to the story in my opinion, but I can see that being tricky to film. And who knows, maybe he there but just wasn’t featured in the trailer. Geoffrey Rush as Hans is a terrific choice, I think.
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Terra Trailer
I don’t really like the recent trend of book trailers. I’m not against them, but they just don’t do anything for me. Mitch Benn has released a trailer for his upcoming debut novel Terra, but instead of a blurb and a dull animation, he’s had several comedians, actors, and writers read the first chapter. What a great way of publicising your novel and getting people to actually listen. This is the sort of trailer I could get behind. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the novel, as well. [via]
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Truth in Fiction
Salman Rushdie on why we shouldn’t write off science fiction and fantasy when looking for stories with an insight into human nature.
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John de Lancie Reads The Raven
I think I like John de Lancie’s version of The Raven even better than Vincent Price’s or James Earl Jones’, and that’s saying a lot.
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George R. R. Martin Reads Nursery Rhymes
[via] I really wish that was actually him.
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Neil Gaiman and Connie Willis
Neil Gaiman posted this on his weblog a bit ago. It’s him and Connie Willis on a panel together talking about their craft and influences. If you have any interest in writing, it’s an interesting hour.
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Locke and Key Trailer
Locke and Key was being made into a television series, but unfortunately Fox passed on the pilot. Looks like it could have been interesting, although it is hard to tell just from a trailer.
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The Continual Condition: Poems
The Continual Condition: Poems by Charles Bukowski Published: 2009 I’ve come across some Bukowski over the years, but this is the first time I actually picked up one of his collections. The sleeve description says that it contains never-before-collected poems, which I think means they were previously published but never in one of his own collections. I usually try not to start with someone’s latest book, particularly if it’s published post-mortem, but this contains work that stretches right back to the beginning of his career and is a great introduction if you haven’t read much by him. There’s something about Bukowski’s writing that can occasionally stop you dead in your…
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Directors Guild of America’s Tribute to Steven Spielberg
If you follow any weblog that covers film news, you’ve probably seen this, but if not I thought I’d post it here. Hosted by J.J. Abrams and James Cameron, it’s just under two hours of discussion with Steven Speilberg on how some of your (or at least my) favourite stories came to be. At the very least it’s an interesting look into one man’s approach to storytelling.