Dick’s Daughter Sues Google
Isa Dick hackett, the daughter of SF author Philip K. Dick, is suing Google, claiming that some of the Nexus One’s features use names taken from her father’s books.
Obituary Michael Moslow
Fan Michael Moslow (b.1952) died on January 7. Moslow was in the hospital following a relapse of pneumonia. He was a New York City fan with a wide knowledge of classic SF books and films, and a love for old time radio and TV shows.
Kirkus Revived
Despite ending publication of Kirkus last year, Nielsen is saying that they may have found a buyer. Although the sale has not been finalized, Nielsen is planning to restart publication of teh review magazine immediately.
Producers Guild Nominations
The Producers Guild of America has announced nominees in four categories for its annual film awards. Films of genre interest appear in two categories and are listed below. The PGA has announced that there would be ten nominees in their Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award. The awards will be presented on January 24. Films without any producers listed in the list below have not had the production team officially identified by the PGA.
Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures:
- Avatar, produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau
- District 9, produced by Carolynne Cunningham and Peter Jackson
- An Education, produced by Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey
- The Hurt Locker
- Inglourious Basterds, produced by Lawrence Bender
- Invictus, produced by Clint Eastwood, Rob Lorenz, Lori McCreary, and Mace Neufeld
- Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, produced by Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, and Sarah Siegel-Magness
- Star Trek, produced by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof
- Up, produced by Jonas Rivera
- Up in the Air
Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:
- 9
- Coraline
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
- The Princess and the Frog, produced by Peter Del Vecho
- Up, produced by Jonas Rivera
RFF Utah Closes
Reading for the Future Utah has announced that it is closing after ten years. The organization, which was founded to help promote literacy in Utah and promote Utah literary talent has found that the current economic climate does not allow it to carry out its mission of helping schools, libraries, and other institutions that support literacy and learning.
Carl Brandon Society Awards
The Carl Brandon Society has announced the winners of its 2006 and 2007 awards. The Carl Brandon Society, named for a fictional fan, was founded in 1999 to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the production of and audience for speculative fiction. The awards will be presented at Arisia in Boston, Massachusetts. The winners of the 2008 award will be announced later this year. Nominations for the 2009 Parallax and Kindred Awards will be accepted through June 1, 2010
2006:
Parallax Award: Mindscape, by Andrea Hairston
Kindred Award: no winner
2007:
Parallax Award: The Shadow Speaker, by Nnedi Okorafor
Kindred Award: From the Notebooks of Doctor Brain, by Minister Faust
Hugo Nominations Open
Aussiecon 4 has announced that Hugo nominations are being accepted now through March 31 (at 2359 PST). Anyone who was a member of Anticipation or is a member of Aussiecon 4 by January 31, 2010 may nominate for this year’s award. To nominate on-line, a Hugo PIN number is needed. If you haven’t received one, please contact the Hugo Administrator. Paper ballots can be downloaded from the Aussiecon website.
Publishing Magazines Face Closure
Reed Business Information, which has been trying to sell off many of its magazines in a bundle, has announced that with no takers, the magazines for sale will face closure if buyers cannot be found for individual titles. RBI’s stable of magazines which could face the axe include Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, all of which are used by the trade to determine purchasing. Rival magazine Kirkus Reviews, published by Nielsen, recently announced that it was ceasing production.
Strock Publisher at Fantastic Books
Ian Randal Strock has been hired as the publisher of Fantastic Books, the science fiction book publishing arm of Tir Na Nog Press, which also publishes Realms of Fantasy. Strock joined Tir Na Nog as an acquisitions editor for Fantastic Books last year and will now work with the other editors to see that every title already contracted for is given the attention it deserves, and is published properly as soon as possible.
Levine on Mars
Authro David R. Levine will be participating in crew 88 of the Mars Society simulation of an expedition to the Red Planet. Levine will be participating in a two week excursion in Utah with a crew of five other areonauts.