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Beagles and Unicorns

January 28, 2014 at 12:40 pm
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You can't say enough about Peter S. Beagle.  One of the great masters of modern fantasy, author of THE LAST UNICORN, A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE, LILA THE WEREWOLF, GIANT BONES, I SEE BY MY OUTFIT, and so much more… classic novels, moving novellas, terrific short stories… and he's just as wonderful a storyteller in person as he is on the page.

We were honored to have him as our guest at the Jean Cocteau Cinema last Saturday.  We screened the animated film of THE LAST UNICORN thrice to big crowds, and Peter and I talked about fantasy, his books, his film career, and his life for the better part of an hour.

You shoulda been there!

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photo by Tara Gibbens

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photo by Tara Gibbens

After each screening, Peter signed books, comics, artwork, and merchandise for his fans.  The man is tireless… and always charming.  A delight all around.  I suspect he signed his name hundreds, maybe thousands, of times on Saturday… but before we let him go, we made him sign a few more items for the cinema.  So we do have some autographed Peter S. Beagle books available at the Jean Cocteau for those who missed the event… while the supply lasts.  It won't last for long.  (We also have lots of signed books by yours truly, a few by Neil Gaiman, Michael Chabon, and Pat Conroy as well).

Beagle is a real rock star of fantasy, and he tours like one.  The day before he brought his travelling LAST UNICORN tour to Santa Fe, he was in Tucson… and as soon as he was done, he and Freff and Cat and the rest of his faithful minions packed up their vans and hit the road for Fort Collins, Colorado.   Check out the tour details at http://www.conlanpress.com/ and find out when Peter and Schmendrick and the Red Bull are coming to your corner of the lilac woods.

He is not to be missed.

Thanks so much, Peter.

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One Billion Rising

January 24, 2014 at 1:20 pm
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On Wednesday (January 29), the Jean Cocteau Cinema will be hosting a special event — a reception and screening in support of One Billion Rising, a global initiative to fight violence against women and girls.

http://www.jeancocteaucinema.com/ai1ec_event/one-billion-rising-reception-screening/?instance_id=2042

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Come join us, and lend your support to this world-wide movement.  Causes do not get any more worthy.

(And all those attending the One Billion Rising event will also receive a group discount for the feature film we will be showing afterward, REACHING FOR THE MOON).

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The Amazing Maisie

January 22, 2014 at 1:17 pm
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If you weren't at the Jean Cocteau Cinema on Monday night, you missed out on all the fun.

We had a great day.  People started lining up as the sun was coming up, and the queue grew longer all day.  We sent out coffee and donuts to make sure no one froze or starved to death while waiting in line.  Doors opened at 6:00, with the show starting at 7:00pm, but Maisie Williams and the wolves turned up at 5:00 or so to meet the fans.  Maisie is amazing… not only a talented young actress, but a delight in person.  I think she spoke to everyone in line, signed their books and Funko Pop dolls, posed for pictures.   Not everyone got into the theatre, alas, but everyone in line got to meet Maisie…

 … and the wolves. Flurry and Zorro, the wolf ambassadors from Wild Spirit, were great hits as well.

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Maisie is on her way back to LA now… but I think she liked Santa Fe, and one day we hope to have her back again.

Meanwhile, the GOT marathon continues next Monday night at the Jean Cocteau.  Next time we will be screening episodes nine and ten from season one — "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood."  And we'll be joined by executive producers and showrunners DAVID BENIOFF and D.B. WEISS, who will be Skyping in after the episodes to answer your questions.

Line up early.  It's sure to be another epic crowd.

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The Last Unicorn

January 18, 2014 at 6:13 pm
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Oh, and if Peter S. Beagle and THE LAST UNICORN are not enough for us, we also plan to mount a special Last Unicorn Art Show in the Cocteau gallery.  Prints and artwork will be for sale.  Along with pizza, candy, and the best popcorn in New Mexico.

(And the real movie fans can stay for the midnight show, and catch THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE).  Which has no unicorns whatsover, but did you expect?  Peter Beagle got the last one.

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For New Mexicans…

January 17, 2014 at 11:22 am
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… and tourists passing through Santa Fe.

We've had some very cool author events and booksignings at the Jean Cocteau Cinema since we reopened last summer.  All of the visiting authors signed stock before taking their leave of us.  So for the book collectors among you, take note.  We have autographed copies of books by DIANA GABALDON, S.M. STIRLING, MICHAEL CHABON, PAT CONROY, MELINDA SNODGRASS, CARRIE VAUGHN, DIANA ROWLAND, MEGAN LINDHOLM/ ROBIN HOBB, JOE S. LANSDALE, SAM SYKES, GARDNER DOZOIS, TRENT ZELAZNY, and NEIL GAIMAN for sale at the theatre.

(You will need to drop in to the Cocteau to get one, though.  Sorry, we've not set up to do mail orders at this time).

And yes, we also have autographed copies of my own books available at the theatre.  OLD MARS, the WILD CARDS books, all five ICE & FIRE novels, FEVRE DREAM, ARMAGEDDON RAG, DYING OF THE LIGHT, WINDHAVEN, the map book.  You will find them at the Jean Cocteau.

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The Wolves Are Coming

January 16, 2014 at 11:29 pm
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Arya Stark may have been parted from her direwolf Nymeria, but come Monday in Santa Fe she'll be meeting two new wolves.

Maisie Williams won't be the only guest at Monday's GAME OF THRONES marathon session at the Jean Cocteau Cinema.  Our friends from the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary down in Candy Kitchen will be on hand as well, and they'll be bringing two of their "wolf ambassadors" to meet Maisie and the fans.

Parris and I have long been supporters of the Sanctuary, dedicated to the rescue of abandoned and abused wolves and wolf-dog hybrids.  They do great work.  You can find out more about them at http://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/

The ambassadors will not be members of the new 'Westeros Pack,' since those wolves are still a bit too wild and unsocialized to mingle with the public in an uncontrolled environment.  They won't be direwolves either, alas, for the direwolves are all gone (for now).  But I think they are bringing Flurry, and he's almost direwolf sized, and a real charmer to boot.

We're expecting a huge turnout for Monday's marathon session.  The show starts at 7:00 pm, and the doors open at 6:00, but people will be lining up by early morning, if the past two weeks are any indication.  The Cocteau has only 125 seats, so not everyone will be able to get in… but Maisie and the wolves should both be arriving early, to meet some of the fans in the line.  So even if you are not one of the lucky 125 to get into the theatre, you may be able to say hi to Arya and a couple of members of her pack.

Oh, and this week we're screening episodes six, seven, and eight from season one — "A Golden Crown," "You Win And You Die," and "The Pointy End."

See you at the cinema.

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New Sample

January 12, 2014 at 10:26 pm
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Just uploaded a new sample on my website.

You'll find it on the Books page: a taste of next summer's Wild Cards mosaic novel, LOWBALL, scheduled for release next summer, in hardcover from Tor.  LOWBALL will be the second volume of the current triad, and the twenty-second in the overall series.  The sample is an excerpt from David Anthony Durham's story, "Those About to Die," featuring the Infamous Black Tongue.  Hope you like it.

Meanwhile, the Wild Cards gang is hard at work on HIGH STAKES, the twenty-third volume in the series.

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Season Four Trailer

January 12, 2014 at 9:36 pm
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Drum roll, please.  The trailer's here.

Have a taste of season four:

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April's not so far off.  Really, it's not.

(Just keep telling yourself that).

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Season Four Is Coming…

January 11, 2014 at 7:07 pm
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… but not until April.  The fourth season of GAME OF THRONES will debut on Sunday, April 6, at 9pm Eastern.

But the TRAILER for season four can be seen tomorrow.  Just make sure you catch the premiere of the latest great HBO drama, TRUE DETECTIVE, tomorrow night at 9 pm ET… and don't forget to tune in a few minutes early.

I can hear some of you muttering that you don't get HBO.  Well, you should.  But that aside, this weekend is a "Free HBO Weekend" on many cable systems and satellite services, so even if you don't normally receive HBO, you may find you have it this weekend.  Click over and see, then sample TRUE DETECTIVE and enjoy the season four trailer.  (And then run and subscribe to HBO, because it won't stay free forever).

And for those of you who cannot even wait until tomorrow, here's a teaser for the trailer:

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Enjoy.

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Marathon Continues

January 9, 2014 at 12:33 pm
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The GAME OF THRONES marathon continues next Monday at the Jean Cocteau Cinema, with a special guest.

RON DONACHIE, best known to GAME OF THRONES fan as Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms at Winterfell, will be joining us from Glasgow via Skype for a Q&A after the screening.  We'll be showing two episodes this week: — "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things," and "The Wolf and the Lion," episodes four and five from season one.

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The show starts at 7:00pm, and we will probably start admitting people into the hall at 6:00.  But come early.  Last week we had to turn hundreds away, and my loyal staffers tell me that those who joined the line after 5:30 did not get in.  (Sorry.  We have only 125 seats).  It's all first come, first seated; there's no advance ticket purchase, no reservations, no seat saving.  But admission is FREE.

The following week, January 20, we will be joined by MAISIE WILLIAMS, our own Arya.  And not via Skype.  Maisie is coming to Santa Fe.  (If you want to start lining up now for that one, it might not be too soon).

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See you at the marathon.

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