Not a Blog

California Dreamin’

April 26, 2017 at 12:32 pm
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I am off to California tomorrow.

First stop will be Long Beach, for Stokercon, the annual gathering of the Horror Writers Association and the presentation of the Bram Stoker Awards. (That’s the one that looks like a creepy house, as opposed to the new World Fantasy Award, which looks like a creepy tree). This year’s Stokercon will be on the Queen Mary, which I last visited for a Nebula Awards banquet in… ohmigod, could it really have been 1996? Where do the years go? (Thinking back, that must have been a few months before A GAME OF THRONES was published. Little did I dream how much my life was about to change).

I love old ocean liners (modern cruise ships not so much), so banqueting with my brothers and sisters in horror on the Queen should be a hoot and a half.

After that, it’s down to San Diego for a fundraising event for Clarion. I’ll be having a conversation with Kim Stanley Robinson.

Alas, I’m told the event is already sold out.

And, sorry, no, I will not be signing… just talking.

Scalzi Speaks!

April 26, 2017 at 11:57 am
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We’ve updated the video page of the Jean Cocteau website, and you can now view my interview with John Scalzi at http://jeancocteaucinema.com/exclusive-video/ — along with a number of the older author events, for you poor benighted souls who live beyond the borders of the Land of Enchantment.

All the videos are also available on the JCC’s new YouTube channel.

Autographed copies of THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE, REDSHIRTS, and OLD MAN’S WAR are available for mailorder from the JCC website, along with hundreds of other .

John was a great guest, and a terrific interview. Here’s hoping we can lure him back to New Mexico again in the future, maybe as GOH at a Bubonicon.

Vanishing Magicians

April 24, 2017 at 3:14 pm
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Francis Menotti was at the Jean Cocteau over the weekend, and amazed us all. This is the third time we’ve had Francis at the JCC, and he always does a great show. He performed the trick that stumped Penn & Teller, of course, along with a lot of other tricks that stumped the rest of us, including me. Always a fun time when Menotti is in time.

Alas, alack, a couple of the other magic acts that we’ve been looking forward to — the ones I blogged about here http://grrm.livejournal.com/528565.html — have vanished from our schedule, at least temporarily.

The astonishing Misty Lee, one of our faves, was scheduled to return on June 9-10, but she’s run into a scheduling conflict with a television appearance, so we’re having to push her visit back until September. And the Naked Magicians, scheduled for May 30, are gone as well. We lost our venue and partner for that one, and the Aussies are too big for our tiny JCC stage and auditorium. We still want to bring them to Santa Fe, but right now we cannot say when and where. Watch this space.

So… there’s a bit less magic on our schedule, for the none, but we still have some amzing special events coming up at the JCC. TERRY BROOKS will be here for an author event on June 17, and RICHARD KADREY on July 13. July 7 – 9 we have the GAME OF THRONES season 6 marathon.

But much soon, do not forget, Max Headroom will be coming for our M-M-M-MAXATHON! That’s May 13 – 20, with Michael Cassutt, Steve Roberts, and Matt Frewer… and my own, never before seen or heard, Max Headroom episodes. Don’t miss it.

More Author Videos

April 19, 2017 at 1:51 pm
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We’ve added two more videos from recent author events at the Jean Cocteau to the JCC website:

CONNIE WILLIS, interviewed by Melinda M. Snodgrass

JOHN NICHOLS, interviewed by Lorene Mills

If you weren’t able to be with us in person, you can check them out at

http://jeancocteaucinema.com/exclusive-video/

Connie and I have known each other for decades, of course, and she’s always a delight. John Nichols, however, I’ve only met once or twice previously, and the last time was probably twenty years ago at an event up in Colorado organized by Ed Bryant. Nichols is a fascinating man, however, and he had a lot to say. Even if you don’t know his work, you should find him interesting.

The video of my own talk with John Scalzi is not ready yet, but should be up soon.

Autographed books by Connie Willis, Melinda Snodgrass, John Nichols, John Scalzi, and myself are all available from the JCC website, of course. Along with lots more from other authors.

A recent comment from a “fan” said, in rather strong words, that he was not interested in the Jean Cocteau or anything that went on there. Fair enough. No one said you had to be. Maybe you should skip the posts with the JCC icon on top.

Thing is, though, that Santa Fe cares about the Jean Cocteau… I’ve had many people tell me that they love our little theatre… and more to the point, I care as well. The Jean Cocteau doesn’t bring me big wheelbarrows of money. Far from it. If we ever manage to get it into the black, I may die of shock. It is, however, a source of joy… for our patrons, for our city, and certainly for myself. And in the end, we all need some joy in our lives.

April Autograph Special

April 18, 2017 at 11:11 am
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The bookshop at the Jean Cocteau Cinema is having a special for the rest of the month on autographed copies of HIGH STAKES, the latest volume in the Wild Cards series.

HIGH STAKES normally retails for $27.99, but for the rest of the month we’re cutting five dollars off and offering it for $22.99… while the supply lasts.

These are first edition hardcovers… all with four autographs. They’re signed by yours truly, and by three of my participating writers, Melinda M. Snodgrass, John Jos. Miller, and Ian Tregillis. (You’ll have to collect the rest of the signatures yourself).

ALL of the books at the JCC are autographed, fwiw. You can check out the full list on our website at http://jeancocteaucinema.com/product-category/author/

Wild Cards Dealt

April 18, 2017 at 9:09 am
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Gregory Noveck, executive producer on the Wild Cards television series in development at Universal, weighs in on his love of the series in a new post on the WC blog at:

http://www.wildcardsworld.com/

And over at Tor, you can weigh in yourself on ACES HIGH, the second volume of the series.

Scalzi in Santa Fe

April 18, 2017 at 2:11 am
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Bestseller, Hugo Award winner, former SFWA president, blogger, bon vivant, and the world’s leading expert on taping bacon to cats… John Scalzi is a man of many parts.

He made a whirlwind visit to Santa Fe yesterday, and the Jean Cocteau was thrilled to host him.

He did not actually sing in the rain. But he did play a ukulele. And he talked. And laughed. Ate a churro and some carne adovada. And signed a LOT of books.

(That’s me and Steve Gould with him in the picture)

If you couldn’t be there, hey, no problem. We’ll be putting up a video of our talk. And we made him sign stock before we let him go, so you can get your autographed copies of THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE, OLD MAN’S WAR, and REDSHIRTS (winner of The Big One) from the Jean Cocteau website.

http://jeancocteaucinema.com/

Next up: magician Francis Menotti.

Cool Times at the JCC

April 17, 2017 at 12:45 pm
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We had a great event on Saturday with John Nichols. Terrific writer and fascinating guy, whose work truly captures the sights, sounds, and spirit of Northern New Mexico. Lorene Mills did a wonderful job interviewing him. We should have the video up on the Jean Cocteau website soon.

And tonight, at 7pm, we have JOHN SCALZI flying in. John’s touring for his new novel, THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE, and we’re thrilled to have him.

See you at the theatre!

EXPANSE Soars

April 13, 2017 at 3:22 pm
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Last night’s episode of THE EXPANSE was really strong, I thought. And I was pleased to hear that the show has been renewed for a third season.

Jimmy Corey’s books and the TV series based on them have both gotten a fair amount of acclaim — awards attention and the like — but not nearly enough, imnsho. The show had a good first season, but it’s only gotten stronger in season two. If it keeps on at this level, it deserves to be ranked among the best SF shows of all time. Acting, directing, writing… and my god, the look of it. The space stuff, in particular.

BABYLON 5, FIREFLY, and the various STAR TREK successor shows were all spiffy looking in their day, but THE EXPANSE is to those shows as they were to the original TREK, and as the original TREK was to ROCKY JONES: SPACE RANGER.

Speaking of Rocky, though, that is the one thing EXPANSE lacks: Pinto Vortando.

Shame On You, United

April 11, 2017 at 1:03 pm
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I don’t often comment on current events, but the story about the passenger that United Airlines beat bloody and dragged off a flight — for no reason but to accomodate some of their own deadheading employees, and despite the fact that he had a ticket that he’d bought and paid for and was doing nothing but sitting peacefully in his assigned seat — has me seeing red.

Jimmy Kimmel said it better than I could.

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I stand with Jimmy, with Alan Grayson, and with millions of other ordinary Americans from coast to coast who were outraged by these videos, and by the mealy-mouthed corporate bullshit the United’s CEO chose to offer afterwards.

One point Jimmy did not raise: in what world does an airline employee’s need to get to his next flight take precedence over a doctor’s need to return to his hospital?

The “police” who dragged the man off the plane and beat him do not deserve the name of police officers, and should be fired immediately. “They were just following orders” is no excuse.

The United CEO should also resign. He’s a disgrace.

I am old enough to remember when airlines were regulated, and passengers had rights. But we deregulated the airlines, and now passengers are cattle. The present rule seems to be just what Kimmel says: do what we say, or else. You may have given us your money, but we owe you nothing.

And here’s the cherry for your (bloody) sundae: United has also announced plans to begin charging passengers for carry-on luggage.