This Month's Ansible

[Australis]

I've been reading this Hugo award winning newsletter for, oooo, maybe ten years, maybe more, and a couple of items in this month's issue jumped out at me, thought I'd share.

I always thought the BBC would do a good version a Discworld book. Apparently not.

Terry Pratchett, who's finding novel-writing much easier now he's moved from keyboards to dictation, reveals: 'Something for the Very Strange department; the BBC contacted us about doing a prime time series based on the Guards books. Things seemed to go well, although it appeared to me that up to that point only one person involved had read a Discworld book. Then we gradually moved into Fairy Land.... What caused me to crack was the question of the Bible. I am not going to let something like this happen without some input, if only to stop Nobby Nobbs becoming female. Much discussion ensued, and my movie agent suggested that the BBC and us create the Guards Bible -- these style guides are quite common in the business. / It looked, therefore, like it would be all systems go until the BBC came back and said that while they would be happy to collaborate on the Bible, they would because of their charter have to have the final say, which means in effect: "everything will be set in stone, but we are allowed to have a sledgehammer." So the BBC is not getting Guards! Guards!. As my movie agent (who has dealt with some of the most voracious companies in the States) said to me, "How does anyone ever deal with the BBC?"'

Yeah, that Terry Pratchett! He doesn't have a clue!

And As Other See Us:

• 'Like paedophiles and science fiction fans, the far right were quick to wise up to the internet ...' (Hari Kunzru, Guardian, 30 May) [SS]
• 'Sci-fi conventions such as San Diego's Comic-Con are under-the-radar hook-up havens. No, really.' (Penthouse, June) [MB]

Yeah, them hot nerds...

Them As Can, Does. Presenter: 'Who wrote the story of Peter Pan? A.A. Milne, J.M. Barrie or T.S. Eliot?' Contestant (a teacher): 'Okay. I've read the story. I've saw the films. I've not saw the panto. I'm pretty sure it's T.S. Eliot.' (Sky One, Are You Smarter Than A Ten-Year-Old?)

Really? "I've saw the film"? Really? You want this person teaching your kids?

And Thog's Masterclass, in which an overworked piece of descriptive writing is given a risible scrutiny:

Dept of Pointed Looks. 'Her eyes were leveled missile batteries, untouched by any human emotion.' (David Weber, Field ofDishonor, 1994)

There is much more, not to mention a huge archive of previous newsletters, and you can see why it wins so many Hugos.

You can find it at:
http://news.ansible.co.uk/Ansible.html

 

[captcalhoun]

The Langford is a God. i read his column every month in SFX.

 

[Steve Roby]

Yeah, I've been reading Ansible online for ages now. It's always entertaining. (I've read one of his novels, too, The Space Eater, which was pretty bizarre.)

Imagine my surprise at learning that Jon Langford of the Mekons is David Langford's brother.

 

[Lonemagpie]

• 'Sci-fi conventions such as San Diego's Comic-Con are under-the-radar hook-up havens. No, really.' (Penthouse, June) [MB]

Yeah, them hot nerds...

I met my wife at a convention...

 

[captcalhoun]

• 'Sci-fi conventions such as San Diego's Comic-Con are under-the-radar hook-up havens. No, really.' (Penthouse, June) [MB]

Yeah, them hot nerds...

I met my wife at a convention...

exhibit A: Megan Fox, a self-confessed nerd.

exhibit B: TSQ of this forum.

exhibit C: Kirk's Tights of this forum.

exhibit D: .... oh, wait, you wouldn't know those two...

 

[pookha]

also been reading ansible off and on for a long long time.

 

[Australis]

Yeah, them hot nerds...

I met my wife at a convention...

exhibit A: Megan Fox, a self-confessed nerd.

exhibit B: TSQ of this forum.

exhibit C: Kirk's Tights of this forum.

exhibit D: .... oh, wait, you wouldn't know those two...

Oh, I know who TSQ and KT are. My goodness, you can't miss their pics in the relevqant threads, what with all the drooling.

Now, it was the way a convention were described as a 'hook-up haven'. Conjured up visions of guys in thick glasses and gold chains sidling up to girls in 'Uhura ROCKS!' t-shirts at the bar and use seductive lines, like "Hey... read any good Dune books lately?" and then have their glasses fog up.

-- Australis, wears glasses.