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--!8!--  All The News That's Fit To Transmit
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...........

Books, Stories, and SF Literature in General .....
...........


According to TERRY PRATCHETT, the people putting out THE DISCWORLD
COMPANION will be publishing a map of Ankh-Morpork in November, all from
the descriptions in the books.  The first three DISCWORLD books will be out
on audio on November 4, and the TRUCKERS trilogy on September 23.  (Dates
are for the UK.  Look for them in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, but he
says in a Usenet post that although South Africa will get them "in the
fullness of time," but he doesn't expect for us to see them in the United
States or in languages other than English.  They will be read by TONY
ROBINSON, of BLACKADDER fame.  (Sod off, Baldric!)

DAVID BRIN is reportedly working on another Uplift novel.  He is also
working on a graphic novel version of THE VANILLA NEEDLE,

The world really is moving towards electronic publishing.  This year
Clarinet is offering an electronic version of the Hugo and Nebua nominees,
along with lots of extra stuff.  What kind of stuff?  Well, for one thing,
how about nomineee A FIRE UPON THE DEEP, with 500K of hypertext provided by
VERNOR VINGE himself?  They are also providing the nominated artwork in
machine readable form.  The collection comes in a disk, CD-ROM or network
version, and costs $11.95 to $29.95, depending on how much stuff you want
on it.  For more information, send mail to [e-mail].  For those
not on the net, you can connect to sf.clarinet.com by dialing 408-296-3733
by a modem.  Log in as "sf", then select "o" for order at the menu prompt.
You'll run an interactive order script.

VISIONS OF MARS:  Science fiction is riddled with stories of colonists
finding messages from the past.  Now real life is going to imitate art, as
the Planetary Society and the Russian Space Research Institute prepare to
put together a CD-ROM containing thousands of pages of fiction about the
planet Mars.  The discs, called Visions of Mars, will be placed in special
landers and sent with the Mars 94 mission to the Red Planet next year.  In
addition to Mars-related fiction from various languages and cultures, the
disc will also contain a portion of the 1938 ORSON WELLES WAR OF THE WORLDS
broadcast, artwork depicting our conception of Mars in various eras, an
audio recording of reactions to the landing of Viking I on Mars from the
likes of GENE RODDENBERRY and ROBERT HEINLEIN, and brief messages to the
future from such notables as ARTHUR C. CLARKE.  The disc, which will be
designed and produced by Time Warner Interactive Group, will sport an
instruction label in English, Finnish, French, German and Russian, the
languages of the Mars 94 mission.  Facsimiles, capably of running on MS-DOS
or Macintosh machines, will be available in bookstores.

ENDINGS:  With great sadness, Del Rey Books announces the passing of LESTER
DEL REY, author of approximately 50 books and founder (with wife JUDY-LYNN
BENJAMIN DEL REY) of Del Rey Books.  According to his wishes, there was no
memorial service or public funeral following his death on May 10 after a
week of hospitalization for serious heart problems.  Mr. Del Rey was
responsible for discovering many of today's best selling science fiction
and fantasy authors. .. Cartoonist VINCENT T. HAMLIN, creator of the ALLEY
OOP comic strip, has passed away.  No word on the cause of death, but he
was 93 years old. ... AVRAM DAVIDSON, former teacher and editor of THE
MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, and author of the Hugo award winning
story "Or All The Seas With Oysters," several anthologies and 25 novels,
including, most recently, the Owlswick Press novel ADVENTURES IN UNHISTORY,
died May 8th at the age of 70.  Although he suffered a series of strokes
seven years ago, he continued to write from his wheelchair with one hand on
his typewriter.  He is best remembered for his VERGIL MAGUS stories.

...........

SF and Fantasy Movie News ....
...........

     Composer JOHN WILLIAMS, who wrote the score for seven of the top ten
money making films of all time, has retired from his position as conductor
of the Boston Pops.  I was lucky enough to attend his final regular season
performance, and here's what I have to say about it.  Please forgive me for
a little sentimentality, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this
way.
     First of all, for 13 years I have been saying that "someday" I would
get out to Boston to see him conduct.  I have been mesmerised by his work
from the first time I conned my parents into letting me see STAR WARS, and
so, for his final concert, I took a train 600 miles to do just that.
     It was worth it.  Definitely.
     There were 3 sets, and while the first two were exquisite classical
pieces, the final set was the theme from Superman, then Jurassic Park, then
Jaws, and finally The Imperial Death March, Princess Leia's Theme, and the
music from the ceremony and ending credits from STAR WARS.  I tell you, to
be right THERE (front row center, no less -- I could read the viola's
music!) and hear it performed live knowing that it is EXACTLY what he had
in mind -- no arranger intruding here -- was something out of a dream.  And
to see him conduct ... the man was a blur.  He really put everything he had
into that performance.  When it was over he looked like he was practically
in tears.
     He received at least three standing ovations:  When the last piece
from SW was over, after his first encore (Varsity Rag and Satin Doll (or
was it String of Pearls -- I told you it was a dream)), and after the
finale, the traditional Stars and Stripes Forever.
     The last standing ovation was something like SIX curtain calls and 10
minutes long.  The only reason we stopped was because he finally came out
and, awash with emotion, pointed at his watch as if to say, "Come on,
everyone, it's late.  Go home."  He had no mike and did not speak to the
audience, but mouthed the words "Thank you" more times than I can remember.
     This man wrote the soundtrack to my adolescence.  All I could think of
was, "No, thank YOU."

-!-

WILLIAM GIBSON is coming to the big screen.  Rumors are that ABEL FERRARA
will be directing a film version of Gibson's short story "New Rose
Sentinel" and that VAL KILMER (WILLOW) will be starring as JOHNNY MNEMONIC,
with JANE MARCH and ICE-T filling out that cast.

SPIDERMAN is going to be busy this year.  Rumors are flying about an
ANIMATED TV show by the same people who are doing the X-Men.  This is in
addition to the live action version, which will be written by NEIL
RUTTNEBURG and JAMES CAMERON for Carolco.  Cameron will also direct.

And according to rumors ... THE MANGLER, based on the STEVEN KING short
story, will be directed by TOBE HOOPER.  King will also have a cameo in THE
STAND, as will TOM SAVINI, SAM RAIMI, and MICK and CYNTHIA GARRIS ... WES
CRAVEN will be making NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7 ... HELLRAISER IV will
start shooting any time now, and HELLRAISER III is out on video in both an
R and an NC17 version ... the same fate will likely befall JASON GOES TO
HELL: THE FINAL FRIDAY, which has been trimmed for the R rating.

Production is wrapping for the last time at Elstree Studios in
Hertfordshire, north of London, England.  While many classic films were
filmed at the historic studio, genre fans will probably be more moved by
the fact that it was the site where sequences were filmed for the STAR WARS
films, the INDIANA JONES films, the SUPERMAN films ... well, you get the
idea.  STEVEN SPEILBERG has described the studio as "a home away from
home."  In the past three years, the slowdown ofthe British film industry
has led to more than half of the 28 acres being sold to a supermarket chain
for $42 million.  The Brent Walker Group, which owns the studio, has been
subsidizing the studio hoping that a buyer would take it over with the
intent of continuing its use as a film studio, but it was not to be.  The
Save Our Studios Campaign vows to continue the fight.

Thought you were safe from a Batman movie this year?  Wrong.  Christmas Day
will see the release of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED MOVIE.  In addition to the
Joker (the be voiced by MARK HAMMILL, who also does the voice in the TV
show), there will be new characters, including a villain called Phantasm.

The animated film ASTROCOPS: PEACEKEEPERS OF THE FUTURE will feature the
voices of JAMIE FARR, EDDIE ALBERT, and JAMES WHITMORE.  It's written by
GENE AYRAS.

GEORGE ROMERO will direct THE BLACK MARIAH, about a man running away from a
curse.  The film, which is scheduled to begin production this fall, is from
New Line Cinema, and is based on an as yet unpublished novel by JAY
BONANSINGA.

Then there's MANDROID, a film shot completely in Romania, about a killer
indestructible robot.  No word on what language it's in, but it will be
released on video August 11th by Paramount Home Video.

HIDEAWAY, based on DEAN R. KOONTZ'S novel about two very different men
returned from the dead, will be directed by BRETT LEONARD (LAWNMOWER MAN).
TriStar purchased the rights in 1991, and are hoping that NEAL JIMENEZ can
come up with a suitable script.  Preproduction will start this fall.

JAMES CAMERON and ARNOLD SCHWARTZNEGGER, the team that helped to bring you
TERMINATOR and T2, will be reuniting for TRUE LIES, an action comedy.

Londoners can now enjoy food and films at their very own PLANET HOLLYWOOD,
owned by SCHWARTZNEGGER, BRUCE WILLIS, and SYLVESTER STALONE.  They spent
$21 million buying the place and redecorating, including the addition of a
75 seat cinema.  As a side note, Schwartznegger and wife MARIA SHRIVER are
expecting their third child.

DAN ACKROYD, who, along with JANE CURTAIN is starring in the revival of
their old Saturday Night Live sketch THE CONHEADS, has more than just a new
movie to celebrate.  He and his wife, DONNA DIXON, were blessed with a
daughter, Belle Kingston Aykroyd, June 9.  They already have a 3 year old
daughter, Danielle.

ALAN RICKMAN (ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THEIVES) will be starring in MESMER,
about Dr. Franz Mesmer, the founder of hypnotism and the basis for the word
"mesmerize."  It will be directed by ROGER SPOTTISWOODE, and executive
produced by DAVID BOWIE (LABYRINTH).

The Imagine Films production GREED, a dark comedy about a fight over a
will, will have quite a few genre veterans, including MICHAEL J. FOX (BACK
TO THE FUTURE), BOB BALABAN (CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE 3RD KIND) and ED
BEGLEY JR. (MEET THE APPLEGATES).

SURVIVING THE GAME, about a homeless man, will star RUTGER HAUER
(BLADERUNNER, LADYHAWKE) and ICE-T.  It's from New Line Cinema.

Showtime Networks has added TriStar to the list of studios whose films it
can broadcast exclusively.  Showtime Networks, which includes Showtime, The
Movie Channel, Flix, and Pay Per View, signed a five year deal with
TriStar, which incidentally is owned by Sony Corp..  The deal covers all
films slated for theatrical release starting in 1994.  Showtime already has
exclusive rights to films from Castle Rock, New Line, Disney, and PolyGram.

And speaking of cable, CRUSADE, starring ARNOLD SCHWARTZNEGGER, could very
well start a new trend.  The PAUL VERHOVEN film, which goes into production
next spring, could very well be the first film in a major step towards
interactive television.  Tele-Communications Inc. is spending $2 billion
upgrading its cable system to give it the capability to provide 500
channels to its subscribers, and one of its projects involves a $90 million
deal to air up to four Carolco films on Pay Per View -- a week before they
are released in the theaters.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, fresh from directing BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and on his
way to producing FRANKENSTEIN for TriStar, will also be directing a series
of six 23 minute "films" for VH-1.  They will actually be long-form music
videos, and will be produced through his company, American Zoetrope, and
Palomar Pictures.

Coppola 's FRANKENSTEIN, meanwhile, will star KENNETH BRANAGH as Dr.
Frankenstein and ROBERT DENIRO as the monster.  Brannagh will also direct
the film for TriStar.

BATMAN III rumors:  We've previously reported rumors that MICHAEL KEATON
and MICHELLE PFIEFFER had signed.  Now, according to USA Today, it is
indeed in the works, with TIM BURTON as executive producer and JOEL
SCHUMACHER (THE LOST BOYS) as director.

After protests from American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Disney has
agreed to change some of the lyrics from ALADDIN.  The claim was that the
lines, "... if they don't like you're face, they'll cut off your ear ...
it's barbaric, but hey, it's home," perpetuate the stereotype that ancient
Arabia was a barbaric place.  They will be redubbing for the video release,
but the ADC says that the changes aren't enough to reverse what they call
the racism of the movie.

One of the big questions we keep getting is "What about an X-MEN movie?"
Well, it's certainly somewhere in the reasonably near future (i.e., the
next couple of years) but we don't know whether it will be animated or live
action.  According to CNN, 20th Century Fox has bought the rights, and with
the current popularity of the mutants, we can't see them holding on to them
too long without doing something about it.

FIRST KNIGHT, an action adventure about King Arthur and the round table,
has been postponed by Columbia.  JERRY ZUCKER will be directing when it
goes back into production in January.  It's being held up by script delays.

ABEL FERRARA wasn't too informative about his new version of INVASION OF
THE BODY SNATCHERS when it was screened at Cannes last month, but he did
joke that the idea is "to take great old stories and screw them up."
Critics, however, have commented that there isn't much original in his
version, though it is less violent that his last film, THE BAD LIEUTENANT.
He told UPI that though he hadn't really considered taking an a science
fiction project, but "the truth is, I always loved Martian movies.  I used
to dress up as a Martian when I was a kid, and go out and terrify the
neighbours."

GARY OLDMAN (BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA) will produce, direct, and star in LORDS
OF THE URBAN JUNGLE, about small-time British  criminals. It's from his
company, Matisse, and Portman Entertainment, and will be filmed on location
in London.

JACK NICHOLSON (BATMAN) will star in CROSSING GUARD, about a man awaiting
the release of the drunken driver who killed his daughter.  It's from
Warner Bros.  He will also be seen in MIKE NICHOLS' WOLF with MICHELLE
PFIEFFER (BATMAN RETURNS), who has just adopted a baby daughter.

Purists should be happy.  After years of complaining that movies are
butchered when shown on a conventional television screen, they can get the
new RCA "CinemaScreen," says Thomson Consumer Electronics.  The television,
at 16 inches by 9 inches, duplicates the shape of a movie screen, allowing
the full effect for widescreen films.  For the less concerned, it also
allows two conventional programs to be shown on the screen at the same
time.  As yet there was no word on how you're supposed to watch them both,
or whether special versions of widescreen films will be needed.

According to a National Public Radio interview with ARTHUR C. CLARKE, the
rights to THE HAMMER OF GOD have been bought by Paramount.

According to UPI, a QUANTUM LEAP movie is being planned, but not for a year
or two.

It would seem that Disney's film HOCUS POCUS has offended a very specific
religious group: witches.  LAURIE CABOT, the "official witch" of
Massachusetts, is the high priestess of the Wicca temple in Salem.  Her
temple has several thousand members, and she has spent her life trying to
defend the image of modern day witches, who insist that they are NOT
connected with the Devil. According to the Boston Globe, she has cast a
spell on the film to ensure that it is a box-office bomb, but if the
critics are correct, she needn't have bothered.

KIM BASINGER (BATMAN) will have a cameo in WAYNE'S WORLD II.  She has filed
for bankruptcy protection following a multi-million dollar judgment against
her for pulling out of BOXING HELENA.

The film version of INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, the ANNE RICE novel, is
well underway.  Geffen Pictures says shooting will begin October 18 in
London and New Orleans.  Who's in it?  BRAD PITT (COOL WORLD), RIVER
PHOENIX (INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE) as the reporter, ANTONIO
BANDERAS, STEPHEN REA, and as the vampire Lestat ... TOM CRUISE.  Yes, TOM
CRUISE.  He will reportedly be receiving more than $15 million for the
role.  The film, which will be distributed by Warner Brothers, will be
produced by STEPHEN WOLLEY and DAVID GEFFEN and directed by NEIL JORDAN,
who also wrote the screenplay.  Jordan won this year's Oscar for best
screenplay for THE CRYING GAME.

The list of "interesting convention souvenirs" might have just gotten a
little longer.  SYLVESTER STALLONE is thinking about suing the Sunday
Mirror for printing -- censored -- nude pictures of him taken on the set of
his science fiction thriller DEMOLITION MAN.  Don't be surprised if the
uncensored version makes its way to dealer rooms.

It would seem that the big screen version of THE FLINTSTONES will have some
big names.  Perhaps the biggest will be ELIZABETH TAYLOR, who will be
playing Wilma's mother, Pearl Slaghoople.  Other stars?  JOHN GOODMAN
(ROSANNE, as well as the psuedo-genre film MATINEE) as Fred Flintstone,
ELIZABETH PERKINS as Wilma, RICK MORANIS (HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS) as
Barney, and ROSIE O'DONNELL as Betty.

Look for LEA THOMPSON (BACK TO THE FUTURE) as the Donna Reed mom in DENNIS
THE MENACE, and as a "real sexpot" in THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES.

SUPERMAN will be doing double duty this year, as the subject of both LOIS
AND CLARK, a new series on ABC, and SUPERMAN: THE NEW MOVIE.  More info as
we get it.

Also in the rumor mill is SGT. ROCK, starring ARNOLD SCHWARTZNEGGER.  If it
is true, let's hope it does better than his last action movie ...

DIE HARD 3 was supposed to be on a cruise ship, but they were beaten to it
by STEVEN SEGAL'S UNDER SEIGE, so now it looks like it'll be in a subway
system.

Anime fans be on the lookout: Universal is supposedly trying to line up a
deal for putting out a $60 million live action version of AKIRA.

Walt Disney Co. has signed a multimillion dollar multi year liscencing deal
with DIC Animation City, Inc.  In addition to DIC programs, Disney's Buena
Vista Home Video will be working on interactive and multimedia programming.
DIC is the producer of INSPECTOR GADGET, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, SUPERMARIO
BROS, and lots of others.

The 17th JAMES BOND film has been approved by MGM.  It will star TIMOTHY
DALTON.

The summer movies season is heading for a record.  Between MICHAEL
CRICHTON's JURRASIC PARK and RISING SUN, and THE FUGITIVE, the summer is
currently running 11 percent ahead of the record setting 1989, when BATMAN,
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, and LETHAL WEAPON 2 were in the
theaters.

Orion will be releasing ROBOCOP 3 in November.  That is, in the United
States.  It was supposed to be out here in July, but so was JURRASSIC PARK.
It has already earned more than $12 million in Japan and South Korea, and
made $2 million on it's opening week in France, but that money, along with
all overseas revenues from Orion films, goes to Columbia/TriStar, which
does Orion's overseas distribution.  Orion, by the way, doesn't make films
anymore.  They just finance them, but they still have 700 movies in their
library.

Columbia has named LISA HENSON, daughter of the late JIM, to replace
MICHAEL NATHANSON as the president of production.  Analysts see this as the
part of a management shakeup following the $100 million bombing of LAST
ACTION HERO.

Purists beware... TED TURNER is reportedly negotiating to buy New Line
Cinema and Castle Rock.  He will supposedly pay $500 million in the deals,
but he needs approval from his partners, Time Warner Inc., and Tele-
Communications inc..  Bertelsman Music Group, a German-owned company, is
also trying to buy Castle rock.  While Turner owns five cable TV stations,
Bertelsman owns RCA, Arista, Doubleday, Bantam, and Dell.  And, to make
things even more complicated (is that possible?) Castle Rock reportedly
receives most of its financing from New Line in a deal that is about to
expire.

The wife of BRUCE LEE has auctioned off some of his personal collection,
including photos and writings and the cap and suspenders he wore as Kato on
THE GREEN HORNET.  No word on how much was paid, but a portion much or all
of the proceeds went to charity.

ROBIN WRIGHT (THE PRINCESS BRIDE) has given birth to a 7 pound 5 ounce baby
boy named Jack.  He is her second child with SEAN PENN.  Her daughter,
Dylan, is 2 years old.

SEAN CONNERY (HIGHLANDER,INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE,  ROBIN HOOD,
JAMES BOND (need we go on?)) is currently in  negotiations over the
starring role in SMOKE AND MIRRORS, about  Houdin, a French illusionist in
the 1850's.  It's written by  JANET SCOTT BATCHLER and LEE BATCHLER, and is
from Disney's Hollywood Pictures.  It's being called a "period action
drama."

And last, but certainly not least, there's JURASSIC PARK.  If you haven't
seen it in your part of the world yet, here's when you will:  Germany:
Sept. 2, Sweden: Sept. 3, Italy: Sept. 17, Netherlands: Sept. 30, Spain:
Oct. 8, France: Oct. 20 and Greece: Oct. 29.
     The big story though is just how much MONEY this thing has brought in.
To tell you the truth, we don't have room to list all the records this film
has broken.
     Previously, the top ten domestic grosses looked like this:
       1. E.T. -- The Extraterrestrial (1982) $399.8 million.
       2. STAR WARS (1977) $322 million.
       3. HOME ALONE (1990) $281.6 million.
       4. RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) $263 million.
       5. JAWS (1975) $260 million.
       6. BATMAN (1989) $251.2 million.
       7. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) $242.4 million.
       8. BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984) $234.8 million.
       9. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) $223 million.
      10. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) $220.9 million.
     And for those of you who are interested, BACK TO THE FUTURE was at #12
with $208.2 million, T2 was at #14 with $204 million, INDIANA JONES AND THE
LAST CRUSADE was at #15 with $197.2 million, and INDIANA JONES AND THE
TEMPLE OF DOOM was at #17 with $179.8 million.
     Once it cracked the list of top grosses, JP just went on a rampage,
climbing up the list like some of the characters running from T-Rex.  It
took only a month to reach number 10, and four days later it was at number
7.  A week after that it was at number 5.  Two weeks later it was in the
number 3 spot.  Frankly, we haven't checked in a few days.  It might very
well have topped STAR WARS already, but we doubt it.
     It might be held up from topping SW or E.T. for a little while, at
least, by the fact that both domestic totals include rereleases, of $35.2
million and $40 million respectively.  E.T. brought in a total of $645
million for Universal, counting domestic and foreign ticket sales.
     Remember, these are just DOMESTIC grosses.  JP is breaking records all
over the world.
     Internationally, the top grosses at this point are:
       1. GHOST (1990) $290 million.
       2. THE BODYGUARD (1992) $289 million.
       3. E.T. -- THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL (1982) $286 million.
       4. PRETTY WOMAN (1989) $279 million.
       5. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991) $263 million.
       6. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1987) $258 million.
       7. RAIN MAN (1988) $240 million.
       8. BASIC INSTINCT (1992) $235 million.
       9. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) $202 million.
      10. ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (1991) $201 million.
     Between theater rentals (which usually run at half the gross) domestic
and foreign home video and television rights, JP is expected to bring
Matsushita, Universal's parent company, a net PROFIT of almost $340
million.
     Frankly folks, we're stunned.

--