Site of the Week -- July 24, 2000
ccording to the history provided on its site, Apemania began with a group of Planet of the Apes fans. Painstakingly recreating the elaborate costumes of the films, Apemania members began attending SF conventions and performing at the masquerades. Since 1996, they have gone pro, performing at trade shows and fund-raisers, staging an ape invasion aboard a cruise ship and even providing voices for the new CD-ROM game from Fox Interactive.
This photo-laden Web site tells the Apemania story, listing the group's past and upcoming public appearances and providing insights into the complexities of creating creature makeup for the movies. It is also an inspiring look into the world of people whose lives, careers and current success have been shaped and directed by their passionate involvement in SF.
Even though some areas of the site are still under construction, there is plenty to enjoy, including a hilarious video of performers jumping rope in full costume. Particularly interesting is an interview with makeup artist Kevin Chase. Visitors can also view the museum-quality displays created by Apemania and purchase collectibles, costumes, accessories or the raw materials required to create an ape outfit at home. There is even a section where new costume-makers can share their war stories and photographs of their experiments.
Even casual visitors will find it hard not to love this irrepressible site. As for die-hard Planet of the Apes fans, Apemania.com is an absolute treasure trove.
-- A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week -- July 17, 2000
here is a menace among us. A lethal menace. A frightening menace. A mutant menace.
Fortunately, one politician is willing to do something about it: Senator Kelly.
The Senator's Web site--designed to counter the hype surrounding the pro-mutant piece of cinematic propaganda known as X-Men--outlines his plans to make America safe for ordinary people. He proposes a mutant registration authority, to reveal the hidden danger lurking in the cities and suburbia. He urges ordinary men and women to report suspected mutants, and his campaign video clearly outlines his no-tolerance approach to combating the mutant threat.
There's one thing voters should know, however, before heading to the booth in November: Senator Kelly doesn't exist.
Fox spawned his Mutant Watch Web site and the Stop the X-Men Campaign as a way of promoting the X-Men film. It would be a parody if lines like "empowering individual teachers to evaluate and remove genetically enhanced students from their classrooms" didn't so chillingly evoke the rhetoric heard after the Columbine massacre. Instead, it's a work of fiction ... and a good one at that.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- July 10, 2000
hen you think of the Market List, think content
galore! Despite its narrow-focus name, this site is more than
simply a list of writing markets; it is an absolute clearinghouse
of resources for writers of fantasy, science fiction and horror.
The site offers articles for beginning writers, for example, on
topics from the quality of various writing workshops to the
benefits of writing while listening to music. It also has
magazine reviews, including a featured link to a Magazine of the
Month. There are FAQ-style interviews with editors and writers
and book recommendations for those looking for even more tips on
craft and marketing.
As for the actual market listings, these are extensive and
relatively up to date. Users can browse professional, semi-pro
and small-press markets, among others, or use the search engine
to home in on a specific target. They can set filters and
generate short lists of magazines most suited to a particular
story. The list can also be downloaded in HTML format for later
use. This flexibility makes the database a very useful tool.
On the downside, there are some dead links and a couple of
operating hairballs. The interface itself is a teensy bit clunky,
too. But writers looking to get the in-depth scoop on a market or an
editor will definitely want to visit The Market List on a
regular basis.
-- A.M. Dellamonica
