The Letters to the Editor department is intended to be a forum for our readers to express their own opinions and ideas. While we appreciate the many complimentary letters we receive each day, you won't find them on this page. Instead, you will find letters that go beyond or even contradict what we have written, letters that offer a different perspective and provide a different view of science fiction. If you would like to submit a letter, please use our feedback form or send a message to scifiweekly@scifi.com.
-- Editor
Clarke/Preuss Series Wows Reader
was recently in a bookstore, starving for something new and exciting. Aside from a few movies, Hollywood is starting to lose its luster in such matters of the heart as sci-fi and fantasy. I came across a book written by Paul Preuss called Arthur C. Clarke's Venus Prime, Vol. 1. I couldn't put the book down. Never have I read such a sci-fi/action thriller in my life. It's a series of six to eight books based on a story written by Arthur C. Clarke and only available from ibooks. These books, originally published a few years back under different titles, follow the adventures of a woman who has no memory of the last three or so years of her life. As she tries to learn about her past, she uncovers various superhuman strengths and abilities, as well as many other things she wishes she hadn't discovered. The idea of nasty secret agendas sells me every time. This series would be great for the SCI FI Channel or even a PlayStation game.
Theodore Wilczynski
www.toysoldiers2001@yahoo.com
Anyone Can Outdo Hollywood
n his Issue No. 171 letter "Stop Paying For Crap," Alan Katerinsky disagreed with my assertion that the real pleasure of sci-fi--that is, the thrill of new ideas--can only be found in books. He said that if we give up on popular media, Hollywood will make movies only fit for morons. It's already happened! Because of the importance of the international market, Hollywood has to produce pictures that are comprehensible and easy to follow for people all over the world for whom English is, at most, a second language.
I'm not saying that people the world over are morons. It's just a lot harder to follow a picture when you have to read subtitles or when the various elements are too culture-specific. There's nothing wrong with this--the more subtle and unique a picture is, the more we can learn from it. But when you want to make heaping gobs of money from an international release, the first things to go are subtlety, intricacy and intellectual innovation.
A few newer filmmakers like Luc Bisson and Aron Aronofski eschew this mental sandpapering and make terrific pictures that will stand the test of time and make oodles of mopus to boot.
I see a lot of people in these pages bemoaning the quality of sci-fi films that come out of Hollywood. I say if you can't beat them (and you can't) then join 'em and make a movie yourself, which is what me, my friends and my clientele are doing. The technology is cheap(er), the software simple(ish) and everyone loves to act. We may not get rich but at least we're showing Hollywood that anyone can do it. And some just might do it better.
Jesse Kleitman
kleitman@aol.com
We're SF--No Thinking, Please
hy is everyone so worried about movies being crap? If you want to think, I respectfully refer you to the particle physics section of your library. Movies are not made, in general, to provide some kind of deep psychological insight. They are written so that people can escape the doldrums of their all-too-often boring lives. People want to watch a hero that is ostensibly like themselves go forth and defeat something that seems to be utterly invincible. If you truly want psychological insight, look at the viewers, not what is being viewed.
Matt Shealy
euro2@innova.net
Comic Books Are Not Sacred Texts
movie based on a comic book is the ultimate dream for anyone who has picked up an issue about their favorite hero when they were a kid. There is nothing more enthralling then the idea of your favorite heroes emerging from the two-dimensional world of a comic into the three-dimensional world of film. I was no different. And I was certainly excited when I heard X-Men was finally being produced.
But given the reaction by fans over changes in character history, costumes and other things, it was as if comic books had been elevated to the level of sacred religious texts. Nothing could be changed or altered lest one face eternal damnation. It certainly gave ammo to those who characterize comic book fans as obsessed geeks. Already things are heating up over the Spider-Man movie since director Sam Raimi decided to use organic instead of mechanical webshooters. With other adaptations on the way, it looks like we'll be going through more of these heated debates.
I think the best way to look at these adaptations is that they are not the comic book brought to life. Although X-Men is strongly based on its source material, it is in fact another X-Men "universe" with a different history and rules that govern it. It's a universe that fits better within the time constraints of a film as opposed to a monthly publication.
Filmmakers have to walk a precarious line between fan expectations and achieving mainstream appeal. In the case of the X-Men, Singer walked that line incredibly well. Rather than attempting to squeeze 40 years of history into two hours, he instead created a straightforward conflict that mainstream audiences could immediately hook into. At the same time, he sprinkled all kinds of character details, cameos and references throughout the film. The kinds of things that wouldn't confuse someone unfamiliar with the X-Men, but fans would immediately recognize.
Most importantly, the characters and underlying themes of X-Men remained intact. In the end, it is not outer details that make a good adaptation but that the producers remain true to the spirit of the comic. And in the respect, Singer and company did this better than most comic adaptations that have been made so far.
Max Gremlin
maxgremlin@yahoo.com
98-Pound Weaklings Need Not Apply
recently heard Tobey Maguire is set to play Spider-Man. While Maguire might not be a poor actor--I haven't seen him enough to make a personal judgment--I have seen him on Saturday Night Live. Now, although I am not a psychic, I foresee, in my glass of crystal water, a rubber suit with nipples in the future.
Why couldn't Sam Raimi have chosen a lesser-known and ... bulkier ... actor? Maybe Nick Brendon, Nate Richert or someone like them ... well built, able to deliver a great/decent, respectively, line. Now who are they going to get to play Mary Jane ... Rosie O'Donnell? How about Doctor Octopus ... Sean Hayes?
This could turn out to be another Kilmer or Clooney Batman ... I tremble with fear!
Scott E. Johnston
sejdoodah@bigfoot.com
Turn On Voyager Writers' Ears
just finished reading the interview with Robert Beltran, Chakotay of Star Trek: Voyager. I find it interesting that the writers don't really listen to the actors or audience. Or at least that is the impression that I got.
I have been a Trek fan for a long time. As a matter of fact, my first conversation with my husband was about Voyager. We have been faithful fans, but the series really has been sinking. It is always about how they are going to stop the destruction of Voyager. They never have gone deeply into the characters. Correction: the few episodes that do bring the characters to three dimensions are golden, but season six was shallow. As were most seasons, but please don't get me wrong--I love Star Trek and hope that the writers turn on their ears.
This season, they could bring a little more depth to the characters. Some may like it the way it is. I just think that they really could have done so much more with the whole show.
Shanna Claflin
mrspoop@tampabay.rr.com
Keep Robert Patrick Out There
would like to comment about Robert Patrick being introduced as a replacement for David Duchovny on some of next season's episodes of The X-Files. There can never be a replacement for David Duchovny. He is what makes the show what it is. It's like taking Abbott away from Costello. If you take away Duchovny, the show no longer has that spark that makes you believe that the truth is out there.
I know that he is the one that decided to be in only 11 of the shows, but trying to replace him will never work. If I could talk to Chris Carter, I would tell him that instead of trying to replace Duchovny, why not do a few shows just involving Scully? I believe that if they try to replace Mulder and do a season after this one, the show will flop.
Tommy Shelley
Xander0531@cinci.rr.com
One Darth Per Person Seems Plenty
have been a collector of Star Wars figures since the first New
Hope figures were available over 20 years ago.
I did not collect "The Power of the Force" line due to the fact I
believed Hasbro was taking advantage of the collector's dedication
to Star Wars. And now, with their new Episode I figures, I am
disgusted to see the "multiple variations" themes being taken to
an even higher level.
How many Darth Mauls do we need? How many Anakins? Amidalas? And that godforsaken Jar Jar!
I have to say that from this day forward I, for one, will not be
buying any more of their Star Wars products! This new "variations"
marketing fiasco cheapens the
uniqueness and "fun" of owning collections such as Star Wars.
Mark R. Temple
temple5150@hotmail.com
Ultraviolet Is The Best TV
have to agree with Derek Paterson's Issue No. 171 letter "The Brits Show Their Fangs." I, too, find Cory
Herndon's review inexplicable, despite my American origins! I found
Ultraviolet to be well acted, stylish and substantial. I'm addicted to the PBS (BBC) Mystery series, and a diehard fan of the vampire genre, and I found that Ultraviolet combined the best elements of both.
Ultraviolet certainly does not resemble that clumsy series Night
Stalker in any way. Ultraviolet is simply the best thing I have seen on television.
I was devastated to learn that there was no continuation
of the British series. I was planning to start a letter-writing campaign
to bring more of it to the SCI FI Channel. The SCIFI.COM bulletin board mentioned that Fox was looking at
the series. I urge viewers to write to Fox or USA Networks to support the creation of an American version of
the series, even if it would be a more commercial, less cerebral version
of the British series.
Pam Talkovsky
PamTal@Juno.com
