News of the Week

MST3K signs deal with the Sci-Fi Channel

ans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 can finally stop holding their collective breath...after spending months in television limbo since being dropped by Comedy Central, MST3K has found a new home. The late-night cult epic has been picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel, which has ordered 13 new episodes of MST3K for the 1997 season.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing MST3K to Sci-Fi Channel," said Jim Mallon, the producer of Mystery Science Theater 3000. "It feels like we are home. It's warm and comfy and we noticed a nice plate of cookies and some milk for us."

The Sci-Fi Channel will begin airing exclusive, original episodes of MST3K in February, 1997. Each episode will feature a full-length science fiction film with accompanying comments by the silhouetted trio of Mike Nelson, Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, plus skits and an occasional original song.

Walsh to reprint the Lensmen series

ublisher Michael J. Walsh announced on June 28 that he has signed a contract with the E.E. Smith estate giving him reprint rights to the six Lensmen books written by E.E. "Doc" Smith. Walsh said he will probably begin issuing the titles in 1997 on a "semi-regular" basis.

Although details were scarce, Walsh said the books will probably sell for approximately $15 each. He added that he is considering the possibility of producing a limited-edition boxed set after the all of the individual books had been issued.

Genie nearing the end?

enie, a proprietary online service that has long served as an online haven for science fiction fans and professionals, may finally be coming to an end. According to a June 28 report from the NewsBytes news service, Genie owner Yovelle Renaissance Corp. has defaulted on payments for Genie, which it agreed to buy from General Electric Information Services in January.

While the two companies try to work out their differences, Genie members continue to leave the service in droves, in part due to an increase in subscription rates earlier in the year. Many Genie members have been awaiting the final death throes of the service since the January sale and have even set up a "Genie Deathwatch." Most fear this latest news will finally put an end to the service.

Pohl named to "Lit 50"

rederik Pohl has been named one of the 50 most influential people in the Chicago book world by the Newscity newspaper, which began its "Lit 50" rating last year. Pohl, who was not named to last year's list, squeaked in with a ranking of 49 in a field led by Mary Quarles, a real estate manager at the 47,000-square-foot Borders mega-bookstore in downtown Chicago.

Newcity gave Pohl its not-quite-ringing endorsement as "the dean of science fiction -- at least since Isaac Asimov died." However, Newcity went on to praise Pohl as "peerless in his own generation, with few equals of any age."

Griffith honored with second Lambda Award

icola Griffith has won the Lambda Literary Award for the best gay and lesbian science fiction or fantasy novel...again. Griffith, who received a Lambda in 1993 for her first novel Ammonite, was honored this year for her second novel, Slow River, which was published by Del Rey in 1995.

Griffith shared this year's award with Melissa Scott, who received a Lambda for her book Shadow Man, published by Tor Books. Ironically, Scott's book Dreamships was a finalist for the 1993 Lambda Award, losing out to Ammonite.

Millennium touted as "most anticipated" new show

illennium, the new show from the mind of X-Files creator Chris Carter, has officially been dubbed the hottest new series of 1996...at least, according to TV Guide and various other entertainment shows and publications. Although Millennium won't debut until the fall, it is already being touted as the next X-Files, and viewers are hot to get a look at what Carter has in store for them.

The show centers around the approaching millennium, which has spawned a rash of psychopaths that are turning the world into chaos. An ex-FBI agent and a secret group of law enforcement officers calling themselves the Millennium Group take on the responsibility of saving the Earth as the year 2000 looms ever nearer.

Travolta to produce Battlefield Earth

euters has reported that John Travolta will produce Battlefield Earth, a science fiction film that will be based on the famous novel of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard. According to Travolta, he isn't worried that the project will draw unwanted attention to his religious beliefs: Travolta is a member of the often controversial Church of Scientology, which was founded by Hubbard.

There's no word on when the new movie will start production.

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