egrettably, the home page devoted to Ray Bradbury, his life and works, does not seem to have been updated since October 2001, a date still being celebrated on the site as Ray Bradbury Month, due to the publication at that time of Jerry Weist's coffee-table volume Bradbury: An Illustrated Life. Additionally, Bradbury's latest novel, a very entertaining tragicomic detective story titled Let's All Kill Constance is not referenced in his bibliography at all. But even given this small gripe, this page deserves your visit. It's a comprehensive source for all things Bradburyian, up to the recent past.
Of course, a complete listing of his publications, with excerpts available, is provided, and a short yet comprehensive biographical sketch is available. The button labeled "About Ray Bradbury" brings you to a video interview with the Master. The recording has been chopped up into a selection of Quicktime files, each several megabytes long, with such headings as "Halloween Every Day" and "Souvenirs of the Writing Life." At ease in his desk chair, surrounded by the tangible mementos of his many loves, Bradbury discourses on many topics in an intimate manner. The message board contains close to 10,000 posts from dedicated fans on a variety of topics. The "In His Words" button delivers a short essay by Bradbury written on the occasion of his 82nd birthday. On that same page, clicking on "Author Interviews" summons up, alas, only a promise that such Q&A sessions will be online soon. One hopes that this promise will be fulfilled, for it would be a shame to let such a well-designed site become obsolescent.
— Paul Di Filippo
Site of the Week—December 22, 2003
idely read and admirably thorough in its coverage of the comic industry, Digital Webbing is a potent force for good in the world of graphic storytelling. This hardworking Web magazine piles up the recommended reading for new comic creators, fans and established pros: It has reviews, industry interviews, a weekly column on breaking into comics and a host of other
useful tips and resources.
This site tracks the comics industry diligently, posting all the latest news and developments as soon as they break. Its discussion forums give visitors a place to exchange opinions and info about favorite books and creators. Meanwhile, the Digital Webbing links page is a user-friendly portal to comics publishers big and small, whether they are traditional print houses or web-based experiments.
Digital Webbing is also utterly devoted to helping aspiring comic artists and writers in their quest to break into the field. In addition to the column for new artists, the site offers a Talent Search section—classified ads that enable writers, artists and publishers to find each other. The magazine also has its own comics anthology series—Digital Webbing
Presents—which uses a team-publishing approach to get creative work out where it can be seen and enjoyed by fans.
For comic collectors, enthused readers or anyone working—or wishing to work—in comics, this site is an undisputed must-see.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—December 15, 2003
t has been decades since Stephen King made the transition from widely read author to full-blown American celebrity. His fiction has spawned movies, television series and numerous other adaptations; his life has inspired more than one urban legend. Rumors claim that King hosts an annual campfire story event, or that he lavishly decorates his home for Halloween. For readers curious about the man behind this myth, the official Stephen King site can lay the rumors to rest.
This Web page is a thing of beauty, a sparely drawn testament to the possibilities of Flash. Easy to navigate, pleasant to behold, it is packed with information on Stephen King and his works. Offering the latest news on book releases and personal appearances, the site also has a message board, a bibliography, an extensive FAQ and tidbits about King's various outings as a
film actor.
Naturally, there are also intriguing extras. One is a map of Maine as imagined by King, with the locations of fictional towns like Derry and Castle Rock marked in blue. There is a photo gallery, too, and a links page, as well as a section that allows readers to subscribe to an official King newsletter. The Dark Tower series of novels—whose final installments
will hit bookstores in 2004—has its own section, containing character bios, a glossary for the series, a newsletter and information on artwork featured within the books.
A careful dig through this site will reveal infinite treasures and items of interest—mini-essays on experiences that inspired King's various books, a student poster he posed for while in college, a photo of the author with his first car—entertaining browsing for anyone interested in King himself or the wider mysteries of the writing process.
— A.M. Dellamonica
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