Red Inferno: 1945 by Robert Conroy

Ugh. I have a fever of 102.1°F.

But I'm a blogger, dammit. You depend on me to entertain you, and I'm not going to let you down. So let's do this.

Today, I offer a review of Red Inferno: 1945 by Robert Conroy. It's an alternate history novel in which war breaks out between the US/UK and the USSR in the closing days of World War II in Europe.

Unfortunately, there isn't enough published alternate history to keep up with my appetite, so I've had to read mediocre authors rather than deprive myself of my favorite genre of fiction. His first novel, 1901, about a surprise German invasion of New York City, was historically preposterous. 1862, about the British entry into the American Civil War, and 1945, about the US ground invasion of Japan, were somewhat improved. But in all of these novels, major characters acted and thought like socially conscious 21st Century Americans, and lapsed into sanctimonious moralizing about the evils of American racism.

1945 is largely free of these problems. He takes a few swipes at racism, homophobia, and McCarthyism, but the novel features few preening lectures about social inequalities in American society. The characters act like real people.

Realism is the most essential quality in alternate history, and Robert Conroy has greatly improved. 1945 makes sense, both in historical variation and individual behavior. It's exciting and worth reading.

Dungeons & Dragons for Kids

Wizards of the Coast has developed a Dungeons & Dragons game specifically for kids 6 and up. The whole thing is available for free here. It looks like a pretty good way to introduce children to the hobby, which can get very complex and seem daunting to even adult beginners.

Girl Sings "The Fifth Element" Opera

Remember this cool scene from The Fifth Element? Hot blue alien chick played by Inva Mula-Tchako sings a lovely opera piece. Very nifty. Here's a YouTube user named Laura offering a good reprise of it. The sound is cut out for the first 54 seconds, but it starts to function when it's time to sing. (via Urlesque)

13 Musical Episodes of Sci Fi Shows

Sci Fi Wire has a list of musical episodes or scenes from science fiction television shows. The author has a pretty expansive definition of science fiction, but it's all good stuff. Among them is a clip from "Brigadoom", the musical episode of Lexx. It was a really stand-out episode, particularly in costuming.

Cub Scouts Create Award for Video Games

Start 'em young. The Cub Scouts now have an award for playing video games. Here are some of the requirements:

1. With your parents, create a plan to buy a video game that is right for your age group.
2. Compare two game systems (for example, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and so on). Explain some of the differences between the two. List good reasons to purchase or use a game system.
3. Play a video game with family members in a family tournament.
4. Teach an adult or a friend how to play a video game.
5. List at least five tips that would help someone who was learning how to play your favorite video game.
6. Play an appropriate video game with a friend for one hour.
7. Play a video game that will help you practice your math, spelling, or another skill that helps you in your schoolwork.
8. Choose a game you might like to purchase. Compare the price for this game at three different stores. Decide which store has the best deal. In your decision, be sure to consider things like the store return policy and manufacturer’s warranty.
9. With an adult’s supervision, install a gaming system.

I like video games, and I don't think that they're necessarily harmful, but there's nothing constructive in these requirements. What useful skills or values is a boy learning from this list? Okay, maybe a little technical ability by installing a game. But that's it. Here's what I would suggest:

1. Present an argument to your scout leader about how a particular game that you have played improves your critical thinking skills. Win the argument.
2. Interview a game designer. Discover and list the skills necessary to become a game designer.
3. Unless physically disabled, run one mile in under ten minutes.

What would you put on such a list?

via Boing Boing

What Makes A Franchise Enduring? Uniforms

Marc Bernadin argues that shows with uniforms (military or otherwise) permit fans to easily identify with them, and thus aids the endurance of a franchise:

Just one thing separates Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Firefly from Lost, The X-Files, and Buffy.[...]

The bond that unites fans is the shared experience: the idea that a common passion offers a rally point for community. Humans, by nature, flock together — on teams, in the workplace, as families — and a uniform is the most demonstrative display of that community.

Not only does a uniform allow for on-sight verification of a fellow fan, it can also serve as something of a totem with which one can access the story itself. It'd be foolish to posit that there wasn't some element of fantasy at work, that by donning a Viper pilot uniform the wearer isn't trying just a little to be part of the grand Battlestar mythos. The fans don't want to be William Adama or James T. Kirk or Captain Tightpants — it's not about pretending to be someone, it's about wanting to belong to something.

It's an interesting hypothesis, although there have been many shows that had uniforms, but have not endured (e.g. Space: Above and Beyond, Exosquad, Xena). I am, however, at a loss to think of any science fiction or related franchise that did not uniforms, yet has maintained a strong fanbase over time.

Do you agree with Bernadin's hypothesis? Why or why not?

The Cumulative Summer Movie Trailer

(YouTube Link)

Screen Rant put together this neatly-edited montage of 24 different upcoming summer movie releases. I want to see this movie. Except for the Pixar stuff.

via Nerd Bastards

Lord of the Rings London Tube Map

It can be hard to navigate public transit in Middle Earth, which is why t-shirt designer Reagan H. Lee made this handy guide resembling a London Tube map. (via Sci Fi Wire)

Question of the Day

What is your favorite science fiction television comedy show and why?
	Futurama
	Red Dwarf
	Mystery Science Theatre 3000
	3rd Rock From the Sun
	Mork and Mindy
	Tripping the Rift
pollcode.com free polls

The Matrix: Alternate Ending

Here's a solution that I never thought of.

via Popped Culture

Previously on The Zeray Gazette: The Pills Are Also Available as Suppositories

Iron Man: How It Should Have Ended

If you have a mortal enemy, just kill him. Basic Evil Overlord List advice. Granted, there are fewer sequels, but then you don't have to keep dealing with the same problem.

via Nerd Bastards

If a Jewish Zombie Bites an Agnostic, Does He Become a Jewish Zombie or Just a Zombie?

This question and others are answered in College Humor's latest original short.

30 Minimalist Superhero Posters

Anthony Ocasio Josh made thirty excellent minimalist superhero posters, including Duffman and Darkwing Duck.

via Sci Fi Wire

Spock + Sunset + Pie

NimoySunsetPie is a photoblog that combines three wonderful things: Spock, sunsets, and pie.

Hmm. Mabye I should create a Xena + Reuben Sandwich + Recliner blog.

What three things would you combine to create a beautiful photoblog?

via Sci Fi Wire

Nintendo Blood Glucose Meter

The pharmaceutical company Bayer has created a blood glucose meter that plugs into a Nintendo DS. It's called the DIDGET. This gadget includes a game that is both (allegedly) fun and educational for children living with diabetes.

via Boing Boing

A Comic Book History of Nintendo

Did you know that the Nintendo company was founded in 1889 and originally sold playing cards and operated brothels? Comic book artist Bill Mudron is composing a comic-form history of the company.

via Comics Alliance | Artist's Website

Arty Variations of the Enterprise

Artist Rafael Burgos created a series of Enterprise sculptures. The 70s zebra print velour model is particularly groovy.

The Raven

(YouTube Link)

The Raven is an excellent superhero short film by Ricardo de Montreuil. There's talk that it might be turned into a feature-length film.

via Johnny Cat and Divers and Sundry

Lex Luthor Explained

Les Jones on what superhero comics have taught him:

If you make a sentient robot that’s indistinguishable from a human being and has superpowers like flight, laser bolts, and invisibility you shouldn’t start a business and sell it on the free market. Instead you should try to kill Superman and become mayor of Metropolis.

This is something that I've thought about for quite a while. If I had superpowers, the first question I would ask myself is "How can I make a lot of money from these powers?", not "How can I become a secret, tormented hero, likely to be killed at some point in the future?"

Question of the Day

Which is Joss Whedon's best production and why?
	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
	Angel
	Firefly
	Dollhouse
	Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
pollcode.com free polls