Author: Gareth

Holy Flarging Shnitt.

I never expected that Sci-Fi would reverse itself (they originally passed on the series), but, according to an announcement on the BBC’s official Dr. Who site:

SCI FI Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas announced today a major licensing deal for the first series of the latest Doctor Who adventures.

The 13-part drama is about a mysterious time-travelling adventurer known simply as “The Doctor” (Christopher Eccleston) and his companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). The Doctor and Rose risk death and danger, battling aliens and monsters.

The deal, brokered by Lisa Hofer, Director Co-Production & Sales, BBC Worldwide Americas, grants SCI FI Channel the first run rights for series one with an option for series two. The award-winning series will premiere on SCI FI beginning in March, airing Friday nights at 9.00pm.

Russell T Davies, Head Writer and Executive Producer told us: “The Doctor’s made all sorts of journeys in Time and Space, but this is one of his most exciting yet! I’m a huge fan of the SCI FI Channel, and I’m delighted that Doctor Who is appearing on a channel that supports and enhances the entire genre.”

“With its rich history of imaginative storytelling, Doctor Who is a true sci-fi classic,” stated Thomas P. Vitale, SCI FI’s Senior Vice President, Programming & Original Movies. “We’re excited to add the show to our lineup.”

Commenting on the deal Candace Carlisle, Senior Vice President, BBC Worldwide Americas, said: “The new production has fantastic storylines and production values and has already gained an iconic status around the world. SCI FI Channel is the perfect home for the show and will introduce Doctor Who to a whole new generation of fans in the US.”

In addition, BBC Video has moved the US release date of the DVD from February 2006 to July 4, 2006 to capitalize on the exposure from the TV broadcast. As part of the deal, BBC Video and SCI FI Channel have agreed to work together on joint marketing promotions to support the brand launch.

Burton Cromer, Vice President, Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide Americas said: “We are delighted to be working with SCI FI Channel on the launch of this exciting new take on Doctor Who. The additional marketing support from SCI FI, as well their ability to reach such a broad audience base, made moving the release date an easy decision.”

Executive Produced by Russell T Davies (lead writer) and Julie Gardner, the first series of Doctor Who attracted huge ratings and received critical acclaim when it aired on BBC ONE in March 2005.

So THAT’S why the US DVD release was delayed.

Cool…so the 1st season of the new series will air at about the same time that I’m grabbing the 2nd series via Bittorrent.

EDIT: The offical site has an amusing flash-based tribute on the main page.

I’ve seen this on a couple of people’s journals, so here’s my Top Five:

Behind the Cut

(seen on ‘s journal)

It looks like Tim Powers has finally got another novel coming out!

“When 12-year-old Daphne Marrity steals a videotape of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure from her grandmother’s house, neither she nor her college-professor father, Frank Marrity, have any idea that the theft has drawn the attention of both the Israeli Secret Service and an ancient European organization of occultists — or that within hours they’ll be visited by her long-lost grandfather, who also wants that videotape.

And when Daphne’s teddy bear is stolen, and a blind assassin nearly kills her father, and a phantom begins to speak to her from a switched-off television set, Daphne and her father find themselves running for their lives through a southern California in which magic and the undead past are dangers as great as the guns of living assassins.

From ancient prophesies about Israel to the secret lives of Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein, this breathtaking novel throws a suburban father and daughter into the midst of an ancient supernatural battle.”

Click on the cover for pre-order info for the Subterranean Press limited edition.

Powers was asked about this book a while ago (before it had a title), and said: “The current book takes place in southern California, and involves consequences of Einstein having lived in Pasadena during the early 30’s. I claim that he left a sort of time machine there, and now the NSA and the Mossad and various bad crowds want it. As usual, plain history has given me a lot of fine stuff – Einstein attended seances with Charlie Chaplain, and had a secret illegitamate daughter, and pursued lots of apparantly wrong theories – lots of opportunities for fun .”

That’s pretty much how Powers works. He researches a topic until he finds the oddities about it, and then draws them all together into a wonderfully bizarre whole.

CAN NOT WAIT.

Powers is one of my favorite authors, and it’s been far too long (over 5 years since Declare) since we’ve had a new book from him.