Phil Giunta's Blog, page 58
December 27, 2016
Actor, Writer, Princess, General – Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)
Star Wars caught me at the tender age of six back in 1977 and has never let go. I remain a fan and collector to this day. I had the pleasure of meeting Carrie Fisher, for the first and only time, at a comic con in New York City about 10 years ago. While waiting in her autograph line, a lady ahead of me began a conversation with Ms. Fisher about a recent article that she had written for a travel website (or newspaper, I can’t recall) about her trip to Acapulco.
The conversation went something like this:
“So what did you think of it [the article]?” Ms. Fisher asked.
The woman shrugged. “Well, it wasn’t exactly great literature.”
Ms. Fisher, without looking up from the item she was signing for a fan, responded, “So you’re saying it was shit!”
Of course, everyone in the room broke out into laughter. Such was the acerbic, sometimes trenchant, humor of Carrie Fisher. I, for one, simply thanked her for coming and told her that it was an honor to meet her. She thanked me in return and signed my vintage 12″ boxed Princess Leia figure from Kenner (see below).
As Leia Organa, Ms. Fisher was a hero to me alongside Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. It was Star Wars that led to me watching reruns of Star Trek when I was a kid and I became hooked on science fiction and space opera, which then inspired me to become a writer and storyteller in my own right.
2016 has been a tumultuous and tragic year, taking from us many talented artists. For me, however, the loss of Carrie Fisher cuts deeper as did the passings, within the last 20 years, of such icons as Gene Roddenberry, DeForest Kelley, Christopher Reeve, and Leonard Nimoy, just to name a few.
I cannot help but to think my own mortality as we watch the performers of my childhood exit the world stage for the final time. I only hope that I can leave behind such enduring legacies. Carrie Fisher was a marvelous, witty writer and an advocate for those suffering from mental illness. May the Force of her personality and strength be with us always.
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back
Carrie Fisher as General Leia in The Force Awakens
Carrie Fisher Autograph
Vintage Kenner Leia and Luke figures from 1978
Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew
December 24, 2016
Finally, A New STAR WARS Movie!
Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of Star Wars and I jumped on the Jawa Sandcrawler from day one when I was six years old. As such, I’ve been waiting for a new Star Wars film since 1983’s Return of the Jedi and Rogue One certainly did not disappoint.
I know you want to remind me that there were three prequels between 1999 and 2005, and that last year, The Force Awakens began the much anticipated final trilogy in George Lucas’s ambitious space opera (now owned and operated by Disney).
In my humble opinion, the prequels held none of the charm and magic possessed by Episodes IV through VI. This I blame on the writing and overload of unnecessary special effects and not on the fine cast.
While The Force Awakens graced us with the return of our favorite classic heroes Han Solo, Leia Organa, and (briefly) Luke Skywalker, the film was, for me, utterly forgettable. Although, it was a better J.J. Abrams vehicle than his paltry efforts on the first two films in the Star Trek reboot, which isn’t saying much.
For me, Rogue One simply felt like Star Wars. It resurrected the spirit of the original films, something for which I’d lost all hope while slogging through the prequels. While Rogue One certainly held its own with a solid story and exciting plot—detailing the events leading right up to the Death Star plans falling into the hands of Princess Leia—its consistency with, and nods to, Episodes IV through VI were delightful. No spoilers here, just effusive praise and a hearty congrats to director Gareth Edwards and an excellent cast that includes Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Genevieve O’Reilly, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, James Earl Jones, and more.
December 19, 2016
Book Review: Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone Revisited
In this anthology of nine tales that extend the eerie and wondrous universe known as the Twilight Zone, it was challenging for me to choose a favorite. I enjoyed every one of them.
Of the nine, seven were ghost stories, one a time travel tale (“Beyond the Rim”), and another about a genie in a bottle (called, appropriately, “Man in a Bottle“) that leaned close enough toward cliché as to be predictable. The best of the stories are summarized below.
In “Two Live Ghosts”, Jeff Tupper and Hank Merchand are a pair of adventurous prospectors mining the Black Mountains after the Civil War. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle between the U.S. Calvary and the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes, but not before witnessing a bizarre and mystical ritual of a medicine man who beckons the spirits of ancient warriors…
“Silent” John Moreland is one of the best riverboat pilots on the Mississippi. He seems to have an uncanny ability to sense what’s happening miles ahead on the great river. One thing Silent John doesn’t tolerate on board the Dixie Belle is gambling. Shortly after ordering a renowned card sharp off of the boat, the Dixie Belle collides with another vessel and Moreland is found dead in the pilothouse. At the same time, Moreland’s brother and sister each have a vision of their late brother in which “The Ghost of the Dixie Belle” tries to convey a message…
In “The Purple Testament“, Lieutenant Hugh Fitzgerald is among US forces fighting the Japanese on the Philippine Islands. During one particularly grueling battle, Fitzgerald manifests the ability to predict which of the men will die next…
Traveling to upstate New York during a fierce snowstorm, sports reporter Peter Dunning and photographer Bert Carey encounter an obsolete steam locomotive, painted white, and a strange young woman who pleads for help in getting home to her sick father, only to disappear into the storm after Pete drops her off. Determined to capture evidence, Pete sets off alone with a camera during the next snowstorm to find the truth about “The Ghost Train“…
In the autumn of 1847, pioneer Christopher Horn leads several families, including his own, across the country to California only to run out of water in the Nevada desert. Worse, Horn’s son is ill with fever. Many in his caravan are growing restive and threaten to turn back until Horn decides to travel alone to the rim of the desert in search of water. What Horn finds “Beyond the Rim“ is more than he can handle…
During WWII, U.N. forces occupy Fort Defiance in Cape Regal overlooking Hangman’s Bay, once governed by reformed pirate Roger Crisp in the 1600s. A ruthless executioner of pirates, Crisp had come to be known as Jolly Roger for his gaunt appearance and demonic grin. Now, U.N. soldiers report unusual experiences and apparitions in the Fort leading to speculation as to the existence of “The Ghost of Jolly Roger“.
It’s late night in a city bus terminal when Millicent Barnes, while waiting for the last bus to Cortland, begins experiencing episodes of confusion and possible hallucinations. Her luggage seems to move about on its own and she sees a doppelganger behind her in reflective surfaces. Is it possible that Millicent is being taunted by “The Mirror Image“?
In the old Abington Arms apartment complex, Wilfred Laraby is everyone’s friend, always willing to lend whatever help is needed, financial or otherwise. He enjoys randomly visiting his neighbors living on the floors below his penthouse suite—to the chagrin of stamp collector and master counterfeiter Milton Casper who tries to elude Wilfred only to find himself in an awkward confrontation with “The Man Who Dropped By“.
December 12, 2016
Book Review: Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein
Three centuries into the future, the human race has become a product of artificial selection through genetic engineering. The world has conquered poverty, crime, and most diseases and while there are still natural-born humans, they are generally considered inferior.
Despite this alleged Utopia, wealthy game designer Hamilton Felix questions whether mankind should even continue as a race. Felix is from a “star line”, the product of 300 years of tightly controlled genetics. Yet, when the District Moderator for Genetics, Mordan Claude, calls Felix to the Central Clinic to suggest that he take a wife and produce offspring, Felix balks.
Refusing to be easily dissuaded, Claude steers the attractive and willful Longcourt Phyllis in Felix’s direction, but while Felix slowly warms up to her, he comes into contact with a dangerous revolutionary known as McFee Norbert who is gathering forces to overthrow the government and institute their own version of a perfect world.
Despite Claude’s objections, Felix infiltrates the group, but can he and Claude stop the revolution when the rebels send forces to invade the Central Clinic?
A master storyteller, Heinlein does a deft job of revealing this new world as the plot develops, although the 
story is occasionally stifled by several pages—and an entire third chapter—of purely scientific (or pseudo-scientific) discourse in the form of dense info-dumping. This is something that would never make it past a contemporary editor, of course, but as an avid reader of golden age SF novels, I’m accustomed to it. At that time, it was fairly common in the genre. Modern readers might also stumble over Heinlein’s occasional use of what would now be considered archaic grammar, but, in such cases, meaning can easily be derived from context.
Published in 1948, Beyond this Horizon is one of Heinlein’s earliest novels and offers a glimpse into the imaginative and prescient mind of one SF’s legendary visionaries.
December 6, 2016
Star Trek’s Cosmic Anniversaries
One of my earliest memories of any television show was watching an episode of the original Star Trek called, “Balance of Terror” co-starring Mark Lenard as the Romulan adversary to Captain Kirk. Of course, Lenard later went on to play Spock’s father, Sarek, as well as the Klingon Commander in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
For Star Trek fans such as myself, 2016 marks not one, not two, but three milestone anniversaries for the franchise.
On September 8, 1966, Star Trek took to the airwaves for three seasons.
Star Trek: The Original SeriesOn November 19, 1986, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was released to box office success.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeOn December 6, 1991, the final film starring the entire cast was released, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryI owe a lot to Star Trek, and many other SF and space opera films and shows. They inspired me to become a writer, beginning in fan fiction before exploring the strange new worlds and characters of my own creation. My love for, and wonder of, SF brought me to the convention scene over 30 years ago, where I’ve forged lifelong friendships with so many wonderful and talented people.
Now, as I attend the cons—sometimes as a writer guest, sometimes just going because I love the con scene—I’m excited to see Star Trek continuing to live long and prosper through new generations of fans.
James Doohan
George Takei
Walter Koenig
Nichelle Nichols
Leonard Nimoy
November 21, 2016
Get Your Kindle Book Signed at Authorgraph!
If you purchased a Kindle ebook, and you’d like to have it signed, you might be able to use a service called Authorgraph provided said writer has created a profile there. Not many people know about this site, but you can check it out at Authorgraph.com. By way of example, click here here for my profile.
Phil’s Authorgraph Profile
November 14, 2016
OK, Now What Am I Working On?
Last month, I had a short vignette accepted for the 2017 anthology of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. That book will be titled the Write Connections and is slated for a March release.
I also finished my first of what I hope will be three short stories for Meanwhile in the Middle of Eternity, the third volume in the Middle of Eternity series (no release date yet) and I’m working through a gods and monsters tale that is due in six weeks. YIKES!
Most importantly, I wrote the first four chapters of an SF novel that has been in development since 2012. It’s one of those projects that, at first, I simply tinkered with between other stories, but I finished the outline in 2015 and wrote four chapters over winter before being pulled away onto other projects. I intend to switch my focus back to this novel and complete the first draft in 2017, even if that means postponing or turning away some other projects. Only so many hours in the day and while I love writing short stories and editing anthologies, it’s been over three years since my last novel was published, so I’m overdue!
Shout out if you’re working on any cool projects!
November 13, 2016
Beach Nights & Cool Sand
More than half of the authors published in Beach Nights gathered in Browseabout Books between 2-4PM today to celebrate the released of this fourth annual Rehoboth Beach Reads anthology by Cat and Mouse Press.
To say the turnout was impressive would be an understatement. Many books were signed and it was a joy to finally meet editor and publisher Nancy Sakaduski and several of my fellow contributing authors.
Special thanks to writer pal Susanna Reilly for making the trip from PA to show her support and to her dad for buying lunch at the Purple Parrot!
Beach Nights Display at Browseabout Books.
Beach Nights Cake
Several Beach Nights authors furiously signing books for loyal readers.
Writer pal Susanna Reilly at the Beach Nights book launch.
These beach anthologies are certainly popular!
It’s a crowded house at the Beach Nights book launch!
Beach Nights editor and publisher, Nancy Sakaduski of Cat and Mouse Press.
Kathleen Martens, author of “Flight of the Song Bird” and first place winner in the Beach Nights short story contest.
Emory Au, cover artist for the Rehoboth Beach anthologies from Cat and Mouse Press.
Weldon Burge, author of “Melvin and the Haunted Mansion.”
Robin Glanden, author of “The Portrait” and “The Attitude of Gratitude List.”After the signing was over, I took the time to kick off my flip-flops and hit the beach for about 20 minutes before making the journey home with yet more fond memories of this wonderful town that has become my second home.
Rehoboth Beach in November
Rehoboth Beach in November
The Lone Chair
Wandering seagull
Cold November sand
November 8, 2016
No, Not Phil’s Con…Philcon!
Below are the panels on which I’ll be speaking at Philcon (the Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention) during the weekend of November 18-20, 2016 in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Friday 9:00PM in Plaza II (Two) – Stories That Haunt Us
Sat 12:00PM in Plaza II (Two) – What To Do When Real Science Outpaces Your Current SF Project
Sat 6:00PM in Plaza III (Three) – The Care & Feeding of Editors
Hope to see you there!
