George R.R. Martin's Blog, page 138

The Dangerous Women Are Coming

The dangerous women are coming to the Jean Cocteau this week.

 COFFY


SCARLET STREET


ALIENS


(We also hoped to present THE LAST SEDUCTION, but the film has been withdrawn from distribution because of a rights dispute, alas).

See one, see two, see them all.  Kickass avengers, femmes fatale, women warriors, alien queens, what more could you want?

All of this, of course, is part of our Dangerous Women Week, to mark the debut of  DANGEROUS WOMEN, the gigantic crossgenre anthology I edited with Gardner Dozois.




And next Monday, December 9, we'll launch the book with "Dangerous Talk About Dangerous Women" at the Cocteau, a gala panel discussion and booksigning featuring me and Gardner, and seven of our contributing writers - CARRIE VAUGHN (!), SAM SYKES (!), MELINDA M. SNODGRASS (!), S.M. STIRLING (!), DIANA ROWLAND (!), MEGAN LINDHOLM/ ROBIN HOBB (!), and DIANA GABALDON (!).

Last Day for Pearl Auction

The auctions for Janis Ian's Pearl Foundation fund-raising drive, including those for the items I donated, have entered their final day.

There's some great stuff here, including items by Neil Gaiman, Pat Conroy, Harlan Ellison, Jane Yolen, Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card, and many others, and the Pearl Foundation is a terrific cause... so here's a great chance to add some wonderful books to your collection and do good at the same time.

My own donations are a script from GAME OF THRONES, signed by the entire Stark family:

          http://www.ebay.com/itm/George-R-R-Martin-orig-pilot-script-GAME-THRONES-signed-all-Starks-/200988947831?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ecbdff577

Also, a presentation copy in slipcase of the Subterreanean Press limited edition of A DANCE WITH DRAGON, illustrated by Marc Fishman and signed by both of us:

       http://www.ebay.com/itm/George-R-R-Martin-signed-personal-presentation-copy-DANCE-DRAGONS-/200988953490?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2ecbe00b92

And finally, a set of hardcovers for A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, all five volumes published to date, to be autographed and personalized on request:

      http://www.ebay.com/itm/George-R-R-Martin-signed-hardcovers-all-five-SONG-ICE-AND-FIRE-novels-/200988772976?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2ecbdd4a70

So go ye forth and bid!  Bid often!  Bid high!! Come out, come out, you snipers, do your worst, and raise some pearls for pearl.

New at the Cocteau

Just in time for my return from Down Under, a couple of fresh offerings debuted at the Jean Cocteau... one brand new, and one a classic.

Here's a taste of this week's offerings.  First, BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN, a prize winner at the Tribeca and Berlin Film Festivals, and a likely contender in the foreign film category of next year's Oscars.



We're also showing THE GREAT SANTINI, the terrific 1979 film adaptation of Pat Conroy's 1976 novel, starting Robert Duvall and Bylthe Danner.  One of Duvall's greatest and most memorable performances.

And, of course, THE GREAT SANTINI is only to whet the appetite... on Monday, December 2, we will be having Pat Conroy himself at the Cocteau for an evening of conversation, to discuss his life, his books, and the movies made from them... which list includes not only THE GREAT SANTINI but also THE PRINCE OF TIDES, THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE, and CONRACK.  Pat will also be signing copies of his latest, THE DEATH OF SANTINI, and his other titles.  Admission is free with the purchase of a hardcover book, $5 with the purchase of a paperback.

As with our previous events, seats are going fast, so if you'd like to attend, do call the Cocteau ASAP and reserve a book (and a seat) before they are all gone.

See you at the movies.

Back in the USA

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Home tomorrow.  OZ and Middle Earth were wonderful, but I need some green chile.

Last Day in New Zealand

We're headed home tomorrow.  I shudder to think of all the email and mail and work that awaits me.  But it;s time… I have started to dream of green chile.

Yes, I am aware of the SOUTH PARK episodes.  No, haven't seen them yet.  THere's been no time for TV down here.  But I will get to them eventually, no doubt.  Till then I live in fear.

Yes, I am aware that my football teams continue to suck.

Treasures for Pearl

My friend Janis Ian is launching an amazing charity auction for her Pearl Foundation.  Parris an I are thrilled to be a part of this.

Details, from Janis herself:

Starting November 21st, Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Janis Ian and eBay auctioneer Amy Leslie will host PROSE FOR PEARL, a 10-day auction of unique items and memorabilia by famous authors, to raise money for returning students. The auction will take place on the Pearl Foundation’s eBay site: http://stores.ebay.com/thepearlfoundation/You can see the items right now at http://www.janisian.com and you can read the whole story here:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.543110765775646.1073741829.357191544367570&type=3We have items signed and donated by George R. R. Martin, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Wally Lamb, Pat Conroy, Len Wein, Joe Haldeman, Jane Yolen, Harry Turtledove, Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, Michael Swanwick, Mercedes Lackey, Mike Resnick, and the family of Anne McCaffrey, plus a gold, diamond, ruby watch Janis’ family gave Pearl when she graduated.What’s unusual about this auction?-- It was suggested by author George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and his wife, Parris McBride, who are donating a pilot script from the hugely successful television series, signed by all the “Starks”, as well as signed books and personal notes from Martin to the high bidders.-- The authors are Janis’ friends, and chose the items themselves. Many posed with their items, and sent photos of themselves with Janis for the sale. -- The items are offered with no reserve.  Each item has a description from the author as well as a short vignette by Ian detailing their relationship. -- The authors will sign and personalize their items whenever possible.
The Pearl Foundation – history and FAQ-- In 1998, Ian held the very first Internet auction through her own website,  raising over $60,000 in college scholarship funds for Goddard College. What begun as a one-time tribute to her mother’s life-long dream of attending college became the Pearl Foundation, an IRS-approved charitable organization dedicated to raising funds for returning students.-- To date, the Pearl Foundation has given away more than $700,000 in college scholarship funding. The Pearl Foundation’s annual overhead is less than 2%. Come to http://stores.ebay.com/thepearlfoundation/ November 21st and
The items I've donated myself--
     -- a television script from GAME OF THRONES signed by the members of House Stark,
     -- a p/c copy of the SUbPress limited edition DANCE WITH DRAGONS,
     -- a set of five current edition hardcovers for books one to five of SONG OF ICE & FIRE.

I will be pleased to personalize all these for the winners… so bid lustily.

Howard, Gardner, and George Show

FROM THIS YEAR'S CAPCLAVE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvdsmhQYTyc&feature=youtu.be

Warning: contains risqué anecdotes and off-color stories that may offend some.

I should also mention that I had a senior moment during the panel, when I mentioned that I won my first Hugo in 1985 and appeared on my first panel in 1986.  While the relation between those two events is correct, the dates aren't.  I misplaced a decade there.  I actually won my first Hugo in 1975, and appeared on my first panel later that same year (at the same con where the trophy was presented to me).

Down Under

Kikcing around Down Under.  Supanova Brisbane, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Wheeler Center, Supanova Adelaide have all passed in a blur of signatures, smiles, panels, signatures, readings, questions and answers, signatures. Now we are back in Melbourne for a couple of days before we take off for New Zealand.

My only regret: I did not have the presence of mind to belt out the theme song to HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL in Sydney.  That would have allowed me to say that I'd sung at the Sydney Opera House.

I  understand the Giants have won every game since I've been away.  Maybe I should leave the country more often,

Gang Green and the Purple Haze

Okay, I cheated.  In between packing and answering emails and paying bills and otherwise getting ready for our trip down under, I watched a little of the Jets game.

Seven hells.  The Jets won.  Over the Saints.  Who'da thunk it?

And they won the way they were winning a couple of years ago, when Rex took them to the AFC title games: with killer defense and a running game.

Ivory was unstoppable.  I hope this guy stays healthy.  He's a terrific RB when he's not hobbled by injury.  And I can't say enough about the D.

On other football fronts, however... you know, it's a good thing I don't follow college football.  I just learned today that my alma mater, Northwestern, lost to Nebraska on a Hail Mary in a fashion that would surely have given me a heart attack if I'd been watching.  Ah, Northwestern... I'm a member of the Class of 1970 (BSJ) and the Class of 1971 (MSJ), which means I went to school there in the 60s.  During my tenure, the student body voted overwhelmingly to change the team nickname from the rather cliche "Wildcats" to the much more distinctive "Purple Haze."  Now you see why.  (Alas, the university  ignored the will of the students, in favor of the will of the alumni donors).

Getting Crazy

Much as I like travel -- well, at least the part where I'm in some cool place, I have actually come to hate the process of getting there, thanks to the airlines and the TSA and such -- getting ready for a trip is always Crazy Time around here.  There is always too much to do, and too little time to do it in, and no matter how hard you try, something always gets forgotten.  And it's worse when it's a LONG trip, like this jaunt to Australia and New Zealand.

Which is my long-winded way of saying that I have so damn much to get done today that I don't even think I can watch football.

So let me go work.

Meanwhile, I will leave you with a fun trailer for next weekend's late movie at the Jean Cocteau.  Sad to say, I won't be here to see it... but you should.