November 12, 2010: Some Stargate: Universe links! What are YOU reading? Mailbag!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill me in on their viewing habits.  Some wildly varied tastes out there.  Keep those t.v. lists coming!

To those who may have missed it (ie. anyone who lives outside of Canada), here's a link to the Stargate: Universe segment that aired on Canada AM this morning -

The cast of 'Stargate Universe' (or check the right sidebar for the link).

Thanks to Craig for the heads up!

Some great reviews of SGU episode #207, The Greater Good.

Here: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/11/11/stargate-universe-season-2-episode-7-recap/

Here: http://www.tvovermind.com/cable/syfy/stargate-universe/stargate-universe-207-recap/38272

And here: http://io9.com/5686940/sgus-finally-reveals-destinys-secrets-for-the-greater-good

While Robert Carlyle (SGU's Dr. Nicholas Rush) talks about the episode with Show Patrol's Curt Wagner here:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/show-patrol/2010/11/stargate-universe-robert-carlyle-sees-the-greater-good-in-rush.html

And, if you're hankering for a (potentially spoilerific) sneak peek at next week's episode, Malice, take a look over here:

http://www.daemonstv.com/2010/11/12/stargate-universe-malice-season-2-episode-8-photos/

In non Stargate-related matters (aka – my life), I've almost finalized my Tokyo restaurant list.  Unlike previous years when I've booked Michelin starred restaurants for both lunch and dinner, I'm only going to go with a few high-end choices requiring reservations and will play the rest by ear.  More or less.  Even though I won't book the tables, I have a rundown of places I want to check out, covering the gamut of Japanese cuisine – restaurants specializing in: ramen, soba, sushi, unagi, anago, tempura, yakitori, kushiage, and maybe (when my travel buddy Ivon isn't looking) even suppon.

With the cast in Toronto for food and fun, today was a production holiday.  I celebrated by doing a little shopping and, again, adding to my burgeoning to-read pile:

Clockwise from left to right starting from the top:

First King of Shannara by Terry Brooks: I vary my reading and, occasionally, like to dabble in high fantasy.  To be honest, I don't know much about this book but picked it up on the recommendation of Robert Cooper's wife who, apparently, is a bit of a fantasy junkie.

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind: Another heavy-hitter of the fantasy genre and another author I've been looking to check out.  In the case of both Goodkind and Brooks, I'll start with the first book in a series and see where it takes me.  In the case of some past fantasy authors (ie. Joe Abercrombie and George R. R. Martin), this particular strategy has taken me quite far.

The Attraction by Douglas Clegg: I'm a sucker for good horror novels and this one, about a group of young travelers who run afoul of a horrific roadside attraction, sounds like good, creepy fun.

Plan for Chaos by John Wyndham: A never-before published novel from the man who gave us The Midwich Cuckoos, Chocky, and The Day of the Triffiids.

Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill: In describing the novel in a recent SFSignal MindMeld discussion of horror novels (http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/11/mind-meld-which-horror-novel-would-make-a-great-film/), writer/film critic Gemma Files writes it "centres around the perception-altering works of long-dead and -forgotten painter Felix Hessen, who Nevill describes as being a cross between Francis Bacon and Wyndham Lewis. Of course, these visions are never actually *seen* at all, only described, in much the same way Nevill uses a classic M.R. Jamesian web of suggestion to project horror far beyond the human capacity to properly process; something mammoth, Lovecraftianly alien, glimpsed only partially, through either a tiny aperture or a variety of filters."  Intriguing.

Black Butterflies by John Shirley: The one thing I enjoy even more than a good horror novel is a good collection of horror fiction.  John Shirley, one of the masters of the genre, offers up 16 works of macabre short fiction.

Transition by Iain M. Banks: The latest from one of my favorite SF authors – although, to be honest, I'm not going to be getting around to this one until I finally make time for Matter.

So, what are you all reading?

If you answered Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story, November's book of the month club selection, then weigh in with your comments and questions for author Christopher Moore.  You have until the weekend.

Mailbag:

conniepoint writes: "One quick question, will we ever see a Peter Kelamis/Brody centric episode? Or at least get more information about him? He's my favorite character and I'd love to see more of him. I'll beg if that'll help."

Answer: No need to beg.  While we won't be seeing a Brody-centric episode any time soon, there's plenty of Brody to come in upcoming episodes.

Gary writes: "In retrospect do you think it was a mistake to spend so much time developing the characters in season 1, perhaps at the expense of action and plot which seem to have a more immediate payoff?"

Answer: If you're asking whether I think we should have sacrificed character development in favor of action in season 1, my answer would be no.  It's the groundwork we laid in that first season that makes these season 2 developments that much more effective and stirring.

Xyla writes: "I notice you keep answering people that the best way to get the network's attention is to watch SGU live. But more and more people are wising up the the fact that only a handful of viewers (the people with neilson boxes) actually get counted. Wouldn't it be more productive to say something like "Everyone with a neilson box, make sure you watch it live. Everyone else, watch it through another system that is counted"."

Answer: My professional standing prohibits me from suggesting you track down someone with nielsen box, invite yourself over to their place, and make them watch SGU under threat of karaoke or other equally ghastly punishment, but I can advise viewers to get the word out and tune in live in the hopes that their enthusiasm (and timely viewing) will prove catchy.  And, yes, it wouldn't hurt to download the episodes as well now that you mention it.

MNP writes: "In regards to publishing the ending on this blog:

Now that is interesting. Definitely not. Why would that be? I'm not saying it to demand an ending or anything, I'm just curious. Is it a rights issue? Would the group want to save it for a novelization or something?"

Answer: Ideally, we'll be able to finish telling the story we started back in Air I, II and III on a timeline that will please the network, studio, fans, and the production.  In the event of a worse case scenario, it will be up to the studio and the show's creators to decide how to proceed.  I doubt very much one of those options will be: Joe posts the ending on his blog.

Oreol writes: "Are you, guys, planning to deliver the ending in a movie, a book, perhaps something else?"

Answer: Actually, the plan is deliver the ending at the conclusion of season 5.

Sean D. writes: "Any chances of having interdimensional stories in SGU?"

Answer: Not this season.

@iom666 writes: "One might have thought that Canadians would have downloaded the episode from Tuesday and not watch it at all on Friday's night, and on the contrary, it's not that happening!"

Answer: I know.  Given the population of Canada, the numbers SGU does on Space would extrapolate to the equivalent of approximately 3 million viewers on SyFy.

Philly writes: "The real risk these days is making a show that goes so long-haul you put people off, and so simple that you don't engage them.

What ideas and thoughts did you guys and girls throw out to avoid these pitfalls when crafting SGU?"

Answer: As I said in yesterday's mailbag, we strive to strike a fair balance between arc-driven plots and standalone stories.  The aim is to reward fans of the show but, at the same time, not make the show inaccessible to first time viewers.  It's a tricky line to walk but, so far, I think we've been successful.

dasNdanger writes: "@ Narelle – Dare I ask – how big are your orb webs?"

Answer: Das, I needn't remind you that kids occasionally read this comment section.

Fred Kiesche writes: "But mostly…reading. About 90 books YTD. Last year was over 200. Next year? Probably somewhere in between."

Answer: Damn!  You reader faster than I do!

nate writes: "Since you watch Top Chef…what do you think of Top Chef: Just Desserts?"

Answer: Haven't seen it.  I don't think it's aired in Canada yet.  Marty G. loves it though.

snakey writes: "With that said, then wouldn't you need to know at the beginning of the producing season if that was going to be the last season or not instead of in December when you are nearly done with said season? Does this mean you already know that there will be a season 3 and not telling?"

Answer: Nope, still no word on season 3.  I'm hoping we'll know in mid-December, but wouldn't be surprised if we had to wait until mid-January to find out.

Bailey writes: "Considering how well SGU is doing in Canada compared to the US, and the fact that most of the writers/production folk are Candadian, do you think that SGU is a show that appeals more to Canadian sensibilities than US-American?"

Answer: I don't think so.  I believe North Americans in general share like sensibilities.  Still, I'm not sure what to make of the difference in the ratings.  Historically, the numbers have always been very similar (comparatively speaking).

Jon writes: "After watching The Greater Good I couldn't help wondering, how you planned the episode to play out back in the day, when it was written for the first season?"

Answer: Back then, it was just this basic notion: Rush and Young are in the damaged shuttle when its engine engage and its set adrift, away from Destiny.  With (at this point) no way of controlling the ship and the jump clock ticking down, Eli leads the rescue op by sending one of the service robots after the shuttle on a repair mission while, aboard the shuttle, Rush and Young spend quality time together.

Jonathan writes: "Will we be seeing a return of Col. David Telford?"

Answer: Boy, I sure hope so.  I'm a huge fan of Lou Diamond Phillips.

Major D. Davis writes: "In terms of finales.. which one do you think is better (and tells a bigger story).. Gauntlet or Incursion.. you gotta give me a tease here.. Gauntlet sounds EPIC!"

Answer: Gauntlet is definitely more epic…and gut-wretching a cliffhanger.