Call Me a Dreamer

Ana, a self-described "twentysomething bookworm," over at things mean a lot, posted today in The Sunday Salon - Book Buying, about a new book out by Peter S. Beagle: We Never Talk About My Brother, by Tachyon Publications. If you've ever read anything by Beagle, you know this is a book you have to read. If you've never read anything by Beagle, you must take my word for it that this is a book you have to read (along with everything else of his you can get your hands on), because Beagle is wonderful.

Ana, who receives a newsletter from Beagle, reports that only 5,500 copies of this book were printed and that Conlan Press (which my limited researches indicate is a press specifically to promote Beagle's work) is trying to sell out the entire run by March 31, 2009, in the hopes of convincing Tachyon to issue a second printing. Like many authors, Beagle is having financial difficulties. In this instance, his financial difficulties are related to disputes over compensation for the many screenplays he has written. You can read more about this on the Conlan Press website.

Oh, and if you enjoyed the movie, The Last Unicorn, I hope you know that it was based on Beagle's book of the same name and the book is better! (Even though it is an excellent adaptation.) The movie version I just linked to is a new DVD release. If you buy from this link at Conlan Press, Beagle is supposed to receive more than 50% of the purchase price; buy it elsewhere and Beagle gets nothing from the sale.

One more thing I should mention--if you purchase from Conlan Press, you can, for an additional fee, request that your purchase be signed or personalized by Beagle, which would make a wonderful gift for some special someone. Even if that special someone is you. ;)

So do Peter and yourself a favor, and add one more book to your reading list, and one old favorite movie, remastered, to your viewing list. You won't be sorry.

Interdimensional Police Triage (IPT): "Hello. How may I help you?"

Me: "I’d like to report a missing dimension."

IPT: "When did you first notice the missing dimension?"

Me: "Last night. Around 9 p.m., or so."

IPT: "What was your first clue the dimension was missing?"

Me: "Movies. The movies in this dimension don’t match the movies in the one I grew up in."

IPT: "Please be more specific."

Me: "Well, in my dimension, the movie 'All the King’s Men' is about John F. Kennedy and the events leading up to his assassination. The title is a reference to his death. In this one, it’s about Huey Long."

IPT: "Your case has been filed. When we’ve determined your dimension of origin, you will be returned."

Me: "Wait a minute. I don’t know how long I’ve been away. What about my husband and my kids? I mean, I like it here. I reported the missing dimension because that’s what I’m supposed to do, not because I want to go back!"

IPT: "You know the rules. No unauthorized transdimensional migration. If you want to live in your current dimension, you’ll have to return to your dimension and file an application for temporary residency."

Me: "Wait a minute. I think I was just confused. I was probably thinking of 'All the President’s Men.'"

IPT: "In your current dimension, that movie is about the Watergate scandal during Nixon’s administration. Your attempt to deceive me will be noted in your file." Pauses. "Hmm. This isn’t the first time you’ve been found wandering in a dimension other than your dimension of origin. I see here that you were forcibly ejected from Faerie when you were twelve."

Me: "What? That’s in my file? I thought all the records for acts committed by minor children were destroyed when they obtained their majority."

IPT: "Not when they’re related to interdimensional travel. I’ve located your dimension of origin and transmigration will commence in fifteen seconds."

Me: "Wait! How long will it be once I file, before I can come back?"

IPT: "It varies. Generally, you can expect a ten year wait before your paperwork gets proc…"

(via christymarx) Dr. Horrible

Okay, so most of my friends have probably already seen Christy's post, but it would be very remiss of me not to share this.

Last night I watched the Chinese film, Curse of the Golden Flower. This is the most visually stunning movie I've ever seen. The depictions of the Chinese Imperial palace and the costuming are absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend this film for the imagery alone (although I enjoyed the story, too), and this, despite the fact that I decided to leave the room during some of the gorier segments of the movie. (Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm an absolute wimp when it comes to screen violence and gore. The blood was actually a color unknown in nature, so the bloodier scenes probably won't bother most people.)

Note: this entry was edited May 25, 2008 to add the images. I hand drew these images using colored pencil and watercolor pastels, then scanned them in and edited them to clean up the images.