Origami Unicorn

Stonehenge 2006

Stonehenge is a curious sight, in that while impressive even in the most modern of terms, it's also right next to a major highway with people whipping by as if it were an abandoned cement works. On an ordinary day, you're likely to hear few kids whining about being dragged around the place again.

Still, this video captures some of what it must have been like thousands of years ago to stand and wait for the first sign that the days—which had been growing shorter and colder—would grow long again and the natural world once again be renewed.

The actual event, which is sort of slurred over here, is something like a rather disorganized small rock concert, with modern druids, witches, just plain folks, plus a swarm of media ambling about in a chill mist. The sun risen, the crowd is shooed out, and Britain's ancient monument goes back into "strictly do not touch" mode.

Winter Solstice 2007

The shortest night of the year is on its way and celebration, both joyful and prudent, begins. We start off with Ian Anderson on the flute:

For skilled musicians who did splendid visual shows, there are pitifully few quality videos or movies of Jethro Tull. This one is quite restrained. Anderson was quite capable of playing while capering like Pan.

Paul Darrow Interview, Part Three

In which he reveals much and wraps up the future of Blake's, as he sees it.

Amazon Has One-of-a-kind Handcrafted Rowling Book

The mystery bidder for the seventh copy—and the only one not a gift—of Beedle the Bard turns out to be Amazon, which has a web page up so you can see some of what you can't buy. The proceeds from the 1.9 million pound sale, which vastly surpassed Southeby's expectations, go to a charity for children, founded in part by Rowling.

NYC Anime Festival Proves Out

The first New York Anime Festival December 7-9 had about 15,000 attendees visit the Javits Center for the inaugural event. It got off to a slow start, probably because the younger fans weren't free until Saturday, but then they came out in droves and in costume. They're doing it again next year.

Terry Pratchett Diagnosed With Alzheimer's

Terry Pratchett has announced he has "a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's," which was discovered because of what appeared to be a stroke earlier this year. "For now work is continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals. All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers. Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet."

Potter Paperbacks Date Set

Bloomsbury, J. K. Rowling's UK publisher, will release the UK paperback editions (YA and adult covers, basically, and some different page decorations) of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on July 5, priced at 8.99 pounds. No word yet from Scholastic, her US publisher.

Final Jordan Book To Be Completed

Tor Books announced that Brandon Sanderson will finish the final novel in Robert Jordan’s bestselling Wheel of Time fantasy series. The novel, A Memory of Light, will be the 12th and final book, a true ending, as planned.

Jordan’s widow chose Sanderson to finish the novel and will edit it, as she edited her husband's. There is a vast amount of material, some as complete sections and scenes, some as notes, and some as audio tapes, plus information that Jordan told family and friends before his death from a rare blood disease this past September.

A Memory of Light is scheduled for fall 2009.

Paul Darrow Interview, Part Two

Paul Darrow waits three months to find he "was always going to play the part of Avon."

The Golden Compass, Reviewed

Rotten Tomatoes provides a quick overview and links to reviews, and from The Golden Compass rating of forty-three percent fresh, it appears the company as right in fearing it might not roll out well. However, a more in-depth reading of reactions reveals at least two camps. First are people famiiar with the books, who can leap the abridgements in the plot—mostly while agreeing some are necessary—and so follow the story. Second are people who haven't and who see a vast spectacle heavy with effects and name actors but ask, Where's the plot? The director's cut on DVD—where they can add about an hour of missing material—is probably going to be the real version of what is a complex, slow-moving story even in book form.