Big Dumb Object

So I guess the big news last week must have been the renewal of Battlestar Galactica for a second season. Hurrah! Here's the announcement. I'd like to have said that I had no doubts it would be renewed given the outstanding quality of the whole series, however the entire ratings driven cutthroat American tv business seems a bit alien to me and I wasn't exactly sure what would happen. Over here in the UK it's still ratings driven (I guess) but seeing as the BBC is paid for by me (and any other tv owners) through the TV licencse tax we have come to expect a bit more risk taking. (Although some people would probably debate that). Anyway, I'm happy.

What else? Some links (mainly via BoingBoing)...

Tobias S. Buckell Online: How Much Does a Science Fiction or Fantasy Writer Make? A survey of sf writers earnings.

Analog's The Science Behind the Story "The Science Behind the Story" is a new forum in which we invite writers to show off some of that "behind-the-scenes" work.

Reason: Neal Stephenson’s Past, Present, and Future. The author of the widely praised Baroque Cycle on science, markets, and post-9/11 America

Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs" to become TV series. Oh no!

Star Wars Custom Window Coverings by 3 Day Blinds. Get some blinds with your favourite Star Wars poster printed on them

Some new Revenge Of The Sith pictures. Woohoo! [Via SFSignal]

This years Nebula nominations online

The new Doctor Who will have a remixed theme tune.... cue derderderder-derderderder-derderderder-derderderder-weeoooo-weeeelaoooooo etc.

I'm two thirds of the way through the awesome River of Gods, yet Ian McDonald had doubts "I sent it to my editor still undecided if it was the best thing I'd ever done or a pile of s--t"