Soccer Superstar Ronaldo Supports Gay Marriage

It's World Cup time, when the world goes bonkers over the Beautiful Game, and Americans try to remember what soccer/football is.

On my airplane ride yesterday, I sat next to a man from Japan (I think), and a woman from Germany. We talked World Cup, teams (she and I are both rooting for Germany, Ballack or no Ballack), and shared news about various national teams' success possibilities.

While waiting in an airport for a connecting flight, I came across a report on Outsports about comments European soccer (oh, can I call it football?) star Cristiano Ronaldo made when asked about the legalization of gay marriage in his country, Portugal. He said the law should be respected and everyone should have the same rights. (I think this is the link to the original interview, in Portuguese.)

That's just the latest reason for gay men to praise Ronaldo. The other, of course, was his appearance in Vanity Fair's softcore World Cup issue, which features various football stars in their briefs. That will get Americans' attention, though it won't help convince the U.S. audience that soccer/football is for straight people, too.

On that plane ride, the German woman (who, BTW, thinks Germany still has a chance as long as Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger are healthy and playing, just in case you're wondering) said she hopes the U.S. is successful in getting to host the World Cup in the next decade, because it would give the game a big shot in the arm in terms of American popularity. But I lived in Chicago in 1994 when the city was one of the U.S. hosts for the games, and if we're still making excuses for why Americans don't love the game 16 years later, I don't think another chance will do it. If Americans would rather follow other sports, that's fine. Everyone should get what they want.

Me? I want more Ronaldo on magazine covers.

From WEIMAR WORLD SERVICE

The Starlog Project: Starlog #113, December 1986: Shopping for Horrors

As I noted in issue #112's writeup, I ended my Starlog strike after that issue and resumed being a regular reader (addict?) with this issue, #113. That was probably the real moment in my life when I decided I didn't care if "science-fiction fan" was a permanent and healthy part of my identity.

On the merchandising side (aka, the Buy O'Quinn and Jacobs a New Yacht side), this issue includes an ad by the magazine for its newest commercial service: a 50-cent-per-call phone service that features a message from a different Trek crew member (such as Uhura) giving you updates on the new film, Star Trek: The Voyage Home.

Starlog #113
76 pages (including covers)
Cover price: $2.95

In most of its earlier years, Starlog printed its required postal statement of ownership and circulation in one of its end-of-the-year issues, such as December. But we've seen the publishers starting to move it into the new year, and by the 1990s, they'd be printing it as late as the March issue. Writing as someone who has had to fill out and print those forms in magazines to satisfy the post office, I can only say that either the rules for timely printing of the form were different back then, or their local post office was more indulgent (aka, looser on the enforcement) than the postal folks with whom I've dealt. So, no postal statement this issue.

The rundown: The cover photo features comedians Rick Moranis and John Candy, stars of the remake Little Shop of Horrors; in his From the Bridge editorial, publisher Kerry O'Quinn criticizes parents who seek to censor textbooks that don't match up with their religious beliefs; Communications letters include director Tobe Hooper (responding to an article in #107 about writing credits), Howard Cruse (praising a recent cartoon by Phil Foglio), reactions to Highlander and Labyrinth, and more; Medialog includes Carr D'Angelo's check-in with Robert Downtown Englund, Jean Airey on new Doctor Who companion Melanie Bush (played by Bonnie Langford), Patrick Daniel O'Neill with more Who news (who knew?), and David McDonnell's roundup of genre news items (such as Orson Scott Card winning the Nebula award for Ender's Game).

Brian Lowry previews the new TV series Starman, the spinoff starring Robert Hays from the film of the same name; Jessie Horsting (author of Starlog's newest book, Stephen King at the Movies), goes behind the scenes of The Wizard, starring David Rappaport; William Rabkin talks with Alan Brennert, executive story consultant on the new Twilight Zone TV series; Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier interview the legendary writer Robert Bloch, who talks Star Trek; the Lofficiers keep up the Trek coverage with an interview with James Doohan, who talks about Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; but wait, there's more Trek: in two one-page articles, Anthony Timpone profiles Trek guest star John Hoyt (the ship's doctor in the series first pilot), and Frank Garcia profiles Sean Kenney (the immobilized Captain Pike in "The Menagerie"); Adam Pirani previews Little Shop of Horrors; Jim George and Fred Szebin provide a retrospective of the computers-amok film Colossus: The Forbin Project; Brian Lowry interviews Sondra Locke about her latest directing job, Ratboy (with a sidebar by William Rabkin chatting with effects wizard Rick Baker); Marc Shapiro talks to actress Sharon Stone about King Solomon's Mines and Allan Quatermain & the Lost City of Gold; Fan Network includes the announcement of the Cinemagic's eighth annual short-film awards, Chris Fletcher on his hew Trek fanzine (The Alternative Warp), answers to reader queries (such as, "Has there been any word released on the third book in David Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr series?"), and more; Will Murray explores the sequel, King Kong Lives!; the Comics Scene section includes Daniel Dickholtz on the Comet Man comic, and David Hutchison's obituary for Floyd Gottfredson; Patrick Daniel O'Neill interviews author Gordon Dickson; Chris Henderson's Booklog covers the latest print releases; Ron Miller pens a two-page obituary to space artist Chesley Bonestell; David Hutchison's Videolog highlights the latest video releases; the Future Life page includes Rich Kolker on the Enterprise test shuttle ending up at the National Air and Space Museum, Douglas Barton on new techniques for creating better steel, and Rich Kolker on the latest visit to Mars; and in a nice coda to O'Quinn's editorial, editor David McDonnell uses his Liner Notes column to explain how religious pressure groups helped kill sister magazine Hard Rock. This was the Reagan era, after all – Moral Majority flexing its power.

"I remember there was a scene I just hated. I went to a sneak preview and stole about 30 opinion cards and wrote down that they should cut this terrible, sloppy, sentimental scene. Two weeks later, Stanley Chase called me into his office and he had all these cards in front of him. He said, 'You wrote all these, didn't you?' I said, 'Yes, I did.' They finally cut the scene."

–James Bridges, screenwriter, interviewed by Jim George and Fred Szebin: "Colossus: The Forbin Project: An Overlooked Classic"

To view previous Starlog issue descriptions, click on "Starlog Internet Archive Project" in the keywords below or visit the Starlog Project's permanent home.

The Starlog Project: Starlog #112, November 1986: Star Trek Birthday Overdose

This issue is one that I can not think about without remembering a specific time and place. I was in my first semester at university, and my attention was elsewhere. I decided I wasn't interested as much as I had been in science fiction (I was reading The New Republic more than Starlog), so after issue #111, I stopped reading Starlog.

That lasted one whole month, and then I decided I missed it and began reading (and subscribing) again. But it makes Starlog #112 the only issue I ever missed buying (or receiving in the mail) in the 30 years that I read the publication. Luckily, I quickly got #112 as a back issue, because it's a great issue. It's almost completely devoted to Star Trek, on the occasion of that franchise's 20th anniversary. Starlog had even thrown a special 20th anniversary convention to celebrate the occasion, and it sounds like it was a highlight for all involved.

Starlog #112
100 pages (including covers)
Cover price: $3.95

Some production notes: The 100-page issue includes lots of color, though all color pages in the magazine (not including the covers) are printed on non-glossy paper stock. But the color is still very crisp, clear, and bright; in addition, the black-and-white pages are heavier and whiter than normal. This issue also is printed with a perfect (aka squarebound, or glued) binding, instead of the usual staples, for the first time in years.

The rundown: A classic-Trek photo of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy graces the cover. Kerry O'Quinn's From the Bridge column recounts the highlights of the magazine's convention, which was called (with a rather unwieldy title) Creation Conventions presents Starlog Salutes Star Trek; Communications letters include still more people angry at Gene Roddenberry's criticism of Christianity in his interview in #100, some thoughts on the Trek movie franchise, an anti-Trek complaint, and more; Medialog features David McDonnell's roundup of genre news (such as the announcement of a Mel Brooks SF satire to be called Spaceballs – originally titled Planet Moron); Fan Network stretches over six pages with an extensive listing of fan clubs, reader queries answered (such as, "Will you ever reprint the Star Trek episode guide from Starlog #1?"), Gigi Porter on location with Star Trek IV's crew; Richard Gilbert on the current (in 1986) whereabouts of the Star Trek Galileo shuttlecraft, Carr D'Angelo on an Enterprise-themed motorcycle that has to be seen to be believed, and more.

Former columnist David Gerrold pens a special essay on "What Star Trek Means to Me"; novelist Howard Weinstein writes the Other Voices guest column on "If You Think It's a Long Way to Tipperary, Try Following a Starship for 20 Years..."; Allan Asherman explores myths and Trek; in the Comics Scene section, Daniel Dickholtz looks at new Trek comics; an unbylined article features Gene Roddenberry's words from the Starlog Trek convention; D.C. Fontana's comments from a panel discussion at the convention get two pages; Edward Gross interviews Trek writer/director John Meredyth Lucas ("The Changeling," "Enterprise Incident"); in a "Writers of Star Trek" section, Gross also profiles Gilbert Ralston and Art Wallace; Carr D'Angelo reports on the Starlog convention itself in a six-page article, complete with lots of photos of speakers and attendees; Dan Madsen interviews actor William Shatner; convention appearances by Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley get a couple pages each; Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier interview James Doohan; John Adcox interviews George Takei; Nichelle Nichols' audience question-and-answer session is transcribed; Walter Koenig tells the convention crowd about his desire to take Chekov to Disneyland; Majel Barrett talks about how she got the part of Nurse Chapel; in a "Guests of Trek" section, Frank Garcia profiles Bruce Hyde (Lt. Riley) and Craig Huxley (Kirk's nephew), and Garcia and Mark Phillips profile Lee Bergere (Abraham Lincoln); Robert Greenberger uncovers the world of Star Trek novels; and Charles Washburn writes about his behind-the-scenes experiences as an assistant director for the Star Trek TV series.

In a non-Trek article, Alan Howard explains the special effects behind the film Flight of the Navigator; Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier interview the great French comics artist Moebius (real name, Jean Giraud); John L. Flynn explores the world of science-fiction fan costumes; David Hutchison notes the latest genre video releases in Videolog; and in Liner Notes, editor David McDonnell recounts the many connections between Starlog and its partial namesake, Star Trek.

"Working with [Alejandro] Jodorowsky was a very intense collaborative process. We met every morning at eight, and worked until the evening. Jodorowsky was molding my personality. The first time he asked me to redo something, I was astounded! Nobody had ever questioned what I was doing before. But he always had a reason. It was never gratuitous. The whole creative process became like an initiation. It's because of this situation that I don't consider Dune a failure. For me, it was a success because I left the production a richer man."

–Jean Giraud, comics legend, interviewed by Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier: "Jean 'Moebius' Giraud: Stripping the LIght Fantastic"

To view previous Starlog issue descriptions, click on "Starlog Internet Archive Project" in the keywords below or visit the Starlog Project's permanent home.

The Starlog Project: Starlog #111, October 1986: Howard the Duck

Howard the Duck might have made a good comic book, I dunno. Never read it. Howard the Duck might have been a promising idea to make into a movie, too, but it quickly became a punchline among movie fans and industry pros, rather than a hit. Howard the Duck might also have been a good idea for a Starlog cover feature, I dunno. Maybe it sold copies on the newsstands. Or maybe the magazine's editors and designers today shake their heads with disbelief, swearing they'll never again drink whatever they drank before they made this decision.

It's probably no coincidence that Starlog did not publish an official licensed movie magazine for Howie the duckster.

Starlog #111
76 pages (including covers)
Cover price: 29.5

Hey, they've printed the Aliens licensed movie magazines ad on a color page this time, and frankly it's readable – and makes me want to order them. Oh, wait, I already own them.

The rundown: Duck on the cover, and it's not Daffy. 'nuff said. Kerry O'Quinn's From the Bridge column talks about "Saw 2" (back when Saw meant Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2); Communications letters include comments on everything from religion (in which we get a reminder that Starlog has many readers who believe in God), to ST–TMP star Stephen Collins to R2D2, and more; Medialog includes Daniel Dickholtz chatting with actress Brooke Shields on Brenda Starr, and David McDonnell's roundup of genre media news (such as the possibility of a new Star Trek TV series).

Brian Lowry previews the animated The Real Ghostbusters; David Hutchison notes the new video releases in Videolog; Brian Lowry talks with Don Messick, voice actor; Fan Network includes a short article on fanzines and a sidebar listing nearly two dozen of them, answers to reader queries (such as, "How can I start an authorized fan club?"), and more; Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier explore "The Life and Times of Howard the Duck"; Future Life includes Rich Kolker on HOTOL (a giant radio-controlled plane), Douglas Barton on the science-fiction-come-true of the Chunnell (the Channel Tunnel), an item on a planned NASA astronaut memorial, and David Hutchison on laser-and-multimedia shows; Edward Gross profiles Chris Columbus (The Goonies, Gremlins, Young Sherlock Holmes, Galaxy High); Patrick Daniel O'Neill interviews actor Nicholas Courtney, Doctor Who co-star the Brigadier; Chris Henderson provides a Booklog roundup of the new print releases; Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier spend a day on the set of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Adam Pirani profiles special effects ace Brian Johnson; David Hutchison explains how The Boy Who Could Fly could fly (with a sidebar by Daniel Dickholtz on actress Lucy Deakins); Adam Pirani profiles special effects duo George Gibbs and Richard Conway (Brazil, Labyrinth, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life); Irv Sufkin interviews filmmaker Marshall Brickman (The Manhattan Project); William Rabkin interviews author Martin Caidin; Brian Lowry speaks with actress Sarah Douglas (Superman II, Solarbabies, Conan the Destroyer); and David McDonnell talks special effects in his Liner Notes column.

"The secret to understanding the future is understanding it in the small ways. If you went to a world with three moons, you might be stunned at first, but after three weeks, you wouldn't look up. It's the small things, the things we can't predict, that change social and cultural structure so much."

–Martin Caidin, author, interviewed by William Rabkin: "Martin Caidin: Better Living Through Science Fiction"

To view previous Starlog issue descriptions, click on "Starlog Internet Archive Project" in the keywords below or visit the Starlog Project's permanent home.

AP Photos of Birds Caught in BP Oil Spill in Gulf

These are heartbreaking photos.

Charlie Riedel, a photographer for Associated Press, took some awful photos -- excellent photos, but of such an awful scene -- of seabirds coated with oil on Louisiana's East Grand Terre Island.

Kind of makes you ashamed to be human.

See them all here.

George Shultz and Grameen Bank's Muhammad Yunus

From People

When Grameen Bank founder (and Nobel laureate in economics) Muhammad Yunus was being introduced before his May 24, 2010, speech to The Commonwealth Club, the moderator had to pause her introduction as everyone in the auditorium noted the entrance of George P. Shultz. "How can I compete with George Shultz?" she joked, as the crowd welcomed the elder statesman.

Shultz, the former U.S. secretary of state, secretary of labor, economist, business leader, and all-around fixture in the San Francisco public policy scene, showed up to hear his friend give the inaugural address in The Commonwealth Club's new series, Social Entrepreneurship in America.

I took this photo following Yunus' speech, when he came down from the podium to greet his old friend.

(If the entire photo is not displayed, click on the image to see full picture in my Picasa "People" photo album.)

From People

The Starlog Project: Starlog #110, September 1986: Still Innovating

The inside front cover ad promotes a brand-new book from Starlog and Signet, Stephen King at the Movies. The 112-page, 7-3/4" x 10-3/4" trade paperback was written by Jessie Horsting, a genre journalist who had previously been a contributor to Starlog's late competitor, Fantastic Films. The book also contains an essay by Harlan Ellison (reprinted from elsewhere, if I recall) on adapting King to the screen, and it was designed by co-publisher Norman Jacobs. A rather nifty book, all in all, and only for $9.95.

Starlog #110
76 pages (including covers)
Cover price: $2.95

This issue also features the first in-house ad for Starlog's two official licensed movie publications from the film Aliens. Unfortunately, it's printed on some black-and-white pages that are too dark, so any text that is inside a shaded box is nearly unreadable. But you can still get the point: An official "movie book" – which, again if I recall correctly, was designed by former Starlog art director and celebrated comics artist Howard Cruse – and an official movie magazine (the difference is in the packaging, some posters, and the pricing). These two publications became quite the collectors' items, very difficult to find many years later. After haunting eBay for many years, I finally snagged them, but only after I passed up many sellers who had priced each publication at something like $29.95.

The rundown: The cover photo features director David Cronenberg with his Fly open. In his From the Bridge column, publisher Kerry O'Quinn highlights some fans who made professions out of their favorite genres; letters in the Communications pages include an NBC News correspondent who corrects some details of Kerry O'Quinn's hurricane editorial from #103, feedback on Enemy Mine and Brazil, some praise for Starlog in general and Harlan Ellison in particular, and more; Medialog includes Adam Pirani's chat with special effects ace Brian Johnson, plus David McDonnell's roundup of genre news (such as, ABC has taken a pass on the series based on David Bowie's The Man Who Fell to Earth film).

Adam Pirani interviews director James Cameron about Aliens; the Fan Network pages include answers to reader queries (such as, "Could you tell me what Night of the Comet's Kelli Maroney is up to?"), plus short items on Grace Lee Whitney, fan organizations that work to improve the world, thoughts on celebrating the anniversary of Star Trek, and more; speaking of Trek, Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier interview Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home director Leonard Nimoy; Mike Glyer gives the history and trivia behind the Hugo awards; in a major team-up, Lee Goldberg, David Hutchison, and David McDonnell interview author Ray Bradbury; David Hutchison also pens his usual Videolog column previewing the new releases, and Carr D'Angelo adds a chat with Jewel of the Nile director Lewis Teague; Brian Lowry previews The Boy Who Could Fly; writer David A. Kyle remembers First Fandom in the Other Voices guest column; Anthony Timpone interviews The Fly star Geena Davis (and Timpone includes a sidebar chat about the movie with director – and coverboy – David Cronenberg); Patrick Daniel O'Neill notes the 25th anniversary of the Fantastic Four in a Comics Scene column; William Rabkin previews Howard the Duck; Lee Goldberg talks with filmmaker Bob Gale (Back to the Future); Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier explore Short Circuit, and they interview actor Steve Guttenberg in a sidebar; William Rabkin interviews William Dear (Amazing Stories' mummy episode); in the Future Life section, Douglas Borton reports on Voyager 2's Uranus flyby, and he explains Swedish doctor Bjorn Nordenstrom's electric ideas for fighting cancer, Rich Kolker looks at space-grown plants, and John McMurphy notes that "Atomic Clocks Replace Greenwich Time"; Lee Goldberg chats with actress Kim Catrall (while, in a sidebar, Daniel Dickholtz profiles actor Dennis Dun); Chris Henderson's booklog previews the new print releases (such as Michael Ende's Momo); and David McDonnell wraps it all up in his Liner Notes column talking copy editing, a new edition of Starlog's Science Fiction Trivia book, and more.

"[At the 1975 North American Science Fiction Convention, Larry] Niven was going up in a hotel elevator carrying the Hugo he had won for 'The Hole Man' which friends had just delivered to him from Melbourne [where, at a different convention, the Hugos had been awarded]. Two teenaged boys popped into the elevator next to him, and recognized the award but not the owner. 'Gee, mister, where did you get the Hugo?" one asked. Hardly hesitating, Niven explained, 'I got it from Harlan [Ellison]. He's quitting science fiction, and giving away his awards. I think he still has a couple left.' The two excited kids jumped off the elevator at the next floor and went pounding away down the hall in search of Ellison. Niven hopes they found him."

–Mike Glyer, writer, "No Trivial Pursuit: The Hugo Awards"

To view previous Starlog issue descriptions, click on "Starlog Internet Archive Project" in the keywords below or visit the Starlog Project's permanent home.

The Starlog Project: Starlog #109, August 1986: Sigourney Weaver Battles Aliens Again

Sigourney Weaver's Ripley returns to center stage this issue with James Cameron's Alien sequel, Aliens. This was arguably the biggest movie of this time period, and it would feature heavily in Starlog's coverage for quite a few issues. (That was helped, possibly, by the magazine publishing two official Aliens magazines. They certainly had the access and the materials.)

There's also a movie advertisement on the inside front cover for Solarbabies, which was not going to be the biggest movie of this time period. The most significant thing about it is that the ad lists its executive producer as being none other than Mel Brooks.

Starlog #109
76 pages (including covers)
Cover price: $2.95

On page 51 of this issue is one of those things that makes editors and publishers grind their teeth and pull out their hair. No, it's not the picture of Michael Jackson saluting; that's another matter. It's the half-page of blank space below it. Complete white. One can only assume that an advertisement or a half-page article dropped off the page somewhere along in production. In the editing process? Art directing? Production? Proofing? Processing and printing?

The rundown: In his From the Bridge column, Kerry O'Quinn gets political again by ruminating on political liberty and the Statue of Liberty; Communications letters include more on the controversy surrounding Gene Roddenberry's interview in issue #100 (in which he went off on religion), favorable reaction to the Roddy McDowell interview in #101, and more; and Medialog includes David McDonnell's roundup of genre news (such as John Malkovich being cast to play an android in Making Mr. Right), an unbylined item on a possible Greatest American Hero revival, and Lee Goldberg on a Mission: Impossible movie.

Steve Swires quizzes John Carpenter about his latest movie, Big Trouble in Little China; Ian Spelling (already becoming something of the Star Trek specialist he would one day be) interviews actor George Takei; Fan Network includes Daniel Dickholtz on the question of whether Star Wars fandom is dead, queries from readers (such as, "Who played the succession of younger Spocks in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock?"), and more; Kim Howard Johnson profiles Melanie Griffith about her role in Cherry 2000; the legendary writer L. Sprague de Camp writes about "Silent Specters, Spiders & Sauropods" in the Other Voices guest column; William Rabkin profiles actress Ally Sheedy about Short Circuit (plus a sidebar in which she talks about her role in WarGames); Lee Goldberg interviews actor Tom Skerritt, who talks The Dead Zone, SpaceCamp, and Alien; Adam Pirani interviews Skerritt's former co-star, Sigourney Weaver, who is reviving her Ripley character in Aliens; David Hutchison's Videolog chronicles anime videos plus other new releases; Edward Gross talks with Superman IV writers Larry Konner and Mark Rosenthal; Adam Pirani completes his two-part talk with Labyrinth creator Jim Henson (this is your chance to see David Bowie in a fright wig); the Future Life pages include Scott Zachek with more space camp details, Rich Kolker on a computerized look at the Statue of Liberty, and a completely blank half-page of nothingness (maybe a statement on the meaninglessness of life, or – more in keeping with Starlog's be-creative outlook on life – perhaps an invitation to readers to create their own article?); Lee Goldberg goes behind the scenes of Wes Craven's Deadly Friend; William Rabkin explores The Flight of the Navigator; Brian Lowry talks to the people behind Solarbabies; Lee Goldberg goes on location with the film Hyper Sapien; Chris Henderson rounds up the new print releases in Booklog; and David McDonnell gives some behind-the-scenes magazine news in his LIner Notes column.

"[Robert E.] Howard got his ideas of Roman orgies, oriental palaces, and medieval castles from the lavish sets that enhanced the movies of the '20s. He particularly admired The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923, Universal), which he says he saw several times. it featured Lon Chaney, Sr., in fearsome makeup as Quasimodo, and a great battle with Parisian proletarians whacking armored knights with sledge hammers."

–L. Sprague de Camp, writer, Other Voices: "Silent Specters, Spiders & Sauropods"

To view previous Starlog issue descriptions, click on "Starlog Internet Archive Project" in the keywords below or visit the Starlog Project's permanent home.

Cool Paintings by My Sister

My sister, Sue Zipperer, has put up a web site to sell her paintings (sans the watermark you see in this image, naturally).

I have two of her works in my home, and they're lovely. Check out all of them.

The Starlog Project: Starlog #108, July 1986: Short Circuit vs. R2D2

The anniversary cover design is tweaked this issue; no longer is it a white background with boxed photos; some of the photos are still there – though more as homage than main effect – but there's a large image taking up the lion's share of the cover real estate: Number Five, the robot star of Short Circuit. The cover text labels him (it) "America's favorite robot." Hmm, I would think that honor would go to Kenny Baker's R2D2, also featured in this issue. But maybe Artoo doesn't qualify because he's not really American; from a galaxy quite a ways away, as I now recall.

This is the final anniversary special issue in this format, though even this format has changed considerably in the past couple years. The special all-color, extra-pages section no longer has all of the genre annual wrap-ups and reviews. Also, half of those extra added color pages are printed on non-glossy paper stock; they're still full color (and they look just fine), but non-glossy paper is naturally cheaper than the glossy stock.

Starlog #108
100 pages (including covers)
Cover price: $3.95

A picture's worth a thousand words, goes the old saying. The math on that calculation is probably debatable, but I'm reminded of it when looking at this issue's front cover and doing a quick count of all of the text. I count 104 words on the cover (including the logo and pricing info).

The rundown: The issue kicks off with the Communications letters section, filled with people praising and/or second-guessing the staff on its choice of the 100 most important people in science fiction from the magazine's 100th issue; Kerry' O'Quinn's anniversary From the Bridge editorial recounts the magazine's challenges and triumphs in its first decade of existence; the magazine announces a big 10th anniversary contest with a two-page spread; in the Medialog section, David McDonnell rounds up all of the latest genre news (including Sam J. Jones – formerly Flash Gordon – being slated to star in The Spirit), C.B. Hackworth on a new start to the Superman franchise, and a film fantasy calendar listing; the Fan Network includes the convention calendar and Anthony Timpone answering reader queries (such as, "Do you know how I can obtain one of those infamous V dolls?").

Mike Clark interviews actor David Hedison, who talks the original The Fly and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; Steve Swires interviews actor Rod Taylor (The Time Machine, Twilight Zone, The Birds); Adam Pirani interviews Kenny Baker, who portrays R2D2 in the Star Wars films; Lee Goldberg interviews Kurt Russell (Big Trouble in Little China, Escape from New York); Adam Pirani talks with actor Michael Biehn about Aliens and The Terminator; Lee Goldberg profiles Martin Landau (Space: 1999, Star Trek, Meteor); cartoonist Phil Foglio provides a two-page comic, "From Book to Film: A Guide for Authors"; David Hutchison covers a documentary on the fantasy films of George Pal; Ian Spelling talks with Gene Roddenberry (along with a sidebar in which he interviews Roddenberry's wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry); Brian Lowry chats with Chuck Jones; Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier interview Short Circuit director John Badham; Lee Goldberg profiles Tobe Hooper (Invaders from Mars); in an article that would be something of a landmark for the magazine, Bruce Gordon explores the implications of Back to the Future: "The Other Marty McFly?"; David Hutchison previews The Great Mouse Detective; Patrick Daniel O'Neill profiles actress Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth); actress Greta Blackburn writes about her experience portraying Lorraine on V; in the Future Life section, Rich Kolker and Tom Chafin relate their experiences at NASA's Space Camp; coincidentally, Terry Pace previews the film Space Camp; David Hutchison mentions the new video releases in his Videolog column; Chris Henderson rounds up the latest book releases in Booklog; and David McDonnell's Liner Notes recounts some of the science-fiction and fantasy creators profiled in this issue.

"I walked in the office, and Jim [Cameron] was sitting there; ... he had a pen in his hand, and paper all over the place, with notes that he had written, and he was writing away. He said, 'Hi, Mike!' and just kept writing, and I said, 'How you doing, Jim, I came in to see the–' 'Yeah, yeah, the trailer's right over there,' and I asked, 'Jim, what are you doing?' He said, 'I've got to get this treatment of Aliens' – or the first draft, it was something like that – 'done by lunchtime,' and he was eating these cheese snacks – 'I don't have time for lunch,' and he was just hauling ass! This was the day after we finished The Terminator...."

–Michael Biehn, actor, interviewed by Adam Pirani: "Michael Biehn: Futuristic Hero"

To view previous Starlog issue descriptions, click on "Starlog Internet Archive Project" in the keywords below or visit the Starlog Project's permanent home.