VIEWS FROM THE ACORN UNIVERSE, 6/27/08

This week, site suggestions, book suggestions, a gay comedy, and some boy from Hell.

A friend just introduced me to the site Good Reads; it helps you find and suggest books. Find links to some similar pages—and numerous gay sites—via my Link Trades page.

I loved the book Weird Texas! I just started reading Weird U.S., and it has some good stories so far. The concept is simple: combine first-person reports of local folklore and urban legends with road-trip investigations. It should appeal to fans of the TV show Supernatural.


SciFi Wire includes an interview with Hellboy 2’s Doug Jones. That sequel looks it might be even more fun than the original.

The gay comedy A Four Letter Word arrives on DVD, August 14. It stars actor/OUT columnist Jesse Archer and Dante's Cove hunk Charlie David. (As opposed to all the ugly people on Dante’s Cove.) Read my review at ThisWeekInTexas.Com.

VIEWS FROM THE ACORN UNIVERSE, 6/18/08

Star Trek star George Takei has posted photographs and details about his engagement to long-time partner Brad Altman. They have been partners for over 21 years. In a blog entry, Takei writes that “As a Japanese American, I am keenly mindful of the subtle and not so subtle discrimination that the law can impose. During World War II, I grew up imprisoned behind the barbed wire fences of U.S. internment camps.”

In my novel Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure, gay marriage is a non-issue, and racism is a distant but painful memory. Unfortunately, people now face discrimination for their weight, as well as for their religious and political views. In science fiction, like in reality, we always need to struggle against prejudice.


Some news about scifi TV follows.

In a video at the ABC Family Kyle XY page, the narrator simply gives 2009 as the return date. The same page says “ALL NEW SEASON coming soon!” Soon?

Fox has posted a Fringe page. At this point, the page only shows strange images from the upcoming Joshua Jackson series.

SciFi.Com has posted new details about the syndicated series based on Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth novels: Wizard's Gets Show Runner.

SciFi.Com also posted Battlestar Galactica clarifications; the clarifications might cause more confusion. We’ll see what the future holds; if the rest of the season proves anywhere near as good as that midseason finale, viewers should stay tuned.

More Gay Love and Marriage Buzz.

Norway Passes Law Approving Gay Marriage

California gay couples rush to wed as vote looms

George Takei Celebrity Interview Supporting California Same-Sex Marriage

Opinions and More: The California gay-marriage decision - more comment.

Gay Marriage Would Increase CA Spending

Scenes from a Gay Marriage


Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure

This revised version of Duane Simolke's science fiction adventure Degranon features more gay characters and a sharper focus on diversity themes. On the planet Valchondria, no illness exists, gay marriage is legal, and everyone is a person of color. However, a group called "the Maintainers" carefully monitors everyone's speech, actions, and weight; the Maintainers also force so-called "colorsighted" people to hide their ability to see in color.

The brilliant scientist Taldra loves her twin gay sons and thinks of them as the hope for Valchondria's future.

Some Gay Marriage Buzz, During the Big Day in California.

1st California Gay Marriage License Issued Today

California Same Sex Marriage: Guide to Getting Married in California

California Gay Marriage Blog

Couple Marks California's First Same-Sex Marriage

Deanna’s Ramblings: Same-Sex Marriage Begins Today

Bil Browing: Looking for that Day to Arrive

Dear Sugar: Same-Sex Love Stories

Marriage Equality Is Golden

Let Them Wed

The CNN Wire: First same-sex weddings to take place Monday in California

BBC News: California Gay Couples Set to Wed

Gay Love Poem

Holding Me Together



BTW, this is blog entry #350 for Acorn Universes.

VIEWS FROM THE ACORN UNIVERSE, 6/12/08

About.Com has posted 2008 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade Dates.

My video Gay Pride has received 2,595 views at YouTube. "Editing" is a poem about past and present homophobia. This video contrasts the dark imagery of "Editing" with colorful, positive pictures from Toronto Gay Pride, showing a refusal to let fear, violence, or hatred silence us. "Editing" appears in my book Holding Me Together, which also includes the essay "Reactions to Homophobia" and the gay love poem "Home."

My other videos follow: The Return of Innocence: A Fantasy Adventure, Fight Cancer, Texas Fiction, Gay Science Fiction, and Gay Love Poem.

Watch here for news about a new movie (and a new Web site) from Jeff London, director of And Then Came Summer, Regarding Billy, and the gay horror flick When Darkness Falls.

Mania has posted a new Babylon A.D. trailer. Vin Diesel stars in the French production, based on a popular science fiction novel of the same name. Mania also posted a Mirrors teaser trailer; that horror film stars Kiefer Sutherland.

Gay DVD: New Releases


ThisWeekInTexas.Com has posted my review of NOT | GAY. Frameline offers a new DVD compilation, described as “four short films exploring the joys and frustrations of gay/straight friendships.”


The new DVD Back Soon is a gay love story with a supernatural twist. And speaking of supernatural and twisted, Dante's Cove: The Complete Third Season just arrived. For another gay love story, Brad Rowe returns in Shelter.

VIEWS FROM THE ACORN UNIVERSE, 6/5/08

SciFi.Com has posted an interview with Robert Wertheimer, executive producer of Charlie Jade. That dimension-spanning series comes to SciFi this Friday.

The direct-to-DVD sequel Starship Troopers 3: Marauder arrives August 5. That site includes details, news, and images. The trailer looks promising, and didn’t give me eye-strain—unlike the poorly lit ST2.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete First Season arrives on DVD August 19, while Smallville: The Complete Seventh Season drops September 9; of course, both shows will return to TV in the fall.

Queer Writers, a resource for LGBT readers and authors, has relocated. Previous members need to rejoin.