Well, I was re-reading a cool book - one that I remember from my early 20s called "Nature's End" by James Kunetka and Whitley Strieber, lo and behold I discover that one of the authors, Streiber, has revealed the greatest unknown fear from his life with a book published back in 1988 called Communion: A True Story.

I didn't know this, but it was on the New York Times bestseller list for seven months after publication.

It is the implausible story of his having been in contact with (to quote the dustjacket copy) "intelligent nonhuman beings in his isolated cabin in upstate New York." Encounters with "visitors" which, Strieber alleges, have been occurring throughout his lifetime.

Since the book was published, the subject of abductions by alien or "nonhuman" beings has brought forth a flurry of new books on the subject - thanks X-Files! - but Strieber's best-selling volume has faded from discussion.

Thisstory gets weirder, though, according to Wikipedia he refers to the beings as "the visitors," a name chosen to be as neutral as possible, and leaves open the possibility that they are not extraterrestrials and even that they exist only in his mind.

Since the book was published, he has repeatedly expressed his frustration with what he feels are fantastic claims incorrectly attributed to him.

Strieber went on to write three more books about his experiences with the visitors, Transformation (1988), Breakthrough (1995), and The Secret School (1996). Each was commercially less successful than the last, and all three are now out of print. I haven't read any of them, but am trying to track down some copies.

Interesingly, moreso - according to Wikipedia - Strieber co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm (1999), a book about the possibility of rapid and destructive climate change, with Art Bell. He has said that it was based largely on things the Master of the Key had told him about the environment. The book served as the inspiration for the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and Strieber later wrote a novelization of that movie.

Mark Leyner is one of my favourite authors, but I've never read anyting non-fictional from him. Until now that is. A friend lent me Why Do Men Have Nipples?

Here's Vintage's (the publisher) description:

Compiled by Billy Goldberg, an emergency medicine physician, and Mark Leyner, bestselling author and well-known satirist, Why Do Men Have Nipples? offers real factual and really funny answers to some of the big questions about the oddities of our bodies.

Finally, answers to all those strange questions you'd like to ask your own doctor but haven't had the guts to do so. If you've ever wanted to ask a doctor . . .

• How do people in wheelchairs have sex?
• Why do I get a killer headache when I suck down my milkshake too fast?
• Can I lose my contact lens inside my head forever?
• Why does asparagus make my pee smell?
• Why do old people grow hair on their ears?
• Is the old adage "beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer. . .," really true?

I was seeking a fast, uncomplicated read to offer my evening to and this tiny tome captured my heart. It is alot of fun to leaf through and I especially liked being able to shatter some of the preconceptions that I harboured. This is one of those tomes which is great for reading/quoting to friends, etc.

I have seen a number of reviews go after this book for not providing enough education. Personally I think there are more than enough earnest books out there and I love that this one is written in a satirical and is worded in such a way that everyone can understand -- it just doesn't take itself too seriously! The anecdotes contained herein are often pretty funny and it definitely reminds us all what a strange world we live in. That said, I still came away from this little gem with many new things learned and I am sure you will too.

Got a recommendation for you folks , really something different. It's from Australian comedy science fiction writer Ian Taylor, author of the popular Spindle series, has just won the 2007 Indie Excellence Award for Science Fiction.  Spindle, the 2005 comedy science fiction novel by Ian Taylor, has won the 2007 Indie Excellence Award in the Science Fiction category.

Spindle tells the story of Peter Turner, a 22nd-century Earth guy who joins the Space Force, expecting an exciting and fun new career enforcing justice around the galaxy. But the Space Force is a bureaucracy like any large company, and right away they get Peter's name wrong, assign him to a dilapidated ship—he Spindle—and partner him with a violent misanthrope with a serious dislike for authority.

In his first week, Peter is shot at, maimed, beaten up and endures several cruel remarks about his hair. Also, there's a monster that eats planets. Peter must use all of his cunning, experience, his Master's degree in trivia and more than a bit of ingenuity just to survive his first week in the Space Force.

This hilarious satire manages to mock all the sacred cows of modern science fiction while maintaining a compelling futuristic narrative.

 A good read—thoroughly recommended

Scifi and fantasy are my greatest loves when it comes to what I read, admittedly, however, there is a hell of a lot of science fiction and and fantasy that I simply don't understand.

A lot of it seems to center aroung the technology or science and the characters play second fiddle-that's just not the way it's supposed to work. I prefer a story that take seriously character development, while the genre-specific elements of the story serve as backdrop.

Some mistake the setting with the crux or message of the story, a scifi 'setting' will often result in poor character development, plot lines, etc.

This rant is a product of my strufggling to read Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. In my opinion, it is an uneven (and unwieldy) book-not only that, but I am disappointed with the ending. Bah!

I was watching the Movie Network Saturday morning and saw for the first time the 1967 film adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. I had never seen it before. Directed by Francois Truffaut, this little unpretentious movie cleverly depicts Bradbury's vision. They have newspapers, but they are comics without words, merely pictures or images, much like the television in each family's living room. Yes, the movie is slow. Yes, the sets and the costumes are very 60ish and very dated. But it has something to say.

Oskar Werner does an excellent job as Guy Montag. I think both Truffaut and Werner wanted the audience to see the fireman's partial dehumanization. He recovers much of that humanity as the film progresses. The supporting cast was good, especially the actor who played the fire chief.

Perhaps something less than one of the great films. But it is a very thoughtfulfilm with a lot to say to its audience.

Even cooler is that Frank Darabont has recently confirmed that he'll be doing Farenheit 451.

Frank Darabont has directed only a few films, but each has been a tremendous success. He directed The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Majestic (2001) among some other great movies. Writes Empire Online:

Frank Darabont is nothing if not versatile. His career as Hollywood writer-director has taken in everything from epic tear-jerkers (The Shawshank Redemption) to terrifying pant-wetters (er, his screenplay for Nightmare On Elm Street 3). Steven Spielberg even asked him to write the first draft for Indiana Jones 4. There's little doubt that he can handle anything he puts his mind to, so when we spoke to him recently, we asked him to confirm whether he really plans to tackle cult Ray Bradbury novel Farenheit 451.

"I've written the script for Farenheit 451 and think it's the best thing I've ever done," he enthused. "As soon as the dust settles on the M:I-3 situation I'm going to try and make it, as it's been a passion project for me since I was about nine years old. Actually, before I even knew I wanted to be a filmmaker I wanted to make that movie."

The story imagines a frightening not-so-distant future where all books are banned and people brainwashed with mind-numbing, compulsory television shows. Instead of putting out fires, firemen start them in order to burn literature. The hero, one such fireman, is forced to go on the run after his curious young daughter brings a forbidden book home.

"The Truffaut version was markedly lacking in passion, which was very bizarre to me considering what a passionate book it is," says Darabont. "As a literary work it's a cry from the heart and Truffaut's film was like paint drying on a stick. I don't consider this a remake. I'm doing this as an adaptation of a book that's never been done before, that's never been made before."

Darabont isn't the only one in Hollywood to be blown away by the book - earnest superstar Mel Gibson snapped up the rights a while back with a view to making it himself.

"Well, I was raising my hand back then saying, "Mel, do you need a writer?". He didn't, but after trying to develop it for a few years he cooled on the idea of directing it himself. I met with him one day and said, "Let me come and grab the ball because this is the movie I would sell all my wordly possessions to make." And it speaks well of the man that he's been so gracious and supportive. He's a good fellow."

I don't know if I agree with what he had to say about the Truffault piece-it is a little wooden in parts but... Perhaps its too subtle for today's generation. If you are expecting a Sci-Fi film-set in a space-like future, with astounding special effects-you will be disappointed, it's not that sort of film.

Thanks to the folks at Rain Taxi and Lucas Klein for a fine review of Jerome Rothenberg’s powerful collection. We’re pleased to have brought it out. Here’s the link. Enjoy!

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