April 4, 2011 by David J Rodger - 6 Comments

Wish list: from Zero-G to low orbit

Cropped cover for Have Space Suit — Will Travel - Robert A Heinlein

This is an aside from my desire to travel Paris to Istanbul on the Simplon Orient Express. Although as my good friend pointed out, if I can get a spacesuit tailored to look like something from the 1930’s then that murder mystery I want to write and perform during the ride, it might well be done going up, rather than west to east.

Ride the vomit comet:

Zero G Corporation are touring the US, picking up passengers and hurling them through a few parabolic maneuvers. Sounds like my kind of fun. Check out the Zero G corporation website.

Image from Zero G Corporation website

Next step: blast into space

Virgin Galactic are currently taking bookings for the first commercial tourist flights into space. It’s only 60 or 70 miles up – so not technically an orbital flight – but it’s still going to be a great view. Quite mind and eye-opening experience. Just need…erm, $125,000. So I guess I need to sell a few more books. (0)(-)

Virgin Galactic taking bookings to ride into space

Image from Virgin Galactic

Click here to view the Virgin Galactic website.

Meanwhile, I’ll just live out my boyish childhood daydreams through the fictional realms of my writing. Ho-hum. Have space suit. Will travel! :o)

David J Rodger – DATA

February 21, 2011 by David J Rodger - 6 Comments

Danny Boyle does Frankenstein – National Theatre – best of British Theatre broadcast LIVE to cinemas around the world 17th and 24 March 2011

For the first time ever, National Theatre Live will broadcast two separate performances of a production. Throughout the run of Frankenstein at the National Theatre, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller are alternating the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. Audiences in cinemas will have the chance to see both combinations, with two broadcasts a week apart.

17 March: Benedict Cumberbatch (Creature), Jonny Lee Miller (Victor)

24 March: Jonny Lee Miller (Creature), Benedict Cumberbatch (Victor)

* and varying dates internationally. These broadcasts have recently been announced and tickets will be going on sale over the coming days.

Both versions of the production will be filmed on 17 March. The evening performance, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Frankenstein, will be broadcast live to cinemas in the UK and some venues abroad on 17 March at 7.00pm GMT as already announced. The additional filmed performance with the leading roles reversed – Jonny Lee Miller as the Creature and Benedict Cumberbatch as Frankenstein – will be screened in the UK and Europe on 24 March, also at 7.00pm GMT (with worldwide screenings at a later date).

Oscar-winner Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) returns to the theatre to direct this visionary new production.

Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker. Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless Creature, increasingly desperate and vengeful, determines to track down his creator and strike a terrifying deal.

Urgent concerns of scientific responsibility, parental neglect, cognitive development and the nature of good and evil are embedded within this thrilling and deeply disturbing classic gothic tale.

Performance Running Time: Approximately 2 hours (no interval)

Suitable only for 15yrs+

Find your nearest participating cinema.

– From National Theatre Live website

Check out the venue for Bristol (UK) here:Vue Cinema Longwell Green

And if all this juicy resurrected goodness isn’t enough for you. Underworld are doing the score. OM-fekking-G.

.

Update 25th Feb 2011 – Guardian website publishes photos from the show:

photograph from Danny Boyle's Frankenstein copyright Tristram Kenton - Guardian

UPDATE (25th March 2011):

Here’s my review of the show

You might like this:

If you’re a fan of the kind of macabre tales where science invents its own creation myth and humankind dabbles in the role of God, here’s a list of spine-tingling short stories by British sci-fi & dark fantasy author: David J Rodger