Who Review – The Dalek Invasion of Earth

Posted by Richo On February 23, 2012 1 COMMENT

Welcome to the Eighth Instalment of Who Review, my ongoing quest to watch and review all available episodes of SF’s longest running television series, Doctor Who.

I’m jumping 2 storylines ahead for this review. The two storylines before this one, The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants, have not yet been released on DVD. Both are scheduled for release in 2012 and I’ll retro review both once they’re available.

This week, the Doctor’s greatest villains return in the 11th Doctor Who storyline, The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

For a complete listing of all Who Review articles, please click here – Who Review Archive

EPISODES

The Dalek Invasion of Earth (6 Episodes)

BROADCAST DATES

November 21 – December 26, 1964

THE DOCTOR

William Hartnell

THE COMPANIONS

Susan Foreman

Barbara Wright

Ian Chesterton

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Who Review – The Sensorites

Posted by Richo On February 18, 2012 ADD COMMENTS

Welcome to the Seventh Instalment of Who Review, my ongoing quest to watch and review all available episodes of SF’s longest running television series, Doctor Who. This week, the Doctor finds himself embroiled in the mystery of The Sensorites.

For a complete listing of all Who Review articles, please click here – Who Review Archive

EPISODES

The Sensorites (6 Episodes)

BROADCAST DATES

20 June – 06 August 1964

THE DOCTOR

William Hartnell

THE COMPANIONS

Susan Foreman

Barbara Wright

Ian Chesterton

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The Demolished Man

Posted by Richo On February 15, 2012 ADD COMMENTS

Welcome to the twelfth instalment of Dust Jacket and our first for 2012. For those of you new to the site, Dust Jacket is NCP’s ongoing column ranking and reviewing the greatest SF novels of all time. Past columns can be found at the Dust Jacket Archive

To kick off the new year, we’re delving into the realm of corporate intrigue, murder and telepathic powers with Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man. As always, I’m joined by co-conspirator Luke, who uses his own psychic powers for evil as the World’s Harshest Critic.

One of two highly influential novels written by Bester in the 50’s, The Demolished Man holds the singular honour of being the inaugural Hugo Award winner. The books influence permeates through the SF that followed it, from the cyberpunk movement of the 80’s,  to television shows like Babylon 5.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

In the 24th century, beings with telepathic powers have become an integrated and integral part of human society. Known as Espers, these telepaths are divided into three levels, dependent on power and ability. Class 3 Espers are the most common type, able to ‘read’ only conscious thoughts and serve roles as assistants and administrators. Class 2 are more powerful, able to dig into another’s pre-conscious thoughts. They serve in greater positions of power, such as lawyers and psychologists. The most powerful telepaths, the Class 1 Espers can read all conscious and subconscious thoughts and urges and serve in high ranking positions of power in the police force and the government. They also control the Esper Guild, the powerful government body designed to detect, train and enforce the ethical guidelines for the use of telepathic abilities.

The world of the Demolished Man is also one free from murder – due to the presence of telepaths it has been 70 years since the last murder was committed.

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Shadow Cities: A nerd community in a mobile MMO

Posted by Miztres On February 10, 2012 2 COMMENTS

MMO gaming is about community.  They are a chance to share an adventure with friends (or at least like-minded people) wherever you may be. Making strangers into communities that support and encourage each other is at the heart of all MMO so it’s not a surprise that the mobile MMO, Shadow Cities (www.shadowcities.com) encourages mentoring and community building.

Shadow Cities (available only on Apple iOS) is a very simple game at heart.  You are a mage recruited to fight the spirits that plague human kind in the Shadowy realm one step removed from our own plane of existence.  These Shadow realms overlay a map of wherever you are located in real life using the devices GPS and Google Maps information.  Thus you find yourself battling for the defence of your own suburbs, making yourself Shadow Lord over your town.

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Who Review – The Aztecs

Posted by Richo On February 9, 2012 5 COMMENTS

Welcome to the Sixth Instalment of Who Review, my ongoing quest to watch and review all available episodes of SF’s longest running television series, Doctor Who. This week, it’s another jaunt into mankind’s past as I look back on The Aztecs.

For a complete listing of all Who Review articles, please click here – Who Review Archive

EPISODES

The Aztecs (4 Episodes)

BROADCAST DATES

23 May – 13 June 1964

THE DOCTOR

William Hartnell

THE COMPANIONS

Susan Foreman

Barbara Wright

Ian Chesterton

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Friends