Here is an update from JMS on a number of his new projects:
A lot of people have been asking what's up while the newsgroup's been down, so
I figured I'd take just a moment to do a quick list of where to go for new jms
stuff, and what's in the works.
I apologize in advance if this comes across heavy-handedly, it's just that a
lot of stuff has been going on, and the best way to get it out is just to drop
it all at once rather than cluttering up the newsgroup with a lot of different
messages.
1) My new novel, TRIBULATIONS, is now available to be read free online at
www.bookface.com (along with the last Crusade scripts and some of my short
stories).
2) Starting Monday, for those who massively want a print copy of the book,
TRIBULATIONS can also be ordered from darktales.com; Dark Tales publishing is
doing a special edition trade paperback in limited numbers. (And a bit of
history is being raffled off: the Kinesis keyboard on which I wrote nearly all
of B5, most of my internet posts, Crusade, Tribulations, the Murder She Wrote
movie, and a bunch of other stuff...will be raffled off to one of the folks who
pick up the Dark Tales edition. It still works fine though the cable that goes
inside comes a bit loose sometimes.) I've been offered big bucks for the
thing, and some have wanted to sell it on ebay...but all things considered, I'd
rather give it away, in the hope that whoever gets it will use it to create the
next big story.)
3) The 13 episode anthology series I'm doing for scifi.com -- THE CITY OF
DREAMS -- continues to air new episodes. The first couple starred Steve
Buscemi and Andre Braugher, and the one currently up stars Tim Curry and should
be of particular interest to net-folks. Just stick with it, you'll see what I
mean. That's over at www.scifi.com/cityofdreams
4) Per a page one story in today's DAILY VARIETY, MGM has commissioned me to
write a RISING STARS movie in a seven-figure deal. I won't be producing this
one because a) I have nothing to do with financing it and have never produced a
feature film and have no desire to start, and b) I'm going to be too busy
because....
5) Having finally finished the RISING STARS negotiation, we're now able to
finish negotiating the deal for me to run a new hour long drama series as exec
producer. There are just a few more small points we're still haggling over,
but they're not deal breakers, so I should be able to provide that info
sometime in the coming week. It's going to be a pretty cool show.
6) Alongside such other folks as Jerry Bruckheimer, Oliver Stone, Ellen
Degeneres, Chris Rock and the like, I've signed to develop programming for
z.com, which looks like it's going to become one of the premiere sites for
internet programming. We hope to have some of the stuff online by Halloween.
7) I've also just signed to do a column for psycomics.com, a division of USA
Networks. The first one debuts around September 28th.
8) Next month the first title under the Joe's Comics imprint from Top Cow makes
its debut: MIDNIGHT NATION, a nifty little book penciled by Gary Frank. You
can get an advance glimpse of the stuff at
http://wizardworld.com/news/topcow/midnight_nation/midnight_nation.html
Other than that it's been pretty quiet.
Pulled this from the B5 newsgroups -- thought you'd be interested:
For those who have wanted to see some new stuff from me....
I'm pleased to announce that I've signed a contract to have some of my prose
work appear online at www.bookface.com, a brand new and
exciting site which will make a wide range of well-known authors and best-sellers available for
reading online *without charge* to readers.
These include the following items, which will be rolled out in roughly this
order over the coming days and weeks....
My brand new non-B5 short story, COLD TYPE, and in a little while, a reprint of
my novelette WE KILLED THEM IN THE RATINGS, which originally appeared in a
major mystery anthology. COLD TYPE is a contemporary dark fantasy story in
the TWILIGHT ZONE mold.
Of special interest to B5 and Crusade fans...my two unproduced CRUSADE scripts
that were written specifically to crank up the overall story arc: "To the Ends
of the Earth," which was to be that season's arc jumper a la "The Coming of
Shadows," and the *season finale* "End of the Line." These episodes were
written but never filmed. For those who want to know what was planned for the
rest of the season and where it was going...this is it.
AND...biggest of all....
In a few weeks, as a thank-you to all the B5 fans who've stayed with us over
the years, instead of taking my new novel to auction, through Bookface I'm
making it available *free* for online reading. TRIBULATIONS will be serialized
on the Bookface site over a period of about a month.
So head on over...I think you'll like what you see.
RISING STAR NEWS
Coming in July 2000:
Available in two different editions:
Rising Stars #1/2 Signed (Christian Zanier)
Rising Stars #1/2 (unsigned)
Description: This item is not in stock yet, it is expected to arrive in July, but you can order this item
now and we'll ship it as soon as it comes in.
A rising fan base is pushing Rising Stars up the top-seller chart. Now a new story revealing more
information on the colorful characters of the series is on it’s way in Rising Stars 1/2! Written by
series creator and writer J. Michael Straczynski and illustrated by series penciler Christian Zanier,
this all-new issue is solidly entrenched in the regular storyline and sheds new light on Rising Stars’
many mysteries. And as if being a new addition to this hot series weren’t enough, we’re also offering a
signed version bearing the signature of Christian Zanier. This is one issue no collector of the series
will want to miss!
RISING STARS #1 B&W EDITION
(W) J. Michael Straczynski (P) Keu Cha (I) Jason Gorder
Top Cow is pleased to present the next edition of the Black and White series. Revisit this epic tale
written by J. Michael Straczynski that begins when a celestial event occurs in a small town that will
change the inhabitants' lives forever. With beautifully rendered artwork by Keu Cha (Witchblade) and
Jason Gorder.
FC 32 pages $2.50
RISING STARS #9
(W) J. Michael Straczynski (P) Christian Zanier (I) Livesay (C)Brett Evans
With cover by guest artist Gary Frank (Kin), the one year anniversary of this wildly popular comic book
begins the second act of the Rising Stars story (issues 9-16). This story arc jumps ahead in time to see
the effects of full-scale conflict between many of the Rising Stars. In the first act of this series, the
world shaped our characters...now, our characters begin to shape the world, and the world may not be very
happy about those changes.
FC 32 pages
TOP COW BOOKS SHIPPING IN AUGUST 2000
RISING STARS PRELUDE
(W) J. Michael Straczynski (P) Keu Cha
Available for the first time inked and in full color, revisit this first glimpse story of the hottest new
book of 1999, RISING STARS, created and written by J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of BABYLON 5 and
CRUSADE. Predating issue 1 this story features Pyre and includes a brand new cover.
FC 32 pages $2.50
RISING STARS #10
(W) J. Michael Straczynski (P) Christian Zanier (I) Livesay (C)Brett Evans
This story takes place years after the first eight issues. Many of the Specials are running rampant now,
taking revenge or setting up their own little empires, while a few still try to stop them. All the normal
people were afraid of what the specials might one day become. That day has arrived.
FC 32 pages $2.95
TOP COW BOOKS SHIPPING IN SEPTEMBER 2000
RISING STARS #11
(W) J. Michael Straczynski (P) Christian Zanier (I) Livesay (C ) Brett Evans
As the saga of Rising Stars continues, the Specials are seriously raging out of control. Whatever ties they
once had are being unraveled. Sides have been chosen and in their minds, this battle will not end with
survivors. The safety of Earth is being jeopardized with every minute that passes.
FC 32 pages $2.50
JOE'S COMICS
Joe has said that his first issue of Joe's Comics -- Midnight Nation has been slated for September. What
will it be about?
"It's a contemporary story that doesn't really fit most categories...maybe magic
realism comes closest, dark fantasy maybe...it sets some of the tropes of the
dark fantasy genre against a modern setting, with a police officer on a quest
to recover something taken from him, a search which shows him a side of the
country usually not seen, the hidden doors and secret places only glimpsed out
of the corner of the eye...."
Available in two different editions:
