News! Benedict Cumberbatch, Joe Abercrombie, Guardians Of The Galaxy , The Martian Chronicles , Fighting Fantasy, Ant-Man and more...
• A new extended TV spot for Guardians Of The Galaxy shows us a little more footage of the new Marvel film:
Guardians Of The Galaxy is out on Thursday 31 July in the UK and you can read all about it, including our amazing set report and interviews, in SFX print edition issue 249 (on sale now) .
• In case you missed it, news broke over the weekend that Peyton Reed will replace Edgar Wright as the director of Ant-Man . Adam McKay is a new writer on the Marvel film.
• Meanwhile, Deadline is reporting that Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch are on the shortlist for the role of Doctor Strange in the movie adaptation of Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme.
• Want to party like (half) a king? There's a chance to win a trip for yourself and a guest to meet top fantasy author Joe Abercrombie in London in August! It's a party to launch his new book Half A King (review and interview in SFX 250 ). If you head to the HarperVoyager site and preorder the book you could be in with a chance of winning a ticket to the bash on 14 August, where you'll also meet other authors, editors and publishing types. You have to be over 18, terms and conditions apply of course.
• Listen out for Dangerous Visions: The Martian Chronicles on Saturday 21 June at 14:30. The latest drama from B7 for BBC Radio 4 is an all-new adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s perennial classic. Derek Jacobi and Hayley Atwell will lead an all-star cast, directed by Andrew Mark Sewell .
• Coming on Sunday 7 September 2014 is the first ever day convention dedicated to Fighting Fantasy game books ! Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 will have (of course) Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone as Guests of Honour, as well as top writer Jonathan Green. Expect talks, panels, signings, art sessions and more.
• The Museum of Science Fiction is a nonprofit organization which seeks to establish a science fiction museum in Washington, DC . As an initial step, the museum is planning a temporary preview museum. And there's a contest to design it – architects and designers may register to participate by Friday 25 July, and there's a $1,000 prize.
• The David Gemmell awards for fantasy are announced this Friday and SFX editor-in-chief Dave Bradley will be presenting the Legend award for best novel, as voted for by book readers. His fellow presenters are John Gwynne ( Morningstar award for new writer) and Les Edwards ( Ravenheart award for book cover art).
• The novel Rupetta by NA Sulway, published by independent British publisher Tartarus Press , has won the James Tiptree Jr Award for "a work of science fiction or fantasy which best explores or expands gender roles" and the Norma K Hemming Award for "excellence in the exploration of themes of race, gender, sexuality, class and disability in speculative fiction" (sponsored by the Australian Science Fiction Foundation). It's about an artificial intelligence created 400 years ago from cloth, leather, and metal and is described as a "blend of fantasy, science fiction, romance, and even gothic horror." The hardback first edition has sold out but paperback and ebook versions are available.
• The Fairy Flag has started filming, becoming the biggest independent Scottish film in 20 years. It's a legend from the Isle of Skye brought to life. Written by Peter Columbia and Rory Nicoll it stars Jade Yourell, Eugene Horan and Chis Capaldi.
More news as it happens! In the meantime, remember to give us your comments on Chris Beckett's Dark Eden for the Book Club.