Computer Warriors!

Man, does this take me back. A big thanks to Z. Constance Frost for pointing me in the right direction (Charles Gramlich was close with his guess). But silly me -- it wasn't a show so much as a one-time VHS movie. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

Computer Warriors was a toy line made by Mattel from 1989-1990. The storyline behind the toys involves a top-secret government computer which unleashes evil Virus troops. These troops, led by Megahert, hide in everyday household objects and have the goal of world domination by taking control of computers. The government computer then produces good soldiers, the Computer Warriors, led by Romm to battle the Virus troops. The Computer Warriors tagline ran "Expect the unexpected!"

Unlike many toylines of the time, Computer Warriors did not feature a tie-in animated series. There was only a single pilot episode, Computer Warriors: The Adventure Begins, which was later released on VHS. Directed by Bill Kroyer (who also co-wrote with Carl Macek) it featured his signature style of integrating wireframe CGI with traditional hand-drawn animation.

Of course, I was only nine years old at the time, so I remember the toys much more than the movie (speaking of which, how uncreative was that marketing department? "What should we call these things?" "I don't know. How about 'Computer Warriors'?" "That sounds cheesy." "I know. So let's go sell some toys!"). Anyway, thanks to the almighty YouTube, everyone can experience the movie again. Here's part one:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3ggvKvY_R8

Tron Trivia

There was once a time when I visited IMDb daily and kept up with movie news. That time has long since past, but I still visit every once in awhile, usually to check up on a particular movie or TV show. And my favorite part is always the trivia section, those little tidbits that can be interesting and sometimes can be confusing and you always wonder just how these trivia bits got there. From what I can tell, it's like Wikipedia, and anybody can contribute. So it really makes you wonder about this nifty piece of trivia I found regarding the original TRON movie:

Jeff Bridges produced too much of a bulge in the crotch area in his computer outfit, so he was forced to wear a dance belt to conceal it.

So now you know.

Also, does anyone remember a cartoon from the 90's with these computer viruses that manage to escape a computer and hide in a kid's bedroom, turning his toys into weapons? If so, what was it called?

Now I wanted to post some kind of video from the original TRON, like the trailer or even the Lightbike scene. Instead, I leave you with a very important message from Tron Guy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3609OtM138c

Goodbye, 2010

I'm not going to do a big year-end wrap up of what went on in my life because, well, if you've been reading this blog you pretty much know all of it. Most of it had to do with Hint Fiction, and I need to thank everyone who has helped spread the word about the anthology, who has bought a copy of the anthology, who has even given the anthology a moment's glance at the bookstore. Your support means more than I can put into words ... but that's just because I'm lazy. What does 2011 have in store? Well, that's the thing. You just never really know. I will say that there are a few surprises coming, one of which I hinted at on Facebook yesterday, the other a collaboration with a legend in the horror field that I'm very excited about. And, who knows, maybe a few more surprises will pop up. Guess you'll just have to wait and see.

So then I'll close out the last post of the year with my favorite books. I read just over 60 books this year. Not bad, but I think I can do a whole lot better. Also, it's always hard to judge what to count as a book. Like if I read and critique a friend's manuscript, does that count? What about a literary journal? Or a graphic novel? (Also, what is up with year's best lists that don't include books that came out in that year? Like the other day, I saw a list that contained two books being released this February. I mean, WTF?)

Anyway, this list is not a "best of" list so much as a list of books I read and really enjoyed and think you might enjoy them too. As some of them were audiobooks, I thought I would note that along with the narrator, as oftentimes a particular narrator really brings an extra energy to the story. Also, the list is in no particular order ... except the order in which they were read and/or listened to.

• PRIDE OF BAGHDAD by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon (graphic novel)
• CITY OF THIEVES by David Benioff, read by Ron Perlman (audiobook)
• RAIN GODS by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton (audiobook)
• BRIGHT SHINY MORNING by James Frey (novel)
• STITCHES: A MEMOIR by David Small (graphic novel)
• THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt (novel)
• SHARP TEETH by Tony Barlow (novel)
• THE LINCOLN LAWYER by Michael Connelly, read by Adam Grupper (audiobook)
• THE SPOT by David Means (story collection)
• THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin (novel)
• PRINCE OF THIEVES by Chuck Hogan (novel)
• OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout (story collection)
• THE MIDNIGHT ROAD by Tom Piccirilli (novel)
• THE GLASS RAINBOW by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton (audiobook)
• NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro (novel)
• GONE TOMORROW by Lee Child, read by Dick Hill (audiobook)
• HOW THEY WERE FOUND by Matt Bell (story collection)
• THEN WE CAME TO THE END by Joshua Ferris (novel)
• LONG LOST by Harlan Coben, read by Steven Weber (audiobook)
• ROOM by Emma Donoghue (novel)

Heading into the new year, I plan to start with a bunch of YA books I have piled around my office: The Hunger Games trilogy, The Graveyard Book, The Book Thief, etc. There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and never enough time to read everything you want.

So what about you? What were some of your favorites this year?

Narrative Magazine Needs YOUR Help

Dear Narrativos, One and All, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, Narrative is a groundbreaking effort on behalf of literature. You are part of a rapidly growing readership of 100,000 that is helping to shape the future of stories. You’re here because you believe in the value of good writing and reading. And thanks to readers, donors, volunteers, and staff like you, Narrative publishes and pays more authors than any other literary magazine, yet we deliver our content—stories, poems, and art—for free, anywhere there’s an active mind and a computer.

Narrative needs you. In this most challenging of times, we need your help to keep the magazine vital and to guarantee a strong place for literary values in the new media. Please do what you can. Your tax-deductible contribution furthers an unprecedented nonprofit mission and a committed belief in the transformative power of stories.

Please Donate.

With gratitude that you are with us,

Carol Edgarian and Tom Jenks, Editors

Come on, people! Carol and Tom need your help to pay for the upkeep on their new private jet ... er, I mean your help to pay for good literature or whatever it is they do there.

Clueless

I just got a friend request on Facebook with this message (the XXX's are to help protect the guilty):

We have a lot of friends and interests in common, so I thought I'd shoot you an add. I'm a writer and art director in XXX. Hope all is well. Peace, XXX.

Nice, no? Thing is, I was already friends with this person but unfriended them after continuously ignoring the invites to join this particular writer's self-made fan page (invite me once or twice, fine, but more than a half dozen and it gets ridiculous). Now this person wants to be my friend again, wants to "connect," but doesn't seem to remember the simple fact that we had already been "friends." Hmm, how can that be? Oh yes, maybe because this particular person currently has 4,380 "friends." Well, I personally think that's more than enough for right now, thanks.