This comes after a flurry of rumors in the past couple of days that Beaufoy would be writing a Wolverine sequel.

Are we right in assuming this means the animated adaptation of Truckers is once again alive? Hopefully. The film has been in development since at least 2001, but has suffered some false starts–Frank Cotrell Boyce’s name has previously been attached to the project as writer.

This January, planned director Danny Boyle (also of Slumdog Millionaire fame) seemingly definitively said the Truckers adaptation was dead: “It’s fallen apart. Frank Cotrell Boyce (Millions) and I were going to do it for DreamWorks but sadly no longer.”

But after Slumdog Millionaire’s awards sweep this year, Boyle and Beaufoy have chosen to start working on an animated Truckers, for Dreamworks.

Links:
Ready2Beat
AceShowBiz
The Playlist
Slash Film

We are Alan Batley and Colin Edwards, two fans of Terry Pratchett and his books from the UK, and two of the artists who worked with Terry on the very first Discworld stamps which you may know from the inside cover of the Going Postal hardback.

We thought it would be a fitting tribute to produce a set of commemorative stamps that celebrated Terry’s great achievements, and were thrilled that after receiving permission (and a lot of assistance with the details) from Terry’s agent Colin Smythe, he suggested that a framed copy of our work should be presented to Sir Terry at the lunch that followed his knighthood.

The 3 stamps celebrate:
40 Years of Published Writing
25 Years of Discworld novels
and his 60th Year, culminating in his Knighthood at Buckingham Palace.

In order to give Terry the very best quality of printing, Alan and I had to buy a small print run of the stampsheets and we are now trying to sell the remaining sheets of stamps to help pay for the printing and perforation of the stamps. A proportion of the royalties from the sales will be donated to Alzheimers charities in the East Anglia region; Alan’s mother had the disease.

We do not have a shop or website so we are selling these on eBay. The item details are at… http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250376103054&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=015

The artwork features an illustration of a very young Terry, based on Colin Smythe’s archive photographs of Terry at the launch of The Carpet People at the very start of his commissioned writing career; and Terry’s early signature from those days.

The central image is of Great Atuin, and the Discworld flying through space, celebrating the 25 years of Discworld novels.

The third stamp in the sequence is of Sir Terry as we all know him today in his trademark black hat and carries the modern signature we are more familiar with today.

Each stamp minisheet is presented with a numbered, certificate of authenticity dated on the day of Terry’s knighthood, signed by both of us, and hand stamped with a silver Great Atuin.

We hope you will take time to have a look at the listing, and might support a couple of fans who wanted to celebrate Sir Terry’s knighthood in an appropriate way, if you do not have an eBay account you can contact us at sirterry@stampsmyth.com for further details.

Thank you and congratulations again SIR Terry! Your recognition for services to literature has been long overdue.

Pictures!
http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv125/stampsmyth/?action=view&current=triptychcloseupRGB.jpg
http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv125/stampsmyth/?action=view&current=1minisheetcard2lores.jpg
http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv125/stampsmyth/?action=view&current=1lotsofminisheets.jpg]

This news is a bit late, but I thought it was still newsworthy all the same.

Thanks to Colin Smythe for the information.

Thanks to Colin Smythe for the heads-up!

• Monstrous Regiment
  • Preliminary dates: June 17-20
  • Adapted by Stephen Briggs, directed by Mel Walker and Tim Williams
  • Auditions (for acting and backstage work) at Scout Hut, in Gatting Way, Uxbridge on February 22, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rehearsals every Sunday.
  • URL: http://www.purpletheatre.org.uk
• The Truth
  • March 3-7, in Oxford.
  • Performed by OFS Theatre Group
  • URL: http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=OFS2009021
• Wyrd Sisters
  • March 11-14
  • Performed by Leicester University Theatre Society
  • URL: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lutheatre/LUT_entrance.htm
• Wyrd Sisters
  • 7:45 p.m., March 24-28, at Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire
  • Tickets: 9 GBP to 11 GBP, available from Sharnbrook Post Office or Bedford Central Box Office (01234 269519)
• Maskerade
  • 7:30 p.m., March 26-28, at Studio Theatre at The Garage
  • Tickets: 7 GBP, available from Theatre Royal Box Office (01603630000) or online
  • Performed by Norwich Theatre Royal Youth Theatre Company
  • URL: http://www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Thanks to the Discworld Monthly for information used in compiling this article.

The screening opened January 30. To quote the review:

Originally broadcast on British television and now receiving a limited theatrical run here, “The Color of Magic” mashes together a pair of comedic fantasy novels by Terry Pratchett into one long, rambling saga. Directed by Vadim Jean, who adapted the books with help from Mr. Pratchett, it is by and large a droll, ingratiating affair, albeit one whose rickety effects and lackadaisical pacing are decidedly more suited to the small screen than to the large.

What’s refreshing here (aside from the inimitably British mock-epic tone) is precisely this sense of an immense fantasy played out in a diminished scale. Where even the quietest moments of the “Harry Potter” films bludgeon the viewer with the immensity and expense of their production, “Magic” has a charmingly modest, artisanal feel about it.

Anybody can participate in this nomination round by filling out a form at TeenReads.com. Titles published in 2008 are eligible, and the five most nominated books will move on finalist status.

The winner will be announced May 2009.

The nominating period ends today, January 31, 2009, so make sure to help out Nation soon!

Sir Terry Pratchett cannot help wondering why it was this year - after 30 years as a bestselling writer - that he was honoured with a knighthood: ‘All I know is that on the citation it says ‘for services to literature’, and it would be nice to think that that got me the knighthood - though it may have been for what I stood up for and what I’ve done for Alzheimer’s.’ All in all, Pratchett is treating his recent knighthood with modesty: ‘I am 60. I know exactly who I am,’ he says. ‘I am just me - which is why it’s slightly amusing to be addressed by the postman as ‘Sir Terry”….

When he describes living with Alzheimer’s as ‘a minor flaw in a good, though complicated, year - without it, it would have been a fairly anodyne one’, you can’t help feeling he is underselling his recent literary achievements. Nation, his new book, was an instant bestseller; his Discworld series celebrated its 25th anniversary; and he was at work on two new titles: Unseen Academicals and I Shall Wear Midnight….

“As a science-fiction writer, [knighthood] is an achievement. Despite its popularity, sci-fi is still a ghetto genre. So when a hand of welcome comes from the Establishment, you can do nothing but shake it.”

Nation is the only book this year to be on the Top Ten list and honored by the Printz Committee.

This is the first time a novel by Terry Pratchett made the top ten of the Best Books For Young Adults.

(Thanks to Colin Smythe for the info.)

The campaign wants to promote science as relevant to citizens’ everyday lives and dispel the notion that science is too difficult or only for elitists.

“Continued success in science and technology is vital to our future,” said Lord Drayson, and yet there is still a perception among many of our people that science is too clever for them or elitist in some way.”

Other celebrities invited along with Pratchett are writer Bill Bryson and celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal.

Nation shares the honor award with The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M. T. Anderson, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, and Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan.

The American Library Association (ALA) also announced the Caldecott and Newbery awards yesterday. Neil Gaiman, who has collaborated with Terry Pratchett on Good Omens, had his Graveyard Book receive the Newbery “for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature.”

Evening performances start at 7:45 p.m. GMT. For tickets, which cost £5.50 and £7.00, call 01704 540011.

(Thanks to WOSSNAME for the info.)

Anybody can participate in this nomination round by filling out a form at TeenReads.com. Titles published in 2008 are eligible, and the five most nominated books will move on finalist status.

The winner will be announced May 2009.

The nominating period ends January 31, 2009, so make sure to help out Nation soon!

The group has previously put on Wyrd Sisters, to great success, in Grantham and Colsterworth.

Tickets are available by emailing mark.wesson@southwitham.net or calling 01476 862039.

(Thanks to WOSSNAME for the info.)

Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden topped the list, followed by A Mercy by Toni Morrison, and 2666 by Roberto Bolano.