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Doctor Who for the Top Forty!
Today is a day of recommendations. The first thing I’d like to recommend is that between now and Saturday you go to your favourite legal audio downloading service and buy (for around 79p) ‘Love Don’t Roam’ by Neil Hannon (of The Divine Comedy), which was featured in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special (during the dancing at the wedding reception). As The Sun and The Guardian have already noted, there’s a fan-based campaign, now that the Top 40 chart rules have changed to allow downloads without a single release to get in, to make this Murray Gold –penned Northern Soul dance number a hit. And thus demonstrate to the world what Doctor Who fans working together can do.
Of course, this being Who fandom, various fans have denounced the plan. Their objections fall into three camps. One: people might notice us and then will automatically mock us. Two: gentlemen, we should be loftily above the matter of mere pop music. Three: trying to win anything is scary, we should not try instead and then would not have to feel the pain of loss. To which I say: bollocks. This is no sillier a campaign than what Iron Maiden fans do every time one of their singles is released. These days we’ve got the mass media on our side. We can come out of the burrows a bit. Stop being so English and stand up.
I got all Tim Brooke-Taylor there for a moment, didn’t I? I could hear the Fan Anthem (‘Who is the Doctor’ by Jon Pertwee, since you ask, but you probably can’t download that) playing as I stepped onto my orange box.
I would also recommend that, should you be a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, you consider Steven Moffat’s ‘The Girl in the Fireplace’ for your vote in the Best Script category of the Nebula Awards. The competition consists of Batman Begins and Howl’s Moving Castle, and, love Miyazaki as I do, I’d hate to see what is certainly the least accomplished of his films win over an episode which has actually gained a fandom of its own in the last year or so:
http://www.sfwa.org/news/2007/06nebprelim.htm
I would also recommend that, since now is Hugo Award nomination season, should you be a Worldcon attendee or one eligible to vote, that you give the following your consideration. (And this year I speak as a thoroughly non-competing party, having, goodness, produced no SF or fantasy material in the voting year! I’m going to fix that this year.)
Best Novel: Infoquake, by David Louis Edelman. (Pyr Books.)
Best Novella: The Voyage of Night Shining White, by Chris Roberson. (PS Publishing.)
Best Related Book: Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio, by John Picacio. (MonkeyBrain Books.)
Best Professional Editor: Lou Anders; Chris Roberson; Jo Fletcher.
Best Professional Artist: John Picacio.
Best Fanzine: Plokta.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Who: 'The Girl in the Fireplace', written by Steven Moffat, directed by Euros Lyn, produced by Phil Collinson, a BBC Wales production for the BBC; Doctor Who: 'Love and Monsters', written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Dan Zeff, all other details the same.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Pan’s Labyrinth.
John W. Campbell Award: David Louis Edelman; Joel Shepherd.
I may have mentioned Infoquake a couple of times before. I think it’s the start of something big and new. Roberson, Anders and Picacio are my talented Ratpack buddies, Picacio being the artist who’s currently painting the cover for the US edition of my novel British Summertime. And in what’s for once a strong year for serious genre movies (Children of Men and The Prestige surely earning nominations.) I’d go Pan’s Labyrinth over all of them: deeply serious, moving, brutal, the story of a girl finding respite or revenge through her encounter with a fantasy world in Franco’s Spain.
To continue my recommendations, I’d recommend you see the Studio Ghibli anime movie Whisper of the Heart. Virtually every time I see a new Ghibli movie, I have a new favourite, and this one’s not directed by Miyazaki himself, but by Yoshifumi Kondo from the Master’s storyboard, but no… this is my favourite now. The cover’s misleading, in that it depicts a fantasy sequence that’s a tiny part of the film. It’s a very gentle love story about growing up in the suburbs of modern Tokyo, and it’s the best movie I’ve ever seen about the start of the creative process. It’s the tale of how our heroine becomes a writer, by someone, for once, who seems to have actually done that. It’s psychologically insightful, will make creative folk cry, and makes the ordinary streets and hills of its setting lush and romantic, as usual for Ghibli movies, entirely because of the people who live in them.
I’d also recommend that, later today, when the new edition comes online, you check out Silver Bullet Comics’ The Panel, where I’ve joined this group of industry folk who answer one apt question from the field of comics every time:
http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/panel/
I recommend that you check out the work of Faringdon musician Joe Moore. He's one half of the strumming singer-songwriter duo Gorgeous Moron, but here he's demonstrating his spooky, atmospheric electronica:
http://www.myspace.com/joe80moore
And finally, I recommend that you might like to try some of the many items I’ve got coming out this week! Issue Two of Wisdom arrives on comic shop shelves on Wednesday in the USA, Thursday in the UK (and those who have used the banner above to order the series in three packages will get their first package shortly after, thanks for waiting). This issue concerns giants, and Pete dealing with his past in lushly-rendered Wiltshire countryside, courtesy of artist Trev Hairsine. Circular Time, the Peter Davison-starring Doctor Who audio play I’ve written with Mike Maddox is out this week, available from the Big Finish website, or any online shopping site. XTNCT, the collection of the comic strip by myself and artist D’Israeli, starts appearing on bookshop shelves on Friday. And Wisdom is the feature review, with a little interview from me, in the new issue of SFX magazine, which is out on Wednesday. Phew.
And I’d recommend that I get back to work now. Cheerio!
Of course, this being Who fandom, various fans have denounced the plan. Their objections fall into three camps. One: people might notice us and then will automatically mock us. Two: gentlemen, we should be loftily above the matter of mere pop music. Three: trying to win anything is scary, we should not try instead and then would not have to feel the pain of loss. To which I say: bollocks. This is no sillier a campaign than what Iron Maiden fans do every time one of their singles is released. These days we’ve got the mass media on our side. We can come out of the burrows a bit. Stop being so English and stand up.
I got all Tim Brooke-Taylor there for a moment, didn’t I? I could hear the Fan Anthem (‘Who is the Doctor’ by Jon Pertwee, since you ask, but you probably can’t download that) playing as I stepped onto my orange box.
I would also recommend that, should you be a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, you consider Steven Moffat’s ‘The Girl in the Fireplace’ for your vote in the Best Script category of the Nebula Awards. The competition consists of Batman Begins and Howl’s Moving Castle, and, love Miyazaki as I do, I’d hate to see what is certainly the least accomplished of his films win over an episode which has actually gained a fandom of its own in the last year or so:
http://www.sfwa.org/news/2007/06nebprelim.htm
I would also recommend that, since now is Hugo Award nomination season, should you be a Worldcon attendee or one eligible to vote, that you give the following your consideration. (And this year I speak as a thoroughly non-competing party, having, goodness, produced no SF or fantasy material in the voting year! I’m going to fix that this year.)
Best Novel: Infoquake, by David Louis Edelman. (Pyr Books.)
Best Novella: The Voyage of Night Shining White, by Chris Roberson. (PS Publishing.)
Best Related Book: Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio, by John Picacio. (MonkeyBrain Books.)
Best Professional Editor: Lou Anders; Chris Roberson; Jo Fletcher.
Best Professional Artist: John Picacio.
Best Fanzine: Plokta.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Who: 'The Girl in the Fireplace', written by Steven Moffat, directed by Euros Lyn, produced by Phil Collinson, a BBC Wales production for the BBC; Doctor Who: 'Love and Monsters', written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Dan Zeff, all other details the same.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Pan’s Labyrinth.
John W. Campbell Award: David Louis Edelman; Joel Shepherd.
I may have mentioned Infoquake a couple of times before. I think it’s the start of something big and new. Roberson, Anders and Picacio are my talented Ratpack buddies, Picacio being the artist who’s currently painting the cover for the US edition of my novel British Summertime. And in what’s for once a strong year for serious genre movies (Children of Men and The Prestige surely earning nominations.) I’d go Pan’s Labyrinth over all of them: deeply serious, moving, brutal, the story of a girl finding respite or revenge through her encounter with a fantasy world in Franco’s Spain.
To continue my recommendations, I’d recommend you see the Studio Ghibli anime movie Whisper of the Heart. Virtually every time I see a new Ghibli movie, I have a new favourite, and this one’s not directed by Miyazaki himself, but by Yoshifumi Kondo from the Master’s storyboard, but no… this is my favourite now. The cover’s misleading, in that it depicts a fantasy sequence that’s a tiny part of the film. It’s a very gentle love story about growing up in the suburbs of modern Tokyo, and it’s the best movie I’ve ever seen about the start of the creative process. It’s the tale of how our heroine becomes a writer, by someone, for once, who seems to have actually done that. It’s psychologically insightful, will make creative folk cry, and makes the ordinary streets and hills of its setting lush and romantic, as usual for Ghibli movies, entirely because of the people who live in them.
I’d also recommend that, later today, when the new edition comes online, you check out Silver Bullet Comics’ The Panel, where I’ve joined this group of industry folk who answer one apt question from the field of comics every time:
http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/panel/
I recommend that you check out the work of Faringdon musician Joe Moore. He's one half of the strumming singer-songwriter duo Gorgeous Moron, but here he's demonstrating his spooky, atmospheric electronica:
http://www.myspace.com/joe80moore
And finally, I recommend that you might like to try some of the many items I’ve got coming out this week! Issue Two of Wisdom arrives on comic shop shelves on Wednesday in the USA, Thursday in the UK (and those who have used the banner above to order the series in three packages will get their first package shortly after, thanks for waiting). This issue concerns giants, and Pete dealing with his past in lushly-rendered Wiltshire countryside, courtesy of artist Trev Hairsine. Circular Time, the Peter Davison-starring Doctor Who audio play I’ve written with Mike Maddox is out this week, available from the Big Finish website, or any online shopping site. XTNCT, the collection of the comic strip by myself and artist D’Israeli, starts appearing on bookshop shelves on Friday. And Wisdom is the feature review, with a little interview from me, in the new issue of SFX magazine, which is out on Wednesday. Phew.
And I’d recommend that I get back to work now. Cheerio!
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You are quite right Mr Cornell.
As the proud owner of not only the CD single but also the DVD single and 7" picture disk version of the Irons' 'Different World' which recently entered the chart at Number 3 (and far too many Marillion singles to mention in polite company) I shall buy it forthwith.
Well... I suppose it's a smaller goal than trying to get the series un-cancelled, which we know that Doctor Who fans cannot do. So maybe by this and further experiments we can scientifically establish the exact limits of their power?
Good stuff, Neil. You rock. It seems. SK: I think the only limit to our power is ourselves. I hope I won't have to watch Who fans persuading themselves out of doing this. There's already been a bit of bollockery on a couple of the forums I've looked at. Ta!
I thought I'd try different sites other than iTunes, but HMV, Virgin and a few others didn't have the track. I already have the album, but it's such a good song I bought the track again anyway!
So the fans back in the day just didn't try hard enough to get the series put back on?
I hope they don't persuade themselves out of it because, like I say, it'll be interesting to see whether they can or not, throwing themselves into it wholeheartedly and without 'we didn't really try' as an excuse to fall back on.
(Me, I won't be in on it as I don't think I've counted as a 'fan' for a few years now (and I was certainly never in 'fandom'), but more importantly I've never bought a music download in my life and wouldn't know how to go about doing so. But best wishes to those who're giving it a go. I liked 'Something for the Weekend', and it's always amusing to see somebody from Stroke City do well.)
the real question is "who the heck is Bernice Summerfield?"
That's above and beyond the call of duty, Kate, ta. SK: no, I think that was a lost cause. But there's a fundamental difference in the two campaigns. We're not trying to change anyone's minds, here. We're just seeing if our fanbase can be mobilised in the same way a rock band's can. A positive result would mean markets taking a greater interest in us, and thus more Who stuff all round. Possibly! Ah, but then you let us down at the end, SK! Oh well! You can't win them all. Soultrader: now, that's what Wikipedia is for. Go see what you can find out and report back. Cheers, all.
Plugged on the grouch, and bought off iTunes.
It's mainly because I want to see Hannon, backed with an orchestra, singing it. (His show at the Roundhouse was fantastic - you have to admire a man whose has a brass section there just for the encore...)
Nick Setchfield at SFX is a Hannon fan too, and they've just made it the lead feature on their news page. Ta, Mags.
Please Mr Cornell, I have reasons outside your three broad categories: I just don't think it's a very good song (although that also goes for most chart songs), and more importantly I don't have the means to download tunes (being an old-fashioned physical-CD-buying kind of person). But I don't mind keeping schtum and watching Fandom At Large hijacking the charts.
I have bought one copy of 'Love Don't Roam'.
After various phone calls a further 14 copies have been purchased.
Shall we have a competition over who gets the most people to buy a copy? (Terms and Conditions apply)
I have generously (and of my own free will) decided to offer the following prizes*:
1-5 Copies = One tube Cheese N' Onion 'Space' Pringles (Small). As possibly eaten by Rose in the actual Tardis!
6-10 Copies = Meet the lucky winner of the 'Space' Pringles. As possibly eaten by Rose in the actual Tardis!
11-15 Copies = Eat the Actual Pringles**
16-20 Copies = Meet the Pringles!***
21+ Copies = STAR PRIZE! Are you a lonely carbohydrate-based snack? Meet beautiful carbohydrate-based snacks in your area! Yes - it's Mingle With The Single Pringles Party! Phone 0898 RUIN-ME for further details.
* No, I haven't.
** If left.
*** See above.
(Paul - will this do? I've eaten some of the Pringles. The lid popped off and now I can't find it. It's dark in the cellar, Paul. Can I come out now? Paul?)
Toon, you may not use the Seniors bathroom for the rest of the day. Kavanagh... what *does* he do all day? Doesn't Iain Banks need something agenty doing for him? But, no, actually, fourteen copies! Wa-hey! That's the kind of commitment we're after!
I have convinced the chap to plug it at his blog. May I at least sniff the salty crumbs of the Pringles that may have been eaten by Rose?
I say "convinced". I mean "mentioned in passing".
Shockingly, Chris Moyle's campaign to get Billie's Honey to the Bee in the chart is working, if you believe this site. No. 51 and climbing.
Just listened to it again from the Doctor Who episode that is still clogging up the Sky+ from Christmas day. 'Twas groovy! Will try to download it to the ipod thing I got for Christmas.
If I succeed, this will be a technological victory for someone who still uses cassette tapes in their car...
Penny
I think trying to catapult this song into the charts is a briliant idea. I don't think it's a particularly good piece of music but it's so much better than most music you find in the charts these days. Just a pity that I can't buy music from itunes.uk unless I find a way to trick the system somehow. Hmm.. the Dutch charts could use a vew devoted fans as well :D
Success! Seventy-nine pence well spent - and I feel I've entered the twenty first century.
Nice blog by the way. I came across it when I was googling some of the other speakers from Greenbelt 05. Unfortunately I missed your talk as I had to go and sign some books. So glad you've written some more Doctor Who. Can't wait to see it.
All the best,
Penny
I just bought it at the US iTunes store, which i know doesn't do a tiddly for the UK charts, but I'm sending good karma across the sea to your good cause.
Thanks, Mags. That Moyles thing is unfortunate, but at least it's 'Honey to the Bee', which was one of my favourite ever pop songs before Billie became one of fandom's favourite people. Ta, Penny. I still use cassette tapes in the car. Largely of Caroline's anime songs. 'Midnight Blue, la la la la lah!' I'm still not sure if I'm doing Greenbelt this year, it depends when we fly to Japan. But it's nice to have been invited. Hex and Bully, well that's a lovely thought. Let us know if it appears over there.
Does it count if I buy the album altogether, or do I have to buy the track individually? 'cause I want that soundtrack.
I think that buying the whole thing would probably only register on the album chart.
Hi Paul.
I definitely agree that 'The Girl In the Fireplace' was the best out of Dr Who TV Season 2006, but, it's a shame there isn't a way to recognise one or more of the Big Finish audio plays for Best Dramatic Presentation. Their scripts have generally far been better written and polished than the rubbish we've been put through on telly.
(The current series makes me nostalgic for the comparatively high script editing standards of the McCoy Era...)
That's not true at all.
I think the standards of writing on the current series, the Big Finish audios and the McCoy era are all often excellent in their varying ways for their varying audiences and times. So, forgive me, but I don't even connect with what you think is offhand and obvious, never mind your wider point.
To put it in a nutshell, I'm way, way, way over here. And you're way, way... way, over there. I'm happy with that.
I don't wish to fuel negativity, but I agree that the second season of the new Doctor Who has (for me) been less of a success than the first but it's mainly down to the Doctor/Rose dynamic which due to the lack of chemistry between Tennant and Piper falls flat. I felt Eccleston and Piper were electric while Tennant painfully smiles at Rose who has less and less to do in each story yet takes up more screen time than anything else.
But looking at the glut of fanvids on youtube I'm in a minority.
However, Girl in the Fireplace is one of my favorite stories of the new series and a smashing sci-fi tale to boot!
And season three might be more my cup of tea, what with a performance by Mark Gattis (Doctor #11, please!) and more from Mr. Cornell himself.
That's nice of you, ta, though obviously I don't agree with the rest of your comment.
Well, LDR didn't even make it into the Top 75, let alone 40, while Billie made it to #17.
Well Love Don't Roam didn't get into the chart, but it did get onto Jonathan Ross' radio show, which has to be a good thing.
But the important thing is, we worked together and had a go. And showed, in the process, that Who fan campaigns in the public eye aren't objects of ridicule these days. And it was great of Jonathan to do that.