The Offworld Report: Weird Science: January 2004

This month's content roundup of that which is worthy offworld the 'Nest. A look at the problems of interstellar flight, the frosty mountains of Venus, and why the founder of PayPal is now looking to ride to orbit on kerosene.

Fusion, Fusion, Where to Grow?
Why France and Japan are battling to be the home of the international thermonuclear reactor project.

France for Fusion?
Why the EU has selected France for its choice for a new experimental fusion reactor.

Thawing Mars
How Mars appears to be exiting an ice age.

India Goes Supercool
India test-fires a new breed of cryogenic rocket engines.

Interstellar Flight Failure
Why the effortless star flights of the Enterprise are likely to remain fiction.

To Orbit on the Cheap
PayPal founder Elon Musk and his weird new kerosene-powered Falcon space shuttle.

A Beagle for Mars
The British spacecraft Beagle 2 is due to land on Mars on Christmas morning.

Shape Shifting
DARPA chats about the brave new world of morphing aircraft.

Secret Energy Source
Did a now dead mad genius tap into a mysterious energy-source that allowed him to move massive blocks of coral single-handedly?

Fuel Cell Fury
The latest way to generate hydrogen fuel. But is it practical?

Other Earths
Analysis of dust around a nearby star suggests there could be Earth-like worlds there too.

The Flying Saucer that Flew
An ex-Soviet flying saucer is about to take off – backed by American Dollars.

Japan Mars Mission Flounders
Why the Japanese Mars probe may now crash into the red planet.

The Hills of Venus
Why the mountains of Venus may be covered by a heavy metal frost.

Run Robot Run
Sony's new all-sprinting and all-dancing robot, Qrio.

Wild Bill
An interview with Planetary Science Institute good egg and author of the 'Traveler's Guide to Mars', Bill Hartmann.

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OTHER CONTENT - January 2004

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The Fist and the Stars Authors David Sherman and Dan Cragg interviewed about the art of writing high octane military science fiction and how their Starfist novels were informed by their own years in the services. (AUTHOR INTERVIEWS) The Great Science Fiction Writers Christmas Stuffing '03 An all-star lineup of authors - including Tom Holt, Robert Jordan, Juliet E. McKenna, Laurell K. Hamilton, David Brin and Tad Williams - interviewed with a few seasonally pertinent questions. Ho ho ho. (AUTHOR INTERVIEWS) Novacon 33 Pauline brings you a personal appraisal of the UK's favourite annual science fiction convention and why, after 33 years without missing one, it is now almost a matter of pride for her to attend. (ARTICLES) Lapins It was one of the most select restaurants of Time. Beyond Knot Pitt, marked on any chronotopic map of the Tourism Special Offices ... Michael Haulica serves up some time twistery in the form of his latest short SF story. (FICTION) Enjoying Jackson's Take On Tolkien Now that Jackson's take on the Lord of the Rings trilogy has been put to bed, Joseph asks just what has been achieved ... and will history smile on this particular cinematic adaptation? (ARTICLES) Gothika Who says that an overwrought and absurd horror/suspense thriller blessed with a stellar cast cannot be appealing in its occasional lapses? Frank gets scary with his latest movie review. (FILM REVIEWS) Timeline Frank finds that Timeline is a flashy SF actioner that boasts some mighty fine credentials that many other time-traveling movie vehicles might wish they could hang their hats on. (FILM REVIEWS) The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings completes its cycle with The Return of the King, a spectacular film of complex battles and breathtaking scenery. Mark ponders whether the final part of the trilogy delivers all that it promises. (FILM REVIEWS) The Shipment (Star Trek Enterprise) The Shipment was designed to be a turning point for Enterprise; more specifically, the episode is meant to change the way the viewer responds to the Xindi, by making the race more sympathetic. Unfortunately, our Evan tended to find the writers' tactics here just a little on the obvious side. (TV REVIEWS) The Offworld Report: Science Fiction and Fantasy: January '04 Heinlein gets a new book, China Miéville's delves into the new 'weird fiction', Canadian SF comes of age, and the all-new Battlestar Galactica returns to the screens. (NEWS) The Offworld Report: Weird Science: January 2004 A look at the problems of interstellar flight, the frosty mountains of Venus, and why the founder of PayPal is now looking to ride to orbit on kerosene. (NEWS)

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