VAMPLETS TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE TOY SCENE
Source: fangoria.com
The next big thing for the vampire subculture may have nothing to do with HBO, Stephenie Meyer or Robert Pattinson. This time around, it’s six plush dolls that will delight bloodsucker devotees.
The new toy line, called Vamplets, offers a fresh take on the rekindled obsession with creatures of the night, and consists of six limited-edition plush toys not for the faint of heart. Artist G-Ra, inspired by the works of Edward Gorey, spent a few years coming up with the concept of the lovable yet bloodthirsty tots.
“I was playing around with concept ideas when I suddenly changed direction, drew this baby drinking a bottle of blood with a ball and chain attached to his ankle, and wearing a black diaper with a big red ‘x’ on it,” he tells Fango. “I could not stop laughing. This little baby vampire became the prototype for the Vamplets. I kept drawing these babies that were nasty but totally cute doing creepy things, and being completely at home with very dangerous devices. I felt I had hit upon the perfect concept: ‘Baby vampires! Weirdly cute but cuddly!’ ”
The Vamplets bear distinctive names, personalities and looks, are made out of fleece-like material and stand 8 to 10 inches tall. Each comes with a tag shaped like a bottle of blood that includes the character’s name, an “Official Certificate of Possession of a Baby Vampyre” and instructions on how to get more items for your Vamplet. Disappearing Bottles of Blood filled with red “fluid” and capped with a black nipple are available to satisfy a Vamplet’s insatiable thirst. G-Ra has also created other accessories, and has a line of Undead Pets set to come out later this year.
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‘RESIDENT EVIL ‘ DIRECTOR EYES PETER BRETT’S NOVELS, WRITTEN ON BLACKBERRY DURING F TRAIN COMMUTE
Source: www.nydailynews.com
He’s come a long way from the F train.
Kensington author Peter Brett – who wrote his first novel on his smartphone during daily subway commutes – has released a sequel that has already hit a London newspaper best-seller list, and a major director is set to bring his fantasy trilogy to the big screen.
Brett, 37, said he wrote about half of the second book, “The Desert Spear,” on the subway before quitting his medical publishing job to write full time.
But he still sometimes heads for the F train to get his creative juices flowing.
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WHY THE GEMMEL AWARD IS BAD FOR THE FANTASY GENRE
Source: speculativehorizons.blogspot.com
Today I came across this comment on Westeros, which is in relation to the Gemmell award:
I’m not sure I see the point of an award that’s more ‘in touch with the common fantasy-reading crowd’.
There already ARE awards for the novels most in touch with the common crowd – they’re called bestseller lists. They come with a rather larger cash prize attached than most awards!
To me, literary awards should provide an alternative voice to that of bestseller lists, not just echo them. A writer like Sanderson can already put “bestseller” on his adverts, he doesn’t need “winner of the legend prize” as well. It’s the people who don’t have the massive sales and the endorsements by famous novelists on their back covers who need the prestige and attention of an award.
I completely agree.
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What do you think of today’s book news? Those Vamplets are so cute! And the article on the Gemmel awards and how they could hurt the fantasy genre s and interesting read.
Join us in the forum to discuss!
