THE MIND MELD

Curating sci-fi storytellers and their creations across the mediums. Yes, from "my mind to your mind... " :)

[themindmeld]

The Art of Kyle Lambert

LA based movie poster artist, Kyle Lambert’s work on the Stranger Things, and more. Visit his portfolio site http://www.kylelambert.com/

[themindmeld]

Square Eyes: A Dystopian Graphic Novel by Ann Mills

Excerpt from article on artist’s site: “256 page graphic novel published by Jonathan Cape by Anna Mill (artist/writer) & Luke Jones (writer)

Square Eyes takes place in a near future in which the delirious excitement of the digital spectacle has been drawn tight over the crumbling remnants of the old world. A city that is simultaneously a bright and enticing mirage and a machine that is gradually falling apart.

Fin was a brilliant young inventor, fêted for her radical advances in Augmented Reality and the technological interface between mind and machine. Or at least, that’s the way she remembers it. But since returning to the city after recovering from a serious accident, nothing is quite the way it should be.

Now, marooned in a digital purgatory in which her identity, history and place in the world have all vanished, she has to rely on friendship and resourcefulness to uncover the mystery of her own past in a city full of secrets of its own.”

[themindmeld]

Akira Film Director’s 3rd Film: ORBITAL ERA

Katsuhiro Otomo: “I’m very happy I can bring to you a new animated feature film. This movie is what I would like to present to the today’s world. We’re still in the middle of production, but I would like to create a film that will be enjoyed by a wide range of people. Please look forward to it.” - Quote from http://orbital-era.com/en/

[themindmeld]

Sylvain Neuvel’s Scifi Trilogy: The Themis Files

3 beautiful books. Characteristically formatted as case file interviews and personal logs between the cast, woven into a unique cinematic-like universe. I couldn’t put the first book down! Ordered the second and third immediately ( yes I like the smell of paper) and I was glad that I did. I was so sad after the 3rd book ended and overjoyed today when I came across his “Lost Files” shared on his website! Why Sylvain Neuvel’s work is a modern literary work of science fiction: James Gunn wrote:

“Science Fiction is the branch of literature that deals with the effects of change on people in the real world as it can be projected into the past, the future, or to distant places. It often concerns itself with scientific or technological change, and it usually involves matters whose importance is greater than the individual or the community; often civilization or the race itself is in danger.“ —​ Introduction, The Road To Science Fiction, Vol 1, NEL, New York 1977

James Gunn’s definition of science fiction above, especially the part “...often civilization or itself the race itself is in danger...” is a common theme in epic stories, movies in this genre. The last book in Neuvel’s trilogy unfolds to this theme, incorporating parallels to current world events across the globe with an enlightened approach, without sacrificing his unique vision across the previous parts of the saga.

Even Planet of the Apes can’t compete with reaching this plane of sociological storytelling achieved in book 3 of The Themis Files.

We need more stories like this, more voices like this, and people willing to hear the plight of humanity and take action for positive change in the world. 

[themindmeld]

Rich Larson’s Collected Fiction: Tomorrow Factory

I have always loved reading classic science fiction. Any modern works were mostly visual or motion picture based. The habit got hard to breakout of, or balance in the last 2 years, as I recycled the favorites on my shelf.  I really have to thank Rich Larson’s Tomorrow Factory, an anthology of some fine work. The short story, All That Robot Shit captured my attention. I loved it, and the rest in his collection.

https://richwlarson.tumblr.com/tomorrowfactory

[themindmeld]

Matt Griffin’s Dune Cover Art

Matt Griffin: “Having been a huge Dune fan since I was about 14, this was a dream project for me. And, being a dream project from a young age, I put a lot of pressure on myself to make the best images I could...”

And I have to say Matt delivers some beautiful work. Images from the article on Tor.com and the Artist’s online portfolio.

Artwork posted on Tor Artist’s online portfolio

[themindmeld]

Typeset In The Future - The Blog, The Book by Dave Addey

The Blog first caught my attention via an article on type for  2001: A Space Odyssey by its creator, Dave Addey. It was already impressive that he had taken the time to document the typography for this classic. Then followed by other favorite such as Blade Runner, Moon, Alien, and yes, Wall-e!

I just happen to chance his site this morning and I was in for a treat. Yes, the Book!

Check out the contents for his extended articles. Additional interviews with industry experts from both TV and movie art departments, font designers, etc. Check out his site for more

[themindmeld]

Alien 40th Anniversary Short Films

Inspired by the originals, 6 beautiful AND official short films to enjoy this weekend!

Teaser Trailer above followed by direct links to Alien Universe short film pages.

Alien: Containment - Written and directed by Chris Reading - WATCH

Alien: Specimen - Written and directed by Kelsey Taylor - WATCH

Alien: Night Shift - Written and directed by Aidan Brezonick - WATCH

Alien: Ore  - Written and directed by the Spear Sisters - WATCH

Alien: Alone - Written and directed by Noah Miller - WATCH

Alien: Harvest - Directed by Benjamin Howdeshell - WATCH

[themindmeld]

The “Impossible Monsters” of Artist Giuliano Brocani

An artist who creates mostly for sci-fi community based challenges, with digital tools on an ipad, inspired by Goya’s quote. I’d like to see more of his work bleed into other areas as well. Some of my favorites on his portfolio site:

[spaceshipsandstarwyrms]

S&S Kickstarter has Launched

Back the Kickstarter

At its core, S&S is born of our love for all things sci fi, from Blade Runner to Star Wars to Firefly to Halo. More than that, we wanted to stay true to the 5th edition philosophy of simplicity and accessibility. We strive at every turn to keep our rules and mechanics in the spirit of 5th edition while still bringing a plethora of new options to the table.

It costs a lot to print a high-quality, diligently-revised book of this length. That’s where you, the backers, come in! We’re Kickstarting a print run of the Spaceships & Starwyrms: Core Sourcebook to make sure we have the funding necessary to deliver as many copies of our game as the community wants.

With your support, we expect to deliver a full-color, 300+ page Core Sourcebook in addition to a Kickstarter-exclusive galactic adventure module and our very first supplementary book for the system: the Galactic Primer on Natural Environments, in both PDF and print formats. Our team consists of seasoned and new game designers, editors, graphic designers, and playtesters, so you can be sure you’re getting a high quality product that will help you bring science fiction and science fantasy to your gaming table in an accessible, familiar format.

What can you get?

A print and/or PDF copy of the Core Sourcebook

A print and/or PDF copy of our first supplementary check (The Galactic Primer on Natural Environments)

A print and/or PDF copy of Statues’ Past, the exclusive kickstarter module

Enamel pins of factions and/or logos

Back the Kickstarter

[ladytabletop]

we are live!!!!!

[themindmeld]

Nice!

[themindmeld]

Ridley Scott’s Arzach - A Moebius Inspired Campaign

Needless to say film director, Ridley Scott is a huge fan of Moebius. Even his movie production sketches on every behind-the-scenes documentary show storyboards that might look familiar to us citizens of Arzach (a.k.a Arzak - french spelling in the creator’s later titles) . I’m sure Jean Giraud would be proud of this unique advertising campaign.

The Commercial

The Behind-the-scenes

[themindmeld]

Angelarium: The Encyclopedia of Angels

Created by Peter Mohrbacher, the name of this project has defined the subject matter prolifically.

[seifers]

Who are they?

[silencedminstrel]

Master! Here be the “Long Arm of the Shadows” assembled before the Brotherhood, ready to receive our sacred orders! Excellent Captain! Forsooth you six souls are the darkest of the Mind-Benders, deep shades a-walking brief

Even among the rest of the ever darkly Mind-Benders, and will not come to light if not for events that concerns galactic life or death! And as the Dark Brotherhood and our Illuminated Siblings the monastic Order of the Blessed

Are united at last, so shall ye be sent to tasks as well! The Patriarch and I has discussed the means to send the Psi-Corp soldiers to the unknown frontline ere long, and he did suggest that we’re to send forth our own militia as well! We’re here to serve “through wae or woe”, Master Esterminz! Noted Captain!

Then here be thine final instructions! The Golden Child is now at the Outer Rim! If it’s true that our mutual enemy’s already marching at the gates, both our forces are to be renamed as The Golden Horde! Now go and report to the Patriarch, he’s been expecting you! Yes, Master! “In Darkness we serve the Light!”

[themindmeld]

Loving the short fiction on The Long Way Home.

[themindmeld]

Inside the Animation of Love, Death + Robots from Netflix - Part 1

Around the end of March I was blown away by Netflix’s animated anthology, and posted about it here.  It was very hard to find any insider concept art around that time, even the studios involved that did these seemed to have a tight contract as to not reveal their work. Their storytelling processes are finally rolling in!

Tim Miller’s take:

Inside Episode: Sonnie’s Edge

Inside Episode: Three Robots

Inside Episode: The Witness (NSFW)

Inside Episode: Suits

Please see next post. I’ve reached my video link limit on this one.

[themindmeld]

Inside the Animation of Love, Death + Robots from Netflix - Part 2

Please see part 1 at this link. Continuing to add inside the stories for other episodes in anthology.

Inside Episode: Sucker of Souls

Inside Episode: When the Yogurt Took Over

Inside Episode: Beyond the Aquila Rift (NSFW)

Inside Episode: Good Hunting

Inside Episode: Shape Shifters

Please see part 3

[themindmeld]

Inside the Animation of Love, Death + Robots from Netflix - Part 3

Please see part 2 at this link. Continuing to add inside the stories for other episodes in anthology.

Inside Episode: Helping Hand

Inside Episode: Fish Night

Inside Episode: Zima Blue

Inside Episode: Blindspot

Please see Part 4 for more

[themindmeld]

Inside the Animation of Love, Death + Robots from Netflix - Part 4

Please see part 3 at this link. Continuing to add inside the stories for other episodes in anthology. Inside Episode: The Secret War (first & second insider)

Individual Insiders for the The Dump, Lucky 13, Ice Age & Alternate Histories must be still rolling in.

Please see part 1, 2, 3 for more.