A-Z of Awesomeness

I know I'm late to this party, but I just sat now discovered Neill Cameron's A-Z of Awesomeness where, through his Web site, he solicited suggestions for 26 alphabet-themed geekouts drawings in 26 days back in 2009.

Simply put, it is Awesome. I give you the letters 'B' and 'K,' for example (and this has nothing to do with me craving a Whopper).

Christopher Moore tells NPR to 'Bite Me'

Absurdist and comical author Christopher Moore's Bite Me: A Love Story, is the third installment of his vampire series (following Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck) and is now available. Moore's weird and witty, and I recommend picking up the next adventure of everyman vampires in San Fran.

In the meantime, to whet the appetite a bit, check out Moore's interview with NPR and read an excerpt of Bite Me while you're at it.

Anne Rice vamps for comics

Vampire Chronicles author, and former queen of New Orleans, Anne Rice will get the four-color treatment this June in a new comic book bio published by Bluewater Productions.

Reported by Fandango, the comic is part of Bluewater's "Female Force" line, which has also included Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres and Sooki Stackhouse creator Charlaine Harris.

The book will focus on Rice's real history - with a twist.  In it, Rice will be telling her life's story in an interview with a vampire narrator (Odd; I wonder why she'd be interviewed by a ... Oh, now I get it). The title's writer, Scott Davis, says the appeal of Rice is  her  "uniquely gothic, sensuous, and existential approach" which redefined modern vampires.

"She advanced the vampire literary genre more than anyone since Bram Stoker. Rice created a fictional universe where vampires, witches, and spirits walk amongst the living and often suffer from the same frailties and faults that affect mortals. It’s what transforms her work from pop fiction to serious literature."

Anton 'Chekov' Yelchin stakes claim in 'Fright Night' reboot

Anton Yelchin, the actor who took over for Walter Koenig in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek and played Kyle Reese in Termination Salvation, is in talks to take the lead in the reboot of  '80s vampire flick Fright Night, reports THR.

The reboot will reportedly keep the same overall plot as the original of a teen who becomes convinced his neighbor is a bloodsucker, and must enlist the help of a local creature feature host. The film will be helmed by Craig Gillespie, the director behind 2007’s Lars and the Real Girl.

For the record, I don't mind reboots so much.  When they suck, they don't detract from the original version, but when they're good, they not only honor but also expand upon the original.  And like Yelchin's enterprising franchise reboot, the results can be pretty awesome.

'Ghost Hunters' go wild at Philly Zoo

Philadelphia Daily News broke news today that Syfy's Ghost Hunters would be heading to the City of Brotherly Love for a little monkey business.  Wait, that sounds wrong, but nevertheless they'll be filming at the Philadelphia Zoo this week for an episode to air in the fall.

According to the Daily News, the locations to be investigated "include Solitude House, which John Penn, grandson of William Penn, built in 1784 and which formerly housed reptiles; the Penrose building, which used to be a research laboratory and vet hospital; and the Shelly building, now used for zoo administration."

Early word on a filming location for the show isn't particularly newsworthy, but it is interesting because this is a novel spot for the paranormal investigators to visit. Looks like the TAPS team is still keeping it fresh after the 100th episode milestone.

Speaking of Philadelphia and TAPS, I'll be joining the team this Saturday at Eastern State Penitentiary, from 9 p.m. - 2 a.m., EST, for a live blog of an investigation, which you can catch at www.beyondrealityevents.com.

And now, because I've found significant justification to post it, is a picture of a monkey, courtesy of Esquire.