Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version

Meanwhile, on Twitter...

• 14:21 Boris Johnson got to hang out with Kelly Brook today. I'm also a shambolic, rumpled idiot in ill fitting suits but -I- don't get to. No fair #
• 15:23 Why the hell do all spambots seem to think I'm in Ireland. Seriously, I'm not Irish. What have I said to give that impression? #
• 15:28 Ohh. @LeeGarbett shows off his Batgirl design: twitpic.com/gypxc Doesn't scream Steph, but like it. Deadpool would approve of pouches #
• 15:59 Should I attempt to ween myself off my addiction to Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares with vampire soft porn, True Blood style? #
• 23:50 With the legal wrangling with the Tolkien estate finally settled I guess The Hobbit's now a go. But WTF Alan Horn? tinyurl.com/mbagyb #

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Transformers: A History Lesson Part 1

One of the fandoms I'm big on, but don't often mention here is Transformers. It's probably the only fandom I've written proper fanfic for and that I've followed religiously since I was a kid.

Over the past few years, there's been a number of re-imaginings of the origins of the Autobot/Decepticon war published. In addition to the Transformers movie, Dreamwave and IDW published series like The War Within and Megatron: Origins which supposedly covered Optimus Prime and Megatron's early years. One thing they picked up on was earlier origin stories which had the Decepticons emerging from Cybertron's gladiatorial arenas, an story that has its origins way back in 1986 when James Hill wrote a story for one of the UK Annuals, which focused on the beginnings of the war on Cybertron.

Personally, I don't think it's ever been bettered. The story, State Games, has a political slant that's missing from most other origin stories which makes the beginnings of the war seem all the more realistic and believable, as one ancient regime crumbles into violence and civil war.

It's an obscure story, though, and I don't believe it's ever been reprinted, although it was referenced many times during the UK Transformers comic run and the gladitorial combat idea has been used repeatedly since. So, for those who haven't read it, beneath the cut I present the story in its entirety.

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In addition to the State Games story, one issue of the UK comic published a single page story called Cybertron: The Middle Years which detailed, briefly, what had happened in the 4 million years on Cybertron while Prime, Megatron and the other earth-based Transformers had lain deactivated in the Ark. It essentially filled in the blanks between the launch of The Ark and the loss of the Autobot and Decepticon's leaders and the later complete Decepticon conquest of the planet as shown in the US comics.

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Transformers: A History Lesson Part 2

Finally I present my own story - taking place during the period depicted in Cybertron: The Middle Years, it focuses on Runabout and Runamuck, the Decepticon Battlechargers, who can be best summarised as the Beavis and Butthead of the Transformers universe. Or perhaps the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as I definitely took pleasure in putting them in the wrong place at the wrong time in this story and blurring history a little. It's possibly my only complete fanfic because, frankly, I'm flakey and never finish anything. And I was always quite pleased with it. Those who are fans of Transformers through the Michael Bay movies will be pleased to know shit blows up. A lot.

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Four Weddings and a Regeneration?

News from the Doctor Who camp - Richard "Four Weddings and a Funeral/Blackadder/Vicar of Dibley" Curtis has apparently signed on to write an episode. Given that filming's begun with Matt Smith for the new series, I don't know whether his episode will appear next year or at a later date in the next series. Perhaps a Christmas special?

Also, for those that haven't seen them, the trailers for Waters of Mars and a poor cam version of the End of Time trailer from Comiccon (featuring the return of you know who. That's right: Bernard Cribbins!)

Also apparently confirmed, details from one of the Matt Smith episodes here. Spoilers obviously. While I'm fascinated by the idea of Winston Churchill using an army of Daleks wearing Union flags against the Nazis I'm finding it harder to believe they'll pull it off, although news Mark Gatiss is writing the episode makes me more positive.

Of course, the best thing is that audio recorded on set confirms that the episode does, indeed, contain this line of dialogue.

So, it can't be all bad.