News: Riot Ad Network Closing

SFFaudio News

Riot New MediaThe Riot Ad Network, a division of Riot New Media, is closing shop and will no longer be operating after September 2017.

Riot Ad Network has provided website ads in competition with Google AdSense since at least 2013.

SFFaudio.com uses both Google AdSense ads and Riot Ad ads to generate revenue to cover hosting costs (Riot Ad Network ads have been in place on SFFaudio.com since the Fall of 2013).

Riot Ad revenue payments started promisingly, beginning with $138.54 USD for November 2013 impressions but ended with $17.89 USD for May 2017 (the most recent payment).

From an email:

Riot New Media Group will be discontinuing the Riot Ad Network as of September 30, 2017.

The economics of a niche display ad network are challenging and have eroded further over the past year. It is time for us to exit this business.

Thank you for being part of the Riot Ad Network.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Isaac Asimov Memorial panel from MagiCon (the 1992 WorldCon)

SFFaudio News

Videotaped at the 1992 WorldCon Science Fiction Convention in Orlando, Florida, this 72 minute video is a who’s who of the friends and colleagues of Isaac Asimov. Most of the stories are humorous.

Among the speakers are Arthur C. Clarke (by tape), Harlan Ellison (by phone), Robert Silverberg, Ben Bova, Frederik Pohl, Sheila Williams, Julius Schwartz, Hal Clement, Kelly Freas, Janet Asimov, David A. Kyle, and Al Capp.

(via Donald)

Posted by Jesse Willis

August Derleth reviewed and praised The Outsider And Others (which he edited) under a pseudonym

SFFaudio News

In my constant researches for the Public Domain PDF Page I’ve just come across this seemingly heretofore unknown factoid about August Derleth:

He reviewed, and praised, his own book under a pseudonym.

Here is the review from page 126 of Thrilling Wonder Stories, April 1940:

Thrilling Wonder Stories, April 1940 - Page 126 - August Derleth reviews his own book

The name “Eldon Heath” is an obscure pseudonym for Derleth, who used several, it turns up only two entries on ISFDB.org, one for the review above, and the other for a story entitled “Joliper’s Gift” (published in Strange Stories, April 1940).

Note in the original publication of “Joliper’s Gift” that Heath is author of “The Missing, A Visit From The Stars, Etc.”

Joliper's Gift by Eldon Heath - from Strange Stories, April 1940

I could find no evidence that such stories as “The Missing” of “A Visit From The Stars” were ever published.

Yet, in combing through the copyright records, under “DERLETH, AUGUST. – 1940” I came across this renewal claim:

“R413659. Joliper’s gift. (In Strange stories, Apr. 1940) © 1Feb40”

In the review of his book Derleth calls himself ‘a popular writer in his own right’ and gives himself a deserving “big hand” for the “perfect job” he has done.

Using pseudonyms in pulps was a very common practice, but I’ve never before seen an author reviewing his own book under a pseudonym.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Locke and Key, now an audio drama (and FREE)

SFFaudio News

Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’ Locke and Key graphic novel series has been adapted as an audio drama by AudioComics for Audible. And it’s free this month! CLICK HERE.

At 13.5 hours long, this contains the dramatization of ALL SIX of the Locke and Key graphic novels, starting with Welcome to Lovecraft and ending with Alpha and Omega.

LockeKey

##scott

Robin Of Sherwood: Knights Of The Apocalypse

SFFaudio News

Robin Of Sherwood: The Knights Of The Apocalypse

“The 1980s television classic Robin of Sherwood is making a comeback to audio. The original cast – including Ray Winstone, Jason Connery, Clive Mantle, Judi Trott and Nickolas Grace – will reunite for a one-off audio adventure, The Knights of the Apocalypse. It will be released in early 2016.
The Knights of the Apocalypse was penned after the end of the television series by the creator of Robin of Sherwood, Richard Carpenter, but never filmed. In tribute to Carpenter, who died in 2012, all profits will go to his favourite charities. Robin of Sherwood fans can help bring the story to life, and receive exclusive rewards, by donating towards production costs through crowdfunding platform Indiegogo from September 15th 2015.
The feature-length story will be produced by Bafflegab Productions, producers of audio series The Scarifyers (as heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra), Hammer Films audio anthology Hammer Chillers, and The Brenda and Effie Mysteries, starring Anne Reid (winner of the Gold New York Radio Award for Best Audiobook 2015)”

-from the press release

The Indiegogo campaign wbegins today: http://igg.me/at/robin-of-sherwood

Posted by Jesse Willis