Grand STAND. Due Date July 1st, 2005 Get Busy

I did some recon on future slam projects. As a result, we will be doing Stephen King's THE STAND next.

This is a Trifecta:

1) Print: THE STAND The Complete and Uncut Version (1200+ pages). The PPLD has it, but only the paperback version. I will try to locate cheap hard cover copies for this read since we will be spreading it out over six months.
2) Audio: PPLD has THE STAND on audiocassette only. I have procured a cassette walkman for myself, Rick is fully equipled with players for this antiquated, but fully servicable, storage meduim. (23 tapes)
3) Video: The PPLD has the Miniseries THE STAND on VHS only (4 tapes).

Rough calculations show that this book alone will add an average of between ten to twenty minutes a day to the reading schedule, for the entire six months!

(1200 pages / 40 pages per hour) / (182 days) x (60 min/hr) = 9.9 minutes per day.
(1200 pages / 20 pages per hour) / (182 days) x (60 min/hr) = 19.8 minutes per day.

Remember this is to be extracurricular, that is, read it in your spare time. We'll see if we can do it this way.


DUNE next?

If we choose DUNE next it will have to be a Perfecta, as no audio version has yet been located. Interestingly though, there are two video versions: the Dino DeLaurentis Movie; and the Miniseries starring William Hurt. To me the Miniseries has the look of Babylon 5. The costumes have got to be done by the same people.

P.S. The current book of the month is John Varley's TITAN. I would love to see some reviews posted here so I can add them to the Varley Vade mecum.

Doug Eigsti Dec, 28th 2005

Slam Availability DUNE and THE STAND

PPLD does have THE STAND in print and VHS and cassette tapes

THE STAND (The Complete and Uncut Edition)
ISBN: 0385199570
Amazon.com
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$18.50 (37%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours from Amazon.com 280 used & new from $2.90 Edition: Hardcover

THE STAND DVD
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$19.98
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DUNE
PPLD has both the movie (DVD and VHS) and miniseries (VHS) but no audio versions
I have several print copies to loan

DUNE DVD [the movie is expensive]

Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Miniseries) (2000) DVD ~ William Hurt Avg. Customer Rating:
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Dune (1984) DVD ~ Kyle MacLachlan Avg. Customer Rating:
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Used & new from $44.95

Key Decisions from the Dec 11th Meeting

1) The next meeting will be held on Jan 15th not on Jan 8th due to Doug's work schedule.
2) Future Grand Slam projects shall be called either "Trifecta Slam" for print/audio/video, or "Perfecta Slam" for print/video or for audio/video only. It was determined that for most material doing both the print and the audio versions will be redundant. Only particularly deep material would benefit from such repetition.
3) Slam projects shall be extracurricular, that is: to be accomplished over the course of several months along side the regular reading schedule. Discussion on the slam will be slated when all parties have completed the Slam.
4) The next Slam will be either Frank Herbert's DUNE or Stephen King's THE STAND depending on availibility of materials. If we decide upon DUNE we will need a supply of cinnamon toothpicks.
5) The HMTP has been updated to reflect some unfinished projects from the past a) James P. Blaylock's THE LAST COIN has been reinstated after suffering a bail-out some time ago due to lack of support of people who are no longer members. b) Orson Scott Card's ENDER'S SHADOW, SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON, and SHADOW PUPPETS have been added to keep up with one of our favorite series.
6) Gene Wolfe's THE WIZARD has been added (but not scheduled because I forgot to mention it at the meeting). It is time to break out the Pringles again folks. Let's get this one scheduled at the Jan 15th meeting. It is getting favorable reviews on Amazon.
7) John Varley's new time travel novel MAMMOTH is due out June of 2005. We will have to make room for it in say July? [ISBN: 0441012817]