Avon Calling!

BBC News has announced the return of the "Blake's 7" series after a 25 year gap.

Paul Darrow, who played Avon in the original series, will portray the only character to return from the original series.

Darrow is reportedly part of consortium which has acquired the rights to the series from the widow of Terry Nation, series creator.

The series return is currently proposed for 2005, depending upon finances and other contingencies.

Mars Couple On Way

NASA launched its second Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, aboard a Delta II launch vehicle on 7 July 2003.

All systems on the spacecraft are operating as expected, JPL's Richard Brace, Mars Exploration Rover deputy project manager, reported.

As of early Tuesday, Opportunity's twin, Spirit, had traveled 77 million kilometers (48 million miles) since its launch on June 10 and was operating in good health.

The two spacecraft are scheduled to arrive on Mars three weeks apart in January 2004.

Australian SF Newsletter Closes

Marc Ortleib, convenor of "Australian SF News", announced recently that on 28 August 2003 he would shut down his Vicnet website at www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/. He had operated this site for some years and developed it into a definitive Internet site for Australian SF fandom.

It's Life, Jim, But Not as We Know It!

Gay and lesbian "Star Trek" fans have developed an on-line petition asking that the new series, "Enterprise" include a gay or lesbian character.

The petition is addressed to Paramount Studios-Rick Berman Executive Producer of Enterprise, and asks that a gay or lesbian character be given at least a recurring role.

Calling for the series to avoid stereotypes and clichés about gays and lesbians, the petition suggests that it is time for "Enterprise" to catch up with other TV shows such as current dramas and sitcoms.

First In A Continuum

The first annual Continuum convention was held in Melbourne during the weekend of 11-13 July 2003. Run by fans for fans, the convention's theme: "Secret Worlds, Dark Dreams" was designed to encourage creativity in everything from costumes to fanzine production.

Spaced Out had a presence at the convention with the running of two workshops and an involvement with a number of panels.

Another convention is planned for next year, and interested people are encouraged to keep an eye on the Continuum website at http://www.continuum.org.au/2003/index.html.

Recent "Star Trek" Deaths

The Australian SF Bullsheet reports the recent death of Kathie Browne McGavin, wife of actor Darren McGavin (Kolchak in "Night Stalker") who played Deela in "Wink of an Eye". Other reported deaths included Anthony Caruso (actor who played Bela Oxmyx in "A Piece of the Action") and Walter "Matt" Jeffries, designer of the original Enterprise and its famous Jeffries Tubes.