VZSciFi SF Merchandise Releases: December 2000

December 2000 Merchandise Releases
Audio CD -- DVD -- Graphic Novels -- Magazines -- Novels -- Video

US Comic Book Releases: The completed release list is posted weekly, usually Tuesday evenings, at http://www.comiclist.com and other places. You can receive this list each Tuesday via e-mail by following the instructions at the web site, or you can email NCRL-subscribe@egroups.com
Additional Doctor Who Release Information : Go
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DECEMBER 2000 AUDIO CD
• UK: Doctor Who: Dalek Empire: The Mutant Phase
Big Finish Audio CD
Featuring 5th Doctor, Nyssa

DECEMBER 2000 GRAPHIC NOVELS
• UK: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Pale Reflections
Titan Books.80pp paperback/Ł8.99. Published 15 December 2000
It's Buffy vs Buffy, as Sunnydale's slayer supreme faces off against the foe she can't possibly defeat... herself! So who's been cloning around?
• UK: Superman: No Limits
Titan Books. 208pp paperback/Ł12.99. Published 15 December 2000
A new era of greatness begins for the Man of Steel, courtesy of some of comics' finest creators, including Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween) and Joe Kelly (X-Men).
• UK: Xena: Warrior Princess - Slave
Titan Books.96pp paperback/Ł9.99. Published 15 December 2000
It's true - Xena goes under the hammer, on sale to the highest bidder as their slave for all time. Surely it's every red-blooded male's dream. But all is not as it seems.

• US: Dragon Ball, Vol. 3 story and art by Akira Toriyama Viz graphic novel, b&w, 192 pages $14.95 USA/$23.00 CAN SHIPS 12/7 Cat # GDB0003
The world's greatest martial arts manga! When young Son Goku, a super- strong boy with a monkey's tail, met Bulma, a girl from the city, he left his mountain home to join her on her quest for the Dragon Balls. Goku soon found that the world was full of plenty of challenges but with his nyoi-b™, a legendary magic staff, and the kint™-un, a flying cloud, he's ready to face anything!
This graphic novel starts to bridge the gap between the short-lived Dragon Ball TV series and the much-later-in-the-continuity Dragon Ball Z, explaining how Goku grew up and met his friends. This volume collects Dragon Ball Part 2 #1 (second half) through Part 2 #7 (first half). IN THIS VOLUME: With the quest for the Dragon Balls over, Goku goes to the remote house of the Turtle Hermit, Kame-sen'nin, to be trained in the martial arts. There, the girl-ogling old master promises to teach Goku everything he knows and prepare him for the Tenka-ichi Bud™kai, the great tournament to determine the Strongest Fighter in the World! But Goku's fellow student, the Shaolin monk Kuririn, isn't above cheating to be the best. These two kids must learn to get along as they undergo the weirdest, wildest martial arts training ever!
• US: No Need for Tenchi! VOL. 9: The Quest for Money Viz graphic novel story& art by Hitoshi Okuda b&w, 184 pages $15.95 USA/$24.95 CAN
Science fiction comedy based on the anime series from Pioneer! It all started when high school student Tenchi freed the alien pirate Ryoko from her captivity on Earth. Soon enough, her friends and enemies showed up: alien princess Ayeka, mad scientist Washu, ditzy space cop Mihoshi·Surrounded by beautiful, feuding alien women, poor Tenchi is either the luckiest or the most miserable boy on Earth! Contains all of NO NEED FOR TENCHI! PART 9. IN THIS VOLUME: After a prolonged drinking binge, the Tenchi household must face one of the most dreaded events in the universe·they're broke! Following a strange dream and a buried memory, Ryoko leads the group into space in search of a lost treasure·only to find their potential source of revenue is guarded by the man who she loved before Tenchi!?! With a villainous space pirate and his robot partner pursuing them, Ryoko must decide whether to trust her present love for Tenchi or remember the nature of her old relationship with Ibara·and what kind of person has he grown up to become in the last 800 years?
• US: Voyeurs, Inc., Vol. 2 Pulp graphic novel story & art by Hideo Yamamoto b&w, 208 pages $15.95 USA/$24.95
In the sordid back streets of Tokyo, the horny private investigators of Voyeurs, Inc. were born: suave Ken of the two-colored eyes, Smile the pompadoured goofus, Cho, the middle-aged voice of reason, and Husky, the Husky (dog). Wedding the latest surveillance equipment and the oldest human motives, they'll spy anywhere to expose lies, crimes and outright perversion. Whether it's a cheating spouse or a prostitution ring, no secret is safe from them for the right price! This volume contains the stories from PULP Vol. 3 #11 through Vol. 4 #7. IN THIS VOLUME: With Ken's hard (but hardly impartial) efforts, the Voyeurs discovered that Tokyo teenager Reika was actually running a prostitution ring. But as their former client, Reika's father didn't take the news well, and now "daddy" is taking an unhealthy interest in his little girl. As his incestuous intentions become increasingly clear and revolting, he injures Reika's mother and forces his daughter to go with him to a remote ski lodge. Is Reika psychologically able to resist? With his partners tied up in other assignments, only Ken's own obsession with Reika puts him on the trail of the insane father, but will he be too late?
• US: X/1999 VOL. 7: Rhapsody Animerica Extra graphic novel, story & art by CLAMP b&w, 184 pages $15.95 USA/$24.95 CAN SHIPS 12/ 7 Cat # GX99007
Tokyo is no ordinary city. Built with magic, its buildings embody reality itself like a voodoo doll for the Earth, if Tokyo is destroyed, so is the world. The Seven Seals and the Seven Harbingers, both groups of powerful psychics and occultists, have known for years that the city can belong to only one of them. The Seals want to protect the world; the Harbingers, to destroy it. And as this war of destiny draws closer, there is only one random factor: young Kamui, the strongest psychic of all a misanthrope who has chosen no side, but only wants to protect his childhood friends Fuma and Kotori. This volume contains the stories from ANIMERICA EXTRA Vol. 3 #1 through Vol. 3 #8. IN THIS VOLUME: Kotori's life shatters! Exploding to pieces, Kamui's aunt Tokiko dies giving birth to the sacred sword that is his birthright. The gory sight triggers a frightening personality change in Fuma, and drives Kotori mad, reminding her of the long-ago death of her mother. But on the inside, Kotori is quite sane. In her sleeping mind, she meets her dead mother in the Sea of Tears, and then the prophet Kakyo, who awakens her powers as a dreamseer. Then an earthquake shakes Tokyo, startling the Dragons of Heaven and Earth with the presence of one of their equals. He is Sakura-zukamori, the sorcerer of the inverted pentacle and the hated enemy of the medium Subaru (from CLAMP's TOKYO BABYLON). Who among all these people of power is the "other" Kamui Kamui's Twin Star?

DECEMBER 2000 MAGAZINES
• Animerica Vol. 8 #12 anime & manga monthly colour and b&w, 96 pages $4.95 USA/$7.95 CAN
The best magazine for anime fans! Fascinating features on the latest and greatest anime, exclusive interviews, news on what's new in Japan and what's arriving soon in America, plus exclusive columns, interviews with voice-actors, anime reviews, games, model kits, anime music, and Leiji Matsumoto's GALAXY EXPRESS 999 manga. Remember, If It's Anime in America, It's Gotta be Animerica! IN THIS ISSUE: YEAR- END WRAP UP! Find out the "Best of the Best" for the year 2000 and kick off 2001 with news and predictions about the most promising new anime series!
• Animerica Extra, Vol. 4 #1 December '00 manga anthology b&w, 128 pages $4.95 USA/$7.95
NEW MANGA! Revolutionary Girl Utena! She's here! Idealistic young swordswoman Utena Tenjo has joined Animerica Extra with the spellbinding Revolutionary Girl Utena by manga master Chiho Saito! Rescued by a mysterious prince as a child, Utena Tenjo made a decision that would change her life: she would grow up to be a prince herself. The manga begins with a sequence set before the TV series! Video Girl AI: As the school year goes on, Nobuko tries to win Yota's affection. Meanwhile, Yota tries to befriend this new Ai -- this human Ai? -- who has no memories of her previous life as a video girl. Marionette Generation: While hiding in the closet, Kinoko overhears Izumi and Kozue in a private moment. Fushigi Yugi: Miaka, Chichiri, Tasuki and Nuriko head to Qu-Dong to rescue Tamahome, while Yui makes her final play for her prisoner's affections. Steam Detectives: Ling Ling recovers from her wounds at Steam Detectives HQ, but why has she forgotten the layout of the place? X/1999: Kamui arrives at Clamp Academy as the genetically engineered Nataku awakens.
• Buffy The Vampire Slayer Magazine #16 Includes a spooky feature on haunted houses and a tour of Cordelia's house. Interview with Amber Benson (Tara) and a Season One episode guide to Angel. Ł2.75/On Sale 14 December. Available in the UK, Eire, Australia and New Zealand.
• Pulp Vol. 5, #1 manga anthology b&w, 184 pages $5.95 USA/$8.95 CAN MATURE READERS ONLY
The only truly adult-oriented manga magazine in America. Benkei in New York: Murder, suicide, mafia, and drugs all centreed on a woman named Sophie Gibson. Bakune Young: How many Japanese gangsters can hang onto a rope dangling from a helicopter, 100 feet above the ground? Not that many, and it doesn't help with a taunting Bakune throwing eggs at them, or the police about to bust in and shoot everybody! Dance Till Tomorrow: Miyuki and Tachimi have settled Suekichi's affairs to their own satisfactionshe plans to marry Suekichi, and Tachimi is courting Aya again! Strain: Shimei's last rampage has come back to haunt him and stop him once and for all? Banana Fish: Papa Dino uses Shorter as his guinea pig for "Banana Fish", while pretty-boy Yut-Lung tries to turn Eiji into Dino's sex slave. Voyeurs Inc.: The stalker releases the cockroaches upon the elevator girl.. and he's got a camera to document the proceedings.
• Simpsons Comics #49 When Bart and Lisa's schoolteachers get deported (don't ask) it's time for the blackboard jungle to get a new king and queen! Meet Lisa Simpson and Martin Prince, the new substitute teachers for Springfield Elementary! How will they cope? Find out in "The Prime of Miss Lisa Simpson"! Plus, celebrate Christmas Itchy & Scratchy-style with plenty of festive fighting! Ł2.30/On Sale 28 December
• Star Trek Monthly #74 The ultimate guide to a Star Trek Christmas featuring interviews with Kate Mulgrew, Armin Shimerman and Ethan Phillips. Ł3.50/On Sale 15 December. Available in the UK, Eire, Australia and New Zealand.
• Star Wars Comic #3 Darth Maul takes on the Black Sun and the Jedi Council take onn the wily Yinchorri. Plus letters, mini-poster and a chance to win a BMW (more on that here). On sale in the UK and Eire only.
• Star Wars Magazine #30 Get the latest scoop on Star Wars: Episode II, as this issue features interviews with Star Wars creator George Lucas and C-3PO star Anthony Daniels, with the actor talking about his on-set antics on all five films. And to celebrate the 30th issue, SWM identifies the 30 must-have Star Wars books and 30 reasons why fans love Star Wars. Also includes our comprehensive merchandise section, including reviews of action figures, computer games, toys, comics and novels. Ł3.25/On sale 15 December, UK and Eire only.
• X-Files Magazine #54 Season Seven guide headlines this issue, going behind thescenes on the making of such stories as X-Cops and Requiem. Plus exclusive coverage of the opening instalment of Season Eight and all the latest official news on The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen! Ł3.25/ On Sale 14 December. Available in the UK, Eire, Australia and New Zealand.
• Xena: Warrior Princess Magazine #15 Get up close and personal with Callisto with an in-depth interview and feature on the blonde bombshell. And as if that wasn't enough, there's also a free Callisto poster included. Plus interviews with Joel Tobeck (Strife) and Meghan Desmond (Discord). Plus set reports, behind-the-scenes interviews with the show's creators and all the latest news. US$5.99/UKŁ3.25/ On sale 14 December. Available in the UK, Eire, Australia, New Zealand and North America.

DECEMBER 2000 NOVELS
Hardcover
UK: Eye and Talon: Blade Runner 4
by K. W. Jeter. Publisher: VGSF £16.99
Fully authorised by the estate of Philip K. Dick, and written by the author felt best equipped to take forward the vision of one of the great names of SF, this new novel combines the dark imagery, paranoia, tension and pace of Dick's original novel and the cinematic genius of Ridley Scott in a novel that brings a new dimension to the Blade Runner legend.

• US: The Quantum Rose
by Catherine Asaro. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: Eternity's End
by Jeffrey A. Carver. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: Genpei
by Kara Dalkey. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: The Last Hot Time
by John M. Ford. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: The Lesser Kindred
by Elizabeth Kerner. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: Mars Crossing
by Geoffrey A. Landis. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: White as Snow
by Tanith Lee. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.
• US: Ventus
by Karl Schroeder. Tor. Hardcover. Published December 2000.

Trade paperbacks
• UK: SF Collector's Editions: Wild Seed
by Octavia Butler. Publisher: VGSF £9.99
The first book in Butler's acclaimed Patternist series, a rich story of love and conflict. Doro has been alive for almost 4000 years. he has great power and influence and yet is alone. He has watched generation after generation of his children grow old and die. But he still dreams of breeding a new race of immortal teleptahs in his own image. And his quest leads him to find his perfect mate, Anyanwu, a shape changer and healer. To Doro, she is his perfect mate. There's just one problem -- she's also his implacable enemy...
• UK: SF Collector's Editions: A Wreath of Stars
by Bob Shaw. £9.99. Publisher: VGSF £9.99
Original, witty and ingenious, this novel sees the late Bob Shaw at his best.
• UK: SF Collector's Editions: Thorns
by Robert Silverberg. Publisher: VGSF £9.99
A brilliant and intense novel, ambitious and disturbing, from one of the masters of SF, even in this, one of his first works. Duncan Chalk is a monstrous media mogul witha vast appetite for other people's pain. He feeds off it, and carefully nurtures it in order to feed it to the pubolic. It is inevitable that chalk should home in on MNinner Burris, a space traveller whose body was taken apart by alien surgeons and the put back together agian - differently. Burris' pain, physical and psychological, is constant. And so is that of Lona Kelvin, used by scientists as the donor of eggs for 100 children and then ruthlessly discarded. Only an emotional vampire like Duncan Chalk can envisage the huge audience eager to watch a relationship between these two damaged people. And only Chalk can persuade them to go along with his plans...
• UK: SF Masterworks: To Your Scattered Bodies Go
by Philip Jose Farmer. Publisher: VGSF £9.99
• UK: SF Masterworks: Now Wait for Last Year
by Philip K. Dick. Publisher: Millenium. £6.99
First, Gino Molinari was assassinated by a political rival. Then he died of a heart attack. But now he is back, younger and more vigorous than ever, giving earth new hope of survival in the war against the alien reegs. But is this really Molinari, or a robant masquerading as earth's overlord? Whatever the truth, only he can save the solar system - if he can stay alive long enough, or at least not stay dead for too long!

• US: All of an Instant
by Richard Garfinkle. Tor. Trade paperback. Published December 2000.
• US: More Amazing Stories
by ed. Kim Mohan. Tor. Trade paperback. Published December 2000.

Paperbacks
• UK: Blue Moon
by Laurell K. Hamilton. Orbit. £5.99. Published 7 December 2000
"Richard was an alpha werewolf. It was his only serious flaw. We'd broken up after I'd seen him eat somebody". Thrown into jail for assaulting a woman, Anita's ex-fiance needs her help. She has just a few days to spring him and find out who framed him; the full moon is on its way.
• UK: Burnt Offerings
by Laurell K. Hamilton. Orbit. £5.99. Published 7 December 2000
Anita Blake, vampire hunter - sharp, sassy, sexy and good fun, finds she's sharing a bed with the Master Vampire of the city. So it hits close to home when an arsonist begins to target vampire-owned businesses all over the town.
• UK: The Secret Texts Book Two: Vengeance of Dragons
by Holly Lisle. Publisher: Millenium. £6.99
A stirring epic adventure of ancient curses, dark curses and soul-devoruring magic...

• US: The Man from Mundania
by Piers Anthony. Tor. Paperback. Published December 2000.
• US: Candle
by John Barnes. Tor. Paperback. Published December 2000.
• US: Ender's Shadow
by Orson Scott Card. Tor. Paperback. Published December 2000.
• US: Voyage to Eneh
by Roland Green. Tor. Paperback. Published December 2000.
• US: Dragon Weather
by Lawrence Watt-Evans. Tor. Paperback. Published December 2000.
• US: Epiphany of the Long Sun
by Gene Wolfe Publisher: St. Martin's Press. Published December 2000.

DECEMBER 2000 VIDEO
Anime
• US: Maison Ikkoku, Vol. 25: Welcome to the Doghouse
Ships 14 December 2000. Distributor: Viz 2 episodes per volume English subtitled color, stereo, 52 mins. $28.95
Desperate to overcome his paralyzing fear of dogs, Mitaka enlists (or should that be, has thrust upon him) the help of Ikkoku's determined residents. AND THEN: A new Ikkoku resident? Having lost a spouse, just like the manager, a strange sympathy strikes up between the two. What will it mean for Kyoko and Godai's burgeoning relationship? Re-solicited from November.
• US: Ranma 1/2, Season 6 Vol. 1: Who Do? Voodoo
Ships 7 December 2000. Distributor: Viz 2 episodes per volume English dubbed color, stereo, 52 mins. $24.95
Interfere with a girl and the idealized image she holds of her papa at your own peril! Kuno's ready to give his delinquent dad the boot, but Kodachi seems to need him now more than ever. Can the cranky upperclassman put up with the indignities for his sister's sake? AND THEN: There's a new kid in town! A really creepy kid! Who puts nails into stuff. And carries voodoo dolls. And also has a crush on Akane! Re-solicited from November.
• US: Ranma 1/2, Martial Mayhem: Marry Me, Akane
Ships 21 December 2000. Distributor: Viz 2 episodes per volume subtitled color, stereo, 52 mins. $28.95
Ranma and Ryoga have always competed in the martial arts, but now, with Ryoga's proposal to Ranma's fiancŽe, their romantic rivalry is coming to the boiling point, too·Then, an argument over food (what else?) send Genma storming out of the Tendo Dojo in a huff-and he's taking his son with him! Re-solicited from November.

Sources: Doctor Who Magazine, Little Brown, Orbit, Simon & Schuster, Victor Gollancz Millennium, Viz

Please note that all merchandise release dates are always fluid and I would recommend checking with the producers official web site for confirmation before screaming at your poor local dealer if they haven't got something you really, really want in stock...

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