Snipes Launching "Africa-Based Sci-Fi" Franchise
Sunday April 19, 2009
Creators Mshindo I and Gregory Walker and producer/voice artist Wesley Snipes will officially launch their animated science-fiction project, Zulu Mech 1, at Book Expo America in New York on May 30.
Walker, also known as Brother G, is the author of the Shades of Memnon trilogy, developed as a swords-and-sorcery series with an African consciousness. Mshindo I, who has also worked as Mshindo Kuumba, is a graphic artist whose work has included children's books (Food Adventues With Charles the Chef) and graphic novels (The Fringe).
The basic plot of Zulu Mech 1 involves a kind of a reversal of the Planet of the Apes idea, with humanity as the Earth's far-future successor civilization. Zulu Mech 1 is set in a utopian near future in which world nations are at peace and Africa is a prosperous united state, only to be invaded by strange, highly intelligent creatures called The Elder Race who come not from outer space, but from inside the Earth and who seek to return to world to the way it was before the dawn of humanity and their own self-destruction. The Elder Race seem unstoppable; in a final effort the Mthunzi family from South Africa stand against them and forge the heroic giant robot Zulu Mech 1.
"It's Africa-based sci-fi," explained co-author Brother G. "The Elder race is based on traditions of many African peoples that there was a creation before this creation, a world before this world that was destroyed. And the Zulu Mech is based on African practices involving spiritual 'totems' or power items, ancestor communication, and tapping into the power of the Earth. There are also heavy doses of nano-technolgy, advanced metallurgy, and other high-tech elements. I love the Transformers and Terminator, etc., but it's time we had epics from another perspective. This is truly sci-fi for the age of Obama!"
Mshindo I noted that there's more that's unusual about Zulu Mech besides an African sensibility. "I am also a fan of giant robots; so it was great creating Zulu Mech 1," he said. "As a mechanical creature ZM1 seems similar to other famous mechs, but believe me, he is something different. Zulu Mech 1 is unique, he is a Spiritual Cybernetic Organism."
"I think the world will be just as pleased as I was when Brother G and Mshindo brought this ground-breaking adventure series to my attention," said Snipes, who starred in the Blade trilogy. "Everybody knows I love sci-fi and there is really nothing like it on the market. Zulu Mech 1 can easily stand next to other epics like Star Wars on the strength of the story telling alone. But when you consider that it brings a fresh, untapped perspective to sci-fi, that really makes it hot."
The unveiling will take place in the Expo's African American Pavilion.
Walker, also known as Brother G, is the author of the Shades of Memnon trilogy, developed as a swords-and-sorcery series with an African consciousness. Mshindo I, who has also worked as Mshindo Kuumba, is a graphic artist whose work has included children's books (Food Adventues With Charles the Chef) and graphic novels (The Fringe).
The basic plot of Zulu Mech 1 involves a kind of a reversal of the Planet of the Apes idea, with humanity as the Earth's far-future successor civilization. Zulu Mech 1 is set in a utopian near future in which world nations are at peace and Africa is a prosperous united state, only to be invaded by strange, highly intelligent creatures called The Elder Race who come not from outer space, but from inside the Earth and who seek to return to world to the way it was before the dawn of humanity and their own self-destruction. The Elder Race seem unstoppable; in a final effort the Mthunzi family from South Africa stand against them and forge the heroic giant robot Zulu Mech 1.
"It's Africa-based sci-fi," explained co-author Brother G. "The Elder race is based on traditions of many African peoples that there was a creation before this creation, a world before this world that was destroyed. And the Zulu Mech is based on African practices involving spiritual 'totems' or power items, ancestor communication, and tapping into the power of the Earth. There are also heavy doses of nano-technolgy, advanced metallurgy, and other high-tech elements. I love the Transformers and Terminator, etc., but it's time we had epics from another perspective. This is truly sci-fi for the age of Obama!"
Mshindo I noted that there's more that's unusual about Zulu Mech besides an African sensibility. "I am also a fan of giant robots; so it was great creating Zulu Mech 1," he said. "As a mechanical creature ZM1 seems similar to other famous mechs, but believe me, he is something different. Zulu Mech 1 is unique, he is a Spiritual Cybernetic Organism."
"I think the world will be just as pleased as I was when Brother G and Mshindo brought this ground-breaking adventure series to my attention," said Snipes, who starred in the Blade trilogy. "Everybody knows I love sci-fi and there is really nothing like it on the market. Zulu Mech 1 can easily stand next to other epics like Star Wars on the strength of the story telling alone. But when you consider that it brings a fresh, untapped perspective to sci-fi, that really makes it hot."
The unveiling will take place in the Expo's African American Pavilion.
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EVERLASTING
Selling Planet Earth in Exchange for a Utopia? What’s the Catch?
Humans sold planet Earth for peace, but little did they know peace would come at such a high cost.
A long time ago, Humanity sold planet Earth to a group called the Evers in order to gain peace and a virtual utopia for themselves and for future generations. However, the cost of this paradise turns out to be too much for some to deal with and the humans soon find themselves ruled cruelly by the very beings who offered them salvation and at one point given them so much hope.
Humans that were originally treated with high regards, made to feels special, are now being treated as animals, some humiliated and shipped away to some unknown fate…each being told what they could or could not do, under the guise of it being in humanities best interest.
With a feeling of dread, a small group declares war on the more advanced Evers in hopes of returning things to the way they should be…to the way they had been. John and his make-shift crew of humans and hybrids (half human/half Ever) must not only find a way to break free of the mistakes of the past and find out the disturbing secrets that the Evers have hidden away, but they must also deal with their own personal issues and learn to live, grow, and deal with each others’ emotional issues of love, regret and fear.
Will man give up youth and perfect health to live in the past? And will John take the chance of restoring Earth to its former state even though there’s a good chance his life-threatening disease can return?
Publisher’s Web site: www.eloquentbooks.com/Everlasting.html
About the Author:
Myra Evans resides in Walterboro, South Carolina, a small town near Charleston. She is a C.N.A. for a large Veterans nursing home.