TV: New BSG TV series, new FIREFLY news, new GAME OF THRONES writer

Some intriguing news items from today's internet:

First off, SyFy are in discussions with Ronald D. Moore and his team about producing a second Battlestar Galactica spin-off. With Caprica's performance slowly improving and the chances of a second season getting stronger, the cable channel is apparently considering broadening the franchise with a new show returning to the original's space opera roots. With rumours indicating that Caprica might experience a time-jump in its second season closer to the start of the First Cylon War, it is unclear what ground this new series would cover. Still, interesting news.

Secondly, after years of constantly being asked about the background of his character Shepherd Book, Ron Glass has convinced Joss Whedon to revisit the Firefly universe. Whedon has written an outline for a new graphic novel, to be written by his brother Zack (a co-writer on Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog), entitled The Shepherd's Tale, which will fully reveal the secrets of Book's past. The comic book, which will be considered canon, will be published in November this year by Dark Horse Comics.

In an odd burst of synchronicity, Battlestar and Firefly (and Buffy, Angel, DS9 and Dollhouse) writer Jane Espenson has joined the writers' roster for Season 1 of Game of Thrones. She will pen the sixth episode of the first season, alongside newcomer Bryan Cogman (who will write the fourth episode) and the writing team of David Benioff and Dan Weiss, who will pen another seven episodes. The remaining episode will be written by George R.R. Martin himself. I suspect Martin's episode won't be until late in the season due to time commitments elsewhere.