January means the return of all good things–and LOST is back tonight!!!!!!!!

Tonight at 9/8 central is a two-hour premiere (not counting that stupid clip show, which begins at 8/7c if you’re interested) with episodes titled “Because You Left” and “The Lie”.

Here’s the official release from ABC (spoiler free):

THE REMAINING SURVIVORS START TO FEEL THE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE ISLAND BEING MOVED, AND JACK AND BEN BEGIN THEIR QUEST TO REUNITE THE OCEANIC 6 – ALONG WITH LOCKE’S BODY – IN ORDER TO RETURN TO THE ISLAND, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF ABC’S “LOST”

After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, its survivors were forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discovered that the island holds many secrets, including a mysterious smoke monster, polar bears, housing and hatches with electricity and hot & cold running water, a group of island residents known as “The Others,” and a mysterious man named Jacob. The survivors have also found signs of those who came to the island before them, including a 19th century sailing ship called The Black Rock, a downed Beechcraft plane from a failed drug run, the remains of an ancient statue, as well as bunkers belonging to the Dharma Initiative — a group of scientific researchers who inhabited the island in the recent past. They also encountered a freighter stationed off the island that some thought would lead to their rescue, but ultimately almost caused their extinction.

With only 34 original hours left until the final episode airs in 2010, Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sun and Claire’s son, Aaron – otherwise known as the Oceanic 6 – have been rescued and continue to try and pick up the pieces of the lives they knew before the crash and to perpetuate the lie concocted to hide the truth of what really happened. But Jack and Ben must convince all of them to return to the island in order to save those left behind. This will prove quite a feat since Jack is still wrestling with his addictions, Kate won’t speak to him, Hurley is in a mental institution, Sayid is an assassin and Sun blames Jack for Jin’s death when the freighter exploded. Adding to their worries is the fact that they also have to take the body of Jeremy Bentham – aka Locke — with them in order to make things right with the island. But locating the island may prove even more difficult since Ben moved it. It’s not just a question of where it went, but when. Back on the island, the survivors who were left behind begin to play out the surprising events that inevitably lead to Locke’s death.

In the first part of the season premiere, entitled “Because You Left,” the remaining island survivors start to feel the effects of the aftermath of moving the island, and Jack and Ben begin their quest to reunite the Oceanic 6 in order to return to the island with Locke’s body in an attempt to save their former fellow castaways. In the second part, entitled “The Lie,” Hurley and Sayid are on the run from the cops after stumbling into trouble at the safehouse; the island survivors come under attack by unknown forces; and an old friend offers some shocking advice to Kate in order to ensure that “the lie” remain a secret.

“Lost” stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Jeremy Davies as Daniel Faraday, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet and Terry O’Quinn as Locke.

Guest starring in “Because You Left” are L. Scott Caldwell as Rose, Sam Anderson as Bernard, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, William Mapother as Ethan Rom, Francois Chau as Dr. Marvin Candle, Sonya Walger as Penelope “Penny” Widmore, Alan Dale as Charles Widmore, Rebecca Mader as Charlotte Lewis, William Blanchett as Aaron, Sean Whalen as Neil Frogurt, Tom Irwin as Dan Norton, Michael Dempsey as foreman, Stephanie Smart as ticket agent, Leslie Ishii as woman, Cindy Paliracio as TV anchor, Brad Berryhill as anxious guy, Sven Lindstrom as crew member, Chantal Boomla as counter girl and Jeremy Colvin as security guard.

Guest starring in “The Lie” are Michelle Rodriguez as Ana Lucia, L. Scott Caldwell as Rose, Sam Anderson as Bernard, Sonya Walger as Penelope “Penny” Widmore, Rebecca Mader as Charlotte Lewis, Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Lillian Hurst as Carmen Reyes, Cheech Marin as David Reyes, William Blanchett as Aaron, Sean Whalen as Neil Frogurt, Tom Connolly as Jones, Mary Mara as Jill, Dana Sorman as Darlene, James Jeremiah as police officer, Stephanie Conching as nurse, Matthew Allan as Cunningham and Todd Bryant as Mattingly.

“Because You Left” was written by Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse and directed by Stephen Williams.

“The Lie” was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Jack Bender.

(Press release courtesy of ABC Media Net)

Here are a few official promotional photos for the premiere tonight (more images available at Lost-Media.com:

And two official sneak peeks for tonight:

Want more? Check out the always reliable Dark UFO (aka Andy)’s collection of spoilers in his Season 5 Episode Guide. Who else is excited?!?!?!?!

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On another fangirl squeeee! note, Battlestar Galactica also is back as of last week! How about poor Dualla (even though I never liked her)? Or that mindfrak with Starbuck?! Or, of course, the reveal of the fifth?!? Gods, I love this show!

Only 9 more episodes to go before the end… Here’s the preview for this Friday’s episode, “A Disquiet Follows My Soul”:

It’s been fun, but our X-Files Weekend now comes to a close. And so, we look forward, onward ho!

First things first, our magical sorting hat has spoken. The winner of our Accidental Demon Slayer giveaway is…

M. of Apprentice Writer!

Congrats, M.–please drop us a comment or an email (thebooksmugglers AT hotmail DOT com) with your mailing info as soon as possible! Thanks to all for playing–and if you didn’t win, don’t worry, you’ll soon have another chance…

Coming This Week:

We have a jam-packed week filled with early reviews and another giveaway!

On Monday, Ana will review The Wild Road (Dirk & Steele book by Marjorie Liu.

Lannes Hannelore is one of a dying race born to protect mankind against demonic forces. And while those who look upon him see a beautiful man, this illusion is nothing but a prison. His existence is one of pure isolation, hiding in plain sight, with brief solace found in simple pleasures: stretching his wings on a stormy night, long late drives on empty highways, the deep soul of sad songs. But when Lannes finds a young woman covered in blood—desperate and alone, with no memory or past—he will be drawn into a mystery that makes him question all he knows. And though it goes against his nature and everything he fears, Lannes will risk his heart, his secrets, and his very soul, in order to save someone who could be the love of his life…or the end of it.

The Wild Road is available July 29, 2008.

On Tuesday, we’ll have a review of Nightwalker–the highly anticipated new release by Jocelynn Drake.

For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker—an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed . . . and may be all that prevents her doom.
The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt . . . or be hunted.

Nightwalker is available July 29, 2008.

And, what’s more is on Wednesday we will have a Q&A with author Jocelynn Drake herself! Stop by to see what this new author has to share about writing and her new book–and also for a chance to win a copy of Nightwalker!

On Friday, Ana will have an early review up for Suzanne Enoch’s Before the Scandal, book 2 of The Notorious Gentlemen series.

It Was a Scandal Waiting to Happen . . .

Colonel Phineas Bromley is a legend—on the battlefield and in the bedroom. Though he’s won many wars, and even more hearts, nothing could prepare him for his new life. When Phin discovers that someone has been pushing his family toward ruin, he assumes the role of a legendary highwayman. Riding out in the middle of the night, hidden behind a mask, Phin heads straight into trouble . . . and into the arms of the ravishing girl next door.

Coming face-to-face with a masked man did not frighten Alyse Donnelly as it should have. Instead, she finds him rather dashing. But her foolish heart has led her into trouble before, and helping a fugitive may mean jeopardizing her own plans, no matter how enticing his kisses. Now, as the danger grows, Alyse must make a choice between freedom . . . and the chance for true love.

Before the Scandal is in stores on July 29, 2008.

Other News:

Stephen Hunt’s SFcrowsnest Hivemind, a new social networking site for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans, is now up and running!

Welcome to SFcrowsnest Hivemind, the social network for science fiction and fantasy fans. If you’re looking to converse and make friends with fellow science fiction & fantasy fans, then you have arrived at the right social networking service. We start at A for Asimov, move on through S for Star Wars (or possibly Star Trek, if you have odd-looking textures on your forehead), and end on Z is for Zelazny. And you can even stop off at B for Bladerunner and Battlestar, or C for Conan of Cimmeria, if you want to travel the long way round. Enjoy.

Stop by and check it out! Here’s a LINK to our profile

Annnnnd, in a final note, last week the new CAPRICA trailer went online at scifi.com!

From NBC Universal:

The people of the Twelve Colonies are at peace and living in a society not unlike our own, but where high-technology has changed the lives of virtually everyone for the better. But a startling breakthrough in robotics is about to occur, one that will bring to life the age-old dream of marrying artificial intelligence with a mechanical body to create the first living robot — a Cylon. Following the lives of two families, the Graystones and the Adamas (the family of William Adama, who will one day become the commander of the Battlestar Galactica) Caprica weaves corporate intrigue, techno-action and sexual politics into television’s first science fiction family saga.

I trust in the capable hands of the BSG creators, even if this family drama isn’t exactly what I was looking for. Still, with the final episodes of BSG looming, I’ll take whatever I can get. Plus, Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales? Niiiiice.

Also, as comic-con ends (I’m still pissy I didn’t get to go!), RWA kicks off this week! We’ll try to stay updated.

The countdown begins! In approximately five days, one of the best frakking shows ever to grace the television screen will be back for it’s fourth and final season.

Will Starbuck lead them to salvation, or to ruin? Will they find the Thirteenth Colony after all?

Only one season, and we will know. And I can’t frakking wait.

Battlestar Galactica returns with the Season 4 premiere on Friday, April 4 at 10/9 C.