Of all the candy mentioned in Roald Dahl's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Violet Beauregarde's full-course-dinner gum has always struck me as the least appealing, but apparently scientists have been hard at work making it a reality. According to the Telegraph, researchers have produced microscopic capsules that will allow timed releases of various flavors. The (non-nutritive) gum capsules could then be...

"...filled with flavouring for tomato soup that would break open on contact with saliva, while tougher capsules would contain the flavour for roast beef that would break open as the gum is chewed. A final flavour for blueberry pie could be packaged in capsules that require vigorous chewing to burst."

I actually feel a little queasy just typing that, but I'm assuming they wouldn't have put all that energy into developing this product if there wasn't a demand for it.

Labels: Food, Roald Dahl, Science

And in slightly bigger-budget promotional news, here's the trailer for the upcoming film based on Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox:



I was a little taken aback by the animation style, but this film looks like a lot of fun. We always go to the movies on Thanksgiving (helps work off all that family time), and this looks like it might be a contender.

Labels: Movie Adaptations, Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl fans take note: the paperback edition of Wendy Cooling's D is for Dahl: A Gloriumptious A to Z Guide to the World of Roald Dahl, is due out on August 16th. Dahl was just as weird as anyone who's read one of his books would expect, and Cooling's compliation is an excellent choice for anybody who has ever wondered how he got that way.

Labels: Children’s Book, Roald Dahl

Excerpt from:
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, by Roald Dahl

Why you should buy a copy of your very own:
It's just as nasty as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but even weirder!

In this scene...
Our young hero is traveling upwards in the great glass elevator at a tremendous rate of speed, accompanied by four grandparents, two parents, and Mr. Wonka. Three of the grandparents (Grandma Josephine, Grandma Georgina, and Grandpa George) aren't sold on this newfangled mode of travel.


"'What in the world keeps this thing up in the air?' croaked Grandma Josephine.

'Skyhooks', said Mr. Wonka.

'You amaze me', said Grandma Josephine.

'Dear lady', said Mr. Wonka, 'you are new to the scene. When you have been with us a little longer, nothing will amaze you.'

'These skyhooks', said Grandma Josephine. 'I assume one end is hooked into this contraption we're riding in. Right?'

'Right', said Mr. Wonka.

'What's the other end hooked into?' said Grandma Josephine.

'Every day', said Mr. Wonka, 'I get deafer and deafer. Remind me, please, to call up my ear doctor the moment we get back.'

'Charlie', said Grandma Josephine. 'I don't think I trust this gentleman very much.'

'Nor do I', said Grandma Georgina. 'He footles around.'"

© Roald Dahl, 1972

Labels: Roald Dahl, Snippet