Today is when the Nantes International Science Fiction Festival, better known to regulars asUtopial. This benchmark event for all SF enthusiasts will be held until November 12 at the city's Congress Center.

Obviously, AFOLs (including several members of the community BrickPirate) will be present in force with an exhibition bringing together various dioramas (Hoth, Clone Wars, Space ...) and I understand that Ar Sparfel's maxifigs will also be present.

In addition, if you are there on Friday, November 9, book your place to attend the round table on the theme "Design, LEGO and science fiction"which will take place from 20:30 p.m. at the Shayol space and of which here is the presentation text:

"... Art, street art, advertising, design use LEGO-type bricks to mobilize the collective imagination associated with them: childhood, toys, modularity, assembly ... Conversely, Adult LEGO users use these qualities in the first degree, like children, the bricks becoming a kind of material, both flexible and pixelated. So, teenage hobby, amateur design, 3D painting, popular sculpture? What is the name of the use of LEGO bricks by adults? How does a professional designer see these creations? ..."

Out of nowhere, here's what appears to be the Alien Trooper Series 9 collectible minifig that makes an appearance in a video on YouTube.

I took it upon myself to remove the dusty plates of the amateur videographer from the image to isolate the minifigure which is equipped with the same armor and helmet as the Space Trooper of the 7 series.

I personally am not a fan of the screen printing or the face of this minifigure, but I already know that some of you will love it ....

I don't even know why I'm bothering to talk about it here because it's been a long time since I decided to spend my money on the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit ranges exclusively for minifigs. The walls, the spiders and the boats that do not float do not excite me for a second ...

In short, all this to tell you that LEGO is continuing its teasing on the mini-site dedicated to The Hobbit range with the set 79001 Escape from Mirkwood Spiders.

To hell with spiders and mushrooms, all that interests me here are the 4 minifigs of this set sold 29.99 € at amazon.de : Fili, Kili, Legolas Greenleaf and Tauriel.

I wonder what Legolas is doing in the middle of this set, but this brave Peter Jackson has decided so and LEGO must join the cause.

Orlando Bloom will undoubtedly ensure brilliantly the quota "Handsome kid to attract young girls who adore the young blond boy with pointy earss ".

I am obviously the first to take advantage of the good deals or promotional operations that I publish here.

But I do little infidelity to amazon, and I'm starting to believe that I had better continue to stick with the online sales giant that has never let me down.

The LEGO Star Wars 3in1 Super Pack reference 66431 is available at the rather decent price of 39.99 € on auchan.fr. So I relay the info on the blog and I place my order on the site of the French merchant, telling me that everything should be fine.

43.99 € later (including 4 € for shipping), everything is fine. I await the delivery.

A few days later, the package arrives. And it doesn't contain the right product. Instead of my long-awaited Super Pack, I am stuck with a 9493 X-Wing Starfighter which I don't really need. Full of good feelings, I tell myself that the error is human and that it is enough to know how to repair it. I therefore contacted the after-sales service.

And here is the drama. The Auchan.fr after-sales service does not seem to understand that I received the wrong product and that I would like to receive the correct one. I am asked to return the product I no longer want at my expense, promising me a refund by check within three weeks. I insist, I call back, I explain, I explain again and I call back, and I end up telling me that the redelivery of the good product is not possible and that the shipping costs will be reimbursed to me if I return an original proof of the return shipping cost paid by me by separate mail.

However, it is not for lack of having explained to Hortense, Mélanie and their customer service friends that I am the victim of an error on their part and that I just want to get my Super Pack. Nothing will do. The procedure is inflexible. At auchan.fr we do not know how to replace a product. It is up to the customer to return his box and wait for his money. As in the good old days of La Redoute.

In short, amazon has nothing to worry about, the French merchants (I assure you, auchan.fr is not the only one to manage its after-sales service in such an archaic way, I gave elsewhere ...) and their procedures from another time can not compete.

For comparison, my last concern with amazon goes back a few weeks, when after having received a package containing encylopédies LEGO Batman The Visual Dictionary who had taken a little water, amazon immediately proceeded to a new dispatch without even waiting for the return of the damaged works, carried out at their expense.

You've had issues with an online merchant while shopping for LEGO, feel free to share your experiences in the comments.

Ah, I forgot, if someone comes across this Super pack reference 66431 in an Auchan store near his home, let him contact me, I pay him the product, the shipping costs, the box and all with smile....

Since we are talking about advertising for derivative products, the channel Gulli announces the release of a new LEGO Friends cartoon tomorrow, November 7 at 10:40 am.

The opportunity for all those who love this range and its universe to discover the adventures of Olivia and her friends.

Here is the promising pitch of this cartoon:
"The day before the Festiv'Animal, a dog, Scarlet, arrives at the veterinary clinic of Olivia's aunt. The dog runs away and ruins all the preparations. Olivia would like to make new friends but with the stupid things of this dog, it's not won!
Find out how Olivia will befriend Stéphanie, Emma, ​​Mia & Andréa…"