April 2019 – May 2019 Number 198

Meetings:- St Augustine’s Anglican Chuch Hall, 100 Sydney Rd, Coburg, Vic.

Getting there: Tram No 19 North Coburg, from Elizabeth St in the city, or Tram no 8, Moreland Rd from Glenferrie Rd, Toorak, to Stop 132. Upfield train line to Moreland Station.

On street parking. Space on the road next to it, which is closed to through driving. Melway Ref 29 H3. Cyclists can use the Upfield bicycle path.

Meetings of the Melbourne Club take place on the third Friday Night of the month. Unless it is Good Friday. Since 1952 The MSFC is a place where people who enjoy science fiction and meet to Most Club Nights – Gold coin for members, $5 for nonmembers. discuss their love of books, TV, film and Some nights may cost an extra fee, such as Trivia Nights. coffee. Premises open at 8pm on the third Friday of the month, events start CONTACTING THE MSFC. at 8.30pm. Lights out at 11pm.

General enquiries. Sustenance - Hot food, cold snacks, coffee and hot chocolate and Soft [email protected] Drinks are available. Clubzine. Editor: LynC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS [email protected]

Single membership $35 Website Show your MSFC membership card Family or household $45 www.msfc.sf.org.au when asking for these benefits. Interstate Ethel the Aardvark email

subscription $25* Our Facebook page: 20% discount with cash or debit card, https://www.facebook.com/Mel and 15% discount with credit cards off bourneSFClub *plus $10 for interstate subscribers all books at: Our open Facebook group: wishing a hardcopy Ethel subscription. Sybers Books https://www.facebook.com/ (Hard copy not available O/S) 38 Chapel St Windsor 3181 groups/4658278007 phone 9530 2222 All denominations are in Australian Postal address dollars. Please send us Australian 668 Glenhuntly Rd MSFC currency or equivalent, able to be banked Caulfield 3161 in Australia. phone 9523 6686 PO Box 110 Our treasurer will thank you. Moonee Vale Vic 3055 5% off books and magazines at:

MSFC membership benefits Minotaur 2018/2019 MSFC Committee 121 Elizabeth St President: Melb 3000 A year-long subscription to this Alison Barton www.minotaur.com.au fanzine, Ethel the Aardvark, five/six phone 9670 5414 Financial Secretary/ issues per year. Treasurer: 10% off all SF books at Mark Ford Discounts at selected Melbourne Dymocks bookshops. Southland shop 3067-68, Committee: Westfield Centre Cheltenham James Allen (librarian) Voting rights at the Annual General phone 9584 1245 LynC (Ethel Editor, Meeting! If you are good you can actually Memberships & Outgoing stand for election! MSFC LIFE MEMBERS Communications) Alan Stewart Access to use the MSFC email list via the Bill Wright Webmaster (not committee): Communications Officer Clare McDonald Bruce Gillespie Dick Jenssen aka Ditmar The pleasure of being in a place where Helena Binns people share your enjoyment of science James Allen aka Jocko [Copyright for all artwork fiction and fantasy. Lee Harding (deleted by request) and articles remain with the Merv Binns Artist/Author Race Matthews Robin Johnson Original artwork will only Krin Pender-Gunn be returned on request.]

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Editorial: Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 19th July 2019 at St Welcome to the May 2019 edition of Ethel. Augustine’s Church Hall, 100 Sydney Rd, This issue sees the welcome return of Ed’s Coburg. Doors open at 8pm, with official Crostic Puzzles! Also the usual book and proceedings scheduled to start at film reviews. 8:30pm or soon after. (Food and Because the AGM is sneaking up on us – as beverages available from the kitchen at it does every year – we have included some the usual prices.) preliminary stuff for that on this page and Ordinary Business of the AGM shall be; the back page. A copy of our constitution - To confirm the Minutes of the can be found at: 2018 AGM. http://msfc.sf.org.au/downloads/MSFC_Constitu tion_2009.pdf - To elect Officers of the MSFC and Ordinary Members of the Artwork this issue comes from Stella Marie (Cover), David L Russell (p18) and Dennis Committee. Callegari (Zoidberg, p19). - To receive and vote upon the Treasurer’s Report. (Other Committee Enjoy. LynC members shall also present reports.) All current members over the age of 18 The Librarian's column. are eligible to vote. Membership At home, I have a blue plastic library box. It renewals will be accepted at the meeting contains about 18 recently published books prior to the commencement of official and an old diary where we can record loans. proceedings, and including any members It is the new stuff Mark has bought for the whose renewal is less than 61 days library and some donations. I try to bring it overdue. New membership applications along to meetings, but sometimes I am busy (including members whose renewal is and I forget. It is only a little bit of the library more than 60 days in arrears) can submit and we must add more books. The club is an application for membership at the more than the library, but the library is an conclusion of official proceedings. important part of the club. We are readers of Guests and observers are welcome but science fiction and fantasy. We share what are not eligible to vote. we read with other members. We seek out Any nomination forms or proxy forms new and old that is good reading; things that should be sent to the Returning Officer, evoke a sense of wonder. Our genre is to be received no later than 8pm, exciting, challenging and makes you think. Thursday 18th July to; Not always easy and some experiments fail, Returning Officer, but we carry on searching for the wonderful c/o MSFC PO Box 110 and then sharing our discoveries. Meetings Moonee Vale, Vic 3055. take place in fandom space where opinions or via [email protected] can be voiced, knowing no one will say it is Positions open for nomination are; not really of value. We celebrate a wild and  President sometimes eccentric genre that isn’t just  Vice President about the human condition, one that seeks  General Secretary (Public Officer) more and always asks what if?  Financial Secretary (Treasurer) Jocko  Ordinary Committee Member (5 MSFC AGM 2019 positions available) Hello all MSFC Members, Alison Barton (President)

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Meetings: - list goes on. This was in the days The March meeting saw the showing of before the “Internet” became SHADO, a Doctor Who video. (Unfortunately ubiquitous. I forgot to take photos or notes.) They were all being run by more or The April meeting however was another less the same people - lots of cross- Sunday meeting in the beautiful but remote surroundings of Edendale. pollination between the groups. And spectacular bust ups. There was a trivia Quiz (my team won and I 2. Did you leap in feet first or was it more got to take home a Dr Who Graphic Novel for of a slow burn? my artist daughter), and a special Guest – Observed first, met people, got into Rose Mitchell, winner of the 2017 Peter McNamara award, past Aussiecon Chair, various “circles”. Started club duties current President of the Australian Science as an assistant to Katherine Shade Fiction Foundation, and that’s just the last when she was the Captain’s Log few years! Editor.

That led to a committee position on Her Question and Answer session appears here: Austrek, and it all kicked off from there. 3. Do you remember which was the first convention you attended? And your first impressions? Indeed I can! Star Trek con with GoH George Takei held at the old Southern Cross Hotel. Saw an advert on late night telly (during Next Gen IIRC) and thought I’m going to that - bugger it. So took myself off all by myself and had a great time. Was where I

discovered the existence of the 1. When did you first discover fandom? clubs. Brought far too much merch It was early 90’s, after a very bad which I could ill-afford as I was a marriage break up and I needed to single mum on a limited income. make new friends (he took all the old 4. Can you take a guess as to how many ones …..) conventions you have attended over the Started out in Austrek as my years? preferred fandom. Very big club Not as many as others brag about!! scene in Melbourne early 90s so I Let’s say: 2 per year since 1992. checked them all out: Enterprise, Dr Who, Star Walking, Babylon 5, X-Files

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5. Which was the first you 7. Many people talk about the convention attended? What was your impression? after the convention (ie. room parties Bizarrely my first worldcon was 99 and the bar), can you tell us a bit about here in Melbourne. Being a single that? Is "after the convention" still a mum on a limited income I didn't thing or has the changing nature of have funds for overseas travel - not fandom and hotels (where many of till my children left school and were these conventions are held) meant the working. end of these shenanigans? First OS one was Boston 2003. Room parties are now less of a thing Overwhelmed and rather lonely. than say pre 2000s. Hotels have Vast acreage of convention space all cracked down on parties in filled with events. I was glad to bedrooms/guest rooms - duty of escape of an evening and hide out in care, public liability etc. At Worldcon my hotel room. Plus I met some most of the big parties are in right dick-heads whom I had to be function spaces. I don't particularly polite to - need to get some distance. like them: too crowded, crap food 6. What are the main differences that (except for Bid parties that have a someone would notice about a specialty) Worldcon compared with a Natcon or The Bar is usually the place to hang local convention? after and during the con, the Scale. Natcon’s are modelled on the meeting place hub. Lots of D&Ms, worldcon or US cons. Natcons here gossip, planning, conniving over a are not as flashy but sometimes tend beer or two. to try to do too much. The mythical smoky back room is US = 2-4K is considered small usually a bar in the hotel where the regional. AUS = 300 is considered a con is. big con. Con goers have become more sophisticated from the 2000s and look for more stylised events to attend 8. Why did you decide to take the leap from convention attendee to convention runner? Not sure. In the 90s as part of my job I was an event organiser/conference planner. It just happened. I have particularly useful and transferrable skills.

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Club events in the 90s were mini 11. Tell us about some of the behind the cons: full day of activities, guests etc. scenes things that attendees may not be so grew from those events. aware of. 9. How did you end up becoming the Chair How we got kicked out of the of a Worldcon? function space at the Hilton in 2010 We couldn't find a chair for (once again due to an idiot Aussiecon 4. From the Japan interfering - and not even a Worldcon (2007) it became committee member) and how the imperative that we find a chair. party brigade had to get incredibly Some right nutters were coming out creative in order to run the parties of the wood-work and volunteering within the parties’ budgets. to be our Chair. The bid committee Not having the proper contracts or got together and tried one or two insurances in place and having to more people who said no. Had to come up with workarounds bite the bullet. We came up with the Program clashes and finding idea of co-chairs : old hand Perry workarounds - usually frantically Middlemiss and me (because the Or guests not turning up to their gigs SMOFS wouldn't trust me to do the and going on a search and kidnap to job on my own) retrieve them 10. Can you tell us about some of the highs Having to pull back over ambitious and lows of being a convention chair at plans for an event/function and various conventions? hosing down the people who were Highs: leading and motivating a planning it (getting them to successful and cohesive team, the understand that we didn't have $50k joy of seeing it all come together, to spend on this one function area) people being creative and doing 12. Now to the really juicy stuff. Is there what they’ve agreed to do. any interesting gossip you tell us about Lows: have to deal with idiots. And any of the guests you have hosted? low performing team members or Special divas or the like? destructive and disruptive team Not really most guests have done members. 2010 was the worst con their duty and with very good grace. I’ve ever worked on due to the Star Trek con: Majel Barrett wanted behaviour of one or two individuals. to be paid in USD cash - which the They poisoned the well. con did, much to my horror! Money Volunteering is not worth it if you laundering, tax evasion (both here have to continually deal with these and in the USA), international money types and continually clean up their transfer laws, etc etc messes. I had heard about a con out of Canberra in the early 90s who

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supplied coke to their guest (part of Have to go to room parties (but it the rider apparently …..). Needless to will be a sweep through, work the say came in at a very great loss. room then GTFO and back to quiet Fannish guests are the best: Joe space) Haldeman insisted they pay their Have outlandish and old fashioned own fares because they could get a opinions on the current state of better deal on points through AMEX. fandom and talk about these very, 13. Tell us about some of your favourite very loudly guests. Piss off Millennials and post Don’t really have any. It’s never millennial fans with old fashioned been part of my role to “hang” with ideas and how things were so much the guests other than as hostess, better in the day … meet and greets etc. I don’t regard Actually I personally believe that any of these people my personal FGoH is an anachronism and had its friends although I know of other con- day a long time ago. I recognised runners who do. this at the Natcon in 2013, the It’s all a blur. Sean Williams was very fannish sessions were the most co-operative and engaged with the poorly attended panels. Having said attendees. The Haldemans are good that, last year’s continuum fan fun — in and out all the room history panels were some of the parties. most popular. KSR - Stan was very engaged and 15. What do you hope to bring to NZ 2020 agreed to do stuff outside the con (apart from vegemite and Caramello (well it was actually to his benefit) Koalas)? 14. Rose, you are Fan Guest of Honour for This is NZ! They know about NZ 2020 which is a new role for you. Vegemite and Cadbury chocolate. What will be some of your I hope to demonstrate the similarity responsibilities as FGOH? of NZ and Aussie fandoms. Both Stand on my spot and smile, get to fandoms have similar if not engagements on time converging histories, got started the Panels - got to come up with same, have the same social and anecdotes and interesting stories. economic demographics. Bit of a chore as I usually had the Showcase the relationships between most boring jobs on conventions, the fandoms totally back of house. Open up the NZ con market more to Be nice to everybody and don't call Aussies (cheaper to go to NZ than anybody I dislike an idiot … Perth … how does that happen?) Be an ambassador for fandom. Engage with the con goers.

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16. Have you been to any expos such as Supanova or Comicon? These are also often referred to as conventions, but are probably quite different to fannish conventions as we know them. Which style of conventions do you prefer and why? I think the Supanovas/Comicons or Reviews: gameshows as they are known are Captain Marvel (Film) legitimate fan conventions, just not Reviewed by Phil Kemp

run by fans. They are for profit entities, but just as legitimate Good fun - lots of cosplay. It’s where the post millennial hang out. Very popular because are comparatively cheap ($30-$50), can buy in sessions similar to writers festivals and such. People don't want

to commit to a full on weekend Captain Marvel is an enjoyable popcorn anymore- got other things to do movie with deft performances and an now. engaging plot. Wide range of guests, The title heroine, played by Brie Larson, is can observe, then go home. likeable enough, along with Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson. The digital effects Fannish conventions are immersive. cleverly make Jackson appear thirty years small. Usually writer focused younger. (because they are cheap to bring While Captain Marvel is a welcome addition out), over last few years attendees to the Marvel franchise with a strong female tend to be emerging or aspiring presence, she lacks the gravitas of Wonder Woman. On the other hand, the characters writers who are looking to network are not supposed to be the same so arguably and kick start their career. Have seen such comparison is unwise and unwarranted. a wannabe touting a manuscript Without giving away the plot, there are some under their arm. Panels tend to be interesting developments, which are ably about techniques or how to get a enacted with the adroitly cast Annette Benning as the AI Supreme Intelligence of contract mixed in with some the Kree and Jude Law as a senior military philosophical issues associated with operative of the Kree. Ben Mendelsohn spec fiction. presents a sterling and understated turn as Skrull earth invasion leader Talos. The special effects are dazzling and represent what we have come to expect from the Marvel franchise. Most importantly,

Page 8 this film sets up the eagerly anticipated this film as a piece of nostalgic science fiction instalment entitled ‘Endgame’. although the special effects are Overall, an entertaining and humorous, 90s- understandably somewhat dated now. nostalgic action-based science fiction movie. The film is based upon the novella of the same title by Barry B. Longyear. Film Flashback: Enemy Mine 1985 Reviewed by Phil Kemp Shazam Film Review by Phil Kemp

This is one of my favourite science fiction films. It was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr. and was released when I was a teenager in the mid 1980s. It was a German-American production and cost $40 million, including marketing costs. The film was a flop at the box office, making only $12 million in the 1985 summer, but interestingly was hugely successful in the Soviet Union at the time. Shazam is an enjoyable romp of a superhero Since its theatrical release, the film has flick which doesn’t take itself too seriously. In attracted a cult following. fact, quite the opposite is true as Director The premise is quite simple. During a battle David F. Sandberg and screenwriter Henry between human pilot Willis (Will) E. Davidge Gayden dazzle us with a humorous (Dennis Quaid) and Drac pilot, Jeriba Shigan deconstruction of what it means to be a (Louis Gossett, Jr.), the two pilots shoot each superhero to a teenaged protagonist. When other down and end up crashing on Fyrine Billy Batson, a 14 year old boy living in IV. There is conflict between the two pilots Philadelphia, discovers that he can transform on the planet but they eventually work out into an adult superhero version of himself their differences. They become friends and with the word ‘Shazam’, the fun begins. He work as a team to survive the harsh decides to cash in on his superhero powers environment. Without giving away the plot, and busk them out at public shows. there are some intriguing twists and turns Meanwhile, his relationship with his involving a mining operation on the planet, newfound group foster family is complicated which exploits slave labour. and somewhat tense at the beginning. The The themes of friendship, family, racism and character-driven plot offers the cast the slavery are prevalent in this thought opportunity to engage in witty dialogue and provoking story. The film works because it is convincing dramatic and comedic exchanges. essentially a buddy movie in a dramatic Zachary Levi puts in a strong turn as the title science fiction context. Initially, the film is character and Asher Angel provides a more of a character-driven affair but vulnerable and sensitive portrayal as the boy eventually the plot takes over and it is an version of Shazam. Mark Strong is sufficiently exciting and enjoyable ride. I recommend formidable as the uber powerful Dr.

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Thaddeus Sivan. There are high school entertaining 132 minute origin story for the conflicts, a buddy motif, themes of family DC Comic Film franchise. This film is well and maturity, and mother issues from the worth the price of the movie ticket or protagonist’s perspective. In structural download and engages heartfully from symmetry, the antagonist, Dr. Thaddeus beginning to end. Shazam! Sivana, has his own father issues. Backed by a cast of the magical seven deadly sins, the evil Sivana is literally hell-bent on seizing Shazam’s magical powers. What unfolds is an

CROSTIC PUZZLE By Ed McArdle

You write as many answers to the clues as you When you are finished, the first letters of the can, then transfer the letters to the relevant answers spell the name of the author and the square on the diagram. You try to guess words in book. the diagram, then you work between the two. This is meant to be answered with the aid of the The diagram is a quote from a book. Words end internet, but you don’t have to! at the shaded squares, not at the ends of lines. Single letter words are likely to be “a” or “I”. A three letter word will often turn out to be “the” .

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Clues:

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Black Lightning The Complete First The series also answers the question, if the Season (DC DVD) force which helps you is genetic, does that Reviewed by Ed McArdle carry on to your children? As befits a minor character, the series is quite cheap!

Random Reviews by Ed McArdle:

I picked up a book by Dan Abnett, and

enjoyed it! It was I have been watching or buying up a lot of Guardians of the the Marvel and DC comics, including some of Galaxy. By chance I the more recent episodes like Runaways, but also picked up a book I noticed one of the older stories called Black by him about Dr Who, Lightning. It was on Netflix, and I enjoyed it and I discovered there as a comic at the time, but that time was a were a multitude of long time ago! It predated Luke Cage and the books by him at the Marvel strips, but I remembered it because it library about Tomb Raider, Thor, etc! I gather was one of the tales by Tony Isabella (famous he writes comics as well. because like Peter David he could not afford The Guardians of the Galaxy proved very a surname) enjoyable The story involved a superhero who soaked up electricity. Black Lightning wears a The Tomb Raider costume apparently based on the Skipping book was not as Girl electric sign, which was based on a good. It began with Vinegar a story about Lara advertisement and Croft, which will be familiar to basically got any Melbourne nowhere for the readers. It is not first hundred good for secret pages. Lara was insignias! traumatised from He fought crime, but then he retired and her first adventure, fought the better way by becoming a and spent her time schoolteacher and then a principal. Well, you travelling on public generally survive longer as a teacher. transport being scared by everyone she Jefferson Pierce is now the father of two travelled with! Then she is kidnapped by the daughters, and he tries to protect them, but mysterious Ares! not many seem to notice that his daughters What confused me to start with was that this seem to be the only ones protected by Black was a story about an ordinary person, and I Lightning? had been expecting some sort of superhero! There seem to be a lot of Bad Guys, including When I adjusted my expectations I was able parts of the police force, rogue CIA players, to settle down and enjoy the book. etc, and the main group of (two) villains Then she started behaving like a superhero, survive to the end of series 1, so they can and the book finished, and one of the villains fight him again in season 2. was unaccounted for!

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At the same time, I noticed at the Doctor Who Club a little set of books, all with David I read The Court of Owls, because it had a Tennant, but varied companions. The picture of Batman on it, and it was by Greg shortest one is really just a short story. Cox, whom I had read Star Trek books by, but Sontarans have attacked Earth, yet again. He I didn’t quite finish it, although it was quite joins up with a group. It is a good tale, the good. However, it was more like a comic, and Sontaran Games, but I can’t reveal more! featured appearances by Nightwing and The second story is about Martha Jones, and Batgirl. It would have been more acceptable I found it the least well done. She is on an as a comic. earth being wiped out, and she diverts to tell stories to cheer people up! In fact, I could Doctor Who, Scratchman not be bothered finishing it! My objection was that Martha Jones should not be Tom Baker. 2019. involved in a never-ending war involving Reviewed by Edward McArdle. earth, and Captain Jack, although I have not followed Captain Jack at all. The next one, however, was very good. It was a solo adventure for the doctor. He turns up on a planet to solve a problem. The universe is about to be wiped out, and he must save them all! Which does not sound like a typical Dr Who story, but it is well done. The creation of the Eyeless is clever, and they do not seem to be attached to the Doctor’s old enemies. The last of these four books I quite enjoyed but it involved the Doctor visiting the earth I bought this book because it was written by for no particular reason, but he becomes Tom Baker. On the front page it was written involved with a plot to take over the earth. It by Tom Baker and James Goss, and on the is quite a good story, and involves Donna summary page it was written by Tom Baker Noble and her family. My particular and Ian Marter. But it all seemed to be in the objection is that the plot to take over earth words of Tom Baker involves everyone! Big columns appear all One of my reasons for buying this book was over earth, and earth just passes it all off as that Tom Baker is in his early nineties, so he another big bit of news! should be encouraged to write on! The basic story was about the Time Lords, and the Doctor was justifying his existence to the Time Council, but the main story involved - as usual - a threat to Earth. The TARDIS had brought the Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan to Earth, to an

Page 13 island where the inhabitants were being counterparts get a whole episode dealing attacked by scarecrows! The Doctor made a with their villainy! defence which was sabotaged by one of the Then all blows up in Season 2, and after a nasty women of the island, so we will never while it is all sort of solved, and there seem know if it would have worked! About halfway to not be enough characters left alive for a through the book things take an odd turn. third season! There is one Cyberman, but the Doctor is One of the reasons for following this is that sucked into another dimension! Things there are a plethora of actors playing two become even more unusual from there. The roles, and they may be quite different, or Doctor is not only alone for a while, but they may be impersonating each other! doesn't know who he is. The book could have been written by Lewis Carroll! Star Trek: Discovery (TV Series) In the second part, the story becomes even Season 2 more frenetic, and mainly involves the Review by Phil Kemp Doctor. The villain proves to be someone escaping from another dimension, and scares come from the subconsciousness of our participants! But it all comes to an ending, so you can read it without becoming doomed.

Counterpart (TV Series) Reviewed by Edward McArdle

Season 2 of the Star Trek Discovery series was produced by CBS Television Studios with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. It is currently airing on Netflix. The action is set approximately ten years prior to the original Star Trek series. Episode 2.1 commences with Captain Christopher Pike assuming command of the USS Discovery in a crisis involving a mystery There appeared on my TV a series called of seven red signals in space. Counterpart, but it seemed impossible to The plot develops from there, involving the follow! Then the first series came up on DVD, appearance in a vision of an enigmatic red quite cheaply. angel to Commander Michael Burnham The theme of the series is that there are two (Sonequa Martin-Green) as she inspects the parallel worlds, which up to thirty years ago, wreckage of the USS Hiawatha on an were identical. Then when they discovered asteroid. Burnham then embarks upon an each other people started to go across, and investigation into her foster brother Spock, they quickly became different. And violent. who has apparently taken personal leave The story begins with a man who has been from the Federation. stuck on a single job, which turns out to be The story becomes complex and intricate because of his wife, and his counterpart who with the perplexing hauntings of Tilly (Mary is more of a villain. But there are lots of Wiseman), a back-story subplot of Saru counterparts! (Doug Jones), and the ongoing involvement We discover during Season 2 that it was all of the sinister intelligence organisation the fault of James Cromwell, and he and his known as Section 31.

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The performances are consistently Another 35 photos can be found here: impressive, the storyline carefully and https://www.facebook.com/pg/DoctorWhoVic/ph convincingly conceived, and the direction otos/?tab=album&album_id=2449234865087170 adept. If you have a facebook account. The only criticism I have is that Season Two feels like such a departure from the darker tone and mood of Season 1. I must confess to preferring Season 2, however, because of the predominance of the Spock and Burnham relationship, the intriguing character development of Tilly, Saru and Voq / Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif), the introduction of Section 31, and the deep exploration of the themes of family, feminism, race, morality, duty, artificial intelligence, and sexual identity. Overall, Season 2 is an engaging and entertaining journey into character and story, flag shipping what we have come to expect of the modern, progressive and topical brand that constitutes the Star Trek universe in both television and film.

DR Who Club of Victoria: 40th Anniversary I remember when this club was first formed. I was seriously tempted to join them at that time, but had no means of attending meetings. Then I heard all sorts of rumours about major clashes and decided to stay away. Since then they appear to have gone from strength to strength if the stories told at the party are anything to go by. For their anniversary they decided to take a cruise up the Yarra river. A three hour cruise. I’ve never done this cruise, and this wasn’t the way to experience it. It turned out to be a great night, and the party, and the anecdotes, and the people, so enthralling, there was hardly any room for actual sightseeing! As Rose Mitchell says in her talk (at the MSFC April meeting produced above) there is a lot of cross pollination in Melbourne’s clubs, so even though I am not, and have never been a member of the club, there were plenty of people I did know, and plenty of new faces as well.

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BEST HORROR SHORT STORY “Sub-Urban”, Alfie Simpson (Breach #07) BEST HORROR NOVELLA Crisis Apparition, Kaaron Warren (Dark Moon Books) BEST FANTASY SHORT STORY “The Further Shore”, J Ashley Smith (Bourbon Penn #15) BEST FANTASY NOVELLA “The Staff in the Stone”, Garth Nix (The Book of Magic, Penguin Random House) BEST SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY “The Astronaut”, Jen White (Aurealis) BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVELLA Icefall, Stephanie Gunn (Twelfth Planet Victorian ‘News’ : Press) This is only Victorian Related Events and BEST COLLECTION News. For an Australia Wide listing, try Tales from The Inner City, Shaun Tan (Allen & joining the Australian Science Fiction Unwin) Foundation ($20) and receiving their BEST ANTHOLOGY ‘Instrumentality’- http://asff.org.au The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year, Jonathan Strahan (Solaris) AWARDS: BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL Aurealis Awards: Catching Teller Crow, Ambelin Kwaymullina (https://aurealisawards.org) & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (Allen & Unwin) These were awarded on Saturday May 4, BEST HORROR NOVEL 2019, Jasper Hotel, Melbourne. This is a jury Tide of Stone, Kaaron Warren (Omnium run award for excellence in Australian Gatherum) Science Fiction. BEST FANTASY NOVEL – TIE City of Lies, Sam Hawke (Penguin Random

House) 2018 Aurealis Awards Winners The Witch Who Courted Death, Maria Lewis (Hachette Australia) BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL Lifel1k3, Jay Kristoff (Allen & Unwin) THE SARA DOUGLASS BOOK SERIES AWARD Blackthorn & Grim [Dreamer’s Pool (2014), Tower of Thorns (2015), Den of Wolves (2016)], Juliet Marillier (Pan Macmillan Australia) The winners of the 2018 Aurealis Awards CONVENORS’ AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE – are: TIE BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION Cat Sparks, The 21st Century Catastrophe: The Endsister, Penni Russon (Allen & Unwin) Hyper-capitalism and Severe Climate Change BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL / ILLUSTRATED WORK in Science Fiction (PhD exegesis, Curtin Tales from The Inner City, Shaun Tan (Allen & University) Unwin) Kim Wilkins, Lisa Fletcher, and Beth Driscoll, BEST YOUNG ADULT SHORT STORY Genre Worlds: Australian Popular Fiction in “The Sea-Maker of Darmid Bay”, Shauna the 21st O’Meara (Interzone #277, TTA Press) Century (http://www.genreworlds.com/)

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(Taken, almost verbatim from the post on the Aurealis The Australian Science Fiction Foundation is about to select the winner (if any) for the website.) 2019 A. Bertram Chandler Award, but nominations are always open for Ethel would like to congratulate the winners years. of this year’s Awards. To nominate someone whom you believe has made a significant contribution to Ditmar Awards: Australian science fiction and/ or Australian The Ditmar Awards honour achievements in fandom, write or email to the ASFF, P.O. Box a range of fields within Australian speculative 215 Forest Hill Vic 3131. Email fiction and fandom. It is voted on by the address: [email protected] fannish public and awarded at the Natcon. The nomination needs to detail the (That's Continuum this year) nominee’s achievements and why you Voting is now open, but closes real soon consider the nominee worthy of the 2019 (Must be postmarked by Friday 17th May, or Award. emailed by 19th May), and you must be a The nomination need not be seconded, but member of the Natcon to actually vote. it needs to have your name, as nominator on https://ditmars.sf.org.au/voting/index.html it, so that the ASFF can contact you if necessary. For a taste, the Novels which made it to the Nominees should be recognised members of voting form are: the Australian community, Devouring Dark, Alan Baxter, Grey Matter whether in professional areas such as Press publishing or from the myriad fandoms that The Subjugate, Amanda Bridgeman, Angry make up the scene. If accepted, nominations are added to the Faerie Apocalypse, Jason Franks, IFWG Chandler Awards Nominations List and Publishing Australia considered by the Jury (usually the ASFF City of Lies (Poison Wars 1), Sam Hawke, Committee). Nominations may be rolled over Tom Doherty Associates from year to year. The Beast's Heart, Leife Shallcross, Hodder & The winner of the 2019 Chandler will be Stoughton announced at Continuum 15, the 58th Tide of Stone, Kaaron Warren, Omnium Australian Science Fiction Convention. Gatherum. The Norma K Hemming Award Our Bruce Gillespie also made it to the voting The Norma K Hemming Award is given to form for both fan writer and Best Fan mark excellence in the exploration of themes Publication in any Medium. He would be the of race, gender, sexuality, class or disability first to urge you to check out the other in a speculative fiction work (e.g. science finalists before placing your vote. fiction, fantasy, horror) by Australian citizens and/or residents, and first published during The A. Bertram Chandler Award the eligibility period. Past winners have The A. Bertram Chandler Award is for included Claire Coleman and Foz Meadows “Outstanding Achievement in Australian (both 2018) and Margo Lanagan (2013), Science Fiction”, in recognition of the amongst others. contribution that science fiction writer A. The Judges are currently in judgement, and Bertram Chandler made to Australian the winner will be announced at the Natcon. Science Fiction and to Australian fandom in general. It is Australia’s premier award for Short Story Competition and even shorter lifetime achievement in science fiction. It is (15 words) competition: administered by the Australian Science Continuum 15, Australian Natcon 58 (June 7- Fiction Foundation. 10, 2019) has announced it is running a short Page 17 story competition, partly sponsored by the Continuum 15: Other Worlds ( Australian Science Fiction Foundation, along www.continuum.org.au ) Natcon 58, 7-10 with a Twitter-based competition for best June 2019. Kate Elliot and Ken Liu. Jasper 15-word story. Hotel,Melbourne The Judges are currently in judgement, and Current price: $215 Full, $180 Conc. If this is the winner will be announced at the Natcon. a hardship, contact the convention re ‘needs based’ membership. GROUPS and MEETING DATES: There will be an Art Display this year. Contact Samara at [email protected] ASFF - http://asff.org.au for more information At Continuum, The Australian Science Fiction Short Story Competitions have now closed – Foundation (ASFF) will be awarding the 2019 see under AWARDS. A. Bertram Chandler award and the Norma K. Hemming award. They will also have a Supanova Melbourne ceremony for the 2018 A. Bertram Chandler April 3-5 2020, Melbourne Showgrounds. winner, where the commemorative award bowl will be handed over, as it was not quite ready in 2018. They will also be handing over a cheque for the winner of the Short Story Competition.

MSFC ( http://msfc.sf.org.au ) the next meeting will be held in the usual place – St Augustine’s Church – details page 2. May 17: Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy: The Radio Play. This is the original form of the very popular series by Douglas Adams. This is to commemorate Towel Day on May 25.1

June 21: Winter Solstice TBA

Dr Who Fan Club of Victoria ( http://dwcv.org.au ) No Meeting in June. July 13, 1:00pm to 5:00 pm. AGM and Doctor Who’s Beginnings Letter Of Comment The Hub Docklands Dear MSFCers: AUSTREK (www.austrek.org ) generally Thank you all for Ethel 197! meets on the 1st Saturday of every month at I’d like to find out where Hobbiton is, if it the Northcote Town Hall at 14:00 isn’t in New Zealand. I hope Ed McArdle gets June 1 (TBC) his software to behave. I know how he feels, July 6 (TBC) though…I’ve done a lot of graphic work, but Entry is $9 for Non Members the files are only openable with QuarkXPress 5. I’d like to get it, but no one knows where to get it, or else they’re too busy

recommending new software, and why 1 If you have a favourite you’d like to share, would I want that old stuff? let Jocko know in advance for the next video night. Page 18

I enjoy anything about good old Prof. O) Two Tolkien. I have a lot of books on the good P) Meow professor, and I’ve learned a lot, not only Q) AE about his books, but about him as well. Well R) Ringworld done, Mark Ford. This could easily become a S) Exquisite part of my collection. Birmingham, hm? Well, T) Self belief most writers know about what they know, so U) Too I shouldn’t be surprised if parts of England V) A will stand in for parts of Middle-Earth. (I wish W) Child Garden I’d gotten to see the movies on Tolkien and X) Kenilworth A.A. Milne.) Y) So be In less than two months now, we might have Whose first letters make ‘C. Stross,The the time to see some the parts of England Nightmare Stacks’ Tolkien knew well…Yvonne and I are The text reads: returning to England in late May to celebrate Beyond the doorway Pete sees a windowless our 36th wedding anniversary, and on June 2, room with a high ceiling. Every square my 60th birthday. We will be tourists for the centimeter seems to be covered in gun racks. most part, but we will see Kings’ Cross The opposite end of the wall is a solid wall of station and Watford to keep the Harry Potter rifles. The floor facing him is occupied by a fans in us happy, and with the different kind of exhibit. groups in London and Lincoln, and a restaurant and gin bar in London called Mr. Fogg’s. We will be there for three whole weeks, and we plan to see a lot of what we saw in 2016, and a lot of what we missed. Off it goes!, and many thanks for this issue. Any special plans set up for issue 200? I had to ask. Many thanks, and see you the next. Yours, Lloyd Penney Ontario, Canada. [I hadn’t even realised till you raised it that #200 was so close. What would our members like to see? – Ed (Lyn)]

Crostic solution!

A) Centauri Device B) Singularity Sky C) The Demolished Man D) Rediscovery of Man E) Oppose F) Specifier G) Scoff H) The City and the Stars I) Hoof J) End of time K) New EO L) IE M) Gibberish N) Hoop Page 19

AGM Form: Nomination for Committee Member If you would like to nominate for a position on the 2019 - 2020 committee, please submit a nomination using the wording below, ensuring the nomination has been both accepted by the nominee and two nominators (all of whom must be current MSFC members.)

Nomination Form

I, ______nominate ______for the position of ______for the MSFC for the 2019 - 2020 operational year.

Signed______(signature).

Seconded by ______(signature) ______(name)

Accepted by ______(signature)

Dated ____/_____/_____

______

AGM Form: APPOINTMENT OF PROXY If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you may appoint a proxy (who is a current member of the MSFC) by sending the following form to the Returning Officer to be received no later than Thursday 18th July.

Form of Appointment of Proxy

I, ______(name) of ______(address) being a member of the Melbourne Science Fiction Club Inc., appoint ______(name of proxy holder) of

______(address of proxy holder), being a member of that Incorporated Association, as my proxy to vote for me on my behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Association to be held on Friday 19th July, 2019 and at any adjourned meeting.

Signed______(signature).

Dated ____/_____/_____

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