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PO Box 656, Washington, DC 20044 - (202) 232-3141 - Issue #109 - April 1999 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: http://www.lambdasf.org/ LSF’s Recommended LSF Book Discussion Reading List to be Updated Group Is Goin’ Strong! reported by Carl & Jen With three meetings to our credit, it really looks like the monthly LSF book discussion group is a going Thursday, May 27th - Shadow LSF’s Recommended Reading concern! We’ve already discussed Man (winner of the 1996 Lambda Literary List has long been one of our finest Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow (Jan. Award for F&SF), by Melissa Scott; achievements and, since its addition to 28th), Nicola Griffith’s Slow River (Feb. facilitator to be determined. our web site, has been used as a resource 25th), and Gregory Maguire’s Wicked Thursday, June 24th - The all over the place. With Pride Day fast (March 25th). These books generated Merro Tree (winner of the 1998 Compton approaching and our supply of printed some lively and thoughtful conversa- Crook Award for Best First F&SF Novel), versions about gone, it’s time to update tions on such widely varied topics as by Katie Waitman; facilitated by Peter & the list once more. healing, personal character growth, Rob. The purpose of the list is to iden- where green witches come from, and Attendees also decide on the tify the very best works in the fantasy, religion, persecution and gender in novels and discussion facilitators for science fiction, and horror genres which F&SF. succeeding months. Meetings begin at also deal positively with issues, charac- If this sounds interesting to 7:00 PM and are held at the home of our ters, and themes of particular interest to you, please join us for one of our future hosts, Rob & Peter - 1425 “S” St., NW, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered book discussions. Each discussion is Washington, DC (near the Whitman- and feminist communities. The list is facilitated by someone who has volun- Walker Clinic, within walking distance of exactly what the title says, books that we teered to lead the discussion on that the U St./Cardozo [Green Line] or the highly recommend. Any member of month’s book. Here are the details on Dupont Circle [Red Line] Metro Sta- Lambda Sci-Fi is welcome to make a rec- the next three meetings: tions). For more detailed directions, ommendation for inclusion in the list, but Thursday, April 22nd - The Left contact Rob at: [email protected] we encourage people to be picky about Hand of Darkness (winner of the 1970 Mark your calendars! We hope what they recommend! Hugo & Nebula Awards), by Ursula K. to see you there! ΛΨΦ If you’d like to recommend a LeGuin; facilitated by Jen & Carl. book (or books) for inclusion on the list, all you need to do is to send your recom- suggest that you check out our existing April LSF Meeting mendation by mail to the PO Box, or by e- list. mail to Jen ([email protected]). Please We look forward to receiving The next Lambda Sci-Fi meeting will be include the book title(s), the author(s), your suggestions and encourage you to held on Sunday, April 11th at James and a short (2-3 sentences) description of also consider making nominations for the Crutchfield's apartment: 1414 17th St., the book that hopefully includes a refer- Spectrum Awards based on your recom- NW, Apt. 413 (near Dupont Circle) - 1:30 ence to its “positive” content. To get an mendations. ΛΨΦ PM for business meeting; 2:00 PM for idea of the books already listed and the social meeting. Please bring munchies or descriptions that others have written, we soft drinks if you can. Hope to see you there! WHAT'S INSIDE? The Little Scraps of Paper Minutes of the March LSF Meeting (pg. 2);A Cartoon by Chris Browning (pg. 2); REmakes = RErun, REtread, and REward (film & video reviews - pg. 3);The Weaving of Words (book reviews - pg. 4); The Silent Language (book review - pg. 5); Information about Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians (pg. 6); Con Calendar (pg. 6) 1 ΛΨΦ The Little Scraps of Paper Minutes of the March LSF Meeting ΛΨΦ by Rob [A note from the self-appointed scribe of encourage them not to kill him off as the represent quite a range of styles and LSF... If anyone else would like to handle show winds down); Red Dwarf (a new subgenres; and a story from Bending the taking the minutes, you’re welcome to season is being shown in the US on some Landscape: Science Fiction received a them... I’m running out of creative steam PBS stations, even before they show in nomination in the Novelette category. for titles :)] England);Strangeworld (which premiered (Congrats!) It was also reported that to mixed reviews, at best, from this group); Ursula LeGuin would be making several Well, the March meeting was a a slate of new series premiering on the Sci- appearances in the area, including at the whirlwind of activity, as it was paired with Fi Channel in March; Classic Star Trek Writer’s Center in Bethesda. Rob re- a “Video Madness” Party at the home of (which is going back to a 1-hour format on minded everyone about the Spectrum Peter & Rob. As usual, we were running the Sci-Fi Channel);Reboot (which began Awards and encouraged everyone to nomi- late; but eventually our current Speaker its run on the Cartoon Network on March nate works they felt were worthy of con- managed to get us rolling. We started with 15th); and Brimstone (which has been can- sideration. It’s the Spectrum Awards’ a name circle and a little “official busi- celled but is being pushed for rebirth by a first year; and Rob’s hoping to receive a ness,” as attendees voted to have LSF letter writing campaign). solid number of nominations. Finally, new allocate a maximum of $30 each to partici- In movie news, Neil Gaiman will books are either out or forthcoming from pate jointly with Gaylaxicon at the Black soon be releasing a translated-to-English Diane Duane, Vernor Vinge and Neal Pride and Montgomery County Pride Cel- version of Princess Mononoke, which is Stephenson. ebrations (if the Gaylaxicon ConComm apparently some very decent animation. And all that happened in a re- also decides to do so, of course). In Rumors abound regarding a few super- markably short period of time, as the scent addition, the club voted to hold a Satur- hero movies: the 5th “Batman” movie may of much homemade food and sweets ga- day evening room party at Balticon (room not happen; and the on-again-off-again lore had everyone eager to finish up. We TBA). Web volunteers are still being “Spiderman” project appears to be back adjourned the meeting, devoured food, sought to assist in maintaining our newly “on”. Wayne filled us in on the latest and video-partied the night away! redesigned website - the “web cabal” will regarding a new Battlestar Galactica ΛΨΦ be putting all of our volunteers to work movie, which appears to be a go, while soon - including new volunteer Bob. Michael filled us in on the currently-in- (Anyone interested in helping can con- filming new “James Bond” film. Finally, a tact Rob at [email protected].) Finally, number of people remarked on the trailers a suggestion was made to put together a forThe Mummy, coming out later this year, basic set of bylaws and procedures for which looks spectacular special-effects- Lambda Sci-Fi. Since we’ve never done so wise (and Brendan Fraser-wise, the au- and have voted on a number of “policies” thor notes). over the years, this seemed like a good In weird news, Kay and Nan told idea. A small committee was formed to us about one of the newest consumer draft something for the group - the com- products - an internet-connected refrig- mittee is: Jen, Tim, Nan, Kay, Bob, Michael erator! Apparently you may soon be able and yours truly (Rob). If you have any to surf the web while trying to decide suggestions for the new bylaws, contact which leftovers to eat. Tim passed around Jen at [email protected]. some information about the new Univer- On the TV horizon, Kay filled us sal Monsters action figures, which look in on the latest news regardingBabylon 5: great. Finally, Joe R. updated us on an Crusade (13 episodes, beginning June 9th, upcoming opportunity to vacation with with a likely pick-up on the Sci-Fi Channel the stars on a “Star Trek Cruise.” for the 1999/2000 season); Deep Space In book news, Nebula Award Nine (rumors that Odo is to die; a letter finalists have been announced and are writing campaign is being suggested to available easily on the web. The finalists When one is engaged in a favorite pursuit or a subject absorbingly interesting, the normal conception of labor or time and artificial social distinctions disappear from the mind. "Greetings! I have come to answer - G. Koizumi - your personal!" 2 Remakes = Rerun, Retread, the director insisting that he give certain into nothing more than grotesqueries in looks to the camera a la Tony Perkins. this film. Larry Miller turns in the only and Reward Whereas Perkins was a slight man, noteworthy performance in this film, as film & video reviews Vaughn is a larger-built one; and to ask the murderer/ghost leader. Even he, at by Joseph Parra an actor to practically mimic another is a times, appears quite lost in the proceed- rotten thing to do to him.