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A moment later, she reflexively tossed up her arms and Mr. Blue Elephant flew into space FiLS. 3:30 d.M. quicker than Chuck Yeager. Sierra grows every day and I’m glad I haven’t had to miss any of it. Though I’m starting back to work I’m able to schedule work at home a couple days a week. I’ll still be seeing a lot of her. Being Sierra’s daddy has changed so many Perhaps totally predictably, when we came things. There’s a shortage of sleep, of course - to the point of actually receiving a child we - Diana and I are questing for infancy’s talked about dozens of other possible names, equivalent to the Holy Grail, to get our baby to including one of Diana’s favorites from the sleep through the night. Our sleep-starved works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Tinuviel, an Elvish brains take longer to do routine things and time for nonessentials is hard to come by. word for “nightingale.” That might be daunt (What kind of fakefan chooses to do laundry ing as a name to use everyday, but we agreed instead of writing File 770? Uh...) it would be a fine middle name, especially if One of the wonderful changes is how hav preceded by “Joanna” for better rhythm (at ing a baby adds dimensions to relationships least to our ears!) with people I’ve known for years. At a The birth-mother had been very fond of a Westercon committee meeting a couple of couple names of her own, so at her request we weeks ago, there I was comparing baby pic also added Rose. tures with Bobbi Armbruster (her grandchild), Mr. Blue Elephant in Outer Space: The and talking with Kim Marks Brown (a new federal government lets employees use our mom for the second time) about the advice in sick leave for “family care,” which allowed me Babywise for adapting an infant to the family to spend priceless time caring for Sierra for routine. her first six weeks at home. And will we see you at Westercon? It will be Sierra’s fannish debut. Smiles to all of you!
Sierra snoozes on Diana's shoulder.
Editorial Notes by Mike Glyer Sierra Is Here! Diana and I brought home our adoptive daughter Sierra Grace Glyer on Feb ruary 7, two days after she was bom. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and measured 20- 1/2 inches in length. She has big blue eyes and light brown hair. We couldn’t be happier! Here's looking at you, kid! File 770:141 is edited by Mike Glyer How did this miracle begin? Last July, at 705 Valley View Ave., Monrovia one of Diana’s students discovered that she CA 91016. File 770 is available for As newborns do, she started out sleeping was pregnant and talked with us about adopt news, artwork, arranged trades, or many hours a day. Visiting grandmothers ing her baby. As some of our friends know, by subscription: $8 for 5 issues, $15 wondered when they would get to see Sierra’s we’ve wanted children, had worked with doc for 10 issues, air mail rate is $2.50. eyes open, but being with her all the time 1 tors, and unsuccessfully pursued an interna Telephone: (626) 305-1004 already knew she had beautiful eyes as deeply tional adoption. So when the birth mother de E-Mail: [email protected] blue and luminous as Arwen’s (Liv Tyler) in cided to have her baby and give it up for adop Art Credits tion, she thought of us. We readily agreed to Lord of the Rings. Alan White: Cover, 3, 8, 17. 24 this surprising answer to our prayers. This is She began as a delicate, perfectly-made Bill Rotsler: 2, 9, 35, 39 an open adoption and Sierra, Diana and 1 will miniature person. Six weeks later she seems Joe Mayhew: 3, 6 continue to have contact with the birth-parents such a big girl in comparison - how does gain Keith Stokes (photos): 4, 8 and their families and friends. ing a pound-and-a-half make that much differ What’s In A Name? Our daughter’s full ence? Sierra is surprisingly strong - when she Sheryl Birkhead: 7 doesn’t want to sit up to be burped, she can Brad Foster: 10, 36 name is Sierra Grace Joanna Tinuviel Rose arch her back like a Russian weightlifter. If Grant Canfield: 13, 22, Bacover Glyer. We began talking about children’s she had the coordination to do it, she could David Dyer-Bennet (photo): 18 names years ago and had settled on Sierra turn herself over - one morning she nearly did Kurt Erichsen: 19 Grace as a girl’s name. We interpret Sierra, a it unintentionally as I watched. Another time I Marc Schirmeister: 34 Spanish word for mountain, together with her was showing Sierra her blue elephant finger Teddy Harvia: 26 second name to mean “abundant grace.” puppet. She gripped his trunk in one tiny fist. March 2002 3
year-old message to prevent an interstellar war. “The Tale of the Golden Eagle” was accepted by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. David calls it an SF/fantasy fairy tale in the style of Cordwainer Smith. “It’s the story of a bird, who becomes first a starship and then a beautiful robot woman, and the trader who wins her in a game of chance and falls in love with her. It’s the first story I ever wrote that made me cry.” Meantime, his James White Award winning story “Nucleon” appeared in the December 2001 issue of Interzone, which has come and gone on the stands in the UK, though it may still be available at some shops in the UK and may not have arrive yet at the few places in the US that carry it. David en thused about receiving his contributor’s cop News of Fandom ies and finding his name on the cover, “Though it was a bit of a shock to see my story translated into British (the Nucleon is Banzai Movie Commits Seppuku the Foreign Person act and shook some now equipped with “tyres” and a Fandom’s working actor, Tadao Tomomatsu, hands with faces from England going bewil “carburettor”). Note: individual copies of is in mourning: USA Network has chopped dered and saying things like ‘....It’s You.... Interzone can be ordered directly from the “Banzai Movie Friday” from its schedule. You’re Him...’ or ‘Fantastic’...or ‘...Gaw... publisher; see http://www.sfsite.com/interzone/back01. Banzai packaged a B-movie and stupid on you’re Mr. Shake Hands Man’... with the line games. For example, the TV audience occasional “You’re not Mr. Shake Hands htm for details. David’s fanwriting has also leaped the was encouraged to log onto USA’s website Man. Hey, there’s some git here who say’s Atlantic — Peter Motte, a fan in Belgium, during a commercial break and guess which he’s Shake Hands Man...’ Con suite in uni of the two firemen about to blast each other son: 'HE ZS!!!!’ I was surprised that even the will translate David’s essay “Survivors” from the last issue of Bento into Dutch for his with firehoses would be left standing. The BBC Online Video Crew knew who I was result was shown later in the program and just as I started to Shake Hands with them. fanzine De Tijdlijn. And don’t forget - David does all this those who entered could win a prize. So apparently Mr. Shake Hands Man is a while holding a day job. Two months after Tadao appeared recurringly as the seem popular icon in the UK. I may be more fa taking a severance package from Intel, David ingly innocuous Japanese tourist “Mr. Shake mous than..... the Beatles??? Kidding.” found a new job at Network Associates, Hands Man”, who would go to movie pre working on the user interface for the next miers and get famous people to shake his Levine Machine releases of their McAfee VirusScan and Net- hand for as long as possible. The game was David Levine has made more news in the Shield anti-virus products. “It’s a lot of re to guess how long celebrities would put up first month of 2002 than some of us will do sponsibility, but it’s exactly the direction I’ve with him. the rest of the year: “Once again I’ve been been hoping to move my career for some “So there you have it, the ‘end of an the recipient of a huge steamin’ load of good time. I’ve been there for a little over three era’ ....or ‘surprise’ I’ve been on this show... fortune.” weeks and I’m enjoying it a lot.” and it’s over now,” says Tadao. He’s sold two more stories. “Written on Or is it? “Here’s the Plan...we start an e- the Wind” has been bought by Sherwood mail campaign to bring the show back or at Smith for her anthology Beyond the Last Kramer Trial Delayed least get ‘Mr. Shake Hands Man’ his own Star. It’s about an insignificant member of an Ed Kramer’s jury trial on charges of molest show. Just kidding! Really I’m kidding... insignificant species in a great galactic Con ing two teenaged boys, originally scheduled although where is Bjo Trimble when you sortium, who must translate a three-billion- to begin late in January at the Gwinnett Su need her?” perior Court in Georgia, was The “Mr. Shake Hands” char postponed indefinitely as the acter originated on Britain’s ver county's court system strug sion of Banzai and became more gled to recover from a January widely known in the UK. When 14 ruling that invalidated its the British edition of FHM entire jury pool. The develop magazine ran an article about ment was reported in a recent Banzai, a picture of Tadao’s issue of Creative Loafing At character was the main illustra lanta, in Scott Henry’s article tion. “The Wizard of Dragon*Con This year, British writers who Stands Trial,” the most exten regularly attend Gallifrey One, a sive coverage of Kramer’s Dr. Who Con held in LA, sud prosecution to appear in print. denly realized “Mr. Shake Hands In reporter Henry’s view, Man” with their old pal Tadao: “[While] he was boldly build- “There have been times 1 pulled _ ing up his fantastic empire, 4 File 770:141
Kramer was shadowed by persistent rumors. The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund is in the The veteran dealmaker and accomplished good hands of North American administrator celebrity-schmoozer often was seen in the VJ Bowen and (Velma J. Bowen P.O. Box company of a revolving troupe of young 156 Village Station New York NY 10014- boys. Toward the end, he was seemingly 0156; E-mail: [email protected]) and Euro oblivious to or simply untroubled by a lin pean administrator Sue Mason, (3 York gering suspicion that his behavior was inap Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, WAI5 9QH propriate and quite possibly criminal.” UK; E-mail: [email protected]) Kramer’s friends and antagonists, as well as many guests and staff of Dragon*Con, Will You Run for DUFF? were interviewed by Henry for the article. Wanted: Australian or New Zealand fans for Quoted are: Roland Castle, Joe Christ, Nancy the 2002 Down Under Fan Fund (DUFF) Collins, Mike Dillson, Dave Dorman, Harlan race. The winning candidate will come for Ellison, Pat Henry, Ken Johnston, Milt Levy, the Worldcon in San Jose. To run, you need Gregory Nicoll, Jeff Pittarelli, David Robin to secure three Australasian nominators and son, and Steve Wieck. two North American nominators, and send Ellison said, in part, "I've seen Ed around the following to Cathy Cupitt, the Australian young people in unguarded moments and DUFF administrators Naomi Fisher and administrator, by midnight April 2: (1) your there was nothing about his body language Pat Malloy at ditto 14. Photo by Keith 5 nominations in writing (email is fine), (2) that suggested anything inappropriate." Stokes. a 100-word (max) platform telling why you On the other hand, moviemaker Joe Christ want to be a DUFF delegate, and (3) a $25 and Dragon*Con’s head of security Mike bond pledging (barring acts of God) to attend Dillson described separate examples of sus The CD can be run on any Mac or PC con the Worldcon. picious contact they’d witnessed Kramer figured computer, and a viewer, Adobe Acro For more information, contact Australian having with boys since 1995. Dillson remem bat, is included on the disk. Cost, with ship Administrator Cathy Cupitt, P.O. Box 915, bered calling Kramer in his hotel room to ping and handling, $22 US. Address — 245 Nedlands, WA 6909 Australia, E-mail: ccu- come down right away to handle a problem Dunn Ave. Apt. 2111, Toronto Ontario, [email protected] or [email protected]. in the dealers' hall. “He came from the M6K 1S6, Canada. Off-Colour is also avail edu.au; Australian phone # (08) 9471 1268; shower dripping wet and so was the little boy able from Digital Impudendum. or North American Administrators Naomi he had with him." Fisher and Patrick Molloy, P.O. Box 9135, The article also reports, “Only after GUFF Huntsville AL 358 12, E-mail: Kramer had been charged did anyone dis Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber have published DUFF2001 @mindspring.com or cover that he'd also been arrested in 1997 for their GUFF report. “Jean did all the good [email protected]; US phone # allegedly molesting another member of his bits,” Eric insists. There are about 50 pages (256) 830-4471. underage posse. That boy had recanted his of text, a color cover, plus black and white story before the case went to trial and photos — “some recognizably of fans,” he Colin Hinz Wins CUFF charges were dropped.” adds. Copies are available within Australia Colin Hinz of Toronto is the 2002 Canadian for AS 15, or outside Australia for AS20 or Unity Fan Fund (CUFF) winner. He will Tarai Draws For Tor US$10. Check details at: travel to Conversion 19 (host of this year’s Unlike most SF books, Rudy Rucker’s new http://www.ericlindsay.com/guff/donate.htm Canvention), being held in Calgary over the novel Spaceland will be illustrated -- by fre August 9-11 weekend. quent File 770 cover artist, Tarai Wayne. TAFF Hinz won “by acclamation” - meaning he Spaceland is scheduled for hardcover publi Sue Mason, UK TAFF Administrator, has was selected by CUFF administrator Murray cation by Tor Books in June. Eighteen draw announced the 2002 Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund Moore and may have been the only qualified ings illustrate the action and concepts race has two candidates. Tobes Valois has candidate. There rarely are multiple candi throughout the novel, closely based on the been nominated by Anders Holmstrom, Dave dates in a CUFF race. author's own sketches, bringing them the Hicks, James Bacon (Europe), Ted White Colin's platform explained why he wanted finish and clarity the artist is known for. and Jae Leslie Adams (North America). to become the CUFF delegate: “Running Tarai’s recent projects include a story for Chris O'Shea has been nominated by Sandra back to...Calgary? Sure, Saskatoon would be Mayhem Country, and an illustrated version Bond, Maureen Kincaid Speller, lan Soren true to the song and faithful to my roots as of Paul Kidd's Hot Buttered Mice for Mu sen (Europe), Ben Yalow and Mike Glyer well, but Calgary was where I was corrupted Press. (North America). Sue promises the ballots back in 1985. And in fact it was at an earlier Fans of Tarai’s work can find an encyclo will be out as soon as possible. Con-Version, the second of now nineteen of pedic guide to all his universes on his new On our side of the pond, fannish reporters 'em, where I lost my convention virginity. I CD titled Off-Colour. The collection of should immediately begin work on their went through a long semi-gafiated period in nearly 400 images covers a range of themes - probing interview questions. Nothing is the 1990s, and thus I lost track of many won - erotic, furry, fantasy, SF, and tech. The worse than a TAFF press conference full of derful Western Canadian fan friends. I'm black-and-white pencil drawings were pro North American zine editors uninterested in hoping to go back and rekindle these friend duced mainly in 1999 and 2000. The disk is anything beyond their narrow specialty: “Is ships — and with luck make many new ones - professionally replicated, with an attractive there any good Japanimation in England?” - should I be chosen to be this year's CUFF silk-screen design; and comes with vinyl “Where is the filk room at an Eastercon?” delegate.” cover, color printed matter and a b/w book And, “How big is the masquerade at Plokta. What is CUFF? Murray Moore explains, let. The artist’s audio comments accompany con?” “In a country in which business travel and about one-third of the images in Off-Colour. March 2002 5 personal travel increasingly is north and gate must be a Canadian citizen or a perma Bushell, President of the Calgary Science south, CUFF encourages the linking of fans nent resident who agrees to attend the 2002 Fiction and Fantasy Society and chair of this on the opposite sides of the Manitoba- Canvention and to fulfill the obligations of year’s Canvention, praised ConTRACT: “I Ontario border. The CUFF delegate attends the CUFF administrator. learned lots from it and gained some good the Canvention as an ambassador of one part insight and ideas.” Paul Valcour, editor of of Canadian fandom to another.” Mansfield’s ConTRACTExpires the Ottawa clubzine OSFS Statement, will CUFF pays the travel expense and the After a 13-year run, John Mansfield has miss Mansfield’s candor, and concluded, hotel room expense of a fan attending the stopped producing ConTRACT, his bi “Canadian SF fandom will be the poorer Canvention. monthly newsletter for Canadian convention without CONtract and John Mansfield’s What is Canvention? Moore calls Can runners, dealers and artists: “The early years voice.” vention, “the annual physical expression of were great and 1 enjoyed it. However, lately the Canadian SF professional and fan com it has not been fun.” The Voice of Doom? munity's appreciation of the best of Canadian In the January issue Mansfield said there Friendly, bubbly Lloyd Penney - the voice of professional and amateur activity in the pre are now only four remaining Canadian con doom? Yep, he got the job. Lloyd spotted an vious year.” ventions, and after attending all four last year ad in a Toronto entertainment paper solicit Canvention is an added feature for its host he considers them to be moving in ing auditions for a spoken word CD. His convention, helping to recognize contributors “directions I am not sure that I admire.” The audition was a success, so he’ll be helping to the Canadian sf scene through such events shrinking number of conventions has also record a six horror stories written by Cana as the presentation of the Aurora Awards. dried up his available news, and so has the dian writers including Edo van Belkom, The Auroras go to English-language and tendency of Canadian concommittees to be Tanya Huff, Nancy Kilpatrick and David French-language winners in various profes come “more secretive, more reclusive, possi Nickle. The stories have been converted into sional and fan categories. bly due to their isolation.” radio-style plays by a production company CUFF Delegate’s Duties: During the One of Canada’s highest-profile fans for called Fears for Ears, which may also be the 2002 Conversion/Canvention the CUFF many years, Mansfield chaired the 1994 title of the CD. Lloyd expects the CD to be delegate is encouraged to volunteer to work Worldcon in Winnipeg and is still active in available in February. the con, to attend the Canvention business running the area’s conventions: “I’m part of This success more than compensates for meeting, to represent CUFF, and to take a Media con and a Horror con, with more Lloyd’s disappointment in another bid for notes of what is heard, seen and said. possibilities to come. I have the chance to show business fame. He explains, “I checked After the con, the CUFF winner takes promote some 20 movies a year. I am respon with Michael Lennick, the local screenwriter over administration of the fund. The CUFF sible for promoting various game companies who is producing the screenplay to Rob Saw administrator's duties include (1) Writing, via tournaments from Thunder Bay to Al yer's Illegal Alien. The character of Dr. Lloyd publishing, and selling a CUFF trip report. berta. I’m still running the second largest Penney was written out in the first draft. He Publishing a trip report is important because Game store in Canada, that continues to grow may return in the final draft.... I have already SciFi Inc. of Southern California, on receipt in sales ever since our start in 1982. I know volunteered to play Dr. Penney in the movie. of a fan fund trip report, donates $500 to that I am only held back by my imagination I know the role well.” CUFF. (2) Opening a bank account into and the time I wish to commit to my world.” which all of the CUFF money received by Mansfield’s closing comment to his read Vegas Odds the CUFF administrator is placed. (3) Organ ers is, “For thirteen years I tried to pass on In January, fan artist Alan White stopped by izing the selection of a successor who will be some of that experiences and knowledge to a market near home in Las Vegas and his the 2003 CUFF delegate and administrator. others. I hope I have been to use to some of eyes riveted on a car in the parking lot with (4) Passing the CUFF money to the 2003 you.” an Ontario, Canada, license plate that read “4 CUFF delegate. Some have already publicly thanked TARAL.” He wondered, “Is this some weird Delegate Qualifications: A CUFF dele Mansfield for his contributions. Paul “Ogre” coincidence or could Tarai be visiting the
Bay Area Celebrity Brush “Lapsed Royalty Meets Lapsed Weight Watcher” was Adrienne Fos ter’s own caption for this picture of her taken with “Fergie” at Ke pler’s Bookstore in Menlo Park, California. Adrienne wrote in her year-end-holiday letter: “2001 had a mo mentous start for me. Sarah [Ferguson], the Duchess of York, did a local book signing and I took time off of work to attend despite short notice. For an international personality, she was amazingly accomo dating to the people who came to see her. The only restriction was that she’d only sign her books - no memorabilia. “I’ve done so much reading on the British royalty during the past 20 years I was tongue-tied when my turn came to have my book signed. When she opened up the copy of My Story I had brought, one of her portrait photos faced the title page. I said something about it vbeing a good picture of her and she said, ‘Andrew took that,’ and continued to speak glowingly of him. She’s a much better ambassador than any of her British critics give her credit.” Adrienne Foster poses with the Duchess of York before "Fergie" signs an autograph for her in Menlo Park, CA. 6 File 770:141 residential side of Vegas? I’d author collection, by a Pacific hate to have him in town and not Northwest writer that was first get together.” published in the year preceding But no, Alan’s e-mail query the award. The fourth Award will found Tarai still at home in On presented this November 22 at tario. “Rack one up for the X- OryCon, Oregon's annual science Files.” fiction and fantasy convention. Tarai commented, “I do live Both professional writers and in Ontario, and have no idea readers of science fiction and fan who would have a plate like that. tasy help judge the award. All I do a search for the name entries are read seven times and ‘Tarai’ on the net occasionally, scored by readers randomly se and come up mainly with refer lected from a panel of preliminary ences to myself. The exceptions readers. The five highest scoring seem to be a couple married in books then go to three judges, Kansas in the l88O’s (no idea who are all professional writers. who they were or how they came The judges decide on the winner. by the name), and a black singer Twenty-eight books were entered named Tarai Hicks who does for the 2001 award, which is slick but unremarkable Mo- sponsored by Oregon Science Town.” Fiction Conventions, Inc. Tarai says he started using his (OSFCI). name around 1970. “I was look ing for something euphonious and unlike any covery and should be home soon. Cards and Worldcon Program Brain Trust name I’d heard before. It had to be from an letters wishing him well should be sent to his Laurie Mann has posted her collection of ‘extraterrestrial’ language I had been work home at 2495 Glendower, Hollywood, CA past Worldcon program schedules to a web ing on, and ‘Tarai’ was what I came up 90027. [[Source: Joan Knappenberger in page: with.” Chronicles of the Dawn Patrol]] http://www.dpsinfo.com/pbt/worldcons/ Pat Sayre McCoy was taken from last index.html TR November’s Windycon to Alexian Brothers Mann explains, “This is a small step to Teresa Renner Smith, a Foreign Service Offi hospital for an emergency appendectomy. wards a goal a few of us have been kicking cer, has been in Oman for the past year and She was released a few days later and re around for a few years: developing a data she's now on the promotions list. Her previ sumed full-time work on December 14. Ste base of past Worldcon programs and, per ous posting was to Russia - she’d been sent ven Silver said McCoy, who had been Win- haps, an online database of ideas for other to Siberia, literally. This news comes from dycon’s guest liaison, has accepted the posi conventions to examine and borrow.” Jul Owing’s minutes of the October 2001 tion of Programming Chair for the 2002 The collection includes the program Bucconeer committee meeting. Windycon, “after promising that she would schedules of Noreascon III, MilPhil, Inter The minutes also included an update not have her appendix removed that weekend section, L.A.con III, BucConeer, MagiCon about TR's husband, who suffered a stroke as well.” and Chicon 2000. All the pages are com last spring while he was visiting his brother McCoy still has time to change her pletely searchable. in California. He's in the U.S. Marines, ex mind - Steven Silver himself, a past Windy plained the minutes, “exercising more than con program chair, underwent a diskectomy Future Worldcon Membership the Drs. allowed him, but picking up 60 in January to correct an herniated disk. But pounds of muscle and doing much better no, it wasn’t the result of having too many Rate Changes than hoped.” neopros jumping on his back demanding ConJos£, the 2002 World Science Fiction panel assignments. Steven suffered the injury Convention, increased its membership rates while helping move his family into a new effective January I, 2002. The revised basic Medical Updates home. membership rate is $(US)l 80. LA fan and File 770 contributor Bill Warren Silver wrote soon after the operation, For full details of the existing and new entered Kaiser Sunset hospital in late Febru “The surgery went very well and I'm now at rates, including supporting and child mem ary with endocarditis and is expected to re home recovering, although sitting for more berships, and main for several weeks. His wife, Beverly, than about 15 minutes is rather difficult. I've discounts for pre-supporters and voters, see told friends, “Kaiser Sunset is one of the best spent most of my time in bed, which has let the ConJose, web site at: cardiac care facilities in the world and he is me catch up on my reading, but it is still http://www.conjose.org/Member/ very lucky to be there. He is in a good hospi rather boring.” He expected to miss about a membership.html. tal and is getting good care.” week of work. The new US Dollar rates are guaranteed Moscow, Idaho fan Jon Gustafson is until July 31, 2002. ConJose reserves the receiving physical, speech and occupational Endeavour Award right to adjust rates in other currencies as a therapy to assist his recovery from two small result of major changes in international ex strokes suffered around the beginning of the Judges Announced change rates. year. Jon is a well-known pioneer in the field Judges for the 2002 Endeavour Award will of appraising science fiction and fantasy art. be Howard V. Hendrix, Harry Turtledove, Noreascon 4, 2004 Worldcon, increased SF legend Forry Ackerman is in the hos and Elisabeth Vonarburg. The Endeavour rates for attending memberships and chil pital recovering from sudden illness. Fortu Award honors a distinguished science fiction dren's admissions beginning March I, 2002. nately, Forry is expected to make a full re or fantasy book, either a novel or a single- New rates will be $120 for a new attending March 2002 7
Kansas City in 2006 worldcon bidder Worldcon Sows Profits, to try a contest as well. I agreed to take on Margene Bahm told the local club meeting the job. I then contacted the administrator of in January “we are now better than 50% the Reaps SF Writers the Worldcon contests to get information At the committee’s November 2001 quarterly favorite.” [[Source: Ephemeris #1, newslet about how they run their contest and also got ter of the Kansas City Science Fiction and meeting, Bucconeer’s comptroller reported permission to use the same name. they have over $25,000 in their account, Fantasy Society]] For Loscon, I decided to narrow the scope While in Baltimore for Darkover, Ed and enough to fund the Student (SF) Writing of the contest. Loscon solicited only science Contest, contest through ConJose, but proba Sandy Meskys saw a theater presentation of fiction and fantasy short stories and limited the Harry Potter movie in one of the few bly not enough to pay for all the expenses for participation to seventh and eighth graders in TorCon 3. In 2000 they spent around $8,000 theaters equipped for Descriptive Video Los Angeles county. I was pleased with the Service using headphones. Sandy wrote, on the event. number of entries submitted. Judges read and The following article shows how their “The movie miraculously lived up to the rated each story, using a list of criteria such book, and the voiceover description made it original idea inspired LA’s Loscon commit as grammar and spelling, characterization, tee to do something similar. fully understandable for Ed.” plot development, use of science fiction/ Mike Weasner’s nonfiction book, Using fantasy elements, and so forth. Student Science Fiction Contest the Meade ETC Telescope, has been pub Five finalists were invited to Loscon for lished by Springer-Verlag as a trade paper by Lynn Boston Baden the day of the ceremony. The first, second back. It is part of the Patrick Moore Astron In 1998, Bucconeer started a Student Science and third prize winners were given weekend omy series. memberships to Loscon for themselves and a Fiction Contest. Students entered science The winners of the Tucker Awards were family member. All got certificates. The first, fiction or fantasy short stories, science es announced at ConPetrol 13: second and third prize winners got a cash says, or science fiction or fantasy artwork. Martha Beck, Lifetime Achievement prize and the first and second prize winners Each year the Baltimore Worldcon committee Susan Satterfield, Escalator Award got their stories read and recorded by Tadao has joined with the Worldcon of that year Tim Frayser, 1-900-Award Tomomatsu, a professional actor with previ (and the 1999 NASFiC) to continue this con Mike Glyer, Guardian of Fannish Tradi ous narrative roles. They of course got to test. tion keep a cassette of their recorded story. Loscon 28 in 2001 had a theme of According to Ross and Nancy Hathaway, The contest was named a success by all “Education: Building the Future One Mind at “The Tuckers are given to people who do involved. Next year’s Loscon chair, Tadao a Time.” In keeping with that theme, the things to promote SF fandom. There is no Tomomatsu, has invited me to run the contest chair, Chaz Boston Baden, decided he’d like pre-requisite for receiving a Tucker. We are again. always accepting nominations for The Tucker Awards. Send nominations by e-mail, member, $85 for a child's admission, and $85 to marry after Glenn completes his Ph.D. in by snail mail or give them to us in person!” for conversion from supporting to attending. about two years. Their e-mail address is: New supporting rates remain $35. Kelly Lockhart announced online that he [email protected] Following the rate increase, Noreascon received the best Christmas present ever: N3F Short Story Contest: The venerable Four began offering installment plan mem “My girlfriend of 5-plus years, Star Roberts, N3F Short Story Contest is open to newcom berships. Information about the plan is on is now my fiance. I asked her to marry me on ers to the field. The contest gives cash their web site (http://www.noreascon.org). Christmas morning, and she has accepted.” awards, $50 for first place, $30 for second N4’s Progress Report #1 was mailed in The couple have not yet picked a wedding and $20 for third. January, and #2 is due out in July. date. There’s an entry fee of $2 per story - the Ottawa fan Tasia Papadatos wed Peter same fee is charged to everyone. The dead Ch icon Again in 2010? Hargraves on September 29, 2001 at a cere line to enter is December 1, 2002. Mail Dina Krause recently e-mailed a number of mony well-attended by the local sf commu manuscripts to: Elizabeth Caldwell, 27975 fans for their reaction to a proposed World nity. The groom’s mother flew in from Aus Belgrave Road, Cleveland, OH 44124-4636. con bid for Chicago in 2010. She also an tralia. [[Source: OSFS Statement Nov/Dec nounced plans for a meeting on the topic at 2001]] Clipping Service The Melbourne Science Fiction Club her place in March. The public responses to Michael Walsh: [From SMOFs] “1 am con will celebrate its 50th anniversary on May 10, her message included expressions of concern tinually amazed at the inability of people 2002. They are contacting all the past and by a couple of fans that it was premature to who have apparently mastered the art of writ present members they can find, and hope to bid before Chicon 2000 took care of all its ing a check, using e-mail, using the 'net, etc. have an especially large turnout for the occa financial matters. etc. to be unable to grasp certian easy-to- sion. understand fundamentals of Three Dots and how the Hugos are selected. Three Lines The kvetching after the Harry Potter win was particularly Congratulations to Glenn annoying.” Glazer and Allison Her shey, two LASFS members Arthur D. Hlavaty: who became engaged on [Derogatory Reference 98]: February 3. Allison is a “[At Millennium Philcon:] The second-generation fan, Novel Hugo offered final evi whose father was a proce dence that the gargoyles have dural director of LASFS in taken over the cathedral.” the 1940s. The couple plan 8 File 770:141
Lasting Impressions: News from the World of Fanzines
OED Hunts for Earliest
Corflu Valentine, held February 14-17 in overcame this with panache and several in Annapolis, Maryland was small but success flatable musical instruments. John Harvey ful. CORFLU 2002: and Ian were the Brothers, and Eve Harvey With an attendance of around 40, this was captured at least part of the performance on a the second small Corflu in a row, but that video cam. Moshe Feder and Frank Lunney didn’t seem to bother any of the rather di “Feel The Love!” were the only Americans in the performance. verse group of fans who were there. There 1 think it was at Saturday night’s party were close to a dozen Brits there, lending a by Ted White that Max told me, “I didn’t come to Annapo transatlantic fannishness to the con. They lis. I came to Corflu. I’m here for the con included Eve and John Harvey, Peter Wes vention, not the city.” That sums up my own ton, Clair Briarly, Mark Plummer, Mike point of view as well. I was there for the con Scott, Debbi Kerr, Yvonne Rouse, Ian Soren vention, which meant the people, the par son and Max (who goes by that name alone ties - and the fanzines. in fandom). They started with the Corflu Program And there was con chairman, Nic Farey - Book, which, if you believed Dave Hicks’ a transplanted Brit who has held onto his title logo, was really NIC FAREY AND HIS accent and his ties to UK fandom despite his HOWLING CONVENTION - Hicks did a ongoing sojourn in southern Maryland. Nic great cover, which probably didn’t hurt his has perfected his act and carried it off splen standing in the FAAn Awards. There was didly at Corflu, but it was clearly obvious Pete Young’s Zoo Nation #1, Lilian Ed that the Blessed Bobbie deserved most of the wards’ Floss!, Tony Keen’s The Convertible behind-the-scenes credit, along with volun Omnibus, Lilian Edwards’ & Victor Gon teers like Tracey Benton, Bill Bodden (by no zalez’s Gloss #3 (Young, Edwards and Keen coincidence next year’s Corflu hosts), Jae were, unfortunately, not at Corflu but were Leslie Adams, and various others. represented by their zines), Max’s The Cos (I was sitting in the smoking consuite mic Hairdryer #2, Mike Scott’s Plokta #25, Sunday around 12:30 in the afternoon when a single-page Corflu Brain-Teaser from Pete a hotel guy stuck his head in the open door Weston, Steve Stiles’ Stallions Over the Pa and said, “Hey, this room is supposed to be cific, Debbi Ken’s Long-Legged Tramp, Ian vacated now.” It turned out that he was Sorenson’s Snapshot (“The fanzine that asks wrong - it was booked through the next the question ‘Why don’t Japanese cameras day - but within only a few minutes the half go Crick!”"), and Nic Farey’s Yield It. A fair dozen people in the room had totally cleaned number of these fanzines - most of which are it up and packed up the remaining non-hotel unnumbered - proclaim themselves to be items in the room. We were all volunteers published specifically for Corflu. It was im when it served the purpose.) possible to read all these fanzines in the mid The convention began on Thursday night dle of the convention, and yet difficult not to in what would become the next day the non at least egoscan a few of them, which made it smoking consuite (the smoking consuite di all too easy to get sucked into reading a zine rectly above and convenient to a flight of completely. stairs, would not open until Friday after Sunday was the day of the banquet. We noon). The Brits were there and so were fans assembled at 1:00 p.m. and found plenty of from San Francisco and Seattle. Fanzines both tables and food awaiting us. The buffet were passed around and conversations offered everything from breakfast fruit and quickly joined. food to several full-course dinners, including The convention was Officially Opened on freshly-sliced roast beef. Topping off the Friday night with the traditional Drawing of food display was a carved watermelon. the GoH from the Hat. Sheila Lightsey held Standing on end, with part of it cut away, it the hat, into which at least theoretically all had been lightly carved on its green skin to the attendees’ names had been placed. (I of exploring Annapolis. reveal the portrait of a beautiful southern fer the qualifier because in recent years a Fortunately, they were back in time for lady of a century earlier. The style resembled secondary tradition has sprung up: members the evening program, because many of them scratchboard, with the lightly cut away por may offer a bribe - now up to $20 - to have were in that program. Past Corflus have oc tions showing a brighter green against the their name removed from the hat.) As usual, casionally featured plays by Andy Hooper, dark green of the uncarved skin. The artist the Hat made an excellent choice: Moshe but this year Andy couldn’t make it and Nic turned out to be the meat carver. Several of Feder. imported Ian Sorenson, whose musicals have the fanartists present went over to him to The Saturday programming started in the been hits at British cons for years. The result congratulate him on the piece and a number morning, to my stunned amazement, but was The Booze Brothers, rather loosely mod of fans took photos of it. most of the program turned out to be eled on The Blues Brothers, and incorporat Nic had asked me, as Corflu’s “Eminence skipable. Now, I know that many fans think ing at one point a delightful skit based on Grise,” to run the show at the banquet, so that of most convention programming but Yes, Minister (starring a cherubic Mike after everyone had eaten all they could hold, Corflu’s programs are supposed to be differ Scott). The production was hampered by a I introduced Nic, who Officially Thanked a ent. They’re supposed to be Too Good To totally inadequate sound system, which failed large portion of the convention. I introduced Be Skipped. As it happened, a good chunk of to do justice to Ian’s prerecorded - on CD - Bill Bodden, who made a Special Presenta the British contingent spent the afternoon backing music and vocals, but the Troup tion to GoH Feder - a remarkable red felt hat 10 File 770:141 which resembled a Very Large Crab. Moshe ney for Letterhack, Max for New Fanzine be made to Tracy Benton and mailed to Cor gave a solid GoH speech (which is now on Fan, David Hicks for Fan Artist, Alison Free- flu c/o Tracy Benton, 108 Grand Canyon line at the Corflu Valentine website, http:// baim for Fan Writer and Wabe for Fanzine. Drive, Madison, WI 53705. Include your full come.to/corflu). I conducted the nomination With no competition, Madison, Wiscon name and address, and please add your email and voting for the Past President of the Fan sin was awarded next year’s Corflu, and Bill address in order to receive electronic prog Writers of America (fwa) - the Past Presi Bodden and Tracy Benton immediately be ress reports. dency for 2001 went by immediate acclama gan selling memberships. Right now and When I left at 3:00 a.m., Monday morn tion to Eve and John Harvey. Victor Gon until July I, the cost of a membership is $35 ing, the party was still going and I didn’t zalez - subbing for Andy Hooper - presented (which includes the Sunday banquet), which want to leave, but I had to be at work that the FAAn Awards. They went to Lloyd Pen is a real bargain. It will go up. Checks should afternoon. Good convention - as usual.
BEAD FOSTO WIKIS 2©(W HOTSLO AWAI®
Brad Foster won the 2001 Rotsler Memorial Fanzine Artist Award, presented at Loscon 28. Sponsored by the Southern California Insti tute for Fan Interests (SCIFI), the Rotsler Award honors the lifetime work of outstanding fanartists and the memory of esteemed fanartist William Rotsler. Foster received the award in recognition of his cunent fanac as well as his outstanding contributions to fan art over the last few dec ades. He is generous in sharing his art, and uniquely talented. His work is insightful, humorous, versatile, and exquisitely drawn. He is one of the best and most prolific of the current generation of fan art ists, a worthy successor to Rotsler’s legacy. Brad won the Best Fanartist Hugo five times between 1987 and 1994 and continues to be a frequent Hugo nominee. Brad replied, when notified of his selection: “I am indeed aware of the award, and thought it was really nice that fans though enough both of Bill and the whole idea of the ‘fan artist’ to decide to put to gether this award. And I had hoped that maybe in ten years or so, af ter a lot of other artists received it, I might be lucky enough to be added to the list. So, it really was a very big surprise to hear I had been selected this year.” The annual award consists of $300 cash and an award plaque. Mike Glyer, Richard Lynch, and Geri Sullivan served as this year’s award judges. I Oth anniversary present to each other.] I guess if this was football, it Brad already knew how he and his wife would celebrate: “When I would go: ‘Brad Foster, you’ve just won the 2001 Rotsler Award! called Cindy at her Dad’s and told her about this, she said that this What are you going to do?’ ‘We’re going to Disney World!’ Again, would help to pay for our trip to Disney World early next year [our many thanks to everyone involved for this honor!”
Philly or Leeds? The Debate Resumes — Response by Lew Wolkoff
Lew Wokoff: Both of the obituaries File 770 printed for Milt Rothman made plans for larger, future gatherings. Then John took a number of mention that the meeting held in Philadelphia in October 1936 was the people to his house and showed them his printing rig. They came back first SF convention. The meeting held three months later in Leeds, Eng to Milt's, and the entire group walked back to the train station singing land makes the same claim, and its supporters may write to argue the early Futurian filksongs. With the exception of three years during point. World War II, meetings (Philcons) were held every year since 1936 to John Michel published a description of what happened at the Philly the present, with the 1936 meeting being counted as the first and this meeting about a month after it happened, and I have a copy of that first year's worldcon as the latest. con report. I've also read the description of what happened in Leeds Leeds followed the model of a public meeting. They advertised the published some 20 years later. site and took reservations. People gathered and listened to speakers. Here are summaries of both. Some telegrams were read, and the group voted to create the British Philly followed the model of the political convention, and delegates Science Fiction Society. They adjourned and, so far as I know, no fol from both clubs met at Milt Rothman's house, not needing a hall. They low-up meetings were ever held. looked at Milt's collection and his lab. They played some craps in the The modem SF con evolved from a merger of the two models, but lab, then walked en mass to Independence Hall, where one of their the Philly meeting sounds as much — if not more -- like a modem con number, Herb Goudket took some photographs. The walked back to than the Leeds meeting. Leeds seems to rest its claim solely on the fact Milt's house, joined by John Baitadonis, who had come late. They held that they advertised. I don't recall advance publicity being a primary a business meeting, electing Milt Chair and Fred Pohl Secretary, and component of anything other than a for-profit media con. March 2002 11
Remember Theses Classmates? Locate all the alumni of the University ofLoscon online at www.lasfs.org Fandom’s Tangled Web
RemarQ Settles With Ellison Hugo-nominees: fan artists, fanwriters and tists, and educators in order to make AGW The copyright infringement suit Harlan Elli fanzines. The result is an excellent resource an enriching educational experience that is son filed against Critical Path and its subsidi for Hugo buffs. The URL’s are: fun at the same time. To make sure the “fun” ary RemarQ Communities over unauthorized Best Fan Artist: quotient remains high, an even larger battery posting of copyrighted stories on the RemarQ http://web2.airmail.net/tharvia/ of girls goes over all of the articles and fea service has been settled. Critical Path will fan_artist_hugo.html tures before they appear and girls write most develop software allowing Ellison to delete Best Fan Writer: of them. unauthorized posting of his works, and will http://web2.airmail.net/tharvia/ AGW’s features include articles and inter also appoint an employee to be available to fan_writer_hugo.html views with women in exciting and profes Ellison as a back-up measure. The settlement Best Fanzine: sional occupations, giving girls an idea of the includes no admission of liability. http://web2.airmail.net/tharvia/fan_artists/ heights they can achieve and that their op Ellison noted, “I am pleased to have set fanzinehugo.gif tions aren’t limited by their gender. There are tled this case with Critical Path and RemarQ, also games, puzzles, and contests; a PenPal and believe we have taken a step forward for Willson and Weber Club with over 20,000 members, an on-line babysitting class; and advice columns with writers everywhere in their efforts to protect Make It A Girl’s World copyrighted works.” A Critical Path spokes questions from the site’s readers and answers Karen Willson and Chris Weber, developers provided by other readers (and vetted by the person also expressed satisfaction with the of L.A.con Ill’s “Adventurers Club” kids settlement. site’s consultants) on topics including par program, are the founders and operators of ents, school, and boys. Six books filled with Ellison's infringement action against the extremely popular A Girl’s World inter America Online was not included in the set the advice from this feature have been pub net site, (http://www.agirlsworld.com). A lished by a division of Random House and tlement. “Barring delays (which we antici Girl’s World (AGW) is the most popular pate), we will be going to trial against AOL are available from Amazon.com and at all internet site for girls that isn’t owned by a major book stores. in late March-early April,” Susan Ellison toy company. According to Alexa, the web wrote in HERC #29. information company that maintains archives SFWA has granted money from its Legal and activity logs on the millions of websites Fund to Ellison's suits. Donations to the con on the internet, AGW is in the top one-third tinuing lawsuit can now be made to: Trust of of one percent (0.33%) of the internet in Kulik, Gottesman & Mouton, and sent to terms of popularity, receiving approximately KICK Internet Piracy, P.O. Box 55935, 6 million hits per month. Sherman Oaks, CA 91413. The mission of AGW is to encourage and empower 7-17 year old girls and to respond Harvia Posts Complete List to girls’ needs by being girl powered, written of Fan Hugo Nominees and designed for girls, by girls. AGW has “After looking for years at fragmented text- received extensive media coverage and rec only lists of Best Fan Artist Hugo Nominees ommendations from publications including USA Today, the New York Times and Par New Homepage Pays Tribute and Winners,” explains Teddy Harvia, “I to Canadian SF Writers finally decided to attempt to create a com ents Magazine. Zealous about internet safety Made in Canada is “the homepage for Cana plete illustrated list.” and privacy for the kids who take part in Teddy is a history and art buff and “I their site, AGW was a presenter, along with dian Science Fiction,” located at: www.geocities.com/canadian_sf think others in fandom share my interest in Nickelodeon, Fox and Disney at the Federal The site includes links to seven Canadian the history of fan art and artists. Seeing it Trade Commission’s “Kids’ Privacy Compli might even inspire new fan artists.” He plans ance Training for Website Operators” work authors’ web pages: to add photos, samples of nominated fan art shop, November 2000. Robert Charles Wilson (www.robertcharleswilson.com) ists' work, and links to more of their art. While Willson and Weber coordinate the The momentum from his fan artist project extensive material on the AGW site, they are John Clute, leading critic and author carried him into fields beyond, and Teddy assisted by a battery of consultants including (www.johnclute.co.uk) ultimately created web page lists of all fan curriculum designers, psychologists, scien Douglas Smith, 2001 Campbell Award 12 File 770:141 nominee (www.smithwriter.com) What Should You principal attraction is a complete run of Ansi- Isaac Szpindel, short story author and Nominate for Best Website? ble. It also has updates to The Science Fiction screenwriter(www.geocities.com/ Encyclopedia (Clute & Nicholls) and The En ConJose, the 2002 Worldcon, has distributed canadian_sf/szpindel/) cyclopedia of Fantasy (Clute & Grant), Rob Hugo nomination ballots and now is the time Stephanie-Bedwell Grime, novelist and Hansen's in-progress history of British fandom for voters decide what to write down for Best short story author (www.geocities.com/ and other interesting material. Web Site. It’s an experimental category added canadiansf/bedwell/) On-Line Fanzines: (Note: Omitted here, as for 2002 only. Material displayed on the Beverly J. Miencke, short story author presumptively ineligible, are sites that simply World Wide Web in 2001 by any web site pri (www.geocities.com/canadian_sf/meincke/) reproduce the contents of a printed zine. Those marily related to the fields of science fiction, Ken Basarke, short story author (www. belong in the Best Fanzine category.) fantasy, is eligible. geocities.com/canadian_sf/basarke/) Emerald City, edited by Cheryl Morgan, There seem to be no end of eligible web Made in Canada and The MiC Newsletter has nothing to do with Oz; the editor just liked sites. How to choose? Tom Veal, Chicon 2000 are created, designed, maintained and edited the name. The site is very attractive and well- chair, has posted an article on his own web site by Don Bassie. designed. Content consists primarily of to help fans sort the gold from the dross, re Cheryl's book reviews and convention reports. printed here with his permission. Rotsler.com The PoV is that of the Cosmic Hyper-Left, but A Bill Rotsler-tribute website created by Mi if you like that sort of thing, this is the sort of chael R. Bernstein had its launch party at Candidates for Best SF Web Site thing that you will like. Loscon over Thanksgiving Weekend. Rot- Hugo by Tom Veal File 770: While most of the content of this sler.com is growing as contributions of Bill’s ConJose, the 2002 World Science Fiction Con site finds its way into the printed zine, its ini artwork and writing come in. vention, has taken advantage of its right to tial publication on the Web may be sufficient Bernstein requests faneditors who have create a one-off Hugo Award category by an for Hugo eligibility. File 770, edited by Mike Rotsler artwork already have scanned in to nouncing that it will give an award for the best Glyer, has long been one of the leading send copies to him to add to the site. He’d Web Site related to science fiction or fantasy. sources of news about fandom. Issues have also like to have copies of by or about Bill In an effort to help nominators, I have gathered recently been thicker and more frequent, con Rotsler to post, or at least link to. a list of sites that impress me as both eligible trary to the typical trajectory of faneds. If you’re going to scan illos specifically to for the award and worthy of consideration. The Gegenschein, edited by Eric Lindsay, began send to his archive, Bernstein is encouraging groups into which I have divided the candi life in 1972 as a mimeographed genzine. It is people to scan them in full (24-bit) color, and dates are, I hope, self-explanatory. If they now a personalzine consisting of pithy com to save the images in an uncompressed or aren't, it doesn't matter. Within groups, the ments on a variety of subjects and a large num lossless-compression file format such as *. listing is alphabetical - not in order to be fair ber of very short book reviews. The editor is bmp, *.tif, *.tga, or *.png. He’d also like the but just because it's easiest that way. A site's gradually adding an archive of back issues. As images scanned in at 300 pixels per inch. inclusion on this list is not necessarily a ring of this posting, he has worked his way back More information is at: ing endorsement, but I have tried to limit the wards as far as 1990. http://www.rotsler.com/contribute/ selection to those with primarily stfhal content, SF Crowsnest, edited by Stephen Hunt, He’d also like to know where the images an acceptably pleasing appearance and fre calls itself "Europe's most visited SF/F site". It were published, if applicable, as well as any quent updates. Some sites that might have includes publishing and media news, book, hint fans might have as to when they were been included proved to be inaccessible to video and Web site reviews, and articles on drawn. less-than-state-of-the-art browsers. I take it such topics as vanity publishing and "Is Buffy that their creators aren't interested in low-techs a succubus?" Free "subscriptions" (an e-mail Remember the N3F! like me and have left them out. Also out are summary of each issue when it's posted) are available but turn out to be an opt-in to junk e- The National Fantasy Fan Federation’s new sites whose servers don't reliably respond and mail lists. Secretary is fannish dynamo Dennis Davis. If those on which I happened to see excessive SFRevu, edited by Ernest Lilley, covers you’re a lapsed N3F member, expect to hear numbers of dead links. news about science fiction publishing, TV and from Davis soon. He says, “I am planning on Fandom: eFanzines includes a dozen films. Its scope is similar to Locus and Science running a major membership drive. I have a fanzines in downloadable form, links to the Fiction Chronicle. Issues are monthly; database using FileMaker Pro that I going to Web sites of many others, a regular fanzine "subscribers" (no charge for subscriptions) use with about 250 past members in it, and review column by Ted White, and some fan- receive an e-mail with a summary of the con so I hope I can get a few people to rejoin.” historical materials. tents when each issue is posted. You could make the first move and contact FANAC FanHistory Project: An archive of Webzines: Aphelion emphasizes work by him by e-mail at: [email protected] fanzines, photographs and other materials re new writers. It doesn't pay them but does have Damon Knight founded the group in 1941 lated to the history of science fiction fandom. editors and doesn't simply publish everything to unite those with an interest in science fic New material is being steadily added. Being a submitted. Contents are fiction, plus some po tion and fantasy. Many people have found (not very active) member of the sponsoring etry, a column or two and a comic strip. New their way into fandom through the N3F, and organization, I have a conflict of interest but "issues" appear monthly. the group has celebrated its survival into the nonetheless recommend this site highly. Nuketown publishes short fiction (for which 2lsl century by launching a webpage where The Fannish E-Mail Directory serves the it pays a flat fee), all sorts of reviews (book, members can engage in its activities online: simple, utilitarian purpose of facilitating com movie, game, Web site, etc.) and some odd http://simegen.com/fandom/n3f/ munication among fans. It lists e-mail ad items such as a column on Internet hoaxes. It The club also keeps up with its traditional dresses and Web site URL's for several thou describes itself as "pro-individual, pro-reason interest groups (“bureaus”) and services, and sand fans and fannish organizations. John Lor and pro-science." publishes a quarterly clubzine. entz deserves our gratitude for this labor of love. Planet Magazine has been posting quarterly The UK Science Fiction Fandom Archive's issues since 1994, probably making it the old est surviving SF webzine. Contents consist of March 2002 13 fiction, poems and digital artwork. http://www.fopaws.com/ Writers are not paid, but the zine’s Novaspace Galleries: longevity suggests that the editor has http://www.novaspace.com/index. some talent to finding semi-precious shtml stones, at least, among the sludge. OffWorld Designs: Sci Fiction is a professional sci http://www.offworlddesigns.com/ ence fiction outlet edited by Ellen Astronomy Picture of the Day: Datlow. In addition to original writ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ ing by authors like Ursula K. LeGuin, Michael Swanwick, Nancy Kress and Changes of Address Robert Reed, it reprints classic sto E. Michael Blake & Lisa Golladay, ries. The only evidence of its owner E-mail: [email protected] ship by the Sci-Fi Channel is its ban Marty Cantor, ner ads. E-mail: [email protected] Science Fiction Weekly, published Phil Castora, P.O. Box 5499, Pine Mountain by the Sci-Fi Channel, contains news, arti with SF/F themes. Club, Frazier Park, CA 92333 cles and reviews focusing on what its parent Other: Astronomy Picture of the Day. Peggy Corrigan & Frank Gasperik, 859 S. regards as science fiction. Books are not Each day NASA posts an astronomical pho 12th St. #307, Cottonwood AZ 86326 completely ignored. The presentation is, as tograph with a caption by a professional as Paula DiSante, one would expect, top quality. tronomer. Started in 1995, the site now con E-mail: [email protected] Strange Horizons is a weekly zine featur tains over 2,000 images. Glenn Glazer, 3809 Pacific Ave., Long ing a mix of articles (mostly scientific popu Beach, CA 90807-3227 larizations and potted history), fiction, book URL's of Tom’s Recommended Websites Francis Hamit, P.O. Box 5499, Pine reviews and poetry. It pays modestly eFanzines: Mountain Club, Frazier Park, CA 92333 (4¢ a word for fiction). Copies are http://efanzines.com/ Eric Lindsay, available for free download at Fictionwise. FANAC FanHistory Project: E-mail: [email protected] Personal Sites: Bob Eggleton is a multi http: //www. fanac.org/ Mia McDavid, ple Hugo-winning artist. His site includes Fannish E-Mail Directory: E-mail: [email protected] reproductions of many of his painting and http: //www. spiritone. com/~j I orentz/emai 1/ Marie Rengstorff, 2737 S. Kihei Rd. #212, sketches, and he is also happy to sell a paint U.K. Science Fiction Fandom Archive: Kihei, HI 96753 ing now and then. http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/SF-Archives/ Jeff Schalles, 3409 Columbus Ave. S., The Worlds of Teddy Harvia is Hugo- Emerald City: Minneapolis, MN 55407 winning fan artist David Thayer's site for his http://www.emcit.com/ Pat & Roger Sims 7030 Villa Estelle Drive, cartoons, photographs, stories, etc. He is File 770: Orlando, FL 32819 posting cartoons in more or less chronologi http://ourworld.compuserve.com/ Garth Spencer, additional E-mail address: cal order, showing the development of his homepages/mglyer/f770/index.html [email protected] work. Gegenschein: Milton F. Stevens, Evelyn Leeper, perennial Best Fan Writer http://psiphi. server! 01 .com/sf/index.htm E-mail: [email protected] nominee, has lots of SF book reviews, trave SF Crowsnest: Jan van’t Ent, Vaalserberg 137, 2905 PM logues and convention reports on her site. http://www.computercrowsnest.com/ Capelie aan den Ijssel, The Netherlands Her con reports are the most thorough in the SF Revu: Leigh Strother-Vien, P.O. Box 5499, Pine business and come close to the elusive goal http://www.sfrevu.com/ Mountain Club, Frazier Park, CA 92333 of preserving conversation in the gross me Aphelion: Wilson Tucker, dium of print. http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/ E-mail: [email protected] Steven H Silver, another Best Fan Writer Nuketown: http://www.nuketown.com/ nominee, presents book reviews and other Special Bill Bowers CoA Annex: ‘Twas the writings, including a good guide to Chicago Planet Magazine: Thursday before Christmas when Bill clicked http://www.planetmag.com/ sightseeing (originally written for the Chicon on his mouse. Not an e-mail was stirring. So 2000 progress reports) and a long list of fa SciFiction: he kicked his ISP out of the house... http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/ mous SF authors' first stories. When its internet service failed, Bill’s Science Fiction Weekly: Commercial Sites: Fictionwise is an on provider didn’t keep a promise to fix things http://www.scifi.com/sfw/ line e-bookstore. I've written about it in quickly: “Apparently they got a bit later start Quark Watch. Strange Horizons: than promised; and their concept of http://www.strangehorizons.com/ Fo'Paws Productions, operated by Scott ‘approximately 6 hours’ would probably Bob Eggleton: and Jane Dennis, sells a SF/F t-shirts and make sense if only 1 had paid attention in http://www.bobeggleton.com/ amusing latex puppets modeled after dino High School Algebra.” So Bill went to Ya Teddy Harvia: saurs. Along with OffWorld Designs (see hoo and registered these new e-mail ad http://web2.airmail.net/tharvia/ below), they deserve much of the credit for dresses: Evelyn Leeper: the high artistic quality of fannish attire. Bill Bowers, E-mail: [email protected] http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4824/ Novaspace Galleries sells astronomical Xenolith, E-mail: [email protected] Steven H Silver: and other SF art work, ranging from original Bowers’ “Evial Auction sideline,” E-mail: http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/ paintings to calendars and posters. [email protected] Fictionwise: OffWorld Designs features t-shirts and art Bowers’ semi-reliable Backup Address: http://www.fictionwise.com/home.html work by Ray VanTilburg. It also sells hats, [email protected] jackets, tote bags and other merchandise, all Fo ’Paws Productions: 14 File 770:141
lated to that level. Kevin Standlee said he be 2002 Worldcon News lieved “that there is an appropriate role for the current Chairman of the ConJose Worldcon Operating Committee within the organization - & 8? - but that role is not as its Chairman.” Dave Clark did not agree that circum & & Efff E $ stances justified a change: “So far everything I l,V have heard today we’ve heard before, in 1993. ■ * nJK $ © G fe e g Funds were taking time to get deposited, we Anonymous E-Mails Reveal Deep £ % had to replace a division head at the last min ■ * ■« a । ute, people were complaining that the Chair Fault Lines in ConJose Committee, man was not paying attention to all the should Send Tremors Through Fandom be done. Tom was there then and saw it all. We still came through.” MB n Whitmore emphasized in his minuted re sponse that he had not been told what would be said, despite his critics having carefully prepared statements in advance, and that he still believed he was the best person to run the The ConJose committee suffered an unprece Worldcon Operating Committee.” Craige convention. dented public meltdown in March when an Howlett immediately spoke in favor of Whit The SFSFC Board ultimately voted 6-5 that anonymous e-mailer widely distributed min more continuing as chairman, but a long time it had confidence in Whitmore as chair of utes of its parent corporation’s tempestuous passed before Tom heard another encouraging ConJose. February board meeting. Most of the meeting word. Although Whitmore is staying, major had been consumed by several directors at Michael Siladi presented his “back of the changes have been made to ConJose’s leader tempting to remove Tom Whitmore as chair envelope” analysis of ConJose’s revenue and ship. Michael Siladi has quit the committee, man of the 2002 Worldcon. alleged as much as $60,000 could not be ac Kathryn Daugherty has replaced Linda McAl The anonymous e-mailer struck only two counted for. He said he felt “grave disappoint lister as head of Programming, and Kevin days after San Francisco Science Fiction Con ment” that Whitmore “has not done anything Standlee has been made Whitmore’s co- ventions, Inc. (SFSFC), the parent organiza to establish proper checks and balances over chairman. tion of ConJose, named Kevin Standlee to co- ConJose’s finances.” The anonymous sender justified his or her chair the convention alongside Tom Whit Vice-Chair Cindy Scott immediately action by saying that at the March SFSFC more. ConJose’s press release announcing the pointed out a glaring error in the spreadsheet meeting Whitmore tried to seal the minutes, or change gave no reason for it. When File 770 Siladi gave directors: half of the “missing” at least keep them from being posted to the inquired Kevin Standlee replied, “It resolves a revenue was never even received - he’d left SFSFC website as usual. Whitmore acknowl number of internal tensions within the organi out the $30 discount to presupporters who edged in a post to the SMOFS listserve he had zation, particularly at the Board of Directors converted to attending membership. She did sought to keep the matter private, simply be level, and, in my opinion, brings some agree that the person originally in charge of cause it doesn’t help the convention to make strength to the leadership team. Tom is, gener handling the receipts had been overwhelmed, these allegations public. “I think that the peo ally speaking, a better ‘people person’ than I but that person had stepped aside months be ple who attacked me through a secret indict am, while I bring a lot of detail-orientation fore. ment have much more to lose in this issue than that is not Tom’s strong suit. Overall, it proba However, Kathryn Daugherty echoed Si- I do, and I’d rather protect the board than al bly would have been better if we’d done this ladi’s concern about the chairman’s oversight low them to hurt themselves in this way. I from the beginning, but three years ago, I was of ConJose finances, and criticized Whitmore have a drastically different interpretation of worn out from bidding and withdrew my name for not intervening with Programming Divi events from the viewpoint of those who wrote from contention. The Board persuaded me to sion head Linda McAllister when she did not prepared statements, in general (some of their take the job, and Tom was willing to work perform as needed. issues I agree are important)....” with me.” Crickett Fox recalled that Whitmore origi The minutes composed by board member The explosive nature of these “internal ten nally violated his agreement to select a Bay Cindy Scott reportedly had limited internal sions” unexpectedly became public knowledge Area resident as Vice-Chair (he’d appointed distribution, fueling speculation that the dis on March 15 when numerous fans received a Portland fan Ruth Sachter, who later stepped tributor’s identity might not be difficult to pair of e-mails signed “A Worried Smof’ from down and was replaced by Bay Area local deduce. However, the only certainty is that the “[email protected]” with the subject Cindy Scott.) She said he’d also failed to anonymous sender stirred up all the dissension header, “It’s 167 days unitl [sic] ConJose. Do move to the Bay Area as promised. She con he or she could have wished. you know where your Worldcon is at?” The e- ceded, “Moving several hundred miles from Janice Gelb’s response to the anonymous e- mails contained a complete draft of SFSFC’s one’s home and friends is difficult,” but added mailer was typical: “All forwarding these min February 7 meeting minutes. “that was one of the conditions to which the utes does is foment trouble. If that is your aim, The draft showed director Kathryn ConJose Chair agreed.” Whitmore disagreed I suspect you will accomplish it in full meas Daugherty read a prepared statement calling that the trigger for his promised move had ure. I hope you are ashamed of it.” on Tom Whitmore to resign as ConJose chair. occurred, because he’d agreed to “move down He didn’t, therefore she moved a vote of con when the ConJose operating committee went fidence: “RESOLVED, that the Board of Di to having two meetings per month.” rectors of SFSFC, Inc., hereby expresses its James Daugherty acknowledged Whit confidence in the Chairman of the ConJose more’s skills in handling a crisis, but criticized him for not defusing issues before they esca March 2002 15
in the military during World Dept. I remember a room party at a conven War II but he took on the job tion where the Outlanders had invited James of air raid warden. His Schmitz for drinks and a quiet place to relax. £ J mother and his sister Leota I think the subject of the conversation was both served in the WACS. alternate worlds or something along that line »» His other sister, Louise, was and at some point Stan outlined a theory of already married and had his. Stan, as shy as Schmitz, suddenly three children. stopped in the middle of a sentence realizing Like most fans from our that he was doing all the talking and becom generation he discovered ing embarrassed about it. “Good God, man, Obituaries pulp mag science fiction in go on!” said Mr. Schmitz, “don’t stop now!” the Thirties. His fan activity I guess Stan finished his thought but perhaps John Stanley Woolston may have started before I met him in 1946 this helps to show what kind of mind he had July 16, 1920 - as I was pretty much fafiated during the war, and what kind of a man he was. thanks to the Navy and the Marines. I did A kind man, a gentle man, a wild and December 25, 2001 have a brief letter exchange with Rick while wonderful thinker. I started missing him Appreciation by Len Moffatt I was still overseas but wasn’t keeping up back when he was no longer able to recog January 15, 2002: We just learned of Stan’s with who’s who in fandom. nize friends and relatives. I still do and I death yesterday in a letter from his sister Graduating from Santa Ana City College, always will. Leota, who lives in Garden Grove. She will he became a printer by trade, and indeed was soon be eighty years old and on the day after one of the last of the letterpress printers. His Christmas was given the news from Windsor own Chandler and Price job press was used Gardens in Anaheim, where Stan has been primarily for fannish projects as he usually under medical care for the past several years. worked in print shops owned by others. At the same time she learned of the death Stan was one of the original members of of a sister-in-law, and shortly after that a the Outlander Society, printing covers and friend and neighbor also passed away. sometimes interior headings for The Out Actually Stan was lost to us some time lander Magazine. He was active in FAPA ago. When he first went into a home for for quite a while co-publishing with Rick those with mental problems he still recog and me, as well as on his own. nized June and me and Leota when we He joined the NFFF and became one of visited him. His main problem seemed to be its hardest working members as well as one deafness but when we managed to make him of its most loyal ones. He was among those hear, he seemed to know what we were who initiated N’APA, the NFFF’s amateur talking about and recognized the names of press association, and his welcoming letters friends we mentioned. He kept losing his (to new members and neofans) must have hearing aids but Leota rigged up an ear horn been the best ever written from reports I for us to shout into his “good” ear. have heard over the years. But eventually both his vision and his He and I published the 1950 Fan Direc Jack Carroll Haldeman II hearing failed and he went downhill physi tory (I as editor and he as printer) - which December 11,1941 - cally, reaching the point where he seemed to included the neat layout of the booklet). He January 1, 2002 was also official printer for the SOLACON be living in his own inner world, recogniz SF writer and 1974 Worldcon chair Jack C. (the 1958 WorldCon). The membership ing no one outside of it. Haldeman II (known to his friends as Jay) cards were printed on his Lilliputian Press. Stan was bom on a farm in Indiana but died of cancer on January 1. He is survived (By the way, that old press was donated to spent his childhood In Illinois when his by his wife, Barbara Delaplace, daughter the Garden Grove Historical Society when family moved across the Wabash River. I’m Lori Haldeman, and brother, Joe Haldeman. Stan’s affairs were taken over by a Guard not sure when they moved to California but Jay sold ten novels and around 100 ian.) my first meeting with Stan was at the 1946 stories in his career. He often wrote in LASFS was always too far away for Stan WorldCon (Pacificon I) in Los Angeles, collaboration. His 1982 story “High Steel” where we also met Rick Sneary. The three to attend but he has made it to weekend OS with Jack Dann was a Nebula nominee. His meetings and parties in the Larea over the of us became lifelong friends. first collaboration with his wife Barb De Stan lived in Garden Grove, some miles years, and we have had many a good time at laplace, "That'll be the Day," was published south of Bell Gardens, where I was living at Stan’s place. He never drank alcohol or in Alternate Tyrants. He had been a SFWA smoked but he could have as good a time at the time, and Rick lived in South Gate, a member since 1971. neighboring city of Bell Gardens. With the a party as the next fan and in conversations Like many other sf writers, Jay also held possible exception of Harry Warner, Jr., could be more entertaining and informative jobs in scientific fields. He spent seven years Stan and Rick may hold fandom’s record for than many. as a med tech in a shock-trauma unit. He living at the same locations for more years He read in many fields and had a marvel worked as a research scientist in the areas of than any other fan. Stan’s street name and ous memory. As for imagination, I have parasitology and veterinary medicine. He always felt that the s-f field lost a great number changed once or twice over the did field studies of whales in the Canadian writer because he would not discipline years but it was still the same location which Arctic. For three years he was part of a himself to make stories out of the host of held a small house, a shed with a job press, a research team investigating the greenhouse unique concepts that he talked about to his small garden, and rabbit pens. effect for the US Department of Agriculture, friends. He did have a short story published Due to a club foot, Stan could not serve specializing in Expert Systems and the real- in the old Astounding's Probability Zero 16 File 770:141 time applications of Artificial Intelli gence control systems. More recently, he coordinated production of a website and CD-ROM series containing over 4,000 documents pertaining to agriculture in the state of Florida. Jay met his future wife, Barb De laplace, at a convention. Their acquain tance grew through CompuServe and GEnie. He wrote online, “Soon chat turned to email and then to telephone calls and cross-continent flights. Eventu ally we decided it was cheaper (and more fun) to get married. I think Delta Airlines stock dropped ten points when the word got out.” Left: A childhood photo of Jack and Joe holding up the headline of Eisenhower's Jay helped roast Gardner Dozois last 1956 presidential election victory. Right: Barb Delaplace together with Jack. Labor Day weekend at Millennium Philcon. Jay recalled that around 1971 he, Dozois and others formed a loose collec aficionados and followers. after a short illness. He is survived by his tion of writers who met several times a year Meade was one of the founders of the brother John. and workshopped short stories. Dozois Southern Fandom Confederation and was its Birchby first became active at the dawn would bring along rambling 35,000-word President for many years. His stud- of UK fandom in the middle 1930's, while story fragments. After Jay read about 20 bedecked denim “SFC jacket” was his living in London, attending meetings of the pages he’d think, “Say, this is just great, but preferred garb at DeepSouthCons for many Science Fiction Association, which initially nothing has happened.” Jay claimed that years. The SFC is still keeping Southern met in a Lyons teashop on Thursdays, cho inspired his brother, Joe, to write a 4-page fans in touch with one another and with sen because it was E. J. Carnell's weekly scene of a former President watching the sun national fandom, 30 years after its founding. half-day off. It was to be the dawn of a New creep across his yard - “Gardner loved it, of A member of the Southern Fandom Press Age, with SF fans at the vanguard. He course. It was just like his.” Many years later Alliance for decades, Meade also founded missed the Leeds SF Conference in 1937, Joe’s finished story actually sold to Omni. Apa-VCR back when such devices were the first SF convention in England and In his final days Jay was cared for at a new, and Apa-III. arguably the first con anywhere, but years Gainesville, FL hospice. His daughter Lori In 1975 he won a richly deserved Rebel later, wrote about his feelings of the time: Haldeman said of his passing: “True to Award at the DeepSouthCon for extraordi "Only a month before the King of form, he chose a moment when nobody was nary service to fandom in the South. Some England himself had been thrown out for not looking at him - he always did cringe at years later, his wife Penny, who chaired conforming with the Establishment. As a being the center of attention. He went peace Confederation, the 1986 worldcon, was fan, I felt it was quite right and proper that fully, as the family was sitting around him, likewise honored. the fanzines that the SF Association spon telling jokes and laughing.” All of these things speak well of Meade sored, such as Tomorrow and Novae Terrae, The family requests that in lieu of flow Frierson’s career in SF fandom. His remark should print their steady diet of pep articles ers, donations be made in his name to the able intelligence, his poetic nature (he was a on 'Whither Mankind?' and 'Science Prog Hospice of North Central Florida (4200 NW published poet in his college days at the ress'. It was the New World we were mak 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606). University of Virginia), his fertile imagina ing, and the golden tool was Science. tion did not mask a genuine friendliness and Around us the world was moving into the Meade Frierson III care for people that endeared him to every first steps of the dance of death. Spain was one who knew him. Meade’s idea of fandom in the middle of her civil war; Italy had just Appreciation by was of a community where all like-minded finished the Abyssinian war; Germany had Guy H. Lillian III souls could gather and rejoice. That’s the re-occupied the Rhineland. Against this Meade Frierson, one of the great science way he lived his life and that’s the perspec background, British Fandom reflected that fiction fans in the history of the South, tive he brought to science fiction. Speaking middle-class respectability which Britain as passed from this planet on September 24, personally, he and Penny hosted me many a country maintained in the face of rising 2001. He was suffering from cancer. times at their home in Birmingham, and chaos abroad." Meade was an attorney, one of the found were always boon companions. And I will Meetings of the London Branch of the ers of an important Birmingham law firm. never forget those incredible evenings at SFA included William F. Temple, Arthur C. He was an amateur genealogist, who pub Sammy’s... Clarke, Carnell, later to edit New Worlds for lished a history of his family in his later He was my mentor in fandom and a so many years, and others who went on to years. beautiful friend. God speed him. long careers in writing and the fan world. Before then, he was a science fiction fan, The war changed everything. The last and a radio fan, and a horror fan. In the early Sid Birchby SFA meeting was held in London in Sep 1970's he published a wonderful, compre tember, 1940, a year after World War II hensive fanzine called, simply, HPL, about Appreciation by started. The lack of paper for fan publishing, the works of H.P. Lovecraft. It featured Andrew I. Porter the unavailability of American SF maga- artwork by Herb Arnold and Dany Frolich British SF fan Sidney Leonard Birchby, 82, zines-which had been imported before the and Tim Kirk and dozens of other fine genre active in fandom since the mid-1930's, died war as ballast and were replaced by needed artists, and writing from as many Lovecraft at home in Manchester on December 29th, foodstuffs and war materiel-and restrictions March 2002 17 on free movement, severely restricted SF would just have to party without him. Ed perishable food items that were delivered to fandom. Many fans went into the service, and walks the fellow out to the elevator, rides with the family. John Vaughan delivered the funds bombing during early 1941 destroyed many him down to the lobby and walks him out the to Judy and reported, “She kept trying to find London meeting places, including Druid's Hall front door of the hotel, says good-bye and words other than ‘thank you,’ to tell all the in Holbom, the legendary Flat (about which turns around and comes back to the party. I donors who have tried to make this tragedy see William F. Temple's recent 88 Gray's Inn can just imagine the look on the guy’s face more bearable for her and the children.” Road: A Living Space Odyssey, Sansato Press, when he suddenly realizes that he's on the Later, a wake for Ed Moore was held at the 2000), and the pub The Red Bull. outside looking in and the rest of us are back Satterfield home. As Roger Tener reminded Birchby himself was not spared. He had a at the party. his readers, “This wake is what Ed wanted - close call when a truck he was on carrying five “It finally did dawn on him that things did folks to sit around toasting him, telling funny tons of bombs crashed, with the bombs falling not go as he planned and a few minutes later stories and memories, sharing good food and on the roadway "...with nice resounding the guys was back at the party causing prob drink, and lots of laughter.” [[Sources: Keith thuds..." A direct hit on his house destroyed lems. Once again when it looked like this were Stokes, Chronicles of the Dawn Patrol]] much of his collection, his correspondence going to get nasty Ed walks over to him and files and much SFA material. Harry Warner's repeats the process all over again. Only this All Our Yesterdays notes that Birchby "spent time when Ed walks him out the front door of three days scouring the neighborhood for the the hotel members of the Wichita Police fragments of precious issues of Weird Tales, Department were waiting for the guy. It was tracking down about one third of his original amazing once, but twice in 20 minutes was possessions." fantastic. After the war, Birchby got on with his “I will miss my friend, his smile, his will life, though the appearance in 1954 of Mike ingness to help, his boundless energy. Rest in Rosenblum's New Futurian, with a series of peace Ed, while it will harder without you, we articles by Walter Gillings on the early days of will do our best as you would want us to.” British fandom, brought Birchby back into Moore is survived by his wife, Judy, and fandom, with reminiscences of his own. He their children. Fans donated almost $2,000 to remained active, according to Rob Hansen help the family and defray funeral expenses. [whose information in compiling this obituary The St. Louis club also collected a lot of non- was crucial], up through the late 1950's.
Ed Moore 1962-2002 Stan Woolston and guests included Ray Bradbury, Dr. Rob Ed Moore, known as Big Ed, a long time Appreciation by ert S. Richardson and Kris Neville. Fans member of the Kansas City Science Fiction & were invited to join; one person who de Fantasy Society died from cancer January 16. Andrew I. Porter clined was actress Olivia de Havilland, who He passed away at home with his family, as he Los Angeles fan Stan Woolston, 81, died wrote, "It is not true that I am a science fic wished, shortly before his 40th birthday. December 25th at the Windsor Gardens tion fan. I hope this confession will not be Roger Tener, in his e-zine Chronicles of Nursing Home in Anaheim, where he had disillusioning to you." the Dawn Patrol, recalled Big Ed’s role in a been in declining health for several years. In 1948 Woolston invented Fan Wam classic convention anecdote: He is survived by his sister, Leota. pum, which was intended to pay debts not “It was at a NeoCon at the Family Inn in Woolston was bom in Indiana, but suitable for compensation by legal tender. Wichita. It was the night of the famous (or moved to Los Angeles as a teenager in the The same year, at the West Coast Scienti- infamous) long (very, very long) room party 1930's, where he discovered pulp magazine Fantasy Conference, the first Westercon, that if my memory serves right was hosted by SF. He graduated from Santa Ana City Col Woolston won an original Thrilling Wonder the Satterfields. Anyway, there was a mundane lege and attended the 1946 LA worldcon, Stories cover in a raffle organized to raise who have found his way into the con and the first after World War II. With fellow LA money for the Big Pond Fund, which itself therefore into the room party. As this er... fan Rick Sneary and Hagerstown, Md.'s evolved into TAFF. Both are institutions individual consumed more and more alcohol Harry Warner, he may share the record for which are with us today. he became less desirable to have around. So, living the longest at one address. Woolston had an antique letter press, as is often the case, when it was determined Although active in SF fandom for which he used for fannish publications. He that this person should leave and it was deter seven decades, he dipped a toe into the pro was the printer, with Len Moffatt the editor, mined that he would probably cause trouble field only once, contributing a story to As of a 1950 Fan Directory, which listed 404 when the time came, I was woke out of a very tounding (now Analog) SF's "Probability fans, only 51 of them women. He was also sound sleep to help out in case of trouble. Zero" department. the official printer for the 1958 worldcon. “When the time came to eject this person He was an original member of The Eventually, his press was donated to the from the party most of us were ready for a Outlander Society, organized in October, Garden Grove Historical Society. fight. All but Ed. Just about the time it was 1948, for fans in outlying areas of Los An Woolston was also active in the 1940's going to get physical, Ed walks up to this guy geles who couldn't easily attend LASFS in FAPA. Since the 1940's, he was active in and starts talking to him like they are old meetings. This was in the days when LA the National Fantasy Fan Federation, as a buddies. The guy starts complaining on how is was growing by leaps and bounds, but the member and officer, as he dropped all other being treated and Ed agrees with him. Ed then freeway hadn't been invented. The group fan activity. He was a founding member of tells the guys that if the were treating him like gained a reputation, according to Art Rapp, the N3F's N'APA amateur press association that he would just leave and let them get along as "the most articulate and intellectual group in July 1959, membership of which required without him. Suddenly the guy agrees with Ed, ever assembled" in fandom. Their more or one to be a member of the N3F as well. he said he'd show us. He would leave and we less monthly meetings tended to last all day, 18 File 770:141
together. I just can't believe he's gone. It's just too soon. Just what is it about us, boomer genera tion fandom, that makes so many pass on so prematurely? (shaking head in dismay)
Joyce Scrivner: I've been reflecting on all the times I remember Scott - his calling me over a book I'd been missing, his work with the Post Office to get the Minicon/MinnStf cancella tion, the pleasure in meeting him at conven tions, etc. The one I remember best was the first year I brought my nephew Shae to a Minicon. Shea had never been to a convention and his enthu siasm and energy were wild to the extent that at least one party offered him the option of leaving through a window or the door. 1 was working on the convention in some guise and I didn't follow everything Shae did with as much concern as I wanted. At some point late Scott Imes and Erica Simon working on KMAC-12, MidAmeriCon Video (1976 on Saturday Scott told me I shouldn't worry so Worldcon). Photo by David Dyer-Bennet, used by permission. much and both Shae and I would be fine as proto-parent and proto-grownup. I was grate ful for his comfort and reassurance. Scott Imes Before he became such an integral part of Uncle Hugo's SF Bookstore in Minneapolis, Carol Kennedy: Scott was the very first per (1949-2001) Scott, at the beginning of his fannish career, son I ever talked to about Minn-Stf, when I Scott Imes, a fixture in Minneapolis fandom was a major department head for the Kansas first stopped in at Uncle Hugo's some 25 years and for 25 years manager of Uncle Hugo’s, the City worldcon, running MidAmeriCon's entire ago. Since Minn-Stf is where Jonathan and I sf bookstore, died December 12 at the age of audio-visual division. We worked closely to met, Scott had a hand in deciding the course 52. He had suffered recently from occasional gether on MAC for two years on this new, of a huge part of my life. seizures, however the exact cause of death important worldcon innovation. It was his Over the past 18+ years, every single time I remains to be determined. brainchild, and thanks to him and his dogged saw Scott, without fail, he asked about my Uncle Hugo’s owner, Don Blyly, told a dedication and professionalism, worldcon en kids. Not only that, but he actually listened to local newspaper reporter, "What was really tered the Video Age. In fact, without him, Mi my response, and more than once offered a amazing is [Scott] would recognize people dAmeriCon wouldn't have had this new capa helpful observation. He was the first person to who hadn't been in the store for five years.... bility at all. Worldcon was advanced because suggest that perhaps Rachel wasn't just an im He recognized customers by the thousands. He of his efforts. possibly lively child, but actually might have was concerned about getting the right books I remember how he trained his large MAC clinical ADHD-and he turned out to be right. into the right people's hands." a/v staff through several weekend long If going to Uncle Hugo's will never again Many fans are mourning Scott. Here are "CommuniCons" during MidAmeriCon's or be the same for me, I can only imagine what a some of the tributes posted online. [[Note: All ganizing period. When MAC finally arrived, hole his passing will leave in the lives of those comments reproduced with the writers’ per KMAC Channel 12 was on the air, the first closer to him. To those of you who were his mission.]] ever closed-circuit sf/worldcon broadcast good friends and loved ones, I offer my deep channel. Thanks to Scott, the MidAmeriCon a/ est sympathy. Ken Keller: [Chair, 1976 Worldcon] An old v crew were a well-oiled machine when they fannish friend has passed, and the final para got to Kansas City, ultimately compiling some Tom Hardy: I've been going to Uncle Hugo's graph to one chapter in KC's 30 year fannish 40+ hours of video history of the 34th world for more than 25 years, and have always ended history has now been written. I'm depressed. con—a first in fandom. I know he worked up in a discussion with Scott about something; Another one of us, one of the old MidAmeri harder than I did, the chair, at the KC world books, publishing, current events, whatever. Con committee, is gone. It's just too soon. He con, and that's saying quite a lot! One time, it was the seven-volume Lord of the was a year younger than me. 1 last saw him (and Margie Lessinger his Rings trilogy. Another time, it was Gor We first met at the '75 MiniCon where he longtime life companion) at the MidAmeriCon bachev—he thought Gorbachev had died, and 1 was single-handedly video taping a lot of the 20th Anniversary reunion in 1996, which was thought was doing fine, so he got on the phone Minicon program using professional video part of ConQuesT 27 here in KC. He was the to his secret consultant, [the Minneapolis Pub gear-3/4" Beta, just like the big boys used at con's special guest. Following that ConQuesT, lic Library Help Desk, where he was appar TV stations. What a concept in fandom! we hung out at the house for another day ently well known.] Turns out he was thinking (Video was not yet a part of the fannish lexi while their car's radiator got repaired. It gave of Raisa Gorbachev, who had died a couple of con.) It turned out that Scott was not only a us a chance to catch up on a whole host of years before. I had forgotten. fan but was also an audio-visual professional, things since it had been almost a decade since A couple of months ago 1 set my usual S30- working for Bloomberg Photo-Sound in Min we had seen each other. The three of us had a 40 worth of books on the counter; At issue as neapolis. We hit it off immediately, and the great time together, talking about the glory usual was whether to buy the discount card, germ of an idea began to form while we were days, talking about science fiction, talking because 1 get into the store 4-5 times a year. hanging out together all weekend long. about life. I'm now very glad we had that time He went straight into his pitch, telling me that March 2002 19
I could save hundreds of dollars if only I was such a fixture there and in local fandom creatic cancer, complicated by her three played my cards right. that it’s hard now to believe he can be gone. strokes which left her extremely weak. Her I don’t want it to be true. Of course he is in husband, Shelby Vick, felt “Her death was a Laramie Sasseville: I’ve been taking daily the hearts of those of us who knew him, but blessing, in that it ended her suffering.” walks lately. I find that walking out under the it makes the world a sadder place to know Shelby and their daughter Cheryl were with open sky, among tall trees, has a very calm there will be no more opportunity to further Suzanne when she died. ing effect on my nerves. our acquaintance or exchange that friendly Shelby and Suzanne hosted Corflu This morning I walked around Powder- word. Sunsplash in 1999 at Panama City, FL. horn Lake as usual. The weather is warm for Lloyd Miller passed away in early No early December: there is no snow on the The February issue of Einblatt, newzine of vember 2001. Roger Tener remembered, ground, and only some remnants of ice on the Minnesota Science Fiction Society, an “My association with Lloyd goes back to the the lake. This morning the sky was overcast, nounced plans for a new issue of Rune, the early 8O's and the Mid America Science So the air moist with scattered drizzle; there was club’s famous genzine. “We’re looking for ciety. Lloyd had not been active in Fandom a mist on the lake. The ducks came eagerly to stories, memories, drawings, poems, photos, for several years but in the past he traveled to meet me, as I was bringing my usual gift of anything we can run through the club mimeo. most of the cons in the area along with feed-com. A ten pound bag (it’s pleasing to We also hope to have a small offset-printed working the two Wichacons and other fan- know that this costs the same as the small insert for photos of - and by - Scott Imes.” nish activities.” [[Source: Chronicles of the packages of dried, cubed bread that I fed Contact the editors via e-mail at: Dawn Patrol]] them at first.) [email protected] Terry Hughes died November 14, 2001 The grayness and mist of the morning at an inpatient hospice facility in Arlington, suited my sad mood. When I checked my In Passing Virginia. He died of complications from email this morning I learned on the Natter Martha Beck passed away in March. Earl brain cancer. list that Scott Imes died yesterday. The lively Kemp posted online, “It is all over for her Hughes was originally from Missouri. He bustle of the feeding ducks distracted me for and on her own terms. No person could hope was especially well-known in the 1970s as a a little while, but when I had scattered all my for more.” No further details were known as fanwriter and a TAFF delegate. com and proceeded on my walk, I thought of this issue went to print. File 770 will publish Dan Steffan wrote online, “He was one of Scott. tributes to Martha in the next issue. the best men I have ever known. He treated I never knew Scott very closely, but I al Martha and her husband, Hank, moved to his friends with respect and love and was ways admired his intelligence and respected Arizona several years ago. For decades she always willing to help those in need. He will him for his soft-spoken manner and his good was one of the best-known faces in Midwest be profoundly missed by everyone who knew sense. He was a good influence on the civil ern fandom. Her TAFF candidacy was over him.” ity of local Fandom, and that will surely be shadowed by a harsh struggle between com Carl Mor: Carl Mor, an active member of missed. If I didn’t know him closely, I knew munities of fans wanting their own identity PorSFis (also known as Carl Mork, Charles him for quite a long time. Since 1979, when I for the fund; she lost. Later, when I met Mar Martel, and "The Copper Squirrel") died on first started attending Mnstf meetings and tha for the first time, I found her to be very November ll, 2001. As The Copper Squirrel Minicons, in the days when he and Margie hospitable, and gifted with a delightfully he posted frequently on alt.books.m-lackey were my neighbors while we all lived in the cynical sense of humor. I looked forward to and alt.callahans. Mike Stem of LASFS paid Bozo Bus building. Scott was the building seeing her when I used to go to Windycon tribute saying, “He was a friend that I never manager. every year. had the pleasure of meeting, and he had a I remember spending evenings visiting Suzanne Vick died February 19 of pan rare gift that made you smile and laugh no with them, and others, in their matter how serious the subject apartment, before they got the actually was.” house where they’ve lived more Carla Henry, wife of St recently. Their apartment was a It’s a "book" - Louis fan Mike Henry, sud regular gathering place for fans kind of an denly passed away December who lived in The Boze. I did 19, 2001. She had been active many of the drawings for “A Dis- analog, in St Louis fandom in the past. cordian Coloring Book” while interactive [[Source: Chronicles of the quietly enjoying the good com DVD. Dawn Patrol]] pany there. They created an at New Zealand writer Cherry mosphere of friendly chaos, where Wilder died on March 14 after there was intelligent conversation an 18-month battle with can among creative people, the noise cer. of television or music, a profusion R. A. (Raphael Aloysius) of plants, people, and dog all Lafferty (1914-2002) passed gathered together in the small away March 18 after an ex space. tended illness. In later years, I’d see Scott at The passing of Norman Minicon, always doing something Patch on May I, 2001 was to make the con work a little more shared with fans at Millennium smoothly, and with something Philcon by his spouse, Terry sensible to add to discussions. I’d Patch. A memorial service was see him at Uncle Hugo’s when I’d held in Skokie, IL prior to in stop in to buy books and he’d terment in Palm Beach, FL. always have a friendly word. He 20 File 770:141 "FCILWWW OF TOE ■G" MWES FAHMSH FUMY TEST
Have Gun, Will Eat Popcorn: When I was kien to be worth nitpicking passionately. We working on my master’s degree in Popular spent a good couple of hours pouring out our Culture at Bowling Green State University compliments and complains, not without an over 25 years ago, my idea of a great job was egotistical eye peeled for what the reporter to become the next Leslie Fiedler. He was a thought worth jotting down. (She also re critic famous for mediating between academe corded.) and mass media as he interpreted the way Lynn Smith’s article appeared in the popular culture helped the public interact Times on December 22, headlined “A Semi- with the troubling issues of the day. In the Fantastic Voyage: Members of the Tolkien meantime, I engaged in those consuming and and Mythopoeic societies express feelings passionate discussions with other graduate varying from joy to frustration after seeing students in the Department of Popular Cul ‘The Lord of the Rings.’” Smith did an im ture. pressive job of extracting the spirit of our For example, Cindy Packard and I de comments from the hours of material she bated the merits of Billy Jack as we returned gathered. I was happy to see she chose not to from the nearest big city - Toledo - where it portray us as dorks, which might easily have was showing in the winter of 1975. In hind happened after Lee Speth insisted on ex sight I’m tempted to say Billy Jack only plaining Golfimbul to her, an eldritch cross dramatizes America’s peculiar belief that the between softball and kick-the-Dane’s-head nonviolent philosophy taught by Gandhi and played late nights at Mythcon. Martin Luther King ought to contain an ex The article straightforwardly summarized ception for anyone who really deserves a our reactions, mainly in our own words. For kick in the head. On the other hand, Billy example, Diana observed that in the book Jack’s struggle and spectacular failure to Shannon Riojas, Lynn Maudlin, Fellowship of the Ring there’s almost no abide by his own code were the very reason Diana Glyer and Lee Speth fighting, but in the movie the battle scenes the movie became a kind of lightning-rod for attending LOTR on opening day. are relentless. “1 needed breaks,” Diana was those trying to recover their moral bearings (Photo from LA Times) quoted. “I felt that all the way through the after the civil rights and antiwar tempests of whole film as if someone was hitting me up These old memories came rushing back to the Sixties. The film would have disappeared side the head, saying, ‘This is monumental. me in December when a reporter from the after an unprofitable initial release but for its Are you paying attention here?’ The problem LA Times gathered a group of us around a stubborn creator, Tom Laughlin, and the is, when there are really huge moments, you restaurant table moments after we’d finished movie’s cult following — one theater in Day can’t appreciate them.” The article also cap watching The Lord of the Rings: The Fellow ton showed it every week for two years. tured our annoyance with the last scene of ship of the Ring on its first day in release. When Laughlin succeeded in getting it re- the movie, so contrary to the spirit of Tol How strange to be living out a version of released, pop culture students flocked to kien. ““‘Let’s go hunt some Orc” didn’t that old fantasy, sought by the media for our study the film and the phenomenon. really cut it for me,’ Maudlin said.” opinion. The Times’ Lynn Smith Hollywood had been so enamored with wanted to do a story on local Tol the movie that we were literally the first peo kien fans’ reaction to the new movie. ple reported in the Times having anything to Smith contacted the head of the say that wasn’t effusive praise. A surprising Mythopoeic Society and was put in number of acquaintances told me they read touch with Lynn Maudlin, who gath the article. They, too, invariably started the ered Diana and I, Lee Speth, Shan conversation saying, “I liked the movie.” non Riojas (Maudlin’s son) to see Well, all of us liked the movie, but what the movie with the reporter. we’d been asked to do was speak to the issue We lined up in front of the thea of its faithfulness to the book. In any case, ter 90 minutes before showtime. We remembering my pretensions when I was at were surprised to be the first ones Bowling Green, I have to laugh at myself: there, less surprised that nobody when the moment arrived Mr. Popular Cul came in costume, though it mildly ture looked like just another literary cur disappointed the reporter. (Times mudgeon in a clever plastic disguise... change - two decades ago I did wait One Ringie-Dingie: Plenty of expensive outside a Westwood theater for the Lord of the Rings paraphernalia was mar Bakshi Lord of the Rings with a long keted with the movie. If you’ve flown re line of costumed Mythies.) cently and paged through the Skymall cata M‘A^**AA^****Mfc*-' As we debriefed at a restaurant log, you may have read the ad for an authen Bruce Pelz used these Lord of the Rings postage next door, we acknowledged Peter tic gold replica of The One Ring for only stamps to mail postcards from a cruise stop in New Jackson had made a good movie $295: “Displayed in a rich wood treasure Zealand (" Tripe Report 52.") that was sufficiently faithful to Tol March 2002 21 box, the One Ring is cast in gold and features Carl Hostetter and a the inscription below in Elvish, an ancient Berkeley record language of Middle-Earth.” store clerk named Tut tut! Gandalf said the letters are El Arden Smith. After vish, but the language is Mordor! You can promising not to never be too careful when buying collecti share the material bles. And why should I be reassured that this with others, the recreation comes with a certificate of authen Elfconners were ticity from New Line Cinema? It’s probably supposed to prepare printed with the same magical red ink Holly and publish at least wood accountants use to make the profits a portion of these disappear from their books. writings. But a full Elves at Qumran? Prior to the release of decade after the the movie, the October 2001 issue of Wired Elfconners first reported in detail about the epic verbal bat received copies tles between self-appointed protectors of from Christopher Tolkien’s “virtual world” and the makers of Tolkien, the clique The Fellowship of the Ring movie. Slammed has published only along the way were the handful of Mytho- a few early lexicons poeic Society members who have spent years in their increasingly studying Tolkien’s invented languages in irregular journals - The complete set of New Zealand's their spare time: a situation that re collectible LOTR movie stamps. “The issue is compounded by the fact that calls nothing so a tremendous amount of Tolkien’s linguistic much as the Dead material remains unpublished and in the Sea Scrolls controversy.” two) of a presentation and analysis of five hands of a fan cabal. In the early, 1990s, the Talk about exaggeration. The Dead Sea hitherto unpublished Quenya texts by J.R.R. estate made thousands of pages of Tolkien’s Scrolls had been in the hands of a select Tolkien: his translations of five Catholic notes available to a handpicked crew of lin group of full-time professional scholars 40 prayers: the Pater Noster, the Ave Maria, the guists loosely known as the Elfconners. The years before the monopoly was broken. The Gloria Patri, the Sub Tuum Praesidium, and group includes a NASA scientists named Elvish linguists have day jobs and work with the Litany of Loreto. The first three are pre Tolkien’s material in their spare time. They sented in this issue, with two more to come are fortunate to have Christopher Tolkien’s next issue. All five texts are edited by Patrick permission to access these texts, and Wired Wynne, Arden Smith, and Carl Hostetter. must be infected by the hacker mentality to believe Hostetter, Smith and the rest should give away Tolkien’s material, inviting legal action against themselves. Wired also claimed, “To make matters worse, the Elfconners have behaved as infor mal copyright police, pressuring other lin guists not to publish their dictionaries and grammars. ‘It’s against all principles of scholarship and decency for one scholar to try to use the law to prevent another scholar from publishing,’ says David Salo, who has yet to publish his 366-page analysis of Sin- darin for fear of an estate suit.” Salo’s fears have been cleverly slanted to disregard the real issue: does his manuscript include material he needs the estate’s permis sion to publish? Until he gets that permission Director Peter Jackson won a major Brit he is no more a victim of repression than ish award, but no Oscar. someone who avoids shoplifting because the store has a video surveillance camera. (How often have I heard my wife, Diana, a C. S. Lewis scholar, discuss the need to get per mission from Douglas Gresham when she quotes from the unpublished letters of his mother, Joy Davidman Lewis? This is how scholarship is properly done.) A troll on the special effects set of the Meanwhile, despite the misleading im movie Fellowship of the Ring towers above pression given in Wired, the Elvish linguists New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark. are continuing to publish their results. A In November, Clark announced a $US 1.9 new, 40-page issue of one of their journals, million program to promote New Zealand Ian McKellen as Gandalf. Vinyar Tengwar, features the first part (of alongside the movie's launch. 22 File 770:141 Marie Rengstorff’s Paradise Lost
Marie Rengstorff penned this lit toughest is called Hula. His female eral "farewell address" to explain why owner, every morning, calls, “Here, she needed to move from the island of ALL m Hula, sweetie.” Every night, his Hawaii to a condo in Maui: male owner does the same. Some AW^TlLLAp<2? AAf2 ■ MOMT££5$€>J2.. H°W times, his male owner manages to I just re-read the article, “Is Your SF catch Hula sweetie and carries him A^OUT A MIC& CASK Club Dead Yet?” I read it on-line. I home. Hula sweetie does not come needed a link with a nicer world. Last OF P-IPPL&? when called. Hula sweetie is still a night my yard had a pack of pit bulls in growing puppy who already weighs it. And, this morning, there was a dead about 85 pounds. Hula sweetie pig not 20 feet from the entrance to our does not know how to walk on a wilderness community. Ironically, our lead. community is called “Kona Paradise.” It I must run a few errands regard should have been called “Pit Bull Ha ing putting my house on the mar ven.” All the human deaths and ket. Then I must drive my car 97 maulings in this vicinity have been de miles to the dock. Soon after that I clared by the police to be “accidents.” will be back in Kihei, where a pack When I complained about one of four of pit bulls who kill children or a attacks to myself and/or my small dog, crack head who stabs his wife are the police said, “Why don’t you walk considered, by the police and by the other direction or drive your dog to a the community, as wrongful acts. place to walk?” I am going to do as they I really did not think that dogs say and more. and drug addicts could drive me I am shipping my car to my condo on from my home in the rain forest of Maui. My house here is for sale, or it the Island of Hawaii. I had lived will be [this week.] I thought I could amid dangers before. I had lived in live in this version of the wild west. the middle of two African civil Nope. Domestic dog packs and crack wars, the Wild West of the logging heads are much more dangerous than communities of the 1940s where lions or wars in Africa. I lived in Africa shoot-em-ups were as common as for 1-1/2 years and was never bothered by but tiny, condo near the beach there. I will once a month, and slept in the open of Ethio lions or soldiers, although I lived in the mid have to come back here, to the crack heads pia and Kenya with lions all round. In com dle of both. Here, in the last 1-1/2 years, our and pit bull packs, for a few days each month parison, the southern and south-eastern areas general neighborhood suffered two deaths, to clean up the jungle and the dirty floors, of the Island of Hawaii are exceedingly vio two maulings requiring extensive hospital until my house is sold. I have been here, in lent and corrupt. Those, and other back- stays and multiple surgeries, one man Pit Bull Haven, for almost 10 days now. I country areas of Hawaii, will remain so until knocked flat on his back but not seriously can hardly wait to get back to Maui, the people want it otherwise. injured, and one lady who had to have help golden sand beaches, and the people who This letter allowed me to let off steam removing a pit bull mix from his attachment walk their dogs, and who even pick up their about these 10-or-so days I returned to live in to her butt. That does not count the killing of dog shit. This gorgeous paradise jungle feels the middle of all these messes. I will return to the horse, where the rider escaped basically like a prison cell. I cannot walk farther than the life on the beach at Kihei where I will be with only a few bruises when her horse was one block or risk my life. Actually, I am not insulated, but only a bit, from these prob brought down. Nor does it count the death of really safe outside my own door. lems. I will be able to live in them enough to a large herd of rare sheep which has just been I have poison out, tablets in hamburger. observe and write about them, but not have shipped to New Guinea for breeding and then One of the pit bulls has eaten quite a bit of it. to face death daily. That level of danger be shipped back. A dog pack killed them all. It does not seem to phase him. It just saves gins to get irritating. The killing of pigs does not count, be him from having to return home for dinner. I must return to cutting back the jungle cause that is almost daily. We have many Last night, I did not have any spiked ham before it covers my fruit trees. I will miss wild pigs which are hunted by both dogs and burger out. I guess that drove the pack to go those trees. They were just getting big and people, for sport. kill a pig. They might have killed a cow as old enough to cut my food bill significantly. The above was limited to the dog-inflicted well. They had already driven one of the Sigh. And, I will miss Honaunau, where ex injuries which made it from our community local cattle out onto a sharp ledge of lava ists one of the most fantastic snorkeling loca to the Honolulu TV news. As for the crack where she could not get down by herself. She tions on this globe. Later, perhaps in a few heads, the man next door stabbed his wife called plaintively all day, but was silent by years, I will return to Honaunau, the tradi last February. The police did nothing. When morning. tional Hawaiian City of Refuge, as one of he threatened to shoot her, a few months This morning, a second neighbor put those tourists who don’t have to notice the later, they did come out and talk with him. some poison out as well. Perhaps he has a corruption and abuses. But I will notice be His wife promised to keep it from happening stronger version of poison. I will ask him for cause I have learned to see. again??? You figure that one out. some of his. So, I’m moving to Maui. 1 have a great, I am talking about family dogs. The March 2002 23
Glasgow Unopposed for 2005 can be found at www.seattleairport.hilton. As expected, Glasgow, Scotland was the only com. 2005 Worldcon bid officially filed with Con- If the Glasgow bid is selected by voters at the 2002 Worldcon, the NASFiC site will be Jose by the March 2 deadline for inclusion voted on a year later by TorCon 3 members. on the site selection ballot. UK in ’05 still One of fanhistory’s coincidences is that must win the vote, as the members of Con- the first NASFiC site selection was held at Jose could potentially reject their bid and TorCon 2, in spite of the convention commit pick an alternative site at the convention. tee’s refusal to administer the voting because However, this has never happened before. they objected to the idea of the NASFiC. The ballot is now available for download SWOC has recently won the bid for the Thirteen Is Unlucky for ConCat from the ConJose web site at http://www. running of the 2003 Westercon on July 3-6, by H. L. Drake conjose.org/wsfs/wsfs_site.html. It will be 2003. More information on SWOC can be On November 20 a version of Stephen sent to all members with Progress Report 4 found at their website www.sfnorthwest.org/ King’s It came to Tennessee and got to the in May. swoc officers of ConCat 13 three days before their convention was scheduled to begin at the 2005 NASFiC Bids UK in 2005 Forms Board Knoxville Hyatt Regency hotel. Vaporiza The Kitty Pounces Back The UK in 2005 bid has formed an Executive tion'. Board to set policy for its potential Worldcon Though defeated in their bid for a Worldcon, The hotel demanded that the committee in Glasgow. According to KIM Campbell, the resilient Charlotte in 2004 committee (excuse the expression) regurgitate $3,200 by the Executive Board will perform many of plans to bid for the 2005 NASFiC. Irv Koch the first day of the con. This, ConCat could the functions that parent corporations carry reports the group will bid for the 2005 NAS not do. Thus, 1 received a phone call from out for US Worldcons. FiC, led by a new chair. “It’s all the Direc Zig McMillan shortly before noon — the day The Board elected Campbell as its Conve tors, Tracy Kremer, Mark Blackman, and time witching hour — that the convention was nor at the first meeting in November. Other Kathleen Meyer (awaiting her acceptance) as cancelled. I recall thanking Zig, the Knox elected officers are Vincent Docherty, Treas Chair. Based on what I understood when I ville Area Science Fiction Association’s cur urer, and Colin Harris, Secretary. The Board phoned her, she’s going to get a nationwide rent Treasurer, because 1 live in Lancaster, also appointed Docherty to be Chair of the batch of BNFs or whatever for that commit Pennsylvania and the drive to Knoxville was Operational Bid Committee. going to be a long one and depending on my tee.” The Board will be responsible for incor Koch expects to resign as chair and direc mood and my derriere possibly an overnight porating a UK company as a vehicle for fi stay at a Superwhatever before arriving. tor of the bid’s nonprofit corporation, nancing the convention, approving the con SECFI. “That was due to my having only After the “Turkey weekend,” Zig an vention budget, setting initial membership signed up, when I started this deal, for one swered my questions about ConCat’s situa rates, picking the Chair of the Operational project. However, the recent crash knocked tion. The con usually draws 250 each year. Convention Committee, and considering po me out financially so I’ve got to get a full There were 50 preregistrations sent to tential Guests of Honor. KASFA and 35 rooms reserved at the hotel time job and won’t have time anymore. Probably at the IRS ...” (mine being one of them). Most of the pre Moore Realizes registrants have offered to let KASFA carry Charlotte will keep its Kitty Hawk mascot over their registration to ConCat 14 in 2002. and probably use “The Kitty Pounces Back” We’re Not Angels Each KASFA board member made calls to as its slogan. Murray Moore, Torcon 3’s Hotel and Facili people informing them about 13’s cancella ties Committee chair, is keeping his eye on tion. Seattle Enters the Lists how well local hotels handle unusual groups. According to Zig, the Knoxville Hyatt The Seattle Westercon Organizing Commit He predicts the Holiday Inn will find fans Regency has a less than pristine history with tee (SWOC) has announced its intention to much easier to serve than the 400-plus Hells KASFA; e.g., (and I’m quoting Zig) “...last bid for the anticipated 2005 NASFiC. Angels who recently gathered to celebrate year if you called the 800 line and asked for a (Glasgow’s bid for the 2005 Worldcon is the first anniversary of the Ontario chapter. room for ConCat, you were told you had to presently unopposed and WSFS rules pro Moore, tongue-in-cheek, notes that fans call between 8-4 and ask for sales!” The vide for a NASFiC to be held when the and Hells Angels have the same problem Board will consider whether to change hotels Worldcon takes place outside North Amer dealing with the media: “News people don't in 2002 at its next meeting. The KASFA web ica.) go beyond taking photographs of the most site, http://www.kasfa.org, says planning SWOC wants to hold its NASFiC at the photographic members of the group in their begins immediately for 2002. Personally, I Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel and Convention distinctive costume.” hope it’s not at the same hotel. Center from September 2-5, 2005. The bid Moore was mildly disappointed to have So much for --1 think - every con’s plan committee and the Hilton have signed a con missed the gathering: “[If I had attended] I ning committee biggest fear of all materializ tract to use the Convention Center and adja could have gotten advice from their contract ing in everyday life! We must try to keep in cent hotel. (The contract is voidable without negotiator, Mad Dog Bob. I could have mind that hotel staffers are really nothing penalty if the SWOC bid loses.) The standard learned interesting tips by asking questions more than Vogon mundanes who can be so room price has been set at $129 plus tax such as ‘What is your weapons policy?’, BEMish at times! Next year will be all right. (single to four person occupancy.) The Hil ‘Were you able to negotiate late checkout?’, Maybe. But it wouldn’t hurt for us all to ton Convention Center is located one half ‘How many Harleys have you managed to sleep with one eye open on our hotel front mile from Sea-Tac Airport, 20 minutes away park here in the lobby?’, and ‘Did the hotel, desks whenever we stop for the night or day from downtown Seattle by car. More infor anticipating a shooting, make you give them while driving down our personal byways. mation on the Hotel and Convention Center a large deposit?”’ 24 File 770:141
OryCon 23, Portland OR, November 9- Twain’s A Connecticut 11, 2001. Reprinted from Fred Patten’s Yankee in King Arthur’s APA-Lzine, iRabanos Radiactivosl, by Court and de Camp’s Lest permission. Darkness Fall, the plot of One of my panels at OryCon 23 was a man being transported on “How SF Conventions Have to the past by being struck Changed”, with the description, “What’s by lightning has been different between OryCon 3 and Ory used up; and a non s-f Con 23?” As 1 thought about it, I real reader is not interested in ized that I have a hard time telling the stories about going into OryCons apart. And that certainly goes the past by technological for OryCon 23. It was very pleasant, just means. The general public like they always are; but nothing stood is only interested in alter out. Just a couple of days afterwards, it nate history as speculative is already blending into the generic mainstream fiction if it is “OryCon memory.” about some major event Friday morning I flew to Portland on that everyone knows Alaska Airlines. Like my flight to Coni- about; that is why there Fur a couple of weeks earlier, I got to are so many “if the South L.A. International Airport a couple of had won the Civil War” hours early to find that one hour early novels outside of the s-f would have been plenty of time. I wish genre. One of the minor that all my flights were as smooth as this headaches in publishing one was: it left on time, arrived about “history developed differ ten minutes early; my suitcase was one ently” novels is coming of the first unloaded, and I reached the up with packaging (a pickup area for the hotel vans just as the cover illustration) that Doubletree Columbia River’s was stop will make the book look ping on its half-hourly round trip. I was like s-f rather than a at the hotel by 1:30, in plenty of time for straight historical novel my first panel at 4:00. misshelved in the s-f sec The con’s badges this year created a tion. Gilman made several lot of double-takes. Real Musgrave was OryCon 23 other interesting observa the Artist Guest-of-Honor, and the tions; Fiscus and I mostly badge featured one of his Pocket Drag just sat back and listened ons in color. Not the usual moss-green to her. with a pinkish belly, but yellow with red Report by Fred Patten My next panel was highlights. From further away than right after, conveniently in about a foot, it was indistinguishable the same room: “Favorite from Pikachu; giving the initial impression Genre?”, a.k.a. “An exploration into the Non-Superhero Comics,” described as that this was a Pokemon convention! OryCon trend of alternate history novels and series.” “Heroism without spandex.” This was a little this year was having trouble with the com Other panelists were James Fiscus, Laura confusing; were we (John DeCamp, Tom puters at its Registration table, resulting in a Ann Gilman (OryCon’s Editor GoH, who Galloway, and David Lohkamp) supposed to long line for at-the-door memberships from publishes lots of Alternate History), and name our favorite comics without superhe the main lobby down the hall into the first Writer GoH Melanie Rawn, drafted to fill in roes (which could include the likes of Barks’ sleeping wing. Like Anthrocon, the con for a panelist who was not at the con. Unfor Uncle Scrooge and Meyer’s Sugar & Spike), apologized for its computer glitches, but used tunately, she had to leave early to prepare for or only those with heroes who did not wear them to promote preregistering for next year her 5:00 p.m. GoH presentation. Gilman costumes or have superpowers (like Sakai’s since preregistered members’ badges and pretty well carried the panel, since as an Edi Usagi Yojimbo; or Age of Bronze, Sha- packets were available for immediate pickup. tor for Roc Books she was the only one with nower’s retelling of The Iliad)? We ended up It also guaranteed getting into the con. Sev any expertise in publishing it. She said that pretty much just naming all the comic books eral years ago I used the OryCon as an exam alternate histories were clearly growing in that we could think of that had any literary/ ple of how to keep constant track of atten- popularity, but whether they ever became a intellectual merit, which almost by definition dance/membership since each issue of its sub-genre depended upon your definition of were non-superhero; throwing in the few newsletter had the latest membership total. the term. There were two kinds of alternate worthwhile superhero titles we liked because, OryCon stopped this a couple of years ago history; time-travel stories, where someone “The characters may be superheroes but when the attendance regularly reached the goes to the past and tries to change it; and they’re not really ‘superhero comics.’”; hotel’s maximum of 1,600. Since then, Ory stories in which history developed differ Busiek’s Astro City and Moore’s Top Ten. Con has been able to count on filling its last ently. The former is science-fiction and is My list included the Foglios’ Girl Genius, few memberships with at-the-door joiners; clearly accepted as such by s-f fans. The lat McNeill’s Finder, Lash’s SupernaturalLaw, the only question is how soon after the con ter is arguably either fantasy or speculative Barr’s Desert Peach, Crilly’s Akiko, and opens on Friday will 1,600 be reached and mainstream fiction. Readers looking for Medley’s Castle Waiting. Several others that latecomers told to join earlier next year? clear-cut s-f may consider it a cheat, while I would have mentioned were named first by My 4:00 p.m. panel was “Is Alternate readers looking for genre fantasy usually others, like Smith’s Bone, Barr’s Stinz, and History Becoming a Publishing Sub consider it not fantastic enough. After DC/Vertigo’s Books of Magic and The March 2002 25
Dreaming. colonized by Islamic Black nations with not computer-literate enough to know how to I spent most of Friday evening split be White slaves. (Although it was not brought get my own e-mail on a computer besides my tween the “Artshow Artists’ Reception”, to up here, the cover of Lion's Blood illustrated own.) My final pane! was one of the con’s which all program participants were invited; Gilman’s point at my previous panel. It last at 3:00 p.m.: “How 2001 Differs from and the con-long “OryCon 23 Anime Room shows two young men, one Black and one 2001,” with John Cramer, Dan Duval, Tom Party” organized by the NOVA club to cele White, in vaguely late 19th century traveling Galloway, and Wolf Read. “Well, we haven’t brate its tenth anniversary. The Art Show clothes, and definitely looks like a Western made it to Jupiter, and we have more com was crowded and had some interesting work or a historical novel about exploring the puters. How else does the year 2001 differ (Mark Ferrari’s fantasy landscapes; Alan American frontier. It would not catch the eye from the movie 2001?” Clark’s illustrations for a children’s fantasy of any reader looking for s-f including alter Cramer, who writes a regular science-fact picture book), but was mostly of the “nothing nate history. This is part of a deliberate effort column for Analog, dominated this panel. I’d want to buy even if 1 had the money” to market the book as mainstream/Black lit Unlike Saturday’s panel on convention his category. The anime room party (an old- erature rather than as genre s-f.) tory, this one stuck rigidly to the Pocket Pro fashioned video program run by a club in a I spent an hour browsing through the gram summary. If a 2001 prediction was not member’s room, not a part of the con’s pro Dealers’ Room, then since it was a beautiful in the movie 2001, we ignored it except in gram) was proud of having a subtitled boot day outside the hotel, 1 wandered over to passing. The con was already packing up and leg video of Cowboy Bebop: Knockin ’ on explore the huge Jantzen Beach shopping being torn down by the time this panel Heaven’s Door, which was only released center that was built several years ago. I did ended. A Dead Dog Party was announced for theatrically in Japan in early September and not get any farther than the Barnes & Noble that evening, but I took the hotel’s 5:30 shut is still playing in some cities. However, the bookshop. It was no different from the tle to the airport for my flight home. video quality was so poor that I gave up Barnes & Nobles in L.A., but in L.A. I al watching it after a while. It looks good ways have too much to do to spend hours enough (with an extremely topical bioterror browsing in bookshops. This one kept me Notes in a Bottle ist plot) that I will wait until I can see a occupied until time to get back to the con for John Hertz, in Vanamonde 451, took up the sharper copy with more legible subtitles to my 2:00 p.m. panel on “How SF Conven gauntlet Evelyn Leeper implicitly threw appreciate it properly. tions Have Changed”, in the Fan Lounge. down when she reported Darrell Schweitzer Saturday started with a “free Cereal & Other official panelists were Clifton Ams- is the only person to rhyme “Cthulhu” in a Cartoons” breakfast like ConiFur had, bury, Suzanne Tompkins, Art Widner, and limerick. John replies: though OryCon’s “cartoons” were videos of Julie Zetterberg; and we welcomed someone “Hey, Abbott! I think it’s Cthulhu!” British TV s-f: Max Headroom and The Pris from the audience whose first con had been “Such blubbering never will do, Lou. oner. My first panel on Saturday, at 10:00 a. OryCon 3. We did not stick to the Pocket When we met Frankenstein m., was another on Alternate History: Program’s “What’s different between Ory The box office was fine; “Futures of the Past.” “What could have hap Con 3 and OryCon 23?” description; in fact, You knew our next would be a lulu.” pened if...” Other panelists were Steven we hardly mentioned it. With Cliff Amsbury Barnes, Dan Duval, Chris McKitterick, and and Art Widner on the panel, we covered the Wilson Tucker, the modem Paul Revere, Mike Moscoe. This concentrated on “history differences in cons from the 1930s to the sounded this clarion call to everyone in his e- developed differently” rather than attempts to ‘50s to the ‘70s to the present. Tompkins is a mail address book: change the past. The discussion revolved professional convention organizer, so she “Warning. Write your Congressman now. mostly around broad cultural differences was particularly aware of changes in s-f con Astounding discovery. Scholars have learned rather than specific changes. Individual lead organization from the just-rent-some-hall-a- that Newton and his Law are unAmerican. A ers and even nations might be different, but couple-of-months-before-the-con days up to foreign alien law rules the United States! would North American culture be vastly the late 1950s to today’s need for elaborate Alert your Congressman. British citizen Isaac changed if the American colonies had not contracts signed a year or more ahead of Newton announced Law of Gravity in 1687 become independent from Great Britain, or if time. This led to stories of some major con and forced it on the unsuspecting world. Lincoln had not elected in 1860? One exam disasters, which we continued discussing for Early Congress did nothing to stop this for ple discussed at some length was what if the about a half-hour after the panel ended even eign incursion. Rectify this foreign alien Native Americans had not been so vulnerable though there had been a separate meddling now and write your Congressman. to European diseases? A major reason for the “Disastercon” panel the previous day. Repeal the shackles of the Law of Gravity! settlement of America by Europeans was the I spent most of the rest of the afternoon in “Scholars tell us the foreigner Newton devastation of the Indians by the new dis the Dealers’ Room, and most of the evening spent his life in apple orchards, eating the eases just when they needed to defend their until after midnight in the NOVA club’s fruit of neighbors' trees. British citizens were cultures. What if the Viking attempt to estab anime video room. They were also advertis helpless and suffered his Law under the lish a colony 500 years before Columbus had ing SakuraCon, the “Pacific Northwest heavy rule of the kingdom. Not even the resulted in the spread of European diseases Anime Convention” in Seattle, which is weighty House of Lords to dared repeal it. then, so that by the time of serious European holding its 5th annual con next April. Now is the opportunity to redress a wrong. colonization in the 16th & 17th centuries, the I slept late Sunday morning and did not The Twenty-first Century has no need of an Native Americans had already gone through get up much before the noon hotel checkout alien law of gravitation. Contact your Con the plagues and rebuilt their populations with time. I was not particularly interested in any gressman today! Send this message to every disease-resistant warriors? of the programming just then, so I did some patriotic American in your address book. Barnes talked about his new novel to be thing that I have not previously done at a Don't think, do it. Urge them to forward it to published early next year, Lion‘s Blood, in con: 1 went into the Internet Cafe to read the every name in their address book. Fight to which Socrates does not commit suicide but last couple of days’ worth of Internet comic repeal this foreign alien unAmerican law of accepts exile from Athens and takes his strips on “Bestiaria.com” and “The Belfry: gravity.” philosophical teachings to Egypt, resulting in Furry Comics Online” (www.belfry.com), a world 2,000 years later in which America is instead of waiting until I got home. (I am still 26 File 770:141
My last book wrote itself and now its demanding a cut of the royalties. CON-VERSION 18 by Dale Speirs
as tourism (already done once think their lives are a mess because of a by the Russians but as a conspiracy by government or multinationals government agency) and instead of admitting personal responsibility. mining. A new motivation for believing in Another panelist, Blair conspiracies that I hadn’t heard before is that it Petterson, noted that remote is part of the innate human pattern probes needed intelligence to recognition. Under this proposal by Petterson, respond to unforeseen events. conspiracy beliefs persist for the same reason We cannot take direct control that visual pattern recognition persists in due to the long lag times for humans. False alarms (is that a tiger over there command responses, even at ready to pounce on me?) are better than false light speed, and even in our complacency (naw, that’s just a shadow, humble stellar system. Humans GROWL, CHOMP, CHOMP). Thus they will always have the ability to persist in humans even though the deal with unforeseen events evolutionary need for them may not be there better than advanced robot anymore. Calgary’s annual gencon Con-Version had its probes. Someone said that it is better to Internationa] Space Station: “Is it worth 18th edition on the weekend of August 10-12, sacrifice a robot’s life than human lives, which it?” was the question put to the panel. The 2001, in beautiful downtown Cowtown. Well, brought up the Challenger and other space consensus was that yes, it was worth doing, it was downtown anyway; like every other tragedies. The discussion then went into the and yes, it is overpriced and serves no useful large city in the world, its downtown core is details of the trouble and expense of purpose. Dr. Brooks, said the best thing about generic skyscrapers and car parks. maintaining human life in space, and the it was that it has fostered international co While waiting for the Opening Ceremonies amount of work that goes into designing a operation and provided valuable lessons on on Friday evening, 1 wandered into the Dealer spacesuit. Audience members remarked that how people behave both on the ground and in Bourse to kill a bit of time and lighten my excessive use of robots will make people lazy, space. Blair Petterson mentioned the Apollo/ wallet by buying pulps. 1 got into a at which point the panel veered off topic to Soyuz rendevous as the predecessor to the ISS. conversation with Cliff Samuels, a founder discuss the influence of automation and Canada’s share of the ISS is 3%, mostly for and a past just-about-everything of Con- television on us. the Canadarm 2 that is used to construct the Version, not to mention this year’s The Truth Is Out There: This was the space station. This is not enough for Toastmaster. 1 asked him about rumors of a conspiracy panel, which was also the last panel politicians to do any serious thinking about Calgary Worldcon or Westercon bid. He said of Friday evening and therefore allowed to run why Canuck astronauts are roaming around in that the ideas had been floated out into the longer. Advice to convention programme low orbit. Brooks said the timidity of the space ether, but while there was lots of enthusiasm, schedulers; this is not a one-hour panel, as it bureaucracy is not due to fear of another there was a lack of local volunteers who were doesn’t take much to get everybody heated up Challenger incident but rather accusations of both serious and competent, so the idea was about their favorite conspiracies. This panel wasted money by opposition parties. The left to float onward out to wherever it is that was dominated by Blair Petterson, whose day demand for accountability in spending $100 Pioneer 10 is nowadays. job is a barrister in Edmonton (200 km north million forces the creation of paper trails, so The Opening Ceremonies were brisk and of Calgary). As a consequence, he spends a lot that if the matter erupts during Question efficient as always. The Guests of Honour of time in Court of Queen’s Bench dealing Period in the House of Commons, then the were invited to come forward and briefly with the aftermath of unsuccessful CSA officials have themselves covered. mention what panels they would be on. Author conspiracies. He said you never hear about the An audience member suggested that a lunar GoH was David Drake, Science GoH was Dr. successful conspiracies. Conspiracies require colony was more important than a tin can in Bill Brooks, Media GoH was Dirk Benedict, complete trust among its members, a rare thing orbit, to which Brooks responded that we Artist GoH was Jean-Pierre Normand, and anywhere. What usually exposes most should go to Mars before we return to the Writers Workshop GoHs were Patrick and conspiracies is a disgruntled employee, ex Moon. Someone remarked that zero-G space Honna Swenson. And from there to the first spouse, or jealous neighbor or friend. stations are evolutionary dead ends, since they panel. SF novelist Leslie Gadallah was on the will be of little help in designing long-term Robots In Space: This panel carried on the panel, and noted that the only way two people space habitats such as space arks or Mars old debate of whether we should put our can be absolutely certain a secret is kept is if ships. In the present day, they are poor money into robot probes or International Tin one of them is dead. Many paranoids confuse experimental platforms due to vibrations and Cans, pardon me, International Space Stations. low-probability but actually occurring events noise. Dr. Brooks, an associate of the Canadian (such as Lee Harvey Oswald’s lucky shot) Extraterrestrial Cataclysms: Dr. William Space Agency, said that robots are essential to with conspiracy and refuse to accept that Serjeant (University of Saskatchewan) started lead the way for humans so the first explorers random events do happen. An audience off his presentation on this subject by saying know what to expect. Entrepreneurs will wait member remarked that some conspiracy that people use the term ‘mass extinction’ for robot pathfinders to go first at government theorists are in it for fun, while someone else loosely. He applies it only to where a great expense. Private industry will only take said it was just an advanced form of gossip. diversity of taxonomic groups become extinct, humans into space if the money is there, such Gadallah said that many people would rather not localized extinctions. The first real mass March 2002 27 extinction was at the end of the Permian age unstable systems. Astronomers are not just to take a non-series if it leads to bad feelings. about 250 megayears ago, when 97% of all life looking for planets per se, but planets nearby The consensus of the panel was that forms became extinct from an unknown cause, that may have life. Gas giants could have life gigantologies exist because they sell, no matter probably not an impact. Serjeant concentrated on their satellites. that a few fans might complain. on the more famous Cretaceous extinction. He Conventions Past, Present, And Future: E-Publishing: It used to be that aspiring pointed out that most of the dinosaur groups This panel started off with a discussion about small-press authors would print off chapbooks faded out at various times before the the ideal type of chairman. A dictator who runs of sample chapters of their latest novel and termination of the Cretaceous 65 megayears the show efficiently makes for a well- give them away at SF conventions. Nowadays ago, and a few persisted briefly into the remembered convention by the general it’s floppies. I have no intention of using one following Palaeocene period. The Cretaceous membership, as much as he may be detested of them in my computer but I took a sample extinction was not an abrupt termination but by the tiny clique of SMOFs and BOFs who floppy from the freebie table as a new type of an inconclusive ending. think they are true fandom. The genial collectible. The Future Of Monsters: Panelist chairman who gets on well with everyone but Meanwhile, at a panel, David Drake William Serjeant, whom we last saw speaking can’t or won’t hold the committee chairmen mentioned that he thinks too many authors are as a professor of geology in the Extraterrestrial responsible is the one who produces disasters. fretting needlessly about fiction posted on the Cataclysms panel, changed hats and identities, It was asked from the audience if there is Web, or people charging for Website access. and spoke at this panel under his pen name of any future for conventions in this Internet age. He said it was a form of road rage not worth it Anthony Swithin, with which he writes his The answer was a resounding yes, on the to get excited over. “Walk away,” he said. Life fantasy novels. The question put to the panel premise that SF conventions are the only place is too short to be consumed by anger over was “What makes a scary monster?” Swithin where geeks can socialize on equitable terms. minor things. said words suggest horror better than pictures Other benefits of conventions are a place for The Shire: Anthony Swithin made this because the former allow a reader to visualize editors and publishers to gather for deal presentation, a reconstruction of the geography his own worst fears, whereas a picture loses making, and as a place for awards such as and socioeconomics of the Lord of the Rings impact. Paula Johanson (Tesseracts editor) Hugos and Auroras. books. This included geological maps with agreed, saying that wet, messy scenes cannot The most disquieting moment of Con- fault lines and sedimentology, using Swithin’s be as monstrous as what is not seen but only Version came when a neo arrived for this experience as a professional geologist. Not implied. panel a bit late and the panelists had to not that hard to do either; many people don’t Robyn Herrington (short story writer whose only explain basic terms to him such as realize that every mountain range has its fault day job is an editor at the University of ‘Worldcon’, but also explain that most lines, and if an author mentions in passing that Calgary) said the most frightening monsters conventions emphasize literary SF. This neo a character fell off a ledge of limestone, you are those roaming typical suburbs that we can was used to the idea that an SF convention was can immediately identify the past history of relate to, the stereotypical “But he was a quiet something you paid admission to and sat back that mountain. (Limestones are marine rocks, man!” interview that neighbors give to the to watch bit-part actors do a question-and- therefore any cliff of limestone was once a news media after the serial killer is arrested. answer session. It was frightening to have to seabed subsequently uplifted by tectonic Monsters in some fantastical background such explain the concept of volunteerism to him, a movements on a geological fault.) From there, as a pseudo-medieval place or another planet typical ‘fan’ not of the future but of the Swithin went on to discuss his own books, part are competing with the background, which present. of the Rockall series. He based the geography distracts the reader from the monster. An Gigantologies: “Why do book series go on of this series on his native Shrewsbury, audience member mentioned that frightening forever?” asked moderator Tony King at the England, and his knowledge of geology. monsters are those which act with intelligence, start of this panel. He then mimicked a Guest Of Honor Speeches: The speeches not just blindly roaring about but cold and televangelist, pointing at panelists David were brief, unremarkable, and not worth calculating and out to get you. Rebecca Drake, Dave Duncan, and Ann Marston, and reporting. What struck me was that the most Bradley (fantasy novelist) said monsters of the shouted “Do these sinners repent?” The science fictional moment of the entire future will be tiny things like viruses or answer, as it turned out, was ‘No’ from all of convention occurred at the beginning of the nanotechnology, such as an airborne Ebola- them, all three of whom have SF novel series. speeches. Toastmaster Cliff Samuels asked type virus with a long latency period. Duncan said that endless serials are a time- audience members to please turn off their New Planets: Con-Version always has a honored tradition thousands of years old. cellphones. About half the audience reached strong turnout for science panels, and this Ancient bards didn’t recite entire epic poems for their pockets or purses. Go back to the first presentation by local astronomer Roland in one sitting, but told such favorites as The SF convention in the world, back in 1936 in Dechesne was no exception. He presented a Iliad and The Odyssey in installments. Leeds, England, and those attendees would colorful slide show on the 80 or so extra-solar Conversely, many epic poems were stretched have agreed that pocket-sized communicators planets currently known. Random motion of out from their shorter, original versions were real SF, right up there with aircars and gas clouds in a galaxy will always have some because the audience wanted more. lunar colonies. Now we take them so much for angular momentum, and the cloud will Drake said he found it was better for him to granted that convention runners everywhere therefore eventually flatten into a disk. The write non-series stories in between consider them as a part of the mundane world. cloud diameter is greater than our solar system installments of his series, for otherwise the Cellphones are science fiction! in most nebula. Planets are hard for labor dragged on him. Some authors want to Things To Come: Next year’s Con- astronomers to separate from the disk of the stop a series but faced with a $3 million Version will also be Canvention 22, at which parent star; spectral methods are most contract for more of the same they can’t the Prix Aurora Awards will be presented. The commonly used to do this. Only Jupiter-class refuse. He said he sets up his own series so Auroras are Canada’s equivalent of the Hugos. or greater planets are found, since the that he is comfortable with himself artistically Con-Version 20 will be on the weekend of technology does not yet exist to identify if he goes on longer than intended. Marston August 9-11,2002. smaller planets. The searches are emphasizing said it is difficult for writers to break loose, Sun-type or red dwarf stars, as there is not while Drake said to the contrary that a much point in checking pulsars or obviously successful author shouldn’t force a publisher 28 File 770:141 THREE BY W OOSTER Martin Morse Wooster Reports on Capclave, Bouchercon and Corflu
Capclave the former WSFAns who travelled great dis wife. tances for the event were Kent Bloom, Jack The most surprising tie to our fandom, Beltsville, MD Heneghan, and Elaine Normandy from Den however, is that “Tuckerization” is now en September 28-30, 2001 ver, and Avedon Carol and Rob Hansen from tering the language. I learned this because I Report by Martin Morse Wooster England. (No one 1 talked to had any prob overheard one conversation talking about lems with airlines in getting to Washington.) who this Tucker fellow was. They thought he “NO STUPID TERRORIST IS GOING TO I didn’t see many panels, but the ones 1 was an ornery fan who pestered the pros into RUIN MY CONVENTION.” The signs were attended were pretty sharp. GoH Gardner putting him in their books. I did my part by everywhere, at the first Washington, D.C. sf Dozois was an amiable guest, participating in telling them who Tucker was (and that his convention since the notorious 1997 Dis- a funny interview with Michael Swanwick mysteries are quite good.) clave. The convention even began with a that was in part a live version of their recent So what sort of convention was Boucher group discussion of the tragedies of Septem book Being Gardner Dozois. Dozois also con? Well, they’re much larger than they ber 11. Then everyone ate chocolate and felt amiably awarded the prizes for the first 50 used to be. The Bouchercon I went to in better. members to book rooms in the hotel. 1986 had 300 fans, and Bob Briney told me The terrorists did seem to have one major I also enjoyed a panel on science in sf that that a Bouchercon was like the Worldcon in influence on Capclave; the approximately featured Catherine Asaro and Charles Shef the 1950s. But Bouchercons have grown 150 attendees seemed determined to enjoy field. (Sheffield noted that his novel Brother much bigger, the 1997 one in Monterey was, themselves. Indeed, a good time was had by to Dragons not only featured a global eco with 2500 attendees, the largest. This year all. nomic collapse in 2001, but also predicted Bouchercon capped their registration at Capclave was held in the Sheraton Col that the National Mall would be a fortress 1500, although I heard there were about 200 lege Park (which, fanhistorians should note, surrounded by barbed wire!) cancellations as result of September 11, and is a different hotel than the Sheraton College If WSFA keeps Capclave focused on sf they were accepting some at-the-door regis Park that cancelled the 1998 Disclave). The and in the same hotel (Disclave’s decline was trations. organizers were determined that the conven in part due to being in five hotels in five Bouchercon also hired pros to run the tion would not be a revival of Disclave. Cap years) they will have created a con worth dealer’s room and organize the registration. clave was smaller, but had more program- savoring. They even contracted out the Anthony ming-and more sf-related programming- Awards (their version of the Hugos) to pros; than Disclaves had. Instead of a fancy pro Bouchercon 32 winners got a Waterford crystal shaped like gram book, participants were given a pam Arlington, VA the Capitol Dome. Even the “hospitality phlet. And the giant “Discave” con suites of lounge” only had hotel-supplied tea and cof 1990s Disclaves were replaced with a pretty November 1-4, 2001 fee (which was paid for by New American spartan con suite. (And there was no need to Report by Martin Morse Wooster Library.) card anyone, since Capclaves had no beer.) The pros did about as well in running a Perhaps the most important difference My father taught me many things, but one of convention as fans do, with the major excep tion of the Anthony Awards banquet, where between Disclaves and Capclaves is that them was that, when it came to popular en Capclave is trying to be a literary sf conven tertainment, there was no boundary between some tables were reserved, some were par tion, a smaller version of Readercon. Given genres. Sometimes sf hit the spot. Sometimes tially-reserved, and some were open. But the pros forgot to tell many attendees (including that WSFA has, throughout its history, a mystery would do. Sometimes you read me) about this peculiar seating scheme, lead prided itself on being a party-oriented club adventure novels. It all depended on what indifferent or even hostile to sf, I didn’t think mood you were in. ing to lots of yelling. They would have done better to have full tables reserved and some they could pull off this transformation, but So I expected I would enjoy Bouchercon they did. There was one track of program 32, the first Bouchercon I’ve been to in 15 clearly set aside for fans without connec ming, and most of the programs were about years. And for the most part I had a good tions. But the end result of having a profession- science fiction. The small dealers room actu time. But the barrier between sf and mystery ally-run “fan” convention was that it seemed ally had five book dealers, and most reported fans is much higher than it used to be. good sales. The only media-related item was I only found one other local fan, Patrick quite cold and sterile. This feeling was en hanced by the fact that most of the panelists one Buffy panel; fewer than five of the mem McGuire, who decided to go to Bouchercon. were mid-list writers who came to Boucher bers wore costumes. (Nor was there a video Far more went to the World Fantasy Conven con to sell! sell! sell! their books. Ninety room or any other media-related activity.) tion in Montreal, even though one conven percent of the fliers in the hospitality lounge The Disclaves of the 1990s were shrink tion was in another country and this one was were from authors trying to persuade you to ing and ailing; a stronger con would have a subway ride away. I found a few vestigial buy their mysteries. Some of the gimmicks survived the 1997 debacle. In contrast, most connections to sf, such as an essay in the were appreciated; I enjoyed the Reese’s pea fans treated Capclave as if it were an old program book by Len and June Moffatt about nut butter cups supplied by writer Alex Mat friend who had been in the hospital for a Anthony Boucher’s widow, Phyllis White, long time, but that everyone was happy to see who died in 2000. There were also two cou thews. Other gimmicks were dumb, such as the writer who put little cards above the uri become healthy again. The convention also ples I met where the husband read sf and served as a WSFA alumni reunion; among dutifully went along with his mystery-loving nals saying, “Who the hell is (Jane Hack).” March 2002 29
Bouchercon was very light on evening pro ed. time Tor editor (who urged the audience to gramming, but astonishingly opened the day Best Anthology/Short Story Collection: buy Donald Kingsbury’s Psychohistorical with seven sessions at 8:30 a.m. One of those Master’s Choice II, Lawrence Block, ed. Crisis, which he edited), Feder said he still was the vampire panel, featuring Laurell Ham Best Short Story: “The Problem of the Pot took part in fan activities, including running a ilton. But at that early hour, it was probably ting Shed,” Edward D. Hoch monthly fan party and running The Third only attended by the undead. And if 8:30 a.m. Best Paperback Original: Death Dances to Level, a newsgroup for fans who also like was too late for you, there were a few break a Reggae Beat, Kate Grilley trains. fasts that began at 7:00 a.m.! Best First Mystery: Death of a Red Hero Feder also read a message from Harry War But Bouchercon did get some things right. ine, Qiu Xiaolong ner, Jr., who regretted not being able to attend, Someone had hypnotic power over the pub Best Novel: A Place of Execution, Vai and added that it was a good thing that Corflu lishers; I came home with seven hardcovers, McDermid was not in Hagerstown, because the sewage three trade paperbacks, two prozines, six pa treatment plant had broken down and the wa perbacks and one limited-edition short story, Corflu Valentine ter was undrinkable! all in an attractive book bag. I thus came home Winners of the Fanzine Achievement Ac with about $175 worth of books, easily re Annapolis, Maryland tivity Awards (FAANs) for 2002: couping my $100 admission. In addition, El February 14-17, 2002 Past Presidents, Fan Writers of America lery Queen Mystery Magazine dedicated its by Martin Morse Wooster (fwa): Eve and John Harvey December issue to Bouchercon, featuring sto Best Letterhack: Lloyd Penney ries by GoHs Edward D. Hoch and Peter “I am frequently asked why I go to Corflu. Best New Fanzine Fan: Max Lovesey. (The Hoch story was set at Boucher Many UK fans don’t see why I travel 3000 Best Fan Artist: David Hicks con.) miles to attend a little convention when I Best Fan Writer: Alison Freebaim I also liked the fact that in a Thursday eve could instead travel 300 miles to attend a large Best Fanzine: Wabe Corflu 20 will be held in Madison, Wis ning ceremony for minor awards (the Barry one. and Macavity fan awards, and the Herodotus Such people are beyond saving.” consin at the Best Western InnTowner be Award for historical mysteries) they also had a tween April 25-27 2003. It will be hosted by the editors of Wabe, Jae Leslie Adams, Tracy ceremony for all Anthony Award nominees. —Ian Sorensen, Snapshot Each nominee got an attractive plaque. Benton, and Bill Bodden. Some of the panels were interesting. The I’ll confess I’m not a typical Corflu attendee. genre-busting Joe Lansdale was interviewed I’m a sercon fanzine fan, not a fannish one, Short Waves by Douglas Winter for an hour. Lansdale ex and I only went 25 miles to Corflu Valentine. Greg Benford was profiled in Science Maga plained that he decided to write in all genres in But I nonetheless had a fine time. zine’s September issue by interviewer Robert part because of a childhood spent consuming Corflu Valentine was the smallest conven Irons. The article covers Benford’s work as a large quantities of adventure fiction of all tion I’ve been to in 25 years. The attendance scientist, sf writer — and teenaged fanzine types. The youthful Lansdale was also im was somewhere between 30 and 40 (35 fen editor. It’s located online at: pressed by Gene Autry and the Phantom Em attended the banquet). About ten UK fans http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/ pire, which featured singing cowboys and crossed the Atlantic, making Corflu probably full/293/5537/1984 giant robots. Lansdale revealed that one of the the only American con with one-third of its Steven, Elaine and Robin Silver received proudest moments in his career came after a attendees from Britain. Art Widner decided to the newest addition to their family, Melanie Lone Ranger comic he wrote in which Tonto skip Corflu this year, making Ted White the Shira Silver, on August 26 at 1:06 a.m. She slugged the Lone Ranger on the first page (the only fan to attend all 19 Corflus. weighed 7 pounds, 3.4 ounces. Masked Man deserved it). But Rush Limbaugh There was a program, but a small one. A Bill Warren reminds faneditors he still has featured the comic on his television show as panel on whether fannish and sercon fanzine plenty of Bill Rotsler art available for fanedi proof of America’s moral degeneracy. fans could get along was spoiled by there be tors. He requests that the art appear in paper Also fun was a panel of mystery editors ing no sercon fen in the room (except for me). fanzines first. Contact Bill at his e-mail ad featuring three British crime editors (who ac Far better was The Booze Brothers, a very silly dress: [email protected] companied 20 British writers.) All of the edi musical by Ian Sorensen, which was sort of a Fanartist Kurt Erichsen is now scanning tors explained that they were free to reject fannish amalgam of The Blues Brothers and all his illos of the past 30+ years into his com what they pleased, but had to get approval Yes, Minister. The cast, headed by Sorensen puter. He’s finding it a mixed blessing: from committees for anything they wanted to and John Harvey as Jake and Elwood Booze, “Gaaa! The stuff I'd drawn I totally forgot buy. The editors also revealed what sorts of had a good time wearing goofy hats and fool about. A lot has been lost (nearly everything mysteries they can’t stand; one British editor ing around with inflatable guitars. Cast mem before 1978). Probably deserves to have been can’t stand American books where children bers included Moshe Feder, Frank Lunney, lost, but there are a few things I wish I still suffered because both parents worked. St. Mike Scott, and Pete Weston. Special kudos had from the old days.” Martin’s crime editor Keith Kahla was both go to Claire Briarley, in real life a senior Brit Check out his web page: ered by mysteries “where the cat talks." ish civil servant, for her portrayal of “Sir http://ourworld.compuserve.com/ All in all, I had a good time at Bouchercon. Humphrey.” homepages/KErichsen/ But I wish future Bouchercon organizers Corflu GoHs are chosen at the conven Leah Zeldes Smith, who wrote last issue would attend some sf conventions. Boucher tion, and this year the honor went to Moshe about the trip she and Dick took to Tokyo, has con would be more fun if it was once again Feder, who spent all weekend working on his posted online: more fannish. speech. Feder explained that, although he has http://www.enteract.com/~rhes/fan/ Anthony Award Winners: n’t published a genzine since Placebo 5 in japan_fans.html Best Fan Publication: Mystery News, Chris 1977, he still felt fannish. He thanked Barry They include pictures of the Nippon in Aldrich and Lynn Kaczmarek, eds. Smirnoff and Lou Stathis for introducing him 2007 bid committee. Best Non-Fiction/Critical Work: 700 Fa to fandom in the early 1970s. Though a full vorite Mysteries of the Century, Jim Huang, 30 File 770:141
ft Sheryl Birkhead ft ft Terry Jeeves ft ft Freff ft The Millennium Philcon Fan Art Display of Illos and Cover Art Published in Vanamonde, Mimosa and File 770
Mike Glyer: Noticing that fan art hadn't we’ve been privileged to run in Mimosa and a stand-alone version. These artists deserve been seen much in recent Worldcon Art File 770. John brought art he’d printed in credit. And who knows, it might appeal to Shows, John Hertz proposed to Andrea Sen- Vanamonde, and we all spent a few hours on potential new fanzine fans. chy, co-director of the show at Millennium Thursday arranging and mounting the dis Philcon, that a few panels be devoted to a play. John wrote the welcoming essay posted John Hertz: [from his introduction to the display of recent artwork in fanzines. When at the beginning of the exhibit. exhibit] Fanzines are one of the pleasures of the Art Show agreed to set aside six panels, I don’t remember seeing such a thing be the science fiction community. These ama John enlisted Nicki and Richard Lynch, and fore, so it must be news. Here we share with teur publications, by fans and for fans, print me, to bring copies of some of the great art you a miniature of it. We might even publish reviews, essays, drawings, letters of comment
■0 Brad Foster 0 ■0 Tarai 0 0 Alan White U March 2002 31
CHAT, the 4+h Fannish Ghod By teddy harvia
and tall tales, with circulation of a few dozen Guest of Honor or Fan Guest of Honor?” 1930’s and 1940’s zines were made by to a few hundred - good things in small Some fanzines are announced as “one-shots”; mimeograph, spirit duplicator (sounds like a packages. Wit and whimsy are their strong some might as well have been; some fanedi gadget in a fantasy story, doesn’t it?), hecto suit. Some rarely get around to talking about tors pour out a stream of titles; some have graph, even letterpress; today it’s largely by sf; that and many other things may be taken gone on steadily for decades. It’s a various photocopy and computer-based printing. A for granted. world. new chapter is opening with E-mail and the Science Fiction Achievement Awards A note to the editor will usually bring you Internet. Pictures were worth a thousand (“Hugos”) are given for Best Fanzine, Best a sample copy, or you may find one to words when fanartists drew on mimeo sten Fanwriter, and Best Fanartist. As with the browse at an s-f club or in the Fanzine cils with a stylus. They are still. rest of our field, the best of the winners are Lounge at a convention. Most you can get Here is a look at current fanart as pub very good indeed; so are others who don’t regularly - or however often they appear - in lished in three U.S. fanzines, File 770, Mi win, or perhaps are never nominated. Some exchange for now and then sending a letter of mosa and Vanamonde. Each circulates pro writers, illustrators and editors take part comment or an accepted contribution, or in widely. Unlike your living-room wall, these in fanzines. Teresa and Patrick Nielsen Hay agreed trade for your own zine. A few you zines are 8-1/2 by ll inch pages, so the art den of Tor Books are well known. Greg Ben can subscribe to. they print is scaled accordingly. Enjoy. ford asked Aussiecon Three, the 1999 Fanziners fuss over reproduction tech ++ John Hertz Worldcon, “Are you inviting me to be Pro niques as painters fuss over brushes. In the August 2001
0 Brad Foster 0 fl Alan White 0 ■0 Ray Capella 0 32 File 770:141
0 Joe Mayhew 0 0 Franz Miklis 0- ■O-Teddy Harvia / Sue Mason (below) 0-
■0 Alexis Gilliland 0- ■0 Steve Jefferey -0 C- Marc Schirmeister 0-
YOU M6AN/ W(U~ con^bess EvEK STOP TH^I^ MoweY AT 2
U- Ulrika O'Brien -0 ■0 Steven Fox -0 0 Diana Harlan Stein 0 ■0 Stu Shiftman 0 March 2002 33
We were expecting a more three- dimensional panel.
Bill Rotsler and Brad Foster Bill Rotsler and Steve Stiles Bill Rotsler
Richard and Nicki Lynch: "The above set of cartoons [and many more] appeared in Mimosa 20-22. As a surprise for, and in honor of Bill Rotsler, we had asked some of our fanartist friends to "collaborate" with Rotsler by "completing" five different Rotsler cartoons (each artist was sent the same five set-ups.) Here are the results, and yes, Rotsler was delighted."
Mae Strelkov (with an assist from Jeff Schalles) made the original image in color with a hectograph. Even b&w shows some of her fine gradation of color. 34 File 770:141 The F anivore
Harry Warner Jr. discreet nowadays. Your obituary of Milton I’m very sorry that I’ve been so Rothman was excellent. All I lax about responding to the might have added to it was the issues of File 770 you’ve been fact that he was one of the pio sending faithfully without com neers in fandom of the intro plaints attached. For most of spective, frank writing about this year, I’ve been suffering oneself in the early years of from poor health, old age has FAPA. He was also a very good caught up with me and left me pianist when young and at one unable to do anything as rap time, I believe, he said he had idly and as well as I once could thoughts about making a career do it, my eyes are weaker and as a concert pianist. prevent me from reading for I might have done the incon long spells without watering so ceivable and attended briefly badly vision is blurred, and I’ve the Philadelphia worldcon if I’d been in abysmal spirits. My known the past of the conven Iocs have been almost com- tion center beforehand. I think pletely confined to the small that, as an old railroader, I would b more interested in that fanzine that can be read in a giant structure than in what was few minutes and responded to happening in it. I can’t remem on a single page of typing. In mid-summer I almost pulled the ber for sure if 1 was ever in it trigger on gafiation and de while it was used for its original purpose. My first visit to Phila sisted only because of the guilt it would cause me about my delphia came around 1945 debts to fanzine fandom. Even when there was still passenger . earth trembled train service between here and a small fanzine represents an at his awesome there and I covered the launch investment of nearly a dollar power!... ing of a Navy ship named Anti for its producer and the large etam for the nearby battle for ones that arrive may cost three the local newspapers. But I or four bucks to produce and can’t recall if I went by bus or mail. If 1 can make some return on these investments in me by s train. I think the Retro Hugo fic responding somehow to the tion awards were justified in three of the four stacks of unlocced fanzines, I may feel com Wouldn’t Bob Madle’s catalogs of sci categories. But I’ve never shared the general fortable following the example of the vast ence fiction and fantasy publications for sale admiration for “The Little Black Bag.” It majority of gafiated fans. I’ve found three provide most of the information Ron Salo depends on not one but two preposterous fairly recent issues of File 770 in the stack mon is seeking? Bob’s prices are sane, com coincidences that even Dickens might have and I’ll try to say a few things about them as pared with what you might find asked at a gagged at, the fact that a physician found the a taken of my good intentions and bad be big convention. He usually has some doctor’s bag and the way its power was shut havior. fanzines in addition to paperback and hard off at just the critical moment. [[A Harry Warner loc is still the best- back professional books and prozines. The Retro fan awards seem less satisfac written part of most fanzines, this one in It seems hard to believe that September tory to me. Maybe it would be better to find cluded!]] 11 didn’t wreak havoc on at least a few fans. The most recent, your 140Ih issue, must be in some old fanzine the winners of a popular If it had come ten days earlier, the outcome ity poll conducted in this or that year and the one you remember best. I found the edi for fandom might have been much different. award them Hugos on the theory that their torial sort of neighborly if I’m right in as I can understand John Foyster’s concern contemporaries were better judges of their suming that the Great Works concept that over his electronic fanzine falling into hands occupied you this summer is an outgrowth of abilities than today’s Hugo voters. he’d rather not touch it. I used to be quite [[True, the voters in the old polls were the Great Books seminars that were devised frank about my life and Hagerstown events in undoubtedly more fit to judge the best work at a small Maryland college about a half- my FAP Azine. I stopped doing so after one century ago by a former resident of of their day. Current major league baseball member offered for sale a large collection of players are probably more insightful about Hagerstown. For a time, even small towns it and then I learned that the fan who was who belongs on the annual All-Star team. had their own Great Books organizations, doing the mimeographing for me was run The exchange of precision for popularity in meeting regularly to discuss the volumes ning off extra copies and selling them for his opening the All-Star voting to the public or included in Dr. Funk’s invention. own benefit at conventions. I’m much more the Retro Hugo voting to current fans is March 2002 35 made in hopes of interesting many more peo took me awhile to turn off into a side street rural Pennsylvania was skipped over tempo ple in the subject matter than might be other before they did so. The general public seems rarily. wise.]] unable to understand why the fast and long I also thought something hit close to chases occur in the open country. One lady Greg Benford home in the 139lh issue, the squib about the wrote to the newspapers and asked why the high-priced license dealers at the worldcon police car doesn’t just drive at a safe speed This was a very good issue, crowned by your were forced to pay the state or rather Com and keep going until the quarry runs out of conreport. You have a good eye for detail. I monwealth of Pennsylvania. I believe this is gas. laughed out loud when you described people the very same extortion from temporary deal I noticed [in #138] that the HarrySF not signing up to be on the Worldbuilding ers that ruined a big outdoor flea market that club’s time capsule predictions didn’t in 101 panel after noting that I and Hal Clement 1 used to love. Twice each summer, a town clude the cellular telephone phenomenon. and Yoji Kondo were on it - surely we’re ten miles away over the Mason-Dixon line in For that matter, did any published science not that formidable?! In fact that continuing Pennsylvania had this event, which ran for fiction story or amateur magazine ever put line of items, four I think, led to a well de five or six blocks along the main street and into print a prediction that by 2001 practi signed world suitable for immediate occu attracted mobs of vendors and customers cally everyone would be addicted to the pancy by sf writers. Paul McAuley and I, on from Maryland. Then the event was ordered things? I’ve read some complaints about peo the last come-to-Jesus panel, discussed writ to collect license fees from out-of-state deal ple who even chat on them while standing in ing stories on the world ourselves; it was that ers. Almost all of those from Maryland re supermarket checkout lines. The local public tempting. belled and stopped attending, the shrinkage school system has been sharply criticized for Overall I thought the con programming in the offerings caused crowds to dwindle threatening to ban cellular phones from was first class, with far more than I could get rapidly, and I no longer wallow in its delights classrooms. The AM radio stations con to. Alas, Milt Rothman’s absence meant I because there aren’t enough offerings to jus stantly issue public service warnings about never met him, in all the years we’d been tify the round trip. the dangers of using the things while driving, going to the same cons; and now he’s gone. I certainly wouldn’t qualify for that job then invite people on the road to call in to Congratulations on the Hugo. It was a with the SCI FI Channel for many reasons, their talk shows. wide-ranging ballot this year. Challenger is but I hope whoever is chosen for the post I felt uncomfortable while reading most of surely in line; latest #15 just received is very tries to persuade the management to vary its the Donald Anthony Reed tributes and obitu good. Some are mentioning the Rotsler endless succession of old movies and televi aries. It seems unfair to wait until a person is Masques Bill Warren has been sending out as sion series with an occasional personality dead and can’t respond before publishing in potential nominees. That would be striking — piece about famous creators of science fic great detail the deceased’s apparent failures posthumous recognition! I’d support it. tion, perhaps a few readings from their own and quirks. It’s a small scale of the Mommy works by the most famous authors, and other Dearest allegations in book form. features. A&E has found its biographies to I believe Rick Sneary had a change of CHip Hitchcock be the providers of its highest ratings in re heart sometime before his death and an cent years. Both AMC and TCM have done nounced he wasn’t interested any more in the So — how many people have written to point out the connection between “Millennium brief features about famous movies and cele South Gate Again in 2010. brated actors without apparent damage to Nobody in fandom ever approached Bill Philcon” (a name Davey suggested long be their ratings. Why shouldn’t this sort of thing Danner’s achievement for invisibility. As far fore the Philly bid got started) and The Kes sel Run? It’s not that obscure a pun.... also succeed on a channel that is supposed to as I know, only one fan saw him in person And you may have missed the best part of be involved with science fiction? during his decades-long fanzine publishing the editorial brawl; after various people dis Francis Hamit’s article on copyright and and letter writing. Bill even had an unpub played buttons saying “Bring me the head of related matters was the most interesting item lished zip code for awhile. There was a goof Mike Nelson,” he showed up at teardown in this issue to me. However, I’m not quite in assignment of zip codes and his part of wearing a tasteful duct-tape choker. sure if it reassured me about a matter that has Geese can be very demanding; some fol been a worry. The copyright page of the lowed us most of the way around Oslo castle hardcover edition of A Wealth of Fable failed after ConFiction. But those weren’t a patch to credit me as copyright holder. I still have a on what we found at Loring Park, one of the vague hope that someday I might get this Minneapolis locations featured in War for book as I wrote it into print or onto a CD or the Oaks\ when we got back to the conven some other placed and I’ve been worry that tion we complained to Emma Bull that her this lack of credit in the most recent edition book didn’t warn about the not-so-wildlife, might disqualify me from doing with my to which answered that all the squirrels in manuscript as I wish. Loring Park wear black leather jackets. (It I believe John Hertz is the only person in was the only way they could compete with fandom who can’t be accused of too much the geese.) wordiness from time to time. His prose reads I suppose I shouldn’t be baffled by people as if he had spent hours over every paragraph who insist that the Hugos must be for science so each word contributes something neces fiction; this has never been true, and was sary to his narrative. Once I found myself in formally denied twenty years ago (after fias- the middle of a police-fugitive car chase. coes with Lin Carter and the Gandalfs), but Fortunately, it wasn’t a high-speed event even the most notable old work isn’t much because it occurred in the middle of read today. The earliest collection of Hugo Hagerstown where traffic was too heavy for winners includes Bloch’s “That Hell-bound cheap thrills. Pursued and pursuer kept cir Train” (1959), which is certainly fantasy; one cling around the downtown blocks and it 36 File 770:141 can argue that there haven’t been that many brand name and the give-aways have to stop. winners because until recently more of pub My freelance career has advanced to the lished SF has been science fiction rather than point to where I am listed in both “Who’s fantasy. (For a long while fantasy didn’t sell Who in America” and “Who’s Who in the to science fiction readers; Unknown couldn’t PDFSLP- World.” I have been writing and publishing get enough interest to outrun the World War articles since 1969. II paper shortage, and The Magazine of Fan The copyright law passed by Congress in tasy had to have “and Science Fiction” added 1976 was an effort to level the playing field shortly after it was founded.) But there have between publishers and creators. Mary Beth been some scattered about; even if you dis Peters, the current Register of Copyrights, count “Gonna Roll the Bones,” by 1971 Lei has said as much in testimony before Con ber had become the first person to win Hugos gress. Copyright became not a single right, for both hard SF (The Wanderer) and out but a bundle of rights which could be sold in right fantasy (“Ill-Met in Lankhmar”). any way the parties might devise. The copy (Anderson had several by that time, but if I right on a “collective work”, while sheltering recall the titles correctly they were all for that of individual contributors, only applies epic or mythic science fiction, often borrow to the selection, arrangement and display of ing ideas from fantasy.) the work in the original issue and revisions thereof (mostly this applies to later editions Noreen Shaw of the daily newspapers or contributions to o encyclopedias and the like). When File 770 arrives I often check eagerly Most publishers tried to apply the concept for my name in the letter column. It’s never of revision to electronic databases, CD-ROM there. I think the reason is, I never write that FLYING 5AUCGR _ editions, websites and other “new media.” In letter that’s in my head. LAUNCHING PLA'XKW “Tasini”, the Supreme Court clearly refuted Issue #140 has aroused the beast to slouch this notion, because in a database or website at last toward Monrovia. any article can be accessed individually and The Hugo to Harry Potter is an outrage directly. The rest of the “collective work” is and should serve as yet another warning to not viewed, and therefore those rights cannot the field. Science fiction fought for every be placed under that rather leaky umbrella. thing it has. Many people gave countless Philcon daily newsletter. 1 was ready to send Returning to the real estate law analogy hours and money over the years to further the him a couple of cute alien fillos only when used earlier, it’s a bit like renting your house cause. Harry Potter may be the best book of he challenged me with broad swaths of white to someone and them finding a chest of gold the decade, but it has no place receiving the space to fill. How could I not do my very in the back yard. They might have dug it up, Hugo, especially by such a large margin. best? Fan editors have great power to inspire but it belongs to you. It reaffirms my belief that sf cons have creativity. Just ask. Let me make two points here: I have, on degenerated into media/pop culture cons that But you have published a fan artist who occasion, signed contracts giving publishers are divorced from sf. doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves. additional rights because the fee for the arti Interestingly, the fact of this award makes Kurt Erichsen’s cartoons are perceptive and cle has been sufficient, in my opinion, to me more aware that for many of us, the grail funny and fannish. And he can draw! compensate me for the additional uses. In of acceptance of sf was in the fun of seeking. I agree that Ted White should continue most instances, however, publishers, working What we are left with is a grail of base metal. writing his fanzine reviews. They are enthu on the theory now denied by the Supreme On another note, I was delighted to read siastic and intelligent. In the long run they Court, simply took these additional rights of Tim Kyger’s quest for the Pluto mission. will surely attract the same things in new without informing me that they were doing I’d appreciate his e-mail address so I can fans. But good things do take time. Give it so, without disclosing that they had been sold help with letters. time. to third parties, and profited at my expense. I I often thought I was the only Pluto fan have some evidence that these payments on earth, but lately I find I was wrong. Since Francis Hamit from third parties to them, for rights that they I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by him - did not contract for and did not own, ex way out there, all alone, swinging wildly in Letters of Comment: Issue #140 Copyright ceeded the original fees I was paid for writ his orbit. He is a planet and I hope the fund 2001 by Francis Hamit, All Rights Reserved. ing the articles. ing succeeds. Cancel a shuttle mission and Re: Martin Morse Wooster: Mr. I have been very prolific in recent years, Let’s Go Pluto. Wooster has a point. When you are first start simply in the cause of making a living. Since ing out as a freelancer, it is more important to joining the National Writer’s Union and Teddy Harvia be known than to be paid. I’ve taught semi gaining access to their “Member’s only” da nars on freelancing, and have always empha tabase on rates paid to other members, I’ve found that I’ve been miserably underpaid Unlike Robert Lichtman and Zimon Ounsley, sized the value of clips as a means of getting more work. My practice is to send photocop most of my career. Okay, that’s on me. I when I was a fan editor, I did not anglize and agreed to the rates and did the work. I did not Americanize letters from opposite sides of ies by snail mail rather than make an editor search for my work online. They’re more agree to sell these other rights, which have a the Atlantic. The different spelling did not proven value in the marketplace and which, make them unreadable and retained a feel of likely to read them. However, when one has written and pub by law, are still mine. alien origins of the original. The effort to seek redress is not career Mike Nelson deserves much credit for the lished hundreds of articles in a wide variety of magazines, one becomes something of a enhancing. I took 2001 off to write a novel cartoon strips I created for the Millennium and now am, in effect, starting over with new March 2002 37 editors at publications I have not written for ing out how to write HTML to get up my family and fans very well. Are all of Tucker’s before. I’m also trying to work at a different web site. It’s one of those wonderful things family insane in the way of fans? level and in a different style. 1 expect I will that is totally obvious and easy, once you The snippets of news emphasizes to me be signing a lot more contracts in the future. have gotten past the very first hurdle, which how much science fiction and fandom have Most writers are lousy business people, only took me about two years to do. But fractured in the years since I was more ac don’t know the law, and accept, far too eas then, I am not the fastest egg in the basket, or tive. Filkers used to be fans who showed up ily, what they are told by editors and publish some such mixed metaphor. with a guitar, to the ire of we who wanted to ers. This is a recipe for remaining poor. Also got a handle on how to scan images talk. Now it’s a separate group. And on and As for the book, 1 could self-publish. for the web after a friend came over last night on. Print-on-demand was considered, but I ulti and sat down for about one hour to run Hamit’s article on copyrights would be mately rejected the idea because I couldn’t things through for me, stuff that hundreds of very useful, if I did more writing to sell. My make a good business case when the primary pages of manuals and notes and e-mails from writing is salaried, which makes it easier: market could print out their own selection of folks never did help. Best way to learn is to everything belongs to the company. material for free on three-hole paper and put have someone do it, and take good notes More and more, I see obituaries of people it in a binder. I’ve done this myself with pub about it! Hopefully in another month or two I used to know, and distressingly, obituaries lic domain Civil War-era texts online that I I’ll be able to send out notices that the site is of people my age. I remember Poul Anderson am using for research for my novel. Printing up, and then wait for all the e-mails telling fondly from Berkeley; used to see Hamess them out makes for easier reading and allows me how disappointing it is after such a long often in LA. It’s sadder that I hadn’t seen side-by-side comparisons. wait! these people since I left Berkeley, 40 years For those wanting further information I ago. refer you to the Copyright Office website, E. Michael Blake Canadians generally deplore police especially Chapter 1600 of the Copyright chases, and the police are roasted when a Office Regulations, which specifies the writ I appreciated your comprehensive report of bystander is killed. I’m glad it isn’t on TV. ten form for copyright transfers, and the Su MilPhil in File 770:140.1 found myself nod But Green may be too hasty in condemning preme Court website for the text of the Tasini ding as 1 read and thinking, yeah, sure announcers; they have a difficult job, to fill decision. Further commentaries can be found sounds like a Worldcon. (1 didn’t attend. several hours with non-silence. on Gigalaw and Metalaw. Happy hunting. Pretty much picked up a lifetime body bur News fanzines, since Fanac, seem to be den of Worldcons in the ‘70s and ‘80s, when prominent enough to get Hugos. Hoping you Brad W. Foster they were also somewhat affordable. Now, a are the same. Chicon every nine years in my backyard is Enjoyed reading the articles, the news, the enough.) I must admit to a dyslexic reaction Tom Feller photos, the art (cool to suddenly see more whenever I saw your perfectly valid use of work from Julia Morgan-Scott showing up in the word “trainshed,” referring to what used My thinking is that one reason the Harry Pot fanzines I’ve been getting recently!), the to be a shed for railroad trains, and is now a ter book won the Hugo was that it may have Worldcon report (I thought, while the obser convention center. My eyes insisted on its been the only nominated novel that a major vation of the corridor with it’s alcoves being anagram “tarnished,” which is so close that ity of Worldcon attendees actually read. I did analogous to a Tom and Jerry chase back two hunt-and-peck errors can make them not rank it number one, but I did vote it ground was fun, I’d like to add that the actual interchangeable. ahead of No Award. photo subjects that were on display there Some folks might say that the report was I had thought my personal website was were quite striking, and I spent some time n’t really comprehensive, since it didn’t in fairly private, because I have made no at studying and enjoying a number of them, clude the WSFS business meeting. I, how tempt to publicize it outside of friends and definitely some of the more interesting public ever, consider that omission an act of mercy. family and have never registered with any of art I’ve seen in years), (and like Teddy, I too Still, my unwillingness to pay attention to the search engines. However, when my com have got several hundred unpublished toons such things has left me ignorant about site pany was letting out bids for our insurance languishing out there over the years. But selection these days. If Los Angeles and business, we put out my name as one of the then, you never know when someone will get Kansas City are both running for 2006, does principal contacts. An employee of one of their next ish out “real soon now”, so you cut this mean that the old three-zone arrange those companies did a web search on me and them so slack for a decade or two....), and the ment for U.S. bids no longer exists? found my site. It’s a good thing I’ve been Iocs (note to E.B. Frohvet, The Texas SF [[A "no-zone" system was introduced a fairly discreet about issues at work! As it Inquirer wasn’t a one-shot, but an ongoing couple of years ago. In oversimplified terms, turned out, he is an enthusiastic reader of zine published for many years before and it allows any site to bid for any year, as long Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other after it won in ‘88).... as it is not within 500 miles of the Worldcon fantasy books, so we already had something [In #7397Appreciated Steven Silver’s administering the site selection vote for the in common when he called to discuss insur finding someone had selected his name to year being bid.]] ance issues. use as a pseudonym. I’ve used the name “Mark Simmons” off and on for years when I Jim Caughran Edward McArdle was required to come up with a “fake” name, and even named a character in one of my The attitude of John Libbey & Co toward I have been reading File 770 (courtesy of the stories that. Then several years ago 1 ran Canada is one that Canada tries to fight, Melbourne Science Fiction Club library), and across a “real” Mark Simmons at a Midwest without much success. Those of us who was struck by the fact that you didn’t under convention. Fortunately, he was more choose to live here rather than there know stand why the newsletter for the Millennium amused than anything by the coincidence. Canada is a gentler, nicer place. That’s the Philcon was a Star Wars reference! Millen Oh, and have made some major break unspectacular Canadian culture. nium Philcon is a (very clever) Star Wars throughs in just the past two weeks on figur Tucker’s tribute seems to have mixed reference! Han Solo took the Millennium 38 File 770:141
Falcon on the Kessel Run. have a problem with a fantasy fdm winning I hope to see you at San Jose. I was going Joseph T. Major the Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo: they to do a big tour, beginning with the Comicon have been universally applauded for doing in San Diego, then a four-week national Editorial Notes: Oh, ick, a fantastic work so.]] parks tour of Australians from and to Seattle, actually gets accepted by the general public! I understand that J.K. Rowling didn’t finishing in San Jose, but at the moment I am The horror, the horror! Far better that SF&F even know she was up for an award - the the only starter on the tour, so it won’t go languish in the back alleys of card shops, a committee was unable to communicate it to ahead unless a number of people appear out tiny, scorned group despised by all, with its her - and still may not know she has received of the woodwork. adherent collecting in shabby ballrooms and one (cf. The Orwell Estate finally getting the I am something of a poor mixer, but I was basements. Some Fans can’t seem to get out [Retro] Hugo for 1984] interested to note that I actually know some of the 1930’s mentality. The Fanivore: To “E.B. ‘Where Have All of the people you mention. 1 meet Andy Dyer What we saw of Crouching Tiger (all the Book Reviewers Gone? (Long Time each year, and a group from the Mensa get- right, the clip at the Hugo Awards) did not Passing)’ Frohvet”: What am I, whipped together that usually occurs. I have a web impress us (Lisa and me.) That woman would cream? page with a crostic puzzle, which has a lot of have dropped dead of exhaustion towards the traffic, but the only one 1 know by name who end of that fight and from what people say Joy V. Smith does the puzzle is Todd Dashoff, because he the whole movie was at that pace. sent me an email about it once. Robin John Ben Frankly Speaking: The name badge That is a great cover! Wonderful idea and son I know, because I went on his Thylacon problem was not just the type size, which as execution. (I remember Rip Off Press, btw. I 3 tour of Tasmania after Aussiecon. has been said over and over again is inade might have some of their comics...) I liked I’m sorry to hear the contestant missed quate. (It could be argued that this is proof Tarai’s back cover also. What’s happening? out on his 500,000 lire, or 50f/, but I was that no one in con running reads fanzines.) What a fantastic opportunity to stay at wondering how they would be able to pay [[Probably because the type is too small...]] Yosemite and learn and have a good time. 64,000 lire. Perhaps they would pay to the The badges flipped around with ridiculous I passed the moon flag contest info on, nearest cent? Or round it up to 7^. ease. Then there was the cute trick of only and posters on the AOL SF Authors: Robert I am interested to see so many people re having a first name on the badge - makes me Heinlein folder suggested the flag from The gard Lord of the Rings as a shoo-in for a long for the good old days of Stanley Be Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. Re: fanzine news, Hugo. I thought Harry Potter was a much neath the Earth. I hope R. Graeme Cameron is able to con better film for a number of reasons, one be Guy Lillian made the comment about pa tinue with Space Cadet. (I remember it ing that it came to an end. (Although many per fanzines because someone in the audi fondly.) His Canadian Fancyclopedia project people not including me think The Birds was ence announced that his ISP had given him sounds like a great idea. Interesting piece on a great movie.) A number of people I have 50 megs of space and he wanted to start a keeping a fanzine private by using passwords spoken to, who are not Tolkien fans, thought fanzine there. Shortly after the response, he online. the film was boring! I went with my sisters, left. On the other hand, after sliding through So, Jedi Knight is on the list of official who sat shocked at the end, saying, “Where’s twenty or so webfanzines that did not get religions for the 2001 UK census. For some the rest of it?” beyond issue three I can see the opposite reason, that gives me a warm and fuzzy feel My own report on the con is still up at point. ing. http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mcardle/ I could say some things about Alexander I enjoyed your Millennium Philcon report Millenium_Philcon.html Wolcott but I won’t. Well, one, he once said and the photos. What a great place to have a (I shouldn’t use capitals in a name!) he wanted to have a child by Harpo Marx. convention! Thanks for all the panel, mas I though the convention was very good. Two corrections about the Heinlein Soci querade, art show winners, etc. info. It was My only small criticism was that I thought ety Dinner: I was the one who told Joe and interesting seeing Mike Conrad, Ed Cox, and the newsletter, Kessel Run, was a bit serious. Gay the story about “Straight Haldeman” - Ron Walotsky’s art listed. (I remember them More levity was required. and I lived! Also among those present were from Oasis 14, which was held in Orlando at Fred Pohl and Elizabeth Ann Hull. the end of May. Sorry for not mentioning Henry Welch “[He] mentioned an interest in fanzines that in my con report, Mr. Kaufman.) like Rocket’s Blast and The Comic Collec Speaking of Iocs, I loved the loc at the Your retreat sounds wonderful. 1 don’t think tor.” Isn’t that one fanzine, Rocket's Blast door cartoon, also the other illos and car I’d get into the literature much, but the rest Comics Collector? Or was that a merger of toons, especially the detailed and fun one on of it is very appealing. two comiczines? [[I checked online and page 4 by Alan White. I completely disagree with the 24-pt. type found references to it being a single publica amendment to the WSFS constitution. While tion, so I don’t know whether that resulted Lew Wolkoff I think that it is a good idea, the purpose of a from a merger after 1970 when Bob Gale constitution is not to micro-manage. mentioned it to me, or I made a mistake in I’d like to make one correction to your report The discussion of free-lance copyright has assuming he meant two different zines.]] on the Opening Ceremonies at the Millen also begun to appear in the technical jour Given the reaction to Harry Potter and nium Philcon. nals. The IEEE maintains that any papers the Goblet of Fire winning, what will the The “beautiful redhead” you mentioned is submitted to one of its journals must be Finest and the Fannishist do if Harry Potter Bridget Boyle, who was on stage with me signed over completely. They say this is nec and the Sorcerer "s [sic] Stone wins the Best from the start of the ceremonies. essary to simplify reprinting, etc. It is cer Dramatic Presentation Hugo next year? Bridget was the original head of the De tainly something that goes into the electronic [[Complain that Buffy the Vampire Slayer partment of Opening and Closing Ceremo library. On top of this you have to pay a page lost? Seriously, those who were annoyed nies, and she kindly invited me to be co-head fee rather than receive payment for each arti had a problem with a fantasy novel winning with her on the “two heads are better” theory. cle. a Best Novel Hugo, whereas nobody seems to She did easily as much work on the Cere- March 2002 39 monies as I did, and I’d appreciate it if you People at the VA didn’t say much. Some reaching by those in authority. It got curbed could mention her name to File 770's many of the civilians who work there asked what it pretty quick as people remembered the ideals readers. all meant, to which the veterans replied: “It behind the flags we’ve been waving so vigor means war.” ously. Mary Kay Kare A neighbor of mine, who was bom in Watching television on September 11 th Spain, had a hard time with the concept. Ter and having some familiarity with fire codes, I had a very odd reaction to the worldcon rorist events happen in Europe all the time, office building layouts and similar mundane report. One usually reads them after some but on a smaller scale. It’s usually a police and boring topics, I was not surprised when time has passed of course, but I don’t believe matter. As 1 recall, I said something to the the towers went down. It was an obvious part I’ve ever felt quite as disconnected from the effect that the U.S. military had brigades of of the plan. It was, in fact, the terrorist objec report of a con I attended as I did for this special operations troops who had been wait tive when they bombed the building in 1993. one. Of course, and entire era has passed ing for years to be let off the leash to go after I’ve worked such posts and written secu since then... these people. I also cited D.H. Lawrence’s rity post orders for such buildings, although It always seemed obvious to me that Mil comment that, “The American character is never on such a grand scale as the WTC. It lennium Philcon sounded enough like Mil hard, stoic, isolate -- and a killer.” wasn’t rocket science. Given the melting lennium Falcon to make Han Solo jokes in It’s an odd kind of war because, day-to- point of structural steel and the temperature evitable, thus Kessel Run. day, not that much has changed. We’re fi of burning jet fuel, it was simply a matter of Your report of Art Show awards perpetu nally doing airport security the way it should time. ates a mistake made by the aforementioned have been done years ago. (I first wrote I thought about the security guards. It’s a Kessel Run. Or somebody in the Art Show. about this in 1990. The article was never humble, no-respect position, not well-paid. The pieces “Rowan Lady” and “Green Man” published because none of the editors con More than five thousand people died there, were done by Sue Mason, not Sue Manor. I tacted thought the issue was an important but more than five times as many got out — spent quite a while looking at her display... one.) I’ve done the reading on this, having because the guards got them out. Many of [[I copied my list from the MilPhil web page, spent some time writing a novel, not yet pub them died there, because that was the job. which makes it “official, " right? Won't Sue lished, about a terrorist attack on a nuclear My last ASIS (American Society for Indus will need a vote of the Business Meeting to power plant. (This is not the novel I am cur trial Security) newsletter told of six members get her old name back?]] rently working on.) I’ve read the seminal who died at WTC. ASIS is a manager’s work of Brian Jenkins of RAND Corpora group and these guys were high-paid execu tion, which defines terrorism as a form of tives. Some got out, and went back in to get Francis Hamit theatre, and as warfare by the weak upon the more people out. It’s no less heroic than the strong. I attended the ASIS Government/ firefighters and police, but hasn’t gotten Letters of Comment: Issue #140 Copyright Industry Conference on Terrorism in Wash much notice. 2001 by Francis Hamit, All Rights Reserved. ington, DC in 1990. I’ve even read John Paul The cover story in the December 19 issue RE: Ed Green and 9/11: I was waiting at Sartre’s defense of terrorist acts (“Every man of USA Today reveals that the actual death out local VA clinic for an upper GI exam has his reasons,” he said.) toll at WTC was lower than first assumed: when Leigh Strother-Vien, my roommate, I wondered if President Bush would rise 2,826 people died there. That included 479 came over and told me that an airliner had to the occasion, and he did, with fewer stum “First responders” (Police and firemen). This just hit the World Trade Center. We just bles than anyone expected. I didn’t looked at each other. We knew what it was. vote for him and don’t much care Between 1993 and 2000 I wrote a column for for his politics, but that all gets put Security Technology & Design magazine. I aside. It’s war. He’s the President. had been writing about lousy airport security, End of story. IM# W terrorism, and the like during much of that So far, it’s gone better than we time, and she had edited all of those columns had any right to expect. We’ve before they were sent in. I’m also sometimes responded with considerable sym a consultant on security matters, having been bolism of our own, and no one involved in that industry as a “day job” since should discount the power of that. my salad days as a guard captain in the Chi I’ve never seen this nation so cago suburbs in 1977. (This was, inciden united. tally, how I discovered Fandom. I was work The radical left and the liber ing hotel security when they had a Windy- tarians have found themselves un Con there.) expectedly sharing the common of In the waiting area, they had one televi ground of stunning irrelevance to sion tuned to CBS and the other to NBC. So current events. It’s hard to work we saw the second plane hit the second for peace at any price when we are tower. Later that day, they ran some home the ones attacked. We did not seek video of the event, apologizing for the sound this war. It was imposed upon us. track’s inappropriate language. Some It’s equally hard to selfishly argue woman in the background, in great distress, for limited government, when only kept shouting over and over, “Jesus Fucking government can plan and execute Christ!” Actually I thought it was highly ap the actions needed to win. propriate. What else could you say when I am impressed with how much confronted by such a bonifying event than we’ve avoided past mistakes that something which invoked both the profane would undermine our Constitu and the sacred? tion. There has been some over 40 File 770:141 article, by reporter Dennis Cauhon, is an ex high school lived there. Orillia is the home of in someone we never suspected. I hope she’ll cellent example of what my old professor, Gordon Lightfoot and Stephen Leacock. Di come to more, and I did wonder if the filkers Leslie Moeller, called “Precision Journal ana might get a kick to know that I grew up might invite her to a convention or two. ism.” Statistical analysis was used to get an in Leacock’s Mariposa. (I think Julie Czem- Fandom has always been fragmented, but exact count and location of all the victims. eda lives near my Bass Lake...) the fragmentation along interests has been It’s a damn fine piece of reporting for which I certainly didn’t vote for the Harry Potter around since the 60s, around the time of Star I hope he gets a Pulitzer. book that won the Hugo. We were rooting Trek, and it’s probably part of the cause, too. Here is the most important fact. Almost for either Rob Sawyer or Nalo Hopkinson to We’ve always tried to cement those frag everyone on the lower floors, below where take home the rocket, but not to be. I haven’t ments by working with the other groups in the airliners went in, lived. Everyone trapped read any of the Potter books, even though I town. We’ve worked with the Trekfans, the above died. The reasons behind this are sim recently saw and enjoyed the movie. I sup Whofans, the anime fans and the filkers in ple. After the WTC was truck-bombed in port Joanne Rowling in her move to get chil helping to stage their conventions, and while 1993, the security was overhauled and people dren reading through her books, but I just we don’t share their interests, we know why began to take the matter seriously. Evacua wouldn’t give it the Hugo. I also didn’t vote they have those interests. We’ve attracted a tions were rehearsed on a regular basis. That for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for Best few people to our own literary interests, and I and the fact that the stairwells are wider than Dramatic Presentation. I am not a Nippon- would like to think we’re not as fragmented normal in an office building meant that al phile the way a lot of fandom is; I didn’t see as we used to be. most everyone who could get out did. Most the movie, but from the trailers I saw, all the Take this as you will, but Yvonne and I of those who died on the lower floors were long speeches, guy-wire flying and quick have resigned from the Ad Astra committee. first responders and as Cauchon writes “H3 motion fighting made it look like live-action We both first joined it in 1982...that’s where others, from low-paid security guards to anime. Definitely not my cup of tea, green or you and we first met, Mike. I was all set to white collar workers at the Port Authority of otherwise. go back to doing the dealers’ room when the New York and New Jersey, the building’s John Foyster’s recover seems to be well co-chairs decided on a little dirty politics...! owner, stood their ground with firefighters on the way...I received the newest eFNAC won’t go into detail, but we both resigned to and cops.” from him last night. Didn’t get to read it, end 20-year careers with Ad Astra. Mine was As one of the characters in the film Black because the file was corrupted, or my version continuous, Yvonne’s had a two or three- hawk Down says, “No one sets out to be a of Acrobat Reader couldn’t read the .pdf file year gap in the middle. I ran the dealers’ hero. Some days it just happens.” he sent, but at least John is zining again. room for 11 straight years, and I chaired the Our response in Afghanistan probably September 11 will affect many of us for a con for two. Yvonne was the pre-registration won’t make us loved in that part of the long time to come. Yvonne works for a com chief and treasurer for seven or eight years. world. More like the opposite. It will make pany called Optech, a satellite imaging and The rest of those years were spent doing us respected. It won’t keep others from trying radar sighting company. Optech was called small things like flyer distribution and mar their own variations on WTC, and the world upon to scan-image Ground Zero to see what keting, and for Yvonne, making those won will be a different, less careless place from was underneath the mountain of rubble be derful tacky shirts for the committee. We now on. Certainly, the security profession fore heavy equipment was brought in to ex regret having to leave the convention, but will finally get the respect it deserves. cavate it. They also did a scan-image of the already, we are looking at other local con A friend of mine at a software company, bedrock underneath Ground Zero...it sus ventions, and as said earlier, we’ll probably who is a retired Major from the U.S. Ma tained impacts of greater strength than most be helping out with Ditto when it comes back rines, agreed with me that our response to earthquakes. If anything is built on that site, to Toronto next year. terrorism will be less cautious and delicate. It it won’t be two I00+-story skyscrapers; that will be very simple. “You can’t reason with bedrock simply won’t be able to sustain it. I Sheryl Birkhead these people. You can’t accommodate them can still plainly see the second plane flying at without submitting to their world-view. You an angle and appearing to melt into the sec I guess we each have our own thoughts on ignore them at your peril. The only thing left ond tower. Another day that will live in in Harry Potter - I’m just glad to have any book to do is to hunt them down and kill them the famy. (We eventually did reach NYC fans that will get kids reading. Pretty much along way you would a mad dog in the streets.” Arwen Rosenbaum and Peter Dougherty, the line of what you say Greg Bear said in However, people like him and me won’t moved from Toronto to the Queens area not explanation. have much to do with it. We’re too old. The that long ago...they were fine.) Ah, so Factsheet 5 hasn’t been pubbing Association of Former Intelligence Officers, After too long away, Ditto returns home for awhile? I figured I’d just dropped off of which I’m also a member, recently dis to where it all started, Toronto. I’ve volun their radar. Whatever the major changes were closed the government plan for all the old teered my services to Murray Moore, and some time ago, I never got issues after that. farts who have been trying to get in on the with some luck, preps shall be going soon. Nice to see Kurt Erichsen’s art gracing action. It’s called the 4-K. plan. “When the Murray is hotel-hunting right now, and more your pages, and more of Tarai’s critters. enemy gets to the intersection of 4th and K information should be available soon. I’ve I still haven’t had much success with bios streets (in Washington, DC), we’ll call you.” only been to one other fanzine convention, from fanartists. Ideally, 1 wanted information and that was the original Ditto I here. on/from/by fanartists who had been nomi Lloyd Penney I notice that Guy Lillian didn’t say what nated or won early in the history of the Fan the Katzes’ Jackpot was an enormous load of Artist Hugo, but so far that has not worked I have some good memories of Bass Lake, what. A perfect title indeed...I expect to see out. I hope Bjo will provide info - especially Enormous Load 1 coming through my mail although not the same Bass Lake you’re be in light of ConJose - maybe it would involve slot (or e-mail as a .pdf) any day now... side. My Bass Lake was close to Orillia, only altering other bits and pieces being writ After learning that Janis Ian was in atten about 80 miles north of Toronto. I remember ten for the con. Teddy Harvia has started dance at MilPhil, I checked out her website... swimming, camping and working on silk hunting for information also. We’ll see. screening signs, because my art teacher in she had a marvelous time, and met so many of the writers she admired. Goshwow lives, March 2002 41
We Also Heard From Excuse Me! by Mike Glyer David Feldman: I wanted to congratulate you and Diana on your impending adoption. Maybe I don’t really need a good excuse longer secure. Pity. Harlan's cata I enjoyed the article recently about the family why File 770 didn’t come out on time: this log is so well-written. I hope the who adopted a Chinese baby. My best friends fanzine has not claimed to be on a regular bomb squad gets a chance to read in NYC adopted an Indian girl more than schedule since 1979. But it lulls the sub it... three years ago, and it has enriched their scribers if they believe I’m overcoming all It’s handwritten and has no return ad lives immeasurably (and made my life much odds to get the news to them. And the cur dress or bears one that you can’t more fun, too). rent world crisis makes an ironclad excuse. confirm is legitimate. The Bruce Terry Whittier: How come Tarai hasn’t The US Postal Service is doing its part to Pelz I know lives in Granada won a fan art Hugo? make us all more secure by teaching us to Hills, so why do I keep getting Teddy Harvia: I think E.B. Frohvet is beware of what’s in our mailboxes. They’ve postcards from him mailed in Jor being a little inaccurate calling Algol, Texas published a flyer that begins with the ele dan, New Zealand, Africa - every ST Inquirer, The Mad 3 Party, and Energu- mentary question: blessed spot on the globe except men one-shots. All ran for several years and What should make me suspect a piece Granada Hills? Even a stolen gar had multiple nominations. There may not be of mail? Well really, these days, den gnome doesn't cover territory a new winner every year, but the award does anything fannish that comes via that fast. Out goes the mail from bounced around and there are new nominees snail-mail is a deviation from the “Pelz"... almost every year. norm. I get almost everything in 5- It’s lopsided or lumpy in appearance. Michael Walsh: To elucidate your puz megabyte PDF fdes, or else in e- That huge envelope from New Or zlement over the name of the MilPhil Daily mails with subject headers like leans might hold an issue of Chal Zine . . . two words: Star Wars. "Do you know where your world- lenger, but why take the chance? The MilPhil bid started as something of con is?" (Actually, mine was over It’s sealed with excessive amounts of “Gosh, wouldn’t it be great to have a Philly five years ago...) Still, for greater tape. Too bad those have to go. worldcon in 2001 and call it the Millenium security I'm starting to apply these The last heavily-taped envelope Philcon.” This followed by various by Star tests to the rare examples of paper from Martin Morse Wooster con Wars puns and the like... and as is said, the fanac that arrive in the mail. tained The Women's Quarterly rest is History. It’s unexpected (Nothing could be more theme issue, "Is Manhood Really Mike, ya gotta get out more often and see unexpected than those quarterly Back in Fashion?" (The answer a few flicks ...