mail to! I’m also having to resort to different and less Oyez, Oyez flexible software to lay out the zine. You will no doubt see some differences in the issue resulting from that. If you see The next NASFA meeting will be 21 June 2003 the issue at all that is. Sigh. at the regular time (6P) and the regular location. Call BookMark at 256-881-3910 if you need directions. The June program (7P) should be very mooving — or possibly udderly ridiculous. Most of you have heard of the ConCom Meetings “Cow Parade” decorated cows. At this program you’ll have a chance to create your own two-dimensional version. Outline The next Con†Stellation XXII con committee meeting drawings of the cows, a plethora of markers, and some pre- will be held 2P Sunday 6 July at Mike Kennedy’s house — printed starter ideas will be available. 7907 Charlotte Drive SW, Huntsville AL. An email The June after-the-meeting meeting will be a announcement with additional information will be sent out pool party at Russell McNutt’s house. Russell has also closer to the day. In honor of the Independence Day weekend, volunteered to host the July and August ATMMs. We will there will be a cookout following the meeting. need ATMM volunteers for September and after. Future concom meetings are currently scheduled for As I type this, I am not sure whether I will be able to Sundays 3 August, 17 August, 7 September, 21 September, get the Shuttle in the mail or not. My old desktop and 5 October at Mike’s house. There will also be the usual computer, which has the mailing list on it, has a mysterious last-minute concom meeting on Thursday 9 October at the ailment so I may or may not be able to figure out who to hotel.
Inside this issue… 3 Lord of the Rings Musical Planned 2 NASFA Calendar 4 Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Additions 2 Minutes of the May Meeting 4 Saturn Awards Announced 2 Rocket City FurMeet Review 4 MTV Movie Awards 3 Another Rocket City FurMeet Review 5 American Film Institute Heroes and Villains 3 Psychic Festival 6 Letters of Comment Inside this issue… 3 Lord of the Rings Musical Planned 2 NASFA Calendar 4 Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Additions 2 Minutes of the May Meeting 4 Saturn Awards Announced 2 Rocket City FurMeet Review 4 MTV Movie Awards 3 Another Rocket City FurMeet Review 5 American Film Institute Heroes and Villains 3 Psychic Festival 6 Letters of Comment
nearby convention being held that weekend — in which case NASFA Calendar we usually hold the meeting on the second or fourth weekend.) The regular meeting location is the upstairs JUNE meeting room at BookMark on South Memorial Parkway. 02 BD: Lloyd Penney. The Executive Committee meeting (if scheduled) is at 5P. 08 Con†Stellation Con Committee Meeting — Mike The business meeting is at 6P. The program is at 7P. Kennedy’s house. Anyone is welcome to attend any of the meetings. There is 08 Pentecost. usually an after-the-meeting meeting with directions 14 Flag Day. available at the program. 15 Father’s Day. 19 BD: Julius Schwartz. 21* NASFA Meeting — 6P Business, 7P Program, at BookMark. ATMM at Russell McNutt’s house. May Minutes 21 Summer begins. by Samuel A. Smith, May-Bee
JULY The May meeting of the North Alabama Science 01 Canada Day. Fiction Association was called to order on Saturday, May 02 BD: Deb Stone. 17, 2003 in the upstairs meeting room at BookMark at 04 Independence Day. 6:17:41P by Vice-President Mike Kennedy, who was 06 Con†Stellation Con Committee Meeting — Mike subbing for the missing President Mary Ortwerth. Kennedy’s house. PROGRAM BUSINESS 19* NASFA Meeting — 6P Business, 7P Program, at We have no program tonight, however, some people BookMark. ATMM at Russell McNutt’s house. from the Huntsville Public Library are here to discuss the 24 BD: Jay Johns. programs they are having in the Fall. 25Ð27 DeepSouthCon 41/LibertyCon 16 — East Ridge Karen Hopkins has had a change in her job situation, (Chattanooga) TN. and needs an assistant Program Director. Mia Smith said she 25Ð28 MythCon XXXIV — Nashville TN. might be able to be the assistant — she’ll get in touch with 27 Parents’ Day. Karen and see. 29 BD: Mark Paulk. CONVENTION BUSINESS Mike Kennedy: Situation normal. The next con AUGUST committee meeting will be Sunday, June 8 [now past]. We 03 Con†Stellation Con Committee Meeting — Mike will have an ad in the Rocket City Furmeet’s program book, Kennedy’s house. and possibly a room party also [which we did]. 08 BD: Jim Woosley. Sam Smith reported that the Con†Stellation web site 08Ð10 Conglomeration — Louisville KY. received 775 visitors in the April, and the NASFA web site 14 BD: Edward Kenny. received 85 visitors in the same time period. 16* NASFA Meeting — 6P Business, 7P Program, at The meeting was adjourned at 6:33:40P. The After-The- BookMark. ATMM at Russell McNutt’s house. Meeting Meeting started at Terry’s Pizza and ended up at 17 Con†Stellation Con Committee Meeting — Mike Sam Smith’s place. Kennedy’s house. The people from the Huntsville Public Library gave a 21 BD: Deborah Denton. short talk after the meeting to let us know about their fall 28Ð01 Torcon 3/Worldcon 61 — Toronto ONT Canada. program for 2003: “Celebrating the Centennial of Flight.” 29Ð01 DragonCon — Atlanta GA. They have a number of programs related to flight, space travel, and science fiction planned; and are soliciting input as SEPTEMBER well as volunteers. 01 Labor Day. 07 Con†Stellation Con Committee Meeting — Mike Kennedy’s house. 07 Grandparent’s Day. Rocket City FurMeet 09 BD: Mike Cothran. 11 BD: Ray Pietruszka. Review 17 Citizenship Day. by Maria Lucia West Smith 20* NASFA Meeting — 6P Business, 7P Program, at BookMark. ATMM TBD. Well, I went the Rocket City Furmeet (23Ð25 May 21 Con†Stellation Con Committee Meeting — Mike 2003 in Huntsville AL). A little over a hundred people Kennedy’s house. showed up. Considering that this was the first year of the 23 Autumn begins. con, the attendance was pretty good. The con suite was quite 26 BD: Jenna Victoria Stone. adequate and was well stocked most of the time. I missed the 27 Rosh Hashanah. fur parade, but there were several people in fur suits walking OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO around throughout the weekend. There was a bird, a The North Alabama Science Fiction Association meets on dalmatian, 2 jaguars (Jugular Jaguar was one of them), a the third Saturday of each month. (Unless there is a large saint bernard, and a few others. The dealers room was a little small, but there was a nice variety of stuff. I encountered “furry art” for the first time. It Psychic Festival was “interesting.” Let’s just say a lot of it is not for the by Anita Eisenberg kiddies. Bill Holbrook was there and he was selling some of his books. He is a really neat guy and he signed the book I The New Earth Holistic and Psychic Festival took bought. Also, some guy was making friendly plastic teeth. place at the Tom Bevill Center in Huntsville AL on 7Ð8 On Saturday night around midnight we played “Who’s June 2003. I took off from work early on Saturday (the first the werewolf?”. It’s a fun game and I actually remember the day) to attend, meeting up with Maria Smith in front of the rules. We also played twister. On Saturday afternoon, two of Bevill Center a little past 12:30 (a few minutes later than the fursuiters played a game where they tried to pop each promised). other’s balloons (4 per person) by stomping on them. That Admission was $10 for both days with 2-for-1 was fun to watch. admission if you brought a canned good. We did, so it was a The video room had a stack of stuff to watch. I saw bargain at $5 each plus a can of black-eyed peas. Titanic, the Animated Movie. It was voted the worst There was a track of programming nicely balanced animated movie ever made. And for good reason. It really between holistic medicine and psychic phenomenon. A stunk, but I had fun watching it. I also saw Meet the lecture on holistic medicine was given by Dr. Dan Ecklund Feebles. “Muppets on crack” does not begin to describe it. on energy medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and It was a bad bad movie. I don’t plan to watch it again, and I other healing modalities. Phyllis Light, who is a registered like good bad movies. Master Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild, lectured German was there. He wore a leopard-print short dress on homeopathy, flower essences, and herbal medicine. Other with matching panties. He also had a leopard-print necklace, lectures included “Developing your psychic abilities” by tights, and purse, along with a black wig. It was an Walter Rice and “How to see and interpret auras” by interesting outfit. Serafina. This is only to mention a few of the total of 14 There was an auction for PCDS (Parenting Children of panels and lectures given by a total of 12 guest lecturers a Different Species). It’s a dog and cat rescue organization in over the two-day festival. the northern Alabama area. They raised at least $400. I One large function room was devoted to a dealers donated two lamp shades. Some artists at the con decorated room/readers room. The dealers were set up against the wall them and the painted lamp shades went to auction. We all around the room. I was very impressed with how many had a good time. dealers were there and the selection of goodies they had to The “gaming room” consisted of people playing Magic offer. My only complaint is the same one I have in any and Pokemon and such. The variety of card games played dealers room; too much neat stuff and not enough money. I was lame. The other “gaming” was just old Nintendo, or managed to get away with buying only one necklace, a such, gaming systems. And the room was really small and delightfully phallic mushroom carved from a mottled had no tables, as there was no room for even one medium pinkish/greenish stone. Maria who evidently has either more sized one. Fortunately, the planning staff knows about the money or less will power than I do didn’t get off as easily. shortcomings. She went home with several neat play pretties. The people were really nice and I had a pretty good The center of the room was set up with “readers tables” time. I’m glad I went and plan to go next year. The staff was where you could get Tarot, psychic, crystal ball, and other reasonably well prepared. I was fairly impressed. Rocket sorts of readings. These were at extra cost. Tickets were on City Furmeet gets a B+. sale for $25 for one or $65 for three. Each ticket entitled the bearer to one reading. Of course, the event was advertised as “for entertainment purposes only.” They were correct, it was very entertaining and if they Rocket City FurMeet do it again next year I would enjoy going again. If nothing else is of interest to you, the dealers room alone is well Report worth the price of admission. Needs More Games! by Carlo DeShouten
When I arrived at the con, I was quite disappointed. Let Us Entertain You, Even though it was their first con, they had only five gaming tournaments each and that's it. A D&D tournament, Precious Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, and one I forget. The con was mostly a socializing event and not much You loved him in the book, you ate him up in the exciting happen except a few interesting events like a puppet movies, and you listened raptly to every hiss on the radio — show and a charity auction at which I was “mauled” by some now you’ll get a chance to see Gollum do the old soft, er, cute furry animals dolls to “Buy me!” They had a video foot. Well, hopefully it won’t be like that. room which supplied Disney movies and a Czech opera with British theatrical producer Kevin Wallace and colorful bright costumes. I had to bring Japanime and Hollywood veteran Saul Zaentz have announced that a Asterix videos for the video room just to help out a bit. musical stage version of The Lord of the Rings is in the All in all, even though it was their first con, they need works, aimed for an opening on London’s West End in to improve a lot, especially bring in more games! spring 2005 (which will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the trilogy’s publication). Wallace told Reuters, “It will Perdition) stimulate audiences’ imaginations in a way they’ve never Best Director: Steven Spielberg (Minority Report) felt before.” Best Writer: Scott Frank and Jon Cohen (Minority Reportedly there will be a large cast of about 50 and the Report) estimated $13 million production cost will break the current Best Music: Danny Elfman (Spider-Man) (Sony) record of $10.6 held by “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” The Best Costume: (tie): Trisha Biggar (Star Wars production has been in development for 18 months according Episode II: Attack of the Clones) and Ngila Dickson to Wallace, and casting is scheduled for early 2004. (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) Best Make-Up: Peter Owen and Peter King (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) Best Special Effects: Rob Coleman, Pablo Writers Added to Helman, John Knoll, and Ben Snow (Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones) Hall of Fame Best Network Television Series: Alias (ABC/Touch- stone) The board of directors of the Science Fiction and Best Syndicated/Cable Series: Farscape (Henson/Sci Fantasy Hall of Fame has announced that Wilson Tucker and Fi Channel) Kate Wilhelm are the 2003 inductees. Damon Knight and Best Single Program Presentation: Taken (Dream- Edgar Rice Burroughs were named posthumous inductees. Works/Sci Fi Channel) The announcement came at ConQuesT 34 in Kansas City Best TV Actor: David Boreanaz (Angel) (WB MO. Network) The Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame was Best TV Actress: Jennifer Garner (Alias) founded in 1996 by the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center (ABC/Touchstone) for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas Best TV Supporting Actor: Victor Garber (Alias) and the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society. (ABC/Touchstone) The induction will take place at the University of Kansas on Best TV Supporting Actress: Alyson Hannigan 11 July 2003 as part of the same ceremony awarding the (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (UPN) John W. Campbell and Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Best DVD Release: Dog Soldiers (Artisan/Kismet) Awards. Best DVD Special Edition: The Lord of the Rings: Meanwhile, the Hall of Fame's board of directors The Fellowship of the Ring — Extended Version recently met with representatives of the proposed Science (New Line) Fiction Experience to explore the possibility of the Hall of Best DVD Classic Release: E.T.: The Fame's participating in the museum, which is slated to open Extraterrestrial (Universal) in Seattle in 2004. Best DVD Television Release: Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seasons 1Ð7) (Paramount) Dr. Donald A. Reed Award: James Cameron Filmmaker's Showcase Award: Bill Paxton Saturn Awards Announced Life Career Award: Sid & Marty Krofft and Kurt Russell The 29th annual Saturn Awards (for movie and Special Achievement Award: Bob & Harvey television genre works) were presented Sunday 18 May 2003 Weinstein at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood CA. The awards
[I’m afraid that modern technology, or more specifically a [I appreciate the several pieces of art you sent, Sheryl, and I failure of modern technology, had gotten in the way of will get to them, but not this month as I am trying to cope adding to your continuing story in the Shuttle this month. with glitches on the main computer I use for Shuttle Hopefully by next month I will have straightened out my production. It is possible that some sort of communal blog current batch of computer problems and be able to devote could partially satisfy your desire for “one stop shopping” some attention to editing your latest. -ED] for fannish news. The problem I foresee, though, is that without a significant editorial hand (and the attendant labor LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC-LOC involved) the log would soon get hopelessly clogged with extraneous and disorganized information. Sometimes too Sheryl Birkhead 16 May 2003 much information is worse than too little. -ED] 25509 Jonnie Court Gaithersburg MD 20882 EMOC-EMOC-EMOC-EMOC-EMOC-EMOC-EMOC
Maybe Lloyd will step up to the plate and fill the void Lloyd Penney 6 June 2002 left in Harry’s passing… I cannot get used to the absence of
**************************************************************************************************** The NASFA Shuttle is the newsletter of the North Alabama Science Fiction Association, Inc. This is the June 2003 edition (Volume 23, Number 6). NASFA Officers for 2003: President Mary Ortwerth; Vice President Mike Kennedy; Secretary Sam Smith; Treasurer Ray Pietruszka; Program Director Karen Hopkins; Publicity Director Doug Lampert. Shuttle Editor Mike Kennedy. Comments, inquiries, and contributions of writing by email to: [email protected] — EDITORIAL ADDRESS (EMAIL) Comments, inquiries, and contributions of writing by snailmail to: Mike Kennedy, 7907 Charlotte Drive SW, Huntsville AL 35802- 2841 — EDITORIAL ADDRESS (SNAILMAIL) Dues ($), subscriptions ($), and Official Mail to: NASFA, Inc., P. O. Box 4857, Huntsville AL 35815-4857 — OFFICIAL ADDRESS Contents Copyright, © 2003. All rights revert to contributors. All opinions are those of the individual authors and do not reflect club policies other than by coincidence. LoCs subject to edited printing. NASFA Dues = $15/year (Family rates available) Subscription only = $10/year Single copy = $1.50 each. ****************************************************************************************************