August 2001 1

2 File 770:139

File 770:139 is Telephone: (626) 305-1004. edited by Mike E-Mail: [email protected] Glyer at 705 Art Credits Valley View Ave., Alan White: Cover, 2, 8, 12, 14, Monrovia CA 16, 20, 31 91016. File 770 is Joe Mayhew: 10,13,15, available for news, Brad Foster : Back Cover artwork, arranged Ray Capella: 23 trades, or by Bill Rotsler: 7,19,24 subscription. Teddy Harvia : 6 Subscriptions cost Grant Canfield: 26 $8 for 5 issues, Keith Stokes: (photos) 9,11 $15 for 10 issues, Sheryl Birkhead: 30 139 mailed first class in North America or Marc Schirmeister: 22 surface mail rates overseas. Sue Mason: 21 Air printed matter rate is $2.50. Carol Doms: (photo) 3

Philly Fees Put A Crack in the Liberty Bell Feder, Evelyn Leeper, Jim Rittenhouse, Robert Schmunk, Stuart Shiffman and Steven Silver. Hucksters, remember to bring a couple of Ben We therefore included the information in the

Franklins with you to the Millennium Philcon dealer’s mailing. We are not happy about this dealers room, because the City of requirement and apologize to the dealers for the BEST SHORT-FORM will be picking your pocket before you can situation in which they have been placed.” Eugene Byrne, “HMS Habakkuk,” open for business. That’s the very late word Hucksters were originally told the permit from the committee: Dealers will have to pay would be $200, but on August 17 Larry Smith Interzone 155 $100 for a temporary Philadelphia Business announced he got the city to extend to Mil- Ted Chiang, “Seventy-Two Letters,” Privilege License, then will be responsible for Phil’s vendors the $100 temporary license fee, Vanishing Acts, ed. paying a Gross Receipts Tax of 0.2525% and a notwithstanding the five-day length of the Paul J. McAuley, “A Very British History,” Net Profits Tax of 6.5%. That’s all in addition event. He still advises, “Any vendor who in- Interzone 157 to collecting ’s 7% sales tax. tends to sell regularly inside the City of Phila- Kim Newman, “The Other Side of Midnight: Michael Walsh wrote online that some delphia should still pay the full $200 and get a Anno Dracula 1981,” The Vampire Sextette , members of the MilPhil committee had infor- permanent license.” ed. Marvin Kaye mation about the fee months ago, although Tom Galloway offered the mind-boggling Carla Cristina Pereira, “Xochiquetzal,” didn’t share the news with hucksters until early suggestion that there be a convention-run “tip translated from Portuguese by David Alan August. Hucksters depend on the jar” to help reimburse hucksters for this last- Prescott, Altair #67 committee to advise them about local require- minute expense. It probably won’t be needed. ments, and MilPhil let them down. Hucksters could not resist bragging online that BEST LONG-FORM Chairman Todd Dashoff explained on they’re already old hands at minimizing any ALTERNATE HISTORY SMOFS, “With regard to the Philadelphia busi- local taxes they don’t have to pay up front. Suzanne Alles Blom, Inca: The Scarlet ness license, we were originally informed that Fringe , Tor/Forge Mary Gentle, Ash: A Secret History , the city was not requiring the license from Sidewise Awards Nominations short-term vendors. Before we sent out the final Gollancz The finalists for the 2000 Sidewise Awards for S. M. Stirling, Nantucket Trilogy , Island in dealer’s mailing, we checked on the situation alternate history fiction are listed below. The again, and were informed that short-term ven- the Sea of Time, Against the Tide of Years, awards will be presented at Millennium Phil- On the Oceans of Eternity dors would be required to purchase the license. con. Judges for this year’s awards were Moshe

The Quote Book change the title… because he had to get au- charged to Contingency last year.” Fred Patten: I [had been] invited to write a thorization from John Libbey & Co. Ltd., the From Ploktaratchik , Issue #8, August chapter on the cultural absorption of Japanese British/American academic publisher. Libbey 1997: “We will certainly miss the Fanzine animation, for a book on Asiatic animation would not authorize the change because Countdown, despite the fact that Plokta was being edited by Dr. John A. Lent, Professor of “everybody knows that Canada is part of the never, ever Andy’s favourite fanzine of the Communication at Temple University in Penn- United States, culturally speaking,” or words previous three weeks ( whimper! )… What’s sylvania. It was to have at least one chapter on to that effect. (An interesting example of edu- more, the countdown also gave us lots of ideas the animation industry/cultural influence of cational precision and Commonwealth solidar- for people to send fanzines to in the hope of a every country in East Asia… He specifically ity.) [[Source: ¡R«banos Radiactivos! #1885]] trade; our mailing list will be worse off for its asked me to write a chapter titled “ in John Hertz: I may not say everything I passing. Not to mention the problems of “do the United States.” I replied in my acceptance think, but I don’t say anything I don’t think. we still send a copy to Frohvet?” Alison thinks that I would change this to “Anime in Amer- From Instant Message #686 : he’s a hoax. Steve’s not so sure after the decla- ica” or “Anime in North America,” whichever “Contingency: $1000 is budgeted but if we are ration of feud in the last Twink . Maybe we he preferred, since I would have to include luck we won’t have to use it. Pam inquired if should just keep sending to EBF and drop some events in Canada. He told me not to the matter of Peter Weston’s pants was Andy, carl and Victor?” August 2001 3 News of

Over 100 fans, family, and friends gathered sages or letters from folks that could in Bloomington, Illinois on August 3-5, to not attend. Speakers included Jimmy celebrate the Tucker Tribute, honoring Fern Tucker Tribute Hollaman, Tom Meserole, Robin and Wilson Tucker. The weekend was spon- Wayne Bailey, Joan Marie Knappen- sored by the Dawn Patrol, a loose collection by Keith Stokes berger, Missouri Smith, Nancy Hatha- of over 300 , space and avia- way, Gordon Garb and others. Bob was tion enthusiasts from throughout the United presented a plaque in honor of his States and Canada. contribution to SF and mystery litera- Folks started flying in on Friday after- ture and Fern received one for all of noon, coming from 14 states, including both her support. coasts. Roger Tener, Cathy Tener, Dave Mo- After each speaker, I would read a reno and myself lived up to the group’s few messages, not giving the name of name, arriving in Bloomington in a Bonanza the sender until the end. It quickly dubbed “White Knuckle Airlines,” became a challenge for Bob (and oth- No activities were scheduled for Friday ers) to attempt to name the sender in night, but following several groups going out advance of the end. Well-wishers to dinner, the early arrivals retired to the included Frank M. Robinson, Harry Hospitality Suite in the Dawn Patrol’s wing Harrison, , Larry Niven, of the Empire Inn and Conference Center. Algis Budrys, William F. Wu, Rob The two rooms were packed with good Chilson, Mike Resnick, Phylis Eisen- friends who talked until the wee hours. Bob stein, Julie Shwartz, Lee Killough, Tucker, who looked 15 years younger than James Gunn, George Zebrowski, Pat- the last time I saw him, stayed at the party rick Nielsen Hayden, Dave Trues- until midnight and a very animated Fern dale, , and many stayed until 1a.m. Bob, Fern and their chil- others. Mark Tiedemann sent his in dren were all sporting Bob Tucker sweat- the form of a script for a play. shirts, which Judy Mays (Tucker) had made After about 70 minutes, Roger for the weekend. called for a brief break. When folks Saturday morning many folks went to the Fern and Bob Tucker. Photo by Carol Doms returned there were a couple more nearby Bob Evens restaurant to start the day. presentations and I read my last two Other daytime activities included an auto- helped get drinks and clear tables. The hotel messages: one from Sri Lanka (yes from Sir graph session, a video from a Tucker Roast was understaffed and the surprisingly good Arthur C. Clarke) and one that was from me. at Archon in 1989, and an informal Bloom- meal had been entirely prepared by one per- Roger presented the final plaque of the eve- ington Used Bookstore tour. One of the son, Dominique, who received a well de- ning to Bob for his contribution to Fandom. stores had a large display of Tucker books served round of applause. The ceremony was followed by a receiv- and a clipping from the local newspaper’s After dinner, folks returned to the main ing line with Bob and Fern, and their chil- coverage of the tribute. ballroom. When most people had settled dren. Then the Dawn Patrol had one of their The event received other local attention, down, the hosts entered to the fanfare from famous group pictures. After folks changed, including a 30 minute interview with Tucker Star Wars. Then Bob and Fern were escorted many returned to hospitality suite to unwind on the radio earlier in the week. to the main table, to the Olympic Fanfare. and share a few Smooths. The actual event began at 5:30 p.m. with a Following opening remarks and thanks for Sunday morning there was another group reception where everyone showed off their the many individuals who had helped with run to Bob Evans, followed by good-byes finery, viewed a display of Bob’s books and the weekend, Bob and Fern were presented and many wishes for another Bloomington awards and caught up with late comers. Per- with a framed proclamation from the Mayor Dawn Patrol Event, perhaps Bob and Fern’s haps 50 cameras were present and flashes of Bloomington. It spoke about them at 50th Anniversary in 2003 or Bob’s 90th were constantly going off. length, then proclaimed August 4th to be Birthday in 2004. The atrium, where the dinner was set up, Wilson (Bob) and Fern Tucker Day. They There will be a second chance to see Bob was pretty hot, but after folks got their food were very surprised and pleased. and Fern in Bloomington on October 12-14, and found their seats, it wasn’t too uncom- Then we settled into a pattern of Roger 2001: ditto 14/FanHistoriCon 11. Photos: fortable. There weren’t enough servers to introducing a speaker, the speaker’s presenta- http://kcsciencefiction.org/01tucker01.htm assist with the meal, but folks jumped in and tion, then I would read some e-mailed mes-

Guy’s Wedding Gift: Did You Vote?

New Orleans’ bachelor population dwindled satellite launch. Guy wrote in advance, “If it gift registry, Guy would have signed up for by two on June 30 as Guy Lillian wed Rose- comes off the bride's father Joseph L. Green, one of those tasteful, chrome-colored, rocket- Marie Green Donovan, and Robert Neagle the SF writer, will host wedding attendees at a shaped doorstops. Just a hint! married Ann Cavitt. viewing area, I believe in a park.” Remember to call and congratulate Guy at Guy and Rose-Marie Green Donovan ex- A wise man, Guy made sure to mail the his new phone number: (504) 482-7083. changed vows in Cocoa, Florida. They ex- 14 th issue of Challenger before embarking on pected to celebrate with guests by watching a married life. And if Millennium Philcon had a 4 File 770:139

GUFF delegates Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber attended Paragon, the UK Eastercon at Hinkley in 2001, then spent six weeks travelling and meeting UK fans. They then attended Jean’s mother’s 80th birthday cele- brations in Lacey, WA, and went on to attend Wiscon in Madison. The first draft of their GUFF report, plus photos, can be found online at http://www.ericlindsay.com/guff Eric reminds all charitable fans, “Don’t forget that you can donate to GUFF through the internet at our site.” Calls for nominations for a Europe- Australasia race will be announced soon by Paul Kincaid, the UK administrator, with the winner to attend the 2002 NatCon in Austra- lia or New Zealand, or perhaps both. News of Fandom DUFF North American DUFF operations have now Pop Law http://www.enteract.com/~rhes/ been officially handed over to Patrick Molloy Scholars have finally realized that all knowl- ditto14.html and Naomi Fisher, reports outgoing adminis- edge is contained in fanzines. Virgiliu Pop, a trator Janice Gelb. Her DUFF web site postgraduate law student at Glasgow Univer- Corflu 19 http://home.pacbell.net/jgelb/duff2k.html sity, e-mailed Dick and Nicki Lynch to thank Nic Farey and the “Corflu Valentine” com- has been updated and includes contact infor- them for Mimosa’s invaluable addition to his mittee have announced that Greg Pickersgill mation for the new administrators for checks, research: will edit Fanthology ’96. Your suggestions donations, etc., plus a financial report. Janice “Please, receive my best greetings from about what belongs in the collection can be wrote online, “I am pleased to hand over the Glasgow. My name is Virgil Pop and I am a sent – at your own risk – to Pickersgill at 3 reins to the new administration and am sure Ph.D. student at Glasgow University, where I Bethany Row, Narberth Road, Haverford- they will do a wonderful job.” write a thesis on property rights in outer west, Pembrokeshire SA61 2XG, U.K. He space. Two days ago I found on an internet also receives e-mail, at CUFF search your fanzine Mimosa , whose number [email protected] Take Lloyd Penney’s gentle hint – copies of 18 of 1996 features Les Cole’s 1951 Moon Recommendations are also sought for Penneys Up The River and Other CUFF Claim. It is an amazing story indeed, and it what to include in a fanzine cover gallery Tales are still available. It’s Lloyd and will be analyzed in my thesis, with due credit that may be done in connection with the Yvonne Penney’s trip report, honoring a fan being given to Mimosa . In my Ph.D. I ana- Fanthology. The deadline for sending ideas fund tradition dating back to the 1950s. The lyze extraterrestrial property claims such as to Pickersgill will be the end of September. cover art is by Teddy Harvia and Brad Fos- that of the Lunar Embassy, that ‘sells’ land More information about Corflu Valentine ter, with illustrations by Teddy Harvia. on the Moon following a 1980 claim.” can be found on its website: Between the covers you’ll not only find Pop’s habit of researching online fanzines http://www.megspace.com/arts/corflu the trip report, but an essay on CUFF by seems not the least bit unusual after you real- Linda Ross-Mansfield, a list of past and pre- ize he’s been a science fiction fan for years. Warner’s Spring Chill sent CUFF winners, a financial statement, He even gophered at Eurocon’94, held in his Harry Warner’s loc production came to a and a memorial to Hugo-winning fan artist, home town of Timisoara, Romania. screeching halt for three weeks in March, he the late Joe Mayhew. All copies are signed Pop asked the Lynches to help him find a wrote in the NASFA Shuttle (5/2001). and numbered. copy of the original claim (the four-page “Problems continue to give me problems, To get your copy, send $10 to 1706-24 foldover), the letter sent to the UN, and a like two furnace breakdowns, two plumbing Eva Rd., Etobicoke, ON M9C 2B2. Make copy of the reply from the UN. Whoever can emergencies, several health problems, all cheques payable to Lloyd Penney. help will receive thanks, and credit in his since the first of the year. I’ve even turned thesis. Contact him at: Virgiliu Pop, LLM, my income tax documents over to a profes- FFANZ PhD Student, Postgraduate Box,School of sional preparer for the first time in my life, Paul Ewins was still unable to take his post- Law, Stair Building, University of Glasgow, on the theory that I’m finally too old to cope poned FFANZ trip this year, “due to time Glasgow G12 8QQ United Kingdom. with all that ciphering without help.” commitments.” Apparently he won’t be tak- [[Source: Dick Lynch]] ing it, and instead, there will be a race to GUFF select a New Zealand delegate to travel to Ditto 14 Eric Lindsay reports that GUFF, the Going Australia in 2002, and a reciprocal race in Jack Speer of Albuquerque, fandom’s first Under Fan Fund, is now an annual event. The 2003. Ewins adds, “On the bright side, as I historian, has agreed to be the FanHistoriCon UK administrator, Paul Kincaid, has opened didn’t go anywhere the bank balance is still Speaker at the combined ditto 14/ nominations for a fan from Britain or Europe very healthy.” [[Source: Australian SF Bull- FanHistoriCon 11. More details about the to travel to the Australian and/or New Zea- sheet #169]] con, to be held October 12-14 in Blooming- land National SF Convention in June 2002. ton, IL, can be found on the web site: August 2001 5

Better Tomorrows Thru Fanac Gone walkabout: Eric and Jean planned any other language. When I queried the web- On the weekends they’re fans of paper fan- to leave in mid-July and drive their mo- master of the site, I received the following zines, but the other five days of the week torhome on a leisurely trip through the mid- response: Dick Smith and Henry Welch are busily dle of Queensland, perhaps as far as Lake “’dear silver it's a great surprise! in use devising advanced technology. Eyre. rarely this name as a pseudonym. i'm very Dick Smith recently found out the Patent “We expect to be missing for a couple of sorry, i didin't know about you and i'm not Office granted a patent he and two former months, and have no idea whether we will going to use it again. compliments for your colleagues at 3Com Corp. applied for in manage to collect our e-mail along the way. work in sf field. best wishes’” 1998. How did he find out? No, he didn’t get On our Queensland Gulf trip we collected e- a notice from the Patent Office. No, he didn’t mail once in a month while visiting friends.” Medical Updates hear about it from his old cronies at 3Com. Jean may be able to update her web site Bill Bowers had cataract surgery in August. The news came from a company offering to on the fly. Look for updates at: He wrote online: sell him a laser-engraved plaque celebrating http://www.avalook.com.au/newsletr/ “You know, it is more than slightly sur- the occasion. Patent 6,233,237, is for a index.htm real to lie flat on one's back for, as I later “Method and protocol for connecting data found out, an hour an a half ('cutting time') -- calls using R2 signaling.” To learn more, Foyster Takes Security Measures with one's arms strapped down, as well as consult http://www.uspto.gov. John Foyster’s PDF fanzine, eFNAC #13 , can forehead, nested but with the Very Hard Just 10,000 applications later, Henry be downloaded from http:// Object under the neck, so that despite the Welch and Rick Bergman received U.S. efnac.virtualave.net. In this issue, John Bang- current configuration of my upper body I was Patent 6,243,685 on June 5, 2001 for their sund looks back on his life from the vantage positioned such that my 'gaze' would be “Voice Operated Interactive Message Dis- point of 2030, Noel Kerr focuses on one day straight up, in an initially Very Cold room, play System for Vehicles.” What does that in 1952, John Foyster reports on trans-gender which after a (requested) couple of blankets, do? Their abstract says, “The system includes issues at the 1975 Aussiecon, Bob Smith plus a heating pad rapidly became sweltering one or more display units having a matrix of writes the entire letter-column, and the Allan -- awake -- but with head shrouded with light-emitting elements to transmit a message Bray Photogallery reports on the 1983 Syn- some material translucent enough that I could to other vehicles either to the front, rear, side, con, with . detect vague movement with my Good Eye. or combination thereof. The display units are In order to download files from the web All the while hearing, with much too clarity, controlled by a central control unit having a site, you need to enter a username and a pass- these two Voices inches above my head. voice recognition and voice synthesis system, word, which you must get from Foyster. He “Talk of ‘wounds’ and ‘cutting’ and which is used to interactively determine a wanted to keep eFNAC a private fanzine that ‘scalpels,’ of ‘tucking’ and ‘folding’ and message to display….” is nevertheless publicly available. Search ‘extracting,’ requests for added fluid. And Sounds like what night drivers need to engines now index PDF files and that makes the Older Surgeon telling the Younger Sur- express their road rage when the usual hand the contents of a PDF fanzine on the web geon that she was being ‘too aggressive,’ and signals aren’t visible. should be much more public. [[Source: Australian SF an occasional ‘Here, let me show you how to good for at least 18 million sales. Bullsheet #170, 175]] do that...’ -- followed by a switch of channels in the Speakers above my immobilized head. Eric Lindsay Update Contest Winner Reassuring that. Eric Lindsay has produced several issues his Portland’s David Levine won Second Place “I know what I expected, what I most fanzine, Gegenschein , over the past year, but in the most recent quarterly Writers of the dreaded, and I don't know how they accom- you may not know it unless you’ve visited Future contest. His story will be published in plished it -- throughout the entire procedure, his website. Eric still has no access to afford- next year's annual col- and post-op, there was not a single twinge of able photocopying, so the paper edition has lection. He gets $750, and also will travel to anything that could be labeled pain.” been delayed, while the web version is al- next year's awards banquet, and attend a one- Bowers says the vision in his left eye is ways available. The URL for the latest issue week writers' workshop with other winners noticeably better since the surgery. is: and big-name pros. David wrote online, Ed Bryant announced on the http:// http://www.ericlindsay.com/sf/geg90.htm “This is a Very Big Deal. I'm trembling. I wormholebooks.com bookstore site that he Eric adds, “I am still encouraging fans don't think I quite understand what this would be having an angiogram on August 10. outside Australia to travel to this part of the means, yet. I may fall over when it really Ed explained: world more often, especially in June 2002. sinks in.” “The angiogram is just the procedure The New Zealand National Science Fiction Only three days before this good news, he where the doc sticks a catheter in my leg or Convention, “Con with the Wind,” will be in had received the galley proofs from his first groin and threads a probe up through a major Wellington from May 31 to June 3, 2002. professional sale (a story in the anthology vessel to the heart, there to skulk around Their web addresses are: Bones of the World ) and a letter of accep- looking for the extent and location of plaque http://cwtw.sf.org.nz tance from Candas Jane Dorsey and Judy deposits in the various cardiac vessels. If it http://www.conwiththewind.sf.org.nz McCrosky for his contribution to their an- seems useful, since the hardware's already One week later, June 7-10, Convergence thology Land/Space . there, then the doc will insert a balloon or 2002, the 41 st Australian National Science angioplasty, or a stent, a woven wire cylin- Fiction Convention, will be held in Mel- der, to keep the vessel open. And, if there's Sterling or Stealing? really bad news, there's the possibility bourne. Their web site is: Steven Silver writes, “I discovered a web site http://www.vicnet.net.au/~converge/ of scheduling a heart bypass surgery.” (in Italian!) which purports to have an inter- In fact, Ed’s cardiologist found four The following week, Jean Weber and Eric view with Harlan Ellison conducted by Ste- are holding Relaxa.con in Airlie Beach, entry blockages, two of them needing treatment. ven H. Silver. I have never conducted an Bypass surgery in the next few days is still a to the Great Barrier Reef. Check out: interview with Harlan in English, Italian, or http://www.ericlindsay.com/relaxa.con possibility. 6 File 770:139

Kubla Khan 29 toastmaster andy that time travel was involved, offutt suffered a perforated ulcer in because the picture was from mid-April and was forced to miss the 1966. convention. Then, the Australia’s Herald Teresa Nielsen Hayden was Sun reported 's hospitalized for several days in June death, but Marc Ortlieb said, with congestive heart failure, accord- “their obit writer had him mar- ing to Locus (July 2001 issue). ried to the daughter of Though her condition was serious, -- a scenario worthy of one of she did not suffer a heart attack, and Anderson's own time travel sto- she was released to recover at home. ries.”

Future Olympian Lifts Off Twain’s Unknown Feud Jenny Overkamp’s son, Benn Over- With Jules Verne kamp, competed against elite athletes “This just in!” trumpets Rich in his first Junior World Competi- th Gutkes. “Mark Twain has just tion. He finished 16 in the world, published, after a 125 year delay, and would have liked to score even a new , ‘A Murder, a higher. But as his mother explains, Mystery, and a Marriage,’ in “Benn was adjusting to a new Olym- Atlantic Monthly . Perhaps I spoil pic coach and a new bar which has the ending when I say the plot less spin and is very hard on the ends with a vitrolic diatribe (by hands. He made a good showing.” the exposed villian) against M. Benn e-mailed the technical de- Verne. Nobody can turn the pen tails to his fans: “I opened in the into an instrument of attack like snatch with 130 kg (286 lbs, 11 lbs Twain and he ain't holding back. under my best). It was a light lift but In the analysis following the I missed it. I stayed with the same story, Ray Blount, Jr. proposes weight for my second, and made it that Mark Twain was ticked off easily. I moved up to 135 kg (297 when Jules Verne’s Five Weeks lbs), which was my personal best, in a Balloon beat his own big and missed it. In clean and jerk, my balloon story into print.” coaches decided to move down my Thanks for the bulletin, Rich. opener so that I could get on the If Twain’s story hadn’t lan- board and not bomb out. I opened guished in a trunk until the 21 st with 155 kg (341 lbs, 22 lbs under century, he could have triggered the first pro It was the middle of summer, but no one was my best) and made it easily. I moved up to feud in sf history! supposed to notice. [[Source: The Midnight 160 kg (352 lbs) and made it even easier. Moving up to 165, I came out of an ex- Dusk Petrol]] tremely tough clean and missed the jerk. James White Award “I took 16th in snatch, 17th in clean and A Little List The panel of judges for the James White Award’s 2001competition will be: Dublin- jerk and 16th overall . Sixteenth in the Tony Lewis produced a list of 2001 Hugo based writer Michael Carroll whose latest World... Not bad, eh?” nominees with NESFA connections for In- novel The Renegade will be published by Benn will be moving to the Olympic vil- stant Message 685. His list includes Boskone later this year; Ian McDonald, lage in Colorado Springs in August to train guests of honor, writers whose books have for the Olympics. He will be attending the been published by NESFA Press, as well as Belfast-based author whose latest novel, Ares University of Colorado. regular club members. Despite listing several Express , was published in May by Earthlight; writer and critic Kim Newman, whose latest fanwriters (Devney, Langford and Leeper) and a fanartist (Teddy Harvia), the cupboard novel, Dracula Cha Cha Cha , is now out in A Few Bricks Shy paperback; David Pringle, editor of Europe's was bare when it came to NESFA-connected James Knappenberger experienced his very leading English-language science fiction own personal “News of .” The fanzines. May I volunteer File 770 to fill the gap? In the summer of 1983, the IRS sent me magazine Interzone ; and Hugo and Nebula Knappenbergers own a small farm. It was Award-winning author Mike Resnick, three to Boston for training. I got invited to the broken into a few weeks ago, but the criminal of whose works have been nominated for NESFA Other Meeting, and while I was is not a brain trust. He and his brother were Hugo Awards this year. there, volunteers mimeographed, collated and already wanted by federal authorities for The James White Award was established mailed the new issue from stencils I’d typed bank robbery. When the FBI interviewed the to honor the of one of the best-loved in my hotel room. Seems like a connection to bank employees they found out this potential figures in science fiction. It is open to non- me! Darwin candidate got out of his vehicle, put professional authors throughout the world on his mask, took out his gun, went in and and is given for the best original short story robbed the bank, then got back in his vehicle By His Own Bootstraps submitted. Further information, along with and left. Nothing unusual, you say? Nothing Have time-traveling pros visited your detailed rules and writers' guidelines can be except that the robber drove off in a tow neighborhood this summer? obtained from the Award's Website http:// truck with his name, address and phone num- The local UMass paper ran a photo of Joe www.jameswhiteaward.com ber painted its side. Oh, and there was a Ross posing with , over a cap- snow plow attached to the front of the truck. tion saying it was taken in 1996. Joe denied August 2001 7

Endeavour Award Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Ink- in Vancouver, British Columbia. lings Studies: J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Best Long-Form Work in English : The Finalists and Judges Century by T.A. (Tom) Shippey Snow Queen , Eileen Kernaghan Five books written by Pacific Northwest Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Gen- (Thistledown Press, 2000) authors and published in 2000 are finalists eral Myth and Studies): King Ar- Best Long-Form Work in French : De- for the third and the thur in America by Alan Lupack and Barbara main, les etoiles , Jean-Louis Trudel (Pierre $1,000.00 honorarium that accompanies it. Tepa Lupack Tisseyre, 2000) The finalists are: Chris Bunch, Storm Force , The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Best Short-Form Work in English : Roc (Mass market); Ursula K. LeGuin, The Literature is given to the fantasy novel, “Surrendering the Blade,” Marcie Tentchoff Telling , Harcourt (Hardcover); Louise Mar- multi-volume, or single-author story collec- (The Doom of Camelot, Green Knight Pub- ley, The Glass Harmonica , Ace (Trade); tion for adults published during the previous lishing) [poem] Bruce Holland Rogers, Wind Over Heaven year that best exemplifies “the spirit of the Best Short-Form Work in French : “La and Other Dark Tales , Wildside Press Inklings.” Danse des esprits,” Douglas Smith (Solaris (Trade); and Richard Paul Russo, Terminal The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Chil- 134) [traducteur: Benont Domis] Visions , Golden Gryphon Press (Hardcover). dren's Literature honors books for younger Best Work in English (Other) : Science A total of 28 books were entered for this readers (from "Young Adults" to picture Fiction: The Play , David Widdicombe [play] year's award. All of the books were read and books for beginning readers), in the tradition Best Work in French (Other) : Solaris , scored seven times by preliminary judges, of The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia . Joel Champetier, rid. (Les Compagnons with books assigned randomly to readers Rules for eligibility are otherwise the same temps perdu) drawn from a pool of approximately 30 ex- as for the Adult Literature award. Artistic Achievement : Jean-Pierre Nor- perienced readers. The five finalists will be The Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in mand ( Parsec v3n6, Surial 3000, Demain les judged by three professional judges. The Inklings Studies is given to books on itoiles, Futur sur mesure, Guerre pour un finalists, and the names of the final judges Tolkien, Lewis, and/or Williams that make harmonica, Les eaux de Jade, Un voyage de for the award, were announced July 5 at significant contributions to Inklings scholar- sagesse) Westercon in Portland, Oregon. ship. Fan Achievement (Fanzine) : Voyageur , The winner will be announced November The Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Karen Bennett, ed. (USS Hudson Bay / 9 at OryCon, Oregon's annual science fiction Myth and Fantasy Studies is given to schol- IDIC) (www.idic.ca) and fantasy convention. Judges for the 2000 arly books on other specific authors in the Fan Achievement (Organizational) : R. Award are Dave Duncan, , Inklings tradition, or to more general works Graeme Cameron (BCSFA president & V- and Michael P. Kube-McDowell. on the genres of myth and fantasy. Con 25 chair) For more information, contact Mytho- Fan Achievement (Other) : Donna Mything Persons poeic Awards administrator: Eleanor M. McMahon, book reviews/ critiques de livres The high cost of skipping the Berkeley Farrell, P.O. Box 320486, San Francisco, CA Mythcon was not getting to witness the 94132-0486; E-mail: [email protected] Short Waves priceless moments like Autumn Rausher’s Susan Satterfield announced at ConQuest masquerade entry. Last year in Hawaii, she 2001Aurora Award winners 32 over Memorial Day Weekend that Kansas was Pele, the volcano goddess, tormented by The 2001 Aurora Award winners were pre- City won the bid to host the World Horror her sister, the squirt-gun-spraying sea god- sented Saturday, May 5, 2001, at V-Con 25, Convention in 2003 . dess. This year, Bernie Phillips reports, Au- tumn was equally hilarious as “Charles Wil- liams' #1 fan,” – an impersonation of her father, Eric Rausher. Bernie wrote, “Comb her hair back, paint on a fake scraggly beard and mustache, put Birkenstocks and glasses on her and a beer in her hand, and she looks just like him! She was hysterically funny, reciting a speech her mother wrote, dropping Williams references right and left.” This is your warning: don’t miss next year's Mythcon in Boulder, CO, the last week in July. The theme will be “fantasy in Shake- speare” and most members will also attend some of the plays in Boulder's Shakespeare Festival. Members will not be in dorms this time, but in the air-conditioned Ramada Inn nearby.

2001 Mythopoeic Award Winners Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature: The Innamorati by Midori Sny- der Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Chil- dren's Literature: Aria of the Sea by Dia Calhoun 8 File 770:139

Volcano Trek 2001: Westwind, clubzine co-founder Laura Haywood-Cory set outlining your previous online community of Seattle’s NWSFS, announced that mem- SMOFS abuzz when she asked the unmen- experience and stating why you are the ideal bers were going to visit Mt. St. Helen’s on tionable question, “What to Do When It's Not candidate for this position to employ- June 23, “if it’s still there.” Yes, it’s a lot Fun Anymore?” [email protected]” easier to schedule these things if fans plan to For the past four years Laura’s been doing go to the mountain, rather than waiting for it the lion's share of the work of keeping the Changes of Address to come to them, although in seismically club afloat – planning the meetings, arrang- Dr. Mark Anthony, Anthony Chiropractic, unstable Washington, ing for guest speakers, updating the website, 3935 Foothill Bl., La Crescenta, CA More Than Cheesesteak: Carol Kabak- etc. Whenever she remarked about feeling 01214 jian has gathered over 130 recipes for the burned-out, others might tell her to ask them Ray Capella, 904 N. 3 rd Ave., Upland, CA Philadelphia SF Society cookbook, planned for help, but they wouldn’t follow through. 91786-3911 to be on sale at Millennium Philcon. Deb Geisler’s sensible answer covers all Sandy Cohen, E-mail: [[Source: PSFS News 7/2001]] the bases. Clip it, and store it where you can [email protected] and Evelyn Leeper claims a book-buying find it later! Deb told Laura, “Save *you*...If [email protected] spree forced her to find more time to read. the group is meant to survive as a group, it Buzz Dixon, E-mail: She solved the problem by retiring. “Well, will save itself. As for the club, consider [email protected] okay,” she admits, “the fact that Lucent of- what clubs are for: they are groups of like- Richard Foss, E-mail: fered a very good early retirement package minded people who gather together for fun [email protected] had something to do with it.” Her last day at and frolic and education and companionship. Robert Kennedy, E-mail: work was July 13. If this particular club is meeting the needs of [email protected] Will Shetterly and Emma Bull are its members, other members, seeing you Tim & Kathy Kyger, 1825 North Hills “inordinately proud” to announce: (1) A stepping away, will step in and work to keep Ave., Willow Grove PA 19090-3703 beautiful new edition of Emma’s War For it together.” Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink, E-mail: The Oaks , an elegant trade paperback of [email protected] Will’s Chimera , and the Flash Girls’ lovely Dream Job in (both) Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink & Jerome new album, Play Each Morning Wild Queen , Craig Engler, General Manager, is spreading Scott, E-mail: [email protected] have all come out this summer; and (2) they the word that SCIFI.COM, the official site of Shaun Lyon & Chad Jones, 15848 Lahey have newly remodeled web pages at: http:// the SCI FI Channel and the largest general St., Granada Hills, CA 91344 www.player.org/pub/flash/ew.html. Will interest SF site on the Internet, needs an ex- Christian McGuire, E-mail: elaborates, “They have information about us; perienced Community Producer. Do you [email protected] Will’s dad, the oldest person to sail solo qualify? Craig Miller, E-mail: [email protected] around the world; Emma’s band, the Flash “The ideal candidate will have experience Pierre & Sandy Pettinger, 5100 Leighton Girls; some useful writing links; some books leading community discussions, moderating Ave., Lincoln, NE 68504 that we recommend for writers; and our writ- live celebrity chat events and monitoring Jerome Scott, E-mail: ing workshops.” Web-based bulletin board systems. Other [email protected] Michael Burstein has been elected a responsibilities will include professionally Steven & Elaine Silver, 707 Sapling Lane, member of the Brookline Town Meeting. Joe and effectively corresponding with our mem- Deerfield, IL 60015-3969 Ross has been elected co-chair of the Town bers, creating weekly member newsletter Bjo Trimble, E-mail: Meeting Association of Brookline. [[Source: updates, maintaining site FAQs, and helping [email protected] Instant Message #686]] to develop new community initiatives as well Wilson (Bob) Tucker, E-mail: Keith Stokes alerts File 770 readers that as propose ways to better serve our member- [email protected] photos of DemiCon fan guest of honor Ta- ship and help increase enrollment. We are dao Tomomatsu can be found at: looking for someone who is reliable, friendly Dafyd ab Hugh recently tried to call Ray http://www.kcsciencefiction.org/01demi and courteous, someone who is passionate Capella. “[I] got a very confused woman who 01.htm about the science fiction genre, and someone professed never to have heard of him (in fact, Craig Miller spent two weeks in June at who feels comfortable interacting with I think she attempted to convince me that the Annecy International Animation Festival, SCIFI.COM members. The job is based out poor Ray never existed at all, but I'm not and meetings in Paris. of SCI FI’s mid-town Manhattan offices. sure, as she spoke with a heavy Khazaksta- Laurraine Tutihasi has released her Please send your resume and a cover letter nian accent). Is he still all right? Did he latest fanzine, Feline Mewsings #4 . The high- move? Did he simply disconnect the phone light of the issue is the account of DUFF to avoid being caught up in the tendrils of winner Cathy Cupitt's visit to LA. The issue the Chandra Levy web of deceit? If you is available online at: have his current, please pass it along.” http://members.aol.com/felinemewsings/. Well, you asked for it! Rhonda Kay Marsh and Tayvon James Some aquatic artwork came enclosed Hageman wed on August 4 at the Littleton with Ray Capella’s change of address: Church of Christ in Littleton, Colorado. “The mermaid comes by way of telling [[Source: DASFAx 7/2001]] you the Capellas have moved. ‘Twas a Errata: Thanks to Dave Langford for terrible hassle, getting out of Alhambra correcting the URL for the R.A. Lafferty site after 26 years, (21 in our last address) but mentioned last issue. It should read: although the weather’s colder here, the http://www.mulle-kybernetik.de/RAL/ mountains on our northern horizon make up for it. Just looking at them each morn is Carolina Club Off Life Support enough for me.” Research Triangle Science Fiction Society August 2001 9 Report from Tokyo By Leah Zeldes Smith

[[Leah Zeldes Smith and her husband, Dick, Chef.”) Inoue and his wife, Tamie, as well as recently visited Japan. Here is Leah’s write- a number of other Nippon 2007 bidcom up about meeting the Japan in 2007 bidders members were there, and we spent an agree- on their home turf. Leah’s complete trip re- able afternoon smoffing. port will appear in a future issue of their All the Japanese fans we met spoke some fanzine, STET.]] English, enough to introduce themselves, at least. (Everyone in Japan studies English in “When you’re a fan, you have friends all school but this doesn’t mean they actually over the world …even if you haven’t met learn it -- often the teachers can’t really them yet.” speak English either. While in Japan, we also That somewhat old-fashioned fannish met with a fellow who’d spent a summer sentiment still has much truth in it, as my with Dick’s family some 25 years ago as an husband, Dick, and I found when we visited exchange student. He’s now a junior-high- Tokyo this spring. school English teacher … and his English is The excursion was a business trip for just passable.) Dick, who was being sent to install software Japanese fandom is, as you’d expect, at the Tokyo office of his firm and help cover more literate in English than the average an interim gap left by someone quitting the Leah Zeldes with Bob Tucker at this Japanese. They all read English better than company. I went along on frequent-flyer month’s Tucker Tribute. Photo by they speak it and understand more spoken points. Keith Stokes. English than they can articulate. Several fans A little while before we left for Asia we spoke English quite well, for which we were went to Beverly Friend’s Passover seder, a we’d be delighted to meet any Japanese fans very grateful, since our Japanese is limited to large and cosmopolitan affair. Fred Pohl and if any were interested in meeting us. Ulti- such phrases a s ohayo gozaimasu (“good Betty Hull were also there, and they asked if mately, we got several replies, and arranged morning”), domo arigato (“thank you very we were going to see any Japanese fans to meet with a few fans at our hotel on Sun- much”), wakarimasen (“I don’t understand”), while we were in Tokyo. We said that we day, May 6. and the names of sushi. wanted to, but the only Japanese fan we felt I would have known the group that gath- Later we were to go to dinner -- “The somewhat acquainted with, Masamichi ered in the coffee bar of our hotel for fans details are secret for your enjoyment,” e-mail Osako (who had been the Japanese agent for anywhere, even without spotting the Chicon from Masayuki Muratani read. The group Australia in ’99), lived in Osaka, and we jacket Shigeru Hayashida sported. They that was going piled into two minivans, one weren’t going there. We had, of course, met would look fannish no matter where they belonging to the Inoues, and one belonging the very charming elder statesman of Japa- were, but in comparison to the other groups to Atushi Morioka, a fan who lives some six nese fandom, Takumi Shibano, and his wife, in the bar -- Japanese salarymen and tourists hours away from Tokyo in Mie prefecture, Sachiko, a number of times at -- they were unmistakable. Especially by but had been spending the Golden Week over the years, but we thought it unlikely Japanese standards, many of them are even holidays visiting. We went with Morioka. they would remember us amid the crowds of fannishly-shaped. We were evidently early for our dinner American fans they meet every year. I felt at home for the first time in Tokyo. reservation, so the Inoues decided we should “Oh,” said Betty, “if you let Shibano-san Even their behavior was typically fannish do some sightseeing on the way. They know you are coming, you will be treated -- buy one drink a piece; sit for hours. (Of phoned (everybody has a cell phone in Japan) royally.” And Fred described various in- course, this makes sense in Tokyo, where back to tell the fans in our car, who included stances of royal treatment he had received at drinks tend to be priced as if you’re paying Hirohide “Jack R.” Hirai and Muratani, that the hands of Japanese fandom. I said that I for the real estate you take up while drinking. they should describe the sights we were pass- thought the reception accorded to Frederik Food is more reasonable, and service -- eve- ing. The result was so reminiscent of our tour Pohl and Dr. Elizabeth Anne Hull might, rywhere -- is incredibly good.) of Old Sydney with Eric Lindsay that I could deservedly, be somewhat grander than the We were surprised and gratified by the barely refrain from laughing (“There’s some- one likely to be given to Dick and Leah large turnout -- more than a dozen fans were thing famous and important here, but I can’t Smith, unknown and ordinary fans from there. The Shibanos came, even though they remember what it’s famous for.”) I have no Chicago. live in a fairly distant suburb of Tokyo, and doubt, though, that, like Eric, they could But we sent an aerogramme to the Shi- brought with them a copy of STET and other have taken us to every bookstore and elec- banos giving the particulars of our trip and publications of ours, such as the Chicon res- tronics store in the vicinity. saying that we would love to talk with them taurant guide, and such things as the Chicon We stopped in Asakusa, the site of a fa- again if they cared to contact us. I also took a program book, bearing our names as depart- mous Shinto shrine, which features two large look at the Nippon in 2007 Worldcon bid’s ment heads, and the SFWA directory, listing ornamental gates and a shopping arcade, Web page and sent off e-mail to the only me as a member. where several fans bought traditional Japa- address I could find on it — that of the chair- Koichiro Noda, another elder statesman of nese goodies to share. Hanging from one of man, Hiroaki Inoue, whom we’d met very Japanese fandom, also dropped by. (In his the gates was a gigantic sandal, which the briefly at Chicon — saying we were U.S. day job, he is the president of Nihon Tele- fans assured us was Godzilla’s shoe. fans who were going to be in Tokyo and that Work K.K., the company that produces “Iron The secret dinner turned out to be on a 10 File 770:139 traditional Japanese houseboat on the Sumida more visible, to bid at conventions beyond list of all the noteworthy events going on in River. We all stepped aboard, removing our Worldcon, and to convince American skep- the SF world, from book releases and movie shoes, to be seated on tatami mats at low tics that the convention they run will respect premieres to awards and conventions. Right tables, already spread with a gorgeous array Worldcon’s traditions, as opposed to being a now a lot of fannish events like the DUFF of sashimi. A variety of crispy tempura fol- Japanese natcon under another name. and TAFF races are not in the calendar, but lowed. It was one of the best meals we had “I think they will run a Worldcon like we hope to add them soon. To speed the on the trip, both for food and company. Worldcon,” said Takumi Shibano. process I’d like to invite interested fans to Most of the crowd who turned up to meet I think so, too. submit events at http://www.scifi.com/ us had been to several Worldcons and were events /. We’ll add any event that would be of very interested in talking about how to pro- interest to a general SF fan, whether it’s a mote the Nippon 2007 bid. We said that Open Channel regional convention, a local fundraiser or a Japanese fandom needed to make itself more Craig Engler, General Manager of one-of-a-kind occurrence like the Tucker visible as part of the Worldcon community. SCIFI.COM and cover-to-cover reader of Tribute.” Although dozens of Japanese fans come to File 770 , submitted comments and updates Worldcon annually, few American fans about some of the stories covered last issue: Wolfmill Will Develop really notice. Craig Engler: “The Dragonriders TV They’ve held a semi-invitational party, to Top Internet Comic As TV Series series was canceled due to a dispute over the Following the success of Pocket Dragon which Shibano issued the invitations, yearly show’s creative direction, according to ex- since at least the 1980s (I first attended one at Adventures , their first television series, and ecutive producer Ronald D. Moore. He the start of pre-production on Elfquest , their L.A.con II). At Chicon VI, which was at- wanted to create a ‘serious’ series that was tended by more than 40 Japanese fans, they first feature film, Wolfmill Entertainment has faithful to the books while the WB reportedly acquired the rights to Astounding Space held their first open bid party. Because of the wanted a Buffy -esque show. It seems likely language barrier, they’ve tend to cluster to- Thrills , the internet’s most popular adventure that Pern won’t have another shot at making comic strip. gether at Worldcon and not mingle too much it onto TV until some of the rights issues with other fans, and they’ve not volunteered A few short years into the 21st century, resolve themselves. there was The Shift. The laws governing the to work much on Worldcon, a lack we told “On a happier note, my beloved employer them they must rectify. universe changed -- time now flows at a dif- SCI FI is creating a series based on River- ferent angle, space folds against the grain, Still, they seemed more astute about world by Philip Jose Farmer. It will be ex- Worldcon and its workings than most of the and positive particles aren’t so sure! Wel- ecutive produced by writer/director Alex come to the universe of Astounding Space Australians we talked to before 1999. For Proyas ( The Crow, Dark City ). example, Inoue makes his living as an anime Thrills ! “On an odd note, the A&E channel re- “Steve Conley’s created a fascinating producer, and some of the others work in cently announced it was going to make a related industries, but they wondered whether universe filled with entertaining characters movie based on Lathe of Heaven , even who give Astounding Space Thrills a quirky mentioning that in their bidding materials though there already is a Lathe movie that would give people the wrong idea of the kind humor that blends perfectly with the adven- recently reappeared on PBS. I was thinking turous stories he tells,” said Marv Wolfman, of convention they intend to run. It was clear about sending A&E a note to let them know that they see a difference between anime and a partner in Wolfmill Entertainment. that Le Guin has written--and continues to The Astounding Space Thrills website cons and science-fiction conventions, write--many other fine novels that are worthy and that the latter is what they want to put gets over 6,000 hits a day. In addition to a of movie-dom. constantly growing daily readership, AST on. “Now that I’m more tied into the pro- Several of them, including Inoue, spoke has earned praise for its fun stories, vivid gramming side of SCI FI (yes, that spelling is characters and terrific art. It’s the winner of about the kinds of science fiction that ap- correct; it’s no longer ‘Sci-Fi Channel’), I’ve pealed to them and that brought them into the Eagle Award for Favorite Online Comic/ been encouraging the channel folks to look at E-Zine Eagle, the Squiddie fandom, and it was all solidly literary stuff, if some of the great literary works of SF that heavy on . (However, most of (fromRec.Arts.Comics) for Best Web Comic, are not necessarily mainstream enough to be and has been recommended by the Friends these fans are old enough to have started under option elsewhere, although once you reading SF at a time when the genre in Amer- Of Lulu organization as “Women and Kid start looking around for novels and stories to Friendly.” ica had just barely progressed past that turn into movies and TV series, you’d be stage.) They do hope to use the Worldcon, if surprised how many are unavailable. To their possible, as a means of introducing the rest credit (and they deserve heaps of credit) our of fandom to , but programming guys and girls are aware of said that would be a very small part of the 85% of the books and stories out there...we programming. This concerns them slightly. usually just can’t get them. I’m working on “Because we will have to import so many getting them interested in the other 15% that things, for the program and so on,” said no one else knows about. Although my baili- Hirai, “we are worried that people (from wick is not necessarily TV, I’m pleased to America) will think it is boring.” We assured say that a con going, fanzine reading, cos- them that the more like a U.S. Worldcon they tume wearing (every now and again), book could make their con, the better most Ameri- collecting fan reports directly to the president can fans would probably like it. Just being in of SCI FI and can be in the meetings to sug- Japan would be exotic enough for most U.S. gest authors, books, etc., that otherwise fans. might be overlooked. They’re rather less savvy about bidding “Finally, there is a new feature on than they need to be, but so are most first- SCIFI.COM that I wanted to let fans know time bidders. We told them they need to be about: our Events Calendar. The calendar is a August 2001 11

ducted posthumously. Robin the bookstore staff had assembled an amaz- Bailey’s presentation of ing selection of the attendees works. They Leiber was heartfelt and sold well and the store sold out the imported very moving. Justin Leiber hard cover, numbered chapbooks of McDon- was present to accept on ald’s “Tendeleo’s Story” and almost sold out behalf of his late father and the numbered trade editions. participate in the rest of the The conference continued through late conference. afternoon. Next on the program was Many of the attendees had supper in a presentation of the Theodore couple of large groups at Paisano’s Risto- Sturgeon Award for the best rante in Lawrence, before returning to the short science fiction of 2000. college for the Hall of Fame film program Following brief presenta- sponsored by Oread Bookstore. The free tions on the 3 rd and 2nd program included two movies and a long place finishers, Lucius unseen documentary, “Lunch With John W. Shepard’s “Radiant Green Campbell.” The film was narrated by Jim Star” and Stephen Baxter’s Gunn and featured a 1971 editorial luncheon “Sheena 5,” Ian McDonald between John Campbell, Gordon Dickson received the award for and Harry Harrison. The movies were both “Tendeleo’s Story.” McDon- based on Campbell’s “Who Goes There,” ald accepted, having flown The Thing From Another Planet and John Professor James Gunn. Photo by Keith Stokes. in from Northern Ireland for Carpenter’s The Thing . the weekend. Sunday’s mornings session of the confer- This year’s John W. Campbell Memorial ence was less formal, with Jim Gunn asking Award had an unique three-way tie for sec- the attendees about their writing processes Campbell Conference ond place between Mary Gentle’s Ash , and the field. Ian McDonald’s comments Robert Sawyer’s Calculating God , and Jack about the current and recent state of the genre Report by Keith Stokes McDevitt’s Infinity Beach . Sheri Tepper’s in the UK were particularly interesting. The Reprinted by permission of the author from Fresco placed third. Paul Carter announced gathering broke up shortly before noon, with Chronicles of the Dawn Patrol the win for Poul Anderson’s Genesis . Ander- folks heading out to catch flights home. son (who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in For me, the best parts of the Campbell The 23rd Campbell Conference was held in 2001) was unable to attend, but Jim Gunn Conference are its small size, 40-50 people, Lawrence, Kansas on July 6-8, 2001. The read a brief note from Anderson as well as an which allows attendees to actually meet and Conference is the concluding event in a two- amusing note from Barry N. Malzberg, win- get to know most of the people, and the equal week intensive Writers Workshop and the ner of the first award in 1973. participation by all ages and levels of experi- first event in a two-week intensive science Following the awards, many of the atten- ence in the field. I loved the nearby Bed and fiction course at the University of Kansas. dees gathered in a very warm study room in Breakfast where some of us chose to stay this Participants in the conference included Jim one of the dormitories for conversation and year, and hope that next year enough atten- Gunn, Fred Pohl, Elizabeth Ann Hull, Kij snacks. was particularly popular, dees stay there to take over the house. The Johnson, Paul Carter, Robin Wayne Bailey sharing her folding fan with whomever she 2002 session is tentatively scheduled for July and Christopher McKitterick was talking with. 12-14. Photos: http:// The Campbell Conference was started The actual conference began at 9 a.m. on www.kcsciencefiction.org/01camp01.htm when the John W. Campbell Memorial Saturday morning. As usual, the 40+ atten- Award for the best science fiction novel of dees gathered around one the year was presented for the first time at the large table. This year’s topic University. The first Campbell Award was was Science Fiction in the presented at the Illinois Institute of Technol- Electronic Era. Jim Gunn ogy in 1973. It was presented in various parts posed the first question and of the world, before settling in Lawrence in the conversation was off. 1979. Everyone in the widely var- The weekend kicked off on Friday eve- ied group had something to ning with a dinner in a private room at Mrs. contribute. In addition to the E’s Kitchen in one of the campus residence previously mentioned atten- halls. The fairly simple buffet was very good dees, there were teachers, for banquet food. beginning writers, students Presentations followed the dinner, led off and readers. Sally Grotta, by the 6th year of induction to the Science contributing editor to PC Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Brief pres- Magazine , had many insight- entations by present and past members of the ful comments. Hall of Fame Board of Directors highlighted Following lunch, there the careers of Jack Vance and Ursula K. Le was a 45-minute autograph Guin. Both inductees were unable to attend, session in the Oread Book- but Le Guin may participate in the 2002 Con- store in the same building. Robin Bailey’s presentation to Justin Leiber, ference. The turnout for autographs accepting Hall of Fame honors on behalf of his and Alfred Bester were in- was smaller than usual, but father, the late Fritz Leiber. Photo by Keith Stokes. 12 File 770:139 Freelancers Rule! The Tasini Decision Explained Commentary by Francis Hamit Copyright 2001, All Rights Reserved

On June 25, 2001, in New York Times Co. When the Web came on-line, it became vs. Tasini et al , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled possible to resell articles directly to consum- against the big media companies and in favor ers. Libraries and corporations had been of the little guy (and girl). This may be the buying articles by fax from CARL/Uncover best thing to happen to freelance writers for some time. This became a model for elec- since the invention of the World Wide Web tronic distribution. However, the Court has in 1993. made it plain that reproducing an article by In fact, the invention of the Web probably electronic means is a second publication and sparked the suit filed by Jonathan Tasini and that, absent a contract to the contrary, this some friends against the New York Times use must be paid for again. and other big media companies on December Now, I knew this all along. The 1976 16 that same year. Copyright Law makes it very plain. Copy- It was very obvious that the Web was right was redefined as a form of real estate: a going to change the way that information is bundle of rights that could be divided as the distributed. It suddenly became possible to owner willed. If you own land fee simple, take printed material with graphic enhance- you can pretty much do what you want with ments such as photos, charts and illustrations it as long as you don’t injure the rights and and put them in an easily-accessed electronic interests of your neighbors and pay your form which could also be printed out. taxes. It’s yours. You can build a house, What follows is not to be construed as grow a crop, or drill for oil or all three, in legal advice of any kind. I’m not a lawyer. searchers, ranging from high school students theory. However, any freelance writer who doesn’t to academics to those engaged in that very If you create an original work, you now have a very close familiarity with the Copy- interesting field, competitive intelligence, automatically have a copyright. When you right Law is, to speak plainly, a fool. I started want copies which they usually buy from one sell the article or short story in the usual way, studying the law when Congress revised it in of the electronic database companies, or on an oral agreement, you have not sold any- 1976. I was already selling a few articles download for free directly from the maga- thing but the right to print the item in a par- while working a series of day jobs. I thought zine’s website. ticular magazine. The publisher also has a it rather important to know just what I was The publishers and database companies copyright, but that covers the arrangement selling. have always held that such publication was and presentation of the material. This is a key Most writers don’t think too much about merely an extension of the original edition factor in the Supreme Court decision. the fact that they are in business. This causes and therefore covered by the initial first You retain all the other rights. That in- them to make poor decisions. One of the rights payment for the article. Tasini and cludes the right to make copies and sell them reasons that it is so hard to make a living as a friends disagreed, and were finally upheld, to the public. This is what the electronic freelance writer is that there are so many more than seven years later, by the U.S. Su- databases do. The Court decided, because people too eager to get a byline. There’s one preme Court. they can be searched for individual articles writer I know who, on her first assignment The decision wasn’t even close -- seven to and deliver them as single copies, that this for one magazine, spent over $800 to earn a two with Justice Ginsberg writing for the was not an extension of the first publication, $200 check. How could she afford it? She majority. It cut across all the usual political but a separate one. couldn’t, but she had a husband who could. and ideological lines, because the Copyright The three that carry my articles charge Editors and publishers exploit this. It’s a Law is actually clearly written and easy to anywhere from a dollar to 25 dollars per classic supply and demand problem. Too understand. Ginsberg’s opinion is elegantly article. They made their deal with the pub- many people willing to do the work makes written and also easy to understand, and there lishers, who claimed to own the copyrights the work hardly worth doing if you have bills is no appeal. when they did not, and who put themselves to pay. There’s a big difference between a Big media lost big time. The majority of forth as the copyright owner. This is a sepa- business and a hobby. the thousands of print magazines out there rate issue, but an important one. It is a Fed- Being professional means getting paid. depend very heavily on freelancers, but use eral crime, carrying a fine of up to $2,500 to The Tasini decision is about who owns what their economic power to keep rates low, or if fraudulently omit or alter a copyright notice. and how they get paid for it. What is at issue they pay decent rates, want the freelancer to I’ve just spent a week writing demand is not the initial payment for the piece sign a contract that essentially gives the pub- letters, covering 250 of my copyrighted arti- (article, short story, etc.), but the money that lisher all of the rights in the piece. At a dollar cles published since 1991. That’s about a sometimes comes in after. I write magazine a word or more I used to sign these things, fourth of my entire career’s output, but not articles for a living (or did; I’m currently on too. everything I did in that period. Some maga- sabbatical, writing novels). There is a market Until recently, reselling an article just zines simply published the articles and let it for copies of these articles after they are pub- wasn’t an issue. I can count, literally on the go at that. lished. Firms mentioned in an article often fingers of one hand, the number of times I’ve I have been congratulated for being so want reprints of it to include in their press kit sold an article that appeared in one magazine prolific, but it’s not so much wanting to write or to give to prospective customers. Re- to appear a second time in another magazine. so many articles as having to. It’s called August 2001 13

“making a living.” two real editors who actually put the book To return to the real estate analogy for Most people who try being freelance writ- together and get it published. (“Book” in this copyrights, you don’t actually “sell” an arti- ers fail because they can’t get the work in the context, means one issue of a magazine). cle or short story. You rent it out and get it first place; not enough of it to pay their bills There used to be a lot more in-house staff back when the person who has paid for it is anyway. Having been disabled in a car acci- editors before various computer software done with it. One database, Northern Light, dent in 1993, I didn’t have a choice. It was programs made the job easier and quicker. claims 1.9 million unique users a month. this or SSI and SSI won’t pay my bills. I am Electronic databases and websites have made Ingenta (formerly Uncover) claims 1.4 mil- also good enough to get premium rates. it easier for publishers to extend their lion. The potential is huge. Editors like my stuff. However, being better “brand” and to exploit the editorial material These after-market sales are potentially paid also makes you a target when the bean- in their publications. the writer’s equivalent of an actor performing counters come around looking to cut costs. Some do it for free. That, too, is an ero- in a commercial. You get paid for the day I’ve always been philosophical about this: all sion of the freelancers’ rights to profit from (or first use) and then you get a residual gigs come to an end. their work. every time it runs. I discovered my own personal limit for For seven years I wrote a column for a Publishers will try and bully everyone doing quality work was around fifty articles a security magazine. I was contemplating put- into signing all-rights or “work-for-hire” year. It’s very much a continuous process of ting together some of these columns as a contracts. They may hire more staff, but that selling as well as doing the work. You never book, which I would then make available means higher base expenses such as office write without an assignment. Every article is from one of the Print-on-Demand book com- space, salaries and benefits. “All Rights” a separate contract, a separate check, usually panies. However, whatever market for such a give the publisher the whole pie instead of “paid on publication.” You learn very book there might have been has been killed just a piece. It seems logical that such deals quickly that you have very little bargaining because all of the columns are available free will carry much higher prices. power. They can and will give the work to on the magazine’s website. Why buy it when Me, I’d rather have the revenue stream, someone else. There are thousands of com- you can download it for nothing? I wasn’t even if I had to split it fifty-fifty with the petitors, many almost as good as you are. expecting to make a lot of money from that publishers. This allows them to keep their And no one cares about how you pay your book, but neither was I doing it just to be front-end costs down, and still to enjoy some rent or other expenses. A late check is not doing it. of the ancillary revenue. The whole copyright their problem; it’s yours. I’m a professional. Professionals get paid. notice issue has to be resolved as well. Au- Under such circumstances, it is easy to The Big Media companies, having lost the thor’s copyrights have to be displayed. Own- turn into a hack. To take on work simply for case, are now having a big snit and threaten- ership is power. the extra money. However, if you’re not ing to destroy large parts of their own data- What has any of this to do with science fully engaged in the story, it’s going to show bases by omitting all freelance contributions. fiction, the fascinating technical issue aside? and hurt the quality of the writing. Just be- Tasini, who is, not coincidentally, the Presi- Simply this: While I was looking for my own cause you can churn out seven articles a dent of the National Writer’s Union (Full stuff on databases like Northern Light and week doesn’t mean you should. Disclosure: I, too, have been a member and Ingenta I saw that they had material on offer I was always on guard about the quality am about to rejoin), says that they should try from Astounding and other science fiction and very fortunate to have an in-house copy and just make a fair arrangement with the magazines and from Locus , where Mike editor, Leigh Strother-Vien, who has been writers for such use. The Supreme Court Glyer and so many others in fandom have my Permanent Temporary House Guest these declined to issue an injunction against the published long articles. You probably have last twelve years. media companies and kicked that issue back no copyright interest in a letter of comment Since I was giving such high quality to the appeals court for a decision on how since that’s a voluntary expression that falls work, I put my editors on notice that I would such a mechanism could be devised. It cited pretty quickly into the public domain. An handle my own reprint rights a few years ago several models in a footnote. article, even one you weren’t paid for, is and began contacting potential buyers di- My own take on this is that Big Media is different. You didn’t sign away these other rectly, cautioning them, among other things, bluffing. They spent millions of dollars rights. (Did you?) that if they just planned to photocopy the building these assets and would have to And what do we do in the present in- article form the magazine, they were violat- spend millions more taking them apart. That stance, where File 770 has started its own ing the law. My editors were uncomfortable would inspire another kind of lawsuit, from online publication? Well, Glyer doesn’t pay and one even claimed I was hurting reprint shareholders. You are not allowed to flood anything and doesn’t make any real money sales even though I was instructing buyers to your own mine if you have other peo- from this rather worthy enterprise, so you do buy them from the magazine(s). ple’s interests at stake. what I’m going to do. You give him a letter Reprints are a big business for trade (not an e-mail) with your actual signature magazines. Some have separate departments giving him the rights to publish your material to handle such sales. What they never had, on the File 770 website, but not elsewhere. even before the Supreme Court decision in I’m not going to get into the particulars of the Tasini case, was the right to do so. They my own claims for legal and strategic rea- assumed since it was from their pages their sons. If you need more information on this copyright applied. They were half right. The you can find The Supreme Court Decision on author’s copyright also applies. I was per- their website and the Copyright Law and suaded to stop insisting on my rights with Regulations on the Copyright Office website. these magazines in order to continue to get Ain’t technology grand? You want to pay the work. Being a “Contributing Editor” particular attention to Chapters 201, 404 and makes you a de facto member of the staff 504 of the law and Chapter 1600 of the without any of the usual benefits. Some of Copyright Office regulations, which covers the magazines I’ve done work for have as written transfers of copyright interests. Very many as 17 Contributing Editors and maybe illuminating. 14 File 770:139

members of the Trader range of interests that seems remarkable Team, imperial spy Dominic today but was typical of LASFSians in the Flandry and his nemesis 1960s. Aycharaych the Chereionite, Don Simpson praised Jack’s art and and others. Poul also wrote fanwriting: “I loved Harness’s creations some great wish-fulfillment [including] the M’taah-horn-equipped, science fiction, like High trisexual Objectivist Mutated Mice (I think Crusade , where low-tech I’m probably missing yet another adjective knights conquer a starfaring or two here) with their guidebook Guilt empire, and “A Bicycle Built Without Fear …. I greatly admired Jack’s fan Obituaries for Brew” with its odd writing, and thought that if he wrote as well melding of humor and hard about mundane life he could make a living Poul Anderson science. And, he collaborated with Gordon as a columnist. Jack turned my rooms at the One of science fiction’s greatest writers, Dickson on the whimsical Hoka stories. Pollyanna Apartments, most easily reached Poul Anderson, died of prostate cancer on Poul’s passing received wide notice in by going through a laundromat and up the July 31 at the age of 75. Thanks to the the media. His obituary ran in dozens of back stairs, into a place entered from inside internet, on the day before Poul died he papers around the world and on CBS radio the laundromat (through a dryer, I think).” received hundreds of e-mails and messages news. The coverage was extensive and Jack’s art was mainly seen within the from friends and readers and fellow writers, generally insightful. LASFS. He did countless APA-L covers. I which Poul’s daughter, Astrid, and his wife, A memorial service for Poul was held at had the good fortune to have artwork-on- Karen, printed out and read to him. Greg the First Unitarian Church in Oakland on stencil from him to use in the early, mimeo Bear told fans online, “He died knowing August 4. Jerry Pournelle convened the issues of Prehensile . Charlie Jackson II (and how!) that he was loved and valued, ceremonies. The Andersons’ niece, Janet, remembers discussing comics and hearing how much his work had enter- played the piano. did a with Jack, who decided what was needed tained and moved so many.” brilliant job of summing up people’s appre- next was funny vegetable comics. He drew Poul broke into print in 1947, with his ciation of Poul Anderson. some of those. To finish the sequence, he co-written story "Tomorrow's Children" in Members of the family spoke, including went on to draw funny mineral comics. And, Astounding , and became well-known in the Poul's brother, John. According to Marty finally, funny ether comic strips. early 1950s through short stories like “Sam Halpern online, John began by saying Larry Niven remembers that Jack pre- Hall” and his novels Three Hearts and Three “Some of you might be surprised to learn sented him with a parchment scroll at a club Lions and . Fans were so im- that Poul had a brother; I'm not the least bit event, not long after the publication of pressed by his writing he was invited as surprised!” John went on, explaining that Larry’s famous LASFS-based story, “What Worldcon GoH in 1959, very early in a long while Poul studied physics, he became an Can You Say About Chocolate Covered career. anthropologist. John said he was one of the Manhole Covers?” The parchment answered When I became an active fan a dozen first to explore the Ellsworth mountain range the question: “The American Dental Asso- years later, he was my favorite sf writer. I in Antarctica: he was able to take three other ciation says they are bad for children’s remember the pleasure of visiting the people with him. Poul, on the other hand, teeth.” Change of Hobbit bookstore in 1972 at its through his writing, was able to take mil- Jack was a costumer, too. Many still original location above a laundromat in lions with him to the stars. remember his appearance in the 1978 Westwood, and taking home a trove of out- Worldcon masquerade as “Lord Fowl’s of-print Anderson works. He was always at Jack Harness Bane” – I’m sure Jack wouldn’t mind that Westercons and Worldcons: there was never it’s the pun they remember, more than the November 3, 1933-July 13, 2001 costume. After all, his minimalist costumes a friendlier or more accessible pro. I had the One of LASFS’ zaniest fans and its fortune to be able to invite him as a Guest of were generally an excuse to get his gag read secretary for many years, Jack Harness, died in front of the masquerade audience. I Honor of the 1978 Westercon. in the hospital while undergoing an an- Poul was that rare combination, a prolific participated in Jack’s extemporaneous giogram on July 13. His hilarious minutes “Duck Savage” entry at the 1974 Westercon, sf writer and one of the genre’s leading made such an impression that years ago the literary lights. a parody of the overexposed Doc Savage club officially changed the title its secretary movie trailer being shown many times a day During Poul’s career, fans voted him to Jack’s nickname, “Scribe.” seven Hugos (all for short fiction published in the film room. The “costumes” involved Jack had called Lee Gold on July 12 to four fans wearing yellow paper duckbills before 1982) and the Gandalf Grand Master say that his pacemaker/defibrillator had Award for Fantasy (1978). His colleagues taped to their upper lips, the last of them, given him a shock, so he’d gone to Kaiser Harness, flexing in a ripped t-shirt as “the voted him three Nebulas (also for short Hospital. The doctors ran tests, and “They fiction) and the SFWA Grand Master Duck of Bronze.” agree it’s not life-threatening,” he told Lee. Filking gave Jack another audience for Award. Poul was one of SFWA's early “Don’t worry. Tell everybody that I’m Presidents (1972-1973.) He was inducted his humor. Lee Gold recalled in APA-L, chipper.” Unfortunately, Jack died during “[Jack] wrote strange filksongs over the into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of his angiogram the next day. Fame in 2000, and was still writing award- years, from ‘He to Whom You Must Not “Scribe” started as a parody of Rosicru- Mention She Who Must Not Be Named,’ to winning stories: his latest novel, Genesis , cian ads signed “Scribe Such-and-such,” but won the John W. Campbell Memorial a number of roleplaying songs, including a it stuck as Jack’s nickname. His other D&D verse for Tom Digby’s Award for Best Novel in 2001. fannish pseudonyms included Jxtn Muir, As good as his award-winners were, Poul ‘Defenestration.’ He sent me a song for Alhazred ibn Cthulhu, and Rosharn. Xenofilkia only two weeks ago, ‘Son of a is even better remembered for his popular He was highly accomplished at every- stories about charismatic personalities like Creature-Man’ to the tune of ‘Son of a thing fannish -- including writing, art, Preacher Man.’” Karen Anderson wrote magnate Nicholas Van Rijn, the three costuming, filking, gaming and punning, a August 2001 15 online, “During the Sunday afternoon science in such journals as Science Digest, we had communicated back and forth via e- ‘Freedom Filk’ at Marcon a couple of Science, Health, Fate, Creation/Evolution, mail and zines, and spoken together on the months ago, one of the singers announced Skeptical Review ; and The Skeptical Inquirer , phone, we'd only met once, at a small press himself as ‘the world’s best Objectivist filk- especially on creationist manifestos and on fair he was coordinating. singer.’ Without thinking, I asked him where historical (and present-day) Flat Earth theo- Cliff was 56 years old when he died. His his M’taah Horn was -- and then ran into the ries. These included two articles in Isaac funeral was held on May 31. Ms. Clenyg- impossibility of explaining Objectivist Asimov’s Jones said in her letter that a Life After Death Mutated Mice.” (December, 1980 and Sept. 28, 1981). issue of The Blotter will be issued to com- Lee Gold also gave an example of Jack’s I don't think I ever saw him when he memorate Cliff's life. enthusiasm for gaming. “In 1974, after Owen wasn't smiling--never a smile of contempt, and Eclare Hannifen had introduced us to but rather one of joy at being a world that In Passing D&D, Jack also took up the game. I fondly had so many strange ideas to examine and so Huntsville, AL fan Jannis Marie Melton- remember his talkative lady named many strange people to debate with. His Woosley passed away April 16 at the age of Yepaleif (nicknamed Yapalot, and often the widow, Wendy Schadewald, said that he was 45. Her many contributions to fandom subject of a variant use of Hold Portal to working on several books at once; unfortu- included running ConStellation’s smoking keep her mouth shut).” Jack was also pas- nately his time ran out before finishing any con suite. She is survived by her husband Jim sionately entertained by LASFS Poker, and of them. Woosley, her daughter Jeanne Marie Tidwell, invented some of its most ridiculous games. and son Jayson Kirby Woosley. The entire (He may be have been responsible for a stud family is active in fandom. [[Source: The variant named “Girdle Sale In Yankee NASFA Shuttle , 5/2001 ]] Stadium.”) Longtime FAPA member and former Several of Jack’s former roommates Toronto Derelict Boyd Raeburn died in mentioned his cooking prowess. June Moffatt August, after several days in a coma. and Jack were both “survivors” of the expe- [[Source: Robert Lichtman, Joyce Scrivner]] dition to the Kapok restaurant during the In May, , creator of The 1975 Westercon, infamous because the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy , died in restaurant gave the wrong directions about Santa Barbara of a heart attack. He was 49. where to get off the BART, and everyone Hitchhiker’s Guide began as a satirical radio walked the last 15 blocks there. June said it series in 1978, was later produced for televi- was worth it, because the food was fabulous, sion, and branched out in a series of best- and she recalls that when a tasty new dish selling books including The Restaurant at the arrived at the table, Jack wanted to know, End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and “How do you make this?” By the end of the Everything and So Long, and Thanks For All meal, he was in the kitchen taking lessons Cliff Kennedy the Fish . how to make Chinese food. Appreciation by Lloyd Penney After getting the news, the Melbourne SF Jack’s recovery from his original heart Cliff Kennedy was known in the local small Club paid tribute to Adams by holding problems some years ago gave a happier press community in Toronto as a mover and “Hitch Hiker's Night,” reports Australian SF ending to an otherwise appalling experience regular long-time publisher. His publications Bullsheet #169 . Also, the club declared May in the Kaiser Hospital emergency room. Jack included , Drift , The Blotter and The 25 to be Towel Day, the idea being to carry a had gone there after suffering chest pains. Bibliofantasiac . Cliff passed away in Toronto towel in commemoration of the author. The receptionist told him, “Sit down and wait from respiratory problems on May 27. James Harrington , better known as your turn.” When her back was turned, Jack Many fan editors traded their zines with Dragon, died in his sleep on July 7. He has went in to see the doctors himself and they Cliff's zines and chapbooks. Cliff knew about been an active member in St. Louis fandom immediately started treating him, even the fan community, but did not participate in for years. He has been a long standing though the irate receptionist found Jack and it. Cliff's publishing career started nearly 20 member of Trek fan organizations, and often demanded that he go back to the waiting years ago when he tried to sell his sizable worked as staff on con committees. He area. collection of SF novels, and his zines attended all the local conventions and was Kaiser added a touch of macabre humor to branched out from there. legendary for his potent drink, Venom. After his final stay, too. Two days after Jack’s Cliff's other zine, Alias , was the vehicle a long struggle with heart problems and scheduled angiogram, Lee Gold tried to call with which he reached out to the local home- diabetes, Dragon passed on, leaving his him at the hospital, unaware he had passed less and street community in Toronto through behind his wife, JoEllen, and many friends in away. The nursing station on his floor was the Salvation Army's Fred Victor Centre. fandom. [[Source: Chronicles of the Dawn equally clueless as to his whereabouts, Alias allowed them to communicate and Patrol]] because they explained his absence: “Mr. express their hearts to a richer and concerned Robert Edward Thompson, Jr. died in Harness is out of his room, walking around public. He set up computer and Internet April at the age of 60. He was well-known in the hospital.” We wish it had been true! access for that community, and also set up a Baltimore fandom for his knowledge of

similar club for parishioners of a church in trivia. He was often an invited guest on radio Robert J. Schadewald Toronto's east end. shows where he could share his extensive Appreciation by Dennis Lien At the beginning of July, I received a knowledge of old radio and other general Minneapolis author Robert J. Schadewald letter from Cliff's partner, Sara Clenyg-Jones. information. [[Source: Mark of the died of cancer on March 12. He was 57 years It detailed how Cliff had passed away a B*E*A*S*T 6/2001]] old. Bob was a past president of The Na- month earlier, and also included an obituary tional Center for Science Education and from the Toronto Star . This was quite a published a number of articles on topics shock, as I had been thinking about when relating to pseudo-science and dubious Cliff's next zine would appear. Even though 16 File 770:139 John Hertz’s Westercon Notebook Westercon 54, July 5-8, 2001 Jantzen Beach and Columbia River Hotels, Portland, Oregon

The first Westercon of the Millennium. Widner said, why? things you don’t like, it broadens the mind; Writer Guest of Honor, ; Fan I remembered him sitting on the floor in go with a friend. At 4 came the Pocket Pro- GoH, Mike Glyer; Editor GoH, Terri 1990 while he was Fan GoH at this con, ask- gram. Cheers. There was a panelist cross- Windling; Artist GoH, Frank Lurz. Atten- ing why with technology bringing us to the index, but no grid. The Program Book had dance about 1,600. Chair, Dean Koenig. future s-f dove into the past. No better now. participant biographies, “department re- “Dark and dank for the most part, drab where ports,” an eleven-page excerpt from Declare For 1984 when the Fourth of July was a it should be colorful and unimaginative and eight Lurz color astronomicals, an un- Wednesday there were bids proposing the where it needs to be transcendent”, as Jeff signed appreciation of Peggy Kennedy weekend before, the weekend after, and both VanderMeer has written in another context. (1929-2000) and a black-and- white portfolio (some called that a hoax); Portland won, and We talked up and down until 3 or 4. Science of Gail Butler, Alan Clark, Fiona McAuliffe, Wednesday Westercons have been here ever fiction has lost its nerve, said Widner. I go Nene Thomas, and James Wappel, but noth- since. This was our third at the present site, away for a few decades, and when I come ing that explained this was a science fiction two hotels split by a big parking lot like the back where are we? It was his convention. convention. I suppose no one can explain it. djinn sacrament in Powers’ dazzling new Thursday morn I gave a largish bath towel Andi Shechter introduced me to Murray book Declare . Fireworks across the river at to a charitable collection in memory of the Gorilla who wore a propeller beanie. old Fort Vancouver, nationally recognized, Douglas Adams. Though Tom Doherty never Kevin Standlee punctiliously gave me a pa- were dazzling too. Michelle and Harry How- received my first copy of Nabokov’s Lec- per copy of Emerald City . I snuck late into ard talked me into coming up a night early to tures on Literature , the second arrived. I the audience of “Westercons Past, Present, see them. The fireworks. Glass walls on the drank espresso and ate a walnut cookie. and Future,” , Willmoth, Ben riverbank in the bar, gosh. Dozens of articu- Crossing the parking lot, not for the first nor Yalow; later Steve Forty appeared and was late fans said Ooh and Aah. We did remem- yet the second time, I found a beautiful day. seized for the panel. Both his home and the ber Gandalf’s in The Lord of the Rings and You right me much. location of his chair made him the North even Rally Round the Flag, Boys -- anyway, I Forty. We talked of attendance. Kent Bloom remembered the book. Elizabeth I in the audience said to Pelz, chair of the 2002 As the barmaids were shooing people out Westercon, “You have the biggest fan base in Art Widner found us. He and I were rooming At 1, alone, I gave “How to Enjoy the Art the country.” Pelz said “I’m going on a diet.” with Fred Patten, who I feared was asleep, so Show, How to Enjoy the Tours.” The audi- I said we have to publicize better. Pelz said we four found a happy spot in the lobby. ence helped form some advice: look for good Westercon is an aggregation, not a splitting. Widner came back with a bottle of Here I believe is the merit of conven- whisky, a handful of glasses, and tions like this in our day of comics Patten in pajamas. Mike Willmoth cons, filk cons, fanzine cons, costume came along after a while. Widner said cons. Let us freely separate, freely The Lord of the Rings set the Quest unite, neither of the two distracting on its head with a hero who threw us. away the token and its power. Patten, Opening Ceremonies at 7:30, well who chaired a Westercon, helped attended. Through time and space invent the Down Under Fan Fund with computer jokes. Glyer whom no (DUFF), and is no slouch as a fanhis- one introduced, cast as various pirates and cave men, kept promising to pub This craving for incertitude, this his ish. In the Hospitality Suite, Forty clinging to fear, as if incertitude wondered what to say on “ Stranger in a Strange Land after Forty Years.” and fear had been the safeguards Forbearing the obvious explanation of love. of why he was on the panel, I begged Joseph Conrad him to forget whether predictions were right, or what he thought of torian, now had animé at his fingers’ religion, in favor of how Stranger ends. Willmoth said I was wrong looked as literature. At the Seattle for about Babylon 5 : in fact it was hope- 2003 Westercon party I drank ful. M. Howard said it resonated with Beaulieu Vineyards claret and her as a Christian. H. Howard said A watched Sally Woehrle bake bread. Canticle for Leibowitz was despon- Lynn Ann Gold said Lee Gold was dent. I said, ambiguous. M. Howard better at scansion than anyone. On said fantasy, not an idiom of coura- Chip Hitchcock’s T-shirt “The geous heroes, appeals to women. Weapon Shops of Escher” the gun August 2001 17 was a 3-prong pouyit. “I love big Worldcons,” Glyer said, “it’s sparked talk of fencing schools. The repute Friday at 11:30 a.m. “Paper Fanzines: We like going to a penny-candy store with lots of of the previous U.K. bid for serving good Love the Smell of Hecto in the Morning,” pennies.” Good thing Powers didn’t do this. whisky sparked talk of Glenmorangie; Cory with Glyer, Jerry Kaufman, and Patten, plus “In the chair [of L.A. con III, 1996], I could- Raub had some, matured in barrels that had n’t do everything [like Don Lundry], but I This is not a tale exactly. This is a Tract; had a crew of strong division heads.” In the Imagination, the muscle of the soul. and I am immensely proud of it. Making Society, where a Tract is a Feat. during the lacktivity and now after the pass- Nabokov Kipling ing of Jack Harness, Glyer has been the out- standing Secretary, he always declined been used for Port. And so to bed. “Scribe” as meaning Harness only, who On the table between Powers and Glyer Lenny Bailes whom we seized. We never got coined The Menace of the LASFS , and whom were three huge bottles of Coca–Cola. Pow- to what about paper fanzines would sustain Glyer acknowledged as an example. “When I ers told of his early travails with Laser Books an ecological niche for them, but we did talk was Fan Guest of Honor at DeepSouthCon,” and then Lester Del Rey. Beth Meacham’s about taking in less of our own laundry. he said, “people told me my LASFS minutes cuts in The Anubis Gates he thought benefi- Kaufman said cons depend on guest lists [published in the club zine De Profundis ] cial; when a small press later offered to re- made of pros. Bailes said, so let’s us fan- were funny. They thought I was making it all store them, he declined. “In fantasy,” he said, ziners volunteer. I said maybe we could en- up myself.” This as I have proposed else- “I’m always working against the readers’ courage fanartists to exhibit more in Art where was like Van Gogh saying of Starry knowledge that it’s bogus. I throw in as Shows. Suzle in the audience wondered if Night “I only paint what I see.” Robin John- much real-world stuff as I can, so when I Jay Kay Klein would do a slide show. His son in the audience said, “You’re a catalyst. slide in a ghost, you won’t notice -- or you’ll photos had enlivened the Hugo Awards cere- You make funny things happen around you.” think Gee, that other stuff was real, so.... ” mony at the 1993 Worldcon, David Bratman said funny reporting was an Declare wasn’t so much alternative history “ConFrancisco.” We applauded Westercon art, and File 770 prints all the news that’s as What Got Left Out. In writing he made 55’s choosing Robert Lichtman of Trap Door funny. I recalled the scene in Who Framed notes as if he had no memory; later he might as Fan GoH. Rachel Holmen in the audience Roger Rabbit? when the detective Eddie see a conclusion was no good, but halfway said he brought her into fandom. She asked Valiant asks “Do you mean to tell me you back the chain was the cool part. Besides, for everyone for a list of noteworthy fanzines, a story set in 1963 with consecutive and wrote it up, by Roscoe, in the daily An appetite for happiness. flashbacks -- cut and show flashback, cut and newszine. Maupassant show next flashback -- it would be too much Glyer was to interview Powers, but lest to ask the reader to put up with jumbled Powers close the circuit by interviewing could at any time have shrunk your wrist and flashbacks. If you’re building a roller coaster, Glyer, which might have had unimaginable gotten it out of those handcuffs?” and Roger and you have a fall here , you have to allow consequences and brought an end to the Rabbit says “Only if it would have been room for cement. He was asked about mes- world as we know it, I interviewed him. funny.” Diana Glyer cried “Do you mean to sages and symbolism. “I don’t care whether I Powers has this effect on people. Naturally tell me my husband is a Toon?” I said “No, teach anything. Some writers say I have he moved into a house where someone had he’s only drawn that way.” something to say about the human condition. carefully alternated pennies heads and tails The Art Show had about 1,700 pieces every foot along thin wood strips, with air- from 100 artists, sales $16,000. Corey Wolfe Burning with intelligence and charity. conditioners buried in the back yard. Glyer’s (whose body of work won People’s Choice first contact was an s-f discussion group at as Best in Show) exhibited his original and C.S. Lewis the public library of Sylmar, California. He the cover made from it for Paul Thompson’s started Prehensile , I still think one of the best Children of the Plains . Geri Sullivan on her Well, say it now. Brush your teeth. I can’t fanzine titles, so as to hand it out and get to docent tour pointed out the color compro- stand that.” know people. When Linda Bushyager quit mises that had to be made in printing. Clark At 2:30 Steve Barnes moderated “The publishing the leading 1970s newszine (who won Best Horror for “The Sly Pass”, Future That Wasn’t”, with James Gifford, Karass , he thought “why not?” He was in and People’s Choice as Best Application of me, Ken Wharton, Lori Ann White, and several amateur publishing associations, and Media) had set up a work space and let us Willmoth, who was glad we didn’t get knew people like Craig Miller who in pro- watch him laboring away. A woman went by Heinlein’s “Roads Must Roll.” I urged that s- moting s-f films kept going to cons. He said, in a Judith Rauchfuss mask with purple horns f wasn’t in the prediction business. Wharton and this was striking, that from the start of and gold tips. In the Clubhouse (as before, said we did have a space station. From the the other of two Hospitality Suites) Dick Pilz audience, “The only part of the Foundation The poor suppose that courtesy is giving as before brought home-brew, including two series I couldn’t believe was that everyone versions of his barley wine “Old Propeller presents; the aged, that it is expending would have a computer.” I said both selfish- Head.” I had just time to see William Wilde ness and openmindedness have come out energy. Zeitler’s glass armonica before dressing to different; we’re more cross-cultural, but the Kenk ō teach Regency Dancing. Sure enough he was Moon was “What’s in it for me” instead of deep in technical talk with Jon Singer about “Wow, adventure.” Barnes said cheaper in- File 770 he wanted to bridge the insiders and glass, and soap and water -- it works like formation was life-changing. White said the new. He advertised in Locus . He wanted ringing a tone from a tumbler rim. I missed Have and Have-Not grow more like under- to range widely over fandom. He is, I be- the Locus Awards again. Tor won Best Pub- standing than like property. I said education lieve, all too unusual as a leading fanwriter, lisher, Bob Eggleton won Best Artist, Larry may yet come to be learning to evaluate. who while maintaining his own zine, co- Niven won Best Short Story for “The Miss- Walter Parker in the audience said, cheap fast chaired a Westercon, chaired a Worldcon, ing Mass” ( Analog ). At the U.K. for 2005 travel. Photocopiers, supermarkets, contact and stayed active in his local club. Worldcon party Lurz’ prowess as a fencer lenses, survival of infants. I said innovation , 18 File 770:139

the spirit of s-f, once was an insult. Will- trying and applying science. A.J. Budrys in Westercon 54 Masquerade moth said there’s no Moon base. From the the audience said Franklin in his kite experi- audience, no flying belts. Barnes said the ment was lucky to get out alive. Another: he way most people drive he didn’t want to see wrote simply, but he was the one who had to Janet Borkowski, Director people fly. Gifford said, before the atomic set the type! David Bigelow, Master of bomb no weapon was ever built and unused. In the Art Show reception Lurz told me Ceremonies It was good to have hour-long panels sched- about his docent tour and answered some uled at hour and a half intervals. questions about fencing. In the Masquerade, Judges The hotel registration staff by now wore “Babylon Five-O” (Best Master) was a wel- the snazzy Westercon T-shirt, with a Lurz come reprise from last year at Honolulu, Betty Bigelow space ship (but not “science fiction conven- bending the rules but right. Kosh seemed jan howard finder tion”), the doing of Melanie Schaber and even bigger than when I’d judged this entry Deborah Strub Patty Wells. In the bar Becky Thomson and myself. I didn’t recognize some of the animé - television-comics entries, but the audience roared, and the judges I hope had documenta- Workmanship Judges The worse you express yourself these days the more profound people think tion. Michael Bruno (“Ice Pirates of Pen- Louise Owens you. zance”; Judges’ Choice, Journeyman) lip- David Tackett Honoria Denver synched every word of “The Modern Major- General,” fiendish task. Julie Hoverson Best Rising Star (“Oogie Boogie”; Judges’ Choice, Master) Tom Veal looked hale and even proposed we “Butterfly Princess” (Tony Mae throw another Prime Time party at Loscon, You’ve got to be above all those calling Forbis, costume by Holly Forbis) to start at 1 a.m. and run till dawn. Just now you names, and you’ve got to do more they struggled to arrange exhibits for the work than they do, but it usually comes Novice Millennium Philcon. Kimberly Brown, at the out all right in the end. Best in Class con bidding and membership tables, won- Harry Truman “Sasami, Japanese Schoolgirl” dered why the tables weren’t in the other (Alicia & April Faires) hotel, where they could have been outside the Workmanship: Art Show and Dealers’ Room. Janice Murray made what I innocently thought was a barrel Best , “Thora Ulfsdottir” (Stacy ran the Fanzine Lounge, cozy with fanzines dance. “Aquatika,” at first called “Sea Crea- and talk space and a coldbox of soft drinks. I tures” (Judges’ Choice, Master), danced be- DeLoe); fetched ice. Both hotels had signposts with fore a high spray of glowing lights. Judges’ Choice , “Sasami” pointing fingers -- at this con it was hard not “Generation Gap” was one of the best trans- to point fingers -- which were more or less formations I’ve seen: a lady in a ball gown Journeyman accurate; fanziners found their way, but I warned an unruly child; an instant’s black- Best in Class wondered what others knew where or that we out; exeunt , down the ramp into the audience, “Spawn and Violator” (Todd Smith, were. There was no description in the Pro- one lady and one well-behaved marionette, Emily & Regina Ryan) gram Book. its strings in her hands (Best in Show). Judges’ Choice At 5:30 I sat on “Ben Franklin, Futurist of At Masquerade intermission Jack Krolak the Past, Father of his Country” with Louise told me about “Take It Apart”, which “Ice Pirates of Penzance” Marley, G. David Nordley, Irene Radford. brought together old machines good only for (Michael Bruno) We were armed with the Autobiography scrap, tools, and kids. The kids were told (1) Workmanship: (despite Mark Twain) and various other ref- how to sort parts, and (2) “Have at it!” They “Spawn” erences. Just outlining his achievements took went, he said, like gremlins. At the Seattle a while: the first circulating library in Amer- party a local magician, “Matt the Maverick” Master Burton in his Riverboat Gambler suit, did Best in Class It is only the very wisest and the very card tricks. This too was dazzling. We talked “Babylon Five-O” (A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.) stupidest who cannot change. of the show-your-skill school of John Scarne, Judges’ Choice the why-dispel-the-illusion-by-pointing-it- out school of Robert-Houdin. In the halls I “Oogie Boogie” Confucius saw two purple people, who sure looked (Julie Hoverson); strange to me. Team Maroon in their maroon “Aquatika” ica, the first fire company in Philadelphia, the togas, not much worse for wear, offered (Orchid Cabot, Shannon Flint) first person to prove lightning was electricity; Toxic Waste to anyone who dared drink it, Workmanship : “Aquatika” the lightning rod, the stove, bifocals, glass and sold post-supporting memberships in Best in Show armonica, British and French Academies, Spokane Westercon. My attempt to help “Generation Gap” diplomatic triumph in France. He published (why do you think they’re trying to sell post- (SueLyn Torgerson-Taylor, an essay there on religious tolerance, contriv- supporting memberships?) by auctioning a Christopher Taylor) ing to make it unobjectionable and even at- Star Trek toy left Sandy Cohen unrivaled. tractive. Nordley said he was one of the first Around midnight, in the Adventure of the Best Workmanship to earn a living writing; predicted balloons Ten Shortbread Fingers (or, the Bemis- “Scots Bride & Groom” would add a third dimension to war, imagin- Parker Plans), for which the world is not yet (Stephanie Fisher, John Fisher) ing paratroopers (ill-formed word that); prepared, I found myself waiting for Pelz in wrote an s-f story of a white enslaved in his room while he waited for the last bus Africa. I said he was remarkably able at both Between Planets. It never came; finally he August 2001 19

Janice’s Adventures in Downunderland con- eye. We read just enough to realize we’re Truth is of such excellence that if it tinues to sell. I saw less of the Trans-Atlantic not qualified, and turn the page. But not praised trifles it would make them Fan Fund. Stu Shiffman (1981 TAFF dele- long ago, I saw an ad for an executive noble. gate) gave me a cartoon for Vanamonde. In position that I could actually apply for. Leonard da Vinci the lobby Bruce Durochet explained cat curl- After all, I held the position once upon a ing. Cats fall asleep in a C. You pick up the time. got a ride. In good cheer I read a 1974 Pre- cat by the curve, and whoosh! I said there The Seattle Westercon Organizing hensile he had on a table. I’m sure I have was more than one way to spin a cat. Hol- Committee ran an ad in Westwind 257 this, eventually I told him. Yes, he said, but men and Margaret Organ-Kean said “Bruce, “looking for the best possible person to can you find it? At the Loscon party Chaz we have to go now.” I overheard a member chair Westercon 56 in 2003.” Do you Baden pursuing his Science Fair theme of the con committee telling a pro writer qualify? brought an exhibit warning against dihydro- “We’ve done better.” “The Chairman Selection Committee is gen monoxide. DHMO has been associated At the Dead Dog Party refreshments were looking for a person that has experience with burns, and found in high quantities in working with a large convention, is a good registered intoxicants. It has been shown Why out of false shame should I prefer people person, is well organized, can work present at every death since studies began. to remain ignorant rather than to learn with a technology theme and is willing to Experiments were described, and contrary my craft? give up two years of their life to the arguments for its safety were given due Horace Westercon.” Oh, is that last part expen- space. Going to hear filkers at 4 a.m. I was sive! just in time for Jordin Kare: “There are some songs Man was not meant to sing. And this is lavish, Widmer Hefeweizen beer and Guin- Golden Dream one of them,” which was, of course, the end. ness, strawberries, cheeses, the last of the Winners of the Libertarian Futurist Society’s My own Art Show docent tour was on 150 lbs. salmon Roz Malin had smoked for traditionally get a gold Sunday. “The Tower” by McAuliffe solidi- the Clubhouse. She does things like this. coin and a plaque. The idea is to offer some- fied vague heads and faces rising blackly Forty said Heinlein taught him relativity. I thing of real value to aid as well as encourage from a tangled mass, the sky bleak swirls. said that only happened because Heinlein libertarian science fiction writers. But the Matt Harpold’s large pieces, although flat, made science fact (or theory) the turning LFS suddenly realized all the coins they use seemed made of stone (Best Science Fiction point of the story so it came alive. Marilyn are produced by governments! So the for “Clock Dragon”; Grand Prize for Holt and Clifford Wind talked with me about LFScon business meeting considered having “Automation”). Borkowski the Masquerade complacency. Are we making the most of a nongovernment coin minted. But the price Director brought beadwork. Jeff Sturgeon what we do best? Are we letting on -- in our is too steep. They were quoted $750 for the brought his glittering expanses of metal own way, never mind “the media” -- so that cost of plate, with a minimum order of ten (People’s Choice as Most Awe-Inspiring). those who might be fun to play with know coins. So someone else suggested looking for Rob Alexander brought watercolors. “The we have a sandbox? a gold coin from a defunct government. What Elf King’s Hall” showed a dark door up a genius plan -- a gold piece bearing the phiz twelve barren steps, barely carved walls; of Vespasian or Alexander the Great would what kind of king? This won Best Fantasy. Classified Information be much more politically correct! [[Source: Mark Ferrari the colored-pencil wizard won We’ve all read the want ads sometime and Prometheus, 6/2001]] People’s Choice as Best Fantasy Artist (Lurz had a glamorous job opening catch our won People’s Choice as Best Science- Fictional Artist), and a Director’s Choice for “Dragonfly” which led the eye with almost shocking blues. To balance the fantasy I wanted more science fiction. However fond you are of fruit or fish, if you only feed on one you won’t flourish. Seattle won unopposed for 2003; its Pro- gress Report 0 named Saul Jaffe as Fan GoH, others to be announced. Phoenix is bidding vigorously for 2004. I relieved J. Murray for

Direction is the better part of valor.

T.H. White a few hours in the Fanzine Lounge. At one historic moment four DUFF winners were present, Janice Gelb (1999), Lucy Huntzinger (1987), Kaufman (1983), and Widner (1991), such was the benign influence of Murray the 1997 winner. Or delegate. A combined auc- tion for DUFF and GUFF (Get Up and Over -- or Going Under -- Fan Fund, between Australia & New Zealand, and Europe) raised about $200, and Gelb’s trip report 20 File 770:139 Oasis 14 Con Report by Joy V. Smith

acrylic--burnt sienna in this my favorite panel last year. It is so much fun! case--to get rid of the white The panelists were Barbara Delaplace background. (He thins with (moderator), Jack Haldeman, Mike Conrad, water.) He uses assorted brush Jeff Mitchell (scientist), and Ed Cox. Their sizes (for different purposes personas are xenoarcheologists who have to and because he doesn’t like to identify alien artifacts. This is such a great clean them as he works). panel; these people are fast on their feet and He worked from his sketch, intelligent. which he put aside, to create Saturday morning I bought the Oasis 14 t- the painting. Painting is done shirt (Targete artwork on black--very nice) in layers. He used a palette and an Oasis 11 coloring book with pictures board, medium to make the oil by various artists. More people arrived and flow better, etc. It was registered. The con committee was busy fascinating watching patterns, everywhere; there was always someone shapes, the volcano and lava around to answer my questions. Attendance appear. Light is very was even better this year, I heard. They did important, but color is the last more promotion online, I believe. This year we left earlier for Oasis so I thing he thinks about. The drawing comes The freebies tables were full of media, wouldn’t miss any programming. We parked first; it must be rendered well. And then he club, and con things, including posters, pins, in the parking garage, bypassing valet ran out of time. I really enjoyed watching flyers, book marks, etc. I got lots of nifty parking and saving $4.00. We checked in and him create and tell us how he does it. things, some of which I’ll pass on to friends dumped our bags, except for the totes. The After that we went to the Cthulhu Chili and kids I know. I also came across a table big one’s contents completely covered one of Challenge in the Con Suite. I voted for with some great rocket ship models on it and the freebie tables; this is where most of my “Dante’s Death.” :Fowl Wind” (chicken) was talked to Steve Parady. The Scarlet Class old fanzines, etc. go. The small tote was for good too. “Witches’ Brew” was alcoholic, I Viper (one of the models) was designed by the charity auction--some fiction zines and think. There was an “I Hate Chili” dish -- Parady for Richard Hatch ( Battlestar books, including autographed ones. I mushroom soup with Irish whiskey. After Galactica ). He also told me about the Rag dropped that off in the Art Show room after that I lost track, and no way was I going to Tag Fleet, a Florida-based sci-fi fan club that finding out where to put them. We were pre- taste them all again to vote for the Hottest. helps to support the revival of Battlestar registered, and there was hardly any line so At 7:30 was the opening ceremonies; brief Galactica . They enjoy other TV shows as that was quick. and fun, even more so than last year because well and publish a newsletter bimonthly as We explored and then browsed the Art the opening speech was sung by Tom Smith, well as a fan magazine every three months. Show--lots of great art, including “The the Filk GoH; he introduced the chairs--Terry At 1 p.m. was a Writers Workshop with Chalice” by Jean Pierre Targete, “Catalyst” Dahl and her husband, Jim Rogers; Author Rick Wilber and Randy Miller. People paid by Mike Conrad, and “Ambush” by Ed Cox GoH Jack McDevitt; and Targete--Artist to have their mss critiqued at this workshop, (the cover for a Pinnacle RPG). Lots more, of GoH. The scholarship winner, but Wilber let me and others come in and course. There were also engraved, colored Kellen Stelle, was also introduced. All their listen while he spoke generally. (Randy goblets by James Krog; wire sculptures, speeches were short. Miller couldn’t make it, but he had read the including a dragon; jewelry; decorated items; At 8 p.m. we went to the Tom Smith filk mss, I believe...) Wilber is a journalism and Lucky Bamboo (something to do with concert. He does a lot of parodies, puns, and professor, not a creative writing teacher, but feng shui ) in decorated pots. Too bad the pot different voices. He started with Leon he writes short stories. In second grade he sculptures proved toxic to the plants; three Redbone doing Gilbert & Sullivan, a Callisto discovered SF and loved it. He read Lucky were on display to show her intent. (from Xena) song sung to “Aye, Starr and on through Heinlein, et al. He was At 4 p.m. I went to the painting demo by Calypso” (John Denver), a twisted Winnie way ahead of his peers in reading, but he was Targete. The painting was speeded-up, of the Pooh/Lovecraft cross, Smurf songs sung also a jock in high school, and he became a course. Three boards displayed his sketches, to surfing tunes (“Smurfing USA,” “Smurfer sports writer. (He has an impressive sports thumbnails, and the underdrawing, along Girl,” etc.), “I Want to Grow Up to Be Peter background.) with the finished painting. One of the Lorre” (perfect imitation of Lorre’s voice), He learned to write fiction by doing, not displayed works was “The Chalice.” “500 Hats” (which includes a lot of Dr. Seuss by taking a course. He sold some short The subject of his demonstration was a titles), Dune in two minutes (“Don’t It Make stories to Analog and wondered why some planet/moon with landscape below it. He My Brown Eyes Blue”), a Star Wars/12 Days stories sold and some didn’t. He learned started with a large circle on one side, using a of Christmas cross, Babylon 5 (five season about dramatic tension (don’t give away too permanent marker and made a sketch. He run in 2 1/2 minutes), Bobby Goldsborough’s much; keep readers wondering) and voice (he usually works in oils. The underdrawing can “Honey, I Miss You” (Honey glazed ham), also writes textbooks, where voice is be very detailed and is done with marker or and a tribute to old SF –“Come With Me completely different) and theme (read Joseph charcoal. He skipped that for the demo. He Baby On A Rocket Ride.” Conrad, especially Lord Jim ) and POV sprays the underdrawing with acrylic to seal There was more filking scheduled, but I (diction is important--part of voice) it so the oils don’t soak through. He also uses went to the Alien Artifact panel. That was Media journalists use black and white, not August 2001 21 shades of gray. It makes people more 3: Darth Kapazi (sp) (certificate and video room. I found it boring. (Maybe it just interested, especially on talk shows. Contrast $10.00 in dealers bucks) wasn’t as much fun as the con...) There was gives power to stories. Set up conflicts at And they each got a certificate for a free filking in the con suite at 10 p.m.; it lasted start of story. Oasis 14 tee shirt. until 2:45 a.m., I learned the next day. Wilber’s theory on the decline of short After the costume contest I discovered Saturday night they had a casino with a stories in magazines: Stories changed in 1952 that The Millenium Bug used balloons in her cash bar to help raise money for the Andre because of TV. Short stories were written for body to keep it up and her lower arms were Norton Scholarship Fund; and members of the masses, and TV is easy short stories. By attached to her writsts--very well done. (The USS Guardian were on hand during the con 1960, short stories in general interest hall was soon full of balloons.) I also talked to accept donations of canned food for The magazines had practically disappeared. They to The Black Queen, Tammy Martin, and Mustard Seed, an independent local were replaced by literary fiction and writing learned that she had designed three of the organization which helps poor and homeless courses--the ART of short stories. SF was the costumes: her own, the genie’s (Sherrell people. last bastion of popular fiction; now it’s Carpenter), and The Red Queen’s (Bonnie Sunday, 10 a.m. I enjoyed Targete’s slide becoming literary. Beall). show, “Creature and Character Creation.” SF magazine subscriptions are down, At 9 p.m. we went to the Barbara Good opening slide with the title. He said including Analog . Fantasy magazines seem Delaplace Mystery Hour. (I was getting tired, that he’d always been fascinated by healthier. Mystery magazines are doing but Mike Conrad had been so funny during monsters, SF films, etc. He loved Sinbad and better than SF too. Now, instead of buying his earlier appearances that I decided to go.) other Harryhausen movies, Jurassic Park , Asimov’s, etc., people are watching the SciFi The panelists were McDevitt, Wilber, the Alien series, ... channel. The novel form is healthy though; Conrad, Owl Goingback, and Ron Walotsky. There are four steps: 1: Background short stories aren’t. Each panelist made three dramatic history/literary sources; 2: Reference; 3: Later was the charity auction. It started at statements. (I thought one was true and two Rough sketches; 4: Create orthographics. 3 p.m. and went on for hours... They sold were lies, but it turned out that only one was He showed slides of habitat, texture, eyes, computers, software, fairy wings, SF a lie.) As McDevitt said, “It’s easy to tell ... for reference. For sketches, you need magazine collections, jewelry, figures, exciting lies; it’s making the truth exciting anatomy, joint articulation. Orthographics: models, lots of books (in bags and separately that’s hard.” The audience got to ask the Slides of the front, back, and sides. (Trace and often autographed), and illustrated panelists questions to try to find out which the front view to get a back view.) Put it on a screenplay in book form, original art, were the lies. All the statements were grid. Great variety of aliens and creatures. I beautiful knife, ornamental dagger, the art by plausible, and the panelists had perfect loved the bipedal lizard with a ponytail. committee pieces, Bradford plates by answers. Mike Conrad did get a ticket on the Gargoyles from Hell, The Magic Net (book Targete, ... authobahn , -- for speeding in a construction cover), forked teeth, Gargoo (eyes express After that I staggered off to supper. We zone. personality). Can use photos for humans. See checked out the con suite. “Pretty much After that we went to see X-Men in the more details the longer you look. Some picked over” said the guy in the great space sketches are smaller (2-3 inches) than the shirt. I asked him about it, and he said it was slides. Sometimes paints from his drawings. made for him. They bought the material. Great book covers, also CD covers (different I took a break in my room until the from the book covers). Ink sketch; used costume contest at 8 p.m.. Mike Conrad, markers to color it in for rendering for client. artist and really funny guy, was the emcee. He enjoys rendering details/accessories. Before the contest began, the Art Show Then he showed slides from a film strip winners were announced: which is a current project he’s doing on his SF category: 1: Crescent Wing by Ed own. (This was an exclusive showing.) It Cox; 2: The Lab by Ed Cox; 3: Alien Attack! takes a few weeks to render a small detailed by Mike Conrad drawing. (I loved the boots and the little Fantasy category: 1: Circle at Center by critter in the close-up.) The villain has great Jean Pierre Targete; 2: The Catalyst by Mike weaponry! Conrad; 3: World Fall by Jean Pierre There were a lot more things happening, Targete. including the art auction, but while in the con Best in Show: Polar Princess by Stan suite, I noticed a smoky haze out the Morrison window, and then I learned that some roads The judges for the costume contest were: were closed, including I-4. We checked out, Irene Harrison, Steve Parady, Stanley loaded the car, and checked the info on the Morrison, and John Stevens. The winners boards. We had just decided what detour to were: take (eek!), when a guy came and told us that Cutest: Esmeralda he’d just heard on TV that the roads were Best Wings: Horny Little Fairy open. We left, and the smoke wasn’t bad. (I Best Visual Effects: Contents of the was truly grateful that we didn’t have to take Genie’s Bottle the long way home.) There was gridlock in Best Heart: Blood Red Queen of Hearts the eastbound lanes, but we got home with Children’s Award: Jack and The Hunter no delays. I learned that a number of people (?) both little kids, as I recall left early because of the smoke, but the art 1: The Millenium Bug (certificate and auction was well attended. And there were $25.00 in dealers bucks) other panels and a Science Fictionary game; 2: The Black Queen (certificate and the closing ceremonies were at 4:30 p.m. $15.00 in dealers bucks) 22 File 770:139 CHEAP THRILLS AT 90 MPH by Ed Green

Fans, so we all believe, are sensitive types to fix it. Or even if I want to. punch the radio pre-set button to call up an who don’t go in for the kind of entertainment My day of discovery begins normally. I’m all news radio station. My heart pumped that satisfies Mundanes. Well, recent events driving home on one of the local freeways, in faster, my breath got shallow and quick. have convinced me that either I’m not a Fan the state where you’re aware of the traffic Could it be? Was it? Please, please, please… (if you ask the wrong people), or the ‘danes around you, but you aren’t paying active “Repeating this breaking news story, Los are getting more like fans. Either answer is attention. That may sound like a dangerous Angeles Police and the California Highway scary. You see, the problem is there’s some- way to drive, until you realize that situational Patrol are in pursuit of a stolen car. The thing on the television these days that I al- oblivion is the only way you can drive for chase is proceeding westbound on the Long ways watch, and as tough as it is to admit, I any distance on LA highways without going Beach Freeway. We go now to our helicopter like it. A lot. It’s those police chases on Los hysterical and locking up the brakes in the on the scene…” Angeles freeways. middle of the road. YES! Five miles of highway driving, a I discovered last summer I was hooked on Zoned out, it was easy to see the flock of quick slide down the off ramp, three left Southern California’s newest entertainment local helicopters in the distance, zooming turns and two traffic lights and I’m home. In craze. And thought I was alone in the addic- along towards the ocean, flying in a loose less than 10 minutes, the television is on, the tion. Then local papers reported a new ser- formation. Once it registered, I started run- popcorn is being nuked and the remote’s in vice was available to mainline my habit. For ning the infrastructure map of LA in my my sweaty hand. And there it is, the chase! $10 a month, some retired cops will page you brain. I thought, looking at the direction and There’s a rhythm, a pace to these things. to let you know that there’s a police pursuit the height, they’re probably the news birds The first half-hour it’s just the bones of the in progress and being televised. The width and since they’re moving west fast, they are crime. In this case, the “suspect” was driving and depth of my addiction has me frightened, probably looking at something on the free- some Ford POS. It was a stolen car, from the but there was some comfort in knowing I’m way, and that can only mean… northern most part of the LA area heading not alone. I’m not sure how I’m going to try Stabbing down with my forefinger, I towards my hometown, Long Beach. The fellow was seen trying to break into a home, and ended up stealing the car and scooting. Yeah, that’s the first report, but veterans of this sort of thing know that there’s going to be a twist, or a spin coming. But that’s later on in the cycle. Right now, it’s a medium view of the car, zipping along streets and freeways, with three or four police cars behind it. The cops stay a respectable distance back. Close enough for the suspect to see the flashing red and blue lights, but far enough away to keep the following traffic bottled up, and to avoid him stopping and reversing into them. Up above all the vehicles, at least two, possibly four police helicopters are bird-dogging the suspect. They fly at breath taking heights, barely skimming above the power lines, tele- phone poles and bridges along the road. Above the flying cops are the news copters. And they are transmitting live shots. Due to FAA regulations, and a finely-tuned sense of self preservation, they have to maintain a certain height, and for those close up shots, the ones that we can see the rust spots on the cars, they are using cameras with some ‘muther heavy lenses. Back at the studio they’ve added in the lower right hand corner of the screen the station ID and the words “Breaking News.” Recently, they’ve actually added a graphic that shows the amount of time the pursuit has been going on! In somber, serious voices the news an- chors drone on about the chase. This gives us all proof we need that they couldn’t cover a August 2001 23 lemonade stand opening without a script. Boring, stupid and vapid. Telling us what the car is doing? While we’re watching it? Just shut up, link a direct feed from the police frequency, and let us listen to that! In tones befitting Charlton Heston, they tell how horrible the driver of the escaping vehicle is, recklessly running red traffic lights and blowing through stop signs. After so many years of this kind of thing, you’d think the newsreader would understand that most of these people have already broken the law, and that’s why they are running. Some- one facing serious jail time for sticking up the local 7-11 isn’t going to suffer the pangs of conscience and turn themselves in over a traffic infraction. Although it has been sug- gested that along with the slug-line “breaking news” and the timer, there should be a little cash register on the screen, which tallies up the fines due to traffic law violations. It would add such a wonderful little touch. Maybe the anchors feel they have to show the proper emotion during these things. “Politically Correct” concern over the gross endangerment of the citizens of our fair city. They seemed shocked when they report that the suspect is doing close to 90 miles an hour playing the “Who Can Ask The Most Asi- copters in the air over him? They all have on the freeway! I’m sure some of those an- nine Question?” game. There’s usually either radios! There’s a saying among the cops that chors have passed me going as fast as that in one clear winner, or a dozen ties for first you can outrun a Ford, but you can’t outrun a the parking lot of the local Starbucks! When place. The police spokesman this time started Motorola! Is it in the job description of peo- I’m driving home, if there’s any open space out by saying that the only thing they knew ple who break the law that they have to be at all, I have to dodge Yuppies from hell just for sure about the suspect was that he was stupid? like them who zoom at 80 mph, chatting on “male.” Then came the shouted questions. Just then my conscience starts to take their cell phones and slamming on the horn One of my favorites was the reporter who control; its soothing tones tell me to put the when the traffic doesn’t magically clear for asked the officer, “Do you think the suspect remote down. It whispers, in an almost them. That’s the way driving is in LA. was abused by an alcoholic father as a lover’s tone, the suggestion to pick up a book Now the addiction is truly taken hold and child?” The cop paused for a moment, and and read. Actually, not a bad idea. I’m right it’s humming. The viewers want to know looked around. I believed that he was trying in the middle of the new Turtledove book. more, to see more. On cue, the local station to figure the odds in choking the news hound Where did I… goes to a news van to the scene of the crime. unconscious before the cameras got a clear Oh no! The crook has gotten off the free- Once there, the reporters bound out of the view of his face and name badge. He decided ways! We’re into mid-game right now, ap- truck like a SWAT team, setting up the gear the odds weren’t good, but it was a very proaching end game at high speed. Forget the and swinging into action. Never mind they close decision! book, forget the phone, forget it all! Now just parked on the neighbor’s lawn, or ran It’s a circus, in the true Roman Empire comes the thrill. Buzzing through intersec- over his Rottweiler. They are here to cover sense of the word, and I’m part of it, eyes tions, dodging around traffic. The police are the story! Such as it is. The field reporters linked right to the tube. It’s entertainment for trying to shut down the intersections, but the stand around with a microphone clutched in the groundlings! I should be cleaning my driver keeps turning and sliding around cor- one hand and a finger planted in an ear to try apartment. I should be balancing my check- ners. Oops! He almost lost it, his rear end to listen to the twits back at the station. The book. Hell, I should be writing something for beginning a serious skid. He corrected just in mike always has the station number and call File 770 ! I will, in a minute. Really! time! He’s gaining speed! letters pasted on it, in B*I*G, H*U*G*E The station has gone to a commercial. This chase is fast approaching the final signs. It’s really fun when they get some Click goes the remote, running down the moments. And it’s gone on long enough that poor small little reporteroid out there, with channels until I find another one with live more information is coming out. The driver half his head covered by the logo. I wonder if coverage. Different angle, a different voice, is, as suspected, a serious boozer and druggie this is a twisted kind of loyalty test. Make but everything else is as it should be. Now (at least according to the cops). Most of these sure your face is seen on screen, or hype the the helicopters are pulling back, giving us people are. It becomes even more clear mo- station? shots of the traffic around him. ments later. Another player now enters the spotlight, It’s at this time something starts tugging The picture is this: The crook has now the public affairs officer for the law enforce- at my hindbrain. This isn’t right. There are arrived in a beach community of LA. To the ment agency that is handling the case. He’s real people down there. This whacko could driver’s left is a heavy rail, then the edge of a very excited about being there, you can tell T-bone a mini-van with a Soccer mom and 100-foot cliff and then the ocean. He’s trav- that by the professional smile, the frozen her eight kids inside. Doesn’t this mutant elling at high speed when the car zooms off look of competence, and the vein throbbing know that he can’t get away? Even if he out to the left, impacting the railing! along his neck. All of the reporters begin races the ground units, there’s a fleet of heli- We’re denied a view of the car flying out 24 File 770:139 into the blue, sewage tinged Pacific field in a car. But, the big blue Ocean. No, those rails are designed to step-van that became famous in the prevent that kind of mess. So, our 70’s TV series has arrived, along criminal tears along the fencing, with dozens of sedans, now the which bends enough to sling the car team… waits. along the length of the rail and spin it At least, that’s what it looks like onto a small dirt lot adjacent to the on television. Dozens of officers rail and next to the road. It’s an area lifting equipment out of the trunks where young families park to watch of unmarked police vehicles. The the setting sun. Because this is a cops are loading the small, deadly weekday afternoon, it is thankfully submachine guns they carry, and empty. The TV shows the crushed tightening the Velcro straps of their front end of the car, light colored bulletproof vests. smoke rising from under the crumpled According to one of the station hood. I can see at least one flat tire. anchors, “It looks like the SWAT This car isn’t leaving without the team is bringing some heavy weap- Auto Club helping. And we’re into ons to this situation.” That’s the endgame! damned perceptive. I’m surprised For a few moments, until the first he recognizes what a gun is. He police car locks its brakes up behind probably thought they carried cap him, we watch to see what the suspect pistols and water balloons. If the does. Many bail out and run away on images weren’t so exciting, a foot. While this can lead to a few heavy volume from my military more moments of freedom and comic reference library, say Jane’s Mili- relief photos of out of shape cops tary Small Arms , would shatter the struggling to climb over a fence, it picture tube of my TV set. almost always ends badly. A tackle, a I’m two seconds from punching moment of dust and the suspect is the mute button on my set when cuffed. Now and then, he runs into a the picture shifts to an overhead building and then the cops call in the shot from the helicopter again. SWAT teams. Sometimes, in the lot- Now there’s some action going on! tery of crime and punishment, the first Three cops, MP5 sub-machine unit behind the suspect is a K9 offi- guns out, are walking slowly to- cer. The foot chase is shorter and the wards the car from behind. The one dog gets a hot lunch. in the lead is holding some sort of But this time around, the fellow large box. They stop, then the first elects to remain in his car. This is cop moves forward, very slowly, actually a variation of running into a and when he’s within 30 feet of the building, because the police consider car he throws it. The box lands in this a “barricaded suspect” and call the dirt, rolls once and lays near the out the SWAT team. Time for a quick door of the battered Ford. You can trip to the bathroom and maybe an- plainly see a line, or cord of some- other bag of popcorn. SWAT always thing running from the back of the takes 45 minutes to arrive. It doesn’t matter favorite newscaster isn’t bookending the box to the police, who are now moving back- if the suspect has crashed into SWAT’s own details, how can it be real? wards. training center, 45 minutes is in the union Just to make things more exciting for the “They’ve just tossed a bomb at the sus- rules, and that’s how long it will take. men and women of law enforcement, the pect!” Screams one of the news anchors. It Police spend the time using the PA sys- caravan of news vans usually arrive right isn’t often that you see one reporter roll their tems in their squad cars, to try and talk the about this time. It would be cynical to sug- eyes over something stupid another one says, suspect into surrendering. Others set up a gest that the media helicopters are in direct but we get it this time. perimeter around the open field and beyond. communication with the vans, and tell them “Let’s not be hasty. It could be tear gas. It Folks who haven’t been watching TV are when their arrival would create the most could be a listening device. It could by any- surprised to suddenly find themselves tossed amount of chaos in an already whacked out thing.” out of their homes. It is done in the name of scene. After all, cops and reporters usually In reality, its what the SWAT team calls a safety, since gunfights have a way not fol- have such a fine working relationship to “throw phone”. It’s a battery-powered phone lowing the rules of physics we’ve all grown begin with. with wires that connect to a similar phone used to since The Matrix . These citizens end LAPD’s Metro D-Platoon, a.k.a. SWAT, used by the crisis negotiator. This is the cop up being highly upset and excited. In many arrives on the scene. These men and women who’ll try to convince the suspect (who, by cases even more so after they find out what’s are the direct descendant’s of Daryl Gate’s the way, is still sitting in his front seat) to going on. That’s because the cops insist they original SWAT team. With almost 30 years come out peacefully. leave the great view that the Fates have of experience and training with such elite Things don’t look as if they can be re- gifted them. They could set up deck chairs on units as the FBI’s HRT, US Army Delta solved by talking. The on-scene reporters are their front lawn and watch the event like a Force, US Navy DEVOPS, and German GS- now on the air with yet another media rela- Roman citizen of old. And, they could order 9 teams, you have to shake your head and tions officer. She’s having less fun than the out for a pizza too! That assumes most of wonder what the hell they’re doing respond- previous media flak, since a third of the ques- them really believe what’s going on. If their ing to a loon sitting in the middle of an open tions now involve SWAT tactics. August 2001 25

“Are you going to use a sharpshooter in over the engine hood. He’s pointing a gun of ways short, but always fun. one of your helicopters?” some sorts. The electronic eye shifts back to the Infor- “No. Department policy is not to shoot This has almost become a sporting event. mation Officer. He outlines the basic plan the unless the suspect is a threatening someone’s Will the quarterback fake a handoff and SWAT guys used, then asked for questions. life or limb. And our air units don’t have throw? Will he tuck his chin against his chest “Why didn’t you try talking him out?” sniper teams in them.” and sprint? What’s the plan? What’s the Was the first one. You could see the reporter. “Is that standard department policy, to play? He had the killing question. It was an Emmy shoot people from helicopters when they are And in a moment, we see. A small flash for him, and trouble for the cop! a threat?” of white light, and a puff of smoke. Some- “We did. For almost two hours. He didn’t “Ah… no. We don’t deploy snipers in our thing smacks against the passenger window respond.” helicopters.” of the crook’s car. You can see the thousand “Why not? Was there a language prob- “But, you could? Right?” specks of light as the window shatters. Be- lem? Couldn’t you have tried harder?” “Could what?” fore any reporter can say anything, a second The cop shrugs. Then he points overhead. “Shoot at suspects from your helicop- officer has popped up and fired another “Hear those?” All the reporters look up at the ters?” weapon off. It looks just like the first one. fleet of helicopters, still circling the story. As the officer stares with an open mouth “Aha! 37mm grenade launchers!” In my “The suspect heard them too. That’s all he at the reporter, we’re back to another ground mind I high five myself. It appears that heard. He couldn’t hear anything over the shot. This time, some camera jockey has they’re going to use tear gas to smoke him noise of your helicopters. We tossed him a gotten a fairly decent shot of the suspect out. phone. We used loudspeakers. The SWAT vehicle. Just when you thought that the They fire one in and wait. After five min- cops yelled at him. If he’d had an Internet dumbest people on scene were carrying mi- utes, they fire again. Then wait. Ten minutes connection, we would have tried that too!” crophones, the subject of this little drama another shot. Twenty minutes round four There is, for the first time this whole day, decides to compete for the title. He’s jammed slaps into the Ford. The inside of the car a moment when not one reporter has a com- a piece of paper up against the closed win- can’t have much breathable air left. Rounds 7 ment. It doesn’t last. There is now a riot of dow of the driver’s side door. According to and 8 go in at the hour mark. questions, comments and people shoving the talking heads at the studio, there is some- The reporters are having a collective heart each other, trying to get another question in. thing written on it. You couldn’t tell from the attack. The police information officer refuses I now turn off the television. The show, as image they’re broadcasting. Sometime tells to answer questions until the SWAT guys are far as those of us who follow these sort of me this knucklehead is using a ballpoint pen done, and none of the news folks have a sin- things, is over. Oh, we’ll all watch the 11:00 and printing the letters very tall on the page, gle clue on what’s going on. My favorite news, just to see different angles. But, it’s but not very thick. Maybe he just forgot his exchange during this time is when the TV over for now. Nicely done. I’d give it three crayons at home. Maybe he’s an idiot and station has a split screen of the reporter in the stars. Not quite the drama of a real shoot-out, we’re all wasting too much time on this. field and the anchor. The anchor is one of but everything else was there. “Or, “ came that damn voice from the those older types, looking properly grim. Well, it’s not quite over. I have a question back of my mind “maybe you’re the idiot.” “Must be getting pretty hard in there for the too. I ask myself, once again, why? Why I turned up the volume control with the suspect to breathe, after 1 hour and 15 rounds watch? remote, winning that debate in the only way I of tear gas.” This grasp of the obvious is Am I a wannabe? My days of being a cop knew how. dwarfed by his inability to count muzzle in the US Air Force not behind me? A secret Everyone sits now. For almost an hour. flashes. The field guy, not to be outdone by longing? Or maybe there’s the chance that The throw phone hasn’t been picked up. The some studio flunky chimes in with “A man this will develop into something more than cops can’t read the note. The reporters are like him with nothing more left to lose can just a routine chase. Something akin to Jack still looking for something profound to say. take a lot!” Ruby taking justice into his own hands with And the helicopters are thinking about look- Nothing left to lose? What? He hit the Oswald? Maybe I’m a victim of the media ing for a nearby gas station. magic number of traffic violations and he’s meme that makes films like Faces of Death I’m close to turning on the computer and facing the electric chair? The law has been acceptable. Or is it just raw, human drama? finishing up a few things when a reporter changed, and breaking and entering gets you Men and women at their best and worst. starts yapping about how the police are mak- a date with a needle full of poison? Perhaps Acting, no reacting, to life under stress of the ing a move! From his tone of voice, and lack he’s broken the most important law, boring highest level. Perhaps it’s just… wait… of breath, it appears that a major shoot out the TV audience! Down goes the volume. You’ll have to excuse me, but my pager has just started! Dozens of fully automatic Finally, the cops, possibly just bored just went off again. weapons spraying lead up and down the themselves, make the approach. It’s a small Did I mention that the service only costs street, hundreds of innocent citizens being line of five cops, spread out in a militant $10 a month? gunned down where they stand! version of a Conga Line. Pointing subma- A nice rush of adrenaline, but nothing chine guns, shotguns, wearing bulletproof Author’s note: For those of you who may close to the truth. vests and gas masks, they walk up in the doubt the existence of such a service, please We do see a large moving truck slowly driver’s blind spot. One officer yanks open go to www.pursuitwatch.com . Have fun! entering into the picture. From the news heli- the door, and the poor suspect falls out, copter’s angle, you can see a half dozen coughing and crying. He’s about as violent as SWAT officers crouched behind it, with a ground sloth and moving twice as slow. another hunkered down behind the steering The cops cuff him, then lead him away from wheel. A mobile barricade. Now this is a fun the car, and sit him down. One of them is end game! fanning his face. Cops rarely feel sorry for The truck stops about 50 feet from the guys like him, but you just have to know they passenger’s side of the suspect car and stops. felt sympathy for this one. The first cop in line slides forward and leans Now comes the post-game wrap-up. Al- 26 File 770:139

August 2001 27 L.A. Fans Remember Dr. Donald Reed

[[Alan White’s obituary of Dr. Donald Reed an enthusiasm for horror and science fiction). movie would be good, before returning to his in the last issue prompted two LASFSians to It was Dr. Don who gathered all the people seat. It’s hard to believe that we won’t see contribute their own reminisces of Reed and together and was able to fill a screening room him at the screenings again. the Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and on short notice. After all the awful movies he Because he was so eccentric, pompous Horror. Bill Warren gives a balanced view of saw, his enthusiasm never wavered. There and pretentious, It’s easy to undervalue Reed’s foibles and virtues in the following was always the hope that each movie would someone like Don. His distinctive speaking appreciation. (A revised version of one he have its moments and value. His awards gave style made him easily imitatable; among contributed to one of the Academy’s own him access to the creators of the movies that those who do great Don Reeds are Joe Dante, publications.) Then, Fred Patten takes us he loved. Mick Garris, and, reportedly, Christopher back to the silly days of yesteryear and re- Don could be fussy and pompous, but he Lee. Jokes regarding him sprang up almost minds us that behind the glorious pretensions also had a good heart and that unquenchable unbidden, many people puzzled over his of Reed’s Academy were lots of hardworking enthusiasm and optimism. Sometimes he sexual orientation, and his effusiveness could fans who never took it as seriously as the demonstrated all of this at once; Joe Dante seem overdone. But he was a great influence founder.]] was speaking at a convention when Don on dozens, probably hundreds, of young men stood up in the audience to congratulate Joe and women, some of whom ended up work- on winning an award for Gremlins from one ing in movies themselves. Many of these Dr. Don of Don’s groups. “Of course,” Don added, “ I people made deeply moving speeches at didn’t vote for it....” Don’s graveside (a short walk from the grave by Bill Warren He knew how to pick his assistants, even of Bela Lugosi, which would have pleased In 1966, not long after Beverly and I got though they tended to burn out on him pretty Don no end). The jokes were almost always married and moved to California (in fact, we thoroughly; Steve Towsley, Alan White and affectionate, especially from those who man- did so on the day we got married) Forry Ac- Tim Wohlgemuth are among those who aged to maintain a certain emotional dis- kerman invited us to party for Dr. worked with Reed for some time, and then tance. Don Reed was, in the classic sense of Donald A. Reed, president of the Count disappeared from his view forever. On the the term, a character, and like all characters, Dracula Society. We’d heard of the Society, other hand, Robert Holguin remained with he leaves a big gap in the lives of those who but had as yet had no contact with it, and Don for many years, literally sitting beside knew him. I’m not concerned with his fail- were a little uncertain about it. Somehow, the him as Dr. Reed died. ings, though I suffered from them at times; idea of dressing up in tuxes to attend dinners He knew how to be a productive pest - on he really did mean well, and I will miss him. given by a group named after a vampire behalf of the Dracula Society and, later, the seemed a little more bizarre than our country- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and bumpkin Oregon minds could deal with right Horror Films, he kept after studios, getting Fred Patten away. But Forry told us there would be inter- screenings and celebrities, until he became Reprinted from @R´banos Radioactivos! esting people at the party. important to the studios. I was very disap- #759, November 29, 1979 and #750, Decem- Upon arriving at the event, held in the pointed when so few people from Hollywood ber 6, 1979. screening room at the back of Milt Larsen’s showed up at Don’s funeral; there were Fools Rush In Where Bill Warren Fears home, the first two people we saw were plenty of people there, but they were mostly To Tread Dept . And we’ll probably be sorry. and , neither of friends, relatives and fixtures in his various Bill did warn against ever serving on any of whom we had met until that time. Both were organizations. But Joe Dante was there, and the Committees of Donald Reed’s Academy charming and affable, with Bloch being espe- so were Mike Finnell (Joe’s producer), direc- of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror cially warm. A cake with a bat on it was tors Larry Cohen and Robert Burnett, and Films. Even without Bill’s warning the signs presented to Don, and then we all sat down to actors James Karen and Ann Robinson. I was were clear enough. When I returned from watch WereWolf of London , the first time pleased when, a few days later, Centropolis England [after the 1979 Worldcon] in Sep- we’d seen it on a screen. We joined the Drac- Films and Lightstorm Entertainment -- the tember I found a couple of letters from the ula Society on the spot. companies owned by Dean Devlin/Roland Academy in my stacked-up mail. One in- I was very active in the Society for several Emmerich and James Cameron, respectively formed me that at a key Committee meeting years, but eventually backstabbing on the -- took out full-page ads in the movie trade on August 26 (i.e, when I was in England part of some and a minor blunder on my part magazines commemorating the man many of and couldn’t defend myself), I had been ap- -- which was greatly magnified by the same us knew as Dr. Don. These guys may not pointed the Secretary of the Academy’s Ani- some -- led me to resign from the Dracula make good movies, but they knew when an mation Committee – a signal honor due to Society. We became far more active in honor was due. my well-known expertise in the field of ani- LASFS than we ever had in the Dracula So- In the last 10 years or so, Beverly and I mated cinema, and a difficult responsibility ciety, and we never did join Reed’s later mostly saw Don at press screenings of new which they had confidence I would be able to Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and movies, as he would carefully arranging the handle with ease. The second letter wel- Horror films. (Which always seemed to me seating of him and his friends (Robert, you comed me to the “elite leadership element of to bear about the same relationship to the sit on the aisle, Bradley, you sit here), then about 100 persons” of the Academy, who are Count Dracula Society that Scientology did walk slowly up the aisle, greeting people he selflessly willing to contribute more of their to Dianetics.) But we remained friends with knew (Beverly always called it “working the time and energy to the Academy’s welfare Don for the rest of his life. house), finally arriving at the two of us. He than are expected of the average $25-dues- His tremendous enthusiasm for movies would usually greet us effusively, asking paying member. A contribution of $100 was motivated him and drove the societies (and about our health, asking how Forry Acker- suggested. (Incidentally, I realize that there they were real societies of people who shared man was doing, then saying he hoped the are so many activities in the s-f world today 28 File 770:139 that nobody can schedule an event that does- “ We’re running late, so we’re going to Clipping Service n’t conflict with something else, but how have to move quickly! I am going to read the Tim Marion: [[From his Lunacon report]] I many supposedly influential s-f organizations names of each Committee. As I name the discovered Jon Singer in the middle of what schedule their key executive meetings to Committee, will the Chairman please come looked like a wild workshop – Singer was conflict with the Worldcon?) up here and pick up the information packet frantically sawing something with an electric Despite these clear warning signs I that his Committee will need? We’re in a saw while holding it off the edge of a po- phoned Dr. Reed to say that I appreciated the hurry so please don’t dawdle! As soon as I dium. When all the grinding and cutting had honor and all, but I wanted to know more read your name, come up here and get your (temporarily) died down, I asked him in total about what being a Secretary of a Committee packet! The first Committee is the XXXXX mystification, “What the hell are you doing, entailed before accepting or rejecting the Committee, with Joe Blow as Chairman!” Jon?” He kindly explained to me that they post. Don said not to worry, that none of the Joe Blow stood up, waved to the room, and were in the middle of a workshop – three Committees would be doing anything for the sat back down again. “ Joe, will you please groups whose job it was to design some sort next few months. There would be a general come up here and get your packet? We have of projectile weapon to shoot AA batteries. workshop around the end of the year at to move fast, people!” “Oh, am I supposed to Sounded slightly dangerous to me, but every- which all the Committees would meet to come up there?” “ Yes , you’re supposed to one seemed to be having a harmless good select the nominees in their categories for the come up here!! Weren’t you listening at all? time. One woman picked up an aluminum Academy’s televised s-f film awards. The Each Committee Chairman is supposed to tube and found that with her mighty lung Committees would have their duties ex- come up immediately as soon as his name is power, she could shoot a battery several feet plained to their new members at this work- called! Please hurry up! The next Committee using the tube as a blowpipe. She soon found shop. is the Whatchamacallit Committee, and Mary out that she wasn’t allowed to use the tube …I decided I could spare three hours Mugwump is the Chairman!” Mary stood up, this way as another team had already tried during the afternoon to participate in the curtsied as her table gave her a hand of ap- this and been overruled. [[Source: On East meeting of the Animation Committee. plause, and sat down again. “Mary ! Come up Broadway 10]] When I arrived at the University Hilton I here and get your information packet!” “Oh, Simon Ounsely: I felt a bit uncomfort- found that everybody had to pay $5 at the I’m sorry, am I supposed to do something able planting a “u” in all those “favorites” of door to get in. “Well, of course you have to now?” “ Yes , you’re supposed to do some- Robert [Lichtman] ’s and realise I’ve never pay to attend a convention. Every sci-fi con- thing now! Isn’t any body listening to any- really thought before about the way I auto- vention has an admission fee!” Besides, the thing I say? We’re short on time , we have a matically anglicise the letters I get from Academy needed the money to pay for the lot to do today…” I slouched back in my America. But I mean you know he didn’t hotel’s convention facilities for the day. The chair and began to meditate on Chapters 23 write it that way, don’t you? I guess I just Academy’s prestige does not permit it to and 24 of Silverlock . think that the fanzine reads a bit better with meet at less than the most post hotels in Not all the Committees had Chairmen uniform spelling. Do you agree? town. So it seemed I was attending a conven- present, and Animation was one of them…. [[Connection 3]] tion rather than a workshop. According to the one-sheet Program Book, From Instant Message #685, May 2001: One aspect of convention arrangement our chairman was Les Robley. By this time Avian Lookout Committee (Deb Geisler). I was immediately obvious: you had to register there were a half-dozen of us at the Anima- want to add this committee as the turkeys are and get a name tag. The registration lines tion table; we introduced ourselves as best waking us at 5:45 a.m. They are now in rut. here made this year’s Westercon registration we could under Dr. Reed’s thunderous at- It’s their mating season. They are displaying line look like a model of efficiency and tempt to get the session started, ascertained and disappearing two by two. Next month speed. At 1:00 p.m. when the affair was sup- that no Les Robley was present and that none we’ll need a Miniature Avian Watching posed to begin, there was an empty conven- of us knew what to do, and shrugged. Committee convened as about 100 or more tion hall in the distance and a tremendous …A lot of them had the air of having been little fluffballs will be showing up. Joe Ross crush of people behind the registration desk drafted to their work, and of not having the was punfined for observing that when fluff- in the foyer. Even though attendance was slightest idea of how to do it…. The closest balls get big enough they become butterballs. presumably limited to the Academy’s “elite we came to getting instructions was when Sharon suggested setting up a turkey web- leadership element of about 100 persons,” it Reed complained about the difficulty in se- cam. Ted added that HAL2K came with a wasn’t until almost 2:00 p.m. that the last lecting the Best Films of the year at the be- camera which we could run underground and people were cleared by the registrars and ginning of December when some of the big- set up a skunkcam under the clubhouse. (For entered the room. The room was filled gest blockbusters weren’t released until later some unknown reason there were no volun- mainly with the amplified voice of Dr. Reed, in the month. “ Each committee is to select teers to do this.) saying, “ Will you people please take your five nominees in its category. Yet how can we Harry Warner: I’m finally out of danger places so we can start? We’re late ! We have vote today when at least two of the poten- from the many fans who have threatened to to get through by 4:00 p.m. so the hotel can tially most important films of the year, ‘Star drag me kicking and screaming into the 20 th set the room up for dinner! Please take your Trek: The Motion Picture’ and ‘The Black Century during the past six decades. These seats so we can get started!” Hole,’ won’t be out for another couple of comments will create the last loc I’ll write in The room was set up banquet style with weeks? All we can do is select only four this century and this millennium. [[Source: lots of small tables, each bearing a big sign nominees and leave one blank which we will Opuntia 47.5]] reading Make Up, Special Effects, Direction, fill in with ‘Star Trek’ or ‘The Black Hole,’ Mike and Karka Weaver : [on Cones- Music and the other categories that the Acad- later. ” This made a certain amount of sense, toga 2001] The trip was a long one, six-and- emy gives awards in. Some Committees were although it amounted to orders to nominate a-half hours down I-44, but was truly worth 15 or 20 people strong; the Animation table “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” or “The it, if only to hear Joe Haldeman singing was almost deserted. Dr. Reed was fidgeting Black Hole” in every single category. (And “Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up behind a microphone at the podium, next to what about Stephen Spielberg’s war fantasy, to be Vampires.” [[Source: Chronicles of the someone staggering under a massive stack of “1941”? I wondered.) Dawn Patrol]] bulging padded enveloped. August 2001 29

ConJose, the 2002 World Science Fiction It’s A Green Machine Convention, took effect in July. The re- Octocon, the Irish National Convention, is in Conventional vised basic membership rates are as fol- its twelfth year – and though a certain Ameri- lows: can newzine editor never heard of it before, USD 160, EUR 180, CAD 250, AUD publicist David Stewart is making up for lost 320, GBP 112 time by sending a whirlwind of press re- The new US Dollar rates are guaran- leases. Reportage teed until December 31, 2001. For full GoH: The guest of honor will be Anne details of the existing and new rates, in- McCaffrey, of Pern fame. She has been a cluding supporting and child member- regular attendee at previous Octocons, but ships, and discounts for pre-supporters and this is the first time she has been GoH. Divvying the Loot voters, see the ConJose web site at: Cyberdrome Coming to Dun Bucconeer chair Peggy Rae Sapienza wrote http://www.conjose.org/Member/ Laoghaire: Fans of the BBC TV show Ro- online that the committee has decided not to membership.html bot Wars will have a chance to see if they do a hardcopy memory book so that more of have got what it takes to be cyber warriors the 1998 Worldcon’s remaining profits can DeepSouthCon Awards later this year when Octocon, the National go to support the Student Science Fiction and DeepSouthCon’s traditional awards were Science Fiction Convention, runs its own Fantasy Contest. Bucconeer's memory book, presented once again, this May at Tenacity 1 version of the event, Battling Robots. Under The Parting Shot , will be put up on the web, in Birmingham, AL. the watchful eye of cyber masters Mick instead. The Phoenix Award, for the pro who has O’Connor and James Bacon, members of the The story, art and science essay contest done the most for Southern fandom, went to convention will be invited to bring their for students in the 1st through 12th grades Sharon Green. The Rebel Award, corre- mechanised creations to the Cyberdrome aka started has been continued by the Bucconeer spondingly for the fan who has done the most the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, committee with the support of the subsequent for Southern fandom, was given to two fans where they will battle it out for glory and NASFiC and Worldcons. The first year’s for “advice and succor” to the 2001 DSC maybe a prize. contest harvested 100 entries. This year there committee, Sam Smith of Huntsville and “We’re not talking the sort of highly engi- are over 600 entries. It costs almost $8,000 Robert Neagle of New Orleans. neered machines you see on television,” said per year to print and mail contest information The Rubble Award, presented to the fan O’Connor. “We’re looking for people to to schools, make copies of the entries for who has done the most to Southern fandom come along and have some fun.” O’Connor judging, provide certificates to all partici- in the past year, is an unofficial award spon- and Bacon were the creators of ‘Son of pants and provide prizes (T-shirts and book sored by Gary Robe. It went jointly to Steve Gimp’ which won the title ‘Most Aggressive store gift certificates) to the finalists and and Sue Francis of Louisveille for retiring Robot’ at a similar event at Paragon, the winners. from running Rivercons. [[Source: NASFA 2001 UK National Science Fiction Conven- Peggy Rae included the news that she and Shuttle , 5/2001 ]] tion which took place in Hinckley, Leicester- John will move this fall to their new home at shire over the Easter Weekend. “We built 12606 Eldrid Court in Silver Spring, MD The Ring Goes Ever On ‘Son’ from a second hand remote controller 20904. we found in a charity shop and some pieces Fifty years of The Lord of the Rings will be celebrated in 2005 at a conference being of Meccano,” explained Bacon. “The total This Way, José organized by Britain’s Tolkien Society. The cost was less than £10 and we put in about ConJose, the 2002 Worldcon, has announced event will take place August 11-15, 2005 at three nights work.” that it will be using San Jose’s Civic Audito- Ashton University in Birmingham, England, Irish Radio to Record SF Series at Con: rium for major evening events, such as the the town where Tolkien spent most of his RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster, will Hugo Awards Ceremony and Masquerade. childhood. It is timed to begin a few days record the first two episodes of Big Big “The Civic Auditorium is a charming after the end of the proposed UK Worldcon Space!, RTE’s new venue built in the classic Mission style,” in Glasgow, presently running unopposed. show on Saturday night (October 13). The notes Cheryl Morgan’s press release. “Zorro The committee, chaired by Trevor Rey- show will be written by Roger Gregg and costumes would be entirely appropriate.” nolds, will issue a Call for Papers sometime performed by the Crazy Dog Audio The 3000-seat Civic Auditorium is across this year, and all responses will be forwarded Company, the same people behind Invasion the street from the McEnery Convention to this academic committee. Registration for From Planet Vampire , which was broadcast Center, ConJose’s principal daytime venue. the conference will initially cost £30. (Plus live from last year’s convention. By including the auditorium in the mix, the fees on payments made by credit card or Masquerade Winner Gets Air Tickets: convention is free to devote McEnery’s main foreign check. “Dragon’s hoard, don’t leave First prize in the convention’s masquerade hall entirely to daytime events. the Shire without it…”) will be a pair of air tickets to the UK (or if Photographs and floor plans of the Civic A partial list of the conference organizers the winner lives in the UK, to Paris) thanks Auditorium are available on the ConJose web and their contact information follows: to the sponsorship of airline bmi british mid- site at: 2005 Chairman: Trevor Reynolds, E-mail: land. “We are very pleased and grateful that http://www.conjose.org/Sanjose/ [email protected] bmi british midland has been so generous,” civic.html International Liason: Andrew McMurry, said James Brophy, Chairman of the conven- A street map of downtown San Jose E-mail: tion. “Every year the masquerade entrants put showing the location of the McEnery Con- [email protected] their heart and soul into creating exciting and vention Center, Civic Auditorium and major US agent: Lynn Maudlin, E-mail: ingenious costumes and I am delighted that convention hotels is available at: [email protected] we can offer a prize that matches that com- http://www.conjose.org/Sanjose/ mitment.” For more details, see the web site: facilities.html http://www.octocon.com Rate Hike: New membership rates for 30 File 770:139 The Fanivore

to worry about the Fan Hugos; and then tore it up. I under- going back to that stand your position, I simply don’t happen to building in Seattle agree with it. Hopefully you understand much longer – where I’m coming from, even if you don’t Boeing is moving agree. In the long run I don’t think it matters to Chicago! Oh, by a great deal. My friend Sheryl Birkhead the way, Bill, did made the ballot this year (and well deserved); you ever hear about probably I should quit. Just a word in re- the New Madrid sponse to your statement that “The Hugos are Fault? not like the Winston Cup in auto racing – Dragons Talk winning is not the ultimate reward for par- Back to the IRS: ticipation.” Agreed. But the fan Hugos espe- As of this morning cially are about recognition, egoboo, in lieu (May 17, 2001), the of other reward. two sites are still Moving on: You are correct: It was Jo- up. seph Major whom I met briefly at the 1998 Heinlein Gets Worldcon in Baltimore. I had more opportu- the Chair: From nity to talk with Joseph, Tim Lane, Milt Ste- Joseph T. Major conversation among Heinlein fans, I have vens, John Hertz, Robert Kennedy, and other heard that the movie rights to Starship fans at the 2000 Worldcon in Chicago. The People Speak: Well, it’s not the first Troopers had been sold previously, and that (Messrs. Kennedy, Stevens, and Martin time I’ve been taken for Joseph T. Mayhew. I the Heinlein Estate did not deal directly with Morse Wooster were the three with whom I got his progress reports for, I believe, Iguana- Verhoeven. On the other hand, it would be a sat at the Fosfax dinner.) I had in fact spoken con. Now I know some people would have beautifully ironic way of using the money, if briefly once or twice with Joe Mayhew in been happy if I had died, but I will have to there were any. (The film I call Paul Verho- earlier years while working on conventions. disappoint them. even’s Starship Troopers was, according to Sadly, I never had the pleasure of meeting Nominees : Each of these Entertainment Weekly , not a hit.) Ian Gunn. had a problem. The 2001 Awards were Areas (19)51 Film Festival: Interesting. Good news about the wedding of Rose- plagued by “Okay, which of these is worth One hopes that this fresh and expanded print Marie Donovan and Guy Lillian, whom I putting first?” I settled on Harry Potter and of The Thing From Another World will be also got to meet at Chicon. I suggested the the Goblet of Fire (something I think would available on tape and DVD. I have bought wedding should be held at Worldcon so sev- have to do with cayenne pepper, curry pow- the DVD of Destination Moon and am sadly eral thousand friends could line up to kiss the der, tabasco sauce and Dudley Dursley) as disappointed at the poor quality of the origi- bride; guess that suggestion got lost some- least undeserving. The 1950 Awards were nal print. where in the wedding planning… Weddings plagued by “Okay, which of these do I insult Drawing Card: The edition of The Com- are always hopeful, so I offer my congratula- by putting second?” Believe me, having to pleat Feghoot I have…somewhere…has a tions, such as they are, to the other couple mark down such works as The Dying Earth , substantial number of drawings of the title who got married in Seattle, even if I don’t “The Man Who Sold the Moon,” “Scanners character by Tim Kirk. Does that disqualify know them… Live in Vain,” “To Serve Man,” and him? Brad Foster, re: his wife’s returned jew- “Harvey” as being less than Hugo-worthy is The Fanivore: That’s a bizarre comment. elry – I was once working Information for a painful. (Okay, Farmer in the Sky , “The Last If the Mythopeoic Society is about fantasy, large con, and we got drafted as the “lost and Enemy,” “The Little Black Bag,” “The and they like Dorothy Sayers because she found.” Items turned in and eventually re- Gnurrs Come From the Voodvork Out,” and once sat down with a couple of Inklings, claimed included prescription medications, Rabbit of Seville were my picks respective.) does that mean that Lord Peter is fantasy? several pairs of glasses, any number of con Was 1950 so much better? I wasn’t even [[Did you have any doubt? And theology, badges (including Robert Silverberg’s), and born then, so it can’t be my love for the too.]] several wallets complete with credit cards things I saw when I was young. and substantial amounts of cash. Money of Wedding Countdown Begins: Unless E. B. Frohvet course can always be replaced; it’s fortunate Lisa has to work the weekend of Guy’s wed- that the lady was able to locate a one-of-a- ding, I will be Hopkinsville that day at a Glad to see we have cleared up that whole kind item of personal value. But not perhaps family reunion with FOSFA President Eliza- an unusual occurrence in fandom. beth Garrott. (As you know, we are related, “hoax” misunderstanding. Nic Farey has asked me to participate in the operation of I enjoyed Tadao Tomomatsu’s anecdote being – most closely – third cousins once about the actresses and the snakes. Alas, the removed.) I would like to wish Guy and next year’s Corflu, scheduled for February 2002 in Annapolis, Maryland. Should you one probably was not really interested in Rose-Marie all the best. exploring the lady’s cleavage, he was proba- Fandom Inc. Goes Bust: And it couldn’t attend, I will gladly buy you any beverage of your choice, and you may judge for yourself bly just attracted to her body heat. I said once have happened to a more deserving bunch. that an easy way to tell fans from mundanes Bad Vibrations: Bill Warren won’t have the “reality” of my existence. I wrote this whole long intense rant about is to produce a snake. Fans will be, like, August 2001 31

“Hey, cool snake! Can I hold him?” Mun- Brad W. Foster road-time, and hoping to be able to use that danes will generally freak, often with refer- to do the final work on the site. Only time ences to Genesis. Latest issue came in good shape, though I did will tell! a bit of a double-take on the cover, thought it Cheryl Morgan was an issue of Plokta where they were goof- Ian Stockdale ing on File 770 . Too many sub references, The latest File 770 has finally reach me in the brain boggles! Starting to look like Alan While I’ve not loc’d frequently, I have en- temporary exile here in the UK. Commisera- is becoming a one-man design team for these joyed reading File 770 , and look forward to tions on the reaction to your Frohvet piece. issues, and is giving it a distinctive look for doing so in the future. Unoriginally, I enjoy I’m sure that Feder and Frohvet feel that they sure. I’m still ages away from being able to the convention reports, most recently Ted have successfully stamped out some vicious do any sort of computer art, still stuck in the White’s Corflu report in F770:138 and the calumny perpetrated upon their names, but to stone ages of pen and paper. (Okay, so it’s various Chicon reports in F770:137 . I have the rest of the world it will just look like more mid-twentieth century than actual stone to echo your praise of Chicon registration, as further evidence that Americans have No age.) it was very well run. Opening registration Sense of Humour. Congrats on the double Hugo nomina- Wednesday is definitely the way to go, and is [[First, global warming, now this!]] tions. I’m working on the fourth “team-up” especially useful for the fans working to set As to the Hugo debate, I feel that up the con. your correspondents are complaining at You made a good point regarding the the wrong people. Why don’t they direct fanzine in your reply to E. B. Frohvet their ire at the voters, many of whom when you pointed out the importance of seem to be happy to nominate the same nominations. This year’s ballot may be a people year after year without bothering good test of your theory, as there are to look at the alternatives? One of the three fanzines ( Plokta, Challenger and reasons that I run a Hugo recommenda- STET ) that have never won before. Will tion page on my web site is to try to the voters select one of these over you or encourage rather broader consideration Mimosa ? (Or will we at least see one of of the possibilities come voting time. these in second place?) There are very good people out there, if [[Interesting question, and in just a only folks bothered to look. couple of months we’ll know. Sometime I Personally I’m not a great fan of the want to look over the old Hugo voting withdrawal argument. It is possible that statistics and see how many times File if you and Dave Langford did declare 770 has finished second. If it’s done so yourselves ineligible than I might just more often than any other, will that get nominated for a Hugo or two. Nor is make it the second best fanzine of all it totally beyond the bounds of possibil- time?]] ity that I might win one. But if I did I Of course, the fanzine category is would always be left thinking that I only positively tumultuous compared to the won because the best candidates were semiprozine category, where next year not in contention. Obviously any Hugo we’ll finally see a new face on the list win is a tremendous honor, but should I since SF Chronicle has declared itself achieve it I would prefer to know that I professional. In both of the categories, did it fair and square, not because people piece of art I’ve done with Teddy Harvia in one reason for seeing the same faces year better than me decided to withdraw to give the past few months (a wraparound cover for after year may be that new fans (or fans new me a chance. Mimosa , and Teddy has come up with a great to fanzines) tend to use last year’s Hugo list design idea for it!), and having lots of fun. If as a starting point. That was certainly the Henry Welch this keeps up though we might end up doing case for me four years ago. Of course, you less of our own solo work, and have to be hope that people go beyond the starting I had absolutely no trouble realizing that listed as a team in a few years if anyone point. your Frohvet/Feder thing was a satirical wants to nominate us again. (I’m always [[But had you seen all the zines on that farce. I’ve met both Moshe and E.B. and surprised when I get the call that I’m on the list? Or did you vote blind?]] their personalities are too divergent for a ballot, though I no longer worry about win- supposedly “actor” Frohvet to have pulled it ning it again. sigh. Fortunately that has noth- Michael Nelson off. I suppose that means that I had insider ing to do with the fun of making the draw- knowledge so I promptly dismissed your ings, so I look forward to creating lots more I wish to add a comment on Kathi Overton conclusions. The next thing you know some- for years to come.) and John Pomeranz’s surprise New Year’s one will accuse me of being a hoax at which Still working on trying to get a web site Eve wedding. They were very cruel to this point I might simply have to vaporize in a up. Last few months have been involved with photographer. I had carefully hoarded the puff of rude smelling smoke. I know for a the prepping for, travelling to, and working shots left on the film in my camera during while that E.B. Frohvet thought that TKK and at several street art festivals around the state, the evening and used the very last shot for Plokta were somehow from the same source not to mention trying to build some new the midnight toasting. due to their proximity of arrival in his mail- display equipment on the time had at home. Then those two jokers announced their box. Hah, I’ve never had 10% of their crea- The good/bad news is that a couple of festi- wedding and immediately started the cere- tivity. vals I applied to for the summer have decided mony at about 12:01 a.m. I had to rush across they can get along just fine without my art, the crowded living room, trampling slow- so I see a stretch of some weeks with no moving children, to get to my camera bag for 32 File 770:139 another roll of film. So, as the ceremony central location and the very capable and passivity seems more directed towards view- started, you could hear me yelling in the welcoming people we put in charge of run- ing the creations of others in the form of background, “Slow down, slow down!” I ning it. Great credit belongs to Pat and Roger movies and television shows. managed to load the camera and get a few Sims, and Janice Gelb. The act of reading a book can be creative photos of the event (I was too frantic to no- Having the fan lounge be an exhibit kind in a way that movies and television can never tice that my flash batteries were nearly dead) of happened by accident, but I do like the be. In the visual media the costumes and and have posted them at http:// idea. (Although the way fandom seems to be characters are laid out right in front of the www.seahunt.org/wedding/index.htm. going I sometimes wonder if historical dis- viewer – no imagination needed. When an On another note, I enjoyed your and El- plays will soon be all that's left of that quar- author describes a scene, landscape or a char- speth Kovar’s Chicon 2000 reviews in File ter of fandom.) acter, the reader of the words has to put 770:137 . I had forgotten about our encounter something of himself into creating the mind- with the Japanese fans in the elevator while Marty Cantor picture that the author has written. we were transporting the Hugo Well, sorry about this rant. This cranky Awards from the Hyatt to the Fairmont. I remember when Alan White produced a old phart has been watching fandom move The whole evening was pretty hazy for very nice fanzine 20+ years ago – it was very more and more away from he me. It sounds silly, but the realization that I much media-oriented. In the time since then, entered and instantly fell in love with – and would be required to stand and speak before the media emphasis in fandom has moved he does not like the direction in which it has a large crowd of people hadn’t hit me until from an emphasis on the printed word with gone. that day. I recall delivering the awards back- interest excursions into the non-printed-word Joseph Major errs when he comments stage and heading to the reception to grab media to a reversal of this emphasis. Twenty- about something previously written by Lloyd something to eat before the ceremony started. six years ago, when I entered fandom (at the Penney, “The problem with Baloney was that At the entrance, Perrianne Lurie was LASF) the “Reviews” part of LASFS meet- everyone thought they were one of the five checking invitations and I happened to ings was almost exclusively about SF books fuggheads.” Everybody should know that glance down at the table next to her. “Oh... and other written things, with a once-in- there are more than five fuggheads in fan- those envelopes look just like the Hugo win- awhile review of something either on the big dom. But that is not the error – not everybody ner envelopes THAT I LEFT BACK IN MY or little screen. Today at LASFS, it is much thought that they were one of the five fugg- HOTEL ROOM’S SAFE!!!” I think I made less common to hear reviews of the written heads. I knew that I was not one of the five, pretty good time getting back to the Hyatt for word – mostly there are reviews of television which is why my loc on Baloney had created- a middle-aged overweight person in a tuxedo shows and movies. Of the eight sub-interest for-the-occasion letterhead where I called and new shoes. Naturally, I had loaned my groupings of LASFSians who meet monthly myself Fugghead Number Six . [[Who is room key to someone and had to dash at the club, every single one of them is ori- Number One?]] One must always strive for through the Student Science Fiction and Fan- ented to, or has a prime interest in, movies accuracy. Or, at the very least, smartassery. tasy Contest reception in the Bucconeer party and/or television shows. I think that this is [[I am not a number, I am a (ending this suite to get to my room. Fortunately, it was representative of much of current fandom. sentence is an exercise left for the reader.)]] almost over and no children were trampled. Fans still read the printed word, but it seems Saul Jaffe, this year’s Hugo Awards Ad- that reading is much less important in the Lloyd Penney ministrator, was shadowing me during the fannish scheme of things than it used to be. evening for the experience. I must have given Denny Lien’s LoC portrayed this state of I haven’t heard anything from Murray Moore him many practical demonstrations of what much of current-day fandom, and the last about his CUFF adventures in Vancouver, so not to do. paragraph of his LoC was a brilliant expres- I am hoping to find him at a future pubnight, sion of this. Yes, the most important verb with lots of stories to go into his trip report. Leah A. Zeldes which used to define fandom was “read.” I’d like to think that our trip report has This does not seem to be the case today. Fans brought CUFF in line with other fan funds I don't believe we ever wrote to thank you for still read (most of them), but too many fans when it comes to raising money. your kind words about the Chicon fan con- seem to devote more time to non-reading When Tommy Ferguson launched British course and fan lounge. Two small items re- fannish pursuits than fans used to do. I just fan-style pubnights in Toronto some years garding the latter: The male figure was not wish that this were not so. Sadly, I’m afraid ago, he could not have imagined how it intended to be Alex Eisenstein, as you in- that it is. would spread. Toronto fandom now has its ferred, but Neil Rest. Gretchen Roper crafted [[I recall LASFS having a high propor- fourth pubnight. To go with the regular First the soft sculptures; we were striving for peo- tion of book reviews 25 years ago, as you do. Thursday and Third Monday pubnights, and ple who would be unmistakeable. I guess However, 25 years ago there was compara- the Doctor Who pubnights also held on the not.... tively little sf on tv or in the theaters, so this First Thursday, there is now a pubnight Secondly, the original idea of an exhibit may not be a fair comparison – there’s so staged by the local Trek convention. It’s on depicting an archetypal fan living room from much more to review today. What’s more, the 13th of this month, which would make it the Chicago Thursday meetings of the 1970s Bruce Pelz has three tables full of new sf a Second Wednesday if they decided to peg it should be credited to Bill Roper and John paperbacks for sale at every meeting – on the same day of the month. Donat. (It was part of the bait they dangled there’s still a lot of interest in reading at The idea that Lois Bujold reworked a Star to entice us into taking on the concourse.) LASFS.]] Trek novel to create the Vorkosigan universe Dick and I merely took their concept a step When I entered fandom 26 years ago, not is indeed a fiction. I said that Joy Smith men- farther by deciding to make it into the fan only were books the primary interest in fan- tioned this is a past issue, and meant to cor- lounge. Designing that corner of the con- dom, but fandom was also interested in pro- rect that impression. (Comments on com- course was the most fun I had working on ducing the written word (some profession- ments on comments...doesn’t look like an Chicon. ally, many contributing to or producing fan- apa...) I also said that Mike Glicksohn had Of course, what made that lounge work so zines.) Today, the emphasis seems to be on found an old Star Trek fictionzine by Lois well was not so much the furniture but its consumption rather than production, and this McMaster and Lillian Stewart. Ms. Bujold August 2001 33 used her experience with such writing as one wrong predictions might be interesting too. to the source: “I e-mailed Greg Bear from a of many sources in which to launch a profes- And thanks for the LASFS member's re- web site I found, and he sent me a bibliogra- sional writing career. sponse re: SF & fantasy to the kid who phy, and I'm mailing it to Sheryl.” My letter...the con-running fans in Mont- wanted some magic spells... Taral: [[On selling his “Off-Colour” art real are indeed wise. They saw that there was Good article on “Hi-Tech Fan Art” by CD]] “The final cut: US$20 plus US$2 for little support for the con last year, and so Alan White and how he created the cover for postage. I’ve been hawking them at furry they cancelled it. However, with some more Smokin' Rockets . That is a nifty cover! I'd cons, natch. The only SF con I’ve had the time to organize, Con*cept will return this love to see it in color. chance to exposed them to was the recent fall, in a reduced one-day format. They built “Residuals” by Tadao Tomomatsu was a Marcon. Migawd! I was told Marcon was a up from a one-day convention, and I think fun article on his working experiences in travesty, but I had no idea. There was actu- they can do it again. Hollywood. (I'd like to know more about ally a psychic fair in the lobby outside the Good to see that Julie Czerneda made a Beth, btw.) dealers room. The guest of honor was some good impression in Omaha. Julie is a former ‘never was’ who had played the second Rom- teacher, and with her husband Roger and the Robert Kennedy ulan in the original Star Trek episode 35 kids, were regular attendees of Toronto con- years ago. What do you say to such a person ventions in the 80s and 90s. In fact, I think In my last LoC, in my comments concerning when he asks, ‘Do you want to wear my Roger and Julie attended the Ad Astra you E. B. Frohvet I refer to Joseph T. Mayhew. button?’” [[ I don’t know, but I’ll bet you were the Fan GoH at, Mike. They used to This was lifted from Mike's humorous com- could draw him a picture.]] live in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, but ments concerning Frohvet. Shortly after Martin Morse Wooster: There were no now, they live in Orillia, about 80 miles sending my LoC, it sunk into my deteriorat- “Factsheets One-Four.” The name “Factsheet north of Toronto, which is where I grew up. ing brain that Mike must have really meant Five” was coined by John Brunner in one of John Mansfield says that the small detail Joseph T Major. A quick E-mail to Mike his novels (I believe it was Shockwave left out of our trip report was that CUFF paid resulted in his confirming that it was a Freu- Rider ). Mike Gunderloy took the name be- for both our flights to Montreal. Chapter 5 of dian slip. Also, I got carried away regarding cause he wanted FF to a factual, future- our trip report details how we had to decide fan category Hugos. Especially about Locus. oriented news zine. whether to drive or fly. The fact I’d started a I must have been having a bad hair day. I do, On the subject of “E.B. Frohvet,” I can new job and Yvonne was in the middle of a however, agree with Frohvet in his current report that the latest Niekas was so long de- SAP implementation made it pretty well LoC: "...anyone who wins three Fan Hugos layed that there is imperative that we fly. Yvonne checked with in any one category should thereafter not be not only one letter by “Frohvet,” but one her work-based travel agent, and she found a eligible in that category for two years." mention of Frohvet’s real name! two-for-one sale, and yes, CUFF paid for Sounds good to me. Well, it looks like Ted both those tickets, but at the price of one White knows Frohvet's real identity. Letterhacks’ Addresses usual ticket. I quote from Chapter 5: I am very happy that Sheryl Birkhead has “Fans are fans, no matter where you go, finally made it to be nominated for Best Fan Sheryl Birkhead, 25509 Jonnie Court, so we expected that if there was the slightest Artist. I not only have been nominating her Gaithersburg, MD 20882 hint of luxury, or wastage of money, we’d in that category for several years, but also for Marty Cantor, 11825 Gilmore St. #105, catch it continuously. So, frugal we were, as Best Fan Writer. Maybe she'll make that one North Hollywood, CA 91606 much as we could. The two-for-one sale of these days too. I failed to nominate Brad W. Foster, P.O. Box 165246, Irving, came along at just the right time.” Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for Best TX 75016; E-mail: [email protected] Also, I checked all my correspondence Dramatic presentation (another "senior mo- E. B. Frohvet, 4716 Dorsey Hall Dr. #506, over the past year or so, and nowhere can I ment"), but will certainly be voting for it as Ellicott City, MD 21042 find any complaints from Yvonne and I #1. Robert Kennedy, 1779 Ciprian Ave., about DUFF financing. All I would say to Camarillo, California 93010-2451 Pat and Naomi is take the same care with Sheryl Birkhead Joseph T. Major, 1409 Christy Ave., fund finances as we did, or you may have Louisville, KY 40204-2040; E-mail: someone complaining about it. Couples have I really appreciated Alan White’s article – [email protected] run for fan funds all over the world, and will Cheryl Morgan, E-mail: do so in the future. John, check page 23 of knew it had to be computer generated, but had absolutely no idea how. [email protected] our trip report, and there is Yvonne’s finan- Michael Nelson, E-mail: cial statement, clearly stating airfare ex- I am finally starting to use the computer and software. Unfortunately, I just don’t [email protected] penses of $315.78. Lloyd Penney, 1706-24 Eva Rd., Etobicoke, know how to utilize all the capabilities of what I have (and the manuals are almost ON M9C 2B2, Canada; E-mail: Joy V. Smith useless.) But, this is progress, and I am [email protected] slowly learning how to do things. I’ll tuck in Joy V. Smith, E-mail: [email protected] What an interesting cover on the cover of two pieces [of art] which were among my Leah A. Zeldes Smith, E-mail: File 770:138 . I admire all the tinkering that first “no cut and paste” doodlings. No run- [email protected] went into it, and I love the beanie on the ning out to locate a copier and taking scis- Ian Stockdale, 601 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, coffin. sors, tape, white-out… Ah, the convenience. CA 94301 I enjoyed Ted White's Corflu report; it Henry L. Welch, E-mail: [email protected] sounds like Nic Farey did a great job as GoH. Martin Morse Wooster, E-mail: (Are the Corflu Guests of Honor's names [email protected] always pulled out of a hat?) We Also Heard From The time capsule predictions from the Harry SF Club (Ohio) that came true were Joy V. Smith read Sheryl Birkhead’s request fascinating. (Look what we've done!) The for a Greg Bear bibliography. Joy went right 34 File 770:139