Another Mechanical Power of Two

[email protected] THe Drink Tank issue 128 Look at that happy bunch over there! Five very happy folks at the end of a con where they were all dias-sit- ters. It was BayCon 2005 and it was 1.7 metric shitloads of fun! Jay Lake, Writer GoH, Frank Wu, Artist GoH, Evil Kevin Roche, No Nickname Needed Andy Trembley, and myself were all there and had a wonderful time. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. Joy- ful, explosively funny, exhausting and strange. All of those are what a great con should be and BayCon 2005 ful- filled those to the maximum allowed percentage. I’m always looking for a good reason to write about it again. It’s well-known that I am deeply associated with BayCon and that I’m a huge supporter and the last two years a staffer. This will not change for a while (unless they decide they don’t want a Fanzine Lounge, which is really space is) and floor three (where the sion for the only time that BayCon will the only thing I’m qualified to work on). party floor will be along with the Con- be in San Mateo (though Westercon More than that, I truly love BayCon suite and Fanzine Loune) are a con- could be seen as BayCon 25.1) and am glad that it’s managed to keep tinuous piece of floor. It’s very useful if So, what is this issue going to things going after losing what I con- you don’t wanna have to take elevators be? Preparation for BayCon. It’s got a sider to be the perfect con hotel. Still, and lots of stairs annoy you. report by Janice Gelb on her time as there are other cons at the DoubleTree This will also be the first year Fan GoH in 2003 (that’s where I met (Con-X-Treme, which may or may not since 2005 where a majority of those her, I think) and it’s got a lot of Chris have it’s act together and Silicon in of us who were GoHs in 2005 will be thoughts plus photos from Howeird October) and the San Mateo Marriott is at the con. I’m gonna be there, as will (like the one above)and Espana and a nice place and one that I won’t mind Kevin and Andy. Frank might make Andy. Plus there’s some more inter- staying at for a convention. It’s biggish, an appearance as well. I think we’ll all esting (to me at least) stuff about Kurt clean and full of strange paths and be at Westercon (and we were all to- Vonnegut from my man James Bacon! connections that make floors meld into gether again at Dave & Spring’s party Add to that LoCs and you’ve got a full- one another. It’s a bizzare place, with last weekend!). There’s gonna be a lot blown issue of The Drink Tank! floors two (where most of the function of fun stuff goin’ on and we’ll probably [email protected] end up making a memorable impres- to get out of the (including stuff that I’d asked for, like shower :-> ) bottled water, and stuff that I would I had joked never use, like Fritos, which ended up when selected being donated to the con suite). After that I was a cheap we dropped it, plus a heavy vase of date, given that I beautiful flowers, off in my room, I was local and they went to my first panel didn’t have to pay My first panel was on how transportation to moderate a panel, with fellow so they should panelists Margaret Organ-Kean and at the very least two local fans, Chris Garcia and Jane send a limo. Seven Mailander. The panel went fairly months later, the well: I’d remembered to bring with GoH Liaison was me the handout for moderators that I seriously asking developed for Magicon and have refined for the address over the years, so we just used that as to which the limo talking points. should be sent! After pretending to work in Luckily, I managed my hotel room for a few hours, I BayCon 2003 Report to talk them out of it. went out for an early dinner given by Janice Gelb that I had to be back for the “Meet the Guests” event at 8 (plus sunset Photos from Andy Trembley and Friday, May 23 was around then anyway) with Julie Espana Sheriff! Dickinson and Randy at one of my BayCon 2003 was my first and I arrived at the con at about favorite restaurants downtown, called only Fan GoHship so it definitely lives noon, with opening ceremonies not La Pastaia (whose menu includes the in my memory, which in this case has until 2. When I went up to Program motto “No cigars, no cellular phones, also been bolstered by the trip report I Ops to check in, I was informed that and only one sardonic person per wrote at the time :-> they’d assigned me a “button pusher”: table”). Unfortunately, they didn’t want someone to turn lights on and off I was a bit apprehensive about dessert so I was foiled in my desire for being selected as Fan Guest of Honor and push elevator buttons on the the restaurant’s specialty tiramisu. for my local SF convention, a for-profit Sabbath!!! I informed them that this I scrambled into my night-time 2,000+-person convention. Especially really wouldn’t be necessary. (Not only GoH outfit and went upstairs to the after they had me sit down with a video would I have been very uncomfortable Meet the Guests event. The GoH liaison crew for an interview to be shown as with that arrangement but it is had told us that the event was optional part of closed-circuit “Baycon TV.” (I actually against the rules…) for GoHs. (As a matter of fact, until I figured I was the infomercial equivalent Rick Moen, the friendly guest asked him about the “night event” for for people waiting for their roommates liaison, gave me a big bucket of swag guests that I noticed on the web site, they hadn’t told any of us about it at discussion of the all.) However, when we got there, we topic that turned were told we’d be expected to say a few into a full panel words! I put in a plug for DUFF and and ended with told people to stop me in the halls and about 18 people in chat. the room! I then went Saturday, May 24 about 10 feet to the Noreascon 4 Unfortunately, the hotel fan table where I plumbing had hit a snag and there was scheduled to was no hot water when I tried to sit with NY fan and take a shower. I showered as quickly fellow committee as I could and then scarfed down a member NY fan Doubletree cookie and some bottled Ben Yalow. The water for breakfast. On the way Noreascon table down from Program Ops, I took the turned out to be elevator and a bell guy in the elevator a godsend. I had with a cart saw my namebadge and asked a couple said “I just read all about you in the of people before Espana Sheriff with Harlan Ellison at BayCon Dos Mil Tres convention newsletter!” Now that’s the con what was fame, being recognized by the hotel expected of guests of honor and been there) for a panel on copyediting. I had staff! They’d sent all the GoHs a few told that they shouldn’t hide in their suggested this panel because of the questions to answer but this was the rooms but should hang around and successful one at Boskone but due to first I knew that I was the first one to shmooze with people. This is probably my not providing a precis myself, the be featured. easy to do when you’re a Writer GoH description was misleading, asking My 10 a.m. panel was called whom people come to see and hope people if they could identify copyediting “What is the Nature of Fandom?” It marks. The only other panelist was was meant to discuss what makes to speak to. However, when you’re the Fan GoH, it’s a little trickier and I Rachel Holmen, the convention a fan a fan now that there are more toastmistress and the former editor wasn’t quite sure how to make myself avenues for fannish activities. We of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s magazine accessible: walk up and down the halls started out with 2 people in the room plus a bunch of other credits. saying “Anyone want to talk to the besides the panelists -- me, Michael Once again, we started with Fan GoH?” The table meant that I was Siladi (who owns the organization that only two people in the audience, one around and easy to talk to but I wasn’t puts on Baycon), LA fan Ed Green, and of whom said she had been asked by a local second-generation fan named wandering the halls like a lost soul. a friend to edit a fantasy novel and Sabre (Caradwen Braskat). We almost After a couple of hours at the wasn’t sure how to go about it. We cancelled but then got into a casual table, I went back 10 feet to the same started out talking about marks and programming room (3 for 3 on panels with some wanting Back in the room, I tried to log tips on how to get in to get my email but couldn’t get started as a tech a connection. So I got into my party writer and others duds and stopped at the LA party to wanting to discuss pick up the badges for my space cadet cutting edge sash. The ConJose “thanks” party was technology. next door, and Tom Whitmore was Trying to giving out refund checks to volunteers keep everyone on and program participants so I picked track proved to mine up. I checked out the other be daunting and parties down the hallway but ended up after a little while hanging out in the LA one, admiring I just asked the Ed Green’s light-up-base wineglass audience whether and talking to various people, some they cared that of whom were naive enough to be we’d gotten away impressed by my Fan GoH status :-> from talking about technical Sunday, May 25 writing and The con was treating the GoHs terminology but soon got more specific everyone assured me they didn’t so to Sunday brunch but unfortunately questions about technique, how much I just interjected from time to time there wasn’t much I could or was to edit, not editing just because you to keep people from dominating the interested in eating at the brunch, like your wording better than the conversation but gave up otherwise. I perhaps the first I’ve seen without writer’s wording, and so on. Gradually, was embarrassed at this failure but a breadstuffs of any kind (rolls, toast, a few more people arrived. couple of people later on in the con told nothing...) After another short stint at the me they’d enjoyed the panel so I guess My only panel on Sunday was table, I went back to the same program it worked out all right. “Meet the GoHs” at 1 in the very large room for a panel on technical writing. Given my sketchy lunch (a ballroom. This actually went fairly well The panelists were a mixed bag: Gerald Balance bar and banana from the despite a rather rocky toastmistressing Perkins, mostly a QA engineer who’d lavish GoH supplies bucket in my job, including my having to prompt her fallen into writing for a couple of years room), Ben and I had decided to try to take questions from the audience before his retirement; Judy Lazar, the fancy restaurant in the hotel. Local toward the end. Unfortunately, she was who documents chemical processes Brad Templeton and his wife Kathryn one of those interviewers who have a and drug submission proposals to the joined us. For a change, the dinner prepared set of questions and doesn’t FDA; and Brett Glass, who mainly does conversation actually had to do with pick up on cues from the answers. columns and articles for magazines. science fiction as we reviewed the Hugo (For example, Greg Bear tangentially The audience, for a change reasonably nominees for this year and some of the mentioned that he’d made his first sale sized from the start, was mixed as well, past winners. Very few how to do the moves, which much have people stopped looked incongruous with me in a pink by the Noreascon Regency-era gown! table so fellow Before going back to the dance, I minder Ian went upstairs to a party that Greg and Stockdale and I Astrid Bear were giving. (Of course, on decided to try for the first attempt I managed to hit the an early dinner. one elevator that wouldn’t go to the He and his wife concierge floor without a relevant room Ruth had eaten key.) More chatting about the Hugo regularly at La nominees ensued, with everyone pretty Pastaia’s branch much agreeing that this was a weak in Palo Alto year for novel. before it moved downtown (as Monday, May 26 had I) and I said I wouldn’t mind After picking up a Doubletree going back so cookie to soothe my nerves after a I could get my night spent trying to sleep despite noise from people congregating at 16 and I saw she was going on to tiramisu fix :-> We met Ben out front, right outside my room, I did some her next question about his current where Ruth picked us up. Dinner was preliminary packing. Then I picked book so I broke in and asked about fun, as we quizzed Ben for worldcon Ben up at his hotel to take him up to the sale, which resulted in a really gossip and bid predictions. Luckily, the San Francisco airport. I stopped cool anecdote about his early writing everyone was up for dessert! by for a fast lunch before going back to career, and taking creative writing Back at the hotel, I rushed into the con hotel. Closing ceremonies were courses in college from professors who my Regency outfit. The small room about as fast as opening ceremonies didn’t have as many sales as he did!) was more crowded than I’ve ever seen had been so I checked out and went She did do a fairly good job of a Baycon Regency dance so I ducked wearily home. rotating questions, though, and I felt out for a while to go upstairs to the that I held my own. We even got into bellydancing. A fellow Sun employee a philosophical discussion about fans who had been at ConJose had told me Conclusion and conventions near the end. I’d she’d be performing and sure enough, hoped to get done with the panel in I got there right when she started her BayCon treated me really well, time to see my taped interview, which routine. She was wearing a gorgeous with a generous per diem and some was scheduled for 2 p.m., but the blue-and-turquoise beaded outfit that exposure on programming, not to panel ran late so I never did get to see she told me later was special-ordered mention an extensive gift basket! I it live! (I later got an online version and from Turkey for $800!!! She and a appreciated the honor then and still do wasn’t too embarrassed...) fellow bellydancer tried to show me now. Approaching the Slaughterhouse its didn’t feel right somehow in my by James Bacon mind, and I felt that Mr V was using I love war stories and I love the science fictional tracts of the book science fiction. The two don’t always and the way that Billy Pilgrim accepts come together neatly but occasionally the fatalism of the Tralfamadorians I am well impressed with the harsh and the calmness with which they realities of men fighting one another approach life’s situation as substitutes being portrayed in a science fictional for Billy’s mind not being able to deal setting or universe. It’s great crack and with the horror of war and this is a a well told war story, with an even level default mode where everything is the of knowledge and understanding, is way it is and that’d be fine thank you. something that I can immediately tune Or so it goes. 6-24-2006 in to. With a similar reasoning I feel I loved Starship Troopers by as we called it in our house, was an 1984 isn’t a science fiction story either, Heinlein and it led me to some all-time obvious book for me to read, but I it just uses a future setting to reflect favourites like The Green Hills of Earth. always get thinking about it. Normally something that was of concern to the I didn’t mind that the militaristic view I am loath and hate the way critics and East, and although all SF has been a was harsh and really compared to mill- reviewers try to impose their outlook mirror of a variety of current events, pulp writers such as Sven Hassell it’s of a novel upon it. I dislike the way Orwell was specifically writing about fairly tame. I liked Haldeman’s Forever novels are hijacked as this or that, and the evils of totalitarianism. Vonnegut War, a great piece of SF although I I always defer to the author even when threw a real harsh light upon the prefer 1968, and of course James I am a bit unhappy with the result for Dresden bombings. I hope he meant to, White’s Tableau is perhaps one of the an insight into opinion and inspiration he served there and I know he saw the best anti-war SF shorts in existence. and, most of all, meaning. dreadful Dresden bombings and their Military-SF has been around a Yet I break my own rules for aftermath and such a thing obviously while and I always reckon its SF. Even good old Billy Pilgrim. I have never not only allows true insight but also a John Scalzi who seems to be throwing really read in depth what the critics way to exorcise the horror. I wonder if a cyberpunkish K.Dickensian twist make of Slaughterhouse 5, I won’t enter Vonnegut’s version of Tralfamadorian into his military novels in a rather into a debate if its exists over whether self help therapy was writing a book contemporized way with as much going its SF or Lit. I don’t mind if Mr. V gave about what he saw and showing us on about inside the head as action detailed explanations and it appears all that it’s a bloody mind bending in the field, as one might say is well I am talking out me arse, because I experience. grounded in SF. And anyone who is a love this book and I am sure Mr. V will There was a war on, and fan Hugo nominee gets extra points. allow me some latitude to play around unfortunately bombing is a method I interspace good SF with factual and and speculate upon my perception of of waging war and thousands of fictional war stories and have done so his superb novel. civilians die. It’s still happening today, for a long old time. Schlachthof Fünf I never really reckoned that somewhere some faster than sound Slaughterhouse 5 was science fiction, jet powered technological mirickle will disconnected from the realities of the drop or fire a piece of ordinance onto world as we know it and the story an enemy and no doubt people will get shows Billy’s time stepping, as he injured and die, but that’s ok cause phases in and out at random places it’s the good guys who are doing it. during his life, as a sort of dislocation That for me is what Slaughterhouse 5 of the brain, not brought about by is, remembering that war is essentially an accident, but by the irreprecable a bad thing regardless and that the damage on a person’s mind that war human cost can never be mitigated can inflict, the jarring created by the by hyperbole and spin and that in extreme experience just frying some pointless death it’s hard to know who of the synapses in such a way that is good or bad. somehow everything is finely out of It’s all horrible, but I marched kilter. in two capital cities against the likes The was leaves an impression, of what I see now in the papers and obviously is responsible for his and on the CRT and as I sit here in eventual death, the importance at south London, it’s totally beyond times of the war in a normal way as comprehension what it must have experienced perhaps by other veterans been like to sit in Anderson shelters 3-12-07 is used to show quite clearly where out in the back yard and sleep deep perspective is the life altering affect the gap takes place between bad in the tubes and awake to the craters it has on Billy. It seems to drive him experience and trauma. and destruction, and have no food and round the bend. Well he sees and I somewhat believe the premise generally be the target on a daily basis. believes in aliens, not normal stuff of an unmoveable timeline that we are Today people have breakdowns and really, and I have a fairly tolerant and all tied to that Vonnegut extrapolates are on leave for although subjectively open mind on these type of things. upon through the time stepping of serious, objectively rather minor life For me Mr V wrote about the horror Billy. I reckon that I will die some day trivialities compared to the ails of of War. Slaughterhouse 5 makes me and no matter what I do, I cannot civilian folk in 1940’s, where bombs think and wonder and also shapes change that, as after my death, the and being bombed and death were just an opinion that war is bad and that day I died will be just that. I accept a daily occurrence. We won’t mention human suffering should be paramount that sort of fatalistic yet pragmatic civilians in further places from here, in the minds of decision makers. I approach to death and its not so but I will mention that on the march I am also seen by some as a humanist, bad. The big difference though is that attended, it were SF fans who walked which I think Vonnegut was, but he I haven’t been through a war and by my side. was probably a real one, I am probably suffered badly and seen unthinkable Dresden though is truly an atheistic humanist, not really in horrors, I am just a bloke with a job, unimaginable for me, despite the there for the whole thing. plodding through life. I can easily photos and images and books, for I reckon that Billy Pilgrim is imagine becoming slightly unhinged me what brings Dresden into sharp and with my fatalistic attitude, and But what of Kilgore Trout a failed I just wanted to point out that I imagining I was at different places SF writer. James will be looking at have a date with that girl down there. along this timeline, although I could some aspects to Kilgore that may be That is all! not see myself being so mildly affected well known or perhaps not, and just as Billy by the horrors that he who are the Gogleskan? Letter Graded Mail encountered. I would be well gone, I sent to [email protected] imagine. by my loyal readers For me the Tralfamadorians are a further proof that Billy gone round Lloyd Penney is the first in line! the bend, and especially when he has Dear Chris: to live with a porn star, for me this is Holy chit, Batman! I’m FOUR a delusional sequence that fortifies issues behind! That is what happens the perception that he is jarred much when you’re not looking, and you get worse than one would imagine from busy…stream of unconsciousness on his every day goings on and interaction issues 124 to 127 of The Drink Tank. with characters and people around 124…Worldcons are what you make of him. With that premise it is easy for them, and the greatest challenge is to me to build on that and speculate that provide the most opportunities for that the ‘science fictional’ aspect is not good time to happen for the greatest there to create a science fiction story number of people. Thinking of getting but rather as a clever plot device to involved in Worldcon fannish politics, convince the reader that the mind of Chris? Lured by the dark side of the Billy is definitely somewhere else. fandom? I’m sure our good friend Mr. The book is also so nice. It’s Standlee could help you out there, just so easily well-written and there is and give you a primer, but in the long something that I just adore about Billy. run, I wouldn’t. I’ve been there and Perhaps it is that we share a belief of done that, and got burned by egos. sorts and that I just consider myself However, it was local egos here, and to be lucky or he to be unlucky in our I hope things are a little better in LA requirements for a fatalistic belief of and SJ. Doing a bidzine can be a near- sorts that we share. I don’t talk to guarantee that you will win, IMHO. Aliens mind, but I do not agree with The Toronto in 2003 bid put together much that happens and more I protest a series of bidzines called The Incisors as best as I can, and if anything I hope Report, and it was a popular success. Mr. V allows me my interpretation with People want to feel they are getting that fruititious result in mind. something for their bid money, and a end bidzine does the trick. I’m hoping to get Kevin to write a full response to the issue at some point, but like all of us, he’s a busy guy. Someday. We did have a little talk about it at BASFA last week and he gave me a few points where it’s obvious that my dreams are the dreams of a lot of SMoFs. Getting the right balance of accessibility, bathrooms, nearby food… it’s impossible, and you can’t satisfy everyone, anyway. That doesn’t mean to say you shouldn’t try…fans are quite pedantic, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but they will grudgingly give you the credit for doing your best if you’ve done your due diligence. Programming is difficult, especially if you don’t have access to a wide variety of fans and their activities. Special tracks are fine, but panel rooms can be a financial drain, especially if any given panel get fewer attendees than panelists. That’s true, and that happened at LACon a few times, mostly with Fan- type panels. Still, we packed the room for a couple of things I was on, one of which was the Hoaxes panel. I was stunned by that turn completely, Lloyd. I can be very as he got votes from all over, especially out, though Mike Glyer and Seth persuasive. Canada. I’ve done as well as sixth in make for a good draw. Re Mark Plummer’s loc, Hugo voting, about 10 nominations or I still haven’t supported the Canadian work and individuals did not so off the ballot. Always a bridesmaid, Montreal bid…I think they understand do well at the Winnipeg and Toronto never a bride… why. I guess we wanted to go out of Worldcons, mostly because even with This year was a weird year. There’s Worldcon work on a positive note, and an enlarged Canadian membership, no way I’ll ever make the ballot LAcon IV was definitely it. American membership simply again unless 1) WorldCon’s held in You do realise that I’m not going overwhelms any Canadian choice. the BArea and all my friends vote to let you throw in the towel Robert J. Sawyer was the exception, or 2) WorldCon is held in LA and very few voters from the previous through Earl Kemp’s eI. I’ve read a WorldCon vote. And you were on my lot of KV, but I think you’re better- ballot, Lloyd! read than I am here. On my shelf My loc…yup, falling behind are Cat’s Cradle, The Sirens of Titan, again. After that three-week Welcome to the Monkey House and assignment, I had a four-day Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons. assignment, and now, we’re preparing I have read Breakfast of Champions, to fly to Dallas for the International Slaughterhouse-5 and God Bless You, Space Development Conference to Mr. Rosewater, but those books have help with gophers and registration, disappeared with the passage of time… and generally show ‘em how it’s done, You know, while Cat’s Cradle and to meet up and have a meal with and Slaughterhouse are the two your old Corflu roomie, John Purcell. best remembered, Breakfast of By the way, I’ll be taking my Palm and Champions might be the best keyboard, and writing locs on the way referenced when it comes to pop to Dallas and back at 30,000+ feet. culture. The movie, while awful, than I wanted to believe. I Hope y’all have fun out there and was far more seen by my generation I keep getting people fretting get a chance to LoC the waterfall than Slaughterhouse-5 was by the about their ages, don’t I? I recently got of zines I’m about to unleash in the Gen before me. a bad haircut, and now I know what next few days! 126…No musical talent have I at all, I’m going to look like in about 10 to 15 Carl’s Jr. wants to set up shop in and I know few people who do, so I years…just like my dad. Ooo, scary, Canada, but there’s a lot of competition won’t comment on music further, and kids! John P. will discover what I look no comments at all about some filkers out there for your burger bucks, and I like with a semi-brushcut… think most people know that a Carl’s I could name… I’ll be 40 in 8 years. That’s a little Jr. burger is probably the worst thing Richard Nixon tried to be funny, scary. I doubt I’ll look like my dad you could put in your mouth. I haven’t and failed miserably. Who remembers anytime soon. I was not cursed with had a burger in a while, and that’s Tricky Dick trying to say “Sock it to his DUmbo-like ears! me!” on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh- probably a good thing. Ah, now I know what your In? It was funny because Nixon just I love a good burger, and Carl’s is building looks like! I guess I was couldn’t do it. Nixon was just plain an probably my favourite Fast Food expecting a big brick building on a Ugly Man. burger and is in my Top 10. university campus somewhere. Parts of Nixon, like all my faves, was a 125…God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut. the computer displays glowing in the deeply flawed human. Reading Labels can help or hurt, and the label dark…sounds like a Borg regeneration his memoirs and listening to his of science fiction writer seemed to chamber. The Toronto Aerospace personal tapes, you get the feeling hurt him, but a good label for me is Museum in housed in an old hangar he was much more than he showed Vonnegut fan and reader. We’ve all had on the old Downsview Armed Forces and at the same time a lot darker a good dose of Vonnegut-style wisdom base here, and in another hangar is housed that repro of the Avro Arrow I I’m trying to think of incorporating Brian Earl Brown produced wrote about some issues ago. them into regular life without Sticky Quarters back in the 1970s and We were going to be on Stanford for saying ‘look in your pocket!’. I think it ran into the very early 80s. It a while, but I like the new building Two pages for four issues may was usually a listing of fanzines with better. When I bring folks through not be much, but it is Friday, and quick, one-paragraph summations who haven’t been around since the we’re on the edge of the Victoria Day of that zine. It was indispensable days when we were in 126 (like long weekend, and I can’t wait! I still for someone like me who was (at the Janice Gelb and co. this Sunday), have to go to work tonight, but after time) building up my mailing list and they’re amazed at how we’ve grown that, three days to relax a little, and wanting names and addresses to trade and how much better it looks, even get ready for the trip to Dallas. Also, zines with. if they miss the general comfy I had a job interview earlier today…if I’ve seen copies, but never read tightness of 126. I get it, I’ll be working full-time for an one, I don’t think. I might have 127…A Speak & Spell? There’s a toy advertising agency for some decent one as it’s on a list of zines I got from the 70s… I am glad The Usual bucks. Cross your fingers and toes; it’s but haven’t been through yet. I was brought about to start up this gift been a long time since I’ve worked full- wish someone was doing a zine economy that is fanzine fandom…can time anywhere. like Sticky Quarters or The Whole you imagine having to keep track of the I’m pullin’ for you and hope you’ll Fanzine Catalog nowadays, though dozens of fanzine subscriptions you’d have to slow down a bit because The Zine Dump comes close. be paying for? You’d be writing lots you’re gainfully employed! Ted is absolutely right about of cheques for small amounts…Brian I’m done like dinner; see you fans producing zines mostly for Earl Brown’s zine was called Sticky soon, and I’ll try to get a loc on SF/SF feedback and contributions, with the Quarters. Fandom couldn’t be invented on the go soon. intent of having enough interesting by one person, unless he were truly Yours, Lloyd Penney. sick and twisted…this happy asylum Thanks so much, we all enjoy had to be a group effort. Lloyd! Page 6 is going to give me a terribly swelled head if I let it…okay, egoboo! Who better to follow (And egoboo to the rest of y’all.) This up with than John isn’t a skill you know, it’s the product Purcell!!! of pure desperation to get caught up. How about this? That’s why the Palm and the keyboard I’m keeping up with you were a godsend…I can now write my for at least one week. locs anywhere…in a jet or in the men’s This won’t last, that’s for room. Or in the men’s room on the jet, sure. although it’s a little cramped… True, but even trying Gotta love portable computers. I’m gets you Brownie writing the brief for Portables and points! material to justify putting out another reminds me that the SF & issue. Of course, fans need no more Fanzine collection at the justification than desire to pub an ish, Cushing Library has a a but it helps to have *things* to include whole shelving section, to make a zine interesting. You know, floor to ceiling, of boxes of little things like artwork, book/movie the unsifted papers of Sam reviews, interviews, letters... Stuff Moskowitz. Hal Hall, the like that. The couple times I actually curator of the SF & Fanzine received a dollar in the mail for an special collection, told me issue of This House astonished me. that he had heard through Most of the time I wanted artwork or the grapevine that it was written material. available, and managed to Now aren’t you glad that Ted sent get some funding from Texas you this loc? His letters are always so A&M University in order to damned interesting for their historical buy the whole kit and kaboodle. How of his novels. It’s a good one, and input. (So where’s that loc on Askance I would love to dive headfirst into that it’s short. #1, Ted? Hopefully he will respond to stash of boxes. I am not one for Aussie Rules the second issue.) You know, the more I read, the more Football. It is an interesting sport, I’d always love material, but I’d I think SaM was a bigger deal that that’s for sure, but I know very little much rather just have people most think and far less of a deal about it. Thank you for your brief reading than anything else, even if than he believed! commentary, but maybe you could they’re not feeding back. I’m kinda There should be no problem in expand on this to talk about the rules seeing that putting things up on the getting that IguanaCon reflection to of this game, noting why you find it web is kinda like putting a price on you by mid-July. Askance #3 should so exciting compared to American a zine that folks can send...and the be out by then, so it should be easy football. Just a thought. price is free! enough to do the research and writing Believe me, if I explained the rules Bob Tucker is, in my estimation, of that event. of the game, you’d be even more the father of modern fandom. Thanks Awesome! confused, kind of like how folks to him, the appearance of a distinctive Hey, I’m glad you pubbed Frank were more confused when they fannish sense of humor developed, Wu’s Vonnegut tribute. “Harrison pubbed the ish explaining the name and things just really haven’t been the Bergeron” is included in the Literature of Granfalloon. same since. anthology that Blinn College has Thanks again for the issue, and let’s I’ve gotta learn more about Bob. authorized for usage in English 1302 see how long I can stay current with There isn’t enough writing about classes, and I usually have students you. him in my eyes. Anyone know of a read and discuss it. A wonderful story. All the best, good source? It’s one of those stories that John Ted’s mention of Sam Moskowitz sometimes gets overlooked in favor Same to you! So, that’s the the set-up. I’m a little worried about to the new kid on the pre-BayCon issue of how much time I’ll have to eat up with block: From Alien 2007. Here’s what schtick, but I can manage. I’ve had to Shores. Jack Avery’s I’m looking forward to tap dance before to keep a rowdy crowd newest zine is a visual about this year’s Bay- at bay, I can do it again. dream and shows why Con... The panel is one of the best we’ve I consider him one of Everything. ever done. Sadly, no Evil Kevin (Roche) the best lay-out men The Fanzine nor Andy, but we’ve got Esther Fries- in all of fandom. He’s Lounge is proving to ner (she’s a hoot and two-thirds!) and flashy and awesome be a lot of work, but I’m handling it my man, Martin Young. Truly, he’s and it fits with his Eastern-flavoured well and with Trey and Barb it’ll be so one of the most criminally insane gen- content. I thought it was one of the much easier when con rolls around. iuses I’ve ever met and he’ll make great best-looking zines I’ve read in ages I’m also hoping for a lot of traffic and use of the opportunity. There’s Doug and the writing was good too! Just all there’s been a little bit of talk about it Berry, who was great the first time we around good stuff from a good guy. in various parts of the LJosphere. I’ve did it at BayCon in 2006, and there’s I wanna also thank Miss Bonnie gotta pick up a bunch of stuff (a Frank the master of sarcasm (and one of the Delight for her picture and the lovely Wu art piece to auction and some better players of the actual game) Tom and talented Miss Selina Phanara for books) for the silent auction. Galloway. Hopefully, I’ll be sitting next her art that I’m using on this page. I’ve increased the number of to the lovely and talented Leigh Ann The front image came from the Science Hugo-nominated zine issues I’ll have Hildebrand and we’ll get to play our Museum of London and the Collection on display to include six by me. Sadly, magnificent game of mockery within of the Computer History Museum. Of It’s doubtful I’ll have much to pass out the regular game. course, gotta thank Kurt Erichsen for of my own stuff. I might get 20 or so You know, the most I think his LoC Header image, and Shelly for copies of either this issue or a Claims about it, the more interested I am in the picture of Shelly. Go figure. Ho- Department to pass around, but that’s bringing good old fashioned Fannish weird and Andy Trembley and Espana not 100%. We’ll have to see. entertainment into cons. I’d love for us also get great thanks, as does the alte I’m also looking forward to The to do a Roast. That’d be a fun thingee, Gerry Perkins who took photos too. Match Game. Last year, both times I especially if we got the right rostee (and And that’s that. 129 will have no lookin’ at me!). I’d love to do fannish was on the panel, we BayCon coverage, as Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. That one’s had a very good turn- will the next SF/SF. probably the easiest to put together. out. This year, we’re a there’ll be a lot of stuff Almost as easy would be Says You, and part of the Masquer- in issue 130 and who it would allow for more players to play ade half-time, along knows beyond that. I for the audience. These are all good with a short play. I’m gotta get cracking on ideas, each easier to impliment than doing the stall tac- the start of This Were the last! tics required to buy WorldCons! I want to also give a shout out enough time to do all Peace Out!