Science Fiction/San Francisco Issue 82 Editors: Jean Martin, Chris Garcia March 11, 2009 Copy Editor: David Moyce email: [email protected] Calendar Editor: España Sheriff Compositor: Tom Becker The Floating World photo by Lucy Huntzinger
Contents
News and Notes...... Chris Garcia...... 2 Letters of Comment...... Jean Martin...... 5 Editorial...... Chris Garcia...... 7 Browncoat Fanboys (and Girls) on an Outing...... Jean Martin...... Photos by Thad Gann and Jean Martin...... 9 This Old Fanzine: Locus – The Early Years...... Chris Garcia...... 11 Weird Romance, a Science Fiction Musical...... Howeird...... 13 The Night the Lights Went Out in San Ramon...... Baron Law...... Photos by Baron Law...... 14 Gallifrey One Times Twenty...... España Sheriff...... Photos by Andrew Trembley...... 17 Potlatch In Extremely Brief...... Chris Garcia...... Photo by Chris...... 21 Potlatch 18 – The Cat’s Meow...... España Sheriff...... 22 BASFA Minutes: Meetings 967-969...... 26 Bay Area Fannish Calendar...... España Sheriff...... Photo by Lucy Huntzinger...... 29
Art Credits: Page 4 Kate Kelton Page 22 Allen Baum Pages 8, 23 Tom Becker Page 23 NASA Page 12 Lucy Huntzinger Page 25 Michael McLaughlin
Science Fiction/San Francisco is the twice-monthly news zine for the San Francisco Bay Area. All issues can be found at www.efanzines.com. Except as noted, all articles and photos are copyright 2009 by the original creators. Used with permission.
1 News and Notes
By Christopher J. Garcia The busiest weekend in recent fannish real introduction of sexuality into science Editor memory happened the opening weekend of fiction in a legitimate way with his story “The It’s Cinequest week, and thus I’ve been in Cinequest. There was Potlatch, taking place in Lovers.” His works include legendary shorts Downtown San Jose since the 25th of February. the lovely Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale. I wish I like “Mother” and “Riders of the Purple Wage” It’s been a good year for genre films at CQ. I’ve could have gone, but you know. I hear that as well as classic novels like Dare, A Woman A seen many great films, including Corpse Run, a there was great fun and we’ve got great Day, Flesh, A Feast Unknown and many others. film that takes a look at hard core MMORPG coverage! There was a lovely WonderCon. I’m His Riverworld saga and World of Tiers are all players and their lives. Brea Grant, who’ll be in hoping to get to both next year, though there’s much-loved series. He was my favorite living the Halloween remake, is incredibly hot in the always Cinequest getting in the way. science fiction novelist, ever since the death of role of Liberty, quite possibly the most smokin’ Kurt Vonnegut. I love his stuff and I’m MMORPGer I’ve ever seen. Shockingly, the rereading a few of his stand-alone novels. He SplatterPunk Samurai film Samurai Avenger: was in his 90s, which is a good long run for a Blind Wolf got nothing but cries of awesome writer. He was active since the 1950s, and had and invited comparisons to Evil Dead: The won three Hugo Awards, one for Most Musical. Promising New Writer, and one each for To The Stars Don’t Twinkle in Outer Space had Your Scattered Bodies Go and “Riders of the a mix-up and didn’t end up playing, but having Purple Wage.” He received the Forry Ackerman seen it a couple of times, it’s a really good short Award in 2007 and was a SFWA Grandmaster film which feels like throwback to simple and has received more recognition than most times. It’s beautiful work. Sunday Afternoon, a other authors. story about a huge increase in temperature in a The title of Chris Garcia’s Favorite Living Montreal convenience store, is one of the most SF Novelist goes to… Spider Robinson. powerful science fiction films you’ll ever see. Philip Jose Farmer with 1953 Hugo award as I’ve discovered Twitter. Johnnyeponymous The Most Promising New Talent Glory at Sea, an amazingly powerful film photo courtesy of Michael Croteau is the handle. I post too much and I often find filmed in parts of New Orleans that still have myself posting when I don’t have access to a not recovered from the Hurricanes, is one of the Of course, the biggest, saddest news of the computer since I can post from my lame old best fantasy films I’ve ever seen, bar none. I’ve week was the loss of Philip Jose Farmer. If cell phone. got to check, but if it’s eligible, I’m nominating you’ve never read any of his books, you’re Local fan and Bon Vivant Miko had her it next year for the Hugo for Best Dramatic missing out on one of the turning points Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Presentation - Short Form. towards modern science fiction. There was the (something I don’t do) debut show at
2 Disneyland. I wish so much I could have gone, a great Brad Foster cover on it. but Jo Rhett kindly Twittered the whole event. I am pleased to say that Peter Weston has Miko does amazing costumes and I hope some released Prolapse as Relapse. It’s still a day I’ll have a Miko-made over-shirt! fantastic zine with a new title. I was happy to Former Bay Area SF Bookstore owner get my copy via eMail and it’s on Charlie Cockey was in town for Cinequest, and eFanzines.com now. It’s one of the few places I’m glad to say he’s doin’ great in the Czech where you can find Michael Moorcock writing Republic. I always have a good time chatting in fanzines. with him. Speaking of Moorcock, there’s a new eI too. I got the new PLOKTA recently, which was a good thing. It’s tiny, which seems to be the images courtesy of eFanzines.com new technique for English zines. It was called the Credit Crisis Special, and sadly, I haven’t had a chance to LoC it yet. Speaking of LoCing, Kristina Kopnisky released a new Consonant Enigma. I’m all over it with recipes, an article on how to stretch your dollar and a LoC, and Lance Moore, Kristina and folks have some wonderful recipes and stories. If you compare Kristina’s take on what you need to survive on the cheap at a con and mine, they are like Night and the Surface of the Well worth reading. Sun! It’s the best BArea zine being produced in Finally, there’s Alexiad on eFanzines.com. I Portland. love the Alexiad and am glad that it’s now more Sadly, the biggest loss to fanzine fandom in publicly available. There are even back issues recent years is the announced folding of Vegas that you can go through. One of the best Fandom Weekly, recently referred to simply as LetterCols in fanzines. I can’t wait for the next VFW. It was the zine that started the phase of issue because my Butterfinger Buzz experiment weekly and bi-weekly fanzines that exploded in will be included! the 2005-06 time frame and is the reason for Bruce Gillespie, Australian Fandom’s The Drink Tank and Science Fiction/San shiningest star, and Jan Stinson, the woman Francisco. It’s really one of the most most responsible for me becoming a regular significant zines of the last decade. Arnie has fanzine fan, have put out a new issue of Steam said he’ll be bringing out a new zine shortly, Engine Time. Sadly, I haven’t gotten to spend as which is a good thing. I’ve missed VFW since much time with it as I would have liked, so I’m the schedule slowed down in late 2006. There’s 3 still waiting on a big long LoC, which it still deserves. Heath Row (which sounds like such a pseudonym!) put up a list of all the known APAs in and around fandom. There are a few I hadn’t heard of, which is a good thing. I’m only in three at the moment, but I doubt I’ll be able to keep up with all of them. It’s a tough thing. Doing an issue of The Drink Tank is easy enough, but doing APAzines takes me forever. Hey, gotta love the fact that BayCon is coming along so great. Tycho has done a great job putting it all together. I can’t wait for it to come along! Hugo nominations will be out soon, followed a week and a half later by The Drink Tank’s annual Handicapping the Hugos issue. I’m excited because it’s always one of the most fun issues of the year! I’ve got ideas, though I was shocked by the Nebula nominations and there was no nom for Anathem. Even I, who didn’t love it, thought it was one of the best books of the year. I also wanna say thanks to Kevin Standlee for shepherding BASFA through the Hugo nomination review gatherings in early February. He does great work with that one. It also helps us form the powerful BASFA voting block, which I certainly blame for The Drink Tank and me making the ballot. Good friends John The Rock Coxon and Peter Sullivan are both on a panel together at Eastercon. I mentioned to both of them that they should drop my name during the panel. I’m always trying to keep myself in the English spotlight! Kate Kenyon 4 Letters of Comment
Lloyd Penney writes: Carolyn!) Chris, Rob will be in into fandom, having read the various Hurray, it’s Friday, the weekend Montreal, and will be everywhere, I have anthologies edited by Terry Carr, beckons, and maybe I’ll catch up with no doubt. Edward Ferman, H.L. Gold, Donald my life and get things done at home. I’ve Jean Martin responds: So that’s the Wollheim and more. That big silver got a little time here, so here comes secret! I should get myself a loving wife rocket is like an Oscar, our top-of-the- comments on SF/SF 81. as well. Seriously, though, it is tough to line award. You’re at the home of the big Garcia? make a living as a professional writer. Recognition from one’s peers is (Spanish grammar know I not.) Lots of I’m sure there are a lot of talented and always appreciated and more nifty new zines are keeping me busy hard working folks out there who are meaningful. But, yes, the Hugos have with loccing, and it’s always fun. More struggling to succeed. Kudos to those been around longer and are more and more zines are jumping to the Web who even attempt to do it. I would love prestigious, I suppose. I knew about the (Joseph Major’s Alexiad is the newest to, but am used to having a regular Hugos when I was very young through big zine on eFanzines.com), but they paycheck. Maybe someday I’ll work up anthologies as well. retain the magazine format, and I think the courage. The steampunk costumes continue we all prefer that. The hardware and I remember that with Torcon 3, just apace, and as written before, we hope to software evolve, but the wetware is still about every rentable electric wheelchair, premiere them at Ad Astra. Should we far behind. We should give the wetware mobie or other wheeled chair was rented get some pictures taken, we will e-mail a break. Remember me for Claims by the con, and there still weren’t them to the SF/SF Gmail address asap. I Department, especially if you have the enough. I hope Anticipation will be able agree with you, Chris, about Etsy. Two next three issues prepared. to find sufficient rentals for the demand. local steampunk jewellers have Etsy Ah, there’s Rob Sawyer’s smiling Mundanes are getting harder to freak pages, and they will both be at Ad Astra. face. I see that picture everywhere. That out? Well, we’ll just have to take that as Hi, Jean! Yvonne and I have hosted a was a fine tributezine Alan White put a challenge, won’t we, fellow fen? M*A*S*H party before, with a Spam together. I can’t really comment on it I look at the FAAn Awards as the lamb and everything. We all hit an Army because I went to school with Rob, and I Nebulas of the fanzine world. It’s voted surplus store for the appropriate fatigues. know most of the REAL dirt! He’s a fine upon and given to you by your peers. Guess who was Radar? example of how you can make it as a That’s why most of us prefer them. Yet, Did you play Radar? At the marketable writer with hard work and a the Hugos have time on their side. I M*A*S*H birthday party I went to, the loving wife beside you to help. (Hi, found out about the Hugos before I got celebrant was my friend Radar. I
5 believe she got that nickname because The Twelfth Night and Edwardian ran their consuite on and off for ten she resembles the character Radar with balls do prove that you have a better years, and spent our last two years on the glasses and all. time when you participate. Fandom’s committee running on-site registration. Tilly the Wonderdog is gone? Tilly known that for a long time, which is Blind Lemming Chiffon was a guest was a real social presence at LAcon IV probably why so many fans attend these there I think about five years back now. in 2006. She seemed happiest with big events. Duh, everyone knows that, you Someone got sucked into the Harry crowds; lots of people to pet her and say? There are still some who will sit Potter universe? Right now, that would feed her, I guess. and demand they be entertained, but they also be Yvonne, who has borrowed the Who else knows about Boxing Day? are bound to be disappointed. If the entire series from her sister. She has Canadians do. We get it as a holiday Edwardian Ball has expanded to three made for herself a Gryffindor-hued right after Christmas every year. days, perhaps it might be the Edwardian Hogwarts school robe, and is currently It’s nice to have an extra holiday Exposition? Or just GoreyCon? Yvonne looking for the right school tie to wear. after Christmas. The U.K. and would like the steam-powered sewing There are several web sites that sell Commonwealth nations are lucky to machine, and our apartment’s windows Hogwarts school ties. But I got my have Boxing Day. Here in the U.S., would be permanently fogged up. Ravenclaw tie on eBay actually. most of us have to work on December The Edwardian Ball does not seem Once again, a schedule of events to 26. to be named correctly anymore since make the rest of us envious, in a perfect There’s that picture of that weird, it’s no longer just a ball and goes on for format, and more of Lucy’s great bearded guy, and it’s captioned Non- a weekend. It also confuses people photography... I’m sure you’ll let us Furry? I don’t think so! The fursuits are because Edwardian is better known as know when the NESFA clubhouse just a kind of extreme costuming, where a historical time period. I agree, it collapses, but until then, thank you for the creation covers the entire body, head should be renamed GoreyCon. But I another stellar issue. More! More!, the and all. Makes me wonder if some of the suppose they’re already known as the crowd demands... better fursuiters might have careers Edwardian Ball and people might get Thanks, I think we’re looking great making mascot costumes for pro sport even more confused if they change the and getting better every issue. teams. name. I think that caption was meant to be Last time I was at a filk con was a joke. Chris doesn’t need to wear a some years ago when Yvonne and I were fursuit to fit in with the furries. on the committee for FilKONtario. We
6 Editorial
By Christopher J. Garcia There was a film that totally showed the Bay Area. Editor me all of this: Corpse Run. It’s a film Now, I know what you’re saying (and Every fandom is the same. I know that’s about a group of friends who are Tall Kevin, I’m looking in your what you’re thinking: Chris, can you Everquest players on a specific server. direction...): If you want a Worldcon, know what you’re saying? They’re the Number 2 team trying to you bid for it!, but alas, any attempt at Yes, I know exactly what I’m saying. capture the top spot. There are characters running a Worldcon bid by me would be It came to me even stronger this last that we’ve all seen: the attention-seeking a disaster. I know it, you know it, we all week spent at Cinequest. I look around young woman who is the near-universal know it. But we’ve grown, especially and there are the fans, those that buy object of affection. There’s the hyper- over the last three years, and I think it’s passes and tickets and hang around in cool guy who finds love outside of his time for us to make another run at it. It’s lobbies and at local eateries, there are the regular vein, and the girl he discovers, time for us to take the next big step. folks who spend much of their free time an Anime fan, has a somewhat stronger Over the last year, we’ve gone Twittering or posting to LJ about insight into his world than he does. through a Costume-Con that ranks with everything that’s going on, and there are There’s that incredibly talented character the best cons ever run in the BArea (and the pros, the filmmakers who are there to who keeps myself tied down to his certainly it benefited from nearly a meet folks and get themselves into the youth. It’s all very much like the world decade of build and came off spotlight as best they can. It’s just like of fandom, the characters we know, the beautifully), and a BayCon that made a BayCon. It’s just as much fun, and there characters we love. big move and seemed to come through it are a lot of folks who have roles similar The film has a number of great majestically. We’ve had a good SiliCon, to folks in SF Fandom. There’s an Arnie moments, including a portion where the a great FurCon and so many other Katz, a Kevin Standlee, a Jean Martin players divide into teams based on events. We’re looking at a fine World (and I fear having them meet might lead whether they were fans of Nintendo or Fantasy and a great Potlatch just passed. to an explosion of awesome perkiness), a Sega. I live right on the line between the We’ve had a Westercon in 07, another Dave Langford and even a John Hertz. two, but I only owned a Nintendo, one coming in 2011, and there’s been a It’s incredible how exact the match-up though I played a lot of Sega Genesis, lot of great stuff. It’s hard to imagine any is. Strangely, I fill the exact same role especially Mortal Kombat. other period in fannish history where a that I do in fandom at Cinequest. It’s All of this leads me to my point for geographical area has been so active, bizarre, I know, but it’s true. the issue: We need another Worldcon in and pulled off as many impressive
7 events at every scale and in every Berkeley?) would be a big deal. It’s time Westercons of the 1970s. significant sub-genre. It’s time that we we started thinking about it. It’s time we I’ve heard stories about what it takes went for the Big One. It’s time that we started doing something about it. to make these things happen. It takes a bid for a Worldcon. Now, it’s easy to be the guy on the toll on life, on the heart, on the soul, on Yes, there’s so much work that goes sidelines saying these things, but it’s everything. There was a time when you into it that it can drive a fandom crazy. gotta start somewhere. We have the best could expect the chair of a Worldcon to The last time we did one, it led to example of how to turn a bid into a get divorced within a year of having gigantic problems that can still be felt, major thing that practically begs chaired the con. It’s tough, but the but it also led to a Worldcon that was everyone who experiences it to get rewards are pretty high, especially if you pretty damn impressive for almost all of involved. The League of Evil Geniuses manage to do a good job. The fact is the attendees. While there have been concept is an ideal way for pushing BArea fandom is right up there with better Worldcons, it was one that was towards a con. It’s the best bid I’ve ever London, LA, Chicago and Boston as significantly awesome. It’s time we tried seen. While I liked the LACon Space Fannish Powerhouses. There’s a lot of again, or at least started talking about it. Cadets bid, it did not have the impact everything, more talent in more areas Now, you could almost look at the Reno that LoEG had. I’m not saying that the than anywhere I’ve ever been involved Worldcon that’s likely to happen as same people should be doing it, largely in and I can’t think that a Worldcon here another BArea-ish Worldcon, but really, because Kevin and Andy would kill me, would be anything short of the cap on a San Francisco or San Jose (or hey, but the concept is so strong, it should another Fannish Historical Period. We what about a 50th Anniversary of the serve as a template for future bids in should do it. We should make the press most significant Worldcon of the 1960s much the same way that FunCon served forward! in 2018 by holding it in Oakland or as a template for the Worldcons and
8 Browncoat Fanboys (and Girls) on an Outing
By Jean Martin Editor To celebrate Francis Yun’s birthday, several of the Bay Area Browncoats (Firefly fans from the San Francisco Browncoats and the Silicon Gulch Browncoats) got together to watch the movie Fanboys on Sunday, February 8. Francis, the groups’ official photographer and sometime SF/SF contributor, picked the movie and the location, which was the Century 20 in Daly City. Daly City seemed to be a good central location for Francis’s Browncoat friends who came from all over the Bay Area from as far as Lafayette and San Jose. It was convenient for me as well since Daly City is at the north end of the Peninsula, where I live. I do forget, though, how foggy Daly City is. When I first moved to the U.S., I lived there for three months and I The Birthday Boy and Friends photo by Thad Gann thought the entire Bay Area had the same type of weather. I now enjoy sunnier weather in the rings, half fries), both of which were Then Francis read his birthday cards and mid-Peninsula, just a few miles south. surprisingly good. I bought a chocolate chip opened presents. The Browncoats are such a I got to the theater complex a little late but cookie for later consumption as well. warm and generous group of people, it feels still in time to join everyone for lunch at I shouldn’t have bothered because Louise like a family. Fuddruckers. Our group had a big table as there had baked some chocolate chocolate chip I was worried that I didn’t have a ticket were at least 20 people who came. Fuddruckers cookies for everyone and she brought some when I arrived and most everyone already had is a fun, colorful, 50s style burger joint. It was blue milk as well. She had to explain to some tickets. But I got one quite easily, and when we the perfect place for a birthday lunch. The people the significance of the blue milk. I got to the theater where the movie was going to selection was more varied than I expected. didn’t quite catch the full explanation but I be shown, there was no one there but us. So it They even had buffalo burgers. I opted for a recognized that it has something to do with was like we were having our own private Hawaiian veggie burger and frings (half onion Firefly, of course. screening. A few people came in after us, but it
9 still seemed like we were having our own party, But more than just the trip and the which we were. destination, the movie is about growing up, It’s a shame, though, that there weren’t making life choices, friendship, and the more people to see Fanboys. The movie is importance of movies like Star Wars and TV probably the most enjoyable one I’ve seen in a shows like Star Trek to us fen. To us, these are while. Well, I don’t often go to the movies as I not just shows. They inspire us to be creative, prefer watching DVDs. Still, I thought the to become better people, and to bond with movie was awesome. I hadn’t actually heard kindred spirits. about the movie myself, but when Francis I won’t say more about the movie as I hope suggested it for his birthday, I checked it out most of our readers will want to watch it. There and I liked the premise. are so many scenes that would be better The movie, set in the late 1990s, is about a appreciated as a surprise. And so yes, I do group of friends who are big Star Wars fans. highly recommend Fanboys. One of them only has six months to live and so After the movie, which all of us seemed to would miss seeing the release of Episode I - have enjoyed, we walked out and saw three The Phantom Menace. So they decide to go on life-size standup photos from the upcoming a road trip to the Bay Area, sneak into Watchmen movie. Fresh from seeing Fanboys, Skywalker Ranch, and steal a rough cut of the we all acted like fanboys and fangirls and movie. Most of the movie is about the road trip squeeed at the stand ups. Louise, Elizabeth and and their hilarious adventures through some Sue had their photos taken with The Comedian, unlikely places such as Riverside, Iowa (the Rorschach and Ozymandias. Then one of them Louise and Elizabeth Squeeing over future birthplace of Captain Kirk), and some asked one of the customer service agents if we Ozymandias photo by Jean Martin popular destinations such as Las Vegas. could take one. Apparently, the lady said yes, Throughout the movie, there are many cameos and so off we went with one of the cardboard by sci fi icons and other famous people that standups. only fannish folk like us would know. It was We made it to the parking structure but great seeing the movie with lots of friends were stopped by a security guard who asked us because someone would invariably point a to return it. We told him that someone said it cameo out so I wouldn’t miss it, and there were was okay to take it but when he radioed some people I wouldn’t have recognized customer service, the lady changed her story Join our crew! otherwise. There were also lots of references to and said she hadn’t given us permission. We all We are looking for writers to cover popular culture and fannish interests. felt like we were somewhat reliving the movie local events, conventions, fan It was also great to see Skywalker Ranch as we just saw! It was sad when the standup was groups and the fannish scene in general. Contact Jean Martin and the setting for a movie because it reminds me taken away, but it was still a fun experience Chris Garcia at [email protected] that I was fortunate enough to see it several trying to make off with it. What a real life years ago. Without having to break in! adventure that afternoon turned out to be! 10 This Old Fanzine: Locus Ð The Early Years
By Christopher J. Garcia Brown, that looks at Funcon, the Great Science Fiction by Scientists. It’s one Editor convention that really influenced what of the better anthologies of the 1960s. The I hate Locus. I’ve been unhappy with 1970s and 80s Westercons and Worldcons back has some news notes and a list of Locus for years. It has completely forgotten looked like. It was run by the recently Prozines and Fanzines. It lists the biggest that there’s a fandom for the stuff they passed Chuck Crayne and Bruce Pelz. It name zines in the world at the time, report on and it makes me angry that a zine was a fun convention from everything I’ve including Yandro, Australian Science that really had fandom at its heart in the read, though there’s a note I’d never heard. Fiction Review and Amra. This wasn’t beginning has gone so far off the track. Of Apparently Clint Bigglestone, whose family nearly as good an issue as the one before it. course, its awards and reviews haven’t I’m well aware of, was taken in for wearing Issue 5 was solid. It was a better helped matters much at all. a sheathed knife that had already been presentation, but the copy I was looking at I’ve been lucky enough to read many of approved of by the LAPD. The con did had a big chunk out of the side. There are the early issues, including three of them that really well. two reviews of cons, including Ozarcon and are currently in the TAFF Archive. Sadly, There’s a really interesting note about Deep South Con. Both are nice, quick little there’s no Issue 1 (And I seem to remember Vaughn Bode asking for the return of all the reviews. There is a section talking about that they did an Issue 0) but Issue 2 shows illos he had submitted to various fanzines Baycon, the 1968 Worldcon, which was still why it was such a great zine back in the because of the way his art had been treated a couple of weeks away. They talked about day. in various zines. He also points out that he the music acts that were being signed up. The three issues seem to be a sort of was having trouble because he was getting It’s weird to think about, but prior to 1968, testing period. They changed the logo, more comic work. The issue was solid, and rock and roll was not a significant part of typeface and paper type with each issue. It’s I was happy to see it. It reminded me that as fandom, and after it, it was. I’ve heard incredible to think of the zine going from a recently as 1968 there was good stuff going many point to Baycon as the turning point. mimeoed single sheet piece of well-done on under the Locus masthead. Pops was there, but I was not. I was -6 fannish zine-stuff to the glossy piece of crap Issue 4 looks almost completely years old! we have today. different. It has a huge LOCUS across the There is a good section talking about the The front half of Issue 2 contains a very top and doesn’t look anything like Issue 2. 6th Annual Science Fiction Film Festival in nice look at the 1968 Midwestcon, which In fact, I think it was a big step backwards. Trieste that featured Poem Field, a sounds like an interesting con. The more There’s an obit for Groff Conklin. He was a significant step forward in the field of interesting part, historically speaking, is a widely respected editor, as I understand it, computer animation. This is one of the first review below that one, also from Sheila and I own a couple of his things, including references to computer graphics and I’m
11 betting the first mention of it in a fanzine. Amazing! This was the first issue to go to two full sheets! There is a series of small notes talking about what cons were coming up, about what books were being released and there is a note from Rick Sneary about TAFF and Eddie Jones getting enough signatures. There is a long segment of writing of news from Harlan Ellison. It is also obvious that Ed Meskys was still involved because there is an equally large section of Tolkein news. The backpage is just another selection of news and such which was pretty interesting. I love reading those News and Notes sections of old zines, and Locus always had a pretty good one. This one made me realize just how good a zine it was. The only newszine that has the kind of importance that Locus had is File 770, and it’s always maintained a focus on fandom and is 100 times the zine that Locus is today. Yes, Locus is beautiful and a center for all those who are in or want to be in the SF industry, but File 770 tells the story of fandom, which is always the important thing.
Hey, grumpy photo by Lucy Huntzinger 12 Weird Romance, a Science Fiction Musical
By Howeird Hadary) recruits her for his latest project. He The rapid aging of the mysterious ghostly Contributing Writer has been cloning the Perfect Woman, but the girl causes the scientist to camp out in his lab, The other day I was watching Season 1 of clone is “just meat,” and needs another causing his sculptor wife (Jessica Molaskey) to Pushing Daisies and lamenting the fact that woman’s mind to act as “controller”. So far, ask if there is another woman in his life, and they cast two of the most thrilling voices in none of the other candidates has been able to when she gets an equivocal answer, she creates American musicals history, but Kristen lose herself in the new persona, but with non- a not-quite-abstract sculpture called Chenoweth and Ellen Greene rarely are given existent self-esteem, Greene’s character “Abstraction Man,” with a penis where his anything to sing during the series. To get my succeeds admirably. brain ought to be. fix, I looked through my CD collection and Until, that is, the scientist’s son (Sal The plot moves rapidly along, and in the pulled out Wicked, where Chenoweth does a Viviano) falls in love with Delphi, the clone end we discover who the girl is, what she is captivating rendition of “Popular,” followed by using Greene’s microwaved mind control. He is doing there, and everything resolves by the Little Shop of Horrors and Greene’s completely unaware that the beauty he has tear-stained finale. “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly fallen for is a clone, and his beautiful love song, Unfortunately, the CD of the original cast Seymour.” Looking toward the bottom of my “Eyes That Never Lie” is the height of irony. album is out of print. Lyricist Spencer launched alphabetically-arranged CD rack, I saw what is The son can’t figure out why dad has a revival off-Broadway in 2004, but it only ran one of my favorite musicals of all time, but also ordered him to stay away from Delphi, and for two performances. A shame – this is a the most forgotten, Weird Romance. storms the lab, where he learns the truth. Minds musical which deserves at the very least to be It’s actually two one-act musicals, The Girl are bent, hearts are broken, and the ending is on community theater stages across Silicon Who Was Plugged In and Her Pilgrim Soul, tragic on many levels. Valley. performed by the same cast. Music for both is In Her Pilgrim Soul, which is based on the by the incomparable 8-time Oscar winner Alan short story/Twilight Zone episode of the same Links Menken (Enchanted, Mulan, Hercules, Beauty name by Alan Bennert, Greene plays the image Cover art: www.aislesay.com/WEIRD-CD.jpg and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, etc.), of a young woman who has materialized inside Ellen Greene’s IMDB page: lyrics by David Spencer. a research scientist’s breakthrough holographic www.imdb.com/name/nm0338746/ Based on the James Tiptree, Jr. short story, experiment. As she ages at an accelerated rate, Kristen Chenoweth’s IMDB page: The Girl Who Was Plugged In begins with we learn she is a soul from the past, both www.imdb.com/name/nm0155693/ Alan Menken’s IMDB page: Greene as a badly-battered-by-life homeless through her duets with the scientist (played by www.imdb.com/name/nm0579678/ woman on the street, singing the poignant Jonathan Hadary) and leg work by his research Alan Brennart’s web site: www.alanbrennert.com/ “Stop and See Me,” a plea for passers-by to just assistant (Danny Burstein) who also sings what James Triptree, Jr.’s wiki page acknowledge her existence. She gets her wish, may be the ultimate Geek Fight Song, “Need (“he” was really Alice Sheldon): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Sheldon in spades, when a scientist/CEO (Jonathan To Know.”
13 The Night the Lights Went Out in San Ramon
By Baron Law crowd of usual suspects had already headed lanterns around the large open gaming rooms Contributing Writer next door to a restaurant by the time we waded and miniatures gaming areas. They also gave DunDraCon, the longest-running gaming through the lines. out glow sticks in bulk lots to attendees, and the con in the Bay Area, was held once again over Herein lies one of DunDraCon’s greatest con took on the feel of a rave in places. I Presidents Day Weekend at the San Ramon strengths as a con. There is the usual overpriced wandered through the halls and never saw the Marriott. It opened on Friday the 13th to a hotel food and the usual sterno buffet line of gaming stop. Sadly I did not get into the Friday rainstorm that did little to dampen attendees’ con kibble that you find at many cons. But night game run by my friends, the most spirits. I had given a ride to several of my there is also an entire mall literally next door to excellent LARP troupe “Dreams of Deirdre.” amigos and we checked them in and got the keg the hotel. There you will find reasonably priced So I made my way to the party room, where up to their room before the storm broke. Chinese food, a burger cafe, a Peets, a Whole whiskey, friends and the card game There’s something about that first beer of the Foods and a Target among other “Lunchmoney” kept me happy. For those of con that means you’re home and with your establishments. You can spend the entire you not familiar with the game, picture tribe. weekend in the hotel, or easily walk around the Catholic School girls beating each other up on My roommate soon arrived and we settled corner and save some money on food and pick the playground for lunch money. Irish accents into our room, then headed downstairs to get up any missing supplies. and calling each other Mary Kate were the our badges. Like so many of the Bay Area cons, Luckily we were back in the hotel by the order of the night as we pummeled each other the line for buying a membership on site was time the storm knocked out the power over the unmercifully. The party broke up around 1 a.m. actually faster than the line for pre-registered entire city block. The Marriott staff responded or so and I rolled into bed. attendees. A late lunch was in the offing and the quickly to the outage, placing battery powered
14 The Saturday morning session started with three LARPs I had signed up for, but although two of them showed empty slots, I was not listed as a player in any of them. I looked up the con staff in charge and mentioned this oversight. I was given a priority slip and was told to show up at game as things were still a bit messed up from the power outage. DunDraCon uses a computer-based randomizing system to assign con goers to their accent! I would highly recommend playing in games. You submit a paper slip with your 1st, one of Tempest’s games in the future and hope 2nd and 3rd choices for each gaming session to do so again myself. and these are entered into the “shuffler” After an early dinner in the hotel restaurant database. Most gaming cons have some sort of I attended the “Mutant Saga Volume II: Los system in place to handle this process, as some Angeles” LARP. This game was put on by Joe of the more popular games would otherwise be Parzanese and Dave Oberholzer who also flooded by players. The problem did not seem happen to be the LARP Coordinators for to affect the first Friday night gaming session Kubla-Con, another Bay Area gaming con that nearly as much as it did the second Saturday is scheduled opposite BayCon and Fanime. I morning session. Several others in the room at had great fun being a genetically altered 7-foot- the start of game also mentioned having tall, 70-year-old Nazi, who had been submitted slips and not showing up anywhere “reformed.” Along with Professor Mayhem and in the system. LARP coordinator Chris Allen a silverback gorilla I had given super and the GMs for the various games worked intelligence to and raised as my son, we were a hard, and nearly everyone got into one of the force to be reckoned with as we evil laughed three LARPs that morning. our way to victory. Mwuhahahahaha! After the I played in the 7th Seas game, a genre I game and a quick bite of the con kibble, much have run many successful games in myself. It partying was had and many “no shit there I was put on by the “Tempest in a Teapot” troupe was” stories were told. and it was well run indeed. I had the honor of Sunday morning loomed large and after playing General Santiago de Saldaña del sleeping in a bit and a big breakfast buffet, I Castille, complete with appropriate costuming was more than ready to play in the “Team and puss-n-boots accent. Many a player was Volare” Warhammer 40k Fantasy LARP. The unable to retain their game face against the Team Volare troupe is always a good game and onslaught that was my ready wit and cheesy this one was no exception. I played a Witch
15 Hunter for the church, à la Van Helsing from privateers nearly collided with a luxury liner we the movie by the same name. I got to play the were trying to board, I was given a brand new loose cannon and was dramatically scary in my character sheet with my memories restored. black hat and long cape, disrupting delicate Apparently I was a “Knight of the Gray political talks only to eventually be suborned by Shroud,” that universe’s equivalent to a Jedi, the vampire as her plaything. Luckily the other who had been bopped in the head and lost his players decided to save me rather than kill me memories. Although the big ending was a bit and the game ended successfully for me. muddled due to so many characters trying to Sunday evening was “Between,” a Fading achieve so many differing goals, I felt the game Suns LARP put on by the “Groupmind Games” went well over all. I would definitely play in troupe. Although it is a complicated universe, I another Groupmind Games again. felt the GMs did an excellent job with the No matter what kind of convention you background information and supplemented the attend or are a fan of, Monday is always the character sheets with generic cheat sheets. I saddest day of con. Although there are still was given an amnesiac character for the first games to be had Monday morning you know half of the game and played him as innocent that soon everyone will go back to their and carefree, asking all kinds of questions. At mundane jobs and normal lives. Many of us some point in the game when our group of met up in the hotel restaurant and got the breakfast buffet on the last day. Hugs were exchanged, plans to meet made, and farewells said. Officially there were 179 registered RPGs, 37 boardgames, 6 CCGs, 12 LARPs, 22 miniatures games, 19 seminars and a host of pickup games in three huge open gaming areas. The dealer’s room was packed with more games than you’ll ever be able to play and enough dice to build a small house out of. But all of that pales beside the friends you meet and the memories made at DunDraCon!
16 Gallifrey One Times Twenty
By España Sheriff Andres. Because of this I arrived at the hotel, my way out of the dealer’s I ran into Tadao, Staff Writer late but dry, mid-afternoon Friday. who was amused to point out that I was Gallifrey One, LA’s annual Dr. Who I was amused to see that the lady at officially listed as Staff for Registration, convention, celebrated its twentieth anniversary reception, Brandy, was the one who had probably in a cut-and-paste oversight from last this year with record attendance, hitting 1,300+ checked me in for AnimeLA a month ago and year. I told him that I’d consider putting in a members. For me it was only my third year, but she had the same delighted look on her face at couple of hours on Saturday if I found myself at in this short span I have become enormously all the fannishness invading her lobby. It turned loose ends. fond of this convention. In 2007 I went on a out that my room wasn’t quite ready yet, so I I decided to grab a bite, relax for a minute whim, knowing there would be at least some checked my bags and went off to get my and check the program book, so I headed to the people I knew but with very little idea what to membership and check in to the art show. hotel restaurant, Latitude 33. The host, expect besides that. Even sharing floor space in I got my badge and hung my art and then Anthony, had also been there during Anime LA a smallish room and being a bit of a neo-fan wandered across to the main hall which was (not to mention Loscon) and looked quizzically compared to most folks there, it was so much packed and spilling over into the hallway. Kai at me for a second before I confirmed that I had fun that I couldn’t believe I had never been Owen and Gareth David-Lloyd of Torchwood just been there the month before, and shortly before. Now it’s on my regular roster and is one were doing a Q&A and as I dithered whether to before that too. On the way to my table I ran of those cons for which I start pining for next stay and take a peek I heard something about a into Kevin Roche and Andy Trembley who year the day after it’s over. special guest. I stepped in to check it out, and reminded me that the Volcano Day party was This year I traveled down on Thursday saw that Naoko Mori, who plays Tosh on the going on that evening in the usual party suite, night with local fans Lee Almodovar and show, was on stage with them. I perched as best Johanna Mead. We got a bit of a late start and I I could and listened to the rest of the talk, arrived at my sister’s place at around 4 o’clock which was pretty spoilerific for me since I was in the morning, which she was surprisingly still about halfway through the season at the gracious about. Gallifrey should properly be time. experienced from Thursday evening through When that let out, I got out of the way by Sunday night, but with another full roster of heading to the dealer’s room, where I bought cons looming in the coming months I had Issue #1 of Doctor Who: Unforgettable, Tony decided to be sensible and not take an extra day Lee being one of the guests at the con. I also off work. I meant to get to the hotel as soon as stopped by Hornesmythe to check out their possible Friday but when I woke up, rain was wares and found an extremely reasonably- pouring down in torrents so I waited instead priced flowered diadem which might go with Phil Collinson Serving Kevin a Drink at the and got a ride from my sister’s boyfriend, my alternate, Greek-style toga in a pinch. On Volcano Day party photo by Andrew Trembley 17 hosted by the wonderful Merv Staton and of those coming up next to take a different forming (good old Brits) and they had several Judith Richardson. I had packed my Loscon route. Surprisingly they did just that, some themed drinks with clever Latin names I can’t Roman toga specifically for this event and going the long way around to the other end of remember anymore. assured them I would be there with laurels on. the stage, others weaving through the audience, I got the Blue Box, which looked like After eating, I checked into my room, with Frazier Hines stealing the show when he mouthwash but tasted lovely, and immediately which was conveniently located poolside on the wound his way down between the seats just a started running into people including Sara second floor. I like unpacking completely as couple of rows behind me and even took some Bruce and Mary Boyle, Mo Starkey and her soon as I can so I can feel well settled in, but I time to hug a lady on the way. It was all quite daughter Mason, Johanna in her Time Agent had way overpacked for no good reason so it hectic and silly, but everyone seemed to be costume and Bryan Little and Mette Hedin in took much longer than it should have. By the enjoying themselves. their Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper time I was done it was nearly time for opening With the stage full they each announced costumes respectively. I also met Johanna’s ceremonies so I bopped down to the convention how many years they had been in attendance, friend Roz, at her first convention, and Mette’s area and managed to find a decent seat as things with some like Davies, Kai Owen and Phil pal John O’Connor, a Gallifrey veteran of seven got underway. Robbie Bourget took a minute on Collinson being in their first year, and others in years. I spent a good portion of the evening stage to say a few words and introduce Shaun the teens. Paul Cornell, celebrating his twelfth chatting with Mo, who in addition to being tons Lyon who took over from there. He announced year, read a note from past guest and new of fun is also a wonderful artist who had that as of that moment we were already 23 showrunner Steven Moffat who managed to created a “household gods” art piece and a life- members above last year’s final count, which steal a little thunder even in absentia. Peter size replica of the marble circuit board (both produced much applause. He also took a Anghelides encouraged everyone to twitter the featured in the “Fires of Pompeii” episode) moment to remember Bob May and to proceedings using the #gally tag, which seems which everyone who entered the party stopped announce that our charity auction will be to have gone swimmingly looking at the feed, to admire. Outside Kevin and Andy had built a known as the Bob May Memorial Auction from although reception for my phone was poor really nice looking five-foot-tall volcano out of here on out. Some unfortunate news was that enough that I wasn’t able to play along. Once Halloween torches, tinsel and a fan. Pia Guerra might not make it after all, as she everyone had their say they dispersed ― each Unfortunately, the hotel had asked us to keep was unable to find her passport (in fact she did taking a separate way again. the door closed so there was not the usual not make it). I changed into my toga, which involved spillage to the deck, which I rather enjoy. Then Shaun began calling the guests to the much fussing and a trip to the hotel gift shop Eventually things started to peter out and Merv stage. Gallifrey has a high number of guests for for safety pins and a sewing kit, and headed gave me my traditional bottle of GTFO a convention its size, including writers, actors, over to the Volcano Day party in the Porta champagne to hustle me on my way, so John and behind the scenes folks from the shows, so Aurea room. I meant to check out the and I escaped with that and finished it off while getting them all on stage (and sometimes back convention’s official “Fires of Pompeii” shindig warming our toes on the hot tub, conveniently off again) can be quite entertaining. The first downstairs but somehow managed not to make located right in front of my room. We chatted batch came up as a group and only stayed for a it in the end, since just about everything I about genre and whatnot in one of those great minute since they had dinner reservations, but wanted came to me instead. The bar was quite late night/early morning convention the second group was a hoot. When Gareth busy with sporadic but quick moving queues conversations until the sun was coming up and David-Lloyd got on stage he encouraged each 18 it seemed like a good idea to get some sleep retiring to France. In that capacity she was before the next day’s festivities. apparently responsible for discovering young I woke up a few short hours later and after Matt Smith who we will soon see as the several long seconds of having absolutely no eleventh incarnation of the Doctor. idea where I was, I remembered, joyfully, that I I had arranged with my sister Ashley and was at a convention. I was also pleased to see it her boyfriend Andres to meet up later in the was not nearly as late as all that. I put on my afternoon, since he’s a big time geek but hasn’t Captain Hammer tee, representin’ some non- really been to a convention, so I wandered into Who fandom for the day, and headed off to find the Phil Collinson panel and grabbed a seat. bacon and eggs. The hotel restaurant stops Mette stayed with me for a bit before heading serving breakfast at some unreasonable (to me) off to get ready. John wandered in a bit later hour, but as Leigh Ann Hildebrand had and eventually Ashley and Andres showed up. discovered during a previous visit, they have a Unfortunately Andres had been called in to bacon and eggs any style (plus fries, for some work so he was only able to stay for a few reason) option on the regular menu. I got my hours, but they did get to see the hallway bacon and eggs, with a fruit substitute and all atmosphere and some good costumes including the coffee I could manage in one sitting, and a full-size Dalek which was patrolling the felt infinitely better. hallways, and I got them to wander by Kevin I wandered more or less accidentally into and Andy’s semi-private wine party for a while the Wendy Padbury Q&A which was very and they got to see the previous night’s decor entertaining. I also got to listen to John Levene and admire some more costumes before giving an interview to Doctor Who Podshock, heading off again. which was very entertaining. He seems a By now it was well into the evening but the wonderful fellow. line for the Masquerade looked a little long. So Bryan and Mette as Vashta Nerada Afterwards I ran into Mette, who was afraid photo by Andrew Trembley I took the time to change into my ad-hoc Time of coming down with allergies but also clearly Agent-esque outfit, which is mostly bits of food deprived, so she grabbed a sandwich from well as a Gareth David-Lloyd and Kai Owen various steampunk ensembles plus the the hotel gift shop and we headed to the sketch in character at the Pompeii party. awesome raygun that Ed Garcia gave me at “Something Borrowed” live commentary panel. I got to see Wendy Padbury and Frazier Loscon. When I got downstairs the Masquerade I caught up on the good stuff I had missed the Hines doing a Q&A, and was impressed with was over and Toby Hadoke’s “Moths Ate My previous evening, which apparently included their rapport. I’m not very familiar with the Doctor Who Scarf” was underway. I grabbed a two karaoke highlights: a Dalek singing “What Second Doctor’s run and am determined to patch of floor in the corner of the room and a Wonderful World,” the chorus modified to watch more of it now. One of the interesting settled in for a really wonderful show. There “And I say to myself, EXTERMINATE,” and things about Padbury (or Padders as Hines kept were a certain amount of specific British Kai Owen doing the Welsh National Anthem, as calling her) is that she went on to become a cultural references which really meant nothing talent agent for some years before eventually to me but the rest was funny and poignant and 19 extremely well done. I know I’m not the only Sunday morning was kinder to me. I made Since Jean and I were both staying through one who misted up at the end. There’s a it to the restaurant while the buffet was still the next day, we headed up to the restaurant in specifically made for audio version available, I going. I had finished my current book so I hopes of beating the rush. As luck would have highly recommend any Who fans out there pick picked up a copy of Jennifer Morgue by it Merv, Judith, Maureen and Mason were it up. I ran into Mette and Bryan and got a Charles Stross and attempted to read it during already there, having wisely made reservations. chance to see their Masquerade entries breakfast; however, a table behind me, someone They were kind enough to invite us along, and (previously Top Secret) which were up to their was on his cell phone having an amusing but the restaurant good enough to accommodate the usual high standards, two full spacesuits from rather loud conversation. I put my book down request, and we had a lovely meal with much the “Vashta Nerada” episode. half in exasperation, half in amusement, and chatting about all things fannish. Alas, the party room was closed for a more just sat there for a minute until I made eye When we were done, Sunday Lobbycon private event that evening, but there’s always contact with a woman one table up who was in full swing with all the remaining guests someone at the hotel bar at Gally. In this case apparently couldn’t help but hear everything as and attendees downing pints in the bar and the Jean, Maureen, Merv and Judith. Merv was well. I burst out laughing and she encouraged lobby. I had already decided to stay up, since I wearing an amazing Brannigan costume which me to say something, which I probably had to be ready to go at 6 a.m., so I spent the he had entered in the Masquerade. I got a few wouldn’t have otherwise. To his credit the rest of the night drinking and chatting. I’m drinks there until they announced it was closing gentleman in question was quite abashed, and happy to say that not only were folks still (too early) but the convention had a dance apologized and wrapped up the conversation. awake when I left the lobby at 4:30 a.m to pack going on that night, with a bar set up outside He even apologized again on his way out a few and change, but that an hour and a half later the doors. I had the drink special, which was minutes later, so all’s well that ends well. when I rolled my suitcase into the lobby, I okay but a little sweet and fruity for my tastes. I The rest of the day was mostly spent in the glimpsed the last two stragglers fleeing the ran into John, who pointed out that he had a main hall. John and his friend Will grabbed early birds that had just started to appear. martini shaker and ingredients so he could some seats and I settled in beside them for a make those if that suited better. It did, so he did, series of entertaining panels before closing and we were back at the dance just in time to ceremonies. First was a comics panel with Tony see the Dalek hit the dance floor to “Oh, Lee, Paul Cornell, Gary Russell and Joshua Sheila.” Fialkov, then a very fun panel with Colin Baker The music was uneven, with far too much and Nicola Bryant. I wandered out for a bit Phil Collins and Flight of the Conchords for my after that and ran into our own Jean Martin, and tastes. The latter was amusing but as with most we both made it back for the Phil Collinson live gag music not really made for the dancefloor. commentary for “Journey’s End,” which I Still, I managed to stick it out through the end wasn’t expecting much from, which but ended and there were some fun tunes and a lively up with most of the audience, including crowd including a very fetching and clever Collinson, in tears. Closing ceremonies were dress made up to look like the TARDIS. traditionally quick, and next thing you knew it Eventually the DJ announced that was the end was time for goodbyes for the folks who had Lobbycon with Radar, España, Judith and Merv of that, and we all reluctantly called it a night. already checked out. photo by Andrew Trembley 20 PotlatchDreams In Extremely of the City Brief
By Christopher J. Garcia Yes, I know I was technically ghosting by I love The Domain and I hope we find Editor entering the consuite, but I tried to impact it many more reasons to have cons there. I spent Christian McGuire called me. I love limitedly. Really, I just wanted to get a few about an hour down with Diana, Grant Winnig, Christian, nicest guy you’ll ever meet who can photos and head off to bed. I found España, and a couple of others whose names escape me. still snark like an Oscar-night fashion reporter. Christian, and Leigh Ann and we got some Later, Leigh Ann and España joined us and “Chris, I call you to Potlatch. Bring the photos of the Scarf with Peggy Rae Sapienza, when I next checked, it was 2 a.m.! It was a lot Scarf,” he said. Art Widner, who I hadn’t seen since Corflu of fun chatting, as always, and I’m hoping I’ll “OK, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” I 2007, David Bratman and John D. Berry. After get a chance to run into folks again. Perhaps at answered. about twenty minutes, I went with España and Corflu? When I got the call, I was just about to put we scoped out the downstairs, took some my CPAP mask on and go to beddy-bye- photos, but mostly just chatted with folks. birdland, I was in my pajamas, nose prepared and everything! I just threw on a long-sleeved shirt (it was cold out there), got in my car and drove over to The Domain. As you’ve probably heard, the Scarf is to raise funds for TAFF, and as a part of the entire process of auctioning it off for grand sums, we’re taking photos of folks wearing it. As soon as I arrived, I ran into a mass of folks I knew. There was Deirdre Soirse Moen and Rick. There was Jay Lake, David Levine, Diana Sherman, Kate Yule and a couple of people who I didn’t know, but chatted with and they seemed really nice. I got a few photos, notably of Diana in the scarf, and then excused myself to head upstairs.
Potlatch 18 As Seen By Chris photo by Chris Garcia
21 PotlatchDreams 18 Ð Theof the Cat's City Meow
By España Sheriff wondering if I would ask Jay Lake to write up a with which to make Little Things, since Leigh Staff Writer con report. I said sure, as one bafflingly does Ann had brought some Hangar One Pear The last weekend in February was a busy when Garcia asks for things. As soon as I hung Vodka. one this year. WonderCon, Cinequest and up I remembered I don’t really know Jay as If one is a Joy of Life Rewards Member, the Potlatch served to scatter local fandom all over such and am far better at badgering drunk Joy de Vivre Hotels provide one with a guest the map. I chose Potlatch over WonderCon for friends into doing things they already want to amenity upon check in. In this case that turned several reasons, but principally because Ursula do, than at actually asking for favors. I called out to be a full bottle of white wine each. I had K. Le Guin would be present. Leigh Ann Hildebrand and delegated the job to also brought a bottle of wine and the consuite Unlike most conventions, Potlatch chooses her instead. was providing beer and wine as well, so things a Book of Honor rather than a Guest of Honor. were looking pretty good on the booze front. Up until this year the book had never been by a Especially taking into account that after the living author, but for whatever reason they recent excess of Gallifrey One, I was looking made two changes this year. Firstly they chose forward to a low-key weekend this time around. Always Coming Home by Le Guin, and they I took the time to settle in and unpack also decided to have two books instead of one, before pouring myself some wine and choosing the YA novel Growing Up Weightless wandering a little to see who was about. by John M. Ford to share the honor. Programming was done by that point but the A cozy little convention, it fit nicely into the I got to the convention around 8 p.m. and consuite, which is really the heart of this Domain hotel which I had last visited for Steam met up with Leigh Ann and Christian McGuire convention, was still full of folks chatting. We Powered. The excellent consuite helped make who had had slightly more optimistic spent some time there, then headed back to up for the lack of a suitable hotel restaurant, expectations of my arrival time, and were more Leigh Ann’s room for a couple more hours. The and the social space in the lobby created a nice than ready to get some dinner. I checked in and last hour or so of the evening was spent reading alternative to spending all day in the consuite. left unpacking for later so we could grab the last issue of Vegas Fandom Weekly and A small dealer’s room was located on the something to eat. Christian selected Bombay pondering the concept of core classic original ground floor, with several booksellers including Garden from the handy restaurant guide which “proud and lonely” fandom. Borderlands, Cargo Cult, Tachyon, and Book took up the bulk of the program book. The The Domain had thoughtfully provided a Universe, and a couple of jewelers. restaurant was packed when we got there but free coupon for their breakfast buffet so I had Friday after work I took Caltrain from San we were seated within a few minutes and ran optimistically set my alarm for nine a.m. As I Francisco to Santa Clara and then a short bus into a few other Potlatch folks enjoying the lay there trying to convince myself that I cared ride to the hotel, quite convenient really. As I large buffet offerings. On the way back we even a little about breakfast, Christian called to waited for the bus, Chris Garcia called stopped at Lucky’s to pick up some ginger beer badger me into getting up, pointing out that I
22 could go right back to sleep afterwards if I I met up with Christian and Leigh Ann and upon which they were projecting a Second Life wanted to. It was touch and go for a minute but we headed up to the main programming room. simulcast of the reading. Le Guin read a story he pointed out that Leigh Ann would be About half the con was there and the discussion and some poems from the Book of Honor, wearing her glasses for the first time in public was quite lively. The “Scalzi Rule” refers to an Always Coming Home, which I had tried (that I know of) and I had to see that, given the old post by John Scalzi regarding audience reading before the con but had had a hard time big deal she had made over buying the damned participation in convention panels, specifically getting into. Read aloud it’s far more things. So I dragged myself out of bed and did the preferability of asking questions instead of compelling, matching the oral culture in the the minimum ablutions to get presentable. making statements. The discussion concluded story, and I’m tempted now to search out the The glasses were fetching, but the actual that the problem actually being addressed was original version which came with a cassette of breakfast was the same rather disappointing grandstanders and thread highjackers, and that the songs and music. When the reading was buffet as last time. The restaurant is simply not it could most easily be solved by good done Le Guin took questions from the audience set up for convention-style groups. I did moderation. Mary Kay Kare twittered @scalzi in the room and in Second Life. The questions manage to get some bacon, eggs and coffee, to get his comments and he replied that he had varied from interesting to rather unimaginative, and free is free, so I shouldn’t complain. As we mostly forgotten about the “Scalzi Rule” but but she answered them all thoughtfully and sat there Jay Lake wandered in and sat nearby. I thought the discussion sounded interesting. kindly even when the answer was “I hadn’t nudged Leigh Ann who turned to Christian and After that let out I was tempted to nap, but really though of that.” asked him to ask Jay for a report for Garcia. I Le Guin was going to be reading from the Book Afterwards people started lining up to get suddenly felt like I was in elementary school of Honor at 3:30 p.m. so I had to postpone books signed so I popped downstairs and again. Christian, bless his heart, is used to sleep. I bought a tasty gluten-free brownie from bought a copy of The Lathe of Heaven for doing this sort of thing, and was more than the Tiptree bake sale and wandered back to the myself, another of A Wizard of Earthsea for a happy to, so on our way out we all shuffled dealer’s room for a bit. I asked around but no friend, and her new book, Lavinia, on Jude’s over to Jay’s table and explained ourselves. Of one seemed certain whether Le Guin would be recommendation. When I got back, Rina course he said yes. Thank you Jay! signing or not, so I made a mental note to pick Weisman was in line ahead of me, so we got to By now the coffee had done its job and I up copies of certain books and headed to the chat while waiting. The line moved reasonably had no interest in going back to sleep. Instead I reading. fast and soon enough Le Guin was signing my wandered over to the Dealer’s Room which was When I arrived the room was nearly full but books while I tried to remember my words and mainly booksellers with a couple of jewelers I found a seat near the back. There was a screen not embarrass myself. I got through unscathed for variety. Rina and Jacob Weisman were at the Tachyon table, and next to them was Borderlands, manned by Jude Feldman and Jeremy Lassen, both looking very smartly dressed. I browsed for a bit and then chatted with Diana Sherman at the Tachyon table for a bit until it was time for the next panel, The Scalzi Rule.
23 and bounced around for the next hour or so too including myself. It was only after the “it fun t-shirt. By the time we paid and collected elated to think about sleeping. appears to be large and black” and “Gosh, it’s our loot it was pretty late. I ran into Maureen I knew I needed the rest so eventually I longer than I expected” witticisms were out of Starkey as I headed to the consuite and we had headed up to the room for a nap. Of course that my mouth that my forebrain pointed out that a good chat before she had to go home for the meant that when Christian and Leigh Ann were making dick jokes probably fell into the night. I then made it over to the consuite which ready for dinner at 6:30 I was barely coherent. I “embarrassing myself in front of a living legend was quite busy and full of good snackables. excused myself and got another hour of rest of SF literature” category. With several knitters in the room the TAFF plus a short but very pleasant bath in the big Luckily I wasn’t able to spend too much Scarf came up in conversation and we hotel tub, then ate the Basil Chicken that Leigh time dwelling upon my faux pas because mere bemoaned not having thought to bring it. Ann was kind enough to bring back for me minutes later an audio copy of Catwings came Christian whipped out his phone and called from the restaurant. Feeling much more human up. Tom mentioned that it was read by the Garcia, who lives just a few minutes away. I headed down to meet them close to 9:30 p.m. author and Le Guin piped up with “and Mere minutes later in he walked, wearing his during the Clarion Auction. meowed!” As I paused to consider this, Le Guin jammies, the Scarf in hand. We got pictures of Tom Whitmore and Jay Lake were meowed. various folks wearing it and then he called it a auctioneering with help from Ellen Klages as I I looked over at Leigh Ann at the same time night so I took it back to the safety of Leigh scurried up to where Leigh Ann had saved me a that she looked over at me. Beside me, Le Guin Ann’s room. As we walked past the lobby area seat in the second row. As I sat down she leaned continued meowing, with increasing volume we could see Jay Lake, Diana Sherman and a over and said something apologetic-sounding and disturbing realism. And as the bidding gaggle of other folks downstairs so we popped about the seats. I only heard part of it but continued, someone from the back of the room down for a while and got some more pictures. misunderstood and muttered my own apology meowed back and there was a brief yoweled We left them to it and headed back to the for being late. A few minutes later a copy of a cat-talk conversation. I sat very still and consuite for a while until we got thirsty and Le Guin book came up for auction and Jay considered whether I should just pack up and decided to mix some Little Things. We went to mentioned that the author would sign it, while leave fandom right then and there, as surely the room and got those, heckling Garcia and gesturing to my immediate right. I looked over nothing would ever top this experience. company who were still in the lobby. We with trepidation and realized that I was sitting The rest of the auction flew past. Leigh Ann offered to bring some drinks and one person beside Le Guin herself. I looked over at Leigh scored some Harlan goodness and I bid on and took us up on the offer, so we ended up Ann in a panic and she grinned at me — that won a handmade-by-Le Guin jewelry bag and a spending the next hour or so drinking pear was what she had been trying to tell me when I sat down. I spent the next half hour or so simply trying to sit up straight and not embarrass myself, and I was doing just fine until Jay picked up a t-shirt in a plastic bag from the items to be auctioned and made an “excuse me while I whip this out” joke. Whereupon all the wags in the audience rose to the occasion, 24 vodka and ginger beer and chatting about make sure it was gone, I finally got to sleep Eventually it was time to check out of my religion, South Park, and Doctor Who. around two thirty. room so I left my bags at reception. On the way Eventually people started drifting their various Sunday morning I got up at a reasonable to do that I ran into Kevin Roche and Andy ways so I popped by reception to get a late time, but not quite early enough to bother with Trembley, who had spent the weekend at SF checkout, and after another short but interesting the buffet. Instead I swung by the consuite for Coronation. Andy brought out his camera to get visit to the consuite I called it a night around coffee and some nibbles. I drifted between some final pictures of a bunch of folks all one thirty. there and the dealer’s room for the next couple wearing The Scarf at once, and as he did so, When I got to the room I found a spider of hours, chatting with folks and making some Leo Schwab arrived to meet us for lunch. The sitting on the bed and spent about half an hour last-minute purchases. I spent some time people sadness of leaving the con was somewhat or so scooping it up with the room service watching from the second floor balcony area, softened by a very tasty lunch at Hobee’s and a menu, being embarrassingly girly and freaked watching Ed Stokke stalking folks with his zoom-zoom-y ride back to the city courtesy of out at each progressively more alarming failure smoke gun and people just generally coming Leo and his Mini Cooper. and finally getting it out onto the balcony. After and going. another half hour or so checking around to
Michael McLaughlin
25 BASFA Minutes: Meetings 967-969
Meeting 967 Andy announced that Gallifrey 1, 20 Years the Musical as a Pollack-like event, reviewed to Life will be in LA this weekend - and Friday Fanboys as beautiful and the story of his life - is Volcano day and Saturday will be the Napa brilliant - and the weekend was worth $97.95 February 9, 2009 State Prison party Carole announced that Feb 21 will be a Dave C announced that if you want to see games day at their place Trey Haddad, President amusing ice cream suggestions visit Bill reviewed Conflikt as they had a great Chris Garcia, Vice-President www.newsfromme.com time there - and worth full price including air Dave Gallaher, Treasurer Adrienne announced that an actor from Dr fare [plus has had a funny story about it that he Galen Tripp, Sergeant at Arms Who won an award in the BAFTA awards only told me, hah!] - and there were follow-ons Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary Mo announced that Dann Lopez is NOT in Lisa reviewed New in Town as fun, worth England - and his email account was hacked bargain matinee or Netflix, reviewed Milk as Began 8:01 and zombified excellent, worth full price - and there were 26 people attended Chris announced the Seattle in 2011 bid has positive follow-ons a party jar was established folded [there were follow ons] Connor reviewed Last Templar as 4 hours Secretary’s report: the minutes of meeting of predictable crap 966 were accepted as ‘pausing for food’ Reviews Adrienne reviewed Frost - Nixon as she there was no Treasurer or report Glenn reviewed his new Blackberry Storm enjoyed it very much and liked Milk better and the Vice president reported that but Drink as he is very happy with it and having fun with reviewed Diana Rigg the Biography by Tank 201 is out, Drink Tank 202 will be out ringtones Kathleen Tracy as she enjoyed it Friday and he is now the ‘dancing with the Dave C reviewed Taken as OK; reviewed Howeird reviewed 5 Indy short films as 3 stars’ correspondent at work since Steve Coraline as much more interesting, beautiful were very good and 2 were not Wozniak will be on it and worth full price; reviewed Patton Oswalt’s we then did auctions: CDs for $10.00, a The President had nothing fannish to report Werewolves and Lollipops as he’s a sf nerd and magazine for $0.25, off stuff for $1.25, a one of us - and Cargo Cult -could- carry it - and calendar for $1.00, a magazine and a calendar Announcements reviewed that Lux Interior, lead singer for the for $1.25 and a card game for $4.00 [tall] Kevin announced that Cheryl misses Cramps, died last week of natural causes at 62 We adjourned at = 9:39 us and that the Hugo clipboard is circulating in [there were follow ons] And the rumor of the week was: Adrienne - the room and we’ll be discussing part 3 of the Chris reviewed ‘The 5 Obstructions’, a still partying like it’s 1989 Hugo nominations after the meeting Danish film, as well-worth Netflix; reviewed Glenn announced that he is again gainfully The Inheritance as great; reviewed Martinez as employed and working much closer to BASFA the city that always sleeps, reviewed Evil Dead
26 Meeting 968 Oregon this Friday for 2 weeks Iden as very well-written, worth full price and <
Life is complicated; putting on an event is even Wednesday, March 11 much more. He also possesses one of the finest more so. Please check before attending, as SF in SF Double Feature, with author James collections of pulp magazines in existence, and events are sometimes canceled or times and Morrow he’s a heck of a nice guy. James Rollins (aka locations changed. Hobart Building James Clemens) is the New Times best-selling 582 Market Street, San Francisco author of many, many thrillers, and the author New listings are highlighted in red. www.sfinsf.org of several different excellent fantasy series as Ongoing events are toward the back. James Morrow, author of Shambling Towards well. Hiroshima, introduces movies starring Lon 7 pm Free Friday, February 27-Sunday, July 5th Chaney, Jr.; The Ghost of Frankenstein and The The Art of Stan Sakai: Celebrating 25 Years of Mummy’s Curse Saturday, March 14 Usagi Yojimbo 6 pm Free San Jose Super Toy, Comic and Record Show Cartoon Art Museum Santa Clara County Fair Grounds 655 Mission Street, San Francisco Friday, March 13-Sunday, March 15 344 Tully Road, San Jose www.cartoonart.org Sonora Celtic Faire www.timetunneltoys.com A career-spanning retrospective featuring over Mother Lode Fairgrounds 240 tables of vintage to modern toys and 60 pieces of original artwork by the critically- 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora collectibles. acclaimed artist. California’s oldest and largest Celtic faire. 11 am $5 $6 sonoracelticfaire.com $50 Sunday, March 15 Saturday, March 6th-Sunday, March 29th Author: S.G. Browne The Twilight Zone Live: Season VI Saturday, March 14 Borderlands Books Cartoon Room Theater SF in SF: Frank M. Robinson and James 866 Valencia, San Francisco 2263 Mission St., San Francisco Rollins www.borderlands-books.com www.darkroomsf.com Hobart Building Browne signs Breathers: A New Romantic The Dark Room Theater proudly presents its 582 Market Street, San Francisco Zombie Comedy 6th year of reinterpreted episodes from the www.sfinsf.org 3 pm Free classic television series. Each weekend will Frank M. Robinson has had a long, delightful feature two new episodes, a new Rod Serling and varied career – he’s worked for Rogue Sunday, March 15 and “commercials” in between. Magazine, Harvey Milk, written a dozen Road Trip of the Drunken Fantasy Authors Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at novels, (including the book on which the movie Borderlands Books 3PM. $20 The Towering Inferno was based,) and oh, so 866 Valencia, San Francisco
29 www.borderlands-books.com Gaming Minicon. Details TBA Friday-Sunday, April 3-5 Mario Acevedo, Mark Henry, Caitlin Kittredge Contact 25 (Second Skin) and Cherie Priest (Fathom) Saturday, March 28 NASA Ames Research Center, Building 943 7 pm Free Author: Ken Scholes Moffett Field, Mountain View Borderlands Books www.contact-conference.com Wednesday, March 18 866 Valencia, San Francisco Interdisciplinary gathering of scientists, artists Abney Park www.borderlands-books.com and writers. This year is Contact’s Silver Slim’s Scholes signs his novel, Lamentation. Anniversary and the event will be sharing the 333 11th St., San Francisco 12 pm Free space with Yuri’s Night 2009. Penny Boston www.abneypark.com will be the Keynote Speaker Post- apocalyptic, swashbuckling, Steampunk Saturday, March 28 $175 musical mayhem. Author: Amber Benson 8 pm $20 Borderlands Books Saturday, April 4 866 Valencia, San Francisco The Girl Genius Victorian Mad Science Ball Saturday, March 21 www.borderlands-books.com PEERS Event Author: Jonathan Thomas Benson signs her novel, Death’s Daughter Masonic Lodge Borderlands Books 4 pm Free 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo 866 Valencia, San Francisco www.peers.org www.borderlands-books.com Sunday, March 29 Victorian, Steampunk themed event with live The author signs his new book, Midnight Call Jay Lake and Ken Scholes Write In-Store performance by Avalon Rising. and Other Stories Borderlands Books 7 pm $15 (till March 28) 1 pm Free 866 Valencia, San Francisco www.borderlands-books.com Thursday, April 9 Saturday, March 21 Each author writes a story set in each other’s Thrillville’s 12th Anniversary Show Author: Mark von Schlegell universes. El Cerrito Speakeasy Borderlands Books 12 pm Free 10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito 866 Valencia, San Francisco www.thrillville.net www.borderlands-books.com Plan 9 From Outer Space and Re-Animator. The author signs his new novel, Mercury Special guests Mr. Lobo and the Queen of Station Trash, Ms. Monster plus, live on stage, Twilight 3 pm Free Vixen Revue! 7:30 pm $12 Saturday, March 28 EndGame March Minicon 921 Washington, Oakland endgameoakland.com
30 Saturday, May 2 Friday-Monday, May 22-25 Saturday, June 6-Sunday, June 7 The Unseen University Ball FanimeCon Valhalla Faire PEERS Event San Jose Convention Center Camp Richardson Masonic Lodge www.fanime.com 1900 Jameson Beach Road, South Lake Tahoe 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo Bay Area anime convention valhallafaire.com www.peers.org $50 Renaissance Faire Discworld, fantasy themed event with live $18 performance by Avalon Rising. Friday-Monday, May 22-25 7 pm $15 (till April 25) Baycon Saturday, June 6 Hyatt Regency The Secret Agent Ball Saturday, May 16-Sunday, May 17 5101 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara PEERS Event Scottish Games & Celtic Celebration www.baycon.org/2009 Masonic Lodge Robertson Park, Livermore This year’s theme is ‘The Search for 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo www.livermoregames.com Pyrocumulon’. GOH are Larry Dixon and www.peers.org $15 Mercedes Lackey, Tim Kirk, and Fred Patten. Spy themed event with live performance by $60 (till March 15) Sara and Swingtime. Sunday, May 17 7 pm $15 (till May 30) The Tomorrowmen Saturday, May 30-Sunday, May 31 Hotel Utah Valhalla Faire Friday-Sunday, Jun 12-14 500 4th Street, San Francisco Camp Richardson Robogames www.myspace.com/tomorrowmen 1900 Jameson Beach Road, South Lake Tahoe Fort Mason Center, San Francisco The instro-surf rockers from the future valhallafaire.com Details TBA, dates tentative $20 participate in Surf Battle of the Bands, with up Renaissance Faire to 14 bands duking it out for the reverb crown. $18 Saturday, June 21 8 pm $10 SF in SF: The Brazzen Hussies Saturday-Sunday, May 30-31 Hobart Building Tuesday, May 22-Sunday, July 5 Maker Faire 582 Market Street, San Francisco Spamalot San Mateo Fairgrounds www.sfinsf.org Golden Gate Theater 2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo Reading by local authors Michaela Roessner- 1182 Market Street, San Francisco Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event Herman, Lisa Goldstein and Pat Murphy. Bar www.shnsf.com that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself mindset. It’s proceeds benefit Variety Childrens Charity Check website for tickets and showtimes. for creative, resourceful people of all ages and 7 pm Free backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things Free
31 Friday-Tuesday, July 17-21 Friday-Saturday, September 25-26 Ongoing Azcatraz, A Harry Potter convention From the Land Beyond Park 55 Hotel Scottish Rite Center Daily 55 Cyril Magnin Street, San Francisco 6151 H Street, Sacramento www.hp2009.org www.sacramentocomics.com San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour $145 through February 28th. Details TBA Begins: Queen Anne Hotel 1590 Sutter at Octavia, San Francisco Saturday, August 1 Saturday, October 3 www.sfghosthunt.com The River City Picnic Dance The Space Cowboys Ball 7 pm – 10 pm $20 PEERS Event PEERS Event Lincoln Park Masonic Lodge Sundays 1450 High Street, Alameda 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo MGI SF&F/Horror/Speculative fiction www.peers.org www.peers.org Writing Group Music Man, Edwardian themed event with live Firefly, Western themed event with live Personal Residence (email for details) music by Bangers and Mash performance by Bangers and Mash Emeryville 1 pm Free 7 pm $15 (till September 27) groups.yahoo.com/group/MGISFFWriters Saturday, August 29-Sunday, August 30 Saturday, October 17-Sunday, October 18 7:30 pm Free Golden Gate Faire Folsom Renaissance Faire Sakuramento Anime Society Speedway Meadow Folsom City Lions Park Rancho Cordova Library Golden Gate Park, San Francisco 403 Stafford Street, Folsom 9845 Folsom Boulevard, Rancho Cordova ggfaire.com folsomfaire.com Meets every Sunday to watch old and new Renaissance Faire $18 Renaissance Faire $12 anime and anime music videos, play collectible Saturday, September 5 Thursday, October 29-Sunday, November 1 card games, practice artwork and make AMVs. The Sweeney Todd Ball World Fantasy Convention 3-7 pm PEERS Event The Fairmont Hotel Mondays Masonic Lodge 170 South Market Street, San Jose 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo The World Fantasy Convention is a Bay Area Science Fiction Association www.peers.org professional networking event that regularly Coco’s Victorian themed event with live performance attracts several hundred of the top authors in 1206 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale by Bangers and Mash the field every year. It is the home of the World www.basfa.org 7 pm $15 (till August 30) Fantasy Awards and this year will be 8 pm Free celebrating Edgar Allen Poe’s 200th birthday. Garth Nix will be the GOH. $125
32 Dukefish Wednesdays Fridays Jake’s of Sunnyvale 174 E. Fremont Avenue, Sunnyvale Bay Area Role-Playing Society SF Games Group meets weekly to play German-style Go-Getter’s Pizza Muddy’s Coffeehouse strategy board games such as Settlers of Catan, 1489 Beach Park Boulevard, Foster City 1304 Valencia Street, San Francisco Carcasson and other games, plus an occasional www.BayRPS.com vax.hanford.org/dk/games game of bridge breaks out. Meet up at 8:00 pm, Hosts a weekly game night. For club and game SF Games is a collective name for a bunch of figure our who wants to play what, and night details email [email protected] people who get together and play board games typically start playing games no later than 8:30 6 pm-10 pm Free and card games every week. Also has a regular pm cards night at Atlas Café, 20th and Alabama 8 pm Free East Bay Strategy Games Club Streets, Tuesday nights from 6:30-10. EndGame 7 pm to midnight Free Mondays and Wednesdays 921 Washington, Oakland www.michaeldashow.com/eastbaystrategy/ Fridays-Mondays Silicon Valley Boardgamers home.html Mountain View Community Center 7:30 pm-11 pm Free Haunted Haight Walking Tour 201 S. Rengstorff Avenue, Mountain View Meets at Coffee To The People www.davekohr.users.sonic.net/svb Fanboy Planet Podcast 1206 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco Group meets regularly to play mostly German- Illusive Comics and Games www.hauntedhaight.com style strategy boardgames such as Settlers of 2725 El Camino Real, Suite 105, Santa Clara Reservations required. Catan; also multiplayer Avalon Hill-style, Live from Illusive Comics and Games, it’s the 7 pm-9 pm $20 historical wargames, and others. Fanboy Planet Podcast with your host, Derek 6:30 pm $2 McCaw. Fridays and Saturdays 6 pm Free Tuesdays Vampire Walking Tour Wednesdays and Saturdays Meets corner of California and Taylor, San MGI Boffers & Outdoor Games Francisco Codornices Park Hayward Collectibles Show www.sfvampiretour.com 1201 Euclid Ave, Berkeley 22300 Hathaway Ave (rear bldg), Hayward Led by Mina Harker. Tour is canceled if there is mgisciaf.angelfire.com www.toysandbaseballcards.com heavy rain. groups.yahoo.com/group/MGIFamilyclub Wednesdays 3 pm-8 pm and Saturdays 10 am-5 8 pm $20 Bad weather we meet the same time at 33 pm Free Revolutions Record Shop & Cafe, El Cerrito for boardgames. 3 pm-5:30 pm Free
33 Saturdays Monthly Foothill Anime Building 5015, Foothill College Rocky Horror Picture Show Dorkbot-SF Los Altos Hills Parkway Speakeasy Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotsf/ Monthly event where people can get together to Oakland Dorkbot hosts regular forums for artists, watch anime and meet like minded others. www.parkway-speakeasy.com designers, engineers, students, and other people Usually meets the first Sunday of every month Barely Legal Productions presents the classic doing strange things with electricity. at noon. midnight movie every Saturday night. No one Free, donations welcome 12 pm Free under 17 admitted. Midnight $7 East Bay Star Wars Club The Gay Men’s Book Club Central Perk Borderlands Books Biweekly 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito 866 Valencia, San Francisco 510-558-7375 Please contact Chris, the group leader, at PenSFA Party www.ebstarwars.com [email protected] for more information. The Peninsula Science Fantasy Association Meets the second Friday of every month. 5 pm Free meets every two weeks for a party at the home 7:30 pm Free of one of their members. They also host parties Legion of Rassilon at local conventions. Email East Bay Steampunk Giovanni’s Pizza [email protected] for information on Various locations (see website for details) 1127 N Lawrence Expy, Sunnyvale attending. www.steamfaire.com www.legionofrassilon.org PenSFA standard party rules: bring something Steampunk fans meet up on the third Friday of Doctor Who fan group usually meets the fourth edible or drinkable to share, or pay the host $2. the month Friday of the month: Episodes of Doctor Who, Don’t smoke in the house without checking 6 pm–8 pm Free news, discussion of recent movies, and a raffle. with the host first. Normal start time is 8 pm 7:30 pm Free but may vary depending on the host. Fantastic Frontiers www.freewebs.com/fantasticfrontiers/ Micro Gods, Inc. Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Group Social club for Sacramento County sci fi/ Berkeley Public Library, West Branch Borderlands Books fantasy fans usually meets the second Saturday 1125 University Ave, Berkeley 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco of the month. Check website for meeting times mgisciaf.angelfire.com Meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each and locations. groups.yahoo.com/group/MGIFamilyClub/ month at 6 pm. Contact Jade Livingston at Family Club for fans of Science Fiction, [email protected] for more information. Fantasy, Movie, Anime & Manga. Meets every 3rd Saturday, please check Yahoo group for updates. 2:30 pm-5:30 pm Free
34 No-Name Anime www.sfbrowncoats.com USS Augusta Ada Saratoga Library SF Firefly/Serenity fans usually meet up on the Round Table Pizza 13650 Saratoga Avenue second Saturday of the month. 3567 Geary Blvd, San Francisco Saratoga Noon Free trek.starshine.org www.nnanime.com Augusta Ada is both a chapter of Starfleet Anime screenings usually take place on the SF/SF Meetup International and a Linux and *BSD user second Saturday of the month. Mysterious Future Bookstore group. Usually meets the fourth Saturday of Free 531 Fifth Street, Santa Rosa every month. groups.yahoo.com/group/scifisantarosa/ 1 pm Free Other Realms Book Club Regular meetup for North Bay fans on the Books, Inc. second Sunday of the month. USS Defiance 1375 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame Round Table Pizza www.booksinc.net Silicon Gulch Browncoats 1566 Howe Ave, Sacramento Meets the 4th Wednesday of the Month. Various locations (see website for details) www.ussdefiance.org 6:30 pm Free www.silicongulchbrowncoats.org Star Trek fan group meets the third Friday of Silicon Valley fans of Firefly/Serenity meet up the month. Religion & SF Book Club on the first Saturday of the month. 7 pm Free First United Methodist Church Noon - 2 pm Free 1183 “B” Street, Hayward USS Northern Lights Meets the 4th Sunday of the month. Please South Bay Steampunk Contact [email protected] for location. contact Rev. Randy Smith at Various locations (see website for details) www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/4096/ [email protected] for more information. www.steamfaire.com The ’Lights is a chapter of Starfleet 7 pm Free Steampunk fans meet up on the second International and a swell group of science Thursday of the month fiction fans. We do more than Trek. Usually Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club 6 pm – 8 pm Free meets the second Friday of the month, with Borderlands Books social event TBD. 866 Valencia, San Francisco Tangential Conjectures: The Science Fiction 7 pm Free The book for March is Undertow by Elizabeth Book Club Bear.The Please contact Jude at Books Inc. Veritech Fighter Command ONE-THREE [email protected] for more 301 Castro Street, Mountain View Round Table Pizza information. 650-428-1234 4403 Elkhorn Blvd, Sacramento 6 pm Free Generally meets the third Thursday of the 916-338-2300 month. Anime/cosplay group usually meets the last SF Browncoats 7:30 pm Free Saturday of the month at 1800 hours. Cafe Murano 6 pm Free 1777 Steiner Street, San Francisco
35 Walrus Frieze photo by Lucy Huntzinger 36 Bay Area Fannish Calendar Ð March 2009
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
MGI SFF/H Writing BASFA MGI Boffers SV Boardgamers SF Games Rocky Horror Sakuramento Anime Dukefish BA Role-Playing Soc SV Boardgamers E.Bay Strategy Games
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Foothill Anime Watchmen Cartoon The Twilight Zone The Sting Swing Ball Art Museum Benefit Live: Season VI (thru Silicon Gulch Screening March 29) Browncoats
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Sac-Con SF in SF Double SF&F Writers’ Group Sonora Celtic Faire Robinson and Rollins Gay Men’s Book Club Feature, with author South Bay Steampunk East Bay Star Wars Fantastic Frontiers SF/SF Meetup James Morrow USS Northern Lights No-Name Anime Dorkbot-SF SF Browncoats
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Road Trip of Drunken Abney Park Tangential East Bay Steampunk Jonathan Thomas Fantasy Authors Conjectures USS Defiance Mark von Schlegell Author: S.G. Browne Micro Gods, Inc. SF/F Book Club
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Religion & SF Other Realms SF&F Writers’ Group Legion of Rassilon EndGame Minicon Scholes, Benson USS Augusta Ada Veritech Fighter Cmd 13
29 30 31 1 2 3 4 Jay Lake and Ken Scholes Write In-Store
Science Fiction/San Francisco #82 – March 11, 2009 SF/SF is the twice-monthly news zine for the San Francisco Bay Area – www.efanzines.com. 37 Bay Area Fannish Calendar Ð April 2009
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
MGI SFF/H Writing BASFA MGI Boffers SV Boardgamers SF Games Rocky Horror Sakuramento Anime Dukefish BA Role-Playing Soc SV Boardgamers E.Bay Strategy Games
29 30 31 1 2 3 4 Contact 25 (thru Sun) Girl Genius Victorian Mad Science Ball Silicon Gulch Browncoats
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Thrillville’s 12th USS Northern Lights No-Name Anime Anniversary Show SF Browncoats SF&F Writers’ Group South Bay Steampunk
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Gay Men’s Book Club Tangential USS Defiance Micro Gods, Inc. SF/SF Meetup Conjectures
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 SF/F Book Club Other Realms SF&F Writers’ Group Legion of Rassilon USS Augusta Ada Veritech Fighter Cmd 13
26 27 28 29 30 1 2 Religion & SF
Science Fiction/San Francisco #82 – March 11, 2009 SF/SF is the twice-monthly news zine for the San Francisco Bay Area – www.efanzines.com. 38