Nov. 2007 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE

PO Box 656, Washington, DC 20044 - (202) 232-3141 - Issue #212 - Nov. 2007 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: http://www.lambdasf.org/

The LSF Book Game Party and Potluck This will be a potluck event. Discussion Group hosted by Dan Homitz The host will provide non-alcoholic drinks but requests that everyone bring If you’re interested in lively Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 pm - ???? an entree, side dish, or dessert to share. discussions of F&SF books (with an Snacking and socializing 1 PM - Considering the timing, any leftover Hal- emphasis on elements of interest to the 2 PM. The first round of games will be- loween candy or other goodies are LBGT community), we invite you to join gin promptly at 2 PM. Dinner break, to welcomed! the LSF Book Discussion Group. Each share in the potluck, around 6 PM.. Again, if you plan to attend this month, we conduct fascinating round- NOTE: If you plan to attend LSF event or want more info, please e- table discussions of works by significant this LSF event or want more info, please mail me directly at [email protected] so I F&SF authors. e-mail me directly at [email protected] can send you the Evite invitation. The LSF Book Discussion so I can send you the Evite invitation. Please, let’s keep all further discussion Group generally meets on the 4th Thurs- Bring your favorite board, card, of this event in that forum (the Evite). day of every month, starting at 7:00 PM, or other portable game(s). However, you The Evite will also give you an at Peter & Rob’s home: 1425 “S” St., NW will have to convince others to join you opportunity to list the food item you plan -- for directions or more details, call 202- in the fun! The host also has a variety of to bring, to find carpooling/ride opportu- 483-6369. The next meeting, however, card, board, trivia, and other games to nities, etc. will be a combined Nov./Dec. meeting share. Allergy alert: The host has 2 and will be held on December 6th. Home of Dan Homitz dogs and 3 ferrets. The animals will be Here are the details on the next 5200 59th Avenue caged for the duration of the event. several book discussion meetings: Hyattsville, MD 20781 ΛΨΦ Dec. 6th - Stardust, by Neil Gaiman; 202-215-3937 moderator: Greg. Jan. 24th (back to the 4th Thursday New Year’s Eve Time: The doors will schedule) - Melusine, by Sarah Monette; Video Party open at 4:00 PM. The moderator: Rob. announced by Tanya Peltz potluck dinner and Feb. 28th - Rainbow’s End, by Vernor the videos will begin Vinge; moderator: Carl. ΛΨΦ Unwind your holiday stress in the 5:30 – 6:30 PM with movies and a potluck dinner at range. At 11:45 PM, November LSF Meeting Lambda Sci-Fi’s anuual New Year’s Eve the party turns into a Video Party. Here are the details on how private party (every- The next Lambda Sci-Fi meeting to join in on the fun! one invited), and we’ll toast in the new will be held on the Sunday, November year with champagne and sparkling 11th, at James Crutchfield’s apartment Where: The home of Tanya - 924 cider. (1414 17th St. NW, #413). The business Maryland Ave, NE, Washington, DC. What to Bring: Bring your favorite meeting will begin at 1:30 PM; and the For directions, see: genre DVDs and videos (science fiction, social meeting will begin at 2:00 PM. http://www.lambdasf.org/lsf/ fantasy, horror). Attendees will vote on Please bring some munchies or club/Tanya.html which movies will be shown at the party soft drinks, if you can. See you there! Date: Monday, Dec. 31, 2007 (continued on page 2)

WHAT'S INSIDE? October LSF Meeting Minutes (pg. 2); Gaylaxicon 2007 Review (pg. 3); Richard Valley (obituary - pg. 3); Socket (movie review - pg. 4); Frazetta Redux (book announcement - pg. 4); A Blast from the Past (book review - pg. 5);About Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians (pg. 6);Con Calendar (pg. 6) 1 October LSF Meeting ΛΨΦΛΨΦ Park on Saturday, 10/28/2007. Minutes A new Playstation III game taken by Scott called Eye of Judgment was described. TheLSF gaming party held out It’s classified as “augmented reality,” in Loudoun County, VA was well- with interaction/interface between cards Business portion of the meeting: attended, and everyone had lots of fun! played and the game system. As per the LSF by-laws, Rob Michael reported that his visit Michael picked up the DVD of issued a call for nominations for four to the newly opened Madame Toussaud the first season of Robot Chicken. LSF officer positions. Peter indicated Wax Museum was tasteless and unim- Rob said that he was not im- that he plans to run for LSF Membership pressive. He said that there were people pressed with the new Bionic Woman TV Coor-dinator again. Rob said that he will walking around amongst the wax statues series. Big Bang Theory is a good show run for Treasurer once again. Carl said trying to sell cameras. for geeks. [Ed. Note: Hey! Watch what that Jack advised him that he did not Have you seen the YouTube you say, Scott! I said it was a funny wish to pursue the position of Speaker. trailer for the Sweeney Todd movie star- show about geeks! I like it - as in: Rob nominated Theresa for the position ring Johnny Depp? It’s a musical horror “laugh out loud” like it.] There was of Speaker. Nominations will be closed tale about a mad barber whose victims general agreement that the new series at the end of the November LSF meeting. get chopped up into meat pies. Yummy! Journeyman is rather weak. It’s pre- Elections will be held at the December Rob advised everyone that dicted that Moonlight (aka “Forever- meeting. there is a new, longer trailer for the knight 2.0”) won’t last. Carl expressed interest in host- Golden Compass movie, which is slated Nichelle Nichols is appearing in ing a GLBT room party at the Dark- to be released in December. a recurring role on Heroes. overcon (Thanksgiving weekend, in Peter passed around the latest Battlestar Galactica: Razor Timonium, MD). The party will also pro- issue of Sigma, the newsletter of PAR- (made-for-TV movie, about the adven- mote Gay-laxicon 2008. SEC, the Pittsburgh-area sci-fi group. tures of the Pegasus) will be shown on Rob sheepishly passed around review November 24th. Social portion of the meeting: copies of genre books from Publish This December’s SciFi Channel A drunken Bacchanalian orgy America. December special will be Tin Man (based ensued. No, not really. Warren Rochelle will attend on Baum’s The Wizard of Oz). After a brief name circle to the March 2008 LSF meeting and do a There might be a direct-to- introduce everyone, there was much dis- reading. He has been published by a video Serenity II movie. ΛΨΦ cussion about Gaylaxicon 2007 in small press. Atlanta, which had been attended by Michael brought in a book several LSF members. Peter passed titled Creepy Crawls: A Horror Fiend’s New Year’s Eve around the program guide from the con. Travel Guide by Leon Marcelo. Video Party Peter said he enjoyed the media presence George Lucas has completed 40 continued at the con. One of the media guests was episodes of Clone Wars, a 3-D animated from page 1 the group that fan-produced Star Trek: series. Hidden Frontiers, which is now produc- It was noted that Cartoon ing a new series called Star Trek: Network is showing the original Astroboy (different concurrent “tracks”). It’s a Odyssey. episodes – cool episodes for 7-year- potluck meal, so bring along something Author David Gerrold is doing olds, but boring for adults. scrumptious to eat. We’re not pre- the 4th episode of fan-produced New Michael mentioned the unfor- assigning categories of what food to Voyages, a re-working of his rejected tunate passing of Richard Valley, one of bring, so everyone should just bring gay-themed ST:TNG script “Blood and the men behind Scarlet Street. [Ed. something from one (or more) of the Fire.” Note: See obituary elsewhere in this following “basic food groups”: appetiz- Peter mentioned that the issue.] ers (veggies, chips, etc.), a main course Wikipedia entry for Star Trek lists most, Rob reviewed the upcoming item (enough to serve at least 4-5 if not all, of the fan-produced Star Trek titles for the LSF book discussion group: people), dessert (of course!), and non- series. October – Tanya Huff’s Smoke and alcoholic drinks (both regular and diet). It was noted that approximately Ashes; November/December – Stardust 60 people have signed up for Gaylaxicon (Neil Gaiman’s original - some editions For more information, call 202-543-5293 2008 already. It was also announced illustrated by Charles Vess - not the or send email to: [email protected] that Gaylaxicon 2008 will be held at the novelization of the movie); January – ΛΨΦ Hyatt Regency Bethesda (atop the Sarah Monette’s Melusine.

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12345678901234567890 2 Gaylaxicon 2007 Review by Peter Knapp with friend actor/composer/music pro- ducer Bruce Kimmel, he had produced a CD, Jeepers Creepers! Great Songs from Horror Films, that featured Broadway and cabaret performers singing songs from films like The Blob, The Uninvited, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Scarlet Street had temporarily halted publication while Richard dealt with his illness. Another issue was in When I told my coworkers the planning stages at the time of his that I was going to Gaylaxicon, they death. Many of Valley’s friends and looked at me funny. For those not fa- associates are hoping to continue the miliar with fan-run conventions, many magazine in the future. people who go to them “have a life.” Richard Valley Valley had been a guest at a They don’t live in their mother’s base- 1949 - 2007 previous Gaylaxicon (and was hoping to ment and don’t know the names to appear at our next one) and for a long every episode of every incarnation of a remembrance by Mike Cornett time had been a fixture at various horror- Star Trek. The primary reason they go oriented conventions on the East Coast. is to have fun and socialize, which is Richard Valley, pioneering edi- Age slowed him down somewhat, but he exactly what I did. tor of the gay-slanted genre magazine was always a guest at Monster Bash in I see many people through Scarlet Street, died at about noon on Pittsburgh, which also served as a the SF convention circuit that I only Friday, October 12th, at the age of 58. He gathering/reunion for friends and fans see once or twice a year at conven- had cancer. who knew each other from the message tions. This year’s Gaylaxicon was no For over 15 years, Scarlet boards at the Scarlet Street website. exception. I reunited with people from Street, which covered the mystery and Richard Valley and I had been all over the North American continent, horror genres (with occasional forays good friends for many years. He and I from as far away as California and into sci-fi, fantasy, and superheroes), had our differences...he liked Universal, Canada. Of course, I also saw people angered a few but pleased many more I liked Hammer; he thought Orlando from LSF whom I almost never see in with its frank discussions of gay subtext Bloom was sexy, I preferred Karl Urban; DC! Hanging out with friends and in many classic genre films. he hated MST3K, I loved it; and we both getting cuddly with some of them was a Richard Valley and Scarlet detested Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! lot of fun. My only complaint is that Street were pioneers in gay fandom, with a passion...but in the end our much of the cuddling happened late at openly discussing GLBT content in films friendship was solid and strong. He night when I was really tired and had to ranging from What’s the Matter with gave me my first writing assignment, an go to bed and get enough sleep – yes Helen? and Bride of Frankenstein to interview with Val Lewton, Jr.; and it’s recommended that one get sleep at Horrors of the Black Museum and How although it was never used, it got me conventions – to be coherent at the to Make a Monster, at a time when many started doing DVD reviews elsewhere. It next morning’s panels. Next year I prominent critics and scholars of the was through him that I made many new want an afternoon tea that will facilitate horror genre overlooked or even denied friends who are now part of my extended midday cuddling! ;) such content. family. He was a unique, intelligent, Speaking of panels, I really Valley was a playwright for witty voice in fandom, and not merely a enjoyed the media portion of the many years, with comedies like Play by loss to me personally, but to many of his programming. I volunteered to be a Play and A Piece of Cake on his résumé. friends around the world. panelist on three Doctor Who-related He had recorded audio commentaries for Richard is survived by his panels. They were all a lot of fun, several DVD editions of the Basil mother and his partner of 26 years, Tom especially the 10:30 AM “Anything Rathbone/Sherlock Holmes films; and, Amorosi. That Moves: Torchwood and Captain Jack Harkness” panel. At 10:30 AM on a Sunday morning, I didn’t think anyone in the middle (which is where my opinion “Blood and Fire” episode of the web- would show either as a panelist or in the of the show lies). The audience also had based Star Trek: New Voyages audience. A large crowd showed up, and a lot of questions and opinions, which (www.startreknewvoyages.com), starring all my fellow panelists made it, which added to the lively discussion. Bobby Rice as Peter Kirk (Captain Kirk’s contributed to a lively discussion, as we Other media panels that I nephew) and Evan Fowler as Crewman each had a different opinion of the show: attended included a presentation by Freeman, his boyfriend. Both actors from loving it, to hating it, to somewhere David Gerrold about his upcoming (continued on page 4) 3 Socket Gaylaxicon 2007 Review a movie review continued from page 3 seven years. The pieces of the New by Peter Knapp Voyage and Odyssey episodes I saw appeared on stage with Gerrold, who engaged me enough to want to down- showed the audience a rough cut of the load full episodes of all the various fan love scene between the two characters. Trek shows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Afterwards the three had a Q&A session Star_Trek_fan_productions) and give with the audience. Rice admitted that them a try. Fowler had soft lips and good breath, a The weekend went by very very diplomatic response about what it quickly due to all the people to hang out was like as a heterosexual kissing a gay with, things to do, and sleep to catch up man. (Later on in the weekend I found on. I wish the convention had been out – though not based on personal longer. On a side note, Brian and I went experience – that Fowler is a good to the Georgia Aquarium kisser.) (www.georgiaaquarium.org) Friday af- Another fan-produced Star ternoon. It’s touted as “The World’s Trek series, Star Trek: Odyssey Largest and Most Engaging Aquarium.” (www.hiddenfrontier.org) also had a While I could argue that I’ve been more At Gaylaxicon 2007, I got a presence at the con. Because of a Doc- engaged by other aquariums (the Boston chance to see Socket, a gay horror film tor Who panel I was on, I missed most of and Baltimore aquariums come to mind), I that reminded me a lot of a David Cro- the first episode of Odyssey. The captain enjoyed the Atlanta aquarium a lot. I nenberg film. It deals with a surgeon, Bill of the Odyssey, a gay Bajoran played by recommend it highly. Matthews, who is hit by lightning. Bobby Rice, is on a long journey (think If you haven’t made plans to While recovering, he meets a hunky Homer’s Odyssey) to get home. He does- attend next year’s Gaylaxicon intern, Craig Murphy, who likewise has n’t know if his husband is still alive and (www.gaylaxicon2008.org) in Bethesda, been hit by lightning. Craig introduces waiting for him. MD over Columbus Day weekend Bill to a group of people addicted to elec- I have to admit I haven’t been a (October 10-13, 2008), I highly recom- tricity and uses the group to help him big fan of the fan-produced Star Trek. mend that you do. Gaylaxicons are a lot struggle with his own addiction. As with Early episodes of Star Trek; Hidden fun in general, and the people planning many addictions, things don’t go well. Frontier (Odyssey is the sequel show) next year’s con (myself included) intend I try very hard to look past were awful. But a lot has happened in to make it a memorable one! ΛΨΦ amateur elements of independent movies that make the gay film festival circuit. Frazetta Redux When there are too many, though, it’s info passed along difficult to enjoy the movie. Luckily, by Kendall P. Bullen Socket rises above the usual fare. For the most part, it is well acted, scripted, The self-professed Kendall and shot. The movie kept me interested “Frazetta Watch” Bullen has advised us and engaged for an hour and a half. I about a new book of the works of artist recommend it highly. Frank Frazetta. It’s called Frank Fra- By the way, I usually don’t get zetta: Rough Work (Underwood Books, queasy watching movies, but I had to 2007). leave this movie for a few minutes during For samples from the collection, a sequence when Bill tests a way of including sketches and other “rough juicing more organically than plugging a work,” go to: fork into an electrical outlet. The scene http://igallo.blogspot.com/2007/09/ was not gory or violent, but highly frank-frazetta-rough-work.html disturbing, as it showed him sinking to a There’s also a link to the book new low with his addiction. It was like at Amazon.com. ΛΨΦ watching a train wreck, and not in a good way. More information can be found at the production company’s website: http://darkbluefilms.com/projects.html Oh, did I mention that it has male frontal nudity, both in bed and in the shower?! ;) ΛΨΦ 4 A Blast from the Past sions. (1) Peter Bradford, a former coun- a short book review by Carl Cipra ty commissioner, is to become the Gov- ernor General of Heartland; he believes Amerika that this will be the first step in getting a novel by Brauna E. Pouns Soviet “advisors” out of North America from a screenplay by Donald Wrye – and, eventually, lead (at some unspeci- (Pocket Books, 1987) fied future date) to the reunification of the United States. (2) Devin Milford has just been released from a long stint in a Serendipity strikes again! Texas political detention camp and sent As you know, I’ve been travel- back to his Nebraska home as an ing a lot lately. Well, one weekend dur- “internal exile.” He ran an unsuccessful ing my 3-week sojourn in Kansas City, I independent campaign for the presi- dropped into a Salvation Army store dency in 1992 (in opposition to the while waiting for my clothes to dry at a Soviet-backed candidates) and was laundromat; and, of course, I quickly supposedly “hospitalized after a ner- hunted down the used books section of vous breakdown.” Milford is weakened the store. Lo and behold! – I ran across a by his experiences in the detention camp genuine “lost treasure.” It’s the noveli- but he remains a true patriot at heart – he zation of a 12-hour ABC mini-series: quickly becomes the unwilling focus of Amerika (which featured the talents of – so the boys in the Kremlin decided to anti-Soviet sentiments. (3) KGB Colonel Kris Kristofferson, Robert Urich, Sam take out their American rivals in one bold Andrei Denisov is second-in-command Neill, Mariel Hemingway, Christine Lahti, stroke and to utilize America’s agricul- of the Soviet occupation forces; he has and a host of others). I quite enjoyed the tural/industrial resources to bolster the developed a grudging respect for the 1987 mini-series; and, needless to say, I Soviet regime. American people and their former goals. picked up the paperback without a But what about American resis- He also knows a horrendous secret: moment’s hesitation. Oh-boy-oh-boy- tance? Yes, there was some – mainly in hard-liners have gained the upper hand oh-boy! mountainous regions in the West and in in the Kremlin, and they will not allow the The premise of the story is that Alaska. But, as for the rest... “[The U.S.A. to rise again. If the balkanization the United States has been taken over by Soviets] were offering peace. It was a of America is not achieved – and soon – the Soviet Union, and the Soviets intend sort of peace that the great majority of the planned withdrawal of Eastern Bloc to prevent the reassertion of their rival Americans—all those who wanted noth- forces will immediately be followed by superpower by balkanizing it into a ing more from their time on earth than to the nuclear devastation of most major number of loosely confederated, inde- preserve some fraction of the security American cities. All the pieces are in pendent nations. Quite a fascinating and comfort they’d known before— place; tensions are high; and the game premise, considering the actual turn of accepted with appalling ease.” Also, begins! events! I don’t seem to remember the sadly possible: a population whose will- What was originally designed mini-series ever really explaining how the to-resist had already been enervated by to be a dystopian warning has become a Soviets pulled it off. The “Prologue” of its own government, now led by col- fascinating study in alternate history. I the novelization, however, explains it laborators and quislings. quite enjoyed the original TV mini- quite handily: they detonated four gi- As the story opens, almost a series; and, yes, I quite enjoyed reading gantic nuclear weapons in the strato- decade later, the Soviets want to pull the novelization. Amerika – a blast from sphere above the U.S. and took out the their occupation forces out of America – the past; and an enjoyable read. ΛΨΦ highly-sophisticated American defense they’re needed to bolster an increasingly and communication systems with a vast shaky Soviet dominion within their own electromagnetic pulse (EMP). The U.S. lands – and they can’t afford to allow a Gaylaxicon President was given a choice: surrender revived American superpower to rebuild 2008 (and unilaterally disarm) or face certain itself after they leave. Hence, they plan annihilation. Then Soviet Bloc forces to eliminate the puppet U.S. Federal (thinly disguised as UN peacekeepers) Government and set up smaller regional moved in to “restore order.” Pretty nifty, “nations” that will never reunite. The says I. The Soviet motivation? They first to secede will be the agricultural realized that the U.S.-led arms race was Midwest – to be renamed “Heartland” – "Twenty years of fun!" bankrupting the Soviet Union, and with its capital at Omaha. unrest and uprisings had begun to pop And thus the stage is set. See the Con Calendar up here and there within the Soviet bloc Three men symbolize the novel’s ten- on page 6 for details. 5 * * INFORMATION ABOUT LAMBDA SCI-FI: DC AREA GAYLAXIANS * *

Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians (LSF) is an organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans- gendered (GLBT) people, and their friends who are interested in science fiction, fantasy, horror and related genres in all forms (SF/F/H). LSF’s primary goals are to have fun, to provide a community, and to: • promote SF/F/H, with particular attention to materials of interest to GLBT people and their friends; • provide forums for GLBT people and their friends to share their interest in SF/F/H; • promote the presence of GLBT elements within SF/F/H and within fandom; and • promote SF/F/H within the GLBT community. Annual membership fees are $10, for which you will receive an e-mailed this monthly newsletter and a membership directory. (Hard copies of the newsletter cost an additional $15 per year.) Newsletter submissions are always welcome. Meetings are usually held on the second Sunday of each month at a private residence. The next Lambda Sci-Fi meeting will be held on the Sunday, November 11th,at James Crutchfield’s apartment (1414 17th St. NW, #413). The business meeting will begin at 1:30 PM; and the social meeting will begin at 2:00 PM. Please bring some munchies or soft drinks, if you can. Hope to see you there! Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians is an affiliate ofthe Gaylactic Network, an international organization for gay people and their friends who are interested in science-fiction and fantasy.

Con Calendar by Carl Nov. 23-26, 2007DARKOVER GRAND COUNCIL MEETING. Holiday Inn Select Baltimore-North (Timonium, MD). "Avery GLBT-friendly con." Guest of Honor: Esther Friesner; Artist GoH: TBA; Special Guest: Katherine Kurtz. Membership: $45 until 11/1/2007; $50 thereafter & at the door. Make checks payable to "Armida Council" and send to: Armida Council, PO Box 7203, Silver Spring, MD 20907 Website: www.darkovercon.com Info at: [email protected]

Nov. 16-18, 2007PHILCON 2007. Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel (Phila., PA). Principal Speaker: Eric Flint; Artist GoH: Sue Dawe; Costuming Special Guest: Kevin Roche. Membership: $45 until 10/31/2007; $50 after that & at the door. Download PDF membership from their website. Website: WWW.PHILCON.ORG e-mail: [email protected]

August 6-10, 2008DENVENTION 3 (The 66thWorldCon). Colorado Convention Center & nearby hotels (Denver, CO). Guest of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold; Artist GoH: Rick Sternback. $130 thru 05/31/2007 (will go UP after that!). Make checks payable to "Denvention 3" and send to: Denvention 3, PO Box 1349, Denver, CO 80201 Website: http://denvention.org Information at: [email protected]
October 10-13, 2008 GAYLAXICON 2008. Hyatt Regency - Bethesda (Bethesda, MD). Guest of Honor: Geoff Ryman. Artist Guest of Honor: Alicia Austin. Download PDF membership form from the website. Membership: $60 until 12/31/2007; $65 from 01/01/2008; $70 after 09/30/2008. Make checks payable to "Gaylaxicon 2008" & send to: Gaylaxicon 2008, c/o Lambda Sci-Fi, PO Box 656, Washington, DC 20044- 0656. Membership can also be purchased on-line via PayPal. Information at: www.gaylaxicon2008.org

October 2009GAYLAXICON 2009. (Minneapolis, MN). Details to be announced as they are available.  Membership: $60 until 09/01/2009; then $70 until 10/01/2009; $80 at the door. Make checks payable to "Gaylaxicon 2009" and send to: Gaylaxicon 2009, P.O. Box 2412, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Website: www.gaylacticnetwork.org/gaylaxicon2009

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