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Brum Group News the Monthly Newsletter of the BIRMINGHAM SCIENCE FICTION GROUP AUGUST 2020 Issue 587 Honorary President: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

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Brum Group News the Monthly Newsletter of the BIRMINGHAM SCIENCE FICTION GROUP AUGUST 2020 Issue 587 Honorary President: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST Brum Group News The Monthly Newsletter of the BIRMINGHAM SCIENCE FICTION GROUP AUGUST 2020 Issue 587 Honorary President: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST Committee: Carol Goodwin (Chair); Pat Brown (Treasurer); Dave Corby (secretary); Theresa Derwin (Publicity Officer); Carol Goodwin (Newsletter Editor); Ian Morley (Membership Secretary); Novacon 50 Chair: Alice Lawson & Tony Berry website: Email: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk/ [email protected] Facebook: Twitter: www.facebook.com/groups/BirminghamSFGroup/ @BirminghamSF BSFG Meetings cancelled Editorial: I hope everyone is still staying safe and well. I’m sure I’m not the only one who did not imagine how wide-ranging and long- lasting this disruption was going to be. Unfortunately, it still seems unsafe for us to hold meetings in person. I’m certain I’m not the only one who would love to meet up more with people but is also still very cautious and wary. I’m still not going far afield, and apart from a few garden meet-ups have only seen my husband and son in person for months. I was wondering how other people’s lives have changed and what they have found to occupy their time or to replace their normal activities. For example, I now use the telephone far less and use WhatsApp or Zoom for talking to people as it feels more of a connection than the voice-only aspect of telephoning. Perhaps it might be something that people could write about – eg are you reading more or less or differently? Have you found something you really like or recommend? Has anyone started a new project or activity – it doesn’t necessarily need to be SFF, just something you think we might like to hear about. As we are unable to run meetings, I do think it’s important and helpful to try and keep up some form of contact. I’ve really appreciated those who have contributed over the last few months in particular. I certainly hope they and others continue to do so. They do make the newsletter and social media more varied and interesting. Keeping in contact doesn’t mean only via the newsletter (though personally I appreciate that) and doesn’t need to be long – it can also be an email or posting something on social media. Have a think and hope to hear from some of you soon. CG The Full Glass Bushell by Bob Shaw This may be of interest to some members. Dave Langford has put together a collection of non-fiction articles by Bob Shaw, titled THE FULL GLASS BUSHEL. It is available as a free download at https://taff.org.uk/ebooks.php?x=Bushel although a donation to TAFF would be much appreciated. Also, if anyone who enjoys it wants to write a review, then I’m sure this would be welcomed by Dave. CG HUGO AWARDS 2020 The 2019 Hugo Award winners were announced on August 1st. The ceremony was held online at Worldcon 77 (CoNZealand). Best Novel: A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE by Arkady Martine (Tor) Best Novella: THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone (Jo Fletcher Books) Best Novelette: "Emergency Skin" by N K Jemisin (Forward Collection (Amazon)) Best Short Story: “As the Last I May Know” by S L Huang (Tor.com 23/10/19) Best Series: The Expanse by James S A Corey (Orbit) 2 Best Related Work: “2019 John W Campbell Award Acceptance Speech” by Jeannette Ng (at Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon) Best Graphic Story: LaGuardia written by Nnedi Okorafor, art by Tana Ford, colours by James Devlin (Dark Horse) Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form): Good Omens Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form): "The Answer" from The Good Place. Best Professional Editor - Short Form: Ellen Datlow Best Professional Editor - Long Form: Navah Wolfe Best Professional Artist: John Picacio Best Semiprozine: Uncanny Magazine Best Fanzine: The Book Smugglers editors Ana Grilo & Thea James Best Fancast: Our Opinions Are Correct presented by Annalee Newitz & Charlie Jane Anders Best Fan Writer: Bogi Takács Best Fan Artist: Elise Matthesen Astounding Award for Best New Writer (not a Hugo): R F Kuang Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book (not a Hugo): CATFISHING ON CATNET by Naomi Kritzer (Tor Teen) THE 1945 RETRO HUGO AWARDS The winners of the 1945 Retro Hugo Awards (for works published in 1944) were also announced at Worldcon 78. These were: Best Novel: SHADOW OVER MARS (The Nemesis from Terra) by Leigh Brackett (Startling Stories, Autumn 1944) Best Novella: KILLDOZER! by Theodore Sturgeon (Astounding Science-Fiction, November 1944) Best Novelette: "City" by Clifford D Simak (Astounding Science- Fiction, May 1944) Best Short Story: "I, Rocket" by Ray Bradbury (Amazing Stories (May 1944) Best Series: The Cthulhu Mythos by H P Lovecraft, August Derleth and Others Best Related Work: “The Science-Fiction Field” by Leigh Brackett (Writer’s Digest, July 1944) 3 Best Graphic Story or Comic: “Superman: The Mysterious Mr Mxyztplk” by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster (Detective Comics Inc) Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) - Tied: THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, screenplay by Edwin Blum, from a story by Oscar Wilde (MGM) THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE written by DeWitt Bodeen (RJO Radio Pictures) Best Editor - Short Form: John W Campbell Best Professional Artist: Margaret Brundage Best Fanzine: Voice of the Imagi-Nation edited by Forrest J Ackerman & Myrtle R Douglas Best Fan Writer: Fritz Leiber WORLD FANTASY AWARDS SHORTLIST The shortlists for the World Fantasy Awards have been published. The nominees for Best Novel are given below. Full details at https://tinyurl.com/yyoqbfjg: QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED by Kacen Callender (Orbit US) THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY by Alix E Harrow (Orbit UK) THE RAVEN TOWER by Ann Leckie (Orbit UK) GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com Publishing) THE MEMORY POLICE by Yoko Ogawa (Harvill Secker) FORTHCOMING EVENTS All details are correct to the best of our knowledge, we advise contacting organizers before travelling. Any information about forthcoming SF/Fantasy/Horror events is always welcome – please send to Carol at [email protected] EVENT HORIZON, Online, 10th August. Jane Yolen, Jo Walton, Rachel Plummer, Ada Palmer Reunion. Readings/Chat with live audience Q&A. On Zoom/YouTube. Free tickets from www.shorelineofinfinity.com BRENT WEEKS & JOE ABERCROMBIE, 11th August. Fantasy authors in conversation with live Q&A. 8pm. Free. Register at ow.ly/zimC50AKvE3 4 THE ART OF REMOTE OBSERVING, 19th August. Online lecture. Hosted by Go Space Watch. Astronomer Pete Williamson talks about how to gain access to telescopes/observatories across the world. 7:30 – 9:30 pm. £3. www.facebook.com/events/309606006891420/ EVENT HORIZON, Online, 20th August. “Literary RPG’s” With Taran Matharu, Jay Boyce, Russell Jones, Jonathan Smidt. On Zoom/YouTube. Free tickets from www.shorelineofinfinity.com SUPER RELAXED FANTASY CLUB, Online. Showing videos of author interviews, readings etc daily at midday. At www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8uMELmpiOVLik40s8y5vA/ LONDON FIRST THURSDAY SFF GROUP, Online. Virtual first Thursday. Details at https://medium.com/@BohemianCoast/first-thursday- london-sf-fan-virtual-drinks-5232021e961f ORBIT LIVE, Online. Various events at www.orbitbooks.net/ NEWS IN BRIEF .... Character actor Maurice Roëves has died. Although not a lead actor, his face will be familiar to many SFF fans. He appeared in many SFF productions; he was in Doomwatch, Dr Who (“The Caves of Androzani”) and as a Romulan in Star Trek Next Generation. He was also in SFF films such as OUTLAND and JUDGE DREDD …. StokerconUK (which has been re-scheduled twice due to Coronavirus), a horror convention has been re-named Chillercon (with an accompanying website change). The 2021 Stokercon has reverted to the US and so Chillercon will no longer host the Bram Stoker Awards or the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference …. A CoNZealand Fringe programme, “a project of many genre fiction fan communities” (non- affiliated to the WorldCon) was broadcast free on YouTube over the WorldCon weekend. It featured SFF authors, other creators and 5 fans eg Gareth Powell, Jeannette Ng, Mike Carey etc. The broadcast times were at “European-Friendly” times and outside of core CoNZealand programming hours. The various panels are still available to watch at www.conzealandfringe.com/. CG CONZEALAND (WORLDCON) NEWS The first “virtual” WorldCon, CoNZealand took place on the 1st weekend in August. The saving on travel and hotel expenses, and of access issues was popular and it appears that some form of digital access will be popular when conventions resume “in person” …. CoNZealand was criticised before it began for not offering programming or panel opportunities to many of its finalists (especially POC) and also providing contradictory information about membership requirements. An Open letter signed by many of those affected was sent (http://file770.com/group-sends-letter-of-concern-to- conzealand-programming/ ) …. There were also complaints about the lack of New Zealand content, especially any presence at the Hugo Awards ceremony …. Chicago was voted in as the site of the 2022 Worldcon. It received 517 of 587 votes. It was opposed by Jeddicon, a bid from Saudi Arabia. A group of SF professionals and fans had written an open letter opposing the Saudi bid, given its human rights record and that it would be unsafe for many people to attend because of their gender, sexuality, nationality or religious beliefs”. The Saudi bid has announced that they intend to re-apply for 2026. There is also disquiet in some quarters that Chengdu (in China) is applying for 2023, given the current problems with Hong Kong and China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims. As things stand, the only mechanism to stop a bid is if they do not meet the “minimum technical requirements” regarding a suitable venue and finances ….
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