Volume 21, Issue 3 June / July 2011 FREE

ConNotationsThe Bi-Monthly , & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society A Conversation with Featured Inside Regular Features Jonathanby Chris ThomasPaige Special Features Interview with SF Tube Talk A Conversation with Jonathan Thomas All the latest news about Jonathan Thomas Author of Tempting Scienc Fiction TV shows by Chris Paige Providence and by Lee Whiteside Other Stories Farewell Jonathan Thomas’s 24 Frames It’s the very nearly 50th story “Tempting All the lastest genre movie news Anniversary of Providence” is by Jeffrey Lu Rocky the Flying Squirrel and included in Black Bullwinkle J. Moose - Part 13 Wings: New Tales of Lovecraftian Pro Notes By Shane Shellenbarger Horror, edited News about by S.T. Joshi genre authors and fans An Evening with and nominated Stephen Hawking for the 2010 by Jeffrey Lu Shirley Jackson ConClusion Edited Anthology News and Reviews An Amercan on the Award. Jonathan of SF/F conventions and Joshi were Iberian Peninsula among the dozens by Jeffrey Lu of professional Costume Closet Lovecraftians at Articles Covering Topics of Plus MythosCon last interest in the constuming field January in Phoenix. © Jonathan Thomas Between panels FYI and mass book Screening Room Reviews of current theatrical releases News and tidbits of interest to fans signings, we managed to squeeze by Milt Gross, A Is for Alien by in this interview. Jonathan is also Caitlín R. Kiernan, Stealing God’s In Our Book CASFS Business Report a musician who likes to hit things, Thunder by Philip Dray, Mariah Reviews of New SF/F Books percussive instruments by choice, of the Spirits by Sherry Austin, Club Listings but keyboards will do. The Big Town by Ring Lardner, Convention List & The Weird Tale by S.T. Joshi, The CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT CP: What are some of the titles on Adventures and Misdaventures Generic Registration Form your bookshelves? of Maqroll by Álvaro Mutis, JT: Skipping around at random? The Lottery and Other Stories www.casfs.org/ConNotations/Index-CN.html The Best of Myles by Flann by Shirley Jackson, Egil’s Saga O’Brien, Madman’s Drum by translated by Hermann Pálsson and For current movie reviews on opening day and additonal original Lynd Ward, The House on the Paul Edwards, Greeks, Romans online content in between print issues including additional BOOK Borderland by William Hope and Barbarians by Barry Cunliffe, and VIDEO reviews posted on the 15th of February, April, June, Hodgson, The Lady in the Lake August, October and December

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Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue News & Reviews Who is Who in this Issue SF Tube Talk 3 BOOK STORES GAME STORES 24 Frames 5 Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bards Books Game Daze #1: Paradise Valley Mall, Pro Notes 6 Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty 3508 N. 7th St,Ste. 145, Phoenix, AZ 4550 E. Cactus Rd, #422, Phoenix AZ Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer FYI 8 Film Editor: Craig L Dyer 85014 (602)274-7530 85032 (602)494-4263 ConClusion 9 Book Gallery Game Daze #2 Superstition Springs Film Critic: Bob LaPierre Screening Room 10 Promotions Directors: Len Berger, Rich- 3643 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ Center, 6555 E. Southern Ave #2026, Costume Closet 12 ard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer 85018 (602)468-0400 Mesa AZ 85206 (480)981-4850 In Our Book (Book Reviews) 13 Advertising: Catherine Book 50 W. Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Game Daze #4 Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Proof Readers: Catherine Book, Bob (480) 835-0757 Oracle Rd, #263, Tucson, AZ 85705 Special Features LaPierre & Gary Swaty Book Krazy (520) 293-7940 Reporters: Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey Lu A Conversation with Jonathan Thomas Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Nadine Arm- 1601E Bell #4-5, Phoenix , AZ 85022 Game Daze #5 Park Place Mall, 5870 by Chris Paige 1 strong, Stephanie L Bannon, Catherine (602)867-1018 E. Broadway Blvd #258, Tucson, AZ An Evening with Stephen Hawking Book, Shane Bryner, Craig L. Dyer, M.L. Bookmans 85711 (520)745-0468 by Jeffrey Lu 6 Fringe, Michael Griffin, Bob LaPierre, 1056 S. Country Club, Mesa, AZ 85210 Game Daze #6 Chandler Fashion Mall, An American in the Iberian Peninsula Jeffrey Lu, Christina Paige, Shane Shel- (480) 835-0505 3111 W. 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Page 2 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 Almost People, the second half of determined to run the civilization (FOX) based on the IDW comic SF Tube Talk a story begun in The Rebel Flesh in a democratic way, but some created by Joe Hill (set in Maine), in which and company tough decisions in the past may Charlie’s Angels (ABC), Once TV News & Previews come across a doppleganger/ prove divisive. The series opens Upon a Time (ABC) about a small By Lee Whiteside clone work force that starts to go as they’ve lost contact with Earth town in Maine where fairy tales awry. Ending the first block of and the final transport arrives with may be real, Poe (ABC) which is a First of all, I’d like to say a few the season is A Good Man Goes Julius Berger (Eric Mabius) and period drama with Edgar Allen Poe words about Elisabeth Sladen, to War which brings back River Expeditionaries Mitchell (Jamie as a detective in 1840’s Boston, Sarah Jane Smith on , Song, Cybermen, Sontarrans and Bamber) and Jack (Ashley Secret Circle (CW) based on the who passed away from cancer likely the Slience. In the Radio Walters) go on a mission to books by L. J. Smith about a teen on April 19 at the age of 65. As Time series preview, Steven Moffat explore the new planet and find who moves to New Salem, Maine, many have noted elsewhere, she wrote this about the episode “Want what resources there are and if and discovers she’s from a family was the companion that was most to find the most dangerous place there is other life. BBC America of witches, and Awakening (CW) remembered from the early years in the universe? Easy. Harm a hair will also start airing repeats of about two sisters who come of age of Doctor Who and when the show on Amy’s head and just wait. But the Battlestar Galactica remake during a Zombie uprising. was revived in 2005, she was also as the last of the Time Lords and originally seen on SciFi (which Debuting on TNT on Sunday the first classic companion to be the Lone Centurion blaze across BBC America definitely seems to June 19th is Falling Skies, a new seen in the new series, appearing galaxies to save the woman in both be making a claim for best Science series from Dreamworks and with David Tennant in the School their lives, history is unfolding. In Fiction cable channel). executive produced by Steven Reunion episode in 2006. When I her cell, in Stormcage, River Song As of press time, the fall season Spielberg. The series opens six last saw Elisabeth in person, it was knows the time has come at last. plans for the broadcast networks months after a devastating alien at Gallifrey One in 2005, shortly She has a secret, and this is the day have not yet been announced, but attack that has decimated most of before the new series debuted. she tells it. The battle of Demons a few shows have been renewed the world’s civilization. The few When the subject came up about Run has begun. And the Doctor’s in advance of the Up Fronts. survivors have banded together in whether the new series might bring darkest hour is now.” Needless to FOX has picked up Fringe for a pockets of resistance to fight back back some of the companions say, after that episode, Who fans full season order of 22 episodes, against the invaders and protect from the earlier years, she was will be eagerly anticipating the while the CW has green lighted the survivors. It stars Noah Wyle very appreciative that fans would return of the series in the fall. additional seasons of The as Tom Mason, a Boston history want to see her in the role of Sarah But, it will be a shorter wait Diaries and Supernatural. Up in professor who lost his wife in the Jane Smith again, but didn’t think for more Whoniverse action, with the air are Chuck, The Event, No initial attack and has one of his they’d ask her. Of course, she : Miracle Day debuting Ordinary Family, V, and Nikita. three sons taken captive by the may have already known she was on the BBC in the UK and on Starz New series hoping to be picked up aliens. He is second in command coming back, but she didn’t let on in the US on July 8th. There’s not include Wonder Woman (NBC) of the 2nd Massachusetts regiment if she knew anything. And come been much specific information which is a modern take on the of freedom fighters, putting his back she did! Not only did old and about the series released beyond Wonder Woman mythos with knowledge of military history to new fans respond to the return of the main premise: One day, no David E. Kelley producing, 17th use as they work to find a way her character, but the Children’s one on Earth dies, and it continues Precinct (NBC) about a precinct in to outsmart the invaders. Moon BBC commissioned a series of to be like that going forward. an alternate San Francisco where Bloodgood stars as Glass, The Sarah Jane Adventures which Returning in the starring roles magic rules over science (created a pediatrician working with the became the highest rated children’s are John Barrowman as Captain by Ronald D. Moore), Grimm surviving children, Will Patton show for the BBC. It ended up and Eve Myles (NBC) where fairy tale creatures is Weaver, Tom’s commanding having Sarah Jane meet up with as Gwen Cooper along with Kai live among us, Locke and Key the Tenth Doctor one more time (Cont’d on page 4 ) as well as Matt Smith’s Eleventh Owen as Rhys Williams and Tom Doctor. We also got to see The Price as PC Andy. New to the Brigadier one last time (Nicholas series are Mekhi Phifer as Rex Courtney passed away in Matheson, a CIA agent who is February at the age of 81) as well investigating the “Miracle” and as the return of Jo Grant (Katie associated conspiracy and tracks Manning). The series is a fun down information on Torchwood. series, that holds up well for older Bill Pullman is Oswald Danes, a viewers and harkens back to the former school teacher and child early days of Doctor Who. Four killer sentenced to death that, series have been aired so far with you guessed it, doesn’t die when six unaired episodes filmed for he is executed, making him a series five before Sladen’s death celebrity. Alexa Havins is Esther that will be aired by the BBC later Drummond, a deskbound CIA in the year. The first series was agent dreaming of active duty broadcast in the US on SciFi, but that gets more than she imagined the later series are only available when she runs into Jack Harkness via DVD in the US. Her Doctor and tries to keep up with him Who stories with Jon Pertwee and and Gwen. Other actors guest Tom Baker, in combination with starring include Ernie Hudson, her appearances in the new series John de Lancie, Wayne Knight, and The Sarah Jane Adventures, C. Thomas Howell, Lauren has left old and new fans with Ambrose, Arlene Tur, and Lena plenty of adventures to remember Kaur. Writing episodes will be her by. Russell T Davies, John Shiban, The return of Doctor Who Doris Egan, Jane Espenson and to television screens in the UK, John Fay. At the Gallifrey One US and Canada on the same day convention in February, Espenson has led to record ratings on this and Egan were both excited about side of the pond, leaving a lot of working on the series and thought fans wondering about what’s to it was some of the best work come in the rest of the season. As they’ve done. After Doctor Who’s mentioned previously, this year’s first half ends, BBC America season is being split into two parts, will debut Outcasts as the next with seven episodes airing in the new series in their Supernatural spring, and the remaining six airing Saturdays. It focuses on a group in the fall with a game changing of colonists who have started the cliffhanger promised for episode colony of Forthaven on Carpathia seven, which will air in the UK on as Earth has been abandoned by June 4 and in the US June 11 (BBC the human race. Led by President America is skipping Memorial Tate (Liam Cunningham) and Day weekend, thus putting the his core team of Stella (Hermione US a week behind the UK). The Norris), Cass (Daniel Mays) and first weekend in June will see The Fleur (Amy Manson), they’re Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk (Emily Rose) “must not only stay were Angry Red Planet and The the house, in the 1940s I guess, for ( Cont’d from page 3 ) on top of Haven’s many afflictions Mysterians, and she read me the last surviving veteran of the -which continue to be revealed The Island of Dr. Moreau as a Spanish-American War in the area. officer, Drew Ray is Hal, Tom’s in every episode - but also solve bedtime story. And before I was I was 8 or 9 at the time, and I recall oldest son, Connor Jessup is Ben, her most challenging case yet: the in first grade, my old man tried being suspicious immediately. A Tom’s captured son, Seychelle secret of her own lost past and its convincing me was hiding little weirded out. Other things had Gabriel is Lourdes, an orphaned ties to Haven.” somewhere upstairs in our house. already happened before. teen who helps Alice in her Syfy will also have more His idea of a joke, I guess. I don’t makeshift clinic. TNT’s press Saturday night movies, including know what they were thinking; CP: Such as? release describes the show as “ a Red Faction: Origins (June 4) with maybe they wanted to encourage JT: Well, this is turning into tale of endurance, commitment Robert Partick, Brian J. Smith, my imagination. I did have some Chinese boxes. As I said, my dad and courage in which everyday and Kate Vernon, Ice Road Terror spectacular nightmares, a few of told me about Dracula when I people are called upon to become (June 11) with Michael Hogan which I can still remember. was very little, like 3 years old: heroes. The series focuses on the and Brea Grant, Swamp Shark “You’re okay during the day but resilience of the survivors and their (June 25) with Kristy Swanson, CP: Your stories are in the vampires come out at night.” And determination to maintain their D.B. Sweeney and Robert Davi, mythos, aren’t they? then he’d let me stay up to watch humanity when all else has been Age of Dragons (July) starring JT: Actually, no. The title story is Thriller, so I’d be watching an destroyed. It also explores the ties Danny Glover in a reimagining a kind of sequel or riff on “Haunter old guy with a rooster claw attack that bind people together in the of Moby Dick with dragons, and of the Dark” by Lovecraft; it people, just before it was time most difficult of circumstances, as Super Eruption (July) with Juliet appeared in the first Black Wings to go to bed. My mother had an well as the potential for humans Aubrey and Richard Burgi. volume initially. The others are not awful time dragging me upstairs, to turn on each other when the Reality series include more Ghost so much in the mythos; they stand and it complicated matters when struggle to survive threatens to Hunters International, Hollywood alone, but after yesterday’s panel they tried to get me to move into give way to desperation. Through Treasure, and the debut of I have to think twice before I say the spare room up there. I was it all, there are moments of joy and Haunted Collector and Legend whether something is Lovecraftian sure that’s where Dracula had to happiness, including birthdays, Quest. or not. be – process of elimination. That births, humor, romance and was the spookiest room with the friendship. The survivors may be CP: How did you discover old four-poster bed, funny angles outmatched, outnumbered and A Conversation outgunned, but nothing can beat Lovecraft? in the ceiling, and closets. It turned ( Cont’d from page 1 ) JT: Through a very common out my mother was pregnant again, the human spirit.” route, shared by many people at although I didn’t know at the time Over on Syfy, Monday nights Lectures in America by Gertrude this convention, of being twelve that was the reason for the room have become the night for their Stein, The Banquet Years by Roger or thirteen and finding the Lancer change. One evening I was sitting surviving drama series. Stargate Shattuck, Collected Ghost Stories paperback edition of The Colour on my mother’s lap one night, after Universe just ended its run and by M.R. James, The Invention of Out of Space and Other Stories, my bath, and she was trimming my Sanctuary was moved from Clouds by Richard Hamblyn, Food with a flaming skull on the cover, nails. I was around 3 or 4 years old, Fridays to Mondays at very short for the Dead by Michael E. Bell... which is a perfect lodestone. not long after the Dracula business. notice (and resulting ratings Suddenly I looked up and I saw following Stargate Universe CP: I’m holding your book, CP: Sounds irresistible if you’re a what looked like a mass of little do not bode well for the series). Tempting Providence and Other twelve year old. smoke trails, like feathers almost, Returning to the channel on Stories. As in Providence, Rhode JT: Oh, yeah! kind of vaguely person-shaped, Monday July 11th will be Island? but small, and slowly drifting into Eureka and Warehouse 13 plus JT: Yes, which is where I’m CP: After the Lancer paperback, my bedroom. I didn’t panic or the debut of their new drama from. I was born in Providence what was your next encounter with anything. I just said, “Look at that! series, Alphas. Alphas follows at The Lying In, which is same Lovecraft? Look at that!” My mother either a team of ordinary citizens with hospital Lovecraft was born in, JT: When I was a senior at didn’t see it or pretended not to see extraordinary mental and physical many, many decades earlier. The Woonsocket High School, I was it. It never manifested itself again, abilities. Taking the law into their official name was the Providence reading science fiction and not but later I learned that my mother own hands, the unlikely team, Lying-In Hospital (now the rather much else. Mrs. O’Brien, who had been pregnant and right about led by Dr. Lee Rosen (David less interesting Women & Infants lived next door, was friends with then had had a late miscarriage or Strathairn) investigates cases Hospital). “Lying In” had been a Barton Levi St. Armand, who was a stillbirth. And that’s the room my that suggest other Alpha activity term for maternity hospitals since teaching at Brown. She introduced little brother would have gone to, to uncover what the CIA, FBI the mid-1700s at least, but seems us, he helped me get into Brown, and that’s why they were trying to and Pentagon have not been able, to have fallen into disuse. But and I took a lot of different classes put me in the spare room. or willing, to solve. These gifted for some reason I’ll never quite with him. He was one of the earlier individuals must balance their understand I had to grow up in Lovecraft scholars. He taught CP: What else shaped your quirky personalities and disparate some place called Woonsocket. a wonderful course in Gothic writing of horror? backgrounds with their not always By college age I was back in Fiction. It was about that time JT: Television. Back then there visible powers as they work to Providence. that I began rereading Lovecraft’s were only a few channels, and solve crimes, stop the ticking time stories. There was kind of a schizy network shows were on mostly in bomb and catch the enemy. Also CP: You attended Brown relationship between Brown and the early evening; they had to fill starring are Azita Ghanizada as University. What did you do after Lovecraft at that point. I would up a lot of hours somehow. Rachel Myers, Laura Mennell graduating? stand in line to enroll in a writing as Nina Theroux, Malik Yoba as JT: I worked in Providence for class and hear people behind me CP: Shows like The Twilight Bill Harken, Ryan Cartwright as a while. Then I got married, quit just bad-mouthing Lovecraft no Zone? Gary Bell, and Warren Christie my secure job, and moved to end. JT: Not only that but old movies as Christian Hicks. Eureka returns New York, because that’s where – I watched a lot of silent films, for the back half of season four my wife, Angel, was. As soon as CP: What drew you to horror black-and-white films. Vincent (technically season 4.5) and I got there, she began remarking literature? Price, all that stuff. And there follows on from the first half of how she really wanted to get out JT: Growing up in a haunted was a lot of 1950s psychotronic the season continuing to deal with – she’d been there too long. We house. trash. It’s not like anybody was the after effects of the timeline finally tried to let the cat decide that particular. You were just as changes. Expect to see more of our destination. We dropped the CP: Are you serious? likely to see Teenagers from Outer Wil Wheaton as Dr. Isaac Parrish, cat on a map; the cat seemed to JT: I’d say it was haunted, yeah. Space as The Raven. But critical with Felecia Day appearing as Dr. be picking Winston-Salem. “Oh, standards at that age aren’t really Holly Marten and Aaron Douglas no, we can’t move there; it’s too CP: How did things manifest? up to preferring one over the other, as Ray Darlton. Also expect to see hot.” So we ended up back in JT: Lot of the usual “haunted so it was fine. an appearance by Stan Lee at some Providence. Yankee” business. Lights coming point. On Warehouse 13, joining on when nobody was near the CP: When you write horror, what the cast will be Aaron Ashmore CP: Why write horror? Is it anger switch. And I remember hearing are you trying to convey? There as Steve Jinks, an ATF agent with management, lurid imagination, piano music from the cellar once, was that discussion earlier about an innate ability to detect when some other lure? and there was no piano in the the sense of awe versus slasher someone’s lying. Returning to JT: I think my folks unwittingly cellar. violence. Friday nights after Wrestling on primed me for horror as a “career” JT: It depends on the story. I July 15th will be Haven, for which choice. The first movies I can CP: Any likely explanation? in season two Audrey Parker recall my mother taking me to JT: There had been a funeral in (Cont’d on page 5) Page 4 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 A Conversation one of these really weird and Armie Hammer and Frances Judy Moody and the Not Bummer (Cont’d from page 4) obscure recordings. It’s also about cDormand are in the film. Date: Summer (Comedy) Relativity the fall of a civilization, the end of Summer 2012. Super-8 (Sci-fi) Paramount always try to soft-pedal the gore or a more socially responsible era. X-Men 4 and 5 are being violence, unless it really is integral. developed. Friday, June 17 A certain amount of sex, which CP: In your stories, in your stand “Monsters, Inc 2” will be Green Lantern [in 3D] (Action/ is also integral, if it’s something alones, do you have any favorite pushed back to date of release in Adventure) Warner Brothers this character would actually be characters? June 21, 2013. Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Family doing, or how the character was JT: I actually haven’t recycled “Tron 3” is in development. Comedy) Fox using sex. S.T. [Joshi] refers to it as any characters yet. Although I just “Bill and Ted 3” script is cumulative horror. Though, going finished a novel in Lovecraftian finished. Date of release: unknown. Friday, June 24 back to films, it is more a matter of vein that contains a minor Peter Jackson will be directing Cars 2 (Animation) Buena Vista cultivating atmosphere and actually character from Lovecraft that I “The Hobbit.” He is using 48 leading you into something, not think one could do a whole lot frames per second in order to make Friday July 1 just chucking something in your more with, so I’m bringing this the film more clear and smooth. Transformers: Dark of the face. character back in a short story. “The Magician’s Nephew” is Moon (Sci-fi action) Paramount/ the next Narnia film. Dreamworks CP: The brain chemistry of CP: What are your latest writings? “The Crow” remake will be excitement is similar, whether it’s JT: I’m very happy to say that I by Juan Carlos Fresnadollo as Friday, July 8 terror, arousal, or laughter. Do you just finished a novel, The Color director. Relative Media plans to Zookeeper (Family- Talking deliberately use humor to ratchet Over Occam, which will be have this out in March 30, 2012. Animal, Live Action) Sony/ up the readers’ energy level before published by Bloodletting Press. “Jack the Giant Killer” in 3D on Columbia hitting them with the horror? The short story is called “The June 15, 2012. JT: I think I use it more as a wild King of Cat Swamp” and will “Clash of the Titans 2” in 3D on Friday, July 15 card before playing up the horror. be included in Black Wings 2. March 30, 2012. Harry Potter and the Deathly And I’m writing a novella, titled “Child’s Play” remake by Hallows [Part Two in 3D] CP: What is the most horrific “Pictures of Lily,” after the song by MGM. Release date: unknown. (Fantasy) Warner Brothers scenario you will NOT use in a The Who. Paramount Pictures developing Winnie the Pooh (Animation) story? Ray Bradbury’s “Martian Buena Vista JT: No animal cruelty. To the CP: We look forward to reading Chronicles.” wrong kind of people, it comes more of your work. Thank you for “Logan’s Run” remake. Warner Friday, July 22 across as tacit permission. talking with us. Brothers hired Nicolas Winding Captain America: The First CP: What is one aspect of horror? JT: Thank you! Refn. Will Beall might be working Avenger (Action/Adventure) JT: It seems that the worst things on this movie script. Paramount we do, there’s no malicious intent Joss Whedon is directing a when we’re doing them, but they superhero team movie, “The Friday, July 29 end up causing the most trouble, Avengers” (Hulk, Thor, and Cowboys and Aliens (Sci-fi Action) hurting the most feelings; and it Captain America) at Albuquerque, Universal seems to be the labor of a lifetime 24 Frames New Mexico. The Smurfs [in 3D] (Animation) to figure out how not to do that! “Dark Knight Rises” is being Sony/Columbia CP: How did you start getting by Jeffrey Lu filmed in India. published? “Ender’s Game” has Summit Rumors: JT: I really owe it to S. T., whom Comments: Entertainment. The producers are I met at a lecture at Brown in 2007 many including Alex Kurtzman Patrick Dempsey (“Grey during a cult seminar weekend. Busy. Busy as a bee. Boy, there and Roberto Orci (Star Trek). The Anatomy”) wants to play Doctor I was actually pretty daunted. A are a lot of remakes. But there are director and maybe adaptation Strange. friend told me he was going to be some interesting developments in script writer will be Gavin Hood DC and Warner Brothers are there, and I thought, “Well, I’ll production. (X-Men Origins: Wolverine). developing a superhero team definitely go hear him. Do I want movie, Justice League, that will to bring stories too? That’s such In Production: June/July 2011 Schedule: have no connection with the a fan-boy thing to do.” I looked upcoming Superman or Batman at my stories, and thought, “Nah, “Man of Steel”- Official title June 2001 movie. don’t be a jerk.” Then I thought, for next Superman movie. Michael Next Star Trek movie in 3D? “What the f__k.” Then of course, Shannon cast as General Zod, Amy Friday, June 3 Maybe. the printer wouldn’t work. But I Adams cast as Lois Lane, and X-Men: First Class (Action/ Todd McFarlane is almost done eventually got some stuff together. Kevin Costner cast as Jonathan Adventure) Fox with a “Spawn” movie script. I almost flaked out at the last Kent. Friday, June 10 (Cont’d on page 6 ) second. After the lecture there was Date this huge posse speaking with him, of release: he was absolutely surrounded. unknown. Nobody was talking with his Three wife, Leslie. I thought, “Eh, I Stooges should be nice and say ‘Hi’ to her. movie is in Maybe she’ll have some of his production. business cards and I can send him Farrelly something.” But when I suggested Brothers this she said, “No, you should are looking come meet him!” She introduced for Moe to me, and he said he’d be happy cast. So far, to have a look at them. I was on Jane Lynch tenterhooks for a few days. Then (“Glee”) he e-mailed me back and said he will be really liked the first thing he’d read playing and he’d be looking at another. I Mother kept sending him individual stories Superior in and eventually it turned into a this film. collection. Date of release: CP: What’s your own favorite unknown. story in this collection? “The JT: I guess it would be “Power Lone of Midnight,” which was an idea I Ranger” had been kicking around for ages by Disney and ages about a “Necronomicon is within of vinyl” – so that is Lovecraftian! reach. –an album only rumored to exist, Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 5 24 Frames An American on the will be featured in “Courts of the Pro Notes Fey,” edited by Russell Davis. (Cont’d from page 5 ) Iberian Peninsula By Catherne Book There are several other projects in Part Three: A the wings. If you’re interested in Parting Shots: Cautionary Tale in Hi, Everyone! Thanks for learning more, you should check reading ConNotations and my out her Wednesday Wanderings To 3D or not to 3D, that is the Germany column. No new faces but some blog, easily linked to from www. question. (Again? Sigh. Oh, well...) by Jeffrey Lu old favorites are back. LepreCon37 janelindskold.com. A Three Stooges movie? Hey, is behind me now and it’s waaay But before we leave the west how about the Marx Brothers? When I was back in the States, past time to clean my house… coast, we’ll hie ourselves up to The Lone Ranger? Wow. Disney I promptly bought three pretzels I’ll start in my home state this Washington, the home of Ann has Marvel, Tarzan, and Teenage and a soda. I was hungry. I was month, Arizona where we have a Scarborough. In Christmas of Mutant Ninja Turtles. Now, this? generally poor (Forgot to exchange plethora of local writers. Dennis 2010, “Catacombs” came out in Anyway, enjoy the summer, euros for U.S. dollars) but had a McKiernan mentioned that hardback, “Catalyst” in paperback. folks! few dollars. I did not have enough since the last time he contributed, Ann says she wasn’t done writing time to spend at the airport. Within he’s finished a new MITHGAR about cats yet though so she did a few minutes, I scarfed down novel, “Stolen Crown.” He sent her first-ever independent book one pretzel and guzzled down a it and two other manuscripts to release—“Spam Vs. The Vampire” diet Pepsi. I had less than fifteen his editor: “Shadow Peril” (which that’s sort of a purranormal minutes to go to my gate to get is the sequel to “Caverns of mystery about a cat named An Evening with back home. Socrates”) and “At the Edge of Spam whose human disappears, Stephen Hawking, With two of the pretzels left, I the Forest” (a paranormal mystery having been snatched by a April 9, 2011, at had planned to eat them in leisure. romance), and is awaiting word vampire, leaving Spam and his 14 Instead, a friend showed up. He on whether she likes one or more housemates without a two legged A.S.U. Gammage looked rather beat. of them. At the moment Dennis friend with a pair of opposable Curious, I promptly asked him thumbs to feed them and all of Auditorium is between books and goofing those other handy things people do by Jeffrey Lu what happened. What I did not off, mostly engaging in XBox expect was to hear a travel horror Live gaming. And Jennifer for cats. Spam escapes the house story... Roberson reports that the third where the others are trapped and One time, I had planned to see His stopover was in Germany. sets out to find both his Darcy and Dr. Hawking at A.S.U. Gammage volume in her KARAVANS series the vampire he, as her office cat, Auditorium. I would have been He made a lot of mistakes. First, is scheduled for August 2012. She he did not buy a ticket in America is currently writing the first of two knows she had met online. It’s a in the room with other reporters from Italy to Germany. Second, very fun story along the lines of watching a big screen at A.S.U. new SWORD-DANCER novels. “Thomasina and The Abandoned” Memorial Union in this event. But he asked friends for cash in order It will be out in either late 2012, to pay for a plane ticket from Italy or early 2013. Then comes the and other animal stories. It is I declined. I thought I blew my to Germany. Third, the German already available as an e-book and chance in seeing this professor. second new SWORD-DANCER is in the process of becoming a I missed my chance. Oh, well. airport security had dealt with book, followed by the fourth and European terrorists in the past. final KARAVANS novel. The print on demand book. Maybe someone else like Steve They thought he looked like Ann has also released the rest of Jobs... eight novels of the CHEYSULI her 16 solo book backlist, all of the But Bob, my co-columnist for one. (I kid you not!) Fourth, he series and all six of the SWORD- was stopped to be searched and DANCER books are available ones not done by the publishers Gamers’ Corner, told me online checked not only once but twice. or e-Reads. She says she has that Stephen Hawking will be in 2-volume omnibus editions. great covers thanks to artist Karen back, this year. So, I checked it out The second time he had to go to DAW is working on converting the bathroom... Last, he did not all of her fantasy into e-books for Gillmore of Victoria, BC. And… and found it to be true. Quickly, I have any cash except Euros. He working on another proposal right bought a ticket. downloading by Kindle, Nook, now. On the day of the event, I sat was hungry. etc. readers. Emily Devenport I stared at my friend for a (formerly Lee Hogan, Emily Hmmmm…which comes there in the balcony watching first moment. Sucks to be him. Sad next….Illinois or Arkansas? Pretty the up-to-date video of the planets Hogan and Maggy Thomas) tell close to my memory. I guess we’ll with the music by Gustav Holst’s story but boy, ouch! I promptly us that she’s writing exclusively gave him my two last pretzels. He as Emily Devenport again. For stop in Arkansas first to hear from “The Planets.” The narrator was won. I thought I had it bad due to Charlaine Harris, she of TRUE Lawrence Krauss (author of “The the full story of why she ended up BLOOD fame. Charlaine is on tour Physics of Star Trek”). Overall, it a nightmare stopover in Rome. with Multiple Pen Name Disorder, (More on that, later.) check out “And While We’re for the 11th Sookie Stackhouse was entertaining. He looked at me puzzled as I novel, “Dead Reckoning.” August Afterwards, the main event. On The Subject”: http://www. will see the publication of the There was a young lady pushing gave him my last two pretzels. I emsjoiedeweird.com/2009/07/and- let him know that he’s a friend and while-were-on-subject.html Her fourth anthology she and Toni L.P. someone in a wheelchair at center wished him safe travel back home. Kelner have put together, HOME stage. The audience applauded and new novel, “The Night Shifters,” IMPROVEMENT; UNDEAD then died down. There were sounds I waved goodbye and exited to a is now available for Kindle on flight home. amazon.com (just look for Emily EDITION. In September, THE of clicks for a few minutes. I looked forward to getting SOOKIE COMPANION will Then, there was an electronic Devenport). be on the shelves. And, she and voice that said, “Can you hear back home but there were other Moving east to New Mexico, things to remember...like a Star lives one of my perennial favorites: Christopher Golden going to me?” Trek themed cruise. collaborate on a graphic novel, “Yes!” replied the audience. Jane Lindskold. Jane is happy “Cemetery Girl.” {What fun! Two The show began in earnest. Next: An American in Iberian to report that she and David Weber Peninsula Part Four: Cruising with are collaborating on a YA SF of my favorite writers!!} And To be brief, Dr. Hawking was Star Trek then, of course, comes Jody talking about his family and his project. The STAR KINGDOM Lynn Nye in Illinois – “Myth- past. His insights and humor made series will focus on Stephanie Quoted,” the next in the MYTH- the lecture bearable. Afterward, he Harrington, Honor’s ancestor ADVENTURES series was pointed how he found his formula and the person who (as a child of turned in last February. {Skeeve for a black hole that would later eleven) made first contact with the and Bunny are trying to get two bring in the big bang theory. Very treecats of Sphinx. David Weber candidates in the dimension of interesting. is writing the first book solo. “A Tipicanoo to agree on a date for When it ended, I was ready Beautiful Friendship” is a serious Voting Day, even though the for more. I was curious about the expansion of his novella of the election has been dragging on recent news dealing with black same title. Jane Lindskold joins for five long years. They need a holes. I thought there will be a the fun with the second book in catalyst to get things going -- and question and answer session. But the series. Right now the title is who better than Aahz?} At the sadly, the same young lady before likely to be either “Crown Fire” moment, Jody is working on the the show whisked Dr. Hawking or “Fire Weather,” but that’s still fourth book in Robert Asprin’s away. under consideration. Her novel DRAGONS series, for Ace Books. Well, back to reading Dr. “Five Odd Honors,” which was “Dragons Deal” came out in Stephen Hawking’s stuff. I have a released about this time last year to December 2010. After that goes in, black hole in science to fill... glowing reviews, is now available she starts work on the next MYTH- in paperback. Jane has also made time to work on some short fiction. ADVENTURES. Her latest novel, Her story “Hunting the Unicorn” ( Cont’d on page 7) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 Donato was the lucky artist who now. But! When it hits shelves publication but go check out the Pro Notes designed and painted both stamps, this winter I should be able to next deadline.} ( Cont’d from page 6 ) celebrating the 50th anniversary of bear the sight of it once again (it That’s it for this month. I hope “View From the Imperium” (Baen Alan Shepard’s flight as the first helps that I really, really love the you enjoyed yourselves. And, Books), was on Publishers Weekly American in space back on May 5, cover). A good thing, too, since as always - if anyone wants to Top Ten Science Fiction and 1961. A bit of press has followed my publisher is sending me on the contribute or knows someone who Fantasy Books in January. The this event, with mentions in the NY road to sing for my supper. Yes: knows someone…please write book, published in April 2011, Times Blogs, an article in the Daily not only am I foisting more books to ConNotations or email me at might be described as Jeeves and News, and a short interview on the on unsuspecting readers this year, [email protected] Enjoy your Wooster in space. She and John local TV station, NY1. As you can I’m also gonna be coming to (some spring; see you in August. Ringo have just turned in a novella imagine, Donato was thrilled and of) your cities and yakking about ~ Catherine Book ~ for “Exiled: The Clan of the Claw” honored to be a part of this, the said books until you’re sorry you Previous ProNotes columns and (Baen Books). The anthology, first issue of USPS space related wasted even a fifth of a tank of gas book reviews are posted on our which includes Harry Turtledove, stamps in nearly a decade. More to come to my book signing. Ha! website at: http://www.casfs.org/ SM Stirling and Mike Williamson, info at: http://www.donatoart.com/news. Let that be a lesson to you: if you ConNotations/ as well, was also featured in the html insist on buying my book there’s Publishers Weekly article. From a gray winter to a gray always the chance my publisher Joe Haldeman, who lives in alleged-spring up in Maine, will send me to the city in which Florida, tells us that he finished James Hetley has completed you reside. So never, ever say you “Earthbound,” the sequel to “Powers” (contemporary fantasy) weren’t warned.” All this to say “Marsbound” and “Starbound.” and shipped it off to his agent. A the next BOFFO (Bureau of False It will be out in December, if all publisher has expressed interest, Flag Ops) book will be out in a goes well. Joe advises to “Buy but no signed contract yet. If it few months, preceded by “Undead the whole set as a Christmas does go through, it will probably and Undermined” (July 2011), present for somebody! I’ll be have a different title by the time it and “Evangelina Scales” (August glad to autograph them, though I sees print. {Good luck with that, 2011), the weredragon series she won’t sign “Love, Santa.”” Gay I’ll be waiting…} writes with my husband. Sample Haldeman handles the autographed Now he’s pecking away at chapters can be found on her editions at http://home.earthlink. a sequel, with no working title Facebook page. But if you’d rather net/~haldeman/catalog.pdf In non- beyond “Placeholder” because of plunk down $21.99 for the whole genre news, Joe was on NPR’s needing to tie in with whatever title thing, she has no objection. At all! “Talk of the Nation” on April 14. change occurs. Hey, a writer friend And she apologizes in advance for His segment is the one called “The is calling her current manuscript the gas you’re going to waste. Impact of War: Answering the Call “George” . . . And we’ll finish up our tour to Serve Changes Lives.” A sidestep over to Minnesota to in Canada with the ever-gracious http://www.npr.org/player/v2/ see MaryJanice Davidson who Kilpatrick whose follow- mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=3&i just finished another round of edits up anthology to “Evolve: Vampire slist=true&id=5&d=04-14-2011 for the second in her FBI-agent- Stories of the New Undead” will Moving northward to N. with-multiple-personality-disorder be out August 2011. “Evolve Carolina, I was happy to hear heroine (yes, she describes her just Two: Vampire Stories of the from David Drake again. David like that, and it takes for-EVER). Future Undead” features stories is towards the end of “The Road So boy-oh-boy is MaryJanice by Kelley Armstrong, Tanith Lee, of Danger,” the next RCN space sick of writing about government John Shirley, Thomas Roche opera for Baen. The hardcover of employees under psychiatric care and others. From Edge SF & F “Out of the Waters,” the second who carry sidearms. “Normally Publishing. And for you fellow of his Rome-based for the thought of something so silly, writers out there - Nancy is also Tor will be out in July; with the yet intriguing, would bring a editing a new anthology for paperback of “The Legions of smile to my face and a guffaw to Edge SF&F Publishing. Danse Fire” (the first of the series) out in my lungs...no, wait, my lips. But Macabre: “Close Encounters with May and the paperback of “What normally I’m not so jaded on a the Reaper” has GLs for writers Distant Deeps” (the most recent book that I’ve pretty much gone that appear here: http://www. space opera) out in June. And in dead inside from all the necessary edgewebsite.com/ Please read September, “Into the Hinterlands” edits. Yep: “Yours, Mine and the GLs carefully as this anthology (using the early life of George Ours” is as technically perfect is very specific and the first of Washington as a template for an SF as my editor and I can make it, two deadlines is June 1, 2011. adventure novel) will be out from and I’m definitely dead inside {Whoops…a little late for this Baen in hardcover. David wrote the outline, which John Lambshead expanded into the novel. It worked so well that David’s agreed to outline the remainder of the trilogy in his copious free time… And finally, he tells us: “For fun- -believe me, this isn’t for the money--I’ve agreed to do intros to a number of classic (1950s) Galaxy novelets and novellas for republication as Kindle editions. These are the stories that were new and earthshaking when I was growing up and learning about SF, and they still provide some of the finest short fiction in the field. SF has given me a great deal; these intros are a chance for me to give back.” I don’t get much chance to check in with the artists in our genre so I was really happy to get a response from Donato who lives in New York. His big news is that two new First Class Forever stamps have just been released by the US Postal Service of the Astronaut Alan Shepard and the Messenger space craft. And

Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 7 Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form “Ghosts of War” by George Mann SCIENCE EVENTS Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: “The Falling Machine” by Andrew P. FYI Part 1, screenplay by Steve Kloves; Mayer ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER CASFS BOOK DISCUSSION directed by David Yates Bookmans Phoenix How to Train Your Dragon, screenplay by Subterranean Press Summer Camps: Discover & Invention 8034 North 19th Ave,, Phoenix William Davies, Dean DeBlois & Chris “The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs” by James (ages 6-11). All Star Science (ages 10-12) 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm, Sanders; directed by Dean DeBlois & Blaylock Saturday Science program. Loads of in the Community Room Chris Sanders “Palimpsest” by Charles Stross topics from nanotechnology to dissection Sponsored by Central Arizona Inception, written and directed by “Becoming” by Kelley Armstrong of human organs to astronomy Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) Christopher Nolan “Summer Knight” by Jim Butcher BioBuzz Family Series, family friendly email questions to [email protected] Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, screenplay by “Adjustment Team” by Philip K. Dick short talks in bioscience. 3rd Saturdays, Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright; directed And too many more to mention…. 1:45pm Come do some face-to-face interaction by Edgar Wright Science Café informal discussions with with your fellow readers and SF/Fantasy Toy Story 3, screenplay by Michael Arndt; GAMING & COMIC EVENTS ASU Professors, see webpage for topics fans! Haven’t read the book? Don’t story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & and dates. 530pm worry, there’s no quiz or anything. You Lee Unkrich; directed by Lee Unkrich DRAWN TO COMICS BioTech Talks, 2nd Wed, 545pm. can use the rest of us as your personal September – March. book reviewers to see if it’s something Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form HeroClix. Sat 2pm Ongoing Exhibits: you’d like. We start out with the book Doctor Who: “A Christmas Carol,” Sit-and-Sketch with local artists. 3rd The Walton Optimal Neurological discussion, but the conversation can go written by Steven Moffat; directed by Saturday, 6pm-8pm Discovery Education & Research Center anywhere. The get-together is held in the Toby Haynes (BBC Wales) Check FaceBook for other events All About Me Gallery, interactive exhibit coffee shop of Bent Cover Books near Doctor Who: “The Pandorica Opens/The on human body 28th Drive and Cactus Road in Phoenix. Big Bang,” written by Steven Moffat; GAME DEPOT Dorrance Planetarium We welcome potential new friends. directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales) Evans Family Skycycle Doctor Who: “Vincent and the Doctor,” HeroClix. Wed, 5:45pm-8pm My Digital Worlds June 21 - Neuromancer by William written by Richard Curtis; directed by D&D Encounters. Wed, 6pm-8pm Forces of Nature Gibson Jonny Campbell (BBC Wales) Magic, The Gathering. Thurs, 6pm. Rock Wall for climbers aged 8 and above July 19 - Nebula Award Showcase 2003 Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury, written by Open Game Day. Fridays all day Solarville – solar energy edited by Nancy Kress Rachel Bloom; directed by Paul Briganti Magic Game Day June 11 at noon Adults Night Out, 1st Fridays, check August 16 - The Lathe ofHeaven by – (watch on UTube) {which everyone Warhammer Fantasy Tournament June 25, website for topics & time.. Ursula K Le Guin should watch at least once unless you are 11am September 20 - Signal to Noise by Eric easily offended} ASU Nyland The Lost Thing, written by Shaun Tan; GAMER’S INN October 18 - The Man with the Golden directed by Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Science lectures and news Torc by Simon Green Tan (Passion Pictures) Magic Game Day June 11 http://beyondasu.edu/Events/about_ November 15 - Do Androids Dream of WarMachine Wrath tournament (call for events.php Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick Best Professional Artist details) June 25, 2pm December 20 - Mystic and Rider by Daniel Dos Santos CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, PEORIA Sharon Shinn Bob EggletonStephan Martiniere War Machine Wrtah Release Event June John Picacio 25, 6pm Stargazing. Starlab Planetarium. Check BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS Shaun Tan Magic the Gathering M12 pre-release July website for dates and times 9, 10am Space Place events for Future Astronauts. Science Fiction Book Club Best Fan Writer Magic the Gathering M12 release event Check website for event dates & times. Borders in Glendale James Bacon July 15, 6pm Understanding the Nature of Light, 4th Wednesdays Claire Brialey Check website for upcoming events Fridays 2pm Christopher J Garcia Columbia Shuttle Memorial Display Maricopa County Library Northwest James Nicoll IMPERIAL OUTPOST GAMES ASU Meteorite Exhibit Regional Branch Steven H Iridium Satellite Model 16089 N Bullard Federation Commander. 2nd Saturdays, Atlantis Space Shuttle Model Surprise AZ AUTHOR SIGNINGS noon Journey Thru the Space Program 4th Tuesday at 6:30pm RPGA. 1st Sundays Lowell Observatory Display June 28 - Minority Report by Philip K Aprilynne Pike Poisoned Pen Bookstore Monday Night Magic Standard Format. Dick June 15, 7pm Mon, 7pm. MOON SOCIETY MEETING James Rollins - Poisoned Pen Bookstore Boardgames & Demo Nite. Mondays & Oro Valley Library, Tucson June 28, 7pm Thursdays, 6pm. 3:00 PM on the third Saturday at Denny’s Science Fiction Book Club, Diana Gabaldon - Poisoned Pen Magic Drafts. Tues, 7pm on the Southeast corner of US60 and 4th Tuesdays Bookstore July 11, 7pm (20th Anniversary War Machine. Wednesdays, 4pm Rural Road in Mesa. For more info June - Fall of Neskaya by Marion Zimmer of “Outlander”) Hammerhead 40K Club Meeting. Wed & contact Craig Porter at portercd@msn. Bradley Douglas Preston - Poisoned Pen Thurs, noon com Bookstore Aug 6, 7p,m Hammerhead Club 40k tournament. 1st SciFi Book Group Wed, noon PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, Barnes & Noble, Eastside, Tucson. At SPECIAL BOOK RELEASES Magic The Gathering League. Wed, 6pm TUCSON 7:30p This listing is to introduce you to smaller Friday Night Magic. Fridays, 7pm June 14 - Roma Eterna by Robert publishing houses that offer exclusive or Rockets: Science of Energy & Motion. Silverberg limited edition books that you wouldn’t be SAMURAI COMICS Jun 11, Jul 9, Aug 13, 1pm able to find at your local chain bookstore. (check website for correct store location) Volunteer Presentation Series. Sep 17, NOMINATIONS Yugioh Tournament. Sundays, noon 10am The nominations for the 2011 Hugo Cemetery Dance Publications (Cmlbk) & Sat, noon (west valley) Model Airplane. For kids. Jun 4, Jul 2, Awards were announced on April 24, 2011 “Wicked Things” by Thomas Tessier. Anime Club. Sundays, noon (west valley) Aug 6, 1pm at a joint ceremony held at Norwescon and “The Mailman” by Bentley Little. Pokemon. Sundays, 2pm (west valley), Volunteer Orientation. Jun 11, Jul 9, Eastercon. All Supporting, Attending and “Brides of the Impaler” by Edward Lee. Wed 5pm (Cmlbk) 930am Young Adult members of Renovation, the D&D Encounters. Wed, 6pm (Cmblk) Nightwings. Jun 25, Jul 23,Aug 27, 5pm 2011 World Science Fiction Convention Edge SF & F Publishing/Tesseract Magic, The Gathering. Friday, 6p (both Space Gallery exhibit. See an Apollo are eligible to vote in the finals. Details at: Books stores), Tues, 6pm (west valley), Sat 1pm space capsule, moon rock, Phoenix Mars http://www.renovationsf.org/ Winners will “Those Who Fight Monsters” ed. Justin (Cmlbk), Mon 6pm (Cmlbk) Mission. be announced on Saturday, August 20, Gustainis 2011 at Renovation. “The Demon Left Behind” by Marie BOOKMANS - INA ROAD TUCSON SETI INSTITUTE Some of the nominees are: Jakober Week of Games with 9 Queens and Best Novel DDMAU plus others Calendar of events on the website. Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis PS Publishing June 7-11 at 10am Mondays podcast shows Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold “Gravity Dreams” by Stephen Baxter http://radio.seti.org The Dervish House by Ian McDonald “Terra Damnata” by James Cooper BOOKMANS - GRANT TUCSON http://podcast.seti.org Feed by Mira Grant “One Who Disappeared” by James Herter Geek Out Game Night! Tues 6:30pm http://beyondasu.edu/seti The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin PYR Publishing “The Goblin Corps” by Ari Marmell (Contd on page 9 ) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 will find this a bonus: this will be Went to a Covers on Comic FYI ( Cont’d from page 8 ) ConClusion my first time going to see movie/ Book panel. Interesting in what TV previews. these artists do to make a buck. TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM Con Nichiwa I later will also find that bone My last panel to see was “Geek March 25-27, 2011 had meat. Slant: Pop Culture from an Asian Titan Missile Museum Tours. Tucson AZ In about a half hour, the line American Perspective.” There were Reservations only. One hour guided tours. moved into a large ballroom. There topics from the live action movie Top-to-bottom tours (5 hours) The only ConNichiwa was overflowing was a showing of new T.V. series, Akira to other recent projects. The publicly accessible Titan II missile site in with energy, costumes, Japanese Falling Skies. Later, a new episode panelist were National Book Award the nation. Tour the underground missile snacks, anime merchandise of Nikita. At first, I was not a big winner Gene Yang (American Born site. See the 3-ton blast doors, 8’ thick and excited fen. Vic Mignona fan. I found myself wanting to see Chinese), podcaster Eugene Ahn silo walls and an actual Titan II missile in packed the big tent and spoke this new version. Really good. (aka Adam Warrock, War Rocket the launch duct. Visit the launch control entertainingly of his life and career Now, the main event. Ajax), journalist Diana Nguyen center, experience a simulated launch, for about 2 hours, and then did it In Green Lantern, Ryan and Jen Wang (Disgrasian), and more. Top to Bottom Tours: check again on a smaller scale during a Reynolds (Hal Jordon) and Blake indie filmmaker and producer website for dates in 2011 signing session the next day. All Lively (Carol Ferris) were there Steve Nguyen (Channel APA), Titan Overnight Experience – spend the the guests of honor were great answering questions from the publicist Moye Rhea Ishimoto, and night in the crew quarters. Check website – they signed virtually anything audience. Interesting to note that Asian-Americans showcase and for details. you brought to them, including Ryan Reynold’s costume was all information web promoter Nelson Moonlight Madness tours portions of anatomy, and swapped computerized. Cool stuff. Wong (AArising). Field trips to Titan II’s missile site ruins anecdotes of voice-over acting Mental note to self: Will need to Loved this convention. I found and ad-libbing on the sets. The go to these events from now on. this WonderCon is smaller than OTHER GENRE-RELATED EVENTS panels ranged form Lost Treasures After the event, I noticed I still San Diego ComicCon. Despite this of anime to Tea House concerts. had a short time to get to one artist/ disadvantage, this had heart and One hugely popular event was the one writer panel of that April 1st information before the Summer. I BOOKMANS, PHOENIX photographing of fans in costume. day. I ran. am a fool but I want to come back. All weekend long, fen lined up to Why? Elfquest. I always wanted This WonderCon was awesome. Zombie Research Society Public Meeting. get snapped professionally, and to meet creators, Richard and Hopefully, next year, I will be Jun 18, 11am the results are on line at pichaus. Wendy Pini. Finally, here’s my back. ~~ Jeffrey Lu Summer kids event – Star Wars storytime com/+con+connichiwa/ for your chance. & activities. Jun 23, 1pm viewing pleasure. Saw them and this sums up Post Con Perspective of Summer kids event – Pirate Party! Jul 21, Fortunately, large chunks what happened: Wendy Pini has LepreCon 37 1pm-230pm of the convention were also finished “The Masque of The Red May 6-8, 2011 recorded and can be visited at Death” in her illustrating with Tempe AZ BOOKMANS, MESA www.tradercurrencies.com/ Edgar Allen Poe’s short story. currency-trading-videos/index. Another is a web Elfquest mini Well, another LepreCon bites Summer kids event – Outer Space theme. php?key=Con-Nichiwa . Just movie by Stephanie Thorpe and the dust. But the dust hadn’t even June 22, 1pm because you missed the weekend another actress. Last, Richard and settled when a couple of our Guests Summer kids event – Comic Booked! is no excuse for missing the Wendy are on the final Elfquest were quick to send us a big Thank- Special surprise guest July 13, 1pm experience. See you at the next arc. Truly awesome to end the day. You; apparently having had an ConNichiwa. ~~ Chris Paige Second day, I had seen the exceptional time. All our Guests: BOOKMANS, INA ROAD, TUCSON preview of both movies, Cowboys John Picacio, Elizabeth Bear, Being An April Fool: A and Aliens and Three Musketeers. Sarah Monette, Seanan McGuire SuperHero week – training, costumes & To say the least, both movies and the incomparable Darrell K. photos. Jun 28-30, 10am Wonderful Way To Walk at the 25th anniversary of look good. In Cowboys and Sweet were wonderful guests; very WonderCon Aliens, there is a hostile alien that approachable and friendly to all DEVASTATION 2011 – Gaming April 1 -3, 2011 the cowboys and Indians unite. the attendees. The Art Show may Tournament & Convention Daniel Craig is Jake Longergan. have been small but it had some October 7-9, Phoenix Convention Center Sometimes life throws you a Also, Harrison Ford is Colonel fabulous original art from our rprise guest. Jul 13, 1pm bone. Sometimes, you just have to Woodrow Dolarhyde. Robi Orci two Art Guests. Darrell K. Sweet (Star Trek 2009) and Jon Favreau won the ‘Best in Show’ Award grab it and run... st LOFT THEATRE, TUCSON In this case, I was planning (Iron Man series) were there to plus 1 Place in the categories of Screenings of movies, many SF genre. answer questions for Cowboys and SciFi and Fantasy. Sarah Clemens to go to this year’s San Diego st Check website for times and listings. ComicCon. Silly me. All the Aliens. On the other hand, Luke enjoyed 1 Place in the Humor Evans and Logan Lerman were category and the same piece took regular memberships were sold out nd st MADCAP THEATRE in a day. I thought I would not be there to answer questions from 2 place in Fantasy. 1 Place for Check web site for listing. able to go, any time soon. the audience. In Three Musketeers Textiles went to David Perrine But, I had friends who told trailer, Milla Jovovic (Resident and to Nancy Strowger for 3-D 4TH ANNUAL TUCSON COMIC-CON me about another convention Evil) plays the evil lady but does category. The Author and Artist Nov 5 & 6 at the Bookmans Event Center by the same people, Comic-Con her own stunts. Also, Buckingham Receptions were very successful International- WonderCon. And (Orlando Bloom) will be battling and everyone who attended really Check web sites or contact stores for more boy, this was a wonder. the three musketeers (Matthew enjoyed the ambiance, drinks and info Originally, I had planned out MacFadyen, Luke Evans, and Ray conversation. Much fun was had at Game Depot, 480-966-4727 my three-days with interviews and Stevenson) and young D’Artagnan the Eye of Argon reading which we http://www.azchallenger.org research. (Logan Lerman). really must reprise as we couldn’t http://www.azscience.org But like San Diego ComicCon, The rest of the day were two read the whole thing in an hour. http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/ one must be flexible and throw legal workshops: creator rights and The kids loved the Pirate Treasure storelocator/stores.aspx?x=y& those plans out the window. comic book law school. Hunt and the Arizona Corsairs http://www.bookmans.com Sometimes, something better Third and final day, I went to obliged them with much fun; they http://www.borders.com/online/store/ might come your way and one has the Doctor Who panel. Did not also brought great costumes to LocatorView seconds to decide... expect to see Neil Gaiman. He was show off. The Charity Auction was http://www.cemeterydance.com First day, I had gone to see a one of the writers for the fourth lightly attended but that meant http://www.devastationevent.com/ panel “Behind the Music with episode. What was also interesting that everyone who came, left with http://www.drawntocomics.com CW3PR: Sci-Fi, Horror and was seeing a cartoon of himself loads of goodies and the Literacy http://www.edgewebsite.com Fantasy Film/TV Composers. in a The Simpson’s episode. Moe, Volunteers of Maricopa County http://www.gamersinnaz.com/ They had composers from Pushing the bartender, was holding a knife will benefit. And Mark Greenawalt, http://www.imperialoutpost.com against Neil’s throat. Have no idea our local body-painting artist, did http://www.library.pima.gov Daisies, True Blood, Glee, V, http://www.loftcinema.com/showtimes Scream 4, and 24. To sum it up, what that was about... an amazing, eye-popping painting http://madcaptheaters.com/ they were all amazing in how they After, I walked around the of Sif, Thor’s wife on his lovely http://www.pimaair.org got into the music business. market. Picked up a few things. blonde model. http://www.poisonedpen.com After, I planned to see some One was Hellboy Mask with Next year’s LepreCon will host http://www.pspublishing.co.uk comic book artists. But no. Not one eye blind. Another was a fan Joe Haldeman as Author GoH and http://www.pyrsf.com/catalog.html going to happen. Why? with information on cool science Franchesco! as the Artist GoH. http://www.samuraicomics.com Two friends of mine convinced manga- www.nostarch.com. Dates will be April 6-8, 2012; http://www.seti.org me to wait in line for the new Also, saw throughout the still working on the hotel. ~~ http://beyond.asu.edu/seti/ Green Lantern movie. I had to be convention- Berkeley Breathed, Catherine Book http://www.subterraneanpress.com/ there two hours and a half early... Robert Kirkman, Jason Aaron, http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ I swallowed my pride and Adam Hughes, Frank Quitely, http://tucsoncomic-con.com/ waited in a line around the Marv Wolfman, and Phil and Kaja convention center. In retrospect, I Foglio. Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 9 being the one the agency wanted the group gets lost until Natasha an awful lot of arrows protruding “I Can’t Believe You changed. Initially capitulating says, “Great Spirit say we go this fore and aft from an awful lot of Just Said That, Or with the title changed to “The way,” whereupon they fall down soldiers in this episode. Though Would You Mind Vulgar Boatman,” Ward decided the mountain-side. Miffed at the bit is intended for laughs, don’t to embarrass the agency by Natasha, Boris says, “Great Spirit forget how many parents feel about Repeating What questioning their dirty minds, goofed!” That line offends the unnecessary violence in children’s You’ve Just Said?” pointing out that the opening titles conservative, religious leader of shows.” th clearly showed a leaking canoe. A General Mills, sparking a heated By 1960 the ratings had risen as It’s the 50 compromise was reached when the discussion between the sponsor, the show caught on with the public. Anniversary of Rocky complete original title was restored the ad-agency, and Jay Ward. This seems to have mollified the and Bullwinkle, with the audio fading out on the Feeling that Ward was mocking the concerns of both the ad agency and second title. Native American’s “highest deity,” the sponsors. Lucky Part 13 The ad agency was often Ward was put on notice and the Come back next time for “Up, By Shane Shellenbarger concerned about how Ward poked ad-agency scanned future scripts Upsidaisium and Away or Maybe fun at other nations. In one note to with greater scrutiny. When the Tom, Maybe Dick, or Maybe Rocky and his Friends had Ward concerning the “Peabody” “Peabody” script for “Robinson Harry, Who Knows?” a long history of conflict with script about “Louis Pasteur” they Crusoe” spoke of “fish on Friday,” For more info go to: censors. No, let me amend that, said, “Episodes like this one and the agency feared offending http://tinyurl.com/Shane-Info- Jay Ward had a long history of Alfred Nobel scare the living hell Catholic viewers. Blog conflict with censors. He conflicted out of us. Over the years these The “Sleeping Beauty” show with the sponsors, the sponsors guys have been built up as prestige with its references to Sleeping advertising agency, the television figures and national heroes. We Beauty Land resembling a Coney networks, and sometimes with so- can hear the phone ringing right Island sideshow, coupon books, called “Guardians of Morality” but now from the French Embassy and the covetous counting of Screening Room seldom did he have any conflicts complaining about our making coinage in three scenes, rose fear with his viewers. a comic strip figure of their boy in the minds of the ad agency Pirates of the Caribbean: General Mills and their ad Pasteur.” The agency feared action executives that a lawsuit from On Stranger Tides agency had issues with the foreign by the NAACP when Africa was Disney for defamation would soon Starring: Johnny Depp, Ian accents and historical figures in involved in a script and worried be in hand, but their fears were McShane, Penelope Cruz “Peabody’s Improbable History” about a diaper tie-in to the Spanish groundless. Director: Rob Marshall and “Fractured Fairy Tales.” An flag. The “Red Riding Hood” Another minefield was making Rated: PG-13 early example was the “FFT” episode of “Fractured Fairy Tales” fun of sponsors. After a saltwater Running Time: 137 minutes episode entitled “Beauty and the elicited this response: “Red’s taffy joke was made in the “Mr. Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Walt Beast.” The ad agency objected Greek accent . . . might offend Peabody” episode concerning Disney Pictures that the Beast was licentious people of Greek nationality.” “Sir Walter Raleigh,” the co- Distributed by: Walt Disney and using subterfuge to ensnare However, the ad agency was not sponsor, Sweets Company of Studios Motion Pictures America, pounced on any future Release Date: May 20th, 2011 mentions of candy. Watching Reviewed by Bob LaPierre, out for the ad revenue bottom- ConNotations Film Critic line for other shows, Bernardine This is a good return to the McKenna of ABC Continuity series. I liked this more than the Acceptance pointed out “Rocky” second and third in the series but episode #29: “The satire on hair not as much as “The Black Pearl”. oil TV commercials is rather Depp seems a little more focused unfair.” Nothing quite matched and a little less Jack Sparrow than the tempestuousness caused when he has in the past. And a large the “Rocky and Bullwinkle” problem at least in 3-D is it is too counterfeit box tops storyline aired. dark, not in content but in lighting. General Mills was a bit concerned The movie is basically a race about the satire of box tops, but between several groups looking the ad agency, Dancer-Fitzgerald- for the fountain of youth. The Sample, was apoplectic over the Spanish find a sailor from Ponce ridicule Bill Scott heaped on the de Leon’s ship, a ship lost 200 cereal premiums: a combination years ago. That sends them atomic whistle and poison ring. looking. The English want it if for D-F-S suggested this be changed no other reason than to deny it to to “atomic roller skates.” Another the Spaniards. Blackbeard (Ian suggestion made by the ad agency McShane) is looking for it because was well received by Jay Ward and he has been told he will die soon. used word for word: “An English And Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) yo-yo that whistles ‘On the Road has been looking for it for years. to Mandalay.’” Sparrow is checking out rumors Sometimes the concern was for that “Jack Sparrow” is recruiting a the children. General Mills felt crew for a ship and finds Angelica that the use of the word “darn” in (Penelope Cruz) impersonating the “Fractured Fairy Tale” episode him. He is quickly shanghaied concerning “Aladdin’s Lamp” and wakes to find himself on women into kissing him in order alone in their concerns about could entice kids down the path the “Queen Anne’s Revenge”, to transform him back into a how Jay Ward was portraying to swearing. McKenna of ABC Blackbeard’s ship. The interplay handsome prince. The agency’s our international neighbors. The Continuity Acceptance took issue between Depp and Cruz is great, primary problem was with the network had issues with the “Mr. with the “FFT” script for “Tom they fence with words, swords, and episodes payoff, the beast was Peabody” episode concerning Thumb”: “I find the whole tenor of even looks, all of which would slay neither once handsome nor was “Confucius.” They said, “In this this episode objectionable. Juvenile a lesser opponent. he a prince. He was never was one ABC objects to the Chinese delinquency is not something to There is a requirement for the anything other than a beast. The pidgin English which contributes be treated flippantly. Please have tear of a mermaid for the waters of beast tells the narrator, “Look, to a stereotype of the Chinese race Tom become something other than the fountain to work. The capture Bud, you get kissed your way and offensive to people of Oriental a mixed-up JD with a souped up of the mermaid is the culmination I’ll get kissed my way!” The ad origin.” butterfly, leading a juvenile gang of the best battle in the movie. And agency felt the material was far Closer to home, the 32nd on ‘candy heists.’ THIS EPISODE the subsequent interplay between too adult for a cartoon. After many episode of “Rocky” caused the IS REJECTED.” The episode aired Syrena (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) conversations, Ward won out. boss of General Mills to flip his lid. as written. and Phillip (Sam Claflin) makes a An early Rocky show had a The plot goes something like this: Children weren’t the only much more traditional love story title which worried the ad agency. Disguised as an Indian princess, concern of the censors. McKenna than the one between Depp and “Canoe’s Who,” or “Look Before Natasha leads Boris, Rocky, and of ABC had this to say about the Cruz. You Leak” as the narrator spoke Bullwinkle in a climb up a snowy “Peabody” episode about “George the title, with the second title mountain. Tethered by a rope, Armstrong Custer”: “There are ( Cont’d on page 12 ) Page 10 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 11 Screening identity for the fallen god. 28 he still lives at home and does ( Cont’d from page 10 ) Meanwhile, back in Asgard, nothing to contribute to the family Odin has fallen into a coma-like coffers or social prestige. And his The ending is predictable sleep, and Loki has declared slacker status is actually the Easter but enjoyable. It is far from a himself king. Alarmed by this Bunny’s fault, for ever since age masterwork of film-making but it usurpation, Thor’s friends sneak eight, when he caught a glimpse is an enjoyable two plus hours of down to Midgard/Earth, abetted by of the magic of Easter, Fred movie magic. Heimdall, Guardian of the Ways, has longed for something more Three and a half stars out of who mistrusts Loki, to rescue their glorious than the mundane world five. banished companion. This leads has to offer. Thor to another great scene, as New E.B. runs away to LA in search Starring Chris Hemsworth, Mexico residents are bewildered by of fame, fortune, and freedom, Anthony Hopkins, Tom the strangely garbed newcomers. only to find that freedom entails Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Way to go, script writers! tired feet, an empty stomach, and a Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings To tell any more would be complete absence of shelter. When Running Time: 130 minutes spoiler. Hugh Hefner refuses to admit him How to Make an American Rated: PG-13 I grew up reading the to the Playboy Mansion, E.B. is too Directed by Kenneth Branagh D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths, dispirited to avoid being hit by a Tribal Style Hip Scarf Opened May 6, 2011 not Thor comics, so the backstory car, and so he enters Fred’s life. by Nyki Robertson of Thor and Loki being brothers Fred has been ousted from the Thor is one of several related took getting used to. I guess sibling family nest, but his kind sister has Middleastern dancers have become Marvel Comics films being rivalry is an easier concept to put set him up with a house-sitting a popular fixture at conventions, released this summer that follow over than the complex relationship gig. He is reluctant to take any leading classes or performing up the groundwork of the Iron Man of Loki as Odin’s blood brother responsibility for the talking rabbit in the courtyard or masquerade movies. The story arc of Iron Man and Asgard’s Trickster. After all, he ran over beyond an initial halftime. Here, guest columnist II, Thor, Captain America, and by that premise, Loki is Thor’s attempt to put it out of its misery, Nyki shows us how to make a hip possibly The Green Lantern are all elder and uncle, (as in, who’s your but Fred too is essentially kind, and scarf, which is a wide belt or sash, building up to The Avengers. uncle?) and that would give Loki the importunate E.B. prevails upon often embellished with jangly coins In this movie, Thor (Chris authority and an edge that a mere his sensibilities. or beadwork. The article is based Hemsworth) is banished to Earth brother lacks. Rival brothers, on The distraught senior Easter on a class she has often taught at by Odin All-Father, god and the other hand, have lots of good, Bunny summons his elite trio, cons and SCA events. Editor. king of Asgard, to temper Thor’s heavy archetypal resonance. And the Pink Berets, to find, extract, arrogance, aggressiveness, and in a very nice nod to the paternal and retrieve E.B., all the while Before you start, a lot of people cockiness into qualities more archetype, a certain similarity oblivious to the incipient danger of like to make a pattern from the worthy of a future king. Natalie between Odin and Nick Fury is an ambitious Second in Command following directions, fit the pattern Portman plays Jane Foster, the underscored. who would love to take E.B.’s THEN cut the fabric and lining scientist who keeps slamming into J. Michael Strazinski wrote place in line for succession. from the fitted pattern. This is a dazed and weakened, mortal Thor the story for the film (not the While evading the Pink Beret, great if your fitting didn’t curve the with her research gear-laden van. script), which probably explains E.B. encounters a band of blind piece so that it doesn’t lay flat! I Thor is in trouble because the ambiguity and passion of blues brothers and plays a session personally don’t have the patience he defied his father by leading Loki’s character – nobody renders as their drummer. Impressed by his to make a pattern first, so I just go 4 friends and his brother Loki ostensible villains sympathetic so stickwork, they urge the ecstatic with my fabric and lining. in an unauthorized strike on well as The Man behind Babylon E.B. to audition for the scout show the Jotuns in their ice-realm 5. In reward, Strazinski wangled Hoff Knows Talent. And it goes STEP ONE: Choose Fabric of Jotunheim. Besides almost a cameo role for himself as a merrily on from there. A.) Velvets, mid to heavy getting his friends killed, this cheerful-faced trucker who tries The dialogue and direction are weight cottons, twill, lighter attack breaks the long-standing to lift Mjolnir. Stan Lee’s cameo amusing enough to keep young- weight upholstery material, truce between the two realms. is in the same scene, and he looks at-heart adults engaged while kids etc. etc. for the outer/top piece This is one of the best sequences, positively gleeful. It’s moments enjoy the slapstick and animation. Broadcloth, etc is great for the because it clearly establishes like these that make Marvel movies A scene wherein E.B. pretends to lining. Thor’s character as impulsive, fun. be a plushy doll and makes moves B.) WARNING: 1.) Very self-centered, and careless, as Kenneth Branagh did an on Fred’s sister is cute; and the light weight cottons and silks well as easily manipulated. Loki outstanding job directing, showing Pink Beret team, modeled after must be stabilized and don’t (Tom Hiddleson) is the subdued, his skill with ensemble, character- Charlie’s Angels, are a fun element. generally lend themselves overlooked brother, who uses based action. He gives every single Geek factors: Marsden, aka to much embellishment. 2.) words as levers, and who makes a actor his or her moments, with Cyclops, hams it up; Hasselhoff Slippery materials (satins, terrible discovery in the midst of haunting nuances in several cases. refers to his best friend, a talking jacquards, etc.), especially battle. It’s kinda interesting that Chris car; and Gary Cole plays a less if used to line, will tend to When all her equipment Hemsworth resembles a young sinister role than Sherriff Buck or “shimmy” off you as you move and records are confiscated by Branagh. the Devil. &/or dance! S.H.E.I.L.D., a pissed-off Jane This one is a must-see. The 3- Visually, Hop derives from agrees to help Thor penetrate the D option is nice, but not part of the Charlie and the Chocolate STEP TWO: Measurements perimeter S.H.E.I.L.D. has erected essential viewing. ~~ Chris Paige Factory movies as well as candy- A.) Measure side-to-side across around a mysterious artifact that production segments of How Its back and add seam allowance. has also fallen from the sky – a Hop Made, and the yellow chicks are B.) Measure side to center Hammer. It is, of course, Thor’s Starring James Marsden, reminiscent of the minions in front on each side, add seam Hammer, Mjolnir, consigned Russell Brand, Gary Cole, David Despicable Me; even so, there allowance. (If lacing on each by Odin to Earth, sword-in-the- Hasselhoff is merit and much beauty in the side of center front for closure, stone-like, as a test and a deus-ex- Running Time: 95 minutes graphics. In an animation rich year, measure side to where lacing machina device. Rated: PG Hop is worth seeing. ~~ Chris on each side and then measure Thor wants Mjolnir, back. As Director: Tim Hill Paige distance between lacing across he buffets his way through guards, Opened April 1, 2011 front, add seam allowances for the Green Arrow is deployed to a each piece) sniper position, but is told to hold In the non-Euclidean realm 1.) Add at least 10” to each his fire. What does Thor expect of film-making, parallel story side on front if tying it to accomplish, when no one else lines intersect in Hop as E.B, closed has been able to budge this thing? the Easter Bunny-in-training 2.) Allow for slight overlap, Inquiring masterminds of a covert is a disappointment to his dad, if using hook-n-eyes. government agency want to know. the Easter Bunny, because he’d 3.) Can be an inch or so What happens next breaks rather play drums than supervise less if lacing it. Thor’s mighty pride. the rainbow colored operations Jane’s mentor, very well-played of producing and delivering STEP THREE: Choose shape/style by Stellan Skarsgard, eventually confections for Easter. At the A.) The “V”: fold material for orients Jane to the true nature of same time, Fred Ohare is a back in half. Use fold for center this mysterious guy from the sky. disappointment to his dad, and back, which is the bottom He also helps establish a human his entire family, because at age (Cont’d on page 13 ) Page 12 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 Costume 2.) Pattern: Remember, in G.) Tassels: quick note-tassels ( Cont’d from page 12 ) Islam, they used mostly are an item specific to ATS. In Our Book of the “V”. Cut the “V” as geometrics and florals since I have found absolutely no dramatic or shallow as desired. the depiction of human or evidence that tassels were A Discovery of Witches Cut while material is folded so even animal forms would worn by any beings other than by Deborah Harkness that each side is equal. be considered idolatry. animals (camels, horses, etc) A.) Pick a pattern off during festival times. If you Viking, $28.95, 579 pp the fabric and follow it. have documentation that can B.) Do a prove me wrong PLEASE send A hefty debut novel but maybe geometric it to me!! worth your time. The world is design. 1.) Tassels come in various populated by witches, vampires, C.) Draw colors, sizes and styles in daemons and humans. The humans, on a floral the Home Decor section, of course, are all-unknowing. One pattern. but can be fairly pricey. of the more interesting perspectives 2.) Make your own! Quite of this story is that the humans B.) The “wave” This time, D.) Do some Celtic easy, actually: play no part in it. The witches center back is the mid-point of Knot work. A.) Cut a piece of card are mortal but have all sorts of the middle wave. Place on fold E.) Mix-n-match, again, board the length you interesting powers/skills; however, and cut. your imagination is want your tassel. their power is declining with each your limit. B.) Wrap your yarn generation. The vampires are or floss around the immortal and do still enjoy their B.) Beads and Coins cardboard until it is the blood; however, there are no fangs 1.) Use different size beads thickness you desire. nor any other typical constraint like for effect. Same pattern C.) Insert a length of sunlight or garlic. Daemons are not ideas as for embroidery. string through one end as well described and I confess that 2.) Coins: and tie tightly. This is I can’t recall any good description A.) Buy the cheapie the top of the tassel. of what they are. If there was metal ones (yucky!) D.) Cut through the a description, it was short and C.) “Rounded”: Same handling B.) Buy foreign coins loops at the bottom of insignificant. All I know is that and cutting of fabric as above. and punch holes in the tassel to release they are extremely creative but not them (keep in mind; them. what makes them daemons. This it is a violation of E.) Wrap a section 1 or is a serious lack for me; I really Federal Law to deface 2” from the top. Wrap wanted to know what the daemons American money-so with either the same are. don’t go punching holes string used to make in them!) tassel body or use a C.) Use misc. metal mplimentary (or even pieces that will “jingle” contrasting) color. D.) “Gothic” or “Bat-wing”: together in a way you same handling and cutting of like when they knock CONGRATULATIONS!! You’ve material. together. just made a tassel!! Yes, folks, it IS C.) Sequins that easy! 1.) Flat actually period * Different yarns (floss, string, and somewhere in whatever) make for different my house I DO have looking tassels. The “fluffier” documentation for the yarn, the “Fluffier” the tassel them! will be. Don’t be shy about 2.) Faceted Not experimenting around to find “period” (for S.C.A., the look that’s just right for your Inc) but still, very pretty project!* E.) Use your imagination for and shiny! other shapes. STEP SIX: Finishing F.) Cut lining at same time as D.) Trim: there are all kinds A.) If lining has not been fabric, that way they match! and styles of trim out there. attached yet, please do so now. Mix several different ones B.) Attach hooks and eyes, or STEP FOUR: Construct and Fit together for a unique look! grommets if lacing. A.) Sew back piece to front E.) Iron-on Emblems: These YAY! Now you have a hip pieces of fabric (do same with can be really fun and are scarf/belt for your costume! lining). Put on and fit: pretty, to boot! AND they Best of all, it is unique to you! 1.) Darts: 1 in center back, are a much faster way to add Congratulations! or 2-one on either side of embellishment to your scarf/ Each group tends to keep to center back, or 3-one in belt! Afterword: on lacing the front: you themselves with some serious each F.) FRINGE!! (Trust me on can either lace up the center or on rivalry between the species. Our previously mentioned this one: if you are going to either side: heroine, a witch named Diana, place! Whatever it takes to use fringe, attach the lining has rejected most aspects of her look nice! BEFORE you do the fringe!) heritage throughout her life. She 2.) Elastic: Learned this one 1.) Beaded: either buy it prefers the life of a scholar and from Ren: Run a channel pre-beaded (usually in makes much of her achievements along top of back piece, Home Decor area) or make accomplished without the use of insert elastic (sewing down your own (prove your witchcraft. One day, while doing edge) and run it through to insanity! It’s possible, but research in a library, she finds a the other side, sewing the requires much patience!) book that is obviously bespelled. end down there to anchor She cares little for whatever is it. Attach lining (no need 2.) Poly hidden by the spell and is only to put elastic on both fabric Fringe: interested in it as a reference to AND lining). comes her research. However, many in a others are very, very interested STEP FIVE: Embellishments! variety in the book as it has been lost YAY, the fun stuff! of for centuries. She attracts the A.) Embroidery colors attention of a host of vampires, 1.) Use regular floss, fancy and other witches and daemons. The floss, metallics, heavier lengths, And yes, folks, it really is that daemons are an annoyance, the weight flosses up to, yes, from 1” to over 25” long easy! witches are extremely hostile and even yarn. Use separately (keep in mind: the longer threatening, and the vampires…. or mix different weights for the fringe, the higher the Created by Nyki Robertson, texture effects. price tag!) Updated on April 28, 2011 (Cont’d on page 14 ) Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 13 and together many characters from weres (were panthers, were bears, him and will not accept no for In Our Book previous novels. Piro and Ibronka, etc)—those who are two-natured any answer. Her threats of crying ( Cont’d from page 13) from The Viscount of Adrilankha like Sookie’s friends Alcide and rape are sufficient to blackmail are intriguing. She finds herself trilogy, are key players in that his clan and even Sookie’s brother into doing her bidding. increasingly attracted to one poker LARP; Cawti and Norathar Jason have come out of the woods Unfortunately for him, what she debonair vampire and begins a reunite for a mission as the Dagger and told the world about their gains from their sexual trysts is relationship. The other witches are and Sword of the Jhereg, with existence. They were hoping that not sufficient for his sustenance. horrified and attempt to control her. some surprising assistance from the human population would accept He is also blackmailed by a young She’s warned repeatedly that the Daro. Khaavren has a very active them grudgingly as they sort of woman desperate to experience relationship won’t be tolerated but role, and his friend from the days have the vampires. But one more physical love before she is she doesn’t believe they can affect of The Phoenix Guards, the elusive group of supernaturals added to the married off to an unpleasant man. her. Pel, appears briefly. Also, Brust vampire population has made a lot Fortunately, these encounters are She attempts to discover the gives the mysterious and as yet of the locals in Bon Temps really much more satisfying for Saint- significance of the book and while unborn Devera much more voice. uneasy. The crowds at Merlotte’s Germain. But over all the events, doing so, learns more about the There is even the scene of Devera’s are thin and Sam is losing money. the burning question for Racogzy other two species. There is more conception. And remember Sandra Pelt? and his lifelong friend, Rogerian, is intermingling than is publicly So in your mind’s eye, imagine The woman that really, really had how to disengage himself from this acknowledged or countenanced by you are holding in your hands a it out for Sookie? (because of past dangerous court and leave without the Congregation – a congress of silver tiassa: sapphire eyes, wings altercations in a previous novel). putting his countrymen at risk for the three species. The assumption that ride on light. What next, for Oh well, she’s out of prison and his actions. is that the book will have an you? ~~ Chris Paige is completely focused on taking As I’d said before, it’s just explanation of the origins of all Sookie out. another chapter in his life with four species and give insight into Dead Reckoning Sookie, as you can imagine, little difference from many of her their different abilities. Here’s by Charlaine Harris really wants her life to quiet down. other stories. I was bothered by the where the logic breaks down for Ace, $27.95, 325pp But of course—it’s still idea that both of these women had me. Witches and daemons are born entertainingly frantic and furious lain with Saint-German enough but vampires are made. How can A new Sookie Stackhouse with vampire dealings and fending times to be turned at the time of they be a species? Unclear by the novel! Oh yeah!! off attacks set up by Pelt. There’s their death yet he did not prepare author. And of course, more fun than also a climatic confrontation them for the event. He despairs There are lots of interesting a coffin full of lusty vampires with Victor and his crew at Vic’s at one point, with Rogerian, that plot ideas – that Diana has the full IMHO. Roadhouse with dead bodies he isn’t able to tell the nasty pantheon of witch powers, that the Sookie’s one-eighth fairy everywhere. Sookie also gets an blackmailing woman what to vampires do genetic research, and heritage is the consistent plot unexpected visit from the demon expect. But it wasn’t clear to me many creative geniuses have been point in this tale. She finds out a lawyer Desmond Cataliades near if he was going to tell the younger daemons. There is little resolved the end who reveals to Sookie woman. The advent of new in this book which may make you some very interesting facts about vampires in his life who would be crave the rest of this trilogy. The her family. his family is of greater interest to writing is technically proficient, the As always this is a great rip- me than another history lesson but plot could use a bit more tightening roaring read, as smooth as syrup on Ms. Yarbro didn’t take us down up. The main characters are pretty Saturday morning pancakes. that road. It wasn’t a bad book; the well-defined but the supporting Why wait for it to come out in writing is as flawless as always, characters are shallow. Overall, the paperback? the characters dependable, but the story doesn’t zing along, it kind Sookie Bon Temps and the story just wasn’t that interesting. of plods. But the plot ideas have vamps are waiting! ~~ Sue Martin But I remain a perennial optimist grabbed my imagination and I when it comes to our Count. ~~ think I’ll have to see how they are An Embarrassment of Riches Catherine Book. resolved. ~~ Catherine Book. by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Tor, $29.99, 383 pp The End of Eternity Tiassa Isaac Asimov by Steven Brust Orb Trade, $15.99, 256pp TOR Books, $24.99, 335 pp The Comte Sanct-Germain has been in my life since 1978 Helpful hint for readers: and no other series has captured In another reprint of a classic, Wikipedia’s information on Steven my interest as has this one. The Asimov’s time traveling novel Brust has an up-to-date timeline for interesting fact of this series is of the far future gets the chance the chronological order of the Vlad that the stories are not successive; to entrance a new generation of Taltos novels and indicates where one can dip into the Comte’s life readers. This 1955 story has held the various parts of this novel fit. lot about her fae relations. Fairies at any point. But it is, to some up surprisingly well, much of the A beautiful illustration of The Claude and Dermot are in and extent, its weakness. Our favorite current technology is either here Cycle shows the progression out of her house constantly. Eric vampire hasn’t had much personal or missing due to having been and the qualities of the 17 Great (owner of Fangtasia) is still her growth in the past few years; it was removed from the timeline as part Houses of Dragaera, according to lover/husband. At least for half of more interesting to read the earlier of keeping humanity safe. which, Tiassa represents Catalyst the novel. And Bill Compton is stories placed earlier in Sanct- Andrew Harlan is a technician, and Inspiration. The questions still out there in the woods (along Germain’s unlife when he was one of the few men in eternity that remain, who is inspired to do with our dear Bubba). And to experiencing changes. But, lately, actually makes the changes to keep (or be) what? And what actions really stir things up, she finds a it’s just another chapter in a long, humanity safe. He has no friends as will have their threshold energies hidden and revealing letter from long life. his job is considered distasteful by lowered? her grandmother and a fairy love This story takes place in the everyone else. His hobby is ancient In the hands of the annoyed token called a cluviel dor hidden middle of the 13th century in the history (pre-2300). Jhereg who REALLY want to put in an old desk she’s about to sell to Kingdom of Bohemia. Racogzy Harlan is sent to observe the paid to Vlad, the silver figurine antique store. Ferancsi, the Count Saint-Gemain 482nd century (48,200 AD) and of a tiassa just might hasten his Buff Viking Eric (and just about has been exiled from his home meets a woman that changes demise. In the hands of defenders every other vampire in Louisiana) country because the ruling his world and challenges his of the Empire, it just might stop have had it with the high-handed King, Bela of Hungary, fears perceptions of the world and the Jenoine from invading. In the Victor who runs vampire life as the rebellion from Saint-Germain’s eternity. presence of an artist or writer, it King of Nevada’s regent. Victor subjects. Racogzy is under severe The story is well-written and activates their greatest creativity. really hates Eric and his vampires, restrictions while in King Bela’s keeps the reader entranced. The In Vlad’s keeping, it sparks the even though Eric is officially granddaughter’s court in Bohemia. blurbs on the book call it his best, I idea for a complex game of table- Victor’s Sheriff. He’s made life He is ordered to keep Kunigunde wouldn’t go that far but it is one of turning, rather like a poker LARP. miserable for everyone, including supplied with precious gems while his top ten. In the process, a young prostitute’s Sam, the owner of Merlotte’s. enduring the scrutiny of the Church Highly Recommended ~~ Bob life is transformed. And what might Victor has set up competition in the and the many spies in his own LaPierre it do in the hands of one who has form of his own bar, Vic’s Redneck household. While this isn’t that endured soul-rending trauma? Roadhouse and it’s sucking the life out of the ordinary for the Count, Best of all, this Tiassa has out of Merlotte’s, as it were. What his worst danger comes from a inspired the author to bring back adds to the problem is that the woman of the court who desires ( Cont’d on page 15 ) Page 14 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 In Our Book Seduce Me in Dreams with powers. alter the landscape and inner- ( Cont’d from page 14) by Jacquelyn Frank A great read for the weekend. scapes of audience members and Ballantine Books, $7.99, 342pp And there’ll be more. ~~ Sue participants. Martin Intermittently, the narrative Central Park Knight As paranormal romances go this follows the life of a bard who, in by C. J. Henderson is a pretty sweet one. This is no Fragment his day, was a spectacular failure. Tor Book, $15.99, 350 pp surprise as Frank’s “Nightwalkers” by Warren Fahy Nairn had the innate talent to be series is very hot. Dell, $7.99, 501 pp the greatest bard of his generation, Henderson begins this novel In this universe, Frank has but singing to pigs and wandering with a humorously erudite created a new set of heroes. along the coast to hear the songs summary of dragons from Tough, buff and handsome, This is a very good debut sung in every village do not historical sources, effectively Bronse Chapel leads an elite team book. It holds the fascinating adequately prepare one for contests establishing the dual theme of of Interplanetary Militia. They premise that an entirely different against court-trained bards who are dragons as teachers and dragons patrol the three worlds; Ebbany, ecosystem could have evolved on magicians as well. as menace that will shape the rest Ulrike and Tari and keep touchy Earth without interacting with any The frame story is like a of the story. This introduction ends events from escalating into major other ecosystem. A small island counterpoint to the legend of with the ominous words, “… what confrontations. smack-dab in the center of the Nairn. Now the central plain is exactly will constitute the agenda Recently, Bronse has been Pacific Ocean, a thousand miles where a school for bards trains of these beasts, on that day when dogged by some very realistic from anything, is the setting for hundreds of students to be the dragons return?” dreams involving a beautiful this story. A splinter of an extinct adequate. Their experiences are Then we get to see our future woman he has never met. Though ecosystem of crustaceans survived the opposite of Nairn’s: they are hero in action. All around New strongly fascinated by her, he on this island and continued to comfortable, busy, organized, York City and its environs, groups worries about his sanity, so he tells evolve without the interference of prosperous, social. Phelan has to of performing artists gather. no one of these, not even his tight mammals, birds or insects. What write a thesis paper to graduate, Presaged by a super-storm, crew: Justice, Lasher, Ender, Trick would such an ecosystem look like and decides the easiest route to SOMETHING is coming, an and Jet. after millions of years? Would it be completion is to re-examine the evil, hungry, extra-dimensional Members of the ETF (Extreme possible for intelligent life to have life and mysterious disappearance shambler, foretold by many Tactics Force), these five have just arisen? These were obviously the of Nairn. As he goes half-heartedly prophets, and Professor Pier barely survived a confrontation questions that intrigued the author. digging into the documents of the Knight, a director at the Brooklyn on the desert planet Tari. They The story begins with a reality past, he begins to see alarming Museum, has prepared his own return to their base with their TV show ship answering a distress similarities between past and creative weapon of defense against communications man, Trick, call to an uncharted island. Their present. Long ago, events and this consuming horror, based on severely injured. enthusiasm to explore the island, confrontations culminated in a some words by Balzac. I guess While recuperating, Trick with no caution, results in a disastrous contest between bards; you’d have to say, this guy’s got inadvertently discovers that their massacre. The military shows now a charismatic musician is Balz. team was set up on their last up, predictably, and with our disrupting court life and calling for Unfortunately, once the storm mission and the trail points to the protagonist, a botanist from the a contest, open to all, to determine starts, so do errors. I went from Interplanetary Militia’s Admiral TV show crew, try to understand who shall be the next royal bard. cringing at bad syntax to banging JuJuren. what this island means to our own Some of the characterizations my head on the table as the author But why this admiral has it out existence. And the conclusion are a delight, especially that of ignored the laws of physics. If for Bronse’s team, none of them is: disaster and extinction of all Princess Beatrice, who prefers seismic activity is strong enough know. And before they can do we know. These new species are archeological digs to court parties, for there to be “lawns swallowed” much digging, they are sent back violent and unstoppable; if loosed and tends to trudge through gala (page 38) and “magma in New out to Tari again on an urgent anywhere else in the world they events in mud-spattered dungarees York City” (page 47) I’m thinking mission. A mission they are sure is would decimate all species they en route to her room. The irate there’d be nothing left of NYC another attempt to take them out. encountered. queen mother threatens to pack her but a wasteland of rubble, and a While dealing with the raid they So, I figured this would be a off to more genteel surroundings; tsunami would probably have taken make on a desert outpost, Bronse predictable conclusion – simply fortunately, her father is out most of the eastern seaboard. finds himself in underground the answer to the question: sympathetic, and enthuses over her Another problem I had was with caverns where he discovers a what happens if one of the discoveries. dialogue. At times, the characters couple of Tari prisoners. species escapes the island? I was This is an exquisite book if you represent fantastic range and And one of them is the pleasantly surprised when the want poetic transportation to Once diversity. You can tell Henderson compelling woman of his dreams! author took a right turn and did Upon a Time for a while. Bonus: has a great deal of admiration And of course, once he finds her, something unexpected. The plot fabulous cover art by Kinuko Y. for humanity’s capacity for self- there is an instant attraction and he was interesting and the characters Craft. ~~ Chris Paige expression. Other times, however, is hopeless captivated by Ravenna. sufficiently fleshed-out. The characters time-warp to 1950s Ravenna and her brother Kith author spent a great deal of the Trolls in the Hamptons stereotypes, like an old episode are Chosen Ones and have been book describing this ecosystem by Celia Jerome of Flash Gordon, or the Foxtrot stolen by a tribe in a . and its inhabitants – to the story’s DAW, $7.99, 320pp sequence when Roger is writing Ravenna has the ability to sense the detriment, I think. One of the His Codename Was THE FOX. future and Kith has a heightened problems that writers fall into Willow “Willy” Tate is a No lesser writers than Mike sense of empathy. Bronse and his when they become enamored writer/illustrator of graphic novels Resnick and William Shatner team rescue the two. Bronse is with an idea, is that they forget who worries about and is afraid endorsed this book, and if you convinced by Ravenna to go to an they need to tell the story, as well. of almost everything, though she don’t get hung up on these glitches, isolated sanctuary and rescue the While there was enough exposition makes herself forge ahead with life you can enjoy Central Park Knight other Chosen Ones, most of whom to be tedious, and enough anyway. On a typical afternoon she in good spirit. The story is full are youngsters. description of the horrific creatures is planning a new story and draws of action and really good ideas, Before the bad guys can of the island to keep me awake out the story board for her new as dragons and humans vie for confront them the ETF team at night, there was also enough idea - a hero troll. Things take a dominance, and the option of an escapes on their ship. They end story to keep me interested. But it turn towards the unusual when the alliance rivals the threat of mutual up at the Interplanetary Militia didn’t get really good until near the troll she drew for her story comes destruction. But C. J. Henderson, space station where Bronse and his end so you’ll have to have a little walking down the street outside for all his [?] writing talent, (I team hope to convince the good patience. I’ll be looking for the her Manhattan apartment, only no cannot believe a woman would guys there that the Chosen Ones sequel. ~~ Catherine Book. one but Willy can see him. Soon describe the assistant Bridget with can help the Militia with their she finds herself deeply involved in such phrases as are by Henderson various abilities. AND that Admiral The Bards of Bone Plain all sorts of paranormal adventures employed), seriously needs to JuJuren is scum and needs to be by Patricia McKillip as she meets a dashing British add a science nerd to his list of taken out. Ace Books, $25.95, 329pp agent from a mysterious agency, A-readers, and a grammarian Events escalate until there is a the Department of Unexplained wouldn’t be amiss. ~~ C. Paige tense stand-off between Bronse’s This is one of McKillip’s Events or DUE, becomes involved crew and Admiral JuJuren---with quiet, slow-moving books, even in the search for a stolen child from Ravenna tossed in the middle. though there’s a war of conquest another world and finds out the As I said at the beginning, early on. The word-smithing, as people of her hometown are much this is ultimately a sweet intense usual, is excellent. The dramatic more than they seem. romance between a very alpha centerpiece of the story is a bardic male and an enchanting woman contest in which magical powers ( Cont’d on page 16 ) Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 15 In Our Book Barbara Briggs Silbert is great. ~~ when a bunch of jocks come down the preface. (Cont’d from page 15) Chris Paige with anemia. His difficulties are Jamie sees something when his compounded by first love, cultural father comes home very agitated. This was a delightful start to Fangs for the Mammaries mores, and an irate, neglected best Creatures are all around the house a series. I could not put it down Edited by Esther Friesner friend. and he is sure they mean to harm until I had finished. Luckily I have Baen Books, $7.99, 393 pp In “Sappy Meals” Hildy them. When his father is killed by the second book, Night Mares Silverman scripts the darkly government agents and the official in the Hamptons, on my to-read Here is the toothsome sequel of humorous monologue of Lord story comes out he becomes sullen pile. Highly recommended! ~~ sorts to Witch Way to the Mall and Dravyn defending the actions of and withdrawn. He is seen by Stephanie L Bannon Strip Mauled, two of the funniest his progeny before a judge of the others as an object of scorn and anthologies in recent years. The Superior Court of Piscataway, New ridicule and is involved in almost Tempting Providence first focused on spell-casters in Jersey. Daniel M. Hoyt gratifies constant fighting. by Jonathan Thomas modern settings, specifically us with a Halloween romantic- Then he discovers the truth: Hippocampus Press, $20.00, 261 suburbia; the second shone the comedy called “Stick or Treat” monsters are real and his dad was pp spotlight on werewolves in the in which the friendship between killed because of them. His mom midst; now we get the low down mortal Jenny and vampire Jan is captured by the vampires and he These 12 “strange stories” on life in the ‘burbs for the undead. crosses the barrier of subdivisions attempts to find her. He is allied by explore the sideways, Each author was allowed/ and opens the door to new the mysterious department nineteen psychological avenues of horror encouraged to reset the parameters experiences for a recently divorced and by Frankenstein. Frankenstein and the supernatural. Some of of vampiric reality afresh, so do suburban mom. Then there’s has been involved with the them, like “Gumball Man” and “A not look or hope for consistency the adult-themed pulp fiction department for a long time and Different Kind of Heartworm” are in details. Some are born vamps, “Trampire,” by Robin Wayne knew members of Jamie’s family akin to Steven King stories, but some are made vamps, and some Bailey, which opens with “She in the past. with a higher vocabulary threshold. have vampness thrust upon had legs like the horns of a Texas The story is a fairly Others are more like Twilight them, to paraphrase Twelfth steer…” and goes merrily and straightforward young adult Zone episodes: eerie, unsettling, Night. Some authors take the profanely on from there. mystery with fantasy/horror or wistful. Almost all the titles laws of physics seriously; others Sarah Settel goes right for elements. Jamie being sixteen involve puns or wordplay, deriving are more concerned with social the jugular of the “vampirism as there is the usual teenage angst and dimensions from the story that dynamics. Narrative styles and a metaphor for sex” motif with naiveté. I am interested in where follows. themes change, but one thing is “Vampless,” in which Valley the story goes but it does drag in The title story, for example, constant: it’s all about laughing girls just want to date vampires, places. is about a photographer named your way to a happy ending. Puns ordinary boys are out of luck, and Recommended ~~ Bob Justin, who takes pictures of and allusions abound, and several a vampstinence counter-movement LaPierre places and buildings just in time, authors continue with characters is underway. Linda Donahue stakes before they are demolished or introduced in the previous a claim to the obvious solution to Nightmares in the Hamptons zoned for destruction. He ekes anthologies. 20 stories here, well suburban crime with “The Goth by Celia Jerome out a precarious living, having worth your dollars. Here are some Girl Next Door.” DAW, $7.99, 320pp turned his back on the 40-hour highlights: Friesner’s own offering is work week route, thus tempting “Overbite” by Jody Lynn Nye “Long in the Tooth,” about Billy, Night Mares in the Hamptons providence in one sense. When concerns the unlikely friendship who likes older women, and an takes place almost immediately he returns to Providence to between Delilah, a teen vampire older woman who know how following the events in Trolls in the display some of his work at his with new braces and Jim, the to hold her own, even when Hamptons. alma mater’s art gallery, he finds human son of a dentist who competition presents itself in the Willy is trying to get back to himself lured by recollections of caters to the special needs of the form of a well-enhanced gold- normal but it is hard considering the past, his own college years, and nightfolk. “If Music Be the Food of digger. After the regional tonalities she is still staying in her mother’s then, inexplicably, by glimpses of Love …” by Dave Freer describes from LA to Yonkers, Laura J. house in Paumanok Harbor while Lovecraft himself. Now a dream- how difficult it can be to be the Underwood writes in a more trying to figure out if she really Providence is tempting him. undead father of a permanent aristocratic vein, with the true should marry Grant, the dashing Gradually, he deduces the presence teenager. Let me tell you, it’s imbiber’s elegance and scorn for British agent, who turned out to not of a Lovecraftian, otherworldly tough, even if your best friend is all that is déclassé in “Bella and the only be rich but a British Lord with intrusion… a hungry one! a mad scientist named Flying Lugosi.” an estate and title! Compounding “The Men at the Mound” is a with a troubling teen of his own. Finally, Steven Pizics presents her problems is the violence story of haunts. Raedwald, king of Julia S. Mandala’s “Soccer Mom “Bait and Switch” featuring sweeping the town, depression, East Anglia, is trying to keep peace Smackdown” is about one of the Wanda Silver, a sassy, savvy anger, fights and insomnia. People between his people who honor unwillingly turned – as a vampire, Erin Brockovich-ish heroine describe seeing white mares that Wotan and the old gods, and the Louise cannot properly engage in with huge medical bills to pay. bring a wave of sadness and rage Christians in their midst. Peace- the suburban lifestyle, but when Usually she gets hired by desperate and then disappear from sight. bribes are expensive, but wars are her young son is being bullied, daddies who want their delusional Willy contacts Grant for help costly too. A timewarp allows him well, she has to do something! daughters disillusioned and but he is about to go off on an to glimpse a piece of the future Unfortunately, the bully’s mom weaned away from an addiction expedition to send a Yeti back that is sadly, poignantly, relevant models her life after Buffy the to vampire love storylines. Wanda to the other dimension where to him, but not in a way he can Vampire-Slayer. The funniest part listens sympathetically to each he belongs so Grant will not be understand, and he seems to the of this story is the bit about popular star-crossed maiden’s raptures, coming to help. Instead he says a one future witness no more than a names for suburban kids. Similarly, then shows her the true age of famous horse whisperer from the revenant himself. K.D. Wentworth parodies mall her vampire paramour in a magic Department of Unexplained Events “Into Your Tenement I’ll shop names in “Miss White mirror. Since they typically look or DUE will be coming to take care Creep” is horror with a side Hands’s Class Goes Shopping” in like the portrait of Dorian Gray, of the problem. As they bicker a of irony. “Power of Midnight” which well-bred teen vamps elude next day she collects from a well- bit on the phone, Willy breaks her is about a record, “the vinyl their private school instructor and pleased papa. But now the one engagement to Grant feeling she Necronomicon,” that alters the variously enthrall or terrorize the vampire she hates most in all the doesn’t really know him; after all, world for the worse every time it denizens of day at a Midnight world wants to hire her – to save they got engaged within days of is played. That sure explains a lot Madness Sale and start a free-for- him from a determined female. I meeting each other. about the last 33 years, doesn’t it? all frenzy at Goth Topics. especially love how Pizics’ title Soon the cowboy comes to “Passenger Bastion” is the hard In “Sarah Bailey and the Texas works on five levels: first with town to help contact the magical SF contribution, set in a what if? Beauty Queen” Lee Martindale his own students, then four times mares and help them return to their future where planes are fueled confirms our suspicions that within the plot. Good stories here, dimension. And what a cowboy by “enriched” coal, and are kept successful real estate agents heartily recommended. ~~ Chris Ty Farraday turns out to be! Willy aloft only so long as someone really are heartless, soul-sucking Paige is immediately attracted to Ty but keeps shoveling. In this story, it predators running on a blend of has problems convincing him that is people’s attitudes, and their malice and greed who delight Department Nineteen their focus should be the lost colt indifference, that are horrific. in toying with their victims. by Will Hill the mares are searching for instead This collection is varied in its Timely, this one. David D. Levine Razorbill Books, $17.99, 440pp of trying to find the mares. As her themes and narrative voices as if contributes the very well-written link with the hurt and frightened Robert Browning had switched “Family Matters,” in which young This is the first book in a trilogy. colt strengthens the search for both from persona poems to writing Julian tries to protect a refugee The various departments are in the short fiction. And the cover art by vampire from his own coven U.K. government and are listed in (Cont’d on page 17) Page 16 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 In Our Book to keep the other at arm’s length Engineering Infinity God, they are real and can be though burning to be together edited by Jonathan Strahan seen.” (Cont’d from page 16 ) obviously adds a great deal of Solaris Books, $7.99, 390pp The book opens with a journal the mares and the colt, it becomes tension to the story. entry where Danny tells us about more intense as the need to save There is no sex—but tons of This volume is a set of short an encounter with a UFO while the colt in order to save the gifted angst because Haden doesn’t want science fiction stories. In the standing in his front yard late one residents of Paumanok Harbor Theia to be a pawn of his mother forward, Strahan tells us how night. And this encounter fires the becomes more desperate; because, (or his demon nature) and Theia, it started as a hard SF volume boy’s imagination and he and his if the colt dies, who knows what though desperately attracted to and slowly, as with reality, it friends become absorbed in UFO havoc the night mares will wreak. Haden, doesn’t want Haden to developed into the volume you see phenomena: the Men in Black, Willy is delightful, her odd be punished by the manipulative here. But what you see here is a Area 51, any books they can find, ball family and the town and Mara. beautiful testament to the constant any sighting they can find in library fascinating. This is a delightful And of course—all hell does refining and redefining that SF has microfiche. The bulk of the novel series. I read the first two books break loose. undergone in the last few decades. is Danny’s wildly imaginative in two days and I can hardly wait But the tale has a very satisfying Some of these tales take place journal—his “real life” - the life of for book three, Fireworks in the ending…for a book which is likely in the crushingly near future, so adventure and danger in a world Hamptons, due out this November. to be just one of several about close you can see it happening this much more edgy and exciting Highly recommended. ~~ these two star-crossed lovers. year. Others take place down a than the one outside his mind. Stephanie L Bannon All of the novel’s characters are shadowy corridor of time we didn’t While pursuing information about enough off- center to be engaging. explore. Still others are a glimpse UFOs at the downtown library, Falling Under I look forward to more. ~~ Sue of the possibilities of the far future. Danny meets with older teenagers by Gwen Hayes Martin All of them are well-crafted and Julian and Rochelle. The journal New American Library, $9.99, most of them require some thought chronicles Danny’s wild journey 324pp Fuzzy Nation afterwards. The thought afterwards driving (at age 13!) with Julian by John Scalzi is a sign of a good story, also all the way to Florida to meet up This YA novel has a terrific TOR Books, $24.99, 301 pp one of the reasons I recommend with Rochelle (who’s been on a opening line and the rest of the reading this at your leisure, take a mysterious trip to New Mexico). book that follows is just as good. Jack Holloway is an few days so that the messages sink He is convinced the infamous Men The basic plot is very familiar independently contracted in. in Black are after them and tells YA territory: an awkward prospector on Zeracorp XXIII, The authors that contributed us of a frightening meeting in the seventeen-year-old girl, Theia a company-owned planet with to this volume reads like a who’s Miami airport while waiting for Alderson, moves to a northern enough valuable raw materials to who of current SF. Stross, Rusch, Rochelle’s plane. California town. Her home life make a man rich if he is skillful, Baxter, and Benford are just the The story escalates and Danny is cool and strict: mother died careful, and lucky; otherwise, he first to catch my eye on the cover. is sucked into a subterranean giving birth to her, her father is a might wind up dead or just broke The stories are varied and range world following a UFO that sinks constantly busy barrister (English and shipped back to Earth on the from finding ourselves on the into the earth. After wandering lawyer) who has pots of money next beanpole launch. Jack likes to sidelines as two races war among in an exceedingly gothic, bizarre but not too much affection. At antagonize people – he used to be the solar system to downloaded landscape, he finds the space ship school, Theia has a couple of a lawyer – including his supervisor psyches in robot bodies slowly and gets trapped inside where he’s quirky girlfriends who don’t and ex-girlfriend; so Jack’s deteriorating from radiation to the subjected to alien probing which like the “sneetches” the popular something of a loner, except for world facing destruction from the ends with him certain he has been cheerleaders/jocks. Donny is way his good dog, Carl, whom he has “angels” we created to help us. used to impregnate an alien! Trust into boys and independent; Amelia taught to detonate explosives. Jack Finding a favorite would be me, at this point; events for Danny is into all things metaphysical. is also the first human to meet the like finding a favorite food, it are downright hallucinogenic. And into this nominally typical planet’s most intelligent life form. would depend on what you want Then the real world intrudes teenaged world falls an absolutely Trouble is, he and the company at the time. I will look for some when Danny wins the National gorgeous guy, Haden Black. The Zaracorp lose all rights to and of the works of the authors I was Bible Contest with an essay titled kind of guy, whose looks make profits from the planet if a native unfamiliar with prior to reading “Passage of Time in the Book of him a perfect match for a sneetch, sentient species is discovered, this book. My mind is officially Job.” First prize: a trip to Israel. but who, after meeting Theia and Jack just found a deposit blown. But even there his fantasy life under unusual circumstances, finds of sunstones that could net him Very highly recommended ~~ absorbs his visit and he meets up himself very attracted to the violin- billions. What’s an anti-hero to do? Bob LaPierre with Rochelle in Jerusalem—who playing introvert. In his Author’s Note, Scalzi apparently was the alien female he Of course, he is not all he explains, “Fuzzy Nation is a Journal of a UFO Investigator impregnated and their daughter, appears to be. And lest you reimagining of the story and events by David Halperin because of her manipulated genetic think this is a feeble rip off of in Little Fuzzy, the 1962 Hugo- Viking, 294pp heritage, is not doing well. “Twilight,” it isn’t. A character nominated novel by H. Beam A meeting with Julian (who’s even comments that one of Piper….Think of this as a ‘reboot’ This is a first novel by Halperin, now in the Israeli Army) leads Haden’s peculiarities better not be of the Fuzzy universe, not unlike a professor emeritus of religious Danny to the Negev. There he is that he’s ‘a vampire with glittery the recent J.J. Abrams ‘reboot’ studies at the University of shown the flying saucer he’d been skin.’ of the Star Trek film series, (but North Carolina at Chapel Hill. abducted to previously sitting on a No. He is a half-human, half- hopefully with better science).” It is all about alienation (and tower in a desert crater. And to be demon teenage boy from Under (a John Scalzi packs more action well, in a manner of speaking honest—I got a bit lost as the story euphemism for the Underworld). and laughs in 17 pages than most - Alien Nation!). It is the story leaves Israel, Danny and his alien His father was human and his writers can with 200. Furthermore, of a thirteen-year-old Jewish child get on the disc which flies to mother is Mara—demon queen of he abides by the laws of logic, boy growing up in 1966 near Roswell and crashes. Next chapter, Under and the source of all human physics, and foreshadowing. Philadelphia. Danny Shapiro is a Danny is suddenly getting ready nightmares. Fuzzy Nation is about as close geek. His mother is chronically for college. Haden is struggling to find to perfect as a book can get. It’s ill and he and his father tip-toe At the end, Danny flings his balance between two worlds. fast-paced, funny, part xeno-planet around the house in their efforts journal on his old bed and leaves (Yes—just like Edward Cullen but hard SF, part first contact, part to avoid agitating her. Danny his father’s house. UFOs don’t less confident. Haden is actually a courtroom dramedy, with scenes of knows if he hadn’t been born, his have any place in his new college lot older than Edward—he’s 170 aaawww cuteness contrasted with mother would not be as ill as she life. years old.). ones of adrenaline-laced tension. is. Fundamentally Danny’s father But there’s more to the UFOs Theia gradually becomes aware It has reversals, revelations, loves him, but resents the fact his in Danny’s psyche than can be of Haden’s true nature because he and a satisfying conclusion that birth ruined his mother’s health. So symbolically left behind. And a just can’t keep his distance. And leaves room for a sequel. Strongly what’s a boy to do? He is an only letter from Julian muddles it all the two of them fall in love. But recommended. ~~ Chris Paige child and his family life is vague even further! Haden doesn’t want to touch Theia; and mostly loveless. He definitely A fascinating though sometimes afraid if he does he will eat her needs something in his life. confusing book from a mainstream soul and drag her to Under to be And for Danny the void is publisher that does not usually the human bride his mother wants filled by an obsession with UFOs, publish science fiction or fantasy, him to have. Because Hell needs an which he shares with his closest this is a very weird odyssey and heir and Haden must produce one friends Jeff and Rosa. To put it all coming-of-age novel. Check out with a human. in a nutshell, Danny tells us: “I So the struggle of these two investigate UFOs because unlike (Cont’d on page 18) Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 17 In Our Book two very different women, both The Sorcerer’s House turn those pages. Time to get out (Cont’d from page 17 ) magical, and what each has to by Gene Wolfe the plastic and enjoy volume two. offer. Tor, $14.99, 297 pp ~~ Pam Allan Halperin’s lovely website at: Other Kingdoms has an unusual davidhalperin.net. There’s some narrative style: Alex White is in The author has written 40 Deathless lovely artwork there. ~~ Sue his eighties when he narrates his books. by Catherynne M. Valente Martin adventures. Not only is there a In a contemporary town in the Tor, $24.99, 349 pp remove of over sixty years, and American Midwest where he has The Good, The Bad, and The the reflexive commentary of an no connections, an educated man This is by the author of The Uncanny older man describing his youthful recently released from prison finds Orphan’s Tales. A Novel of the Nightside actions, there are the parenthetical that he is heir to a huge old house Koschei the Deathless is to Simon R. Greene interjections of Alexander’s literary long empty. He moves in though Russian folklore what devils, Ace Fantasy, $7.99, 280pp alter-ego: Arthur Black, writer he is too broke to furnish it and demons and wicked witches are of sensational fiction. If you do is immediately confronted by the to Western culture. This is no John Taylor is back. The son not enjoy alliteration and purple supernatural, fantastic creatures dry historical treatise. The young of Lilith has a couple of odd jobs prose, you may find these asides and events. His life is utterly Marya Morevna grows from to complete and a job offer to annoying, but just go with it; it’s transformed. We read on revising clever child to Koschei’s bride consider. First he must transport all part of the piece. Or you can our opinions of him, magic and to his undoing. Along the way an elf across the length of the blip over any parentheses you other worlds as well as the Sorcerer we meet Stalinist house elves, Nightside. Of course there are meet. Myself, I rather like them; who originally lived there. magical quests, and Bureaucracy. A complications; after all, elves are they’re a reminder that Alex has This is a complex spellbinding collision between history, magical just below pathological liars on lived an entire other life in the of other worldly sorcery and history, revolution and mythos the trust scale. First he wants to years between. ~~ Chris Paige haunting. It is also about the nature as well as love and death, which pay in information, second he is of responsibility and family. This is reincarnates a whole new mythos. an emissary between the two elven Satori Gene Wolfe at his best, a master of The author’s new sub-genre is factions, and third, Walker, the by Don Wilson language and subtle fantasy. If you well written fun. I really loved the representative of the powers that Grand Central Publishing, like Wolfe, you’ll love this one. ~~ conflict between Bureaucracy and be, wants to stop him. $25.99, 500 pp Pam Allan magic but you’ll have to read it as John also gets a request from a it weaves its way. You may find a fellow detective, Larry Oblivion, Satori is a prequel to A Magic of Dawn new world to visit. ~~ Pam Allan to help him find his brother that Trevanian’s Shibumi. by S.L. Farrell disappeared during the Lilith Nicholai Hel, genius, mystic Daw, $7.99, 559 pp Among Thieves war. Of course that can’t be as and the perfect assassin. He has by Douglas Hulick simple as it sounds. John also has been held by the Americans after This is the concluding volume Roc, $7.99, 414 pp an interesting bit of information a horrendous beating, torture of The Nessantico Cycle dropped in his lap - Excalibur is experimentation, and three years of Both the city and the empire Among Thieves is a tale of The coming to the Nightside. solitary confinement. are diminished by the ravages of Kin. Finally there is the job offer, Now the Americans need him civil and religious war. Fifteen Ildreecca is a dangerous city Walker is dying and wants John to for a suicide mission, offering years have passed since the if you know what you are doing. replace him. freedom, money, and a passport. Empire nearly came to an end. Fortunately, Drothe has been a Reading the previous Nightside His handler may be honorable, but Allesandra sits on the Sun Throne. member for years of the Kin. novels will be a help but it’s those above him are not. Her son, Jan, is the opposition and Working for a crime lord, he not necessary, Greene gives Trevanian has been negotiations have gone on for a finds and takes care of problems background where needed and his reincarnated. Wilson moves long time to no avail. But as the in his boss’s organization while descriptive text puts you in the forward with a crisp style, great stalemate continues, the Tehuantin smuggling relics on the side. scene. character development, and action have set sail to avenge their When his boss sends him to Highly Recommended. ~~ Bob that even dominates a formal tea losses suffered long ago. Unless track down whoever has been LaPierre ceremony. It’s a keeper. I’d say Allesandra and Jan work together, leaning on his people, he finds that more but I am going out Book both may pay the price. he has been set up, but a bigger Other Kingdoms shopping. Enjoy. ~~ Pam Allan This has more intrigue, both mystery has appeared. The book by Richard Matheson political and religious, than the that a lot of deadly people want, Tor Book, $24.99, 312 pp Renaissance. With vivid and as well as Drothe’s life. This book Moon Over Soho memorable characters all painted in may bring down the emperors and Richard Matheson has by Ben Aaronovitch shades of grey in this well-drawn shatter the Kin. written extraordinary tales of Del Rey, $7.99, 288 pp tempestuous world calling to mind This is reading pleasure, a fast- love, longing, and loss across George R.R. Martin in its complex moving, funny, plot-twisting book boundaries of time and death, as Moon Over Soho is by the plotting. This is a gotta-have-it with a great world and even better well as nightmarish stories that author of Midnight Riot. novel even if you haven’t read the characters. This is a book you have crisp the hair. He has given us The corpse of Cyrus Wilkins is cycle. ~~ Pam Allan to read and enjoy. I am looking memorable villains, such as Jack sending out an old jazz standard forward to what’s next. ~~ Pam the Ripper in Somewhere in Time, as he lies dead of a heart attack; a At the Gates of Darkness Allan and the abstraction of despair in sure sign of a supernatural murder. by Raymond E. Feist What Dreams May Come. Other Body and Soul is also what Harper, $7.99, 309 pp The Shining City Kingdoms has romance, history, Peter Grant risks as he investigates by Fiona Patton horror, the magic of Old England, a pattern of similar deaths in and At the Gates of Darkness is Daw, $15.00, 280 pp and a powerful villainess. around Soho. With the help of book two of the Demonwar Saga. In 1917, American Alexander his superior, Inspector Thomas Ten years beyond the Darkwar, The Shining City is book three White would rather enlist than Nightingale, Peter will discover a the demon hordes are still at it. of the Warriors of Estavia. endure his father’s swinishness magical menace that leads to his The defeat of the Demon King Anavatan, the City of the Gods, another day. In the trenches own doorstep and his dear old dad. Maarg hasn’t stemmed the tide, rests on the shore of Gol-beyaz, he meets Harold Lightfoot, of The author has created an and the demon Dahun and the mad the Silver Lake. The City and England. Before Harold is killed, interesting hero and milieu for his necromancer Belasco have joined surrounding villages are protected he tells Alex about his home supernatural police procedural/ forces that Midkemia may not be by the God-Wall, a magical wall village, Gatford, and as a dying mysteries. I expect the series to able to withstand. that protects the dwellers from the gift he makes it possible for Alex continue to grow as his hero does. The Black Sorcerer Pug has nomad invaders and the hungry to emigrate to Gatford after his Meanwhile, here is a chance to get formed an uneasy alliance with the spirits drawn to the energies. It discharge. in on the ground floor while never Conclave of Shadows, Midkemia’s is here that the Gods, the three Alex is warned by villagers being bored. Mr. Aaronovitch was hidden protectors and they must children of prophecy, the seers, never to stray from the path when the author of some classic Dr Who hold back a plague that has overrun Spar and Graize, and the warrior he goes walking in the woods, episodes . Get hold of Midnight worlds. Where shadows hide Brax are all grown now, and with which means he will do exactly Riot and enjoy both. ~~ Pam Allan deeper shadows, the battle will be the young God, Hisar, ready to that, sooner or later. As a result, joined. Can they survive, much less take his place, the time of chaos fear, wonder, and enchantment win? and change approaches. Spar and enter his life, but also mortal Raymond Feist writes a good danger. After certain adventures, fantasy. His rich world and well- Alex must make a choice between drawn characters hold the reader to (Cont’d on page 19 ) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 21 Issue 3 In Our Book Blackout interesting characters. ( Cont’d from page 18) by Rob Thurman For more information, please contact Club Listings Captaim Max - Ambassador, AZCorsairs Roc, $7.99, 336 pp ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North [email protected] 602-799-6184 Graize are sworn enemies but must Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well work together to help the young Rob Thurman is the author of there is a club out there available for you AZ MIB The Men in Black is the official the Cal Leandros and Trickster people. Across Plus is a social club that global organization of field operatives for God survive. discuses anime, video games, manga, other Brax, the sworn champion of series Steve Jackson Games. The Arizona Cell Cal Leandros, half human P.I., animation, and the Japanese culture. We meet attends local and regional conventions to the Goddess Estavia may be forced has always walked a fine line at Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern on demonstrate and promote products of Steve to divide his allegiance to the Gods Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. In general, Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in between keeping his mortal soul we explore anime, manga, and other styles of which could be disastrous and lead free and clear and using the horror local gaming stores as well as community to the downfall of the Shining City. animation, creative educative demonstrations, service events. If you have a gaming store, This, like the first two, is well- of his heritage. When he wakes up participate in interactive discussions, attend convention, or community service that you written with interesting characters on a beach littered with remains local Arizona conventions, and make cosplay. would like to have official Steve Jackson and a well-drawn world. It holds of creatures, the slaughter doesn’t We are willing to gain any new members out Games representation at, please contact the bother him, what does bother him there who are interested. Our members are MIB Arizona Cell Leader at MIB.6361@gmail. your interest and has you awaiting very friendly, respectful, and fun. We welcome the next. ~~ Pam Allan is not remembering who he is and com . We are also recruiting new MIBs in not really caring. Why was he in an any and all. For more information, contact some areas of Arizona. If you’re interested, area where monsters hide “because Todd Miles at [email protected] contact us. You can also find additional Heart of the Exiled Killers hide there, too?” information about us on our Facebook group, by Pati Nagle ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and Arizona Men in Black. Rob Thurman rules in dark renaissance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, Del Rey, $7.99, 420 pp rd urban fantasy with both and arts, banquets, masquerades, dances. meets 3 BASFA Local Tucson science fiction Heart of the Exiled is by the differing series. Blackout throws Saturday 10am at El Oso Park. Web: http:// group that puts on TusCon. Contact us at in some twists you won’t want to www.kingdomofumbria.com/events.html All PO Box 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or author of The Betrayal. are welcome. Free. The Bitter Wars have left the miss. This is collectable and re- [email protected] our website at http:// readable. ~~ Pam Allan home.earthlink.net/~basfa/ world divided. While the savage AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets Kobalen have been gathering Spellcast Wednesday, 7:30-10 PM. Encanto Park, 14th CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE in unheard of in huge numbers Avenue, south of Encanto. Elliot Goldstein, FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The by Barbara Ashford 602-266-4391, e-mail [email protected], the Aelvan governers convene Daw, $7.99, 433 pp non-profit corporation that puts on CopperCon a council. Even though they are 5535 N. Eleventh Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014; conventions, SmurfCons, HexaCons, vastly outnumbered, the Aelven or Timmie Ann Schramm, 602-585-7623, 2326 occasional regional cons, and publishes send barely trained guardians Spellcast will have a sequel. E. Electra Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85024. Con-Notations. Best described as SF/F to confront the Kobalen. Eliani, Things were not going well generalists with a strong bent towards literary for Maggie. First she lost her job, The ARIZONA BROWNCOATS are a SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm on the a young female warrior, is sent social group and state non-profit devoted to find out why the Fireshore then the ceiling in her apartment last Friday of each month in January thru collapsed. Time for a Vermont to continuing the spirit of Joss Whedon’s September and the second Friday in October, governor did not respond. Bound vacation. Spying a sign for inspired series Firefly through charity November and December at Denny’s, 2360 W by Mindspeech to her fiance she events, a presence at local conventions, and Northern Ave in Phoenix, AZ. For information: Hillandale, she impulsively took social events. We are all over Arizona with feeds vital information to the the turn and found herself cast write PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 council across vast distances, but monthly shindigs in Phoenix and Tucson. or email [email protected] Web www.casfs.org she cannot see the dark forces with a summer stock company. As In September, both cities will be hosting behind the exiled clan of vampires. it turned out she was the only one screenings of Serenity to benefit Equality *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of We have a romantic adventure with theater background. However, Now. For more details, visit our website at Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based nothing in her experience could http://azbrowncoats.org and follow our twitter Reenactment group specializing in the with lots of action, good characters @azbrowncoats and world building. I got drawn prepare her for the magic about to western European renaissance. We research happen or the theater’s unorthodox lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Celtic in to the people and story line and staff. ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. We couldn’t put it down. Nagle is one collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and do Anyone who has worked the Arizona LANbashers League throws of the best kept secrets. I will be summer stock will recognize Celtic re-enactment. We open participation looking for the next volume. ~~ quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, to anyone with an interest in period crafting Pam Allan the setting, but here is where the support is given to local groups who wish and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at fantasy takes hold. You won’t to to advertise their own gatherings. We have the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and The Return of Ixtab put it down. Humorous, warm with no set genre of games and play anything the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page great characters, world building, from strategy games to first-person shooters http://www.crofters.org Gatherings are held at by Robert Zitella to driving/flying simulations. No annual Emerald Books, $14.95, 268 pp and mystery. This is a keeper for the Irish Cultural Center on the 2nd Saturday fantasy lover, and theater lovers. membership is required and admission to an of every month. The center is located at 1106 A new author has taken over a event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, The Return of Ixtab is by the sub-genre and I can’t wait for the for current events. Web: www.lanparty.com/all/ phone number 602-258-0109, across from the author of Karma. sequel. ~~ Pam Allan Burton Barr Library. The Board meeting will In the weeks before December ARIZONA PARANORMAL be at 12:00 Noon with the General meeting 21, 2012, most people dismiss INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly trained, starting at 12:30 pm. the ancient Mayan prophesy of an non-profit paranormal investigation group, registered with the state of Arizona, providing THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) end to the world. The rest look at service to Arizona and the Southwest since as a reason to par-tay. Steve Soto An organization formed for the expression 1994. Having served the public for 12 years, and exploration of various cultural themes doesn’t think much about it until we are one of the oldest, most respected including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages he becomes stronger and luckier paranormal investigation groups in Arizona. and the Renaissance through forms of art than he had ever been. He finds We are primarily science based and don’t go including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, himself a hero when he rescues on an investigation looking for ghosts, we go writing, photography, spoken word, and a co-worker who becomes his looking for answers. There is never a charge acts of characterization. 2) a member of this girlfriend. Trying to find out why for an investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at organization. 3) Information available at www. [email protected] or darkones.org someone wanted to kill her, Steve visit our website at: http://www.arizonaparanor finds that he has become involved malinvestigations.com/ with apocalyptic plans of his rich THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and but unstable boss. AZCorsairs “Founded in 1971 as a branch Steel specializes in the general recreation of Intertwined is a parallel of the Society for Creative Anachronisms, or the culture of the Middle Ages including all of storyline in the far past that has SCA, our primary focus is 16th – 18th century the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, a warrior prince grappling with a European culture and the pirate lifestyle of the Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts glowing rock and a neighboring time. The Corsairs will extend pirate portrayals covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD clan with powerful destructive as far back as Phoenician, Roman Era or to and any location within Europe or its explored magic. The future of humanity future Space, Science Fiction genre, and more territories. For more information Web: http:// publicly recognizable Hollywood styled pirate. www.ecs-galandor.org/ seems tied to the Mayan prophesy, Corsair membership is largely volunteer- and the return of Ixtab. oriented, gathered together for fun and while A GATHERING OF PLAYERS- Find Your We have a page turner, an epic helping others out. Adventure - Our club is running into our sixth that leaves the reader guessing to Members of the Arizona Corsairs are, much year. Join us for games and adventure set in the the last page. AND have you seen like their historical counterparts, masters Dungeons and Dragons realm. We offer Living the billboards? ~~ Pam Allan of their own destiny. Creation of characters, Forgotten Realms and Pathfinder Society. We complete with backstory with correlation welcome both new and experienced players. to history, period costume, and emulation Visit http://www.warhorn.net/gathering, to of pirate traditions and arts, rests on each performer, creating varied storylines and deep, ( Cont’d on page 20)

Volume 21 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 19 (Cont’d from page 19) RAW GAMES (Role-players & Wargamers, SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING Club Listings Inc.) Role-players & Wargamers, Inc. is the SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of see what we have coming up. If you have any Valley’s oldest role-playing and wargaming model and high-power rockets and those who Convention questions email us at agatheringofplayers@g club. Currently meeting at 8159 W. Weldon love to see them fly. Launches are held on the mail.com in Phoenix every Sunday from 12noon-5pm second Saturday morning of each month in Listings (except during conventions and other special Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. Harry THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) events). Open to new members - call (623) Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every October. Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. 849-9515. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for membership BUBONICON 43 (Aug 26-28, 2011 ) For more information call Carol Alves, information, directions to the launches and Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel, Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Knights, THE SHIELD The Shield is a RPGA club meetings, and to read the monthly newsletter, Albuquerque, NM ($99/$109, 505- c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, Hesperia CA, located in the greater Phoenix area. If you “Newton’s Minutes.” 843-7000 ext 135) Author Guest of 92345-7066. are interested in Living Greyhawk catch Honor: Stephen Leigh (S.L. Farrell); one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of every TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ LEPRECON, INC. One of the two month at Imperial Outpost Games (www. Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in International Toastmaster: Ian Tregillis; Artist Guest: Phoenix area corporations that put on yearly imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If you are media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS meets John Picacio; Auctioneer: Robert E. conventions. Best described as SF/F generalists interested in Living Arcanis or Living Spycraft every two weeks at different locations around Vardeman. Other guests include Daniel with a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every month the valley. Activities include watching videos, Abraham, Mario Acevedo, Ben Bova, welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the also at Imperial Outpost Games. The Shield of discussions, parties, games, and occasional Aaron Campbell, Diana Gabaldon, Steven second Saturday of February, May, August & Almor hosts RPGA events at the local Phoenix outings with more to come now that Doctor Gould, Darynda Jones, Jane Lindskold, November unless otherwise notified. August conventions. For more information visit us Who is returning from hiatus. Many members is the annual meeting where board positions at games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ maintain an active presence at conventions. M.J. Locke, George RR Martin, Victor are deter-mined. For more information, or you can sign up for games at www.nyrond. You can contact us at 2243 W Wagon Wheel Milan, Pati Nagle, Scott S. Phillips, write PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; org Or you can just stop by the 1st Sunday of Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice Mail at (602) Melinda Snodgrass, S.M. Stirling, Carrie call Mike Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email the month. Meeting starts at 10am. Hope to see 864-0901, E-mail [email protected] or Vaughn, Walter Jon Williams, Connie [email protected] Webpage: www. you there. visit us at http://members.cox.net/tardisaz/ Willis. Steampunk theme! Panels, leprecon.org tardis.html readings, Green Slime Awards, costume THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE MVD GHOSTCHASERS—The MVD ANACHRONISM The Kingdom of Atenveldt T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and fantasy contest, art show, gaming, dealers Ghostchasers are a paranormal team is part of the Society for Creative Anachronism club. Weekly meetings are held on the Arizona room, science talk, films, presentations, established in 1995. This band of ghost (SCA), a not-for-profit educational State University campus, with dates and places etc. Website: www.bubonicon.com hunters conducts regular investigations of organization that studies western European to be announced after the semester starts. For Call 505-266-8905 or 505-459-8734 haunted, historical locations throughout history by recreating the “best” pastimes and more information, Email them@themonline. for more information (10 am-10 pm Arizona. They also research and investigate crafts of the Middle Ages. The Atenveldt org Web www.themonline.org MDT); email [email protected] “house call” hauntings for the public. The branch of the SCA encompasses all of Arizona MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo and small parts of Utah and California. UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A “NMSF Conference,” PO Box 37257, Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations Within the fair kingdom can be found six Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan Albuquerque, NM 87176 $40 through across Arizona. These workshops give ghost Baronies: Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin club. We are a social club that meets every two August 5, $45 at the Door. Check/money hunters, paranormal team members and folks Moons, SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. weeks at various locations around the Phoenix order/cash only. PDF registration form on wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a For more information on any of these or for area. The UFP has been meeting for over 30 our website. chance to work and learn techniques together. general information on contact the Kingdom years of continuous activity. Dues are $15/per The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest Seneschal. Email: [email protected] year prorated when you join; no restrictions. speakers at many venues and have appeared Web www.atenveldt.com Membership includes membership roster and CopperCon 31 (September 2-5, 2011) on TV news reports and the subject of several monthly newsletter. Come to any two meetings Hilton Garden Inn, 11460 West Hilton newspaper stories. For more information SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD at no obligation. For information, write the Way, Avondale AZ Guests: Carrie contact: The Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, AZ 85069, or Vaughn Author Guest of Honor; Janni Lee MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, organization of persons interested in all call Jim Strait at (602) 242-9203. Web page: simner, Local Author Guest and Special Director—480-969-4049 Web page: www. facets of historical, cultural, science fiction, http://www.U-F-P.org or Email to Info@U-F- Guest Adam Niswander. Membership mvdghostchasers.com or [email protected] fantasy, and humor costume. Members are P.org often seen on stage and behind the scenes $40 thru August 15, 2011 - More at the ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION at local and regional Science Fiction USS LEONIDAS The Leonidas is a member door. No checks or credit cards will be CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month Convention masquerades. They meet on of Region IV of STARFLEET International. accepted at con. For more info email (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are the last Sunday of each month at various The chapter is an opportunity for those that [email protected] or visit the web site built around guest speakers. We’ve had authors members’ homes in the greater Phoenix area. share a love of Star Trek to have fun and help at www.copeprcon.org such as Octavia Butler and Greg Benford. For details. Southwest Costumers Guild, PO the community at the same time. The Leonidas Non-members are welcome. For details of Box 39504, Phoenix, AZ 85609 or Randall stresses uniforms or other costumes to have the current events and location see our website Whitlock at [email protected] or www. ability to participate actively in various events TusCon 38 (November 11-13) at the www.ocsfc.org or email [email protected] southwestcostumersguild.org as they present themselves but they are not Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 North required. Granada, Tucson AZ 85701. Guest of PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access Membership with Starfleet International Honor: Patricia Briggs, Toastmaster: Ed to building and promoting Autonomous Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically is required. www.sfi.org Upon joining Bryant. Room rates $69 studio, $79 suite, robotics. The club has been in existance since cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s STARFLEET a member is a Cadet. Upon $89 Jacuzzi suite. Hotel phone 520-622- 1998. Meetings are currently conducted twice possible within ten years, with a little luck and passing the Officer’s Training School Exam at a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona a lot of hard work. Join us and help us make it the Online Academy, the member becomes a 3000. Memberships rates $40 thru 6/30, locations, http://www.parex.org/meetings.shtml happen! SAS membership is $30 for one year, Commissioned Officer aboard the Leonidas. $45 thru 11/1 and $50 thereafter and at the Club dues are on an annual basis: Regular which gets you emailed Space Access Updates The chapter does not have dues as of yet. door. Paypal available, More info TusCon, members $20 Student members $15 Of course the instant they pass final edit, plus discounts The dues to be a member of STARFLEET PO Box 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 visitors are always welcome because we know on our annual conference on the technology, International are $15 a year. or email: [email protected] or web at you will eventually become a member anyway politics, and business of radically cheaper No newsletter, but members do receive an http://home.earthlink.net/~basfa/ Web page: http://www.parex.org/ E-mail space transportation, featuring leading players activities E-mail update. No web site yet. Contact: [email protected] in the field. Email us at: Space.Access@Space- Contact : Arthur Fesler-Butts, Jr Access.org Web page: www.space-access.org/ [email protected]

WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION (WesternSFA) A non- Generic Convention Registration Form profit corporation that sponsors AniZona, the ConRunners seminars and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. Dedicated primarily to educational activities relating to literature, music, and Name:______visual and performing arts, especially in the genres of Anime, science fiction, fantasy, Badge Name:______costuming, gaming and science. Applicants for membership in WesternSFA must be Address:______sponsored by a current active WesternSFA member. Dues are $10 yearly plus a $5 non- City/State/ZIP:______refundable application fee. General Meetings are held on the first Friday of February, May, Phone:______Email:______August and November, check our website for meeting location Guests are welcome. For Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for more info contact Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, PO Box 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082 Email: ______convention. [email protected] Webpage: www. (See individual convention listing for mailing address) westernsfa.org More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other

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