Volume 18, Issue 2 April / May ConNotations 2008 The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

An Interview with Featured Inside Scott Lynch Regular Features Special Features by Nadine Armstrong SF Tube Talk A Interview with Scott Lynch All the latest news about by Nadine Armstrong Scott Lynch burst onto the fantasy Scienc Fiction TV shows scene in 2006 with his outstanding debut by Lee Whiteside Hands On Apple’s iPod Touch novel The Lies of Locke Lamora, first By Shane Shellenbarger book in The Gentlemen Bastard Sequence. 24 Frames This wonderful book, about a con artist All the latest Movie News An Amercan in Australia named Locke Lamora, garnered a ton of by Lee Whiteside by Jeffrey Lu buzz at its release, several major award nominations, and a boatload of praise. Gamers Corner In Memory Since then, Scott has gone on to publish New and Reviews from Sir Arthur C. Clarke the second book, Red Seas Under Red the gaming world Ernest Gary Gygax Skies, another strong entry in the series. In Joseph Weizenbaum October of this year, The Republic of Screening Room Plus Thieves will be released in the U.S. Reviews of current theatrical releases Scott is from Minnesota, and before CASFS Business Report becoming a published author, was a MangaZone freelance writer, and also did web design, Reviews of Manga and Comics FYI among other things. These days, along News and tidbits of interest to fans with writing, he works as a volunteer In Our Book firefighter in Wisconsin where he lives © Lee Whiteside Reviews of New SF/F Books Club Listings with his wife, two dogs, and three cats. of mine who I’d been hanging around Recently, I sat down with Scott to talk Musty Tomes Convention List & with wanted to see the novel, wanted to about life, his career, and what’s going to Reviews of Classic Genre books Generic Registration Form happen in that third book. see what I’d been working on, and not just hear about it in the abstract. I put up three segments on a web journal that I Scott, tell me the story of how the book CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT came to be published. I know Gollancz set up for that purpose. Unbeknownst to me, one of them was on friendly terms saw it on the website, was it finished at http://www.casfs.org/ConNotations/ that point? with Simon Spanton from Gollancz and No, it was completely unfinished. told Simon he should take a look at it. FOR UP TO DATE INFO AND MOVIE Mostly bits and pieces and fragments and So, from out of the blue, I got an email REVIEWS BETWEEN ISSUES it was completely worthless. Some friends ( Continued on page 8 )

ConNotations Non-Profit Org. Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society US Postage PO Box 62613 PAID Phoenix, AZ 85082 Permit 839 Phoenix, AZ

Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who Is Who This Issue Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon BOOK STORES 10215 N. 28th Dr, #A1, Phoenix, AZ 85051 News & Reviews Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty Bent Cover Bookstore (602)395-1066 CASFS Business Report 3 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85029 3155 W. Chandler Blvd #5, Chandler AZ SF Tube Talk 3 Film & Video Editors: Len Berger & (602) 942-5932 85226 (480)940-6061 Craig L Dyer 24 Frames 3 Promotions Directors: Book Adventure Comics, Legends & Heroes Len Berger, FYI 7 Richard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer 660 N. Gilbert Rd, Suite B, Gilbert AZ 13560 W. Van Buren, Ste. B102, Goodyear, Screening Room 13 Advertising: Catherine Book 85234 AZ 623-932-3433 MangaZone 13 Proof Readers: Catherine Book, Bob (480) 892-2120 Drawn to Comics LaPierre & Gary Swaty Book Den 5757 W. Glendale, AZ 85301 Gamers Corner 14 Reporters: Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey Lu 15410 N. 67th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85306 (623) 847-9090 Musty Tomes 15 Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Nadine In Our Book (Book Reviews) 15 Armstrong, Stephanie L Bannon, Catherine (623) 486-2529 Gregg’s Comics 2722 S. Alma School Rd, Book, Shane Bryner, Craig L. Dyer, M.L. Book Exchange #8, Mesa, AZ 480-752-1881 Fringe, Michael Griffin, Bob LaPierre, 4320 N. Miller Road #F, Scottsdale, AZ Hero Comics Randy Lindsey, Jeffrey Lu, Christina 85251 (480)990-8380 3405 W. Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, AZ Special Features Paige, Shane Shellenbarger, Gary Swaty, Book Gallery 85053 (602) 843-6320 An Interview with Scott Lynch Tom Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, Randall 3643 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ Samurai Comics Whitlock by Nadine Armstrong 1 Contributors: Michael Contos, M Wozny 85018 (602)468-0400 5024 N. 7th St, Phoenix AZ (602) 265-8886 In Memory 11 Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon 50 W. Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 10720 W. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ An American in Australia Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Dyer (480) 835-0757 (623) 872-8886 by Jeffrey Lu 11 Contributors: Michael Contos, M Wozny Book Rack Stalking Moon Comics & Collectibles Labeling Crew for Volume 18 Issue 1: Hands on Apple’s iPod Touch Mark Boniece, Cathy Book, Craig L Dyer, 3539 W. Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85053 5930 W. Greenway #23, Glendale, AZ By Shane Shellenbarger 12 (602) 843-3026 85306 (602) 896-9992 Bob LaPierre, Jeffrey Lu, Gary Swaty CN Mascots: The Four CopperCon Kittens Bookmans About ConNotations: ConNotations is the 1056 S. Country Club, Mesa, AZ 85210 GAME STORES fan published newszine of the Central (480) 835-0505 Game Daze 2140 E. 5th St #11, Tempe AZ Convention & Fandom Arizona Speculative Fiction Society 8034 N. 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85021 85281 (480)317-9181 Club Listings 22 (CASFS) an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non- (602) 433-0255 Game Daze #1: Paradise Valley Mall, 4550 Convention Listings 23 profit organization. Circulation is estimated at 7,000 readers for this issue, 1930 E. Grant Tucson, AZ 85719 E. Cactus Rd, #422, Phoenix AZ 85032 Convention Registration Form 23 including CASFS members and attendees (520) 325-5767 (602)494-4263 of recent CASFS conventions. 6230 E. Speedway Tucson, AZ 85712 Game Daze #2 Superstition Springs Center, Subscriptions: The newszine is currently (520) 748-9555 6555 E. Southern Ave #2026, Mesa AZ sent free of charge to anyone who has Bookmaster 85206 (480)981-4850 attended a CASFS sponsored convention in 2949 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ Game Daze #3 Scottsdale Fashion Square, OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS the last calendar year and to all CASFS All 4 Anime Metrocenter Mall, Ste. 2218, members. Subscriptions are available. Cost 85251 (480) 423-0501 7014 E. Camelback Rd #2117, Scottsdale for a six issue subscription is: USA: $20/ 10818 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ AZ 85251 (480) 947-1101 Phoenix (602) 997-0895 bulk. Corporate subscriptions are available, 85254 (480) 998-0606 Game Daze #4 Flagstaff Mall, 4650 N. Hwy Casa Grande Library 449 N. Dry Lake email for rates. Books 89 #B2b, Flagstaff, AZ (520)645-0275 St, Casa Grande, 85222 (520) 421-8710 Copyright: Articles, fiction, photos and artwork 9201 N. 7th Ave, Phoenix AZ 85021 Game Daze #5 Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Cyberzone Internet Café in this issue are copyright © of the author/artist (602) 678-4576 Broadway Blvd #258, Tucson, AZ 85711 4153 W. Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, AZ and cannot be reproduced in any manner without (602) 978-1278 their written consent. If no author or artist is Borders Book Stores (520)745-0468 credited the artwork or article is copyright ©of 2402 E. Camelback, Phoenix, AZ Game Daze #6 Chandler Fashion Mall, 3111 Davis-Monthan AFB Library 5427 E. the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society. (602) 957-6600 W. Chandler Blvd #2416, Chandler, AZ Madera St, DMAFB 85707 (520) 228- Publication: Publications dates are February, 870 N. 54th St, Chandler, AZ 85226 (480)-8997406 4381 April, June, August, October & December. (480) 961-4915 Game Depot Foothills Branch Library Publication date of this issue is 03/26/2008; 4555 E. Cactus Rd., Phoenix, AZ 3136 S. McClintock #11, Tempe, AZ 85282 19055 N. 57th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308 mailing date is 03/31/2008 (623) 930-3830 Advertising: ConNotations reaches approx. (602) 953-9699 (480) 966-4727 7,000 science fiction, fantasy, gaming and horror 7320 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ Game Master Games 1120 S. Gilbert Rd, Himmel Park Branch Library fans throughout the Phoenix metro area, the (623) 487-9110 #114, Gilbert, AZ 85296 (480) 558-0750 1035 N. Treat Ave Tucson, AZ Southwest and nationwide. Our ad rates are: 699 S. Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ www.gamemastergames.com (520) 791-4468 $175/Back cover, $120/full page; $80/two-thirds (480 ) 921-8631 Game Nightz Metrocenter Mall, Ste. 1190 McGurkee’s Sandwich Shop page; $60/half page; $40/one-third page; $30/ US101 & Scottsdale Rd (602) 870-8501 2822 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ one-fourth page; $20/one-eighth page. More Pop Cultures Paradise information can be obtained by contacting 10100 W. McDowell Rd. Avondale, AZ GameStop 9620 N. Metro Pkwy W, Advertising, PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85323 (623) 478-9880 Phoenix, AZ (602) 943-3305 AND inside 707 S. Forest Ave #A, Tempe, AZ 85281 85082-2613 FAX (602) 973-2341; Email: Book Krazy 1601 E. Bell #4-5, Phoenix, Metrocenter Mall #1004 (602) 870-8501 (480)557-6640 [email protected] AZ 85022 (602) 867-1018 Gamers Inn 1232 E. Southern Ave, Mesa, Pop, The Soda Shop Submission Info: Writers and artists are Poisoned Pen Bookstore AZ 1649 N. 74th St, Scottsdale AZ encouraged to submit work for publication. While we cannot pay you for your efforts your Gamers Loot (480) 994-4505 4014 N. Goldwater Blvd, Suite 101, 10555 W. Indian School Rd. work will be seen by over 7,000 fans across the The Astrology Store Scottsdale AZ 85251 (480) 947-2974 Ste 101, Avondale, AZ 85353, Southwest and the country. You will retain the Red-Tail Books (623) 872-2773 5731 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ copyright to your work for future publication. To 204 N. Florence St, Casa Grande, AZ Imperial Outpost 85301 (623) 463-6286 submit your work or for more information (520) 836-0370 4920 W. Thunderbird, Glendale, AZ 85306 Toy Anxiety please write to: ConNotations; PO Box 62613, Thrifty Joe’s Books (602) 978-0467 13825 N. 32nd St, #15, Phoenix AZ 85213 Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or contact us via Email (602)308-0292 at [email protected] 6020 W. Bell Road, Glendale AZ 85308 Contact Information: ConNotations and its (602)547-2540 Trails contributors can be contacted by mail at PO Box 2501 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or via email at COMIC STORES (602) 957-4587 [email protected] All About Comics Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club 5060 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ 4001 N. Country Club Rd. 85716 (602) 277-0757 (520) 795-6960 ConNotations Ash Avenue Comics & Books Ultimate Coffee ISSN: 1082-7765 810 S. Ash, Tempe, AZ (480) 858-9447 741 E. Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85020 PUBLISHED: Six times a year Atomic Comics (602) 252-1200 BY: Central Arizona Speculative 1120 S. Country Club, Ste. 105, Mesa, AZ Zia Records Fiction Society, PO Box 62613, 85210 (480) 649-0807 2510 W. Thunderbird, Phoenix, AZ 85023 Phoenix, AZ 85082 4537 E. Cactus, Phoenix AZ 85032 (602) 866-7867 ISSUE NUMBER: Volume 18 Issue 2 03/14/2008 (602) 923-0733 SUBSCRIPTION: $20 for 6 ISSUES

Page 2 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 the same producers, directors, and One of the biggest bits of news SF Tube Talk writers, with scary stories toned down for 24 Frames following the strike was the announce- TV News & Previews broadcast television. Noted directors ment by Paramount Pictures that the Star include John Landis, Darren Bousman, Movie News Trek movie would be moved back to May By Lee Whiteside Ronny Yu, Brad Anderson, Breck 2009 from a Christmas release. Para- Eisner, Mary Harron, Stuart Gordon By Lee Whiteside mount CEO Brad Grey has decided that and Ernest Dickerson. Starring in the With the writer’s strike settled, things episodes will be Brandon Routh, Shiri With the writer’s strike over, there’s the movie can do much better kicking off are picking up again in the TV world as Appleby, Elisabeth Moss, Cynthia lots of activity going on in the genre the summer season than being a holiday the networks head towards the end of the Watros, Eric Roberts and John release. According to producer Damon strike afflicted season. We’ve also got a movie front with lots of new productions Billingsley along with Russell Hornsby, in the works as well as a few that were Lindelof in a www.Trekmovie.com fresh set of shows on SciFi Friday to help Pablo Schreiber, Stephen Lee, Stephen interview, he indicated that “based on the you get through the next couple of stalled now getting back on track. R. Hart, Jack Noseworthy and Larry months. ( Continued on page 6 ) NBC has opted to not bring their Gilliard Jr. Writers for genre shows back for the spring, letting the series will include them gear up for the fall season. NBC has Joe Gangemi, Steve renewed Chuck for a second season and Niles, Dan Knauf, Heroes will also be back for its third Lem Dobbs, Matt season. Both shows are expected to start Venne, Richard production on a new season as early as Chizmar & Johnathan May. A decision on Medium will likely Schaech, Victor Salva, be made around the time of the May Mick Garris, Drew sweeps. NBC has picked up the horror McWeeny and Scott anthology series, Fear Itself, and will Swan, Kelly start airing it on Thursday nights begin- Kennemer and Max ning May 29th. It is essentially a rework- Landis. Expect similar ing of Masters of Horror, with many of stories to what was seen in Masters of Horror with less gore and less CASFS Business Report nudity (which will likely be put back in for January……… the DVD release). *CopperCon 27 Hotel paid, Charity ABC has done well Auction paid. with airing Lost on *CopperCon 28 will be on Labor day Thursday nights and weekend has seen Eli Stone do Friday, Saturday, Sunday, not Monday. well in the post-Lost The hotel contract is being discussed with time slot, seeing it go Embassy Suites at Paradise Valley, near up in ratings for the PV Mall. most recent episodes. *CopperCon 29 is looking for a hotel site. After concluding the *HexaCon 18 hotel search in progress. initial eight episode run *HexaCon 19 hotel search is considering of the season for Lost, ABC will bring it back the same hotel and is checking dates. in late April for five *ConNotations, remember the publication additional episodes, is also sold as a subscription. airing it in the Thursday *A question to the treasurer about future 10 pm ET/PT time slot needs for ConNotations reflected in the following new episodes CASFS budget. The convention surplus of Grey’s Anatomy. funds fill CASFS main and supplements Lost was originally ConNotations. The balance is covered by planned to do sixteen advertising. The 2,000+ copies distributed episodes in the current also announce convention information. season but has trimmed the second half of the February…………. season due to the strike. *CopperCon 27 is being closed. ABC will continue *CopperCon 28 will be on Labor day airing Eli Stone weekend episodes until new Friday, Saturday, Sunday, not Monday. episodes of Lost start The hotel contract was signed with the on April 24th. Embassy Suites at Paradise Valley, near FOX has opted not PV Mall. to have Terminator: *CopperCon 29 is considering a one year The Sarah Connor date change due to DiscWorld on Labor Chronicles complete its Day weekend, and Darkcon in August. full episode order of 13 (they finished 9 before Look at Memorial Day? the strike) and a *HexaCon 18 hotel search in progress, a decision on if the show date in October is being considered. will be back may not be *HexaCon 19 hotel details in progress announced until the with the Embassy Suites at Paradise May up-front presenta- Valley, near PV Mall. October 30, 31 Nov tions. Having left the 1 is being considered. show on a fairly nasty * Website difficulties have been solved. cliffhanger, fans of the Better security at host site is now in place. series are hoping to get *ConNotations submissions deadlines announced. ( Continued on page 4 ) Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk of Echo’s partners, and a federal agent trust Captain John to help them save the attacking it and risk destroying the other ( Continued from page 3 ) who is trying to uncover the center’s city and themselves. Expect some models. This will be an ongoing arc some sort of resolution to it aside from secrets. It is being developed by FOX surprises and shocks before the episode is through several episodes with some of the knowing that John Connor does grow up Television. over. existing cylon models not surviving. In to lead the rebels. FOX has also opted to Also in development for FOX is BBC America will be bringing back The Road Less Travelled, Kara and the hold the current season of 24 until next Fringe, a new series from J. J. Abrams. Robin Hood for its second series starting crew of the Demetrius (an old sewage year, with production resuming on the Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bryan April 26th. Opening up the season is ship) are reaching a deadline in their seventh following the strike. They are Burke, and Alex Graves. It is a drama Sister Hood where Robin and company search for Earth and becoming at odds looking into doing a two hour movie to about a young FBI agent, Olivia Warren are setting up a new camp when with each other, which leads to Kara air in the fall that would fill in some of (played by Anna Tory), who is exposed Knighton is burned to the ground and being in the brig and threatening Roslin the time between the seasons. to the spread of powerful and unex- Marion and her father are taken captive. when she escapes. The episode Faith sees CBS will have new episodes of both plained phenomena. She must work with Robin works to free Marion as well as President Roslin in the hospital for cancer Ghost Whisperer and Moonlight with an institutionalized scientist, Dr. Walter some other women only to have one of treatment where she bonds with fellow Ghost Whisperer starting in early April Bishop (played by John Noble) whose his men turn traitor as the Sheriff’s trap cancer patient, Emily Kowlski (played by and Moonlight at the end of the month. work may be behind the threats. Also for Robin is sprung. The Booby and the Nana Visitor), who is also a Baltar Joining Moonlight for a recurring role starring are Joshua Jackson as Peter Beast sees Robin trying to break into the follower. In Guess What’s Coming to will be Eric Winter who will be playing Bishop, Dr. Bishop’s estranged (but Sheriff’s Strong Room, where he has Dinner, Kara faces mutiny on the Assistant District Attorney Benjamin brilliant) son, Blair Brown as Nina Cord, stockpiled money and treasure to fund his Demetrius and receives help from some Talbot, who gets in the way of Beth and a 16-year veteran at the cutting edge Shah Mat campaign to overthrow King unlikely allies. Wrapping up May should Mick relationship when he takes a liking research facility Prometheus Corp., Richard. Child Hood finds some young be Sine Qua Non which sees the return of to Beth, making Mick a not-so-happy Jasika Nicole as federal assistant Astrid boys discovering a new suit of indestruc- a character “who’s undergone something vampire. Farnsworth, Lance Reddickas as Phillip tible armor under test by the Sheriff, who of a crisis since we last touched base with The CW will have more episodes of Broyles, a special agent for Homeland catches them and plans to execute them. him” according to episode writer Michael Smallville, Supernatural and Reaper to Security who heads the special Fringe One of the boys escapes and warns Robin Taylor. That leads into the last two finish out the season starting in late April. division, and Kirk Acevedo and Mark who sets out to rescue the other boys and episodes of this run, which will culminate The CW has already given out new Valley are FBI agents. destroy the armor. The Angel of Death in the usual mid-season cliffhanger. Look season renewals for both Smallville and True Blood, the HBO series based on has the Sheriff unleashing a chemical for a return appearance by Lucy Lawless Supernatural with Reaper’s fate still to Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire weapon on Nottingham that is blamed on as well as Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh in a be determined. There’s little information books is moving ahead with production the Pestilence. When Will Scarlett’s flashback/dream sequence. on the post-strike episodes for any of the on its first series. Alan Ball is executive father unearths the truth and Robin and Starting on April 11th, SciFi will series. On Smallville, expect threads producing with Anna Paquin in the lead crew set out to help those afflicted by the begin airing the Doctor Who spinoff started in Traveler and Veritas to continue as Sookie Stackhouse, the waitress who chemicals and stop it from being used series The Sarah Jane Adventures, and build to the season finale with can read minds. Also starring is Stephen again. In Ducking and Diving, Robin starring Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane possibly a character or two not making it Moyer as vampire and Sookie’s love suspects that there is a spy in his camp Smith. In the series, Sarah is back home to the end of the season. The first new interest Bill Compton, Brook Kerr as when an attempt to capture The Sheriff’s and alone once again following her recent Supernatural will bring back the ghost Tara Thornton, Carrie Preston as Arlene spy goes awry. When Robin infiltrates the reunion with The Doctor. K9 is not chasers from the first season and will be Fowler, Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, castle to silence the spy, he puts the life around either (he’s on a mission), but done in documentary style and is essen- Ryan Kwanten as Jason, and Alexander of the wise-woman Matilda in danger. Sarah does have a supercomputer called tially presented as a pilot for a cable show Skarsgard will play a thousand-year-old For England... sees The Black Knights “Mr. Smith” to use for help and refer- called Ghostfacers!. For the season vampire/Viking. gather at the castle for a feast, Robin sets ence. In the opening special, Invasion of finale, it will be Dean’s last day and we’ll ABC Family has picked up The forth a plan to kill them all but is double the Bane, Sarah meets the new neighbor find out if he is able to change his fate or Middleman, a series created by Javier crossed by the Sheriff of Winchester and girl, Maria Jackson (Yasmin Paige) who not. Reaper will be back for five more Grillo-Marxuach. The series is about an faces the Black Knights alone. has just moved in across the street with episodes on Tuesday nights starting April art school graduate, Wendy Watson SciFi Channel’s SciFi Friday heats up her recently divorced dad, Alan, (Joseph 22nd, but there’s no advance information (played by Natalie Morales) who joins in April with the return of Battlestar Millson) with occasional visits from her available for them. with a superhero, The Middleman (played Galactica, Doctor Who and the debut of mother Chrissie (Juliet Cowan). Maria With the end of the strike, there’s a by Matt Keeslar), to fight extranormal The Sarah Jane Adventures. First up is and her annoying friend, Kelsey Harper good amount of development news to threats. They are the only two operatives the return of Battlestar Galactica on (Porsha Lawrence Mavour), stumble report with several shows having their for “the worlds most absurdly secretive Friday, April 4th where they pick up across a plot by aliens when they visit the scripts locked down for a pilot to be organization.” It was originally developed immediately after the events of the third Bubble Shock! drink factory, which Sarah filmed during the strike while others on as a TV series a few years back and then season finale, Crossroads (which SciFi is Jane has been investigating. Before it is hold due to the strike have started moving turned into a comic book at Viper Comics airing right before the new episode). In all over, Sarah and the kids have defeated forward again now that the scripts can be when that didn’t sell. Now it has come He That Believeth in Me, they will deal Miss Wormwood and the Bane, thwarted written. full circle and has been turned back into a with the return of Kara Starbuck which is an alien invasion, and freed a young boy In the works as an independent TV series. complicated by Kara thinking she has that the Bane had created as an Archetype production is a new version of The Saint, BBC America will be finishing up the been gone for a few hours when she’s with Sarah adopting him and naming him with James Purefoy (Mark Antony in current season of Torchwood the first few been presumed dead for two months. Luke. Next up is the regular series with Rome) in the lead role as Simon Templar, Saturdays in April. First up is Adrift, Also, the newly aware cylons start consists of two half-hour episodes for the international thief known as The where Gwen learns of a darker side of working to find out some answers about each story. Maria’s annoying friend Saint. It is being produced by Barry Torchwood when she is investigating the themselves including Tigh getting Kelsey is nowhere to be seen but Luke Levinson, Tom Fontana, Bill disappearances of hundreds of people. friendly with Caprica Six. There’s also a and Maria end up bringing Clyde Langer MacDonald, Jorge Zamacona (who is Jack is obstructing attempts to find them lot of fighting and such with the Cylons (played by Daniel Anthony) into their also writing the script), and Roger and the answer may lie in the rift. After that are about to decimate the Galactica circle and joining them on their adven- Moore, the original actor in the role. A that is Fragments, which looks to be a fleet. In Six of One, the Cylons are tures. In Revenge of the Slitheen, Maria two-hour pilot movie is being produced flashback episode, showing us how most fighting with each other while trying to and Luke start the new year at school and and it is being shopped around to the of the Torchwood crew became involved solve the mystery of the final five while soon learn that things are not what they networks. with the organization including Jack’s the humans are dealing with their seem. The Slitheen are back and have Joss Whedon is back to the TV world initiation into Torchwood in 1899, attempts to find Earth and likely what developed a scheme to once again with a pilot named Dollhouse. Eliza Toshiko’s trading of alien technology to Starbuck has told them about it. We also devastate the Earth by turning off the sun. Dusku is in the lead role as Echo, who is save her mother’s life, Owen having a get a look at Baltar’s harem. In The Ties Next up in Eye of the Gorgon, they part of a group of people known as medical revelation, and Ianto wooing that Bind, Kara takes a freighter in search investigate spooky goings on at a Nursing “Dolls” who have had their personalities Jack with coffee and flirting in order to of Earth, the Galactica crew deals with home where they discover a group of erased and are then imprinted with a new, get access to Torchwood. For the season both political and marital issues, the nuns hiding an ancient Gorgon and a lot temporary, persona so that they can take finale, Exit Wounds, James Marsters is Cylons have their solidarity challenged, of realistic looking statues. They discover on various jobs. In between jobs, they are back as Captain John and he takes Jack and someone dies. Escape Velocity find that the Gorgon is trying to re-open a mind-wiped and exist in a child like state. prisoner and sends him back in time for a the Cylons heading towards civil war portal to its home world to bring about an Echo, however, begins to become self- reunion. In the meantime, Cardiff is when they realize that some of the final invasion of Earth. In Warriors of Kudlak, aware. The regular cast will include the overrun by Weevils and the remaining five are with the Galactica fleet and some people who run the “dollhouse”, several Torchwood crew must decide if they can question whether they should keep ( Continued on page 5 ) Page 4 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 SF Tube Talk episode sees the Doctor taking Donna and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padme Amidala Ahearne (Doctor Who) with Carolyn ( Continued from page 4 ) Martha with him to visit an alien planet along with new characters such as Reynolds and Tony Wood executive a new laser tag center, Combat 3000, has where they get involved with a battle Anakin’s padawan trainee, Ahsoka. producing. recently opened up and soon there are a between soldiers and an alien race called Villains will include Darth Sidious, Count Disney/ABC Domestic Television has few disappearances. Luke and Clyde are The Haff where The Doctor faces a Dooku and General Grievous. As for the announced that a series based on Terry captured when they play the game and dilemma like he has never seen before. live action series, it is proceeding in its Goodkind’s epic fantasy Sword of Truth are slated to be shipped off to be warriors Coming up in the rest of the season we’ll development but is still pretty much series called Wizard’s First Rule has in a long running battle between the meet Agatha Christie, have the discovery under wraps. Reports are that it is set been given the go-ahead and will be seen Uvodni and Malakh races. Sarah and of a mysterious library, a trip to a alien between episodes Three and Four and in first run syndication this fall. It is Maria investigate and discover the truth leisure planet with something sinister will feature pretty much all new charac- being produced by Sam Raimi, Rob and work to save their friends and other going on, an episode where The Doctor ters. It is currently being shopped around Tapert and Josh Donen. The series will children that have been taken. In What- has been removed from time and his and may end up on a pay cable network follow the “extraordinary transformation ever Happened to Sarah Jane, Sarah has current (and former) companions must such as Showtime of HBO. of woodsman Richard Cypher into a set up Mr. Smith to divert a meteor work together to save him and the Earth, The BBC announced they have started magical leader who joins with a mysteri- headed towards Earth but when Maria and a big finale that will supposedly filming the new series Merlin, in a co- ous, beautiful woman to stop a blood- wakes up the next morning, no one feature the return of many of the people production with Shine Limited for thirsty, sinister tyrant.” No casting has remembers Sarah Jane and another we have seen over the first four years of broadcast this fall. The series will focus been announced, as of yet. woman, Andrea Yates, is living in Sarah’s the new series and possibly the return of on a young Merlin and Arthur and their On the animated front, Warner Bros. home. Maria discovers a plot by a Davros. ongoing clashes in Camelot. Merlin is Animation has confirmed that the current mysterious visitor dubbed “The Trick- Just aired in the UK on Sky One is the being played by Colin Morgan and season of the Legion of Superheroes ster” with a Graske to eliminate Sarah latest Discworld adaptation, The Colour Arthur is being played by Bradley cartoon will be its last and it is also the Jane from history so that the meteor of Magic. It combine the first two books James. Richard Wilson will be Gauis end for The Batman. With programming devastates the Earth and The Trickster in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and Anthony Stewart Head will be on Kids WB switching to being done by 4 can then move on to take care of The and follows the adventures of the inept Uther. It is being produced by Julian Kids, the future of Warner Bros. shows Doctor. To end the first series is The Lost wizard Rincewind (David Jason) and the Murphy, Johnny Capps, Jake Michie, on the channel is uncertain. In the works Boy, where a family claims that Luke is Discworld’s first tourist, Twoflower and Julian Jones, who have been by Warner Bros. is a new animated series their lost son and take him from Sarah (Sean Astin). Rincewind accidentally has involved in the series Hex and Sugar Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which Jane. Luke soon discovers that the family acquired a powerful spell and it holds the Rush. will feature Batman teaming up with a is actually the Slitheen who have gained key to saving the Discworld from The BBC has other series in the works different superhero in each episode, much custody of him to learn more about him disaster, but the evil wizard Trymon (Tim including a remake of the Terry Nation like the original Brave and the Bold and make use of his abilities. Curry) is trying to gain control of it. It series Survivors and Apparitions. comic series in the 60’s and 70’s. As of Starting on April 18th, SciFi begins features dragons, sentient luggage, Cohen Survivors is about the survivors of a post- now, where it will be seen is still to be airing the fourth season of Doctor Who, the Barbarian, and Death (voice by apocalyptic world set in the present day determined. Next up in the Direct to just a couple of weeks behind the BBC. Christopher Lee) and a cameo by after 99% of the world’s population has DVD market from Warner Bros. is Kicking things off is this year’s Christ- Jeremy Irons as Lord Ventenari, Ankh- been wiped out by a devastating plague. Batman: Gotham Knight which will mas special, Voyage of the Damned, Morpork’s Patrician. At the premier It will be written by Adrian Hodges who consist of six interweaving stories written where The Doctor finds himself on an screening, director Vadim Jean an- told the BBC that “Its themes remain as by Josh Olson, Alan Burnett, David S. alien cruise ship that is a spacefaring nounced that the next adaptation would relevant as ever and while we will be Goyer, Jordan Goldberg, Greg Rucka replica of the Titanic with an assortment be for the more recent novel Going staying faithful to many aspects of the and Brian Azarello. Stories will feature of aliens and a cute waitress named Astrid Postal, featuring a con man named Moist original, we will also be bringing the the Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and (played by singer/actress Kylie Lipwig being given control of the postal story into the 21st Century and make it Deadshot. It will be released in July, Minogue). In true disaster movie fashion, system. Look for the miniseries to turn up accessible to contemporary audiences.” shortly after the release of the new live when a meteor storm hits the ship, the on Ion TV as part of the RHI movie Apparitions stars Martin Shaw as Father action Batman movie, The Dark Knight. Doctor, Astrid, and a group of fellow weekend later in the year. Jacob, a priest working to promote Marvel Comics is getting back into passengers must traverse the ship to try to On the Star Wars front, they’ve candidates for sainthood who discovers a animation in a big way. The Spectacular save their lives and to stop it from officially announced the CGI animated dark battle between good and evil when Spider-Man debuted on Kids WB in crashing into the Earth. To kick of the Clone Wars series and are still progress- he becomes involved with an exorcism. A March and is already working on a regular season following the Christmas ing on the live action series. The Clone two-part special was produced originally second season according to producer special is Partners in Crime, where Wars will debut with a theatrical release intended to air early in the year but the Greg Weisman. Marvel just announced Donna Noble (played by Catherine Tate) in August with the weekly series to BBC liked what they saw enough to turn two new series to be aired on Nicktoons tracks down The Doctor when she comes follow in the fall on The Cartoon Net- it into a full series. The opening parts starting early next year, Wolverine and across an alien problem in modern-day work and TNT. The series will be set were written and directed by Joe ( Continued on page 6 ) London. The alien threat is the Adipose, between aliens who grow in human fat tissue. episodes Two After this adventure, Donna decides to and Three and continue with the Doctor after having will tell in originally said no after their first encoun- detail what ter. Their next stop is Pompeii in The happened Fires of Pompeii, where they arrive a few during the days before Mount Vesuvius destroys the Clone Wars. city. As might be expected, there are According to aliens behind the eruption (from George Lucas, Pyrovillia), rock monsters, and an “I felt there attempted human sacrifice of Donna. A were a lot more large part of the episode was filmed on Star Wars sets in Rome to represent ancient stories left to Pompeii. Next up is Planet of the Ood tell. I was eager where Donna and The Doctor visit the icy to start telling home world of the Ood. It is set before some of them the events in The Impossible Planet and through reveals how The Ood came to be in their animation and, subservient position. After that is a two- at the same parter starting with The Sontaran time, push the Strategem that features the return of art of anima- another classic series villain, The tion forward.” Sontarans. Martha Jones in her capacity It will follow with UNIT (Unified Intelligence the adventures Taskforce) contacts the Doctor for help of Anakin when Sontarans are discovered. The next Skywalker, Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 5 SF Tube Talk ( Continued from page 5 ) the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and new script for Dimension Films. brothers with Joel Silver producing. now owner of the Heavy Metal maga- For movies in the next couple of Emile Hirsch is Speed Racer, who is a the X-Men and Iron Man: The Animated zine) and Tim Miller of Blur Studios months, we’ve got a slow April in store (a young racer who wants to win the cross series. Wolverine and the X-Men will focus on Wolverine and the core X-Men (who will also be handling the anima- good time to catch up on your DVDs) but country race, The Crucible, during which team as they recover from an explosive tion). once the calendar turns over to May, his older brother Rex Racer (Scott event that takes away their mentor, Warner Bros. has announced that the there’s a major genre film out each Porter) lost his life. Speed’s dad, Pops Professor X, and work to prevent the final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter weekend over the next month. (John Goodman), has designed the world’s destruction. In Iron Man: The and the Deathly Hallows will be split Nim’s Island (April 4) is based on the ultimate racing car in the Mach 5 and Animated series, it follows Tony Stark as into two films to be able to accommodate novel by Wendy Orr and Kerry Millard when Speed rejects an offer from the a teenager when his father is killed and everything that happens in the series about a young girl named Nim (Abigail owner of Royalton Industries (Roger Tony is injured and becomes dependent finale and to do it justice. They are Breslin) whose island is a magical place Allam) to join his team, Speed becomes a on his technology to survive. In addition currently filming the sixth movie, Harry that is only bounded by her imagination. target. With support from his parents, his to surviving the pressures of being a Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which Her favorite literary character, Alex girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci), he teenager, Tony also takes on the mantle of is slated for release on November 21st Rover (Gerard Butler), is the world’s enters into a partnership with his former Iron Man. this year. Part one of the finale should hit greatest adventurer. When her dad goes rival, Racer X (Matthew Fox) to with theatres as a holiday release in 2010 with missing (also played by Butler), she The Crucible and save his family busi- ( Continued from page 3 ) 24 Frames the eighth and final installment in early enlists the help of the Alexandra (Jodie ness. summer, 2011. Foster), the author of the Alex Rover The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince dailies they have been seeing and hanging Terry Gilliam had shut down books and Rover himself. Caspian (May 16) takes us back to the out on the set and seeing and beginning production on The Imaginarium of The Ruins (April 4) is an adaptation of land of Narnia in the second film based to understand what the movie is, I think Doctor Parnassuss following the death the novel of the same name by Scott on C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series. A year after that they are starting to look at it as a big of star Heath Ledger. Johnny Depp, Smith. When a group of friends visit a their adventures, the four Pevensie summer crowd-pleaser as opposed to a Colin Farrell and Jude Law are all remote archeological dig in the Mexican children return to Narnia where 1,300 very sci-fi, not-as-accessible-to a-wider- replacing Ledger’s character in the jungle, they find something deadly years have passed. Prince Caspian (Ben audience Christmas release.” The initial movie. In the film, characters pass among the ruins there. They must fight Barnes) is prevented from taking his trailer and some special footage of the through a magic mirror into parallel their way out and survive. Stars rightful place on the throne by his NCC-1701 under construction can be worlds and Ledger had completed Jonathan Tucker as Jeff, Jena Malorie villainous uncle King Miraz (Sergio seen at the movies official website at filming on the segments in the real world as Amy, Shawn Ashmore as Eric, Laura Castellitto). Caspian uses Susan http://www.startrekmovie.com and at and the three actors will play a trans- Ramsey as Stacy, and Joe Anderson as Pevensie’s magic horn to summon the J.J. http://www.ncc-1701.com. With formed version of Ledger’s character Mathias. children back to Narnia and help him to Abrams and his team involved, expect to when they pass into the other realities. Prom Night (April 11) is yet another organize an army of Narnians to help him see a lot of online activities related to the On the comics front, Warner Bros. has “classic” horror film remake for the new reclaim his throne. Reprising their roles film over the next year. obtained the rights to make a movie based century. It’s prom night and there’s a from the first movie as the Pevensie Elsewhere in the TV show into a on Jeff Smith’s Bone comic, describing killer on the loose! Stars Brittany Snow, children are William Moseley (Peter), X-Files movie category, the second it as “Bugs Bunny meets Lord of the Johnathon Schaech, Brianne Davis, Georgie Henley (Lucy), Anna movie has wrapped filming and is slated Rings.” They are developing it as an Kelly Blatz, and Jana Kramer. Popplewell (Susan), and Skandar to be released on July 25th. The biggest animated film but haven’t yet ruled out The Forbidden Kingdom (April 18) stars Keynes (Edmund) with Liam Neeson news out of the filming of the movie was the possibility it could end up as a live Jet Li and Jackie Chan in an adventure once again providing the voice for Aslan a big kiss between Mulder and Scully that action adaptation. Warner Bros. also has about a young fighter from the present and Tilda Swinton making a brief re- was caught on camera and film by the Justice League movie back into pre- day, Jason (Michael Angarano), who is appearance as the White Witch. paparazzi and posted all over the internet. production after putting it on hold during transported back in time to ancient China Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the David In a post-filming press conference, the writer’s strike. Warner did allow the while on a quest for bootleg kung fu Crystal Skull (May 22) brings back Duchovny revealed that the kiss was cast options to expire but has advised movies in Chinatown. Jason is tasked Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones for the Gillian Anderson staged by him and them that they should continue training with freeing the Monkey King (Jet Li) long-awaited fourth film in the series. It with the crew participating. They’d been for their roles. Once the script polishing who has been imprisoned by the evil Jade is set in 1957 where Indiana Jones has followed by fans and paparazzi all during has been done, expect a formal announce- Warlord. He must work with a wise king retired to a quiet life of teaching when he filming and decided to stage a big kiss to ment by Warner Bros. The Shazam movie fu master, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), and a is thrust back into action in and adventure set them off. As for any details on the plot from director Pete Segal also was band of misfits to accomplish the task and with the Soviet Union and the quest for for the film, they are keeping it very delayed by the writer’s strike and Segal is find a way to return home. the Crystal Skull. Karen Allen will secret and about all they have said is that hoping to get it back on track for produc- Iron Man (May 2) kicks off the summer reprise her role as Marion Ravenwood it will be a stand-alone story. tion soon. In interviews during press of 2008 with the origin story of how with Shia LeBeouf as Indiana’s new Get Smart When the movie hits the sessions for Get Smart, Segal indicated arrogant businessman and inventor Tony sidekick, Mutt Williams, Ray Winstone theatres in June, there will also be a direct the movie’s title is now Billy Batson and Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) becomes the as Mac, a friend and competitor with to DVD spinoff featuring the supporting the Legend of Shazam and that he wants superhero Iron Man. When Stark is Jones, Cate Blanchett as Russian agent Masi Oka characters of Bruce ( ) and to make sure he has a good script before kidnapped and imprisoned and forced to IIrina Spalko, with John Hurt, Jim Nate Torrence Get Lloyd ( ) called proceeding with production. The new build a deadly weapon, he instead creates Broadbent, and Alan Dale also appear- Smart’s Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control. comic Locke & Key by Joe Hill has been an iron suit of armor that he is able to use ing. Steven Spielberg is directing from a Get Smart Peter According to director picked up for a movie version by Dimen- to defeat his captors. When he later screenplay by David Koepp based on a Segal , the direct to DVD movie is an sion Films and is being developed for a comes across a plot that threatens the story by George Lucas and Jeff experiment by Warner Bros. to do a potential franchise. It centers around a world, he goes into action in his ad- Nathanson. Plot details have been very companion release in conjunction with a trio of children who become the caretak- vanced outfit as Iron Man to save the tight so far with the most information movie in the theatres. They really liked ers of a magical mansion in New England world. The film is directed by Jon about the movie being revealed in the the two characters in the movie and shot called the Keyhouse that has doors that Favreau and stars Gweneth Paltrow as trailer. Expect a non-stop roller coast ride the second film simultaneously with the take them to different places and give Stark’s secretary and love interest that may live up to expectations, which main movie. them powers. Virginia Potts and Jeff Bridges as the are pretty high. Paramount has started work on a new Remakes in the works includes Attack evil Obidiah Stane (aka the Iron Monger). Heavy Metal movie, inspired by the of the Killer Tomatoes (with Kent Expectations are high for this adaptation original animated film from 1981 based Nichols directing from a script he co- and it looks like it might meet them. David Fincher on the magazine. Director wrote with Douglas Sarine), Rosemary’s Speed Racer (May 9) is next up in the is in charge of it and will direct one of the Baby with Michael Bay producing, and May box office race. This adaptation of eight or nine planned segments. Also Hellraiser with Feast writers Patrick the sixties Japanese cartoon series was Kevin Eastman directing are (creator of Melton and Marcus Dunstan writing a written and directed by the Wachowski Page 6 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 DRAWN TO COMICS GAME DEPOT Manga Bookclub Free Comic Day. May 3 Heroclix Tournament FYI April 19, 7pm Special Event: Appearances by illustrator Every Wednesday, 5:30pm-7pm CASFS Book Discussion May 17, 7pm Bryce Lee and writer Jeff Aden to UFS Bent Cover Books Barnes & Noble, Goodyear promote the 2009 release of “The Fix”. Thursdays, 6p-9p Also, illustrator Jenn Lee for this year’s 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix Graphic Novel Book Club release of Marvel Masterpiece Trading IMPERIAL OUTPOST GAMES 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm, in the Coffee Bar 2nd Sunday, 8:30pm Cards; and Jesse Guitterez, creator of Warhammer Fantasy Tournament. Sponsored by Central Arizona Four Peaks Brewery, Tempe Banditos Studio Productions. April 19, 10am Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) Heroclix. Saturdays, 2p Privateer Press & Iron Kingdom Hobby email questions to [email protected] Science Fiction Book Group MechWarrior Tournaments. Day. May 1, all day Mar 11, 7:30pm Sundays, 1pm We are a small, friendly group of science Apr 8, 7:30pm ( Continued on page 8 ) fiction/fantasy literature fans who like to Barnes & Noble, get together to talk about our favorite Eastside Tucson books. We welcome potential new friends. AUTHOR SIGNINGS April 15 - Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. It’s America in 1962. Jim Butcher Slavery is legal once again. The few Jews Apr 2, 2pm who still survive hide under assumed Poisoned Pen names. In San Francisco, the I Ching is as bookstore common as the Yellow Pages. All because some 20 years earlier the United States Charlaine Harris lost a war—and is now occupied jointly May 9, 7pm by Nazi Germany and Japan. Poisoned Pen May 20 - Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart bookstore (avail in paperback) In my humble opinion, this is the best treatment of the SPECIAL BOOK Arthur/Merlin legend ever... RELEASES June 17 - Hominids by Robert Sawyer. An engrossing story encompassing Subterranean Press science of alternate universes, evolution “Skeleton in the and sexual identity. The beginning of the Closet” by Robert Neanderthal Parallax trilogy. Block, illustrated by Gahan Wilson. AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL “The Jack Vance SCREENPLAY COMPETITION: Reader” “Kilimanjaro: a Fable ENTRY POSTMARKED DEADLINE: of Utopia” by Mike May 15, 2008 Resnick, signed. ENTRY POSTMARKED LATE “Yellow Dog” DEADLINE: June 1, 2008 chapbook by Charles Austin Film Festival is searching for the deLint, illustrated by best Sci-Fi script containing one or more deLint. of the following elements: fantasy, myth/ “Skeleton” chapbook legend, horror, science fiction, surrealism by Ray Bradbury, and fantastical storytelling. Enter signed. your script into either Drama or Comedy “Conversation Hearts” category, and you may also choose to be chapbook by John considered for the Sci-Fi Award. Winner Crowley, signed. will receive $2500, and much more. Please email [email protected] Wildside Press or check out our site at “Dancing with www.austinfilmfestival.com Werewolves” by Carole Nelson BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS Douglas. “An Exchange of Fantasy/Sci-Fi Discussion Group Gifts” by Anne 4th Wed, 7pm McCaffrey Borders, Glendale “Treasures of Tartary” by Robert E.Howard Path of the Craft Discussion group discusses Neopagan theories inspired by GAMING EVENTS both fiction and non-fiction books about magic, nature, mythology, and BOOKMANS, MESA spirituality. - 4th Sunday, 6pm Dungeons & Dragons Borders, Phoenix Camelback Night. Mondays, 6pm Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club “A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore. BOOKMANS, April 10, 7pm SPEEDWAY Changing Hands/Wildflower Bread TUCSON Company Rteam Gamers Family Game Day Manga Bookclub Apr 5, 12pm. May 3, 1st Tuesdays, 7pm 12pm. Jun 7, 12pm Borders, Chandler Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 7 Pima Air & Space Museum, 30th have to open up the character’s brains ( Continued from page 7 ) Conversation ( Continued from page 1 ) FYI Anniversary, 2:30pm and reveal a little more of their mental Titan Missile Museum, 20th from a guy who said “Hi, you don’t know clockwork. When I say that the character- Federation Commander. Anniversary, 10:30am me, I’m an editor with this publishing 2nd Saturdays, noon ization of Locke in the first book is April 13 house in England. I’ve read your ex- regarded as a little thin, a little shallow, RPG. 1st & 3rd Sundays Check website for locations cerpts, I like what I see. Would you care Boardgames & Demo Nite it’s because I did that. To use a very self- . Flying Thunder. Vietnam-era Hueys. to send me more?” Trick question? Sure! Thursdays, 6pm aggrandizing term, it’s a more literary Jun 5-6 I took the prologue, worked on it and approach to not reveal his internal SR-71 Symposium. SR-1 pilots & polished it, and did the very best I could, dialogue, to show everything through his SCIENCE EVENTS ground crew. Huge event . Nov 15-16 and three or four days later, sent him the actions and their consequences. For a prologue, about 30 odd pages. Three days great many readers, characterization ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM TOURS Lecture Series: later, I got an email saying “Scott, I want equates to internal dialogue “revelation – Reservations only to buy this, however, I need to make a What Do You Think About a Technology The only publicly accessible Titan II Locke felt this because this – His puppy You Can’t Even See? pitch to my buying committee. I have a died and he was sad”. They expect that if missile site in the nation. Tour the meeting next week and I’ll get back to Enjoy an informal sit-down with natural underground missile site. See the 3-ton you’re saying psychological – the you after it.” So, the next day, I got a and social scientist, and understand why blast doors, 8' thick silo walls and an omniscient intrusion – to find out what phone call and he said “I had an im- it’s so hard for people to know what actual Titan II missile in the launch duct. the characters thoughts and they expect “nanotechnology” really is. Then discuss Visit the launch control center, experience promptu meeting with my buying that telepathy and that’s pretty much a what citizens want versus what scientists a simulated launch, and more. committee and they said to go for it. How standard in the genre. want from it.. Apr 18 Apr 26, May 24, and more about if I buy it from you now?” Again, It’s not always a personal flaw. For trick question. I said yes and it happened me, reading is a lot like writing, it’s a Global Climate Change, PIMA LIBRARY: SOLAR POWER just that fast. It was one of the most trade skill. It’s something you train up free lectures series: LECTURE SERIES exhilarating things to happen to me. over the course of a few years of reading. “Nanotechnology.” Apr 4, 7pm Apr 16, 6pm-8pm, Once I’d sold it on the prologue, all You don’t start out at 8 or 9, reading “Designing Policy Responses” plus the Nanini Branch Library, Tucson that was left was to write the actual novel Dostoyevsky, reading Nabokov, and films “Power Shift” and “The Climate of May 14, 6pm-8pm, itself. During the course of writing the grokking all the implications of all this. Change.” Apr 9, 7pm Joel D. Valdez Main Library, Tucson first novel, I had to learn how to Write a Materials Science Workshops You train yourself up and some people http://www.library.pima.gov Novel. I was being careless and fast and stay with what they’re comfortable with These workshops provide fun hands-on loose while writing the first book, and my experiences to help participants and some people eventually learn to SETI Institute’s Weekly editors came to me and said “this will understand how materials scientists move on and grapple with a more reader Science Radio Program annoy readers, it annoys us, and we’re participatory sort of character revelation. manipulate the properties of various Mondays , avail as podcast your editors.” Don’t do this and it helped I discovered this pretty much the hard materials to create the products that we http://radio.seti.org me tighten up in that regard, solidifying way that for a lot of very dedicated and use in our everyday life. http://podcast.seti.org Check website for dates and topics the points of view I was going to use and knowledgeable fantasy readers, charac- the tenses, and so forth. The novel did get OTHER GENRE-RELATED EVENTS terization equals psychological intrusion. ASU SCHOOL OF EARTH & SPACE turned in later than they hoped. I couldn’t The more telepathic you make the get it in for January, so they had to move EXPLORATION BOOKMANS, FLAGSTAFF narration, the more characterization there it back to summer of 2006. Colloquia schedule, Wednesdays, Emerald Witches, open pagan group. is and some people feel very uncomfort- 3:40pm 2nd Tuesdays, 7pm able with the absence of that and they Plate Tectonics & Ice Ages in Western N. So where did Locke come from? turn upon the author and say “well you America. April 2 BOOKMANS, MESA Locke was originally a character in a didn’t provide any characterization Low Mass Star Formation in the Taurus Psychic Saturdays, 12:30pm Star Wars role playing game. I only got to notes.” Molecular Cloud. Apr 9 Beginner Bellydancing play for one session. The original A Virtual Journey to the Earth’s Deep Thursdays, 7pm conception was that he came from a So we’re going to see Locke differently Interior. April 16 planet that did not have a standing and more different sides of Locke Tectonics, Climate Change and a Slow BOOKMANS TUCSON - SPEEDWAY military. A very, very out-of-the-way throughout the book. and Steady Rise of the Andes. Apr 23 Metaphysics Group world. They stayed out of the way of all It’s just that I’ve always known that I 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7pm these galactic conflicts because they had BOOKMANS, SPEEDWAY, TUCSON have seven books to work with in the a very small elite corps of somewhat first series and I’ve always intended to Tucson Astrology Guild BORDERS AVONDALE force-sensitive con artists, spies, sabo- Apr 11, 7pm. Jun 13, 7pm build him to a point of very deep charac- Metaphysical Wednesdays Discussion teurs, etc. It just so happened that terization over the course of seven books. Wednesdays, 7pm whenever trouble was brewing, it skipped CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, That’s my luxury. He’s alive in my mind this world because these men and women so I can reveal him shade by shade, piece PEORIA BORDERS GLENDALE were out there, sort of tipping the scales by piece, book by book. Stargazing Metaphysical Mondays Discussion and fiddling with galactic events to keep You’re going to get two different Starlab Planetarium Mondays, 7pm Check website for dates and times their planet off the map and unmolested. answers because you’re going to have the That was the character I briefly played in Check the web sites for confirmation, books feature major flashbacks so you The Space Place is a 2-hour interactive that one gaming session. The idea of that are going to see his psychological location and more information. character stuck with me after that. That program for little ones with big http://www.borders.com progress and his adjustments and his was in 2000 or so and it was in about 9 or imaginations! Designed for children ages http://www.poisonedpen.com changes through his adult life because the 10 months later that I began to conceive 3 through 6, the program features age- http://www.bookmans.com first seven books are going to take him to appropriate activities designed to teach http://www.barnesandnoble.com and seriously started to design what about age 40 or so. He’s 24 or 25 in the preschoolers about our planet and solar http://www.changinghands.com would eventually become The Lies of main thread of the first book, they’re system. Call for reservations. http://browncoats.lagemann.org Locke Lamora and decided that the con going to cover the course of about 15 or 3rd Mondays, 930am-1130am http://www.imperialoutpost.com artist was going to be the main character. 16 years. You’re also going to see http://www.azchallenger.org flashbacks to when he was a little kid in MOON SOCIETY MEETING http://www.samuraicomics.com Let’s talk about Red Seas under Red the first book and to when he was a Chompies on University, http://www.drawntocomics.com Skies a bit. We actually see a lot more teenager in the third book. You’re gonna East of Rural Road 3: PM Game Depot, 480-966-4727 of Locke’s thought processes in this get it both ways, basically. I get to cheat, For more info contact Craig Porter at http://www.library.pima.gov one. as it were. [email protected] http://www.novaspace.com/Spacefest/ You’ve got more page space to fill up http://www.seti.org with something interesting. When you’re PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, Are you being surprised yourself? on a ship staring at the walls, you don’t TUCSON Hell yeah! Not just by stuff that I do want to overdo the whole “we’re on a New Volunteer Orientation and not just by stuff that they do but by ship, staring at the bulkheads” thing. You Apr 12, 9:30am-11:30am ( Continued on page 9 ) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 it. I’m against mystifying the whole it up there and to make sure I’m aware at the main plot once again in the present. Conversation ( Continued from page 8 ) process of “oh well, I just channeled the all times that “just remember, the conse- It’s her book, this is the book where she’s reader reactions to it. I suppose its natural characters…” quences of A is going to rebound on B finally brought on stage, not just bit by in hindsight but Jean Tannen has become There are times when you get some- and then there’s C”. It’s like having a bit and piece by piece, but she’s all there. a sex symbol to a certain percentage of thing totally awesome and you are hit second brain on display. I can be very Sabetha is a freakishly important charac- my female readership that I just didn’t upside the head with the brick of inspira- absent-minded and scatterbrained and ter to Locke. She’s a very special charac- expect. I didn’t write him as such, but as tion and you have no idea where the hell that can be very fatal in the middle of ter in that Locke’s tag line is that he’s the it turns out, to a fairly sizable contingent it came from. You’re grateful for wher- writing a critical scene or plotting your greatest con artist in the world where con of particularly female readers, the big, ever the hell it came from. It’s not a structure out. You can’t let the outline artists are generally not known. He’s strong, burly, capable, wears glasses, constant, magical, uniform process of drive the story and you do get that quality actually not the best con artist on his reads a lot, faultlessly loyal, the rock to “the story reveals itself in my fingers” but and I do see that quality in certain books planet, he’s the second best con artist. Locke’s antics, it makes him a very there’s a very healthful level of rebellion where obviously the writer had the And he’s madly in love with the first best attractive character. It just happens and from properly constructed characters and outline and he said “stick to the outline, con artist on his world. She deserves a you just have to roll with it. I’m not going they will tell you whether or not if what that’s the plan, don’t change anything, spotlight, she deserves a book of her own, to be deliberately tarting him up from you’re doing is appropriate for them. The don’t improvise, stick to the outline, get it she deserves a revelation. now on as a result of that but it probably readers can tell. Even though they are done.” Sometimes it’s very easy to tell. would not have happened if I had written your characters and your characteriza- You can tell something about her him as a sex symbol. I was pleasantly tions, wildly out of character actions stick Without getting spoilery, can we talk a through Locke’s view of her, but how surprised for Jean’s sake. out like neon lights and flashing warning bit about the third book? What’s going reliable is Locke’s point of view? signs and readers pick up on that and go to be happening with Locke in it? How reliable is Locke about any- So, at some point in character building, “oh god, what the hell.” The title is the Republic of Thieves. thing? Without saying too much, there is they become real to you, in a sense? It’s a split book, being an odd-numbered a major perception gap between how You have to build a strong enough and Then it’s all over LiveJournal. book. It’s going to flash back to him as a Locke sees Locke and Sabetha and how consistent enough mental model of these Oh yeah, people are pretty vicious teenager and it continues on from the end Sabetha sees Locke and Sabetha and how imaginary people to the point that they about it. It’s cheating, it’s “let’s all check of Red Seas, Red Skies. The gap is only they both look at the Gentlemen Bastards can effectively respond with “this plot out the haunted house and split up going to be two and a half to three and how they were and might become. point makes no sense, why the hell would separately” or let’s have somebody who months from the last book. It will take Yes, there are some differences of I do that?” It’s not as though they take the knows there’s a murderer in this house go place later the same year but further opinion. story and run with it, but they put checks into a darkened room all by their lone- north, finding out what’s going to happen and blocks on plot points that are wildly some. It’s the “for god’s sake, give us a with Locke. This is the book that intro- I’d like to thank Scott for taking the inappropriate for their characterization. break” cheat. duces Sabetha, finally. I’ve been specifi- time for this interview. That’s the major intrusion. I work very cally avoiding showing her for two books firmly from an outline and I have a lot of Let’s talk about process a bit. Do you now, but this is the book where she gets deep inlaid plans and that is the major outline very much? revealed in full as a child and as an adult. adjustment when I get to a certain point I I’m a deep outliner, a very deep All the flashbacks center around Locke’s will sometimes discover that it’s just outliner. Sometimes I just fly with it and interaction with her as a child when he totally wrong for a certain character to improvise and so forth. The beginning of was in his teenage years and she enters behave this way or to not behave this the story is always very strongly known, way. That is their assertion of control and the end of every book and every over the process. If you create them well story in the sequence is firm and set and enough, they can talk back. It’s easy to solidly known. mystify the process and say “well, the characters do as the characters want “, but But not necessarily the whole point A I write the book, I’m in charge. You get to D? the impression that the characters cannot Sometimes points B and C can be a really be alive and the characters cannot little nebulous. I’ve written the last scene really be real to you or your readers of book seven and I know how every unless they occasionally fight back book ends and where the story must end against your plans for them. and where every character goes. Getting there can stay a little nebulous for those Is that difficult to deal with? Do you reasons that I talked about. I learned not dislike it? to outline quite so firmly in the middle of It’s not an imposition. It often affords the book because the characters are going you an opportunity to take the plot in to do what the characters are going to do. directions you previously would not Your tightly plotted outline is probably conceive. The not fun part is realizing not going to mean much. No battle plan that the beautiful plot point is going to survives contact with the enemy and in have to be discarded. The fun part is some cases the characters and the plot are when it offers you an opportunity you your enemy. So, I’m a very strong may not have previously realized that you outliner at the extremes of the story. I try could use. It tends to balance out, at least to maintain firm outlines throughout. I in my experience. learned to deal with the fact that it’s just It gives you the added attraction of going to be more squishy and malleable having a puzzle to solve in the middle of in the middle of the story. You’re not your perfectly beautifully laid plot where going to be able to get away with the all of a sudden you’ve got something to anal-retentive, graphpaper-type outlines. do, again, you’ve got a problem that needs to be fixed. It’s like doing a Your books seem really organic, crossword puzzle or a sudoku, you have though, not at all like a death march to find the solution. The character only through to the end of the plot. says “I can’t do this” but they don’t I favor intricate plots in what I read necessarily tell you “here’s what I can and what I write and I want them to be so do!” They just say “fix this. We’ll be elaborate and so multi-layered and so back when you find a solution, author recursive and folding in upon themselves boy,” and they walk off and leave you to so I outline to sort of lay it all out to total Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 9 Page 10 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 “A Ward for A Wizard” into history, cultures, mythology, and An American in Australia Part In Memory (Tribute to Gary Gygax) literature. I had been a player for a long by Jeffrey Lu time and even helped as a DM (Dungeon Two- Melbourne Hike to You Sir Arthur C. Clarke Master). Sadly, I never met the guy. Yangs to Me, Sing? Ernest Gary Gygax Roll the dice I stopped playing due to the endless By Jeffrey Lu Joseph Weizenbaum To play someone else revisions of the rules and the bottomless In world of dragons costs of the game. I had a life and needed A Melbourne friend named Onelia Sir Arthur C. Clarke And mazes. to focus on friends and families. guided a group including me to an extinct 1917-2008 Enough volcano in You Yangs Park. The hike was Roll the dice long but the view was amazing. Sir Arthur C. Clarke died on March To see the tale There were at least two hundred small Joseph Weizenbaum 19, 2008 of respiratory problems in Sri Built on folly flags over one field. I’ve been told that 1923 - 2008 Lanka where he had lived since the And entertainment. there was a fire there, a year before. The 1950s. In recent years he had been flags were where the new seeds planted confined to a wheelchair by post-polio Roll the dice Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer for a future forest. syndrome. With a group programmer who helped advance One time, I almost gave up in climb- While he was probably best known as Of adventurers artificial intelligence only to become a ing the long dirt roads. A lady friend from a science fiction writer (2001, From a mundane life. critic of the technology later in his life, San Diego came and sat down next to me. Childhood’s End) he also developed the has died of stomach cancer at the age of We were rested for a few minutes. She concept of the geosynchronous communi- Roll the dice 85. then told me she was giving up. Instead cations satellite. During World War II, he In many sided In the mid-1960s while he was a of us both quitting, I had the nerve to say volunteered for the Royal Air Force, And many ways professor at the Massachusetts Institute of since we’re up here and close to the top, where he worked in the then highly- To see what serve the person. Technology, he developed ELIZA which why not give it go? We both made it up secretive development of radar, and became his best-known contribution to there. foresaw the concept of communication Roll the dice computer programming. The program Later, Onelia brought the group to a satellites. In the 1940s, he predicted that To honor a wizard allowed a person to have a conversation Serendip Wildlife Preserve. This was a man would land on the moon by the year Who died too soon with a computer, with the computer using place of my first encounter of another 2000; an idea that was soundly dismissed Without a healing potion. what the person said to create its reply. group- kangaroos. Comically, they were as impossible. When Weizenbaum discovered that many asleep at a distance. When we ap- He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth Roll the dice users were taking his program seriously proached, they suddenly got up and in 1998. To note a passing and were opening their hearts to it, he hopped away into the bushes. Oh, well. From his ward was shocked and he began to think I saw more wildlife in this place. Ernest Gary Gygax To the endless editions in tomes of D&D philosophically about the implications of Birds, mostly. I wondered if I will ever 1938 - 2008 and AD&D. artificial intelligence, leading him to later see a kangaroo, up close? become a critic of it. We’ll see. Ernest Gary Gygax died March 4th Roll the dice He is survived by his four daughters. Next in Part 3: Chocolate Factory, Honey 2008. His most well-known accomplish- And realize Gary Gygax Farm, and A Date With Two ment was to marry wargames to fantasy. Is gone Devils in Tasmania. Along with Dave Arneson, he created But forever immortal in one fantasy game what would become the most-played of dice. fantasy role-playing game of all time, Dungeons & Dragons. Gary was married Gary Gygax Gone twice and had six children and seven by Jeffrey Lu grandchildren. While he didn’t invent the polyhedra commonly used in gaming, he I’ve been playing fantasy games since did show us all how to use them for 1970’s. I remember in a chess tourna- gaming. ment, I saw two friends playing a strange I have played many other systems but game with a few different sided dice, a like in all things you always remember screen, pencils, your first. I remember getting “Eldritch papers, and a few Wizardry” as a gift for my tenth birthday. books. This was my I remember buying my first set of dice at introduction to the Tin Soldier. My first character was a AD&D. dwarf; for those of you that didn’t know: Usually, I let Bob dwarf was both a race and a class in the and others write original. about games while I In a very real way, much of the last do book reviews thirty plus years of my life were made related to better through gaming. My wife of twenty Warhammer and years was a guest of another gamer at our other Black Library Saturday night game when I first met her. Publication. But My best man I met at a D&D game, my hearing that Gary friends are mostly gamers. I became Gygax, co-creator of involved in conventions and CASFS AD&D, passed away, because of Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve decided to throw Gary: if we ever meet in the afterlife, in my two-cents I’d love to sit in a game with you. Hey, if worth. you can read this and can manifest, stop To sum it all, I’ve by our Sunday game. - Bob LaPierre enjoyed AD&D. This helped me expand my reading Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 11 Starbucks. You can also see and buy the Connector, and a clear plastic stand to bother you and you’ve got the dough to Hands On Apple’s last ten songs played in Starbucks. The hold the Touch at a reasonable viewing blow, have at it and enjoy one of the iPod Touch service is currently available in Seattle, angle. coolest portable music/video players New York, the San Francisco Bay area, The three best features of the Touch under the sun. By Shane Shellenbarger Los Angeles, and Chicago. Check are the orientation acclimation, the pinch By the way, if you already own the Apple.com/Starbucks for rollout details. iPhone, the Touch will hold no interest th On June 11 , 2007, Apple released The first accessory needed for the for you. At best, the Touch is iPhone Lite. their much anticipated iPhone, and the Touch is a protective case or skin, such as You’d be better off saving up your money universe of Smartphones (or nearly smart invisibleSHIELD. Apple loves the bright for the end of your contract with AT&T. phones) never will be the same. After the and shiny chromed back, but that coating By that time, Apple will probably have a initial flush of excitement, the public will show every ridge of a fingerprint and 32, 64, 128, or 256GB iPhone with third began to wonder: when will Apple it scratches easily. Like the iPhone, the party applications and a new service introduce a touch-screen-based portable Touch has a glass front which won’t provider. Plus, if the form and function music player? The answer was September scratch as easily, but will break if treated really catch on other cell phone manufac- th 5 , 2007 with the introduction of the 8GB roughly enough. TAKE CARE! The turers might have a better phone for less unit priced at $299, the 16GB unit priced Touch is slender, measuring 4.3 inches by money. It’s possible, but I doubt that th at $399, and on February 5 , 2008 Apple 2.4 inches by 0.31 inch thick, its weight Steve Jobs or Apple will rest on their released the 32GB iPod Touch for $499. 120 grams or 4.2 ounces. The screen is laurels. Apple’s 1.1.4 firmware update for the 3.5 inches with a resolution of 480 by zoom, and the inertia glide flick. Shifting iPhone and iPod Touch was propagated, 320 pixels or 163 pixels per inch. perspective of photos or videos is as easy courtesy of iTunes 7.6.1.9. The Touch While the key interface is the multi- moving from vertical to horizontal or vice http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/ now has many of the features of the touch-screen, there are two exterior versa. Do you want to get a closer look? guidedtour/ iPhone, including Calendar, Mail, Stocks, buttons. First is the Sleep/Wait button on Touch the area of interest with your http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/ Maps, Weather, Notes, Safari, Contacts, the top edge to turn the unit on, off and thumb and forefinger (or any two webapps/ and YouTube. With built-in wi-fi, you can sleep (to conserve power.) The other fingers), spread them apart, and you’ve http://www.apple.com/webapps/ access the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and button is located bottom-center and it acts zoomed in. Reverse the process and http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/ download music. The next time you sync as a menu-home switch. Unlike the you’ve zoomed out. Touch and move and specs.html your Touch, the music you’ve purchased iPhone recessed earphone jack, the Touch the area you’ve touched will follow your http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ will download to your iTunes library. uses a standard 3.5 mm jack which is finger. If you want to see photos you’ve content/article/2008/03/08/ Video and movies might require too located along the lower right edge near loaded, touch the photo icon located at AR2008030800055.html lengthy a download to be practical, the docking plug. Also unlike the iPhone, the bottom of the main screen, select the http://www.invisibleshield.com/ although interrupted downloads seem to the Touch will allow you to output your folder you want, scan the thumbnails, tap http://www.invisibleshield.com/ipod/ resume once a wi-fi signal is reestab- photos, videos and music to a television the photo you want and it zooms to fill apple/ipod-touch.php lished. You can also use wi-fi with Safari equipped with A/V inputs via the ear- the screen. Flicking your finger left or http://www.youtube.com/ to browse the internet, with Google or phone jack, but don’t count on the cable right across the screen brings up a watch?v=MmpFOUZoUX0 Yahoo as your search engines. The you bought for an older iPod Video to previous or next photo. Related to this http://www.apple.com/itunes/jukebox/ YouTube button connects to the site work with the Touch, because it probably action is Cover Flow which allows you to coverflow.html where you can watch and bookmark your won’t. A new A/V cable will be your scan your albums by cover art slowly or http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/ favorite videos. second accessory purchase. The Touch quickly. apple-announces-app-store-for-iphone- Apple and Starbucks are rolling out comes supplied with the standard Apple Battery life for audio play is roughly ipod-touch/ another wi-fi service that allows you to earbuds, a USB 2.0-to-Apple Dock twenty-two hours with video play at http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/ purchase a song you hear playing in about five hours. By plane, that will let acu-dishing-out-iphone-ipod-touch-to-all- you listen to tunes to incoming-freshmen/ most destinations on the http://www.istartedsomething.com/ planet or watch video 20070226/iphone-smartphone-ad/ most of the way across http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/08/ the U.S. of A. sun-prepping-java-for-iphone-your- At nearly $500, the craplet-investment-is-safe/ Touch requires some http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/07/ serious consideration posimotions-g-fi-another-wifi-gps- before purchasing accessory-for-the-iphone/ (unless your name is http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/ Bill Gates, then you’d iphone-enterprise-beta-program-lets- have other consider- suits-try-2-0-firmware-early/ ations.) For all of the http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/3g- goshgollygeewhiz iphone-coming-in-june/ features, the Touch has http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/ea- its downside. The mobiles-spore-becomes-first-3rd-party- battery isn’t easily iphone-game/ replaceable, there is no FM radio feature, and no SD memory card slot to expand the 32GB storage capacity. Unlike previous Shuffles, Nanos, and iPod Videos, the Touch does not currently allow itself to be used as a generic USB storage device. If these limitations don’t

Doomsday Page 12 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 guess it wouldn’t be too much fun if you Screening Room ended up teleporting into the middle of a brick wall so let’s hope your aim is really Doomsday good. Anyway, David Rice (played by Jumper Hayden Christensen – yup Anakin The Other Bolyn Girl Skywalker) discovers early in his life that The Jane Austen Book Club he can do just that. David runs into Griffin (played by Doomsday Jamie Bell who was Jimmy in the latest Starring: Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, King Kong film) and is told about a group Alexander Siddig known as the Paladins who track down Director: Neil Marshall jumpers. Griffin has managed to stay alive Running Time: 105 min by turning the tables on the Paladins. Rated: R for strong bloody violence, Agent Roland (played by Samuel L. language and some sexual content/ Jackson - Snakes on a Plane, 1408) who nudity. is a leader in the Paladin organization Crystal Sky Pictures does his best to track down and eliminate Release Date: March 14th, 2008 jumpers. The viewers of the film would like to know more about the Paladin This was incredible escapism. I was organization and why they pursue their impressed with the amount of careful deadly course (other than just thinking the thought that went into this plot. The jumpers have too much power). politicians were completely believable in Director Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. their slimy-ness. The erection of a wall to Smith and The Bourne Ultimatum) gives quarantine large quantities of the popula- us some pretty impressive action se- tion is right out of the emergency quences – jumpers can do some pretty fieldbook. I also noted that the truism that cool things. The film is based on the the charismatic man in a situation of novel Jumper by Steven Gould. The book chaos rules was obviously followed. answers many questions that the film Now for the movie itself: I enjoyed it. goers are left to guess about. The movie opens with a virus dubbed The film is entertaining, has some doomsday breaking out in Scotland. It great special effects but the story has was one hundred percent fatal so the some holes so I rate the film a B-. Prime Minister had the whole of Scotland quarantined by means of a thirty foot high wall, a blockade of the coast and a The Other Boleyn Girl strict no-fly zone. A woman manages to Sony Pictures, convince some soldiers to take her Directed by Justin Chadwick toddler child Eden in the last helicopter Running Time: 1 hr. 55 min. out. Jump to twenty-seven years later. Rated: PG-13 The toddler is now an extremely compe- Release Date: February 29th, 2008 Shakespeare in Love, Gangs of New tent officer. There is a breakout of the York, The Aviator, Mrs Henderson MangaZone This film is a Soap Opera. It is a Presents and The Departed. ) doomsday virus in London, and there is Hayate The Combat Butler Volume 1 evidence that there are survivors in Historical “Days of Our Lives” brought to The Jane Austen Book Club by Kenjiro Hata Scotland. Eden is to lead a team to find the screen with wonderful pageantry and Robin Swicord, writer/director Viz Media, $9.99, 208 pps the cure and bring it back to save Lon- costumes to die for. The outlines of the Running Time: 1 hr. 46 min. don. The story follows her through the historical facts are embroidered with Rated: PG-13 Hayate, a young boy whose parents course of finding and returning the cure. outrageous speculation and downright Release Date: September 21st, 2007 left him with their enormous debt, makes It of course is not as simple as all that, lies. I was reminded of the way the (limited) a promise on Christmas Eve to kidnap a but if I told you then you wouldn’t have DaVinci Code built itself around a narrow group of historical facts and wild interpre- young girl, Nagi, and hold her ransom. any fun. Like everything in Hayate’s life, this too It was a cross between “Escape from tations with an insidious interpolation of Why is this chick flick getting a ConNotations fails as he ends up saving the girl from New York” and “Mad Max2”. The fact untruths. mention in ? Because two of As a costume drama it excels. The the main characters meet at a hotel which kidnappers. After almost dying to save that humans tend toward punk when Nagi’s life, Hayate wakes up in a bed at a anarchy reigns must be a cultural phe- queen’s costumes were chosen to enhance is simultaneously hosting dog breeders’ her character of beleaguered virtue. and a science fiction convention. In an mansion. Hayate, thinking he is dead, nomenon. The violence is on a par with a goes and takes a bath in the huge indoor typical slasher film but isn’t as prevalent. Anne’s were chosen to project deceit and elevator, Maria Bello says to a goth licentiousness. Her sister Jane’s projected LARPer, “My dog has the same exact bathtub where he runs into Nagi’s fresh I thought the cannibalistic tendencies 17-year-old maid, Maria. Maria tells him were in a word “stupid”. Early in the innocence and later fallen virtue. The collar!” She is puzzled when she gets a male costumes showed of the sartorial null response, until helpful stranger Hugh that Nagi is the mansion’s mistress. So he movie there is a collision with a cow in then asks her for a job. Nagi accepts his the midst of a herd, if there are that many peacockery of the age. Dancy explains a few SF convention The backdrop of court pageantry was pointers to her. In another scene, he tells offer and Hayate starts down the path to cows, why eat people? But enough nit- become a combat butler. This is a great picking. superb with the milling nobles, the her how he first came to read SF, as a way furniture, the wall hangings and vast of escaping a household overrun by and fun book. I was hooked with the first Four and a half out of five. - Bob page. Now, after reading this so far, must LaPierre ceilings. All of the glories of the period females; but, ironically, many of his were set out. It is an experience not to be favorite writers proved to be women. add in that, while he tried to kidnap Nagi, missed. While some ensemble chick flicks are she thought he was confessing his love Jumper for her. This twisted romance,c omedy, Starring: Hayden Christensen, Jamie I recommend this film unreservedly. contrived and emotionally manipulative, Just remember to take its history with with a bunch of divas swanning around action-story parodies just about every- Bell, Diane Lane, Samuel L. Jackson thing out there. The first volume alone Director: Doug Liman about eight grains of salt. — Gary Swaty histrionically, The Jane Austen Book ( Cast: Natalie Portman — Anne Club is deft, funny, and refreshing. The has cameos by Detective Conan and L Runtime: 88 minutes from Death Note; just to name a few. I so Rated: PG-13 Boleyn, Eric Bana — King Henry VIII, only diva is Lynn Redgrave, and she plays th Scarlett Johansson — Mary Boleyn, Rue a hippy pothead mother named Momma can’t wait for the anime to come out here. Release Date: February 14 , 2008 - Ninjakittyofdoom Reviewed by: Len Berger McClanahan — Lady Jane Rochford, Sky, so instead of swanning, she staggers. (ConNotations Film Editor) Kristin Scott Thomas — Lady Elizabeth, Oh, be sure to check out the deleted Jim Sturgess — George Boleyn. Costume scenes. – Chris Paige Imagine you can teleport anywhere design was by Academy Award winner Sandy Powell, whose credits include you wish at any time. What fun ! Well I ( Continued on page 14 ) Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 13 MangaZone (Continued from page 13 ) “Japan Ai: a Tall Girl’s Adventure in Japan” Gamer’s Corner detailing Europe, Africa, and the Near Ral & Grad by Aimee Major Steinberger East. Islam is not heavily detailed by Tsuneo Takano and Takeshi Obata Go! Media Entertainment, $16.99, 186 Super Smash Brothers Brawl because the focus is on the Western Viz Media, $7.99, 216 pps pp Platform - Nintendo Wii European colonial powers and the native Ral Grad comes from the mind of The book is about a fan that goes to Suggested Price: $49.99 peoples of the New World. I can recom- Tsuneo Takano and the artistry of the Japan. She loves not only manga, anime, mend and excellent resource on Histori- award winning Takeshi Obata. Following and costume contests but is also a Volks Third in the series of Super Smash cal Islam with our Tales of the Caliphate the dark style from his previous work, collector (dolls). She has the means but Brothers video game series. This game Nights release…” Direct quote from: Eric DeathNote, Obata’s style compliments there is one problem… she’s six-foot tall. was great; the single player co-op story the story of Ral, a fifteen year-old boy Wiener, Chief Financial Officer, Para- Enjoyable. Her adventures in Japan mode is over 6hrs long with a great in- that has been locked in a sphere of digm Concepts, Inc. are well worth reading. She brings some depth storyline bringing all of the darkness since birth. In a world where points in the culture clash between the The system uses a dynamic d10 dice characters in a brawl together. The brawl your shadow is a monster that can take Rising Sun and U.S. Recommend to fans pool. While the game system is different over your body and end your life Ral and dreamers of Japanese culture. - modes are great with new added charac- from the “Story Teller” system of White makes friends with the shadow that lives Jeffrey Lu ters like Sonic, Pokemon Trainer, and Wolf it uses similar amounts of 10-siders. within him, a dragon named Grad. After Solid Snake. It also has an online mode to Having just recently been immersed in being released to save a kingdom in DRAMACON 3 battle people in other countries and you that system I’m glad to be able to use trouble Ral and Grad take on the quest to by Svetlana Chmakova can bet on them, also. With fun, colorful, those dice for another system. return all the shadows back to the two- Tokyo Pop, $9.99, 216 pp final smash attacks it makes for a great Paradigm has also opened up a living dimensional world from whence they party game. I did 2 mega-brawl days campaign, it is called Dark Providence, came. With a strong starting plot and very This is a comedy romance between with my friends and everyone enjoyed it. comedic protagonist, this manga will and is primarily set in the New World. At two people, Matt and Christie, at a yearly With the option of using either Classic, have you wanting more. - Kyla Mills this time, there are 11 adventures released anime/manga convention. This is the third Game Cube, or Wii remote; it makes it installment of the series. and available for play. easy for everyone. This game is great for Loved it. Definitely for anime and I’m having fun, buy it (when there is manga people who have been to these all ages and can keep you going well into one available). - Bob LaPierre conventions. - -Jeffrey Lu the night. - Ninjakittyofdoom See you next time.

Neverwinter Nights 2 Expansion Warhammer Blackhearts Mask of the Betrayer The Omnibus Forgotten Realms by Nathan Long Role-Playing Game for the PC Black Library Productions, $11.99, pp. $29.95, Atari/Obsidian 766.

This expansion allows you to run Reiner Hetzau is a leader of a fantasy “Epic Level” characters. I like some of “Dirty Dozen” that have to fight the evil the possibilities but it is too heavy- of the empire: ratmen, Chaos cultists, handed for my tastes. I don’t like to be rogue commanders and more, them- told what my character does; I want to selves- there is a spy among them. choose for myself. The feats are mostly This tome contains the novels cool and the Epic spells are supposed to “Valnir’s Bane,” “The Broken Lance,” be earth-shattering (I’m not running a and “Tainted Blood.” There are two short spell-caster so I don’t know from per- stories “Hetzau’s Follies” and “Rotten sonal experience). I like the new item Fruit.” creation system and have already experi- Enjoyable and entertaining. Recom- mented. Some of the potential items are, mended to dark fantasy readers and it’s fair to say, overpowered. Warhammer fans. - Jeffrey Lu You start with a problem and it runs you. I’ve yet to decide whether I even want to Warhammer 40,000 finish it. I don’t recommend it. - Bob His Last Command LaPierre by Dan Abnett Black Library Productions, $7.99, pp. Witch Hunter: The Invisible World 413. Tabletop RPG $39.95/ Paradigm Concepts 274pp Ibram Gaunt and his crew came back alive from a tainted enemy planet. His Paradigm Concepts gives us this new old command, The Tainith First-and-Only take on the 17th century. You are alive in a is now divided into a new group. Unfor- time (1689) when the veil between the tunately, not only does Gaunt have to worlds is thin and witches are cavorting fight his own people but the new group is with demons. Your job is to stop them also fighting the veterans Chaos forces. and send the spirits back through the veil. This is the book two of The Lost Backgrounds are included for all major sequence. European political forces, and informa- Surprised in finding out one character tion on Catholicism, Judaism, almost all killed. Recommended to dark war sci-fi major Protestant sects, major monastic readers and Warhammer 40,000 fans. - orders and all kinds of splinter groups are Jeffrey Lu available. If your character originates from a country that was a major Christian sea power or from the colonized New World, you are covered. “…Right now, the game is strongest in its New World usage, but we have plans for books ( Continued on page 15 ) Page 14 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 ( Continued from page 14 ) mainstream lit, along with the profound Gamers observations on religion, sex, politics, and Warhammer 40,000 humanity. The Armour of Contempt Problem is, he’s just too FUNNY to be by Dan Abnett really mainstream. Yes, there’s that moral Black Library Productions, $19.99, outrage at the state of the world and the 315 pages. insane taboos of our own uptight society, which most “quality” writers evince. But Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the then he’ll swing from outrage to outra- Tainith First-and-Only are back in geous humor, if only in the defiance of liberating Gereon, a Chaos-held planet. social conformity. Critics blame him as What will be the costs for this war therefore only fit for college kids who besides death and destruction? This is question all authority, so often writing on the book three in The Lost series. explicit sex and religious hypocrisy. What Loved it. The cure for a tainted childish limitations these critics have! See planet can be worse than the disease. what unfettered grownups can do with Recommended to dark war sci-fi readers fantasy speculation. Oh yes, one more and Warhammer 40,000 fans. - Jeffrey thing: be prepared for lots of laughs. - Lu M.L. FRINGE Musty Tomes In Our Book Crashing Paradise Tom Robbins, by Christopher Golden & Speculative Fiction Writer: Thomas E. Sniegoski Another Roadside Attraction, 1971 $7.99, Ace Dark Fantasy, 278pp Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, 1976 Still Life With Woodpecker, 1980 This is a novel of the Menagerie. I Jitterbug Perfume, 1984 discovered this was part of a series after skinny legs and all, 1990 I’d already gotten into it. It was good Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas, 1994 enough that I’ll go back and read the Fierce Invalids Home From Hot preceding stories. And this was good Climates, 2000 enough to stand alone. Villa Incognito, 2003 The Menagerie are a mixed group of Wild Ducks Flying Backward, col- creatures – none of which are lected short writings, 2005 human…anymore. They collaborate to All in print from Bantam Books. combat real evil and are led by a charis- matic but enigmatic fellow by the name of lists books and inspirations for this tale Doyle. Doyle and his love, a Faerie The plot was well done and the pacing Why should that old hippy, Tom such as a history of the Medicis, and the Princess, plus a demon-teenager, a good. A very engrossing read. - Robbins, be reviewed as a speculative landscape of the Loire Valley in France. hobgoblin who would rather not be a hero, Catherine Book fiction writer? Does he write fantasy or The names he has created for this story and a ghost are brought together when science fiction, or some kind of specula- are real creative but mouth-crunchers, they are all threatened by otherworldly A Magic of Twilight tion? If we define low fantasy as: that and for me, are a bit of a weakness since forces for unknown reasons. The reasons by S.L. Farrell not concerned with ultimate good- not until the end do you get a pronuncia- become more clear when some very DAW Books, 546pps; $24.95 versus-evil and saving the world, then tion guide. Visually, they are bit of a heavy-hitting evil guys kidnap Eve – the we can say yes. Each of his eight novels stumble. The ruler of Nessantico is called mother of all humanity and of all vam- An intriguing beginning to a fantasy is based upon fantastic speculation and the Kraljica or Kraljiki. Other names of pires. When Eve was thrown out of the cycle, “A Magic of Twilight,” is well its consequences. I will list them in prominent characters are Karl Garden of Eden, she was captured by a worth the cover price. order: 1 – the mummy of Jesus Christ, 2 ci’Vliomanti, Sergei ca’Rudka and Dhosti nasty demon who made her into a vampire I have not read any of Farrell’s ca’Millac. Sort of a combination of – a hitchhiker girl with very big thumbs, and insane. Many eons later, by an ‘Cloudmage’ series, but this a compelling French and Italian and maybe some 3 – pyramid power (also has a real flying accident, Eve regained her sanity and story about a complacent civilization German? saucer), 4 – the quest for immortality memory at which time she declared embroiled in violent change. There is But once past these jawbreakers, the and the ultimate perfume, 5 – Salome’s merciless war on all her vampire children. war, religious upheaval and a shift in story is riveting. Ana cu’Seranta is a dance of the seven veils, 6 - a cure for A really big evil is coming to our plane leadership. rather naï ve acolyte who feels her cancer, and the mystical secret university of existence and, for some reason, the The tale focuses on the growth and mastery of magic called the Ilmodo or the of Timbuktu, 7 – an Amazon shaman’s local nasties have a plan that involves maturation of a fascinating religious Scath Cumhacht or the X’in Ka (depend- curse (also has golden gods in another getting Eve back into the Garden of Eden. acolyte named Ana cu’Seranta a follower ing on where you are from and what form dimension), and 8 – awol Vietnam War She can’t imagine how that’s possible of the god Cenzi and the faith that of religion you follow) is unreliable. MIA’s hiding in Laos. since she’s tainted and there’s no way God surrounds him call Concenzia. Magic is But of course, that’s not really the Consider his fourth novel, Jitterbug is letting her back in. But the hope for involved, and what’s interesting, instead of being anathema as it so frequently is case, and through an injudicious use of Perfume redemption that suddenly springs up in her . A tribal chieftain of prehistoric the Ilmodo she becomes the focus of the heart overshadows her natural caution. when religion is in charge, it is the Russia and a couple of women are Archigos (like the Pope), Dhosti Meanwhile, the Menagerie, fearing the foundation of this faith which is the state mutants who don’t age. Wishing to live ca’Millac and she is called to the temple worst, are coming to save her; just as soon religion of the city of Nessantico (sort of forever, they journey to Tibet to learn to attend him. as they can save themselves first. And if a ‘Rome.’). But of course, only if you from the secret immortals. Along the And then things really fall apart as the the evil ones succeed, the Garden of Eden perform it the right way, according to way, the god Pan and his wood nymphs current Kraljica, who has espoused peace may be lost forever. their religious texts. befriend them. They set up a perfume and negotiation throughout her long The characters are marvelous. I am Use it the wrong way and you are shop in Paris, and there is competition reign, is celebrating her Jubilee, in the fascinated by their back history and I love unclean, a “Numetodo” and depending on with other perfumers. Eventually the midst of which she is poisoned and the idea of these people working together. who is controlling the religious tenor of story ends up in our mundane, contem- eventually dies. Her handsome but pig- I missed mentioning the most fascinating the city, you might be worth hanging and porary world just like all of the other headed son becomes the Kraljiki—and of all – Clay – who was the template God quartering. novels. This is why Robbins is labeled At the beginning of the book, Farrell used to create all life, and then abandoned. ( Continued on page 16 ) Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 15 In Our Book ( Continued from page 15 ) some unspecified other, and he proves to ment, these conflicting loyalties are put to the tomb robbers and emerge. They still be capable of pain-induced telepathy, at the test. must evade the enemy, trace the thefts to the peace dissolves into chaos as the least with the telepathic alien ferox. He As he proves his worth to the Death’s the top of the hierarchy emerge alive to Hirzg of Firenzcia decides to invade has another, crucial genetic gift: regen- Head chain of command, his missions reap the love they have found for each Nessantico and his pet A’Teni (sort of an eration. With these 3 advantages, he is become increasingly galactic in scope, as other. archbishop) decides he wants Dhosti equipped to survive situations that spell the Emperor sends his cannon fodder to The book is quite readable though it is ca’Millac’s position as head of the faith death to others, and that makes him … grab planets held by the Uplifted, a obviously derivative. Jane Ann Krentz and…well, everyone has an agenda or useful. civilization of humans ruled by cyborgs. does it a little better. Fans of SF Romance two. Get the book. Find out what happens The ferox are desert dwelling tele- These wars are overseen, and occasion- will love this. — Gary Swaty to this riveting set of characters and the pathic nomads, and since humans are not ally mediated, by the U/Free civilization, fate of this extremely well-drawn world. ordinarily telepathic, they regard humans which has sufficiently advanced technol- Garden Spells You won’t be disappointed. And like much the way we regard cows with guns. ogy that neither the Emperor nor the by Sarah Addison Allen me, will undoubtedly want more. - Sue When ferox overrun a desert fort, they Uplifted will openly defy it. As Sven $20.00, Bantam Books, 286pp Martin find wet-behind-the-ears soldiers who die observes, the U/Free carry such a big quickly, and Sven, tied up to a whipping stick they can afford to speak very softly. Not my usual fare but a totally Death’s Head post for execution, because he and the Along the way Sven forms his own charming story. Claire Waverly lives in by David Gunn NCO in charge didn’t exactly get along. indispensable cadre of Death’s Head her family’s home in a small town. Claire Del Rey Ballantine Books 343 p, $24.95 Sven responds to their mental queries, so auxiliaries, who are as irreverent as he lives alone and likes it that way. Her they take him along; and he becomes a and almost as focused on getting the job sister, Sydney, left many years earlier and This is hardcore military SF, with the sort of mascot, until near starvation and a done, in spite of being young, or border- the sisters were never close. Claire is emphasis firmly on the military, but the flamefire attack destroy the ferox base. line psychotic, or infected by the Uplift controlled and alone. Sydney lives on the SF is sharp, original, and intriguing. Sven is rescued by the elite fighting force virus. He also acquires the best sidekick road as their mother did, sleeping with David Gunn is writing from a mixture of known as the Death’s Head, but being the since the Carrie/Robin character in Frank loads of men and living life on the experience and imagination, and I would sole survivor of a ferox attack makes him Miller’s mind-blowing Batman mini- edge…until she got pregnant. Trapped by bet that the strangest scenes derive from smell like a traitor, so he is sent to a series The Dark Knight: a smart handgun her daughter’s father, an angry, control- experience. His descriptions of politick- prison planet. that imprints on Sven and then responds ling man, she lived in misery until she ing at all levels, within units, within What is really going on is that he is empathically to his read of a situation, had an opportunity to escape. And the prison, social, governmental, and galac- being assessed for possible recruitment making snide commentaries. Yes, the only place to go to – was home. tic, indicate that he is observant and no by none other than Emperor OctoV sidearm is the sidekick. The Waverly women have always had fool. The writing style struck me as a himself. As a prisoner, Sven leads his Here’s a small quote, so you can get a a reputation for being a bit different – the cross between Jarhead and Melville’s group of political prisoners and derelicts sense of the writing. This is from page 13 story never calls them witches but that’s satire The Confidence-Man. Gunn writes to a position of relative power within the (advanced reader’s copy), when Sven is the idea. Claire uses the special herbs and in a high testosterone voice, but articu- system. In the process, he comes to still tied to the whipping post and a ferox flowers in her garden to cause specific lately and with a vastly greater vocabu- genuinely respect two of the prisoners, is folding him by the throat. effects and has developed a very success- lary than say, Hemingway. and when one of them asks him for a “The ferox follows my glance. Then his ful catering business. Her aunt, Evanelle, The protagonist, Sven, besides having favor, he makes a promise that will other hand moves to the broken flesh of is known for her peculiar tendency to a metal arm that replaced the one he lost supersede all subsequent mere orders by my back as he dips his fingers into my have to give things to people. And the in a fight, is 98.2% human and 1.8% officers or emperors. On his first assign- blood and carries it to his mouth. things she gives are always something Seconds later, he spits and keeps spitting. that the person will need at a critical time. I could have told him. Claire and Sydney’s grandmother, now Bad blood, my father always said.” – passed, had said their mother had a Chris Paige particular affinity for the apple tree in the garden. Now, the apple tree has a reputa- Eternal Nights tion, as well. It’s said that if you eat one By Patti O’Shea of its apples, you’ll see the most impor- Lovespell, New York, 2006, Mass tant event in your life. So… here’s Claire Market Paperback, 355 Pages, $6.99 who has a quiet, lonely life that she feels most comfortable with. Along comes her Set on Jarved Nine, where an Earth wild, unpredictable sister with small expedition is studying an intact city built daughter in tow to unset her routine. And, in ancient times by an unknown race. The on top of all that, she has a new neighbor city, protected by a mysterious energy right next door. A very attractive neigh- field, has survived the centuries even bor. And the apple tree seems to like him though no sign of its builders remains. as well since it keeps throwing apples Our protagonists are Captain Kendall over his wall. Thomas, a military archaeologist who When Claire has to make room in her keeps track of artifacts found by the life for her sister and niece, she discovers civilian researchers and Special Ops it’s not so bad. But when her sister forces Captain Wyatt Montgomery. Kendall her to make room for the attractive discovers that some of the archaeologists neighbor, that’s too much and Claire are diverting artifacts into the illegal fights back…with her herbs and flowers. antiquities market. Worse, in order to ship Meanwhile, Sydney is discovering that them out they must have help from she, too, has the Waverly gift. Her somewhere very high in the military daughter, Bay, has always had the gift command structure. and known how to use it. Her mother and She doesn’t know where to turn. She aunt just don’t know it yet. trusts a friend of Wyatt’s in Wyatt’s This is a gentle story of discovery and absence, but he is killed. She goes to the moving on. A romantic story of several ancient temple to check artifacts and is people’s lives and how they deal with trapped there. Coming back, Wyatt joins disappointment and recover. With just a her there and they are lost in the ancient hint of magic… maze. It is only their emerging memories A nicely plotted story. Interesting of a past life where she was chief characters and good development. - priestess of the temple and he was her Catherine Book lover that save them. They play tag with (Continued on page 17) Page 16 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 In Our Book ( Continued from page 16 ) sidetrack the Summer Court’s attempts to marvelous place to set the tale. And all agent and hacker extraordinaire among its track him is a good example. the characters are well-drawn. victims, while foiling a world-wide Small Favor - Readers who have come into the A real pleasure. - Sue Martin conspiracy and sorting out his personal A Novel of the Dresden Files series via the recent televsion series may life into the bargain. by Jim Butcher find the much expanded cast of characters Empyre This is a good(ish) book, it’s a fast Roc Hardback $23.95 a bit daunting, but as he has done by Josh Conviser read, the plot moves, and the politics are throughout the series, Butcher provides Del Rey trade paperback 14.95 plausible. As SF, it fails - Conviser Small Favor, the tenth installment of enough background on the characters and clearly does not know how the science in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, situations so that a new reader won’t be This is Conviser’s second novel, a his world works, nor is that important to deals primarily with the faerie side of lost. If you are a fan of the novels you loose sequel to Echelon, and is very much him; which makes it hard to take him things. Harry Dresden is called upon to won’t be disappointed with the latest in the same mold, though you don’t need seriously. I know not all hard SF writers, return a favor owed to Mab, the Winter installment and will be ready to start to read the first one to get the second. or even most, are working scientists, but Queen, while the forces of the Summer anticipating the next one a year from This is less science fiction than it is a little homework would be nice. Queen try to prevent him from accom- now. - Lee Whiteside futuristic thriller-it has far more in However, Conviser is a screenwriter plishing his mission. Along the way, common with Robert Ludlum’s Jason by trade; most recently he worked on Harry has to deal with multiple Ysabel Bourne novels than it does anything SF. HBO’s Rome. But, the whole time I was Denarians, an escalating procession of by Guy Gavriel Kay In the near distant future, Ryan Laing reading it, I could see the studio pitch Billy Goat Gruffs, and other faerie ROC books, 421 pp, $15. is a trained assassin and former secret underlying it - made for Paul Greengrass, creatures. On Harry’s side is a good agent-and is full of nanites, (called drones lots of action, good chase scenes, exotic number of returning and recurring This is new ground for Kay as this here) that render him nigh-invincible. He locales, Brad Pitt and Scarlett characters including The Knights of the novel is a contemporary fantasy set in has to stop an international bioterrorist Johansson’ll love it, etc. This has the Cross, Kincaid, The Archive, Toot Toot, and around Aix-in-Provence in France. named Alfred Krueger, who has un- potential to be a solid summer film in his half brother Thomas, Bob, Murphy, It’s just wonderful. leashed a deadly virus on the world, 2010. and his apprentice Molly. Throw Johnny I so enjoy getting on my small numbering his girlfriend Sarah, ex-secret ( Continued on page 18 ) Marcone and some gangsters into the mix soapbox and telling all you fine readers and Jim Butcher provides another fun and again what an intelligent, erudite, literate exciting adventure in his long-running adult writer Kay is. No pandering to the series. lowest common denominator (not that As you would expect in a Dresden there’s anything wrong with that when Files novel, once things start happening it it’s wanted). But here you have to pay goes pretty much non-stop until you attention and you want to pay attention reach the end of the book. While putting because what you get to savor is lyrical his apprentice Molly through a shield writing and a look at a really fine practice session (having her younger imagination at the top of its ability. siblings throw snowballs at her), Harry The story involves two students Ned, and the kids are attacked by faerie a Canadian, and Kate, an American, who equivalants to the Billy Goat Gruffs, meet up while Ned’s father, a famous getting his nose broken during the fight. photographer, is going to take photos of He soon learns that the Summer Court Saint-Sauveur Cathedral for a fancy has him on a hit list now because he is coffee table art book. being recruited by the Winter Queen, The two explore the ancient site. First Mab, to find and recover gangster Johnny they come across a dark unfriendly Marcone, who has been kidnapped by stranger deep in the bowels of the church powerful forces. As Harry works to (which had been built on the site of the uncover what’s really going on, he learns Roman forum) where no one should be. of a plot by Nicodemus, one of the most They then come across a compelling powerful of the Denarians, to recruit carving of a woman heavily eroded by another big player into their cause in time hidden in the church cloister outside addition to continuing to try to turn Harry identified as the “Queen of Sheba.” into one of them. By the time Harry Whoever she really was, the two find her realizes his true plan, it may be too late. fascinating. In terms of the bigger story arcs that have Aix-in-Provence is a site where the been surfacing in the series, there’s not ancient Celt-Ligurians and the Romans much moving forward on the ongoing clashed in a huge battle beneath Mont White Council versus the vampire Red Saint-Victoire and both of their histories Court activities. Harry does get a bit more are laid thickly throughout the area. knowledge in regards to the secretive So while Ned’s father and his team set Black Council that has been behind some up for photographs, the two students get of the happenings going on and Harry pulled into an ancient struggle between may have found an unlikely ally in trying two men and the “Queen of Sheba” who to learn more about the Black Court. is named Ysabel. Butcher has a couple of big set pieces, There are horned gods and people one set in the Shedd Aquarium and who turn into wolves and owls. An another set in a remote island in the ancient creepy bull-sacrifice in the ruins middle of Lake Michigan, both of which near Entremont—where Ned with his are major skirmishes between the forces Gaelic background can kind of ‘slide’ of good and evil. Other events and between now and then seeing events encounters that lead up to those bigger happening as they did centuries ago. And events are well-plotted and make sense in take his friend Kate with him. within the Dresden universe. Even though This a compelling look at the clash of things get serious at times, Butcher keeps civilizations and more importantly a very a light touch with occasional bits of obsessive love triangle that spans humor and inventive courses of action on centuries and the repercussions of such the part of Harry. His use of his cat, deep emotion on the paths of history. Mister, and some catnip in a sock to The landscape of Provence is a Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 17 cooks. Here are a few delectable selec- well as the assistant to the head cultist Night Rising: (Continued from page 17) In Our Book tions: while dealing with departmental and Vampire Babylon Book One If you’re looking for a fast-paced “A lot of fledgling heroes have asked government politics and various threats to by Chris Marie Green thriller with a futuristic bent, you could me to teach them, but I tell them to take a his life and the department. Ace Books, 325 pages, $14 do worse, but I’d recommend Greg hike. Mentor a newbie, and the next thing The novel reads quick and takes a Bear’s Quantico, or the weather novels you know you’re getting slaughtered by lighter approach to the goings-on than This popped up to the top of the “to by Kim Stanley Robinson before I’d some demon from the depths while your some of the more serious books in the read” pile and I could only wish it has recommend this. – Nadine Armstrong student escapes. Sure, the Hero eventu- genre. Some deaths and events seem to be shown up sooner. Not your typical ally avenges the poor Mentor, but I’d taken a bit too lightly, though, and at vampire hunter novel, this one is popu- Goblin Hero rather be the avenger than the avengee times Simon seems a bit too naive for his lated with rich, nuanced characters on by Jim C. Hines any day.” – Nisu Graybottom own good. Comparisons to early Dresden both sides, indeed it is somewhat difficult Daw Books, Inc. 343 p, $6.99 “Great power carries a great cost. Files novels can be made, but it doesn’t to be sure which side is actually the “bad But there’s no rule that says you have to have nearly the depth or plotting of later guys”. This sequel to Goblin Quest contin- be the one to pay it.” – Grensley books in that series. It also makes use of Dawn Madison reluctantly returns to ues to develop a theme of underdog-as- Shadowmaster some common plot elements such as an LA to look for her missing father. Once unlikely-hero by widening the focus to Here’s my favorite: The Reluctant occult bookstore with magical books and there she meets his co-workers, Kiko, a include new underdogs as companions Hero wants nothing more than to be left bookshelves as the most prominent. One psychic who is also an aspiring actor and rivals for Jig, the goblin who just alone, but such is not the fate of the Hero. nit to pick, however, is how Strout (and, oh yes, a little person) and Breisi, a wants to be left in peace instead of The Hero is destined for great things, and handles Simon’s dealing with the after- gadget wizard and former actress, both of pieces. But now he is famous as Jig destiny is not easily fooled. Destiny uses affects of using his power. Simon’s blood whom work for the investigative agency Dragonslayer – there is an underground a variety of prods to push the Hero into sugar drops when he uses his power and Limpet and Assoc, owned and run by the hit “The Song of Jig” summarizing his adventure, the destruction of his village he refuels by popping Life Savers mysterious Jonah Limpet, heard but never heroics (thoughtfully provided as a being one of the most common. The candies. In real life that isn’t as effective seen. Dawn finds herself drawn into the preface) – and everybody wants a piece murder of his friends and/or family is for a diabetic to bring themselves back same investigation her father was of him. Kralk, the current goblin chief, also popular. If you feel you may be a up. But, it is a fantasy, so I’ll cut him following when he disappeared - the wants him conveniently dead. A jealous Reluctant Hero, you are advised to go some slack. mysterious sighting on film of a long goblin named Veka wants Jig to teach her forth into the world as soon as you can. It For a first novel, it does set up the dead child actor. how to be a hero, and if he won’t, she may be your only chance to protect your situation and characters well and doesn’t The path of the investigation shows wants to usurp his glory on her own. loved ones from the cruel, crushing hand get bogged down in too much exposition. Dawn a side of LA she never knew Injured goblins want him to heal their of destiny. It also tells its story without much in the existed, vampires and psychics, and, as wounds, since he has that ability by way As a follow-up, there is a really fine way of sex or gore, which makes for a she delves deeper into the sordid under- of a minor deity named Tymalous elliptic reference to Reluctant Hero Harry good change of pace from some authors side of Hollywood she begins to wonder Shadowstar. Tymalous wants Jig to save Potter on page 338. There are also bits of in the genre. As long as you go into it just what she has let herself in for. the goblins from extinction, whether self- verse scattered throughout the story. With expecting a more light-hearted adventure, The story moves swiftly, I read it in inflicted or from such menaces as his talent for parody and songwriting, if you should be entertained and will have a one sitting. The bad guys are not clearly hobgoblins, ogres, or … invading pixies? Jim Hines isn’t already a filker, we need tough time putting it down. - Lee evil and the good guys, at least Jonah Yes, in keeping with the level one threat to recruit him. – Chris Paige Whiteside goblins pose to would-be heroic adven- ( Continued on page 19 ) turers, such as the ones who kidnapped Dead To Me Jig in the first book and forced him to by Anton Strout confront a necromancer and a dragon, Jig Roc Paperback $7.99 and the other denizens of the mountain are now under attack by an infestation of Dead to Me is the first novel by Anton powerful pixies who seek a new home for Strout and is a somewhat humorous and their banished queen; and pixies do not light-hearted take on the Urban Fantasy like goblins, hobgoblins, or ogres, except genre. Set in New York City (you can’t as temporary slaves. get any more urban), it is told from the Jig is small, even by the pitiful point of view of Simon Canderous, a standards of goblins; who are lowest on reformed (for the most part) thief with the the totem pole among the creatures of the power of psychometry who has recently mountain. A near-sighted runt whose joined up with the Department of survival skills consist of running away Extraordinary Affairs, a New York City and avoiding conflict, he is now joined agency that is secret and underfunded. by other misfits: a dumb-as-a-rock goblin When Simon touches an object, he has fighter who drops his weapon, a goblin the capability to experience events from crone who has to hobble along with the the past related to the object, usually help of two sticks, and a hobgoblin who seeing it from the point of view of a faints at the sight of blood. Veka is person associated with it. He’s still another misfit: she wants to be a wizard- learning to use his power and his boss, hero, but like Rodney Dangerfeld she Connor, will occasionally test him on it, gets no respect. She is desperate to master much to Simon’s annoyance. In the end, the spells set forth in a scorched tome she it pays off though, with Simon using his salvaged from the dragon’s hoard, and power to help him get through some tight since Jig refuses to promote her aspira- situations near the end of the adventure. tions, all her mentoring comes from Simon’s power causes difficulties with another book: The Path of the Hero, by the opposite sex and even when a ghost Josca. (Get it? Joseph Campbell? turns up that seems to take a liking to Campbell was a second-string academic him, he can still get himself into trouble. who got famous by peddling pieces he The overall story deals with cultists filched from Carl Jung’s psychological making use of the souls of the recently work, so he is ripe for lampooning, and I departed for getting people high with salute Mr. Hines for doing so.) Passages Simon and Connor trying to find out from The Path of the Hero appear as what’s really going on and following chapter headings, as do goblin proverbs various leads. Along the way, Simon and quotes from adventurers, gossips, and develops a relationship with the ghost as Page 18 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 In Our Book ( Continued from page 18 ) for them, not a physical presence. And Fantasy Award nominee, and this one is a the truth, they compare the outbreaks to the three main characters are Dawn strong contender for the ballot also. No, Mencken’s published writings and devise Limpet, are mysterious and evasive (whose famous movie star mother died there is not a linear plot, and no one is questions that only Mencken could enough to make one wonder about their horribly and who is also on an obsessive collecting plot coupons, but if you are possibly answer. Their confrontations real motives in searching for the vam- hunt for her missing dad), Kiko who is a looking for a beautifully written fantasy with both Ariaura and the Mencken pires. I got a bit tired of Dawn’s constant psychic and Breisi Montoya who is a that is something different, this book is for persona become increasingly intense, inner struggle to deal with not being as gadget wiz. These three take orders from you. Fans of McKillip, Kushner, and building to a climactic public showdown beautiful as her dead movie star mother Jonah, go out and hunt the undead. modern fairy tales in general will love and a satisfying denouement. but that was a minor irritation in a book The initiating story here is a nasty this. Highly recommended. - Nadine No matter where you live on the that overall was an excellent read. There murderer dubbed the “Vampire Killer,” Armstrong skeptical-gullible-enlightened spectrum, are two sexually suggestive scenes which who has stalked a few women and ripped this is a fun and informative book. did nothing to advance the story but seem their throats out. But what is really Inside Job Truth isn’t something you believe; it’s to be required these days. Parents may behind these murders is pretty interesting. by Connie Willis something you recognize. – Chris Paige wish to read the book first to determine Of course there is way, way more to Subterranean Press 99 p $35.00 suitability for their teenage readers. As this tale than simply staking those “that Iron Kissed for me, I will now be on the look out for hunt the night” among the film industry Willis has several distinct writing by Patricia Briggs the rest of the books in this series. elite of Hollywood. styles: subdued and exquisite, evident in Ace, 287 pps, $7.99 Recommended - Stephanie L Bannon And that’s what makes this book a Lincoln’s Dreams and Remake; deeply really good paranormal offering. There tragic, as with Doomsday Book or that This is the third book in the Mercy Midnight Reign: are lots of layers and mysteries and when ghastly story about the boarding school; Thompson series following Moon Called Vampire Babylon Book Two I was finished—I was NOT quite sure and then there is her high humor. This is and Blood Bound. by Chris Marie Green who I should be rooting for. I know who I the Connie Willis I read and reread: Mercy is a VW mechanic with her Ace Books, 326 pp; $14 felt sorry for, but not who should “win.” Bellwether, To Say Nothing of the Dog, own shop and a secret: she is a For me, this is the sign of really good and Even the Queen. These are the books shapeshifter and can shift into a coyote When I started reading this, I thought book and a clever author. and stories I include in my class reading when she wishes to. Her roommate, Sam, “here we go with another book on stylish I really will hunt down her first book lists, because I like to hear my students and her neighbor Adam, are werewolves vampires running amuck in L.A.” And I “Night Rising” as maybe it will be a bit laugh. Inside Job belongs to this latter and her former boss, Zee, the friend from almost put it down. clearer who is doing what to whom and category of humorous story-telling that is whom she purchased the garage, is a fae. I am really glad I didn’t because the why. But this, as a stand alone book, is a character-based with a touch of the To repay a favor she owes Zee (see book, for me anyway, has an unusual really compelling vampire hunter tale. - ridiculous. Blood Bound), Mercy agrees to go with feature: who’s on the good side and Sue Martin The story is narrated in the first voice him to the Fae Reservation and investi- who’s on the bad side is very, very by Rob, who publishes The Jaundiced gate several murders. When she identifies murky. It isn’t a cut and dried look at The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Eye, a small press paper that debunks a suspect, things go horribly wrong and vampires fighting it out in a power play, Coin and Spice fake psychics of all flavors. He is ably her friend Zee ends up accused of manipulating humans and/or using them By Catherynne M. Valente assisted by a gorgeous actress named murdering the man. Even though Zee tells for food. Unless I am really missing the Spectra Trade Paperback 14.00 Kildy Ross, who is able to use her La La her to mind her own business, Mercy point! Land connections to get info and invita- can’t rest until she clears Zee’s name. It’s kind of a dark, twisted, but… Disclaimer: I flat-out loved this book. tions to the posh, high-yield scams. Rob This brings her to the attention of some bittersweet tale. A four-hundred-year-old This is the second book in a loosely- keeps waiting for her to give up on powerful, and not too friendly, fae who Master Vampire named Benedikte has linked duology called The Orphan’s Tales. expose work, abandon him, and go back send an executioner after her as well as established what he calls an “Under- The orphan is a nameless little girl who, to acting; but whenever he asks her why the real murderer.... and it is not clear ground” (which it is) as a refuge for because of the strange markings around she doesn’t, she points out that her which is more dangerous to Mercy. As if several echelons of vampiric folk in Los her eyes, has been abandoned by her Hollywood options would be to star in this didn’t provide enough problems, Angeles. And even more interesting, are parents to live in the garden of the sultan’s Hulk III or to pose outside of rehab Mercy can no longer procrastinate - she the Elites—humans who have been palace living off the land, until, one day, a centers. Kildy would rather shell out must choose between Sam and Adam as turned to vampires because they didn’t little boy finds her. He learns that the $4000 to help expose a channeler called her mate. want their youth (and because we are in strange black circles around her eyes are Ariaura who gives a voice to the ‘as- I really enjoy the Mercy books, the L.A./Hollywood) and fame to disappear. stories, and she must tell all of them to be cended entity’ Isus. interaction between the characters and the They hunker down in the Underground free. In Bellwether, Connie Willis provided plots are well written and hold the indulging in all kinds of sensual plea- So it begins. a PhD’s worth of data about fads through reader’s interest. The characters, even the sures, kept young by drinking the blood The second volume is structurally like history; in Inside Job, she names real secondary ones, are fully fleshed, from of the Master Vampire and waiting for the the first - the boy and girl meet in the names of people in the psychic trade, Warren, the gay werewolf, to Jesse, right moment for a comeback when they garden and she tells the stories, which both the con artists and the debunkers. Adam’s daughter, who is treading the can be resurrected as it were and be a wind around and around like a nautilus Her main characters are fictional, but the dangers of being a teenage daughter of an “new” star who kind of reminds people of shell. The stories, however, move from context is genuine. Her explanations of alpha werewolf.... talk about scaring the original star they actually were before the forest and wilderness to the cities the uses of sex and snob appeal to away potential boyfriends. I recommend they turned. referred to in the title, with djinns and a bamboozle gulls is Connie Willis at her this series and eagerly await the next And I am hoping this is what the phoenix - a more Arabic feel than the first best – she is dead-on in her descriptions book in the series. - Stephanie L Bannon author wants, but I am not sure exactly volume. Valente is a poet, and it shows. and critiques of merchandising and the where the “wrong” part is. As far as I can The prose is lush and dense and beautiful, gobbledygook spouted by self-styled Marseguro tell, the Master Vampire does not take without being overwritten or purple, much channelers. by Edward Willett humans willy-nilly in the night except like the sultan’s garden itself: the stories The SF component of the story is that DAW Books, $7.99, 392pps those who ask to be changed. Who want themselves worthy of the original 1001 Ariaura seems to also be channeling the the “eternal” youth he can give. But to be Nights – if, that is, the Arabian Nights had voice of H. L. Mencken, the original Yes, the title means “safe sea” in honest—it is not clear where all the blood a better attitude to women. It was, in debunker himself, the reporter who Spanish. And this is critical to one half of the others drink from goblets is coming general, a pleasure to read on all levels. covered the Scopes Monkey Trial in the the main characters in this tale because from…and I haven’t read her previous The book itself, with illustrations by nineteen twenties. He interrupts her they are humans whose DNA has been book “Night Rising.” Michael William Kaluta, is lovely to look ungrammatical maunderings with modified and for all intents and purposes But there is this group, the “good” at. A caveat: I do think, in order to really diatribes and insults directed at the are now merpeople (without the fish guys I guess who work for a mysterious enjoy it you do need to read the first one. audience. Kildy is convinced that it is tails). They left Earth along with normal stranger (who sounds obviously vampiric While it is mostly stand-alone, I think you indeed the spirit of Mencken interrupting land dwelling humans in a colony ship to me) named Jonah Limpet. The organi- get a better flavor for the relationship of Ariaura’s sweetness and light shows and and found the world they named zation does PI work and is called Limpet the boy and the girl and their world that blowing away her smoke; Rob thinks Marseguro. All has been pretty hunky and Associates. They call Jonah “The way. This book is going to be on a lot of that’s impossible and Ariaura is being dory, though of course they are a bit Voice” because mostly that’s what he is Hugo ballots. The first one was a World clever to generate notoriety. To determine (Continued on page 20) Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book ( Continued from page 19 ) Wrong. A “landling,” a human who grandson of the selkies creator. Hansen the first book to make sense out of many does not live in the Marseguro seas, is wants to prove to those in charge on of the plot points. And, you need to see behind on some technological levels. resentful of the selkies and feels that they Earth, despite his heritage, just how Venera’s actions and the reasons for them Happily, they lost contact with Earth are becoming a “superior” race and the behind their program he is. to make sense of her behavior here. But because they were way off their projected land-hugging humans are becoming Of course, everything changes when that said: this was a solid read. The plot route through the stars and came upon the second-class citizens. And so Chris he reaches Marseguro. stands on its own, the characters well- planet unexpectedly. Keating goes to the initial landing site, The novel is a great combination of drawn, and the science interesting. It’s Which was really a good thing. where the remains of the original colony political and religious chicanery by the also topical - the books are about the Earth at the time of their departure ship are preserved as a museum. He powers on Earth and the struggles of the allocation of resources, and what power- was consumed by religious fanaticism activates a distress beacon that still selkies (who can also remain on land for ful nations will do to keep power, versus that looked upon the “selkies,” as they are functions. some time) to assert their rights to live nations which try to get it. Schroeder is called, as abominations that should be And calls forth the hounds of Earth, and maintain Marseguro as their home. an excellent hard SF writer; he doesn’t eradicated. The selkies and their human rabid to not only find the “selkies” but of The characters are fascinating and the bog things down with technical explana- supporters lit out for the great unknown course, eradicate them. The invasion story is great. All around this is a compel- tions that would be better served in with the selkie creator Victor Hansen. force brings with them an observer for ling and fast read. - Sue Martin engineering manuals, but he does give the Luckily they are far, far away; right? the religious leaders, Richard Hansen, reader enough information to make the Queen of Candesce: science behind the tech and other Virga Book 2 worldbuilding believable. His prose is by Karl Schroeder clean and sharp, never frilly, but is Tor hardback 25.95 always just descriptive enough. The book has a steampunk feel to it - gravity is This is the middle created in the towns with the use of book of a trilogy. special bikes powered by humans. Virga is a region of Overall, if you’re looking for hard SF space that is essen- that isn’t dystopian, but well-written and tially a great balloon- exciting, you’ll like this trilogy. If series shape of air. It aren’t your thing, you could do worse contains many wheel- than pick up Lady of Mazes, which is a shaped towns which standalone, and is available in paperback. are lit by artificial Highly recommended. - Nadine suns. People mine Armstrong various elements from meteorites and such Last Dragon that are caught in the by J.M. McDermott balloon, and of course, Wizards of the Coast, 388 PP. $23.00 where you are in the balloon, and whether Last Dragon is a first novel. Last or not your town has Dragon is a literary novel. Though set in its own sun are greatly a medieval-ish society, it is not a fantasy important to your in the classic sense. It is highly original in quality of life. Queen voice. Told in a series of flashbacks of a of Candesce is the dying protagonist in letters to Esumi story of a character which talk of life and changes in a voice from the first book, that mixes in despair to reality. It is Venera Fanning, last beautifully written. And left me with a seen “falling” through sense of loss by the end. Worth the read. - the balloon and Pam Allan between the artificial nations. Here, she Worldbinder lands in the nation of by David Farland Spyre, one of the Tor Fantasy, 336 PP, $24.85 oldest nations in Virga, where plots and plans Worldbinder is the sixth book of The immediately begin Runelords Saga. forming around her. Fallion and Jaz are hiding in their own Since she is carrying kingdom, biding time till they can resume the Key of Candesce, their rightful places as sons of the great the cornerstone for the earth king, Gaborn. Meanwhile, the survival of Virga itself, invading monsters threaten to take over things quickly begin to completely. Fallion hears the call to heal happen. the world, but when he attempts to do so, It’s difficult to talk two worlds fuse combining the best and about the middle book the worst of both. Now Fallion must fight of a trilogy - often a whole new set of monsters to heal the they serve as set-up world. and filler for the first Farland writes great monsters and and third books. This monstrous people {what’s in the water of one though, is a rarity, ST. George, Utah?} and epic action. His a good book in its own characters are well-drawn and suffer from right. I don’t recom- human flaws that make their virtue not mend reading this only more believable, but more admi- without reading the rable. Long may he write. Fantasy lovers: first book, Sun of this is a series to collect as well as read. - Suns, as you need the Pam Allan worldbuilding done in ( Continued on page 21 ) Page 20 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 In Our Book (Continued from page 20) Star Wars: Death Star for your library. You will want to re-read Grinsa, a weaver of diverse magical by Michael Reaves & Steve Perry them. - Pam Allan gift, travels to the Southlands seeking Midnight Awakening Del Ray/Lucas Books, HB,384 pp, peace for himself with his wife and child; by Laura Adrian $25.95 Unquiet Dreams but when they begin their trek across the Dell , 369 pp, $6.99 by Mark Del Franco Southlands, they are captured by the Death Star is the latest in Star Wars Ace, 292 pp,$7.99 Fal’borna , a tribe of warrior horseman. Midnight Awakening appears to novels. Their elder holds the family hostage continue a series preceded by Kiss of Have you ever wondered how the Unquiet Dreams is a sequel to pitting Grinza against other weavers that Crimson and Kiss of Midnight. A fourth Death Star came to be? Was the emperor Unshapely Things. want to succeed him. Grinza and his novel, Midnight Rising, is due out spring a Sith Lord? How did Anakin become In a world where Fairie and human family just want peace. Grinza agrees to 2008. Darth Vader? Death Star is an inside space converged, things are tense enough search for the source of the plague, to win Elise Chase is hunting rogue vampires glimpse of the inner workings of the for everyone. When an elf diplomat and a their freedom. If he fails, everything he who killed her husband and son. She battle station, through the eyes of those human gang member are simultaneously loves will be lost. tracks them with an uncontrolled psychic involved. And while the draftees and murdered, it ignites the fuse of a long- Coe’s plotting is excellent and sense that almost overwhelms her. When contractors strive to build and bring the simmering feud. Is Boston burning as the imaginative. His characters are well- Breed Warrior, Tegan, comes into an station into being, a small band of rebels body count rises? What does the board- drawn and unique. Besh is not a hand- alliance with her he teaches her control of try a daring rescue from within and to room power plays in the fey guild have to some heroic hunk, but an elderly ordinary her gift; but finds romance, vampire style, destroy the ultimate weapon in the do with a new designer drug? Or a vast craftsman. Grinza, for all his wisdom and to go with their mission. And now they universe . conspiracy that may destroy the world powers, is a worried family man. You must save the world from the Gen 1 The two authors juggle a large cast of itself? care about their worries, the plotting and vampires that would use humans as cattle characters with panache bringing them all Call for Conner Grey, former guild intrigue around them. You even care under their rule. to a successful conclusion and make a investigator, now consultant to the about Licaldi, the person who created the This is another kind of milieu of good novel. For Star Wars fans that can’t Boston PD. The loss of most of his plague. Place all this in a richly imagined vampires. All descended from Aliens. The get enough. Know that Obi-wan Kenobi abilities may have him out of the Guild’s world and you have book to treasure. If Order is warrior vampires whose job is to lives on in the force. - Pam Allan employ but he is called back in; bearing the series continues at this level, we’ll prevent the bad vampires from coming to the status of alternate to one of the have to keep the whole series. I can’t wait power. They are also not popular with the The Longevity Thesis directors. If the world is to survive, and to read the next one. - Pam Allan Darkhaven Enforcement vamps who by Jennifer Rahn Conner with it, he will have to work fast. think the Breeds are too violent. With the Dragon Moon, 258 PP, $15.95 This is a fun book combining Paranor- Rise of the Blood Royal help of the Berlin Darkhaven, they pursue mal romance, Mystery and fantasy in one by Robert Newcomb their goals but the Bad ones are after Antronos was born, and deformed by fast paced volume. Good characters, and Ballantine/DelRay, 524 pp, $26.96 them. They decode an ancient volume the whims of the desert. After the death plotting make this one a winner. Look out that holds the key to the crypt of the last of his mother, he found his way into the Dresden Files. - Pam Allan Rise of the Blood Royal is the third of the alien progenitors who can lead the underground world of the Temlochti book of the Destinies of Blood and Stone. other groups new world order. The cover State. Navigator On the far side of the impassable lists the book as a paranormal romance Winning an education, he gets his by Stephen Baxter Tolenca, the endless war of attrition has and it is. But it also has plenty of action, degree as a doctor and accepts a position Ace, 321 pp, $24.95 reached a turning point. Vespasian, and well-drawn characters to keep any as graduate student of Sen Vernus, as an emperor of Rustannicais is desperate for a vampire lovers happy. Now I have to look expert on longevity. Lord Jait has psychic Navigator is book three of Time’s victory that will turn the tides of war in around for the others. Darn, I didn’t need power he cannot control. Vernus can use Tapestry. his favor. In Eutracia, the wizard, Faegan a new series to get addicted to reading. - this to take over the minds and possess When William the Conqueror worked and Wigg, have found a new form of Pam Allan others in power. Antronos finds himself to stamp out rebellion, a prophesy was magic; one that will allow passage stealing body parts and vows to resist given speaking of endless conflict armed through the mountains and change the Troy: Fall Of Kings Vernus, and save Lord Jait. by the engines of God. balance to the Vigors, the good magic, by David Gemmell and Stella Gemmell An interesting concept, peopled by Its truth is shown by the fearsome war and bring Prince Tristan into his full Ballantine Books, 447 PP $25.95 good characters and action, the book is between Christianity and Islam. A rogue powers. definitely worth the read, by an author priest finds a rent in time where agents However, an ancient spell has Troy: Fall Of Kings is the concluding you will want to watch. - Pam Allan. from the future tamper with the past. surfaced, with monsters half human, half volume of a classic retelling of the Illiad. As the conflict rages across the serpent commanded by the Viper Lord. Outside the walls of the golden city of The Vacant Throne centuries, men of vision start looking As Tristan departs for Rustnnica, his Troy the armies and navies are massing. by Joshua Palmantier across the seas to a new land, and a twin sister, Shailiha, must fight the Viper Alliances are negotiated, and the known Daw, 532 pp, $24.95 mysterious weaver tries to prevent the Lord and his monster hordes. To lose is world prepares for war. Not just a land funding of one explorers trip to the west unthinkable. But the cost may be unthink- grab: heros are seeking vengeance for The Vacant Throne is the third volume in 1492. ably high. families killed, assassins poise ready to of The Throne of Amenkor. Baxter produces an action packed This concludes this trilogy, the second strike as storm clouds gather. Waiting for Amenkor has been standing for a historical epic that brings a vivid world to of Blood and Stone, The final pages set us the final clash, personal lives are over- thousand years, ruled by the Mistress of life and illustrate the effect of ideas can up for a third trilogy. shadowed by events, but still define the the Skewed Throne, Amenkor has do to effect the future. Worth the read, The Characters are well-drawn age. survived invaders, madness, drought, and maybe trigger purchasing the set. - archetypes, very good or very evil; but This is not a who-will-win epic but a famine, and disease. Pam Allan there is plenty of action. The Epic fantasy masterful retelling of the Illiad through Varis is the new Mistress of the is reminiscent of Robert Jordan in scope. the eyes of the people involved. Master- throne, but the last invasion drained the The Sorcerer’s Plague I would suggest starting with the ful it is; with characters that are well- throne. And the Chorl haven’t given up. by David B. Coe Chronicles of Blood and Stone, although drawn on their well-researched historical The City’s only hope is the twin Tor, 393 pp, $25.95 each book will stand alone. - Pam Allan canvas. It also has plenty of action. Do I throne hidden in Venitte, a sometime ally. like the trilogy? Yes, they deserve to be But the Chorl have targeted Venitte and The Sorcerer’s Plague is Book one of The Dreaming Void permanent residents of most readers’ its throne. The Venitte council don’t the projected Blood of the Southlands by Peter F. Hamilton libraries. - Pam Allan believe the Chorl is coming or that Series Ballantine Books, 620 PP,$26.99 several members of the council are aiding In a small Eandi village, Licaldi, an them. Can Varis and her guard save the elderly recluse disappears. When the Peter F. Hamilton is also the author remaining throne, and Venitte from the elders enter her home to see if she died, Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained. Chorl? they find evidence that may connect her The year is 3589. Centurion Station, a Lots of action, intrigue and real and her baskets to a Quirsi plague research facility, is built on alien ruins at characters in a well-drawn world, well destroying villages overnight. Besh, one the edge of the Void; a vast darkness that worth the read {all three] You’ll want it of the elders, goes to search for her. ( Continued on page 22 ) Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 21 providing service to Arizona and the this organization. 3) Information available at haunted, historical locations throughout In Our Book (Continued from page 21 ) Southwest since 1994. Having served the www.darkones.org Arizona. They also research and investigate has swallowed whole planets and public for 12 years, we are one of the oldest, “house call” hauntings for the public. The civilizations. But it has been quiet for most respected paranormal investigation THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo groups in Arizona. We are primarily science STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations millennia. Now it seems to be stirring. based and don’t go on an investigation Steel specializes in the general recreation of across Arizona. These workshops give ghost Dreams of a strange reality are being looking for ghosts, we go looking for the culture of the Middle Ages including all of hunters, paranormal team members and folks projected and nobody knows what is answers. There is never a charge for an the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a hiding within the void. investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts chance to work and learn techniques together. At the center of the epic, are three [email protected] or covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest people: a young woman making her visit our website at: http:// and any location within Europe or its explored speakers at many venues and have appeared www.arizonaparanormalinvestigations.com/ territories. For more information contact on TV news reports and the subject of several fortune on a planet that may be a target Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: newspaper stories. For more information for a reactivated void, a young man THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a www.galandor.org contact: whose telepathic talent lets him reshape general sci-fi appreciation group that meets MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, his world, and a detective genetically once a month for discussion of various sci-fi A GATHERING OF PLAYERS-Find Your Director—480-969-4049 Web page: engineered to track down her quarry. news regarding several mediums to include: Adventure www.mvdghostchasers.com or The Dreaming Void is an epic and television, movies, video, books, comics, Our club is running into our fourth year. Join [email protected] magazines, collecting, and so forth. The us for games and adventure set in the involved Space Opera worthy of Heinlein meetings are comprised of news, review and Dungeons and Dragons realm. We offer ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION or Weber. Good characters, good action, comment, BBS/computer news and help, Living Greyhawk and Xen’drik Expeditions. CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month and a world. This is a trilogy worth meeting new members, video presentations, Visit http://www.warhorn.net/gathering, to see (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are getting as well as reading. - Pam Allan games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks what we have coming up. built around guest speakers. We’ve had are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per We will have character creation sessions to authors such as Octavia Butler and Greg meeting) to compensate the host. (No other get you started and answer all questions. Our Benford. Non-members are welcome. For fees are involved.) The electronic home of the group has been together, and growing, for details of current events and location see our Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station four years. We’re a good group of friends that website www.ocsfc.org or email BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for believe in gaming fun first. Our member [email protected] the group range from 13-40-something with group’s ages range from 13 to 49. both male and female members. Other We welcome both new and experienced PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated Club Listings activities include null-modem link gamefests, players. to building and promoting Autonomous ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North group theater movie viewings, convention 10:00 a.m. Character Creation - We will have robotics. The club has been in existance since Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well trips and more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, a session to create characters for all of the 1998. Meetings are currently conducted twice there is a club out there available for you low-structure environment. NO RUBBER campaigns we run. AGoP will have all books a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona people. EARS ALLOWED!! For questions, you can available for reference. We encourage you to locations., http://www.parex.org/ Across Plus is a social club that discuses call the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; purchase the books if you like the game. All meetings.shtml. Club dues are on an annual anime, video games, manga, other animation, 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 character materials are provided; character basis: Regular members $20 Student members and the Japanese culture. We meet at sheets, master item logs, adventure records, $15 Of course visitors are always welcome Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern on BASFA Local Tucson science fiction group etc. Dice will be loaned to you if you don’t because we know you will eventually become Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box have any yet. In other words, all that is a member anyway Web page: http:// In general, we explore anime, manga, and 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or needed for the first day is for you to join www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John other styles of animation, creative educative [email protected] us and have fun. Kittelsrud, [email protected] demonstrations, participate in interactive our website at http://home.earthlink.net/ If you have any questions email us at discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, ~basfa/ [email protected]. THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- and make cosplay. ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the We are willing to gain any new members out CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. there who are interested. Our members are FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. PFFS has been in existence for 30 years, very friendly, respectful, and fun. We non-profit corporation that puts on For more information call Carol Alves, meeting every 6 weeks in member’s homes. welcome any and all. CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Dues are $10 per year. Membership includes For more information, contact Shane Bryner HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and Knights, c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, newsletters, an annual film awards and at [email protected] publishes Con-Notations. Best described as Hesperia CA, 92345-7066. various outings. For information, contact SF/F generalists with a strong bent towards PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, on the last Friday of each month in January area corporations that put on yearly conven- [email protected]. banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every thru September and the second Friday in tions. Best described as SF/F generalists with Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto October, November and December at JB’s a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A Park. All are welcome. Free. Restaurant, 1818 W Montebello in Phoenix, welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the AZ. For information: write PO Box 62613, second Saturday of February, May, August & ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or email November unless otherwise notified. August the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th [email protected] Web www.casfs.org is the annual meeting where board positions White Wolf publishing. Contact Mike Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone are deter-mined. For more information, write McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 welcome. All levels skill exchange in many *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202- areas of object manipulation Dave Davis Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email 3144 or [email protected] , 602-955-9446; Reenactment group specializing in the [email protected] Webpage: or Ron Harvey , 480- western European renaissance. We research www.leprecon.org RAW GAMES (Role-players & 775-4690 for more info or impromptu lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & juggling sessions. Celtic Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. MIB The Men in Black is the official global Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- We emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and organization of field operatives for Steve playing and wargaming club. Currently ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A do Celtic re-enactment. We open participation Jackson Games. We attend local conventions meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix every collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, to anyone with an interest in period crafting to demonstrate and promote products of Steve Sunday from 12noon-5pm (except during the Arizona LANbashers League throws and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in conventions and other special events). Open quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and local gaming stores as well as community to new members - call (623) 849-9515. support is given to local groups who wish to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page service events. If you have a gaming store, advertise their own gatherings. We have no http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at convention, or community service that you SHIELD OF ALMOR The Shield of Almor set genre of games and play anything from the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and would like to have official Steve Jackson is a RPGA club located in the greater Phoenix strategy games to first-person shooters to Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, Games representation at, please contact the area. If you are interested in Living Greyhawk driving/flying simulations. No annual phone number (480)350-5211. The Board MIB Arizona Cell catch one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of membership is required and admission to an meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General Leader at [email protected]. We are also every month at Imperial Outpost Games event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage meeting starting at 2:30 pm. recruiting new MIBs in some areas of (www.imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If for current events. Email: Arizona. If you’re interested, contact us. You you are interested in Living Arcanis or Living [email protected] Web: THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An can find additional information about the Spycraft catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- organization formed for the expression and Arizona MIB at our website http:// month also at Imperial Outpost Games. The 9339 exploration of various cultural themes members.cox.net/mib.6361/ Shield of Almor hosts RPGA events at the including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages local Phoenix conventions. For more ARIZONA PARANORMAL and the Renaissance through forms of art MVD GHOSTCHASERS—The MVD information visit us at INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly including, but not limited to, painting, Ghostchasers are a paranormal team games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ or trained, non-profit paranormal investigation drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, established in 1995. This band of ghost you can sign up for games at group, registered with the state of Arizona, and acts of characterization. 2) a member of hunters conducts regular investigations of ( Continued on page 23 ) Page 22 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2 Club Listings Many members maintain an active presence at Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We ( Continued from page 22 ) conventions. You can contact us at 2243 W maintain a mailing list for news and get- Wagon Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice togethers of fans of the X-Files living in www.nyrond.org. Or you can just stop by the Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix HELP WANTED 1st Sunday of the month. Meeting starts at [email protected] or visit us at http:// and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an 10am. Hope to see you there. members.cox.net/tardisaz/tardis.html empty message to z-philes- Do you enjoy CopperCon? [email protected] THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE HexaCon? Any of the other local TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- series’ production companies and the USA volunteer, fan-run conventions? doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair CIATION (WesternSFA) Network! It is THE information conduit A non-profit kingdom can be found six Baronies: CopperCon and HexaCon and between the fans and the series! Fan club corporation that sponsors AniZona, the Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, the others are staffed completely membership will bring you the following 1) ConRunners seminars, Across Plus Anime SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For subscription to the info filled Tek Informer Club and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. by unpaid volunteers, from the more information on any of these or for newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club Dedicated primarily to educational activities general information on contact the Kingdom chair person to the volunteer that membership card and kit. Membership is by relating to literature, music, and visual and Seneschal. Email: [email protected] helps for only one hour. regular mail only and the newsletter and performing arts, especially in the genres of Web www.atenveldt.com materials will not be reproduced electroni- Anime, science fiction, fantasy, costuming, cally. To join the action and initiate your gaming and science. Applicants for member- SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD The If you enjoy our events and want annual membership, make check or money ship in WesternSFA must be sponsored by a Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose them to continue then please order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan current active WesternSFA member. Dues are organization of persons interested in all facets Club (Membership section), 2522 N $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable applica- consider helping any or all of of historical, cultural, science fiction, fantasy, Sparkman Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 tion fee. General Meetings are held on the and humor costume. Members are often seen first Friday of February, May, August and Arizona’s fan run events. on stage and behind the scenes at local and T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and November, check our website for meeting regional Science Fiction Convention fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the location Guests are welcome. For more info For information on available masquerades. They meet on the last Sunday of Arizona State University campus, with dates contact Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, PO Box each month at various members’ homes in the CopperCon positions please and places to be announced after the semester 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082 Email: greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest starts. For more information, Email [email protected] Webpage: contact us at Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, [email protected] Web www.westernsfa.org [email protected] or AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at www.themonline.org [email protected] or www.coppercon.org www.southwestcostumersguild.org TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address Convention is [email protected] or For information on available SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access [email protected] Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically Listings HexaCon positions or to cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A volunteer to run a game please possible within ten years, with a little luck LepreCon 34 (May 9-11, 2008) Fran- Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan contact us at and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us cisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, Casa club. We are a social club that meets every make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for [email protected] or two weeks at various locations around the Grande, AZ Artist Guest: Howard one year, which gets you emailed Space Phoenix area. The UFP has been meeting for Tayler; Author Guests: Emily & Ernest www.hexacon.org Access Updates the instant they pass final over 30 years of continuous activity. Dues are edit, plus discounts on our annual conference Hogan; Local Artist Guest: Liz Danforth; $15/per year prorated when you join; no on the technology, politics, and business of Special FX/Makeup Guest: David Ayres Our parent organization, the restrictions. Membership includes member- radically cheaper space transportation, ship roster and monthly newsletter. Come to Memberships: $25 thru 8/31/07, $30 thru Central Arizona Speculative featuring leading players in the field. Email 10/31/07 Info: LepreCon 34 PO Box us at: [email protected] any two meetings at no obligation. For Fiction Society (CASFS) is also information, write the UFP at PO Box 37224, Web page: www.space-access.org/ 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285 (480) 945- looking for new members. Check Phoenix, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) 6890 our web site at www.casfs.org for SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING 242-9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org Email: [email protected] web: http:// or Email to [email protected] information on meetings and SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of www.leprecon.org model and high-power rockets and those who upcoming events or contact us at USS STORMBRINGER love to see them fly. Launches are held on the The Stormbringer is a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter [email protected] second Saturday morning of each month in DENVENTION / WORLDCON 66 of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. (Aug 6-10 2008) Colorado Convention Harry Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every The chapter was commissioned as the USS Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to Center, Denver, Colorado. Guests: Lois October. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on McMaster Bujold, Rick Sternbach, Tom membership information, directions to the launches and meetings, and to read the 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 Whitmore; TM Wil McCarthy. Rates, members. There are no dues other than the monthly newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” accommodations, etc: see website — $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are http://www.denvention3.org/ TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ scattered world wide but the primary clusters are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- meet on a regular basis since they are a CopperCon 28 (Aug 29-31, 2008) tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS What is CASFS? correspondence chapter. Their web site is: meets every two weeks at different locations Embassy Suites Paradise Valley/ What is really behind putting on a http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ around the valley. Activities include watching Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ Author GoH and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, convention? What are the funds raised by videos, discussions, parties, games, and [email protected] MaryJanice Davidson, Media GoH Greg a convention used for? Why not attend a occasional outings with more to come now Weisman, Artist GoH David Hedgecock, meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor that Doctor Who is returning from hiatus. Special GoH Anthony Alongi, Music of ConNotations, CopperCons, Hexa- GoH Tom smith. Memberships $35 thru Cons, SmerfCons and other conventions. Generic Convention Registration Form We are a charitable, non-profit organiza- 5/31/08. $40 thru 07/31/08. $45 at the tion that exists to further science fiction, door. Info Coppercon 28 PO Box 62613, fantasy and science fields in Arizona. Name:______Phoenix AZ 85082, www.coppercon,org CASFS currently meets at the JB’s or [email protected] Restaurant at 1818 W Montebello in Badge Name:______Phoenix The meetings begin at 8PM and Address:______World Fantasy Convention 2008 (Oct are held on the last Friday of the month 30-Nov 3 ’08) Calgary, Alberta, Jan. through Sept. and on the second City/State/ZIP:______Friday of the month Oct through Dec. Canada. Info: website: Everyone is invited to attend two Phone:______Email:______www.worldfantasy.org meetings as a guest (non-member). Membership rates are $12/year plus an Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for AniZona 2009 (April 10-12, 2009) initial $3 application fee and rates are ______convention. Embassy Suites Paradise Valley/ pro-rated for the amount of the year Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ. Memberships remaining. For more info: Webpage: (See individual convention listing for mailing address) www.casfs.org Email: [email protected] More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other $30 thru 09/15/2008. For more info - www.anizona.org or [email protected] Volume 18 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 23 Page 24 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 2