Science Fiction/San Francisco

Issue 91 Editors: Jean Martin, Chris Garcia August 5, 2009 Copy Editor: David Moyce email: [email protected] Calendar Editor: España Sheriff Compositor: Tom Becker

The Sunken Garden by Lucy Huntzinger Contents News and Notes...... Chris Garcia...... 2 Editorial...... Jean Martin...... 3 Letters of Comment...... Chris Garcia...... 6 This Old Fanzine: Myrddin 3...... Chris Garcia...... 8 Azkatraz Brings Out Believers...... Michael Boehm...... Photos by Michael Boehm...... 10 Moonfest Achieves Liftoff...... Howeird...... Photos by Howeird...... 14 Super-Con Features Goods and Guests...... J. Yochanan Urias...... Photos by J. Yochanan Urias...... 19 Pirates Plunder and Carouse in Vallejo...... Jean Martin...... Photos by Jean Martin...... 22 BASFA Minutes: Meetings 990-991...... 26 Announcing the SF/SF Summer Picnic...... Jean Martin...... Photo by Michael Gray...... 28 Bay Area Fannish Calendar...... España Sheriff...... Photo by Lucy Huntzinger...... 30

Science Fiction/San Francisco is the twice-monthly news zine for the San Francisco Bay Area. All issues can be found at www.efanzines.com. Except as noted, all articles and photos are copyright 2009 by the original creators. Used with permission.

1 News and Notes

By Christopher J. Garcia the Reno PR #0. It’s been crazy, but the issue I Editor did put out had Lee Lavell and Taral Wayne, so While I’m not 100% certain, I’m fairly sure it’s gotta be good! no one’s ever gone from 0-to-convention in less In a lovely piece of fannish history, than a week. The fact that the FyDySyFy crew eFanzines.com is now the home of copies of has even started down the path is amazing, and Futurian Observer. It’s a newszine from the amount of distance they’ve gone even in the Australia in the 1940s. The bare roots of SF four days since it started is fantastic! If you’ve Fandom Down Under presented just as a new ever done a website for a con, take a look at Aussiecon looms! It’s a great read. www.trepidation2009.com right now. They’ve In what’s becoming a very frequent zine, done that in less than two days. There’s info, Home Kookin’ from Arnie Katz and Co. has its there’s silliness, there’s content! You can say, fifth issue out. It’s a fun read, and I really enjoy courtesy of eFanzines.com “Well, they’re a week out and they’ve not even the pictures. It’s hard for me to see the managed to announce any GoHs!” and I can packed! I’ll be fine though. The highlights for wonderful images without wanting to hop in respond, “They’ve only started a few days ago me include Au Pied de Cochon with folks like my car and drive south to Vegas for a fannish and they’ve got more info than most cons have Niall Harrison, Kevin and Andy, The Lovely weekend, but alas, it ain’t that easy… after three months of work!” It’s really and Talented Linda, Graham Sleight and I’ll Speaking of Vegas, Scott Anderson impressive. Leigh Ann and España are finally get to meet Sharee Carton! That’s announced that Xanadu II will be happening spearheading the thing, with Radar doing the awesome! There are panels, at least two of next March. It had been scheduled for one programming, Johanna as Gaming Head, Jack which I’m very excited for. I only wish that week earlier than the last week in March where Avery as Head of Publications, and a couple of Jack Speer was going to be there to chide me they now sit, but they didn’t want to conflict others whose names are escaping because that’s on the inconsistency of my spelling, and not with the Final Four. Good call, though I’m not what happens when I write without the internet having Charles Brown around will be tough. sure how much the audiences overlap. Once at my fingertips! The con will be held at the SF Sadly, I had a panel scheduled with Gail again, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it. Hyatt Regency from July 31st at 3 p.m. to Carriger, but she won’t be there. It was the I’m planning on going to Eastercon around that August 1st at 3 p.m. Jason Schachat will be the Steampunk panel, which would have been great same time, but it does sound like fun and Fan Guest of Honor. I’m sure reports will be in to have her on. It turns out that she’s not they’ve changed hotels, as I understand it. You the next issue. attending. Such is our lot. can find out more at www.xanadulasvegas.com. Worldcon will also be right upon us once Hey, eFanzines has been a little slow. I’ve this issue is out. I’m so excited. I’ve been only managed one Drink Tank because I’ve preparing for panels so much, I haven’t even been working the layout of Journey Planet and 2 Editorial

By Jean Martin this in past editorials and articles, but I wasn’t time to line up for panels and Editor find that Comic-Con is more of a media other things I wanted to do. And the rest The famous and incredibly popular con and it is too big for my tastes. of the time, it was difficult to connect Comic-Con just wrapped up last WonderCon, Comic-Con’s local version, with friends and hang out. I walked the weekend and photos from friends and is becoming bigger and bigger every general vicinity of the convention center their friends have been popping up all year. And this year, I got a migraine with a friend one night trying to find a over Facebook. Surprisingly, I didn’t see from just attending one day. There were party, any party, and couldn’t find one. very many posts on Facebook during the just too many people walking around, To me, the high cost (hotel, airfare, actual convention. Perhaps people were and lines for panels were extremely tickets, dining, etc.), stress of too many too busy running around and lining up long. The wait is often an hour or more. people, difficulty of hanging out with for panels and events. Or maybe most I didn’t even get into the Star Trek panel friends, and inconvenience of getting people didn’t have iPhones or laptops until the very end when the cast into panels is just not worth it. I heard with them. I’d have thought, however, members and producer were leaving the that this year, some lines for popular that at a con as eventful as Comic-Con stage. panels took three hours! And there’s not most people would have iPhones or So imagine that times ten! I believe even a guarantee that you can get in. some sort of smart phone so they could that, nowadays, Comic-Con draws over Most people get into the big halls way post updates of what they were doing. 100,000 people to San Diego over the ahead of the panels they actually want to I’ve never actually followed Comic- course of the four-day con. It’s almost see. But that means, for me, having to sit Con before while it was happening, but impossible to even get a hotel room through panels of TV shows I don’t this year, there were several guests I was anywhere in the city during that time watch and movies I won’t ever see. It’s interested in. I didn’t want to read pages period, not to mention actual tickets to just a big waste of time, I think. Two and pages of blogs and reports. I just the con. When I went my first and only panels in a row is enough for me and wanted photos. IMDB delivered on that time in 2005, I did have a great time then I get restless and bored and want to and I liked that they just had a page or because I went with a group of friends move around and see and do other two of thumbnails for each day and they and we performed in the masquerade. things. Also, what do people do for were updated after each day. But being in the masquerade meant that bathroom breaks and food and water? Why did I not go to the con, you most of Saturday afternoon and evening Being stuck in a huge room with might ask? I probably have mentioned was devoted to just that one event. There

3 thousands of people for an entire day younger. So I did get a vicarious thrill A couple of sword and sandals epics just sounds like being in prison. seeing their photos on IMDB. were also previewed: Clash of the Titans And it requires a lot of advance There were lots of other movie and and Spartacus (with Lucy Lawless!). planning. Most people buy their tickets TV personalities who were there to Both remakes, of course. I hope they and book their hotel rooms six months promote their latest projects. I’m live up to the originals. Well, the original before Comic-Con, before they even looking forward to New Moon (the Clash of the Titans wasn’t very good but know who the guests are going to be. Twilight sequel), Johnny Depp’s Alice in I loved it anyway. There are very few celebrities I would Wonderland, and Robert Downey Jr.’s So, yes, Comic-Con is a media con. go to all this trouble for. Every year after Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man. But did And not a hang out with your friends, Comic-Con, I kick myself for not going I really need to be in San Diego to see wear costumes, do interesting things and because I missed one person or another. trailers and clips? The answer is a big, generally just PARTICIPATE kind of Memorable ones include Lucy Lawless fat no. I like Robert Downey Jr. as an con! Comic-Con is a con where you (Xena) and Deepak Chopra. But I tell actor but I don’t consider myself a fan, pretty much line up to sit and watch myself that my life is in no way and I do not like Johnny Depp. Yes, I’m panels or meet celebrities. incomplete because I didn’t see these a strange female who doesn’t like Lots of people must have a great idols of mine in the flesh. Johnny Depp. time, seeing as how they go back every This year, I would have wanted to see There were also some cast members year. These friends’ posts certainly attest Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), David from Battlestar Galactica: Caprica to that. I guess it helps if one has a lot Tennant (Doctor Who), and John including Edward James Olmos. I’ve patience, is an extrovert, likes hanging Barrowman (Torchwood). I briefly never considered him handsome before out in groups (which helps with waiting contemplated going after I heard they but he looked great in one picture with in line and finding social activities would be in attendance. But tickets were one of my Browncoat friends. There was outside con) and/or enjoys the panels already sold out and July is a very busy also a panel on Being Human, which and meeting celebrities. I’m an introvert, time for me at my work (we’re not will be shown on BBC America soon. not a group person, like to do my own usually allowed to take vacation days But I’ve already seen all of Season 1 and thing, and like to run around like crazy then). I did see photos of the three of have raved about it in a previous doing things. I also don’t like wearing them and David and John looked even editorial. I hope they don’t edit (read: costumes at big conventions because it more handsome in person. John censor) too much out of it. I have to just gets too hot and uncomfortable. I especially has such a radiant smile and admit Russell Tovey being naked a lot in know I’m missing out on all the fun and David looks more relaxed than his the series got to be a bit much. But I I wish I could enjoy Comic-Con more. I Doctor Who persona. Peter Jackson think they intended to show how haven’t ruled out going again someday. looks so much better now that he’s not vulnerable he was after he changed back Perhaps I will when I feel like there’s a overweight. He actually seems a lot to being human after being a werewolf. good reason for me to go and feel like

4 braving it again — maybe if I got the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda). I July). I’ve been wanting to do something invited to join a masquerade entry that I also checked out Friday Night Waltz (on similar for a year now. I’ve never been would really be interested in. Some of a Saturday) in Oakland for the first time. to the museum and I’m interested in my masquerade compatriots were in a I found the people there were very Egyptology and loved the Brendan Disney Cheerleaders entry (heroes vs. friendly, the music great and I danced Fraser Mummy movies. The photos from villains) this year and they won Best almost all night. I do enjoy vintage both those picnics looked awesome with Presentation. Their costumes were dancing! But I also got to learn the more folks in Steampunk and other period amazing and their routine was “modern” Blues dancing and Lindy costumes in front of beautiful spots complicated but seamless. Hop. I had a smile on my face the entire outside the museum. It seemed like most of my friends evening. A lot of firsts for me that Thus, I have decided that I will were at Comic-Con around July 23-25, weekend! finally organize a costumed picnic at the but I had a lot to do locally with the few I did forget to go to a costumed Rosicrucian Museum. Costumes are friends who were in town. And I have to picnic at the Rosicrucian Museum in admired but not required (Steampunk, say that I actually had a super fantastic San Jose. I neglected to put it on my Egyptian or 1920s explorers à la The weekend. I got to see Errol Flynn’s calendar and only remembered when I Mummy) and please bring your own Robin Hood for the first time on my first saw photos from it on Facebook. I was food, drinks and blankets. Chris has jaunt to the spectacularly beautiful, Art too tired anyway after an eventful Friday agreed with me to make it an SF/SF Deco Paramount Theatre in Oakland. and Saturday, and needed at least the event. Our first SF/SF Summer Picnic! It Then I got Buzz Aldrin’s autograph at Sunday to rest, but I still would have will be on Sunday, August 30th. More the USS Hornet’s Apollo 11 40th wanted to go. This is the second picnic details to follow. anniversary event (my first foray into at that museum I’ve missed (both in

5 Letters of Comment

Did somebody say Lloyd Penney? my entire fanzine collection to add things and books in town called The Labyrinth; I should Dear Jean, Chris, David, España and Tom: complete entries. Also, my apazines go back to check them out to see if they can obtain the I am already two issues behind…haven’t the 1980s, for TAPA and The Final Frontier and Girl Genius books. done that in a while. I am getting my preps APAplexy. Good to see another steampunk I will need those photos! And you should completed for the Montréal Worldcon, and convention on the go…this past weekend was move Heaven and Earth if that’s what it takes while I have breaks, or insomnia (like right Polaris 23, the local media SF convention, a to get the Girl Genius books. They’re that now, I am typing this at about 2:30 in the am), I fairly good time. They have announced that one good! will do a little writing. Here’s something on of the themes of Polaris 24 will be steampunk; Ah, yes, Emerald City 97. Cheryl was issues 88 and 89 of SF/SF. we’ll see how good they are in producing this. indeed brutal but honest in her commentary, 88…the header art reminds me that We might need to give them some help. The and said many things others wouldn’t have Endeavour finally got off the ground, and is Saturday night of Polaris 23, we were in the dared to say. People who mightn’t have ever heading towards the International Space parking lot, admiring the stars, nebulae and read a fanzine around here somehow got to find Station. As we get set to celebrate the 40th planets with a couple of automatic tracking out what was in this fanzine…some were anniversary of the first moon landing, by the telescopes, and the ISS flew across the sky. It’s outraged and angry, and others smiled thinly, time the shuttle gets to the ISS, Canadian space big enough to see some shape from the ground, and agreed quietly. I wouldn’t have called history will be made, with two Canadians in and not just a blob of light. Torcon 3 the worst con ever, or the worst space at the same time, Julie Payette in the I will do that! I’ve not heard much about Worldcon, but the chairman of the BoD had shuttle, and Bob Thirsk, putting in a six-month Polaris, but a lot of folks I know went. I’m gotten rid of anyone with any hands-on stint at the ISS. Yvonne and I will be at the excited for SteamCon in Seattle and Steam-X Worldcon experience. I know that Terry Fong Canadian Air & Space Museum to speak in San Jose-ish. It’ll be a good chance for me admitted that he was out of his league with directly to the astronauts on Monday. Should be to get out Exhibition Hall, my newest zine. running programming, and he has worked hard a great time. I have promised photos, have delivered to make up for that lack; he has a senior Chris Garcia replies: Wow! That’s cool. It only some; if you were to go to my Facebook position with Anticipation, and the convention seems that, after a lull of several years where page, you’d find other photographs of me, not will do just fine. I also know the guy who ran space exploration held little sway (possible only from Anime North, but also Polaris. the Trailer Park track. because everybody was making too much You’re welcome to them, and Chris, if you I thought that her issue on ConJose was money!) Space has made a comeback. I’m need them for your planned Steampunk zine, even more honest, though not nearly as excited for us to get back to the Moon. go for it. I am now only three years behind in brutal. I hope Anticipation goes off without a As you go through the entire Girl Genius…the story is very interesting, and major hitch. I’ve had my problems getting CanFancyclopedia, have a look to see how Foglio’s artwork is so detailed. There’s a great through to staff, but at least they looked at my many times my name appears…I went through bookstore especially for graphic novels and art schedule and fixed things.

6 More Steampunk goodness at and I have a sneaking suspicion about a Canadian aviation pioneers, a replica of the conventions… I think Steampunk and Burning Worldcon in western Canada somewhere…the Avro Arrow, and a replica of the Silver Dart, Man seem to be similar themes, but the Worldcon is where so many bids make their the first plane to ever fly in Canada, celebrating Victorian style of clothing was thick, with announcement, and I’m interested to see just this year 100 years of powered flight in several layers of proper dress. I sure hope that who makes their declarations. Canada. That was on July 20, and we had a if I bring my Steampunk costume to Montreal The Japanese bid sounds like it’ll be pretty great time. to wear at some of your panels, Chris, I don’t good. I heard very few complaints about 2007. I celebrated the anniversary of the moon sweat through it. Let’s hope the Palais’s air 2015 is likely to have some crowding as there landing by fondling the Apollo Guidance conditioning is working. are a couple of bids rumored, and Computer. It only seemed right. I am a delicate flower so the air Johannesburg would be a great place for a All done, I think…I’m fretting about the conditioning better be on and set to HIGH! con, though I’d still prefer Sun City. And fanzine lounge being okay, and making sure I 89…I seem to recall that the collection of Texas…Yeehaww! I can’t wait! have everything I need, because it’s not like I fanfic came from a collector who was Happy anniversary to you all for this fine, can go home and get it, the way I could with completely unaware that there were other areas informative fanzine. You never really know Torcon. I have downloaded the programming of fandom such publications could come from. what’s going on in your own local fandom until guide that is already available off the website, Not being aware of litfandom seems unlikely, you add it all up, and get to see it in summary. and there’s a lot of panels I’d like to see, if it’s but I’ve seen people who denied that science The calendar is such a good idea, and helps possible. So, I hope lots of people sign up for fiction could ever come in a book format. your readers to see what’s coming up. I could the fanzine lounge…I don’t want to feel like I’ve never heard that, though I’ve heard use this for Toronto, but I’m busy enough. I’ve got to stay there all day. plenty of arguments the other direction! España does so much great stuff and I See you all in about two weeks. We will New bids…I’ve heard of another Japanese sometimes think she doesn’t get enough have ourselves a time. bid for 2017, a Russian bid for 2015, South credit. Well played, Miss Sheriff, well played. Yours, Lloyd Penney. African fans saying they’d like to have The 40th anniversary of the first lunar And I can not wait for Anticipation! Worldcon in Johannesburg, Minneapolis fans landing was celebrated here at the Canadian Air making Worldcon noises again, a Texas bid, & Space Museum at Downsview Park…we had

7 This Old Fanzine: Myrddin 3

By Christopher J. Garcia to get me rolling, but there were many, by Dirk W. Mosig. The focus of the Editor many more. They set the stage for what convention and the report was on World Fantasy is coming to San Jose would be the future of World Fantasy. A Lovecraft. It seems to have had an in October. I’m helping out by putting ton of pros coming together. It seems to impressive array of not only speakers, together the Dining Guide. I have been roughly the equivalent of the but of topics. There were dramatic remembered that I had a zine that was Eaton Conference, only not. readings, including one with Wilson, all about the first World Fantasy, so I Editor Lawson Hill says that he Leiber and Donald Sydney Fryer. They went digging through all my things. wanted it to be an All World Fantasy gave out awards called the Howards, It was nowhere to be found. issue, but it didn’t happen. That’s not a which I think are now the World Fantasy I looked all over among all my zines bad thing because it left room for Awards. I wish they’d kept calling them and other printed materials and I fiction, poetry and art that I think really the Howards. couldn’t find it. I was defeated, and set the scene for the issue. There’s an The biggest problem with Myrddin is when I went to work on Monday, I went amazing Phil Normand piece on page 5 the format. It’s square, about 8 by 8, and looking for my Comcast bill so I could that’s just fantastic. It’s a waiter bringing read upwise instead of sidewise. It’s pay it. Oddly, the first thing on top of the dinner to Cthulhu and it’s funny and kinda like a calendar in that concept. It pile in that drawer was Myrddin #3! brilliant. It’s the kind of piece you can does make it slightly difficult to read, These things happen. set an entire issue around, though in this though it is so unique and does give The date was October, 1975. A one- case, it just seems to be a mood piece. something of a difference to the year-old Christopher J Garcia was The bulk of the issue is a report on material, that I don’t think I’d say it crawling around, and in Providence, the first World Fantasy, complete with detracted from the overall. Rhode Island, a bunch of writers were picture and an included record of the The dozens of photos are amazing. getting together. It was the first ever keynote speech. That’s the kind of thing Faces I’d seen when I was younger and World Fantasy Convention, attended by a caring editor can do to make a zine ones that I was too young to ever many of the most important and significant long after its initial reading remember. So that’s what H. Warner interesting people in the history of the phase. (At the time, typically six months Munn looked like! It’s photos that have field: Frank Belknap Long, Fritz Leiber, to a year. Now, that can be narrowed always informed us of what the past Lester Del Rey, Forry Ackerman, Lin down to the space of weeks for all but actually looked like, and in zines of the Carter and Gahan Wilson, among others. the most significant zines.) The World 1970s and 80s, you start to see them pop That lineup right there would be enough Fantasy convention report was written up more and more often.

8 There’s a long piece of fiction from printed. There aren’t a lot of zines today get something of a full picture, you need T.E.D. Klein, and it’s pretty good. that print 1000 issues. to dig through blogs and eFanzines and There’s a fine article about collecting This issue is particularly important so on. In fact, I don’t even think I did a Lovecraft from Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. that because of the depth of coverage, both very thorough job of covering Costume- I think is really good reading. It’s the in words and pictures, given to the first Con in 2008, despite dedicating a long- kind of article that looks at the macro World Fantasy. With the exception of ish issue of The Drink Tank to it. This is through the micro, as it were. I’m a big Worldcons, which are extensively the answer to the question Why collect fan of it. covered in zines like File 770, this stuff? Because sometimes, it fits in Perhaps the coolest thing about this Challenger and other fannish so nicely with what we’re doing today. issue is that it provides an excellent masterworks, there aren’t a lot of cons metric: number 478 out of 1000 issues that get written up like that anymore. To

Join our crew! We are looking for writers to cover local events, conventions, fan groups and the fannish scene in general. Contact Jean Martin and Chris Garcia at [email protected]

9 Azkatraz Brings Out Believers

By Michael Boehm Contributing Writer There is a school of thought in this city that once you pass on to the afterlife and are subject to Judgement, the value of your existence will be based not on how many tax-deductible charitable donations you made to the Red Cross, nor how many Hail Marys you recounted. Rather, the merit of your life will be measured by just how far and how frequently you managed to break from the everyday, mundane, crushing normality of modern existence. This approach to transcendence has brought us the Beat Generation, Critical Mass, Sfzero, Burning Man, and the entire Castro Fashion Show by Michael Boehm district. By this measure, the participants of Azkatraz, the official Harry Potter Fan shelf. But somehow, I have never gotten around costumed, or simply inspired, they came. Some Convention for 2009, are holy saints. to that. Which left me in a perfect, open- came prepared to debate politics, religion, I was asked to cover the convention for SF/ minded state in which I approached the philosophy, setting, characters, style, or other SF partially because I occupied something of a Azkatraz convention. arcane topics as they relate to the boy wizard sweet spot within the genre. While I am a For several days in July, hundreds of and his novels. Others came to display their lifelong, card-carrying fan of fantasy literature, devoted Harry Potter fans descended upon our skills with music, art, or costuming. But all my tastes in that genre run more towards fair city from various locations across the came to bask in the presence of a shared motif. Tolkein or Robert Jordan (though I will be the globe. While most were from America, there I arrived at the hotel early on a Sunday first to admit the Wheel of Time series carried were several international travelers; at least one evening, intending to view the fashion show. on far longer than it should have). Though I am person had come from Australia, and another Downtown traffic was snarled more fiercely sincerely embarrassed to admit it, I have never from Denmark. They occupied the tony Parc 55 than usual. Waiting for the light to turn, I cracked a Harry Potter book. The films have hotel near Union Square, treating the watched angry, tired people shuffle out of the been enjoyable enough, and I always tell debutantes and captains of industry who are the Westfield mall, bags clutched to themselves, myself that when I have a free week I will take usual denizens of that establishment to quite an listlessly waiting for the Muni bus. Another JK Rowling’s magnum opus down from the unusual sight. Robed, bearded, bespectacled, weekend of crass consumerism had come to an

10 After the contestants had gone back to their scene before me. The pageantry and pomp were dressing rooms to await the final results of the impressive, but I still wasn’t quite “getting it.” judging, I mingled about, attempting to In a funk, I wandered down a hotel corridor socialize as best as a Muggle could in this and found myself in a room where Harry fans cosplay world. I asked all the obligatory were creating art, relaxing, and chatting. In one questions: Where were they from, how did they corner, a couple of teenage girls played the come up with their costumes, whom did they Harry Potter game on a Wii. In another, a pair represent? I ran into a pair of gentlemen of young men was having an animated dressed as the Malfoys, junior and senior. conversation over whether the theology in the When asked why they had chosen these roles, I HP movies was logically inconsistent with was informed that the Malfoys had chosen Christianity, or could somehow be reconciled. them. “People were coming up to me before I had even read The Books, telling them I reminded them of Lucius,” he said, retaining the regal posture and elite cadence of speech of the elder Malfoy even while talking about the character in third person. “So when I did get around to reading The Books, I knew what I had to do.” The Books. Capital-T-capital-B. Again and again I noted the reverence all the conventioneers had for the works of Mdme. Bertie Botts Costume by Michael Boehm Rowling. I was impressed and cowed by their end, and they had nothing further to look attitude, but I couldn’t quite synch up with it. I forward to than an evening of “reality” was missing something. television. There were Dumbledores, Harrys, Ginnys, Stepping inside the Parc 55, however, Hermiones, Snapes, and other associated lead revealed an altogether different reality. characters. There was the obligatory contingent Cheerful people in colorful regalia paraded of Death Eaters. There were associated forth to the wild applause of an appreciating Hogwarts students. But there were other, truly audience. The fashion show was in full swing. imaginative costumes. One woman’s clever Hundreds of hours of labor had been devoted to costume was “Bertie Bott,” based on a brief these pieces, and the results were frequently mention of the Every Flavor Jellybeans in The kaleidoscopic, occasionally chilling, and Books. A couple came as Azkaban prisoners, always impressive. elegantly blending wizard robes with the Moaning Myrtle and Professor Lupin striped-pajama inmate style. I marveled at the by Michael Boehm 11 On a table was a pile of fan-created art that something here he and the others came looking convention-goers had created spontaneously for, something they staked their existence on, throughout the course of the weekend. I something that gave their lives meaning that shuffled through it, amused by the talent and was missing from the mundane, Muggle-filled wit on display. But I still felt like an outsider, world. I was distracted, however, by a scene or a visitor to a museum. going on behind him. A woman in a head-to-toe Back in the main convention hall, I spotted silver outfit, with ghostly makeup and antlers, one gentleman who stood out from the others was leaping and cavorting with Severus Snape by merit of the sublime nature of his costume. while an appreciative audience cheered, He wore a red-and-gold striped Griffindor tie laughed, and called out “Patronus! Patronus!” hung loosely over a T-shirt that bore the words It was then that I began to understand. I “Undesirable #2.” Tall, bespectacled, thought of Naples. distinguished, and clearly quite intelligent, he Back in 2005 my wife and I spent several struck me as someone with a fascinating tale to weeks in Italy. We decided to rent a car in tell. He did not disappoint. Rome and drive south to Naples, so as to better “My first Harry Potter convention I went to see the countryside. That evening in the hotel almost by accident,” he told me. “I was in room I cracked the Fodors Guide and read the China studying a SARS outbreak, and I went following opening line to the chapter on our online in my hotel room to book my flight back destination: to the US. I found the website for the “Drive in Naples only if you are in training convention, and before I knew it I had booked a for the demolition derby.” ticket to the convention city instead of back Ha, I thought to myself, those funny travel Jeannette, Diane and Friend by Michael Boehm home. As soon as I clicked on the ‘confirm’ writers. Nice to see they have a sense of humor. button, I was wracked by agony. What was I few months later, I started getting the itch It couldn’t be that bad. doing? I told no one I was going. To my again. I would catch myself looking at the web Turns out, they were not joking at all. colleagues with me at the time, I told them I page for the next convention. Eventually I gave Whereas in most of Italy, traffic lights and was meeting my family for an impromptu in and booked another ticket. I told everyone I signs are regarded as a nuisance, the vacation in Orlando. My family, on the other was going to a medical researchers’ conference, Neapolitans see them as a challenge. Cars hand, received the story that the outbreak was but instead I went to the Harry Potter crammed themselves into every available worse than expected, and I needed to stay in convention — and it was even better than the square foot of asphalt or sidewalk; drivers China for an additional week. first. I’ve gone every time since, and I haven’t honked and cursed in frustration as young “I went to the convention, and it was the regretted it. But I just can’t bring myself to tell Italians frog-walked their Vespas through the most amazing experience of my life. I went anyone back home about it.” scant inches in between vehicles; every straight home afterwards, and felt that I was all As he talked to me, I was stunned by the intersection was a game of Chicken, where right now; I had gotten it out of my system, and hope and longing he expressed. There was right-of-way went to the one with the most didn’t have to worry about it any more. But a machismo. It was totally insane. 12 After spending a few days there, however, I Strangers, waiting, up and down the that kind of pure happiness is completely began to appreciate the style. I started to “grok” boulevard contagious. I had drunk the Kool-aid, tapped it, if you will. It all began to make a strange Their shadows searching in the night into that vibe, and sunk my teeth deep into the kind of sense. It was terribly liberating. If you Streetlight people, living just to find wellspring of joy these people discovered. really don’t want to wait for that red light, go emotion After the DJ, shaking his head in ahead and push on through! If you want to Hiding somewhere in the night wonderment, packed his boxes of discs and drive the wrong way down a one-way street, go Don’t stop believing yielded the stage, it was time for the “Wizard for it! No one will call you on it; in fact, it is Hold on to that feeling Wrock” bands. Ministry of Music was up first, expected. It became addictive, and for weeks Don’t stop believing… its five male members busting out rockin’ after our return to the States I found myself Let me tell you something: I have stayed at original tunes, all within the milieu of Harry tempted to squeeze past traffic via the five-star resorts in Costa Rica. I have lounged Potter. They were to be followed by breakdown lane, or go up on the sidewalk. on the beach at the Ritz Carlton in Maui. I have Wingardium Leviosa, but I was already there. The Harry Potter convention had a similar stood on the deck of the Norwegian Pearl and When a Voldemort Doppelganger took the vibe. It was weird, and crazy, and wonderful, watched people watching icebergs calve off microphone and assailed us with powerful but when everyone around you buys into it, it into Glacier Bay. I have skied down Mont vocals, I hollered and waved like a madman. all begins to make beautiful sense, a sense that Blanc with Olympic athletes. I have visited The hour was late, but no one cared. We were you can’t explain to someone who has not every theme park in California and Florida. But in Harry’s world, and nothing else mattered. I experienced it. To paraphrase William Gibson, never anywhere in my life have I seen people had found the reason people came to the it was a shared consensual hallucination of more authentically, ecstatically, delightfully convention: for the sheer, unadulterated joy of Quidditch and Diagon Alleys; it was at least as happy as at the Harry Potter Costume Ball. And it. real as the “reality” shows most of America was watching that night. A blast of music and the resonant thump of bass announced the beginning of the Costume Ball. We all raced into the ballroom, where an incredulous DJ was marveling at the unrestrained enthusiasm of the revelers. We danced, we leaped, we tossed our bodies about; young and old, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, we were all united by our passion. It had the best aspects of a rave and a revival meeting, combined into a frenzied mass of love. When Journey’s classic anthem burst forth from the speakers, the crowd truly went wild, cheering and dancing. We all sang along. Dancing at the Ball by Michael Boehm 13 Moonfest Achieves Liftoff

Story and Photos by Howeird Moonfest was mobbed with Staff Writer people, mostly families, which LUNAR, the Livermore Unit of worked well because all the exhibits the National Association of Rocketry, were aimed at children. Unlike many held a model rocket launch on the of NASA’s other events, instead of runway of Moffett Field in Mountain being held at the exhibit hall outside View as part of NASA Ames’s the main gates, Moonfest took up all Moonfest on July 19th. of the parade ground on the main There were models of all campus, as well as the tent-like descriptions, including two flying conference center across from crayons, a miniature LEM module Hangar 1. mounted on a bottle rocket, a rocket- LUNAR’s next launch will be propelled porta-potty, and a whole Saturday, August 15 from 9:00 a.m. slew of Saturn V’s in various sizes. to 1:00 p.m. at Moffet Field. lunar.org

14 15 16 17 18 Super-Con Features Goods and Guests

By J. Yochanan Urias great place to find collectables and get elaborate; the contestants just lined up and did Contributing Writer autographs. their skits rather quickly and with good humor. The month of May is very busy with One of the individuals running this con is a The judging was very quick and the prizes were several big-name science fiction and fantasy very good friend named Scott Armstrong. We given out, all within less than half an hour. conventions. In addition to BayCon and met Scott through another great convention Some of the contest winners included a Tom Fanime, there is a fan-run comic book-themed held in Los Angeles called Gallifrey One (this Baker Doctor and some very funny zombie convention called Super-Con. This annual con is held in February and has been featured redshirts from Star Trek (the Original Series). convention was held at the San Jose in detail in past issues of SF/SF). In Scott’s There were costumes as varied as Wolverine, Convention Center South Hall (the blue and words, he is the co-promoter of the one of the white striped tent-like structure) on May 16 and largest fan-run comic book conventions in 17, 2009. While this con is not as big or flashy California as some of the aforementioned cons, it is still a Super-Con does have a large number of comic book sellers, but it also has many collectable sellers always willing to make good deals. Last year I found some cool Battlestar Galactica figures, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan items, and others. This year I picked up some original Ultraman toys and a puzzle, as well as some very inexpensive Stargate and Watchman figures, and a Toy Story 2 plush three-eyed alien. This was the first year we attended both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we had a chance to see the cosplay (costume contest). It was really a lot of fun and very nice. It Peter Mayhew and C. Andrew Nelson by J. Yochanan Urias Best in Show Winner Ryo Ohki from Tenchi was not very fancy or Muyo by J. Yochanan Urias 19 Atomic Man from The Simpsons, a Jedi, a Sith, certificates, many costume winners also were my wife which picture we should choose, as a crazy sports fan, V for Vendetta, and many awarded boxes of goodies donated by various there were so many nice ones. The next day I anime characters. In fact, the Best in Show was dealers. did get the autograph and she took some more awarded to a rather large Ryo-Ohki from the There was also a section of the hall pictures with our family. Anime Tenchi Muyo. As stated, the cosplay was dedicated to anime sales and items. Some of There were many other guests in fun to watch and, I’m sure, to participate in. the guests included actors who voice anime. attendance, including Peter Mayhew Guest Jane Wiedlin (from the Go-Gos and The These were very well received and from the (Chewbacca), C. Andrew Nelson (Darth Vader Surreal Life) hosted it enthusiastically. Next cheers and screams, they seemed to have some in some of the newer Star Wars incarnations), year we are definitely considering entering our very vocal and enthusiastic fans, especially Bruce Dern (Silent Running), Julie Catlin son in the contest. In addition to award Crispin Freeman, a voice in Hellsing and Brown (Babylon Five), John Wesley Shipp (the Resident Evil: Degeneration. There were many Flash TV show), Sergio Aragonés (Mad comic book artists also. Magazine and Groo illustrator), and so many One of our favorite things at Super-Con is others. Every year there are many media meeting many interesting sci-fi guests. This guests, and it’s impossible to get all the year we enjoyed talking to Margot Kidder from autographs due to the cost involved, but we try the Superman movies. She was a very to pick a gracious and friendly person to talk to. f e w She even stopped talking to special another attendee to rush over to tie my son’s shoe. She said, “I’m a grandmother, I love children, and love to help them. I can’t help myself!” After I got her autograph, she took some pictures with my family. Another favorite guest was Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troy from Star Trek: The Next Generation). She was also very gracious and nice. She took a picture with my son even though I hadn’t paid for an Margot Kidder aka Lois Lane autograph yet. I needed to ask Marina Sirtis with the Yochanan Family (Yochanan, Channah, by J. Yochanan Urias Little Yochanan and Veda) by J. Yochanan Urias

20 ones. Last year we got an autograph from Jorge Unfortunately, because there aren’t the crowds His business partner Steve Wyatt runs that Garcia (Hugo “Hurley” Reyes from Lost). that you find at other cons, I overheard a convention. Scott and Steve have done this con One of the best things at Super-Con is that complaint that some of the guests were together for ten years. This is the 30th there aren’t the huge crowds you find at many disappointed at the lack of sales. I hope many anniversary of Hayward-Con, and the last in other cons. We couldn’t even get near Jorge at more people will attend Super-Con in the the Hayward’s Centennial Hall. They are Comic-Con in San Diego, but here at Super- future so that we won’t lose this really great promoting this anniversary by offering free Con we were able to get his autograph, chat and worthwhile convention in San Jose. admission for the convention. The full info is and really get up close and personal with him. Scott Armstrong also mentioned that there up at www.super-con.com. My family and I are is an upcoming convention called already planning to attend. Hope to see some of Hayward-Con on September 19, 2009. you there.

Various Comic Booths by J. Yochanan Urias Star Trek Red Shirts Zombie Skit by J. Yochanan Urias

21 Pirates Plunder and Carouse in Vallejo

By Jean Martin before, because there aren’t very Editor many of my compatriots who I really enjoyed my first time at the are into dance, fantasy, sci fi, Pirate Festival in Vallejo last year and so etc. (The only one I knew I was looking forward to going again before meeting this new this year. This time, I went on Saturday, group was Jade.) I also June 20th. The fair was once again held don’t know very many at the Vallejo Waterfront and it was just people who live in my as good — but different, because I hung area, the Peninsula, who out with a new group of Filipino friends are into those things. So I whom I just met recently. In fact, I’d just often go to events by met them two days before the event! myself and just meet friends I didn’t really have any Filipino wherever I go. friends However, that has changed since I met My Pirate Crew by Jean Martin P a t ( w h o doesn’t look interests. Two days before the Pirate Filipina at all) at BayCon. Fest, Pat introduced me to her friends She introduced me to who were all going and who also happen several of her Filipino to live in the Foster City area. We all friends who are all into sci compared notes on events we’d been to fi and fantasy. I suppose and restaurants we frequent. We were all the younger generation amazed that I had not met them until has caught up. In my high then! school and college days I initially had plans to carpool with before I moved to the some new acquaintances I had met at the U.S., there were only a GBACG Regency Tea the weekend handful of us in the before, but the lovely couple of Cat and Janine and her Minions by Jean Martin Philippines who had these Doug were coming from San Jose and 22 pirate finery, and then we course, wanted to see and take pictures walked to the fairgrounds. of everything. I lost my group several As soon as I walked times as I walked through the numerous through the pirate ship vendor stalls. I didn’t want to buy masthead that served as anything yet because I didn’t want to the entrance, I ran into my have to carry anything the rest of the captain, Alex, the captain afternoon. But I did purchase a new of the Black Fleet Star leather holster for my pistol as the one I Pirates’ Guild. He dropped brought with me kept falling down my a chocolate gold coin into thigh. my blouse, which he does Then I ran into Cat and Doug and I with all the fair maidens, hung out with them for a while. We went but it was cold so I had to to the food area, and Cat and I bought fish it out. Besides, I was some delicious treats from the chocolate Pirate Ship by Jean Martin supposed to be a ruthless fondue vendor. Then we lined up for pirate queen and not a meat pies and lemonade. I love the meat planned on leaving the fair early. So I damsel in distress. pies, made by the same company that thought it would be better for them to We walked over to the big stage to provides them not have to make a detour to pick me up, the right hand side of the fairgrounds f o r and also then, I could stay later. So where a whole group of pirate Andre picked me up early and then we men and lasses was singing picked up P.J. We then went to Alameda bawdy and rollicking tunes. to pick up Janine and another Filipina, I recognized several of Stefanie, who I just met then. I felt them from a similar show really comfortable with them on the at Dickens Fair. I ran into drive all the way up to Vallejo. Not only V i v i e n , a d a n c e did I have similar interests, but there a c q u a i n t a n c e a n d was also the shared cultural background. occasional SF/SF photo We got to the Vallejo Waterfront and contributor. the place was already packed. Luckily, From then on, it was we were able to find parking. Janine hard to keep our group finished putting her costume together, I together, as we all wanted to was already completely attired in my do different things. I, of Pirate Perfomers by Jean Martin 23 play different roles. Then I saw I went to the hat store across the way Mel and her fellow anime and was blown away at the amazing costumer friends, and Jade selection of Renaissance, Pirate, and her group, which Steampunk and even modern hats. I’m a included Erik, Ant and hat collector and I have a huge weakness Deb. (If you stay long for hats (and boots, and swords…). I enough in the food area, tried several on and narrowed the you’ll see people you choices down to three. I couldn’t decide know!) Even so, there so I called my friend Thad to see if he were fewer people whom I was around so he could help me. Just knew than last year. But then, Alex, Shayne and Ralph walked by the fair was very well and they pretty much all agreed on the attended and it was pretty same hat. Thad came and liked the same crowded. I guess it attracts one, which happened to match the outfit Ant, Erik, Jade, Deb and Friends by Jean Martin a lot of people because it’s I was wearing. Thad offered to stash the free. hat I’d come with in his car. Then he Dickens Fair. The food at Pirate Fest is When I finally decided to showed me the store he had bought a among the best of all the faires, I think. leave the food court, I saw Vanessa in a sword from last year — and I espied this They have more variety and great gypsy outfit doing her hula hoop dance. beautiful cutlass that just begged to be quality. A lot of people congregated in She entertained the crowd and so I had taken home by me. So I bought it. It’s a the food area. Although there were lots an idea to put a dollar bill in one of her gorgeous sword and is now on display in of long tables and chairs, it was still boots — which she took off — and then my apartment. It would be great for difficult to find seats. other people started giving her money future photo shoots. More people arrived in the afternoon too. The scenario was very gypsy-like. Speaking of photo shoots, Thad and I and I mostly saw people I knew in the I caught up with my group at took photos of each other in front of the food court. I ran into Nancy and Aaron Overstreet’s where Janine was helping various piratey props scattered near the as well as Mia. I had just seen the three Stefanie pick out a bodice. She tried on entrance to the fairgrounds. There was of them at the Regency Tea the previous several and they all looked great on her. an entire pirate ship as well as a deck weekend. It was quite funny to see the I’ve tried Overstreet’s bodices before complete with pirate actors. I really same participants I’d seen in their and they’ve felt too tight for me… didn’t take a lot of photos, though, as elegant afternoon tea attire last week in almost like corsets. I like breathing too there were just too many people walking swashbuckling and rugged pirate wear. much. around and in the way of a clear shot. I We costumers love to be versatile and

24 mostly just walked around enjoying the until the end. It gets windy on the sights and sounds. waterfront later in the day anyway. The Sometime in the afternoon, there was Fair was a lot of fun with all the a shooting demonstration from a pirate activities and the people I hung out with. ship on the water. There were small It was big enough to have a lot to do but boats flying British flags and officers small enough to just walk around and trying to subdue this big pirate ship enjoy in one afternoon. I’m already flying a pirate flag. Well, guess who looking forward to next year. won. But the day didn’t end there. My There were lots of entertainers group went back to Alameda and we ate singing, dancing and marching around. I at this amazing Japanese restaurant, found Gregory in a very nice tent Kamakura. Yes, Janine and I were still portraying the Governor of the island. in costumes, but no one even seemed to He was wearing an elaborate 18th notice. Then they took me to Tucker’s, century costume complete with a long an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. I just curly black wig. He looked far more loved the place. I really liked the elegant than the disreputable ambience and they even had Filipino ice surroundings and people at the fair, but cream flavors like mango, macapuno someone has to establish order and keep and ube! But I can’t eat dairy so I had the peace. There were several ladies the raspberry sorbet in a chocolate- The Governor by Jean Martin lounging in chairs near him, who I dipped waffle cone. The sorbet was so assumed were the Governor’s family fruity and fresh and the waffle cone was For more information on the Pirate and friends. crispy and homemade. What a fabulous Festival, visit: We left earlier than I expected. We end to a wonderful day! www.norcalpiratefestival.com were all tired and didn’t want to stay

25 BASFA Minutes: Meetings 990-991

Meeting 990 Announcements that night and had a good time, with many Leigh Ann: Trepidation 2009 next weekend people wanting to talk about Westercon 64. at the Hyatt Regency in SF and handed out Gave a “worth full price” review to Patricia July 20, 2009 h u m o r o u s f l y e r s f o r i t . S e e McKillip’s Alphabet of Thorn saying that the community.livejournal.com/trepidation2009. main character had rather fannish experience of Meeting 991 Lisa: Mythcon 41 will be in Dallas next having gotten so involved in a pet project that it July. drives away real work. July 27, 2009 Adrienne: At first didn’t know she was up Lisa: Went to Mythcon 40 and liked getting because, as she said, “I can’t be two, I’m to know the guests of honor. Elevators were a Meeting convened, 23 people. No Pres, deux!” followed by laughter, wailing, gnashing bit scary though. Stayed in the William Tell Secretary or Treasurer. Chris doubled as VP of teeth and banging of heads against walls and Room (cue Overture here) at the Madonna Inn and Pres, Glenn was the emergency tabletops. Followed this by saying that she had on the way back. holographic secretary in exchange for a pun sold enough advance memberships, so the Mike M: Reviewed the comic Cursed license (Thanks, Eric!). Montreal Ghostwalk is on. Passed around a Pirate Girl by Jeremy Bastian and pubbed by Party jar moved, failed to be amended to flyer for the UFO con. Olympian Publishing. www.jeremybastian.com MAFF and passed. Mike: He will be running the Ra as very good and drawn at size, not scaled Minutes from #990 were read by Eric tournament at Pacificon. down. Larsen. There were corrections: cup donated by Dave C: As reported by the Huffington Stellen: Reviewed the Berkeley Kite Sally Woerhle as party of parting gifts from the Post, Jon Stewart is now America’s Most Festival as fun and free. There were many very fannish Jeopardy game, Adrienne said that the Respected Newsman. There were a number of large animal kites and precisely controlled four restaurant she reviewed was called “Tarpy’s follow-ons. string kites - including a ballet to music. A long Roadhouse” and that the place they stayed was tubular kite on the ground looked like a a high end motel not a high motel. The minutes Reviews sandworm surrounded by Fremen (kids). were accepted as Now available from Cargo Evil Kevin: Spent the weekend doing slides Dave C: At Chris’ request, introduced Cult Books. for work and watching Being Human which is Stellen as the one who put our name in lights. A proxy for the treasurer said that he about various monsters wanting to be human. (Literally, Stellen had made a plastic BASFA wouldn’t be at the meeting. We have money. He liked it, though maybe not enough to make sign with a laser cutter at Tech Shop and put a VP: There is a new Drink Tank out. an effort to see every episode. changing colored light underneath it.) Dave Glenn: Spent Saturday doing the hard labor then reviewed The Boy Who Kicked Pigs by with his neighbors of clearing brush along the Tom Baker (yes, that one) as a sick little story road they live on. Went to the PENSFA party and a great listen. The story being just over one

26 disc long meant that there was a bunch of extra charming”, particularly the parts where you as a kid. // Thought Randy Savage had a lot of material on the disc such as interviews with have to RPG through a funeral service. obscure bits (and therefore was good). // Very Baker on being the Doctor. // Reviewed The kMarkkk: Took the Damn Tour at Hoover impressed (and somewhat surprised by this) by Radioactive Redhead a worth full price comedy Dam. Wonderful from geek machinery and art HBO True Blood. // Made chili with ginger satirizing various SF tropes. deco viewpoints. Worth full price of $30 and wife. Leo: Liked Secret of Monkey Island for even a trip back with a new camera. There were Auctions: Rick’s plum jam, t-shirt, apple Xbox 360 as very clever, imaginative game. At many follow-ons. mints, DVD, Jay Lake book, Marvel Origins $10, well worth full price. Dave C: Said that Torchwood “Children of book, Trepidation PR, Ken’s Birthday auction. Rick: Warned that In the Loop as dangerous the Corn^H^H^H^H Earth” was worth paying Adjourned with the rumor Bugrit. to the ribs and that he and Deirdre laughed for BBC. The aliens are back for more. So were Millenium, hand and shrimp. nonstop through all two hours. the people wanting to do follow-ons. If that rumor or any others comes true, Leigh Ann: Sort of liked the computer Chris: Did not leave his apartment all we’ll be the first to tell you game Lost Odyssey as “awkward but weekend. Enjoyed True Stories by David Byrne on Waiter! Waiter! Don’t pelt me! and got a lot of stuff he missed when he saw it

27 The First Ever Science Fiction/San Francisco Summer Picnic! Steampunk Picnic and Egyptian Museum Tour Sunday, August 30th, 11 am Ð 6 pm

some rights reserved , Michael Gray photo by RSVP by August 15 to sfi[email protected] and say if you want to do the picnic, a museum tour, or both. Costume theme is Steampunk, Egyptian or Rosicrucian Egyptian 1920s a la The Mummy movies. (Costumes Museum & Planetarium admired but not required.) Prizes. Trivia www.egyptianmuseum.org contest. Please bring your own food and drink 1664 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95191 for the picnic, and blankets to sit on. $9 general adult admission

28 Announcing the SF/SF Summer Picnic

By Jean Martin Costumes Museum Info Editor The costume theme is Steampunk, Egyptian 1664 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95191 or 1920s a la The Mummy movies. There will (directions, public transportation and parking The First Ever Science Fiction/San Francisco be a costume contest but costumes are, of info can be found on the web site) Summer Picnic! course, admired but not required. There will www.egyptianmuseum.org/ also be a trivia contest. Prizes will be awarded Open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Steampunk Picnic and Egyptian Museum Tour for both contests. $9 general adult admission ($1 discount for Sunday, August 30th members of AAA, AAM, KQED and Military); 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Picnic see website for senior and children pricing. Rosicrucian Museum, San Jose Please bring your own food and drink (it is The planetarium is free but you’ll need to not a potluck event). Bring blankets to put on pick up a ticket when you pay for admission. Please RSVP by August 15 to the ground, if you have them. Do not eat in the Backpacks and large bags are not permitted [email protected] and let me know if you Peace Garden or Akhenaten shrine. Dispose of inside the museum. No video, tripod or flash want to do the picnic, a museum self-guided all food and liquids before entering the photography is permitted inside the museum. tour, or both. I need to know how many museum and after the picnic. people will be doing the picnic so we can stake Facebook Event Link out a big enough space on the first-come, first- Schedule w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / n / ? serve museum grounds. Also, I will need to tell 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Food and conversation event.php&eid=108797013049&mid=dc5b70G the museum how many people will be going 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Costume contest and trivia 2adb0febG2d67e82G30 inside so they’ll have enough docents. contest Please read the important details below 2 p.m. - whenever Museum and planetarium. regarding costumes, picnic, time schedule and (Of course, you’re free to go museum info. I look forward to seeing you at into the museum at any time; this event. Feel free to invite other people. I’m and see the planetarium sure it’ll be a lot of fun! show at 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.)

29 Bay Area Fannish Calendar

Life is complicated; putting on an event is even Saturday, August 15 Saturday, September 5 more so. Please check before attending, as New People Grand Opening The Space Cowboys Ball events are sometimes canceled or times and 1476 Post Street PEERS Event locations changed. San Francisco Masonic Lodge www.newpeopleworld.com 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo New listings are highlighted in red. The long-awaited grand opening of the J-pop www.peers.org Ongoing events are toward the back. Center Project. Firefly, Western themed event with live performance by Bangers and Mash. Date Friday, August 28 changed from October due to a scheduling Saturday, August 8 The Phenomenauts conflict. Writers With Drinks The Phoenix Theater 7 p.m. $15 (till August 30) The Make-Out Room 201 Washington Street, Petaluma 3225 22nd St., San Francisco www.thephoenixtheater.com Thursday, September 10 www.writerswithdrinks.com All ages show, with the The Re-Volts Thrillville: Lucha Beach Party! Dorothy Allison, Adam Savage, Mary Miller, 8 p.m. $12 Balboa Theatre Clint Catalyst and Steve Barnes. All proceeds 3630 Balboa St benefit the Center for Sex and Culture. Guest Sunday, August 30 www.thrillville.net host TBA. SF/SF Summer Picnic Thrillville takes its show on the road and mixes 7:30 p.m. $3-$5 sliding scale. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium Lucha with beach party mayhem. Mil Mascaras 1664 Park Ave., San Jose Vs. The Aztec Mummy plus STOMP! SHOUT! Saturday, August 8 www.egyptianmuseum.org SCREAM! Kin-Yoobi Con Steampunk Picnic and Egyptian Museum Tour. 7:30 p.m. $12 Chabot College Please bring your own picnic food and blankets 25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward to sit on. Costume theme is Steampunk, Saturday, September 12 www.gzronline.com/kin-yoobi-con09.htm Egyptian or 1920s a la The Mummy movies. Writers With Drinks Anime convention, featuring a vendor room, (Costumes admired but not required.) Prizes. The Make-Out Room cosplay contest, gaming and much more. Trivia contest. RSVP to [email protected] by 3225 22nd St., San Francisco Guests include Robert Axelrod and Steven August 15. www.writerswithdrinks.com Savage. 11 a.m. $9 for museum admission Lev Grossman, Jeremy Adam Smith and John 9 a.m. $12 (till August 1st) Shirley. All proceeds benefit the Center for Sex and Culture. 7:30 p.m. $3-$5 sliding scale. 30 Thursday, September 17 Friday-Sunday, September 25-27 Friday-Sunday, October 2-4 Thrillville: Lucha Beach Party! From the Land Beyond SiliCon Camera 3 Cinema Scottish Rite Center The Doubletree Hotel 288 S. Second St, San Jose 6151 H Street, Sacramento 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose www.thrillville.net www.sacramentocomics.com www.siliconventions.com Thrillville takes its show on the road and mixes Guests announced so far include Ray Park, The theme this year is Heroes and Villains. Lucha with beach party mayhem. Mil Mascaras Crispin Freeman, Jake Busey and more. Friday GOH are Ken Lally, Christy Marx, Sarah Vs. The Aztec Mummy plus STOMP! SHOUT! night concert by Warp 11. Clemens and Hilary Ayer. Toastmaster is Kevin SCREAM! Live surf music by Aardvark and a $20 (till September 15) Roche. special appearance by the Rockabilly Models. $55 (till September 15) 7:30 p.m. $12 Saturday, September 26 Seelie and Unseelie Fairy Court Gathering Saturday, October 3 Saturday, September 19 GBACG Event The Sweeney Todd Ball The Tomorrowmen Redwood City PEERS Event Thee Parkside www.gbacg.org Masonic Lodge 1600 17th Street, San Francisco Are you a good fairy or a bad fairy? Pick your 100 North Ellsworth, San Mateo www.myspace.com/tomorrowmen side at the gathering of the Seelie & Unseelie www.peers.org All ages happy hour show Fairy Courts in an end of summer evening Victorian themed event with live performance 5 p.m. Free garden party! Location in Redwood City. by Bangers and Mash. (Date changed from Suggested costume: Fantasy September.) Sunday, September 20 Details TBA 7 p.m. $15 (till September 27) The Tomorrowmen Hotel Utah Sunday, September 27 Saturday, October 10 500 4th Street, San Francisco Handcar Regatta Writers With Drinks www.myspace.com/tomorrowmen Railroad Square The Make-Out Room Surf Sunday with Pollo Del Mar and Secret Santa Rosa 3225 22nd St., San Francisco Samurai from San Diego. handcar-regatta.com www.writerswithdrinks.com 8 p.m. The 2nd Annual 2009 Great West End & Anthony Sworfford, Roz Savage, Doug Dorst, Railroad Square Handcar Regatta & Exposition Rachel Pollack and Linda Watanabe McFerrin. of Mechanical & Artistic Wonders. Featuring All proceeds benefit the Center for Sex and live music, craft show, vendors and other Culture. entertainments. Costumes encouraged. 7:30 p.m. $3-$5 sliding scale. Free

31 Saturday, October 17 Saturday, October 24-Sunday, October 25 Friday, October 30-Sunday, November 1 Dark Shadows Picnic All-Hallows Fantasy Faire Yaoi-Con GBACG Event Mother Lode Fairgrounds San Mateo Marriott www.gbacg.org 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora 1770 South Amphlett Blvd, San Mateo Gather for a reunion of all the members of the sonoracelticfaire.com/hallowsfaire.html www.yaoicon.com Collins family (of the Dark Shadows TV show) Sonora Celtic Faire presents the first annual All A celebration of male beauty and passion in from past, present, future, and parallel time. Hallows Fantasy Faire. Details TBA anime and manga. 18+. Honor the dead and undead alike with a $50 (till Sep 26) pleasantly vampiric picnic. Suggested costume: Thursday, October 22 1795, 1840-41, 1897, 1966-71, and 1995 (”the Thrillville: Gorefest Saturday, November 7 future”), Vampire. Balboa Theatre Le Bal des Vampires Details TBA 3630 Balboa St PEERS Event www.thrillville.net Alameda Elks Lodge Saturday, October 17-Sunday, October 18 Featuring two brand new B-movie classics 2255 Santa Clara Ave, Santa Clara Folsom Renaissance Faire from Monogram Releasing and the B Movie www.peers.org Folsom City Lions Park Nation: Poultrygeist and Kevin Tenney’s Brain Vampire themed event with live performance 403 Stafford Street, Folsom Dead. Live music by The Deadlies. by Bangers and Mash. folsomfaire.com 7:30 p.m. $12 7 p.m. $20 (till September 30) Renaissance Faire $14 Thursday, October 29-Sunday, November 1 Friday, November 27-Sunday, December 20 World Fantasy Convention The Great Dickens Fair Thursday, October 22 The Fairmont Hotel Cow Palace Exhibition Halls Thrillville: Gorefest 170 South Market Street, San Jose 2600 Geneva Ave, San Francisco Camera 3 Cinema www.worldfantasy2009.org www.dickensfair.com 288 S. Second St, San Jose The World Fantasy Convention is a A holiday adventure into Victorian London. www.thrillville.net professional networking event that regularly $22 Featuring two brand new B-movie classics attracts several hundred of the top authors in from Monogram Releasing and the B Movie the field every year. It is the home of the World Nation: Poultrygeist and Kevin Tenney’s Brain Fantasy Awards and this year will be Dead. Live music by Aardvark and Actual celebrating Edgar Allen Poe’s 200th birthday. Rafiq. Garth Nix will be the GOH. 7:30 p.m. $12 $125 (till August 31)

32 Ongoing Dukefish Wednesdays Jake’s of Sunnyvale Daily 174 E. Fremont Avenue, Sunnyvale Bay Area Role-Playing Society Group meets weekly to play German-style Go-Getter’s Pizza San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour strategy board games such as Settlers of Catan, 1489 Beach Park Boulevard, Foster City Begins: Queen Anne Hotel Carcasson and other games, plus an occasional www.BayRPS.com 1590 Sutter at Octavia, San Francisco game of bridge breaks out. Meet up at 8:00 Hosts a weekly game night. For club and game www.sfghosthunt.com p.m., figure our who wants to play what, and night details email [email protected] 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. $20 typically start playing games no later than 8:30 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Free Sundays p.m. 8 p.m. Free East Bay Strategy Games Club EndGame MGI SF&F/Horror/Speculative fiction Mondays and Wednesdays 921 Washington, Oakland Writing Group www.michaeldashow.com/eastbaystrategy/ Personal Residence (email for details) Silicon Valley Boardgamers home.html Emeryville Mountain View Community Center 7:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. Free groups.yahoo.com/group/MGISFFWriters 201 S. Rengstorff Avenue, Mountain View 7:30 p.m. Free www.davekohr.users.sonic.net/svb Fanboy Planet Podcast Group meets regularly to play mostly German- Illusive Comics and Games Sakuramento Anime Society 2725 El Camino Real, Suite 105, Santa Clara Rancho Cordova Library style strategy boardgames such as Settlers of Catan; also multi-player Avalon Hill-style, Live from Illusive Comics and Games, it’s the 9845 Folsom Boulevard, Rancho Cordova Fanboy Planet Podcast with your host, Derek Meets every Sunday to watch old and new historical war games, and others. 6:30 p.m. $2 McCaw. anime and anime music videos, play collectible 6 p.m. Free card games, practice artwork and make AMVs. Tuesdays 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays MGI Boffers & Outdoor Games Mondays Codornices Park Hayward Collectibles Show 22300 Hathaway Ave (rear bldg), Hayward Bay Area Science Fiction Association 1201 Euclid Ave, Berkeley mgisciaf.angelfire.com www.toysandbaseballcards.com Coco’s Wednesdays 3 p.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays 10 1206 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale groups.yahoo.com/group/MGIFamilyclub Bad weather: we meet the same time at 33 a.m.-5 p.m. www.basfa.org Free 8 p.m. Free Revolutions Record Shop & Cafe, El Cerrito for boardgames. 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Free

33 Fridays Biweekly Dorkbot-SF www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotsf/ FyDy SyFy PenSFA Party Dorkbot hosts regular forums for artists, Eclipse Lounge, Hyatt Regency The Peninsula Science Fantasy Association designers, engineers, students, and other people 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco meets every two weeks for a party at the home doing strange things with electricity. Casual meetup in the atrium lobby bar. of one of their members. They also host parties Free, donations welcome 5:30-7:30 at local conventions. Email [email protected] for information on East Bay Star Wars Club SF Games attending. Central Perk Muddy’s Coffeehouse PenSFA standard party rules: bring something 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito 1304 Valencia Street, San Francisco edible or drinkable to share, or pay the host $2. 510-558-7375 vax.hanford.org/dk/games Don’t smoke in the house without checking www.ebstarwars.com SF Games is a collective name for a bunch of with the host first. Normal start time is 8 p.m. Meets the second Friday of every month. people who get together and play board games but may vary depending on the host. 7:30 p.m. Free and card games every week. Also has a regular cards night at Atlas Café, 20th and Alabama Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Group Fantastic Frontiers Streets, Tuesday nights from 6:30-10. Borderlands Books www.freewebs.com/fantasticfrontiers/ 7 p.m. to midnight Free 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco Social club for Sacramento County sci fi/ Meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each fantasy fans usually meets the second Saturday Fridays-Mondays month at 6 pm. Contact Jade Livingston at of the month. Check website for meeting times [email protected] for more information. and locations. Haunted Haight Walking Tour Meets at Coffee To The People Monthly Foothill Anime 1206 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco Building 5015, Foothill College www.hauntedhaight.com Clockwork SF Los Altos Hills Reservations required. New location TBD Monthly event where people can get together to 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. $20 www.myspace.com/clubclockwork watch anime and meet like minded others. A Steampunk Parlor: Gothic/Darkwave/ Usually meets the first Sunday of every month Fridays and Saturdays Synthpop w/DJ’s MzSamantha, Fact 50, at noon. Melting Girl and Greg. 21+ 12 p.m. Free Vampire Walking Tour 9 p.m. $5 after 10 p.m. Meets corner of California and Taylor, San Francisco www.sfvampiretour.com Led by Mina Harker. Tour is canceled if there is heavy rain. 8 p.m. $20 34 The Gay Men’s Book Club Other Realms Book Club Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club Borderlands Books Books, Inc. Borderlands Books 866 Valencia, San Francisco 1375 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame 866 Valencia, San Francisco www.borderlands-books.com www.booksinc.net www.borderlands-books.com Please contact Chris, the group leader, at Meets the 4th Wednesday of the Month. The book for August 16th is Camp [email protected] for more information. 6:30 p.m. Free Concentration by Tom Disch. Please contact 5 p.m. Free Jude at [email protected] for Religion & SF Book Club more information. Legion of Rassilon First United Methodist Church 6 p.m. Free Carl’s Jr. 1183 “B” Street, Hayward 2551 N 1st St , San Jose Meets the 4th Sunday of the month. Please SF Browncoats www.legionofrassilon.org contact Rev. Randy Smith at Cafe Murano Doctor Who fan group usually meets the fourth [email protected] for more information. 1777 Steiner Street, San Francisco Friday of the month: Episodes of Doctor Who, 7 p.m. Free www.sfbrowncoats.com news, discussion of recent movies, and a raffle. SF Firefly/Serenity fans usually meet up on the 7:30 p.m. Free Rocky Horror Picture Show second Saturday of the month. The Clay, 2261 Fillmore Street San Francisco/ Noon Free Micro Gods, Inc. The Guild 949 El Camino Real Menlo Park Berkeley Public Library, West Branch www.bawdycaste.org Science Fiction Santa Rosa Meetup 1125 University Ave, Berkeley The Bawdy Caste presents the classic midnight Borders Books mgisciaf.angelfire.com movie the first Saturday of the month, 2500 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa groups.yahoo.com/group/MGIFamilyClub/ alternating between the Clay in San Francisco groups.yahoo.com/group/scifisantarosa/ Family Club for fans of Science Fiction, and the Guild in Menlo Park. Regular meetup for North Bay fans on the Fantasy, Movie, Anime & Manga. Meets every Midnight second Sunday of the month. 3rd Saturday, please check Yahoo group for 1:30 p.m. Free updates. Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Free Clayton Books Silicon Gulch Browncoats 5433 D Clayton Road, Clayton Various locations (see website for details) No-Name Anime www.claytonbookshop.com www.silicongulchbrowncoats.org Saratoga Library The book for August 19th is The Runelords by Silicon Valley fans of Firefly/Serenity meet up 13650 Saratoga Avenue David Fairland. Meets the 3rd Wednesday of on the first Saturday of the month. Saratoga the month. Noon - 2 p.m. Free www.nnanime.com 7:30 p.m. Free Anime screenings usually take place on the second Saturday of the month. Free

35 USS Augusta Ada USS Northern Lights Veritech Fighter Command ONE-THREE Round Table Pizza Contact [email protected] for location. Round Table Pizza 3567 Geary Blvd, San Francisco sites.google.com/site/ussnorthernlights 4403 Elkhorn Blvd, Sacramento trek.starshine.org The ‘Lights is a chapter of Starfleet 916-338-2300 Augusta Ada is both a chapter of Starfleet International and a swell group of science Anime/cosplay group usually meets the last International and a Linux and *BSD user fiction fans. We do more than Trek. Usually Saturday of the month at 1800 hours. group. Usually meets the fourth Saturday of meets the second Friday of the month, with 6 p.m. Free every month. social event TBD. 1 p.m. Free 7 p.m. Free

USS Defiance 5026 Don Julio Blvd, Sacramento 1566 Howe Ave, Sacramento www.myspace.com/d2121978 Star Trek fan group meets the third Friday of the month. 7 p.m. Free

36 The Sunken Garden by Lucy Huntzinger 37 Bay Area Fannish Calendar Ð August 2009

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

MGI SFF/H Writing BASFA MGI Boffers BA Role-Playing Soc FyDy SyFy Sakuramento Anime Dukefish E.Bay Strategy Games SF Games SV Boardgamers Fanboy Planet Podcast

26 27 28 29 30 31 1 Richard Kadrey Good Omens Con 3 Endgame 8th Anniv River City Picnic Dance Silicon Browncoats

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Foothill Anime Steve Englehart SF&F Writers’ Group Writers With Drinks Kin-Yoobi Con Fantastic Frontiers No-Name Anime SF Browncoats

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Gay Men’s Book Club Tangential East Bay Star Wars New People/J-Pop SF Santa Rosa Meetup Conjectures USS Northern Lights Center Grand Opening Micro Gods, Inc Clockwork SF

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 SF/F Book Club Clayton SFF Book USS Defiance USS Augusta Ada Club

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Religion & SF Other Realms The Phenomenauts Veritech Fighter Cmd 13 Legion of Rassilon 30 31 SF/SF Summer Picnic

Science Fiction/San Francisco #91 – August 5, 2009 – SF/SF is the twice-monthly news zine for the San Francisco Bay Area – www.efanzines.com. 38