Summer 1999 ConNotations Volume 9, Issue 2 The Quarterly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

episode occured on Thursday, May 27th In This Issue SF Tube Talk at the Museum of Radio and Television 24 Frames Special Features in Los Angeles. An audience of 150 Star Wars Episode 1: The by Lee Whiteside people which included fans who bought Neither Your Harlan Nor Mine - [email protected] tickets as well as Deep Space Nine Phantom Menace - 2 Reviews Part 2 production cast and crew watched the by Shane Shellenbarger...... 6 Goodbye DS9, Hello Crusade, and show together. Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom “What Happened to Tonight’s Buffy During the scene in Vic’s near the end Plotline Episode?!” of the finale, the majority of the audience News & Reviews As we move into the summer months, in the club were DS9 production crew George Lucas has nothing to fear. The SF Tube Talk we bid farewell to Star Trek: Deep Space and some of the supporting actors out of Phantom Menace is a success. With all by Lee Whiteside ...... 1 the merchandising, everything from 24 Frames...... 1 clothing, food, personal hygiene items, Convention News...... 1 toys, video games to the PepsiCo partner- FYI...... 2 ship, George Lucas would not need to make a dime on the movie itself and he CASFS Business Report...... 2 would still make a profit. He has pro- Musical Notes grammed the public to respond to the by Tom Tuerff...... 3 words “Star Wars” the way Pavlov’s dogs AZ Pro News respond to the dinner bell. He could by Daryll Mallett...... 3 literally do no wrong with this film. ConClusion (Convention Reviews)..4 But, he has done wrong. Videophile (News & Reviews)...... 9 He’s hypnotized most of the viewers into believing that The Phantom Menace In Our Book (Book Reviews)...... 11 is a good movie, when instead, it is a special effects extravaganza with defects Convention & Fandom in every area. Club Listings...... 13 The plot is simple enough for a six year Convention Listings...... 15 old to follow, which therein lies the problem. It is not meaty enough for the Convention Registration Form.15 adult audience. The lack of tension in many scenes leads to very boring pas- Art Nine, begin the (maybe) limited run of the their alien makeup. It was fun to realize sages. Many points in the plot were Sherlock ...... 2, 4, 8, 13, 15 Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade, wait for The some of them appearing on screen as contrived. Why would Queen Amidala Sue Dawe ...... 3 WB to show us some episodes of Buffy extras were sitting right in front of me. practically bestow a knighthood on R2D2 they pulled and ponder the new fall They were also having fun spotting for simply doing his job as a maintenance season. themselves and their colleagues droid? The two hour final episode of Star onscreen. One of the hallmarks of good character- Trek: Deep Space Nine aired the first week of June in most areas. The show had (Cont’d on Page 6 ) (Cont’d on page 9 ) been moving along towards its conclusion for the last half of the season, having Convention Information resolved the fate of some characters and (Check out the Conventions Listing for HexaCon 9 (Scottsdale AZ) July 9-11, CopperCon 19, (Scottsdale, AZ) plotlines before the final episode, most more details and contact info on these events and check our online events 1999 Arizona’s Premiere Gaming September 10-12, 1999 Holiday Inn notably Gowron & Worf, and The Grand listings (www.casfs.org/events.html) Convention. Sunspree Resort, 7601 E Sunspree Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona Nagus and Quark. They left the resolution for updated information between issues.) Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ Author GoH: David Weber, Artist of the two-year plus war with the Domin- (602)991-2400 GoH: Derek Pearcy, GoH: Brett Bass Memb: $30 until ion for the finale as well as finishing up DarkCon ‘99 is set for June 25-27 author of In Nomine; 24 hour NON- May 1, 1999, $35 at the door, Kids the Bajoran Prophets/Pawraiths conflict, at the San Marcos Hotel in Chandler, STOP Gaming - Sanctioned Magic 7-12 half price, Kids 6 and under - leaving Kai Winn and Gul Dukat dead Arizona. Special Writer Guests of Tournamnents, Sanctioned RPGA free; Room rates are $65 plus tax S/ and Captain Sisko with The Prophets Honor are George Clayton Johnson Tournaments, US Chess Federation D/T/Q, Suites $125 plus tax. (800) (promising that “I’ll be back”, however). and William F. Nolan, the co-creators Sanctioned Chess Tournaments, LARP, 525-5205 ; Info: CopperCon 19, PO Most of the other characters ended the of Logans Run. Garry Siler is the Computer Gaming, Miniatures Painting Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082, series with some sort of closure, although Music GoH. The date is a week later Contest; ‘Bot Bash, Game Auction, Full Phone (602)973-2341, Email: some were more important than others. It than previously announced, so make Consuite, Dealer’s Room. Memberships [email protected] (Check the did leave things such that they could bring your plans accordingly. (Check the $20 at the door; HexaCon 9, PO Box Progress Report in the center of this everyone back together at some point Progress Report in the center of this 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082 Email: leigh- issue for more information) without too much trouble. issue for more information) @primenet.com Webpage: http:// The first public screening of the final members.aol.com/boniece/index.html (Check the Progress Report in the center of this issue for more information) Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 1 FYI Who’s Who This Issue Star Wars Memorabilia - ASU’s Editor: Stephanie L. Bannon Hayden Library has on display in Special Co-Editors: Craig L. Dyer & Sue Collections a moderately impressive ANIME GAMER Martin collection of the current lot of Star Wars RPG/TABLETOP GAMING Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer Memorabilia. This includes Posters, Film & Video Reporter: Barry Bard action figures, etc. It might be worth a AND Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Barry Bard, look though aficionados likely have it all. Michael Griffin, Shane Shellenbarger, The Display will be up through June. JAPANESE ANIMATION Tom Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, Randall Science fiction turns to Science Fact!... at Whitlock, Mike Wilmoth www.time-travel.com William M. Sanders II Work/Fax: Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Time Travel?? - This months feature Owner and Manager (602)942-9745 story presents shocking scientific evi- Dyer and Doug Cosper dence suggesting proof of time traveler 12436 Nth 28th Drive Home Labeling Crew for Volume 9 Issue 1: visits to our distant past... millions of Phoenix, AZ 85029 (602)942-3201 Stephanie L. Bannon, Mark & Danielle Boniece, Pat Connors, Craig L. Dyer, Ray years before mankind had even evolved & Pinkie Gish, Scot Glener, Sue & Jo on the planet!! Martin, Bob & Lori LaPierre, Gary Swaty, Explore the Possibilities on the exciting CASFS The other group meets on the fourth Mike Willmoth new frontier of time travel with the Time Thursday at the Metrocenter Barnes & About ConNotations: ConNotations is Travel Research Center, a company Business Report Noble. June 24th, we’ll be discussing the fan published newszine of the Central dedicated exclusively to advancing efforts Terry Brooks’ novelization of Star Wars Arizona Speculative Fiction Society to help mankind realize time travel Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. (CASFS) an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non- capabilities. Explore the Possibilities at Greetings again, Faithful Reader. Until next time, profit organization. Circulation is esti- www.time-travel.com Summer is upon us already, and with The Frantic Scribe mated at 4,000 readers for this issue, primarily CASFS members and attendees Book Discussion Groups summer comes... elections! The elections P.S. Don’t forget about the date change of recent AZ sf/f conventions. We have two monthly book discussion are being held June 18th. This is a date for the next CASFS meeting-June 18th! Subscriptions: The newszine is currently groups going, one at Glendale Public change due to DarkCon, which is being sent free of charge to anyone who has held June 25-27. (Be careful not to trip Library on the first Thursday of each attended a CASFS or LepreCon sponsored month and another at Barnes and Noble over that plug, F.R.) Up for election are convention in the last two years and to all in Metro Center on the fourth Thursday the President, Vice President, Secretary, CASFS members. Subscriptions are of each month. Here’s a schedule of and Treasurer, plus three board members. available. Cost for a four issue subscription upcoming. books: The Chairman and Banker for is: $8/USA (bulk); $10/Canada & Mexico Glendale Public Library: 1st Thursday CopperCon 21 and HexaCon 11 will also (First class) or $18/Europe (airmail). Rates of the month be decided on the 18th. In order to vote, for other countries available upon request. July 1: Book of Night With Moon - you need to have attended four out of the Copyright: Articles, fiction, photos and Diane Duane last six meetings, and the elections artwork in this issue are copyright © of the Aug 5: Komarr - Lois McMasters Bujold meeting counts. author/artist and cannot be reproduced in any manner without their written consent. If Sept 2: Carnivores of Light & Darkness - In the months since my last letter, no author or artist is credited the artwork or CASFS has purchased a credit card Alan Dean Foster article is copyright ©of the Central Arizona Oct 7: Rebirth (aka Chrysalis) - John machine— look for its first appearance at Speculative Fiction Society. HexaCon July 9-11-and sponsored a very Wyndham Publication: Publications dates are cur- Nov 4: A Princess of Mars & The Gods of successful booth at the 2nd Annual Book rently mid-April, min-June, mid-August & Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs Festival. We had a good time, our authors mid-December. Publication date of this Dec 2: Soldier Ask Not - Gordon Dickson had a good time, and we’re eagerly issue is 6/9/99; mailing date is 6/15/99. Barnes & Noble: 4th Thursday of the anticipating next year. CopperCon 18 Advertising: ConNotations reaches month closed its books, reporting a financial approx. 4,000 science fiction, fantasy, June 24: Star Wars Novelization - Terry success, and the sheds were officially gaming and horror fans throughout the Brooks inventoried. CASFS also sponsored a Phoenix metro area, the Southwest and July 22: Sword Born - Jennifer Roberson successful Star Wars event at the nationwide. Our ad rates are:Back cover/ Aug 26: Priam’s Lens - Jack Chalker Metrocenter Barnes & Noble on May $150, $100/full page; $70/two-thirds page; $50/half page; $35/one-third page; $25/ Sept 23: Six Moon Dance - Sherri Tepper 24th. one-fourth page; $18/one-eigth page. More The book discussion groups are still Oct 28: Twice upon A Time - ed. Denise information can be obtained by contacting © Sherlock Little going on. If you’re interested in joining Stephanie L. Bannon, Email: leigh- PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NOVEM- in, one meets on the first Thursday of @primenet.com or [email protected] or BER AND DECEMBER DATES each month at the Glendale Public Mail: PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082- WILL BE CHANGED DUE TO THE Library. The next book discussed will be 2613 Phone or FAX; (602)973-2341 HOLIDAYS. CHECK ISSUE 3 OF Diane Duane’s Book of Night with Moon. Submission Info: Writers and artists are CONNOTATIONS FOR THE COR- encouraged to submit work for publication. RECT DATES What is CASFS? While we cannot pay you for your efforts your work will be seen by over 4,000 fans Nov: High Crusade by Poul Anderson across the Southwest and the country. You (available from Barnes & Noble by What is really behind putting on a convention? What the funds raised by a convention will retain the copyright to your work for special order - allow 4-6 weeks) used for? Why not attend a meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor of ConNotations, future publication. To submit your work or Dec: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s CopperCons, HexaCons, SmerfCons and other conventions. We are a charitable, non- for more information please write to: profit organization that exists to further science fiction, fantasy and science fields in ConNotations; PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ Stone by J.K. Rowling Arizona. CASFS currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at 2560 W Indian School Rd in 85082-2613 or contact us via Email at For more information on the Glendale Phoenix (NW corner of I-17 and Indian School). The meetings begin at 8PM and are [email protected] Library group contact Sue Martin at held on the last Friday of the month Jan. Through Sept. And on the second Friday of the Contact Information: ConNotations and (623)939-7815. For more information on month Oct through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend two meetings as a guest (non- its contributors can be contacted by mail at the Barnes & Noble group contact member). Membership rates are $12/year plus an initial $3 application fee and rates are PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 Stephanie L Bannon at (602)973-2341. pro-rated for the amount of the year remaining. For more info Call: Stephanie L. Bannon or via email at [email protected]. (602)973-2341 Webpage: www.casfs.org email: [email protected] ISSN: 1082-7765 Page 2 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 usual suspects: yours truly, Bruce D. Jabba’s Palace. It was my birthday on Schadenfreude, most of the local PRO NOTES Arthurs, Liz Danforth, Emily May 3rd, so it was nice of George Lucas SCAdians, and other assorted friends and by Daryl F. Mallett Devenport, Ernest Hogan, Pete Manly, to release all the toys and books on that family members converged for the Dennis McKiernan, Melanie Rawn, day! The week before, a huge group, led evening showing. (There were only 441 It’s getting even warmer in Tempe, Michael A. Stackpole...etc. Many local by Nola Yergen, Jammie Sobley and seats in the theatre, so we practically although we did have a brief bit of rain fen attended as well, including: Barry Jeff Jennings gathered at Harkins owned that show.) Michael Wildes of this week. Bard, Jeff Jennings, Nola Yergen (who Metrocenter to buy tickets. Dan Harkins AA Best Limousines graciously chauf- What’s been happening in our world won yet another masquerade, resplendent came to keep us company while we feured us to the event. Afterwards, it was (besides Star Wars): as Queen Amidala from Star Wars, waited, and Channel 3’s beautiful and on to The Cadillac Ranch for drinks and More sad news came recently, as long- Episode I: The Phantom Menace), and charming Beth Perry was there, talking food and friends. time LASFS member Gary Louie, age more. with the crowd as well. With all the excitement of the new film, 41, passed away in Los Angeles of a heart Speaking of Lousie Marley...a must Then, the night before the big as well as conventions, I didn’t get a attack. Gary was a great guy and a read is her new book The Terrorists of event...Mike and I were guests of KSLX chance to query everyone for this issue, so familiar face at Los Angeles conventions Irustan. I picked it up one night and put 100.7 FM’s party at Planet Hollywood, last issue’s news will have to hold you and will sorely be missed. it down very, very, very early the follow- where we were interviewed briefly and over. LepreCon was a great convention this ing morning, cursing because I had to get watched as the DJs gave out toys and In the meantime, get ready for Highland year. We had Michael Whelan as the up in a few hours and work. tickets to the movie. The following War (Flagstaff, AZ; June); Agamemcon Artist Guest of Honor. Spending time And speaking of The Phantom morning, Mike headed to Harkins III (Burbank, CA; June); and DarkCon with him was great, and his family (hi, Menace...Wow...wow...WOW! That’s Metrocenter to appear on KTAR 620 (Chandler, AZ; June), the latter with Audrey, Alexa, Adrian, and Nana!) is my review. AM’s morning show, and I went to special guests William F. Nolan and wonderful. We went for a good bit of The local media kept Mike Stackpole, KEDJ’s breakfast showing at Harkins George Clayton Johnson, authors of Mexican food after the convention was Jennifer Roberson, Alan Dean Foster, Arizona Mills. Local amateur filmmaker Logan’s Run. I invited actor Michael over. Writer Guest of Honor was Larry and I busy. I had a two-day interview Brian Thorson was in the audience that York, who regrettably cannot attend this Niven, who attended along with his wife with KFLR 90.3 FM the week before the morning, as well as Toby from All About year, and actress Jenny Agutter, who has Marilyn (Fuzzy). It was nice, addition- movie; I appeared on the night of May Books & Comics, who showed up as not responded from London yet (keep ally, to see out-of-towners at the conven- 2nd/morning of May 3rd at the KEDJ Darth Maul. He’d shaved his head and your fingers crossed). A new movie is in tion. Usually it’s just us local yokels, but 100.3 FM Midnight Madness at Toys ‘R’ really looked the part, complete with the works, to be tentatively produced by we were graced with the presence of the Us on Camelback Road, where the radio horns and the like. He went to traffic Joel Silver, whose most recent work was likes of J. Gregory Keyes, Louise station gave out tickets to a special court immediately afterwards...and I wish The Matrix. Marley, Darlene D. Bolesny, and engagement breakfast showing of the I could have been there to see it. That That’s it for this round. If you want to Joanne Bertin from all over the globe. movie. One family bought over $2,500 evening, all four of us, along with Liz see something, email me at Alice and Marty Massoglia were in from worth of Star Wars toys and stuff...we Danforth showed up at Harkins ([email protected]), etc. See you next Los Angeles. Also in attendance, the gave them a signed copy (by most of the Metrocenter, where nearly 400-strong, time!

authors) of Star Wars: Tales from the Dark Ones, CASFS, Staghold,

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Kristoph Klover, Mar has made an album like in person, but I doubt it’s like the Fish, Nancy Freeman, the Duras Sisters Musical Notes that jumps from subject to subject and singing nun hitching for a ride depicted (whom I had been told by several people mood to mood, like any good folk album on the front cover of the CD. had broken up, but apparently they had by Tom Tuerff should. The production on this album is reformed by the time the con took place), She’s not concerned with whether fantastic. I want Klover to produce my and a few others whose names escape me “FAVORITE SINGS” IS MAR-VELOUS there’s a science-fiction or fantasy bent to CD if I ever get around to it. at the moment. I got to play some of my These Are a Few of My Favorite Sings this music. She just knows it’s good and Write the name of this album down and stuff too, and we all had a good time. Kathy Mar she wants you to hear it. And she has a start looking for it at conventions. Buy it. Except for the guy next door. **** (out of four) wonderful voice and the musical talent to You’ll like it! On Sunday, Nancy Freeman performed Prometheus Music, PM-1000 pull it all off—beautifully. CONVENTION NOTES what will probably be her next album, www.prometheus-music.com Highlights include a very nice, “every- Leprecon had an interesting to-do on “Stardust County,” in its entirety. An body sing” kind of rendition of Steve Saturday night up in the filk suite, when interesting and exciting narrative about Kathy Mar is a filk legend, I’m told. Goodman’s “The 20th Century is Almost the hotel, in violation of the Con’s supernatural things in the Old West, She’s even a member of the Filk Hall of Over,” which Goodman wrote around contract, put a so-called “Mundane” in a some of the songs she performed are still Fame, which I was totally unaware of 1977 when there was considerably more room right next to the usual rowdy bunch buzzing around in the back of my head as until her agent sent me to the website. time to sing it and be relevant, but of singin’, hollerin’ and yellin’ folks, I write this, especially the one about the Other filkers I talked to about Mar nevertheless, you still have time to enjoy yours truly included.The festivities were sand. Nancy’s gonna play this again at describe her as a “militant filker,” that is, Mar’s version without feeling left behind. shut down for about an hour, while filk Dark Con, so if you didn’t get a chance to she stands up for the right to sing at Kudos too to her great recording of first officer Gary Swaty went down to the hear it, you have another chance. conventions and goes ballistic if filksings Christine Lavin’s “Santa Monica Pier,” front desk to show the staff the contract Till next time, find something good to at cons are compromised at all. (Good which brightens things up even if you’re and punch a few guys out. (Editor’s note: sing and share it with people! thing she wasn’t at Leprecon, but I’ll get in a good mood already. While it was inconvenient for the Tom Tuerff writes filk reviews for to that later.) I’m a critic, and I need to critique mundane guest and the hotel it was not a ConNotations. Send him your CD for Anyway, Mar has made a name for something, so I’ll say that if there’s a violation of the contract and the hotel review and he will be painfully honest. herself in the filk world and if her latest weak song on here for me, it’s Zander handled the situation quickly and Address: 3013 W. Tonopah Dr., Phoenix, album, “My Favorite Sings,” is any Nyrond’s “No Such Thing,” and that’s gracefully as soon as the proper LepreCon AZ 85027 indication, it’s easy to see why. Here we mostly because I don’t like child singers. Committee member - Hotel Liaison - was have 16 tunes, all written by others, The kids on this song don’t change my informed of the problem. Had that person which Mar puts her own signature on. mind. been contacted when the problem first And quite honestly, this album is fantas- Also, “Water, Fire and Smoke” is one arose it would have been handled in 10 tic. of those “invocation of nature and the minutes instead of an hour) Surrounding herself with excellent elements” songs that just doesn’t do Anyway, once things got into high gear musicians including Margaret Davis (see anything for me. Hell, it’s all I can do to again, I got to hear some great songs the last issue of ConNotations for my invoke six bucks for a movie. from filk GOH Lynn Gold, and all the review of her latest) and producer Also, I don’t know what Ms. Mar looks usual gang of singers, including Leslie Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 3 needed. At-con, I assisted the Guest include: Arizona authors Emily ConClusion Liaison, Lee Whiteside, with picking up Devenport & Ernie Hogan, Pete Manly, Michael Whelan and family at the airport Daryl Mallett, Don Markstein, Dennis LepreCon 25 Review with the assistance of my wife, Jean God- McKiernan, Melanie Rawn, Ken St. By Mike Willmoth din. Since he was bringing in 5 total, we Andre & Michael Stackpole; Arizona put the luggage into Lee’s truck while we artists Alan Gutierrez, Michael-Scot This year’s LepreCon was the 25th split the family into my car and Jean’s. McMurry, James Reade, Larry annual event. It was held Friday May 14 Once we got them to the hotel, they Vela & Cathie Yankovich; authors through Sunday May 16, 1999, at the wanted to eat so the Treasurer, Shahn David & Christine Beaucage, Joanne Sunspree Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Cornell, and I took them to Denny’s at Bertin, John Davis, Doris Egan, J. This year’s Guests-of-Honor were artist 11pm. Also at-con, I assisted Program- Gregory Keyes, Tom Marcinko, Louise Michael Whelan, author Larry Niven, ming Director, Kitty McDonald-Neal, Marley, Patricia Matthews, Susan local artist Robert Peacock and Filker with picking up some participants at the Matthews, Milly McCloskey, Glenn Lynn Gold. airport and taking them back on Sunday Meganck, John Mina, & Cary Osborne; Pat Connors, who, though he’d been on or Monday. These included: Hugh scientists/engineers Hugh Gregory, Aleta a number of committees, had worked Gregory, space flight historian, from Jackson, Louise Kleba, Tom Ligon Jr., & never chaired a convention before did a Vancouver, BC, presented the Russian Henry Vanderbilt; many fans from great job! Pat worked with the existing Space Program Update; Louise Kleba, Phoenix, Tucson and California. committee members, added a few new Boeing engineer, who did the ISS As you can see, we had a great conven- ones, and put together a successful con- presentation; and Diana Challis, plan- tion. Next year’s LepreCon (26) has a vention. The GoHs had a great time, the etary geologist, currently working for the new Chair as well who is working on attendees had a great time, and the con- Adler Planetarium in Chicago. tying down a hotel contract. We’ll vention made a profit. From the prelimi- Besides this, I also participated pre-con announce that as soon as it is official. nary reports LepreCon 25 may have made with the program creation and at-con on Meanwhile, please plan to join us next a record surplus, it certainly broke the the program itself. Friday started out year when we attempt to out-do ourselves previous record for Art Show sales, and with me driving Michael Whelan and son again. Please let us know what you liked brought in a recent record number of to Channel 3 TV studios for an interview or didn’t like, any suggestions you may attendees. Thanks, Pat & Committee/ with our Chair, Pat Connors. It went very have, etc. You may use my postal Staff/Volunteers! well and they showed Michael’s artwork, address, email address or phone number, The convention officially opened at 12 Larry Niven’s books and other sf stuff. or any of the LepreCon addresses found noon on Friday with some areas already Afterwards we hit Phoenix’s ice cream elsewhere in this issue. open, such as Convention Operations / parlor, Mary Coyle’s, for homemade ice Thanks for all those who supported the cream to celebrate. Next I attended the convention and we’ll see you next year! Security, ConSuite, Staff Lounge, Green © Sherlock Room / Program Operations, Registra- Guest-of-Honor dinner at Black Angus on Mike Willmoth - Chairman, Leprecon tion, Japanimation and Video Room, Friday and the Meet-the-Pros reception Inc., P.O. Box 8068, Scottsdale, AZ Gaming, Dealers Room and Art Show. afterwards, then I lent a hand at the 85252, 480-945-6890 Programming started at 2:30pm and ran Astronomy Intro by the pool. Pete Manly [email protected] until around 12 midnight. Some of Fri- brought his hand-built telescope made to day’s events were Tarot Through The the specs of Galileo from circa 1600; I’m Ages, Robert Peacock Art Demo with glad I have modern binoculars. We met a Acrylic Paints, Celtic Harp Concert, nice couple from Florida, John and Russian Space Program Updates, GoH Debbie Mina, whose aunt lived here in Filk Concert, NASA’s Current Planetary the valley. John was also on program- Missions, Brew Your Own Mead and ming. Cordial Making, and Introductory Saturday, I was on The Art of Collect- Astronomy by the pool. ing with Jim Webbert, Shane Saturday started at 10 am for some with Shellenbarger and several others; since programs such as Beginner’s Guide to they knew more than I did, and spent Copyright Law, Paper Airplane Contest, more on artwork too, I only stayed a few The International Space Station Update, minutes. We also held a Bix Bash for This space reserved GoH Rainbow Mars Book Discussion, those on the Bix online service; G. Harry Rotary Rocket Presentation, Charity Stine’s widow, Barbara Stine, attended as Auction benefitting Reading Is Funda- did Jean, her mother & I, and a friend from outside Tuscon, John Davis, ever for an ad from mental (which raised around $1500!), Masquerade, Regency Dancing and present at our local cons helping Program Violence & Horror in SF Art. Ops or Con Ops this year. We visited Sunday was our short day with Tube Julio G’s Mexican Restaurant and pigged Lunar Traders Talk and At The Movies, Killing Off out on Sonoran cuisine. Characters, Lost Wax Art Demo, Squirt On Sunday, I was on The Do’s and Gun Battle, WorldÆs Smallest Fusion Don’ts of Convention Bidding; I couldn’t Reactor Demo, Calligraphy Workshop, stay long since I had to run someone to Art Show Auction and the ever-present the airport, but since Arizona is bidding Con Evaluation. for the Westercon in 2002 (West Coast My role for the convention pre-con was Science Fantasy Convention) it was Electronic Publicity and Online Liaison. important to be there for as long as I Not only did I handle incoming requests could. for information, but I also regularly pos- At the last minute we decided to move ted our general con info on the Internet the Leprecon Inc. board meeting to a (Usenet) newsgroups, online services week later since several board members (Compuserve, Bix, etc.) and kept the were unavailable due to having to be out fandom websites appraised of changes as of function space by 5pm for the hotel. Some of the participants this year Page 4 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 the doctor reported that the author was was preventing the author from putting reply. Ellison said that if he had to do it Neither Your Harlan clearly deranged, but that he puts his his foot in his mouth because Ellison had over again he’d become a plumber or an Nor Mine: The animosity to worthy ends. He continued just sold a series to ABC. electrician. Unless you’re a Borges, by stating that Ellison turns his anger A member of the audience told Ellison Kafka, or Dostoevsky you should get a job Evening of Delicate outward and it becomes a valuable that she was from his town of Painesville, that helps people and write in your spare expulsion in his writing. He concluded by Ohio and while they reminisced, Ellison time. Send your work out to market and if Terrors, Part 2 saying there was nothing further he could remembered a particular incident. Ellison it’s any good it’ll be bought and if it isn’t By Shane Shellenbarger do for Ellison and “he’s about as sane as believes firmly that there is a balance to it’ll be rejected. When asked if he wanted we’re going to get him.” Ellison ended the Universe that manifests itself as to change his life, Ellison responded that After completing his talk and book the story with a smile and noted that the nothing less than revenge. In the ‘60’s, he was exactly and precisely who and signing at Glendale Community College, audience might be learning more about during the height of his television writing where he wanted to be. He feels that we Harlan Ellison remained for a meal and him then they care to know. career, Ellison took a trip back to are each responsible for our lives and if conversation in the Teachers Lounge. When asked about revealing himself Painesville just to style, to show off a you’re not happy with who you are, go Two kinds of people dominate a conver- through public appearances, Ellison said little. An extraordinarily beautiful actress, and become somebody else. sation: those who prattle on without his talks were primarily smoke and traveling in his gunmetal blue Austin- Questioned about his writing for comic regard to the glazed look in the eyes of mirrors designed to sell his books and Healy with a louvered bonnet rigged for books, Ellison conveyed his intent to their victims and those whose audience recordings. He imparted a bit of his racing accompanied him. He wanted to work on future issues of “Harlan Ellison’s hangs on their every word. Whether it’s philosophy when he said that what ever roll past all of the people who had said Dream Corridor”. He also talked about an audience of one thousand or an wasn’t nailed down was his and whatever he’d wind up in prison to see his his current project: a Superman graphic audience of one, Ellison can grab and he could pry loose wasn’t nailed down. $1,500.00 Harry Cherry suit with the red novel called “Exorcising Demons” about hold his listener like no other speaker. The subject of television arose and lining, a goddess on his arm, and his car a television writer who returns to his After lunch, Harlan and Susan Ellison hometown in Ohio. The book will contain made their circuitous way through cameos by Robin Williams and Julius Glendale road construction and traffic Schwartz. problems to their hotel for a well- Susan Ellison’s presence emboldened deserved rest before the evening presenta- one audience member to ask how the tion at the Arizona State University West couple met. “We met cute,” Ellison campus. Following another meal with replied. Around 1984, Ellison was school officials and braving the trials of scheduled to be the Guest of Honor at a evening traffic, the Ellison’s arrived at convention in Glasgow, Scotland. He had ASU West, prepared for the long evening just finished a grueling stint as an ahead. instructor at the Clarion Writers’ Work- Susan Ellison set out books on a long shop and he would have one day to fly table while Harlan talked to fans and old home, empty the clothes from his friends. Soon enough, Professor Rob suitcase, repack and leave for Scotland. Taylor of ASU West introduced Professor To make matters worse, the workshop Hannes Kvaran of G.C.C. who introduced was located near a breeding ground for Ellison and the ride began. mosquitoes who had found Ellison a Ellison was not given any guidelines or particularly tasty morsel. By the time he constraints concerning his talk, so he made it home, Ellison was too sick to spoke on an amazing variety of subjects. travel further. He contacted the conven- He began with a Jesus joke, moved on to tion committee, arranged for Norman Henry Kissinger ‘s apology for Richard Spinrad to replace him, and got on with Nixon’s racism, proceeded to point to Ellison picked up where he left off in his which was worth more then any of them the business of being ill. Soon there after, TNT Television selling out the common- books, “The Glass Teat” and “The Other made in ten years. Ellison shipped a box of books to Dave man, despaired that America is becoming Glass Teat.” Ellison considers television He entered the Parminton Hotel, once Britain of Andromedia Books. He had Jerry Springer World, pilloried rude fans, one of the most powerful forces to the premiere hotel of Painesville, and planned to bring the books with him to commented on the Mount Everest that dominate the landscape and the perfect now a rundown dowager; soot stained Scotland to sell at the convention. was Frank Sinatra’s ego, and detailed the opiate. With the national average of six shadow of its former self. Seated at the Included in the box were a dozen French duplicity of Gene Roddenberry. Ellison and one half viewing hours a day, bar was Jack Wheeldon, the bully who edition trade paperbacks that Ellison spoke about his commentaries on the Sci- Americans are turning their minds to beat the living daylights out of Ellison believed would sell in Britain, little Fi Channel, checkbook journalism, James prune yogurt. Ellison considers television everyday that he had attended Lathrop knowing that most of the British wouldn’t Cameron’s “borrowing” the plot line of cheap entertainment that creates in-your- Grade School. Wheeldon had aged into a be caught dead reading French. The Terminator from Solider and Demon face drones who’ll buy any garbage that is fat, miserable failure. He slid from his Fast-forward one year to the next with a Glass Hand, Linda Tripp’s presented in the right lighting or with the barstool and began advancing on the convention in Glasgow. Ellison followed appearance, Clinton’s mistakes, Ronald right camera angle. He declares that you writer. Ellison had been through Ranger Dave Britain to his table in the dealer’s Reagan and the California School can’t go five minutes without a fast food basic training, had studied martial arts, room to retrieve the unsold books, which District, and about carrying a gun for ad tempting you to become another and had the memory of all of those years included the French editions. As he hands Crazy Al Wilson, a man known for member of the growing statistics on heart of abuse at the hands of Jack Wheeldon. the box to Ellison, Britain pulls the box keeping his clothes in a filing cabinet . . . disease in this country. Maybe it was the way Ellison stood, back saying he feels bad that the books all in the first thirty minutes. While on the subject of television, maybe it was something in his unwaver- didn’t sell and he’d continue to try to sell Ellison took questions from the audi- Ellison commented on some of his own ing look deep into Wheeldon’s piggy the remainder. Ellison pulled back on the ence. No, he didn’t drop a chandelier on appearances in the medium. During one eyes. Whatever it was, Wheeldon stopped box, thanking Britain for the books he a group of people. Yes, he did flip a of his early guest shots on Tom Snyder’s his advance, hesitated a moment, and had sold. Back and forth the box went fraternity brother off of a fire escape into Tomorrow Show, Ellison tried to tell a then lumbered back to his stool. In that until a whirlwind appeared out of a garbage shed three stories below. Part of story about a particularly nasty ABC moment, Ellison felt the weight of those nowhere, shoving the box into Ellison’s his treatment for Chronic Fatigue executive. Each time Ellison would begin childhood years lift from his shoulders chest, shouting, “We don’t need your Syndrome was meeting with a psycholo- the story, Snyder would interrupt him or and he was free of their curse. He left bleeding books!” Ellison took one look at gist who practiced in Beverly Hills. It go to commercial. Ellison never did get Painesville and never returned. Susan and in his words, “My heart turns out that it was one of his frat the story out and people complained As one might expect, Ellison was asked became a sunshine frog jumping up and brothers. After two sessions with Ellison about Snyder’s cutting off his guest. what advice he had for someone who Eventually, Ellison realized that Snyder loves to write. Get an honest job was his (Cont’d on page 6) Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 5 Harlan cont’d from page 5 tor, Starr Parker. The topic concerned SF Tube Talk cont’d from page 1 Nana, who he has married, but Armin Elia Kazan, one time film director and Shimmerman reached over and put his down in my chest.” snitch for the House Un-American After a short break, joining us onstage hand on Siddig’s leg giving him a wistful The convention committee had asked Activities Committee. On that day the were Executive Producers Rick Berman look). Ellison what his favorite science fiction Hollywood Film Critics had denied and Ira Steven Behr, actors Avery Armin Shimmerman felt that seven film was because they planned to screen Kazan their Achievement Award. At one Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Nana Visitor, years of playing Quark had taught him to that film at a local movie house. Ellison’s point during the show, Parker put forth Alexander Siddig, Armin Shimmerman, be a better actor, that working with this choice was Seconds with Rock Hudson. the opinion that McCarthy had done a Michael Dorn and Nicole deBoer. cast constantly inspired him to do a better Susan agreed to attend with Ellison and lot of good. Ellison corrected her, saying Highlights of the session were Avery job. Armin admitted that he hadn’t been when she was seated he returned to the the McCarthy hearings took place six Brooks’ thoughtful answers. Brooks felt happy with his character arc until The snack bar to begin the conquest of her years after the HUAC. Eventually, that it was a miracle that he lasted the Dogs of War. He was enormously grateful heart. A few minutes later Ellison Ellison asked Parker on what history of seven years. One of the most important for the events in that episode, that it had staggered back to his seat, his arms full of the blacklists she had based her opinion. things was that for seven years you saw snuck up behind him and bit him on the sweets, drinks, and popcorn. Susan is She told him that the staff of P.I. had an ongoing father/son relationship, and head. reported to have said, “I’m yours!” The provided her with an article from the that they were brown. He was pleased Michael Dorn has been at it for twelve Ellison’s will be celebrating their New York Times. “How dare you come with how Sisko ended up, leaving us with years, playing Worf on Star Trek: The fourteenth wedding anniversary on on television an express and opinion as a sense that Sisko will return. Next Generation for its seven years and September 7th. if it had anything behind it other than All of them were sad to see it end, but it five on Deep Space Nine. The twelve The audience felt encouraged to ask hot air?” Ellison asked. He points out hadn’t really sunk in yet since they were years had gone quickly and been a career Ellison about a few of his favorite things. that should they repeat that episode the in the normal hiatus period. Rene for him. The work has been great and His favorite works are his recording of audience should watch the end credits Auberjonois felt it had been an extraordi- he’s enjoyed the luxury of working and “Paladin of the Lost Hour”, his short where they freeze-frame a shot of Ellison nary seven years working with this group. meeting with people you like. Nicole story “Grail” to be found between the in mid-air as he goes for Parker. Nana Visitor felt she had grown person- deBoer noted that this had been the pages of “Stalking the Nightmare”, and After speaking for nearly two and one ally and professionally over the seven biggest job of her life and that she was his novella “Mefisto in Onyx”. His half-hours, Ellison signed books and years. When asked about doing more if pretty nervous when she first started, but favorite writers are Gerald Kersh, Donald talked with fans for nearly another hour. offered a part on a new Trek series, she’d that the other cast members made her feel Westlake, and Mark Twain. “I just Finally, it was just a small group of us as jump at the chance. She’d done enough at ease, especially Armin who was the chortle like crazy reading Mark Twain,” we made our way out to the parking lot garbage on TV and film that having the first one she worked with. Ending the Ellison said. His reading habits account and then just Susan, Harlan, and me as quality work she’d have no compunction series left her feeling sad that she hadn’t for the three stacks of to-be-read books, we drove back to their hotel. We said our about signing on for another series. been around for the first six years but was each five feet tall and the 250,000 book good byes and I drove home, going over Alexander Siddig commented that these happy to have done the one. library contained within his home. in my mind the day and one half I’d seven years had been a fifth of his life and Rick Berman felt the ending was Ellison recently finished “Backflash” by spent with two nice people and one of it was the longest he’d been involved with bittersweet. He thought that they had Donald Westlake/Richard Stark, “It’s the the most intense personalities I have ever anything. He’d made many friends gotten better each year. When questioned Stupidity, Stupid” by Harry Shearer, and met. He’s neither your Harlan, nor mine, through the show, one of whom he’d be about the next movie, he said they didn’t a book on Egyptian mummification. The but very much his own man. Oh, and if going to bed with that night (meaning yet have planned what the next movie latest comic book read by Ellison is issue the chance ever presents itself, ask him would be. On the prospects of a fifth two of “The League of Extraordinary about the time the French Secret Police series, he wouldn’t commit to when it Gentlemen” by Alan Moore. His favorite arrested him for the attempted assigna- was likely and that he felt it would be comic book is the 1944 issue 6 of Jack tion of the President of Poland. I hear good to give Voyager some breathing Cole’s “Plastic Man.” His favorite actor is the story takes about twenty-six minutes room. Tom Hulce from Amadeus and some of to tell properly. Ira Steven Behr was happy about how

films he has enjoyed recently are Mon- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ they ended the show and felt they had tana, Big Night, Juliet Poe, and A accomplished everything they set out to Bugs Life. do. However, when talking with fans When asked about the movie afterwards, he admitted he had a great reviews he once wrote for “The idea for a Deep Space Nine movie. With Magazine of Fantasy and Science his bald head and sunglasses, he’s also Fiction”, Ellison said, “In a nation the most noticable of the production crew that thinks Fargo is a good movie, in the crowd at Vic’s. what place is there for me other After the final question was answered, than to point out that the Emperor the audience gave the cast and crew a has no clothes.” He continued by long round of applause. Some of the cast saying, “I don’t think there is hung around and signed some autographs much to say about an industry that for the appreciative fans. The screening thinks remaking The Mod Squad is and subsequent Q&A session were a nice a viable project. I don’t think much way to end the series, allowing some of of an industry that allows a little the fans to be involved. For those who piss ant like Gus Van Sant to take weren’t there, the session should be the script that Joseph Stefano available to check out and view from the wrote from Bob Bloch’s book and Museum’s archives. remake Psycho. Hot on the heels of the end of Deep The last question from the Space Nine, the Babylon 5 sequel series audience concerned Ellison’s Crusade debuted on TNT on June 9th. appearances on Politically Incor- The thirteen episodes produced will air rect. Of the sixteen times that on TNT on Wednesday nights at 10 pm Ellison has appeared on P.I., the ET/PT. As mentioned last issue, there is one that stands out in his mind had no chance that TNT will continue it, but guests Fyvush Finkel from Picket the Sci-Fi Channel is interested. If the Fences, Rhea Perlman from initial ratings on TNT are decent enough, Cheers, and former welfare mother there is a good chance the Sci-Fi Channel turned right wing radio commenta- (Cont’d on page 7) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 SF Tube Talk cont’d from page 6 will commit to a second series before the Crusade Preview options on the actors contracts expire in Here’s a preview of each of the thirteen for the Well of Forever, a mystical alien spaceship threatens the mission. mid-July. As mentioned last issue, if you episodes of Crusade that will air over crossroads somewhere in the vastness of This episode is the last one produced want to show the Sci-Fi channel you want the next several months: hyperspace. and transitions into the airing of the to see more of Crusade, write to: The series opener, War Zone, shows Airing fourth (June 30) is The Path of first five episodes produced. SFC/USA Networks how Gideon put his crew together in Sorrows, which is an episode that TNT Racing The Night (August 4) was the Barry Diller, CEO - USA Networks the aftermath of the Drakh attack on didn’t want them to do because it is original opening episode. The crew Stephen Chao, President - USA Networks Earth seen in A Call To Arms and mostly backstory. We see how Galen and investigates a seemingly abandoned Ms. Bonnie Hammer, Senior VP of their encounter with the Drakh when Gideon first met and how Gideon planet that turns out to have the same Programming they investigate a crashed Drakh ship acquired an Apocalypse Box. We also problem as Earth. 1230 Avenue of the Americas on a planet that also has an IPX learn of Galen’s lost love and about an The Memory of War (August 11) finds New York, NY 10020-1513 expedition led by Max Eilerson, who incident Matheson was involved in the crew investigating a vanished Buffy The Vampire Slayer ends up joining the crew. As I’ve noted during the telepath war. civilization and finding a weapon of The other major story in the last couple before, the original opening episode, In Patterns of the Soul (July 7), The capable of incredible destruction, and of months has been how the response to Racing the Night, picked up several Excalibur learns that some people left they discover other weapons that are the Littleton, Colorado shootings have months into the mission and is now Earth during the Drakh attack and may not as dormant as they thought. had on some of the TV shows, especially scheduled to air as the ninth episode. be infected with the plague. They track The Needs of Earth (August 18) has Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The first TNT felt that doing a “bring the crew them down and when they investigate to Gideon making a clandestine trip to new episode scheduled to air after the together” episode would be a better way determine if they are infected or not, they meet with an alien fugitive who guards shootings was Earshot, where Buffy to start, giving the audience a chance to find out more than they anticipated. a storehouse of alien knowledge. overhears details of a mass murder plot at see the crew’s initial meetings. The Ruling From the Tomb (July 14), which In Visitors From Down The Street the high school. The WB felt that the episode does suffer some from the need is written by Peter David, brings the (August 25), The Excalibur picks up subject matter of that episode wouldn’t be to spend a lot of time introducing the Excalibur to Mars for a conference on the two paranoid aliens who believe that appropriate a week after the shootings crew and might not have been as good plague. Gideon meets up with Captain humans have been meddling in their and pulled it. of an episode to draw in new viewers or Lochley, who is helping provide addi- planet’s affairs for years and that there That most people agreed was the right to keep Babylon 5 viewers interested. tional security. They have to deal with a government has been covering it up. course of action. As they approached the The next episode, The Long Road, group of religious zealots. Yes, it is an X-Files parody. airing of the two part season finale, focuses on Gary Cole’s Captain Gideon In The Rules of the Game (July 21), The last episode to air, Each Night I which is the culmination of the ongoing and Peter Woodward’s Galen with a Gideon comes to Babylon 5 to negotiate Dream of Home (September 1) , has conflicts with The Mayor and Faith, the guest appearance by Edward Wood- for the rights to land on the Lorkan the Excalibur taking part in a top- WB became uneasy about some of the ward (Peter’s father) as a technomage homeworld. The Lorkans feel they are secret experiment to help them learn events in the final episode, where the who stayed behind when the rest of superior to humans and are not very more about the plague. It features a students arm themselves to attack the them left during the Shadow War. It is cooperative. Max Eilerson’s ex-wife is guest appearance by Richard Biggs as Mayor after he ascends into his demon a lighter episode and gives the audi- also there, and needs Max’s help. Dr. Franklin and what is noticeably form. After saying they would air both ence a chance to learn more about Appearances and Other Deceits (July the first time that Gideon and Lochley parts after requesting some edits from the Galen and the technomages. 28) has visiting political officers deter- meet, even though they’ve previously producers, The WB changed their minds Third to air (June 23) is Well of mine a new look for the Excalibur and its met in episodes that have already before part 2 would air. By this point, the Forever, which also focuses on Galen, crew in order to improve morale back aired. episode had already aired in Canada and who commandeers the ship to search home while the sole survivor aboard an

in my opinion, the its last, started up on the Sci-Fi Channel Kate Mulgrew has signed on for a full scenes appearing in June 11th. Not returning for the new seven seasons of Voyager and they’re not the episode are season are the O’Connell brothers, likely to off Seven of Nine, don’t be too there as part of the forcing them to dispose of Quinn and surprised this fall when they survive. solution to the big Colin Mallory off-camera as the new There will be some behind the scenes problem, not the season starts. Replacing them will be changes, though, with several members of focus of the episode. Robert Floyd as Mallory, who has had the Deep Space Nine writing staff (most Airing it with some Quinn merge with him in a lab experi- notably Ron Moore) moving to Voyager, sort of taped ment interrupted by the Vortex the so the writing should improve some. statement of Sliders arrive in. Also joining them is The X-Files ended their season quite concern from one of Tembi Locke as Diana, one of the differently than had originally been the cast members scientists conducting the experiment. reported, opting for a single episode would have been Peter Jurasik guest stars in several instead of two episodes to set up a season fine in my opinion. episodes as Dr. Oberon Geiger, Diana’s ending cliffhanger. Instead of dealing Latest word is that mentor who causes even more problems with the upcoming alien invasion, we got the two episodes for them. Jerry Doyle and Julie Caitlin a new twist on aliens that may have may air as early as Brown will also guest star in separate written the Bible for us (or something July or may wait episodes. along those lines). until right before Other News ‘Xena’ had its season ending the start of the new Unlike Buffy, most of the other shows cliffhanger a week early, running a clip season in Septem- that ended their season with a cliffhange show with a present day setting as the ber. Keep an eye on planned them that way. Star Trek: wraparound as the last new episode of the your local listings Voyager leaves us with Janeway about to season. In the cliffhanger, Xena and for when they will be attacked by an alien and Seven of Nine Gabrielle get crucified and die, but as turn up. unconcious on the Equinox. If there’s we’ve seen several times in the Hercules Sliders anyone willing to bet that either of them and Xena universe, death isn’t that final. Sliders fifth will meet their demise, I’ll take them up Real life events will have an effect on season, and likely on it. Considering news has leaked that both shows next season. Xena star Lucy

(Cont’d on page 8) Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 7 Lawless is pregnant and they will have to genre prouduced by Barry Josephson and work around it for the first part of the Barry Sonnenfeld. They also renewed 7 season, likely using more stunt doubles Days and Star Trek: Voyager and will and fewer full body shots of Xena. On be continuing their movie night on ‘Hercules,’ Kevin Sorbo’s contract ends Fridays under the name The UPN after eight more episodes and will not be Blockbuster Shockwave Cinema. doing any more than that, having already Lee Whiteside [email protected] signed on to star in one of two series produced by Majel Barrett Rodenberry based on concepts created by Gene © Sherlock Rodenberry. Series that ended their runs this year include Millennium, which fell victim to low ratings and the availability of a more trendier Chris Carter series, Harsh Realm, which will take its time slot this fall. The Sentinel appears to be gone after having been resurrected for mid- season (although there may still be a few new episodes left). Highlander: The Raven won’t return, never having really rekindled the Highlander spirit or ratings. Nightman will be ending after two seasons. Mystery Science Theatre 3000 will end after its current season, its tenth overall. The broadcast networks announced their fall schedules in May. As expected, there’s a handful of new genre series. Here’s a summary of the new shows, with more details next issue. NBC and ABC have no new genre shows, although NBC did renew 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Pretender and Profiler. CBS picked up Now and Again, which is about an insurance agent (Eric Close) killed in an accident who is given a new, younger body by the government and becomes a government operative. They also renewed Early Edition. FOX will have Chris Carter’s Harsh Realm series, based on a short run comic series dealing heavily with virtual reality. Returning will be The X-Files for its final season and Futurama. They also have ordered Dark Angel, from James Cameron for mid-season (or earlier if a hole in their schedule opens up). It is about Max (Jessica Alba), a genetically-enhanced human prototype hunted by her former military handlers through the edgy, underground street life of 21st century San Francisco. The WB will have the Buffy spinoff Angel on Tuesdays right after Buffy. Angel will move to Los Angeles and be joined by Cordelia, Amy the Witch (who we’ll assumed gets de-ratted by Willow), and a new character, Doyle (Glenn Quinn). They also picked up Roswell, based on a series of young adult novels about high school students in Roswell who are really aliens abandoned in the famous crash. It had been in development for FOX and is produced by Jonathon Frakes. The WB also renewed Charmed for its second season. UPN picked up Secret Agent Man, which appears to be somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek approach to the spy

Page 8 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 24 Frames cont’d from page 1 hear all that wonderful John Williams never met before and he has no problem cocky gorilla child named Terk (voice by ization is that we care about the charac- music. picking up unsettling vibes from him: but Rosie O’Donnell). ters. In The Phantom Menace, few It was also really interesting to see that an active deception...over his head. Kinda Once Tarzan (voice by Tony Goldwyn) characters elicit audience concern. Anakin Skywalker created C3PO (who hard to believe grows up, he discovers that really nasty Jake Lloyd is unbelievable as Anakin obviously in Chapter 4 has been made to Of course: I know most of this is ape, homo sapiens. But of course, he also Skywalker. His acting is flat and his forget his Tattooine origins and doesn’t preaching to the converted (weren’t most finds Jane Porter (voice by Mini Driver) reactions ring untrue. The contrived know the gawky teenager who cleans him of you there opening night with the Dark and in this Disney universe, it is marvel- budding romance between Anakin and is the son of his creator or that he was Ones?). ous watching the two of them get ac- Amidala as her handmaiden, Padme previously friends with R2D2). But you know, when all is said and quainted, as he rescues her from rampag- Naberrie was hard to swallow. For nearly I liked the basic story line well enough, done, all the totals added up: Is this a bad ing baboons, and especially the scenes 2 hours and 12 minutes, Queen Amidala the film itself careens around at the speed movie or a good movie? As “ahrt” (nose where they are watching a lantern slide is stern. Natalie Portman’s only time to of its spectatcular podrace, but I wish in air please) its commercial. But, more show in Jane’s camp. shine as an actress is when she plays her we’d had more background on Qui-Gon importantly, to all of us SF fans who The heart-racing swinging through the own handmaiden. Liam Neeson did a Jinn and Obi-Wan’s relationship. And remember where we were the summer of vines and sliding along tree branches was workman like job as Qui-Gon Jinn. more importantly, Anakin and his mom. 1977, this movie shall remain memo- pretty nifty (kids: don’t try this at home) Nothing exceptional there. Frank Oz as Thankfully, there is a little more rable. Always. It’s inevitable: It adds and the music by Phil Collins and Mark Yoda was the most true to character, but balance between the male and female more to the mythos, and for that I am Mancina is especially good. There’s a Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi was characters, even an older woman fighter grateful (and Qiu-Gon Jinn was a pretty soundtrack that’ll go platinum. quite believable. He even picked up some pilot. (But why are ALL the toys (just tasty addition) and like so many of our But cute animal pals or not, this of Sir Alec Guinness’s mannerisms. We about) geared towards boys? I have some loves in the SF world (Red Dwarf!!!! particular animated feature is more adult look forward to seeing him in the next discretionary cash and have no qualms Arghhh!) it is a guilty midnight chocolate in theme than the others, my daughter did two films. about supporting an all-devouring death kind of pleasure. mot gush about it as she did Mulan—but Jar Jar Binks is an annoyance from marketing blitz.) I shall probably see it many times, bad then again, maybe it was just one too beginning to end. The only reason he So, what’s not to like? Well, we do have bits not withstanding. - Sue Martin many high speed chases on top of could possibly have been introduced was another. - Sue Martin to appeal to the Dumb and Dumber audience. He had no redeeming value. He was a klutz, a clod, and a cretin. His Videophile accent was as thick as a good jambalaya, but not nearly as satisfying. Arrival 2 The willing suspension of disbelief was Starring: Michael Sarrazin, Patrick stretched to the limit with the introduc- Muldoon, Jane Sibbet tion of so many CGI characters. We Artisan Entertainment - Rated R haven’t come that far from Mary Poppins cavorting with penguins. For a movie Well, I should preface this by saying I with characters we are supposed to take was dreading/hoping for a sequel to “The seriously, the credulity is lacking. This is Arrival” for a year now. one step removed from the human and This was a good attempt but it was still animated characters introduced in Who a sequel, it had to follow some predeter- Framed Roger Rabbit? mined pattern because it worked in the One of the highlights of the film is the first movie. light saber play. The action in those areas That said, I can report that it was an appeared realistic and exciting. These enjoyable movie. I like the way it tidied scenes added much needed energy to a up the loose ends of the previous install- generally sluggish plot. On the other ment while leaving the possibilities open hand, the banter of the original trilogy to wait another two years for the next Tarzan (opens June 18) installment and though Lucas says the Directed by Kevin Lima and Chris Buck at the end for more movies. The acting was missing. The only comedy relief was good with strong performances from came from poorly conceived slapstick that next one is a romance, I suspect some- thing unpleasant to occur to Anakin’s This is Disney Animation’s annual the leads and supporting actors. Some- would have made the Three Stooges thing to remember is these characters grimace in pain at its ineptitude. mom. I get the feeling that that will have summer entry. And like a certain previ- something to do with Anakin’s turning to ously mentioned podrace, it too careens apparently have NEVER seen any We are glad that we chose not to stand American movies or TV. After both of in line for weeks, days, or even hours to the Dark side. around at top speed, loads of dipping and I wish the dialogue had had more zip, swooping camera moves, with only a few their credit cards are refused they try to get tickets for The Phantom Menace. get money from a bank. Like, we couldn’t After a 16 year wait, we would have been as I think it had a lot to do with the breaths in between. pedestrian performances. I really didn’t Having not read the Edgar Rice have predicted that the money would be even more disappointed than we already gone already. He is supposed to be a are. George Lucas may have tried to want to see all that screen time eaten up Burroughs tale of the Englishman raised by Jar Jar Binks, comic relief to little by apes, I don’t know how the storylines programming genius and she is an recapture the wonder and excitement of investigative reporter. the original Trilogy, but in the words of purpose (though my daughter, who is 7, compare, but in this version we have a thinks he was funny). His lame whining baby rescued by a gorilla mom Kala Other than that one unintelligent, Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.” - by moment the movie keeps you going and Shane and Lauren Shellenbarger and comments over-stating the obvious (voice by Glenn Close), who has just lost irritated me, compounded by that psuedo- her own child to probably the self-same guessing until the end. I won’t reveal all the secrets but remember the young Star Wars Episode One: Caribbean patois. He doesn’t have nearly leopard who has killed Tarzan’s parents. the appeal of C3PO’s similar place in She takes him back to the group she lives neighbor from the first movie and expect The Phantom Menace betrayal from everyone. Written and directed by George Lucas Episode IV. (Please, let’s hope he’s not in and convinces the doubting silver- brought back for Episode II!) Also: backed male leader Kerchak (voice by Despite it’s predictability and faux pas I give it 7.5 out of 10. Just don’t expect My favorite thing about the new ‘Star wouldn’t Qui-Gon have known Padme Lance Henriksen), that Tarzan should and Amidala are the same? He’s a Jedi stay. high intelligence and you’ll enjoy it. - Wars”: It is so nice to be back in George Bob LaPierre Lucas’ universe again. It’s so nice to see Master for the Force’s sake: why wasn’t We have a little of the Bambi idylic all those aliens and special effects which he aware of the deception going on with childhood scenes: truely lovely, lovely have grown by leaps and bounds since Padme and Queen Amidala? How did it backgrounds of lush rain forest and 1977 and the days of bad matting. And to get by Obi-Wan as well? I mean, a grubby comic-releif pals: an elephant named little boy on backwater planet whom he’s Trantor (voice by Wayne Knight) and a Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 9 Page 10 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 Octoberland enough characterization for the reader to The Book Of The Spear In Our Book by Adam Lee care. This makes a good enough read for by Diana Paxson Avon Fantasy., 308 pp, $13.50, TPB. me to hunt the prequel. - Pam Allan Avon, 200 pp, $10.00 In the Company of Mind by Steven Piziks, Baen “Octoberland” is the third and final Legacies And Lies “The Book of the Spear” is volume 2 of 339 pp, $6.99 volume of “The Dominions of Irth.” by Nancy Holder “The Hallowed Isle,” which is the Evil has again launched another assault Avon EOS, 292 pp, $5.99 Arthurian Legend from the Saxon point “In the Company of Mind” is a space on the Dominions of Irth. In Manhattan, of view. opera that takes place in the future, and an incredibly old wizard has spent three “Legacies And Lies” is book two of The Sixth century was a violent time in the mind of the protagonist. millennia turning the planet Earth into a “The Six Families” series. regardless of point of view. Oesc is a John Lance Michaels Blackstone II giant talisman for eternal life for himself, Six families of mafioso dominate the descendant of royal blood who comes to seems to have everything growing up: and a challenge to the gods themselves. moon which has become Las Vegas in Britain fleeing the drowned and desolate every luxury money can buy, famous dad, Reese Morgan, now a mage without space. world he grew up in. Though sworn to brilliant mom, a personal bodyguard. But magic, is called to stop the invasion of Deuce McNamara, former bagman for the spirits of his new land, he also serves he is also the abused, tortured pawn of a Goblins. Jyoti Odawls is ousted as the Borgioli family has become the right the older Germanic gods to whom he was vicious power mad controller who has Margravine by her weakling brother Poch hand man of Hunter Castle, an earthsider dedicated at birth and the ancient power had his son remade in his own image under the control of witches and goblins and wealthy businessman who is building of the spear. while turning him into an emotionally with the help of the greedy managers of a new casino city on the darkside of the Captured and held hostage by Arthur’s broken child. Dogbrick’s financial Empire while moon. When a powerful explosion rips army, led with his sword of power, he As Blackstone II mind fragments into Dogbrick himself is stranded on Earth Castle’s fabled Gambler’s Star, presum- returns to Cantium to assume the king- multiple personality disorder, his equally with the Sasquatch, and without his ably destroying Hunter Castle with it, ship left by his grandfather’s death. He abused mother plots to free them. memories. Duece finds himself in a bloodbath. Not has become Arthur’s friend, but when his Escaping at last, they followed their Somehow, with the help of the aged only must he deal with the competing wife and child are stolen, his home own paths. The mother into communica- professor, Mary Felix, (youth families but a campaign of terror from the destroyed, and his people slain by Cautar, tions, Lance into security analysis. They restored).They must work together to Moonsider liberation front. He must stop a Briton, he finds himself at war trying to both become successful. drive Evil out, and close the charmways. the slaughter, and prevent the Earth from reclaim them. But the monstrous father/husband can’t No more paths between the worlds. When imposing a tyranny of decency on the Written with Diana Paxson’s usual stand to be thwarted, and sets up an all is done, they must find new lives on moon. richness of myth and legend, the chang- insidious trap to reclaim his possessions. Earth and Irth to complete the cycle. This is an entertaining book by the ing points of view in the series make it a Lance and his mother, on a space Adam Lee has completed his trilogy author of the Buffy The Vampire Killers must read for lovers of fantasy, Arthur- station using nanobots for a hostile with style. character, humor, and adven- series and The Angel Chronicles. Lots of ian legend, and Paxson fans. So far, the takeover and Lance must takeover the ture with a twist of an ending that plot twists and self-deprecating humor. first two books have been well worth the company in his mind to survive. somehow seems just right. This trilogy is Definitely worth a read. - .Pam Allan trade paperback price. - Pam Allan The use of flashbacks to set the one you’ll want to complete even though mindscape and situation keep it from the the individual books stand alone. - Pam Vigilant The Sea Came in at Midnight standard linear space opera, but there is Allan by James Alan Gardner by Steve Erickson more than enough action and intrigue to Avon Eos, 374 pp, $5.99 Avon Books, HB, $23.00 keep you going.. A good read. Enjoy. - Speaking Stones Pam Allan by Stephen Leigh “Vigilant” is science fiction that does I don’t normally write a negative review Avon EOS, 319 pp, $5.99 not appear to be part of a series. of books, preferring to simply pass on The Shadow Eater On Demoth, the Ooloms and humans writing anything bad, but this book by Adam Lee “Speaking Stones” is a sci-fantasy with get along fine but a plague wipes out deserves it. Avon Fantasy, 334 pp, $5.99 a basis in Hopi mythology. It is set in the millions of the Ooloms and leaves the It is not even speculative fiction other world of Dark Waters Embrace but is not humans untouched. than a couple of impossible bad science “The Shadow Eater” is the second specified as part of a series. It does stand Faye Smallwood nurses the dying while technical details (not germane to the plot) volume of “The Dominions of Irth.” It is alone. her father finds the cure. Later, her father which indicate the author simply didn’t a sequel to “The Dark Shore” but stands A colony of humans was stranded on dies in a freak accident. do his homework. alone well. the planet Mictlan with a indigenous tri- Many years later, Faye becomes a mem- The book starts out looking like a Y2K In the first volume, Reese Morgan, gendered population. Troubled with ber of the Virgil, a group that oversees millennium novel but then it goes South alias Ripcat in his bestial form, rose up to physical mutations and birth defects, the government actions to root out corrup- into self-analysis of the first-person save the dominion from an overwhelming small human colony develops a third sex tion. Linked to the planetary oversoul protagonist. The premise is that the new evil. But heroism doesn’t matter when the similar to the Miccail. The two popula- (combined intelligence and data source), millennium started years ago when unborn, nameless goddess child no longer tions have lived in uneasy truce until a Faye can access available intelligence on somebody’s mother disappeared without moves. If the babe isn’t saved, the future human Sa (third sex) child is kidnapped request, but finds herself targeted by robot explanation. of all worlds will dissolve. The dreams of and found dead. The half-buried animosi- assassins. Her Oolom partner is killed The book is chronogically disjointed existence will die. So the goddess sends ties and prejudice flare into violence and and her new partner is “zenned” out. and the author switches character an elderly gnome, and the sentinel of only sacrifice and communication will Tic has his own approach that helps viewpoints often. You can read a page light to purge the worlds of the evil, and allow the warring species to survive. find the trail of the perpetrator. Unfortu- and a half into a new chapter before restore the unborn goddess to activity This is a complex and involving book, nately, a strange phenomena that has realizing that this isn’t the person before the Dark Consort wakes and flashing back to diaries of the past and saved her makes her a target for an out- discussed in the last chapter and the destroys everything. relationships of the present. Myths, of-control military group who thinks she action is taking place 20 years earlier Old Ric collects a diverse collection of dreams and evolution combine into a can reveal a new weapon. among characters the author hasn’t allies, (both living and dead) and they survival situation complicated by the Before long, a new plague that targets introduced yet who won’t reappear again persevere through thick, thin, low incipient loss of the “ghost”, an AI who humans is released, and Faye, Tic and in the book until 40 years later, at which fantasy, high myth, adventure, philosophy has guided the humans in the current Festina Ramos must band together to stop time we’ll hear their stories of what they and humor to save the worlds, and environment. The crippled spaceship in the plague, find the criminals while perceived 40 years earlier. themselves whenever possible. orbit is dying. Will it’s plan to whip out finding an alien technology thousands of Those tales will be randomly spotted in With many a twist and turn, (and slip) the Miccail army using itself as a giant years old capable of great destruction. later yet-to-be-read chapters, in it is one adventure after another to please meteorite help or destroy the survival of This is fun, entertaining, and hard to noparticular discernable order. the fantasy lovers heart. A worthy sequel. the humans? put down. the plot moves and the charac- There’s a half-hearted attempt to Well worth the read even if it is hard to This is a good book, enough action to ters are engaging. Well worth the read.- recreate the “golden days” of the litera- put down when duty calls. - Pam Allan entertain, enough thought to intrigue, and Pam Allan (Cont’d on page12) Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 11 In Our Book Cont’d from page 11 Terry Brooks has a bright, engaging Her long-hidden ability to really sing book variety. But these are all new writing style (which I’ve enjoyed in all (noble woman have never been encourage characters, created just for this book by ture scene of struggling artists in the those Magic Kingdom of Landover to sing) and her connection to the sea science fiction and comic book writers. cafes of Paris, California and even Spain. novels) which is perfect for filling in the begins the domino effect that changes Some of the more prominent contributors That worked for Kerouac and bare bones of a script, even an alien-and- Haven forever. are Michael A. Stackpole, Alan Dean Hemmingway but it doesn’t work for technological-marvel-crammed effort by I’ve always loved Tepper’s characters: Foster, John Varley and Roger Zelazny. Erickson. Every event and feeling, no George Lucas. they’re meaty and unique and the ones in Perspectives range from serious to funny, matter how trivial, is analyzed in an orgy Though I can only recall one extra “Singer from the Sea” are no different. and all stories were enjoyable to this fan of self-doubt and angst well into the noise scene (probably in the script at the time And like I said earlier, there’s a strong of superhero comics. level and beyond by most of the charac- Brooks got it) that is not in the film, it is romance in here too, as well as harrowing I’d also recommend the February 1999 ters. This results in page after page of still pleasant to read of the adventures of escapes and bizarre situations. issue of “The Magazine of Fantasy and psychobabble with no action or dialogue Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen All uniquely flavored, wonderfully Science Fiction,” for its story “The in the book. Amidala and Anakin Skywalker (his written and entertaining. - Sue Martin Archetype” by comics writer Peter David. Pornography and the pornographic nickname is written “Annie”! Why not He takes a negative view of Jungian industry are examined in minute detail, “Ani”? That struck me as an odd choice) Hell-Fire archetypes as manifested by superheroes. vaguely related to the plot but it’s and see the scenes so very clearly in your David A Wilson What if synchronicity makes bad things certainly not erotic. It turns out that most head. Lorien House $8.00 happen, to give superheroes something to of the characters are related in some way That’s the best thing about noveliza- do? It’s a tale of dark humor. Perhaps it to each other but one needs a diagram to tions of movies you like: it’s all there in “Hell-Fire” is a collection of short could be included in a sequel anthology, perceive that a minor and unnamed real(italicise) Technicolor in your head stories the author had rejected by the say “Superheroes 2.” Yes, Ace Books, character in one chapter is the father (and with all those charming actor’s faces “best science fiction magazines”. This is why don’t you do that? That way, you (though he doesn’t know it) of another (and the costumes!) so firmly attached to stated in the intro. What the author could print the conclusion of the character introduced earlier and who each character). forgets to mention is that the quality of Riftworld series, maybe as a novella won’t reappear until the end of the book So, granted it’s a $25 movie (But really, the reviewer is NOT an indication of the contribution (see the series review in this under a different nickname. In this, the cheaper if bought at Barnes and Noble, quality of the item reviewed. issue)? Ah, to dream comic book dreams. author follows Tolstoy’s tradition of say, where it is 30% off) but just think of This book was largely an opportunity There is also an Isaac Asimov’s confusing the Hell out of readers but all the wear and tear you’ll save on your for the author to stroke his ego. The title Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction Erickson adds the twist of writing car and pocket book ($7 a ticket!!! plus story has several ridiculous points. The anthology #3, “Supermen,” which may nonchronologically — and not telling the popcorn!) one that stands out the most is the fact interest fans of superheroes. It collects reader he’s jumped in time, location and Heck, play the film score while you read that none of the rescuers have as much magazine stories from various big-name character viewpoint from paragraph to it and you’ve got practically the whole sense as a kitten. They “discover” on the authors, written in the 1950s and 1960s. paragraph. As the book wears on, one can experience! - Sue Martin way that rather than 350C the area will Science fiction supermen can resemble come to predict that at any point where a be 530C. That should have been known comic book superheroes, as this book character has a choice, he will choose Singer from the Sea long before, also they refer to it as a jump demonstrates. - Michael Griffin absolutely the worst possible alternative. by Sheri S. Tepper in temperature but it should have already Thus it is a catalogue of losers or, 426 pp, Avon: $24 been registering on the equipment. The Stan Lee’s Riftworld: Crossover perhaps, a cautionary tale. other stories aren’t as bad but the book Roc Penguin Books, 254 pp., $4.50 While there’s a minor subplot alleging Tepper’s recent concerns have been doesn’t have a keeper in the lot. Sorry, I Villians that dreams and cultural memories can be humanity’s balance with the natural have to say Pass it up. 2 out of 10 for Roc Penguin Books, 256 pp., $4.50 stored, transmitted and sold on a black world (see: “The Family Tree”) and this interesting story titles. - Bob LaPierre Odyssey market, it doesn’t seem to have much to remains the central theme in this engross- Boulevard books, 424 pp., $5.99 do with the characters or action. There ing “eco-romance” novel that concerns Prophets for the End of Time all by Stan Lee and Bill McCay are some interesting events described, and the singer of the title and her search for by Marcos Donnelly for people who don’t have a life of their self, love and her place in the world, a Baen Books $6.99 What if our normal, contemporary own, this book may prove interesting. If planet called Haven. world was suddenly visited by giant you think you’d enjoy this book then first The people who first landed on Haven The author presents us with an interest- people with superpowers? What if they see your analyst (be prepared for a long were descended from the Maori, “swim- ing situation: God has run away so we were discovered by a comic book com- session), each of your therapists, your mers to the stars,” so Tepper uses some force him back by bringing about the end pany, given uniforms and identities as astral calendar keeper and the lady who Maori words and phrases throughout the of the world. I dunno. If he is the prime superheroes? And what if some of them makes custom scents for your mood rings. book. mover and shaker then couldn’t he just were really supervillians, pretending to be If they all concur that the Moon is in the Haven is an anachronistic world of ignore it or prevent it without coming heroes so they could take over the world? proper house and the visions in the lords and ladies, commoners and slaves; back? I don’t know if he did this on This is Stan Lee’s basic premise and plot, dripping wax of your harmony candles dukedoms and sultanates. It is also mostly purpose but I couldn’t find much to like written out by Bill McCay. Now, Stan is shows good portent, then by all means ocean with just two main land masses— about any of the protagonists and I did the famous head of Marvel Comics, while dive right into this tome. one mostly temperate, the other half feel sorry for the evil characters. Al- Bill is a “New York Times bestselling P.S. If the author’s agent gets hold of temperate and half desert. though the story drags at points you need author,” so we’ve got a competent series this review I bet she’ll proudly proclaim And the twain have an uneasy trade all the information to understand the here. that Erickson has been compared with agreement. ending. I found it to be interesting The sympathetic main character is John Kerouac, Hemmingway and Tolstoy. - You see, there’s this substance, P’naki, enough to finish but boring enough that I Cameron, a minor comic book artist who Pete Manly which although the general populace probably won’t reread it. has the ability to teleport between believes it is a fever cure—it is really a I give this book a 6 out of 10. Good dimensions of reality. Cameron opened Star Wars Episode One: longevity drug which only the very enough but not really good enough, if you the Pandora’s Box which let the giants The Phantom Menace chosen few (all men) have access to. And know what I mean. Well, until next time. come to Earth, and soon he’s running for by Terry Brooks because of it’s scarcity, it is a valuable Keep reading! - Bob LaPierre his life. Cameron, his love interest Peg (Based on the screenplay by George and much sought-after trade item. Faber, and Stan Lee-surrogate Harry Lucas) It’s manufacture is the pivot of all the Superheroes Sturdley flee to the giants homeworld to 324 pp. Del Rey: $25 characters. Most especially, Genevieve— Eedited by John Varley and Ricia try to round up good guys to come and the singer from the sea. Mainhardt save the Earth. Didja like the movie? You’re gonna like She’s here to change just about every- Ace Books, 369 pp., $5.99 But there the Riftworld series stops. It the book. thing. Her adventures and conflicts with seems to have suffered problems, for it Enuf said. the powers that be, including her This an original anthology, containing changed publishers. The first two novels No, just kidding. I’ll say a little more. irrascible father, carry the story along. 25 stories about superheroes of the comic (Cont’d on page 13) Page 12 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 In Our Book Cont’d from page12 BASFA Baja Arizona Science Fiction EARTHLINK SCI-FI CLUB SF Club Listings Association, a non-profit organization. generalists with some focus on comics came out in 1993 and 1994, and the (To have your club listed or to correct your Puts on TUS-CON Convention annually. and environmental issues. Meets at promised third entry did not appear until listing please contact the editor in writing.) various conventions and occasions. 1996. To make matters worse, Bill CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULA- Publishes a quarterly newsletter called McCay is now engaged in writing the ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and TIVE FICTION SOCIETY, INC. Cosmic Wavelengths. For information spinoff novels of the Stargate TV series. renaissance recreationist club. Sword- (CASFS) The non-profit corporation that contact them at 8508 E. San Lorenzo, Will he never return to finishing the fighting, arts, banquets, masquerades, puts on CopperCon conventions, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, or call Nohl Rosen story? dances. meets every Wednesday night SmurfCons, HexaCons, occasional at (602) 991-8847. This series is definitely unfinished, for from 7-IOpm at Encanto Park. All are regional cons, and publishes Con- it fits the comic book story formula. The welcome. Free. For details, call Notations. Best described as SF/F THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND heroes have to come back and defeat the (602)582-6990. generalists with a strong bent towards STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry villians. Aside from that, part of the literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at and Steel specializes in the general appeal is a behind-the-scenes look at the ARERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLING 8pm on the last Friday of each month in recreation of the culture of the Middle dirty office politics that goes on in the CLUB International Juggling Associa- January thru September and the second Ages including all of the Art Forms, comic book business. I found that the tion affiliate club meets 7-10pm Wednes- Friday in October, November and Events (Feasts, Tournaments, Ceremonies most interesting of all. I want more! day evenings at Encanto Park. No dues, December at JB’s Restaurant, 2560 W. and Wars) and Combat Arts covering the Similar material can be found in everyone welcome. All levels skill Indian School in Phoenix, AZ. Write PO years of 800AD up to 1650AD and any Richard Lupoff’s 1976 novel, “The exchange in many areas of object ma- Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or location within Europe or its explored Triune Man” which also tells the adven- nipulation. Devils’ Club meets Fridays call Bruce Farr at (602) 274-3014 or territories. For more information contact tures of a comic book artist who saves the 5pm north of the Hayden Library on the Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 for Bart Smith (Phoenix) (602)937-6995 or world. It also has office politics, includ- ASU campus. For more info, call (602) more information. Web: www.casfs.org Leonard Bird (Tucson) (520)742-2432 ing a Stan Lee-surrogate charcater. It’s a 585-7623, or write 2326 E. Electra Lane, better book, but Lupoff is an old pro. The Phoenix, AZ 85024. DAEMON HORDE Gaming group THE HORDE Gaming group intent on only other genre novels about the comic intent on putting the ROLE back into putting the ROLE back into role-playing. book scene that I know of are three ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE role-playing. Our group runs a myriad of Our group runs a myriad of games ran- murder mysteries: “The Comic Book A collaboration of computer gaming games ranging from collectible card ging from collectible card games to RPG Killer” also by Lupoff and Ron Goulart’s enthusiasts, the Arizona LANbashers games to RPGs to Live Action Gaming. to live Action gaming. Meetings are held pair, “A Graveyard of My Own” and League throws quarterly LANparty Meetings are held every first Saturday of the first Saturday of every month at “The Tijuana Bible.” events. Between parties, support is given the month, and gaming is held every Things for Thinkers, 2155 E University, For completion’s sake, two more to local groups who wish to advertise weekend. Dues are $5/mo. For more Tempe, AZ. Dues are $5/month. For sources can be mentioned. Harry their own gatherings. We have no set information, call Wild Thing (Tammy more information call Wild Thing (Tam- Harrison’s short story “Portrait of the genre of games and play anything from Deissler) (602) 464-1691 or Small One my Deissler) (602)464-1691 or Small Artist” is all about the troubles of comic strategy games to first-person shooters to (Cynthia Carman) (602) 655-9557. One (Cynthia Shepard) (602)954-4050 book artits. It is in his collection “Stain- driving/flying simulations. No annual less Steel Visions.” And Philip K. Dick’s membership is required and admission to THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD novel, “The Zap Gun” also has a comic an event ranges from $5-$15. See our An organization formed for the expres- OF JEDI KNIGHTS Members of the book artist help save the world from an webpage for current events. Email: sion and exploration of various cultural Tatooine Base have revised the Interna- alien invasion, but it’s not really about [email protected] Web: http:/ themes including, but not limited to, the tional Brotherhood of Jedi Knights, a not- the industry. www.gibbed.com/all VoiceMail: 602- Dark Ages and the Renaissance through for-profit fan club dedicated to Star Wars. My, what a rarified subject! But see the 306-9339 forms of art including, but not limited to, Membership is $8.00 U.S. and/or $11.00 anthology review also in this series. - painting, drawing, writing, photography, (Canada/foreign) and includes a member- Michael Griffin THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, spoken word, and acts of characterization. ship packet consisting of a one year is a general sci-fi appreciation group that 2) a member of this organization. 3) subscription to The New Jedi Times meets once a month for discussion of Information available at (602) 978-9314. (published 6 times a year), membership various sci-fi news regarding several card, IBOJK charter & bylaws informa- mediums to include: television, movies, DAYSTAR HOLT Arizona’s first and tion on Jedi studies and a free gift. video, books, comics, magazines, collect- longest-running Elfquest fan club. Checks should be made to either Patty ing, and so forth. The meetings are Daystar meets to talk about EQ and Vance or Elizabeth Laignel. For further comprised of news, review and comment, related stuff, develop characters, publish information send a self-addressed, BBS/computer news and help, meeting stories in our ‘zine Playelf and create an stamped envelope to: The I.B.O.J.K.; P. new members, video presentations, annual calendar. Other common interests O. Box 5459; Glendale, AZ 85312-5459; games, and socializing fun! Food and include music, bellydance, camping and or call either Patty or Lilly at (602) 843- drinks are provided, via a $3 munchie fee of course, SF. Membership is free (18 or 8303. May the Force show you the way of (per meeting) to compensate the host. over) and is attained by group vote after the Jedi! (No other fees are involved.) The elec- you attend two meetings or holt-related tronic home of the Away Team, is the get-togethers. Meetings are usually the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION Lightspeed Space Station BBS at (520) first Saturday of each month; for more COUNCIL Meets every 1st and 3rd 325-6674.... Member ages for the group info, call Tom or Janice at (602) 581- Saturday of the month. Meeting at the range from 13-40-something with both 2258. They have a website up at http;// Westridge Mall (75th Ave. and Thomas male and female members. Other activi- users.aol.com/daystarelf/daystar.htm Rd. Phoenix, AZ. The IFC is regimental (Using Ranks and structured simmialrly © Sherlock ties include null-modem link gamefests, group theater movie viewings, convention DESERT LURKERS Tucson based to ST) but has social events as well. trips and more. Have sci-fi fun in a Babylon 5 fan club. Meets and communi- Attends local Creation And Trek Produc- relaxed, low-structure environment. NO cates via listserver over the Internet. tion Cons, and ST Movie premiers. POC RUBBER EARS ALLOWED!! For Anyone with e-mail access can subscribe for IFC is A/Fleet Admiral John Nelson questions, you can call the BBS, or write to the Desert Lurkers by sending e-mail (602) 934-3987 or by voice mail (602) to: LSS c/o R. Martin; 2522 N. Sparkman to [email protected] and putting 409-7169 or c/o P.O. box 14370 Phoenix, Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 “subscribe” (minus the quotation marks) AZ 85063-4370. E-Mail: Bnelson502 in the subject line. Interested people can @aol.com Membership Approx 35-50. contact Alexander Goodrum at E-mail The Bi-Monthly newsletter is Cactus Log. address: [email protected] (Cont’d on page 14) Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 13 Club Listings Cont’d from page 13 SCIENCE FICTION CONTINUUM is a loose organization of persons T.H.E.M. T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science The Science Fiction Continuum: An interested in all facets of historical, fiction and fantasy club. Weekly meetings THE JEDI KNIGHTS Meetings are the Independent Star Trek and Sci-Fi club in cultural, science fiction, fantasy, and are held in the Memorial Union, with 3rd Sunday of each month. For more Phoenix, AZ. The SFCOM is an active humor costume. Members are often seen dates to be announced after the semester information call Carol Alves, Publicity, club that participates in Local Phoenix, on stage and behind the scenes atmost starts. For more information, contact (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Knights, c/o and Southwestern Star Trek and Sci-Fi local and regional Science Fiction Becky Fox at E-mail [email protected] or Jim Lowerre, 12291 Meade Street, conventions and movies. The SFCOM Convention masquerades.They meet on phone 884-0793 or (after May 12) 863- Garden Grove, CA 92841-3629 has three different divisions. The SFCOM the last Sunday of each month at various 1543 To subscribe to our listserve, send a itself, a free group where fun is the name mmbers’ homes in the greater phoenix message to [email protected]. LEPRECON, INC. One of the two of the game. The Deep Space SolarFlare area. Call, write or email for details. Phoenix area corporations that put on (DSSF) an active member club in the Southwest Costumers Guild, PO Box TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail yearly conventions. Best described as SF/ International Federation of Treker’s 39504, Phoenix, AZ 85609 or call Address is [email protected] or F generalists with a main thrust into SF/F (IFT). This group is based on DS9 (a Randall Whitlock at (602)995-7514, [email protected]. art. Guests are welcome. The meetings space station). And the IKV Sto-Vo-Kor email [email protected] or Website: are quarterly on the second Saturday of (Independent Kilngon Vessel). A Klingon http://members.aol.com/souwesgld/ TUCSON X-PHILES: The “Tucson X- February, May, August & November Bird of Prey, roming the desert looking guilg.html Philes” are an X-Files appreciation group unless otherwise notified. August is the for battle. Are the Fed’s too soft, looking that meets once a month to socialize, annual meeting where board positions are for combat, feel the call to glory. This is STARBASE TUCSON Tucson Arizona discuss and review the program’s determined. For more information, write the ship for you. Membership in the based Star Trek club. For info call Geof episodes.. Currently, the newsletter fee is PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285 ; call SFCOM is free! To join DSSF or the Sto- Wood at (520) 746-1822 or write Starbase $2.00 per issue. The electronic home of Mike Willmoth at (602) 945-6890 or Vo-Kor a nominal fee for the national Tucson ; 3314 E. Benson Hwy ; Tucson the “Tucson X-Philes” is Lightspeed Email: [email protected] clubs involved and uniforms. For further AZ 85706. Email:[email protected] Space Station BBS (520*) 325-6674 information contact President John (Tucson), in conference #7.There is THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM Nelson at (602) 409-7169 or on the STONEHENGE BBS Enjoy over 60 currently no fee for membership in the SOCIETY Film society for classic SF/F internet at; [email protected] or online games including TradeWars 2002, group. Member ages range from 16-40- film. Membership is $25 lifetime dues. check out our web site. http:// StarFight, The Pit, Dirty Play, Usurper, something, with both male and female PFFS also rents projectors, films, and members.aol.com/bnelson502/index.html LORD, and Battle Grid (new, like members. Those having questions, can video tapes. Contact PFFS, Box 30423, Battletech). Topical message boards, E- call Joyce Kleikamp in Tucson at (520) Phoenix, AZ 85067. SFACE (Speculative Fiction And Mail, and Network Echoes. 1000’s of 883-2813. (Address upon request.) Computer Enthusiasts) Phoenix College’s files to download: utilities, games, GIF PHOENIX JAPANIMATION SOCI- one and only connection to the worlds of pictures, & more every day! Stop by and UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOE- ETY Local chapter of Japanimation/ speculative fiction, including science give us a try at Stonehenge BBS (602) NIX A Phoenix area Star Trek and general animation oriented fans - meets fiction, fantasy, and horor as well as table 947-2223, FidoNet 1:114/120, 300- general SciFi fan club. We are a social monthly. Membership is free, though top, live action and internet gaming, 9600bps, V.32/V.42bis, 24 hours a day. club that meets every two weeks at optional monthly newsletter is $5/year or SFACE also serves as a guide through the various locations around the Phoenix $.50 per month. Call Tom Perry at (602) Internet - both teaching basic use and TARDIS TARDIS is a Phoenix-based area. The UFP has been meeting for over 996-2196 or write 3241 E. Altadena, utilizing as a source of speculative fiction. General SF/Fantasy Fan Club, specializ- 20 years of continuous activity. Dues are Phoenix, AZ 85028. For more info, contact ing in International media SF/Fantasy $10/per year prorated when you join; no [email protected] since 1983. TARDIS meets every two restrictions. Membership includes RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST weeks at different locations around the membership roster and monthly newslet- A Live Action Theatre Troupe based out SHADOWKEEP BBS Intelligent valley. Activities include watching ter. Come to any two meetings at no of the ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is conversation, awesome graphics, stupen- videos, discussions, parties, fund-raisers, obligation. For information, write the dedicated to the game Werewolf: The dous door games, unworldly filebank, auctions, games, camping trips and UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, AZ Apocalypse by White Wolf publishing. RPG forums, QWK message system and outings. We also maintain an active 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) 242- Contact Mike McLaughlin at (602)461- online RPG BBS-moderated games! Our presence at local conventions. TARDIS 9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org 5842 or write 1730 W Emelita Place BBS is mainly RPG oriented and we offer publishes a monthly informative newslet- or Email to [email protected] #2025, Mesa AZ85202-3144 or email to many services to GMs and players. No ter, The Index File, with a national [email protected] fees necessary for users who post intelli- circulation which is included with UNITED WHOVIANS OF TUCSON gent messages! $5 in credits to new users. membership. Annual membership is just A well-informed and very active Dr. Who RAW GAMES (Role-players & Over 20 conferences and 10 doors to $12.50. You can contact us at P.O. Box club. $15 yearly membership includes Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & choose from! Shadowkeep BBS - 63191, Phoenix, AZ 85082-3191, Voice four issues of their fanzine - TARDIS Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest PCBoard 15.2/M - US Robotics 28.8 Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- Time Lore - written by semi-pros and role-playing and wargaming club. Modem. Phoenix, AZ (602)245-0919; [email protected] or visit http:// other dedicated fans. For more informa- Currently meeting at Carrow’s Restaurant Connect at 2400-28800 www.primenet.com/~jgeorge/tardis.html tion, contact The United Whovians of at 7th Street & Monte Vista in Phoenix Tucson at P. O. Box 13541, Tucson, AZ every Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by 85732-3541. Also, you can contact the during conventions and other special ANACHRONISM The kingdom of the series’ production companies and the president at [email protected] or the events). Open to new members - call Atenveldt doth lie in the state of Arizona. USA Network! It is THE information vice-president at [email protected]. (602) 849-9515. Within the fair kingdom can be found six conduit between the fans and the series! The web page for the club is located at: Baronies: Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Fan club membership will bring you the http://www.azstarnet.com/~hgadlng/ ROLE PLAYING GAMES CLUB Twin Moons, SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr following 1) subscription to the info filled uwotclub.htm (RPGC) The official gaming club of Az. and Ered Sul. For more infor-maton on Tek Informer newsletter; 2) official State University. Activities include: live- any of these or for general information on TekWar Fan Club membership card and action roleplaying games, tabletop thy past tomorrows thou mayest contact kit. Membership is by rgular mail only gaming, conventions, parties, etc. Mistress Myrddina o Dolwyddelan (Terry and the newsletter nad materials will not General meetings are open to the public Schwartz) PO Box 584, Sonoita AZ be reproducd electronicaly. To join the and are held every Friday at 6pm in 85637 (520)455-5835 Email: action and initiate your annual member- ASU’s Memorial Union. Dues are $5/ [email protected] www.atenveldt.org/ ship, make check or moneyorder out for semester. For more info, contact Michael aten $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan Club McLaughlin, 1730 W. Emelita #2025, (Membership section), 2522 N Sparkman Mesa, AZ 85202-3144, or call (602)464- THE SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 3144; [email protected] GUILD The Southwest Costumers Guild Page 14 ConNotations Volume 9 Issue 2 23-25 1999, Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 o LASFS, 11513 Burbank Blvd., North Convention Valjean Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406. Hollywood, CA 91601. E-mail: Lectures and workshops as well as a Time [email protected], www.lasfs.org/ Listings Traveler’s Gala. Attendance limited to loscon26 250. Memb: $30 for members of the Int’l Customers Guild, $50 non-members until Chicon 2000, the 58th Worldcon DarkCon 1999 (Chandler, AZ) June 25- Feb. 1, higher after. Info: P.O.Box 3052, (Chicago, IL) August 31-September 4, 27,1999 , San Marcos Hotel, Chandler, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670-3052. E- 2000 (Hyatt Regency, Chicago) GoHs: Arizona Special Writer Guests of Honor: mail: [email protected], http:// Ben Bova, Bob Eggleton, Jim Baen, TM: George Clayton Johnson and William F. members.aol.com/ZBLGilbert/cgw.hmtl Harry Turtledove. Memb.: $135, higher Nolan, Music GoH: Gary Siler. Member- (Also: Costume College 2000 (June 30- later, $40 supporting. Info: P.O.Box ships $30 until 4/30/99, $35 at the door. July 4, 2000) at the same site & info.) 642057, Chicago, IL 60664 E-Mail: VIP memberships $199 (includes room). Conucopia/NASFIC ‘99 (Anaheim, CA) Infobot address: [email protected], Rooms $55 S/D, $65 T, $75 Q (800) 528- August 26-29, 1999, Anaheim Marriott; [email protected] and http:// 8071; Info: Darkcon, PO Box 5833, (714)750-8000. GoH: Jerry E. Pournelle, www.chicon.org/ Glendale, AZ. 85312, phone: (602) 978- FGoHs: Richard & Nicki Lynch. Memb: 9314, Email: [email protected] $70 until 7/5/98; $20 supporting. Info: BATS 2000 (Radisson Edwardian Hotel, NASFiC ’99, c/o S.C.I.F.I. Inc., PO Box Heathrow, London, England) Oct 27-29, Empirecon/Westercon 52. (Spokane, 8442, Van Nuys, CA 91409; Email: 2000 The multimedia Halloween conven- WA) July 1-5, 1999 City Center [email protected]. Webpage: http:// tion of 2000! With guests from the Doubletree Hotel, Spokane, WA; www.99.nasfic.org/ various facets of the horror genre. We’re (509)455-9600 or (800)848-9600. GoHs: staging a convention for Halloween 2000! C.J. Cherryh and Kristine Kathryn Aussiecon Three/1999 Worldcon After a suggestion to an English woman Rusch; AGoH: Alicia Austin; FGoH: (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) Septem- at Visions 98 by Nigel Bennett (of Larry Baker; TM: Betty Bigelow. Memb: ber 2-6, 1999 World Congress Centre, Forever Knight, Psi Factor etc) that he $40. Info: Empire 52, PO Box 7477, Melbourne, Australia. GoHs: George would attend a British con and would she Spokane, WA 99207; (509)482-5288; Turner, Gregory Benford, Bruce organize one, she contacted five other Email: [email protected] Gillespie. Memb: A$175/$140. Info: people she knew only from the Internet Webpage: http://www.webwitch.com/ Aussiecon Three, GPO Box 1212K, and we all met in Leciester in January. westercon52/ Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia; U.S. Bats 2000 is now being organized by a Address: PO Box 266, Prospect Heights, committee of six with limited experience HexaCon 9 (Scottsdale AZ) July 9-11, IL 60070-0266. but lots of determination and stamina! All 1999 Arizona’s Premiere Gaming proceeds go to charity. Web: http:// Convention. Sunspree Resort, 7601 E CopperCon 19 (Scottsdale, AZ) Septem- www.burble.com/bats2000/ Email: Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ ber 10-12, 1999 Holiday Inn Sunspree bats2000 (602)991-2400 GoH: Derek Pearcy, Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona Author GoH: author of In Nomine; 24 hour NON- David Weber, Artist GoH: Brett Bass STOP Gaming - Sanctioned Magic Memb: $30 until May 1, 1999, $35 at the Tournamnents, Sanctioned RPGA door, Kids 7-12 half price, Kids 6 and Tournaments, US Chess Federation under - free; Room rates are $65 plus tax Sanctioned Chess Tournaments, LARP, S/D/T/Q, Suites $125 plus tax. (800) 525- Computer Gaming, Miniatures Painting 5205 ; Info: CopperCon 19, PO Box Contest; ‘Bot Bash, Game Auction, Full 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082, Phone Consuite, Dealer’s Room. Memberships (602)973-2341, Email: [email protected] $15 until 5/31/99, $20 at the door; HexaCon 9, PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ Incon ‘99 (Spokane, Wa) October 17-19, 85082 Email: [email protected] 1999, Spokane Valley Red Lion (509) Webpage: http://members.aol.com/ 924-9000 GoHs: Charles de Lint and boniece/index.html Margaret Organ-Kean Memb: $15 until May 1, higher after. Info: Incon ’99, P.O. Costume College ‘99 (Van Nuys, CA) Box 9112, Spokane, WA 99209-9112. E- Fin de Siecle: The Nineties at the end of mail: [email protected] http:// the Nineties, a regional conference on www.cet.com/~triad3/incon.htm © Sherlock costuming topics and techniques, July TusCon 26 (Tucson AZ) Oct 22-24, 1999 at the Executive Inn. GoH: Laurell Generic Convention Regestration Form K. Hamilton Artist GoH: Lee Seed Memberships $30 until 10/1; $35 at the Name:______door. Children 3-12 half-price Artists interested in panels should contact Badge Name:______Rebecca (520) 293-1455 immediately! Address:______We are selling out fast. Amateurs welcome. Dealers contact Cristi at (520) City/State/ZIP:______881-3709. Tables are $45 and include Phone:______Email:______one membership. More info: TusCon 26, PO Box 26822, Tucson AZ 85726 Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for ______convention. Loscon XXVI (Burbank, CA) Thanksgiv- (See calendar for mailing address) ing weekend, Nov 26-28 1999, The More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other Burbank Airport Hilton. GoHs: Connie © Sherlock Willis, Alex Ross.. Info: Loscon XXVI c/

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