Volume 16, Issue 3 June/July ConNotations 2006 The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

A Conversation with Featured Inside

L.E. Modesitt, Jr Regular Features Special Features By Catherine Book SF Tube Talk A Conversation with I’ve met Lee casually several times detected some of that in a couple of his All the latest news about L.E. Modesitt, Jr over the past two or three years so it was a series. He admitted there was some of it, Scienc Fiction TV shows by Catherine Book real pleasure to sit down and chat with him not that he ever wanted to be ‘in your by Lee Whiteside personally. We met in the basement of the face’ with his opinions; but obviously a 40 Years of Star Trekking Carnegie Library during the 2006 Arizona writer’s opinions are going to enter his 24 Frames Book Festival. It was a lovely sunny day work. He uses them more as a forum for Across The Universe All the latest Movie News and the by Shane Shellenbarger asking by Lee Whiteside Festival questions was fun. Nebula Awards Photo Montage than for Lee Pro Notes by Shane Shellenbarger supplying looked News about the particularly genre authors and fans answers. An American in England dapper in What are Part 11 a gold ConClusion the impli- by Jeffrey Lu vest and Convention News & Reviews cations of tie with a uncon- Plus brimmed, trolled Costume Closet jaunty hat. population, Articles Covering Topics of interest CASFS Business Report I found … in the constuming field him to be FYI environ- very News and tidbits of interest to fans ment ReAnimation articulate Reviews of Anime on DVD (not Club Listings surprising) and gentlemanly with a very non-control or regimented control, precise manner of speech. deforestations…and so on. Lee wanted to Screening Room Convention List & Lee didn’t publish his first novel until be clear that he doesn’t believe in Reviews of current theatrical releases Generic Registration Form 1982 while working as a Director of ‘absolute single value answers’ …that Congressional Relations & Legislation for there’s no simple answer to any question; In Our Book the EPA. He much prefers working for but that people want one. In this time of Reviews of New SF/F Books himself. He’s been writing full-time since great societal and technological about 1992. I asked if he used his uncertainty – people hunger for the NonGenre By Genre experiences with the EPA in his writing. I ( Continued on page 8 ) Non SF/F books by SF/F Authors

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Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who Is Who This Issue BOOK STORES 4537 E. Cactus, Phoenix AZ 85032 Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bent Cover Bookstore (602) 923-0733 News & Reviews Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 3029 W. Peoria, Suite CC, Phoenix, AZ CASFS Business Report 2 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer SF Tube Talk 3 Film & Video Editor: Len Berger & Craig 85029 (602) 942-5932 85021 (602)395-1066 L Dyer Book Adventure 3155 W. Chandler Blvd #5, Chandler AZ 24 Frames 3 Promotions Directors: Len Berger, 660 N. Gilbert Rd, Suite B, Gilbert AZ 85226 (480)940-6061 Pro Notes 6 Richard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer 85234 (480) 892-2120 Drawn to Comics Screening Room 7 Advertising: Catherine Book Book Den 5619 W. Glendale, AZ 85301 FYI 10 Proof Readers: Catherine Book & Bob th LaPierre & Gary Swaty 15410 N. 67 Ave, Glendale, AZ 85306 (623) 847-9090 Costume Closet 14 Reporters: Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey Lu (623) 486-2529 Samurai Comics ConClusion 15 Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Stephanie L Book Exchange 5024 N. 7th St, Phoenix AZ ReAnimation 17 Bannon, Catherine Book, Craig L. Dyer, Michael Griffin, Bob LaPierre, Jeffrey Lu, 4320 N. Miller Road #F, Scottsdale, AZ (602) 265-8886 In Our Book (Book Reviews) 18 Shane Shellenbarger, Gary Swaty, Tom 85251 (480)990-8380 Stalking Moon Comics & Collectibles Non-Genre by Genre 21 Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, Randall Whitlock Book Gallery 5775 W. Bell Rd #B-6, Glendale, Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon 3643 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ Arizona (602) 896-9992 Special Features Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Dyer 85018 (602)468-0400 Contributors: M.L. Fringe A Conversation with L.E. Modesitt, Jr. Labeling Crew for Volume 16 Issue 2: Book Rack GAME STORES by Catherine Book 1 Cathy & Ron Book, Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey 3539 W. Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85053 Game Daze 40 Years of Star Trekking Across the Lu, Gary Swaty, Sue Uttke, Bill Whitmore (602) 843-3026 2140 E. 5th St #11, Tempe AZ 85281 Universe CN Mascots: The Four CopperCon Kittens Bookmans (480)317-9181 About ConNotations: ConNotations is the by Shane Shellenbarger 8 fan published newszine of the Central 1056 S. Country Club, Mesa, AZ 85210 Game Daze #1: Paradise Valley Mall, An American in England Arizona Speculative Fiction Society (480) 835-0505 4550 E. Cactus Rd, #422, Phoenix AZ by Jeffrey Lu 15 (CASFS) an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non- th profit organization. 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Page 2 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 July 28 will be episodes of the canceled Garfield’s A Tale of Two Kitties (June SF Tube Talk ABC series Night Stalker at 8 pm ET/PT. 24 Frames 23rd) - Bill Murry is back as Garfield and TV News & Previews Missing will be Battlestar Galactica when Garfield’s owner, Jon, takes him to which will not return with new episodes Movie News England, the fat cat is mistaken for a look- By Lee Whiteside until October as SciFi looks to expand By Lee Whiteside alike cat that has inherited a royal castle. their new shows to a year round schedule. Jennifer Love Hewitt takes time out from As has been the case for the last few Stargate SG-1 returns with the The Omen (June 6) - Just when you talking with Ghosts to reprise her role as years, summer is the prime season for the continuation of the Ori problems in Flesh thought it was safe to go back to the Liz and Breckin Meyer returns as cable channels running SF and fantasy and Blood. The Ori begin to invade movies, we find out that the Anti-Christ is Garfield’s poor owner, Jon Arbuckle. shows to crank things up and this year is Chulak, the Jaffa planet, and Vala and making a comeback. Directed by John Billy Connolly is the evil Lord Dargis, no exception. SciFi, of course, has the Daniel try to deal with the new Ori leader, Moore, you can revisit the heartwarming who wants to turn the castle into a resort. return of the two Stargate series and the Adria, Vala’s daughter, who has been tale of Damien as he helps prepare the Click (June 23) Adam Sandler starts as a new series Eureka; USA Network is rapidly aged by the Ori. Morpheus is next world for Armageddon in this new workaholic architect that comes across a bringing back The 4400 and The Dead and sees the SG-1 team on a mission remake of the 1976 movie. Seamus special remote control that is able to Zone while we’ve got Blade on Spike and where they all are overcome by a need to Davey-Fitzpatrick is Damien, Julia Stiles actually control his life. When the remote even a few semi-genre shows on other sleep while Vala deals with a psychiatrist. and Liev Schreiber are the unwitting control starts taking over his life, he networks. We’ve also got news on what In The Pegasus Project, Daniel and Vala parents. Also starring are David Thewlis, realizes what he’s been missing. Also the Broadcast networks have planned for travel to Atlantis to search for information Mia Farrow, Peter Postlethwaite, and stars Christopher Walken, Kate the fall and the scoop on what shows will on Merlin’s weapon to defeat the Ori and Michael Gambon. Note that in a special Beckinsale, David Hasselhoff, and Sean survive the merger of The WB and UPN find out more than they anticipated while marketing plan to commemorate June 6, Astin. turning into The CW. Of course, there’s the rest of the team is on a mission with 2006, the movie is opening on a Tuesday Superman Returns (June 30) The long- also the latest news from across the pond the Odyssey. Atlantis begins season three (6-6-06). awaited return of Superman to the big on Doctor Who and a few other shows of with No Man’s Land which picks up Cars (June 9) - Pixar’s latest CGI action screen, directed by Bryan Singer, this is note. where season two ended. Connor adventure film is about race cars. one of the most anticipated movies of the The first two Fridays in June will see Trinneer returns as the Wraith Michael Lightning McQueen is a hotshot rookie summer. Will it live up to the hype and SciFi finish the first season of the new (after having a scheduling conflict in the race car traveling to the Piston Cup expectations of the fans? We’ll find out Doctor Who with the two part Bad Wolf/ season finale). Joining the cast on a Championship in California. He detours on June 30th. Relative unknown Brandon Parting of the Ways that sees The Doctor, regular basis is Robert Picardo as through the town of Radiator Springs on Routh looks the part of the last son of Rose and Captain Jack return to Satellite Richard Woolsey who has been assigned Route 66 (nothing demonic about two 6’s) Krypton as well as his alter-ego Clark Five and discover that there’s something to Atlantis to review Dr. Weir’s command where he runs into a bunch of offbeat Kent. Kate Bosworth is Lois Lane, Kevin sinister going on behind the scenes of the decisions. In Misbegotten, Dr. Beckett characaters (all cars, of course) who help Spacey is Lex Luthor, Frank Langella is lethal reality shows that are happening finds himself trapped in an asylum when him on his life’s journey. Voice cast Perry White, and James Marsden is (and which they get trapped in). The the inmates take it over. In Sateda, Ronon includes Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Richard White, Perry’s son and Lois’s ratings for the show on SciFi have been Dex is captured by the Wraith and brought Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Larry the love interest. Marlon Brando appears as Cable Guy, Richard Petty, George Carlin good, but not blockbuster. Considering back to his home world where he is forced ( Continued on page 6 ) the show is airing in the midst of repeats to be a runner again. and more. of other SciFi shows, it is expected that Debuting on Tuesday July 18th with a SciFi will pick up subsequent seasons and two hour premier is SciFi’s newest drama, give the show a higher profile. Eureka. It has been described as a cross Before the weekly original dramas between Northern Exposure and Twin start up in July, SciFi will be having a Peaks and is an attempt by SciFi to couple of new movies in June. First up on expand beyond the traditional science June 10th is Black Hole, where a particle fiction drama associated with the channel accelerator in St. Louis creates an with a healthy dose of humor and quirki- artificial black hole that starts destroying ness. The fictional town of Eureka is in the city and also creates a rift in time and the Pacific Northwest and is a seemingly space that an energy creature uses to come ordinary town to the casual observer. U.S. into our world, creating even more havoc. Marshall Jack Carter (played by Colin Kristy Swanson and Judd Nelson star. Ferguson) crashes his car in Eureka while June 24th brings us Android Apocalypse transporting a teenage runaway. When a where Scott Bairstow is an android child disappears in the wake of an hating working man who ends up being accident caused by one of the town’s sent to a penal colony after getting in a eccentric residents, Carter works with the barroom brawl. His transport is attacked local sheriff (Maury Chaykin) and a by mutants and he ends up stranded in the Dept of Defense agent (Salli Richardson) wilderness with his android captor and to investigate. In the process, Carter they must both work together to survive. discovers Eureka is a secret government Look for SciFi to unleash two more think tank with a lot of mystery, con- movies on the world in July, but what they spiracy and other secrets are hidden here. will be is not yet known. SciFi’s latest reality series, Who Starting in June on Tuesday nights will Wants to be a Superhero? will debut on be Extreme Championship Wrestling, a July 27th for a six week run where Stan spinoff of the World Wrestling Federation Lee and the producers of reality series that SciFi intends to be in tune with the such as Meet My Folks and Who Wants to SciFi lifestyle. Showing up on SciFi in Marry My Dad? search for the latest July will be Dark Angel in a four hour superhero concept. Eleven finalists will block on Monday nights and Dead Like live together in a secret lair living as their Me in a two hour block on Tuesday nights superhero creations and will be tested preceding Eureka and ECW. each week with competitions designed to Returning on July 14th will be prove who will make the best superhero. Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, both an hour later than last year. Beginning on ( Continued on page 4 ) Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk Spike TV will debut their initial entry ( Continued from page 3 ) into genre drama with Blade starting with The winner will be featured in a new the two hour premier on Wednesday June HexaCon 16 comic book created by Stan Lee and will 28th. Kirk “Sticky” Jones stars as Blade, also be featured in a SciFi channel the half vampire, half human vampire October 13-15, 2006 original movie. To help kick off the new hunter based on a Marv Wolfman comic series, SciFi will debut Stan Lee’s creation that has had a successful run as We look forward to offering the finest games including Lightspeed starring Jason Connery, Lee movies featuring Wesley Snipes. While Board Games, Collectible Card Games, Chess, Computer/ Majors, Daniel Goddard and Nicole investigating the vampire house of Eggert on Wednesday, July 26th. Chthon, Blade forms an alliance with LAN Gaming, LARPS, Minatures, Steve Jackson Games, Connery is Daniel Leight, who is able to former military vet Krista Starr (Jill Minatures, RPGA, White Wolf and more move at light speed after an accident that Wagner), who has been investigating the crushes his legs and exposes him to murder of her twin brother. There’s not Our Location radiation. much advance information on the show’s Also debuting on July 27th is the long episodes, however, they have made it Embassy Suites North in development animated series The known that Blade will be riding a Harley- 2577 West Greenway Room Rates: Amazing Screw-On Head, about a robot Davidson VRSCD Night Rod Motorcycle $109 S/D plus tax in the civil war that has multiple heads it in the show. can use to disguise itself. SciFi will also Returning to the USA Network in June Each extra person is $10 up to 6 people per room be running a British series Garth will be The 4400 and The Dead Zone (for Rooms include made to order breakfast and Happy Hour Marenghi’s Darkplace, a satire on 80’s likely its final run of new episodes). First horror TV shows produced for Channel 4 up is The 4400, which picks up on June Membership For memberships or to in the UK last year. 11 where the previous season left off $15 thru January 31, 2006 schedule a game, SciFi has announced a few new things where year old Isabelle has just trans- in development, including a Battlestar formed into a twenty year old (played by $20 thru September 30, 2006 Contact us at: Galactica prequel series Caprica, that will Megalyn Echikunwoke). Isabelle’s $25 at the Door Hexacon 16 be set 50 years before the current series father, Richard (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali and show how the Cylons came to rebel ), must deal with his daughter’s sudden Register by mail or PO Box 62613 against their creators. When the series transformation and an even more surpris- Pay online using PayPal Phoenix, AZ 85082 returns in October, expect even more web ing change in his wife, Lily (Laura through September 30, 2006 Email: [email protected] content including webisodes that will Allen). Meanwhile, Tom (Joel Gretch) feature supporting characters and show and Diana (Jacqueline McKenzie) Web: www.hexacon.org events from their perspective and expand pursue a radical 4400 organization called the overall story of the series. SciFi has the Nova Group that has launched attacks Special rate for scheduled gamemasters also announced they have picked up The against Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote) (some restrictions apply) Dresden Files for a weekly series, and the other bureaucrats that they ordering an additional 11 episodes and it perceive as threats. The Dead Zone will debut in January. returns on June 18th with Johnny attempt- Moons Over Milford that is set in the episodes online of their regular series. For this winter’s big miniseries event, ing to find a way to stop Greg Stillson small town of Milford that will reflect the This will include SciFi, USA Network and SciFi will debut the eight hour limited from marrying Miranda Ellis, who Johnny world’s reaction to a cosmic explosion NBC. series Motel Man. It sees homicide believes is in grave danger if she goes that is threatening Earth’s existence. It On the genre side of things, NBC has detective Joe Miller stumble onto a motel through with the marriage while a focuses on the Davis family and their renewed Medium, has not renewed room key that unlocks the door to a motel political crisis develops that will bring reactions to the news with Elizabeth Surface, but has picked up the series room that contains mundane objects that Stillson closer to the White House. McGovern as mom Laura Davis, Teresa Heroes for the fall. Heroes will follow the possess strange powers. Joe learns that Johnny will continue to use his powers for lives of a group of ordinary people who other groups are trying to obtain some of good as he also tries to learn more about discover they have extraordinary powers. the items and when his daughter disap- his role in the Armageddon he has It is an ensemble cast that includes Greg pears in the motel room, he becomes the foreseen. In upcoming episodes, he will Grunberg as a down on his luck beat cop focus of a police investigation. take on a dangerous escaped convict, join who discovers he can hear peoples SciFi has debuted an online broadband a cult to try to prevent a Waco-like thoughts, Milo Ventimiglia is a young video channel dubbed The Pulse that will catastrophe, pose as a thief in order to man who believes he can fly, Leonard feature special video content including keep a museum robbery from going bad; Roberts is a prison inmate who can complete episodes, uncut movies, online and investigate an apparent hate crime “Kyle XY”© ABC teleport himself outside of his cell, Hayden Panettiere is a high school pilots, and lots of behind the scenes video. only to discover that the victims and the Celentano as her daughter Lydia, and cheerleader who is indestructible, SciFi will also bring back their film perpetrators are not who they appear to Sam Murphy as their 17 year old son Santiago Cabrera is a drug-addicted festival show Exposure and will have a be, and multiple visions from an attacker, Alex. Also starring are Nora Dunn, artist who can paint the future, and Masi weekly news show. According to SciFi a victim and a rescuer wreak havoc with Samantha Quan and Rob Boltin. Oka is a young Japanese man who can Executive VP David Howe, “‘SCI FI his own sense of reality and identity in The broadcast networks have an- stop time through sheer will power. Pulse’ delivers on our commitment to one episode. nounced their plans for the next season, Sendhil Ramamurthy is a genetics exploit new digital opportunities for our ABC Family will delve into the genre although they are always subject to professor in India who learns of a secret audience to enjoy and get involved in our arena for two new series this summer. change. NBC kicked off the network theory of his father’s that there are people programming. Our broadband Channel is June 26th sees the debut of Kyle XY. Matt upfronts by touting their corporate with special powers in the world and that primed to be the category killer destina- Dallas stars as Kyle, a mysterious teenage initiative, dubbed “TV 360” which will they have an ultimate destiny, to save the tion for genre content on the Web and will savant who is discovered wandering in cover all of their networks, both broadcast world. NBC plans to have a lot of further strengthen our relationship with traffic and put in an institution. Psycholo- and cable, that will expand their program- associated online content including a our viewers, building an even bigger gist Nicole Trager (Marguerite ming beyond their broadcast and cable regularly updated online comic to add to online community.” SciFi has also Macintyre) brings Kyle home to stay outlets to the online broadband world. In the back story of the events and the experimented with non-genre program- with her family and as Kyle begins to addition to webisodes and special features characters. Look for it on Monday nights ming including a block of Law and show signs of brilliance, they work to like that planned for SciFi’s Pulse web this fall. NBC has also picked up for mid- Order: SVU that reportedly did better in solve the mystery of his origin. Seems a site, NBC Universal will also be setting season the series Raines that stars Jeff the ratings than their regularly scheduled bit like a teenaged John Doe to me. up a series of FirstLook.com websites for Thursday night movie repeats. Debuting Sunday July 23rd is Three each of their channels, debuting selected ( Continued on page 5 ) Page 4 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 In the animated TV world, Kid’s WB SF Tube Talk ( Continued from page 4 ) will remain Kid’s WB even with the Goldblum as the eccentric LAPD demise of The WB. The CW decided that detective Michael Raines who has the the Kid’s WB brand was strong enough unique ability to be able to converse with that they should not change it. They will the dead, allowing him to help solve their be dropping Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! in murders. Also starring are Matt Craven favor of more domestically produced as Raines’ boss Captain Daniel Lewis, series. Returning will be The Batman, Dov Davidoff and Linda Park as fellow which will see the addition of Robin to the officers Remy Boyer and Sally Lance, and lineup with appearances by Batgirl and Luis Guzman as Charlie, Raines’ former villains such as Harley Quinn, Black partner and conscience. Look for it on Mask, Killer Moth, the Everywhere Man, Sundays in mid-season after Sunday a brand-new Clayface, the Joker, Penguin Night Football completes its run. and Riddler, New this season will be the ABC has not renewed Invasion. For long rumored Legion of Super Heroes their fall lineup, ABC has not picked up series. It will be in a different continuity anything genre related for new shows. from the other DC Animated series with They have indicated that for the next Superboy joining with Lightning Lad, season of Lost, they plan to run the Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Phantom Girl, Bouncing Boy and Timber Wolf in weekly episodes in two blocks, avoiding repeats “Jericho”© CBS of the show. It will debut in October and adventures. According to the Kid’s WB crisis. The only thing of likely interest two parter by Matt Jones, The Impossible run for seven episodes, returning likely in press release “Together, this unlikely will be the summer 2007 reality series On Planet/the Satan Pit, where the Doctor February for an uninterrupted run through Legion of Super Heroes bands together to the Lot, which will be a competition and Rose visit a nightmarish alien world May. ABC has already announced a defend the rights of all free worlds and series for filmmaker’s with Dreamworks that is compared to Hell in one press pickup for the IDT Entertainment series uphold the laws of the newly formed TV and Steven Spielberg involved. description, Love and Monsters by Masters of Science Fiction, although United Planets. That is, if they don’t kill FOX’s My Network TV has sprung up to Russell T. Davies which has been their commitment is for only four epi- each other first. LEGION OF SUPER provide programming to stations left described as an offbeat episode that will sodes. The show was conspicuously HEROES combines humor with high- behind in the UPN/WB merger and has feature a fan-created monster, the absent during their upfront presentation. I stakes, grand-scale super heroics to create nothing of interest to genre fans, program- Abzorbaloff, Fear Her by Matthew would be surprised if the show gets much the ultimate sci-fi, super hero fantasy for ming trashy tele-novellas six nights a Graham which is rumored to be about of a promo push when ABC decides to air kids of all ages. Each episode of this fast- week for two hours. ghosts and/or the 2012 Summer Olympics it. Regardless of its likely limited run on paced, character-driven action comedy Finally, we’ve got The CW rising from (or both), and the season finale two parter ABC, IDT is planning on producing an will pit Superboy and the Legion against the ashes of UPN and The WB and it by Russell T. Davies, Army of Ghosts/ initial batch of six episodes while devel- otherworldly threats and adversaries who looks like Alex Luthor took the two Doomsday, that sees the Cybermen oping a full slate of thirteen scripts. Initial challenge the team on both super heroic networks and bashed them together to awakened in our universe and in combina- scripts likely to be produced include and emotional levels.” Also debuting will make a new one (see DC’s Infinite Crisis tion with something else from the Heinlein’s “Jerry Was a Man” with be a new Scooby Doo series, Shaggy & comic for the reference). The new Doctor’s past (Daleks? the Gelf?), Michael Tolkin writing and directing, Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!, Scooby now network will be a mix of shows from the threatens the Earth. Expect a major season John Varley’s “Persistence of Vision” has Scooby Snacks with nano-technology old networks, with Smallville and ending cliffhanger for the 2nd season scripted by Michael Cassutt, Harlan that allow him to become almost anything Supernatural surviving to be the lone finale. Production has started on the Ellison’s “Discarded” co-scripted with (a giant magnet, a towering robot) and a genre series on the new network, the Doctor Who spinoff series Torchwood Josh Olson, Robert Sheckly’s Mystery Machine that can morph into any Mercy Reef pilot about a young Aquaman that is scheduled to start airing on the “Watchbird” scripted by J. Michael mode of transportation. was left out to dry and was not picked up BBC in October. Not much information Straczynksi, and Ray Bradbury doing for a series. As usual, Smallville left has been leaked beyond the initial casting the script for his story “Dark They Were, things in a pretty dire state with the entire reports. Indications are that the series will and Golden-Eyed”. Other scripts in the cast in peril of some sort, especially Clark. be very adult and is not intended for kids work include Edmond Hamilton’s Overall, this season has fewer new to watch. “What’s it Like Out There?”, Asimov’s “The Last Question”, and Harry genre entries to Harrison’s “A Criminal Act”. It looks like look forward to it will be a well produced, well-scripted on the broadcast series when we do finally get to see it. networks (NBC CBS has renewed Ghost Whisper and two (one mid- is returning almost its entire schedule, season), CBS opening up two hours by dropping their one, ABC one Sunday night movie. In the genre field, (limited series), they have picked up Jericho, which is with FOX and about a small town in Kansas following a The CW each at major nuclear assault on the US that has zero). destroyed most of the major cites in the Over in the country and left the small town isolated UK, the second from the rest of the world. It will deal series of Doctor with how they react to the possibility of Who has been life without civilization as we know it. well received, The ensemble cast includes Ashley Scott, both critically Gerald McRaney, Alica Coppola, Erik and in the Knudsen, Kenneth Mitchell, Lennie ratings. Remain- James, Michael Gaston, Pamela Reed, ing in the Skeet Ulrich, and Spraque Grayden. season that will FOX has not picked up anything in the be broadcast in genre arena, setting adrift the pilot the UK in June Beyond about JPL’s response to a global and July are the Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 5 publish “Stones Unturned,” the third book Brian lamented,” I must be getting old...” 24 Frames ( Continued from page 3 ) in the MENAGERIE series that he writes At the moment, his time is devoted to Jor-El via unused footage from the Pro Notes with Thomas E. Sniegoski. Earlier the compiling a “Science Fiction Omnibus” Christopher Reeve movies and Jack by Catherine Book same month, Signet will release a trade for Penguin Books, scheduled for 2007, Larson and Noel Neill, Jimmy Olsen and Hello everyone! I’m fresh from my paperback edition of one of his older lecturing and trying to prepare his Lois Lane from the 1950’s TV series, first Nebula Awards weekend…wow, novels, “Straight on ‘til Morning,” with a journals for publication. He has a story make cameos. In the movie, Superman what an experience. Made a couple new new introduction that Chris wrote, and a coming up in Asimov’s, while the returns from space after an absence of contacts so you might be seeing a couple short story, “Runaway,” that’s sort of a Overlook Press has just accepted a new several years to find that Lois has moved more new names show up soon… got one prequel to the novel. He has also had two novel, “Harm!” set in the future, but about on with her life and that his arch-foe, Lex right away for this issue… novellas published in limited edition present-day torture by British and Luthor, is planning to make sure First up is K.D. Wentworth who just recently—“The Shell Collector,” from American forces. Superman isn’t around to thwart his plans got back from Tempe where she attended Cemetery Dance, and “Bloodstained Oz,” But I have lots from some of our for global domination. her third Nebula Awards as a Short Story which he wrote with James A. Moore for authors in Canada. I welcome Ed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Finalist. She has finished a YA western Earthling Publications. Christopher & Greenwood to our fold. From his Chest (July 7) Captain Jack Sparrow fantasy and is now working on a sequel to Sniegoski are currently at work on farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada, it’s (Johnny Depp) returns in a new adventure “The Course of Empire” with Eric Flint “Crashing Paradise,” the fourth (as usual) swords & sorcery time. He’s sparked by the realization that he owes a for Baen. She has stories upcoming in MENAGERIE novel. The second book in hard at work on the 2nd book in the blood debt to Davey Jones. Jack derails Weird Tales, Twenty Epics, Baen’s the trilogy THE VEIL, which is entitled KNIGHTS OF MYTH DRANNOR the wedding plans of Will Turner Universe, and Realms of Fantasy. She “The Borderkind,” will hit from Bantam trilogy, “Swords of Dragonfire,” to be (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann will be teaching at the Writers of the early next year. Next summer, Bantam published in hardcover by Wizards of the (Keira Knightley) as he drags them along Future Workshop again this year with will also publish a hardcover novel he did Coast in 2007. The first KNIGHTS book, on his latest adventure. Tim Powers in August. Speaking of Tim with Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola, “Swords of Eveningstar,” will be A Scanner Darkly (July 7) Another Powers – Tim was spare in his called “Baltimore, Or, The Steadfast Tin published in hardcover in August of this Philip K. Dick movie adaptation, this time contribution this time but he tells me that Soldier and the Vampire.” He just year, and goes back in time (in the in animated form. Keanu Reeves stars as a he has a novel coming out from finished it this month, and Mike is doing popular Forgotten Realms fantasy setting) reluctant government recruit spying on his HarperCollins in July, titled “Three Days more than a hundred illustrations to to when teenagers, hungry for adventure friends and delves into the world of drugs, to Never.” It’s about supernatural complement the text of their story . . . and in the uplands of Cormyr, first got multiple identities and questions of who modern-day consequences of Einstein even to help tell the story. together, won their charter, and set off on can you really trust. Limited release. having lived in Pasadena in the early And from the Midwest, I was happy to the road to become a famous adventuring Lady in the Water (July 21st) M. Night 1930s. Sounds like typical Powers… I can hear from Selina Rosen who, with Laura band. Ed’s also working on “Warrior of Shyamalan’s latest fantasy starts Paul hardly wait. Also from California, Larry Underwood, sold their gonzo mystery Niflheim,” to be published in hardcover Giamatti as Cleveland Heep, a building Niven updates us with the news that entitled, “Bad Lands,” to Five Star by Tor Books in 2007; the first in a new manager who rescues a mysterious young “Building Harlequin’s Moon” (with Mystery and it should see print in 2007. series set in vast subterranean kingdoms. woman (Bryce Dallas Howard) from Brenda Cooper) is out in paperback. “The Selina’s science fiction/horror/ adventure In 2006 and 2007, he’ll have short stories danger. He discovers she is actually a Draco Tavern” is still available as a novel “Strange Robby” will be released in or novelettes in several anthologies, character from a bedtime story who is hardback. Ed Lerner and he have finished June of this year by Meisha Merlin including “It Came From The Swamp” in trying to get back to her world. Heep soon “Fleet of Worlds”, set mostly on the publishing, in a hardback and softcover Astounding Hero Tales (an anthology of discovers that he and his fellow tenants Peirson’s puppeteer homeworlds. It’s trade edition. She is currently working on new pulp adventure tales, from Hero are now also characters in the bedtime with Larry’s agent, Eleanor Wood, and editing the next “Bubbas of the Games), “King Harrowhelm” in Heroes in story that has come to life and that he has two publishers have bid, but nothing Apocalypse” anthology, “Houston, We’ve Training (from DAW Books), and fallen in love with her.. They must work concrete yet. “Inferno” (with Jerry Got Bubbas,” and writing the second “Beowulf and the Wraith” in Further to protect her from the creatures that are Pournelle) is due online through Baen Holmes and Storm mystery in Tales of Beowulf – Champion of Middle trying to prevent her from going home. Books. They’ll publish a slightly revised collaboration with Ms. Underwood Earth (from Carroll & Graff / Avalon Clerks II: The Passion of the Clerks version when they publish the sequel, tentatively titled “Bad City.” While from Publishing). Ed’s “really big news” must (July 21) Kevin Smith revisits Randall currently called “Inferno 2: Escape from New Mexico, I have news from Walter still remain secret for the time being, but and Dante ten year’s after the first Clerk’s Hell.” That is not far enough along to nail Jon Williams. Walter has been when he sends me an update, as various movie to find that they have moved on to down a pub date. Larry & Greg Benford concentrating on short fiction lately. He’s projects reach the “can be talked about” new horizons, Mooby’s, a fast food are both moving, if slowly, on “The Bowl written the novelette “Resurrection Day” stage, I’ll pass it on. empire. Jeff Anderson (Randal) and Brian of Heaven.” And Larry & Steven Barnes for “Escape From Earth” an anthology And, from one of my favorite O’Halloran (Dante) return, along with are at work on “The Moon Maze Game.” edited by Gardner Dozois and Jack Dann. Canadians (actually, an all-around Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) and Jason Joe Haldeman sent me this from He’s delivered the novelette “Pinocchio” favorite), Robert Sawyer: Robert J. Mewes (Jay). Expect lots of pop culture Florida: Bicycling Hadrian’s Wall was a to Jonathan Strahan for his anthology Sawyer recently launched a new blog at references and foul languange. wonderful trip. The trail wasn’t quite “The Starry Rift.” And he’s working on sfwriter.com/blog.htm. He sold My Super Ex-Girlfriend (July 21) Uma finished; he and his wife were among the another, as-yet-unnamed story for yet serialization rights to his next novel, Thurman is Jenny Johnson, who is also first dozen to try out parts of it. A certain another Gardner Dozois anthology, “The called “Rollback”, to Analog, which will the secret identity of the superhero G-Girl amount of rain and mud, but also blue New Space Opera.” And, perhaps most publish the full text of the book in four and Luke Wilson is her unknowing skies and the wonderful English importantly: Walter is Guest of Honor at parts starting in the October 2006 issue; boyfriend. When he dumps her for being countryside, and fascinating Roman ruins. Westercon 59, Conzilla, July 1-4 in San Tor’s hardcover will follow in April 2007. too needy, she uses her powers to make Last month they took a two-week cruise Diego. Rob’s novella “Identity Theft” is a current his life a living hell. Directed by Ivan to Italy, Egypt. Watch for a travelogue on I have only one UK contribution this Hugo finalist, and a sequel, entitled Reitman. his website, http://home.earthlink.net/ issue; from Brian Aldiss who just got “Biding Time,” has just appeared in the Monster House (July 21) This animated ~haldeman/travel.html, once he gets the back from Croatia, and yes, the Croats DAW anthology “Slipstreams” edited by movie with Robert Zemeckis and Steven new computer system to cooperate. Joe is also hold conventions. He was GoH Martin H. Greenberg and John Helfers. In Spielberg producing is about three kids still cranking on “The Accidental Time because two of his books were being the last month, Rob has optioned film who discover a neighbor’s house is really Machine,” which he hopes to deliver published in translation: “Non-Stop”, his rights to his novels “Mindscan” and “The a monster. They must find a way to stop before he goes off to teach at Clarion in first SF novel and, more amazingly, a Terminal Experiment” and his short story the house and save the neighborhood. mid-July. travel book he wrote on Jugoslavia, “The Shoulders of Giants.” Just a polite Voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, September will be a busy publishing “Cities & Stones.” On its first appearance reminder that nominations are now open Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jon Heder, Kevin month for Christopher Golden. Del Rey in 1965 it was banned in Belgrade. Brian for the Hugo Awards. If you had a James, and Jason Lee. will publish “Witchery: A Ghosts of said to the present publisher (a war hero), membership in last year’s World Science Albion” novel, the second in the series he “But the book’s ancient.” He replied, Fiction Convention in Glasgow or this writes with Amber Benson. Ace will “We regard it as history.” “History,” ( Continued on page 7 ) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 Pro Notes its pivotal role in human evolution: gives us a great performance and some ( Continued from page 6 ) “Stardance,” “Starseed,” and “Starmind.” Screening Room laughs. To anyone who dislikes San Their original novella “Stardance” won Francisco there is much enjoyment when year’s World Science Fiction Convention X-Men - The Last Stand the Hugo and Nebula, assorted other the Golden Gate bridge is slightly in Los Angeles, you’re entitled to Starring: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry portions of the trilogy were Hugo dislodged in another very existing special nominate. The works Rob has hopes for Director: Brett Ratner finalists, and he thinks it’s some of the effect. X-Men: The Last Stand has just are: In the Novel category: “Mindscan” Running Time: 107 minutes best writing he’s done yet, like “Variable about everything I enjoy for this type of from Tor Books. In the Novella category: Rated: PG-13 Star.” A close friend of the late Virginia film. The story is pretty good and the “Identity Theft” (from Down These Dark Release Date: May 26, 2006 Heinlein recently stunned Spider & special effects are outstanding. The closer Spaceways.) He’ll be Writer-in- Jeanne by telling them it was Ginny’s you sit the more you will enjoy this film Residence at Odyssey, a six-week-long The basis for “The Last Stand” is that favorite series, and one of Robert’s (the railing seats are ideal and also give science-fiction and fantasy writing a pharmaceutical company has found a favorites too. you a place to rest your legs). Oh, one workshop in New Hampshire being held “cure” for the mutants. Of course I’ll wrap up with a couple of our local more suggestion: stay until after the June 12-July 21, 2006. And he’ll be Magneto (Ian McKellen) does not view Arizonan authors, Jennifer Roberson credits as there is a scene after the credits. facilitating his usual week-long SF&F this as a cure and declares himself the and Alan Dean Foster. Jennifer’s new I rate the movie a solid “A”. - Len workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts cure for mankind. Prof Xavier (Patrick book is in the stores, titled “Karavans.” Berger September 18-23, 2006. http:// Stewart) has a more tolerant view. This novel, one in a series, is the first new www.sfwriter.com/workshop.htm And, Mutants are offered the cure when clinics world Roberson has created since the very Over the Hedge as an editor, he’s just acquired novels by are opened and the clinics are picketed by popular SWORD-DANCER series. And Dreamworks Studio Terence M. Green (Sailing Time’s Ocean) other mutants who believe that no mutant Alan’s “Sagramanda,” a novel set in a Starring: Bruce Willis, Garry and Matthew Hughes (The Commons) for should take the cure (looks like what we city of 100 million in near-future India, Shandling his Robert J. Sawyer Books imprint at have seen on the news at abortion will be published by Pyr Books in Director: Tim Johnson, Karey Calgary’s Red Deer Press. clinics). Jean Gray is reincarnated into October. “The Candle of Distant Earth,” Kirkpatrick And almost lastly, but certainly not Phoenix (Famke Janssen), more powerful the third and final book of THE TAKEN Running Time: 83 minutes leastly… is Spider Robinson. Some time than ever, and a struggle begins between trilogy, will be published by Del Rey in Rated PG ago, in issue 15.3, May 2005, Spider Magneto and Prof Xavier to try and June. “Trouble Magnet,” the next FLINX Release Date: May 19, 2006 announced that he was writing a Robert convince Phoenix to join their side & PIP adventure, will appear later this Heinlein book. Well, it’s finished! It’s culminating in a scene that is quite year, to be followed by “Patrimony.” Del Over the Hedge is based on a comic going to be a Spider September. In his intense with some exciting special effects. Rey will subsequently publish strip. Having seen the movie I would “relentless quest to ensure that there are The Beast’s role is played by a new actor “Exceptions to Reality,” his 7th collection recommend having it in our local paper. I plenty of Christmas gifts for your loved to the X-Men films (Kelsey Grammer) of short fiction. And, “Quofum,” a stand- went expecting to enjoy a cute kiddie film ones, friends, and strangers you want to who holds a new government cabinet alone COMMONWEALTH novel; and but instead I saw one of the funniest impress, I have broken the publishing position named “The Department of “Flinx Transcendent,” a big novel that movies so far this year. industry to my will, and caused them to Mutant Affairs”. Given the current illegal resolves everything Flinx has been up to The cast was about as perfect as could issue five of my novels at once, that immigration debate this seems quite in the course of all his preceding books have been chosen. Despite my misgivings month!” First and foremost, obviously, is appropriate. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and adventures. Also appearing in ( Continued on page 8 ) “Variable Star,” his collaboration with various venues will be an assortment of Robert A. Heinlein. Spider relates: “I short fiction, notably the novella “Mid- think I pulled it off: it’s some of the best Death,” in the collection of original writing I’ve ever done.” Tor’s giving it a novellas “Forbidden Planets,” from the nice cover, and there’s going to be a SFBC, and the ICERIGGER novelette publicity supernova on release. (At this “Chilling,” in Baen’s Universe. point, I feel...well, imagine you’ve just Our resident experts in podcasting finished arranging, producing, recording, science fiction, Michael Mennenga and mixing and pressing the first new John Evo Terra, rarely have time to catch their Lennon album in nearly 20 years, starting breaths. They have formed a new with some low-fi mono cassette tapes and company called FarPoint Media (http:// a few scribbled lyrics, and you’re pretty farpointmedia.net) which is acting as sort sure it’s something he would have liked a of an “incubator” for creative people lot....and it will be four more months ConRunners interested in podcasting, blogging and before anybody but you and a few friends more. What started out as simply The Seminars on fan-run Fantasy/Science Fiction Conventions have heard it.) Next, Baen Books will Dragon Page has now morphed into 13 Heres a chance to learn how to run a convention. finally release the paperback edition of (as of this printing) different podcast Spider’s latest solo novel “Very Bad properties. Best selling author Tracy Bookmans at 8034 N. 19th Ave - Phoenix Deaths.” It’s the first book in a new sf/ Hickman has already signed on with Community Room mystery series, about an Odd Trio of FarPoint, and together with Mur Lafferty misfits who thwart crime in present-day No fees, Open to All they are hosting the Parsec Awards to Vancouver BC, with frequent flashbacks recognize excellence in fiction to the 60s, and it contains the creepiest June 24, 2006, 9am-4pm podcasting. Ten awards in multiple villain he’s ever written. He’s just about Guest-of-Honor Liaison categories will be awarded at this year’s to start the second in the series, “Very (how to get them there and keep everyone happy) Dragon*Con convention in September. If Hard Choices.” Spider is excited about you’re interested in the world of & the series because it lets him sound off podcasting science fiction and fantasy, Ambiance about both the Good Old Days, and the these are the guys to talk with! (create the theme, find the materials, work within budget) Brave New World that has ensued. That’s it for this month. I hope you Finally and by NO means least, Baen will enjoyed yourselves. And, as always - if also be reissuing THE STARDANCE Come & learn new skills, impress your friends, anyone wants to contribute or knows TRILOGY in a single hardcover volume get into cons for free… someone who knows someone…please for the first time ever. That’s all three of write to ConNotations or email me at the novels that he wrote in collaboration [email protected] – Catherine Book. Sponsored by: www.WesternSFA.org with his choreographer wife, Jeanne Robinson, about zero gravity dance and Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 7 Screening Room continually doing research; whether its more he could add to that universe. On the ( Continued from page 7 ) technical journals or periodicals, non- other hand, Recluce with the broad span 40 Years of Star about Bruce Willis as the raccoon RJ he fiction as he tries to stay current in a lot of of time, geography and culture is a wider Trekking Across The pulled the movie off great. Garry fields. field with lots more opportunity. While he Shandling has revealed his true self as His work encompasses both science would like it if readers would read as Universe Vern. But the two best performances were fiction and fantasy – how does he many of his books as they can, he’ll be by Shane Shellenbarger by Wanda Sykes as Stella and Steve distinguish between the two? His answer damned, he said, if he’d ‘blackmail’ his Carell as Hammy. was pretty surprising. He points out that readers into reading every single book in a It was Friday September 27, 1968. I The story begins with RJ trying to get all writing, even non-fiction, is still truly series just so they can reach the ‘end of had just turned twelve-years-old the day the last bag of chips out of a vending fiction. No biography is ever the complete the story.’ Recluce wasn’t written as one before and I was about to violate my machine, failing at that he decides to take truth – they reflect the literary judgement big story. Each book stands alone. parentally enforced bedtime in order to some food from his friend Vincent (Nick of the writer, so in that sense, the They’re about life, they are not about see Mr. Spock turn traitor. I snuck down Nolte) a hibernating black bear. He is biographer is just as much a fictionalist as ‘getting to the end of the story.’ the long, carpeted hallway, past the caught and has to replace all the food he a novelist. Every writer picks and chooses Does he have any new ideas or series kitchen, slowing as I approached the took, in one week. He decides to take what stays and what goes – after all, the breaking ground in his mind? He’s still relative openness of the living room. advantage of a group of naive animals reader isn’t interested in mundane bits of writing the Corean Chronicles and just Peering around the corner, my ear caught awakening from hibernation. The animals information that are unessential to the finished ‘Soarer’s Choice,’ the 3rd book in the caught the familiar NBC theme led by Vern are supreme foragers and are main story or theme whether it’s fiction or the second trilogy which will publish in signaling the beginning of a television soon investigating the new suburbs that non-fiction. Editing real life makes a November 2006. There will be, show. I moved quickly to my first cover: grew up while they were asleep. This better read. undoubtedly, a new series in the future a high-backed, turquoise colored lounge being a Dreamworks movie there is a lot I was curious if Lee had much demand but Lee hasn’t thought of it yet. Which of silliness but no real violence. for short stories. In the past few years, he made me wonder who his audience The ending was extremely funny and has been asked to contribute more. About is…are they different for each series? He while the premise was predictable the 3 or 4 years ago, he was first asked to believes he has a very diverse audience: manner in which it was carried out was contribute a short story due to his romance readers, mystery readers, science not. Don’t leave before the end of the experiences in Vietnam, when he was a fiction readers, as young as 11 and as old credits you won’t be sorry. 5 stars - pilot, to an anthology named “In the as 80, blue-collar and PHDs. What they Bob LaPierre Shadow of the Wall.” Then Andrew all have in common is that they are people Greeley asked him to write an Irish- who like to think. Conversation themed story called “Emerald Magic.” E-books are a controversial medium. ( Continued from page 1 ) Then the offers came more often; mostly Lee thinks they run against people’s notably a “taboo-breaking” story for proclivities. People tend towards that simple answer. How else, he asked me, do “Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy.” which is the easiest and cheapest. Paper you account for the incredible rise in And he’s working on others right now. books are obviously low-tech while fancy evangelical Christianity and other very One will be for “Future Weapons”, and electronic readers are getting more and simplistic forms of religion? Perhaps, I the one for Baen’s Universe will be a more consumer friendly, lightweight and mused, because the world has gotten so Recluce novelette. inexpensive. But the high-tech readers complicated that people grab onto Lee thinks he’s a bit hard to categorize will still always cause the owner to spend anything that might make just one part of – his short stories and novels are more time and effort protecting his their life simpler. He agreed but did significantly different, his readers tend to investment; while if a paperback book is caution that it wouldn’t make their life gravitate towards his Recluce or forgotten on a plane, it doesn’t become a any easier; and in fact, might complicate Spellsong stories, or his science fiction crisis. Books don’t require batteries or chair. From this vantage point, I could it. It could make one technologically stories, or his Ghost books. His short power supplies. As long as you can see see the 25-inch color television in the sociologically schizophrenic. Lee really stories are ‘quietly unsettling.’ I think Lee the page, you can read the story. Family Room. I caught the fading image just wants people to think. He’s been is happiest when he can challenge his Finally, I wanted to ask him about his of the NBC peacock and the words “In faced with a reader asking him why he reader. experience with SF conventions. With his Living Color” as it was soon replaced by has made conflicting statements and There are 13 published Recluce novels schedule I guessed he’d restrict his a black, star-strewn field, with the U.S.S. accused him of being hypocritical. He (and he’s working on #14) – an attendance; obviously, a writer at a Enterprise moving diagonally from left to wants to be clear that what he tries to do is intimidating number of books to me. Not convention isn’t…writing. Oh, yes, he right, with Dr. Leonard McCoy giving a raise questions. So when his characters so, he assures me. They are not a answered – no more than 5 or 6 a year. troubling medical log entry about his say conflicting things, it’s not necessarily continuing storyline. They cover 2000 Well that was a bit startling…I though 5 concerns that Captain Kirk was under a Lee’s viewpoint, but that he is simply years, 15 different cultures, and 5 or 6 would be a huge amount for a great deal of strain. I settled in to watch raising valid questions. continents. No more than two books are working author. And he’s still more “The Enterprise Incident.” Moving along, I asked him if he ever about the same character. They aren’t prolific than many other writers! There You know the story; at least you do if worked on multiple projects. Not exactly, even all written in the same tense. Should are two conventions that he tries to hit you’re a follower of Kirk, Spock, and he answered. He only creates one book at I read them in chronological order or every year: World Fantasy and his “Bones” McCoy. Kirk takes the a time; although, that adds up to about 2.5 published order? Well, obviously, Lee favorite local con, Conduit, in Salt Lake Enterprise into the Romulan Neutral Zone books a year… So, while he might be would prefer that they are read in the City. under the cover story of a nervous writing one book, he’ll also be editing a order published (written.) However, if the When we talked about whether he breakdown. A Vulcan Death Grip, some second and checking galley proofs on a reader wants to know the chronological wrote for personal pleasure or if he plastic surgery, and a stolen cloaking third. At the pace he’s set for himself, I order they can find that on his website. tailored his work for the publisher, he had device later and the Enterprise set Warp was curious if he ever took time off. Since Lee does have a fairly long set of difficulty answering…it’s a blurred issue, Drive for home. Oh, and Spock gets the Maybe a week between, he said. Well, books in a series, a couple of series he explained. He has a lot of things to say girl in the form of the exotic Joanne what did it feel like not to be writing? He actually – I asked him if he thought that are worthwhile but if he can’t write Linville as the Romulan Commander. I admitted that he does get a little antsy if writers should keep a series alive as long an entertaining story it doesn’t matter also made my escape, cloaking myself he’s not working but not too often as there as the fans want them or if the writer has because no one will read it. On the other behind various pieces of living room are always stories to be written. How does the responsibility to end a series when he/ hand, he doesn’t write merely for furniture during the commercial breaks he research or does he need to? Well… she no longer has anything new to offer. entertainment – empty entertainment isn’t and heading back to my room under Full there is the researcher who buries himself The latter, he said firmly. He’s been asked what he wants to produce. Again, we’re Warp as the Enterprise and the sea of stars in research and then goes to write the if he would write more Spellsong books back to Lee’s need to push people to through which she traveled faded from the book, and then there’s the writer who and he says, while it’s not impossible, it’s think. And although he may not always researches as he goes, as Lee does. He’s very unlikely as he doesn’t know what succeed, it’s always his goal. ( Continued on page 9 ) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 40 Years of Star Trek he had any plans to write for Star Trek: Nemesis cost $70 million to make. “Measure of a Man”, “The Inner Light”, ( Continued from page 8 ) The Next Generation. I don’t recall if his While Enterprise has taken the heat “Below Decks”, “I, Borg”, ”The TV screen. As I lay in my bed, replaying response was, “Hell NO!” or it may have for the demise of the franchise, all of the Drumhead”, and “Chain of Command, in my mind’s eye the adventure I had just been “Bloody unlikely!”, but I would series sequels have had their detractors Part II” proved that TNG could rise above witnessed, I could not know that would be direct you to his book, City on the Edge of and growing pains. Many TOS fans the standard fair of dramatic television. the last television season for the NCC- Forever for a more detailed explanation. initially resented Star Trek: The Next Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered 1701 Enterprise and her crew. The Koenig wasn’t the only member of the Generation for not making use of the under the cloud of suspicion that it was a cancellation of Star Trek was not a death, original cast with whom I’ve had a close original cast and for perceived poor Paramount clone of Babylon 5 and Star of course, but the slumber of a sleeping encounter. I’ve seen William Shatner quality scripts. Appearances by DeForest Trek: Voyager hadn’t even left space dock giant. perform selections from his album, The Kelly, James Doohan, and especially before Geneviève Bujold pulled out, Star Trek has been the backdrop for a Transformed Man at Arizona State Leonard Nimoy somewhat mollified the major portion of my life. Before I bought University’s Gammage Theatre in the late detractors. Scripts of the caliber of ( Continued on page 10 ) my first video tape recorder (a Panasonic 70’s, I attended Houston ½” reel-to-reel vtr in 1976), I wired the Con in 1975 and speaker of the family television so that I discovered during an could use my compact cassette recorder to autograph session that tape the audio of the show. I’ve since Jimmy Doohan was supplanted those audio tapes first with the missing the middle finger complete series on Betamax tapes in 1987 of his right hand, but the and again in 2004 with the DVD boxed most inspiring presence sets. I have no plans to purchase either a to me was that of Gene Blue-Ray nor a HD-DVD set. You’ve got Roddenberry when he to draw the line somewhere. That’s not to spoke at Mesa say I haven’t spent my fair share on Trek Community College in merchandise. I had to replace the model the early ‘80’s. of the Klingon Battle Cruiser my sister Roddenberry believed in broke when she was swinging at my the community of man, brother, didn’t I? And who among us humanity showing hasn’t purchased two or three or twenty tolerance for other variations of the Playmates or Galoob or political, religious, and Mego series of action figures, or the sociological ideas and paperback books, the posters, 35mm film ways of living. He was clips, soundtracks, Christmas ornaments, able to convince the plates, decks of cards, board games, video audience that he believed games, arcade games, pinball machines, in Infinite Diversity in or marbles? Infinite Combinations. I’ve also done my time in the fan “The franchise,” as community as a promoter of Star Trek. In Star Trek has been called, the late 70’s, I was a member of the has had its vicissitudes, U.F.P: United Federation of Phoenix. both financially and I’ve worked on Star Trek conventions as artistically. The original both staff and committee. I’ll admit to series was canceled in having attended a Creation Con or two, 1969, but syndication and although I do prefer the less structured, Star Trek: The Animated homespun chaos of a fan-run convention. Series began the first In the early 80’s, I met my wife through revival in 1973. By the U.F.P and we’ve just celebrated our 1979, at an estimated cost 20th Wedding Anniversary; nearly twenty- of $35 million, Star Trek: one years after seeing Walter Koenig and The Motion Picture Mark Leonard portraying the middle aged kicked off the movie run, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn in the stage grossing approximately production of “The Boys in Autumn.” In $139 million. The most 1982, I was staffing a San Diego Comic- profitable of the ten films Con dealers table when the convention (and generally considered was held in the old El Cortez Hotel. I was the best) is The Wrath of encouraged by my “friends” to do my Kahn, which grossed an Pavel Chekov impression. “Keptin, estimated 8.82 times its Keptin, firing photon potatoes,” I budget. The decline exclaimed, to the perceived delight of my (definitely financially, “friends.” Little did I know what I had and in my opinion actually been afforded was the artistically) began with opportunity of embarrassing myself in Star Trek V: The Final front of Walter Koenig who was one table Frontier, which cost an away. He looked up from the estimated $27.8 million, merchandise he’d been perusing, looked but only grossed $70.2 me in the eye, smiled slightly, and walked million. However, the past the table without comment. Not worst financial return on nearly so embarrassing, was the time in investment (and most 1987 when Comic-Con has held at the old likely the nail in the film convention center across from the Civic series coffin) was the Theatre in downtown San Diego. Harlan $97.5 million gross after Ellison was on a panel and I asked him if 2002’s Star Trek: Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 9 40 Years of Star Trek ( Continued from page 9 ) We need a logo! being replaced by Kate Mulgrew in the The Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) is looking for a graphic role of the captain. logo to use on letterhead, business cards, web pages, etc. One theory for the current death of The logo should: Star Trek on television maintains that it —Tell the world what we do. isn’t the quality of the programs as much We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to promotion of science fiction and as the quality of the venue. The theory fantasy literature. We host fan-run conventions including the annual CopperCon holds that by appearing on the also-ran SF convention and HexaCon gaming convention. We publish the fandom newspa- per “ConNotations.” Graphic possibilities include spacecraft, planets, monsters, aliens and other fantastical creatures, books, etc. Our name or initials should be in there some- where. —Tell the world we’re in Arizona. Possibilities include the state outline, cactus, roadrunners, etc —Be scalable. The logo should look good and be easy to recognize at all sizes, from business cards to posters. Line art is better that anything that depends on colors or gradi- http://homepage.mac.com/starshipexeter/ ents. Simple is good. http://www.trektoday.com/news/ 040406_02.shtml The winning designer will receive a free membership to any CASFS-sponsored http://www.treknation.com/articles/ convention and the right to boast “That’s my design!” nielsens.shtml Send your designs by August 1, 2006 to: http://www.treknation.com/articles/ Attention Logo Contest ratings_history.shtml Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society UPN network, Enterprise was doomed http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-star- PO Box 62613 from its inception. With WB and UPN trek-enterprise-episodes Phoenix AZ 85082 networks merging into the CW Network, http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/ or by e-mail to [email protected] there does seem to be some credence to interactive/ article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002276962 that theory. Another theory maintains that Signings the fans had been sold a bill-of-goods http://www.youtube.com/ FYI watch?v=bhTeYaqIe3E&search=star%20trek%202.0 concerning the level of technology in Jasper Fforde signing at Poisoned Pen in http://www.youtube.com/ Enterprise, which was set 150 years CASFS Book Discussion Scottsdale, Aug 8th, 7pm watch?v=YVov6NJU2tk&search=star%20trek%202.0 before Star Trek: The Original Series. James Sallis signing at Poisoned Pen, http://www.g4tv.com/trek20/index.html The CASFS Book Discussions are The transporter was originally supposed September 6 http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/ moving to the third Tuesday of each to be used exclusively for cargo, the ships Poisoned Pen, www.poisonedpen.com news/2006-03-14-cw_x.htm month and also moving location to the top speed of Warp 5 put the Klingon Bookmans in Phoenix at 8034 N. 19th Ave http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/ Home World only four days away from at 7PM. Email questions to Events of Interest Earth, the ships charged hull plates were living/14291329.htm [email protected] http://www.star-fleet.com/ed/warp- just a mechanical version of ST:TOS June 20: Crystal Soldier by Steve Miller Mark Greenawalt, our local body- chart.html energy shields (no mention was made of and Sharon Lee. A new Liaden story. painting artist of note, will be appearing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_drive July 18: The Book of Night with Moon the navigation deflector), the grappling at the Herberger Theatre on June 13th, by Diane Duane. The leader of a team of hook substituted for the tractor beam. 530p-730p. It is part of the ‘Second Act’ Another concern of fans was the alien cat-wizards who help maintain the transit portals in New York’s Grand Central cultural happy hour. races encountered. Denobulans, Suliban, Station, has to content with a young feral Contact: www.herbergertheater.org and other races introduced in Enterprise tom cat, Arhu, just starting his Ordeal to never appeared in TOS or any of the other become a wizard. Barnes & Noble Events series. Doubtless, many factors led to the August 22: Coyote Kings of the Space- www.barnesandnoble.com decline of fan and Paramount executives’ Age Bachelor Pad by Minister Faust. interest in Enterprise. There are many There’s something for everyone: African Manga Bookclub, Barnes & Noble Canadians, Comic-book fans, gamers and paths to failure and far fewer lead to Goodyear, Jun 17, 7pm & July 15, 7pm sci-fi geeks. success. Team Sci-Fi Book Group, Barnes & With over 700 television episodes in September 19: Silverlock by John Myers Myers. A fantasy romp in which a dreary Noble Surprise, Jun 27, 7pm & Jul 25, syndication, ten feature films, and young cynic named A. Clarence Shandon 7pm thousands of comic books, novels, non- is shipwrecked on the shores of the living http://www.barnesandnoble.com fiction books, and fan projects, Star Trek land of all human imagination, where will continue to have a vast audience until every character of myth and fiction great Imperial Outpost Events the next revival when the sleeping giant enough to be remembered for generations www.imperialoutpost.com awakes and the next generation of writers -- is. October 17: Arrows of the Queen by and fans boldly go where no one has gone Warhammer 40K Tournament, Imperial before. Mercedes Lackey. First book of the Valdemar series. And if you don’t agree, Outpost, Jun 3, 10a-8pm come argue with us… HeroClix tournament, Imperial Outpost, http://www.bugimus.com/comics/ November 21: Game of Thrones by Fridays 7p-11p cmx_conrpt1998.html George R.R. Martin. If I have to explain VS CCG tournament, Imperial Outpost, http://www.u-f-p.org/ this one, it’s already too late for you… Tuesday, 730pm http://harlanellison.com/herc.htm December 12: Accidental Goddess by Shield of Almor, Imperial Outpost, 1st & http://www.elc.cc/home.htm Linnea Sinclair. A sexy, out-of-this-world 3rd Sundays http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/ adventure about Gilliane who became a goddess while she was time-traveling index.html ( Continued on page 11 ) http://www.roddenberry.com/ after her ship was attacked.

Page 10 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 fans gathered there. • A slide presentation on Star Trek: Phase Fiction Convention, will be held August FYI ( Continued from page 10) He came, along with Sam Peeples, a 2, the first planned revival of Star Trek, 23-27, 2006, in Anaheim, California. Our writer for the series, and screened two from 1977, which was dropped at the Guests of Honor are Connie Willis Game Depot Events episodes: the original pilot, The Cage, and very last minute in order to bring Star (author), James Gurney (artist), Howard What Little Girls Are Made Of. They Trek to the motion picture screen instead. DeVore (fan), and Frankie Thomas Game Night, Game Depot Mesa, 3rd spoke, extolling the wonders of their series. • A slide show by John & Bjo Trimble on (special). See us on the internet at Saturdays They also brought three women’s costumes the history of Star Trek Fandom. www.laconiv.org Worldcon, World Contact: Game Depot, (480) 966-4727 and models to display them. • Panels with fans of Star Trek, talking Science Fiction Convention, Hugos, and With that association, how could about the first fan-run conventions, Hugo Awards are service marks of the Bookmans Events L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction keeping Star Trek alive between its World Science Fiction Society, an www.bookmans.com Convention not commemorate and cel- cancellation in 1968 and the debut of Star unincorporated literary association. ebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek? Trek: The Motion Picture. Tucson Bookmans Events This year the convention will have • A show by Star Trek designer Mike hundreds of speakers and program items Okuda, showing behind-the-scenes Dungeons & Dragons night, Bookmans over its five day run at the Anaheim graphics from various versions of Star Tucson-Speedway store, 1st & 3rd Convention Center, with topics covering Trek. Sunday, 6pm the literature and business of science fiction • A presentation by Star Trek: TNG, books, movies & television, science & Voyager, and Enterprise Special Effects Phoenix Bookmans Events space and more. Top authors, artists, Supervisor Ronald B. Moore. 8034 N. 19th Ave filmmakers, scientists from around the • Behind The Camera From Behind A Phoenix, Az 85021 world will all take part in the convention’s Camera A slide show of crew-taken program. And a portion of that program, as photos of behind-the-scenes moments on Bookmans Great Video Game Chal- well as the convention’s extensive exhibits, Star Trek Enterprise. lenge, Jun 17th, win an Xbox360 will be dedicated to Star Trek, the people • A lesson in speaking Klingon from the Phoenix Astronomical Society Tele- who created it, and the fans who love it. director of the Klingon Language scope Workshop, July 9th, 430pm The program is still in the works and the Institute. “B” Movie Night, May 26th, 7pm, “The convention is still contacting people • The creators behind Star Trek: New Revenge of Dr. X” involved with Star Trek in all of its incarna- Voyages and Hidden Frontier, the two tions, but already scheduled are: internet series continuing the adventures Bookmans Creative Writing Circle, • Appearances by stars from the original of the Starship Enterprise. every 3rd Sunday, 5-8pm Star Trek series Walter Koenig and BarBara • A screening of Free Enterprise, followed Luna as well as Star Trek: The Next by a talk by Mark A. Altman and Robert Mesa Bookmans Events Generation’s Marina Sirtis, Star Trek: Meyer Burnett, the film’s writers, 1056 S. Country Club Dr Voyager’s Richard Herd, Star Trek: Deep producer, and director. Mesa, AZ 85210 Space Nine’s Andy Robinson, and Suzie • A screening of Galaxy Quest, followed Plakson, who appeared on Next Genera- by a talk by Robert Gordon, the film’s Hero Clix-Super Hero Gaming Night!, tion, Voyager, and Enterprise. More stars writer. Sundays, 6pm expected but not yet confirmed. • The convention’s traditional first-night Dungeons and Dragons RPG Night!, • Writers from the original series including welcome reception, this year themed to Mondays, 6pm DC Fontana, David Gerrold, and Robert the Babel Conference Ambassadorial Sabaroff, talking about crafting a legend. Reception, with David Gerrold as Master WesternSFA • A display of costumes actually used on the of Ceremonies. ConRunners Seminars series. And much, much more. Keep checking • Writers and producers from Star Trek: The our website for more details and future WesternSFA is holding a series of Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space announcements. “mini”(4 hours) ConRunners seminars Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Enterprise. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ at the Bookmans in Mesa located at • Graphics, miniatures, and props. L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science 1056 S Country Club Dr. Dates are June 18, July 23, August 20, September 24, October 29, November 19 and December 17. There will also be two day long ConRunners held at the Phoenix Bookmans located at 8034 N 19th Ave on June 24 and October 28. For more information check the web site at www.westernsfa.org

L.A.con IV Announces World Science Fiction Convention to Celebrate Star Trek’s 40th Anniver- sary

Forty years ago, on September 8th, 1966, Star Trek debuted on television screens across America, forever changing the landscape of television and science fiction. But days earlier, the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, flew to Cleveland, Ohio and the 24th World Science Fiction Convention to preview his new series for the science fiction Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 11 Page 12 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 13 underside. Sew the two pieces together includes a toorie at the top, trailing then turn the hat rightside-out. If you want or tied ribbons at the back of the a lining, sew a second hat of lighter- headband, and a patch of ribbon weight material and slip it inside your hat called a “cockade” on its underside. shell without turning it rightside out. Pin The cockade is positioned between the hat and lining together along the head your left eye and your left ear, in opening. the same place as the unit patch on Cut a rectangular strip of material a military beret. A Scotsman’s clan about two inches wide and a bit longer badge is worn pinned through the than your forehead circumference. This cockade. will be the headband of your beret. Finish Flatcaps are popular at the ends of the band by turning under and renaissance fairs and variations on Costume sewing. Fold the band over along its long the style are seen in many portraits axis to form a one-inch strip and sew the A doughnut can solve many problems. raw edge to the head opening of your hat. This is Homer Simpson’s basic Since the resulting headband is hollow, philosophy, but it also has applications in you can slide a ribbon into it to create a hatmaking. drawstring for size adjustment. Many hats worn through history and Berets are good for many costume Balmorral fantasy are mainly a circle with a hole for looks, including military. Berets are part your head. The pattern is easy to make. of contemporary US Army uniform and First, measure the circumference of the uniforms of many other fighting your forehead just above the eyebrow. For forces in the real world and the worlds of most adults, this number is in the 21 to science fiction. Make a white one for a 25-inch range. Find the radius of the starship captain from David Weber’s circle with the same circumference as “Honor Harrington” continuity. Make your forehead by dividing the your beret out of lighter, floppier material circumference by 2 Pi. Call this number for medieval and renaissance looks. “R.” My forehead circumference is 23 Tams are simply slightly floppier inches so 23 / 2(3.14) = 3.66 inches. berets with a “toorie” (yarn pom-pom) Find a suitable piece of light mounted in the center of the crown. cardboard for your pattern. A pizza box Suitable pom-poms can be purchased in works well. Use a drawing compass to hobby stores. So can the kits to make your own. Tams are often made of tartan (scotch plaid) fabric for a Scottish or golfer look. Center your doughnut pattern at some suitable intersection of stripes in the plaid. The earliest tams were knitted and knitted tams are frequently seen at renfairs and highland games. Solid-color tams were worn by some UK military units during World War II (See Alec Guinness’s men in “Bridge on the River Kwai.”) The characters in G. Harry Stine’s “Warbots” series wore a blue tam with a yellow toorie. The Balmorral is a Scottish style which is a variation on the tam. It’s made Flatcap of heavy woolen fabric like the beret, but scribe a circle of radius R. Scribe a second from the period, including Henry the circle outside the first with the same Eighth, Lorenzo DeMedici, and Leonardo center and a radius of 6 inches. This size DaVinci. To make a simple flatcap, cut is good for relatively floppy renaissance four disks of fabric. One of the disks is hats. If you wish to make a somewhat solid, to form the crown of the hat. The closer-fitting hat, like a contemporary other three disks are doughnuts. One is military beret, use a smaller radius of 5 or sewn to the crown piece along its outside 5.5 inches. Cut out the inside and outside edge. Sew the other two doughnuts circles to make a doughnut-shaped together along their outside edges then pattern. turn them rightside-out. This will form a You can use your doughnut pattern to brim for the hat. Sew the brim to the make many kinds of hats. crown along the edge of the head opening. Berets Modern berets are made by Heavy velvets and brocades are suitable stretching a hood of heavy felted wool for renaissance flatcaps. Flatcaps are often over a mushroom-shaped block. This is worn with brooches, feathers, and other rather specialized work. Fortunately, you affectations. can fake a beret quite well with your doughnut. Lay out your pattern on a Tam suitable fabric, such as heavy felt or the felted wool used to make overcoats (SAS is a good source in the Phoenix and Tucson areas). Lay out and cut one solid disk for the crown and one donut for the Page 14 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 were there. Some were not. Rumors came wife Susan, and friends and/or followers during WWII was Winston Churchill. ConClusion and went like the hot Arizona wind. Two were still there. I took a seat at the far side Being curious, I later rode the subway were confirmed. The two that were not of the room and listened to Mr. Ellison’s and walked to Churchill’s Underground AniZona 2- Paradise Found listed came to see and speak for Harlan story about meeting Robin Williams. He War Rooms and Churchill’s Museum. I by Jeffrey Lu Ellison as Grandmaster- Peter David and later asked his wife if she wanted to go entered a dark, cramped hallway that led Neil Gaiman. somewhere to eat. Susan instead wanted into the maze of rooms. I began to No famous big guests, this year. I I have met Peter before. He was at an to go to sleep. He respected her wish. The appreciate the sounds of sirens and old expected the turnout to be lower than last Arizona local convention, a few years crowd dispersed. Harlan recognized me in British radio shows, underground. The year. I guessed around 400 but no more back. I admired him for his work the corner and waved goodnight to me. place was rather eerie - radio operators than 800. To my surprise, the anime including Star Trek: The New Frontiers. Being the last person, I closed the doors tapping, the echo of soldier’s hurried feet convention sold out again. The limit was a In the Nebula first charity auction, he and left. I went home and looked at my - something or someone still waiting for record - around 1,200 memberships! outbid me for the Peter Jackson’s movie, home library. One day, I will write a the defense against the WWII invasion of Is that possible? “King Kong” chess set. I planned to up book. One day... Britain that never happened. Looking at the waiting crowds on the ante turned and stopped when I Later, in the underground, I went to Friday, April 14, I saw the answer staring recognized the bidder. I decided to let him the new addition, Churchill’s Museum. right back in my face. Nearly everyone on get it because he is more passionate than An American in England The place had a history of Churchill’s life that line waiting were dressed up as some me for “King Kong.” I liked it. He adored Part Eleven: Three War from his young days as a baby to the day sort of character, anything from Rama ½ it. I learned early never go against Museums. of his death. What was very impressive to Lupin III. These folks love anime and/ someone who is passionate and has lots of was the speeches gallery. Each picture or manga. God, I love these people. cold hard cash. Peter deserved the win. by Jeffrey Lu was of Churchill making a speech at After getting my badge, I then waited The first time, I saw Neil Gaiman Parliament or wherever. To hear it, you in line for the vendors’ room. The crowd unofficially was when I was doing a soda Smoke-stack-sized cannons from a have to break a beam of light. Each went wild when the doors finally opened. run for the staff. I nearly smacked into a battleship greeted me in front of the picture has a speaker overhead that will With limited funds, I had to choose. Last guy with a leather jacket in the Arizona Imperial War Museum in London. I begin to broadcast Churchill’s radio year, I bought Robotech stuff. This year, I heat. We were about the same height- 5' entered speech until the end. originally planned to buy my years worth 9'’. I thought at first he was a biker. He Inside, I saw reminders of WWI and In the gift shop, I grabbed a coaster of manga. was near the glass doors talking to WWII - one-man submarine, tanks, with Churchill’s face and words, “Never Nope. Instead, I paid all I had for a someone inside. Then, I heard a gentle airplanes, rockets, artillery pieces, and Give Up.” I paid and paused. I can still male Chinese costume in either a Matrix English accent. I stood there stunned. This other weapons of destruction. They were hear the WWII sirens blaring. I exited film or “Kung Fu Hustle.” was Neil Gaiman, writer of “Sandman,” relics of the past. Three of them I slowly with a smile and a victory sign- 2 Why? Generally, everyone was “American Gods,” talking. He arrived a recognized immediately: the V1, the V2, fingers in a V-shape- on my right hand. wearing a hall costume. This means a couple of hours before the Nebula Awards and the Spitfire. The V1 and V2 were Next: Final Words on England regular costume for fun. I wanted to do Ceremony. Gaining my composure, I rocket versions from Hitler’s Germany. that too so I swallowed my pride and sidestepped around him and grabbed the The Spitfire was the hero from “The bought the outfit. I wore it at the sodas at the Consuite. Later after the Battle of Britain.” The lion of Britain convention for a couple of hours. A guy awards, I asked him for autographs. He dressed up in a Beserker costume walked signed happily. pass. Neat. Believe it or not, Neil was in a suit. He Some had martial arts uniforms. looked great. Never did I expect to see Maybe not so neat. I found out later they him in a suit. He was still, pardon the pun, were actually martial artists. in my book, a gentleman. I chatted with others in manga/anime I also had the chance to meet the costumes like a lady in a Chobit’s Toastmaster, Connie Willis. She has been costume and a guy with yellow spiked going to the Nebula Awards for almost a hair with a red raincoat from “Tri Gun.” quarter of a century. She smiled and These people were having fun. Most of signed my magazines. them were fans and not, I repeat, not a Harlan Ellison, the Grandmaster, also fashion designer. They could have fooled signed my old dusty magazines. This was me. The costumes were great. my fourth time meeting him in Arizona. I It is nice to see the regulars really told him about a lecture he made in involved. Glendale Community College over two Phoenix actually loves anime/manga. years ago. To be brief, Mr. Ellison was Sign me up. I will be there, next year. talking about how to be a reporter. With his suggestions, I indirectly became a Innocent Insider: reporter and columnist for this wonderful The Nebula Awards in Tempe paper, ConNotations. Harlan, on the other by Jeffrey Lu hand, stared at me in disbelief. I smiled and handed him the recent two issues. On reflection, I should have brought (Yep, you angry old righteous man, you all my books. The ones I have in my have done good in guiding me to become house that are gathering dust bunnies. Not a reporter. Take a bow, Harlan.) only do I read them, but I cherish the After the awards, I was at the Consuite tomes in my bookcases and in my closets. for the last time. I met the winners and The problem of bringing all of them were losers. I saw the Nebula awards up close. obvious- I would need to see each author I chatted with friends and ate like a king. at the Nebula for at least a month. So, I A friend of mine made a bet with me to brought only a few old magazines for two see if one of us can get this neat Nebula authors- Connie Willis and Harlan Award in the future. We’ll see. Ellison. Around 1am on Sunday morning I left Yet, I’m glad I did not have to drag Consuite and wandered down to the room boxes upon boxes. Most of the authors where the Nebula Awards 2006 Ceremony had been. Harlan Ellison, his Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 15 Nebula Awards Photo Montage all photos by Shane Shellenbarger

Lee Whiteside & Neil Gaiman

Shane Shellenbarger & Harlan Ellison William F. Nolan

Harlan Ellison

Connie Willis

Nancy Kress

Neil Gaiman

Page 16 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 Join rowdy Rio and her partners - the adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s sense take I would love Cat Girl Nuku ReAnimation machine-gun maniac Maya, the lovely magnificent flying castle and enters a Nuku. The graphic animation is pretty Lilica, tech talent Nanvel, guy Friday magical world on a quest to break the good. The motion flows well and the ReAnimation 16-3 Yuji, and their boss Maki - as they take on spell. costumes are better than the first series. Featuring the voice talents of Jean You can just sit down and enjoy this ***** My Neighbor Totoro Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, collection from start to finish. This series (2-Disc Set) Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, is well worth buying. The characters have **** Burn Up Excess Miyazaki’s artistry comes to life on DVD more depth to them. It makes it seem Complete Collection with inventive characters, unique almost real. - Craig L Dyer ***** Howl’s Moving Castle storytelling and richly detailed animation” ***** All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl I saw this movie in the theater and *****Whisper of the Heart Nuku Nuku Dash! - The could not wait for it to be released on Disney, 111 minutes, G Complete Collection DVD, I was not disappointed. The story is DVD $29.99 ***** Whisper of the Heart one that never grows old and the ***** The Cat Returns animation is some of Miyazaki’s best. From the back cover: “From the *** Chicken Little We’ve already watched the movie three creators of the Academy Award(R)- ** Lilly the Witch: Vol. 1 times since it arrived in the mail last winning Spirited Away (Best Animated ** Lilly the Witch: Vol. 2 month. Feature Film, 2002) comes a tale based on The two disc special edition has the screenplay from the legendary several interesting special features animator Hayao Miyazaki. *****My Neighbor Totoro (2-Disc Set) including both the original Japanese During summer vacation, a schoolgirl Walt Disney, 86 minutes, G soundtrack and an English language named Shizuku, who longs to discover DVD $29.99 their hottest cases ever! Mechanical soundtrack and English subtitles for those her true talents, observes an ordinary- insects, firefighting jewel thieves, panty who want to see the original Japanese. looking cat riding by himself on the train. From the back cover: “Critically raiders, sexy sheiks, and fawning fathers - There is also a Behind the Microphone Intrigued, she decides to follow him. This acclaimed as one of the most delightful there’s never a dull moment when the featurette with the English language voice chance encounter leads her to the and charming family films ever, My babes of Burn Up Excess are on the job!” cast and footage from the dubbing mysterious Seiji, a boy who is determined Neighbor Totoro is a stunning animated This collection is just as good as Burn sessions and a truly wonderful feature to follow his dreams, and The Baron, a treat full of magical adventure from Up W, the first series. It has a high action Hayao Miyazaki Visits Pixar magical cat figurine who helps her listen Hayao Miyazaki. and comedy relief. I enjoyed watching Animation Studios with Pixar director to the whispers in her heart. Soon, Follow the adventures of Satsuki and Burn Up Excess. It is more sexy than John Lasseter and the fascinating view of Shizuku’s exciting adventures carry her her four-year-old sister Mei when they most, but done in a funny way. The the movie in the complete story boards set far beyond the boundaries of her move into a new home in the countryside. adventures of the Team Warrior are just to the movie soundtrack. imagination. To their delight, they discover that their so zany, that you have to have this one in Like all Miyazaki films, this one is Featuring extraordinary storytelling, new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit your Animation Collection. highly recommended for all Anime fans enchanting animation, and an all-star called Totoro, who can be seen only DVD features include production as well as families looking for a voice cast, this 2-disc set will inspire through the eyes of a child. Totoro sketches, clean opening and closing wonderful film the whole family can dreams and warm hearts of all ages.” introduces them to extraordinary animation, a Burn Up Excess trailer, enjoy together. - Stephanie L Bannon This story is a beautiful, magical characters -- including a cat that doubles previews and the famous Jiggle Counter. - coming of age story handled with Hayao as a bus! -- and takes them on an Craig L Dyer ***** All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Miyazaki’s usual deft touch. One of incredible journey. Nuku Nuku Dash! Studio Ghibli’s overlooked masterpieces Full of wonder and heart, this *****Howl’s Moving Castle The Complete Collection this is an absolute must for any serious spectacular 2-disc set features the voice Disney, 119 minutes, PG ADV Films, 300 minutes, 13up Anime fan. - Stephanie L Bannon talents of Dakota Fanning and Elle DVD $29.99 DVD $44.98 Fanning. My Neighbor Totoro is a ****The Cat Returns magical experience for the whole family!” From the back cover: “In Hayao Description from the ADV web site: Disney, 75 minutes, G The story, simple and beautiful, is one Miyazaki’s latest animated masterpiece, “Contains the entire groundbreaking DVD $29.99 of Hayao Miyazaki’s best. There is no journey beyond imagination and enter a anime series in a single affordable thin- violence, nothing to frighten the youngest “breathtaking fantasy world” (Kenneth pack. From the back cover: “From the of viewers and yet it will hold the whole Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with Synopsis: Ryunosuke Natsume has no creators of the Academy Award® family spellbound, from the youngest adventure, humor and heart. idea his household helper is really the winning Spirited Away (Best Animated child to the oldest adult. The previous Fox Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat super sexy hero Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, he Feature Film, 2002) comes the visually version has a better dub though the just feels lucky to have the lovely girl so stunning The Cat Returns, a spectacular transfer from film to DVD is highly close. Nuku on the other hand, while animated journey to a world of magic and superior on this Disney version. trying to take care of her newly adopted adventure. Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her Recommended for all Miyazaki fans as family, battles with the temper of ordinary routine, saves the life of an well as families. For the purist I Ryunosuke’s mother, Nuku’s lost unusual cat, and suddenly her world is recommended buying both the Disney and memories and the evil that lurks inside transformed beyond anything she ever the Fox version. - Stephanie L Bannon Mishima, the most powerful company in imagined. The Cat King rewards her good Maneki City! As Mishima unleashes new deed with a flurry of presents, including a ****Burn Up Excess - Complete and more terrorizing weapons in an very shocking proposal of marriage to his Collection attempt to take down Nuku, placing son! Haru embarks on an unexpected ADV, 325 minutes, Rated 15+ Maneki City in a clear and present journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her Vol 1: To Serve and Protect danger, Nuku faces the ultimate choice— eyes are opened to a whole other world Vol 2: Crimes and Missed Demeanors save herself or the people she loves! and her destiny is uncertain. To change Vol 3: Under the Gun A DVD-only release including all 12 her fate, she’ll need to learn to believe in Vol 4: The Case of the Black Diamonds shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil episodes of the anime series, presented in herself and appreciate her everyday life. DVD: $59.98 when she is literally swept off her feet by a both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 with Featuring the sensational voice talents of handsome but mysterious wizard named English subtitles.” Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, Description from the ADV web site: Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the This was created by Yuzo Takada, the and Elliot Gould, The Cat Returns is a “Ready, aim, and fire up for another Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a same person behind 3x3 Eyes and Blue magical animated adventure that will animated adventure with Team Warrior! spell on Sophie. In a life-changing Seed. I loved both of them so it makes ( Continued on page 18 ) Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 17 ReAnimation released. The story here is a blending of then, they’re gone. And some of the ( Continued from page 17 ) the traditional Chicken Little fable and In Our Book endings in this collection are just sort of a delight and inspire everyone” alien invasion stories. smoke screen of lovely vague verbiage The Cat Returns brings back Muta, the Briefly, Chicken Little is struck on the Harrowing the Dragon hiding an unexceptional finish. cranky fat cat, and Baron von Gikkingen, head, creates a panic with “the sky is by Patricia A McKillip But if you are a fan of fantasy short falling” and becomes a laughing stock Ace Books; $23.95; 310 pp stories, I am sure this will be just your (the traditional Chicken Little story). book. Otherwise, I’d stick to McKillip’s Having embarrassed his father Chicken This is a selection of 15 short stories novels. - Sue Martin Little works hard over the next year to by renowned fantasy author Patricia regain his father’s respect as well as his McKillip. They span the years from 1982 Path of Blood social standing with the other kids. Then, to 1999. by Diana Pharaoh Francis on the anniversary of the first incident The title story is a nifty beginning to Roc, 452 pp, $7.99 Chicken Little really does get hit on the this collection, being an unusual tale of a head by a piece of sky. Now he and his huge dragon holding an island in thrall Path of Blood is the concluding friends, a piglet named Runt, an “ugly with eternal winter and of course, the volume of the Path of Fate trilogy. duckling” named Abby and a fish that brave soul who frees the island. Chaos rules in the kingdom of Kodu wears a diving helmet filled with water Riik. Plague ravishes the population. named, appropriately enough, Fish out of Armies of Aare slaughter everything in Water, must save the world from the alien their way to put a madman in power. The invasion. rift between the kingdom and the elegant statue, from the feature I am not sure I will watch this film Cemamahual widens as uncontrolled Whisper of the Heart. While this feature more than the one time. I enjoyed it magic threatening to destroy every living was released first on DVD it is best to immensely though I am not sure it would thing. watch it after viewing Whisper of the hold up for repeat viewings as well as Ice Only Reisil and her goshawk Saljane Heart. Hayao Miyasaki’s Studio Ghibli is Age or Shrek do. At least not for adults as have a chance to breach Mysane Kosk and responsible for this lovely film with first I will note my nephew has already seal the fracture.. With here lover Yohuac, time director Hiroyuki Morita at the helm. watched the DVD four or five times. The Reisal must cross the war torn land and The short running time means there is not extra features offer three alternate undergo trials to control the magical as much character development as one openings including an interesting one symbols, to balance the warring magics might want but the entire group watching, where Chicken Little is a girl as well as created by the power mad sorcerers and from kids to adults, all enjoyed the film most of the actors doing their voice reclaim the land. immensely. I look forward to more work performances. Recommended for families Francis has created a unique fully from this new director. - Stephanie L and the young at heart. - Stephanie L The tales in this collection run from realized fantasy world that combines Bannon Bannon really great to okay—like most story classic fantasy with coming of age. Worth collections. McKillip’s strongest asset is the read, with one of the most stubborn ***Chicken Little **Lilly the Witch: Vol. 1 her writing style and use of words which heroines to ever meet her destiny. Save a Disney, 81 minutes, G **Lilly the Witch: Vol. 2 really quite carries you along. She few hours because it is hard to put down. - DVD $29.99 Brand Xtensions. 130 minutes each, NR describes things beautifully; i.e.: “She had Pam Allan DVD $7.98 each no names for the trees, only pictures in From the back cover: “Experience a her head that each wood scent conjured: The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, fantastic world of breathtaking action in Lily the Witch is apparently a TV some were dark and bristled, green all Eighteenth Annual Collection Disney’s hilarious new movie Chicken show though I was unaware of it when I year; others stood pale and slender, wore Edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link, Little. It’s “the perfect family film,” raves got these two DVDs. leaves like lace and rustled with secrets at and Gavin J. Grant Scott Mantz of Access Hollywood. When The show follows the adventures of every breeze.” This is a simple description St. Martin’s Griffin Pub., cxxviii + 480 the sky really is falling and sanity has Lilly. She is a perfectly normal girl with a of a character’s ability to smell trees in the pp., $19.95 flown the coop, who will rise to save the sense of adventure and then she find a story “Ash, Wood, Fire.” day? Together with his hysterical band of magical book complete with a tiny dragon A couple of her tales are derivative: Forty-four stories from as many misfit friends, Chicken Little must hatch a named Hector. With the Hector and the “The Lion and the Lark” is an interesting authors and almost as many sources; the plan to save the planet from alien invasion book Lilly has the ability to travel in time version of “Beauty and the Beast.” And only repeats I noticed were two from and prove that the world’s biggest hero is and off she goes on numerous adventures “Star Crossed” is what might have F&SF magazine and four from SCI a little chicken. Overflowing with from the Lost City of Atlantis, the Stone followed the end of “Romeo and Juliet.” FICTION. Plus, almost a hundred pages incredible music and bursting with Age, the Wild West and Scotland’s Loch McKillip tells the story of a soldier of genre overviews in 2004: fantasy, exciting bonus features, including Ness. Lilly has to keep the book’s power engaged by the Prince of Verona to horror, media, comics and graphic novels, alternate openings, an exclusive “making secret in case someone steals it and uses it uncover the cause of the unusual murders anime and manga, music, obituaries, of” featurette, games, and much more, this for evil. in the Capulet’s vault. And though I am honorable mention stories not in this sensational DVD is truly something to I borrowed a couple of the neighbor’s sure it is just coincidence, as I read “The anthology. Fantasy has certainly kept up cluck about. kids and we sat down to watch. I found Witches of Junket,” all I could think of its literary quality besides its wondrous, the stories simple if uncomplicated, the 10 was “The Witches of Eastwick.” fantastic imagination that one might and 12 year olds were bored but the two My favorite story was a basic love presume comes from the trashy-pulpy younger kids, 4 and 6, enjoyed them and triangle between a man and two women: gutter instead. Some stories manage to want more. Based on that, these appear to Plain Gerda who is married to gorgeous combine such disparate elements be best suited for children up to 6 years of Kay, who then meets with the scintillating successfully. For example, Stepan age. - Stephanie L Bannon Neva, all icy, sharp corners who entices Chapman’s ‘Revenge of the Calico Cat’ the foolish Kay away. Called “The Snow seems to mix the crime noire into pure Queen,” it also is derivative (obviously), fantasy. An afterlife for animals is a city but I found the characters and the plot full of crude violence, gangsters, and a interesting and piquant nevertheless. giant calico cat and gingham dog that The one thing that I find frustrating, chase and alternate killing each other and it is not just with McKillip’s stories, every night. The intro blurb describes it as but a great many short stories, is that they “A surreal and surprisingly moving tale of I missed this film in theaters so we are such little candies: Sweet at the balance and destruction.” For all that, I snapped up the DVD as soon as it was beginning, a quick taste of the middle, and ( Continued on page 19 ) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 In Our Book looking forward to. Sorry Mr. Kent, you other with frightening speed and fatal Azassian, daughter of a neighboring ( Continued from page 18 ) are a good writer but I have to just say results. His military is the worst horrors of ruler.. She is mad, she is racked by NO to another series. - William B. the British boarding school system run nightmares, bound to the past, and is get a realistic question out of it: maybe Whitmore amuck. Midnight beatings and rapes are sought out by the wanderers on the fringe people won’t think or act in the afterlife normal forms of punishment for pissing of reality. Elzith, the sage, sees clearly: a any differently than they do in this one. Bridge of Dreams off a superior. And all of his characters city burning, a search for faith, and a way The animals in the story are doomed by by Chaz Brenchley find this normal and accept it with that can save the world from the plague, their decisions in their earthly lives. Are Ace, 409 pp, $24.95 resignation as “just the way the universe but it will take all of them, and their we? How’s that for literary quality mixed is.” companions to bring about the change. into pulp? And in a pure fantasy story, no Bridge of Dreams is the first volume This is Australian Sci-fi at it’s worst. Plenty of plot lines and action as well less. Yes, this anthology shows us quite of a new series by the author of the This book bills itself as “a taut as good characters make this worthy of an interesting genre. It ain’t all just fairy Outremer series. Psychological thriller set in the any fantasy lover’s library. I might have tales any more – but then it never really For a thousand years, the city of Sund claustrophobic confines of a starship.” I to go back and find her other books. It is a was, was it? - Mike Griffin stood independently, withstanding the found the story dull and uninteresting. shared world rather than being promoted Marisi,.but the Marisi used black sorcery After 105 pages I simply could not muster as a series. - Pam Allan Slipstreams to build a bridge over the walls that enough interest to finish the book. I do Edited by Martin F. Greenberg and poisons all in its shadows. Now called not recommend this book.. - William B. Working For The Devil John Helfers Marisi-Sund, Magic is outlawed in the Whitmore A Dante Valentine Novel Daw, 307 Pp. $ 7.99 former nation of water mages. The by Lilith Saintcrow populace is ground into poverty and fear. Chasing Fire Warner books, $6.99, 382 pg. Slipstreams is an anthology of stories A few would rebel as one of the few by Michelle M. Welch that cross genre lines, melding Science remaining water mages teaches an Bantam Spectra, 403 pp, $6.50 Dante Valentine is a necromancer. Fiction, fantasy, mystery, westerns, underground school. Issal, a poor water True she is the best necromancer around, romance and horror, seller and thief is found and recruited to Chasing Fire returns to the world of but that does not explain why a Demon Here we have a mountain man the school the Bright and the Dark, and Confidence should be knocking on her front door. tackling an aggressive demon using In Maris, Jendre is the daughter of a Game. And so start a fast paced action adventure Yellowstone park as a feeding ground, a general, married to the Sultan, but he is set in a world where psi and magic mix. butchers widow who encounters a dybbuk injured soon after their wedding night. From a traumatic trip to Hell, to the gritty with a serial killer past, the last survivor She manages to save him. But he is low income neighborhood of a very of his race searches for a planet where he poisoned and Jendre is a threat to the new strange city, to the palace of a South can replace what was lost, and Nick St. ruler. American Crime lord, Dante’s journey Clause becoming a PI, trying to find the In this first volume, the two stories run takes some very strange twists. killer of Jack Frost. These are only a parallel and set us up for changes to come. This is a very interesting sword and fraction of the stories that tickle the If Brenchley’s characters were not so sorcery fantasy set in a slightly skewed imagination and truly can be called compelling, his world so complete, one near future. Ms. Saintcrow has skillfully Speculative fiction. could cavil at the open endings, Instead blended high tech with sword and sorcery This an ideal book for pocket or purse, the reader is anxiously awaiting the next to make a consistent and believable world to read on break, or pass the time in a volume to see what’s coming . If you for her plot lines to unfold in. Her waiting room. It is a well edited anthology liked the Outremer series, you have to characters are well developed and multi with no room for boredom. - Pam Allan read this. - Pam Allan dimensional. I liked this story very much Rindell Jorren, the twenty year old son and would heartily recommend it. - The Clone Republic Eclipse of a governor of Dabian, is unsuited to William B. Whitmore by Steven L. Kent by K.A. Bedford follow his father’s footsteps. Rindell ACE, $7.99, 384 pg. EDGE Sci-fi and Fantasy publishing wants only to delve into the poetry and $14.95, 309 pg. songs of the romantic cavaliers of Private Wayson Harris was a clone. yesteryear. His father has other plans. He has arranged a marriage to a heathen But like all of the other clones that make James Dunne is a new graduate of the ( Continued on page 20 ) up the Unified Authority’s military he has Royal Interstellar service Academy off to been programmed to think that he is an his first ship, orphan who was brought up in a military HMS Eclipse. orphanage. Now out in the real world his Having always first assignment is to a backwoods, or I dreamer of should say a back sand dune, planet being a spacer assigned to a unit of misfits and has bens. he is eager to His confusion only deepens when people be off. start trying to kill him. But when a full Unfortunately fleet admiral stats taking a hand in his all is not well in career he Knows that he is in REALLY the world. DEEP DOO DOO. Stir in the beginnings Mr. of a civil war and you have a very Bedford has interesting adventure story. Of course created a world with all the loose ends that the author of real people leaves it is obvious that he has a sequel and disposable planed. people with out While I liked this book I am really not really ready to start another series. I hate waiting explaining a year to three years for the next book. which is which, Unless Mr. Kent has already written the and it appears whole series and convinced the publisher that a person to release them at, say 2 month intervals can switch this is not a series that I am going to be from one to the

Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book Crown of Stars plotting and intrigue. The characters are ( Continued from page 19 ) by Kate Elliot well drawn, with villains . You love to City of Saints and Madmen Daw, 541 pp, $25.95 hate and imperfect protagonists well by Jeff Vandermeer worth the read, but make sure you have Bantam Spectra , 410 pp., $14.00 Crown of Stars is the concluding time set aside, it’s hard to put down. - novel of the Crown of Stars, [a seven Pam Allan City of Saints and Madmen is a volume saga.] collection of short stories set in the The land is beginning to recover from Doom’s Break fictional city of Ambergris by the author the great cataclysm of the return of the by Christopher Rowley of Veniss Uderground. lost Aoi land. But the world has been Roc, 441 pp, $7.50 Defining the City of Saints and transformed. Allies have departed, but Madmen is like trying to define a new alliances are forming, Not just Aoi Doom’s Break the third book of the multistory interwoven series of fantastic are marching but Sanglant’s own friends Arna series. some tricks up his sleeve. hallucinations. Ambergris is a city of It is the fifth year of the war of Man vs Bunch has created a complex world elegance and squalor, a would be suitor the Watermots. The men attacking the full of real people, and lots of action. A finds a sunlit street can be a killing hard book to put down. Although the ground in a nanosecond, An artist is novel stands alone and the ending appears invited to a beheading, A patient in mental complete, I personally hope he finished hospital believes he made up Ambergris, the third volume before his passing in and is really from Chicago 2005. I’d like to read it. This one deserves By turns, the book is sensuous, a place in your library as well as being a terrifying, and hallucinatory. This whopping good read. - Pam Allan interwoven series of stories “histories,” and “eyewitness” reports turns into a Living Next Door to the God of Love fantastic universe within a puzzle or is it a by Justina Robson paradox where you can lose, or find Bantam Spectra, 453 pp, $13.00 yourself in a fully fleshed and realized till you wonder if Ambergris or Phoenix is and family are warring against him Living Next Door to the God of Love is the real city.. The book also has won seeking to wrest the crown, block his a novel by the author of Natural History. 2003’s World Fantasy awards for Best marriage to Liath, his partner and consort Francine is a young runaway looking collection and best Novella.. If you like and take the land for themselves. to find a definition of love she can trust. Michael Moorcock or post modern The epic ties up more threads than a fantasy, this is a must have for your needlepoint sampler with lots of action, land of the Mots slaughter and eat the library. - Pam Allan Mots, and their families. The Mots, a peaceful people, have had to learn war, but are holding their own. But now the war has moved to the sea. And thru Gillo, HELP WANTED the Mot weaver/war hero, has gone to sea. Nobody has seen him for months. But he Do you enjoy CopperCon? HexaCon? Any of the other returns, with the Emperor of Man, deposed by the dark priesthood, who local volunteer, fan-run conventions? CopperCon and want’s to end the War. He must also HexaCon and the others are staffed completely by unpaid choose between the three women who volunteers, from the chair person to the volunteer that hold a part of his heart, and have become part of the war effort. How can the helps for only one hour. Emperor get man and mot to accept each other , end the war and defeat the dark If you enjoy our events and want them to continue then forces that oppose them. In Sankhara,, a Unity bubble world, she Lots of action and good finds a palace where rooms are made of please consider helping any or all of Arizona’s fan run characterizations of the two species. Well bone, flowers, and the hearts of heros. She events. worth the read and perhaps purchasing the finds a scientist mapping the human mind, set. - Pam Allan a boyfriend, and Eros itself in the form of Jalaeka. For information on available CopperCon positions please Knighthood Of The Dragon But not everyone loves The god of contact us at [email protected] or www.coppercon.org by Cris Bunch love. Unity is one who wants to assimilate Roc, 408 pp, $15.00 Jalaeka and every other living soul in any universe. Can Love save the universe as For information on available HexaCon positions or to Knighthood of the Dragon is the 2nd the gods collide...... ? Book of the Dragonmaster trilogy. Robson uses her world building as not volunteer to run a game please contact us at Hal Kalais is already a hero, and only cosmologically correct science [email protected] or www.hexacon.org leader of dragon flier squadrons. When fantasy, but to expose the buried fears and land and air assaults push the Roche back, desires of the human mind to the light of they dig in in the mountains and the war day. Ordinary Redemption in an stalls. Then Hal is captured and wounded extraordinary world with beautifully Our parent organization, the Central Arizona Speculative by the enemy who realize who they have realized characters in a world vision that in their possession. After an abortive chills the soul. Another gotta have in the Fiction Society (CASFS) is also looking for new escape attempt, they take him to a prison world of postmodern fantasy by a members. Check our web site at www.casfs.org for no one has ever escaped. Bound in the provocative and talented author . I’ll look prison by sorcery, Hal escapes, and forward to her next book. - Pam Allan information on meetings and upcoming events. returns to his army, [and to his beloved] only to be sent by his king back into battle. This time, the dragon flier has Page 20 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 St. Ignatius and the Company of Jesus and Mystery NonGenre by Genre his Father Marquette and the St. Judge Peck [Series] August Derleth Lawrence. My memory claims that they The Man on All Fours (1934) were Juvies but it has been a long time. I Murder Stalks The Wakely Family (1934) August Derleth was a fine writer of do remember that I enjoyed them. Sign of Fear (1935) Horror and has always been associated The Solar Pons Stories are Holmes Three Who Died (1935) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos. Some Pastiche. The character is Holmes in all Sentence Deferred (1939) have seen his Holmeslike Solar Pons but name. They are great fun. The Sac The Narracong Riddle (1940) stories. Most are unfamiliar with his Prairie and Wisconsin Stories are among The Seven Who Waited (1943) Wisconsin Stories and his Sac Prairie the best local color novels I have ever Mischief in the Lane (1944) Stories. Fewer still are those who have run seen. They are worth considerable study. No Future for Luana (1945) across his Judge Peck Mysteries. These The mysteries I cannot comment on. I Fell Purpose (1953) last are difficult to find and expensive. Of hope to get some soon. The books are his miscellaneous novels I have read his listed below. The list may not be com- Sac Prairie [Wisconsin Local Color] plete. Still Is the Summer Night (1937) Atmosphere of Houses (1939) Restless Is the River (1939) Evening in Spring (1941) Village Year (1941) Sweet Genevieve (1942) Shadow of Night (1943) The Shield of the Valiant Scribner’s (1945) Village Daybook (1947) Countryman’s Journal (1963) Wisconsin Country (1965)

Wisconsin [Local Color] Bright Journey (1940) The House on the Mound (1958) The Hills Stand Watch (1960) The Shadow in the Glass (1962) The Wind Leans West (1969)

Solar Pons [Holmes Like character] The Adventures of Solar Pons (1945) The Memoirs of Solar Pons (1951) The Return of Solar Pons (1958) The Reminiscences of Solar Pons (1961)

The Casebook of Solar Pons (1965) Mr Fairlie’s Final Journey (1968) The Chronicles of Solar Pons (1973) [And Collected] Solar Pons Omnibus Edition Volume 1 Solar Pons Omnibus Edition Volume 1

Novels Father Marquette and the Great Rivers (1955) Walden West (1961) The Beast in Holger’s Woods (1968) Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus (1999) The Milwaukee Road (2002) –Gary Swaty Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 21 BASFA Local Tucson science fiction group MIB The Men in Black is the official global of historical, cultural, science fiction, fantasy, that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box organization of field operatives for Steve and humor costume. Members are often seen Club 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or Jackson Games. We attend local conventions on stage and behind the scenes at local and [email protected] to demonstrate and promote products of Steve regional Science Fiction Convention masquer- our website at http://home.earthlink.net/ Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in ades. They meet on the last Sunday of each Listings ~basfa/ local gaming stores as well as community month at various members’ homes in the ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North service events. If you have a gaming store, greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE convention, or community service that you Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, there is a club out there available for you FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The would like to have official Steve Jackson AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at people. non-profit corporation that puts on Games representation at, please contact the [email protected] or Across Plus is a social club that discuses CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, MIB Arizona Cell www.southwestcostumersguild.org anime, video games, manga, other animation, HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and Leader at [email protected]. We are also and the Japanese culture. We meet at publishes Con-Notations. Best described as recruiting new MIBs in some areas of SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern On SF/F generalists with a strong bent towards Arizona. If you’re interested, contact us. You Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm can find additional information about the cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s In general, we explore anime, manga, and on the last Friday of each month in January Arizona MIB at our website http:// possible within ten years, with a little luck other styles of animation, creative educative thru September and the second Friday in members.cox.net/mib.6361/ and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us demonstrations, participate in interactive October, November and December at JB’s make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, Restaurant, 2560 W. Indian School in ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION one year, which gets you emailed Space and make cosplay. Phoenix, AZ. Write PO Box 62613, Phoenix, CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month Access Updates the instant they pass final We are willing to gain any new members out AZ 85082-2613 or call Stephanie L. Bannon (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are edit, plus discounts on our annual conference there who are interested. Dues are only $2 per (602)973-2341 for information. Web built around guest speakers. We’ve had on the technology, politics, and business of month. Our members are very friendly, www.casfs.org authors such as Octavia Butler and Greg radically cheaper space transportation, respectful, and fun. We welcome any and all. Benford. Non-members are welcome. For featuring leading players in the field. Email For more information, contact Shane Bryner *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of details of current events and location see our us at: [email protected] at [email protected] Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based website www.ocsfc.org or email Web page: www.space-access.org/ Reenactment group specializing in the [email protected] western European renaissance. We research SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- lifestyles and trades concurrent with the PAReX is a non-profit, just for fun organiza- SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, Celtic Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. tion dedicated to the proliferation of robotics model and high-power rockets and those who banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every We emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and as a hobby. Monthly meetings will be held love to see them fly. Launches are held on the Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto do Celtic re-enactment. We open participation and will be announced under the Meeting second Saturday morning of each month in Park. All are welcome. Free. to anyone with an interest in period crafting Information page, http://www.parex.org/ Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at meetinfo.htm. All interest-ed persons are Harry Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and invited to participate. We are currently in the October. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page process of getting organized and becoming an membership information, directions to the Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at official organization with tax status. Web launches and meetings, and to read the welcome. All levels skill exchange in many the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and page: http://www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: monthly newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” areas of object manipulation Dave Davis Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, John Kittelsrud, [email protected] , 602-955-9446; phone number (480)350-5211. The Board TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ or Ron Harvey , 480- meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- 775-4690 for more info or impromptu meeting starting at 2:30 pm. ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS juggling sessions. entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. meets every two weeks at different locations THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An PFFS has been in existence for 30 years, around the valley. Activities include watching ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A organization formed for the expression and meeting every 6 weeks in member’s homes. videos, discussions, parties, games, and collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, exploration of various cultural themes Dues are $10 per year. Membership includes occasional outings with more to come now the Arizona LANbashers League throws including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages newsletters, an annual film awards and that Doctor Who is returning from hiatus. quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, and the Renaissance through forms of art various outings. For information, contact Many members maintain an active presence at support is given to local groups who wish to including, but not limited to, painting, PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or conventions. You can contact us at 2243 W advertise their own gatherings. We have no drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: Wagon Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice set genre of games and play anything from and acts of characterization. 2) a member of [email protected]. Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- strategy games to first-person shooters to this organization. 3) Information available at [email protected] or visit us at http:// driving/flying simulations. No annual www.darkones.org RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A members.cox.net/tardisaz/tardis.html membership is required and admission to an Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the for current events. Email: STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by series’ production companies and the USA [email protected] Web: Steel specializes in the general recreation of White Wolf publishing. Contact Mike Network! It is THE information conduit www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- the culture of the Middle Ages including all of McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 between the fans and the series! Fan club 9339 the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202- membership will bring you the following 1) Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts 3144 or [email protected] subscription to the info filled Tek Informer THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club general sci-fi appreciation group that meets and any location within Europe or its explored RAW GAMES (Role-players & membership card and kit. Membership is by once a month for discussion of various sci-fi territories. For more information contact Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & regular mail only and the newsletter and news regarding several mediums to include: Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- materials will not be reproduced electroni- television, movies, video, books, comics, www.galandor.org playing and wargaming club. Currently cally. To join the action and initiate your magazines, collecting, and so forth. The meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix every annual membership, make check or money meetings are comprised of news, review and THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except during order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan comment, BBS/computer news and help, Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. conventions and other special events). Open Club (Membership section), 2522 N meeting new members, video presentations, For more information call Carol Alves, to new members - call (602) 849-9515. Sparkman Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi www.rawgames.org are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per Knights, c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and meeting) to compensate the host. (No other Hesperia CA, 92345-7066. THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the fees are involved.) The electronic home of the ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt Arizona State University campus, with dates Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair and places to be announced after the semester BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for area corporations that put on yearly conven- kingdom can be found six Baronies: starts. For more information, Email the group range from 13-40-something with tions. Best described as SF/F generalists with Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, [email protected] Web both male and female members. Other a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For www.themonline.org activities include null-modem link gamefests, welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the more information on any of these or for group theater movie viewings, convention second Saturday of February, May, August & general information on thy past tomorrows TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address trips and more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, November unless otherwise notified. August thou mayest contact Mistress Myrddina o is [email protected] or low-structure environment. NO RUBBER is the annual meeting where board positions Dolwyddelan (Terry Schwartz) PO Box 584, [email protected] EARS ALLOWED!! For questions, you can are deter-mined. For more information, write Sonoita AZ 85637 (520)455-5835 Email: call the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike [email protected] Web UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email www.atenveldt.com Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan [email protected] Webpage: club. We are a social club that meets every www.leprecon.org SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD The two weeks at various locations around the Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose organization of persons interested in all facets ( Continued on page 23 ) Page 22 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3 Club Listings [email protected]; website: http:// Cook, Dave Duncan. TM: Bradley ( Continued from page 22 ) What is CASFS? bubonicon.home.att.net Denton. Editor GoH: Glenn Lord. AGoH: What is really behind putting on a John Jude Palencar. Robert E. Howard Phoenix area. The UFP has been meeting for convention? What are the funds raised by over 30 years of continuous activity. Dues are a convention used for? Why not attend a L.A.CON IV / WORLDCON 64 (Aug Artist Guest: Gary Gianni. Memb: $125 $15/per year prorated when you join; no meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor 23-27 ’06) Hilton Anaheim / Anaheim to 7/31/06. Info: FACT, Inc., Box 27277, restrictions. Membership includes member- of ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, Marriott / Anaheim Convention Center, Austin TX 78755; website: ship roster and monthly newsletter. Come to SmerfCons and other conventions. We are any two meetings at no obligation. For Anaheim CA. GoH: Connie Willis. www.worldfantasy.org information, write the UFP at PO Box 37224, a charitable, non-profit organization that AGoH: James Gurney. FGoH: Howard Phoenix, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) exists to further science fiction, fantasy DeVore. Special Guest: Frankie Thomas. TUCSON 33 (Nov 10-12 ’06) InnSuites and science fields in Arizona. CASFS 242-9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org Memb: $175 / C$210 / 150 / £100 / Hotel, Tucson AZ. TM: Edward Bryant. or Email to [email protected] currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at 2560 W Indian School Rd in Phoenix (NW A$225 to 7/1/06. Info: L.A.con IV, c/o GoHs: TBA. Memb: $35 to 5/8/06, $40 to USS STORMBRINGER The Stormbringer is corner of I-17 and Indian School). The S.C.I.F.I., Inc., Box 8442, Van Nuys CA 9/5/06, then $45. Info: TusCon, Box a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter meetings begin at 8PM and are held on the 91409. International Agents: Canada: 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528; fax: (520) of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. last Friday of the month Jan. through Sept. Lloyd & Yvonne Penney, 1706 - 24 Eva 571-7180; email: [email protected]; The chapter was commissioned as the USS and on the second Friday of the month Oct Rd., Etobicoke, ON M9C 2B2, Canada website: http://home.earthlink.net/~basfa Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend (Canadian cheques to Lloyd Penney). Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on two meetings as a guest (non-member). UK: John Harold, Robbie Bourget, 8 LOSCON 33 (Nov 24-26 ’06) Los 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 Membership rates are $12/year plus an members. There are no dues other than the initial $3 application fee and rates are pro- Warren Close, Langley Slough, Berkshire Angeles Airport Marriott, Los Angeles $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are rated for the amount of the year remaining. SL3 7UA, UK (UK / Euro cheques to CA. Theme: Exploring the Golden Ages scattered world wide but the primary clusters John Harold); Australia: Edwin Scribner, of Science Fiction. GoH: William Tenn. are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t For more info: Webpage: www.casfs.org meet on a regular basis since they are a Email: [email protected] 12 Richmount St., Cronulla, NSW 2230, FGoH: Fred Patten. Memb: $35. Info: correspondence chapter. Their web site is: Australia (Australian cheques to Edwin Loscon 33, C/O Los Angeles Science http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ Scribner). Email: [email protected]; Fantasy Society, 11513 Burbank Blvd., and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, Convention website: www.laconiv.org North Hollywood CA 91601; email: [email protected] [email protected]; website: Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We Listings CopperCon 26 (Tempe AZ) Sept 1-4, www.loscon.org maintain a mailing list for news and get- WESTERCON 59: CONZILLA (Jul 1- 2006 Tempe Mission Palms Guests togethers of fans of the X-Files living in 4 ’06) San Diego Marriott Mission Authors Marc Zicree; Diane Duane, Peter SMOFCON 24 (Dec 1-3 ’06) Hotel Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an Valley, San Diego CA. GoH: Walter Jon Moorwood Memberships $30 thru 3/31/ Phillips, Kansas City MO. Convention empty message to z-philes- Williams. AGoH: Bob Eggleton. FGoH: 06 Hotel Rates $91 S/D plus tax Tempe runners con. Info: www.smofcon.org [email protected] Bobbi Armbruster. TM: Kevin J. Ander- Mission Palms, 60 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ son. Memb: $70 to 6/15/06, $80 at door. 85281 (800) 547-8705 CopperCon 26, PO WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082, CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit Info: Conzilla, Box 845, Ramona CA corporation that sponsors the ConRunners 92065-0845; email: [email protected]; Phone(480) 949-0415 Email: seminars and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. website: www.conzilla.info [email protected] Web Dedicated primarily to educational activities www.coppercon.org relating to literature, music, and visual and Phoenix Con Games (Mesa AZ) July27- performing arts, especially in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, costuming, gaming 20, 2006 at the Hilton Phoenix East. Phoenix Cactus Comicon (Mesa AZ) and science. Applicants for membership Current Membership Rate: $25.00 We’ll September 23-24, 2006. Saturday and in WesternSFA must be sponsored by a have special events on Thursday night, Sunday at the Mesa Convention Center current active WesternSFA member. Dues July 27st, for pre-registered members and for two days of a comic book cornucopia are $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable including dealers, panels, workshops, application fee. General Meetings are a prize drawing from among those who held on the first Friday of February, May, both pre-register with the convention and guests, and contests. Guests Terry Austin, August and November, at the Bookmans the hotel. Register your membership Josh Blaylock, Bret Blevins, Amanda Mailing/Subscription located at 19th ave. and Northern in online today at http:// Conner, Ron Garney, Justin Gray , Jimmy Phoenix Guests are welcome. For more Palmiotti, and Devils Due Publishing. Information info contact Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, www.conevents.com/page/p06/main.asp PO Box 87457, Phoenix AZ 85082, (602) Early-bird registration is $15 for a 2-day 973-2341, Email: [email protected] BUBONICON 38 (Aug 18-20 ’06) pass. Register online today! Kids 10 and ConNotations is sent free of charge Webpage: www.westernsfa.org Wyndham Airport Hotel, Albuquerque under get in for free with paid adult to those who have attended a CASFS NM. GoH: Ben Bova. TMs: Catherine admission. More info at http:// sponsored convention in the past Cogswell, David Mattingly. Guest Artist: www.phoenixcomicon.com/ calendar year (currently 2005). Kathleen Lowe. Memb: $35 to 7/31/06, Attendees of CopperCon 25 or $40 at door. Info: NMSF Conference, HexaCon 16 (Phoenix AZ) October 13- HexaCon 15 will receive Box 37257, Albuquerque NM 87176; 15, 2006 Embassy Suites Phoenix North, ConNotations Volume 16 Issues 1 Craig Chrissinger, (505) 266-8905; email: 2577 W Greenway Rd, Phoenix, AZ thru 6. Gaming starts on Friday and runs 24 Generic Convention Registration Form hours until Sunday 4PM. Planned events ConNotations updates it’s mailing include RPGA, LARP, LAN Party, CCG, list each December. Battletech and much more. Also Anime Name:______and a full consuite. *THURSDAY Individual subscriptions are avail- EVENTS for pre-registered members only able for $20 for 6 issues beginning Badge Name:______include Movie Previews and Giveaways January 1, 2006. Address:______(tentative) Memb: $20 thru 9/30/06 Hotel: Embassy Suites Phoenix North, 2577 W Some non-CASFS groups give their City/State/ZIP:______Greenway - Rooms $109 S/D. All rooms membership lists to CASFS and Phone:______Email:______include breakfast and happy hour. Info: purchase a bulk corporate subscrip- www.hexacon.org tion so their attendees may also Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for receive ConNotations ______convention. World Fantasy Convention 2006: (See individual convention listing for mailing address) ROBERT E. HOWARD CENTEN- Currently these groups are: More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other NIAL (Nov 2-5 ’06) Renaissance Hotel, Arboretum, Austin TX. GoHs: Glen Volume 16 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 23 Page 24 ConNotations Volume 16 Issue 3