Volume 13, Issue 6 December/January ConNotations 2003/2004 The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

Lord of the Rings Mania by Lee Whiteside Featured Inside SF Tube Talk Special Features You’ve seen the first two Lord of the movie, The Return of the King, for the All the latest about Lord of the Rings Mania Rings movies many times in the theatres, very first time as part of Trilogy Tuesday. Scienc Fiction TV shows by Lee Whiteside and bought all the DVD releases so far, New Line set up 99 theatres in the by Lee Whiteside theatrical and United States Jinxed, Hexed, or Cursed: extended. But to have one 24 Frames How I ruined Harlan Ellison’s return to your home screen only per All the latest Movie News Arizona, Part 1 video system theatre by Lee Whiteside By Shane Shellenbarger just doesn’t dedicated to do them the special ConClusion The Matrix Trilogy justice and screenings. Las Vegas ComicCon by Bob LaPierre you’d really Even though like to have the Trilogy Pointless Meanderings Hotel Vendome the big screen Tuesday A Paranormal Experience News and Reviews experience screening will by Dawn Mullan from the world of comics and Anime fresh in mind be on a by Brandon Huigens before you see weekday, the In Memorium the third demand for Videophile Hal Clement movie. Well, those tickets Diane Elliott New Line was very Reviews of genre releases Lloyd Arthur Esbach Pictures is strong when on DVD and VHS Darlene Rutherford making it they went on possible for sale on October Screening Room Plus our Regular Features: you to see the 9th (now Reviews of current theatrical releases CASFS Business Report extended dubbed Ticket versions of Thursday). A In Our Book Event Calendar the first two week prior to Reviews of New SF/F Books Area events, TV premires, movies, The that date, New DVD & Movie releases Fellowship of Line an- Musty Tomes FYI the Ring and nounced the Reviews of Classic Genre books News and tidbits of The Two screenings on interest to fans Towers on the big screen. For a lucky few their web site and the date that tickets Club Listings across the country, they will be able to would go on sale. Fans were frantic to Convention List & watch the extended versions of both find out how they could get tickets before Generic Registration Form movies the same day they see the third ( Cont’d on page 5 )

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Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who’s Who This Issue BOOK STORES Stalking Moon Comics & Collectibles Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bent Cover 5775 W Bell Rd #B-6, Glendale, Arizona News & Reviews Co-Editors: Sue Martin & Gary Swaty 12428 N 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85029 (602) 896-9992 CASFS Business Report 2 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer (602)942-3778 SF Tube Talk 3 Film & Video Reporter: Barry Bard, Book Adventure GAME STORES 24Frames 3 Chuck Cady 660 N Gilbert Rd, Suite B, Gilbert AZ 85234 Amazing Discoveries Proof Reader - Bob LaPierre Screening Room 8 Calendar Editor: Mark Saint Cyr (480) 892-2120 2545 E Speedway #155, Tucson, AZ Pointless Meanderings 9 Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Barry Bard Book Connection (520) 320-0338 FYI 10 Catherine Book, Charles Cady, Craig L. 6434 S McClintock, Tempe AZ Dragon’s Lair ConClusion 10 Dyer, Michael Griffin, Brandon Huigens, (480) 820-2953 7611 W Thomas Suite G012, Phoenix AZ Videophile 14 Sean Martin, Dawn Mullan, Shane Book Exchange Plus Shellenbarger, Gary Swaty, Tom Tuerff, 2601 E Bell #14, Phoenix, AZ Game Daze In Our Book (Book Reviews) 17 Lee Whiteside, Randall Whitlock, Mike (602) 867-1018 2140 E 5th St #11, Tempe AZ 85281 Musty Tomes 24 Willmoth Book Exchange (480)317-9181 Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon 4320 N Miller Road #F, Scottsdale, AZ Game Daze #1: Paradise Valley Mall, 4550 Special Feature Advertising: OPEN 85251 (480)990-8380 E Cactus Rd, #422, Phoenix AZ 85032 LoTR Mania Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Book Gallery (602)494-4263 by Lee Whiteside 1 Dyer and Doug Cosper Contributors: Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Game Daze #2 In Memorium 6 3643 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018 Superstition Springs Center, Jeffrey Lu, Milly McCloskey (602)468-0400 6555 E Southern Ave #2026, Mesa AZ Harlan Ellison in Phoenix Labeling Crew for Volume 13 Issue 5: Bookmaster 85206 (480)981-4850 byShane Shellenbarger 7 Catherine Book, Craig L Dyer, Ray & 2949 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Game Daze #3 Scottsdale Fashion Square, The Matrix Trilogy Pinkie Gish, Bob & Lori LaPierre, Sue & Jo (480) 423-0501 7014 E Camelback Rd #2117, Scottsdale AZ by Bob LaPierre 10 Martin, J.B. 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(602) 279-3910 3111 W Chandler Blvd #2416, Chandler AZ Convention Registration Form 24 Subscriptions: The newszine is currently Borders Book Stores 85226 (480)-8997406 sent free of charge to anyone who has 2402 E Camelback, Phoenix, AZ Game Depot attended a CASFS or LepreCon sponsored (602) 957-6600 3136 S McClintock #11, Tempe, AZ 85282 convention in the last two years and to all 870 N 54th St, Chandler, AZ (480) 966-4727 CASFS Business Report CASFS members. Subscriptions are avail- (480) 961-4915 Game Keeper able. Cost for a six issue subscription is: 1361 N. Alma School Rd., Mesa, AZ Metro Center Mall, 9617 N Metro Pkwy Greetings, USA: $12/bulk. Copyright: Articles, fiction, photos and (480) 833-2244 W., Phoenix AZ (602)944-2073 artwork in this issue are copyright © of the 4555 E. Cactus Rd., Phoenix, AZ Game Keeper * CopperCon 24 announced that Alan author/artist and cannot be reproduced in (602) 953-9699 7700 W. 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(480)835-0505 (602) 978-0467 11/24/2003; mailing date is 12/08/2003 * The membership voted to move the Advertising: ConNotations reaches Discount Book PyramidComics & Games November CASFS meeting to November approx. 4,000 science fiction, fantasy, 3650 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix AZ 108 West Fry Blvd, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 21st to avoid conflicting with TusCon. gaming and horror fans throughout the (602) 589-0188 (520) 458-2786 Phoenix metro area, the Southwest and Hardcover Haven Things For Thinkers * The membership voted to make CASFS’s nationwide. Our ad rates are: $175/Back 15440 N 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85053 4500 E Speedway Blvd #36, Tucson, AZ organizational membership in SFWA a cover, $120/full page; $80/two-thirds page; (602) 843-0845 (520) 326-7679 recurring expense, so we don’t have to $60/half page; $40/one-third page; $30/ Mesa Bookshop Waterloo Games vote on it each year. one-fourth page; $20/one-eigth page. 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After his latest three TV News & Previews Arcadia, which has been winning its time Movie News year job, he finds himself with only an By Lee Whiteside slot on Friday nights. It has delved into all By Lee Whiteside envelope with random objects and word sorts of issues so far and appears to have that he has forfeited his payment. His The Last Samurai (Dec 5) - Tom We’re through the fall sweeps and into struck a chord with a large segment of the quest to find out why has him chased by Cruise as an alcoholic Civil War veteran the holiday break which means there won’t viewing public. Over on FOX, new series federal angents and his customers who turned Winchester guns spokesman, be much in the way of new episodes of have been dropping like flies, which may want to see him dead before he finds out Captain Woodrow Algren. We see the most shows over the next couple of be the only saving grace for Tru Calling what he did. modernization of Japan through his eyes months. The main exception is the SciFi in that it has been doing mediocre ratings The Butterfly Effect (Jan 23) A young in the late 1870’s. He’s come to train the Channel, which debuts it’s much touted instead of abysmal like other shows man (Ashton Kutcher) struggling with the warriors of the emperor to fight with Battlestar Galactica mini-series in early canceled after three episodes. Upcoming psychological effects of sublimated modern weapons. When he is captured by December, and resumes season seven of episodes for Tru Calling include Haunted childhood memories devises a technique the samurai, he learns of the ancient ways Stargate SG-1 in January. For most of the where Tru must prevent the death of a med of traveling back in time to inhabit his which forces him to decide which side of broadcast series, the next new episode student experimenting with flat-lining, Star childhood body, but he finds that every the conflict he actually wants to be on. we’ll see won’t be until January. Crossed where Tru has to unravel the trip back has unintended results on his Highwaymen (Dec 5) A Horror/Thriller On Enterprise, the ongoing truth about the death of two high school present self, leading him to travel back about a man who sets out to find the serial storyline with the Xindi has taken a few students, Closure where Tru helps a dying again and again, trying to repair the killer who killed his wife by running her twists and turns along the way and looks soldier who wants to see his girlfriend damage that he’s only making worse and down with a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado. to continue on through the next batch of before he dies, and in Murder in the worse... Crust (Dec 12 - Limited) A pub owner, episodes starting up in January. Ratings Morgue, Tru must save herself when she Mindhunters (Jan 23) On a remote Bill, buys a seven foot mantis shrimp and have been fair, but Smallville is definitely and Davis are shot. island, the FBI has a training program for trains it to box. Hitting the road with his winning the battle of the netlets on The four hour Battlestar Galactica their psychological profiling division, amateur boxer best friend, Steve, a trainee Wednesday night. Look for new Enter- mini-series debuts on Monday Dec 8th called “Mindhunters”, used to track down hairdresser and the giant sea creature, Bill prise episodes in January. In Chosen and Tuesday Dec 9th. Note that this is a serial killers. The training goes horribly heads to London to convince a TV Realm, the Enterprise comes to the aid of a day later than the originally scheduled wrong, however, when a group of seven network to feature the crustacean on an damaged Triannon ship which results in a debut of Sunday, Dec 7th. There’s not young agents discover that one of them is “American Gladiators”-style event hosted group of religious zealots hijacking the much more news on the series to report a serial killer, and is setting about slaying by Ulrika Jonsson. ship intending to use it against the that hasn’t already been said. Executive the others. Stars Val Kilmer, Christian Lord of the Rings: The Return of the enemies of their faith. Proving Ground Producer David Eick has indicated that is Slater and LL Cool J. King (Dec 17) The third movie in the sees the Andorians turn up in the expanse the show does go to a series that he would Big Fish (Dec 10 LA/NY, Jan 23 Wide) trilogy to end all trilogies. Nuff Said. with Jeffrey Coombs returning as Shran, still be involved in an overseer capacity The story of a braggart and exaggerator Peter Pan (Dec 25) A new live action who will reportedly help Captain Archer in and the Ron Moore would likely be the Edward Bloom and his son, William, who version of the classic tale. Peter Pan is the an attempt to capture a Xindi weapon. showrunner for it. after a long estrangement returns home boy who won’t age, who lives in Following Enterprise, UPN’s Jake 2.0 Stargate SG-1 returns to SciFi Channel has been having mediocre ratings at best, in January with the rest of season Seven. but UPN has decided that they can live They kick off with Evolution Part 2 in with them for the rest of the season and which O’Neill seeks help from a former has given the series a full season order of comrade to rescue Daniel and Dr. Lee, who 22 episodes. UPN entertainment president have been kidnapped in Central America. Dawn Ostroff said the decision to order a Grace sees Carter on a mission to retrieve full season was based on Jake 2.0’s the Prometheus, and she awakens to find creative success rather than its ratings herself alone on the ship, and begins to performance. “Jake 2.0 is a fresh twist on experience bizarre hallucinations. Heroes is the superhero genre, and we’re really a two parter where in part 1 a film crew pleased with the quality of the show, the arrives to document the work of the S.G.C., talented cast and the creative team behind but may capture more than they planned it.” for when SG-1 is called into action. Part 2 The WB has seen much success with sees the S.G.C. come under investigation moving Smallville to Wednesday, giving after a mission goes terribly wrong. This Angel a ratings boost as well. However, two part episode is one of the best the Tarzan series on Sunday night has not episodes of the series according to many fared well following Charmed and of the cast and crew. Long time fans may production has been shut down after eight want to be prepared with some tissues. episodes. Fall-Out sees the Kelownans discover a Upcoming on Angel there isn’t much massive vein of naquadria underground, advance info and there may not be many Jonas Quinn seeks help from Earth in Neverland with other ageless kids, the only to learn his father is dying of cancer. episodes until February sweeps. Look to avoiding the total destruction of his Lost Boys. Tinkerbelle, a fairy, gives three Desperate to know the complicated man see an episode with Angel and/or Spike planet. children: Wendy, John, and Michael before it’s too late, William sets about hallucinating in a mostly dream/alternate Tremors: The Series is over with, but Darling the ability to fly; and soon they’re trying to unravel fact from fiction. Directed reality episode and also a storyline SciFi will be having a marathon of all 13 off to Neverland, where they’re soon in by Tim Burton and starring Ewan starting up dealing with a slayer or two. episodes plus the three movies on battle with the evil Captain Hook and his McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Smallville should have a couple of December 26th. If you still want more band of pirates. Jessica Lange, and Danny DeVito. new episodes in January. In Asylum, Tremors, a fourth Tremors movie, Paycheck (Dec 25) Another rmovie several former Kryptonite Freaks of the Tremors 4: The Legend Begins , will be based loosely on a Philip K. Dick short Week interred in an asylum team up to go released on home video in early January. story. Directed by John Woo (who says after Clark. Whisper has a FOTW that can This movie was filmed at the same time as he isn’t very concerned with the science emit a banshee like scream and Clark has the TV series and is a prequel set in 1889 fiction aspects of the story), it stars Ben to deal with some eye problems. Pete Ross with Michael Gross as Hiram Gummer Affleck as a brilliant computer engineer is featured more in this episode, including ( Cont’d on page 4 ) who works on top secret projects and has Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk (Cont’d from page 3) while Jeremiah is imprisoned in an Doctor Who Returns In 2005 journey. However, we’re at the very first idealized replica of the days before the Big BBC Press Release (9/26/03) stages of development and further details, Scare Tactics has been renewed for a Death. including casting, will not be available for second season, although it is not yet In the syndicated arena, the new Doctor Who, one of the BBC’s best- some time.” known when new episodes will resume. All season of Andromeda has been much loved and most enduring characters, is set Writer Russell T Davies, who grew up episodes of the first series have aired improved over the last season in my to return to BBC ONE, it was confirmed in Swansea and lives in Manchester, says: already. The CGI animated comedy series opinion, bucking the usual trend for last night by Lorraine Heggessey, “I grew up watching Doctor Who, hiding Tripping The Rift was originally sched- Tribune Entertainment shows. Mutant X, Controller of BBC ONE. behind the sofa like so many others. uled to debut in January but it now looks however, has met with lukewarm reactions Heggessey said that all rights issues Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s most to start later in the year. from most fans who don’t like the changes regarding Doctor Who have been resolved exciting and original characters. He’s had a Showtime’s Jeremiah has had its made with the new season. If you missed and that she has green-lit scripts from good rest and now it’s time to bring him season split into two after screening seven the start of either show’s current season, award-winning writer Russell T Davies. back! episodes in five weeks. It is not yet known the next couple of months will be repeats It is far too early in the day to discuss “The new series will be fun, exciting, if it will return in January or not or just of those episodes. possible storylines, characters, villains or contemporary and scary. Although I’m sometime in 2004. Just in case, here’s info As of press time, there are rumors of a who might play the Time Lord - it is only in the early stages of development, on the next few episodes. Crossing pending Farscape press conference that unlikely anything will be on screen for at I’m aiming to write a full-blooded drama Jordan sees Thunder Mountain bringing is likely to announce some sort of continu- least two years. which embraces the Doctor Who heritage, new towns into the Alliance, but drawing ation of the series in a mini-series format. Doctor Who will be produced by BBC at the same time as introducing the Daniel’s attention and bringing Mister Various reports are that the production Wales in conjunction with Mal Young, character to a modern audience.” Smith a vision too awful to contemplate. In offices in Australia are gearing up for Controller of BBC Continuing Series. No budget has been set for the new Running on Empty, wanting to savor his making more Farscape. The executive producers will be Mal series; the number of episodes and their dish of vengeance while it’s hot, Jeremiah Dark Shadows looks to rise from the Young, Russell T Davies and Julie duration is under discussion. It will be a joins Markus and Kurdy in a sting to grave once again, this time for The WB. Gardner, Head of Drama BBC Wales. family show, but no details are available as smoke out Daniel’s raiders. In Milhaven, They have ordered a pilot from Dan Curtis Russell T Davies’s writing credits to when it will be scheduled. Mister Smith gives Erin a disquieting productions for next fall. Curtis will team include Bob and Rose, Queer as Folk, Following on from the official press message from God. The Question sees Mr. with producer John Wells (“ER,” “The The Second Coming, Touching Evil (with release, reports have indicated that the Smith faced with permanent paralysis, but West Wing,” “Third Watch”) with the Paul Abbott) and The Grand. BBC is looking to do twelve 45 minute he is confident of a miracle; his friends at pilot script being written by Mark Mal Young says: “Doctor Who is a episodes as two parters that can also be Thunder Mountain fear he will be disap- Verheiden. much-loved, truly iconic piece of televi- made available as six 90 minute programs. pointed and are more concerned about the sion history. It’s time to crank up the Writer/producer Davies has indicated that army Markus is building and Kurdy is TARDIS and find out what lies in store for he will start writing the series after the first training. In The Past is Prologue Kurdy The Doctor. of the year and only after writing has been has to trust Lee when he returns to a town “We’re thrilled to have a writer of going on will casting start happening. - and a load of trouble - he left behind Russell’s caliber to take us on this

Page 4 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 LoTR (Cont’d from page 1 ) a $25 ticket via the online auction sites. Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin and the rest and the stakes get higher, the intimacy of For a more reasonable, but limited, option, fight Sauron’s armies. It is rumored to be the storytelling and emotions get tighter they sold out, knowing full well that the Fan web site TheOneRing.net has been running three hours and 30 minutes, but and smaller, until you end up with two demand would far outstrip the supply. facilitating ticket exchanges to bring fans may end up longer. Some last minute beings literally on their hands and knees, Unfortunately, New Line did not work together that need tickets with fans who filming was happening in New Zealand as struggling to defeat an enormous evil. Yet, things out in advance with the theatres for have extra tickets and aren’t interested in late as October with director Peter instead of wrath and revenge, they have to the advance sales, leading to lots of going the eBay route. Jackson wanting to make the final movie look inside for forgiveness, for in forgive- confusion all over the country. Some If you would like to have more than a the best of them all. ness there is redemption, not just for a theatres sold tickets only online, some 30 minute break between movies, you can From the web site StarECentral.com handful of characters, but for all people. sold them only at the box office, some still catch the extended versions of the comes this quote from Jackson that pretty There is tremendous value to standing promised to do both, but found their first two movies in the two weeks leading much sums up what he thinks the movie together for a common cause at times of online ticketing systems couldn’t handle up to the third. accomplishes: “As the story gets bigger great risk and looming destruction.” the demand and fans attempting to get Starting December tickets online were left empty handed. One 5th, the extended theatre intended to do online sales only Lord of the Rings: and when they couldn’t get it to work, The Fellowship of finally made them available at their box the Ring will play office. Some people after being told that three or four times their online purchase failed were surprised each day for a week at to find out when their charge card bill the single screen that arrived that the purchase did in fact go is allowed to show it. through and they had tickets waiting for On December 12th, them to pick up at the theatre. Some the extended Lord of offered meal packages with the tickets the Rings: The Two while some offered reserved seating so Towers will begin its that you wouldn’t have to wait in yet run for four days. another line come Trilogy Tuesday. Here Tickets should still be in Arizona, Harkins intended to do online available from most sales in addition to box office sales, but theatres, although I the moviefone system never came up and would suggest you all 400 of the tickets sold at the box office get them in advance regardless of which screening you are going to. Here in Arizona, they will be at the Harkins Arizona Mills theatre and in Tucson at the Century Theatres 20 Park Place.

The Trilogy Ends

To tide you over until the extended version of The Return of the King next fall (maybe they will do a week long run of extended trilogy screenings?), the theatrical edition of the final movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy will debut formally on Dec 17th in less than 20 minutes to fans waiting in (following the Trilogy line. Demand in Tucson at the Century Tuesday screenings Theatres 20 Park Place was not as strong on Dec 16th). Just and many Phoenix Fans ended up buying from what happens in tickets for that location via their online the third book (plus system. Frodo and Sam’s Many of the major cities had such encounter with strong demand that extra tickets going up Shelob carried over for auction on eBay have been going for from the second $200 to $300 each with a VIP pair in Dallas book), the third movie going for $1,000 each! At this point, if you promises plenty of want to take part in Trilogy Tuesday you action and drama as will either need to have a very good friend Sam, Frodo and who waited in line that day or can’t get off Gollum make their way work or spend a good deal more money on to Mount Doom and Gandalf, Aragorn, Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 5 IN MEMORIAM science fiction firmly based on established Hal Clement Memorial the escalators - one of us going up, the physics, chemistry, and astronomy. His by Jacqueline Lichtenberg other going down, hardly ever going in the Hal Clement novels often depicted highly imagined same direction! Jim Cryer alien worlds; the most famous was The news of Harry Clement Stubbs’ But others saw him just this week at Diane Elliott Mission of Gravity, set on a heavy, fast- passing came by email this morning and I another convention, vigorous, happy, burst into tears. We’d been friends and active. He passed away in his sleep, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach spinning planet where the force of gravity is several times greater at the poles than at colleagues since the early 1970’s, often having lived-lived-LIVED until he died. Darlene Rutherford the equator. His last novel, Noise, was doing panels together. He helped me sell You’ve all seen the reviews of his latest published earlier this year. my first novel, HOUSE OF ZEOR in the novel NOISE or maybe read it. Writers Hal Clement Clement was named a Grand Master by mid-1970’s. never retire! 1922-2003 the Science Fiction Writers of America in In Sept. 2003 at TorCon, the World No doubt you’ll be seeing full Memo- 1999. Among other honors was a Retro- Science Fiction Convention in Toronto I rial posts everywhere for a while so I got to show him the current reprint of that won’t repeat his prodigious bibliography Harry Clement Stubbs, who wrote Hugo Award in 1996 for his 1945 story novel in SIME~GEN: THE UNITY TRIL- and list of achievements. science fiction as Hal Clement, died in his “Uncommon Sense”. OGY and we celebrated that triumph of his If you don’t know “who” Hal Clement sleep, October 29, 2003, at his home in Clement is survived by his wife Mary, judgement. That was the last hug I got is or what he’s written — google on “Hal Milton, Massachusetts. Mary, two sons George and Richard, Born in 1922, Clement was a high from him. Clement” for a list of sites providing daughter Christine Hensel, and grandson At conventions, we had developed a enormous amounts of information. Locus school teacher whose fiction gained a Jackson. reputation as quintessential hard SF -- tradition of waving or shaking hands on already has a post up at http:// www.locusmag.com/ and will no doubt do a big feature with precious photos from their archives. If you’ve somehow managed to miss reading his classic novels, grab them for your children and grandchildren in acid- free paper editions. You won’t regret it. Yes, science will go stale as it does - but beyond the science his books had true entertainment value. With Robert A. Heinlein & , , Edward E. Smith and a handful of others Hal Clement was (I hate that word) the most profound influence on my own development as a writer. I was an abject fan of his work long before I met him — and one of the highest high-points of my life was being accepted by him as a colleague despite that fannish adulation. It was only later - in the mid- 1950’s that I encountered Marion Zimmer Bradley and the next generation of writers. The first book I ever special-ordered through a bookstore was Cycle of Fire by Hal Clement - then I went in every single day begging for copies to have arrived. When finally I got a copy, I didn’t do my homework. I READ! And never regretted it. Hal Clement was a fan first, and a professional writer (and fan-artist) second. He was often FAN ARTIST GUEST OF HONOR at conventions, exhibiting his space-scapes. The kinship I feel with him is based in that sense of profession melding seamlessly into hobby and expressing itself in fan activity (fanac). He was a professional scientist and teacher BECAUSE he was a fan of science — but to him the value of science lay in how it affects people on the deepest psychological levels. I loved that man. Live Long and Prosper, Jacqueline Lichtenberg [email protected]

Jim Cryer 1943 - 2003

Jim Cryer passed away on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 from a massive heart attack. He was 60 years old. He is sur- vived by his wife Marsha, daughters Julie & Lisa and sons Dale and Donny. Jim was a long time fan who was active

( Cont’d on page 7 ) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 In Memorium (Cont’d from page 6 ) preacher in the Evangelical Congregational Jinxed, Hexed, or Cursed: I was at the American West gates, as far denomination and was assigned to the How I ruined Harlan Ellison’s away from where I needed to be as you in PFFS, CASFS, U.F.P and TARDIS and Mount Culmen Evangelical Congrega- return to Arizona, Part 1 can get and still remain within the same was a member of John and Candy Fong’s tional Church near Bowmansville, terminal. I raced upstairs, found my video group. He worked on over 50 Lancaster County. The following year he By Shane Shellenbarger vehicle, and motored to the other end of served as associate pastor of First conventions and was chairman of the terminal. I raced downstairs, found the CopperCon 18 and CopperCon 22. Jim Evangelical Congregational, Reading, and In Al Capp’s comic strip, “Li’l Abner”, Southwest Airlines Arrivals monitor and served several terms as President of in 1977 served a one-year term at Trinity the character of Joe Btfsplk (the last name CASFS and was a member of the board of EC Church, Womelsdorf. gasped: the plane had arrived at gate C8! I pronounced as a “Raspberry” or a “Bronx directors for several years. He regularly An active member of First Fandom, quickly scanned the nearby crowd: no cheer” by Capp) was known as the world’s was historian for our local conventions, Eshbach was Guest of Honor at the World Ellison’s! I scanned the nearby busi- was CASFS archivist for 18 years and was Science Fiction Convention in 1949 and biggest jinx. When Btfsplk would enter a nesses: no Ellison’s! I scanned the nearby a familiar sight setting up his cameras the World Fantasy Convention 1995. room under his trademark dark rain cloud, security area and departure gate: no throughout the convention. He is survived by a son, Daniel R., bad fortune befell those poor souls in the Ellison’s! Less then ten minutes in Phoenix Womelsdorf; five grandchildren and 10 general vicinity. On September 9th, 10th, and and I had already lost the Ellison’s! Diane Elliott great-grandchildren. Services were held October 7th I knew what it was to be jinxed. As my panic began to rise, something 1970-2003 Saturday, Nov 1, at Lamm & Witman I didn’t know it at the time, but the began to worry at the back of my mind. I Funeral Home Inc. in Wernersville, PA storm clouds began to gather in March of had seen two elements that didn’t jive, Diane Elliott passed away on Nov 9, with burial in Forest Hills Memorial Park in 2002. I had persuaded Harlan Ellison to didn’t make sense. Looking back at the 2003 following an illness that led to Reiffton. make a return speaking engagement to departure gate I noticed that there were pneumonia. She was 32 years old. She has Arizona. In 1999, a Lode Star Grant had Darlene J. Rutherford-Wilson too few people walking through the gate long been active in fandom since she was facilitated his previous talks at Glendale a teenager. She has been involved with 1937-2003 for a plane to have so recently arrived. I Community College and Arizona State many clubs and groups including The also noticed that the gates that lay beyond United Federation of Phoenix (where she Darlene June Steiner was born on University West. This time, a Learning were the B gates! I turned 180 degrees, was Captain), TARDIS, CASFS (Board November 22, 1937 in Ellsworth County. Grant would pave his and Susan Ellison’s spotted the C departure gate, and sprinted Member and Secretary), Staghold, and While living in New Mexico s he became a way back to the Valley of the Sun. over. I repeated my scanning and still The Phoenix Filk Circle. She had been writer, selling over 30 short stories. In the It was the afternoon of September 9th, found no Ellison’s! However, people were committee or staff for several conventions. late 1995 she moved to Phoenix to be near 2003 and I had taken and hour off from still streaming through the gate and after She had many friends in fandom who will her mother who had recently retired to work so that I could shower and change five minutes of repeating to myself, miss her very much. She will especially be Glendale. After her retirement she started before picking up the Ellison’s at Sky “they’ll be along any second,” a head of missed by Dave Rood, Lee Whiteside and writing again, and had just published her Harbor Airport. Just to be safe, I checked silver platinum hair beside an autumn her parents, Ken and Mary Elliott. An first full-length novel, Haunted! A the current arrival time of their flight and redhead came into view. Hugs all around, online memorial will be set up at Paranormal Mystery, writing as Darlene J. discovered that their plane had quite the an explanation of a stop for a Nathan’s www.sftv.org/diane . Wilson. Darlene was a direct descendant tailwind. The plane would arrive ten of Daniel Boone and was a member of the hotdog, a heavy sigh of relief, and we minutes early. No need to panic, I told Lloyd Arthur Eshbach Boone Family Research Association. She headed for my vehicle. 1910-2003 was active in Mensa in the 1960’s. She myself; I can still make it to the gate before I walked confidently to where I had left became a very active member of the the Ellison’s. Staying within the law, I got the Vue and I couldn’t find it! Back and Lloyd Arthur Eshbach died Oct. 29 at Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. in to Terminal 4, spiraled my vehicle up to the forth, up one aisle and down the next, car 3:50 a.m. in the Evangelical Congregational 1973 and served as the editor of their best parking level I could find, and parked alarm key fob in hand and thumb mashing Church Retirement Village in Myerstown, newsletter, Southwinds, for several years. fairly close to the elevators. I made it the alarm button and still no vehicle. The PA where he had resided since March She was also a science fiction fan and downstairs, looked around and discovered Ellison’s went to wait in a closer approxi- 2001. participated at several conventions on ( Cont’d on page 8 ) Born June 20, 1910 in Palm, Pennsylva- panels about writing nia, Eshbach, grew up in Reading. He and publishing in the discovered science fiction at age 15 and field. She had many began writing letters to the magazines, hobbies including then his own stories. In 1929, the third photography, jewelry story he wrote sold to Science Wonder making and gardening Stories. and was working on Continuing to write stories and several novels at the articles, Lloyd briefly published two time of her death. magazines in the early 1930s, Marvel Tales Darlene passed away and The Galleon. In 1946 he founded on Monday, October Fantasy Press a small press which 13, 2003 at Hospice of published the work of authors such as E. the Valley in Glendale, E. Smith, Jack Williamson, Robert Heinlein Arizona after a short and John W. Campbell Jr. battle with cancer. Between 1946 and 1950, Fantasy Press Services were held on published 32 books. They included the Sunday, October 19, first hardcover editions of many of the 2003 at Greenwood works, had small press runs and in total Memory Lawn. For only about 120,000 copies were printed. In those who wish to 1952 he formed Polaris Press to publish 2 make a donation in her more books. memory instead of Lloyd went on to write several novels, sending flowers, mostly late in his career. The last one, The contributions to the Scroll of Lucifer, was published in 1990. Humane Society of His memoirs, Over My Shoulder: Reflec- Central Arizona or the tions on a Science Fiction Era, were Humane Society of published in 1982. Southern Arizona are Eshbach was a church publisher from suggested. A full 1958 to 1962. From 1962 until his retirement obituary may be in 1975 he was a salesman by the Moody viewed on website Bible Institute, Chicago. www.legacy.com Upon his retirement, he became a local

Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 7 Harlan ( Cont’d from page 7 ) down and I set up the video cameras I had lot with Stuyder, who could no more The staff members who had pulled him off brought to record this event. My dark rain understand his peers attitudes than we of me told him to get lost and sent him out mation of a temperate climate (the elevator cloud began to take form as I noticed that could. We left for Glendale Community of the hall. Later, when the photo hound lobby) and I went quietly nuts looking for there was quite a bit more room than there College and Ellison’s 12:30 P.M. talk. While got a police officer and threatened to press my Saturn. Then it hit me: I had come out were people. Ellison seemed unperturbed, traveling North on Route 101, I mistakenly assault and battery charges against me, of an elevator on a different side than I sat down and started talking to the nearest exited at Glendale Road instead of the staff relented and let him back into the had gone in on. I ran to the other side and audience member. Justin Stuyter, a proceeding to Olive Avenue. When we got hall. I hope his photos were blurry. found my Vue. I hit the unlock button. University of Arizona student and to 59th Avenue and Glendale, I realized that As I sat stunned in my Saturn Vue I Nothing. I mashed the button again. Still frequent poster at I should be in the left turn lane. Switching asked myself if it could get any worse. As nothing! I had exhausted the battery in my WWW.HarlanEllison.Com, had driven up on my turn indicator I observed the blue it turns out, it could. car alarm key fob! from Tucson. Maybe this wouldn’t be as car on my left begin to move toward the End Part 1 I stood there for a moment, thinking. I bad as I’d initially worried it would be. intersection, looked back at traffic along knew there was a way around this Wrong! the changing turn lane, spotted only a problem, but I needed the owners’ manual The event was poorly attended, people white car ten car lengths back, looked over and it was locked in an alarmed Saturn coming in and going out as classes ended and saw that the blue car was clear, and Screening Room Vue. I took the key, opened the door, and started. One young woman was proceeded into the left turn lane. I had retrieved the manual and tried not to look apparently unaware that in polite company barely entered the lane when the same Master and Commander: too guilty as I walked away from the one does not leave ones cell phone on white car I had seen back in the dual The Far Side of the World blaring horn of the Vue. I found the audible while attending a speech and then direction turn lane struck my Vue. I sat 20th Century Fox/Miramax/Universal Ellison’s, told them what was happening, take the call! She quickly learned better there, stunned. In theaters now and proceeded to search for the bit of when Ellison, justifiably outraged, I think that most of us have experi- information hidden in the owners’ manual hounded her out of the room. Upon her enced an event that was so unexpected Director Peter Weir and Russell Crowe while Harlan looked on from a chair that return, Ellison inquired about the call and that we literally cannot believe that it had join forces to create an epic adventure. resembled a throne that Conan the when he was told that it concerned the happened. We’re flabbergasted, as- Based on the series of Aubrey/Maturin Barbarian would have festooned with young woman’s ill aunt he demonstrated tounded, and amazed. The last time I could novels, by author Patrick O’Brian, the animal hides and stolen silks. After a concern and caring. The audience, with a remember feeling that way was during movie is set during the Napoleonic Wars. minute of searching while attempting to few notable exceptions (Stuyter, reporters, Phringe Con II. I had been directed to keep Crowe is Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey, block out the horn I could hear echoing and several staff members), resembled a people out of a roped-off area of the and Paul Bettany is ship’s doctor Stephen throughout the parking structure, I found herd of deer caught in the glare of Ellison’s seating for the costume contest. Before I Maturin. Their ship, the H.M.S. Surprise, the hint I needed, reassured the Ellison’s headlights. “Any questions?” Ellison could say anything to this one “gentle- off the coast of Brazil, is suddenly that I’d be driving right back to pick them repeated over and over again, attempting man”, he had walked past me and pro- attacked by a superior enemy. With the up, and returned moments later with the to engage the audience. Nothing. He ceeded to step over the rope. He had one Surprise badly damaged and much of his now relatively quiet Vue. The dark rain specifically asked one young lady what leg over when I grabbed his foot. He told crew injured, Aubrey is torn between cloud departed, at least for that day. following what he believes is his duty and th her favorite food was and he received a me to let go and I said I would if he The sun dawned on September 10 to blank stare. He tried a different tack. returned to my side of the rope. He told me his friendship with Maturin as he pursues a cloudless blue sky. After having “Ellison asked, “What does your mother told to let go and I repeated myself. He the French ship across two oceans. His breakfast with the Ellisons and thoroughly make that you like?” She responded with a agreed to comeback. I let go of his foot mission is to intercept and capture the enjoying the banter and repartee between blank stare. I couldn’t understand how and he jumped me, knocking me to the larger, better-equipped vessel before it Harlan and the IHOP waitress, we headed these students could squander the floor. I lay there in total disbelief while he enters the Pacific. It’s a mission that can for the first event of the day: Ellison opportunity that was handed to them on a pummeled me. Several members of the make his reputation – or destroy Lucky speaking to a room full of Honors students silver platter, but they did and my cloud convention staff pulled the “gentleman” Jack and his crew. at Estrella Mountain Community College. darkened. off of me and I still lay there, dumb- In the course of the journey, the After exchanging greetings with the After nearly two hours of speaking, founded. It turns out that this guy was Surprise travels the western world starting sponsor of the Learning Grant, Rod Ellison collected his wife, collected their determined to get the best seat in the on the coast of Brazil. They follow the Freeman, the Ellison’s put their belongings belongings, and we headed for the parking house so that he could take photographs. French vessel around the waters of Cape Horn, having to go further south because of the storms, through ice and snow, to the Pacific ocean (AKA: the far side of the world). Finally ending on the remote shores of the Galapagos Islands (becom- ing the first feature film ever to film there). Ok something of note here, the “French” ship was built in Boston. The movie was well written, very true to it’s time frame, and doomed because it expects the viewer to be intelligent. I firmly believe that movies like these are some of the best made films, but they are written for people with the ability to understand history and appreciate that these men were cut off from their families for months and years at a time. (I over heard one young moviegoer asking why they didn’t start the engines to gain more speed.) I give it four and a half out of five stars. - Bob LaPierre

Page 8 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 Pointless Meanderings scale, they present a promising figure When I’m Old and other stories. Bell Anthology. Compelling autobiographic sex nonetheless. People aren’t just looking for examines everything from fairy tale comics stories by several incredibly talented small by Brandon Huigens graphic novels in comic specialty stores to everyday surrealism with wonderfully- press creators. Includes work from anymore, and autobiographical comics are detailed artwork. Phoenix-local newcomer David Bessent. As children, Craig Thompson and his helping the cause tremendously. www.alternativecomics.com www.alternativecomics.com little brother Phil once peed on each other. Even so, for comic retailers to embrace, Jeffrey Brown’s Clumsy. The first of Enjoy! James Kochalka named his bicycle and order confidently, a $30 black-and- Brown’s work is an extraordinarily human Rootbeer. white coming-of-age graphic novel is and touching look at the frailty and When his ex-girlfriend would get telling of comics-specific readers becom- desperation of a failed relationship. hiccups, Jeffrey Brown would pat her on ing more willing to treat comics as Brilliant, youthful, and honest. the head softly three times because “bless worthwhile literature. Balancing a comic www.theholyconsumption.com you” seemed inappropriate. Alternative Comics’ True Porn Joe Matt has over twenty video tapes store budget is a tricky he’s recorded favorite moments from business, and while porno films. He loops the “highlights”. most retailers would Brandon Huigens tried masturbating love to stock small with an egg. press (including Odd characteristics such as the ones autobio) titles, the fact described are normally exclusive to the is super hero books most personal of friends. These quirks, always sell. Having however, can be savored in an intensely gone back for a second growing entertainment genre: autobio- printing in less than graphic comics. two months after its’ Blankets Since the late 1960’s, autobiographic release, (and comics have slowly become the most several other incredible poignant and relevant brand of comics on publications) is the market. R. Crumb. Vaughn Bode. proving Batman and Harvey Pekar. Art Speigelman. These Spider-man don’t have names are the stuff of comic book legend; to pay all the bills. their myriad achievements range from cult The satiation of worship to the Pulitzer, and they continue relating to a person is to make their presence felt in many forms fantastic, if only of media, as with the recent movie momentary. If only in a depiction of Pekar’s life, American comic book. Splendor. In addition to Blankets Making these creators’ presence felt as , there are strongly as the creators themselves are a several other amazing talented new breed of cartoonists and auto bio comic books storytellers incorporating intensely on the market for personal life moments into their art. The consumption. Give sharing of one’s life’s private, sometimes these a try: shameful moments, makes for a cleansing, James Kochalka’s Sketchbook Diaries. affirming experience for both reader and creator-all involved are assured that they An eclectic, hilarious, are absolutely not alone in their peculiari- and deviously simple ties. look into the everyday In many cases, and certainly in this life of a cartoonist/ instance, the most important thing in art is rockstar. Originator and to relate to an audience; autobiographic master of the daily comics easily vault this hurdle, streaking comic. This guy is across the finish line miles ahead of their king. well-known counterpart in tights, the www.americanelf.com super hero. But as the super hero Jennifer Oliver continues conquering new heights in Daydreamer’s . cinema, the autobiographic comic is slowly An enchanting, making it’s way to the collective con- ethereal dream on sciousness of comics fanatics and paper. Haunting and mainstream American readership. phantasmal. Take for instance, the recently released www.topshelfcomix.com Blankets by Craig Thompson. This black- Jim Mahfood’s Stupid Comics and-white graphic novel is a 592-page tour . The de force is one of the most poetic, hip-hop influenced, accessible, and beautifully rendered pieces funk-infused evil of literature ever published. As such, it has genius himself spins sold unusually well in chain bookstores wit and cynicism about such as Borders and Barnes and Noble. society’s dumbest. “If According to Chris Staros of Top Shelf you’re not angry, Productions, between ten and fifteen you’re not paying percent of the book’s initial print run of attention” comes to 10,000 were sold at chain bookstores. mind. While these numbers aren’t impressive in www.40ozcomics.com Gabrielle Bell’s

Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 9 http://www.leprecon.org/ “Space Available- Science Fiction Class Signings ConClusion http://casfs.org/cucon/ in Maricopa County http://www.westercon.org/ Community Colleges” A Fantastic Duo: Stephen Donaldson, Las Vegas Comic-Con Craps Out http://www.leprecon.org/wfc2004/ By Jeffrey Lu Michael Stackpole January 17, Saturday at By Shane Shellenbarger index.html 12 pm Signing at Poisoned, 4014 N http://www.whc2004.org/about_us.htm In the spring 2004, there will be a Goldwater Blvd., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ I’ve been attending comic book http://home.globalcrossing.net/~otsp/ science fiction class for three credits in 85251, Tel: 480-947-2974, Toll Free: 888- conventions since 1972; I’ve attended the whc98/ Phoenix College, Scottsdale Community 560-9919, FAX: 480-945-1023, San Diego Comic-Con (also known as http://www.worldfantasy.org College, Glendale Community College, and [email protected] Comic-Con International San Diego) since http://worldcon.org/ Mesa Community College. The course will 1973; I’ve worked on and attended be under English: Literature & Humanities- Ursula K LeGuin LepreCons, PhringeCons, CopperCons, ENH 120: The Literature of Science Fiction. and other Genre Authors at Westercons, World Horror Cons, World FYI In Mesa Community College, this class Arizona Book Festival April 3rd. Fantasy Cons, and World Science Fiction will be on Thursday Night at 7:10 P.M. to Conventions. I have a good idea what The Dragon Page Launches Weekly SF 9:50 P.M. Dr. Craig Jacobsen, residential The Arizona Book Festival will be makes for a good convention. Las Vegas Radio Show on KFYI faculty of the English Department, and Mr. featuring several genre authors on their Comic-Con was NOT a good convention. By Gary L. Swaty Tim Florshuetz, Writing Center Director, main stage this coming April 3rd. The I can’t speak about how good or bad will be teaching this course for years to festival’s main guests will include Ursula the Halloween Masquerade Party was The folks at Dragon Page have started come. K LeGuin, Alan Dean Foster and Diana because I refused to pay the $18.00 a good thing, a weekly Science Fiction “The class is mostly an historical Gabaldon. CASFS and LepreCon will also admission ($28.00 if you didn’t have a Radio Show on KFYI 550 AM. Their first survey, so it tries to cover most of the be hosting many of our local authors at convention membership.) I didn’t go to the live broadcast was Saturday November history of the genre,” replied Dr. Jacobsen. the CASFS booth and as part of a likely Gaming Area, the Anime showings, and I First at 8 p.m. It is scheduled to be “The class material will contain programming block. Look for more details didn’t try to collect any of the Show broadcast every Saturday at the same time. analysis of literature including plot, theme, in the next issue of ConNotations. Premier collectibles (see ConNotations Vol. Hosts are Michael R. Mennenga and Evo setting, and characterization. Students will 13, Issue 5, page 12.) However, I was in the Terra. The show has an excellent web page write essays,” said Mr. Florshuetz. Dealers Room (Exhibitors Hall) a good deal at www.dragonpage.com. They had a fan The books planned are Wells’s The The Matrix Trilogy of the time and I attempted to attend table at one of our recent conventions, Time Machine, Pohl’s The Space Mer- By Bob LaPierre Staff Writer panels. I say, “attempted”, because the LepreCon I believe. chants, LeGuin’s The Left Hand of information about times and locations of Their first live show began with a well Darkness, Delaney’s Babel-17, Gibson’s I had occasion recently to view the panels was hazy at best and totally orchestrated interview with R. A. Neuromancer, and many other readings. complete Matrix Trilogy using three obscured at worst. The program informa- Salvatore. He discussed the changes in different formats. I caught The Matrix on tion didn’t detail the panelist’s names or characters and audience of Fantasy over Arizona Author Publishes Debut Novel HBO, watched The Matrix Reloaded on the length of the panel, and the start times the years. How the female readership has DVD, and had a pass to go to the preview were often missing. Programming was gone from thirty percent up to fifty percent Dear CASFS, of The Matrix Revolutions. I will hence- treated as an after thought without much and how the genre has many more strong In good’s darkest hour, its greatest forth refer to them as Matrix, Reloaded, thought being given to either the attend- female characters than it had in earlier hero emerges. and Revolutions. Matrix was remarkable ees or the panelists. days. He said his Dark Elf series is coming EPSILON, my debut novel, is the story for the new way of looking at action The Exhibitors Hall was good sized, out in Collectors’ editions from Wizards of of college student Jack Remmler, who is scenes. It was also the only stand-alone with about 270 exhibitors. However, for a the Coast. He said that while he regarded drafted into a galactic war between good (can anyone say “Star Wars”?). “comic book convention,” comics were his writing as primarily escapist he hoped and evil. Given an armored battlesuit, he The basic story was the search for and woefully under-represented. If you wanted there was something to learn included as becomes the Cosmic Protector assigned to finding of a mythical being known as “The autographed pictures of “scream queens” well. He observed that Fantasy/Escapist Earth. But it isn’t long before Remmler One”. Neo (Keanu Reeves) is a program- (Denice Duff), Penthouse Pets (Sandra Literature does better during times of realizes being a superhero is not as mer and hacker who desires to contact the Duff) or Reese from “Malcolm in the recession and war. glamorous as it seems. After dealing with greatest hacker of them all Morpheus Middle” (Justin Berfield), then this was the He took a call from a listener concern- horrific street crime first hand, he comes (Laurence Fishburne). Morpheus sends place to be. Attendance on Friday was ing the perceived lack of new SF fran- face-to-face with his own mortality as two another hacker Trinity (Carrie-Anne weak, with walkup attendees breezing right chises in TV and movies. Star Trek is superpowered villains threaten to ignite Moss) to make contact and bring Neo to in (I was pre-registered, but they had to ending, Star Wars, LOTR. What is next? the flames of war in the Middle East. him. Morpheus explains to Neo that the look over several lists before they could (This harked back to the prototype This is not your typical superhero world as he knows it is merely a computer find my name.) Saturday was better recorded show previously aired on KFYI). story. Unlike in DC and Marvel stories, program. He offers him a choice of waking attended, with Sunday on a par with Next was the Dragon Bytes segment. EPSILON features no elaborate technol- and seeing the real world or remaining in Friday. Several people told me that First they discussed the incredibly bad re- ogy (except that of non-terrestrial origin). the Matrix. After bringing him to the real attendance was in the range of 3,000, but make ideas coming out of Hollywood It also takes geo-political issues into world they begin his training. Slowly they no one could (or would) tell me how many these days. i.e. Herbie the Love Bug Meets account. One of the best ways to describe show him how he can do anything he can were three-day, two-day, or one-day NASCAR, Six Million Dollar Man as a it is Marvel Comics meets Tom Clancy think of within the Matrix. Neo is able to memberships. comedy starring Jim Carey, Taxi, Starsky meets The X-Files. slowly develop his powers until they are The bottom line is this: LVC-C needs and Hutch, Wild Wild West, etc. Next came For more information, you can go to greater than any of the humans and rivals more programming and more structure. the Top 10 Movie Monsters vs Top ten www.amazon.com , www.bn.com even the control programs (known as Pocket programs with a time/location grid TV Monsters The contention was that the www..com , where you can view an agents). separate from the Souvenir Book would be Movie Monsters didn’t stand a chance. I excerpt of my novel, or my web site, http:// Morpheus is caught, as a result of one a good investment. I’d like to think that must confess I couldn’t make sense of this home.att.net/~therustsays . of his people turning traitor, and ques- some of the convention committee has segment as they weren’t consistent with Thank you for your interest. tioned as to the location of the last human attended other conventions. My hope is their monsters as far as I could tell. The Sincerely, settlement Zion. During this questioning that they can learn from the senior top Ten is to be a regular feature. Hope- John J. Rust we see that agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) is conventions that do the work well and fully it will work better next time. It was Prescott, AZ developing differences from the other avoid the problems that cropped up in this funny and entertaining while they were agents and seems more self-aware than the freshman attempt. delivering it. others. During the rescue we see some of http://www.lasvegascomiccon.com Over all I would say that this program the greatest camera work to date. Neo and http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/ is a wonderful addition to our valley SF Trinity shoot it out in the lobby of the scoop_article.asp?ai=3747&si=124 information repertoire. I look forward to http://www.comic-con.org/ hearing it again and again and ... ( Cont’d on page 11 ) Page 10 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 Matrix (Cont’d from page 10 ) Merovingian (Lambert Wilson) a smug- place in the Matrix with millions of Smiths and allows the intelligent watcher to know gler ala The Frenchman in Casablanca. looking on. It is a complex scene, taking what happened and why. I will say that federal building that Morpheus is being Except what the Merovingian smuggles place in four places. First it starts on a although the first movie was primarily a held in. The carnage is remarkable; the are programs. He has a number of associ- rainy street lined with Smiths watching, thrill ride the others were more of an entire scene takes less than five minutes ates that are left over from previous then they smash their way into a work- intellectual thrill ride. but stays with you as a key scene of the incarnations of the Matrix. He also has, as shop for a few minutes followed by the Four stars. See them all but pay movie. his prisoner, the Keymaker (Randall Duk superman routine in the air and finally attention, there are no hidden meanings They rescue Morpheus and are Kim). finishing in a crater created when they but there are hidden plots. pursued by the agents and finding an exit During the rescue of the Keymaker we crash to the ground. point Morpheus and Trinity escape but are treated to a car chase that rivals Overall despite what the critics say the agents shoot the phone before Neo ANYTHING you have EVER seen or they were extremely fun and the third can use it. In the ensuing chase Neo probably will ever see. This was a throw- movie DOES give a sense of completion comes into his full powers and disrupts back to the great chases agent Smith (this is important). Neo is now of the seventies with the thought to be the single most powerful technology of the 21st entity within the Matrix and he threatens century filmmaking. The ConKopelli the computer in the final scene. DVD has an incredible Jump forward six months. Reloaded special on how the chase and Revolutions take place in the next was created. I watched it Westercon 57 seventy-five hours. The story follows twice to get all the both Neo’s quest to free the people details. July 2-5, 2004 trapped in the Matrix and Zion’s attempt to The second movie defend itself. First it brings us the informa- ends with the info that Litchfield Park, Arizona Neo can now affect the machines outside of the Matrix. But he C.J. Cherryh - Author Guest of Honor collapses and is seen unconscious in the David Cherry - Artist Guest of Honor infirmary just prior to the dreaded words Diana Gabaldon - Local Author Guest of Honor “To Be Concluded”. Revolutions starts Heather Alexander - Music Guest of Honor with Zion looking for the missing ships and John Hertz - Fan Guest of Honor their crews. After they find Niobe (Jada Our Theme: Mythology of the SouthWest Pinkett Smith) the story follows the attempt to discover Membership: what is wrong with Neo. Discovering Location: Supporting: $30 where Neo is requires Attending: $70 thru a return visit to the Merovingian and a Wigwam Resort 1/31/04 spectacular shoot out. 300 Wigwam Blvd. When Neo is returned More later and at the door to reality he says he Litchfield Park, Arizona must go to the machine world to end 623 -935-3811 tion that the location of Zion has been the conflict. The others Rooms: $105 discovered. And that the machines would including Morpheus and break through in 72 hours. We finally see Niobe return to Zion to Suites: $135 Zion and her defenses. The sets are make a last stand. The Room rate includes gratuity for wonderful and give you a real sense of battle for Zion takes up bellman (check in/out), maid Contact Info: them being real locations. much of the movie; it is a service, as well as unlimited use Then within the Matrix, we get the spectacle worth the price of the Health Facilities, Valet and information that the Oracle is missing. She of admission by itself. The ConKopelli is found again and with her new guardian machines tunnel in Resort Parking, Bicycles, Shuttle Ghost (Anthony Wong). During the initial through the roof of Zion to Wigwam Outlet Mall, Croquet, Westercon 57 encounter with Ghost Neo learns that and we get to see incred- Putting Green, Basketball Court & PO Box 67457 there are “back doors” in the system and ible battle armor in use. In-room coffee. that Ghost is an important program in his Neo meanwhile travels Phoenix AZ 85082 own right. After his discussion with the to the Machine City and Oracle Neo gets into the most spoofed spends much of his energy 602-973-2341 scene from the movie, the fight scene with destroying combat [email protected] hundreds of Smiths. During the encounter machines. When he finally we find out that Smith is now “unplugged” arrives and sees the master Web: www.conkopelli.org and we see him convert another agent into machine they come to an a duplicate of himself. agreement Neo must Other programs and several new destroy Smith to save characters are introduced. Including Zion. The battle takes

Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 11 Page 12 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 Calendar of Events -December 2003-January 2004 To have your event or meeting listed please email [email protected] - Deadline for Feb/March Submissions - January 15, 2004 (This is a free service. All release dates are tentative) DECEMBER 2003 DECEMBER 12 - FRIDAY JANUARY 2004 JANUARY 20 - TUESDAY

DECEMBER 2 - TUESDAY Meeting: CASFS - 8PM at JB’s I-17 & JANUARY 2 - FRIDAY DVD-TV: Stargate SG-1 Season 5, Indian School. Info [email protected] Jeremiah Season 1 DVD: Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Movie - LOTR: The Two Towers (Ex- DVD-TV: Tremors IV: The Legend Begins Black Pearl tended), Crust (Limited) JANUARY 23 - FRIDAY DVD-TV: Alias Season 2, Deep Space JANUARY 3 - SATURDAY Nine Season 7, Lost World Season 1 DECEMBER 13 - SATURDAY Movie: The Butterfly Effect, Mindhunters, Meeting: TARDIS 602-864-0901 Big Fish DECEMBER 3 - WEDNESDAY Meeting: UFP Video Watching info@u-f- JANUARY 6 - TUESDAY p.org JANUARY 24 - SATURDAY Meeting: ConNotations Staff Meeting - DVD-TV: Babylon 5 Season 4 7PM at JB’s I-17 & Indian School. Info DECEMBER 16 - TUESDAY Meeting: Picnic/Rocket Launch info@u-f- [email protected] JANUARY 10 - SATURDAY p.org Movie: LOTR: Trilogy Tuesday DECEMBER 5 - FRIDAY DVD: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Deadline: ConNotations Submissions JANUARY 25 - SUNDAY Meeting: UFP Workshop/Rocket Building Movie: LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring DECEMBER 14 - SUNDAY [email protected] Meeting: SouthWest Costumers Guild - (extended), The Last Samurai, Parasol Covering: 1PM at Stephanie’s HIghwaymen Meeting: SouthWest Costumers Guild - JANUARY 9-11 — FRIDAY-SUNDAY Info: www.southwestcostumersguild.org Once More Into The Breeches: 1PM at DECEMBER 6 - SATURDAY Jean’s Info: Event: DarkCon 2004 Info: JANUARY 27 - TUESDAY www.southwestcostumersguild.org www.darkcon.org Meeting: ConKopelli - 2PM at JB’s I-17 & DVD: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Indian School. Info [email protected] DECEMBER 17 - WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13 - TUESDAY Country Collectors Edition, House of the Meeting: CopperCon 24 - 4PM at JB’s I-17 Dead & Indian School. Info Movie: LOTR: The Return of the King DVD: Freddy vs. Jason DVD-TV: Dark Shadows Collection 10 [email protected] DVD-TV: Lost in Space Season 1, Spider- Meeting: TARDIS 602-864-0901 DECEMBER 19 - FRIDAY man Season 1, Xena Season 3 JANUARY 31 - SATURDAY DECEMBER 7 - SUNDAY Event: Fannish Holiday Open House & JANUARY 15 - THURSDAY Meeting: TARDIS 602-864-0901 Meeting: AZ Game Days - Shield of Almor Potluck at Craig & Stephanie’s - 6PM Info: Meeting Info: www.nyrond.org [email protected] Deadline ConNotations Ad deadline Meeting: ConNotations Labeling & Potluck - Stephanie’s house 4PM - Info DECEMBER 20 - SATURDAY JANUARY 16 - FRIDAY [email protected] Meeting: TARDIS Holiday Party 602-864- Event: Fannish Open House & Potluck at DECEMBER 8, 9 - MONDAY/TUESDAY 0901 Craig & Stephanie’s - 6PM Info: [email protected] TV: Battlestar Galactica miniseries (SciFi) DECEMBER 23 - TUESDAY Movie: Torque INFORMATION LINE DECEMBER 9 - TUESDAY DVD: Jeepers Creepers 2 JANUARY 17 - SATURDAY For up to date information on each month’s CASFS and fan sponsored DECEMBER 25 - THURSDAY sci-fi related events call (602)973-2341 DVD-TV: Buffy Season 5, Firefly Complete Event: A Fantastic Duo: Stephen and select option 3 for a pre-recorded Series Donaldson, Michael Stackpole 12 pm Movie: Peter Pan, Paycheck message. There is also a weekly email Signing at Poisoned Pen - 480-947-2974 update. If you wish to receive the DECEMBER 31 - WEDNESDAY Meeting: TARDIS 602-864-0901 email update send your email address to Stephanie at [email protected] Meeting: UFP New Year’s Party info@u-f- p.org Ongoing Events Wednesdays New Comics Arrive! Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 6pm Hero Clix Tournamets Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 6pm Mech WarriorTournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com Thursdays 6pm Camarilla Anarch Game Kiwanis Park www.titheofsouls.com 6pm Dragonball Z Tournaments Atomic Comics-Phoenix www.atomiccomics.com\ Fridays 6pm Magic the Gathering Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 7pm Anime Club Meeting Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com Saturdays* 3pm Mage Knight Tournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 3pm Classic Battletech Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 4pm Hero Clix Tournamets Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 4pm Star Wars CCG Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 4pm Magic Tournaments Atomic Comics-Paradise Valley www.atomiccomics.com Sundays* Noon YU-GI-OH Tournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 3pm Dragonball Z Tournament Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 3pm Creepy Freaks Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 13 “The Art of Nemo” narrated by the artists, so I borrowed the neighbor’s kids.(ages 7, Dark Angel Season 1 a truly delightful “Exploring the Reef” 9 and 11) The game seemed to hold their Fox Home Video, 999 minutes Videophile short film with Jean-Michel Cousteau, attention fairly well but did require some DVD $59.98 Marlin, Dory and Nemo (enjoyable enough adult participation and the 7 year old Finding Nemo that I’ve watched it several times), Pixar’s mainly wanted to watch the stories. Dark Angel was one of TV’s more Lilo & Stitch’s Island of Adventures DVD short Knick Knack with and without Overall the kids all gave it a hearty interesting tough-girl action shows. Max, Game commentary, a Fisharades game, a Read- “thumbs up”. (Jessica Alba) and hundreds of other Indiana Jones Trilogy Boxed Set along story, Learning fun with Mr. Ray’s The set also includes a movie poster children were bred and trained as a super- Dark Angel - Season 1 encyclopedia, a behind the scenes tour of from Stitch! The Movie. I’m not sure this soldiers but escaped the government Disney’s Brother Bear Sing Along the Pixar Studios (interesting but not as would have been a choice if I had been compound where they were being held. Disney’s Sing Along Songs Very Merry interesting as the one on Monsters Inc), looking for something to purchase but all Many were recaptured but some managed Christmas Songs character interviews which were a riot, in all it seems to be a good family activity to elude their pursuers and blend into The Brave Little Toaster - 3 titles sneak preview of an upcoming 2004 film and should be a welcome gift this holiday society. Aided by Logan, a semi-paralyzed Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Looming release and lots and lots of virtual season for the kids on your gift list. - crime fighter known as “Eyes Only”, Max Thunder aquariums. (Please note that the VHS Stephanie L Bannon looks for others like her while still eluding Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Lightning version does not include any of the extra capture by Lydeker, who is hunting all Strikers features.) Indiana Jones Trilogy Box Set those who escaped the Manticore I am sorry I missed this feature when it Paramount, 359 minutes, PG Experimental Complex. Finding Nemo was in theaters, it is one of the most DVD $69.98 This is a wonderful series that de- Walt Disney, 100 minutes, G delightful films I’ve seen in years. Truly a served much better treatment than it VHS $24.99 , DVD $29.99 “must have” for any movie collection even Finally the Indiana Jones trilogy has received from the network. Created by if you do not have children. - Stephanie L been released on DVD. All three movies James Cameron and Charles Eglee the Finding Nemo continues Pixar’s run of Bannon have been lovingly restored frame by series gave us a dark complex world that quality films and, as they did with the frame and are wonderfully crisp and clear, has been shaped by biological super- Monsters Inc DVD release, this 2-disc set Lilo & Stitch’s even the 22 year old Raiders of the Lost science run wild and a partial social combines a wonderful film (both wide- Island of Adventures DVD Game Ark looks as if it was filmed this year. collapse caused by damaged technology . screen and full screen presentations) with Disney, $29.99, NR There is no real reason to review the films It was a setting that truly offered our a set of extras that would be worth the themselves as everyone is familiar with heroine, Max, and hero, Logan, the chance price of the set all on their own. From the back cover: “Family enter- them by now. Along with the wonderful to really make a difference The basic story of Finding Nemo has tainment reaches a cosmic new level with restoration of the films themselves, the This 6 disc set contains all 22 episodes an over-protective father, Marlin (Albert this ever-changing island adventure that story here is the extras that have been from the first season as well as some great Brooks) searching for his kidnapped son, you don’t just watch, you play! LILO & included, and those that are absent. The extras. The extras include Commentary by Nemo. In this case, Marlin is a clown fish STITCH’S ISLAND OF ADVENTURES most notable lack is the lack of a commen- Charles Eglee & David Nutter on pilot includes two full-length Lilo & Stitch tary track but the 2 hour documentary episode, Commentary by Charles Eglee adventures and a revolutionary new DVD almost makes up for that. There are lots of and Renee Echevarria on “Rising”, game that takes you inside the world of behind the scenes glimpses and interviews Commentary by Charles Eglee, Renee Lilo & Stitch -- it continues the story of with a plethora of people, actors, crew Echevarria, and Charles Woolnaugh on your favorite Disney movie and expands members, stuntmen and even bit players “And I Am a Camera”, Commentary by the home entertainment experience on like Alfred Molina. Michael Weatherly and Jessica Alba on DVD. Get ready for an all-new experience, This is a “must have” set for the “...And Jesus Brought a Casserole”, because you’ve never watched a DVD like Indian Jones fan though I would really Featurettes: Dark Angel, Genesis, Seattle this before!” have enjoyed a commentary track with Ain’t What It Used to Be, Creating an X-5, This combination DVD and game George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Audition tapes, Gag reel/bloopers and the contains two new full length Lilo & Stitch Harrison Ford. - Stephanie L Bannon James Cameron’s Dark Angel video game adventures as well as an interactive game trailer. ( Cont’d on page 15 ) that has 10 levels. Lilo has accidentally and his son has been kidnapped by a released scuba diver who put Nemo in his office hundreds of fish tank. Marlin, with the help of a Stitch’s scatterbrained blue tang fish named Dory experimental (Ellen DeGeneres), searches for his lost cousins and the son, facing sharks, deep-sea anglers, player needs to poisonous jellyfish, sea turtles, pelicans, help round and along the way he learns about them up. friendship, fatherhood and letting one’s Whoever children grow up. collects the The DVD extras include the usual most experi- deleted scenes and commentary. Follow- ments wins the ing a recent trend in DVDs the commen- game. Experi- tary option includes the deleted scenes ments are during the actual film, an option I find collected by annoying and disruptive. However, unlike winning an on other DVDs that have chosen this method, screen game, Finding Nemo offers the option of performing an watching the commentary on the deleted activity or scenes separately from the film, a choice I following whole heartedly approve of. Other DVD directions from features include the various theatrical a character. trailers, a “Making Nemo” documentary, I’m not a big game player Page 14 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 Videophile ( Cont’d from page 14 ) completely as it did her younger brothers. their opinions yet but judging by the new friends -a fan, a microwave, a calcula- All in all the DVD was a success and a enjoyment they’ve had from the VHS tor, a bag of cheddar-flavored popcorn, Season 2 of this great show is now welcome addition to their movie collection. version this will be welcome addition to and “the contraption in the junk drawer” - available on DVD and will soon be added - Stephanie L Bannon their Disney collection. - Stephanie L the friends go to Mars and bring Robbie to our collection. The only thing better Bannon home safely. would be if it had gone on for more than Disney’s Sing Along Songs These films vary in quality with the two seasons. - Stephanie L Bannon Very Merry Christmas Songs The Brave Little Toaster first installment, The Brave Little Toaster, Disney, 53 minutes, NR Disney, 90 minutes, G being the best of the lot. The Brave Little Disney’s Brother Bear VHS $14.99 , DVD $19.99 The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars Toaster To The Rescue opens up some Sing Along Songs Disney, 73 minutes, NR disturbing questions about using animals Disney,44 minutes, NR Unlike most of Disney’s Sing Along The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue for research purposes that some parents VHS $14.99, DVD $19.99 titles this one is not a compilation of theme Disney, 74 minutes, NR may wish to avoid. The Brave Little songs from movies. Instead we have VHS $14.99 each , DVD $24.99 each Toaster Goes To Mars seemed to be an This DVD lets you and your kids sing, songs (22 on the DVD, 13 on the VHS) that attempt to stretch the series farther than it dance, and play along with your favorite celebrate Christmas, blending traditional The Brave Little Toaster is an ani- should go. That said, all three are sure to Disney songs. It is easy to learn or follow favorites with Disney’s trademark anima- mated tale of friendship, loyalty, and hold the attention of children aged 5 or the lyrics because the words appear right tion. I am reviewing the DVD version. courage which tells the story of five younger though parent may wish to watch on the screen. Join Rutt and Tuke -- the The 30-minute program begins with electrical appliances in search of their with the youngest children to explain some wisecracking, sidesplitting moose brothers Mickey Mouse singing an original song, young master, Rob, who has mysteriously things they might find upsetting to begin from Disney’s Brother Bear as they lead “From All of Us to All of You,” while Chip disappeared. The unhappy Toaster with. The Brave Little Toaster has a you through 9 sing-along songs and 3 and Dale scamper around the Christmas rounds up Kirby the vacuum cleaner, making of feature as an extra but other dance-along songs from Brother Bear, tree. Other songs include Donald Duck Blanky the electric blanket, Lampy the than that the DVD and VHS versions seem Treasure Planet, 101 Dalmatians Ii, singing “Deck the Halls”, Santa sings “Up bedside lamp and Radio the radio, and similar in features. I am reviewing the DVD Stitch! The Movie, along with a “Find It!” on the Housetop.” as he plunges down together, they set off to search for their versions - Stephanie L Bannon word game, spelling activity in a “Letter the chimney and the rendition of “Joy to beloved owner. ( Cont’d on page 16 ) Puzzle”, and reading activity in a “What’s the World with hundreds of animated The Brave Little Toaster To The This?”challenge. The DVD features fairies dancing through a snow-covered Rescue reunites the five appliances as random and repeat play options to keep forest before they transform into glisten- they set out to rescue their new friends at the kids occupied for hours. The VHS ing stars is truly unforgettable. the local veterinary hospital who are going features the songs without the extras. The DVD includes a Words of the to be sent to a testing lab. My 2 year old nephew was delighted Season vocabulary game, a Very Merry The Brave Little Toaster Goes To and his 5 year old big brother enjoyed it as musical game and a Create-a-card activity. Mars follows Toaster, Lampy, Radio, well. My 7 year old niece thought it was This is going to be a stocking stuffer for Kirby, and Blanky as they try to find fun but it did not hold her attention as our nieces and nephews so I don’t have Robbie, the master’s baby, who has been whisked off to Mars. With the help of their

Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 15 Videophile ( Cont’d from page 15 ) Hotel Vendome individuals who have stayed in Abby’s whatever they lost in the past. Counting By Dawn Mullan room number sixteen have experienced the few other felines, as well as humans- Power Rangers Ninja Storm: unusual activities. two female and one male- the Hotel From opening doors to doors that Vendome houses more than a guest may Looming Thunder Ever entered a place, either a home or Lightning Strikers won’t stay shut, floating cold spots, believe is awaiting them. store, and had your hair stand on the back smelling rose perfume, or hearing cat So if you are planning to take in the Buena Vista, 79 minutes each, NR of your neck? Ever seen or heard some- VHS $14.99 each, DVD $19.99 each verbalizations, the Hotel Vendome is home scenic view of northern Arizona and find thing that could not be rationally ex- to Arizona’s two friendliest ghosts. yourself staying at the Hotel Vendome plained? Perhaps you have encountered Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Light- However, these two entities are not the beware what lurks in the shadows. You the paranormal. only ones who reside at this haunted just might find that you are not the only ning Strikers says on the back cover Being a wild-west state, Arizona has “Every Ranger knows you should never destination. There are other spirits who guest assigned to your room. many stories of card games, shoot outs, cling to the property in hopes of regaining trust an evil space Ninja, but Choobo and outlaws. History scores with a scheme that changes the runs deep as we build balance of power in the universe! Hunter statues and museums and Blake are warped into thinking the to explain our rich Wind Rangers are their enemies. The background. In these resulting Megazord battles and Toxipod places if one would tangles land all the Rangers on a sinking close their eyes and island to sort things out by battling each listen to the wind, one other! There’s a cold wind blowing toward might hear the a knock-down, drag-out fight when shuffling of cards, the Choobo takes the Scroll of Empowerment ringing of gun fire, or in hand. Only the combined force of a the whispers of men. super Thunderstorm Megazord could For many places in defeat this twisted evil.” Arizona, the past lives Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Looming as some individuals Thunder says on the back cover “Just refuse to move onto when the Power Rangers are learning to their heavenly combine forces as a team, a devious plot destinations. threatens to destroy their friendship--and The Hotel the fate of the Rangers. Dustin’s new Vendome in Prescott, motocross buds seem too cool to be true Arizona is not above to Tori and Shane, but Dustin can’t resist exception. In the early their high-speed lifestyle. It’s no coinci- 1900’s a couple dence that the trouble begins as soon as bought the hotel, but they arrive, from atrocious space monster lost ownership due to attacks to the arrival of two mysterious unpaid taxes. The new Thunder Rangers who steal their prized owners allowed the Tsunami Cycles! Dustin is forced to take a couple to occupy the hard look at the meaning of friendship place free of charge when Sensei is captured. It’ll take all the for the price of being muscle, courage, and ingenuity of a the hotel’s caretakers. combined Power Rangers team to mount Unfortunately an awesome Megazord battle, defeat before she married, ferocious Ninja Spirits and journey to the Abby Byr was mountain of Lost Ninjas to rescue Sensei diagnosed with and save the world.” consumption; a These two entries in the Power Ranger debilitating disease series seem to be much better produced that would someday than earlier series. I will state here that I extinguish her life. did not actually watch them but the That day came earlier youngsters at our open house (6-12 years than she had expected of age) seemed to enjoy them quite a bit. as her husband went From their reactions I’d say that any out one day for her Power Ranger fans of your acquaintance medication and never will enjoy these and ask for the rest of the returned. Later, Abby series. - Stephanie L Bannon was found dead. She starved herself in the depths of grief and despair taking her cat Noble with her into the hereafter. Though the story is sorrowful, the emotional trauma has left an indelible scare on the manor. Many people who have stayed at the hotel, especially those

Page 16 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 are very clever, and heart-warming. couple with that are interesting. And how Christmas time in Regency England, with In Our Book “The Best Gift” is sort of a Cinderella being stranded in this humble place makes impoverished misses and lonely, brooding tale. An impoverished young teacher at a them all more aware of what they have and lords, this is definitely your cup of tea. The Changeling Plague girl’s school is swept up by a viscount who they are than if they had continued Earl Grey, of course. - Sue Martin by Syne Mitchell bachelor uncle to take care of his 15-yar- on their journeys to fancy manor parties, Roc Books, 327 pp., $6.99 old niece over the Christmas holidays, etc. because her parents have decided to go to And Christmas works its spell once This is a near-future hard science Italy at the last minute. (And for me this more. ( Cont’d on page 18 ) story, which remains prosaic until the was a very weak plot point. But there you A very charming tale to end this book second half. Then things get a little go.) with. fantastic, while staying down to earth until ANYWAY, the impoverished teacher If you love the warm fuzzies set at the very end. And a nice surprise ending it has a Christmas with the viscount that is, so I shan’t say more. she’ll never forget. It is Let’s back up to the start: technology very sweet. (All these has advanced some in genetic engineer- tales are, of course) ing, microbiology, and computerized The fourth story is virtual reality. An accidental release of a called “Playing House” lab virus devastated the world and led to a and entails another ban on recombinant human gene research. impoverished miss who Then along comes a sick rich kid who realizes after her father, funds illegal research to cure his cystic the rector, dies, that she fibrosis. Unexpected result: a new world- can no longer afford to wide genetic plague, an airborne cancer keep her family together virus. Meanwhile, an outlaw hacker and and the younger sister his girlfriend are trying to catch the rich and brother most go to kid. With the help of a lady scientist they other households for do, and the whole USA goes into panic- fostering. And this is mass-quarantine mode, then the whole their last Christmas in world does. New unexpected result: the their village cottage. hackers figure out how to use the new Determined her brother disease to modify the human body, making and sister have a themselves and their friends into memorable holiday, she superbeings. Now it starts to get fantastic, goes to the local lord, but the social reactions stay realistically the Marquess of hardball politics. Read this and see what Bedford for help. When the future may bring, no kidding. - Michael she was younger, she Griffin had had a tendre for him, but nothing Under the Mistletoe developed from it and by Mary Balogh they went their separate NAL Trade Paperback, 249pp, $12.95 ways. Until this Christmas I am a Regency Romance fan girl, and of course. The have been for sometime. I read any and all Marquess of Bedford is of them. From the proper sexless ones, to a single parent of an the ones so steamy you need to close the adorable lonely four- door! year-old, who This collection of five Christmas- immediately takes a themed stories by Balogh is right in the liking to the spinster middle. There is some sex, but it is woman and her younger tastefully done in these tales. Balogh is a siblings. grande dame of this genre and these are The final tale “No all easy on the eyes and warm on the Room at the Inn” is a heart. very clever take on a So find your comfy slippers and your poor couple who come favorite chair and snuggle up with this. to a shabby inn were a The first story, “A Family Gathering” is variety of the Quality a new tale, written for this book, the others have been stranded by are previously published. unrelenting rain. The And all are just delightful. young miss is about due The first one deals with an unhappy and of course, the only couple who married and had a child and place for them might be then lived separate lives. A house full of the stable.... guests and children, remind the couple of Of course, they are what they really have. And the miracle of given a room, and of Christmas brings them together. course a healthy baby “The Star of Bethlehem” is ale of boy is born on another unhappy, but childless couple, Christmas. who fight and love constantly. But then, But it is the right before Christmas, a beautiful characters Balogh engagement ring is lost and the surrounds this young machinations of all involved to replace it Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 17 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 17 ) filled with gore or supernatural beings. machinery. War interferes bringing with it humans to their genetically engineered The world is well-crafted and frighteningly a new contract. She finds danger and creatures, designed to explore Jupiter. A Haunted believable, the characters are well profit. The crew of veterans her father sent 1986 story from Pat Cadigan follows, then by Darlene Wilson developed and compelling and the action are enchanted, but she loses one of them all the rest are from 1997-2001. Gems by iUniverse.com, 192 pages, $13.95 is non-stop. I was extremely surprised to and learns that some things cost dear. She Greg Egan, Michael Swanwick, Robert learn this is the author’s first novel. This grows. She fulfills the original family Reed, Michael Cassutt, Ian R MacLeod, In Haunted, Darlene Wilson weaves a book is highly recommended, go out and contract, the war contract and the Geoffrey A Landis, Stephen Baxter and story filled with intrigue, excitement and buy it right now, I promise you won’t be Agricultural Machinery contract. The Paul J. McAuley. This theme is by no danger. Grace Heathfield, a professional sorry. Book two of the series comes out in story is wonderful and carries you right means a settled idea. Some of the stories ghost hunter, accepts an assignment to May 2004 and I can hardly wait. - along. are based on rejecting the possibility clear a house which appears to be Stephanie L Bannon The characters are well drawn, the onstead of assuming it. Oddly, the most haunted. A family of three had been Pilot, the Cargo Master, Her Father, persuasive case comes from Poul brutally murdered, so the records say, but Myth-ion Improbable Mother, Her Surprising old Auntie, her Anderson’s likening brain waves to radio. the daughter’s body had never been by Robert Asprin Brother. All are believable and sufficiently What is the basis of a self-conscious found. While working her case, Grace is ACE, 208 pages, $6.99 defined for the purposes of the plot. There mind? We still don’t know in 2003 and may often reminded of her daughter, Jenny are several excellent villains without whom never. Tune in to this book for a variety of Gray Eyes, who disappeared so many I found this book to be written in a there could no story. The Universe is well answers. - Michael Griffin years ago. more simplistic style than the previous built and well defined. You are there. You Some of the chief characters are MYTH novels, almost as if he had written live it. You breathe it. You experience it. It Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits veterans of the Viet Nam war. They it for the “young adult”. So I went back to is complex and dangerous enough to sate by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson provide an aura of mystery laced with the Author’s Note, and found out it has anyone’s lust for well a delineated Ace Trade Paperback, 266 pps, $14 sinister undercurrents. Carter Stanton, been, for him, seven whole years since he universe. I recommend the book – Gary owner of the local newspaper, takes a had written any MYTH books. No wonder, Swaty I am a sucker for Robin McKinley. I personal interest in Grace after she the poor man forgot how to write them. A have always loved her writing, (hopefully I consults him about the murders. Eric friend of his made the suggestion of going Agents of Light and Darkness am not denigrating either writer: Mckinley Madigan, a disliked rival, appears in town back and writing about a simpler Skeeve A Novel of the Nightside has very much the flavor of Ursula Le hired by someone to investigate the and Aahz story. That is what Robert did by Simon R. Green Guinn in her “Earthsea” books) and this haunting. As the story unfolds, Grace’s and the result is this story. ACE, 240 pages, $6.50 collection is no disappointment. Peter involvement with the two men takes a The story is set in an earlier time when Dickinson, her husband, adds some startling turn. Skeeve was Court Magician for the King We were introduced to detective John interesting stories of his own. There are six Ms. Wilson has painted her characters of Possiltum. One day Skeeve pulls out Taylor in Something From The Nightside stories in all, three by each author. All the with a bold brush, allowing them to draw this treasure map which leads them, in a in which we learned that John is not a tales have water and water creatures as the reader into their lives, thus moving the really roundabout way, to the Kowtow private detective per se. He has a literal their central theme. story along to its exciting conclusion. - dimension. Along the way they pick up “third eye” that gives him a real knack for The first two, “Mermaid’s Song” and Mildred McCloskey our favorite green haired would-be finding lost things. We also were The Sea King’ Son.” are just out-and-out assassin, and a shape shifter, who is in a introduced to The Nightside, an delightful fairytales. The first deals with an Way of the Wolf guise that leaves Skeeve’s tongue almost otherworldly realm in the center of London orphaned young girl who lives with her Book One of The Vampire Earth hanging out. Their mission is to go after a where it is always night and humans share grandparents. The grandpa is severe and by E.E. Knight golden cow that gives gold-laced milk and space with monsters, ghosts, gods and strict, but the grandmother has some ROC, 400 pages, $6.50 lives in a gold palace. Little do they know, demons. kindness in her. Before she dies, she Kowtow is a place of vegetarians, heck- In this second novel of the series John teaches the girl a humming song that has From the back cover: “Louisiana, 2065. bent, oops, I mean, hell-bent on protecting is on a quest for the Unholy Grail, the been passed down for generations, a mer- A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the their cattle and--really, truly afraid of goblet from which Judas drank at the Last song. Because the mer-people saved the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural things that come out after dark. Supper. The problem is that a whole bunch first inhabitants of this island they live on. hunger, the bloodthirsty Reapers have Would I have paid full price for this of other people are looking for the Grail as After the grandma dies, the girl and her come to Earth to establish a New Order book? Probably not, unless it was the only well, including a host of angels, both grandfather go down to the sea, to hunt built on the harvesting of human souls. book on the shelf at the airport and I was those from on High and the Fallen... and for things washed up. The girl finds a They rule the planet. And if it is night, as looking for a book to read on the flight these are not the sweet cherubs of myth, wounded mer-child, a “sea child”, trapped sure as darkness, they will come. home. But I liked it and I’m glad that it’s these guys are NASTY, even the angels in a tidal pool. And her grandfather, But on this pitiless world, the now in my library. - Helen “April” Rice from on High. excited by the find as he thinks this will indomitable spirit of man still breathes in A few characters make repeat make them money, goes to find some men Lieutenant David Valentine. And his Trading in Danger appearances from the first novel, most to help catch her. mission is to win back Earth...” By Elizabeth Moon notable Shotgun Suzie, and we learn a little The young girl hums the song to calm The story: In a near-future earth where Del Rey 2003, 294 pages, $24.95 more about John’s mysterious past. This the mer-child and then sets it free. Of interstellar vampires have conquered the is setting up to be an intriguing series that course when Grandpa comes back, she world humans are viewed, at best, as Elizabeth Moon has added a new blends Lovecraftian horror with the hard innocently says, “What Sea Child?” slaves, and at worst, as a food source. The stone to her crown of triumph. This book boiled detective novel of the 1950’s. Even The second story, “The Sea King’s story follows David Valentine as he joins is separate from her Families Regnant the supporting characters are interesting Son,” is just a lovely fairytale romance of a an elite group of guerilla fighters who are series. It is a classic coming of age story. in their own right. I strongly recommend young woman who dares to cross a bridge trying to drive the vampires from earth, The daughter of a wealthy merchant trader this novel and eagerly anticipate more in the Sea King has cursed. There she meets back to the world from which they came. washes out of the military academy. Her the series. - Stephanie L Bannon. the Sea King’s son and the two become The resistance offers several ways to life long dreams of adventure and a career friendly and share each other’s lives. She serve but David chooses to become a in the military fall down in ruins. Her father Beyond Flesh takes to the sea and learns how to breathe Wolf, the most difficult of the paths. As a assigns her the run as commander of the edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois underwater, and he comes to her world Wolf he is thrust into the very heart of the family’s oldest trading vessel. She is to ACE, 200 pages, $6.50 and learns to walk and breath on land. battle, whether it is leading escaping deliver a Cargo out to the edge of The course of true love never runs humans from the vampire controlled areas civilization and once there sell the ship for This excellent anthology is on the smooth, naturally, and such is their tale…. into the human controlled “free zones” or scrap, a milk run. theme of mind-without-body, But there is a happy ending. being thrust into a covert operation deep Unplanned difficulties ensue. consciousness taken up by machines, Now, the third tale, “Sea Serpent” is in the heart of vampire controlled cities. Opportunities rise which prove irresistible computers, energy beings or new bodies. confusing. The action surrounds one god This is not your typical vampire novel, for she has trading in the blood. She It starts with Poul Anderson’s 1957 classic who wants to move a ring of standing it neither romanticizes vampires, nor is it decides to acquire and deliver agricultural Call Me Joe, about mind transfers from ( Cont’d on page 19) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 18 ) disorder which makes her flighty and whatever is software has an automatic Master of Middle Earth: The Fiction of stones to another site. The goddess of the ineffectual. visual image on a computer screen. Take J.R.R. Tolkien current site of the standing stones sends a Hetta, our heroine starts having that cliche away, and an enitre subgenre by Paul H. Kocher huge sea serpent to harry the men the god dreams about Damar (or Daria as it is also vanishes. Hmmmm, yes, an anti-visual Del Rey, 247 pages, $12.95 gets to do the moving. called) Very real and vivid dreams. One virus..... or you could just enjoy the story. Dickinson spends a lot of the story’s night, she even wakes up with sand in her A trio of young teens, two orphaned In this entertaining and informative time to go into great detail describing the nightie from a visit to one of the Watchers brothers and a girl, work as cyber- book Paul Kocher examines the sources building and using of the raft to float the in the desert of Damar. detectives for their adult employer. It’s the that Tolkien drew on in creating Middle- stones and the magic used to track the Poor Hetta keeps having dreams, near-future New York City with more Earth and it’s inhabitants. Covering The serpent as they cross an estuary. The which usually involve the handsome and advanced virtual reality simulation. The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, descriptions, well, I cannot picture them slightly mysterious Watcher named danger? If you don’t unwind from your The Silmarillion as well as lesser known easily. There’s too much of this in a short Zasharan. headset use and motion-effects chair, you works such as Leaf by Niggle and Smith of story. So, for me, the tale wasn’t very As hopeless as her life seems, Hetta may get mentally damaged. Add to this an Wootton Major this comprehensive guide satisfying. Struggling to get what he was may have found her REAL world in her evil corporation using a hidden domain as covers most, if not all, that you would telling me, I didn’t care much how the dreams of Damar. a data hideout. This is part two in a series, want to learn about Middle Earth. Topics story ended. All in all, this is really a great selection with a continuing cast of characters. covered include Why Aragorn is the most The fourth tale, “Water Horse,” was a of stories, the weakest being “Sea Luceno, a Star Wars novelist, has added misunderstood character in The Lord of story about a young woman named Tamia Serpent.” Nevertheless, I don’t think some classic series touches. The main the Rings and its true hero; the origin of who has a mother and a step-father, and you’ll be disappointed by this book. It’s a cyber-villain Scaum is actually the Sauron as well as the nature of evil in her best friend is a pony. She like so many wonderful endeavor to be enjoyed by advance agent for aliens who can possess Tolkien’s universe, and how Tolkien’s fairytale heroines, is sort of a third wheel lovers of fantasy. - Sue Martin bodies or software. One of the hero kids ideas of morality, religion, and social order in her family. She gets unexpectedly has a special destiny with computers. As underlie every aspect of his life’s work. picked by the Water Guardian to be her Legends II Scaum says, “He was designed to be With the renewed interest in Tolkien’s apprentice and of course, a whole new edited by Robert Silverberg different.” If you like adventures in cyber- work due to the Lord of the Rings movies, world of growing things and water magics Del Rey, 656 pages, $28.95 space, this will do. - Michael Griffin this is an indispensable guide to is opened for her. Her family is delighted understanding the meaning in Tolkien’s to let her go. Eleven best selling writers present Smallville: Shadows work. - Stephanie L Bannon The tale shows how she and the old short stories set in the special universes by Diana G. Gallagher woman get along, and how she learns to they each created. Some are set before the Tales Before Tolkien: lay special pebbles in a pool to help events of their books, some after; some This book I found somewhat The Roots of Modern Fantasy control violent storms that come in from feature familiar characters while others interesting, a whole new batch of edited by Douglas A Anderson the sea and would flood the land, save for introduce new ones but all are stand alone criminals, created by a “mad scientist” and Del Rey, 432 pages, $14.95 the Water Guardian’s efforts. stories. This collection compiles stories ta-da, green Kryptonite, aka glowing green Of course, the story gets more intense, from Terry Brooks, Orson Scott Card, meteorite rock. Hooo.....strange things Edited by Douglas A. Anderson (The as the Water Guardian falls ill, and the Raymond Feist, Diana Gabaldon, Neil happen around that stuff. Superboy, Annotated Hobbit), this book collects 21 untested apprentice must try her magic Gaiman, Elizabeth Haydon, Robin Hobb, whoops, I mean Clark Kent watches as an classic stories and one verse by such against a ferocious Water Horse George R.R. Martin, Anne McCaffrey, old caretaker dies right before his eyes and masters as George Macdonald, E. Nesbit, threatening all with inundation. Robert Silverberg and Tad Williams. he is powerless to do anything to help H Haggard and James Branch Cabell The choices Tamia makes are Possibly the best of an extremely good him. Some of that green rock, don’t you that influenced Tolkien. Included are such wonderful and this tale comes to a very lot was Elizabeth Haydon’s Threshold. It know. He scans the area to see if any thing gems as Andrew Lang’s romantic satisfying conclusion. tells the story of five friends who are left about the land has any of the green rock in swashbuckler, “The Story of Sigurd,” “Kraken” is another charming tale of to guard what remains of civilization on it. Not a thing. Too bad he doesn’t have which features magic rings, an enchanted mer people and very, very star-crossed the verge of destruction after the rest of telescopic or microscopic vision yet. By sword; a brave hero loved by two lovers. the people have fled to safety. The the end of the novel, he kills one of the beautiful women and cursed by a A young sea princess does the characters courage and honor will live in criminals with his heat vision, does not ferocious dragon; E. A. Wyke-Smith’s unexpected and saves two drowning your memory long after you are finished save the mad scientist and his daughter “The Marvelous Land of Snergs” about lovers who fling themselves off their ship with the book. from certain death (not to mention the people “only slightly taller than the when pirates attack it. Inexplicably drawn Other notables stories are Orson Scott other criminals), and saves Lana yet again. average table.” and a never-before- to them, she saves them, but at a cost. Card’s The Yazoo Queen, a tale of Alvin Mmmmm....where’s Krypto when you need published story by David Lindsay called Possibly to the destruction of her whole Maker and the mighty Mississippi, with a the little dog? “A Christmas Play”. undersea kingdom. But she is a brave and couple of guys named Jim Bowie and Abe As a fan of the family of El (including This delightful collection would be fearless princess (like all good fairy tale Lincoln and Diane Gabaldon’s “Lord John the Legion of Super Heros in the 30th/31st enjoyable even without the extra added princess should be). She makes a hard and the Succubus,” a supernatural thriller century) this whole premise is crazy, attraction of learning about the influences decision, which will save her kingdom and featuring Lord John Grey and set in the unless you accept the fact that it takes that helped shape Tolkien’s Middle Earth. the lovers...possibly at the cost of her life. early days of the Seven Years. The only place in a different universe other than our A must for both the fantasy fan and the Again, Dickinson goes into a lot of disappointment was Anne McCaffrey’s own little humdrum universe, all part of the Tolkien fan. - Stephanie L Bannon detail on how the sea princess rides a Beyond Between that tells us the fate of a great mass of the multi-verses. At least, “blue fin,” including a great many details dragon who fails to return from between. that’s how I have to accept it, otherwise A Forest of Stars of the harness, etc. I assume a “blue fin” is All in all, while I don’t generally enjoy the inconsistences of the series and books The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 2 a tuna…put perhaps it is a euphemistic short stories each of these was quite a would really begin to pile up on me. by Kevin J. Anderson name for a dolphin. satisfying read, even the ones whose Anyway, I had a good time reading it (and Warner Books, 464 pg., $24.95 Still, this is a nifty story. world I was unfamiliar with. Definitely a again and again and again, I was stuck in The final tale…ahhhh is a tale must have for the fantasy fan. - Stephanie Piasa). I liked it and I would recommend it The Forest of Stars is a novel of epic connected to the world McKinley wrote of L Bannon to anyone, especially to fellow fan. - Helen fantasy masquerading as sci-fi. Humans in “The Hero and the Crown” and “The “April” Rice have rediscovered an ancient technology Blue Sword,” two of my favorites by her. Web Warriors: Dimension X which allows them to ignite gas giants, This meaty tales concerns a woman by James Luceno turning them into new suns. What they constrained by circumstances into a very Del Rey, 198 pages, $6.99 don’t know when they test this gray world. Her domineering father makes rediscovered tech is that the gas giants are her do all the chores and clean because This juvenile series is mainly for kids inhabited by a technologically advanced the mother has an unnamed nervous who like to play computer games. Such race which is not pleased when one of stories require the unrealistic cliche that ( Cont’d on page 20 ) Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 19 ) entries that cover more than 150 ships, some well drawn characters. It makes for a Singularity Sky along with brand new, full-color very enjoyable read. - Pam Allan by Charles Stross their planets is destroyed and millions of illustrations by Ian Fullwood. It has been Ace, 313 pp, $23.95. their people killed. updated to include vehicles and vessels Tathea Mr. Anderson has written a masterful from all five movies, the novels of the New by Anne Perry Singularity Sky is Mr. Stross’s first story which intertwines six major plot lines Jedi Order, comics, TV specials, and ACE, 522 pages, $23.95 novel. into a beautifully woven tapestry. His games. and Faster than light travel is reality, and a characters are well developed and Inside you will find detailed profiles Come Armageddon super AI has been born. Four centuries engaging. Mr. Anderson is a wonderful and vital statistics for each vessel, by Anne Perry later, there are many far flung colonies writer, unfortunately he appears to have including data covering the vehicle’s ACE, 512 pages, $$24.95 over thousands of light years of space. slept through all of his high school construction, size, maximum speed, and its They are beginning to rediscover each science classes. His glaring science errors role in Star Wars history; a Layman’s other. made it impossible for me to maintain my Guide to Technology, covering common Tathea is touted as a fantasy novel One colony, the New Republic, is willing suspension of disbelief. If you terms applied to each class of vehicle, an when it is, in fact, a religious allegory faced with an unusual invasion. Neither don’t mind things like; outline of the engine technologies that about a woman on a quest to find God and new or a republic, it is static society Having a character stand in an oxygen/ drive the craft across the Star Wars galaxy, spread his teachings. The story follows founded in fear of future shock. hydrogen atmosphere while enjoying the and their unique weapons as well as the Empress Tathea as she flees her native Technology and advances are taboo. view of lightning flickering in the clouds schematics for each vehicle. land of Shinabar in search of truth and When the “Festival” arrives with a plague on the horizon. The artwork in this volume is gorgeous meaning in The Lost Lands. She finds a of information and technology that throws or and the detail seems to be well researched book that contains the word of God that that world into chaos. The earth sends a Having a character which lets his pet though there are some distracting typos she is supposed to share with the rest of battle fleet to save the world, they have doves exercise by letting them fly free, in that could have been avoided with better the world but, unfortunately, the world their own myriad agendas. Who is the the atmosphere and gravity well of a gas editing. All in all though, this is a worthy doesn’t want to hear. Festival, and what do they want? giant. addition to anyone’s Star Wars collection. Come Armageddon continues the And frankly, who wants to be or - Stephanie L Bannon story of Tathea 500 years after the events rescued? Having a character who’s family owns of the first novel. Granted immortality so Information, no matter if on a a water ice planet, and who’s business it is Starhawk she can “spread the word” Tathea returns superhighway, or on a rural cow path, can to supply water to millions of people so Battle at Zero Point from exile to find the warriors who will change the world. The question before that they can produce the oxygen they by Mack Maloney fight Armageddon. While she manages to them, [and us] is the usage. need to survive in hostile environment ACE, 341 pg., $6.50 find the warriors, Asmodeus, the What will result from the clash of ideas colonies, go out and spend months alone personification of the ultimate evil, refuses and perceptions? This is a fascinating collecting interstellar gas from a nebula Book three of the Starhawk series to strike. He prefers to wait until the book, hard to put down, and this reviewer because it is the most plentiful source of ended with the protagonists using a warriors are too old to fight. The forces of will look forward to seeing what Mr. Stross hydrogen available. device to disappear from known space. In Light sacrifice one of their own to force does next - Pam Allan Then by all means enjoy this book. But book four, Battle at Zero Point, we find the issue but in the end the battle comes if you are like me and want plausible out that our band of heroes were bodily down to Tathea vs Asmodeus. Blade Dancer science in you sci-fi this book is not for transported to heaven. Unknown to our Being a real fan of Perry’s Victorian by S.L. Viehl you. - William B. Whitmore heroes the opening of their gate also mysteries I was disappointed in these ROC, 314 pages, $22.95 opened a second gate, a gate strait to hell. books, the plot is thin and preachy and, The Gates of Dawn This sets the stage for the climactic battle even worse, the characters are poorly Jory Rask is yor run of the mill pro by Robert Newcomb of good Vs evil to determine the fate of the drawn. Supporting characters wander in athlete with a large fan base. Until her Del Ray, 467 pp, $26.95 universe for the next million years. and out and their names as so similar it is mother dies and then her secret is out. She While book three of this series was a difficult to tell them apart. I read the is a despised half-breed. Stripped of all her The Gates of Dawn is the second delightful romp in the absurd Battle at second with the hopes it would be better assets and deported from earth as a volume of the Chronicles of Blood and Zero Point goes to far. It is a bizarre story than the first but it wasn’t. I can’t pauper Jory now must travel halfway Stone. with an unbelievable plot and cheesy recommend these. - Stephanie L Bannon across space to carry out her mother’s last For three hundred years, the kingdom action. The characters returning as angels wish. Then the story gets complicated. of Eutracia was at peace. The attack of the with supernatural powers is bad enough Vincalis the Agitator Blade Dancer is a novel of treachery Sorceresses of the Coven were finally but the battles are even worse. by Holly Lisle and deceit, pride and honor, bigotry and defeated, but at the price of a royal palace I was very disappointed with this final Warner Books, $6.99, 591 pg. slavery, and what “family” truly means. in ruins, a lawless kingdom, with the prince book in the Starhawk series and would This is a very complicated story with many a wanted man. Below the ruins of the not recommend it to any one. - William B. The civilization of the Dragon empire is plot twists and surprises. The characters palace, Prince Tristan, his sister, Shailiha, Whitmore filled with wonder. Magic supports cities are well developed and likable. While and the wizards, Wigg and Faegan have floating in the air and provides beautiful Blade Dancer is set in the Stardoc gathered to restore order, and save the Devlin’s Honor art for the amazement of the privileged. But universe it is not part of that series. This is kingdom from the loss of magic entirely. by Patricia Bray at a price, a terrible terrible price. an excellent novel that I enjoyed a lot and I This is a classic epic fantasy with Bantam, 390 pp, $5.99 For Wraith that price is far to high. He heartily recommend it to you. - William B. flawed heros, and supernatural evils, is determined to bring down the empire to Whitmore prophecies, and the battles between good Devlin’s Honor is the second volume save the souls of all those lost to power and evil. Everyone lacks pieces of the of the Sword of Change series. the magic of the Dragons. To start this Nine Layers of Sky puzzle. It also is a page turner that Devlin, formerly a smith and farmer has process he invents the play write Vincalis by Liz Williams involves you with well drawn characters, lost his family. been named a traitor in his whose works, while not openly treason, , 427 pp, $5.99 and tight plotting. This is an author to native land, has become the “Chosen are thought provoking. More importantly watch for, and a series to buy. - Pam Allan One” warrior and general for the they are popular and profitable. Profitable Nine Layers of Sky is a stand alone by conquerors of his people. Saddled with a enough to finance the rebellion. Of course the Author of the Ghost Sister. Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to spells that make him a virtual plaything of the Dragons are not going to sit still while Former Soviet Space Scientist Elena the Vehicles & Vessels the gods, he must return to his native land Wraith pulls their society down around Irinnovna is cleaning office buildings. by W. Haden Blackman to reclaim the missing “Sword of Light their ears. There is no longer a Soviet Union, much Del Rey,200 pages $24.95 while being undermined in his role as Ms. Lisle has written a well crafted, less a space program. On her day off, she Defender of Jorsk. He also must stay alive thought provoking novel. I enjoyed it very makes a run to sell black market clothes. The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and return to save Jorsk from invasion. much and would recommend it to all. - and Vessels features completely updated Devlin’s Honor is a page turner with William B. Whitmore ( Cont’d on page 21 ) Page 20 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 20 ) The Wrong Reflection The Scoundrel Worlds happily recommend this book to anyone After a border squabble she picks up a by Gillian Bradshaw A Star Risk LTD Novel looking for some light reading. - William strange black artifact dropped in the snow. Ace, 362 pp, $6.50 by Chris Bunch B Whitmore Ilya Muromyets is an 800 year old relic ROC, 338 pages, $6.99 of Russia’s past. Broken, and substance The Wrong Reflection is a change of abusing, he waits in hope of dying. pace for Historical fiction writer Bradshaw. Star Risk Ltd. is a perfectly respectable The artifact brings them together with She is also the author of Cleopatra’s Heir. company which specializes in providing the ability to create a breach between The one thing Paul Anderson is sure trouble shooters to solve difficult dimensions and a world parallel to the one of since being saved from a watery grave problems. With the emphasis in this job they thought they knew. The powers that is that he isn’t Paul Anderson. He is also description very heavily on “shooters”. If be, on both sides of the dividing wall, sure that his putative employer, Stellar violence can solve your problem, then Star want the artifact, with or without them. Research wants him dead. The only Risk Ltd is your man. Now, science and myth must combine to person who believes him is plant The tongue in cheek style of Chris discover themselves and their destiny in a pathologist Sandra Murray, who had Bunch places our Characters in a number place where dreams, and nightmares are saved his life. Promising to help him find of wildly improbable situations which they reality. If they succeed, only one world will the truth can be a problem when nobody solve using the most outrageously survive. This one is a fast paced page except them, a young artist, and a muck excessive level of violence possible. This turner filled with thoughtful questions and raking reporter want the truth to come out. book is a complete farce from cover to well drawn characters. I will be searching This a fast paced page turner with well cover. It’s Characters are unbelievably for other books by Ms. Williams. Can’t drawn characters and enough scientific exaggerated, its plot wildly dramatic and wait to read more. - Pam Allan detail to lend truth to a believable telling of the violence is grossly overdone. an incredible story. I can’t wait to read The Scoundrel of Worlds is probably Crown of Slaves more by this author. Meanwhile grab this the best satire I have read this year. It kept by David Weber and Eric Flint one, don’t wait for the movie. - Pam Allan me amused for several hours. I would BAEN, 505 pages, $25 © Sherlock

Anton Zilwicki was surprised when he received an invitation from the Queen of Manticor for a private audience, he was mare surprised when the invitation asked him to bring his 17 year old daughter Berry with him. But these were nothing like the surprise he got when the Queen told him why he had neen invited to the palace! Princess Ruth wanted to be an intelligence agent and the Queen wanted Captain Zilwicki to train her. In addition, as a security measure, she asks Berry to change identites with the princess so that she can actuall work without all the pomp and circumstances that normally accompany a royal presence. Mix in Haven’s top covert ops person, a group of Masadan Fanatic, and the Audobon Ballroom and you come up with a very good adventure which has a very surprising ending. Crown of Slaves is the first novel in a new series set in the universe of Honor Harrington. While it draws heavily on the history that has been developed in the Honor Harrington series, the authors have made a conscious effort to make this novel a stand alone book. They have found ways to insert all of the basic backround information into the story line without interrupting the story’s flow. This is a well written book by two master storytellers and I look forward to the next episode in the series. - William B. Whitmore

Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 21 BASFA Local Tuscon science fiction THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND homes. Dues are $10 per year. Mem- Club group that puts on TusCon. Contact us at STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and bership includes newsletters, an annual PO Box 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or Steel specializes in the general recreation film awards and various outings. For [email protected]. of the culture of the Middle Ages inc- information, contact PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Listings our website at home.earthlink.net/~basfa/ luding all of the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or call David Storck at Tournaments, Ceremonies and Wars) and (602) 274_7404, e_mail: [email protected]. (EDITOR’S NOTE: This list will be revamped for the coming year. Please CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE Combat Arts covering the years of 800AD check your club listing for errors and FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The up to 1650AD and any location within RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A send corrections and updates to the non-profit corporation that puts on Europe or its explored territories. For more Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of editor in writing to P.O. Box 62613, CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, information contact Bart Smith (Phoenix) the ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is Phoenix AZ 85082 or via email at HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and (602)937-6995 or Leonard Bird (Tucson) dedicated to the game Werewolf: The [email protected]) publishes Con-Notations. Best described (520)742-2432 Web: www.galandor.org Apocalypse by White Wolf publishing. as SF/F generalists with a strong bent Contact Mike McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 towards literary SF/F. Guests welcome - THE JEDI KNIGHTS Meetings are the 3rd or write 1730 W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and meets at 8pm on the last Friday of each Sunday of each month. For more informa- AZ 85202-3144 or [email protected] renaissance recreationist club. Sword- month in January thru September and the tion call Carol Alves, Publicity, (760)244- fighting, arts, banquets, masquerades, second Friday in October, November and 9593 or write Jedi Knights, c/o Jim RAW GAMES (Role-players & dances. meets every Wednesday night December at JB’s Restaurant, 2560 W. Lowerre, 12291 Meade Street, Garden Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & from 7-10pm at Encanto Park. All are Indian School in Phoenix, AZ. Write PO Grove, CA 92841-3629 Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- welcome. Free. Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or call playing and wargaming club. Currently Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 for LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix Aerial Mirage Jugglers. Meets information. Web www.casfs.org area corporations that put on yearly con- every Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th ventions. Best described as SF/F gene- during conventions and other special Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of Fellow- ralists with a main thrust into SF/F art. events). Open to new members - call (602) everyone welcome. All levels skill exc- ship and Trades is Phoenix based Reenact- Guests are welcome. The meetings are 849-9515. www.rawgames.org hange in many areas of object manipula- ment group specializing in the western quarterly on the second Saturday of Febr- tion Dave Davis European renaissance. As an org- uary, May, August & November unless REBEL LEGION - JUNDLAND OUT- , 602-955- anization, it is our goal to promote felow- otherwise notified. August is the annual POST The Jundland Outpost is a small 9446; or Ron Harvey ship while researching lifestyles and meeting where board positions are deter- band of Rebels which form a part of the , 602-863-0284 for trades concurrent with the Celtic Peoples mined. For more information, write PO Box rapidly growing Rebel Legion. more info or impromptu juggling sessions. from 400 BC until 1746 AD. Although most 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike While it's main focus is Star Wars costum- members claim Scots, Irish or Welsh an- Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email ing, much like it's 501st counterpart the ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A cestry and do Celtic re-enactment, it is our [email protected] Dune Sea Garrison, the Jundland collaboration of computer gaming enthusi- intent to open participation to anyone with www.leprecon.org Outpost's mission is to brighten up the asts, the Arizona LANbashers League an interest in period crafting and enter- lives of children and Star Wars fans of all throws quarterly LANparty events. tainment, no matter what his/her ethnicity. MIB The Men in Black is the official ages across the Phoenix Metro area and Between parties, support is given to local The sense of being a real village surround- organization of field operatives for Steve eventually other parts of Arizona as well. groups who wish to advertise their own ing Croft is vital to promote a feeling of Jackson Games. They attend local con- Members also make appearances with gatherings. We have no set genre of family and fellowship which was a reality ventions to demonstrate and promote other Star Wars organizations as part games and play anything from strategy in earlier times. Croft is a family-oriented products of Steve Jackson Games. The of a joint effort to help with Charities and games to first-person shooters to driving/ and kid-friendly organization.C.R.O.F.T. also schedule demos in local gaming events around Arizona. flying simulations. No annual membership members can be found demon-strating in stores. If you have a gaming store or If you have an event you would like us to is required and admission to an event events such as the Highland Games, convention that you would like to have appear at, please contact us at ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage for Scarborough Fair, and the Arizona official Steve Jackson Games represen- [email protected]. current events. Email: Renaissance Festival. Web page http:// tation at, please contact the MIB Arizona [email protected] Web: http:/ www.crofters.org Cell Leader at [email protected] SAMURAI OTAKU ANIME CLUB The www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602- Samurai Otaku is a group of fans of anime, 306-9339 THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION manga, and Japanese pop culture. Meet- organization formed for the expression and CLUB meets last Wednesday of every ings are held every Saturday night at 6pm THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a exploration of various cultural themes month (except Dec.) We frequently have at Samurai Comics, 5024 N. 7th St.. Mem- general sci-fi appreciation group that including, but not limited to, the Dark author guest speakers. You’re all welcome bers discuss anime and manga, work on a meets once a month for discussion of Ages and the Renaissance through forms to come if you’re in the area. We meet in web comic, discuss fund raisers, and various sci-fi news regarding several of art including, but not limited to, Fullerton, about 5 miles north of Disney- schedule club events. After each meeting mediums to include: television, movies, painting, drawing, writing, photography, land. For more details ph. Greg at [949] the club views selected anime DVD’s and video, books, comics, magazines, collect- spoken word, and acts of characterization. 552-4925 or send a message to our plays games. Open to new members. ing, and so forth. The meetings are 2) a member of this organization. 3) Infor- listserve [email protected] Contact Moryha Banks— (602)265-8886, comprised of news, review and comment, mation available at www.darkones.org moryha!samuraicomics.com BBS/computer news and help, meeting PAReX is a non-profit, just for fun new members, video presentations, games, DAYSTAR HOLT Arizona’s first and organization dedicated to the proliferation SCIENCE FICTION CONTINUUM The and socializing fun! Food and drinks are longest-running Elfquest fan club. Daystar of robotics as a hobby. Monthly meetings Science Fiction Continuum: An Independ- provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per meets to talk about EQ and related stuff, will be held and will be announced under ent Star Trek and Sci-Fi club in Phoenix, meeting) to compensate the host. (No develop characters, publish stories in our the Meeting Information page, http:// AZ. The SFCOM is an active club that other fees are involved.) The electronic ‘zine Playelf and create an annual calen- www.parex.org/meetinfo.htm. All interest- participates in Local Phoenix, and South- home of the Away Team, is the Lightspeed dar. Other common interests include ed persons are invited to participate. We western Star Trek and Sci-Fi conventions Space Station BBS at (520) 325-6674.... music, belly dance, camping and of course, are currently in the process of getting and movies. The SFCOM has three Member ages for the group range from 13- SF. Membership is free (18 or over) and is organized and becoming an official different divisions. The SFCOM itself, a 40-something with both male and female attained by group vote after you attend organization with tax status. Web page: free group where fun is the name of the members. Other activities include null- two meetings or holt-related get-togethers. http://www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John game. The Deep Space SolarFlare (DSSF) modem link gamefests, group theater Meetings are usually the first Saturday of Kittelsrud, [email protected] an active member club in the International movie viewings, convention trips and each month; for more info, call Tom or Federation of Treker’s (IFT). This group is more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, low- Janice at (602) 581-2258. They have a THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- based on DS9 (a space station). And the structure environment. NO RUBBER EARS website up at http://members.home.net/ ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in IKV Sto-Vo-Kor (Independent Klingon ALLOWED!! For questions, you can call jeanderson/daystarholt.html the entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror Vessel). A Klingon Bird of Prey, roaming the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; film. PFFS has been in existence for 25 the desert looking for battle. Are the Fed’s 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ years, meeting every 6 weeks in mem-ber’s ( Cont’d on page 23 ) 85716 Page 22 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6 Club Listings ( Cont’d from page 22 ) SAS membership is $30 for one year, Tucson AZ. The chapter was commis- which gets you emailed Space Access sioned as the USS Stormbringer NCC- too soft, looking for combat, feel the call to Updates the instant they pass final edit, 74213, attached to Division 31, Starfleet glory. This is the ship for you. Member- plus discounts on our annual confer-ence Covert Operations, on 10/31/98. As of 11/ ship in the SFCOM is free! To join DSSF on the technology, politics, and busi-ness 29/98 there were 32 members. There are no or the Sto-Vo-Kor a nominal fee for the of radically cheaper space trans-portation, dues other than the $15 for joining Star- national clubs involved and uniforms. For featuring leading players in the field. Email fleet Intl.. Members are scattered world further information contact President John us at: [email protected] wide but the primary clusters are in Nelson at (602) 409-7169 or on the internet Web page: www.space-access.org/ Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t at; [email protected] or check out our meet on a regular basis since they are a web site. http://www.thesfcom.com SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING correspondence chapter. Their web site is: SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/ SFACE (Speculative Fiction And Com- model and high_power rockets and those 9505/ and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave puter Enthusiasts) Phoenix College’s one who love to see them fly. Launches are Pitts, [email protected]. and only connection to the worlds of held on the second Saturday morning of speculative fiction, including science each month in Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We fiction, fantasy, and horror as well as table the annual G. Harry Stine Memorial Rocket maintain a mailing list for news and get- top, live action and internet gaming, Launch every October. Visit togethers of fans of the X-Files living in SFACE also serves as a guide through the www.sssrocketry.org for membership Arizona. We get together in both the Internet - both teaching basic use and information, directions to the launches and Phoenix and Tucson areas. To subscribe, utilizing as a source of speculative fiction. meetings, and to read the monthly send an empty message to z-philes- For more info contact Dr Ray Bromley at newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” [email protected] bromley.ray@ a1.pc.maricopa.edu. The SFACE Web site is found at http:// TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A www.pc. maricopa.edu/departments/ Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi studentact/organizations/sface/ tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. fan club. We are a social club that meets TARDIS meets every two weeks at every two weeks at various locations SHADOWKEEP BBS Intelligent conver- different locations around the valley. around the Phoenix area. The UFP has sation, awesome graphics, stupendous Activities include watching videos, been meeting for over 25 years of continu- door games, unworldly filebank, RPG discussions, parties, fund-raisers, auc- ous activity. Dues are $15/per year forums, QWK message system and online tions, games, camping trips and outings. prorated when you join; no restrictions. RPG BBS-mode-rated games! Our BBS is We also maintain an active presence at Membership includes membership roster mainly RPG oriented and we offer many local conventions. TARDIS publishes a and monthly newsletter. Come to any two services to GMs and players. No fees monthly inform-ative news-letter, The meetings at no obligation. For information, neces-sary for users who post intelligent Index File, with a national circulation write the UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, messages! $5 in credits to new users. Over which is included with mem-bership. AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) 242- 20 conferences and 10 doors to choose Annual membership is just $12.50. You can 9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org or from! Shadowkeep BBS - PCBoard 15.2/M contact us at 2243 W Wagon Wheel Dr, Email to [email protected] - US Robotics 28.8 Modem. Phoenix, AZ Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice Mail at (602) (602)245-0919; Connect at 2400-28800 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- [email protected] or visit http:// CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACH- www.primenet.com/~jgeorge/tardis.html corporation that sponsors the RONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt doth ConRunners seminars and is sponsoring lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the the 2004 Westercon. Dedicated primarily kingdom can be found six Baronies: series’ production companies and the to educational activities relating to Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, USA Network! It is THE information literature, music, and visual and perform- SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For conduit between the fans and the series! ing arts, especially in the genres of science more information on any of these or for Fan club membership will bring you the fiction, fantasy, costuming, gaming and general information on thy past tomorrows following 1) subscription to the info filled science. Applicants for membership in thou mayest contact Mistress Myrddina o Tek Informer newsletter; 2) official TekWar WesternSFA must be sponsored by a Dolwyddelan (Terry Schwartz) PO Box 584, Fan Club membership card and kit. current active WesternSFA member. Dues Sonoita AZ 85637 (520)455-5835 Email: Membership is by regular mail only and are $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable [email protected] www.atenveldt.org the newsletter and mater-ials will not be application fee. General Meetings are held reproduced electron-ically. To join the on the first Friday of February, May, THE SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S action and initiate your annual member- August and November, usually at the GUILD The Southwest Costumers Guild is ship, make check or money order out for home of a member. Guests are welcome. a loose organization of persons interested $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan Club For more info contact Craig Dyer at in all facets of historical, cultural, science (Membership section), 2522 N Sparkman WesternSFA, PO Box 87457, Phoenix AZ fiction, fantasy, and humor costume. Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 85082, (602) 973-2341, Email: Members are often seen on stage and [email protected]. Webpage: behind the scenes at local and regional T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and www.westernsfa.org Science Fiction Conven-tion masquerades. fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on They meet on the last Sunday of each the Arizona State University campus, with What is CASFS? month at various members’ homes in the dates and places to be announced after greater Phoenix area. For details. South- What is really behind putting on a convention? What the funds raised by a conven- the semester starts. For more information, tion used for? Why not attend a meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor of west Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, [email protected] ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, SmerfCons and other conventions. We are a Phoenix, AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at www.themonline.org charitable, non-profit organization that exists to further science fiction, fantasy and [email protected] or science fields in Arizona. CASFS currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at 2560 W www.southwestcostumersguild.org TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Indian School Rd in Phoenix (NW corner of I-17 and Indian School). The meetings Address is [email protected] or begin at 8PM and are held on the last Friday of the month Jan. Through Sept. And SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space [email protected]. on the second Friday of the month Oct through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend Access Society’s sole purpose is to two meetings as a guest (non-member). Membership rates are $12/year plus an initial promote radically cheaper access to space, $3 application fee and rates are pro-rated for the amount of the year remaining. For USS STORMBRINGER The Storm- ASAP. We think it’s possible within ten more info Call: Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 Webpage: www.casfs.org email: bringer is a correspondence Star Trek fan [email protected] years, with a little luck and a lot of hard club chapter of Starfleet, Intl. based out of work. Join us and help us make it happen! Volume 13 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 23 Artist Guest of Honor: Caniglia; Editor much more. Also Anime and a full Convention Guest of Honour: Stephen Jones; Media consuite. *THURSDAY EVENTS for pre- Musty Tomes Guest of Honor: Dee Snider; Toastmaster: registered members only include Barry Listings David Morrell; Special Guest: Adam Bard’s Movie Previews and Giveaways The Final Planet DarkCon 2004,(Phoenix AZ) Jan 9-11, Niswander; Writer’s Workshop Guest of Memb: $15 until 12/31/2003, Hotel: info: By Andrew M. Greeley 2004 Winter Gaming & SF/F Convention Honor: Mort Castle Memberships: US$120 Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, AZ (800) Warner Books, 1987, 302 pgs Embassy Suites Phoenix North, Phoenix, thru 3/31/04, US$130 after and at the door 547-8705 Room Rates: $85 S/D/T/Q, Info: AZ Memb: $25 Hotel Rates: Embassy Hotel Rates: $88 S/D/T/Q (plus tax); www.hexacon.org or 480-945-6890 The final planet for the pilgrim ship, Suites Phoenix North, 2577 E. Greenway Embassy Suites Phoenix North, 2577 E. Iona, is a beautiful earthlike planet called Rd, Phoenix, AZ (602) 375-1777. Rooms: Greenway Rd, Phoenix, AZ (602) 375-1777 CopperCon 24 (Phoenix AZ) Sept 10-12, Zylong. After years of wandering in space, $79 S/D, $89 T, $99 Q (plus tax) Info: (623) Info: World Horror 2004, c/o LepreCon, 2004 ; Literary oriented SF/F Convention the Iona is worn out and the members of 435-9700; Email: [email protected] Inc. PO Box 26665, Tempe AZ 85285; (480) Embassy Suites Phoenix North, Phoenix, the Holy Order of St. Brigid and St. ;website: www.darkones.org 945-6890; e-mail: [email protected]; Arizona Guests: Author GoH: Alan Dean Brendan, must find a planet that will website: www.whc2004.org Foster, Artist GoH: Todd Lockwood; Local welcome them. By the rules of their order, Gallifrey One’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Author GoH: Catherine Wells; Music if the planet is inhabited, they must be (Los Angeles, CA) Feb 13-16, 2004 The LepreCon 30 -(Phoenix, AZ) May 7-9 ‘04 - Guest: Leslie Fish Memb: $25 thru 12/31/ invited before they can stay. So, they send Airtel Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, CA Sheraton Crescent Hotel, Phoenix, AZ 03, $30 thru 4/30/04, $35 thru 8/27/04, $40 Seamus, a good soldier, a second-rate Guests: Colin Baker, Peter Davison + many Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention at the door Hotel Rates: Embassy Suites bard, and searching for the proper woman, more Memb: $30 thru 5/31/03, $35 thru 8/ with an emphasis on art Artist GoH: Phoenix North, 2577 E. Greenway Rd, to be their spy. His mission: to learn what 31/03, $40 thru 11/30/03, $45 thru 1/31/04 Donato Giancola; Author GoH: David Phoenix, AZ (602) 375-1777. Rooms: $79 S/ he can about the human inhabitants and and $50 at the door. Info: Gallifrey Drake; Special Artist Guest: John Eaves; D, $89 T, $99 Q (plus tax) Info: CopperCon report back with his one-way ESP. What Conventions, Post Office Box 3021, North Local Artist GoH: Sylvana Anderson; 24, PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082, he finds is a human civilization unlike Hollywood, CA 91609 Email: Music Guest: Mara Brenner Sheraton Phone (602) 973-2341 , Email: anything he has seen or heard of. Their [email protected] Crescent Hotel, 2620 W. Dunlap Ave., [email protected] ; Website: ways are baffling to the extreme and it Phoenix, AZ 85021 Room Rates: $79 S/D, www.coppercon.org rapidly becomes apparent that the ConRunners 7 (Phoenix AZ) Feb 21, 2004 $99 T/Q +tax 602-943-8200 or 800-423-4126 civilization is crumbling and it will take a Embassy Suites North, 2577 E. Greenway Memberships are $30 thru 12/31/03; $35 World Fantasy Convention 2004, (Phoe- miracle to save it. Seamus believes he Rd, Phoenix, AZ (602) 375-1777. Registra- thru 4/15/04; $40 at the door; Kids 7-12 nix, AZ) Oct 28-31, 2004, Tempe Mission knows a thing or two about women but tion 8:30AM Morning Session 9AM-1PM, half price, Kids 6 & Under Free (with Adult Palms, Tempe, AZ Guests: Author Guest this gets him into so much trouble with Afternoon Session: 2PM-6PM. Member- membership) Write: LepreCon 30, PO Box of Honour: Gwyneth Jones; Artist Guest two of the female natives, that it looks for ship $15. Info [email protected] 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285, Phone: (480) 945- of Honor: Janny Wurts; Editor Guest of a time like he’ll not only ruin their lives but or 602-973-2341 Web : 6890 ,Email: [email protected] Web: Honor: Ellen Datlow Memberships: any chance the Iona has of landing safely. www.westernsfa.org Mail PO Box 67457, http://www.leprecon.org/lep30 US$130 thru 1/31/04, US$140 thru 4/30/04, One of the women is obviously the Phoenix AZ 85082 US$150 thru 7/31/04 Hotel Rates: $155 S/D/ ‘proper’ woman Seamus has been search- ConKopelli, WesterCon 57 -(Litchfiled T/Q (plus tax); Tempe Mission Palms, 60 E ing for and he’ll have to save the entire GilaCon 2004 (Phoenix AZ) April 2-4, Park, AZ) July 2-5, 2004, Wigwam Resort, 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281 (800) 547-8705 planet if he wants to save her. 2004 GilaCon 2004 is an RPGA-oriented Litchfield Park, AZ Guests: Author GoH: Info: World Fantasy 2004, c/o LepreCon, This was a delightful story. Mr. Greeley convention primarily featuring Living C.J. Cherryh; Artist GoH: David Cherry; Inc. PO Box 26665, Tempe AZ 85285; (480) is a Catholic priest who writes wonderful Greyhawk, Living Arcanis, Living Force Music GoH: Heather Alexander ; Fan GoH: 945-6890; e-mail: [email protected]; books about people. When he dabbles in and other RPGA campaigns. GilaCon 2004 John Hertz; Local Author GoH: Diana website: www.worldfantasy2004.org science fiction, he still writes about will have a one-shot LG Interactive and Gabaldon Memberships: $65 until 10/31/03, wonderful people. I was impressed by the Nyrond regional premiere as well as a host $70 until 1/31/03, $75 thru 5/31/04; balance of science fiction concepts and of other Nyrond regional and meta- Supporting $30; Conversion is Current rate character development. While it is true regional events.Membership $25. Online minus $30 Hotel Rates: $105 standard that Mr. Greeley is registration will be available approximately rooms, $135 Suites, Wigwam Resort, 300 much more inter- 2-3 months before the convention at Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, AZ (623) ested in developing www.gilacon.com. GilaCon 2004 will be 935-3811 Info: ConKopelli, WesterCon 57, his people than plot held at: Holiday Inn Phoenix-Midtown, PO Box 67457 Phoenix, AZ 85082; Email: or special effects, 4321 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ [email protected]; Web: these do not suffer 85012 www.conkopelli.org the least. This story satisfied my desire World Horror Convention 2004, (Phoenix, HexaCon 14 (Tempe AZ) July 29*-Aug 1, for strangeness and AZ) April 8-11, 2004, Embassy Suites 2004 Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, AZ, wonder and gave Phoenix North, Phoenix, AZ Guests: Gaming starts on Friday and runs 24 hours me, at the same time, Author Guest of Honor: Douglas Clegg; until Sunday 4PM. Events include RPGA, a character-driven LARP, LAN Party, CCG, Battletech and story of one man’s Generic Convention Regestration Form best efforts to do the right thing at the right time for Name:______everyone. There is occasionally sex in Badge Name:______science fiction but Address:______not many love stories. This was a City/State/ZIP:______welcome treat.- Phone:______Email:______Catherine Book Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for ______convention. (See calendar for mailing address) More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other © Sue Dawe Page 24 ConNotations Volume 13 Issue 6