Volume 20, Issue 2 April / May 2010 FREE

ConNotationsThe Bi-Monthly , Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

A Conversation with Featured Inside Diane Duane & Peter Moorwood Regular Features Special Features by Nadine Armstrong SF Tube Talk A Conversation with All the latest news about Diane Duane & During the North Scienc Fiction TV shows Peter Moorwood American by Lee Whiteside by Nadine Armstrong Discworld Convention, I had the chance to Gamers Corner Hokey Smoke! share dinner New and Reviews from It’s the very nearly 50th and drinks with married the gaming world Anniversary of writers (and Rocky the Flying Squirrel and sometime collaborators) Screening Room Bullwinkle J. Moose and Reviews of current theatrical By Shane Shellenbarger Diane Duane. releases Together they’ve An Amercan in New Zealand written In Our Book by Jeffrey Lu over twenty novels, as Reviews of New SF/F Books well as short stories, Plus and several © Lee Whiteside Musty Tomes screenplays. Reviews of Classic Genre books They make Peter Moorwood and Diane Duane CASFS Business Report their home in Ireland with several been a lot of fun. The next book in the cats. Online, Diane’s on Facebook and series will be out next year, and it’s called FYI on Twitter as @dduane. Peter can be A Wizard of Mars. Basically, they find out found on livejournal at petermorwood. something’s gone really wrong on Mars, News and tidbits of interest to fans livejournal.com. Together, they run the and they go there to investigate it. European Cuisines website at www. europeancuisines.com. Our rambling Given the title, was Burroughs’ Mars an CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT Club Listings conversation follows. influence? www.casfs.org/ConNotations/Index- Diane, when you first started publishing DD: Oh, yes. It was great fun getting to CN.html Convention List & the novels, did you dream play with that Mars - I mean, one of the the series would continue as long as it first things that happens to Kit is that a girl FOR UPDATED CONTENT Generic Registration Form has? in a fur bikini runs past him. BETWEEN ISSUES INCLUDING MOVIE REVIEWS ON OPENING DD: No, not at all. It’s been very And I hear you’ve actually set a book here DAY, TV AND EVENT NEWS gratifying, and I’ve had the chance to do in Tempe? AND BOOK REVIEWS a lot of things with the series that’s really

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Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 1 In This Issue Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations News & Reviews Who is Who in this Issue BOOK STORES COMIC STORES SF Tube Talk 3 Bards Books All About Comics Screening Room 6 Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon FYI 7 Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty 3508 N. 7th St,Ste. 145, Phoenix, AZ 5060 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer 85014 (602)274-7530 (602) 277-0757 Gamers Corner 8 Film Editors: Len Berger, Craig L Dyer Bent Cover Bookstore Ash Avenue Comics & Books Musty Tomes 10 Film Critic: Bob LaPierre 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 810 S. Ash, Tempe, AZ (480) 858-9447 Musical Notes 12 Promotions Directors: Len Berger, Rich- 85029 (602) 942-5932 Atomic Comics In Our Book (Book Reviews) 13 ard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer Book Gallery 1120 S. Country Club, Ste. 105, Mesa, CASFS Business Report 20 Advertising: Catherine Book Proof Readers: Catherine Book, Bob 3643 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ AZ 85210 (480) 649-0807 LaPierre & Gary Swaty 85018 (602)468-0400 4537 E. Cactus, Phoenix AZ 85032 Special Features Reporters: Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey Lu 50 W. Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 (602) 923-0733 A Conversation with Diane Duane and Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Nadine Arm- (480) 835-0757 10215 N. 28th Dr, #A1, Phoenix, AZ Peter Moorwood strong, Stephanie L Bannon, Catherine Book Krazy 85051 (602)395-1066 by Nadine Armstrong 1 Book, Shane Bryner, Craig L. Dyer, M.L. 1601E Bell #4-5, Phoenix , AZ 85022 3155 W. Chandler Blvd #5, Chandler Hokey Smoke! Fringe, Michael Griffin, Bob LaPierre, by Shane Shellenbarger 6 Jeffrey Lu, Christina Paige, Shane Shel- (602)867-1018 AZ 85226 (480)940-6061 lenbarger, Gary Swaty, Tom Tuerff, Lee Bookmans Drawn to Comics An American in New Zealand Whiteside, Randall Whitlock 1056 S. Country Club, Mesa, AZ 85210 5757 W. Glendale, AZ 85301 by Jeffrey Lu 18 Contributors: (480) 835-0505 (623) 847-9090 Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon 8034 N. 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85021 Gregg’s Comics Convention & Fandom Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Dyer Club Listings 19 Labeling Crew for Volume 20 Issue 1: (602) 433-0255 2722 S. Alma School Rd, #8, Mesa, AZ Len Berger, Mark Boniece, Craig L Dyer, 1930 E. Grant Tucson, AZ 85719 (480) 752-1881 Convention Listings 20 Mike Griffin, Lori LaPierre, Jeffrey Lu, (520) 325-5767 Hero Comics Convention Registration Form 20 Nyki Robertson, Gary Swaty 6230 E. Speedway Tucson, AZ 85712 3405 W. Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, AZ CN Mascots: The Four CopperCon Kittens (520) 748-9555 85053 (602) 843-6320 About ConNotations: ConNotations is the 3733 W Ina Rd, Tucson, AZ 85741 Jesse James Comics fan published newszine of the Central Ari- zona Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) (520)579-0303 10802 N. 43rd Ave, #1, Glendale, AZ an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non-profit orga- Bookmaster 85304 (602) 993-0392 nization. Circulation is estimated at 7,000 2949 N. 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Page 2 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 four horsemen, we’ll meet Pestilence, as they re-ignite their passion for each Peter Dinklage, Sean Bean and Jason SF Tube Talk played by Matt Frewer, who brings other.” The CW has Betwixt, based on the Momoa. Over on TNT, they have green-lit TV News & Previews disease to the Winchester brothers world. novel by Tara Bray Smith about “three a new Steven Spielberg Alien Invasion By Lee Whiteside But there is life after the Apocalypse, teenagers who discover their lineage has series starring Noah Wylie as a college On the networks we’ve got several since The CW has renewed Supernatural granted them special abilities, which they professor who becomes the reluctant shows returning following absences of as well as The Vampire Diaries for next use to fight evil”, and Nikita, a CW take leader of “a rag-tag group of soldiers various lengths plus a new Doctor takes season. on Le Femme Nikita. On the cable front, and civilians as they struggle against an over the TARDIS for the BBC. Pilots in the works that may or may HBO has green lit a 10-episode series for occupying alien force.” It also stars Moon On ABC, V plans to pack a lot into not get picked up for the fall season A Game of Thrones based on the George Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, the remaining eight episodes of the first include No Ordinary Family, a drama R. R. Martin novel series. Actors on Jessy Schram and Seychelle Gabriel. for ABC with Michael Chiklis and Julie board that have filmed include season, with each episode having two or ( Cont’d on page 4 ) three reveals at least accoding to producer Benz as the parents of a typical American Lena Heade, Nikolaj Coster-Waidau, Scott Rosenbaum. There will also be family that all develop a showdown between Erica and Anna, special powers including which Rosenbaum describes as “Ripley mom gaining super versus the alien mother.” They also plan speed. Terra Nova for more references/homages back to the FOX, about a family original minseries as well. Flash Forward from 100 years in the has had its episode order trimmed and future who travel 150 returned in late March. The producers million years back have promised to reveal more about the in time to live in the flashforwards that we may have only seen prehistoric era. It’s from part of, who Suspect Zero is, whether Steven Spielberg and Dimitri can avert his death, and the looks to be expensive possibility of another flashforward event. enough that it will either Fringe on FOX promises to delve more in be picked up as a series the the alternate realities and should have or not at all. Also for some sort of showdown between William FOX is an US based Bell (Leonard Nimoy) and Walter Bishop take on Torchwood (John Noble) as the season concludes from creator Russel with a two-part event episode that will T. Davies. No word as likely set things up for the recently to how it will tie in to confirmed third season of the show. the existing series, or will see some more comics- not. It likely would still inspired characters beginning with the have John Barrowman Silver Banshee in Escape, with Odessa involved and might even Rae guest starring as Siobhan McDougal have James Marsters. aka The Silver Banshee, the vengeful NBC is developing The spirit of a fallen Gaelic heroine who takes Cape, about a former out her vengeance on a bed and breakfast cop framed for crime where Clark and Lois are staying. he didn’t commit that Checkmate will ramp up the Amanda becomes The Cape Waller related storyline with Pam Grier to clear his name and returning as Checkmate head Amanda take on bad guys. Stars Waller and having some sort of showdown David Lyons as the with Phil Morris’ . ex-cop, Vince Faraday. Upgrade brings back Brian Ausin Green Several others for NBC as John Corben/Metallo and may also include The Event have some Red Kryptonite, Charade starring Jason Ritter guest stars Gil Bellows as Maxwell as a normal guy who Lord, who, in the comics, brought gets involved in a big together the International “Event” that draws him before turning bad and having his neck into a larger conspiracy, broken by Wonder Woman. There’s not Nine Lives, a series much leaked about the final episodes, about life after death but rumors are that Annete O’Toole originally developed will be back as Martha Kent, Michael by Leslie Bohem and McKean as Perry White with other Steven Spielberg for regulars such as Justin Hartely’s Green SciFi that has now come Arrow being heavily involved. The CW back to life at NBC. J. J. has officially picked up Smallville for a Abrams is developing 10th season, so don’t expect everything Undercovers for NBC, to be tied up in a nice bow at the end of a spy series about “a this season. Vampire Diaries sees David domesticated husband Anders (Alias, Heroes) guest starring and wife return from in a multiple episode run as Elena and years in retirement and Jeremy’s uncle. Also joining the series are re-activated as CIA for several episodes is Stephen Martines agents. As they work as a vampire named Frederick who together for the first was thought to be in Katherine’s tomb. time on new cases, they Supernatural is heading towards the discover new aspects Apocalypse, having shown us two of the from their past—even Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk (Cont’d from page 3 ) of Alex Kingston as River Song as well guest appearance by Michael Shanks as and after she accuses him of stealing, he AMC is developing a series based on as a return of the Weeping Angels from Daniel Jackson. You didn’t think Rush goes into hiding to try to figure out a way the comic The Walking Dead, about the Blink. This appears to be related to the would stay stranded forever, did you? to expose her true form. The Witchfinder survivors of a Zombie apocalypse being River Song journal entry “The Crash of In Sabotage the Stargate Universe crew sees Charles Dance guest star as Aredian, produced by Frank Darabont, Gale the Byzantium” briefly glimpsed during calls upon a brilliant mind from Earth to the most dreaded witchfinder in the land, Anne Hurd and David Alpert. It stands a River’s previous appearance. According help in a crisis -- a quadriplegic scientist whom King Uther brings in to wipe out good chance of getting picked up as well. to Moffat in Magazine #417 who temporarily takes over Wray’s body all magic in Camelot. Morgana, Gaius Doctor Who returns to the BBC and “Ahh, you think you know the Weeping and also experiences certain feelings for and Merlin are all in danger of being BBC America in April with the new series Angels ... Well, think again! That lot in the first time. The original casting call for discovered and Merlin has to figure out featuring a new production team, a new Blink were just scavengers, survivors the scientist drew some negative press how to protect all of them without being Doctor and a new . Steven hiding out on Earth. What might an and producers have indicated the casting burned at the stake himself. In The Sins of Moffat, winner of four straight Hugo Angel achieve at the height of its powers? information was inaccurate and premature. the Father, Arthur is challenged in a duel awards for his Doctor Who episodes in And do you really think you’re safe just I expect there may still be some by a mysterious warrior and he and Merlin the first four series of the show, is now because you don’t blink...?” After that is controversy when it actually airs. Actress also find themselves on a strange quest the executive producer and head writer. Vampires of Venice by Toby Whithouse Ming-Na has commented “that was all for the beautiful Morgause (Emilia Fox) is now being played by Matt where The Doctor and Amy visit Venice, misconstrued and I think once they see where they discover a secret that could be Smith and joining him will be Karen Italy in the late 1500’s and discover an the episode, they will have a completely Camelot’s downfall. Gillan as Amy Pond. Also recurring is alien threat appearing to be vampires. The different response to it. It was extremely Syfy will also debut the new Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams, likely two-parter, The Ground Beneath Their emotional on many levels for me to play Riverworld miniseries in April, airing all Amy’s fiance or boyfriend. As Moffat Feet/Cold Blood, by Chris Chibnall as an actress, playing a quadriplegic. It four hours on Sunday, April 17th. This indicated in his last two-parter, Silence reportedly brings back the Silurians, really makes you appreciate ... I mean, I new miniseries is based on the Philip Jose In the Library/Forest of the Dead, he or a variation thereof and deals with always appreciate health anyway.” Farmer Riverworld series of novels, and really hates “spoilers” and has been Global Warming 15 years into the future. Also joining the weekly lineup on as with the two-hour movie pilot from doing a good job of keeping detailed Expect to see several types of Silurians SyFy is Merlin, the BBC produced several years ago, the main characters information about the new series out of and a reference back to the series that saw a summer run of its first will be contemporary characters with the the press and the fan websites. Most of episodes with them. Other episodes on season on NBC this summer with SyFy historical characters in supporting roles. what is known officially is very minimal tap are Vincent and the Doctor written by picking up for the second and likely any Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, and most information that has gotten out Richard Curtis and dealing with Vincent subsequent series. Syfy is having a couple Dollhouse) stars as Matt Ellman, an is due to fans observing location filming Van Gogh in 1880’s Paris, with Bill Nighy of marathons of Merlin season one in the American war zone reporter. When a and comments from guest stars about their guest starring as Dr. Black, the Curator week leading up to the debut of season suicide bomber kills both Matt and his roles. The new series starts on the BBC in of the Musee D’Orsay. Rounding out the two that you may be able to catch to bring fiancee, Jessie (Laura Vandervoort), the UK on April 3rd with BBC American series will be a Moffat-penned two-parter you up-to-speed if you hadn’t already seen they awaken separated in a mysterious starting the new episodes two weeks later dealing with The Pandorica, the return of it. While the first season focused primarily world where everyone who has ever lived on April 17th. River Song, some return visits by various on Arthur and Merlin, the second season on Earth seems to have been “reborn” Here’s what has been found out about foes, and a visit to Stonehenge. expands that to focus more on the along the banks of a seemingly endless the initial batch of episodes... There is Elsewhere in the Whoniverse, supporting characters. Opening the season river. Wanting to be reunited with Jessie, an overall arc to the season, some of The Sarah Jane Adventures has been is The Curse of Cornelius Sigan which Matt joins forces with a 13th-century which will be introduced in each episode, commissioned for a fourth series which guest stars Mackenzie Crook as Cedric, female samurai warrior named Tomoe although it may not be easy to catch. Also, has just started filming and recently got who tries to take the job of Arthur’s (Jeananne Goossen) and American each episode may end with a cliffhanger the go-ahead for a fifth series. Still no manservent away from Merlin while he’s novelist Sam “Mark Twain” Clemens leading into the next episode, even for word yet on when it will turn up in the really trying to use that position to obtain (Mark Deklin). Also starring are Alan the single episode stories. Kicking off US on BBC America. Torchwood is still a jewel from the recently discovered Cummings as the mysterious Caretaker the new series is The Eleventh Hour, somewhat in limbo. Russell T. Davies has tomb of Cornelius Sigan, a powerful and Peter Wingfield as Sir Richard written by Moffat, which follows on a pilot script in the works with FOX for a sorcerer who vowed he would return and Francis Burton, the British explorer who from the regeneration sequence at the US produced version but there’s been no destroy Camelot. The Once and Future was the viewpoint character in the first end of The End of Time Part 2 where the real details leaked about it or a new series Queen sees Arthur participate in the Riverworld novel. Robert H. Wolfe wrote 11th Doctor is attempting to guide the on the BBC. The Australian-produced Camelot Jousting Tournament in disguise, the original script as a freelancer but was damaged TARDIS to Earth. Reportedly, Adventures of K9 series will air in the wanting to have a real competition where not involved with the actual production. the TARDIS crashes into the back yard US this summer on Disney XD. K9 co- in the past his competitors have let He was tasked with making the viewpoint of a young Amelia Pond, making an creator Bob Baker has been working on him win. However, the assassin Myror character a contemporary American, but impression on her before returning years the series and previewed it recently at the (Adrian Lester) has arrived in Camelot set out to try to keep as much of the ideas later when she has grown into a young Gallifrey One convention in Los Angeles. with the assignment of killing Arthur. and pieces of the books as he could and he woman. The aliens are reportedly called We’ll have more details next time on this The Nightmare Begins sees Morgana hopes that “the spiritual and philosophical the Atraxi and they are looking for a new series. beginning to worry about the dreams she’s nature of the Riverworld books will come “Prisoner 0” and threaten to destroy the Syfy in April sees the return of been having, which makes her convinced through in the miniseries.” Although upon Earth if the prisoner is not turned over to Stargate Universe for the back half of its she has magical powers. While Gaius hearing the news of the broadcast, Wolfe them. Expect lots of stuff with the Doctor first season. It kicks off with Space, where insists she has nothing to fear, Merlin tries admitted “I still have no idea whether the having post regeneration issues as well as a piece of alien technology sends Colonel to help her by sending her to the Druids, final product bears any resemblance at all problems with the TARDIS itself. Next Young to an alien vessel, provoking the who the King believes has kidnapped to what I wrote. I guess I’ll find out when up is another Moffat-penned story with crew’s first extra-terrestrial encounter. her so he sends Arthur to rescue her and everyone else does.” So, it may end up The Beast Below where The Doctor and According to producer Brad Wright, kill the Druids. Lancelot and Guinevere being something worth watching or it may Amy end up on a spaceship with dubious these new aliens are “the coolest aliens sees the return of Santiago Cabrera be that once the producers started filming looking monks (or something along those we’ve ever had on Stargate. They’re a as Lancelot when Gwen is kidnapped it, all the good stuff went out the window. lines - not many spoilers for this one). very advanced, not very friendly, space- by the savage outlaw Hengist, who was I guess we’ll all find out on April 17th. Third in the series is faring race.” Next up is Divided where trying to kidnap Morgana. When the King by , where the Doctor and the division among the crew threaten refuses to pay a ransom, Arthur heads out Amy end up in World War II where a their existence. Can they resolve their to rescue her and finds that Lancelot is British scientist has developed the perfect differences before it is too late? Faith also on the hunt. In the two-part Beauty weapon to help Winston Churchill defeat will focus on T.J. Johanson and deal and the Beast, Uther becomes enamored the Nazis - a Dalek! Next up is a Moffat- with issues of faith, both religious and of Lady Catrina (Sarah Parish) and penned two-parter, The Time of Angels/ alien. Human will deal some with Dr. takes her as his Queen, however Merlin Flesh and Stone, which features the return Rush’s backstory and will feature a discovers she’s really a Troll in disguise Page 4 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 A Conversation( Cont’d from page 1 ) computer is it is too easy to fiddle with PM: After 67,000 words, I’d rather finish beam weapons. What I need to do with it. Be it handwriting or a typewriter, you it than just abandon it. I’ve written a this one is finish it, and get it back out DD: Yes. When we were here for can’t go back and backspace, you have whole slew of space opera short stories there. I sent it out about five years ago CopperCon in 2006, I thought at the time to keep on going. The only way to cut that Diane and I wrote together. I did and one side said “I like the action scenes, it would be a perfect setting for this story and paste with handwritten or typewritten most of the Bang Bang noises and she but the politics are too complicated”. about a gaming company I had in mind. material is with a pair of scissors and a did what minimum science the stories Whereas another responded “the action It’s called Omnitopia Dawn; it’s set in glue pot. It’s a lot less straightforward called for and it was one of those weird scenes are good, but you need to make the the future and is coming out from DAW than using a computer. There’s also situations where even I, who loves bang politics more complicated.” So it went on books sometime in 2010. software that forces you to keep going bang whoosh whoosh got fed up because the back burner, since I had other things forward and another that starts playing that’s all they wanted. The last story in more pressing that were more immediate PM: There’s a short story I wrote years annoying noises at you if you stop and that series I wrote myself and I took the money than something I hadn’t sold yet. It ago that I really like. The anthology’s stare at the screen for too long. I think character from a particularly demented will get completed. Something at 67,000 out-of-print now, but here’s the beginning that’s pushing a little too hard. I think series of chilldren’s books, The Complete words is more than halfway there already. of it: I wanted to be a fireman like my that popped up during the national novel Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans. Track it father, but I did find in the work I was writing competition. I don’t find it useful. down. Find it. What I did was to take the Historical Rome project? doing at the university, that all the stuff dramatic characters from this kids book they were telling me about was true in DD: He will futz around with a chapter series and put them into the space opera PM: The Rome project is historical. Many that I had friends in certain branches of or five pages of a chapter until I come in series. They behaved exactly as they did years ago, we were meeting for lunch the civil service who were able to check and forcibly whack him on the head with in the school stories, but now they have with a friend of a friend, who was at the documents that don’t exist for me. The something. And even then he’ll try and nuclear arms, and then I let them run with time a vice-president for Paramount. We smoke in Belfast didn’t get him, but the futz around some more. it. They weren’t particularly successful were just talking and he asked us what smoke from the bloody cigarettes did so in the US, but in the UK, I had people we write, what we read, what we were now I’m a history professor and I study PM: I’ll try fitting half a dozen different coming up to me at cons and saying “How interested in. I said I’m interested in the secret histories of the second world words using the dreaded Thesaurus. Or the hell did you get away with that one?” history. He asked “any particular period?” war and I collect toy fire trucks. There’s Thesauritis I should say. You know more My reply was “I think somebody blinked and I said anything from ancient Greece, a space in my collection, I know the one or less what it’s going to sound like. For and missed it.” through Rome, through the middle ages I’m looking for. I haven’t found it yet, but example: He was not amused. He was less up to about the point where guns came when I do find it... It’s a ghost story, what than amused. He found it far from funny. PM: As for the space opera stuff, it in and it started to get noisier and less I’m toying with is the notion of doing it It all says basically the same thing. doesn’t have the need to know a lot of interesting. He went “Greece and Rome? as a TV drama. I can bounce it off of BBC high science. It’s basically the situation That’s interesting, because I think the as a Christmas ghost PM: There’s the joke I told in the writing that for plot purposes, hyperspace works. sword and sandal genre are about due story. I’m very proud of it. I sent it off to seminar about a friend of James Joyce So the action can get from point A to B. I for a resurgence.” That was about six mum, and when I next went up to visit her. who comes in and finds him lying in an have my token gestures, artificial gravity years before Gladiator. “Assuming you She had it in her drawer by the TV. She attitude of despair across his writing desk. and all of that kind of stuff. But for the were interested in doing something like pulled it out and said “I’ve shown this to The friend says “what’s wrong Jimmy, rest of it, was Hornblower in this, what would be your take on it?” everyone. I don’t know about those books haven’t you written anything today?” And space, so what I’m doing with Deep Fleet I said that there’re the Roman games, of yours with the swords and knights in Joyce said “No, I have, I have.” The friend is “Biggles in Space.” Concentrating because everyone thinks they know armor and things, but this was very good. says “How many words?” “3”, says Joyce. on one particular fighter pilot on a about gladiators and chariot races, and Your father would have liked it.” There’s a small silence and the friend says carrier. He’s got all sorts of interesting surprisingly a large amount of it is wrong. “That’s all right Jim, that’s good for you. problems because he’s the only child That’s when I told him about the “Three DD: This is the same woman who, when What’s the problem?” “I don’t know what of a rich family who didn’t want him to men enter, one man leaves” - Not actually. The Dragon King came out, had all the order they should be in!” do something as demeaning as joining If you want a fight to the death, you’re neighbors over for tea and cookies and the military and when he reached the going to have to pay for it. It’s gonna they would play the credits up until they DD: I liked his earlier stuff maybe better age of consent and actually did it, his cost a stonking amount of money because saw our names and then they’d turn the than his later, but at the same time, the father used his influence to make life for well-trained gladiators are an expensive TV off and go back to what they were genius is always there. the young Nick Hudson as wretched as quantity. doing. possible. Hudson actually turned out to be PM: One thing I’ve been working on is especially good at it and he surmounted DD: Logistically, it was a huge thing. Writing any more collaborative novels? The Prisoner of Zenda. There hasn’t been these challenges and Bingo! off he goes. There was an entire industry created to movie based on it since 1952. Not a good There are a lot of other little trails running ship animals from Africa to the Italian DD: It depends on what it might be. one. I’ve actually gone back to the book. through it. He ends up on a first contact peninsula, all up and down the coast and The 1952 movie was based on the 1937 mission that goes not horribly wrong, not for the giant arenas in central Rome. PM: We have done more than just the movie which was based on the 1898 play. initially, but becomes slightly skewed. The Star Trek novel. We did Keeper of the As I’ve said, Hollywood’s research of first contact is with two races, one is avian A Wizard of Mars will be out in April, City. The novelization for the pilot for Roman history isn’t based on the actual and the other is reptilian. Since one of the 2010, and Omnitopia Dawn will be out in SeaQuest DSV, that was no fun at all. history, but is based on watching the contact group is an avian from another August. Diane is also making available They kept changing it. Every time the previous two movies. You go back to the of the planets in that part of the galaxy, some out of print works as ebooks on her FAX would go off we’d just twitch. book and you find its much edgier and they assume the avian race is the most website at www.dianeduane.com Peter much more questioning of the status quo advanced on the planet. This turns out has started putting some of his books DD: Then we’d get yet another image and much more adult and grown up. I to be not the case at all. We’ve also got back into print as well, starting with of the submarine and it would still be ended up transcribing both movies since the Deep Fleet’s old enemy, essentially Clan Wars 1: Greylady. Details at www. too black. Finally I just said it looks like you can’t find a screenplay for them. genetically enhanced mandril monkeys, petermorwood.com. You can also read a squid and wrote “the sub looks like a the blue ox baboon that’s eight feet tall Peter’s analysis of the two Prisoner of squid.” Do you find there’s much difference with giant fangs with jump capacity and Zenda movies there as well. . PM: We did three Space Cops novels between Hollywood and German which are now being looked at with an film producers? eye for TV. Because it was a licensed product for someone else, we just kissed DD: It’s much more personal. it off. Now they’re suddenly interested in The American companies are doing something with it. Our crazy guy relentlessly chasing the dollar said to us “did you notice there are no and the result of the dollar. science fiction procedurals?” What’s the next big thing. Whereas with the Germans it’s Do you have radically different writing more relationship-based and processes? that’s European film generally. If you worked with them once, DD: He works at night, I work in the ideally they would like to work daytime. with you again on something else. The companies we’ve been Do you revise as you go or are you a first working with have been started drafter? by individuals and have been running them as little hotbeds of DD: There are times I’d like to write a creativity. The relationships are draft from beginning to end, but it just very much between people, not doesn’t happen that way. There will be corporate. times when I write the middle first. Peter, you’re mainly known for PM: What I’m in favor of doing is your fantasy work, but you’ve handwriting stuff. I want the whole thing also got a space opera novel to be complete. The problem with a you’ve been working on. Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 5 The visuals weren’t faring any better. bulk of tele cartoon fare.” After two years one type of dragon or another is released “The Moose & Spots and scratches marred the cels. The of hard work by , , and into the cage with the children. One Squirrel Take The poses were awkward, the mouth-sync was hundreds of other employees, our boys child asks the elder teacher about lessons off, and the camera work was shoddy, at were on their way to making animated before being thrown into the cage with the Country By Storm best. Despite these issues, Rocky and His cartoon history. dragon to which the teacher replies that Friends had achieved its final airdate of While some of the issues and this is the lesson. Or There’s A Dark November 19th, 1959 as part of a late- references explored in Rocky and his And any good story has a love interest Cloud On the afternoon lineup of Rin Tin Tin and My friends may seem dated by today’s and this story is no different. Hiccup Friend Flicka reruns. The lead-in was the standards, they were sharp, smart, satirical notices Astrid (voiced by American Horizon.” highly popular, American Bandstand. The examinations of the post- World War II, Ferrera) but she will have nothing to do It’s the 50th American viewing audience was in for a , Nuclear-fear world in which with him. big surprise. children were growing up. The show The film is based on the book of the Anniversary of Rocky The plot of the first episode (“Jet Fuel thumbed its nose at the status quo of the same name by Cressida Cowell. Formula / Bullwinkle’s Ride or Goodbye establishment. It had “’tude.” Despite its How to Train Your Dragon is highly the Flying Squirrel Dollink”) began at the Slick Observatory, convoluted and meandering digressions, recommended. It’s a story about conflict, and Bullwinkle J. manned by “An international group of (or, perhaps, because of them) the plots understanding and a bit of love. The 3D scientists, eggheads, and double-domes” held the interest of young and old alike. version is wonderful and is the best way Moose, Pt. 6 who were using a huge new telescope Join us again next time when we ask to view the film but given the strong story By Shane Shellenbarger when they spotted a moose and squirrel the question, “Is that an antler on your the movie would be enjoyable in 2D as returning from Earth’s Moon. The head, or are you just a Moosekateer?” well. Just sit back, forget your troubles As you recall from last time, General audience soon discovered that these two For more info go to : and enjoy your travel adventure to the Mills was ecstatic about the finished residents of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota http://tinyurl.com/Shane-Info-Blog island of Berk. shows. The budget was to be increased had been hurled to Earth’s nearest natural Rated PG for some scary and intense greatly. However, Jay Ward made the satellite when they had make substitutions action sequences. budgetary compromise that all shows How to Train Your Dragon is rated A. following #4 onward would be edited and dubbed in Mexico. The quality sound Screening Room Hot Tub Time Machine work of Skip Craig was a sharp contrast Starring: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, to the horrendous distortion and ridiculous How To Train Your Dragon Craig Robinson, Clark Duke sound effects which followed for the Hot Tub Time Machine Director: Steve Pink next year. In addition, Gordon Johnson Runtime: 98 minutes had lifted the production freeze on the How To Train Your Dragon Rated: R Hollywood studio. Rocky and His Friends Starring: Jay Baruchel (Hiccup), Release Date: March 26th, 2010 had a final airdate of November 19th, Gerald Butler (Stoick), American Reviewed by: Len Berger 1959. Ferrera (Astrid) (ConNotations Film Editor) Not content to keeping all of his eggs Director: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders in the Squirrel and Moose basket, Ward Runtime: 90 minutes Please do not confuse Hot Tub Time continued his attempts to expand. He Rated: PG Machine with a sci-fi film that must be finalized plans for a second half-hour Release Date: March 26th, 2010 seen by sci-fi aficionados. The film is a cartoon show of 52 episodes, a half-hour Reviewed by: Len Berger good comedy about four friends that take satirical puppet show called The Watts (ConNotations Film Editor) a road trip back to a ski resort that they Gnu Show, another puppet show for a often visited in their early years. They all younger audience, Carrots and the King. How to Train Your Dragon is a had been having trouble with their lives He was also working on The World of delightful story about a band of Vikings and the road trip would be a short escape Winnie the Pooh, as a Christmas release living on the island of Berk. Generally from the reality of the real world. The and there was talk about a feature-length they have a peaceful life except for those resort is not exactly as they pictured it but adaptation of Mad magazine. Ward had darn pests. No, they are not pigeons; noN they try to make the best of it anyway. many irons in the fire and he was certainly they are not rodents; but what they do Their room is a mess but then they spot hedging his bets. have is a dizzying array of flying fire- the hot tub outside. Well, as drunk as they Ward poured most of his effort into breathing dragons of every shape and are they decide to give it a try. The Watts Gnu Show. Beginning in mid- to a quick-rising cake recipe. The mix color. And when the dragons are hungry Adam (played by John Cusack), Lou 1959, the economic elements all looked exploded, sending moose, squirrel, and you had better watch out. (played by Rob Corddry), Nick (played good. Production costs were lower than stove skyward. Soon our boys were up Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) is by Craig Robinson) and Jacob (played by animation. Staffing would be about fifteen to their necks in the staples of the show: a young Viking who doesn’t quite fit Clark Duke) get more than they bargained people as compared to the one hundred pontificating politicians, grumbling the Viking mold. Hiccup is a scrawny for. The tub goes wild and they wake up or more employed on Rocky. Delivery for government agents, simpleton spies, and little kid who really wants to become a with their hangovers in the year 1986. the puppets would be around two months cold war chaos. Viking warrior. Stoick (voiced by Gerald What a hoot – they get a chance to relive while animation took five months at six This series of forty episodes was the Butler) his father has all but given up on some of their past with memories of the times the budget. Ward conceived of the longest in the shows history. It crammed Hiccup. The other children in the town future. Their adventure continues and show as a comedy-variety show along the in the U.S.- Soviet space race, the hunt mock him. One night when Berk is under there are plenty of laughs throughout lines of The Steve Allen Show. Bill Scott for the Mooseberry rocket fuel, trips to attack, Hiccup leaves his home to prove the film. Of course living in the past is called it “Hellzapuppets!” Las Vegas, Bloney Island, Washington, to the town he’s a warrior. He wants to not their desire so they spend some time By August 1959, songs and a script , Minnesota, an unusual ocean capture and kill his first dragon using a trying to figure out how to reverse the had been completed, the puppets had been liner cruise, and a frantic canoe ride down device he built. That night he aims his time travel. built, and sets were being constructed. the Potomac. For the first time we meet device, fires, and believes he hit a dragon. Hot Tub Time Machine is not for A pilot was made in October 1959. The Boris Badenov, Natasha Fatale, Fearless When daylight arrives the next day, the faint-hearted. Practically every advertising agencies who saw it were Leader, moon men Cloyd and Gidney, Hiccup ventures out to determine if the other line has an obscenity. The film is ecstatic. The Watts Gnu Show very nearly Mr. Big, Captain Peter “Wrongway” device worked and he stumbles across a recommended for those who like this type sold, but after three years it came to Peachfuzz, not to mention Rocky and captured Night Fury, the most vicious of of humor but don’t bring the children. naught. Jay Ward was not destined to be Bullwinkle. The viewing public soon all dragons. Hiccup looks at the captured The film is rated R for language, sex, the Jim Henson of the late ‘50’s. took notice. The industry bible, Variety, Night Fury and the Night Fury looks at drinking and some nudity. Well - that sure Trouble was coming to a boil with had this to say: “Rocky and his friends Hiccup. Unable to slay the dragon, Hiccup sounds like a lot of fun. the completion of the fifth episode of are the kind of cartoon characters that releases the Night Fury and eventually Hot Tub Time Machine is rated B. Rocky. The sound quality coming out should win a place in the heart of the befriends the most vicious of all dragons. of the Mexico studio was distorted, the moppet audience and a sigh of relief from Meanwhile back at Berk the children dialogue muffled, and the sound effects parents. The approach to kids humor is must be trained to be dragon slayers. tended to drown out the voices. many of intelligent . . . a thankful departure from Hiccup and the rest of the children are these problems continued for three years. the violent slapstick that makes up the placed into a large cage. Day after day Page 6 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 FORCES OF NATURE center, experience a simulated launch, and GAMING EVENTS NEW ROCK WALL for climbers aged 8 and more. Top to Bottom Tours: Check web FYI above site for 2010 dates CASFS BOOK DISCUSSION DRAWN TO COMICS ADULTS NIGHT OUT, 1st Fridays, check OTHER GENRE-RELATED EVENTS website for topics & time Bent Cover Books 5th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, May all BOOKMANS, PHOENIX 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix month long. ASU ACROSS+ ANIME CLUB meeting, 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm, in the Coffee Bar STAR WARS MINIATURES. Fridays 730p- Sundays,6pm Sponsored by Central Arizona 11pm, Sundays, 1pm-4pm SCIENCE LECTURES AND NEWS: http:// N.E.R.D.S. MEETUP. Gamers, Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) SIT-AND-SKETCH with local artists. asunews.asu.edu/news/science Browncoats, Otaku, Trekkies, Computer email questions to [email protected] Saturdays, 4pm-8pm SHOEMAKER MEMORIAL LECTURE, pioneers Geeks and just HEROCLIX. Sat 2pm in the field of asteroid and comet impacts. plain Nerds just for fun. Come do some face-to-face interaction Check FaceBook for other events Spring, TBA BROWNCOATS SHINDIG, first Sat, 7pm with your fellow readers and SF/Fantasy PHOENIX ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Free fans! Haven’t read the book? Don’t GAME DEPOT CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, Telescope Training Workshop, Apr 3, worry, there’s no quiz or anything. You PEORIA 7pm. Apr 18, can use the rest of us as your personal BATTLETECH. May 22, noon. 330pm. May 2, 330pm. May 23. book reviewers to see if it’s something MAGIC, THE GATHERING PRE-RELEASE. Apr STARGAZING. Starlab Planetarium. Check HOW TO DISPLAY A COSPLAY COSTUME, Apr you’d like. We start out with the book 17, 11am. website for dates and times 4, 630pm discussion, but the conversation can go HEROCLIX. Wed, 530pm-8pm · “Spring Break” classes for kids. Check anywhere. The get-together is held in the MALIFAUX. Fri, 4pm-7pm website for topics and dates. Coming up: BOOKMANS, MESA coffee shop of Bent Cover Books near Radical COMIC CREATE COSTUME PARTY, Apr 17, 28th Drive and Cactus Road in Phoenix. GAMER’S INN Rockets, Heat Shield Challenge and 1pm We welcome potential new friends. Liquids, Gases and Solids. April 20, 2010 - THE EMPRESS OF MARS WAR MACHINE/HORDES NIGHTFALL LEAGUE. FAMILY FUN DAYS. Apr 24, 10am. Kids LOFT THEATRE, TUCSON by Kage Baker Apr 4 3 weeks activities, games, tours, space-themed SCREENINGS OF MOVIES, many SF genre. May 18, 2010 - THE HUMANOIDS by Jack $100 40K TOURNAMENT. Apr 10, 10am. videos, Check website for times and listings. Williamson MAGIC, THE GATHERING, RISE OF ELDRAZI science & physics demos, and more. June 21, 2010 - THE HITCH-HIKERS PRE-RELEASE EVENT. Apr 17-23 NATIONAL ASTRONOMY DAY. Apr 24, 10am- Check web sites or contact stores for more GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams $100 WARHAMMER FANTASY TOURNAMENT, 4pm. Stargazing party begins at 730pm. info May 1, 10am. THE SPACE PLACE is a 2-hour interactive Game Depot, 480-966-4727 BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS MAGIC, THE GATHERING, RISE OF ELDRAZI program for little ones with big Websites: GAME DAY. May 22, 6pm imaginations! http://www.azchallenger.org Borders, Camelback FLAMES OF WAR, SHIFTING SANDS. May 22- Designed for children ages 3 through http://www.azscience.org Path of the Craft book club, 4th Sat, 6pm 23, 10am 6, the program features age-appropriate http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/ activities designed storelocator Barnes & Noble, Eastside Tucson IMPERIAL OUTPOST GAMES to teach preschoolers about our planet http://beyond.asu.edu SF/F Book group, 2nd Tuesday, 730pm and solar system. Call for reservations. http://www.bookmans.com FEDERATION COMMANDER. 2nd Saturdays, Neptune: Apr 19 http://www.borders.com/online/store/ SPECIAL BOOK RELEASES noon & 20, 930am. Pluto: May 17 & 18, LocatorResults RPG. 1st & 3rd Sundays 930am. http://www.cemeterydance.com This listing is to introduce you to BOARDGAMES & DEMO NITE. Mondays & ASU METEORITE EXHIBIT http://www.changinghands.com smaller publishing houses that offer Thursdays, 6pm. COLUMBIA SHUTTLE MEMORIAL DISPLAY http://www.conlanpress.com exclusive or limited edition books that MAGIC BOOSTER DRAFTS. Fridays, 7pm IRIDIUM SATELLITE MODEL http://www.dragonmoonpress.com you wouldn’t be able to find at your local WAR MACHINE. Wednesdays, 4pm LOWELL OBSERVATORY DISPLAY http://www.drawntocomics.com chain bookstore. JOURNEY THRU THE SPACE PROGRAM http://www.gamersinnaz.com/ SAMURAI COMICS ATLANTIS SPACE SHUTTLE MODEL http://www.imperialoutpost.com Cemetery Dance Publications (check website for correct store location) http://www.library.pima.gov “The Exorcist and Legion” (special MOON SOCIETY MEETING http://www.loftcinema.com/showtimes edition) by William Peter Blatty YUGIOH TOURNAMENT. Sundays, noon http://madcaptheaters.com/ “Four Ghosts: Straub, Hill, Garton and (Phx) & Sat, noon (west valley) 3:00 PM on the third Saturday at Denny’s http://www.pimaair.org Burke ANIME CLUB. Sundays, noon (west valley) on the Southeast corner of US60 and http://www.poisonedpen.com POKEMON. Sundays, 2pm (west valley) Rural Road. For more info contact Craig http://store.pspublishing.co.uk/ Edge SF & F Publishing/Tesseract MAGIC, THE GATHERING. Friday, 6p at both Porter at [email protected] http://www.pyrsf.com/catalog.html Books locations, & Tues, 6pm (west valley) & http://www.samuraicomics.com “Evolve” ed by Nancy Kilpatrick Sat 1pm PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, http://www.seti.org “Hell Can Wait” by Theodore Judson (Phx) TUCSON http://www.spazdogcomics.com/ http://www.subterraneanpress.com/ PS Publishing SCIENCE EVENTS VOLUNTEER PRESENTATION SERIES. Apr 17, http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ “Night Cache” by Andy Duncan 10a-11am http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/ “Reunion” by Rick Hautala ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER 2010 ARIZONA AVIATION HALL OF FAME http://www.wildsidepress.com/ “Viator Plus” by Lucius Shepard INDUCTION CEREMONY. Apr 17, 530pm “Timeswitch” by John Gribbin GOOSE BUMPS! THE SCIENCE OF FEAR. B-36 PEACEMAKER SYMPOSIUM. Apr 23, “Crack’d Pot Trail” by Steven Erikson Opened Jan 31, 2010 1pm and Apr 24, 10am “Shaka II” by Mike Resnick JUNIOR WEATHER FORECASTERS program. SPACE DAY. May 7, 1pm Apr 7, May 5 SPACE GALLERY EXHIBIT. See an Apollo PYR Publishing SCIENCE FOR GIRLS. Apr 3: Small Scale, space capsule, moon rock, Phoenix Mars “Ares Express” by Ian McDonald Big Ideas workshop. Jun 20: Summer Mission. “City without End” by Kay Kenyon Solstice “Empire in Black and Gold” by Adrian Slumber Party. Jul 18: Red, White & Blue SETI Institute’s Weekly Tchaikovsky workshop. “Ghosts of Manhattan” by George Mann SATURDAY SCIENCE CLASSES FOR AGES 6-10. SCIENCE RADIO PROGRAM - Mondays, avail Check website for dates and topics. Apr as podcast Subterranean Press 10: Oh, http://radio.seti.org “Clementine” by Cherie Priest The Pressure! Apr 24: What a Team! http://podcast.seti.org “Mirror Kingdoms” the Best of Peter (about flight) May 8: Shake, Rattle and Beagle Roll (earthquakes) Titan Missile Museum “The Happiest Days of Our Lives” by Wil FAMILY-FRIENDLY TALKS ABOUT BIOLOGY Wheaton TOPICS. Apr 17 “Allergies & Your Immune TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM TOURS. “Not Less Than Gods” by Kage Baker System, Reservations only - The only publicly “Where Everything Ends” by Ray May 15 “A Day in the Life of a Scientist”, accessible Titan II missile site in the Bradbury and Jun 5 TBA. nation. Tour the underground missile site. And too many more to mention…. Ongoing Exhibits: See the 3-ton blast doors, 8’ thick silo DORRANCE PLANETARIUM walls and an actual Titan II missile in Wildside Press EVANS FAMILY SKYCYCLE the launch duct. Visit the launch control “Gothic Grotesques” by Brian Stableford MY DIGITAL WORLDS Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 7 Sarpedon. These are their stories of Warhammer 40,000 Hellforged Warhammer 40,000 Gamers Corner among aliens, Chaos forces, by Ben Counter Scourge The Heretic Pathfinder Imperium forces, and themselves. The Black Library Pub, $7.99, 409 pp by Sandy Mitchell Paizo Publishing, Soul Drinkers try to be independent and Black Library Pub, $7.99, 413 pp Core Rule Book, $49.99, 576 pp free in doing the Emperor’s work. The unified Soul Drinkers, an elite This omnibus contained three novels: space marine group, will have to go This tale is about a group of Ordo This is D&D 3.5 updated with most “Soul Drinker,” “The Bleeding Chalice,” against an alien/robot army, the Necrons. Hereticus specialists who are caught up of the bugs worked out. The process of and “Crimson Tears.” Unexpectedly, they will have to make a in a human smuggling ring and finding fixing the bugs has made for some minor Different. I did not expect an elite temporary truce with the Imperium forces. a conspiracy among the elite. What they changes but this is definitely recognizable Space Marines to rebel from their own Will the Soul Drinkers survive against will find is something more than just as D&D. The character creation with Imperium. Nor did I expect them to still the alien hordes? Will they survive their sending serfs to other worlds -something its incredible amounts of choices and fight Chaos forces. Thought they would alliance with the Imperium? sinister. endlessly customizable characters has become Chaos marines instead. They did This is the fifth book of the Soul This book is the first of the series, become the only sticking point for me. not. I liked it. Recommended for dark Drinker series. Dark Heresy. The choices mean that you will always sci-fi and Warhammer 40,000 readers. ~~ Enjoyable. Did not expect this ending. Interesting concept. This Inquisition’s have skills that you never become even Jeffrey Lu Recommended for dark sci-fi readers and team of experts is different from other adequate at, or that you will always be Warhammer 40,000 readers. ~~ Jeffrey novels. They are independent from their mediocre at everything. Warhammer 40,000 Chapter War Lu Inquisition patron. Liked it. Recommend What I have seen about the system by Ben Counter it for dark sci-fi and Warhammer 40,000 seems to have fixed the problems of Black Library Pub, $7.99, 413 pp Warhammer 40,000 Blood Pact readers. ~~ Jeffrey Lu unbalanced characters vs. monsters at mid by Dan Abnett levels, However, since all the play I have The Soul Drinkers are fighting their Black Library Pub, $21.00, 316 pp Warhammer Reiksguard seen is through the Pathfinder Society own civil war. One side wants to fight the by Richard Williams (more on that later) I do not know how Imperium. The other by Sarpedon does Gaunt has recovered from being Black Library Pub, $7.99, 410 pp the higher levels play out. To play you not. This is a 2nd chapter war among the tortured from his Chaos enemy, The Blood only need the Pathfinder Roleplaying Soul Drinkers, a space marine chapter. Pact. He is literally a new man. He and In this novel, the Reiksguard Knights Game Core Rulebook. GMs may also Will the Soul Drinkers survive before his Tanith First-And-Only are waiting for are battling an army commanded by a want the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game their common enemy shows up? deployment. They have been restless for goblin warlord and an ogre tyrant. A Bestiary. There are a number of additional This is the fourth book of the Soul two years of rest and relaxation. Little young knight, Delmar von Reinhardt, will supplements and adventures but none Drinkers series. does Gaunt know that he will be asked to find deadly secrets within his order and of them are necessary, although they do Interesting way to end a civil war. meet a V.I.P. prisoner that could change the sad politics of neighboring kingdoms enrich the playing experience. Dark. Recommended for dark sci-fi the war. He will find out he cannot trust against this mighty monster army. Will the The Pathfinder Society is the Paizo readers and Warhammer 40,000 readers. his contacts. But what will he have to do Empire fall due to division, destruction, version of the various RPGA “Living” ~~ Jeffrey Lu to keep the prisoner alive? and/or devious plans of the enemy or by campaigns. They don’t use experience This is the twelve book of Gaunt’s themselves? directly; instead they advance you a level Ghost series. This is the first book of the series, An after each third module. It simplifies Loved it. The characters are Empire Army Novel. tracking but you never get the flattening complex but realistic. I enjoyed it. Liked it. Very complex but interesting. effect seen in other systems where you Highly recommended to dark sci-fi and Recommended to dark war fantasy readers can “catch-up” with friends who started Warhammer 40,000 fans. ~~ Jeffrey Lu or Warhammer fans. ~~ Jeffrey Lu earlier. The society requires players to keep track of their characters online so (Cont’d on page 9 ) as to know where the majority of players are at any time and this allows them to provide products in line with the character levels. For those who liked D&D 3 and 3.5 this is the perfect revision, it fixes most problems and allows you to play without changing to the new system. Most of the revisions I’ve seen were things many of us were using in our campaigns as house rules. 4.5 Stars out of 5 See you next time. Bob LaPierre

As an ending note I have been asked to take a look at Evony next column. So we shall see how good this juggernaut of the free RPGs is.

Warhammer 40,000 The Soul Drinkers Omnibus by Ben Counter Black Library, $10.99, 750 pp

Here are the stories of a space marine chapter, Soul Drinkers. These fighters are neither Chaos nor Imperium. They are independently run by the new leader Page 8 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 Gamers (Cont’d from page 8 ) Enjoyable. Recommended for dark war and Warhammer 40,000 readers. ~~ Warhammer Vermintide sci-fi readers and Warhammer 40,000 Jeffrey Lu by Bruno Lee Warhammer Iron Company readers. ~~ Jeffrey Lu Black Library Pub, $7.99, 252 pp by Chris Wraight Warhammer Death’s Black Library Pub, $7.99, 413 pp Warhammer Death’s Messenger by Sandy Mitchell In this book, Heiko Geissner is trying by Sandy Mitchell Black Library Publication, $7.99, 409 to solve the missing museum pieces. He Engineer Magnus Ironblood is hired by Black Library Pub, $7.99, 395 pp pp will find out that he will be branded a Imperialist royalty to help put down the heretic because he fought the elusive and secessionist forces. He will be in charge of Rudi, a tracker and hunter, and Rudi will have a destiny with not only “imaginary” enemy of mankind, the “rat- a dangerous and unpredictable company his lady friend, Hanna, a healer, are with his friend Hanna but also with witch men.” With nowhere to go, Heiko will that deals with explosives, cannons, and driven away from their homes due to a hunters, mutants, heretics and beastmen. attempt to find help from the dwarves. rockets. Will he repeat his secret shame witchhunter and his men. They are trying He will have to choose a walk a hard path But will the dwarfs listen to this “insane” of an invention gone wrong? Or will he to get to Marienburg, a large city, in order or an easy route to destruction. human? finally revenge himself of an old enemy to find an old friend. Little do they know This is the third book of the Blood on Liked it. Enjoyable. Recommend to by taking his company with him? that both of them will have many perils on the Reik series. dark fantasy readers and Warhammer fans. This is the second book of the series, the road before they end their quest. Tough choice for Rudi. Everything ~~ Jeffrey Lu An Empire Army Novel. This is the first book of Blood of the began to make sense after reading the Loved it. Liked the concept of an Reik series. other two books in series. Enjoyable. Warhammer 40,000 Titanicus engineer fighting in the world of magic Interesting. Recommended for dark Recommended for dark fantasy readers by Dan Abnett and mayhem. Recommended for fantasy fantasy and Warhammer readers. ~~ and Warhammer fans. ~~ Jeffrey Lu Black Library Pub, $8.99, 602 pp war readers and Warhammer readers. ~~ Jeffrey Lu Jeffrey Lu Warhammer 40,000 Cadian Blood In this novel, Titan Legio Invicat, Warhammer 40,000 Gunheads by Aaron Dembski-Bowden a war machine, is at the forge world of Warhammer 40,000 by Steve Parker Black Library Pub, $7.99, 347 pp Orestes to hunt the Chaos Titians. Innocence Proves Nothing Black Library Pub, $7.99, 414 pp Loved it. I can see why Dan Abnett is by Sandy Mitchell The Cadian Guardsmen are battling top of his game. Recommended to dark Black Library, $7.99, 414 pp Sergeant White and his tank company, the diseased Chaos forces at the Imperial sci-fi war readers and Warhammer 40,000 Gunheads, are given a mission to find shrine world of Kathur. There is more fans. ~~ Jeffrey Lu A problem with heretics is what a team a relic. They will find how difficult the at stake than the unit being assigned a of Inquisition are trying to counter. They enemy, the orks, can be. Will they finish commissar and an inquisitor. Something (Cont’d on page 10 ) will realize they are fighting not only their mission or be destroyed? very sinister is about to appear. heretics but also within the Inquisition- Good. Overall, liked the story of a Surprised at the complex story. Liked who is friend/foe? tank commander and his men against it. Definitely recommended to dark sci-fi This is the second book in a Dark the odds. Recommended for dark sci-fi readers and Warhammer 40,000 fans. ~~ Heresy series. Jeffrey Lu

Westercon 63 and ConChord 23 have partnered to bring you: WesterChord Thursday, July 1 through Sunday, July 4, 2010 With our honored guests: Writer Guest of Honor: Rudy Rucker / Fan Guest of Honor: John D. Berry Artist Guest of Honor: Marc Schirmeister / Toastmaster: Paul Kwinn Music Guest of Honor: Seanan McGuire Interfilk Guest: Stone Dragons (Tom Jeffers & Sue Posteraro)

Since 1948 the Westercon has been the floating social feast where fans gather annually to celebrate Science Fiction & Fantasy this side of the Rockies. Join us in 2010 to reunite with old friends, meet new friends, and share in our corner of fandom. We’ve partnered with ConChord 23, Southern ’s home filk convention, to infuse a musical balloon that will lift the weekend. ConChord’s distinctive features include musical performances, one of which is the infamous Totally Tacky and Tasteless Revue, at which musicians perform songs they would not normally perform on stage.

WesterChord will be held at the Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. The room rate is $129 a night for s/d/t/q occupancy and valet parking is $15 a day. Call (626) 584-3112 and tell them the convention code: WESTER to receive the reduced rate.

Attending Membership for all 4 days is $60 (it goes up after June 1).

For more information or to register view our websites: www.westercon63.org , www.conchord.org or email: [email protected]. Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 9 Warhammer 40,000 Grey Knights Gamers (Cont’d from page 9 ) considered. Enjoyed it even though it is dark. Recommended to dark sci-fi readers by Ben Counter Warhammer The Chronicles of Malus Musty Tomes or Warhammer 40,000 fans. ~~ Jeffrey Black Library, $7.99, 412 pp Darkblade Volume Two Lu by Dan Abnett and Mike Lee A Zen Science Fiction Series by Dennis The Grey Knights are daemon hunters/ Black Library, $13.99, 718 pp Schmidt Warhammer 40,000 Rynn’s World space marines. In this story, Justicar Way-Farer, Ace Books, 277 pp, 1978 by Steve Parker Alaric is leading a team of Grey Knights Here is the volume 2 of Malus Kensho, Ace Books, 314 pp, 1979 Black Library, $13.00, 536 pp to counter an old prophecy of a great Darkblade. The dark elf Malus Darkblade Satori, Ace Books, 293 pp, 1981 enemy’s return. Will he and his group be is alive and well. He is trying to counter Wanderer, Ace Books, 202 pp, 1985 Rynn’s World is where resides a major there in time to stop this great evil? a curse by attempting to find five artifacts Space Marine chapter, the Crimson Fist. This is the first book of the Grey before one year or he loses everything. So You might think that nothing could Unfortunately, they will have to face a Knight Series. far, Malus has three items. He needs to be more inimical to science fiction than major ork invasion after a man-made Enjoyed it. Dark. These Grey Knights find two more. Will he remove this curse Zen Buddhism. After all, in essence it disaster. Will the Crimson Fist survive are the only space marines to never go to or will he inherit something more? is profoundly anti-intellectual, instead against these alien hordes or cease to exist the dark side. Surprised at a solution of This tome contains Warpsword, Lord devoted to a state of mind beyond words due to the sheer numbers of the hated one Grey Knight. Recommended to dark of Ruin, and a Darkblade comic strip. and opposed to any rational analysis. Its enemy? sci-fi readers and fans of Warhammer One mean evil character who has enlightenment is to be found in the here- This is the first of a series, A Space 40,000. ~~ Jeffrey Lu the will and intellect to survive. Very and-now, an emptying of the mind rather Marine Battles Novel. dark. Recommended for dark fantasy or than an attainment of a mystical state. Liked it. Dark but hopeful. Lot of Warhammer 40,000 Dark Adeptus Warhammer readers. ~~ Jeffrey Lu This makes it the perfect defense against realistic ends of heroes. Disappointed but by Ben Counter alien energy beings that feed upon human see reason why the major enemy was not Black Library, $7.99, 401pp Warhammer emotion, driving people insane to build up killed. Smell sequel. Recommended to The Cold Hand of Betrayal the feast. dark sci-fic and Warhammer 40,000 fans. This time, Alaric and his loyal Grey edited by Marc Gascoigne and Way-Farer opens on the planet ~~ Jeffrey Lu Knights are to investigate a planet Christian Dunn Kensho, where people live in fear of the that vanished a hundred years ago and Black Library, $7.99, 252 pp floating, invisible aliens, called mushin. Warhammer 40,000 Dark Creed suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They The humans are descendants of Earth by Anthony Reynolds will ally themselves with a team from Here are nine short stories of betrayal colonists who were almost wiped out by Black Library, $7.99, 413 pp Mars, the Mechanicus. Little will they in the fantasy world of Warhammer. They the mushin. A Japanese admiral of the both know that there is something darker. varied from Elvish brothers to Chaos colony ship established the Way of Zen to Dark Apostle Marduk and his Word Something in the planet is trying to help warriors. allow a few to survive, at a preindustrial Bearer chapter are joining forces with their common enemy, the Chaos forces. Interesting. Dark deeds. Some had level. Generations later, this planet has other Word Bearers to invade and crush This is the second book of the Grey surprise endings. Recommended for dark many ways, including the Way of the an Imperial sector. He has an alien device Knight Series. fantasy or Warhammer readers. ~~ Jeffrey Sword. While knowledge is not the goal, called Nexus Arrangement that could Interesting. Dark. This is filled Lu Zen certainly has helped in the honing of help his side win. This is one of the Word with a couple of surprises. Liked it. martial arts like karate and swordfighting. Bearers Dark crusade against the Imperial Recommended to dark sci-fi readers and Warhammer 40,000 Dark Apostle The first two parts of this novel were armies including the great White Consuls fans of Warhammer 40,000. ~~ Jeffrey by Anthony Reynolds published in Galaxy magazine in 1976 Space Marine Chapter. Yet, things change Lu Black Library, $7.99, 415 pp and 1977, so the author, an advertising for the worse when the same alien artifact executive, earned his credentials within goes horribly wrong- it summons an old Warhammer 40,000 Soul Hunter Dark Apostle Jarulek and his Chaos the scifi genre. Schmidt was good at enemy to the mix. To make it worse, Dark by Aaron Dembski-Bowden Space Marines, Word Bearers, are getting in a character’s mind, in this Apostle Marduk will have to deal enemies Black Library, $8.99, 413 pp invading an Imperial world. They are first novel the mind of a young man within. trying to find an artifact that may help who discovers a new way to oppose the This is the third book in the Word Space Marine Talos is known as an their cause against their hated enemy- The mushin, the Way of No Sword. Bearer series. independent pure heart killer, “Soul Imperial. What they will realize is that Kensho occurs centuries later, when Interesting, indeed. Dark. I liked Hunter.” He is having currently visions there is another enemy lurking around. humans have expanded a bit over the it. Recommended for dark sci-fi and of what dangers his fellow heretic Will the quest to find this artifact be too planet, and have controlled the mushin Warhammer 40,000 readers. ~~ Jeffrey Space Marines will have in the future. high? more. We now hear that the admiral’s Way Lu Unfortunately, his chapter has depleted This is the first book of the World was indeed based on Zen, and Schmidt men and resources since their rebellion Bearers Series. indulges in the scifi genre technique Warhammer Call to Arms to the Emperor. Yet, they have not turned Interesting. Surprised at who survived. of having characters lecture each other by Mitchel Scanlon to the dark Chaotic gods. Their evil Dark. Recommended to dark sci-fi readers about important ideas – in this case Zen Black Library, $8.99, 316 pp “allies” invited them for a Black Crusade or Warhammer 40,000 fans. ~~ Jeffrey mindlessness and philosophy. Think of against the Emperor’s forces. Little will Lu Obi Wan or Yoda talking to Luke. Not Dieter Lanz joins the Hochland they know there are more at stake than a problem – loved it. The problem on Swordsmen known as ‘the Scarlets.’ He winning. Warhammer 40,000 Dark Disciple the planet now is that an entrenched will fight battles with his unit against the This is a Night Lords novel. by Anthony Reynolds priesthood and ambitious country warlord orc/goblin army in order to stay alive. He Different is good. Enjoyable. Black Library, $7.99, 413 pp are only too eager to go to war against will change from being a beginner to a Recommended to dark war sci-fi and each other. Since most technology of the veteran. War is hell. Warhammer 40,000 readers. ~~ Jeffrey Marduk is now the new Dark Apostle colony ship was lost, that will involve This is the third book of the series, An Lu of the Word Bearers Chaos Space Marine lots of blades. And one young swordsman Empire Army Novel. This book can stand Legion. He will continue the quest for wants to use the mushin to prevent the alone. the solution to a mysterious alien artifact. war … Realistic. Imperial general big Little will they know, Marduk and his Flash forward more centuries, and mistake. Dark and deadly. Recommended Chaos Space Marines will have to fight the new problem in Satori is a warship to dark fantasy and Warhammer fans. ~~ not only Imperial forces and aliens but from Earth. The religious tyranny of Jeffrey Lu also among themselves. Earth is seeking out its lost colonies, to This is the second book of the World give them an option to submit or die. Bearers Series. Schmidt puts us in the minds of a bishop Riveting. A point of view I have not ( Cont’d on page 12 ) Page 10 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 Including: Memberships: Fantasy, Horror, Comics, Anime, $35 until April 30, 2010 Media, Robots & Hard Science $45 at the door Author Guest Of Author Author Author Honor Guest Guest Guest

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Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 11 Musty Tomes ( Cont’d from page 10 ) in need of rescuing. One of these ghosts is Electronic devices malfunction in the area. to accept this offer, and travels with other than human. Magic spells worked. The city formed the bear through realms of wonder and and admiral on the ship, representing the I hope Mr. Gaiman won’t mind if alliances with some of the refugees. Most enchantment to the prince’s demesne. barely cooperating power centers of Earth. I compare his writing here to that of of the refugees depend on magic to live Although he goes masked, and is always The new religion is called the Power, C.S. Lewis’; it is more than the British- and are thus confined to a thirty mile absent by day, Camille gradually comes basically devoted to controlling people isms and the clarity of language; certain radius of The Portal. to trust and then love Price Alain. But and stopping progress. The two greatest remarks, like the cat’s comment, “‘You Our story begins with death of an inadvertently she triggers a terrible curse foes of the Power, aside from the military, people are all over the place. Cats, on the important Dragon, Aloeus, who died when that carries away Prince Alain and all the were scientists and “Zenists.” The bishop other hand, keep ourselves together.’” all of the magic disappeared from his area household, to be prisoners in the dreadful is not pleased to discover remaining strike the same sort of note as “for nothing of the sky while he was flying. Without keep of the fell wizard Orbane. Camille Zenists on Kensho. He sends an assassin spoils the taste of good, ordinary food half the magic he dies. Kline Maxwell, a news has exactly a year and a day to rescue down to explore and kill the head of the so much as the memory of bad, magic reporter comes to suspect that the magic them, or Alain will be wedded to the troll Zens, called the Wayfarer. His crew also food” from The Lion, the Witch, and the was deliberately siphoned off and the princess Dre’ela. And so she wanders, kidnaps a female subject from the planet, Wardrobe. And look! Both stories have Aloeus’s death was no accident. The chase on an almost hopeless quest to find the for study. They didn’t figure on her being a witch, and a wardrobe – or at least the on leading to encounter with evil human keep that is “east of the sun and west of -- well, one of those Zenists. mirror from one with a wardrobe space magicians, corrupt officials, interfering the moon.” Along the way she is aided by Wanderer occurs only seven years behind it – and the cat in Coraline is at police... many, including a unicorn, a dragon, an later, when an Earth fleet has arrived to one point the size of a lion, and Aslan The story has wonderful characters. elf-price, and the three Fates themselves find out why the previous warship failed. occasionally presents as a cat. Ha! And Aloeus, whom we meet in flashbacks in quite their best literary incarnation. The same characters are now involved to I bet that wasn’t even an intentional and Baldassare, his lawyer, The two This is by far the most satisfying stop the fleet. The reformed assassin goes correlation on Gaiman’s part. Certain were corporate entrepreneurs. Maelgwyn retelling I have ever read. The language is on a wilderness hike and is joined by a archetypes are simply more likely to show Caledvwlch, an elf in the Cleveland Police evocative of faerie; and there are scenes ronin, one of the band of rogue crazies up in England’s literature. Gaiman also Department’s Paranormal enforcement of such beauty, passages of such luminous who are bonded to the mushin. They meet has a similar understanding of the nature unit is a wonderfully complex individual insight, that I was transfigured as I read. another wilderness wanderer, a young of evil entities: they can distort, but not sometimes seeming morally ambivalent There have been many novelizations of woman who left the Zen ways herself. create; and they lie. but ultimately proving to be on the side fairy tales in the past 30 years. Some Meanwhile, the Zenists are trying to It seems to me there are different of light. Mayor Rayburn, the corrupt City of the most noteworthy are Beauty, develop new weapons and options to stop classes of horror, and some are much Boss is sleazy and two-faced, a villain you Deerskin, and Spindle’s End, all by Robin the fleet: rayguns, the old colony ship, more unpleasant than others. I don’t mind love to hate but not The Villain. McKinley; and the Tor Fairy Tales Series their own psi powers of teleportation? In magical soul-eating spiders with sharp Dragons carries through to its that included Snow White and Rose Red the end, the bad guys win. They consider teeth anywhere near as much as I mind satisfactory end. Then comes Dwarves by Patricia Wrede, Thomas the Rhymer the planet too dangerous and nuke it into human-perpetuated cruelties. So this where we learn of Cleveland’s hand in by Ellen Kushner, and Tam Lin by Pamela a cinder. And yet, and yet … oh, I don’t book goes on my shelf of best children’s overthrowing a government on the other Dean. I love all of these, but none of them want to spoil a very satisfying ending. ~~ literature that is touched by magic, side of the Portal resulting the entry so completely transport the reader as does M.L. Fringe alongside The Midnight Folk, The Secret of Ultimate Evil into Cleveland. This Once Upon a Winter’s Night. Garden, and Harding’s Luck. Evil, aided and abetted by the Dwarves Fairy tales are for the Jung at heart. No Coraline Coraline is popular with children of Whiskey Island and their hidden matter how old you are, you will probably by Neil Gaiman because it contains humor, wisdom, and reservoir of Magic, endangers our entire feel like a teen-ager again as you read this Scholastic Inc., $7.99, 162 pp arcane elements like singing rats and a dimension and all of the universes - not – in a good way. ~~ Chris Paige talking cat. It is the sort of book teachers just Cleveland. Read on to find out how After seeing the movie, I decided to and parents love because there is (ta-da!) Kline and Maelgwin deal with it. Learn read the book, a copy of which came as character development. By the story’s also how Cleveland copes with the federal Musical Notes a Christmas present. Much as I liked the end, Coraline has decided that getting seizure of the Portal. film, the book is still better. It has the ring Smoked Fish everything she wants is not essential to I recommend these books. ~~ Gary L. of truth in it as few books do. One striking Songs by Leslie Fish and Others happiness, and she is so glad to have her Swaty scene, for example, occurs when Coraline father back she starts to eat the weird recollects a time when her will to explore If you have lost your old tape of It’s ‘recipe’ meals he loves to make but which Once Upon a Winter’s Night led to danger, and her father’s courage, Sister Jenny’s Turn to Throw the Bomb she used to distain. Young readers may by Dennis McKiernan his bravery saved her from harm. She to time or mischance you can replace at or may not notice these adult-pleasing Roc, $7.99, 380 pp proceeds to emulate him. least a few of those songs with this CD. details, but this is one of those books that The plot, interspersed with significant “Bella Ciao” and “Trinity” are among the acts on its readers like the philosopher’s Meeting Dennis McKiernan was one poetry and horrific components, is this: a reprised vintage Leslie. Along with these stone. –~~ Chris Paige of the high points of attending TusCon rather lonely girl discovers a passage that are a Jack the Ripper song, a lament for this year. He is kind, wise, and funny; my leads to an alternate here presided over the lost space program, an ode to space Dragons & Dwarves: Novels of the favorite character scheme. In the wake of by an ‘other mother’ where she is offered colony pioneers to be, a haunting version Cleveland Portal some fairly intense discussions of fairy- everything she wants, from attention to of “Beacon Hill” by Joe Bethancourt, by S. Andrew Swann tale motifs, he was so generous as to give living toys to her favorite meals, and she a group-sing of “Transport 18,” a post- DAW Books, $7.99, 442 Pages me signed copies of several of his Once can stay forever and ever. All she has to Kipling commentary on Bush era politics Upon a…titles, including this one. do is give up her eyes in exchange for a called “Lock and Load,” one of Kipling’s Dragon & Dwarves is a compendium Anyone who loves the lyricism of pair of black buttons. The buttons, plus own poems from Rewards and Fairies of the two novels Dragons of the Tolkien and read fairy-tales instead of the black thread and a silver needle to sew set to quick music, and, of course, Cuyahoga and The Dwarves of Whiskey doing their homework should love this them in place, are one of the first things fantastic picking and strumming on the Island originally published seperately in book, which is an extended version of Coraline sees in the other world. Coraline twelve-string Monster. To X-Files fans 1996 and 1997. “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” refuses, but when she gets back to our I particularly recommend track # 11. 19 Dragons begins ten years after a portal full of character development, rich world, she discovers that her parents are songs in all, representing the many moods to another dimension opened in Cleveland descriptions, riddles, romance, and missing, taken hostage by the creature that and voices of Leslie Fish. Smoke-ravaged on the Steelers’ 45 yard line during a embellishments. has shaped the other world. So back she her voice may be at moments, but the game with the Browns. Refugees poured Camille and her family live in a has to go, to rescue them. She is helped sureness of her expression is worth more out. They are Dwarves, Elves, Dragons, cottage near a boundary with faerie. One by a black cat, a stone with a hole in it than a thousand sweetly-voiced vapid pop Griffins and many more. Cleveland won a winter’s night, a great white Bear comes given to her by two ladies who live in songs. You don’t have to be Libertarian court case against the Federal government with a message: the mysterious Prince an adjacent flat and read tea leaves quite to love this collection, but it sure doesn’t retaining control of this potential of Summerwood wishes to make her his accurately, and three ghosts who are also hurt. Strongly recommended. - Chris gold mine. But the affects were many. bride. Camille is eventually persuaded Paige Page 12 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 In Our Book Impact by Douglas Preston $25.99, Tom Doherty, 364 pp

The story follows a young woman, Abbey, living in a fishing town in Maine who sees financial possibilities in finding a meteorite that apparently splashed into the ocean nearby. But she’s pretty sure it didn’t hit the water but an island instead. So, with her intrepid best friend, lots of food, booze and pot, they borrow her father’s boat and start looking. Abbey is pretty sure she can turn a buck on eBay with a genuine meteorite. Unfortunately, she and her friend, Jackie, are targets of the town’s bad boy. Hyped up on meth, he has convinced himself that the two women ever figure something out that wasn’t to go to Shiftertown on the edges of Truman, Patton and Bradley are have found a legendary treasure and he political….? San Antonio to get to the heart of the among the historical politicians who wants it. He also wants to affect a little If all that sounds familiar and trite, it’s matter. Here she meets a feline shifter bar decorate the pages. The fictional vengeance on both women…in the usual because it is. This story had no challenges manager, the hand-wringingly gorgeous characters, the soldiers in tanks and way from those kind of men. Oh yes, or suspense for me. In fact, I’ll probably Liam Morrissey. With just barely a how- planes and crossing the Elbe, the staffers we also have to throw in a nasty Atlantic sell the book on eBay. While Douglas de-do, Fraser is pulled into a world she who work in the grey areas between Preston is perfectly capable of generating knows nothing about. A place where the embassies, these personify the choices an interesting and even suspenseful story, males are very, very alpha and the women and experiences lived by many of our this one isn’t one of them. The sci-fi no-nonsense. And of course, where we grandparents, and others who never lived element was mildly interesting and, taken all learn nothing is as it seems. What is to have children. alone, would probably make a decent commonly known about shifters is way With a background in economic sci-fi movie starring Bruce Willis. ~~ off the mark and could do the backstroke history, Conroy manages to do what most Catherine Book in a bottle cap. text-books completely fail to do: bring Trust me - this is a really fast read if history to breathing life. As a public Pride Mates: Shifters Unbound you love paranormals. The action and sex service to the readers who love truth, he by Jennifer Ashley are very intense, tactile and graphic. might consider including a bibliography Leisure Books; $7.99; 304pp Really fun stuff. Hope we don’t have and notes in future publications to explain to wait too long for another in the series! the factual bases of his alternate histories. This is the start of a new series from ~~ Sue Martin ~~ Chris Paige local Phoenix author Ashley and it’s a hot, compelling set-up to a world with all Red Inferno: 1945 The Magicians and Mrs Quent kinds of yummy potential. by Robert Conroy by Galen Beckett The story centers on Shifters: Irish Ballantine Books, $15.00, 353pp Spectra, $15.00, 498 pp Fae-created beings that can morph back and forth from animal to human form. This is Pat Conroy’s fifth alternative A debut novel that combines fantasy They are as powerful, intense and sexy history, the third about WWII, and like with elements of a comedy of manners Ocean storm. as any creation that currently stalks the his 1942, intriguingly close, a near miss. and a good old fashioned Gothic romance. The parallel story follows an ex-CIA paranormal genre. It also brings to light Joe Stalin, the man operative who freelances. Wyman Ford Kim Fraser is a San Antonio DA who’s who authorized more deaths than the has been recruited to investigate the report been assigned to defend a shifter in a entire Third Reich accomplished. Conroy of a mine in southeast Asia where a local human murder case. She’s determined to reminds us there was a reason behind the warlord is enslaving villagers to mine a ferret out the truth, even though shifters hyperventilating, anti-communist witch radioactive stone that is being sold in the are generally shunned by humans. To hunts of the late forties and fifties. Like US as a precious gem. What he finds, in throw more on the fire, a shifter murderer any other Big Lie, it needed a seed of addition to the nasty business of slavery is supposedly impossible because of the truth on which to batten. Stalin was an and lots of people dying of radiation magical “Collars” fused tightly to their insane tyrant, and he and his party were poisoning, is pretty astonishing. necks. All shifters are required to wear the bent on world domination. So, what if And, on the sidelines, is the scientist necklace to control their animal natures Stalin had looked for an excuse to declare who discovers something amazing and so they can’t bust loose in an adrenaline- hot blazing war on Russia’s erstwhile terrifying hiding in a crater on a moon fueled frenzy of any kind. (The Collars are ally, the United States, while both armies around Mars. He is more concerned made by a Fae who really dislikes shifters advanced on Berlin? And what if a power- about saving his job than realizing that and was happy to provide humans with hungry American officer gave Stalin just his information means a lot more to other a way to control them). If a shifter loses the excuse he needed, and lied about people who don’t care much about his control and gets all fired up—the Collar who fired first? And then, what if both job…or his life. exacts a very painful, debilitating backlash countries deemed themselves perfectly But it takes our resourceful and to the wearer. Bound by inimical magic justified in pursuing all-out war because more-than-a-bit brilliant young woman and living on the fringes of human society, the other side “started it”? Ivy is the eldest of the three Lockwood in a backwoods town, to understand and shifters are given limited access to schools What follows is taut, character-driven sisters who live in genteel poverty with interpret what experienced and trained and technology. Barely tolerated, they are action, fought in and about the rubble their parents. Mr Lockwood is locked scientists, ex-CIA agents, and politicians not allowed to live outside their ghettos. of Berlin, with side actions on political in a silent world of his own, according cannot. Okay, so when did a politician So, to build her defense, Fraser has terrain in DC and Moscow. to society he is a victim of his magickal studies. Ivy is sure the answer lies within ( Cont’d on page 14 ) Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 13 In Our Book Changing the World: The eponymous Jack of the series is a incredibly fun. Using Gutenberg’s press ( Cont’d from page 13 ) All-New Tales of Valdemar dispenser of poetic social justice. Where to make brochures for Timeshares was a the riddle her father hide for her, if only edited by Mercedes Lackey the policeman will not or cannot go, Jack tasty bit of genius. Discrediting Jesus was she can solve it. When her mother passes DAW Books; $7.99; 343 pp moves amongst the shadows, encountering incredible. away it means great changes for the supernatural dangers and mysteries, some I like to think that someone would family. Their cousin, Mr Wyble, will take This is a collection of sixteen short of which presage an end of sorts of the do what was done in the final story, but I their home and they must move soon to a stories set in Mercedes Lackey’s Kingdom world. Jack is quietly heroic, and as long know human nature too well. The stories smaller, older home that belongs to their of Valdemar. Almost all of them involve as you have no unreasonable objections are well-written, and short enough to invalid father. To make ends meet, Ivy Heralds and their Companions. (Heralds to vigilante tendencies, he is about the read in a single sitting (mostly). Some of takes a job as governess for a Mr Quent are kingdom peacekeepers and their most admirable fictional character in print, them read a little slower but I didn’t find a who resides in an isolated mansion. Once Companions are magical white horses the guy you really want as a friend and clunker in the bunch. there, she will learn more about magick who can speak to them telepathically and neighbor. And he keeps good company, Highly recommended. ~~ Bob and the forces that are attempting to bring show strengths and intelligence beyond a too. LaPierre about change. normal horse.) The story is set in the world of Like any short story collection the Cosmopath: A Bengal Station Novel Altania which is intriguingly different authors’ abilities vary from adequate to By Eric Brown from earth with its days and nights of exceptional. What is really charming is Solaris, $7.99., 414 pp varying hours, political intrigue, stands of that most of the stories are written very old trees that can move and kill, and, of much in Lackey’s style which makes the Eric Brown has produced another course, magick. The story takes several collection a smooth read. There is, of Novel set against the crowded, gritty and unrelated characters - Ivy and her sisters, course, a short story from Ms. Lackey to complex backdrop of Bengal Station. Lord Rafferdy, the only son of a wealthy head off the sixteen tales, “The One Left His character, Jeff Vaughn has been land owner with secrets, his friend Eldyn Behind,” about the weaver Marya who married to Sukara for five years and they Garrit, an impoverished student in search really, really dislikes Heralds (usually are raising the orphan they adopted and of a fortune so he can support his sister well-thought of and helpful) but is have one small daughter. He is working and Mr Quent, who fights against those convinced to help two Heralds who come as a telepathic investigator and no longer who would plot treason against the crown to her village to track down a thief—who a Necropath (One who reads the minds - and weaves them into an intertwined tale turns out to be impersonating a Herald of the newly dead.) Complex events of intrigue, romance, magick and mystery. and was a particular friend of Marya’s. I intervene in his life causing him to agree Highly recommended. And I intend thought the story was going to be rather a to take up Necropathy and travel to a to be on the look-out for the sequel, The rather unhappy tale, but it turned out to be distant planet to find out what happened to House on Durrow Street, due out this funny. the expedition there. September. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon Some of the standout stories are The story abounds with international Elizabeth A. Vaughn’s “Softly Falling But before Jack realized that intrigue, involving Chandraskar, a ruthless Fragile Things Snow” a very short tale about an old sometimes justice must be made, not entrepreneur, India, China, North America by Neil Gaiman love and Brenda Cooper’s “The Last begged, before he became a figurative and two separate Alien races. The Harper Luxe, $7.99; 364 pp Part of the Day,” a melancholy tale about repairman, he was a teenage kid riding interactions of the rich and varied group of dealing with tragedy and moving on. his bike and exploring the Pine Barrens individuals from all sides make the story This volume is a paperback printing of Excellent. There are two stories using the of New Jersey. Even then, it turns out, he flow well. Chandraskar is the rich and the 2006 book of the same name. same characters Jem and Ree and their was a magnet for supernatural outbreaks. ruthless business who owns a big stake in The short stories contained within grandpa that are very compelling. One is When five-year-old Cody goes Bengal Station, an independant orbital of this volume span the gamut of Neil’s “Defending the Heart” by Kate Paulk and missing, Jack and his best friend Louise his own and a huge trading empire. What career. He has included stories from the the other, “Matters of the Heart” by Sarah involve themselves in the search, only he seeks on Delta Cephei VII Vaughn does beginning of his career to an excerpt A Hoyt. These tales do not have Heralds to find much, much more than they not know except that it is not what says it from Anasazi Boys. However, the prize in them but are about the close friendship sought. There’s the obsidian-dark broken is. Parveen Das is Chandrasakar’s lover of this volume isn’t fiction at all, it is of a young human man Jem and Ree— pyramid in the Barrens, for starters; and who has been invited along on the voyage the introduction where Neil explains not who was caught in a Magic storm and is the secretive Mr. Drexler, actuator for on the Starship Revenge of Kali. Does the only why each story was written but also part cat, rat and human. the Ancient Septimus Fraternal Order; Indian Magnate have some other motive where his head was at while writing it. The other authors in this collection are: odd townsfolk who hold old magic in for including his pet Xenologist on the trip This glimpse into his thought processes Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune, their hands; and a situation that needs to a supposedly uninhabited planet? Does is invaluable in understanding how he Mickey Zucker Reichert, Elizabeth the special attention of an emergent Chandraskar know she is an agent of the became one of the most popular writers of Waters, Kristin Schwengel, Stephanie D. Repairman. Communist government of India? Why is our age. Shaver, Micahel Z. Williamson, Tanya Wilson does a great job of hinting an obviously suspect American geologist While I tend to not review or give my Huff, Fiona Patton, Judith Tarr, Nancy at futures and connecting this story to included in the voyage? What happened preferences of individual short stories, I Asire and Ben Ohlander. Ohlander’s tale, the network of his other fiction. And to the first exploratory vessel and why have to say that my personal favorite story set in the contemporary world, is a hoot. while it follows close on the heels of was it sent? Vaughn does not know. He in this book is the first one. “A Study in ~~ Sue Martin its predecessor, Jack: Secret Histories, doesn’t want to know. He doesn’t want Emerald” is a Sherlock Holmes story set it stands on its own legs. If you have a to go, but must as his daughter needs in Lovecraft’s world of the “Old Ones.” Jack: Secret Circles young reader in mind, this can be a gift expensive medical care. Also a problem is I had to be told to “shut the book and get by F. Paul Wilson on its own merits. But you had best be the rash of attempted assassinations of top the hell off the plane.” Just a fascinating Tor Books, HB $15.99, 282 pp prepared for urgent requests for... more, telepaths around India. Can it be related? look into the ultimate use of logic in a more, MORE!!! ~~ Chris Paige (Both Vaughn and Das were attacked.) world of chaos. Here’s how you can tell that the There is not enough information to tie it Very highly recommended. ~~ Bob Repairman Jack series is actually good, Timeshares all together. Vaughn must proceed to Delta LaPierre not merely popular: you almost never find Edited by: Jean Rabe and Martin H. Cepha VII and read the mind of the dead copies in used bookstores - the owners Greenberg engineer to find out what happened and, hang on to them with tenacity. About Daw Fantasy, $7.99; 306 pp maybe, tie it all together. the only time you find a Repairman Jack On the planet the plot thickens with volume on the shelves at Bookmans is Nineteen short stories about taking a the discovery of vast underground habitats when someone has upgraded to authorized vacation in a true timeshare. The amazing and a colony of terrestrial origin. revised editions and the shelver’s body takes on how it would work and what ( Cont’d on page 15 ) warmth still lingers on the cover. we would do if it was possible were Page 14 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 The Dragon Book To complicate things, there is a virus In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 14 ) Magical Tales from the Modern within the new metal suit from one mad The book proceeds to an unexpected Masters of Fantasy scientist’s clone. conclusion leaving the reader a bit Edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Two problems with this book. If one is surprised. I recommend it. ~~ Gary L. Dozois not familiar with Marvel Comics on Iron Swaty Ace, $24.95; 436 pp Man, this book would be rather confusing Blood Cross especially to the fans of the Iron Man by Faith Hunter Short stories about dragons; seems like movie. Another is a constant repeat of dry Roc, $7.99, 321 pp there are always some such stories around. brief patents from Stark Industries and These stories, however, are some of the HYDRA speeches. Reading these can put Blood Cross is the second book in best, by some of the best. None of these one to sleep. the Jane Yellowrock series, following have been published anywhere before this Liked the book despite its flaws. Skinwalker. It follows almost immediately volume. Recommended to Marvel Comics Iron upon the events of the first book. The list of authors reads like a Who’s Man fans. ~~ Jeffrey Lu To recap, Jane is a skinwalker with Who of fantasy authors: Naomi Novik, the ability to turn into any animal she Tamora Pierce, Kage Baker, Tad Williams, Conqueror’s Shadow chooses but her preference is to turn into and Harry Turtledove to name but a few by Ari Marmell a mountain lion. She shares her body... of the better known authors. And, as with Spectra, $26.00; 436 pp whether he will revert to his former ways her soul... her being with Beast, in a all dragon stories, some are from the makes for compelling reading. complicated relationship that was partly point of view of the dragon slayer and This is Marmell’s first wholly original Marmell takes some easy outs but does explained in the first book but still hold some are from the view of the dragon; novel. He brings a very dark sarcastic wit them in such a way that they work and mysteries for both Jane and us, the reader. but more importantly, some are from the to this book. His foray into dark fantasy is don’t seem so tired. I am looking forward A rogue vampire is still loose in New point of view of a third party. These are a potent one. He starts with a ruler who, to his next novel and hoping he continues Orleans, turning new vampires and letting often the best stories as you see it from while ruling, has little or no control over to get better. them run loose to kill and maim at will. the viewpoint you would have if you were the men who operate in his name (sound Recommended ~~ Bob LaPierre The vampire council has hired Jane to there. like current events?) and shortly moves to track and kill the rogue but the job soon The worlds and dragons are as varied the leader out-of-power and trying to lead Astonishing X-Men Volume 1-3 becomes entangled with vampire politics as the writers. I found myself rereading a peaceful life. by Josh Whedon several of the stories to fully understand I would like to say his return to power Marvel Comics Graphic Novels, the implications and nuances imparted. is brought about by a desire to help his hb $29,95, pb $19.95 Some of these were my first encounter fellow man, but the truth is his daughter with the author, but definitely not my last. is assaulted and that awakens the most ‘bout time… Find this volume, read it at the library if primal response common to all men. It took 30 years, but someone finally you must, but read it. His difficulties reassembling his former succeeded in bringing Kitty Pride and Very highly recommended. ~~ Bob comrades in arms and his worries about ( Cont’d on page 16) LaPierre

Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding Dell, $7.99, 405 pp

This is a debut with the next due out summer of 2010. Evangeline Stone was a star bounty hunter till she and the other two members of her triad were murdered. When she woke up in a new body she had no as well as old and new cases of missing memory of what or why. Now she has witch-children. The case takes a personal three days to solve her murder and prevent turn when Jane’s house is attacked by a a war. She then becomes irretrievably powerful vampire and the young children dead. But she is still being hunted so dead of her witch friend are kidnapped to be is still an option. used in a black magic vampire ritual. This is an interesting supernatural Along with the serious problems of mystery with plenty of action, a tad of the case, Jane deals with the two men she romance and very edgy. This is a new is attracted to, the almost insane vendetta author worth reading and following. ~~ that Leo, Blood Master of New Orleans, Pam Allan has sworn against her and attempts to learn even more about her mysterious Iron Man: Virus past. by Alex Irvine Highly recommended. I cannot Del Rey, $7.99, 283 pp wait for the next one in the series! ~~ Stephanie L Bannon Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, becomes more of a hermit as he perfects his obsession of total control in his new up- to-date high-tech armor. Little does he know that his friends from S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark Industries will try to get him out of his shell, literally. Also, HYDRA leadership is disrupted by a new mad scientist/leader, Arnin Zola. He tries to get Tony Stark’s new technology. Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 15 In Our Book (Cont’d from page 15 ) and Logan provide comic relief. Many of them appeared to be chapters in First Lord’s Fury Peter Rasputin satisfactorily together, and The other major story line is a a much larger tale; I want them when they Book Six of the Codex Alera yes, that is the main point of this storyline convoluted struggle for survival and come out. by Jim Butcher as far as many readers are concerned. The paradigm shift on an alien planet where Highly Recommended ~~ Bob Ace, $25.95; 468 pp rest is splendid, like a 7-course banquet; oracles have foretold that an X-Man LaPierre but the consummation of the most will destroy their world. So they have a Butcher has a love of incredibly long frustrated romance in all of comicdom is plan: destroy the X-Men in a pre-emptive Starfist: Double Jeopardy story arcs. However, unlike many, his the centerpiece. strike; if that doesn’t work, destroy Earth. by David Sherman and Dan Crag arcs are necessary to properly tell the tale. For 25 episodes, Whedon transformed S.H.I.EL.D. and their galactic dark ops Del Rey, $25.00, 351 pp And while this book closes many of the this series into the ultimate race car, sister organization S.W.O.R.D are in plotlines it still leaves enough open to navigating twists and dizzying curves on the action, and there are some snark This is the latest of the Starfist series start another arc. with dexterity, style, wit, and humor, infested verbal exchanges between the [#14] Tavi is now Princeps Octavian, taking readers on a ride like no other groups. The Thirty-Fourth is preparing for an grandson to the First Lord and in the Marvel ‘Verse. There aren’t the While every main character gets center invasion of the Skink home world. acknowledged heir to the throne. He is mind-expanding forays into esoteric stage time, Kitty Pryde is the central With no downtime, they are suddenly still struggling to master his furies and metaphysics that were the trademark character of this story arc. Whedon does sent to a neutral world where indigenous since he spent so much of his life without specialty of Chris Claremont in his her justice in a way no one, ever, has done people have been enslaved for the fun them, his use of them is …different and heyday; but you get lines like an annoyed before. and profit of a large and very well-armed unique. He has returned from Canea Emma Frost saying to Scott Summers, Final word: the March issue of The corporation who don’t intend to be with the remnants of that race as his “You will never see me naked again.” Uncanny X-Men, # 522, brings Pryde back stopped. But these are the space Marines. allies. He finds that the capitol is now an Volume One is primarily about the old, from the depths of space. My copy is pre- This is also state-of-the-art military active volcano and his grandfather buried old issue: should mutants be cured of their ordered. It won’t be Josh Whedon at the science fiction. Fast-paced with a good beneath it. He discovers that the remains wild genome? A cure has been advanced; helm, however; I just hope they at least understanding of the military and of the humans in Alera are being pursued many mutants want it; others fear having consulted him. ~~ Chris Paige corporate mindset. It also has one of the into the Calderon valley where his uncle it forced upon them. In the X-Men’s best written alien species. If you are a fan has fortifications to withstand the siege, own ranks there is irreconcilable dissent. A Girls Guide to Guns and Monsters of military action, you could find yourself for a while. One the side, there is the reoccurring Edited by: Martin H. Greenberg and collecting the whole series. ~~ Pam Allan The final battle with the Vord is well- Kerrie Hughes written and is full of the kind of heroics Daw, $7.99; 406 pp Iron Man: Female Fatales that you expect in superb writing. The by Robert Greenberger only reason to be glad this arc is over is Thirteen stories about powerful Del Rey, $7.99, 309 pp that it gives him more time for writing women and their encounters with Dresden stories. monsters. The astute will note I left out Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man not only Very Highly Recommended ~~ Bob the bit about guns, in less than half the has to deal with the new organization LaPierre tales do the women use guns. However, S.H.I.E.L.D but also two vamps- Madame that should in no way be taken to mean Masque and Madame Hydra. He will be Brooklyn Knight they are defenseless. I wouldn’t want to also in constant battle with Hydra as well by C. J. Henderson be on the wrong side of any of them. The as within his own organization, Stark Tor, $14.99, 335 pp Industries. There is no list of previous books, but the text refers to a previous adventure. Here we have Brooklyn’s homage to Indiana Jones, Professor Piers Knight, curator of the Brooklyn Museum. He has just met his attractive new intern, Bridget Elkins when a break-in to the museum ends in four deaths and a lot of testosterone-charged slug-fest between unanswered questions. They must unlock Cyclops and Wolverine. Then the Danger Room goes hostile/sentient on the X-Men and tries to kill them, using all it knows from years of testing them to zero in on their weak points. The young students, the new trainees, are in the crossfire of all these conflicts, and in these is a poignant casualty. On the other hand, one of the trainees emerges from the herd in a most telling point of these stories is that serious way. with a little tweaking these protagonists The X-men are especially prone to could be men or women, (with one psionic attacks for some reason – no notable exception), any race, or species. Need to generally know Iron Man’s other team gets its collective mind f - , So I have to believe that finally the genre beginnings and history or this can be um, messed with like these guys. When is focusing on whether the character is a confusing. This is an updated version Hellfire Alumna and Alien Queen B. Hero or a Villain and not dragging out old of Iron Man. Couple crude but realistic Cassandra wants a piece of them, she rips stereotypes. language. Not your average comics but into them like the mental equivalent of Ok, off my soapbox now. The stories in novel form. Recommended to adult Wolverine’s claws. Even here, Whedon are wonderful; they speak to the collective Marvel fans. ~~ Jeffrey Lu works in laughs amid the catharis; there unconscious and our need for heroes. The is nothing whatsoever funny about what stories are arranged in chronological order the secret of the Dream Stone, an artifact Cassandra does to Kitty, but the Emma- from the old west to the far future. Some that has rested in a dusty basement of the Scott dialogue roasts Jean Grey’s sacred of them move a little slower than others museum for decades. Finding the answers cow status while it harrows Summers’ but they all deliver on fun. I enjoyed the as to why it is important to call a fire soul. Meanwhile, out on the lawn Beast variations and different cultures presented. demon to steal it, leads(Cont’d the two onface-to- page 17 ) Page 16 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 In Our Book (Cont’d from page 16 ) face with the dark powers that want world domination and leads to an internship that may be to die for. This is a interesting book. It has action and plotting for a movie, the style of both a young adult and a ‘40s mystery and dialog. It has interesting characters and holds your interest. It makes a fun read that you may read compulsively straight through. And it makes you wonder…what does lurk out there? ~~ Pam Allan

The Battle for Devastation Reef by Graham Sharp Paul Del Ray, $7.99, 357 pp

This is the third volume of Helforts War. Michael Helfort is newly appointed captain of the dreadnoughts and a hero who survived capture and torture by the enemy. He is also the only man to save the federated worlds. So why does his own side want him to fail as well as the enemy leaders who want him dead? This is an action-thriller that lovers of military space thrillers will enjoy. ~~ Pam Allan

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner Ace, $7.99, 326 pp

Boston has a quarantine section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay away, but Vickie Vaughn is Boston’s only professional demon slayer. Her demanding job gets in the way of her romance with her lawyer (a werewolf), throw in a zombie apprentice

who never understood Obey, a mysterious demon-plagued client, and a mysterious research facility that has taken an unhealthy interest in her family. But there more things to worry about: a hellion (a powerful demon) has broken through Boston’s wards and he has a personal with a sense of humor woven with fast grudge against Vickie and Boston with a action, good characters, and plot twists strong scorched-earth policy that includes that keep you from putting it down. Might everyone. What is a welsh-blooded be time for a trip to the bookstore. ~~ shapeshifting demon slayer to do? Pam Allan Holzner has created a kick-ass heroine ( Cont’d on page 18 ) Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 17 In Our Book Flight into Darkness (C ont’d from page 17 ) by Sarah Ash Wild Hunt Spectra, $7.99, 512 pp The Central Arizona by Margaret Ronald EOS, $7.99, 309 pp Flight into Darkness is book two of Speculative Fiction the Alchymist’s Legacy. Wild Hunt is the sequel to Spiral Hunt. As a young man, Rieuk Mordiern Society NEEDS YOU! Evie Scelan, Bike Messanger and freed Azilis, the guardian spirit charged supernatural tracker, thought she was with keeping the balance between the through with magic…dream on. She finds herself the center of a lot of unwelcome magical attention and a legendary pack of hounds terrorizing Boston. Evie may try to deny her legacy, but when the Hunt is called, the hounds must run. Roland has done a great job with the Celtic mythos. The book is fast-moving and touches a few of our own fears about fate. Definitely worth going back to read the first as well. Enjoy. ~~ Pam Allan

Wilderness by Dennis Danvers EOS, $7.95, 376 pp

Wilderness is a stand-alone novel by the author of Time and Time Again. Alice White is a reclusive loner with no friends until she meets professor Erik living and the dead. Now, she must Summers who draws her out; igniting return, but she has attached herself to an passion within both of them. She Celestine, a singer/spy in great danger decides to tell him the truth about herself. from the inquisition seeking power in the Do you enjoy CopperCon? DarkCon*? RandomCon*? Any of the He decides, like the few she shared her country she has served along with her other local volunteer, fan-run conventions? CopperCon and the others partner Jagu. Chaos is rolling over the are all staffed completely by unpaid volunteers, from the chair person lands. Seven daemons from another realm to the volunteer that helps for only one hour. are readying to lay siege to the Mortal world. Celestine, Jagu, and Azilis must all become Heroes. If you enjoy our events and want them to continue then please consider A rich tapestry full of action and helping any or all of Arizona’s fan run events. By volunteering you political machinations with the flavor can be part of making the conventions the kind of event that you want of 17th century France with rich and to see and attend. conflicted characters trying to save the world against all odds. One of the best classical fantasies in years; this an author For information on available CopperCon positions please contact us at to collect by serious fantasy lovers. I [email protected] or www.coppercon.org loved it. ~~ Pam Allan And even if you do not have the time to volunteer please come join us at CopperCon because without you, the attendees, all our effort is for An American in New naught. Zealand Part 10: Auckland- Sky Tower and Our parent organization, the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Bungee Jumping Society (CASFS) is also looking for new members. Check our web secret with, she is delusional and needs by Jeffrey Lu psychiatric care. She changes to her site at werewolf form and flees to the Canadian I was on a glass elevator in Auckland’s www.casfs.org for information on meetings and upcoming events or wilderness to join the wolves. When he Sky Tower. I was going downward with a contact us at [email protected] seeks her in the wilderness, seeing her group of people. change he realizes a new reality. They Halfway down, I saw something *Darkcon and RandomCon are not CASFS events, Darkcon © The Dark Ones Inc & RandomCon © WesternSFA Inc both must make a choice. fall within fifty feet away from me. Correction, two things. This is a novel of character and reality. My mouth dropped. There was a Danvers tells her story with a tenderness couple going down from a thousand feet! The elevator I was in touched down found it was a couple of friends- one was verging on lyricism and the warmth of I looked and saw some type of black first. I looked up and saw them still a director of a funeral parlor. The other romance that makes this novel something cord behind each of them. I quickly falling. was a psychologist. greater than a coming-of-age in the registered this as bungee jumping. New In about the last one hundred feet, I I guess they were trying to overcome woods. A must-read in a cliched world. ~~ Zealand is known for this original extreme watched these bungee divers being pulled their fear of heights. Maybe, falling to Pam Allan sport. Cool. slowly down to the ground. They landed their deaths? But I thought these two daredevils safely on a platform. Anyway, more power to them. should now be bouncing upwards. I later found this was an advanced Next in An American in New Zealand: Instead, I see the them going beyond bungee jumping in Auckland, New Meeting Manta Rays and Penguins at 3/4 of the way down. Zealand. Wow. Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter I held my breath. Will there be two Curious, I was wondering who in their splats? right mind would do this stunt. Later, I Page 18 ConNotations Volume 20 Issue 2 AZCorsairs “Founded in 1971 as a branch THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: Club Listings of the Society for Creative Anachronisms, or Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. [email protected]. SCA, our primary focus is 16th – 18th century For more information call Carol Alves, European culture and the pirate lifestyle of the ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Knights, RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A time. The Corsairs will extend pirate portrayals Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, Hesperia CA, there is a club out there available for you as far back as Phoenician, Roman Era or to ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to people. future Space, Science Fiction genre, and more 92345-7066. the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by White Across Plus is a social club that discuses publicly recognizable Hollywood styled pirate. Wolf publishing. Contact Mike McLaughlin anime, video games, manga, other animation, Corsair membership is largely volunteer- LEPRECON, INC. One of the two at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 W Emelita and the Japanese culture. We meet at oriented, gathered together for fun and while Phoenix area corporations that put on yearly Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202-3144 or Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern on helping others out. [email protected] Members of the Arizona Corsairs are, much conventions. Best described as SF/F generalists Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. with a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are In general, we explore anime, manga, and like their historical counterparts, masters RAW GAMES (Role-players & Wargamers, other styles of animation, creative educative of their own destiny. Creation of characters, welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the Inc.) Role-players & Wargamers, Inc. is the demonstrations, participate in interactive complete with backstory with correlation second Saturday of February, May, August & Valley’s oldest role-playing and wargaming discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, to history, period costume, and emulation November unless otherwise notified. August club. Currently meeting at 8159 W. Weldon and make cosplay. of pirate traditions and arts, rests on each is the annual meeting where board positions in Phoenix every Sunday from 12noon-5pm We are willing to gain any new members out performer, creating varied storylines and deep, (except during conventions and other special interesting characters. are deter-mined. For more information, events). Open to new members - call (623) there who are interested. Our members are write PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; very friendly, respectful, and fun. We welcome For more information, please contact Captaim 849-9515. any and all. Max - Ambassador, AZCorsairs call Mike Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email For more information, contact Todd Miles at [email protected] 602-799-6184” [email protected] Webpage: www. SHIELD OF ALMOR The Shield of Almor [email protected] leprecon.org is a RPGA club located in the greater Phoenix BASFA Local Tucson science fiction area. If you are interested in Living Greyhawk ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and group that puts on TusCon. Contact us at MIB The Men in Black is the official global catch one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of renaissance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, PO Box 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or organization of field operatives for Steve every month at Imperial Outpost Games (www. arts, banquets, masquerades, dances. meets [email protected] Jackson Games. We attend local conventions imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If you are every Wednesday night from 7-10pm at our website at http://home.earthlink.net/~basfa/ to demonstrate and promote products of Steve interested in Living Arcanis or Living Spycraft Encanto Park. All are welcome. Free. Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every month CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE local gaming stores as well as community also at Imperial Outpost Games. The Shield of AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The service events. If you have a gaming store, Almor hosts RPGA events at the local Phoenix Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th non-profit corporation that puts on CopperCon convention, or community service that you conventions. For more information visit us Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone conventions, SmurfCons, HexaCons, would like to have official Steve Jackson at games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ welcome. All levels skill exchange in many occasional regional cons, and publishes Games representation at, please contact the or you can sign up for games at www.nyrond. areas of object manipulation Dave Davis Con-Notations. Best described as SF/F MIB Arizona Cell org. Or you can just stop by the 1st Sunday of , 602-955-9446; generalists with a strong bent towards literary Leader at [email protected]. We are also the month. Meeting starts at 10am. Hope to see or Ron Harvey , 480- SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm on the recruiting new MIBs in some areas of Arizona. you there. 775-4690 for more info or impromptu juggling last Friday of each month in January thru If you’re interested, contact us. You can find sessions. September and the second Friday in October, additional information about the Arizona THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE November and December at Denny’s, 2360 W MIB at our website http://members.cox.net/ ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A Northern Ave in Phoenix, AZ. For information: mib.6361/ doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, write PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 kingdom can be found six Baronies: Atenveldt, the Arizona LANbashers League throws or email [email protected] Web www.casfs.org MVD GHOSTCHASERS—The MVD Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, SunDragon, Tir quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, Ghostchasers are a paranormal team Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For more information support is given to local groups who wish *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of established in 1995. This band of ghost on any of these or for general information to advertise their own gatherings. We have Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based hunters conducts regular investigations of on contact the Kingdom Seneschal. Email: no set genre of games and play anything Reenactment group specializing in the haunted, historical locations throughout [email protected] Web www.atenveldt. from strategy games to first-person shooters western European renaissance. We research Arizona. They also research and investigate com to driving/flying simulations. No annual lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Celtic “house call” hauntings for the public. The membership is required and admission to an Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. We MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage for emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and do Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations The Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose current events. Email: azlanbashers@earthlink. Celtic re-enactment. We open participation across Arizona. These workshops give ghost organization of persons interested in all net Web: www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: to anyone with an interest in period crafting hunters, paranormal team members and folks facets of historical, cultural, science fiction, 602-306-9339 and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a fantasy, and humor costume. Members are the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and chance to work and learn techniques together. often seen on stage and behind the scenes ARIZONA PARANORMAL the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest at local and regional Science Fiction INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly trained, http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at speakers at many venues and have appeared Convention masquerades. They meet on non-profit paranormal investigation group, the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and on TV news reports and the subject of several the last Sunday of each month at various registered with the state of Arizona, providing Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, newspaper stories. For more information members’ homes in the greater Phoenix area. service to Arizona and the Southwest since phone number (480)350-5211. The Board contact: For details. Southwest Costumers Guild, PO 1994. Having served the public for 12 years, meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, Box 39504, Phoenix, AZ 85609 or Randall we are one of the oldest, most respected meeting starting at 2:30 pm. Director—480-969-4049 Web page: www. Whitlock at [email protected] or www. paranormal investigation groups in Arizona. mvdghostchasers.com or [email protected] southwestcostumersguild.org We are primarily science based and don’t go THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) on an investigation looking for ghosts, we go An organization formed for the expression ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access looking for answers. There is never a charge and exploration of various cultural themes CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically for an investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s [email protected] or and the Renaissance through forms of art built around guest speakers. We’ve had authors possible within ten years, with a little luck and visit our website at: http://www.arizonaparanor including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, such as Octavia Butler and Greg Benford. a lot of hard work. Join us and help us make it malinvestigations.com/ writing, photography, spoken word, and Non-members are welcome. For details of happen! SAS membership is $30 for one year, acts of characterization. 2) a member of this current events and location see our website which gets you emailed Space Access Updates THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a organization. 3) Information available at www. www.ocsfc.org or email [email protected] the instant they pass final edit, plus discounts general sci-fi appreciation group that meets darkones.org on our annual conference on the technology, once a month for discussion of various sci-fi PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated politics, and business of radically cheaper news regarding several mediums to include: THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND to building and promoting Autonomous space transportation, featuring leading players television, movies, video, books, comics, STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and robotics. The club has been in existance since in the field. Email us at: Space.Access@Space- magazines, collecting, and so forth. The Steel specializes in the general recreation of 1998. Meetings are currently conducted twice Access.org meetings are comprised of news, review and the culture of the Middle Ages including all of a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona Web page: www.space-access.org/ comment, BBS/computer news and help, the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, locations, http://www.parex.org/meetings. meeting new members, video presentations, Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts shtml. Club dues are on an annual basis: SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD Regular members $20 Student members $15 SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per and any location within Europe or its explored Of course visitors are always welcome because model and high-power rockets and those who meeting) to compensate the host. (No other territories. For more information contact we know you will eventually become a love to see them fly. Launches are held on the fees are involved.) The electronic home of the Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: member anyway Web page: http://www.parex. second Saturday morning of each month in Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station www.galandor.org org/ E-mail Contact: [email protected] Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. Harry BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for the Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every October. group range from 13-40-something with both A GATHERING OF PLAYERS- Find Your THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM Visit www.sssrocketry.org for membership male and female members. Other activities Adventure SOCIETY A Phoenix based club interest- information, directions to the launches and include null-modem link gamefests, group Our club is running into our sixth year. Join us ed in the entire realm of SF, Fantasy and meetings, and to read the monthly newsletter, theater movie viewings, convention trips for games and adventure set in the Dungeons Horror film. PFFS has been in existence for “Newton’s Minutes.” and more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, low- and Dragons realm. We offer Living Forgotten 30 years, meeting every 6 weeks in member’s structure environment. NO RUBBER EARS Realms and Pathfinder Society. We welcome homes. Dues are $10 per year. Membership TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ ALLOWED!! For questions, you can call the both new and experienced players. Visit http:// includes newsletters, an annual film awards Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in International BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; 2522 N. www.warhorn.net/gathering, to see what we and various outings. For information, contact media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS meets Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 have coming up. If you have any questions PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or every two weeks at different locations around email us at [email protected] ( Cont’d on page 20) Volume 20 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 19 (Cont’d from page 19) as officers. Club Listings The USS Leonidas has a crew of 30. Starfleet CASFS Business Report the valley. Activities include watching videos, Science and Tactical Academy has 52 cadets. January/February 2010 Convention discussions, parties, games, and occasional Members age from 14-65 years old. Average outings with more to come now that Doctor age is 20-25. Listings Who is returning from hiatus. Many members Club meeting locations vary due to scheduled CopperCon 30 -- Chairman Mark LepreCon 36 (May 14-16, 2010) Phoenix maintain an active presence at conventions. away missions and such, but usually meet in a Boniece - Various methods are being Marriott Mesa, 200 North Centennial Way, You can contact us at 2243 W Wagon Wheel classroom at Apache Junction High School. implemented to improve publicity for Mesa, AZ Ph: (480) 898-8300, Room Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice Mail at (602) Membership with Starfleet International CopperCon 30. Len Berger has submitted Rates $99 S/D/T/Q. www.marriott.com, 864-0901, E-mail [email protected] or is required. www.sfi.org Upon joining our application to get free public Service online boking code is “leplepa”. Guests: visit us at http://members.cox.net/tardisaz/ STARFLEET a member is a Cadet. Upon .html announcements about CopperCon on the Artist GoH Charles Vess, Author GoH: passing the Officer’s Training School Exam at George R.R. Martin, Local Artist/Author the Online Academy, the member becomes a on the slide show at Harkins Theatres. TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the GoH: James A. Owen. Memberships Commissioned Officer aboard the Leonidas. Mark has written a press release which rates:$35 until December 31, 2009, $35 series’ production companies and the USA The chapter does not have dues as of yet. will be distributed to media outlets and Network! It is THE information conduit The dues to be a member of STARFLEET Jan 1 thru April 15, 2010, $45 at the door. between the fans and the series! Fan club International are $15 a year. web sites. A post card flier has been Web site at www.leprecon.org/lep36 membership will bring you the following 1) No newsletter, but members do receive an distributed with ConNotations. Len or email [email protected] for more subscription to the info filled Tek Informer activities E-mail update. No web site yet. Berger has gotten us listed on a number of information. newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club Contact : Jonathan Krieger, 480-677-0269, online event lists. Our thanks to Richard membership card and kit. Membership is [email protected] by regular mail only and the newsletter and Bolinski for creating the post cards and RandomCon 2010 (July 9-11, 2010) materials will not be reproduced electronically. Mark Boniece for writing a press release Windemere Hotel and Conference Center, USS STORMBRINGER The Stormbringer 5750 East Main St.• Mesa, Arizona 85205 To join the action and initiate your annual is a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter for distribution. We have established a membership, make check or money order of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. CopperCon presence on LiveJournal, • Ph: (480)985-3600 • Toll Free: (800) 888-3561 Room Rate: $59 S/D/T/Q and out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan Club The chapter was commissioned as the USS Facebook and Twitter. Thanks go to Bob (Membership section), 2522 N Sparkman Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to Division includes breakfast and free Internet. Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on 10/31/98. LaPierre and Stephanie Bannon for their For our games we plan to have RPGA As of 11/29/98 there were 32 members. There work in establishing us there. - plans include Living Forgotten Realms, T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and fantasy are no dues other than the $15 for joining Star- CopperCon 31 -- Chairman Nyki Arcanis and Pathfinder. Amber Diceless club. Weekly meetings are held on the Arizona fleet Intl.. Members are scattered world wide Robertson. The CopperCon 31 Guest of - In the tradition of AmberCons across State University campus, with dates and places but the primary clusters are in Tucson, AZ and to be announced after the semester starts. For Honor is Carrie Vaughn, Author of the the World, RandomCon brings you the Plano, TX. They don’t meet on a regular basis Chronicles of Amber in roleplaying form more information, Email them@themonline. since they are a correspondence chapter. Their “Kitty” werewolf novels. The Committee org Web www.themonline.org web site is: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/ has been formed and is ready to begin. in a variety of games. PLUS Console Vault/9505/ and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Arrangements with the Windemere have Gaming, Card Games, Board Games, TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address Pitts, [email protected] been finalized. Miniature Gaming, LARPs, and much is [email protected] or DMitchel1@Juno. more! There will be a consuite and a com WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION CASFS Book Social – Randall Whitlock. small dealer room. Cost is $15 through ASSOCIATION (WesternSFA) A non- The Book Social is held in the Coffee December 31, 2009, $20 From January 1 UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A profit corporation that sponsors AniZona, the Shop of the Bent Cover on the west side to June 30, 2010 and $25 at the door. Pay Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan ConRunners seminars, Across Plus Anime of 28th Drive north of Cactus Road in club. We are a social club that meets every two now via Paypal on our web site at www. Club and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. Phoenix at 7 p.m. On the third Tuesday randomcon.org or mail check or money weeks at various locations around the Phoenix Dedicated primarily to educational activities area. The UFP has been meeting for over 30 relating to literature, music, and visual of each month. In January we discussed order to RandomCon, PO Box 67457, years of continuous activity. Dues are $15/per and performing arts, especially in the Turncoat by Jim Butcher. In February Phoenix AZ 85082. Memberships also year prorated when you join; no restrictions. genres of Anime, science fiction, fantasy, we discussed The Invisible Man By H.G. available at Imperial Outpost, 4920 W. Membership includes membership roster and costuming, gaming and science. Applicants Thunderbird, Glendale, AZ 85306. Check monthly newsletter. Come to any two meetings Wells. Both discussions went well. Next for membership in WesternSFA must be are The Last Centurion By John Ringo our web site for updates or contact us at at no obligation. For information, write the sponsored by a current active WesternSFA [email protected] UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, AZ 85069, or member. Dues are $10 yearly plus a $5 non- in March, The Empress of Mars by the call Jim Strait at (602) 242-9203. Web page: refundable application fee. General Meetings recently deceased Kage Baker in April CopperCon 30 (September 3-6, 2010) http://www.U-F-P.org or Email to Info@U-F- are held on the first Friday of February, May, and The Humanoids by Jack Williamson P.org Windemere Hotel, 5750 East Main St., August and November, check our website in May. Discussions of SF and Fantasy for meeting location Guests are welcome. For Mesa, Arizona 85205, Ph: (480)985- USS LEONIDAS The Leonidas is a member more info contact Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, in general follow the discussion of the 3600 • Toll Free: (800) 888-3561 of Region IV of STARFLEET International. PO Box 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082 Email: current book. Room Rates $59 S/D/T/Q. http://www. The chapter is an opportunity for those that [email protected] Webpage: www. Generic CopperCon Promo Shirt. The resortmesa.com/ Rooms include share a love of Star Trek to have fun and help westernsfa.org Complimentary gourmet deluxe breakfast the community at the same time. The Leonidas membership authorized the production of a shirt reading “Ask Me About buffet served every day and fresh baked stresses uniforms or other costumes to have the Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We cookies served every evening. The hotel ability to participate actively in various events maintain a mailing list for news and get- CopperCon” It would include a graphic as they present themselves but they are not has 114 rooms so there is a good chance togethers of fans of the X-Files living in of the CASFS Logo as seen on the we can have the entire hotel for ourselves. required. Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix website. The shirt will be sold at cost to In an effort to expand membership the USS Guests: TBA. Memberships rates: $30 and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an empty anyone willing to wear it to promote the Leonidas has assisted in the formation of message to [email protected] until December 31, 2009, $35 Jan 1 thru a High School Star Trek club called the Convention. April 30, 2010, $40 May 1 thru August STARFLEET Science and Tactical Academy. A mixed box of Autographed Books 23, 2010. Please check the web site at Students participate in a wide range of and Old Swag from CES was delivered www.coppercon.org or contact us at activities with the hope that they will become [email protected] for more info. interested in Star Trek and join STARFLEET to Stephanie by Jim Strait, Archivist. The Swag was put out on a table at the February meeting for the members to take. What is CASFS? What is really behind putting on a Old CASFS Materials from Randy Rau. convention? What are the funds raised Generic Convention Registration Form Randy has turned 11 boxes of books and by a convention used for? Why not an envelope of records over to Treasurer attend a meeting and find out? We’re Stephanie Bannon. After discussion the sponsor of ConNotations, Copper- Cons, HexaCons, SmerfCons and other Name:______the members voted to sell the books to conventions. We are a charitable, non- Stephanie at $30.00 a box rather than profit organization that exists to further Badge Name:______trying to have the books sold by CASFS science fiction, fantasy and science Address:______over time by volunteers. The envelope of fields in Arizona. CASFS currently records was a challenge as it referred to meets at the Denny’s Restaurant at 2360 W Northern Ave in Phoenix The City/State/ZIP:______an $18,000.00 building fund CD held by meetings begin at 8PM and are held CASFS in the 1980s. We wonder what on the last Friday of the month Jan. Phone:______Email:______happened to it. A search will be made for through Sept. and on the second Friday additional records. of the month Oct through Dec. Every- Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for one is invited to attend two meetings --Gary Swaty as a guest (non-member). Membership ______convention. rates are $12/year plus an initial $3 (See individual convention listing for mailing address) application fee and rates are pro-rated for the amount of the year remaining. More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other For more info: Webpage: www.casfs. org Email: [email protected]

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