Asfacts July11.Pub

ASFACTS 2011 JULY “R AINSTORMS , N OT WILDFIRES ” I SSUE ROGERS & D ENNING HOSTING PRE -CON PARTY

Patricia Rogers and Scott Denning will uphold a local fannish tradition when they host the Bubonicon 43 Pre-Con Party 7:30-10:30 pm Thursday, August 25, at their home in Bernalillo – located at 909 Highway 313. The easiest way to reach the house is north on I-25 to exit 242 east (Rio Rancho’s backdoor and the road to Greenberg held a doctorate in Political Science Cuba). At Highway 313, turn right to head north. Look (1969) and taught at the University of Wisconsin-Green for the Country Store, the John Deere sign and Mile Bay until his retirement in 1996. He founded book pack- Marker 9. Their house is on the west side of the road, ager Tekno Books, which produces about 150 titles per with plenty of parking on the shoulder. year and has over 2,300 published books translated into In addition to socializing, attendees can help assem- 33 languages. Greenberg received four genre Lifetime ble the membership packets, and check out the 2011 con Achievement Awards: the Milford Award in science t-shirt with artwork by John Picacio. fiction, the Solstice award in science fiction, the Bram Please bring snacks and drinks to share, plus plates, Stoker award in horror, and the Ellery Queen award in napkins, cups and some ice. As with any hosted party, mystery. please help keep the house clean and in good shape! Working solo and with notable colleagues includ- ing Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, Greenberg ed- BUBONICON FRIEND AMONG ited scores of science fiction anthologies, as well as works in other genres and reference works. Notable aca- ANNOUNCED NEBULA WINNERS demic titles include the Writers of the Twenty First Cen- tury series of anthologies reprinting critical articles on The 2010 Nebula Awards were presented Saturday, writers, co-edited with Joseph D. Olander; and the May 21, in a ceremony at the Nebula Awards Weekend, Through Science Fiction series, co-edited with Harvey held in Washington, DC. Among the winners were Bu- Katz and Patricia Warrick, intended for teachers. bonicon friend Connie Willis of Colorado. Novel: Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis; No- UPCOMING ASFS M EETINGS vella: “The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen’s Window” by Rachel Swirsky; Novelette: “That • August 5, 2011: Preview of Bubonicon 43, a Di- Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made” by Eric James nosaur Lords update from Victor Milan, and an- Stone; Short Story (tie): “Ponies” by Kij Johnson and nouncements of Bubonicon 44 chair candidates. A “How Interesting: A Tiny Man” by Harlan Ellison. week earlier than usual due to the Reno Worldcon. Ray Bradbury Award (screenplay): Inception ; An- • August 12: Bubonicon 43 Gofer Gathering. Be on dre Norton Award: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry hand to pick your work hours & receive bribes. Pratchett. • September 16: Bubonicon 43 & Reno Worldcon Alice Sheldon (aka James Tiptree, Jr.) and Michael reports. Also, election of the Bubonicon 44 chair if Whelan received the Solstice Award. John E. Johnston needed (voting rules will apply). Note: This meet- received the SFWA Service Award. ing is a week later than usual. • October 14: The election of 3 club officers, and something fun. Plus the Halloween issue of AS- ANTHOLOGIST GREENBERG DIES FACTS (deadline Sunday, October 9). • November 11: An interesting talk, we hope. Anthologist and academic Martin H(arry) Green- • December 9: Dessert Cook-Off and possible Holi- berg died June 25 after a long battle with cancer. He was day Film Shorts. Plus the annual issue of SithFacts . 70 years old.

Craig Chrissinger, normal editor. Darth Vader, guest editor each December. Please Send All Correspondence to — PO Box 37257, Albuquerque, NM 87176-7257. Phone: (505) 266-8905. E-mail: [email protected]. ASFACTS published February, April, July & October for the Albuq SF Society. SITH FACTS out each December. NEXT DEADLINE : Sun, Oct 9. Club Officers: Kevin Hewett & Craig Chrissinger, co-Zec Secs (505) 266-8905. Jessica Coyle, Moderator. Harriet Engle, Al- ternator. HAL 9000, Advisor. Bubonicon Co-Chairs: Kristen Dorland (505) 459-8734 & Craig Chrissinger. Rats! Don’t Panic. A full obituary will appear in the August 2011 issue 12, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 5301 Ponderosa of Locus . Ave NE (between San Mateo and San Pedro, south of Montgomery). All attending volunteer workers at this meeting will receive some kind of goodies, be it choco- 2011 LOCUS AWARDS NAMED late, a t-shirt or other promotional materials.

The winners of the 2011 Locus Awards were an- If interested, please email Julie Pascal at nounced during the Science Fiction Awards Weekend in [email protected].

Seattle WA, June 24-26. Full coverage of the ceremony will run in the August 2011 issue of Locus . JOEL ROSENBERG DIES The winners are: Best Science Fiction Novel: Blackout/All Clear by Author Joel Rosenberg died June 2 following respi- Connie Willis; Best Fantasy Novel: Kraken by China ratory problems that led to a heart attack, brain damage Miéville; Best First Novel: The Hundred Thousand and organ failure. He was 57 years old. Rosenberg is Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin; Best Young Adult Book: best known for his Guardians of the Flame fantasy se- Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. ries, but he wrote nearly 30 books, including SF and Best Novella: The Lifecycle of Software Objects by mysteries. Ted Chiang; Best Novelette: “The Truth Is a Cave in the Rosenberg’s first story was “Like Gentle Rains” in Black Mountains” by Neil Gaiman; Best Short Story: Asimov’s (1982), and his first novel was The Sleeping “The Thing About Cassandra” by Neil Gaiman; Best Dragon , beginning the Guardians of the Flame series Magazine: Asimov’s ; Best Book Publisher: Tor; Best about roleplaying gamers drawn into a fantasy world, Anthology: Warriors edited by George R.R. Martin & which continued for nine more volumes 1983-2003. Gardner Dozois; Best Collection: Fritz Leiber: Selected Other series include the Keepers of the Hidden Ways Stories by Fritz Leiber. trilogy, the Metzada series, the D’Shai sequence, the Best Editor: Ellen Datlow; Best Artist: Shaun Tan; Mordred’s Heirs series, and the Sparky Hemingway Best Non-Fiction Book: Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue mysteries. with His Century: Volume 1: 1907-1948: Learning Born May 1, 1954 in Winnipeg, Canada, Rosenberg Curve by William H. Patterson, Jr.; and Best Art Book: grew up in North Dakota and Connecticut, and attended Spectrum 17 edited by Cathy & Arnie Fenner. the University of Connecticut. He was also well known as a gun instructor and 2nd Amendment activist. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Felicia Herman, and HELP NEEDED AT BUBONICON their two daughters. See the July issue of Locus for a

It’s true! Volunteers or “gofers” are needed to help complete obituary. out at Bubonicon 43 the weekend of August 26-28 at the Sheraton Albuq Airport Hotel. We’re looking for people GENRE BOOKS STILL DISCUSSED who can donate three, five or even 10 hours of their time during the con to help things run smoothly and give the The Droids & Dragons SF Book Group meets 7:30 committee workers much needed breaks from time to pm Monday, July 18, in the greeting cards area of Page time. One to discuss Territory , a western fantasy by Emma It should be noted that some positions require the Bull. The group then focuses on Nebula-nominated M.K. handling of money, so don’t volunteer for those if you’re Hobson’s The Native Star on August 15. uncomfortable doing so. And we will be checking Meetings of D&D are open to all interested readers badges at doors to on the third Monday of each month. Books for discus- meeting rooms, the sion are chosen two months in advance, and group mem- gaming space and the bers receive a 20% discount on selected novels. For con suite this year. more information, contact Yvonne at [email protected] Volunteer workers will or Craig at 266-8905. receive some sort of promo swag, and be in a drawing for addi- MYTHOPOEIC FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

tional goodies! The Mythopoeic Society announced the 2011 My- The Volunteers thopoeic Award Finalists in late May. Winners will be (Gofers) Organizational announced at Mythcon 42, to be held July 15-18 in Al- Meeting will take place buquerque, NM, at the MCM Elegante Hotel. 7:30 pm Friday, August Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature:

Page 2 ASFACTS , July 2011 Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay, Redemption in In- TH digo by Karen Lord, The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia CHUCK BACK FOR 5 SEASON A. McKillip, A Cup of Normal by Devon Monk, and NBC got the jump on all the networks mid-May by Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn. announcing its 2011-2012 fall and midseason television Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Litera- schedule. As expected, the network picked up new ture: Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher, I shows Grimm and Awake , along with renewing Chuck Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, The Grimm for a fifth and final season of 13 episodes. Legacy by Polly Shulman, Toads and Diamonds by However, there were some surprises. Chuck has Heather Tomlinson, and The Queen’s Thief series: The been moved to Fridays at 7 pm MST, followed by the Thief, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia and A fairy-tale-laden Grimm at 8 pm. As for Inception -esque Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner. Awake , it's planned for midseason. Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies: “We wanted to do some reinvigorating on Friday Middle-earth Minstrel: Essays on Music in Tolkien ed- night,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Green- ited by Bradford Lee Eden, Tolkien on Fairy-stories: blatt, during a conference call with journalists. “We Expanded Edition, with Commentary and Notes edited really wanted to get more scripted dramas on Friday by Verlyn Flieger & Douglas A. Anderson, Arda Recon- night. We liked Grimm a lot. We didn't want to put it out structed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion by there with nothing leading into it, and I personally like Douglas Charles Kane, The Power of Tolkien’s Prose: Chuck . I know it's been on the bubble, you know, peren- Middle-earth’s Magical Style by Steve Walker, and nially, but I thought if we had a chance of transporting Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of an audience to Friday night, it might be with something C.S. Lewis by Michael Ward. that has a real loyal following. We'll see what we can do Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Myth and Fan- in that two-hour block.” tasy Studies: Out of my Bone: The Letters of Joy David- Greenblatt added, “ Chuck is a good show which man edited by Don W. King, Cheek by Jowl by Ursula gets bad rap from always being on the cancellation line... K. Le Guin, Rhetorics of Fantasy by Farah Mendlesohn, We're giving the show a sendoff with a final season. Metamorphoses of the Werewolf: A Literary Study from That's what the fans want.” Antiquity through the Renaissance by Leslie A. Scon- So the good news is that Chuck 's back and NBC has duto, and The Victorian Press and the Fairy Tale by picked up two additional genre shows. The bad news is Caroline Sumpter. that if Friday night does indeed become the dumping

ground for low-rated sci-fi and fantasy shows for three LOCAL WRITERS SELL TRILOGIES of the five networks that could end up being a big di- lemma for viewers. AND STEAMPUNK STORIES Here are the official descriptions of Grimm and Awake : + Albuquerque writer Susan Krinard has sold Mist , “Grimm is a new drama series inspired by the clas- a contemporary-fantasy trilogy, to Melissa Frain at Tor. sic Grimm's Fairy Tales. Remember the fairy tales your The first volume, to be published in October 2012, intro- parents used to tell you before bedtime? Those weren't duces Mist, a Valkyrie living in modern San Francisco stories – they were warnings. Nick Burkhardt (David after Ragnarok. An earlier version of her story appears in Guintoli Turn The Beat Around) thought he prepared the anthology Chicks Kick Butt , released June 7 by Tor. himself for the realities of working as a homicide detec- + Author Victor Milan, also of Albuquerque, has tive until he started seeing things he couldn't quite ex- sold his Dinosaur Lords trilogy, described as “knights on plain. When his ailing Aunt Marie (guest star Kate Bur- dinosaurs,” to Jim Frenkel at Tor. The first volume ton, Grey's Anatomy) arrives, Nick's life turns upside should be out at the beginning of 2013. Milan has read down when she reveals they are descendants of an elite parts of the story to past ASFS meetings, and will be group of hunters, also known as Grimms, who fight to giving an update at the August club meeting. keep the balance of humanity safe from the supernatural + If you like steampunk stories, creatures of the world. As Nick digs deeper into her past, watch for Albuquerque author he realizes that he will have to shoulder the responsibil- Robert Vardeman’s appearances in ity of his ancestors. two new anthologies – Steam- "Awake is an intriguing drama about a detective punk’d edited by Jean Rabe and (Jason Issacs, Harry Potter, Brotherhood) who finds he is Martin H. Greenberg, and Hot & leading an arduous double life that defies reality. When Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Ro- Detective Michael Britten (Issacs) regains consciousness mance also edited by Rabe and following his family's car accident, he is told that his Greenberg. wife Hannah (Laura Allen, Terriers) perished but that his

Page 3 ASFACTS , July 2011 teen son, Rex (Dylan Minnette, Saving Grace), has sur- auction at 1:00 pm, the Authors Afternoon Tea 1:30 pm vived. As he tries to put the pieces of his life back to- in the Rio Grande Room upstairs, and the 4:20 pm pres- gether, he awakens again in a parallel reality in which entation of the Green Slime Awards by new slimemis- his wife is very much alive—but his son Rex died in the tress Jessica Coyle. accident. In order to keep both of his loved ones alive at Of course, there’s Gaming being held in Gran one time, he begins living two dueling realities in paral- Quivera, with the Dealers moved this year to Valle lel worlds, which churns up confusion." Grande (next to Gaming). Main programming moves As was previously announced, The Event, The Cape over one door to Chaco, 2 nd track programming is in and Undercovers have been canceled. Bandelier (formerly Main programming), 3rd track pro- gramming in the Vista Norte (by the restaurant), and yet On The Convention Front: another programming room is on the 2nd floor. The Art Show remains in the Tijeras Room! BUBONICON 43 J UST SEVEN WEEKS AWAY And, we can’t forget about the hospitality suite (Bernalillo Room, 2nd floor) being run by Joe Lane, Ann by Craig Chrissinger, co-chair Sasahara, Lori Jansen and Danielle Pollock. Two-hour Bubonicon, New Mexico’s annual science fiction sponsorships are still available, and we’ll be having to convention, celebrates its 43rd edition August 26-28 at watch attendance in an attempt to not go over the room the Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel, 2910 Yale capacity! Of course, the Con Suite and the Sheraton re- Blvd SE (south of Gibson, east of I-25). More than 45 main totally Non-Smoking. In fact, the Albuquerque authors, artists, scientists, filmmakers and fans currently ordinance requires that smokers be outside at least 50 are participating in programming. feet away from any doors. This year’s convention features special guest talent We really are in need of volunteer workers (gofers) from the mid-west, Texas and Santa Fe. Guest of Honor to help us throughout the weekend (see separate blurb for Bubonicon 43 is Cincinnati novelist and short story earlier in this newsletter). If you can help, please email writer Stephen Leigh (S.L. Farrell); Guest Artist is John Julie Pascal at [email protected], or come to the meeting Picacio of San Antonio; and Toastmaster is our own Ian Friday, August 12, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Tregillis. on Ponderosa NE (home of ASFS). Other participants come from New Mexico, Cali- Memberships for the whole weekend are $40 if pur- fornia and Colorado. The participating newcomers to chased by August 5. After that, you’ll have to wait to Bubonicon this year are authors Ty Franck, Darynda pay $45 at the door. Daily memberships are $15 Friday, Jones and Sam Sykes. And we’re proud to have Yvonne $25 Saturday and $15 Sunday. Youths 14-17 years old Coats, Jan “Wombat” Finder, Diana Gabaldon, George are $23 for the whole weekend. Children under 14 years RR Martin and Connie Willis back after absences. are free when accompanied by an adult (or $555 if left Proceeds from the Friday charity auction and a por- alone and a babysitter needed). Send payments by Au- tion of any Bubonicon 43 profits will benefit the (Jack) gust 5 to the “NMSF Conference” at PO Box 37257, Williamson Library Collection at Eastern NM Univer- Albuquerque, NM 87176. sity, and the local Roadrunner Food Bank. The Bubonicon 43 special $99 room rate (single We should note that because of fire code at the -double occupancy) is only guaranteed through Monday, Sheraton, we will have to cap attendance at 650 member- August 15, so get your reservation in now! After that, ships for those 14 and above. Based on last year’s con the Sheraton says rooms could be as high as $125 a attendance, Bubonicon can grow about 45 people... night, depending on availability. Call 843-7000 ext 135 Bubonicon 43 opens with registration at 3:00 pm to make your reservation. Friday the 26th and goes almost nonstop through 5 pm Info is available from Craig at (505) 266-8905, that Sunday. The first programming is at 4 pm, while the Kristen at (505) 459-8734, by email at buboni- Art Show, Con Suite and Gaming open at 5 pm. [email protected], or through the website maintained by The theme for the weekend is “Steampunk,” and Mike McCommas at www.bubonicon.com. we’ll mark that theme with a panel discussion on Satur- day afternoon and a talk from Serge Broom on steam- punk cinema. Also, John Picacio’s slide show, “Chapa’ai Going To California With A… of Fortune” at 5:00 pm, the costume contest at 7:30 pm, the 9:30 pm screening of Stiffed from Weekly Alibi film Trip Report by Patricia Rogers editor Devin O’Leary along with various shorts pre- BIG BANG THEORY ADVENTURE, APRIL 5, 2011 sented by local filmmaker Adam Brown. The evening of Tuesday April 5th was perfect in so Activities on Sunday include Leigh being inter- many ways. Thanks to the kindness of a friend, I was viewed by GRR Martin at 11:00 am, the traditional fun able to attend a taping of The Big Bang Theory . My fa-

Page 4 ASFACTS , July 2011 vorite geek show is filmed on Soundstage 25 at Warner Marvin the Martian. I noticed that down on the floor the Brothers Studio. From the moment we were escorted BBT actors and crew where now watching Bob, too, and onto the lot, I was transported into the world of Bette laughing along with us. Davis, Errol Flynn and Humphrey Bogart. Walking be- I would love to tell you about the episode, but noth- tween the rows of huge Spanish-deco soundstages, built ing I could write here would be as funny as just watching in the 1920s and ‘30s, I had to wonder about all the it when the show airs. We had gotten to the studio stars’ footfalls that had been on those streets before mine around 5:15 pm and they wrapped around 10 pm. Then this night. the party started. The audience left but thanks again to Each building is adorned with a bronze plaque list- the wonderful folks I was with, we were given backstage ing the bits of magic captured on film inside their cavern wristbands. These keys to the kingdom allowed us to -like depths. As security checked us in, I was able to roam as freely as the cast and crew did. scan the list of movies and TV shows that left their par- I stood at the edge of Leonard and Sheldon's living ticular mark on this building: The Adventures of Robin room, looked back at my friend, and said, "Can I go up Hood, Dark Victory, Now Voyager, Yankee Doodle and look at everything closely." Sure, was her reply, just Dandy, Casablanca . Was I really now walking into don't touch anything. On My! In the words of Howard Rick's American Cafe?! Even more in keeping with the Carter...there were "Wonderful Things" here. The book show I was now attending, this was also the once dark shelves were filled with real astronomy, physics, and and rainy future world of Bladerunner . other science texts. A few hardcover graphic novels like We all climbed onto bleacher type seats, and laid Sandman and a Superman collection were lying around. out in front of us were the individual rooms seen in The The most amazing things for me were the old scientific Big Bang Theory . They were in a row, like shop fronts instruments: wireless radio, Geiger counter, huge old missing a front wall. Black screens hid sets from our glass tubes, something that looked like a seismograph, a view that were not currently being used. No spoilers reproduction 16 th -century orrery, oscilloscope, and many now. You’ll have to watch and enjoy the episode – “The more wonderful artifacts. I wanted to take them all home Engagement Reaction” – when aired. We were warmed to put in my own geek space in my back room. I roamed up by a showing of an as-of-yet unaired episode. Then though each set – the Cheesecake Factory, the laundry the well-oiled machine of a crew got busy filming our room, a room in the Wolowitz house, and I walked up episode. I was impressed by the calm, efficient crew and and down the stairways next to the blown up elevator. by the way they made it look so easy. There was MC/ Producer Bill Prady encouraged me do so, then told me cheerleader to keep us pumped up and cheering, not that how they had to blast through the floor of the sound we needed much to keep our enthusiasm on high. stage, and dig a large hole into the ground, so they could The Big Bang Theory is filmed in front of a live have a down-stairwell. For a long time I continued to audience, and all the scenes are filmed in order. The four roam from set to set, trying to stay out of the way of large cameras, with their Transformer-like arms and lit- crew, who were breaking down some sets, and securing up eyes, easily glided between sets. One by one, each others. I chatted with some of the cast, who could not cast member was introduced to us. They are even more have been more charming and nice. Then, I went back to darling in person, and we welcomed them with rock-star my first love, visiting with past ghosts in the building. applause. Watching them act made me appreciate their On a side wall there was a long wooden staircase talent and friendship even more. The ease and humor running up to the catwalks near the ceiling. The hand- you see on screen is right there between them, even rails were polished black from 75 years of ascents. At when the cameras are not rolling. I never wanted them to the base of the stairs sat a guard. I asked him if he turn off the cameras, so everybody at home could see the thought these stairs were built with the soundstage in actors kid each other between takes just how we were 1935. He answered in the affirmative. I started waxing seeing it in front of us. Flubbed lines for future blooper about the amazing film history these walls had witnessed reels got as much laughter as the scripted bits. and he said, "Yes, and the ghost are still here." Oh cool, During breaks in filming, our MC got audience this guy understood! He told me of footsteps he had members up to perform everything from dancing and heard echoing through empty soundstages on more than singing to making farm animal noises. One guy stood up one occasion. And, about how he asked whatever spirits and said, "My name is Bob and I do pigs." Much laugh- may have been there to give a sign, then suddenly, out of ter ensued. Turns out Bob is now the Warner Brothers nowhere, a cat appeared and raced past them in the dark. voice for Porky Pig, replacing the late, great Mel Blanc. He marveled at the difference between the silence I love animation voice talent. My very favorite panels at of an empty soundstage and the way our laughter had Comic Con have been the Cartoon Voices ones. These completely filled the building during that evening's tap- folks are some of the funniest and most talented in the ing. I liked this guy. We chatted for a while longer about business. Bob proceeded to read us the BBT cast member how we thought some folks’ spirits still lingered in these names in the voices of Porky Pig, Tweety Bird and buildings because these were the best times of their lives.

Page 5 ASFACTS , July 2011 They were at the top of their acting game, the top of their ing the years he spent waiting outside studios to meet fame, and they were surrounded by a warm and suppor- stars. tive family of a crew. Who wouldn't want to keep reliv- We talked about many of the times we had gotten ing that past? together over the past 30 years. One of the memories I headed back to my friends, who were ready to was of ConFederation in Atlanta 1986. I was near him head home. We walked out into the cool night, now the when he went up and asked Jack Williamson out to din- only ones on the dark street between the mammoth ner. Ray said he was glad I had seen him with Jack. I buildings. It was hard for me to leave. I wanted to spend mentioned how whenever I visited Jack in Portales, he all night exploring each and every building and meeting always made sure food was ready for us when we ar- the ghosts within. rived. He would make little cheese and/or baloney sand- wiches on white bread with the crusts cut off. Ray said VISITING RAY he remembered Jack sitting in his (Ray's) mother’s There are some days in our lives that shine like a kitchen while she made Swedish meatballs for them. beacon in the night. April 6, 2011 was a supernova for Yum, Swedish meatballs! Ray said she served them cov- me. A single star burning so brightly that the whole uni- ered in gravy. verse of my life is warmed by its glow. Speaking of gravy, I asked him about the LA Sci- When I was making my plans to come to LA, I de- ence Fiction Association meeting at Clifton's Cafeteria in bated on if I should try and visit Ray Bradbury. He's al- downtown LA. He said that they had met in the brown ways very busy and is 90. While his will and mind are room for six years and that he was 17 at his first meet- strong, his body is…90, and I did not want to tax him. ing. I said that I had seen pictures of him from the time After not much debate, I decided that any moment I and that he was mighty cute with his big smile and blond could spend with Ray is the best of times and sent off a hair. He grinned and said that I was wonderful. request. Soon an answer came back: How about What I thought would be a short visit stretched into Wednesday at 3 pm? Perfect! an hour because we were having so much fun talking. Every time I drive over to Ray's I leave extra early, We were in tune, connected. Of all the times I have spent for fear LA traffic will curtail even one minute of Ray with Ray over the years, this was one of our best hours. time. I always drive the same route and by the time I get At some point I told Ray how much he had meant to my to Pico my gut is full of excited butterflies. Once the life and he looked at me seriously and said, "You are a sunshine yellow wall of Ray's home comes into view, part of my life." Okay, as I sit here and type his words the butterflies calm down. Being early for my date, I sat the tears are starting up again. I was thinking about tears quietly in the car and watched a parade of folks walking of happiness yesterday as I drove to the beach after leav- their dogs, which seem to be ever present on Ray's street. ing Ray's. Why do we cry when we are happy? Is it that 2:59 pm and I headed up Ray's flagstone steps. A our heart is so full of love that we force out some of our handsome young man with a bright smile answered the 57% water content? door. Since my visit request was last minute, Andrew Not wanting to tire Ray out, I started heading for need to check Ray's updated appointment schedule. Yes, the door. Ray told me that I had made his day and made there I was. me promise I would visit again soon. I went and chatted I started off chatting about my upcoming job, some- with Andrew for a bit, then remembered I needed to thing I have wanted to do my whole life. Thanks to Ray's show Ray the bracelet I had made in honor of him. Us- always encouraging words of "Do what you love!" I kept ing 1920s typewriter keys I had crafted a bracelet that on course to achieve my dream. We then talked about spelled out Ray Bradbury. I ran back into Ray's room to my adventures at Warner Brothers Studio and about how show him, then headed on my way. Andrew made me many marvelous ghosts haunt the old soundstages. I told promise I would come back again soon, too. him how I roamed around the 1935 soundstage used to Ray might be 90 but his light still shines very film Dark Victory, Casablanca, Now Voyager and The brightly. Charge of the Light Brigade, and how I could see the shadow flickers of Errol Flynn, Bette Davis and Hum- GODZILLA IS HERE! phrey Bogart in every corner. I told Ray that he was in In Burbank April 8-10, not Monster Island. One of my heart and there with me the whole night. He said, the high points at MonsterPalooza for me was getting to "Yes, I was with you. Those are my movies." meet Haruo Nakajima, the man in the Godzilla suit for Ray mentioned that Leigh Brackett had taken him the 1954 movie and 11 more that followed. He also to Warner Brothers and introduced him to Humphrey played other monsters in at least a dozen other films. I Bogart while she was a screenwriter on the Big Sleep . could not have been more thrilled to meet Nakajima, I Playing on the TV next to Ray was The Treasure of the mean, REALLY , How often do you get to meet Godzilla Sierra Madre . I asked Ray if he had ever met Walter and live to tell the tale? Houston. Ray said he had and gotten his autograph dur- Nakajima is an old-fashioned Japanese gentleman.

Page 6 ASFACTS , July 2011 He may understand and know a little English, but he Thor (really!), a female version of Whiplash from Iron really only speaks Japanese. A translator is always with Man II, many DC/Marvel characters, Indiana Jones, him, as was his niece, to go between him and his adoring Chewbacca, Tron characters, Roger and Jessica Rabbit fans. I felt myself wanting to be as polite as possible, (few can pull off the Jessica character, and this lady did), bowing my head to him and limiting direct eye contact. anime and videogame characters, Japanese robots, Klin- He responded in kind, and bowed and smiled in return. gons, grey aliens, Lucius Malfoy and many, many more. He could not have been more polite and kind. Like They wander about the show all weekend, and many a Shogun, he greeted each fan from his seat behind an really strut their stuff during the Saturday night costume honored table. His demeanor was kind, generous, and competition. commanded respect. Which he deserves. The Godzilla StarFest took place along with three other concur- suit weighed 220 pounds or more. He had to destroy To- rent conventions: RoboFest (a single large room devoted kyo, fight a plethora of other monsters, and even swim in to builders of working robots such as the Lost in Space that costume. He was hurt, even burnt, on more than one robot, R2D2 and others), Horrorfest (which took up sev- occasion. Yet he never complained or even asked for a eral rooms and included movies and panels, and lots of break in filming. attendees dressed as zombies), and ComicFest, which He insisted on shaking the hand of everyone who takes place at a hotel across the street (the StarFest came up to get an autograph and would pose for a photo schedule is always so full we’ve never made it over with all who asked. He would even put his arm around there!). the ladies! Hugged by Godzilla, it doesn't get any better There is a sci-fi art show, featuring paintings, than that! sketches, sculptures, ceramics, and more. There is a All the money he earned went to a Japanese tsu- Harry Potter-themed wizard area with their own activi- nami relief fund. ties, panel discussions of various sorts (we attended a Godzilla knows how to take care of his own! talk by a Hubble scientist who showed and discussed many amazing images from the telescope), a Saturday CON REPORT : S TAR FEST 2011 Night Live -style play parody, a costume competition, a compilation of trailers and sneak peeks from upcoming sci-fi movies, and more activities that can fit here. by Joe Walters The annual StarFest sci-fi con took place April 15- Whenever we arrive at one of these shows, we have 17 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, and Linda and I to look at the schedule to find out what events we’ll have attended as we have for more than 15 years now. We to miss due to conflicts. Theirs is a very full schedule! always have a great time. There is so much to do that it’s They draw a few thousand attendees every year, and impossible to see it all, much less report it all! there’s stuff for every one of them to do. This year’s guests included LeVar Burton ( Star Of special interest to modelers are two ongoing Trek’s Geordi LaForge), Morena Baccarin (Anna from activities: the Make & Take room, and the Model Show. V, as well as roles on Firefly and Stargate SG-1), Jeffrey Tom Grossman normally runs the Make & Take but Combs and Casey Biggs (Weyoun and Damar from Star could not make it this year due to schedule conflicts, but Trek: DS9), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from Star his substitutes filled in quite effectively. Young and old Wars), and several more. Autograph lines were set up so alike were educated in the ways of assembling and paint- you could meet all the guests, and from what we could ing (with airbrushes!) plastic models. This was a popular see, it appeared folks got to meet all they wanted to! and busy attraction – and it was this busy all weekend Several sci-fi authors and artists were there as well, long! including Dayton Ward, Kevin Dilmore, Christie Vern Clark runs the Model Show and contest, and Golden, Carrie Vaughn, Mario Acevedo and Stephen there is always a large turnout, usually around a hundred Graham Jones. They all had tables set up in an area or so models entered. This year, one model overshad- called Authors’ Alley, and attendees could walk up to owed all the others: a full-sized scratch-built replica of say “hello,” buy books, get autographs and generally the shooting model of the original Battlestar Galactica ! schmooze. Surrounded by several of the well-known ships of the Many attendees appear in costume, and the variety “rag-tag fleet,” this monster was about five feet long, and quality never ceases to amaze. There were at least and dominated the entire room. It was hard to notice the two Cap’n Jack Sparrows, several Star Wars stormtroop- other models… ers, Sith lords, Jedi knights, sand people and Man- The Galactica was a multi-year project, involving dalorian warriors, multiple incarnations of The Doctor extensive research (the builders of the show’s shooting (including a fellow dressed as the current Doctor – com- model kept detailed journals describing not only the de- plete with bow tie and red fez – and who resembles Matt sign elements but also what existing kits they raided for Smith so closely you have to wonder), Hit Girl, Lego parts to stick on the hull). We were told the builder spent over $8,000 acquiring all the parts to precisely recreate

Page 7 ASFACTS , July 2011 the original model (many of the needed kits are no the plague at the cost of her queen. Now, the Red Planet is longer in production, and require trips to eBay and other making its return. sources). He confessed that he “improved” on the model To the new reader of the Dragonriders series, there is in some ways; as with another famous TV show, the a brief explanation at the beginning of where this society shooting model was unfinished in some areas, as they originated, how the structure of this world is designed and were only planning to shoot it from one side. This model the hierarchy involved. is complete all the way around. The influence of both writers on the story is evident The level of detail is staggering, and must be seen in the characters involvement with each other and the to be believed. The ship is fully lighted, and both the anxieties each privately have at certain traumatic events landing bays have sequenced flashing approach lights, through this chapter of the series. Anne and Todd play off floor and ceiling! I particularly liked one model that con- the strengths of each other with the descriptive nature of sisted of a wooden base on which rested a red hemi- Todd painting the scenes and influencing the male charac- ters, while Anne in her style brings the frailty and strengths sphere, representing a planet. This entry was labeled of our heroes to the reader. “Klingon Bird of Prey.” There are surprises galore in the storyline and the The huge Dealer Room is always a must-see, where basis for the continuation of the series. This addition to the dozens of vendors sell everything from movie posters to Dragonriders series, Dragon’s Time , is one you will keep autographed photos to swords to toys to books to videos picking up to read to keep up with the story. Just make sure to t-shirts to pornographic fan fiction (really). One par- you remember which time you are in, which future, which ticular item caught Linda’s attention: a “ZPM” energy past, and which time in that future or past. Have fun and module from Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. This enjoy! wasn’t a replica; it was an actual prop used on the show. It was also considered as having extra value, as it had Steel by Carrie Vaughn, Harper Teen 2011, hc $16.99, suffered some minor damage when Richard Dean Ander- 304 pages. Review by Jessica Coyle son dropped it. They wanted seven grand for it; we set- Steel is the latest Young Adult novel by Colorado tled for a photo of Linda holding the thing. author (and Bubonicon regular) Carrie Vaughn, who is best We always get our money’s worth at StarFest, and known for her Kitty series of novels. Sixteen-year-old Jill recommend you consider attending next year. Jonathan is an amateur fencer who is unsure of whether to keep go- ing in the sport when she loses a major tournament. Her Frakes and Bruce Campbell are tentatively scheduled to family takes a vacation to the Caribbean, where Jill contin- appear, and details will begin to appear on the show’s ues to mope instead of participating. One day, while wan- website (http://www.starland.com) around the first of the dering on the beach alone, Jill finds a rusted piece from the year. The facility is excellent for this show, but parking blade of an old rapier. She picks up the shard and puts it in is distressingly limited. We have found that going up a her pocket. Later, when she is on a sight-seeing cruise with day early makes it possible to get a parking place rea- her family, Jill falls overboard into the ocean, and she is sonably close to the place! Alternatives are available, transported back into the past onto the deck of a pirate and expensive. ship. I feel that Steel is Vaughn’s best non-series book yet. BOOK REVIEW ROUND-UP Her secondary characters in this novel are well-fleshed out, and occasionally even more interesting than Vaughn’s main character. My favorites are Captain Marjorie Cooper, Dragon’s Time: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne and the leader of the ship on which Jill finds herself stranded, Todd McCaffrey, Del Rey 2011, hc $26.00, 352 pages. and Henry, a young pirate who takes Jill under his wing Review by Michael A. Hernandez and teaches her how to survive life onboard the ship. The The way forward is dark and long. book is very intriguing as it weaves information about pi- A dragon gold is only the first price you’ll pay for Pern. rate life with Jill’s attempts to discover what she needs to It is a time of danger. Thread is coming. There are not do to return home. It is obvious that Vaughn has done enough dragons, even with all the Weyrs involved to fight some research into the life of pirates in the Caribbean dur- it. Lorana is desperate, and willing to make a desperate ing the 17th century. Overall, I found Steel to be a fast- choice. paced and fun read that engages the reader from page one. Sounds good, doesn’t it? For those of you who have followed the adventures of The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi, Tor 2011, hc Pern from Anne and Todd McCaffrey, you know what the $24.99, 336 pages. Review by Roslee Orndorff opening entry is about. If this is your first Dragonriders of This is Hannu Rajaniemi’s first book. If he continues Pern novel, get ready to get hooked on the series. this good, we’ll have, hopefully, many more books from The McCaffreys have taken the series on a different him to savor. Though I do have to admit that the first 2 tack this time around, and it is a whirlwind of events, time chapters almost put me off the book altogether – very eso- travel, and an emotional roller coaster. Our heroine in teric and hard to follow. The rest of the book flowed quite Dragongirl, Lorana, has saved most of the dragons from well. However, I have a feeling that it may have purpose-

Page 8 ASFACTS , July 2011 fully been written that way to convey the confusion and ganization that is plotting to start a war. The beauty queens altered awareness that the main character was experienc- band together to try to defeat the terrorists and expose their ing. Hhmmm. It is a very good thing that things started plans to the world, while also learning to stand up and getting better for Jean le Flambeur in chapter 3! think for themselves. Jean le Flambeur is a thief. Not just any old thief, but Bray weaves the girls’ struggle to put aside their com- one with a long history of epic capers. Jean lives in a uni- petitive natures and work together to survive with a hilari- verse that has achieved many means by which to extend a ous satire of politics, reality television, and today’s con- lifespan, and some people take to them better than others. sumer culture. The narrative is interspersed with commer- It is obvious that Jean le Flambeur is one of these special cials for fake television shows and beauty products being people. shilled by The Corporation, a mysterious entity that seems The book begins with our thief in prison – not a to run the government by controlling the media. There also prison of bars and cells and regimented lives, but one that is a decidedly James Bond-ish twist in the second half of utilizes advanced tech to “reform” the prisoners through the book as the girls fight to take down the island terrorists. endless repetitive experiences. In Jean’s case, he keeps While the cover of the book may be slightly ridiculous (it getting killed over and over. Then one day, there is a features a bikini-clad girl with a bandolier made of lipstick slightly different way that the daily experiences unfold and tubes), Beauty Queens is a very funny, satirical, and action- he finds himself being broken out of this prison by Mieli, a packed novel that just happens to feature make-up and se- woman aided by her superb spacecraft Perhonen. They are quins as well. on a mission to “save” our thief for a special task. But they must restore to him his memories first. So, off to Mars and Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding, Bantam Spectra the ever-moving city of Obliette, where Jean must literally 2011, tp $16.00, 480 pages. find himself and the memories he has left behind. Review by Roslee Orndorff Obliette seems to be a haven where everything is I kept thinking all through this book that if Captain measured by time. Everything is bought or sold for time. Malcolm Reynolds of Firefly fame had been a loser instead The residents must cycle through “Quiet” time – spent as a of a beaten rebel, he might have been a lot like Captain heavy laborer inside a mechanical body. When they are in Darian Frey. This is a steampunk book of numerous short their quick-time lives, they partake of unique abilities to vignette-like chapters that can read in short bits and pieces, interact with others in ways that protect their privacy. Obli- and remain satisfying. Reading a chapter gets you more of ette is also famed for their chocolate and their wines. It was the adventure, but does not drive you to keep turning the the chocolate that redeemed me from the disorienting first page. two chapters of the book. The story is about a crew of outcasts really becoming Set up in near opposition to our thief is a young man a team and a ship’s captain becoming a real leader. Retri- named Isidore Beautrelet. Isidore is a young man driven to bution Falls is a book of adventure with sky pirates, reli- understand and sort out puzzles. He is mentored by a mys- gious sects, political intrigue, an interesting blend of al- terious vigilante called The Gentleman, one of a group of chemy and the occult that this universe calls “daemonism.” famed champions of justice that fight crime in Obliette. The crew consists of Captain Frey, Doctor Malvery, dae- So….we end up with two main points of view for the monist Grayther Crake and his golem, Bess, Jez Kyte the remainder of the book. When not following along first- new navigator, Silo the engineer, and fighter pilots Artis person with our thief, we ride along Isidore’s adventures in Pin and Jandrew Harkins. Everyone on the Ketty Jay has a third-person. Jean le Flambeur keeps finding things that he past they are hiding or running away from. left for himself when he was last on Obliette, learning When the captain and the Ketty Jay crew are set up to more about himself and what, exactly, is really happening take the fall for a political assassination, they begin to in Obliette. change from a group of misfits tolerating each other into a There are mind pirates, time thieves, Quiets and fast- team. We learn about pasts that have driven people to the livers. There are powers and goddesses and many more stars, crimes committed, hearts broken, war-damaged and things all rolled-up into one fast, fun adventure. The end- fragile personalities, lives changed, lives altered with no ing leaves me thinking there will be more to the story of possible return to normalcy. I was especially taken with the Jean le Flambeur, Great Thief, in years to come. characters of Jez and Crake – both people with dark, sinis- ter things to hide from everyone. There is a feeling of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Scholastic Press 2011, growth and hope that develops in the book as the story hc $18.99, 400 pages. Review by Jessica Coyle progresses, and a sense of redemption becoming possible Beauty Queens is the latest novel by Printz Award- despite what has happened in the past. winning author Libba Bray. Set in a modern-day alternate This is definitely a “keeper”! I am looking forward to reality, the story follows a group of teen beauty pageant getting it and its sequel on my Kindle! contestants after their plane mysteriously crashes on a de- serted island. As the girls fight to survive and find a way A Discovery of Witches by Deborah E. Harkness, Viking off the island, they discover that they are not alone. The 2011, hc $28.95, 592 pages. Review by Jessica Coyle island is, in fact, a secret base for a rogue government or- Deborah Harkness manages to create something magical in her debut novel A Discovery of Witches . The

Page 9 ASFACTS , July 2011 novel’s main character is Yale professor and historian If you are at all fascinated with Asian myth and/or Diana Bishop. The book starts out in Oxford's Bodleian culture, read this series. It was a compelling read for me. I Library, where Diana is researching manuscripts for a book look forward to finishing a few books that are in process she is writing during a year-long sabbatical. She acciden- right now so I can devote more time to the earlier books in tally calls up a manuscript from the stacks that has been the series. Despite the blurb claiming that this was a con- lost for over 150 years. Her actions draw the attention of clusion to the series, there are still more stories to be told. members of all three of the magical races (witches, dae- I’d not be surprised to learn that there are forthcoming mons, and vampires), especially the mysterious vampire books in this series. Matthew Clairmont. Diana tries to ignore their sudden in- terest, just as she has attempted to ignore her magical pow- The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch, Poppy 2011, hc ers for years, but her attempts fail as she becomes sucked $17.99, 368 pages. Review by Jessica Coyle more and more into the magical world she has avoided for The Magnolia League is the first Young Adult novel many years. by author Katie Crouch, who is mostly known for her best- A Discovery of Witches piqued my interest right from selling novel Girls in Trucks . After her mother is killed in a the beginning. It is a wonderful blend of fantasy and mys- car accident, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee is forced to move tery, and Harkness does an excellent job building a world from her commune home in California to live with her that is similar to our own with the exception that daemons, wealthy grandmother in Savannah, GA. Her grandmother witches, and vampires have always lived side-by-side with is heavily involved in Savannah’s debutante society, the unsuspecting humans. The book is the first in a proposed Magnolia League, and she immediately starts pressuring series, and, while there is a definite complete story arc, it Alex to become one of the junior members. Alex is not does end on a cliff-hanger. I, for one, am eagerly waiting to remotely interested in giving up her hippy ways, but the see what happens to Diana in the next book. girls of the Magnolia League eagerly force themselves on her. The more time she spends with them, the more suspi- Hidden Cities (Moshui: the Books of Stone and Water) cious she becomes of their odd behavior. Alex slowly by Daniel Fox, Del Rey 2011, tp $15.00, 432 pages. comes to the realization that the Magnolia League has Review by Roslee Orndorff made a pact with a local voodoo family to keep the mem- Considering that Hidden Cities is the third in a series, bers rich, beautiful, and young-looking, and she finds her- I was pleasantly surprised to find it an engaging read. In self becoming sucked into a world of magic that is beyond the inside cover note, it reads, “For fans of Liam Hearn and anything she knew was possible. DANIEL ABRAHAM …” I figured it was definitely worth a The Magnolia League is a quick and fun read. Alex is try. The opening book in this series is Dragon in Chains , an interesting and relatable character, and Crouch does a followed by Jade Man’s Skin . Set in a mythological China, good job conveying her feelings of being an outcast after filled with mythic beasts and persons, it was a pleasant her life does a complete turnaround. The one fault I found read for me – so much so that I have obtained the two pre- is that the decisions Alex makes towards the end of the vious books on my Kindle. story do not seem in line with the character Crouch has so Daniel Fox’s prose reads lyrically. Mix that in with carefully created. Overall, though, it is an enjoyable book the exotic Asian characters, myths and all and it will usu- for those who like coming-of-age tales. ally attract my attention. In Hidden Cities , I am seeing the aftermath of several devastating events: the unchaining of a The Hidden Goddess by M.K. Hobson, Bantam Spectra dragon who is now free to do as she pleases along the strait House 2011, mmpb $7.99, 384 pages. that had once held her captive. She still is chained by spells Review by Serge Mailloux to the boy, Han, whose life is now forever changed and not It's 1876 in New York City, not long after the events necessarily in a way he would have chosen. We have a of MK Hobson's The Native Star , one of this year's Nebula rebellion against the Emperor that has been put down by nominees. Emily Edwards has been rid of that magic stone that young ruler only to have factions continue to simmer that was embedded in her hand, and of her hand in the and plot while the Emperor fusses over the beloved peasant process – thus removing one group of people trying to kill who now bears his child. And the disastrous after-effects of the young California witch. But there is still the mystery of a great typhoon unleashed by the powers of the unchained her origin, unknown even to her. There's also the upcoming dragon. passing of the baton of one of the country's major magic Through all this confusion and mayhem, we have research institutes to Dreadnought Stanton, her husband-to- several point-of-view characters that shine through despite be who has many enemies. And a Goddess who won't stop the crises. There is Mei Feng, the Emperor’s concubine at poisoning the Earth and its blood to bring her long-lost and love. There is Siew Ren, burned severely in the war, lover back. And, last but not least, there is Stanton's and her loyal love, Yu Shan. Tien, the doctor’s daughter wealthy mother and those afternoons spent listening to the who becomes the doctor to all who need her, and the Old reading Wordsworth. Man, Mei Feng’s grandfather. But, even in the face of ghastly non-poetical situa- There are mythical beings: dragons, jade tigers, Jade tions, Emily maintains a down-to-Earth attitude. people, goddesses. Oh my!! “I'm not dead yet, you vile bitch,” Emily snarled.

Page 10 ASFACTS , July 2011 “And I'm clever enough to know that destroying the world, in the series. Jones’ sense of humor shines through in even just to bring back one man, is proof that your Goddess is the most serious scenes, and her strength really lies in the as dumb as a sackful of hammers.” interactions among her cast of characters. She also does a To say that I highly recommend this book is an un- good job of capturing Albuquerque in particular and New derstatement. Mexico in general. I look forward to seeing what she pro- duces in the future. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal, Tor 2010, hc $24.99, 304 pages. Review by Serge Mailloux ASFS M EETING REPORTS — Jane’s father worries about when he’ll die. His home, being entailed, will be passed on to his brother’s oldest APRIL 2011: “J AMES S.A. C OREY ” V ISITS son, and what will happen to his family? The situation isn’t Thirty-four people were on hand for our last meeting helped by his hypochondriac wife’s desperate attempts at at the Sheraton Airport Hotel when Daniel Abraham and Ty matchmaking for Jane’s much prettier young sister, Mel- Franck visited to talk about their upcoming first novel, Le- ody. viathan Wakes by “James S.A. Corey,” and read from it. Yes, this is indeed a Regency novel. Abraham read from a section from the perspective of With quite a difference. Detective Miller, a security officer facing an angry mob. The drawing room already had a simple theme of Franck read from a section from the perspective of ship palm trees and egrets designed to complement its Egyptian captain Jim Holden just after a battle in space. revival furniture. For the better part of an hour, Jane and “It actually is a tremendous, sentimental story,” said Melody pulled and twisted folds of glamour out of the Abraham. “There lots of battles and explosions, but also a ether. Some of the older threads of glamour in the palm lot of character moments. It takes place in our solar system, trees had become frayed, making the images lose their and there is no FTL due to that physics problem.” resolution. In other places, Jane added more depth to the Abraham and Franck have a contract for three books. illusion by creating a breeze to ruffle the fronds of the Caliban’s War , the second volume, was close to being done glamour. Though her breath came quickly and she felt light at the time of the club meeting. They also just had figured -headed with the effort of placing so many folds, the effort out the bridge between the second book and Dandelion Sky , was well worth such a trifling strain. the third book, that very afternoon. Recommended. “The division of labor is pretty even,” said Franck. “We each took alternating character perspectives and chap- Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, Book 2) by ters for the first draft. And then we edited each other so that Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press 2011, hc $21.99, 320 nothing is left that is totally one person or the other. It’s a pages (release date August 16). melding of both.” Review by Jessica Coyle Asked about the book’s nature, Abraham remarked, Second Grave on the Left is the second book in Por- “Space opera is part of SF, and always has been. The differ- tales’ author Darynda Jones’ To-Die-For series, which ence is the epic scale and its sensibility. Space opera is on a follows Private Investigator and Police Consultant Charley grand scale but has a human core. The space opera I was Davidson. Charley’s secret to success is that she is also the aiming for with this is a Heinlein juvenile.” Grim Reaper, which means that she can see and communi- Franck had similar feelings. “I kept Bester’s The cate with the deceased. The action within the novel is Stars, My Destination in mind. It’s the journey of a single neatly divided into two main plots. The first involves Char- man through life. He’s a trucker in space. You have to care ley’s best friend and office assistant Cookie, who asks about this person, or who will care about the story. Similar Charley to investigate the disappearance of her friend is the movie Alien , with more truckers in space. It’s the Mimi. As Mimi’s high-school friends have been mysteri- human drama that matters in doing space opera.” ously dying one by one, Cookie is justifiably concerned. Asked about the pseudonym, Abraham explained, Charley gets sucked into the mystery that connects the “The name comes from my middle names - James - and murder victims and the missing woman. Ty’s middle name - Corey. And my daughter’s initials are The second story follows Reyes Farrow, Charley’s S.A. James S.A. Corey writes space opera, Daniel Abraham romantic interest from the first novel. The mystery sur- writes epic fantasy, and M.L.N. Hanover writes urban fan- rounding Reyes and his past tasy. If I ever write a mystery or crime novel, I’ll come up deepens as Charley tries to dis- with a new pseudonym for that. It’s a branding tool.” cover more about his background Franck also co-wrote a story in the new Wild Cards and his unusual powers. Reyes mosaic novel, Fort Freak . Abraham had The Dragon’s has gone into hiding to protect Path , first in a new epic fantasy series, out April 5. His next Charley from danger, and she Hanover novel, Killing Rites , will be out in November. It is must find him before he is either the fourth Black Sun’s Daughter book. recaptured by the police or killed. Finally, Franck gave away his advance copy of Levia- Second Grave on the Left is than Wakes by trivia on the solar system, while Abraham every bit as enjoyable as the first gave away his copy with trivia on the name of the book.

Page 11 ASFACTS , July 2011 MAY : E NGAGEMENT PARTY AT NEW DIGS fantasy stories that go back to my roots that I’d love to write. I pretty much sell on contract now, writing up a syn-

A large crowd of 39 people were present at our first opsis to sell it but not making a strong effort to stick to meeting at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church for the engage- those. I need to get everything down on paper that’s in my ment party of Kevin Hewett and Randi Tinkham. First head, so I don’t worry about getting every detail right. I can came the usual monthly announcements, and the giving go back and fix things later.” ALBUQ COMIC EXPO: away of books for review. And then the party began. Greg Derrick gave a spir- Food provided by the engaged couple included a ited preview of ACE, which took place two weeks after the white sheet cake, bell-shaped sour cream cookies, a vegeta- club meeting. He revealed that late add-ons included Anne ble tray, and homemade vanilla and strawberry ice cream. Lockhart, Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Nicholas Punch also was served. While most people simply social- “Xander” Brendon. Plus noted that the TromaDance NM ized and explored our new meeting space, a few games of film festival would run all three days of ACE, the Wild Feed the Kitty and Apples-To-Apples were played. Cards panel would be Saturday afternoon after Brendon talked about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and his other work, the dealers room and artist alley were sold out, that Sony JUNE : D ORANNA DURGIN & ACE P REVIEW Imageworks would talk about their work on Green Lantern and other films (and give out lantern rings), and that volun- For the first summer meeting, 37 folks chatted with teer workers were needed and welcome. author Doranna Durgin about her career in romance, fan- tasy and SF. “If you put me in the spotlight, I’m like a deer in the headlights,” she began. “I have about 35 novels to EDITOR NOTES THAT FIT THIS SPACE date, and several short stories. I submitted to Asimov’s Wow, last month’s Albuq Comic Expo was incredible when I was 14. They liked it, but said it was a bit murky.” for a first-year convention of this size and ambition. There Moving to southwest Virginia and meeting John were minor flaws here and there, but nothing to be ashamed Maddox Roberts really started her career. Roberts read her of! Greg, Mike, Cinda, Katie, Zach and all the other workers first novel and invited her to conventions with him. should be congratulated on a job very well done. “In 1992, Baen bought Dun Lady’s Jess ,” she re- I had fun sitting at the Wild Cards booth; meeting Len vealed. “I’ve done media tie-ins like Star Trek, Earth: Final Wein (cool creator of Swamp Thing & Wolverine ); chatting Conflict, Angel, Buffy and most recently Ghost Whisperer . I with folks like comic artist Larry Welz, master artist Bernie wrote for the Blonde Bombshell and Nocturne lines of para- Wrightson, actors Marina Sirtis and Nicholas Brendon and normal romances. Along the way, I even did some fun mys- Anne Lockhart; getting awesome hugs from actor Doug Jones teries involving a veterinarian in Flagstaff.” (look for him under rubber in the Hellboy flicks, as the Silver Durgin said she had always been interested in writing, Surfer in the 2nd Fantastic Four movie, and in Legion ); visit- carrying a notebook and being harassed at school. She had ing with Scott Phillips, Bob Vardeman, Melinda Snodgrass, things thrown at her then. Now she likes to quote Toby John Jos. Miller, Andy Kuhn, Aaron Campbell; listening to Keith’s song, “Look at Me Now.” Stan Lee and Lloyd Kaufman Saturday morning; and just Durgin said she enjoys writing fantasy because “I can checking out all the stuff artists and dealers brought to their play with characters in ways in fantasy that don’t work in booths. It was a great experience, and not nearly as crazy as contemporary fiction. And the romance seems to mix well San Diego ComicCon or this past January’s disastrous Albuq with the fantasy. You can push the boundaries of relation- ComicCon attempt. Pleasantly run and worth attending. I ships and what they face. Romance and fantasy intertwine look forward to June 2012. Well done, sirs, well done. to help create really strong heroes. The audience wants the It’s hot & work has been both busy and slow at Page über-hero, but the fantasy also allows authors to explore the One. Plus it’s the last seven weeks of Bubonicon 43 prepara- bad boy - some questionable behaviors can be acceptable.” tions. I need a nap! We need rain (and no more wildfires). Of Durgin said her favorite authors include Anne course, the con needs Gofers! Join us... McCaffrey, Fred Pohl and Robert Bloch, and she admitted Recommendations I can make right now are for Thor, she’s pretty much a hermit with her show dogs and horse. Priest, Source Code, X-Men First Class, and Bad Teacher . Asked about her media-tie work, Durgin replied, “I We have yet to see Cars 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On was happy to be invited in the Angel universe. It’s a little Stranger Tides or SuckerPunch . And we’ll skip Transformers more sardonic and drier than Buffy , which fits me. My fa- once again, thank you. Enjoying Carrie Vaughn’s latest, vorite media tie-in was Earth: Final Conflict , and it also Kitty’s Big Trouble , right now, and Norman Spinrad’s He was the most frustrating. The show had terrible continuity, Walked Among Us is...interesting. Fandom meets metaphys- and I tried to fix some of that in my book. I did a ton of ics and an odd visitor from a possible future. research! Ghost Whisperer had the most rules - it was obvi- Thanks this issue to Patricia Rogers, Joe Walters, Roslee Orndorff, Serge Mailloux, Victor Milan, Jessica Coyle ous people at the studio read them. I got a lot notes. They and Michael Hernandez. Submissions always appreciated. were fun to write, but the studio heavily meddled in them.” NEXT DEADLINE IS SUNDAY , O CTOBER 9... Finally, talking about the future, Durgin revealed she See you all at Bubonicon 43 - August 26-28, Sheraton is in the process of getting some of her backlist from Baen Airport Hotel - and then in October’s ASFacts . -- Craig C Books back in print as eBooks. She also has a “bunch of

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