Volume 17, Issue 3 June/July ConNotations 2007 The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

A Session with Featured Inside Terry Brooks Regular Features Special Features Transcribed by Lee Whiteside & Nadine Armstrong SF Tube Talk A Session with Terry Brooks Terry Brooks All the latest news about Transcribed by by Lee Whiteside & made a stop at the Scienc Fiction TV shows Nadine Armstrong Poisoned Pen in by Lee Whiteside Scottsdale, The Chaotic Afternoon and Unruly 24 Frames Arizona last fall Evening Hanging with Harlan All the latest Movie News Ellison: Part 1 of 2 (2006) on a tour to by Lee Whiteside promote the By Shane Shellenbarger release of Pro Notes Armageddon’s News about In Memory Children, the genre authors and fans Lloyd Alexander beginning of a Jamie Bishop new series. He ConClusion Jason Sato talked about the Convention News & Reviews Kurt Vonnegut, Jr new series and Musical Notes Thirty Years Ago at a Theater Near answered some The latest news of Filk and Filkers You: Star Wars! questions from from Tom Tuerff Michael A. By Shane Shellenbarger Stackpole and the Costume Closet audience. © Lee Whiteside Articles Covering Topics of interest An American in Canada Armageddon’s Children comes out in a Terry Brooks: I’m writing a bridge in the constuming field Part 5 mass market paperback on July 31 with the series between Word and Void and by Jeffrey Lu ReAnimation second book in the series, The Elves of Shannara, on the one hand. Most of you Reviews of Anime on DVD Plus Cintra, scheduled for August 28th. probably already know by this time or have figured it out if you read the book. Screening Room CASFS Business Report At the appearance, Terry seemed very On the other hand, I’m writing a stand- Reviews of current theatrical releases relaxed and threw in some humorous alone series. This is no mean trick, let me FYI comments in his answers. To start off the tell you, but nevertheless, I feel confident Pre-Con News News and tidbits of interest to fans appearance, he teased the audience by that the way the series is structured that Tidbits about upcoming conventions reading a chapter from the start of the you’ll be able to jump in without having Club Listings In Our Book second book and after that talked a bit ever read another thing that I’ve done. Reviews of New SF/F Books about the new series. I’m sure there are many of you in that Convention List & Generic Registration Form ( Continued on page 8 )

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Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who Is Who This Issue BOOK STORES Atomic Comics Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bent Cover Bookstore 3155 W. Chandler Blvd #5, Chandler News & Reviews Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ AZ 85226 (480)940-6061 CASFS Business Report 2 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer 85029 Comics, Legends & Heroes Film & Video Editors: Len Berger & SF Tube Talk 3 Craig L Dyer (602) 942-5932 13560 W. Van Buren, Ste. B102, 24 Frames 3 Promotions Directors: Len Berger, Book Adventure Goodyear, AZ (623)932-3433 FYI 7 Richard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer 660 N. Gilbert Rd, Suite B, Gilbert AZ Drawn to Comics Pro Notes 11 Advertising: Catherine Book 85234 (480) 892-2120 5757 W. 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Page 2 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 shortly after their release while there has boat runs into trouble leaving the girl to SF Tube Talk yet to be an announcement for a cable or 24 Frames fend for herself. She does still have TV News & Previews broadcast outlet for the Babylon 5 release. internet access and starts emailing the Over in the cable universe, The SciFi Movie News author of a book she is reading, and with By Lee Whiteside Channel is reaching the end of the current By Lee Whiteside the author’s help, she is able to manage on seasons for the two Stargate series in June her own and eventually saves the island We’ve got lots of new stuff hitting the and will be returning Doctor Who, from tour companies who want to exploit cable channels this summer, a preview of There’s a lot of stuff in the works for Eureka, Ghost Hunters, and Who Wants it. Finally, on tap from Fox Walden for a lot of new genre shows on the networks down the road later this year and into next to Be a Superhero as well as launching next fall is City of Ember, a science next season and a look at the first in the way of science fiction and fantasy Flash Gordon, a couple of new reality fiction adventure co-produced by Tom installment of Babylon 5: The Lost Tales. movies. series, and a Monday night Anime Block. Hanks and Gary Goetzman, directed by First up on the agenda is the beginning New film company, Fox Walden, is June sees the final episodes of Gil Kenan. of a new trend in the genre, original direct gearing up for its first set of releases. It is Stargate SG-1. In Family Ties, Fred In the comic book arena, The Dark to DVD releases. Out of the gate first is a partnership between Fox and Walden Willard Knight Babylon 5: The Lost Tales: Voices in the guest stars as Vala’s estranged Media to produce family films mostly , the next Batman movie, has father, a con artist who seeks sanctuary on added Eric Roberts and Nester Dark, which is being released on DVD on with a fantasy bent. Currently filming is Earth after providing intelligence about a Carbonell to its lineup. Roberts will play July 31st. This is the first installment in an adaptation of The Dark is Rising, Jaffa plot to attack Earth. In Dominion, mafia boss Salvatore “The Boss” Maroni what is planned to be an ongoing Babylon based on the fantasy novel by Susan the SG-1 team devises a scheme to and Carbonell will play the Mayor of 5 anthology series that will be able to Cooper, for release in October. It stars capture the Ori leader Adria using Vala as Gotham City. Other newcomers to the jump around the Babylon 5 Universe and Ian McShane, Christopher Eccleston, bait, but things go awry when Baal series will be Heath Ledger as The Joker, time line as is needed. The first Frances Conroy and Alexander Ludwig unleashes his own plan that could prove Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, installment was written and directed by as Will Stanton. In November, they will deadly for all of them. Finally, to end the and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. Babylon 5 creator J. Michael release Mr. Magorium’s Wonder ten year run of Stargate SG-1 is the final There’s not much news to report on Straczynski and features Bruce Emporium, about a magical toy store series episode, Unending, which finds the Wonder Woman or the next Superman Boxleitner as President Sheridan, Tracy where all of the toys - and the store - crew trapped on board the Odyssey where movie. According to David Goyer, the Scoggins as Colonel Lochley, and Peter come to life. It stars Dustin Hoffman, they live out the rest of their lives together script for The Flash he has been working Woodward as Galen the Technomage. Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman. when Carter activates a time dilation field on is now dead at Warner Bros. However, According to Straczynski, the story Reports on the film’s changes to the book to save the ship from destruction. he is working on a new DC Comics movie covers “the same 72-hour period of time have already met with anger by those who Needless to say, they do manage to break called Super Max, which will introduce as Sheridan travels on board a Presidential love the original book. Fox Walden will out of it to be able to continue the series The Green Arrow to the movie audiences. Cruiser enroute to Babylon 5 from Minbar be producing a film adaptation of Wendy on direct to DVD movies. Instead of However, shortly into the movie, The for a celebration marking the 10th Orr’s book Nim’s Island with Gerard wrapping up the Ori storyline with the Green Arrow’s secret identity is revealed anniversary of the founding of the Butler, Jodie Foster, and Abigail Season Ten finale, the first DVD movie, and he is incarcerated in a maximum Interstellar Alliance. One part of the story Breslin. The story deals with a girl living Stargate: The Ark of Truth will follows Sheridan as he picks up an on a tropical island with her father, whose theoretically finish up things with the Ori, ( Continued on page 6 ) unexpected visitor on the edge of Centauri leaving Stargate ready to move on to other space, Prince Regent Dius Vintari, and a stand-alone adventures in future warning about what will come afterward productions. In The Ark of Truth, the Ori delivered by the techno-mage, Galen. The are planning to invade Earth but when other part of the story is set aboard Vala’s husband, Tomin, the commander of Babylon 5, as Colonel Lochley summons the invading armies defects, SG-1 enlists a priest from Earth space to deal with a his help in their own mission to the Ori problem that may have dark supernatural home galaxy in search of the “Ortus overtones. The two parts of the greater Mallum” where they hope to find the story intersect at certain key plot and “Ark of Truth” that can be used to end the thematic points, so that they overlap and war once and for all. Assuming they do complement each other while telling take care of the Ori, the second DVD separate, but simultaneous, stories.” Also movie, Stargate: Continuum, will be a appearing in it are Teryl Rothery as an stand-alone time travel episode that will ISN reporter, Alan Scarfe as Father Kelly, include an appearance by Richard Dean and Keegan MacIntosh as Prince Regent Anderson (who does not appear in the Dius Vintari. The DVD will feature series finale or the first DVD movie). In Straczynski’s video diaries and some Continuum, when Teal’c and Vala vanish, behind the scenes features as well as the remaining team members realize that tributes to deceased Babylon 5 cast the time line has been altered and the members Richard Biggs and Andreas Stargate program never happened. A fleet Katsulas. Look for preview material of Goa’uld motherships led by Goa’uld online on the www.Babylon5.com and lord Baal arrive to invade Earth and the www.Babylon5Scripts.com web sites as remaining team members must figure out the release date approaches. a way to fix the time line and save Earth As indicated above, the Babylon 5 and the galaxy. Direct to DVD production is a new trend Stargate Atlantis wraps up its third in genre TV and is the first live action one season in June and will return in the fall. to be released. It has been done in the In Submersion, the Atlantis team animated arena recently with some Marvel investigates an Ancient drilling station releases and Warner Bros. has several deep underwater and discovers a very old original animated DC Comics projects in and very angry Wraith queen still alive. In the works as well. Coming up this fall will Vengeance, Connor Trinneer returns as be two Stargate SG-1 Direct to DVD Michael, the Wraith. The Atlantis team movies as well as a Battlestar Galactica investigates a village that had previously DVD movie. Those releases will also likely turn up on the SciFi Channel ( Continued on page 4 ) Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk Returning to SciFi for its second more high concept and finding a way to else? In Audrey Parker Has Come and ( Continued from page 3 ) season on July 10th is Eureka. There’s modernize it. I don’t think Flash is going Gone, 70 year old Audrey Parker takes gone missing, and discover a Wraith not much specific preview information on to be attacking the pressing issues of day, promicin and is able to astral project experiment that is creating large deadly the new season, but there’s a few tidbits of the 2008 election. I think it’s really more herself as a 25 year old. In The Truth and insects. Atlantis wraps up its season with information about what to expect in the about taking that kind of fun romp, the Nothing But the Truth, Shawn is caught in First Strike, where a new Earth ship, the new season. First of all, show creator and humor and the energy of Stargate and a political mess related to the promicin Apollo, under the command of Colonel executive producer Andrew Cosby is no really kind of applying it to the Flash war and Kyle has a secret meeting with Abe Ellis (Michael Beach), arrives with a longer an executive producer on the show Gordon franchise.” Isabelle. In Eat the Pie, Kyle goes missing plan to wipe out an armada that the and is pursuing other opportunities that As for Battlestar Galactica, SciFi has and Tom gets stuck in a mysterious small Replicators are building on their world. have arisen as a result of the success of made a commitment for 22 episodes for town and is told to eat the Apple Pie, Atlantis finds itself under attack by a Eureka. SciFi’s promotional tagline for the fourth season, with the weekly series which contains promicin! In The Marked, powerful energy beam and the team must the new season is “Same Town, Bigger slated to return in January. However, two a third group, “The Marked” comes into take drastic measures to save themselves Secrets.” Things do get turned on its head of the hours in the 22 episode order will play to make things even more and the city. The episode will leave things as a result of the explosion in the season be produced as a TV movie with a DVD complicated. In Till We Have Built Our in a nasty cliffhanger which will give the finale. First of all, Nathan Stark (Ed release that will air in November on SciFi. Jerusalem, Jordan Collier claims to know series a new direction for season four. Quinn) loses his job as head of the Global In an interview on www.Salon.com, a way to make God appear on Earth. On Also appearing in the episode is Jewel Dynamics facility and Allison Blake (Salli producer Ron Moore indicated the “story The Dead Zone, producers have been Staite as Dr. Kelly, making her debut Richardson-Whitfield) is put in charge. will not pick up our cliffhanger at the end pretty quiet about what to expect for the appearance as the new head of Atlantis’s With Nathan Stark going back to being a of Season 3. The story will be set on the sixth season other than to “Expect the medical facilities. scientist, his relationship with Allison and Battleship Pegasus and will take place in Unexpected”. The only cast change that Wednesday, June 6 sees the return of her son is rekindled, leaving Jack Carter the past, relative to where we are in has been announced so far is that Cara Ghost Hunters to SciFi as well as the (Colin Fergusen) somewhat out of the Season 3. But the events set up in that Buono will join the show this season as a debut of Destination Truth, the latest picture. However, Carter’s life gets more story will then pay off in Season 4.” Look new detective in the town of Cleave Mills. attempt by Scifi to have an investigative complex when his ex-wife Abby comes to for Michelle Forbes to reprise her role as ABC Family is bringing back Kyle XY type series. This one features Josh Gates, town. The relationships will definitely Admiral Cain as well as some flashbacks for a second season starting in June. It “a world adventurer and eager truth- continue being a major focus of the show to a young Cain and a young Bill Adama. will air on Monday nights and may also seeker” as he travels the globe in the new season, with the plots Also central to the storyline is Kendra get a repeat airing on the ABC network investigating mysterious stories. In the six sometimes taking a back seat. Taggert, a Lieutenant under Cain who like they did last summer. For the new episodes scheduled to air, look for reports At the end of July will be the return of became Lee Adama’s XO during the time season, Kyle begins to learn the truth on the Malaysian Bigfoot, The Chilean Who Wants to Be a Superhero, which the Pegasus and Galactica were on the run about his past and the full extent of his Chupacabra, dinosaurs in New Guinea, a will have ten episodes total, giving more during the Cylon occupation. It is abilities. He also begins to find out about haunted village in Thailand, and a time to each task and likely to learn more speculated that Taggert may play a role in the dangers out in the real world. He wolfman in Argentina. about each of the contestants. Look for season four. We’ll also learn a good returns to the Tragers and continues to Returning to SciFi on Friday, July 6th, several of last year’s contestants to be amount of the overall story of The lead a double life, secretly being trained is Doctor Who for the third series of the involved, including Feedback and Fat Pegasus as well as how it works into the by Tom Foss (Nicholas Lea). Kyle new run, only three months after it has Momma. Each week they will also have overall Galactica story. As for season four, discovers some things have changed with aired on the BBC. SciFi will kick things an online post show interview with that expect the 20 episodes to be broken up the Tragers after he left them and he must off with the 2006 Christmas special, The week’s loser hosted by Major Victory. into two halves. Despite some cast adjust to them. Also, the mysterious Runaway Bride, that guest stars Look for the comic featuring Feedback, members indicating this is the last season, Madacorp gets their hands on the “girl in Catherine Tate as Donna, a bride last year’s winner, to be released by Dark producer David Eick has stressed that the pod” (played by Jaimie Alexander) whisked away to the TARDIS as she is Horse Comics in early July. Also debuting they are keeping Galactica’s story open- and puts her on the hunt for Kyle. When walking down the aisle at her wedding. on July 28th is a new series featuring ended and are not planning to conclude she works her way into Kyle’s and the Needless to say, she isn’t pleased about British mentalist Derren Brown, who has the show with season four. SciFi does Trager’s lives, it puts everyone at risk. that and she soon finds herself tied up in been described as “part James Bond, part seem committed to the series due to its ABC Family also has The Fallen an adventure with The Doctor with the Yoda.” According to SciFi, the show will critical acclaim even with the shifting limited series returning in early August future of Earth at stake. Next up is Smith be “6 jaw-dropping 1-hour episodes that ratings. with four hours over three nights. Paul and Jones which features the debut of The must be seen to be believed.” Elsewhere in the cable universe, Wesley, Rick Worthy and Fernanda Doctor’s new companion, medical student Debuting on August 10 will be SciFi’s Lifetime has done well with Blood Ties, Andrade reprise their roles from the Martha Jones, played by Freema modernization of Flash Gordon. Starring and has picked up the remaining episodes original two hour movie dealing with the Agyeman. When the Doctor is as Flash is Eric Johnson, best known for of the 22 being produced for the first journey of Nephilim, who has discovered investigating strange energy readings at a playing Lana Lang’s jock boyfriend season, planning to air the last ten he is a fallen angel. The series will hospital, he finds it transported to the Whitney in Smallville. Gina Holden, episodes over five weeks in October. USA continue to delve into the mythology of moon with it under siege by the alien currently on Blood Ties, will play Dale Network is bringing back The 4400 and the fallen angels and how they are looking Judoon. He teams up with medical student Arden, with Jody Racicot as Dr. Hans The Dead Zone in mid-June, running for the chosen one who will redeem them Martha Jones to return the hospital to Zarkov, and John Ralston as Ming the each show’s 13 week seasons over the rest and allow them to return to heaven. Earth and stop the Judoon from invoking Merciless. There’s not too much of the summer. On The 4400, Billy BBC America will also be stepping up their deadly justice. In The Shakespeare information about how it will be Campbell reprises his role as Jordan their genre programming this summer, Code, The Doctor takes Martha on a trip modernized, but they have admitted they Collier as a series regular. His goal is to switching to a new format that will make back in time to England meet up with will be making use of some sets created get everyone to take promicin to make each night of a week a themed night with Shakespeare and discover the truth about for the Tin Man miniseries for Ming’s everyone that survives it has a power. The Supernatural Saturdays and Adventure the “lost” play Love’s Labour Won and palace on Mongo. According to SciFi VP government doesn’t agree and outlaws it. Sundays being the place to catch the thwart an invasion by the Carrionites. In Mark Stern, Ming will not be a mustache The fight over the use of promicin will be science fiction and fantasy series on the Gridlock, The Doctor takes Martha to the twirling bad guy, but more of a heavy central to this season. Kicking off the channel. Kicking things off in June on far future where they visit New New York handed dictator in the mold of Saddam season is The Wrath of Graham, where a Saturdays will be the return of Hex, with on New Earth only to find a massive Hussein. One of the key plot elements will high school kid who takes promicin the remaining episodes of that series. At gridlock of cars and a deadly terror below be Flash’s father, who has been captured develops the power to make everyone the start of the new run of episodes, the them. After that, it’s a trip to 1930’s New by Ming. As for the tone of the series, treat him like royalty, with people aborted baby has survived and is growing York where they find there’s a secret Stern told Crave Online “we’re not mobbing him to do things for him, which at an alarming rate and has unleashed a behind the final stages of construction of looking for it to carry the mantle of a leads to tragedy. In Fear Itself, Tom and host of fallen angels bent on destroying the Empire State Building in the two- show like Battlestar Galactica but Garrity investigate reports of people going humanity with Ella the best hope for parter Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of definitely, it’s about taking something crazy from seeing what they fear most. Is survival. Ella is in a psychiatric hospital the Daleks. that’s maybe a little pulpy and a little it one of the 4400 causing it or something ( Continued on page 5 ) Page 4 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 first woman to undergo the treatment. It can never touch her again. It might do SF Tube Talk ( Continued from page 4 ) Jericho, but have renewed The Ghost will also be repurposed on SciFi like well in the fall, being located at 8 pm ET/ and vulnerable to attack and the ghost Whisper, Numbers and their CSI trio. Heroes has been this year. We’ll see if PT Wednesdays, but will have tough Thelma must work with Ella’s mortal Moonlight - Mick St. John (Alex they can do for The Bionic Woman what going in the spring up against American boyfriend, Leon, to try to help her fulfill O’Loughlin) is a private investigator who Eick and Ron Moore did for Galactica. Idol. This does appear to be one of the her destiny. In the meantime, they have to also happens to be a vampire with a lot of Journeyman - A romantic mystery- critics favorite shows, though. Of course, deal with fallen angel Azazeal, Jez, an evil baggage who uses his powers and abilities drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin that doesn’t always mean success or that spirit posing as a teacher, and Perie the to help the living instead of preying on McKidd), a San Francisco newspaper the series will live up to the pilot. Faerie, sent by Azazeal to pose as Ella’s them. Sixty years ago, he was turned by reporter and family man who inexplicably Eli Stone - “A unique, character- nurse and prevent Ella from using her his bride, Coraline (Amber Valletta), but begins to travel through time and change driven drama that explores the very powers. To get caught up, BBC America he was sickened by the other vampires people’s lives. In his travels he rekindles a different worlds of law and spirituality in will be running a marathon of the first ten who view humans as sources of food. romance with his long lost fiancé Livia a humorous and heartfelt way. The show episodes on Saturday, June 2nd, during Mick spends his time helping the living (Moon Bloodgood), complicating things explores whether we can change the the day before the series resumes. and fighting other vampires who want to with his present day wife Katie (Gretchen course of our lives in midstream.” Eli is a Other series that will appear on take advantage of them. After 60 years, Egolf) and his son, Jack (Reed mercenary attorney who begins Saturday nights as the year progresses he’s wondering if it is time to pursue the Diamond). It is produced by former West “hallucinating larger-than-life visions of include BBC’s Jekyll (written by Stephen love of a mortal. He has his eye on Beth Wing producers Kevin Falls and Alex pop stars and his dead relatives” which Moffat) in August, the U.S. debut of the Turner (Shannon Lucio), a beautiful and Graves. NBC is hoping this will hold on causes him to decide that he is a prophet Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood in ambitious reporter who he wonders if she to more of the Heroes audience on of some sort, leaves his high paying job in September (paired up with the second will be able to accept him for what he is. Monday nights. It seems a lot like a top law firm and starts his own practice season of Doctor Who), and the second It is produced by Joel Silver, Rod Quantum Leap, but without Al and Ziggy where he can do good. It has been picked series of Life on Mars in January. Holcomb, and Ron Koslow. Do we really or the novelty of jumping into other up for midseason by ABC. It stars Jonny The network upfronts happened in need more vampire angst? Will peoples bodies. Lee Miller as Eli Stone, James Saito as mid-May and it’s looking like we’ll see a Moonlight even make it to Halloween? Chuck - A comedic spy thriller about a Dr. Chen, Natasha Henstridge as Taylor lot of new genre shows this fall with Sandwiched between Ghost Whisper and computer technician, Chuck Bartowski Wethersby, Sam Jaeger as Matt Dowd, something new on all of the networks. Numbers, it might manage to stick (Zachary Levi) who gets a server full of and Victor Garber as Jordan Wethersby. The success of Heroes has apparently around. secret data downloaded into his brain. Created and produced by Ken Olin, Marc gotten the programming execs wanting to ABC - ABC has a couple of genre Adam Baldwin (Firefly) co-stars as NSA Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti. give SF/F shows a chance for the new entries slated for this season. In other agent Major John Casey, who has been Cavemen - The Geico Cavemen season. It was just two years ago that we pilots they were looking at, the assigned to protect Chuck. Chuck is also commercials are adapted into a half hour had six genre shows debut (Surface, Americanized Life on Mars or Mr. & partnered with top CIA agent Sarah sitcom about how three cavemen living in Invasion, Threshold, Ghost Whisper, Mrs. Smith didn’t make the grade. ABC Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski), who modern times must adapt to survive in the Night Stalker, and Supernatural) in the has renewed Lost for three more seasons Chuck apparently takes a very strong real world The premise has some SF/ fall, only two of which made it past the of 16 episodes each, airing each season in liking to. The premise is definitely SF, Fantasy mixed in it, but expanding the first season, both of which are continuing a continuous block in the spring. They how much the actual show will be Geico commercials into a half hour sitcom on to their third seasons. There’s not quite also still have Masters of Science Fiction remains to be seen. With Adam Baldwin probably means it will all be jokes as as big a trend as the three alien invasion gathering dust on their shelf and may burn in the cast, it could be a fun show to current as It’s About Time” when the series in 2005, but we do have two series it off sometime this summer. watch as long as it doesn’t take itself too astronauts brought the cavemen back with with angsty immortal guys looking for Pushing Daisies - Bryan Fuller and seriously. Or it could join Jake 2.0 in them.... Maybe someday we’ll get a re- their true love, a re-imagining of a 1970’s Barry Sonnenfeld get together for “an perpetual repeats on the Scifi Channel in a imagining of “My Mother the Car”. series, a movie spinoff, a time travel unprecedented blend of romance, crime year. It is created and produced by Josh FOX - Still looking for some new romantic drama, a couple of comedy/ procedural and high-concept fantasy.” Schwartz (The O.C.) and McG. dramas to fill in when American Idol isn’t dramas about an ordinary guy thrown into Ned discovers he can bring the dead back Heroes: Origins - A companion/ on or when viewers have gotten tired of an extraordinary situation, all adding up to to life, but if he touches them a second spinoff to Heroes where we will meet new House repeats. They have renewed 24 for a whole bunch of new genre shows for the time, his recipient is dead again. Things Heroes and fans can vote on one them to two more years and will be bringing back 2007/2008 season. Here’s a rundown of get complicated when he brings his be part of the cast for season three. Prison Break and Bones. what the networks announced. childhood sweetheart back to life, but he Supposedly will air at the end of the NBC - They have a lot of holes to fill ( Continued on page 6 ) and are very heavy on genre stuff. Heroes season, and Medium have both been renewed. following the NBC is also planning lots of online season finale, companion stuff to all of their shows, both but it may get old and new, and doing even more with interspersed Heroes. throughout the Bionic Woman - Half of the creative season in place team of the new Galactic (David Eick) of repeats. In one of the major contributors to The X- any case, it is Files (Glen Morgan) re-imagines The good to see Bionic Woman. British actress Michelle NBC is Ryan, best known for her role as Zoe on optimistic Eastenders, is Jamie Sommers, who after about the a devastating car wreck is outfitted with parent show an assortment of upgrades and she has to going on to a learn to use her new abilities and deal third season. with the personal sacrifices she has to CBS - They make. Also starring are Mae Whitman as have fewer Jamie’s younger sister Becca, Chris holes to fill, so Bower as Jamie’s boyfriend Will, Miguel fewer dramas Ferrer as Will’s boss Jonas, Will Yun and only one Lee as the team’s operative Jae, Molly new genre Price as Ruth, the teams second in show. They did command, and Katee Sackhoff as the not renew Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 5 SF Tube Talk ( Continued from page 5 ) On the other side of the Atlantic, the and Charles Vess. There have been some Alonso, and Michael Harney. Evan Doctor Who Almighty Bruce New Amsterdam - An immortal third series of is in full swing screenings of the nearly complete film (June 22) A sequel to Almighty Steve Carrell homicide cop, John Amsterdam (Nikolaj with the final episodes of the current that has gotten very positive reviews. On with as Evan Coster Waldau), has been living in New series airing in June. The BBC has his web site, www.greenmanpress.com Baxter, a newscaster who was just elected Charles Vess York since 1631 when it was New confirmed there will be a fourth series and said, following a screening to congress being contacted by God David Tenant Morgan Freeman Amsterdam. When he rescues a native that will be back for it as of the film he attended, “everything that I ( ) and given a holy Freema Agyeman Indian girl he is rewarded with a spell that well as as Martha could have wanted was all there; action, task. He uproots his family to Northern will keep him immortal and he won’t age Jones. Finishing up the season will be humor, romance, a touch of horror, Virginia where he is asked to be the new Steven Moffat until he finds his true love. After many Blink, a episode with a special effects that were there in service Noah by God. Hilarity ensues as Evan decades he’s beginning to think it will good dose of horror. It is also the episode to the story being told, an epic scope as works to build a giant Ark and his family never happen but when he is almost killed with less screen time for the Doctor. After well as many wonderfully intimate quiet wonders if he’s totally gone round the Matthew Lauren Graham, John he realizes that his soul mate was nearby that is Utopia, where The Doctor and moments. and co-screenwriter bend. Also stars Jane Goldman Goodman, Jimmy Bennett. and he may finally be at the end of his Martha visit Malcassairo where they meet have managed to capture and Derek Transformers long journey. In the meantime, he and his a lonely and patient professor ( the essence of the novel and then have (July 4) It’s the movie all Jacobi partner, Eva Marquez (Zuleikha ) that is giving his all to save his skillfully edited as well as extended plot the grownups who watched the Robinson) must continue to track down people from extinction. They also run into and characters where needed to transform Transformers as a kid have been waiting murderers. Stephen Henderson stars as Captain Jack Harkness, who joins back up those elements from one medium to for (as well as their kids). Its live action Omar, John’s lifelong friend and confidant with The Doctor for the rest of the series. another. For those of you who love the (with lots of CGI) mayhem when Earth with his own history, and Alexie Gilmore Finishing things up is the two parter The original novel there are indeed changes gets caught in the middle of a war as Dr. Sara Dillane. FOX will pair this up Sound of Drums/The Last of the Time aplenty, so prepare yourself. But there between two races of giant robots who with House on Tuesdays in the fall and Lords where we finally meet the were just as many scenes and little can transform into just about anything. John Simms Steven Spielberg then move to Fridays in the spring when mysterious Mr. Saxon ( of moments that come directly from the Executive produced by Life on Mars Michael Bay Shia American Idol comes back. ) and find out whether The book.” Other reports on the small with directing. LaBeouf, Bernie Mac, Jon Voight, The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Are Doctor really is the last Time Lord! screening at the Tribeca Film Festival and Robert de Niro Kevin Dunn star. Harry Potter and the Terminator fans really wanting to know indicates that steals the Order of the Phoenix what happened between the second and film in his role of Captain Shakespeare, a (July 13) Harry is Transformers third movies? Or will this change the time 24 Frames ( Continued from page 5 ) character created for the movie when the hot on the heels of the as he line so the third one never happened? It portion with the pirates was expanded joins in the fight to save the Earth from security prison along with a plethora of stars Lena Headey as Sarah Connor and from the original story. the rampaging robots by trouncing them super villains, which makes life Thomas Dekker (Zack on Heroes) as in the box office a week after they debut. interesting for our hero as he tries to find John Connor. It does have Summer Glau June & July Movie Previews Based on the fifth book in the series, a way to escape. as Cameron, a mysterious classmate of The big summer movies continue. Harry returns to Hogwarts after a dull In the Marvel Universe, things are Spider-Man 3 John’s who turns out to be his protector. opened to record numbers, summer and is worried about what will moving along with several projects in the Shrek the Third Pirates of the Richard T. Jones stars as James Ellison, with and happen with the revival of the evil Lord works. They are planning a movie telling Carribean 3: At World’s End an FBI agent on their tail. The big hot on Voldemort and must also deal with a the origin story of Magneto, written and question is, can they get a cameo by the Spidey’s heels to finish up May. Coming crush. Expect an even darker movie as the directed by David Goyer. It will follow a Governator? FOX plans to run it in the up in June and July are a bunch of new series and the characters grow up. young Magneto from his days in the Harry Potter Imelda Staunton spring on Sunday nights once football genre films, with and the is the new Defense concentration camp to his days of Transformers season is over. duking it out for the box Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores friendship and resulting split with Charles Evanna Lynch The CW - With losing two of their office in early July. Miller has written the Umbridge, is Luna Xavier. Look for this to likely be released Helena Bonham Carter long running dramas, Seventh Heaven screenplay and will also direct the movie. Lovegood, and in 2009. In the nearer future, the next Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver The and Gilmore Girls as well as dropping will be Bellatrix Lestrange. Marvel movie will be Iron Man with Surfer Simpsons Movie Veronica Mars, The CW has a lot of (June 15) When the Silver Surfer (July 27) FOX brings Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, in space on their schedule. They have shows up heralding the doom of the The Simpsons to the big screen for a May 2008. Directed by Jon Favreau, it renewed both Smallville and Earth, the Fantastic Four must rise to the really big episode of the long running TV also stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Virginia Supernatural and will keep them paired occasion and solve the mystery of the series. Reaction to the film in some “Pepper” Pots, Jeff Bridges as Obadiah up on Thursday nights. Surfer and also deal with the return of Dr. preview screenings has been pretty good. Stane/Iron Monger, and Terrence Ioan Gruffudd Reaper - A comic drama about Sam, a Doom. (Mr. Fantastic), If you like the TV series and want to see Howard as Jim Rhodes. After that will be Jessica Alba Chris bounty hunter for the devil, played by (Invisible Woman), even more of it bigger and better, here’s a new Incredible Hulk movie, revamping Evans Michael Chiklis Bret Harrison. Sam has been a slacker (Human Torch), your chance. Oh, and there will likely be the series completely. It will star Edward Julian McMahaon Skinwalkers with a dead end job, having skipped (The Thing), and donuts! (July 27) Two sects Norton as Bruce Banner/the Hulk and Doug college and spending most of his time (Dr. Doom) return in the sequel. of werewolves battle one another for Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. Down the road Jones playing video games. He’d never been is the body of Silver Surfer with control of a child, half-human/half-wolf there are adaptations of Ant-Man, Laurence Fishburne encouraged to excel in anything, unlike providing the who has the power to end their curse. Captain America, Nick Fury, Thor, and Matthew Knight his brother. When he turns 21, he finds voice. Rumors are that when Galactus is Timothy, a half-breed The Avengers all in development with out his parents sold his soul to The Devil appears in the movie, he will be totally werewolf who is about to turn 13 and scripts in process. Also in the works with (Ray Wise) and now he has to fulfill the unlike his original comic incarnation. when he does he will have power over all Universal is a Sub-Mariner movie, with DOA contract and become a bounty hunter for (June 22) - Yet another release date the werewolves and can determine their the latest rumors being that David The Devil, capturing souls that have for the video game adaptation with sexy destiny, to continue as skinwalkers or to Boreanaz is in line to star as Prince escaped from Hell using the vessel women taking part in a Dead or Alive become human. The ones who want to Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Natassia provided for him by The Devil (usually fighting competition. Stars stay werewolves want to kill Timothy Frank Miller is putting together a Malthe, Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, something like a Dirt Devil mini-vacuum before his transformation to preserve their movie adaptation of Will Eisner’s The Brian J. White, Holly Valance - can you spot product placement?) and . way of life, while the werewolves who Spirit and is in the process of casting. Captivity Hijinks ensue when he enlists his slacker (June 22) - Yet another movie want to become human want to save him Currently, he has Samuel L. Jackson in friends to help out. The pilot was directed pushed back from an earlier release date. so that he can make them human. Lots of negotiations to play the mysterious villain by Kevin Smith. Sounds like a neat It’s seeming like Deja Vu here... A blood and werewolf fighting will be The Octopus. concept for a Kevin Smith movie, but fashion model and a chauffeur are held involved. The movie coming out this summer whether it will hold up on a weekly basis captive by a serial killer and they fall in I’m most looking forward to and should will depend a lot on the writing and the love with each other and must survive be on your list to see is Stardust, acting. It will run on Tuesdays following their ordeal. Sounds like a perfect date Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of the Elisha Cuthbert, Beauty and the Geek. movie to me! Stars story and graphic novel by Neil Gaiman Pruitt Taylor-Vince, Daniel Gillies, Laz Page 6 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 The world had been a paradise until the purchased at The Loft Cinema. The Emeritus, and Brook & Julia West for FYI Fall, when the holders of the control Tucson screening will also feature a Buffy Service to SFWA CASFS Book Discussion codes for the world-spanning program sing-along, available with a separate called “Mother” fell out in civil war. admission. http:// Kitties Anyone? The CASFS Book Discussions are at The Scattered across the face of the earth are www.arizonabrowncoats.com Bent Cover 12428 N 28th Drive on the communities that have returned to the An unpaid and wholy voluntary third Tuesday of each month at 7PM. If natural life of soil and small farm. In the Nebula and Andre Norton Award advertisement for Leslie Fish’s Cats you haven’t read the book, stop by village of Raven’s Mill, Edmund Talbot, Winners Fen and cats go together like anyway. Our discussions are rarely limited master smith and unassuming historian, champagne and chocolate or green eggs to just the book scheduled for that month. finds that all the problems of the world are The winners of Science Fiction and and ham. But for some of us, experience Email questions to [email protected] falling in his lap. Fantasy Writers of America’s Nebula indicates that most cats are a few French June 19 - Declare by Tim Powers. A cold December 18 - Mutineer’s Moon by Awards® for 2006 were announced on fries short of a Happy Meal. Take my old war espionage tale with a supernatural David Weber. For Lt. Commander Colin May 12, 2007, following a banquet at the tom – but you probably wouldn’t want twist. A world where the Soviet Union is Maclntyre, it began as a routine training New York Marriott Financial Center. him due to his habit of peeing in slippers. willing to bargain with unthinkable flight over the Moon. For Dahak, a self- Novel: “Seeker” - Jack McDevitt (Ace, I was resigned to life without a cat entities and the Western powers send their aware Imperial battleship, it began Nov05) purring in my lap until I found out about best agents to literally keep the cork in the millennia ago when that powerful Novella: “Burn” - James Patrick Kelly* Leslie’s cats, courtesy of ConNotations. genie’s bottle. Absolutely fabulous artificial intelligence underwent a mutiny (Tachyon Publications, Dec05) Bright, good-natured cats for FREE. storytelling.. in the face of the enemy. The mutiny was Novelette: “Two Hearts” - Peter S. Beagle It seemed too good to be true. But it July 17 - Undead and Unwed by Mary never resolved-Dahak was forced to (F&SF, Oct/Nov05) wasn’t. Two months later, our new Fish Janice Davidson - Betsy Taylor—former maroon not just the mutineers but the Short Stories: “Echo” - Elizabeth Hand cat sleeps with the dogs, walks on a leash, model, newly unemployed secretary, 30, entire crew on prehistoric Earth. Dahak (F&SF, Oct/Nov05) and follows me all over the house. And and still single—wakes up after being has been helplessly waiting as the Scripts: “Howl’s Moving Castle” - Hayao best of all, he’s charmed my husband, a flattened by a small SUV in a tacky coffin descendants of the loyal crew regressed Miyazaki, Cindy Davis Hewitt, and dyed-in-the-flesh dog lover. I don’t know wearing cheap knock-off shoes. It seems while the mutineers maintained control of Donald H. Hewitt (Studio Ghibli and Walt that he’s psychic, but he has learned the that Betsy is an anomaly: a vampire who technology that kept them alive as the Disney Pictures, U.S. Premier 10 Jun05. house rules unbelievably fast. I do wish doesn’t burn in sunlight, can fight the urge millennia passed. But now Dahak’s Based on the novel by Diana Wynne I’d discovered Leslie’s cats years ago. to feed, and is not repulsed by religious sensors indicate that the enemy that Jones.) So, if you’re thinking about a feline articles, all of which may make her the devastated the Imperium so long ago has Winner of the second ever Andre Norton fur-pal, check with Leslie before you fall prophesied Queen of the Vampires. returned-and Earth is in their path. For the Award for Young Adult Science Fiction for a sloe-eyed kitty at the mall. She’s Teaming up with gorgeous vampire Eric sake of the planet, Dahak must mobilize and Fantasy: “Magic or Madness” - spent 30 years refining the strain and it Sinclair, who is in her opinion a major its defenses. And that it cannot do until Justine Larbalestier (Penguin Razorbill, shows. To adopt an adult (or get on a pervert, she takes on Nostro and his the mutineers are put down. So Dahak has May05) waiting list for kittens), send an email minions. Sexy, steamy, and laugh-out- picked Colin Maclntyre to be its new Also recognized were James Gunn as message to [email protected]. - Cathie loud funny, Davidson’s chick-lit foray captain. Now Maclntyre must mobilize Damon Knight Memorial Grand Yankovich into the paranormal is delightful humanity to destroy the mutineers once Master, D.G. Compton as Author ( Continued on page 8 ) August 21 - Dead Until Dark by and for all-or Earth will become a cinder Charlaine Harris - First of the Sookie in the path of galactic conquest. Stackhouse Southern Vampire novels. Read the book and then meet the author at BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS CopperCon 27 in September September 18 - Dragonflight by Anne Barnes & Noble Desert Ridge McCaffrey - This is the one that started it Harry Potter #7 discussion group all... The first novel in the Pern series. June 15, 7pm The first segment of Dragonflight was a Hugo award winning novella (called Weyr Barnes & Noble, Goodyear Search) prior to publication of the entire Manga Bookclub book. Jun 16, 7pm October16 - When Worlds Collide by Jul 21, 7pm Philip Wylie & Edwin Balmer - Sven Bronson, a South African astronomer, Serenity on the Big Screen discovers that a pair of runaway planets, Bronson Alpha and Bronson Beta, will Thur, June 21 - 7 pm soon enter the solar system. The larger Harkins Centerpoint Theatre, Tempe one, Alpha, will pass close enough to Sat, June 23 - 7pm cause catastrophic damage. Eight months The Loft Cinema, Tucson later, after swinging around the Sun, Alpha will return to pulverize the Earth The Arizona Browncoats (Firefly/ and leave. It is believed that Bronson Beta Serenity fans) are participating in a global will remain and assume a stable orbit. fundraising effort by hosting twin Scientists led by Cole Hendron work screenings of the movie Serenity. Both desperately to build ships to transport screenings benefit the women’s rights enough people, animals and equipment to advocacy group Equality Now. Bronson Beta in an attempt to save the Additionally, the screenings each support human race. {Another film adaptation is a local charity (GIFT and WFSA). Each scheduled for release in 2008} event will have a costume contest, prize November 20 - There Will Be Dragons raffles and merchandise for sale that by John Ringo - 1st in a series. In the Firefly/Serenity fans will enjoy (cash future there is no want, no war, no disease only). Tickets are on sale now for $10; nor ill-timed death. The world is a $12 at the door. Tickets for Tempe can be paradise-and then, in a moment, it ends. purchased at any Bookman’s location statewide. Tickets for Tucson can be Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 7 ( Continued from page 7 ) Worldwide RPG Day Bookmans Tucson-Central balance of magic in check. Well, they FYI Jun 23, noon-7pm Mystical Tuesdays – intuitive vibrational failed miserably, it didn’t happen. As a EVENTS OF INTEREST readings, astrology & tarot readings result, we have this cataclysm. They are Heroclix Tournament Tuesdays, 6pm now living in the dreams they had of what AUTHOR SIGNINGS Every Wednesday, 5:30pm-7pm would happen if they failed. They have Borders, Avondale failed, so they are living their nightmares. Emma Bull & Will Shetterly Samurai Comics Metaphysical Wednesdays discussion We have two of them that we are July 12, 7pm 7th St & Camelback: Wednesdays, 7pm following closely. Logan Tom, who is 28, Poisoned Pen bookstore, Scottsdale and Angel Perez, who is much younger. Mechwarrior Tournaments Borders, Glendale They have a lot of power, but they are all Diana Gabaldon Format varies Metaphysical Mondays discussion by themselves out there and there are a lot August 28, 7pm Wednesday at 6pm Mondays, 7pm of bad guys and the bad guys are hunting Poisoned Pen bookstore, Scottsdale them down. Friday Night Magic Tournaments. Borders, Paradise Valley SCIENCE EVENTS Sign-ups start at 5pm, with tournament Metaphysical Fridays discussion We also have the Ghosts. The Ghosts are play beginning at 6pm. Fridays, 7pm street kids. They are a small family of Bookmans Central Entry fee and format varies nine or ten members who range from 23 Phoenix Astronomical Society offers to Check the websites for confirmation, down to about nine or ten years of age. you, at no cost, a chance to get to know Heroclix tournaments location and more information. They are all up in Seattle in Pioneer your telescope by daytime. Bring your Format varies http://www.borders.com Square. scope, charts, questions, etc, to Saturday at 2pm http://www.poisonedpen.com Bookman’s back room and learn with http://www.bookmans.com There are also the freaks. The freaks are PAS. An RSVP is required. Anachronism card game tournaments http://www.barnesandnoble.com mutants who have been altered in one Jun 10, 4:30pm Most Saturdays http://browncoats.lagemann.org form or another of the poisoning. They are http://www.imperialoutpost.com various types. There are croaks, spiders, Challenger Space Center, Peoria Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments http://www.azchallenger.org lizards, and various other things that are Stargazing Sunday at noon http://www.samuraicomics.com too disgusting to talk about. Jun 23, 7pm http://www.drawntocomics.com Aug 4, 7pm Samurai Comics Game Depot, 480-966-4727 Michael Stackpole: Can you tell us about Starlab 107th Ave & Indian School: your writing routine? Planetarium Session ( Continued from page 1 ) Jun 16, 1130am and 1230pm Friday Night Magic Tournaments TB: My routine, these days, is different Jul 14, 1130am and 1230pm Entry fee varies boat and you’ll be able to get caught right than it was 30 years ago. When I had Aug 4, 1130am and 1230pm Fridays at 6pm up and with any luck you’ll feel you need another job, which I had for many years, I to go out and buy the rest of them. My worked when I could find the time to SPACEFEST 2007 Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments kids will thank you, my creditors will work. You had to squeeze it in. I also had August 17-19 at the Mesa Convention Saturday at noon thank you, that sort of thing. kids at that time who were still living at Center, sponsored by Novaspace and The home. Now I don’t have another job, and Planetary Society. SPACEFEST will Heroclix Tournaments What is this story about? This is a I don’t have kids living at home, although cover all facets of space exploration, Saturdays at 3pm reflection of my mood at the moment, so they hang out a lot. My schedule tends to manned and unmanned programs by way I’m writing about the destruction of this be... Also, I’m a lot older, so my energy of Astronaut appearances, speakers, space OTHER GENRE RELATED EVENTS world. I’m picking on a small subject level drops off fast. So I’m good from art, exhibits, vendors, and a space here. I’m going to tear it down and build about 6 in the morning to about 2 in the memorabilia auction. Complete info at: Bookmans Central it back up again. At the moment, I’m in afternoon. After that, I find I’m not very http://www.spacefest.info . Arizona Browncoats meeting the process of tearing it down, so we have productive on the creative front and I First Saturday, 7-9pm a collapse of civilization, essentially. answer mail or take phone calls. That’s GAMING EVENTS Governments basically are done, countries my basic plan and I work under contract Browncoat Knitting Guild have ceased to exist, the population has as Michael does and all of us who are Bookmans Mesa Third Tuesdays, 7pm been decimated by upwards of 80%. We professionals. It means that you have to Dungeons and Dragons RPG Night! have a series of cataclysmic events, some produce on a regular basis. I’m on a book Mondays, 6pm Drum & Dance circle, dancers of all types of them man-made, some of them natural: a year and some intermittent work as well. are welcome. This is an ‘exchange of plagues, poisoning of the environment, I know it takes me 8 to 10 months to do a Hero Clix-Super Hero Gaming Night! energy’ “Cyrcle” so please come & share. climactic changes of a major scale, book. I factor that in when I start to work Sundays, 6pm Hosted by Dave Frankus. nuclear attacks, and if I’ve left anything on something. For me, it’s a case of stick- Jun 6, 7pm out, please let me know, I’ll see if it is in and-carrot: I say “if I get so many Bookmans Tucson-Central Jul 4, 7pm the next book. chapters done by the end of the month, Video Game Tournaments Aug 1, 7pm then I’m a good guy and I get a reward.” Saturdays, 12:30-2:30pm We’ve reduced civilization to a very I’m never really sure what that is, it must Scimitar-Talon is a group of people primitive level and what we have left are be something. So I try to work and say Drawn to Comics wanting to enjoy recreating portions of the remnants of civilization living in each month “I have to do so many Heroclix, open play the middle ages prior to 1600 AD. Classes compounds which tend to be fortified chapters.” If I do it at the beginning of the Every Tuesday, 4pm-7pm on Medieval Arts and Sciences. complexes, mostly sports stadiums. I month, that’s great, if I have to put in Jun 2, 1:30-3:30pm thought they’d come in good for overtime, I put in overtime to get it done. Heroclix tournament Jul 7, 1:30-3:30pm something someday, converted into Every Sat, 3p-6p Aug 4, 1:30-3:30pm fortresses. We have people living in the MS: You’ve got magic and technology outback and on the streets. working here. You’re using a mixture of Game Depot Bookmans Mesa magic and technology at the same time in “On The Rocks” pirate game National Psychic Saturday – free psychic readings In the first book, we get to meet the this series. Did you find special Tournament Jun 2, 12:30pm Knights and the Ghosts. The Knights are challenges with that as opposed to just June 1, 5:30pm-8pm the Knights of the Word from the first writing fantasy? Mixing the two can often series who are the good guys. Their job in be challenging. the Word and Void series was to keep the ( Continued on page 9 ) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 Session ( Continued from page 8 ) frequently, because as any writer will tell it would be dark and Road Warrior-ish have a reason for it, it has to advance your you the writing of a story always is the and so forth. It wasn’t until about 24 story, there has to be a purpose behind it thing that determines where it needs to go months ago when I started working on or it gets out of control. I remember quite TB: For those of you who are readers of and how it needs to evolve. what I thought would be the next well, when Lester Del Rey was my editor the Shannara series, you know that in the installment that it struck me it was an on the first book - I killed off a lot of last six books in that series I’ve Audience: I want to know: when do you opportunity if I wanted to take advantage people he brought back to life. He said reintroduced some small forms of science think you might be doing another book of it. A kind of scary opportunity but I “What are you doing? You can’t just kill as a part of the way in which the world is for Landover? just thought “you know, I really kind of off all these people, you’re going to lose evolving. So we’re moving away from TB: Well, Landover… here’s the thing think this is maybe where it’s all been every reader that ever cared. You’ve killed magic into science rather than the other about Landover. Actually, the publisher pointing at, and I’m going to talk to my off everybody that matters.” And I said, way around which is what happens in The has paid me to write another book about editor about it.” She got all excited about “yes, but it’s so dramatic!” “Get over Great Wars. Here we’re starting out with Landover some time ago and they ask this it and I said “well, I guess I’ll give it a yourself” was Lester’s reply. science at the point of its destruction and question very often. However, I have shot.” collapse and we’ll start to see the rise of managed to stave them off by optioning Audience: How involved are you in the magic come in. Obviously you have to the rights to Universal Studios to the Audience: Now that you’ve decided to publishing process? find a balancing point to make that series so I say we shouldn’t do that book blend the Word and the Void series with TB: I’m fairly involved these days. I’ve happen, but what’s real important, I think, until we see if they’re going to make that the Shannara series, are we going to see been with the same publisher since the is that you have to be real careful to not to movie, and then if they’re going to make any books that tie them together more start of my career. This has the benefit of rely on one or the other at the wrong time that movie then we should do that book closely? having outlived everybody I started with, and let them interact in a way that doesn’t and bring it out commensurate with the TB: The set of books required to cover or at least outlasted them. They’ve all feel right. Fantasy, as we can both tell movie and just think how many more this time, which in Shannara is about moved on to other things. In fact, there’s you, is very, very difficult to write from copies we’ll sell and their eyes light up. 1000 years, I’m figuring at least 6 to 9 no one there who knows or has read all the point of view that it has to be So for the moment I’ve put them off, but books. I’m not going to do them all at the books because there’s been such a believable. Particularly, not funny fantasy, I’ll have to do something in the next three once, I’ll get brain cramp, but I figure I’ll turnover so they have to rely on me. And but epic fantasy or any kind of dark to five years but I haven’t put a timetable do the first three and then take a break to you know, that’s sad, because my contemporary fantasy. You have to believe on it. do something else and then get back into memory’s shot all to pieces. I have control it. If you do not believe what we’re it, You know 300-500 years in the future over my cover art. I work with an artist writing, if you don’t believe in the Lee Whiteside: At what point did you we’ll have new characters, a new setting and my editor on what the covers will be characters, then the whole thing falls apart decide that Shannara was the future of and so forth. It’s a long-term project. No for my books. I approve what happens and you aren’t going to stay with us. I Earth after the Apocalypse? question about it I’m going to have to with their marketing, all that sort of thing. think that’s what we have to work hardest bear down. I plan my tours so I have a fair amount of at. TB: I really only made that decision control. I don’t determine size of print recently. Obviously it’s something I’ve Audience: Do you have any characters runs or packaging or anything like that Audience: Do you outline before you been asked over the years and I’ve kind of that are your favorites or that are close to because that’s not really in my purview. start? put that question off by saying “what do your heart that you’ve written about? That’s up to them to make those kinds of TB: I am the guru god of outlining. Yes. I you think?” It’s my favorite response for TB: They’re all so marvelous. Gosh, you determinations. I probably have as much have friends who are not this way and I questions I have no answer for. And I know - I don’t know that I could pick any to say about what goes on as anybody in try hard to change their habits-sometimes didn’t think about it too much because I particular character or set of characters. I the field these days. Live long enough you I am successful and sometimes they just didn’t think it was important, I thought it mean, they all mean something to me or get something for it. ignore me. But yes, I believe strongly in was one of those things that best happens they wouldn’t be in the book. I’m about as writing to an ending. I know my endings in the mind of the reader. But even when I much attached to the evildoers. I mean, all and I write to that ending and I like to wrote The Word and the Void series, I had characters are all reflections on who we have building blocks in place along the not at that point decided that that was a are in a weird sort of way. I don’t think way. Does that mean I will follow that lead-in to that. The only thing I really you can completely disassociate yourself, path? No, it does not. But it’s a nice knew when I finished that series was that or you couldn’t write about them at all. So blueprint to look at from time to time and when I went back into it, it would be that’s hard to say. They all mean the fact is I do change my mind quite through the dreams of the Knights of the something to me in different ways. I kind Words and that it would be the future and of like the loners and the outcasts as much as I do anybody. Kind of a vague answer…

Audience: Is it tough to kill characters? TB: Nope. I think that you have to be willing to kill off anybody; at least, I know I am. There just has to be a reason for it. You don’t just wake up and decide “well it’s time to kill that guy off.” I think you have to

Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 9 Charlaine Harris author of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire novels, Harper Connelly series, and the Aurora Teagarden and Lily Bard Mysteries is the Author Guest of Honor Music Guests at Artist Guest Heather Stern CopperCon 27 Sean Martin & Alison Stern September 7-9, 2007 Sponsored by the Phoenix Filk Cirlce Our Location Special Thursday Night Events Embassy Suites North 2577 West Greenway Room 602-375-1777 Pre-Registered Members ONLY Rates: Gaming - Barry Bard Memorial Moive Previews and Giveaways - Author Events $109 S/D plus tax Each extra person is $10 CopperCon 27 will feature up to 6 people per room Art Show Console Game Room Gaming Each suite is beautifully decorated with of all kinds! a private bedroom and spacious living Art Auction Dance room. All suites are fully equipped with LARPs two televisions, wet bar, a refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee maker, two Autograph Sessions Dealer Room telephones with data ports,iron with filled with the best dealers with Panels & Demos board, hair dryer, Neutrogena prod- Charity Auction all those special items you have We are planning both panels ucts, and a well lit dining/work table.. to benefit the been searching for! discusions and lots of hands on High Speed Internet Access is available for an extra charge. Thomas J Pappas School for demos. Rooms include made to order breakfast Homeless Children Hospitality Suite and Happy Hour! where you can sit and visit with and much much more!! friends, both new and old Memberships Rates Contact Info

$30 through 03/31/2007 Are you interested in being part of CopperCon? By Mail: $35 through 06/30/2007 CopperCon 27 $40 through 08/15/2007 CopperCon is always looking for new people. If you have an idea PO Box 62613 $45 at the door for a panel or demo, are intrested in being committee or staff, are On the web: Kids 7-12 half price* interested in space in our Art Show or Dealer room, want to run a www.coppercon.org Kids 0-6 Free* game or just want to make a suggestion of any kind, PLEASE By Email: * with Adult membership [email protected] Pay on-line with Paypal contact us. Page 10 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 Pro Notes

Hello again, everyone. Winter’s over and Spring is here. It’s funny but I feel more like reading when the weather perks up than in the cold dark winter. So I become more interested in what our authors share with me. And I start looking for new talent as well. This issue’s offerings are from all over the country this time- from Maine to Florida and New York to California. Ben Bova from Florida told me that his “Sam Gunn Omnibus” came out in February (from Tor) and the fourth book of the ASTEROID WARS, “The Aftermath,” will be out in August (Tor again). He’ll be the dinner speaker at the International Space Development Conference in Dallas, 25 May, and Guest of Honor at ConGlomeration in Louisville KY 10-12 August. Other than that, he says he’s “pecking away at my keyboard every day, working on the third MARS novel, “Mars Life.” Going up through Georgia, brought us Jack McDevitt who is currently making his last pass through “Cauldron,” which will be released in November 2007. David Drake, in N. Carolina, told me that he finds it amusing that the things he’s most excited about regularly aren’t the things that pay him the most money (by a long way). That right now, the most exciting thing is his fantasy/horror collection “Balefires,” just out from Night Shade. This is the book he thought in 1971 that Arkham House might publish (in five years or so when he’d written enough stories to fill a book, of course). It isn’t from Arkham House and it took a lot longer than five years; but then, he says “…I didn’t expect to have written sixty or so other books before this one appeared.” Night Shade has also brought out the first two volumes of his “The Complete Hammer’s Slammers;” there’s one more to go. As with “Balefires,” the volumes are something of a vindication (and the SFBC is picking them up also, something it didn’t do when the material was originally written in the ’80s and ’90s). He just turned in a Leary/Mundy space thinking of his friend Jim Baen who died He’s currently working on “Powers,” an autobiographical thing he’s written since opera, “When the Tide Rises,” to Baen, last summer; his ashes are scattered in the urban fantasy with demons and amnesiac “The Changeling’s Tale.” He’s also and he’s busily plotting “The Gods grove beside David’s house. David gods, not related to any of the previous finished a novel! “The Dragons of Babel” Return,” the final book of the CROWN confides that he frequently says, ‘Hi,’ to books. comes out from Tor Books early in 2008. OF THE ISLES trilogy, for Tor. It’ll be Jim. They were close for many years, and And then from Pennsylvania, It’s definitely not a sequel to “The Iron the final novel in the ISLES series also; David’s glad they’re still close. Michael Swanwick joins us for the Dragon’s Daughter” but it’s set in the his editor’s said publicly that he’s not sure James Hetley hails from Maine first time. He’s an awfully busy man. He same world, with the same dragons, and a that David won’t do more—but as David and is one of my favorite new writers. He just finished assembling a new collection, character from the earlier novel makes a told me “…he wouldn’t say that if he shares that his fourth novel, “Dragon’s “The Dog Said Bow-Wow,” for Tachyon brief cameo appearance. Parts of this knew how I’m going to climax the book.” Teeth,” came out last November from Publications due out this fall. None of the book have been revised and published as The paperback of “The Fortress of Ace. Reviews have been good. {see this stories in it have ever appeared in any of “King Dragon,” “The Word That Sings Glass,” the first book of the CROWN OF writer’s review in this issue} “Ghost his previous collections, three are Hugo the Scythe,” “An Episode of Stardust,” THE ISLES, has just come out, and the Point,” in the same story group as Award winners, and one, “The Skysailor’s “Lord Weary’s Empire,” and “A Small hardcover of “The Mirror of Worlds,” the “Dragon’s Eye” and “Dragon’s Teeth,” is Tale,” is original to the book. It’s about a Room in Koboldtown.” “But,” Michael second book, will be out from Tor in June. out looking for a publisher now, as is the young man from early nineteenth century says “I defy anybody who’s read them all (Both have stunning Donato covers.) In completed manuscript of “Signatures.” Philadelphia who joins a circumglobal to predict where the story goes from closing, David shared that he’s been The latter is a “fantasy detective noir.” airship voyage, and it’s the most ( Continued on page 12 ) Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 11 Pro Notes ( Continued from page 11 ) Lady’s Jess.” The book still hovers on a there.” And, Michael just returned from release date, but early summer should see Moscow, where he was researching his it available. After all these years of next and as-yet-unnamed novel. In it, his reluctantly responding to queries with the peripatetic Post-utopian con men, Darger information that the book is out of print and Surplus, finally and after many a and into collector’s status, Doranna is full detour, reach Russia. He plans to begin of glee at the chance to see it available writing it just as soon as he takes care of again, and with such delightful packaging the stacks of half-written stories and to boot! Otherwise, life up in the high essays that are cluttering up his desk. country is about being with the animals— We’ll skip the Midwest this time and training the dogs and Lipizzan. The Lippi is moving forward in his schooling and is go straight to Utah, where L.E. so pleased with himself that he spends Modesitt, Jr. lives. His “The Eternity time out in the paddock practicing various Artifact,” just came out in hardcover in noble poses. The agility dogs are now February, and a new RECLUCE book – competing for the very highest available “Natural Ordermage” — coming out in titles, and are moving up in rally hardcover from Tor September 2007. In obedience as well. Connery Beagle between are two shorter pieces, “The currently ranks #12 nationally among Difference” in a DAW anthology called Beagles in MACH competition, which is Out-of-the-blue muse-mugging-not- shows to the network, including music “Man vs. Machine” and a novella “The quite the thrill for Doranna. Short-lived, affiliated-with-any-contracted-series shows from indie artist George Hrab and Lord-Protector’s Daughter” in the August no doubt, since other areas have longer novel (“Centurion”)? Check. (Gotta have new music showcase hosted by Mike 2007 issue of Baen’s Universe. Then in trialing seasons than we do, but Doranna’s at least one per year.) “Can I take a break, Wills. March 2008, Tor will be issuing his very says she’ll enjoy while she can. Ernest now? No…? Relentless b******s. Fine! That’s it for this month. I hope you first story collection “Viewpoints Critical” enjoyed yourselves. And, as always - if Hogan and Emily Hogan (a.k.a. One Mike O’Neal book (“Eye of the which also contains three brand new Storm”) coming up. Then… I’m going anyone wants to contribute or knows Emily Devenport/Maggy Thomas/Lee works, including a COREAN fishing.” someone who knows someone…please Hogan) are co-authoring YA Fantasy CHRONICLES “alternate world” story. Always nice to hear from our artists in write to ConNotations or email me at novels as E. E. Hogan. Their first book, As for appearances, Lee will be at the genre. Donato Giancola in New York [email protected] – Catherine Book. “The Terrible Twelves,” is being shopped MileHiCon in Denver in mid-October, offered that one of his most recent works around New York now, and they’re at and at World Fantasy at Saratoga Springs is a large triptych on the Battle of work on a second. Ernie is also finishing New York in November. He may have Agincourt up a couple of short stories, “Atomic An American in Canada Part other appearances scheduled around the that he’s been working on Grass” and “Human Sacrifice For Fun release of “Natural Ordermage.” As for intermittently for about a year and a half Five: Egging on to Bird Island And Profit.” and Em is hammering away work in progress, he’s currently working and has recently finished. Other projects (or Eagles, Seals, and Puffins, Oh at two other YA Fantasies under the Lee on the first fantasy novel book set in an include a set of UN Stamps that are Hogan moniker. And Ernie added that My!) entirely new universe. Oh... and his story scheduled for release this fall, and of there’s a Russian version of his anthology by Jeffrey Lu “Ghost Mission” was selected for David course the various book covers that he’s “Witpunk” and a Russian-language Hartwell’s year’s best in fantasy “Year’s been doing. Some of the more recent podcast of his story, “Coyote Goes Originally, I was planning to sleep on Best Fantasy 7” due out in July, while last covers are “Name of the Wind” by Patrick Hollywood.” They call it “Santa Bonkers board. I looked at the tours for Sydney, year’s “Sisters of Sarronnyn, Sisters of Rothfuss and “Mirror of Worlds” by American humor.” “Brainpan Fallout,” a Nova Scotia. What caught my eye were Westwind” was selected for “The Best of David Drake. As always, his newest bizarre experiment in writing for new the words, “Bird Island.” Thinking of Ian Jim Baen’s Universe,” also due out in images and news updates are available on media, is now back online in the 1997 Fleming’s “Dr. No,” I remembered faintly July. his website: www.donatoart.com. And Red Dog Journal gallery of about the island invaded by some Walter Jon Williams wrote to our local, Mark Greenawalt, reports that lasilencia.com. Ernie laughs “Looks like mysterious force. This time, maybe a tour he will definitely be returning to me from New Mexico, that he’s finished if I turn my back on my career for a few group with me in it. Curious, I read about CopperCon this year. He hasn’t nailed the first draft of his new novel, “Implied days, it goes out and does weird things the type of animals either on or near the down the details of what he’ll be doing, Spaces,” and will shortly deliver it to without me.” island for this tour. Maybe go on this tour, but with Charlaine Harris on board, Night Shade Books. This will clear the News from California was brief but no? decks to write his next novel, “The Game there’s no doubt that his painting demo sweet: Kim Stanley Robinson “Bald Eagles.” Seen them. (YAWN!) Calls,” for Orbit US. July 8-21 he’ll be will involve vampires. He’s recently read Result: no. says he’s writing a novel about Galileo, teaching with Connie Willis and George Stoker’s Dracula, King’s Salem’s Lot, and “Seals.” Really? Seen them at a zoo. and will go to the Chicago Festival of the RR Martin at Taos Toolbox Rice’s Vampire Chronicles so he’s But a wild seal? That sounds cool. (One- (www.taostoolbox.com), a workshop he Humanities in November. And Vernor obviously a fan of the genre. In other eye opened) Result: Hmm... maybe. started for aspiring science fiction and Vinge says he’s working on a Tines news, Mark will be teaching at the US “Puffins.” What? Flying penguins? (Both fantasy writers. World sequel to “A Fire Upon the Deep.” Bodypainting Competition in eyes opened) Result: Yes! Now, I gotta Our own local (Arizona), Doranna And congratulations to Vernor for his Albuquerque in September (http:// see this. Then, I signed up for a separate, most recent novel, “Rainbows End,” that www.usbodypaintingfestival.com) and special tour boat. Durgin tells us that she’s back into the has been doing a lot of promotional work. shapeshifting theme with a new series for made it onto the Hugo ballot: http:// Tons of seabirds flocking around the www.nippon2007.us/hugo_nominees.php He recently did a bodypainting with the Bird Island: cliffs and rocky terrain. The Nocturne, “Sentinels” —just now reigning WWE Women’s Champion polishing up the first manuscript, and And finally, from another new voice: sounds of panicked birds sounds like the After another grueling winter writing Melina. soundtrack from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The she’s waiting to see what they do for the And last but not least by any means, is cover! Also for publication next year, season, John Ringo took a look up to Birds.” I questioned one of the boat crew news from our folks from DragonPage, if this was our fault. One of the tour she’s in the middle of a sequel to her see what was happening in the publishing AKA Far Point Media. The only really big “Nose for Trouble” mystery with the world. Fifth book in the PALADIN OF guides told me that it wasn’t. Instead, we news coming up is that the Slice of SciFi were witnessing an unusual event- bald veterinarian/Beagle duo... “Scent of SHADOWS series (“A Deeper Blue,” team has been invited to emcee events at Danger” will also be a hardcover release, Baen Jul ’07)? Check. Three sequels to eagles hunting at Bird Island. the Tempe and Tucson “Can’t Stop the A few splashes came to my attention. “though” she says “half the reward is the “Into the Looking Glass” complete Serenity” charity screenings, on June 21 fun of writing it!” The very next book to (“Vorpal Blade,” Baen September ’07, One of the crew told us about the and June 23 respectively. http:// migration of seals. I looked around hit the shelves, though, is a fancy French two unscheduled)? Check. Sequel to browncoats.lagemann.org/ FarPoint flap re-release of the award-winning “Dun “Cally’s War” (“Sister Time”)? Check. Media has also added about 10 new ( Continued on page 13 ) Page 12 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 American ( Continued from page 12 ) near perfect as you would expect from weeks of Star Wars box office returns Unleashed, a game designed for next- Bethancourt; I particularly liked his captured $60 million (from 1977-1984 generation gaming systems and the expecting to see only one wild seal. version of “Attitudinal Cat Rag,” a fine Star Wars grossed $400 million in tentative, (but possibly definitive) “Grand Staring for a few seconds at me were five guitar piece that Joe plays like he wrote it. worldwide rentals). Total returns for The Saga” DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray set will to eleven pair of eyes. All their heads turn In short, this is another fine CD from Empire Strikes Back equaled $290 continue the Star Wars merchandising together to the right and splashed away. the only balladeer in Arizona who really million, Return Of The Jedi has grossed a juggernaut. The United States Postal Then, they surfaced again and looked at matters. And you should pick it up. respectable $306 million dollars, The Service hopes that “The Force” will be me, the boat, and the people for a few Phantom Menace has earned $926 with it as they release a fifteen-stamp- more seconds. These wild seals had a million, Attack of the Clones $311 million pane on May 25th celebrating the 30th puzzled expression at what the heck were in the U.S.A. alone, and $380 million in anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope. In we and what were we doing here. I had no FILK NOTES: Nancy Freeman is, at U.S. grosses for Revenge of the Sith, to addition, for only the second time in its idea how to respond. press time, putting the finishing touches date. 256-year-history, the U.S. Postal Service I decided to smile. Then, I waved at on her latest project, the sweeping and It’s hard to argue with success, and the has invited the public to vote on a favorite the perplexed seals. Seeing this family of unbelievably huge “Stardust County.” Star Wars films (and subsequent DVD stamp, with the winning stamp becoming seals was cool. After the initial shock, the Conceived as a song cycle, it quickly sales) are nothing if not successful. Not its own stamp sheet. seals were tired of seeing me waving like became a folk opera, with plenty of only are they the first films thought of “Where did you see Star Wars?” is a fool and splashed away. action, magical spells, werewolves, a when a moviegoer talks about probably one of the most asked questions Afterwards, the boat turned around glass guitar and a whole bunch more. “blockbusters”, but they are the champs when fans discuss the film. At a Fantasy Bird Island. Something in the water sped The 2-CD set is scheduled to be ready when merchandising revenues for toys are and Science Fiction seminar in Scottsdale, by. I saw people pointing at the front and for release at Westercon this year, and tallied: Between 1977 and 1984, Kenner Arizona, several authors spoke about that at the sides of the boat. Again, something features lots of local and national filk and the other principal Star Wars toy very subject. Author of Lady of the Glen, near the water fast past us. One of the celebrities: Jeff and Maya Bohnhoff, manufacturer, MPC, sold over 300 million the Sword-Dancer series, the newly crew members whispered in my ear, Michelle Dockrey, Larry Warner and a toys based on the films. The marketing released Karavans, and a contributing “Puffins.” whole bunch of others. Yours truly shows blitz continues to this day with books, author to the anthology, Star Wars: Tales Carefully, I took out my binoculars up in a couple of places, as well. graphic novels, comic books, coloring from the Mos Eisley Cantina, Jennifer and looked. The puffins were floating on Be on the lookout… books, trading cards, pinball machines, Roberson: “I spent the summer of ’77 at the water. (I found out later these birds Tom Tuerff is a local musician by night and ad board games, video games, computer the Cine Capri Theater in Phoenix. I were out in the water to avoid being man by day. He has two – count ‘em, two – games, and the ever-present toys not only remember I was standing in line for the eagles’ snack.) These creatures flew by CDs out: “Something To Sell at My Gigs” and the still rather new “But Wait…There’s More!” based on the original three films, but also first regular showing on the first full day when the boat got too close. Both are available at www.cdbaby.com or from the second trilogy beginning with The when I commented to a friend that they In conclusion, just seeing these birds Tom himself. Better you have them than let Phantom Menace and (possibly) would have to go quite a ways in order to was definitely worth the trip. After the them sit in his garage. concluding with Star Wars Episode III: beat Star Trek. A young man in line ahead tour, I went back to my nest...er, bunk and Revenge of the Sith. Since then, the soon- of us turned around and said, ‘Trust me, it slept. to-be released Star Wars: The Force Next in An American in Canada Part Six: Thirty years ago at a ( Continued on page 14 ) Help from Halifax or a Titanic Blunder. theatre near you: Star Musical Notes Wars HELP WANTED by Shane Shellenbarger by Tom Tuerff Do you enjoy CopperCon? HexaCon? Any of the other th Joe Bethancourt – Ride Back in Time It’s Tuesday, May 24 , 1977 and my local volunteer, fan-run conventions? CopperCon and Random Factors RF-1011 luck has taken a turn for the worse. The good side of my luck was winning two HexaCon and the others are staffed completely by unpaid You can have a pretty loud and heated passes from a radio station for a sneak volunteers, from the chair person to the volunteer that argument over who is – or who deserves preview of some film called “Star Wars”, helps for only one hour. to be – Arizona’s official balladeer. but the bad side of my luck is that I can’t Regardless of who the state recognizes as get anyone to go with me. Work, prior its official songster these days, their guy commitments, general disinterest, and If you enjoy our events and want them to continue then doesn’t hold a candle to Joe Bethancourt. other excuses are all given and they leave please consider helping any or all of Arizona’s fan run And Joe’s latest CD is proof. me disheartened: who will I discuss the “Ride Back in Time” is exactly what film with if no one will go? Finally, after events. the title makes it out to be. Bethancourt nine “no’s” I get a “yes” from Curt Stubbs, a literary science fiction fan I’ve visits 15 of his favorite old-timey songs, For information on available CopperCon positions please and mixes in some round-the-campfire tall worked with on several conventions. Curt tales that make for a great listen. meets me at the biggest single-screen contact us at [email protected] or www.coppercon.org Bethancourt starts things off with a theatre in Phoenix, the Cine Capri, and we rousing chorus of “Buffalo Gals, ” in settle into the plush seats armed with which he mixes some Native American popcorn and soda pop. Nearly two hours For information on available HexaCon positions or to drums to give the song a different little later, the lights come up and Curt volunteer to run a game please contact us at comments, “Not bad, but the aliens were twist. [email protected] or www.hexacon.org Joe does that a lot here. He knows the too anthropomorphic.” Being a less songs are well-worn; some come ready- discriminating nineteen-year-old, I simply packed with the label “chestnut” on them. sat there with my mouth hanging open - Our parent organization, the Central Arizona Speculative But he makes them sound wholly new mind completely blown by the film I’d with some very original instrumentation. just experienced. Fiction Society (CASFS) is also looking for new His version of “Rye Whiskey” is a good 1977 saw the beginning of the members. Check our web site at www.casfs.org for blockbuster special-effects films and the example. Rather than play it on the guitar information on meetings and upcoming events or contact or banjo for the millionth time, he sings movie industry would never be the same. st over a mouthbow accompaniment, laid The January 31 , 1997 release of the Star us at [email protected] over some rather space-y sound effects. Wars: Special Edition demonstrated that The playing, as always, is as damn audience interest hasn’t flagged: Just eight Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 13 Author of the series The Chronicles of Edition” by Lucas), while N Sync’s renovation” believe them. The exterior of Thirty Years ( Continued from page 13 ) Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, The appearance in Attack of the Clones will the Beverly Pavilion Hotel was is better.’ I recoiled and said, ‘You’ve seen Man Who Fought Alone, and the soon-to- remain “what might have been.” completely covered by scaffolding, but it already and you’re back in line THIS be-released Fatal Revenant, Stephen R. 1997 was the year of the Star Wars the appointments of my room were quite SOON?’ ‘Yep!’ he said. After the showing Donaldson: “You know it’s interesting, Special Edition Trilogy and it saw the nice. I spent a total of six hours (four I walked out of that theater and said, ‘I but there are ways in which I remember beginnings of The Phantom Menace. sleeping) in the room, so I hardly had a have been saved!’ I spent that summer the first time I saw Star Wars better then I While he briefly toyed with the notion of chance to enjoy the Dell plasma TV, the finding people who hadn’t seen Star Wars remember any of my marriages. As it 12 Star Wars films, Lucas seems to have hardwood floors, or the clock/radio with and hauling them to the theater so that I happens, it was in May of 1977 in Cherry settled for six films. While the new trilogy the iPod dock. I had just enough time to could enjoy it vicariously all over again. I Hill, New Jersey and it was very nearly may not have inspired theatergoers to check-in and head to the 3:00 PM meet-up think I saw it twenty-three times that my last official act as a resident of the make as many return trips to the box at Pink’s. Getting from the Pavilion to summer.” The Cine Capri Theater, state because I had just sold my first book office as did their predecessors, I do know Pink’s Hot Dogs (Prince Myshkin, and exclusive location for Star Wars that and I used the money to move away from that the comradeship of standing in line Hold the Relish) was no problem. Finding summer, closed in 1998. New Jersey. But, before we left, Star Wars for hours with your best friends, swapping parking (if you aren’t driving a 1947 Author of Midworld, The Howling was opening and we all drove up to the rumors with strangers, and feeling that Packard) is nearly impossible. Meters on Stones, the soon-to-be-released Cherry Hill Mall to see the show. It was a electric rush as the words “A long time La Brea are limited to one hour. Meters on Patrimony, and universally acknowledged transcendent experience, in a certain kind ago, in a galaxy far, far away” appear, Melrose are limited to two hours. I know as the writer/adapter of the 1976 of way. We had seen movies with isn’t the same for me now, thirty years that . . . now! More about that later. I paperback, Star Wars: from the stunning special effects before. I certainly later. The hype that the Star Wars walked down the block to Pink’s, got in Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Alan Dean remember 2001: A Space Odyssey, but marketing machine has created was an line behind about twenty people, and Foster: “I wrote the paperback, so my that film seemed more about the special artificial excitement that could not be waited to order. It was 2:40. At around story is a little different, but this is the effects and part of what I loved about Star justified by The Phantom Menace, Attack 2:55, the aforementioned ’47 Packard, version that I usually tell. I saw it first at Wars was it had all of the special effects of the Clones, nor Revenge of the Sith. I smoke pouring from the right wheel-well, the cast and crew screening at the old in the world and they were still hope that someday George Lucas will be pulled up to the curb. Harlan Ellison had Academy Motion Picture Arts and subordinate to the storytelling, they never able to rekindle the sense of wonder I felt arrived. Sciences screening theater in Los got between you and your vicarious back in 1977 and if that happens I want to Harlan & Susan Ellison, Rick Angeles. It was the first time that a lot of enjoyment of the action. That seemed be sitting next to some kid as the lights (HarlanEllison.Com) Wyatt, Tim the people who had worked on the picture pretty special to me.” come up whosE first comment is (Fingerprints on the Sky), Andrea, and had seen the completed film. There were Author of The New World: Book Three “WOW!” Alexia Richmond emerged from the people who had done modeling and in The Age of Discovery, Dark Tide: New smoking Grey Ghost as Steve Barber people who had done costuming and Jedi Order series, and the Star Wars: X- http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/ placed orange safety cones front and rear. nobody knew what it would look like. I Wing series, Mike Stackpole: “I grew up http://www.lucasfilm.com The party could begin. had seen a few pieces of the rough cut, in Vermont, which is, in many ways, still http://www.uspsjedimaster.com/main/ The reasons friends and fans of but very few. I was making small talk with in the 1950’s, so science fiction serials splash.html Ellison were meeting at Pink’s, located at the producer, Gary Kurtz, telling him that were not unexpected then. My brother, my http://us.imdb.com/Goofs?0076759 709 North La Brea Avenue, were twofold: it would be neat if they ran Duck Dodgers best friend, and I had a tradition of http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0076759 The documentary, Dreams with Sharp in the 24th and ½ Century before they ran shopping the day before Christmas. You http://us.imdb.com/ Teeth: A Film about Harlan Ellison, was the film. He shrugs, so my wife and I go could shop much faster, the selections AlternateVersions?0076759 being shown at the not-too-far-off sit down and she nudges me. ‘Do you were smaller, and consuming the morning http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0076759 Writer’s Guild of America Theater and know who’s sitting behind you?’ she doing that, we would kill the rest of the http://www.ifilm.com/ Pink’s Hot Dogs was the setting of asked. I look around and there’s this day by going to see a movie. We saw The search?query=%22star+wars%22&s=Video+Search Ellison’s short story, Prince Mishkin, and geeky looking, long-haired guy sitting Gauntlet and while I remember very little Hold the Relish (Angry Candy). The witty there. ‘No, who’s that?’ ‘That’s Alice about the movie, I remember the trailer Shane Shellenbarger is a freelance writer who Ellison told quips, made observations, and Cooper!’ And I said, ‘Who’s Alice that opened it was Star Wars. I was lives with his wife, Laurie, and several exchanged repartee with the assembled Cooper?’ I knew very little about rock stunned. The next day I took one of my thousand books in Phoenix, Arizona. He first individuals. One of the stories he told music at that time, I was a classical music presents, a gift certificate for the Little attended Comic-Con when it was located on concerned a contestant on the TV game buff. She explains it to me, waits a little Professor Bookstore, and bought the Harbor Island in 1973. show, The Weakest Link. Harlan and while, and then says, ‘Well, say something paperback, read it, so by the time the Susan looked on as the host asked the to him!’ I said, ‘I don’t know the guy, I movie opened in May, I was primed. A co- The Chaotic Afternoon following, “Who acted in the film, don’t know anything about him, if you worker and I left work early, went to the Lawrence of Arabia and wrote a want to talk to him why don’t YOU talk to 11:00 a.m. showing, and sat in the theater and Unruly Evening syndicated newspaper bridge column for him?’ Well, she can’t talk to him but she with about seventeen other people. And I Hanging with Harlan the Chicago Tribune?” The contestant gets me to talk to him. Apropos of what remember that the first time I saw that thought about it for a minute and replied, I’d just discussed with Gary Kurtz, I Star Destroyer with that wedge-shape Ellison: Part 1 of 2 “Naomi Campbell.” The answer was so asked Cooper if he liked old Warner Bros. being driven down and across the screen, By Shane Shellenbarger bizarre, skewed, and off-the-wall it cartoons. ‘Oh yeah, you too?’ So for the it was like a wedge being driven into my became the source of much humor around next six minutes before the film came up brain, blowing it wide open.” the Ellison household as the answer to all On April 19th, I drove alone to spend we talked about old cartoons, Chuck Each of these authors had a different, questions: “Who was the 37th president? some time with the most unique person Jones, Bob Clampett, and Tex Avery. but overwhelmingly positive reaction to Naomi Campbell! Who discovered the I’ve ever met: Harlan Ellison. I left After the film ended, we’re walking out of the film that began a cinematic dynasty. islets of Langerhans? Naomi Campbell! Phoenix at about 7:00 AM and headed the theater knowing that cinematic history Like any dynasty, some members of the Who is buried in Grant’s tomb? Naomi west, aiming for Beverly Hills. The trip has been made and my wife gives me a line stand out as giants and benefactors, Campbell!” was uneventful save for a rekindling of hard elbow to the ribs, POW! ‘What’d some as petty dictators, and some as fools. We’ve all experienced time my appreciation of the mountains and you do that for?’ I asked. ‘You spent six Fortunately for George Lucas, Star Wars: compression when we’re enjoying deserts of Arizona and California and my minutes talking to Alice Cooper and all A New Hope and Indiana Jones: Raiders ourselves, but have you ever had that disappointment in tasting a Hadley’s Date you could talk about is cartoons!?’ she of the Lost Ark are sharp in the memories sinking feeling when you suddenly realize Shake. They’re not as good as I said. By the way, they did show Duck of their fans while Howard the Duck and the parking meter has raised the red flag, remembered they were. MapQuest/ Dodgers before the film to lighten up the Willow grow dim and fade away. Jar Jar you’re heading back to feed the meter, Google Maps are okay, but not perfect. An crowd, because many careers were riding Binks will remain on film, a failed you see the meter man from across La up-to-date, handheld, foldout map is hard on the success of Star Wars. Of course, experiment in computer generated Brea, you inform said meter man that you to beat. Maybe I should have bought one. Gary Kurtz didn’t give that away while I characterization (barring any “Special was suggesting it.” When a hotel says, “Under ( Continued on page 15 ) Page 14 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 Harlan ( Continued from page 14 ) Wein (Swamp Thing) arrived, ordered much of the culture and clothing is The detailed description of its making is food, and joined the group. Wein and metaphorically connected to the American another good reason to read the Official are returning with funds for said meter, Ellison traded quips between bites of hot west in the post civil war reconstruction Companion books. It mystified me for you weigh the value of your life against dogs that have a certain snap to them. The period. Stirred into this is a heapin’ years before I saw the writeup. Turns out the flash of traffic and opt for the jocularity continued until 6:15 p.m. It was helping of Chinese and other Asian the prop was built around a Taurus crosswalk, to run up and start pumping time to head for the Writers Guild of cultural influences. It’s a rich universe full double-action revolver with molded coins into the meter as (you’d swear) the America Theater. Just how unruly could of mostly poor folks, rightly inspiring to bronze side panels and a faux magazine meter man informs you that he’s already the evening get? SF convention hall costumers. added to imply a semi-automatic action, ticketed you? I’ve had that feeling and Next time: The event, after the event, The show revolves around nine while allowing the original revolver to fire that experience. I’ve also had the feeling Rick Wyatt and the Richmond’s entrust me principal characters who travel together in blanks for action scenes. Quantum of relief as the meter man is walking back with their lives, the deer that got out of the the transport ship Serenity. They’re called Mechanix has released a highly detailed the “Big Damned Heroes” (BDH’s for replica. Lesser plastic replicas can be short) by Browncoats. Any of the BDH’s found on the net. make fine fodder for hall costumes. Mal’s costume was changed a mite for Certainly the most western-looking of the “Big Damned Movie.” The trousers the BDH’s is Captain Malcolm Reynolds. were darker brown and somewhat closer Mal is usually seen in cavalry trousers fitting, the new shirt featured small metal with suspenders, tall brown boots, and a clasp buckles in place of buttons, and the coarse work shirt with sleeves rolled suspenders were much heavier and more halfway up the forearms. The good detailed. The browncoat and pants had captain is the basis of my favorite hall heavy patches on one shoulder and one costume, so I’ll dedicate the bulk of this leg. I suppose these were meant to imply article to his garb. padded bracing points for a heavy The pants, with their distinctive high battlefield weapon. © Shane Shellenbarger waist, back adjustment buckle, and lack of I’ve yammered on long enough about to his car and says, “I didn’t ticket you.” I road, Sunny California, HA!, the breakfast that a belt, can be purchased off the shelf from the Captain. I’ll pick up again next time finished pumping nickels, stood there for didn’t happen, the road ahead, the most I’ve stores that serve wild west reenactors. with some hints about costuming the rest a second processing what I’d just heard, spent for gas (to date), etc. Manufacturers of suitable pants include of the BDH’s and other memorable turned and thanked the meter man Wah Maker and Frontier Classics. These characters from the Firefly ’verse. profusely. http://harlanellison.com can be purchased locally at Wild West Before closing, I’d like to introduce If the evening with Harlan was to be http://www.pinkshollywood.com Mercantile in Mesa, Arizona. You can also you to some good friends, The Arizona unruly, the afternoon should be classified http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ find lots of suitable clothing at wildwest Browncoats. Check us out at Pink%27s_Hot_Dogs as chaotic: A select few pushed the ’47 festivals, such as Festival of the West, the www.azbrowncoats.com We have a very http://www.creatvdiff.com/harlan_ellison.php, Packard (aka, The Grey Ghost) across http://harlanellison.com/heboard/archive/ Single-Action Shooting Society’s Winter active e-mail discussion group and Melrose to the Chevron Gas and Candy dreams.htm Range, and the annual reenactment of the forums. We get together for a “shindig” Bar Emporium where Harlan exchanges http://mysite.verizon.net/res7n0zi/id30.html Battle of Picacho Peak. There are, of on the first Saturday evening of each insults and pleasantries with A Made Man. http://mysite.verizon.net/res7n0zi/id32.html course, many online dealers. month at the Bookmans Entertainment If you don’t know that phrase, think http://mysite.verizon.net/res7n0zi/id31.html Mal’s boots are tall, brown, and close- Exchange at the northwest corner of 19th Sopranos. Then there was the 4 o’clock http://www.documentaryfilms.net/index.php/ fitting. The originals have zippers up the Avenue and Northern Avenue in Phoenix. clearing of the streets by L.A.’s Finest. dreams-with-sharp-teeth/ side and a look reminiscent of both The Browncoat Knitters Guild gets Yep, if you’re parked along La Brea Blvd http://mcvalada.blogspot.com/2007/04/social- cowboy boots and motorcycle boots. I together at the same Bookmans location whirl.html at 4 p.m. it’s move it or lose it. I was the faked my boots by purchasing ordinary on the third Tuesday evening of the month http://0wanderingattention.blogspot.com/ last car on the East side to get underway. oiled leather western work boots and to teach general knitting, like Jayne’s search/label/Harlan%20Ellison Was that a tow truck I saw down the sewing extended leather cuffs to the tops. cunning hat. block? Yes it was, but this tow truck was a Mal is the wearer of the original With the generous sponsorship of flat bed requested to rescue the ailing “Browncoat”, the coarse three-quarter Harkins Theaters, The Loft Theater and Grey Ghost. Ellison was seen stroking the length leather jacket that has given our Bookmans, the Arizona Browncoats are bumper and whispering words of comfort fandom its name. Its lines are similar to a participating in “Can’t Stop The Serenity,” to the beautiful car just before it late 19th century frock coat, but it is fuller a series of public screenings of “Serenity” disappeared into the southbound traffic on in the body, has turned-up cuffs on the for the benefit of the women’s rights La Brea. The boxes of books for sleeves, and has vents in the sides for a advocacy charity “Equality Now.” autographing later that evening were fast draw. There is a detailed drawing in Additionally, some of the proceeds from placed into my Saturn Vue and we all “Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume the Arizona screenings will go to GIFT returned to Pink’s to continue the I”, which shows the locations of all the (Growth Improvement for Female Teens) congregation. seams. This book is well worth the and The Women’s Foundation of Southern Gloria Pink, daughter-in-law of Dealing With Mal-Wear purchase at any price. Arizona. the original owners, exchanged Being Part One of An Not having the budget for leather, I The showings will be on Thursday pleasantries with Harlan and Susan and Introduction to Costuming in the built my browncoat from synthetic suede, June 21, 2007 at the Harkins Centrepoint greeted the rest of us warmly. She had Firefly ‘Verse borrowing the sleeve from Laughing 11 Theater at 730 South Mill Avenue in four foot-long dogs made stating, “Pink’s by Randall Whitlock Moon’s frock coat pattern and laying out Tempe and Saturday, June 23, 2007 at The Loves Harlan Ellison” spelled out in the body by eyeball. The coat is closed Loft Cinema at 3233 East Speedway mustard. After photographer Steven Over the last few years, one of the with distinctively shaped brass spring Boulevard in Tucson. Purchase your tix Barber snapped a shot, the dogs were most active and growing segments of SF buckles, not unlike those used on old- for the Tempe screening at Bookmans. rearranged to state, “Harlan Ellison Loves fandom has been the “Browncoats;” those fashioned “slicker” raincoats. I found Purchase your tix for the Tucson Pink’s” and another photo was taken. The of us who love Joss Whedon’s brilliant some close-but-no-cigar buckles at a local Screening at The Loft. Go to the Arizona group found out later that Gloria Pink had but too short-lived television series fabric remnants store. One of these days, Browncoats web site for full details. been kind enough to host the event. When “Firefly” and its sequel film “Serenity.” I’ll build the real thing out of sheet brass Each screening will have a costume you hang with Harlan, you get the Firefly is set in a distant solar system stock. One could probably assemble contest and they’ve got some fabulous singular pleasure of meeting mensches. of terraformed frontier worlds in a something fairly convincing out of brass prizes for those who can best represent the Gloria Pink is a mensch! difficult future unencumbered by aliens or conchos and narrow strips of brass to Whedonverse with their shiny outfit. Around 5 o’clock, photographer, M. FTL drives. The ‘verse is recovering from hook the pairs of conchos together. Tucson, with its double feature, welcomes Christine Valada and her husband, Len a devastating civil war. Consequently, Mal’s sidearm is a true work of art. both Serenity and Buffy themed costumes. Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 15 the previous two films but the story lines Check out the website: http:// The 300 Screening Room come together nicely as the film www.sonypictures.com/movies/surfsup/ Directed by Zack Snyder progresses. index.html Starring Gerard Butler and Lena Pirates of the Caribbean The special effects throughout the film The film kept the kids in their seats Headey at World’s End are clear and detailed. It is really hard to and adults will enjoy the film as well. For From a graphic novel by Frank Miller. Surfs Up tell which part of a set is real and which parents there is a bid of fish chopping, Shrek the Third part is CGI. The man/sea creatures on the some crude humor and some mild Every once in a while, there is a rare The 300 Flying Dutchman appear more detailed language. moment in human history when it really than ever. If you like a good seafood I rate Surf’s Up a “B+“. - Len Berger, does fall to one man to save the entire Pirates of the Caribbean dinner you might go home hungry. One ConNotations Film Editor world. According to this movie, King at World’s End interesting technical note is that the full Leonidas of Sparta was one such, a man Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando sized versions of the Black Pearl and the Shrek the Third who was doomed to save the free world Bloom, Keira Knightley, Chow Yun- Flying Dutchman weighed in at over one Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, from “mysticism and tyranny.” That evil Fat, Geoffrey Rush million pounds each. Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, centered in the Persian god-king Xerxes, Director: Gore Verbinski I highly recommend the film and hope Rupert Everett of 480 B.C. Leonidas took his 300 Running Time: 168 minutes you enjoy the film as much as I did. I rate Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hui Spartans and other Greeks to hold the pass Rated: PG-13 the film an “A-“. - Len Berger, Running Time: 93 minutes of Thermopylae, delaying the Persian th Release Date: May 25 , 2007 ConNotations Film Editor Rated: PG invasion of Greece just long enough for Release Date: May 18th, 2007 the Greeks to rally and defeat Xerxes. The third installment of Pirates of the Surf’s Up War is certainly one of humanity’s Caribbean did not disappoint. Even Starring: Jeff Bridges, Shia Labeouf, The Third installment of Shrek (voiced worst behaviors, yet this act of 300 though it’s a bit longer than Pirates of the Zooey Deschanel, James Woods, Jane by Mike Myers) concerns the heir to the Spartans showed humanity at its best, men Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest the Krakowski throne of Far Far Away. Shrek is attending who sacrificed all for the freedom of their combination of action and story lines will Director: Ash Brannon, Chris Buck state functions while King Harold families and western civilization. The keep you involved from the start to the Running Time: 90 minutes (Shrek’s father-in-law oops frogger-in- political significance is never lost in this end (by the way there is a scene after the Rated: PG law) is terribly ill. Shrek screws up every film, and I fear it may help fan the flames credits). Release Date: June 8th, 2007 event he attends including the sinking of a of the current agenda to start a war with The film begins with the East India ship he was to christen. King Harold Iran. After all, we’re in a clash of Trading Company suspending rights and Surf’s Up (A Major Ocean Picture) is (John Cleese) lets Shrek and Fiona civilizations that has been going on for hanging all the pirates that they find. an animated mockumentary comedy about (Cameron Diaz) know that they are the thousands of years, right? It’s us or them, Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander) teams with the discovery that penguins invented heirs to the throne with one other possible logic and freedom against mysticism and Davy Jones (Bill Highy) and the powerful surfing. The mockumentary crew takes heir, Artie (Justin Timberlake). King tyranny? Such long-range ideology Flying Dutchman to rule the seas. Will you through the beginning of surfing, the Harold’s death scene is something to translates into nothing concrete. We are Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth champions of the sport and the young behold. His funeral is highlighted by the not Spartans. Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain penguins as they strive to become the next singing of the James Bond song “Live and Leonidas’ Queen Gorgo shows that Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) must convene champion. The crew covers the “10th Let Die” by a choir of frogs. Many other sometimes a woman’s single act can also the Brethren Courts consisting of the Nine Annual Big-Z Memorial Surf-Off” and songs throughout the film are from this save the free world. She plays her strong Pirate Lords to determine how they will like any other competition there are those era. part, albeit that of a wife and queen in respond to this serious threat to their very who follow the rules and those who will Shrek sets out on a quest to find Artie jeopardy. What other roles for women in existence. Of course Jack Sparrow do anything to win. The Surf-Off who is attending a medieval high school The 300 are only one visionary and many (Johnny Depp), one of the Lords, is memorializes Big-Z who was a role model and is a real loser. Shrek also finds out temptresses for an outcast. This IS a nowhere to be found – he’s in Davy Jones and hero to millions before his fatal Fiona is pregnant and a dream sequence movie about men fighting, for the most Locker. surfing accident. about caring for the baby ogres is pretty part. Our heroes take a trip to Singapore to Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia funny. Back at the Far Far Away castle I heard a radio review condemn this secure a ship and maps that will take them LaBeouf) leaves his home in Shiverpool, Fiona receives some gifts at her baby movie as nothing but video-game blood to world’s end where they hope to find Antarctica to enter the Surf-Off. He shower including a “pooper scooper”, a and gore, a glorification of violence. We Jack. The trip to world’s end is quite befriends Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) who must for any ogre parent. do get the slow-motion, stop-picture, exciting and the supernatural world where seems oblivious to exactly what is going Meanwhile Prince Charming (Rupert show every drop of blood techniques. I Jack and the Black Pearl exist is quite on and does everything for the fun of it, Everett) talks a gang of thieves, including did not come away from this inspired or strange. For those who like Jack there are friends and surfing. Cody eyes a cute Captain Hook, to join him in his own shaken or in catharsis. It didn’t thrill me countless Jack’s in this supernatural penguin lifeguard named Lani (Zooey quest to take over Far Far Away. It takes a or sicken me. Rather, I felt that dull world. After Jack and the Black Pearl Deschanel) and she takes him on one village (oops can’t resist politics) to fight sorrow of one who might be getting a meet up with the rescue team they must great adventure sledding down a huge back and there are some pretty intense realistic glimpse of history, seeing the find their way back to the land of the underground cavern, lava and all (don’t battles – you’ll have to guess if the good terrible waste of lives, resources, and living. This proves to be most difficult penguins hate the heat ?). The guys win. wealth, assembled so gloriously and then until Jack solves the puzzle. mockumentary crew also covers Surf- Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas) and destroyed. Jack and Captain Barbossa are Off’s promoter Reggie Belafonte (James Donkey (Eddie Murphy) are wonderful Why do we have war? Why do men constantly fighting over who is the real Wood) who will manipulate anyone or throughout the film and especially organize to bully victims and serve a captain of the Black Pearl with some any thing to increase his earnings from the hilarious when they switch bodies. To tyrant? And why do other men who love funny scenes. Surf-Off. quote Donkey (really Puss In Boots) “I freedom organize just to kill the bullies? Jack has some of the funniest lines in Cody faces difficulties as any young feel all exposed and nasty!”. Human history is such a chronicle of the film. An example is when Jack adult and must learn what is important in Animation is superb and I highly stupidity and the lost lives to oppose it. declares that we (pirates) have very little life and what is not. The film’s penguin recommend the film to adults and kids Let’s not forget the varieties of traitors, imagination in naming things, Jack’s bully Tank (Diedrich Bader) is one hell of alike. I rate the film an “B+“. - Len too. The 300 showcases two kinds: the example is a pirate that lost and eye and a surfer and will do whatever it takes to Berger, ConNotations Film Editor clever self-serving politician and the both arms that was named Larry. Other add the 10th annual trophy to his seduced outcast. Perhaps their motivations characters have some funny lines as well. collection. are easiest understood, more than all of One example is when Lord Beckett SPEN (Sport Penguin Entertainment the nameless, faceless hordes who march declares “Its nothing personal Jack its just Network) is covering the Surf-Off but you in the armies of evil. Maybe there’s only good business”. won’t find the channel on Cox. You’ll The film is a wee bit complicated at have to go to the film to see who wins the the beginning with many story lines from Surf-Off. ( Continued on page 17 ) Page 16 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 Screening ( Continued from page 16 ) Contributions may be sent to: In memory of Magic Rat- Jamie Bishop Scholarship Onward, play! ConClusion traitors and bullies and the free who fight Virginia Tech Foundation Entering Manga Madness (at Mesa)and them. To get a feel for all of that, see this University Development Jason Sato Remembered Other Fun Stuff: Anizona III by movie. - M. L. FRINGE 902 Prices Fork Road Jeffrey Lu Blacksburg, VA 24061 Jason Sato was a Japanese-American The 300 master gamer. Game Master at Hexicon I, Curious, I looked around on a Directed by Zack Snyder Jason Sato Rememberance employee of Flying Buffalo and Atomic Thursday, April 5, at Mesa Convention Starring Gerard Butler and Lena by James Walker Comics, great gamer, and a good friend. Center. There were people in “Bleach” Headey He passed away with a brain hemorrhage costumes. There were others in “Final From a graphic novel by Frank Miller Jason Sato was my friend for 29 years. on Friday, April 13, 2007. There was a Fantasy” or “Full Metal Alchemist.” We first met when he was an attendee at gaming night in his honor at Game Depot There were many manga and/or anime Bring out the spears and arrows of Iguanacon, the 1978 World Con, held here on Saturday, April 21. fans waiting in a long line of hundreds for outrageous fortune... in Phoenix. Over the next several decades Jason Sato was not only a gamer but their badges. Frank Miller’s visual stunning movie, I came to know Jason as a powerful he was THE gamer. If he was on your It’s great to see all these people. “The 300,” brings us the great last stand competitor across hundreds of game side, you have a great ally. If he was your Really cool. of the 300 Spartans against the Persian boards, as a creative role player and game opponent, you were generally toast. I One of them came from Utah. Another armies. master, and as a staunch companion. should know. I played a few games with came all the way from Tucson. This one Ironically, Hollywood thought this Gaming was just one of Jason’s many him at local game conventions. I lost more from Tucson could only afford to go to would be a dud. No one wants to see a interests, however. He was a stolid reader than I really want to say. one convention a year. She looked tragedy. No one wants to see a military of science fiction, being a great fan of He was a game lawyer but always was forward to the four-day convention. She movie. No one wants to see a “boring” Larry Niven, C. J. Cherryh, Poul nice and polite. After a game, one could smiled. Looking around the room, I saw historical movie that was already done, a Anderson, and Robert Heinlein. He chat with him about anything. Also, he that all these people had stories to tell. few years back. collected comic books, Japanese video, was the first to try out new games from Onward: I had played in the gaming No one listens to Hollywood, and media-oriented collector cards. He anywhere on the planet. Jason is always in room with mostly strangers on “Gauntlet anymore. The people had spoken. They enjoyed Babylon 5, Warner Brothers my mind, a cool guy. I’ll miss him at the Legends” and “Revolution X.” I had voted with their money and their feet. Cartoons, Dr. Who, and pro-wrestling. gaming conventions. -Jeffrey Lu talked with the owner of a one-dance I should know. I’m one of them. He supported science fiction fandom arcade machine. Believe it or not, he used Even though there are violent scenes and comics fandom by attending local and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. this for daily exercise. in the movie, I like the stunning graphics. regional conventions. He supported 1922 - 2007 Another, I walked in and out of Surprisingly, the movie was generally gaming fandom by working on local panels. I was curious at JPop and JRock. faithful to Frank Miller’s graphic novel, gaming conventions such as Hexacon and Writer and artist, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Later, I saw one guest that was cool and I “The 300.” Congames. He attended Origins and died Wednesday, April 11, 2007, bought the manga of the recent series in Recommended to war gamers and Gencon, as well as regional gaming following brain injury received in a fall at order to see the anime for this year. anyone who likes “combat movies.” - conventions. his Manhattan home a few weeks earlier. His name is Greg Ayres. Originally, I Jeffrey Lu Fandom, indeed - the world, will be a During Vonnegut’s career he published was planning to see the fellow Arizona darker place without Jason Sato in it; essays, plays, 2 biographical collages, 3 artists and writers in anime/manga. however, you can dispel some of that short story collections and at least 15 In Memory Instead, I sat and watched his presentation darkness by digging out one of those old novels including such memorable science of “BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad.” Lloyd Alexander board games you have in the back of the fiction works as Cat’s Cradle, The Sirens Impressed, I went to dealer’s room for Jamie Bishop closet and playing it. It’s what he would of Titan and Slaughterhouse Five. manga, “Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad.” Jason Sato want you to do. His work was adapted for stage, Luck would have it; I found my Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. television and motion pictures. He made manga Beck 1-2. To those who have no A Gamer’s End cameo appearances in a number of idea what a manga is, the English Lloyd Alexander (In Memory of Jason Sato) movies, most notably portraying himself translation from Japanese is “rough 1924 - 2007 by Jeffrey Lu in Rodney Dangerfield’s Back To School. sketch.” Manga is a graphic novel that is Spell me the words of memory uniquely Japanese. Fantasy writer, Lloyd Chudley To a Magic Rat, I once knew: Being in the dealer’s room, I looked Alexander died in his Drexel Hill, Diving into “Comic Encounters” with an Non Genre by Genre and snatched books and other goodies. Pennsylvania home on Thursday, May 17, edge, On Sunday, I decided to go for the 2007. His wife of 61 years, Janine Denni Dungeon Mastering with “Tunnels and In his checkered writing career, Robert next Anizona. See you. died two week earlier. Trolls” and “AD&D,” E. Howard wrote King Kull, Conan, Alexander was best known for the Laughing a win away in “Europe Solomon Kane and a number of Oriental Chronicles of Prydain series of novels. Railroad” before the crowds, Mystery stories. Most of his output falls During his career he published at least Solving riddles in “Champions” and into Fantasy and Adventure categories. forty books. His final work The Golden moving “Heroclixs,” But one group of short stories falls Dream of Carlo Chuchio, is due out in Trying the endless new games from cards into what I call the rustic humor category. August. to boardgames, They are a total departure from the rest of He was honored the National Defeated often but never gave up, his work. Donald M. Grant collected them Book Award, the Newbery Medal and the Winning glories in endless battles of in three volumes. Until you have read and Life Achievement World Fantasy Award. history-in-the-making, enjoyed the skewed worldview of the He grinned like a rat with trays of cheese Elkins family you have not grokked Jamie Bishop by his side... Robert Howard. 1971-2007 Jason Sato- Howard, Robert E. - Gent from Bear So gracious in losing, Creek (currently in print from http:// Christopher James Bishop, son of SF So giving to friends, www.vintagelibrary.com/) writer Michael Bishop, died in the So gone too soon, Howard, Robert E. - Mayhem on Bear shooting rampage at the Virginia Tech He left Creek University on April 16, 2007. Among us Howard, Robert E. - Pride of Bear A scholarship fund has been Who knew him along the way. Creek established in Jamie Bishop’s name for We honor him in tactics and in time. Gary Swaty German majors at Virginia Tech. Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 17 continues to divulge its secrets at a pace prizes! Contact [email protected] with For Rhodes, Hollywood is an easy ReAnimation that keeps you crawling back for the rest. questions on how to show a costume or mark. And a useful setting for excess. ***** Ergo Proxy, Volume 1: I could not stop watching. Hand me volunteer for the crew. Vampires and werewolves are in a Awakening (Eps #1-4) volume three. There will be a DJ-hosted dance and a vicious, bloody battle to rule the world. ***** Ergo Proxy, Volume 2 RE- Back cover Volume 3: “Vincent finds Filk Concert. Probably Regency Dancing. The werewolves want immortality and L124C41+ (Eps #5-8) himself in an unfamiliar room where a Some interesting…. late-night program- the vampires are not happy about that. ***** Ergo Proxy, Volume 3 mysterious individual who seems to know ming for adults only. And there’s sure to The microcosm of the world is the nasty, Cytotropism (Eps #9-12) him quite well confronts him. While be a party or two. Oh, and don’t miss the stylish noir streets of Los Angeles and Vincent struggles against his inner Charity Auction – items are already Hollywood. I don’t recall much daylight ***** Ergo Proxy, Vol. 1: Awakening demons, the delicate balance of control in posted on our webpage. in this novel. (Eps #1-4) Romdo begins a slow descent into chaos We’ll look forward to seeing old The heroine Kayla Steele runs the ***** Ergo Proxy, Vol 2 - RE- as Raul and Daedalus agree to work friends and hopefully, lots of new ones. gamut from clueless to kick-ass babe with L124C41+ (Eps #5-8) together and fix the growing threat. Please buy your membership soon and high-tech weapons. She’s not too ***** Ergo Proxy, Vol 3 - Cytotropism However, their intent is not entirely pure help out our pre-registration. There will screechy—thank goodness—but she’s a (Eps #9-12) as each one of them has a deep and ugly probably be a couple special events on rather two note character. Either bewil- Geneon, 100 minutes each volume, 16+ ulterior motive.” Thursday evening for those who have dered or running on adrenaline. But she’s DVD, $29.98 each volume Episodes 9-12 provides plenty enough pre-registered. Keep watching our a babe, make no mistake. Though she is reasons to keep watching: good pacing, webpage for updates: http:// constantly compared to other women in intriguing plot developments, a strong www.casfs.org/cucon the book and found lacking—she sounds Ergo Proxy is from Manglobe Studio soundtrack, and lead characters that are Catherine Book, Programming perfectly, well, like a “babe” to me. I who also produced Samurai Champloo finally showing some real personality. It Director mean, she is working a perfume counter and was originally a TV show. There are is a solid addition to an already-solid somewhere in a West L.A. department 23 episodes. They did a great job on this series. store. Do the math. one. This is with out a doubt an adult Yes, I sat and watched the first three Caught up in the vampire-werewolf anime. Some what slower paced anime, volumes in one sitting. The plot and In Our Book turf war through the untimely death of but very engrossing. For more info check characters just suck you in. It is very hard her boyfriend Karrel Dante, Kayla is out their web site at http:// to stop watching. Ergo Proxy - Wrong plunged willy-nilly into a highly violent www.ergoproxy.com Dante’s Girl Way Home (DVD 4) will be released world. And everyone in this novel not Back cover Volume 1: “The domed by Natasha Rhodes 2007-05-29. I can’t wait for the next only has agendas, they switch loyalties as city of Romdo is an impenetrable would- Solaris Books, $7.99; 495 pp. if they were channel surfing. And boy, be utopia where humans and robots Volume to come out. - CLD there are lots of big shiny weapons too, coexist, and everything is under complete This book is like a continuous loop of including swords. government control, or so it appears. PreCon News the fourth acts from ‘Terminator’ movies: And amazingly enough—the city at While working on a mysterious murder Loud, loads of action, lots of gore, high large is clueless to the existence of case, Re-l Mayer, a female detective from CopperCon 27, Sep 7-9, 2007 body counts and outrageous alien life- the Civilian Intelligence Office, receives a We’ve got a pretty good crew to staff forms. And it all takes place in L.A. foreboding message that something is CopperCon this year. Bob LaPierre is our ( Continued on page 19 ) going to “awaken.” That night, she’s Chair. We’ve got Charlaine Harris as our attacked by a deformed super-being...what Author Guest of Honor. Charlaine has was this unidentified monster that become extremely popular the past few attacked her, and who was the figure that years with her southern vampire series. came in between them? As Re-l attempts She’s also one of the nicest people I’ve to unlock this spiraling mystery, a met in a long time. She will have some metaphysical battle cry leads her to the very interesting panels, I’m sure. I did the unknown outside world...” programming for the last two The first thing that I heard was the CopperCons so if you liked the last intro music, Wow. The graphic detail and couple cons, then you don’t want to miss shadowing are very well done, a class this one. I’m planning on some new above most Anime. To describe Ergo children’s programming with some Proxy in a nut shell. Take NIS and add enthusiastic helpers. The kids will be able Bladerunner and Omegaman with dark to design their own superhero powers and twisted violence and that gives you Ergo even make a costume for themselves. I’ve Proxy. also confirmed that Mark Greenawalt, our Back cover Volume 2: “Re-l leaves well-known body-painting artist, will be the safety of Romdo in order to bring at CopperCon. I don’t know exactly what Vincent back and clear his name. Leaving he’s planning but it will have something the shelter of the city is a test of courage, to do with Creatures of the Night…. but dealing with the realities of life We’ll have a very exciting LARP run by outside the dome is a test of conviction. some very experienced folks. Across The idyllic illusion of life within Romdo Plus, a local Anime club, will be provid- begins to crumble for Re-l and Vincent as ing Anime programming. I know they’ve they forge into the darkness that got some new stuff planned. surrounds them and travel away from the Saturday evening at CopperCon 27 light”. will feature our traditional stage masquer- The basic setup entering the second ade. The physical setup is like a fashion volume of Ergo Proxy is that everything show. We will provide a stage, a Master continues to change and evolve from of Ceremonies to announce you, a sound there. What are the proxys? What does system to play the music or narration you Vincent have to do with their appearance? provide, and a stage crew to bring it all Some answers will be given and some together. An appreciative audience will more questions will be raised. While not provide itself: Your 15 minutes of fame everything is laid out for you, Ergo Proxy on a silver platter! There will even be

Page 18 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 In Our Book ( Continued from page 18 ) There are dead bodies galore and vampire and werewolves (as was Kayla), increasing evidence that the nasty in spite of the constant gory deaths, Peruvian sorcerer that all believed to be explosions, weird armored vehicles dead may still be in town. And it’s going racing the night streets and big noisy to take more magic than even the Haskell battles between ‘wolves, vamps and Witch has to put him down for good. It armed humans. may take Alice’s connection with the There are no quiet moments in this land, Caroline’s doll, and Gary’s volatile book. There are only hints of sex. And, as and unpredictable new love. I said above, next to no daylight. This is not an epic novel but it is a This is pretty much written at the well-rounded and satisfying story. It is same level throughout. Ms. Rhodes’ always interesting to me when a man previous writing credits have been attempts to write from a woman’s novelizations of films: “Blade: Trinity,” perspective. I can’t say that James has “The Nightmare on Elm Street: Per- any unique insight that makes him any chance to Dream” as well as three “Final different or better in the attempt. I think if Destination” movies. She learned her a woman wrote this story, it could have lessons well. become an epic and it really doesn’t need But I found the novel, compared to a to be. His efforts are satisfactory and not lot of other vampires-and-werewolves-in- insulting. And there are moments where nourish settings to be a bit too derivative. he really nails it. (and that’s not a pun!) And too loud. - Sue Martin It’s a story that works for me. And he’s left enough loose ends for at least one Dragon’s Teeth more story. Another story… right, by James A. Hetley James?? – Catherine Book $14.00, Ace Books, 327pp Kitty Takes a Holiday James has become one of the writers I by Carrie Vaughn watch for. This is his fourth book and the Warner, 336 pages, $6.99 second in this particular world… and as enjoyable as the first three. This series is In this third outing we find our basically about a small Maine town and werewolf DJ taking some time off after the families who have lived there as long her rather public outing in Kitty Goes to as there is history. Washington. Holed up in a cabin in the The Morgans are descended from real Colorado mountains, Kitty is supposed to pirates but that’s not all that distinguishes be writing a book but she finds the allure them. Aside from their still piratical of staying wolf is becoming almost too leanings, they have otherworldly talents strong to resist. Up pops someone trying as well. The Morgans enjoy a unique to run Kitty out of the area by laying a relationship with something that lives in curse that results in some really nasty the sea that not even they understand or surprises left on her doorstep. Just about know. Gary is the last of the Morgans and the time Kitty is ready to leave, her quite troublesome to his father and his lawyer Ben and his cousin, werewolf uncle who raised him. Gary has fallen in hunter Cormac, drop in needing Kitty’s love with a woman who may rival the help. They are followed by an evil that Morgans in ruthlessness and may threaten turns out to be something no one ex- their very existence. pected. As they band together to defeat The Haskells have been around longer the evil, events will come to pass that will than any European voyagers that landed change the dynamics between Kitty, in Maine. Their roots are with the Cormac and Ben forever. Naskeag Indians but they are more than I cannot say enough good things that. They are known as the Haskell about the Kitty books. The premise of a witches. They have a House whose main werewolf named Kitty who is also a night purpose for being seems to be the overall time talk DJ was just too fascinating to protection of women in general, and the pass up with the first book, Kitty and the witches in particular. The Haskells and Midnight Hour and the fun continues in the Morgans have often been at odds over each succeeding volume. I can’t wait for the generations but now they find the next Kitty book. Highly recom- themselves becoming more interdepen- mended. - Stephanie L Bannon dent since there is now one who comes from both families – Caroline. Caroline is Seraphs looking for a special ancient doll that was by Faith Hunter stolen from an Indian tribe in Arizona – a Roc Fantasy; $14; 356pp. very dangerous and powerful doll. There’s another family in town with This is a high-speed, intense sequel to roots that may be as old and are certainly the previous (and first book in the series) more obscure – the Rowleys. Alice “Bloodring.” Rowley is the Haskell Witch’s lover, the The novel continues the tale about town constable and the only one who can Thorn St. Croix, a “neomage” with a deep talk to rocks and earth. And her own connection to stones. (Neomages have daughter may be responsible for several affinity with elements like water and dead bodies. ( Continued on page 20 ) ( Continued on page 15 ) Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book ( Continued from page 19 ) defied a god, saved her best friend from Grave Surprise confusing trail – the body hadn’t been immortality, saved the whole world from by Charlaine Harris there the whole two years, she had been earth, etc.). Thorn has been living in a heinous evil, and rescued the son of her $23.95, Berkley Prime Crime, 295 pp recently buried in the turn-of-the-century secret, hiding her abilities behind greatest enemy. (Is this great story- church graveyard. And this was another ownership of a jewelry and mineral store telling, or what?) We know Charlaine from her Sookie city entirely from where she’d been in a post-apocalyptic world where the This is the beginning of her foster son, Stackhouse stories and while it’s true that abducted. In fact, her parents had recently biblical Apocalypse has occurred but Prince Imriel’s, story. Imriel’s mother was this is a perfectly splendid murder moved to this city – how suspicious was without an appearance from God or the greatest traitor the country had ever mystery, it is also true that our protago- that? Her parents appeared to be devoted Jesus. Awe-inspiring seraphim or “ser- known; and his fostermother, Phedre, is nist is not a perfectly ordinary woman. to each other. And her step-brother, who aphs” and archangels have not only its greatest heroine. It’s a challenge to So, it may be a stretch to include this in had been a prime suspect two years appeared but manage human affairs when know where he fits in. So, when he’s of our book reviews but I’m willing to do it. earlier, seemed to be quite genuine in his necessary. an age, he leaves for a university, to live Harper Connelly was hit by lightning grief and affection for her. She had loving The Darkness has stepped up its gory as a commoner. But his life is anything and survived to discover that she can now grandparents and uncles and aunts….all predations of the people of Mineral City but common and too many people either find dead people. So, like any reasonable very sincere and desperate for closure. (located somewhere in the Carolinas) and want him dead or on the throne – neither person, she uses this ability to make a And they all looked to Harper for that Thorn and her friends are besieged by of which suit him. And he’s just begin- living. Her stepbrother, Tolliver, is her closure. But although Harper could tell dark callings from a mountain nearby ning to understand that the bloodline that manager and they share a common them what the last few seconds of life called the Trine, a mountain created he shares with Phedre may be the reason dysfunctional family history. But when were to poor little Tabitha, she wasn’t during the Apocalypse and now a haven for the dark desires he’s experiencing. they took a job that was obviously able to say who did it. for the Dark. The townspeople find The first three books were an increas- intended to ‘debunk’ Harper, they never But somebody must think she can themselves sharply divided about Thorn’s ingly complex story of Phedre with a expected to find the lost body of a little because she’s being setup for additional now seraph-sanctioned presence and wonderfully satisfying conclusion. I can girl they had been hired to find some murders. The family has lots of secrets things get very tense. see that this new trilogy will be much of years earlier – and failed to do so. A most ( Continued on page 21 ) St Croix must confront the evil again the same. Kushiel’s Scion lays the even though she knows the Darkness foundation for an equally complex wants her for her blood and the power rendering of Imriel. Carey is a marvel. she holds. The neomage goes into the Her stories are wonderfully complex, heart of evil’s lair to free a seraph and a layered, deeply insightful of human cherub who have been bound and used to desires, and marvelously characterized. breed evil mutations in hopes of utilizing The plotting is amazing, as well. In the power similar to Thorn’s mage abilities. words of a popular redneck comedian… The Darkness is actually learning things, “it don’ get no better ‘n this.” - and becoming not only more powerful Catherine Book but more wily, something the angelic hierarchy did not think it could do. Moon Called The action and the force of this tale by Patricia Briggs propel it forward to a really exciting ACE Fantasy, 304 pages, $7.99 climatic battle, much like the one that and ended the first book. However, being a Blood Bound second book, the novel leaves you by Patricia Briggs wanting more of course. A great deal ACE Fantasy,292 pages, $7.99 more. And as for romance: Lucas, Thorn’s Moon Called and Blood Bound tell the ex-husband gets back into her life. And story of a VW mechanic named Mercedes she and Thaddeus Bartholomew still who just happens to be a shapeshifter. haven’t gotten together! - Sue Martin Mercy, who can turn into a coyote at will, was raised by werewolves but left the Kushiel’s Scion pack when it became clear she didn’t by Jacqueline Carey really belong. In a world where the $26.95, Warner Books, 753pp preternatural are slowly making them- selves known she now owns a repair shop This is the 4th novel in Carey’s she purchased from Zee, a gremlin, lives Kushiel’s Legacy series. The supposition next door to the local Alpha werewolf is that the apostles to the son of god, were and has a vampire friend whose van is themselves gods and actually walked the painted like the Scooby van. Who could earth and founded a nation on their resist a set-up like that? principles and gifts. Phedre is a legacy of Both novels are packed with action. one of them – Kushiel. Phedre, who was The plots move along quickly, the raised in a house of pleasure, and was characters are well rounded and the adopted by a man who also taught her romantic triangle is wonderfully tense more…esoteric skills. Skills to read a and fun. Even the auxiliary characters are person’s face and body and know the interesting such as Stefan the vampire truth, skills to know what words to use at and Warren the gay werewolf. This a moment when history could change on promises to be a delightful series and, one person’s whim, skills to win the heart having read the first two books in two of any man or woman. Phedre’s greatest days, I look forward to the next one.(Due pleasure came from pain; which made her January 2008 aarrgghhh!) - Stephanie L the most sought-after courtesan in the Bannon country. But that was not her only destiny. Her unique combination of talents helped her save her own country, forged an alliance with another nation, Page 20 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 In Our Book mystery with well-drawn characters and gotten to be nothing out of the ordinary The Secret History of Vampires ( Continued from page 20 ) motivations. I couldn’t put it down once I for Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie edited by Darrell Schweitzer started closing in on the end. - Catherine Stackhouse. Still, even she has her limits. Daw Books; $7.99; 310 pp. and while all Harper really desires is Book Betrayed by her longtime vampire love, peace for Tabitha, she gets more of those Sookie must now not only deal with a This is a very satisfying gathering of secrets that she cares for…until she gets All Together Dead possible new man in her life - the oh-so- stories albeit wrapped around by a cheesy the one secret that may mean the end of by Charlaine Harris handsome shapeshifter Quinn - but also cover. The thirteen pieces are clever her brother’s life. And on top of all that, Ace, 336 pages, $24.95 contend with the long-planned vampire alternate history tales, with a vampire Harper herself has a secret; one that she’d summit in Rhodes. twist. rather keep and ruin her own life than Book 7 in the Sookie Stackhouse The summit, which has attracted There are some wonderful ideas allow her brother to know. series undead power players from all over the percolating on these pages. Especially This is the second in Charlaine’s new From the book cover: “Being sur- central U.S., is sure to be a tense situa- noteworthy is Harry Turtledove’s “Under series and just as good and satisfying as rounded by all varieties of undead, tion. The vampire queen of Louisiana is St. Peter’s.” The premise of his tale is the first. A very competent murder changling and preternatural beings has in a precarious position, her power base worth not revealing here, but it is a weakened by hurricane whopper! Tanith Lee’s “Green Wallpa- damage to New per” is the richest and most evocative and Orleans. And there are deals with Napoleon in exile. An excel- some vamps who lent, complex story. “Harpy” by Chelsea would like to finish Quinn Yarbro starring the inestimable what nature started. Count St. Germain is a small gem and With secret alliances Ron Goulart’s “Garbo Quits” is very and backroom deals funny. The other authors include: Brian the order of the day - Stableford, Sarah A Hoyt, Connie Willis, and night - Sookie Ian Watson, John Gregory Betancourt, must decide what side Gregory Frost, Keith Taylor, Mike she’ll stand with. And Resnick, P. D. Cacek and Schweitzer. her choice may mean I think you will enjoy these delightful the difference between and well-written stories more if I don’t survival and all-out give away the plots. They are worth the catastrophe.” read and the cover price, especially if you Sookie has been are NOT a vampire fan, because they hired by the Queen of show how excellent tales of those ‘that Louisiana to go to the hunt the night’ can be. - Sue Martin vampire summit and read the minds of the Demons Are Forever human companions by Julie Kenner that will be there. Berkley, 304 pages, $14.00 While Sookie looks forward to the trip up Book 3 in the Demon Hunting Soccer- north and seeing fellow Mom series. telepath Barry the From the back cover: “It isn’t easy Bellboy, she is not so when your daughter’s figured out that her happy with the idea of mom’s a demon hunter-and wants to being a witness at the grow up to be just like her. Or when you Queen’s trial for suspect your dead husband used the murdering her hus- forces of darkness to filch the body of band, the King of another human. And your living husband Arkansas. Add to that a isn’t the man you married anymore either. few vampire murders, Moreover, Kate’s acquired a precious fanatic anti-vampire but deadly item that every demon within protesters, bombs, commuting distance wants. With husband vampire politics and woes playing havoc with her emotions, the fact that Sookie’s an ambitious teenage protégée at her past lovers, Eric and heels, and hell to pay, this stay-at-home Bill, are on site as well mom’s putting in a lot of overtime.” as her new lover Quinn The events of Demons Are Forever - well maybe this trip pick up immediately after the end of up north wasn’t such a California Demon. Kate now has several good idea after all. people that know about her secret life, her The Sookie daughter Allie, her best friend Laura and Stackhouse novels are David, her daughter’s teacher who just a treat. All the charac- might be Kate’s late husband’s soul in a ters are well rounded, new body. the plot moves along Now Allie wants to be a demon so quickly and hunter, just like her mom. Both Allie and smoothly that I was Kate continue to investigate the death of surprised when I Kate’s late husband, Eric, since it appears reached the end of the to have been murder related to his demon book. I look forward to hunting activities instead of a simple the next book. Highly mugging. The mysterious martial arts recommended. - teacher, Cutter, helps with the investiga- Stephanie L Bannon ( Continued on page 22 ) Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 21 In Our Book The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl Beyond the painted door is the west that Now the mages have raised an army ( Continued from page 21 ) by Tim Pratt Rangergirl lives in; along with the twisted of unstoppable war machines and tion into Eric’s past and he and Allie turn $12.00, Bantam Spectra, 399 pp rules of that country. And the monster warriors under their most trusted Lieuten- up information that makes Kate begins to that managed to escape into our world is ant to destroy Noreela through an almost worry that she didn’t know her late Marzi manages a coffeeshop with a a bad man in black with a harsh western inconceivable reign of bloodshed. husband as well as she thought she did. singular history and writes a comicbook way of talking. It looks like Marzi has to But the last survivors will not go Even more doubts creep in when the on the side. The inspiration for the have a showdown…at noon. gently into the night. Kosar the Thief beautiful rogue hunter Nadia shows up in comicbook heroine, Rangergirl, came to This was a fun story. It appealed to me becomes the reluctant leader of a desper- town. Current husband Stuart is still in her along with a pretty significant mental because it dealt with a woman who writes ate band of rebels. They include a the dark about Kate’s past, and current, breakdown. Marzi doesn’t want to and draws a comicbook. It had dreaming librarian, a fledge mine, and a demon hunting activities since he is remember what she experienced. She also comicbook heroes and monsters. It had a witch. In those dreams, Alishia finds the focused on his political campaign. doesn’t want to admit to a connection pretty good plot. I have to admit the past they must follow. A prophesy that And then there are the demons - with the monster who whispers on the cover art is what really sucked me in – a says the future of the land lies in the Andramelech who is trying to make a other side of the painted door in a storage girl packing a six-gun wearing a red womb of the land will emerge in an come back into this world. And his room. But, eventually, as these stories go, plastic bangle bracelet. This was a good unborn child...... if she can stay alive till minions that keep attacking Kate looking she does have to start realizing that her story. It was not a great story. It had a bit dawn. for some unknown relic. imagination that gives her Rangergirl is more depth than a comicbook but not too Lebbon has continued his fantasy with Political campaign for the current responsible for letting the monster out. much more. The characters were interest- well-drawn characters, a literate handling husband, late husband worries, car-pools, But that isn’t all that Marzi has to deal ing but not very real to me. But some- of the horror of war and people coming to play dates, housework, stay at home mom with. One of the coffeeshop regulars times I’m in the mood for something their destiny. The final battle leaves the to a toddler - Kate has a busy life even seems to have lost most of the crayons in light. - Catherine Book loose ends begging for a sequel for without the demon hunting tossed in. his box. He’s determined to free the resolution. This is fantasy noir, dark and This is a fast paced, action-packed earthquake god who is imprisoned in the The Good Girls’ Ghouls’ Guide to twisted but with seeds of hope. If you like book, the plot moves along well and the storeroom. And he’s got company – a Getting Even horror with your fantasy, you will love characters are real. In between battling murdered woman who is now totally by Julie Kenner this one. - Pam Allan demons Kate worries about fitting into a living mud and equally determined to free Penguin, 247 pages, $9.99 new dress to seduce her husband, friend her goddess who’s being imprisoned in Season of the Witch Laura deals with a divorce and their the coffeeshop by Marzi. From the back cover: “Beth Fraiser’s by Natasha Mostert daughters deal with the perils of high And just to really make Marzi’s week ticked off. Her junior year of high school Dutton, 395 pp, $24.95 school. A truly wonderful series. I wish – she’s discovered that she’s really the was going fine. Amazing grades. Early the next book was coming out sooner guardian who’s responsible for warding admission to college. And a date with the Season of the Witch is the fourth novel than summer of 2008 *sigh*. Highly the monster and since she let it out, she star quarterback. But no. Thanks to a by the author of The Midnight Side, The recommended - Stephanie L Bannon has to figure out how to stop it. And other bunch of jerkwad vampire jocks, she Other Side of Silence, and Windwalker. It ‘creatures’ from beyond the painted door, ended up dead. Or rather undead, and might be termed an Occult mystery- are pretty insistent that it’s her job. with a thirst that a thousand Diet Cokes fantasy. couldn’t quench. All his life, Gabriel Blackstone has Now she’s out for blood - and been a remote viewer, someone who can revenge. She knows exactly what to do. enter the most private and personal Beth’s read Salem’s Lot. Just wipe out the thoughts. When his arrogance might have crowd that did her in. But with so many cost a kidnapped woman her life, he creeps in high school it’s hard to separate ceased the practice of his gift. Instead he the good vamps from the bad. On top of became a data thief. When his ex- that, she’s got to figure out how to be girlfriend asks him to find out what mortal again. Unless universities start happened to her stepson, old feelings accepting dead girls...” surface. And when he agrees, his search This is Julie Kenner’s first young leads him to a pair of sexy solar witches, adult book and it is a delight. It perfectly students of alchemy and the ancient Art captures the woes of being smart, but not of Memory. popular, in high school and the pitfalls it Gabriel is soon convinced that one of leads to, though most won’t find them- the Monk sisters is the murderer of the selves joining the ranks of the undead young man. But determining who because they join the cheerleading squad. requires deepening involvement with the Her method of revenge is wonderfully sisters, When he tries remote viewing , he devious. finds himself being scanned. The hunter Recommended for teens and anyone becomes the hunted and his hacking of looking for a quick fun read. Book two in the computers cannot tell him who is the the series will be out in October. - diarist. Meanwhile he is seduced into Stephanie L Bannon their erotic world. As people start dying, he finds himself under psychic attack. Dawn Will he survive? Will the sisters? by Tim Lebbon This page-turner is filled with erotic Bantam, 400 pp, $12.00 action, chilling twists and erudite turns. It gives a whole new meaning to “it’s all in Dawn is the sequel to Dusk. your mind.” Great characterization, and Noreela teeters on the brink of beautiful imagery will have me looking annihilation. At its center grows a for more by this author . - Pam Allan stronger magic. A boy carried the seeds of this magic within, a promise of a new golden age until the exiled mages extracted the power, and warped it to their own ends.

Page 22 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3 once a month for discussion of various sci-fi A GATHERING OF PLAYERS-Find Your Director—480-969-4049 Web page: news regarding several mediums to include: Adventure www.mvdghostchasers.com or Club television, movies, video, books, comics, Our club is running into our fourth year. Join [email protected] magazines, collecting, and so forth. The us for games and adventure set in the meetings are comprised of news, review and Dungeons and Dragons realm. We offer ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION Listings comment, BBS/computer news and help, Living Greyhawk and Xen’drik Expeditions. CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North meeting new members, video presentations, Visit http://www.warhorn.net/gathering, to see (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks what we have coming up. built around guest speakers. We’ve had there is a club out there available for you are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per We will have character creation sessions to authors such as Octavia Butler and Greg people. meeting) to compensate the host. (No other get you started and answer all questions. Our Benford. Non-members are welcome. For Across Plus is a social club that discuses fees are involved.) The electronic home of the group has been together, and growing, for details of current events and location see our anime, video games, manga, other animation, Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station four years. We’re a good group of friends that website www.ocsfc.org or email and the Japanese culture. We meet at BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for believe in gaming fun first. Our member [email protected] Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern On the group range from 13-40-something with group’s ages range from 13 to 49. Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. both male and female members. Other We welcome both new and experienced PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated In general, we explore anime, manga, and activities include null-modem link gamefests, players. to building and promoting Autonomous other styles of animation, creative educative group theater movie viewings, convention 10:00 a.m. Character Creation - We will have robotics. The club has been in existance since demonstrations, participate in interactive trips and more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, a session to create characters for all of the 1998. Meetings are currently conducted twice discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, low-structure environment. NO RUBBER campaigns we run. AGoP will have all books a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona and make cosplay. EARS ALLOWED!! For questions, you can available for reference. We encourage you to locations., http://www.parex.org/ We are willing to gain any new members out call the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; purchase the books if you like the game. All meetings.shtml. Club dues are on an annual there who are interested. Dues are only $2 per 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 character materials are provided; character basis: Regular members $20 Student members month. Our members are very friendly, sheets, master item logs, adventure records, $15 Of course visitors are always welcome respectful, and fun. We welcome any and all. BASFA Local Tucson science fiction group etc. Dice will be loaned to you if you don’t because we know you will eventually become For more information, contact Shane Bryner that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box have any yet. In other words, all that is a member anyway Web page: http:// at [email protected] 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or needed for the first day is for you to join www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John [email protected] us and have fun. Kittelsrud, [email protected] ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- our website at http://home.earthlink.net/ If you have any questions email us at sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, ~basfa/ [email protected]. THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. Park. All are welcome. Free. FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. PFFS has been in existence for 30 years, non-profit corporation that puts on For more information call Carol Alves, meeting every 6 weeks in member’s homes. AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Dues are $10 per year. Membership includes Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and Knights, c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, newsletters, an annual film awards and Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone publishes Con-Notations. Best described as Hesperia CA, 92345-7066. various outings. For information, contact welcome. All levels skill exchange in many SF/F generalists with a strong bent towards PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or areas of object manipulation Dave Davis literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: , 602-955-9446; on the last Friday of each month in January area corporations that put on yearly conven- [email protected]. or Ron Harvey , 480- thru September and the second Friday in tions. Best described as SF/F generalists with 775-4690 for more info or impromptu October, November and December at JB’s a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A juggling sessions. Restaurant, 2560 W. Indian School in welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the Phoenix, AZ. For information: write PO Box second Saturday of February, May, August & ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to ANIZONA ANIME CONVENTION INC 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or email November unless otherwise notified. August the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by The group that sponsors Arizona’s premiere [email protected] Web www.casfs.org is the annual meeting where board positions White Wolf publishing. Contact Mike Anime convention each year. Monthly are deter-mined. For more information, write McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 meetings alternate between the east and west *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202- valley at Bookmans. If you are interested in Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email 3144 or [email protected] Anime and conventions this is the group for Reenactment group specializing in the [email protected] Webpage: you! Visitors welcome. For more information western European renaissance. We research www.leprecon.org RAW GAMES (Role-players & check our website at www.anizona.org or lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & email to [email protected] Celtic Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. MIB The Men in Black is the official global Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- We emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and organization of field operatives for Steve playing and wargaming club. Currently ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A do Celtic re-enactment. We open participation Jackson Games. We attend local conventions meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix every collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, to anyone with an interest in period crafting to demonstrate and promote products of Steve Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except during the Arizona LANbashers League throws and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in conventions and other special events). Open quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and local gaming stores as well as community to new members - call (602) 849-9515. support is given to local groups who wish to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page service events. If you have a gaming store, www.rawgames.org advertise their own gatherings. We have no http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at convention, or community service that you set genre of games and play anything from the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and would like to have official Steve Jackson SHIELD OF ALMOR The Shield of Almor strategy games to first-person shooters to Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, Games representation at, please contact the is a RPGA club located in the greater Phoenix driving/flying simulations. No annual phone number (480)350-5211. The Board MIB Arizona Cell area. If you are interested in Living Greyhawk membership is required and admission to an meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General Leader at [email protected]. We are also catch one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage meeting starting at 2:30 pm. recruiting new MIBs in some areas of every month at Imperial Outpost Games for current events. Email: Arizona. If you’re interested, contact us. You (www.imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If [email protected] Web: THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An can find additional information about the you are interested in Living Arcanis or Living www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- organization formed for the expression and Arizona MIB at our website http:// Spycraft catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every 9339 exploration of various cultural themes members.cox.net/mib.6361/ month also at Imperial Outpost Games. The including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages Shield of Almor hosts RPGA events at the ARIZONA PARANORMAL and the Renaissance through forms of art MVD GHOSTCHASERS—The MVD local Phoenix conventions. For more INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly including, but not limited to, painting, Ghostchasers are a paranormal team information visit us at trained, non-profit paranormal investigation drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, established in 1995. This band of ghost games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ or group, registered with the state of Arizona, and acts of characterization. 2) a member of hunters conducts regular investigations of you can sign up for games at providing service to Arizona and the this organization. 3) Information available at haunted, historical locations throughout www.nyrond.org. Or you can just stop by the Southwest since 1994. Having served the www.darkones.org Arizona. They also research and investigate 1st Sunday of the month. Meeting starts at public for 12 years, we are one of the oldest, “house call” hauntings for the public. The 10am. Hope to see you there. most respected paranormal investigation THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo groups in Arizona. We are primarily science STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE based and don’t go on an investigation Steel specializes in the general recreation of across Arizona. These workshops give ghost ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt looking for ghosts, we go looking for the culture of the Middle Ages including all of hunters, paranormal team members and folks doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair answers. There is never a charge for an the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a kingdom can be found six Baronies: investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts chance to work and learn techniques together. Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, [email protected] or covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For visit our website at: http:// and any location within Europe or its explored speakers at many venues and have appeared more information on any of these or for www.arizonaparanormalinvestigations.com/ territories. For more information contact on TV news reports and the subject of several general information on contact the Kingdom Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: newspaper stories. For more information Seneschal. Email: [email protected] THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a www.galandor.org contact: Web www.atenveldt.com general sci-fi appreciation group that meets MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, ( Continued on page 24 ) Volume 17 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 23 Club Listings 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 LepreCon 34 (May 9-11, 2008) Fran- ( Continued from page 23 ) What is CASFS? members. There are no dues other than the cisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, Casa What is really behind putting on a $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are Grande, AZ Artist Guest: Howard SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD The convention? What are the funds raised by scattered world wide but the primary clusters Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose a convention used for? Why not attend a are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t Tayler; Author Guests: Emily & Ernest organization of persons interested in all facets meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor meet on a regular basis since they are a Hogan; Local Artist Guest: Liz Danforth; of historical, cultural, science fiction, fantasy, of ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, correspondence chapter. Their web site is: Special FX/Makeup Guest: David Ayres and humor costume. Members are often seen SmerfCons and other conventions. We are http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ Memberships: $25 thru 8/31/07, $30 thru on stage and behind the scenes at local and and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, a charitable, non-profit organization that regional Science Fiction Convention [email protected] 10/31/07 Info: LepreCon 34 PO Box masquerades. They meet on the last Sunday of exists to further science fiction, fantasy 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285 (480) 945- and science fields in Arizona. CASFS each month at various members’ homes in the Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We 6890 currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest maintain a mailing list for news and get- Email: [email protected] web: http:// Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, 2560 W Indian School Rd in Phoenix (NW togethers of fans of the X-Files living in AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at corner of I-17 and Indian School). The Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix www.leprecon.org [email protected] or meetings begin at 8PM and are held on the and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an www.southwestcostumersguild.org last Friday of the month Jan. through Sept. empty message to z-philes- and on the second Friday of the month Oct [email protected] SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically two meetings as a guest (non-member). WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s Membership rates are $12/year plus an CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit possible within ten years, with a little luck initial $3 application fee and rates are pro- corporation that sponsors the ConRunners and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us rated for the amount of the year remaining. seminars and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for Dedicated primarily to educational activities For more info: Webpage: www.casfs.org one year, which gets you emailed Space relating to literature, music, and visual and Email: [email protected] Access Updates the instant they pass final performing arts, especially in the genres of edit, plus discounts on our annual conference science fiction, fantasy, costuming, gaming on the technology, politics, and business of regular mail only and the newsletter and and science. Applicants for membership in radically cheaper space transportation, materials will not be reproduced electroni- WesternSFA must be sponsored by a current featuring leading players in the field. Email cally. To join the action and initiate your active WesternSFA member. Dues are $10 us at: [email protected] annual membership, make check or money yearly plus a $5 non-refundable application Web page: www.space-access.org/ order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan fee. General Meetings are held on the first Club (Membership section), 2522 N Friday of February, May, August and SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING Sparkman Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 November, at the Bookmans located at 19th SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of ave. and Northern in Phoenix Guests are model and high-power rockets and those who T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and welcome. For more info contact Craig Dyer at love to see them fly. Launches are held on the fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the WesternSFA, PO Box 67457, Phoenix AZ second Saturday morning of each month in Arizona State University campus, with dates 85082, (602) 973-2341, Email: Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. and places to be announced after the semester [email protected] Webpage: Harry Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every starts. For more information, Email www.westernsfa.org October. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for [email protected] Web membership information, directions to the www.themonline.org launches and meetings, and to read the Convention monthly newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address is [email protected] or Listings TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ [email protected] Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- PHOENIX CONGAMES (June 14th - tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A 17th 2007 ) Mesa AZ Mesa Convention meets every two weeks at different locations Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan around the valley. Activities include watching club. We are a social club that meets every Center & Phoenix Marriott East in Mesa videos, discussions, parties, games, and two weeks at various locations around the Arizona. Membership $20 thru November occasional outings with more to come now Phoenix area. The UFP has been meeting for 30th, 2006, $25 thru January 31st, 2007, that Doctor Who is returning from hiatus. over 30 years of continuous activity. Dues are $30 thru April 30th, 2007, $35 at the door Many members maintain an active presence at $15/per year prorated when you join; no conventions. You can contact us at 2243 W restrictions. Membership includes member- http://www.conevents.com/page/phx/ Wagon Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice ship roster and monthly newsletter. Come to main.asp Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- any two meetings at no obligation. For [email protected] or visit us at http:// information, write the UFP at PO Box 37224, CopperCon 27 (September 7-9. 2007) members.cox.net/tardisaz/tardis.html Phoenix, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) Phoenix, AZ Embassy Suites North, 242-9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org Mailing/Subscription Information TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the or Email to [email protected] 2577 W Greenway. Membership: $35 series’ production companies and the USA thru 6/30/2007, $40 thru 8/15/2007, $45 Network! It is THE information conduit USS STORMBRINGER The Stormbringer is at the door. GoH Charlaine Harris, Music ConNotations is sent free of charge to those who have attended a CASFS between the fans and the series! Fan club a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter GoH Heather Stern & Alison Stern. More membership will bring you the following 1) of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. sponsored convention in the past subscription to the info filled Tek Informer The chapter was commissioned as the USS info www.coppercon.org calendar year (currently 2006). Attend- newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to ees of CopperCon 26 or HexaCon 16 membership card and kit. Membership is by Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on TusCon 34 (Nov 9-11, 2007) Inn Suites will receive ConNotations Volume 17 Hotel, Tucson, AZ Author GoH: John Issues 1 thru 6. Generic Convention Registration Form Ringo; Toastmaster: Ed Bryant Member- ships: $40 until 9/5, then $45 after that ConNotations updates it’s mailing list and at the door. www.home.earthlink.net/ each December. Name:______~basfa Individual subscriptions are available for Badge Name:______$20 for 6 issues beginning January 1, LOSCON 34 (Nov 23-25 ’07) LAX 2007. Address:______Marriott, Los Angeles, CA GoH: Robert City/State/ZIP:______J. Sawyer, writer; Theresa Mather, artist; Some non-CASFS groups give their Capt. David West Reynolds, fan; Dr. membership lists to CASFS and Phone:______Email:______James Robinson, music. MEMBERSHIP purchase a bulk corporate subscription Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for RATES Currently $35 Until May 31st so their attendees may also receive ($40 until August 31st $45 until October ConNotations ______convention. 31st $50 at the door) Kids 4-12 are 1/2 (See individual convention listing for mailing address) Price Website: www.loscon.org/34/ Currently these groups are: More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other index.html Page 24 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 3