Volume 17, Issue 6 December / January ConNotations 2007 / 2008 The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

A Conversation with Featured Inside Alan Dean Foster Regular Features Special Features by Catherine Book SF Tube Talk A Conversation with I’ve met Alan All the latest news about Alan Dean Foster several times over Scienc Fiction TV shows by Catherine Book the past few years by Lee Whiteside and it belatedly Delving Into James Sallis occurred to me 24 Frames by Shane Shellenbarger that he would All the latest Movie News probably give by Lee Whiteside An American in Canada - Part 8 great interview. He by Jeffrey Lu was appearing at Gamers Corner the Arizona Book New and Reviews from Plus Festival this past the gaming world April and agreed CASFS Business Report to spend a few Videophile Editorials minutes with me. Reviews of genre releases Our readers share their thoughts And I was right…. on DVD I’ve always FYI been impressed Screening Room News and tidbits of interest to fans with how well- Reviews of current theatrical releases Club Listings traveled Alan is. Once he emailed me from for the past 26 years…with the exception MangaZone Palau. So, why, I wondered, did he choose of being close to sea for Alan; but since Reviews of Manga and Comics Convention List & to live in Prescott, Arizona? He was raised he travels frequently, he does get to the Generic Registration Form in LA, met his wife in California and she ocean from time to time. In Our Book was from Texas so it was a bit of a So, with all the places he’s been to in Reviews of New SF/F Books challenge to find a location that was a the last forty years, what’s left to interest CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT good compromise. It had to be mild him? He’s planning a trip to the Yap Musty Tomes climate all year long with the possibility of outer islands in Micronesia – pretty Reviews of Classic Genre books http://www.casfs.org/ConNotations/ finding a Victorian-era home with no much off the beaten path. Did he ever get tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes or to West Papua to see the Tasmanian Words of Wozdom FOR UP TO DATE INFO AND MOVIE mudslides. Prescott was featured in an wolf? Unfortunately, the local political An Eclectic Column of Musings REVIEWS BETWEEN ISSUES Arizona Highways issue and attracted climate kept him away. by M Wozny them. It turned out to be all they wanted ( Continued on page 8 )

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Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who Is Who This Issue BOOK STORES 85210 (480) 752-1881 Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bent Cover Bookstore Samurai Comics News & Reviews Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85029 5024 N. 7th St, Phoenix AZ (602) 265-8886 CASFS Business Report 2 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer (602) 942-5932 10720 W. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ Film & Video Editors: Len Berger & SF Tube Talk 3 Craig L Dyer Book Adventure (623) 872-8886 24 Frames 3 660 N. Gilbert Rd, Suite B, Gilbert AZ Stalking Moon Comics & Collectibles Promotions Directors: Len Berger, 85234 (480) 892-2120 5930 W. Greenway #23, Glendale, AZ FYI 6 Richard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer Book Den 85306 (602) 896-9992 Videophile 9 Advertising: Catherine Book 15410 N. 67th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85306 Proof Readers: Catherine Book, Bob Editorials 10 LaPierre & Gary Swaty (623) 486-2529 GAME STORES MangaZone 10 Book Exchange EB Games Reporters: Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey Lu 4320 N. Miller Road #F, Scottsdale, AZ Metrocenter Parkway, Phoenix, AZ Words of Wozdom 11 Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Nadine 85251 (480)990-8380 Game Daze Screening Room 12 Armstrong, Stephanie L Bannon, Catherine Book, Shane Bryner, Craig L. Dyer, M.L. Book Gallery 2140 E. 5th St #11, Tempe AZ 85281 Gamers Corner 12 Fringe, Michael Griffin, Bob LaPierre, 3643 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ (480)317-9181 In Our Book (Book Reviews) 13 Randy Lindsey, Jeffrey Lu, Christina 85018 (602)468-0400 Game Daze #1: Paradise Valley Mall, 4550 Musty Tomes 21 Paige, Shane Shellenbarger, Gary Swaty, 50 W. Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 E. Cactus Rd, #422, Phoenix AZ 85032 Tom Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, Randall (480) 835-0757 (602)494-4263 Whitlock Book Rack Game Daze #2 Superstition Springs Center, Special Features Contributors: Michael Contos, M Wozny 3539 W. Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85053 6555 E. Southern Ave #2026, Mesa AZ A Conversation with Alan Dean Foster Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon (602) 843-3026 85206 (480)981-4850 by Catherine Book 1 Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Dyer Bookmans Game Daze #3 Scottsdale Fashion Square, Delving into Jame Sallis Contributors: Michael Contos, M Wozny 1056 S. Country Club, Mesa, AZ 85210 7014 E. Camelback Rd #2117, Scottsdale Labeling Crew for Volume 17 Issue 5: (480) 835-0505 AZ 85251 (480) 947-1101 By Shane Shellenbarger 7 Richard Bolinski, Shane Bryner, Craig L 8034 N. 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85021 Game Daze #4 Flagstaff Mall, 4650 N. 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LONG Phoenix, AZ 85082 Gregg’s Comics 741 E. Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85020 discussion about this topic. Nothing ISSUE NUMBER: Volume 17 Issue 6 2722 S. Alma School Rd. #8, Mesa, AZ, (602) 252-1200 SUBSCRIPTION: $20 for 6 ISSUES 11/07/2007 decided. Page 2 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 discover that a human-form replicator Escape From New York. Director Brett SF Tube Talk engineered by scientists is on the loose. 24 Frames Ratner pulled out of the movie and star TV News & Previews The producers promise a lot of Sheppard Gerard Butler did the same a few days backstory in this episode that was based Movie News later. Jonathan Mostow has been brought By Lee Whiteside on a story idea from Joe Flanigan. In By Lee Whiteside in to rewrite the script and possibly direct early February, Midway will feature a it once they find a new lead actor. At press time, the screenwriter’s guild guest appearance by Christopher Judge The cast is set for the Star Trek movie Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is has gone on strike. If it goes on for any as Teal’c when several of the Atlantis and filming is underway. James T. Kirk is getting lots of genre roles. He plays Agent length of time, it will definitely affect team visit the Midway space station set up being played by Chris Pine, Spock by 23 in the Get Smart movie, a ex-con Las pretty much all of the US-produced TV to provide a bridge between the Pegasus Zachary Quinto (with Leonard Nimoy Vegas taxi driver in the Escape From series. Some Canadian shows that use Gate system and the Milky Way gate also appearing as an older Spock), Karl Witch Mountain remake from Disney, primarily US writers will likely also be system. Things get dicey when some Urban as Dr. Leonard McCoy, Simon and he’ll also be playing Black Adam in affected. As always, planned airings are Wraith show up. Pegg as Montgomery Scott, John Cho as the Shazam! movie bringing Captain subject to change, and very much so, if On the Battlestar Galactica front, Hikaru Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Marvel to the big screen. According to the strike continues for any significant SciFi just aired the Battlestar Galactica: Chekov, and Zoe Saldana as Uhura. Eric Johnson, the Witch Mountain remake length of time. In the meantime, there’re Razor movie and the DVD release will be Bana will be playing Nero, the villain of will really bring to life the Witch still a few new things turning up in on December 4th with the young Bill the film, Bruce Greenwood will be Mountain facility that the kids are December and January in the science Adama segments aired as minisodes Captain Christopher Pike, Rachel Nichols escaping from and promises a lot of fiction and fantasy genre on TV. leading up to the airing of the movie has an unspecified role, and Greg action, humor and will be a fun, fast ride. Coming up on SciFi is their big incorporated into the movie for the DVD Grunberg is likely to have some sort of As for playing Black Adam, he was December miniseries, Tin Man. It will run release along with additional scenes not small role, as he has in all of J.J. Abrams originally being considered for the role of on three consecutive nights (December 2, broadcast. You may want to pick up that TV shows and films. As to what is Captain Marvel, but after fans at San 3 and 4) at 9 pm ET/PT with all six hours to tide you over until April when the actually happening in the film, there is Diego ComicCon told him about the airing back to back on Sunday December fourth and final season of Battlestar still no real information. It has been Black Adam character, he looked at the 9th starting at 5 pm ET/PT. SciFi is Galactica is scheduled to debut. Reports indicated that it will serve as an origin history and decided that would be a better hoping this will be a breakthrough are that the first half of the season has story of sorts for Kirk, Spock and McCoy, role to play. Shazam! is being directed by miniseries for them but fan anticipation been completed but the remaining but may also jump around in time a bit. Peter Segal (who also directed Get and internet buzz so far has been pretty episodes may be delayed by the writers Now that filming is underway, more Smart) and will likely film late in 2008. lackluster. From the information I’ve seen strike. information is likely to leak out. As for Sarah Michelle Gellar is also and reported previously, it may be worth SciFi has announced they have William Shatner appearing as Kirk in the continuing with roles in genre movies, catching to see how they’ve reimagined renewed both Eureka and Destination film, that now doesn’t appear to be having already filmed the role of Sorrow the original story. Chances are there won’t Truth for new seasons to air next summer. happening and Shatner has made sure to opposite Kevin Bacon’s Love, Brendan be much else new on the air to watch, so They have also green lighted Ghost mention it whenever he does an interview, Fraser’s Pleasure and Forest Whitaker’s check it out. Hunters International that will follow a claiming it is a “bad business decision” Happiness in the movie The Air I SciFi has announced that Stargate new paranormal team as they investigate for the film makers. Breathe. According to Gellar in a recent Atlantis has been renewed for a fifth paranormal sites in Europe. The There’s also been some new movies interview “it’s basically based on the season. Since post-production is still in International team will consist of veteran announced; although if scripts are not Chinese concept of emotion and each one progress for season four, Atlantis TAPS investigators Robb Demarest, ready, they may not progress much until of the actors represents an emotion. And producers have not announced any major Andy Andrews, Brian Harnois, and the writer’s strike is over. Guillermo del the general concept behind it is that, until changes to the show but are hoping to Donna La Croix, along with Barry Toro is planning to write, direct, and you’ve experienced all the emotions, you have Amanda Tapping and Jewel Staite Fitzgerald (memorable from the Ghost produce a film adaptation of the 1960’s can’t really live [any of] them. You don’t continue with them. Coming up on Hunters’ legendary investigations in British television series Champions. It is know ... pleasure until you’ve known December 7th will be the Stargate Ireland) and newcomer Shannon Sylvia. about a team of government agents who sorrow. You don’t know happiness until Atlantis mid-season finale, This Mortal Look for the debut of Ghost Hunters crash in the mountains and are rescued by you’ve known pain. ... So we represent Coil, which will feature a return of Torri International in January. a hidden advanced civilization and given those different characters.” She also stars Higginson as Elizabeth Weir. Not much SciFi has also announced several pilot extraordinary powers. del Toro also has in in Possession, a psychological thriller information has been released about the movie pickups that could potentially turn the works 3993 which will complete the about a woman whose husband and episode, though. It will lead into the into series. First up is Earthlings, a fantasy trilogy started with The Devil’s brother-in-law both end up in comas, but second half opener Be All My Sins dramedy looking to tap into the Eureka Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth. It will when her brother-in-law comes out of his Remembered which will have the Atlantis viewership with another quirky show. It is have the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop coma, he believes that he is her husband. team working together with the Wraith about three humanoid aliens stranded in and will take place in 1993 as well as Has her husband come back in her against a common enemy and will feature middle America. SciFi describes it as 1939. Before he can get to either of those brother-in-law’s body or is there a really big space battle with Wraith ships, exploring themes such as those in two movies, he’ll need to finish up post- something else going on? Her co-stars are The Apollo, The Deadalus, and the enemy “classics ... Stranger in a Strange Land, production on Hellboy II: The Golden Lee Pace and Michael Landes and it ships (maybe Replicator ships?). At press The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Army. likely opens in March of 2008. time it was assumed the second half of the Starman, but with a healthy does of The latest classic movie to get a On the fast track into production is the Stargate Atlantis season would resume in South Park-like satire. Stranded on our remake is The Day the Earth Stood Still. long delayed X-Files 2 movie. Both early January, but SciFi has not yet world under false pretenses, the intrepid Jennifer Connelly has signed on to star David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson confirmed their schedule for the first of trio - a woman and two men in human as Helen Benson along with Keanu return as Mulder and Scully. Chris the year. Next up will be Spoils of War form - must figure out how to escape, Reeves and possibly Kathy Bates in the Carter will direct from a script he co- which will, essentially, be the third part of while navigating the subtle and confusing updated retelling of the cautionary tale of wrote with Frank Spotnitz. It is the mid-season two-parter following on social conventions of present-day Earth. alien visitation where the aliens land and scheduled to be released in late July of from the events in the prior two episodes. Despite their extremely advanced inform the humans they must live in peace next summer. There’s little information It promises to give the fans more technology and intellect, they find or be destroyed. Also in the works is a about what the movie entails other than it information about The Wraith including a themselves naive in the commonplace new version of The Wolf Man with will be a stand-alone mystery and will birthing scene. In Quarantine, Rodney things that humans take for granted: Anthony Hopkins as Sir John Talbot and take Mulder and Scully’s relationship into McKay is stuck in the botany lab with falling in love, paying bills, the joys of a Benicio Del Toro as Lawrence Talbot. “unexpected directions.” Katie Brown when the city of Atlantis is chocolate binge, etc.” I’m thinking it Mark Romanek is directing a script that Previews of upcoming releases for unexpectedly locked down for a might owe a lot to 3rd Rock From the Andrew Kevin Walker finished right December and January. quarantine that traps crew members in Sun as well... The pilot is being written before the strike started. Things aren’t The Golden Compass (Dec 7) This year’s various parts of the city. In Outcast, John looking as good for the planned remake of Sheppard and Ronon visit Earth and ( Continued on page 4 ) ( Continued on page 5 ) Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk brought back to the storage facility. SciFi good part of the Ghost Whisperer government from creating Skynet and ( Continued from page 3 ) describes is at “part Raiders of the Lost audience and a good number of viewers in save the future. They find an ally in and executive produced by Dan Walters Ark, part X-Files, and part the desired adult demographics. Mid- Cameron Phillips (Summer Glau), an (Demolition Man) with Darryl Porter Moonlighting.” Mark Stern calls it “a December will see a holiday-themed advance cyborg whose mission is to (co-executive) and Arron Geller fun, intriguing concept that should Ghost Whisperer episode Holiday Spirit protect John Connor. She poses as a high (executive) also part of the producing continue to broaden our audience through that has Melinda spending time with a school student to keep an eye on John and team. present-day, relatable stories with an young boy named Riley who has been when evil cyborgs show up, becomes his Also green-lit for a pilot is imaginative twist.” In other words, they seeing strange things happening. protector. Also joining with them is FBI Revolution, an epic drama about the hope it will attract the viewers who tune Over on The CW, look for holiday- agent James Ellison (Richard T. Jones) struggle for independence from Earth of into Eureka each week during the themed episodes of both Smallville and who has been tasked with bringing to “New America”, a distant colony on an summer. Supernatural and mostly repeats until justice the dangerous fugitive Sarah Earth like planet in the future. Revolution Over on the broadcast networks, January for those shows as well as Connor, but becomes an ally when he is created and written and executive things are a bit light during December and Reaper. In A Very Supernatural discovers the truth. Indications are that the produced by Ed Redlich (Shark, Without January and may be even lighter if the Christmas, Dean tries to convince Sam to series will be a good adaptation of the a Trace) and John Bellucci (Jack and networks decide to hold back episodes for get a tree with presents and celebrate movie storyline and likely will draw the Bobby, Without a Trace) with Simon February sweeps if they will run out of Christmas like they were kids. We’ll see fans in and keep them. There haven’t been West (Con Air, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, them due to the writers strike. flashbacks to Christmas Eve when Sam any reports of behind-the-scenes problems Keen Eddie) on board as an executive On NBC, early December will see discovers the truth about their father’s such as those that have troubled shows producer, with Jib Polhemus also on Heroes wrap up the Generations volume demon hunting. Sam and Dean also run like The Bionic Woman. Elsewhere on board as a co-executive producer. It is the of the second season which intends to afoul of a Pagan couple who claim they FOX, the news isn’t near as good for their future and the United States of America wrap up the majority, but not all, of the are gods, and end up on the pagans’ other genre show, New Amsterdam, with has settled a colony 50 light years away storylines they have been dealing with so Christmas dinner menu. Smallville will FOX shutting down production on after from Earth where many contemporary far. According to press reports, an lightly delve into the Christmas spirit in only six of the 13 ordered episodes were problems are echoed in their fight for alternate ending to the final episode of Gemini which focuses on a new produced. Reports are that FOX was not freedom. The drama will focus on the this block has been filmed that would experiment by Lex much in the vein of happy with what they were seeing so far Hart family, one of the founding families serve as a season finale if the rest of the Project: Ares and Project: Mercury. Few and were going to reevaluate the show of the New America colony. Tom Hart is other details have slipped out but expect a before determining if they would resume the family patriarch and faces pressure lot of twists and turns and a change in the production. They have announced that it from the government to heavily tax the relationship for one of the show’s couples. will air on Friday night starting in late colonists. His two rebellious sons are In January, look for the return of James February. involved with rebellion and revolutionary Marsters as Braniac/Milton Fine in Back to the cable realm, BBC America causes while Tom’s 16-year-old daughter Persona. Apparently another Kryptonian will start airing the second and final is just trying to find herself. Other has been in hiding on Earth, Dax-Ur, season of Life on Mars in early January. characters include the local Governor torn played by Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen It continues the story of Inspector Sam between her allegiance to the colony and in Superman Returns). Next up is Siren, Tyler who appears to have traveled back her desire for peace and a young which sees the return of Justin Hartley as in time to the 1970’s even though he is ambitious bureaucrat looking to bring the © NBC Oliver Queen/The Green Arrow as well as having visions of the present day. In the colony under control again. According to the introduction of Alaina Huffman as first episode of the second season, Sam Mark Stern, SciFi’s Executive Vice season is scrubbed by the writer’s strike. Dinah Lance/The Black Canary. Dinah encounters a nasty murderer he put away President of Original Programming, Also now on the shelf due in part to the Lance is the host of a conservative talk in 2006 and tries to take steps to stop him “Revolution is a powerful drama with all strike (and also possibly the lower ratings radio show but is also working for Lex from becoming a killer. In episode two, of the key emotional elements. There are for Heroes this season) is the Heroes: Luthor as the vigilante Black Canary. Sam encounters his future mentor, their power struggles, love stories, rebellions, Origins spinoff which would have With the Justice League thwarting a lot of first black team member, Glenn Fletcher. victories, great sacrifices plus thrills and featured standalone stories in the Heroes Luthor’s plans, he gives the Canary the Sam is surprised at the racist jibes action. Ultimately it’s a story of ordinary universe from Kevin Smith and Eli Roth. job of capturing The Green Arrow. After directed at Fletcher and tries to help people in extraordinary circumstances and NBC’s other new genre shows have been that should be Fracture, where Lex is shot inspire him to become the man Sam the heroes that emerge even in the most struggling in the ratings, with all three of (yet again) and we take another trip into learned from. In episode three (they don’t trying of times.” In other words, they are them struggling to maintain a steady his psyche with flashbacks/hallucinations have titles on them) Sam and his team trying to put a futuristic spin on the audience level. Chuck appears to have and such. According to Smallville deal with a bomb warning that is standard generational drama and hoping stabilized in the ratings and the mix of producers Al Gough and Miles Millar, attributed to the IRA. Sam realizes it is for something to draw in people who humor, action, and spy storylines has kept they have completed fifteen scripts for the not the IRA’s standard methods he knows don’t normally watch the SciFi channel. the audience tuning in each week. season, with the last one ending in a of. When his attempts to deal with it using Depending on the casting and who they Journeyman’s lack of a strong cast and cliffhanger that would also serve as a his special knowledge puts the team at bring on board to write the series, it might been there, done that time travel has been season finale if the writer’s strike risk, he must fight to regain their trust and have potential. losing viewers each week and would continues. make things better for them all. In episode Finally given the go-ahead for a pilot likely have been canceled already if not Debuting with a two-night premier on four, the discovery of a murdered young for SciFi is Warehouse 13 with Rockne for the strike. The Bionic Woman has also Sunday January 13th and Monday woman who is a beauty rep leads Sam and S. O’Bannon executive producing a been losing viewers each week but NBC January 14th on FOX will be Terminator: Annie into an investigation of a suburban script by O’Bannon, Jane Espenson, and is hoping a new creative team led by The Sarah Connor Chronicles. With the car dealer who is hiring models and young D. Brent Mote. It had previously been Jason Cahill will bring viewers back and writer’s strike, FOX has decided to hold women for swinging parties with wife announced in development with Ronald plans to heavily promote a re-launch of back 24 and will be airing the Terminator swapping and other nefarious activities. D. Moore involved, but it appears that the series in January. NBC still has new series in the 9 pm ET/PT time slot on Over on the BBC, they’ve just O’Bannon has taken over that role. It is episodes of Medium waiting for mid- Monday. According to the producers, the completed the first series of the Sarah also a dramedy and will focus on a pair of season that might turn up on Sunday series will follow on from Terminator 2 Jane Adventures, which has been well FBI agents who, after saving the life of nights after football ends or could end up and will not adhere to the events depicted received and reportedly has been picked the President, are “promoted” to the top- replacing Journeyman. in the ill-received Terminator 3: Rise of up for a second season. There’s no news secret location of Warehouse 13 in South ABC’s Pushing Daisies debuted the Machines sequel. The pilot opens yet of if or when the series will turn up on Dakota. It is a secret storage facility not strong and has kept hold of a significant with Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) and US TV, but BBC America is a likely unlike the one seen at the end of Raiders chunk of those viewers with its fantastical John Connor (Thomas Dekker) in hiding, outlet. For their annual Children in Need of the Lost Ark. The duo are in charge of and whimsical mix of comedy, fantasy, trying to keep a low profile from the charity telethon, the BBC produced a tracking down some missing objects as and murder mysteries. CBS’s vampire Skynet agents from the future that are still special Doctor Who mini-episode well as keeping an eye out for any new detective show Moonlight has held up trying to find them. When they are bringing together David Tennant’s tenth relatively well on Friday nights, keeping a discovered, they decide to try to keep the objects that should be confiscated and ( Continued on page 5 ) Page 4 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 SF Tube Talk 24 Frames ( Continued from page 3 ) who is out to discover the truth behind the eventually grows up to become the Loch ( Continued from page 4 ) assassination of Abraham Lincoln Ness Monster! It apparently is very cute Doctor with Peter Davison’s fifth Doctor big fantasy movie is the highly anticipated contained in 18 missing pages of John when it is small. that has been called “Time Crash.” It was The Golden Compass, based on the first Wilkes Booth’s diary. The answers lie in One Missed Call (Jan 4th) The holidays written by Stephen Moffat and book in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark the Book of Secrets that only the are over, so its time to bring out the apparently will take place right at the end Materials trilogy. It tells the story of Lyra President of the United States is allowed movies that they decided to dump in of The Last of the Time Lords before the Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards), a to see and Benjamin wants to see it for January. First up is One Missed Call TARDIS crashes into the Titanic. That young girl at Jordan College in a world himself which leads him on a global where Beth Reynolds (Shannyn then leads into the next new Doctor Who where everyone is accompanied by a adventure with lots of big budget action. Sossamon) has witnessed two friends die that will be broadcast on the BBC on daemon that is a physical representation Also stars Diane Kruger, Ed Harris, gruesome deaths in the span of a few Christmas day, Voyage of the Damned, of a person’s soul in animal form. She Helen Mirren, Justin Bartha and Jon days. What is different about these deaths with The Doctor ending up on the Titanic eavesdrops on a conversation between her Voigt. is they each received cell-phone calls with and discovering the truth about the ship’s uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), and Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem (Dec 25) recordings of their last moments days in sinking (or something along those lines, some scholars about a mysterious particle For those of you who don’t get enough advance. Beth works with police detective maybe). He will be joined by singer/ called Dust that allows one to connect mayhem opening your presents on Jack Andrews (Edward Burns), whose actress Kylie Minogue as waitress Astrid with parallel worlds. When students begin Christmas morning, there will be plenty of sister die in a similar fashion and when Perth, who teams up with The Doctor in disappearing due to Gobblers and when it in the Aliens Vs. Predator sequel Beth receives her special phone call, time the adventure. There’re various rumors her friend Roger (Ben Walker) is taken opening on Christmas Day. When a small is running short for them. going around about what the story actual she sets out on a journey to rescue him Colorado town has a Predator scout ship In the Name of the King: A Dungeon entails, from it being a space Titanic, not with the aid of her daemon, Pantalaimon, crash nearby, they soon find themselves Siege Tale (Jan 11) Uwe Boll once again the ill-fated earthbound sailing ship and and an Alethiometer given to her by her caught in the middle of a war between directs a fantasy video game movie that Astrid being an anagram of TARDIS schoolmaster to aid her in her quest. Her Aliens and Predators and must fight to adaptation. When an unspeakable evil has some special significance. It may also journey takes her to the arctic north with survive the carnage. Victims include army threatens the kingdom of Ehb and a tie more directly into the Time Crash the Gyptians where she joins up with the Reiko Aylesworth, Steven Pasquale, simple man named Farmer seeks to save special much like the one that showed us Witch Queen Serafina Pekkala (Eva Gina Holden, David Hornsby, Johnny his kidnapped wife and avenge the death more of the after affects of the Nine/Ten Green) and the great Armoured Bear, the Lewis, Shareeka Epps, John Ortiz, of his son. Stars Jason Statham as regeneration two years ago. exiled king Iorek Byrnison to rescue the Kristen Hager, David Paetkau, and Farmer, John Rhys Davies as Merick, Also coming up early in the new year missing children and her uncle being held Victoria Bidewell. Based on the trailer, Kristanna Loken as Elora, Leelee is the second season of Torchwood on captive in the Bear kingdom of Svalbard. expect lots and lots of carnage and very Sobieski as Muriella, with Burt BBC2, possibly starting in late January or Peter Weltz is directing as screenplay by few survivors, if any. Reynolds, William Sanderson and Ray early February. The BBC is usually pretty Tom Stoppard with Nicole Kidman The Waterhorse: The Legend of the Deep Liotta also appearing. tight-lipped about actual return dates, but starring as Mrs. Coulter, Nonso Anozie as (Dec 25) While dad’s watching the Aliens Fanboys (Jan 18) Kristen Bell stars in the debut of an official Torchwood Loreck Byrnison, and Sam Elliott as Lee Vs. Predator movie, mom and the kids this comedy about four die-hard Star Wars magazine in early January is a good Scoresby. can take in the fantasy story based on fans who undertake a cross country trip to indication the second series will start soon Alvin and the Chipmunks (Dec 14) A Ding King-Smith’s The Waterhorse. sneak a peek at Star Wars: The Phantom after. Early episodes feature James Live action/CGI adaptation of Alvin and Menace at Skywalker Ranch as a final Marsters in a guest role as a fellow time the Chipmunks stars Jason Lee as Dave treat for a dying friend. Also stars Dan agent who has a very close relationship Seville, Cameron Richardson as Clair. Fogler, Jay Baruchel, Christopher with Jack. Other things rumored for the It’s about a musical group of chipmunks Marquette, and Sam Huntington. second season are a marriage, a death (or adopted by the human, Dave Seville. Not 01-18-08 (Jan 18) The as-yet-untitled J. J. a traumatic experience), more aliens, more many details about the plot have surfaced, Abrams monster movie is released upon details on the weevils. Confirmed is the but does it really matter? the world on January 18th. About all that appearance of Freema Agyeman as I Am Legend (Dec 14) Will Smith plays is known is revealed in the trailer where a Martha Jones in three episodes in the Robert Neville, the last man on Earth in monster attack on New York City is seen middle of the season. BBC America has this new adaption of Richard © Sony from the point of view of a group of done well with Torchwood this fall, so it Matheson’s classic story. Neville is When a couple of kids find an egg on a friends having a party. Stars Michael may turn up on US screens much quicker apparently the lone survivor of a virus that beach in Scotland, it hatches and is a baby Stahl, Odet Jasmin, Mike Vogel, Lizzy than the first season. wipes out humanity, leaving only mutated sea monster they call the “waterhorse”. It Caplan, and Blake Lively. Also in the works in the UK for Sky humans who live in the dark. As he travels One is the second miniseries based on the world trying Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, The Colour to find any other of Magic. The first miniseries, Hogfather, survivors, he aired in late November on the Ion TV hopes that he can network and has been released on DVD find a cure from on a Border’s exclusive DVD. The his immune production of The Colour of Magic is blood and expected to air in the UK around Easter somehow save and will be broadcast on Ion TV later in the human race. 2008. It covers the major storyline in the Also appearing first two Discworld books, The Colour of are Alice Braga Magic and The Light Fantastic, following as Anna, Salli the adventures of Rincewind, the Wizard, Richardson- Twoflower, the tourist, and The Luggage. Whitfield as Playing Rincewind in the miniseries will Ginny Neville, be David Jason, Sean Astin stars as and Charlie Twoflower, and Christopher Lee will Tahan as Ethan. provide the voice of Death. Also starring National are Tim Curry as the evil wizard Trymon, Treasure: Book David Bradley as Cohen the Barbarian, of Secrets (Dec Laura Haddock as Bethan, and James 21) Nicholas Cosmo as Galder Weatherwax. Terry Cage is back as Pratchett will have a cameo in the film as treasure hunter he did in the Hogfather miniseries. Benjamin Franklin Gates Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 5 captain. Now Maclntyre must mobilize a woman who can wield the One Power, AZ Browncoasts Present Bedlam Bards humanity to destroy the mutineers once and her Warder partner, Lan — tell the FYI and for all-or Earth will become a cinder boys they must leave for the safety of all, The AZ Browncoats will be hosting an Book Discussion in the path of galactic conquest. for the boys are being sought by the evil event on Saturday, December 8th at 3pm Bent Cover Books 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix January 15 - Restoree by Anne Dark One. They depart in the night on to7 pm at the Goathead Saloon, 1423 S 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm, in the Coffee Bar McCaffrey. Published in 1967, this is horseback joined by Thom Merrilin, a Country Club Dr, Mesa, AZ 85210. The Sponsored by McCaffrey’s first full-length novel. Her traveling entertainer, and Egwene, an event will feature the Bedlam Bards as Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) protagonist, Sara, is a strong, intelligent, adventurous girl. They travel through well as the Whiskey Bards. Also email questions to [email protected] self-sufficient woman a rarity at the time places the boys have only heard of in appearing: Bedouin Tribe Bellydance McCaffrey wrote this. Science fiction was stories, barely ahead of Trollocs and Troupe. The cost is $10 with the proceeds We are a small, friendly group of science fiction/fantasy literature fans who like to still a predominantly male field, written worse. The boys are pieces of the Pattern. going to St Judes Childrens Hospital. get together to talk about our favorite by men, for men, about men. Women They are ta’veren, around whom the Tickets available at the door only. For books. We welcome potential new friends. were often portrayed as weak, helpless Wheel of Time weaves surrounding life more details http://azbrowncoats.com/ or beings in need of rescue. In Restoree, threads. Others, such as the young “wise www.goatheadsaloon.com December 18 - Mutineer’s Moon by McCaffrey turns the tables. For Sara, the woman” from their village, Nynaeve, David Weber. For Lt. Commander Colin past is a blur. One day she is walking in become entangled in their plight. BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS Maclntyre, it began as a routine training Central Park, the next thing she knows, an March 18 - His Majesty’s Dragon by flight over the Moon. For Dahak, a self- indefinite amount of time has passed and Naomi Novik. The novel begins when the Fantasy/Sci-Fi Discussion Group aware Imperial battleship, it began she is in some unknown place, far, far H.M.S. Reliant captures a French ship 4th Wed, 7pm millennia ago when that powerful away. However, as her awareness returns, carrying a dragon egg that is primed to Borders, Glendale artificial intelligence underwent a mutiny it becomes obvious that things are not hatch. A substantial prize, it puts in the face of the enemy. The mutiny was quite right. Apparently she is now a Laurence — the Reliant’s captain — and Path of the Craft Discussion group never resolved-Dahak was forced to caretaker in some sort of medical facility, his officers — gentlemen and aspiring discusses Neopagan theories inspired by maroon not just the mutineers but the and the authorities believe she is gentlemen — in a difficult position: One both fiction and non-fiction books entire crew on prehistoric Earth. Dahak incapable of independent thought or of them must become the creature’s rider about magic, nature, mythology, and has been helplessly waiting as the action. Gradually Sara realizes that her when it hatches. The prize then would spirituality. descendants of the loyal crew regressed charge, Harlan, may not be there of his become a deadweight, bringing to an end 4th Sunday, 6pm while the mutineers maintained control of own free will. “any semblance of ordinary life. . . . An Borders, Phoenix Camelback technology that kept them alive as the February 19 - Eye of the World by aviator could not easily manage any sort millennia passed. But now Dahak’s Robert Jordan. Three teenage boys — of estate, nor raise a family, nor go into Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club sensors indicate that the enemy that Rand, Mat, and Perrin — from the quiet society to any real extent.” For the one 2nd Thursday, 7pm devastated the Imperium so long ago has village of Emond’s Field find themselves chosen by the hatchling (and a dragon Changing Hands/Wildflower Bread returned-and Earth is in their path. For the watched by a spooky man in black, a won’t let just anyone harness him), it Company sake of the planet, Dahak must mobilize Fade. Soon after Trollocs, huge would mean “the wreck of his career.” its defenses. And that it cannot do until subhuman creatures, attack. Two Naturally, it is the heroic Capt. Laurence Manga Bookclub the mutineers are put down. So Dahak has strangers — Lady Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, whom the dragon picks. And who is this 1st Tuesdays, 7pm picked Colin Maclntyre to be its new dragon? “A pure, untinted black from Borders, Chandler nose to tail . . . [with] large, six-spined wings like a lady’s fan,” he is a Celestial, Manga Bookclub a Chinese dragon bred for emperors alone. Dec 15, 7pm Laurence names him Temeraire, and it’s Jan 19, 7pm Novik’s characterization of the dragon, Barnes & Noble, Goodyear who speaks in perfect 19th-century English, that makes the book hum. No Graphic Novel Book Club ancient wisdom for him, just a voracious 2nd Sunday, 8:30pm intelligence that demands bedtime Four Peaks Brewery, Tempe readings on such subjects as mineralogy (dragons do like gems, you know) and Science Fiction Book Group Do you like to write? historic battles. Dec 11, 730pm Do you enjoy reviewing books or movies? April 15 - Man in the High Castle by Jan 8, 7:30pm Philip K. Dick. It’s America in 1962. Barnes & Noble, Eastside Tucson Would you like to get involved in Slavery is legal once again. The few Jews Producing this newszine? who still survive hide under assumed AUTHOR SIGNINGS names. In San Francisco, the I Ching is as common as the Yellow Pages. All because Dec 4, 7pm Diana Gabaldon We need your creativity and assistance some 20 years earlier the United States Barnes & Noble, Pima & Shea lost a war—and is now occupied jointly Please join us and see how you by Nazi Germany and Japan. Dec 29, 7pm James Sallis can contribute. May 20 - Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart Poisoned Pen bookstore (avail in paperback) In my humble 7pm on First Tuesday of opinion, this is the best treatment of the Jan 10, 7pm Douglas Preston 7pm on First Tuesday of Arthur/Merlin legend ever... Poisoned Pen bookstore December, February, April, June 17 - Hominids by Robert Sawyer. June, August, October An engrossing story encompassing science of alternate universes, evolution Bookmans, Northern & 19th Ave and sexual identity. The beginning of the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy. Community room Or write us: [email protected]

( Continued on page 7 ) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 ( Continued from page 6 ) Designed for children ages 3 through 6, GAME DEPOT Check the web sites for confirmation, FYI the program features age-appropriate Heroclix Tournament location and more information. SCIENCE EVENTS activities designed to teach preschoolers Every Wednesday, 5:30pm-7pm http://www.borders.com about our planet and solar system. Call Halo action clix http://www.poisonedpen.com ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER for reservations. Dec 8, 10am http://www.bookmans.com Materials Science Workshops 3rd Mondays, 930am-1130am Living Arcanis http://www.barnesandnoble.com These workshops provide fun hands-on Dec 8, 10am http://www.changinghands.com experiences to help participants PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, Warhammer 40K Apocalpyse event http://browncoats.lagemann.org understand how materials scientists TUCSON Dec 29, noon http://www.imperialoutpost.com manipulate the properties of various Santa Lands at the Pima Air & Space http://www.azchallenger.org materials to create the products that we Museum IMPERIAL OUTPOST GAMES http://www.samuraicomics.com use in our everyday life. Dec 2, 1pm-4pm Federation Commander http://www.drawntocomics.com Check website for dates and topics New Volunteer Orientation 2nd Saturdays, noon Game Depot, 480-966-4727 Lecture Series: Living in a Material Dec 8, 9am-11am RPG http://www.library.pima.gov World Volunteer Presentation Series 1st & 3rd Sundays http://www.novaspace.com/Spacefest/ The development of advanced materials “The U2 and its Spy Days” Boardgames & Demo Nite http://www.seti.org has greatly improved our quality of life Dec 15, 10a,-1130am Thursdays and will continue do so for decades to Space Shuttle Endeavor Crew lands Mutants & Masterminds RPG Demo come. Dr. Adams will talk about a broad Mar 1 Dec 7, 7pm Delving into James variety of examples of advanced materials Warhammer 40K tournament science and engineering, from catalytic TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM TOURS Dec 15, 1030am Sallis converters for cleaner air to helicopter Reservations only By Shane Shellenbarger blades for safer flight. Plus the Imax film The only publicly accessible Titan II OTHER GENRE-RELATED EVENTS “Sea Monsters 3D” missile site in the nation. Tour the “I heard the Jeep a half mile off. It Jan 4, 7pm underground missile site. See the 3-ton METAPHYSICAL MONDAYS came up around the lake, and when it hit Global Climate Change blast doors, 8' thick silo walls and an DISCUSSION the bend, birds took flight. They boiled up 7 free lectures series: actual Titan II missile in the launch duct. Mondays, 7pm out of the trees, straight up, then, as “Could Geoengineering Reverse It?” Visit the launch control center, experience Borders, Glendale though heavy wind had caught them, Dec 12, 7pm a simulated launch, and more. veered abruptly, all at once, sharp right. “Ocean Impacts and Feedbacks” Jan 26, Feb 23, Mar 22, Apr 26, and METAPHYSICAL WEDNESDAYS Most of those trees had been standing Jan 23, 7pm more DISCUSSION forty or fifty years. Most of the birds had “Disease and Society” Wednesdays, 7pm been around less than a year and wouldn’t Feb 13, 7pm SETI Institute’s Weekly Science Radio Borders, Avondale be around much longer. I was somewhere “What’s Ahead” Program in between.” This is the opening para- Mar 5, 7pm Mondays, avail as podcast PSYCHIC SATURDAYS, 1230pm graph to Cypress Grove by James Sallis. “Designing Policy Responses” http://radio.seti.org Bookmans, Mesa Local author, Jim Sallis, has recently Apr 9, 7pm http://podcast.seti.org completed the third and final book in a SCIMITAR-TALON series that defies pigeonholing: Salt River, HONEYWELL FIESTA BOWL GAMING EVENTS is a group of people wanting to enjoy which was preceded by Cripple Creek and AEROSPACE CHALLENGE recreating portions of the middle ages the first book in the series, Cypress Grove ASU WEST CAMPUS, PHOENIX & FOOD DRIVE AT DRAWN TO prior to 1600 AD. Classes on Medieval (all are available from Walker & Co.) The CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, COMICS Arts and Sciences. series focuses on Turner, a man who PEORIA 2 Cans food gets you a $1.00 coupon 1st Saturday, 130pm-230pm returns from the Viet Nam War, joins the Designed to enhance knowledge of space Benefits St Mary’s food bank Bookmans Phoenix Memphis police force, kills his partner, technology for 5th thru 8th grade Nov 26 Dec 23 and while in prison studies to become a students, the Aerospace Challenge ACROSS PLUS ANIME CLUB psychotherapist. The series deals with requires participants to develop plans for BOOKMANS, PHOENIX Sundays, 7pm Turner’s attempts to understand his past a ‘new’ generation International Space Dungeons & Dragons Night Bookmans Phoenix and the changing society that conflicts Station complete with a physical scale Dec 3, 5pm with him and consults with him. While model. More info at: Dec 17, 5pm BEGINNER BELLYDANCING not a mystery series, the books strike me www.aerospacechallenge.com Jan 7, 5pm Fridays, 5pm as crime fiction with emotional depth. Pre-lim Competition on Dec 3 & 4, 8am- Jan 21, 5pm Bookmans Phoenix Writer, essayist, critic, poet, teacher, 4pm Feb 4, 5pm & Jim Sallis is a Renaissance man in the ASU West Campus, Phoenix Thursdays, 7pm field of writing. He took some time out of Final Competition on Dec 28, 9am-noon BOOKMANS MESA Bookmans, Mesa his busy schedule to answer a few Challenger Space Center, Peoria Hero-Clix-Super Hero Gaming Night! questions. Sundays, 6pm METAPHYSICS GROUP CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, Dungeons and Dragons RPG Night! 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7pm Shane Shellenbarger: Jim, it seems to PEORIA Mondays, 6pm Bookmans, Speedway, Tucson me that you’ve been teaching for decades. “Earth 3 2 1 Blast Off” What is it about teaching or your students Intro to science for ages 3-6. Learn about BOOKMANS, SPEEDWAY TUCSON do you find invigorating and energizing? rockets and the Space Shuttle, create & fly Rteam Gamers Family Game Day James Sallis: I really haven’t. I taught a whirlybird, and color and design your Feb 2, 12pm years and years ago, at the Clarion own rocket and launch it. workshops, then for a brief time in New Dec 17, 930am-1130am DRAWN TO COMICS Orleans, then not at all for a considerable Stargazing Heroclix, open play time until beginning again at Phoenix Dec 29, 7pm Every Saturday, 2pm-5pm College five years ago. It’s no specific Starlab Planetarium MechWarrior Tournaments action on my student’s parts that energizes Dec 29, 1130am and 1230pm Sundays, 1pm me, though it is good to see them getting The Space Place is a 2-hour interactive Open all night - Dec 31 better before my eyes, several having at program for little ones with big imaginations! ( Continued on page 8 ) Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 7 Sallis ( Continued from page 7 ) one-author presses, presses that publish Conversation ( Continued from page 1 ) used and some he didn’t. Then he friend’s poetry, presses that do a book a resubmitted it, and again it came back How do his travel experiences this point finished novels; rather, the year, presses, like Poisoned Pen here in with 6 pages of notes; some of which he influence his writing? I was curious if he atmosphere of possibility and discourse Scottsdale, that do forty or more. Can a used and some… After a third submis- traveled with a specific purpose to apply that develops when a class is going well. small press launch a writing career? That sion, Campbell finally told him he to a story or if he just ‘absorbed’ stuff he Not to mention that I simply have some depends on your definition of career. couldn’t use it since he had enough used later? Once, before a trip to Tanza- damned fine writers sitting out there. Certainly you can have a fine coming-out serializations for several years. Alan nia, he prepared an outline for a book he Who wouldn’t gain from that? party there: let the eligibles know you’re submitted it to Doubleday who rejected it intended to write about Africa. But since available. I’ve gone back and forth all my and then to Betty Ballantine who did buy the trip proved to offer more experiences S.S.: I’m going to go out on a limb and life, but then, I write, and have written, it. So, no one ever gets to really change than he anticipated, he threw out the assume that you aren’t teaching for the many different kinds of material. his books (with one notable exception of outline and wrote an entirely different money. What do you derive from the act Catchalot where he cut one passage at book. Since then, he never plans anything; of teaching and what do you receive from S.S.: You recently traveled to Anchorage, Judy-Lynn del Rey’s insistence.) just takes what the trip offers him. your students? Alaska to receive Bouchercon’s 2007 After Flinx Transcendent, Alan says Pip and Flinx is one of his most J.S.: When one has been doing this for a Lifetime Achievement Award. What was he’d like to do a heroic fantasy he’s been popular series with the newest novel, long time, one becomes professionalized, the highlight of your trip? thinking about – no details yet. A new Patrimony, just out. But Alan isn’t done and can all too easily forget, or lose J.S.: As always, the people — something science fiction world is much harder to with the series. He’s just finishing up contact with, the reasons one began doing of an odd statement from a man given to write than a fantasy world. But even here, Flinx Transcendent which is scheduled for it in the first place. Teaching reminds me hermitdom. But I had great conversations Alan doesn’t like to do the same thing. He 2008. This book will tie up a lot of loose of that, and reaffirms for me the with the likes of John Straley and new wrote a story set in eastern Pennsylvania/ ends and finish off storylines but it is not, importance of what I do. novelist Keith Gilman, and participated on New York and couldn’t sell it. Maybe if a kickass panel about genre fiction. he’d set it in East Anglia in London, he S.S.: Several years back you were Alaska, of course, is breathtakingly mused… teaching classes in mystery, science beautiful, and Karyn and I had a chance to I had planned to ask Alan how he felt fiction, and fantasy short story writing in drive out from Anchorage and see a tiny about collaborations but after having addition to novel writing. You are piece of it. spent this much time listening to him, it currently only teaching novel writing. seemed obvious to me that this was a man Short stories were once the training S.S.: What are your feelings on awards who paved his own way and somehow, grounds for novelists. With that and honors as they pertain to your body of now, I couldn’t see him doing a collabora- marketplace dwindling, where are the next work and your skills as a writer? tion. So I was going to skip the question generation of novel writers to come from? J.S.: They are totally irrelevant — but but he urged me to ask him anyway. He J.S.: You’re right, there’s almost no short nice to have. pointed out that he does do a sort of story market these days, and in my collaboration when he does novelizations teaching I find very few interested in James Sallis is currently teaching or works in someone else’s universe. A writing them. With the proliferation of Planning & Structuring the Novel and he assures me, the last Flinx book. The sort of once-removed collaboration. But Revising the Novel at Phoenix College. Spellsinger series was a favorite of mine he didn’t think he would, it doesn’t really His band, Three-Legged Dog will next and Alan hasn’t written one of those in interest him. He thought he could perform at the Second Floor Reading several years. He says he’s been asked but though…. Maybe if the right situation Room in the Burton Barr Central Library since no publisher is beating down his came along? on November 7th at 6:30 p.m. Word has it door, he’d really prefer to write something And about the publishing world… did that the three members of the band will be new. Alan think the publishing world would joined on stage by fourteen instruments, So, what about his writing? Can you ever lean back towards science fiction most of which have strings attached. work on more than one project at the and away from fantasy? These things do same time, I asked him. No, he answered, tend to run in cycles, he explained; James Sallis web site: http:// he just can’t. The best he can do is put one although fantasy will always be more www.jamessallis.com/index.html project aside for a short time to work on popular with a bigger audience than SF A review in The Magazine of Fantasy and something short and on a short deadline; for obvious reasons. Science fiction Science Fiction http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/ such as being asked to do a rewrite for requires more of both the author and the 2007/js0705.htm Ghosts of Yesterday which is the prequel reader. A SF writer has to figure out how Phoenix College classes taught by James for the Transformers film which came to get his character from point A to point Sallis: along while he was working on Flinx B and make it work. In fantasy, the CRW272- PLANNING & STRUCTUR- Trascendent. But he couldn’t work on two character can fly or just wish herself to small presses, it is much easier to write a ING THE NOVEL http:// books simultaneously. point B. novel and get it published these days. The www.dist.maricopa.edu/cgi-bin/ I asked him what element of a story I could have cheerfully listened to problem, with experienced and newer curric.pl?crs=crw272&trm=20082&host= was most important to him. I was pretty Alan for a great deal longer but he had writers alike, lies in continuing to publish; www.pc.maricopa.edu&inst=01 sure I could’ve answered that one but I panels to attend that day. I have not read and I wonder at the potential for young CRW274- REVISING THE NOVEL wanted to hear what he’d say. Characters, all his books (the man is incredibly writers to sustain any kind of career. http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/cgi-bin/ of course. As he explained – when you prolific, after all) but the ones I’ve read curric.pl?crs=crw274&trm=20082&host= boil the story down, the one thing the have impressed me with the obvious S.S.: On the subject of small presses, www.pc.maricopa.edu&inst=01 reader is most interested in is… what intelligence behind the story. While there have the number of vanity presses Three-Legged Dog: http://www.three- happens to the characters. Everything else are loads of authors who entertain me, reduced as small presses proliferate? How legged-dog.net/index.html is just window-dressing. there are very few I respect as much as effective is it to launching a career when a Three-Legged Dog at Phoenix Folk He writes just one draft and no one Alan Dean Foster. writer makes a sale to a small press? Can Festival: http:// reads it. Then he’ll do one polish and wait it hurt a career? 0wanderingattention.blogspot.com/2007/ for the galley; in which he might do a few J.S.: I’d assume vanity presses largely to 04/three-legged-dog-at-phoenix-folk.html edits. He says he’s always worked that have been undone by the availability and way even when he was young. John W. ease of self-publishing nowadays. Small Campbell published his first short story so press, meanwhile, is rapidly joining such when he had his first novel ready, he sent terms as jazz and noir in becoming it to Campbell. Campbell returned it with semantically scooped-out and empty. 6 pages of notes; some of which Alan “Small presses” are university presses, Page 8 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 ***** Vincent Price: MGM Scream is fun and the effects are all one could An American in Videophile Legends Collection hope for. MGM, 675 minutes, R In the 2 disc set, disc 1 is double-sided Canada Part Eight: DVD $39.99 and has both widescreen and full-screen **** Dark Shadow The Beginning editions of the movie, with two Volume 1 & 2 Last Words The set consists of five discs commentary tracks. Disc 2 has five ***** Vincent Price: MGM Scream by Jeffrey Lu containing 7 of Vincent Price’s best horror extended/deleted scenes, including a Legends Collection films, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Tales longer title sequence. There is a behind- *** Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver of Terror, Theater of Blood, Madhouse, the-scenes documentary that follows the Being a tourist, I enjoyed the Surfer (The Power Cosmic Edition, 2- Witchfinder General, Dr. Phibes Rises crew as they scout locations, test early evergreen forests of Canada. This was Disc Set) special effects, and then work with the paradise for campers, naturalists, and cast. There’s a detailed look at the hikers. Sadly, I could not live here due to Fantasticar and five featurettes: the two reality checks. ***** Dark Shadow The Beginning development of the Fantasticar (10 First, Canada’s winters are harsh. I’ve Volume 1 & 2 minutes), the Surfer effects (15 minutes), been told snow is at least ten feet and lasts MPI Home Video, 840 min (Vol 1) & the history of the Surfer in comic books at least about six months. I like cold but 690 min (Vol 2), NR (39 minutes), the Thing suit (11 minutes), not when a whole city will have to go DVD $59.99 and the music score (four minutes). The underground for at least half a year. “plain vanilla” version has 1 two-sided Second, the gas price is way beyond Before vampire Barnabas Collins disc with both full and wide screen me. Sure, I complain when the gas goes showed up and Dark Shadows shot to cult versions of the film but apparently none up per gallon of gas in America. Instead, status, there was a nifty gothic romance of the extras. For the difference in price I found out the gasoline at Canada is per soap opera about governess Victoria I’d opt for the 2-disc version if only for liter. They pay almost four times more Winters and her employers, the Collins the deleted scenes. - Stephanie L Bannon than I do. family. These two volume present the first Again and Twice Told Tales. as well as Besides these things, I like Canada. I 70 episodes of the show. We meet the three short, yet quite informative just can’t live there for now. Collins Family of Collinsport, Maine. documentaries about Price, as told by a Next: An American in Australia Part One- Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard group of film historians, writers and Is that you, Sydney? (Joan Bennett), who hasn’t left her critics. This is a great set for the Vincent Price fan and is highly recommended. - Stephanie L Bannon

*** Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (The Power Cosmic Edition, 2-Disc Set) 20th Century Fox, 92 minutes, PG DVD $34.98

I missed this in the theaters and thus pre-ordered it as soon as it became available. The story is simple enough, “Invisible Woman: Sue Storm and “Mr. family’s great estate, Collinwood, in 18 Fantastic” Dr. Reed Richards are about to years for unknown reasons; her brother, be married, or at least try for the Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds), who is a umpteenth time. In the midst of the vain snob and, like his sister, hiding a wedding planning, Reed is working on a huge secret; Elizabeth’s daughter, Carolyn project to track a mysterious phenomena. Stoddard Nancy Barrett), who is a typical Of course, the phenomena, the mysterious 60s teen - full of rebellion and angst; and alien we learn to call the Silver Surfer, Roger’s son David Collins ( David crashes the wedding. His presence Henesey), who is really really troubled. indicates Earth’s impending destruction Into this comes Governess Victoria unless the four superheroes can stop him. Winters (Alexandra Moltke Isles), a young woman who grew up in a New York orphanage and was mysteriously offered her post as governess with the Collins family. Each volume contains 35 episodes. Dark Shadows the Beginning is a planned six volume set that will cover all the episodes before Barnabas showed up around episode 200. These are a greatly desired release for those of us who watched Dark Shadows pre-Barnabas and a wonderful introduction to the show for those whose viewing either started with Of course, Dr Doom returns as the Barnabas or those who have only seen the team is forced to work with him, and show on video release. I look forward to equally predictably, the Silver Surfer is the rest of the “Beginnings.” not the ultimate bad guy we initially think Recommended - Stephanie L Bannon he is. The story is predictable but the ride

Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 9 committees are always looking for the began soliciting nominations for officers either the Chair or the Banker. What is Editorials best deal. So it appears that a long-term and for CopperCon and HexaCon chairs needed is your support. Sure, I know you solution does not lie in changing CASFS’ and bankers. The response of the majority make a point of volunteering when you (The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author of this article do not expenditures but rather in increasing its of those individuals, when asked if they can, but not to belittle your efforts, I’m necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and income, which is currently primarily would accept a nomination to one of the afraid that isn’t near enough. The real viewpoints or official policies of the Central derived from CopperCon and HexaCon, aforementioned positions, couldn’t have work actually starts two years prior to the Arizona Speculative Society, the ConNotations and in turn generate income by selling been any less enthusiastic if you had actual Con, that’s when the planning starts editor or staff.) memberships. offered to give them a warm, rancid fat and is when your energy and ideas will How simple - sell more memberships enema. Why the lack of enthusiasm? have the greatest impact. No More CopperCon or and everyone will live happily ever after. Don’t these people care? Yes, they care, Yes, to be honest I’d love to see you HexaCon. Well, not so simple, since in order to sell but they’re burning/burnt out, the all become members, CASFS offers you This was the take-home message from more memberships we need to figure out membership pool is too small, and to fill an opportunity to broaden your horizons the October meeting of CASFS. why they haven’t been selling in the past. all of the positions needed to put on a as well as meet and network with other All it took was a simple analysis of the I’ve heard various reasons, inadequate successful Con would take the majority of fen. Our claim to be a speculative fiction treasurer’s report which shows that over advertising, poor location, obscure guests the regular CASFS meeting attendees. It society mandates that we be as the past 6 years CASFS has consistently and poor programming to name a few. doesn’t take a rocket scientist to game it ecumenical as possible and since CASFS spent more money than it has taken in. The easy thing to do would be to blame out; if you accept the position of Chair leadership is democratically chosen the This equation has one chilling outcome: in the convention committees but since the you need to find a program coordinator, society is responsive to the concerns of 2 to 3 years CASFS will be broke and convention chair and banker (the two hotel liaison, publicity coordinator and a the membership. since CASFS runs CopperCon and principle members) are nominated and host of other individuals that are all But the truth is YOU are more HexaCon as it goes so do they. Where is selected by the CASFS general required to make a successful Con and for important than your membership, if the money going? Same place it always membership then the ultimate each position that you cannot fill you’ll you’ve ever had a concern or suggestion has, to fund CopperCon and HexaCon, responsibility would appear to lie with probably end up having to cover it. Being about some facet of CopperCon or pay for ConNotations (ad revenue only CASFS as a whole. in charge can be a joy when you have an HexaCon early participation affords you pays for ~50%), corporate operating costs CASFS, stands for Central Arizona enthusiastic and competent team to work the opportunity to have a voice in the and miscellaneous costs. If you want the Speculative Fiction Society, the name with, without it - pure misery. Now no one selection of our conventions venue, guests details contact the CASFS treasurer. doesn’t sound too bad, speculative fiction in CASFS has said die yet, but it’s of honor, programming and special The 2 to 3 year window is based on that’s pretty inclusive. So just who are obvious that folks are wearing thin. events. I’m not saying that you have jump whether or not CASFS ceases to publish a these people? Well, folks - they’re us, or A reasonable question at this point right in and take charge, just by being hard copy version of ConNotations. Keep at least they used to be. I attended my first might be why someone would even present, willing and able to lend your ConNotations and the estimate is 2 years, CASFS meeting back in 2000. My wife belong to CASFS if they weren’t willing energy and enthusiasm is enough to make drop the print version and the estimate and I drove up from Tucson and the to serve? Well, unlike LepreCon or a significant difference in averting the goes to 3 years. Since the majority of the meeting was packed, they were bringing BASFA (the TusCon folks) CASFS does aforementioned outcome. costs associated with ConNotations are more chairs from the main part of JB’s in not exist for the sole purpose of putting on So come attend a CASFS meeting and fixed, scaling back on the number of order accommodate everyone. After a convention, it is also a social offer your help, let’s make a liar out of pages makes little difference and relocating to Casa Grande last year we organization. So, at any given moment, Pogo. For without you CASFS will just publishing less often will have a negative attended our second meeting in November not everyone who is member of CASFS plod along for possibly another 2 or 3 effect on the advertising revenue, (for the of 2006, what a shock, compared to the wants to be involved in running a years and then fade away with a whimper, details contact the ConNotations editor) meeting in 2000 the room was desolate, convention or conversely, interested in proving that Pogo really did have it right, so the choice boils down to either keep where the hell had everyone gone? I was any social activities and the degree of the enemy is us, taking CopperCon, the print version or drop it. told that some moved on to other more their involvement ranges from just HexaCon and the potential for much more The primary cost of the conventions is special interest fannish organizations, looking to total immersion. But with the along with it. the venue; since we live in a free-market others gafiated, moved away, or sadly, current membership so low there is just society the conventions pay the going rate passed away and some left as a result of not a large enough pool of potential based on their buying power (how many various disputes fannish and/or otherwise. committee members and so being the Con MangaZone rooms can they fill) and the Con During the subsequent months Chair or Banker is pretty much guaranteed following that November meeting CASFS to be a miserable experience and the offer Princess Resurrection Volume 1 of an retrograde Reiko the Zombie Shop Volume 1-4 infusion of warm, Mushishi 1 odiferous and Mushishi 2 oleaginous joy starts to look Princess Resurrection Volume 1 attractive in By Acinar Mitsunaga comparison. Del Rey, 224 pages, $10.99 There is only one viable, long- Original Title Kaibutsu Oujo. term solution to Follow the adventures of Princess this and it’s you. Hime as she tries to survive and rebuild Whether you belong to an organization such as the UFP or the Brown Coats or if you’ve never really considered belonging before, you’re needed now. You don’t even need to join CASFS unless you want to try your hand at being (Continued on page 11 ) Page 10 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 MangaZone( Continued from page 10 ) their presence is sometimes felt or access to medical care was limited. I had subsided over the next hour, but it didn’t perceived as supernatural phenomena. an interest in folk remedies and go away, and it still hurt. her army to protect herself from the rest of Ginko, a mysterious man, is one of the homeopathy; since historically, most Have you ever heard of Seneca oil? It the royal family. Flandre, her cute small few who can see the mushi and he travels people have not had access to hospital was the external remedy of choice for any robot maid, and Hiro a freshly risen- the world studying them and trying to care and had to evolve medicines and risk of skin infection after lacerations in undead servant assist her. Watch how they help people when problems occur because therapies empirically. Our soldiers still the 1800s and early 1900s. Thick, sticky fight against Vampires, Fishman, of mushi contact. went to the Dispensary and the Surgery black stuff, it was collected from surface Werewolves, even the Invisible man, as Each volume has several stand-alone ward for most conditions, but sometimes pools of crude oil. Nowadays it is still they try to secure her position on the stories of the mushi and those they affect, they came to me. I kept tea tree oil to clear used under the name of Ichthammol throne. This is a great manga with lots of only Ginko’s presence connects these up the fungus infections we got on our ointment, and the best way to get it is to blood and humor (they rebuild the house stories so you can, literally, dive in hands and feet in the damp climate, and it go to a horse feed and supply store and almost every chapter). This manga is sure anywhere without being lost. worked better than the goop from the get the 20% tub of the stuff for a fraction to thrill your funny bone. - The stories are intriguing, and since dispensary. My aid bag always had of what a 5% prescription tube would ninjakittyofdoom there is no overall story arc they are a packets of Emergen-C and Rescue cost. I had bought a tub two years ago to good starting place for those new to Remedy among the bandages and extra treat a spider bite that bore a suspicious Reiko the Zombie Shop Volume 1-4 manga; as well as a must for experienced rolls of socks. (Soldiers were always resemblance to write-ups of brown recluse by Rei Mikamoto manga fans. - Stephanie L Bannon leaving socks behind to make room in bites. It drew the poison out and my skin Dark Horse Manga, 192 pages (200 their kits for pogie bait, and then they healed, no harm done, except to my socks, pages Vol 2), $12.95 each Words of Wozdom – An wondered why they got blisters.) I kept a and I keep a good detergent. So an hour Eclectic Column few other things on hand too, for soldiers ago I rustled under my bathroom counter, Reiko Himezono is a high school by M. Wozny who were worried about piss tests. came up with the Ichthammol, and student with a unusual side job. She is Another medic who also offered smeared some on both afflicted areas. The known as The Zombie Shop. With her medical care beyond the dictates of our pain has stopped. In case you have missed the news manuals once warned me, “Never My guess is that small cuts made by lately, incidences and outbreaks of skin prescribe. You can get thrown in jail for grass on my bare legs had let something infections caused by the antibiotic- exceeding your training. What I do is tell nasty in. Might not have been MRSA; but resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or a soldier how I would use something in a with diagnosed Arizona cases already MRSA, are on the rise. As if the potential hypothetical case, and show them what I approaching 1000 for this year, and God for another international bird flu epidemic would use, and then tend to something knows how many undiagnosed, I am wasn’t bad enough, now we get this. The elsewhere in the room with my back keeping the Ichthammol handy. It might staph “superbug” can be carried on the turned.” work where antibiotics fire blanks. skin and easily transmitted by contact; it So what would a hedge medic do for a This is not a prescription; just a turns dangerous when it gets inside the skin infection of MRSA? This morning, I friendly consideration. body. Reports of the numbers of cases and noticed a painful, bumpy rash on both my the percentages of deaths vary, but older legs, just above the ankles. I had been at a (The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints people seem most susceptible to MRSA, school fair yesterday, surrounded by expressed by the author of this article do not although drug-resistant pneumococcus ear symbol of darkness on her palm she raises hundreds of unwashed potential vectors of necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and infections are on the rise in children. the dead to tell how they died, and she transmission. First, I washed and applied viewpoints or official policies of the Central I spent 2 years as an Army medic in Arizona Speculative Society, the ConNotations gets paid a pretty penny for it. The first tea-tree oil as a disinfectant. The rash the 90’s, stationed overseas where our editor or staff.) four volumes of this series deal with Reiko and her fight to stop her sister’s plans from turning the world into zombies. This book is full of blood, Zombies, dismemberment and loads of Death. It is a very enjoyable read. - ninjakittyofdoom

Mushishi 1 Mushishi 2 by Yuki Urushibara Del Rey, 240 pages each, $12.95 each

Mushi have existed since the beginning of time. While the word means

“bug” in Japanese, mushi are more like a third kind of life being neither animal or plant. Few people can see them though

Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 11 and an army of dragons and their armored Screening Room trooper allies. Gamer’s Corner D-Wars had a decidedly Godzilla feel Dragon Wars to it, with the film throwing in mostly Aletheia The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising pointless scenes - filled with B-movie Game System dialogue - inbetween model-destroying Hager, Foster, Valentinelli Dragon Wars appearances of Buraki as he pursues the $29.95, Abstract Nova Entertainment Starring: Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Ethan and Sarah (Amanda Brooks) LLC, 174 pages Robert Forster throughout the city. We can tell it’s time Director: Shim Hyung Rae for our heroes to go because each time This is a game based on investigation Runtime: 100 Minutes they run out of room to run, a vehicle of paranormal activities. The system uses Rated: PG-13 conveniently throws itself in their path. six-sided dice and the number rolled Opened: September 14, 207 Eventually the army arrives to battle the depends on the task and your skill level. dragon forces, providing one of the more The player investigates potential Dragon Wars opens at the scene of an entertaining elements of the film. paranormal events including but not explosion. When reporter Ethan Kendrick The only real plot elements are limited to spontaneous combustion, (Cody Erens) arrives, a mysterious object developed in the opening flashback. UFOs, telepathy, ghosts, and other is uncovered and we enter a rather lengthy Because of that it happens to be the most inexplicable events. The style is extremely flashback to when he was a boy. A engaging portion of the film as far as role-play heavy, and needs careful mysterious shop owner named Jack by Susan Cooper. Will Stanton(Alexander story-telling goes. While in the flashback attention to detail. The system is simple to (Robert Forster) explains to him in a Ludwig) is a young boy who, like all I wished they would get to the present day learn and allows people to get deeply into flashback within a flashback, about the young boys, feels he just doesn’t fit in. story and when they did I regretted that their character. It isn’t designed for people prophecy. There are powerful serpents on Then one day, strange things start to they had. The action scenes were fun and who prefer roll-playing, but will be the earth and every 500 years the heavens happen to him. Crows, and dogs start I especially like the clash between modern welcomed into many play groups. place the essential energy that will allow chasing him. Then, at a Christmas party, and ancient fantastic armies. The chapters are well laid out, and one of the serpents (Imoogi) to transform he is approached by Merriman Lyon(Ian This may not be a film appreciated by designed to be easily referenced (not that into a Celestial Dragon into a woman. The McShane) who says he is the head of a all audiences. My suggestion is to wait for you will need to reference much). Combat woman and the Imoogi join together small groups of immortals (Frances it to release as a rental then watch it with is not difficult but also not used a lot. - mystically. Usually this is good, but in Conroy as Miss Greythorne, James the sound off and supply your own story Bob LaPierre 1507 an evil Immogi raised an army in Cosmo as Mr. Dawson, Jim Piddock as line. - Randy Lindsay Old George) who have waited for him, order to take the chosen vessel for Neverwinter Nights 2 himself. Things do not go the way anyone and that he is the Seeker, a person reborn, The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising Forgotten Realms expects them to do and five hundred years who is to find the six items spread out Running Time 134 minutes Role-Playing Game for the PC later the stage is set for the rematch through time and bring them together to Rated: PG $49.95, Atari/Obsidian between good and evil. defeat the Darkness. He has five days to Novel by Susan Cooper do this and at every step of the way The When we finally return to the present This is the last of the Dungeons and Screenplay by John Hodge Rider (Christopher Eccleston) is waiting we find that Ethan is the reincarnation of Dragons 3.5 games. I enjoyed most of it, Director David L. Cunningham and trying to get the item before him. the warrior-apprentice who has a chance but there are some minor things I disliked. Opened: October 5, 2007 This was a very fun family movie. I to redeem his past failure if he can find Among the better things are the additional loved seeing Eccleston as a villain. My the reincarnation of the woman intended companions; you can have three This is the movie adaption of the favorite line from the movie is when to celestialize the good Immogi. The only companions instead of one and if you second book in The Dark Is Rising series Merriman instructs Will on his powers, thing in his way is the evil serpent Buraki succeed at certain tasks you can get a which include great fourth. The story is interesting if strength, the predictable, and allows some discretion in command of fire, how you solve encounters. I find the way the ability to move you acquire NPCs a little heavy handed (I objects at a purposely tried the first two encounters distance and the with NPCs outside the village multiple unique knowledge times so I could change my answers to the to decipher an encounter, it still wound up with me ancient text. Will entering combat on the side of the NPC). then asks what Many answers have different ways of about flight to saying the same thing; however, many of which Merriman them also influence your NPCs and can responds “this isn’t shift your alignment. I’m still in the low a comic book.” I teens for level so I cannot comment on recommend this how it plays at higher level play. The movie for the biggest problem I had was I thought that a whole family. - ninjakittyofdoom scene in a slaughtered town should NOT have had dead cats all through it. It was an unnecessary gross factor. Another problem I have is the lack of choices for the NPCs. You cannot change their class even to put them into a prestige class. And while we are on the subject …where the @#&& are the clerics? The items are neat, the item creation rules are interesting, and I hope some of it bleeds over into D&D 4.0. Buy it before it is gone. - Bob LaPierre — See you next time. ( Continued on page 13 ) Page 12 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 Gamer’s Corner ( Continued from page 12 ) In Our Book Warhammer 40,000 The Saint- A The Borderkind Gaunt’s Ghosts Omnibus by Christopher Golden by Dan Abnett $12.00, Spectra Fantasy, 375 pp Black Library Publication, $11.99, pp. 1023. This is the second of Golden’s Book of the Veil series and was eagerly Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and anticipated by yours truly. Golden is his men from Tanith First-and-Only must known for his superlative horror and his fight against the Chaos forces in the fantasy is just as great. It’s really more Sabbat Worlds Crusade. What they do not horror-fantasy. The Veil is what separates expect is meeting a saint- a reappearing of our ‘real’ world from where our myths Saint Sabbat. and legends now reside. Oftentimes, This is the second arc to the Tanith people accidently pass through. These are series. The novels that are in this the Lost Ones and can never return. Some omnibus: “Honour Guard,” “The Guns of Tanith,” “Straight Silver,” and “Sabbat Martyr.” Collette’s prison and confront the horror no mention of the quite spectacular Overall, I loved it! The stories are very who imprisoned her as bait to catch attempts reaches the data nets. Her dark and seemed to explain what the Oliver. Meanwhile, Frost and the other personal computer, Nellie, reports that the Sabbat Worlds Crusade are. legends are confronting the sorcerer who local nets are quite useless for any kind of Recommended for dark sci-fi readers and instigated all the murders and trying to research. She and her Marines find Warhammer 40,000 fans. - Jeffrey Lu discover the reason why. themselves in battle whenever she goes It’s wonderful storytelling. The plot is out on any kind of an excursion. While Warhammer Lord of Ruin complex enough to keep my interest but rescuing her Grandmother, she finds an by Dan Abnett and Mike Lee not confusing. The characterizations are arms cache and other signs of Black Library Publication, $7.99, pp. well drawn. With each book less than 400 skulduggery. But what is going on? A 413. pages, this could have been marketed as a message from a teen-aged local says single large volume. But I’m real happy “They’re going to kill them all.” But who The dark elf Darkblade is back after that they were published as smaller are they and when are they to be killed? getting four artifacts. He is almost done novels; it was fun anticipating the next She believes her old enemy’s family, the with his quest - finding five powerful installment. - Catherine Book Peterwalds of Greenfield are hip-deep in items in less than a year. In this book, creatures, called the Borderkind, are able these events Malus Darkblade commands an to travel at will between worlds. Jack Kris Longknife: Audacious The characters of Kris’s bodyguard, expedition to fight a huge Chaos army. He Frost is one of the Borderkind. In the first By Mike Shepherd Jack, and her two assistants, Penney and is not only betrayed by his family but also Book of the Veil, Jack Frost was injured Ace Books, New York 2007, Mass Abby, contribute much to the flavor of the by his own people. Next, he needs to get by a hunter from his world who appeared Market Paperback 373 Pages, $7.99 story. Nellie, her computer, is important the last artifact in time or he forfeits his to be hunting the Borderkind. A human too. Her Grandmother is delightful. We soul to Tz’arkan. Last, he has to deal with lawyer, Oliver Bascombe, was forced to Kris Longknife, that Long Suffering learn more about what makes these people the betrayal of his inner demon, Tz’arkan. assist Frost and in doing so, traveled Scion of the Longknife Clan, is again tick and through them we achieve a This is the fifth book of the series of through the Veil and was unable to return. thrust into danger by her Uncle, King Ray greater understanding of Kris herself. “A Tale of Malus Darkblade” He fell into fellowship with Frost and Longknife. King Ray is ostensibly The story flows crisply and the action Liked it but very dark. Recommended other legends and began a journey sending her as the Naval Attache for carries you on. An excellent readable to Warhammer fans and dark fantasy through the other world. His goal was to Trade in the civilized Realm of Eden, story. Recommended. [Next, Kris readers. - Jeffrey Lu find the legend, the Sandman, who Earth’s first interstellar colony. Longknife: Intrepid] – Gary Swaty murdered his father and kidnapped his Kris almost immediately realizes that sister, Collette, and was apparently all is not as it seems. For one thing she The Music of Razors Warhammer 40,000 The Traitor murdering children throughout the world. almost immediately endures three by Cameron Rogers General The second book continues Oliver’s Ballantyne Books $13.95; 314 pp by Dan Abnett journey to certain goals that he hopes will A Black Library Publication, $7.99, pp. lift a death sentence on his head, find the If you read unexpurgated Grimm’s 415. child murderer and rescue his sister. Frost fairy tales, you find horrors, from the mild and the other Borderkind hope to find the horror of the bloody-footed sisters of Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and one responsible for setting the hunters and Cinderella to the full blown horror of his selected people are to find a high- discover why the Borderkind present a “The Juniper Tree” or “The Robber ranked Imperial general in a Chaos- threat. Unbeknownst to Oliver, the Bridegroom.” Fairy tales keep their thumb infested world. The team are on a suicide detective investigating Oliver’s father’s on the dark pulse, where evils are mission to either rescue the general or murder, and Oliver’s fiancé accidently numerous and many-faced and the only assassinate him, if he is a traitor. pass through the veil while following virtues are integrity, resiliency, kindness, This is the beginning of a third arc on Oliver’s trail. They are now part of the and the intuition which goes ignored to “The Lost” series. Lost Ones. While Oliver, due to his one’s dire peril. Interesting but realistic. Very dark. unique heritage, is able to pass back and The Music of Razors is a modern fairy Recommended for dark sci-fi readers and forth at will, just as the Borderkind do, his tale that draws interconnecting story lines Warhammer 40,000 fans. - Jeffrey Lu fiancé, Julianna, will never be able to into a complicated knot, fleshing out the return to the real world. As the detective, quote at the novel’s beginning: “Anyone alive is bait for demons.” There is a Halliwell, and Julianna travel through the assassination attempts. These, however forgotten angel stripped of its powers, “an unbelievable world of myths and legends, turn out to be the work of her old and very unlimited potentiality without possibility Halliwell’s sanity is sorely tested while dead enemy’s sister and not directly of use;” but he has planned ahead for just Julianna’s faith in reuniting with Oliver is related to her unknown mission. strengthened. They all finally meet at Strangely, the news is so controlled that ( Continued on page 14 ) Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 13 In Our Book (Continued from page 13 ) Investigative Agency and then there is the The Book of the Dead custody. But he, Aloysius Pendergast, Otherworld, where the elves, faeries, and by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child former FBI agent, and his supporters such an indignity, seeding the earth with other supernatural beings live. Long ago $7.99, Warner Vision, 597pp maintain it was his brother, Diogenes, slivers of silver bone from a murdered the two worlds intermingled in harmony who is responsible; and if they are right, angel, which exert influences on the before events created an Earthside where Nora Kelly is a curator at the New the man is still loose with an unfulfilled susceptible. In the most heart-wrenching humans considered supernatural beings to York Museum of Natural History. She’s agenda. It is clear to Agent Pendergast story line, four and a half-year-old Walter be myth and legend. The Fae never totally really quite happy working on her that the only person who could possibly left Earthside, having visited constantly potsherds project. She’s not exactly find and stop his brother is himself – but over the centuries, but they have now thrilled when she’s asked – no, required – he’ll have to get out of a maximum come out of the closet, so to speak, and to curate a 70-year-old forgotten Egyptian security Federal Prison which has a modern humans have learned that Faeries, exhibit that has been bricked up in the spotless record of no successful escapes. vampires and other beings are not the subbasement of the museum. It seems that The story has several threads that myths they thought they were. Society has a generous donation has come at just the contribute to it. As we, the readers, and adapted: we have Faerie Watchers, sort of right time. The Museum is embarrassed the characters discover more and more a Faerie groupie club, Vampires by the theft of their diamond collection; about Diogenes and his pathological Anonymous to help vampires and their and their subsequent return – but as a bag hatred of his brother, the more intense the families get along in polite society and of diamond dust. They need a grand story becomes. I was fascinated by the establishments like the Wayfarer Inn exhibit and a gala to distract the public idea the authors gave Diogenes to use for and the press. But there was a good reason his ultimate revenge, it was really quite why the exhibit was abandoned – a lot of brilliant. I don’t think there were any people died at its first opening. points where the story slowed. The plot The person responsible for the was intricate, the characterizations were diamond theft – and its destruction – plus good – not great – but very good, the the attack on her coworker is in FBI ( Continued on page 16 ) is manipulated by a mysterious red-haired entity so that he loses the protection of his guardian; then he becomes a guardian to his own sister, Hope. Henry Lockrose is a medical student in Boston in 1840 who can’t go home again and wouldn’t want to if he could, who falls in with occultists and lives beyond the ordinary span of years. Nimble is a mechanical ballerina invented by the occultist Athelstane for the protection of his daughter Millicent. Another character is Suni, a schoolboy with a stutter, who chases a kleptomaniac gremlin called Nabber into a dimension where all lost things are hoarded. where Menolly works, that serves as a The writing is superb: spare, meeting place for humans and Faeries as intelligent, twisty. An author’s photograph well as a portal to the Otherworld. Add near the back reveals that Cameron into this mix a Shadow Wing, a really bad Rogers resembles a dark elf version of guy from the Subterranean Realms who Legolas. Under the pen-name Rowley wants to take over earth, a civil war in Monkfish he writes children’s stories as Otherworld and you’ve got the basic well. – Chris Paige background. Changeling, told from Delilah’s Witchling viewpoint, expands on the plot, and Berkley, 276 pages, $6.99 introduces new complications to the Changling sisters’ lives in the forms of new enemies Berkley, 278 pages, $6.99 (creepy were-spiders *shudder*), new Both by Yasmine Galenorn friends, a band of were-pumas, and new complications to the sisters’ love lives. I Camille, Delilah and Menolly particularly enjoyed the scene at a D’Artigo are half-human, half-Faerie Vampires Anonymous when Menolly sisters who find themselves in the middle meets Wade’s mother. of a war between good and evil. Think I am enjoying the plot and the Charmed with a dark twist in which the characters, there is a nice balance in the world has come to know about faeries and storytelling that sweeps the reader along other supernatural beings. with the sisters. These are, however, part Each of the sisters has a talent, of Berkley’s Paranormal Romance line Camille is a witch, though her spells don’t and are not suitable for young readers. always work the way she expects, Delilah There is graphic sex as the sisters hook up is a shape-shifter who sometimes turns with their various men friends and into a tabby cat at the most awkward somewhat graphic descriptions of the moments and Menolly is a vampire. Each battles. book is told from the viewpoint of one of I can easily recommend this series. the sisters. Darkling, told from Menolly’s viewpoint, In Witchling we are introduced to the is due out in January and I eagerly await sisters and their world, or more accurately, it. - Stephanie L Bannon worlds. 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For more information check our Gaming Room Name:______web site for updates Many different Panels & Demos If above-listed person is under 18 years of age, the person signing the form must www.anizona.org and much more... be a parent or guardian. If the above listed person is 12 or younger, a parent or Watch our web site for announce- guardian must be on site at all time or ments of more guests and events! Parent/Guardian:______email to [email protected] Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 15 In Our Book ( Continued from page 14 ) replacement can be sent. The story deals extreme winter storm, skeptical law She teams up with the mage Pritkin, with her handling the problems inherent enforcement and townspeople reluctant to even though he previously was one of pacing was fast. This was a I-wish-I- in an empire ruling over a conquered acknowledge that a killer has lived those commissioned to hunt her down didn’t-have-to-put-it-down kind of book. people, unraveling the mystery that is the undetected in their midst for years and with extreme prejudice. Pritkin owes My single complaint is that I wish strange alien culture of the indigenous life you have yet another exciting novel. allegiance to the regulatory Circle of someone had told me it was the third in a forms, and the finding of Lord Kenarbin While I enjoy the Sookie Stackhouse Mages, but he owed first allegiance to the story arc of several books. I think I would the diplomat. novels, Harper is fast becoming my former Pythia, Agnes; if Agnes wanted have enjoyed the characters background Burdens of Empire starts slowly. The favorite of Ms Harris’ characters. The Cassie to succeed her, that’s what he even more if I knew them better. - kidnapping of Lord Kenarbin takes place crime stories are interesting in and of intends to facilitate, which he can’t very Catherine Book in chapter one and provides a hook that themselves and the paranormal twist adds well do if she’s dead. grabs your attention, but it is surrounded the edge to keep you turning each page Book Two follows several of the Burdens of Empire by a mountain of backstory designed to with a “can’t wait to see what happens threads left dangling by Book One to by C. J. Ryan bring the reader up to speed with what has next” anticipation. I can’t believe it will neatly tied resolutions, but by no means Bantam Spectra Books, $6.99, 356 pp happened to the Empire over the last two be a whole year before I can find out more all. Fortunately, Book Three, Embrace the thousand years. If you are the type of about Harper. Highly recommended. - Night, has a release date of April 1st, 2008; In the 34th century, humanity has taken reader that enjoys long stretches of Stephanie L Bannon and if you go to the author’s website, to the stars. The Earth empire spans more exposition, then you will probably enjoy www.karenchance.com, you can even than 2600 worlds and has over 3 trillion the history lesson. Claimed by Shadow read a couple of chapters. – Chris Paige citizens under its Imperial umbrella of I was disappointed that the protagonist by Karen Chance authority. Long ago, notions of a didn’t show up until chapter three and Roc, $74.99; 374 pp Reader and Raelynx democratic republic leading mankind to then in the middle of a philosophical by Sharon Shinn an era of benevolent interstellar expansion debate about imperial treatment of alien This a true sequel, not a stand alone, to Ace Books; $24.95, 420pp were surrendered to a more realistic view species. Frankly, I would have liked to see Touch the Dark, continuing the miss- of aggressive conquest. a hero with more to offer than being adventures of Cassandra Palmer, reluctant Another terrific novel of the Twelve Centuries of growth has placed the gorgeous and the willingness to flash clairvoyant and time-traveling Pythia-in- Houses, this time Shinn ratchets up the Empire in danger of collapse with half of plenty of shapely flesh to the marines in training. She is still dodging vampires, tension by throwing in war—one that has the ruling caste pushing for further order to keep their spirits up. Although, gun-toting mages, and Myra, a malevolent been brewing throughout the other three expansion to stave off the political rot that others might like a protagonist with a and ambitious rival for the Pythian throne novels in this series. is taking place, while the rest argue for more realistic level of abilities. This is not and powers. In the midst of this escalating strife, supporting the existing member worlds. the first book in the series so I am This story begins with Cassie trying to Cammon, the orphaned mystic Senneth assuming that her exploits have been keep the 3 Graeae, the Grey Ladies of the and her friends discovered in the first enjoyed by many. - Randy Lindsay Perseus myth and the Disney film novel is really coming into his own here. Heracles, out of trouble at a casino staffed His empathetic powers have become vital An Ice Cold Grave by incubi. One friendly incubus makes the to the other mystics in his group, Senneth, by Charlaine Harris moves on her and gets his infernal hand Justin, Donal, Tayse, Ellynor and Kirra. Berkley, 288 pages, $23.95 He can feel approaching danger for his six comrades and more importantly any that The third book in the Harper Connelly which threatens King Baryn, his Queen series. Valri and his daughter Amalie. In her teens Harper was struck by Ah, Princess Amalie. She is the heart lightening. Now the dead talk to her as of this story. Though there are battles and they seek closure. Using her talent to confrontations and drama, the main thread support herself, Harper and her step- of this tale is Cammon and Amalie’s brother/friend/manager Tolliver Lang growing love for the other. A love, of travel the US helping families set their course, that on the surface would be dead to peaceful rest. impossible to allow. He is a nameless This time Harper is hired to find the orphan, and she is the future Queen of all Introduce the kidnapping of Earth’s most body of a missing boy in rural North Gillengaria. skilled negotiator by the inhabitants of a Carolina. Instead she finds eight bodies But because he can sense danger small and unimportant world and you and a serial killer. Things heat up as and has proven his worth over and over, have the Burdens of Empire. Harper is assaulted, the tension between Cammon is commanded to shadow the Our protagonist is Gloria Van Deen. her and Tolliver reaches a head and her princess at any public function. While the She is the beautiful and heroic ex-wife of psychic friend Xylda Bernardo and her other six friends work to bring together as the Emperor. Earlier in her life, she many mystics as possible to confront the underwent treatments that augmented her amassed armies of mercenaries and sexual traits and has rendered her no mere slapped forcibly away by a mysterious foreigners, as well as traitors, pulled beauty, but absolutely gorgeous; a point geis set to protect Cassandra from together by Halchon Gisseltess and his that is mentioned many times in the book, advances made by anyone other than the fellow conspirator Rayson Fortunalt, by just about every male character that caster – or an approved substitute, and the Cammon is left in the capitol city of dialogues with her. In addition to being incubus is not on that short list. Who cast Ghosenhall to vet the continuous stream dead hot sexy, her skill set includes the it, and why? It doesn’t take Cassie long to of suitors for the 19-year-old princess. ability to get things done and being the deduce the who, and she quickly figures And though the Queen, who is highly ex-wife of the Emperor. Basically, she is a out the why as well: that attractive Master protective of Amalie usually plays socialite with a good work ethic and a vampire Mircea wanted to make sure chaperone, the two do get their moments reasonable amount of common sense. she’d be left alone, for only a virgin can alone. And one is just priceless. Naïve and Gloria is sent to the planet to assess become the next Pythia – and only then sheltered, Amalie has no idea about the the situation and with the not-so-secret by losing her virginity ritualistically. physical side of marriage. She also claims mission of getting Earth’s most valued Cassie wants the geis gone, but only she has no idea of what a naked man diplomat safely returned. However, within someone at least as powerful as the caster looks like (Having, apparently, not even hours of landing on the planet a rebel can remove it, and entities packing that seen any naked statues). And so Cammon bomb kills the Planetary Governor and grandson, Manfred, make a gruesome much power and friendly to Cassie are blithely shows her one cold afternoon out leaves her in charge of the planet until a discovery when they come to help. Add in few. (Continued on page 17) Page 16 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 In Our Book ( Continued from page 16 ) book, Kings and Dragons, and reads a The Sharing Knife: Beguilement roads that rivaled the works of Rome, few chapters to Gavin. Story time is short- by Lois McMaster Bujold whose denizens sought immortality. It was in the wilds of a garden, far from any lived though as Gavin’s father joins the Eos, $7.99; 355 pp this search that gave rise to the blights: the prying eyes. He literally strips down armed forces the next day and has to leave ancestors of the rangers created the naked and shows her his body. Amalie his family. Soon Gavin and Emily are Lois McMaster Bujold is my favorite blights, and their descendants are still gives him a good once over, asks joined by Bunty, orphaned by a German living author, a cross between Jane Austen trying to contain the mess and horror questions and then Cammon dresses. No bombing and taken in by Gavin’s mother. and Dorothy Sayers; her astonishing birthed by that lust for immortality. innuendo and no sex. A wonderful way to To this point we’re dealing pretty much admixtures of character studies, humor, The protagonists are Fawn and Dag. handle a delicate subject! with straight historical fiction. And then philosophical flashes, and combat are an Both are carrying burdens when they This is one of my favorite novels of the dragon, Thaddeus Osbert, shows up utter feast for the mind and heart. meet: burdens of life and death, loss and this series, because of the focus on and the adventure begins. The Sharing Knife trilogy begins memory, regret and responsibility. Cammon and Amalie. The war is a big I am a fan of both historical and young with Beguilement and continues with the Disaster, necessity, and an extraordinary issue, of course, and the battles are huge. adult fiction and this novel fills both recently published Legacy. The setting is occurrence draw Fawn and Dag together, But Coralinda Gisseltess, the woman who interests. Gavin, Emily and Bunty are neither galactic nor technological: the and it is Fawn, not the trained Dag, who has pulled together the followers of the engaging characters and Thaddeus is characters are either nomadic rangers who ends up slaying the blight that has Pale Mother and is leading them delightful. Read this to your kids, read hunt deadly blights – immortal monsters infiltrated the region. this yourself. And then go out and buy who feed of the life energy of anything There is a detailed, but implicit – not book two when it comes out. - Stephanie and everything and who suborn animals explicit – bedroom scene. Much less L Bannon and men to its service – or rural folk, steamy than a Romance novel encounter, farmers mostly, for whom glass and brick but also far more, um… open-minded. Fiends of the Rising Sun are the epitome of civilization. But there By the end of the story, Fawn and Dag by David Bishop are references to past civilizations that have formed an unprecedented alliance Black Flame, 415 pages, $7.99 built immense cities, with connecting ( Continued on page 18 ) Set on the eve of America’s entrance into World War II, Fiends of the Rising Sun is a tale of Japanese vampires serving their empire in preparation for the attack on Pearl Harbour. This book is inspired by Fiends of the Eastern Front by the same author. I must admit, this book sounded ideal - personally to join up with the rebels, plays vampires, war, and Japanese culture are a very small part in this book. Each all things that fascinate me. As a result of villain, though, does get their come- such high expectations, I was uppance and Coralinda and Senneth get to disappointed as the story began. It seemed fight it out in a fantastic duel. rather predictable for what I considered an And all the loose ends are tidily taken original idea. As each character was care of, including Cammon and Amalie’s introduced I could see from which generic affaire d’amore. I assume this is the last of character box they’d been grabbed and the books in this series. But I certainly predict to a healthy degree their fate. Still hope it is not the last of Shinn’s novels set I read on. in Gillengaria! - Sue Martin It reads quickly, perhaps because there is so little description of the environment. Secret of the Dragon’s Eye Halfway through the book, the by Derek Hart predictability factor goes down; however, iUniverse, 244 pages, $16.95 my attachment to any of the main characters never rose above ‘mild Back cover blurb: “Secret of the interest’. Once the attack began, I really Dragon’s Eye is a tale of fantasy for all didn’t care who survived on either side. I ages, with a high-spirited dragon named just kept waiting for the battles to become Thaddeus Osbert and three adolescents who befriend him. Faced with danger and intrigue, the children band together with the dragon, to thwart a German top-secret mission, aimed at seizing the mystical and magical sword of King Arthur-Excalibur. By combining their wits, their courage, and their imagination, the children overcome many obstacles to forge friendships as solid as time itself. Yet there is a price to pay for their brave intervention against the forces of evil. Will they be willing to once again battle incredible odds to make amends? What sacrifices will be required to save their mythical, fire-breathing friend from his pre-ordained fate?” Gavin and Emily are best friends interesting; and then, they were over. The living in near by villages in Cornish in book faded to an end; obviously left open 1940. The night before school starts, for another novel, one I have no plans to Gavin’s father brings out an old family read. - Suzanne Clay Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 17 the first of Druas’s local murders when characters. However, the author and editor (Continued from page 17) In Our Book Baran shows up. Baran, too, carries chose to leave it as a cliff-hanger without that tests every member of her farmer emotional baggage which threatens the creating any closure for the reader. This community upon their arrival. These success of his enterprise. Druas, himself, reviewer hates that when it happens. A TV confrontations are the meat of the second is interesting. The author has absorbed cliff hanger can be resolved the following half of the book, and some of them are enough about the pathology of the serial season, but the next volume may never laugh-aloud funny, if you have a dark and murderer to make him a frightening and show up. The writer has to complete the nuanced sense of humor. Any reader who believable character. episode prior before I am interested in has ever found himself or herself After Baran’s arrival the story goes continuing the series. No recommendation completely at wit’s end in the sucking into high gear and carries you along to the from me on this one - Pam Allan morass of familial dynamics can find unexpected conclusion. I enjoyed it. – glimmers of hope in these pages. And Gary Swaty The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters then you get to read the sequel. – Chris by Gordon Dahlquist Paige Jennifer Scales Book 3: Bantam, 760 pp, $26.00 The Silver Moon Elm Jane’s Warlord by Mary Janice Davison & Anthony Glass Books of the Dream Eaters is By Angela Knight Alongi Mr. Dahlquist’s debut novel. It is a disturbing dark fantasy on a Berkley Sensation (Paranormal Berkley, 368 pages, $9.99 Miss Temple receives a letter from her Victorian mystery base that rockets from Romance), New York, 2007, 298 Pages, fiancé breaking off their engagement with crisis to crisis through a world that is, by $4.99. This the third book in the series and is no reason given. Miss Temple wants to turns, seductive, brutal, and at times mainly set in an alternate universe ruled know why. So she trails him to isolated tender, even romantic. Her three This book is not a paranormal by the werespiders. Everything and Harschmort Manor, a forbidding estate at protagonists involve you in the story to Romance. It is a well-written Time travel everyone Jennifer knows and loves are the end of the railway. She sneaks in the last page. You won’t want to put it Romance. Readers should be aware the either dead or polar opposite of wearing a disguise, but nothing could down. A Fourth of July fireworks of a book contains explicit sex and violence. themselves. She must learn to work with prepare an adventure-seeking Victorian debut. I’m looking forward to the next Three hundred years in the future the Xavier Longtail on the dragon council maiden for the bizarre and deadly game novel. - Pam Allan Temporal Enforcement Police note signs even though she knows he hates her, and she becomes embroiled in. But she finds of an incursion by a time traveling serial her dead half sister. They will have to put two allies, Cardinal Chang, a brutal Blood Engines killer who has been responsible for many their differences aside and work together assassin with the soul of a poet, and Dr. by T.A. Pratt well-known murders in the past. The to put Jennifer’s universe back the way it Swenson, fumbling, heroic, and Spectra paperback $6.99 records indicate that they might have a belongs. This book was a great read sometimes brilliant. They have both lost chance to bring him down. They dispatch although it kind of seemed to stand alone someone to the plot. The closer they get to This is a departure for Hugo-winner a genetically engineered super-soldier to from the rest of the series for the most the truth, the more they are endangered. Tim Pratt. It’s the first in a new series intervene in his crime spree in 2007. part. I can’t wait for a fourth book - The conspiracy is beyond belief; a morass about sorceress Marla Mason, who rules Baran Arvid’s orders are to stay with Jane ninjakittyofdoom of perverted science, religion and lust for the city of Felport. Marla and her helper power. ( Continued on page 19 ) The Ruby Guardian by Thomas M. Reid Wizards Of The Coast. 308 pp, $6.99

The Ruby Guardian is book 2 of the Scions of Arrabar. Vambran and Emriana Mattrel have survived assassinations, family feuds, arranged marriages, and monster-guarded secrets. Now things are getting dangerous, family feuds become part of a non-violent economic wars become violent wars of a larger conspiracy. Religious ambition joins the crowd almost killing both. In one plot by the cast-out brother and the leader Colby until Kalig Druas shows up and of the sect in which Vambran is a soldier- then kill him. The story has the inevitable romantic involvement between our hero and heroine, the truly violent and perverted activities of Druas, the confusion of the local police, the danger of Temporal Paradox, the higher ups in the Temporal Enforcement and the fact that Baran was not told whether he would or could save his new beloved. The most interesting character in the book is Baran’s assistant and sidekick, Freika, a genetically engineered talking wolf. He is acerbic and wise. Jane is a well-developed character. She is a news reporter, haunted by memories of a dominant and malevolent father who priest, they escape only to be pursued and worked hard to make her feel small and captured. useless. She runs the Tayanita Tribune Lots of action and Vambran, Emriana, inherited from her father. She is covering and Xaphira are reasonably well-drawn as Page 18 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 In Our Book ( Continued from page 18 ) okay - Aztec gods come into it, as does of mystery created around the site. The governmental/economical implications of Marla’s battle to retain control, but the book itself feels more like setup for her worlds and in this book it has never Rondeau have come to San Francisco to poor writing and uninteresting characters another book as the plot peters out well been clearer or more important. hunt for an artifact called The more than take away any points gained by before the end of the book, and none of its Tanglestone is, after all, the very Cornerstone, which Marla needs to help in the plot. questions are answered. I am in no way foundation of mankind’s society, so how her battle with a sorceress who is looking If you’re looking for a fun urban competent to comment on the physics, but would any threat to the supply, or the to take over her job. While in San fantasy read, avoid this. Stick with Kim they seem plausible, definitely a bonus. If means to obtaining the supply be treated? Francisco, she becomes entangled with a Harrison, Carrie Vaughn or Laura Anne you’re looking for a novel using quantum To what lengths do people go to keep the mystery and gets on the wrong side of the Gilman. - Nadine Armstrong physics in an interesting way, this will fill power that they hold? All these questions local council. the bill; however, definitely pick up Light are examined, and answered with Urban fantasy of this kind is a hot Nova Swing first. - Nadine Armstrong thoughtful arguments. thing right now - Jim Butcher, Kim by M. John Harrison It’s also a very topical book with its Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, etc. Bantam trade paperback $16.00 Undertow look at usage of natural resources, the However, most of the things that make by Elizabeth Bear exploitation of labor, and the resulting those books work are not present here. Nova Swing is the sequel to the Spectra paperback $6.99 class structure. Bear, however, resists the Tiptree-award winning novel Light. While trap of lecturing the reader, preferring to not a direct sequel, I would not Speaking of quantum physics, present the scenarios and letting the recommend reading this one without it; here’s another take. Way out on the reader draw his own conclusions, without there is too much in the first one you need galactic frontier, Andre Deschenes is an pounding the reader over the head - an to know. Both books take place in a assassin who wants to move up in the extremely refreshing approach. Too, her region of space at the edge of the galaxy pecking order. If he could just find prose is clear and direct without being called the Kefahuchi Tract, a region that is someone to teach him the ins and outs of dull or overly simplistic. Finally, I’ve filled with gravitational anomalies, manipulating probability, he could punch heard a lot of people complain that no one wormholes, odd stars and various his own ticket; for conjure men, as they’re writes books with a sense of wonder any contradictions of the laws of physics. called, are a rare resource. So far, it’s one more. Those people are not reading People do live out there, mining odd area in which he hasn’t had luck. But Elizabeth Bear. - Nadine Armstrong elements, picking up bits of alien things are changing in his city of Novo technology and selling them, etc. An Haven. The Mirador unspecified number of years after the The aliens called Froggies are by Sarah Monette events of Light, a piece of the Kefahuchi ripe for revolution - tired of being Ace Hardback $24.95 Tract has fallen on a planet called exploited by humans to mine the First is the sheer clunkiness of the writing. Saudade. This has created an event site; substance called tanglestone; which This is the third book in what Sarah As we are pitchforked headlong into the an area in which nothing is quite as it allows human society to function as it Monette calls The Doctrine of Labyrinths story, which in and of itself is not a bad seems, dangerously so. While it is. in fact, does: instant communications, matter series (her publisher didn’t like it). With thing, there is not much room for world illegal to go in or bring anything out, transfer and the large scale twisting of this book, we add a third viewpoint building and character background. people, of course, do so anyway - guiding probabilities. Many humans are tired of character to the established ones of Felix Instead, we get choppy paragraphs of “As the exploitation and the stranglehold that and Mildmay; Mehitabel, an actress you know, Bob…” style exposition tacked the Rim Company has on their livelihood running from an oppressive government. on to characters’ thoughts interrupting the and even their lives. Andre is about to find This book finds the brothers settling into story flow. The other thing that makes a teacher and even a cause. life at the Mirador, the governmental these type of books work is the likeability center of the city-state of Marathat and its of the characters, and here is another capitol, Melusine. Now that the Virtu has place where Blood Engines falls down. been repaired and Felix has his sanity Marla is abrasive, impatient, classless and back, along with his status as a wizard of worst of all, uninteresting. We are told the Mirador, it’s back to politics as usual. about many horrible things she’s done to Stephen, the Lord Protector, needs to take get and secure power but never really a a wife, but which family will he honor? cogent reason as to why. It isn’t as though The Bastion has not stood still; they still she’s gotten rich, or that control over want to take down the Mirador and all its Felport does anything for her other than wizards so what are their plans? And how “she loves it”, which is far too vague an does Mehitabel Parr fit in? This book, explanation. All we know is that sorcerers while a satisfying read on its own, does tie are all power-hungry and awful people. Why? No explanation. All of them? Really? Kim Harrison’s Rachel, Harry tourists and brokering artifacts. Recently, Dresden, even Anita Blake are the site crime detective Aschemann has entertaining characters with good qualities noticed activity even odder than usual as well as bad - and the reader enjoys around the site - people seem to be Bear has always been a good spending time with them. Marla, on the appearing from it, wandering around the writer, and in this book she takes a step other hand has no interests, no friends, city, and then disappearing again. He forward. Her fiction has always featured isn’t particularly witty or charming or believes this has something to do with a good characterization, but here they’re even exceptionally smart - just determined tour guide named Vic Serotonin and an even more fully realized than usual. The and power hungry. She isn’t even artifact broker called Paulie DeRaad. He things that drive Andre to do what he interestingly evil. The secondary investigates them, along with his assistant, does, the qualities that make him characters come off even worse. Rondeau while Vic is trying to please his latest sympathetic despite his profession, all is a psychic creature who took over the client who really wants to enter the site. I work together to make a compelling and body of a young human boy, and is loyal did not enjoy this nearly as much as I did believable presence. Her world-building is to Marla for no reason ever explained - Light - I never found Vic or Aschemann as wonderful here too, although she has said we do know she removed his jawbone that the quantum mechanics in this book compelling as the characters from the much more closely to its sequel Corambis once - all we really see is that he’s fussy are nonsense and based on disproven earlier book. However, M. John in some ways than the Melusine was tied about clothes and reads guidebooks. The Harrison’s prose is gorgeous, and I theories she makes it believable. Too, she others fare even less well. The plot is enjoyed the world-building and the sense has always thought about the political/ (Continued on page 20) Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book ( Continued from page 19 ) of the plot will go over your head. That incidentally; but each of them is so fully ending of the latest chapter and Brooks said, this series is well-worth reading. Her drawn and so much a whole person that to delivers, for the most part. In this series, to The Virtu. Monette has referred to this fiction is grounded in a sense of place not have only one narrator would ruin the Brooks is revealing that the world of series as a diptych of duologies rather common to many fantasy writers. While books. I was very interested to see how Shannara is really our future and that the than a simple four-book sequence and it’s she doesn’t go in for pages of description, the addition of a third character would go, end of the world foreseen in The Word easy to understand why. I would not I still have a very clear sense of what if it would work, if I would be impatient and Void novels is the end of our way of recommend reading this without reading Melusine and the Mirador are like as with it, and since we see Mehitabel only life and the beginning of the return of the other two - the book is certainly places. What really makes the book are for a short time at the end of The Virtu, magic. Before that can happen, the Elves readable as a stand-alone, but without her characters. Lots of writers switch how could she become as fleshed out as and enough humans need to survive the seeing the beginnings of Felix and between viewpoint characters, most of Felix and Mildmay. However, she made it rise of the demons so that the world seen Mildmay’s relationship, I don’t think the them are not very good at it. Monette is. work. Mehitabel’s motivations, her in the Shannara novels can come to pass. book would be as interesting. Also, it Felix and Mildmay are damaged people feelings, what she does and with whom all We pick up where we left off in helps to have an understanding of the with lots of baggage, wildly differing really flesh out the plot and add even Armageddon’s Children with two Knights politics and beliefs in the book, or some views on most things, and brothers only more layers to Felix and Mildmay’s of the Word dealing with different characters. Monette’s prose is really problems. Logan Tom is trying to get a lovely too, not lush group of kids named The Ghosts out of but descriptive and Seattle as it is being invaded by a horde of her dialogue is spot demons. On of them is Hawk, who is on. The book does contain explicit sex both hetro-and homosexual-not much and it is all relevant and easy to skip over if you don’t like reading it, but it is there. This is one of the most interesting and enjoyable fantasy series of the past several years. It is a real relief to see epic fantasy done without a quest structure - really the Gypsy Morph that was birthed yay for no plot by Nest Freemark years before and has coupons - and with been in hiding. Angel Perez has escaped a some refreshingly doomed Los Angeles and has taken on a real characters. - quest to join up with the Elven boy Nadine Armstrong Kirisin Belloruus that has been tasked by the Ellcryss to move it to a safe location Genesis of where it can survive and lead the Elves Shannara: into a new age. She’s also being stalked The Elves of Cintra by a demon that nearly killed her in Los by Terry Brooks Angeles and may be her undoing. After a Del Rey hardback deadly attack following the discovery of $26.95 the legendary Blue Elfstones, Angel, Kirisin and his sister Simralin head on a The Elves of journey to find the Loden that can provide Cintra is the second a safe means of transport for the Ellcrys book of the Genesis and also help the Elves to regain their of Shannara trilogy magic. that began with The book focuses primarily on Logan Armageddon’s Tom and Kirisin but also devotes time to Children. With this the supporting characters and their book, the connections involvement with the goings on. We also to Shannara and the get more background on several of the Word and Void series kids traveling with Logan Tom, finding are much more out how and why they ended up alone at a prominent where they young age. Through Hawk we run into a had been downplayed significant and long-lived character from with the release of the Shannara novels and during Logan the first book. Being Tom and The Ghosts journey we the second book in a encounter a robotic facility that was first trilogy you know introduced in the Voyage of the Jerle going in that Shannara trilogy. By the end of this everything isn’t chapter, we’ve had some characters suffer going to be resolved unfortunate fates and others have been by the end of the really put through the wringer and left in a book but you expect bad state while others are reunited to help to see some sort of ( Continued on page 21 ) Page 20 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 In Our Book ( Continued from page 20 ) Last Son of Krypton and thus the hero Lara, an artist working on his estate, and a known as Superman. In this new novel, relationship starts to bloom. Jor-El’s Musty Tomes set things up for the next chapter where Kevin J. Anderson strives to tell the brother, Zor-El, is the leader of Argo City we will presumably find out how the reader the full story behind superman’s and has been watching seismic readings Way-Farer Elves and remaining humans were saved parents, Jor-El and Lara, as well as Kara and discovers a problem with the planet’s by Dennis Schmidt to make the world we know from the Zor-El’s parents, and General Zod and the core. Jor-El has been keeping an eye on Ace Books, 1978, 277 pp. Shanarra novels. If you’ve been a regular Phantom Zone. With the various Krypton’s sun, Rao, and believes it may reader of Brook’s Shannara novels, you incarnations of the DC multiverse through be close to going supernova. Of course, The first three chapters of this novel should enjoy the latest chapter. If you are the years, Anderson has expanded on the the ruling council of Krypton doesn’t appeared in Galaxy magazine in 1976, new to them, you can jump in with basic facts and given us an epic story of and a second part in 1977, so … this story Armageddon’s Children and start off with two brothers fighting to save their world precedes Star Wars, really. To get the intro the beginnings of the world of Shannara and creating a special destiny. formula out of the way: a boy saw his before delving into the rest of the series. - We meet Jor-El before he has even homestead family killed by a band of Lee Whiteside met his future wife, Lara. He’s an inventor ronin, so he joins the religious and scientist on a Krypton that Brotherhood to learn the Way of the The Last Days of Krypton discourages such activities and pretty Sword, to enact revenge. On his own, he by Kevin J. Anderson much anything he creates is deemed a finds an old sword master in the Harper-Collins Hardback $25.95 possible weapon and is confiscated and wilderness and becomes his pupil. He destroyed by Dru-Zod, the head of the then becomes a wanderer among Most everyone knows the basic story Commission of Technology Advancement homesteads, meets a young woman and of how Superman came to Earth. His in the capital city of Kandor. When he the orphans in her charge. The ronins father Jor-El sent him away from the creates the Phantom Zone and is strike back, and we end with the return of doomed planet Krypton to make him the accidentally trapped in it, he is rescued by the swordsman. Unlike other stories, this one is based on Buddhism and Taoism. This colonized planet has alien mind parasites called listen to either of them. Meanwhile, Dru- mushin, who feed on emotions. To protect Zod has been stockpiling Jor-El’s themselves, people use zen techniques to inventions planning to make use of them calm their minds, but this is not helping to take control of the government and society much. Our young hero Jerome when an alien turns up planning to share must a way beyond swords or passivity to technology and help Jor-El with his defeat the intangible aliens and their investigations, Dru-Zod has his mute human surrogates, the ronin. At novel’s ward, Na-Kem, sabotage Jor-El’s end he realizes the old master’s Way of experiment leading to the alien’s death. No Sword, which could be the path to When Braniac shows up and uproots and victory. Three more novels in this series shrinks Kandor, Dru-Zod takes command will tell the tale: Kensho (1979), Satori and starts a civil war that may doom (1981), and Wanderer (1985). A rare treat Krypton before natural forces do the job. to find Taoism so well-expressed in Through the course of the story, the science fiction. Broaden your religious reader well versed in the Superman legacy and philosophical horizons in a tale of will enjoy the nods to other parts of the swordplay! May the Way be with you. - DC Universe and explanations of how M.L. Fringe things came to be. The means by which Jor-El learns about Earth is much more Through Time and Space believable in the context of this book than with Poul Anderson: the 60’s stories showing Jor-El using a The Boat of A Million Years, long range telescope to spy on Earth. Tor Books, 1989, novel There’re also some surprises as several The Shield of Time, possible causes for Krypton’s destruction Tor Books, 1990, novel are brought to the forefront before the The Time Patrol, Tor Books, 1991 final fatal piece of the puzzle plays out. (combines collections You do get a good sense of the turmoil The Guardians of Time, Time Jor-El and Kara go through leading up to Patrolman, and their launching of their son to an Star of the Sea novel) unknown fate as their world is crumbling. There Will Be Time, The events that leads Zor-El to shield Doubleday, 1972, novel Argo City so that it survives the The Dancer From Atlantis, destruction of Krypton are also well Doubleday, 1971, novel presented. Even if you aren’t well versed The Corridors of Time, in Superman and Kryptonian lore, you’ll Doubleday, 1965, novel find a good story with tragedy and hope. - Seven Conquests, Collier Books, 1969 Lee Whiteside (includes 1958 story ‘Wildcat’)

In ‘The Perennial Philosophy’ Aldous Huxley wrote: “The politics of those whose goal is beyond time are always pacific; it is the idolaters of past and future, of reactionary memory and Utopian dream, who do the persecuting and make the wars.” This is a good (Continued on page 22) Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 21 Musty Tomes range of human history and prehistory. We to over-sized growth by a beam of light characters and blend them all seamlessly (Continued from page 21) get the age of mammoths, ancient from an alien ship. into a grandly tragic tale. The way she Jerusalem, Tyre, Persia, Egypt, Rome, And then, a large silver “acorn” constructs the struggles of the Jesuit standard to judge religions by, but as a Kublai Khan, the Spanish Conquistadors, crashes into a field and two small, silver trying to come to terms with the literary standard it would condemn much the Goths, Cro Magnons, in a total of ten clad beings with huge dark eyes and no unfathomable is really gripping. of science fiction to the rubbish heap. We stories. There have been other collections discernible speech are taken into custody, Throughout, the aliens remain look forward to a future where technology published before, such as ‘Annals of the along with one dead companion. mysteries. We never really find out what is better, and while we no longer see Time Patrol’, ‘The Guardians of Time’, Since 17th Century Portugal (and the they had come to earth for and what they Utopia we often see Star Wars. Is it and ‘Time Patrolman’, so you have good world in general) had no word for were doing. They are more focus points possible to write of history and wars chances of finding copies of several of the extraterrestrials, they call the beings for the drama than characters, per se. without straying into idolatry, stories. “angels” and the villagers not only look to When you want something different, glorification? Well, yes, as demonstrated The remaining three novels on the them for God’s Word but for miracles as this is your book. - Sue Martin by Anderson’s Time Patrol and similar above list may be considered as variations well. Of course, the beings are silent. But stories. on the Time Patrol if not part of it. ‘The are they? Some people feel the visitors I Am Legend I include a couple entries here that do Dancer from Atlantis’ in fact shares some communicate with them “spiritually” by Richard Matheson not fall into the Time Patrol category, but characters, with a contemporary man (mentally). Of course, some of the Ace Books, $7.99, 151 pp which deal with time travel or the long stranded in ancient Crete by a broken time villagers see them as spawn of the devil. view. The anthology ‘Seven Conquests’ ship. With his ladylove Erissa, a bull And thus is brought in the Inquisition, Aaron Neville is the last man on Earth. has a time travel story from 1958, dancer, they survive the volcanic Sure, a few of his neighbors are still ‘Wildcat’, which is relevant in our age of explosion that destroys Atlantis. The around and show up every night in an oil wars. How’s about going back in time description of being at sea when the attempt to lure him out of his fortified to pump oil? Trouble with dinosaurs, eruption happens could certainly be called abode so they can suck him dry of blood. though. As for ‘The Boat of A Million “gritty.” Because that’s what vampires do. But it’s Years’, it’s a tale of the few truly immortal ‘There Will Be Time’ involves people not a one sided affair, Neville comes out humans, who survive the millennia of with the natural ability to time shift. during the day and once he’s finished wars on earth to finally explore space in a Secret societies form, and there is a battle repairing the damage done the night starship. The Russian woman Katya’s in the past to protect history and avoid a before he hunts down the undead ex- fight in the WWII battle of Stalingrad terrible future war. ‘The Corridors of members of the PTA and puts them down carries a gritty realism which should Time’ has two opposing factions, Wardens for good. disabuse any gloryhound fools of the fun and Rangers. Their time travel technology Shortly before the book starts, the of war. Like a true science fiction writer, includes an actual dimension of corridors United States has won a war by dropping Anderson saw the purpose of humanity is that open into various locations. I like to enough bombs on their enemy to alter the to explore the stars rather than to just imagine or pretend that these two novels destroy things with high tech weapons. (and even the Wildcat story) are part of But he didn’t shirk from exploring that the same Time Patrol series, just not yet in the form of a wandering Inquisitor-at- history of weapons use to which humanity written into the continuity, but they’re large, a Jesuit named Manoel Pessoa, to is so prone. clearly variations on the theme. They’d be untangle the facts from the mysteries. His Which brings us to the Time Patrol. A prior or future developments after the village counterpart, a sweet Franciscan few writers spent effort on this theme - the Patrol’s own “time.” You may enjoy them friar named Luis Soares who feeds the secret guardians who maintain the on their own, once you’ve read all of the village’s feral cats is confused by all the integrity of history. Jack Williamson had Patrol stories and just can’t do without stories. one novel, ‘The Legion of Time’ in 1938. any more! - M.L. Fringe Anthony weaves a complex layer of Fritz Leiber did it with the ‘Spiders and events and people. King Afonso following Snakes’ beginning in 1958, while God’s Fires the strange lights, comes to Quintas on a Anderson’s first story ‘Time Patrol’ by Patricia Anthony quest, emulating his hero Don Quixote. appeared in 1955. The main hero of most Ace hardcover, 370 pp. (1997) He finds the fallen acorn and enters it of Anderson’s stories, including the novel (easily available on Amazon in where he finds what he thinks is God, ‘The Shield of Time,’ is Manse Everard, paperback) who tells him that heretical Galileo was whose recruitment we get in the 1955 tale. correct and the Earth revolves around the He answers a newspaper ad for a job that Anthony is a fascinating author. I sun. Manoel Pessoa, though a priest, has Earth’s atmosphere. Dust storms raged for includes foreign travel. The ad didn’t say haven’t read everything she’s written but I been in love with the village herbalist (a months and even a year later they appear that such travel would be on a flying really liked “Cold Allies” and “Brother converted Jewess) named Berenice frequently. Then came the plague. People motorcycle that hops back and forth in Termite,” both novels dealing with alien/ Pinheiro for some time. died. The only problem is that they came time and space easily and often. human contact on Earth. Father Soares and Father Pessoa try to back to life as vampires. If you can get past the idea of “God’s Fires” is no sort out the strange events in the village, I Am Legend is the story of the Aaron but their efforts are further compounded motorcycle cops as time guardians, you different. But this time, it is set Neville’s life after everyone around him have much of Anderson’s explication of by the arrival of an Inquisitor General, a during the Inquisition in Portugal. has died. At a hundred and fifty one pages real history to enjoy. As with good Monsignor Gomes who is suffering from this is a short read, but I think Matheson’s literature, the occasional telling insight The mentally challenged child-like gallstones I believe (this disease/illness minimalist style here serves the story well. comes to the hero’s mind, or is shown in King Afonso sits on the Portuguese makes him rather irascible throughout) It is a classic tale that has been the catalyst some character’s action. For example, throne while his brother Pedro and feels an auto de fe will settle for three movies: 1964 The Last Man On everything. He has a scribe in his train, a here’s Manse: “But the fact is that works to remove him (to eventual Earth with Vincent Price, 1974 The throughout humanity’s existence, till Father Bernardo who struggles with exile) without committing regicide. Omega Man with Chuck Heston, and I indefinitely far uptime of our birth period, ecstasy/lust and is one of the many Am Legend coming out this month clans, tribes, nations normally regard the (This is all based, roughly, on fact). heartbreaking subsidiary characters. starring Will Smith. rest of mankind as booty, potential or In the village of Quintas, strange The whole story is just a juggernaut of This is a good read. If you haven’t actual – unless somebody else is things are happening. Falling stars and tragedy and ends, as one can imagine with read it before I recommend that you do, sufficiently strong to be an enemy, strange lights are seen in the skies. such circumstances and in such a time, and if you have already - why not read it potential or actual.” Take that, Huxley! “Angels” visit the women of the village very unhappily. again? Then go see the movie. - Randy You don’t need a religion to make war, and supposedly lie with them, getting one The book, even so very depressing, is Lindsay just a pack mentality. young girl pregnant. A field of huge worth the read because Anthony is an Time Patrol stories cover the full potatoes is discovered, apparently spurred excellent writer, able to handle the diverse Page 22 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6 fees are involved.) The electronic home of the group has been together, and growing, for details of current events and location see our Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station four years. We’re a good group of friends that website www.ocsfc.org or email Club BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for believe in gaming fun first. Our member [email protected] the group range from 13-40-something with group’s ages range from 13 to 49. both male and female members. Other We welcome both new and experienced PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated Listings activities include null-modem link gamefests, players. to building and promoting Autonomous ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North group theater movie viewings, convention 10:00 a.m. Character Creation - We will have robotics. The club has been in existance since Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well 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 there is a club out there available for you low-structure environment. NO RUBBER campaigns we run. AGoP will have all books a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona people. EARS ALLOWED!! For questions, you can available for reference. We encourage you to locations., http://www.parex.org/ Across Plus is a social club that discuses 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 anime, video games, manga, other animation, 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 character materials are provided; character basis: Regular members $20 Student members and the Japanese culture. We meet at sheets, master item logs, adventure records, $15 Of course visitors are always welcome Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern On BASFA Local Tucson science fiction group etc. Dice will be loaned to you if you don’t because we know you will eventually become Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box have any yet. In other words, all that is a member anyway Web page: http:// In general, we explore anime, manga, and 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or needed for the first day is for you to join www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John other styles of animation, creative educative [email protected] us and have fun. Kittelsrud, [email protected] demonstrations, participate in interactive our website at http://home.earthlink.net/ If you have any questions email us at discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, ~basfa/ [email protected]. THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- and make cosplay. ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the We are willing to gain any new members out CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. there who are interested. Dues are only $2 per FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. PFFS has been in existence for 30 years, month. Our members are very friendly, non-profit corporation that puts on For more information call Carol Alves, meeting every 6 weeks in member’s homes. respectful, and fun. We welcome any and all. CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Dues are $10 per year. Membership includes For more information, contact Shane Bryner HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and Knights, c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, newsletters, an annual film awards and at [email protected] publishes Con-Notations. Best described as Hesperia CA, 92345-7066. various outings. For information, contact SF/F generalists with a strong bent towards PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, on the last Friday of each month in January area corporations that put on yearly conven- [email protected]. banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every thru September and the second Friday in tions. Best described as SF/F generalists with Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto October, November and December at JB’s a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A Park. All are welcome. Free. 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 AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or email November unless otherwise notified. August the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th [email protected] Web www.casfs.org is the annual meeting where board positions White Wolf publishing. Contact Mike Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone are deter-mined. For more information, write McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 welcome. All levels skill exchange in many *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202- areas of object manipulation Dave Davis Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email 3144 or [email protected] , 602-955-9446; Reenactment group specializing in the [email protected] Webpage: or Ron Harvey , 480- western European renaissance. We research www.leprecon.org RAW GAMES (Role-players & 775-4690 for more info or impromptu lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & juggling sessions. 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 12noon-5pm (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 (623) 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, advertise their own gatherings. We have no http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at convention, or community service that you SHIELD OF ALMOR The Shield of Almor set genre of games and play anything from the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and would like to have official Steve Jackson is a RPGA club located in the greater Phoenix strategy games to first-person shooters to Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, Games representation at, please contact the area. If you are interested in Living Greyhawk driving/flying simulations. No annual phone number (480)350-5211. The Board MIB Arizona Cell catch one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of membership is required and admission to an meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General Leader at [email protected]. We are also every month at Imperial Outpost Games event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage meeting starting at 2:30 pm. recruiting new MIBs in some areas of (www.imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If for current events. Email: Arizona. If you’re interested, contact us. You you are interested in Living Arcanis or Living [email protected] Web: THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An can find additional information about the Spycraft catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- organization formed for the expression and Arizona MIB at our website http:// month also at Imperial Outpost Games. The 9339 exploration of various cultural themes members.cox.net/mib.6361/ Shield of Almor hosts RPGA events at the including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages local Phoenix conventions. For more ARIZONA PARANORMAL and the Renaissance through forms of art MVD GHOSTCHASERS—The MVD information visit us at INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly including, but not limited to, painting, Ghostchasers are a paranormal team games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ or trained, non-profit paranormal investigation drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, established in 1995. This band of ghost you can sign up for games at group, registered with the state of Arizona, and acts of characterization. 2) a member of hunters conducts regular investigations of www.nyrond.org. Or you can just stop by the providing service to Arizona and the this organization. 3) Information available at haunted, historical locations throughout 1st Sunday of the month. Meeting starts at Southwest since 1994. Having served the www.darkones.org Arizona. They also research and investigate 10am. Hope to see you there. public for 12 years, we are one of the oldest, “house call” hauntings for the public. The most respected paranormal investigation THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE groups in Arizona. We are primarily science STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt based and don’t go on an investigation Steel specializes in the general recreation of across Arizona. These workshops give ghost doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair looking for ghosts, we go looking for the culture of the Middle Ages including all of hunters, paranormal team members and folks kingdom can be found six Baronies: answers. There is never a charge for an the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts chance to work and learn techniques together. SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For [email protected] or covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest more information on any of these or for visit our website at: http:// and any location within Europe or its explored speakers at many venues and have appeared general information on contact the Kingdom www.arizonaparanormalinvestigations.com/ territories. For more information contact on TV news reports and the subject of several Seneschal. Email: [email protected] Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: newspaper stories. For more information Web www.atenveldt.com THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a www.galandor.org contact: general sci-fi appreciation group that meets MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD The once a month for discussion of various sci-fi A GATHERING OF PLAYERS-Find Your Director—480-969-4049 Web page: Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose news regarding several mediums to include: Adventure www.mvdghostchasers.com or organization of persons interested in all facets television, movies, video, books, comics, Our club is running into our fourth year. Join [email protected] of historical, cultural, science fiction, fantasy, magazines, collecting, and so forth. The us for games and adventure set in the and humor costume. Members are often seen meetings are comprised of news, review and Dungeons and Dragons realm. We offer ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION on stage and behind the scenes at local and comment, BBS/computer news and help, Living Greyhawk and Xen’drik Expeditions. CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month regional Science Fiction Convention meeting new members, video presentations, Visit http://www.warhorn.net/gathering, to see (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are masquerades. They meet on the last Sunday of games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks what we have coming up. built around guest speakers. We’ve had each month at various members’ homes in the are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per We will have character creation sessions to authors such as Octavia Butler and Greg greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest meeting) to compensate the host. (No other get you started and answer all questions. Our Benford. Non-members are welcome. For ( Continued on page 24 ) Volume 17 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 23 Club Listings Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We ( Continued from page 23 ) What is CASFS? maintain a mailing list for news and get- What is really behind putting on a togethers of fans of the X-Files living in Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, convention? What are the funds raised by Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix HELP WANTED AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at a convention used for? Why not attend a and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an [email protected] or meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor empty message to z-philes- www.southwestcostumersguild.org of ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, [email protected] Do you enjoy CopperCon? SmerfCons and other conventions. We are SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- HexaCon? Any of the other local a charitable, non-profit organization that Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit exists to further science fiction, fantasy volunteer, fan-run conventions? cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s corporation that sponsors AniZona, the CopperCon and HexaCon and possible within ten years, with a little luck and science fields in Arizona. CASFS ConRunners seminars and sponsored the 2004 and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at Westercon. Dedicated primarily to educational the others are staffed completely make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for 2560 W Indian School Rd in Phoenix (NW activities relating to literature, music, and by unpaid volunteers, from the one year, which gets you emailed Space corner of I-17 and Indian School). The visual and performing arts, especially in the chair person to the volunteer that Access Updates the instant they pass final meetings begin at 8PM and are held on the genres of Anime, science fiction, fantasy, edit, plus discounts on our annual conference last Friday of the month Jan. through Sept. costuming, gaming and science. Applicants helps for only one hour. on the technology, politics, and business of and on the second Friday of the month Oct for membership in WesternSFA must be radically cheaper space transportation, through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend sponsored by a current active WesternSFA If you enjoy our events and want featuring leading players in the field. Email two meetings as a guest (non-member). member. Dues are $10 yearly plus a $5 non- us at: [email protected] Membership rates are $12/year plus an refundable application fee. General Meetings them to continue then please Web page: www.space-access.org/ initial $3 application fee and rates are pro- are held on the first Friday of February, May, consider helping any or all of rated for the amount of the year remaining. August and November, at the Bookmans SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING located at 19th Ave. and Northern in Phoenix Arizona’s fan run events. For more info: Webpage: www.casfs.org SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of Guests are welcome. For more info contact Email: [email protected] model and high-power rockets and those who Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, PO Box 67457, For information on available love to see them fly. Launches are held on the Phoenix AZ 85082 Email: CopperCon positions please second Saturday morning of each month in Arizona State University campus, with dates [email protected] Webpage: Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. and places to be announced after the semester www.westernsfa.org contact us at Harry Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every starts. For more information, Email [email protected] or October. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for [email protected] Web membership information, directions to the www.themonline.org www.coppercon.org launches and meetings, and to read the Convention monthly newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address For information on available is [email protected] or TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ [email protected] Listings HexaCon positions or to Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- volunteer to run a game please Anime Los Angeles (January 4-6, 2008) tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A contact us at meets every two weeks at different locations Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel, around the valley. Activities include watching club. We are a social club that meets every Burbank CA Memberships $50 at the [email protected] or videos, discussions, parties, games, and two weeks at various locations around the door Info: www.animelosangeles.org/ala/ www.hexacon.org occasional outings with more to come now Phoenix area. The UFP has been meeting for that Doctor Who is returning from hiatus. over 30 years of continuous activity. Dues are Many members maintain an active presence at $15/per year prorated when you join; no Phoenix Cactus Comicon (January 26- Our parent organization, the conventions. You can contact us at 2243 W restrictions. Membership includes member- 27, 2008) Mesa Convention Center Mesa Central Arizona Speculative Wagon Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice ship roster and monthly newsletter. Come to AZ Cost: $25 Dance, AMV, Karaoke, Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail Fiction Society (CASFS) is also TARDIS- any two meetings at no obligation. For Cosplay. For more info: [email protected] or visit us at http:// information, write the UFP at PO Box 37224, looking for new members. Check www.phoenixcomicon.com/ members.cox.net/tardisaz/tardis.html Phoenix, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) our web site at www.casfs.org for 242-9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org information on meetings and or Email to [email protected] AniZona 4 (March 21-23, 2008) TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the upcoming events or contact us at series’ production companies and the USA Wigwam Resort Litchfield Park AZ. Network! It is THE information conduit USS STORMBRINGER The Stormbringer is [email protected] a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter AMV contest, Karaoke, Dances, Panels, between the fans and the series! Fan club Cosplay. Guests: Richard Epcar, Chris membership will bring you the following 1) of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. subscription to the info filled Tek Informer The chapter was commissioned as the USS Hazelton, Trish Ledoux, Ellyn Stern, newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to David Vincent, Toshifumi Yoshida. Music membership card and kit. Membership is by Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on guests Toybox and Natz. Memberships 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 regular mail only and the newsletter and $40 thru Feb 29, 2008. $55 at the door (if materials will not be reproduced electroni- members. There are no dues other than the Mailing/Subscription Information cally. To join the action and initiate your $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are available. Membership capped at 1600. scattered world wide but the primary clusters For more info www.anizona.org annual membership, make check or money ConNotations is sent free of charge to order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t meet on a regular basis since they are a those who have attended a CASFS Club (Membership section), 2522 N World Horror Convention (March 27- Sparkman Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 correspondence chapter. Their web site is: sponsored convention in the past http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ 30, 2008) Radisson Hotel, downtown calendar year (currently 2006). T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, Salt Lake City, Utah. Guests include: Attendees of CopperCon 26 or HexaCon fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the [email protected] Dennis Etchison, John Jude Palencar, 16 will receive ConNotations Volume 17 Simon R. Green, Dr. Michael R. Collings, Issues 1 thru 6. Generic Convention Registration Form Mort Castle and Jeff Strand. Website: www.whc2008.org ConNotations updates it’s mailing list each December. Name:______LepreCon 34 (May 9-11, 2008) Fran- Individual subscriptions are available for Badge Name:______cisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, Casa $20 for 6 issues beginning January 1, Address:______Grande, AZ Artist Guest: Howard 2007. Tayler; Author Guests: Emily & Ernest City/State/ZIP:______Hogan; Local Artist Guest: Liz Danforth; Some non-CASFS groups give their Phone:______Email:______Special FX/Makeup Guest: David Ayres membership lists to CASFS and Memberships: $25 thru 8/31/07, $30 thru purchase a bulk corporate subscription Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for 10/31/07 Info: LepreCon 34 PO Box so their attendees may also receive ConNotations ______convention. 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285 (480) 945- 6890 (See individual convention listing for mailing address) Currently these groups are: Email: [email protected] web: http:// More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other www.leprecon.org Page 24 ConNotations Volume 17 Issue 6