November 2001 1 2 File 770:140
America or surface mail rates overseas. 140 Air printed matter rate is $2.50.
File 770:140 is Telephone: (626) 305-1004. edited by Mike Glyer E-Mail: [email protected] at 705 Valley View Art Credits Ave., Monrovia CA Taral: Cover, Back Cover 91016. File 770 is Alan White: 4, 12 available for news, Bill Rotsler: 2, 8, 25, 26 artwork, arranged Kurt Erichsen: 16, 24, 31 trades, or by Teddy Harvia : subscription. Grant Canfield: Subscriptions cost $8 Keith Stokes: (photos) 3, 10, 11 for 5 issues, $15 for Sue Mason: 10 issues, mailed first Julia Morgan-Scott: 6, 9 class in North Vince Docherty: (photos) 15
gradually work their way tition. Some writers were outraged that a non- along the shore. Paddling sf book won, referring to the result as “Harry energetically, they leave a Potter and the Hugo of Shame.” Although the surprisingly large wake and Hugo rules allow the award to be given to collectively look like a works of sf or fantasy, one can understand fleet of landing craft ap- how this could be forgotten, since fantasy as proaching the beach. practiced by Tolkien, Lovecraft, Moorcock, The domestic geese etc. has never won before. Other writers, and Editorial Notes by Mike Glyer swim in shallow water and pick at the bottom fans too, were upset that someone who doesn’t The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of like the rest, until someone walks onto the know the sf community won its top award. Fanac : This fanzine is coming to you from the landing behind our home. The geese are accus- Ordinarily, voters ignore bestselling writers shores of Bass Lake in Northern California, tomed to people throwing food to them. If I outside the field, for example, Michael Crich- where the mountains are beautiful, the air is appear they fix a beady eye on me. If I give ton. However, I think Greg Bear explained the clear, the weather is bright, and I haven’t the slightest encouragement, they’ll flap and result very well: the vote is a tribute to a writer looked at a tax return in two months! honk and run straight at me. Legend holds that who has done more than anyone to attract Diana is one of the professors Azusa Pa- a flock of Roman geese woke up the gods to young readers to our kind of literature. cific University selected to start its new save the Capitoline hill from attack, but now The winner of the Best Dramatic Presenta- “Semester at Yosemite.” It’s a program based I’m convinced the geese were simply running tion Hugo was another anomaly, except that on the Great Works concept. Students are to the Gauls screaming “Feed me!” Crouching Tiger won with little grumbling enrolled in some combination of courses in I spend a significant amount of time in from anyone besides me. It’s true that al- World Literature, World Civilization, Art seminars or reading classic works of literature though fantasy novels are rarely competitive History, Church History and Philosophy. All and philosophy that I’d never gotten around to for Hugo awards, quite the reverse is true for of the courses make use of many of the same -- Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Dante -- or fantasy films: The Princess Bride , Who literary and philosophical works. About 40 had tackled on my own in high school without Framed Roger Rabbit and two Indiana Jones students are spending the term at a summer enough training to comprehend -- Plato. Par- movies have won Hugos. The only obstacle camp not far from Yosemite National Park. ticipating in classes gives me the incentive to Crouching Tiger had to overcome was fans’ Diana helped develop APU’s program, and we read these works because there will be people long-standing habit of rejecting box-office had the opportunity to go together because I to discuss them with. Sometimes I’m in the champions. Since the end of the original Star was able to take leave from work. midst of the action – reading the part of Wars trilogy, top-grossing sf films have rarely So the day after I flew home from the Tiresias in our productions of Oedipius Rex won the Hugo. The list of losers includes E.T., Worldcon, I packed my car and drove into the and Antigone . Armageddon, Phantom Menace (not even mountains east of Fresno. For two weeks we It’s an intense learning experience. The nominated) , The Matrix, and every single Star lived at the camp, until our rental home be- students, especially, have left some distrac- Trek movie. came available – a remarkable five-bedroom tions behind, like TV. But they all have a lap- My objection is that Crouching Tiger is it’s “cabin” overlooking Bass Lake. Once the top with a wireless Internet connection, which wildly uneven, a patchwork of genius and summer crowd took their jet-skis home, it’s can be used to deepen their studies, or play incompetence. I enjoyed Crouching Tiger’s remarkable how many birds came out again. Counterstrike ‘til 4 a.m. Or both. The sky’s the desert sequences and its tavern brawl. On the There are ducks of all kinds, kingfishers, limit on what a person can accomplish who other hand, the movie had more than its share herons and egrets. There are Canadian geese, never sleeps! of running across rooftops on guy-wires. And and also six domestic geese gone wild. We’ve Axes To Grind: Did Millennium Philcon the sword-fighting in treetops sounded good in seen a bald eagle. There are coots everywhere, mark a changing of the guard among Hugo the reviews but on screen was no more believ- waterfowl slightly smaller than ducks. In the voters, or have a different demographic than able than Bugs Bunny. morning, two hundred coots take over the other Worldcons? Harry Potter never got a Of course, you voters nominated Bugs shallow end of the lake, tails up while they stir sniff of the Hugo before, but Rowling’s latest Bunny for a Retro Hugo, too. the muddy bottom to find their breakfast. They novel did more than win this year, it got twice as many first place votes as the nearest compe- November 2001 3
edition paperbacks are not worth anything! But I need backup. Please, Mike, put the word out in fandom that if there is someone out there, please contact me. And the phone numbers are – work, (617) 292-5816, and home (508) 875-1885. And my work e-mail address is [email protected] – the home PC is temporarily out of commission. Such a person will be connected with my adjuster to work out mutually agreeable terms. Heck, I can’t even find a current or recent price guide for skiffy books or mags – all I’ve seen so far are 15+-year-old titles through Amazon. Oh, and if there’s a way to rid the leftovers of that musty smell, please let me know. And so, I end this piece of cor- respondence in hope of a drier tomorrow.”
News of Fandom Banzai! Tadao Tomomatsu, fandom’s working actor, has been appearing in promotions for the Bullsheet Ends Transmission day was excessive however. USA Network’s “Banzai Big Movie Friday.” Marc Ortlieb ended the run of The Australian “I was delighted to see Ted White’s Cor- It’s a cable movie and a simultaneous online Science Fiction Bullsheet with issue #177. flu report. That con made a great start to our game at their web site. Tadao is playing He told his readers, “When I started this GUFF trip. While I am starting to feel like a “Shaking Hands Man,” whose character has publication in January 1994, I promised my- Corflu regular, I must admit that the in- celebrity brushes with the likes of Kelsey self that when it stopped being fun I’d stop creased value of the US dollar (or the decline Grammer and Bill Murray. Tadao explains, doing it. Sadly, recently the BS has become of the Australian dollar -- I have to pay A$2 “The segments are sorta Brit Burlesque/ an obligation, rather than a pleasure.” for each US$1) has pretty much stopped me Benny Hill-ish humor.. Like Squirrel Fish- Under a biweekly schedule, Marc pub- travelling again this year. If I had an income, ing, etc.” lished a prolific number of Bullsheets. He it might be different.” Write and reassure Tadao he looks hand- said with a note of pride, “I’ve enjoyed doing some on TV: “Truthfully I don’t have cable it, but I don’t have Dave Langford’s staying Not A Dry Sci-fi so even I don’t know how it looked. .All I can say is that they have an extra wide angle power. It was nice to briefly overtake him in Eye in the House number of issues produced.” lens, so I tend to look wider than normal.” Ron Salomon writes, “Although we’ve only You’ll also hear his voice in the new com- The Bullsheet was both a paper and Inter- lived in our house 32 years, already we are net fanzine from the beginning. Marc’s one puter game, Throne of Darkness , a Japanese thinking of moving to larger quarters, basi- RPG. Tadao’s looking forward to it: “How regret is, “I never did manage to put together cally because my collections are becoming an issue that was soft or absorbent, and it often can you play a game and argue with more kudzu-like and are taking over the yourself?” never did tear at the perforations.” premises. This only became a glimmer of an Although the zine has come to an end, idea due to a recent Marc will keep updating the calendar, fiction, basement flood caused club and convention listings on his Austra- by a dying hot water lian SF Site: heater ‘losing it.’ So http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/ now I have had to (NOOO!!!) throw away GUFF soaked fanzines, prozi- Eric Lindsay writes, “As you know, we have nes and SF books, and been wandering. First on GUFF, which took I’m left with many Jean away for over three months. I think I more dampened by the mentioned that the first draft of our GUFF moisture-laden atmos- report is already up on my new domain.” The phere. In both cases, I address is: am in serious need, if http://www.ericlindsay.com/guff he exists, of someone “We will be working on the updates, cor- who is qualified to rections, and the printed version. Naturally appraise all my stfnal we had a wonderful time, caught up with a stuff so my adjuster can few old fans (Paul and Cas Skelton, Pete go ‘battle’ the insur- Presford) as well as lots of the fanzine fans in ance company adjuster the U.K. at Eastercon and as we traveled. for a fair settlement of Covered several thousand miles as we criss- my loss. Don’t tell me crossed the U.K. visiting fans. Doug Bell and my old Worlds of IF Christina Lake did seem to think driving and Ace Burroughs and Tadao Tomomatsu wields the microphone at DemiCon. from Bristol to Lands End for a picnic one Ballantine 35-cent first Photo by Keith Stokes, used by permission. 4 File 770:140
Ruth Sachter of Portland, Oregon, You Asked For It….! Teresa Nielsen Hayden and Mary Kay Kare were trading quips on That’s when Ruth Sachter posted: “Calling all fan artists. I could imag- SMOFs about how transferable some fannish experiences are to every- ine flipping through the next File 770 and seeing….” day life. For example, fanzines are easier to take home than a stack of I copied the conversation to Alan White, who took up the challenge storytelling conrunners, who “tend to be regrettably mobile and scurry of showing what happens when Smofs can check out anytime they like, off while you're not looking.” Unless you use glue traps, Teresa said. but they can never leave… November 2001 5
David Levine Wins James White Award The 2001 James White Award, established to honor Ireland’s best-loved sf writer, has been won by David Levine for his short story “Nucleon.” Levine will receive a check for $150 and a trophy. “Nucleon” will appear in the next issue Interzone . Levine’s story topped a field of more than 100 entries. The final judging was conducted by Michael Carroll, Ian McDonald, Kim Newman, Mike Resnick and David Pringle. Levine is enjoying a breakthrough year as an sf writer. He’s sold five stories and won two awards in 2001 (the other was second place in a Writers of the Future quarterly competition.) Levine wrote online, “I am particularly honored by this award because James White was one of my favorite authors, both as a professional SF writer and as a fanzine writer.” The Award was presented at a ceremony in Queens University Belfast by White’s daughter Patricia Larkin. White was Honor- ary President of the University’s Science James White Award ceremony: (L to R) Michael Carroll, member of the Fiction Society for many years and his granddaughter Sinead is presently a student Judging Panel; Patricia Larkin, White’s daughter; Lynne Ann Morse, ac- there. cepting for winner David Levine; Peggy White, widow of James White; Levine continued, “I was not able to at- and James Bacon, award administrator. tend in person, but my old friend Lynne Ann Morse lives in Dublin and very kindly trav- yet…. I also found an original Ken Fletcher/ The lakes are partly in Anna Creek station, eled to Belfast to accept the award on my Jim Odbert poster from 1974 for a signing of the largest cattle station in the world. Since behalf. I also sent an acceptance speech as a The Dragon and The George , which is I’m sure Texas fans may wish to point to computer video file.” He said that it was framed, and signed by many local fans. (I some of their ranches, I’ll mention we drove appropriate that as someone who was known picked up the original Odbert calligraphy for through more than five cattle stations, each for his work in fanzines and who was now the “Ballad of Jacques Chertein” and a larger than the largest in Texas. Anna Creek moving into fiction writing, it was appropri- signed print as well.) I acquired some… was over 30,000 square kilometres, and sold ate he should win an award named in honor odds and ends of other bits both fannish (the off a chunk twice as large as the largest of someone who was a fanzine writer before Sue Mason plaque for Gordie from Follycon) Texan ranch. We also saw the Maree Man, a he became a professional. He encouraged the and not (some small wooden Panda book- five kilometre earth figure on a plateau. The runners up to keep writing and to keep sub- marks.)” original is unknown, but suspicion falls on mitting their stories to publications. Other fans have also purchased items US and Australia army maneuvers in the area Speaking at the ceremony, Michael Car- from the sale. It’s reassuring to hear that around 1990. roll said that Nucleon stood out from the very many of his stfnal things are finding homes “We expected to have to drive via Bourke start and was the unanimous choice of the with people who value them. and Broken Hill, the long way around. How- judging panel. Peggy White, widow of James Joyce adds, “There is talk about creating a ever the roads had dried out, so we went on White, felt it was a story that White would Gordie Dickson scholarship for Clarion and the dirt roads down the Strzelecki Track, up have loved to read had be been alive. there has been discussion among the local fan the Oodnadatta Track, and came back via the The James White Award is now accept- groups of contributions to it.” Birdsville Track. Saved thousands of kilome- ing entries for the 2002 competition. Full tres of driving, and several weeks. Almost details may be obtained from the Award’s 2000 km without getting off the dirt, and Website at http://www.jameswhiteaward.com I’m Back From The Outback Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber finished their 1860 kms as the longest distance between More photos of this year’s ceremony can fuel stops (I admit our long range fuel tanks be found at: Australian driving odyssey. Here what Eric’s says about the last leg of the trip: are fairly extreme). http://homepage.mac.com/stewartd/ “We got back so early that we took an- “As foreshadowed in my previous letter, we did indeed get to Lake Eyre, down in other trip a few weeks later, which was why Dickson Estate South Australia. It had lots of water in it, for we didn’t hear of the terrorist attack on the Sales of items from the late Gordon Dick- about the third time in a century. The desert USA until several days after it happened. son’s estate have helped keep many things in rainfall had been high for the past few years, Being out of touch isn’t always a good idea.” the hands of fans, while generating money to 13 inches last year, and six inches this year cover unpaid medical expenses. so far, way up on the 2-4 inches that are Moon Flag Contest Joyce Scrivner wrote in her e-zine, “I usual. Lots of bird life. Took a couple of The Moon Society is launching a contest to purchased many books of his I didn’t own flights over both the north and the south lake. design a flag for the people of the moon. 6 File 770:140
won’t be possible – at
least until another several hundred years have again passed. In other words, if we want to see Pluto with an atmosphere, the time to look is now .” Even if mailed first class, a flyby mission will take up to 12 years to reach Pluto. Tim explains: “Mission flight time depends upon the mass of the launched spacecraft, the power of the launch vehicle, and whether or not the mission can use a Jupiter gravity assist – and indeed, which assist opportunity is used). Un- der current planning, a flight launched in either 2004 or 2006 would be able to use a Jupiter as- sist; after that, Jupiter and Pluto will not be aligned in a way to avail a Jupiter swingby. This also as- sumes the spacecraft in question to be one in the mass range of the Pluto Kuiper Express-type of spacecraft, which is a general design that ele- ments of NASA have been pursuing for almost 15 years now. The cost of a Pluto flyby mission would be roughly $500 million, which designs and builds the spacecraft, pays for the launch, and for the decade or more of mission operations through Everybody is welcome and encouraged to plained, “Pluto is the only planet in the Solar Pluto encounter. (That’s the cost of a single participate, and kids in grades K-12 are eligi- System that has yet to be visited by Man Shuttle mission, by the way...)” ble to win things. The home page for the (don’t please give me any grief about Tim’s e-mail came out around Labor Day, Moon Society’s Lunar Flag Design Contest whether or not Pluto is a planet, or whether just after the House and Senate had passed is at: or not a visit by a robotic spacecraft consti- NASA appropriations. Only the Senate in- http://www.moonsociety.org/flag/ tutes a visit by “Man”
World Trade Center. “Wow!” I Fans Wonder If thought, “That’s just like the time the US Army bomber Friends Are Safe crashed into the Empire State Building in the 40s.” I crawled by Mike Glyer out of bed and shambled into the Diana wakened to the radio living room, clicking on the TV. alarm and told me the news re- After making a cup of tea, I sat ports about a plane crashing into down intending to watch a few the World Trade Center. My minutes. answer -- “You’re kidding,” – They were showing the tower was not really disbelief, only a that had been hit. I was im- way of resisting the dreadful pressed with how much smoke images that came to mind. We was pouring out of the building. soon learned the truth was even And here my first perception worse than we imagined. And came to life. Amazing how a the attacks were on cities where small plane could cause all that we knew dozens of people: were damage and smoke. Of course it they safe? was a small plane. One of those We were in Northern Califor- 4-passenger prop jobs. Someone nia at an offsite campus of APU with only a couple of dozen that lacked a TV set, but had hours of solo stick time. Yeah, given every student and teacher a they could really screw up and laptop computer and wireless slam into a big building. Internet connections. Under the But I’d forgotten the time I’d conditions, a computer was a walked through the lobby of the better tool for finding out what I WTC North Tower, the sense of was anxious to know. New York weight, of imposing mass, the fans immediately began an e- ever so slight fear of being under mail “roll call,” and someone something that couldn’t possibly created a web page to list names stand up. Forgotten the size of of those who’d been in touch. In the thing. That was critical. Had the DC area, Rich Lynch re- I remembered the true size of the ported seeing the smoke of the building, I would have known Pentagon from his office across that no small plane could have the river. Fortunately, no fans in possibly started such a large fire either location were killed or and done so much damage. injured. And none were aboard Twenty years in the military, the hijacked planes. six working with a trained bomb The tragedy did directly touch sniffing police dog, five pushing the family of Ellen Caswell, papers with an Artillery Battal- formerly active in DC-area clubs ion and just over eight as an in the 1980s and early 1990s. Intelligence Analyst, I learned things about Her brother, William Caswell, was one of the explosions and their effects on people and workers killed when the American Airlines jet September 11 things. When I saw the explosion, the sky hit the Pentagon. covering sheets and walls of flame spurting This profoundly criminal act has rocked the by Ed Green out from the building, old facts and training entire country, and the effects will be felt for suddenly fought for first place in my years to come. In the following columns, Ed thoughts. There was information missing. This Green remembers the moment of the attack, Life is always about perceptions. Every day wasn’t right. An accident rarely goes this then Tim Marion shares his experiences living colors your view of the world you knew be- badly unless it’s a military jet with weapons. in Manhattan in the days following the attack, fore, and what you’ve learned. About then the voices of the TV anchors and probing his personal frustration about September 11, 2001 certainly was no dif- settled into understandable words, instead of whether justice will be done. ferent. noises competing with my own thoughts.
I’d fumbled the snooze button on my clock “My God, that was another jet!”
radio, shutting down the alarm in hopes that “It just flew into the second tower!” the 6-minute lull would translate into some “Rewind the video, rewind the video!” deep restful sleep. But the LA radio station Another jet? What? I didn’t see it. NBC went to a news bulletin. Sleep-fogged, my had the lower quarter of the screen covered brain still caught the basic story. A plane had with advertising. On the far right of the screen was the Channel 4 logo. There was another crashed into one of the two towers of the November 2001 9 jet? Huh? “Hurry -- rewind it.” Some Thoughts on What’s Happening “Did you see it -- oh my God!” “Its still burning -- get that video on!” by Tim Marion The TV image froze. The banners disap- peared. The reporter was saying something September 15: There is an unusual hush that lusions that he will get away with it and that and a dark outline flew onto the screen from has fallen over the streets of the Lower East it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t. Someone who my right hand side. I could see the two huge Side of Manhattan. Gone is the usual roar of believes he serves God in the form of Allah, engines, since the plane was banked onto its the traffic, which normally does not cease but most likely serves Kali (Hindu death port side. It just moved across the screen, from even at night. The bridges have been closed, goddess) and Mammon (Biblical demon who right to left. A brief moment and then it disap- and almost no vehicular traffic has been on thrives on suffering). We are facing an enemy peared behind the smoking tower. A pause, the streets. The police are everywhere, estab- whose face remains hidden and who, if his quicker than the onset of pain from a match, lishing checkpoints at 14th and Houston face was not, still could not be negotiated faster than the tingle of the first hint of true Streets, and surrounding the entire area. The with - this is a human enemy so inimical to love. people walk around with a haunted look in our life that we must squash it the same as we And on the far left side of the building, the their eyes - they try to look and act normal, would any insect or parasite which threatens flare of hell fires. but you can tell the difference. Everyone us. In order to fight this war, we will have to “The World Trade Center is under attack!” looks as though they have stared death in the descend to his level and fight a long, drawn- That’s what one of the talking heads is yelling. face and wondered why he didn’t take them out war of subterfuge and conspiracies - Can’t be. That’s something you’d see in a too, and wonder when their turn will actually merely bombing the hell out of deserts or really bad movie. This is a lot of things, but come. Smiles are a rare commodity in New hospitals and schools will accomplish nothing it’s not a bad movie. If it were, my set would York now. except more misery. be showing something else. Anything else. The president was in town today, and the September 17: When I came back to The remote is almost broken by my thumbing constant whooshing growl of unseen jet en- work Thursday and Friday nights, I found a as I’m slamming through all the channels. gines, high in the sky, caused both me and huge outpouring of email concern for me Something else. Even a commercial for Mon- others to look skyward with a questioning from all around the globe --- Dick Jenssen day Night Football. But no, the same two gaze; knowing, even if we did see something from Australia was telling me that he and buildings are leaking smoke. Planes don’t coming, we would most likely be unable to Bruce Gillespie’s wife had hunted for East attack buildings. Aliens from space do. I could avoid it in time. No one knows what to expect Broadway on the map and duly discovered believe it was a UFO more easily than what I or why this is happening. Although it is tech- that it was a mite too close to Ground Zero, was watching. nically, in terms of its devastation, an act of and had been concerned. Not only that, but Now, there’s just a pillar of smoke rising war, at the same time, the fact that it’s an act eventually Jeff’s [e-mail] server came back up, polluting the sky. I should feel something. of terrorism means that it was designed more up and there were two people there who had Some emotion. And I do. to frighten and demoralize the American discovered they could e-mail me that way. The number of times I’ve felt it is less than people as opposed to totally destroying us. Thank you all, you really have no idea. Hon- five. That shifting of your soul that always An act orchestrated by a mad coward with estly seems to start in your belly and then rush all de- through you. Electric in speed, warm in an unhealthy way, bringing me as close to those ancestors who lived in caves as I’ll ever get. Fear as plain and raw as we ever feel it. I’d just watched the start of an attack on America. I’d just watched thousands of people die. What the Hell is going on? There aren’t words to describe anything about what we’ve just seen. For all our growth and civilization, the Human Race is incapable of conveying emotions like these in words. What would these people have said when Mount Vesuvius exploded above them? How can anything noble and important be said walking through the killing fields of Cambo- dia? If professional reporters are reduced to fumbling for the right words, what about someone like me? What about the millions of us who sat and stared at the television? We also are struck mute. But now, I understand the emotions of a lone reporter who one night in Lakehurst, New Jersey watched an airship burn and crash. “Oh the Humanity!” he cried. Now, I not only understand his emotions, I share them. And his tears.
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Lasting Impressions: News from the World of Fanzines
Ditto 14 anything I ’ve restarted work “You thought it was a fanzine con,” on the biggest project I ’ve Leah Zeldes Smith mused when she ever attempted, namely “The counted six former Worldcon chairmen Canadian Fancyclopedia: An among the members of Ditto 14: Sims, Incompleat Guide to Twenti- DeVore, Olson, Siclari, Veal and Sapi- eth Century Canadian Science enza. Ditto, combined with FanHistori- Fiction Fandom ”. This will be con 11, convened in Bob Tucker’s an A to Z listing of fannish home town of Bloomington, IL over lingo, legends and fhistory as the October 12-14 weekend. After- complete as is sufficient to wards, Tucker distributed an issue of convey the nature of the beast, eZombie advising connoisseurs to and will include as many Ca- search Keith Stokes’ online photo gal- nadian fanzines as my re- lery
hosted six New York fans at 1952. He worked until 1959 at the Bartol a meeting they announced as Research Foundation investigating nuclear- the first science fiction energy levels. From 1959 to 1969, he convention. The New York- worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics ers returned the courtesy by Laboratory on Project Matterhorn, studying nominating Rothman to chair methods of heating ionized gas to very high the meeting. He was a temperatures. Rothman then joined the prodigy who graduated high faculty at Trenton State College, now the school at the age of 16 and College of New Jersey, where he taught entered Philadelphia College until 1979. He also had a 15-year association Obituaries of Pharmacy and Science to with the Franklin Institute Research Center, study chemistry, yet in his from which he retired in 1985. Milton A. Rothman own view, “I was very young, inexperienced Rothman also wrote for the prozines, Milton Rothman, 81, chairman emeritus of and very impressed by the visitation of the using a pseudonym to keep his science Millennium Philcon, died October 9 of a New York contingent. They were a little career separate from his science fiction. heart attack after battling diabetes and older, on the average, and vastly more Between 1939 and 1951 he published five Parkinson's disease. Services will be held sophisticated.” short stories as “Lee Gregor,” including the November 4 at 3 p.m. at the Trinity Center Time proved his leadership skills to be oft-reprinted “Heavy Planet.” He modestly for Urban Life, in Philadelphia. much more than honorary. He was elected asserted, “I wrote my most important story Rothman was a prodigy in fandom and president of the Fantasy Amateur Press when I was 19 and as far as fiction was the wider world. He founded clubs and Association (FAPA), became a director of concerned it was downhill all the way after conventions, wrote for the prozines, and the ill-starred Fantasy Foundation, and that.” chaired two Worldcons. Rothman’s career as chaired the board of advisors for the fledg- Twenty years after the last “Lee Gregor” a scientist included ten years of nuclear ling N3F. He served as chairman of the Fifth story, he resumed writing fiction for the physics research, ten years of fusion energy World Science Fiction Convention (Philcon) prozines under his own name, his very last research, and ten years of teaching. in Philadelphia in 1947. He assumed the story appearing in 1979. Rothman also wrote He began in fandom by writing letters to duties again in 1953 for the 11th Worldcon popular science articles for the prozines, the prozines. The earliest he signed “Milton (Philcon II), after the death of its original including several in the late 1970’s for Isaac S. Rothman,” but he later adopted the chairman, James Williams. At Philcon II, the Asimov’s SF Magazine , edited by fellow middle initial “A” for “Arcot,” after one of first Hugo Awards were presented. Philadelphian George Scithers. He authored John W. Campbell’s heroes. (Rothman thus became the first fan to chair eight nonfiction books, including A Physi- In 1935, the 15-year-old Rothman sent two Worldcons, solo. Only one other fan has cist's Guide to Skepticism and a “massive Wonder Stories the modest sum required to chaired twice, J. Ben Stark, co-chairman of chemistry text,” and humorously observed, join the Science Fiction League and became both Oakland Worldcons.) “Curiously, doing the textbook does not member No. 34. The same year, he co- Rothman also published a popular fan- seem to have damaged my fiction style.” founded (together with Jack Baltadonis and zine, Miltie's Mag , from 1939-1945. It Rothman was honored as Fan GoH by the Bob Madle) the Philadelphia chapter of the continued under the name Plenum until 1998 Worldcon. Considering that his name League, soon renamed the Philadelphia 1950. Plenum won the first FAPA egboo seems to appear on half the pages in All Our Science Fiction Society. poll, in 1948. Yesterdays , it was a homage long overdue! In the autumn of 1936 at the Rothman Rothman earned a doctorate in physics family home, five or so Philadelphia fans from the University of Pennsylvania in Alan Dodd Appreciation by Mike Deckinger Alan Dodd died of natural causes on June 5, Milton A. Rothman 2001 at his home in Hertfordshire, Great Britain, a suburb of London. The local Appreciation by David A. Kyle Borough Council conducted a funeral on June 28, in which many local friends at- Milty Rothman, like so many of us young- to form an SFL chapter. He was stimulated tended. He had no living relatives. sters of the 1930s, was part of my life, from by sf and wanted more of the “Science Alan Dodd was a very active fan in the the distant past right into the new millen- Questions and Answers” department. No 50s and 60s, both as a contributor to other nium. Some of us in the days of Gerns- wonder, or should I say because of Wonder , publications and as editor of his own fan- back’s Wonder Stories were regularly pub- he did become a scientist. He and I lived far zine, Camber . He earned the reputation of a lished as letter writers, an elite group such apart, but we met at the first sf con ever in hermit because he never appeared at any as Forry Ackerman, Jack Darrow, and Bob 1936 and actively participated in fannish local club meetings, and only attended one Madle. I have pulled out the Wonder copy affairs. We were especially together when I conventions (which he left halfway of October 1934 and looked into “The stayed at his home for a week in the final through.) In later years, ill health and low Reader Speaks.” I had a letter in it and so days before 1953 worldcon helping in his funds forced him to curtail most of his did Milty. Milton A. Rothman asked plain- chairmanship. activities, though he remained an aviod tively why “my pal Ray Mariella can get Goodbye, Milty. You were one of the letter-writer and had a keen interest in two letters in one issue with his hands tied originals. You were kind and thoughtful and amateur photography. Alan Dodd achieved behind his back” and Milty doesn’t. And, a good friend throughout our occasional his greatest fame when Michael Moorcock like Ray, he told of receiving his Science moments together. I do miss you, along with christened him “Uncle Alan Dodd” in a Fiction League certificate and pin, proud of those others of First Fandom who have Tarzan comic book Moorcock serialized for being member number 34, stating his intent passed on. Goodbye, Milty. a local newspaper. November 2001 13
In Passing Maryland Space Grant Consortium gave him land, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Rhode Island fan Mark M. Keller died on the opportunity to help direct an undergradu- and Hindu. September 1 of adenocarcinoma. He was a ate satellite development program. In addi- Sufficient numbers of people wrote the scholar in the fields of biology and history. tion, Dr. Pisacane teaches masters level entry in for it to be allocated its own code His specialty was the “Columbian Ex- courses in spacecraft systems at the Johns for the census processing team to use -- but change,” the biological interaction of the Hopkins University (JHU) Whiting School officials from the Office of National Statis- Old World with the New World after 1492. of Engineering and courses in space system tics are keen to point out that just because He frequently appeared on programs ranging design and engineering at the Applied Jedi Knight has been given its own code, from alternate history to hard sciences, at Technology Institute. He most recently that does not confer on it the status of Boskone, Readercon and other conventions. served as the Director of the Institute for official recognition. He was a member of the SCA. [[Source: Advanced Science and Technology in “We are not defining what a religion or a The Kessel Run #9]] Medicine (IASTM); Assistant JHU/APL faith might be,” a spokeswoman said. “We Director for Research and Exploratory are recognizing what some may have en- Walter H. Costello , long-time sf reader and Development; and Assistant JHU/APL tered on their census form and ensuring that occasional fanwriter, died September 1 at Director for Biomedical Programs. our coding framework will cater for it.” home in Cincinnati after a lengthy battle Other religions which are included on the with cancer. Ignotus Awards 2001 list, alongside the better known cases, are The Ignotus awards recognizing outstanding the Church of Free Love, Wiccan, Divine Michael Anthony (Tony) Oliveri died on Spanish achievements in the field of fantasy Lightmission, and Coleraine Christian June 23 of respiratory failure at age 60 at and science fiction from the year 2000 were Centre. Also on the list: Druidism, Satan- Georgetown University Hospital in Wash- presented Saturday, September 29, 2001 in ism, Free thinker, Celtic Pagan. ington, D.C. Tony Oliveri was one of the Zaragoza (Spain) Hispacon. Recognized Shortly before the census last April, an e- founders of Knossos, the Washington branch were: mail was circulated in the U. K. stating that of the Mythopoeic Society, when the group Best novel: Nuxlum , by José Antonio if 10,000 people put Jedi on the census form, was re-formed in 1984. Oliveri also founded Suárez (Espiral) it would become a “fully recognized and the Children of the Night, a horror book Best novella: “Rax,” by Eduardo Vaquer- legal religion.” A similar thing had previ- discussion group that lasted for a few years. izo (Espiral) ously happened in New Zealand, when He was also a collector of fantasy and horror Best short story: “La canica en la citizens were led to believe they needed art, and talked about his collection at local palmera”, by Rafael Marín (Artifex 2E) 8,000 signatures to make Jedi an official conventions in the late 1980s and early Best Anthology: Besos de alacrán y otros religion. 1990s. Oliveri, who spent most of his career relatos , by León Arsenal (Metrópolis It is not yet clear how many people will as a mechanical engineer for the General Milenio) have written Jedi on their form, as the Services Administration, is survived by his Best related book: Paradojas: ciencia en counting process is still going on. Results second wife, Leonicia Icayan, and Elena la ciencia ficción , by Miquel Barceló are to be published in Autumn 2002. Oliveri Hiett, a daughter from his first (Equipo Sirius) marriage. [[Source: Martin Morse Woos- Best Article:”Viajando hacia las estrellas, Letterhacks’ Addresses ter]] naves estelares en la CF”, by Cristóbal Allan D. Burrows, 320 Maple Grove Ave., Pérez-Castejón (BEM WEB) and “¡Bester! Mississauga, ONTG L5A 1Y2 Canada Laurie Koon of Redmond, WA died from a ¡Bester!”, by Juan Manuel Santiago Marty Cantor, [email protected] heart condition on August 17. A frequent (Gigamesh) Raul G. Capella, 904 N. 3 rd Ave., Upland, attender of NWSFS social events, she was Best Illustration: Cover from Snow CA 91786-3911 29. Crash , by Juan Miguel Aguilera and Paco Paula DiSante, E-mail: Roca (Gigamesh). [email protected] Best Audiovisual : El corazón del guer- Tom Feller, E-mail: [email protected] Heinlein Chair Filled rero , by Daniel Monzón (film) John Foyster, E-mail: Best Poetic: Desert [email protected] By Dr. Vincent Pisacane Best Magazine: Gigamesh , Alejo Cuervo Jerry Kaufman, 3522 NE 123rd St., Seattle, The United States Naval Academy Founda- Editor. WA 98125 tion has announced that Vincent L. Pisacane Best Foreign Novel: Snow Crash , by Robert Lichtman, E-mail: Ph. D. will fill the first endowed chair in Neal Stephenson (Gigamesh) [email protected] aerospace engineering at the Naval Acad- Best foreign short story: “Entra un Eric Lindsay, [email protected] emy. The Robert A. Heinlein Chair in soldado, después otro”, “Enter a Soldier. Yuri Mironets, Oktyabrskaya St. 2 Apt. 15, Aerospace Engineering was established with Later: Enter Another” by Robert Silverberg Vladivostok, 690000, Russia an anonymous gift of $2.6 million in honor (Gigamesh) Elizabeth Osborne, E-mail: of the renowned science fiction author and Best Web site : Bibliópolis, crítica en la [email protected] graduate of the Class of 1929. Red (http://www.bibliopolis.org”), Luis G. Lloyd Penney, 1706-24 Eva Rd., Etobicoke, Dr. Pisacane comes to the Naval Acad- Prado Ed. ON M9C 2B2, Canada emy from the Space Department of the Mike Rogers, E-mail: [email protected] Applied Physics Laboratory of John Hop- Jedi Makes the UK Census List Ron Salomon, 1014 Concord St., kins, where he has been a staff member Framingham, MA 01701 since 1962. In this position, Dr. Pisacane did It’s official: “Jedi Knight” is ON the list of religions for the 2001UK census. According Joy V. Smith, E-mail: [email protected] fundamental work in astronautical engineer- Henry L. Welch, E-mail: [email protected] ing and development of space instrumenta- to the BBC, a campaign to get people to write the entry on their census forms has Martin Morse Wooster, tion, and small and large spacecraft. His E-mail: [email protected] involvement as Associate Director of the succeeded in the term being included on the list of religions, alongside Church of Eng- 14 File 770:140 Ben Frankly Speaking Millennium Philcon August 30-September 3, 2001 Worldcon Report by Mike Glyer
equivalent of two city blocks. As if this most cryptic titles: stretch needed emphasis, the architect Two Weeks punctuated the corridor with frequent It’s All My Fault alcoves whose identical arrangements of Tardis Pilot benches and pictures resembled the Rubber Chicken endlessly repeating background scenery Triumvirate Free Zone of a Tom and Jerry chase. ¾ Century of Boring Conventions The long corridor traverses the sec- Elaine Rules ond story, over Reading Terminal Mar- Lovely Parting Gift ket. It ends in a T-intersection with the Huey, Dewey, Louie and Unca Scrooge Exhibit Hall. That intersection was the (for Treasury, said Adina Adler. Kathryn focus of the convention. Everyone Daugherty added, “They all have green shirts passed by on the way to the Art Show with money printed on them.”) and Dealers Room or the main program I hoped as the convention unfolded I rooms. Registration, flyer boards, and would learn the meanings of them all. snack stands were also sited around the Oddly enough, program participant rib- intersection. One flight up, on the third bons ran out almost immediately. The com- floor, were the convention offices, in- mittee ordered an exact number of these, cluding Program Ops and the Green intending to help control access to the Green Room. Room, and it was not quite enough. Some Wednesday in Program Ops: people were agitated because they wanted to Janice Gelb had recruited me to work in be able to get into the Green Room, others Program Operations. I entered with the simply because they wanted the acknowl- greeting, “I’ve come to wear the chains I edgement. As John Mansfield told his 1994 forged in life.” Tom Galloway agreed, Worldcon committee, “It’s amazing what a “Size 53 long!” person will do for a little scrap of ribbon.” Reading Terminal in the old days: now Janice rapidly acquainted her staff Registration: Registration suffered the main entrance of the Pennsylvania with her methods by wearing a t-shirt chronic problems. Eva Whitley Chalker’s Convention Center. stamped with bright, metallic letters, family had registered together, but only one saying “Warning – Sarcastic and Cyni- of her two sons was shown as a member. Over 5000 fans converged on the Pennsyl- cal.” In reality, Janice can always be counted When Dana Siegel’s family tried to register, vania Convention Center to attend Millen- on for an effective and diplomatic answer to only one out of four badges could be found. nium Philcon, the 2001 Worldcon. The Phila- a problem. Other fans also reported that Registration delphia facility, formerly the Reading Termi- Program Ops was an excellent place to located records for only part of their families. nal, dwarfs human dimensions. The main meet the guests of honor, for one simple These and other problems were the symp- entrance is the Terminal’s nine-story reason: we had the GoH badge ribbons. Fan toms of choices and late planning by the “headhouse” on Market Street. Escalators Guest of Honor George Scithers came to get local MilPhil committee which handicapped take visitors up to the Grand Hall, a dramatic his, wearing a red hat and his customary the Registration staff, who were forced to use space converted from the old trainshed, plaid jacket. Having seen him looking like their skills to make the best of it. where acres of marble floor have replaced this in old photos, I asked him if he’d worn They were led by Winnipeg’s Linda Ross tracks and platforms. Designers have pre- the same jacket to every Worldcon. George Mansfield, who said the local committee did served the ninety-foot-high vaulted ceiling of said, “No, the louder ones finally wore out!” not give her critical resources until scant 19 th -century iron and glass, and integrated a Ribbons: Ribbons are more than an eye- weeks before the con. She offered two exam- neon sculpture that sprawls around the ceil- catching way to identify dealers, artists and ples of what they had to overcome: “(1) Not ing like a dissected theme park ride. program participants. They're a creative outlet receiving the member database until very late The Pennsylvania Convention Center was for the committee to show it's not taking itself (Aug 10th) blew my timeline out of the water a great facility for the Worldcon. But when too seriously. Sharon Sbarsky placed orders and my home crew did yeoman service prep- Mark Twain described Captain Stormfield’s for over 7000 total ribbons in dozens of va- ping all the [pre-registered members’] cards. arrival at the Jovian entrance to heaven, it’s rieties. She showed off her master set to (2) Not being told I would not have the bene- likely he had this place in mind. The distance those of us working in Program Ops. I wrote fit of any networked computers, (the last I from the front door to registration was the down what seemed to me the funniest and had heard I had been restricted to four) until November 2001 15 very late, meant that I was forced to print the against the Boston/Orlando bid three years years of planning. On stage, Lew Wolkoff name tag labels for the all the pre-reg'd cards, before. She was looking forward to voting emphatically agreed, “And we needed those prior to the con.” for Charlotte, and with feigned reluctance three years!” Ben Franklin had used the time A side-effect of the rush to produce predicted that if they won she’d come back to invent the propeller beanie perched on his badges in time was the choice of a tiny type- for the 2004 Worldcon. head when he strolled onstage. The cere- face to print the names. The badges could I also talked to John Pomerantz and Kathi mony’s stream-of-unconsciousness story only be read by leaning closely forward and Overton. Kathi told me she’s been doing then gave way to swordplay by the SFWA squinting. Registration did make name tag some work for IRS-TV, my employer’s in- Musketeers, and Mark Blackman (in a head replacements in 24-pt. type during the con. house video service. I hadn’t seen her latest bandage) giving his impression of a Monty Be that as it may, unreadable badge names assignment, a training session delivered by a Python character. are a perennial complaint. Keith Lynch, a guy costumed as a one-touch keypad. Yes, A beautiful redhead escorted Chairman veteran fan, always comes to Worldcons your tax dollars at work. Todd Dashoff to the microphone so he could wearing a virtual scarf made by stringing John and Kathi also promised to post introduce toastmaster Esther Friesner. together all his membership badges. John online the photo sequence showing the fans Dressed in a glittering gown, she was ush- Hertz pointed out to me that Keith’s name at their New Year’s Eve Party when they ered onstage by two Chippendale’s-type appeared in suitably large type only on his announced they were getting married, then studmuffins. As they departed with the red- 1996 Worldcon and 1999 NASFiC badges. announced that the ceremony was going to be head, Esther warned, “Don’t do anything I This has been a problem so long, several of right now . wouldn’t do!” Everyone laughed as if they us proposed an amendment to the WSFS Opening Ceremonies: Fans often men- knew what that was. constitution to require 24-pt. type. tion in their convention reports that they Esther introduced Fan GoH George Scith- Thursday in Passing: Andy Dyer won- waited for a major event to start, but let’s ers with note that he wrote the first book on dered if attendance was affected by the face it, in our hearts we don’t really want how to throw a Worldcon: “How to throw downturn in the economy. He felt it would be them to start on time. We count on them to one, not how far to throw one.” She intro- ironic if the local voters who said three years start late and leave us time to finish a conver- duced Editor GoH Gardner Dozois as co- ago they didn’t want to go to a Worldcon in sation, meet a tardy friend, or gobble down creator, with George R.R. Martin, of the Orlando also decided they couldn’t afford the last bite of lunch. At MilPhil, this think- “Hugo Losers Party,” which “he has been one in Philly. This was a good question, be- ing even extended to fans actually appearing disqualified from attending.” Esther called cause MilPhil entered the weekend with in Opening Ceremonies. Beside me in the Writer GoH Greg Bear “A triple threat. This membership numbers appropriate to San crowd surging toward the Marriott Grand does not make him the Three Bears, how- Antonio and Winnipeg, rather than to a huge Ballroom, one of the actors answered his cell ever.” She said Artist GoH Stephen Youll’s East Coast city within driving range of New phone and explained to the director that he less-well-known job is as a historical recon- York and Baltimore. was on his way. Twenty more minutes struction artist at Durham Cathedral. As the It was only Thursday, of course. Some passed before things began, probably to the punchline she revealed he’s a twin: “But not working fans probably couldn’t come in until pleasure of everyone but the director. Ashley or Mary Kay.” Saturday. (In fact, on Saturday morning 290 I used the time to greet Diana Thayer and Todd Dashoff closed the ceremonies with one-day memberships were sold, worth over Teddy Harvia. Teddy showed off his name a wonderful touch that gave the convention a $24,500. The committee estimated that Mil- badge, decorated with his Hugo nominee pin, sense of connection with Philadelphia’s rich Phil broke even on the strength of one-day another rocket-shaped pin, and little golden- fannish history. Noting that Milton Rothman, membership sales.) colored bomber that would be suitable for chair of both previous Philadelphia World- I met Maria Pavlac, who has moved to World War II-era Retro Hugo nominees. cons, was too ill to attend, Todd named him Boston to take care of a parent. She ex- Eventually, the lights dimmed and Open- Chairman Emeritus and declared the con plained her attendance at MilPhil was the ing Ceremonies began. Early in the script open in Rothman’s name. byproduct of buying a membership to vote someone explained that MilPhil took three Accessibility: On the way out of Opening
The endless corridor to Registration. (Both photos The Grand Hall, showing the original trainshed by Vince Docherty, used by permission.) vaulted ceiling, marble floor, and neon sculpture. 16 File 770:140
Ceremonies I talked to Doug Friauf, who He’d asked me to appear as one of the In the third round, Chris relented and let navigates conventions in an motorized “lifelines,” so I went early. Tom Galloway perennial Worldcon trivia contest winner Leo wheelchair. Doug reported that last night he was on the dais setting up his boom box and Doroschenko be a contestant. Chris, and was unable to get into 90% of the restaurants loading the CD of themes and musical everyone else, expected Leo to promptly run near the convention center because so many prompts from the British version of the the table. But there was a question he could of them have a big step at the entrance. game. Then he warmed up the audience of 80 not answer: “What university did Indiana As a result, Doug and some friends went with serious scientific questions like, “Earth Jones teach at?” (Princeton.) Leo redeemed to the McDonalds at the corner of Broad and is what planet from the sun?” himself later, winning the “Trivia For Choco- Arch. He got up to the restaurant in the ele- When Chris started in earnest, he asked late” event, and tying for first with Len Wein vator. But when he left it broke down, and more challenging questions, so contestants on “The Weakest Link” (hosted by Pat Cadi- Doug was stuck inside munching his burger eventually needed their lifelines. All three gan.) ‘til two engineers fixed the problem. questions I got called for dealt with the his- Friday In Passing: I started the day by Meet and Greet: MilPhil’s Thursday tory of the space program, and I remembered working another shift in the Green Room. night reception took place in the Overlook enough to help. Janice Gelb had everything running Bar, named for its view of the T-intersection The first contestant anguished about try- smoothly. The only “problem” was that Mark formed by the exhibit hall and the corridor of ing to answer the 500,000 lira question, then Blackman had found it impossible to display meeting rooms leading out to Market Street. decided to bail out and take the 250,000 he’d the “5 minutes” warning sign in a room dark- The third floor is set back from the exterior already won. (By the way, Chris, I never ened for a slide show. walls, like a terrace, making the bar a perch actually saw any lira…) Galloway gave him Most of the people I helped wanted to be above it all. a “Lovely Parting Gift” ribbon for his badge. added to the program. The organizers, Laurie MilPhil did its best to help people eat, The second contestant easily worked her and Jim Mann, had so many people respond drink and be merry. The event was well- way through the low-money questions, like positively to their participant questionnaire publicized inside the con. The quality of “What is the name of the convention you’re that although hundreds were placed, nearly veggies, cheese and fresh fruit was suited to at?” She also knew what BEM stood for, and 200 respondents were not. Some came to the the tone of the event. Program participants that Millennium Philcon’s official mascot Green Room in hope of last-minute open- had all received free drink tickets redeemable was not Benedict Arnold. However, she did- ings. They were shown a list of about 20 only at the Meet and Greet. Yet attendance n’t make it past the 64,000 lira question, vacancies that needed to be filled, and sev- was modest. Everything possible had been because she didn’t know where the first eral were added that way. done to spark the event except one thing. Worldcon was held. She gambled by not One vacancy never seemed to get filled. They forgot to close Philadelphia’s vaunted calling on her lifelines, wanting to save them Many would see the title of a panel called restaurants. Thousands of fans went out for a for higher level questions. “Worldbuilding 101” and be ready to volun- great meal. However, the GoHs and a lot of the other fan-friendly pros showed up at starting time. They mostly had each other to talk to at the beginning, and drew a corral of stuffed chairs around Gardner Dozois, who was leading the laughter. Then, once more fans arrived, they all got up and circulated through the party. After the reception, I ran into Robin John- son of Tasmania. He said he was just getting over yesterday’s travels. He started at 6 a.m. in England by falling down a flight of stairs. He still made it to his plane – though it sat on the runway for three hours before being al- lowed to take off. One bright spot came when he was allowed to upgrade his seat, or as Robin phrased it, “upgraded from bottom to bottom-but-one.” Mike Walsh of Old Earth Books pointed out the SFWA president, who wasn’t wear- ing a badge. I asked if he was going incog- nito to learn what the common people think? Walsh said, “And learning they’re buying huge quantities of Star Trek novels.” Andrew Porter had taken the train down from New York, and half-seriously claimed he lived close enough to go home every night. As we talked, Rusty Hevelin passed by wearing a t-shirt with the message, “Oops, wrong planet!” Thursday Evening Program: Who Wants To Be a Millionaire: Chris Barkley promised the contestants on his trivia show the chance to win “one million Turkish lira.” November 2001 17
Members. cam address so they could see the progress Millennium Philcon The main areas were a study in contrasts. for themselves -- the steel frame is already 6 Membership Statistics The Art Show hangings imposed geometric stories high. orderliness on half the hall, while the Dealers Hearing people talk, Margene felt not Chairman Todd Dashoff provided the Rom looked like a kicked-over anthill, with very many have paid attention to Kansas City following “unofficial but pretty close” fans swarming over tables of merchandise. conventions. They will now. KC cons are report of MilPhil’s membership figures. There was no effort to visually unify the highly creative and run by a strong and ex- Dashoff favors a figure for total atten- huge, generic space using thematic decora- perienced group. ConQuest, held on Memo- dance of 4,592, reached by a formula that tions. In the past, Magicon did this with a rial Day Weekend, has well-developed reduces one-day memberships to an miniature golf course; L.A.con III trans- themes punctuated with lots of humor that equivalent number of full-attending mem- formed the exhibit hall into a spacescape by elicit enthusiastic participation. berships. However, if one assumes very running colored streamers and star-shaped LA in 2006: I worked several shifts at the few one-day members paid for subsequent balloons across the ceiling; and ConFran- LA in 2006 bid table. The bid theme is “Join days, the “warm body” count was closer to cisco divided the floor with avenues of carpet the Space Cadets,” and we’re issuing a new 5,000. This assumption is reasonable be- and hung a dragon made of balloons from the “skill patch” (like a merit badge) at sched- cause MilPhil offered special rates for “the ceiling as a visual signature. Lacking any- uled conventions. The skills are depicted rest of the con” to people buying on Satur- thing similar, Millennium Philcon’s exhibits with heavy irony. For example, the patch for day and Sunday. seemed continents apart in an overly large rocket ship piloting shows a Hugo-style space. But this was specifically due to a lack rocket that’s suffered a major fender-bender. Pre-Registered of decoration, because the exhibits actually At Millennium Philcon, fans earned the suited this space better than some facilities “interspecies sex” skill patch by filling in the Attending the Worldcon has used, for example, San missing word in the phrase, “Interspecies sex Adult 4,091 Antonio. between intergalactic aliens is ____.” When Child 48 Fan History: Joe Siclari supervised the Becky Thompson had difficulty deciding Supporting 922 extensive Worldcon history exhibit. The how to answer, Genny Dazzo asked, “Are Educator _____5 exhibit includes newspaper articles, fan pho- you married?”, and there was suddenly a 5,066 tos and artifacts from every past Worldcon. gleam of understanding in Becky’s eye. Joe also had computers and other equipment Fans working at bid tables have the ad- At-Con Registration to show the FANAC fanhistory archives, and vantage of meeting tons of people without Full convention 315 scan in new contributions. having to search for them. At the LA table, I Full - (converted support’g) 34 Joe came to the con despite being in re- was lucky enough to meet Yuri Mironets of Thursday 33 covery from surgery on a crushed disk. Joe Vladivostok, a Russian fanzine fan. Philadel- Friday 119 said he didn’t know what had done to dam- phia’s Catherine Mintz raised funds to bring Saturday 286 age the disk, but he was doing much better. him to the Worldcon. Mironets gave away To keep everything in his neck properly little mementos to the fans he met. He Sunday 144 aligned, Joe wore a huge, hi-tech plastic col- handed me a pair of Soviet steel coins, for- Monday 10 lar. With all the buttons and flanges, it merly worth a few kopeks, now souvenirs of Child Full 32 looked like Joe’s head was stuck in a Denver history. Child Days 44 boot – the thing police use to immobilize Dealer’s Room: Dealers were shocked to Kid in Tow 6 autos belonging to people who don’t pay hear only two weeks before the con that they Educator 2 their parking tickets. would need to pay $100 for a temporary Saturday to Mon 57 Bid Tables: The LA in ’06 bidders’ sur- Philadelphia Business Privilege License. A Sunday to Mon 17 prise at seeing an unmanned Dallas in ’06 bid few dealers wrote online they might have to Press 45 table beside their own was nothing compared abandon their tables. But I didn't hear any Supporting carried in 11 to their surprise of seeing a fully-staffed further controversy at the con about the per- Comps _ 67 Kansas City in ’06 on the other side. mits and taxes. Even Ed Meskys brought Total 1,222 Dallas in ’06 asked for a table, according Niekas for sale, though he’d expressed to MilPhil sources, though they never came doubts about covering the costs of his table. to claim it. Meanwhile, the KC bid held its Dealer’s room organizer Larry Smith said Grand Total 6,288 cards close to the vest, maximizing its sur- afterwards, "Only one dealer cancelled her Pre-Reg: Supporting (922) prise appearance at the con. Although the single table, which we promptly resold to At-Con: Supporting (11) group had put an ad in the Chicon 2000 sou- another dealer. Lots of my dealers griped Pre-Reg: Attend No-shows (335) venir book, my friends in KC had never been both pre- and at-con about the fee, but 100% Total Attending 5,020 willing to explain its significance. ‘Til now. of them filled out their forms in compliance. KC in ’06 bid chair Margene Bahm, one Ed Meskys really was there and running his of the “Redheads From Hell,” said she was in table, so the fee didn't seem to bar more than teer. Then they’d read the names of the other the audience of a panel at this year’s Con- one dealer from attending." panelists – Greg Benford, Hal Clement and Quest when Ken Keller predicted there My swing through the dealers room coin- Yoji Kondo – and speechlessly go away. wouldn’t be another KC Worldcon. She cided with the Guests of Honor autograph Exhibits: The convention center’s huge jumped up in the audience to say, “Not so session. Greg Bear’s endless line of auto- exhibit hall was split by pipe-and-drape into fast…!” graph-seekers was kept moving with the help three main areas. In the back was the Art Their facility is under construction in of a three-book-limit. Gardner Dozois’ fans Show and Dealers Room. The front half was Overland Park, KS. It’s due to be completed had the opportunity to have him sign a cou- ringed by fan tables, miscellaneous exhibits in 2002. If there were any skeptics, Margene ple of very new books: his story collection, and functions like Site Selection and Sales to quickly defused them by giving them a web- Strange Days , and Michael Swanwick’s 18 File 770:140
Millennium Philcon Masquerade Winners
Vicki Warren - Masquerade Director Journeyman Class
Workmanship Awards Most Humorous: “Fairies Meeting in the Forest”, presented by Kristin Honse, Carol Landley, Jim Landley, Rob Landley; created by Young Fan Kristin Honse Most Staggering: “The Sugar Plum Fairy – Off Season”, presented Best in Class: “Bubbles the Magic Baby Dragon” by the Royal Society for the Advancement of Space Operetta, created by Eugenia Horne Novice Best Invasion: “The Empire vs. The Brood”, presented and created Excellence in Hairpiece Con-struction: Vir Cotto by Bill Ernoehazy, Gail Bondi, Attention to Detail - Recreation: “Sailor Mini-Moon (Rini)” John Bondy-Ernoehazy, Steve Bartlett and Tina Beychok Best in Class: “A Little Romance” Best in Class: “Full Circle”, presented and created by Gunther Anderson Journeyman Most Creative Use of Materials: “Full Circle” Master Class Best In Class: “Cash Conscious Couture – Fashion for the Money Minded” Honorable Mention: “Rocks-Anna, Queen of the Asteroid Belt”, presented and created by Patricia Buard Master Most Alluring: “Kitsune”, presented by Jennie Faries and Mark Van Creativity and Attention to Detail: “Carnevale on Mars” Name, created by Jennie Faries Excellence in Beadwork: “Pre-Emptive Strike” Best Choreography: “Carnevale on Mars”, presented by Sue Barrett- Special Award for Design and Construction of Collars: “Matsuri Bullitt, Jim Bullitt, Sue Frank, Dave Howell, Lynn Kingsley, Marci no Shinda” Malinowycz, Greg Sardo and Julie Zetterberg; Engineering Excellence Award: “Seeking Hope” created by Betty Bigelow, Lynn Kingsley, Greg Sardo and Julie Best In Class: “Kitsune” Zetterberg Most Elegant: “Matsuri no Shinda”, presented and created by Pierre Best In Show (all classes) Pettinger and Sandy Pettinger For the Dragon: “The H-Mercs” Best Transformation: “Seeking Hope”, presented by Allan Kent, Bill Powers, Dina Flockhart, Presentation Awards Don Eastlake, Ian Flockhart, Joyce Grace, Karen Purcell, Liz Manicatide, Nancy Shapiro,
Pat Vandenberg, Phil Servita, Phillip Nathanson, Rich Fine, Stephanie Junior Fine, Suford Lewis Best Use of Duct Tape: “Stage Crew: The Next Generation”, and Talis Thorndyke Love; created by Allan Kent, Barbara Flockhart, presented by Joseph Meltzer, created by Loris Meltzer & Morris Dan Zimmerman, Keesan Deryl Burr, Dina Flockhart, Doug Ray, Ellen Kranzer, Ian Flockhart, Best Swashbuckling: “D’Artagnan: The Early Years”, presented by Keshlam, Robert Meisner, created by Jay Meisner Kristin Burger, Lois Mangan, Nancy Shapiro, Pat Vandenberg, Phillip Best Beast: “Bubbles the Magic Baby Dragon”, presented and Nathanson, created by Mellisa Knappenberger Phyllis Collins, Rich Fine, Sandra Ryan, Sheila Oranch, Stephanie Best Historical: “A Renaissance Lady”, presented and created by Fine, Suford Lewis, Rachel Willeg Susan Brown, Susan Kruger and Tracy Cornogg Best Recreation: “Sailor Mini-Moon”, presented by Ariel Sheridan, Most Terrifying: “The H-Mercs”, presented by Brian Healy, created by Wendy Sheridan Jeannette Healy, Faith Baker, Rob Shugrue, Hans Bader, Misty and Michelle; created by Brian Adult Healy Best in Class: “Pre-Emptive Strike”, presented by Rae Bradbury- Novice Class Enslin, Darren Bradbury, Honorable Mention: “Pandora’s Box”, presented by Celia Foo-Foo Craig Enslin, Rob McKeagney, Lisa Ashton, Ming Diaz, Susan Ashton and Robert D. Ashton, created by Robert D. Ashton Toker, Max Legault, Most Humorous: “Mascot”, presented by Joni Brill Dashoff and Laura Kovalcin, Diane Kovalcin, Jim Kovalcin, Scott Owens and Judy Bemis, created by Jared Dashoff Mike Pederson Best Recreation: “Vir Kotto”, presented by Paul Dellechiaie, created by Kitty Kitik Best in Show (all classes) Most Original: “Couture by the Numismatic Society”, presented by “Fridays at Ten”, presented and created by Amanda Allen, Michael Rebecca Morris and Jake Swank, created by Rebecca Morris Atkinson, Tom Atkinson, Dan Corcoran, Deborah Feaster, Jeannette Best in Class: “A Little Romance”, presented by Alison Moran and Holloman, Sharon Landrum, Ric Rader, Ron Robinson, April Korbel, created by April Korbel and Michael Moran Don Sakers, Ann Stephens and June Swords
November 2001 19 book-length interview, Being Gardner Do- Carr’s issues: “Which they’ve since lost, and he answered, “My toilet seat’s fine, but my zois , from Mike Walsh’s Old Earth Books. I could cheerfully dynamite them.” balls fell off.” This did not embarrass him. By the way, Walsh has become the quin- After declaring how he wanted to win a Connie also described a scene from Ameri- tessential huckster. He strode through the Hugo to repudiate Ted White’s negative can Pie and promised, “ That wouldn’t have dealers room with an ear-to-ear grin, happier review of Challenger , Guy needed a drink of embarrassed Gardner, either….” that he’d found a dollar bill on the floor than water, but there was none to be found. Lastly, Connie recalled a dinner group at a that his new Dozois book had arrived in time (MilPhil didn’t have regular water service – recent Worldcon held at a round table, inspir- for sale. panelists shared water bottles til they ran ing people to give each other names of par- The NESFA Press sold $27,000 of books, out.) Guy complained, “We’re reduced to ticipants at the Algonquin Round Table. according to the September Instant Message . drinking from a muddy goat pen! We need to Connie reported that Gardner was Alexander NESFA”s bestseller was their new William improve our social status!” Wolcott, “Because he’s so funny, and such a Tenn story collection, Here Comes Civiliza- Guy explained that he prefers paper fan- wonderful host.” Connie went on effusively tion . zines, and thinks some readers find them praising Gardner’s warm qualities ‘til he Art Show: In order to attract more inter- easier to deal with than big PDF files that squirmed and blushed. Connie finished with est in fanzines, John Hertz had persuaded the “tie up your computer forever.” He called the a triumphal grin, “And now I’ve embarrassed Art Show staff to give him several panels for Katzes’ Jackpot “an enormous you!” a display of fanzine illustrations and cover load.” (Sounds like the perfect title for one of Joe Haldeman told about Dozois the edi- art. John enlisted me to bring copies of some Arnie’s future zines!) tor. “John W. Campbell used to smoke unfil- great art by Taral, Alan White, Brad Foster, The Liar’s Club: The popular “liars” panel tered Camels in an ivory holder – the only Ray Capella and others. We spent the first lived up to its name in a different way at vice that Gardner doesn’t have.” Haldeman morning of the convention setting up this MilPhil. Pat Cadigan, Gardner Dozois, Janice complained that after he sent Gardner The exhibit. Gelb and George R.R. Martin were on the Hemingway Hoax , Gardner “cut it to shreds The Art Show is also where Bob Eggleton platform: three were in on a secret they were so he could run it as a novella in Asimov’s . later tracked down Joe Rico, who is editing a about to spring on the fourth. He did so much damage to it that it won both Approximately Infinite: The Essential A.E. Dozois got everyone’s attention with a the Hugo and Nebula.” Van Vogt for NESFA Press. Eggleton said, drill sergeant’s yell, “Shut uuuupp!” Then After much more was said about Dozois, “So I hear you’re doing a Van Vogt book? Janice Gelb revealed that the panel was actu- he was allowed a rebuttal. Gardner began by Can I do the cover? What stories are you ally “The Secret Roast of Gardner Dozois.” verifying how far he could fire a jellybean doing? Is ‘Black Destroyer’ one of them?” Hearing that, Gardner shouted, “My pager out of his nose. (Kathryn Daugherty hap- Rico agreed Eggleton can do the cover, but went off – bye!” Janice merely explained, pened to be carrying a bag of pineapple jelly- asked him how he will get people to forget “We wanted to get a rubber mallet and hit beans which she donated for ammunition.) the original. “I will,” was Bob’s confident him every time he interrupted.” Gardner Then he exacted humorous revenge on reply. sneered, “You think rubber would stop me?” George R.R. Martin, the Haldeman brothers Friday Program: Nurturing Your Ish: George R.R. Martin began the roast by and several others by telling a long, ribald The Care and Feeding of a Fanzine: Editors telling about Gardner’s “nose for stories.” anecdote about their antics at a closed party and co-editors of five nominees for Best When George met Gardner for the first time, at the 1974 Worldcon. Fanzine -- Guy H. Lillian III, Richard Lynch, at Disclave in 1974, Gardner had a red jelly Internet Lounge: After the roast, I went Mike Scott, Dick Smith and I -- appeared on bean stuck up his nose. George told him, to the Internet Lounge in the Marriott. The this panel to discuss the challenges we had in “Most people put those in their mouths.” In crew who set up the MilPhil lounge did an common with the editors of commercial reply, Gardner slapped his cheek and the excellent job. There were a lot of terminals, magazines. I’ve no doubt we stayed on topic jellybean flew into his hand. “Here, go and users did not have to wait very long be- for at least ten minutes. ahead,” he said. cause every user was limited to 30-minutes. Some of those minutes were devoted to George felt the connection between this This appeared to be managed fairly, effi- publishing technology. Plokta’s Mike Scott “talent” and Gardner’s success was more ciently and pleasantly. I also observed that talked about using different media to distrib- than coincidental. Two years ago he watched whenever somebody asked for help, the staff ute the zine, most of them expensive. He Gardner trying to teach a less experienced answered very quickly. appreciates the community of people who editor, Scott Edelman, to put things in his Friday Party: LA in 2006 Party: Craig contribute the humorous material they pub- nose and blow them across the room. Edel- Miller and Genny Dazzo coordinated our bid lish, though he admitted, “There are some in- man never mastered this ability and his party. Helping them set it up guaranteed I jokes we don’t get.” Fans throughout the magazine was cancelled soon thereafter. made it to at least one party at MilPhil. room immediately took out pens to add the Others came up to testify about Dozois. When the party opened I stood at the door line to their conreports. Ellen Datlow, Walter Jon Williams, Nicol and distributed badge stickers until replaced Hoping the panel had attracted curious and Pat Cadigan sang about Gardner’s by Jerome Scott wearing his lime green newcomers, not just veteran fanwriters, Dick “sensitive side,” to the tune of “Barnacle Bill Space Cadet spacesuit. Smith distributed an informative flyer he the Sailor.” Williams was frighteningly be- Then I spent some time talking to happy authored with Leah. It included capsule re- lievable as he imitated Gardner roaring out parents. Amy Thomson showed me the latest views and contact information for 16 fan- the rude lyrics. photos of her daughter. Morris Keesan and zines, including all the Hugo nominees, and Gardner enjoyed the ribald song so much Lori Meltser brought their energetic young discussed how to get zines for “the usual” by it was even easier to believe Connie Willis’ son. We all enjoyed watching him trundle participating. claim that he is impossible to embarrass. She full-speed into the next room, hoping to Guy H. Lillian III said his first experience cited examples. A Worldcon gave out a Hugo reach up and snag some party food, and the as an editor came while working on a college base that looked like a toilet seat with nuts way his watchful parents always intercepted zine that Terry Carr had edited before him. In and balls attached, which began to fall apart him before he could get lost in the crowd. fact, Guy contacted Carr and was amazed to as soon as they were given out. When Connie I met Ted White and asked him about the receive by return mail xerox copies of all of asked Gardner how his Hugo was holding up, monthly fanzine review column he’s writing 20 File 770:140 for several clubzines. Ted hoped to spark an always too old to enjoy chairing a World- in any of them at a high level requires such a interest in more club fans about reading fan- con.” great investment of time, and often money, zines, but hadn’t heard of any results. He and I visited the Green Room before a panel that very few fans can excel in more than Marty Cantor (editor of LASFS’ De Profun- and talked to Teddy Harvia. It appears fa- one. dis ) planned to discuss at the end of the year nartists still have trouble getting enough Laurie Mann predicted that in the future whether he should continue. I encouraged egoboo to sustain life as we know it. Harvia the competition of Worldcon and him to continue, because I thought he would said fanzine editors have 200 of his unpub- Dragon*Con, now running on the same have an effect on newer club members who lished cartoons in their hands. (Free the Har- weekend, will result in media fans being were still forming their notions of what fan- via 200!) drawn away to Dragon*Con, while editors dom is about. The payoff would be in the He also said that Australian artist Nick and writers will keep coming to the World- long run. Stathopolous had come into the Green Room, con. She also observed that gamers were only Saturday in Passing: I worked another supposing it was the Con Suite, picked up a using three out of the five rooms MilPhil shift at the LA in 2006 table and got to talk drink and taken a bite out of a cookie before gave them. Moshe Feder agreed there will be to Robert Silverberg, who mentioned he had the staff ran him off (he was not a program more specialized cons, even for sf fans (he been asked for his autograph by rock singer participant.) Harvia concluded, “If I go to the mentioned Readercon), but said it’s a healthy Janis Ian. She attended MilPhil and after- Hugo reception and see a cookie with a bite reaction. wards posted a long convention report on her out of it, I’m going to be upset!” Fandom of the Future: Later on Sunday, I web page (www.janisian.com). Teddy had pitched an idea to Bob Eggle- joined Erik Olson, Mark Olson, Jack Speer Silverberg encourages everyone to nomi- ton for a game they could do as a prorgam at and Victor Gonzalez to discuss another old nate Bill Rotsler’s fanzine Masque for a next year’s Worldcon: “Bob & Teddy’s Ex- favorite topic, whether fandom has a future. Hugo. For more than a year, Bill Warren and cellent Pictionary.” Eggleton liked the idea, It involved some of the same themes, or as friends have been producing regular issues so Teddy hunted down Linda McAllister, Milt Stevens ad libbed, “There’s nothing that from hundreds of pages of unpublished ConJose’s program head, and made the sug- brings us together like fragmentation.” paste-ups Rotsler left behind. It is vintage gestion. “It would be two Hugo-winning Mark Olson brought up the trend toward stuff. artists,” he modestly added. But all glory is shrinking science fiction club membership Silverberg is the only person who’s been fleeting. This was McAllister’s first World- I’d written about in the article “Is Your Club to all the Hugo ceremonies. He thought it con, and Teddy dramatized, “She grabbed Dead Yet?” Milt Stevens added, “Hell’s was ironic that the committee had checked so my badge and asked, ‘Who are you?’” Angels have the same problem as fandom – carefully whether he would attend the previ- Sunday Programming: The Fragmenta- they’re getting older, their backs are bent, ous day’s Retro Hugo ceremonies. He ac- tion of Fandom: The fear that devotion to they can’t climb onto their Harleys any- cepted the late John W. Campbell’s Retro special interests is breaking up our commu- more.” Hugo for Best Editor. nity has been debated for decades. Laurie Victor Gonzalez said fandom’s experience This was the last day to vote in Site Selec- Mann, Moshe Feder, Ed Meskys, Don Sakers resembled that of other hobbyists who’ve tion. Someone in a lobster suit was doing the and I tried to inject the controversy with new formed online communities, such as parents breaststroke in front of the bid tables to en- energy. “I want to dismember individual whose kids own tandem bicycles. Erik Olson courage Boston in 2004 voters. fans,” Sakers kidded. said generation X is not a joining generation, Saturday Programming: Worldcon Ori- Most of the panelists had been in fandom they tend to be Lone Rangers who still do entation: Leah Zeldes Smith, Lenny Bailes long enough to have witnessed this charitable things, but individually. Their and Priscilla Olson found a living fossil “fragmentation,” and engaged in a lively comments seemed to fit Moshe Feder’s ear- among the newcomers at their panel: Joel debate about its tone and meaning. Ed lier speculation that fandom will come to be Nydahl. He was legendary in the 1950s as Meskys said he noticed a hostility toward just another pop culture interest group. the 14-year-old who published the best other fandoms even back in 1970, when half Mark Olson asked, “What do we have in monthly fanzine, then gafiated after the strain the huckster room at Lunacon was comic the fannish experience that we could market of publishing its 103-page first anniversary books. I admitted that when I met Bob Gale – to teenagers?” He excluded clubs and con- issue. “Nydahl’s Disease” became a byword also in 1970 – and he mentioned an interest ventions, saying they could easily find those for editors who zines never appeared again in fanzines like Rocket’s Blast and The outside fandom. Ted White said the creativity following a giant annish. Comic Collector I had thought to myself, evident in fanzines is a unique experience we Nydahl is now a teacher, and can be lo- “Those aren’t fanzines!” offer. Spike said even more important is the cated through his web page. Moshe Feder said that we in the fannish sense of community we offer. In a country Sunday in Passing: Joseph T. Major told mainstream still cling to the original idea of where it’s no longer typical for people to live me, “I survived the Heinlein Society dinner.” science fiction fandom, aided by the presence their whole lives in one town, that fandom is, It featured luminaries Yoji Kondo, Gregory of so many of its founders – our equivalents metaphorically, a small town that we can Beford and Joe Haldeman – who told a story of Washington and Adams. However, we always come back to. about his sister, “Straight” Haldeman. miss the “outside pressure” that drove people Hugo Nominees Reception: The com- Craig Miller and I logged another shift into fandom because the public has accepted mittee hosted a two-hour reception, plying us together at the LA bid table. Paula Murray science fiction. It’s just another hobby, with desserts and party favors full of choco- showed off the flapping, black finger-bat maybe a little odd, but not persecuted. He late candy. Stoked to the gills with sugar and she’d just bought. Paula added, “I got fears we’ll wind up being the literary equiva- caffeine, we had plenty of time to dread the Chthulhu for my anniversary.” Craig agreed, lent of baseball fans. blindingly stupid things we might say to the “I think there should be more plush demons I suggested that the perception of frag- audience if we won. from hell.” mented fandom was not because interests in James Cambias, a Campbell award nomi- We overheard Dick Spelman tell a KC fanzines, conrunning, comics, filk, costum- nee, broke the tension by suggesting, “Next bidder, “I’m too old to enjoy being a World- ing, etc. were mutually exclusive – many year, when Lord of the Rings is winning the con chairman.” Craig interjected, “Trust me. fans enjoy them all to some degree. But, in Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo, they could I was 30 when I chaired a Worldcon. You’re contrast to fandom’s early days, to participate very well thank all the little people.” November 2001 21
Millennium Philcon Hugo Award Winners
Best Novel Best Related Book Best Semiprozine Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by Greetings from Earth: The Art of Bob Locus J. K. Rowling Eggleton by Bob Eggleton and Nigel Suckling Best Fanzine Best Novella File 770 “The Ultimate Earth” by Jack Best Dramatic Presentation Williamson Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Best Fan Writer Dave Langford Best Novelette “Millennium Babies” by Kristine Best Professional Editor Best Fan Artist Kathryn Rusch Gardner Dozois Teddy Harvia
Best Short Story Best Professional Artist John W. Campbell Award “Different Kinds of Darkness” Bob Eggleton Kristine Smith by David Langford
1951 Retro Hugo Award Winners
Best Novel Best Short Story Best Fan Writer Farmer in the Sky “To Serve Man” by Damon Knight Bob Silverberg by Robert A. Heinlein Best Dramatic Presentation Best Fanzine Best Novella Destination Moon Science Fiction News Letter “The Man Who Sold the Moon” by Robert A. Heinlein Best Professional Editor Best Fan Artist John W. Campbell, Jr. Jack Gaughan Best Novelette “The Little Black Bag” Best Professional Artist by C. M. Kornbluth Frank Kelly Freas
Hugo Awards Ceremony: One of fan- jamin!” When Esther returned to normal, she munity made the traditional presentation of dom’s culture wars is about the proper venue said, “On behalf of the Island of Dr. Moreau, Seiun Awards (chosen by Japan’s national at the Worldcon for memorializing departed home of the original Beastie Boys, I thank convention) to winners from English- fans. I disagree with the view that the Hugo you for your kind indulgence.” speaking countries. They usually hope the Ceremony is the best place for this, but wher- There were the usual non-Hugo awards winners will be there – Robert Sawyer was. ever it’s done, it needs to work. Ceremony (and more) at the top of the ceremony. Dave On the other hand, Australian Greg Egan organizer Pat Vandenberg intended at a very Kyle came up to deliver the Big Heart wasn’t likely to be. Janice Gelb said he is so early stage to have a moment of silence while Award. (Janice Gelb jogged my elbow and private, he’ll autographs books, but only if the In Memoriam list was displayed on a looked significantly at her watch as he be- they are left in a box on his porch. screen. Unfortunately, the tech didn’t work gan.) The award went to Steve and Sue Fran- Esther Friesner came out and gave the and the solemn buildup fizzled out. cis. There was also a “certificate” for the late techs one more chance to show the In Mem- Even if such a moment works properly, it Dr. Donald A. Reed. Joanie Knappenberger oriam list, but what appeared on the screen can’t be followed by a joke-cracking toast- accepted the First Fandom Hall of Fame was unreadable beyond the third row. master. (And yet, who else is supposed to be Award on behalf of the winner, Frank Robin- Then we moved into the main part of the on stage running the show?) Hugo Adminis- son. evening. The John W. Campbell Award was trators Rick Katze and Saul Jaffe supplied the Robert Silverberg lent his irresistible dig- given by Stan Schmidt to winner Christine tempo between the sublime and ridiculous, nity to the inauguration of the Cordwainer Smith. The Best Fanartist Hugo was deliv- by speaking briefly about the rules and show- Smith Award. He and fellow judges John ered by TAFF’s Victor Gonzalez to Teddy ing off the distinctive Hugo base. Clute, Gardner Dozois and Scott Edelman Harvia. The Best Fanwriter Hugo was pre- Then it was time for “Rapmaster Toast” -- were charged with the task of rediscovering sented by DUFF’s Pat Molloy and Naomi Esther Friesner, with her baseball cap turned great work that had fallen into obscurity. Fisher to Dave Langford’s representative, around. She opened the main ceremonies They selected Olaf Stapledon as the first Martin Hoare. Presenting the Best Fanzine with a blast of doggerel, reminding us that winner. Hugo, George Scithers asked whether the “in 2001… you know it’s all about the Ben- A contingent from the Japanese sf com- editor has the last word. George used his last 22 File 770:140
Goblet of Fire won the Best Novel 2004 Worldcon Site Selection Voting Statistics Hugo. Gay Ellen Dennett picked up the rocket, saying how appropriate Mail-in Thurs Fri Sat Total it was to have a children’s librarian Boston 264 170 307 455 1,196 accept on behalf of Rowling. Charlotte 151 72 223 386 832 Winners were called on stage to No Preference 9 3 4 14 30 have their photos taken. While I None of the Above 2 - 4 2 8 was standing next to Gardner Do- Rottnest Island 1 1 - - 2 zois I took advantage of my chance Minneapolis in ’73 1 - - 1 2 to ask about the Roast: Gardner Aruba - 1 - - 1 confirmed he was surprised. Illegible - 1 - - 1 Hugo Nominees Party: In a Invalid 12 - - - 12 gracious gesture, the MilPhil com- Niew Amsterdam - - 1 1 2 mittee reserved a bank of elevators Blank - - 1 3 4 to express nominees and their Hogsmead - - - 1 1 guests to the official party hosted New York City, NY - - - 2 2 by ConJos¾. The elevators were 95 in 95 - - - 1 1 held until photographers finished Total with preference 419 245 535 849 2,048 with the winners. Todd Dashoff Grand total 440 248 540 866 2,094 and company were there to usher nd us to the head of the line. 2004 Worldcon: Noreascon Four, the 62 Worldcon, will be held in Boston from September 2-6, 2004, Harry Potter’s Hugo sparked a at the Hynes Convention Center, and the Sheraton Boston and Copley Marriott hotels. great debate at the party. Greg Bear Four guests of honor have been selected: a pair of pro SF writers, Terry Pratchett and William Tenn, looked over my copy of the press and a pair of fans, Jack Speer and Peter Weston. Pratchett, creator of the “Discworld” series, and Weston, release with the voting statistics a former TAFF delegate and Worldcon chair, are from England. William Tenn [Philip Klass] is well- and observed, “The losers didn’t known for his short stories, and is emeritus professor of English and comparative literature at the Pennsyl- just lose, they were trampled by 35 vania State University, where he taught the second-oldest American course in science fiction. Jack Speer million books.” He approved, to produced the first Fancyclopedia , which codified many aspects of fanhistory and fannish jargon. the extent that Harry Potter brings Noreascon Four information is available at our web site at http://www.noreascon.org a lot of kids in to read books in our Membership Rates: Initial membership rates have been announced. New attending memberships (for field. Andrew Porter said that in nonvoters) are $100. Supporting memberships are $35 (site selection voters automatically become sup- winning the Hugo, Harry Potter porting members.) Thorough December 31, 2001 conversion for those who voted in site selection will be overcame the bias against fantasy $60. Memberships for children (age 12 and under as of September 6, 2004) are $65. Presupporters and novels and children’s books. Friends receive a discount on conversions or new attending memberships. Publications: Souvenir Book: MilPhil produced a very well- designed Souvenir Book. Stephen word to give me the Hugo. Larry Niven presented the Best Novelette Youll’s beautiful cover depicted a superreal- My notes went on the floor. When I Hugo to Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s accepter, istic Ben Franklin performing an electrical picked them back up Bob Eggleton was Sheila Williams. Gardner Dozois presented experiment aided by a bevy of aliens -- the vaulting onto the platform to collect his Best the Best Novella Hugo to the eternally pro- kind seen in tabloid newspapers: with blue Pro Artist Hugo. He led the audience in ductive Jack Williamson. Pro GoH Greg skin, smooth skulls, exaggerated insect eyes. “Coool!” Esther Friesner pretended to pout Bear announced that Harry Potter and the More full-color Youll art was inside the because he didn’t do “the thing with his book. hair.” She said she was there for that mo- The written features about the Guest of ment, a moving moment in her life -- “Which Honor were very enjoyable. The book in- will tell you about my life.” cluded a long section of program participants The Best Professional Editor Hugo went biographies. It also reprised Diana Thayer’s to Gardner Dozois. The Best Dramatic Pres- interesting biography of Ben Franklin. The entation winner was announced by Craig one discordant note was GoH Greg Bear’s Miller. It went to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Christian-bashing comic strip. Dragon . Craig read an acceptance statement Of more obscure interest were the historic from the director, An Li. lists of past Hugo Winners and “Long List” The Best Related Book category was won of Worldcon chairmen’s and guests names, by The Art of Bob Eggleton. Bob bounded titles, etc. back onstage. The audience would not let The “Long List” is often adjusted to re- him go until he had done “the thing with his flect the tastes of the year’s committee. There hair.” are some obvious litmus tests for this. For Presenter Connie Willis tortured the Best example: Is Gary Farber listed as co-chair of Short Story nominees with a long, funny Iguanacon? Not this year. ramble. She completed the torture by giving Error or forgetfulness inevitably play a the Hugo to one of the nominees who wasn’t role, too. MilPhil left off six of last year’s there – Dave Langford. Precedent was bro- Hugo winners. The Special Committee ken as Dave Hartwell, rather than Martin Awards given by L.A.con III have yet to Hoare, collected the rocket for Dave. appear in any con’s Hugo Awards summary. Your editor, with notes in hand. November 2001 23
And was the NASFiC historical list seen in cordings, and other special interest items, the of stairways. (This was finally done in the last year’s Souvenir Book excluded, or sim- grid design aroused some grumbling among Sunday issue.) ply forgotten? NASFiC is a WSFS conven- fans of those interests. There was also an unfortunate report tion, after all. The same problem affected program items about Mark Keller. On Saturday morning, I hope the Business Meeting follows listed as being in “L4”, with the further prob- fans learned that Mark Keller of Providence, through on its discussion about generating a lem that the booklet lacked a key to explain RI had died in a hospice the previous night, canonical version of the Worldcon’s histori- this meant Loew’s Hotel. Several panelists from cancer. This would have been shocking cal data. Standardized lists will be a valuable came to Program Ops asking where they in any case, all the more so after Friday’s resource for people doing Worldcon publica- were supposed to go. daily newzine had happily reported: “If you tions. Restaurant Guide: MilPhil’s 84-page can’t find Mark Keller and Sue Anderson Program Book: Ann Cecil’s pocket pro- restaurant guide made excellent reading. Lew from Providence, they have an acceptable gram for MilPhil was generally well-done. Bryson’s enthusiasm for Philadelphia micro- excuse for missing the convention – they are She continued the highly successful spiral breweries was positively contagious. Of getting married!” The writer must have been notebook design originated by ConFrancisco. course, I had to wonder, is this where the horrified to discover he’d lacked full details The booklet presented program descriptions, publishing budget went? when he wrote his story. schedules, schedule grids and a participant Daily Newzine: The Kessel Run , the daily An interesting story not appearing in The index in a clear, standard font, artistically set zine, did a very good job of covering the Kessel Run was the resignation and reinstate- off by headings in the pseudo-18 th -century entire spectrum of con activities in a system- ment of its chief editor, Mike Nelson, be- typeface that has been MilPhil’s signature. It atic way. The orientation program, filking, tween Friday night and Saturday morning. was a handsome publication, and highly use- business meetings, the art show, and exhibits After the first of Kurt Baty and Scott Bobo’s ful, with two qualifications. were explained in prominent feature articles. party reports appeared, the publications divi- Programming in the Marriott appeared in There was also an insightful and practical sion head allegedly wanted to suppress any the schedule, but not on the grids. report about the problems at Registration. further reports, or if there any were pub- “Unfortunately, there wasn’t room for every- The most delightful regular feature was lished, the duo would certainly not be al- thing,” was the reason given in the daily Teddy Harvia’s comic strip, Xenophillie . lowed to pick a party of the night. newzine, and program’s Laurie Mann said it Somebody should give this man a Hugo. Baty and Bobo have been writing party was the result of budget limitations. She Authorities have yet to determine why the reports for Worldcon daily newzines since presumably meant they couldn’t afford to daily zine was titled The Kessel Run , a Star the early 1980s. Why was this suddenly con- add pages in order to expand the grids. How- Wars reference without a visible connection troversial? Cheryl Morgan’s explanation in ever, fans rely on program grids to help them to Millennium Philcon or its guests of honor. Emerald City #73 was that “MilPhil’s senior compare offerings at a given hour, and a two- But full credit is awarded for skipping further management had not forgiven Baty and Bobo thirds complete grid is not a tool that will do references to Ben Franklin. for preferring Boston’s parties over their own that job. Because Marriott rooms were One oversight was neglecting to arrange during the race to win the 2001 Worldcon.” mainly used for anime, gaming, filk, the the Party Lists in descending order by floor, Nelson resigned rather than submit to the fanzine lounge, films, vintage radio re- a proven technique for encouraging the use interference. Patty Wells reportedly spent a
Millennium Philcon Johnna Klukas - “Hall of the Mountain Stephen Youll - “I, Robot” King” Stephen Youll - “Terminal Café” Art Show Awards Brad Kunkle - “Wish” Andrea Senchy and Barbara Lynn Hig- Liz La Valley - Body of work – Scrimshaw Chairman’s Choice Award gins Joy Marie Ledet - “The Mourning Stephen Youll - “Wom Planet” Millennium Philcon Art Show Directors of the Dwarves” Gary Lippincott - “Tom Kelly’s Ghost” Art Show Directors’ Best In Show Sue Manor - “Rowan Lady” & “Green Man” [bowls] Choice Awards Bob Eggleton - “Quimeartha’s Dream 1 & 2” Theresa Mather - “Journey’s End” Petar Meseldzija - “Gandalf” Judges’ Choice Awards Chris Moore - “The Days of Perky Pat” Barbara Higgins Rob Alexander - “Atlantis” James Odbert (Nybor) - “Kiss of Ages” Omar Rayyan - “Felis Nocturnus” Lisa Ashton - “Oyster Shell” Michelle Parker - “Til Death” Mike Conrad - “Alien Attack!” Marilyn Pride - “Platypus With Eggs” Andrea Senchy Ed Cox - “Snowshoe” Richard Powers - “Star Dancers II” Stephen Hickman - “Beyond the World’s Dan Dodson - “Light and Starburst” Sheila Rayyan - “Fish Ladder II” End” Newton Ewell - “Tree City” Ruth Sanderson - “Sleeping Beauty” pair Marc Fishman - “My Lover’s Gone” Sophia Kelly Shultz - Needlework Ric Frane - “Zheng Zi Yi” Lisa Snellings - “Here Comes Santa Claus” Popular Choice Awards Donato Giancola - “Gandalf “ Nick Stathopoulos - “Dragon Study 1,2,& 3” & “The Hobbit: Expulsion” Hicaru Tanaka - “Dance in Star Ocean” Best Professional Artist Dominic Harmon - “Masks” Ron Walotsky - Body of work - Lisa Snellings Jael - “Floue” Crabshell masks Nancy Janda - “Breath of Life” James Wappel - “Mars” drum Michael Whelan - “Lumen 6.2” Best Amateur Artist Nancy Janda - “Domestic Camouflage #1” Diane Kovalcin Tom Kidd - Pencil Work Paul Youll - “Desolation Road” 24 File 770:140 long time mediating the dispute. The next The rest of the MilPhil committee was Charlotte will keep its Kitty Hawk mascot morning Nelson told people he and the divi- unusually close about its plans, and did not and probably use “The Kitty Pounces Back” sion head had “kissed and made up.” use the available tools to build momentum. It as its slogan And to think this all occurred after Baty did not issue many press releases. Its Pro- and Bobo announced they would retire from gress Reports had too much to say about Ben Factsheet 5 writing party reviews after MilPhil. I guess Franklin and not enough about things to do at Will Factsheet 5 ride again? Yes, says an the division head wanted to say, “You can’t the con. Microbrewers and filkers were more authoritative e-mail (coff, coff) from “a new quit – you’re fired!” effusive about their plans than those organiz- editorial collective” that expects to have the Press Coverage: Millennium Philcon got ing the Worldcon’s so-called main events. first issue out by the end of the year, and excellent coverage from the mundane press. The web page had many useful features, but appear quarterly thereafter. The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a big feature generally fewer details than those of other If you have a little gray in your beard, on the local Guest of Honor, Gardner Dozois. recent Worldcons: which was not the fault of you’re old enough to remember that Mike They did an interview and reviewed his new the webmaster. Even fans posting to SMOFS Gunderloy’s Factsheet 5 once printed hun- story collection. The photo of Gardner ac- knew nothing to say about MilPhil until two dreds of reviews of independent and unusual companying the articles seemed to have been weeks before the con. “alternative” publications. The new incarna- cropped somewhat strangely, or else the People tend to find what they come look- tion of Factsheet 5 will carry reviews, and editor had decided Gardner’s handsomest ing for at the Worldcon. In that respect, Mil- also “informative articles on zine culture, features were his head and his fire escape. Phil’s legacy would have been greater if the independent publishing, lively columns, in- Perfect Hindsight: The list of minor other arms of the committee had been as terviews with self-publishers, and an exten- problems and annoyances that beset Millen- effective as programming was in sharing sive news section.” nium Philcon is actually fairly long: from their plans in advance. registration hassles to the exhibit hall’s ge- neric look, from info missing on maps and grids to constantly running out of water in the program rooms. However, none of these problems formed people’s dominant impression of the con: what everybody talked about were the pro- grams they’d seen. Organizers Laurie and Jim Mann succeeded in giving fans substan- tial things to discuss and debate. The exciting ideas delivered by the program made the gossip about behind-the-scenes problems uninteresting by comparison. Rarely has there been such a good chem- istry between the program and the members of the Worldcon. People’s appetite for pro- gramming was proven to me by 25 fans who tracked down our “Nuturing Your Ish” panel in an obscure corner of the convention cen- ter, when a similar panel at Westercon had attracted only four. Everything seemed to draw well. The center of things were the eight func- tion rooms on the main corridor near Regis- tration, where program provided the conven- tion’s hourly heartbeat. Fans flowed in and out of the rooms, meeting friends, talking about what they’d just seen, comparing notes The Kitty Pounces Back If you’re interested in having your zine re- on what they wanted to see in the next hour, Charlotte in 2004’s leader Irv Koch reports viewed, send a copy to Factsheet 5 , P.O. Box then walking next door to another panel. the group will bid for the 2005 NASFiC, led 4660, Arlington, VA 22204. The editors suggest Windows in the walls of the function rooms by a new chair. “It’s all the Directors, Tracy that you “enclose a separate card clearly stating allowed people outside to see whether some- Kremer, Mark Blackman, and Kathleen the sample price and subscription price. Also thing interesting was starting inside, which Meyer (awaiting her acceptance) as Chair. print the ordering address, email address/web subtly encouraged people to join in. Based on what I understood when I phoned site, the check endorsement name, and if you The high quality of response to program- her, she’s going to get a nationwide batch of regularly review zines, books, videos, comics, or ming had been seeded ahead of time by the BNFs or whatever for that committee.” records. You can also tell us if you want submis- division’s use of the web to allow fans to Koch expects to resign as chair and direc- sions, if you require an age statement, if you peruse the final schedule ahead of time. tor of the bid’s nonprofit corporation, SECFI. regularly print reader letters, if you offer free Raised expectations helped everyone prepare “That was due to my having only signed up, prisoner subs, and the page count for that issue. to enjoy the convention more fully. Knowing when I started this deal, for one project. Feel free to state your preference on the card.” what to look for creates a positive feeling of However, the recent crash knocked me out A one-year subscription (4 issues) is anticipation. It also keeps fans from missing financially so I’ve got to get a full time job $15.00 ($25.00 for first-class delivery). They anything special the committee has worked and won’t have time anymore. Probably at also have a web page: hard to create. the IRS....” www.factsheet5.com November 2001 25 The Fanivore
Lloyd Penney wife’s business is part of a consor- tium that in cooperation with the It ’s the day after the World Library of Congress and the US Trade Centre disaster in New Attorney’s Office will be actively York City. We ’re all shocked going after people who are scan- and stunned, and many say it ’s ning artwork and craft kits like a movie, but it ’s all too (artwork and instructions in- real. Fiction has become fact, cluded) and posting them. There and we truly live in interesting are sites on the web where you times. I have read that many can find hundreds of such items fans in NYC are safe; I ’d be and the violators don’t think they interested to know if anyone are doing anything wrong. has been affected by this dis- The only thing missing would aster, such as being stranded be discussion somewhere about in an airport or in a foreign trade marks. Next time you should country. I ’ve heard several be more complete in your news times that the best way to coverage... handle this deep shock is to carry on with regular activities, to keep from detail messy car chases, especially in Califor- John Foyster walking like a zombie. So, in that spirit, here nia. And yes, some of those chases involved is a letter of comment on File 770 139 . Bear a tank, a mobile home and a bus. I think most This issue arrived the same week that Marc with me, and I shall try to get back in the people have seen those shots by now. They Ortlieb announced that he was giving up on loccing spirit. are silly, and we watch them for fun, but I the Bullsheet. I am amazed that Marc man- Millennium Philcon has come and gone, doubt I ’d boot up the website to see more. aged to keep it going so long - which only and Yvonne and I enjoyed ourselves quite a Taral thought that Marcon was a travesty makes your longevity with File 770 the bit. We had no commitments to a bid table or because it had a psychic fair as part of the more remarkable. I used to get frustrated that series of parties this year, so we were free to convention, and a “never was ” actor who it appeared so irregularly, but now that it is explore, and we did. As do most, I have my played a Romulan? Good thing he didn ’t go one of the few fanzines that has survived misgivings about the winners of the Hugos to Toronto Trek this past July then...it had earlier eras I have to assume that it is all part for Best Novel and Best Dramatic Presenta- both. Nevertheless, a good time was had by of a Master Plan. tion, but I hope this will encourage more fans us. The convention reports, though not up to to nominate and vote to that SF novels and the Glyer Standard, worked pretty well for movies will the rockets. We ’d been in touch me, though perhaps John Hertz’s was a fair with Craig Miller to distribute LA in 2006 Henry Welch distance ahead of the others in content. flyers in Canada. We have a revision in mind, but as soon as all is resolved, we plan Thanks for File 770:139 - “The Intellectual Property Issue” and congratulations on the Robert Lichtman to distribute extensively. I would amend Fred Patten ’s assessment Hugo Award. I appreciated seeing the item on my patent Simon Ounsley is quoted (from his fanzine of the representative of the publisher he Connection No. 3): “I felt a bit uncomfort- spoke to...an interesting example of a com- even if I think the invention itself is rather lame. Everyone keeps telling me that it will able planting a ‘u’ in all those ‘favorites ’ of plete idiot and a damned fool. As usual, oth- Robert [Lichtman] ’s and realise I ’ve never ers are experts on Canadians, and Canadians get banned for contributing to road rage, etc. There will, alas, never be any money in it for really thought before about the way I auto- are the last ones asked about these matters. matically anglise the letters I get from Amer- Many thanks to Fred for knowing that Can- me since I assigned all the rights to the co- inventor who paid me handsomely by the ica. But I mean you know he didn ’t write it ada is a separate country with a separate that way, don ’t you? I guess I just think that culture and separate events. We are not a part hour. I judged that there wasn’t much money in the concept and opted for cash up front. A the fanzine reads a bit better with uniform of the United States; at least, not yet. spelling. Do you agree? ” I saw Shibano-san at a distance at Millen- business has already started in New York City that uses a satellite to transmit location Well, yes, I do -- and I feel the same way nium Philcon, but did not see Sachiko. Most when I remove every “u” from the articles years, we run into them, bow deeply, and specific ads for displays on the top of taxi- cabs. Not in any way covered by my patent, and letters by British writers in Trap Door then hug the stuffings out of them. I hope all (not to forget changing every appropriate “s” is all right with her. The idea of a Japanese but I’m sure it’s covered by someone else’s. In the second phase of intellectual prop- to a “z” as in “anglicize ”) for the same uni- Worldcon is intriguing, especially the part formity. about how we ’re supposed to afford to go. erty we see illuminating commentary on copy right for free lance writers. The internet Let ’s think of what Simon and I are doing Yvonne and I have to admit to sharing Ed in the same way we view TAFF -- sort of a Green ’s addiction. We often watch TLC has opened huge avenues of copy right abuse. Anyone with artwork is in danger of trans-Atlantic vowel movement. (nicknamed by us The Disaster Channel), and tune in to see those myriad shows that having it scanned and posted or worse. My 26 File 770:140
E. B. Frohvet retro subject. Literacy, after all, is obsolete. of Heinlein to that of Pablo Neruda. Rod Serling, where are you when we need He never sent a story out. I have it from a reliable source that File 770 you? I cajoled, encouraged, and fought with received the Hugo Award for “Best Fanzine” [[Maybe it looks that way if you don’t him on that issue, but he just “never got this year. Congratulations! The contribution look beyond paper fanzines -- though let’s around to that.” Lots of fans are witness to of File 770 to fandom is substantial and remember Fosfax, which prints more reviews the fact that Daffyd profited by it. I also got a fairly recognized. I trust you will not feel than anyone. If you count reviews published number of short stories into various maga- yourself diminished, nor is that my intent, if I on websites or in zines distributed via e- zines and anthologies; one book was pub- point out a few relevant statistics. Namely, mail, like Cheryl Morgan’s Emerald City, lished. during the entire period from 1970 to 2001, more fan-written reviews are being published Jack is a loss to satirical fiction – and to all of the 32 “Best Fanzine” Awards have than anytime in the past 25 years. That’s literary fiction. gone to a total of 11 fanzines. Four of those after the cream has been skimmed by publi- I admire his talent and still do. I owe him; were one-shots, arguably flukes ( Energumen cations willing to pay the best reviewers.]] I will miss him. in 1973, Algol in 1974, Texas SF Inquirer in [[LASFS scribe Karl Lembke announces 1988, Mad 3 Party in 1990); leaving the Raul G. Capella that the Jack Harness Memorial Page is on remaining 28 awards distributed among a the Web at: grand total of seven fanzines. Jack Harness was one of the most brilliant http://www.lasfs.org/lasfs/history/ [[Prior to 1984, zines published by Rich- members of the four Writers’ Workshops I harness.html]] ard Geis and Charles N. Brown won 14 attended, two of which were conducted at the Hugos. Then, in the first nine years after LASFS. Jerry Kaufman semiprozines were removed from the cate- A Writers’ Workshop brooks no preju- gory, six different zines won a Hugo for the dices and collects criticism and opinion from I was saddened to hear that Boyd Raeburn first time. One of the six was File 770, how- every quarter, sans emotional reactions. It is died. I didn ’t recall seeing a mention of this ever, it was also among the nominees de- much like an art feated by each of the other winners. I expect class: all mem- the cycle will turn again, when Plokta, Chal- bers are peers, lenger or Idea gets a well-deserved award. In all at the same the meantime, I’m certainly enjoying the level, at learning response to File 770.]] and contributing. End of rant. In fact, this seems an apt Those few who moment to remove myself from the Fan came in loaded Hugo discussion. As you probably know, I with degrees, (not without assistance) made a fool of my- their Great self by misunderstanding the eligibility re- American Novel quirements, and recklessly and unfairly in- and their Egos, sulted Richard Smith and Leah Zeldes Smith. took umbrage at I have apologized to them, and I do so again criticism and publicly. vanished into Personally, I still feel the Hugo nominat- thin air – fast. ing and voting process has clear flaws, and Th os e wh o that term limits would solve some – not all – really wanted to of those flaws. That is obviously not going to do something happen. Due to a combination of factors, with their work right now I simply have enough with which and appreciated to concern myself, to devote much thought to what was going what appears to me to be a lost cause. There- on (like Dafydd fore, in the future, I will not be nominating or ab Hugh, Jor voting for the Hugo Awards. Jennings, [[With your passion for the award, why George Jumper does quitting make sense?]] etc.) got a lot out Another item in #139 which prompts a of it. brief observation from me is to agree with I considered Marty Cantor concerning the state of book Jack Harness to reviewing in fandom. I am one of the few be one of the faneds who run a regular book review col- most incisive umn – and more often than not I wind up and productive writing it myself. Bob Sabella does book contributors. He reviews in Visions of Paradise , though often had more talent of mainstream books. Nova Express does than the three of book reviews, which somewhat overlap with us put together. I a highly specialized area of sf. Beyond that? I do not exagger- suggest an article, or perhaps someone can ate when I say use it for a panel topic: “Where Have All The some of Jack’s Book Reviewers Gone? (Long Time Pass- work ranged ing).” Or maybe no one cares about such a from the stature November 2001 27 on rec.arts.sf.fandom, which I consult now true spirit of Corflu, and no other committee And surely if Hamit’s articles are worth and then, and I am not a member of the truly followed our example. preserving, there will be customers for a fannish listservs, so it was news to me. I book of his. I know of no one who, given the remember him with great fondness from a Elizabeth Osborne choice between printing and carrying around few meetings at cons over the years, as he several hundred “free” pages and buying a was a dry wit and good company. Among the many obits, I was shocked to see book, would choose the exhaustive printout. Boyd published a number of entertaining that of Poul Anderson. I completely missed If Hamit produces an attractive book (and not and worthy fanzines over the years; I believe news of his death or even his illness. He the usual computer-printed blodge) people his best generally available zines were don in and his wife were to be guests at Marcon last will buy it, regardless of whether or not the the 1960s, and included A Bas . The most May but they didn’t show up. I guess I know material is on the web. wonderful thing Boyd contributed, to my why now. knowledge, were items called “derogations. ” I never knew the Andersons very well. I Eric Lindsay These were assemblages of quotations from saw them at various conventions at a distance different fanzines cobbled together to form but I always tried to see them when they did [[On issue 138]] I can’t blame Harlan Elli- new conversations between fans of different come to a convention. son for wanting to prevent stealing of his points of view, done with a satirical edge to In the early 80’ s I was a member of a con writing via the internet, since it is very appar- them. The most recent descendant of these committee at a convention in Northeast Ohio ent that once out there, it is hard to ever get was a piece in a Nielsen Hayden zine in the (which one is not important) We invited Poul payment from many. I’ve been collecting SF early 80s, putting together things people had and his wife as our guests of honor one year. in digital form, now I lack the space to keep said during a Norwescon weekend, and mak- He was originally from Akron, Ohio and his all the books I would like. But I must admit ing them seems as though they ’d all been mother and brother (John was a professor at that re-reading a novel in digital form is a said during one room party. Kent State University) were still in the area. right pain in the eyeball. It has been interest- I hope you can get Ted White (to suggest He and his wife arrived on Friday night and ing to see Baen putting some novels up for one possibility) to do a real (and more accu- the con committee (including me) took the free (as well as via their great $10 a month rate) appreciation of Boyd Raeburn. Andersons to dinner that night. I remember for 5 novels deal), and I downloaded a bunch As John Hertz mentions, you were not it very well, a table full of geeky young peo- of them. However I still find myself reluc- introduced in Westercon ’s opening ceremo- ple hanging on to everything they said. I tant to read a novel as an eBook if I don’t nies. Neither was any other Guest of Honor; think that they were more embarrassed by already own the paper version - and I still this was a bothersome lack and I think it was this hero worship than pleased but he and his haven’t managed to get rid of any of the pa- a failure to perform one of the important wife were great quests that weekend. The per versions of the ones I downloaded - de- functions of such a ceremony. It was particu- Andersons were also major players in the spite that being the point of the whole larly odd, since the Not Ready for Sidereal founding of the Society for Creative Anach- download exercise for me! Interestingly, Time Players always work such introductions ronism and the local chapter came out and Mike Resnick asked when I was going to into the playlets they do at Orycons. did a demo in their honor. I had to miss that review another bunch of his books, and sent I think John is wrong when he says I was since I was watching the consuite that AM me copies as ASCII files by email. I still in the Fanzine Lounge on Sunday with all but from what I saw they both had a great haven’t read them. Real Soon Now! those other DUFF winners. I don ’t think I time. Rose Mitchell is entirely incorrect in as- saw Lucy at all on Sunday, for instance. I I am sure they would never remember me serting that “all Australian cities now have also remember the fannish funds auction but I was looking forward to seeing them at purpose built convention centres.” Many being on Saturday. So perhaps the whole Marcon 36. There was also a large turnout of smaller cities do not. She means that almost paragraph should be moved back a page and the SCA type crowd. I was disappointed but all of the major cities now have decent facili- attributed to that day. never dreamed that he was so ill that I would ties. Meanwhile, can I interest your readers in John ’s report was carefully subheaded be reading his obit a few months later. attending conventions here other than World- with the dates and location of the con. Not so By the way, I did go to Marcon and the cons? In the last weekend of May 2002, New Joy V. Smith ’s report on Oasis 14, and I am remarks by Taral are way off base. I planned Zealand has its National Convention. In the mildly curious where and when this con took to write a report but so much time past, I first weekend of June 2002, there is the Aus- place; I can ’t recall having heard of it before. thought I would just put it aside. Taral’s tralian National Convention, celebrating 50 In the letter column, Joseph T. Major says remarks however need to be answered and I years of Australian conventions. Rose that Bill Warren won ’t have to worry about will do so. As editor, of course, you can do Mitchell is chairing it. The week after that, going back to the eathquaked Boeing plant in with what you want with them. Jean Weber and I are running a relaxacon in Renton. Sorry, Joseph T., only Boeing ’s our home town (not a city) of Airlie Beach. headquarters is moving to Chicago, which We will feature diving on the Great Barrier accounts for about 1000 employees. Many Martin Morse Wooster Reef, sailing among the Whitsunday Islands thousands more, along with the Renton and (one of the premier sailing areas in the Everett plants, are staying here for the fore- I found Francis Hamit’s analysis of the Ta- sini decision to be one-sided. Like Hamit, I world), native Australian animals at the Bare- seeable future. foot Bushman animal park (as seen on Dis- To answer Joy V. Smith ’s question about am a mundane freelance writer and editor, and many of my articles have appeared with- covery channel) and visiting the outback. Corflu ’s methods of choosing guests, yes, the Check http://www.ericlindsay.com/ Guest of Honor has always been chosen by out compensation on various websites. I have found, however, that this exposure has relaxa.con for leads to all three cons. And throwing the names of all attendees into a remember that your US dollar will buy al- hat, with one certain exception: here in Seat- been very helpful to me; my best client came to me because he had seen my work on the most two Australian dollars! tle, in 1988, we chose and announced our [[On issue 139]] Leah Zeldes Smith Guest of Honor in advance. That was Gary web, and the fees he pays far outweigh the amount (and aggravation) I would have got- makes slanderous accusations about my his- Farber (before he discovered the Internet, I torical knowledge of Old Sydney in her re- believe). It was not considered to be in the ten had I hunted down the creators of web- sites and demanded money. port of their Tokyo trip. Revenge will be 28 File 770:140 mine! Joy V. Smith Allan D. Burrows Lovely cover ( File I read with interest your conventional report- 770: #139 ). Robotic age about ConJose holding a contest to deter- explorer? Great back mine the likeness of their imaginary GoH, cover too. I love all Ferdinand Feghoot. What, no drawings of those details from the Feghoot exist? I take it, then, that Tim Kirk spaceships on the never managed to replace his artwork from ceiling on down to The Even More Compleat Feghoot . It was he the clutter of toys and who illustrated the book, having sketched the things on the floor. redoubtable Ferdinand during one of the Good selection of latter’s chronoscooter outings to the 1970s, illos, including the no doubt. cat on p 21, and car- Why, was it not in an earlier issue of this toons, especially the very publication that I read of the disaster? bleat, bleat one. [[By Mr. Kirk kept the originals hanging above his Ray Capella]] commode, (the better to take his mind off his I enjoyed the business, as it were.) A house guest, a well- Tucker Tribute arti- known art critic, thinking them inferior ex- cle, the Fandom news amples of the man’s work, did him the dubi- (including the Hugo/ ous favor of having them crushed to powder. NESFA connections When last I hard, poor Tim Kirk was search- list, Autumn ing desperately for a copy of Compleat Feg- Rausher ’s masquer- hoot so that he could at least re-sketch his ade entries, the Flash originals and thus replace them the hard way. Girls ’ album and web Alas, the book is rare; not many were printed site, the Sci Fi channel news, the various in the first place (only 2000 copies) and the award winners, ...), and the Report from To- From these parts, it was very disappoint- very intense puns they contain tend to cause kyo. That was a fun fannish visit. ing to see Charlotte lose to Boston, but the their readers to commit the sin of book burn- The Campbell Conference report was result is about what I expected. On the other ing. interesting too; I would have liked to have hand, it gets me out of a promise I made to Now it happens that I myself have an seen the John W. Campbell documentary. Irv Koch had Charlotte won. intact copy of The Even More Compleat I’ve always admired him, and I have a collec- Paula DiSante: There has been such a big Feghoot . (Having survived Andre Levien at tion of his editorials. controversy in various web forums about his punniest, I had some resistance when I Good report on the Tasini decision. And Harry Potter winning best novel. I couldn’t read it.) If it is true that Tim Kirk has not yet John Hertz ’ Westercon report was excellent; get over how heated some people were be- succeeded in finding a copy, it would be my I enjoyed his interview with you. Are they coming over the issue. I did find it curious honor to restore the ground prints Ferdinand really looking for a Westercon chair for that the book had even been nominated, to his throne. 2003? though -- not because I didn’t think it should [[Now that collectors know you have a I really, really loved Ed Green ’s “Cheap be (not having read it, I don’t have an opin- copy, aren’t you engraved danger?]] Thrills at 90 MPH.” Some funny and reveal- ion either way), but because it is clearly a Note to Gene Stewarrt – I forgot what we ing scenes with the reporters and the cops… fantasy novel, not science fiction. Maybe I’m were arguing about, too. Mea maxima culpa I appreciated the background on Mike out of the loop big time, but I didn’t know and let’s call it square, ‘kay? Gunderloy ’s naming of Factsheet Five (from the Hugos covered anything but science fic- John Brunner ’s Shockwave Rider ) too. I tion. Live and learn, I guess. Ron Salomon: So here I be in Beantown Tom Feller used to get that and some of the zines listed in it. I used some in the small press issues of mourning yet another year of nonattendance at the Worldcon. Well, it gives me more time Thanks for sending the zine and congratula- Splish Splash I put out. to save for South Gate in ‘08, yes. Thanks for tions on your Hugo. To my knowledge, no all the swell conreports in thish. Between one showed up at Millennium Philcon claim- We Also Heard From them and the letterhackers I feel more in ing to be E.B. Frohvet. Maybe a future contact than I really am with fandom, which Worldcon should have a program item based Marty Cantor: I have been reading File 770 to me seems to be a Ghood Thhing. on the old To Tell the Truth game show in this morning, seeing the material about the Yuri Mironets: I’m safely back in Vladi- which three people claim, “My name is E.B. Tucker Tribute. Now, Tucker lives in Bloom- vostok, but the memory of Worldcon is still Frohvet.” ington, IL (which is right next door to Nor- fresh and the impressions are very vivid. My In the April issue, you ask where wres- mal, IL). As Joe Major mentioned to me, head is tightly packed with impressions and tling fans go when they burn out. I don’t “Who would think that Tucker would be near I’m slowly unwinding them. know about the fans, but an issue of Nash- Normal?” Studies at Far Eastern University began ville’s alternative newspaper a few months Mike Rogers : I am not yet sufficiently in and I already told students about Worldcon – ago had an article about the Jerry Springer touch with current fandom to get all the ref- they are pleased and excited. show. According to the article, they recruit erences in File 770 , but I do enjoy reading it their guests from the ranks of professional when it arrives. The article on car chases in [[letterhacks’ addressres appear on page 2]] wrestlers, so presumably their fans might the most recent issue was brought to mind as follow them. I sat last Friday watching the SoCal suburban house burn down.
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