Volume 11, Issue 6 ConNotations December/January The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society 24 Frames SF Tube Talk ReAnimation In This Issue Movie News & Reviews TV News & Previews Anime Reviews By Lee Whiteside By Lee Whiteside By Craig L. Dyer News & Reviews
Lord of the Rings is Finally (Almost) Here It’s time for another roundup of SF TV **** Dual Vol. 4: One Vision SF Tube Talk 1 The long anticipated first installment of news and info. We’ve got some new hits, ***** Black Heaven, Legend of 4: 24 Frames 1 The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the some duds and a few more surprises on Into the Arena ReAnimation 1 Ring, will premier worldwide on December the way as the new year starts plus we’ll *** Bastard: Complete Collection FYI 2 19th. look at how new and returning shows are **** Trigun 4: Gun-Ho Guns + holding up in the ratings so far in the new CASFS Business Report 2 The Fellowship of the Ring, the first of **** Trigun 5: Angel Arms three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s season. Musical Notes 3 **** Trigun 6: Project Seeds The Lord of the Rings will premiere Enterprise Launches Big Gamers Corner 3 **** Trigun 7: Puppet Master worldwide on December 19, 2001. Director As expected, the debut episode of Pro Notes 4 ***** Trigun 8: High Noon Peter Jackson has assembled a stellar cast Enterprise did very well for UPN, giving ConClusion 6 the network it’s second highest rating ***** The Legend Of The Dog behind the debut of Star Trek: Voyager Warriors: The Hakkenden Videophile 7 back in 1993. Through subsequent ***** El Hazard: The Magnificent In Our Book (Book Reviews) 15 episodes, Enterprise has settled into a World Boxed Set Musty Tomes 17 very respectable ratings range and is ***** 3x3 Eyes: Collector Edition likely making UPN executives very happy. **** Niea Under 7 Vol. 1: Poor Girl Special Feature The demographics have been as good as, Blues (eps 1-4) Shane & Laurie’s Excellent if not better than comparably rated shows **** Niea Under 7 Vol. 2: Funky on the major networks. Water Blues (eps 5-7) Adventure - Conclusion Through the first batch of episodes, By Shane Shellenberger 8 we’ve seen the Enterprise crew deal with We had a chance over the last couple a number of situations that may echo of months to watch lots of Anime and situations we’ve seen in the other Trek we’ve reviewed 13 of them below. Look for Convention & Fandom series, but we’re now seeing them from more reviews in our next issue since we Club Listings 18 the perspective of the first time humans still have 7 in our unviewed pile with more Convention Listings 19 have come across them. We’ve also seen arriving weekly. instances of technology that will only Convention Registration Form 19 for the movie trilogy and spent over a year become available to humans much later, ****Dual Vol. 4: One Vision on principle photography for the three such as holographic tech and tractor Pioneer, 100 mins, $24.98 VHS, $29.98 Art Work beams. With The Andorian Incident, movies in his native New Zealand. Jackson DVD Rated 13+ Sue Dawe 2 we’ve seen the return of the Andorians to has said that he set out to make the films Sherlock 1, 15, 17 ‘’neither childish nor overly dark.... a good, the Trek universe with Jeffrey Combs Dual tells the story which began in solid action adventure with intelligence and (Weyoun, Brunt) playing Shran. Dual 1 (reviewed ConNotations Volume 11 ( Cont’d on page 9 ) ( Cont’d on page 10 ) ( Cont’d on Page 12 )
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Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 1 BORDERS FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOK CASFS Business Report Who’s Who This Issue DISCUSSION: FYI Supernal Readers, Fourth Wednesday at Borders, 7320 W BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS The November meeting of CASFS has Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bell Rd in Glendale. at 7PM. Co-Editor: Sue Martin CASFS Sponsored Groups been moved to November 16 at JB’s This group is on hiatus for November and Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer Restaurant because of TusCon. The December and will resume in January. Film & Video Reporter: Barry Bard GLENDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY: December meting will return to the Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Barry Bard, Jan 17, 2002 - The Complete 1st Thursday of each month at 5959 W traditional second Friday, December 14. Catherine Book, Craig L. Dyer, Michael Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper Brown in Glendale at 7PM September saw a successful Griffin, Daryl F. Mallett, Shane For details contact Tanya 623-487-9110 Shellenbarger, Tom Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, December 6: 2001 by Arthur C Clarke CopperCon 21 with over 500 attendees. Randall Whitlock, Mike Willmoth Jan 3, 2002: Ghostlight by Marion Zimmer Julian May and Diana Gabaldon shone as INFORMATION LINE: For up to date Editor’s Assistant: Gary Swaty Bradley Author Guests and Heather Alexander Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon information on each month’s CASFS and For more information on the Glendale filled the Kachina room beyond capacity Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. fan sponsored sci-fi related events call group contact Sue Martin at 623-939-7815 with her Concert. Mark Roland provided a Dyer and Doug Cosper (602)973-2341 and select option 7 for a pre- Contributors: Jason Gouchenour, Scott wonderful group of pictures for the Art recorded message. There is also a weekly Muir, Hilary LeMaster, Natalie LeMaster Other Book Groups Show which showed off his varied and email update. If you wish to receive the Labeling Crew for Volume 11 Issue 5: multifaceted talents well. The art demos email update send your email address to Stephanie Bannon, Catherine Book, Craig BORDERS OTHER WORLDS BOOK and Art Show were well attended. The L. Dyer, Mike Griffin, Marguerite Murray, Stephanie at [email protected] DISCUSSION GROUP Dealers room was a trifle spare but much April Rice, Walte Sanville, Gary Swaty, Third Thursday at Borders, 2402 E good was to be found there, Fans should Gus Talbott, Bill Whitmore Upcoming Book signings: About ConNotations: ConNotations is the Camelback at 6PM work on their expenditures in both dealers’ fan published newszine of the Central December 20: 2001 by Arthur C Clarke Room and Art Show as spending was Michael Stackpole - Dec 4th, 7:00 to 8:30 Arizona Speculative Fiction Society January 17: Dragonflight by Anne down some. We want our Dealers and (CASFS) an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non- pm at the Poisoned Pen, signing Fortress McCafferey Artists back, Over all it was an excellent profit organization. Circulation is Draconis: Book One of the Dragon Crown For more info contact Eric 602-957-6660 or Convention and it was enjoyed by all. estimated at 4,000 readers for this issue, War Cycle. The Poisoned Pen is at 4014 N primarily CASFS members and attendees [email protected] Hats off to Stephanie Bannon and her Goldwater Blvd, Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ of recent AZ sf/f conventions. Committee who made it happen. The 85251 (480) 947-2974 Subscriptions: The newszine is currently Financial end of the Convention is not sent free of charge to anyone who has www.poisonedpen.com for lots of mystery Pick up your copy of ConNotations at finalized but the Convention made money attended a CASFS or LepreCon sponsored author signings. these locations: and looks good. convention in the last two years and to all CASFS members. Subscriptions are avail- All About Books and Comics Work is progressing on CopperCon 22. Arizona Library able. Cost for a six issue subscription is: 5060 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ (602) Guests thus far are Barbara Hambly and Association Conference USA: $12/bulk. 277-0757 Mojo. Work on CopperCon 23 is just Copyright: Articles, fiction, photos and Thursday December 6, 2001 810 S. Ash, Tempe, AZ (480) 858- starting. artwork in this issue are copyright © of the 3PM to 4PM 9447 Work on HexaCon 12 is going well. author/artist and cannot be reproduced in Friday, December 7, 2001 any manner without their written consent. 4022 E. Greenway, Phoenix, AZ (602) Most Committee positions are filled, if 9:30AM to 10:30AM If no author or artist is credited the artwork 494-1976 interested contact the Chair, Craig Dyer. or article is copyright ©of the Central Amazing Discoveries We still need staff. We have 108 pre-paid Arizona Speculative Fiction Society. The AZLA will be held in the Phoenix 2545 E Speedway #155, Tucson, AZ members already. Publication: Publications dates are Civic Plaza - local authors will speak and (520) 320-0338 We have lost Barnes and Noble February, April, June, August, October & autograph their books in the exnibit area. December. Publication date of this issue is Book Connection MetroCenter as a location for Book Among scheduled authors is Vijaya 11/19/2001; mailing date is 12/03/2001 6434 S McClintock, Tempe (480) 820- Discussions as they have stopped Schartz Advertising: ConNotations reaches 2953 sponsoring any gatherings at that approx. 4,000 science fiction, fantasy, Book Exchange Plus location. A search for a new site is in gaming and horror fans throughout the 2601 E Bell #14, Phoenix, AZ (602) progress. Discussions at Glendale Public Phoenix metro area, the Southwest and 867-1018 nationwide. Our ad rates are:Back cover/ Library continue on the first Thursday of $150, $100/full page; $70/two-thirds page; Borders Book Stores the month. (59th Avenue South of Peoria $50/half page; $35/one-third page; $25/ 2402 E Camelback, Phoenix, AZ (602) Ave.) one-fourth page; $18/one-eigth page. More 957-6600 The treacherous attack on the New information can be obtained by contacting 870 N 54th St, Chandler, AZ (480) York Trade Towers and the Pentagon has Stephanie L. Bannon, PO Box 62613, 961-4915 Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 Phone or FAX; caused a national outpouring of (602)973-2341; Email: [email protected] 1361 N. Alma School Rd., Mesa, AZ What is CASFS? contributions to charity. Unfortunately Submission Info: Writers and artists are What is really behind putting on a (480) 833-2244 this has caused a local decline in encouraged to submit work for publication. convention? What the funds raised by a 4555 E. Cactus Rd., Phoenix, AZ (602) contributions to food banks and other While we cannot pay you for your efforts convention used for? Why not attend a your work will be seen by over 4,000 fans 953-9699 meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor charities. Bring non-perishable food items 7320 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ (623) across the Southwest and the country. You of ConNotations, CopperCons, Hexa- to the CASFS meetings for the next three will retain the copyright to your work for 487-9110 Cons, SmerfCons and other conventions. months and we will deliver them to the future publication. To submit your work or We are a charitable, non-profit organiza- Discount Book 3650 W Glendale Ave, Food Bank. for more information please write to: tion that exists to further science fiction, Phoenix AZ (602) 589-0188 Until next time ConNotations; PO Box 62613, Phoenix, fantasy and science fields in Arizona. AZ 85082-2613 or contact us via Email at Imperial Outpost CASFS currently meets at the JB’s The Busy Scribe 4212 W Cactus Rd #1111, Phoenix, AZ [email protected] Restaurant at 2560 W Indian School Rd Contact Information: ConNotations and (602) 862-9683 in Phoenix (NW corner of I-17 and Indian its contributors can be contacted by mail at School). The meetings begin at 8PM and Michael’s Magic PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 3617 E Southern Ave #8, Mesa, AZ are held on the last Friday of the month or via email at [email protected]. Jan. Through Sept. And on the second (480) 325-7485 Friday of the month Oct through Dec. Stalking Moon Comics & Col- ConNotations Everyone is invited to attend two ISSN: 1082-7765 lectibles meetings as a guest (non-member). PUBLISHED: Six times a year Membership rates are $12/year plus an 5775 W Bell Rd #B-6, Glendale, BY: Central Arizona Speculative Arizona (602) 896-9992 initial $3 application fee and rates are pro-rated for the amount of the year Fiction Society, PO Box 62613, Phoenix, Things For Thinkers remaining. For more info Call: Stephanie AZ 85051 4500 E Speedway Blvd #36, Tucson, L. Bannon (602)973-2341 Webpage: ISSUE NUMBER: Volume 11 Issue 6 AZ (520) 326-7679 www.casfs.org email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION: $12 for 6 ISSUES © Sue Dawe Page 2 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 train as time and technology progressed. So the next time you’re out at a club Gamer’s Corner Musical Notes Finally the old guy dies, leaving the and the guy with the guitar suddenly A Journey East: Oriental by Tom Tuerff stories and memories to live on through starts singing “Mr. Spaceman” or the granddaughter. something, don’t be too surprised. A little Adventures Filking to the Masses Reviewed by Jason Gouchenour It is a song that makes even crusty science fiction in one’s musical diet never I saw something interesting a couple cowboys sniffle. hurt anybody. weeks ago when I was up in Prescott for What Joe did to “filk” it up was to play ------Oriental Adventures by James Wyatt the city’s annual Folk Music Festival. Joe the song for the crowd and then introduce This is probably the last issue before is the latest offering from Wizards of the Bethancourt was doing his set on the what he called “a logical next step,” where the holidays, so if you’re looking for good Coast to help players of Dungeons & Gazebo that Saturday and amidst the the singer fantasizes about taking that filk-and-filk-related CDs to buy for your Dragons 3rd Edition add something extra to favorites that he plays, such as unending road that Grandpa rode his friends, here are a few suggestions, as well their campaigns or try something new Fishing for Chickens, Monongahela whole life and following it right off the as where you can order them: entirely. Sal and the like, he managed to integrate planet and into space. Heather Alexander: A Gypsy’s Home The book itself is very well done. The some honest-to-gosh filk music. The crowd ate it up. Another (reviewed last issue). Great playing and artwork excels and the entire design has a See, it’s not really that hard to do. successful filking of an otherwise unaware fine songs from one of the most talented very Oriental feel. I enjoyed both reading it Quite a few of us in the filk community are audience. people in the filk arena. http:// and admiring its design! Oriental also people who play out in places where Getting mundanes to enjoy filk music www.heatherlands.com Adventures offers new classes as well as the chance of finding somebody who will can also be done using humor. I don’t The Bringers: All the “fire” of the new Prestige Classes. The descriptions for sit through a song about space travel or know too many “regular” people who will Bringers is here in this incredible first the character classes, spells, and monsters aliens is about as slim as Stan Laurel’s sit through a song where Klaatu muses album; Michi’s fiddle leads the way and are very detailed and the illustrations well pants. If you’re going to do a song with about man’s inhumanity to man and by the time it’s over you’re panting for done. Some of these illustrations are quite “filk” qualities to it, you have to kind of machine, for example. But poke fun at breath. http://www.random-factors.com impressive, worthy of hanging on a wall. sneak it in. something just about everybody knows And now, shameless promotion There are many new monsters as well, Which is precisely what Joe did. including the Shinomen naga, which is and you can get away with murder. department: Scanning the crowd, he noticed our mutual Case in point: some years ago I wrote a Tom Tuerff: Something to Sell At My specific to the Rogukan setting, but with friend and fellow filker Nancy Freeman some modification could fit any campaign parody of Malvina Reynolds’ song “Little Gigs: My very own CD has received more sitting in the grass watching the show. Joe Boxes.” It was called “Little Star Treks,” radio play than I ever conceived possible. world. Included in the book is the started thumbing through his huge book Rogukan campaign setting from Legend of and it talks about how, regardless of One song, “First House,” has appeared on of song lyrics, and passed his browsing who’s in the cast, which version it is, etc., Dr. Demento seven times as of this writing, the Five Rings. How true to the card game time by saying that he was going to it is, I cannot say, having never played it. you’re pretty much watching the same six of those times in the Funny Five. It also perform a song “by one of the best thing over and over. contains the aforementioned “Little Star Sadly, those looking for a fully fleshed songwriters in Arizona, Nancy Freeman, martial arts system will be sorely My lyrics got published in “Sing Treks” and nine other rather twisted tunes. and she’s sitting right over there!” As all Out!” Magazine, a folk music rag, in 1996 http://www.cdbaby.com/tuerff disappointed. There really is not much to eyes fell on the somewhat surprised the martial arts in this book. The benefit of and shortly thereafter, a public radio show Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Nancy, Joe found the song he was going in Pittsburgh asked me to record it so they Pleasant Solstice, Happy Hannukah, mastering any of the martial arts presented to play and then performed her song, “The is not worth the effort required to get could play it. It obviously hit a nerve, as it Happy New Year and if you’re an atheist, Overland Stage,” for the crowd. became one of their most requested songs, have a nice long holiday weekend! there. In my opinion, a better idea would Now, for those of you who’ve never be to begin by adding a martial arts feat and five years later they still play it five or Tom Tuerff writes about filk and folk music heard it, “Overland Stage” is one of those six times a year. for ConNotations. If you have a CD or and following a tree of feats within that songs that sounds like a traditional folk martial art. Upon obtaining each feat in the It’s “filk,” but it’s digestible filk tape you want reviewed, send it to song at first. It’s the remembrances of a because everybody has an opinion on ConNotations or contact Tom directly at tree, the player would gain a synergy woman whose childhood is spent in her bonus in the base martial art. As to Star Trek—you either like it or hate it. And [email protected] . grandfather’s traveling snake oil and that’s what makes it worth playing for the weapons, for the most part, the puppet show, and how the wagon was descriptions are accurate. The one “untrained” masses who’ve never heard eventually replaced by traveling on the inconsistency I noted was with the the word “filk” before and never will. Shikomi-zue. The illustration (on page 71, for those of you with a copy of the book) shows it as a sword disguised as a bamboo walking stick. Three pages later, the text describes it as a concealed, bladed staff. Of the new character classes the Shaman is of particular interest, being a synthesis of the Cleric and Druid classes. The Samurai I found to be rather weak, though I like the idea of the Ancestral Daisho (for those not familiar, the katana and wakizashi). The descriptions for each of the Prestige Classes are well fleshed- out. The Prestige Class Monks are excellent and worth checking out. There are three different Prestige Classes for the monk, each with its own unique history and abilities. A nice feature is the fact that their base unarmed attack bonus stacks with their other Monk levels. Oriental Adventures is somewhat pricey at $34.95, but well worth it. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. By itself, the book offers a good campaign setting and any experienced GM could easily modify it to fit his or her own campaign world Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 3 Adam Niswander writes that he is fan video production coming from M&V talked friend and fellow Who enthusiast “hard at work” on The War of the Studios in late 2001/early 2002. In addition Brian Flynn into directing the possible Pro Notes Whisperers, the fourth novel in his popular to being an artist, Vaughn is a long-time venture, Scott started work on his script. Shaman Cycle series. The first two novels, Doctor Who fan who never felt he had a “I showed my initial notes to Brian as a by Daryl F. Mallet The Charm and The Serpent Slayers, will worthy Who tale within him...until now. “It base idea and he seemed to like them, so Obviously, with the events of this be reissued in trade paperback editions by started off as a possible 8th Dr. and Sam we got together with my fiancée (and often September in New York, Washington, DC, DarkTales Publications within the next few short story,” Vaughn says. “I started with co-author), Tami, to brainstorm a complete and Pennsylvania, many of the reports and months. DarkTales will also publish just this basic concept of the Doctor and a plot and flesh it out. After that, I just let emails I got were directly concerned with Adam’s third novel, The Hound Hunters, companion (one that he gets along with my brain run with it. We decided to do a that. As far as I know, we (the SF/fantasy/ before the end of the year. “Plans call for well enough to tell a few inner feelings to) two-part episode and place most of it horror community) didn’t lose anyone, The War of the Whisperers to follow going to this cafe in search of someone; within the café setting but, other than that, thank God. immediately, and negotiations are someone that the Doc is expecting to I just tried to please my own sense of LOCAL NEWS underway for a fifth book, as yet untitled. show up at this location eventually fandom first and then make sure it was a Diana Gabaldon writes that she is The series is planned for thirteen because it is frequented by aliens. This good enough story for others to like and “finishing The Fiery Cross (i.e., we’re in connected-but-independent novels.” someone would be up to something enjoy. More than anything, I wanted to the ‘work-18-hours-a-day’ final frenzy Adam also reports he has sold a short nefarious and The Doctor would be there stay true to the characters and ideas phase, where I’m simultaneously filling story titled “Doors” to an anthology called to stop him. But while he’s waiting for the within Doctor Who, and the reasons holes in the last few sections, revising the Asylum 2: The Violent Ward, which is due evil-doer to show he’s forced to chat with behind the adventures he gets himself middle sections, and doing the copy-edit for release this Autumn, also from anyone who recognizes him for the living into. I wanted to get into his head a little, of the first few sections—meanwhile, the DarkTales. Some of his darker poetry was legend that many take him to be.” The especially as I would be playing him, and book designer is busy typesetting the first recently featured at Gothicnet. Visit story originally didn’t get past the see how he reacts to how others perceive section. All this madness, with the intent Adam’s Bookstore online at: It is time for another Arizona Westercon. Please support us and help us bring you the best Arizona Westercon of the new millennium. Pre-supporting memberships: $10 Friend of the Bid: $50 Includes voting fees at the 2002 Westercon and, if necessary, a supporting membership in the LA 2002 Westercon Bid Sponsor: $100 Includes all privileges of Friend of the Bid as well as free attendance, if desired, at the Locus Banquet when we win. There will be a graduated scale of conversion to full membership in the Arizona 2004 Westercon depending on the level of pre support. Check our website at www.az-sf.org for more details. We also are looking for fans and/or professionals interested in supporting the bid by being an active member of the bid committee. Please contact us at Arizona in 2004, PO Box 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082, Email: [email protected] Craig Dyer at (602)973-2341 - Email: [email protected] or Mike Willmoth at (480) 945-6890 - Email: [email protected] Page 4 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 Pro Notes (cont’d from page 4 ) fun. Bad puns like psycho-ceramics. Golem Your caring thoughts are very welcome.” Fiction Writers) booth at the 2001 UMBA blanks come in ceram-wrap. Get it? ;-) Kay Kenyon writes: “In August, I Trade Show. Thursday, October 11th, 7 www.mandvonline.com/legendsoftime/ [Groan. –DFM] Also in October look for moved to Wenatchee, Washington, in the p.m., I’ll be signing at the Mesa, Arizona legendshome.html>. Forgiveness—a 90-page hardcover Star desert country of eastern Washington. I Borders. They’re located at 1361 S. Alma OTHER PRO NEWS Trek graphic novel (a posh word for a went for the sun, (and husband’s new job) School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210. [Across Brian W. Aldiss writes: “Doing high-class comic!) based on a story I first and I love it. I recently turned in my fifth the street from Fiesta Mall, near Staples, nothing special at present; just writing envisioned in the 1960s! This will be novel to Bantam, Maximum Ice, which will CompUSA, etc.] Big thanks to Ginger for another book. Oh, and I had a long poem followed by another huge hardcover be out in February, 2002. I will be at the setting this up for me! For more on memory accepted by the journal graphic novel, Life Eaters, also from DC Write on the Sound conference in information, call (480) 833-2244. October Kronoscope. Wildstorm. Also, watch for The Illustrated Edmonds, Washington on October 6-7. 26-28, I’ll be attending MileHiCon in An in-depth interview with C. Dean Guide to Aliens in David Brin’s Uplift And I will be Guest of Honor in the Tri Denver, CO. Looks like some really great Andersson is scheduled for the October Universe, from Bantam Books next Cities area of Washington State for programming. I’m looking forward to this 2001 issue of Vor Tru magazine, a long- summer.” Radcon in February, 2002.” con in particular. Sunday, November 18th, running journal devoted to the old native San Francisco horror/erotica writer M. Susan R. Matthews writes: “My new at precisely 10:23 p.m., I’ll be turning 34. Scandinavian religion of Asatru Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 5 the X-ray machine. All this was witnessed second underground floor offered while keeping an eye on things. Next I did ConClusion by two national guards and one Phoenix Registration for WFC. some more programming, chatted with the police officer. The security folks had a fit Here I picked up my badge, program Program Director of ConJose (2002 with my mother-in-law’s plastic knife and book (with a color cover of Lord of the Worldcon) since she made me the Science World Fantasy Convention 2001 fork, so they went into the trash. So did Rings by Giancola), pocket program, Co-Liaison for her, and left in the late A Review by Mike Willmoth her nail clippers. They didn’t balk at her program schedule, restaurant guide, and afternoon for bowling. dull-nosed scissors for some reason. As freebie books (paperback The Bone Doll’s I took the subway to a new station, This year’s World Fantasy Con was we reached the gate they were already Twin by Lynn Flewelling, trade paperback walked to a shopping center and found the held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The boarding, so we waddled our way into our Dracula in London edited by P. N. Elrod, underground bowling alley. In Canada site was the hotel Delta Centre-Ville seats and fell asleep. trade paperback Perdido Street Station by they have our normal (big) bowling and (downtown). The dates were Thursday The flight wasn’t too bad, some China Mieville, and hardback The Ill- also have little bowling. The balls are November 1 through Sunday November 4. snacks but no meals. I slept most of the Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton). I about the size of bocce balls, but are The theme was “Je me souviens...”, or “I way. By the time we reached Cincinnati I took a look at the floor map and began to thrown down an alley with small pins. This remember...” which just happens to be the felt better. We were forced to transfer to investigate where Con Office, Art Show, game I sucked at. Hook left, curve right. I tag on the Quebec license plates. Guests another terminal to catch the ComAir flight Dealers Room and Programming were. The tried underhand, backhand, etc. It didn’t of Honour were American author Fred to Montreal. At least they had shuttle Con Office was a small room behind Reg. matter. The only good thing was I was Saberhagen, French-Canadian author Joel busses. When boarding they wouldn’t let To the left was another small room for con playing in a dummy position, so they got Champetier, American artist Donato me carry on my standard carry-on as it was purposes, then farther left was the yet-to- an automatic 100 points per game for me, Giancola and Canadian toastmaster too big to fit overhead. It turns out the open Art Show. I had volunteered to help which was more than I earned. Afterward Charles de Lint. Attendance was around commuter aircraft was smaller than the there, but since they were all done with we joined another friend for dinner at a 540 with maybe 400 on site. typical jets, so I had to check it at the assembly they asked me to come back on Thai restaurant. We headed home for more Some other program participants stairwell. Needless to say I didn’t take that Friday to spell folks for lunch. Farther left computer work and tv. include Susan Allison, Coleen Anderson, well considering our camera was in there was the yet-to-open Dealers Room, then Saturday I got into town late using the Dr. Bob Blackwood, Charles Brown, and our contact info for our friends upon the two main Program rooms. To the right bus and subway again. Art Show didn’t Ginjer Buchanan, Jeanne Cavelos, Suzy arrival in Montreal. At least the laptop fit of Reg was another small room for need me, so I spent some time perusing McKee Charnas, Kathryn Cramer, Ellen under the seat! readings. There were lots of chairs and the small Dealers Room. Art Show was Datlow, Alyx Dellamonica, Stephen R. We arrived in Canada and cleared tables scattered around between all these also small at 42 panels. I didn’t buy Donaldson, David Drake, Jo Fletcher, customs without much hassle. I got to say for conversation. I happened to spot Paul anything since we were touring post-con, Esther Friesner, Marcel Gagne, Sephera hello to Robert Sawyer, Canadian sf writer, Allwood from the UK. He works on the so I just wandered. I caught Robert Giron, Paula Guran, Beth Gwinn, Joe briefly before claiming luggage. Once out Glasgow in ’05 Worldcon bid. We chatted Sawyer at the end of his reading where he Haldeman, Stephen Jones, Graham Joyce, in the foyer I found a pay phone and for awhile when photographer Ctein came made an interesting observation. He said Nancy Kilpatrick, Dr. Paul Levinson, called our friend whom we were going to by to converse. I then went to some that Americans build great monuments, Dennis McKiernan, L. E. Modesitt Jr., stay with. We figured out a place to meet programming before checking out the Art probably the best in the world. He said Yvonne Navarro, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, outside and I planted my family in the Show and Dealers Room before I had to that Canadians wouldn’t build anything Steven Sawicki, Darrel Schweitzer, warmth while I stood in the heated leave. for their prime ministers or much about the Josepha Sherman, Mandy Slater, Michael doorway fighting the rain and cold. After My friends came by the hotel to pick wars they participated in, but Americans Stackpole, S. M. Stirling, Gordon van almost 20 minutes our friend arrived, so we me up and take me to the Canadian Legion do. I found this intriguing. I sat in on more Gelder, Stanley Wiater. Chairs for this loaded up the car and headed to the west for darts. It’s been almost a year since I programming before leaving early for the event were Bruce & Lea Farr from island city of Beaconsfield. For those who played darts, but once on the team and house out west. Phoenix. don’t know Montreal, it is the largest city given details on how to play I quickly After doing the bus/subway again I Thursday programming offered: Broad on an island in the St. Lawrence Seaway made a name for myself. Out of the 4 walked the last mile back from the stop. Universe - Women in SF, Fantasy and (river). As we came to learn, the cities on games played I won the game winning We went out for dinner with our Italian Horror; Alternate Histories (which was the island voted to consolidate into one point twice! All during this I kept an eye friends at a local Italian restaurant. It was quite interesting); Morality and Ethics in metro city known as Montreal with some on the World Series on the wall TV since wonderful food! Next we made plans for Heroic Fiction and various readings. of the city names retained as boroughs. the Arizona Diamondbacks were in their our tour after the con on Sunday. Since we Friday they had: Fantasy Worlds Have They are in the process of doing all this first series. Afterward we got a tour of the were renting a van we had to figure out the Economies, Too; Killing a Character You right now. Once we arrived our friends downtown area, picked up some chicken logistics of how to get it, how to get me, Love; Making a Business Out of Writing; took their children out for Halloween. from Au Coq fast food and ate quickly at etc. We also had to pack before retiring. Intersection Between Fantasy and Then we ate dinner and caught up on their home. My friends also have digital Because I was going to pitch Phoenix for a Contemporary Issues; Editing Fantasy; things. I hadn’t seen them for 13 years, satellite tv, so we got to catch some possible World Fantasy bid for 2003/4/5 I Scientific Akkuracy in Fantasy and originally meeting the wife on a trip to surfing. Finally, I hooked up our laptop needed to make the meeting by 10am. Horror; Horror Archaeology - Humour Europe 21 years ago. They have a nice computer so my wife could get online and Well, I did. My friend’s husband Panel and Household Items. Saturday home, 5000 sf in 3 levels. We got to stay in show our friends some internet stuff dropped me off at the hotel with my sack brought: Religion in Fantasy Literature; the basement where they have three they’ve never done. full of hotel packets. For the pitch I asked E-books - Is There a Napster in Your bedrooms. Friday I decided to take the train into the proposed site, Embassy Suites Phoenix Future?; Tales from the Wonder Zone; After rising my family decided to rest town instead of the bus. I got dropped off North Hotel, for pocket folder with floor World Building; The Research Phase of instead of going downtown with me. I had at the closest train station where I had layouts, etc. I then had to weed through Writing a Book. Sunday had: World some hot tea and toast before checking trouble figuring out how much I had to what they gave me and pare it down to a Fantasy Board Meeting; The Web and with the mass transit folks about where to pay to go to town. I resorted to calling the manageable level. I also had to prepare a Literature and the Stigma Against Self- catch a bus, subway station, etc. My mass transit folks again, got the fare and committee summary, pick a theme and talk Publishing; Canadian Fantasy; 2001 friend’s husband drove me to the bus stop struggled to find the right track. They just about what Phoenix has to offer. Since I World Fantasy Awards and Banquet. and I watched as no one, literally, stopped don’t sign things as well there as here, did all this in my pre-con marathon all I My trip started out on Wednesday at the stop signs nearby. All they did was French or no French. I even had someone had to do was to hand out the packets and with a 24 hour marathon of chores: come to a rolling stop and go on. The bus ask me if we were waiting for the correct summarize the contents. I managed to yardwork, washing, bill paying, etc. By the ride took about 45 minutes to get me to direction. Luckily, we were. The train was make it up to the Hospitality Suite for the time I finished packing I noticed that it was Lionel-Groulx station. From there it was C$4.00 vs C$2.00 for the bus. Each gave first time for a quick drink and snack. The time to get cleaned up and pack the car. only 4 stops to Victoria Station. As I exited me a transfer for the subway. However, I board meeting took place in a small room My family went with me thanks to the low I followed the signs to St. Jacques street was only one station away from the hotel upstairs from the main WFC floor. There airfares to Canada (less than US$300 and spotted a sign for the Delta hotel. when I arrived by train. I found the hotel were about 20 folks there including other each). We dropped the car off outside the After wandering through a rabbit warren again and met an online friend from bidders and interested parties. David airport and caught the shuttle into Phoenix of walkways I opted to dine at a Chinese Compuserve for lunch in the hotel Hartwell, editor for Tor Books, is the Sky Harbor Airport. Although Delta buffet restaurant for lunch. From there I restaurant. The service was slow, but the Chairman of the Board. He started off the Airlines had a long line of folks waiting to wandered into Victoria Square where the food good. Although he lives in Montreal, meeting with queries about who was there check luggage, it moved rapidly and we hotel had an entrance. This took me he couldn’t afford to attend (C$200 at the to bid. Michael Walsh from Baltimore was headed for the gate. The first new thing through the restaurant and around the door, or US$125). He wandered around a there to bid DC for 2003. Another fellow was to have to show our ID to a security lobby. There were escalators going up and bit before leaving. I helped out in Art was there to discuss Albany, NY or guard. Then we had to take our shoes off down, so I had to hunt various floors to Show and managed to avoid any serious another town nearby for 2005. The board and place them on the conveyor belt for find where I needed to be. Ultimately, the faux pas in their political conversations ( Cont’d on page 14 ) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 The Making of a Game” featurette from Monkey Bone Space 1999: Set 1 LucasArts and a DVD-ROM weblink to Brendan Fraser, Chris Kattan, A&E, 312 mins, $31.99 Videophile exclusive Star Wars content Bridget Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Star Wars Episode I: A must for every Star Wars fan. - 20th Century Fox Home Video, 88 mins, This two disc set contains the first 6 The Phantom Menace Stephanie L Bannon VHS $107.99; DVD $26.98 episodes of the classic Gerry Anderson 20th Century, 133 mins; PG, $29.95 sci-fi TV show. Billed as the most Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser) creates expensively produced sci-fi series of its This two-disc set brings us the first Snowed in at the House of Mouse the ultimate crass cartoon time, Space 1999 boasts guest stars such installment in George Lucas’ Star Wars Disney Studios, 65 mins, DVD$29.99, “MonkeyBone”. The cartoon has become as Joan Collins, Christopher Lee and Brian Saga as well as 6 hours of extra features. VHS $22.99 a craze and is about to go national, when Blessed. This DVD set has been Here we learn about the child, Anakin Stu is in a car crash. In the real world Stu is remastered from the original 35 mm and Skywalker, who will someday turn into Disney’s Saturday morning TV show, in a coma, but he wakes into the contain up to 12 minutes of footage Darth Vader. We meet a young Obi-Wan The House of Mouse, joins us in a feature surrealistic realm of Downtown, the land of unseen in the US broadcast. Kenobi (Ewan MacGregor) and his mentor film. Snowed in at The House of Mouse, nightmares. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) as they take Mickey and all his friends; including Pooh, Downtown is a world that is a Anakin (Jake Lloyd) under their tutelage, Piglet, Belle, Snow White, Ariel, Minnie combination of ‘Nightmare Before and the evil Darth Maul who has turned to Mouse and others, pass the time by Christmas’, ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Rocky Horror the Dark Side. Old favorites make showing their favorite holiday home Picture Show’ and a 1950’s freakshow, appearances, most notably C3PO, R2D2 movies in an effort to cheer up a grumpy thrown together. Here Stu finds that his and Yoda, as well as the first appearance cartoon creation Monkeybone lives with of Queen Amadala (Natalie Portman) and the other nightmares. the oh-so annoying Jar-Jar Binks. Monkeybone always wanted to be real Special features include: Commentary and tries, with the help of the head of The first episode sets up the series by George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Downtown, Morphius, to occupy Stu’s premise in which the moon leaves the Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis body in the real world. Stu enlists the help earth’s orbit as well as introducing us to Muren and Scott Squires, exclusive of the Angel of Death (Whoopi Goldberg) Moonbase Alpha and its crew, deleted-scenes documentary features to stop Monkeybone. Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau), seven new sequences completed just for Anybody into the macabre needs to Dr Helena Russell (Barbara Bain), Capt. this DVD release, ( complete Podrace Grid see this very unusual horror/comedy. Not Alan Carter (Nick Tate), Sandra Benes Sequence, Extended Podrace Lap Two, necessarily a classic but a must see for (Zienia Merton), and Prof. Victor Bergman The Waterfall Sequence, The Air Taxi cult horror enthuses. Definitely worth (Barry Morse) Sequence, Dawn Before the Race, renting, possibly worth buying. While this is a must have for any fan Anakin’s Scuffle with Greedo, Farewell to DVD contains extra 18 minutes and a of the series, the series has aged well Jira); “The Beginning: Making Episode I,” Donald Duck. As they finally succeed in Making of that includes interviews, enough to hold the interest of a new an all-new hour-long documentary film cheering up Donald they all join together biographies, an alternate ending and the generation of fans. - Stephanie L Bannon culled from over 600 hours of footage, and sing as they learn that the “Best original trailer. - Barry Bard including an insider’s look at Lucasfilm Christmas of All” is the one you share Tremors and ILM during the production; Multi- with all your friends. Unbreakable Universal, 95 mins, PG-13, $19.99 angle storyboard to animatic to film The House of Mouse format has Touchstone, 107 mins, PG-13, $22.99 segment featuring the Submarine and Mickey owning a club that provides a The camp classic Tremors is a Podrace Lap 1 sequences; Five featurettes setting both for the storyline of the over If you are looking for another Sixth wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Val explore the storyline, design, costumes, all video as well as a venue for unrelated Sense you will be disappointed. That said, McKee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Basset visual effects, and fight sequences; cartoons. It is a nice mix and should do a you will not be disappointed in this film. (Fred Ward) decide to leave the dusty Award-winning twelve-part web good job holding the kid’s interest. Unbreakable brings us the story of Nevada town where they live. Before they documentary series that chronicles the The DVD includes two sing along David Dunn (Bruce Willis),the uninjured can leave they discover that their valley is production; “Duel of the Fates” music songs sure to be a hit with the younger sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. infested with subterranean monsters they video featuring John Williams; Never- crowd as well as the premiere episode of Approached by a mysterious stranger dub “grabboids”. Aided by a variety of before-seen production photo gallery with The House of Mouse TV show. They may (Samuel L Jackson) who believes comic crazy characters they outwit the monsters special caption feature; Theatrical posters be on the VHS version as well but I book superhereos are real David’s life and save their friends. The film includes and print campaign from around the world; couldn’t tell from the on-line write up. - begins to change in many ways, some standout performances by Michael Gross Theatrical teaser and launch trailers, and Stephanie L Bannon good and some frightening. The film and Reba McIntyre as survivalist as well seven TV spots; “Star Wars: Starfighter - builds to a surprise conclusion which was as fast paced dialogue that mixes laughs satisfying even if I did see it coming. with shivers. - Stephanie L Bannon Bruce Willis and director M. Night Shyamalan are a winning combo and I look Tremors 2: After shocks forward to their future collaborations. Universal, 100 mins, PG-13, $22.99 MEDIABURN.NET The DVD contains several extra The E-Zine to write home about features including fully produced extra Tremors 2 takes us to Mexican oilfield scenes, a Behind the Scenes featurette where Earl (Fred Ward) has been hired to with Bruce Willis, a Comic Books and rid the valley of grabboids. Joined by a Superheroes feature with Samuel L new sidekick (Christopher Gatlin) and Jackson, the Train sequence from several aided by Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) angles an excerpt from an early M Night and a beautiful scientist Kate Reilly (Helen Shyamalan film. - Stephanie L Bannon Shaver) Earl battles the grabboids and a new variation of the creatures, saves the group from certain destruction and finds love. Articles, Merchandise, Downloads While not quite as good as it’s predecessor, this sequel stands up well http://www.mediaburn.net enough to be enjoyable. Together they (Cont’d on page 6 ) make an enjoyable Saturday evening’s entertainment. - Stephanie L Bannon Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 7 Shane and Laurie’s want to ride. out that Six Flags had purchased Sea Our next stop was Mean Streak, a World of Ohio and had kept their parking from 0 to 4.3 play with your guts. WOW! Excellent Adventure: Six wooden coaster containing about 1.7 lot and their main gate and had built a You WILL believe that you can fly! million board feet of treated Southern Boardwalk between what was now called Time and flights wait for no man, so Amusement Parks East of yellow pine. The 5,427 feet of track that the Wildlife and the Wild Rides Sections: back to our car and back to Toledo we the Mississippi River and trace an oblong path three times includes We were at the wrong end of the headed. Flying in an airplane just didn’t banked turns, a course that rises up to 161 combined park! have the same appeal. We’d flown in just West of the Atlantic Ocean feet and falls 155 feet through 12 hills and We walked quickly past the short lines about every angle and position through all (Part 3 of 3) valleys, crisscrossing the structure 9 times of the Raging Wolf Bobs, Batman: kinds of weather and speeds you could at speeds up to 65 mph for 2 minutes and Knight Flight, Serial Thriller, past the imagine and made it back to the ground By Shane Shellenbarger 45 seconds. We enjoyed the airtime of OTHER main gate, and got in line at X- safe and sound. What’s left to do? negative gravity and I wish we could have Flight. That’s when we discovered the Park admission prices range from compared it to another wooden coaster, wait was about 2 hours. We had to leave $26.00 to $46.00 for General Admission Heading to Ohio, we found our way to Blue Streak, but it was closed when we for the airport in 4 hours. Should we waste without discounts. Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky got back to that end of the park. half of our ride time in one line or should Roller Coaster sites: on the southern shore of Lake Erie. We Next came our second longest wait in we save this bright and shiny flying http://www.aceonline.org/ were told that on a clear day you could see line at the parks newest coaster, coaster to the end? Laurie and common http://www.aceonline.org/acelinks.htm Canada, but over cast skies prevented us Millennium Force. At 93 mph it’s the sense made their cases and we headed to http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/ from seeing more than about a mile in any fastest, at 6,595 feet of track it’s the the nearest coaster. http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/ direction. longest, at 310 feet it’s the highest, and at Superman Ultimate Escape is a resources/links/ Cedar Point, the self-proclaimed 1 minute 45 seconds it the third shortest unique vertical spiraling coaster that uses http://www.coasterbuzz.com “Worlds Largest Amusement Park,” adult coaster in the park. Yet despite all of a linear induction motor to hurl an inverted http://www.coasterbuzz.com/sites/ contains 14 coasters. The first one we its record setting statistics and $25,000,000 shuttle at 70 mph along 2,700 feet of U- http://www.rcdb.com headed for was Raptor, an inverted price tag, we still enjoyed Magnum XL- shaped track to a height of 180 feet, back http://www.rcdb.com/links.htm outside coaster with 6 inversions, 200 better. through the station to the other end also Amusement Park Secrets: Many parks composed of a zero-gravity roll, a vertical We walked across the way to ride the at a height of 180 feet and then it stops offer a ten percent discount to AAA loop, two inverted corkscrews, and a cobra parks stand-up coaster, Mantis, which and leaves you hanging for the longest 3/ (American Automobile Association) roll that flips passengers over, spirals them seemed to be having a few mechanical 10’s of a second you’ve ever experienced. members and you can often find discounts upside down into a 180-degree roll and problems that were sorted out soon Quite an experience, we rode it two times in brochures available at nearby hotels. repeats the twisting motion in the reverse enough. This coaster sports 3,900 feet of in a row. Fast food restaurants, soft drink order. It was a Wednesday and apparently track moving trains at 60 mph through a The Mind Eraser, a boomerang manufacturers, and credit card companies Senior High School Day for hundreds of dive loop of 103 feet, an inclined loop of 83 coaster was not operating, so we went also sponsor coupons, cans with teenagers. We were in line for about an feet, a 360-degree banked turn, a vertical over to the Serial Thriller, which had now discounts, and provide discounts when hour so we got to witness 10s of teens loop of 119 feet, a 360-degree flat spin, filled with people who had been on X- their credit card is used to purchase being pulled out for line jumping. Cedar with a figure eight finale. The problem for Flight. Serial Thriller is similar to the tickets. Point security officers take the job us is that the shoulder restraints give you Mind Eraser (different than the before We discovered while we went from seriously and their presence on this ride an ear boxing that draws away pleasure as mentioned M.E.) at Six Flags Elitch park-to-park that many of them will allow was much in evidence. Our law-abiding you wince from the pain. It was good for a Gardens in Denver, Colorado. They are you to use an annual pass purchased at a wait was well worth it. Raptor rises to 137 stand-up coaster, about as good as the both inverted coasters that take riders 120 sister park, even if one is an amusement feet and then drops 119 feet, traveling on Riddler’s Revenge. feet up the lift hill, drop them 105 feet at 50 park and the other is a water park. As of 3,790 feet of track at 57 miles per hour, and The Iron Dragon’s problems were due mph through 7 inversions along 2,037 feet this writing, I know this to be true of some carries 32 riders on their 2 minute 16 to the now heavy downpour. The line of track. Serial Thriller is fun, but we Six Flags amusement parks and NOT true second trip for a capacity of 1800 riders wasn’t moving, but the ride didn’t close. again had the ear boxing that drains off the of any Disney parks. I believe this to be per hour. We really flew on this bird of The ride operators kept sending the thrill and leaves you thinking more about true of Busch Gardens, Paramount, and prey. enclosed, suspended trains along the the pain you’ve experienced. possibly of Universal Studios, but I warn Traveling up the midway, we came to 2,800 feet of track until they were satisfied We got in line at Batman Knight you to check with each park prior to the Corkscrew, a coaster that non-riders it was safe. We rode our four-passenger Flight and began to worry that we’d have making your plans. Park policies can can walk beneath as they move along the car up the first of two lift hills to drop 76 to step out of line. Fewer and fewer trains change at any time. midway. Built in 1976, Corkscrew was the feet at 40 miles per hour. Although it looks were coming by and after we’d been in line Most parks open their parking lots an first ride with a 360-degree vertical loop similar to the Ninja at Six Flags Magic for about 20 minutes, the move forward hour or more before the scheduled park and two helical curves along its 2,050 feet Mountain, we didn’t enjoy Iron Dragon stopped. After 10 minutes of no trains opening time. Many will admit annual pass of track. Rising to 85 feet with trains nearly as much. coming by, rider-less cars began to appear holders into a staging area before the traveling at 48 mph, Corkscrew goes The Wildcat wasn’t in operation and and this went on for another 10 minutes general public 30-60 minutes before the through 3 inversions in 2 minutes. We we were so cold and wet that we bypassed before loaded trains again began to park opens. Again, check with each park found this mild in comparison to Raptor. the Blue Streak, made it to our car, drove appear. This is a floorless coaster, where prior to making your plans. It began to rain, so when we came to to our hotel, checked in, and warmed up in you’re strapped into a flying chair, taken Fast Lane, Fast Pass, Express Lane are the Magnum XL-200, the lines were a hot shower. We started thinking about to a height of 161 feet and plunge at 65 all variations on a theme: Bypassing long beginning to thin out. When we first got the next day and our last coaster park. mph along 4,210 feet of track. Batman lines. The basic premise is this: You go to on this coaster, we didn’t quite know what http://www.cedarpoint.com Knight Flight is similar to Medusa at Six a location that dispenses a pass good on to expect. By our third ride in a row we had http://www.cedarfair.com/ Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. one ride at a certain time for a certain the drill down pat: Windbreaker hood Bright and early the next day we Our time was running out. We had to length of time, say Hypersonic: XLC down and toggles tightly tied, sunglasses headed toward Cleveland and the nearby leave soon so we trekked back to the other between 11:00 A.M. and Noon. At the to protect the eyes from rain hitting us at town of Aurora, seeking out Six Flags end of the park, advancing upon X-Flight appointed time you proceed to the special the rides top speed of 72 miles per hour, Worlds of Adventure. Eating a fortifying and our hearts sank: the ride wasn’t line and watch the looks of envy on the huge grins on our faces after an amazing breakfast and getting much needed operating! I snagged a dejected looking faces of those people who had been in line ride! The first hill rises to 205 feet and then directions, we followed the signs, parked passerby and asked what was going on. for two hours as you move past them onto drops the train 195 feet at an angle of 60- the car and walked to the entrance. At 9:30 “They’re having trouble with the change- the ride. The restrictions vary from park to degrees into the first of three tunnels. The a.m. the Main Gate opened and we walked over mechanism that allows them to add a park: One ticket only, one ticket until after second hill rises to 157 feet and the third to the chain which separated us from our second train,” he told us. “It’ll probably be the expired time, one ticket per ride until hill to 80 feet, with the 36 passenger trains goal: X-Flight. This is a new type of down 30-40 minutes.” Laurie and I looked after the expired time. Check with each traveling over 5, 106 feet of track on this coaster in which you are seated backward, at each other and silently decided to go for park for guidelines. astonishing out-and-back coaster. This harnessed in, the seats recline, you are end of the line. 40 minutes later, we were When park hopping, be like the Boy was our favorite ride in Cedar Point. carried up and over the lift hill and then on X-Flight. Scouts: Be Prepared! It will be hot, cold, The parks dual racing coaster, Gemini, the track rolls you over so that you are I can’t convey the anxiety of laying flat dry, wet, and often all on the same day! was closed so we made our way to the now hanging face down! We raced to on your back as you are lifted 115 feet up a Check the weather report, bring along Cedar Creek Mine Ride, a runaway mine where the ride should be, but soon found hill backwards, going over that hill and sunscreen, a hat, a waterproof jacket, and train which was quite a disappointment one fatal flaw in our flight: we were in the plunging head first toward the ground wear comfortable shoes and clothing. after our triple thrilling ride on Magnum wrong park! before you roll over and fly with nothing Most important: Have fun! That’s why XL-200. With only a few spiral turns to I’ll admit I was blinded by my ambition below you and only a harness to attach you’re at an amusement park. recommend it we deem the Cedar Creek to ride X-Flight. Laurie had voiced some you to your car. Through 8 inversions at Mine Ride not worth the trouble unless concerns, but I had brushed them aside in 51 mph along 3,340 feet of track you soar, you’ve ridden everything else that you my anticipation of this new thrill. It turns dip, and glide along while G-forces ranging Page 8 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 kids parents get kidnapped by aliens, he Jane, who has been kidnapped. movie I lost conscious awareness of it 24 Frames (cont’d from page 1 ) must come up with a way to save them. It Rounding out the delayed release being computer generated. I didn’t marvel features the voices of Martin Short and cycle in mid-February is The Queen of the at the technical savvy that made the whole depth.’’ From the reports on preview Patrick Stewart. Damned, based on Ann Rice’s third thing possible, I just sat back and enjoyed screenings of parts of the movies and from Following the success of Fantasia Vampire Lestat novel. Lestat is now played myself. Now that is a remarkable what we’ve seen in the trailers, it looks like 2001 in its IMAX release, Disney is re- by Stewart Townsend who reinvents achievement for Pixar. Jackson has done a good job bringing the releasing their classic movie in an updated himself as a rock star in the current The scenario of monsters being as story to life on the screen. version for IMAX theatres featuring some American music scene. His music awakens afraid of children as children are of Bringing the characters to life will be new and updated animation. the Queen of All Vampires, Akasha, monsters is nothing new, but here it’s Elijah Wood (Frodo), Ian McKellen January sees the release of the much played by the singer Aaliyah (who died taken a step further as monsters land/ (Gandalf), Sean Astin (Samwise), delayed Eddie Murphy comedy Pluto earlier this year), and all of the vampires planet/dimension/whatever is fueled by Christopher Lee (Saruman), Viggo Nash. The movie is set on the moon in must unite against her in order to survive. the power of children’s screams. This isn’t Mortensen (Aragorn), John Rhys-Davies 2087 and Murphy is a nighclub owner who Also starring are Marguerite Moreau, as dark as it seems - remember it’s Disney. (Gimli), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Billy gets in hot water when he doesn’t sell his Claudia Black and Vincent Perez. When a little girl enters into the monster’s Boyd (Peregrin), Dominic Monagham club to the local mob. Lots of hilarious world all heck breaks loose as the two (Merry), Hugo Weaving (Elrond), Sean hijinks as Murphy tries to stop the mob Upcoming Movie Release Dates monsters voiced by John Goodman and Bean (Boromir), Liv Tyler (Arwen), Cate from taking over the whole moon, not just Nov 16 - Harry Potter and the Billy Crystal try to get her home Blanchett (Galadriel), Brad Dourif his nightclub. Also stars Randy Quaid, Sorcerer’s Stone (uncovering treachery and skulduggery (Wormtounge), and Ian Holm (Bilbo). The Pam Grier, and Joe Pantoliano. Nov 21 - Black Knight along the way). The film explores score has been done by veteran composer Also opening in limited release in Nov 28 - The Curse friendship, love and sacrifice in a way that Howard Shore with additional music January is Brotherhood of the Wolf, a Dec 19 - The Fellowship of the Ring children should be able to understand. On having been contributed by singer Enya French film depicting the the true story of Dec 21 - Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius the other hand, the scripting doesn’t have including the songs “May It Be” and the Beast of the Gevaudan that terrorized Jan 1 - Beauty & The Beast (IMAX) a great deal of depth to it, and what the Aniron (Theme for Aragorn and Arwen) France in the mid-1800’s. Desperate to end Jan 11 - Brotherhood of the Wolf adults “get” the children will too, which she sings in Sindarin, one of the growing unrest of the populace, the ( limited) Tolkien’s fictional languages. King sends in a renowned scientist and his Jan 18 - Pluto Nash In addition to the movie trailers that Iroquois blood brother, an unconventional Feb 8 - Rollerball have been released, look for television team whose combined methods and Feb 15 - The Queen of the Damned, specials on SciFi Channel and The FOX capabilities may finally bring the beast Return to Neverland network leading up to the release of the down. Mar 8 - The Time Machine first movie. In early February sees the long Mar 15 - Ice Age Opening in late November is The delayed release of the remake of 2002 - Jason X, Spiderman (May 2), Curse, a low-budget high-energy horror Rollerball. It stars Chris Klein, LL Cool Star Wars Episode II (May 22), comedy about a self-concious single J, Jean Reno, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos Scooby Doo (June 14), woman, Frida Harris, living in New York and Andrew Bryniarski. Advance word Reign of Fire (June) played by Amy Laughlin. She wants to be Sully, Mike and Randall in Monsters Inc on the movie is if you can’t catch it in a more like her vivacious friend Jennifer © Walt Disney Movies free preview screening, don’t bother with (Sara Elena Knight) who has no trouble Monsters Inc Reviews it. meeting men. After Frida has an encounter There’s a cartoon feature called “For Disney will release “Return to with what may have been a werewolf, she The latest from Pixar is a winner! From The Birds” with the film that is a hoot! It Neverland” in February. This animated starts being more agressive with men and the 5’s light comedy style opening credits, well illustrates the principle that “he who sequel has Captain Hook returning to soon her lovers start turning up mutilated. to the heart warming ending, this is an lays a trap for his neighbor, lays a trap for London man years after the events in the Late December sees Jimmy Neutron, engaging and masterful work. Pixar has himself” - Scott Muir original movie intending to kidnap Wendy. Boy Genius, about a smart kid who isn’t gone far beyond the level of technology Peter Pan once again comes to the rescue cool. When his parent’s and all the other displayed in it’s Toy Story series. In fact WARNING: SPOILERS and discovers that it is Wendy’s daughter, it’s so unaffected that during most of the I thought Monsters Inc was a good movie. Some parts of the movie were a little boring. I thought the little girl was the best part. I also liked the little green guy named Mike. I liked the part when the little girl beat up the lizard type monster. I also liked the part where they saved the little girl Boo. But my most favorite part was when Mike put the door back together for his friend. I was sad when they shredded the door. But I think the ending made it all OK. I would see it again. - Hilary LeMaster (age 11) I thought Monsters Inc was a very good movie. It is funny and interesting. It’s about monsters that go through doors and try to scare little kids but, once a kid gets into the monster world trouble stirs up. Then the monsters have to fix it. - Natalie LeMaster (age 9) Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 9 SF Tube Talk( Cont’d from page 1 ) Phlox is composing a letter to another on UPN with soft ratings, at best, and they elements of The X-Files and Roswell with Doctor detailing events he is involved have gotten even worse with The WB’s the Superman mythos seems to have According to Comb’s fan club, he will be with including a possible romance with Smallville proving to be a hit for The WB. drawn the viewers in and kept them there. making a return appearance as Shran later Ensign Cutler, first seen in “Strange New If UPN hadn’t committed to a full season Not all episodes will deal with a Kryptonite in the season. I’d expect to see the World”. In the episode, the Enterprise of 22 episodes of Roswell, it likely would “Freak of the Week”. We’ll have a few Andorians to turn up more often than not investigates a pre_warp planet whose not be around much longer. Special Unit 2 visits to Metropolis, including “Rogue” in the future. In the last new episode, population is suffering from a disease that has done fair, garnering ratings better than where Clark is seen performing a super feat we’ve finally seen a reappearance by the is killing off its inhabitants. Dr. Phlox most UPN dramas of late, but still by an investigator who contacts Lex to Siluban, Silik, who we first saw in the pilot. works to find a cure for the disease while dropping off almost half the audience from find out more about Clark’s recent With the end of November sweeps, the Archer has to deal with the planet’s it’s lead-in Enterprise. The Halloween next new episodes aren’t likely until leaders, who desperately want the secret episode featuring John DeLancie didn’t mid_January. Of those, there’s been little of warp technology. The Andorians (and show any marked improvement nor did the Jeffrey Combs) return in Shadows of Roswell episode with Frakes and P’Jem and in Sleeping Dogs, the Billingsley attempting to draw over the Enterprise encounters a disabled Klingon Trek audience. ship where all of the crew is infected by a Going back to Sunnydale, we’ve seen virus and unconscious except for their Buffy brought back to life and dealing with cook, a very paranoid female Klingon. In her having been taken out of a blissful one of those episodes, when Archer finds place to be brought back to Earth. We’ve out that Malcolm Reed’s birthday is got the trio of warlocks (or whatever they coming up soon, he gets in touch with can be called) causing problems for Buffy Reed’s parents, only to find out they know and there’s also a larger developing Malcolm as well as anyone on the ship storyline with Willow depending more and High school student Clark Kent (Tom Welling) does. Reed and Trip will also be stuck in a more on magic that may lead to dire in the pilot episode of SMALLVILLE. © 2001 The WB John Billingsley as the alien Dr. Phlox in , shuttle together for several days. consequences down the road. Trying to Elsewhere on UPN, the debut of Buffy get much advance info that is accurate for ENTERPRISE © 2001 UPN activities, especially how he has been the Vampire Slayer on the network did either Buffy or Angel has been difficult around many accident scenes in recent very well for the network. Not nearly the with the new season. Look for mostly months. We’ll also see Kelly Brook guest advance info leaked. In Silent Enemy, the ratings of Enterprise, but the series did repeats for both shows until mid-January. star in this and other episodes as Lex Enterprise must deal with a much more better than any other non-Trek drama has Over on The WB, Smallville debuted Luthor’s former girlfriend, Victoria. In powerful ship that is following it as they on UPN and has held up relatively well so very strong and kept almost all of its debut “Craving”, the main plot revolves around try to return to Jupiter to install some more far. The results for Roswell, however, have audience for the following weeks, which is an overweight girl named Jodi and also powerful weapons. In Dear Doctor, Dr. been less than stellar. The series debuted not the norm for any new show. Mixing in ( cont’d on page 11 ) CopperCon Ad 1/2 page Page 10 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 preceded her. The investigation leads to a a personal quest to relocate a mysterious Alliance.” SF Tube Talk (cont’d from page 10 ) features Lex finding out more about the mental hospital inmate who may be place called Valhalla, which his father The movie focuses on a group of strange goings on with the help of a controlling people and seems to know way claimed might hold some hope for the Rangers led by human David Martel discredited Dr. Hamilton. In “Jitters”, a too much about Doggett. “Hellbound” survivors. As Jeremiah falls into a (Dylan Neal) on the Liandra, a ship that Kent family friend who has been working will focus on Agent Reyes as she reluctant partnership with Kurdy, both David was assigned to as punishment as a janitor at LuthorCorp in Metropolis investigates a death of a biker ex-con who explore new areas and encounter other after retreating from a battle in his has come down with an affliction he thinks is found skinned alive after having said he groups of young adults who are divided previous ship when he had no weapons was caused by special corn fertilizer that had dreams about it in a group therapy into rival social groups. In the course of capability and elected to retreat instead of LuthorCorp has been developing. He think session. “4-D” has Reyes, with the help of the season opener, Jeremiah’s smaller die. On the ship is a mixture Rangers of a cure can be found in a secret “Level Skinner, trying to clear herself when a killer personal quest is redirected when he Human, Minbari and other races. Foremost Three” in the Smallville LuthorCorp plant. named Lukesh shoots Doggett and frames discovers a group of highly organized is the Minbari Dulaan (Alex Zahara), who On CBS, Wolf Lake debuted to poor her for the shooting. “Lord of the Flies” survivors who want to enlist him to has been a friend of David’s for several ratings that got worse and led to the series has the team investigating the death of a orchestrate peace among the warring years, the Human Ranger Sarah Cantrell being canceled after airing five episodes. Cap’n Dare on a cable access show where factions and to try and prevent the killer (Myriam Sirois) who is from Mars and is a The other major network semi-genre series, flies come out of the body’s eye sockets. virus from returning. Sarah is in her mid weapons specialist, Human Malcolm “Alias”, has done well for ABC on Scully has to deal with a sleazy 20’s, bright, personable and very Bridges (Dean Marshall) whose Sunday nights, gaining a full season order entomologist and lots and lots of flies. In attractive. Sarah is among those living specialties are covert intelligence and for the series. It’s a good mixture of secret “John Doe”, Doggett awakens in a inside Thunder Mountain, a colony set infiltration, the Minbari healer Firell (Enid- agent/super spy stuff with a contemporary Mexican jail with amnesia and once he is inside what used to be a military Reye Adams), and the Drazi Ranger Tirk setting. It’s very fast paced (sometimes out gets involved with “coyotes” moving compound. Quite small when the Big (Gus Lynch). Also making an appearance too fast) and may not be a major hit, but people across the border. Both Scully and Death hit, Sarah has lived most of her life is Andreas Katsulas, reprising his role of should continue to do well. Reyes travel to Texas to track down inside Thunder Mountain. She currently G’Kar, who brings forth vital information FOX finally debuted The Tick in early Doggett. In the yet titled eighth episode, assists leader David Quijana with to The Rangers about the new alien race. November. At press time, it has yet to air. Scully observes her son controlling the “newcomer integration and orientation” - In the syndication arena, Tribune’s Assuming that it does well enough to stay movements of his mobile with his mind. which is how she meets Jeremiah and Mutant X series debuted to strong on the air, here’s what to expect for the She is contacted by a couple who claim Kurdy, who seek asylum here. Sarah ratings, equaling that of Andromeda to be remaining episodes of the series. Unless their daughter is having the same thing shows Jeremiah around the elaborate at the top of the syndicated ratings heap. the show does very well, it is highly happen to her and that the husband is compound and when the time comes for There’s not a lot of advance info on unlikely it will be picked up for more with the NSA and has learned some the visitors to make their exit, Mutant X to report on, though. The episodes. In “The License”, the Tick information about their children and that commemorates their departure by reading critical response has been lukewarm to the learns that all superheroes are supposed he needs to talk to Mulder about them. aloud Tennyson’s “Ulysses.” Ezekiel, in series, but a lot of actions fans appear to to have a license and inform the Debuting in January are two new his mid 20’s to early 30’s, is a mysterious have taken to it and are tuning in each authorities of their secret identity, of which productions from Babylon 5’s J. Michael character with a haunted but somewhat week. Over on Andromeda, the crew The Tick has neither; and in “Arthur Straczynski. First to air on January 11 on demented quality and wisdom that goes survived their season ending predicament Needs Space”, Arthur meets a high school Showtime will be the start of the series beyond his years. He is a serious thinker with the Magog, but not everything was crush who is impressed by his new Jeremiah followed on January 19th by the with a mysterious purpose and a gritty resolved. Hunt knows that he needs to superhero look, but he can’t get rid of The premiere on SciFi Channel of the Babylon offbeat demeanor. He subtly dogs unite the various races to fight the Tick to spend some time alone with her; 5: Legend of the Rangers TV movie. Jeremiah’s tracks, giving him cryptic approaching Magog world ship and and in “Couples”, The Tick and Arthur Jeremiah is based on Platinum prophecies about his future, while knows that he needs more than just one meet other superhero/sidekick teams Studios’ award-winning graphic novel protecting Jeremiah from mortal danger. Nova Bomb to deal with them. Things including Fiery Blaze (Ron Perlman) and series by Belgian author Hermann Huppen The Babylon 5: Legend of the haven’t been good for some of the crew, Friendly Fire (Patrick Breen). In “Tick Vs and is developed for television by Rangers TV movie is currently only a TV with Harper having to live with dormant Justice”, Tick and Arthur go to court to Straczynski for MGM Television and movie, although if it does well in the Magog eggs and Trance having lost her prove that a supervillain who has eluded Lions Gate Entertainment. The series stars ratings it could continue on as a weekly justice for thirty years is guilty. Tick Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210, Fifth series. Like with the Babylon 5 pilot, doesn’t understand why they can’t just Element) as Jeremiah and Malcolm-Jamal Straczynski has given the movie an beat him to a pulp, instead. In “The Big Warner (Cosby Show, Malcolm & Eddie) individual title of “To Live and Die in Leagues”, Tick and Arthur join The as Kurdy. Also starring are Tricia Helfer Starlight”. According to Straczynski, Legion Of Superheroes and Captain as Jeremiah’s love interest, Sarah, and “Where B5 was a heavy drama with some Liberty and Batmanuel are denied Alex Zahara (B5: Legend of the Rangers, adventure/action elements, this one is a admission, leading to bad feelings Dark Angel & other Vancouver based little more skewed toward adventure with between the two teams. productions) as Ezekiel. There’s been little underlying drama (which is about what The X-Files got off to its latest start information about the actual episodes from you’d expect from the Anla-Shok).” The ever, with its opening two-parter in mid- Straczynski, but he has indicated that movie was written by Straczynski and November immediately followed by a pre- he’s been able to do things with this show directed by popular Babylon 5 director emption over Thanksgiving. It should that he couldn’t with others since it was Mike Vejar. The actors were reportedly continue with mostly new episodes on pay cable which doesn’t have the only signed to a movie with no series through December and January. We’ll see content restrictions of commercial options, so it doesn’t appear that a series some emphasis on Scully’s life dealing television. is a sure thing. The movie is set in 2264 with being a single mother with a possibly From the official MGM press releases after the wars are over and a new age of Lexa Doig of ANDROMEDA exceptional baby. A.D. Kersh will play a we learn some about the series and the space exploration has begun. The © 2001 Tribune Entertainment larger role as well as Skinner and new A.D. main characters: Jeremiah is set in a future Interstellar Alliance has been organized to post-apocalyptic world where, almost a establish and maintain peace among its Brad Follmer. We’ll also see The Lone tail in a subsequent episode. Airing at the decade before, a deadly virus wiped out member worlds, including Earth. Gunmen (and maybe get some reference to tail end of the fall batch of new episodes the world’s adult population sparing only According to Executive Producer Doug the cliffhanger ending to their solo series) will be the much anticipated Into the those who hadn’t reached puberty. Now in Netter, in the movie “the Rangers turn up to help out Doggett, Reyes and Labyrinth, guest starring James Marsters their 20s, the oldest survivors of the encounter a previously unknown alien Scully. Upcoming episodes include as the Nietzschean Charlemagne Bolivar pandemic include Jeremiah and the race whose lethal power is far greater than “Daemonicus”, where Doggett and Reyes while The Andromeda hosts a conference colorful but cynical Kurdy. Jeremiah is on any force previously known to Earth or investigate what may be satanic ritual of allies to the Commonwealth and Harper any other world in the Interstellar killings while Scully teaches a class at the is lured by unknown evil forces. Also FBI academy in which her reputation has (Cont’d on back cover ) Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 11 a fanatic scientist. Kazuki demonstrates *****Black Heaven, Legend of 4: Volume 4 picks up, where the last one ReAmination (cont’d from page 1 ) that he can control one of the huge robots Into the Arena left off with Oji and the new members of and wins a battle for its injured pilot. Of Pioneer, 80 mins, $29.98 Rated 13+ Black Heaven struggling to come together Issue 1), continued in Dual 2 and 3 course, all the other pilots are girls so to as a group as the enemy aliens’ new (reviewed in ConNotations Volume 11 hide the existence of his new star warrior In Black Heaven 1-3 (reveiwed in weapon devastates the armada protecting Issue 2 ) and now concludes in Dual 4 One the commander of the Earth Defense Force ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 1 and 3) we what’s left of the galaxy. Oji is in danger of Vision. The story follows nerdy Kazuki makes Kazuki dress as a girl. learn that hard rock and roll can saves losing everything with his music losing its Yotsuga who has visions of giant robots In Dual 4: One Visions the story is space! We follow Oji, a middle- power and his wife losing her patience! Oji fighting in the city where he lives. Pretty concluded. The barriers between Earth and management drone with a wife who sends out the call for all of the old Black Mitsuki Sanada learns about the visions the parallel world begin to break down in doesn’t understand him, whose only grip Heaven fans because if the Earth is going and takes him to her father, an eccentric the final episodes, threatening to destroy on sanity amidst the drudgery of his life, to be destroyed, then at least he’ll go scientist whose specializes in “dimen- both planets. In order to save both worlds are the memories of his past life as the down playing his guitar! sional physics.” Kazuki’s visions confirms by the elimination of elements unique to amazing guitarist of Black Heaven, a heavy This volume contains episodes 11, 12 the existence of a parallel world—where one of the two Earths, but that means & 13 and features music by John Sykes either the alien technology must be and the Michael Schenker Group. Great destroyed, or Kazuki must die! music, great story, great series... I really If you have watched the first 10 enjoyed this one - Craig L Dyer episodes in volumes 1 thru 3, you won’t want to miss the fourth volume of Dual ***Bastard: Complete Collection which contains episodes 11: Real, 12: Pioneer, 180 mins, $29.98 Rated 16+ Ardent Desire, 13: The World, 14: Final Frontier The story really ends in episode This DVD contains all six episodes of 13, “The World” with the last episode, the Bastard series which is about an evil “Final Frontier,” being sort of a teaser warlock named “Dark Schneider” who has suggesting that a sequel is in the works. If been freed from imprisonment and is bent true I eagerly await the sequel, since this is on world conquest and the resurrection of one of the more enjoyable series I’ve an ancient evil. Unfortunately for him, watched. Rated 13+ for mild language, Dark Schneider has been combined with a sexual humor, and violence, though it is very good kid named Rushe and this Kazuki and Mitsuki are accidentally sent. robot versus robot violence. -Craig L metal band that almost made it. When a makes him something of a hero to the In the parallel world the Earth Defense Dyer beautiful and mysterious woman tells him people of Meta-Rikana” as he protects Force has giant robots that engage in that only his special sound can save the them from his old generals and army. stylized battles against the troops of Rara , universe from an evil alien invasion, the Rated 16+ for its violence this is a magic of performing is restored to him ( cont’d on page 13 ) Blue Planet Books Page 12 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 In Trigun 5: Angel Arms, insurance with the last of the Gung-Ho Guns, territory and the hand of Princess Fuse in ReAmination (cont’d from page 12 ) investigators Meryl and Milly defend a including Legato Bluesummers. There are marriage if he brings Yoshizane the head weird, off-beat series that has just the right pair of homesteaders against an evil land some agonizing decisions to be made, will of Kagetsura. The dog returns later with amounts of humor, fighting and plot. - baron and his hired thugs, the rather Vash be able to save everyone? Can he the head of Kagetsura Anza. Without their Craig L Dyer bizarre Marilyn Nebraska and Friends. In save anyone? leader, the rest of the Anza clan is easily the background a discreet Vash supplies a This is a great series.that provides defeated and the Satomi take over ****Trigun 4: Gun-Ho Guns little covert assistance. something different from the standard Tateyami, where young Yoshinari is Pioneer, 75 mins, $29.98 Rated 13+ In Trigun 6: Project Seeds, Nicholas anime. While it has advanced, out of this installed as lord of the castle. ****Trigun 5: Angel Arms Wolfwood finds Vash living in a two-bit world technology that isn’t the man Pioneer, 75 mins, $29.98 Rated 13+ town, trying to forget the Fifth Moon focus.It is set a[art from the standard ****Trigun 6: Project Seeds incident (Trigun 5 Episode 16). But Vash Anime by its strong plot and character Pioneer, 75 mins, $29.98 Rated 13+ can’t stay hidden for long and : Meryl and development with just the right mix of ****Trigun 7: Puppet Master Milly of the Bernardelli Insurance Society comedy and drama. This is definitely a Pioneer, 75 mins, $29.98 Rated 13+ are reassigned to “Vash duty.” It’s a series that the serious Anime fan will want *****Trigun 8: High Noon DVD (Hyb) happy reunion, but trouble is just around to view and own. - Craig L Dyer Pioneer, 75 mins, $29.98 Rated 13+ the corner as Legato Bluesummers’s plot Trigun DVD Box Set (Volumes 1-8) to destroy Vash keeps advancing. ***** The Legend Of The Dog Warriors: Pioneer, mins, $199.99 Rated 13+ In Trigun 7: Puppet Master, Wolfwood The Hakkenden follows Vash to a Project SEEDS ship that Pioneer, 420 mins, $54.98 , Rated 16+ Trigun is a series filled with action, didn’t crash. The Gung-Ho-Guns follow as adventure, comedy and even some drama well with two purposes- destroy a The three disc collection contains the and romance. It tells the story of Vash the sanctuary for humans, and to inflict as entire story. Stampede, a man who the whole world much pain to Vash as possible. The focus In the feudal Japan of 1457, in the area fears so much that they even call him the of this volume is the character interaction known as Awa, the Anzai clan, backed by Humanoid Typhoon. No matter where that sets this series apart from others and demonic forces, has attacked the Samtomi Vash goes trouble lurks but he doesn’t ends with a moral debate of Vash’s clan. The Samtomi have retreated to their Princess Fuse mourns the death of know why. idealism versus realism. castle where they are slowing starving. Daisuke and Yatsufusa stays close to her In Trigun 4: Gung Ho Guns Vash’s Trigun 8: High Noon brings us the The head of the Samtomi clan, Yoshizane past comes back to haunt him in two side. Though the dog is well treated he final four episodes of this series It builds Samtori, sends his eldest son, Yoshinari, linked episodes that have Legato refuses to eat since Yoshinari has not kept to the climactic confrontation between and young Daisuke to kill Lord Kagetsura Bluesummers and Monev the Gale trying his promises. Finally Fuse insists that the Vash and his vicious twin, Knives as well Anazi, head of the invading Anza, but to murder Vash. He escapes but refuses to promise be kept, even if it is a marriage of as sorting out the fates of all the other they fail. Daisuke apparently dies while the heart only, and she and Yatsufusa kill his would-be assassin. This behavior characters. The gun-toting preacher, Yoshinari returns to the castle to bring the leave the castle for the wilderness. Before puzzles investigators Meryl Stryfe and Nicholas V. Wolfwood has a surprising news to his father. Now the Samtori clan is Milly Thompson and they then discover she leaves, Fuse’s mother gives her a set past and the balance between Milly and faced with certain extinction. In jest, further hints about who Vash is (or was) of prayer beads, on which suddenly Meryl shifts as sorrow gives Milly an Yoshizane Samutomi offers their dog, when they see him without a shirt.... his unexpected strength. Vash also has to deal Yatsufusa, unlimited food, his own upper body is a mass of horrible scars. ( cont’d on page 14 ) MORE HexaCon 12 GAMING BIGGER Arizona’ Largest Gaming Convention SPACE LOCATION July 26-28, 2002 Embassy Suites North, Phoenix We have a new, LARGER site and plan to have all our regular features such as RPGA events, Magic ThG, Chess, Computer Gaming, LARPs, Board Games, Miniatures, the Miniatuer Painting Contest, our popular Used Game Auction, Consuite and Anime plus as many new events as we can think of. If there is something you would like to see at HexaCon please contact us and let us know what it is so we can do our best to bring it to you. Memersership Rates: Location Info SPECIAL EVENTS Contact Info Embassy Suites North $10 at HexaCon 11 2577 W. Greenway Rd; We’ll have special events on HexaCon 12 $15 July 30 - Dec 31, 2001 602-375-1777 Thursday for our pre-registered PO Box 62613 members and a prize drawing from $20 Jan 1 - June 30, 2002 800-527-7715 Phoenix AZ 85083 $25 thereafter and at the door Standard: $74 S/D among those who both pre-register Boardroom Suite $74 S/D/T/Q with the convetion and get a hotel Email: [email protected] Executive Suite $94 S/D/T/Q room. Check our ad in the next Phone: 602-973-2341 Rooms INCLUDE a full breakfast ConNotations for more info Web: www.casfs.org and Happy Hour Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 13 ReAnimation ( cont’d from page 13 ) Fujisawa, finds he has super powers only knows she still lives since his life is ConClusion ( cont’d from page 6 ) so long as he remains sober and Nanami intrinsically limked with hers, is she dies has gained the ability to see through the so will he. The second disc takes up the appear symbols. let DC talk about their facilities, rates, etc. illusions of the Phantom tribe. Meanwhile story four years later as Yakumo finds Pai After a year living together in the Then he got grilled on some of the details. sacred Tomi mountains, Fuse finds out Jinnai allies himself with the evil Queen in Tokyo, but she has no memory of him or I passed out packets to all board members she is carrying Yatsufusa’s offspring. Diva, leader of the Bugrom, who wants to her previous life. present and summarized our bid. They Daisuke, who was not killed, reappears destroy the alliance headed by Princess Fa A group of us watched this the other asked some questions, but overall I was and finds Yatsufusa. He shoots the dog and take over the world. evening and the consensus was that 3x3 well received and had only a few and accidentally hits Fuse as well. As he Makoto, protected by a talking cat Eyes is interesting enough to watch more reasonable questions asked about the cradles Fuse in his arms she tells him her named Matsobo that wraps itself around than once. The action is fast paced and function space use. Since we’ve used it body is possessed by an evil spirit that him like armor, Nanami and Fujisawa set there is humor mixed in with the serious before for World Horror Con 1994 and wishes to destroy the Satomi. She asks off to find the powerful Priestesses of plot twists. Due to the gore and language 1998 about six of them knew all about the him to break the curse on her family and Water, Wind, and Fire, Miz Mistal, Afura this really is one that shouldn’t be viewed hotel. Finally, the fellow from NY talked then kills herself. The eight beads on the Mann, and Shayla-Shayla who are needed by those under 16 and the squeamish about his 2005 inquiry. They also had prayer beads begin to glow and then fly to prepare the Eye Of God to protect the should probably take a pass as well since received a bid by mail since the presenter couldn’t make the meeting due to a family off to the four winds. world. When they awaken the demon Yakumo dies repeatedly amid much gore illness. That one was for Milwaukee or Each bead represents one of the eight Ifurita, Makoto not only finds his power is and blood.. I look forward to others in this the ability to operate the ancient machines series. - Stephanie L Bannon Madison for 2005/6. virtues of Bushido. The unborn dog After some general discussion they warriors are sent to the four corners of or El-Hazard he also discovers that Ifurita is the mysterious being that sent him to El- **** Niea Under 7 Vol. 1: Poor Girl kicked us outside the room to deliberate. I Japan were they are reincarnated, born to chatted with Walsh about his past WFC human mothers and grow to adulthood. Hazard to begin with. Blues (eps 1-4) The story holds the interest with Pioneer, 100 mins, $29.98 , Rated 13+ experience where he ran one before. We follow their lives and adventures as Suddenly, they opened the door and they grow, find each other and finally enough humor mixed in for fun but not so **** Niea Under 7 Vol. 2: Funky Water much it becomes a farce. The cat, Blues (eps 5-7) called us back. We found out that since confront the evil and find their destiny. DC was only bidding for 2003 that they Matsobo, was a particular favorite. The Pioneer, 75 mins, $29.98 , Rated 13+ This is a very stylishly presented got it. They were very interested in extra features run the gamut from previews Anime, filled with symbolism and Phoenix for 2004 since we’re the only of other series to art work previews and an Starving cram student Mayuko’s life interesting scene juxtaposition making it bidder, but they felt that the site was too more reminiscent of foreign films than the explanation of each dimension. consists of many part-time jobs, a small small for 850 people. Thus, we got a typical Anime. You definitely have to pay This is definitely a welcome addition to apartment over a bathhouse, and sleepless tentative nod for 2004 if we can find a more attention or you won’t know what is going our Anime collection. - Stephanie L study nights. As if this wasn’t stressful suitable site. So, it looks like I’ll be going on and at 6 ½ hours this is more than one Bannon enough, Niea, a young 7th class under- to Minneapolis to repitch the bid with a evening of entertainment but over all I alien is living in Mayuko’s closet, building new hotel. Since 2005 wasn’t really highly recommend this one.. - Stephanie L ***** 3x3 Eyes: Collector Edition flying saucers out of trash, eating organized, they deferred that decision for a Bannon Pioneer, 270 mins, $64.98, Rated 16+ Mayuko’s food and being a bum. future meeting. I came out and told a few Trying to draw more customers to the folks before waiting outside for my friend ***** El Hazard: 3x3 Eyes is based on a popular bathhouse the inhabitants try a series of to pick me up. We then swung by the The Magnificent World Boxed Set Japanese comic book series written and strange gimmicks running the gamut from airport, picked up the van, and drove home. After packing it to the rear ceiling Pioneer, 245 mins, $119.98 , Rated 13+ drawn by Yuzo Takada. This two DVD set people eating pants to flaming oil. Along collects all of the animated episodes. the way Mayuko attempts to hide her with our luggage my friend, her kids and Yakumo Fujii, is the son of an poverty and hunger from her schoolmates, mother, my wife and mother-in-law all piled The three disc El Hazard: The in for the jaunt to the eastern province. Magnificent World, compilation archaeologist who devoted his life to Niea is taunted by the other aliens learning the secrets of the Sanjiyan,“ the because she has no antenna, and the We were heading east towards New encompasses the popular 13-part comedy- Brunswick when I listened to the Dbacks adventure broadcast series El Hazard: “immortal ones”, powerful three-eyed caretaker at the bath house becomes demons that possessed the secret of strangely obsesses with fire. win game 7 of the World Series. My wife The Alternative World (Disc 1 & 2) and thought I had gone nuts! We spent that the four-episode El Hazard 2: The Mag- immortality. Yakumo is just trying to scrape by, working nights and going to day and the next driving to Halifax, Nova nificent World (Disc 3) from director Hiroki Scotia. Our hotel there was nice, with a High School in the day. All that changes, Hayashi, the co-creator of Tenchi Muyo pool and breakfast included. It was cold however. when he nearly runs down a and we saw some snow, but we did strange girl named Pai, a 300-year-old manage to tour out to Peggy’s Cove for “adolescent” who is the last of this some tourist activities. Since my family mysterious race of immortals. Carrying a was now sick we didn’t tour much else of letter from his estranged father, Pai begs the province. My friend’s sister lived Yakuma to help her find an ancient nearby, so we socialized with her family supernatural artifact called The Ningen numerous times. On our way back we took (“Statue of Humanity”) which can change the ferry to Prince Edward Island and her into a true human being. drove through Charlottetown to the When Pai’s spirit guide Takuhi Confederation Bridge. This took us back accidentally kills Yakumo, Pai uses the to New Brunswick. We made it back to ancient powers of her people to resurrect While each episode is more or less Montreal on the following Sunday. I Yakumo, who reluctantly agrees to join Pai self-contained there is obviously an cooked dinner as a thank-you for their in her quest. Traveling from Tokyo, to overall story building which presumably hospitality. On Monday we drove the van Hong Kong and Tibet they find continues in further volumes. Between back to the airport, got through customs themselves in the middle of a secret war each episode is a strange interlude with an and our only hassle was having to pay a between occult forces vying for apparently Hindu gentleman which seems separate departure tax before they’d let us go to the gate. The flights back were possession of the powerful artifact and to have nothing to do with anything at uneventful and upon our return we Two high school friends, Makoto Yakumo is thrust into a secret world of all... very strange. grabbed some dinner before plowing into Mizuhara, and Nanami, their enemy Jinnai monsters and sorcery filled with gunfights, These were enjoyable enough but 7 and one of their teachers, Fujisawa, are grotesque monsters and arcane battles. post-vacation chores. I’m only now episodes in a row are probably a little too beginning to get totally caught up. mysteriously transported to the alternate His life, at least, what’s left of it, will never much for one sitting. I look forward to If you have any questions or world of El Hazard. be the same. seeing what the mother ship is doing as Drawn into the conflict between the comments about this review, please call me This set appears to cover 2 separate well as what other strange things these at 480-945-6890 or email me at Alliance and the Bugrom, Makoto but related adventures. The first disc takes characters will do to the bathhouse. Niea [email protected]. Mizuhara helps the Princess Rune of Yakumo and Pai to the apparent Under 7 Vol 3: Sayonara Blues is due out Roshtaria by masquerading as her missing conclusion of her quest to become human sometime in December- Stephanie L sister, Princess Fatora In El-Hazard, but ends with her apparent death. Yakumo Bannon Page 14 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 LeprCon ad 1/2 page series, Sliders. What would you do if the historical figures and his ability to bring http://www.goldengryphon.com/dog- In Our Book hit song you dreamed of writing appeared them to life in the story Scientific frame.html in all of the stores of an alternate time line, Romance about the inspiration of the poor http://www.kevinjanderson.com but it drove the alternate universe “YOU” college student, Herbert Wells under the http://www.kevinjanderson.com/abstracts/ Dogged Persistence to suicide? What would you be willing to tutelage of T.H. Huxley, defender of dogpers.html Kevin J. Anderson Edited by Marty sacrifice in order to save a loved one? Darwinism. http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/ Halpern Anderson was also ahead of the curve Anderson is nothing if he isn’t sciromance.htm Introduction by Kristine Kathryn Rusch with Entropy Ranch, a time travel tale versatile. In this collection of short stories, Earliest story: Final Performance Golden Gryphon Press 2001 published in 1990 before Early Edition or Anderson makes use of plots that cover a Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Dogged Persistence is a bit of a mongrel, Seven Days first showed up on the small great deal of the science fiction landscape: January 1985 but Kevin J. Anderson is no mutt. screen. The premise in this story holds Cloning, memory transference, profiting Most recent story: Prisoner of War The By Shane Shellenbarger that trouble can only be averted within a from alternate time lines, spending eternity Outer Limits: Armageddon Dreams, 2000 ten-hour period and only in the Dallas-Fort alone, ten hour time travel, engineering Sometimes people break out of the immortality, reengineering humanity, Quick Silver pigeonholes to which they are relegated. fictional encounters between historical By Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens Sometimes it’s a success. figures, resurrecting the dead to solve Pocket Star Books., 728 Pages, $6.99 Bo knows football, but he also knows labor shortages, Japanese folktales, a baseball. Sometimes the experiment goes heartbeat stolen to give voice to a special Tie together a super secret accidental awry. Michael Jordan quietly removes his drum, dealing with ghosts in the time of weapons satellite, a cabal of top military baseball cleats and snugs up his Air Shakespeare and Dickens, and forays in to brass from unexpected locations, a naval Jordans. Kevin J. Anderson is best known universes created by Harlan Ellison and midshipman who missed her bus, an for his adaptation of media series such as Frank Herbert. inexperienced non-military president and a X-Files, Star Wars, etc. However, he didn’t Anderson is a bit craftsman and a bit Russia about to be inducted into NATO begin there and while he may not want to chef, taking a dash of suspense, a pinch of and you the elements of an excellent near- be known exclusively as an adaptor of history, blending with the readers future novel of suspense. other writer’s universes, the short stories imagination he serves up a dish with The Day of the induction dawns. Amy contained in Dogged Persistence will not subtle flavors and textures. He dovetails Bethune misses her bus from The Naval go far enough to prove otherwise. facts with his fiction and builds a new Academy to the Pentagon where she and Final Performance tells the tale of a structure on the foundation of what had her Second year classmates are to provide haunted Globe Theatre set in Worth area. If at first they don’t succeed, come before in fantastic literature. His services to the attendees. She ends up en Shakespeare’s time. Ray Bradbury’s they will try again and again. regular readers will be comforted by his route on her Harley. Meanwhile the Sound of Thunder subtly influenced More recent than Shakespeare is the familiarity with the ingredients of history Academy Bus is highjacked, her class- Music Played on the Strings of Time and influence of H.G. Wells’ The War of the and personalities and new readers are mates are killed and replaced by terrorist Tide Pools written in January and Worlds, first in the movie version by likely to be intrigued by the new frontiers lookalikes. Amy arrives separately. The December 1993, respectively. These George Pal and then later when Anderson he explores in this varied collection. While stage is set. stories of alternate time-lines preceded the read and reread the novel by Wells. it may not be varied enough to shake the The trap is sprung. The terrorists made-for-TV movie, Doorways and the TV Anderson demonstrates his knowledge of mantle of adaptor, it’s a start. (Cont’d on page 16 ) Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 15 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 15 ) historical details, and even a bibliography Dracula in London Our hero is a Warlord who was for it at the end of the book. As usual, this Edited by P.N. Elrod enslaved by a powerful Queen when he story is imbued with Crichton’s genuine Ace trade paperback, $14.95, 263 pp was only sixteen and forced to serve as a capture the Pentagon and all of the Brass concern for public health and safety. pleasure slave. (A little titillating already . who are attending the event. The That’s part of his bestselling, mainstream This is a collection of short stories . .) He is purchased at a slave auction by president and his contrarian assistant appeal. His stories work a marginal science about Dracula’s other activities while he the mysterious Gray Lady (gray being 3rd alone escape. The president’s wife and her fiction edge, applying familiar ideas to our was in London besides the one we all are most powerful jewel color) along with a secret Service agent disappear into a safe contemporary world. The stories are more already familiar with. For a true Dracula broken Black Widow, a broken Warlord room somewhere inside the pentagon. believable for the average reader that way. fan, this is a fun collection. Not being one and several children. All know that From here we have the usual But Crichton indulges the Frankenstein anyone purchased by the Gray Lady are impossible demands, the shooting of phobia by catering to a mass audience. never seen again; but she is not all she hostages etc. Gradually the realization Some new technology is introduced and appears to be. The poor man is challenged comes to the President and his associates threatens the world. The problem is to trust the unseen and unknown when it that the terrorists have a second agenda solved by the containment of that becomes apparent that they are pursued they are not expressing. What is it? technology. The world is not changed, by his former owner, the nasty Queen, Meanwhile Amy Bethune and an the status quo is merely upheld. Expect who wishes to dispose of this apparent employee of the top secret National diatribes on the hubris of scientists who rival. It quickly becomes clear that his new Infrastructure Agency are wandering unleash powers man was not meant to Queen and the broken Black Widow are about the Pentagon learning about the have. Expect another movie with each keeping secrets from the men; it is unclear second agenda of the terrorists while Amy book. Aside from that, this book is an if the other male slaves will trust their new builds a collection of her classmates’ interesting and enjoyable read. Maybe owner even though it will mean their lives security badges which she removes from one day Crichton will dare to speculate on if they do not. For our hero, it will mean the bodies of dead terrorists. myself, I cast a rather jaundiced eye. what the future could be like, when some much more than simply his life if he fails Outside the President decides to Nuke Some of these stories attempt a light- new technology improves life. But who’d her. the Pentagon with a deep penetrating self hearted look at Dracula’s social life such want to see a movie about that? - Michael An altogether darkly fascinating trip to sealing bomb to prevent the terrorists from as when he met a brash American who Griffin a very different society. This story is not gaining control of the Quick Silver satellite introduced him to the Prince of Wales in quite as dark and ugly as the trilogy, but if using equipment in a bunker deep under Tanya Huff’s tale. One of the best is Fred Dark Cities Underground this one is not totally unpalatable, I hope the Pentagon.. The Delta Force will Saberhagen’s look at Dracula through the by Lisa Goldstein your tastes are whetted for more. I attempt to rescue the hostages and take eyes of two street urchins. Nigel Bennett Tor Books, $13.95, 252 pp. promise the trilogy will give even more out the enemy while the bomb is in route. and P.N. Elrod wrote a charming little tale insight into this wonderful world. - If they fail... that I can’t describe as it would ruin it for If you only read one book in your life Catherine Book Amy Bethune as the military person you. Roxanne Conrad contributed a very combining children’s literature, coming age and living up to her training trite tale. Judith Proctors’s was also mythology, London’ s and San Time Future while retaining her humanity is wonderful. unmemorable. K.B. Bogen tried for a little Francisco’s underground subway by Maxine McArthur Tom Chase, NIA employee comes to see humor but I think it fell a little short. Julie systems, then you should read this one. It Warner Books, 445pps, $6.99 beyond his narrow anti-military views, but Barrett introduced the Count to Nikola is a delight. The style is as simple and retains a healthy scepticism about the Tesla in a boring little offering. Curtain unaffected as any juvenile fantasy, but Maxine McArthur’s first novel Time military. The President gains experience Call by Gary Braunbeck was, hands down, adult relationships are still dealt with. Future is an interesting political thriller and and broadens his view of the military the best horror in this anthology. Chelsea Jerry Jones is a middle-aged divorcee murder mystery. Her well developed without becoming a sycophant. The chief Quinn Yarbro’s contribution was a bit whose mother made a fortune writing characters, interesting story lines and terrorist, Ranger stands forth as a man disappointing, but, a cut above most of fantasies based on stories he told her as a surprise plot twists make for a well written dedicated to the elimination of the Super the rest simply due to her sophisticated child. Ruth Berry a single mother writing a story. Her protagonist is Halley, the Power status of the United States which style. And, the best of the lot came from biography of Jerry’s mom. They discover beleaguered commander of the deep space he considers a threat to the World as a Jody Lynn Nye, whereby we get a peek at that Jerry’s childhood stories are true, and station Jocasta. Blockaded by hostile whole. the Count’s private life when we watch his that subways have entrances to the creatures, with communication systems The novel is not simplistic. It is well three sisters/wives go shopping. Have mythic underworld. They have to rescue jammed, life support systems failing and plotted and researched. It held my fun. - Catherine Book Ruth’s daughter from the Shadow rations low she must find a way to attention from start to finish. - Gary Swaty Committee, stop the Egyptian god Set from The Invisible Ring navigate the minefield of tension and going on a killing spree, and save the suspicion separating the humans and their Timeline by Anne Bishop world from a diabolical engineer’s mind supposed allies. And Just to make things by Michael Crichton ROC, $6.99, 398 pp control machines. If a few references to more difficulties she must deal with an Ballantine Books, 496 pp., $7.99 sex were deleted from this novel, it could Ms Bishop gained much critical impossible murder just when she least become the first of an American Harry needs another problem. Crichton has finally written a science acclaim with her Black Jewels trilogy, Potterish series (think about it, Lisa) - On How does it all work out? You will fiction story riot set in the present! The which, if you’ve never read, you should. an adult level, it does make some good use have to read the book to find out. Maxine setup: a corporation is doing secret time This story, while set within the same realm, of Jungian theory, on the dangers of McArthur has written a good book and I travel research. A scientist goes missing is a stand-alone story. Chronologically possession by archetypes. Only a few look forward to May 2002 when her next in fourteenth century France and has to be speaking, the story takes place before the other science fiction authors have used book Time Past continues the adventures rescued. The last 300 pages are of events in the trilogy. archetypes explicitly, that I know of. of Commander Halley. I hope you all enjoy historical appeal then, a medieval This realm of witches is unlike Robert Holdstock’s trilogy, Lisa Mason’s anything you may have seen or read her work her work as much as I did. - two cyberpunk novels, and Peter David’s before. These men and women are William B. Whitmore short story I’ve covered in previous possessed of varying degrees of power reviews. The Frenchman Roland C. depending on birthrights and a passing- Kingdom of Cages Wagner does in ‘L’Odyssee de l’Espece.’ of-age ceremony. There is a strict by Sarah Zettel The first one of all may be RA. Lafferty, or hierarchy that is defined by the level of Warner Books, 467pgs, $24.95 perhaps James White’s ‘The Dream power each possesses. It is most Millennium’ from 1974. That rare company fascinating to observe how men and Sarah Zettel is a master of character now has an excellent addition. - Michael women react to each other. The degree of development and interpersonal relations. Griffin violence, more so at darker levels of She is highly imaginative and her views on power, is stronger than anything that is what bioengineering and mind control permissible in our culture. Gentle readers technologies can do in a society under adventure full of thrilling action. There ‘s should beware: there is a great deal of stress are very interesting. Unfortunately a gritty realism here that you just won’t violence and sex; a lot of it isn’t very find in any fantasy novel. Lots of good pretty. ( cont’d on page 17 ) Page 16 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 16 ) this book is the next logical step. The culture (pre-steam engine). This “hitch- illustrations here are gorgeous and the Musty Tomes hiking” is a perpetual problem for the her total lack of any action or adventure book is packed with just about everything The Complete Paratime paratimers but doesn’t usually cause any makes her story so boring that after 146 anyone would want to know about the X- By H. Beam Piper trouble. Most hitchhikers are killed by pages I simply could not force myself to Men. It covers the almost 40 year history Science Fiction Book Club locals for being so strange or spend the finish this book. of the comics and, for the appropriate end of their days in mental institutions, I suppose someone who likes a touchy characters, includes sidebars explaining This collection brings together all the unable to adapt to the changes. Cpl feelly type story might like this book, but I how the movie character differs from the Paratime stories that H. Beam Piper wrote, Morrison, though, is the exception to the cannot recommend it. Dull, boring and comic version. including the Lord Kalvan stories. The rule. He adapts so well, that he eventually totally lacking in action, this book get my This is a book that is both useful as a Lord Kalvan stories were first published in establishes an empire over several petty thumbs down. -William B. Whitmore reference and fascinating enough to sit Analog in the 1960’s, the other stories kingdoms and becomes Lord Kalvan. down and read cover to cover. - Stephanie were written in the 40’s and 50’s. Verkan Vall is sent to investigate and to Ultimate X-Men L Bannon According to the informative introduction determine if Cpl Morrison has divined the by Peter Sanderson by John F. Carr, these stories represent method of his transposition; a possible DK Publishing, 176 pps, $19.95 Second Contact Piper’s lifelong interest in history, danger to the secret of Paratiming. Try it, by J.D. Austin reincarnation and alternate worlds, and the you may like it. - Catherine Book I don’t really remember the X-Men Ace Books, 199pp; $5.99 time theories of J.W.Dunne. comics though I suspect I read some As most readers are well familiar, The Green Millennium during the long lazy summers of my A comedy in the best sense. While alternative world adventures usually by Fritz Leiber childhood. I do remember the movie, which poking fun at the follies of mankind, it postulate a key event in history causing a Olmstead Press/E-Reads, $14.95 awakened my interest in the X-Men and effortlessly slips in comments on how branching of history and creating the good life should be. The planet Kivlan has For cat lovers! A green cat has the a leisure society, because they’ve psychic power to make people happy, and harnessed zero-point energy. They look lots of people want it. Lonely Phil Gish just like us except they have green or blue has to contend with robots, fauns, secret skins. Every 700 years volcanoes erupt aliens, and the feds to rescue his cat. This and pollute the air with fallout that makes people mean. The various nations of Kivlan then go crazy and destroy civilization in a world war. An earth ship makes first contact at this time of volcanoes, and is fired upon to warn it off. So, the ship is refitted with nuclear bombs alternate world. The farther back in and sent back for a second contact, to history at the branching, the more bizarre (Cont’d on back cover) the alternate world is from the familiar. Piper’s template world, is an advanced civilization based on Martian colonization of the earth some 75-100,000 years ago. This particular civilization has the unique 1953 novel is a charming social satire. The discovery/invention of a transposition USA is run by Fun Incorporated and the field that enables them to travel between Federal Bureau of Loyalty. The Korean the alternate worlds. Having depleted War is in its fiftieth year, making the time their own earth of all resources, they use of the story ... right now! - Michael this opportunity to tap resources from Griffin thousands of earths, thus saving their own world but not destroying any other in Damnation Alley the process. They recognize the danger of by Roger Zelazny abuse of the tool, so develop the Paratime Pocket Books/ibooks, $12.00 Police whose primary mission is to guard the secret. As Piper puts its: “Smart A straightforward journey tale from parasites never injure their hosts, and try 1969, with no hidden or deeper meanings. never to reveal their existence.” The setting: a world devastated by nuclear In four of the five Paratime stories, we war. A criminal gets a pardon if he delivers encounter Verkan Vall, a Paratime a serum cross-country. He faces a hostile Policeman whose job it is to investigate landscape of killer storms, tornadoes, abuses of the system. In one story, he murderous gangs, mutated flora and fauna. finds evidence of slave trading between The 1977 movie adaptation is the first of worlds, obviously by someone in control the road warrior genre. - Michael Griffin of a Transposition Field generator; another story deals with the repercussions All In Color For A Dime of a Paratimer who takes his pet Venusian Krause Publications, 272 pp., $14.95 nighthound with him on a mission and The Comic-Book Book then ends up dead from an accident with a Krause Publications, 368 pp., $14.95 primitive automobile and the pet escapes Both edited by Dick Lupoff and Don into the woods. Verkan Vall has to track Thompson down the creature before a local finds it and begins to wonder at the origin of the This 1970 book and its 1973 sequel still beastie. make the best history of super hero comic The second part of the book, Lord books. While reminiscing, each Kalvan of Otherwhen, is my favorite. Lord contributor cites the most important things Kalvan, otherwise known as Cpl. Calvin to know. Authors include Harlan Ellison, Morrison of the Pennsylvania State Police, Ron Goulart, Ted White, and Roy Thomas. is accidently picked up by a transposition These reissues have new introductions, field and deposited in a very primitive illustrations, and indexes. - Michael Griffin Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 17 Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 for annual meeting where board positions are of the game. The Deep Space SolarFlare information. Web www.casfs.org determined. For more information, write PO (DSSF) an active member club in the Club Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285 ; call Mike International Federation of Treker’s C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of Willmoth at (480) 945-6890 or Email: (IFT). This group is based on DS9 (a Listings Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based [email protected] space station). And the IKV Sto-Vo-Kor Reenactment group specializing in the (Independent Klingon Vessel). A (EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check your club western European renaissance. As an org- MIB The Men in Black is the official Klingon Bird of Prey, roaming the desert listing for errors. Please send corrections and anization, it is our goal to promote felow- organization of field operatives for Steve looking for battle. Are the Fed’s too updates to the editor in writing or via email) ship while researching lifestyles and Jackson Games. They attend local soft, looking for combat, feel the call to trades concurrent with the Celtic Peoples conventions to demonstrate and promote glory. This is the ship for you. ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and from 400 BC until 1746 AD. Although most products of Steve Jackson Games. The Membership in the SFCOM is free! To renaissance recreationist club. Sword- members claim Scots, Irish or Welsh an- also schedule demos in local gaming join DSSF or the Sto-Vo-Kor a nominal fighting, arts, banquets, masquerades, cestry and do Celtic re-enactment, it is our stores. If you have a gaming store or fee for the national clubs involved and dances. meets every Wednesday night intent to open participation to anyone with convention that you would like to have uniforms. For further information from 7-10pm at Encanto Park. All are an interest in period crafting and enter- official Steve Jackson Games contact President John Nelson at (602) welcome. Free. For details, call (602)582- tainment, no matter what his/her ethnicity. representation at, please contact the MIB 409-7169 or on the internet at; 6990. The sense of being a real village surround- Arizona Cell Leader at [email protected] or check out our ing Croft is vital to promote a feeling of [email protected]. web site. http://www.thesfcom.com ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A family and fellowship which was a reality collaboration of computer gaming in earlier times. Croft is a family-oriented PAReX is a non-profit, just for fun SFACE (Speculative Fiction And enthusiasts, the Arizona LANbashers and kid-friendly organization. organization dedicated to the proliferation Computer Enthusiasts) Phoenix League throws quarterly LANparty C.R.O.F.T. members can be found demon- of robotics as a hobby. Monthly meetings College’s one and only connection to events. Between parties, support is given strating in events such as the Highland will be held and will be announced under the worlds of speculative fiction, to local groups who wish to advertise their Games, Scarborough Fair, and the Arizona the Meeting Information page, http:// including science fiction, fantasy, and own gatherings. We have no set genre of Renaissance Festival. www.parex.org/meetinfo.htm. All interest- horror as well as table top, live action games and play anything from strategy Web page http://www.crofters.org ed persons are invited to participate. We and internet gaming, SFACE also serves games to first-person shooters to driving/ are currently in the process of getting as a guide through the Internet - both flying simulations. No annual membership THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An organized and becoming an official teaching basic use and utilizing as a is required and admission to an event organization formed for the expression and organization with tax status. Web page: source of speculative fiction. For more ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage for exploration of various cultural themes http://www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John info contact Dr Ray Bromley at current events. Email: including, but not limited to, the Dark Kittelsrud, [email protected] bromley.ray@ a1.pc.maricopa.edu. The [email protected] Web: http:/ Ages and the Renaissance through forms SFACE Web site is found at http:// www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- of art including, but not limited to, THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM www.pc. maricopa.edu/departments/ 9339 painting, drawing, writing, photography, SOCIETY A Phoenix based club interest- studentact/organizations/sface/ spoken word, and acts of characterization. ed in the entire realm of SF, Fantasy and THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a 2) a member of this organization. 3) Infor- Horror film. PFFS has been in existence for SHADOWKEEP BBS Intelligent general sci-fi appreciation group that mation available at www.darkones.org 25 years, meeting every 6 weeks in mem- conver-sation, awesome graphics, meets once a month for discussion of ber’s homes. Dues are $10 per year. stupendous door games, unworldly various sci-fi news regarding several DAYSTAR HOLT Arizona’s first and Membership includes newsletters, an filebank, RPG forums, QWK message mediums to include: television, movies, longest-running Elfquest fan club. Daystar annual film awards and various outings. system and online RPG BBS-moderated video, books, comics, magazines, meets to talk about EQ and related stuff, For information, contact PFFS, P.O. Box games! Our BBS is mainly RPG oriented collecting, and so forth. The meetings are develop characters, publish stories in our 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or call David and we offer many services to GMs and comprised of news, review and comment, ‘zine Playelf and create an annual Storck at (602) 274_7404, e_mail: players. No fees necessary for users BBS/computer news and help, meeting calendar. Other common interests include [email protected]. who post intelligent messages! $5 in new members, video presentations, games, music, belly dance, camping and of course, credits to new users. Over 20 and socializing fun! Food and drinks are SF. Membership is free (18 or over) and is PHOENIX JAPANIMATION SOCIETY conferences and 10 doors to choose provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per attained by group vote after you attend Local chapter of Japanimation/general from! Shadowkeep BBS - PCBoard 15.2/ meeting) to compensate the host. (No two meetings or holt-related get-togethers. animation oriented fans - meets monthly. M - US Robotics 28.8 Modem. Phoenix, other fees are involved.) The electronic Meetings are usually the first Saturday of Membership is free, though optional AZ (602)245-0919; Connect at 2400- home of the Away Team, is the Lightspeed each month; for more info, call Tom or monthly newsletter is $5/year or $.50 per 28800 Space Station BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Janice at (602) 581-2258. They have a month. Call Tom Perry at (602) 996-2196 or Member ages for the group range from 13- website up at http://members.home.net/ write 3241 E. Altadena, Phoenix, AZ 85028. THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE 40-something with both male and female jeanderson/daystarholt.html ANACHRONISM The kingdom of members. Other activities include null- RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A Atenveldt doth lie in the state of modem link gamefests, group theater THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of Arizona. Within the fair kingdom can be movie viewings, convention trips and STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and the ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is found six Baronies: Atenveldt, Mons more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, low- Steel specializes in the general recreation dedicated to the game Werewolf: The Tonitrus, Twin Moons, SunDragon, Tir structure environment. NO RUBBER EARS of the culture of the Middle Ages Apocalypse by White Wolf publishing. Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For more ALLOWED!! For questions, you can call including all of the Art Forms, Events Contact Mike McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 information on any of these or for the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; (Feasts, Tournaments, Ceremonies and or write 1730 W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa general information on thy past 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ Wars) and Combat Arts covering the years AZ85202-3144 or email to tomorrows thou mayest contact 85716 of 800AD up to 1650AD and any location [email protected] Mistress Myrddina o Dolwyddelan within Europe or its explored territories. (Terry Schwartz) PO Box 584, Sonoita BASFA Baja Arizona Science Fiction For more information contact Bart Smith RAW GAMES (Role-players & AZ 85637 (520)455-5835 Email: Association, a non-profit organization. (Phoenix) (602)937-6995 or Leonard Bird Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & [email protected] www.atenveldt.org Puts on TusCon Convention annually. (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley's oldest role- Webpage: http://home.earthlink.net/~basfa playing and wargaming club. Currently THE SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S Email: [email protected] THE JEDI KNIGHTS Meetings are the 3rd meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix GUILD The Southwest Costumers Guild Sunday of each month. For more every Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except is a loose organization of persons CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE information call Carol Alves, Publicity, during conventions and other special interested in all facets of historical, FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Knights, c/o Jim events). Open to new members - call (602) cultural, science fiction, fantasy, and non-profit corporation that puts on Lowerre, 12291 Meade Street, Garden 849-9515. WWW.rawgames.org humor costume. Members are often CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, Grove, CA 92841-3629 seen on stage and behind the scenes at HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and SCIENCE FICTION CONTINUUM most local and regional Science Fiction publishes Con-Notations. Best described LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix The Science Fiction Continuum: An Convention masquerades. They meet as SF/F generalists with a strong bent area corporations that put on yearly Independent Star Trek and Sci-Fi club in on the last Sun-day of each month at towards literary SF/F. Guests welcome - conventions. Best described as SF/F Phoenix, AZ. The SFCOM is an active club various members’ homes in the greater meets at 8pm on the last Friday of each generalists with a main thrust into SF/F art. that participates in Local Phoenix, and phoenix area. For details. Southwest month in January thru September and the Guests are welcome. The meetings are Southwestern Star Trek and Sci-Fi Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, second Friday in October, November and quarterly on the second Saturday of conventions and movies. The SFCOM has Phoenix, AZ 85609 or call Randall December at JB’s Restaurant, 2560 W. February, May, August & November three different divisions. The SFCOM Whitlock at (602)995-7514, email: Indian School in Phoenix, AZ. Write PO unless otherwise notified. August is the itself, a free group where fun is the name Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or call ( cont’d on page 19 ) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6 commissioned as the USS Stormbringer Peter David, Music Guests: Jeff & Maya Club Listings ( Cont’d from page 18 ) NCC-74213, attached to Division 31, [email protected] or Website: http:// Kaatherine Bohnhoff, Memberships: $25 Starfleet Covert Operations, on 10/31/98. members.aol.com/souwesgld/guilg.html until 8/31/01, $30 until 1/31/02, $35 until 5/ As of 11/29/98 there were 32 members. 05/02, $40 at the door. Kids 9-12 1/2 price There are no dues other than the $15 for SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space (kids 6 & under free with adult admission) joining Starfleet Intl.. Members are Access Society’s sole purpose is to Hotel: Embassy Suites Phoenix North, 2577 scattered world wide but the primary promote radically cheaper access to space, W. Greenway Rd. (602) 375-1777 or 800- clusters are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. ASAP. We think it’s possible within ten 527-7715, Rates: $79 S/D, $89 T, $99 Q Info: They don’t meet on a regular basis since years, with a little luck and a lot of hard LepreCon 28, PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ they are a correspondence chapter. Their work. Join us and help us make it happen! 85285 Phone: (480) 945-6890 ; Email: web site is: http://www.geocities.com/ SAS membership is $30 for one year, [email protected] Area51/Vault/9505/ and their contact/CO is which gets you emailed Space Access Capt. Dave Pitts, [email protected]. Web: www.leprecon.org/lep28 Updates the instant they pass final edit, plus discounts on our annual conference Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We WesterCon 55: Conagerie (Los Angeles, on the technology, politics, and business maintain a mailing list for news and get- CA) July 4-7, 2002 Los Angeles Airport of radically cheaper space transportation, togethers of fans of the X-Files living in Radisson Hotel, Los Angeles, CA featuring leading players in the field. Arizona. We get together in both the Author Goh: Harry Turtledove, Editor: Email us at: Space.Access@Space- Phoenix and Tucson areas. To subscribe, Beth Meachem, Fan: Robert Lichtman, Access.org Web page: www.space- send an empty message to z-philes- Artist: Ross Chamberlain access.org/ [email protected] Memb: $60 through Feb 28, 2002 Info: WesterCon 55, c/o SCIFI, Inc., PO Box STARBASE TUCSON Tucson Arizona UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A based Star Trek club. For info call Geof 8442, Van Nuys, CA 91409 Web: Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi Wood at (520) 746-1822 or write Starbase www.westercon.org/55 fan club. We are a social club that meets Tucson ; 3314 E. Benson Hwy ; Tucson every two weeks at various locations AZ 85706. Email:[email protected] HexaCon 12 (Phoenix, AZ) July 26-28, around the Phoenix area. The UFP has 2002 Embassy Suites North Phoenix. been meeting for over 20 years of TARDIS TARDIS is a Phoenix-based Arizona’s Largest Annual Gaming continuous activity. Dues are $10/per year General SF/Fantasy Fan Club, specializing Convention Memberships: $15 July 30 - prorated when you join; no restrictions. in International media SF/Fantasy since Dec 31, 2001; $20 Jan 1 - June 30, 2002; $25 Membership includes membership roster 1983. TARDIS meets every two weeks at at the door. Special Thursday night events and monthly newsletter. Come to any two different locations around the valley. for pre-registered members only. Location meetings at no obligation. For information, Activities include watching videos, Info: Embassy Suites North, 2577 W. write the UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, discussions, parties, fund-raisers, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) 242- Greenway Rd; 602-375-1777 or 800-527- auctions, games, camping trips and 9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org or 7715 Rates: Standard: $74 S/D; Boardroom outings. We also maintain an active Email to [email protected] Suite $74 S/D/T/Q; Executive Suite $94 S/ presence at local conventions. TARDIS D/T/Q Rooms INCLUDE a full breakfast publishes a monthly inform-ative UNITED WHOVIANS OF TUCSON and Happy Hour. Info: Hexacon 12, PO newsletter, The Index File, with a national A well-informed and very active Dr. Who Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082 Phone: circulation which is included with club. $15 yearly membership includes four (602) 973-2341; Email:[email protected] membership. Annual membership is just issues of their fanzine - TARDIS Time Lore $12.50. You can contact us at P.O. Box - written by semi-pros and other dedicated San Diego ComicCon International (San 63191, Phoenix, AZ 85082-3191, Voice Mail fans. For more information, contact The Diego, CA.) Aug 1-4, 2002 San Diego at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- United Whovians of Tucson at P. O. Box [email protected] or visit http:// Convention Center, San Diego, CA. 13541, Tucson, AZ 85732-3541. Also, you Guests: Lots & Lots including Craig www.primenet.com/~jgeorge/tardis.html TusCon 29 (Tucson, AZ) November 8-10, can contact the president at McCraken (Powerpuff Girls), Peter David, 2002 at the really spiffy InnSuites. GoH: [email protected] or the UWOT Bob Oskener, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the TBA; AGoH: TBA. Events include: Meet webmaster at [email protected] (Love & Rockets) Info: Comic_Con, PO series’ production companies and the the Authors and Artists, Panels, Readings, Web page at: http://www.azstarnet.com/ Box 128458, San Diego, CA 92112_8458. USA Network! It is THE information Video Room, Dealers Room, Art Show, ~hgadlng/uwotclub.htm Phone: (619) 491_2475, Email: conduit between the fans and the series! Game Room, LAN Computer Gaming, [email protected] Fan club membership will bring you the Masqerade, Adult Masquerade, and following 1) subscription to the info filled Convention ConSuite. Memb: $30 for now, $45 at the CopperCon 22, (Phoenix, AZ) Sept 6-8, Tek Informer newsletter; 2) official TekWar door. kids 6-12 half price. InnSuites, 475 N Fan Club membership card and kit. 2002 Author GoH: Barbara Hambly; Listings Granada Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701 (near Membership is by regular mail only and Media GoH: Mojo; Location: Embassy I-10 and St Mary’s Road) (520) 622-3000. the newsletter and materials will not be LosCon 28 (Burbank CA) November Suites North, 2577 W. Greenway Rd; Room rates include a real breakfast! Info: reproduced electronically. To join the 23_25, 2001 Burbank Airport Hilton, Phoenix AZ; 602-375-1777 or 800-527-7715 TusCon 29, PO Box 26822, Tucson, AZ action and initiate your annual Burbank, CA Guests: Author Goh: Patricia Info: CopperCon 22, PO Box 62613, 85726. Webpage: http:// membership, make check or money order C. Wrede, Artist Goh: Chris Butler, Fan Phoenix, AZ 85082, [email protected] or home.earthlink.net/~basfa Email: out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan Club Guest: Lynn Gold. Memb: $45 at the door. www.casfs.org (Membership section), 2522 N Sparkman Info: LosCon c/o LASFS, 11513 Burbank [email protected] Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91609 Email: [email protected] http:// T.H.E.M. T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction www.loscon.org/loscon/28/ Generic Convention Regestration Form and fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the Arizona State University The Thirteenth Floor of Gallifrey One campus, with dates and places to be (Los Angeles, CA) Feb 15-18, 2002 The Name:______announced after the semester starts. For Airtel Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, CA more information, contact Erik Wennstrom, Guests: Nicola Bryant, Carole Ann Ford, Badge Name:______email: [email protected] Phone: 480-968- Frazer Hines Memb: $35 thru 8/31/01, $40 5257.To subscribe to our listserve, send a Address:______thru 11/30/01, $45 thru message to [email protected]. 1/31/02 and $50 at the door. Info: Gallifrey City/State/ZIP:______TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Conventions, Post Office Box 3021, North Phone:______Email:______Address is [email protected] or Hollywood, CA 91609 [email protected]. Email: [email protected] Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for Web: www.gallifreyone.com USS STORMBRINGER The Storm- ______convention. bringer is a correspondence Star Trek fan LepreCon 28, (Phoenix, AZ), May 17-19, (See calendar for mailing address) club chapter of Starfleet, Intl. based out of 2002, Embassy Suites Phoenix North, More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other Tucson AZ. The chapter was Artist Guest: Monte Moore, Author GoH: Volume 11 Issue 6 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book (cont’d from page 17) the recipient of extended life via an ancient Druidic ritual. cousin Righdonn, a ascertain if Kivlan is an aggressive threat _really_ experienced mercenary, cousin to earth. Meanwhile, fallout-crazed Kivlan Trystan with an obsession for vampires.... generals are plotting a military coup. and then we have Merlin, who runs the Your Full Page These serious issues are dealt with as a local bank. Toss in some science, magic, light comedy, and it works. secret ceremonies, tabloid reporters and Traditional elements of comedy are you have a wonderful mystery with a included in the mix. Will the starship delightful cast of characters. captain marry the female president of the I read this cover to cover in one sitting Ad could be USA? Will his second in command, a and then went out and bought my own Frenchwoman, marry a Kivlan president? I copy so I could read it again.. I can only detect a new trend as well. Set in the near hope this is the beginning of a series since future, the story starts off as a satire on I long to know more about these people political correctness. This is the third and their lives. - Stephanie L Bannon appearing here science fiction book I’ve gotten to review that takes this tone, but it finally settles down into the story. The sex and swearing Batman Sticker Book and violence are so minimal that it’s a tale DK Publishing, 16 pps, $6.95 suitable for all ages. Hats off the J.D. This book is aimed at the Batman fan for only $150 Austin. Just thinking about this story makes me smiles. Gladly - Michael Griffin in the 5-8 age group. There are 60 stickers and captions on the pages guide the kids Batman: The Ultimate Guide into selecting the correct sticker for that To The Dark Knight caption. Also include are several pages by Scott Beatty that are backgrounds on which one can They are also looking to do a spin-off although it could suffer from the same DK Publishing, 128 pages, $19.95 create one’s own story using the stickers series tentatively titled Stargate: Atlantis. problems as Invisible Man since it also provided. A good addition to any SciFi has also announced that it has films in San Diego with the same collection or a fun afternoon for the kids. - This is a beautifully illustrated book renewed Farscape for two more seasons. production company. The Outer Limits Stephanie L Bannon chock full of all sorts of details, sure to However, it is holding back the final four does not appear to be continuing, thrill any Batman fan. There is biographical episodes of Farscape’s third season until although that could change or a spin-off information on Batman, his alter-ego Bruce March or April, instead of airing them in series could be commissioned. The Wayne, Alfred, the various Robins as well SF Tube Talk (cont’d from page 11 ) January. This will allow them to start the producers of Lexx have indicated that the as the other notables in the Batman series fourth season in June at the same current series would be its last, so it’s not airing will be Home Fires, where a stranger universe (Catwoman, Commissioner time as Stargate SG-1 debuts on the likely to continue to a fifth series. SciFi Gordon and others). Also include are with a message from Dylan’s long-dead channel and likely allow them to do much does have series in development based on sections detailing Wayne Manor, the fiancée arrives onboard Andromeda, more promotion for both series. Studios Riverworld and Anonymous Rex, but origins of Gotham City and Arkham leading the crew on a diplomatic mission. USA has indicated that The Invisible Man there’s been little news on those possible Asylum. The illustrations include Following the holiday repeat run in mid- wonderful drawings detailing the Batcave, January should be “The Prince”, where Batman’s utility belt, the Batmobile and Dylan and Tyr become co-regents to a more. This is an indispensable guide for young Prince after his father dies. the hard-core fan and yet the casual fan According to Keith Hamilton Cobb, the will also find much tp interest and amaze episode is “one of the strongest of the them. - Stephanie L Bannon season thus far. It’s rife with politics and intrigue, which, as we know, is sort of the Murder For Beltene Nietzschean’s stomping ground. And so by Sandra Brewer there is room for character exploration and Write Way Publishing, 309 pps, $18.99 development.” Following that should be “Bunker Hill”, where the crew makes a I stumbled across this novel in the visit to Earth, “In Heaven There Now are mystery section of the library but I believe the premise will appeal as much to fantasy Three”, and “Lava and Rockets” for readers as it does to mystery fans, being which no episode info has been leaked. both I found this book delightful. One of the upcoming episodes will feature Lexa Doig playing five different incarnations of Andromeda during the episode, the most she’s had to do so far. Later in the season we may see Virginia Hey (Zhaan on Farscape) turn up in a guest star role. She has auditioned for the show a couple of times and the producers have indicated they’d like to create a SG_1 team member Daniel (played by Micahel Shanks) uses the dialer to plot a course back home character specifically for her. © 1999 ShowtimeNetworks Inc As a follow-up to SciFi’s announce- ment that they have picked up Stargate will not continue for a third season, series. By January, SciFi will need to have Rhiannon Beltene writes vampire SG-1 for it’s sixth season comes word that despite good ratings both on SciFi and in made some more commitments to series in novels. On a late night outting for ice Michael Shanks (Daniel) will not be syndication. Reports are that the show order to have them available by mid- cream she finds a bloodless body, and returning to the series for the sixth season was just too expensive to make in San summer to air along with Farscape and then the next night there is a second body and will depart by the end of the fifth Diego and the studio would rather end it Stargate SG-1. and so on. This, I grant, is fairly season currently airing on Showtime. The than try to continue it on a lower budget. More schedule information, news and straightforward mystery territory but then producers are planning a theatrical movie There’s been no official word from SciFi on links, visit the Magrathea/SFTV Pages at we learn more about Rhiannon’s family: to follow the sixth season and are planning starting with Grandmamma who fought the their other first run series. The Chronicle www.sftv.org on bringing Daniel back for the movie. Romans in the first century and became has done well and will likely get renewed, Page 20 ConNotations Volume 11 Issue 6