The Drink Tank Issue 178

That’s Me Up There, you know? The cover this issue is from the Lie. Technicolor Fandom opens raucous Dada Bid Parties. Technicolor my favourite artist, Selina Phanara! itself to all Fen. Technicolor Fandom Fandom will churn out Writing in She’s awesome and I’m always is for Fen who enjoy Books, Film, Print and on Webzines and on Blogs glad to have her work. The photo Television, Zines, Conventions, and over the Listservs and Forums. of the Big Blue Bear and the clos- Costuming, Gaming, Filk, Anime, Technicolor Fandom will organize big ing shot of the zine are from Lorena Blogs, wacky invented Religions, and little Cons. Technicolor Fandom Haldeman (who you can find at Podcasts, Conrunning, Sex, Art, will have a screaming Lot of Fun. www.snarkland.com/index.php.) short Stories, Listservs, Mysticism, Technicolor Fandom will invite all to I am back from Denver and artificial Languages, Comics, join in its Revelry. fandom is rushing through my radical sociopolitical Ideologies, If you are reading this, you are veins. This issue of The Drink Tank, Correspondence, Dada, high invited to join Technicolor Fandom. the zine that lost to No Award in Technology, and/or Fandom Itself, the Hugo voting for the second year in their myriad Variations, and who Editor’s Note: While I am fairly running, will be full of different wish to communicate with other Fen certain that Warren did not mean stuffs that you might not expect about any of these Things, particularly Mammals when he was listing the to go together. There’s going to be those Aspects which are stfnal, first kind of Member, I’m also fairly James Bacon and the Drink Tank fantastic, horrific, and/or speculative. certain that Mammals are cooler debut of Warren Buff...with a call to Technicolor Fandom makes no than Members, and thus, it is!!! arms!!! Demand that its Members enjoy any All Technicolor Fandom Mam- The Technicolor Fandom Manifesto specific Portion of its Scope, only that mals Unite!!! they acknowledge that these are things Fandom has been sold a Lie, and Fen enjoy. that Lie is that Fandom is graying. The There will be two Kinds of Elders of Fandom wiped their collective Members in Technicolor Fandom: Brow, and turning to sit, noticed that Mammals (who are not yet 40) and there were no Hordes of young Fen Honorary Members (who are). The rushing in to replace them. And they only Thing necessary to be a Member said to one another, “What has befallen in Technicolor Fandom is to say us, that there are no young Fen to take that you are. No one will be turned up all of our Projects and continue away. Someone who is a Member them unto Eternity?” And indeed, the of Technicolor Fandom might be a young Fen were not collecting Pulps Jerk, but if he does so, it is not under and learning Esperanto and extolling the brilliant Banner of Technicolor the Virtues of Technocracy and Fandom. While Members might voice cranking Mimeographs. But the young Opinions, they are not the Opinions of Fen were still Fen, and were still active. Technicolor Fandom. Technicolor Fandom rejects Technicolor Fandom will throw the Germans were obviously the was allowed to be somewhat confused at bad guys and had to lose, but my an early stage in the spirit of enjoying fascination with the world of ‘what a game, although knowing the facts if’ and love of history and of course was essential. So it’s no real surprise, I my desire not to lose all encouraged suppose that years later I found myself a curious mind to ponder how playing alternative history computer battles lost could have been won. Of games, where outcomes might be a little course, it was all academic, marbles, bit out of synch with how the world really strange mathematical weapon is. calculations and fi sts would often I suppose my love of SF, history, result in the winner. It got better military and mischief would inevitably when dad introduced us to Monty point at such an interest being refl ective of my inner personality. Again Father I was a little late in letting one of the and Rommell, both in plastic as part of The Afrika Corps and Eight Army sets, was at fault as we hit the technological best writers out there today, James age. He was always a bit ahead of the Bacon, know about the Games issue. as there was something honourable about Rommel that set him aside from The game but not cutting edge. He waited Luckily he sent me a fi ne article that before we got a video machine, but it was I’m running right now! Nazis and Monty was a real character. The imagination would run riot, and trips VHS not Betamax, even though we were It must be my Dad’s fault. the fi rst on the road to have one. That would be the Freudian to Duxford, Lambeth and Hendon would create further fascination as we saw the When it came to computers, thing to say, wouldn’t it? Although not he watched the Atari machines and so sure about Freud really. A cocaine machinery for real. While comics and books leant adventure and facts to the Spectrums and it was at Christmas user, with psychosomatic disorders, an that we got a Commodore 64 and it Oedipus complex and who may have whole thing. I remember the Airfi x German was awesome. We loved it. I remember shagged his wife’s sister. Looking in the vividly playing such apocalyptic games mirror working out what was wrong with paratroopers being my favourite himself. Perhaps not. set, spending hours painting them, I blame the eels. and the British Comando with a Anyhow games. So when we knife on one hand and sten in the were very young I remember my father other, or the set where you could buying myself and my younger brother make mortars, and then to confuse a set of soldiers each as part of our matters, we would have 1/76 model Easter festivities. These would have airplanes and die cast metal tanks been made by the British toy company to add to the mayhem, let alone the Matchbox. These soldiers were 1/32nd modern Iranian Embassy styled SAS scale and one got about 15 per box. I set that Airfi x brought out. got German Infantry and Andrew got So my version of History British Infantry. And so it started. Now SF association and many 2004. But my gaming machines were of these dudes had a always secondary really. I had found they computer of one make used a lot of time. So I would get a game or another. Mick was an and play it till it was done and then leave Amiga man. He had one, games for a while. it rocked. Jonathon and The games that have really Robert also had Amigas, captured my attention in the last few although Robert also had years would have to be ones that play a PC. This would have with History a little bit. been maybe 1991. It was a Return to Castle Wolfenstein great party and Mick had was one I came to late, I hadn’t seen the computer set up as the Wolfenstein 3D before and by the time focal point, on came Lotus first person shooters were being played racing, Jaguar racing and by my mates, it was Doom that was as Raid Over Moscow, a WWII strategy other very serious car games. I sat down the game to play. So Return was a good game set in North Africa that I can’t and played and loved it, I hadn’t played jumping on point. A first person shooter, remember the name of, where you were like that for a while. that relies on a team element, I loved this the 8th army and played against Rommell It was on later visits that Mick game. The SS Paranormal Division and at times you were in a tank or showed me more games and we would just conjures up a mixture of horrors shooting planes down with AA, and then play for hours and eventually he showed and hideousness, which gunning down back to the map of strategy. There were me Dune 2 when it came out, although a variety of soldiers, from Waffen SS loads of airplane games, Ace and Battle not the first type of real time look down to Paratroopers to the undead and the of Britain being favourites. Ace Combat strategy, it was definitely the most quite perverse genetically engineered was pretty neat, an Invasion of the US important and a forerunner of Command Übersoldate made easy. I liked the FG42, is in progress, Florida, Georgia , Atlanta and Conquer and Warcraft and one can but the Tommy Gun in the hands of are under attack, and South Carolina see the pedigree. this G.I. was a killer. The game altered is being over flown by enemy fighters. The brother had a Nintendo, and from reality with the introduction of Tanks ships, planes, and refuelling and apart from the occasional game of the the paranormal element, which did give strategy. It was a great simulator. likes of UN Squadron, based on the quite some room to manoeuvre with Then other things of course got in Manga Area 88, I wasn’t that bothered. enemies. There were also issues with the way and after a few years, and the The play station opened up a few doors the game being released in Germany, so C 64 bit the dust. This was OK, as my to me, but that was later, and by then I although all players knew it was set in computer quotient was made up by my was well on the road to PC’s having first Nazi Germany, the swastikas removed good mate Mick O’Connor. I remember been loaned a 386 by James Shields for and subtle changes were made, to get it when he first moved to Marino, he had email and writing, I then got my own PC through to the Germans. The castle was a big house warming party. Now by in 1999 and that was that. based somewhat on Schloss Adler, and if this stage I was on the fringes of the Although I did get an Xbox in you don’t know, that’s a ficticous castle Union becoming a one to show it to me. This was a really dominant power well imagined, researched and quite and eventually complex world. Set in 1937, America is a invading Western very different country, prohibition, The Europe. By Red Great War, and The Great Depression Alert 2 the Soviet have led to a split of the states, first with Union was invading California seceding from and quickly the US. If there are followed by others, which reform on anything nearly as interesting grounds, giving us states such bad as the Nazis as The Nation of Hollywood, Pacifica, it commies, so this The Kingdom of Hawaii, Free Colorado, was brilliant stuff. The Empire State, Confederation of Looking down upon Dixie, The Republic of Texas and Navajo maps, controlling territory. Don’t even the state names just resources and conjure an image. buildings, factories, Air travel and transport is the as well as soldiers way of this new world, with Airships and machinery providing the heavy freight transport and the occasional between these nations. Piracy of the air, from a famous book and movie, just think special weapon. Of course I did think that banditry and opportunism are the name of The Cable Cars. Broadsword to Danny the soviets had the better weapons and of the game. It was a Flight Simulator, Boy. as for Tesla Coils, well I loved the whole and having the hangar in an Airship While first person shooters concept of electricity shooting out as a was just wonderful, not unlike The USS were good fun, the look down real time weapon. Unreal weapons are always just Macon and USS Akron airships had, but strategy games that came out of Dune 2 so cool, and if you had enough resources, with a more detailed and better equipped were equally intense. I loved Command enough power stations, you could do a hanger, and a selection of planes on a and Conquer, although I wasn’t really Tesla run directly into your enemy’s base. spindle. [Editor’s Note: Both of these impressed with the Brotherhood of Nod, Now that rocked. I once played against were moored at Moffett Field, across sounded like it was going pear shaped a good friend on a playstation, you could the street from the Computer History in toy town. The C&C franchise has do multi player with 2 TV’s and consoles, Museum original site!] There is a been going some time now, and I am and we played for hours. It was terrific real pulp feel to the game, with the lead up to C&C 3 Tiberium wars. I really stuff, as it included most of the expansion character Nathan Zachary, half great liked the C&C Red Alert series as this packs. war hero and half movie star, a pirate is definitely alternate history as I like Crimson Skies originally a FASA with honour. it. Einstein travels back in time to board game, which I wasn’t aware of, was The planes looked like Hughes remove Hitler and in doing so creates an brought out for the PC about the turn dreams coming through, based equally bad situation, with the Soviet of the century, and again Mick was the somewhat on experimental planes of badly enough that I might Flakrakete a remote control anti aircraft have a chance of winning missile powered by a liquid fuel rocket against her. There are even motor. One of my favourites, although books, but I have never seen one does not get to fly it, is the Mercedes them, but the computer Benz C Project, a massive aircraft that games were more than would carry parasite jet planes to their good enough, really, it’s an destination and release them. Gives a awesome world. whole new meaning to C Class. Secret Weapons over It’s a great flight sim game, and Normandy is another flight it was produced by Lucas Arts. Upon sim, with a charismatic completion of the game, one could character, James Chase, unblock a Tie Fighter and X-Wing and an American who flies with fly them in dog fights, which is fun, but the BattleHawks. The game stretching it a little. is interesting as it allows Warfront Turning Point is another the player to progress onto real time strategy game. This time Hitler flying aircraft that never has been killed at the beginning of the the time, but much more bullish and saw such operational duties, hence the Second World War, but this only leads adventures than contemporary designs, secret weapons aspect to the game. to the successful invasion of Britain. By customising and buying machines and So although Glostor Meteors, the first the time the player takes control, the managing resources being as crucial as British operational Jet Fighter, which fighting is in London. Germans aware the flight sim skills. although first built in 1943 and was used of The Soviets threat look for a peaceful I was given an X Box in 2004 and against V-1 flying bombs and on ground resolution with The Allies so they can one of the first games I played on it was attack missions, never fought with other turn and fight against the soviets. There Crimson Skies High Road to Revenge, planes in dog fights, in this game it can, is much intrigue to this game as the a new game based on the original but as will the likes of with an easier and maybe even dumbed the Dornier Do 335 down version of the game, although it Pfeil, push pull fighter suited me when I need to chill out. I often aircraft and the toyed with buying the FASA game or Curtis Wright XP 55 the Whizz Kids Combat Dial games, but Ascender, which looks they always seem rather expensive, and like it’s out of Crimson then when I did have the opportunity to Skies. buy The Fortune Hunters pack about a Also weapons month ago in the Forbidden Planet Sale, never used exist, such I wondered how I would get the rest, and as the Wasserfall worse, would I be able to train the wife Ferngelenkte Second World War plays out in a very ended differently, with different fashion. This game also allows no depression, no Nazis Pill Boxes to be controlled in a First and a more prosperous Person mode, which is far more effective and peaceful world, but than allowing the computer to do so, and hidden behind the Red weather has a nasty effect on radar. Curtain something landed Germans have Horton Flying in Tunguska and its going Wing bombers, jet pack infantry, sonic to take over the world. tanks, Mech type exoskeleton machines, Ring of Red is and Giant Zeppelins. Soviets hae some a Playstation 2 game, amazing armoured vehicles, including which I am now unlikely a massive tracked artillery gun a huge to get, but it’s something giant tank and a Mole that can transport I wouldn’t mind playing. infantry underground as well as some Set in the 60’s where interesting ‘ice’ weapons. A modern take Japan never surrendered on C&C, but with a really interesting and no Nukes were used, story, characters also play a larger part, instead a costly land with individuals on the field adding invasion occurred. Japan a variety of abilities to the force you is split into North and command. South, with The North There are many other games being a Soviet backed that I have yet to play, but I have them regime. There has been pencilled in, and when I eventfully get a The Great Asian War, new console, not that I am sure I will as between north and south and technology having visited Berlin in 1990 myself I seem to spend little time now on Games has given the player Armoured Fighting and stolen a few bits. Have one left I and less watching TV, there is always Walkers. think, but I was there, and I even have something pressing to be dealt with. World in Conflict looks pretty the DDR entry stamp to prove it. It was Turing Point Fall of Liberty good; it's only out a year, set in 1989. The an incredible place. Very different, very looks quite interesting, a first person Soviet Military invades Europe rather concreted and poor. Another story that. shooter, set in America in the fifties, than see The Soviet Union fall apart. Enigma Rising tide is a naval Churchill died well before the Second This leads to an invasion of The United strategy game that sees no entry of World War and this results in Germany States by the USSR and this is where the US into the First World War, and conquering western and Eastern the player comes in. China also looks to Germany defeating French and British Europe. The game is set at the time that invade the US. While checking out this Expeditionary forces. Churchill fights Germany invades an isolationist US. game, I found that there was a collector’s from Hong Long with the remnants of the Resistance Fall of Man is set in the edition with a bit of The Berlin Wall in Fleet. Also Prince Edward is a traitor, fifties as well, where World War I it, which is nice, but I already have some, which is an interesting twist. It came out in 2003 and I just totally missed it. Iron Storm is a game I haven’t actually played yet, but it’s now on the list of games to find, as I found it while working on this article. It’s from about 2004. It’s an interesting concept. World War I never ended, the war is now fifty years old, it’s the sixties and Nukes are on the horizon. Baron Nikolai Alexsandrovich von Ugenberg is a key pivot in this game. He rules Mongolia and after the Russian Revolution of 1917 he crushes the Bolsheviks with the White Russians. He has pacts with Japan and eventually Germany is subsumed into his empire. The war continues, with the United States of Western Europe, an amalgamation of Western Europe and the US and Great Britain, including parts of Germany. Interestingly the war effort of the USWE is privatised and therefore there is more interest in the war than just victory, profit is a motivator too. Yeah, so no shortage of alternate histories to keep me happy for a while, not that I will probably get to play them all, but I will keep the eyes skinned for them. Now I am off to watch Zipang. The photos of people with the Amazing Scarf made by our Charmingly Robust Drink- Chris Garcia on the Fan Funds Panel ing Companion Leigh Ann Hildebrand were So, I’m here talking with Bob Hole taken by Christopher J. Garcia and Linda and Guy Lillian arrives. That means that Wenzelburger. there’s gonna be a panel. The Francises arrive and that means that we’re all here. So, I’ve got a lot of WorldCon stuff There’s a small audience, which means here, but I should also talk a bit about it’s gonna be a conversation. I love con- the other little project I’m on. Warren versations. I really love them. The audi- Buff, 25 year old Super fan, and Michael ence is entertaining too. Hope is here! I Pederson, the publisher of Nth Degree, like Hope. Robin Johnson is here, and I the first folks to publish Chris Garcia’s like Robin too! Roger Sims is here, and fan writing, are putting together a bid he’s a legend. You can’t argue with hav- for the NASFiC in 2010 since Australia ing a legend in the audience. Sandra won the WorldCon and that means that Childress, who has announced that she North America needs a Continent-wide and Jim Briggs are running for DUFF in Science Fiction con. So, Warren asked 2010. They’ll make good candidates. me if I would be their West Coast guy. Guy is the moderator and we sorta And of course, I said yes. I’ve only half- chatted about the funds. You gotta love way worked bids before (I did a bit for panels where the audience is as interest- the BArea Westercon bids over the last ing as the panel! We told stories of travel 5 years) and now I’m going to be going to and I pulled out my TAFF Report and cons and talking it up, maybe throwing a then told the story of the Trip Report on party or two and making sure that flyers display at the British Museum. I still and such are available to folks. rule on that matter! There’s a tradition So, the bid is for Raleigh, North to the Fan Fund panels being lightly at- Carolina. It’s a long way from home, tended, but I’ve also been on one that was and it’s got a serious airport, one which a packed house. parties. I met fewer fans than I’d have has direct flights from LA, San Jose, We talked about our trips, includ- liked, since I didn’t get much outside of San Francisco and so on because of the ing a lovely story from Guy about Quak- London. Steve and Sue sounded like they Research Triangle - Silicon Valley con- kas in Australia. The only wildlife I saw met all of the great fans of the UK who nection. Much like the San Jose - Austin was a dead Badger that Ann Green point- weren’t located in the inaccessible parts flights. It’ll be a month before the Aussie ed out to me while we were driving the of the country. After the 50 year reset WorldCon, which I won’t be able to go to, backroads to Stratford-on-Avon and such. rule, I’ll run for DUFF! I’ll only be 83. but I’m hoping that I can bring a little of DUFF folks tend to go on longer trips and Steve told his well-shoed tale of the BArea’s Fanzine Lounge concept to spend more time with fans doing outdoor- Concave and a couple of people in the the folks at NASFiC in 2010. sy stuff. TAFF folks tend to go to a lot of pool. I’ll say no more. It’s a sexy tale of revenge and murder. to tap them with the way we do things. I didn’t talk much, which is kinda The difference is getting them interested rare. I was the only TAFF person in the in stuff that we like. It does happen at room, which was strange. There are usu- times, but the cross-over is low. One of ally more TAFF folks, but the only TAFF the first things that someone did was people I know are here are the Nielsen to suggest that doing away with SMoFs Haydens, Me, and I think Ulrika O’Brien. would help to bring up new fen. I’ve al- Maybe one or two others. TAFF has the ways thought that the best way to bring long-tradition, while DUFF has a long- young fans in is to loosen things up and run bunch of folks who are always around not be so business oriented. You don’t see WorldCons. TAFF folks go to Eastercon many business meetings at Anime cons. even after they end their administration. Jared is a smart guy and he reads SMoFs list, which is impressive. I don’t read SMoFs, but folks forward things to Chris Garcia on Fandom of the Fu- me sometimes. He makes some really ture good points, and his attachment to fan- So, there were a bunch of folks dom is strong, and he’s a reader. I have to who are under 30 who are involved in say, I wish we had more fen like him. Fandom. I’m not one of them, but for Another point that was made was some I am a youngster, and I’ll roll with that convention fandom is a certain kind that. It’s weird, I love the old timers, but of reader. I can see that being a point. the young folks and I sorta get them far I’ve always said that Fandom has never better. On this one, I’m the oldest. Jared gotten beyond Heinlein and Asimov. Dashoff is 21 and he’s the moderator and There is always the idea that if you give a he’s another second generation fan. He’s kid Heinlein, they’ll be a reader forever. I the son of a WorldCon chair. Mathew Mi- totally don’t get that. I say give them the chalak is 31, but he’s a Denver local and hip YA stuff and that’ll bring them for- a good guy. He’s far more active than I ward. Then you gotta give them smutty am in Con-Running. Robert Hoyt is more stuff and that’ll power them forever. of a SerCon fan and he is an interesting The idea of conventions drawing dude. young people is a good idea, and there’s We started in on the topic which also the idea that everyone should start is frequently brought up: how do we get their own cons. I hear that, but I really young fen involved. I brought up that thing that we’re looking for a massive booze brings the youth. And then there convention that pushes things all around was Anime. There’s nothing younger Former TAFF Candidate into the corners of topics like Anime, than Anime Fandom, and it’s impossible comics, film and so on. WorldCon has Chris Barkley costs aren’t low enough. The idea of costs for young folks was brought up and that’s a tough one. I did cons when I was a kid and it didn’t take that much money to go through them. We were very creative too. We came up with new ways to cram folks into hotel rooms and make food love and go through an entire on less than 20 bucks. The audience was only slightly unruly, but we did cover some fairly entertaining conversation. I kinda wish we had gone more into what the panelists had done over their fannish careers, but we dealt in the reeds mostly and it was fun.

Chris Garcia on To Be Announced Everyone heard about my ter- ror. There was a panel where I was the obvious token fan on a panel of pros. Of course, it was also a set of pros who were awesome and a draw and a good way to get my name out there with a few folks who would have never heard of TAFF. But really, I was only there to look pret- ty. OK, maybe not look pretty but you get media influences, but finding a way to the idea. bring people in to partake in that stuff What was the Panel about? Well, is important. Finding a way to advertize I really shoul;d have started writing this and reach out with little money is a tough after the panel had at least begun be- problem. cause that would have made this make There was talk about how we sense. As it turns out, once Greg Bear could use the various on-line systems like (Astrid’s husband), Connie Willis (Corde- MySpace and Facebook. Folks have done lia’s mother) and Jay Lake (Bronwyn’s good stuff with LiveJournal. The idea Dad) got there, we started by introduc- of advertising is so difficult because the ing ourselves. I lied and said that I was there to keep Connie and Greg from of stories. I said that mine was “Dude, I’m going to be telling someone that they killing each other because of their failed you’ll never believe what just happened!” won the Hugo. I’ve had work from all Waffle restaurant in Houston. Connie I mentioned the guy who fell down the five of the nominees and I’m so proud did a great bit saying that she thought escalator face first into the pie. We talked to get to give away the Best Fan Writer that GW Bush has a great president. about Hawaiian shirts, which we were all (because I’m the TAFF Delegate/Admin- Somehow, we got on the topic of Dante’s very excited about. I love talking about istrator) and I’m not sure I’m ready, but Peak and Volcano and I pointed out that that stuff. I have no choice, the show has begun, I was an extra in it and they had me Rusty Hevelin is out there, just about to re-enact the scene, which was me running walk out to the other side of the stage, away from flowing Lava. Connie was Chris Garcia prepares for the Hugos leaving Wil McCarthy to announce my very excited that I was in it and she said I’m scared. There’s not much else name and say that I would be announc- that she’d look for me when she watches that can be said. I’ve spoken in front ing the winner. It’s like being the lead in it again. I was excited to hear that she of thousands of people before, been on a big play and not being sure if you can watches Volcano. There was a question National TV in multiple countries, even act. That is where I’m at. about what restrictions should be placed sang Take Me Out to the Ballgame in Wil says my name and my escort on Magic in fantasy fiction. I grabbed the front of a sold-out mic and and said “I wanna hear what Candlestick Park, Greg Bear has to say about that.” and but this really has Greg then takes the mic and says “I need me flipping out. I’m to know are we talking about Tolkie- waiting to go out on nian fantasy or Urban Fiction or...” and stage, waiting be- went on for a moment or two. Greg then hind the curtain for looked at me and said “That good enough, John Scalzi to fin- Chris?” I love being told the basics of ish his acceptance magic from Mr. Hard Science. speech for Best Fan We told some stories about editors Writer and there is and then it got to me and I told the ulti- sweating going on. mate story of editing the fanzine. I told Part of it is the fact them of the time that I had the Lawyers that I’m wearing a of Spider Robinson hit me for the fake Tom Baker Dr. Who article of Stardance. We then moved on to scarf over a David Hollywood where Connie and Greg had a Tennant Dr. Who lot to say. sportcoat over a Then, we went on and on. We Flintstones T-Shirt, were nutty. Connie and Greg got a lot and part of it is the of laughs. I managed a few really good lighting, but most The Tom-Tom Club- Whitmore & Galloway stings. We talked about the best first line of it is the fact that picks up the trophy and we walk out to the stage and all I can see are lights above and a few dark- ened, mostly empty seats at the back and on the sides of the Wells Fargo Theatre. There‘s a po- dium. There are a pair of odd-looking open micro- phones and that’s where I’m going. I’ve not prac- ticed this. I walked around and they gave me my marks, which changed along the way. The script said “brief re- marks about TAFF” and then the names of the nominees. Friends, one and all. I am stunned to be up on that stage, the one time Iʼm likely to present a Hugo Award (unless I come up with a way to run for DUFF) and itʼs happening. I get to the mic. I blank for a second. It may not even have shown up on the tape of the event, but for a moment, I had no idea where I was, what I was doing, what I was going ot say about TAFF. I donʼt exist, I just move. I am standing at the podium, not sure whatʼs happening, and I speak. “So, TAFF is the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, or as I like to call it, Teh Awesome Fan Fund.” Iʼm not 100% sure what Iʼm saying, but I go on, fl uidly, naturally. It keeps going and I fi nally segue into the naming of the nominees and it went smoothly with that slight sense of awkward energy that I always work with. I open the envelope and do my best Michael Buffer annoucing voice saying “BBBBBBRRRRRAAAADDDD FFFFFFOOOO- OSSSSSTTTTEEEERRRR!” and then the guy who had been assigned to accept comes up and I take the trophy and take a step towards him, drop to a knee and offer upwards the Hugo award. A laugh comes from the audi- ence and Tim Miller takes the award and almost drops it. I nearly dive, but Tim gets it back under his control. He gives the speech that Brad asked him to give, and we walk away, away from the podium, away from the audience, away from the one time Iʼll likely ever be asked to present a Hugo award. s: Swanwick and Resnick four legendary fen at denvention: art widner, rusty hevelin, erle korshak and tom whitmore