Science Fiction/San Francisco The twice-monthly news zine for the San Francisco Bay Area. Issue 16 February 1, 2006 Editors: Jean Martin, Chris Garcia, Jack Avery email: [email protected] Copy Editor: David Moyce

TOC eLOCs ...... Chris Garcia ...... 2-3 Gathering of the Fellowship ...... Diane Rooney...... 3 Editorial...... Jean Martin...... 4 Fanzine Report...... Chris Garcia ...... 4 Gilded Bat Ball...... Jean Martin...... Photography Jean Martin ...... 5-9 Frank Wu: Multimedia Superstar...... Chris Garcia ...... Art Todd Tennant...... 10 One Ring Celebration...... Diane Rooney...... Photography Diane Rooney...... 11-16 Fabulandia:Fauna ...... Jack Avery...... Photography Jack Avery...... 17-20 Starship Decatur...... Celeste Miller ...... Photography IKV Black Dragon...... 21-22 BASFA 806 Minutes ...... 23 BASFA 807 Minutes ...... 23-24 BASFA 808 Minutes ...... 25 BASFA 809 Minutes ...... 26 BASFA 810 Minutes ...... 27 Calendar ...... Jack Avery...... 28-49

Science Fiction San Francisco is released on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. All issues can be found at www.efanzines.com All articles and photos are copyright 2006 by the original creators. Used with permission. Science Fiction/San Francisco is a Backnumbers Press zine. never read, and that the movie is great, which my own and scoping all the SF and Fandom eLOCs I haven’t seen. I liked Kong a lot, but it was related stuff I can. It’s interesting that a zine hurt by a combination of run-time and mixed like SF/SF could possibly be made with three Lloyd Penney writes: reviews. different editors who have never met. Now, Dear Jean, Chris and Jack I’ve met Jack and Jean, though I hadn’t met It’s time for another SF/SF, issue 15, and You’re right, Jean, running conventions Jean before we started editing the beast and while I am totally backed up with zines to is a lot of fun, and teaches a lot of valuable I’ve laid eyes on Jack once! work on, I am going to take this relatively business skills, like teamwork, negotiation new issue and do something with it. I’ll see and project planning. Let me know if your Kevin Smith’s been up here in Toronto if I can work ahead a little bit. staffer is coming to the Gathering of the a few times. He really seems to like it Fellowship. I doubt I’ll be able to afford to here, and there’s a teens’ show on the Chris Garcia replies: Always good to hear go, for it is quite expensive. I may check CTV network called DeGrassi: The Next from Toronto’s Own SuperStar! with the chairman to see if there are one- Generation he likes so much, he wrote an day memberships. episode, and appeared in another. Kelly I have now seen The Chronicles of Narnia: Freas was the Torcon artist GoH, and he The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, to I’m just starting to work on cons (BayCon wasn’t able to be there. I never did get my use the full title. Some reviews said that it this year is my first with a real title) and portrait done by Kelly, but he was always was dull, and the reviewers hated seeing the even I have discovered that the negotiation a presence at any convention he appeared typical snotty and sarcastic English kids, part is very important. I’d love to go to The at. For a while, I knew Polly Freas better but seeing the story was from a relatively Gathering. Perhaps someday… than Kelly, and she was so approachable small book, especially in comparison to and pleasant. I still miss her. Ad Astra The Lord of the Rings, the producers were The Internet has made it easier for fans has its own LJ board for announcements relatively faithful to the story, and the to connect, but I do feel it’s made it easier and general conversation, but I find that quality of the movie is reflected in the fact for fans to stay isolated while getting all it’s little used. Blogging is getting bigger, that its box office has been larger thanKing the SF they want. There are so many fans but in some parts of fandom, I think it’s Kong’s. Quite enjoyed it, and now I am with LiveJournals, hiding behind online becoming almost passé. I wonder what the hoping to make time for the Harry Potter names…it facilitates communications, but next quantum communications leap will movie before it leaves the theatres. hinders making social contacts. Do you be. really know who you’re talking to? I’d make time for Harry Potter since it’s I knew Kelly a little bit. I met him when a really solid film. Everyone I’ve talked to says I know exactly what you mean. I’m hidden I was tiny (there’s supposed to be a photo of that Narnia is a fantastic story, which I’ve away in a little corner of the internet, minding him holding me as a wee one) and I met him 2 again years later. His fondest wish towards the I worked on a few years ago now will Interesting. I really want to see Sectarian end of his life was to do a design for a bomber finally see the light of day. At the big Wave a lot. There’s also little I love more than like he did during the war. I tried to hook mediacon in Toronto this July, Toronto a good fan film. him up with one of the various groups that Trek XX, I have been promised that there restore the old planes, but I don’t know if he will be a CD for sale to the public with That’s all folks…I am so far behind, I ever managed to get a design done. And the the first six episodes of Sectarian Wave. can’t see the top of the stack. Take care, and next form of communication will be a return There also might be the possibility of see you next issue. Chris, I will be catching to carrier pigeon, but they’ll be genetically- participation in a Star Trek fan film later up with The Drink Tank now… Yours, engineered to deliver the message and then in the year. The producer/director/writer Lloyd Penney. bring back a response before dying. of Sectarian Wave is producing this, and might get me involved, to what extent, I I thank you and I hope that you’ll get those I am hoping that this CD project don’t know. LoCs to me! Toronto Gathering of the Fellowship, July 1 - 4, 2006

By Diane B. Rooney like to invite SF/SF readers to check out documentary), material from Ancanar, and Staff Writer our programming. Oh, and as an added most likely Ringers. Other special events incentive, if you do go to Toronto, stay on include a picnic on Toronto Island and a Last issue Jean mentioned “one of our for Toronto Trek 20 the following weekend banquet and costume contest. staff writers goes to LOTR events all over (July 7-9). Already going to the Trek? Come Confirmed speakers include Bruce the world.” Uh, that would be me. So why early for the Gathering. Hopkins, John Howe, Ted Nasmith, mention the Gathering in SF/SF? Well, The Gathering is the first fan-organized Mike Foster, Amy Sturgis, Ancanar, Colin SF and Toronto are kind of sister cities, convention to focus on both Tolkien and Duriez, Michael Drout, Alison Baird, really: both are hip, liberal, culturally and C.S.Lewis in the context of both books Vernon Flieger, Michael Martinez, Michael ethnically diverse, have great restaurants and films. It offers the chance to see the Coren, Laura Cooper and many more. and active sci fi and fantasy communities. new stage version of The Lord of the Rings Please check out the Gathering at Plus Lloyd Penney’s practically a regular with other fans, plus programming tracks http://www.gatheringofthefellowship.org/ here, and HE lives in Toronto. on stage & screen adaptations, scholarship, convention/index.html Anyway, as the volunteer publicist for The Inklings, language & writing, art, Toronto Trek features Amber Benson, The Gathering, a nonprofit convention music, and costuming & armor. Film Garrett Wang, Richard Hatch, and Michael organized entirely by volunteers, with presentations and discussions include The Shanks. Info on TT20: proceeds to benefit ProLiteracy, I’d just Lord of the Brush (the new John Howe http://www.tcon.ca/tt20/ 3 Editorial

write a huge article on it and will be taking By Jean Martin The Edwardian Ball was amazing, and lots of photos to share. I discovered a new party event organizer Well, we’re one month into the New called Anon Salon that same evening that Year and I hope everyone is doing great was quite possibly the best party I’ve ever so far. The Chinese New Year always been to. Full coverage on both events is Fanzine Report starts later and wasn’t until January 29 in the pages of this issue. WonderCon this year. So now it’s the Year of the Dog, is coming up and the same group that I which according to the Chinese zodiac is performed with at Comic-Con will be Not a lot this week. The Drink a year of fire. Just like a dog always has reprising our Firefly entry. So I’ll be playing Tank’s 100 Word special came out on burning enthusiasm, the year is supposed Inara again and we’ll be singing and dancing eFanzines.com and featured a number to be marked by getting a lot of good a parody of “Proud Mary.” Hope you get to of BArea writers, like Kelly Green, Fred accomplished in the world. Well, that’s see us! Although the crowd will be smaller Moulton, Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Andy something to look forward to! Dogs are than Comic-Con (there were 5,000 people Trembley, Kevin Roche and Frank Wu, also loyal, loving and playful. They create in the audience!), this is on my home turf, along with some folks you might recognize balance between working hard and resting. at the Moscone Center. from the SF/SF letter columns like Peter I guess that’s a good reminder for me, and I’ll probably be volunteering at the Sullivan, Eric Mayer and John Purcell. It’s for most everyone I would assume, to take SF Browncoats fan table. I went to their all articles of 100 words exactly. the time to rest and take care of ourselves in January meeting and had a great time as Emerald City released a new issue this the midst of all our numerous activities. usual. They’re just such friendly folk, and last Sunday. Cheryl Morgan and her usual Here I was actually worried at the end we all love Firefly and Serenity. So anyway, if crowd have another great issue on their of last year that this year wouldn’t be as any of you do go to WonderCon, please feel hands. exciting and productive. Several significant free to say hello to me, Chris and Warren. If you are a Bay Area fan who has people in my life told me not to worry and By the way, coming up for me this year a blog or website, send us the in- it would probably be more of the same for as well is a trip to New Zealand! I finally formation at: [email protected] me in 2006. Although January started out committed to doing Red Carpet Tours’ for inclusion in our Blogwatch next slow, things started rolling for me again Lord of the Rings tour in March for my issue. pretty quickly and I’m already exhausted! birthday. I’m so excited and of course, I’ll 4 The Edwardian Ball and Anon Salon: Vintage Ballroom Dance Meets Halloween and Burning Man in San Francisco One January Evening

Ball where I performed during the Music (seeing as I’m into dance and costuming) By Jean Martin Hall intermission) and it reminded me that and something that I would like to cover Editor it would be a good event for me to go to for SF/SF.

How often have I said in the pages of this ezine that fandom seems to be all inter-related. The night of January 21st proved that point and expanded it to not just fandom! Different parts of my life, and even my past, all came together in something akin to a planetary alignment. It was surreal to say the least! I originally just intended to check out the Sixth Annual Edwardian Ball at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. A dance friend of mine a while back told how much he enjoyed this event in 2005. I had never heard about it before then. I had no idea until recently that there were so many costumed events in the city all year round! I go to costumed events in the Peninsula and East Bay regularly but never in San Francisco except on Halloween. Anyway, my friend raved about the acrobatic troupe Vau du Vire Society. I saw a promotional postcard about the Edwardian Ball at the last PEERS ball (the 12th Night Edward Gorey Creature and Characters Photo by Jean Martin 5 I did wind up going to the ball with That really intrigued me the same dance friend and a female friend before I actually saw them of his. Due to unfortunate circumstances, but the phrase didn’t really however, we didn’t get to the Great prepare me for what to American Music Hall until 10 p.m. So expect. They are a totally we missed the burlesque/can can troupe unique band, and coming Diamond Daggers (which I really wanted from someone who used to to see because that’s the kind of performing be a music journalist, that’s I usually do for PEERS) and singer/pianist quite a statement. The eight Jill Tracy. At least we got there just in time musicians wearing macabre for the headliners Rosin Coven. Edwardian outfits and Their web site proclaims them as the Addams family makeup “worlds premiere pagan lounge ensemble.” combined rock, classical m u s i c , b a l l r o o m d a n c e music, goth, cabaret and m u s i c a l t h e a t e r Rosin Coven Cellist Gingerbread Candy to form Photo by Jean Martin s o m e t h i n g from the stage as I was taking pictures that was haunting, moving reminded me how much I love watching and made you want to either live music, and how much I’ve missed it. watch them entranced or The best part was, being a rocker, I loved sing along and dance. The their more rock numbers, and also being a closest comparison I can vintage ballroom dancer, I loved their songs make is to the music from where they invited people to dance. There Mystere by Cirque du Soleil was a waltz and a tango. I didn’t get to in Las Vegas. dance as I ran into so many people I knew It was great to see a live Rosin Coven Vocalist Midnight Rose and I was taking photos and writing down Photo by Jean Martin band once again. The energy emanating impressions. 6 Yes, as I mentioned before, this is where the worlds began colliding. I ran into people from my vintage dance community, which I expected, but I also ran into a group of folks I camped with in the Black Rock Desert. They were surprised to see me there, and so was I. But it all made sense to us as we realized we were all into non- mainstream art and culture, performance art, dance and costuming! One of them offered me a name tag with a name from one

Dancers in the Ballroom Photo by Jean Martin of Edward Gorey’s works, the Gashlycrumb early 1900s). But then after a little bit of Tinies. I chose “Maud” who was “swept out research, I realized that some of Gorey’s to sea.” Their whole group was in costume work did depict the Edwardian era as well as representing some of the other unfortunate the Victorian age. I was only familiar with children from that alphabetical list of their Gorey from his artwork that preceded and fatal mishaps. ended the Mystery! series on PBS, which I Which brings me to the whole point usually enjoy. But I didn’t know that he was of the Edwardian Ball. It is to celebrate a writer as well. the genius of artist, writer and illustrator One of the numbers that Rosin Coven Edward Gorey. It was a little confusing to did was a reading of the Gilded Bat, which Edward Gorey Couple me at first because I thought the Edwardian was accompanied with a fantastic musical Photo by Jean Martin Ball was about the Edwardian era (circa score, and depicted by the spectacular 7 Vau du Vire. The story was about a young his Burning Man friends. I found out later where people looked familiar but slightly woman who wanted to become a prima that Rosin Coven has performed at Burning more sinister. ballerina but after she achieved her dream, Man in past years. I enjoyed the Edwardian Ball immensely she soon passed away after she suffered at I also looked up to see people watching and will probably go back next year. We left the hands of a controlling Baron, adoring from the gilded and ornate balconies and after Rosin Coven was done and a DJ came fans and rabid paparazzi. The woman that I swear it felt like I was transported in on. The woman with us wanted to go to an played the main character, Maudie, looked time and space into an alternate universe Anon Salon party, which was at a club in like a marionette and did amazing acrobatic where it was like the Barbary Coast days SOMA that she’s been to and really enjoys. stunts including pulling her lower limbs in San Francisco but raunchier and a little It sounded appealing to me so I went around the back of her neck. bit futuristic. Kind of like the “Mirror, along. Anyway, as I looked around the crowd Mirror” episode of the original Star Trek Interestingly enough, it also turned out (it was a sold-out to be the after-party for event), everyone was the Edwardian Ball and dressed elaborately for we got in at half-price the occasion. Only in because we came from San Francisco can you that ball. I saw members see people dressed in of Vau du Vire in the Moulin Rouge-like attire crowd later on in the but with a darker aspect. evening. What I didn’t And, of course… sexier. expect, though, was that It was a bit gothic, a bit it was a Burning Man bondage/fetish, with party. Well, technically a dash of Tim Burton, it isn’t related to any and Jack the Ripper camps but Burning man Victorian. It was also very artists displayed their unexpectedly Burning work there and the DJs Man-like. As in the over- perform at Burning the-top, imaginative, Man. free-to-express yourself There were several manner that characterizes rooms on two floors. Burning Man. My dance The first floor, which was friend ran into some of Vau du Vire Acrobats Photo by Jean Martin actually on the second 8 floor and indoors, had rooms that were those days and all the people we knew in of the best parties I’ve ever been to in my decorated in different themes and related common. life. We stayed there until 4:00 a.m.! Oh, artwork. One room was a lounge that had The second floor was an open-air and yes, Anon Salon was at Burning Man an East Indian flavor with throw pillows space with lots of sculptures and tables for in past years as well. My life has come full on the couches, carpets on the floor, beads people to sit around and chat and drink. circle. hanging from the ceiling, and sarongs We hung out there for a little bit when the For more information, visit: http: everywhere. There was a room full of stuffed downstairs area got too crowded and hot //www.edwardianball.com/ and http:// animals (one was a pink bunny that was as after dancing. That party was probably one www.anonsalon.com/ tall as myself!), and flower and insect plush toys hanging from the ceiling. There was a room with a masseuse and a huge room for people to get their faces painted. And a huge dance floor with a stage, a pole and lots of good-looking and friendly people! The music was trance-like techno for a little while, which I really liked and got to dance to. There were four DJs that evening. Another room had four bands playing in succession. One was a rock/funk band that I enjoyed. There was even a karaoke room, a room with light toys (or “blinkies” as I call them) for sale and a pink room with a woman that sold handbags that she decorated herself (I bought a feather boa, a fluffy black hat for this year’s Burning Man, and a Playboy bunny Mardi Gras necklace from her). For yet another cosmic convergence, in one of the rooms, I met the co-owner of Prairie Sun Recording Studio in Cotati. I went there once during my heavy metal Open Air Lounge at the Anon Salon afterparty. journalist days, and he and I reminisced on Photo by Jean Martin 9 Frank Wu: Multi-Media SuperStar!

a healthy dose of media commentary. The that was willing to put out the effort to story, The Tragical Historie of Guidolon: The see about doing a trailer for the Guidolon Giant Space Chicken, was one of the stand- cartoon. out stories, and it was written in screenplay The fi rst step is, of course, to record style, which made sense since it was the story the voices talking, and over the next three of a Giant Monster who directs a Giant weeks we’ll be doing just that. The original Monster movie starring humans and Giant cast from LosCon, Jim Terman (narrator), Monsters. Weird? Yes. Wonderful? Yes. Diana Sherman (the lovely Giant Hottie Frank got a good idea. Because there Trisauron), Frank (Various Voices, Jerora was no way it could be made into an the Space Jelly Fish and Fribigus) and actual movie without tons and tons of myself (Guidolon) will be recording it money for props and sets, not to mention for the animators to work with over the an Olde British Acre of rubber for suits, coming months. Frank decided to hold a reading at LosCon Frank has high hopes. He’s hoping to featuring some of his friends as the voices distribute the Guidolon recording around of Guidolon and pals. I played Guidolon to various folks and perhaps put on many and did the role as only a mad-eyed, crazy- more performances at cons. The cartoon By Chris Garcia haired Californian could. Turn-out was will obviously be sent around to everyone Editor small, but it received rave reviews from the he can think of and hopefully will be shown Frank Wu is one of my good friends, folks who were there. This planted a seed in at various SF fi lm festivals and the like. so I’m easy to impress with his good work, Frank’s mind that continued to grow. After There’s even hope that a line of toys could and when he comes up with a good idea, we got back, plans were made to do it again come out of this little project. Frank’s got I’m all for it. Recently, he came up with the at other cons (he and several others did a big ideas, and it’ll be a blast seeing where concept that may well change everything! performance at Arisia where he was Artist this thing goes in the future. You see, Frank Wu wrote a story for the Guest of Honor). Above and Background: Guidolon, along anthology Daikaiju. The Giant Monster Then the thought of doing a version with Jerora and Octuron, by character anthology was great and Frank’s story of Guidolon animated popped into Frank’s designer Todd Tennant of http:// combined comedy and tragedy along with mind. The idea grew and he found a group americankaijuphile.com 10 Bay Area “Rings” Fans Head South for One Ring Celebration

By Diane B. Rooney brought together several hundred Staff Writer Lord of the Rings fans, many from the West Coast but also from San Francisco and the Greater Bay places further flung including Area were well represented at Creation Canada, Australia, and Argentina. Entertainment’s One Ring Celebration, The weekend was full of diverse held at the Pasadena Convention Center activities and programs, so this January 20-22, 2006. The convention convention report summarizes the highlights.

Costuming Masquerades and costume contests are a high point of every Lord of the Rings gathering and ORC Phil & Cathe Gust as Comrades in Arms, Best in Show - Adult Category. was no exception. Friday night’s Photo by Diane Rooney costume contest and masquerade drew about 40 entrants. dress made from six yards of grey polyester, Bay Area folk took home a lots of gray body paint, and a braided and number of costume awards. In styled wig. The shield on which the shards the novice category, Marie Alm rest was made of layered cardboard covered of Santa Clara won the award with papier mache and Mod Podge, and for Best Re-creation for her the shards were made of Super Sculpey and presentation of The Shards of then wired to the shield. Marie said the Marie Alm as The Shards of Narsil, winner of Best Re-creation in the Novice Category. Narsil. Marie’s costume, made hardest parts of the project were wiring the Photo by Diane Rooney in just eighteen days, featured a shards to the shield and getting the dress to 11 drape properly. novice category for his Legolas costume, in Marie’s costume generated a lot of buzz, his first costume competition.) The Lord as no one present had ever seen a costumer of the Nazgul costume, which took two present the famous statue holding the months to construct, consisted of five layers remains of Elendil’s sword seen in Rivendell of fabric, a giant mace made of layered and in The Fellowship of the Ring. Nice work for painted cardboard with links of painted a novice costumer. plastic, and six-inch platform boots. He In the journeyman category, Don Pong also wore pauldrons made of painted foam of Fremont won the award for Best Re- and a customized helmet and gloves. creation for his presentation of the Lord Phil and Cathe Gust won Best in Show of the Nazgul. (Don won last year in the (adult) for their presentation of Comrades in Arms (Theoden and Gamling), which many “Rings” fans had seen at the GBACG’s Evening in Rivendell a few months ago. The contest was judged by film mapmaker and calligrapher Daniel Reeve from New Zealand, Jeanne Kang, Tengwar and Runes expert Laura Cooper, and Laura Wilson. Tolkien artist Colleen Doran was Leah Jakusovsky as Sam disguised as an orc. Mistress of Ceremonies. Photo by Diane Rooney Winners received award certificates personalized for them by Daniel Reeve, Art and some received copies of The Art of Lord Ashley Taylor of Santa Cruz participated of the Rings and other volumes, some signed in the Iron Artist Challenge. In this contest, by artist Alan Lee. three amateurs and three professional Leah Jakusovsky taught several of the artists had one hour to create an original costuming panels including “Elves and work in front of the audience. The theme, Hobbits,” “All About Armor,” and “Taking announced at the start of the competition, That First Stitch: Getting Started in Lord was the Entwives, who are unseen in of the Rings Costuming.” That’s Leah the books and films. Taylor won in the Don Pong as Lord of the Nazgul, winner of Children’s Illustration category for her best re-creation in the Journeyman category. behind the orc helmet and mail. Photo by Diane Rooney pencil sketch. All works were auctioned on

12 for The Lord of the Rings: countless books, practiced calligraphy and watercolor for invitations, scrolls, labels, maps, and even many years but made his living working props like the telescope in the library at in the IT department of a bank. When Rivendell. production of The Lord of the Rings was The actual film props turned out to be announced, he sent a sample book to Peter only part of his work. He went on to work Jackson. The studio contacted him almost with dozens of merchandising licensees, immediately, and his life began to move in preparing a massive style guide for them, a different direction. He now works full and then also created the titles and time as an artist. To learn more about his graphics for the DVD releases in dozens of work visit http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/ languages. After The Lord of the Rings, Daniel Celebrities – John Noble continued to work with WETA, creating Most interesting (to me) of the actors maps and calligraphy for The Lion, the was John Noble, because he talked at Witch, and the Wardrobe and King Kong. If length about the craft of acting, preparation you saw these films, you saw his handiwork for a role, and working on set. John is a Ashley Taylor, winner of the Best Children’s in Mr. Tumnus’ arrest warrant and in the classically trained actor who believes in Illustration in the Iron Artist Competition. Photo by Diane Rooney map of Skull Island and the New York Sunday to raise funds for VSA arts, which newspapers, posters enables people with disabilities to learn and menus in through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. King Kong, among other pieces. He’s Celebrities – Daniel Reeve also created game Celebrity guests included hobbits Elijah cards for Hasbro’s Wood, Sean Astin, and Billy Boyd, Miranda upcoming game Otto (Eowyn), and John Noble (Denethor), based on Pirates of along with mapmaker/calligrapher Daniel the Caribbean. Reeve. The actors mostly just took Daniel’s story is questions, which varied widely in quality, an interesting and but Daniel Reeve presented a slide show inspiring one. He Calligrapher Daniel Reeve and Fans. with dozens of images of items he created had studied and Photo by Diane Rooney 13 Night with the King. His parts are all villains hour….” Well, maybe not. and he has “some great death scenes.” This The makers of Ringers: Lord of the Fans, year he’s headed for Serbia to appear in Cliff Broadway, Jeff Marcheletta and others, Conflict, a thriller directed by John Ireland, did a panel on the making of that film where he once again plays the father of and later showed the entire documentary. two sons, and to England, for a film in Released in November, Ringers is a sweet which he plays the Devil. You can learn and light-hearted look at Lord of the Rings more about this interesting actor at http: fandom from the 1950s to the present day. //www.johnnoble.net/ Much of it was filmed at fan conventions, notably Comic-Con. What’s scary is just Films A super-secret seven-minute blooper reel with outtakes from The Lord of John Noble the Rings generated Photo by Diane Rooney the most buzz. The reel was shown in thorough preparation, a slow infiltration multiple screenings into his role, taking on voice, gesture, all three nights with and working with props, so that when he really tight security: goes before the camera it’s not really acting no cameras, cell – he IS the character. During the wardrobe phone, video or audio and makeup process each day he became equipment, and bags Denethor. In John’s view, “the craft is about were wanded. The getting inside a character and playing that outtake everyone truth,” regardless of medium. talked about was the John has a long and distinguished poor Witch King career as a stage actor and director in struggling to draw Australia and as a TV and film actor. He’s his sword, which had also directed in London. John has three gotten stuck in the films coming out in 2006: Running Scared, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin. scabbard. “This is my Photo by Diane Rooney Voodoo Lagoon, and the historical epic One 14 due for release this summer. Director Jack Show, dessert party and fan entertainment Peterson, a.k.a. Tim Richardson, showed were mostly over, but the guys were still clips from his self-described “epic parody.” backstage at the tables signing away. Their making-of documentary, Dorks Gone Eventually Elijah and Sean came onstage Wild, is already on sale at their website (just to join the entertainers. They all were search for Dork of the Rings). certainly troopers for hanging in to make sure everybody got to speak to them. Photo and Autograph Lines Photo ops were priced separately from Scholars Panels convention ticket packages: $60 each for ORC drew a good selection of scholars, the hobbits and Miranda Otto, $20 less for writers and artists for a full program of other celebrities. Autographs were included panels covering themes in The Lord of the in the top-priced weekend package, but for Rings and also The Chronicles of Narnia. fans who didn’t have them, each autograph Speakers included Mike Foster, Amy added $30 to $50. The photo op lines moved quickly, just 30 seconds or so to say hello, shake hands, pose, and snap. The autograph lines were another story, since this is where fans get their moment, or two, or three, to chat. Saturday’s autograph session with Elijah Billy Boyd. Wood, Sean Astin, Photo by Diane Rooney John Noble and how many people in the film I knew, like Daniel Reeve started Phil and Cathe Gust, to name a few. around 7pm and was Another film panel featured the still going after 11pm. U.K. first editions ofThe Lord of the Rings, 1954-55. director, cast, and crew of Dork of the Rings, The One Ring Awards Photo by Diane Rooney 15 Sturgis, Alison Baird, Peter S. Beagle, at ORC including three workshops on Anne Petty, and Lynette Porter, and Tolkien’s writing (Tengwar and Runes), the artists Colleen Doran and Tim Kirk. One wonderful Michael Bilach as the Singing challenge at ORC, as at many conventions, Gandalf, programs for kids and adults by was juggling between programming tracks. Debbie Hayes on elf ears and foot hair, and Start times were not uniform with activities an art showroom. on the main stage, so visitors always seemed to be walking out on somebody. Odds and Ends A first United Kingdom edition (1954/ Other Programming 1955) of the three volumes of The Lord There really was something for everyone of the Rings signed by J.R.R. Tolkien (the signature is tipped in front of the title page) was on display Sunday at the Red Carpet Tours booth. The Los Angeles area-based owner has had them for about fifteen years and is now offering the set for $22,500. A chance to come in contact with something held and signed by the Professor. Your reporter opened the show on Friday afternoon with a main stage slide Jack Peterson, director of Dork of the Rings. show and commentary on her tour of Lord Photo by Diane Rooney of the Rings New Zealand film locations in June of last year, which hopefully helped Rings is a great fandom and it’s fun to put people get in the spirit for the convention. on my elf princess dress and immerse in the There were a lot fewer vendors than in con for three days, seeing friends, taking 2005 and the three vendor areas seemed pictures, checking out the programs, and quieter in terms of traffic (not in terms even being part of it with the slide show. of noise, thanks to the friendly folks at But it’s an expensive weekend, even without Games Workshop). To me it seemed like photo ops. Next year ORC is moving to the poster, photo, and t-shirt sellers did the the Burbank Airport Hilton. The dates best business. are March 9-11, 2007. Yeah, I did buy my Phil Gust as Faramir. I’m glad I went, since I think Lord of the ticket for next year before I left Pasadena. Photo by Diane Rooney 16 Fabulandia: Fauna

By Jack Avery artists interpret the creatures that might light. However, Tucker’s creations are more Editor inhabit a future Earth. As I did in my ambiguous. These are not cute and cuddly In the second half of San Francisco art review of the first part, I’m approaching dolphins, but instead are strange-looking gallery The LAB’s two-part exhibit, five the review from the perspective of a science creatures with an inhuman, perhaps even fiction reviewer rather than an cruel, intelligence. The creatures are often art critic. engaged in activities with recognizable Located at the front of the animals, such as a cat, dogs, and an exhibit space, Tara Tucker’s elephant. Whether these activities are “The Salties,” consisting of benign or exploitive is left to the viewer. both pencil drawings and multi- Tucker’s work asks questions about the media sculptures, best addresses nature of higher intelligence: Does such the science fiction theme of the intelligence require a domination of the exhibit. Her creations, mutated natural world? dolphin-like creatures that are In one smaller sculpture right at the in the midst of evolving between entranceway, a Salty plays with a kitten, sea and land, are the only part of but the kitten is on a leash. In many of the the exhibit that overtly looks at the science fictional premise of the show. Tucker describes her work as “this strange vision of whale- like creatures inheriting the remnants of a recently extinct human race.” Intelligent cetaceans are a long staple of science fiction, usually portrayed in a sympathetic 17 images and sculptures, the Salties are clearly top of their heads and vestigial tails, the in control. In one drawing a pair of Salties Salties’ flippers have morphed into arms supervises two thoroughbred dogs in the and stubby legs. The overall effect is both act of breeding. In another a Salty menaces a combination of familiar dolphin and a bear with a whip. Are the Salties harsh human anatomy, and a disquieting alien masters? We’re not given enough context effect. to make that determination, but the overall In drawings and paintings with and effect is one of menace and callousness. without the Salties, Tucker creates images Tucker’s design of the Salties is a of animals joined with plants growing from reasonable extrapolation of evolutionary them. There is also a drawing of several principles. Retaining a blowhole on the other strange animals, including a multi-

18 don’t seem to ask any science fictional questions. One piece consists of a grouping of three “animals” each with a metal tripod for legs, a faux fur covered cylinder for a body, pipes for a neck and fake plant leaves for a head. Since these are manifestly human-created inanimate objects made out of artificial materials, I can’t see what they say about a post-human future. It doesn’t even seem to be saying that our junk will armed monkey. outlast us. Unlike Tucker’s work, two installation Another Jag piece, “Reception pieces from Tim Jag’s Industry Code Series Machine,” is even less of an attempt to create futuristic fauna. All together, his work is less about the future, than about post-modern conceptual art.

Jag also has a series of paintings, of creatures that blend pipes, gauges and tripods with organic components. In some, it’s not clear if Jag views these as living creatures or as objects. Mandy Greer’s “Jude 2000” was not created specifically for the exhibit, but is certainly an interesting work. The life-size bear is a deliberately soiled stuffed animal with matted fur and glittered claws. Posed as a stuffed grizzly would be, the animal is dressed in a decorative collar. I’m not certain what Greer is intending with this,

19 and a related series of the mounted heads that she’s trying to of stuffed animals. She seems to be making accomplish. life-size toy animals, then presenting them “I am now layering as if they were hunting trophies. Instead of notions and dimensions trying to replicate the appearance of real as co-existent equals in animals, she uses bright colored fabrics to personal tales without emphasize the human-created nature of obvious beginnings, these artificial animals. middle or end, but She also has a piece that looks similar rather revealed moments to the body of a flamingo, but in place of comprehension within of a head, it has two feelers that attach to storyline,” she writes. a nearby wall, supporting the figure as it Apparently, in the hovers above the floor. future, English will And as for donelle estey’s Coral Deer no longer be used to paintings, I’m not sure just what it is communicate coherent thought. perhaps with the exception of Tucker’s estey’s work consists of watercolors of work, not worth a special trip to the city to deer but with elaborate coral structures see it. The two parts of the exhibit worked instead of normal antlers. well in sequence; it’s a shame that both The final artist in the show, Berkeley couldn’t be exhibited at the same time. artist Daniel Ross, laminates his images of Part one of this exhibition, Fabulandia animals and landscapes onto huge wooden Terra, was reviewed in issue 10. frameworks. This work appears to be a commentary on the attempt by artists to Event details: reproduce the natural world. Whether his Fabulandia: Fauna art is also science fiction would depend on The LAB the viewer, although one of the images does 2948 16th Street include a pig whose snout devolves into San Francisco the front half of a second piglet, giving it a www.thelab.org mutant appearance. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-6 PM Overall, this is an interesting exhibit that Free is worth the free admission price, although Through February 11 20 The New Year – Decatur Style

By Celeste Miller were involved in over the last month and a Again, thank you for those who participated Captain, USS Decatur half. in this endeavor! It was a great send-off before the holidaze. Greetings and salutations from the December 17th, 2005 – Starship Decatur Decatur’s haggard “commander.” Now that Blood Drive January 7th, 2006 – January Meet & NYE I am no longer in the throes of jetlag, here’s My thanks go to Jason Cherry, Alex Shindig a long overdue update on the events that we Stewart, and Jack Twilly for joining me With one of the best turnouts to our in giving the January BBQ meet, we grilled the day away gift of life at the watching episodes of Firefly and the Easter Pleasanton Red egg in the Serenity DVD. Our Q Master, Cross Donation John Harding, experimented with the Center. We had potency of Kingsford Matchlight charcoal, our share of and Glenn Martin and Jason Cherry moral support too discovered they were fellow Reflex scooter – Pete Briggs and riders. Both of them looked like superheroes Kierin Bushore in their motorcycle gear… a picture is gave words of forthcoming so you will understand my encouragement meaning. The topic of the meeting was and fed us juice WonderCon. It is the place where the and snacks after majority of the crew will be on February we donated our 11th, and most of us will be in some kind red blood-celled of Firefly/Serenity costuming. I will be in fluid. We enjoyed Federation gear with the Klingons from the a Togo’s lunch of IKV Black Dragon and the IKV Bloodlust sandwiches and later in the evening. soup together before parting January 19th – Ethics and Culture of Star ways in the Pete Briggs and Celeste Miller with Star Trek Ethics students at St. Trek Presentation Mary’s College Photo courtesy of IKV Black Dragon torrential rain. Pete Briggs and I were invited to

21 be guest speakers at a “Star Trek Ethics” California 94103 complete silliness. Consider it an enormous class at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. We 1st Level, Starbucks Coffee 415-369- opportunity for blackmail material. If you presented the cultural differences between 6284 would like to check us out if you haven’t the Klingons and the Federation, and Saturday, February 11th @ 2pm met us yet, feel free to join us as well. Please we represented fandom as well. Many drop me an email or a voice message and thanks to Professor Kathy Fowler for the We’ll gather at the evil Starshmucks let me know you are coming. I will make opportunity to express ourselves and the and choose a place to eat lunch in the sure everyone is accounted for (eyeofcanaan class for the gracious and warm reception Metreon. Even if you do not plan to *at* gmail *dot* com or 925/570-9103). I we received. You can view the photos on attend WonderCon, this is a chance look forward to chillin’ with my best (that IKV Black Dragon’s website at http:// to see your fellow crewmen dressed in means you) at the Metreon! www.ikvblackdragon.com under Pictures.

Where’s the meet? Well, it is official. Bill and I have started the process of packing up the apartment so the Decatur’s 10-Forward is officially trashed. The meets have traditionally been held the first weekend of the month, but I have a different idea for February’s gathering. Many of us will be at WonderCon already, so how about we make some hubbub about it and get together in San Francisco? The Metreon is right across the street from the Moscone Center, with a Starbucks Coffee on the first level (not the cart). The closest BART stations are Montgomery (3rd Street) and Powell, in that order.

So here’s the plan: Sony Metreon Pete Briggs faces off against Star Trek Ethics students at St. Mary’s College 101 4th Street 151, San Francisco, Photo courtesy of IKV Black Dragon

22 BASFA Minutes: meeting 806 January 2, 2006 deal with reassigning history. the worst monstrosity in film - as a very We established a party jar. long 3 hours - & overblown. Trey Haddad, President The President reported that our mailing I reviewed ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ as Nathan Slerm-r & Chris Garcia, Vice- list has shown a sudden surge of activity. disappointing, lovely but hollow & worth President No Committee reports. going to go see on a gift certificate. Dave Gallaher, Treasurer No Announcements. Chris reviewed ‘Costumers Quarterly’ Galen Tripp, Sargent at Arms Reviews: as a fine read & reviewed ‘Brokeback Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary Ken reviewed ‘The Producers’ as he was Mountain’ [‘that gay cowboy movie’] as Began 8:04 p.m. disappointed by it & he felt it was trying there’s a lot of angry love in that movie, but 18 people attended to hard to be the original film & failed, but it’s too long - is worth full price anyway. Secretary’s report: the minutes of that the musical numbers were great. He Andy reviewed ‘Touch of Pink’ as meeting 804 were accepted as ‘fantabulously thought it was worth matinee & said to chaos & hilarity ensue - charming - and saturated’ & the minutes of meeting 805 stay for the credits to see the cookie. worth buying at Dave’s dealer table at a were accepted as ‘in memory of Casey ‘Monkey’ = Chris likes monkeys. convention. Forrest Wahi’ It was mentioned that Kevin R.’s sister Ed also reviewed a ‘Settlers of Catan’ Treasurer report was that we took in once led an exciting life. Kevin R. reviewed expansion called ‘Cities & Knights’ as $11.08 in the regular jar [& there was no a DVD of the ‘50’s TV ‘Flash Gordon’ as it worth full price. party jar]. was difficult to sit through & will end up in Then we auctioned off stuff = comics VP reports = no Nathan [week 10] & a BASFA auction soon. for $0.45; a bag for $1.20 & books for VP Chris reported ‘O so many things’ Ed reviewed ‘How to Lie With Statistics’ $1.65, $1.00, $0.75, $3.50 & $5.00. - there’s a new ‘Drink Tank’ out, that as a nice, useful book [& then there were We adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Howard Devore died on New Year’s Eve some neeps about statistics]. And the rumor of the week was: ‘You & discussed a future ‘Drink Tank’ that will Harold reviewed ‘King Kong’ as possibly Klingon bastard - you killed my rumor!’ BASFA Minutes: meeting 807 January 9, 2006 Dave Gallaher, Treasurer 22 people attended. Trey Haddad, President Galen Tripp, Sargent at Arms Nathan Slerm-r & Chris Garcia, Vice- Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary Secretary’s report: the minutes of President Began 8:03 p.m. meeting 806 were accepted as ‘you Klingon 23 son - you killed my bastard’. Airtight Garage. Cheryl reviewed her MP3 player as she Kevin S announced there are no print loves it & it’s still only half full & reviewed Treasurer report was that last week we copies of ‘Emerald City’ this week. Boston as very like London & the weather took in $31.34 in the regular jar & $36.20 Cheryl announced that the latest there is disgusting. in the party jar. ‘Emerald City’ is online & she will be Art reviewed ‘Pride & Prejudice’ - seen lurking in Europe for the next few months at the Century 25 as the film’s sound went VP reports = no Nathan [week 11] & in the bitter cold [so think warm thoughts out half-way through the film - but what he VP Chris reported ‘O so many things’ - about her]. saw was pretty good there’s a new ‘Drink Tank’ out, & he has Ed announced the BASFA FurCon Julie reviewed the lemonade as pretty another film in this year’s Cinequest = ‘Last party will be on Friday night. good. Woman on Earth’ which may be shown on Kevin R announced the FurCon League Chris reviewed ‘Fantastic 4’ on DVD March 8th. of Evil Genius party will also be on Friday as not a bad film & worth DVD rental if night [next to the Suburban Jungle party]. only for the mini-documentary extra & he We established a party jar. Frank Wu announced it is now Hugo reviewed ‘Roller Girls’ as the single greatest nomination tine for LACon4 [until March show on TV [‘this month’, added Kevin The President said ‘hi’ to ‘Bob’ [no 10] & it was suggested we do nominations R]. last name given] - who has followed our on the first 3 Mondays in February. Kevin S. reviewed his train trip as exploits for months but was here in RL for excessively long [rail neeps followed]. the 1st time. Reviews: Kevin R. reviewed Sushi to Die For as We applauded Art, as webmaster, for Joanie reviewed ‘Passage’ by Connie anime played on the walls [without sound], having helped clear up the mailing list Willis as it is not a fast-paced, plot-driven but the service was extremely slow, the food problems [along with Michael Wallis]. novel, but she recommends buying it in was okay & the muzak was not very good. No Committee reports. paperback & she reviewed the spiral jetty as Adrienne reviewed the ‘Lestat’ musical a harrowing ride to get there - use a sturdy [‘did it suck?’ Chris asked] - as she left early Announcements: vehicle - & it’s worth visiting. for medical reasons but what she saw was Adrienne announced that she is on I reviewed ‘Dhampir’, ‘Thief of Souls’ enjoyable to that point. the LACon4 con committee for Writer’s & ‘Sister of the Dead’ by the Hendees as Then we auctioned off stuff = books for Workshop. I wanted to damage the protagonists as $0.25; $0.75 & $1.00; a hat for $1.50 & a Julie announced that a new group their stupidity grew worse throughout the video for $1.25. formed, ‘SOOT’ [Students Of Old books; to save your money & not buy these We adjourned at 9:24 p.m. Technology] & is meeting at Ardenwood books, even for kindling. Then we neeped And the rumor of the week was = Forge; best contact point is through the about vampires a little. ‘BASFA will unleash the beavers’. 24 BASFA Minutes: meeting 808

January 16, 2006 finally got Dr. Who and will start showing is better and she recommends buying the Trey Haddad, President the new show in March. new hardback that Barnes and Noble has Nathan Slerm-r & Chris Garcia, Vice-President Reviews: Harold reviewed the SJ Coin put out on it. Dave Gallaher, Treasurer Show as an insidious plot to get people to Dave C reviewed Bullwinkles restaurant Galen Tripp, Sergeant at Arms transform their money into currencies that in Wilsonville, OR as they have very Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary no longer exist; thought they had a nice limited audio-animatronics & is a family Began 8:00 p.m. 20 people attended. selection and he wasn’t able to afford much fun center with a restaurant attached & Secretary’s report: the minutes of of anything. he recommends it; Chris stated that this meeting 807 were accepted as ‘dammed.’ Joanie reviewed the general tenor of reviews restores his faith in humanity. Treasurer report was that last week we for Brokeback Mountain as rather insulting; Frank Wu reviewed Arisia [where he took in $?? [no Treasurer]. Dave C asked for detail & Andy said ‘just the was the artist GoH] as it had its highest VP reports = no Nathan [week 12] - verbs!’ [and various neeps followed]. attendance ever & he got to do dueling Nathan is now free! & VP Chris reported Andy did part 2 of his pancake review, easels with Bob Eggelton & it was really ‘O so many things’ - there will be a new saying the Dutch Baby - a baked custard fun - reviewed the whole convention as ‘Drink Tank’ out tomorrow, & an ‘SFSF’ pancake that is almost a pancake soufflé fun, even when he pulled his shoulder. out on Wednesday or Thursday. - served with drizzled lemon juice and Elizabeth reviewed Neverwhere as she We established a party jar. powdered sugar - was very good, worth full likes it and can’t wait to see episode #6 & The President reported that Further price - but it takes 20 minutes to prepare. highly recommends it. Confusion is this week - be there and have Chris reviewed a white chocolate ice- Then we auctioned off stuff: books for fun; come to the BASFA party on Friday at blended mocha from the SF Coffee Bean $2.50; $10.00, $0.50; $1.50, $0.75; $2.00, 8pm - and help out there, too. There was [at Market & 2nd] as possibly the best thing $0.25; Star Trek blueprints for $10.00; Thumb then a furry of bad jokes. humanity has ever invented - absolutely Wars [for Frank] for $1.25; the Enterprise on Kevin S suggested that we start Hugo fantastic & worth selling your soul for & he a stick for $1.50; MST shorts for $4.50; an nominations on Jan 30th. reviewed a DVD of ‘Mister Show, seasons 1 & audio book $1.00; an uncorrected proof [for Announcements Andy announced 2’ as very funny, worth whatever he paid for it Ken] for $6.12; more books for $0.25 & an that the FurCon League of Evil Genius & reviewed the SF silk pie as also very nice. action figure for $2.50. party will be on Friday night [next to the Art reviewed the 2nd half of Pride & We adjourned at 9:28 p.m. Suburban Jungle party] - & to come there Prejudice as it was equally good as the 1st And the rumor of the week was: ‘Barbara and be a lab rat. half; Elizabeth follow-on’d as she enjoyed hates us all with a vehement passion that is Ken announced the SciFi channel has the movie but that the A&E mini-series unequalled in the universe, period.’ 25 BASFA Minutes: meeting 809

January 23, 2006 Lassiter does the introductions. Tom Whitmore sold many of her books, while Trey Haddad, President Chris announced that this is the city of Nick Pollata was Dave’s biggest seller. Chris Garcia, Vice-President Fremont’s 50th anniversary [film neeps followed]. Kevin R reviewed Boston as really, REALLY Dave Gallaher, Treasurer Frank Wu announced that there’s a [x6] cold, his work was accomplished, that he Galen Tripp, Sergeant at Arms new fanzine, edited by Steve Upham called had squid & half a canoli & that his fur coat Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary ‘Estronomics’ - and that the current issue has was good. Began 8:02 p.m., post-con. 18 people attended cover art from Frank [so go check it out]. Julie reviewed tribe.net as she joined and Secretary’s report: the minutes of meeting Reviews: Further Confusion was multiply then they changed their terms of service to an 808 were accepted as ‘in honor of Carl reviewed. I reviewed it as “I’m Free!,” that it extremely restricted one, plus that it’s way too Popper.’ was a very good convention, that most of its red; Chris follow-on’d that it had a big local fan Treasurer report was that at meeting 807 ills stayed out of public view & fun; Kevin S complement & may yet still be good. we took in $10.52 in the regular jar & $12.21 reviewed it as he felt he got his $50.00 worth, Dave G. commented that user agreements in the party jar & at meeting 808 we took in enjoyed the anime track & habit made him sit are getting huge. $17.08 in the regular jar & $42.30 in the party in the “fan-tables area” & he had a good time; Andy reviewed al-ca-ma-hols - that unfiltered jar. Andy reviewed it as there was minor hotel sake was used as Vrang milk and noted that the VP report: he was sick this last week & drama & he upgraded to a Sponsor-level badge larger the sake bottle becomes, the higher the there is a new ‘Drink Tank.’ to avoid the looooong line [and it was worth grade of sake it contains & that Brennivin, an The President reported that he was at the extra cost], that he did a panel on Friday, Icelandic burned wine is not bad. FurCon and had fun & that it was a high- held a VERY popular panel on Friday night Dave G reviewed the Xena Con in LA as it energy con, which is a good thing. & the parties in general did very well, that has 95% females to 5% males - but it was an Reminder that next week is week #1 of the Masquerade started on time & tech was interesting convention. Hugo nominations. fabulous & that the Furry Variety Show ran so Then we auctioned off stuff = books & Announcements: Anime LA will be in Van long that Sunday parties never really got going, videos for $0.25; books & audio books for Nuys this weekend. the Hiss & Purr went well, Art Show was $1.00; books for $1.00; $0.25, $0.50, $4.00, Kevin S. announced that this weekend good & Dealer’s Den was popular; Kevin R $0.25, $6.00; & reams of paper for $1.50; will see the last sf con at the SeaTac Radisson, reviewed it as stripes were achieved & the con- $1.00, $1.25 & $1.00. the Last Guest Con, before the hotel is goers seemed younger, that the Evil Genius We adjourned at 9:50 p.m. And the rumor demolished. Party was the last to close on Friday night, that of the week was ‘Squid, squid, squid, squid, Eric announced that TCM is doing Saturday was way too quiet; Dave C. reviewed squid, squid, squid, squid, squid, squid, squid, Myazaki movies on Thursdays & that John it as the Writer GoH was Jane Lindskold and squid, squid, baked beans and squid.’ 26 BASFA Minutes: meeting 810

January 30, 2006. awake now & that the party was held, he to be popular, that the Masquerade ran Trey Haddad, President got a new club member, that the Stokke smoothly - if a bit delayed - and the awards Chris Garcia, Vice-President family donated $50.00 to food & he needs included Pocky, that the drive back along Dave Gallaher, Treasurer a check for $82 [and change] for party the 101 was okay & that he might be crazy Galen Tripp, Sargent at Arms expenses, letting the rest roll over to the enough to do this again. Kevin R reviewed Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary. next party. We then discussed this year’s it as that the Masquerade lateness was not Worldcon, including that it will be 1 week his fault; Kevin S commented that the fan Began 8:01 p.m. [with pie]. -before- Labor Day weekend this year. base for anime fandom seems to be where 22 people attended. We established a party jar. fandom’s youth & energy is now. Secretary’s report: the minutes of Dave G proposed charging for puns in Kevin S. reviewed ‘Last Guest Con’ as meeting 809 were accepted as ‘100.’ this issue of ‘Drink Tank’ and the motion the SeaTac Radisson’s last con, a relaxicon Treasurer report was last week we took failed. & low-keyed reminiscence event, that the in $36.49 in the regular jar [our total Saturday night casino was just for funzies $8,212.44] & there was no party jar Announcements: [no cash] & that Kevin noted that more [current party total = $180.96]. Kevin S. announced that there are new than just sf con attendees do sf con-type VP report = he has a new ‘Drink Tank’ ‘Emerald Cities’ in the room [yay!] & things at their conventions & he had a nice out & there’s been a lot of internet chatter there will be the 1st of 3 weeks of Hugo weekend - and he brought Chris his room’s about this issue & there’ll be a new SF/ nominations after the meeting tonight. ‘do not disturb/service request’ door sign. SF out this week - and he had a brilliant Ed reviewed Ringo’s ‘Watch on the idea. This idea led, eventually, to Kevin Reviews: Rhine’ as ‘they all die, so why bother with S. suggesting that Chris chair the ‘Prairie Anime LA was multiply reviewed. characterization’ & worth full price. Home Convention.’ Andy reviewed it as he & Kevin ran the The President reported a horrible pun Masquerade, so he didn’t see much of Then we auctioned off pop rocks for [involving a female gaming con called the con, but that they stopped selling $1.00. EstroGenCon]. memberships at around 1350 [when they We adjourned at 9 p m. Reminder that next week is week #2 of ran out of badges], that the Pirate Rum And the rumor of the week was: Hugo nominations. party was pretty cool but there weren’t ‘thank you, Kevin, for agreeing to Chair The party committee reported that he’s enough anime-themed pirates & it seemed WoeBeCon.’

27 Bay Area Science Fiction Calendar

While some effort (OK, OK, damn Through February 11 will exist simply for human convenience. little effort) is made to verify event Fabulandia: Fauna Art Exhibit Plants and animals will be co-joined as listings, please check before attending as The LAB tiny deer sprout massive antlers made from events are sometimes cancelled or times 2948 16th Street brightly colored coral and double-headed and locations changed. San Francisco sheep graze contentedly in bucolic fields www.thelab.org of endlessly blooming daisies. Envision a New listings are in red. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-6 PM hyper-efficient future when industry will Free have finally created a seamless biotech Through February 11 blend of animals, machinery and furniture. The Mystery Plays Featuring artwork by Donelle Estey, Covered in your choice of synthetic faux SF Playhouse Mandy Greer, Tim Jag, Daniel Ross and fur... naturally.” 536 Sutter Street (between Powell & Tara Tucker. Part one of this show, Fabulandia: Terra, Mason) From their website: was reviewed in issue 10 of Science Fiction/ San Francisco “Fabulandia is The Lab’s two-part San Francisco. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday exploration into the world of the future, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday the domain of the impossible and the $36 fantastical. Fauna features the work of five West Coast Premiere from the writer artists envisioning the drastically altered of the Fantastic Four comic book, Roberto creatures that will populate the terrain of Aguirre-Sacasa borrows from Alfred Fabulandia. Fauna fast-forwards viewers Hitchcock and H.P. Lovecraft, The Mystery into a shadow land where endangered Plays intertwines two seemingly random wildlife has been conveniently removed and events-a Northeast train wreck and a replaced by new and improved versions. terrifying expedition to solve an Oregon Extravagantly fabricated trophies will be crime–sending two friends on different the only surviving memory of the natural paths of self-discovery to find the power of world and its wildlife as it once existed. Just forgiveness. think of it - new strains of hybrid mutations More Events Next Page 28 Ongoing through March 12, 2006 creator spotlight focuses on Gahan Wilson, Jill Thompson; Batton Lash’s Supernatural Gross, Gruesome and Gothic one of the most celebrated and respected Law warns us to beware the creatures of Cartoon Art Museum cartoonists of our time. In the past half- the night...and their lawyers; and Charles 655 Mission Street century, Wilson’s distinctive cartoons and Schulz’s classic comic Peanuts asks the San Francisco, CA 94105 illustrations have graced the pages of The burning question, “When will the Great Phone: 415/CAR-TOON, New Yorker, Nickelodeon, Playboy and Pumpkin arrive?” 415/227-8666 National Lampoon. In 2005, Wilson “It came from the Seventies! As the Silver Hours: Daily 11:00 - 5:00, Closed received the coveted Milton Caniff Lifetime Age of comics came to an end, the Marvel, Monday Achievement Award from the National DC and Warren publishing companies Admission Prices: Cartoonists Society, one of the highest unleashed a wave of horror comics that $6.00 - Adults honors that a cartoonist can achieve. pushed the boundaries of comic book art. $4.00 - Students & Seniors “The Vault of Horror: Graham Alfredo Alcala, Jim Aparo, Frank Brunner, $2.00 - Children (ages 6 - 12) “Ghastly” Ingels From the pages of EC Gene Colan and Dick Giordano, among FREE - Children (age 5 & below) Comics’ seminal comic book The Vault others, bring new life to classic characters The first Tuesday of every calendar month of Horror comes “Shoe-Button Eyes,” a from Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster is “Pay What You Wish Day.” complete seven-page story illustrated by to anti-heroes including The Spectre, From their website: Graham Ingels. Vampirella and Morbius, The Living “From the darkest depths of the cartoon “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of: Vampire. vaults comes the Cartoon Art Museum’s Neil Gaiman’s Sandman One of the most “Nothin’ But Misery: The Goon by Eric latest exhibition, Gross, Gruesome and popular and acclaimed comic book series of Powell Powell is the Eisner Award-winning Gothic. This horrifying display features the past 20 years, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman creator of Dark Horse Comic series The over 50 original cartoons from a wide array tales from DC Comics set new standards in Goon, a horror comedy that pits the title of artists and comics, from spine-tinglers to excellence for fantasy and horror. Featured character and his pal Frankie against killer rib-ticklers and everything in between. artists include Chris Bachalo, Duncan robots, zombies, Spanish-speaking lizards “Exhibition highlights include: Eagleson, Marc Hempel, Kent Williams and other supernatural menaces.” “Masters of the Macabre: Edward Gorey, and series cover artist Dave McKean. Charles Addams and Basil Wolverton “Scared Silly! Scary comics don’t always Three of the most influential humorists of take themselves seriously. Bongo Comics’ all time present their unique views of the annual Treehouse of Horror special features Send your items for inclusion in our world around us in a selection of comics The Simpsons as you’ve never seen them calendar section to: and illustrations dating back to the 1920s. before, as illustrated by Sergio Aragonés, [email protected] “Spotlight on Gahan Wilson: This Peter Kuper, Bill Morrison, Scott Shaw and 29 February 2 Thursday, February 2 February 3 Blood Tea and Red String Cal Animage Alpha Ice Skating Razor Blade Smile Castro Theater Berkeley Iceland Roxie Cinema 429 Castro Street Berkeley 3117 16th Street San Francisco www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ San Francisco 5 p.m. family.php 11:45 p.m. Part of the SF Indie Film Festival. I UC Berkeley’s anime club hold a “family Part of the SF indie film festival. A don’t know if this film really is a fantasy, night” of ice skating. See their website for slinky vampire hit woman goes up against but it sounds so weird that, what the heck, details. the Bavarian Illuminati. I’ll include it. From the website: February 3 February 3, 4 and 5 “Blood Tea and Red String is a stop- Initial D Back to the Future motion animated feature that tells the Roxie Cinema Act 1 and 2 charming story of love and greed, creation 3117 16th Street 2128 Center Street and loss, life and death and (of course), evil San Francisco Berkeley card-playing mice and birds and snakes that 2:15 p.m. Friday at midnight, Saturday at noon and tear their way out of passive doll figures. While it doesn’t have any science fiction midnight, Sunday at noon. “Christiane Cegavske is the director, elements, this Hong Kong movie is based Midnight movies return to the Act 1 producer, writer, set and costume designer on a popular Japanese manga series that is and 2 theater with this Michael J. Fox time and animator of this dialogue-free epic also spawned a fan favorite anime series. travel movie. about the struggle between the aristocratic White Mice and the rustic ‘Creatures Who February 3 Saturday, February 4 Dwell Under the Oak’. Pirates of the Great Salt Lake Rocky Horror Picture Show “The Mice commission the Oak Roxie Cinema www.picturepubpizza.com Dwellers to create a beautiful doll for them. 3117 16th Street Parkway Speakeasy Theater When she is complete, the Creatures fall San Francisco 1834 Park Blvd. in love with her and refuse to give her up. 7 p.m. Oakland Resorting to thievery the Mice abscond Yet another movie at the SF Indie $6 with her in the middle of the night. The Film Festival that I can’t tell whether it’s Midnight ‘Creatures Who Dwell Under the Oak’ speculative fiction or not. Supposed to be Barely Legal Productions presents the must journey through this mystical land to a comedy, Definitely going to be strange. classic midnight movie every Saturday reclaim the love they created.” Will contain pirates wearing eyeliner. night. No one under 17 admitted. 30 Saturday, February 4 Sunday, February 5 Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this Blood Tea and Red String Foothills Anime Showing week’s featured show: Maze. Roxie Cinema Building 1500 3117 16th Street Foothills College Monday, February 6 San Francisco Los Altos Hills Naisu no Mori: The First Contact Noon Noon Roxie Cinema See February 2 for details. Free 3117 16th Street Their website says the date for this is San Francisco Saturday, February 4 February 6, but their showings are usually 9:30 p.m. Richard Paul Russo on Sunday, please check before attending. All I can do here is quote from the SF Borderlands Books Indie Film Festival website descrption: 866 Valencia Monday, February 6 “If you are searching for the weirdest San Francisco Bay Area Science Fiction Association movie in the 2006 IndieFest program - 3:00 p.m. The Original Hick’ry Pit look no further. Naisu no Mori: The First Free 980 E. Campbell Ave. Contact is the only film that features an Borderlands welcomes Philip K. Dick Campbell ejaculating Ass-Television that plugs into a Award Winner Richard Paul Russo, author 8 p.m. schoolgirl’s navel to save an alien planet and of Ship of Fools and the Carlucci books. Free give birth to a tiny sushi chef. Russo will be reading from his brand-new www.basfa.org “Co-director and co-writer Katsuhto space opera, The Rosetta Codex. Ishii (Sharkskin Man and Peach Hip Girl, Monday, February 6 Party 7) won our Audience Award for Best Sunday, February 5 Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Film last year with Taste of Tea. His latest Pirates of the Great Salt Lake 145 Dwinelle film (made with two friends) is a seriously Women’s Building UC Berkeley Campus bizarre series of short films, animation, 3543 18th Street Berkeley dance numbers, weird comedy, musical San Francisco www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ interludes and unclassifiable science-fiction 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. moments loosely revolving around cult icon Yet another movie at the SF Indie Free Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer, Gohatto, Film Festival that I can’t tell whether it’s The oldest of the Bay Area’s university Zatoichi) as Guitar Brother (one of the speculative fiction or not. Supposed to be a anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday three “Unpopular with Women Brothers”), comedy, it’s definitely going to be strange. night when school is in session. Every week his horny older sibling, and their little Will contain pirates in eyeliner. this semester they are showing episodes of Caucasian brother. 31 “This film is highly recommended for Tuesday, February 7 refine Victor’s extraordinary ability -and people who want to see tiny little insect Stanford NewType Anime Club Showing making him a really cool costume. Norman spaceships, aliens, dance numbers, random Room 60-61H envisions an exciting (and ambiguously gay) jump cuts, animation, intertitle credits, Building 60 new life as Victor’s faithful sidekick. But all fades to black, pillowfights, ping pong, Stanford Campus is not well in Superhero-land. Before long stand-up comedy routines, a tribute to Palo Alto Norman realizes that he may have made a David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch in a 8-10:30 p.m. terrible mistake.” school classroom, and a generous three- Free minute intermission so you can go to Thursday, February 9 the snack bar or restroom. If that sounds Thursday, February 9 and Cal Animage Alpha “Family Night” interesting, you’re in for a treat. Watch for Saturday February 11 Berkeley Ryo Kase (Bright Future, Antenna, Taste Sidekick www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ of Tea) dancing on a beach with aliens Roxie Cinema family.php and a giant animated Tango Amazon with 3117 16th Street UC Berkeley’s anime club family nights dangerous pasties.” San Francisco are gatherings of interest groups within the 4:30 p.m. club held every Thursday. See their website Tuesday, February 7 From the SF Indie Film Festival for details. Initial D website: Roxie Cinema “Comic geek Norman spends his nights 3117 16th Street dreaming of fighting crime and imagining San Francisco what it would be like to have a girlfriend, 7 p.m. until one fateful day... Norman sees While it doesn’t have any science fiction something astounding that changes his life elements, this Hong Kong movie is based forever. on a popular Japanese manga series that is “He becomes convinced that Victor also spawned a fan favorite anime series. Ventura - his swaggering, pretty-boy co- worker, has telekinetic abilities. Norman is quickly obsessed with the hunky telepath and comes to the outlandish conclusion that he should train him to become a real- life superhero. His plan of action involves developing exercises to strengthen and 32 Thursday, February 9 Friday, February 10 Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), and many Thrillville’s Sexy Sci-Fi Valentine’s Show Comics 4 Comix more. Some of today’s most popular comic Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine Cartoon Art Museum book writers and artists - including Gahan www.thrillville.net 655 Mission Street Wilson, Batton Lash, Bill Morrison and Parkway Speakeasy Cinema San Francisco, CA 94105 Eric Powell - will also be in attendance. www.picturepubpizza.com 415/227-8666 1834 Park Blvd. www.cartoonart.org Friday-Saturday, February 10 and 11 Oakland 8:00 p.m. - 11 p.m. Highlander 9:15 p.m. $15 - $35 (sliding scale) Act 1 and 2 $7 Comics and comix collide as the fun- 2128 Center Street It’s a sexy science fiction spy Valentine’s nies meet the funny in a fundraiser/silent Berkeley show featuring Vincent Price, Frankie art auction for the Cartoon Art Museum. Midnight Avalon, a crazy car chase thru San Francisco Join the Bay Area’s funniest folk for a night and an army of alluring androids in Dr. of laffs, food, drink and fun, and bid on Saturday, February 11 Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine. With a original art by some of the brightest stars in No Name Anime live burlesque act. comics today. www.nnanime.com In addition to its usual fare of origi- Saratoga Library February 10-12 2006 nal cartoon and comic art, the Cartoon Art 13650 Saratoga Ave. Wondercon Museum plays host to an all-star collection Saratoga The Moscone Center of stand-up COMICS for this fundraiser, 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. or so San Francisco with many of the Bay Area’s top comedic Free Comic book convention with anime, talents performing throughout the evening. summer movie previews, panels, dealers, Michael Capozzola hosts a Saturday, February 11 costume contest, more. variety of comedic talent, including Tony Fantastic Frontiers Meeting Dijamco, Brian Malow, Will Franken, and Sacramento County headliner Johnny Steele, with additional Email [email protected] for special guests to be announced. directions As for COMIX, partygoers will have groups.yahoo.com.groups/ the opportunity to purchase original comic fantasticfrontiers strip art from popular local and national Free cartoonists, including Dan Piraro (Bi- The group will celebrate its third zarro), Paul Madonna (All Over Coffee), anniversary with a glow bowling outing. 33 Saturday, February 11 Saturday, February 11 Sunday, February 12 Guy Gavriel Kay House of Fury Gay Men’s Book Club Barnes and Noble Roxie Cinema Borderlands Books Jack London Square 3117 16th Street 866 Valencia 98 Broadway San Francisco San Francisco Oakland 11:45 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. Part of the SF Indie Film Festival. Free Free Martial arts comedy with lots of wire-fu The book for this month is Declare and digital effects. A brother and sister by Tim Powers. Please contact the Saturday, February 11 don’t believe their father’s story about being group leader, Christopher Rodriquez, Rocky Horror Picture Show a secret agent until his is kidnapped by an at [email protected] for more www.picturepubpizza.com old enemy. Produced by Jackie Chan and information. Parkway Speakeasy Theater has martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo 1834 Park Blvd. Ping. Fair warning: this stars the infamous Sunday, February 12 Oakland Twins. Speculative Fiction Book Club $6 Kepler’s Midnight Sunday, February 12 1010 El Camino Real Barely Legal Productions presents the Initial D Menlo Park classic midnight movie every Saturday Roxie Cinema 7 p.m. night. No one under 17 admitted. 3117 16th Street Free San Francisco This month the group will discuss Ken Saturday, February 11 4:30 p.m. MacLeod’s Newton’s Wake. Two Masters of Horror While it doesn’t have any science Jennifer by Dario Agento fiction elements, this Hong Kong movie is Incident On and Off a Mountain Road by based on a popular Japanese manga series Don Coscarelli that is also spawned a fan favorite anime Roxie Cinema series. Part of the SF Indie Film Festival. 3117 16th Street San Francisco 9:30 p.m. Two short horror films originally made for Showtime. Part of the SF Indie Film Festival. 34 Sunday, February 12 Sunday, February 12 Tuesday, February 14 The Great Yokai War Naisu no Mori: The First Contact Sci-Fi Book Club Roxie Theater Roxie Cinema Barnes & Noble 3117 16th Street 3117 16th Street 3501 McHenry Ave., Suite E San Francisco San Francisco Modesto 7 p.m. 9:30 p.m. Free Showing as part of the SF indie film See February 6 for details. festival. I can’t believe somebody thought it Tuesday, February 14 was a good idea to let Takashi Miike made a Monday, February 6 Stanford NewType Anime Club Showing children’s movie. The last movie of his I saw Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Room 60-61H that had kids in it featured a hermaphradic 145 Dwinelle Building 60 high school student/assassin that could UC Berkeley Campus Stanford Campus shoot deadly darts from her vagina. I suspect Berkeley Palo Alto he’s toned down his legendary excesses for www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ 8-10:30 p.m. this one, but don’t go to this one expecting 7:30 p.m. Free to see a Japanese version of the Care Bears Free movie. This has Chiaki Kuriyama (Gogo The oldest of the Bay Area’s university Yubari from Kill Bill Vol. 1) in a supporting anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday role. In Japanese with English subtitles. night when school is in session. Every week this semester they are showing episodes of Sunday, February 12 Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this Bad Movie Night week’s featured show: Jigouku Shoujo. Goonies The Dark Room Theater 2263 Mission Street Monday, February 13 San Francisco Bay Area Science Fiction Association darkroomsf.com The Original Hick’ry Pit 8 p.m. 980 E. Campbell Ave. $5 Campbell 8 p.m. Free www.basfa.org. 35 Wednesday, February15 Thursday, February 16 Friday, February 17 Ask a Scientist - topic: Synthetic Sight Sci-Fi Book Club USS Defiance Meeting Bazaar Café Barnes & Noble Round Table Pizza 5927 California St. (21st Ave) Creekside Town Center Howe Avenue San Francisco 1265 Galeria Blvd. Sacramento www.askascientistsf.com/ (916) 788-4320 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 7 - 9 p.m. Roseville Free Free Free Last year Dirk Trauner and colleagues at Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18 Berkeley did something really interesting: Friday, February 17 Raiders of the Lost Ark they reengineered a non-photosensitive Scott Sigler Act 1 and 2 nerve cell so that it could be turned on Spellbinding Tales 2128 Center Street or off in response to light. Come find out 1910A Encinal Avenue Berkeley how they did it and how their technique Alameda Midnight could eventually become the basis of a gene 7 p.m. therapy for certain kinds of blindness. Free February 17-20 About the Series: Ask a Scientist is a Appearance by San Francisco science Dundracon new and different kind of lecture series. fiction author Scott Sigler. San Ramon Marriott If you love watching Nova and reading 2600 Bishop Drive Scientific American at the doctor’s office, Friday, February 17 San Ramon then this event is for you. Enjoy food, Futurist Salon Book Group www.dundracon.com drinks, socializing, and conversation about Barnes & Noble Booksellers Gaming convention. the universe’s most fascinating mysteries! Hillsdale Shopping Center 11 West Hillsdale Blvd. Thursday, February 16 San Mateo Cal Animage Alpha “Family Night” 650-341-5560 www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ 7:30 p.m. family.php Free UC Berkeley’s anime club family nights are gatherings of interest groups within the club held every Thursday. See their website for details. 36 February 17-20 Saturday, February 18 Tuesday, February 21 PantheaCon Rocky Horror Picture Show Rudy Rucker San Jose Doubletree www.picturepubpizza.com The Booksmith www.ancientways.com/pantheacon Parkway Speakeasy Theater 1644 Haight Street Pagan convention. Workshops, lectures, 1834 Park Blvd. San Francisco performances, rituals, vendors, drumming, Oakland www.booksmith.com dancing, costume contest. $6 7 p.m. Midnight Free Saturday, February 18 Barely Legal Productions presents the Novelist and scientist Rudy Rucker Donald Sidney-Fryer classic midnight movie every Saturday will read and sign from his new non-fiction Borderlands Books night. No one under 17 admitted. book The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the 866 Valencia Soul. 4 pm: Sunday, February 19 Donald Sidney-Fryer, presenting Clark Science Fiction Book Club Tuesday, February 21 Ashton Smith’s The Last Oblivion, will Borderlands Books Stanford NewType Anime Club Showing share his insights on, and his performance www.borderlands-books.com Room 60-61H of, the poetry of Clark Ashton Smith. 866 Valencia St. Building 60 San Francisco Stanford Campus Saturday, February 18 6 p.m. Palo Alto Manga Otaku Free 8-10:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble Booksellers This month’s book is Wonderland by Free Barnes & Noble Booksellers Joyce Carol Oates. Please contact Jude Weberstown Mall at [email protected] for Thursday, February 23 4950 Pacific Avenue, Space 319 more information. Cal Animage Alpha “Family Night” Stockton, CA 95207 www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ 209-472-1885 Monday, February 20 family.php 6 p.m. Bay Area Science Fiction Association UC Berkeley’s anime club family nights Free The Original Hick’ry Pit are gatherings of interest groups within the Graphic novel book group. 980 E. Campbell Ave. club held every Thursday. See their website Campbell for details. 8 p.m. Free www.basfa.org. 37 Friday, February 24 stunning gallery exhibition featuring the can purchase tickets for the reduced rate of Sci-Fi / Fantasy Book Group pre-production artwork of The Incredibles, $125, while the non-member rate is $175. Barnes & Noble Booksellers as well as other fine artwork by Pixar em- Call 415-227-8666, ext. 300 to purchase Weberstown Mall ployees. Guests will then be escorted into tickets. Tickets will not be sold at the door. 4950 Pacific Avenue, Space 319 Pixar’s state-of-the-art 240-seat theater to Stockton, CA 95207 hear stories from artists, gain insight into Saturday, February 25 209-472-1885 Pixar’s unique movie-making process and Rocky Horror Picture Show 6:30 p.m. catch a glimpse behind the scenes at the www.picturepubpizza.com Free productions of Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Parkway Speakeasy Theater and The Incredibles. 1834 Park Blvd. Saturday, February 25 After the presentation, guests will have Oakland Twenty Years Behind the Scenes at an opportunity to converse with the speak- $6 Pixar Animation Studios ers and other Pixar employees. There will Midnight Pixar Animation Studios also be a glimpse into Pixar’s future, as Barely Legal Productions presents the 1200 Park Avenue some of the creative team of Pixar’s next classic midnight movie every Saturday Emeryville short film, One Man Band, screen and talk night. No one under 17 admitted. 415-CARTOON, ext. 300 about their film. http://www.cartoonart.org Hors d’oeuvres will be served during 6 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.) the art exhibition viewing from 6-7 p.m.. $175 ($125 for Cartoon Art Museum The presentation will begin promptly at 7 members) p.m.. and will be hosted by Dr. Michael B. The Cartoon Art Museum hosts its Johnson, lead, Moving Pictures Group at third annual benefit at Pixar Animation Pixar, and will include other Pixar employ- Studios on Saturday, February 25, 2006. ees, including director Mark Andrews and From Pixar’s inception in 1986 with the animator Angus MacLane. The presenta- premiere of its iconic short film,Luxo Jr., to tion will be followed by dessert and coffee, the studio’s latest full-length feature, Cars, plus the opportunity to mix and mingle attendees will get an insiders’ perspective with artists in Pixar’s atrium from 8:30-9: on these computer animated creations. 30 p.m. The evening starts with a reception at This event is expected to sell out quickly Pixar’s Emeryville campus. Over wine and and there are only a limited number of seats hors d’oeuvres guests will gain access to a available. Cartoon Art Museum members 38 Saturday, February 25 Monday, February 27 Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4 Pee-wee’s Big Adventure Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Tron Act 1 and 2 Location TBA Act 1 and 2 2128 Center Street UC Berkeley Campus 2128 Center Street Berkeley Berkeley Berkeley Midnight www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ Midnight No, I’m not sure if this counts as a 7:30 p.m. Exactly how did this movie become a science fiction movie. But what the heck, Free “sci-fi classic”? Inquiring minds want to this one night only event is hosted by The oldest of the Bay Area’s university know. Peaches Christ, so it should at least be an anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday out of this world show. night when school is in session. Every week March 3-5 this semester they are showing episodes of Consonace 2006 Sunday, February 26 Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this www.consonance.org/ Bad Movie Night week’s featured show: Ginban Kaieidoscope. Crowne Plaza Silicon Valley Astro Zombies 777 Bellew Drive 2263 Mission Street Monday, February 27 Milpitas San Francisco Bay Area Science Fiction Association Memberships: $35 to 10/31/05, $40 to darkroomsf.com The Original Hick’ry Pit 2/18/06, $45 at door 8 p.m. 980 E. Campbell Ave. Filk convention. Guests: Bill & $5 Campbell Gretchen Roper, Marty Coady Fabish, Changed from The Mysterians. 8 p.m. Puzzlebox, Chris Conway. Free www.basfa.org. Saturday, March 4 Warp 11 Tuesday, February 28 The Blue Lamp Stanford NewType Anime Club Showing 1400 Alhambra Ave. Room 60-61H Sacramento Building 60 10 p.m. Stanford Campus The Star Trek-theme band plays a Palo Alto hometown venue. With songs titled “Rage 8-10:30 p.m. Against the Federation” and “Set Your Free Phaser for F***” resistance is futile. 39 Saturday, March 4, 2006 Victorian evening or ball dress (circa 1860’s- Monday, March 6 The Phantom of the Opera Ball 80’s), period fancy dress, or modern evening Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing PEERS Event dress. Masks are strongly suggested. Location TBA Masonic Lodge of San Mateo The fashionable young gentlemen of the UC Berkeley Campus Doors Open: 7:00 p.m. Jockey Club will be pleased to know that Berkeley Dance lesson: 7:15 p.m. evening’s entertainment includes operatic www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ Dancing begins: 8:00 p.m. and ballet excerpts by the company, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $15.00 in advance (by February including the premiere of the ballet from Free 28) the controversial new opera “Sappho,” The oldest of the Bay Area’s university At the door: $20.00 choreographed by the celebrated Mme. anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday Don’t let those wild rumors of an Opera Giry for the Peerless Ballet. Refreshments night when school is in session. Every week Ghost keep you from attending the social will be served throughout the evening this semester they are showing episodes of event of the season, the Opera Ball of the (Since we lack the catering budget of Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this Paris Opera Populaire. This is destined to be the Paris Opera Populaire, your potluck week’s featured show: Shakuyan no Shana. the most spectacular of all our masquerade contributions will be deeply appreciated). balls and Management assures you that Monday, March 6 “Everything is under control.” Saturday, March 4 Bay Area Science Fiction Association Our special guests - Monsieur Frank Rocky Horror Picture Show The Original Hick’ry Pit Beau Davis, that American trumpet www.picturepubpizza.com 980 E. Campbell Ave. virtuoso and his brilliant Brassworks Band Parkway Speakeasy Theater Campbell from San Francisco, will play an evening of 1834 Park Blvd. 8 p.m. opera and ballet tunes arranged for ballroom Oakland Free dancing and brilliant Viennese Waltzes, $6 www.basfa.org. polkas, mazurkas, schottisches, reels, and Midnight quadrilles. All set dances will be taught or Barely Legal Productions presents the called and there will a pre-ball dance class to classic midnight movie every Saturday help you brush up on your mid-Victorian night. No one under 17 admitted. dance skills. And, of course, they will play those perennial favorites, “The Congress of Vienna Waltz” and “Sir Roger de Coverley” (with a distinctly Wagnerian edge). Suggested costume for this gala event is 40 Tuesday, March 7 Thursday, March 9 Saturday, March 11 Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld Thrillville’s Hipster Holocaust Blow-Out No Name Anime Borderlands Books Panic in the Year Zero www.nnanime.com 866 Valencia www.thrillville.net Saratoga Library San Francisco www.picturepubpizza.com 13650 Saratoga Ave. 7 p.m. Parkway Speakeasy Cinema Saratoga Justine Larbalestier is the author of the 1834 Park Blvd. 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. or so nonfiction The Battle of the Sexes in Science Oakland Free Fiction, the two novels Magic or Madness 9:15 p.m. and Magic Lessons, and the forthcoming $7 Saturday, March 11 Daughters of Earth. Scott Westerfeld is the It’s a hipster holocaust blow-out Rocky Horror Picture Show prolific author ofThe Risen Empire and The featuring Ray Milland and Frankie Avalon www.picturepubpizza.com Killing of Worlds, the awesome Midnighters in a torrid tale of post-nuked LA survival, Parkway Speakeasy Theater series, Evolution’s Darling, Pretties, Uglies, Panic in the Year Zero. With explosive 1834 Park Blvd. and several more. cocktail swingers Johnny and Gin of The Oakland Atomic Lounge Show live on stage! $6 Tuesday, March 7 Midnight Stanford NewType Anime Club Showing Saturday, March 11 Barely Legal Productions presents the Room 60-61H Beefbowl Anime Showing classic midnight movie every Saturday Building 60 Albany Library night. No one under 17 admitted. Stanford Campus 1247 Marin Ave. Palo Alto Albany Sunday, March 12 8-10:30 p.m. www.beefbowl.org Sac Con Free 12:15- 4:15 p.m. Scottish Rite Center Free 6151 H Street Sacramento 10-4 p.m. $5 Comic, toy and anime show, usually has an anime costume contest.

41 Sunday, March 12 Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this Friday, March 17 Speculative Fiction Book Club week’s featured show: Ichigo Mashimaro Futurist Salon Book Group Kepler’s and Animal Yokochoa. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1010 El Camino Real Hillsdale Shopping Center Menlo Park Monday, March 13 11 West Hillsdale Blvd. 7:30 p.m. Bay Area Science Fiction Association San Mateo Free The Original Hick’ry Pit 650-341-5560 This month the group will discuss Lian 980 E. Campbell Ave. 7:30 p.m. Hearn’s Across the Nightingale Floor. Campbell Free 8 p.m. Sunday, March 12 Free March 17–April 16 Bad Movie Night www.basfa.org. Zorro 20 Million Miles To Earth Berkeley Repertory Theater The Dark Room Theater Tuesday, March 14 written and performed by Culture Clash 2263 Mission Street Sci-Fi Book Club The Roda Theatre San Francisco Barnes & Noble 2025 Addison Street darkroomsf.com 3501 McHenry Ave., Suite E Berkeley 8 p.m. Modesto $5 Free Saturday, March 18 Otaku Bowl 2006 Monday, March 13 Thursday, March 16 [email protected] Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Sci-Fi Book Club Classic Bowling Center Location TBA Barnes & Noble 900 King Drive UC Berkeley Campus Creekside Town Center Daly City Berkeley 1265 Galeria Blvd. 1 p.m. -9 p.m www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ (916) 788-4320 Registration $20 until February 28, $25 at 7:30 p.m. Roseville door. Free Free Fee includes food, beverages and The oldest of the Bay Area’s university unlimited bowling. Bowling for prizes, anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday hall cosplay, anime video room, artist alley, night when school is in session. Every week exhibitors, game tournament. this semester they are showing episodes of 42 Saturday, March 18 Sunday, March 19 Monday, March 20 Manga Otaku Science Fiction Book Club Bay Area Science Fiction Association Barnes & Noble Booksellers Borderlands Books The Original Hick’ry Pit Barnes & Noble Booksellers www.borderlands-books.com 980 E. Campbell Ave. Weberstown Mall 866 Valencia St. Campbell 4950 Pacific Avenue, Space 319 San Francisco 8 p.m. Stockton, CA 95207 6 p.m. Free 209-472-1885 Free www.basfa.org. 6 p.m. This month’s book is Declare by Free Tim Powers. Please contact Jude at Wednesday, March 22 Graphic novel book group. [email protected] for Christopher Moore more information. Copperfield’s Montgomery Village Saturday, March 18 2316 Montgomery Drive Rocky Horror Picture Show Monday, March 20 Santa Rosa www.picturepubpizza.com Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing 7 p.m. Parkway Speakeasy Theater Location TBA Free 1834 Park Blvd. UC Berkeley Campus Oakland Berkeley Monday, March 27 $6 www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ Bay Area Science Fiction Association Midnight 7:30 p.m. The Original Hick’ry Pit Barely Legal Productions presents the Free 980 E. Campbell Ave. classic midnight movie every Saturday The oldest of the Bay Area’s university Campbell night. No one under 17 admitted. anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday 8 p.m. night when school is in session. Every week Free this semester they are showing episodes of www.basfa.org. Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this week’s featured show: Mushishi.

43 Friday-Saturday, March 31 and April 1 program of beautiful and energetic dance Sunday, April 2 A Clockwork Orange music from both classic and modern Bad Movie Night Act 1 and 2 cartoons. Dance classic waltzes and polkas, Mesa of Lost Women 2128 Center Street ragtime teens and 20’s dances, 30’s and 40’s The Dark Room Theater Berkeley Swing and fox trot, stirring marches, and 2263 Mission Street Midnight a variety of other ballroom and set dances San Francisco Local band The Holy Kiss will perform at this wildly varied event. For us diehard darkroomsf.com before the Stanley Kubrick classic. dancers, there will be DJ dance music 8 p.m. of some truly off-the-wall but extremely $5 Saturday, April 1, 2006 danceable cartoon music during the The Toon Town Hop intermissions. Monday, April 3 PEERS Event “There will be a light buffet of T.V. Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Masonic Lodge of San Mateo snacks – everything your mother said was Location TBA Doors Open: 7 p.m. bad for you (and she was probably right) UC Berkeley Campus Dance lesson: 7:15 p.m. and complimentary non-alcholic drinks. Berkeley Dancing begins: 8:00 p.m. Contributions to the buffet are, as always, www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ Tickets: $15.00 in advance (by March 25) very welcome. Intermission entertainment 7:30 p.m. At the door: $20.00 includes vintage dance performances by the Free From their website: Peers Flying CirCUS and a cartoon music The oldest of the Bay Area’s university “As any cartoon aficionado can tell sing-along.” anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday you, some of the best film music actually night when school is in session. Every week appears in cartoons. In celebration of the Saturday, April 1 this semester they are showing episodes of classic age of cartoons, we invite you to Rocky Horror Picture Show Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this the Toon Town Hop, a vintage dance ball www.picturepubpizza.com week’s featured show: Noein. inspired by the best cartoon music of the Parkway Speakeasy Theater 20th century. 1834 Park Blvd. Monday, April 3 “Suggested costume is vintage or modern Oakland Bay Area Science Fiction Association evening dress (Mouse ears optional!). $6 The Original Hick’ry Pit Guests may also attend as their favorite Midnight 980 E. Campbell Ave. cartoon character (vintage or modern!). Barely Legal Productions presents the Campbell “The dazzlingly versatile Divertimento classic midnight movie every Saturday 8 p.m. Dance Orchestra will play a multi-period night. No one under 17 admitted. Free www.basfa.org. 44 April 6-9 Monday, April 10 April 16 ConQuest Sac Bay Area Science Fiction Association Science Fiction Book Club Avalonconventions.com/conquestsac/ The Original Hick’ry Pit Borderlands Books Red Lion Hotel 980 E. Campbell Ave. www.borderlands-books.com Sacramento Campbell 866 Valencia St. $35-$45 8 p.m. San Francisco Gaming and sf convention. Free 6 p.m. www.basfa.org. Free Saturday-Sunday, April 8-9 This month’s book is Dark Beyond Alternative Press Expo Tuesday, April 11 The Stars by local author Frank Robin- www.comic-con.org/ape/ Stanford NewType Anime Club Showing son. Author will visit. Please contact Jude Concourse Exhibition Center Room 60-61H at [email protected] for 620 7th Street Building 60 more information. San Francisco Stanford Campus Admission fee to be announced Palo Alto Monday, April 17 Exposition for alternative and self- 8-10:30 p.m. Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing published comics. Free Location TBA UC Berkeley Campus Monday, April 10 Thursday, April 13 Berkeley Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Thrillville’s Ninth Anniversary Show www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ Location TBA Forbidden Planet 7:30 p.m. UC Berkeley Campus www.thrillville.net Free Berkeley www.picturepubpizza.com The oldest of the Bay Area’s university www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ Parkway Speakeasy Cinema anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday 7:30 p.m. 1834 Park Blvd. night when school is in session. Every week Free Oakland this semester they are showing episodes of The oldest of the Bay Area’s university 9:15 p.m. Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday $7 week’s featured show: Magikano. night when school is in session. Every week It’s Thrillville’s ninth anniversary show this semester they are showing episodes of featuring the all-time science fiction favorite Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus this Forbidden Planet and spaced out theremin week’s featured show: Akazukin Cha Cha. lounge band Project Pimento live on stage. 45 Monday, April 17 On Saturday will b e a Long Expected Party Free Bay Area Science Fiction Association and on Sunday there will be a fun run. The oldest of the Bay Area’s university The Original Hick’ry Pit anime clubs hosts a showing every Monday 980 E. Campbell Ave. Sunday, April 23 night when school is in session. Every week Campbell Cherry Blossom Festival this semester they are showing episodes 8 p.m. 8th Annual Anime Costume Parade of Paradise Kiss and 2x2 Shinobuden, plus Free Sponsored by Japan Video this week’s featured show which will be www.basfa.org. 1737 Post Street announced later. San Francisco Friday, April 21 Noon check in for particiapants Monday, April 24 Middle Earth Festival 1 p.m. parade starts in front of City Hall Bay Area Science Fiction Association Forum on the Themes of Tolkien Pre-registration deadline April 17 The Original Hick’ry Pit Downtown Vacaville Free 980 E. Campbell Ave. www.middleearthfestival.com Costume contest with prizes, contestants Campbell Free (or at least they don’t have an admission and other cosplayers will march in the 8 p.m. fee listed) annual parade ending at San Francisco’s Free The second annual Middle Earth Festival Japantown. The Cherry Blossom Festival, www.basfa.org. opens in Vacaville with a symposium. which runs this weekend and the previous Saturday, May 6 For more events, see April 22-23 weekend in San Francisco’s Japantown, also The Fairy Tale Masquerade Ball listing. hosts many other Japanese cultural events, Masonic Lodge of San Mateo usually including an anime room. Doors Open: 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23 Costume contest participants need to Dance lesson: 7:15 p.m. Middle Earth Festival register in advance at Japan Video, limited Dancing begins: 8:00 p.m. Downtown Vacaville slots are available so sign up soon. Tickets: $15.00 in advance (by April 29, www.middleearthfestival.com 2006) Free Monday, April 24 At the door: $20.00 Second annual festival to celebrate Cal Animage Alpha Meeting and Showing Tolkien’s work, both the books and the Location TBA movies adapted from them. Vendors, UC Berkeley Campus food booths, staged and walkabout Berkeley entertainment, games for kids, trivia www.ocf.Berkeley.edu/~animage/ contest, Gollum Impersonation Contest. 7:30 p.m. 46 Sunday, May 7 May 21, 2006 May 26-29, 2006 Bad Movie Night Science Fiction Book Club Baycon Battlefield Earth Borderlands Books San Jose Doubletree Inn The Dark Room Theater www.borderlands-books.com San Jose 2263 Mission Street 866 Valencia St. www.baycon.org San Francisco San Francisco $45 until August 31 darkroomsf.com 6 p.m. The largest annual general SF conven- 8 p.m. Free tion in the Bay area. Dealer’s room, pan- $5 This month’s book is the graphic els, costume contest, anime room, much novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and more. May 11-14 Dave Gibbons. Please contact Jude at World Horror Con 2006 [email protected] for May 26-29 2006 Gateway Holiday Inn more information. Kublacon www.whc2006.org Burlingame Hyatt Regency The world horror con comes to the bay May 26-29, 2006 1333 Bayshore Highway area. Fanime Con Burlingame San Jose Convention Center Guests: TBA. Thursday, May 11 San Jose Memberships: TBA. Thrillville’s Mad Mexican Monster Mash www.fanime.com Gaming convention. Night of the Bloody Apes The largest annual anime convention Sunday, June 11 www.thrillville.net in the Bay Area. Dealer’s room, panels, Sac Con www.picturepubpizza.com costume contest, multiple tracks of anime, Scottish Rite Center Parkway Speakeasy Cinema Asian films, J-pop concert, much more. 6151 H Street 1834 Park Blvd. Sacramento Oakland 10-4 p.m. 9:15 p.m. $5 $7 Comic, toy and anime show, usually has It’s a mad Mexican Monster Mash an anime costume contest. featuring the lurid South of the Border clas-sick Night of the Bloody Apes, with masked female wrestlers vs a rampaging rapist apeman and his evil mad scientist creator. Live opening act. 47 Saturday, July 15 Sunday, September 3 November 4 Sac-Anime Sac Con Le Bal des Vampires Sacramento area Scottish Rite Center PEERS Details to be announced, the previous 6151 H Street Venue: TBD July shows have been held at the Sunrise Sacramento No information as yet for this vampire- Mall. 10-4 p.m. theme ball event. $5 August 4-6 2006 Comic, toy and anime show, usually has Sunday, December 10 Anime Overdose 2006 an anime costume contest. Sac Con www.animeod.com Scottish Rite Center San Francisco September 8-10 6151 H Street $30 to ?, $45 at door Creation Salutes Star Trek: Sacramento Anime convention. The 40th Anniversary Celebration 10-4 p.m. Doubletree Hotel $5 Saturday, September 2 Sacramento Comic, toy and anime show, usually has Captain Morgan’s Privateers (We Ain’t Pirates 2001 Point West Way an anime costume contest. No More) Ball Sacremento PEERS Event Memberships: Gold Weekend Package: July 6-9, 2007 Masonic Lodge of San Mateo $399. Westercon 60: Gnomeward Bound Doors Open: 7:00 p.m. Creation brings William Shatner and DoubleTree Hotel Dance Lesson: 7:15 p.m. Leonard Nimoy to Sacramento. And no, San Jose Dancing begins: 8:00 p.m. that’s not a typo on the price. Cheaper Tickets: $15.00 in advance (by August 26, packages will be announced later. 2006) Tickets: $20.00 at the door October 6-8 SiliCon www.siliconventions.com Doubletree Hotel San Jose $35 until August 31

48 Ongoing: Mondays SF Games Bay Area Science Fiction Association vax.hanford.org/dk/games Daily The Original Hick’ry Pit Muddy’s Coffeehouse San Francisco Ghost Hunt 980 E. Campbell Ave. 1304 Valencia Street near 24th Walking Tour Campbell San Francisco www.sfghosthunt.com Mondays at 8 p.m. 7:00 p.m. to midnight Begins: Queen Ann Hotel Free Free 1590 Sutter at Octavia www.basfa.org SF Games is a collective name for a San Francisco bunch of people who get together and 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Legion of Rassilon play board games and card games every $20 Doctor Who fan group week. Also has a cards night on Tuesdays at www.legionofrassilon.org/ Café Macondo, 3159 16th Street between Ongoing Fridays-Mondays Carl’s Junior Guerrero and Valencia. Haunted Haight Wallking Tour 2551 N. First Street www.hauntedhaight.com San Jose Meets at PlanetWeavers Treasure Store Meets every fourth Friday at 7:30 p.m. 1573 Haight Street (at Clayton) (No December meeting) 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Free Reservations required Showing episodes of the new Dr. Who $20 series, news, discussion of recent movies and a raffle. Ongoing Fridays and Saturdays Vampire Walking Tour Bay Area Role-Playing Society www.sfvampiretour.com www.BayRPS.com Meets corner of California and Taylor Go-Getter’s Pizza San Francisco 1489 Beach Park Boulevard 8 p.m. Foster City $20 Wednesdays from 6pm to 10pm Led by Mina Harker. Tour is cancelled Hosts a weekly game night. For club if there is heavy rain. and game night details send email to: [email protected].

49