Volume 18, Issue 4 August/September 2008 ConNotations FREE The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

An Interview with Featured Inside Andrew Stanton Regular Features Special Features by Robert LaPierre SF Tube Talk An Interview with On June 17th, 2008 I sat All the latest news about Andrew Stanton down with three other Scienc Fiction TV shows by Robert LaPierre reporters in a round table by Lee Whiteside interview of Andrew The End of an Era: Star Trek: Stanton. We began the 24 Frames The Experience Beams Out interview with comments All the latest Movie News By Lee Whiteside about the 120-degree by Lee Whiteside weather and the good Three Star Trek Legends Pass Away fortune he had that he Gamers Corner By Shane Shellenbarger didn’t arrive in summer New and Reviews from when it is actually hot. A the gaming world An Amercan in Australia requirement of the by Jeffrey Lu interview was that we see Screening Room WALL-E beforehand so Reviews of current theatrical releases Plus there may be minor © Robert LaPierre CASFS Business Report spoilers in this interview, Pre-Con News if you haven’t seen the movie I suggest the most robotic of the all the robots. We Tidbits about upcoming conventions FYI you do so before you read this. just embraced it and said you know News and tidbits of interest to fans what? It’s an homage. ConClusion Question: Is Auto-Pilot intentionally News and Reviews Club Listings reminiscent of Hal-9000? Q: What is a typical day like for you on of SF/F conventions Andrew Stanton: Yes, we didn’t like the set of a movie like WALL-E? Convention List & purposefully try to do it. I mean when you A: Well our set is sadly boring, (It is) a In Our Book Generic Registration Form watch the DVD you will see all the lot of offices. But it is very similar to Reviews of New SF/F Books different iterations Auto went through and what you would do on a live-action set eventually we ended up with a captain’s just kind of spread out over time. I have Musty Tomes CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT wheel and when we realized we needed to 200 people ultimately that I work with, Reviews of Classic Genre books give it some sort of an eye, because of the 200 artists. I don’t talk to computers, I http://www.casfs.org/ConNotations/ circular (nature of the wheel) it just gave don’t direct computers, I direct people. us (a) bulls-eye, someone said you know And they all have jobs that are similar to FOR UP TO DATE INFO AND MOVIE it’s like Hal, you know what it’s actually live-action set-up. I’ve got a cinematog- REVIEWS BETWEEN ISSUES helping the cold clinical, he needs to be ( Continued on page 6 )

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Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who Is Who This Issue Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon BOOK STORES 10215 N. 28th Dr, #A1, Phoenix, AZ News & Reviews Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty Bent Cover Bookstore 85051 (602)395-1066 SF Tube Talk 3 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 3155 W. Chandler Blvd #5, Chandler 24 Frames 3 Film & Video Editors: Len Berger & 85029 (602) 942-5932 AZ 85226 (480)940-6061 Craig L Dyer FYI 8 Promotions Directors: Len Berger, Book Den Comics, Legends & Heroes Screening Room 11 Richard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer th 15410 N. 67 Ave, Glendale, AZ 85306 13560 W. Van Buren, Ste. B102, Pre-Con News 14 Advertising: Catherine Book (623) 486-2529 Goodyear, AZ 623-932-3433 ConClusion 14 Proof Readers: Catherine Book, Bob Book Exchange Drawn to Comics LaPierre & Gary Swaty Gamers Corner 16 4320 N. Miller Road #F, Scottsdale, AZ 5757 W. 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Page 2 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 heroic ends. And so, literally, every one Pini. Rawson Thurber (Dodgeball) has SF Tube Talk of our characters gets faced with that 24 Frames reportedly been lined up to write, direct TV News & Previews dilemma.” Kring also indicated that and produce the film. They have yet to Sylar will be a major part of the new Movie News determine its format, though. Probably By Lee Whiteside season, which is a change from what was By Lee Whiteside best to keep it animated in some manner. originally planned for when it would have Filming is starting this month on It’s the start of the new fall season for been the second half of season two. With The summer box office has held up Roland Emmerich’s apocalyptic thriller the networks in September (barring any the writer’s strike shutting down produc- well this summer, with most of the big 2012, which presumes that the end of the delays from a still-possible actors strike) tion on the show while Zachary Quintos genre movies doing well, with Iron Man world happens in 2012 when the Mayan and the end of the summer runs of many was filming Star Trek, he was now and Indiana Jones doing over $300 calender ends and a massive wave of of the cable shows. available for the arc when he would not million domestically. Wall-E and destruction (volcanoes, tidal waves, NBC brings back Heroes for its third have been if there hadn’t been a strike. Hancock opened strong and should easily typhoons, etc.) canvasses the Earth. John season, the initial arc of which is titled As for the opening episodes of the make it to $200 million plus. The Cusack stars as a limo driver who is “Villains”, with a two hour season opener season, there’s not much in the way of Incredible Hulk, Wanted, and Get Smart trying to be a writer and Amanda Peet is on Monday, Sept 22nd. Prior to that, story details, but we do know a bit about did decent numbers while Prince his ex-wife, newly married. The film will www.NBC.com will be making available some new characters and guest stars. Caspian looks to settle at around $150 follow their struggle to survive in the a webisode series “Going Postal” that William Katt (Greatest American Hero) million and Speed Racer is a big flop at wake of the disasters. Also starring in the introduce the character of Echo DeMille, will guest star as a reporter who goes just under $45 million. With The Dark movie will be Oliver Platt, Chiwetel a postman who discovers he has a special after Niki Sanders in the second hour of Knight, Hellboy 2, The X-Files: I Want Ejiofor, Han Chin and Danny Glover. power that makes him a target. Viewers the new season. Francis Capra (Weevil to Believe still left to open in July, the Roland has co-written the script with will be able to see Echo’s destiny unfold on Veronica Mars) will turn up as an evil summer should stay hot for a while more. Harald Kloser and will be directing for and help to set up the new season of character named Jesse, Bruce Boxleitner The Hollywood Reporter has indi- Columbia Pictures and Centropolis Heroes. In an interview with will be a recurring character as Senator cated that Warner Brothers Pictures Entertainment. www.Scifi.com , series creator Tim Robert Malden, and Brea Grant will be Group president Jeff Robinov and In an alternate take on the end of the Kring indicated that the third season will Joy, a character with a speedy ability, Warner president Kevin McCormick world, Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel take the show’s characters into new who causes problems for Hiro. Other have had meetings with DC Comics will star in Jay and Seth vs. the Apoca- directions, including learning more about characters returning at some point include executives and writers to discuss future lypse. Rogen and Evan Goldberg the back story to Heroes universe. Claire’s real mother, Eriko Tamura will possible projects involving DC comics produced a comedy short based on a story According to Kring, “You’re going to see return as Yaeko, and we will quite likely characters and properties. Seeing how by Goldberg and Jason Stone that was a lot of bad guys in this one. The idea, see return appearances from some Marvel has been taking more direct put up for auction to be turned into a also, is we’re playing off the idea of our characters who have died (or appeared to control of their film adaptations, it movie. The movie will be about two guys characters as heroes or villains. So it’s have died). appears Warner Brothers is finally seeing dealing with the apocalypse. Maybe if really the duality of good and evil. ... Returning to NBC on Monday nights the benefits of taking a similar approach this and 2012 do well, someone might put We’re playing off of this duality of good starting Sept 29th will be the second to producing a more unified range of up the money for Terry Gilliam to film and evil. All of our characters were given season of Chuck, with all three of the spy films. If anything, it appears that things Good Omens, the Neil Gaiman/Terry these powers and possess these powers, trio being targeted for elimination. may be getting set into place so that Pratchett take on the whole thing. and at some point it becomes sort of free Joining the cast as a new assistant something like the Catwoman movie Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods will and human nature as to what you’re manager at Buy More will be Tony Hale won’t ever happen again. has been given a green light by MGM. It going to do with that. And all of us are and Nicole Richie will guest star as Warner Brothers is also working on was co-written with Drew Goddard and given the choice to make decisions that Sarah’s former high school classmate. developing an Elfquest movie, based on will also be Goddard’s directorial debut. lead us down very dark paths or towards ( Continued on page 4 ) the comic series by Richard and Wendy Whedon has called the film “The horror movie to end all horror movies.” In an interview with MTV, Goddard indicated “it’s genius, it’s funny. It’s got a harder and darker edge, but it’s also got classic Whedon qualities. It’ll rip your heart out and be heartfelt at the same time.” Goddard was a writer on Buffy and Angel and also wrote the Cloverfield movie. Disney and Walden Media will move production of the third Narnia movie, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, to Mexico due to the need for sound stages and a massive water tank for filming a lot of sea based scenes. This installment is being directed by Michael Apted. They will be using some of the same facilities that were used for Titanic and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Filming is expected to start in early 2009 with a likely release in May of 2010. Will Poulter has been cast as Eustace Scrubb, cousin to the Pevensie children, for the film. In classic science fiction film news, a missing 25 minutes of ( Continued on page 5 ) Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk season start dates as of press time. They stranded off-world with another team episodes will feature The Sontarans as ( Continued from page 3 ) will be bringing back Pushing Daisies investigating a Wraith laboratory that well as an appearance by Sir Alistair and Eli Stone, although it is not yet holds dozens of humanoid forms in stasis, Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, played by Sarah will also have a new undercover known if it will be in September or early much like the one Beckett was found in. Nicholas Courtney. The character was job. Following Heroes on Monday’s will October and so far there’s been few It is described as an episode with a strong referenced in a season four Doctor Who be My Own Worst Enemy, with Chris- details about the new season for either horror element, leaving you wondering episode, leading the way to a return tian Slater as Henry Spivey, a middle show to report. Debuting this fall on who will live and who will die of the appearance of The Brig with Sarah Jane. class efficiency expert who has a super ABC is the US version of Life on Mars. guest star team. In Tracker, the team Elsewhere on the BBC, the remake of spy alter ego of Edward Albright. When With the show being revamped after responds to aid a village under threat Terry Nation’s Survivors has finished the programming that keeps the two having the series turned over to new from the Wraith who are on the trail of a filming its first episode and a second separate break down and they learn about producers (Josh Appelbaum, Andre runner, Kiryk (Mike Dopud). but when block is underway. It will air on BBC each other, life gets much more interest- Nemec and Scott Rosenberg), it is not Dr. Keller is captured by Kiryk, Ronon One in the UK this fall and it will likely ing. Joining the lineup on Wednesday clear who of the actors in the pilot will be and McKay must come to her rescue. turn up in the US on BBC America. nights will be Knight Rider, following on part of the series aside from lead Jason Christopher Heyerdahl returns as the Starring in the series are Julie Graham, from the TV movie from last season. O’Mara as Sam Tyler. The only new Wraith Todd, and he enlists the help of Max Beesley, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Starring in the series is Bruce Davison as casting announced is Sopranos star the Atlantis team to negotiate with Freema Agyeman. It is about the Charles Graiman, Deanna Russo as Michael Imperioli as Ray Carling, a another Wraith hive, with Teyla taking survivors of a virus that has wiped out Sarah Graiman, Justin Bruening as Mike tough-guy detective. With the recasting part disguised as a Wraith Queen. To most of the world’s population. Traceur, Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Carrie and likely refilming of the entire pilot, close out the first half of the season, For more British science fiction, Rivai, and Val Kilmer as KITT’s voice. don’t look for this until October or later. Michael Shanks returns as Dr. Daniel we’ve got Primeval debuting on BBC If you watched the movie, you pretty CBS is not returning Ghost Whisper Jackson in First Contact. Jackson visits America on Saturday, August 9th at 9 pm much know what to expect from the until Friday October 3rd, so we’ll talk Atlantis to research an Ancient scientist, ET/PT. It is a series produced for ITV series. Once the nostalgia appeal wears about what to expect in the new season Janus, who once lived there. Jackson and about problems that arise when anomalies off, the show will need to come up with next issue and The Eleventh Hour isn’t McKay discover the existence of a in time start appearing and creatures from some original stories to keep KITT from scheduled to debut until October 9th. research laboratory set up by Janus but the past (and future) start turning up in getting recalled. The CW is bringing back Smallville when they get there they discover they the present day. The series was started as FOX is bringing back Terminator: and Supernatural this fall, with Reaper aren’t the only ones there. Look for a a means to showcase in an action drama The Sarah Connor Chronicles, airing on planned for a midseason return. surprise attack by The Wraith and the the digital creatures created by Impos- Mondays at 8 pm starting September 8th. Smallville begins its eighth and final return of the Travelers leaving things in a sible Pictures for their Walking with As a refresher course, look for FOX to air (supposedly) season on October 2nd with cliff-hanging state by the end of the Dinosaurs and related documentary the nine first season episodes for nightly the season opener Odyssey. Picking up episode. series. In most cases, their use of prehis- airings starting August 10th. For season from the last season finale, members of Last issue I talked about the new toric creatures are scientifically accurate. two, the main cast is returning with Brian the Justice League including Green Friday night series Charlie Jade. Well, The series focuses on a core team Austin Green (Derek Reese) now a Arrow, Black Canary, Aquaman and the the initial airings didn’t draw very well so investigating an increasingly dangerous regular. New recurring cast members Martian Manhunter will turn up to rescue SciFi has moved it to 3 am early Tuesday/ series of time anomalies for the British include Garbage lead singer Shirley Clark. As for what will be happening this late Monday night with repeats of Joan Government. Leading the team is senior Mason as Catherine Weaver, CEO of season with little of Lana Lang and none of Arcadia now airing in the 8 pm ET/PT Home Office official Sir James Peregrine Cyberdyne and Leven Rambin as Riley, of Lex Luthor, look for more of the Friday night slot. SciFi does appear to be Lester (Ben Miller), Also on the team is a schoolmate of John Connor. Not much Clark/Lois dynamic to be explored, keeping Charlie Jade on the air for the Professor Nick Cutter (Douglas has yet been leaked about the first few especially when Clark takes a job at the rest of its run, though, so make sure your Henshall), a evolutionary scientist whose episodes at press time. Needless to say, it Dailey Planet. New characters for this DVR is set with the correct time if you wife, palaeontologist Helen Cutter (Juliet is likely that Cameron survives the season will be paramedic Davis Bloome, want to keep up with it. Doctor Who Aubrey), disappeared eight years ago and explosion that ended the first season and who “is forced to confront a burgeoning finished up its fourth season with a bang, is presumed dead at the start of the series, they will carry on from there. darkness inside of him that just might be tying up the four years of Russell T. zoologist Abby Maitland (Hannah The big new series for the fall looks to a harbinger of doom,” and Cassidy Davies tenure as show runner/head writer Spearritt), lab technician and Cutter’s be FOX’s Fringe, which will debut on Freeman as Tess Mercer, who is Lex’s on the series. The finale drew almost 50% bodyguard Stephen Hart (James September 9th with a two hour premier hand-picked successor to the LuthorCorp of the viewing audience in the UK when Murray), dinosaur geek/student Connor and will continue weekly in the 9 pm ET/ empire. Expect her to be as ruthless as it aired on July 5th and the regeneration Temple (Andrew-Lee Potts) and the PT slot on Tuesday nights. From J. J. Lex has been, if not more. The fourth cliff-hanger was the talk of the country team’s government liaison Claudia Abrams and his cohorts (Roberto Orci, season of Supernatural (also returning for the week leading up to it. Davies Brown (Lucy Brown). Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Burk, and Alex on October 2nd) will open four months will still oversee production on four one- In the first episode, a Gorgonopsid Graves), it follows FBI Special Agent after the finale with Dean waking up with hour specials to air on the BBC through from 250 million years ago turns up when Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) as she no memory of his torment in Hell. Look the end of 2009, the first of which will air a time anomaly opens up in the Forest of learns about strange goings on and a for the events that transpired over those over Christmas 2008 and will feature Dean, where Helen Cutter disappeared special group that investigate’s the Fringe four months to be told in flashbacks and Cybermen in Victorian England. The eight years ago. A team is put together to elements. Aside from the pilot, which be a major part of the ongoing storyline remaining specials will start filming in find out what has happened and to get the has leaked online and has also been for the season. early 2009 for airing at Easter and later in creature back to its own time. In episode screened at the San Diego Comic Con, Stargate Atlantis continues its fifth the year on the BBC. Davies will write 2, the London Underground has an there’s not much else known about the season on SciFi on Friday nights. After a two of them and will co-write the other infestation of giant spiders as well as a show and its weekly episodes. Also break to avoid the Summer Olympics two with an as-yet-unamed writer. After dangerous arthropod from the Late starring are Joshua Jackson as Peter opening ceremonies, the show returns that, the fifth series will start filming to Carboniferous period (300 million years Bishop, estranged son of institutionalized mid-August with Ghost in the Machine air in 2010 with Steven Moffat taking ago). Episode 3 sees aquatic Mosasaurs scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble), where Atlantis is visited by the disembod- over as executive producer and head and Hesperomis turn up in swimming Lance Reddick as Agent Phillip Broyles, ied minds of Replicators, led by android writer on the series. Torchwood will also pools, reservoirs, and flooded cellars Mark Valley as Special Agent John Fran (Michelle Morgan). In The Shrine, have a limited run in 2009, with a five while Professor Cutter realizes his ex- Scott, Jaskia Nicole as Agent Astrid Rodney McKay is stricken with a mental part story that is planned to air over one wife may still be alive and hiding in time. Farnsworth, and Kirk Acevedo as Agent affliction that causes him to revert to a week on BBC 1. Clues as to who may be In Episode 4, Helen escapes and releases Charlie Francis. Since they promise there childlike state. Producers think this is joining the team were evident in the a flock of deadly Dodos that carry is a larger, more shocking truth beyond one of their best scripts and a “tear- Doctor Who season finale, but no official parasites harmful to humans. Episode 5 the events of the pilot, expect lots of jerker”, giving David Hewlett a chance announcement has yet been made. finds a Pteranodon threatening a golf teasing as the main characters investigate to really shine as Dr. McKay. In Whis- Filming has been going on with The course, but the real killer is something strange happenings ala The X-Files. pers, Carson Beckett returns and is Sarah Jane Adventures, and one pair of ( Continued on page 5 ) ABC has yet to announce their new Page 4 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who leads a monastic cult that foresees SF Tube Talk ( Continued from page 4 ) 24 Frames ( Continued from page 3 ) who becomes attracted to vampire Bill the Earth being taken over by mutants more deadly. In Episode 6, the team must Compton (Stephen Moyer). Also film from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis has and they have control of The Chronicles track down and stop a highly evolved starring are Alexander Skarsgard as Eric been discovered in Argentina. A 16 mm as a means to save the world. Also predatory creature from the future that Northman, a thousand-year-old vampire film reel turned up at the Museo del Cine starring are Thomas Jane, Anna Walton, threatens to change history. Assuming Viking, Ryan Kwanten as Sookie’s Pablo C. Ducros Hicken in the Argentine and John Malkovich. It was directed by that BBC America goes straight into brother Jason Stackhouse, Sam capital of Buenos Aires. The German Simon Hunter and written by Phillip season 2, the first episode (Episode 7) Trammell as Sam Merlotte, the bar’s Murnau Foundation, which holds the film Eisner. kicks off with Professor Cutter grappling owner, Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton, rights to Metropolis, plans to incorporate A new Red Sonja movie is in the with the changes to history that happened Sookie’s best friend, and William the recovered footage into a new restored works with Robert Rodriguez produc- when he was inside the anomaly at the Sanderson as Bud Dearborne. .Beyond version. ing, Douglas Aarniokoski, and Rose end of the first season, including the non- the pilot episode which sets up the series, In a recent interview while promoting McGowan starring as the red-headed existence of Claudia Brown and his new there’s not much more information about Hellboy 2, Guillermo del Toro clarified warrior. It will be based in part on the assistant, Oliver Leek (Karl Theobald), how the weekly series will progress. plans for the two Lords of the Rings Red Sonya character created by Robert who may have a sinister agenda. Mean- HBO is doing some associated websites movies he is slated to direct. The first E. Howard as well as the Red Sonja while, the team deals with a pack of including www.TruBeverage.com and film will be an adaptation of The Hobbit, comics and will be an origin story. Deinonychus on the loose in a local www.BloodCopy.com that will enhance covering the entire story in the one The movie adaptation of local author shopping mall. the viewing experience for the series. movie. The second film, if actually Stephenie Meyer’s first novel Twilight Over on ABC Family, the debut of American Movie Classics will start produced, would serve as a bridge will be hitting the movie screens in The Middleman got lukewarm ratings dipping their toes into genre program- between The Hobbit and the Lord of the December. Kristen Stewart stars as Bella and the show has been moved back two ming with a remake of The Prisoner, in a Rings trilogy. However, copyrights and Swan with Robert Pattinson as Edward hours to 10 pm ET/PT (which is still co-production with ITV and Granada licenses only cover the three books and Cullen. It is the story of a high schooler better than the 3 am time slot to which International. It will be a six hour does not include other books written by transplanted from Phoenix to a small SciFi banished Charlie Jade). It appears miniseries that will star Jim Caviezel as Tolkein, such as The Silmarillion. Del town in Washington who falls in love that ABC Family is going to keep the Number Six with Ian McKellen as Toro commented that “utilizing the with a vampire. The novel series has been show on the air for the planned 13 Number Two. Bill Gallagher will serve materials that are available to us, and the very popular with teens and will likely be episodes, though. Unless ratings pick up as the series writer and executive pro- discipline has been to try and, from my a popular film series with them as well. in the later time slot, it’s not likely there ducer with Jon Jones directing. Accord- part, know everything else. Not to know The summer of 2008 winds down will be a second season. I really enjoy its ing to AMC’s general manager Charlie it and use it, but to know it and not step with a few more movies released in tongue-in-cheek approach to the genre Collier at the TV Critics’ tour, it will be a on those things. There is enough ... August and even fewer genre movies in and the fun homages that pepper the reboot of the classic series but it will have narrative abridgement and some other September, with only one (the Mummy show. Upcoming episodes in August and elements of The Village, spy gadgetry, pieces of narrative and suggestions and sequel) likely have any chance at being a September are The Ectoplasmic and the giant white ball, Rover. Collier appendix notes and this and that to guide blockbuster (although the animated Clone Panhellenic Investigation in which The also indicated that AMC is looking to and create something that will not Wars should do fairly well, but some fans Middleman learns of a haunted sorority acquire and update other classic science infringe anything else. But it’s too early may wait for the TV series). house and Wendy is sent in undercover to fiction TV and movies and has been for me to swear by it. I think that that’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon find out what is really going on. Next is doing well with recent genre themed the real creative endeavor on the second Emperor (Aug 1) Brendan Fraser is The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown movie packages on the channel. film.” In any case, there will definitely be back as Rick O’Connell with a new which has Kevin Sorbo guest starring as an adaptation of The Hobbit, but the Mummy movie, which will likely do a former Middleman, Guy Doddard, who makeup of the second film is still very better than his other summer movie, the was cryogenically frozen in 1969 and is much up in the air. 3D Journey to the Center of the Earth. revived to do battle with an old nemesis, The independent film production The Rick and his family must stop a mummy who, in actuality is long-dead. When Mutant Chronicles has planned a awoken from a 2,000 year old curse Doddard realizes he’s been replaced and screening at San Diego Comic-Con to get before he sends the world into darkness. is no longer relevant, he puts a dangerous feedback directly from fans to help China’s Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) and his plan into motion and enlists an unknow- determine how to improve the movie. It 10,000 warriors are accidentally awak- ing Wendy to take part. This episode stars Ron Perlman as Brother Samuel, looks to pay homage to 60’s James Bond ( Continued on page 6 ) movies including Wendy in a white bikini ala Ursula Andress in “Dr. No” (with Goddard in a red wet suit). In The Vampiric Puppet Lamentation the Middleman deals with vampiric ventrilo- quist dummies. After that are three more episodes, for which we have the titles of two of them, The neClotharian Contami- nation Protocol and The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome, and very little information since they haven’t actually started filming yet. For more on the show, check out www.middlefan.com and the producers blog at themiddleblog.livejournal.com HBO gets into the genre game with True Blood, based on the Southern Vampire novels by Charlaine Harris. It will debut on HBO Sunday nights starting September 7th for a 12 episode run. The series is set in Louisiana in a world where vampire have learned to co-exist with humans by drinking synthetic blood called Tru:Blood. Anna Paquin stars as Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 5 24 Frames ( Continued from page 5 ) Andrew Stanton designing of it, I knew I wanted him to to support it visually we just said it. And ( Continued from page 1 ) box up like a turtle, because it would in any good film, no matter how much ened by Alex O’Connor (Luke Ford ), rapher, I’ve got an art director, somebody make him kind of shy. I wanted the dialogue, you’re trying to always make who goes to his parents Rick and Evelyn in charge of costumes, in charge of props, engineering to always feel like a machine the visuals be so strong that even if the (Maria Bello) to get their help in saving I’ve got actors. But I meet with them all and like he had a purpose and a function sound goes out on the projector you the world. sort of separately. So in a sad way it’s a first. But that you could translate into it a would still know what is going on Fly Me to the Moon (Aug 8) In this little bit like the game of telephone, and character, I kept using Luxo Jr. even through the acting and the poses and the animated movie, we get the true story we’re seeing all these things and hoping though you can’t see a direct correlation, camera staging. We tried really hard to about three houseflies that traveled to the that when we get all together with the as that methodology, because you always learn from those guys. I definitely felt it moon on Apollo 11. Next they’ll make a parts of the job we put it all together into saw it as a lamp, the minute it stops and was a little more akin to Keaton in what movie about Space Chimps... Oh wait, one file and show it on the big screen it’s doesn’t move it’s not a character - it’s a we had picked for WALL-E because of that opened in July... Stars the voices of all gonna work. And it never does. So lamp. But the minute it moves you see a “the great stone face” was what he was Christopher Lloyd, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr, you meet several times over the course of character in it. That has so much to do called. He never had any emotion and Robert Patrick, Nicollette Sheridan, weeks or months per shot just to get these with its design and I wanted the same WALL-E, technically, has no changes in and Tim Curry. shots right. thing with the robot, the big thing that his face, so that is what I thought was Mirrors (Aug 15) Keifer Sutherland But it’s the same idea as if we all got was the missing ingredient was - what is very akin to. stars as the head of security in this horror in the same room and said action and cut. the key to the face? thriller about a department store plagued We just don’t have that luxury. So it’s like I was at a baseball game and someone Q: With how long you spend on movies by strange deaths. It seems there was a making live-action in slow motion. passed me their binoculars because we like WALL-E, are you nervous when they fire that caused a tragedy and one of the had seats so far away. I missed an entire come out about how they are going to be victims has been exacting revenge by Q: You used Fred Willard in live-action inning because I turned the binoculars received? returning to the living world through spots throughout the movie, should we be around and started making them look sad, A: Well I never get nervous until I go to mirrors. Also stars Paula Patton, Ezra expecting more of that from you and by stern, happy. I remember doing that with these things. (Ha ha ha) And everybody Buzzington, Erica Gluck, and Cameron extension Pixar? my dad’s binoculars. I was like there is so says “Well… Pixar has had 8 hits in a Boyce. A: Out of me? Possibly, because I really much character in these I don’t need row” and I’m like not thinking about it Star Wars: Clone Wars (Aug 15) To enjoyed it, and I definitely have some anything else, I don’t need any other when I’m making the movie because launch the forthcoming animated TV ideas coming down the pipeline that information, a nose, a mouth. The hinge you’re spending all that time. It’s like “all series Star Wars: Clone Wars, Lucasfilm would involve live-action. And this was a really did make a huge (difference) I said hands on deck” for almost three of the is releasing the first few episodes as a little bit of not only a test to see if it that’s like the Luxo lamp from the side. four years, ‘cause it usually doesn’t work feature length movie. Set between would work for WALL-E but what I You can get all these from the angle and and it’s not working they way you want it episodes 2 and 3, the movie features would think of it. It was pretty easy, that is just from the side now and also to. So you’re just in this fix-it mode for Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobe, pretty much a no-brainer. I mean standing from the front. So that was just this huge so long and in repair mode. To be honest, and Padme Amidala leading the Jedi in front of a podium with a prompter kind two dimensional win. the biggest pressure I feel for most of the Knights against the forces of Count of thing. Just make sure the cap is not on The biggest thing we spent even more four years is the pressure from my peers. Dooku, General Grevious and Emperor the lens. But still I enjoyed it; I mean the time on was the real engineering of it. I I work with the most talented, smartest Palpatine. one thing that doesn’t exist in animation had some really great designers that are people that there are and they intimidate Death Race (Aug 22) It is 2020 and the is spontaneity, and to suddenly be in the practically engineers themselves. I said I me. I don’t feel that smart, I don’t feel overcrowded prison system has been single set then the same day you’re done. wanted the design of this not to be a that talented when I’m around them. And cheat; I want him built the way he is truly they’re like a thermometer right in your turned over to the Weyland Corporation. I was just shocked, that is amazing, that is going to move. We’re not going to cheat face; if they don’t think it’s working you They decide a way to cut the prison the coolest thing ever. I know it comes we’re not going to squash and stretch can just sense it and if they think it’s population and provide entertainment for with probably way more stress and him. We’re not going to do anything but working they get excited. And because the masses is to stage a Death Race for a different challenges than I ever would make him move the exactly by the you spend most of the time not working it global audience hungry for violence. have experienced yet. Because you limitations of how he’s built. It took a is a tremendous amount of restless Former NASCAR champion Jenson definitely get to play god in animation long time, was a real sort of Rubik’s cube pressure. Ames (Jasen Statham) is forced to and change things whenever you see engineering feat. One of the biggest wins participate and becomes the star per- something wrong or even change your for, I think, bringing character to his life Q: What was the decision behind using former and fights to survive so that he mind months later and tweak it again. We was {I think it was Jay Schuster} came Hello Dolly? can win his freedom. Also stars Ian take advantage of that at Pixar. But I definitely enjoyed it. up with the idea of giving him zoom A: It was an abstract choice I know, as a McShane, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson lenses inside sort of inner lenses. That matter of fact, the minute I decided to do and Natalie Martinez. Directed by Paul Q: I thought WALL-E’s design was pretty was a surrogate for the idea of someone’s it I said I’m going to be asked this for the W.S. Anderson (you have been warned). pupils moving or their eyebrows to show rest of my life. But I’m willing to do it Babylon A.D. (Aug 29) Vin Diesel stars much perfect. How many concepts and revisions did you go through to finally you that they’re thinking. because it is the right choice. What as a mercenary charged with delivering a When that piece went in we were like happened was that I always had the idea young woman from Russia to Canada but get him to final (concept)? A: “oh my gosh - that is gold” suddenly he of old fashioned music in front of stars. I he learns that a virus she is infected with He came in stages and I’d say the sum total time spent on him was almost a year truly is alive. just love the future juxtaposed against the could doom the human race. Also stars and a half to get the design just right. Q: I saw a bits of Chaplin and Buster past. But that is a lot of options of songs. Vincent Cassel, Michelle Yeoh, Melanie When I was just trying to prove in private Keaton in his movements. Did the Then I started trolling through standards, Thierry, and Gerard Depardieu. that this could work I had to draw animators get to watch a lot of silent which a lot come from musicals. Started Ghost Town (Sept 19) Ricky Gervais something we didn’t have a design for - I films? looking at musicals, I did some musical stars as a man who dies for seven minutes just had a couple of artists and we were A: Yes, both the story crew and the theater in school, I remembered a lot of and when he is resurrected, he can see just, in private, putting on what we would animators watched probably one Chaplin staple plays that people did when I got to ghosts! call boards or reels, story boards with and one Keaton film every day for a year Hello Dolly and that first phrase of “Put Igor (Sep 19) John Cusack is the voice little sounds, just privately with no and a half. Until we had pretty much seen on Your Sunday Clothes” was “Out of Igor in this Dreamworks animated pressure. We hadn’t even gotten the green their entire body of work, features and there”. Without explanation it just story of a lowly lab assistant who dreams light to make this movie, just see what it shorts. It was just to get as much knowl- worked, just viscerally it worked so I put of becoming a mad scientist and winning might feel like, what was the tone. edge about the breadth of grammar that is it in without being able to justify it. And the first place prize at the annual Evil I had to draw something, so I said let’s used in silent films. You walk away sort of kept it a private thing so like Science Fair. Other voices are Steve make him a box, because he has to cube realizing “what can’t you do, what can’t people are going to just think I’m nuts. Buscemi, John Cleese, Jay Leno, and trash and that is a very sort of masculine you convey with just imagery?” Those But it just kept working and so I finally Jennifer Coolidge. looking graphic design. And let’s make guys just figured it all out and you realize realized that the reason I liked is because EVE a circle. We let those be the basic that something was actually lost with the content of that song is about two guys sound, we got lazy and instead of trying ideas. Then, as we got into the actual ( Continued on page 7 ) Page 6 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 Andrew Stanton The End of an Era: Star bridge set were also popular with fans. I was in Las Vegas for the Westercon ( Continued from page 6 ) But what kept fans coming back even if 61 convention over July 4th weekend and that have never left their small town and Trek: The Experience they didn’t go on the rides was the Star made sure I went back there for a final they just want to go out for one night, Beams Out Trek atmosphere of The Experience. The dinner at Quark’s and spent some latinum live it up, and kiss a girl. I thought that is by Lee Whiteside Quark’s Bar menu features themed dishes for a few trinkets to remember it by. WALL-E, and so then I looked and said (my favorite is the Holy Rings of Betazed Saturday night was still pretty busy and how would he discover that? I said “well, A little over ten years ago, a new for the Onion Rings) and the Warp Core they also had a couple of weddings going just find an old movie.” I think Jim attraction opened at the Las Vegas Hilton Breach was always a popular drink. The on, so it was pretty much business as Reardon, my co-writer, came up with that became the destination of choice for ambassadors (waiters) and the roving usual. It did appear that a lot of the that. So we looked at it and I found the Star Trek and science fiction fans visiting aliens (Ferengis, Klingons, and Borgs) people there had heard about the closure other song “It Only Takes a Moment” and Las Vegas, Star Trek: The Experience. were always fun to talk to and usually did and the employees were acknowledging it I saw these two lovers holding hands. I But now, the owners of the attraction not break out of character and some fans but they were still fairly low-key about it. was like - that is exactly how I can (Cedar Faire, who acquired it when more than likely tested their patience at The waiters and gift shop employees convey I love you without being able to Viacom split itself up) and the Las Vegas times. The Hilton has also become the should be able to find similar jobs say it. Also, I read in a book about human Hilton have not been able to come to site of the annual big Star Trek conven- without too much trouble, I’d think, but perceptions and studies of their posturing terms to extend the lease for the exhibit tion run by Creation and the Experience I’m not sure what having “Ferengi host at that holding hands is the most intimate and it will be closing down on September has always been a focal point of the Quark’s”, “Klingon Ambassador”, or thing you can do in public in any culture. 1st. What it will be replaced with is convention. With the attraction gone, it is “Enterprise-D pilot” on their resumes will So I just thought that was key. And when unknown, but it will likely not be unclear if Creation will continue having do to help them find a similar job. you get that much from accidentally anything similar. The Hilton will likely the events at the Hilton. This year’s It was hoped that with the advent of stumbling across something, well I create something entirely new to take convention happening August 6-10 will the new Star Trek movie coming in May thought I’d just put up with answering advantage of the monorail stop that will definitely be a bitter-sweet one for the 2010 The Experience would be kept this question forever. My other thing I’m generate more income for them than they fans who have considered The Experi- going for another year, but in the end it saying is that it isn’t like it’s my favorite got by leasing the space The Experience ence part of their annual convention was decided to shut it down. Hopefully movie or something I’m just saying was in. experience. something new will be created some- WALL-E has bad taste in musicals. The Experience was launched during Over the years, I’ve made many visits where that can give fans old and new a The biggest problem was getting 20th the latter part of the run of Star Trek: and had many dinners at Quarks. Some- place to go to experience the Star Trek Century Fox to allow us to use it. You Deep Space Nine, the attraction relied times it was a quick stop while I was in universe in person. I’ve enjoyed my trips want it for what? But they were actually heavily on the look of that incarnation of town for the Consumer Electronics Show there over the years and will remember very cooperative and let it go easy. Star Trek for the décor and atmosphere as and other times it was with friends as part Star Trek: The Experience fondly. of a group trek. The United Federation of Q: well as the names for Quark’s Bar, The design of WALL-E, you’ve told us Phoenix has made several trips as a group how it came about but, were you aware of Moogie’s Trading Post, and Garak’s to the Experience which have always how much it looked like #5 from Short Clothiers. The main attraction was the been fun outings and they are organizing Circuit? Klingon Encounter that took fans into the one last trip the weekend of August 1-3. A: No. Honestly it shocked me, it shocks future and onto the bridge of the Enter- me to this day. I don’t think it does, I prise D where you learned that one of that think the only reason is because he’s got one of your group was an ancestor of stereoscopic eyes. I think that is what Captain Picard and that you needed to be everybody is keying into. But honestly I returned to your own time with help from never thought of it. If anything, I told the Geordie and Commander Riker. The ride design crew that there is two ways robots ended with a simulator ride that featured have been made, Tin-Man style (human your shuttle being chased down the Las form), and where you see it as a machine Vegas strip by Klingons. In later years, and you put a character into it (R2-D2 the ending video sequence became very style). The machine type is what I was dated as most of the casinos seen in the trying for; things that made you see it as sequence were long gone or remodeled an appliance. He came in such stages that and jokes were made that your group had it honestly never dawned on me. I’d fess been returned several years early. On up if I did; I’ve fessed up to everything your way to the ride, you got to take a else so far. look at the History of the Future, featur- ing many props and costumes from the Q: My colleagues insist that I ask about entire history of Star Trek, which was “John Carter of Mars”. periodically updated with information A: I can say that is a true rumor. That is and props from the newer versions of Star what I am doing next, I am writing it this Trek on TV and in the movies. In 2004, year with Mark Andrews who was the the Borg Invasion 4D was added, which head of story on Ratatouille and the made use of newer high definition video Incredibles. We have not made any technology to provide an updated ride decisions about exactly how it’s going to tied into Star Trek: Voyager. It featured be executed, how it’s going to be distrib- Admiral Janeway, the Emergency uted or any of that stuff. All we’ve Medical Hologram, and The Borg Queen decided we’re going to do is use the Pixar in an adventure on a space station being methodology of story, story, story. So overrun by The Borg. The ride was an we’re just spending all this year trying to example of what can be done with newer write the best script possible and then technology, but the simulator part was a we’ll make all the other decisions based bit tame. on that. So that’s the most that is happen- The attraction has been a very popular ing on that. location for weddings and other events, with many couples taking their vows on Thank you for your time. -- Bob LaPierre the bridge of the Enterprise D over the years. Additions of a behind-the-scenes tour and photo opportunities on the Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 7 The Gulliver Travel Research Grant BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS Wildside Press “Wings in the Night” by Robert E. FYI The Speculative Literature Foundation is Fantasy/Sci-Fi Discussion Group Howard plus loads of other Howard CASFS Book Discussion accepting proposals for the Gulliver 4th Wed, 7pm reprints Travel Research Grant from July 1st 2008 Borders, Glendale Bent Cover Books until September 30th 2008. Wyrm Publishing 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix SLF travel grants are awarded to assist Path of the Craft Discussion group “Memorare” by Gene Wolfe, ltd signed, 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm, in the Coffee Bar writers (speculative fiction, poetry, drama, discusses Neopagan theories inspired by number hardcover Sponsored by Central Arizona creative nonfiction) in their research. both fiction and non-fiction books “Toast” by Charles Stross Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) They are not currently available for about magic, nature, mythology, and email questions to [email protected] academic research. We are currently spirituality. - 4th Sunday, 6pm GAMING EVENTS offering one $600 travel grant annually, to Borders, Phoenix Camelback We are a small, friendly group of science be used to cover airfare, lodging, and/or BOOKMANS, CENTRAL fiction/fantasy literature fans who like to other travel expenses. Manga Bookclub Dungeons & Dragons Night. 1st & 3rd get together to talk about our favorite Our travel grants will be awarded by a 1st Tuesdays, 7pm Mondays, 5pm books. We welcome potential new committee of SLF staff members on the Borders, Chandler Street Fighter II Video Game Challenge, friends. basis of interest and merit. Factors Aug 16, 3pm August 19 - Storm Front by Jim Butcher. considered will include: Manga Bookclub Harry Potter Magic Show with Jolly First of the popular Dresden Files · a writing sample in the proposed genre August 16 Roger, Aug 30, 3pm supernatural mysteries. Talk to me nice (up to 10 pages of poetry, 10 pages of September 20 and I may bring the unabridged version of drama, or 5000 words of fiction or Barnes & Noble, Goodyear DRAWN TO COMICS the TV pilot. creative nonfiction); please note that the Heroclix - Tuesdays 4pm-7pm. Fridays, September 16 - Watchmen by Alan writing sample must be a solo work (work Graphic Novel Book Club 8pm-11pm. Saturdays, 3pm-6pm Moore and Dave Gibbons completed only by the applicant). 2nd Sunday, 8:30pm Star Wars Miniatures - Sundays, 1p– 4p Regarded by many as one of the best a bibliography of previously-published Four Peaks Brewery, Tempe Sit-and-Sketch with local artists - 3rd graphic novels ever written. Lets have a work by the author (no more than one Saturday 6-8pm look at it before next yearâ ™s movie. page, typed); applicants need not have AUTHOR SIGNINGS October 21 - Here There Be Dragons by previous publications to apply. GAME DEPOT James A Owen. a one-page written description of the Poisoned Pen Bookstore HeroClix & MechWarrior - Wednesdays, Fascinating premise, it received a fine project in question (maximum 500 words) S.M. Stirling, Sep 7th, 2pm 530pm review from the Dragon Page folks. Think about Alan Dean Foster, Nov 1st, 5:30pm UFS - Thursdays 6pm-9pm November 18 - Galactic Patrol by EE - Where you intend to visit (be as specific David Morrell, Dec 3rd 7pm Magic, The Gathering - Thursdays, 6pm- “Doc” Smith as you can) 9pm First-published of the Lensman series, - When you intend to travel (including the SPECIAL BOOK RELEASES which practically invented the larger-than- completion date) This listing is to introduce you to smaller IMPERIAL OUTPOST GAMES life space opera. - What you will gain from field rather publishing houses that offer exclusive or Federation Commander - 2nd Saturdays, December 16 - Roll Your Own than desk research via a library or the limited edition books that you aren’t able noon Think of a book you’ve read and enjoyed internet to find at your local chain bookstore. RPG - 1st & 3rd Sundays in the past year or so that we haven’t If awarded the grant, the recipient agrees Boardgames & Demo Nite - Thursdays, discussed yet. Share your thoughts with to write a brief report of their research Borderlands Press 6pm the rest of the group. This will provide experience (500-1000 words) for our files, “The Hunger” by Whitey Stieber. Ltd some possibilities for next year’s book and for possible public dissemination on edition. SAMURAI COMICS list. our website. “5 Stories” by Peter Straub. (check website for correct store location) PLEASE NOTE: This grant, as with all Heroclix Tournament, Fridays, 6pm SLF grants, is intended to help writers Cemetary Dance Publications Mechwarrior Tourney, Wednesdays, 6pm working with speculative literature. If “He is Legend” celebrating Richard Yugioh Tournament, Sundays, noon FURNISHED you’re not sure what areas that term Matheson and includes the first-ever Anime Club, Sundays, noon encompasses, we recommend referencing collaboration between Stephen King and Pokemon, Sundays, 2pm ROOM our FAQ (question #2). his son, Joe Hill. 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You may apply for travel to take place “The Last Unicorn” by Peter Beagle. Midnight Release Party for Stephen community colleges and at any point in the following year (from Deluxe hardcover w/extras King’s “The Stand”, Sep 10, 12:01am shopping center. $360/ October to the following October). “Last Unicorn” concept art ltd edition 3. Travel may take place from any country prints SCIENCE EVENTS month, plus share of to any country, or internally within a housework, covers rent country; the grants are unrestricted. Funds Subterranean Press BOOKMANS, SPEEDWAY, TUCSON will be disbursed in U.S. currency (but “What the Mouse Found and other Children’s science event “Mad Science.” and utilities — including can be sent through PayPal if that is more stories” by Charles deLint Jun 18, 11am cable TV, phone and convenient for international recipients). “Worlds of Weber” by David Weber BOOKMANS, GRANT AVE, 4. Travel grant applications will be “Kilimanjaro” by Mike Resnick TUCSON Internet connection. considered from July 1st to September “Moby Dick” screenplay by Ray Children’s science event “Mad Science”. Must tolerate cats, 30th, annually. Applications received Bradbury Jun 19, 11am outside that period will be discarded “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman. smokers, and artists who unread. Ltd edition and lettered & signed edition. BOOKMANS, MESA 5. The grant recipient will be announced “Temeraire” series by Naomi Novik with Childrens’ Science event “Mad Science keep weird hours. by October 15th, annually. All applicants new covers and interior illustrations. Presents.” Jun 11, 130pm Phone Leslie, 623-247- will be notified of the status of their application by that date. Traife Buffet 7809, afternoons or “Greetings from Lake Wu” a special evenings. edition of stories by Jay Lake and art by Frank Wu ( Continued on page 9 ) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 Saturdays, 130pm-230pm Check the web sites for confirmation, http://www.novaspace.com/Spacefest/ FYI ( Continued from page 8 ) Across Plus Anime Club. Sundays, 7pm location and more information. http://www.pimaair.org PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, Bellydance lessons with Morgiana. http://www.poisonedpen.com TUCSON Sundays except the 1st Sun, 1pm Game Depot, 480-966-4727 http://www.samuraicomics.com Titan Missile Museum Tours. http://www.azchallenger.org http://www.seti.org Reservations only BOOKMANS TUCSON - SPEEDWAY http://www.barnesandnoble.com http://www.spazdogcomics.com/ The only publicly accessible Titan II Metaphysics Group http://www.bookmans.com http://www.subterraneanpress.com/ missile site in the nation. Tour the 2nd & 4th Mon 7pm http://www.borders.com http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ underground missile site. See the 3-ton http://www.browncoats.lagemann.org http://www.wildsidepress.com/ blast doors, 8’ thick silo walls and an BORDERS AVONDALE http://www.cemeterydance.com http://wyrmpublishing.com/catalog/ actual Titan II missile in the launch duct. Metaphysical Wednesdays Discussion http://www.drawntocomics.com http://www.wildsidepress.com/ Visit the launch control center, experience Wednesdays, 7pm http://www.imperialoutpost.com a simulated launch, and more. Evening http://www.library.pima.gov tours to beat the heat: Aug 16, Sep 13, Oct BORDERS 11, 5pm-8pm GLENDALE Metaphysical Mondays CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, Discussion PEORIA Mondays, 7pm Stargazing. Starlab Planetarium. Check website for dates and times HBO SPECIAL EVENT The Space Place is a 2-hour interactive “Trueblood” new series program for little ones with big based on Charlaine imaginations! Designed for children ages Harris’ Sookie 3 through 6, the program features age- Stackhouse stories. appropriate activities designed to teach Airs Sep 7th on HBO. I preschoolers about our planet and solar couldn’t find the official system. Call for reservations. 3rd airdate on any website but Mondays, 930am-1130am I got it from Charlaine ASU Meteorite Exhibit Harris herself. There’s a Olumbia Shuttle Memorial Display wonderful website hyping Lowell Observatory Display the series that’s great fun, lots of videos and ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER merchandise. The new Dorrance Planetarium is now www.hbo.com/events/ open. trueblood/ Materials Science Workshops These workshops provide fun hands-on LOFT THEATRE, experiences to help participants TUCSON understand how materials scientists Free tickets at manipulate the properties of various Bookmans, Speedway & materials to create the products that we Grant locations, Tucson use in our everyday life. “Reservoir Dogs” Aug 1st Check website for dates and topics & 2nd Skycycle – experience a physics lesson 15 “The Monster Squad” feet above the floor! Aug 15th “Bloody Birthday” Aug SETI Institute’s Weekly 11th Science Radio Program see website for complete Mondays, avail as podcast listing http://radio.seti.org http://podcast.seti.org Tucson Festival of Books, March 13-15, MOON SOCIETY MEETING 2009 at University of 3 PM at Bookman’s, Northwest Corner of Arizona in Tucson Southern and Country Club. The meeting Here are the expected SF/ will be in the rear of the store. For more F authors who will attend: info contact Craig Porterat Emma Bull [email protected] Charles deLint Diana Gabaldon OTHER GENRE-RELATED EVENTS Father Andrew Greeley Dennis McKiernan ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER Yvonne Navarro The Chronicles of Narnia, The Exhibition, Weston Ochse Opens Jun 7 Jennifer Roberson James Sallis BOOKMANS, FLAGSTAFF Will Shetterly Emerald Witches, open pagan group. Janni Lee Simner 2nd Tuesdays, 7pm S.M. Stirling Robert Vardeman BOOKMANS, MESA John Vornholt Psychic Saturdays, 12:30pm

BOOKMANS, PHOENIX Arizona Browncoats Shindig. 1st Saturday, 7pm Scimitar-Talon is a group of people wanting to enjoy recreating portions of the middle ages prior to 1600 AD. Classes on Medieval Arts and Sciences.. 1st Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 9 Three Star Trek Legends Joseph Pevney continued to say no. A new producer, http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/st/interviews/ Rick Berman, came on the scene, saw justman/index.shtml Pass Away Director, Joseph Pevney, was born on some film of Stewart, and fell in love http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/ By Shane Shellenbarger September 15th, 1911 in New York, New with the actors work. Roddenberry still Robert_Justman York. Pevney began his career as a boy resisted, and eventually Justman realized http://trekmovie.com/2007/03/18/bob- The Star Trek Universe recently lost three soprano in 1924, growing into acting he needed to approach the problem from justman-talks-tos-and-tos-r-with- stars. roles on stage and screen. In 1950, he a different angle. One day in a meeting, trekmoviecom/ began his career as a film director with Justman announced that he never wanted http://www.trektoday.com/news/ Alexander Mair Courage Jr. Shakedown and Undercover Girl. In to hear the name Patrick Stewart ever 010608_01.shtml 1959, Pevney began his television career again. Whenever someone mentioned Composer, Alexander Courage, was with the unsold pilot, Destination Space. Stewart’s name, Justman would fain An American in Australia born on December 10th, 1919 in Philadel- While his television directing ranged anger, state it was over with Stewart and phia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from from Adam-12 to Wagon Train, from to move on. One day, the final candidate Part Four- Exiting Australia the Eastman School of Music in 1941, Bewitched to Little House on the Prairie, for the role of Picard came to audition, (Searching for Jerky, a Courage served as an Army Air Forces from a CBS Schoolbreak Special to did his reading, spoke to Roddenberry Beagle Searching for food, bandleader during World War II. Courage Trapper John, Md, Pevney is best and Justman, and then left. The room was began his 54-year career as a composer in remembered for his work on the series, deadly silent. Roddenberry heaved a great and the Word Kangaroo 1946 for CBS Radio, moving to MGM as Star Trek. Pevney directed fourteen sigh and said, “All right, I’ll go with Search) an arranger and orchestrator in 1948. He episodes, tying with Marc Daniels. Patrick.” by Jeffrey Lu worked on or orchestrated a string of Among the fan favorites are Arena, The Justman died on May 28th, 2008 in musicals over the next twelve years Devil in the Dark, The City on the Edge Los Angeles, California from complica- A few new friends on the trip told me including Annie Get Your Gun, The Band of Forever, Amok Time, Journey to Babel, tions of Parkinson’s disease. about some “beef” jerky that’s only Wagon, Doctor Dolittle, Fiddler on the The Deadly Years, Wolf in the Fold, and unique in Australia- crocodile and Roof, Gigi, Hello, Dolly!, My Fair Lady, lThe Trouble with Tribbles. Joseph http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ kangaroo. Curious, I looked all over Show Boat, and Seven Brides for Seven Pevney died in Palm Desert, California Joseph_Pevney Australia’s grocery stores for this but Brothers. In the ‘60s, Courage brought on May 18th, 2008 at the age of 96. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0678928/ could not find it. Later, I’ve been told that I was lucky not to have it in the first his prodigious talents to 20th Century Fox, http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/ place. and it was in 1959 when he began his Robert H. Justman Joseph_Pevney http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ The reason was customs. The inspec- work on what would turn out to be over tors have a secret weapon- a beagle. This Producer, Robert Justman, was born obituaries/joseph-pevney-director-of- 350 television episodes. little dog sniffed briefly at my backpack Courage orchestrated films scored by in New York City on July 13, 1926. His journeyman-versatility-858292.html and found his prize over a deserted Adolph Deutsch (Some Like It Hot), Jerry job titles in the film industry included http://wcbstv.com/entertainment/ bench- an apple. The beagle was awarded Goldsmith (Mulan), Andre Previn (My production assistant, assistant director, star.trek.Joseph.2.735877.html a biscuit and happily went to the next Fair Lady), and John Williams (Super- associate producer, co-producer, super- http://trekmovie.com/2008/05/25/tos- baggage. If I had the jerky, I would have man.) Courage later continued his vising producer, production manager, and director-joseph-pevney-dies-at-96/ had to pay a large fine and/or have an collaboration during John Williams he acted in The Outer Limits episode “A http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ extended stay in Australia. tenure with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Feasibility Study” as the “Elder of Alexander_Courage As I hopped through customs, I remember a story about the word kanga- Despite his work on such films and Luminos.” His film credits include Joe http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006021/ roo. In 19th century, Captain Cook was television series as Superman, Lost in Palooka in the Squared Circle (1950), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ Kiss Me Deadly (1955), and Mutiny on content/article/2008/05/30/ writing about Australia’s animals. He had Space, and Star Trek, Courage was not a a prisoner/guide to help him identify the Bounty (1962.) The television series AR2008053003013.html fan of fantasy and science fiction, telling some animals near the prison. one interviewer, “I think it’s just marvel- on which he worked include The Adven- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/31/arts/ “What’s that slow-moving animal?” ous malarkey,” he said. “So you write tures of Superman (1953-1958), The television/31courage- Captain Cook said. some marvelous malarkey music that Outer Limits (1963-1965), Star Trek 1.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss “That’s a sloth, sir!” replied the goes with it.” (1966-1969) Mission: Impossible (1966 http://www.youtube.com/ prisoner/guide. Best known to the public-at-large for Pilot), Star Trek: The Next Generation watch?v=vH0aSwFKacw “Very good. Continue on,” Captain writing the Star Trek theme, Courage felt (1987-1988.) Justman and Herbert Solow Cook said. ill used by the series creator, Gene co-wrote Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, http://www.latimes.com/news/ “What’s the small bear with large claws?” Captain Cook said. Roddenberry. Courage looked to the song published by Pocket Books in 1996. printedition/california/la-me-courage30- “That’s a koala bear, sir!” said the “Beyond the Blue Horizon” as a jumping- At the time Justman was casting for 2008may30,0,5756996.story Star Trek: The Next Generation, he saw http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ prisoner/guide. off-point, working the fast, train-like “Excellent,” Captain Cook answered. Patrick Stewart on stage, turned to his obituaries/alexander-courage-composer- pulsating rhythm under the soaring Captain Cook was then introduced to melody. He envisioned using a soprano wife and said, “I think I’ve found our of-the-star-trek-theme-837440.html another guide, an Aborigine. Captain singer (Loulie Jean Norman), an organ, a new captain.” Arranging a meeting http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/ Cook wanted a native person to help flute, and even a vibraphone. between Gene Roddenberry and Stewart, news_events/features/2008/052808.html# name the unique animals in Australia. Roddenberry wanted to increase the Justman felt that the conversation had http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/ “What’s that large mouse that jumps importance of the female voice and the gone well when Roddenberry was trek.asp up and down?” remarked Captain Cook. finished product sounded more like a bidding Stewart goodbye, closed the http://www.daisyplanet.com/st/info/ “Kangaroo” answered the Aborigine soprano solo. Roddenberry’s “help” did door, turned to Justman and said, “I won’t Nic_Out.html guide. “Wonderful,” Captain Cook smiled. not end there. In order to share in the have him.” When questioned, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Ironically, kangaroo in Aborigine royalties, Roddenberry wrote lyrics that Roddenberry would not say why he felt Robert_Justman Stewart was wrong for the part, but http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/01/ means “I don’t know.” begin: “Beyond the rim of the star-light/ So, we have a funny large rodent that Justman had his suspicions: Roddenberry local/me-justman1 My love is wand’ring in star flight.” The jumps up and down named in a foreign only known commercial recording is by had conceived of Jean-Luc Picard as a http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0433226/ language, “I don’t know.” Nichelle “Uhura” Nichols and it appears masculine, virile Frenchman with a lot of http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/st/clips/ Kangaroo about petting one but I on her 1991 album, “Out of This World.” hair. “And Patrick didn’t fit that at all. clip27.shtml would like to come back to Australia, one On May 15, 2008 at the age of 88, Patrick was not so handsome, he was http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/st/interviews/ day. Cheers! Alexander “Sandy” Courage died in the distinctive, and he was quite bald. Quite justman/page6.shtml Next: An American in New Zealand Sunrise Assisted Living facility in Pacific bald,” said Justman. He would not give http://trekmovie.com/2008/05/31/tos-tng- Part One- A Sighting of a Penguin in Palisades, California from complications up on Stewart, so Justman continued to producer-robert-justman-has-passed- Dunedin following a stroke badger Roddenberry and Roddenberry away/

Page 10 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 Freeman – Wanted) heads up Wayne spin when she accidentally tells all three to break the long standing truce between Screening Room Enterprises and provides the budget and potential fathers they can escort her down mankind and the original sons of earth high tech gear for Batman and his the aisle. The fathers Sam, Harry, and Bill who live in the underworld. He is so The Dark Knight equipment. (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan darn upset about our shopping malls! To Mamma Mia! There are some great chase scenes, Skarsgard) are about as different as could do so he must control The Golden Army Hellboy II: The Golden Army fights and the usual action but Heath be, but each seems to have at least one and initiates a mission to do so. Of Hancock Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker was a talent in common with Sophie. Initially course our superheros from the super Wanted thrill to watch. Heath turned the comic she believes that all she needs is to meet secret (yea right – but what about those Wall-E book character we all love so much into them and she will know who her father is. pictures of Hellboy on the internet) Get Smart what we would expect from The Joker. To say much more would need a spoiler Bureau for Paranormal Research and Kung-Fu Panda I dedicate this review to Heath Ledger alert. Defense (BPRD) are not too keen about whose acting has provided so much There were several good scenes but this and set forth to stop the Prince. The Dark Knight pleasure to his fans and whose life ended the two that stand out are incredible. First Back at the BPRD our cigar smoking Starring: Christian Bale, Heath far too soon. A posthumous supporting the scene where Baranski sings “Does hero Hellboy or Red (played Ron Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, actor nomination is in order. Your Mother Know”. The other is the two Perlman - Blade II) is having a bit of a Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight is showing on both songs performed in full 70s regalia domestic problem with pyrokinetic Liz Morgan FreemanDirector: Christo- IMAX and regular screens – choose and during the end credits. Sherman (played by Selma Blair - The pher Nolan enjoy. I will definitely buy it when it comes Alibi, The Fog). Let’s just say that a Runtime: 152 minutes I highly recommend the film and rate out on DVD. Five Stars out of Five - Bob super hero domestic problem is not just Rated: PG-13 The Dark Knight an A-. LaPierre about breaking a dinner plate. But when th Release Date: July 18 , 2008 they receive their assignment to save the Reviewed by: Len Berger Mamma Mia! Hellboy II: The Golden Army world they join forces and spring into (ConNotations Film Editor) Universal Pictures Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, action. They are joined by our aquatic 108 Minutes Doug Jones, Luke Gross, John empath Abe Sapien (played by Doug The Dark Knight story begins with Rated PG-13 Alexander Jones – F4: Rise of the Silver Surfer) and Batman AKA Bruce Wayne (played by In theaters July 18, 2008 Director: Guillermo Del Toro a disembodied ectoplasmic psychic Christian Bale – The Prestige) working Runtime: 115 minutes named Johann Krauss played by John with Lt. Jim Gordon (played by Gary Wow! I didn’t expect too much from Rated: PG-13 Alexander whose head is an upside down Oldman – Harry Potter and the Order of this movie. I am a fan of ABBA’s music Release Date: July 11th, 2008 fishbowl. the Phoenix) to rid Gotham City of all the but I couldn’t see how it would be Reviewed by: Len Berger The film was quite humorous and in crime bosses and their gangs. Gotham’s interesting for anyone not a fan of (ConNotations Film Editor) one fight scene with Prince Nuada, Red’s D.A. Harvey Dent (played by Aaron musicals. I was wrong. This movie had cigar was smashed and Red declares “it Eckhart – The Core) is in court working incredible amounts of energy, loads of Summer movie releases continue with was Cuban, now you pissed me off”. his magic to convict the criminals. The humor, and an Oscar worthy performance Hellboy II: The Golden Army. The As suggested earlier in this review the plan sounds great but someone has other by Meryl Streep. I expected a great comic-book Hellboy superhero was film’s CGI and special effects are really ideas - enter The Joker (played by Heath singing performance from Christine created by Mike Mignola. Director outstanding. You’ll wish you could go Ledger – Brokeback Mountain, Baranski because while many people Guillermo Del Toro’s (Pan’s Labyrinth, home, pop the DVD into the player and Casanova) who just wants to mess things consider themselves a star of the stage, Blade II) imagination is set loose in the watch some of the sequences again. up a tiny bit (well not so tiny). she actually is one. But Streep’s perfor- film. Some of the imagery throughout I recommend the film and rate The Joker’s gang starts by breaking mance was enchanting. She looked the film is visually stunning. When our Hellboy II a B+. into a bank and to steal $60 million or so comfortable and relaxed throughout the heroes are traveling through the Troll from one of the local mob bosses. The film and I believe the claims that she Market your eyes will scan the screen Joker’s plan includes a unique concept of enjoyed doing it. I’m hoping that this from side to side and top to bottom teamwork and a witness elimination might serve as a notice to the studios that looking at the dizzying array of creatures ( Continued on page 12 ) program. Really, The Joker is not a nice you don’t need spectacular special effects and images. Welcome to the world of guy. Some time later The Joker wants to to have a great movie. Guillermo Del Toro. add a member to his own gang, breaks a The story begins with Sophie Our story begins with Prince Nuada pool cue in half, throws the pieces on the (played by Luke Gross -Blade II) plotting floor and declares to the assembled (Amanda Sefried) criminals “We are going to have tryouts”. sending out three The Joker certainly believes in the invitations to her survival of the fittest. wedding in secret. The Joker’s desire is to create as much She has apparently chaos as he can in Gotham City. He has found her mother’s no rules and no morals to get in his way (Streep) diary and but pushing our hero to the limit can has narrowed the create unintended consequences. possible names of Batman and Alfred’s (played by her dad to those Michael Caine – The Prestige) lair is not three. She tries to as luxurious as the manor but quite hide them from her adequate for the job at hand. Alfred mom but of course provides his usual wisdom and support they are seen and for Batman with some humor along the Donna (her mom) way. goes on a tirade Batman’s love interest, Rachel Dawes and tries to throw (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal – Stranger them out. Both than Fiction) is dating Harvey much to women are the chagrin of our hero. Harvey asks headstrong, Alfred “Any psychotic x-boyfriends I stubborn and love should know about” to which Alfred each other very responds “You have no idea”. much. The wed- Lucius Fox (played by Morgan ding goes into a Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 11 (Continued from page 11 ) Empire Strikes Back dialogue on several than most actors can when equipped with of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is the first Screening occasions, because the plots share award-winning scripts. It is she who has human interaction in the movie. Up until Hancock elements of father-son relationships and the pivotal decision to make at the end, that point humans are limited to commer- Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, revelations. (Actually, a deranged part of and her smile is like a zen koan. cials and the VHS tape. There are only Jason Bateman my brain coolly observed that Wanted has Wanted is SF film noir, and you have two other interactive humans in the Director: Peter Berg a potential for audience interaction to know yourself to know whether it is movie John (John Ratzenberger) and Running Time: 92 min somewhere right of The Rocky Horror your movie. I loved it - except for that Mary (Kathy Najimy), they are the first to Rated: PG-13 for some intense se- Picture Show and left of Serenity; loudly inconsistency glitch. – Chris Paige notice when things are amiss due to their quences of sci-fi action and violence, reciting Star Wars dialogue would be part screens being turned off after “meeting” and language. of it.) Where Wanted does not match the Wall-E WALL-E. Blue Light quality of its classic predecessors is in Pixar Animation Axiom, the ship has two voices, first Release Date: July 2nd, 2008 logical consistency. There is a break in 97 Minutes the general announcement system is the film, and the truth of the first part Rated G voiced by Sigourney Weaver (Ripley in John Hancock (Smith) is the last of does not entirely lie even with the truth of In theaters June 27, 2008 the Alien movies) and the second is Auto his kind, a superhero and very, very the second. Whether or not this irritates the auto-pilot voiced by the program alone. I can understand why he would you depends on your affection for Ok this was a sneak peak that was just Macin Talk. He is a wonderful homage to turn to alcohol and become so bitter. Euclidean rationality. Compensating for for about fifteen people so I cannot give the HAL-9000 from 2001 right down to While he tries to be helpful his lackadai- this serious flaw is the splendid scripting any audience reactions. That said I had a the hidden, secretive directive within his sical performance causes the populace of and direction for undercurrents. I had great time and have vigorously recom- program. LA to hate him. So about the time that three Miss Clavel “something is not mended it to friends, family, and strang- My first impression of the movie people are calling for his head, fate drops right” moments, and each one was ers. It opens with the short film “Presto”. through trailers was that it would be a him the opportunity to save Ray Embrey perfectly justified. That’s good movie- A wonderful peek at what happens when comedy. This impression was mostly (Bateman) from a train. He saves him but making. a magician doesn’t feed his partner. This right, however it was also one of the most causes more destruction than would have The setting is that Wesley Gibson, was very reminiscent of the Daffy Duck/ heart wrenching love stories I have ever occurred had he not saved him. hyper-tense, apologetic, with a parasitic Porky Pig interactions. I’m waiting for enjoyed. The movie is a great tribute to Ray offers to help Hancock with his ‘best friend,’ a two-timing girlfriend and the next generation of shorts to come out silent movies and in particular to Buster image problem and starts on a plan to an obnoxious boss at his McJob, hates his on DVD. Keaton. I agree with Andrew Stanton gain public acceptance. He invites life. He is popping anti-stress pills like WALL-E [Waste Allocation Load (writer/director) that this movie proves Hancock to his home for dinner and M&Ms to keep from going postal. His Lifter – Earth class] is, for lack of a better that something was lost when talking was introduces him to his wife, Mary one solace is listening to the train that term, a trash compactor. He is the last of added to film. (Theron). While there is no reaction from rattles through Chicago right past his hole his kind, the rest having apparently long In the final analysis I think the movie Hancock the look from Mary speaks in the wall apartment. For contrast, a since broken down. In his years of succeeds on several levels and will be volumes. The more Ray’s plan works the professional assassin has just lost a fight loneliness he has become self aware. He more popular than Finding Nemo. I will angrier Mary becomes, something is for his life to another assassin, so what is curious about the things he compacts probably see it twice more in the theaters definitely wrong. During this time you qualifies as a really bad day depends on and has collected a number of “souve- (with my own money) and definitely buy find out that Hancock woke from severe your parameters. Wesley scarcely notices nirs” in his existence. His stash includes a it when it comes out on DVD. head injuries at a Miami hospital 70+ the news coverage of the slaughter, until spork, a Rubik’s cube, a VHS tape of Five Stars out of Five - Bob LaPierre years ago and had no memory. He doesn’t Angelina Jolie, aka Fox, materializes to “Hello Dolly”, assorted forks and spoons, even know what his name is, a nurse told inform his that the dead man was his a ring box (he threw out the ring), and Get Smart him to sign his “John Hancock” on the father, and the killer is now coming for just a lot of bric-a-brac that was among Running time: 110 minutes forms and so that’s what he did. him. Wesley tries to brush her off, but the detritus left when humanity escaped Rated: PG-13 The movie has some interesting points the rain of bullets that punctuate her the planet. Opened: June 20, 2007 but I had figured everything out well explanation are pretty convincing. After WALL-E has a friend or maybe a pet before anything was revealed. If you their escape, Wesley meets the leader of (it isn’t obvious which) in a cockroach I approached this movie with some want your action without too much the brotherhood of assassins, played by that follows him around and he feeds him trepidation since I am a fan of the original thought this movie is for you. I wanted Morgan Freeman. Wesley is recruited what appear to be Twinkies. Hmm… 700 Don Adams TV series and, well, let’s be more from it. into this Fraternity, and his training is year old Twinkies and still as fresh as the frank - many of the recent crop of Bob LaPierre Three out of Five stars - brutal. This is primal pain, not the Man day they were created. His existence remakes have been less than enjoyable. I with No Endorphins First World pain he changes dramatically when a rocket will say right now I was quite pleasantly Wanted has known. At the end of Wesley ‘s arrives and deposits a sleek bullet shaped surprised. Get Smart is a delightful Starring James McAvoy, Angelina tempering, Freeman shows him the loom probe robot named EVE [Extra-terrestrial comedy that manages the rare feat of Jolie, Morgan Freeman of Fate, a mysterious and autonomous Vegetation Evaluator]. She is on Earth to updating a forty-year-old show success- Directed by Timur Bekmambetov object that names the men and women search out evidence of plant growth. fully. Running time: 110 minutes who need to die. That’s all very mystical Many of the scenes in the previews are Maxwell Smart (Steve Carrell)is a Rated: R and fine, but Wesley has qualms. It isn’t from this period and WALL-E’s attempts top-notch analyst who yearns to be a field Opened: June 27, 2008 until Fox explains how she came to join to get to know his visitor are both agent. When Control is compromised the Fraternity that he commits himself to hilarious and touching. Prime silent film Smart gets his wish and is off on assign- Wanted Fight has the violence of acting on Freeman’s inscrutable direc- style courting. When he gives her a gift ment with a reluctant Agent 99 (Anne Club , the best special effects this side of tives. she goes into directive mode and exter- Hathaway). Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson) The Matrix , and the psychological knife- There are fantastic scenes involving nally seems mostly inert. WALL-E moves complicates matters as he is both Max’s edge of both these films – it is a mind- trains, enough to make Alfred Hitchcock her around by tying a set of holiday lights friend and Agent 99’s ex-boyfriend. bending messenger that demands some- writhe in posthumous throes of profes- around her and dragging her to his Contrary to reports, Chaos is still out to thing beyond passivity of its audience. sional jealousy. The FXs are sometimes favorite places. take over the world, this time lead by a Not that all movie-goers will notice or dreamlike, sometimes nightmarish, The plot twists when the rocket wonderfully sinister Terence Stamp as appreciate this, but those who actually sometimes darkly funny. (Viewers who returns for EVE and WALL-E hangs on Siegfried who plans to blackmail the The Matrix discussed the SF themes of have a problem with rats may need to to the outside as it launches. They arrive world with nuclear devices. will find speculative fodder here as well, leave the auditorium for one or two on the Axiom, a ship that took humanity From a James Bond-like exit from an though more in the vein of politics and scenes.) to the stars, a cleaning robot M-O airplane to the final fight on a train, the fantasy than futuristic science. If Angelina Jolie is your sole/soul [Microbe Obliterator] tries (unsuccess- stunts are spectacular while managing to And where it is derivative, at least it reason for going, she has great dialogue, fully) to clean 700 years of detritus off not interfere with the story of a new agent derives from classics. I was on the verge and greater silences. She can convey WALL-E and EVE is brought to the and the tentative steps taken and retreated of reciting Star Wars, Episode V: The more with body language and a half smile captain. The captain voiced by Jeff Garlin ( Continued on page 14 ) Page 12 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 13 this one. I’m planning on some new he showed how a warrior marshals his Screening ( Continued from page 12 ) children’s programming with some ConClusion chi, his energy, to strike and break wood as Max and Agent 99 come to know and enthusiastic helpers. The kids will be boards and concrete blocks. You get to Anime TuCon trust each other while foiling Chaos’ able to make a costume, learn how to imagine what the same blows would do to July 12-13, 2008 plans to kill the President. perform on stage, shoot off some rockets bones. During a Q & A panel discussion Watch for cameos such as Bill Murray and create original art to hang. I’ve also with the members of The Dojo, I asked if AnimeTuCon was a 24 hour conven- and be sure to enjoy Max’s dance scene confirmed that Mark Greenawalt, our leg strikes were a part of kendo – those tion held from noon to noon, July 12th and and the Chief’s confrontation with the well-known body-painting artist, will be bare feet seemed to invite attacks. In 13th at Tucson’s Four Points Sheraton head of the CIA. at CopperCon. I don’t know exactly what competition kendo, they explained, leg Hotel at Speedway and Campbell. It was Highly recommended and I can hope he’s planning but it will have something strikes and back attacks are not allowed; a godsend for the Tucson anime fans who that they do a sequel. - Stephanie L to do with gargoyles…. The Moon in a real fight, of course, anything goes. are not yet old enough to drive: a conven- Bannon Society is with us this year. (And I’m Typically, kendo strikes aim at the head, hoping we’ll have some folks from UofA tion in their own back yard. It didn’t chest, arms, or, if you are being particu- matter that it was small; the con-goers Kung Fu Panda with an update on the Phoenix Mars larly nasty, the throat. A women’s form, brought all their enthusiasm and spare Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Mission but it’s not confirmed yet.) We’ll however, using a longer weapon like a cash, and if the latter was exhausted by Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth have an exciting LARP run by some very halberd, does aim for the leg with sweeps Sunday afternoon, the former was only Rogen, Lucy Liu experienced folks. Across Plus, a local and thrusts. Anyone interested in learning whetted. Director(s): John Stevenson, Mark Anime club, will be providing Anime more about kendo or The Dojo’s schedule The convention featured opening Osborne programming. I know they’ve got some of classes can call 520-471-7500, or ceremonies with a kendo demonstration Distributor: Paramount new stuff planned. The usual suspects check the website www.azdojo.com. by members of The Dojo, the local Production Company: DreamWorks will show up again this year: The United The dealer’s room saw a lot of action. martial arts school of Douglas Corlew. Its Animation Federation of Phoenix will host their The most popular items seemed to be motto is ‘Eastern Arts for Daily Living,’ MPAA Rating: PG annual SciFi Jeopardy and will also Inuyasha ears, Fruits Basket backpacks, and the instructors and senior students Runtime: 91 min. contribute to the Star Trek: Deep Space Naruto headbands, Invader Zim and Nine 15th Anniversary Update. And, on have brought the samurai mentality and Pikachu hats, and Ramune drinks – the Release Date: June 6th, 2008 st Sunday morning, you’ll have an opportu- movements into the 21 century. Watch- sodas in glass bottles that have a marble ing the demo reminded me of some of Po, a panda bear, dreams to be a great nity to score on some cool movie give- in the top. Toshiro Mifune’s fights in the Samurai martial artist. Sadly, he is also a family aways when you attend the Barry Bard The Gaming Room saw non-stop trilogy. They fought barefoot, with noodle stand seller. Yet, against all odds, Memorial – At the Movies. inter-action at the computers, TV screens, bamboo practice swords for the most he is chosen to be the “Dragon” warrior. Saturday evening at CopperCon 28 DDR, and band simulations. Guitar Hero part; but for the finale Douglas Corlew He will have not only try to face his will feature our traditional stage masquer- III, Puzzle Fighter, Tekken, Soul Caliber explained how different styles of fighting fellow idols- the Furious Five: Tigress, ade. The physical setup is like a fashion 3, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl were evolved, and his student drew a steel Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey with show. We will provide a stage, a Master the main features. Out of doors, the katana which he fended off with a sai and Master Shifu as their leader- but also, of Ceremonies to announce you, a sound short sword, and even bare-handed. Then fight against the village destroyer, Tai system to play the music or narration you ( Continued on page 15 ) Lung. provide, and a stage crew to bring it all Enjoyable. Was impressed that this together. An appreciative audience will film showed the Chinese culture and provide itself: Your 15 minutes of fame humor. Was amused in seeing the on a silver platter! There will even be villagers portrayed as hares, pigs, and prizes! Contact [email protected] with ducks. Thumbs up for the whole family. - questions on how to show a costume or -Jeffrey Lu volunteer for the crew. Or check out the Masquerade link on our webpage. There’s a possibility of having a Belly Dance Troupe on site. And there will be PreCon News parties… There will be Filking; however, due to CopperCon 28, Aug 29-31, 2008 circumstances beyond anyone’s control, We’ve got a pretty good crew to staff our Filk Guest, Tom Smith, has had to CopperCon this year. Gary Swaty is our cancel. We’ll have Regency Dancing. Chair. We’ve got MaryJanice Davidson Some interesting…. late-night program- as our Author Guest of Honor. ming for adults only. And there’s sure to MaryJanice has become extremely be a party or two. Oh, and don’t miss the popular the past few years with her Betsy, Charity Auction – items are already the Vampire Queen series and her posted on our webpage. Jennifer Scales young adult series. She We’ll look forward to seeing old and her partner and husband, Anthony friends and hopefully, lots of new ones. Alongi, will provide some very interest- Please buy your membership soon and ing panels, I’m sure. Our other Guests help out our pre-registration. There will include Greg Weisman, the creator of the probably be a couple special events on animated TV show Gargoyles; and David Thursday evening for those who have Hedgecock, artist for Gargoyles. To- pre-registered. Keep watching our gether you can be sure we’ll have some webpage for updates: http:// interesting stories and insights about the www.casfs.org/cucon world of American animation production. Catherine Book, Program Director We’ll probably also learn about the Spectacular Spider-Man series and maybe even Gargoyle sex…. I did the programming for the last three CopperCons so if you liked the last couple cons, then you don’t want to miss

Page 14 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 ConClusion ( Continued from page 14 ) Anime Music Videos, compiled and Bookman’s Anime Fest Report sat on the couch, signaling when they had presented by Justin Rose. These were April 19, 2008 an answer. action continued with Anime DodgeBall awesome, and if you want to see for by Kevin Williams Then we had a Guitar Hero II tourna- and a Water Battle Royale. yourself, Justin recommended ment! I was busy in the other room for There were panels for Anime Neo- www.animemusicvideos.org as the source Last April, AniZona put on this little most of this, but did make it out in time to phytes, Manga, Cosplay, Lost Treasures, site. Some of the videos were simply the Anime Fest at the Bookman’s location in see our Mascot, all decked out in his Why Girls Love Sentai, and Your Anime credit songs, but most were spliced Phoenix. I may say ‘little’, but for a mini Jackalope costume! I also got to see the Sucks. Accompanied as I was by a four footage from various shows to match event, there were quite a lot of people! winner of the event, Chad, crush his year old, I did not get to spend as much lyrics from popular songs. Golden Boy By the end they had registered exactly competition. I will never be that good at time at the panel discussions as I would got my favorite treatment, momentarily 100 people, and you could tell by how Guitar Hero, major props to him. In the have liked, but that last one certainly turning an R-rated series into a PG crowded the lanes were in the store. other room we attempted to do an anime generated some heated exchanges. montage. So who am I exactly? I was the guy viewing. This was the one spot in the day Anime and manga certainly breathe TAZ, AZ Hobbyists Paradise, and the sitting at the registration desk taking we had technical difficulties. The viewing new life into the Masquerade scene. Otaku Club were some of the prime down all the names! If you were there, ended up starting waaay late, and had to Bleach characters wore white shirts and movers that brought AnimeTuCon just think about the cat-guy with the be cut halfway through to keep to the ties, Kigome and other school girls together. For more information about this funny hat. That job kept me mighty busy, schedule of events. No one was happy mingled with Cowboy Bebop wayfarers. I and future AnimeTuCons, contact but I did get a chance to break away and about that. particularly admired an Eve from Black [email protected]. – Chris visit, take some pictures of the different And it really stinks that I was the one Cat, a Kamina, and Chi from Tsubasa. So Paige events going on. Actually, many of the who had to cut it short! It was time to did the Masquerade judges: Chi won first events happened right in that room. It was prepare for the first of our two major prize. the same room we were selling Pocky and events of the night: The Masquerade! We Since anime shows begin and end Ramune. The Ramune sold out so fast I had about 30 cosplayers in the prejudging with opening and closing credit songs, didn’t actually get any, which made for craftsmanship. Our judges for the music was a major theme at AnimeTuCon Kevin a very sad catboy. Back to the evening were Joanne, a fashion designer with Anime Karaoke and a 6 hour bloc of events, there were 11 different ones to under the label Envisions, and Randall choose from! Actually, you didn’t really Whitlock, from the Southwest have to choose too often. There were two Costumer’s Guild. They were ultimately rooms, so events in two places at once. responsible for deciding all winners. This Shall I list them all, or just go right into masquerade had a slightly different them? How about one at a time! format than major conventions: One While I was tucked away in my winner for Craftsmanship, and the other corner, I had the privilege to witness what for Presentation. Once the prejudging I must say was the most amazing Iron ended, we invited all the attendees to hoot Cosplay put on by NyuNyu I’d ever seen. and holler for their favorite cosplayers as Why you ask? You probably guessed by the cosplayers put on a show to impress reading the above paragraph that I have them. The one who captured the audience some love for Ramune and Pocky. Well, won the Presentation award. Aura from the two teams created those costumes! Cosplay Zone won the Craftsmanship The theme was foodstuffs! For those with her FFVII: Crisis Core Tifa costume. unfamiliar with Iron Cosplay, teams use a On the presentation side, Cash as limited amount of resources to craft Inuyasha and his “SIT!” presentation something amazing. Then the judges vote totally captured the crowd. Both won on a winner. I am really proud of this passes to AniZona and prizes from event because I donated a very odd bit for Samurai Comics and Fetish Falls. them to use: a styrofoam ball. It ended up Our last and highlight event was being key to completing the Ramune Toybox in concert. Toybox has just costume! returned from a tour in Japan, and agreed After and during the Iron Cosplay, I to give us a show at our little event. Yay! had a chance to get out and see a bit of And I must say, they do put on a great the fanfiction panel held in the other show. Bookman’s was definitely an room. These five ladies from Tucson have informal affair, so they dropped the been in the fanfiction arena for much stereotype on what to expect at a concert. longer than I even knew it existed. They There was no real stage, and the attendees managed to keep their audience captivate jumped right in there with them. This all the way until 1:30pm. This was such a could only happen at a 100 attendee great idea. Almost every friend I have event, as anything larger would be a talks about how much fanfiction they security problem! We’ll test that next read online, more than manga even! April at AniZona, where Toybox will be There were two trivia events that I putting on an even more awesome managed to peek in on. The first was an concert for an even larger crowd. Anime 20 Questions. It didn’t go off All-in-all, a well organized event with exactly as planned, but that didn’t stop very little drama. I know I had tons of everyone from having fun. The basic idea fun. We do need to thank a few people was having someone behind a screen though! It took a few clubs to get this acting like the character in question, and thing organized, so I’d like to thank the the guests asking questions to narrow PVCC Anime Club, Across Plus and the down who it was. The screen did eventu- Otaku Club, all of whom were heavily ally go up! The second trivia event was involved in volunteering. And finally, our the good ‘ole Anime Trivia! Jean-Renee, wonderful sponsors who gave us prizes, who I will call the Quizmaster (hah!), had and the one who let us use their store: everything organized into easy, medium, Bookman’s, Samurai Comics, and Fetish and difficult categories. The contestants Falls. Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 15 least some of them in the future. The Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Star Warhammer 40,000 Horus Rising Gamer’s Corner healing surge makes the lack of a cleric by Andy Hoare by Dan Abnett Dungeons & Dragons 4.0 considerably less deadly, but it loses some Black Library Publications, $7.99, Black Library Publications, $7.99, 412 Wizards of the Coast flavor. Over all it will take some adjusting pages. Player’s Handbook $34.95 (what do you mean my wizard needs to hit Lucian Gerrit with his son and Dungeon Master’s Guide $34.95 with his spells?) but I give it a positive daughter are an Imperial trader family. In This is the beginning story of the Monster Manual $34.95 rating. past generations, they were once power- Emperor of Man’s right hand man, 4 stars out of 5 ful and rich. Now, they have to work Warmaster Horus. This tale shows how D&D 4E: I’ve been hearing credible See you next time. - Bob LaPierre together in attempt to restore their formal power quietly and silently corrupts not rumors about it since 2005, but I thought glory with a deal from a distant planet. only men but also legions of elite forces. we would have until 2010 before it Warhammer Forged In Battle Little do they know that the deal is with This is the first book of the Horus would appear. GenCon 2007 changed all by Justin Hunter an insane person name Culpepper Heresy. that. First, let me say that I won’t be Black LibraryPublication, $6.99, Luneberg. With this in mind, the Gerrit Impressive. This is how the dealing with ANY rumors. Second, I will family will not only have to fight their Warhammer 40,000 universe began. be talking about opinions, mine (mostly) Sigmund and his Ragged Company survival but also have a surprise contact Highly recommended to dark war sci-fi and others (a little). Last, I will review will have to battle feral beastmen, chaos with an alien race, the Tau. readers and Warhammer 40,000 fans - the mechanics as they affect play. worshipers, and mutants in order to save This is the first of the series. Jeffrey Lu A number of players I know and Sigmund’s home town Helmstrumburg. Enjoyable. This is an exciting twist respect have made their opinions known Also, there is an ancient prophecy. Can from Imperial war stories. Highly Warhammer 40,000 Brothers of the to me. Love it or hate it - most players Sigmund unravel this prophecy before he recommended to dark sci-fi readers and Snake have a definite opinion. I was very and his men are wiped out? Warhammer 40,000 fans. - Jeffrey Lu by Dan Abnett apprehensive about it; while I tried to Good story. The heroes are not perfect. Black Library Publications, $7.99, 414 find good things said about 4E, most of Dark but realistic. Recommended to dark Warhammer 40,000 Star of Damocles pages. the (unsolicited) advice I received was fantasy war readers and Warhammer fans. by Andy Hoare negative. I won’t give details as these - Jeffrey Lu Black Library Publications, $7.99, pp. This is a story of a new space marine comments were all before the release 254. legion, the Iron Snakes. Sergeant Priad and none were from play-testers. In Warhammer 40,000 Tales From The and the Damocles squad are struggling in February, my editor asked if I wanted to Dark Millennium Lucian Gerrit and his family are their battles with not only aliens from review the new edition, I said “yes, of edited by Marc Gascoigne & Chritian leading an Imperial invasion in the Tau’s dark eldar to orcs but also themselves. course” and she said she would obtain a Dunn universe. Yet, they will find out that the Interesting. This is a new space set of the books for me. Black Library Publication, $7.99, Tau are not an easy race to control. marine with a few twists. Recommended I am now the proud owner of a slip- Instead, they will know the meaning of to dark sci-fi fans and Warhammer cover edition of the three core books. I A collection of Warhammer 40,000 being out of their depths. 40,000 readers - Jeffrey Lu spent two weeks reading them cover to short stories set in the Pyrus Reach. In the This is the second of the series. cover and making characters for prac- Warhammer 40,000 universe, the An Imperial holy war that goes tice. Other than the magic item tables Emperor’s warriors are fighting the wrong. Enough said. Recommended to moving to the Player’s Handbook enemies of humankind: Chaos, orcs and dark sci-fi readers and Warhammer (PHB), the type of information in the eldars. 40,000 fans. - Jeffrey Lu PHB is the same. I appreciate that they Each story is unique. wanted to differentiate between combat Overall, the tales are interesting. type spells, available in four flavors: at- Enjoyable. Recommended to dark sci-fi will, encounter, daily, and utility, and the war readers and Warhammer 40,00 fans. - non-combat types, called rituals. Purists Jeffrey Lu will have a problem with the fact that wizards now have access to cleric rituals Warhammer 40,000 Only In Death and vice versa. Character creation will by Dan Abnett take some getting used to; the mechanics Black Library Publications, $19.99, are just different enough to create a need to spend time learning before you can do Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and them from memory. Humans and half- his Tanith First-and-Only are fighting in a elves get enough of a bonus (humans get fortress world of Jago. Not only they have a third at-will power from their class, to fight the enemy, the Chaos forces, but half-elves get a third at-will power but it also something more sinister: their own comes from a different class) to make Ghosts from the dead. This is the fourth book of The Lost them desirable without making them th overpowered. One of my players in my series. Also, this is the 11 book about campaign is a half-elf rogue with the Gaunt’s Ghosts. twin strike ability from the ranger class. Wow. Definitely worth a read. If one I tested my group sorely, their first reads the whole series up to now, the combat was a level 5 encounter and two reader will understand the references to of the six were absent. The combat was the past history of Gaunt’s Ghosts. I really long and drawn out but the PCs were enjoyed it. Highly recommended to dark triumphant. I have tried them in combat, war sci-fi readers and Warhammer 40,000 set traps, and used terrain rules against fans - Jeffrey Lu them. I strongly believe that once we are used to the new rules we shall speed up Warhammer 40,000 Ravenor Rogue the combats and accomplish more. In by Dan Abnett just three sessions we improved our Black Library Publications, $19.99, timing and used the abilities against the monsters better. We have had such fun Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor and his that we will add 4E to our regular team have gone rogue in order to pursue a rotation and I get to DM again. “dead” mass murderer, Zygmunt Moltch. I won’t say that it is perfect, but it In a twist of fate, they will have to join was nice to see a wizard still casting 20+ forces to fight a greater evil to the uni- rounds into the fight. Blast and burst are verse. Is this the end of Ravenor? similar and easily mistaken for the other. This is the third of the series. I miss bards, barbarians, monks and Enjoyable. Recommended to dark sci- gnomes, but they are going to add at fi fans and Warhammer 40,000 readers - Jeffrey Lu Page 16 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 society become? For Null-A is the non- There is magic at work in this bit of parts of his missing self is to lose his Musty Tomes Aristotleian General Semantics mental Devon. Their neighbor Emma Cobley has Companions, one by one, and his merely training which exists today. 500 years in cast spells against the Valerian family human companions, Duke Wassant, Sir FIVE VAN VOGT STORIES OF the future, society has become a after Hugo Valerian married someone John Slitgizzard, and the red-haired MENTAL POWERS meritocracy, based on Null-A education else. It falls to the children to undo the princess Calliope cannot entirely occupy Slan & Slan Hunter, by A.E.Van Vogt to think better. The Null-A Games harm and help set things right. the empty spaces. and Kevin J. Anderson Machine gives exams to all citizens who This is one for the refreshment of the There are evil goblin hordes, a Science Fiction Book Club, 373 pp., wish to compete for better social posi- spirit. If it’s not at your local library or Riddling Beast, a vampire menace, and 1940 and 2007. tions, based on how well they have bookstore, try Amazon.com - Chris war with the tyrant Waldo’s army of learned their Null-A. This perfect Paige. undead and enchanted men. Amatus must I reread Slan to prepare myself for its education has not eliminated the problem more than once look into the heart of 67-years later sequel in the same book, of bad people who want to cheat and get One for the Morning Glory darkness – his own, and horrifically, Slan Hunter. My, how time changes one’s ahead for money and power. So the By John Barnes others. But there are also radiant mo- perspective. It’s still the definitive work villains rig the Games Machine to let Tor Books, 319 p. ments and humor high, low, and reflex- on persecution of mutant telepaths, and a them win (can you say voting ma- ive. tour-de-force of Van Vogt’s super-science chines?). “It was an old saying in the Kingdom One of the most striking aspects of imagination. It’s also obviously a boy’s The third novel makes too much use that ‘a child who tastes of the Wine of the this story is how Barnes plays with power fantasy, with the main female of mental teleportation for my taste, but if Gods too early is only half a person words. Mark Twain once deliberately character nothing but a future wife. The you suffer through (enjoy?) that long afterwards.’” misused a word in an essay to see if boy exults over how he will be the most enough then the education theme returns So begins one of the finest works of anyone was paying attention. In Morning powerful man in the world and overthrow with more excellent attention by Van fantasy of this or any age. Dedicated to Glory, John Barnes makes a game of the tyrannical one-world government. Vogt. Mental teleportation? Just by Kara Dalkey, another SF writer, this word substitution. A taboret is a pub, a Not a hack writer, of course Van Vogt did thinking, the Null-A hero can teleport masterpiece was published in 1996, palanquin is a nine-stringed musical not end the novel that way. One thing you somewhere, a power developed at the end several years after Barnes wrote Orbital instrument, a pismire is a firearm, an can count on in a Van Vogt novel is that of the 1948 sequel. It seems that Players Resonance, one of the great adolescent escree is a blade, and a favorite dish is you can’t predict what will happen next, was part of the inspiration for the classic science fiction stories. piecemeal boiled into simile. That’s just a and that held on at least my third reading 1953 Alfred Bester novel The Stars My There is nothing like One for the small sample of the verbal whimsy. There of it. This clued me in to a few scenes in Destination, with its “jaunting” hero. This Morning Glory; out of the thousands and is also a well-endowed bar maid named Slan Hunter that had to be written by is a common notion of magic and thousands of fantasy novels that ring Pell Grant. Anderson, because they were clichés wizards, given super-science quantum- changes and variations of the hero’s Whether you read this book to even in the 1940s and predictable. level jargon to justify it by Van Vogt. journey, there are some dozens that are yourself, aloud to a beloved child, or with These were slight flaws, and the While it moves the action well, fortu- distinguished by the author’s original a circle of friends, it is one of the trea- sequel does end with a couple surprises, nately there are other ideas unrelated to it. voice, or unusual narrative mellifluous- sures of this genre, one that can be read which bespeak plotting by Van Vogt. The As for the action, how’s about two ness, but only Morning Glory presents a and reread with folded enjoyment. - main story of the sequel picks up on a warring races in another galaxy having coming of age story that tells so well, in Chris Paige plot thread left unresolved in the original. their spaceships accidentally teleported to one volume, the conflicts, loves, and A second race of telepaths has developed our space? Then they get to interact with confrontations that forge a hero from a An overview of the Taltos books spaceships and plans on conquering earth all of the characters from the first two child and a King from a prince. written by Steven Brust from their cities on Mars. Van Vogt never novels. And Van Vogt ends it all with a Prince Amatus, barely 2 years old, by Chris Paige said what happened to that plot in Slan. final consideration of how Null-A relates contrives to gulp down a full glass of the That is the main action of the sequel, to romantic couplings of men and Wine of the Gods, and is literally reduced Here is an analogy: Steve Brust is to providing lots of action with space battles women. Fun for all ages. - M.L. to half a person – the right half. Justice is SF literature what Pulp Fiction was to and destruction of earth cities. Anderson FRINGE wonderfully and terribly executed upon movies. It isn’t just that the main charac- did maintain the style of writing, and I the four responsible (or irresponsible) ters of both his Vlad Taltos series and that tried to distinguish his passages from Van Linnets and Valerians persons who allowed this to happen: the film are assassins; that’s the least of it. Vogt’s. Aside from those cliches, the only by Elizabeth Goudge Nursemaid, the Castle Witch, the Royal The analogy is based on the time-warping clues were a few modern words, book first published in 1964 Alchemist, and the Captain of the Guard. narrative style and casts of characters and movie titles worked into the narra- Puffin Books This leaves King Boniface with four who are memorable, ambiguous, and tive, and a scene redolent of 9-11 Man- crucial vacancies to fill, and messengers capable of extraordinary selfless actions hattan, which happened after Van Vogt Linnets and Valerians is a work of are sent throughout the kingdom to solicit and epiphanies. had died. children’s fantasy, in the tradition of The applicants. A year and a day go by before Vlad Taltos is a short-lived human in Anderson also corrects the 1940s Secret Garden, The Midnight Folk, or the four mysterious applicants arrive to- a realm of Dragaerians, or, as his Grand- gender roles, developing a couple female stories by E. Nesbit. Set in 1912 in gether: Psyche, Mortis, Golias, and The father calls them - elves. There are 17 characters quite along lines Van Vogt Devon, England, it is based on actual Twisted Man. Each is superbly qualified Houses of Dragaerians, and while in the would have intended. Word is that about memories of the author combined with for the position he or she seeks to fill. distant past mixed marriages across half of Slan Hunter was written by Van local folktales and magical imagination. Golias is a blend of Merlin, Burl Ives, Houses were quite common, it is no Vogt in the 1980s, which constrained The 4 Linnet children, Nan, Robert, and John Steinbeck; Mortis the witch was longer done. Certain of the Houses are Anderson to modernize or explain it as Timothy, and Betsy have been left in the formerly a queen; The Twisted Man is a considered ‘noble’ or aristocratic; others best he could. He did a good job, for a care of their formidable grandmother, brilliant fighter; and Psyche says of are middle or merchant class, and there story one might consider juvenile. No sex since their own mother has died and their herself, in a soft voice, “I have no are two Houses at the bottom of the or religion or strong language, open to all father is an officer in the British Army. qualifications except that I know how to totem-pole: the serf House of the Teckla, ages. And so then, if “fans are slans,” They run away from home with the do things, I work hard, and I usually like and the catch-all Jhereg, whose House then all fans of scifi should read this. impulsiveness of innocence, and by great children, though to tell the truth it specialty is crime. Vlad Taltos’ father had But don’t stop there, for we also have good fortune come to the home of their depends a great deal on the child, for you worked all his life to buy a rank in the the classics: Uncle Ambrose, a vicar and former know they are not all alike.” King House of the Jhereg, and Vlad grew up The World of Null-A, 1945 headmaster, and a firm proponent of Boniface is charmed by her honesty and working long hours in his father’s The Players of Null-A, 1948 classical education. Uncle Ambrose has a impressed by the others, and all four are restaurant, learning magic surreptitiously Null-A 3, 1985 manservant named Ezra, whose ears are hired upon completion of 4 Challenges of from his grandfather, and developing What an interesting contrast Van pointed. Ezra sings wonderful songs and their skills. Golias and Mortis must survival skills in the streets of Vogt’s Null-A novels make to his Slan talks to the bees, and he performs charms succeed in the difficult business of Adrilankha. Since it is a whole lot easier novels. Again, there is no sex or religion of healing and protection. Uncle creating some Wine of the Gods; The to survive if you are the most dangerous or strong language, so the books are open Ambrose, as a vicar of the Church of Twisted Man must defeat all challengers, *! out there, young Vlad became an to all ages, but they are far less juvenile England, does not believe in magic, but and the only difficulty there is to not kill assassin. than the slans. There is an adult theme he does recognize will power and malice or maim them irreparably. Psyche must As a narrator, Vlad is laconic, sarcas- here that is the primary plot of the first as forces with which to reckon; and when get Amatus happily to sleep. tic, and self-deprecating. He is also two novels, and well addressed in the Timothy sees the great god Pan, Uncle These 4 Companions oversee Amatus’ sometimes flat-out wrong in his interpre- final one, too: if education is finally Ambrose realizes he has found a kindred education, and then his adventures begin. tations of people’s motives or feelings. spirit in his youngest nephew. The terrible price of Amatus regaining perfected, how good can government and (Continued on page 18) Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 17 Musty Tomes ( Continued from page 17 ) In many ways, the most interesting Jhegaala falls earlier chronologically In Our Book character is Annukka. Mercedes Lackey than the most recent entries in the series, This means that you the reader get to The Snow Queen puts her most careful, thoughtful, and shortly after the events in Phoenix. Fresh appreciate the dramatic irony when Vlad by Mercedes Lackey only sees the situational irony. There is a crafted words into describing this wise from his divorce with Cawti, and on the Luna Books, $24.95, 331pp lot of good interplay between Vlad and woman and her actions. And unlike some run from the Organization that wants him his familiar, a winged reptile named of the previous Tales of the 500 King- really, really dead, Vlad heads East to Loiosh, providing comic relief and The newest in the Tales of the 500 doms, this one stays out of the boudoir, so Fenario and the paper-mill town of Burz, revealing the concerns Vlad usually keeps Kingdoms, here is a story of hope and it is better suited for gentler readers. It where he may or may not have distant concealed under a shell of cynicism. His love, courage and kindness, with should be a welcome addition to anyone’s family. To say that he runs afoul of small- evolving friendships with two Dragon Mercedes’ trademark ability to bring Lackey collection. – Chris Paige town politics would be a gross under- lords, Morrolan and Aliera, with the together numerous story threads into a statement, and to say anymore would be a undead Dark Lady of Dzur Mountain, coherent and pleasing whole. Aleksia is Jhegaala spoiler. You’re not getting anything out of Sethra Lavode, and with one other the Godmother for an extensive region in by Steven Brust me. (saying who would give away the the northern reaches of the 500 King- Tor, $24.95, 300 pp Suffice to say the story is witty, surprise of a later story) are the keystones doms. Her particular responsibility is to of the novels and pack the most emo- clever, and gripping, and IMHO the most tional wallop. take the selfish, arrogant, and clever lads I don’t know why I’m even writing satisfying of the recent installments in the Steven Brust is a godsend to anyone who are turning into Clockwork Artifi- this review, or why you’re reading it; if series. The whodunit, conspiracy-in-a- who wishes Roger Zelazny had lived cers and give them exactly what they you not familiar with the Vlad Taltos small-town aspect may remind readers of longer and written more. (Brust was one most want: solitude, supplies, and series this is not the place to be jumping Orca, but with Vlad’s personal stake it of the contributors to the Zalazny tribute independence. In utter isolation. No in, but if you’re a fan just wavering on engages more emotionally. This is a book anthology, Lord of Light.) Like Zelazny, doting parents, no fawning girlfriend to whether you should spring for the I was genuinely sorry to finish, because I Brust has clearly envisioned an original proffer adulation, and Aleksia mirrors hardcover or wait for the paperback, read wanted to keep reading it. Go ahead, buy world of complex dealings, with misdi- their arrogance with a hauteur to humble on: rection, insults as an art form, occasional princes. It’s an act, of course, a part she ( Continued on page 19 ) puns, deities, romance and sudden plays in keeping with the Tradition, the violence. The series began as fantasy SF; force that directs energies and lives along it has since morphed into hybrid science- fantasy, with genetic manipulation and familiar pathways. Aleksia is actually space/time travel as the basis for the trying to protect these youths from two fantastic elements. dangers: the Tradition itself, which has no The order in which they were written objection to tragic outcomes if they and published does not correspond to correspond to a story, and the dark chronological order, but you definitely magicians who capture budding Protago- want to start with Taltos, Jhereg, and nists and kill them to siphon the powerful Yendi. These 3 introduce you to all the energies that surround them. Currently, main characters and establish their Aleksia is playing out the story told by relationships and personalities. Dragon is Hans Christian Andersen. Kay is her actually set in a time between these, and guest in the Palace of Ever Winter, a the most recently published Jhegaala occurs after Phoenix and Teckla but prisoner of his own pride; Gerda is before Athyra, Orca, Issola and Dzur. slogging a weary and dangerous route to Of his own writing style, Brust rescue him. recently posted the following on the Tor But other stories are intersecting. Far website: to the north, where fairy godmothers are How to prepare a Vlad Taltos novel unknown, a wise woman named Annukka By Steven Brust oversees the welfare of the villagers. Her Crush four cloves of garlic with son Veikko has gone on a quest to find a kosher salt and finely chop two medium teacher so that he can become a Warrior onions. Mage, leaving behind a fiancée named Sauté quickly in rendered goose fat in Kaari. When the magic silver cup Kaari a cast ironic pan. When the onions become pulpy, add keeps shows that Veikko is in mortal in several large slices of Michael danger, she and Annukka set forth on a Moorcock tropes. Cook lightly, so they quest of their own. Along the way they remain recognizable. encounter the hollow-backed, alluring Turn up the heat, and gently add in a spirits of trees that some readers will world created by Fritz Leiber and four recognize from George MacDonald’s tablespoons of Hungarian paprika. Cook Phantastes, and come across news of a until almost blended, then turn down the terrible magic turned against mankind. heat. Aleksia has enjoyed a luxurious but While these simmer, in a separate lonely and repetitive tenure as godmother. saucepan, pour in Roger Zelazny’s It is thankless work acting the role of aesthetic and lay Raymond Chandler’s voice on top. Mix vigorously until it cruel Snow Queen. Only the other looks original. godmothers and their allies know her real Finely chop several Hungarian work. One of these, Elena herself folktales, add in a smattering of episte- (heroine of the first book in the series), mology, and pour into saucepan. Sprinkle warns Aleksia that there is another Snow with wit, if there’s any lying around. Queen, one who is kidnapping handsome I don’t know how many it serves, but young men who are not restored to their when it works, the leftovers are satisfac- towns and families. Aleksia resolves to tory. leave the security of the ice palace and find out what is going on. Departing from the Tradition, she comes to places and choices where the Tradition itself has no footing. Page 18 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 In Our Book ( Continued from page 18 ) The Automatic Detective book of a trilogy, as I found out after food rationing as they were with dragons By A. Lee Martinez purchasing the book, but though it ends and magic. the hardcover. - Nancy Louise Freeman Tor [Tom Doherty Associates], $14.95, on a cliffhanger the first and second Gavin, Bunty, Emily and Thaddeus 317 pp. volumes are independent enough the are, once again, part of large historical Jhegaala reader should have no problem jumping events - such as the sinking of the by Steven Brust The Hard Boiled Robot Detective has in here. (The trilogy consists of Sabriel, Bismarck and hidden events such as an Tor Books, $24.95, 300 pp arrived. Mack Megaton inhabits Empire, Lirael, and Abhorsen.) - Nancy Louise attempt to invade Britain by yet another a Technotopia gone slightly awry. He Freeman race of creatures from the fantasy realm. This, the newest Vlad Taltos tale, is begins as a Cab Driver with provisional We also met new allies in the hidden set in the time immediately after Teckla citizenship and through necessity rather Wanted fantasy war that is part of the overall and before the misadventures of Athyra. than intent becomes a Private Detective. Mark Millar, JG Jones, Paul Mounts battle of good vs. evil and Bunty gets a Cawti had given Vlad an ultimatum: The family down the hall from his Top Cow Productions, $19.99; 208 pp. girlfriend leave the Jhereg or leave her; and since apartment is kidnapped. Nothing is being These books are wonderful stories Vlad does not handle ultimatums well, done. He sets out to help. Along the way I read this just hours after watching with the extra added attraction of being a unless he is issuing them, he has left he acquires the requisite Sidekick and a the movie based on this graphic novel. painless and entertaining method of Cawti, the Jhereg, and Dragaera as well, Beautiful Wealthy High Society Genius The movie was ok but the book is teaching a new generation about the past, with a price upon his head and a contract Girl Friend. fantastic. I would have enjoyed this book the value of friendship and sacrifice and for a morganti killing against him. His case turns out to involve saving as a movie. The book begins similarly that evil and good do exist in the world. I Having lost the family he knows, he the world from horrible mutagens which with the assassination of Wesley’s dad highly recommend these to all parents, to travels in search of the family he doesn’t would kill hundreds of thousands and (the circumstances are extremely differ- all lovers of dragons and to those who know: his mother’s people in Fenario to alter all of mankind forever. ent) and Wesley feeling sorry for himself. enjoy historical fiction. A third book, the East, under a naked sun. He has a The gritty background and the various The Fox brings him in to fill his dad’s Secret of the Dragon’s Claw, is planned name – Merss, and a direction, and some low life characters evoke the wonderful shoes and he shoots the wings off those and the boys and I will be sure to read it information imparted by his grandfather. flavor of the traditional hardboiled darn flies. From here on out the stories as soon as it comes out. - Stephanie L When he arrives in Burz, his inquiries detective novel. The narrative style is first diverge so greatly as to be two separate Bannon have an unforseen and terrible conse- person and throughout. You see things stories. quence. Before he finds them, all seven from the point of view of the evolving The organization is the name of the Death’s Head: Maximum Offense of the Merss clan are killed in a magical Robot Detective. It is a truly wonderful supervillians ruling the world. It seems by David Gunn strike. Vlad may have outgrown being an romp set in a truly extraordinary environ- that during the summer of 1986 the super Del Rey, $25.00, 351 pp. assassin, but that doesn’t mean that ment. Recommended – Gary Swaty villans teamed up and killed every responsible parties won’t pay with their superhero, it took three months and the Sven Tveskoeg is back, accompanied lives. Lirael death toll was tremendous. They built the by his odd assortment of auxiliary troops When Vlad shows up in Athyra, he is by Garth Nix Empire State building as a device to warp to do whatever dirty, underhanded, and badly injured. Here’s where we find out HarperCollins $7.99, 705 pp. reality so no-one remembered the heroes violent job needs doing for General Jaxx how that happened, and what he did and keep the world under their control. and Emperor OctoV. So they are sent on a about it. - Chris Paige Australian author Garth Nix pulls off The world is divided into domains and specious rescue assignment that is a cover a formula YA coming-of-age fantasy that there is where the story becomes good. for an assassination. The cream in their The Hazards of Space Travel strays from formula just often enough to The ruler of Austrailia leads a coup in spiked coffee is that General Jaxx’s By Neil F. Comins, Ph.D. keep you on your toes. The title character, the Americas, putting Wesley and the Fox teenage son is their commanding officer. Random House, $19.95, 253 pp. Lirael, has grown up among the Clayr, a on the wrong side of the fight. Wesley Most of the main characters get his or monastic order of clairvoyants in the slowly eliminates the leaders of the coup her heart’s desire at some point, except This book is a fascinating compilation north part of the Old Kingdom. However and attempts to retake the Americas. for Sven, who arguably has no heart; the of all of the known hazards to manned as the years pass and it becomes apparent While none of the heroes or villains are closest he comes to heart-fulfillment is space travel covering both hazards near that she doesn’t have the psychic gift she identified you can recognize dozens of enjoying unprintable poetic justice and Earth and in various space environments should by heredity, she feels herself more them. perpetrating mayhem. But Rachel gets around the Solar System. It also covers and more an outsider. Eventually she I really liked it. Go find a copy her dream sniper rifle, and Haze gets his the suggested remedies for most of them. becomes an assistant librarian, and begins 4.5 out of 5 stars - Bob LaPierre hands on Sven’s AI sidearm. For example it discusses the hazards of to delve into the magics that inhabit the Author Gunn assumes readers are radiation during long space flights and Clayr’s huge and ancient library, includ- Secret of the Dragon’s Breath familiar with his characters; he provides the suggested methods of shielding from ing collections where an assistant by Derek Hart reminders of important history, but not them mentioning the water envelope idea, librarian isn’t allowed – and shouldn’t be iUniverse, $16.95, 245 pp. enough background to orient first- the various hydrogen rich shields and the able – to go. comers. Also, the title is more indicative possibility of active shielding using In a parallel plot, the young prince This sequel to Secret of the Dragon’s of its rating than the military action. electro magnetism. (“Shields up, Mr Sameth is studying to become the next Eye finds our teenage protagonists still Gunn writes hardcore military SF, and Sulu.”) Abhorsen – or should be. In the Old coping with the rigors of World War II on this time, the emphasis is on the The book discusses environmental Kingdom, there are two kinds of magic; the coast of Cornwall such as rationing hardcore. – Chris Paige hazards from accidentally exported the legal kind, known as Charter magic, and air raids. This installment in the bacteria, viruses and fungi and the and prohibited magic that revolves series introduces new menaces and new Twilight Fall: A Novel of the Darkyn hazards of dust pollution from the visited around necromancy. The Abhorsen is the friends as Gavin, Emily and Bunty who by Lynn Viehl environments. It covers medical issues only person who can legally practice join Thaddeus, the dragon, in protecting Onyx books; $7.99, 326 pp and countless other problems. It is an necromancy, to “fight fire with fire”. England from Nazi plots. excellently clear non-technical volume. However, a traumatic incident early in the I read Secret of the Dragon’s Eye to This is the sixth book in the series It is well-organized with clear chapter book cripples Sam with a deathly fear of my nephews and sure enough, as soon as Viehl has created about the Darkyn—her headings and an index. It provides an practicing the magic to which he is heir, Secret of the Dragon’s Breath arrived take on the romantic vampire. almost encyclopedic coverage of the and a dark power is rising (of course) that they were champing at the bit for us to sit The plot of this novel centers on hazards and remedies. I recommend it as increasingly consumes the attention of his down to read it. They, and I, were held Liling Harper a landscaper with a real appropriate for any space fan who wants mother, the Abhorsen Queen. captive by the story, a masterful mix of way with flowers and her current work is to understand the difficulties inherent in Nix’s world is a highly original take historical fiction and fantasy, and they for a very private, exclusive medical Manned Space Travel. It would be a good on the standard medieval fantasy trope, kept begging for “just one more chapter” clinic. The kind-hearted Liling is also source book for SF authors also. – Gary and the sharp-eyed will catch parallels to when it was time to stop for the day. The able to heal and ease a patient’s pain; Swaty modern-day Australian politics. Well, boys were almost as fascinated with the except for the zombies. This is the middle concepts of WWII Britain’s air raids and B(Continued on page 20) Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book ( Continued from page 19 ) England and Britain. These two knowl- The Sharing Knife: Passage Mississippi boatmen George Byron edgeable, artistic, disciplined and strong- by Lois McMaster Bujold Merrick, Charles Edward Russell, David which she does surreptitiously. The gentle willed mortals act as lightning rods to the Eos, $25.95; 437 pp Crockett, and T. C. Collins to write this Liling’s unique talents have made her the denizens of the netherworld: spirits who story, like a modern Odysseus seeking focus of the Brethren, a nasty organiza- at last have a chance of being heard, Passage is the third volume of The guidance from the shades. A good book tion with Catholic ties that has been getting noticed, and having their agendas Sharing Knife series; it is not, as I had for the lazy hours of summer. – Chris hunting her and others like her. In her resolved, not dismissed as mere anoma- expected, the grand finale of a trilogy. Paige childhood, she moved from one orphan- lous weather or bad “nerves.” It turns out There is no conclusive showdown age to another, being experimented on that some of these ballads Get It Wrong. between the immortality-craving blights The Borderkind with others, including her twin. It was her They are perpetuating a tradition of and the mortal Lakewalkers, nor do Fawn by Christopher Golden twin that finally got them out of the supressio veri and suggestio falsi, the and Dag persuade all famers and Bantam Books, $6.99; 421 pp clutches of the evil organization and she favored tools of the gods of the public Lakewalkers to just get along. But then, has been on the run ever since, able to schools, and there are some misprisoned Bujold never does take the easy, expected The Borderkind continues the change her identity and leave town souls who cannot rest, but who can cause route, does she? Life is complicated; adventures and misadventures begun in quickly. quite a bit of damage. Each novel is resolutions, if any, come slow, and why The Myth Busters, being Book 2 of The Liling realizes that the Brethren have devoted to one such ballad and the should fiction be any different? Instead, Veil Trilogy. Christopher Golden is being found her at her current job and she tries hauntings that manifest when Penny Passage is the story of Fawn and Dag’s compared to Stephen King and Neil to leave Chicago but suddenly there are appears on the scene. In one horrific case, journey by river boat and raft down to the Gaiman; fans of either writer are likely to no flights available. The mysterious the manifestation is much worse than sea. Dad is becoming a healer, and find another favorite here. Golden has 12 Darkyn lord Valentin Jaus, who has made ghosts too frightened to pass on, or a Fawn’s family has more or less accepted or 13 published novels to date, so if you several visits to a patient that Liling has spirit in an agony of Catholic Guilt; it is a their unconventional alliance, but before are casting about for something horrific befriended comes to the landscaper’s viciously malevolent incubus from the there can be any radical reordering or to read until the next Gaiman novel sees rescue and offers her a ride on his private time of Charles the First. unification of farmer and Lakewalker the light of day, or the dark of night, there jet, which Liling reluctantly accepts. She Each chapter is headed by a verse of societies, we have to clearly understand is enough reading matter here to keep you does not really want to involve anyone the ballad, for the benefit of readers who the toll levied by ignorance, fear, and busy for a while. else in her life, but she is utterly drawn to are unfamiliar with the songs, and there anger. Dag and Fawn have broken the The Veil separates the world of Valentin and his visits to the clinic always are conversational references between ultimate tabu of their respective groups Wonder from the Mundane realm. Only a spark highly erotic fantasies for her. characters to actual recordings. The titles by getting married: Lakewalkers simply few creatures – or people – can cross The tension cranks up pretty tight as in the series are, first to last, The Weaver do not marry farmers. Everybody knows over at will. One family, the Bascombes, the two discover their mutual passion in a and the Factory Maid, The Famous that – it’s axiomatic. Farmers are suspi- have been traditional Guardians of the violent storm. And the sex is very hot and Flower of Serving Men, Matty Groves, cious of Lakewalkers with some reason: Veil and of the magical beings. For there heavy. But there’s no time to enjoy their Cruel Sister, and New Slain Knight. Two there is a phenomenon called beguile- are Hunters: men and monsters new found attraction because the plane of the first three are directly named after ment, whereby Lakewalkers exert their determined to destroy all magical beings has been hijacked by the Brethren. In the the ballad under scrutiny; “Cruel Sister” power to lure and seduce farm-bred who will not serve them, and most struggle to take over the plane, the pilot has many variant names, but it always lovers, who are subsequentially aban- especially the Borderkind, the ones who and copilot are killed and Liling is shot. concerns two sisters, both in love with the doned. Conscientious Lakewalkers never can cross the Veil. They have an Valentin crashlands the plane in a swamp same man, and a walk alongside a river do this deliberately; the hell of it is, aggressive Mundane Agenda: a world in northern Florida. that ends in murder and drowning. The beguilement sometimes happens despite with no Wonder, no Magic, just Power – A killer hired by the Brethren who has bones of the drowned sister are found and good intentions, and no one understands all of it in their hands. Vicious Control this nifty talent of tracking people by the made into a musical instrument, which how beguilement takes effect, not even Freaks. water they give off—the moisture of their when played, tell the story of the murder. the randy young Lakewalkers who Oliver Bascombe is on the run, breath is enough, tracks Liling and Loreena McKennitt recorded the song as haven’t learned Stan Lee’s lesson about blamed for a murder committed by Valentin to the isolated cabin that the “The Swans They Swim So Bonnie-o.” power and responsibility. And what Hunters, trying to find his kidnapped plane crashed close to. New Slain Knight is variant of a song becomes of Lakewalkers and farmers sister, taken as hostage to the other side And then all hell breaks loose. most widely known as “Twa Corbies,” or who genuinely fall in love, doomed as of the Veil. Oliver’s fiancée, Julianna, is This is a really dramatic and interest- “Three Ravens;” instead of hungry ever were Romeo and Juliet by the trying to find him, and she is ing novel. I enjoyed Viehl’s Darkyn— carrion birds discussing their next meal, divides of their families? What if they accompanied by Detective Halliwell, who who are fascinating. There is a whole New Slain Knight is an interrogation song can’t just get over it? And what happens wants to find Oliver for questioning. hierarchy of these beings spread out between a young man and young woman if they do not both obligingly die? An Oliver is accompanied by several of the across the world. Undoubtedly in the concerning the knight’s identity. abandoned farm-girl, or farm-boy, is an Borderkind: a man of ice, a kitsune, and a other novels, other couples have fought The author, Deborah Grabien, now embarrassment to the family; but a heart- shapeshifter named Blue Jay. But Oliver the Brethren and won—but at great cost. lives in California; but she is from torn Lakewalker is like a downed power- has not been adequately prepared or There is a bit of “The Da Vinci England, and at University she read line. informed to take over the hereditary Code’s” Opus Dei to the Brethren. They History, concentrating on the Plantagenet Bujold writes the best foils since Bascombe responsibilities, so he stumbles are a really creepy organization and a era. She loves music, especially folk and Shakespeare – no, she’s better. Hotspur about in a fog of innocence and worthy opponent to the Darkyn. Viehl rock fusion, so these books are a labour Harry and Price Hal may be the classic gullibility. Good people and exquisite handles the intrigue and the sex really of love and knowledge, and a passion for example of literary foils, but Bujold blew creatures die. But if phantasmagoria well, enough so I will keep an eye out for setting the record straight. As a result, Shakespeare out of the water with her move your soul, even by their passing, her other novels. - Sue Martin they are refreshingly free from the Miles-Haroche-Illyan study in the uses of this story with its vivid, full-sense anachronistic errors that can bedevil power and memory. In Passage, Dag descriptions will satisfy mightily as you The Haunted Ballad Quintet historical fiction. (I have only found one comes face to face with his there-but-for- share Christopher’s dream/nightmare. - by Deborah Grabien error, and it was not historical. In the the-grace-of-Fawn-go-I counterpart, an Chris Paige St. Martin’s Press third book of the series, she mentions the ostracized Lakewalker gone mad with The premise of this extraordinary “poisonous berries” of yew trees. As a grief and rage, levying a terrible revenge As Fate Decrees series is that Penny Wintercraft-Hawkes, forager, I know that it is the seeds which on the river-folk who denied the legiti- by Denyse Bridger a London theatre actress and producer, is are poisonous, not the tasty berries.) macy of his love for one of their own. Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy a sensitive, a sort of ghostbuster. Not only These books are very well-written, This is a character-driven story of Publishing, $15.95; 253 pp is she aware of ghosts, her presence gripping, and suspenseful. They are a romance, by at least 3 of C.S. Lewis’ seems to arouse them. Her significant natural for the filkers in the SF commu- definitions of ‘romance’ (see his essay- Denyse Bridger is a prolific writer other is Ringan Laine, lead male singer nity, but also for everyone who enjoy intro to The Pilgrim’s Recess.) The pacing of erotic romance in many sub-genres. As for Broomfield Hill, a group that per- mystery, history, or the supernatural. – is as leisurely as river-boat on wide water. Fate Decrees is quasi-historical fantasy: forms the traditional ballads of Old Chris Paige Bujold consulted the amiable ghosts of ( Continued on page 21 ) Page 20 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 In Our Book ( Continued from page 20 ) possessive hold on her body and mind fails to save Iphicles; nevertheless, she has Heart of Light deepen, her heart is unassuageably inclined passed a test of the Fates. Tempered by the by Sarah A Hoyt Ares, the Greek god of War, goes in disguise to the prince she loved in childhood, fires of war and sorrow, she is now their Bantam, $6.99, 502 pp to a slave market (always a good setting Iphicles, now King of Corinth and Pheneus. tool as well as Ares’ Champion. for titillation). There he purchases When Ares himself sends Amarantha to The fatal affinity between This book left me with a feeling of Amarantha, who is beautiful, proud, and guard and serve Iphicles, she is too Amarantha and Iphicles transcends time. profound ambivalence; there’s so much to spirited, to train as his champion. Ares distracted by longing to prevent treachery, Iphicles’ soul is reborn in modern Greece like, which only makes the clumsy bits knows that a no-longer-entirely-mortal murder, and war. Ares is furious that as Nickolas Stephanos, and Amarantha is more noticeable. Hoyt’s world-building woman can go places a god cannot, slipping Amarantha should prefer a mere mortal, and given the body of Alexandra Christophi to stands out on the plus side: in an alternate between the meshes of the web of The Fates a married one at that, to his lustrous Self. inhabit, when Alexandra is killed in a British Empire, sorcery is the sole like a golden wire woven into the pattern. But even he has to accede to the Fates; and terrorist attack. The catch is, Alexandra was province of the descendants, legitimate Amarantha becomes the agent and lover of something much worse than a war over a Nickolas’ fiancée. Over the centuries, and otherwise, of Charlemagne – except Ares, trained as a warrior, underestimated couple of Greek cities is taking shape in Amarantha has become Ares’ lover in heart in Africa, where some small magical by burly opponents. But even as Ares’ the Fates’ tapestry. Amarantha ultimately as well as body, so this proximity to a reborn power is accessible to all. After explorer Iphicles is a double torment. A madman is Carew Oldhall disappears in Africa in its on a quest to become pursuit, Her Majesty’s Secret Service immortal, destroying send his nebbish brother Nigel and his Delphi in his search for wife to seek the sorcerous ruby Heart of a cache of ambrosia, the Light. Things go wrong straight off the food of the gods. bat; a secret society known as the Hyena Amarantha/Alexandra Men, dedicated to African independence, is supposed to thwart wants to keep the ruby out of the Queen’s him, returning the hands, and with good reason: she intends ambrosia to the gods; to use it to seize all of the world’s magic but this is a new world for the use of the reigning European for Amarantha, who monarchs. It also seems that a mysterious struggles to make her third party has been attacking both the way in a world of Hyena Men and the Secret Service, and firearms, bombs, an old school friend of Nigel’s conve- computers, and the niently shows up to save the day when ruins of temples she everything goes tits-up in Cairo. knew and loved in their Hoyt burns plot like crazy as the glory. In spite of all her motley expedition treks across the training and will power, continent, are attacked, separated, and passion leads to question their own motives and loyalties. betrayal, and The author has done her research and Amarantha loses Ares’ gives an authentic portrayal of the politics favor – and protection. of the time. When she is thus most What jars is that the five POV vulnerable, she is characters – three British aristocrats, a captured by her Masai woman and a man from an enemies and tortured. unnamed African shangri-la – frequently Yet this very failure sound and act more like 21st-century accomplishes what North Americans discussing a role- strength and skill could playing campaign than 19th-century not, bringing her within people trapped in a hellish journey. striking reach of her YMMV, but it pulled me right out of an nemesis. The question otherwise fascinating narrative. is, which of them will Soul of Fire, the next book in the lay hands on the series, is scheduled for release August ambrosia first? 2008. - Nancy Louise Freeman Tales of love between gods and Swordmasters mortals are enduringly by Selina Rosen popular. Bridger’s style Dragon Moon Press, $19.95, 320pp of writing, with the 100 obligatory verbs and Publishers have a tradition of conceal- adverbs of erotic ing or misrepresenting the race of main fiction, has more characters when they are of anything ripping and rippling other than northern European origin. I than Euripides, but have spoken with authors and illustrators, there is a larger market and they have told me Ged is not allowed for erotic fiction than to look Native American on any of the for Greek tragedy. This Earthsea covers, nor can Hiro Protago- is one for readers who nist of Snow Crash be shown as Black- enjoy anguished Korean, and Emily Devenport’s heroines longing, and a little sub- get bleached. Even though SF readers are dom spice to their story. arguably the most open-minded popula- - Chris Paige tion of readers, publishers continue to pander to racists instead of appealing to diverse populations who might actually ( Continued on page 22 ) Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 21 In Our Book (Continued from page 21) but Jena just won’t take “No” for an Vaeliners, magic wielders, who took we live in suggests it might be now. - answer, and it isn’t as if Tarius doesn’t control of the land. Pam Allan . buy and read books if they knew were find her attractive. Since Tragon wants Now, the Ways established by represented in heroic roles. Moon Press Jena, this has the makings of a dangerous Vaelander magic are disintegrating. The Valor’s Trial has broken with tradition, defying the triangle. Nor does all this byplay go Warrior Queen, Lariel, is being chal- by Tanya Huff trend that betrays the intent of the authors unnoticed. Avron, a senior Swordmaster, lenged, her supporters killed. Rivergrace Daw, $24.95, 389 pp and the hopes of marginalized people. is keeping a weather eye on Tarius for and Severn are split apart by their The cover art of Swordmasters actually several reasons, and becomes the second destinies as they try to control a demon Valor’s Trial is the fourth novel of The depicts the main character accurately! person to know the truth. and a goddess within. What will The Confederation series. Dark skin, thick dreadlocks, sword, It just gets more complicated. The Dark Ferryman’s price for his help be? Gunnery Sargent Torin Kerr is a attitude, and ambiguous gender – it’s all Jethrik King himself, Persius, chooses Will it be too high? Confederation Marine’s marine. She had there to catch the eye, true to the content Tarius as his champion for a duel to the Ms. Rhodes continues the epic fantasy kept more of her officers and enlisted of the tale. death with the champion of a barbarian begun with The Four Forges with men alive than anyone in the corps. The Jethrik people are under recurrent king. Still in her guise as a man, Tarius engaging characters , fully realized, Coming back from being repaired from attack by the Amalite hordes, so they marries Jena and becomes the leader of living in perilous times, dealing with her last assignment, she needs R&R. train Swordmasters to defend the land. King Persius’ army. Persius becomes forces they don’t fully understand. The Instead, she is sent to a new war zone Swordmasters must be honorable and obsessed with the handsome reader becomes involved with the with a platoon of the greenest troops in educated in law as well as fighters, for Swordmaster, and the tensions between characters and looking for resolution. the Corps. When the battle zone is they often serve as arbiters of justice on Tarius, Jena, Tragon, and Persius erupt in Though each book can stand alone, each slagged, the Corps decides she is dead. their tours of duty (sort of like the betrayal, tragedy, and death. book leads us to the next. Fantasy lovers Neither Torin’s father or lover believe it Heralds of Valdemar without the white Tarius survives, barely, and returns to will have to have the series. - Pam Allan and continue to search. The Corps horses). Both the Jethriks and the her own people to raise a Kartik army, in remains adamant. Meanwhile surviving in Amalites are fair skinned and fair haired which anyone who is willing to face Future Americas tunnels below the slag, Torin has to break peoples, but there the similarities end. death and mete it out is welcome. Even Edited by John Helfers and Martin up a slave situation run by marine thugs. Jethrik culture is tolerant of, if not hugely the Swordmasters who knew her best and Greenberg She takes a few soldiers to explore the in favor of, same sex partnering, and loved her join her army as Tarius plots a Daw, $7.99, 312 pp tunnels and finds a more benevolent unit there are subcultures, including the final solution to the Amalite menace, who also have lost their will to escape. Is shape-shifting Katabulls, that are part of demonstrating that Rudyard Kipling Seventeen writers have each contrib- there something in their daily Kibble and Jethrik society. Jethriks are certainly knew what he was talking about when he uted a story of the future of America water? Picking up two men from the new hierarchical: women are not allowed into wrote, “the female of the species is more This is not the Star Trek vision where camp, she looks for a way out. She finds the ranks of Swordmasters, nor are the deadly than the male.” - Chris Paige “progress” leads to a better world. Most a unit of the enemy and finds they are Katabulls, but varieties of religions are of the stories reflect an extrapolation of a prisoners as well. They make a pact to recognized and people more or less get Invincible, Legacy of the Force dark future for the world and for human- cooperate to get out and fight together. along. The Amalites are another matter by Troy Denning ity. From an America in which history has Valor’s Trial is an action adventure entirely. Their religion is rabidly binary: Del Ray, $27.00, 299 pp become myth in the ruins of a once great that is impossible to put down. Honor if you are not one of them they are under land, a world where genetic misfits Harrington and she may be related divine ordinance to annihilate you, by Invincible is the continuation of Star become Slaves to the Gawders, and a somewhere in their gene pool. This is a indoctrination or, failing that, the sword. Wars, Legacy of the Force Series. company that clones extinct and endan- well-written, fast moving with good Tarius is from Kartik. The Kartiks are It was a long time ago, in a galaxy far gered species in order to balance the characters and plotting. If you read dark-skinned, and while the Amalites will away, that most of the rest first met, the ecosystem again [nice saber toothed kitty- military sci-fi and like Honor Harrington try to recruit the Jethrik, they will only Jedi Knights first became our heros de kitty]. These are stories to make us think. you will want to collect the series. - Pam kill Kartiks. Tarius has come to join the jour, Princess Leia married Han Solo, and I for one would not like to see MacBeth Allan Swordmasters seeking revenge against gave birth to the twins, and raised a pair played as McBrady [bunch] the Amalite army, and as the son of the of Jedi knights. The future may look bleak, but the Mirrored Heavens famous Kartik Swordmaster Jabon the The Jedi knights have come together stories are well-written and interesting. by David J. Williams Breaker, Tarius is welcomed into the to save the Galaxy. But Jacen Solo has This is a book you will want to read. - Bantam Spectra, $12.00, 401 pp ranks – enthusiastically by some, reluc- turned to the dark side of the force. Pam Allan tantly by others. His ways are strange, but Suddenly the empire comes back lead by Mirrored Heavens appears to be a he is a superlative fighter already, and Jacen who is now Darth Caedus. As the Pandemonium debut novel. what is more, he is kind. Darian, in rebel cause is beaten back only Jaina, his by Daryl Gregory In the 21st century, the first wonder of charge of training recruits, values Tarius, twin, can stop him. But can she? And if Del Ray, $13.00, 288 pp the world is the Phoenix Space Elevator and comes to hope for an alliance not, will she turn to the dark side? built by the US and the Eurasian Coali- between this outlander and his hoydenish Denning writes a good action serial This is the debut novel of a Nebula- tion following a second cold war, a grand daughter, Jena. She has turned down book. It has plenty of action, his charac- nominated short story writer. symbol of the alliance of the super every offer from eligible and interested ters are believable. And as a bonus you It is a world like our own except that powers. AND IT HAS JUST BEEN Swordmasters. have the whole Solo clan fighting Jacen in the 1950’s, random acts of possession DESTROYED. The mysterious insurgent But Tarius has a secret. Instead of together including uncle Luke Skywalker occur. Ordinary people are the targets of group Autumn Rain claims responsibil- being Jabon’s son, Tarius is Jabon’s It is a good action/ adventure, a pleasant entities right out of the collective con- ity.. Enter Claire Haskell and Jason daughter. Discovery means expulsion way to pass an afternoon. Worth the read. scious, Pop culture icons are called Marlow, US counterintelligence agents, from the ranks at the very least. In self- - Pam Allan demons. Del pierces quest for help to who have a past....or do they? The imposed isolation lies her safety. But all Valis, [formerly Phillip K. Dick] and spymaster programs agents before a job. Tarius’ plans to keep apart from the The Dark Ferryman others who believe that Del is the key to But what is real? As the agents hunting others fall apart. She may be the best by Jenna Rhodes the possessions and the cure. For Del, the Autumn Rain, they become the hunted. fighter, but Tarius is illiterate; after failing DAW, $23.95, 435 pp cure may be worse than the disease. As the Superpowers reach the brink of the first written test she trades sword There has long been the question of war, startling revelations begin to fly. Is lessons for tutoring from three people: The Dark Ferryman is book 2 of The characters from literature, and admiration anyone who they thought they were? Tragon, another recruit, Harris, the club- Elven Ways. gain a life of their own in our perception This month seems to be filled with footed boy of all work, and Jena. This Over the centuries, Kerith has had its of them. Here they do, and they want out. plausible but dark futures. Here we mix proximity proves fatal. Tragon follows share of troubles, magic had left with the Pandemonium is a complex and intelli- Neuromancer with action adventure. It Tarius to the forest and learns her secret; death of the magi, and the gods turned gent book of human aspiration, well- hits the opening page running and gains meanwhile, Jena is falling in love with their backs on the world. Then came the written and with a hero you care about in speed as it goes. If you like William Tarius. Fear and ambition silence Tragon, otherworldly spell storm that brought the a world of shifting realities. The world Gibson, you’ll love this one. - Pam Allan Page 22 ConNotations Volume 18 Issue 4 both male and female members. Other We welcome both new and experienced PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated activities include null-modem link gamefests, players. to building and promoting Autonomous Club Listings group theater movie viewings, convention 10:00 a.m. Character Creation - We will have robotics. The club has been in existance since ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North trips and more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, a session to create characters for all of the 1998. Meetings are currently conducted twice Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well low-structure environment. NO RUBBER campaigns we run. AGoP will have all books a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona there is a club out there available for you EARS ALLOWED!! For questions, you can available for reference. We encourage you to locations., http://www.parex.org/ people. call the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; purchase the books if you like the game. All meetings.shtml. Club dues are on an annual Across Plus is a social club that discuses 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 character materials are provided; character basis: Regular members $20 Student members anime, video games, manga, other animation, sheets, master item logs, adventure records, $15 Of course visitors are always welcome and the Japanese culture. We meet at BASFA Local Tucson science fiction group etc. Dice will be loaned to you if you don’t because we know you will eventually become Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern on that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box have any yet. In other words, all that is a member anyway Web page: http:// Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or needed for the first day is for you to join www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John In general, we explore anime, manga, and [email protected] us and have fun. Kittelsrud, [email protected] other styles of animation, creative educative our website at http://home.earthlink.net/ If you have any questions email us at demonstrations, participate in interactive ~basfa/ [email protected]. THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the and make cosplay. CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. We are willing to gain any new members out FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. PFFS has been in existence for 30 years, there who are interested. Our members are non-profit corporation that puts on For more information call Carol Alves, meeting every 6 weeks in member’s homes. very friendly, respectful, and fun. We CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Dues are $10 per year. Membership includes welcome any and all. HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and Knights, c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, newsletters, an annual film awards and For more information, contact Shane Bryner publishes Con-Notations. Best described as Hesperia CA, 92345-7066. various outings. For information, contact at [email protected] SF/F generalists with a strong bent towards PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- on the last Friday of each month in January area corporations that put on yearly conven- [email protected]. sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, thru September and the second Friday in tions. Best described as SF/F generalists with banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every October, November and December at JB’s a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto Restaurant, 1818 W Montebello in Phoenix, welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the Park. All are welcome. Free. AZ. For information: write PO Box 62613, second Saturday of February, May, August & ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or email November unless otherwise notified. August the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets [email protected] Web www.casfs.org is the annual meeting where board positions White Wolf publishing. Contact Mike Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th are deter-mined. For more information, write McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202- welcome. All levels skill exchange in many Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email 3144 or [email protected] areas of object manipulation Dave Davis Reenactment group specializing in the [email protected] Webpage: , 602-955-9446; western European renaissance. We research www.leprecon.org RAW GAMES (Role-players & or Ron Harvey , 480- lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & 775-4690 for more info or impromptu Celtic Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. MIB The Men in Black is the official global Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- juggling sessions. We emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and organization of field operatives for Steve playing and wargaming club. Currently do Celtic re-enactment. We open participation Jackson Games. We attend local conventions meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix every ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A to anyone with an interest in period crafting to demonstrate and promote products of Steve Sunday from 12noon-5pm (except during collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in conventions and other special events). Open the Arizona LANbashers League throws the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and local gaming stores as well as community to new members - call (623) 849-9515. quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page service events. If you have a gaming store, support is given to local groups who wish to http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at convention, or community service that you SHIELD OF ALMOR The Shield of Almor advertise their own gatherings. We have no the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and would like to have official Steve Jackson is a RPGA club located in the greater Phoenix set genre of games and play anything from Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, Games representation at, please contact the area. If you are interested in Living Greyhawk strategy games to first-person shooters to phone number (480)350-5211. The Board MIB Arizona Cell catch one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of driving/flying simulations. No annual meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General Leader at [email protected]. We are also every month at Imperial Outpost Games membership is required and admission to an meeting starting at 2:30 pm. recruiting new MIBs in some areas of (www.imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage Arizona. If you’re interested, contact us. You you are interested in Living Arcanis or Living for current events. Email: THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An can find additional information about the Spycraft catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every [email protected] Web: organization formed for the expression and Arizona MIB at our website http:// month also at Imperial Outpost Games. The www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- exploration of various cultural themes members.cox.net/mib.6361/ Shield of Almor hosts RPGA events at the 9339 including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages local Phoenix conventions. For more MVD GHOSTCHASERS ARIZONA PARANORMAL and the Renaissance through forms of art —The MVD information visit us at including, but not limited to, painting, Ghostchasers are a paranormal team games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ or INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, established in 1995. This band of ghost you can sign up for games at trained, non-profit paranormal investigation and acts of characterization. 2) a member of hunters conducts regular investigations of www.nyrond.org. Or you can just stop by the group, registered with the state of Arizona, this organization. 3) Information available at haunted, historical locations throughout 1st Sunday of the month. Meeting starts at providing service to Arizona and the www.darkones.org Arizona. They also research and investigate 10am. Hope to see you there. Southwest since 1994. Having served the “house call” hauntings for the public. The public for 12 years, we are one of the oldest, THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE most respected paranormal investigation STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt groups in Arizona. We are primarily science Steel specializes in the general recreation of across Arizona. These workshops give ghost doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair based and don’t go on an investigation the culture of the Middle Ages including all of hunters, paranormal team members and folks kingdom can be found six Baronies: looking for ghosts, we go looking for the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, answers. There is never a charge for an Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts chance to work and learn techniques together. SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest more information on any of these or for [email protected] or and any location within Europe or its explored speakers at many venues and have appeared general information on contact the Kingdom visit our website at: http:// territories. For more information contact on TV news reports and the subject of several Seneschal. Email: [email protected] www.arizonaparanormalinvestigations.com/ Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: newspaper stories. For more information Web www.atenveldt.com www.galandor.org contact: THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD The general sci-fi appreciation group that meets A GATHERING OF PLAYERS-Find Your Director—480-969-4049 Web page: Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose once a month for discussion of various sci-fi Adventure www.mvdghostchasers.com or organization of persons interested in all facets news regarding several mediums to include: Our club is running into our fourth year. Join [email protected] of historical, cultural, science fiction, fantasy, television, movies, video, books, comics, us for games and adventure set in the and humor costume. Members are often seen magazines, collecting, and so forth. The Dungeons and Dragons realm. We offer ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION on stage and behind the scenes at local and meetings are comprised of news, review and Living Greyhawk and Xen’drik Expeditions. CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month regional Science Fiction Convention comment, BBS/computer news and help, Visit http://www.warhorn.net/gathering, to see (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are masquerades. They meet on the last Sunday of meeting new members, video presentations, what we have coming up. built around guest speakers. We’ve had each month at various members’ homes in the games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks We will have character creation sessions to authors such as Octavia Butler and Greg greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per get you started and answer all questions. Our Benford. Non-members are welcome. For Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, meeting) to compensate the host. (No other group has been together, and growing, for details of current events and location see our AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at fees are involved.) The electronic home of the four years. We’re a good group of friends that website www.ocsfc.org or email [email protected] or Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station believe in gaming fun first. Our member [email protected] www.southwestcostumersguild.org BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for group’s ages range from 13 to 49. the group range from 13-40-something with ( Continued on page 24 ) Volume 18 Issue 4 ConNotations Page 23 Club Listings TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address CASFS Business Report ( Continued from page 23 ) is [email protected] or Convention [email protected] SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access May……… Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically *CopperCon 28 will be on Labor day UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A Listings cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s weekend Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan possible within ten years, with a little luck DENVENTION / WORLDCON 66 Friday, Saturday, Sunday, not Monday.. club. We are a social club that meets every and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us (Aug 6-10 2008) Colorado Convention two weeks at various locations around the *CopperCon 29 is looking for a hotel make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for Phoenix area. The UFP has been meeting for Center, Denver, Colorado. Guests: Lois site. one year, which gets you emailed Space over 30 years of continuous activity. Dues are McMaster Bujold, Rick Sternbach, Tom *HexaCon 18 hotel search in progress. Access Updates the instant they pass final $15/per year prorated when you join; no *HexaCon 19 hotel contract is under edit, plus discounts on our annual conference Whitmore; TM Wil McCarthy. Rates, restrictions. Membership includes member- on the technology, politics, and business of accommodations, etc: see website — review for the same hotel as CopperCon ship roster and monthly newsletter. Come to radically cheaper space transportation, 28 and is checking dates. any two meetings at no obligation. For http://www.denvention3.org/ featuring leading players in the field. Email *Quartermaster shed was damaged from information, write the UFP at PO Box 37224, us at: [email protected] an exploded high power transformer. The Phoenix, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) COPPERCON 28 (Aug 29-31, 2008) Web page: www.space-access.org/ outside of shed was burnt a bit. No inside 242-9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org Embassy Suites Paradise Valley/ or Email to [email protected] damage occurred. Repairs are started. SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ Author GoH Estimate is to follow. SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of USS STORMBRINGER The Stormbringer is MaryJanice Davidson, Media GoH Greg *Phoenix Book Festival 2009 will happen model and high-power rockets and those who a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter Weisman, Artist GoH David Hedgecock, love to see them fly. Launches are held on the in April. of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. second Saturday morning of each month in Special GoH Anthony Alongi, Music *Serenity screening in Candler will The chapter was commissioned as the USS Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. GoH Tom Smith. Memberships $40 thru receive $100 donation for their event. We Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to Harry Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every will be able to place CopperCon 28 fliers Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on 07/31/08. $45 at the door. Info Coppercon October. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 28 PO Box 62613, Phoenix AZ 85082, in their event bags. membership information, directions to the members. There are no dues other than the www.coppercon,org or *Proposal offered and accepted, due to launches and meetings, and to read the $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are two major events, Westercon and monthly newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” [email protected] scattered world wide but the primary clusters DiscWorld, CopperCon 29 will occur are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t with a smaller venue in the spring. TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ meet on a regular basis since they are a CONJECTURE (Sep 26-28) Crowne Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- HexaCon will be suspended for 2008 and correspondence chapter. Their web site is: Plaza San Diego, San Diego, CA. Author tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS 2009, to restart in 2010. http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ meets every two weeks at different locations GoH: David Drake, Programming Theme: and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, around the valley. Activities include watching Military SF. Memberships $40 through June…………. [email protected] videos, discussions, parties, games, and Sep 18; $50 Sep 19 - at the door; $20 *CopperCon 28 – Art Show Director quit occasional outings with more to come now Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We active duty military & without providing data. The Art Show is that Doctor Who is returning from hiatus. maintain a mailing list for news and get- reserves, high school & college faculty/ Canceled. Hotel room rentals are less Many members maintain an active presence at togethers of fans of the X-Files living in than half the number needed for reduced conventions. You can contact us at 2243 W staff, librarians, college students; $15 high Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix Wagon Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice school students. Hotel $115/night all function space costs. All other prepara- and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- tions are on track. empty message to z-philes- room types. www.conjecture.org [email protected] or visit us at http:// *CopperCon 29 – Hotel Contract has [email protected] been submitted to the Board. Date is in members.cox.net/tardisaz/tardis.html WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION May. Mark is working on guests. WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- 2008 (Oct 30-Nov 3 ’08) Calgary, TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit *ConNotations June issue was mailed series’ production companies and the USA corporation that sponsors AniZona, the Alberta, Canada. Info: website: Next issue preparation is on track. Network! It is THE information conduit ConRunners seminars, Across Plus Anime www.worldfantasy.org *Quartermaster – Shed roof fire damage between the fans and the series! Fan club Club and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. repaired. $125.00 payment approved. membership will bring you the following 1) Dedicated primarily to educational activities ANIZONA 2009 (April 10-12, 2009) *Elections – New officers: President subscription to the info filled Tek Informer relating to literature, music, and visual and Embassy Suites Paradise Valley/ Mark Boniece, Vice President Gary newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club performing arts, especially in the genres of Swaty, Secretary Gary Swaty, Treasurer membership card and kit. Membership is by Anime, science fiction, fantasy, costuming, Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ. Guests Richard regular mail only and the newsletter and gaming and science. Applicants for member- Epcar, Ellyn Stern, Trish Ledoux, Toshi Stephanie Bannon, Board Mark Boniece, materials will not be reproduced electroni- ship in WesternSFA must be sponsored by a Yoshida, Sam Regal, David Vincent, Kevin McAllonan and Shane Briner. CopperCon 29 Chair Mark Boniece, cally. To join the action and initiate your current active WesternSFA member. Dues are Toybox. Karaoke, Cosplay, game room, annual membership, make check or money $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable applica- CopperCon 29 Banker Stephanie L order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan tion fee. General Meetings are held on the viewing room, panels, dance, Artist Alley Bannon Club (Membership section), 2522 N first Friday of February, May, August and and much more.Memberships $35 thru *Next Meeting July 25, 2008. Sparkman Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 November, check our website for meeting 09/15/2008. For more info - location Guests are welcome. For more info www.anizona.org or [email protected] T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and contact Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, PO Box fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082 Email: What is CASFS? Arizona State University campus, with dates [email protected] Webpage: COPPERCON 29 (May 8-10, 2009) What is really behind putting on a and places to be announced after the semester www.westernsfa.org Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st Street convention? What are the funds raised by starts. For more information, Email Phoenix AZ 85044. Guests: TBA. Check a convention used for? Why not attend a [email protected] Web our website www.coppercon.org starting meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor www.themonline.org September 15, 2008. of ConNotations, CopperCons, Hexa- Cons, SmerfCons and other conventions. Generic Convention Registration Form We are a charitable, non-profit organiza- tion that exists to further science fiction, fantasy and science fields in Arizona. Name:______CASFS currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at 1818 W Montebello in Badge Name:______Phoenix The meetings begin at 8PM and are held on the last Friday of the month Address:______Jan. through Sept. and on the second City/State/ZIP:______Friday of the month Oct through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend two Phone:______Email:______meetings as a guest (non-member). Membership rates are $12/year plus an Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for initial $3 application fee and rates are ______convention. pro-rated for the amount of the year remaining. For more info: Webpage: (See individual convention listing for mailing address) www.casfs.org Email: [email protected] More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other

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