Volume 14, Issue 3 June/July ConNotations 2004 The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

A Conversation with Featured Inside CJ Cherryh and David Cherry SF Tube Talk Special Features All the latest news about A Conversation with By Catherine Book Scienc Fiction TV shows C.J. Cherryh and David Cherry by Catherine Book I asked CJ the obvious opening she was a freshman in college she was 24 Frames question: When did you start writing? She ready to start experimenting with said her first book was published around All the latest Movie News Slogging through the Blogs technique. She actually picked up a ‘how By Shane Shellenbarger 1975-6 but she was writing when she was to write’ book while in grad school but I ten years old. She was a very enterprising suspect she didn’t find anything new in it Pro Notes 14-year-old when she submitted her first by then. News about local In Memorium piece to the Saturday Evening Post and I asked her what else interested her. genre authors, artists and fans Katherine Lawrence received her first rejection slip. I com- Apparently…everything (except French- mented that she must’ve been a very brave Rococco architecture.) CJ told me that Musical Notes Plus our Regular Features: little girl and she answered no, she was just from an early age she had books around determined. The latest news of Filk and Filkers her on everything from Roman and from Tom Tuerff CASFS Business Report The next most Greek art and law to obvious question we geology and paleontology. all ask is: Who had She once tried to make a Costume Closet Event Calendar the most influence compendium of Roman Articles Covering Topics of interest Area events, TV premires, on your writing? She law and another time she in the constuming field DVD & Movie releases told me she read a tracked ethnic groups in lot of historical bronze-age Greece. Legal ReAnimation FYI books, Edgar Rice systems fascinate her with Reviews of Anime News and tidbits of Burroughs and their quirkiness. I asked on DVD and VHS Robert E. Howard. her if these interests still interest to fans She learned scene- contribute to her writing Screening Room shifting from ERB at and she quickly answered Club Listings Reviews of current theatrical releases the amazing age of yes. She said she fre- 11-12. She never quently dips back into Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban had much use for these things if she needs Shrek 2 Convention List & ‘creative writing’ or them while she’s writing. Van Helsing Generic Registration Form ‘modern fiction’ She indicated that this classes. It seemed varied background of In Our Book apparent to her at a knowledge is great to have Reviews of New SF/F Books very young age that what she needed was while world-building; it helps her define to watch how someone did something and people, their attitudes and their culture. I A Novel Idea then copy it. And keep copying it until she was amused at her example of ancient Upcoming books got it right and then move on. By the time ( Continued on page 10 )

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Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who’s Who This Issue BOOK STORES Stalking Moon Comics & Collectibles News & Reviews Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon Bent Cover 5775 W Bell Rd #B-6, Glendale, Arizona CASFS Business Report 2 Editor’s Assistant: Gary Swaty 12428 N 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85029 (602) 896-9992 FYI 2 Graphics Editor: Craig L. 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Phoenix, AZ 85082 Samurai Comics For more information contact ISSUE NUMBER: Volume 14 Issue 3 5024 N 7th St, Phoenix AZ (602)265-8886 Catherine SUBSCRIPTION: $15 for 6 ISSUES Page 2 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 appears to be a picture-perfect small town, ing the events of Daredevil, Elektra SF Tube Talk right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. 24 Frames Natchios (Jennifer Garner), sai enthusi- But there is something evil festering in ast and assassin for hire, is revived by the TV News & Previews this Maine hamlet, and it seems to be Movie News Order of the Hand, a group of assassins By Lee Whiteside emanating from the ominous Marsten By Lee Whiteside who helped train her. Assigned by the House. Ben Mears (Rob Lowe) returns to Hand’s current leader, Kirigi, to kill a It’s summer which means there is lots of Salem’s Lot to wrestle with the demons of man, Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic), and new stuff on cable for you to watch, his past by writing a book about the town The summer movie season is well his 13-year-old daughter, Abby, Elektra especially on SciFi and USA Network and its inhabitants. As a child, Ben had a under way with Van Helsing, Troy, soon befriends them and decides to stand (and a little bit on TNT) as well as a few horrifying experience in the house that Shrek 2, and The Day After Tomorrow up to her Ninja peers. Elektra is especially leftovers on the broadcast networks. left him emotionally scarred. But Ben getting the box office off to a big start. motivated to do so when she discovers Starting at the beginning of June on soon discovers that he is not the only We’ve got news on the currently filming that Miller’s grandfather was an ally of USA Network is the third season of The newcomer to town. An antique dealer Batman Begins, Elektra, and her former mentor, Stick (Terence Dead Zone. Joining the cast for at least named Richard Straker (Donald HItchHiker’s Guide as well as news and Stamp), who is the blind martial arts six episodes will be Sarah Wynter (Kate Sutherland) has also arrived to open up a rumors on other projects in the works. teacher responsible for training a certain Warner on 24) as Rebecca Caldwell, a new shop with his silent partner, Kurt Production on Batman Begins is well eyesight-challenged ex-boyfriend of woman Johnny meets when her sister, a Barlow (Rutger Hauer). Before long, under way in London and we have an hers... Together, the foursome must take campaign volunteer working for the strange things begin to happen. A series official summary of sorts. When fate on Kirigi’s lethal quartet (which includes charismatic but unscrupulous of mysterious deaths and disappearances prevents him from avenging the deaths of Tengu and Typhoid), before Elektra congressional candidate Greg Stillson, eventually lead Ben, waitress Susan his parents, young Bruce Wayne (Chris- ultimately takes on Kirigi himself. suddenly disappears. Rebecca, a therapist Norton (Samantha Mathis), high school tian Bale) flees to Asia where he seeks In the burgeoning trend of TV series who has experience with criminal teacher Matt Burke (Andre Braugher) counsel from a dangerous Ninja cult to the big screen, we’ve definitely got the defendants, quickly focuses on Johnny as and Father Donald Callahan (James leader known as Ra’s al Ghul (Ken Firefly movie starting filming in June, the prime suspect. Johnny is accused of Cromwell) on a quest to uncover the Watanabe). When he returns, Bruce finds with all nine cast members from the series murder and, as he becomes embroiled in terrifying truth. What they find challenges that Gotham City has become overrun involved as well as David Boreanz an ongoing mystery, his relationship with their notions about the nature of evil, as with crime and corruption, and that there (Angel) joining into the fray. According Rebecca takes several turns. Johnny also horrors both human and inhuman threaten are forces at work trying to remove him to lead Nathan Fillion, the movie is will learn more about his relationship to to destroy the town’s way of life. from his inherited place as the owner of planned to be the first of a trilogy if it the “future man” introduced late in the Showtime will begin airing the second Wayne Industries. Discovering a cave does well. The successful DVD release of second season. Other upcoming episodes season of Dead Like Me on Friday nights under Wayne Manor, Bruce assumes a Roswell may also spur a theatrical movie. include Cold Hard Truth where comedian beginning in early July. Not much is new identity as a secret detective and Reports are that series creator Jason Richard Lewis guest stars as a radio known about the new season, although guardian of the people of Gotham City Katims is developing a movie to continue shock jock who seems to have a death star Ellen Muth has indicated that her against the criminals that plague them. the adventures of the alien teenagers. wish and also likes to target Johnny, character, George, will still have problems Also starring are Michael Caine (Alfred Of course, there’s also the Babylon 5 Looking Glass where Johnny has a vision with authority but will have settled into Pennyworth), Morgan Freeman (Lucius movie, which has yet to be announced, of a murder and the “murderer” claims her job as a reaper. As for when Fox), Rutger Hauer, Katie Holmes but more little tidbits keep working their that Johnny’s visions are a violation of Showtime will air the remaining episodes (Rachel Dodson), Cillian Murphy (Dr. way out. Latest word from J. Michael their civil rights, and No Questions Asked of Jeremiah, no one, not even producer J. Jonathan Crane), Liam Neeson (Ducard), Straczynksi is that the storyline may have which looks at Sheriff Walt’s less-than- Michael Straczynski, seems to know. Gary Oldman (Sgt. Jim Gordon), and something to do with the technomages perfect past and guest stars Greg If it is summer, then SciFi breaks out a Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone). and issues that would have transpired in Grunberg (Alias). lot of new stuff. Kicking things off will be Jennifer Garner is busy during her the Crusade series had it continued. Also coming up on USA network is the five hour miniseries 5ive Days to summer break from Alias filming Elektra, Readers of the Babylon 5 novels know the six hour limited series The 4400. It Midnight airing for four nights beginning a sequel to the Daredevil movie. Follow- ( Continued on page 5 ) centers on the return of 4,400 people who, Monday June 7th with previously presumed dead or reported the first two hours and missing, reappear on Earth. Though they the remaining three have not aged physically, some of them episodes over the next seem to have deeper alterations ranging three nights and a from superhuman strength to an repeat airing of all five unexplained healing touch. A government hours on Sunday, June agency is formed to track the 4,400 13th. College physics people after one of them commits a professor J.T. murder. 4,400 is created by Scott Peters Neumeyer (Timothy (The Outer Limits), written by Peters and Hutton) finds a Rene Echevarria (Star Trek: Deep mysterious briefcase Space Nine, Dark Angel) and executive containing a police file produced by Francis Ford Coppola, filled with details of a American Zoetrope, and Ira Behr. gruesome murder - his Starring are Peter Coyote, Joel Gretsch, own. The file, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael complete with photos Moriarty, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, of his bullet-strewn Laura Allen, Kaj-Erik Eriksen, and corpse and a list of Chad Faust. It debuts with a two hour suspects, indicates the movie on Sunday, July 11th. shooting will take Over at TNT, they’ve got a four hour place in five days. miniseries based on Stephen King’s Though skeptical at Salem’s Lot airing on Sunday June 20 first, when events and Monday June 21st. A dark terror has begin to mirror those in come to the picture-perfect town of the report, J.T. realizes Jerusalem’s Lot, and it’s up to a writer the file is real and that with a haunted past to uncover the horror his time is quickly that has taken over the town. On the running out. He has surface, Jerusalem’s Lot (affectionately referred to as Salem’s Lot by the natives) ( Continued on page 4 ) Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk ( Cont’d from page 3 ) capture of SG-1 by the Goa’uld System brink of a discovery that may make them Alien Apocalypse, both starring Bruce Lord Baal. immune to their enemy. Campbell. only days to solve the mystery of his own SciFi describes Stargate Atlantis as In other SciFi news, there’s lots of Filming has started on the weekly murder - and hopefully change the course “A whole new adventure with a new team stuff in the works for later in the year and series for Battlestar Galactica. Original of the future. Nicole de Boer and Randy begins in the successful Stargate early next year. The big news is the return series star Richard Hatch (Apollo) will Quaid co-star. universe. A secret base left by the of Farscape to SciFi, for a four hour be making a guest appearance in an early New movies in June on SciFi are Post originators of the Stargate is found in the miniseries dubbed Farscape Peacekeeper episode as a prisoner of conscience, who Impact (June 12) which stars Dean Cain most unlikely of places: on Earth, buried War. It will likely air in October and will escapes from the prison ship he is being and Nigel Bennett in a near future Earth within the ruins of the legendary provide an ending for the TV series. Not held on. Producer Ron Moore and Hatch where a meteor crash has left nearly all of civilization Atlantis. The implications of much is yet know about the storyline, but met at the Galactica anniversary Earth uninhabitable. The survivors have this discovery lead the team to a distant expect lots of explosions. According to convention last fall and were able to work formed a new government near the galaxy, where they find a primitive human reports, they actually used up all available things out so Hatch can make an equator but when they detect other civilization threatened by a sinister new explosives in the continent during filming appearance on the new series. Moore says survivors in the frozen region of Berlin, enemy.” Leading the Atlantis team will be earlier this year and had to import more to the character could come back, but isn’t they send a team to investigate. When the Dr. Elizabeth Weir, played in the series by be able to finish filming. making any commitments to it yet. first team doesn’t come back and a Torri Higginson, who has been given the Filming for the Anonymous Rex TV Over on Cartoon Network, the final second team is sent to undertake a suicide opportunity to lead an international team movie has completed in Canada and a few episode of the Justice League series, mission to find out what is really going through the gate to a new galaxy on a new bits of casting information have been Starcrossed, aired in late May with a July on. In Decoy (June 26), Corey Sevier is a grand mission to save all of humanity. released. Playing Ernie Watson’s dino video release planned (just in case you college freshman trying to get noticed by Joining her will be Major John Sheppard, daughter will be Stephanie Lemelin and missed it). Debuting in August will be the ladies, but when a rash of bizarre played by Joe Flanigan, a gifted military guest starring as members of the ruling Justice League Unlimited which deaths start happening, he begins to pilot, who once defied a direct order and dino council will be Faye Dunaway and incorporates a bold new look and a much suspect that the two hottest girls on flew his helicopter to rescue two Rangers Isaac Hayes. SciFi’s press release for the larger scope. Batman, Superman, Wonder campus aren’t exactly human. trapped behind enemy lines. Though Earthsea miniseries airing in December Woman and Green Lantern continue to The big news on SciFi is the return of people might see a good-ol’ boy exterior, revealed the major cast. “This epic lead the universe’s most powerful Stargate SG-1 for its eighth season and he is also a closet mathematical genius. fantasy, based on Ursula K. Le Guin’s superheroes in an effort to stop criminal the debut of its spinoff series, Stargate On board as the team’s astrophysicist is award-winning “Earthsea” novels, plots and alien threats that endanger the Atlantis. Stargate SG-1 returns with a two the brilliant and arrogant Dr. Rodney follows the adventures of a Ged (Shawn universe. In Justice League Unlimited, hour opener, New Order, on Friday July McKay, played by David Hewlitt, who Ashmore), a reckless youth destined to they are joined by an even greater 9th, following the events in the season has been seen previously on SG-1, become the greatest sorcerer that the collection of heroes, some of whom are finale that left Jack O’Neill near death in attempting to impress Samantha Carter mystical land of Earthsea has ever known. well-known, like Supergirl, Green Arrow bio-stasis. The SG-1 team goes in search and failing miserably. He is also one of When Ged discovers that he possesses and the Atom, as well as some that are of the Asgard to try and save Colonel the world’s leading authorities on Stargate infinite magical powers, he seeks to less familiar, like Booster Gold, Hawk & O’Neill, but discover that the Asgard’s technology and the science of gate travel. master the ancient arts with the help of the Dove, Elongated Man, The Question, most deadly enemy has returned with a For additional military support, they have legendary wizard Ogion (Danny Glover). Mister Miracle, Big Barda and Zatanna. vengeance. The System Lords seek an Lt. Aiden Ford (Rainbow Sun Francks), As he battles unimaginable evils, Ged Each half-hour will tell a power-packed alliance with Earth against a common who is a young officer who volunteers for finds an ally in Tenar (Kristin Kreuk), story, combining some of the original enemy and Stargate Command will never the Atlantis mission and is a good man in the vibrant and devout pupil to High heroes with new ones as they band be the same. This will tie into the debut of a tight spot. The team’s medical doctor is Priestess Thar (Isabella Rossellini). together to battle alien invasions, Stargate Atlantis which debuts the Carson Beckett (Paul McGilliion) a New miniseries in development powerful sorcerers, vast shadowy following week with its own two hour Scottish man with a witty sense of humor announced by SciFi include Ringworld, conspiracies and even ancient gods. opening episode, Rising. Guest starring in who also possesses the rare gene that based on the Larry Niven novels, Debuting on Kids WB this fall (and the Atlantis opener are Robert Patrick as allows him to use the Ancients Blackwater, based on Michael airing later on Cartoon Network), will be Colonel Marshall Sumner, Richard Dean technology. Rounding out the team is McDowell’s series, History of the Devil a new Batman series, called The Batman. Anderson, and Michael Shanks. Before Teyla Emmagan (Rachel Luttrell), a from Clive Barker, and the Dresden The series, which will feature a continuity we get into more about Atlantis, there’s native of the post-apocalyptic alien world Files, based on the best selling novels by unrelated to the classic Batman: The more to talk about on SG-1. David the Atlantis team first travels to. She joins Jim Butcher. In development for possible Animated Series, will be about a young DeLuise will return as Pete Shanahan, with the Atlantis team to help fight against series are Witchhunter Robin, a live Batman in the third year of his crime- Carter’s new love interest, Robert the new alien menace, The Wraith, and action adaptation of the popular anime fighting career as he struggles to establish Picardo will also return as Agent also develops a romance with Major series, Eureka, about a think tank himself as the protector of Gotham City Woolsey, and Jolene Blalock as the Jaffa Sheppard. community in the Pacific Northwest while balancing his crime-fighting role warrior Ishta. To accommodate Richard In the Atlantis opener, the team where strange, amazing and bizarre things with his public persona as billionaire Dean Anderson’s schedule, O’Neill will activates the Atlantis stargate, which will happen, Motel Man, where a police bachelor Bruce Wayne. Such classic end up in charge of Stargate Command be their base and travel to a world that had detective discovers a collection of Rogue’s Gallery villains as the Joker, the when Dr. Weir leaves to take command of been decimated by a race known as The mundane objects with strange powers, Penguin, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, the the Atlantis team. This will make it easier Wraith, who may have been responsible including a special motel room key, and Riddler and the Man-Bat will appear in for the writers to have stories where for the defeat of The Ancients. They meet Kyra, a series based on the movie stories that detail Batman’s first O’Neill doesn’t have to be taken out of up with Teyla’s people, who appear to be Chronicles of Riddick, following the encounters with them. The series’ theme commission for half the episode. impoverished but still have control of adventures Alexa Davalos’ character as song will be performed by U2 member Following the events in the Atlantis some impressive technology, although she joins a band of mercenaries in a The Edge. Rino Romano will voice opener, O’Neill gets quickly bogged they keep it hidden from The Wraith, who search for her mentor. They also have Bruce Wayne, Michael Richardson The down in paperwork and is dealing with periodically show up to cull their human some more alternative/reality series Joker, Tom Kenny the Penguin, Alastair the latest Russian representative, Colonel herd. Other episodes to follow include including Stranded, which looks at what Duncan will voice Alfred, Adam West Dimitri Karpov, who tries to get assigned Hide and Seek, where the Atlantis base is would happen if two teams were stranded will appear as the Mayor and Gina to the SG-1 team. When Karpov appears threatened when the team discovers that on an alien planet, Monster Smash which Gershon will voice Catwoman. to be stricken by a mysterious disease, an alien entity is in the city and McKay’s is described as WWE with actors made up At press time, we’re in the middle of O’Neill puts the base into Lockdown (the experiment with alien technology goes to look like monsters, and the animated the broadcast networks up front episode title), but they soon discover it is awry, Childhood’s End where Sheppard comedy Amazing Screw-On Head, based presentations laying out their plans for the a disembodied alien presence trying to get and the team visit a world where no one is on the comic book created by Mike fall and into the next year. Several are through the Stargate. In Avatar, Teal’c is over 24 years old - because of a ritual Mignola. Movies in the works for SciFi touting that they are going to more of a trapped in a virtual reality simulation, in suicide practice they believe keeps the include Species III, a group of movies year round schedule as FOX has been which he must defend the base from a Wraith at bay, and Poisoning the Well under the banner of “Stan Lee Movies”, doing and we’ll be seeing a few series Goa’uld super-soldier incursion. Zero where the Atlantis team gates to another Slipstream with Sean Astin as a rogue running continuously for several months Hour sees O’Neill and the S.G.C. prepare world used by the Wraith as a feeding scientist with a time travel device, The instead of being spread out over a season for an important visitor, but face never- ground - but whose people are on the Man With the Screaming Brain and (Continued on page 5 ) ending catastrophes -- including the Page 4 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 SF Tube Talk ( Cont’d from page 4 ) Felicity Huffman part of the ensemble season. If it doesn’t shore up it’s ratings, a 24 Frames ( Cont’d from page 3 ) cast of friends and neighbors. Never mind fifth season will not be likely, though. The with repeats and preemptions. The amount that the never aired FOX series Still Life only other genre series UPN was looking that there is a direct tie between the of new genre shows is pretty low and had somewhat the same premise, but a at was Silver Lake, which is about a Technomages power and the Shadows several higher profile pilots (like Dark deceased son watching over his family. record store owner who uses his psychic and that could play a large part in the Shadows and Lost In Space) were not New for ABC on Wednesday is a abilities to communicate with the dead movie. picked up, but could possibly show up on series from Alias creator J.J. Abrams and help them resolve issues they left The release date for Sky Captain and another network or cable. Of course, titled Lost. It’s about a group of 48 behind. Enough with people talking to the the World of Tomorrow has been pushed there’s lots more reality shows which is survivors of a plane crash on a Pacific dead, already! The Sixth Sense came out back to September 17th due to extra work also limiting the number of slots available island that have to learn to work together several years ago.... needed for the visual effects (the movie is for scripted dramas. All in all, we’re and survive. It’s “an action packed Across the pond, the BBC is moving almost entirely CGI with the actors having definitely in a bit of a downturn and adventure that will bring out the very best ahead with the new Doctor Who series. been filmed on a sound stage). nothing newly announced looks to reverse and the very worst in the people who are As reported last time, Christopher In the rumor department, Bruce the trend much. lost”. There are also mysterious creatures Eccleston will be the new Doctor, having Campbell has responded to rumors about First up was PAX, which is continuing on the island stalking the jungle. Leading worked with series producer Russell T. tying together Evil Dead, Jason and 1-800-Missing, but renaming it just the cast is Matthew Fox as Jack, with Davies on the miniseries Second Coming. Freddy into a single movie. He says it’s Missing. They will likely be continuing Dominic Monaghan (Hobbit Alert!) as The Doctor’s companion, Rose Tyler, has not out of the question, but also not the psychic element of the show, but it Charlie, Evangeline Lilly as Kare, Ian not yet been cast but should be announced imminent. He told SciFi Wire that “you may get downplayed some. PAX will Somerhalder as Boone, and Daniel Dae soon since filming starts in July. The have 17 lawyers, each going, ‘Yeah, look have a series based on the Left Behind Kim as island native Jin. producers have been negotiating with the at my franchise. Yeah, look at my novels which deals with the aftermath The WB does not have any new genre estates and various people who co-own franchise.’ So you have to get past that. when in one cataclysmic moment, shows for the fall, having passed on Dark rights to some of the classic Doctor Who Then you have to get past the question of millions around the world disappear Shadows and The Robinsons: Lost in monsters, including a quarter million ‘how will the characters be treated?’ What leaving the world in turmoil as the Space pound deal with the estate of Terry would you do with Ash? There’s no way remaining people search for their loved CBS had only one genre series in Nation to be able to use The Daleks. The I’d be in it if I lost. No way. The good guy ones and wonder why they have been Left development, Colderon, based on the first episode is rumored to have an has to win, especially in that movie. You Behind. movie Practical Magic. The pilot starred appearance by The Autons. Reports are couldn’t kill two whole franchises, but we NBC is dipping it’s toes back into the Kim Delany and Jeri Ryan. Other than the BBC may launch the series over the could sure maim them.” There is appar- genre waters a bit, with a paranormal that, look for more Joan of Arcadia and Christmas holidays. There is still no word ently a sequel to Freddy Vs. Jason drama Medium and an end of the world not much else other than three hours of on where the series might end up airing in definitely in the works, to start filming series Revelations, both slated for mid- the CSI franchise each week. the U.S. or Canada. later this year. season. Medium, stars Patrica Arquette FOX has decided to stick with the Doctor Who fans were also saddened Other rumors include a new Flash as someone who sees dead people, all of low-rated status quo in a couple of areas, by the news that Anthony Ainley, who Gordon movie being directed by Stephen the time and really doesn’t like it, but has including renewing Tru Calling. The played The Master in the 1980’s and Sommers (Van Helsing, The Mummy), learned to live with it. Her challenge is to series steadily grew in its ratings over the 1990’s, passed away in early May after although it could be pushed back if they convince law enforcement agencies that season and adding Jason Priestly to the being ill for some time. decide to do a Van Helsing sequel. she’s the real deal. Jake Weber co-stars mix helped both with adding viewers and Darren Aronofsky is rumored to be in as her logicial husband who is also a giving the series more focus and brought line to direct a movie version of the rocket scientist with Miguel Sandoval as some series mythology to the forefront. classic comic series The Watchmen. D.A. Devalos. Dipping into the biblical FOX also has in development Point Stephen Spielberg and Tom Cruise are area (I guess they didn’t note the lack of Pleasant, a drama described as a cross supposedly eying New Zealand as the success for Miracles) will be Revelations. between Peyton Place and The Omen that location of a new movie based on H. G. It stars Bill Pullman as a “scientist faced takes place in a town shaken one summer Wells War of the Worlds. Also in the with the toughest personal, professional when a mysterious girl washes ashore. works is a movie based on The Talisman, and philosophical challenges of his life. Finally, UPN is pretty much by Stephen King and Peter Straub, Dr. Richard Massey is searching for abandoning genre TV other than keeping which has Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai) reasonable explanations - to explain signs Star Trek Enterprise around for one more rumored to be in talks to direct. that seem to indicate the apocalyptic end as foretold in Scriptures is in motion. To ( Continued on page 6 ) save humanity, Massey will have to let go of scientific facts and embrace faith. His first step in his quest to conquer the impending evil is to align himself with a nun (Natascha McElhone) whose devout beliefs are unshakeable. Despite many obstacles, including their own fears and doubts, the two remain determined to prove that Man can regain control of fate. Time is literally running out in their thrilling, fast-paced race around the globe to thwart Armageddon - and restore hope.” ABC will be experimenting with running several of their series straight through. Alias will be one of those and will not start airing until January. Taking over the Alias time slot in the fall will be Desperate Housewife”, which seems to be a standard domestic soap opera with a bit of a supernatural twist. We will be seeing things through the eyes of deceased housewife Mary Alice, who killed herself (or did she?). Sheryl Lee stars as Mary Alice, with Mark Moses, Cody Kasch, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, and Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 5 transportation, like boats, trains, balloons, believes is a crime perpetrated by a robot. Price (Halle Berry), a graphic artist who 24 Frames ( Cont’d from page 5 ) elephants, etc. Along the way, The case leads him to discover a far more is murdered when she finds out a dark In the sequel department, the modest Passepartout uses his amazing martial arts frightening threat to the human race. The secret about the cosmetics company she success of Hellboy has gotten a sequel in abilities to defend Fogg from the many key word is “inspired” since previews works for, Avenal Beauty, which is a development with writer/director dangers they face. One major threat to indicate a lot of action and mass robot front for criminal exploits of the husband Guillermo del Toro working with their adventure is a detective that’s rebellions, which Asimov never wrote. (Lambert Wilson) and wife (Sharon Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. Director following them. Why? Just as Fogg and Also starring are Bridget Moynahan, Stone) team that run it. Price is brought Jon Favreau (Elf) is in preproduction on Passeportout left London, a major bank James Cromwell, Bruce Greenwood, back to life, however, by an Egyptian a film adaptation of the children’s book was robbed, with Fogg suspected of using and Alan Tudyk as the reference for the Mao cat who is indebted to Patience for Zathura, the follow-up to 1995’s Jumanji, the “around the world” trip as an excuse robot. saving its life. Reborn with a new attitude, written by Chris Van Allsburg. to escape. Their path from London and Catwoman - Set in Lake City (ie, not Patience Price becomes the new Filming on The HItchhiker’s Guide back includes stops in Paris, Turkey, Gotham City), this is the story of Patience ( Continued on page 7) to the Galaxy movie is underway and the India, China and the major casting has all been announced. United States of www.leprecon.org Martin Freeman of The Office will be America. Also appear- Arthur Dent, Mos Def is Ford Prefect, ing are Jim Zooey Deschanel is Trillian, Bill Nighy Broadbent, Kathy is Slartibartfast, Sam Rockwell is Zaphod Bates, and John Beeblebrox, Warwick Davis will be Cleese. Marvin the Paranoid Robot, John Darkness - A teenage Malkovich is Humma Kavula (a religious girl (Anna Paquin) cult leader created by Douglas Adams for moves into a remote the movie), and Steve Pemberton is Mr. countryside house with Prosser. Expect regular updates on the her family, only to official movie web site at discover that their www.hitchhikersmovie.com . gloomy new home has Movie previews for June & July a horrifying past that May 6-8, 2005 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of threatens to destroy the Azkaban - Harry is back and he’s being family. (Lena Olin Carefree Resort, Carefree, AZ hunted by escaped Wizard Sirius Black plays her mother, Annual Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention with an emphasis on Art (Gary Oldman). Expect a fast paced Maria; Iain Glen plays adventure with a lot from the book left out her father). From to make the movie much shorter. Dimension films, Artist Guest of Honor The Chronicles of Riddick - The further which has had this on adventures of Riddick (Vin Diesel) the shelf for two years. continue five years later, as the escaped Spider-Man 2 - Peter Dave Dorman convict with the ability to see in the dark Parker does battle with Author Guest of Honor finds himself caught in the middle of a Otto Octavius (aka galactic war between two opposing Doctor Octopus) as he forces, with the key figure being the Lord struggles with his Kevin J. Anderson Marshal (Colm Feore), the leader of a relationship with Mary Special Artist Guest sect called the Necromongers waging the Jane and his best “10th Crusade” in the 26th century. friend, Harry Osborne, Bear Burge Helping Riddick is Aereon (Judi Dench), who wants to kill his Local Artist Guest of Honor the Ambassador of the “Elemental” race, Spiderman alter-ego. who helps Riddick unearth the secrets of Alfred Molina plays Sarah Clemens his origin and Kyra (Alexa Davalos), who the bad guy, Tobey Art by Dave Dorman has grown up since Riddick knew her as a Maguire returns as preteen girl in the first movie. Attempting Peter/Spiderman, LepreCon 31 features the Largest Science Fiction and Fantasy Art to free himself and Kyra from a subterra- Kirstin Dundst as nean prison, Riddick ends up on board the Mary Jane, and James Show in the Southwest with 40+ nationally known artists doing demos Necromonger flagship, where he gets his Franco is Harry. Also and workshops, a full Filmmaking track, A Student Art Show, chance to face off against the Lord introduced is J. Jonah Programming with Panel Discussions & more. Events and Activities Marshal in a battle over the future of all Jameson’s son, include Dealer’s Room, Gaming, LARP, Video Room, Anime Room, beings in the galaxy, both living... and astronaut John Jameson dead. (Daniel Gillies), who is LAN Party, Masquerade, Hospitality Suite, and Charity Auction to benefit The Stepford Wives - A young couple also Mary Jane’s new ASFA and the Thomas J. Pappas School Art department. moves from Manhattan to the upper class boyfriend. suburb of Stepford, Conn., and discover I, Robot - Will Smith Join us for a fun and relaxing weekend at the Carefree Resort in the NorthEast Valley! that the Stepford men are replacing their stars in this action wives with compliant robots. Nicole thriller inspired by the Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Christo- classic short story Memberships are $25 thru 8/31/04, pher Walken, Faith Hill, and Bette collection by Isaac Kids 7-12 half price, Kids 6 & Under Free with Adult membership Midler star. Asimov and brought to Pay online using PayPal! Around the World in 80 Days - This the big screen by version of the classic novel set in 1872 director Alex Proyas Carefree Resort Contact LepreCon 31 at: focuses on Passepartout (Jackie Chan), a (Dark City, The Crow). www.carefree-resort.com Chinese thief who steals a valuable jade In the year 2035, robots Write: LepreCon 31, 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, AZ Buddha and then seeks refuge in the are an everyday PO Box 26665 Room Rates: $89 S/D, $99 T, $109 Q traveling companionship of an eccentric household item and Tempe, AZ 85285 everyone trusts them, (plus tax and $9 resort fee per room) London inventor and adventurer, Phileas Phone: (480) 945-6890 Fogg (Steve Coogan), who has taken on a except one slightly Casitas and Villas also available at bet with members of his gentlemens’ club paranoid detective discounted rates. Email: [email protected] that he can make it around the world in a (Will Smith) investi- (480) 488-5300 or (888) 488-9034 Web: www.leprecon.org/lep31 mere 80 days, using a variety of means of gating what he alone Page 6 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 dealing with the adjustment after the war real thing until Maya’s vocals begin. 24 Frames ( Cont’d from page 6 ) IN MEMORIAM as well, and eventually remembers being As kids who came of age in the 70s, Catwoman and sets out to see vengeance brainwashed. Knowing that it’s just a the Bohnhoffs like to play in that field for Katherine (Selbert) Lawrence th for her murder and to stop the evil doings matter of time before Shaw is called to inspiration, and that’s just fine with me. 1954 – March 25 , 2004 of Avenal Beauty. service by his handler, Marco contacts “Carry Ons” kicks off the album, a fine by Shane Shellenbarger re-tooling of Kansas’s “Carry On Thunderbirds - Set in the year 2065, this Shaw to try to get through to him before Wayward Son,” but lyrically it talks about On March 27th, hikers found the body is the story of ex-astronaut and USAF something terrible happens... Yes, it’s an Colonel Jeff Tracy (Bill Paxton) and his how you’re only allowed on carry-on on a of author, Katherine Lawrence, 80 miles update of the classic movie about plane anymore, so people pack them to southeast of Tucson, Arizona, along the five sons who form a rescue team called brainwashing.The Village - Set in rural the point of bursting. banks of the San Pedro River. It was later International Rescue (nicknamed “The Pennsylvania in 1897, this is the story of Of course, no child of the “Me” determined that Lawrence died at about Thunderbirds”) that uses a fleet of the small village of Covington (population decade could resist sending up “Stairway sunset on March 25th, an apparent suicide. vehicles, from rockets to boats, to race 60) surrounded by a woods inhabited by a to Heaven,” and Jeff Bohnhoff doesn’t Her body of work includes the direct- into action whenever their unique services race of “mythical creatures,” and the disappoint. “Railway to Hogwarts” is a to-video The Secret of Mulan, animated are required. Helping the Tracys are romance that blossoms between Kitty nearly note-for-note version of the Led series Legend of the Dragon, Stargate Brains (Anthony Edwards), a techno- (Judy Greer), the daughter of the town’s Zep song that is a great addition to the Infinity, X-Men Evolution, Kong, Roswell rapidly growing (and very needing) logical genius who invented the amazing leader (William Hurt), and Lucius Conspiracies, War Planets (aka Shadow repertoire of good Harry Potter filk out Raiders), ReBoot, Conan the Adventurer, rockets used by International Rescue; (Joaquin Phoenix), a young man who Jeff’s assistant Kyrano and his daughter there. Dungeons & Dragons (all credits prior to questions the policy of keeping Even the Beatles get filked here. 1990 were as Kathy Selbert), live-action Tin-Tin; the lovely Lady Penelope Covington’s citizens completely confined “Come to Mordor” parodies “Come television series Hypernauts, Captain (Sophia Myles), and her driver, Parker. In to the village. Directed by M. Night Together,” telling the Lord of the Rings Power and the Soldiers of the Future, this adventure, Tracy Island is attacked by Shyamalan tale from the view of the Wringwraiths. computer games Stratosphere, This an evil mastermind, Aristotle Spode, The 80s serve up even more candi- Means War, Humongoids (with Christy AKA The Hood (Ben Kingsley), who dates for the Bohnhoff wit. “Every Mouse Marx), BattleVision (with Christy Marx), wants to use the International Rescue Just Wants to Rule the World” is Pinky non-fiction works including Laurence vehicles to commit acts of crime. The Musical Notes and the Brain meet Tears for Fears, and Yep, Life in the Desert, Jean-Claude Van emphasis of the story will be on Alan by Tom Tuerff in “Who’s That Squirrel,” a parody of the Damme, and short fiction in The Shim- (Brady Corbet), the youngest of the clan, Eurythmics’ “Who’s That Girl,” Natasha mering Door (The Silicon Sword), who will have to rescue his father and starts to wonder if maybe jumping from Enchanted Forests (The Forest’s Not For brothers from Spode’s villainous clutches, the dark side (with Boris) to the good but Burning), The Ultimate Silver Surfer (The Jeff and Maya Bohnhoff - “Aliens Ate weird side (with Bullwinkle) might be a Tarnished Soul), and Weird Tales from with the help of two of his friends. My Homework” good idea. Shakespeare (No Sooner Sighed). Directed by Jonathan Frakes. No strings Self-production-Mystic Fig Studios **** There are 16 tracks in all here, and I knew Katherine Lawrence from that will be visible in this live action version “Aliens” is the second CD of filk most stay true to the original arrange- period in the 90’s when Genie, of the classic Supermarionation series parodies by the Bohnhoffs (the first being ments of the songs being spoofed. CompuServe, and Prodigy were bigger from Gerry Anderson. “Retro Rocket Science” from a few years However, I have to give a thumbs up to than the Internet. She often exchanged The Manchurian Candidate - Captain back) and features some time- and con- Jeff and Maya’s arrangement of “The ideas about writing with Judith Tarr, J. Bennett Marco (Denzel Washington) and tested favorites that Jeff and Maya have Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” Michael Straczynski, and Christy Marx, Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber) been playing over the past few years. which in their hands becomes the Iron among others. In addition to knowing her served together during the Persian Gulf As I write this, I just found out that Chef’s nightmare “The Night Kaga in cyberspace, I’d met Katherine at one song here, “We Are the Cubs Fans,” War (the first one), and were part of a Brought the Lutefisk Down.” This is a Phoenix conventions, several San Diego was played recently on the Dr. Demento cool, origianl little arrangement that platoon of U.S. soldiers who were Comic-Conventions, and once at her Show to herald the start of the baseball conjures up neither The Band or Joan apartment in Tucson with my wife, kidnapped by the enemy, and brain- season, and as a Cub fan myself, it’s my Baez, and it’s great. Laurie, and our friend, Larry Warner. I washed to become pawns once they return favorite track here. Done to the tune of You should be able to find this for sale always found Katherine an interesting and home. Now, ten years later, Raymond Queen’s “We are the Champions,” it aplenty at Westercon. Definitely pick this intelligent conversationalist, and I am Shaw is climbing the political ladder, as shows off Jeff Bohnhoff’s uncanny one up. dismayed and saddened that her physical his mother’s (Meryl Streep) new husband ability to literally re-create the sound of See you all at Westercon! and economic troubles would lead to the is a powerful senator helping a presiden- the original song in many cases, which, if ------depression that caused her to take her own tial candidate. Marco, however, is not you’re hearing the song on the radio, can Tom Tuerff recently returned from a massive life. Life has a way of causing time trick you into thinking you’re hearing the worldwide tour of Richmond, Va. find out if constraints and people find themselves drifting away from each other. It had been people at open almost two years ago that I spoke to mic shows in Katherine, and I regret that now. To those Virginia have a friends and family of Katherine Lawrence, sense of humor. please remember the good times and work In the mean- at life, it’s the only sure thing. time, if you http://www.katherinelawrence.com/ have anything http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492864/ on CD or tape http://www.sfwa.org/News/klawrence.htm that’s filk http://www.scriptsales.com/ddtv/ related and TVInterviewLawrence.html you’d like him http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Columns/ to review it, ShannonMuir/katherine-lawrence.html send it to him at http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/ ConNotations 6213/kathlawrence.html or write him at http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/ [email protected], Realm/4173/lawrence.html http://www.gulftel.com/hypernauts/ intrview/lawrence.htm http://sailing.about.com/library/weekly/ aaAmcupNZ02a.htm http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ PersonDetail/personid-31080/ Katherine_Lawrence/ http://www.mobygames.com/developer/ sheet/view/developerId,4605/ http://www.sff.net/people/judith-tarr/ index.htp http://www.christymarx.com/ http://worldsofjms.com/ Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 7 brought out a reissue of “The Height of FIREKEEPER novel. In between, she has Astronomy Board, he got an early peek at the Scream” with a new introduction. Due squeezed in a couple of short stories, the infrared mapping they’re doing, and Pro Notes later this month from PS Publishing is including three featuring a new continuing saw methane seas on the surface of Titan, by Catherine Book “The Overnight,” his new supernatural character named Andrasta. I heard from beneath that moon’s smoggy clouds. One Welcome back to ProNotes. I think novel, and right now he’s at work on Brian Aldiss in England! – He’ll be at the of those seas is shaped like the letter H I’m getting the hang of it now. (If you rewriting the next novel, ”The Secret Worldcon in Boston later in the year. lying on its side. One of the board don’t see your favorite author here, email Stories.” Harry Shannon just handed in Before that, he’ll be at Jim Gunn’s place members, an Arizona rancher, dubbed it me and I’ll see what I can do…) the final novel in his NIGHT TRILOGY - at the University of Kansas, where he’s the Lazy H Sea. We’ll see if the name This issue I have voices from within “Night of the Daemon.” This one is set for been twice before. We’re talking the sticks. Ben will be teaching a science the horror genre. I was fortunate enough hardcover release by Medium Rare Books Seattle Hall of Fame. His latest novel, fiction writing workshop at the Taos to meet some very interesting authors at in August of 2004. Shannon is also busy “Affairs in Hampden Ferrers,” is about to Institute of the Arts (Taos, NM) 21-25 World Horror who generously contributed promoting his first noir effort, “Memorial be turned into an unabridged audio book. June, and at the Maui Writers Retreat and to this issue. Doug Clegg tells me that Day (A Mick Callahan Novel)” coming in He goes to the studios next week, to read Conference, 26 August - 6 September. he’s finishing up the final draft on a novel May from Five Star First Edition Myster- “every damned word aloud.” This week, Then he’ll be GoH at Archon 28 in St. called “Night Cage”, which comes out ies. Harry’s protagonist is a disgraced he was in London at a broadcasting Louis, 30 September - 3 October. Jody under his pseudonym, Andrew Harper. former television psychologist on the studio, part-scripting and compering an Lyn Nye wanted me to announce to fans Additionally, under his real name, a new comeback trail, who (like most of his Archive Hour survey of Radio SF for the of the TAYLOR’S ARK series that the long- paperback, “Nightmare House” comes out other characters) runs into trouble in a BBC. He has a house in the county of awaited third book, “The Lady and The in May. He’s been mainly writing, getting spooky little Nevada town. And, last, but Norfolk coast. Right now, a film company Tiger” (Ace Books), hit the bookshelves out on the bicycle to get a little exercise certainly not least, Nancy Kilpatrick tells is shacked up there, commencing filming in March. Also, she’s been working with with the good weather, and hoping to me how much she enjoyed being the GoH of his novel, “Brothers of the Head.” The Robert Asprin on further novels in his settle in for the summer, working on yet at WHC. Apparently, she was really story is horror/rock-n-roll. Two books of MYTH-ADVENTURES series. They released a another book, but won’t mention what it impressed by our con. She taught the his are due to be published next year; chapbook of short stories, “Myth-Told is just yet. David Morrell is currently editing workshop at the convention and “Sanity and the Lady,” from Postscript Tales”, and a novel, “Myth Alliances,” reading proofs of his story “Time Was” from the responses of students, it was a Publications and “Jocasta” from the newly last fall from Meisha Merlin. “Myth that will appear in “Taverns of the Dead,” hit. Even her guest editors: Stephen Jones, founded Rose Press. He’s hoping that Alliances” will be published in mass- edited by Kealan Patrick Burke, from Don D’Auria, and Ramsey Campbell said Little Brown may also bring out a new market edition by Ace Books in June Cemetery Dance. Meanwhile, the paper- they had fun. Nancy is just finishing up collection of surreal tales entitled “Cul- 2004. This September, their second novel, back of “The Protector” will be in stores the anthology she and Nancy Holder are tural Breaks.” He wrote an opera, a “Myth-Taken Identity,” will premiere just in May, and his new dark-suspense co-editing for Roc/NAL. “Gothika” will veritable opera, no speech, only song and in time for WorldCon and DragonCon. collection “Nightscape” will be published be handed in shortly and should see recitative, OEDIPUS ON MARS. A She’s also proud to announce her first this summer. For details, see release in 2005. Nancy’s POWER OF friend in Santa Barbara is composing the military SF book, “Strong Arm Tactics,” www.subterraneanpress.com. Next year’s THE BLOOD series is being re-released music even now. He has about 65,000 first of three novels in the WOLFE PACK, an book will be a sequel to “The Protector,” by Mosaic Press. “Child of the Night” words on the computer of a forthcoming original series contracted with Meisha the final pages of which he’s now writing. came out the end of last year and “Near novel , ”The Walcot Novel,” about which Merlin, will also come out in September. His website is www.davidmorrell.net. Death” will be released in May. “Reborn” he is greatly excited. (I had no idea he She’s got a few fun stories appearing in Our own horror writer, Adam is coming in the fall, with “Bloodlover” to was so ...energetic… when I asked him to various anthologies, but she’s especially Niswander, had his short story collection, follow in 2005. Another re-release is contribute…) pleased to be a contributor to the new “Blurring the Edges of Dream: The Short Nancy’s DARKER PASSIONS series of On a briefer note, Steven Barnes says THIEVES’ WORLD series, edited by Lynn Fiction of Adam Niswander,” released by erotic horror, which she wrote under the he’s working on a murder mystery set in Abbey. The second anthology, “Enemies Prime Books, an imprint of Wildside pen name Amarantha Knight. Circlet prehistoric Africa entitled “Great Sky of Fortune,” including her story, “Conse- Press last month. Still scheduled for Press is doing the series and will follow- Woman. “His Star Wars novel, “The quences,” will appear in October from publication later this year by Prime Books up with “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” Cestus Deception” will be out in June, TOR. Mike Shepherd-Moscoe just is the trade paperback release of “The with “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” and and an accompanying e-book, “The Hive” finished the copy edits for “Kris Sand Dwellers” (originally published in “Camilla” in 2004. They’ll publish two comes out a little sooner. He and his wife, Longknife – Deserter” so it’s on schedule 1998 by Fedogan and Bremer), and titles a year thereafter. Tananarive Due, are collaborating on a for a Nov 04 release. At the Nebula Adam’s new young adult fantasy titled On to the fantasy/S-F genre contribu- horror/SF novel, “Devil’s Wake.” Sharon weekend, Ginjer Buchanan at ACE asked “Golden Dreams,” the first book in THE tors: E.T. Ellison shared that 2004 is Lee and Steve Miller have just turned the for treatments on “Kris Longknife- HISTORIES OF LIGHT AND DARK. shaking out to be a pretty busy time on manuscript for next February’s novel, Relieved of Command” and “Kris “Golden Dreams” is a story of the ‘real Bear Mountain: he just finished the “Crystal Soldier,” over to their agent and Longknife-a Very Independent Com- Peter Pan.’ 2005 should see the start of second draft of a youth fantasy novel have started on a book for 2006. Buzzy mand” (as in - maybe the next galaxy over Meisha Merlin’s releases of “Adam called “Night Funnels.” And, he’s hard at Multimedia has picked up their novel from the one with her father in it) so they Niswander’s Shaman Cycle Novels: Wind work on Book Two of the LAST “Local Custom” to be an audiobook; no can be put under contract. Ginjer also and Fang” (containing “The Charm” and NEVERGATE CHRONICLES -- “The news yet as to who will read for it. asked how soon “Relieved of Command” “The Serpent Slayers”) and “Adam Masks of Madonna 13”-- much of which They’ve sold a LIADEN UNIVERSE might be available; she may not want a Niswander’s Shaman Cycle Novels: takes place in what is currently known as short story -- “Fighting Chance” -- to the full year break between “Deserter” and Heaven and Earth” (containing “The Arizona. He’s also underway with a new anthology Women of War, edited by “Command.” “The Strange Redemption Hound Hunters” and “The War of the series of techno-thrillers being co-written Alexander Potter and Tanya Huff; it’ll be of Sister Mary Ann” should be in an issue Whisperers”). {About fri**ing time!) Two with his brother, Scott (author of the a DAW book – no publishing date yet. of Analog appearing later this year. He’s of them were scheduled for release in forthcoming “Thodkin’s Speak.”) “Vegas Also, coming soon to Absolute Magni- really looking forward to that story and 2004, but have been postponed until next Freaks” is the first title in the SOLVER tude, is the LIADEN UNIVERSE story peoples’ reactions to it. year. Adam reports he has completed the series. Jane Lindskold reports that her “Sweet Waters” in the first US publica- And I don’t think I could write this fifth Shaman book, “The Nemesis of latest novel, an archeological adventure tion. column without input from some of my Night,” and is currently working on the fantasy titled “The Buried Pyramid,” was I was excited to hear from Ben Bova favorite locals: Judith Tarr reported that sixth Shaman book, “The Primal Pipers.” released in May to some great reviews. who says it’s a busy year for him. In May, she published recently: stories in Janis Ian He still plans to complete all thirteen She’s anticipating the release of “Wolf Tor released “The Silent War,” Book III and Mike Resnick’s “Stars,” Noreen planned novels. Ramsey Campbell Captured,” the fourth novel in the of the ASTEROID WARS series. The ASTER- Doyle and Harry Turtledove’s “The First reports that Tor has just published “Alone FIREKEEPER SAGA this November. In OID WARS are a part of the larger GRAND Heroes,” and Andrew Greeley’s “Emerald With The Horrors” with an expanded June, she turns in the manuscript of TOUR series (Mars, Moonwar, Jupiter, Magic.” Forthcoming in November: “Rite introduction and his very first published “Child of a Rainless Year,” a contempo- Venus, etc.). He just finished the novel of Conquest” from Roc--a historical Lovecraftian tale. Babbage Press just rary fantasy set largely in New Mexico. “Mercury,” and he’s starting on “Titan.” fantasy about William the Conqueror. Currently, she’s working on the fifth Since he’s a member of the Arizona ( Continued on page 9 ) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 cover and interior illustrations for the new light as Mr Weasley warns him about Shrek’s cozy cottage in the swamp to find Pro Notes (Cont’d from page 8 ) one. She’ll be writing a short story in Sirius Black, a mass murderer who has two surprises waiting for them, Donkey She’s working on the sequel to that now, June, and painting again in July; both for escaped from Azkaban prison and is (Eddie Murphy) has more or less moved tentatively titled “King’s Blood,” about the US edition cover, and for the WFC seemingly after Harry. in and, more ominously, a letter from William Rufus. (Friends and fans can program book cover. She’ll be resuming Once at school Harry has to deal with Princess Fiona’s parents arrives, inviting follow the adventures of the books and the draft for “Stormed Fortress” in August a yet another new “Defense against the the happy couple to dinner. After some the horses on her website, http:// and then she’ll be visiting Arizona as a Dark-Arts” teacher and strange behavior negotiation the couple embarks on the www.sff.net/people/judith-tarr . Then, of GoH at WFC. from Hermione, not to mention that the journey to the Kingdom of Far Far Away course, there’s Judy’s good friend and And, No, I did not forget our gamers: school is surrounded by Dementors, with Donkey tagging along for the trip. fellow Lipizzan breeder, Caitlin our favorite MIB in Arizona, Jessie unearthly guards from the prison at The Kingdom of Far Far Away is quite a Foster, tells me that this summer the big Brennan, whose first fantasy novel, “The Azkaban, who are “protecting” Harry and change from the swamp, a wonderful take push for Steve Jackson is GURPS 4th Mountain’s Call,” will be published by the school from the infamous Sirius off on Hollywood including the sign “Far Harlequin Luna (with a gorgeous cover, Edition. They’ve spent the past two years developing it based off of fan feedback of Black. Far Away” in huge letters on the hillside. and yes, those are Lipizzans on it) in The film starts abruptly with the short The king and queen (John Cleese and September. This is the first of a trilogy over a decade. The new books will be scene at the Dursley home and seems Julie Andrews) are surprised to find that (about Lipizzans, of course!), and she is bigger and bolder, definitely worth somewhat rushed from that point on, their daughter is still an ogre and, worse currently working on the second volume, checking out. The official release date is tentatively titled “Song of Unmaking,” to August, but you might get a peek at G4E almost a series of unrelated vignettes, yet, married to an ogre as well. Fairy God be published next year. Jacqueline before that at some of the “big” conven- until close to the end. There are a couple Mother reminds the king about a deal they Lichtenberg recently finished the first tions this year. In addition to that, of long special effects scenes such as the agreed on years ago that Fiona should of draft of “Sime-Gen: The Farris Channel.” Munchkin fans will rejoice at seeing bus ride to The Leaky Cauldron and the married Prince Charming (her son). The (news, free chapters, and updates avail- Munchkin Blender hit the shelf soon. It scenes with the hippogriff, Buckbeak are king then hires a cat named Puss-in- able at www.simegen.net ) Jean Lorrah, brings some ultra powerful cards for use seamless, the flying scene with Harry has Boots, a sword fighting cat and ogre her sometime collaborator on the when you mix all of the Munchkin sets such wonderful tiny details as Buckbeak slayer (Antonio Banderas) to kill Shrek. SIME~GEN books, is currently writing the together. Look for Greed Quest and trailing a paw (hoof?) in the water as he This is a worthy sequel that is as third story in the trilogy they started years Illuminati: Crime Lords at this summer’s flies Harry across the lake, making for a much, if not more, fun than the original. ago with, “First Channel,” and “Channel’s conventions as well as your Friendly much more believable creature. . The Puss-in-Boots is a delight from beginning Destiny.” “Companions” never got Local Gaming Store. Dementors succeed in being as creepy on to end, the parodies and n jokes abound written for various reasons, but now that And, finally, for something a bit screen as they were in the book but over (repeat viewing is a must in order to catch Meisha Merlin has picked up the different: we have a local radio show all this is not a effects driven movie. them all) and the message of true love and SIME~GEN books and contracted for new hosted by Evo Terra and Michael Michael Gambon seems to be a acceptance are a refreshing change in this material, they can finally finish that saga. Mennenga called The Dragon Page Live worthy successor to Richard Harris as day and age of reality shows that teach It is scheduled to be published next year Fire. It’s a sci-fi/fantasy based talk radio Dumbledore and all the regulars seem to back stabbing as a path to riches and show on AM 550 KFYI every Sunday as “Sime-Gen: Fort Freedom.” June 2004 have returned, not only in the main rewards. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars - I’d night at 6:00. If author interviews are should see release of “Sim-Gen: To Kiss characters but the supporting ones as well, give it more if possible. If you see one or To Kill” (2 all new SIME~GEN novels) more your style, catch The Dragon Page Cover to Cover, a weekly broadcast such as Matthew Lewis as Neville. I find I movie this year, go see Shrek 2 - in e-book format from embiid.com, in need to reread the books since I didn’t Stephanie L Bannon advance of the publication from Meisha covering all literary aspects of fantasy and remember Malfoy as being quite so, well, Merlin of HC and TP versions later this science fiction. More information at http:// whiny. year. July should see release of the first e- dragonpage.com. book version of “Sime-Gen: House of That’s it for this issue. I continue to be That said, this is probably the weakest Van Helsing Zeor” also at embiid.com. thrilled at the response I get from authors of the three films so far. This is actually a 132 minutes, PG-13 Had enough of authors? How about and artists. If anyone wants to contribute film that should have been driven more by our genre artists? Don Maitz is currently or knows someone who knows plot advancement instead of the ooos and Famed monster hunter Dr. Gabriel working on a second feature animated someone…please email ahhhs of the earlier films when we first Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) dispatches film as a conceptual designer.The film, saw the school (who can forget the chill Mr Hyde (Robbie Coltrane, totally wasted “Ant Bully”, is being produced by DNA up the spine wonder of that first glimpse in minor 3 minute appearance) and then Productions, through Tom Hank’s of Hogwarts as the boats crossed the dark reports to his bosses in the Vatican, sort of production company - Playtone with lake?), the grand hall with its glorious a late 19th century MI-5 in a cave under Warner Brothers as the studio. DNA Screening Room candles and ghosts, and, of course, our the Vatican, complete with fancy inven- Productions and it’s director, John Davis, first Quidditch match. Obviously it is tions and weapons and a friar named Carl are responsible for the Academy Award Harry Potter and the Prisoner of impossible to put all the book into one (David Wenham) who is assigned to nominated animated film - “Jimmy Azkaban film, unless one wants a 8 hour film, but accompany Van Helsing on his new Neutron Boy Genius.” Bob Eggleton, 136 minutes, PG even at 2 hours and 16 minutes this film assignment. The task - go to Eastern Fred Gambino, and Don Maitz are among seemed, I don’t know, rushed and Europe and help Anna (Kate Beckinsale) the artists who worked on the Jimmy By now the premise of the Harry incomplete, particularly since it seems save her family from eternal damnation by Neutron Boy Genius film; and these Potter films is familiar to us all. In Harry like the end credits took over 15 minutes! killing Count Dracula (Richard artists and a similar team are at it again on Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban we I enjoyed the film and would give this Roxburgh). Dracula is plotting to use the Ant Bully project. The studio is follow Harry in his third year at installment a rating of 4 stars out of 5 Frankenstein’s Monster (Schuler Hensley) anticipating a 2006 release. An on-going Hogwarts. (with the first two films being 5 stars) but in a scheme to bring baby vampires to display of four pirate paintings by Don The film opens with a token scene I must admit I left the theater feeling a life..... Oh yeah, Wolfman makes an Maitz are hanging at the Key West with Harry’s muggle family in which little disappointed. I will note that the appearance as well. Museum of Art and History at the Custom Harry “accidentally” causes horrible Aunt House in Key West, FL. A series of Don numerous children in the audience seemed This was a beautifully photographed Marge tp blow up, well inflate, and float Maitz glow-in-the-dark fantasy jigsaw spellbound throughout the film and there film with seamlessly integrated CGI puzzles are available at Target, K-Mart, away. The beginning scenes with Harry’s was very little fidgeting from the small monsters and really spiffy special effects. and Walmart outlets. He’ll be attending muggle family are quickly over with Aunt fry. A must for the Harry Potter fan but I What it didn’t have was a coherent plot, World Fantasy Con in Arizona this fall. Petunia, Uncle Vernon and the annoying am already anticipating the DVD release or any real plot at all, coherent or other- His wife, Janny Wurts, also wrote me. Dudley making only a token appearance in order to see the deleted scenes that wise. I understand that Van Helsing will She just turned in the finished manuscript before Harry runs away. He is picked up would have made this film so much more be an animated TV show in the fall and for the next book in the WARS OF LIGHT by a magic purple bus that transports him satisfying. - Stephanie L Bannon this film would probably have worked AND SHADOW series, “Traitor’s Knot,” to The Leaky Cauldron pub where the better as a one hour TV show instead of a scheduled for release in Britain at the end Minister of Magic awaits his arrival. Shrek 2 2 hour movie. I give it 2 stars out of 5 - of the year, with negotiations in progress Expecting to be expelled from Hogwarts 93 minutes, PG mostly for Hugh Jackman but also for the for a US edition. Check her website for for unauthorized magic use Harry is Frankenstein Monster. Wait for the DVD that announcement: (www.paravia.com/ surprised when he is not punished but sent Shrek 2 picks up right after the end of release - Stephanie L Bannon JannyWurts) On the easel are paintings off to Hogwarts as usual. The reason the first one, with Shrek (Mike Myers) for three reissues of earlier titles, and the everyone is so easy on Harry comes to and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) returning to Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 9 A-line coat built down to knee length will ( Cont’d from page 1 ) year-old who knew the human figure was do. Just make sure it has lots of nonfunc- Cherry seven heads tall and where the dividing tional buttons, full skirts, braid, and Icelandics who made appointments with lines were. He enjoyed some notoriety in turned-back cuffs and you’ll look like the their enemies to schedule a cattle raid - school as ‘the artist’ since he could draw a guy on the rum bottle. quite civilized. human figure. His first art teacher was his Cocked hats go well with the look. Her interests include photography, 13-year-old precocious sister. When I Start off with any broad-brim hat, such as continuing to play several musical asked him what influenced him first he a garage sale cowboy hat or one of the instruments (she was in a marching band was happy to explain how fascinated he heavy felt hat blanks sold at medieval and when she was younger) and her current was when, at 13, he discovered all the art renaissance events. You can fold (cock) passion is ice skating. Everything is grist books his sister had filled the house with one side up on your sword-arm side and for her mill, even the unpleasantness of had wonderful pictures of naked men and add a plume for the earlier part of the life. Her favorite cartoon is the writer women. Consequently, his opinion of period. You can cock two sides to form a slumped over his typewriter bemoaning Pirate Soft Wear “bicorn” hat, like those worn by Napoleon his life falling apart: his wife left him and by Randall Whitlock or Captain Aubrey. Later these were worn took the dog, he has writer’s block, the with the folds toward the front and back, water heater broke, etc. Then in the next frame, he is smiling and typing happily When I was a kid (in the days before as seen on Captain Aubrey’s lieutenants. about the broken water heater and his wife VCRs) I’d stay up late on Saturday night Cock three sides to form a “tricorn” like leaving him with the dog … whenever a local TV station ran any pirate those worn by Captain Jack Sparrow. I often ask writers how they write and movie, whether it starred Errol Flynn, Common accessories for cocked hats up ‘til now they’ve all described a Tyrone Power, or was one of the zillion include plumes, feathers or trim around particular method that works for them – remakes of “Treasure Island.” I’m the edges, and “cockades,” which were but only one method. Apparently, one delighted with the popularity of last year’s patches of ribbon folded into a square or way isn’t enough for CJ. Sometimes she “Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the rosette. makes an outline, sometimes she fills in Black Pearl” with lots of pirates and Nautical accessories might include an the outline until she has a book, some- “Master and Commander The Far Side of astrolabe, drinking jack, eyepatch, etc. times she ignores the outline, sometimes the World” with its gritty realistic pirate Check with your local convention for how she just writes by the seat of her pants. I hunters. I look forward to a whole new they feel about cutlasses and replica got the idea that her method depends on wave of cinematic adventures on the high flintlocks. the story, or the weather, or … whatever. I seas. Jewelry and temporary tatoos with asked her if she writes everyday. She said Pirate hall costumes have been with us skull and crossbones themes are easily she tries to but sometimes it’s better to all along at SF conventions, but what do found, but I have a problem with the water the plants or spend some time we mean by “Dressed like a pirate?” The logic. The last thing a real pirate would do thinking forward, past the ‘sticky’ spots. first pirate ship on shore is advertise CJ is also an accomplished artist; al- what is good art was irretrievably formed probably set sail the fact. The jolly though, I didn’t get that from her, David by Hellenistic sculpture. He believes that about ten minutes roger is fine for a told me. But it explains what she meant the Hellenistic period was the best work after the first mer- pirate flag, but when she described taking time to sketch man has ever done and no one has ever chant vessel, so any displaying it in port or draw to free up her subconscious or made better art. I asked about the ‘great historical period is would be the same as hindbrain. CJ is a true renaissance woman masters’ and if he appreciated any of fair game. Pirates of wearing a “hang me” with remarkable drive and energy. them. He was impressed by daVinci and any period would sign in front of royal After that it seemed logical to find out loved Michaelangelo. But he’s spent his have dressed the same navy officers. On the how CJ and fandom first met. At the end life studying the Hellenistic period of as other able seamen, other hand, there is of the year her first book published, she sculpture and attempting to replicate it in especially the ones little risk of a drum- was teaching Latin and Ancient History at drawings. And he described to me (in they robbed. head court breaking a high school when she got a call from exacting detail) what makes them so great Most of us, out at a con. someone at the University of Oklahoma. – that you can look at a sculpture from influenced by pirate Good sources of They asked her to speak to a group as a any angle and they are always graceful – movies, think of the historical patterns for Science Fiction Author at a local Chinese “it’s magic.” Buccaneers of the pirate garb include restaurant. She went through 3 pots of tea His favorite painters were the French Spanish Main in the Alteryears without anyone showing up. Turned out and English Royal Academy artists. He 17th and 18th (www.alteryears.com), that none of the fans had a working admired Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Jean centuries. Costume Patterns of Time vehicle… (Sidebar: David relates that Sis Leon Gerome and Waterhouse. He is features such as knee (www.patternsoftime.com), was nominated several times for Teacher particularly impressed by their technical britches, puffy shirts, long coats with and Smoke and Fire Company of the Year and was the best Ancient expertise; in that, their technique was so turned-back cuffs and lots of braid, (www.smoke-fire.com). Smoke and Fire History teacher he ever had. Kinda weird, expert that one could not ‘see’ the buckled shoes with tall stockings or Company is heavily into the Revolution- though, having your big sister as your technique, only the picture. He gave me a cavalier boots with turned-down cuffs; ary War period, so they have patterns for teacher.) fascinating history lesson in why the scarves tied around the head and/or hats long coats, knee britches and folding The next year she was asked to be French Royal Academy was usurped by with turned-up sides. Fortunately, these cocked hats They also sell buckled leather Guest of Honor at WorldCon in Kansas the impressionists (which I will not repeat things are fairly easy to make or buy. shoes and other accessories. City. At first, she believed one of her here. You’ll have to ask him yourself.) Baggy knee britches can be made Of course, we are into SCIENCE students was pulling a prank. But, after Surprisingly, with all this intense using any basic four-panel drawstring FICTION, so we have many possibilities some research, she decided that it sounded interest in art, David became a lawyer. trouser pattern. You can simply turn a pair not covered in the historical sources. We like a good idea. (What she didn’t tell me More than art, David wanted to be a of sweat pants inside out and trace the can dress as pirates who sail oceans that and I had to get from David was that she father. His reasoning was that, while art is pieces. Add ties, buttons, or buckles at the never were, or the bounding main of outer was honored as the Best New Writer of great stuff, lawyering would probably pay knee and you’re there. Tall, striped space. A space pirate costume might be the Year.) So, she dresses in professional the bills better and he needed to be ready stockings can be found on the merchants’ modeled after your favorite literary hero/ clothing complete with heels and brings when the future mother of his children row at medieval, renaissance, and wild villain or something that sailed straight along her brother, David, in a three-piece came along. Unhappily, it was many years west events. out of your own imagination. You might suit. (David reported that she was a big hit down the road with no takers. Eventually, There are many patterns available for take some of the movie pirate costume and everyone seemed to think he was he did finally marry – an artist. And puffy sleeve shirts, though simply ideas above and use alternate materials, hotel security.) instantly became a father to 5-year-old wearing an oversized, worn-out dress shirt such as metallic fabrics and flashing She left me with: “I find the joy in Kira (now a challenging 17-year-old.) He will do for a start. Ties at the elbows and LEDs. Add a cybernetic eye patch, a robot creation is doing it the right way and not also dotes on his daughter, Kasi, a sweet cuffs can help the look. parrot, a bubble helmet, or anything else to hurry the process.” She makes it sound ten-year-old. He tells me that there is While the long coats of the period you like. I’ve done a “software pirate” so easy… nothing in the world more important than were tailored at the shoulders and waist, costume a few times, with accessories ======his two daughters. this isn’t essential for starters. A waistless made from disks, cables, and network David was the little brother, by seven cards. years. He tells me he was the only six- ( Continued on page 15 ) Page 10Arrrrrr! ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3

Arizona’s Largest Gaming Convention July 29*-Aug 1, 2004 Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, AZ

Arizona’s Largest Annual Gaming Convention will be even bigger in 2004. We’re moving to the Tempe Mission Palms in downtown Tempe with a lot more room and tons of nearby restaurants and shopping. We’ll have all of our regular events and activities plus more in the works. *Special events and gaming for Pre-registered members start Thursday, July 29 Gaming starts at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 30 and runs non-stop until Sunday, August 1st at 3 p.m.

We are planning to have Sanctioned Magic & CCG Tournaments, Steve Jackson Games, Board Gaming, Miniatures, multiple LARPs, Battletech, Computer Lan Gaming, Miniatures Painting Contest, Role Playing, Chess Federation Sponsored Chess Events, White Wolf, Dealer’s Room, Used Game Auction, Anime Room and Full Hospitality Suite.

Special Guest Tony DiGerolamo of South Jersey Rebellion Productions The Tony DiGerolamo Bio written by: Mark Mammon AKA: Fix

What can I say about a man who spells as well as a third grader and takes cheese steaks as an advance? My industrious biographer, Tony, is, to say the least, prolific. Starting in high school, he made short films and convinced his teachers he was an auteur in the making. And, even though this did not garner him any awards, he did manage to elude taking Physics and “adjust” the school computer, so he would graduate 3rd in his class. During his stint at Ithaca College, he was part of the award-winning comedy show, The Nothing Special. The skills he learned there were to come in handy during his one-year stint as an obnoxious pizza delivery driver after graduation. From then on, he was a freelance scriptwriter, receiving rejections from TV shows like Moonlighting, Star Trek and Saturday Night Live. He eventually landed a joke-writing job on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and was the screenwriter for a horror movie called The Evil Within and a Mafia movie starring Leo Rossi called The Father, The Son.... The film he is most proud of is an award-winning short called Ten Cents a Minute. Tony likes to spend his free time performing improv comedy with The Ninjas in Philadelphia. But his big break was when he produced/hosted a local TV show in Philadelphia called The Comic Book Show. The show aired for about 2 years and afterwards, Tony embarked on his publishing career, making comic books at his own imprint, South Jersey Rebellion Productions. He currently writes and publishes Jersey Devil, based on the 300 year-old legend and Rodney: The Alien That Smoked Pot. He also created and writes The Travelers, a fantasy/comedy comic book, which was published at Kezner & Company and Wingnut Games. He writes my comic, The Fix and my biography, Fix in Overtime. Tony wrote Volumes 1 thru 8 of the Hacklopedia of Beasts and Slaughterhouse Indigo for the Hackmaster RPG adventure. He currently writes Everknights for Kenzer & Co and writes for The Simpsons and Bart Simpson comic books at Bongo. Tony’s current project is Tony DiGerolamo’s Complete Mafia for d20 which will be published by Living Room Games (www.lrgames.com) in November 2004. His disgraceful website is at www.thefixsite.com. Tony is 38 years old and currently lives with his parents (loser) and hopes you will buy his comics and books so he can finally move out or at least buy a cheesesteak.

Location Information: Contact HexaCon at:

Tempe Mission Palms Membership Rates: Hexacon 14 P.O. Box 62613 60 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281 $20 through June 30, 2004, Phoenix, AZ 85082 (800) 547-8705 $25 at the Door. Phone: (602) 973-2341 www.missionpalms.com Email: [email protected] (online code of ''HEXAC'') Pay Online using PayPal! Web: www.hexacon.org Room Rates $85 S/D/T/Q

Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 11 www.conkopelli.org

WesterCon 57 The Annual Western Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention

July 2-5, 2004 Wigwam Resort, Litchfield Park, AZ

Author Guest of Honor: C.J. Cherryh Artist Guest of Honor: David Cherry

Local Author Guest of Honor: Diana Gabaldon Music Guest of Honor: Heather Alexander Fan Guest of Honor: John Hertz Media Guest of Honor: FarScape’s Virginia Hey

Our Theme: Mythology of the Southwest

ConKopelli is the annual Western Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy convention. It will feature programming and panels with our Guests of Honor and many other participants (authors, artists, scientists, fans, etc.) from all over the U.S. Other events and activities include Masquerade, Dancing (Regency and Modern), Filk, Dealer’s Room, Art Show and Auction, Gaming, Anime, and Video.

Wigwam Resort 300 Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, AZ (623) 935-3811 Rooms $105 (plus tax), Suites $135 (plus tax) Room rates include gratuity for bellman (check in/out), maid service, as well as unlimited use of the Our site is the beautiful Wigwam Resort located just 20 minutes west of Health Facilities, Valet and Resort Parking, downtown Phoenix and 25 minutes west of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Bicycles,Shuttle to nearby shopping, Croquet, All rooms overlook lush manicured gardens, golf courses, tennis courts or Putting Green, Basketball Court & In-room coffee. pools and are nestled amid 436 beautifully landscaped acres. ConKopelli Contact Info: Membership Rates – At the Door Only Fri-Mon = $85, Sat-Mon = $75, Sun/Mon = $60, Mon = $45 Mail: Conkopelli, WesterCon 57 PO Box 67457,

Phoenix, AZ 85082 Kids 7-12 half price with adult membership Phone/FAX: (602) 973-2341 Kids 6 and under free with adult membership Email: [email protected] www.conkopelli.org "Westercon" is a registered service mark of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, Inc

Page 12 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 www.conkopelli.org CCoonnKKooppeellllii -- WesterCon 57

ConKopelli Programming English Regency Ballroom Dance Our Fan GOH, John Hertz, will be hosting a Regency Dance. ConKopelli programming is coming right along. Our major tracks are John is a joy to watch and dance with. Bring your best threads and Arts, Literary, Mythology, Media and Science. dancing gown and come and dance. If you just enjoy the dance for itself, come in whatever you're wearing. John is a very patient and Please check our web site for an up to the minute list of program participants sympathetic instructor, so don't be shy or timid. but to tease your interest some of our currently scheduled participants are: Durlyn Alexander, Earl Billick, Pam Binder, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, Pat Broussard, Mike Modern Dance Cassidy, Mitchell Burnside Clapp, T. J. Burnside Clapp, Sarah Clemens, Jim Cobb, Brenda This year's Modern Dance is presented by The Confusion Crew Cooper, Kevin Dahl, Richard Dahm, Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury, Howard Davidson, Sue Dawe, who will be hosting two events at the convention. Chill on Friday Emily Devenport, Michelle Dockrey, Bobbie DuFault, Doranna Durgin, Raymund Eich, night in the Velavision Suite and ConFusion on Saturday Night in Rick Enloe, E. T. Ellison, Jane Fancher, Wolf Forrest, Laura Freas, Miki Garrison, the convention Center starting at 10 p.m. both nights. Janice Gelb, ElizaBeth "Lace" Gilligan, James C. Glass, Scott Glener, Lynn Gold, Hugh S. Gregory, Roberta Gregory, James Hay, Ernest Hogan, Mark Horning, Friday Night - Come on in and Chill out with us for a while. Cyber Bobbie Benton Hull, Angela Johnson, Keith G. Kato, Louise M. Kleba, Tony Laconte, DJ's Moekandu and DieterK have created an eclectic mix of music Meghan Lancaster, Meg Lambert, Deborah Larson, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Jane Lindskold, specifically designed to soothe the savage beast. We'll have glow Jean Lorrah, L. Pierce Ludke, Pat MacEwen, Sandy Manning, Louise Marley, Marty Massoglia, sticks, munchies and mood lighting so you can relax and have some Patricia Mathews, Todd McCaffrey, Loretta McKibben, Dennis L. McKiernan, fun. Beth Meacham, Henry Melton, Darragh Metzger, Tee Morris, Mike Moscoe-Shepherd, Pati Saturday Night - We've got more power, more music, more lights, Nagle, Vera Nazarian, Rod Ossowski, Challenger Space Center, Carole I. Parker, and eye candy! Get ready to rock with Cyber DJ's Moekandu and Earl W. Parrish (Brian Gross), Kevin Radthorne, Melanie Rawn, Robert Reginald, DieterK in a pulse-pounding mix of Techno, New Metal, Breakbeat, Jennifer Roberson, Selina Rosen, David Silver, Janni Lee Simner, Al`e Smith, Crystal Smith, House and Alternative Rock! Welcome to ConFusion! Ken St. Andre, Marina Stern, Moira Stern, Jeff Sturgeon, Anita Taylor, Michael Underwood, John Vornholt, Jonathan Vos, Vicki Visconti-Tilley, Ray Vukcevich, Chris Welborn, Leslie What, ConKopelli Charity Auctions Randall Whitlock, David A. Williams, Connie Willis, Dameon Willich, Gail Wolfenden-Steib, Frank Wu, William F. Wu, Ben Yalow, and C.F. Yankovich We will be hosting two separate Charity Auctions. One will be our traditional Charity Auction which will feature books, art, posters, Our program schedule will be posted on our web site in mid-June. Some of our planned events toys and other Science Fiction and Fantasy memorabilia donated by include : Trebuchet Water Balloon Launch Bring your swimsuits, we will be supplying the trebuchets local businesses, dealers at the convention and artists from the Art and balloons. Friday night we will be having Packing Box Costuming Wars The convention will be Show. The other will be a special auction of books. Only First providing boxes of stuff to make a costume. Teams may consist of up to 3 people. The model should be Editions or an Advance Reading Copy that has been autographed in a leotard. The teams may trade their stuff with other teams if they want to. The time available will be by the author will be presented. All books that are presented as a 90 minutes. The finished costumes will be modeled at Meet the Pros. How many teams can participate First Edition are done so at the best judgement of our Charity will depend on how many boxes of stuff we collect before the convention. Auction Director. No guarantee is made by either Catherine Book or ConKopelli-Westercon. If you have any questions, please ask via e-mail or inspect the book prior to auction.

ConKopelli Art Show The charities that will benefit are Reading is FUNdamental (RIF) Our plan is to offer the best of science fiction and fantasy art to the fans. and The Challenger Space Center of Arizona located in Phoenix We will be featuring many panels and tables of science fiction and fantasy art as well as a print shop and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education located in and the Art Auction which will be held Monday, July 5. the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson. T Artists that have reserved space: David Cherry, Michele Ellington, Kathleen Lowe, Larry Vela, Sylvana Anderson-Gish, R. Merrill Bollerud, Amy Schulz, Theresa Mather, R. Stephen Adams, Mary Bullock, Books in the book auction include autographed books by Greg Margaret Carspecken, Lela Dowling, Mark J. Ferrari, William J. Hodgson, John F. Kaufmann, L. Pierce Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold, Terry Brooks, Orson Scott Card, Peter Ludke, Patricia McCracken, Betsy M. Mott, Mai Q. Nguyen, Robert Peacock, Nicole Pellegrini, Mark David, Neil Gaiman, Mercedes Lackey, George R.R. Martin, Julian Roland, Robert Ross, Abranda Sisson, Nancy Strowger, Mishell Swartwout, Cassondra L. Sweep and May, Larry Niven, Andre Norton, Terry Pratchett, Fred Saberhagen, Deborah Woods. David Weber, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and Timothy Zahn. Please If you have any questions, or if you are interested in reserving display space, please contact Ray Gish at visit our website for a detailed list. 2527 N. Silverado, Mesa, AZ 85215 or call 480 641 3997 or email at [email protected]. Anime T.H.E.M., a local AZ non-profit group, will be taking care of the Anime Room for ConKopelli so plan on seeing the best of the best. If you have any suggestions or questions please contact us at: The Masquerade at ConKopelli Dealer’s Room [email protected]

At the end of Saturday evening the only thing Currently scheduled to be in the sold out Gaming that matters about the Masquerade is that ConKopelli Dealer’s Room are: Alter Years, Game Masters needed. How would you like to showcase your everyone enjoyed the show, including you. Angelwear Creations, Banner Knife & game mastering skills at the regions finest convention? All types of Garb, Book Universe, Cargo Cult Books, games are needed; board games, card games, role-playing, To make it more enjoyable don't miniatures, dice, etc. Contact me early so you can be sure to have a hesitate to ask any question any Dragon's Keep, Fantasy - Past, Present, & Future, Fo'Paws Productions, Hutchison table reserved for your games. Space is limited and going fast. time. I am your Masquerade Contact Jessie D. Foster via e-mail at [email protected]. Director, Carlos, and you can Books, Mannatt Fine Book, Massoglia Filk contact me at [email protected] Books, Nighthawk Studios, Odds and Please check out the website for Bodkins, Pegasus Publishing, Random We have The Paloverde Room for One Shots, Concerts and Panels full Masquerade rules and Factors, Sign of the Unicorn, Therri Moore during the day. At night we have Bardic Circle in The Paloverde Room and Chaos in the Fireplace Lounge. information. Designs, Wonders and Delights, Yard Dog Press, and Ygor's Books.

Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 13 CCOOPPPPEERRCCOONN 2244 Sept 10-12, 2004 Embassy Suites Phoenix North, Phoenix, AZ Annual Literary Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Author Guest of Honor: Alan Dean Foster

Acclaimed Best-Selling Author of hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western,

historical, and contemporary fiction including Star Wars, Star Trek, and the Spellsinger series.

Artist Guest of Honor: Todd Lockwood Chesley Award Winning (9 times) Illustrator for Wizards of the Coast & Dragon Magazine. Local Author Guest of Honor: Catherine Wells Author of Beyond the Gates, Mother Grimm, & many short stories, plays, and historical fiction Music Guest: Leslie Fish (sponsored by the Phoenix Filk Circle) Nationally renowned Filk and Music Artist heard on Dr. Demento (Banned from Argo) Art by Todd Lockwood

CopperCon 24 will feature an Art Show and Auction, Gaming, Hospitality Suite, Masquerade, Video Room, Anime Room, Charity Auction to benefit the Thomas J. Pappas School for the homeless, a Dealer’s Room, and special events on Thursday night for pre-registered members. We will be back at the Embassy Suites where you get two- room suites with a microwave and mini-fridge plus a free breakfast and nightly happy hour.

CopperCon 24 Art Show CopperCon 24 Programming

We are proud to announce Todd Lockwood as our Artist Guest of Honor. We are planning a guided tour of the art show Friday evening hosted by We’ll be having panels featuring our guests as well as Todd Lockwood. many other authors, artists, scientists and other experts and participants. Our plan is to offer the best of science fiction and fantasy art to the fans of Phoenix. Art show panels (a panel is 4 ft. X 4 ft. flat brown pegboard) may Confirmed program participants include Rachel Amberson, be reserved for a fee of $5.00 per panel. 3D artwork can be displayed on 6 ft. X 2.5 ft. tables, with a fee of $10.00 per table, or $5.00 for 1/2 table. The David R. Beaucage, Christine Beaucage Ph.D, Pat Broussard, convention will take a 12% commission on these sales. We will feature a Christine Carmichael, Dave Duncan, Bruce Farr, print shop -- an area for artists to sell multiple prints of some of their more Joseph Formichella, Bennie Grezlik, Maryelizabeth Hart, popular work, with the convention taking a 15% commission on these sales. Paula Lary, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Michelle Lyons, There is no fee to display in the print shop. Jeff Mariotte, Ben Massoglia, Alice Massoglia, Marty Massoglia,

We will accept Visa, MasterCard as well as cash and checks. Allison Mitchell, Adam Niswander, Janeen O'Kerry, David Perrine, Robin Roberts, Ken St. Andre, Michael A. Stackpole, We are anticipating a great art show this year, so be sure to come down and David Lee Summers, Paul Tanton, Evo Terra, Kit Townsend, see the pride of a lot of super artists. If you have any questions, or if you are Christopher Turco, Michelle M. Welch, John Wheeler, interested in reserving display space, please contact Randall Whitlock, Mike Willmoth, and C.F. Yankovich. Ray Gish at 2527 N. Silverado Mesa AZ 85215 or call 480-641-3997 or email at [email protected] Check our website at www.coppercon.org Artist setup will be Friday: 9 AM-12 noon. for more as they are added.

Memberships Embassy Suites Phoenix North Contact CopperCon 24 at:

$35 thru 8/27/04, Room Rates: $84 S/D/T/Q +tax Write: CopperCon 24, $40 at the door 2577 W. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, Arizona PO Box 62613 Kids 7-12 half price* (602) 375-1777 Phoenix, AZ 85082 Kids 6 & Under Free* Phone: (480) 423-0649 * with Adult membership www.coppercon.org Email: [email protected]

Page 14 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 WonderCon, Terry Jones of Monty Cherry (Cont’d from page 10 ) Slogging Through The Blogs: A Weblog that’s well Python fame, various links to the war in Vandread The Second Stage: Survival So I had to ask him how in the world Iraq, strange and poignant happenings in (Vol 1) he discovered he wanted to do fantasy art. worthwhile the Gasoline Alley comic strip, retractable Pioneer, 100 mins, 13 up Well – while he was at WorldCon, By Shane Shellenbarger modular phone cords, the contract that Vandread The Second Stage: Sacrifice wandering around in his 3-piece suit (after Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy signed to (Vol 2) all, he was a lawyer, that was all he authorize the publication of the Laurel Vandread The Second Stage: Revela- In these pages I often use URL’s or owned) he found the art show. Michael and Hardy comic book that came out in tions (Vol 3) Uniform Resource Locator’s as a way of Whelan was showing and Michael 1955, Disney’s censorship of Michael Vandread The Second Stage: Final Whelan was a name he recognized as augmenting the information I’m trying to Moore’s latest movie, the standup Assault (Vol 4) Michael had just done a cover for one of convey. The URL is a springboard to comedian Lewis Black, the possible strike Pioneer, 75 mins, 13 up CJ’s books. So he spent some time in the other ideas and subjects. In this article the by the Writers Guild of America, the DVD $29.98 each Art Show. Whelan had just done the cover URL I’m going to speak about is the pool death of DC artist Fred Guardineer, the for Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “The we’re going to play in and an Olympic- Bloody Sun” and the original was just 4:00 a.m. taping of The Late Show With This series is a sequel to Vandread sized pool it is. hanging there – with a minimum bid price David Letterman, EC Comics, organizing which starts where the 2001 TV series In actuality, I’m here to tell you about on it that was less than $300! Guess who websites, The Dick Van Dyke Show ended. These four volumes contain the two URL’s authored by the same man, owns that now? Revisited special on CBS, The Joyce entire series. Mark Evanier: http://www.povonline.com So, he developed an obsession to be a Compton Shrine, and voice actor Rob The story of Vandread is set in a and http://www.newsfromme.com. book cover artist like Michael. He and a “Yakko Warner/Dr. Otto Scratchensniff/ future where men and women live Evanier has written comic books (every- buddy of his formed a mutual support Pinky” Paulsen. That was one week, ONE separately. Our heroes, Kibiki, Duero and society and encouraged each other. That thing from funny animals to superheroes), WEEK! Whew! Bart are the only men on the Nirvana, buddy was Bob Eggleton. (I am easily television comedies (including Baby, I’m Both websites are well worth your which has an all female crew. impressed and David just blew me over Back, starring Demond Wilson, The time and effort to peel back the layers. In Survival the crew discovers a repeatedly with his “oh, yeah, he (fill in McLean Stevenson Show, The Nancy POV Online is random and subject driven, drifting space capsule, acquires two new the name) and I are friends.”) Walker Show, and Welcome Back, Kotter), But I still wanted to know how he while NFM is linear. If you’d like to start crew members and gets closer to learning variety shows (including the infamous went from lawyer to artist. CJ was doing a at the beginning of the News From Me where the aliens came from. Pink Lady and Jeff), cartoon shows book with Don Grant and needed some experience, head to http:// Sacrafice has the Nirvana attacking (including ABC Weekend Special, CBS inside illustrations and a cover. She also www.newsfromme.com/archives.html, the alien harvesters but when the attack Storybreak, Garfield and Friends, Mother wanted an artist that she could control and look for Wednesday, April 23, 2003, fails, tempers flare, especially between Goose and Grimm, Rickety Rocket, and/or influence so the pictures would the date when it began. Misty and Dita who are still competing Scooby Doo, Plastic Man, Superman: The actually portray the story accurately This article is dedicated to the memory for Hibiki. One crew member sacrifices (some authors are soooo picky...) David Animated Series, Thundarr the Barbarian, of my father, herself and this inspires the rest to work initially turned it down. I don’t think he and The Trollkins,), but his three best John Shellenbarger, April 4th 1928 – together and form one giant super mecha. wanted a job just because of his sister; known projects would be the comic book Revelations features a fierce battle but, Don Grant told him bluntly that if his Groo the Wanderer (http:// May 8th, 2004 during which Hibiki is stranded on a work was good he’d have a job and if it www.povonline.com/Groo.htm) (art and wasn’t he wouldn’t. He got the job. The planet of telepaths. While stranded he creation by Sergio Aragonés http:// unfortunate thing was that David had learns about his true nature and the secret www.sergioaragones.com/), his weekly discovered he was deathly allergic to oils, ReAnimation of his past is revealed. Then, when the column work for The Comic Buyer’s linseed oil and turpentine; so, he did the Nirvana reaches Tarak space a shocking Guide (http://www.collect.com/interest/ ***** Vandread The Second Stage: cover with cheap Japanese watercolors. secret about one of the crew is revealed. periodical.asp?Pub=BG) Point of View Survival (Vol 1) Big Sis took one of his drawings and Final Assault is the conclusion of the (http://www.povonline.com/POV.htm) ***** Vandread The Second Stage: did a print run of it. And gave him all the series and what a conclusion is it is. prints! He finally came to the conclusion and his involvement with voice actors Sacrifice (Vol 2) Hibiki has grown from the loud mouth that it might be more fun to sell his art (http://www.povonline.com/ ***** Vandread The Second Stage: annoying character of the first season into than to argue for a living. And, appar- Cartoon%20Voices.htm). Revelations (Vol 3) a character who cares for others. With the ently, he was appreciated as he has Evanier’s Point of View Online ***** Vandread The Second Stage: secret of his past revealed he is able to get garnered three Chesley Awards. Unfortu- website (http://www.povonline.com) is Final Assault (Vol 4) nately, for his admirers, the exigencies of the two groups, the all-female world of eclectic in the best sense of the word. ***** Ai Yori Aoshi Volume 1: fatherhood decreed that he needed a ‘real’ Mejale and the all-male world of Talek, Subjects include comic books, comic Faithfully Yours job. He moved to Dallas and has been talking to each other again just as the strips, animation, television, movies, ***** Ai Yori Aoshi Volume 2: working for Ensemble Studios for four Harvester fleet attacks. As they battle the cartoon voices, comedy, Jack Kirby, My Dearest years. Ensemble designs the box art and enemy together we reach the spectacular Hollywood, Broadway, Las Vegas, ***** Ai Yori Aoshi Volume 3: marketing art for computer games. conclusion. Incessantly-Asked-Questions, and the Hugs and Kisses David is enthusiastic about his job. Vandread: Second Stage starts where While he sometimes misses freelance elite of the eclectic: Miscellaneous (http:// ***** Ai Yori Aoshi Volume 4: the First Stage left off. I recommend that work, he feels he is a much improved www.povonline.com/Miscellaneous.htm). Truly Yours you watch Vandread: the First Stage artist due to the time spent at Ensemble POV is the storehouse of the two ***** Ai Yori Aoshi Volume 5: before viewing the Second Stage or you and the new techniques he’s learned. websites, a collection of information in an With All My Heart will be lost. The emotional seesaw Recently, he learned 3-D art on the easily referenced local. The other site is **** Chobits 6 My Only Person computer and he’s ecstatic about it. continues and gets more intense in these more of a stream-of- consciousness place, ** Chobits 7: Chat Room Techniques he worked on in the past that episodes. It’s unique mix of crazy antics, covering the day-to-day minutiae of life *** Sugar A Little Snow Fairy would take days, weeks or even months to serious times, and humor gave it a balance for over a year. Volume 6: Sugar Baby Love complete or experiment with now take that keeps me glued to the screen. On the News From Me (http:// *** Baby Einstein - minutes or days. He now works in whole, Vandread series is one of the best I www.newsfromme.com) is usually Baby McDonald Photoshop, drawing on a graphics tablet have seen in some time. - Craig L Dyer with a pencil. He believes that Photoshop updated each day, depending on Evanier’s *** Kim Possible The Secret Files is something a good fairy created just for writing deadlines, convention appear- *** Kim Possible: A Stitch In Time him. He speculates that someday he might ances, and the amount of time he can ** Stanley Spring Fever like to return to freelance work. He did dedicate to keeping his readers updated on ** Bionicle Mask of Light enjoy the opportunity to do a little of that the subjects important to him, and the * Winnie The Pooh - when he was asked to design a picture for range is certainly varied. For the week of Springtime With Roo the cover of the WesterCon programming May 2nd through May 8th, Evanier com- book. I expect him to blow us all away one day with a more refined technique. I ments included: a speech Jim “Garfield” Davis gave to the National Press Club can hardly wait. ( Continued on page 16 ) carried on C-Span, Evanier’s return from Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 15 ReAnimation ( Cont’d from page 15 ) Issue 5. Chobits 4: Love Defined and autistic and it was an instant hit. The farm educational safari.” Chobits 5: Disappearance were reviewed sights and animal sounds engaged his I tried this one on my nephew, age 6, in Volume14 Issue 1. interest and he watches it over and over. and he thought it was too young for him. Ai Yori Aoshi Chobits 6: My Only Person brings the Definitely a hit, so much so we are plan to We both agreed that Stanley was OK and Volume 1: Faithfully Yours story to a conclusion that is both satisfy- get more in the series. - Stephanie L he liked Dennis the gold fish but over all Volume 2: My Dearest ing and touching having grown from a Bannon we decided that we like Rollie Pollie Ollie Volume 3: Hugs and Kisses light comedy into a true romance story. better. This Disney Playhouse cartoon is Volume 4: Truly Yours The ending does leave the door open to Kim Possible: The Secret Files aimed mostly at pre-schoolers and should Pioneer, 125 mins each, 13 up follow future their lives together. Disney, 71 mins, NR work well for children 4 and younger- Volume 5: With All My Heart Chobits 7: Chat Room contains three Kim Possible: A Stitch In Time Stephanie L Bannon Pioneer, 100 mins, 13 up flash back episodes that rehash the entire Disney, 66 mins, NR DVD $29.98 each series. I’m not sure what the point was. DVD $19.99 each Bionicle Mask of Light The Movie The 2 minute longs “Chibit” special was Buena Vista, 70 mins, PG Ai Yori Aoshi tells the story of Aoi fun but not worth the price of DVD. From the back cover of The Secret DVD $29.99 Sakuraba and Kaoru and the rocky road This series is entertaining enough if Files: “From the TV series, It’s Kim true love sometimes takes. Both were one overlooks the sometimes sexist tone Possible! Just your average teenage girl This is a movie based on a comic that children of wealthy families, Aoi as and instead focus on the issues of identity out to save the world. She foils sinister is based on a toy (or maybe a toy based on heiress to the Sakuraba fortune and Kaoru and relationships that make this a truly plots around the globe with her sidekick a comic, I’m not clear which came first). as the adopted son of the Hanabishi clan. enjoyable series. - Stephanie L Bannon Ron Stoppable and still makes it home in The plot focuses on a robot tribe, the The families planned for them to marry time for dinner. It’s big fun as Kim takes Matoran, who live on the island of Mata when they got older but Kaoru fled the Sugar A Little Snow Fairy Volume 6: on some seriously wacko bad guys in this Nui. Their island is protected by six emotional and physical abuse of his Sugar Baby Love way cool series of adventures.” guardians called the Toa. Two of the tribe family and renounced all ties to them and Pioneer, 100 mins, 3up From the back cover of A Stitch in find a sacred mask that seems to indicate their fortune. He goes to Tokyo where DVD $29.98 Time: “It’s Kim Possible’s most extreme that a seventh guardian will be coming. years later Aoi searches for him and adventure yet! In her race against time, This is sort of a coming of age, grand finally finds him by accident. Aoi has Saga, living in a small European town, she travels through the years in her first quest film that, apparently, requires a lot convinced her mother and her nanny meets a tiny little fairy that no one else way-cool full-length movie. of back story that Bionicle fans already Miyabi of her love for Kaoru so they help can see. The fairy’s name is Sugar, and Here’s the ‘stitch’: When Shega and know in order to follow the story on all her. Miyabi, Aoi and Kaoru move into a she looks for a “Twinkle” to become a her evil henchmen capture the all- but the most superficial level. That said, it Sakuraba mansion together where they full-fledged Snow Fairy! After Saga takes powerful Time Monkey and start monkey- was enjoyable and the CGI was beautiful. pose as landlady, manager and tenant in Sugar home, her life is full of fairies as ing around with time, a visitor from the Judging by the group that watched it you order to preserve Aoi’s reputation. Soon Sugar’s friends Wind Fairy Pepper and future - Rufus 3000, a buffed-up, talking need to be either a Bionicle fan or 5 years others girls move in as well, all of whom Sun Fairy Salt arrives to play and help descendent of everyone’s favorite naked old to throughly enjoy this film. It is good develop a crush on Kaoru. The course of keep Sugar out of trouble. Volume 6 finds mole rat - alerts Kim to the plan. Kim, for the youngsters with little violence and true love is never smooth.... both Pepper and Salt getting their along with her faithful sidekick Ron no real gore. - Stephanie L Bannon This is a surprisingly captivating “Twinkle” and preparing to return to the Stoppable and Rufus must triumph in the Anime. Both lead characters, Kaoru and fairy world. How will Saga and Sugar present and the past or the future will be Winnie The Pooh - Springtime With Aoi, are well developed. Kaoru is not the cope? history!” Roo typical awkward hero but a mature college Sugar A Little Snow Fairy Volume 1-5 The Secret Files is comprised of three Disney, 65 mins, G student whose love for Aoi is totally were reviewed in Volume 14 Issue 1. episodes from the TV series. In Attack of DVD $29.99 believable. Aoi is not the usual spineless, Since the kids who watched the first 5 the Killer BeBes, KP, her sidekick, Ron whiny heroine. She shows strength and volumes aren’t available until they arrive Stoppable , his naked mole rat, Rufus, and From the back cover: “Every year depth of character as she follows her for summer vacation I skimmed through super-genius Wade take on a bunch of Rabbit plays the Easter Bunny... but not dream against the wishes of her family. the first five before watching this one. evil robots that are controlled by her arch- this year. No bunny means no “hunny” for The side characters, while typical for the Volume 6 wraps up the series nicely and enemy, Drakken. Then Downhill intro- Pooh, no Easter Egg Hunt for Tigger, no genre, add to the story rather than detract. the story, while not my normal choice for duces a new enemy, DNAmy, an evil basket for Piglet, no fluffy bunny ears for I found the story captivating and alter- Anime watching, was good. These will scientist who creates horrible hybrid Eeyore... and no fun for Roo. Rabbit nated between laughter and tears for the stay in the collection for sure. - Stephanie creatures. The third episode, Partners, expects them to all spring into action: last few episodes. Not everything is neatly L Bannon which apparently wasn’t shown on TV, scrubbing, dusting, sweeping and mop- tied up after episode 24 leaving room for has Kim and Ron breaking up their ping instead! But Roo’s love and wisdom a sequel. Highly recommended - Baby Einstein - Baby McDonald partnership. show Rabbit that special days are to be Stephanie L Bannon Disney, 30 mins, G A Stitch In Time is a movie as opposed shared in special ways.” DVD $19.99 to three TV episodes strung together and This is more aptly titled “ An Easter Chobits 6: My Only Person also includes a lot of back story for the Carol” as Rabbit is taken back in time to Pioneer, 100 mins, 16 up From the back cover: “”Baby characters, such as Kim’s first mission. last year’s joyous Easter and forward in DVD $29.98 MacDonald” introduces babies and Kim is a great little super hero, she is time to see what will happen if he doesn’t Chobits 7: Chat Room toddlers to the sights and sounds of life on tough and the dialogue is witty without have Easter. I showed this to my test Pioneer, 75 mins, 16 up a real farm. Meet the animals, plant the falling into the rude, sarcastic child audience of 3 neighbor kids (ages 2, 5 and DVD $19.99 crops, ride the tractor, celebrate the syndrome seen in so many shows aimed at 7 - Disney’s target audience with this harvest and much more! This playful children. The kids enjoyed both DVD as DVD) and only the 2 year old enjoyed it. Chobits follows 18-year-old farm boy exploration combines traditional nursery did I. These are recommended highly for The other two didn’t like the way that Hideki Motosuwa, who finds a uniquely rhymes live-action images with visuals of the 5-11 age group. - Stephanie L Rabbit was so mean in this story and powerful Persocon (human-like robots puppet shows children, toys, and real- Bannon wouldn’t sit still for the end. All three that have achieved cell phone-like status world objects set to beautiful music by preferred the two extras, “Honey For A and popularity) in the trash. At first she Schubert, Schumann and Strauss. Stanley Spring Fever Bunny” and “Trap As Trap Can” which can only say “Chi”but soon she begins to Baby Einstein uses real-world objects, Disney, 44 mins, G are two Easter themed shorts from the learn new words and ideas at a tremen- music, art, language, science and nature to DVD $19.99 series The Wonderful World of Winnie the dous rate. Hideki and his various friends introduce young children to the world Pooh. None of them was interested in the spend their time working, studying and around them in fun, fascinating ways. All From the back cover: “ Join Stanley, games. - Stephanie L Bannon trying to find out who and where Chi is our videos are set to music specially the curious little boy with a big imagina- from; and if she is indeed from the reorchestrated for little ears. We encour- tion, as he searches the animal world for legendary class of Persocons called age you to watch with your baby and clues about life and himself. With his Chobits. Chobits 1: Persecon, Chobits 2: enjoy the sights and sounds together!” good friends and a clever goldfish named The Empty City and Chobits 3:Darkness My sister-in-law shard this DVD with Dennis, Stanley makes every day an Descends were reviewed in Volume 13 a friend who has a young child who is Page 16 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 Calendar of Events - June/July 2004 To have your event or meeting listed please email [email protected] - Deadline for August/September Submissions - July 15, 2004 (This is a free service. All release dates are tentative) JUNE JULY July 30 - Friday June 19 - Saturday June 2 - Wednesday July 2-5 - Friday-Monday Meeting: CASFS - 8PM - JBs (I- Meeting: ConKopelli Committee 17 & Indian School) Info: Meeting: ConNotations Staff Meeting 2PM - JBs (I-17 & Indian Event: Westercon 57 - Wigwam [email protected] (This Meeting - JBs (I-17 & Indian School) Info: Resort, Litchfield Park Info: meeting may change dates due to School) 7PM Info: [email protected] www.conkopelli.org the conflict with HexaCon) [email protected] Meeting: CopperCon 24 Commit- Movie: Thunderbirds, The Man- tee Meeting - JBs (I-17 & Indian July 7 - Wednesday churian Candidate, The Village June 4 - Friday School) Info: [email protected] Movie: King Arthur July 30-August 1 - Friday- Movie: Harry Potter and the Sunday Prisoner of Azkaban June 25 - Friday July 16 - Friday Event: HexaCon 14, Tempe Mis- June 11 - Friday Meeting: CASFS - 8PM - JBs (I- Event: Fannish Open House at sion Palms Info: www.hexacon.org 17 & Indian School) Info: Craig & Stephanie’s place - Info: Movie:The Chronicles of Riddick, [email protected] [email protected] Garfield, The Stepford Wives Movie: I, Robot June 27 - Sunday June 12 - Saturday July 21 - Wednesday Meeting: SouthWest Costumers Event: ConRunners 8 - Wigwam Guild Info: Book Discussion: Barnes & Resort, Litchfield Park 8:30AM- www.southwestcostumersguild.org Noble at Metro Center. Info: 6PM Info: June 30 - Wednesday [email protected] [email protected] Movie: Spiderman 2 July 23 - Friday June 16 - Wednesday Movie: Catwoman Book Discussion: Barnes & Noble at Metro Center. Info: July 25 - Sunday [email protected] Movie: Around the World in 80 Meeting: SouthWest Costumers Days Guild Info: www.southwestcostumersguild.org June 18 - Friday

Movie: Darkness Event: Fannish Open House at Craig & Stephanie’s place - Info: [email protected] Ongoing Events Wednesdays New Comics Arrive! Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 6pm Hero Clix Tournamets Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 6pm Mech WarriorTournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 6pm L5R CCG Imperial Outpost, 49th Ave & Thunderbird www.imperialoutpost.com Thursdays 6pm Camarilla Anarch Game Kiwanis Park www.titheofsouls.com 6pm Mechwarrior Dark Age Tournament Imperial Outpost, 49th Ave & Thunderbird www.imperialoutpost.com 6pm Magic ThG type 1.5 Tournament Imperial Outpost, 49th Ave & Thunderbird www.imperialoutpost.com 6pm Warmachine League Imperial Outpost, 49th Ave & Thunderbird www.imperialoutpost.com Fridays 6pm Magic the Gathering DCI Sanctioned Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 7pm HeroClix Tournament Imperial Outpost, 49th Ave & Thunderbird www.imperialoutpost.com 7pm Magic: The Gathering Tournaments Game Daze 2140 E 5th St #11, Tempe AZ 85281 Saturdays* AllDay Warhammer Fantasy & 40K Imperial Outpost, 49th Ave & Thunderbird www.imperialoutpost.com Noon Hack Tournament Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com Noon Duel Masters Tournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 3pm YU-GI-OH Tournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 6pm Anime Club Meeting Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com Sundays* Noon YU-GI-OH Tournaments Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com 3pm Dragonball Z CCG Tournament Samurai Comics, 7th St & Camelback www.samuraicomics.com Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 17 perhaps Michael Swanwick’s “The Iron Deconstructing the Universe In Our Book Dragon’s Daughter,” you’ll like this. of Harry Potter “jump the shark” misses the mark The Light Ages But it is a strange bit of business. - By Shane Shellenbarger By Shane Shellenbarger by Ian R. MacLeod Sue Martin Ace Hardcover $23.95, 456 pp “Any sufficiently advanced technology is Jumping*the*shark \’j mp-ing-th - Drowning World indistinguishable from magic” ‘shärk\ n : the precise moment when A wonderful curio of a book. The kind by Alan Dean Foster Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law. things go bad— terribly, irrevocably bad. you turn over and over in your hands $23.95, Del Rey/Ballantine, 296 pp We’ve all experienced those moments: trying to figure it out. Not that the tale is One of the reasons for the popularity things turn sour in school, on the job, with obscure, but that your feelings about it are This story is set in Foster’s Common- of the Harry Potter series of books is the friendships, in romances. We had positive a bit…changeable. wealth universe but is not obviously attention to detail. J.K. Rowling has built thoughts, high hopes, and great expecta- I started this book and plowed right linked to any other book. It seems to stand her world of witches and wizards with an tions about so many areas of our lives and along through it, until I got two-thirds of alone; not having read any other Com- eye towards historical detail and physical we eventually analyze the situation: where the way through. And then I put it down monwealth stories, I can’t say for certain. laws. Skills and abilities that are vague or did it all go wrong? This book by Jon for months. And I am not sure why. The The world is Fluva where it rains most insubstantial can be developed and Hein, at least in part, answers that story is wonderfully eccentric and of the time. That is to say, it rains continu- enhanced. The world of Harry Potter is question. refreshingly weird---it has very much the ally for all but one month of the year. It is that of a meritocracy: if you work hard The book comments on television, flavor of William Gibson/Bruce Sterling’s an extremely fecund world where fortunes enough, you can learn the “expelliarmus” music, celebrities, sports, and politics. “The Difference Engine.” can be found in the flora or fauna. The spell like Neville Longbottom or become The title is derived from the Happy Days Commonwealth has a presence on the and unregistered Animagus like James three-part episode entitled “Hollywood” The world, In MacLeod’s universe is th run by aether—a mystical magical world in the person of Chief Administra- Potter or Sirius Black (Peter Pettigrew #89-91 at the beginning of the 5 Season substance mined from the earth, I am not tor Lauren Matthias. She has her hands was given help by his school chums and which aired on 09/13/77 and 09/20/77 sure what aether actually is, but it is what full. The indigenous species, the warlike doesn’t count.) Rowling also allows for when Fonzie accepts a challenge to jump powers the engines of the world: lights, Sakuntala, are bent on killing every last mutation: Tonks is the perfect spy due to over a shark while water skiing, thus the trains, telegraphs, etc. The setting of the Deyzara and the only thing stopping them her ability to camouflage herself as a title of the book and website. book is mostly a alternate world pseudo- is fear of reprisal from the Common- Metamorphmagus, an ability with which I had high hopes that this book would Edwardian England: things are on the wealth. The Deyzara were imported (read: she was born. be entertaining and for the most part it cusp of change in this world of industry, immigrated) by the Commonwealth some Dr. Roger Highfield seriously delves was. However, I began to call into factories and guilds. Automobiles just on generations earlier as workers since the into Harry Potter’s magical world and question the validity and accuracy of the the horizon. And a new Age about to Sakuntala were too busy warring with examines the contents with a scientist’s material when I got to the entry on “Star spring forth from the ragged mess of the each other. The Sakuntala hate the eye. While serious in his scientific Trek”. And I quote: “The next season current Age. Deyzara for all their differences; while the explanations on how Harry’s universe can found an oddly behaving Spock killing An Age that is rift with the have and Deyzara are busy finding new ways to be defined in what is substantiated and Kirk and Bones (who were alive just on the have-nots. Those that work them- extract credits from either the Sakuntala what remains theoretical in the scientific tri-ox), Scotty still trying to get more selves to an early grave, and those who or the Commonwealth (think Ferengi.) community, Highfield can also be power, and Kirk falling for every woman, live the high life that the various The Sakuntala clans have finally found lighthearted and speak with tongue firmly alien, or otherwise, he could get close to.” Guildmasters and Grandmasters do. common ground in their hatred of the in cheek. Flying on a broomstick and For those in the know, Bones provided the MacLeod makes references to “spells” Deyzara and a mysterious supporter from levitating frogs by diamagnetism are coma inducing tri-ox and was not victim that get things to work along with the off-world who is supplying them with given equal weight (pun intended), but the to it. mechanical devices. There is an edge of weapons and tactics. They have devised dry British humor isn’t far below the Other questionable research is “faerie” to this tale---but it remains just a an ingenious way of getting rid of the surface. contained in a box marked Time Travel: faint whiff. Deyzara. They are destroying all their Chocolate Frog cards and the Memorable eras visited by the original The novel is bracketed by a present- homes and businesses and forcing them to Marauder’s Map could be explained as Star Trek crew. Included were Nazi day set piece from the narrator of this tale, run to the Commonwealth port which electronic displays. Gringotts bank carts Germany (not an “era” visited, but a one Grandmaster Robert Borrows, who becomes overrun with refugees. are similar to robotic mail carts that culture recreated), OK Corral (again, a tells his story to a fey creature named Chief Administrator Matthias has currently glide through muggle high-tech time and place recreated, this time by the Niana, who lives in the muck at the outer other problems, too. It seems a offices. The red enveloped Howler seems Melkotians), Earth, 1994 (nope, 1966 in reaches of London in the uncertain waters bioprospector has gone missing in the a logical extension of internet voice mail “Tomorrow is Yesterday” or 1967 in of the Thames. depths of the most deadly jungle imagin- and e-mail that deliver stills, animations, “Assignment Earth”), Gangland Chicago The heart of this story is Robbie’s able. As he is human, and a citizen of the and music at the click of a mouse, or (recreated by the inhabitants of Sigma climb from poor lad with a strange mum, Commonwealth, she is obligated to send a perhaps those annoying pop-up ads would Iotia II, based on the book, Chicago Mobs to an impetuous member of the revolution rescue team. She chooses one Sakuntala be closer to the mark. of the Twenties), and Ancient Greece (whose first bark goes hideously awry--- and one Deyzara, one to track and the Highfield divides his book into two (once more recreated, this time by Apollo ala the January 1905 revolt in Russia other to pilot. Inexplicably, their craft fields. The first deals with “how can it be in “Who Mourns for Adonais”.) before the Winter Palace in St. Peters- malfunctions just as the human’s did. All done?” and the second concerns the In fact, the only true time travel burg.) to settled Grandmaster. three find themselves stranded with little origins, legends, and mythos of magical episodes were “The Naked Time”, There is a girl of course. Named hope of immediate rescue. And, of course, thinking. Physics, chemistry, biology, “Tomorrow is Yesterday”, “Assignment Annalise Winters or Anna who is the three must work together to find fractal geometry, and other sciences meet Earth”, “All Our Yesterdays”, and “City Robbie’s muse, inspiration, desire. She civilization without being eaten by any hover charms, Snapes potions, Aragog, on the Edge of Forever”, He might as well flits in and out of the story, her personal- number of deadly predators. Pretty giants, and other denizens of the Forbid- have included “Plato’s Stepchildren”, ity strange and ephemeral, the most “fey” standard fare, actually. den Forest. “Space Seed”, “Catspaw”, “Bread and creature in the book. Robbie first meets The writing is smooth and the story Highfield has given great thought and Circuses”, and “Menagerie” given how her in the higher strata of society and flows easily. The problem with it is that research to his comparisons and explana- loose and inaccurate was his definition of becomes enamored of her. But nothing is it’s really a short story disguised as a tions, making this book a bit challenging “Time Travel.” consummated. Even their friendship novel. There were several characters that for non-scientists. However, fans of the While my knowledge of other shows remains undefined and a bit tenuous. They were not fully developed (possibly their Boy Who Lived will find new perspec- isn’t as great, the fact that the Hein has get together for convenience sake. background is well-known from a tives on Harry’s World in the book and it made such errors with as popular and Finally of course, the revolution does previous novel) and the plot was quite will give them something to mull over accessible a show as Star Trek calls into take place and is successful when it is simple. Foster has done better, many while they wait for J.K. Rowling’s next question the material presented through- realized that the whole of society, the times before. This was light fare and chapter in the Harry Potter saga. out the book. His choice for Star Trek whole of its financial support has well--- pleasantly readable. - Catherine Book http://www.twbookmark.com/authors/43/ episode “jumping the shark” was (as disappeared. And has gone missing for 1330/ quoted in the book) “’The Way to Eden,’ sometime. http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/ when Spock sang with a rescued musi- Do I recommend this book? If you http://www.harry-potter-games.com/ cian, Adam—who was traveling with indeed liked “The Difference Engine” or Harry_Potter_Book_6.htm ( Continued on page 19 ) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 18 ) Wynn add a richness to the plot. And behind all World Fantasy Convention 2004 space hippies—and broadcast a concert is the manulator, ship wide to distract the Enterprise crew.” Welstiel. October 28-31, 2004 (End quote) I submit that “Spock’s Brain” There is enough is a better candidate, given that at least action, enough tension Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, Arizona “The Way to Eden” was dealing with between our heroes, www.worldfantasy2004.org issues current to the time it was aired. enough magic, enough That’s really Hein’s problem: he doesn’t intrigue, enough blood, The 2004 edition of the World Fantasy Convention in Tempe, Arizona get it. The classic Star Trek dealt with enough .. has a theme of Women of Fantasy and Horror. It will feature a Dealer’s Room, Art Show, concerns and issues of the late ‘60’s and The story is en- with ethical issues that are timeless. Programming featuring our Guests of Honor and other participants including discussion grossing and carries one panels, workshops and readings, the World Fantasy Awards Banquet, Autograph Reception, Religion, political ideologies, racism, along, but at the end sexism, xenophobia were all explored. Artists Reception, and more. one realizes that not Hein only saw the “space hippies” and not much has been solved Join us at the Tempe Mission Palms in downtown Tempe, Arizona! the message that underlay “The Way to and we must wait for Eden”: Peace must be sought, but vio- the next book to learn The Tempe Mission Palms has a wide variety of restaurants, shopping and nightlife in lence isn’t the way to achieve it. Let the more. I enjoyed the the immediate area plus recreation at Tempe Town Lake and Karsten Golf Course. reader beware and take the validity of the book and recommend it Free airport shuttle and free parking are available at the hotel. rest of the book with a grain of salt. to anyone who is The average daytime high temperature in late October is 85 degrees. http://www.jumptheshark.com/ willing to stay the http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ course and hang in there Author Guest of Honour Gwyneth Jones happydays.htm to find out what Gwyneth Jones is a writer and critic of Fantasy and Science Fiction and also writes as Ann Halam, a writer of http://www.ericweisstein.com/fun/ happens. —Gary startrek/ teenage fiction. She has been awarded two World Fantasy Awards, a BSFA short story award, the Children of the Swaty Night Award from the Dracula Society, the 2001 Arthur C. Clarke award for Bold As Love, and is a co-winner of the Tiptree award. Thief Of Lives The Salt Roads By Barb & J.C. Hendee by Nalo Hopkinson Artist Guest of Honor Janny Wurts ROC 410 Pages Warner Books, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in many exhibitions of imaginative artwork and she has 397 pp., $22.95 been awarded three Chesley awards by The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA). She is also This book is a sequel to Dhampir by the author of eleven novels, a collection of short stories, and the internationally best selling Empire trilogy written the same authors. Our protagonists are Nalo continues to in collaboration with Raymond E. Feist. Magiere, daughter of a male vampire and blend magical realism Editor Guest of Honor: Ellen Datlow a female human, and Leesil, son of Elven and historical fiction in female and a human male. Magiere is the Award winning editor of many fantasy, horror and science fiction anthologies including The Year's Best Fantasy her newest novel. Ezili, and Horror for sixteen years. She has won the World Fantasy Award six times, the Bram Stoker Award once, and Dhampir with the strength and power of a a warrior goddess spirit, vampire without their reaction to sunlight. the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor. Datlow consults for Tor Books, was fiction editor for OMNI inhabits the lives of magazine for 17 years and is currently the editor for SCI FICTION, the fiction area of SCIFI.COM. She knows nothing of her father and her black women via time- mother died when she was born. Leesil shifting. The main Publisher Guest of Honor: Betty Ballantine grew up with his parents who were slaves character is Jeanne Betty Ballantine and her husband Ian Ballantine were a team for over 50 years, helping to form Bantam Books in of a noble lord. They acted as assassins Duval, the mistress of 1945, launching their own firm, Ballantine Books, in 1952 and becoming freelance consulting editors/publishers in for their noble master. Leesil, too, was the 19th century French the 1970s. Ballantine Books was one of the earliest publishers of original SF books, with authors ranging from trained as an assassin, but ran when he poet Baudelaire. Next Arthur C. Clarke, to Anne McCaffrey, and H.P. Lovecraft. They published the first "authorized" edition of J.R.R. could not kill any more. He believes his most is a fourth century Tolkien's works, the art book Faeries, and James Gurney's Dinotopia. parents to be dead. Nubian prostitute who Toastmistress: Jennifer Roberson After clearing the town of Miiska of becomes Saint Mary of Since 1984, Jennifer Roberson has published 22 solo novels, among them fourteen bestselling fantasy novels: the Vampires, except for one who escaped, Egypt. Haitian slave they are all set to settle quietly in Miiska 8-volume Chronicles of the Cheysuli, about a race of shapechangers and a divine prophecy; the 6-volume Sword- women in 19th century Dancer saga the author describes as "Conan the Barbarian Meets Gloria Steinem," and The Golden Key with as tavern owners. Alas the word is out and San Domingo also Melanie Rawn and Kate Elliott. they are compelled to proceed to the figure in. Lots of coastal city of Bela where their escapee graphic sex, lots of Memberships are US$150 through July 31, 2004, US $160 after and at the door. has settled. Their career as vampire oppressed black Pay online using PayPal! slayers is not over. women. It’s another Tempe Mission Palms Arriving in Bela they find a confusing work which can be World Fantasy 2004 Contact Info: mix of events and come to feel that there 60 E. Fifth St., Tempe, Arizona 85281 classed as speculative World Fantasy 2004, is more going on below the surface than fiction, since it has few Room Rates: $155 S/D/T/Q plus tax c/o Leprecon, Inc. they can see. Gradually they unravel the things in common with (Kids 18 & under stay free with adult) P.O. Box 26665, skein, but will they ever penetrate all the fantasy genres. A Tempe, AZ 85285 levels of deception. Eventually they shifting female perspec- Call 800-547-8705 (or 480-894-1400) achieve their purpose but are left facing tive across time has for hotel reservations. Phone: (480) 945-6890 new challenges. been done before by Register online at Missionpalms.com Fax: (480) 941-3438 The villains are wonderful. the women science fiction using the group code FANTA Email: [email protected] guttersnipe vampire, Ratboy, is truly evil. authors. Offhand, Judith His girlfriend, Saphire, is the ultimate self Shannara: Jarka Ruus,” the character of centered hedonistic egoist. Crane, the Merril, Joanna Russ, and Marge Piercy Shannara novel. I don’t mean to make it Penderrin Ohmsford faces the daunting vampire Noble, is complex and wonder- come to mind. In this case, Ezili seems sound like he’s a bad author; quite the task of rescuing his aunt, Grianne ful. You wonder if there is not some good more like a linking device to tell mundane contrary. His writing style is fluid and his Ohmsford, founder of the Third Druid in him. The councilman, Lanjov, whose tales. Great writing, but fantasy? Not use of language is masterful. Unfortu- Council, from the vastly dark Forbidding, daughter was slain by the vampire really, it’s way too real. - Mike Griffin nately, the Shannara world is too well- a world which contains creatures of evil provides a window into the complex used, sporting similar challenges to nature banished forever. However, as political situation and the policeman, High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus similar characters whose development by Terry Brooks Brooks has done in almost every other Chetnik, is your honest cop who has the always follows the same path: character is Random House, 398pp, $27.95 Shannara book he’s written, the future is welfare of the people of the city as his young and inexperienced, problem arises, told by a powerful being at the beginning primary consideration. The Guild of youth stands up to adversity and over- Sages led by Tilwith and henchwoman Terry Brooks has completed another comes every challenge. In the first book intriguing, yet predictable as always, of a new trilogy, the “High Druid of ( Continued on page 20 ) Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 19 In Our Book (Cont’d from page 19 ) relative, leaving behind the adult son, – or was it suicide? Although the story is heartbreak and shallow rich characters. who, of course, vows vengeance. really about the definition of honor. The Even several dark and stormy nights. of the journey. And though the actual Proteus, the aforementioned son, goes Derwin Mak story was intriguing but Really, if you like late 19th Century unfolding of the foretold future is interest- to the land on the edge of Fairy land---a seemed familiar somehow. I can’t think English gothics—this is your cup of tea. ing to read, this book is by no means dark brooding place, where the Hunter of an identical story but it feels like deja- Save it for a rainy nasty day! - Sue anything new to fans of the series.- Jon lives seeking a magical book (The Hunter vu. It’s a question of intelligence and Martin Graves is a mythical man/elf who dispenses whether we should judge intelligence by justice and is followed by a pack of the physical appearance. Doranna Durgin The Rise and Fall of Shimmerism The Da Vinci Code hounds). There of course, he meets the had a very enjoyable contribution that by James Kracht by Dan Brown beauteous and innocent Miranda who all followed a reluctant pet keeper-come- Writers Club Press, $21.95, 405pp Doubleday, 454 pp. $24.95 unknowing, has great magical abilities. veterinarian and the question of priorities. The magical, powerful Hunter is the When human lives are at risk, does Simon Shadow is an ordinary guy. I usually avoid bestsellers, assuming adoptive father of this sweet, innocent elf- anyone consider the value of our pets? Of When he is nearly killed by a crazy they’re tripe. Word of mouth persuaded maid and has raised her from an infant. course, we do. We run into burning coworker he decides to get away form it me that this is an exception to the rule, Miranda has a hairy, awkward troll of a buildings all the time to save our inhuman all and emigrate to the colonies (Mistake and I am so glad. In this novel, art scholar servant/companion named Caliban and friends. But would we do it in space? Number One). So he goes to a friend of Langdon and French detective Sophie are they too get whisked off to the crux…and Sean Fodera gave us a fun story that his who is a Realtor and gets a “great racing to find the Holy Grail or die trying. there all will be explained and confronted examines the perils of being an Editor off- deal” on a one way immigration package Genre: murder mystery. Milieu: Paris, the and concluded. world. He explores the questions of how to Reetar, a distant planet recently Louvre, London, Westminster Cathedral, Do you like novels where every line of to find talent and the best way to market it colonized. Do you want to guess what other artsy tourist spots. Content: art dialogue reads as if Shakespeare penned on several worlds. And my favorite of the Mistake Number Two was? Arriving on symbolism, cybers, riddles, the pagan it? Do you like a novel where the charac- whole batch is by Tanya Huff - a funny Reetar he finds that he was royally roots of Christianity, the Priory of Sion ters are endlessly questioning themselves and colorful story of a bartender. A screwed by his former friend in real- secret society. Story: fiction. Details: true and others? Do you like a sweet tale of usually mundane job (unless you’re estate, and then things start going down facts. Did you know that Da Vinci’s passion and redemption and remorse and Callahan or Quark) but made more hill. painting The Last Supper shows Mary innocence and regret? challenging by being in a space station … This is a quirky offbeat story which Magdalene at Jesus’ right hand side? Find Okay, this is your book. and a woman. I enjoyed all but a couple could have easily been titled “How to out what this means. While the story is a It’s an easy read, and a very sweet of the stories in this anthology. I hope Turn an Ordinary Joe into a Mass fast paced thriller, the flavor is somehow tale, obviously Midsummer Night—ish. Julie does another one. - Catherine Book Murderer in Three Easy Steps.” When the satisfying to a fantasy fan. That’s not too But I really did get tired of all the charac- author gave me this book he said “This unusual, perhaps. Many masters of our ters not only asking questions, but Jenna Starborn book is very popular in England” and genres were and are also mystery writers. repeating themselves. Endlessly. Con- by Sharon Shinn when I started reading it and found that But I cannot imagine what would happen stantly. All the time. Ace Books, $7.99; 369 pp. the first character introduced is convinced if this guy joined those ranks. It’ll never Let me give you a verbose example: that giant spiders have stolen his brain and happen, but at least we have this one. - These will be Miranda’s thoughts about I really, really like this author’s is upset because they won’t give it back I Mike Griffin Proteus and how she doubts his affections writing. She has an easy way with words understood why. This book is written with and actions. and a great imagination. If you have not the off beat humor typical of British Any Man So Daring “…Her mind held, impressed upon it, read the “Samaria” trilogy of books sitcoms. by Sarah A Hoyt the image of Proteus’s ungallant behav- dealing with genetically manipulated I found this book offbeat and amusing Ace Hardcover; $23.95; 327 pp. ior, his pressing close an unarmed “angels”, I recommend them highly. and would recommend it to anyone with a adversary, his pushing for the blood of As for this novel: What a hoot. This is slightly warped sense of humor. - This is part of a series of stand alone one who would gladly have surrendered a science fiction gothic tale, in the old William B. Whitmore books Ms. Hoyt has written involving that all to Proteus’s claims. sense of the word, based on the novel, well-known playwright, William “Proteus,” she sobbed. “Ah, Proteus. “Jane Eyre!” It’s wonderful. It is done in Coalescent Shakespeare. You know, that Elizabethan Beautiful tyrant. Fiend angelical. Dove- the first person narrative, with Jenna by Stephen Baxter scribbler who wrote a few sonnets and a feathered-raven. Wolvish-ravening lamb. Starborn speaking to her “Reeder” (a Del Ray Hardcover, 485 pp, $25.95 couple of well-known plays….. Despised substance of divinest show. Just Palm Pilot type device used as a journal) Ms. Hoyt apparently has Shakespeare opposite to what you justly seemed. A and there are characters corresponding to Coalescent, is the first volume of a actually involved with the realm of Fairy damned saint, an honorable villain. Oh Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester (even a proposed trilogy, Destiny’s Children and the Kingdom under the Hill (Titania’s nature. What had you to do in hell when character named Janet Ayerson). There’s exploring three radically different futures and Oberon’s old haunt). you did bower the spirit of a fiend in a large manor house on an isolated planet in the evolution of man. In this particular novel, we also have almost immortal paradise of such sweet terra-formed and devoted to mining. And George Poole is a dissatisfied forty Christopher Marlowe’s ghost (Another flesh?” “Jenna Starborn,” the story’s heroine (un five year old man, divorced, childless, and Elizabethan playwright, NOT as well- I got it!! He is not how he appeared!! loved, self-reliant, created in an artificial in a dead end job. He wants a change, but known as Shakespeare, but whom many He’s a cad, a bounder, a two-timer…. womb) comes to Thorrastone Park to lacks direction. When his father dies, he think Shakespeare plagiarized. Marlowe You get the picture. And the novel is maintain the nuclear generators that keep stumbles on family secret. He has a twin died tragically at a very young age) full of these tiresome litanies. the force fields going and providing a raised by an enigmatic cult that has haunting good ol’ Will. And Will? He’s So, I suggest, reading good ol’ Will. livable atmosphere for the estate. dwelled beneath Rome for almost 2000 utterly stumped, wrestling with a huge Forsooth, in a certainty, you will have a There is even the important character years. case of writer’s block. Wants to write a better, nay, a more glorious time. that is not spoken of and who remains a George sets out to meet his twin and tragical romance of star-crossed Unless you like a novel of elves and mystery until about halfway through the discovers their descent from Regina, an lovers…And the major shareholder of the magics and innocent maids duped by book. orphaned girl who set out to save her Lord Chamberlain’s men is getting duplicitous persons and.....- Sue Martin This was just a delight. Even though family in the dissolution of the Roman anxious. Shinn must describe highly technical Empire. Now, two millennia later, he And then, he finds his son Hamnet has SPACE, INC. things such as the process Starborn must meets his sister who says the Order is his been kidnapped and taken to the perilous edited by Julie E. Czerneda go through to achieve deep sleep for a family as well as hers. Joined by his crux---where all magic is from. Will gets $6.99, Daw Books, 319 pgs very long space journey and discuss force boyhood friend with his own agenda, he himself sent there through the auspices of fields and “aeromobiles” the whole tone, finds that they have evolved into a new a witch, though he fears for his immortal This is a collection from 14 writers the very verbiage is gothic in manner and evolutionary path, one that may be soul. who speculate on the question of tone. superior to homo sapiens. In the meantime, in the land of Fairy, employment in the future and off-world. I I read so very few science fiction Stephen Baxter’s previous work has the current elvish king, Quicksilver, has enjoyed the Josepha Sherman tale of a romances (save the kind that are out and won numerous awards. Coalescent just put down a nasty revolt from a couple of dock workers, one human, one out bodice-rippers and written specifically suggest there are more to come, with an relative who craved his throne. But not, who had a ‘cultural exchange’ with for the romance readers) this was Quicksilver wins this battle and kills the another species, that terminated in murder delightful. There is drama and tragedy and ( Continued on page 21 ) Page 20 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 20 ) continues to try to eliminate him. Only hood SCA of course! As small groups of whom she eventually takes on as an one of them will walk away. historical re-enactors band together to apprentice. As he grows up, he will learn intricately drawn story that keeps you This will make a good action movie. rebuild they are also forced to take sides Teller’s secret - one that will profoundly reading past your bedtime. This one is a What is amazing is the amount of in the civil war. change him and his future plans. must read. - Pam Allan characterization Stine manages to develop There Will Be Dragons is the first This a complex and moving story, in what is basically a comic book book in a new series by John Ringo. I intricately developed, with characters you Fire and Sword character. If you like action, this book’s found it to be well written with an become deeply involved with. Even the Keys of power#2 for you. - Pam Allan. engaging plot and likable protagonists. I alien species, the harsel, becomes a part of by Simon Brown liked this novel and eagerly look forward your reality. [Is Abeha really an alien? DAW, $6.99, 420 pp There Will Be Dragons to the release of the rest of the series. . - After all, he is the native not the human by John Ringo William B. Whitmore settlers] We return once more to the kingdom BAEN, $25.00, 538 pp This is a book you can’t put down. It of Grenda Lear. Prince Lynan has made it Storyteller deserves a literary award, and a to the safety of the Chetts. But how is he It is the 41’st century and earth is a by Amy Thompson permanent place in your library. It has one to regain his rightful place in the world paradise. Nano technology and plentiful Ace trade paperback, 372 pp, $14.00 in mine. - Pam Allan. when his only followers are a splintered clean energy lets people be what ever they band of horse nomads? Can Prince Lynan want. You want to be a mermaid? Go to Storyteller is a stand alone by the The Road to Damascus unite the independent tribes which make the doctor and have the change made! author of Through Alien Eyes. by John Ringo & Linda Evans up the Chett people? Can he forge them Everything is perfect, until civil war On the planet Thalassa, history is BAEN, $25.00, 688 pp into an army capable of winning back his brings paradise crashing down around passed on by stories from generation to throne? Will his sister Queen Korigan everyone’s ears. All power distribution is generation, told by storytellers who travel This is a Bolo novel. For those of you give him the time he needs to prepare? cut off bringing this high tech civilization from village to village. who do not know what a Bolo is think of For the answers to these and other crashing to a halt. Who can pick up the For Teller, storytelling is her life. As a tank the size of a 20 story office questions welcome to Fire and Sword, pieces? Who has the knowledge and skills she travels the world’s oceans with her building and then give it a positronic brain Keys of Power #2. Those of you who have needed to live in a muscle powered harsel, a sentient telepathic leviathan she so that it can think for itself. This is the not read the first book in the series, society? Why your friendly neighbor meets and adopts a n orphan street boy ( Continued on page 22 ) Inheritance, are probably scratching your head and asking “what is he talking about?” The second book in Mr. Brown’s series is just that, a second book. For those of you who enjoyed the first book Fire and Sword is an excellent continuation of the story. For those of you who have not read the first book I encourage you to go out and get them both, they are the start of an excellent sword and sorcery series. - William B. Whitmore

The Punisher by D.A. Stine Del Rey, 309 pp, $ 6.99

The Punisher is a novelization of a script by Jonathan Hensleigh. Frank Castle’s final case before retiring from undercover work and taking a desk job to be with his family is a lulu. A two years undercover operation to catch an illegal arms dealer results in a shoot out triggered by the wannabe buyer. The deceased wannabe turns out to be the son of money launderer, Howard Saint, who wants to run for Governor. When he learns of the death of his son, Saint decides on a ruthless revenge. Celebrating his retirement from undercover work, Frank, his immediate and extended family are enjoying an island vacation when Howard Saint’s death squad attacks. Everyone but Frank is killed and it is believed that Frank has died too. Months of healing on another island where he washed up brings him back with one thought. Punish the perpetrators. Saint has other thoughts and Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 21 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 21 ) Cley is an Original, a genetically pure C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of Fellowship form of Ur-Human with a few Club and Trades is Phoenix based Reenactment story of Sonny, SOL 0045 officially, an modifications. Like her forest dwelling group specializing in the western European old and obsolete Bolo who has been sent tribe. she expects a lifetime of working in Listings renaissance. As an org-anization, it is our goal to a backwater world as all of the the Great Library Of Life. the library to promote felow-ship while researching ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- lifestyles and trades concurrent with the Celtic protection the Concordiant can afford to contains the history and genetic coding of sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, spare. Of course the fact that this one Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. Although all humans and other life forms banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every most members claim Scots, Irish or Welsh an- obsolete war machine carries enough fire One day, without warning, her tribe is Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto cestry and do Celtic re-enactment, it is our power to turn the world into a radioactive wiped out, only her almost dead body Park. All are welcome. Free. intent to open participation to anyone with an waste land helps to keep the people of that remains and the library is under attack. interest in period crafting and enter-tainment, world from thinking that he is just The genetic codes from which her people Aerial Mirage Jugglers. Meets Wednesday no matter what his/her ethnicity. The sense of political gesture. were recreated are destroyed. She is saved 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th Avenue, south being a real village surround-ing Croft is vital Sonny’s orders say that he is sent to by Seeker Of Patterns a genetically altered of Encanto. No dues, everyone welcome. All to promote a feeling of family and fellowship levels skill exc-hange in many areas of object protect the world and that he is to work racoon like creature infinitely old, and which was a reality in earlier times. Croft is a with the government to do this. But what manipulation Dave Davis family-oriented and kid-friendly with his own agenda. , 602-955-9446; happens if the government changes? What Brought back to the library for organization.C.R.O.F.T. members can be or Ron Harvey , 602- found demon-strating in events such as the if it becomes corrupt and brutally healing, she is cared for by the Supras, a 863-0284 for more info or impromptu juggling oppressive? What if the government itself Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and the genetically enhanced group that look sessions. Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page http:/ is destroying the world through down on her even as they “protect” her. /www.crofters.org mismanagement and short sighted greed? Cley and Seeker escape and travel ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A Then where does a machines duty lay? through myriad landscapes and eventually collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An This novel is an interesting worlds to find why they are being the Arizona LANbashers League throws organization formed for the expression and exploration of the concepts of duty, attacked and why Cley is the key to quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, exploration of various cultural themes morality, and civil disobedience. What is defeating a powerful entity named the support is given to local groups who wish to including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages a persons responsibility when a advertise their own gatherings. We have no set and the Renaissance through forms of art malign who is destroying whole galaxies genre of games and play anything from government becomes corrupt and in its efforts to destroy Cley. including, but not limited to, painting, strategy games to first-person shooters to drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, immoral? Is legal behavior the same thing The physics are wild and the driving/flying simulations. No annual as moral behavior? How far can you go to and acts of characterization. 2) a member of enigmatic Yoda-like Seeker are membership is required and admission to an this organization. 3) Infor-mation available at oppose the immoral behavior of a fascinating characters holding you nose to event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage www.darkones.org government that makes the laws making the page as they seek the answers. If you for current events. Email: the behavior legal? like hard science fiction at all, you’ll love [email protected] Web: http:/ DAYSTAR HOLT Arizona’s first and I think this novel is a fine story and this book and must have it for your www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- longest-running Elfquest fan club. Daystar recommend it to everyone. - William B. collection. - Pam Allan 9339 meets to talk about EQ and related stuff, Whitmore develop characters, publish stories in our ‘zine THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a The Devil’s Armor Playelf and create an annual calendar. Other general sci-fi appreciation group that meets The Riven Shield by John Marco common interests include music, belly dance, by Michelle West once a month for discussion of various sci-fi camping and of course, SF. Membership is Daw, 680 pp, $24.95 news regarding several mediums to include: Daw,828 pp, $6.99 free (18 or over) and is attained by group vote television, movies, video, books, comics, after you attend two meetings or holt-related The Devil’s Armor is the sequel to the magazines, collecting, and so forth. The get-togethers. Meetings are usually the first The Riven Shield is the fifth volume of Eyes of God. The ending sets up a third meetings are comprised of news, review and Saturday of each month; for more info, call the Sun Sword series. volume. comment, BBS/computer news and help, Tom or Janice at (602) 581-2258. They have a Valedon is the last survivor of the Akeela, the mad king of Liiria is dead. meeting new members, video presentations, website up at http://members.home.net/ ruling clan and has forged an alliance with His Library, and home to Figis’ thinking games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks jeanderson/daystarholt.html his ancestral enemies and must ally with machine is held by a few loyalists waiting are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per the Tyr’agnate Mario di’Lamberto. Unless for Jazana Carr and her mercenary armies meeting) to compensate the host. (No other THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND he can gain possession of the Sun Sword fees are involved.) The electronic home of the STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and to finish Norvor and strike at Liiria. Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station and survive it’s wielding. Lukien, the bronze knight is in self Steel specializes in the general recreation of BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for the the culture of the Middle Ages inc-luding all of Jewel of House Terafin has joined imposed exile in Jador and wears the group range from 13-40-something with both with the Voyani bringing with her the the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, amulet known as the Eye Of God. He male and female members. Other activities Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts warlord Avandar. Hunted by the demonic rides to protect the seekers of Grimhold’s include null-modem link gamefests, group covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD Kailli, they must join Valedan’s army. healing magic from the desert’s violent theater movie viewings, convention trips and and any location within Europe or its explored Jewel’s den is caught up in the bandits. more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, low- territories. For more information contact Bart infighting and political intrigue of But Grimhold’s other secret is the structure environment. NO RUBBER EARS Smith (Phoenix) (602)937-6995 or Leonard Averalaan, they must take up the difficult indestructible armor of a sorcerer who ALLOWED!! For questions, you can call the Bird (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: roles placed on them by the Terafin infused his spirit into the armor and has BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; 2522 N. www.galandor.org Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 herself. been waiting for a victim to possess. He Kiriel, half demon, born of a mortal THE JEDI KNIGHTS Meetings are the 3rd finds it in Baron Glass who dons the BASFA Local Tuscon science fiction group woman is torn between the two worlds armor to fight Jazana Carr, only to have Sunday of each month. For more information that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box call Carol Alves, Publicity, (760)244-9593 or and tries desperately to rejoin her family the sorcerer change sides and make him 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or with the northern army for if they cannot write Jedi Knights, c/o Jim Lowerre, 12291 her minion again. The Armor’s spirit [email protected]. Meade Street, Garden Grove, CA 92841-3629 unite their forces and prevail, the Lord of would rule all. our website at home.earthlink.net/~basfa/ Darkness and the furies of the Hells will Who can try to stop him and must LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix be released upon the world. return to Liiria to try to break the CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE area corporations that put on yearly con- This is a complex weaving of tales and sorcerer’s power? Lukien, but he reach FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The ventions. Best described as SF/F gene-ralists plotting that holds your . interest. Set his old friend or will he die, himself. non-profit corporation that puts on CopperCon with a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are some time aside for this on. - Pam Allan A lot of trees died for the epic, but the conventions, SmurfCons, HexaCons, occa- welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the sional regional cons, and publishes Con- second Saturday of Febr-uary, May, August & writing carries you through. The plotting Notations. Best described as SF/F generalists Beyond Infinity and characters are good and hold interest. November unless otherwise notified. August is with a strong bent towards literary SF/F. the annual meeting where board positions are by Gregory Benford Save lots of time for this one. Your wrist Guests welcome - meets at 8pm on the last Warner Books, 337 pp, $23.95 deter-mined. For more information, write PO will be sore before you can put it down. - Friday of each month in January thru Septem- Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike Pam Allan ber and the second Friday in October, Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email Beyond Infinity is a new novel November and December at JB’s Restaurant, [email protected] springing from his award winning 2560 W. Indian School in Phoenix, AZ. Write www.leprecon.org novella, Beyond the Fall of Night. written PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or call Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 for with Arthur C. Clarke. ( Continued on page 23 ) information. Web www.casfs.org Page 22 ConNotations Volume 14 Issue 3 Club Listings (Cont’d from page 22 ) SAMURAI OTAKU ANIME CLUB The often seen on stage and behind the scenes at Samurai Otaku is a group of fans of anime, local and regional Science Fiction Conven-tion MIB The Men in Black is the official manga, and Japanese pop culture. Meet-ings masquerades. They meet on the last Sunday of organization of field operatives for Steve are held every Saturday night at 6pm at each month at various members’ homes in the Jackson Games. They attend local con- Samurai Comics, 5024 N. 7th St.. Mem-bers greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest ventions to demonstrate and promote products discuss anime and manga, work on a web Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, AZ of Steve Jackson Games. The also schedule comic, discuss fund raisers, and schedule club 85609 or Randall Whitlock at demos in local gaming stores. If you have a events. After each meeting the club views [email protected] or gaming store or convention that you would selected anime DVD’s and plays games. Open www.southwestcostumersguild.org like to have official Steve Jackson Games to new members. Contact Moryha Banks— represen-tation at, please contact the MIB (602)265-8886, moryha!samuraicomics.com SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access Arizona Cell Leader at [email protected] Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically SCIENCE FICTION CONTINUUM The cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION Science Fiction Continuum: An Independ-ent possible within ten years, with a little luck and CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month Star Trek and Sci-Fi club in Phoenix, AZ. The a lot of hard work. Join us and help us make it (except Dec.) We frequently have author guest SFCOM is an active club that participates in happen! SAS membership is $30 for one year, speakers. You’re all welcome Local Phoenix, and South-western Star Trek which gets you emailed Space Access Updates to come if you’re in the area. We meet in and Sci-Fi conventions and movies. The the instant they pass final edit, plus discounts Fullerton, about 5 miles north of Disney-land. SFCOM has three different divisions. The on our annual confer-ence on the technology, For more details ph. Greg at [949] 552-4925 or SFCOM itself, a free group where fun is the politics, and busi-ness of radically cheaper send a message to our listserve name of the game. The Deep Space SolarFlare space trans-portation, featuring leading players [email protected] (DSSF) an active member club in the Interna- in the field. Email us at: tional Federation of Treker’s (IFT). This group [email protected] Web page: PAReX is a non-profit, just for fun organiza- is based on DS9 (a space station). And the IKV www.space-access.org/ tion dedicated to the proliferation of robotics Sto-Vo-Kor (Independent Klingon Vessel). A as a hobby. Monthly meetings will be held and Klingon Bird of Prey, roaming the desert SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING will be announced under the Meeting Informa- looking for battle. Are the Fed’s too soft, SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of tion page, http://www.parex.org/meetinfo.htm. looking for combat, feel the call to glory. This model and high_power rockets and those who All interest-ed persons are invited to partici- is the ship for you. Member-ship in the love to see them fly. Launches are held on the pate. We are currently in the process of getting SFCOM is free! To join DSSF or the Sto-Vo- second Saturday morning of each month in organized and becoming an official organiza- Kor a nominal fee for the national clubs Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. Harry tion with tax status. Web page: http:// involved and uniforms. For further informa- Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every October. www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John tion contact President John Nelson at (602) Visit www.sssrocketry.org for membership Kittelsrud, [email protected] 409-7169 or on the internet at; information, directions to the launches and [email protected] or check out our web meetings, and to read the monthly newsletter, THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- site. http://www.thesfcom.com “Newton’s Minutes.” ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. SFACE (Speculative Fiction And Com-puter TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ PFFS has been in existence for 25 years, Enthusiasts) Phoenix College’s one and only Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in International meeting every 6 weeks in mem-ber’s homes. connection to the worlds of speculative fiction, media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS meets Dues are $10 per year. Mem-bership includes including science fiction, fantasy, and horror every two weeks at different locations around newsletters, an annual film awards and various as well as table top, live action and internet the valley. Activities include watching videos, outings. For information, contact PFFS, P.O. gaming, SFACE also serves as a guide through discussions, parties, fund-raisers, auctions, Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or call David the Internet - both teaching basic use and games, camping trips and outings. We also Storck at (602) 274_7404, e_mail: utilizing as a source of speculative fiction. For maintain an active presence at local conven- [email protected]. more info contact Dr Ray Bromley at tions. TARDIS publishes a monthly inform- bromley.ray@ a1.pc.maricopa.edu. The ative news-letter, The Index File, with a RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A SFACE Web site is found at http://www.pc. national circulation which is included with Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the maricopa.edu/departments/studentact/ mem-bership. Annual membership is just ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to organizations/sface/ $12.50. You can contact us at 2243 W Wagon the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by White Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice Mail at Wolf publishing. Contact Mike McLaughlin at SHADOWKEEP BBS Intelligent conver- (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- (602)461-5842 or write 1730 W Emelita Place sation, awesome graphics, stupendous door [email protected] or visit http:// #2025, Mesa AZ 85202-3144 or games, unworldly filebank, RPG forums, www.primenet.com/~jgeorge/tardis.html [email protected] QWK message system and online RPG BBS- mode-rated games! Our BBS is mainly RPG TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the RAW GAMES (Role-players & oriented and we offer many services to GMs series’ production companies and the USA Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & and players. No fees neces-sary for users who Network! It is THE information conduit Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- post intelligent messages! $5 in credits to new between the fans and the series! Fan club playing and wargaming club. Currently users. Over 20 conferences and 10 doors to membership will bring you the following 1) meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix every choose from! Shadowkeep BBS - PCBoard subscription to the info filled Tek Informer Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except during 15.2/M - US Robotics 28.8 Modem. Phoenix, newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club conventions and other special events). Open to AZ (602)245-0919; Connect at 2400-28800 membership card and kit. Membership is by new members - call (602) 849-9515. regular mail only and the newsletter and www.rawgames.org THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE mater-ials will not be reproduced electron- ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt REBEL LEGION - JUNDLAND OUT- doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair ( Continued on page 24 ) POST The Jundland Outpost is a small band kingdom can be found six Baronies: Atenveldt, of Rebels which form a part of the rapidly Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, SunDragon, Tir What is CASFS? growing Rebel Legion. Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For more information on What is really behind putting on a convention? What the funds raised by a conven- While it's main focus is Star Wars costuming, any of these or for general information on thy tion used for? Why not attend a meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor of much like it's 501st counterpart the Dune Sea past tomorrows thou mayest contact Mistress ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, SmerfCons and other conventions. We are Garrison, the Jundland Outpost's mission is to Myrddina o Dolwyddelan (Terry Schwartz) a charitable, non-profit organization that exists to further science fiction, fantasy brighten up the lives of children and Star Wars PO Box 584, Sonoita AZ 85637 (520)455- and science fields in Arizona. CASFS currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at fans of all ages across the Phoenix Metro area 5835 Email: [email protected] 2560 W Indian School Rd in Phoenix (NW corner of I-17 and Indian School). The and eventually other parts of Arizona as well. www.atenveldt.org meetings begin at 8PM and are held on the last Friday of the month Jan. Through Members also make appearances with other Sept. And on the second Friday of the month Oct through Dec. Everyone is invited Star Wars organizations as part THE SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S to attend two meetings as a guest (non-member). Membership rates are $12/year of a joint effort to help with Charities and GUILD The Southwest Costumers Guild is a plus an initial $3 application fee and rates are pro-rated for the amount of the year events around Arizona. loose organization of persons interested in all remaining. For more info Call: Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 Webpage: If you have an event you would like us to facets of historical, cultural, science fiction, www.casfs.org email: [email protected] appear at, please contact us at fantasy, and humor costume. Members are [email protected]. Volume 14 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 23 Westercon. Dedicated primarily to educational Blvd., Litchfiled Park, AZ (623) 935- Club Listings ( Cont’d from page 23 ) activities relating to literature, music, and 3811 Info: ConKopelli, WesterCon 57, A Novel Idea visual and performing arts, especially in the PO Box 67457 Phoenix, AZ 85082; ically. To join the action and initiate your genres of science fiction, fantasy, costuming, by Dawn Mullan [email protected]; Web: annual membership, make check or money gaming and science. Applicants for member- order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan ship in WesternSFA must be sponsored by a www.conkopelli.org Half way through 2004, and the Club (Membership section), 2522 N Sparkman current active WesternSFA member. Dues are season is alive with more genre book Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable applica- HexaCon 14 (Tempe AZ) July 29-Aug 1, releases. The months of June and July are tion fee. General Meetings are held on the first 2004 Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, AZ, full of exciting novels to read for your T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and fantasy Friday of February, May, August and club. Weekly meetings are held on the Arizona Gaming starts on Friday and runs 24 summer vacation. November, usually at the home of a member. hours until Sunday 4PM. Events include State University campus, with dates and places Guests are welcome. For more info contact For June, the book releases range from RPGA, LARP, LAN Party, CCG, to be announced after the semester starts. For Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, PO Box 87457, science fiction to the paranormal with A more information, [email protected] Phoenix AZ 85082, (602) 973-2341, Email: Battletech and much more. Also Anime Forest of Stars, Kevin J. Anderson; www.themonline.org [email protected]. Webpage: and a full consuite. *THURSDAY Foundation, Isaac Asimov; Foundation www.westernsfa.org EVENTS for pre-registered members only and Empire, Isaac Asimov ; The Girl TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address include Barry Bard’s Movie Previews and is [email protected] or from Farris’s, Edgar Rice Burroughs; [email protected]. Giveaways. Memb: $20 thru 7/15/04, Forge of Heaven, C. J. Cherryh; Hotel: Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, AZ Nightmare House, Douglas Clegg; USS STORMBRINGER The Storm-bringer Convention (800) 547-8705 Room Rates: $85 S/D/T/ Retribution: A Small Percentage, Jim is a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter Q, Info: www.hexacon.org or 480-945- Cline; Bonds of Vengeance, David Coe; of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. The 6890 The Wild Wood, Charles de Lint; Crisis, chapter was commis-sioned as the USS Listings David Drake, et al.; Lost and Found, Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to CopperCon 24 (Phoenix AZ) Sept 10-12, Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on Alan Dean Foster; Sign of the Raven, 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 Tinhare (Chandler AZ) June 4-6 2004, 2004 ; Literary oriented SF/F Convention Julie Hearn; Ghost Shi: The Mysterious members. There are no dues other than the San Marcos Hotel, Chandler AZ Annual Embassy Suites Phoenix North, Phoenix, True Story of the Mary Celeste and Her $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are LARP (Live Action Role Playing) Arizona Guests: Author GoH: Alan Dean Missing Crew, Brian Hicks; Speak With scattered world wide but the primary clusters Convention weekend, hosted by Tithe of Foster, Artist GoH: Todd Lockwood; the Dead: Seven Methods for Spirit are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t Souls, a local domain of The Camarilla Local Author GoH: Catherine Wells; Communication, Konstantinos; Moon of meet on a regular basis since they are a USA - the official Fan Club of White Music Guest: Leslie Fish Memb: $30 thru Ice, Brad Linaweaver; A Feast For correspondence chapter. Their web site is: 4/30/04, $35 thru 8/27/04, $40 at the door http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ Wolf(tm)’s World of Darkness - Vampire Crows George R. R. Martin; Moons’ and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, the Masquerade, Changeling, Werewolf, Hotel Rates: Embassy Suites Phoenix Dancing, Krause Marguerite; The [email protected]. Mage. Further information & registration: North, 2577 W. Greenway Rd, Phoenix, Scrolls of the Ancients, Robert http://tinhare.titheofsouls.com AZ (602) 375-1777. Rooms: $84 S-Q Newcomb; Darkness and Dawn, Andre Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We (plus tax) Info: CopperCon 24, PO Box Norton; That Darn Squid God!, Nick maintain a mailing list for news and get- ConRunners 8 (metro Phoenix AZ) June 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082, Phone (602) Pollotta ; Exile, R. A. Salvatore; The togethers of fans of the X-Files living in 12, 2004 - Wigwam Resort, Litchfield 973-2341 , Email: [email protected] ; Awakening, Ardy M. Scott; Haunted Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix Website: www.coppercon.org and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an empty Park AZ, Registration 830AM Morning Cemeteries, Edrick Thay; Dragon and message to [email protected] Session 9AM-1PM Topic: Hot Topics for Soldier, Timothy Zahn. Westercon, Afternoon Session2PM-4PM Vegacon (Las Vegas, NV) Oct. 15-17, Expect more book releases in July UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A Topic: Website Design; 4PM-6PM Topic: 2004. Plaza Hotel, downtown Las Vegas. with Horizon Storms, Kevin J. Ander- Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan LepreCon 30 Membership $15. Info 602- Pro GoH: Steven Brust; Filk GoH Kathy son; The Locus Awards : Thirty Years of club. We are a social club that meets every two 973-2341 or [email protected] Mar. Membership $25 until 4/15/04; $35 the Best in Science Fiction and Fantasy, weeks at various locations around the Phoenix or Web www.westernsfa.org Mail PO until 10/01; $45 at door. Mail to VSFA, Charles N. Brown; AVP: Alien vs. area. The UFP has been meeting for over 25 2800 Las Vegas Blvd. So., Suite 11, Las years of continuous activity. Dues are $15/per Box 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082 Predator : The Movie Novelization, year prorated when you join; no restrictions. Vegas, NV 89109. Plaza Hotel special Marc Cerasini; Premonitions and Membership includes membership roster and ConKopelli, WesterCon 57 -(Litchfield low rates may increase after April 15. Psychic Warnings, Jo-Anne monthly newsletter. Come to any two meetings Park, AZ) July 2-5, 2004, Wigwam $75/night Fri. & Sat., $55 Sun-Thurs. Christensen; The Children of Odin: The at no obligation. For information, write the Resort, Litchfield Park, AZ Guests: includes tax. : For convention registra- Book of Northern Myths, Padraic UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, AZ 85069, or Author GoH: C.J. Cherry; Artist GoH: tion or room reservations contact Terry Colum; Goddess of the Ice Realm, David call Jim Strait at (602) 242-9203. Web page: David Cherry; Music GoH: Heather Wilsey [email protected] or Drake; The UFO Files, Martin H. http://www.U-F-P.org or Email to Info@U-F- 702-731-2114 For all other info contact P.org Alexander ; Fan GoH: John Hertz; Local Greenberg; Elvenbred, Mercedes Author GoH: Diana Gabaldon Member- [email protected] Lackey and Andre Norton; The Bad WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- ships: $75 thru 5/31/04; Supporting $30; Place, Dean R. Koontz; Where Crawls CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit Conversion is Current rate minus $30 the Lizard? (Spider-Man, No 2), Marvel corporation that sponsors the ConRunners Hotel Rates: $105 standard rooms, $135 Comics; Shattered Twilight, Yvonne seminars and is sponsoring the 2004 Suites, Wigwam Resort, 300 Wigwam Navarro; Iron Sunrise, Charles Stross; Terminator 2: Hour of The Wolf, Mark Generic Convention Regestration Form W Tiedemann; Druid Power: Celtic Faerie Craft and Elemental Magic, Amber Wolfe Name:______Want more releases? Please visit your Badge Name:______favorite publisher or author online today for more information about new summer Address:______genre books City/State/ZIP:______Phone:______Email:______Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for ______convention. (See calendar for mailing address) More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other

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