Birmingham Science Fiction Group Newsletter
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BRUM GROUP NEWS March 1995 Issue 282 The monthly newsletter of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group <Honorary Presidents: Brian W A ldiss, Harry Harrison & Bob Shaw) G r o u p C h a i r m a n - C a r o l M o r t o n , S e c r e t a r y - A n n e W o o d f o r d , N e w s l e t t e r Ed it o r - M a r t in T u d o r , T r e a s u r e r - S t e v e J o n e s , P u b l ic it y O f f ic e r - S a r a h F r e a k l e y , O r d in a r y M e m b e r - A l a n W o o d f o r d , N o v a c o n 2 5 C h a i r m a n - t o n y M o r t o n , N o v a c o n 2 6 C h a i r m a n - C a r o l M o r t o n . This month's guest is: PETER F. HAMILTON who will address the Group on Friday 17th March 1995, 7.45 for 8.00pm Admittance: Members £2.50 Visitors £3.75 (half-price for 14-18 year olds on production of proof of age). Peter F. Hamilton was born in Rutland in 1960, and now lives near Rutland Water. He began writing in 1987, and made his first professional short story sale to FEAR magazine in 1988. In the short biographical piece which appeared with the story he mentioned that he was working on a novel - on seeing this Kathy Gale, then editor at Pan Books, contacted him and asked to see the book. MINDSTAR RISING, his first novel, was published by Pan in 1993. It was followed by A QUANTUM MURDER in 1994 and THE NANO FLOWER this year. All three novels feature the psi-boosted private detective Greg Mandel and are available from Pan at £4.99 each. In addition to his professional sales of short stories to INTERZONE, IN DREAMS and NEW WORLDS, Hamilton's work has appeared in a number of small press magazines since the late eighties. Heralded as the most exciting "sf technician" currently writing in Britain, Hamilton's fourth novel, THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION, marking a change of pace to "Space Opera", will be published in hardcover by Macmillan in January 1996. /Copies o f CRITICAL WAVE #30, which featured Peter F. Hamilton's article concerning the difficulties o f creating future societies, is available from Martin Tudor at the Editorial address below for just £1.50 per copy (p&p inclusive)./ The BSFG meets at 7.45pm on the 3rd Friday of every month (unless otherwise notified) in the upstairs Function Room of the Australian Bar, corner of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham city centre. The annual subscription rates (which include twelve copies of this newsletter and reduced price entry to meetings) are £10.00 per person, or £13.50 for 2 members at the same address. Cheques etc. should be made payable to "the Birmingham Science Fiction Group" and sent to the Treasurer, Steve Jones, c/o 121 Cape Hill, Smethwick, Warley, West Mids., B66 4SH. Book reviews, review copies and other contributions and enquiries regarding the Brum Group News to: Martin Tudor, Newsletter Editor, 845 Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, B8 2AG. Confabulation CONFABULATION the 1995 Eastercon 14th-17th April, 1995, Britannia International Hotel, Docklands, London Guests of Honour: Lois McMaster Bujold, Bob Shaw and Roger Robinson £20 attending/£10 supporting until 31/12/94: then £25 attending/£10 supporting 3 York Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 9QH [email protected] Stages in th e evolution of the moose Stepi: T he M oosoeba Confabulation is planned to be a small and friendly Eastercon; if you haven’t joined yet, then w e’re encouraging you to do so now. W e aren't publicising the con much outside the fannish community, and we’re aiming to have about 750 members. Although we can go a bit bigger than that, we may be forced at some point to close membership. In order to get a clear idea of numbers, we are encouraging people to join in advance. Our on-the-door rates, for both day and full attending memberships, will be expensive. You can avoid both of these problems by becoming a supporting member of Confabulation now. It’s only a tenner, and supporting members will be able to convert to day or attending membership at reasonable rates even if the convention has been closed. Supporting members also get all the convention publications. W e will only be taking postal memberships until 31/3/95. Birmingham. 7.30-10.30pm, admission free, COLOPHON everyone welcome. Displays by amateur astronomers, games, quizzes, things to buy, advice on telescopes and binoculars. Lots of telescopes for you to use. See: Mars, the red The contents of this issue are copyright 1995 planet; the Great Orion Nebula; the Pleiades the BSFG, on behalf of the contributors, and Praesepe; Sirius and Gemini; double stars to whom all rights revert on publication. Castor and Alviera. Refreshments available. Personal opinions expressed in this Contact: Peter Bolas on 01283 568512 for publication do not necessarily reflect further details. those of the committee or the membership of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group. 27 MARCH - 1 APRIL 1995: RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET at the Grand Theatre, All text by Martin Tudor except where Wolverhampton. Call 01902 29212 for details. stated otherwise. This publication was printed on the CRITICAL WAVE 28-30 MARCH 1995: RESERVOIR DOGS Quentin photocopier. For details of WAVE'S Tarantino's cult classic showing at the competitive prices contact: Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham. Martin Tudor, 845 Alum Rock Road, Call 0121 643 7277 for details. Ward End, Birmingham, B8 2AG. 31 MARCH - 2 APRIL 1995: PULP FICTION Quentin Many thanks this issue to BERNIE EVANS Tarantino's instant cult hit showing at the for producing the address labels, Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham. STEVE GREEN, CRITICAL WAVE and Call 0121 643 7277 for details. WHAT'S ON for the news in the Jophan Report and Events listing and 31 MARCH - 2 APRIL 1995: FOREST GUMP showing TONY BERRY for the use of his spare room. at the Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham. Call 0121 643 7277 for details. UNTIL'2 APRIL 1995: THE HOLY GRAIL TAPESTRIES FORTHCOMING designed by Edward Burne-Jones and woven by Morris 4 Co. are on display at the Museum and EVENTS Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham City Centre, call 0121 235 2834 for details. 2-3 APRIL 1995: FEARLESS Jeff Bridges walks UNTIL 16 MARCH 1995: INTERVIEW WITH A away from a plane crash convinced he's VAMPIRE (15) screening at the MAC Cinema, Invulnerable, showing at the Electric Cinema, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. Call 0121 *+0 Station Street, Birmingham. Call 0121 643 3838 for details. 7277 for details. 17 MARCH 1995: PETER F HAMILTON will be 2-3 APRIL 1995: ALTERED STATES Ken Russell sf addressing the BSFG, 7.45 for 8 pm in the classic, showing at the Electric Cinema, upstairs room of the Australian Bar, comer of Station Street, Birmingham. Call 0121 643 Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street, Birming 7277 for details. ham city centre. 4-6 APRIL 1995: INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE 17-23 MARCH 1995: INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE showing at the Electric Cinema, Station <15) screening at the Warwick Arts Centre, Street, Birmingham. Call 0121 643 7277 foi University of Warwick, Coventry, Call01203 details. 524524 for details. 9 APRIL 1995: COMIC MART at the YMCA, Granby 17-19 MARCH 1995: TREK DWARF 3, media Street, Leicester, opens noon. Contact: Golden convention at the Holiday Inn, Leicester. Orbit, 9 Stratford Way, Huntington, York, Y0: Attending £30.00, contact: 47 Marsham, Orton 9YW. Goldhay, Peterborough. 10-11 APRIL 1995: BLADERUNNE R - THE 18 MARCH 1995: STAR PARTY organised by the DIRECTOR'S CUT showing at the Castle. Birmingham Astronomical Society in the Park Wellingborough from 7.30pm, tickets £2.00. Side Room at the MAC, Cannon Hill Park, Contact: The Castle, Castle Way, Welling borough, Northants, NN’8 1XA or phone the Box Street, Birmingham. Guests of Honour: Brian W Office on 01933 270007. Aldiss, Harry Harrison and Bob Shaw, with Special Guest Iain Banks. Attending member 14-17 APRIL 1995: CONFABULATION 46th UK ship Is £25.00 until Easter 1995. Supporting National sf con ot the Britannia International membership costs £8.50. Progress Report #1 Hotel, London. GoHs Lois McMasters Bujold, Bob and hotel booking forms are available, Shaw and Roger Robinson. Attending £25.00 deadline for hotel bookings is 20th July 1995. until 31 March 1995, supporting £10.00 until Contact CAROL MORTON, 14 Park Street, Lye, 31 March 1995. Contact: Confabulation, 3 York Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 8SS, cheques Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 9QH. should be made payable to "Novacon 25*. Room rates are now only £17.50 per person per 17 APRIL 1995: ALIEN, ALIENS and A L IE N 3 night in twin/double and £35.00 pppn in a showing at the Castle, Wellingborough from single, prices include full English breakfast. 2pm, tickets £2.00 per film or £5.00 for all three. Contact; The Castle, Castle Way, 5-8 APRIL 1996: EVOLUTION 47th UK National Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 1XA or phone Convention, the Radisson Edwardian Hotel at the Box Office on 01933 270007.