Volume 12, Issue 3 ConNotations June/July The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society 24 Frames SF Tube Talk ReAnimation In This Issue Movie News TV News & Previews Anime Reviews By Lee Whiteside By Lee Whiteside By Craig L. Dyer News & Reviews Spidey Spins Big Box Office We’ve got news on the new fall season, ***** The Adventures of Mini-Goddess SF Tube Talk 1 with Clones Not Far Behind what’s new, what’s coming back and ***** Batman The Animated Series - 24 Frames 1 what’s not. But that’s all in the future, so The Legend Begins ReAnimation 1 lets get right to the new stuff that’s ***** Card Captor Sakura- FYI 2 As has been reported widely in the press, happing in the next couple of months on Sakura Fight Spiderman’s opening weekend of $114 cable. ***** Card Captor Sakura- CASFS Business Report 2 million beat all and looks to not be broken Gamers Corner 3 for a while. Opening in 3,615 theatres Cable’s Summer of SciFi on SciFi, Vacation Daze across the country, the movie has reached USA, TNT and Showtime **** Card Captor Sakura- Screening Room 5 the $200 million and $300 million marks It’s summer and time for new episodes Friends and Family Fan Notes 6 **** Card Captor Sakura- Videophile 8 Magical Mystery *** Card Captors- Firestorm In Our Book (Book Reviews) 15 ***** Card Captors- The Best of Friends Special Feature ***** Card Captors- End of Days Twenty-Five Years Ago at a Theater *** Tenchi Muyo 7 - Showdown near you: Star Wars *** Tenchi Muyo 8 - Time Tripping by Shane Shellenbarger 15 *** Tenchi Muyo 9 - Escape To Space Convention & Fandom The Adventures of Mini-Goddess The Gan-Chan Files Club Listings 17 © Sony Pioneer, 100 min Convention Listings 19 DVD $29.98, 13+ Convention Registration Form 19 faster than any movie in history. Marvel © Sci-Fi and Sony were more than pleased with how Whenever Keiichi leaves the house his Art Work the movie was received by the critics and of series on cable and SciFi is no girlfriend Belldandy and her sisters Urd Sherlock Front page, 2 the movie going public. As can be exception. New Friday night episodes and Skuld shrink themselves into little girl expected, they are already at work planning return to SciFi on June 7th with the debut goddesses. While they are small they play a second Spiderman movie, slated to open of Stargate SG-1’s sixth season and with the other residents of the area in May 2004. With the ongoing draw of including Gan, the rat. Or so says the back Spiderman, the debut of Star Wars Farscape’s fourth season. Episode II: Attack of the Clones fell short Moving from Showtime to SciFi, of the DVD case. In actuality Belldandy of Spidey’s record levels, but still did well Stargate SG-1’s sixth season will be rarely appears, the action focuses on Urd, considering it was in 600 fewer theatres. broadcast in wide-screen. It will air in the Skuld and Gan, the rat. © Sherlock ( Cont’d on page 9 ) ( Cont’d on page 5 ) ( Cont’d on Page 14 )
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Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 1 November 7: Tea With the Black Dragon CASFS Business Report Who’s Who This Issue FYI by R.A. MacAvoy December 5: The Two Towers by JRR Supernal Readers, BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS Tolkien Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon CASFS Sponsored Groups For more information on the Glendale New locks were purchased for $94, a Co-Editor: Sue Martin Co-Editor: Gary Swaty group contact Sue Martin at 623-939-7815 price well under the $200 allocated. These were the exact locks we wanted acquired at Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer GLENDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Film & Video Reporter: Barry Bard 1st Thursday of each month at 5959 W Other Book Groups bargain price. They were used uccessfully Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Barry Bard, Brown in Glendale at 7PM at LepreCon and worked well. Catherine Book, Craig L. Dyer, Michael June 6: The Palace by Chelsea Quinn BORDERS OTHER WORLDS BOOK LepreCon also tested out the Embassy Griffin, Shane Irons, Daryl F. Mallett, Yarbro DISCUSSION GROUP Suites Phoenix North for HexaCon and Shane Shellenbarger, Tom Tuerff, Lee July 4 - No Meeting Third Thursday at Borders, 2402 E CopperCon. Their experience was on the Whiteside, Randall Whitlock, Mike August 1: A Wrinkle in Time by Madelein Camelback at 6PM Willmoth L’Engle For more info contact Eric 602-957-6660 or whole a positive one. This bodes well for Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon September 5: Practical Demon Keeping by [email protected] HexaCon and CopperCon. Also Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Christopher Moore LepreCon’s attendance was up and their Dyer and Doug Cosper October 3: Ancient of Days by Michael BORDERS FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOK financial bottom line looks good. Contributors: Marguerite T. Murray Bishop DISCUSSION: The new Laminates and Badge clips Labeling Crew for Volume 12 Issue 2: Stephanie Bannon, Richard Bolinski, Craig Fourth Wednesday at Borders, 7320 W have been purchased and we are set in Bell Rd in Glendale. at 7PM. L. Dyer, Ray & Pinkie Gish, Sue & Jo June 26: On Basilisk Station by David that area for a while. The cost per badge Martin, Marguerite Murray, April Rice, Weber (Clip and Laminate together) is $0.17. Gary Swaty, Gus & Garrion Talbott, Bill Pick up your copy of July 24: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson Preparations for HexaCon are Whitmore August 28: Toreador by Stewart Wieck (A proceeding apace. Pre-registrations are About ConNotations: ConNotations is the ConNotations fan published newszine of the Central Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel) excellent. Space allocations will now be at these locations: Sept 25: Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter Arizona Speculative Fiction Society made using the experience of LepreCon as (CASFS) an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non- Miller a guide. profit organization. Circulation is All About Books and Comics October 30: Passage by Connie Willis Preparations for CopperCon 22 are estimated at 4,000 readers for this issue, 5060 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ For details contact Tanya 623-487-9110 moving forward. Our Guests are Author primarily CASFS members and attendees (602) 277-0757 of recent AZ sf/f conventions. From Janeen O’Kerry Guest of Honor, Barbara Hambly; Artist 810 S. Ash, Tempe, AZ Subscriptions: The newszine is currently Guest of Honor, Lubov and Music Guest (480) 858-9447 sent free of charge to anyone who has Hello, of Honor, Jordin Kare. attended a CASFS or LepreCon sponsored 4022 E. Greenway, Phoenix, AZ I write Celtic and fantasy romance, The CASFS Board has approved the convention in the last two years and to all (602) 494-1976 CASFS members. Subscriptions are avail- and my next book, SPIRIT OF THE Hotel contract for CopperCon 23 at the Amazing Discoveries MIST, will be out in July 2002. able. Cost for a six issue subscription is: Embassy Suites North also. 2545 E Speedway #155, Tucson, AZ January 2003 will see the release of USA: $12/bulk. Until Next Time Copyright: Articles, fiction, photos and (520) 320-0338 KEEPER OF THE LIGHT, and I am currently contracted for and working The Busy Scribe artwork in this issue are copyright © of the Book Connection 6434 S McClintock, on MAIDEN OF THE WINDS. author/artist and cannot be reproduced in Tempe AZ (480) 820-2953 All of these are from Dorchester any manner without their written consent. Book Exchange Plus 2601 E Bell #14, If no author or artist is credited the artwork Publishing/Leisure Books. or article is copyright ©of the Central Phoenix, AZ (602) 867-1018 Also, my family and I had a great Arizona Speculative Fiction Society. Borders Book Stores time at LepreCon and we’re looking Publication: Publications dates are 2402 E Camelback, Phoenix, AZ forward to HexaCon and CopperCon! February, April, June, August, October & (602) 957-6600 Thanks very much, December. Publication date of this issue is Janeen S. DeBoard 05/29/2002; mailing date is 06/03/2002 870 N 54th St, Chandler, AZ “Janeen O’Kerry” Advertising: ConNotations reaches (480) 961-4915 http://www.okerry.net approx. 4,000 science fiction, fantasy, 1361 N. Alma School Rd., Mesa, AZ gaming and horror fans throughout the (480) 833-2244 INFORMATION LINE: For up to date Phoenix metro area, the Southwest and information on each month’s CASFS and nationwide. Our ad rates are:Back cover/ 4555 E. 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You 4727 will retain the copyright to your work for future publication. To submit your work or Game Keeper Metro Center Mall, 9617 for more information please write to: N Metro Pkwy W., Phoenix AZ ConNotations; PO Box 62613, Phoenix, © Sherlock (602)944-2073 AZ 85082-2613 or contact us via Email at Imperial Outpost 4212 W Cactus Rd [email protected] #1111, Phoenix, AZ (602) 862-9683 What is CASFS? Contact Information: ConNotations and its contributors can be contacted by mail at Michael’s Magic 3617 E Southern What is really behind putting on a convention? What the funds raised by a convention used for? Why not attend a meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor of PO Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 Ave #8, Mesa, AZ (480) 325-7485 ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, SmerfCons and other conventions. We are a or via email at [email protected] Samurai Comics 5024 N 7th St, charitable, non-profit organization that exists to further science fiction, fantasy and Phoenix AZ 602-265-8886 science fields in Arizona. CASFS currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at 2560 W ConNotations Stalking Moon Comics & Indian School Rd in Phoenix (NW corner of I-17 and Indian School). The meetings ISSN: 1082-7765 Collectibles 5775 W Bell Rd #B-6, begin at 8PM and are held on the last Friday of the month Jan. Through Sept. And PUBLISHED: Six times a year Glendale, Arizona (602) 896-9992 on the second Friday of the month Oct through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend BY: Central Arizona Speculative Things For Thinkers 4500 E two meetings as a guest (non-member). Membership rates are $12/year plus an initial Fiction Society, PO Box 62613, Phoenix, $3 application fee and rates are pro-rated for the amount of the year remaining. For AZ 85051 Speedway Blvd #36, Tucson, AZ more info Call: Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 Webpage: www.casfs.org email: (520) 326-7679 ISSUE NUMBER: Volume 12 Issue 3 [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION: $12 for 6 ISSUES Page 2 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 rumors may or may not be true. regards to Magic revolves around its interested I sold several ebay items at over Gamer’s Corner How do I know, because I’ve been price. Wizards claims that they will sell 20 bucks each. Can you say free Diablo 2? playing it in Beta for the last few months virtual boosters online for the same price The Tournament Scene by Shane Irons and I have seen first hand what it’s like as real boosters. Before you rule this out There are a few items of note when http://www.justgoplay.com when cardboard crack moves into the as extreme there are a few things you really looking at the online tournament scene. digital arena, and let me hold no air of need to know. First of all as of this point online Sorting Through Magic the objectivity about it when I say that it is Perhaps the best feature of Magic Online tournaments will NOT affect your real life Gathering: Online good. is that unlike in real life when you win player rankings. Wizards plans on keeping New vs. Old boosters online you can use these items to the two items separate, which will make Like most good gamers I too found First off all this will not be the same bug enter future tournaments. That’s right no Magic Online a great testing grounds for myself spending countless hours building ridden realm of Shalandar that some of us more winning tournaments and opening players preparing for regionals etc. decks and battling off against countless were used to when Microprose tried its your four boosters right away, you’ll be Perhaps the most alluring aspect of opponents in what can only be considered hand and creating an online Magic game a playing with those babies in another Magic online is that there are tournaments one of the best games of all time. For those few years ago. Wizards went to Leaping tournament assuming you play limited. running about every 5-15 minutes Monday of you who not only live under a rock, but Lizzard Software (http://www.lplizard.com/) (See can we say prizes for actual prize through Sunday, which allows you to play under two rocks if you are unfamiliar with for this project, and as their web site will info). as your schedule allows. Magic (Magic the Gathering), Richard tell you the Lizzard team loves Magic. In People often claim that digital cards will Let’s not forget about drafting. In Magic Garfield was tasked with creating a two fact they loved it so much that they went never be worth their real life counterparts. online you may view all of the cards you player collectible card game that could be to Wizards with a limited working demo to In response wizards set out a press release have drafted while you continue to make played in under an hour. Magic was of prove they had the knowledge and love (available at http://www.wizards.com/ your new picks. This “draft window” can course a success and no CCG (Collectible required to code a game of this nature the default.asp?x=mtgcom/news/1) informing further be sorted by color, rarity, and type Card Game) to date has been able to come correct way. all of us about their new card redemption to further aid you in drafting. This tool is close to Magic, which has become One of the main reasons the Microprose program. Now you can cash in a set and so useful that other players will surely intimately dubbed cardboard crack. version was so bad is due to coding all of turn them into “real cash worthy” cards. miss this feature when drafting in person. First I must apologize, as there is not the AI for the one player version. They Besides where do you people live? Do Can We Say Prizes! space enough in this column to tell you knew that AI coding revolves around you not watch ebay? I made mad cash off Prizes are great! Most tournaments are 8- what Magic the Gathering is. If you truly patterns which would eventually be of selling Diablo 2 items until a year after player single elimination. They offer 8 do not know simply ask any game store figured out, and lead to excess bugs the game was released. Everquest had booster packs to the winner, and 4 to owner or visit http://www.wizards.com/ anyway, so they focused all their time to such a huge problem with “Item second place. Keep in mind that you do magic/ for more information. Instead the working out card coding logic instead of harvesters” that they actually had to warn get to use these booster packs for entry scope of this article is to cover the new useless computer AI logic that would be people and then start banning accounts fees into future tournaments. online version and why you will or why figured out eventually anyway. because they felt it was ruining the game. Weekend tournaments offer the best you won’t want to play it – to talk about Prices - What Your Local Game Store This is our world people. Digital items prizes since their events often have all of the rumors you’ve been hearing Doesn’t Want You to Know have been trading for real bucks for quite around 250 players offering 102 packs to Perhaps the biggest debate online in some time now. For those of you about its June release, and why these ( Cont’d on page 7 )
Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 3 Arizona in 2004 Westercon 57 Bid July 2-5, 2004
It is time for another Arizona Westercon. Please support us and help us bring you the best Arizona Westercon of the new millennium.
Our site will be the beautiful Wigwam Resort, 300 Wigwam Blvd, Litchfield Park, AZ located just 20 minutes west of downtown Phoenix and 25 minutes west of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. All rooms overlook lush manicured gardens, golf course, tennis courts or pool and are nestled amid 463 beautifully landscaped acres
The Wigwam is an award winning resort: Mobil Guide Four Star Award, AAA Four Diamond Award, Mobil Guide Four Star Award – The Arizona Kitchen, AAA Four Diamond – The Arizona Kitchen
Time is short, the vote will be over the 4th of July weekend. We need your suppor to bring Westercon 57 to Arizona.
Our Room rates are $105 which includes gratuity for NOW is the time to make your voice heard and bellman, check in/out and maid service as well as unlimited use of the Health Facilites, Valet and Resort Parking, Bicycles, Shuttle to Wigwam Outlet Mall, Croquet, Putting VOTE Green, Basketball Court and In-room Coffee for the AZ in 2004 Westercon Bid!
Pre-supporting memberships: $10
Friend of the Bid: $50 Includes voting fees at the 2002 Westercon and, if necessary, a supporting membership in the LA 2002 Westercon Bid Sponsor: $100 Includes all privileges of Friend of the Bid as well as free attendance, if desired, at the Locus Magazine Awards Banquet when we win.
There will be a graduated scale of conversion to full membership in the Arizona 2004 Westercon depending on the level of pre support. Check our website at www.az-sf.org for more details.
We also are looking for fans and/or professionals interested in supporting the bid by being an active member of the bid committee. Please contact us at Arizona in 2004, PO Box 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082, Email: [email protected] Craig Dyer at (602)973-2341 - Email: [email protected] or Mike Willmoth at (480) 945-6890 - Email: [email protected]
Page 4 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 the changes made for the film and Spirit Stallion of the Cimmeron SF Tube Talk ( Cont’d from page 1 ) divergence from the established history of Screening Room Voices: Matt Damon, James 9 pm ET/PT time slot with Farscape the character can be viewed as a sort of Cromwell, Bryan Adams and moving back an hour to 10 pm ET/PT. Forty Years of Web-Swinging, What If? The strengths of the film Those of you who haven’t been watching Wall-Crawling ActionSpider-Man outweigh the weaknesses. Probably the Daniel Studi the series on Showtime but in syndication by Shane Shellenbarger biggest debate among film fans will be Directors: Kelly Asbury and will have missed a whole season which whose the better villain, Willem Dafoe as Lorna Cook has seen the downfall of the Tokra, the It s a shame that it’s taken forty years the Green Goblin or Jack Nickelson as the Writer: John Fusco defeat of Colonel Frank Simmons (John for Marvel Comics greatest superhero, Joker (I vote for Dafoe.) Release Date: May 24 2002 DeLancie) and the departure/ascension of Spider-Man, to appear on the silver Sam Raimi’s direction is perfect for this Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks). Joining screen. At the same time, this film makes film and he has been signed to direct the Rating: G the team will be Jonas Quinn (Corrin the wait worthwhile and co-creators Stan next two sequels. Casting of the principals Genre: Animation Nemec), who appeared in the season five Lee and Steve Ditko can be proud that was spot-on and the cameos were a hoot Run Time: 82 Minutes episode “Meridian”. He is an their baby has gotten into such a great look for Stan The Man Lee as a souvenir Disttributor: DreamWorks archeologist/scientist who has left his vehicle. It’s doubtful that an earlier film vendor, Lucy Lawless (Xena on Xena) as a world in part because of the events that could have contained all of the elements punk rocker who thinks that a man with led to Daniel Jackson’s departure. Starting needed to create this near-perfect tribute eight arms is sexy, Bruce Campbell This film is a triumph for art and off the season is the two parter to the wisecracking wall-crawler. It has a (Autolycus, the King of Thieves on Xena animation. The movements of the horses “Redemption” where Teal’c is reunited great script, an accomplished group of and the title character in TVs Jack of All were natural. The graphics smooth and with his son after a tragedy and Earth actors, a director steeped in the mythos of Trades, as well as the star of the movie, crisp. The colors were clear and bright. comes under attack by the Goa’uld. In Marvel, and a Special Effects group that Army of Darkness, the third film in a trilogy Judging from the credits it seems to be an “Descent”, the SG-1 team is trapped in a made the impossible appear possible. directed by Sam Raimi ) as the cage fight interesting mix of traditional animation Goa’uld mother ship that has crashed into Tobey Maguire portrays Peter Parker’s announcer, and Ted Raimi (Joxer the techniques and CGI. the ocean. In “Frozen”, the discovery of a innocence to fumbling perfection, Kirsten Mighty on Xena and the director’s A purist could quibble over the use of frozen woman near where the Antarctic Dunst conveys herself believably as girl- brother) as J. Jonah Jameson’s stargate leads to the SG-1 team being next-door Mary-Jane Watson, and Willem beleaguered assistant, Hoffman. J. Jonah infected by a mysterious illness. Dafoe blends desperate scientist with Jameson is portrayed to desk-pounding “Nightwalkers” sees the SG-1 team ruthless madman to create a multi-faceted perfection by J. K. Simmons (Police investigate a scientist with connections to Psychiatrist Emil Skoda on TV’s Law and the Goa’uld and find a small town whose Order and as the voice of the yellow M & inhabitants are part of a secret experiment. M in the commercials.) In “Abyss”, O’Neill is captured and Spider-Man has action enough for the tortured by the Goa’uld and receives a kid in all of us and intelligence enough for visit from an old friend. In “The Other the fan in most of us. True Believers Guys”, a team of scientists (including assemble at your local theatre and enjoy. DreamWorks presents the animated feature SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE Enterprise’s John Billingsley) must help Nuff Said! CINARRON rescue the SG-1 team that has been http//www.marvel.com/ © DreamWorks captured by the Goa’uld. http//hubcap.clemson.edu/~ellisom/ human expressions on the horses, but it At the end of Farscape’s third season, biomimeticmaterials/files/ was either that or have the horses talk. we saw John left behind as Aeryn Sun spiderbiology.htm The writer chose the expressions. It departed and Moya was sucked into a http//www.spiderman.sonypictures.com/ worked well. wormhole of unknown destination. In the http//www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/ The story involves the relationship season opener, “Crichton Kicks”, spiderman.html between the horse and two humans, the Crichton’s solitary existence on an ancient http//www.spiderfan.org/ soldier who wants to break him and a Leviathan is shattered when mercenaries http//superherohype.com/spider-man/ young brave who ultimately befriends him. storm the ship, intent on harvesting its http//www.comicboards.com/smb/ The backdrop is the Old West with its flesh. The episode takes place some time http//www.upcomingmovies.com/ Indian wars, wild horses and wilder men. after the season finale and Crichton has spiderman.html character. Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben Ultimately Spirit wins over both men, been living pretty much by himself long http//www.thespidermanmovie.com/ and Rosemary Harris as Aunt May give finds freedom and love, and lives happily enough to grow a beard.. Following is the Actors/Actors.html caring performances that never steps over ever after. How he gets there is a great two parter “What Was Lost” where the http//66.197.135.21/cgi-bin/archive/ the line into saccharine sweet story. – Gary Swaty crew’s reunion is endangered when fullnews.cgi?newsid1020714133,60617, schmaltziness. Crichton falls under the control of http//www.geocities.com/Hollywood/7941/ Not that the film isn t without its flaws. Commandant Grayza’s mysterious and Peter Parker’s scientific abilities are talked http//www.snyder-ditko.com/ dangerous allure. In “Lava’s a Many about, but never demonstrated, Mary-Jane Splendored Thing”, the crew becomes saves herself on the cable car too easily entrapped in a lava-filled cave after an and she doesn’t put together the clues of MEDIABURN.NET emergency landing and fall prey to a the Parker/Spider-Man identity until the mercenary squad with a hidden agenda. end of the movie, spiders spinnerettes don The E-Zine to write home about New characters this season include Sikozu t spin webs from anyplace near their (Raelee Hill) who finds Crichton in the jointed appendages (in the comic books, season opener and Commandant Grayza Peter Parker invented the web fluid and the who was introduced in the latter part of web shooters), the history of Mary-Jane season three. Gone are Crais and it is also Watson and Gwen Stacy are used almost rumored that Jool (Tammi MacIntosh) will interchangeably (the bridge scene), and also depart early in the season. As with the biggest deviation that I won’t mention Stargate SG-1, Farscape will air in wide- in hopes of keeping the spoilers to a screen format starting with this season. minimum, but if you’ve read any of the To fill up their three hour Friday block, comic books you ll know immediately what Articles, Merchandise, Downloads SciFi will begin airing Night Visions, the I m talking about. In spite of these FOX attempt at a Twilight Zone like problems and other nits too small to pick, http://www.mediaburn.net (Cont’d on page 12 ) Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 5 Westercon 42 was absolutely delightful. shirt right off my back. How the heck was Bradley, Tom Clareson, Brian Daley, Where George and Rob introduced to me I supposed to know that THAT was Sprague & Catherine de Camp, Avram Fan Notes to the professional side of writing, the Harlan Ellison? (Harlan later that weekend Davidson, Scott Imes, DeForrest Kelley, by Daryl F. Mallet publishing, the authors, and my eventual came to my book signing—one of the few Gary Louie, Frank McConnell, Roddy career, Bruce introduced me to fandom and who did—and we’ve been good since McDowell, Robert “Ozzie” Osman, Bill conventions. He introduced me to people then.) Rotsler, Rick Sneary, G. Harry Stine, A. E. Sometimes it sucks being one of the who loved the writing, the books, the Bruce took me around and introduced van Vogt, Lynn Williams, Roger Zelazny, young ones. movies, the toys as much as I did. But, me to the other pros at the convention, Paul Edwin Zimmer… Why? Because at family gatherings, more importantly, he opened up a whole some of whom I’d already met, like David And just in 2002, we’ve lost Jack you have to sit at the fold-up card table, world to me…a world in which I actually Brin, Greg Benford, Sheila Finch, etc., and Haldeman, Cele Goldsmith, Cherry Wilder, with the Slurpee cup, the Bugs Bunny FIT IN, where I didn’t feel like an outsider, some of whom I’d not, like Jonathan V. R. A. Lafferty, John R. Pierce, Henry Slesar, bowl and the mismatched silverware. And where it was OKAY TO BE WEIRD as part Post, Vernor Vinge, Dean Lambe, etc. He Jon Gustafson, Damon Knight, Joan then, one day, you get invited to sit at the of my living! (I was already playing in the then introduced me to the convention staff Harrison, George Alec Effinger, Richard Big Table, with the grownups and you SCA, but that was a hobby; this was not and other fen/Fen…Len & June Moffatt, J. Cowper… think, How cool is this? But stop and just a hobby, but would become my Shaun Lyon, Chaz Boston Baden, Forry Ackerman is critically ill and is not remember that someone at the Big Table is vocation.) Christian Truelove, Glenda Monroe, Alice expected to recover (he is at Kaiser probably gone in order for there to be Who knew? I had only ever heard of & Marty Massoglia, Pearl Strickler, Ron & Permanente Hospital in Hollywood room for you there. Forry Ackerman, SuperFan, the guy who Val Ontell, etc. I think he told them that I (Sunset Blvd. at Vermont), in Building H, Fortunately, in the world of Fandom, the got the first Hugo Award ever, and I had was the Green-Behind-the-Gills Newbie, Room 474A, which is in I.C.U. and would table just expands and contracts previously met Jim Blaylock, Tim Powers with special instructions to keep an eye on appreciate calls and letters and visits!)… concurrently with the number of people and Dean Koontz in my hometown area. I me (so as not to piss off people like Harlan And now The Bruce is gone, too, and invited. Occasionally, though, someone never knew there were legion of fen and again!). the obits and remembrances written by who was at the Big Table before you does Fen! And here they were, mixing it up with Needless to say, my first convention others on the LASFS site and in Locus die. the pros. I was nervous going to this experience was marvelous. Although I help me know more about the man I was Bruce Pelz died the day before I wrote unknown event, where I would be asked to didn’t have the exact words at the time, my privileged to call colleague and friend. this installment of the “ProNotes” column, get up in front of people and talk about friend and Arizona fan Wil Macdonald So, all of you—both fen/Fen and pros— so I asked Stephanie Bannon, my editor, if writing. What did I know about writing? sums up exactly how I felt: “How long has who have not yet gone to the great I could write a “FanNotes” column this My then-fiancee-now-ex, Annette and I this been going on, and why didn’t Convention Beyond, I’m sure this isn’t month instead. had breakfast at a little diner down the anybody tell me sooner!?!?!” said enough times to enough people. I Because, you see, Bruce was a fan…or, street from the convention hotel. There When I moved to Arizona in 1993, I love you all. You’re the greatest. Thank more appropriately, a Fan. (I’m still not was this guy there that I THOUGHT didn’t really know anybody. I had already you so much for your years of friendship, sure what the “official” distinction looked familiar from pictures in Locus, met a bunch of the fen/Fen of Arizona at support, criticism, arguments, ridicule, between a fan and a Fan is, but I know it having breakfast at the counter. the World Fantasy Convention in Tucson good times, good food and drink, great when I see it, and Bruce was definitely in “Honey,” I said. “I think that’s Larry in 1991, but didn’t really know most of conversations, help, and encouragement! the Fan category. This, of course, is not to Niven!” them. I remembered Adam Niswander, You can’t choose your genetic family, but be confused with fen and Fen, which, I am Smiling indulgently at her crazy who had made the leap from bookstore you can choose your extended family, and told, can alternately mean a female fan or boyfriend, she said, “Go say hello.” owner and reader to pro writer, and I’d this is the best extended family I can think Fan, or is the plural for a group of fans or I walked up tentatively and, in a rare been running into Mike Willmoth, Jean of. Fans…as well as low, flat, swampy land; a moment for me, couldn’t think of a thing to Goddin, and Jim & Doreen Webbert at My heart goes out to Elayne and Cecy bog or marsh; and is also the name of one say. I just stood there, grinning at him like cons in California for years, but I didn’t Pelz (and Chocolate Moose). Bruce, I’ll of my dogs.) an idiot. know how to reach any of them when I miss you, old friend. I met Bruce way back in 1988. I was a He very slowly turned to me and smiled first got here. Jammie had come to one of And I fear there will be too many more college student and working at the J. and said, “Yes?” my book signings at WFC, remembered obits I’ll be reading in the years to come. Lloyd Eaton Collection at the University of “Are…are…are you Larry Niven?” I me, and invited me to something called Sometimes it sucks being one of the California, Riverside. It’s the largest managed to blurt out. DarkCon. There, I met Wil Macdonald, young ones. cataloged collection of science fiction, “Yes,” he said quietly. Laura Modine, Jeff Jennings, and Nola fantasy and horror materials in “Wow! What do you say to a guy Yergen, which led me to the Dark Ones, the institutional hands in the world. Bruce Bruce Pelz whose books you grew up reading?” I Corsairs, LARPing, and got me back into was a librarian at UCLA and a friend of my asked stupidly. the SCA, which led to a wonderful ex- Aug. 11, 1936 - May 9, 2002 bosses and mentors, George Slusser and “How about hello?” Niven responded girlfriend, an even more wonderful current Robert Reginald. I’d just sold my first instantly, which made a lot of sense after girlfriend, and a great group of friends book ever to Borgo Press; it was a second he said it. (Smitty, Ethan Moe, Cody Barker, Rachel edition of a science fiction and fantasy Grinning sheepishly, I said, “Hello.” Phethean, Brendan Maclear, Julie Cain, awards compilation that Robert Reginald “Bring your lady over.” etc.) [so—see?—fandom CAN really had put together some ten years previous I waved Annette over and we had change your life!]. to that. It was no big deal in the world of breakfast with Larry Freakin’ Niven! In a When I first found Locus at the Eaton writing; certainly nothing compared to nondescript diner somewhere in Anaheim, Collection, I read every issue, cover to what other local Los Angeles-based California. And Larry bought us cover, from #1 (actually, I think there were writers like Larry Niven or Jerry Pournelle breakfast! (One more thank you, Larry!) 2 non-numbered issues?). Harlan Ellison’s or Ray Bradbury—the REAL writers— Bruce Pelz, Fanzine Archivist, How cool is that?! well-written obituaries made me laugh and were doing. It was just a tiny reference Fanhistorian, Fellow of NESFA, Then, at the convention, I stumbled cry and feel like I really got a chance to book. Worldcon Chair, "The Elephant," around and accidentally met Jerry know those who had passed before I was But Bruce felt that it was enough to send Fandom's Institutional Memory, Pournelle, who stopped to talk to me. ME! invited to the party, folks like Frank me an invitation to be a guest at passed away the evening of May 9th, ME, the fresh-faced, young punk, 20 year Herbert, Ted Sturgeon, etc. Westercon 42 in Anaheim, California, in 2002. old, just-published-his-first-piece-of- I don’t want to read obits any more. But 1989. Bruce is survived by his wife writing-which-was-so-not-important- we’ve lost so many since then...so many “What’s a Westercon 42?” I asked, not Elayne, his daughter Cecy, and compared-to-the-great-fiction-he-was- I’ve been privileged to know. Too many… having a clue what fandom was, nor that innumerable friends of all ages. writing writer! Just off the top of my head, I can think of the convention circuit existed. But Messages, reminiscences, et cetera Then Bruce showed up and rescued me literally dozens…Wendy Ackerman, Anaheim was just the next town from may be posted to the following web from an altercation I got into with Harlan Margaret Aldiss, Poul Anderson, Isaac where I grew up, so I was intrigued. address: Ellison, who was busily trying to buy my Asimov, Ian Ballentine, Jean-Pierre He laughed and the rest is history. http://www.lasfs.org/lasfs/bruce/ Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade T- Barricelli, Joan Benford, Marion Zimmer Page 6 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 Gamers’ Corner (cont’d from page 3 ) several recent (last month or two) articles Microprose. While these two games look words cards with the lure ability (as of this in regards to Cox cable’s problems. The alike there are some differences in the writing) are pretty much the only cards not the winner, 50 to second, 26 to 3rd and 4th, city of Tempe threatened not to renew interface that could cause you to take working correctly. However, you should 14 to 5th – 8th, and 8 to 9th – 16th place. their contract due to lack of customer mana burn, or pass on your combat phase still assign all of your creatures to block it, Excellent when compared to normal support recently. by accident. instead of cheating the system. If you get tournaments. As of beta it appears that F Bombs – What Every Parent Should Also make sure you really know the caught it is loosely alluded that you may online storefronts also sponsor these Know rules. The most common complaints about lose your account for un-sportsman like events offering a full real life booster to Perhaps the biggest negative on Magic bugs etc, are due to people not really conduct. the winner as well. It simply does not get online is the amount of foul language and understanding the rules, and losing a Next issue we look at German superstar any better than this. overall bad player attitudes which, of tournament because of that is not the most Wolfgang Kramer. We will look at several You do not, however, get any boosters course also frequent real life play. While fun. of his past Spiel des Jahres winners and you want. Prizes are always given from the Wizards and Lizard have been making What About The Bugs? take a peek at what his future has to offer. most current set(s) being played in the every effort to filter out bad works players As far as bugs are concerned Leaping Until then send all comments or questions tournament. If more than one booster is continually find ways to get around them, Lizard has done a great job, and it appears to [email protected] and visit http:/ present or you are playing standard your the four-letter F bomb being the most that most of the bugs have been worked /www.justgoplay.com for detailed reviews packs will be split evenly among all prevalent. out. Keep in mind that wizards expects you and pictures of other great board games. available boosters in the newest Magic Wizards has a press release about the to report any bug, and to act as if the bug block. level of security being very high with doesn’t exist until they fix it. In other The Difference With Deck building Magic online, yet they have not been able The worst part of real life magic had to to master the problems have been sorting through thousands of with bad language when magic cards looking for those last few there will obviously be cards you need to add to your deck. With younger children playing Magic online you can filter your cards by Magic online as well. color, type, or even a keyword search that Let’s just hope they can works very well. keep hackers out better As you are selecting cards to add to than the chat rooms do. your deck, Magic online tells you how Wizards has appointed many lands, and creatures it contains, and Adepts (room monitors) has a stats button that will further tell you for help and to monitor your deck composition, average mana language problems, but cost, and what the chances are for drawing most language problems cards in your opening hand and then each appear within draft or the turn thereafter. This is a very nice feature two player game indeed. windows. Be aware that Individual decks can then be saved, each game you play is modified and/or traded to other players assigned a number, and who can then use them assuming they recorded on your have all of the required cards. Strategy computer (for future play web sites now list winning decks and then mistake review), but you provide the magic online deck file with can also send it in to them. report people ruining the It would have been nice had Thunder gaming experience for Lizzard provided a way for an online store you. Supposedly these (selling singles) to read this file so that they could automate future card buying players will then abilities; however, as of beta these files are lose their not easy to understand without the Magic accounts and all online program to interpret them. of their paid for Lag cards with it. So far there have been several people This should help complaining about enormous amounts of things out in the server lag during the beta test. In my future. experience lag time has been virtually non- Newbie existent. While I do use a cable modem, Mistakes which supports very high Internet I sincerely connection speeds, I think most of the lag suggest you complaints are due to bad Internet play a few of the connection services. I know that my free games and problems were do to Cox cable’s go through the inexperience since they just recently tutorials even if started offering the service themselves you’re a real life instead of using a third party. veteran of the Other players using Qwest, or other game. To put modem Internet providers were probably things simply experiencing the same issues most of the there is a slight time as well. It seems that any company learning curve can promise high connection speeds, but especially for the government very rarely makes Internet people who are providers prove it. used to playing To cite my source search any online the older version Arizona newspaper, and you will find of Magic from Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 7 Along with the movie itself, the DVD archival footage plus an additional 30 knowledge of the house’s past. The atmo- contains a lot of additional items. The minutes of material compiled from the sphere builds as the Grace’s daughter Videophile deleted scenes are wonderful and really production of that special. There is Anne (Alakina Mann) claims to see first a Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone should have been included in the movie convention footage and talk show clips mysterious boy and then other people in Warner’s Home Video itself. Since there are only five of them I from when the TV series debuted featuring the house, there are sounds with no DVD $26.99, VHS $24.99 wonder how much more footage is out the actors as well as some raw footage apparent cause and nothing is eactly what May 28, 2002 there (I’m imagining hours and hours....) from the production. To make the it appears to be. When Grace finds a photo perhaps we could eventually see a much supplemental disk complete is the BBC album full of pictures of past residents of Harry Potter is out on video May 28, longer director’s version with all the Omnibus Documentary tribute to Douglas the home. 2002. I will not review the main film, as, if deleted scenes reinserted. Aside from the Adams that was produced after his This is a real treat. Reminiscent of my obligatory cast and crew interviews the favorite horror/suspense film, the original you haven’t seen the film you have at untimely death last year. It is a fitting remainder of the extras seem to be aimed at The Haunting, it is chilling without least heard opinions on this film (or you video tribute to Douglas Adams with the same age group that the books origin- needing to rely on glitzy special effects. live in a cave with no modern conven- archival interview footage and tributes to ally targeted. There is a trip to Diagon Throughout the film the suspense builds iences.) The film is one of the five (Since Adams. - Lee Whiteside this changes very fast these days, I’m alley where you can go to Gringots for quietly towards a marvelous conclusion your wizard money and then off to that, even though I have suspected it, was being safe. It was number 2) highest Dracula - The Dark Prince grossing films in history and is extremely Ollivander’s to be chosen by a wand ( I still a treat. The performances are great, blew up the store several times before I Artisan, 89 min, R this, rather than Moulon Rouge, is the faithful to the best selling book. VHS $44.99, DVD $24.98 The internal special features are fun. picked the right one), a trip through the performance for which Nicole Kidman shcool itself, and enough more for an should have received her Ocsar There are a number of scenes that were cut Those looking for a vampire movie from the movie and are available in this evenings entertainment all on its own. nomination. The atmosphere produces The VHS version seems to have only need to look elsewhere. This Dracula takes goosebumps, all in all this is the best DVD, that in my opinion should not have th the movie and some of the deleted scenes. us to the 16 century and the real Dracula, suspense thriller I’ve seen in years. - been cut, even for time considerations. Vlad Dracul, the Prince of Rumania. These scenes tend to help explain the plot The DVD-ROM PC features require an Stephanie L Bannon Internet connection in order to access The film covers Vlad’s life from his them and the included software to play boyhood as a captive of the Turkish Back To The Secret Garden them locked up two of our computers Sultan to his escape and then his Artisan, 100 min, G before it successfully installed on a third. campaign to free his country and keep it VHS $14.98, DVD $19.98 On tne other hand, you can enjoy the free from the Turks. We learn of the features simply by using your Internet intrigue, betrayal and politics of the time, The Secret Garden was one of my browser and going to the Harry Potter brother against brother, Catholic church favorite books when I was growing up and website. Kids and adults alike will enjoy against Orthodox church and all against I was intrigued to see a movie sequel to enrolling in Hogwarts and being sorted by the invading Turks. Is he a hero or a the original. Back To The Secret Garden the Sorting Hat. monster, well, it depends on your point of gives us an updated but still period I look forward to years of enjoyment view. version of the story. with this DVD just as I enjoy re-reading Rudolf Martin stars as Vlad the Impaler It is 1946 and Misslewaith Manor has the books regularly. Harry Potter, in the and he is a good choice, his dark brooding become an orphanage run by Lady Mary books or on the screen, is a bonafide good looks make Vlad both attractive and Craven (Cherie Lunghi), the orphan of the classic. - Stephanie L Bannon frightening at the same time. It is easy to original story. Leaving the orphanage and see him as the loving father and devoted the secret garden, in the charge of Miss The HitchHiker’s Guide to the Galaxy husband but the underlying darkness Sowerby (Joan Plowright), Lady Mary makes his brutality utterly believable. Warner/BBC Home Video, 180 min, NR travels to the USA. While there Lady Others in the cast include Jane March as and contribute to continuity of the film. DVD $34.98 Mary finds orphaned Lizzie (Camilla Belle) The tour of Hogwarts is fun and Vlad’s wife Lidia, Michael Sutton as Vlad’s and sends her to England in exchange for somewhat interesting and is aimed at the brother Radu, Roger Daltrey as King a British orphan who needs medical This is the DVD release that fans of Janos, and Peter Weller as Father Stefan younger viewer (pre-teen). Though an Douglas Adam’s HitchHiker’s Guide to the attention in the US. She leaves the key to adult might enjoy going through Diagon This film earns its R rating for a lot of the garden with Miss Sowerby but thee Galaxy have been waiting for. Not only violence and bloodshed, though none of it Alley and other features they are definitely does it include the full episodic original gate disappears and a new one must be aimed at the younger viewer and do not is gratuitous, this is a film that covers a verion of the TV miniseries but it also installed. challenge an adult. violent time in our history. I found the film includes a wealth of supplemental material While the garden is no longer secret it For the film buff there are the theatrical a fascinating telling of a story that has also isn’t as lush as it was when young about Adams and the whole HitchHiker’s trailers and interviews with cast and crew. been appropriated by Hollywood and Mary first took care of it. The children are Guide phenomenom. The DVD-ROM PC features do have twisted to make it the basis for monster allowed into the garden only on Sunday’s The six part, three hour plus, miniseries some problems. The internal software to movies .I truly think it could have done and it is no longer the magical place it was used view the DVD-ROM PC features was appears on video in it’s original form for without the cheap shot at the end that when Mary was young. In fact the garden not real user friendly. You do need an the first time in a very good quality tries to tie the real Vlad with the fictional is dying, not from neglect but from lack of internet connection and a microphone transfer. It looks much better than the vampire but other than that this is happiness. Lizzie sneaks into the garden hooked up to the PC to use all the features early 90’s video and laserdisc releases. It definitely worth watching. - Stephanie L and finds the magical door though she effectively. When you get to them they tells the story of Arthur Dent as he travels Bannon cannot open it. After she finds the key she add a lot to the fun of this video. through time and space with the aid of sneaks into the garden again. When Miss Just buying Harry Potter is a must for Ford Prefect and the HitchHiker’s Guide to The Others Sowerby learns that Lizzie can find the fantasy fans of all ages, but the added the Galaxy. Made in the early 1980’s, it had Miramax, 104 min, PG-13 magical door she lets Lizzie work in the features increase the value to a recom- a slightly bigger budget than Doctor Who VHS $106.99 , DVD $29.99 garden. Befriended by Robert (Alec mendation by me as a must own for of that era (but not that much more) and Roberts ) Lizzie brings the garden back to everybody. - Barry Bard covers parts of the original radio series The film begins with a scream as Grace life. David Warner appears as Dr. (Nicole Kidman) awakens from what we and the first two novels of the series (no Snodgrass, one of the instructors. assume is a horrible nightmare.... or is it? It Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone one version of the story is the same). Yes, This is one of those rare film sequels is 1945 and the servants have disappeared, Warner Home Video, 152 min, PG Zaphod Beeblebrox’s second head looks that lives up to the original. The VHS $24.99, DVD $26.99 leaving Grace and her two children on their atmosphere is faithful to the original and pathetic, but Marvin and the Guide own in the fog enshrouded house. Three animations still look great and Simon children, as well as their parents, will enjoy We all know the story of Harry Potter strangers arrive , apparently in response to the film. - Stephanie L Bannon Jones IS Arthur Dent. Grace’s ad for new servants, led by house- by now and the best selling book has now But the real joy in having the DVD is been translated into one of the top gross- keeper Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), the extra material contained within. You ing movies of all time. The release of this and it is a toss up who is stranger, Grace get the Making of HHG special made in the film on video is anticipated and rightly so. with her overprotect-iveness towards her early 90’s with lots of interviews and children or the servants with their seeming Page 8 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 © Paramount
from the first movie plus rumored several years on getting the movie going July 12 - Reign of Fire 24 Frames (cont’d from page 1 ) appearances by Nightcrawler and Angel. and now has Warner Bros. involved with July 19 - Stuart Little 2, Halloween: Also in various stages of development are Wolfgang Peterson lined up to direct the Resurrection, Eight Legged Freaks Even before it opened, George Lucas Sub-Mariner (Universal), Ghost Rider film. The deal has come about from a July 26 - Austin Powers in Goldmember admitted it wouldn’t bring in as many (Sony), Fantastic Four (Fox), Dr. Strange detailed outline of the script that will July - The Powerpuff Girls Movie dollars as the webslinger, but he wanted to (Dimension), Iron Man (New Line), Prime combine elements from the original Aug 7 - Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost keep his movie in the better theatres. (Universal), and Punisher and Iron Fist Ender’s Game novel as well as the Dreams Lucas has to be disappointed that Clones from Artisan. companion novel, Ender’s Shadow. Aug 16 - Pluto Nash, The Tuxedo could only be found in less than two With Marvel Superheros bringing in the There’s still a long ways to go before it Fall Release Dates: Harry Potter and dozen digital theatres across the country. big bucks at the box-office, many fans are hits the screens, but this looks like it may the Chamber of Secrets (Nov 15), James With this movie being the first fully digital wondering where the hell are the DC finally happen. Bond 20: Die Another Day (Nov22), Star live-action movie (albeit with a ton of Superhero movies? Warner Bros. has had Of course the latest trailer release that Trek: Nemesis (Dec 13), Lord of the special effects), having only a limited several takes on Superman and Batman as has fans talking is for The Matrix Rings: The Two Towers (Dec 18 or Dec number of places to see it that way is not well as Catwoman in development, but Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, 25) what he envisioned when he committed to none have yet been given the firm go- both scheduled for 2003. In an interview Scooby Doo - Sarah Michelle Gellar, the digital format. If you have a chance to ahead. The closest to happening looks to with SciFi Wire, Joel Silver talks about Freddie Prinze Jr, Matthew Lillard, and see it digitally, do so. Nevertheless, Clones be a Catwoman movie starring Ashley what to expect from the movies in the way Linda Cardellini bring the cartoon opened with $80 million for the opening Judd. Latest reports are that French of special effects in light of how the characters to life along with a CGI Scooby weekend (plus $30 million on it’s Thursday director Pitof has been signed to direct the effects from the first movie have been Doo. Rowan Atkinson also stars as the opening day) and looks to continue to movie with a script by John Rogers. In used all over the place: “For a while ... I dastardly bad guy. Advance word is that draw in big numbers for the next several recent interviews, Judd has commented bet they [the Wachowski brothers] it’s not very good, but it will still draw in weeks. It also drew in $69 million in other that she hopes the movie will start filming thought it was flattering. But after a while, lots of people who grew up watching the parts of the world which didn’t include big this year. A Superman movie is currently in they kind of got angry about it. So they cartoon misadventures of the original markets such as Japan and Korea. development with J.J. Abrams (Felicity, decided that, in these two movies, they Scooby Gang. With the big success of Spiderman, Alias) writing a script. Rumors are that would create visual effects that could Lilo & Stitch - This new Disney movie Marvel is looking forward to their other Brendan Fraser may take on the role but never be copied. So we have done visual isn’t based on a fairy tale, but tells a tale of superhero movies on the horizon. Next up no casting is likely to happen until the effects for the movie that, because of the a young girl’s close encounter with the is Daredevil, starring Ben Affleck as the script is finalized. Warner Bros. has likely time that we took to make them and the galaxy’s most wanted extraterrestrial. Lilo blind superhero, Jennifer Garner (Alias) paid for a half dozen or more scripts for cost, will never be seen again. So I really is a lonely Hawaiian girl who adopts a as Elektra. It is scheduled to debut on possible Superman movies in the last think that the bar has been raised so high small ugly ‘dog,’ whom she names Stitch. February 14th next year. It will feature several years, so don’t hold your breath that, you know, there is no bar. This will Stitch would be the perfect pet if he cameos by Marvel legend Stan Lee as well waiting for it. Less certain is the next take end the way movies have been made up to weren’t in reality a genetic experiment who as director Kevin Smith, who recently has on Batman. They have a live action now, because they can go no further.” has escaped from an alien planet and been writing for the Daredevil comic. In Batman Beyond movie in development as Let’s not forget The Lord of the Rings crash-landed on Earth. Through her love, writing about the movie on his website, well as a Batman: Year One project and a this issue. As announced, a special faith and unwavering belief in “ohana” Smith claimed that this Daredevil may be possible Batman/Superman movie. Also preview of “The Two Towers” was added (the Hawaiian concept of family), Lilo “the best comic book movie we’ve seen in serious development is a Wonder to the end of “The Fellowship of the helps unlock Stitch’s heart and gives him since... maybe The Rocketeer”. Also Woman movie which at one time had Ring” in March. New Line also the one thing he was never designed to currently filming for a June, 2003 release is Sandra Bullock inked to it. I’m sure the announced an August 6th DVD release of have – the ability to care for someone else. The Hulk. Directed by Ang Lee, it stars Warner Bros. accountants are looking at the theatrical version of the first movie It stars the voices of Tia Carrere, David Eric Bana as Bruce Banner/The Hulk and the Spiderman box-office numbers and are with a ten minute preview of “The Two Ogden Stiers, Zoe Caldwell, Kevin also stars Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, hoping that their movie people can get Towers” as well as two hours of Michael Richardson and Daveigh Chase. Sam Elliott, and Josh Lucas. The teaser something out in the next couple of years supplemental material. However, it will be Minority Report - Based on the short trailer released with Spiderman has fans that will be that successful. followed on November 12th by a “Special story by Philip K. Dick, Minority Report already anticipating this movie adaptation. Recently turning up at Warner Bros. is Extended Edition” which will have 30 is set in a 2054 Washington D.C. judicial Also coming in May 2003 is X2, the next the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s minutes more footage than what was system in which killers are arrested and X-Men movie. It returns all the X-Men Ender’s Game. Card has been working for shown in the theatres. This will come with convicted before they commit murder using a psychic technology. Tom Cruise four DVDs is the head of this Precrime unit and is with the himself accused of the future murder of a movie taking man he hasn’t even met. Directed by up two of Steven Spielberg, it also stars Colin them and Farrell, Samantha Morton, Peter over six hours Stormare and Max Von Sydow. of Men in Black 2 - Looking to set new supplemental Box Office records over July 4th weekend material The is the sequel to the popular Men in Black extended movie. Will Smith (J) and Tommy Lee version will Jones (K) return to fight a new alien threat likely come spearheaded by Lara Flynn Boyle as with an “R” Serleena. Lots of good bits and alien rating for wackiness is apparent in the new trailer. more graphic Halloween: Resurrection - In this latest violence. edition of the Halloween series, a publicity Movie stunt webcast of kids lured into Michael previews for Myers’ house turns violent, and the June & July viewers can only communicate to the June 14 - victims via a portable e-mail device. Scooby Doo Eight Legged Freaks - The Giant Spider June 21 - movie to end all Giant Spider movies. In Lilo & Stitch, this sendup of monster movies, the Minority residents of a rural Arizona mining town Report discover that an unfortunate chemical spill July 3 - Men in Black 2 ( Cont’d on back page ) Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 9 Arizona’s Largest Gaming Convention MORE GAMING HexaCon 12 SPACE BIGGER LOCATION July 26-28, 2002 Embassy Suites North, Phoenix We have a new, LARGER site and plan to have all our regular features such as RPGA events, Magic ThG, Chess, Computer Gaming, LARPs, Board Games, Miniatures, the Miniature Painting Contest, our popular Used Game Auction, Consuite and Anime plus as many new events as we can think of. If there is something you would like to see at HexaCon or if you want to schedule a game, please contact us at [email protected] or 602-973-2341 Memersership Rates: Miniatures Painting Used Game Auction Anime Room Contest $10 at HexaCon 11 We are running a 24-hour anime room, Bring your miniatures to enter in our I’m sure everyone is lookig forward to from beginning to end of con, mostly $15 July 30 - Dec 31, 2001 contest or simply stop by the Dealer’s our wonderful Used Game Auction. Bring game-related series. So if you need to $20 Jan 1 - June 30, 2002 Room to admire the work of others. We the games you no longer play and bring take a break from gaming proper, $25 thereafter and at the door plan to have some paint demos and your cash for all those games you’ve been possibly a FEMO demo too. For more info looking for. For more info contact Mark at anime room is there! If there is contact Gus at [email protected] [email protected] something special you would like to Contact Info see contact Carlos at HexaCon 12 Full Consuite [email protected] PO Box 62613 HexaCon is pleased to provide a fully stocked Consuite for our members. Stop by to relax Dealer’s Room Phoenix AZ 85082 before that next campaign starts or relax and relive the campaign that just ended. Since we are in a new hotel we will have a couple of restrictions on taking food and/or soda Email: [email protected] out of the Consuite. The policy will be clearly posted in the room. We look forward to Currently the following dealers are Phone: 602-973-2341 seeing you. tentatively scheduled to be at HexaCon Web: www.casfs.org The Master Gamer Barry Bard Miniatures &Battletech At HexaCon Michael’s Magic Imperial Outpost Location Info Samurai Comics Tucson’s 13th Heavy Metal Legion Battletech Mechwarior group makes its Embassy Suites North Game Depot first appearance at Hexacon with a series of three Classic Battletech games, on 2577 W. Greenway Rd; 3D Battlescape Geo-Hex with Z-scale buildings, trees, and other terrain 602-375-1777 For information about reserving a table in features. the dealer’s room please contact Len 800-527-7715 Friday Night, the elite Knights of BlackRook Company will take on all Sippel at [email protected] Standard: $74 S/D challengers with a Level 3 Mixed Clan and Inner Sphere tech free for all. Executive Suite $94 S/D/T/Q Custom mech designs in Heavy Metal Pro format will be accepted. Hand made Rooms INCLUDE a full breakfast custom designs must be input and verified onsite, so check in early for “King of Game Chits and Happy Hour the WaterHole”. In order to give everyone a fair chance to Saturday Evening, the Clan Nova Cat and the Wolf’s Dragoons will duke it sign up for games we will be reinstituting out. Equal pre-generated Level 2 forces, matched by BV, will contest the game chit system. Details will be PRIZE DRAWING posted on our website and at Registration. Those pre-register with the posession of a manufacturing district in “Cats and Dogs, 3060”. Sunday Afternoon, the 13th Heavy Metal Legion will battle Team Banzai for convention and reserve a hotel room posession of a lost Star League Era Naval base on an airless moon orbiting a Special Events by July 1, 2002 gas giant. Equal pre-generated Level 3 forces, matched by BV, will fight it out will be eligible for a drawing for the in low gravity with vacuum rules for fabulous Lostech in “Merc Wars, 3065”. There will be special Thursday, July following prizes: In addition, there will be Mech Scale Union and Leopard Class Dropships, 25, events and prizes available only 1 free room night hordes of carefully painted battletech miniatures, and a complete Battletech 2 memberships to HexaCon 13 scale city on display. We have contacted WizKids and hope to be able to demo to those who pre-register. $40 in coupons for the HexaCon 12 the new Mage Knight Battletech: Dark Ages game. Gaming starts at 10:00 AM on Dealer’s Room See the Hexacon 12 website for game schedules, or contact Friday, July 26 and runs NON- [email protected] for more details or the schedule a game STOP until Sunday, July 28 at 3PM
Page 10 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 Chess Federation Scheduled Events Include LARP EVENTS (Schedule subject to change - Check our web page at www.hexacon.org for updates) HexaCon Chess Challenge Friday 6pm-12am FADING SUNS - Outpost Void-Control: In If you can keep our Chess expert from White Wolf Board Gaming the far future, an Empire of warring noble checkmating you in 2-minutes of his houses and shrewd merchants scheme playing time in a HexaCon Challenge It has been said that from behind the For additions or changes, and to alongside a powerful church in an effort to Match, We will give you a free screens of the Kindred’s societies that the guarantee your table please contact: Phil control a newly discovered solar system. Elders guide their pawns across a mult- McElfresh
Page 12 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 battle crime in a New Gotham laced with seen a brachiosaurus taxi cab? A library SF Tube Talk ( Cont’d from page 12 ) Special Report: Fall Season bold new villains. Shemar Moore (“The run by Stenonychosaurus? A city built on states, “series star Yancy Butler has Network & Syndication Brothers”) and Sherilyn Fenn (“Twin towering waterfalls? Only in Dinotopia, a voluntarily checked herself into a Peaks”) also star. From executive lost world where man and dinosaur live rehabilitation center for alcohol treatment. Preview producers Laeta Kalogridis (“Lara Croft: together in harmony. The series picks up We wish her all the best.” by Brian Ford Sullivan, Editor-In- Tomb Raider”), Mike Tollin, Brian where May’s mega mini-series leaves off, Over on Showtime, J. Michael Robbins and Joe Davola, “Birds of Prey” is following a father and his two sons as Chief, The Futon Critic produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions they struggle to adapt to a land Stracyznki’s post-apocalyptic series http://www.thefutoncritic.com and Warner Bros. Television, based on the technology and humanity forgot. Our Jeremiah continues. I would really like to (reprinted with permission © Brian Ford Sullivan ) popular DC Comic. heroes will discover new challenges in preview the upcoming episodes but DINOTOPIA: THE SERIES (Thursdays every episode as they explore the perils Showtime hasn’t made any info available Here’s the scoop on all at 8:00/7:00c on ABC) -- Have you ever and Stracyznki hasn’t been posting much genre series: ( cont’d on page 14 ) info on the series that is finishing up Returning is Alias, production in Vancouver. With the Angel (moves to Sundays at 9:00/8:00c), departure of Stargate SG-1 from Showtime Buffy the Vampire (aside from fifth season repeats), the new Slayer, Charmed SciFriday series Odyssey 5 will debut on (moves to Sundays at June 21st at 10 pm ET/PT with a 90 minute 8:00/7:00c), Enterprise, movie. In the series opener, the crew of the Futurama, Sabrina, the space shuttle “Odyssey 5” must travel five Teenage Witch” years into the past to unravel the secret of (moves to Fridays at 8:30/7:30c), Smallville, Earth’s destruction--while dealing with the and 24. complicated problems caused by altering Canceled are Dark the chronology of their lives. It stars Peter Angel, Glory Days, Weller as Chuck Taggert, Sebastian Greg the Bunny, Roche as Kurt Mandel, Leslie Silva as Mysterious Ways, Sarah Forbes and Tamara Craig Thomas Roswell, Wolf Lake, and The X-Files as Angela Perry, In the first regular And here’s all the episode, “Shaterrer”, The Odyssey 5 new series with any team tracks down a suicidal artificial life sort of sci-fi/fantasy researcher who reveals that his research lean to them set for a could have disastrous implications for the fall 2002 debut: human race. BIRDS OF PREY Looking to the networks and (Wednesdays at 9:00/ 8:00c on the WB) -- The syndication, we had a lot of shock endings Batman legend is about and cliffhangers for returning shows. So to take a very that you don’t have to worry all summer unexpected turn. With about what happens, here are my “Birds of Prey,” the predictions: producers of Buffy - Spike has now been cursed with “Smallville” masterfully combine the a soul. He still won’t be accepted by the human drama of their Scooby Gang but finds that he can hurt hit WB series with a humans who are evil. stunning cinematic Angel - Connor will learn the truth about visual style. It begins Holtz’s death and help rescue Angel and with New Gotham in become a regular member of Angel chaos. In one night, Investigations (he’s listed as a regular next Catwoman is murdered and Batgirl falls in a rain season by The WB, along with Cordelia, of gunfire, victims of Wesley, Gunn, and Fred). Cordelia will The Joker’s wrath. With reject her new status with the powers that his true love dead, The be and return to the fold. Caped Crusader flees Alias - The liquid isn’t water but some the city and Batgirl, sort of liquid containing oxygen and now confined to a wheelchair, redefines Vaughn will not drown (or he finds an air herself as “Oracle” pocket - He’s listed by ABC as being in (Dina Meyer, “Beverly the new season). Hills, 90210”), a Andromeda - Beka and Tyr climbed into master of cybernetics escape pods or some sort of protective and weapons design. chamber at the last second. She takes under her Enterprise - T’Pol and the Vulcan wing the secret daughter of Batman and scientists follow Archer into the 31st Cent- Catwoman, “Huntress” ury to bring him back or Future Guy allows (Ashley Scott, “Dark Silik to rescue Archer, take your pick. Angel”), who is as Smallville - Clark realizes he can fly and fierce as she is rescues Lana. The Reporter from the beautiful. Powerful, Inquisitor is also sucked up by a tornado haunting visions lead a third young woman, and realizes it would be nice if he could fly Dinah (Rachel as well right before he hits the ground... Skarsten, “Virginia’s Lex will let his father die, allowing him to Run”), to their secret save the Smallville plant but the Clock Tower lair. The LutherCorp board won’t let him take trio is complete. They control of the company. are now the Birds of Prey, determined to Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 13 disappearing in the same cave she is to go Card Captors- End of Days ReAnimation (cont’d from page 1 ) SF Tube Talk (cont’d from page 13 ) to the next day. Sakura ends up capturing Pioneer, 75 min, All This DVD contains 12 episodes of the the Erase Card. Then, Sakura goes to her VHS $14.98, DVD $24.99 and promise of this utopian landscape. show. These are more in the line of the father’s summer home and meets a nice old “Dinotopia: The Series” stars Erik von cartoons one sees on TV than a full man that she seems to remind him of his In Card Captors, End of Days, Sakura Detten as Karl Scott, Shiloh Strong as David Scott, Michael Brandon as Frank fledged series. It also doesn’t really seem granddaughter. This one was very good. I fights the final clow card, Earth. Once Scott, Georgina Rylance as Marion, to have anything to do with the original liked it for it was very amusing and it gave captured Sakura learns a little more about Oh Goddess series. That said, these are Jonathan Hyde as Mayor Waldo, Sophie me a very good emotional feeling. - Sean Yue and the final judgment. Sakura learns Ward as Rosemary, Lisa Zane as Le Sage. enjoyable in an off beat sort of way, Martin that it’s true that magic really does come DO OVER (Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on the though if you have a low threshold for from the heart. This one I liked for it was WB) -- Thirty-four-year-old Joel Larsen is cute you might want to avoid these since Card Captor Sakura- Friends and Family very serious and emotional, a perfect an unmarried, dissatisfied salesman when they are extremely cutesy. The Godzilla Pioneer, 100 min, 13+ ending. - Sean Martin a freak accident jettisons him 20 years into the past to his freshman year of high parody was the one I enjoyed most. While VHS $24.98, DVD $29.99 it is rated 13+ I saw nothing that would school. Now, back in 1981 with his 34- Tenchi Muyo 7 - Showdown year-old mind trapped in his 14-year-old truly warrant that rating and it truly seems In Card Captor Sakura, Friends and Pioneer, 62 min, G body, Joel (newcomer Penn Badgley) has aimed at the 7 and up crowd. The violence Family, Sakura tries to help her father to VHS $14.98 the unique opportunity to make things is all of the typical cartoon, slapstick finish his studies and presentation, but the turn out differently, both for him and his variety and since each episode is Sleep Card becomes a problem. With the When Washu makes a robot copy of embarrassingly dysfunctional family. The ultimate wish-fulfillment comedy, “Do approximately seven minutes long Song Card, Sakura hears a beautiful song herself, to make up for 700 lost years, Over” proves that sometimes it does take including opening and closing credits it and one of those “seven tale” ghost Mihosi messes up the experiment. The seems tailor made for the younger crowd. - a boy to do a man’s job. Josh Wise, stories. Finally with the Little Card, Sakura robot goes totally different from the way it Angela Bethany Goethals (“Storytelling”), Stephanie L Bannon finds out what it’s really like to live in a was supposed to be. After the second try I Gigi Rice (“The John Larroquette Show”), “big house.” This volume of Card Captor think that Washu should give up. In “No Michael Milhoan (“Something So Right”) Batman The Animated Series - Sakura was very amusing. There were a Need For Memories” Tenchi’s memory and Natasha Melnick (“Freaks and The Legend Begins few puns that I really enjoyed. - Sean seems to be reminding him that he forgot Geeks”) also star. “Do Over” is produced Warner Home Video, 110 min, NR by Paramount Network Television and the Martin something.... something very big. In “No VHS $14.95, DVD $19.98 Littlefield Co. Rick Wiener, Kenny Need For An Archrival” a new space-cat- Schwartz and Warren Littlefield serve as Card Captor Sakura- Magical Mystery bunny-thing shows up. The rest of the Batman, The Animated Series aired in executive producers. FIREFLY (Fridays at 8:00/7:00c on FOX) - 1992 and found an audience that crossed Pioneer, 100 min, 13+ household thought it was cute when the - Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the the age barrier, in our home an equal VHS $24.98, DVD $29.99 two fell in love; but Ryoko looks like she’s seen a ghost when she sees the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” and an number of adults and kids watched the Academy Award nominee for “Toy In Card Captor Sakura, Magical newcomer. It’s her arch-rival’s ship, Kem- show. When we were looking for some- Story,” brings a powerful, original science- thing to view the other evening the adults Mystery, Sakura finds herself in a great Oki! Ryoko searches out her rival, a fiction adventure to the screen in chose this DVD and we all enjoyed it. deal of trouble and the Mirror Card isn’t bounty huntress named Nagii and the FIREFLY. Set 800 years in the future, in The Legend Begins is just that, the helping. First the Mirror Card tricks fight begins. - Heather Schulz the wake of a universal civil war, initial five episodes of the TV show. They Sakura’s friends into thinking that she is a FIREFLY centers on the crew of Serenity, pit Batman against some of our favorite bad girl. Then two cards are mysteriously Tenchi Muyo 8 - Time Tripping a small transport spaceship. The crew super villains - Man-bat, the Scarecrow, linked to Sakura’s new substitute math Pioneer, 65 min, G members will take any job -- legal or not -- to stay afloat and put bread on their table. and Poison Ivy, the Joker. Voiced by Mark teacher. Even because of this beautiful VHS $14.98 Thrust together by necessity, these Hamill, the Joker is featured in two of the and mysterious lady, Sakura starts having disparate men and women are cowboys of episodes a weird dream. I like this one for it’s very Washu, the super genius, is the only the future. They’re seeking adventure and Extras on the DVD include the thea- emotional and lots of fun. - Sean Martin girl in the Masalai household who doesn’t the good life, but facing constant trical trailer(s), a “How to draw Bat-man” love Tenchi except for maybe Sasami, challenges on the new frontier, which test feature, a “Life on the Edge” game, and Card Captors- Firestorm Ayeka’s little sister. (even Rio-Oki loves and reveal their true identities. FIREFLY is about their unpredictable lives and conversations by director Bruce Timm Pioneer, 75 min, All Tenchi, is it a cat, a bunny, or some other relationships, as well as their search for I look forward to future releases of the VHS $14.98, DVD $24.99 weird animal?). When Washu, makes a rest of the series - Stephanie L Bannon meaning in a very uncertain time. device that makes the world the way the Production Company: Mutant Enemy, Inc. In Card Captors, Firestorm, Sakura has user wants it. Unfortunately every other in association with 20th Century Fox We are pleased to features reviews from a mystical dream. A shadowy figure girl in the house uses it at practically the Television; Executive Producer/Writer/ tow of teenaged reviewers in this issue stands at the radio tower, and Sakura can’t same time, even Sasami and Rio-Oki have a Director: Joss Whedon. Cast: Nathan quite make it out. Even worse is that the try (they create the world together) and Fillion as Captain Malcolm “Mal” Card Captor Sakura- Sakura Fight Reynolds; Gina Torres as Zoe; Alan cards are disappearing and this is no joke. the machine overloads. Will Tenchi be Tudyk as Wash; Sean Maher as Simon Pioneer, 100 min, 13+ Sakura has to figure it out and hopefully stuck in millions of different universes? VHS $24.98, DVD $29.99 Tam; Adam Baldwin as Jayne; Jewel not on her own. This one wasn’t half-bad, Can he get back to his universe? Watch Staite as Kaylee; Summer Glau as River but if you’re looking for funny anime, I and find out! - Heather Schulz Tam; Ron Glass as Book “The Shepherd”; In Card Captor Sakura, Sakura Fight, would not recommend this one. - Sean Morena Baccarin as Inara. Sakura takes a short field trip to the zoo. Martin Tenchi Muyo 9 - Escape To Space HAUNTED (Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c on UPN) -- a co-production of Keith Addis’ Her class is split to do separate reports on Pioneer, 65 min, G Industry Entertainment, Viacom and CBS their assigned animal. This time, Sakura, Card Captors- The Best of Friends VHS $14.98 captures the Power Card after a long and Productions, stars Matthew Fox (“Party of Pioneer, 75 min, All Five”) as a man who comes back from a hard game of tug-of-war. This anime was VHS $14.98, DVD $24.99 Ryoko, Ayeka, and Sasami are near-death experience only to find out that really worth it. I really liked it for the arrested. My reaction is, what is up with he’s haunted by ghosts who help him amusing puns and actions of Sakura. - In Card Captors, The Best of Friends, that? Ayeka and Sasami are the princesses solve crimes. Russell Hornsby (“Gideon’s Sean Martin Sakura’s destiny slowly unfolds as Sakura of the planet Jerai. The reason they were Crossing”) also stars with Emile Levisetti, Keith Addis, Rick Ramage and Andrew fights the Water and Twin Card. Sakura arrested was because they were plotting to Cosby as producers. Card Captor Sakura- Vacation Daze has the same mysterious dream but take over the government on the planet Pioneer, 100 min, 13+ JOHN DOE (Fridays at 9:00/8:00c on FOX) another character is involved. As Sakura Jerai. They would have been made Queen -- From director Mimi Leder (“ER,” “The VHS $24.98, DVD $29.99 learns of Yue, she learns that being a card in a little while so what could have been Peacemaker,” “Deep Impact”) and captor is not all it’s cracked up to be. I the point in taking over? The episodes writers Brandon Camp and Mike In Card Captor Sakura, Vacation Daze, liked this one for its suspense and were hilarious so I would watch the Thompson, comes the story of John Doe, a mysterious man who rises from the Sakura goes to the beach. During her mystery. Plus I love Sakura’s cute act. - movies if I were you. - Heather Schulz vacation she hears an eerie story of a class Sean Martin (Cont’d on back page ) Page 14 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 Twenty-Five years ago at a the Sword-Dancer series, and a talk about is cartoons!?’ she said. By the Jar Jar Binks will remain on film, a failed contributing author to the anthology, Star way, they did show Duck Dodgers before experiment in computer generated theatre near you: Star Wars Wars: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, the film to lighten up the crowd, because characterization (barring any “Special by Shane Shellenbarger Jennifer Roberson: “I spent the summer of many careers were riding on the success Edition” by Lucas), while N Sync’s ’77 at the Cine Capri Theater in Phoenix. I of Star Wars. Of course, Gary Kurtz didn’t appearance in Attack of the Clones will It’s Tuesday, May 24th, 1977 and my remember I was standing in line for the give that away while I was suggesting it.” remain “what might have been.” luck has taken a turn for the worse. The first regular showing on the first full day Author of the series The Chronicles of 1997 was the year of the Star Wars good side of my luck was winning two when I commented to a friend that they Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever and Special Edition Trilogy and it saw the passes from a radio station for a sneak would have to go quite a ways in order to The Man Who Fought Alone, Stephen R. beginnings of The Phantom Menace. preview of some film called “Star Wars”, beat Star Trek. A young man in line Donaldson: “You know it’s interesting, While he briefly toyed with the notion of but the bad side of my luck is that I can’t ahead of us turned around and said, ‘Trust but there are ways in which I remember the 12 Star Wars films, Lucas seems to have get anyone to go with me. Work, prior me, it is better.’ I recoiled and said, first time I saw Star Wars better then I settled for six films. Time will tell if the commitments, general disinterest, and ‘You’ve seen it already and you’re back in remember any of my marriages. As it new trilogy can inspire theatergoers to other excuses are all given and they leave line THIS SOON?’ ‘Yep!’ he said. After happens, it was in May of 1977 in Cherry make as many return trips to the box office me disheartened: who will I discuss the the showing I walked out of that theater Hill, New Jersey and it was very nearly my as did their predecessors. I do know that film with if no one will go? Finally, after and said, ‘I have been saved!’ I spent that last official act as a resident of the state the comradeship of standing in line for nine “no’s” I get a “yes” from Curt Stubbs, summer finding people who hadn’t seen because I had just sold my first book and I hours with your best friends, swapping a literary science fiction fan I’ve worked Star Wars and hauling them to the theater used the money to move away from New rumors with strangers, and feeling that with on several conventions. Curt meets so that I could enjoy it vicariously all over Jersey. But, before we left, Star Wars was electric rush as the words “A long time me at the biggest single-screen theatre in again. I think I saw it twenty-three times opening and we all drove up to the Cherry ago, in a galaxy far, far away” appear, isn’t Phoenix, the Cine Capri, and we settle into that summer.” The Cine Capri Theater, Hill Mall to see the show. It was a the same for me now, twenty five years the plush seats armed with popcorn and exclusive location for Star Wars that transcendent experience, in a certain kind later. The hype that the Star Wars soda pop. Nearly two hours later, the summer, closed in 1998. of way. We had seen movies with marketing machine has created is an lights come up and Curt comments, “Not Author of Midworld, The Howling stunning special effects before. I artificial excitement that can only be bad, but the aliens were too Stones, and universally acknowledged as certainly remember 2001: A Space justified if Attack of the Clones turns out anthropomorphic.” Being a less the writer/adapter of the 1976 paperback, Odyssey, but that film seemed more about to be the great film that I so desperately discriminating nineteen year old, I simply Star Wars: from the Adventures of Luke the special effects and part of what I loved want it to be. I want to rekindle the sense sat there with my mouth hanging open, Skywalker, Alan Dean Foster: “I wrote about Star Wars was it had all of the of wonder I felt then and I hope I’m sitting mind completely blown by the film I’d just the paperback, so my story is a little special effects in the world and they were next to some kid as the lights come up experienced. different, but this is the version that I still subordinate to the storytelling, they who’s first comment is “WOW!” 1977 saw the beginning of the usually tell. I saw it first at the cast and never got between you and your vicarious blockbuster special-effects films and the crew screening at the old Academy enjoyment of the action. That seemed http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/ movie industry would never be the same. Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pretty special to me.” http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/ The January 31st, 1997 release of the Star screening theater in Los Angeles. It was Author of the Dark Tide: New Jedi feature/20000530/index.html Wars: Special Edition demonstrated that the first time that a lot of the people who Order series, and the Star Wars: X-Wing http://www.lucasfilm.com audience interest hasn’t flagged: Just had worked on the picture had seen the series, Mike Stackpole: “I grew up in http://us.imdb.com/Goofs?0076759 eight weeks of Star Wars box office returns completed film. There were people who Vermont, which is, in many ways, still in http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0076759 captured $60 million (from 1977-1984 Star had done modeling and people who had the 1950’s so science fiction serials were http://us.imdb.com/ Wars grossed $400 million in worldwide done costuming and nobody knew what it not unexpected then. My brother, my best AlternateVersions?0076759 rentals).Total returns for The Empire would look like. I had seen a few pieces of friend and I had a tradition of shopping http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0076759 Strikes Back equaled $290 million, Return the rough cut, but very few. I was making the day before Christmas. You could shop http://www.ifilm.com/ifilm/product/ Of The Jedi has grossed a respectable small talk with the producer, Gary Kurtz, much faster, the selections were smaller, film_reviews/0,3820,2399411,00.html $305.8 million dollars, and The Phantom telling him that it would be neat if they ran and consuming the morning doing that, we Menace has earned $431 million to date. Duck Dodgers in the 24th and ½ Century would kill the rest of the day by going to It’s hard to argue with success, and the before they ran the film. He shrugs, so my see a movie. We saw The Gauntlet and Star Wars films are nothing if not wife and I go sit down and she nudges me. while I remember very little about the successful. Not only are they the first ‘Do you know who’s sitting behind you?’ movie, I remember the trailer that opened it In Our Book films thought of when a moviegoer talks she asked. I look around and there’s this was Star Wars. I was stunned. The next about “blockbusters”, but they are the geeky looking, long haired guy sitting day I took one of my presents, a gift Knight Life champs when merchandising revenues for there. ‘No, who’s that?’ ‘That’s Alice certificate for the Little Professor by Peter David Ace, 352 pp, $22.95 toys are tallied: Between 1977 and 1984, Cooper!’ And I said, ‘Who’s Alice Bookstore, and bought the paperback, Kenner and the other principal Star Wars Cooper?’ I knew very little about rock read it, so by the time the movie opened in The latest book from Peter David is toy manufacturer, MPC, sold over 300 music at that time, I was a classical music May, I was primed. A co-worker and I left actually a revised and expanded edition of million toys based on the films. The buff. She explains it to me, waits a little work early, went to the 11:00 a.m. showing, his first novel, Knight Life. When he was marketing blitz continues to this day with while, and then says, ‘Well, say something and sat in the theater with about approached by Ace to reprint the hard to books, graphic novels, comic books, to him!’ I said, ‘I don’t know the guy, I seventeen other people. And I remember find book, he worked a deal to improve coloring books, trading cards, pinball don’t know anything about him, if you that the first time I saw that Star Destroyer and expand it as well as lined up a sequel to it. machines, board games, video games, want to talk to him why don’t YOU talk to with that wedge-shape being driven down Set in modern day New York, it tells computer games, and the ever-present him?’ Well, she can’t talk to him but she and across the screen, it was like a wedge the tale of a revived King Arthur running toys not only based on the original three gets me to talk to him. Apropos of what being driven into my brain, blowing it wide for Mayor of New York City. Arthur is not films, but also the emerging giant, I’d just discussed with Gary Kurtz, I asked open.” the only legendary character still around, Shadows Of The Empire, and the new Cooper if he liked old Warner Bros. Each of these authors had a different, though. Merlin, having escaped from trilogy beginning with The Phantom cartoons. ‘Oh yeah, you too?’ So for the but overwhelmingly positive reaction to imprisonment by Morgan Le Fey, has aged Menace along with the soon to be released next six minutes before the film came up we the film that began a cinematic dynasty. backward and now appears to be an eight year old. Morgan Le Fey, Percival, and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the talked about old cartoons, Chuck Jones, Like any dynasty, some members of the Modred are immortal and are still around Clones. Bob Clampett, and Tex Avery. After the line stand out as giants and benefactors, as well, plus there’s a reincarnated “Where did you see Star Wars?” is film ended, we’re walking out of the some as petty dictators, and some as Guinevere and Lancelot to add to the mix. probably one of the most asked questions theater knowing that cinematic history has fools. Fortunately for George Lucas, Star The story deals with the Arthurian when fans discuss the film. At a Fantasy been made and my wife gives me a hard Wars: A New Hope and Indiana Jones: legends and how they mix in with New and Science Fiction seminar in Scottsdale, elbow to the ribs, POW! ‘What’d you do Raiders of the Lost Ark are sharp in the York. It also pokes fun at the whole Arizona, several authors spoke about that that for?’ I asked. ‘You spent six minutes memories of their fans while Howard the political system with TV ad campaigns, very subject. Author of Lady of the Glen, talking to Alice Cooper and all you could Duck and Willow grow dim and fade away. ( Cont’d on page 16 ) Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 15 The story concerns the relationship Medicine Show Saffie, the dog, is a “vaccine dog”, who is In Our Book (cont’d from page 15) between Marquelle Green Tamryn, a by Jodi Lynn Nye immune to all known human diseases and member of “the slice” and Jorlan Reynard, ACE, 261 pp, $5.99 most poisons. political debates as well as actors in a beloved and spoiled Grandson of I’m happy to say that this book lived politics. It has a few twists and turns as Duchene Reynard. Green had sworn off When I read the squib on the back of up to it’s teaser. The characters are well well as a good amount of humor (including the social whirl and Almacks the Fastening this book it seemed a natural for me to developed and the plot moves along at a a Monty Python and the Holy Grail and all that nonsense. She had resolved to review, a woman with a cat, a dog, mice, good pace This is a follow-up to an earlier reference). avoid Fastening at least for the present. rabbits.... well, anyone who knows me story about the Taylors, however, The characters are well fleshed out. But she learns through servants gossip knows I have my own menagerie so how enough of the background is recapped We get a good sense of how Arthur is that Marquelle Claudine D’Ambere, a cruel could I resist this book. that this novel easily stands alone. I dealing with his new surroundings and the Lordene, was using debt to force Jorlan’s Dr Shona Taylor is a specialist in checked amazon.com and note that both events of the story, how Gwen deals with Grandmother to Fasten him to her. She environmental medicine and part of the this novel and the first book, Taylor’s Ark, her newfound heritage and how Merlin resolves that Claudine , an old enemy of Taylor Traveling Medicine Show and are available as of March 2002. I will be manages to mix magic with modern hers, shall not get away with this. Thus Trading Company. She and her husband picking up the first book as well as hoping technology. she pays the debt and agrees to Fasten Gershom do their best to support their for more adventures of the Taylor family. - If you’ve enjoyed Peter’s other work, herself to Jorlan to save him. Claudine family and meet the mortgage while Stephanie L. Bannon especially his fantasy novels, you’ll enjoy resolves to destroy Green and all her dodging the bounty hunters sent to kill this new release. - Lee Whiteside dependants. So the story begins. them by an old enemy. While returning Time Past This all sounds hackneyed and their alien companion, Chirwl, an ottle, to By Maxine McArthur Ritual Of Proof horrible, but is saved by good characters, his home world they stumble on serious Warner, 479 pp, $6.99 By Dara Joy excellent implementation of the Universe, medical mystery... some of the ottles and Harper, 384 pp, $6.99 just plain decent writing. Jorlan is well humans on the planet are aging much more Out of Australia comes this Confusing drawn as the young man who does not rapidly than normal. Shona stays on the Gem. At first glance this book seemed like accept the limitations of society and who planet with her toddler, Alex, her lab and Our Heroine, Commander Alvarez the implementation of an awful idea whose has unsuspected abilities and depths. menagerie to research the problem and Maria Halley, Commander and Governor of time should never have come. Amazingly it Green is strong, noble and dedicated to find a solution. Meanwhile Gershom and Space Station Jocasta is stranded 99 years works. her duty and the protection of those she is their older daughter Lani go in search of in her past because a jump gate deposited The story is set on a the Moon Forms responsible for. She will risk everything to background info on the colonists and the her near earth in 2023 four years earlier rotating around the planet Arccos. The protect Jorlan whom she comes to love. scientific community on Poxt. They also than expected. Halley’s fight for survival society there is an exact Feminist inversion She is supported by her dependants and look for trading business because, medical on earth and the discoveries she makes of that of Regency England. It is a servants from Avatar her former teacher emergency or not, the bank still wants the lead her beyond her efforts to get neutral Regency Romance in reverse. The young whom she save from poverty to River her mortgage payment on time or they will status for Jocasta to the discovery of men gather at Almacks and the young former Pleasurer who works to help her repossess the Taylor’s spaceship. Even danger to the Confederacy itself. women and some older ones come to even after she dumps him for Jorlan. the menagerie of pets earns its keep as lab She survives on Earth, steals a ship check them out. The young men even Almost any lover of the Regency assistants. Marigold and Moonbeam, the and jumps back to Jocasta along with her have Veils, the male equivalent of the Romance form should give it a chance. It is rabbits, are food tasters. Harry, the cat, is Henchman Murdoch only to be plunged Hymen. Societal structure and a good story and quite fun. – Gary Swaty able to sniff out chemical compounds. The relationships are exactly inverted. mice are especially susceptible to disease. ( Cont’d on page 17 )
Page 16 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 In Our Book (cont’d from page 16) human in the society of the far future. The implants have gone crazy, even the woman who commissioned her birth had a buildings the populace inhabited have into new problems with the new “natural” child soon after and never been affected. There are two worlds. One Club Commander of Jocasta and dangerous adopted Jenna, leaving her a half-citizen mirrors Dante’s Inferno. The other, high intruders from an organization called with few rights. Removed from her above, is the Canopy, where jaded post Listings simply “The New Council.” “aunt’s” home Jenna is sent to a technical mortals hunt people for sport. In his Jocasta is reminiscent of Deep Space school on another planet where she gains pursuit of his quarry, Mirabel is both (EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check your club Nine in that it is a new station grafted on self-confidence, acquires friends and hunted and hunter. He finds himself face listing for errors. Please send corrections and top of not too well understood Alien learns to maintain the many types of to face with a centuries old crime that updates to the editor in writing or via email) Technology. Add to this unstoppable generators used in a far flung empire. History would rather forget and an identity ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and Alien Monsters, stupid bureaucrats, The Accepting a job on a frontier planet she he would rather bury. It is also a story of New Council, The Confederacy ... renaissance recreationist club. Sword- goes to Thorrastone Manor, the estate of who he would become. fighting, arts, banquets, masquerades, The Confederacy is made up of 13 the wealthy Everett Ravenbeck. Jenna falls Reynolds has written a book, a space dances. meets every Wednesday night races of which four, known as The Four, in love with Everett, and his young ward opera, that operates on many levels, and from 7-10pm at Encanto Park. All are are on top because they control the Jump Ameletta. well worth reading on all of them. This one welcome. Free. For details, call (602)582- Drive Technology . The other nine, known The setting for this story is an is well worth breaking out the wallet. 6990. as The Nine, constantly manipulate trying interesting mix of advanced technology Personally, I will be hunting Revelation to achieve Jump Drive or alliance with one that allows for interplanetary travel, terra Space, his first one to read as well. - Pam ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A or more of The Four. There are also forming and humans grown in gen-tanks Allan collaboration of computer gaming Rivalries between various Confederacy but the society seems to almost mirror 19th enthusiasts, the Arizona LANbashers Departments. It makes for a confusing century England in many of its mores. The Angry Lead Skies League throws quarterly LANparty montage which is hard to keep track of. events. Between parties, support is given classes are separated, there are “levels” of By Glen Cook to local groups who wish to advertise their The characters are well drawn from citizenship and there appears to be a vast ROC, 364 pp, $6.99 Will and Grace on Earth to the various own gatherings. We have no set genre of gulf between the haves and the have nots. games and play anything from strategy Aliens and Humans on Jocasta. The This is a gothic novel pushed centuries Garrett is your typical private eye, a games to first-person shooters to driving/ developing relationship between Murdoch into the future and, surprisingly enough, it muscular 6 foot tall, dashingly handsome flying simulations. No annual membership and Halley is compelling. There are no works quite well. The characters are ladies man. When the pounding on his is required and admission to an event clear-cut villains. The New Council is well interesting and the setting has been well front door wakes him up at the crack of ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage for intentioned, even the monsters are thought out down to the minor details that noon his first thought is “oh gods what current events. Email: behaving within the norm for them. The can make or break a story’s believability. I trouble am I in now.” You can imagine his [email protected] Web: http:/ story is complex and interesting. recommend this book to those who like relief when he answers the door to find out www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- Recommended. –Gary Swaty character driven books. - Stephanie L it’s only his old friend Playmate looking 9339 Bannon for some help. After all how serious a Living Dead In Dallas THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a problem could his 9 foot tall blacksmith general sci-fi appreciation group that by Charlaine Harris By Force of Arms friend have. Of course he failed to stop ACE, 262 pages, $6.50 meets once a month for discussion of by William C. Dietz various sci-fi news regarding several ACE, 336 pp, $6.99 mediums to include: television, movies, Sookie is a typical small town Southern video, books, comics, magazines, girl - she works as a waitress in a bar, has a Earth’s ultimate battle for survival collecting, and so forth. The meetings are boyfriend and a ner-do-well brother and must be won By Force of Arms a return to comprised of news, review and comment, spends Friday night at the local the universe of Legion of the Damned. The BBS/computer news and help, meeting highschool football game, all the staples of mutiny is over but the parties who new members, video presentations, games, life in a small Southern town. Of course, encouraged the revolt still work to weaken and socializing fun! Food and drinks are Sookie is a telepath, her boyfriend is a the human’s dominance of space. Now the provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per vampire and the bar owner is a shape hero who was instrumental in suppressing meeting) to compensate the host. (No changer but hey that’s normal for this other fees are involved.) The electronic the mutiny has been promoted to general home of the Away Team, is the Lightspeed version of the world where vampires have and given the task of forming a unified come out of the closet, or should that be Space Station BBS at (520) 325-6674.... defense against the new threat that Member ages for the group range from 13- coffin, and are for the most part law- promises to exterminate all sentient life in 40-something with both male and female abiding members of American society. the galaxy. Full of self doubt General Bill members. Other activities include null- Sookie and her boyfriend Bill travel to Booly tries his best. But will it be good modem link gamefests, group theater Dallas to assist the local group find a enough? Read By Force of Arms and find movie viewings, convention trips and missing vampire. There she has to deal out for yourself. While this book is set in and consider how big would a problem more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, low- with the vampires and their internal the universe of Legion of the Damned and have to be before a 9 foot tall blacksmith structure environment. NO RUBBER EARS politics, a local chapter of anti-vampire make references to things that happened ALLOWED!! For questions, you can call could not solve it with a good whack of the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; cult, werewolves, vampire sycophants and in previous books it is a very good stand his hammer. being in a large city for the first time. And alone book. The political intrigue is 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ And so starts Glen Cook’s new novel 85716 of course, when she returns home there Machiavellian, the action scenes are Angry Lead skies. This novel is an are still the lingering problems of a murder, believable, and the characters well amusing parody of the classic detective a local sex club, tribute that needs to be BASFA Baja Arizona Science Fiction developed. William C. Dietz has written a novel. From the sinister crime syndicate of Association, a non-profit organization. made to a maenad and Bill’s boss Eric who very good book which I can hardily the ratmen to the unbridled sexuality of the Puts on TusCon Convention annually. wants Sookie for himself. recommend to all. - William B. Whitmore good hearted but round heeled women Webpage: http://home.earthlink.net/~basfa This is apparently the second in a this story spoofs all of the stereotypes. I Email: [email protected] series of Southern Vampire Novels that Chasm City would happily recommend this book to cleverly combines mystery elements with by Alastair Reynolds anyone looking for some light reading. - CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE the fantasy world of vampires, werewolves ACE, 528 pps, $23.95 William B. Whitmore FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The and other supernatural creatures. The non-profit corporation that puts on CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, characters are well developed, even the Chasm City is a proudly proclaimed Dinotopia Lost vampire characters have depth. This is an Space Opera, which may help redefine the HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and by Alan Dean Foster publishes Con-Notations. Best described interesting world and set of characters. parameters of the sub-genre. Ace Books, 325 pp, $7.99 Not only do I recommend this book, I look as SF/F generalists with a strong bent Tanner Mirabel is a security operative towards literary SF/F. Guests welcome - forward to future volumes in this series. - chasing a low life post-mortal who wiped Dinotopia Lost is an adventure novel Stephanie L Bannon meets at 8pm on the last Friday of each out the people he was sworn to protect. set in the lost world of James Gurney’s month in January thru September and the Beset by attempts at assassination, he has Dinotopia. But stands alone. second Friday in October, November and Jenna Starborn followed the trail through several The Land Apart from Time has been December at JB’s Restaurant, 2560 W. by Sharon Shinn planetary systems to a former utopia now protected from the world outside by coral Indian School in Phoenix, AZ. Write PO ACE, 381 pages, $14.95 best described as hell. Chasm City, a reefs that surround the Island and munch Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or call domed city and one-time techno-marvel, ships that are blown upon them. But this is Stephanie L. Bannon (602)973-2341 for The front cover of this book says “A has been hit by the so called melding the super storm that sometimes comes in information. Web www.casfs.org brilliant new twist on the classic story of plague, a virus capable of subverting any the six year cycle and this year, a pirate Jane Eyre” and that is just what we have body organic or computerized. The ship has been blown over the reef in the here in Sharon Shinn’s latest novel. technological marvels are corrupted, Jenna Starborn is an artificially created ( cont’d on back page ) ( cont’d on page 18 ) Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 17 conventions to demonstrate and promote web site. http://www.thesfcom.com TARDIS publishes a monthly inform- Club Listings ( Cont’d from page 17 ) products of Steve Jackson Games. The ative newsletter, The Index File, with a C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of also schedule demos in local gaming SFACE (Speculative Fiction And Computer national circulation which is included Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based stores. If you have a gaming store or Enthusiasts) Phoenix College’s one and only with membership. Annual membership Reenactment group specializing in the convention that you would like to have connection to the worlds of speculative is just $12.50. You can contact us at P.O. western European renaissance. As an org- official Steve Jackson Games fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, and Box 63191, Phoenix, AZ 85082-3191, anization, it is our goal to promote felow- representation at, please contact the MIB horror as well as table top, live action and Voice Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail ship while researching lifestyles and Arizona Cell Leader at internet gaming, SFACE also serves as a [email protected] or visit trades concurrent with the Celtic Peoples [email protected]. guide through the Internet - both teaching http://www.primenet.com/~jgeorge/ from 400 BC until 1746 AD. Although most basic use and utilizing as a source of tardis.html members claim Scots, Irish or Welsh an- PAReX is a non-profit, just for fun speculative fiction. For more info contact Dr cestry and do Celtic re-enactment, it is our organization dedicated to the proliferation Ray Bromley at bromley.ray@ TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by intent to open participation to anyone with of robotics as a hobby. Monthly meetings a1.pc.maricopa.edu. The SFACE Web site is the series’ production companies and an interest in period crafting and enter- will be held and will be announced under found at http://www.pc. maricopa.edu/ the USA Network! It is THE information tainment, no matter what his/her ethnicity. the Meeting Information page, http:// departments/studentact/organizations/sface/ conduit between the fans and the The sense of being a real village surround- www.parex.org/meetinfo.htm. All interest- series! Fan club membership will bring ing Croft is vital to promote a feeling of ed persons are invited to participate. We SHADOWKEEP BBS Intelligent conver- you the following 1) subscription to the family and fellowship which was a reality are currently in the process of getting sation, awesome graphics, stupendous door info filled Tek Informer newsletter; 2) in earlier times. Croft is a family-oriented organized and becoming an official games, unworldly filebank, RPG forums, official TekWar Fan Club membership and kid-friendly organization. organization with tax status. Web page: QWK message system and online RPG BBS- card and kit. Membership is by regular C.R.O.F.T. members can be found demon- http://www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: John moderated games! Our BBS is mainly RPG mail only and the newsletter and strating in events such as the Highland Kittelsrud, [email protected] oriented and we offer many services to GMs materials will not be reproduced Games, Scarborough Fair, and the Arizona and players. No fees necessary for users who electronically. To join the action and Renaissance Festival. THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM post intelligent messages! $5 in credits to initiate your annual membership, make Web page http://www.crofters.org SOCIETY A Phoenix based club interest- new users. Over 20 conferences and 10 doors check or money order out for $12.50 to: ed in the entire realm of SF, Fantasy and to choose from! Shadowkeep BBS - PCBoard Official TekWar Fan Club (Membership THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An Horror film. PFFS has been in existence for 15.2/M - US Robotics 28.8 Modem. Phoenix, section), 2522 N Sparkman Blvd., organization formed for the expression and 25 years, meeting every 6 weeks in mem- AZ (602)245-0919; Connect at 2400-28800 Tucson AZ 85716-2417 exploration of various cultural themes ber’s homes. Dues are $10 per year. including, but not limited to, the Dark Membership includes newsletters, an THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACH- T.H.E.M. T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science Ages and the Renaissance through forms annual film awards and various outings. RONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt doth lie fiction and fantasy club. Weekly of art including, but not limited to, For information, contact PFFS, P.O. Box in the state of Arizona. Within the fair meetings are held on the Arizona State painting, drawing, writing, photography, 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or call David kingdom can be found six Baronies: University campus, with dates and spoken word, and acts of characterization. Storck at (602) 274_7404, e_mail: Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, places to be announced after the 2) a member of this organization. 3) Infor- [email protected]. SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For semester starts. For more information, mation available at www.darkones.org more information on any of these or for contact Erik Wennstrom, email: PHOENIX JAPANIMATION SOCIETY general information on thy past tomorrows [email protected] Phone: 480-968-5257.To DAYSTAR HOLT Arizona’s first and Local chapter of Japanimation/general thou mayest contact Mistress Myrddina o subscribe to our listserve, send a longest-running Elfquest fan club. Daystar animation oriented fans - meets monthly. Dolwyddelan (Terry Schwartz) PO Box 584, message to [email protected]. meets to talk about EQ and related stuff, Membership is free, though optional Sonoita AZ 85637 (520)455-5835 Email: develop characters, publish stories in our monthly newsletter is $5/year or $.50 per [email protected] www.atenveldt.org TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail ‘zine Playelf and create an annual month. Call Tom Perry at (602) 996-2196 or Address is [email protected] or calendar. Other common interests include write 3241 E. Altadena, Phoenix, AZ 85028. THE SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD [email protected]. music, belly dance, camping and of course, The Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose SF. Membership is free (18 or over) and is RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A organization of persons interested in all USS STORMBRINGER The Storm- attained by group vote after you attend Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of facets of historical, cultural, science fiction, bringer is a correspondence Star Trek two meetings or holt-related get-togethers. the ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is fantasy, and humor costume. Members are fan club chapter of Starfleet, Intl. based Meetings are usually the first Saturday of dedicated to the game Werewolf: The often seen on stage and behind the scenes at out of Tucson AZ. The chapter was each month; for more info, call Tom or Apocalypse by White Wolf publishing. local and regional Science Fiction commissioned as the USS Stormbringer Janice at (602) 581-2258. They have a Contact Mike McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 Convention masquerades. They meet on the NCC-74213, attached to Division 31, website up at http://members.home.net/ or write 1730 W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa last Sunday of each month at various Starfleet Covert Operations, on 10/31/ jeanderson/daystarholt.html AZ85202-3144 or email to members’ homes in the greater Phoenix area. 98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 [email protected] For details. Southwest Costumers Guild, PO members. There are no dues other than THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND Box 39504, Phoenix, AZ 85609 or call Randall the $15 for joining Starfleet Intl.. STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and RAW GAMES (Role-players & Whitlock at (602)995-7514, email: Members are scattered world wide but Steel specializes in the general recreation Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & [email protected] or Website: the primary clusters are in Tucson, AZ of the culture of the Middle Ages Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley's oldest role- www.southwestcostumersguild.org and Plano, TX. They don’t meet on a including all of the Art Forms, Events playing and wargaming club. Currently regular basis since they are a (Feasts, Tournaments, Ceremonies and meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access correspondence chapter. Their web site Wars) and Combat Arts covering the years every Sunday from 3pm-9pm (except Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically is: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/ of 800AD up to 1650AD and any location during conventions and other special cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s Vault/9505/ and their contact/CO is within Europe or its explored territories. events). Open to new members - call (602) possible within ten years, with a little luck Capt. Dave Pitts, For more information contact Bart Smith 849-9515. WWW.rawgames.org and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us [email protected]. (Phoenix) (602)937-6995 or Leonard Bird make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for (Tucson) (520)742-2432 SCIENCE FICTION CONTINUUM one year, which gets you emailed Space Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. The Science Fiction Continuum: An Access Updates the instant they pass final We maintain a mailing list for news and THE JEDI KNIGHTS Meetings are the 3rd Independent Star Trek and Sci-Fi club in edit, plus discounts on our annual get-togethers of fans of the X-Files Sunday of each month. For more Phoenix, AZ. The SFCOM is an active club conference on the technology, politics, and living in Arizona. We get together in information call Carol Alves, Publicity, that participates in Local Phoenix, and business of radically cheaper space both the Phoenix and Tucson areas. To (760)244-9593 or write Jedi Knights, c/o Jim Southwestern Star Trek and Sci-Fi transportation, featuring leading players in subscribe, send an empty message to z- Lowerre, 12291 Meade Street, Garden conventions and movies. The SFCOM has the field. Email us at: Space.Access@Space- [email protected] Grove, CA 92841-3629 three different divisions. The SFCOM Access.org Web page: www.space- itself, a free group where fun is the name access.org/ UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix of the game. The Deep Space SolarFlare A Phoenix area Star Trek and general area corporations that put on yearly (DSSF) an active member club in the STARBASE TUCSON Tucson Arizona SciFi fan club. We are a social club that conventions. Best described as SF/F International Federation of Treker’s (IFT). based Star Trek club. For info call Geof Wood meets every two weeks at various generalists with a main thrust into SF/F art. This group is based on DS9 (a space at (520) 746-1822 or write Starbase Tucson ; locations around the Phoenix area. The Guests are welcome. The meetings are station). And the IKV Sto-Vo-Kor 3314 E. Benson Hwy ; Tucson AZ 85706. UFP has been meeting for over 25 years quarterly on the second Saturday of (Independent Klingon Vessel). A Klingon Email:[email protected] of continuous activity. Dues are $15/per February, May, August & November Bird of Prey, roaming the desert looking for year prorated when you join; no unless otherwise notified. August is the battle. Are the Fed’s too soft, looking for TARDIS TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General restrictions. Membership includes annual meeting where board positions are combat, feel the call to glory. This is the SF/Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in membership roster and monthly determined. For more information, write PO ship for you. Membership in the SFCOM International media SF/Fantasy since 1983. newsletter. Come to any two meetings Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285 ; call Mike is free! To join DSSF or the Sto-Vo-Kor a TARDIS meets every two weeks at different at no obligation. For information, write Willmoth at (480) 945-6890 or Email: nominal fee for the national clubs involved locations around the valley. Activities the UFP at PO Box 37224, Phoenix, AZ [email protected] and uniforms. For further information include watching videos, discussions, 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) 242-9203. MIB The Men in Black is the official contact President John Nelson at (602) parties, fund-raisers, auctions, games, Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org or organization of field operatives for Steve 409-7169 or on the internet at; camping trips and outings. We also maintain Email to [email protected] Jackson Games. They attend local [email protected] or check out our an active presence at local conventions. ( cont’d on page 19 ) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 12 Issue 3 San Diego ComicCon International (San Club Listings ( Cont’d from page 18 ) Convention Diego, CA.) Aug 1-4, 2002 San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. UNITED WHOVIANS OF TUCSON Listings Guests: Lots & Lots including Craig A well-informed and very active Dr. Who McCraken (Powerpuff Girls), Peter David, club. $15 yearly membership includes four Bob Oskener, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez issues of their fanzine - TARDIS Time Lore WesterCon 55: Conagerie (Los Angeles, - written by semi-pros and other dedicated CA) July 4-7, 2002 Los Angeles Airport (Love & Rockets) Info: Comic_Con, PO fans. For more information, contact The Radisson Hotel, Los Angeles, CA Author Box 128458, San Diego, CA 92112_8458. United Whovians of Tucson at P. O. Box Goh: Harry Turtledove, Editor: Beth Phone: (619) 491_2475, Email: 13541, Tucson, AZ 85732-3541. Also, you Meachem, Fan: Robert Lichtman, Artist: [email protected] can contact the president at Ross Chamberlain [email protected] or the UWOT Memb: $60 through Feb 28, 2002 Info: ConJose (World Science Fiction webmaster at [email protected] WesterCon 55, c/o SCIFI, Inc., PO Box Convention) San Jose, CA August 29-Sept Web page at: http://www.azstarnet.com/ 2, 2002 McEnery Convention Center, San ~hgadlng/uwotclub.htm 8442, Van Nuys, CA 91409 Web: www.westercon.org/55 Jose CA. Guests: Vernor Vinge, David Western Science Fiction Association Cherry, Bjo & John Trimble, Ferdinand (WesternSFA) A non-profit corporation HexaCon 12 (Phoenix, AZ) July 26-28, Feghoot. Attending $160, Supporting $35. that sponsors the ConRunners seminars 2002 Embassy Suites North Phoenix. Info: Conjosse, PO Box 61363, Sunnyvale and is sponsoring a bid for the 2004 Arizona’s Largest Annual Gaming CA 94088-1363 Web: www.conjose.org Westercon. Dedicated primarily to Email: [email protected] educational activities relating to literature, Convention Memberships: $15 July 30 - music, and visual and performing arts, Dec 31, 2001; $20 Jan 1 - June 30, 2002; $25 especially in the genres of science fiction, at the door. Special Thursday night events CopperCon 22, (Phoenix, AZ) Sept 6-8, fantasy, costuming, gaming and science. for pre-registered members only. Location 2002 Author GoH: Barbara Hambly; Applicants for membership in Info: Embassy Suites North, 2577 W. Media GoH: Mojo; Location: Embassy WesternSFA must be sponsored by a Greenway Rd; 602-375-1777 or 800-527- Suites North, 2577 W. Greenway Rd; current active WesternSFA member. Dues 7715 Rates: Standard: $74 S/D; Boardroom Phoenix AZ; 602-375-1777 or 800-527-7715 are $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable Suite $74 S/D/T/Q; Executive Suite $94 S/ Info: CopperCon 22, PO Box 62613, application fee. General Meetings are held D/T/Q Rooms INCLUDE a full breakfast Phoenix, AZ 85082, [email protected] or on the first Friday of February, May, www.casfs.org August and November, usually at the and Happy Hour. Info: Hexacon 12, PO home of a member. Guests are welcome. Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082 Phone: (602) For more info contact Craig Dyer at 973-2341; Email:[email protected] ConTours 2002 (Burbank, CA) Sept 20- WesternSFA, PO Box 87457, Phoenix AZ 22, 2002 Hilton Burbank Airporrt & 85082, (602) 973-2341, Email: Convention. Guests Mark Sheperd, Nene [email protected]. Webpage: Thomas, Heather Alexander. Memberships www.westernsfa.org begin at $25 Info: Web contours.roleplayingguild.com
Conjecture (San Diego, CA) Oct 18-20. 2002) DoubleTree Mission Valley Hotel, San Diego, CA. GoH: Steven Brust. Memb: $30.00 to 6/1/02 (checks to Conjecture). Info: ConJecture, PO Box 927388, San Diego CA 92192; email: [email protected]; website: www.conjecture.org 85726-7307 Webpage: http:// home.earthlink.net/~basfa Email: TusCon 29 (Tucson, AZ) November 8-10, [email protected] 2002 at the really spiffy InnSuites. GoH: TBA; AGoH: TBA. Events include: Meet LosCon 29 (Burbank CA) November 29- the Authors and Artists, Panels, Readings, Dec 1, 2002 Burbank Airport Hilton, Video Room, Dealers Room, Art Show, Burbank, CA Guests: Author Goh: David Game Room, LAN Computer Gaming, Weber. Memb * $30 December 1 until Masqerade, Adult Masquerade, and February 28, $35 until July 1, 40 until ConSuite. Memb: $30 for now, $45 at the October 31 : $45 at the door. Hotel Room door. kids 6-12 half price. InnSuites, 475 N Rates: $94 Single-Quad * $114 Executive Granada Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701 (near Sxuites Info: LosCon c/o LASFS, 11513 I-10 and St Mary’s Road) (520) 622-3000. Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA Room rates include a real breakfast! Info: 91609 Email: [email protected] TusCon 29 PO Box 27307, Tucson AZ Web: www.loscon.org/loscon/29
Generic Convention Regestration Form
Name:______Badge Name:______Address:______City/State/ZIP:______Phone:______Email:______Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for ______convention. (See calendar for mailing address) More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other
Volume 12 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 19 SF Tube Talk (cont’d from page 14 ) features four young martial artists who In Our Book (cont’d from page 17 ) work for a secret government agency, 24 Frames (cont’d from page 9 ) tidal swells. They don’t believe in sentient primordial waters of an isolated island, fighting crime and terrorism. Ivan Sergei, has caused hundreds of little spiders to dino-folk except as captives to sell to the possessing knowledge of literally who starred in The WB’s “Jack and Jill” mutate overnight to the size of SUVs. And circus. Capturing a family of Saurians, everything in the world, yet having no for two seasons, plays one of the four they’re hungry. Filmed around Arizona [bird like] they hunt for more, going into memory of who -- or even what -- he is. along with Nicholas Lea and Victoria the forbidden zone and grabbing a baby T- Doe quickly finds his way to Seattle, Pratt (pre-Cleopatra 2525) Rex, napping after eating. They find a where he befriends the police and uses his Who’s making it? -John Woo (“Mission temple full of Gold and Jewels, and a special gift to help them solve Impossible 2,” “Face/Off”) with Alliance Deinonychus ascetic and martial artist “impossible” crimes each week, while Atlantis and October Moon named Tarqua. continuing his unending quest to uncover What’s the scoop? The twenty-two Tarqua also had invented his own who he is and where he came from. episodes for its first season have already version of a hot air balloon and becomes Despite his considerable charm, Doe been produced. The series was originally the rescuer among others of young Will, (Dominic Purcell) is an emotional island sold internationally for the 1997-1998 the human rescuer. Will and others from unto himself. Want to know the season however was not distributed Dinotopia rescue many of the Pirates who population of Peru in 1853? How many domestically. Alliance felt that the glut of find the dino- gestalt appealing. blue cars there are in the state of action-hours already in syndication here at © Warner Brothers As with most Alan Dean Foster novels, Washington? Or better yet, predict which that time meant the show had less of a the action is good, the characters horse will win every race at the track based chance of being successful. Its fall 2002 including an abandoned shopping mall. enjoyable and fleshed out sufficiently to on knowing all the variables? Doe has all start will simply feature the U.S. premiere Stars David Arquette, Kari Wuhrer, make a very enjoyable afternoon’s read. the answers. But what is he like? Family of the series. No word yet on how a Scarlett Johansson, Matt Czuchry, and Mr. Foster’s fans will enjoy adding this man or loner? Hero or villain? What is potential second season would work as Doug E. Doug. one to their shelves, perhaps next to Cat-a- truly in his soul? Doe doesn’t have a clue. the show has been in the can for two years The Powerpuff Girls Movie - Based on lyst and Cyber Way. - Pam Allan In his search to unlock the key to his past, now and many of the actors and producers the hit animated television series, this Doe is joined by Hayes (John Marshall have moved on to other projects. feature film adaptation tells the story of Jones), a cop assigned to the case of a “She Spies”- The action-drama follows the Temple of Elemental Evil how Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup by Thomas M Reid missing girl who Doe intuitively feels may adventures of three female convicts that three exuberant young girls obtain their Wizards of the Coast, 320 pages, $6.99 have some connection to his previous life. are released from prison to help fight Impressed with Doe’s extraordinary crime. Each has specialized skills: one is a unique powers, become superheroes and This, like many Wizards of the Coast talents, Hayes sees something special in computer wizard, another is a street join forces to foil evil mutant monkey books, is a serialization of a module written this odd stranger. Hayes’ boss, Lt. Jamie hustler, and the third is a professional con Mojo Jojo’s plan to take over the world. when Dungeons and Dragons was Avery (Elizabeth Lackey), on the other artist. It’s an experimental reform program Reign of Fire - In present-day London, something you were afraid to admit you hand, is not as easily convinced that Doe to use the skills that they used to commit 12-year-old Quinn watches as his mother, a played. The novel follows the module is on the straight and narrow and seeks to crimes to now fight crime. They work with construction engineer, inadvertently somewhat and gives clues to those who uncover the truth about him in her own a specialized government agency called wakes an enormous fire-breathing beast way. He may be a government agent, an haven’t played in the original. B.A.I.T. (Bureau of Allied Intelligence from its centuries-long slumber. Twenty Unfortunately it also introduces us to a extra-terrestrial or perhaps just a regular Tactics), and they all live together. They John Doe with a bout of amnesia. each wear bracelets that keep them in years later, much of the world has been number of side characters and subplots scarred by the beast and its offspring. As that aren’t in the original. I enjoyed Whatever secrets his past holds, Doe is contact. If one breaks, they all go back to playing the game but the novel just leaves now the man who knows everything -- a prison, so they are all dependent on each a fire chief, Quinn (Christian Bale) is you wondering if there was another gift that will forever change his destiny. other. Natasha Henstridge plays one of responsible for warding off the beasts and module written about the same place. That Production Company: Regency the convicts. keeping a small community alive as they said it is a pretty typical adventure log. A Television; Executive Producers: Brandon Who’s making it? Craig Van Sickle and eke out a meager existence. Into their midst little heavy on the Deux-et-Machina but Camp, Mike Thompson, Mimi Leder; Steven Mitchell, the duo behind “The comes hotshot American Van Zan overall not too bad. If you are playing or Writers: Brandon Camp, Mike Thompson; Pretender” with NBC Enterprises. (Matthew McConaughey) who says he has are going to play the module wait until Director: Mimi Leder. Cast: Dominic What’s the scoop? Since NBC produces a way to kill the beasts and save mankind - Purcell (“Mission Impossible 2”) as John and distributes the show for syndication you’re finished, otherwise set back and a way Quinn’s never seen done. Doe, Azura Skye (“28 Days”) as Karen, they are giving the show some extra see another view of the world. - Bob Austin Powers in Goldmember - After LaPierre Elizabeth Lackey (“Mulholland Drive”) publicity by running its first four episodes as Lt. Jamie Avery, John Marshall Jones on the network starting Saturday, July 20 settling with the owners of the James Marguerite’s Snippets as Hayes, Meatloaf Aday as Digger. at 10:00 pm ET/PT. The remaining Bond movies, the third Austin Powers By Marguerite T. Murray THAT WAS THEN (Fridays at 9:00/8:00c episodes will air this fall in syndication. movie has it’s Goldmember title back. on ABC) -- Travis Green is about to turn “Star Hunter” - The series stars Michael When Dr. Evil and his accomplice Mini-Me The Jewel of Turnish 30 and his life couldn’t be worse. His Pare (“Hope Floats,” “The Virgin escape from a maximum-security prison, By Mel Odom descent into loserdom dates back to a Suicides”) as a bounty hunter who, along Austin is called to action once more. Wizards of the Coast, 320 pp, $6.99 fateful and humiliating week in high with his crew, brings down intergalactic Teaming up with the mysterious yet school, and Travis wishes for nothing criminals. Also stars Claudette Roche peculiar Goldmember, Dr. Evil hatches a The story is about two people who more than the chance to do it over again. (“Universal Soldier III”), Tanya Allen Be careful what you wish for! Travis (“Tail Lights Fade”), Murray Melvin time-traveling scheme to take over the have to learn to trust each other while world, one that involves the kidnaping of great evil threatens their world. Oruz and wakes up the next morning 16 again, with a (“David Copperfield”), Steven Marcus chance to re-write history. “That Was (“Mortal Sins”). Nigel Powers, Austin’s beloved father and Haarn have to fight Wolves and Undead England’s most renowned spy. As he Zombies controlled by a Mohrg named Then” stars James Bulliard as Travis, Who’s making it? Silvio Astarita & Stefan Bornan Klosk. Tyler Labine as Danny Pinkus, Bess Jonas (“Rave Macbeth”), Daniel d’or & chases the villains through time, Austin Armstrong as Mickey, Kiele Sanchez as It is a great story with well written Philip Jackson (“Millennium Queen”) visits 1975 and joins forces with his old Claudia, Jeffrey Tambor as Double G, characters and it is well worth reading. with Western International Syndication flame, Foxxy Cleopatra, a streetwise but Brad Raider as Gregg, Andrea Bowen as and Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. stylish detective. Together Austin and Zooey, Tricia O’Kelley as Sophie. Knight Fantastic What’s the scoop? Like “Once a Thief,” Foxxy must find a way to save Nigel and THE TWILIGHT ZONE (Wednesdays at “Star Hunter” was previously sold Edited By Martin H. Greenberg & John stop Dr. Evil and Goldmember from their 9:00/8:00c on UPN) -- The 21st century internationally last season. Its fall 2002 Helfers update of the classic 1960s series features debut marks its domestic debut. mischievous mayhem. All the regulars DAW Books, 317pp, $6.99 Forest Whitaker as the host. The series is “The Ultimate Adventure Company” - return with Beyoncé Knowles playing from Trilogy Entertainment and New Line The drama chronicles the exploits of Foxxy Cleopatra and Myers taking on If you enjoy Medieval anthologies, Television. Pen Densham with Mark Judson Cross, an adventure seeker based Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard and you will like reading tales of knights doing Stern and John Watson serving as in the Florida Keys and surrounded by a Goldmember. Looks for a host of cameos their best to serve and defend. producers. team of “young renegades.” as well. The stories are from various well- YOUNG BLADES (Mondays at 8:00/7:00c Who’s making it? Gale Ann Hurd (“The known authors such as Andre Norton, Stuart Little 2 - In this sequel to the on PAX) -- Introducing a new generation Terminator,” “Aliens”), writer Steven popular movie, there are two brand new Mickey Zucker Reichert and Fionna of Musketeers. It is produced by Georges DeSouza (“Die Hard”) with Tribune additions to the Little family — a nine- Patton. One of the stories concerns a Campana, Dan Angel and Billy Brown Entertainment and Fireworks Templar who is accepted as a Hospitaller (“Night Visions”). Entertainment. month old sister named Martha and a and the other is about an episode in Coming to Syndication this fall are four What’s the scoop? Like “Mutant X,” spirited bird named Margalo (voiced by Camelot. genre action series, two of which are “UAC” will get a good push next season Melanie Griffith), who wins Stuart’s heart. already made and likely not to continue. thanks to the strength of Tribune Returning are Michael J. Fox as the voice John Woo’s Once a Thief - The series Entertainment which owns 22 stations of Stuart plus Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Page 20 ConNotationsacross the country. Jonathan Lipnicki, and Vo Stevelume Zahn 12 Issue. 3