Volume 19, Issue 3 June / July 2009 ConNotations FREE The Bi-Monthly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society

A Conversation with Featured Inside Pete Doctor & Jonas Rivera Regular Features Special Features by Bob LaPierre SF Tube Talk An Conversation with All the latest news about Pete Doctor & Jonas Rivera by Bob LaPierre On Wednesday, Scienc Fiction TV shows by Lee Whiteside April 22, 2009 I Hokey Smoke! was privileged to th Pro Notes It’s the very nearly 50 Anniversary interview Pete of Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Doctor and Jonas News about genre authors and fans Bullwinkle J. Moose Rivera about the By Shane Shellenbarger soon to be released Screening Room movie UP. I, again, An Amercan in New Zealand was part of a Reviews of current theatrical releases by Jeffrey Lu round-table discussion-style Costume Closet Plus interview and we Articles Covering Topics of interest were limited as we in the constuming field CASFS Business Report were the last interview of the Pre-Con News FYI Tidbits about upcoming conventions day. There was © Disney/Pixar News and tidbits of interest to fans some discussion of the previews shown and the rough nature would talk about what we’ve always ConClusion Letter to the Editor of the cuts, including some discussion of wanted to animate and what feels like it News and Reviews how layered these characters were and has potential as a story. We brainstormed of Genre conventions Club Listings how lack of upper layers made the a bunch of stuff and what always characters look very odd. seemed to come up was the idea of In Our Book Convention List & Here follows my interview. escape. Right, just kind of escaping the Reviews of New SF/F Books Generic Registration Form Q: How closely did you work with Bob world, it’s something probably a lot of Peterson? Did you get to do any input on animators fantasize about, just cause NonGenre By Genre CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT the screenplay? And how did that story we’re not really that socially adept. Non SF/F books by SF/F Authors come about? But that coupled with both Bob and I www.casfs.org/ConNotations/Index-CN.html A: (Pete Doctor) Yeah, it came about after were fascinated with “grouchy old guy” “Monsters (Inc.)”. Bob and I worked characters you know like your George FOR UP TO DATE INFO AND MOVIE together on “Monsters (Inc.)” and we hit it Booth cartoons, and just like a lot of REVIEWS BETWEEN ISSUES off well and we just sat in a room and we ( Continued on page 5 )

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Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 1 Pick up your copy of ConNotations at the following locations In This Issue Who Is Who This Issue Managing Editor: Stephanie Bannon BOOK STORES COMIC STORES News & Reviews Assistant to the Editor: Gary Swaty SF Tube Talk 3 Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer Bent Cover Bookstore All About Comics Pro Notes 6 Film & Video Editors: Len Berger & 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85029 5060 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ Pre-Con News 6 Craig L Dyer (602) 942-5932 (602) 277-0757 FYI 8 Promotions Directors: Len Berger, Letter to the Editor 9 Richard Bolinski, Craig L Dyer Book Exchange Ash Avenue Comics & Books Advertising: Catherine Book 4320 N. Miller Road #F, Scottsdale, AZ 810 S. Ash, Tempe, AZ (480) 858-9447 ConClusion 9 Proof Readers: Catherine Book, Bob 85251 (480)990-8380 Atomic Comics Non-Genre by Genre 9 LaPierre & Gary Swaty Screening Room 10 Reporters: Craig L Dyer, Jeffrey Lu Book Gallery 1120 S. Country Club, Ste. 105, Mesa, AZ Costume Closet 12 Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Nadine 3643 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ 85210 (480) 649-0807 In Our Book (Book Reviews) 13 Armstrong, Stephanie L Bannon, Catherine 85018 (602)468-0400 4537 E. Cactus, Phoenix AZ 85032 Book, Shane Bryner, Craig L. Dyer, M.L. CASFS Business Report 19 Fringe, Michael Griffin, Bob LaPierre, 50 W. Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 (602) 923-0733 Jeffrey Lu, Christina Paige, Shane (480) 835-0757 10215 N. 28th Dr, #A1, Phoenix, AZ 85051 Special Features Shellenbarger, Gary Swaty, Tom Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, Randall Whitlock Book Krazy (602)395-1066 A Conversation with Pete Doctor and Jonas Rivera Contributors: 1601E Bell #4-5, Phoenix , AZ 85022 3155 W. Chandler Blvd #5, Chandler AZ by Bob LaPierre 1 Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon (602)867-1018 85226 (480)940-6061 An American in New Zealand Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. 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Page 2 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 Bradley James as Prince Arthur, An- Pounder appears as Mrs. Frederic, who the books and others not used originally SF Tube Talk thony Head as King Uther, Richard oversees the entire operation and directs by Philip Jose Farmer. Penikett plays TV News & Previews Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as the team’s ongoing investigations. From Matt Ellman, an American war reporter Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen. the early clips that have been shown, it and Vandervoot is his fiancé, Jesse, who By Lee Whiteside Also appearing in several episodes is appears that the series definitely will have are both killed by a suicide bomber. Michelle Ryan John The broadcast season is over except as Nimueh and some humor in it, and hopefully some When they wake up separated on Hurt for a few leftovers and we’ve got some provides the voice of The Dragon. engaging storylines. Riverworld, Matt sets off to find her and Eureka new stuff on the way over the cable lines Initial episodes see Merlin arrive in picks up its third season with find out what is really going on. Other and a bit of news on what to look for this Camelot, where he becomes apprentice to Jack Carter out of his job as Sheriff after characters include Tomoe Gozen (Jeananne Goossen fall. the court physician Giaus. King Uther has the events of the mid-season finale. Also, ), a 13th century There’re still a few things left on the outlawed magic and has imprisoned the Allison learns that she is pregnant with samurai warrior, Sam “Mark Twain” Mark Deklin broadcast airwaves this summer, mostly last dragon, making Merlin’s abilities her now-deceased husband’s child. Clemens ( ), adventurer Jaime Ray Peter Wingfield things being burned off or pushed back somewhat of a problem. When he ends up Arriving on the scene is Richard Burton ( ), Newman Alex Zahara from earlier in the year. ABC is burning saving Arthur from an assassination as Dr. Tess Fontana, who is Ludwig ( ), Spanish conquis- Bruce Ramsay Alan off the remaining episodes of Pushing attempt, much to Merlin’s chagrin, he is tasked with re-opening Section 5 and also tador Pizarro ( ), and Cumming Daisies and Eli Stone this summer on assigned to be Arthur’s squire, putting gets involved with Jack Carter, who as the Caretaker. Saturday nights. Pushing Daisies starts him in the middle of Camelot’s action. manages to keep himself involved in the Coming up on the movie front for . Ghost Hunters Star Runners May 30th and Eli Stone starts June 20th. SciFi Channel’s last full month as goings on in Eureka SciFi/SyFy are on June International NBC will burn off the remaining episodes SciFi features lots of repeats and a couple returns July 8th for six 13th for which absolutely no advance of Kings on Saturday nights starting June of new movies. Saturday, June 13th sees episodes with trips to Austria, Ireland, information is available at this time. June The Mutant 13th. the debut of the SciFi Original Movie Italy, Chile, Argentina and the Czech 27th sees the debut of Star Runners The Mutant Chronicles Also being burned off is the two-hour and Republic to investigate strange happen- , being billed as a SciFi Chronicles pilot for Virtuality from FOX which will on Saturday, June 27th. ings. We’ve got some casting news on Original even though it has already been The Phantom be broadcast on Saturday, July 4th, a Friday nights will continue airing repeats upcoming SyFy projects. released to DVD. It is set in the year 2707 Moonlight Ryan Carnes Thomas Jane Ron night that is sure to ensure low of and the second season of will star as Chris Walker and stars and Primeval Perlman viewership. Virtuality was co-created by . Starting on Thursday, July 2nd, aka The Phantom. Also appearing are as part of a special assault team The Isabella Rossellini Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor SciFi will air 1980’s episodes of as Lithia, the head of that is attempting to destroy a machine Twilight Zone and developed as a possible series, with a all day leading into a an experimental mind-control program, that has taken over the Earth by convert- Cameron Goodman pilot having been filmed. It revolves Viewer’s Choice marathon of the original as Chris Walker’s ing everyone who hasn’t escaped the Twilight Zone Sandrine Holt around the 12-person crew of the Pha- on July 4th. Starting love interest, Renny, and planet into mutants. It is loosely based on eton, Earth’s first starship on a long- Tuesday, July 7th, the network will as The Phantom’s trusted advisor, Guran. the role-playing game of the same name. Riverworld Tahmoh distance mission. To endure the planned launch their new SyFy identity, asking For the miniseries, Also coming up this summer on SyFy are Penikett Laura Vandervoot Malibu Shark Attack Peta 10-year journey, the astronauts use virtual viewers to “Imagine Greater” with the and are the , where Warehouse 13. Eureka Wilson reality modules which allow them to two hour debut of main characters with many others also is part of a group of lifeguards assume avatars and explore self-created will return with the second half of its appearing, some historical figures also in ( Cont’d on page 4 ) scenarios. But just as the mission is about third season on Friday nights beginning Ghost Hunter’s International to enter its critical go/no-go phase, a virus July 10th. begins to infect the system and puts all of will return with new episodes on Wednes- their lives on the line. It stars Clea day, July 8th. DuVall, Erik Jensen, Gene Farber, Warehouse 13 is staking out Eureka’s James D’Arcy, and Jose Pablo Cantillo. Tuesday night slot, hoping to draw Eureka NBC does have some original similar numbers as has been programming this summer with The doing in the past with its mix of drama Eddie Listener starting up June 4th and Merlin and comedy. Pete Lattimer ( McClintock Joanne finally airing on Sunday nights starting ) and Myka Bering ( Kelly June 21st. More about both shows. The ) are Secret Service agents who, Listener stars Craig Olejnik as Toby after saving the life of the President, are Logan, a paramedic who is also a “rewarded” by being transferred to telepath. Up to now, he’s kept his abilities Warehouse 13, a gigantic, top-secret secret, learning how to use them with his installation in South Dakota that contains mentor Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore). every strange artifact, mysterious relic, The show follows Toby as he tries to help fantastical object and supernatural people with his abilities while keeping souvenir ever collected by the U.S. them unaware of them, finding out the government. In other words, the ware- Indiana Jones truth about his past and dealing with his house seen in the movie, messed-up personal life. Also starring are and if they don’t make some sort of nod Ennis Esmer as “Oz” Bey, Toby’s towards that, they should. Lattimer is paramedic partner, Lisa Marcos as impulsive and tends to leap before he Detective Charlie Marks, and Mylne looks and also is able to see the lighter Dinh-Robic as Olivia Fawcett, a doctor side of any dire situation. Bering is more who is also Toby’s ex-girlfriend. Merlin organized and factual and focused and is a co-production with the BBC about doesn’t always mesh well with Lattimer’s Saul Rubinek the early days of Camelot with a style. also stars as Agent reimagining of the legend of Merlin and Artie Nielson, the warehouse’s caretaker, Arthur not unlike that of Smallville. The who gives Pete and Myka assignments to first series has already aired on the BBC track down reports on possible artifacts and a second one has been commissioned that need to be captured before they do Allison Scagliotti already, but NBC has held back its airing major harm. plays until Sunday nights in the summer, with Claudia Donovan, a techno wiz who some nights featuring two episodes. The manages to breach the warehouse series stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, security systems, and ends up working with Artie and the rest of the crew. CCH Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 3 SF Tube Talk ( Cont’d from page 3 ) UK. Originally, it was indicated that BBC not from the books that are on the show becoming a “human target”. This is the America would also air the episodes at that when you see them, your jaws will be second attempt at a series based on the and construction workers stranded by a the same time as the BBC, but that on the floor.” DC Comics property. Also in the works, tsunami that has to deal with prehistoric appears to have changed with the BBC Following on the success of True but not yet committed to a US network, is goblin sharks washed up by the giant making it sound like it will air in June, Blood, HBO is moving forward on a Defying Gravity, a Canadian co-produc- High Plains Invaders wave; , set in the and BBC American indicating they will series based on George R. R. Martin’s tion with the BBC and FOX Television. It early 20th century in a small western show it in July. There’s still not much Song of Ice and Fire series, having given stars Ron Livingston as Maddox, one of James Marsters mining town, it stars as known about the full plot, but it revolves the go-ahead to film the pilot script for “A a team of eight astronauts on a mysterious a retired outlaw that leads a group of around a deal made by the government in Game of Thrones”. According to Martin, six-year international space mission. At survivors against an invasion of giant the 1960’s with an alien race, called the directing the pilot will be Tom also features Laura Harris as Chloe, insectoid creatures who need uranium to 456, that now threatens all of the children McCarthy and starring as Tyrion Eyal Podell as Mintz, Christina Cox as refuel their ship and will kill anyone who of Earth, who appear to have been taken Lannister will be Peter Dinklage, who Jen, Zahf Paroo as Ajay and Florentine Hell Hounds gets in their way; is about a over. Guest stars in the series are Peter Martin indicated was his “dream Lahme as Nadia. The series was created young Greek warrior who journeys to Capaldi, who plays the role of Mr. casting” for the role. Executive producing by James Parriott (Grey’s Anatomy) so Hades to rescue his recently poisoned Frobisher, a civil servant who is hiding a are David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who it should get some interest from some US bride-to-be from the God of the Under- terrible secret, Paul Copely as Clem, a also wrote the pilot script. Filming is network. Also possibilities are a series Sand Serpents world; and is set at an survivor still haunted by his past, and Liz expected to begin in late summer in based on The Witches of Eastwick and a isolated Taliban outpost in Afghanistan May Brice as Johnson, a cynical covert Belfast, Northern Ireland. remake of V on ABC, and The Vampire where a platoon of US soldiers must fight government agent determined to expose For fall broadcast network news, as of Diaries on The CW (based on the books for their lives against giant worm-link Torchwood. We will also meet other press time we’re waiting for official by L. J. Smith). Definitely returning for creatures that devour everything in their family members of Torchwood personnel announcements, but we do have some more are Lost (for its final season), path. with Ianto’s sister Rhiannon (Katy Wix), news about pickups. ABC has given a Smallville, Supernatural, Fringe, Ghost BBC America will continue airing the her husband Johnny Evans (Rhodri series order for Flash Forward, a series Whisperer, and Heroes. Fate still to be Primeval third series of and will be Lewis), who are involved with a good base on the Robert J. Sawyer novel determined at press time are Chuck, Torch- broadcasting the third series of deal of the plot with many crucial events about an event that causes everyone on Medium, Dollhouse, Reaper, Termina- wood likely in July (with it now likely revolving around them and their kids. Earth to see into their future. NBC has tor: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and turning up on the BBC in the UK in Jack’s daughter Alice (Lucy Cohu) and given the go ahead for Day One, which Eleventh Hour. Primeval June). continues on from the his grandson Stephen will also appear. follows a group of survivors after a devastating blow to the team, regrouping We’ll also see Gwen’s husband Rhys take cataclysmic event. FOX has reportedly and continuing to try to solve the riddles on a larger role with the core team now picked up Human Target, starring Mark of the anomalies. In episode 4, they work down to three members. Valley as Christopher Chance, a to save the crew of a 747 aircraft from a For Sookie Stackhouse fans, HBO freelancer who puts himself in danger, Gigantosaurus. Episode 5 brings a deadly will be starting the second season of True assuming the identities of his clients and flesh-eating fungus that takes over any Blood on June 14th. Season two picks up human who comes in contact with it. with Sookie Stackhouse and her vampire Also, new recruit Danny Quinn officially soulmate Bill Compton still together after joins the team while Jenny Lewis decides Bill escapes with his life after coming to RandomCon 2010 to leave. Episode 5 finds the team hiding Sookie’s rescue. Tara sets down new out when the ARC is taken over by roots with an affluent benefactor, Sam We had so much fun this year that we plan Christine Johnson. Not only do they have Merlotte resolves to get in shape-shift to do it all over again in 2010! to protect themselves from Christine’s shape after a forest foray, while Sookie’s military goons but also a swarm of brother Jason finds new purpose with an We want to thank everyone who supported us this year and welcome all carnivorous birds from a nearby anomaly. anti-vampire sect. Michelle Forbes will Episode 7 sees a Dracorex come through be back as Maryann, the mysterious those who are already on board for 2010. There will be a great line up of an anomaly followed by a 14th century “social worker” who will be trouble, and game events for next year, as well as guests, consuite and a dealer room knight who believes he is hunting a new characters include Daphne (Ashley plus we hope to add some new events, like a Used Game Auction and a dragon. The team must return both the Jones), a new waitress at Merlott’s and a “Game Widows” activity area..... all while keeping our low $25 at the knight and the Dracorex to their own love interest for Sam, Sarah Newlin door price! times before either of them cause any (Anna Camp), the wife of the Head of more damage. In Episode 8, in addition to the Fellowship of the Sun (an anti- Membership prices will be dealing with huge carnivorous insects vampire church that Jason Stackhouse that appear through an anomaly near a joins), Sam (Ed Quinn), a powerful $15 through December 31, 2009, race car test track, Abby’s brother Jack Texas vampire, and Sophie-Anne Leclerc $20 From January 1, 2010 until 2 weeks before the convention decides to find out what she does for a (Evan Rachel Wood), the 500-year-old and $25 at the door. living and inadvertently drives through an vampire Queen of Louisiana, who is even anomaly into the future. Episode 9 has more powerful than Eric Northman. With the team dealing with a herd Paypal will be active on our web site by June 15, 2009 the second season tied in to the second or you can mail a check or money to: Embolotherium from the Eocene era book, Living Dead in Dallas, part of the RandomCon while Danny returns from a trip to the season will take place in Texas when future with a mysterious woman named Sookie and Bill head off to Dallas to help PO Box 67457 Eve. Finally, in the season finale (which a vampire named Stan find a missing Phoenix AZ 85082 may also serve as the series finale if ITV vampire. Things will still be happening in decides to not pick it up), Danny, Abby Louisiana with the other characters and If you are interested in volunteering or are interested in running a game and Connor travel to the future while by the time Sookie returns home, things Sarah and Captain Becker deal with please contatc us at [email protected] There are discounted will have turned upside down. Don’t be memberships available for game masters and some staff positions. If future insects in the ARC. Helen Cutter is too sure what happens in the books will back and she is planning to destroy happen in the TV series. At the recent your game group is interested in participating as a group please contact humanity to prevent the humans from Paley Festival session on True Blood, us for details on our donation policy for participating groups. destroying the world. executive producer Alan Bell warned Torchwood: Children of Earth will fans “there are some things from the We will have dates and a venue by the end of June. be a five-episode season which will air on books that aren’t going to make it onto Check our web site at www.randomcon.org for updates. five consecutive nights on the BBC in the the screen,“but there will also be things Page 4 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 A Conversation( Cont’d from page 1 ) we say now we don’t want it to look realistic, now we want to preserve the examples in live action as well. It just line of action in the animation. We don’t seemed like it had a lot of possibilities. want to see a million folds when he does So we started developing the idea. The this, we want to see one. We looked at way we kind of worked was we would Hank Ketcham drawings from Dennis the beat out what was gonna happen and then Menace, look how simple that is but when we would get to a sequence Bob complex at the same time. would go off and write the actual dia- So how do we do that in the computer? logue, and feel out how would these And they were like, oh man, so they had characters actually talk to one another. to re-think all the tools they had already How did they relate? I would write some created, and almost come up with like a too and we would swap papers and I short-hand. We brought up like the would edit his and he would edit mine concept of a Hirshfeld drawing of Lucille and I would add gags and he would Ball, looks more like Lucille Ball than a punch my stuff up too. Mostly he did the photograph. How? Why? really good dialogue and funny stuff. So that was the question we put to the (Very collaborative) computer scientists of Pixar, let’s distill Yes this down. © Disney/Pixar Q: The opening sequence, actually just (Pete) Turns out it’s hard to program. after the opening sequence, where you (Jonas) Yeah it’s hard to do, they’ve come back, Steve Meyer, supervising technical started or was it added after the start of as another tool to be able to tell the story. went through Carl’s life, with nothing but But we didn’t change the way we the score (no dialogue), who’s idea was director, said that was one of the hardest production? challenges ever. We didn’t want it to look A: (Pete) It was not part of the plan approached things, we still focused on the that to do it silent? main thing of storytelling. A: (Pete Doctor) I’m trying to remember, totally real, we wanted it to look and feel originally, we just were focusing on believable. So there is no real new writing the characters and telling the (Jonas) It didn’t cause us to re-engineer it may have been Ronnie - Ronnie Del our pipeline or change how we did Carmen who is head of story. He is like programs, there is just a re-use of what story, which we did all through the we had to try to get a little bit of a process. John Lassiter came to us and anything. We just focused on our compo- the closest I know to a superhero and his sition. We had a movie about a flying talent is drawing. He can draw anything different style. said we’d love to do this in 3D. So we set Q: Are you looking forward to going to up a group headed by Bob Whitehill and house and the jungles and the canopy. It and very quickly, you know, just beauti- just fit, it seemed to work. We treat the fully. He was in charge of bringing this the Cannes Film Festival? Ave you ever they basically became kind of like been before? another department on the movie. So we screen as a window and we are peeking in sequence to story boards; we’d written it, as opposed to things breaking the plane Bob did a great, great job of putting it A: (Pete) Never been there. It’s the first had art department, animation depart- time an animated film has opened it. ment, and the 3D department. They and coming at you. We didn’t want to do together, even made John Lassiter cry, that, we didn’t want anything to bring just with the pitch. And so Ronnie was There have been other animated films would take a sequence when it was most there, including Dumbo, but this is the of the way through and they would start you out of the story. So creating a going to story board it and we kept window made it feel kind of immersive finding it was too long, and how are we first one to open it. It will be the first time applying the left eye or the other eye or it shows in 3D. Should be interesting. I whatever they consider the main eye. We like you’re looking into this world and it going to compress it. We started thinking felt right. Some of the best stuff is the about how silent films like my parents have my glasses and my tuxedo. tried to use it artistically as well, we Q: What kind of research went into Carl? spoke with them about where we wanted flying stuff and when he falls and things when I was growing up did a lot of super you really feel the depth and dimension. 8 films of us and how just watching those As far as making him, what did you have things to feel claustrophobic and shallow to watch? Were there any films you had and where we really want to feel depth We really wanted it to work both ways, films you felt so much emotion without we didn’t want either side to suffer. the sound. We initially had sound effects to watch? and how do we go for contrast here and A: (Pete) Oh yeah, tons. “Going in Style” there. So we used it like color or lighting Thank you gentlemen for your time. This but we even stripped those out. We just (George Burns), “Cocoon”, was very enjoyable. had Michael Giacchino’s score, which is “Shawshank Redemption” absolutely fantastic there, and that is how (James Whitmore), “Guess it came to be. Who’s Coming to Dinner” Q: A lot of previous Pixar films have had (Spencer Tracy) they seemed to to develop new programs and stuff to have that curmudgeon appeal. govern new special effects and anima- “Bad News Bears” (Walter tions and such. What kind of programs Matthau), and then we watched did you have to create for this movie? some online films that Scott A: (Jonas speaking) There were some Clark the supervising animator technical hurdles in this film for sure. I found of the Senior Olympics. A mean all of the films have presented some bunch of older people compet- challenges whether it was clothing, ing running, jumping and other reflections, underwater simulations or fur movements that showed up how like “Monster’s Inc”. This time it was less older people’s movement about some new tool we needed and more differed. We had to change the about a different way to apply the tools basic movements because we had. We were really going for a normally you would show fluid caricatured look, we were really inspired movement but like with Carl he by some of the old Disney films, and moves stiffly, his neck bones Mary Blair concept art. A little more are fused so he turns his whole graphic design, which is Pete’s taste, and body to look to the side. Kind how do we do that in CGI without it of retraining ourselves to do looking fake or cheesy? Ricky Nierva, him right, there is a fine line the productions designer, came up with between drawing a stiff badly the term simplexity. drawn animation and a stiff Here we have these computer scientists, realistic animation. I remember they have figured out everything we’ve Scott did that one test of Carl thrown at them in the past, like sitting down, and he pulled up Ratatouille they’re very proud of (what his trousers a little bit then they’ve done). It’s funny when you watch slowly sat, I said yeah that feels a movie with the Pixar crowd because like an old man. Those little tiny some minor thing happens and the truths about things. I never audience cheers, like an apron is folded understood why my grandpa and they’re like Yeah! did you see that? used to do that, and they did it Yeah we did it, like a lens flare or in all those old movies. something. They finally got the aprons Q: The decision to go with 3D, and all the cloth to act realistic and was that made before you they’re all happy and have it perfect and Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 5 something else as well. Most of the press release that he has tackled the tale people who write things with Roman of the first meeting of two of the greatest Pre-Con News Pro Notes settings really know very little about heroes in comic history: Batman and Rome. (Often they don’t even know how Superman. In his new novel “Enemies & Westercon 62 aka FiestaCon Hi, Everyone! Thanks for reading to form a Roman name.) David knows a Allies” ($26.99, on-sale 5/5/09), Ander- (www.fiestacon.org) is coming to Tempe, ConNotations and my column. Got one fair amount on the subject—enough to son follows up last year’s bestseller, “The Arizona on July 2-5. 2009. Yes, we know new face this issue. realize how enormously much there is Last Days of Krypton,” the epic of the it’s hot here in July but we do have lots We’ll start with Michelle Sagara West that he doesn’t know. And, he says, “I’m destruction of Superman¹s home planet, and lots of air conditioning. Really. It’ll from Canada. She says that she’s working writing fiction, after all, so why not use a with an action-packed novel set in the be at the lovely Tempe Mission Palms on revisions to the next HOUSE WAR fictional name?” The next one will be an 1950s, during the height of the Cold War hotel which has a lovely interior court- novel for DAW books (as Michelle West), RCN (Republic of Cinnabar) space opera and the flying saucer craze. yard. ConSuite is on the second floor which is now titled “City of Night,” and for Baen. He’s roughed out about half the And I’ll wrap up with a local boy, Alan with access to the pool deck; which is which should be done by the end of the plot, but there’s a long ways to go. Dean Foster, who is our GoH at this also a vantage point to watch fireworks month. She’s also working on “Cast in I got a press release from Linnea year’s Westercon to be held in Tempe, on Saturday. The town fireworks display Chaos,” the sixth novel in the Sinclair who lives in Florida. Her Arizona. (Please come out and see us.) is over a picturesque stone bridge CHRONICLES OF ELANTRA, which “Shades of Dark” is a PEARL winner! Alan’s novelization of the next Termina- crossing the town lake. The city now has will definitely -not- be done by the end of The sequel to her RITA winner “Gabriel’s tor film, “Terminator: Salvation,” will easy access via the new light rail that has this month. The fifth novel, “Cast in Ghost” took the 2008 award in the Best precede the release of the film later this a stop right across the street from the Silence,” should be out in trade paper- Romantic Science Fiction & Futuristic year. Preceding the release of the next hotel. back in August, and she’s Fantasy category, a reader’s choice award Transformers film will be his noveliza- The program is full and diverse. In Art hoping it will be available in time for the for stories involving speculations based tion, “Transformers: Revenge of the we have our GoH Todd Lockwood Worldcon, since she’ll be there. Michelle on current or future science or technology Fallen” and an original bridge novel discussing Composition and conducting a is also planning to attend Confluence as the plot focus or involving a futuristic linking the two films, “Transformers: Pictionary game. Mark Greenawalt will 2009 in Pittsburgh. setting which is significantly different Infiltration.” Around summer the be providing an adults-only body painting Dropping down to New York, I heard from the world as we know it. A list of all concluding Flinx & Pip novel, “Flinx demonstration with a lovely professional from Donato who was pleased to have winners will be posted at Transcendent,” will appear from Del Rey. model. The kids will have an opportunity won awards at Boskone for Alien Crimes http://paranormalromance.org/ He is currently finishing up “The Human to tour the Art Show and make their own and Artemis, and one of his newest PNRpearl.htm Blend,” the first book of a new SF trilogy, awards. Our Autographing list is so long pieces, 2001: A Space Odyssey Tribute, Moving west to Georgia, Jack for Del Rey, and also the novelization of it’s unclear whether all of them will fit at won the Guest of Honor’s Choice Award McDevitt answered my email with the STAR TREK, the new film. a table… We’ve got so much costuming at Lunacon. Donato has been nominated information that within the last six But I have to add a final word about it’s starting to look like a mini- for a Hugo for Best Professional Artist months “The Devil’s Eye,” and “Cryptic: Robert Sawyer, my most favorite costumecon. Corsets, costume distress- this year from the World Science Fiction The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt” Canadian writer. I just wanted to remind ing, pirates, group costuming, kids’ Convention. Since the Hugos are voted were published. Coming up: “Time everyone about Rob’s novel “Flash costuming, Cosplay, and Steampunk. on and distributed by the members of the Travelers Never Die” (a novel from Ace) Forward” for which ABC has placed an And Demonstrations galore: artillery current Worldcon and are one of science will be released in November. And the initial order for 13 TV episodes. Rob is & siege warfare, belly dancing with and fiction’s most prestigious Academy novels are joining the Alex serving as consultant on all episodes and without props, chainmail, armor, and faux award, he says it is quite an honor to be Benedict books on Audible.com. Also: will be writing one of the first-season armor and leatherworking. Late night/ nominated. And he will also be attending “Seeker” is on the final ballot for the episodes himself. (I am so looking adults-only topics include identifying this year’s World Con in Montreal and Seiun Award (the Japanese Hugo). (Big forward to this one.) alien sex aids from a vanished race, and if Illuxcon in Altoona, NY in the fall. Congrats!) That’s it for this month. I hope you you’re a brave man, you can stuff a pair Michael Swanwick (another Hugo Jumping way over to the west, we’ll stop enjoyed yourselves. And, as always - if of tights – we also need female judges. nominee!!), who hails from PA, is in Utah where L.E. Modesitt, Jr. lives. anyone wants to contribute or knows Fan topics will cover how to run a dedicating most of his energies to the Lee shared that his first and only short someone who knows someone…please convention, fanzines AND we have still-unnamed novel featuring Darger and story collection — Viewpoints Critical — write to ConNotations or email me at Kandy Fong showing and telling about Surplus, his post-Utopian con men. But came out last year, and Tor has just re- [email protected] – Catherine Book. vidding. Our Fan GoHs are Doreen and he’s also working on a couple of collabo- issued it in trade paperback. He has a Previous ProNotes columns and book Jim Webbert who have been around for rative stories with Eileen Gunn. “The new fantasy series — The Imager reviews are posted on our website at: like forever. We like to support our filkers Armies of Elfland,” published last month Portfolio — underway. Tor released http://www.casfs.org/ConNotations/ so we have lots of stuff for them as well in Asimov’s Science Fiction, began with “Imager” in March, and “Imager’s as introducing filk to potential new fans. the words, “The mirrors came out of the Challenge” will be out in hardcover in And we didn’t leave out our gamers – elves,” so the next story, “The Trains That mid-October. Also, the Imager Portfolio there will be a 2-hour Gamemaster Climb the Winter Tree,” begins, “The books will all be available as audiobooks. Workshop, and discussions about old elves came out of the mirrors.” His most Inbetween will ( Cont’d on page 7 ) recent novel, “The Dragons of Babel,” be “Haze,” a has just this week come out in mass stand-alone SF market paperback, still with that stunning novel coming Stephan Martiniere cover. Plus “Hope- out in June. in-the-Mist: The Extraordinary Life and And yes, there Mysterious Career of Hope Mirrlees,” the will be another first book about this extraordinary writer, RECLUCE will be published by Temporary Culture novel. That’s in time for Readercon, where Mirrlees is “Arms- the memorial guest of honor. Oh, and Commander,” “From Babel’s Fall’n Tower We Fled . . .” coming next is up for a Hugo for Short Story. Which January. Lee is extremely pleasant news, says Michael. will be GoH at Moving down to N. Carolina, David SpoCon in Drake told me he turned in “The Spokane in late Legions of Fire,” the first volume of his July/early new Tor fantasy series. The background August and at is very similar to that of Rome in 30 AD. CoSine in So similar that several of the handful of Colorado people who’ve read it (including his Springs next editor) have asked why David called the January. city Carce instead of Rome. He said he Speaking of really didn’t expect that to be so general a Colorado – reaction. The short version of the answer that’s where is that back in 1995 Tom Doherty Kevin J. suggested that he not use real places as Anderson settings for heroic fantasy, and that’s a comes from. good enough answer for him. But there’s He sent me a Page 6 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 (Cont’d from page 6 ) The North American Discworld Pre-Con News Convention (www.nadwcon.org) will be school gaming, the future of gaming, and held over Labor Day weekend (Sept 4-7) Tunnels and Trolls. at the Tempe Mission Palms. We’re We really want your kids to have fun, excited to be able to bring Terry Pratchett too. We have a room, Casa de Ninos, just over for the convention and give fans a for potty-trained 3-year-olds up to 12- chance to see him in person and immerse year-olds. They are encouraged to come themselves in Discworld lore for a in costume and will have game and craft weekend. We’ve had a great response and activities all day. In addition, there will be are nearing 650 memberships and have other craft workshops for creative art, already filled up the convention hotel making flags and pennants, costuming, (with overflow at the Tempe Courtyard face painting, paper airplane construction, Marriott). We’re planning several major and they’ll get to shoot off a rocket. And events including a Seamstress party, a our local pirate club, the Corsairs, will gala Banquet, and a Maskarade in host a pirate treasure hunt. addition to panels with Terry and our What to say about our Literature other guests. Our charity auction will track…well…it’s huge. We have seven of benefit the Alzheimer’s Research Trust as the authors who write in Eric Flint’s 1632 well as The Orangutan Foundation and universe…including Eric Flint. Starting we’re expecting to have some really nice with Alan Dean Foster (our GoH), the rarities for fans to fight over. Our only sibling-collaborative authors, Dani membership is from all over North & Eytan Kollin, Sheila Finch, Diana America and we’ve got a significant Gabaldon, Dennis McKiernan, Jacqueline number of members coming from Litchtenberg, James Owen, Jennifer overseas. Since his announcement of Roberson, Michael Stackpole, and from having been diagnosed with early onset the Wild Cards universe we have John J. Alzheimer’s, Terry Pratchett has become Miller and Kevin Andrew Murphy. Topics the poster boy for Alzheimer’s research include discussion about religion, alien including being the subject of a two hour languages (from Stan Schmidt, our Editor documentary for the BBC. Terry has been GoH), how to interest an editor (from our doing well with the treatment he has been Toastmasters, Patrick and Teresa Nielsen receiving and he is looking forward to Hayden), steampunk lit, the nature of joining us for the convention and meeting horror, and writers workshops (sign up fans. He’s been busy finishing up the online). We’ll have book discussions of a latest Discworld novel, Unseen few classics. Academicals, and we expect him to Our Media track is going to be a lot of preview the book, currently scheduled for CENTRAL ARIZONA fun. You’ll have a chance to see clips of release in October, at the convention. He Australian TV shows, hear what’s coming was also recently Knighted by The Queen up from the new SyFy channel, talk about and has been working on making his own SPECULATIVE Discworld and Battlestar Galactica and sword. Star Trek, and maybe, Firefly. We’ll hear Our Toastmaster will be Esther FICTION SOCIETY about Dr. Who, Babylon 5 and Friesner, who is known for her wit and Steampunk movies. You’ll hear from a has edited several humorous anthologies couple of indie film makers, we’ll screen including the Chicks in Chain Mail series. a couple of full-length movies and some Diane Duane and Peter Morwood will shorts. We’re very excited to screen a also be joining us as well as Bernard new movie titled “Starwatch” starring Pearson, the cunning articifer and long Carlos Gallardo (“El Mariachi”) who will time friend of Terry Pratchett. We have be on hand for a Q&A after the screening. some other guests in the works with We also do a movie trailer presentation connections to Discworld for which we with lots of free giveaways – not to be hope to have confirmation soon. missed. Lee Whiteside, Chair We’ve got a couple of experts to discuss Magic, reincarnation and help you develop your own Vision Board. You’ll also have a chance to learn how to An American in New Zealand there were no signs for cars or pedestri- sundae. Both lady friends ordered their dowse for spirits and hear more about the Part Five: Napier- Art Deco, ans. Only roads. No lines. No stop lights. own sundaes. famous Phoenix Lights and other Arizo- I then decided to look at both sides of the The ice cream in New Zealand is 24/7 nan phenomena. and Almost Getting Run Over, road for now on. with their cows. The cream is fresh from The Science track will feature several and Ice Cream I went across a trading post near the that day. Nothing was preserved, had any scientists/researchers from our local state sea. I sat down at a shack shop. Looking artificial flavors, or had any unnatural by Jeffrey Lu university who will discuss the Lunar around, I noticed a variety of ice cream things added. Each ice cream was made Recon Orbiter mission, the latest info on bars. I wondered if they were any good. with fresh milk into a wonderful cream. NASA projects, and dazzle us with In this town, Napier, Art Deco rules. Curious, I bought a triple chocolate Each had sugar and unique flavors added. images from the Cassini mission to Titan. The place had old classic cars from bar. I took the first bite. Something I have heard other people in There will also be a presentation on solar 1930’s Ford pickups to 1950’s Bel Airs. sails, solar system weather, telescopes, Heaven. Perfect. the U.S. telling me about the old fashion The reason for this reverse place in time and a discussion of whether you’d want I looked at the wrapper and found that way of making ice cream. This was it. was an earthquake. The townspeople to travel into space as a tourist. there were no preservatives or artificial No. Better. Way better with fresh milk. decided then to build Napier as a major In a lighter vein, we’ll have represen- flavors. To say the least, I ate the whole thing tatives of Noodletarianism (look it up), Art Deco center. The architectural sights I then decided to find an ice cream within minutes. To say the most, this was how to flirt, and a pun-fight. And all of along the main strip took my breath parlor. If the bars were this good, I the best banana sundae I ever had. the usual features: Art Show (we always away- bright, shiny and classic from a wonder what the ice cream was like. After dessert, I looked both ways. I put on a great art show), Masquerade, time passed away. Modern Dance, Regency Dance (with I went on my quest for ice cream. I was serenaded back to the ship with a As I was walking into the many John Hertz), and two – count ‘em – two looked around carefully for cars. I had jazz band. An Art Deco paradise served outside splendor glass shops, something Charity Auctions. There will also be a gathered two friends who I just met and with ice cream. I smiled and walk on zoomed by. I was inches away from a dancing and drumming session one night. told them about New Zealand ice cream. board. We’re doing our upmost to make sure speeding 60MPH red sports car. Shaking, We found one place near a post office. Next in American in New Zealand everyone who comes will have a reason I almost fell and thought it strange to be I ordered a triple scoop banana Part Six- Bay of Plenty to say: This is the best Westercon since…. run over on foreign soil. Looking around, Catherine Book, Program Director Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 7 Fantasy/Sci-Fi Discussion Group DRAWN TO COMICS innovative projects & demos. June 19, 4th Wed, 7pm Heroclix. Tuesdays 4pm-7pm. Saturdays, 10am-4pm. FYI Borders, Glendale 3pm-6pm Human Computer Interface lecture. CASFS Book Discussion Star Wars Miniatures. Fridays 7:30pm- Aug 7, Planetarium. Path of the Craft Discussion group 11pm, Sundays, 1 – 4pm Mars, What’s New (part II), Aug 15, Bent Cover Books discusses Neopagan theories inspired by Sit-and-Sketch with local artists. 3rd Planetarium 12428 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix both fiction and non-fiction books Saturday, 6pm-8pm 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm, in the Coffee Bar about magic, nature, mythology, and Canned Food Drive to St. Marys Food CHALLENGER SPACE CENTER, Sponsored by Central Arizona spirituality longest-running pagan book Bank. Every can gets up credit of PEORIA Speculative Fiction Society (CASFS) group in Phoenix. 50cents up to $10.00. email questions to [email protected] 4th Saturday of the month at 6pm Adventures in Space Summer Camp, Borders, Phoenix Camelback GAME DEPOT Jun 8-Jul 31, ages 5-14 Come do some face-to-face interaction HeroClix & MechWarrior - Stargazing. Starlab Planetarium. with your fellow readers and SF/Fantasy Manga Bookclub Wednesdays, 530pm Check website for dates and times fans! Haven’t read the book? Don’t 1st Tuesdays, 7pm Magic, The Gathering - Columbia Shuttle Memorial Display worry, there’s no quiz or anything. You Borders, Chandler Thursdays, 6pm-9pm Iridium Satellite Model can use the rest of us as your personal Monsterpocalypse. Lowell Observatory Display book reviewers to see if it’s something AUTHOR SIGNINGS Wednedays, 5pm Journey Thru the Space Program you’d like. We start out with the book Flames of War Fridays, 10am-8pm Atlantis Space Shuttle Model discussion, but the conversation can go Joe R. Lansdale anywhere. The get-together is held in the (of Bubba Ho-Tep fame) IMPERIAL OUTPOST GAMES MOON SOCIETY MEETING coffee shop of Bent Cover Books near July 14, 7pm at Poisoned Pen Bookstore BattleTech. Mondays 5pm 28th Drive and Cactus Road in Phoenix. Boardgames & Demo Nite - 3 PM at orders Book Store, 1361 S. Alma We welcome potential new friends. David Morrell Thursdays, 6pm School Rd. (Alma School and Southern) June 16, 2009 - Wyrd Sisters by Terry July 15, 7pm at Poisoned Pen Bookstore Blood Bowl. Friday, 3pm Mesa. . For more info contact Craig Pratchett Porterat [email protected] July 21, 2009 - The Legion of Space by SPECIAL BOOK RELEASES Federation Commander - Jack Williamson 2nd Saturdays, noon PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, This listing is to introduce you to RPG - 1st & 3rd Sundays TUCSON APOLLO MOON PARTY smaller publishing houses that offer CELEBRATING 40 YEARS SINCE exclusive or limited edition books that SAMURAI COMICS New Volunteer Orientation. Jun 13, July HUMANS FIRST WALKED ON THE you wouldn’t be able to find at your local (check website for correct store location) 11, 930am MOON chain bookstore. Heroclix Tournament, Fridays, 6pm Night Wings. One Saturday a month, the (Phx), Saturdays, 3pm (west valley) center is open in the evening. July 25, This is a worldwide party to celebrate Borderlands Press Yugioh Tournament, Sundays, noon Aug 29, 5pm-9pm 40 years since humans first walked on the “A Special Place: The Heart of a Dark (Phx), Sat, noon (west valley) Space Sundays: how to build and fly Moon, to be held both online and in cities Matter” by Peter Straub Anime Club, Sundays, noon rockets, Jun 28, Jul 26, Aug 30, 11am- around Earth. THE BIGGEST SPACE Pokemon,Saturdays, 2pm (Phx), Sundays, 3pm PARTY OF THE DECADE! Lasting a Cemetary Dance Publications 2pm (west valley) Titan Missile Museum Tours. Reserva- full 24 hours as it travels from east to “Elsewhere” by William Peter Blatty tions only west through each time zone of Earth. “Lilja’s Library: The World of Stephen SPAZDOG COMICS The only publicly accessible Titan II Times given here are in UTC (convert King” by Hans-Ake Lilja Star Wars Miniatures. Thursdays, 5pm missile site in the nation. Tour the times here: http://timeanddate.com/ Heroclix Tournaments, Fridays, 7pm underground missile site. See the 3-ton worldclock/converter.html ) PS Publishing Pokemon League, Saturdays, 3pm blast doors, 8’ thick silo walls and an Arizona’s local Apollo Moon Party is “Powers: Secret Histories” biography of actual Titan II missile in the launch duct. still being planned so you really need to Tim Powers SCIENCE EVENTS Visit the launch control center, experience keep track because we have some “Everland and Other Stories” by Paul a simulated launch, and more. Top to awesome events in store for all space Witcover ASU Bottom Tours: June 9,20,27. More dates enthusiasts and kids of all ages. avail on website.-8pm Keep track of the planning stages at: PYR Publishing Science lectures and news: http:// http://www.msphx.org/ OR http:// “Desolation Road” by Ian McDonald asunews.asu.edu/news/science SETI Institute’s Weekly www.freethewod.info “Killswitch” by Joel Shepherd Or you can email the VP of Promo- ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER Science Radio Program tions to get email updates for this event Subterranean Press Mondays, avail as podcast at: [email protected] “Locke & Key” by Joe Hill Meet Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman & http://radio.seti.org “The Shop of the Mechanical Insects” CEO of X-Prize Foundation, and Chair- http://podcast.seti.org chapbook by Ray Bradbury man of Singularity University. Ticketed “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s” by Kage event, June 4, 5p-8p. OTHER GENRE-RELATED EVENTS Baker New Rock Wall opened Feb 16th, “Ebb Tide” by James P. Blaylock climbers aged 8 and above ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER “The God Engines” by John Scalzi The new Dorrance Planetarium is now New exhibit: Castle Adventure building And too many more to mention…. open. New events: “Stars of the Pha- adventure with Legos. May 24-Sep 7, raohs” and “Grand Tour of the Planets” 2009 Wildside Press Materials Science Workshops “Wings in the Night” by Robert E. These workshops provide fun hands-on BOOKMANS, PHOENIX Howard experiences to help participants under- Arizona Browncoats Shindig. “Moon of Skulls” by Robert E. Howard stand how materials scientists manipulate 1st Saturday, 7pm “The Maker of Gargoyles and Other the properties of various materials to Scimitar-Talon is a group of people Stories” by Clark Ashton Smith create the products that we use in our wanting to enjoy recreating portions of “The Book of Dreams” by Catherynne everyday life. the middle ages prior to 1600 AD. Valente Check website for dates and topics. Classes on Medieval Arts and Sciences.. Simplifying Complexities: Understand- Facebook Page for Apollo Moon 1st Saturdays, 130pm-230pm GAMING EVENTS ing Autism, Across Plus Anime Club Party: Jun 5 . Sundays, 6pm Archeo-Astronomy, http://www.facebook.com/ June 13, Plan- DEVASTATION BOOKMANS, GRANT RD, TUCSON s.php?q=Apollo+Moon+Party&n=- etarium Moon Mission Apollo 1&k=200000010&sf=r&init=q&sid= 3-day gaming and expo event. , Jul 18, Plan- Free Tarot Readings with Pandora, b5f9e6288939cb089dbd3ab5f0ffb5a3#/ Phoenix Convention Center, June 9-21. etarium Wednesdays, 6pm UAT Digital Daze. event.php?eid=70511322768 $10.00 entry. Tournaments. University of http://www.devastationevent.com/ Advancing Technology showcase of BORDERS AVONDALE BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS Metaphysical Mondays Discussion Mondays, 7pm (Cont’d on page 9) Page 8 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 There’s three new companies overall ( Cont’d from page 8 ) NonGenre by Genre - FYI That churn out cellulose-ethanol, ConClusion Philip Wylie Metaphysical Wednesdays Discussion And three more are making Con Report- AniZona 2009: Last By Gary Swaty Wednesdays, 7pm Algae-based biodiesel. One Thousand LOFT THEATRE, TUCSON The Big Three car companies don’t say, by Jeffrey Lu This time I am looking at a small Screenings of movies, many SF genre. while making their bailout bawl, selection from the massive output of Check website for times and listings. They’ve each got models of flex-fuel cars I didn’t know this would be the last Philip Wylie. Scrutinizing his bibliogra- that run on fuel-ethanol. AniZona. I came there to be with my phy, I was fascinated by a group of short ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW stories. They were about Crunch Adams Showing each Saturday at Midnight. Why don’t they tell that big selling-point? friends who love Japanese anime (anima- and Desperate Smith popularly known as Chandler Cinemas, Who’s put their noses all out of joint? tion) and manga (graphic novels). I was www.midnitemoviemamacita.com And who’s buying all those there when this first began. Now, I see Crunch and Des. Their first appearance Job-lots of biodiesel? this gone in a good way. was Widow Voyage the June 10, 1939 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA Believe it or not, I was there on issue of The Saturday Evening Post. The TH TURTLES 25 BIRTHDAY CROSS- Not one Mainstream Medium Thursday. I was not aware that there was stories continued at least until the July COUNTRY TOUR In all its tedium a costumed ball. To enter, one must have 1966 Argosy when the story titled June 27, 10am-2pm Heritage Square Sailfish, HO appeared. There were 69 of {http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/ Will mention what’s going on at all. a mask. I didn’t. I pass this event to see them. They are collected in Crunch herievnt.html} Who gets that green-diesel fuel, other costumers. And all that cellulosic ethanol? I saw people dressed up from &Des; Classic Stories Of Saltwater Check the web sites for confirmation, Can’t you guess who’s got the power “Naruto”, “Dragonball Z”, and “Bleach.” Fishing, Lyons Press 1990 and also location and more information. To do a censoring job as massive as that I was rather surprised that some thought I issued by Globe Pequot Press in 2002. Game Depot, 480-966-4727 right now? was a character from some manga. Nope. Captain Crunch Adams was master of http://www.azchallenger.org Well, where’s the war and what is our I’m just a reporter, thank-you very much. the fishing charter boat Poseidon. The http://azscience.org stories concerned the various adventures http://www.barnesandnoble.com enemy’s I then thanked others for their occuring during their charters. They are http://beyond.asu.edu Last ace in the hole? wonderful costumes. Some of them were http://www.bookmans.com And we will counter that tactic... how? surprised that I knew their obscure thought to have influenced John D. http://www.borderlandspress.com/ Think! references. For example, I thought one McDonald when he created Travis http://www.borders.com lady’s costume as Anna from “The McGee. There was a short lived TV http://www.browncoats.lagemann.org So let the oil-sheiks cut the pipes and Shaman King” was cool. I loved her series starring Forrest Tucker as Crunch http://www.cemeterydance.com think that will slow us down. beaded necklace. She almost cried and and Sandy Kenyon as Des. [37 thirty- http://www.changinghands.com minute episodes] http://www.drawntocomics.com They’ll think again when booze-burning told me that I was the only one who knew On a slightly different note the movie http://www.imperialoutpost.com tanks come thundering into town. what she was. Another, I thought a http://www.library.pima.gov Civilian markets just have to wait; “Berserker” was very well done in detail. Charlie Chan In Reno in 1939 was based http://www.loftcinema.com/showtimes G.I. Joe has got a big date. Others called him, “Pyramid Head.” on the Philip Wylie story Death Makes a http://www.novaspace.com/Spacefest/ He’s running on ethanol Oops. I guess not all read the manga. Decree. The movie was a 1939 Twentieth http://www.pimaair.org And biodiesel! Walking though Friday and Saturday, Century Fox production. http://www.poisonedpen.com I went to a few seminars, chat with old Also of interest is The Smiling Corpse http://www.pyrsf.com/catalog.html listed as by Anonymous but actually http://www.samuraicomics.com and new friends, and observe coming written by Philip Wylie and Bernard A. http://www.seti.org trends. http://www.spazdogcomics.com/ Overall, I had a good time. I snacked Bergman published by Farrar & Rinehart, http://store.pspublishing.co.uk/ and chatted with the anime and manga 1935. Its lengthly subtitle decribes the http://www.subterraneanpress.com/ fans. action. “A bibliomystery; subtitled http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ Due to real world work, I regret I “Wherein G. K. Chesterton, S. S. Van http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/ could not perform in the Gong Show Dine, Sax Rohmer and Dashiell Hammett http://www.wildsidepress.com/ (talent show). are surprised to find themselves at a Yet, I am sad to see this go. murder as are the anonymous authors”. That one would have to be fun. Letters to the Editor If you want more fun with the works Hi, team. of Wylie, GOOGLE him. I got a real giggle out of a couple lines in Chris’ review of BUSTED FLUSH: “...no one is producing ethanol from hemp. If only Arizona could send Leslie Fish to the Senate.” Heheheheh. It’s nice to know that mention of my favorite hobby-horse is getting around. In evidence of which, I’m attaching here my latest song, which toucheth upon the subject. *Snicker* Enjoy! ...Hmmm, send me to the Senate? Hey, don’t give me dangerous ideas! —Leslie <))>< www.lesliefish.com

BOOZE AND BIODIESEL © Leslie Fish 4/11/09 (TTTO “Teddy Bears’ Picnic”)

If you go up on the Internet, a couple of words in mind, If you go search on the Internet, it’s wonderful what you’ll find. Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 9 Star Trek (2009) time at warp speed. Battle for Terra Screening Room Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, The film is rated PG-13 for some sci- Starring: Luke Wilson, Evan Rachel Up! Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Karl fi violence and some brief sexual content. Wood, Brian Cox, James Garner, Star Trek Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Star Trek (2009) is rated “A” and is Chris Evans, David Cross, Justin X-Men Origins - Wolverine Bruce Greenwood highly recommended. See it twice. Long, Dennis Quaid Battle For Terra Director: J. J. Abrams Director: Aristomenis Tsirbas Runtime: 126 minutes X-Men Origins: Wolverine Runtime: 85 minutes UP! Rated: PG-13 Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Rated: PG Voices by: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Release Date: May 8th, 2009 Schreiber, Danny Huston, Lynn Release Date: May 1st, 2009 Christopher Plummer Reviewed by: Len Berger Collins, Taylor Kitsch, David North, Reviewed by: Len Berger Directors: Pete Doctor, Bob Peterson (ConNotations Film Editor) Ryan Reynolds (ConNotations Film Editor) Running Time: 96 minutes Director: Gavin Hood Rated: PG-13 Star Trek (2009) takes us back in time Runtime: 107 minutes Battle for Terra is a film about the Produced by Disney/Pixar to before the first Star Trek TV series. As Rated: PG-13 peaceful planet Terra and their fight for Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures the film opens the USS Kelvin is under Release Date: May 1st, 2009 survival. The inhabitants can float in the Release Date: May 29th, 2009 attack by a powerful space ship that had Reviewed by: Len Berger air and enjoy their beautiful scenery. not been seen before. Captain Nero (ConNotations Film Editor) Children go to school, race their flying First let me state - I saw this in April, shows no mercy and after crippling the contraptions and in general enjoy their before they finished the 3D version. So I USS Kelvin orders its Captain to shuttle X-Men Origins:Wolverine begins in lives. Peace is about to be disrupted when can’t talk as to how this will look in the over to his ship for negotiations. Just Canada in the year 1845. James Logan is a ship arrives with an off-world race finished product. I can say that the story before entering the shuttle the Captain a sick child living at an estate. His whose goal is to take control of the was terrific and the 2D version knocked appoints George Kirk to be the acting brother Victor Creed is by his side. James planet. my socks off. Captain of the USS Kelvin. Realizing that is cared for by an adoptive father and is One day Mala (voiced by Evan The story begins with a newsreel the destruction of the USS Kelvin is not aware of his biological father. In a Rachel Wood) and Senn (voiced by showing a famed explorer being stripped imminent Captain Kirk orders the crew to drunken confrontation, his biological Justin Long) are playing hooky from of all his credentials. Young Carl is in the abandon ship (probably the shortest reign father kills his adoptive father and when school racing their flying contraptions audience, he cannot believe his eyes. for a Captain in Federation history). His James sees his ‘father’ dead on the floor when a gigantic space ship arrives and Leaving the theater he still believes in his pregnant wife who had just entered labor his mutant power is triggered and in a fit blocks out the sun. The residents of Terra hero and is playing with a balloon titled abandons ship with the rest of the crew. of rage James kills his biological father. believe that this is a sign of a new god “Spirit of Adventure”. As he passes an Back on the attacking ship we find out James (Wolverine played by Hugh and ask their elders for guidance. abandoned house he hears similar sounds that Captain Nero is trying to determine Jackman) and Victor (Sabertooth played Then the attack begins – ships with from within. Entering he encounters Ellie, where Spock or his spaceship is. He by Liev Schreiber) flee the estate and weapons blazing and ships capturing a young girl about his age, and when his probably wants to have tea with Spock. through a series of flashbacks are shown some floating Terra residents including balloon escapes she shows him where it Fast forward and we learn a bit about fighting in many wars. Their fighting Mala’s father Roven (voiced by Dennis went. In recovering the balloon he falls the young James T. Kirk. A wild child skills do not go unnoticed as Colonel Quaid). The peaceful residents are at a and breaks a leg, when she visits they who is not so adept at picking up the William Stryker (played by Danny loss of what to do. But Mala is in no begin a lifelong friendship that includes ladies yet, but he does try hard. Spock’s Huston) recruits the pair into a rogue mood to wait for advice from the elders marriage and buying the house where early days on Vulcan are shown but he is group of mutants. The team is especially and takes her flying contraption into the they first met. The sequence runs Carl up the recipient of much hatred. As ad- savage and willing to kill innocents for air to be captured with the intent to through his wife’s death. I have no vanced as the Vulcan’s race is, racism still information which does not sit well with rescue her father (doesn’t seem like the problem saying that this sequence had me exists on the planet. James who abandons the team and heads best plan in the world but emotions close to tears. As the film progresses we see younger to Canada to become a logger. James just sometimes get the better of us). Instead Enter Junior Wilderness Explorer versions of our favorite characters join wishes to leave his past behind him and of being captured Mala ends up capturing Russell, he is one badge short of becom- the cast and of course they eventually start a new life which includes a love Lt. Jim Stanton (voiced by Luke Wilson) ing Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell, form the crew of the Starship Enterprise. interest Kayla (played by Lynn Collins). of Earth! he needs to help Carl to receive his A distress call from Vulcan forces the Stryker has other plans in mind and Mala takes Jim back to her hut and Helping the Elderly badge. Carl sends academy to place the Enterprise into seeks out to find James and bring him with the help of Jim’s little robot Giddy him to capture the elusive Snipe. Mean- service before its christening. back. Shortly after Stryker finds James (voiced by David Cross) creates a tent while the area around Carl’s house is Great space fight scenes, great casting and asks him to return, Kayla is killed by with oxygen to keep Jim alive. Giddy is a undergoing intensive construction. When of the Enterprise crew and J.J. Abrams Victor. James partners with Stryker who combination of Spock and #5 which there is a minor accident knocking his directing all combine to make Star Trek indicates he can help find Victor so James makes it somewhat difficult for Giddy to mailbox over Carl’s response is extremely an extremely enjoyable and exciting film. can seek his revenge. As one of his make decisions. Jim declares Mala a over the top. The judge forces him to There’s a good amount of humor in ongoing experiments with the mutants, “monster” but in this case who is the real move to a senior home. The night before the film. Dr. McCoy muses about his Stryker convinces James to be injected monster? he is to leave he begins his plan to carry divorce “My ex-wife took the whole with adamantium which will make him The film will answer that question out his wife’s and his greatest desire. The damn planet”. After Kirk beats the ‘indestructible’. Thus Wolverine is born. and more. next morning when they come for him he Kobayashi Maru test Captain Pike asks The film is not without its humorous From press materials we find out that pulls a lever and thousands of balloons Spock “How the hell did that kid beat lines but the fight and chase scenes are “The film was originally created in 2D, rise from the chimney and the house lifts your test?” And when Lt. Sulu is unable the highlights of the film. The story of the but was shot in such a way that a second off. to get the Enterprise into warp the intense hate and sometimes love relation- camera with editable stereo properties He discovers that Russell has fol- Captain asks “Is the parking brake on?” ship between James and Victor is inspir- could be added to give a true 3D effect at lowed the Snipe to his porch and he was The film is loaded with one-liners ing. They are brothers but have opposite any point in time. ‘After our success on on it when the house took off. Thus including some variations of our favorites views on how they should manage their the festival circuit and interest in distri- begins Carl and Russell’s adventures, from the various Star Trek films. lives. The film is highly recommended. bution, we got the go ahead to bring in a where they encounter a very large Finally: “Space: the final frontier. Please note that you should stay small team and render the entire film flightless bird, a dog with a collar that These are the voyages of the starship through the credits as there is a scene at once more from a second perspective’ allows him to speak, and the man who Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to the end of the film. Tsirbas says”. The result helped the film invented the collar. This was the greatest explore strange new worlds, to seek out The film is rated PG-13 for some immensely as some of the 3D fight buddy movie I’ve ever seen and while it new life and new civilizations; to boldly violence and a lot of it – just like you like scenes are quite exciting. Voice actors is not on my top ten animated movie lists, go where no man has gone before. Oops, it. were well-selected for their characters it is on my top ten movie lists. ‘where no ONE has gone before’. Yes, X-Men: Origins Wolverine is rated and did a great job. Five stars out of five ~ Bob LaPierre political correctness has gone back in “B+“. ( Cont’d on page 11 ) Page 10 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 Hokey Smoke! one of the shows producers approached the most loyal and the most intelligent Screening ( Cont’d from page 10 ) us. She asked if we had any hidden audience, but it was never number one. th The film is rated PG for some sci-fi It’s the very nearly 50 talents. What that producer didn’t know It’s a special show for special people and was two days earlier I had been in a voice it’s long-lived and always funny, but violence (hey, they’re fighting to protect Anniversary of Rocky the characterization workshop taught by Bob never the number one [ratings] grabber.” their planet so what do we expect?). The Flying Squirrel and Bergen (the current voice of Porky Pig Following his service in World War II, film’s fight scenes might be a bit intense among other Looney Tunes characters) Jay Ward completed his business man- for very young viewers. Bullwinkle J. Moose and to break the ice Bob asked the class agement studies at Harvard before Battle for Terra is rated “B-“. By Shane Shellenbarger to come up with a voice for a moose opening the J.T. Ward Realty and which didn’t sound like Bullwinkle. So Insurance Company in February 1947. Last September, my wife, Laurie, and what do you suppose came to my mind Ward had stepped out to get his mail and I found ourselves in Culver City waiting when the producer asked us about hidden while chatting with the mailman, both to get into the Bonnie Hunt Show when talents? I told her we did a routine from men were struck by a runaway lumber truck. The truck crashed through the front the Rocky and window of Ward’s office, pinning him Bullwinkle cartoon beneath the wreckage and throwing the series, which I pro- postman forty feet. It was a long and ceeded to demonstrate: painful convalescence for Ward. Tempo- Me: “Hey, Rocky, rarily blinded, in a cast for six months watch me pull a rabbit and later leg braces, Ward was arguably outta my hat!” at the lowest point in his life when he Following my lead, received a visit from his childhood friend, Laurie: “That trick Alexander Hume Anderson, Jr. Anderson, never works!” was the nephew of two cartoonists, Me: “This time for including Paul Terry who was head of the sure! Presto!” New York Terrytoons studio. While Me: Lions roar visiting Ward, Anderson talked about an Laurie: “Wrong idea he had for producing limited hat!” animation for television. Anderson said, Me: “I take a 7 and “. . .I didn’t even think he’d be interested. a half!” But he came out of the water like a Laurie: “And now trout!” After much reflection and discus- here’s something we sion, the two formed Television Arts hope you’ll really Productions, Inc. On July 26, 1948 in like!” Berkeley, California, Ward and Anderson The producer officially began work on three cartoon laughed, took down ideas, “Hamhock Jones,” “Dudly Doright our names, and moved of the Mounties,” and “Crusader Rabbit.” down the line. More They soon became overwhelmed with the about that later. work and increased their staff: Formed From 1959 to 1968, Disney animator, Gerry Ray and Kodak Jay Ward Productions Cinecamera operator, Tom Stanford. created some of the Lucille Bliss and Vern Louden were most off-the-wall, out- tapped as the voice talent for Crusader of-this-world, pull-out- Rabbit and Rags the tiger, respectively. all-the-stops cartoons Of the three cartoons, NBC was most this old world has ever impressed by Crusader Rabbit. Eventu- been the home of. On ally a deal was struck and a contract for November 19th, 1959 at 130- five minute cartoons was signed. 5:30 P.M. American Television Arts Productions made five television witnessed episodes per week and by November the introduction of 1949 seventy episodes (four of which Rocky, Bullwinkle, and were adventure-serial stories) were a potpourri of pals. complete and on August 1, 1950, at 6:00 Punny, satirical, ironic P.M. on station KNBH, Crusader Rabbit scripts full of fast- premiered. Crusader Rabbit shared a paced wit and whimsy quality with the concurrent puppet show, drew in audiences Time for Beany: Well-written, humorous, comprised of ages satirical scripts attracted an adult audi- ranging the spectrum ence. As early as the forth episode, of teen and tots, adults, Crusader breaks the “fourth wall” and octogenarians, and talks back to the narrator. everything in-between. During the period following the Noted in Keith Scott’s production of the first 130 episodes, definitive tome, The T.A.P. was waiting for NBC to decide on Moose That Roared, renewal. From July 1950 to January Jay Ward told an 1951, Ward secured work for his staff on interviewer in 1961, early television commercials including “We aim at neither Carnation’s Friskies, Kraft cottage adults nor children. cheese, and Italian Swiss Colony wine. Our goal is to achieve Ward and Anderson also worked on the ultimate in comedy, cartoon ideas including “Duffy Dobbs, including subtleties Private Eye,” “Wormwood Scrubs,” and which escape the “The Frostbite Falls Review” which youngsters but which includes a variety of creatures who ran a evoke response from television station, among them Rocky the adults.” Producer, Flying Squirrel and a French-Canadian writer, and voice actor, Moose named Bullwinkle.” Our heroic Bill Scott reflected, moose got his name (after a slight “All smart people respelling) from a Berkeley car dealer, loved Bullwinkle. The Clarence Bullwinkel. Originally, Rocky Bullwinkle Show has (Cont’d on page 12 ) Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 11 Hokey Smoke! ( Cont’d from page 11 ) ferred Scott out of the film-loading bay easier just to run a tape measure along the into the cartoon unit where Scott did his arc to measure its length. was going to be a regular squirrel with first voice acting in a film called Camou- artificial wings. A number of scripts were flage. Scott eventually worked on story You now have a pattern for a tall cone. written, but the Frostbite Falls proposal and storyboard for Frank Thomas, one of There are all manner of things you can do didn’t sell. Disney’s “Nine Old Men.” After his with it. In the meantime, NBC renewed the discharge as a second lieutenant, Scott Crusader Rabbit option and in January got a recommendation from Phil Monroe Cut two of these cone patterns out of a 1951 another set of sixty-five episodes and Chuck Jones hired him for Warner stiff fabric like craft felt. Sew them were started. The pressure of the work Brothers, where he became an apprentice together along the arc. Turn the seam and the dwindling talent pool forced the writer for a year. In 1947, Scott worked at right side out and reinforce it with top move of the animation arm of T.A.P. to Paramount doing Speaking of Animals, a stitching. Close the hat by folding it over Hollywood in February 1951, while the live-action series in which animals and sewing it closed along the straight voice acting and writing remained in mouths were animated to tell jokes. Early Cone Heads line from brim to apex. Berkeley. By July of 1951, the sixty-five in 1948, Scott felt the calling to Broad- episodes were completed and the T.A.P. way, so he packed up Dorothy and their by Randall Whitlock You now have crew waited in vain for renewal. By the nine-month-old-sin, John, and they all (With thanks to fashion models Jean and what I call the end of summer, Ward began laying headed to the Great White Way. Scott Gary) “Simple Cone” people off and by early 1952 he was directed a couple of plays, but after six hat. It is good resigned to the idea that no more work months the family returned to the West A cone is a very simple shape, circular at for dunces, was at hand and so he moved the remain- Coast. the base and pointy at the top. It’s the lawn gnomes, ing crew back to Berkeley where the In 1957 he landed as a writer on a basis for a great many historical and Pagliacci, or artwork was placed into storage. proposed show entitled Phineas T. Phox, fantasy hats. Hogwarts This marked the beginning of numer- Adventurer. This is when Bill Scott met firsties. You ous lawsuits concerning distribution, Jay Ward, who was producing and The Simple Cone can make your ownership and profits derived from developing Phox. Ward soon left Phineas hat plain, or Crusader Rabbit. On October 19, 1953 T. Phox over creative differences. Ward You can make a suitable cone hat pattern decorate it Television Arts Productions went to trial contacted Scott and proposed resurrecting by drawing a sector of a circle, something with trims, against NBC and others associated with “The Frostbite Falls Review.” The like a broad pie wedge. First, measure the appliqués, the films and over three years later T.A.P., original idea of a TV station was dropped circumference of your forehead with a rhinestones, Anderson, and Ward lost the lawsuit. and an adventure script focusing on the tape measure, right above the eyebrows. etc. During that period, Anderson took a job squirrel and moose characters was written Call this number “L,” for no obvious at an ad agency and Ward returned to and became the pilot. While working on reason. On my own melon, L comes out Make a simple selling real estate, as well as a gourmet the pilot script, Bill Scott would perform to 23 inches. Add an inch to L for seam cone out of coffee named Ward-Walker. In late 1956, the dialogue for Jay Ward so when it allowance and wearing ease I’ll call that Ward was approached by Leonard Key. A came time to cast the voice actors Ward L Prime. My L Prime is 24 inches. high school and college chum of Ward suggested Scott play the role of and Anderson. Key wanted to do a new Bullwinkle. It’s been said, in addition to flesh-colored material to be Beldar, series of Crusader Rabbit cartoons and sharing Bill Scott’s voice the characters Prymatt, or perhaps Conehead the eventually became the manager of the Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle, Barbarian. project. Ward approached William Hanna, and Bullwinkle were big of heart and who was then working as a director of small of brain. Paul Frees, June Foray, If you wish to make your cone out of thin Tom and Jerry for MGM. Key packaged and narrator, William Conrad, fleshed out material, but still have it stand up, you 195 weekday episodes and garnered the early cast. Of Paul Frees, the immor- can make a stiff cone out of leather or enough interest that he had $4,500,000 in tal Daws Butler once said, “His speaking buckram and slip it inside the hat. You potential contracts. The whole deal fell voice was magnificent, he could sing, he could also hand-baste a bit of corset apart when Shull Bonsall, the current did narration, he was a fast study with an boning to the inside seam to hold the hat owner of the negatives of the original impish sense of humor, and his rhythm upright. Crusader Rabbit episodes threatened and timing were just natural.” June Foray lawsuits. Bonsall had deeper pockets and began as a child actor on radio and The Hennin in June 1957 he bought Television Arts theater, later graduating to motion-picture Let’s call the height of your hat “R” Productions for $50,000. Alex Anderson dubbing and on-camera television work. Hennins concentrated his energies on his advertis- because it is the radius of your circle. The are cone- Her early animation voice work is heard larger the value of R, the taller your hat ing career and Jay Ward spent the next in Walter Lantz’s Eggcracker Suite and in shaped two years building Jay Ward Productions. will be. For myself and most adults, 13 hats which the Disney films Cinderella and Peter inches makes a good value of R for hats While one creative force in the Pan. Foray worked with Stan Freberg and were popu- meant to stand up vertical. th persona of Alex Anderson had departed, a Daws Butler on Capitol’s comedy records lar in 15 new one arrived in the body and soul of Century St. George and the Dragonet and Little You can use much larger values of R for Bill Scott. Head writer, co-producer, Blue Riding Hood. Prior to appearing on Europe. creative tsunami, Scoot also voiced the hats meant to droop down your back, like There are Rocky, William Conrad originated the those worn by Link from the “Legend of characters of Bullwinkle, Dudley Do- role of Marshal Matt Dillion on the many Right, George of the Jungle, Mr. Zelda” games, a Zoave soldier, or a variations Western radio program Gunsmoke from Canadian Voyageur. Peabody, Super Chicken, and Tom Slick. 1952-61 and once estimated he had over on the Scott first became fascinated by anima- theme, 7,500 roles on radio. When Rocky Scribe an arc of radius R and arc length L tion at age four when he saw a Felix the became a regular series, new voice actors with Cat cartoon. From 1938 to 1942 he was a Prime on your fabric or pattern paper. A double were introduced. “Aesop and Son” were blackboard compass is great for this sort freelance radio actor. At age eighteen, he Charles Ruggles and Daws Butler. cones to joined the Denver Children’s Theater of thing, but you can make do with string form “Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties” or a yardstick. You can do math to where he met Dorothy Williams, who he starred the regular cast along with Hans horns, would marry four years later. In 1941, he calculate the apex angle (about 106 truncated Conried as Snidely Whiplash. Walter degrees) or the chord length, but I find it graduated from the University of Denver Tetley played Sherman opposite Bill (flat- with a B.A., as a theater and dramatic arts Scott’s Peabody in “Peabody’s Improb- topped) major with a minor in English. He able History” and Edward Everrett cones fa- became a high school English and drama Horton narrated “Fractured Fairy Tales.” vored by teacher for one semester and in spring of gentlemen, 1942 Scott enlisted in the army where he This is the end of Part 1. Part 2 will etc. A simple cone hennin with a veil or qualified as a lab technician in photogra- continue in the next ConNotations. scarf is the image that comes to mind when phy school. He was transferred from you think of the princess in a fairy tale, frac- Denver to Hollywood where his person- As for Laurie and me, we weren’t selected tured or otherwise. nel officer was Ronald Regan and his to appear on The Bonnie Hunt Show. I commanding officer was Rudy Ising, who guess the producer wasn’t an animal Unless your hat is made quite stiff (see sug- in civilian life worked for the animation lover. ( Cont’d on page 13 ) units at Warner and MGM. Ising trans- Page 12 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 Costume Closet( Cont’d from page 12 ) steel wire wrapped in thread and can be mother got caught behind one of those see the SF writers adopting the endless purchased from online sewing supplies walls in what once was the state of Texas scenarios so loved by the writers of gestions stores or hatmaking specialists. I like to start and now exists as a no-man’s land. An Fantasy. above), it out with a single-thickness hat donut, zig- impossible man passing thru (which was Aside from that it is a wonderful will have zag stitch the wire to the outer edge of the an impossible occurrence) gave her love action packed story with Miriam reluc- trouble sup- brim, then cover it with trim. and a baby – Loup. Some thirteen years tantly assuming the rule of Family as porting the later, Loup has survived her childhood surrogate for her unborn child. The plot is weight of a Basic black is great for fairy tale witches. with her secret mostly intact. Loup is not too complex to relate here. Fans of the scarf or veil Embroidered or appliquéd stars, moons and like everyone else, she is like her long- series will revel in it. Critics will gnash from the top other cereal marshmallow shapes are good gone father - a subject of a secret govern- their teeth. As for me, I will gnash my point. For for wizards and astrologers. ment experiment, fled south of the border teeth and keep reading. Recommended. this reason I to find sanctuary with others of his kind. —Gary L. Swaty worked up I like to add a leather headband with buckle Loup has an older, half-brother whom she my own ver- to brimmed cone hats. You don’t have to idolizes and when a horrible accident Tesseracts Twelve sion of the pattern. It has a rolled up brim sew this in place, just lower it onto the cone. happens, she finds herself truly alone. edited by Claude Lalumiere with a gap in the back so that a scarf or And since the accident was caused by Edge, 2008, $19.95, 285 pp decorative cord can wrap around the hat at Variations another of her kind, it gives her a mission forehead level, then drape down your back. in life – fight back. Seven novellas from Canadian We make these sometimes for Southwest There are many other conical variations in Ms Carey has done a very good job authors, in a series that goes back 20+ Costumers Guild fundraisers. the world of fantasy hatmaking. Cones with coloring the locale and giving us back years now. Foreword by Brett Alexander hooks on the top are good for Punch and history in a very few pages. The rest of Savory (and back cover quotes of Brims Judy or Christmas elves. Cone-shaped the story is really about characterizing unknown source:), novellas by Derryl hoods or hoods with “liripipes” were popu- Loup (pronounced Lou). All the other Murphy (“Cavemen and wooly mam- I don’t know where we get the notion that lar in the 14th Century. Short, floppy cones characters are only supporting actors moths invade Yukon!”), Michael Skeet magic users wear pointy hats, but it goes are good for early medieval Phrygian Caps, although it would be admittedly difficult and Jill Snider Lum (“Mythological way back, maybe as far as Sumerian as- 18th Century Liberty Caps, Night Caps or to expand on another character in only creatures cause havoc in ancient feudal trologers. Your basic “witch” or “wizard” Smurfs. Some floppy cones from the high 341 pages without sacrificing the story. Japan!”), Grace Seybold (“Women with hat is often portrayed with a brim. middle ages were so long they could be And the story is fun and engrossing but power over love and death stalk the wrapped around the head once or twice for not particularly profound. It’s not a new streets of Montreal!”), E.L.Chen (“A You can make a simple brim pattern by a turban-like effect. There are Viking and theme – it’s Zorro and Robin Hood. It modern Scheherazade seeks to under- drawing two concentric circles. The inner Mongolian winter hats formed of several appears to me that the sole purpose of this stand love in a Toronto suffused with circle has a cir- convergent leather triangles and a fur story was to explore the idea of the effect magic and fable!”), Randy McCharles cumference of L headband. on emotions when the person never (“A small town in rural Alberta is rife (not L prime). experiences fear. As I said, a fun and with pagan rituals!”), Gord Sellar Find its radius by engrossing story. ~ Catherine Book (“Superheroes tackle Korean politics, dividing L by 2 maniacal supervillains, and corporate Pi. For me this is In Our Book The Revolution Business downsizing!” – yes, like comic book 23 inches / 3.14 / By Charles Stross characters, and a delight), and David 2 = 3.65 inches. Some Girls Bite Tor, 2009, $24.95, 320pp Nickle (“As the world faces environmen- Set your compass by Chloe Neill tal collapse, reality-TV adventurers battle accordingly and Penguin, $14, 322 pp The Revolution Business is book five giant beasts from the ocean depths!”). draw the circle. of The Merchant Princes. Wow, those Canadians have some wacky Ms. Neill creates her own story about Locked in a vicious clan war, the imaginations! (So you would be excel- The outer circle modern day Chicago during a time when kingdom of Niejwein is under siege in lently entertained if you got this book!) ~ has a radius cho- the existence of Vampires has been two parallel universes at one time, and Mike Griffin (Not the NASA Guy) sen according to announced. Similar to Kim Harrison’s the plotters are just warming up. how wide and books, it turns out that there are all kinds Miriam finds the hopes of the Turn Coat floppy you want the hat to be. Draw the of supernatural beings wandering around, progressives focused on her but finds Jim Butcher outer circle, then cut it out. Cut out the in- we just don’t know it! However, unlike herself thrown in the midst of a power Roc, $27.50; 432 pp ner circle to form a torus; I call the “Basic Ms. Harrison’s books where you are struggle while carrying the Kingdom’s Hat Donut.” expected to pick up and figure out the heir. Researchers from the US govern- Harry Dresden returns in his eleventh lingo, Ms. Neill’s story explains things. ment have broken through with a plan to novel. Harry returns home to discover A basic hat donut with a six-inch radius (12- (No, for all the Harrison fans, I am not wipe out everybody in the other dimen- Morgan, the warden who haunted his life inch diameter) will make a brim that’s dis- bashing her!). Ms. Neill has created a sion. The war on terror goes trans- for years, who had been just waiting for tinctive, but not too floppy to be manage- believable heroine you can’t help rooting dimensional with nuclear bombs, but the him to mess up and give him an excuse to able. It’s also great for berets and flatcaps, for and surrounds her with various strong clans have them too. execute him, semi-concious on his as I described in 2006 as “The Science of and quirky characters. The plot takes an We have lots of action in both doorstep. Morgan is running from the the Round Hat.” (See ConNotations 16.3 interesting turn, romantically speaking, dimensions, and a great heroine in council because he supposedly killed a or Cactus Needles 13.6.) that keeps you guessing. I do admit to a Miriam who uses her wits in a sword and member of the senior council. fondness for a book I am unable to time travel fantasy that makes fun Harry cannot believe that Morgan Lay out the hat donut pattern on two layers completely predict! Despite the rather entertainment. Enjoy ~ Pam Allan could ever betray the council so he hides of fabric, right sides together, and mark the cheesy title, I recommend this book for Morgan and sets about finding the real inner and outer circles with chalk. Sew all Vampire fans out there. ~ Nyki The Revolution Business traitor. The book is fraught with terrors through the outer circle, then trim away the Robertson By Charles Stross and Harry learns a thing or two in the excess fabric about one quarter inch out- Tor, 2009, $24.95, 320pp process. Including that sometimes it is board from the seam. Cut out the inner Santa Olivia how you die not how you lived. circle and turn the brim right side out by Jacqueline Carey This is an excellently written, but This book continues the destruction of through the middle of the donut. Run your Grand Central Publishing, $13.99, thoroughly annoying book. It continues Harry’s circle of friends and costs him fingers around the inside of the donut to 341pp the adventures of Miriam, princess of an another piece of his life. I understand that stretch out and smooth the outer edge of interdimensional smuggling family, but loss is a part of life but sometimes there the brim. You may wish to topstitch to set A new standalone book from one of again it is not a complete novel. It leaves can be too much cost for what you gain. I the shape of the brim. my favorite authors! It’s like finding an you hanging at the last with nuclear like the island, I love the training scenes, wrapped candy bar on the sidewalk. You bombs exploding in Washington D.C. and and I think Harry should take Joe’s offer Sew the inside edge of the donut to the base examine it with trepidation - the wrap- Washington about to carry the war to the seriously. Most of the regulars make an of your cone to form the brimmed hat. It ping looks tight and clean, the inside other dimensions. (Not to mention the appearance, the white council, the white may take some creative pinning to get the should be the candy you’ve come to third scenario of revolution in a separate court, Harry’s brother Thomas, Molly, two curves to match up. expect. And you are, of course, relieved universe, the new dimensions and the Anastasia, Toot-Toot, and Murphy, but that you don’t have to throw it away once mysterious gates of the ancients some of they are mostly there to witness Harry’s If you’d like a wider brim, like the Wicked you’ve opened it. So I felt. which lead to vacuum where a planet growth as a human and especially as a Witch of the West, you may need to apply The world experienced a devastating used to be.) Nothing is settled. A proper wizard. wire to its outside edge for support. wave of sickness and the survivors put up novel provides a beginning, middle and a The book is fun, the story keeps your Milliner’s wire is best for this. It’s a mild walls to protect themselves. Loup’s resolution of some sort. It is a sad thing to (Cont’d on page 14 ) Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 13 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 13 ) The action is non-stop and the While Wen hires and trains the house The head of the Concenzia order is obstacles continue. Will she ever reach soldiers, she reports her progress daily to surrounded by religious extremists bent interest, but the storyline is very dark and Ithiss-Tor? Will she be re-united with Jaspar Palandar. He is an older, distin- on seizing control. Soon, the army somewhat depressing. Thomas deserves March? Can she escape the Mafia trap? guished man (Without really telling us supposed to protect the nation is poised to better. 3.5 out of 5 stars ~~ Bob (They want her mission to fail so they specific ages—he’s in his forties and Wen attack, and those within the capitol are LaPierre flourish and profit from the chaos.) Will must be in her twenties)—a scholar with determined to take control. her associate and advisor, Vel of Ithiss- a low-key sense of humor, patience and Can a true believer who has lost the Enemies & Allies Tor, be on her side when she reaches his intelligence. The two play a boardgame faith survive the battles and save the city, by Kevin J. Anderson home? Read on and enjoy! Recom- called cruxanno most nights and over the empire, and the faith? William Morrow, $26.99, 326 pp mended. ~ Gary L. Swaty pieces a deep friendship slowly grows A complex world full of intrigue and and builds. interesting characters, action, sorcery and This new novel by Kevin J. Anderson The Warded Man The attacks on Karryn Fortunalt faith. The echoes of Renaissance Venice is a story about the first adventure by Peter V. Brett escalate and in the midst of this, Wen resound. A good read with politics and between Superman and Batman if it Del Ray, $25.00, 416 pp finds out the King Consort, who is on a fantasy combined. Makes you wish we happened during the cold war. lengthy royal progress around the had some sorcery to use at the capitol. ~ It is the latest in a series of books Darkness falls, the Corelings rise, country, is due to visit the Fortunalt Pam Allan telling tales with DC Universe characters demons with supernatural powers burning holdings—along with a full contingent of that are not quite in regular continuity. with the desire to wipe out humanity. The Riders. Coyote Horizon For this one, it is set in the 1950’s with only protections are the wards - painted This is one of the more leisurely- by Allen Steele Sputnik orbiting the Earth and the US in symbols of power whose origins are lost paced of Shinn’s novels on the Twelve Ace, $25.95, 352 pp the height of the cold war with Russia. It in antiquity. Houses. There is action but it is small and features Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne, Once, the fight was equal. Led by the contained. All in all, it’s a rather lazy, Coyote Horizon resumes the saga of early in their careers as Superman and Deliverer, and armed with the fighting warm afternoon of a book. The action Coyote, the planet, its people, and Batman, respectively. Bruce’s Wayne wards, the demonic advance had been does step up in the last ten chapters or so. political change. Enterprises is in a battle with Lex stopped. Those days are gone. The And the solution to the attacks on Karryn, The year is 2350. The children and Luthor’s LutherCorp to get the govern- fighting wards are lost. Humanity huddles as well to Wen’s emotional peace, are all grandchildren are among the hundred ment contracts for new weapons. Lex is behind the remaining ward as their revealed nicely. ~ Sue Martin thousand residents. Every day, refugees not playing fair and stealing some of numbers dwindle. from earth arrive fleeing the environmen- Wayne Enterprises secrets, much to Three survivors of demon attacks Flinx Transcendent tal meltdown on Earth. Bruce’s surprise once he learns of it. As must step beyond the crumbling wards Alan Dean Foster But just as Coyote has become the last Batman begins to investigate Lex Luthor, and seek the secrets of the past. Del Rey, $26.00, 398 pp best hope for Earth, it is also the principal he has a run-in with Superman outside of Brilliantly written, and filled with point of contact with the Hjadd, who have Lex’s mansion and they begin to work character, action, and suspense, The Thirty-five years of Flinx comes to an an embassy near the original colony. together to stop Lex’s plans for world Warded Man is a collectible. I am already end with a huge climactic... sigh. The They remain a mystery except to Hawk domination. The book is written very looking for volume 2. ~ Pam Allan story was delivered with typical verve but Thompson, escaped convict, who much in the style of a 1950’s pulp story, the final climax seemed very possesses more knowledge of the Hjadd with lots of action and threats to both Fortune and Fate uhmm…tame. I enjoyed the book but it than anyone has had before. It will Batman and Superman (and the rest of the A Novel of the Twelve Houses seemed too broad in scope and not change human history and redefine the world, especially Metropolis). The story by Sharon Shinn focused enough. The beginning eleven role of Coyote’s future. takes us to the back of beyond (Mercy Ace Books, $24.95, 403 pp chapters could have been expanded easily Did you enjoy The Coyote Trilogy? Draw, Arizona) and to the Ariguska and been its own book. The AAnn are a You’ll love the new developments in the Gulag in Siberia (where Superman is great subject and Flinx’s time among saga. Called a novel of interstellar captured and exposed to green Another fine journey through Shinn’s world of Gillengaria, this time focusing them should have had a more prominent discovery, it is also one interpersonal Kyyptonite). Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane place. discovery. I am anxious to follow the are heavily involved in the story as well, on a King’s Rider named Wen. The Riders are an elite troop of soldiers The overall pacing was okay but a lot journey. You will be drawn in as well. It with Lois especially putting herself in of it felt contrived. I was surprised to see is an action saga. It is hard S F. And it is a danger as she uncovers Luthor’s insidious whose sole duty is to protect the King (or Queen). an appearance by the natives of the first darn good read. It’s time to head to the plot. It is a fun read, is fast paced and Alan Dean Foster novel I ever read, bookstore. ~ Pam Allan gives the reader an alternate take on Wen (a nickname for Willawendiss) is on the run from her heart. She was part of Cachelot. The way Foster brought many Batman and Superman’s first adventure of Flinx’s friends out of the various From The Ashes: The official Movie together. - Lee Whiteside a small cadre of soldiers defending the previous monarch, King Baryn, when he novels back into his orbit. The revelation Prequel Novel for Terminator Salvation of the driving force behind the Order of By Timothy Zahn. Wanderlust: was killed. Wen, overwhelmed by survivor’s guilt, is certain she could have Null’s attacks on him was expected, as Titan Books, $7.99, 318 pp By Ann Aguirre was the last minute problems before he Ace Books, $7.99, 312 pp done something to save the king and taken the blow that killed him. Once saves the universe. No, that wasn’t a This novel is the lead-in for The spoiler - Foster wouldn’t kill off his Terminator Salvation Wanderlust is the sequel to Grimspace peace was restored, she left the Riders in movie. The action self-inflicted shame to travel the roads, favorite protagonist (except by boredom) in the story establishes John Connor as an again featuring the Anti-Heroine Sirantha whether this was the last novel or not. Jax. Sirantha with her medical issues and hiring herself out as a mercenary. official member of the main resistance One morning at a tavern, she breaks Clarity seems too clingy and needy, group. It introduces 16-year-old Kyle complex emotional problems makes a Flinx too self-centered, and the rest too fascinating character. She rises up and up an altercation between a young noble Reese and nine year-old Star as charac- couple. She offers to help the young whiny. I think Foster ended this series ters. Kyle does not come to John copes in spite of what seem more because he didn’t know what to do unsurmountable difficulties. woman leave her abusive “husband.” Connor’s attention in the book. What she finds herself involved in is a with him anymore than because the story The action centers around a Los Sirantha’s significant other, March, is needed to end. Definitely not my favorite in his own way as tormented as she is. kidnapping of a “serramarra” (noble-born Angeles residence complex known to the lady) of the House of Fortunalt—one of of his books. Halfway through I antici- world as Moldavia Los Angeles and to its They almost reach a parting of the ways. pated Flinx’s final words because they Sirantha is appointed as ambassador the Houses involved in the insurrection in inhabitants as Moldering Lost Ashes, which King Baryn died. She rescues the were mine. 3 out of 5 stars ~~ Bob home to Kyle and Star and an assortment to the alien planet of Ithiss-Tor by the LaPierre newly re-contituted Human government young woman, Lady Karryn Fortunalt, of odd characters who survive there in and takes her home to a relieved mother hiding from Skynet. of the Conglomerate. They want her to go A Magic of Twilight try to persuade the aliens that all would and her uncle. That is about to change. Skynet is Seeing the serramarra needs protec- by S.L. Farrell gathering forces for a sweep to wipe out benefit by re-establishing order and Daw, $7.99, 610 pp peaceful trade on the spaceways. She sets tion, the uncle, Jaspar Paladar, who is all humans in the area. John Connor out only to be sidetracked into a slow trip regent for the Fortunalt holdings, hires noticing their new strong point in a Wen to train the soldiers who protect the A Magic 0f Twilight begins the warehouse in the area decides to block in normal space because of a pregnant Nessantico Cycle. crew member. She sets out for an emer- family and grounds. them if he can. But for Skynet this is a Shinn balances the story nicely Nessantico is a city state rich in more important effort than John realizes. gency base which, as it turns out, has its culture and intrigue. It is the capitol of an own emergency with an invasion of between Wen’s rediscovery of her skills Can he save any of the people at Molder- and worth and the tension that slowly empire and seat of the Concenzia faith. ing Lost Ashes? Will his forces mange to spider-like Aliens. She deals with it and is Now, the state and the faith are at a off to her next stop and well-behind builds around the continuing attacks on capture the warehouse during sweep? Karryn Fortunalt. Who wants the turning point. The fiftieth anniversary of To find out - read the book. schedule. There she walks right into a Kraljica Marguerite may well be the war. serramarra dead? What purpose does her The characters are well-drawn. At death serve? perfect catalyst for conflict. ( Cont’d on page 15 ) Page 14 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 14 ) and her fellow spies are tested to their coming to the named lands. love was killed taking a bullet meant for limits. To stay alive, magic may be their Petronus, the hidden pope of the him, and now her heart beats in his chest. Moldering Lost Ashes, the conflict only chance Androfrancine Order must return to his As a zombie cop, he is the target of between the ex-marine Orozco and the Well-plotted, good characters and order. Trisopoli’s Unity Party, and the Black bureaucratic Grimaldi is central. Orozco interesting world building brings you into Sethbert, overseer of the Entrolusian Circle. At the center of this ring of evil is defends and Grimaldi organizes. They a romantic fantasy you won’t want to put City States gloats over the believed the man responsible for his lover’s death don’t get along, but both are necessary to down. Enjoy, fantasy fans . You may triumph of his plan to dominate the - a man he has had to kill before. the continued survival of Moldering Lost want to pick up The Thief with No Named Lands. Black Blood is an enthralling combi- Ashes as are the passing Traders, sentries, Shadow. They stand alone well. ~ Pam Soon, all the kingdoms of the Named nation of futuristic and gothic fantasy that women and children in the complex. Kyle Allan Lands will be at war as alliances collapse sends a cop across the barrier between Reese comes across as a strong, clever and plots within plots are revealed. life and death. Stopping just before and savvy teenager foreshadowing the Blue Diablo The Golden Age of Fantasy may have creating a new sub-genre , Black Blood warrior he will become. The silent Star is by Ann Aguirre just been surpassed by a new novel, may draws you in to its world where the dead his fellow sentry and sidekick. John and Roc, $6.99, 316 pp there be many more. It is somehow fitting are more alive than the living. Enjoy this Kate Connor standout as strong leaders. that this review is written on Easter one horror lovers. A new star has ap- The book reads well as do most things Blue Diablo is a Corine Soloman Sunday as a new age may have revealed peared in the dark firmament. ~ Pam coming from the pen of Timothy Zahn. novel by the author of the Grimspace itself to us all. Read it, better yet - buy it, Allan Recommended. ~ Gary L. Swaty series. and share your views. ~ Pam Allan Eighteen months ago, Corine slipped Magic in the Blood Rides a Dread Legion over the border and fled to Mexico City Black Blood by Devon Monk by Raymond E. Feist saying adios to her past, her “gift”, her by John Meaney Roc, $6.99, 358 pp Harper Collins, $26.99, 384 pp Lover, and avoiding people wanting to Bantam Spectra, $24.00, 374 pp use her. She has the rare gift called Magic in the Blood is the sequel to Rides a Dread Legion is the beginning handling [psychometry] where touching Black Blood is by the author of Bone Magic to the Bone. of a new saga set in Feist’s world of an item makes known its past, and Song. Allison Beckstrom knows better than Midkemia. It is set ten years after the last sometimes its future. Using her ability, Police lieutenant Donal Riordon isn’t series which covered the Darkwar. she can find missing persons, which is alive as we know it. In one second his ( Cont’d on page 16 ) Things have been relatively quiet since why people never stop trying to find her; then, but when a long lost branch of the including her ex, Chance. Elves return to Midkemia, escaping from Corine’s gift led her right to a door- demons in their realm, they bring a new step needing her help - to find someone threat to the world that could lead to near and dear kidnapped in Laredo. complete devastation if it isn’t stopped. Texas. Their only hope is Corine’s gift, The book starts out featuring several new but it leads into the dark world of characters that bring you into the story sorcerers, demons, witchcraft, zombies, from their perspective. Amirantha is a as well as human smugglers, drug cartels, magician who has expertise in demon and gun runners all mixed with Black summoning and is also brother to another magic. It is definitely interesting times. If magician who is possibly aiding the they survive. Demon King in his attempt to invade This is, deep breath, a supernatural Midkemia. Sandreena is a warrior for the romantic thriller with southwestern/ Order of the Shield for Those Who are Hispanic flavor from both sides of the Weak who also has a past history with border. Good characters, fast plotting and Amirantha. Laromendis and Gulamendis action will keep the pages turning for an are brothers from the lost elves (the enjoyable afternoon. Welcome to what Taredhel) who also have experience in might become another guilty pleasure to demon lore and unite with Pug and the collect. ~ Pam Allan Conclave of Shadows to help in the fight against the demons. Familiar characters Arch Wizard such as Tomas, Pug, Magnus, Miranda, by Ed Greenwood Kaspar are all involved; as well as some Solaris, $24.99, 358 pp of the younger characters brought into the Conclave in the last series. Arch Wizard is book two of the Being the first book in a new series, it Falconfar series. does spend a good amount of time Rod Everlar has been drawn into a introducing the new characters and the fantasy world of his own creation. Rod threat to Midkemia and you learn more must now continue his quest to destroy and more about the threat as they learn. the corruption he has discovered. He sets As you get to the end of the book, the off pursuing the dark wizard Malraun true nature of the threat becomes known only to find the wizard has raised an army and Feist really brings home how of monsters and mercenaries to conquer dangerous the threat is in the final the world. They do not take kindly to chapters, setting things up for the next interference in their plans. book in the series where our heroes must Greenwood writes good worlds but, regroup and find a way to defeat their [perhaps his gaming background] he foes before all is lost. - Lee Whiteside leaves the ending with no real closure. Not only does Rod fail to win this battle The Laurentine Spy [book] but is left running for his life with by Emily Gee the admonishment to read the next Solaris, $7.99, 410 pp volume to find out what happens next. For this reviewer, it assures that I won’t. The Laurentine Spy is the sequel to ~ Pam Allan The Thief with No Shadow. The Corhonase citadel is a place of virtue, Lamentation debauchery and deadly secrets. Nothing by Ken Scholes is as it seems. Tor, $24.95, 361 pp Saliel has many secrets - spying, her past as a pickpocket in Laurent’s slums, Lamentation is a debut novel. or her foundling birth. But her most The Androfrancine city of Windwir is dangerous secret is her magic that would only a column of smoke, destroyed by an have her burned as a witch. ancient weapon. Rudolfo, Lord of the With the Spycatcher closing in, she Ninefold Forest Houses knows that war is Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 15 Curse the Dawn In Our Book ( Cont’d from page 15 ) herself bonded with a dark mage, and a rushing out to buy it. If you are into the by Karen Chance white knight on opposing sides with revolution, magic, and need something to most what the price of using magic Onyx, $7.99, 386 pp Raine in the middle. The demons want read….enjoy. ~ Pam Allan entails. Daughter of a wealthy user of Raine to unlock the stone for their blood magic, she rejected him, his money, Curse the Dawn is a continuation of agenda, dead or alive. As the axis of dark The Language of Bees and his influence to be a tracer of illegal the Cassie Palmer series. and light power, she is a catastrophe by Laurie R. King spells. Her father is supposed to be dead, Cassie [Cassandra] Palmer is a Pythia, waiting to happen. As a average semi- Bantam, $25.00, 432 pp buried while she was in a coma, but now a time traveling clairvoyant, with spatial trained seeker, she is just trying to she sees him and other ghosts who want shift talents. Her predecessor was killed survive. The Language of Bees is the ninth to suck her dry. before she could learn about her new In this spring of urban fantasy, this mystery in the series starring Mary The police’s magic enforcement powers. However, she still has to stop the one is downright fun, it is gritty, fast- Russell and Sherlock Holmes. division hires her for a missing person time travelling mages of the Guild who paced, in a well-drawn fantasy landscape Sherlock Holmes has retired to case. What begins as a way to pay the are trying to remake the world in their that has you waiting for the next boot to keeping bees and his three-year-old bills draws her into a criminal world of image while the Circle and the Vampire drop. Janet Ivanovich has been channel- marriage to his partner decades his junior. criminals, ghosts and blood magic that Senate alliance is uneasy at best. They ing to a new world. Warning; You can’t He also has an estranged son, Damian leads her face-to-face with her father and seem to agree they don’t trust Cassie. read just one. You’ll love ‘em. ~ Pam Adler, who wants no contact with his the man who pulls his strings. It will take Add to this, some of the old gods, like Allan father [who did not know of his existence more than Magic to survive. Apollo, want to take the earth back. Oh, till he was being held for murder in This is a tightly-written supernatural and Apollo wants Cassie dead. But don’t The Patriot Witch France.] One day, he shows up at his mystery with a leavening of romance worry, one of the seven most powerful by C. C .Finlay father’s home asking for help in finding hard to put down. Although it sets up for vamps has laid claim to Cassie, but they Del Ray, $7.99, 341 pp his missing wife and child. Sherlock and the next volume, the author provides haven’t had time to sort those feelings Mary end up with parallel investigations closure for this adventure making a out, I guess all you can do is try to The Patriot Witch is the third volume along with Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft. thoroughly satisfying read. I look forward survive. in The Traitor to the Crown series. The mystery becomes even more to reading more and more. ~ Pam Allan This is a fast-paced supernatural In 1775, Proctor Brown seems an tangled as Damian’s wife is found dead thriller with vivid characters that won’t ordinary colonial farmer. He is also a near Stonehenge. Inspector Lestrade Jr. is Blood and Ice allow boredom to creep in. Somehow it minuteman, a member of the local militia, convinced that Damian is the murderer by Robert Masello seems right that Las Vegas is her base of but his mother is a witch and has taught but the Holmes family must solve the Bantam, $24.00, 495 pp operations. Mayhap the odds are better her son to hide his talents lest he swing mystery deep in the Victorian supernatu- there. Meanwhile, as the temperature rise, from the end of a rope. A chance encoun- ral scene and save Sherlock’s grand- Blood and Ice is a new novel by the this is a cool way to enjoy the afternoon. ter with a magic-using British officer daughter before she becomes the next author of Vigil and Bestiary. ~ Pam Allan catapults him into the revolution and a sacrifice. Journalist and photographer Michael war of magic vs. magic with not just the This is a mystery hard to put down. Wilde, fleeing his recent tragedy, takes an Corambis independence of the new nation but the Well-written with characters better assignment at the South Pole seeking by Sarah Monette future of mankind at stake. developed than Arthur Conan Doyle and solace in the barren wastes. Instead he Ace, $24.95, 421 pp Finley leaves us hanging, the evil doer a Victorian England that rings true, you finds a young man and woman bound in swinging his tomahawk at the young will not only want to read it, but collect it chains and sealed in a block of ice. To Corambis is the conclusion to the revolutionary’s head. No closure to be and the previous eight. They are classics unravel the mystery of the doomed series including The Mirador, and had. Although he writes well and his in their own right. ~ Pam Allan couple he must search from the battle- Melusine. characters have life, I can’t recommend ( Cont’d on page 17 ) fields of the Crimean War and the charge Exiled from Melusine for heresy, the of the Light Brigade to a curse that Wizard Felix, and his half brother, survives to the present…..and there is Mildmay, the thief, and assassin, travel to nowhere to run…..for the living. Carambis to face judgment from a ruling Masello has written a supernatural body of wizards. thriller with cutting age science, and good Carambis, however, is engaged in a plotting, and characters, Antarctica rings insurrection that had awakened an ancient so true, you are not sure if your shivers machine with terrible powers. Only a are from the story or the cold spell that powerful wizard can stop its uncontrolled blew in. However, get your hand propped powers of destruction. Now Felix and up and settle in. Putting it down may Mildmay will face their greatest chal- require another set of supernatural lenge and find their ultimate destiny. powers that weren’t issued ‘til page 496. This is, and was, epic fantasy reminis- ~ Pam Allan. cent of Terry Goodkind. There is some- thing for everyone. Told in entwined Dancing on the Head of a Pin narrative and often knuckle-chewing by Thomas E. Sniegoski adventure, it is the characters that hold Roc, $14.00, 290 pp you and enthrall you. Mildmay is my favorite with his dry humor worked into Dancing on the Head of a Pin is a the narrative. Although Corambis stands Remy Chandler novel by the author of A alone, I recommend collecting the set. Kiss Before the Apocalypse. You will want to re-read them all. ~ Pam Remy Chandler used to be an angel, Allan but generations ago, the Boston P.I. chose to become human. Now, having lost the The Trouble with Demons love of his life, he is turning away from by Lisa Shearin his human existence in favor of taking on Ace, $7.99, 370 pp a most dangerous supernatural job that will bring him in contact with his past. The Trouble with Demons is by the His latest case involves the theft of a author of Magic Lost, Trouble Found, and cache of ancient weaponry imbued with Armed and Magical. unimaginable powers. If they fall in the Raine Benares is a seeker. Her trade is wrong hands, they could be used to finding what people [or mages, or destroy Heaven and Earth. Remy has to whoever] want found. But when she finds decide if he is willing to lose his human- the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone of ity. unlimited power that everyone seems to Familiar ground covered in an want for themselves, it is the bane of her entertaining style combining classic noir existence. So when a hellgate opens up detective fiction and urban fantasy. And and lets in an infestation of demons on you’ll love his black lab, Marlowe. This the Isle of Mid, there couldn’t be a worse series is classic fun. ~ Pam Allan time to get involved, She also finds

Page 16 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 In Our Book (Cont’d from page 16) Marseguro devises a plague to defeat Ives, Te Evangeline works for paranormal than she ever dreamed. She will need it the attackers once the earth’s warriors are investigator Babu Cherian. The work isn’t all to survive. Flood defeated. The selkies find they have to dangerous so far and Te isn’t sure about Interesting genre blurring the lines by Stephen Baxter bring the vaccine to earth as a traitor has the paranormal, but her father was Babu’s between Victorian feel, mystery, horror, Roc, $24.95, 490 pp brought the plague to earth. When they partner till he died mysteriously five fantasy and supernatural with panache. get there they must fight the theocracy years before. Eminently readable more than once; if Flood is a disaster thriller with a and another modified race controlled by a But when Babu’s friend is killed, Te this is your bag, I’d suggest adding it scientific base. clone of their creator who is not only finds he has been keeping an ancient evil your collection. You might even want to Four hostages are rescued from a insane, but wants to destroy the Selkies as at bay and the creature he had been blow up the cover for a picture. There is group of religious extremists after five well as the unmodified humans and guarding has escaped. Te and Babu must no acknowledgment of the artist. ~ Pam long years. They make a vow that they establish himself as sole ruler.. capture the creature before it can unleash Allan will look after each other. They never Some great world and race building, an evil as old as time. expected the world they returned to. with great characters, and fast-paced Digging into the darkest nooks and Countries and continents are being plotting make this volume and series a crannies, she finds signs that nothing is submerged by the rising water with no winner. Good science fiction is worth what it seems. In a place where old end in sight. exercising the plastic. Go for it. ~ Pam powers are awakening, Te herself is In his element, NASA scientist, Gary Allan changing.... stronger and more powerful Boyle dives into researching the extreme weather. Helen Gray searches for the God of Clocks baby she had in captivity. Piers by Alan Campbell Michealmas, British military officer, is in Ballantine, $25.00, the forefront of his government’s re- 365 pp sponse, and former USAF captain finds herself in the employ of one very rich God of Clocks is man. volume three of The Water continues to rise. In less than Deepgate Codex. fifty years, there will be no place left to In the battle of run. What can these four disparate people the Gods, a portal of do to prevent a global extermination? Hell has opened, The book is well-written, great turning the world plotting, [action both physical and into a killing field. mental] and good characters you can Humanity is the believe. It is also scary in its inevitability. verge of extinction. Well-worth the purchase. It might just The only hope is a change your world. ~ Pam Allan band of unlikely heroes. [No, not the The Curse of the Mistwraith X-Men] 799 pp Former assassin The Ships of Merior Rachel Hael has 702 pp rejoined blood Warhost of Vastmark, (Available July 1) magician Mina 521 pp, Greene and her All by Janny Wurts devious dog Basalis Harper Collins, $8.95 each on a last ditch effort to save the world These are the first three books of the from Hell. They rush Wars of Light and Shadow. The final two to the last stronghold are Fugitive Prince and Grand Con- of the god of time spiracy .All published in Britain in the pursued by the iron late 1980s through the 1990s. and bone automatons Two half brothers are born to a of King Menoa, the Queen, each with different fathers. One Lord of the Maze. carries the powers of Light, the other of Meanwhile John Shadow. Both become princes and pawns Anchor descends of their obsessed fathers. Thus begins the into Hell to meet wars that can destroy the world. Menoa on his own They are part of an EPIC that has ground. They find warfare, magic, generational curses that Time itself is without variance from well-drawn unraveling and to characters, great character-driven win this battle may plotting, and a beautifully drawn world.. require their ultimate This is pure epic fantasy where each sacrifice. volume can stand alone. These are Between great collectors for fantasy loves well worth the cover art and the reprint {and the author is a darn good well-written dark artist as well}. Get the charge card out. ~ fantasy with compel- Pam Allan ling antiheroes, this is a page turner for Terra Insegura fantasy lovers to by Edward Willett revel in. Enjoy. ~ Daw, $7.99, 391 pp Pam Allan

Terra Insegura is the sequel to Ghost Ocean Marseguro and Lost in Translation. by S.M. Peters Marseguro is a water world, home to a Roc, $7.99, 479 pp small colony of Selkies, a genetically altered water dwelling race created by Ghost Ocean is geneticist Richard Hansen who live in by the author of peace with the unmodified humans. Whitechapel Gods. Unfortunately, Earth finds them, and the In the dark, ever- theocracy that rules the earth is out to rainy town of St. eradicate anyone but “true humans’. Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 17 AZCorsairs “Founded in 1971,as a branch of enced players. Visit http://www.warhorn.net/ THE PHOENIX FANTASY FILM SOCI- Club Listings the Society for Creative Anachronisms, or gathering, to see what we have coming up. If ETY A Phoenix based club interest-ed in the ACROSS PLUS - So you live in North SCA, our primary focus is 16th – 18th century you have any questions email us at entire realm of SF, Fantasy and Horror film. European culturee and the pirate lifestyle of PFFS has been in existence for 30 years, Phoenix and are interested in anime? Well [email protected] there is a club out there available for you the time. The Corsairs will extend pirate meeting every 6 weeks in member’s homes. people. portrayals as far back as Phoenician, Roman Dues are $10 per year. Membership includes Across Plus is a social club that discuses Era or to future Space, Science Fiction genre, THE JEDI KNIGHTS (Founded 1977) newsletters, an annual film awards and anime, video games, manga, other animation, and more publicly recognizable Hollywood Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of each month. various outings. For information, contact and the Japanese culture. We meet at styled pirate. Corsair membership is largely For more information call Carol Alves, PFFS, P.O. Box 34023, Phoenix, AZ 85067 or Bookman’s on 19th Ave and Northern on volunteer-oriented, gathered together for fun Publicity, (760)244-9593 or write Jedi call David Storck at (602) 274_7404, e-mail: and while helping others out. [email protected]. Sundays at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. Knights, c/o Carol Alves 8038 “I” Street, In general, we explore anime, manga, and Hesperia CA, 92345-7066. other styles of animation, creative educative Members of the Arizona Corsairs are, much RAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST A demonstrations, participate in interactive like their historical counterparts, masters of Live Action Theatre Troupe based out of the discussions, attend local Arizona conventions, their own destiny. Creation of characters, LEPRECON, INC. One of the two Phoenix ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. It is dedicated to and make cosplay. complete with backstory with correlation to area corporations that put on yearly conven- the game Werewolf: The Apocalypse by We are willing to gain any new members out history, period costume, and emulation of tions. Best described as SF/F generalists with White Wolf publishing. Contact Mike there who are interested. Our members are pirate traditions and arts, rests on each McLaughlin at (602)461-5842 or write 1730 performer, creating varied storylines and a main thrust into SF/F art. Guests are W Emelita Place #2025, Mesa AZ 85202- very friendly, respectful, and fun. We welcome. The meetings are quarterly on the welcome any and all. deep, interesting characters. 3144 or [email protected] For more information, contact Tod Miles at For more information, please contact Captaim second Saturday of February, May, August & [email protected] Max - Ambassador, AZCorsairs November unless otherwise notified. August RAW GAMES (Role-players & [email protected] 602-799-6184" is the annual meeting where board positions Wargamers, Inc.) Role-players & ADRIAN EMPIRE A medieval and renais- are deter-mined. For more information, write Wargamers, Inc. is the Valley’s oldest role- BASFA Local Tucson science fiction group playing and wargaming club. Currently sance recreationist club. Sword-fighting, arts, PO Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85285; call Mike banquets, masquerades, dances. meets every that puts on TusCon. Contact us at PO Box meeting at 8159 W. Weldon in Phoenix every 2528, Tucson AZ 85702-2528 or Willmoth, 480-945-6890, Email Sunday from 12noon-5pm (except during Wednesday night from 7-10pm at Encanto [email protected] Webpage: Park. All are welcome. Free. [email protected] conventions and other special events). Open our website at http://home.earthlink.net/ www.leprecon.org to new members - call (623) 849-9515. AERIAL MIRAGE JUGGLERS. Meets ~basfa/ MIB The Men in Black is the official global SHIELD OF ALMOR The Shield of Almor Wednesday 7-10pm in Encanto Park, 15th organization of field operatives for Steve Avenue, south of Encanto. No dues, everyone CENTRAL ARIZONA SPECULATIVE is a RPGA club located in the greater Phoenix FICTION SOCIETY, INC. (CASFS) The Jackson Games. We attend local conventions area. If you are interested in Living Greyhawk welcome. All levels skill exchange in many to demonstrate and promote products of Steve areas of object manipulation Dave Davis non-profit corporation that puts on catch one of our meetings the 1st Sunday of CopperCon conventions, SmurfCons, Jackson Games. We also schedule demos in every month at Imperial Outpost Games , 602-955-9446; local gaming stores as well as community or Ron Harvey , 480- HexaCons, occasional regional cons, and (www.imperialoutpost.com) in Glendale. If publishes Con-Notations. Best described as service events. If you have a gaming store, you are interested in Living Arcanis or Living 775-4690 for more info or impromptu convention, or community service that you juggling sessions. SF/F generalists with a strong bent towards Spycraft catch us on the 3rd Sunday of every literary SF/F. Guests welcome - meets at 8pm would like to have official Steve Jackson month also at Imperial Outpost Games. The on the last Friday of each month in January Games representation at, please contact the Shield of Almor hosts RPGA events at the ARIZONA LANBASHERS LEAGUE A MIB Arizona Cell collaboration of computer gaming enthusiasts, thru September and the second Friday in local Phoenix conventions. For more October, November and December at JB’s Leader at [email protected]. We are also information visit us at the Arizona LANbashers League throws recruiting new MIBs in some areas of quarterly LANparty events. Between parties, Restaurant, 1818 W Montebello in Phoenix, games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_RPG/ or AZ. For information: write PO Box 62613, Arizona. If you’re interested, contact us. You you can sign up for games at support is given to local groups who wish to can find additional information about the advertise their own gatherings. We have no Phoenix, AZ 85082-2613 or email www.nyrond.org. Or you can just stop by the [email protected] Web www.casfs.org Arizona MIB at our website http:// 1st Sunday of the month. Meeting starts at set genre of games and play anything from members.cox.net/mib.6361/ strategy games to first-person shooters to 10am. Hope to see you there. driving/flying simulations. No annual *****C.R.O.F.T. Celtic Reenactment of Fellowship and Trades is Phoenix based MVD GHOSTCHASERS—The MVD THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE membership is required and admission to an Ghostchasers are a paranormal team event ranges from $5-$15. See our webpage Reenactment group specializing in the ANACHRONISM The kingdom of Atenveldt western European renaissance. We research established in 1995. This band of ghost doth lie in the state of Arizona. Within the fair for current events. Email: hunters conducts regular investigations of [email protected] Web: lifestyles and trades concurrent with the kingdom can be found six Baronies: Celtic Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. haunted, historical locations throughout Atenveldt, Mons Tonitrus, Twin Moons, www.lanparty.com/all/ VoiceMail: 602-306- Arizona. They also research and investigate 9339 We emphasize Scots, Irish or Welsh crafts and SunDragon, Tir Ysgithr and Ered Sul. For do Celtic re-enactment. We open participation “house call” hauntings for the public. The more information on any of these or for MVD Ghostchasers lead Spirit Photo ARIZONA PARANORMAL to anyone with an interest in period crafting general information on contact the Kingdom and entertainment. Demonstrations occur at Workshops/Tours to various haunted locations Seneschal. Email: [email protected] INVESTIGATIONS We are a highly across Arizona. These workshops give ghost trained, non-profit paranormal investigation the Highland Games, Scarborough Fair, and Web www.atenveldt.com the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Web page hunters, paranormal team members and folks group, registered with the state of Arizona, wanting to learn the art of ghost hunting a providing service to Arizona and the http://www.crofters.org We meet in Tempe at SOUTHWEST COSTUMER’S GUILD The the Pyle Adult Center SW corner of Rural and chance to work and learn techniques together. Southwest Costumers Guild is a loose Southwest since 1994. Having served the The MVD Ghostchasers team are guest public for 12 years, we are one of the oldest, Southern on the 2nd Saturday of every month, organization of persons interested in all facets phone number (480)350-5211. The Board speakers at many venues and have appeared of historical, cultural, science fiction, fantasy, most respected paranormal investigation on TV news reports and the subject of several groups in Arizona. We are primarily science meeting will be at 2:00 pm with the General and humor costume. Members are often seen meeting starting at 2:30 pm. newspaper stories. For more information on stage and behind the scenes at local and based and don’t go on an investigation contact: looking for ghosts, we go looking for regional Science Fiction Convention THE DARK ONES (Dark-wunz) n. 1) An MVD Ghostchasers—Debe Branning, masquerades. They meet on the last Sunday of answers. There is never a charge for an Director—480-969-4049 Web page: investigation. Contact us at by e-mail at organization formed for the expression and each month at various members’ homes in the exploration of various cultural themes www.mvdghostchasers.com or greater Phoenix area. For details. Southwest [email protected] or [email protected] visit our website at: http:// including, but not limited to, the Dark Ages Costumers Guild, PO Box 39504, Phoenix, www.arizonaparanormalinvestigations.com/ and the Renaissance through forms of art AZ 85609 or Randall Whitlock at including, but not limited to, painting, ORANGE COUNTY SCIENCE FICTION [email protected] or drawing, writing, photography, spoken word, CLUB meets last Wednesday of every month www.southwestcostumersguild.org THE AWAY TEAM: The Away Team, is a (except Dec.) in Fullerton. The meetings are general sci-fi appreciation group that meets and acts of characterization. 2) a member of this organization. 3) Information available at built around guest speakers. We’ve had SPACE ACCESS SOCIETY Space Access once a month for discussion of various sci-fi authors such as Octavia Butler and Greg news regarding several mediums to include: www.darkones.org Society’s sole purpose is to promote radically Benford. Non-members are welcome. For cheaper access to space, ASAP. We think it’s television, movies, video, books, comics, details of current events and location see our magazines, collecting, and so forth. The THE EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND possible within ten years, with a little luck STEEL, INC. The Empire of Chivalry and website www.ocsfc.org or email and a lot of hard work. Join us and help us meetings are comprised of news, review and [email protected] comment, BBS/computer news and help, Steel specializes in the general recreation of make it happen! SAS membership is $30 for meeting new members, video presentations, the culture of the Middle Ages including all of one year, which gets you emailed Space the Art Forms, Events (Feasts, Tournaments, PAReX is a non profit organization dedicated Access Updates the instant they pass final games, and socializing fun! Food and drinks to building and promoting Autonomous are provided, via a $3 munchie fee (per Ceremonies and Wars) and Combat Arts edit, plus discounts on our annual conference covering the years of 800AD up to 1650AD robotics. The club has been in existance since on the technology, politics, and business of meeting) to compensate the host. (No other 1998. Meetings are currently conducted twice fees are involved.) The electronic home of the and any location within Europe or its explored radically cheaper space transportation, territories. For more information contact a month at two different Phoenix, Arizona featuring leading players in the field. Email Away Team, is the Lightspeed Space Station locations, http://www.parex.org/ BBS at (520) 325-6674.... Member ages for Leonard Byrd (Tucson) (520)742-2432 Web: us at: [email protected] www.galandor.org meetings.shtml. Club dues are on an annual Web page: www.space-access.org/ the group range from 13-40-something with basis: Regular members $20 Student members both male and female members. Other $15 Of course visitors are always welcome activities include null-modem link gamefests, A GATHERING OF PLAYERS- Find Your SUPERSTITION SPACEMODELING Adventure because we know you will eventually become SOCIETY is Arizona’s club for builders of group theater movie viewings, convention a member anyway Web page: http:// trips and more. Have sci-fi fun in a relaxed, Our club is running into our sixth year. Join model and high-power rockets and those who us for games and adventure set in the www.parex.org/ E-mail Contact: love to see them fly. Launches are held on the low-structure environment. NO RUBBER [email protected] EARS ALLOWED!! For questions, you can Dungeons and Dragons realm. We offer second Saturday morning of each month in call the BBS, or write to: LSS c/o R. Martin; Living Forgotten Realms and Pathfinder Rainbow Valley. SSS hosts the annual G. 2522 N. Sparkman Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716 Society. We welcome both new and experi- ( Cont’d on page 19 ) Page 18 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3 In an effort to expand membership the USS ( Cont’d from page 18 ) CASFS Business Report Club Listings Leonidas has assisted in the formation of a Convention Harry Stine Memorial Rocket Launch every High School Star Trek club called the October. Visit www.sssrocketry.org for STARFLEET Science and Tactical Academy. CASFS Book Discussion & Social – membership information, directions to the Students participate in a wide range of Listings Randall Whitlock led the discussion of launches and meetings, and to read the activities with the hope that they will become FiestaCon (Westercon 62) ( July 2-5, The Incomplete Enchanter at the monthly newsletter, “Newton’s Minutes.” interested in Star Trek and join STARFLEET 2009) Tempe Mission Palms, Tempe, AZ. BentCover on St. Patrick’s Day. On April as officers. 60 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona TARDIS is a Phoenix-based General SF/ The USS Leonidas has a crew of 30. Starfleet 85281 Artist GoH: Todd Lockwood, 21, he led the discussion of Lark Light. Fantasy Fan Club, specializing in Interna- Science and Tactical Academy has 52 cadets. Author GoH: Alan Dean Foster, Editor The discussion and Social is 7 pm at the tional media SF/Fantasy since 1983. TARDIS Members age from 14-65 years old. Average GoH Stanley Schmidt, Fan GoHs: Jim meets every two weeks at different locations age is 20-25. Bent Cover on the third Tuesday of each around the valley. Activities include watching and Doreen Webbert, Toastmasters: Club meeting locations vary due to scheduled Partick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden. month in their coffee shop. The store is videos, discussions, parties, games, and away missions and such, but usually meet in a located at 12428 N. 28th Dr Phoenix, AZ occasional outings with more to come now classroom at Apache Junction High School. FiestaCon is also hosting the 1632 that Doctor Who is returning from hiatus. Membership with Starfleet International is Minicon with Eric Flint. Memberships 85029 Phone: 602-942-5932. Many members maintain an active presence at required. www.sfi.org Upon joining $70 thru 12/31/08, $75 thru 3/31/09, Copper 2010 – Chairman Mark more later. Phone: 480-945-6890 Write: conventions. You can contact us at 2243 W STARFLEET a member is a Cadet. Upon Boniece has announced that CopperCon Wagon Wheel Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85021, Voice passing the Officer’s Training School Exam at FiestaCon, c/o Leprecon, Inc., PO Box Mail at (602) 864-0901, E-mail TARDIS- the Online Academy, the member becomes a 26665 Tempe, AZ 85285, Email: 2010 Committee meetings will com- [email protected] or visit us at http:// Commissioned Officer aboard the Leonidas. [email protected] web: mence soon. CopperCon 2010 will be a members.cox.net/tardisaz/tardis.html The chapter does not have dues as of yet. The www.fiestacon.org Media Convention with a rota of Sci-Fi, dues to be a member of STARFLEET TEKWAR FAN CLUB Sanctioned by the International are $15 a year. Mythcon 40 (July 17-20, 2009) UCLA, Fantasy/Horror. Guests are being actively series’ production companies and the USA No newsletter, but members do receive an Los Angeles, CA. Author GOH James A. sought. Network! It is THE information conduit activities E-mail update. No web site yet. Owen, Scholar GOH Diana Pavlac Glyer. Connotations – The June-July issue of between the fans and the series! Fan club Contact : Jonathan Krieger, 480-677-0269, Theme: “Sailing the Seas of Imagina- ConNotations will be mailed June 1. membership will bring you the following 1) [email protected] tion”. Talks, panels, Dealers Room, subscription to the info filled Tek Informer Banquet with Mythopoeic Awards, fun. Financial Committee – The Financial newsletter; 2) official TekWar Fan Club USS STORMBRINGER The Stormbringer is Membership: Mythopoeic Society Committee has been created to revise the membership card and kit. Membership is by a correspondence Star Trek fan club chapter regular mail only and the newsletter and of Starfleet, Intl. based out of Tucson AZ. members $65, non-members $75; $5 language of the Financial Procedures so materials will not be reproduced electroni- The chapter was commissioned as the USS more after May 15. Website: http:// that all sections clear and internally www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/40/ cally. To join the action and initiate your Stormbringer NCC-74213, attached to consistent. Stephanie Bannon is chair. annual membership, make check or money Division 31, Starfleet Covert Operations, on order out for $12.50 to: Official TekWar Fan 10/31/98. As of 11/29/98 there were 32 Bubonicon 41 (August 28-30, 2009) Minutes – The minutes project still Club (Membership section), 2522 N members. There are no dues other than the Albuquerque NM at the Albuquerque languishes as Susan Uttke has yet to Sparkman Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716-2417 $15 for joining Star-fleet Intl.. Members are Grand Airport Hotel (formerly the provide the last year’s minutes and Gary scattered world wide but the primary clusters Wyndham), 2910 Yale Blvd SE, Albu- T.H.E.M. is ASU’s science fiction and are in Tucson, AZ and Plano, TX. They don’t querque, NM 87106. Guests Michael Swaty has not evaluated the year before fantasy club. Weekly meetings are held on the meet on a regular basis since they are a Cassutt, Carrie Vaughn, Patti Peri that to see how much is missing. Last Arizona State University campus, with dates correspondence chapter. Their web site is: Charlifu. 2009 Membership Rates: $36 year’s minutes will be in hand by June 1. and places to be announced after the semester http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9505/ through August 8, 2009, and then $41.00 starts. For more information, Email and their contact/CO is Capt. Dave Pitts, At the Door for adults (do not mail any [email protected] Web [email protected] memberships after August 8, please). www.themonline.org Youths 14-17 Years of Age $18.00 for the WESTERN SCIENCE FICTION ASSO- Whole Weekend Address all mail & TUCSON FAN ALLIANCE E-Mail Address CIATION (WesternSFA) A non-profit memberships to: NMSF Conference, PO is [email protected] or corporation that sponsors AniZona, the Box 37257, Albuquerque, NM 87176 [email protected] ConRunners seminars, Across Plus Anime Club and sponsored the 2004 Westercon. http://bubonicon.com/ UNITED FEDERATION OF PHOENIX A Dedicated primarily to educational activities Phoenix area Star Trek and general SciFi fan relating to literature, music, and visual and North American Discworld Convention club. We are a social club that meets every performing arts, especially in the genres of (Sept 4-7, 2009) Tempe Mission Palms, two weeks at various locations around the Anime, science fiction, fantasy, costuming, Tempe, AZ. 60 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Phoenix area. The UFP has been meeting for gaming and science. Applicants for member- Arizona 85281 Guests: Terry Pratchett, over 30 years of continuous activity. Dues are ship in WesternSFA must be sponsored by a Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Esther M. $15/per year prorated when you join; no current active WesternSFA member. Dues are Friesner and Bernard Pearson. Member- restrictions. Membership includes member- $10 yearly plus a $5 non-refundable applica- ships $80 thru 3/31/09, more later. Phone: ship roster and monthly newsletter. Come to tion fee. General Meetings are held on the 480-945-6890 Write: NADWCon, c/o any two meetings at no obligation. For first Friday of February, May, August and Leprecon, Inc., PO Box 26665 Tempe, information, write the UFP at PO Box 37224, November, check our website for meeting AZ 85285, Email: [email protected] Phoenix, AZ 85069, or call Jim Strait at (602) location Guests are welcome. For more info Web: www.nadwcon.org 242-9203. Web page: http://www.U-F-P.org contact Craig Dyer at WesternSFA, PO Box or Email to [email protected] 67457, Phoenix AZ 85082 Email: FenCon VI (Sep 18-20 2009) Crowne [email protected] Webpage: Plaza North Dallas, Addison TX. USS LEONIDAS The Leonidas is a member www.westernsfa.org Guests: Lois McMaster Bujold, Carla of Region IV of STARFLEET International. Ulbrich, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Kurt The chapter is an opportunity for those that Z-PHILES are the ariZona x-PHILES. We share a love of Star Trek to have fun and help maintain a mailing list for news and get- Miller; Toastmaster: Paul Cornell. the community at the same time. The togethers of fans of the X-Files living in Website: http://www.fencon.org/ Leonidas stresses uniforms or other costumes Arizona. We get together in both the Phoenix What is CASFS? to have the ability to participate actively in and Tucson areas. To subscribe, send an World Fantasy Convention (Oct 29 - Nov 1 ’09) The Fairmont Hotel, San What is really behind putting on a various events as they present themselves but empty message to z-philes- convention? What are the funds raised by a they are not required. [email protected] Jose, CA. Guests to be announced. Website: http:// convention used for? Why not attend a Generic Convention Registration Form www.worldfantasy2009.org/ meeting and find out? We’re the sponsor of ConNotations, CopperCons, HexaCons, Saboten-Con (Oct 30-Nov 1, 2009) SmerfCons and other conventions. We are Name:______Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa, 1011 West a charitable, non-profit organization that Holmes Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210. The exists to further science fiction, fantasy Badge Name:______special Saboten-Con room rate is $109 and science fields in Arizona. CASFS for a single/double or junior suite. currently meets at the JB’s Restaurant at Address:______Guests: Vic Mignogna with more to 1818 W Montebello in Phoenix The come. Tickets: $35 Membership capped meetings begin at 8PM and are held on the City/State/ZIP:______at 1500. For more info last Friday of the month Jan. through Sept. www.sabotencon.com and on the second Friday of the month Oct Phone:______Email:______through Dec. Everyone is invited to attend TusCon 36 (November 13-15, 2009) Enclosed is $______for ______memberships for two meetings as a guest (non-member). Hotel Tucson City Center, Tucson, AZ. Membership rates are $12/year plus an ______convention. GoH: Weston Ochse; Toastmaster Ed initial $3 application fee and rates are pro- Bryant. Website: http:// rated for the amount of the year remaining. (See individual convention listing for mailing address) home.earthlink.net/~basfa/ . For more info: Webpage: www.casfs.org More info on __ Masquerade __Art Show __Volunteer __ Other Email: [email protected] Volume 19 Issue 3 ConNotations Page 19 Page 20 ConNotations Volume 19 Issue 3