Transcendental Basenji Sermons and Enlightenment Volume 1 Number 22 (short) 1 Editorial Transcendental This newsletter is a short version of my usual ANZAPA contribution newsletter. Basenjis Sermons and You are receiving it as a Christmas Card for having attended the 2006 Sydney Freecon. Enlightenment A longer version, containing all the in- Freecon handouts is going to the members Vol. 1 No. 22, December 2006 of the ANZAPA collective and those supporters of the 2006 Sydney Freecon Immediate Post-Sydney who were unable to attend (and who Freecon 2006 Issue explained why). Given the reception to a Science Fiction Freecon this year I intend to Postal Address: hold a 2007 SF Freecon AND I am going to P.O. Box 2 Bexley North NSW 2207, try to get up an All Science Freecon for the Home phone 2007 Science Week as well. I’ll let you know about both Freecons as more details (after 7 pm) 02 9718- 5827 are known. [email protected] To my mind the 2006 Sydney Freecon was a damn fine SF con. It could of course been better, more people would have Newsletter Plan attended if we had had an event listing in any of the Friday / Weekend papers etc. Page 1, Index and Editorial By the standards of most SF cons held Pages 2 to 8, Report on the 2006 Sydney interstate, it wasn’t much, seven hours of Freecon and People’s Choice Short SF programming, three Authors, Some Story Competition. Science, Some coverage of local Speculative Fiction publishing, Some Page 8, The Sydney Mechanics School of coverage of local SF&F meetings & events, Arts Institute SF and Fantasy book group A short SF competition, a Captions meeting of Saturday October 28, 2006 competition and slightly more than thirty Pages 8 to 10, The Infinitas Book shop people. But in Sydney things are well, SF&F discussion meeting of Thursday different. Getting anything SF up in Sydney November 02, 2006 is, well a lot like herding cats, whatever that Pages 10 and 11, Friday November 03, means. I finished up the day of the 2006 and the Dr Who Tavern meeting at the Freecon sitting on a railway station platform Lansdowne Hotel (it took me all of two hours to get home!) Pages 11 to 13, Tuesday December 12, thinking of all the minor tweaks that could 2006 and the Civic Hotel FIT Pub gathering be tried for next year’s Freecon. That is acting like the next Freecon was next month Pages 13 to 15, Garry’s progressive list of rather than the best part of a year away! all the Sydney Science Fiction fans that were during the year 2006 This was a great change and improvement from the last one I held in 2003, where I left Pages 16 to 18, Some SF Movie, DVD, the Freecon feeling tired, and Book and Video reviews unappreciated. This time I was so up- Pages 18 to 22, Mailing comments, for beat after the event that I even managed to ANZAPA issue # 233 avoid coming down with the previously Page 22, Basenjis Tail piece inevitable post-Freecon Stress cold! Transcendental Basenji Sermons and Enlightenment Volume 1 Number 22 (short) 2 Yellow Pages Tuesday December 12, 2006 The Civic Hotel (CBD) Fans at the pub Science Fiction gathering Garry’s notes of Sydney SF&F Garry’s Report on the meetings attended during November 25, 2006 Sydney Freecon October, November and For me the day of the Freecon started the December 2006 night before, I was up till 1 am doing up the membership badges and cutting Cheese The 2006 Sydney Freecon, and Salmon Sandwiches. I was up again Saturday November 25, 2006 at at ~6.30 am with some packing still to do. Bankstown Public Library Breakfast included two codeine tablets as I Saturday October 28, The Sydney had been ‘out of sorts for the preceding two Mechanics School of Arts Institute days. I was out of the house by 7.30 am, Science Fiction and Fantasy book and off to the bus stop and on a train by about 8.15 am. This was later than I would group meeting have preferred, but it did get me to Bankstown some minutes before 9 am. The Infinitas Book shop SF&F discussion meeting of Thursday Sitting on the train to Bankstown (in the November 02, 2006 vestibule of course!) I engaged a fellow traveler with, ‘you look like you would enjoy going to a Science Fiction convention’. A direct hit! As it was Lynne Green, a friend of Gillian Polack’s from Queensland who was indeed travelling to the Freecon. Thus at 8.30 I had a Convenor and a panelist, so all I needed was an audience member and we were on the way to another successful Freecon. Rounding the corner of the library we were met by a scrum of people outside the Library, most already doing introductions and talking animatedly. There was Ted Scribner, Ann Rankins, Ron Clarke, Robert Bee and Joanne Nickl. Ted and Ann are well known to us from Sydney Futurian meetings and past Freecons, Robert had sent in a story and an application form, but I failed to reach the PO box in time to get it. Joanne was a little reticent, I hope I introduced her to the growing Freecon crowd. Transcendental Basenji Sermons and Enlightenment Volume 1 Number 22 (short) 3 Leaving Ted and Ann to handle the giving Best Australian SF and Fantasy out of badges and general reception stuff I Anthologies. The sale of which greatly fled across the street to my office to retrieve contributed to the People’s Choice the Technology and the Milk for the Freecon. Competition Prize Pool. I was also able to phone my mum as I realized that I had left home with the During the break my Mother arrived with sandwiches, for the Kevin Dillon lunch-time the sandwiches. She was pleased to see symposium still in the Freezer at home. that I had friends that were imaginative rather than being imaginary. She was On my return Dr Ragbir Bhathal (SETI able to put faces to some people that she speaker) and Richard Harland (writer had previously known only as voices on the GOH), so with ever increasing numbers we phone. stampeded in at about 9.05, did some final setting up and were in business by about The next item was our Science presentation 9.15. I did introductions and orientation, for the day, a talk on SETI delivered by Dr mainly about food places and toilets were. I Ragbir Bhathal. Dr Bhathal traced the called in one of the Librarians to literally often Science Fictional progress of the unveil the People’s Choice entries (On development of the concept of Searching for Friday night I had taped them to the glass Extra Terrestrial intelligence as well as our windows / wall behind the room’s curtains). progress to date. He then went on to We then had a first break for tea and coffee explain why SETI using Lasers made more etc. Many people admired the colourful sense than the traditional approach of using artwork of the two posters advertising Radio waves. Simply put, by using light Convergence 2 that Rose Mitchell had waves rather than Radio waves you can sent up to us from Melbourne. We have to send much more message further and thank Tim and Danielle at the Infinitas cheaper than by other methods. Technology bookshop for the many colourful book is within reach that would allow for a marks and sample chapter booklets which message of laser pulses to be seen at a made up most of the items on the Freebies distance that would appear brighter than the table Sun! WE had another break, then re-convened Re-starting the Freecon the first panel was a (with sandwiches!) for the Kevin Dillon discussion of the year’s SF / Sci-Fi TV, Lunchtime Symposium. Movies and live theatre. On this panel were Lynne Green, Elizabeth Pastor and Three loaves of bread made into Cheese Brian Walls. We made some use of and Salmon Sandwiches were a ‘Free a Sydney fan’s list of George street Lunch’ while we had a relaxed discussion release SF / Sci-Fi TV Movies and my list of about the life and works of our main ‘Ghost recent SF / Sci-Fi TV programs. After a of Honour’ A. Bertram Chandler. I break the second was a writers read and interviewed David Kelleher, (appearing on discuss their work. Gillian Polack read a a panel at his first ever SF convention!) who short piece from both her current and future presented a selection of his Encyclopaedic books. Richard Harland also gave two knowledge of A. Bert Chandler which had spirited readings. Bill Congreve declined grown out of his ‘Liberty Hall’ A. Bert to read, instead giving us a tour of the field Chandler website. Copies of my eight- of Australian Small Press and Speculative page set of A. Bert Chandler book reviews Fiction publishing. Bill had to leave early, were distributed to encourage reflection and to return to the Blue Mountains, but before possibly later readership of some A. Bert he left he gave as a gift to the Freecon a Chandler titles? I found that reading up on copy of the First and Second ‘The year’s a deceased author to be an interesting Transcendental Basenji Sermons and Enlightenment Volume 1 Number 22 (short) 4 experience, you get a deeper understanding special limited time offer for Freecon of what was in the mind of the writer by attendees to join the 2007 Natcon at a very reading in bulk.