Summer 1999 ConNotations Volume 9, Issue 2 The Quarterly Science Fiction, Fantasy & Convention Newszine of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society episode occured on Thursday, May 27th In This Issue SF Tube Talk at the Museum of Radio and Television 24 Frames Special Features in Los Angeles. An audience of 150 Star Wars Episode 1: The by Lee Whiteside people which included fans who bought Neither Your Harlan Nor Mine - [email protected] tickets as well as Deep Space Nine Phantom Menace - 2 Reviews Part 2 production cast and crew watched the by Shane Shellenbarger........................6 Goodbye DS9, Hello Crusade, and show together. Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom “What Happened to Tonight’s Buffy During the scene in Vic’s near the end Plotline Episode?!” of the finale, the majority of the audience News & Reviews As we move into the summer months, in the club were DS9 production crew George Lucas has nothing to fear. The SF Tube Talk we bid farewell to Star Trek: Deep Space and some of the supporting actors out of Phantom Menace is a success. With all by Lee Whiteside .............................1 the merchandising, everything from 24 Frames.........................................1 clothing, food, personal hygiene items, Convention News............................1 toys, video games to the PepsiCo partner- FYI................................................2 ship, George Lucas would not need to make a dime on the movie itself and he CASFS Business Report.............2 would still make a profit. He has pro- Musical Notes grammed the public to respond to the by Tom Tuerff...................................3 words “Star Wars” the way Pavlov’s dogs AZ Pro News respond to the dinner bell. He could by Daryll Mallett...............................3 literally do no wrong with this film. ConClusion (Convention Reviews)..4 But, he has done wrong. Videophile (News & Reviews)........ 9 He’s hypnotized most of the viewers into believing that The Phantom Menace In Our Book (Book Reviews).........11 is a good movie, when instead, it is a special effects extravaganza with defects Convention & Fandom in every area. Club Listings..................................13 The plot is simple enough for a six year Convention Listings......................15 old to follow, which therein lies the problem. It is not meaty enough for the Convention Registration Form.15 adult audience. The lack of tension in many scenes leads to very boring pas- Art Nine, begin the (maybe) limited run of the their alien makeup. It was fun to realize sages. Many points in the plot were Sherlock .....................2, 4, 8, 13, 15 Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade, wait for The some of them appearing on screen as contrived. Why would Queen Amidala Sue Dawe ......................................3 WB to show us some episodes of Buffy extras were sitting right in front of me. practically bestow a knighthood on R2D2 they pulled and ponder the new fall They were also having fun spotting for simply doing his job as a maintenance season. themselves and their colleagues droid? The two hour final episode of Star onscreen. One of the hallmarks of good character- Trek: Deep Space Nine aired the first week of June in most areas. The show had (Cont’d on Page 6 ) (Cont’d on page 9 ) been moving along towards its conclusion for the last half of the season, having Convention Information resolved the fate of some characters and (Check out the Conventions Listing for HexaCon 9 (Scottsdale AZ) July 9-11, CopperCon 19, (Scottsdale, AZ) plotlines before the final episode, most more details and contact info on these events and check our online events 1999 Arizona’s Premiere Gaming September 10-12, 1999 Holiday Inn notably Gowron & Worf, and The Grand listings (www.casfs.org/events.html) Convention. Sunspree Resort, 7601 E Sunspree Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona Nagus and Quark. They left the resolution for updated information between issues.) Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ Author GoH: David Weber, Artist of the two-year plus war with the Domin- (602)991-2400 GoH: Derek Pearcy, GoH: Brett Bass Memb: $30 until ion for the finale as well as finishing up DarkCon ‘99 is set for June 25-27 author of In Nomine; 24 hour NON- May 1, 1999, $35 at the door, Kids the Bajoran Prophets/Pawraiths conflict, at the San Marcos Hotel in Chandler, STOP Gaming - Sanctioned Magic 7-12 half price, Kids 6 and under - leaving Kai Winn and Gul Dukat dead Arizona. Special Writer Guests of Tournamnents, Sanctioned RPGA free; Room rates are $65 plus tax S/ and Captain Sisko with The Prophets Honor are George Clayton Johnson Tournaments, US Chess Federation D/T/Q, Suites $125 plus tax. (800) (promising that “I’ll be back”, however). and William F. Nolan, the co-creators Sanctioned Chess Tournaments, LARP, 525-5205 ; Info: CopperCon 19, PO Most of the other characters ended the of Logans Run. Garry Siler is the Computer Gaming, Miniatures Painting Box 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082, series with some sort of closure, although Music GoH. The date is a week later Contest; ‘Bot Bash, Game Auction, Full Phone (602)973-2341, Email: some were more important than others. It than previously announced, so make Consuite, Dealer’s Room. Memberships [email protected] (Check the did leave things such that they could bring your plans accordingly. (Check the $20 at the door; HexaCon 9, PO Box Progress Report in the center of this everyone back together at some point Progress Report in the center of this 62613, Phoenix, AZ 85082 Email: leigh- issue for more information) without too much trouble. issue for more information) @primenet.com Webpage: http:// The first public screening of the final members.aol.com/boniece/index.html (Check the Progress Report in the center of this issue for more information) Volume 9 Issue 2 ConNotations Page 1 FYI Who’s Who This Issue Star Wars Memorabilia - ASU’s Editor: Stephanie L. Bannon Hayden Library has on display in Special Co-Editors: Craig L. Dyer & Sue Collections a moderately impressive ANIME GAMER Martin collection of the current lot of Star Wars RPG/TABLETOP GAMING Graphics Editor: Craig L. Dyer Memorabilia. This includes Posters, Film & Video Reporter: Barry Bard action figures, etc. It might be worth a AND Staff Writers: Pam Allen, Barry Bard, look though aficionados likely have it all. Michael Griffin, Shane Shellenbarger, The Display will be up through June. JAPANESE ANIMATION Tom Tuerff, Lee Whiteside, Randall Science fiction turns to Science Fact!... at Whitlock, Mike Wilmoth www.time-travel.com William M. Sanders II Work/Fax: Layout & Design: Stephanie L. Bannon Keeper of the Mailing List: Craig L. Time Travel?? - This months feature Owner and Manager (602)942-9745 story presents shocking scientific evi- Dyer and Doug Cosper dence suggesting proof of time traveler 12436 Nth 28th Drive Home Labeling Crew for Volume 9 Issue 1: visits to our distant past... millions of Phoenix, AZ 85029 (602)942-3201 Stephanie L. Bannon, Mark & Danielle Boniece, Pat Connors, Craig L. Dyer, Ray years before mankind had even evolved & Pinkie Gish, Scot Glener, Sue & Jo on the planet!! Martin, Bob & Lori LaPierre, Gary Swaty, Explore the Possibilities on the exciting CASFS The other group meets on the fourth Mike Willmoth new frontier of time travel with the Time Thursday at the Metrocenter Barnes & About ConNotations: ConNotations is Travel Research Center, a company Business Report Noble. June 24th, we’ll be discussing the fan published newszine of the Central dedicated exclusively to advancing efforts Terry Brooks’ novelization of Star Wars Arizona Speculative Fiction Society to help mankind realize time travel Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. (CASFS) an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 non- capabilities. Explore the Possibilities at Greetings again, Faithful Reader. Until next time, profit organization. Circulation is esti- www.time-travel.com Summer is upon us already, and with The Frantic Scribe mated at 4,000 readers for this issue, primarily CASFS members and attendees Book Discussion Groups summer comes... elections! The elections P.S. Don’t forget about the date change of recent AZ sf/f conventions. We have two monthly book discussion are being held June 18th. This is a date for the next CASFS meeting-June 18th! Subscriptions: The newszine is currently groups going, one at Glendale Public change due to DarkCon, which is being sent free of charge to anyone who has held June 25-27. (Be careful not to trip Library on the first Thursday of each attended a CASFS or LepreCon sponsored month and another at Barnes and Noble over that plug, F.R.) Up for election are convention in the last two years and to all in Metro Center on the fourth Thursday the President, Vice President, Secretary, CASFS members. Subscriptions are of each month. Here’s a schedule of and Treasurer, plus three board members. available. Cost for a four issue subscription upcoming. books: The Chairman and Banker for is: $8/USA (bulk); $10/Canada & Mexico Glendale Public Library: 1st Thursday CopperCon 21 and HexaCon 11 will also (First class) or $18/Europe (airmail). Rates of the month be decided on the 18th. In order to vote, for other countries available upon request. July 1: Book of Night With Moon - you need to have attended four out of the Copyright: Articles, fiction, photos and Diane Duane last six meetings, and the elections artwork in this issue are copyright © of the Aug 5: Komarr - Lois McMasters Bujold meeting counts. author/artist and cannot be reproduced in any manner without their written consent. If Sept 2: Carnivores of Light & Darkness - In the months since my last letter, no author or artist is credited the artwork or CASFS has purchased a credit card Alan Dean Foster article is copyright ©of the Central Arizona Oct 7: Rebirth (aka Chrysalis) - John machine— look for its first appearance at Speculative Fiction Society.