Lambda Sci-Fi DC Area Gaylaxians (202) 232-3141 - Issue # 319 – October 2016 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.lambdascifi.org The LSF Book Discussion Group If you’re interested in lively discussions of F&SF books (with an emphasis on elements of interest to the LGBT community), we invite you to join the LSF Book Discussion Group. Each month, we conduct fas- cinating round-table discussions of works by significant F&SF authors. Gaylaxicon is this month! Details – page 4! The LSF Book Discussion Group usually meets on the 4th Thurs- day of every month, starting at 7:00 PM, at Peter & Rob’s home: 1425 “S” St., NW – for directions or more details, call 202-483-6369. The next book discussion will be held on Octo- ber 27, 2016. Here are the details for the next few book discussions: Oct. 27 – The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth (moderator: Rob). Dec. 1 (combined Nov./Dec. session) – Luna: New Moon, by Ian McDonald (moderator: Carl). Jan. 26, 2017 – The Last Policeman, by Ben Winters (moderator: Konrad). Feb. 23 – The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers Have a Happy Halloween! (moderator: Konrad). LYF No LSF Meeting in October!! What’s Inside? There won’t be a monthly LSF meeting in October. All the usual Page 2: David Ruiz (obituary); Min- organizers will be attending Gaylaxicon 2016. The next LSF meeting will be utes of the September LSF Meeting. held on Sunday, November 13h. The meeting will be held at Peter and Rob’s Page 3: Awards! Awards! home, 1425 “S” Street NW, Washington, DC. The meeting will begin at 1:30 Page 4: Information About Lambda and the “group watch” will begin at 3:00 PM. Hope to see you there! Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians and Con Calendar. Minutes of the September LSF Meeting music and origami. taken by Scott Wess reported that he and Jonathan saw the Suicide Squad Rob reminded everyone that movie – and were not overly im- there will no LSF meeting in October pressed. Rob reported that he finally 2016. All the usual organizers of LSF watched the entire Batman vs. meetings will be attending Gay- Superman and described it as “meh”. laxicon 2016 in Minneapolis that Wonder Woman (Lynda weekend. Carter from the 1970’s) meets the Peter and Wess discussed the Bionic Woman in an upcoming comic Leonard Nimoy/Spock documentary book series. Lynda Carter will appear they watched at the Air & Space Mu- as the US President on Supergirl this seum as part of the Smithsonian’s coming season. It sounds like fun! Star Trek 50th Anniversary cele- Upcoming LSF book discus- brations. Adam Nimoy (the docu- sions: The Scorpion Rules by Erin David Ruiz mentary’s creator) acknowledged the Bow (Sept.); The Plot Against Amer- 1966 – 2016 straight women who wrote Kirk/ ica by Philip Roth (Oct.); Luna: New Spock slash fiction. Rob and Peter Moon by Ian McDonald (combined LSFer David Ruiz passed also enjoyed the museum’s showing Nov./Dec.) away on August 15. David joined LSF of the “The Man Trap” (the first Much buzz about the up- in March of 2011 and was a frequent episode aired in September 1996). coming Tim Burton film, Miss Pere- attendee at monthly meetings, reading Rob talked about a press re- grine’s School for Peculiar Children. group discussions, and gaming parties. lease from Don Sakers and Melissa Rob and Peter then sur- It isn’t generally known by Scott announcing the creation of the prised Carl, honoring his 66th birth- his fellow LSFers that David was also Rule of Five Universe (a shared uni- day with a cake/donut holes (and a the long-time Business Manager of verse for writers). plastic candelabra for candles). International Student House DC, a Peter announced that a Lego Today’s video showing fo- non-profit organization that provides store will be opening up soon at cused upon the Star Trek 50th an- an “exceptional residential experience Pentagon City. niversary with three “tribble” fea- to a highly diverse international Several members recom- tures: “The Trouble With Tribbles” community of graduate students, in- mended seeing Kubo of the Two (from the original series), “More terns, and visiting scholars” and Strings: stunning music; stunning vis- Trouble, More Tribbles” (from the “promotes inter-cultural dialogue, uals; fascinating story. But Rob said 1970’s animated series), and “Trials encourages life-long connections, and that it could be frightening to small and Tribble-ations” (from Deep fosters global citizenship”. David was kids. Carl said he was fascinated at Space 9). a popular figure at ISH-DC, first as a the magic system: a combination of LYF resident scholar in the 1990s and then as their Business Manager for 19 years. He formed many personal and ongoing friendships through his daily interactions at ISH-DC. In both LSF and ISH-DC, of family and friends to pray for and David was known for his love of remember friends and family mem- movies and Coca-Cola. He certainly bers who have died, and help support enjoyed sharing his views about new their spiritual journey. It has come to movies with other LSFers. be associated with October 31 (All As one ISH-DC resident said: Saints’ Eve), November 1 (All Saints’ “David will also be remembered as a Day of the Dead (Spanish: Day), and November 2 (All Souls’ modest man and a gentle spirit.” I’m Dia de Muertos or Dia del los Muer- Day). Traditions connected with the quite sure all his fellow LSFers agree. tos) is a holiday celebrated through- holiday include building private altars We were all shocked and saddened at out Mexico (particularly in the Cen- (ofrendas), honoring the departed his sudden, unexpected passing. tral and South regions) and by people with sugar skulls, marigolds, and their of Mexican ancestry living in other favorite foods and beverages, and places, especially the United States. visiting graves with these gifts. It is also acknowledged internation- Visitors also leave possessions of the ally in many other cultures. The mul- deceased at the graves. LYF ti-day holiday focuses on gatherings Awards! Awards! info passed along by Carl A couple of significant F&SF awards were given out at this year’s Worldcon (MidAmeriCon II). In case you hadn’t heard, here’s the scoop: And then there are the Side- The Retro-Hugo Awards were wise Awards, of special interest to Ye also given out for works from 1941 Olde Editor. These annual awards (since no Hugos were given out that honor the best allohistorical genre year). Here are a few of ‘em: (“alternate history”) publications of • Best Novel: Slan by A.E. Van Vogt the past year. Here are this year’s (Astounding Science-Fiction, Dec winners of the two Sidewise cate- 1940) gories: First off, the Hugos, the • Best Novella: “If This Goes On…” • Best Short-Form: “It Doesn’t “big time” F&SF awards given out by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Matter Anymore” by Bill Crider annually at Worldcon. Here are just Science-Fiction, Feb 1940) (Tales from the Otherverse: Stor- a few of this year’s Hugos: • Best Novelette: “The Roads Must ies of Alternate History, ed. James • Best Novel: The Fifth Season by Roll” by Robert A. Heinlein (As- Reasoner, Rough Edge Press N.K. Jemisin (Orbit) tounding Science-Fiction, June 2015). • Best Novella: Binti by Nnedi 1940) • Best Long-Form: The Big Lie by Okorafor (Tor.com) • Best Short Story: “Robbie” by Is- Julie Mayhew (Hot Key Books • Best Novelette: “Folding Bei- aac Asimov (Super Science Stor- 2015) jing” by Hao Jingfang, trans. Ken ies, Sept 1940) Liu (Uncanny Magazine, Jan-Feb • Best Graphic Story: Batman #1 2015) (Detective Comics, Spring 1940) • Best Short Story: “Cat Pictures • Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Please” by Naomi Kritzer (Clar- Form: Fantasia, written by Joe kesworld, Jan 2015) Grant and Dick Huemer, directed • Best Related Work: No Award by Samuel Armstrong et al (Walt given for this category. Disney Productions, RKO Radio • Best Graphic Story: The Sand- Pictures) man: Overture, written by Neil • Best Dramatic Presentation, Gaiman, art by J.H. Williams III Short Form: Pinocchio, written by (Vertigo) Ted Sears et al, directed by Ben For a complete list of all the • Best Dramatic Presentation, Sharpsteen and Hamilton Luske 2015 Sidewise nominees (as well as Long Form: The Martian, (Walt Disney Productions, RKO other information about the Sidewise screenplay by Drew Goddard, Radio Pictures) Awards), go to: directed by Ridley Scott (Scott • Best Professional Artist: Virgil http://www.uchronia.net/sidewise/ Free Productions; Kinberg Genre; Finlay LYF TSG Entertainment, 20th Century • Best Fan Writer: Ray Bradbury Fox) • Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Jessica Jones: “AKA Smile”, written by Scott Reynolds, Melissa Rosenberg, and Jamie King, directed by Mi- chael Rymer (Marvel Television; ABC Studios; Tall Girls Pro- ductions; Netflix) • Best Fanzine: File 770, edited by Mike Glyer For a complete list of all the • John W. Campbell Award for 2016 award categories, nominees, and Best New Writer (not a Hugo vote tallies, go to the Hugo website: Award, but administered along http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo- with the Hugos): Andy Weir history/2016-hugo-awards/ * * INFORMATION ABOUT LAMBDA SCI-FI: DC AREA GAYLAXIANS * * Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians (LSF) is an organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans- gendered (GLBT) people, and their friends who are interested in science fiction, fantasy, horror and related genres in all forms (SF/F/H). LSF’s primary goals are to have fun, to provide a community, and to: • promote SF/F/H, with particular attention to materials of interest to GLBT people and their friends; • provide forums for GLBT people and their friends to share their interest in SF/F/H; • promote the presence of GLBT elements within SF/F/H and within fandom; and • promote SF/F/H within the GLBT community.