2 Introduction Welcome to AmaZed and CorfluZed the retrogression report for Corflu Zed (26) which was held in Seattle, 13-15 March, 2009 at the fabulous Hotel Deca in the University District. Contributors Art John D. Berry cover Dan Steffan 2 Gary Mattingly throughout Nic Farey 9 Brad Foster 17, 20, 24, 35 Innocent Bystander 10 Words Letter from the Chair 3 Chris Wrdnrd 5 Nic Farey 8 Rob Jackson 14 Ian Sorensen 18 Mark Manning 19 Andy Hooper, et al 21 Jerry Kaufman 28 Suzanne Tompkins 30 Andy Hooper 31 Letter Column 32 Membership List 34 And a tip o‘ the pubzed beanie to carl juarez and John D. Berry for typographical assistance and software advice. AmaZed and CorfluZed #4 3 Letter from the Chair by Randy Byers ell, Corflu Zed has come and gone, and all the Beloved that’s left is to say, “Thank godthat’s over Fanthology, Wwith!” which went into No, no, that’s not right. I actually enjoyed the the membership convention a great deal, and I was grateful that packets. (That those of us running it were not struck with any major was Ulrika’s idea, disasters — just a few minor catastrophes. As so by the way.) Pat often when I get involved in an elaborate fannish and Curt “Corflu project like this, I was reminded of how willing Fiddy” Phillips people are to lend their shoulders to the work. (Of did a whole lot pushing the convention up the hill? Hmm.) So my of work on the own variation on looking backward is going to consist pre-convention of acknowledging a few non-committee members membership Randy chairs another on-topic and who helped us out. Perhaps I’ll slip a few editorial packet stuffing well-organized meeting. comments into the mix if I feel inspired to. on Thursday. As Photo by Gary Mattingly First off is Pat Virzi, who began her many if that weren’t contributions to Corflu Zed by handing me an empty enough, Pat helped out in the consuite as well. envelope in Las Vegas and telling me I’d need it to Sheesh! collect membership checks and money. She knows Next up is Bill “El Jefe” Burns, who started off by a neo when she sees one! Pat is a goddess, but she hosting various Corflu Zed publications at efanzines. is an eminently practical goddess. She also shared com and promoting them as well. At the convention her mailing list, budget, and a lot of advice based on itself, he got involved with the virtual consuite that her experience running Corflu Quire two years ago. Jack William Bell had set up (with help from Bill On top of all that, she printed all kinds of posters Mills and Peter Sullivan), and in fact opened up a featuring Dan Steffan’s logo, which were used to second stream of video feed so that we could cover make impromptu signs at the convention, large both the program and the consuite at the same poctsarcds for missing members, auction fodder, a time. In retrospect, by the way, I think covering the gift to the artist, and autographed thank you gifts to consuite was a mistake, because people wandering the committee members as well. She also printed around the real consuite weren’t always aware they small poctsarcds based on the cover art for Cry were being observed and overheard by the virtual 4 Letter from the Chair consuite, and the people in the virtual consuite with the auction on Sunday. Tom Whitmore joined frequently felt frustrated that people in the real Andy Hooper and Jerry Kaufman as an auctioneer, consuite weren’t paying attention to them. That Tamara Vining was another runner, and Kate was my bad idea. Be that as it may, Bill’s work in the Schaefer and Allyn Cadogan both helped Denys program room was greatly appreciated by members Howard keep track of the auction money. On the both real and virtual. Lenny Bailes also did yeoman subject of auctions, many thanks again to Grant work building a bridge of commentary between the Geissman for taking so many fanzines off Andy’s real and virtual worlds. hands in the eBay auction before the convention. One of the fun adventures during the convention I hope that finally meeting Ted White was worth for me was the expedition to my favorite beer store, the investment! Thanks also to Tom Becker for two Bottleworks, with Rob Jackson and Tom Becker to issues of the daily fanzine, Grateful Zed. John Berry pick up a supply for the consuite. We bought a lot sent me e-mail after the convention saying that he of beer! The beer was a donation to the convention had left his copies behind, could I set aside a couple from Rob, Tom, Peter Weston, Claire Brialey, Mark more copies for him? “It was a wonderful layout,” Plummer, Sandra Bond, Frank Lunney, and Pat and he said. Indeed, and the content was great too. Jack Graham Charnock (who were sorely missed at the Bell’s bizarre speculation on fans-as-meat was a convention). They essentially provided all the beer particular highlight. we needed for the convention, and I’m here to tell Speaking of John Berry, I can’t stop before you, we drank a lot of beer. (I know, at a Corflu?! mentioning the animated PDF he created back when Shocking.) we first got started, which demonstrated variations While I’m thanking people for booze, I should on the theme of zed in a promotional flyer for the also mention that Nic Farey asked various of the convention. Those zeds return in a more static form Unusual Suspects to contribute a bottle of spirits on the cover of this fanzine, which we also used to to the consuite, and Chris “TAFF Guru” Garcia, Jay create a poster stuffed into the membership packets. Kinney, Frank Lunney, and Mark Plummer and Claire Still on the design front, carl juarez made the Brialey complied. Scott Kreidermacher was also beautiful walrus ornament for the badges. One of kind enough to bring in some of his finest beer for a the things that pleases me the most about Corflu Zed tasting party on Saturday, and stuck around (along is all the great design work done by many different with carl juarez) to help me clean the consuite in the people. As Kate Schaefer said at the banquet wee hours of the morning. regarding Dan Steffan’s artistic contributions, “Best. We hope that their contributions were advertised Logo. Ever!” In light of our panel on the rampant well enough at the convention, but I should also abuse and neglect of fan artists, I should also thank thank again the Reno in 2011 bid (in the form of D. West, Stu Shiffman, Brad Foster, Ann Green, Wally Patty Wells) for providing many chocolate goodies; Weber, L. Garconne, Steve Stiles, Ulrika O’Brien, Friends of Seattle (in the form of Bobbie DuFault) and that young kid, Craig Smith, for their artistic for all the consuite coffee; and the Eaton Collection contributions. (in the form of Rob Latham) for the pizza party So it takes a village to raise a Corflu. As a on Saturday. One refrain I’ve heard a lot of since longtime parasite on the carcass of fandom, I’m the convention was that the consuite was a huge always a little awed by how helpful the rest of you success. See Nic’s con report for further evidence. are in a time of need. I’ve gotta think your karma is in I’m sure that far more people helped with excellent shape. various tasks than even I’m aware of, but I do want Okay, time for me to shut up now. Onward to to mention a few that came to my attention. Andi Corflu Cobalt! Shechter helped with registration Friday night and AmaZed and CorfluZed #4 5 Travels in Parallel Worlds by Chris Wrdnrd felt like an operative. An SF fan infiltrating a Zed opening gathering of those punk zine kids. I was sure ceremonies. Ino one would really notice me. I was, after all, As the spouse wearing my owl hat. Totally inconspicuous. read his Corflu I felt like an operative. A quasi-punk kid registration infiltrating a gathering of those weird SF fans. I was packet, sure no one would really notice me in my owl hat. especially Inconspicuous. the history of And, amazingly -- despite the owl on my head1, how the guest despite my name being 1st out of the fez when of honor is Corflu Zed picked its guest of honor, despite being traditionally uncharacteristically talkative at the Zine Librarian chosen, he Unconference – i was, all things considered, looked at me remarkably inconspicuous that weekend. I was not and, Cassandra- sticking out like a sore thumb. I was not quiet and like, proclaimed awkward and invisible in the corner. I was relaxed. I “It’s going to be was comfortable. either you or I was, i am trying to say, with my people for a me.” The hand of an innocent child glorious, non-stop, all-zines-all-the-time 48 hours. It was me. Photo by Gary Mattingly Because even tho’ i spent half of that mid-march Randy2 claims it was fate weekend in 2009 at Corflu Zed and half at the Zine – “the hand of an innocent child!” (i quote) – that Librarian Unconference, what it really came down to pulled my name out 1st, and i suppose we must was this: i spent an entire weekend surrounded by believe him.