The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 26 – May 2004
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 26
MAY 2004
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
BACK IN THE SADDLE (AGAIN): Thanks to Ted Scribner for taking over
the editng of last month's Bullsheet at short notice while I had, and
recovered from, my second vitrectomy. My vision has much improved as
a result. I'm back to being able to read most print using just my
glasses, the magnifying glass only comes out on special occasions –
very small print, and menus in low-light restaurants mostly. I can
once again see approaching cars as solid objects rather than blurs,
and walking down stairs is almost as easy for me as everyone else. I
presume the night-blindness is a permanent fixture. (Thanks to Lawrie
Brown and Graeme Batho who acted as my "Guide dogs" during night
outings at Conflux recently)
I'm stIll getting up to speed, so apologies if any news items are
left out of this month's Bullsheet – Edwina.
DESPERATELY SEEKING: Leigh Blackmore is looking to contact, or get
information on, Canberra fan, DAVID TANSEY who edited the Esoteric
Order of Dagon newsletter in the late 1980's. Leigh is also looking
for relatives or friends of PHIL JACKSON (deceased) who was friend of
the late Sydney writer, Don Boyd. Jackson and Boyd collaborated on a
novel . Leigh and colleagues hold the manuscript to this novel , and
a US publisher has recently expressed an interest in publishing it.
Leigh would like to get into contact with relatives of Jackson to
negotiate rights. Leigh can be contaced by e-mail at
leigh.blackmore@collinsbooks.com.au, or phone (02) 9211 7749, ext 230
BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAXINE MCARTHUR. Who was recently gifted
the painting "Time Foture" by Greg Bridges . The painting was the
cover art for Maxine's first book, and the original was on show and
for sale by auction at Conflux. The convention bought and presented
the painting to Maxine, who by all accounts was absolutely thrilled.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CAT SPARKS who recently announced that she had won
third place in the first quarter of the 2004 L. Ron Hubbard Writers
of the Future contest. She'll soon be heading to America for the
awards ceremony. (Reported by Cat Sparks on the Eidolist.)
THE AGE MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL is looking to attract writing
groups and literature-based fan clubs to help organise an event to be
associated with the Writers Festival. If anyone's interested, they
should contact Meghan Street, member@orkut.com before 28th May.
(Reported on Eastcoasts mailing list.)
JOHN MALKOVICH is the latest actor reported to have joined the Hitch-
hikers Guide to the Galaxy movie cast. He will play Humma Kavula , a
religious cult leader. Mos Def will play Ford Prefect in the film
(Reported on Sciene Fiction Weekly, relayed by Julie Townsend.)
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too
dark to read"- Groucho Marx
FLIGHT OF ASCENSION – a series of books (?) by Mathew Hudson
available through the website mathewhudson.com.au
SPIRE CITY: a new novel by Derek Smith is now available on
Amazon.com. Full details about the book can be found at
www.optusnet.com.au/~clipstone.
NYLON ANGEL, Marianne de Pierres hughly acclaimed novel, will be soon
translated into Hebrew and German editions. By publishers, Orbit.
AUREALIS SEEKING MORE EDITORS: The magazine is looking for a new
editor, or editorial team to take over from current editor Keith
Stevensen from October 2004. This is an unsalaried position, and the
editor/s will be responsible for all aspects of producing the
magazine which is published twice a year. Applications close on 28th
May. If you're interested in applying for this position, send CV's
and queries to both Dirk Strasser, straz@fhills.hotkey.net.au and
Keith Stevenson, keith.Stevenson@optusnet.com.au (reported on the
Eidolist.)
ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE Issue 12, Now available.
Featuring fiction from Barbara Robson, Stuart Barrow, Mark W.
Tiedemann, Stephen Dedman, Jacob Garbe, Dirk Flinthart, Helen
Patrice, David Kay, Colin P. Davies, Sue Bursztynski, Matthew Bey
and Bevan McGuiness Edited by Edwina Harvey (through sheer bloody
mindedness. Editing a magazine while battling rapidly deteriorating
eyesight is not recommended! ) with help from Sally Beasley and Zara
Baxter. Single copies can be bought for $7.95 in specialty SF
bookshops around Australia, or direct from PO Box 495, Bentley, WA
6982. Local and overseas subscriptions also available. Check
www.andromedaspaceways.com for full details.
ANTIPODEAN SF No. 71 featuring short,short stories (500 wirds) by
Andrew Lyall, Shaun A. Saunders, Tom Williams, Angela Slatter,
Brendan Carson, Chris Jones, Eleanor Reed, Peter Tunstall, Arun Anuja
and Trent Walters us now available at http://www.antisf.com. Editor,
Ion Newcombe.
AGOG SMASHING STORIES featuring stories from Deborah Buabcitti. Simon
Brown, Marianne de Pierres, Brendan Duffy, Grace Dugan, Dirk
Flinthart, Paul Haines, Richard Harland, Robert Hood, Trent
Jamieson, Louise Katz, Justine Larbalestier, Martin Livings, Claire
McKenzie, Sean McMullen, Ben Peek, Jeremy Shaw, Bryn Sparks, Ian
Triffitt and Kim Westwood, edited by Cat Sparks is now available.
Full details can be seen at www.catsparks.com/agogpress/authors3.htm
FOLCC BOOK SALES. "Friends of Linda Cox Chan" aim to raise money to
donate to Juvenile Diabetes Research, Australia by selling donated
books. Thanks to everyone who bought FOLCC books at Conflux our new
balance is now $86
Books looking for new homes: "Honor Harrington: The Honor of the
Queen," by David Weber, "Harm's Way" by Colin Greenland, "Virtual
Girl" by Amy Thomson, "The Magic and the Healing" by Nick
O'Donohoe, "Arthur" and "Merlin" by Stephen Lawhead, "An Echo In
Time" and "The Ancient Future" by Traci Harding, "Silver Wolf" by
Alice Borchardt, To buy books e-mail Edwina Harvey at
edwinafan@yahoo.com or snail mail Edwina, c/- 12 Flinders St,
Matraville, NSW 2036. *Make cheques payable to Edwina Harvey please,
FOLCC is an informal entity.)
Anyone wanting to donate directly to JDRF- Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation can do so via PO Box 2038, South
Melbourne, VIC 3205.Their web site is www.jdrf.org.au.
BOOKSHOP NEWS
COLLINS SUPERSTORE. Level 2, Broadway Shopping Centre, Cnr Broadway
and Bay St, Sydney. Leigh Blackmore, who runs the SF section of this
store recently called for any small press publishers, or authors with
small press editions, who do not currently have stock with Collins,
Superstore Broadway to contact him as Collins wants to support titles
produced locally.
GALAXY BOOKSHOP: 143 York St Sydney. http://www.galaxybooks.com.au.
INFINITAS BOOKSHOP (Shop 5 No. 1 Horwood Place Parramatta,
infinitas@bigpond.com)
FARENHEIT SF & Fantasy Bookshop cnr Bourke & William St, Melbourne.Ph
03 9600 4674, email anthologybooks@bigpond.com. Books freighted in
from America weekly, happy to mail order requests.
CRIME INK: 150 William St (Crn Bourke &William, Ph 03 9600 4674, e-
mail crimeink@bigpond.com
KNOWN SPACE BOOKS: First Floor, 108 Gawler Place, Adelaide, SA 5000.
Tel: (08) 8223-4304 Open: 12:00-6:00 Wednesday-Thursday; 12:00-10:00
Friday; 12:00-6:00 Saturday New and used books related to science
fiction, film and TV. Also comics and magazines. Now receiving
American imports weekly.
SLOW GLASS BOOKS: a SF mail order catalogue. To join the mailing
list write to GPO Box 2708X , Melbourne Vic 3001 or see
www.slowglass.com.au. Email: justin@slowglass.com.au Phone: (03) 9639
1511 Fax: (03) 9639 1511. Melbourne fans will be pleased to hear that
Justin Ackroyd is looking to reopen Slow Glass as a shopfront in the
near future.
RAVEN BOOKS: Second hand book service specialising in supernatural &
occult books. "From the Vault" catalogues are issued irregularly. If
you'd like to be added to this mailing list, write to Leigh
Blackmore, Raven Books, PO Box A281, Sydney South NSW 1235.
COMPETITIONS, FAN FUNDS & AWARDS
NEBULA AWARDS, 2003. Best Novel, The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon,
(Ballantine) Best Novella, Coraline by Neil Gaiman, (HarperCollins),
Best Novellette, The Kingdon of Ice Cream by Jeffrey Ford, (Sci
Fiction, 26 Feb, 2003), Best Short Story, What I Didn't See by Karen
Joy Fowler (Sci Fiction, 10 July 2002) Best Script, The Lord of the
Rings: The Two Towers by Fran Walsh, Phillippa Boyens, Stephen
Sinclair and Peter Jackson. (New Line Cinema) *Reported to the
Eidolist by Robert Hoge.)
DITMAR AWARDS 2004: these were voted on by members of Conflux, the
National SF convention, 23-26 April. In the Professional Categories
Best Novel was won by Kirsten Bishop for The Etched City, Best
Novella was won by Lucy Sussex, Best Short Story was won by Trudi
Canavan for Room for Improvement. Best Collected Work was tied
between Agog! Terrific Tales, edited by Cat Sparks, and Forever
Shores edited by Peter McNamara and Margaret Winch. Best Artwork went
to Cat Sparks for Agog! Terrific Tales. In the Fannish Categories
Best Fan Writer was won by Bruce Gillespie, Best Fan Artist was won
by Les Petersen, Best Fan Production was won by Elsewhere Launch,
CSFG, and Best Fanzine went to the Australian Science fiction
Bullsheet edited by Edwina Harvey and Ted Scribner. (Thanks to
everyone who voted for us! We're both tickled pink. Edwina)
The William Atheling Jr. Award was won by Bruce Gillespie, and the
Best New Talent was won by Kirsten Bishop
THE PETER MCNAMARA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was presented to Jack Dann at
Conflux convention, (Reported by Robert Stephenson on the Eidolist.)
GUFF: The race for the "Get Up and over Fan Fund" – to get an
Antipodean fan up to Interaction, the 2005 Worldcon in Scotland
(q.v.) is now open Nominees must post a $25 bond by 30 September.
Full details available on www.ericlindsay.com/guff/nominate.htm.
.
HATCH, MATCH & DISPATCH
There are of course many problems connected with life, of which some
of the most popular are Why are people born? Why do they die? Why do
they want to spend so much of the intervening time wearing digital
watches?- Douglas Adams
PETER MCNAMARA continues to defy the odds, getting on with his life
despite a brain tumour. He is said to be working on another anthology
after the success of Forever Shores.
EDWINA HARVEY is currently "between operations." The next operation,
to remove the silicon oil in her right eye, (aka "The grease and oil
change") will occur on Friday, 21st May, with a short recovery
expected afterwards which hopefully won't conflict with Bullsheet
editorial duties.
DEATHS: No deaths reported by the deadline. Keep up the good work!
CLUBS & MEETINGS
MELBOURNE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB, 74 Melville Road, West Brunswick
3055.Meet most Friday nights. Meetings for May: May 7th Mexican food
and trivia night. May 14thJack Dann talks on why SF is now
mainstream. May 21Games night. May 28 Video Appreciation night: The
Day of the Triffids.
SPACED OUT: a science fiction club for gays, lesbians and associated
communities. $5 joining fee, then $20 annual membership. ($15
concession.) payed to Space Out Inc. PO Box 363, Preston, Vic.
3072.Non-profit SF club offering monthly meetings, "Diverse Universe"
newsletter and "Solar Spectrum" annual anthology.
QUEST The long-running Queensland Star Trek club is still going
strong. Anyone interested in finding out
more can contact the club at PO BOX 2084, Brisbane, QLD. 4001
(Reported by Kevin Sheehan.)
SFSA (South Australian Dr Who fan club) is also a generic science
fiction club with two regular meetings each month. Annual membership
rises to $15 . The regular club meeting is held at the Adelaide High
School from 3pm-10pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month. On 15th May
there is a semi-annual Quiz night from 7pm at the Salvation Army
Hall, Maude St, Unley. SFSA MAGAZINE 15 with "Australian Science
Fiction" as its theme, is currently being distributed. See
http://www.sfsa.org.au/ for full details or write to PO Box 3227,
Rundle Mal.l, SA 5000. (Reported by Martin Dunne.)
SYDNEY FUTURIANS: Meetings in room 1615 (floor 16) of the Tower
Block, The University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, at 7 pm. Check
http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/Futurians.html or phone Garry
Dalrymple after 7 pm on (02) 9718 5827 for updates.
SYDNEY SOUTHERN SF&F GROUP: New meeting arrangements will be posted
to the web site
http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/Southern_SF&F.html. or e-mail
Bradley Row, bradleyrow@netspace.net.au or phone 9580 4369
SKYWALKING: http://sydskyforce.starwalking.net holds meetings af the
Lidcombe Catholic Workers Club, 24 John St, Lidcombe, opposite
Lidcombe Railway stationon the third Sunday of some months.
Attendenca costs $8 members, $10 nonmembers.
EVENTS
MULTIVERSE held its final event on Saturday 1st May.
ENVISION: Brisbane. 2-7th July. $660 fir 5 day workshopplus
manuscript reading. Guest speakers Sean Williams, Stephanie Smith.
Kim Wilkins, Tansy Rayner Roberts E-mail envision@sf-envision.com
MANIFEST 2004. Melbourne Anime Festival in August. Featuring
competitions, fan art, fan fiction & discussion panels on Anime and
Manga. Full details available at www.manifest.org.au
CONQUEST conventions and other Brisbane Star Trek events can be
found at www.conquestforever.com.au
VORTEX: SF Events also happening in Brisbane, can be found at
www.vortexevents.com.au
CLARION SOUTH 2005 (Jan 3-Feb 11 2005, Brisbane. Will have Sean
Williams, Ellen Datlow, Michael Swanwick, Margo Lanagan, Ian Irvinne
and Scott Westerfield as tutors. Total cost of attending Clarion
South will be $2,539, this includes tuition and accommodation for 6
weeks. Scholarships available. For further details see
http://www.clarionsouth.org.
A collection of photos taken at Clarion South 2005 by Claire McKenna
can ve viewed at www.geocities.com/cm_clarionsouth
CONVENTIONS
GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be
announced.
CONFLUX www.conflux.org.au was the 43rd Australian National Science
Fiction Convention held on 23-26 April 2004. It went very well.
CONTINUUM 2 Queens Birthday weekend, June, Melbourne. GoHs author
Trudi Canavan and artist EddieCampbell. PO Box GPO Box 1212k,
Melbourne, Vic 3001. See www.continuum.org or e-mail
info@continuum.org.au
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION: 11 September. One day event starring
John Rhys Davies. Other guests also invited. . For more details phone
FSF 92 9523 8385, or e-mail fsf_presents@fsf.com.au, or send an sase
to Friends of Science Fiction PO Box 797 Fairfield, NSW. 1860.
NB John Rhys Davies has now also negotiated to appear at
functions held by Multiverse, Melbourne (? Will this be going ahead?
Edwina) , Supanova, Brisbane and Armageddon (Wellington, NZ) around
the same time as the Sydney function.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Lord of the Rings convention 20-21 November, The
Chifley on Northbourne, Canberra. Guests and full details available
on www.bobw.com.au
SMOFCON 3-5 December 2004. Washington, DC USA. Wyndham Hotel. (n.b.
SMOF stands for "Secret Masters of Fandom") SMOFCON is an annual
convention about organising SF conventions. Full details are
available on www.smofcon.org The San Francisco SF Conventions Inc
has recently established a fund to grant 2 scholarships of US $500 to
help potential convention organisers attend SMOFCON. While these
scholarships are open to anyone, applicants must show how attending
SMOFCON will assist the Bay Area SF group. (San Francisco, USA)
CONSENSUALITY – Swancon XXX. Perth, WA. Easter, March 24-28 2005.
Emerald Hotel, Perth Membership $75 until 1/5/04 GoH Charles de Lint,
Special Guest Grant Watson, Fan Guest Anna Hepworth, E-mail
Swancon30@westnet.com.au. Temporary website
http://members.westnet.com.au/steveg58/swancon.htmlConveners Stephen
Dedman and Elaine Kemp.
THYLACON IV. National SF con for 2005. Hobart, Tasmania. 10-13 June,
2005 (Queens Birthday Long weekend in many states.) Attendence rates
rise on 1st May to $120. Australian GoH Marianne de Pierres, Fan GoH
Merv Binns. Hobart Midcity Hotel. Accom $105 single/double, $135
tripple. For full details see www.thylacon.com or write to Thylacon
PO Box 345 Kingston TAS, 7051 To join the Thylacon e-mail list send
a subscribe message to: Thylacon-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
INTERACTION: 63rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION, GLASGOW, 2005.
Interaction, the 2005 Worldcon will be held at the Scottish
Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow over the weekend of 4-8
August 2005.GoHs Christopher Priest, Robert Sheckley and Jane Yolen,
critic and fanzine editor Greg Pickersgill and veteran Scandinavian
fan Lars-Olov Strandberg.
Australian Agent, Ted Scribner, can be contacted at
krenon@optushome.com.au or 12 Richmount St, Cronulla, NSW 2230.
CASCADIA con is the Nasfic (North American SF) con for 2005. (Nasfics
are held in the USA in years when the Worldocn is held outside the
USA). 1 – 5 September, 2005, Seattle, Washington. Goh's Fred
Saberhagen, Liz Danford, Kevin Standlee, Toni Weisskopf. Full
information on www.cascadiacon.org
CONJURE. National SF convention, Brisbane, 2006. More details to
follow, or check www.fantasticqueensland.com.
LA CON IV, was recently voted the 64th Worldcon. 23-27 August, 2006.
Anaheim Convention Centre, Hilton & Marriott hotels, Anaheim. Goh's
Connie Willis, James Gurney, Howard De Vore, Frankie Thoman. Current
membership prices appear to relate to the number of patches you have –
which won't be of much relevance unless you were at Torcon this
year. See the Bullsheet web site for full details. New members can e-
mail info@laconIV.org, Postal address LA Con c/- S.C.I.F.I. inc, PO
Box 8442, Van Nuys, CA, 91409. USA.
OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES:
Ted Scribner's Australian SF&F home page is:
http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/
and his list of SF oriented groups in NSW is at
http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/SFNSW.html.
Coode St Review lists Australian publishing news and achievements by
Australian writers http://www.sf.org.au/coodestreetnews.
AUSTRALIAN WRITERS WEB, http://splints.customer.netspace.net.au lists
Australian and overseas markets and resources for Australian writers.
Maintained and updated by Tony Plank. (Great graphics, and a great
resource.)
For links to books, movies and television shows see John Tippers
homepage: http://members.aol.com/opsbooks/terminus.htm
The Bullsheet is available as a FREE e-mail subscription by
subscribing to the AUSSFBULL mailing list by sending a blank e-mail
to AUSSFBULL-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. ( Alternatively, if you'd
prefer to talk to a human, send an e-mail to edwinafan@yahoo.com).
The Bullsheet web page, which is updated throughout the month can be
found at http://members.optushome.com.au/aussfbull and we're happy
to trade with other e-mail zines. If you want to receive the
Bullsheet snail mail, we ask that you forward 20x50 cent stamps (for
subs within Australia) to help cover printing and postage costs of an
annual subscription.
The Bullsheet is also available as a snail-mail subscription for
20x50 cent stamps (or $10) sent to Edwina Harvey c/- 12 Flinders St,
Matravills, 2036.
NEXT BULLSHEET: The deadline for submission of material for inclusion
in the June 2004 Bullsheet (27) is 25th May. Send your news e-mail to
edwinafan@yahoo.com, or snail mail to Edwina Harvey c/- 12 Flinders
St, Matraville NSW, 2036.
Visit Celestial Cobbler for custom made ceramic craft with a SF &
Fantasy bent. Special events: Birthdays, New Babies, Anniversaries,
Special messages, etc commemorated on a hand crafted mug or plate.
http://members.optushome.com.au/guests/Cobbler.html.
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid