The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 36 – March 2005
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 36
March 2005
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
PETER JACKSON, the creative maestro of Lord of the Rings will
headline a special once-only event at the State Theatre in Sydney on
Sat 12 March from 6pm. This event is being produced by the Powerhouse
Museum. If attendees bring their Peter Jackson ticket stub to the
Museum door they receive 20% off admission to The Lord of the Rings
exhibition (which has apparently been extended until late April -
Edwina) Adults $65, Concession $55, Powerhouse Members $50, Under
30s / Students $45 (transaction fees apply) Bookings can be made
through ticketek.
STEPHEN FRY is to be the voice of The Book in the movie version of
the Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy. A trailer from the Guide movie
can be seen on Amazon.com (Relayed by Julie Townsend. Originally
reported on the Science Fiction Weekly)
ADAMS ASTEROID: Douglas Adams, the late author of the Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy was honored by the International Astronomical
Union's Minor Planet Center by an asteroid bearing his name,
MSNBC.com reported. Asteroid Douglasadams was among the 71 newly
named celestial objects announced on Jan. 25 in Cambridge, Mass. The
asteroid's original name was 2001 DA42, referring to the year Adams
passed away, his initials and the answer to "life, the universe and
everything". Just days after the author passed away, the organization
named an an asteroid after Arthur Dent from the Hitchhiker series.
(From Science Fiction Weekly – Relayed by Julie Townsend.)
Thanks to Mark Loney for contacting Marc Ortlieb on our behalf last
issue!
BULLSHEET BARGAINS AT BEACON LIGHTING, CASTLE HILL! (Sydney) If you
go into the store, located at the Hills Homemaker Centre, 18 Victoria
Ave, Castle Hill, say "Hi " to Chuck McKenzie (who's a very funny
man) and say you saw his add in the Bullsheet, he'll give you a 10%
discount on anything you purchase in the store.
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW: Looks like you had to be quick
to catch this one at the cinema, (only seemed to last 2 weeks at my
local) but with its glorious airships, sepia tones and 30's feel,
this turned out to be one of the most fun movies I've seen in ages!
Catch it if you get a chance! (thumbnail review by Edwina).
THYLACON recently announced that advertising in its convention book
would be closing soon. Anyone interested in advertising with Thylacon
should contact the convention asap. (contact details listed
under "conventions" in this newsletter.)
DITMAR NOMINATIONS CLOSE 1st March. You can nominate online through
the Thylacon website.
BEATLES Photo exhibit (and sale) back on in the St Andrews Cathedral
side of the Lower Town Hall, Sydney. (Admission cost)
MAGIC CASEMENTS 3: Sat 19th March, NSW Writers Centre, Rozelle,
Sydney 10am-6pm, Guest Speakers include Terry Dowling, Chris
Barnes, Robert Hoge, James Cain, Cory Daniells, Richard Harland,
Robert Hood, Kirsten Bishop, Justine Larbalestier, Bill Congreve,
Cat Sparks, Rob Hood, and lots of others, Topics include The Role of
Military in SF, Monstrous Imaginings, The Hobbits vs Harry Potter,
The Changing Face of Fantasy and The Art of Critiquing. There will
also be a writing competition for flash fiction (500 words or less.)
The NSW Writers Centre is a licensed venue and the bar will be open
for refreshments through the day.
ISOBELLE CARMODY will be speaking about her work, writing and
publishing YA and fantasy in Australia on Mon March 7th at the Avid
Reader Bookshop, 193 Boundary St, West End, Brisbane. Tickets $6 ($3
for Queensland Writers Centre members.)
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too
dark to read"- Groucho Marx
THE STONE SHIP by Peter Raftos is set in a university, and follows
the adventures and misdeeds of the suicidal Shipton, and the ghost
who saves his life. (Pandanus Books, Research School of Pacific &
Asian Studies, the Australian National University. 218pp, $29.95
ISBN 1 74076 135 9X. See www.pandanusbooks.com.au) (A reference
to "rioting librarians hunt for students" naturally has me intrigued.
Can't wait to read it. Edwina)
Australian Speculative Fiction, issue 2, 2005 is now online This
handy writers reference tool maintained by Tony Plank has new
Aurealis Guidelines, writing competitions, Australian markets plus
new foreign resource URL's, See www.inkspillers.com (Reported by
Tony Plank)
DARK ANIMUS needs reviews of speculative fiction (SF/Fantasy/horror)
for their web site for If you'd like to see the style of review
they're after see http://www.darkanimus.com/book_r_idx.html (Reported
by James Cain)
GRAHAM STONE is selling approx. 120 books on sf commentary, review,
history etc and also
Australian Science Fiction Bibliography, a new comprehensive record
(1848-1999) of science fiction written by Australians wherever
printed, as well as works of overseas origin printed in Australia.
Information on about 400 books and over 2000 short stories in
magazines, newspapers and anthologies including translations.
Editorial matter,letters etc in the magazines of predominantly sf
content, book reviews in these and other media are indexed. 282p. A4,
handcrafter binding. $50 including post from Graham Stone, 205/24
Victoria St Burwood NSW 2134
ANTIPODEAN SF No. 81 featuring short,short stories (500 words) from
Les Stephenson, Cameron Hill, Thomas Violet, Terry Dartnall, Shaun A
Saunders, Robin Hillard, Gregory Adams, Edgar Crook, John Karp and
John Libertus can be viewed at http://www.antisf.com or
http://purl.nla.gov.au/NET/antisf/ The winners of the AntipodeanSF
Awards 2003 will also be announced in the web site.
BORDERLANDS 4: has now been released. It includes stories by Jo-Ann
Whalley, Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Tess Williams, Gary Kemble,
Stephanie Campisi, Greg Guerin, Cathy Cupitt, Scot Snow, Stephen
Dedman $10 per issue. Available through specialist bookshops, or buy
on-line. Annual subscriptions available for $30 See -
http://www.borderlands.com.au for further details.
VISIONS MAGAZINE containing articles, reviews, fiction and poetry is
now available on line at
http://sites.ourbrisbane.com/fantastic_queensland/magazine or
http://www.sites.ourbrisbane.com/fantastic_queensland/magazine if you
are having trouble accessing it from the usual URL
ENVISION has a publication for sale containing short stories, novel
excerpts with comments from the EnVision attendees on the craft of
writing, as well as industry insights from the professionals who have
spoken at the first two workshops. Copies available from Pulp Fiction
in Brisbane and via the web site: www.sf-envision.com. Cost: $7.95
(plus postage) (Subscribers to Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine
will be receiving a copy of this magazine when ASIM 17 is posted out –
Edwina.)
AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION FORUM can be viewed at
http://www.ozscififorum.com
MERV BINNS perzine, Out of the Bin is available from PO Box 315,
Carnegie, Vic, 3163.
FOLCC BOOK SALES. "Friends of Linda Cox Chan" aim to raise money to
donate to Juvenile Diabetes Research, Australia by selling donated
books. New Tally $25. Books looking for new homes: "Dr Who: The
Scripts, Galaxy 4" by William Emms. "Honor Harrington: The Honor of
the Queen," by David Weber, "Harm's Way" by Colin Greenland, "The
Magic and the Healing" by Nick O'Donohoe, "Arthur" and "Merlin" by
Stephen Lawhead, Audio Books: "Star Trek: Time for Yesterday" by
A.C. Crispin, featuring Leonard Nimoy and James Doohan, "Star Trek:
Strangers From the Sky" by Margaret Wander Bonanno Featuring Leonard
Nimoy and George Takei, "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" by
Jules Verne featuring John de Lancie and Leonard Nimoy. 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.) You can also pay via
direct deposit. 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. (Thanks to
Gwenda Farrar for buying the Traci Harding novel.)
COMPETITIONS, FAN FUNDS & AWARDS
DITMAR NOMINATIONS: Nominations for the Ditmar Awards to be voted on
at Thylacon, the national SF convention in Tasmania in June will
close on 1st March. If you want to nominate an Australian writer,
story or publication, you'd better do it RIGHT NOW. (See the Thylacon
web site - q.v. conventions,)
AUSTRALIAN HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION inaugural short story
competition. Two categories:under1000 words (flash) and 1000-8000
words. Entries $5 for flash fiction, $10 for londer stories. All
entry money will go to the prize pool. Winning flash entries will be
published in Shadowed Realms, winning entries from the longer story
category will be published in Dark Animus. Full details at
www.darkanimus.com/hwa.html or e-mail martyyoung2002@yahoo.com.
SWANCON WRITING COMPETITION: Stephen Dedman recently reported that
the Australian SF Foundation has sponsored a SF and Fantasy Short
Story competition to be run in conjunction with Swancon XXX (q.v.)
The competition is open to all Australian residents. Entry is free
for Swancon members. Entry for non-members is $5. Entries must be
original fiction and not based on any existing series, properties or
characters, and must not have been previously published, nor
previously a prize-winner in any competition. Entrants must not have
sold more than 20,000 words to pro or semi-pro paying markets. Up to
3 entries per entrant, limit of 5,000 words per story. 1st Prize,
$150, 2nd Prize $100, 3rd Prize $50. Comp closes 5pm Fri 4th March.
Send submissions to: Swancon Short Story Competition, P O Box 276,
Bayswater WA 6933 and see http://www.swancon.com for full details
(Reported by Stephen Dedman.)
The two candidates for the NAFF(national Australian Fan Fund) race,
sending one Aussie fan to the National convention, Thylacon, in
Hobart in June are Zara Baxter and Robin Pen. To read their platforms
and download a voting form see:http://www.postpressed.com.au/naff/
Any questions can be directed to albarton_27@optusnet.com.au Voting
closes April 29th, good luck to them both! (Reported by Alison
Barton.)
DUFF AWARDS: (Down Under Fan Fund) Irwin Hirsh recently announced
that nominations for DUFF 2005 are now open. The winner will travel
from North America to attend the Australian National SF Convention,
June 10-13, Hobart, Tasmania.(q.v.) To appear on the DUFF ballot, a
candidate must submit nominations from 3 North American nominators
and two Australian and/or New Zealand nominators. A $25 bond and a
100-word platform statement is also needed. Nominations close
February 15, 2005. Ballots will be downloadable from the DUFF
website, http://duff2005.blogspot.com. Or from P.O. Box 53092 NOLA
70153-3092, USA Ballots will be accepted until April 15th and must
include a voting fee of at least $4US or $6Aus.
HATCH, MATCH AND DISPATCH
DEATHS:
F.M. BUSBY, author of 18 published novels, born 1921, Died Feb 17 in
Seattle, Washington. Reported by Fictionwise
JACK CHALKER, author of over 60 SF books, died in hospital on
Baltimore on Friday 11th Feb after a series of medical problems. Jack
was the person, more than anyone else, who helped Australia to win
the 1975 Worldcon for Melbourne by showing the bidding
movie "Aussiefan" at dozens of conventions and club meetings all over
North America in the year before the vote at Toronto in 1973. His
website http://www.jackchalker.com/ has lots of fascinating material
about Jack and his work. You can write a condolence messages to his
wife, Eva Whitley and his sons David and Steven at
http://www2.caringbridge.org/md/jacklchalker/guestbook.html Reported
Robin Johnson on Eastcoast SF
THE WALKING WOUNDED:
Melbourne fan, JOHN BANGSUND has suffered a stroke, but is making
good progress (reportedly already showing a healthy frustration at
being in hospital.) Anyone wanting to send a card can send them c/-
Sally Yeoland 151 Cramer Street, Preston Vic 3072 Australia.
(reported Elaine Cochrane on the Eidolist.)
Sydney fan WOMBLE (aka Karen Warnock) is having chemotherapy.
(Reported by Gerald Smith)
CLUBS & MEETINGS
MELBOURNE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB, Meet most Friday nights at 74
Melville Road, West Brunswick 3055.Annual membership to the MSFC is
$25 single, or $35 for a family For further details on the MSFC see
www.vicnet.net.au/~msfc. Meetings: March 4th, Food Night.Pancakes,
11th March Book Club Reviews. 18th Feb The Prisoner series. 25th
March Good Friday - no meeting, 1st April Food Night Pasta.
SPACED OUT: a science fiction club for gays, lesbians and associated
communities. $5 joining fee, then $20 annual membership. ($15
concession.) 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.
SFSA (South Australian Dr Who fan club) Two regular meetings each
month. Annual membership $15. The regular club meeting is held at the
Adelaide High School from 3pm-10pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month.
See http://www.sfsa.org.au/ for full details or write to PO Box 3227,
Rundle Mall, SA 5000.(Reported by Martin Dunne.)
The Doctor Who Club of Australia (DWCA) Membership $16 within Aust.
provides 6 issues of Data Extract, membership pack, access to the
club's member-only internet mailing list, discount prices on a range
of merchandise, admission prices to club functions (including
Whovention, discounts at selected retail outlets for Doctor Who
merchandise. For more information contact Dwayne Bunney -
corporate@doctorwhoaustralia.org or 0416 269 726 or check
www.doctorwhoaustralia.org
QUEST Queensland Star Trek club. Contact the club at PO BOX 2084,
Brisbane, QLD. 4001, or check www.conquestforever.com (Reported by
Kevin Sheehan.)
The Brisbane Babylon 5ers website is at www.geocities.com/bb5ers
(Reported by Erica Sharp, president of the Brisbane Babylon5ers )
INFINITAS GROUP now meet on the third Saturday of the month at
Infinitas Bookshop/Blokey Stuff, Parramatta, Sydney. Infinitas also
has a book review group that meets regularly. Details available from
bookshop@infinitas.com (Reported by Bill Congreve.)
SYDNEY SOUTHERN SF&F GROUP Meetings 12 March, "Galactic Empires," ,
9th April Lunch meeting, Venue undecided. 14 May "Are we Alone?",
11th June, BBQ at local park, 9 July, Annual soup and video
afternoon. Contact Brad Row ph 9580-4369 or e-mail
Brad_Row@agd.nsw.gov.au for full details.
SYDNEY FUTURIANS: Meetings in room 1615 (floor 16) of the Tower
Block, The University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, at 7 pm 21.
Upcoming meetings: 18 March, 15 April, 20 May, 17 June, 15 July, 19
August, 16 September, 21 October, 18 November, 16 December. Check
http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/Futurians.html or phone Garry
Dalrymple after 7 pm on (02) 9718 5827 for updates.
SKYWALKING: http://sydskyforce.starwalking.net holds meetings af the
Lidcombe Catholic Workers Club, 24 John St, Lidcombe, opposite
Lidcombe Railway station on the third Sunday of some months.
Attendance costs $8 members, $10 nonmembers.
EVENTS
VORTEX: SF Events happening in Brisbane, can be found at
www.vortexevents.com
ENVISION WRITERS WORKSHOP. Thursday 23rd June - Tuesday 28th June.
Brisbane city. Cost $660 for the 5 days which includes 100 pages of
manuscript. For more details see www.sf-envision.com.
CONVENTIONS
GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be
announced.
SciNut Conventions is holding a Lord of the Rings con in Melbourne in
March 2005. Some LOTR actors (no principal actors) and technical
people attending as GoHs. E-mail OneliaH@iinet.net.au (Relayed to
Bullsheet by Tony Plank).
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION/ARMAGEDDON Pulp Culture Expo present a
Star Trek con with GoH's Walter Koenig, Connor Trinneer and John
Billingsley.(OCP) Sunday 24.April. Dooley's Lidcombe Catholic Club,
24 John St, Lidcombe, NSW. Members (of FSF) $80, non-members $100.
Phone bookings 02 9523 8385, Online booking www.fsf.com.au. Make
cheques money orders payable to Friends of Science Fiction , post to
P.O. Box 106, Caringbah. NSW 1495.
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. Conveners Stephen Dedman and Elaine Kemp.
Progress Report One for Swancon XXX is now available online at
http://www.swancon.com/ The third Progress Report with Tin Duck Award
nomination information, a draft programme including gaming and video
programmes, and details of the Dinner with Charles de Lint, To link
directly to the PR, click on
http://swancon.com/Progress_Report_Three.rtf or
http://swancon.com/Progress_Report_Three.pdf If you wish to volunteer
to help with SwanCon XXX e-mail them through the above address.
ICON, New Zealand SF Natcon, 2005. Easter, March 25- 28. West Plaza
Hotel, Wellington. GoH Orson Scott Card. Full details available at
http://icon.sf.org.nz
CONFLUX 2: Fri 22 April - Sun 24th April, 2005. GoH Jennifer Fallon,
Special Guests Terry Dowling and Maxine McArthur, and Jackie French
(Saturday only). Artist GoH, Bob Eggleton.
THYLACON IV. National SF con for 2005. Hobart, Tasmania. 10-13 June,
2005 (Queens Birthday Long weekend in many states.) Attendance rates
$120. GoH fantasy author, Anne Bishop. Australian GoH Marianne de
Pierres, Fan GoH Merv Binns. Wrestpoint Casino convention complex.
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: Thylaconsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.
PHENOMENON: 10-13 June. (West Australia? - Edwina)
CONTINUUM 3.15-17 July 2005. Hilton on the Park Hotel, 198 Wellington
pde, East Melbourne, Vic. GoH's Richard Harland, Neil Gaiman, Poppy
Z. Brite and Robin Hobb. Fan GoH James Allen. Membership $110
(Rising on 1/1/2005.) Concession/Student/First convention
$80.Children 5-16 Accompanied by an adult $25. To reserve special
accommodation rates ($170 twin/double) e-mail
hotel@continuum.org.au GPO Box 603, Melbourne, Vic 3001.
www.continuum.org.au or e-mail info@continuum.org.au
First Contact Conventions present A Trip Through the Slipstream, An
Andromeda Event
Sunday August 21st, 2005. GoH: Laura Bertram - Trance Gemini VIP -
$330
Limited to 20 people, General - $110 (Earlybird special $88 until
April 30) Venue TBA Melbourne, Victoria
CONCLAVE: 30 Sept- 3 October, 2005. Holiday Inn, 65 Hindley St,
Adelaide, SA. GoH's: Jack Dann, Ian Irvine, Fiona McIntosh, Karen
Miller, Tony Shillitoe, Sean Williams. Attending m/ship $100.
(Supporting m/ship $20) E-mail, conclave@westnet.com.au or see
www.conclave.asn.au
WHOVENTION 7, 14-16 October, The Rydges Hotel, 54 Maclarn St, North
Sydney (Short walk from Norh Sydney railway station. GOHs Louise
Jameson (Leela) and David Warwick Membership rises incrementally
until "at door" price of $170 (Pay $50, non-refundable, to lock in
your membership at the current price. DWCA and Friends of SF members
get a $20 discount. Family rates and day rates available on request )
Friday night trivia, and banquet on Sat. night available to
convention attendees at extra cost. Make cheques and money orders
payable to WHOVENTION, and post to PO Box 148, Gladesville, NSW
2111. See www.doctorwhoaustralia.org/whovention for full details.
(Reported by Dwayne Bunny)
STARGATE SG1/STARGARTE ATLANTIS 5 November.Sydney - Lidcombe Catholic
Club. GoH's Torri Higginson and Chris Judge. (OCP) Membership $80 for
friends of Science Fiction members, $100 non-members. Limited number
VIP tickets $350 see www.fsf.net.au for full details, or write to PO
Box 106 Caringbah NSW 1495 or phone 02 9523 8385
The First Australian Discworld Convention will be held in January
2006 in Melbourne. For details see www.ausdwcon.org
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 Agents Zara Baxter, PO Box 616
Marrickville, NSW 2204. Voicemail: 0423121, and Ted Scribner 12
Richmount St, Cronulla, 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.
CONCUSSION: 57th British National SF convention. 14-17 April, 2006,
To be held at The Moat House, Congress Rd, Glasgow. See
www.eastercon2006.org for full details.
LA CON IV, 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. e-mail info@laconIV.org,
Postal address LA Con c/- S.C.I.F.I. inc, PO Box 8442, Van Nuys, CA,
91409. USA.
Yokohama Worldcon 2007. Details at www.nippon2007.org .
Geneva Convention a civilised worldcon bid for Switzerland in 2008.
http://www.thegenevaconvention.org/
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://www.inkspillers.com. Maintained and
updated by Tony Plank.
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.
The Bullsheet is also available as a snail-mail subscription for
20x50 cent stamps (or $10) sent to Edwina Harvey c/- 12 Flinders St,
Matraville, 2036.
NEXT BULLSHEET: Send your news e-mail to edwinafan@yahoo.com,
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.
February...I can never get the hang of Februaries! - Edwina
May your Easter be laced with chocolate bilbies!
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid