THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION BULLSHEET #41 – October 13th 1995
A slack but frequent little science fiction newsletter produced for the
Australian National Science Fiction Association by Marc Ortlieb, P.O.
Box 215, Forest Hill, Vict, 3131, AUSTRALIA (e-mail:
mortlieb@vicnet.net.au).
Postal subscriptions $6-00 for ten issues.(Cheques made out to Marc
Ortlieb please. Stamps accepted). Available for items of gossip. E-mail
copies free. Ask to be put on the mailing list, or grab it from aus.sf
on Internet or the Ausom FC BBS 9545-5215
IN PRINT
Greg Egan's Novelette "Tap" appears in the November 1995 Asimov's.
Lucy Sussex passed on the following gem from Rachel Cunneen. "In case
there are some masochistic mortals out there who are still interested
in perusing THTSTP for sources - I think I've found another one that,
to my knowledge, noone else has mentioned. On page 61 of my copy of the
book there's a passage detailing how one of the Nazi officers has a
dream about a basilisk. This basilisk is afraid to breath on people
because his breath turns people to ashes. When I first read this, I
thought it sounded vaguely familiar (not to mention bizarre) and I've
recently worked out why. There's an Australian short story by Dal
Stivens that is published in Van Ikin's anthology of Australian science
fiction. It is titled, I think, "The Gentle Basilisk" and although the
wording doesn't match Darville's telling of the story, the idea is
exactly the same. Friends who are better versed in mythology than
myself have told me that while stories of basilisks abound, the idea
that they have killer halitosis is uncommon enough to suggest that this
is yet another Demindenko plagiarism. Has anyone else noticed the
similarity between Stiven's story and the passage in THTSTP? Or are
there any amateur experts in the private lives of basilisks out there?"
The Herald Sun 9/10/95 has an article on Richmond's Elizabeth Rogers
who claims to be compiling "Australia's first fanzine directory".
However there is no mention of sf fanzines by Ms Rogers who has all of
eighty zines. There will be an exhibition of these at the State Library
from October 14.
FANS ON THE MOVE
Margaret Arnott, ex-Adelaide and now Darwin is on her way to Ballarat.
Congratulations on her impending marriage to Bob Orchard. The 1996
FFANZ race is once more a one horse affair, with Evan McArthy as the
only candidate. Either Evan or Hold Over Funds will visit The Festival
of the Imagination Easter 1996. I have yet to see the ballot paper.
ARCON BROKE
Be ready for all sorts of less than subtle fund raising activities.
Arcon though most appeared to find it enjoyable, with the exception of
the lack of on-site coffee and the rather snooty nature of the hotel,
lost money. (A full financial report will appear in the post-con
report, due out real soon now.) As a first attempt to cover costs, the
Aussiecon Memory book is now available. Weighing in at 60pages, it
features a brand new piece on Aussiecon by Ursula K. LeGuin plus her
Aussiecon GoH Speech, articles by Don Ashby and Marc Ortlieb,
photographs and reprints (including Gene Wolfe's SFWA report on
Aussiecon Two) dealing with the two Aussiecons. Cost is $10 plus $2-00
postage and handling. In addition we have assorted Nortstrilia Press
publications, some small Aussiecon Two t-shirts and program books from
Aussiecon and Aussiecon Two.
CONVENTION UPDATES
A week to go until Basicon. David Richardson reports that Mutagen has
been postponed indefinitely due to hotel price hikes. He suggests that
people interested contact Geoff Chan at
9350424E@rmit580fs1.hais.rmit.edu.au. Geoff's comment "Sean-Paul and
Brett Jomes have decided to go into business called "OffWorld" and they
have decided to postpone it, (I only report it and look after email."
UPCOMING CONVENTIONS
BASICON 1995 Media Natcon October 21 Melbourne University Student
Union Building. $20 Att ($100 at the door.) Hucksters $30. Banquet $7
P.O. Box 567 Blackburn 3130
MUDCON November 18-19 Winery tour/Convention. Susan Clarke 6 Bellevue
Road Faulconbridge NSW 2776
MUTAGEN 96 ? GPO Box 910G Melbourne 3001. (03) 534-2752
THE FESTIVAL OF THE IMAGINATION '96 ( Confusion 96/Swancon 21)
Lit/Media NatCon April 4-8 1996. Kings Hotel Perth. GsoH Bruce
Sterling, Neil Gaiman & Robin Pen. GPO Box G429, Perth, 6001 Ph:(09)
361 8210 or (09) 381 7534. E-mail julian@multiline.com.au
THE REUNION #4 April 20-22 1996 Susan Clarke 6 Bellevue Road
Faulconbridge NSW 2776
PARLIAMENT OF DREAMS Babylon 5 3-5 May 1996 The Ridge Hotel, Leichardt
Street Brisbane GoH Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi) $95 payable to New Horizons
PO Box 492, Corinda, QLD 4075 (07) 375-1775
CONSTELLATION NZ Natcon: Queens Birthday Weekend 1996 The Christchurch
City Travelodge, NZ GsoH Michael Moorcock, Peter Jackson, James Dignan
$50.00 during 1994/5 P.O. Box 29-119, Fendalton, Christchurch NZ.
Email: c. brandenburg@lincoln.ac.nz
MEDTREK V Australia Day Weekend 1997 UWS Hawkesbury Richmond NSW $40
Susan Clarke 6 Bellevue Road Faulconbridge NSW 2776
CONSPIRACY 1997 18th New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention
(bidding for the 15th Australasian SF Media Con) March 28 to 31 1997.
Airport Hotel Wellington N.Z. GsoH tba. PO Box 10104, Wellington, New
Zealand.Email: concom@sans.vuw.ac.nz
AUSTRALIA IN '99 Bid for the 1999 World Science Fiction Convention.
$10 pre-supporting rate. P.O. Box 99 Bayswater 3153.
GoH = Guest of Honour
O.C.P. = Other Commitments Permitting
tba= to be announced.
OTHER EVENTS
N.S.W.
FOOT RALLY & BARBECUE October 21 Susan Bellenger 24 Locksley Ave
Merrylands NSW
SYDNEY DR WHO FAN CLUB October 28th Anglican Church Hall, 2 Rochford
Street Erskineville 9:30 to 4:00 GPO Box 2870 Sydney NSW 2001.
VALENTINE'S BALL February 17 1996 7.00pm Elim House Burwood NSW Susan
Clarke 6 Bellevue Road Faulconbridge NSW 2776
THE WINTER BALL August 31 1996 7.00pm Elim House Burwood NSW Susan
Clarke 6 Bellevue Road Faulconbridge NSW 2776
NEWCASTLE DOCTOR WHO SCIENCE FICTION CLUB 3rd Sunday of the month,
Alice Ferguson Community Centre, 30 Caldwell St Merewether P.O. Box
140, Kotara Fair 2289, ph (049) 543 603 (049) 43 2666 e-mail
shadow@scorch.hna.com.au
BABYLON 5 OZ FAN CLUB PO Box 161 Adamstown NSW 2289. Fanzines The
Babble-on Babylon 5 and Gold Channel e-mail shadow@scorch.hna.com.au
PENRITH SF GROUP (047) 322-179 or (047) 301-073
AUSTRALIAN SF ASSOCIATION GPO Box 4440 Sydney 2000
DR WHO FAN CLUB OF AUSTRALIA PO Box 4 Epping NSW 2121 email:
korman@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au $9 per year
GARGOYLE CLUB First Friday of month 7.00pm, Royal Exhibition Hotel
Surrey Hills
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GROUP Informal eating and nattering. 5-7pm Thursday
Nights. Ali Baba Cafe on George St. (Contact Graham Batho (02) 807-2573
for details)
TAVERN Monthly booze-up for Doctor Who fans in Sydney. First Friday of
month, 6 pm. Museum Hotel (just behind the Australian Museum)
VICTORIA
MSFC October 13th 7-30pm All Sorts of Refreshments October 20
M.S.F.C. Montage October 27 Cuppas & Cookies St David's Church Hall 74
Melville Rd West Brunswick P.O. Box 212 World Trade Centre Melbourne
3005
ENTERPRISE October 28 Spocktoberfest P.O. Box 466 World Trade Centre
Melbourne 3005 (03) 583 7404
RED SQUADRON HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY: Out For Blood October 28 7.00pm 2
Tracy Court Delacombe. (053-361076 for details).
NOVA MOB November 1 Alan Stewart's Place. Phone Alan Stewart for
details (03) 9429 8354
STAR TREK MARATHONS November 4 6:30pm State Film Centre 1 Macarthur St
East Melbourne (03) 9758 1807
DANDENONG VALLEY SCIENCE FICTION & FUTURIST SOCIETY November 21, 8pm
Dandenong Library. Ann McGann 63 Woodside Ave, Frankston, 3199.
5971-3645.
GALLIFREY December 16. (ph) 0411 180 717. GPO Box 910G Melbourne 3001
FRIDAY NIGHT MOB Friday Nights 6-7.30pm. Informal eating and nattering.
K&Ms, Myer Arcade Melbourne
GAMMA QUADRANT OUTPOST A local chapter of the U.S. based Bajoran
Alliance, (Deep Space Nine) P.O. Box 567 Blackburn 3130
k.pender-gunn@latrobe.edu.au
AUSTRALIAN BABYLON 5 FAN CLUB P.O. Box 41 West Brunswick 3055 Fanzine
Babbling On
THE X-FILES FAN CLUB of Australia P.O. Box 402, Niddrie 3042., Fanzine
The Field Journal.
DOCTOR WHO CLUB OF VICTORIA GPO Box 4782UU Melbourne VIC 3001. $12 per
year. Fanzine Sonic Screwdriver. Meetings Second Saturday of the month.
email: borad@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au
AUSTRALIAN HORROR SOCIETY 1st Thursday of the month, 7.30 pm back room
Maori Chieftan Hotel, Moray St Sth Melbourne. P.O. Box 7545 St Kilda Rd
Melb. 3004.
QUEENSLAND
WARP SPEED (Brisbane) October 29 GPO Box 2004 Brisbane 4001 (07) 356
5472
CONQUEST 95 November 5 GPO Box 1376 Brisbane 4001 (07) 273 6512
QUEST Star Trek November 12 12 noon - 4.00 pm Yungaba Community
Centre, 100 Mains Rd Kangaroo Point (07) 356 5472
NEW HORIZONS December 17 British Sf 776 Cavendish Rd Holland Park 4121
(07) 349 2229
11:21 (Qld X-Files Club) Contact Flat 2, 10 Roseglen St Greenslopes
4120
S.A.
CRITICAL MASS November 1 8pm SA Writers' Centre, Second Floor, 187
Rundle Street, Adelaide. 6:30 Five Spices Restaurant
THE 'NOCK November 8 6:30pm The Brechnock Hotel, King William St,
Adelaide.
AUSFA, c/- Clubs Association, University of Adelaide, North Terrace,
Adelaide SA 5001.
W.A.
UNISFA - University of Western Australia Science Fiction
Association.See Web page or e-mail (nulsmurf@tartarus.uwa.edu.au)
THE WEST LODGE Doctor Who Fan Club. First Saturday of the month at the
Collins Street Centre, South Perth. Snail-Mail : P.O. Box 190 Mt Lawley
6050 E-Mail : nulsmurf@tartarus.uwa.edu.au
A.C.T.
CANBERRA S FS October 19 Tindales' (Australian and Italian cuisine)
Fisher Shopping Centre ph (06) 288 6391 (ah) PO Box 47, Civic Square
ACT 2608
FANZINES
MUMBLINGS FROM MUNCHKINLAND #12 Chris Nelson 23 Henty St Invermay Tas
7248 Genzine in which Chris reveals that he has also joined the ranks
of fannish fathers. (That's the last we'll see of his fanzines).
MIMEZINE FLASHBACK #3 Terry Frost 26 Head St Balwyn Vic 3103. Terry's
idiosyncratic perzine/genzine. Interesting reading.
KALIEN James Allen P.O. Box 41 West Brunswick Vic 3055. Jocko's
strange little zine.
REVIEWZINE #38 Susan Smith-Clarke 6 Bellevue Rd Faulconbridge NSW 2776
Sydney Newszine
THYME #105 Alan Stewart P.O. Box 222, World Trade Centre, Melbourne
3005. E-mail s_alanjs@eduserve.its.unimelb. edu.au Comes with
AUSTRALIAN SF NEWS #65 Alan Stewart & Merv Binns, and Dave Langford's
ANSIBLE #97 & 98
ETHEL THE AARDVARK #63 Paul Ewins for the MSFC P.O. Box 212 World
Trade Centre Melbourne 3005
BBS
ECHO BASE HOTH (03) 9563-1323.
THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS Star Trek (03) 9723 8344.
AUSOM'S First Class BBS SF conference called Sci Fi (03) 9545-5215.
WEB PAGES
AFR
http://www.peg.apc.org/~roman/afr/afr_1/afr_1.htm
Babylon 5 OZ Fan Club
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~bab5oz/bab5oz.html
David Grigg
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~drgrigg
Doctor Who Club of Victoria
http://www.yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~borad/dwcv-home.html
Dr Who Fan Club of Australia
http://www.ocs.mq.edu.au:80/~korman/dwfca.html
Festival of the Imagination 1996 (under construction)
http://midnight.com.au/~mjl/foti1996.html
Ibn Qirtaiba
http://odyssey.apana.org.au/~terminus.
Eric Lindsay
http://www.maths.uts.edu.au/eric/sf.html
Kate Orman
http://www.ocs.mq.edu.au:80/~korman
Perry Middlemiss
http://www.peg.apc.org/~larrikin/welcome.htm
Quantum Leap
http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~eydc
UniSFA
http://www.gu.uwa.edu.au/clubs/unisfa
VicNet
http://www.vicnet.net.au/vicnet/sf/sfpage.html
DEADLINES
1995 ASFMA Voting October 21 1995
1996 DUFF Nominations October 31 1995
1996 FFANZ Voting December 8 1995
1996 Ditmar Nominations January 31 1996
1996 ASFMA Nominations January 31 1996
1996 DUFF Voting April 21 1996
SOURCES
Warp Speed, David Richardson, Widya Santoso, Reviewzine, Thyme, Lucy Sussex
CLASSIFIEDS
'My attention has been drawn to Agrippa, an interesting " novel". Can
you please place a request in the next Bullsheet for anyone who knows a
purchaser to contact me. One of the other PhD students is working in
the field of advance and change in literacy and is curious as to
whether this particular form of ephemera has attracted attention in
Australia.'
Cary J. Lenehan cary_jl@postoffice.sandybay.utas.edu.au
DEADLINE FOR #42
Tuesday October 24th. Distribution Friday October 27th.
Just The BASICS.
The First Progress Report For BasiCon.
The 1995 Australasian Media NatCon
Saturday, 21st October 1995.
9:00 A.M to 11:00 P.M.
Melbourne University Student Union.
Second Floor.Union Building.Corner of Union Road & Tin Alley.
Melbourne Uni.
WHAT'S BASICON?
It's the 1995 Media Science Fiction National Convention. But
it's a bit different to what people expect from aMedia NatCon. Or any
other type of Convention. It's a small, reasonably priced convention where
fans can gather together and just enjoy themselves without the need to be
entertained by some spectacular extravaganza. No overseas guests. No
ostentatious light and sound shows. No long autograph queues that you have
to pay for. No ripoffs. No hassles with hotel managers.A one day
convention in a hall. Just a fun time, basically.
It's a national convention where people interested in any aspect of Media
Science Fiction (which can be anything including film, television,
animation, radio, books, comics, roleplay and computer games, virtual
reality, the internet, fan magazines and anything else we may have missed)
gather together to share their interests, to talk, to make friends, to
compare notes, to enjoy themselves. It's run by the fans themselves, not
for profit. Usually, NatCons are bigger than BasiCon will be but this can
have advantages because it means we can go for a more intimate and
friendly gathering. And cheaper. So if you like Science Fiction in any
form, this is the place to be.
WHERE AND WHEN IS IT?
We've booked a group of luxurious rooms on the Second Floor of the
Melbourne University Student Union Building. We chose this because of the
pleasant, greensward grounds surrounding the site, the old historic
buildings which effectively muffle all traffic noise, the close proximity
to public transport (trams stop right outside the Uni gates),the fine
ethnic eateries of Lygon Street, the convenience of the Melbourne
Townhouse (familiar accommodation to interstate conventioneers), the handy
vending machines on the premises, the helpful staff, the privacy, the
great feeling of space in what will be the main hucksters room and
mingling area, and the historical links to various fannish events
previously held on the premises. Mostly,though, it was cheap.
BasiCon will be held on Saturday the 21st of October 1995, starting at
9:00AM and finishing at about 11:00PM.
AREYOURGUESTSOFHONOURCONFIRMED?
YES!! Our Guests of Honour HAVE BEEN 100% CONFIRMED! We have just received
written confirmation that ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEES that we have no Guests of
Honour at all attending BasiCon.
WhatAreYouGoingToDo?
All sorts of stuff. Because it's the NatCon, we're obliged to run the
Business Meeting, complete with legal wrangling and site selection of the
1997 Media NatCon. Also, we'll be handing out the ASFMA awards. Other than
that, a variety of interesting and entertaining panels and items are
planned. Fun, participatory things. The con will only have one basic
programme stream, largely based around the theme of Getting Back To
Basics. There will be hucksters selling all manner of things. There will
be an auction. There will be talking. There will be some interesting and
unusual videos on show (but more of that later). There will be laughter.
There will be probably be soup and bread rolls provided free for lunch.
There will be a pizza banquet at night for an extra $7, followed by the
Costume Parade (but more of that later, too).
Have You Got A Video?
Yes! We have got a video! This is the Media NatCon after all. And we've
got something special planned...
1995 marks the centenary of the Very First Science Fiction Film Ever Made,
and we've got it! As part of our special Silent PreNuclear French Classic
Film Festival, we'll be showing the Lumiere brothers' 'Charcuterie
Mechanique (1895) in all its silent monochrome glory! Well, OK,so it's
only a minute long and consists of some butchers putting a live pig in
a machine which magically turns it into sausages and hams, but, hey, it's
a Classic! And we've also got the much longer special effects masterpiece
Le Voyage dans la Lune (1902) by Georges Mellies. Yes. That one. This
pretty much sets the four major themes for the other eight and three
quarter hours of planned video highlights:
(1) Basic. We've selected a wide variety of pretty primitive filmic
fripperies and televisual treats for your delectation. Not necessarily
cheap and nasty, but some of the stuff is really out of the archival
vaults.
(2) Short. None of those Dr. Who eight part series that seem to last all
weekend, nor back to back double Batman episodes nor feature length films.
We know you don't want to spend the whole day in the Video Room, and we
know that you children of the television age have short attention spans,
so we're trying to keep every item on the programme to under thirty
minutes. Some of them may even be under thirty seconds. So wander in and
out of the video room as you please.
(3) Unusual. Yep, as well as some popular favourites, we've got some
pretty obscure stuff as well. Strange animation. Rare Science Fiction.
Strange music videos. Bizarre commercials. Stuff that wasn't necessarily
produced in English. Things you've never seen before. Some things you may
never have heard of. We hope you enjoy them.
(4) Nothing To Do With St*rTr*k. No, we're not showing any copyrighted
material that might adversely affect the profit margin of any American
Merchandise Franchise. When selecting the videos on this programme, this
decision was paramount.
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A MASQUERADE?
No, we're going to have a Costume Parade instead. Same thing,really. We
just like the name:it sounds more basic. Australian NatCons have a long
history of spectacular Masquerades featuring the finest examples of the
costumier's art. We'd like to present the finest, best orchestrated
Masquerade this hemisphere has ever seen, complete with huge sets, an up
to the minute, state of the art light'n'laser experience with a live
backing band, jugglers, fire eaters and dancing girls.
But this is a small, basic, one day convention. So we can't. So we're not
going to. We're not even going to have a raised stage and a spotlight. If
What we are going to do is try to encourage as many members of the
convention as possible to enter the Costume Parade, especially if you've
never entered amasquerade before.
The theme for the Costume Parade will be, like everything else, BASIC.
This means we'd like to see lots of basic costumes: cheap, simple, knocked
up in twenty minutes jobs are the sort of thing we're hoping for here.
Well, sure, if you really, really want to enter that spectacular, amazing,
full size Marvy Mutant Pooer Rangers Battle Robot thingy you've been
building in your Dad's garage for the last two years (and only just got
the licence for the laser weapons) then go ahead, and you'll probably get
a standing ovation. But what we'd really like to see you do is to test
your imagination within a very limited budget. Sort of like the convention
itself. We're talking BASIC
The costumes and their presentation will be judged under the following
categories....
Best Costume Costing Less Than $20
Best Costume Costing Less Than $10.
BestPresentation.
Best Innovation.
Judge's Choice.
If you've never entered a Masquerade before, now's your chance. Don't
worry about appearing a fool in front of heaps of people (hell, we run
conventions, imagine how we feel!) just give it a try. Put on a skit. Sing
a song. Keep it simple. We'll even have stuff from Reverse Garbage on the
day in case you get the urge to knock up a costume while you're actually
at the con.
Of course, hall costumes of all sorts are thoroughly encouraged. We like to
see people dressed up and enjoying themselves.
Are You Having An Art Show?
Yeah, why not? Most conventions have art shows. However...Yes, you
guessed. We're doing it differently. We're doing it spontaneously! All the
entries in the art show have to be created at BasiCon. You can bring
whatever materials and equipment you need, and create you masterpiece on
the spot. (Just don't make a mess, please.) The artwork can take any form:
drawings, paintings, sculpture, ceramics (firing could be difficult),
model construction, hardcraft, softcraft, conceptual, kinetic, cybernetic,
computer generated, video, costuming or cavepainting (you get the cave up
the stairs by yourself). Work will be judged on aesthetics, technique,
innovation and originality. Remember, you have to supply all the equipment
necessary to create and display your artwork and take everything away
afterwards.
WHO GETS THE MONEY?
We decided to split any profits we might make between the various Fan
Funds (GUFF, DUFF, FFANZ) and our Official Charity. Our Official Charity
is Food Bank Victoria a struggling, nondenominational, nonprofit
organisation that supplies food items to needy people within ourstate. In
the first two years of operation, FoodBank distributed over 2,814,413
kilos of food, but it needs our help to keep up this phenomenal effort. We
think that giving basic foodstuffs to the hungry is
(a) appropriate to the theme of the convention
and
HOW ELSE CAN I HELP FOOD BANK VICTORIA?
As well as giving them money, we're also collecting food. What we'd like
you to do is to bring along a couple of cans of basic food and leave it in
the bin provided at the con. (Or bring it to the Melbourne Science Fiction
Club any Friday night and we'll take it to the con for you.) Beans. Spam.
Tinned Fruit. Condensed Milk. Anything non-perishable. We'll make sure
Food Bank Victoria gets all your donations. They'll make sure that those
starving people out there get them.
WHAT'S BASICON GOING TO COST ME?
Not a lot. We're deliberately trying to keep the price down. The following
prices have now been fixed...
Full Membership (if paid in advance) $20
Full Membership (if paid at the door) $100
Non Attending (Voting Only) Membership $21
Huckster's Table (includes 1 membership) $30
Pizza Banquet Smorgasbord Pig Out Frenzy $7
WHY IS YOUR PAY AT THE DOOR PRICE FIVE TIMES AS MUCH AS YOUR PAY IN
ADVANCE PRICE?
Basically because we want you to pay in advance. That's how cons run. They
need most of the money up front to book the venue and pay other expenses.
It's the same when you buy tickets to a concert. All too often lately,
cons have been cancelled because people haven't been paying in advance.
Also, we need to know how many people want lunch. So we're training you to
pay in advance. We really doubt that anyone will be dumb enough to wait to
pay at the door, so, basically, you either pay in advance or you miss out
on a pretty good convention.
WHY IS YOUR NON ATTENDING (VOTING ONLY) MEMBERSHIP ONE DOLLAR MORE THAN
YOUR PAY IN ADVANCE PRICE?
Because we're bastards. And we'd much rather see you attending the cont
than just voting. The Non Attending (Voting Only) Membership allows you to
vote in the ASFM Awards and the site selection of the 1997 Media NatCon
without actually attending BasiCon. In both cases, postal votes must be
received by BasiCon prior to the convention i.e.: by the last mail, Friday
20th October at the BasiCon Postal Address. (ASFMA award votes may be
handed in by attending members up till 12:00 noon at the convention. Site
selection will be voted on at the Business Meeting, where postal votes
will be taken into account.) Anyone who has paid a Non Attending (Voting
Only) Membership, but who changes their mind and wishes to attend the
convention, may upgrade their membership at the door by the payment of a
nominal fee ($80). Told you we were bastards.
IS THE WEARING OF NAME BADGES COMPULSORY?
It most certainly is. Not for security reasons, though. We just want
people to know who you are, so they can more easily make friends with you.
But we're so cheap we're not even providing namebadges. What we suggest
you do is either wear an old namebadge from your favourite previous
convention, or design one of your own, either in advance or from materials
provided at BasiCon. There is a very severe punishment for not displaying
your namebadge prominently: some people will not know your name.
WHAT IS YOUR WEAPONS POLICY?
If you break something, you fix it. If you take someone's eye out with
your broadsword, they'll sue you. If you run out into the street with a
realistic looking machinegun just as the police S.W.A.T. team are driving
past, we might have a whip round and send some flowers to your funeral. If
we think your behavior is dangerous, we may politely ask you to leave the
con. Just use your head, alright? Don't do anything stupid. Weapons we can
tolerate. It's fools we have difficulty with.
WHAT IF I WANT TO RUN THE MEDIA NATCON IN 1997?
We'd love you to. You need to let us know as soon as possible. Right now
would be good. If you intend running a con in 1997, and have not yet
announced your guests of honour, you can make a presentation at our
business meeting. The members of Basicon will put it to the vote, and away
you go! (And we're prepared to pitch in and help if you want us to.)
Bids will be accepted up to one week before Basicon. Contact us for further
details.
SO WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Join up by filling in the attached membership form, enclosing a cheque made
out to BasiCon.If it isn't attached, write and ask for one. Volunteer to
help. Reproduce this flyer and pass it around. Tell your friends. Advertise
it wherever you can. Then, on the day, come along and join in the fun.
Step right up and introduce yourselves, we'll be happy to meet you.
BASICON
P.O. Box 567,
Blackburn,
Vic 3130