THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION BULLSHEET #105 – August 28 1998
A foraminate newszine 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.(Cheques made out to Marc
Ortlieb please. Stamps accepted). Available for items of gossip.
E-mailed direct, a once off $10 fee. Free copy from aus.sf on
Internet or at
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/bullsheet.htm
CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL AWARDS
Catherine Jinks won this year's Children's Book Council Book of
the Year award in the Older Children Category for her novel Eye to
Eye. The award was featured in an article in the Saturday Age
22/8/98. Included in the article were comments from Pam McIntyre.
praising Garth Nix Shade's Children and Isobelle Carmody's
Greylands. There was also a feature article on Catherine Jinks.
The Weekend Australian went one better, with an announcement of
the award and a two page feature on Jinks 22-23/8/98.
IN ELECTRONS
Ion Newcombe notes "Here is the publication list (Australian
Authors) for the latest issue of AntipodeanSF (issue 6). 1)
"FLUEBOT" By Tony Plank, e-mail Splints@bigpond.com 2) "Getting
what they wanted" By Lawrence Lau, e-mail: ll@maths.uq.edu.au 3)
"Nobody There" By James Overton, email: brink909@iaccess.com.au
Antipodean SF http://www.nor.com.au/users/antisf/
BRODERICK ANTHOLOGY
Damien Broderick, damien@ariel.its.unimelb. edu.au announces "
Here's a chance you don't get every day - the opportunity to do
someone else's work for him, for free! No, hang about, let's put
that more favorably - a chance to Shape History's Memory.
I'm finalising the suggested contents list for a big
retrospective (i.e. reprint) anthology, for Tor, of Oz sf short
stories and novellas. The time frame is pretty much 1980 to now.
The catchment area is as broad as one can reach - previous
original anthos like my own Strange Attractors or King/Blackford's
Urban Fantasies, overseas and local sf mags, litry little
magazines, grunge cyberpunk outpourings, the Sun News Pictorial
short story competition (haven't got anything from there,
actually), on-line mags... But the stories need to be the very
best of the crop. I have been winnowing a huge bunch of stuff,
and have my own little list, but here's your chance to offer
suggestions and twist my perceptions...
What I'd like to see - isn't this fun? and afterwards we
can have a dip in the pool and blow up some balloons! - is a short
list of the stories you regard as THE best Aussie sf of the last
20-odd years. Five or 10 stories, preferably ranked.
There will be no prize for the first neatest correct
entry."
BULLSHEET MEDIA WATCH
Geoff Roderick and his art featured in an article in The Melbourne
Times 12/8/98. Damien Broderick's upcoming anthology Not the Only
Planet: Science Fiction Travel Stories was briefly reviewed in the
Sunday Age 16/8/98.
DARK CITY
Alan Stewart notes that Lewis Morely and Marilyn Pride's names
also appear in the Dark City credits. Who Weekly August 24 1998
mentioned the film and also, in its Weekly Index, mentioned that
the Dr Who Club of Australia had 700 members, and that Star
Walking Inc has 2,500 members, a 150% increase on 1993.
TRAVELLERS
Returned DUFF winner Terry Frost notes "Maureen Kincaid Speller
and I co-presented the Fan Artist and Fan Writer Hugos this year.
The ceremony went professionally well, though both of us were as
nervous as hell. I started by telling the assembled masses that
Maureen and I were the only two presenters who hadn't made a buck
out of science fiction, then said that I was going to ask for a
minute's silence for Frank Sinatra but they wouldn't let me,
thanked everyone for their kindness to both the DUFF and TAFF
winners, then did the Fan Artist award. Joe Mayhew said kind and
heartfelt words in support of Ian Gunn as he picked up his finned
dildo, to which the audience responded well. At the Hugo Loser's
Party which Aussiecon 3 hosted, both Maureen and I were
congratulated on how well we handled the job. "
Yvonne Rousseau was visiting Melbourne and passed on copies of
Lucid Intervals the Allan Bray Memorial Fanzine, a superb
presentation, including material from the funeral and memories of
Allan from several Adelaide fans and others.
GUNNY WATCH
"Hi, for a change it's Gunny here instead of Karen
The news wasn't quite as bad as our rioting imaginations
had led us to believe. Yes, it looks like I may be incurable (no
jokes, please, I've heard I always was incurable! ;-) )but it
seems like I'm treatable.
I'll spend at least the next six months hooked up to a
little pump, like carrying a Walkman around all the time. Once a
week I have to go to hospital to get the batteries charged, the
dressings checked and the the chemo juice topped up "Fill 'er up!"
- a 20 minute job.
Every three weeks I have to go in overnight for slightly
stronger chemo. Hopefully, this won't send me deafer than I've
already become, but I won't be growing long hair for a while.
The pump is worn over the shoulder/clipped to the belt and
connected to a thing called a Hickman which is a tube into my
chest. Hurt a bit going in despite local anaesthetic and sleeping
pills, and the stitches are sore. Soon I'll be able to sleep on my
right side! At least the nurses won't have to go hunting for veins
in my arms any more - my veins were always hard to find and both
arms are now covered in teensy weensy little scars.
So I'm bionic!
Makes showers interesting, and I've got to be fitted for a
suit for Beky and H's wedding - I'm groomsman. "Can you hide that
bulge?"
C'Mell the cat is fascinated by the five foot tube that
dangles to the floor when I'm in bed "No! Smack! NOT a toy!"
Feeling a lot more confident, a little tired and a bit
nauseous.
Hoping you are the same"
BARNES WATCH
Ian Gunn notes "It was with considerable surprise that I spotted
Bruce Barnes in the You Am I videoclip "Heavy heart" - I'm pretty
sure it's him - playing the part of a karaoke singer. So, Bruce
has now embarked on a career in the Rock Music industry!"
AUSSIECON THREE
The Aussiecon Three PR #2 was posted on August 24th and should
have reached all Australian members by now. It features standard
PR #2 organisational stuff, covers by Marilyn Pride and Craig
Hilton, and articles by John Bangsund, Bruce Gillespie and Greg
Benford. Remember, membership rates got up in September, so, if
you want to save yourself about $A25, join immediately. (To
reflect the weakening Australian dollar, U.S. rates will not
change this time.) Mark Loney adds "...members of Aussiecon Three
who did not pick up their copies of PR2 at BucConeer will receive
them in the mail shortly (copies for members in North America were
mailed from BucConeer on 9 August, copies for members in Australia
and other Pacific Rim countries will be mailed from Melbourne on
or soon after 17 August and European copies will be mailed from
the UK about the same time). "
FAN FUNDS
Terry Frost, recently returned from the U.S., notes that the 1999
DUFF race is open. Get your favourite North American to stand!
Though there is no sign of a deadline for nominations, each
candidate will need three North American Nominators and two
Australian nominators, plus the usual promise, bond and 100 word
platform.
A BRIEF EDITORIAL
I have recently, as is my wont, put my foot in it. I foolishly
forgot that not even science fiction authors are fully au fait
with the habits of that group loosely defined as science fiction
fandom. Therefore I apologise to Richard Harland and Dave Hodson
for printing letters that they considered personal comments to me,
but which I considered fair publishable material. I know that
Dave is familiar with the term DNQ and I hereby remind all
correspondents that, if they send me anything guarded by those
mystical letters, I will under no circumstances risk the wrath of
the fannish ghods by publishing that material. (DNQ stands for Do
Not Quote. ) Be warned though, that any correspondence not so
marked will be treated as fair game.
CONVENTION NEWS
Following the Thylacon Two Business Meeting's decision to hand
over responsibility for the 1999 Ditmars and the 1999 NatCon
Business session to Aussiecon Three, the Aussiecon Three Committee
has allowed a raving megalomaniac to take over the NatCon related
material for the Convention. Thus I'm pleased to announce that, in
my role as 1999 NatCon Muggins, I'll be looking after Spawncon
Two, the 38th Australian National Science Fiction convention that
will be held in conjunction with Aussiecon Three. Recipients of
the paper Bullsheet will find a flier enclosed. Electronic
recipients can obtain a copy at the Vicnet site.
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/spawncon.htm
Karen Pender Gunn notes "In the "Food for thought"
newsletter from Foodbank (Winter 1998), Basicon is listed on the
back page under "Major Financial Donors" (second from the bottom)
with $1,208 being donated. So that should be that."
UPCOMING CONVENTIONS
OZCON 7
Comic book convention September 26-27 Venue: Centrepoint
Convention Centre Sydney
CONQUEST 98
October 9-11 1998 Mercure Hotel Brisbane GsoH., Walter Koenig
(Bester), Judy Levitt, Richard Arnold $200 attending. GPO Box
1376 Brisbane Qld 4001
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 4
November 21 - 22 1998 University of Sydney, and Southern Cross
Hotel NSW GsoH Jason Carter Dwight Schultz Amis Tim Choate Jerry
Doyle ph: 02 9453 0290 fax: 02 9975 6043EMAIL:nlc.net.au
ICON
April 1-5 1999 24 Annual Western Australian Convention The Metro
Inn Canning Highway South Perth GsoH Jack Dann, Sean Williams,
Janny Wurts Special Guests, Don Maitz & Janeen Webb, Fan Guest
Dave Luckett $70 until October 11 GPO Box G429 Perth WA 6841
http://www.iinet.net.au/~swancon/ ackerman@multiline.com.au
FORCE THREE
June 12-14 1999 3rd National Star Wars Convention Karralyka Centre
Ringwood Vict GsoH tba $150 until 1/6/99. P.O. Box 427 Northcote
Vic 3070 (03) 9416-8998 http://www.imageworks.com.au/starwalking
AUSSIECON THREE
The 57th World Science Fiction Convention. September 2-6 1999
World Congress Centre, Melbourne GsoH George Turner, Greg Benford
and Bruce Gillespie. Aussiecon Three, GPO Box 1212K, Melbourne,
3001, Australia Attending $200 Supporting $45 Child in tow $45
email info@aussiecon3.worldcon.org
http://www.aussiecon3.worldcon.org.
SPAWNCON TWO
The 38th Australian National Science Fiction Convention. September
2-6 1999 World Congress Centre, Melbourne P.O. Box 215 Forest
Hill Vic 3131 http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/spawncon.htm
CHICON 2000
The 58th World Science Fiction Convention August 31 to
September 4, 2000 - Hyatt Regency Chicago IL GsoH Ben Bova, Bob
Eggleton, Jim Baen, Bob and Anne Passovoy, Toastmaster: Harry
Turtledove $US135.00 for residents of North America $US125.00
rate for bona fide residents of other continents P. O. Box 642057,
Chicago IL 60664, fax: 312-946-3779 http://www.chicon.org/
THE MILLENIUM PHILCON
The 59th World Science Fiction Convention August 30 to September
3, 2001 The Pennsylvania Convention Center & Philadelphia Marriott
Hotel GsoH Greg Bear, Stephen Youll, Gardner Dozois, George
Scithers Toastmaster: Esther Friesner. Suite 2001, 402 Huntingdon
Pike Rockledge, PA 19046 USA phil2001@unix3.netaxs.com
GoH = Guest of Honour
O.C.P. = Other Commitments Permitting
tba= to be announced.
EVENTS
N.S.W.
MINI SF FILM MARATHON August 28 The Encore Cinema (Devonshire Rd
IIRC, Surry Hills Dune, THX-1138, Silent Running, The Fantastic
Planet
INFINITAS BOOKSHOP SF DISCUSSION GROUP September 3 7:30, 5/1
Horwood Place Parramatta
RICHARD HARLAND SIGNING/READING September 10 5:00 Galaxy Books
FUTURIAN SOCIETY OF SYDNEY September 17 7:00 Room 1615 Broadway
Tower, University of Technology Sydney
http://ftoomsh.progsoc.uts.edu.au/~ian/writings.html.
SOUTHERN SCIENCE FICTION GROUP September 19 2-00pm 15 Shade Place
Lugarno (02) 534-3595.
QUEENSLAND
CONQUEST September 6 Red Cross Centre 409 Adelaide St GPO Box
1376 Brisbane Qld 4001
HIGHLANDER September 20 Red Cross Centre 409 Adelaide St Postal
address 11 Perrett St Bundamba Qld 4304 sonjav@powerup.com.au
Newsletter The Buzz
VORTEX October 4 Red Cross Centre 397 Adelaide St G.P.O. Box 2004
Brisbane 4001
QUEENSLAND STAR TREKKERS (QUEST) November 8 GPO Box 2084 Brisbane
4001 Email water@thehub.com.au
VICTORIA
MSFC August 28 Role Playing & Richard Harland September 4,
September 11 8.00pm St David's Church Hall 74 Melville Rd West
Brunswick P.O. Box 212 World Trade Centre Melbourne 3005
FRIDAY NIGHT MOB August 28 , September 4, September 11 6-7.30pm.
Informal eating and nattering. Myers Cafeteria Melbourne
MORT August 27-29 The Gordon Masonic Halls, Moonee Ponds. $12 ($8
concession) 9342 3648 or http://warts.whitley.unimelb.edu.au/mort/
or warts@whitley.unimelb.edu.au
RICHARD HARLAND SIGNING August 28 Minotaur Books Melbourne
NOVA MOB MEETING September 2 Steve Paulsen & Paul Collins
discussing the Australian Science Fiction Encyclopaedia. First
dinner at about 6:00pm at The Arian Restaurant on Sydney Road,
followed by the meeting at about 8:00pm at 13 Frederick St
Brunswick.
TIME TREKKERS September 4 St Lukes 46 Sternberg St Bendigo P.O.
Box 334 Bendigo Vic 3552
DANDENONG SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY September 9 tbd Dandenong
Library P.O. Box 706 Frankston Vic 3199 015 510 159 fax (03) 9787
0899 luddite@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au
AUSTRALIAN BABYLON 5 FAN CLUB September 20 12noon General Meeting
Room 21 Moonee Ponds Town Hall P.O. Box 610 Ballarat Vic 3353
Babbling On xfive@ballarat.starway.net.au
ENTERPRISE September 26 Mini Golf Day P.O. Box 466 World Trade
Centre Melbourne 3005 (03) 9583 7404 enterprise@minerals.csiro.au
SKYFORCE (Star Wars) October 10 1-5 pm Melbourne Uni, Copeland
Theatre, Economics and Commerce Building P.O. Box 427 Northcote
3070 Email Address: darren.maxwell@tmca.com.au
http://www.imageworks.com.au/starwalking
PAPER FANZINES
PHILOSFY #10 Alexander Slate 8603 Shallow Ridge Drive San Antonio
TX 78239-4022 USA
ETHEL THE AARDVARK 80 Ian Gunn for the MSFC P.O. Box 212 World
trade Centre Melbourne Vic 3005
CONSCRIPT PR Conscript GPO Box 1376 Brisbane Qld 4001
LUCID INTERVALS THE ALLAN BRAY MEMORIAL FANZINE Brian Forte and
Zoran Bekric 41 Elizabeth St Evandale S.A.
KERLES 1 Tommy Ferguson 40 Deramore Ave Belfast BT7 3ER Northern
Ireland
ELECTRONIC ZINES NEWS
Grant Watson, nzone@iinet.net.au, notes "This is just a quick note
to announce a new mailing list: 'Albert Q's Useless News'. In the
next week or so I'll be starting an online newsletter of fannish
news and rumours. It'll be covering movies, TV shows, comics,
books, computer games, plays and other stuff. If you're interested
in receiving it (or at least trying it out) then give me an e-mail
and I'll slam you on the list. "
WEB PAGES
For a full listing,
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/zines.htm
New
SPAWNCON TWO
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/spawncon.htm
DEADLINES
GUFF NOMINATIONS September 30 1998
ANZAPA 184 October 1998
GUFF VOTING March 30 1999
SOURCES
Alan Stewart, Justin Ackroyd, Mark Loney, Damien Broderick, Grant
Watson, Ion Newcombe, Ian Gunn, Karen Pender Gunn
DEADLINE FOR #106
Tuesday September 8th
Distribution Friday September 11th.
This Fanzine Supports The Minneapolis in '73 WorldCon Bid and
Aussiecon Three. Other Allegiances are still for sale.
BULLSHEET UNCLASSIFIEDS
Balloting is now open in the 1999 North America to Europe TAFF
race. The candidates are Velma "Vijay" Bowen, and Sarah S.
Prince. The winning candidate will travel to travel to Reconvene,
the 50th Annual British National Science Fiction Convention, in
Liverpool, England, April 2-5, 1999.
Deadline for voting is midnight, Saturday December 5, 1998.
Ballots must be accompanied by a donation to TAFF of not less than
$3 US or 2 UK, though larger donations are gratefully accepted.
Voting is open to individuals who have been active in fandom since
April, 1997 or earlier. A complete statement of TAFF rules, plus
the candidacy statements and nominators for both candidates, are
available in the text of the TAFF Ballot.
Official ballots will be available from the U.S. Administrator,
Ulrika O'Brien: 123 Melody Ln. #C, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, and
eventually from the UK Administrator Maureen Kincaid Speller, on
her return to the UK. Dave Langford has kindly volunteered to
produce UK ballots in the meantime -- contact him at
ansible@cix.co.uk. A ballot copy will be made available at the
TAFF website: http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/SF-Archives/Taff/, or, look
for ballots in a fanzine near you.
Best of luck to both candidates,
--Ulrika O'Brien, TAFF Administrator, U.S.