Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet – December 2002

Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet
Number 9, December, 2002
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)

GENERAL NEWS

Rumour has it that Peter Jackson and co may be considering a fourth LOTR movie 
- going for a a prequel in the form of  The Hobbit.

WRITER'S DREAM DESTINY: An article by Mercedes Florez on Australian author, 
Fiona McIntosh  and the success of her 3 fantasy novels, Betrayal, Revenge and 
Destiny, was published on page 45 of the Sydney Sunday Telegraph, 24th 
November, 2002.

WHICH IS BEWITCHED? An article by Shaunagh O'Connor on Terry Pratchett's 
success with his Discworld novels, was published on page 29 of the Herald Sun 
Weekend  (Melbourne) on Nov 16th, 2002. (Reported by David L. Russell.)

SF AT STRAIGHT OUT OF BRISBANE FESTIVAL: Robert Hoge and Benjamin Payne, 
editors of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, joined Visions anthology 
editor, Stephen Thompson on a panel discussing the small press market in 
Australia at the Brisbane Festival held over the weekend 22-24 November. 
Clarion South conveners, Grace Dugan and Kate Elthem joined novelist Craig 
Bolland and academic Kathleen Jennings to discuss genre politics and if 
speculative fiction belonged in the gutter.

SCIENCE FICTION WEB SITE: Public Servant, occasional actor, computer whiz and 
long-time media fan, Paul Kennedy drew our attention to his very useful 
website at http://www.mountains.net.au/nval/scifi. A useful feature of this 
web site is a classifieds section where fans looking for, or selling. videos 
of hard-to-get TV shows can place their adds.

AWARD WINNING Romanian writer OVISU BUFNILA (moreaugarin@hotmail.com) has sent 
us a short story called "Slow Universe".

WHOVENTION have announced that PETER DAVIDSON is also attending as GOH (See 
full details under "Conventions")

TASMANIAN READERS AND WRITERS FESTIVAL will feature resident Tasmanian spec 
fic writers Dirk Flinthart and Tansy Rayner Roberts as well as Sean Williams, 
Cory Daniells, Marianne De Pierres and Maxine McArthur. The Festival will take 
place in March, 2003. (Details supplied by Tansy Rayner Roberts)

ALAN STEWART continues to confound us by covering the events of two years in 
one fanzine. Maybe that's why it's called THYME?  Issue 135 spanning Nov 2001 
to Nov 2002 arrived safely,

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRSTMAS:
CLUB MEETINGS AND EVENTS

MSFC. The Melbourne science Fiction Club meets most Friday nights 8-11pm at 
St David's Church Hall, 74 Melville Rd, West Brunswick,  Friday 6th Dec, BBQ 
night.

STARWALKING (Melb)  Christmas party on Dec. 7th,
Uniting Church, crn Doncaster East Rd & Whitehorse Rd, Mitcham, Vic. From 6.30 
pm. Adults $12 (Children under 15 $7)

MSFC: Friday 13th December . Last official meeting for the year.

MSFC  Sar 14th Dec from noon onwards, Christmas Party at Fairfield Park, 
Fairfield. BYO everything, especially sunscreen.

ENTERPRISE This Victorian-based Star Trek fan club will wind up after 8 active 
years with a BBQ Christmas party in Cheltenham Park, Cheltenham, Vic on Sat 
14th December. More details at www.vicnet.net.au/~enterprise/ (reported on The 
Comm Centre)

MULTIVERSE EVENTS: You can reserve tickets by emailing 
tickets@multiverse.org.au then check http://www.multiverse.org.au

THE LORD OF THE RINGS : THE TWO TOWERS Thurs 26 December. 7pm Hoyts Chadstone
Chadstone shopping Centre, Melb.  Two sorts of seats available: LaPremier 
Seats ($21.50) offers wide seats, unlimited tea, coffee, coke and popcorn) and 
standard seats ($12.50. Children $9.50)
STAR TREK:NEMESIS:Premier January 16th, 2003.

MSFC MEETINGS 2003. Friday 10th January, informal dinner and discussion at 
Yarraville Hotel, Yarraville from 7pm.  Friday 17th January, First official 
MSFC meeting doe 2003 in St David's Hall, West Brunswick. (Thanks to James 
Allen for MSFC details.)

STARWARS, THE MAGIC OF MYTH EXHIBITION. Powerhouse Museum, Sydney until Feb 2, 
2003.Displaying costumes, props, models and 2 full-sized ships from Ep. 2 Visit
http://www.phm.gov.au for full details.

BOOKS & PERIODICALS

"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to 
read" - Groucho Marx

AUSTRALIEN ABSURDITIES ALMOST SOLD OUT! Chuck McKenzie and Tansy Rayner 
Roberts recently announced via e-mail that the AustrAlien Absurdities: 
anthology (published by Agog! Press, May 2002) has almost sold out. There are 
no plans to do a second print run  Remaining stock (approx 40 copies) still 
available for purchase. Postal orders may be directed to C. McKenzie, PO Box 
87A, South Strathfield, NSW 2136. $24 including postage  ($19.95 + $1 postage 
for each copy after the first), cheques and money-orders payable to 'C. 
McKenzie'.
Copies are also available from specialty bookshops including Slow Glass 
(Melb), Infinitas & Galaxy (Syd), Ellison Hawker (Tas) and Pulp Fiction (Bris)

AUREALIS ISSUE 30 is now available. Published in October, it features fiction 
by Mina Athanasopoulos, Jeremy Davies, Neil Halliday, George Ivanoff, Trent 
Jamieson, Maxine MacArthur, Helen Patrice, Cat Sparks, Brian Herbert and Kevin 
J. Anderson. Non-fiction by Bill Congreve, Sarah Endacott & Anthony Oakman, 
Anthony Fordham,  Van Ikin and Lucy Sussex. Check the Aurealis website 
www.sf.org.au/aurealis for subscription details. (Reported on Coode St, Review).

ANTIPODEAN SF issue 55 featuring short, short stories from Steve Duffy, Brent 
Lillie, Nigel P. Read, Trent Jamieson, Cat Sparks, Eleanor Reed, Edward 
Vesterberg, David McAlinden, Dennis Taillefer and Sheri Huber can be viewed at 
http://purl.nla.gov.ai/NET?antisf/ or

ZEERA TURNS 1. Sydney based science fiction author Naomi Hatchman (who has 
appeared in Eidolon, Aurealis, and  the anthology "Passing Strange") has an 
online comic strip called 'Zeera: the Space Pirate'. It has just celebrated 
it's first birthday and is still going strong. Check it out to
see contributions from various people, including the two week alternative 
Zeera  storyline by Sydney based author Ben Peek, which spends time making fun 
of Kenny Baker, Star Trek, producers, and midgets in general. Link: 
http://zeera.keenspace.com.

SONYA HARTNETT has won the Guardian's Children's Fiction Prize for her YA 
novel, Thursdays Child. The same novel was awarded the Aurealis Award in 2000 
in the YA category.

FOLCC BOOK SALES. The Friends of Linda Cox Chan has sold its first book ($2) 
to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes! The following are still looking for 
homes:(NB: All prices quoted will include postage. Discounts if you buy more 
than 1 item. Crux Vol 4, features Michael Hailstone, Eric Harries Harris, Paul 
Collins, Rick Kennett $3, New Eyes Vol 1, features Robert Luxford, Peter 
Jones, Steven Crawley $3, New Eyes Vol 2, features Geoffrey Maloney, Robert 
Luxford, $3, Under Magellenic Clouds 2, features Geoffrey Maloney, Elvis 
Gladztone, Ken Rawlinson $3

CHUCK MCKENZIE, (who has never let Juvenile Diabetes stand in the way of his 
dreams) has kindly donated an autographed copy of his humorous SF novel, 
WORLDS APART to the book sale. We're offering it for $10, including postage 
within Australia.(This would make a great Christmas present!)

TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS has offered an autographed copy of her books SPLASHDANCE 
SILVER  and LIQUID GOLD. (Both now out of print and hard to get). $10 each 
including postage within Australia. (More good ideas for Christmas!)

To buy these items, or if you want to donate a book to the scheme e-mail 
Edwina Harvey at edwinafan@yahoo.com. Or snail mail to 12 Flinders St, 
Matraville, 2036. So far we've raised $2

BOOKSHOP NEWS

GALAXY BOOKSHOP (222 Clarence St Sydney) In case I'm not the last person in 
Sydney to know this, Galaxy should be moving to new premises just a few doors 
down from Abbey's Bookshop in York St either in early or late December, (i.e. 
to work around the Christmas rush.) (From Edwina who heard it while standing 
in a long queue at the Terry Pratchett book signings recently. Three cheers 
for the Galaxy staff who kept the queue fed and watered!)

INFINITAS BOOKSHOP (Shop 5 No. 1 Horwood Place Parramatta, 
infinitas@bigpond.com):
Infinitas has a discussion group which meets at 7pm on the first Thursday of 
the month at about 7 pm. Infinitas also has a writers' group led by Bill 
Congreve. You can email Bill Congreve at the Infinitas email address.

SLOW GLASS BOOKS Formerly of 305 Swanston Street Melbourne, 3000 Vic. Slow 
Glass is now being run as a mail-order shop. For a catalogue write to GPO Box 
2709X, Melbourne Vic, 3001 or see www.slowglass.com.au.

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.

OTHER BOOK SHOPS: We are keen to report news from other SF bookshops around 
Australia, as the Bullsheet is read Australia-wide..


HATCH, MATCH AND 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

BIRTHS:

JACOB LEO WESSELY was born at 6.58 pm on Tuesday November 12, 2002, First 
child to Tehani Croft and David Wessely. (Tehani balanced expecting Jakob with 
editing Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Issue 4, which is due out a few 
weeks after the baby was -Edwina)

DEATHS:

JONATHAN HARRIS: The flamboyantly fussy actor who portrayed the dastardly, 
cowardly antagonist Dr. Zachary Smith on the 1960's  sci-fi show "Lost in 
Space," died from a blood clot in his heart while receiving therapy for a 
chronic back problem. He was 87.

Harris also worked with Pixar Animation Studios in recent years, supplying the 
voice of Manny the preying-mantis magician in "A Bug's Life" and the elderly 
doll repairman in "Toy Story 2."

CHARLES SHEFFIELD:  SF author Charles Sheffield, born 1935, died on 3rd 
November of brain cancer. More about Charles Sheffield on the SFWA site at 
http://www.sfwa.org/news/sheffield.htm. (From Locus Online news log for 3 
November 2002)

JOHN MEREDYTH LUCAS, who wrote for classic television series such as the 
original Star Trek,  Night Gallery, Planet of the Apes and the Six Million 
Dollar Man, as well as movies and documentaries, died on October 19 in Los 
Angeles of leukaemia. He was 83 (Reported on The Comm Centre.).

CONDOLANCES to James (Jocko) Allen, whose father passed away on 8th November. 
James' father was instrumental in finding the MSFC its current home in the St 
David's church hall in West Brunswick when it had to find new premises for 
meetings in the 1980s.

AILING:

ANDRE NORTON is reported to be gravely ill. She was admitted to hospital and 
her spirits are low. Please send cards and letters to  Andre Norton, 114 
Eventide Drive Murfreesboro TN 37130  You may send e-cards to  Andre Norton 
e-mail Address: highhallack@mindspring.com.
 (The webmaster received this from Joyce Scrivner, though it was apparently 
ultimately sourced from the newsgroup rec.arts.filk)

RECOVERING:

DAMIEN WARMAN is recovering from a recent operation to remove a tumour. 
Updates on his welfare are being posted by Bruce Gillespie via Eidolist and 
Eastcoasts, and can also be found on
www.livejournal.com/users/sambushell/

CONVENTIONS

GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be announced.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 17.  Stargate. Jan 11-12. See www.bobw.com.au or phone 02 
6259 1619 for full details.

TASCAPE 2003: Annual BBQ for FarScape fans. Maroubra Beach 12.00pm, 19 January 
2003 (but events also on Saturday 18 January): Free, but raffle tickets sold 
to pay for meat. No guarantees, but some of the cast and crew have been 
invited and may attend. Check http://www.magicmonster.com/FAM/fam.html for 
full details, or contact Debbie Phali, wizards_of_oz4@hotmail.com

ROSWELL CONVENTION January18th & 19th 2003. Tickets $77 for one day or $142 
for both days. Contact convention@austr-alien.com or write to   PO Box 1569 
North Ryde NSW 2113

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 18.  Feb 15-16 . GoHs Kevin Sorbo, Lisa Ryder, Sean 
McMullen, Ian Irvine. http://www.bobw.com.au, e-mail alc@bobw.com.au or phone 
02 6259 1619

20th ANNIVERSARY The A-TEAM CONVENTION.  Maech 1-2 2003, Bournemouth, England, 
TML is a nonprofit organization. More information at the website: 
http://www.actionreplay2003.com

WHOVENTION 2003 4th - 6th April, 2003. The Carlton Crest Hotel,  169-179 
Thomas St, Sydney (Close to Central Station) Family, concession and childrens 
rates available. Discounts for DWCA members  Check Bullsheet web page or 
http://www.dwca.org.au/whovention/2003 for full details.Make cheques and money 
orders payable to "Whovention" (not Whovention: 2003). Send payments to: 
Whovention: 2003 Membership  PO Box 148 Gladesville NSW   Please provide a 
photocopy of age/concession card for child/concession Please note that due to 
mail box collection and banking co-ordination it may take up to 2 weeks for 
your cheque to be presented.
GOH's: FIFTH DOCTOR PETER DAVISON  Peter has also ppeared on All Creatures 
Great and Small, A Very Peculiar Practice and At Home with the Braithwaites. 
Also WENDY PADBURY  *Zoe Herriott, one of the most popular companions),: Jason 
Haigh-Ellery (producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who and Benny audios)

EMOTICON 2003 New Zealand's NatCon, Auckland Dates: 18th - 21st April 2003 
(Easter weekend).Three confirmed literary guests: Diane Duane, Peter Morwood 
and Lois McMaster Bujold. The committee is also looking for a media guest and 
have confirmed Mary Maclachlan as the Fan Guest of Honour.  Email: 
enquiries@emoticon.sf.org.nz or write to Malcolm Fletcher, Consultant DBA SQL 
Services Ltd, 104-106 Customs St West, PO Box 3631, Auckland. Website: 
http://www.emoticon.sf.org.nz/

SWANCON 2003 (Swancon 28). 17-21 April. Kings Hotel, Perth. GoHs Lynn Flewelling
& Tony Shillitoe. Details at http://www.swancon.com. It's also the Natcon.

GENGHIS CON 2  For more info as it comes to hand, keep watching 
http://www.genghiscon.org/. The organisers can be contacted at 
shadowmint@mailcity.com. They also have a forum which you can read about and 
join at http://www.genghiscon.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi.

CSF CON III No details as yet, Best guess for the time seems to be some time 
in May 2003.

TORCON III The 61st World Science Fiction Convention will be held over August 
28-September 1, 2003 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. GsoH: George R. 
R. Martin, Frank Kelly Freas, Mike Glyer. Toastmaster: Spider Robinson and 
GoHst of Honour: Robert Bloch the spirit of Toronto Worldcons. Enquiries  P.O. 
Box 3,  Station A, Toronto,  Ontario Canada M5W 1A2
Attending Membership: $US115; Supporting Membership: $US40; Email: 
info@torcon3.on.ca
Website: http://www.torcon3.on.ca

CHRONOPOLIS - Swancon 29 Perth, Western Australia  Easter weekend Thu 8 to Mon 
12th April 2004 Shay Telfer, Convenor Details to follow.

CONFLUX  http://www.conflux.org.au  43rd Australian National Science Fiction 
Convention, 23-26 April 2004. Guests of Honour: Award winning authors Greg 
Benford and Sean McMullen. Fan Guest of Honour: Karen Herkes Panels, workshops 
and other activities focus on science fiction, fantasy and horror themes. Also 
role-play gaming, live SF oriented theatre, dealers' room, art show and 
filking. Special events include the Ditmar Awards (Australian SF achievement 
awards) and an Anzac Day dawn service. Cost: currently $110. Children and 
students at reduced rates. Instalment plan available. A deposit of $20 secures 
you the current rate. Voting membership only $5. Contact: all enquiries should 
be directed to:info@conflux.org.au.Postal Address: PO Box 903,  Belconnen, ACT 
2616 Tel: 0418 540 160; Fax: 02 6242 5776
Convenor: Vanessa Jacobsen - email: saxifrage10@yahoo.com.au. Publicity 
Manager: Rose Mitchell - email: mitchell@vicnet.net.au.

CONTOUR 2004 May 31 to June 3 2004, Rotorua. Proposed as New Zealand's 25th 
National Science Fiction Convention. Email: enquiries@contour.sf.org.nz.

INTERACTIONS: 63rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION, GLASGOW, 2005. A UK-led 
team has successfully bid to host the World Science Fiction Convention 
("Worldcon"), the premier international science fiction event. 4-8 August 
2005. Guests of honour will be award-winning authors Christopher Priest, 
Robert Sheckley and Jane Yolen, critic and fanzine editor
Greg Pickersgill and veteran Scandinavian fan Lars-Olov Strandberg. Membership 
for the weekend costs £75 or $115 until Easter 2003: write to Interaction at 
UK: 379 Myrtle Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S2 3HQ    
USA: PO Box 58009, Louisville, Kentucky 40268-0009
email info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk or see our website at 
www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk for further details.

TASMANIA BID FOR 2005 NATCON: Tansy Rayner Roberts wrote: We have a yahoo! 
list, so people can email me (tansy@tansyrr.com) or Monissa (ladym@sff.net) if 
they want to be part of the Thylacon 2005 experience.

SYNCON 200?. Ted Scribner recently called for expressions of interest in a 
Syncon (Sydney SF convention possibly to be held in 2006. If you're interested 
in making this idea a reality contact Ted at krenon@optushome.com.au , or 
browse at http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/SynconPro1.html.

OTHER USEFUL LINKS: Marc Ortlieb has many useful links on his SF page at: 
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/

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.

Australian Writers Web maintained by Tony Plank can be found at 
http://www.netspace.net.au/~splints/index.html

The deadline for submission of material for inclusion in the January Bullsheet 
(#10) is 25th December. Send your news e-mail to edwinafan@yahoo.com, or 
snailmail to  Edwina Harvey
  c/- 12 Flinders St,  Matraville NSW, 2036.

N.B. SNAIL-MAILER BULLSHEET SUBSCRIBERS: The January Issue of Bull may arrive 
a little late, unless of course it arrives a bit early, or possibly we'll 
surprise you all and it will arrive on time! :-). (No radical changes 
expected for e-mail subscribers, hangovers permitting)

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a joyous holiday 
season, and a safe and peaceful new year.

Visit Celestial Cobbler for all your specialist ceramics needs:: 
http://members.optushome.com.au/guests/Cobbler.html.

For regular updates to the Bullsheet see 
http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/bullsheet.html  or the mirror site at 
http://www.geocities.com/edwinafan
You can also get a free direct e-mail subscription by sending a request to 
edwinafan@yahoo.com.

For people with restricted or no internet access, or who prefer the printed 
paper format, annual snail mail subscriptions are available within Australia 
for 20 x 50cent stamps (or $10) sent to Edwina Harvey  c/- 12 Flinders St 
Matraville NSW 2036 Australia (NB Auspost is increasing stamp prices in the 
New Year. Current snail mail subscribers, don't panic. There's no change to 
your current subscription.).

For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The 
Minneapolis in '73 WorldCon Bid!