The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 20 – November 2003
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 20
NOVEMBER 2003
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
AUTHORS AND THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES. Ted Scribner reported that
Larry Niven and his wife were told to evacuate when their house was
threatened by one of the fires sweeping southern California. They were
later able to return to their home, which was unaffected by the fires.
We suspect other authors living in the area may be similarly effected,
but haven't heard any other reports.
DING DONG, IT'S NOT AVON CALLING: Actor Paul Darrow, who played the
character Avon in the SF TV series, Blake's 7, has left the project to
revive the cult TV show, citing creative differences with others
working on the project. (Reported on the Comm Centre.).
MAKE IT SO? Actor Patrick Stewart and wife Wendy Neuss Stewart have
filed for seperation after 3 years of marriage. (Reported on the Comm
Centre.)
CLARION SOUTH has announced the 17 writers to take part in an intensive
6 week writing course in Jan-Feb 2004. The lucky participants are:
Chris Barnes, Zara Baxter, James Cain, Mathew Chrulew, Brenda Dibble,
Brendan Duffy, Sarah Endacott, Pail Haines, Karin Hannigan, Andrew
Macrea, Claire McKenna, Karen Miller, Tracey Rolfe, Cat Sparks, Alinta
Thornton, Wendy Waring & Kim Westwood. (Reported by Robert Hoge on the
Eidolist.)
CSFG, the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild has a new web site at
http://www.csfg.org.au
YOUNG TALENT TIME , an article by Sue Williams published in Sunday
Life, the Sun-Herald Magazine on Oct. 19, looks at Catherine
Smyth-McMullen's writing career, noting that she sold her first story
to a British SF magazine when she was 10 years old, making her one of
the youngest published writers in the world, and that she's had three
novels published to date at age 15. It also notes that her father Sean
suffers from "proud father syndrome."
ESTATE AGENT SELLING LAND ON THE MOON reports that Lunar Realty, a new
Melbourne real-estate agency, is selling one acre blocks on the moon
for $59 (room for a pony, but a heck of a way to commute - Edwina.) Due
to a loop-hole in the UN Outer Space Treaty 1967 which disallows any
country from owning the moon, but doesn't address ownership by
companies or individuals, Lunar Realty is selling the blocks on behalf
of the moon's apparent owner, Nevada Businessman, Dennis Hope. To date
2 million people have purchased real-estate on the moon, but that only
represents 4.5% of the lunar surface (so there's plenty of scope left
for lunar sprawl - Edwina.) The greater majority of people investing in
the lunar real-estate boom are purchasing them as gifts. Each lunar
landholder receives a land deed, certificate of mineral rights, lunar
maps with land co-ordinates and a lunar constitution. (Spotted on p. 3,
Domain: The Standard Real Estate Guide Liftout – The Standard, October
18. Reported by David L. Russell.)
JANICE GELB who won the DUFF (Down Under Fan Fund) and visited
Australia in 1999, will be making a return visit to our shores from
early December 03 until mid February 04. (Reported to Ted Scribner in
personal correspondance.)
CONFLUX, the national SF convention in Canberra in April 04 (q.v.
conventions) recently announced that Donna Hanson has taken over as
Chair from Vanessa Jacobsen. Vanessa had to step down due to work and
family commitments. Rates for advertising in the con book are also
available. E-mail www.conflux.org.au/advertise.htm for full details,
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark
to read"- Groucho Marx
ROBERT HEINLEIN proves that death is no object to being published, with
a new book ironically called "For Us the Living" being published in
November. This was the first novel Heinlein wrote, but has not been
previously published. (Reported on the Comm Centre.)
DARK ANIMUS AWARDS. Editor James Cain recently announced the Dark
Animus Awards to recognise best new fiction, poetry, interior
illustration and cover art in Dark Animus magazine. Winners will be
voted on by Dark Animus subscribers. Issue 5 of Dark Animus is due to
be released in November. Check www.darkanimus.com for more details.
(Reported by James Cain on the Eidolist)
ELSEWHERE: The latest anthology from the CSFG was launched on Sat 18
October. Copies available from - Box 89, ACT 2615. Cost $16.95
including postage and handling. A sample story from Stuart Barrow can
be seen at http://csfg.org.au/widdershinsla.htm.
ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE has changed printers with issue
9, due out soon.
SUPERLUMINAL 1 is a new SF anthology seeking submissions from
Australian writers. Stories should be strongly SF, with no fantasy
elements. Looking for vivid characters and settings, strong plots and
interesting themes. Stories between 3,000 and 30,000 words considered.
Payment .5 cent per worg, paid on publication. Reading from November
2005 to October 2004 only. Send stories as Rich Text Format to
superluminal1@bigpond.com The anthology will be launched at Swancon
2005. Queries to Nigel Read at the same e-mail address.
SFSA Magazine 14 is open for submissions on the theme "Fantasy and
Science Fiction: Bizarre yet amicable bedfellows" until 6th December.
Publication Date 20th December. Send submissions to editor@sfsa.org.au
or PO Box 3227, Rundle Mall, SA 5000 (reported by Martin Dunne.)
XUAN XUAN and MOSHI MOSHI were featured magazines in a 2 page article
on Australian doujinshi publications in the October issue of Newstype
magazine.
ANTIPODEAN SF ISSUE 65 at http://www.antisf.com. Features short-short
stories, (500 words) by Sean Williams, Kaz Hannigan, Vanessa Crosby,
Angus Glashier, Shaun A. Saunders, Karl Nicholas, Chris Barnes, Kim
Kickbusch and Five Two.
NO AWARD FOR CHRISTMAS: Russell B. Farr, editor of No Award is looking
for submissions on the theme of what you want for Christmas and if
you've been naughty or nice until Nov 23 for his publication, No Award,
Christmas edition, which "promises to be cheaper than a lap dance in
Lapland." You can send contributions to rustle@iinet.net.au
GEGENSCHEIN 97: Eric Lindsay's latest offering features a report of a
recent trip to Sydney, many short book reviews (of non-SF books) and
Letters of Comment. Available at
http://www.ericlindsay.com/sf/geg97.htm
FOLCC BOOK SALES. The "Friends of Linda Cox Chan" aim to raise money to
donate to Juvenile Diabetes Research, Australia by selling donated
books. Many thanks to Geoff Allshorn who recently donated $20 to the
FOLCC fund in Linda's memory. Our tally for the year is currently $30.
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.
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,
"Grunts" by Mary Gentle, "Arthur" and "Merlin" by Stephen Lawhead, "Gun
with Occasional Music" by Jonathan Lethem, "Hell on High" by Holly
Lisle, "Daggerspell" and "Darkspell" by Katharine Kerr, "Phule's
Company", "Phule's Paradise" and "The Cold Cash War" by Robert Asprin,
"Echoes of the Great Song" (Lg Trade Paperback), "An Echo In Time" and
"The Ancient Future" by Traci Harding, "Silver Wolf" by Alice
Borchardt, "This is the Way the World Ends" by James Morrow, and "Buck
Alice and the Actor Robot" by Walter Koenig. $6 each, including postage
within Australia. Discounts for buying more than one book.. Thanks to
Anne Devrell, Julie Townsend, James Allen and David L. Russell for
donating the above books. To buy books e-mail Edwina Harvey at
edwinafan@yahoo.com or snail mail Edwina, c/- 12 Flinders St,
Matraville, NSW 2036.
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.
have author Jennifer Fallon in the shop from noon on Friday 21st
November. (Reported by David Lynton, Galaxy Bookshop.)
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, presumably sharing the
same premises at Farenheit?) Ph 03 9600 4674, e-mail
crimeink@bigpond.com Offer a monthly catalogue, happy to do mail order
requests.
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.
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
CONFLUX, The National SF Convention, Canberra, April, 2004, has
announced a writing competition. The competition will open on Jan 1,
2004, closing Feb 28 2004. Open theme, all areas of speculative fiction
–horror, SF & fantasy - welcome, 3,000 words maximum. Winning entry to
be published in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. Entry to the
competition is free to members of the convention, and $5 for
non-members. For more information e-mail conflux@nicolermurphy.com, or
by snail mail PO Box 85, Sussex Inlet, NSW 2540. (Reported by Mark
Loney)
PETER MCNAMARA ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: Nominations are now being accepted
for the 2003 Mac Awards. The nominees need to have contributed to the
development and support of SF in Australia or overseas. Nominations to
date include Sean Williams, Sean Williams and Shane Dix, Shaun Tan,
Jack Dann & Bruce Gullespie. Nominations should be sent to this year's
judge, Richard Harland, Richard@richardharland.net. Any cash donations
towards the awards also gratefully accepted. Reported by Jason Bleckly
on the Eidolist. (No closing date for nominations mentioned in the
e-mail.).
NAFF: The fourth National Australian Fan Fund to assist fans travelling
across Australia to attend the National SF Convention is now open to
assist the winning fan's travelling expenses to Conflux, the Natcon in
Canberra in 2004. To be on the NAFF ballot, each interested fan must be
nominated by 3 other fans, including at least one from their
state/territory and provide a bond of $20. Each nominated fan is
required to provide a 100 word description of what they could bring to
interstate fans and their fannish history. Nominations can be sent to
NAFF at PO Box 241, Flinders Lane Post Boxes, Melbourne Vic. 8009, or
given in person to Sue Ann Barber or Alison Barton (Vic) or Emma Hawkes
(WA). They can also be contacted via e-mail albarton27@hotmail.com.
Nominations must be received by Friday 28th November, 2003. Voting will
be open from the following Friday until 29 February, 2004. Please make
cheques payable to NAFF, National Australian Fan Fund. You must provide
contact details for the nominee and at least one nominator. (Thanks to
Thomas Bull for the updated version of the above.)
GUFF: (The Going Under Fan Fund, or alternatively the Get Up- Over Fan
Fund, depending on what year it's being run.) The two contenders for
the 2004 GUFF race from the UK to Australia are Doug Bell and Pat
McMurray. You can find out more information and download voting forms
from http://www.ericlindsay.com/guff/index.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
DEATHS:
WILLIAM STEIG author/illustrator of Shrek and The Magic Pebble died at
the age of 95. (Reported on the SCWBI newsletter, 6 October.)
HAL CLEMENT (aka HARRY STUBBS) Sf author was reported to have died
around 29th Ocotober (confirmed by Tor Publishers.) Reported to the
Eidolist by Ted Scribner.
CLUBS & MEETINGS
MELBOURNE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB, 74 Melville Road, West Brunswick
3055.Meet most Friday nights. Meetings for November: Nov 7th, Food
Night – Italian. Nov 14 Market Night, Nov 21 Dr Who panel on40th
Anniversary. Nov 28th, panel on The Outer Limits.
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.
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 on January 1 2004. The regular club meeting is held at the
Adelaide High School from 3pm-10pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month.
Nov. 15 meeting theme: "40 years of Dr Who." Costs $3 members, $4
non-members. On December 20th tfrom 11.30am there will be a picnic at
The Botanic Park (opposite the Wine Centre) moving to the Hope Valley
Scout Hall for a video marathon after 4.30 pm. A social gathering is
held on the first Saturday of each month. In December it will be held
at The Rex Hotel, 172 Richmond Rd, Marleson. Phone 8443 8188 or see
http://www.sfsa.org.au/ for full details. (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. Meeting Nov
21st and December 19th. 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: Convenor Brad Row will be absent from
September to December. New meeting arrangements will be posted to the
web site http://members.optushome.com.au/aussff/Southern_SF&F.html.
EVENTS
MULTIVERSE EVENTS: Upcoming Multiverse movie premiers Thursday, 6th
November, 1am and 7.30 pm, MATRIX REVOLUTION. Hoyts, Chadstone. (The
1a0 showing is part of a global simultaneous premier.) $10.50 adults,
$8.50 children. Nov 13th Alien, the Director's Cut. 7.30 pm, Hoyts,
140 Bourke St, Melbourne. Underworld ,December 8th, Hoyts, 140 Bourke
St, Melbourne.
You can reserve tickets by emailing tickets@multiverse.org.au then
check http://www.multiverse.org.au.
CONVENTIONS
GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be
announced.
BOBW 20 (?) STARGATE CONVENTION. 14-16 November. The Rydges Lakeside
Hotel, Canberra. GoH's Michael Shanks, Dan Shea, Douglas Arthurs and
Peter Williams. (OCP) Memberships from $135 Check Best of Both Worlds
web site, www.bobw.com.au
FoSF LORD OF THE RINGS CON. Sat 22 November, Lidcombe Catholic Club.
GoH John Rhys-Davies.(Gimli/ Treebeard, LOTR) (OCP) Costs: FoSF Members
$80, Non-members $98. Phone Bookings 02 9523-8385, on-line bookings:
www.fsf.com.au
INTENSICON http://www.intensicon.tk/: a one day gaming con held at
Melbourne University in December.
CHRONOPOLIS - Swancon 29 Perth, Western Australia. Easter weekend Thu 8
to Mon 12th April 2004
Venue: Parmelia Hilton. GoH's: Chris Dickinson, John Long. Fan GoH:
Emma Hawkes. Shay Telfer, Convenor.
CONFLUX www.conflux.org.au 43rd Australian National Science Fiction
Convention, 23-26 April 2004.
Guests of Honour: Greg Benford and Sean McMullen. Special Guest, Harry
Turtledove. Fan GOH's Karen Herkes UPDATES: Rose Mitchell recently
reporterted that details for the Conflux art show and a short story
competition will soon be posted on the convention web site. Attending
membership currently $143. Students (including secondary school
students) and Concession rates: $77. Primary school students and
younger admitted free. Supporting memberships $44. rates. All enquiries
should be directed to: info@conflux.org.au. Postal Address: PO Box
903, Belconnen, ACT 2616. (Please note that the Anzac Day weekend is a
long weekend –i.e. Holiday Monday – in all states of Australia except
Victoria and Tasmania.)
CONTOUR 2004 New Zealand's 25th National Science Fiction Convention.
REVISED DATES: Easter 2004, not May 31 to June 3 2004 as previously
published. GoH's Harry Turtledove & Greg Benford. Princes Gate Hotel &
Rotorua Convention Centre, Rotorua. Attending membership $70(NZ$) or
$40 (NZ) supporting. Web site http://contour.sf.org.nz. Email:
enquiries@contour.sf.org.nz. PO Box 74-93 Market Rd, Auckland, New
Zealand.
CONSENSUALITY – Swancon XXX. Perth, WA. Easter 2005. Conveners 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.) Supporting
membership currently available for $25 until 30 July, rising to $35
after then. (Supporting memberships can be upgraded to attending
memberships at any time for the price of attending membership when the
supporting membership was purchased.) Attending membership $95
(Children under 12 $35) For membership forms e-mail
afinch@tassie.net.au, 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. Their web site is
http://www.thylacon.com.
NB the first issue of "TIGER TRACKS," the Thylacon newsletter was sent
out to members on 9th August
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
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, (Send a
request to edwinafan@yahoo.com) 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.
NEXT BULLSHEET: The deadline for submission of material for inclusion
in the December Bullsheet (2I) is 25th November. 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
^^ HAPPY HALLOWEEN ^^