The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 45 – December 2005
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 45
December 2005
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
THE ENGINES CANNA TAKE IT, CAPTAIN! The launch that was to lift
cremated remains of Star Trek actor, James (Scotty) Doohan, along
with the ashes of 120 others into space on 6th December has been
delayed until early 2006 as the rocket had engine problems. (Reported
on news.com.au on 11 /11/05)
COMIC BUFFY: JOSS WHEDON recently told fans on the whedonesque.com
fan web site that the story of Buffy would continue as a comic series
which he would be writing, to be published by Dark Horse. Whedon is
also working on a telemovie featuring Spike (James Marsters), though
Marsters currently has a recurring role in Smallville. (Reported on
SF Weekly, 15th Nov. Relayed by Julie Townsend.)
THE PRISONER REMAKE: UK's Sky One is said to be planning a new series
based on "The Prisoner" to be written by Bill Gallagher who wrote the
original 17 episodes. The new version would "take liberties with the
original and would not retain its arty feel" (Reported on SF Weekly,
23 November. Relayed by Julie Townsend.)
ELLEN DATLOW's highly regarded scifi.com has been axed from the SciFi
channel. Anyone wanting to can comment on this action at
feedback@scifi.com (reported by Cat Sparks on the Visions list.)
CONJURE, the National SF convention to be held in Brisbane next
Easter (q.v.) recently announced that you can now pay your membership
securely on-line (conjure.org.au)
Spectrum FM Radio (Melbourne) Presents the following CD' for sale:
Continuum 3 Speculative Fiction & Pop Culture Convention 2005, The
Great Debate - Humans Are Unnatural Creatures, and Australian Female
Fantasy Authors available online now at
http://www.spectrumfmradio.org/catalogue.htm
FIONA McINTOSH, and TRUDI CANAVAN were interviewed about their new
books on Spectrum FM in November.
ASif (Australian Specfic in Focus) was launched on 30th November at
www.asif.dreamhosters.com/doku.php. The site aims to review
Australian SF, fantasy and horror books, short stories, magazines and
comics. With over 20 reviewers, lead by Executive Editor, Alisa
Krasnostein, each piece is reviewed twice, so readers get two
opinions to help them decide their reading selection. For the next
month visitors to this site can join in an online treasure hunt
offering great prizes (including Andromeda Spaceways pens). (Reported
by Alisa Krasnostein)
The January issue of Bullsheet (46) may be a few days late for snail-
mail subscribers only due to holidays.
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too
dark to read"- Groucho Marx
CONGRATULATIONS TO KATE ELTHAM who was recently appointed as new
Executive Director of the Queensland Writers Centre.
CONGRATS TO LEIGH BLACKMORE who recently had a fantasy poem
called "Vale of the Voluptuous" published at
www.elderitchdark.com/trib/prosep/vale_of_the_voluptuous.htm
SONNY WHITELAW had 3 novels published earlier this year: The Rhesus
Factor, a SF/ecothriller, published by Double Dragon (Canada,)ISBN: 1-
55404-225-9 Available through Amazon.com. RRP paperback US$16.99,
also available as an E-book ISBN:1-55404-237-2 through ereader,
fictionwise and at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?
ISBN=1-55404-237-2 RRP ebook US$5.99
Ark Ship, Science Fiction. Double Dragon ISBN: 1-55404-228-3
available through Amazon.com, RRP paperback US$18.99. E-book ISBN: 1-
55404-209-7 Available at ereader, fictionwise and
dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?ISBN=1-55404-209-7 RRP ebook US$5.99
Stargate SG-1 City of the Gods SF Published by Fandemonium UK under
license to MGM ISBN:0-9547343-3-5 Available through Galaxy (Sydney)
Infinitas (Parramatta) and Amazon.co.uk RRP UKP5.99. Galaxy is
selling it for A$21.95 (Apologies to Sonny for not publishing this
information in last month's Bull – Edwina )
AUSTRALIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION: A GENRE OVERVIEW was launched on 25th
November in Canberra. There has not been a work dedicated to
documenting the local SF scene since Paul Collins edited The MUP
Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy in 1998, and
Strange Constellations: A History of Australian Science Fiction by
Russell Blackford, Van Ikin and Sean McMullen was published by
Greenwood Press in 1999. These days `speculative fiction' means more
than just science fiction, fantasy, and horror; it has come to
include cross-genre writing such as science fiction/romance, science
fantasy, SF/detective fiction, dark fantasy, and sub-genres such as
steam punk, cyberpunk, military sf, paranormal romance, space opera.
The Overview uses a journalistic approach to explore what's currently
available and who's publishing what in Australian speculative
fiction. Copies of Australian Speculative Fiction: A Genre Overview
is available at Dymocks Belconnen and Gaslight Fyshwick (ACT) or on
www.austspecualtiveficiton.com.au (Reported by Donna Hanson) (This
sounds like it would make a good Christmas present! - Edwina)
CHUCK MCKENZIE's new book, "Confessions of a Pod Person" is a 160
page collection of short stories published through MirrorDanse books.
ISBN 0975785214, $18.95. See rasa.info/MirrorDanse/PodPerson.html
ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS Issue 21 will have a delayed publication date due
to unavoidable difficulties. In the meantime, if you're thinking of
buying an ASIM T-shirt or mug for someone for Christmas, you can see
them at http://members.optushome.com.au/guests/Cobbler.html. Photos
of the new ASIM pens should be up soon. Edwina.
ANTIPODEAN SF No. 90 featuring short, short stories (500 words) from
Phillip A. Ellis, Meg Fox,Peter Geary, Jason Fischer, Shaun A
Saunders, Siohban Bailey, Jackie Hosking, Paul Madill, Matthew
Sanborn Smith, Elaine Cassell, can be seen at http://www.antisf.com
or http://purl.nla.gov.au/NET/antisf/
SPECUSPHERE: The November issue featuring articles, reviews details
of a new King Kong game, and short fiction by Barry Rosenberg, can be
viewed at http://www.specusphere.com/files/mag.asp They're also
currently looking for poems. Reported by Stephen Thompson on the
Visions list.
Angela Challis and Marty Young are looking for submissions of "the
darkest, most disturbing horror story. ...horror in its rawest form –
the unsettling, the terrifying, " for 'Macabre - The New Era in
Australian Horror.' Anthology.Reading from 1 October 2005 to 31 March
2006. Open to Australian citizens and residents only. Full details on
how to submit can be found at
http://www.shadowedrealms.com.au/macabre/
BILL CONGREVE and MICHELLE MARQUARDT are calling for writers
interested in having their work considered for the second volume
of "The Year's Best Australian SF & Fantasy." Any story up to 20,000
words written by an Australian citizen published during 2005 is
eligible. Reprints only. Send hardcopy submissions to MirrorDanse
books, PO Box 3542, Parramatta, NSW, 2124.
MERV BINNS perzine, Out of the Bin is available from PO Box 315,
Carnegie, Vic, 3163.
The latest RAVEN BOOKS catalogue offering horror, dark fantasy and
occult books is available via e-mail lvxnox@iinet.net.au.
FRIENDS OF LINDA COX CHAN (FOLCC) raise money to donate to Juvenile
Diabetes Research, Australia by selling donated books etc. (Tally
$10.60 ) Books looking for new homes: "Dr Who: The Scripts, Galaxy 4"
by William Emms. "Licence Denied: Rumblings from the Dr Who
Underground" (new) edited by Paul Cornell, "The Truth About Magic" by
Dave Luckett (new), "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (new)
and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", JK Rowling, "Arthur"
and "Merlin" by Stephen Lawhead. Audiobook: "Journey to the Centre
of the Earth" by Jules Verne featuring John de Lancie and Leonard
Nimoy., also a Dukes of Hazard Play and Read record, and A-Team
colouring and activity books: Art cards autographed by Marianne
Plumridge and Bob Eggleton are also for sale. See images of the
available cards on the Bullsheet website. To buy items 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 and paypal. Why not give a gift that gives twice this
Christmas? (Thanks to Anne Devrell for the new titles.)
HATCH, MATCH AND DISPATCH
DEATHS:
SF author MICHAEL CONEY, who wrote Mirror Image and The Hero of
Downways, died of asbestos-induced lung cancer in British Columbia on
5th November. (Reported from Locus Online relayed via Spectrum Radio
newsletter editor, John Weeks.)
American Blake's 7 fan JOYCE BOWEN passed away in early October.
(Reported by Anne Devrell.)
CLUBS & MEETINGS
MELBOURNE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB, Meet most Friday nights at 74
Melville Road, West Brunswick 3055.Membership to the MSFC is $25
single, or $35 family p.a. For further details on the MSFC see
www.vicnet.net.au/~msfc. Meetings: 2 December: Food and trivia
night. Yuletide delights and Christmas trivia, 9 December: Christmas
function. To be announced. Check the MSFC website.
CANBERRA SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays
of the month. It's a relaxed social society for the discussion of SF
and fantasy. Membership $24 p.a. For more info write to CSFS PO Box
47, Civic Square, ACT 2608, or e-mail canberrascifi@hotmail.com.
SPACED OUT: a science fiction club for gays, lesbians and associated
communities. $5 joining fee, then $20 annual membership. ($15
concession.) to Spaced 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 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 MECHANICS' SCHOOL OF ARTS at 280 Pitt St, Sydney, regularly
holds a members reading group for Mystery and Crime, Romance and
Science Fiction and Fantasy. Next meeting on 10th December. The
groups start with Mystery and Crime at 10am and meander into SF (and
sometimes Romance, depending on demand) from 12 noon. Attendance at
the first meeting is free, but if you're interested in attending more
meetings, you are asked to join the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts.
(Annual fee rises to $15.50 in 2006?) This also entitles you to
borrowing rights at the School of Arts library.
SYDNEY FANS IN THE PUB. Meet on the first Tuesday of the month at the
Civic Hotel, Saloon Bar, Crn Pitt & Goulburn Sts, Sydney. From
6.30pm. (Reported by Zara Baxter.)
SYDNEY SOUTHERN SF&F GROUP Meetings Contact Brad Row ph 9580-4369 or
e-mail Brad_Row@agd.nsw.gov.au for full details.
SYDNEY FUTURIANS now affiliated with the Student Assoc of UTS.
Meetings in room 510C (5th floor) of The University of Technology,
Broadway, Sydney, at 7 pm. Next meeting: 16 December. Check
http://users.secsme.org.au/~futurians, or e-mail John.Fox@uts.edu.au
STARWALKING: 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. (Starwalking Melbourne
has Force 4 convention in May. q.v. conventions.)
EVENTS
MONSTERS! A display of Academy award winning special effects artist,
John Cox's monster models and animatronics is on show until March 06
at the Australian Museum, College St, Sydney. The exhibit will then
tour to other major cities around Australia. (Spotted by Edwina on
the ABC 7pm news, 27 Oct)
VISIONS Christmas Party will be held near the ferry terminal, at
Orleigh Park, West End, Brisbane from 10.30 am on December 4th. Bring
family and friends, and a plate of food to share. (Reported by Robert
Hoge on the Visions list.)
NEWCASTLE SPACE FRONTIER SOCIETY (NSFS) has a Christmas party and
viewing night on 3rd December, (e-mail nsfs@nssa.com.au for party
details. They weren't available on the web site when I checked -
Edwina) Its monthly meeting on 20th December from 7pm at the Joy
Cummings Community Centre. Cnr Scott & Pacific Sts, Newcastle. $2
admission. For more information see )
VORTEX: SF Events happening in Brisbane, can be found at
www.vortexevents.com
CONVENTIONS
GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be
announced.
HUB Productions (Melbourne & Sydney) 4 Feb 06 Sydney, Zenith Theatre,
Cnr Railway & McIntosh sts, Chatswood. 5 Feb Melbourne, Roadshow
Theatre, State Library, Latrobe St. GoH's: actor Jonathan Woodward
and director & Assoc producer, R.D Price. VIP $350, General $90,
Workshop with JD $30 Enquires 0402 267 541 or
carissa@thehubproductions.com, http://www.thehubproductions.com
SWANCON RENAISSANCE: 10-13 March, 2006. Acacia Hotel, Perth, WA.
Gohs: Mercedes Lackey, Larry Dizon & Danny Oz. Cost $100 (supporting
$35) see www.swancon.com for full details.
CONJURE. National SF convention, Brisbane, Easter, 14-17 April,
2006.GoHs Cory Doctrow, Bruce Sterling, Sean Williams, Jonathan
Strahan. Membership $200 until 27th February 2006. Student/Concession
and High School student discounts available. Children 12 and younger
free. Check their website www.conjure.org.au
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.
CONCLAVE: NZ National SF & Fantasy con. 2-5 June, 2006. Mount
Richmond Lodge, 576 Mt Wellington Hw, Mt Wellington, Auckland,
NZ.GoH's Joan Vinge, Jim Fenkel, Steve Jackson. Fan GoH Kevin
MacLean. Membership. NZ $70 until end of 2005. See
http://conclave.sf.org.nz for full details. (Thanks to Andrienne
Losin for passing on this information.)
CONFLUX 3: Queens Birthday Weekend, 9-12 June 2006. National Museum.
GoHs Ellen Datlow, Kate Forsyth, Sara Douglass and Jackie French.
Attending m/ship $145. See http://www.conflux.org.au or e-mail
info@conflux.org.au .PO Box 903 Belconnen, ACT 2616
Continuum. 4-6 August, 06. Venue TBA GoHs Shaun Tan, Charles
Stross, Margo Lanagan, Bruce Gillespie. Tickets:$65-$95 prior to 31
Dec 05. Website: http://www.continuum.org.au
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. Attending m/ship $225 ($au)
Conversion from supporting membership to attending, $165 (au)
Kids/supporting memberships $65. e-mail info@laconIV.org, Postal
address LA Con c/- S.C.I.F.I. inc, PO Box 8442, Van Nuys, CA, 91409. USA.
The International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (ICFA)
March 15-19, 2006, Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel. USA. GoH's:
Charles Vess, M. Thomas Inge, Kathleen Ann Goonan. Currently calling
for papers for their program. Please submit proposals by 30th
November. Themes covered include SF, Fantasy, Horror, Comics,
including Children's and YA lit.llustration. Look for Conference
Information and Updates at the IAFA website: http://www.iafa.org
(Originally announced by Dale Knickerbocker, relayed by Ted Scribner.)
CONSYDER: Sydney. 30 Sept - 2 October 2006. Venue. Guests, membership
etc to be announced. Join their mailing list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/consyder.
NULLUS ANXIETAS The First Australian Discworld Convention. New dates
Feb 9-11, 2007. Melbourne. Attending $120, concession $100,
supporting $50. (Gala dinner to cost an extra $90) see
www.ausdwcon.org for further details.
CONVERGENCE 2. Aus Natcon. Rydges Hotel, Melbourne. Queens Birthday
weekend, 8-11 June, 07. Theme:YA genre fiction. GoH Isobelle
Carmody. See http://www.natcon.org.au/2007. (Reported by Rose
Mitchell.)
XIVAMC, Medieval re-enactment group. Easter 2007. Meeting at the
Danelaw property, Charley's Forest Rd, Wog Wog, NSW. (35 min drive
north of Braidwood, 3 hrs south of Sydney, 1.5 hrs east of Canberra.
Registration $150 fully catered for 4 days. See www.danelaw.org.au
for more details. (Reported by J. Gibbins.)
NIPPON 2007. Worldcon. Aug 30-Sept 3 2007. Pacifico Yokohama
convention centre, Japan. Gohs: David Brin and Sakyo Komatsu. Artist
Gohs: Yoshitaka Amano and Michael Whelan. Details at
www.nippon2007.org . Australian agent Craig McBride. Membership A$210
until Sept 30 2005. You can also join
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nippon2007
Geneva Convention a civilised worldcon bid for Switzerland in 2008.
http://www.thegenevaconvention.org/
Australia 2010. A Worldcon bid. See
http://world.std.com/~sbarsky/melbourne.
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. Is a great source
of market information that is always being updated by Tony Plank.
For links to books, movies and television shows see John Tipper's
homepage: http://www.collectingbooksandmagazines.com
The Bullsheet is available as a FREE monthly e-mail through the
AUSSFBULL mailing list. To join send 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 latest
Bullsheet web page, updated and with any corrections can be found at
http://members.optusnet.com.au/aussfbull/bullsheet_46.html or
http://www.geocities.com/edwinafan/bullsheet_46.html
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. Send your news e-mail to edwinafan@yahoo.com,
Visit Celestial Cobbler for ceramic craft with a SF & Fantasy bent.
http://members.optushome.com.au/guests/Cobbler.html.
Thought to end the year: Those who do nothing don't make mistakes.
Happy Summer Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy & Safe
Holidays! From Ted and Edwina
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid