The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 56 – November 2006
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 56
November 2006
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
FOXTEL pay TV will launch a 24/7 sci-fi channel (channel 132) on
December 1.
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! Is a Star Trek Art Exhibition on at the
Victorian College of Arts Gallery, 40 Dodds St, Southbank (Opposite
the Vic.Mounted Police Stables.) Wednesdays to Saturdays, 12-5pm
until 11th November. Look for the model Klingon Fighter made by Rob
Jan!
SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT COLLECTABLES FAIR will be held in the Sydney
Town Hall on Saturday, 25th November featuring collectors and
collectables from movies, TV, action figures, toys, comicsm anime
etc. see www.collectablesfair.com.au or phone Michael on 0425 819 096.
CAPTAIN JACK'S BACK! The Dr Who Club of Australia and Friends of
Science fiction will have John Barrowman (Capt. Jack from Dr. Who)
appearing at a 1 day con at the Bankstown Sports Club, 8 Greensfield
Pd, Bankstown (a short walk from Bankstown railways station) on Sat
24th March, 07. Cost is $50 for DWCA and FSF members and $65 for non-
members. VIP memberships offering front row seats, an exclusive event
with the GoH and a gift are available for $300. Full details at
www.fsf.net.au/content/view/16/32 (Reported by Dallas Jones.)
As reported last month, NULLUS ANXIETAS - a Discworld convention
(q.v. conventions) increases its membership to $200 from 1st
November. Organiser Ben Hughes has a special offer for Bullsheet
readers: If you mention the Bullsheet and buy your membership before
5th November you'll only pay $160 and you'll also have a chance to
win coffee and chat with Terry Pratchett and a small group of other
winners.
Congratulations to the following successful candidates for this
year's CLARION SOUTH - a 6 week "boot camp" for emerging SF writers:
Alessio Besciani, Angela Slatter, Ben Maulbeck, Chris Green, Chris
Lynch, Daniel Braum, Elizabeth Adkins, Jason Fischer, Jess Irwin,
Jessica Vivien, Laura Gooden, Lyn Battersby, Melaina Faranda, Michael
Greenhut, Michele Cashmore, Peter Ball & Richard Pitchforth.
A number of Australian authors were recently nominated for the CBC
Outstanding International Book List. These included Margo Lanagan for
White Time, Sophie Masson for Snow, Fire, Sword, Isobelle Carmody
for The Legend Begins - Little Fur, and Garth Nix for Keys of the
Kingdon 3. (Reported through PIO newsletter.)
CHUCK & MEGAN McKENZIE recently discovered their young son, Max, is
mildly autistic. They are trying to pass this information on to their
many friends in the wider SF community. More details can be found on
Chuck's website:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/chuckmck!/whatnes.htm. (Reported by
Chuck McKenzie.)
The November meeting of Fans in the Pub (Sydney) will be on the 2nd
Tuesday so as not to conflict with post Melbourne Cup festivities.
(Reported by Ted Scribner.)
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too
dark to read"- Groucho Marx
QUEENSLAND WRITERS CENTRE has opened internet bookings for Year of
the Novel and Year of the Edit ***for QWC members only*** Applicants
must be able to attend regular classes in Brisbane. Check
www.qwc.asn.au for full details. (Reported by Jason Nahrung on the
Visions Writers list.)
SAILS AND SORCERY anthology is open to submissions of short stories
3000-9000 words on the theme of Fantasy on the High Seas, from
Pirates to Privateers, Explorers to Advenurers. Pays 5c a word and a
share of 35% of net revenue. Submissions close 15th January. See
http://www.fantasistent.com/submissions/ (Reported by Wendy Waring on
the Visions List.)
Scriblerus Press is seeking submissions of short stories, poems and
creative non-fic inspired by the STRING THEORY for an upcoming
anthology Complete guidelines are to be found at
http://www.scriblerus.net (or? Sorry, I got a bit lost! Edwina)
http://www.mediabistro.com/mbtoolbox/opportunities/nerd_writers_wanted
_44843.htm (Reported by Wendy Waring on the Visions list)
The Physics Society of the University of Newcastle and the School of
Mathematical and Physical Sciences invite entries for the 2nd Science
Fiction Short Story Comp. Theme: a sense of wonder and exploration of
science in a modern setting. 1st Prize $200, 2nd Prize $100, High
School Students $100. Publishing opportunities. Submissions to 2000
words. Entries to be e-mailed to sfssc.entry@gmail.com by 1/11/06.
Natalie Jane Prior's new book, The Star Locket, for readers 11-14 yrs
old was recently published by Angus & Robertson (A HaperCollins
imprint) and costs $15.99. (Reported on the PIO newsletter.)
The U.K. Publisher, LEONAUR continue their classic SF series by
reprinting the Edgar Rice Burroughs titles: John Carter of Mars and
Pellucidor - The Inner World #1. Full details can be found at
www.leonaur.com
ANTIPODEAN SF ISSUE 101 featuring short, short (500 words) stories
from Kathryn Gossow, Ross Hamilton, Adrian Gibb, Shaun A Saunders,
Christie McReadie, Catriona Hoy, Ashley Arnold, Jackie Hosking, Aalix
Roake can be viewed at http://www.antisf.com or
http://purl.nla.gov.au/NET/antisf/
LEIGH BLACKMORE's Raven books, specialising in dark and horror
fiction also includes Sequence comics. For a catalogue e-mail
lvxnox@iinet.net.au. Leigh has also recently launched an e-bay store
called Quoth Raven Books which can be viewed at
http://www.stores.ebay.com.au/QuothRavenBooks.
MERV BINNS perzine, Out of the Bin is available from PO Box 315,
Carnegie, Vic, 3163.
STEAM ENGINE TIME: The latest print issue of Bruce Gillespie's zine
is now available. It features an editorial on Babylon 5, articles of
Christopher Priest, Politics in SF, Cordwainer Smith. Print version
subscriptions $40 for 5 issues. Cheques made payable to Gillespie &
Cochrane Pty Ltd. 5 Howard St, Greensborough, Vic 3088. Aos0
available as a PDF file from http://efanzines.com
FRIENDS OF LINDA COX CHAN (FOLCC) raise money to donate to Juvenile
Diabetes Research, Australia by selling donated books etc. (Current
tally $0) Books looking for new homes: "The Truth About Magic" by
Dave Luckett (new and autographed by the author!), World's Apart by
Chuck McKenzie.(Autographed by the author!) Audiobook: "Journey to
the Centre of the Earth" by Jules Verne featuring John de Lancie and
Leonard Nimoy, 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.
HATCH, MATCH AND DISPATCH
DEATHS:
WILSON (BOB) TUCKER, well known fan and award-winning SF and mystery
author renowned for his ability to "Tuckerize" - slip literary
versions of SF fans into his fiction, passed away aged "almost" 92 on
6th October. (Reported by Ian Nichols.)
DAVID STEWART, popular and active Irish SF fan and convention
organizer, involved with Interaction, the 2005 Worldcon, passed away
on 12th October from cancer. He was 46 years old. (Reported by Ted
Scribner.)
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. for meeting details:
AUSTREK, the Star Trek fan club in Victoria will be celebrating its
30th anniversary this year and is still going strong.
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.
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.
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
SHUTTLE MAWSON (www.shuttlemawson.com) is a South Australian Star
Trek fan club, & chapter of Starfleet Internatioinal, run by Stuart
Blair. They will also be having a SF weekend featuring Star Trek &
Stargate on 4-5 November. (Reported by Stuart Blair.)
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 )
VISIONS WRITERS GROUP offers meeting and critiquing for SF, Fantasy
and Horror writers in QLD Monthly meetings from 11am -2 pm, first
Sunday of the month (except Jan and Dec) at Dymocks City Store, Queen
St, Brisbane. $10 joining fee, and $4 per meeting. (reported by Nigel
Stone)
INFINITAS BOOKSHOP/Blokey Stuff, Shop 22 Civic Arcade, 48 - 50 George
Street Parramatta NSW. has 2 groups regularly meeting at its
premises. The SF Discussion Group meets at 6:30pm on the first
Thursday of each month except January. A SF Writers Group also meets
at the shop once a month on Saturdays See
http://www.infinitas.com.au/WritersGroup.php for meeting dates.
(Reported by Tim Martin via Ted Scribner).
SYDNEY MECHANICS' SCHOOL OF ARTS at 280 Pitt St, Sydney, regularly
holds a members reading group for Mystery and Crime starting at 10am
and Science Fiction and Fantasy from approx.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 $15.50 ?) This also entitles you to borrowing rights at
the School of Arts library. Upcoming meetings: Sat, 18th Nov, 9th
Dec.
Sci-Fi Monthly is a relaxed, casual SF book discussion group that
meet at 2pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Gloria Jeans
coffee shop in Borders Bookshop, Westfield shopping centre, Bondi
Junction, Sydney. Sun 12th Nov meeting discussing David Brin's
Startide Rising, also meeting Sunday 10th December. See www.sci-
fimonthly.com for more details.
SYDNEY FANS IN THE PUB. Usually meet from 6.30pm on the first Tuesday
of the month at the Civic Hotel, Crn Pitt & Goulburn Sts, Sydney.
MEETING 2nd TUES IN NOVEMBER SO IT DOESN"T CONFLICT WITH THE Post-
MELBOURNE CUP FUNCTIONS.
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 on Nov 17th, Dec 20th. Check
http://users.secsme.org.au/~futurians, or e-mail John.Fox@uts.edu.au
for full details.
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 non-members.
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION (fsf) meet at Bankstown Sports Club, 8
Greenfield Pde, Bankstown (a short wallk from Bankstown railways
station.) on the 2nd Sunday of each month.Check fsf.net.au for more
information.
NEWCASTLE SPACE FRONTIER SOCIETY (NSFS) have a monthly meeting on 21
November, their Christmas Party on 2nd December and December's
monthly meeting will feature Kerrie Dougherty. $2 attendance fee.
Full details available at www.nssa.com.au/nsfs. (Reported by Jack
Dwyer.)
EVENTS
VORTEX: SF Events happening in Brisbane, can be found at
www.vortexevents.com
Austrek (Vic)presents it's 30/40 Costume Ball on Saturday, 25th
November from 730pm at the Saville on Russell, 222 Russell St, City
of Melbourne.Deposits required by Novembr 3 See http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?
t=866bzybab.0.4pqyqubab.vyiszpbab.442&ts=S0211&p=http%3A%2F%
2Fwww.austrek.org%2Fevents.html (Reported on Sci Fi Reporter.)
SYDNEY MEDDEIVAL FAIR December 2-3. Castlehill Showground. (They're
currently looking for stall holders) See www.unitedswords.com.au or
phone 07 5471 3161, (Spotted in the weekend shopper section of the
Daily Telegraph. Edwina.)
FAN FUNDS AND WRITERS GRANTS
FFANZ (Fan Fund for Australia and New Zealand) Nominations for 2007
(sending someone from Australia to the NZ natcon, Conspiracy 2, in
June) close December 31st. Voting closes 31st March, 07
Nominations must be signed by the nominee and accompanied by a
donation of AUD$10.00 to FFANZ. Each nomination must also have the
signed support of one fan currently residing in NZ and two fans
currently residing in Australia (these can be sent separately). The
nominee should provide a written platform of 100 words or less for
the ballot and a photo if possible. Nominations should be sent to
Rose Mitchell, GPO Box 1212K, Melbourne,Vic, 3001. E-mail
Mitchell@vicnet.net.au for further information, More information
about FFANZ Fan Fund can be found at http://ffanz.sf.org.nz/index.htm
CONVENTIONS
GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be
announced.
SHUTTLE MAWSON, Adelaide, is hosting a Stargate weekend featuring
Tony Amendola and Rachel Luttrell "live on stage." Martial Arts
demonstration by World Stickfighting Champion, Master Vince Palumbo
Stamford Plaza . Full details on http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?
t=866bzybab.0.rvwsmzbab.vyiszpbab.442&ts=S0211&p=http%3A%2F%
2Fwww.shuttlemawson.com%2Fstargate_convention_information.html
(reported on Sci Fi Reporter.)
"The other side of the gate" Stargate event - Melbourne, November 5 -
Stargate actors (presumably those in the above entry? Edwina) "live
on stage." See:http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?
t=866bzybab.0.nfawgtbab.vyiszpbab.442&ts=S0211&p=http%3A%2F%
2Fwww.firstcontactconventions.com.au (reported on Sci Fi Reporter)
SYDNEY FREECON. Sat 25 Nov. Bankstown Public Library seminar room
8.30 am - 4pm. Membership $2.00.(And members are expected to buy tea,
coffee and biscuits throughout the day.) Write to The Convenor, PO
Box 2 Bexley North 2207, Phone Garry Dalrymple on (02) 9718 5827 or
see http://users.secsme.org.au/~futurians/ (Reported by Garry P.
Dalrymple.)
Star Trek 40th Anniversary event Jonathan Frakes and Garrett
Wang "Live on stage." December 9 -10 at the Avillion Hotel, Worly
Square, (Pavillion Hotel World Square? Not my typos! Edwina) Pitt St
Sydney. Tickets now on sale. www.scifiextreme.com
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?
t=866bzybab.0.m8ekiybab.vyiszpbab.442&ts=S0211&p=http%3A%2F%
2Fwww.scifiextreme.com) (Reported on Sci fi Reporter.)
NULLUS ANXIETAS The First Australian Discworld Convention. Feb 9-11,
2007. Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne. GoH's Terry Pratchett. Virtual
GoHs: Stephen Briggs, Bernard Pearson & Colin Smythe. Attending $200.
Buy your membership before November 1st for the chance to win coffee
and chat with Terry Pratchett and a small group of other winners.
(This offer has been extended until November 5th to Bullsheet
readers. They can also buy their membership for the old price of $160
if purchased before 5th November.) Please mention The Bullsheet if
taking up this offer.) (Gala dinner to cost an extra $90) see
www.ausdwcon.org for further details. Nullus Anxietas: The Australian
Discworld Convention
XIVAMC, Medieval re-enactment group. Easter 5-8 April, 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.)
INCONCEIVABLE, SWANCON 32, Easter 6-8 April, 2007. Acacia Hotel,
Northbridge, W.A. GoH's: Elizabeth Moon, David Gerrold, Matthew
Reilly, Russell B. Farr. Damian Magee. Membership $110 ($90
concession. See http://www.swancon.com. Or e-mail
swancon32@gmail.com
CONVERGENCE 2. Australian Natcon, 2007. Rydges Hotel, Melbourne.
Queens Birthday weekend, 8-11 June, 07. Theme:YA genre fiction. GoHs
Australian fantasy author Isobelle Carmody & Melinda M Snodgrass,
Star Trek script writer, author of The Circuit Trilogy and co-author
of the Wild Cards series with George R.R. Martin.. See
http://www.natcon.org.au/2007. Attending membership $153, concession
$103 until 31.12.06. Student membership $55, supporting membership
$33 (Prices sourced from Convergence promotional postcards). You can
pay using paypal (Reported by Rose Mitchell.)
CONSPIRACY II, NZ Natcon Mercure Hotel, Willis St, Wellington, NZ.
See http://conspiracy2.sf.org.nz GoH's: Marianne de Pierres,
Isolbelle Carmody. Dylan Horrocks. Fan GoH: Barbara Clendon.
Membership NZ$ 70 until the end of 2006. then NZ $80 from 1 Jan until
20th May, then NZ $90 from 20th May until the door. Day rates also
available.
ALPHA 2OMEGA. A literary & dramatic arts convention apparently for
Chtistian writers. May 5-7 (Labour Day long weekend, QLD) Sydney St
Theatre, Sydney St, New Farm, Brisbane. Membership until 1st March
$125, $100concession, $60 day, after 1st March $150, $115 concession.
See http://members.optusnet.com.au/A2O/Index.html for full details.
(Reported by James Collins)
TOLKIEN SEMINAR: 25th August, 2007. NSW Writers Centre, Rozelle,
Sydney. As the first Tolkien seminar to be held outside the UK, this
event is endorsed by the Tolkien Society. To get updates of this
function see http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/index.php.
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
DENVENTION: The Worldcon in 2008 will be held in Denver, 6-10 August
08. See http://www.denver2008.com.
Australia 2010 Worldcon bid. Let's do it again in 2010! The Aussie
Worldcon bid seems to be getting good support from overseas. Pre-
supporting m/ships $20. Firend m/ships $100. E-mail
treasurer@vsfc.org.au for information about paypal and credit card
payments. See http://www.australia2010.org/ or e-mail
info@vsfc.org.au. Postal address Australia in 2010, GPO Box 1212
Melbourne, Australia. 3001. US AGENT: David Evans, UK Agents Eve &
John Harvey, European Agent: Vince Docherty.
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.
The Inkspillers web site, 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.collecting books andmagazines.com
Sci-fi REPORTER is a SF news service covering cons, fan clubs and
media, edited by Stuart Blair. To subscribe to this list send an e-
mail to scifireporter@yahoo.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. The latest version is also on the
Bullsheet web page
http://members.optusnet.com.au/aussfbull/bullsheet,
http://www.geocities.com/edwinafan/bullsheetThe 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
see. http://members.optushome.com.au/Cobbler42.
Hope you back a winner in the Melbourne Cup!
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid