The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 68 – November 2007
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 68
November 2007
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS TERRY DOWLING will be signing his new book RYNEMONN at Galaxy
bookshop (Sydney) from 5pm on Thursday 15th November. With the possibility of
dinner nearby afterwards. (reported by Ted Scribner)
WHY IS URANUS UPSIDE DOWN? FRED WATSON launches his new science book, Why is
Uranus Upside Down, described as "an entertaining & informative introduction
to the Universe fir enquiring minds of all ages." (Allen & Unwin) on Tuesday
4th Dec at Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (Sydney) Cost $10 ($7
concession.) To book phone Gleebooks, 02 9660 2333 (Reported by Ted Scribner.)
CRUISE TREK SYDNEY LUNCH. Sat 3rd Nov. 10am-2pm at Caminetto Italian
Restaurant, 13-17 Playfair St, The Rocks. Guests John De Lancie (Q) and
Garret Wang (Harry Kim) will be in attendance for the duration of this event.
Cost $79 includes pizza (drinks at own expense.) Limited spaces. To reserve a
spot e-mail your name and phone number to oneliah@iinet.net.au, or phone 0401
069 296. Pay on the day. Cash only, No credit cards or EFTPOS available.
(Reported on Scinut)
NSW BRANCH OF THE COSTUMERS GUILD will be having a picnic lunch at Parramatta
Park on Sat. 1st December from 12-4pm. BYO tables, chairs, picnic rugs,
picnic baskets etc. for more details e-mail wendy_shoething@yahoo.com
NIGHT'S EDGE is a cyberpunk-themed convention including Cypec, the Australian
cyberfeminist summit. 10-11 November, Emerald Hotel, Perth. GoH's Stephen
Dedman and Simon Oxwell. Membership $50. See www.nightsedge.blogspot.com or
email callisto@gmail.com (Reported by Sarah Parker.)
CLARION SOUTH has announced SEAN WILLIAMS, MARIANNE DePIERRESm MARGO
LANNIGAN, JACK DANN, KELLY LINK and GAVIN J. GRANT will be guest tutors for
its 2009 (?) programi. Full details can be fond at www.clarionsouth.org
MOVEMBER. Writer SEAN WILLIAMS recently announced he would take up the
challenge of growing a moustache in "Movember." Money raised during Movember
will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and
beyondblue, a society for those people suffering from depression. You can
sponsor Sean's Mo by credit card, quoting Sean's registration number, 62042,
at http://www.movember.com/au/donate. Alternatively you can send a cheque
made payable to Movember Foundation (and quoting Sean's registration number)
to PO Box 292 Prahran, VIC, 3181, or give money direct to Sean if you see
him. (He has a receipt book.) Donations over $2 are tax deductable. Photos
and reports can be viewed on Sean's livejournal page:
ladnews.livejournal.com. (How much to see Sean shorn after Movember is over?
Edwina.)
CATH ORTLIEB is seeking copies of video/dvd recordings from Convergence 2
(Melbourne, Queens Birthday long weekend, June 07.) Please send an e-mail to
edwinafan@yahoo.com if you have copies available.
CONGRATULATIONS to GREG AUSTIN, whose SF screenplay, Fallen City (Mazer) was
awarded 3rd place in the Canadian International Film Festival
SPECUSPHERE (www.specusphere.com) is keen to receive articles or reviews of
books, comics, movies. You can also participate in their forum after joining
British author, DORIS LESSING's recent Nobel Prize for literature has been
heralded as a victory for science fiction. In the 1970's Lessing's novel,
"Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta" the first in a 5 volume "outer-space
fantasy" had a strong readership despite criticism from reviewers. (From an
article by M.G. Lord in LAtimes.com )
TINTIN TIMES THREE: STEVEN MOFFAT, writer of the Dr Who episode, Blink, will
be writing one of three Tintin movie scripts. Two of the three planned movies
are rumoured to be directed by Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. (Reported
on the Visions list.)
NEW STAR TREK MOVIE STARS NAMED: Major characters have all been cast in the
forthcoming Star Trek movie. Chris Pines (Princess Diaries 2) plays Kirk,
Zachary Quinto (Heroes) plays Spock, NZ actor, Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings)
plays Dr.McCoy, Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) plays Scotty, John Choi plays
Sulu, Anton Yelchin plays Chekov, Zoe Zaldana plays Uhura, while Eric Bana
plays the villain, Nero (reported on StarTrek.com, relayed by Richard Gray.)
COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU? To promote the HD release of the original Star
Trek pilot, THE MENAGERIE the episode will be shown in theatres across
America (and Australia?) on 13th November.
STAR TREK MERCHANDISE AT RODDENBERRY.com. Anyone old enough to remember when
mail-order firm, Lincoln Enterprises was just about the only place you could
buy official Star Trek/Kung Fu merchandise will be pleased to know a lot of
that stock, plus much more, can be viewed and purchased online at
Roddenberry.com
WHAT'S GAY, GREEN AND READ ALL OVER? J.K Rowling recently announced that
Albus Dumbledore is gay. The US print run of Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows contained 30% recycled paper product, and 65% of the paper used was
certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as being sourced from sustainable
forestry methods.(Paper recycling info mentioned in Green Lifestyle Magazine,
May/June issue.)
CHTHULU CHRISTMAS? The H.P. Lovecraft Historic Society supposedly* has
seasonal CDs including "A Very Scary Solstice" which features tracks like
Freddy the Red-brained Mi-go, It's the Most Horrible Time of the Year & Slay
Ride. (Reported by Damon Cavalchini on the Visions list, and * means I got a
broken link when I did a google search for it. EH)
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS "Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a
dog it's too dark to read"- Groucho Marx
BLOOD TIES is a new novel and first book in a forthcoming trilogy by well
known children's author, PAMELA FREEMAN. Blood ties is a fantasy epic for
adults. Released in September by Hachette Australia. $24.95. ISBN
978-0-7336-3311-3.
THE TWILIGHT HERALD by TOM LLOYD; sequel to his novel, The Stormcaller, was
released on 25th October.$32.95 paperback. ISBN 978- 0-57507-729-4
THE NAME OF THE WIND is a new fantasy novel by PATRICK ROTHFUSS which will be
released on 15th November through Gollancz. $35 paperback. ISBN
978-0-57508-138-3.
RESPLENDENT, Destiny's Children Book 4, by STEPHEN BAXTER will be released on
15th November by Gollancz. $19.95 paperback. ISBN 978-0- 5750-7983-0.
FAT is a new mainstream satire novel by ROB GRANT, co-creator of RED DWARF,
which asks the question: When did it become illegal to be fat? (This sounds
like a great read after you've tucked into your Christmas dinner and third
helping of triffle - EH) Fat will be released on 15th November by Gollancz.
$19.95 paperback. ISBN 978-0- 5575-07820-8.
MARKETING YOUR BOOK is a book for newly published authors explaining the next
step after your book's been published: how to promote your book. Written by
Alison Baverstock and published by A&C Black. $35. ISBN 9780713673838.
(Reported in The Writing Centre e-mail newsletter from Allen & Unwin.)
THE KISS OF THE LILY will be a spec fic romance anthology focusing on the
sacrifices of love. Sexual content allowed if it's integral to the
development of the story. This anthology is open to Australians & Australian
residents only. Original work only, no reprints. Paying 1 cent a word Stories
up to 5000 words. Submissions open 1st October, and close 31st December.
E-mail submissions to donna@austspeculativefiction.com.au in 12 pt Courier,
double spaced RTF as an attachment. Submitters names & contact details are
not to be put on the submissions, but in the body of the e-mail instead as
editors want to read stories blind. In the subject line of the e-mail write
Submission and title of your story.
WARRIOR WISE WOMAN is a new annual science fiction anthology edited by Roby
James, to be published by Norilana Books, 2008. The theme is strong women
using their wisdom. Paying 2cents a word, plus pro-rata share of royalties
plus contributors copy: Electronic submission only, send story as word doc or
RTF as an attachment. In the subject of the e-mail write Submission/ Story
Title/Authors surname. In the cover letter in the body of the e-mail include
your contact details and writing experience. Send to roby.james@comcast.net.
See full details at http://www.norilanacom/norilana-ww-guidelines.htm
(Reported by Cat Sparks on the Visions list.)
POLYPHONY 7, a successful anthology published by Wheatland Press, is open for
submissions of stories that break the boundaries of traditional fiction from
1 December 07 until 15 January 08. Prefers lettermail submissions from
contributors in the US, and e-mail submissions from overseas contributors.
See press.livejournal.com for full details. (Reported by Cat Sparks on the
Visions list.).
ANTIPODEAN SF issue 113, featuring short, short fiction of 500 words or less)
from Susan Partridge, David Such, Joe McNamara, Stephen L. Thompson, Shaun A.
Saunders, Martin Livings, Craig Miles, Paul Sheringham, Mark McAuliff and
J.P. Overton can be viewed at www.antisf.com.
DOG VERSUS SANDWICH, a new web publication with a very unusual name is
calling for submissions. See dogvsandwich.wordpress.com for more information.
GRAHAM STONE's October catalogue of SF books includes works from Kevin J
Anderson, Damien Broderick, Harry Harrison, Sean McMullen, back issues of
Amazing Stories going back to the 1920's (incomplete) 370 listings including
Graham's Australian Science Fiction Bibliography and Notes on Australian
Science Fiction covering Aus SF commentary, reviews etc from
1848-1950s.(indispensable if you're researching the history of SF in
Australia.). For a copy of the catalogue send a sase to 205/24 Victoria St,
Burwood, NSW, 2134.
LEIGH BLACKMORE's Raven books, specialising in dark and horror fiction also
includes Sequence comics. For a catalogue e-mail lvxnox@gmail.com. Leigh also
occasionally sells on e-bay as seller ID Quoth Raven Books.
MERV BINNS perzine, Out of the Bin is available from PO Box 315, Carnegie,
Vic, 3163.
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:A-Team colouring and activity books: Dragon on a
Pedestal by Piers Anthony, Panglor by Jeffrey A. Carver, Hell on High(Disney
World is nothing compared to this place: Extinct Species Petting Zoo,
waterpark with real mermaids) by Ted Nolan. Wings in the Night, a vampire
romance trilogy plus bonus short story by Maggie Shayne. Silhouette
publication. Art cards autographed by Marianne Plumridge and Bob Eggleton are
also for sale. 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. (Donations of books always welcome.). I'm
still offering to donate 10% of any ceramics or silk items ordered through
Celestial Cobbler between now and Christmas. See
http://members.optushome.com.au/cobbler42
HATCH, MATCH AND DISPATCH
BIRTHS: ETHAN KEVIN DAHLBERG born 31 October. Second child and first son to
Brenton Dahlberg and partner Corryne. New grandson for proud Grandma and fan,
Moira Dahlberg.
DEATHS: Physicist ROBERT W. BUSSARD died on October 6th aged 80. His concept
of "The Bussard Ramjet", proposed in 1960, has been adopted and used by SF
authors and TV shows including Carl Sagan, Larry Niven and Star Trek.
(Reported by Ted Scribner.)
ENJOYING LIFE: ANDY PORTER recently celebrated the end of his chemotherapy
and being declared cancer free by travelling to the UK to attend the British
Fantasy Convention, sightsee and socialise. Andy is hoping he'll remain
cancer-free for many years to come, and is hoping to get to Australia in 2010.
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.
No meeting on Good Friday For further details including meeting details check
the MSFC website at www.vicnet.net.au/~msfc.
AUSTREK, the Star Trek fan club in Victoria which has been going strong for
more than 30 years meet on the 1st Saturday of every month from 2pm at the
Northcote Town Hall, Melbourne. Annual membership to the club is $30. See
www.austrek.org for more details. (Reported by Clare McDonald.)
DR WHO CLUB OF VICTORIA has been operating for over 25years. Their newsletter
- Sonic Screwdriver - publishes news, reviews & gossip on Dr Who as well as
publishing fanfic & pictures 6 times a year. If you join in December/Jan
membership is $24 (or $35 for a family membership) which gets you 7 issues of
the newsletter. Membership then reduces depending on which month you join,
i.e. August/Sept is $10 ($15 family.) Members receive discounts on purchases
at ABC shops and Minotuar in Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Family memberships also
available. See http://www.vicnet.net.au/~dwcv.
GEELONG SCIENCE FICTION CLUB: Join the on-line group at
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/GeelongSFClub. (Reported by Ben Hughes.)
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.
OUT THERE "You find a lot of queer things in space" is a social club for gay
SF fans, mostly over 30, that meets monthly in Adelaide. Phone Rod on
0402027891 for more details.
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.
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
STARSHIP MAWSON (www.starshipmawson.com) is a South Australian Star Trek fan
club, & chapter of Starfleet International, run by Stuart Blair. (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 http://bb5ers.com (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 Queensland State Library, Rm 2D, 2nd Floor.
Brisbane. $10 joining fee, and $4 per meeting. There website is You can also
join their virtual group (great for writing tips and general SF info) at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vision-writers. (Reported by Kris Hembury.)
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).
Sci-Fi Monthly is a relaxed, casual SF book discussion group that meet at 2pm
on the 2nd Sunday of each month at Café Gallery, Eastgate shopping centre,
Bondi Junction, Sydney. See www.sci-fimonthly.com for more details.
SYDNEY FANS IN THE PUB meet from 6.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month at
the Civic Hotel, Crn Pitt & Goulburn Sts, Sydney.
SYDNEY FUTURIANS Check http://users.secsme.org.au/~futurians, or e- mail
John.Fox@uts.edu.au for meeting 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.
TAG, TERRA AUSTRALIS GARRISON - a Starwars stormtrooper appreciation society.
Details can be found at www.501tag.com (reported on Sci fi reporter.)
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION (fsf) meet at Bankstown Sports Club, 8 Greenfield
Pde, Bankstown (a short walk from Bankstown railways station.) on the 2nd
Sunday of each month.Check fsf.net.au for more information.
NEWCASTLE SPACE FRONTIER SOCIETY (NSFS) Regular meetings and social
functions. Full details available at www.nssa.com.au/nsfs. (Reported by Jack
Dwyer.)
SPOCKSOC: A SF group run by students at the University of NSW, Kensington,
Sydney. http://www.spocksoc.unsw.edu.au
EVENTS
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.
FREECON, Bankstown (Sydney) Saturday 3rd November. Bankstown City Library.
8.30am-4pm. Includes short story competition. Ph 02 9718 5827 (ah) for more
information
CRUISE TREK DOWNUNDER: Sets sail from Sydney 4th November, calls in on
Melbourne, Tasmania & NZ, with some Lord of the Rings shore trips planned for
New Zealand. Star Trek GoHs rumoured to be attending. Variety of on-bard
accommodation available. See www.cruisetrek.com for more details (but prices
are in $US!)(Thanks to Clare McDonald for the additional information.)
BoBW convention. 9-11 November.Sebel hotel, 350 Church St, Parramatta
(Sydney). Stargate theme. GoHS Joe Flannagan, Teryl Rothery, Peter Williams,
Sonny Whitelaw. Memberships per day: VIP $300. Gold $250, Basic $195. e-mail
alc@bobw.com.au, see www.bobw.com.au or phone 02 96241-4555.
NIGHT'S EDGE is a cyberpunk-themed convention including Cypec, the Australian
cyberfeminist summit. 10-11 November, Emerald Hotel, Perth. GoH's Stephen
Dedman and Simon Oxwell. Membership $50. See www.nightsedge.blogspot.com or
email callisto@gmail.com (Reported by Sarah Parker.)
SWANCON 2008: The State of the Art. 20-24 March, 2008. Perth, WA. Natcon
2008. GoH's : Paul Cornell Ken Macleod, Glenda Larke. FGOH: Zara Baxter. Full
details at www.swancon.com Membership $120 until the end of the year.
SERENITY 1 day cons. Sat 5th April, 2008, Sydney, Sunday 6th April Melbourne,
(venues to be announced) HoH's Ron Glass and Jason Palmer. Day memberships
$100, or $450 VIP (Prices to rise in November.) See
www.thehubproductions.com/apr08 for full details. (Reported by Thomas Bull.)
CONRUNNER 2008, 28-29 June 08, Britannia Hotel, Wolverhampton, UK. A
convention about running conventions. Membership 25 pounds.
DENVENTION: The Worldcon in 2008 will be held in Denver, 6-10 August 08. See
http://www.denver2008.com.
AUSTRALIAN NATCON 2009 will be in Adelaide.
ANTICIPATION, the 2009 Worldcon will be in California. See
www.anticipationsf.ca for full details.
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:
The Inkspillers web site, http://www.inkspillers.com. is a great source of
market information for SF writers that is always being updated by Tony Plank.
For links to books, movies and television shows see John Tipper's homepage:
http://www.collectingbooks 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
SMW Editing & Proofreading services for academic (including theses), fiction
& non-fiction. For more details or arrange a quote, e-mail
s.murraywhite@veritel.com.au
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/,
http://www.geocities.com/edwinafan/bullsheetThe Bullsheet is also available
as a snail-mail subscription for 24x50 cent stamps (or $12) sent to Edwina
Harvey c/- 12 Flinders St, Matraville, 2036. Send your news e-mail to
edwinafan@yahoo.com,
Visit Celestial Cobbler for silk and ceramic craft with a SF & Fantasy bent
see. http://members.optushome.com.au/cobbler42/
Hope you back a winner in the Melbourne Cup, and the election!
(Edwina@posting this before The Librarians come on!)
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid