The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 69 – December 2007
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 69
December 2007
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
NSW BRANCH OF THE COSTUMERS GUILD Christmas Party has had a last minute venue
change! It will now be at Linwood House, 25 Byron Rd, Guilford. For more
details e-mail wendy_shoething@ yahoo.com
Fantasy author, FIONA MCINTOSH will be special guest at an event to help
raise funds for this year's AUREALIS AWARDS. The event will be held at the
Queensland Writers Centre, Level 2, Metro Arts Building, 100 Edward St,
Brisbane on Monday 3rd December . 6 for 6.30 pm. Tickets cost $10 (price of
ticket includes fingerfood at the event) and can be purchased in advance at
Pulp Fiction Bookshop, or at the door. (Reported by Damon Cavalchini on the
Visions list.)
KATHERINE CUMMINGS' book, Katherine's Diary, the story of a transsexual, has
been revamped, updated and expanded. It is being launched by TERRY DOWLING on
Wednesday 12th December, 6 for 6.30 pm at Gleebooks, Upstairs , 49 Glebe
Point Rd, Glebe (Sydney). Light refreshments will be served. If you'd like to
attend please RSVP on 4322 3418 by 7 December.
SWANCON 2008 (q.v. conventions) in collaboration with Curtin University of
Technology is calling for Expressions of Interest for their academic
programme. State of the Art: Science Fiction Histories is a two-day academic
conference, on 22-23 March 2008, that is contained within the broader
programme of Swancon itself. They are seeking submissions of abstracts for
academic papers, presentations and panels to be delivered as a part of this
symposium. Papers are invited on the following or related topics: Histories
of the SF community; Fan readings and re/writings of SF; Political histories
in SF, Intersection of SF with feminist & queer theories; among others. For
papers, please submit a 300-500 word abstract by 7th December 07. For panels,
submit a 300 word description of the panel & panel participants. Selected
papers from the symposium will be published in a special journal issue. To be
considered for publication, draft papers must be submitted by 14th March 08.
Contact coordinators Sonia Marcon, Darren Jorgensen and Helen Merrick at
sciencefictionhistories@gmail.com. (Reported by Sean Williams on the Visions
list.)
GENRE FICTION AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED. New Holland Publishers and the NSW
Writers' Centre recently announced the winners of the inaugural Genre Fiction
Award: Maria Simms for The Dead House (first prize) Rae Litting for The
Kidnap of Alice McGillvray (second prize) and James Casson for Mrs Harrison's
Stocking (third prize) (Reported by Ted Scribner.).
The WORLD FANTASY AWARDS were announced at the World Fantasy Convention in
Saratoga Springs, New York : The winners are: LIFE ACHIEVEMENT: Betty
Ballantine, Diana Wynne Jones . NOVEL: Soldier of Sidon, Gene Wolfe (Tor),
NOVELLA : Botch Town, Jeffrey Ford (The Empire of Ice Cream, Golden Gryphon
Press), SHORT FICTION: "Journey Into the Kingdom", M. Rickert (F&SF May
2006), ANTHOLOGY: Salon Fantastique, Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, eds.
(Thunder's Mouth), COLLECTION: Map of Dreams, M. Rickert (Golden Gryphon
Press), ARTIST: Shaun Tan, SPECIAL AWARD, PROFESSIONAL Ellen Asher (for work
at the Science Fiction Book Club), SPECIAL AWARD, NON-PROFESSIONAL: Gary K.
Wolfe (for reviews in Locus and elsewhere) (Congratulations to all winners,
and especially SHAUN TAN. (Reported by Alan Stewart on the Eidolist.)
Congratulations to IAN MCHUGH who recently won the Writers of the Future
competition. Ian's fiction and artwork have appeared in Andromeda Spaceways
Inflight Magazine.
CHTHULU CHRISTMAS: "A Very Scary Solstice" and "An Even Scarier Solstice" , 2
CD's that offer such tracks as Freddy the Red-brained Mi-go, It's the Most
Horrible Time of the Year & Slay Ride appear to be available for purchase at
$ US20.00 from : http://www.cthulhulives.org/Solstice/ (Thank you to Grace
for the great reporting!)
STARSHIP MAWSON CLUB CHRISTMAS DINNER: Bookings are filling fast for this SA
Star Trek club's Christmas Dinner! Reserve your place by contacting
co_mawson@yahoo.com.au Christmas dinner information can be found at
www.starshipmawson.com via the latest online newsletter tab.
NEW SF RADIO STATION called Sci Fi Vertigo! Is up and running at
http://scifivertigoradioshow.wetpaint.com/ (relayed via Sci Fi Reporter.)
DONKEY LIBRARY: I work in a library. I like donkeys. So when I saw Oxfam is
offering a donkey library as part of its Unwrapped program I thought it was
serendipity...until I saw the price. I mentioned the donkey library on a
Library list and people started saying "What a great idea. Let's do something
about it!" You can find out more about the donkey library at
www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au. If you'd like to join with us to donate a donkey
library in Africa, you can go to www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/index.php, click
on "search for fundraiser" and type in ALIAtechs Mobile Donkey Library.
Alternatively Michelle McConachie has set up a Westpac account where you can
make a deposit. Account name: T/A Donkey Library. BSB 033289 Account No:
241390 *** The deadline is 31st December***. If we don't have enough money to
buy a donkey library, we'll be giving the money to Oxfam anyway for other
worthwhile purchases If we collect more than we need, the excess similarly is
given to Oxfam. (At last report close to $500 had been donated. Edwina.)
STAR TREK CLUB SAVE THE WHALES. Australian ST club, Starship Mawson recently
sent out a strongly worded e-mail noting how the Japanese whaling fleet had
recently set forth to "conduct scientific experiments" by killing whales,
including humpback whales this year. It was noted that via Star Trek IV, the
Voyage Home, released over 20 years ago, Paramount Pictures endeavoured to
portray the futility of whaling. It was also suggested if you want to protest
Japan's "scientific" culling of whales, you could put a Greenpeace (?)
banner on your web page.
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS "Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a
dog it's too dark to read"- Groucho Marx
KATHERINE'S DIARY, the story of a transsexual, by Katherine Cummings. Cover
design by Nick Stathopolous and Chris Edwards, ISBN 978-0- 9803653, Beaujon
Press, PO Box 742 Woy Woy, was released in December. The revised edition has
been updated and expanded. It's now 400 pages, including 32 pages of colour
illustrations. Cost $35 including postage in Australia when purchased direct
from the publisher. (Katherine's a long time SF fan and keen costumer.
Katherine's Diary incorporates her fannish interests as well as all the other
aspects of her fascinating life. Edwina.)
The 3rd volume of The Year's Best Australian SF and Fantasy edited by BILL
CONGREVE and MICHELLE MARQUARDT is now available. It features stories by
Simon Brown, Terry Dowling, Margo Lanagan, Kaaron Warren, Geoffrey Maloney,
Chris Lawson and others. 224 pages. ISBN 978-0- 9757736-2-8 RRP $19.95 Details
at: rasa.info/MirrorDanse/YearsBest2006.html
UNKNOWN ENTITY is a sci-fi psychological thriller by JOSEPH DYSART. It's the
story of Dylan Pierce, a fugitive psychic who is offered the opportunity to
rescue a drop-dead gorgeous folksinger from her insanity. The catch: his only
chance to bring her back is to journey into her twisted subconscious. It can
be read online at http://www.josephdysart.com/. (Reported on the Visions list.)
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 1cent a word Stories
up to 5000 words. Submissions open 1st October, and close 31st December.
E-mail submissions to donna@austspeculati vefiction. 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.norilana com/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.).
TRANSMITTER is a new on-line anthology series launching in January 08. They
are seeking spec fic stories in any style or theme with a strong SF element
(no fantasy or horror unless SF is strongly represented in the story.)
Stories from 500 - 2,500 words. Paying .05 cent per word for 2 month
exclusive world-wide rights. Submit to the editor, Miriam Dick. Your story
should be attached as RTF, double spaced, with author & title information
before the main text of the work. E-mail submissions to:
fiction@illusiontv.com (reported on the Visions list by Cat Sparks.)
GARY KEMBLE and UK writer Mark Wagstaff are looking for another writer to
work with them on a collaborative writing project; a crime/thriller (more
thriller than crime) book set in present-day London. Participant will be
required to write 25-30k, as well as critique other writers' work. The
participant will be writing mainly from the perspective of a North American
character, so some knowledge of life in the US ( would be an advantage.
Timeline: planning from now until December 31; writing from January 1 to
March 31; polishing April 1 to June 30. Please send samples of your writing
(eg a short story) to garykemble@yahoo. com.au (Reported by Gary Kemble on
the Visions list)
ANTIPODEAN SF issue 114, featuring short, short fiction of 500 words or less)
from Andrea Gawthorne, Bren MacDibble, Peter Tennant, Barbara J. Holten,
Shaun A. Saunders, Carl Palmer, Amanda Pillar, Robin Hillard, Bart Meehan
&Matt Tighe can be sees at www.antisf.com
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 $2. Thank
you, Anne Devrell for commissioning a silk scarf as a Christmas present!)
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.).
HATCH, MATCH & DISPATCH:
RECOVERING: Hip, hip horray to Jean Weber who is recovering well after her
second hip replacement operation in early November. (Thanks to Eric Lindsay
for keeping us up to date with Jean's hospitalisation and recuperation.)
RECOVERING: US SF Writer, LARRY NIVEN, recently underwent eye-surgery to have
a cataract removed, and was pleased with the result. Niven will probably have
a cataract on his other eye removed in early December. (Reported by Ted
Scribner.)
Happy Belated Birthdays to LEE BATTERSBY and LEWIS MORLEY who celebrated in
November.
Happy Birthday to ANNE DEVRELL who is celebrating in December.
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/GeelongSFC lub. (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@doctorwho australia. org or 0416 269 726 or check
www.doctorwhoaustra lia.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
http://visionwriter s,org. 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.infinita s.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 at 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
Fantasy author, FIONA MCINTOSH will be special guest at an event to help
raise funds for this year's AUREALIS AWARDS. The event will be held at the
Queensland Writers Centre, Level 2, Metro Arts Building, 100 Edward St,
Brisbane on Monday 3rd December . 6 for 6.30 pm. Tickets cost $10 (price of
ticket includes fingerfood at the event) and can be purchased in advance at
Pulp Fiction Bookshop, or at the door. (Reported by Damon Cavalchini on the
Visions list.)
KATHERINE CUMMINGS' book, Katherine's Diary, the story of a transsexual, has
been revamped, updated and expanded. It is being launched by TERRY DOWLING on
Wednesday 12th December, 6 for 6.30 pm at Gleebooks, Upstairs , 49 Glebe
Point Rd, Glebe (Sydney). Light refreshments will be served. If you'd like to
attend please RSVP on 4322 3418 by 7 December.
CONVENTIONS GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to
be announced.
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 See www.thehubproductio ns.com/apr08 for full details.
(Reported by Thomas Bull.)
Gen Con™ is set to hit Australian shores at the Brisbane Convention and
Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, on the 3rd of July, 2008 offering
gamers four days of Anime, Board Games, Collectable Card and Miniatures
Games, Computer and Console Games, CosPlay, Historical and Fantasy Wargames,
along with Tabletop and Live Action Role Playing Games. For full information
see www.GenConoz.com
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.denver20 08.com.
AUSTRALIAN NATCON 2009 will be in Adelaide.
ANTICIPATION, the 2009 Worldcon will be in California. See
www.anticipationsf. ca for full details.
The World Fantasy Convention in 2009 will be held in San Jose, California.
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.australi a2010.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.
The World Fantasy Convention in 2010 will be held in Columbus, Ohio.
OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES:
The Inkspillers web site, http://www.inkspill ers.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.collecti ngbooks 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@yahoogrou
ps.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 /
January's Bullsheet may arrive on time or a little late, depending on whether
or not I get a new computer in my Christmas stocking, or the usual lump of
coal! Edwina)
Happy Summer Solstice, Happy Chanukah, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and
even Bah Humbug - have we covered all the bases? - to all our readers from
Ted & Edwina!
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid