The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 86 – May 2009

The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 86 May 2009 ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)

GENERAL NEWS

Question: Is Swine Flu the past tense of "Pigs may fly"? Edwina.

DITMAR NOMINATIONS: (repeating this info sent as a Bullsheet supplemental.)
Nominations for the Australian SF ("Ditmar") Awards, are ***open until May 4th.*** Anyone in the fannish community can nominate work in the various award categories, Where a nominator may not be known to the Awards subcommittee, the nominator should provide the name of someone known to the subcommittee who can vouch for the nominator's eligibility. Only attending or supporting members of the National SF Convention (Conjecture, Adelaide, June long weekend. (q.v. conventions) can vote for the Ditmars. Full Ditmar rules can be accessed through the Conjecture website. (There had been some trouble accessing them through http://sf.org. au/ditmar earlier, though this may now have been corrected.EH) Award categories have changed this year. Best New Production in any Media replaces both Best Fan Production and Best Fanzine. The Best Fan Achievement and Best Professional Achievement categories have been replaced by a single Best Achievement category. Other changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for Best Collected Work and Best New Talent.
E-mail nominations are preferred and can be made via ditmars@conjecture2 009.org,. but postal nominations can also be made to: Ditmars, 6 Florence Road, Nedlands 6009 Western Australia. The Ditmars will be awarded at Conjecture, the 2009 Auastralian National SF Convention, details of conjecture can be found at http://conjecture2009.org. (Reported by David Cake)

DUFF - The Down Under Fan Fund race . This year it's for someone in Australasia to go to Anticipation, the Worlcon hosted in Canada. Nominees are Emma Hawkes, Chris Nelson, Alison Barton, David Cake with Grant Watson. Voting closes May 17. See <http://sffanz.sf.org.nz/duff/> for more information. (Reported by Irwin Hirsch)

NAFF delegates are:.. Voting concludes on Friday 15 May 2009. For news as it happens, keep an eye on the Australasian Science Fiction Fan Funds community on Livejournal (http://community. livejournal. com/aust_ sf_fan_fun/). (Reported by Grant Watson.)

CONJECTURE 2009 Natcon. (q.v. conventions) New membership prices: Full attending $140, Student $100, Child (5-15): $40, supporting $30

LOGAN (QLD) PUBLIC LIBRARY's SCI-FI & FANTASY MONTH is on in August this year. Organiser, Amanda PIatt reported they had close to 3000 attendees at activities at last year's month long event. If you're a SF or Fantasy writer, publication, group or organization, and you want to support this event (and possibly promote your interests) you can contact Amanda Platt, Acting Community Services Librarian, Logan City Council Libraries, Ph: (07) 3412 4147, Fx: (07) 3219 9398
amandaplatt@logan.qld.gov.au www.logan.qld.gov.au/LCC/residents/libraries

SYDNEY WRITERS FESTIVAL: 18-24th May in various locations around the greater Sydney area, including a stream of events at the Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, Penrith Public Library & Ingleburn. Highlights include: Sat 16th May, Sun 17th May, RICHARD HARLAND conducts two one-day Writing Fantasy workshops, Coles Room, State Library. $140/$130 per workshop. Bookings essential. Ph. 9250-1988, Wed May 20th, 6pm.. CATHERINE JINKS speaking about her new YA book, The Reformed Vampire Support Group. Penrith Library. $2 Bookings essential. Ph 02 47327891. Thurs May 21, 9am. CBCA Writing Masterclass with KATE FORSYTH for writers aged 9-13. Sydney Writers Centre, Rozelle. $66/$77. Bookings essential. Limited numbers. Ph. 9818-3858. Thurs May 21, The Imperial Panda Presents Erotic Fan Fiction. (I'd hate to tell the organizers that erotic fanfic started *well before* the internet was widely available : - ) EH). Heritage Pier Café Stage, Pier 2/3, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $15/$10 Bookings essential, ph 9250 1988. Sat 23rd, An Evening Under The Stars with KATE GRENVILLE. Starts with booksigning at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, concludes with nibbles, wine and stargazing at the Sydney Observatory. $30/$25, book on 9921 3485. Sun 24th May. 11am. Black holes, Worm holes, & Vomit Balls in Space: Talk for children & YA by cosmologist MARCUS CHOWN. Bangarra Theatre, The Rocks. *free event*. Sun 24th May, 12-1pm Don't tell the Teenagers: YA fiction that `s `too hard' for YA. MARGO LANAGAN, MAL PEEL, & MT ANDERSON.Sydney Dance Co. Studio 1. *free event* , Sun May 24th 1,30-2.30pm Secrets of Writing Fantasy for YA with GARTH NIX and ISOBELLE CARMODY, Sydney Dance Company Studio 1. *free event* For the full program for the Sydney Writers festival see www.swf.org.au, printed programs usually also distributed prior to event through the Sydney Morning Herald and some bookshops.

PUBLISHERS BOOK LAUNCH REMINDER – MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL. A book launch at the Melbourne Writers Festival offers inclusion in the 335,000 copies of the printed program, a listing on the official festival website (receiving 360,000+ hits) Book launch program will be hosted by the Festival Club Applications close this Friday 1 May, 5pm. All applications must be received by this date, including both the application form and a signed copy of the terms and conditions of participation. Please email your applications to Louise Angrilli on louise@mwf.com.au, by fax on 03 9645 9344, or post at Book Launch Program, Melbourne Writers Festival, Arts House, 117 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006.**THEY'RE KEEN TO SEE AUSTRALIAN SF PUBLISHERS** (Reported by Louise Angrilli)

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AWARDS FINALISTS : (NZ) A full list of finalists for this year's SJV's can be viewed at <http://sffanz.sf.org.nz/sjv/sjvNominations-2009.shtml> Voting for the SJV Awards will take place at Conscription, the 30th NZ National Science Fiction Convention held in Auckland, NZ from 29 May -1 June (q.v. conventions).

RICHARD K. MORGAN, author of The Steel Remains, and Black Man is touring Australia appearing at MSFC 9pm, Friday 8th May, Galaxy Bookshop, Sydney, 5.30pm Thurs May 21st, Gaslight Books, Canberra, 3-4pm Sat 23rd May, Pulp Fiction, Brisbane 6.30pm Tues May 27th.

STARLOG the science fiction and fantasy media magazine successful for the past 33 years is to cease production as a print magazine, in favour of becoming a web-only production. The change is said to be due to the Global Economic Crisis. (reported by Stephen Hunt on SF Crowsnest)

STAR TREK will open to the general public in cinemas around Australia on Thursday, May 7th. In Adelaide, SA, the screening at The Palace East End Cinema will include displays of Star Trek costumes and memorabilia and plenty of dressed up fans for the occasion. More details should be available at http://www.starshipmawson.com

Fans ERIC LINDSAY and JEAN WEBER recently announced that they had moved house.

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS "Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to read"- Groucho Marx

SCAREY KISSES, a paranormal romance anthology edited by Liz Grzyb with Russell B. Farr planned for release in 2010 is open to submission until 1st December. Original stories only, no multiple or simultaneous submissions/ Story length 1000-8,500 words. E-mail submissions to scarykisses@ticonderogapublications.com with the words "Submission Scary Kisses" in the subject line. Manuscript should be double spaced, large margin, sensible font. Payment Aus 2 cents a word maximum payment $100.

Au Contraire, the 2010 NZ Natcon, held the week before Aussiecon 4 for those northern hemisphere fans looking to extend their antipodean SF experience, (q.v. Conventions) is running a Short Story Competition, with the best entries to be included in a New Zealand anthology of SF & Fantasy to be published by Random Static Press & launched at Au Contraire, Entries should be connected to the convention theme: "The future is a foreign country" with some link to New Zealand if possible. Stories should be under 7,000 words. Email your story as a RTF file to anthology@aucontraire.org.nz, or post to PO Box 10104, Wellington NZ. Include a cover page with the title and your name and contact details; do not include your name on any other page. Postal submissions will not be returned. Deadline 31 January 2010. See http://aucontraire.org.nz/competitions-writing.php for more details. (They will also be offering a Drabble, and Filk competition too)

QWC/HACHETTE AUSTRALIA MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR FICTION WRITERS Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) and Hachette Australia have announced a new national program for emerging Australian fiction writers, either published or unpublished, who have no more than one significant work commercially published. Up to 10 emerging fiction writers will work with publishers from Hachette Australia to develop high-quality fiction manuscripts. The program is open to Australian citizens or permanent residents in Australia. There is a $50 application fee per submission. Download full guidelines and application forms at www.qwc.asn.au Submissions close 24 July.
The manuscript development retreat will run in southeast Queensland from 20-25 November 2009. (Reported by Kate Eltham on the Visions list.)

K.A. BEDFORD's latest novel, "Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait" has been bought by WA's Freemantle Press for Australian distribution. While Bedford has had tremendous overseas success with his 4 novels, his Canadian publisher, Edge Publications, has had a lot of difficulty getting local distribution of his titles, and has been unwilling to forward review copies to local reviewers

THE WHORL AND THE PALLIN, a new novel by IAN NICHOLS will be published in June and launched at Conjecture (q.v. conventions) Hardback ISBN 9780980518634. RRP $29.99

RICHARD HARLAND recently sold the US rights to his novel, WORLDSHAKER. The novel should be published in Australia soon.

RICHARD HARLAND has recently spent 4 months developing a web site containing over 145 pages of free tips to fantasy and spec fic writers including Good Writing Habits, revising, getting feedback, creating characters and their POV's, language, basically anything a beginning or more advanced writer could need. It's at <www.writingtips.com.au>

MY EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND DEATH is the new book for readers 13 yrs + from DOUG MacLEOD former head writer for The Comedy Company and producer of Full Frontal. For a sneak peek at this humorous title go to: <www.fordstreetpublishing.com/melad> (reported by Kate Angelovski for Ford Street Publishing)

FLINCH, a graphic anthology, is being launched by Gestalt publishing at Dymocks, 234 Little Collins St, Melbourne, from 6.30pm on Thursday, 7th May. Free event, but bookings appreciated. Ph 9660 8500 or e-mail levents@dymocks.com.au (Reported by Louise Angrilli)

KIM WESTWOOD is reading `Nightship' for the current TERRA INCOGNITA AUSTRALIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION podcast now up at www.tisf.com.au. (Reported by Keith Stevenson)

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, a new literary mash-up, a tweaked version of Jane Austen's classic novel here featuring flesh-eating undead monsters. published by US independent book publisher, Quirk, has found unexpected success, having sold 120,000 copies in 6 printings since its release on 1st April. The book was the brainchild of editorial director Jason Rekulak, who said he's long en's tjoyed the online mash-ups that recast existing media into new entities, and cited examples like DJ Dangermouse's Grey Album (which melded Jay Z's Black Album with the Beatles' White Album) (Reported by Andy Porter) (NB: I noticed copies of this book featured in Blokey Stuff/Infinitas Bookshop's most recent catalogue, Edwina)

HAND OF ISIS is the new novrl by JO GRAHAM,. Set in ancient Egypt, it's the story of handmaiden Charmian, sister of Cleopatra abd a love story that transcends the death of the gods who meddle in mortal affairs. Published this month by Orbit. RRP $22.99 ISBN 9781841497006.

THE ADAMANTINE PALACE is the new fantasy novel by STEPHEN DEAS. The power of the Realms depends on its dragons, bred for hunting and for war,, ridden by the aristocracy. And now a dragon has gone missing. Published this month by Gollancz. $32.99.ISBN 9780575083745

Norton publishing (USA) recently announced it was preparing to publish a posthumous volume of J.G.BALLARD's work in September. The Complete Stories of J.G. Ballard. edited by Norton's executive editor Robert Weil, is, according to the house, the first complete collection of Ballard's short fiction to be published in the U.S. (Reported by Andy Porter)
MASQUES is the latest anthology from the CSFG Publishing. Edited by

GILLIAN POLLACK it features stories from Laura E Goodin, Doug Fry, Joanne Anderton, Andrew J McKiernan, Jacob Edward, Phillip Berrie, RJ Astruc, Felicity Bloomfield, Simon Petrie, Anne Mok, Ross C Hamilton, Ariella Adler, Mik Bennett, Matthew Sini, Cat Sparks, Donna Maree Hanson, Justin Thomas, Jason Fischer, Amelia Walker, Chris Jones, Marcus Olsson, Kylie Bullivant, Graham Storrs, Monica Carrol, Cat Sheely, YL Toh, Megan Jones, Nicole R Murphy, Richard Harland, & Astrid Cooper. For full details see <http://csfg.org.au/publishing/a logies/masques>

NEW CERES NIGHTS is a print anthology, featuring 13 stories from Dirk Flinthart, Thoraiya Dyer, J C Hay, Aliette de Bodard, Kaaron Warren, Stephen Dedman, Matthew Farrer, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Sue Isle, Martin Livings, Sylvia Kelso, Lee Battersby, Angela Slatter. See < http://twelfthplanetpress.wordpress.com/publications/new-ceres-nights> for full details. (Reported by Tehani Wessely)

TANGLED BANK PRESS is a new Australian press currently inviting writers, poets, and artists to submit to the first publication, an e-anthology of spec fic, artwork and poetry exploring this theory of evolution and the legacy of Charles Darwin to be called The Tangled Bank. The Tangled Bank will be edited by Chris Lynch and published by Tangled Bank Press late 2009. For submission guidelines and more information, visit <http://thetangledbank.com.>

ANTIPODEAN SF issue 131 coming soon. See www.antisf.com.au

The Sydney Bookbinding Guild will hold intensive beginners weekend courses at the NSW Writer's Centre, in the grounds of Rozelle Hospital, Sydney on the weekend 20-21 June and 19-20 Sept You can leave a message requesting more information at (02) 8230 3470, or Graham Stone is also happy to talk to people interested in learning the art of book binding.

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.

A HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION FANDOM 1935-1963 Originally written by Vol Molesworth, reprinted by Graham Stone is available for $10 from Graham Stone, 205-24 Victoria St, Burwood NSW, 2134.) 32 pp, A4 format. Gold embossed red card covers. ISBN 978-0-9579783-2-4.

FRIENDS OF LINDA COX CHAN (FOLCC) raise money to donate to Juvenile Diabetes Research, Australia by selling donated books etc. (Current tally $80!) CHEAP Books looking for homes: Panglor by Jeffrey A.Carver, Hell on High by Ted Nolan and Holly Lisle. Original Dukes of Hazard activity book (500 pages. Colouring, puzzles etc). The Gerry Anderson memorabilia Guide (1994), Rolling Stones Mag visits Saturday Night Live, Sherlock Holmes Mystery book, GREG BEAR "Blood Music" Uncorrected book proof**, Life signs, the Biology of Star Trek, Absolutely Fabulous Book 2, Leonard Nimoy: I am Spock, John Rockham, Alien Sea, Starburst Classic Horror film, Kung-fu, Supergirl, Terrahawks annuals, The Bill – the Inside Story, (Thanks to John Tipper for donating the latest influx of books.).

HATCH, MATCH & DISPATCH:

ILL: STEPHEN HAWKING, 67, the physicist who brought cosmology to the masses with his book, A Brief History of Time, was hospitalised with a respiratory infection and reported to be very ill on 22nd April. (Reported by Ted Scribner)

DEATHS:

DAVE ARNESON, co-creator of role playing game Dungeons and Dragons, died of cancer on 7th April at the age of 61. Arneson "developed many of the fundamental ideas of role-playing: that each player controls just one hero, that heroes gain power through adventures, and that personality is as important as combat prowess," Wizards of the Coast said in a statement on its web site.(Reported by Ted Scribner)

J.G. (JAMES GRAHAM) BALLARD, writer noted for his "acute and visionary" observation of the world, which led him to produce apocalyptic novels: The Drowned World, The Wind from Nowhere, The Drought in the early 1960's passed away on 19th April aged 78 following a long illness. He was more widely known for Crash.which described "the perverse eroticism of the car crash" made into a film in 1996, and Empire of the Sun, a fictionalized account of his childhood in colonial Shanghai where he was interned with his family following the Japanese invasion (made into the film of the same name by Steven Speilberg in 1987). (Reported by Andy Porter.)

THOMAS FRANKLIN DEITZ, writer of the Soulsmith Trilogy, the Gryphon King and others, passed away 27 April.
CLUBS & MEETINGS

MELBOURNE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB, Meet most Friday nights at 74 Melville Road, West Brunswick 3055.Membership to the MSFC is $30 single, or $40 family/household or overseas, and $20 for interstate p.a. Meetings:May 1, food night, May 8th author Richard Morgan, May 15, Filmmaker Rory Young.

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.)

FEDERATION SQUARE (Melbourne) SF & Fantasy genres book reading group. Free to attend, Meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 11.30am at Café Beer Delux in Federation Square. E-mail books@fedsquare. com

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. $35 for a family membership) which gets you 7 issues of the newsletter. Members receive discounts at ABC shops and Minotuar in Elizabeth St, Melbourne. See http://www.vicnet.
net.au/~dwcv.

*SFFiG* SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY in GEELONG http://au.groups. yahoo.com/ group/SFFiG/ Irregular meets announced via email. Discussions, trivia & games, news and more! (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, phone 0416 269 726 or check www.doctorwhoaustra lia.org

The DR WHO CLUB OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA is regenerating. They will meet on the first Saturday of each month 12.30-5pm at The Collins St Centre, Cnr Shaftesbury Ave and Collins St, South Perth. Club stalls, info, afternoon tea and entertainment. See their temporary website: www.comedydownunder .com/westlodge/ or phone Aaron on (08?) 0400 1957.

JAFWA is Perth's largest & oldest anime group. They offer screenings in the Jones lecture theatre, Curtin University from 5pm on any Saturday that isn't the first Saturday of the month. See http://jafwa. asn.au for full details.

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 Trekkers Fan Club usually meet at the PCYC Fortitude Valley on the second Sunday of the month (though this occasionally changes) . Contact Mary Kemp either by phone: 07 32904243 or by e-mail: jmkemp@bigpond. net.au. The club's snail mail address is still PO BOX 2084, Brisbane, QLD. 4001. Quest's new website will be up and running in the near future. (Reported by Mary Kemp).

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.infinitas.com.au/ WritersGroup. php for meeting dates.(Reported by Tim Martin via Ted Scribner).

FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION meet monthly at the Granville Youth & Community Centre (Sydney). Meeting from 10am-6pm Sunday 5th April & May 3. $10 members, $15 non-members.

SYDNEY FUTURIANS: Contact address: P.O. Box 152 Bexley North, NSW, 2207. Usually meet on the 3rd Friday of the month (except for December) in the foyer of UTS building, Broadway at 6.55pm.

STARWALKING (NSW) 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.)

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. SF Events happening in Brisbane, can be found at <www.vortexevents.com>.

STARWARS: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS IMAGINATION exhibit opens at Scienceworks, Melbourne in June until November.

ANIMANIA: Anime and Manga festival SYDNEY 5-6th September (Venue to be announced). BRISBANE 9th May, Holiday Inn & 19th Sept (Venue tba) See http://www.animania.net.au/2009/ for more details.

SUPANOVA: (media/comics/authors events) SYDNEY 26-28 June 2009, The Dome, Olympic Park, Sydney, PERTH: 3-5 July 2009, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth. See <http://supanova.com.au> (Reported by Thomas Bull)

MANIFEST (Melbourne Anime Festival) 21-23 August 2009. Melbourne Showgrounds. <http://www.manifest.org.au> (reported by Thomas Bull)

ARMAGEDDON EXPO, Melbourne, 17-18 October, Melbourne Exhibition Centre. See <www,armageddonexpo.com)

VICTORIAN SPEC FIC WRITERS: Renowned Australian SF author, LUCY SUSSEX offers an intensive 1 day course on writing SF at The Victorian Writers' Centre 1st Floor, Nicholas Bldg. 37 Swanston St, Melbourne. on 9654 9068, Applicants must submit sample chapters and story outlines to be eligible to attend this course. Cost $570 (or $530 for VWC members) This course will be held on 23 May, 25 July, 26 September, 28 November. (Reported by Kate Eltham on the Visions List)

CONVENTIONS GoH = Guest of Honour, OCP = Other Commitments Permitting, tba= to be announced.

CONSCRIPTION 2009, the 30th New Zealand National Science Fiction convention, is being held at The Grand Chancellor Hotel in Mangere, Auckland, NZ over (their) Queen's Birthday weekend, 27th May to 1st June 2009.GOH: Julie Czerneda, Fan GoH is Robbie Matthews Editor in Chief of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight magazine The convention chair is author Kevin Maclean. For full details see http://www.conscription.sf.org.nz/ConScription/ (Thanks to June Young)

CONJECTURE the 2009 Natcon 5-8 June. (Queens Birthday long weekend in some states. EH) The Holiday Inn, Hindley St, Adelaide. GoH: award winning Canadian spec fic author, JULIE E CZERNEDA NEW PRICES Attending membership currently $120, $80 Student, Child 5-15 $40, Supporting $60. Accom details also available on the site. Accommodation must be booked by 5th May to enjoy special con rates. Winery tours being organised. The con's also calling for volunteers to contact them, e-mail. (info@conjecture2009.org.) Check their website <http://conjecture2009.org/>

ANTICIPATION, the 2009 Worldcon. Montreal, CANADA 6-10 August, 2009.GoH's: Neil Gaiman, Elisabeth Vonarburg, Tom Doherty, David Hartwell and Taral Wayne, Artist GoH Ralph Bakshi. Author Julie Czerneda will be Master of Ceremonies. See <www.anticipationsf.ca> for full details.

CONTINUUM 5: Ether Conference Centre, Mercure Hotel Welcome, 265-281 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne . Galaxies by Gaslight, Friday 14 to Sunday16th August 2009. GoH Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Membership prices ( to 7 August 2009): adult: $180, student/concession: $125, first-time to Continuum: $125, junior (5-16): $35, supporting: $35. ( See site for further details.) Postal address: Continuum 5 GPO Box 603, Melbourne, VIC 3001 website: <http://www.continuum.org.au> (Thanks to Thomas Bull for the update!)

CONFLUX 6, Oct 2-5. The Marque Hotel, Northbourne St, Canberra. GoHs James Minz and Marc McBride. Membership prices (to 30 June): full: $200, student/concession: $160; supporting: $30 (Thanks to Thomas Bull for the updated info.)

The World Fantasy Convention in 2009. Celebrating Edgar Allen Poe's 200th Anniversary. 29th Oct – 1st Nov. Fairmont Hotel, 170 South market St, San Jose, California.

TWILIGHT TOUR GoH PETER FACINELLI & others. BRISBANE: 10 Oct. SYDNEY: 11 Oct.9am - 6pm. See <http://www.thehubproductions.com/twilight-tour-bris-syd> for more details. (Reported by Thomas Bull)

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 25-28th March, 2010 at the Royal Albion Hotel Brighton, England. This is the first time this con has been held outside America. LES EDWARDS (aka Edward Miller) and DAVE CARSON are Artist GoHs/ Membership: Attending 60 UK pounds,(or approx 65 Euros,) <www.whc2010.org>

AUSSIECON 4. Worldcon in Melbourne. Will be held 2-6 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Southbank GoH's: Kim Stanley Robinson, Shaun Tan, Robin Johnson. Memberships Aus $210 attending, $70 supporting. $50 child. You can pay by credit card or paypal (check their website for memberships in other currencies) Postal address Australia in 2010, GPO Box 1212 Melbourne, Australia. 3001. US AGENT: Mark Linneman, PO Box 221878, Sacramento, CA 95822 USA, UK Agents Eve & John Harvey, European Agent: Vince Docherty. <www.aussiecon4.org.au>

The World Fantasy Convention in 2010 will be held in Columbus, Ohio.

RENO 2011 Worldcon bid. The intergalactic travel agents of Reno Convention Fandom, Inc. are delighted to announce a bid to host the 69th World Science Fiction Convention in 2011 (August 17-21) in the "Biggest Little City in the World," Reno, Nevada. See what Reno has to offer at http://www.rcfi. org, or e-mail info@rcfi.org if you want to support this Worldcon bid. Australian Agent: Jean Weber. To pay for presupporting memberships in A$, you can send Jean a cheque (payable to Jean Weber) or pay via Paypal to Australia@rcfi. org. Presupporting rates are A$20 ordinary, A$100 Friend, or for A$110+ you'll be considered a Really Close Friend.

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 ngbooksandmagazi nes.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 & Proof reading services for academic (including theses), fiction & non-fiction. For more details or arrange a quote, e-mail s.murraywhite@gmail.com (Please note new e-mail address.)

KopperKat Manuscript Assessment and Editing service. Industry professional with many years' experience as an editor and best-selling author goes beyond the norm to assist you with your writing. Enquiries: kopperkat@gmail. com

If you want a great fanzine resource offering fanzines in PDF format, go to http://efanzines. com where Bill Burns hosts the electronic versions of a wide variety of the world's best fanzines. Australians whose fanzines are available include Bill Wright, Bruce Gillespie, Kim Huett and Ron Clarke.

The Bullsheet is available online at <www.bullsheet.sf.org.au>. and as a FREE monthly e-mail through the AUSSFBULL mailing list. To join send a blank e-mail to AUSSFBULL-subscribe@yahoogroups. com. The Bullsheet is also available as a snail-mail subscription for 24x55 cent stamps sent to Edwina Harvey c/- 12 Flinders St, Matraville, 2036. Send your news e-mail to edwinafan@yahoo.com.

Looking for hand-made original ceramics and silk with a SF or Fantasy (and increasingly horse and donkey) theme? Check CELESTIAL COBBLER CERAMICS see www.celestialcobbler.com. Mention you saw my add in the Bullsheet and you'll get a "staff discount".

May the 4th be with you!

For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid