THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION BULLSHEET #131 – November 26 1999
A jejune newszine produced for the Australian National Science
Fiction Association by Marc Ortlieb, P.O. Box 215, Forest Hill,
Vict, 3131, AUSTRALIA
(e-mail: mortlieb@vicnet.net.au).
Postal subscriptions $6-00 for ten.(Cheques made out to
Marc Ortlieb please. Stamps accepted). Available for items of
gossip. E-mailed direct, a once off $10 fee. Free copy from
aus.sf on Internet or at
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/bullsheet.htm
1999 AUREALIS AWARDS
The Second Aurealis Newsletter notes the dissolution of the
Society for Australian Speculative Fiction writers and its support
for SF Australia. It also notes that the 1999 Aurealis Awards will
be presented in Adelaide at the South Australian Writers' Centre,
Second Floor 187 Rundle Mall Adelaide S.A. at 6:00pm on Monday
March 6 2000. (This is during Adelaide's Writer's Week.)
The newsletter also notes that Aurealis will no longer read
submissions from December 1 to March 1. Further details are
available on their Web site http://www.aurealis.hl.net
IN PRINT
Eidolon 28 has hit the shops, and features fiction by Chris
Lawson, Paul Hassing, Marianne de Pierres, Andrew Morris, Simon Ng
and Jodie Kewley plus Greg Egan's column, reviews and a Sean Tan
Interview. It also notes the amicable departure of co-editor
Jonathan Strahan.
Slow Glass Books Catalogue 130 lists Jonathan Harlen's Kristen and
Rick Wilkinson's The Ancient Secret and Teeth of the Storm as new
releases.
BULLSHEET MEDIA WATCH
Chandler winner and Murdoch University Librarian Grant Stone
scored himself a full page feature in Who Magazine 11/11/99. But,
rather than concentrate on Grant's role as raconteur, sf
librarian, or general good guy, Grant is singled out for his
thesis "BarbieAn Ecology of Popular Culture". The accompanying
photo is of Grant groping six Barbie Dolls.
PERIPATETIC FANS
David Evans notes "My application for the "green card" has been
successful so I'm of to San Francisco. I'll be working with
Oracle, starting 17th Jan 2000. " Meanwhile, Perth fan Sue Ann
Barber is moving to Melbourne in January and Far North Queensland
fans Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber are off gallivanting around the
United States in February, for a trip that takes in Corflu and
Potlatch. Judith Hanna will be in Perth and Sydney during December
and January.
FAN FUNDS
The 2000 FFANZ race, to send an Australian fan to New Zealand, is
open for nominations. The winner will attend Con d'Or The 2000 New
Zealand National SF Convention. You require three nominators, and
are required to undertake to be "an utter rampant nutcase and
ratbag for the duration of the convention." Contact FFANZ 2000,
P.O. Box 33 Seville Vic 3139 for further details.
AUSTRALIA IN 2007
A group of Melbourne-based fans intend to stage a Natcon within
the vicinity of Melbourne in 2002, and use the Natcon process as a
practice-run for bidding and staging a Worldcon in Australia in
2007.
We are currently 'brainstorming' ideas -- a bit like throwing
stuff against the wall and seeing what sticks. It is envisioned
that the Natcon Project (a two year project) will run in
conjunction with the Worldcon project (an eight year project). The
Worldcon project should then benefit from the experience,
expertise and lessons learned from the Natcon Project. We don't
see the Worldcon process beginning until after Easter 2000, but in
time to stake a table and perhaps a room party at Chicon in
August.
We see our immediate and long term goals as:
Recognise the different interests of the various fannish groups by
use of Guests of Honour and Programming streams that cater to the
mixed interest of fandom in this country.
Converge the enthusiasm of fandom in general to further develop
people and fannish relationships to provide an infrastructure for
the next Worldcon in Australia.
To set precedent of staging the Natcon at regular intervals in
different states.
To set precedent of staging Worldcons in Australia at regular
intervals
To build and develop the personal and professional skill base of
the committee and staff of the cons.
To continue the culture of fandom in Australia and around the
world by introducing people who have an interest in SF but who may
not otherwise be involved in group activities, to the concept of
fandom.
To unite the perceived chasms between Literary and Media fandom in
Australia
And to develop an Australian-specific process for running
conventions.
All very lofty and idealist, but the people involved in these
projects were also heavily involved in Aussiecon Three and had
such a positive experience out of the Worldcon that they are all
eager beaver to go again. Some say we have completely lost it
after running a worldcon but that's subjective!
As Nick Price (formerly Head of Fixed Functions at A3) says, "We
know were we went wrong last time and next time around know how to
make it better".
The small but dedicated band of people involved at this stage,
code named 'The Build and Bid Stage' meet regularly at Rose
Mitchell's (Head, Finance Division A3) each Friday night before
the MSFC. If people are interested in being involved they should
contact Rose at mitchell@vicnet.net.au
CONVENTION NEWS
I've been talked into acting as the Australian Agent for the Nieuw
Amsterdam in '04 WorldCon Bid. Aussiecon Three held its final
envelope stuffing last weekend and so supporting members and
attending members who didn't attend should be getting their little
packages of goodies real soon now.
UPCOMING CONVENTIONS
PHANCON 99
November 28 Phantasia Bookshop 443 High St Penrith NSW 2750.
Guests Ian Irvine, Caiseal Mor, Richard Harland, Kate Forsyth,
Maxine McArthur, Traci Harding & Alison Goodman. $25. Contact P.O.
Box 1255 Penrith NSW.
WHOVENTION 2000
Australian National Doctor Who Convention. February 4 - 6 2000
GsoH: Sylvester McCoy (7th Dr) and Nicola Bryant (Peri). Fan
Guest: Karen Herkes Rydges North Sydney $120 to January 15th. At
door rate is $140 and day rate of $80. Children's under 16, $10
less than adult rates. Make all cheques payable to Whovention (not
Whovention 2000) P.O. Box 4 Epping NSW 2121 Australia
whovention@eagles.com.au http://www.eagles.com.au/~whovention
HIGHLANDER DOWN UNDER 3
April 14-16 2000 Mercure Hotel Brisbane GsoH Peter Wingfield,
Valentine Pelka & Anthony De Longis $165 P.O. Box 198 Brisbane
Albert St Qld 4002 ph (07) 3282 4220. sonjav@powerup.com.au
http://www.powerup.com.au/~sonjav/
SWANCON 25
39th National Australian Science Fiction Convention April
20th-24th, 2000. Ascot Inn, Belmont, WA. GsoH Connie Willis and
Ian Nichols. Gratuitous interstate guest "Mitch" Other guests
include Stephen Dedman, Sue Isle, Jack Dann, Janeen Webb, Sean
Williams and Tess Williams swancon25@megabyte.murdoch.edu.au
http://www.swancon.iinet.net.au Swancon 25 GPO Box G429 Perth
W.A. 6892 $70 Aus until January 1st 2000 $20
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION
Mini-Con May 7 2000 10:00am to 6:00pm Guest (commitments pending)
: Nicole deBoer. $50 FSF members and $60 nonmembers (02) 9523 8385
fsf@nlc.net.auP.O Box 797, Fairfield, NSW, 1860.
CON D'OR
The 2000 New Zealand National SF Convention June 3 to 5 2000 West
Plaza Hotel Wellington GsoH Tad Williams Sara Douglass and Maree
Sole. Contact enquiries@condor.sf.org.nz or
http://www.condor.sf.org.nz
CHICON 2000
The 58th World Science Fiction Convention August 31 to September
4, 2000 - Hyatt Regency Chicago IL GsoH Ben Bova, Bob Eggleton,
Jim Baen, Bob and Anne Passovoy, Toastmaster: Harry Turtledove
$US135.00 for residents of North America $US150.00 rate for bona
fide residents of other continents P. O. Box 642057, Chicago IL
60664, fax: 312-946-3779 http://www.chicon.org/
SWANCON 2001 THE MASQUERADE,
40th Australian National Science Fiction Convention April 13-16
2001. GsoH tba The Rydges Hotel Perth. P.O. Box 162 Nedlands W.A.
6909. swancon2001committee@egroups.com
http://www.sf.org.au/swancon2001
ODYSSEY CON
The 2001 New Zealand National SF Convention Auckland.
enquiries@odyssey-con.sf.org.nz
THE MILLENNIUM PHILCON
The 59th World Science Fiction Convention August 30 to September
3, 2001 The Pennsylvania Convention Center & Philadelphia Marriott
Hotel GsoH Greg Bear, Stephen Youll, Gardner Dozois, George
Scithers Toastmaster: Esther Friesner. Supporting $US 40
Millennium Philcon Post Office Box 310 Huntingdon Valley, PA
19006-0310 U.S.A. phil2001@unix3.netaxs.com
http://www.netaxs.com/~phil2001
COSTUME CON 20
February 15-18 2002 Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre
$A50Daily Admission $100 until Dec 31st 2000; $A130 Jan 1st 2001 -
Dec 31st 2001 $160 Jan 1st 2002 - Feb 15th 2002 The Australian
Costumers' Guild PO Box 322 Bentleigh Vic 3204
stilskin@netspace.net.au http://www.vicnet.net.au/~costume/
CON JOSE
The 60th World Science Fiction Convention August 29 to September
2, 2002 San Jos McEnery Convention Centre GsoH Vernor Vinge,
David Cherry, Bjo & John Trimble, Ferdinand Feghoot Toastmaster
Tad Williams. P.O. Box 61363 Sunnyvale CA 94088-1363 U.S.A.
ConJose@sfsfc.org http://www.sfsfc.org/worldcon/ Attending $A150.
Supporting $A50.
GoH = Guest of Honour
O.C.P. = Other Commitments Permitting
tba= to be announced.
CLUB NEWS
The Westgarth Cinema, in Northcote, is having another 24 hour SF
Movie Marathon on December 11. On the list are 7:00am Free
Breakfast; 8:00am Forbidden Planet; 9:55am Contact; 12:40pm My
Favourite Martian; 2:30pm Wing Commander; 4.25pm The 13th Floor;
6:05pm Dinner break; 7:00pm Star Wars - The Phantom Menace; 9:35pm
Deep Blue Sea; 11:35pm The Astronaut's Wife; 1:35am Close
Encounters of the Third Kind (Special Edition!); 4:05am The
Matrix; 6:25am Men In Black
EVENTS
Note that there is an annual calendar available on the Vicnet SF
web site at http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/1999cal.htm
N.S.W.
SOUTHERN SCIENCE FICTION GROUP December 11th 7pm Christmas Dinner
Yummies at Bexley Postal Address 15 Shade Place Lugarno (02)
9534-3595. elvey@mcme.com.au
SKYFORCE SYDNEY December 12 Christmas Party Lidcombe Catholic
Club, 24 John St Lidcombe
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION December 12 Special overseas guest
attending (TBA) Lidcombe Catholic Club, 24 John St Lidcombe
fsf@nlc.net.au P.O Box 797 Fairfield NSW 1860 Phone/ Fax (02)9523
8385
QUEENSLAND
NEW ALLIANCE December 5 PO Box 12083 Elizabeth St/BC Brisbane Qld
4002
CONQUEST December 5 A.G.M.Red Cross Centre 409 Adelaide St
Brisbane GPO Box 1376 Brisbane Qld 4001
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
CRITICAL MASS February 2 2000 Critical Mass Quiz Night Writers
Centre Adelaide PO Box 3355, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA 5000
dmw@pobox.com
1999 AUREALIS AWARDS Monday March 6 2000 6:00pm South Australian
Writers' Centre, Second Floor 187 Rundle Mall Adelaide S.A.
VICTORIA
MSFC November 26 Babylon 5 Wrap Up December 3 Christmas Party
Preparations December 10 Christmas Party.8:00 pm St. David's
Uniting Church Hall, 74 Melville Road, West Brunswick P.O. Box 212
World Trade Centre Melbourne 3005
FRIDAY NIGHT MOB November 26 December 3 ANZAPA Collection
December 10 6-7.30pm. Informal eating and nattering. Myers
Cafeteria Melbourne
SARA DOUGLASS AT SLOW GLASS BOOKS November 26 5:30pm Slow Glass
Books 305 Swanston St Melbourne
ENTERPRISE .November 27 Sailing Day Postal Address P.O. Box 466
World Trade Centre Melbourne 3005 With Australian Babylon 5 Club
enterprise@minerals.csiro.au
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~enterprise/(03) 9515 3226 (7pm to 10pm
only)
SKYFORCE November 27 Christmas Party St Mark's Church Hall
Camberwell. P.O. Box 427 Northcote 3070 kryten@werple.net.au
http://www.imageworks.com.au/starwalking.htm
AUSTREK December 4 2:00pm Klingon Kristmas Party St Mark's
Church Hall Cnr Canterbury & Burke Rds, Camberwell GPO Box 5206AA
Melbourne 3001 03 9489 8743 http://www.vicnet.net.au/~austrek/
austrek@vicnet.net.au
COSTUMERS GUILD December 5. PO Box 322 Bentleigh Vic 3204.
stilskin@netspace.net.au http://www.vicnet.net.au/~costume/
DANDENONG VALLEY SCIENCE FICTION GROUP December 8 Christmas Party
and Trivia Night Meeting Room Dandenong Library Stuart St
Dandenong Ann McGann P.O. Box 706 Frankston Vic 3199 Phone Daniel
9544 9775 e-mail luddite@hotmail.com 3552
THE MELBOURNE ANIME SOCIETY December 11 5:00pm R2 Theatre in the
Rotunda at Monash University Clayton Campus
charley@alphalink.com.au http://www.anime.com.au/mas/index.html
1470 North Rd Clayton Vic 3168
WESTGARTH CINEMA MOVIE MARATHON December 11 Westgarth Cinema
Northcote
MULTIVERSE December 19 11:00am Hoyts Melbourne Muppets From Space
preview December 22 7:00pm Greater Union Melbourne Inspector
Gadget preview http://www.vicnet.net.au/~multivrs/
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
THE WEST LODGE December 4 Collins Street Centre, Collins Street
South Perth P.O. Box 190 Mt Lawley WA 6050
http://www.iinet.net.asu/~fizzgig/
FANZINES
AUREALIS NEWSLETTER #2 P.O. Box 2164 Mt Waverley Vic 3149
CONSCRIPT Conquest Newsletter P.O. Box 1376 Brisbane 4001
ETHEL THE AARDVARK 87 Paul Ewins for the MSFC P.O. Box 212 World
Trade Centre Melbourne Vic 3005
THYME 127 Alan Stewart P.O. Box 222 World Trade Centre Melbourne
Vic 8005
THE SOUTHERN FANDOM CONFEDERATION BULLETIN Vol 7 No 5 Julie Wall
470 Ridge Rd Birmingham AL 35206 USA
VANAMONDE 328-332 John Hertz 236 S. Coronado St No 409, Los
Angeles CA 90057 USA
SLOW GLASS BOOKS CATALOGUE 130 Cheryl Louch for Slow Glass Books
GPO Box 2708X Melbourne Vic 3001
ELECTRONIC ZINES
ANSIBLE 148 Dave Langford, 94 London Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1
5AU, UK. ansible@cix.co.uk
EMERALD CITY #50 Cheryl Morgan cmorgan@ceres.wallis.com
DEADLINES
Bullsheet #132 December 7 1999.
ANZAPA 192 December 8 1999
FFANZ 2000 Nominations December 31 1999
George Turner Prize January 28 2000
GUFF Nominations April 14 2000
This Fanzine Supports The Minneapolis in '73 WorldCon Bid The
Toronto in 2003 WorldCon Bid. The Nieuw Amsterdam in '04 WorldCon
Bid and the Australia in 2007 WorldCon Bid
NOTED
(Gleaned from the newsgroups and elsewhere)
Norman Stansfield noted "I was just perusing Harry Knowles' Ain't
It Cool site www.aint-it-cool-news.com and was horrified to read
that the great Forry Ackerman is in court, fighting for his rights
over his magazine 'Famous Monsters'.
You can find the details at the Ain't it Cool site, or go have a
look at Forry's own site: http://www.best.com/~4forry/ where he
tells you *his* version of it (and you get a free virtual tour of
the Ackermansion for your trouble).
Why should you care that he's in court? Because he's fighting to
regain control of what has not unreasonably been dubbed 'his
life's work' - the magazine 'Famous Monsters.
It has been taken from him and he has, allegedly, been denied the
right to even mention that he created it - his idiomatic turns of
phrase (he has always claimed to live in 'Horrorweird,
Karloffornia' for example) are, allegedly, now the property of
the magazine's new administration and he infringes their copyright
when he uses them. Ray Bradbury has committed himself to
struggling out of his sick bed and appearing in court, if
necessary.
If Bradbury is prepared to risk his health for his friend, I think
the least we can do is be aware, take an interest, maybe even drop
him a line of support."
Regarding Bradbury, Gary Farber noted reports that Ray Bradbury
is recovering from a stroke. Reuters quoted producer John Dayton,
as saying the author lost partial use of his right side in the
stroke but was expected to make a full recovery.
Leah Zeldes Smith noted "Ed Connor was recently struck by a car
and killed. Connor is probably best known for his unique fanzine,
S.F. Echo. In the 1970s, after a recalcitrant Peoria postal clerk
refused to let him mail the mimeographed zine at book rate because
it didn't look like a book, Connor took to hand-binding the
Twil-tone pages in book format, a tremendous effort.
He hadn't been active in quite a while, but many of us remember
S.F. Echo fondly. Like Martin Alger and many others who've gone
before, Connor was a champion of fannish ingenuity."
Garth Spencer reports on CUFF Canadian Unity Fan Fund.
"A trip report from this year's fan fund winner is posted at
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/~hrothgar/cuff/triprep.htm. "What I Did on My
October Vacation" covers the 1999 Canvention, inCONsequential II,
and the 1999 Aurora Awards for Canadian SF, fantasy and fanac.
A nomination ballot for the 1999/2000 CUFF race, for a Canadian
fan to attend the 2000 Canvention (TT2000 in Toronto, July 2000),
is posted at http://www.vcn.bc.ca/~hrothgar/cuff/nombalt.htm. "
Corflatch sends its PR #2. Seattle will definitely be the place to
be between February 25th and March 5 2000. For more details,
contact them at P.O. Box 31848, Seattle WA 98103-1848. Included
with this PR were the complete voting details on the FAAN Awards
for 1999 which featured Ian Gunn as Best Fan Artist and Karen
Johnson as Best New Fanzine Fan. Other Australians (and
ex-patriates) to get a guernsey were Judith Hanna, Bruce
Gillespie, Terry Frost, Phil Wlodarczyk, Craig Hilton,
Metaphysical Review, Ethel the Aardvark, Interstellar Ramjet
Scoop, Thyme, Yvonne Rousseau, Karen Johnson, and Ditmar