The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 49 – April 2006
The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 49
April 2006
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)
GENERAL NEWS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! When Ted and I revivified (thank you, Sally
Beasley!) the Bullsheet, we started out with nothing; 4 years later
we've still got most of it left! (With apologies to Groucho Marx.
Edwina)
CONJURE (the Australian SF Natcon, Brisbane, Easter q.v.) has
recently announced a plethora of guest writers also attending the
convention. Their membership is now $250. Full details available at.
www.conjure.org.au
FFANZ: Congratulations to New Zealand fans, Barbara and Peter Clendon
who as FFANZ (Fan Fund Australia & New Zealand) delegates for this
year will be attending Conjure in a couple of weeks. People attending
Conjure are invited to meet Barbara and Peter at the Convergence 2
Happy Hour held during the convention. (Reported by Rose Mitchell.)
DITMAR VOTING. Attending and supporting members of Conjure are also
eligible to vote for the Ditmar awards which closes soon. On-line
voting must be completed by 11th April, and snail mail voting must be
in the post to be delivered by 5th April.
HUGO NOMINATIONS OUT NOW. These can be viewed on the Emerald City
website: http://www.emcit.com/hugo_section.php?nom.htm
Congratulations to Cheryly Morgan who was nominated in the Hugo fan
writers class, and Emerald City, which was nominated in the
semiprozine class. (Reported by Ted Scribner)
VISIONS WRITERS GROUP was formed to give SF, Fantasy and Horror
writers in QLD a chance to meet their peers and have work critiqued.
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)
LEIGH BLACKMORE has recently set up a TERRY DOWLING e-mail list to
discuss the works of Australian author, Terry Dowling, author of
Wormwood, Rynosseros, Blue Tyson and many more. Details on the list
are availabe at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/terrydowlinggroup.
Congratulations to ROB JAN who will be Radio 3RRR's Intrepid
Travelling radio announcer, spending 15 days in China later this
year. An index to photos of Rob's many costumes including Red Kelly
and Ferengi, are now on line at
www.flickr.com/photos/83287853@N00/sets.
LEGO IN MELBOURNE! The first Australian public Lego fan exhibition,
Bricvention, will be held in Melbourne, June 10-11. You need to pre-
register is you intend to display, participate in presentations, or
operate a trade table (at extra cost) See http://brickventures.com
for full details. (Reported by J. Gibbins.)
REAL RABBITS THIS EASTER? Susan and Graeme Batho run a rabbit refuge
and are looking to rehome several rescued rabbits including
specialized breeds such as black cashmere and long haired Himalayan.
Some are already desexed. They are also willing to offer after-
adoption advice if you're new to rabbit ownership. Rabbits make good
lawn-mowers, and many make affectionate pets, happy to watch TV with
you, or be quiet while you finish that book. For details contact
Susan or Graeme on 02 47515740 or susan.batho@bigpond.com
JOHN LENNON and the ROBIN OF SHERWOOD and FARSCAPE connection!: "And
In The End: The Death and Life of John Lennon" is a stage play
featuring Valentine Pelka (whose TV credits include Tripods and RoS)
as John Lennon as well as Jonathan Hardy (aka the voice of Rygel XVI
in Farscape) Playing in the Anthenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, from 16th
May. See www.andintheend.com for full details. (I saw one of the
Sydney previews and found it a thought-provoking homage to Lennon -
Edwina.)
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
"Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too
dark to read"- Groucho Marx
LEE BATTERSBY's book, "Through Soft Air", a collection of 25 of his
short stories, including his 2 Aurealis Award winning stories has
been published by Prime Books, and can be bought on line for (AUD)
$24.95. Full details should be available on www.primebooks.com soon.)
KAREN MILLER is writing a Stargate SG-1 book which is due out in
September. (Reported on the Infinitas newsletter.)
"I, AM" is a new horror/suspense novel recently released by Deon C.
Saunders based on the war between God's Army and Lucifer's followers.
76 pgs. Published by Double Dragon Publishing, ISBN 1554043158.
Available in print format from PO BOX 54016, 1-5767 Hwy 7 East,
Markham, ONTARIO, L3P 7Y4, Canada. Also available as an e-book
through Double Dragon's website.
ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS issue 22 should be out soon. As a new feature,
the issue will also be available as a downloadable PDF after
subscribers have received their issues. ASIM also intends to increase
subscription rates in a few months. Resubscribe early and beat the
price rise! ASIM will be at Conjure (Sharing a table with Celestial
Cobbler) if you want to buy or renew subscriptions or purchase
current or back issues, T-shirts, hats, mousemats, mugs or pens. Keep
watching www.andromedaspaceways.com for more details.
ANTIPODEAN SF 94 features short, short stories (500 words) by Andrew
J Leadbeatter, Catriona Hoy, Paul Sheringham, Shane Jiraiya Cummings,
Shaun A Saunders, Nadia Harmsen, Steven Cavanagh, Wesley Parish,
Charles Richard Laing and Cynthia M Saracco and can be seen at
http://www.antisf.com or http://purl.nla.gov.au/NET/antisf/
THE WORKERS' PARADISE is a new spec-fic anthology with the theme of
work/workplace relations, to be edited by Russell B. Farr and Nick
Evans. Open to submissions of original stories of 1-7,000 words from
Australian residents until 1 Aug 2006. E-mail subs to
comradefarr@ticonderogaonline.org with the words "Submission
Workers" in the subject line. Pays 2 copies and Aus 1.5 c/word on
publication. See http://ticonderogaonline.org/publications/ for full details.
ULTRAVERSE e-zine is posting a short online survey regarding story
content and advertising at www.ultraverse.us/200603/survey.html.
(Reported by Chris Africa.)
CLARION SOUTH 2007, an intensive 6 week spec-fic workshop held at
Brisbane's Griffith Uni in Jan/Feb 07 will have Lee Battersby, Simon
Brown, Gardiner Dozois, Rob Hood, Kelly Link & Janeen Webb as tutors.
See www.clarionsouth.org for full details. Applications close June 06.
(Reported by Robert Hoge on the Vision Writers list)
LEIGH BLACKMORE's Raven books, specialising in dark and horror
fiction also includes Sequence comics. For the February catalogue
e-mail lvxnox@iinet.net.au.
CHUCK MCKENZIE is selling a collection of books and Dr Who
memorabilia. Details available on his website:
http://members.optushome.com.au/chuckmck1/
GRAHAM STONE has a catalogue of SF books and pulp SF magazines
(Amazing Stories, Analog, Galaxy SF) for sale. For a copy of the
catalogue send a sase to 205/24 Victoria St, Burwood, NSW, 2134.
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. (Tally
$48.60) Books looking for new homes: "The Truth About Magic" by Dave
Luckett (new), Audiobook: "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" by
Jules Verne featuring John de Lancie and Leonard Nimoy., also a Dukes
of Hazard Play and Read record, 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. Cards and
books will also be on sale at the Celestial Cobbler half-table at
Conjure. Thanks to Martin Dunne and Kathy Brunker for recent
purchases.
HATCH, MATCH AND DISPATCH
BIRTHS:
RENE AUBERJONOIS has become a grandfather. Grandson Julian was born
on Jan 25th to his daughter Tessa and her partner, Adrian. (Reported
by Anne Devrall.)
GRAVELY ILL:
Writer Kurt Von Trojan, author of The Atrocity Shop and the Transing
novels, as well as many short stories, suffering from bone and kidney
cancer.
Melbourne Star Trek fan, DIANE MARCHANT, is gravely ill and in
hospital with pancreatic cancer. Diane has been the Australian
representative for "The Welcomittee", a voluntary group that linked
Star Trek fans to each other in the early years before Star Trek
fandom became established. In this capacity Diane was instrumental in
the formation of NSW Trek club, Astrex, and Vic Trek club, Austrek,
(Thanks to Sue Bursztynski who passed on the news with Diane's
permission.)
RECOVERING:
Writer GRACE DUGAN is hopefully now at home after being in hospital
and operated on to have a streptococcus milleri (spelling?) abscess
removed from her brain.
DEATHS:
British actor JACK WILD best known for his portrayal of the Artful
Dodger in the movie, Oliver Twist, and Jimmy in the classic TV series
H.R. Puffnstuff. Wild also had a guest appearance in Dr Who, and
played Much the miller's son in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Jack
Wild died from mouth cancer aged 53.
Russian SF writer, STANISLAW LEM died on 27th March aged 84. Lem's
novels were translated into many languages and sold in the millions.
His book, "Hospital of the Transfiguration" was censored for 8 years
by communist authorities before being released in 1956, and his
novel Solaris was twice produced as a film. (Reported by Ted Scribner
on the Eidolist.)
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. Meetings for April: 7th April: Trivia and
Easter food - hot cross buns, chocolate eggs, bunnies and bilbies.
14th April. Good Friday. No Meeting. April 21st, Book Club. The Moon
Maid by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Harry Harrison's book, Bill the
Galactic Hero. April 28th: Board, card and video games.
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
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 )
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 2006 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, Romance and
Science Fiction and Fantasy. The groups start with Mystery and Crime
at 10am and meander into SF (and sometimes Romance, depending on
demand) from 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.
Meetings held every 3 weeks. Upcoming meetings: Sat 22nd April, Sat
13th May, Sat June 3, Sat June 24th.
SYDNEY FANS IN THE PUB. Meet on the first Tuesday of the month at the
Civic Hotel, Saloon Bar, Crn Pitt & Goulburn Sts, Sydney. From
6.30pm. (Reported by Zara Baxter.)
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 April 21st, May 19, June 16th, July 21,
Aug 18th, Sept 15th, Oct 20th, 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 nonmembers. (Starwalking Melbourne
has Force 4 convention in May. q.v. conventions.)
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.
FIRST CONTACT Melbourne. Sat 8th April. Nick Tate (Space 1999), Jane
Badler ("V"), and Herb Jefferson Jr (Original Battlestar Galactica
series.). Tickets $77 general or $66 with fan club membership. See
www.firstcontactconventions.com.au, e-mail:
info@firstcontactconventions.com.au, or phone 0439 444 901
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION: Sydney. Sun, 9th April Nick Tate (Space
1999), Jane Badler ("V"), and Herb Jefferson Jr (Original Battlestar
Galactica series.). At Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club, Sydney.
Tickets $66 for FSF members, $99 non-members and $250 VIP tickets. E-
mail fsf@exemail.com.au,, see www.fsf.net.au, or phone 02 9523 8385
CONJURE. National SF convention, Brisbane, Easter, 14-17 April,
2006.GoHs Cory Doctrow, Bruce Sterling, Sean Williams, Jonathan
Strahan, plus many more! Membership $250. Student/Concession and High
School student discounts available. Children 12 and younger free.
Check their website www.conjure.org.au
NECRINOMICON: 14-17 April.(Easter) Roleplaying con. Newtown High
School of Performing Arts. See www.necronomicon.necro06/index.php for
full details.(Reported in the Infinitas newsletter)
CONCUSSION: 57th British National SF convention. 14-17 April, 2006,
To be held at The Moat House, Congress Rd, Glasgow. See
www.eastercon2006.org for full details
SUPANOVA Brisbane. 21-23April. RNA Showgrounds. See:
www.supanova.com.au
LEVIATHAN. 22-23 April. Table-top wargaming con. Quakers Hill High
School, Quakers Hill. See www.westernsuburbsgamessociety.com for full
details.
ARMAGEDDON (NZ ) 29-30 April. Wellington Event Centre, Wellington NZ.
GoHs Clare Kramer (Glory:Buffy), Roger Bumpass (Spongebob), Geoff
Jogns. NZ$15 per day. Bookings through ticketek. See www.pulpexpo.com
THE HUB. Sydney. May 6-7. GoH's: Jewel Staite; Clare Kramer,
Jonathon Woodward, Larry Bagby; John Billingsley Nicola
Scott.Tickets: VIP $400, Weekend $150, Sat only $80, Sun only $90
Book online at http://www.thehubproductions.com
Terra Nova. 6th May. Adelaide. (No venue announced) GoH Nana Visitor,
Clare Kramer, Arlene Martel. Ph 08 9396 2517 or see novaevents.com.
CONCLAVE: NZ National SF & Fantasy con. 2-5 June, 2006. Mount
Richmond Lodge, 576 Mt Wellington Hw, Mt Wellington, Auckland,
NZ.GoH's Joan Vinge, Jim Fenkel, Steve Jackson. Han GoH Kevin
MacLean. See http://conclave.sf.org.nz for full details. (Thanks to
Andrienne Losin for passing on this information.)
CONFLUX 3: Queens Birthday Weekend, 9-12 June 2006. National Museum.
GoHs Ellen Datlow, Kate Forsyth, Sara Douglass and Jackie French.
Also offering communication links with Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Ray
Bradbury, and Lloyd Alexander. Conflux will also feature a film
festival, a medieval feast and a gaming stream as well as an art show
offering $6,000 in prizes. If you refer someone who hasn't been to a
Conflux before, you will receive a $25 voucher to spend in the
dealers room. Attending m/ship $190, $130 concession and $35
supporting.. See http://www.conflux.org.au or e-mail
info@conflux.org.au .PO Box 903 Belconnen, ACT 2616 or phone
0421005511.
CONTINUUM. 4-6 August, Victoria Hotel, Lt Collins St, Melbourne.
GoHs Shaun Tan, Charles Stross, Margo Lanagan, Bruce Gillespie.
Website: http://www.continuum.org.au
LA CON IV, the 64th Worldcon. 23-27 August, 2006. Anaheim Convention
Centre, Hilton & Marriott hotels, Anaheim. GoH's Connie Willis, James
Gurney, Howard De Vore, Frankie Thoman. Attending m/ship $225 ($au)
Conversion from supporting membership to attending, $165 (au)
Kids/supporting memberships $65. e-mail info@laconIV.org, Postal
address LA Con c/- S.C.I.F.I. inc, PO Box 8442, Van Nuys, CA, 91409.
USA. Australians can buy memberships to LaCon by sending a cheque or
money order made payable to their Australian Agent, Edwin A. Scribner
c/- 12 Richmount St, Cronulla NSW 2230, preferably with a printout of
http://www.laconiv.org/2006/reg/signupaus.htm with personal details
filled in. Alternatively send your full name, address and email
address. Attending membership is currently $225 and supporting or
child (5 - 11) $65.
FIRST CONTACT con. 24th Sept. Roadshow Theatre, State Library,
LaTrobe St, Melbourne. $77 general. See
www.firstcontactconventions.com.au for full details.
ConQuest, 29rh Sept – 1st Oct. Chifley at Lennons, Brisbane. GoHs:
Gary Lockwood, Keir Dullea, (2001: A Space Odyssey) Katy Manning (Dr
Who), Richard Arnold and Sonny Whitelaw. $270. See
www.conquestforever.com for full details.
TERRA NOVA 14th Oct. Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, Adelaide. See
novaevents.com for full details.
FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION STARGATE CON October 28th Sydney, (and
29th Oct Brisbane. Venue TBA) GoH Rachel Luttrell. Membership $120
FSF members, $130 non-members, $400 VIP. See www.fsf.
www.fsf.net.au, or phone 02 9523 8385
SUPANOVA Sydney, Comics/Pop culture. 27-29 October, Wharf 8, 53-59
Hickson Rd, Sydney.
ARMAGEDDON (NZ) 21-23 Oct. Aotea Centre, Auckland. GoH: JMS (Bab 5)
and others. (NZ)$15 Or $350 gold. See www.pulpexpo.com/info.html.
NULLUS ANXIETAS The First Australian Discworld Convention. New dates
Feb 9-11, 2007. Melbourne. Attending $160, (Gala dinner to cost an
extra $90) see www.ausdwcon.org for further details. (NB their web
site seems to want you to sign in. Be prepared to fossick to find the
information you're after. Edwina.)
CONVERGENCE 2. Aus Natcon. Rydges Hotel, Melbourne. Queens Birthday
weekend, 8-11 June, 07. Theme:YA genre fiction. GoH Isobelle
Carmody. See http://www.natcon.org.au/2007. (Reported by Rose
Mitchell.)
XIVAMC, Medieval re-enactment group. Easter 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.)
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
Geneva Convention a civilised worldcon bid for Switzerland in 2008.
http://www.thegenevaconvention.org/
Australia 2010. A Worldcon bid. See
http://world.std.com/~sbarsky/melbourne.
BULLSHEET READERS STRAWPOLL: If you've read this far, and you want to
say "Hi" please drop us a line at edwinafan@yahoo.com.
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.
Coode St Review lists Australian publishing news and achievements by
Australian writers http://www.sf.org.au/coodestreetnews.
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
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_or
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.
http://members.optushome.com.au/guests/Cobbler.html.
Happy Easter, May the Easter Bilby be generous to you! Happy
Passover, Happy Autumn Equinox!
For no sufficiently explained reason this Fanzine still supports The
Minneapolis in '73 Worldcon Bid