The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 81 – December 2008

The Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet 81
December 2008
ISSN 1445-4319 (print version), ISSN 1445-4327 (online version)

GENERAL NEWS

Welcome to this "hastily thrown together" issue of The Bullsheet.
(There were a couple of computer glitches, and ah geez, it's hard to
get out of holiday mode once you're in it! Be warned, I'll be back on
holidays next month as well, so that issue might be a bit on the
scrappy side as well! Edwina)

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS: Darth Vader, Jedi
Knights and Stormtroopers were a surprise attraction in this year's
Sydney Christmas Parade on Sunday 30th November.

STARWARS: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS IMAGINATION exhibit at the (Sydney)
Powerhouse Museum has a special opening night on Wednesday, 3rd
December from 8pm. Tickets to the opening night are $32 adult ($20
children. Discounts for PHM members,) includes food and
entertainment. Regular entry to the exhibit is $24 adults, $12
children, $18 concession and $60 for families. Check
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/starwars/ for full details.

STILL POWERING ON: The Powerhouse Museum (Sydney) also has a Young
Blood new designers Christmas market from 6-9pm on Friday, 12th
December and 8am-5pm on Sat 13 December.

STARS FOR CHRISTMAS. Stuck for that suitable Christmas gift? Sydney
Observatory is offering "Name a Star" packages as Christmas presents
for $300. The offer closes on 17th December to ensure delivery by
Christmas (of the package, not the actual star, we presume. EH)

SET THEIR PULSARS RACING: Sydney Observatory has JOCELYN BELL, one of
the first scientists to notice data that led to the discovery of
spinning collapsed stars, later called Pulsars, speaking on Tuesday
9th December from 2-3.30pm. Free admission, but phone to book on 02
9921 3485.

JOHNNY PHILLIPS WEREWOLF DETECTIVE, the Collected Case Files by
ROBBIE MATTHEWS will be launched by Australian Speculative Fiction
at The Bogong Room, Gorman House, Ainslie Avenue, Ainslie (ACT) at
6.30pm Wednesday 10 December, 2008. Robbie Matthews is a founding
member of the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild and was instrumental
in its early anthologies, including Nor of Human, Machinations and
Elsewhere. Robbie is also the Editor-in-Chief of Andromeda Spaceways
Magazine. His Johnny Werewolf stories are all collected in this one
publication, including three new unpublished instalments. RSVP to
assist with catering. dmhanson@ozemail.com.au

SF SUMMER MOVIES: City of Embers, the story of a subterranean city
that's protected its inhabitants for 200 years, but is now breaking
down is in cinemas now. (According to the Margaret & David movie
review show, it's probably best suited to older children and adults
due to "a pretty scary monster"). A remake of The Day the Earth Stood
Still is out in the new year.

DOCTOR DOWNUNDER. Culture Shock Events, First Contact conventions and
FSF will be presenting PETER DAVISON the 5th Dr Who at Dooleys
Lidcombe Catholic Club, John St, Lidcome (Sydney) from 10am on
Saturday 22nd March, 2009. $80 * general admission, $60* for DWCA and
FSF members. $40 for a photo with Davison. To book for Sydney phone
1300 553 237, e-mail rob@cultureshockevents.com or snail mail Culture
Shock Events PO Box 797, Fairfield, NSW 1860.
PETER DAVISON will then be appearing in Melbourne on Sun 23rd March.
(Venue TBA) Phone 0439 444 901 or e-mail
info@firstcontactconventions.com.au for more details.(* Payment by
credit card incurs an additional 3% fee ) (Reported by Dallas Jones)

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AWARDS: The Sir Julius Vogel sub-committee of SFFANZ
is currently accepting nominations for science fiction and fantasy
works first published or released in the 2008 calendar year (and
written by NZ writers) ***Nominations open 1st December 08 and close
28th February 09*** This is the New Zealand equivalent of the
Ditmars. For more information including rules and eligibility
criteria go to http://sffanz.sf.org.nz/sjv/sjvAwards.shtml To make
nominations please email sjv_awards@sffanz.sf.org.nz. Please send
one nomination per email and include as many contact details as
possible for the nominee as well as yourself.
The voting will occur at Conscription,
http://www.conscription.co.nz/ConScription/ - the national science
fiction convention being held in Auckland, New Zealand over Queen's
Birthday, 27 May - 1 June 2009

ANTICIPATION, the 2009 Worldcon (q.v. conventions) has announced it
will be increasing memberships on 1st January.
The five judges for the 2009 WORLD FANTASY AWARDS (dealing with
material published in 2008) are Jenny Blackford, Ellen Klages, Delia
Sherman, Chris Roberson and Peter Heck. Parcels of books have already
started to roll in. See
http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/judges.html for full details

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION will be held from 25-28th March, 2010 at the
Royal Albion Hotel Brighton, England. This will be the 20th
anniversary of this convention and the first time it has been held
outside America. Membership is currently 50 pounds. See
www.whc2010.org for more details. (Reported by Stephen Jones)

BookViewCafe.com is a new website that offers fiction from the likes
of Ursula K. Le Guin, Vonda N. McIntyre, and Laura Anne Gilman for
free. While most of the fiction on the site will be free, authors
will also be offering expanded work, additional content, print
versions, or subscriptions for a fee.See http://www.bookviewcafe.com/
for more details.

WE ARE HERE!!! Just a reminder (after a few people have said they've
had trouble finding the new web address) that the web version of
Bullsheet is now at www.bullsheet.sf.org.au. Ted updates the website
with any news happening between release dates of the monthly Bull e-
mail newsletter. Celestial Cobbler silk and ceramics can be viewed
at www.celestialcobbler.com.

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

JOHNNY PHILLIPS WEREWOLF DETECTIVE, the Collected Case Files by
ROBBIE MATHEWS Welcome to Sydney where the undead and paranormal
creatures live side by side with humans. Here Johnny Phillips ekes
out an existence as a detective. Watch out for those werewolves,
zombies, sorcerers and vampires. Deal with it! Johnny does. WARNING!
THIS COLLECTIONS IS SAFE FOR YOUNG ADULTS! RRP $15.00 , can be
purchased by paypal For more information www.mithril.com.au/specfic

FISH OUT OF WATER is the latest in the Fred the Mermaid paranormal
romance series by Mary Janice Davidson. Mermaid Fredericka Bimm is
determined to make her relationship with Arthur work - but why is she
so unhappy? Meanwhile she has to stop the Undersea Folk floundering
in the media spotlight. Published in December by Piatkus. ISBN
9780749909079 RRP $17.99.

THE QUIET WAR is an exotic, fast paced space opera from PAUL McAULEY
to be published by Gollancz in December. RRP $32.99

BEYOND THE SHADOWS, the third book in the Night Angel Trilogy by
BRENT WEEKS, is published in December by Orbit. RRP $19.99. .

BLOOD OF ELVES, the latest instalment about Geralt, the witcher of
riva, by Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowksi will be published by
Gollancz on 12th December. ISBN 9780575083189. RRP $32.99

RED GLOVES by BETH VAUGHAN is a fantasy about a mercenary raised to
the blade and trained in the art of war, named by the prophecy to be
The Chosen. But what if she isn't the only Chosen? To be published by
Gollancz in December. $32.99.

THE PAGAN STONE the finale to NORA ROBERTS' latest trilogy will be
released in December. RRP $19.99.

ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE welcomes its new co-op members
who are applying themselves to reading slush with much enthusiasm
(they'll learn! ; - ) EH), and generally settling in to a variety of
new jobs around the place.

ANTIPODEAN SF issue 126 features short short fiction (500 words or
less) from the following writers: Mark Farrugia, Kurt Kurchmeier,
Jillian Moffatt, Richard Ridyard,Shaun A. Saunders, Greg
Wickenhofer, John Craig, PS Cottier, Adrian Gibb and James C.
Clar See www.antisf.com for full details.

TERRA INCOGNITA AUSTRALIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION is a podcast that's
been launched on itunes and the TISF website at
http://www.facebook .com/l.php? u=http:// www.tisf. com.au
This is a new monthly podcast of Australian speculative ficition with
writers reading their own short stories. TISF 001 features Paul
Haines reading the Ditmar winning novella 'The Devil in Mr Pussy'.
Ipod-ers can download the podcast to their ipods through
http://www.facebook .com/l.php? u=http:// www.itunes. com%2Fpodcast%
3Fid%3D29744733 Or you can go to the TISF website and listen online.
(reported by Keith Stevenson)

STEAM ENGINE TIME: the latest issue of this substantial fanzine
containing a report on Conflux, articles and photos edited by JAN
STINSON and BRUCE GILLESPIE is available at http://efanzines. com.
Bruce will only be printing a very small number of paper issues.
Email gandc@pacific.net.au if you wish to reserve one.

GRAHAM STONE' 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 $33!) Books looking for homes: 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 and
Holly Lisle. Dukes of Hazard activity book (500 pages. Colouring,
puzzles etc).Dr Who Annual, 1983 (Peter Davidson era), The Gerry
Anderson memorabilia Guide (1994), Rolling Stones Mag visits Saturday
Night Live, Sherlock Holmes Mystery book, Visitor Command fanzines,
Garfield "Thank you" postcard 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. A big THANK YOU to Anne Devrell and Dave Luckett who
bought FOLCC books from me at Conflux. EH.

HATCH, MATCH & DISPATCH:

DEATHS: NEAL HEFTI, musical arranger, trumpet player and composer of
the theme for the 1960's Batman TV series passed away 15 October. He
was 85.

HOLDING HIS OWN: FORREST J ACKERMAN seems to be in a stable condition
despite combating pneumonia and congestive heart failure which saw
him hospitalized for a few days in late October/early November. Forry
has since returned home where a vast flow of cards and e-mails from
well-wishers is reported to have lifted his spirits. His friend and
caretaker Joe Moe reported that he was taking nourishment, seeing a
few visitors, taking some phone calls and looking forward to his 92nd
birthday. (From Curt Phillips via Bruce Gillespie):

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Anne Devrell, Tehani Wesseley and to Forry Ackerman
who turned 92 on 24th November..

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. Upcoming Meetings: December 12th Xmas meeting (then a break for
a few weeks over Christmas?) Thanks to Thomas Bull for the update.

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).

The Brisbane Babylon 5ers reported to be in hiatus since Erica
Sharp's recent marriage. (Reported by Ted Scribner )

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).

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. Meeting
dates: Dec 12th.

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.)

FRIENDS OF SCIENCE FICTION (fsf) are once again meeting at Dooley''s
Lidcombe Catholic Club, a short walk from Lidcombe station on the 2nd
Sunday of each month. Check fsf.net.au for more information. (updated
by Ted Scribner)

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.

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

GENGHIS CON Rampage. Games, panels, Larp, Pizza, Prizes, Movies and a
Giant Squid Monster. 9-11th January, Trinity College, Nedlands,
Perth. $25 full membership, $10 day membership. See
www.genghiscon. org.

NULLUS ANXIETUS, The second Australian Discworld Convention. Feb
27th - March 1st 2009. Storey Hall, RMIT in Melbourne, Vic.
Membership now open. Offering performances, discussion panels,
competitions and special events. Attendees will be able to join
Unions during the convention, giving them the chance to compete with
fellow Discworld fans in various events. Online forum available. See
www.ausdwcon. org for more information. (Reported by Nathan Cooper.)

CONJECTURE the 2009 Natcon 5-8 June. The Holiday Inn, Hindley St,
Adelaide. Attending membership currently $120 (rising on 28th
December.) Supporting $60 You can pay by paypal through their website
http://conjecture2009.org/ . Accom details also available on the
site.

ANTICIPATION, the 2009 Worldcon will be in 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. Continuum 5 Galaxies by Gaslight, Friday 14 to
Sunday16th August 2009. GoH Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Membership at
31/1/2009 will be $120, $10 discount for members of an SF & F club,
gaming club, or 2009 convention. Ether Conference Centre, Mercure
Hotel Welcome 265-281 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne . Postal
address: Continuum 5 GPO Box 603, Melbourne, VIC 3001 (Thanks to
Thomas Bull for the update!)

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

AUSSIECON 4 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.

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@ veritel.com. au

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
theme? Check CELESTIAL COBBLER CERAMICS see
www.celestialcobbler.com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY CHUNAKAH, HAPPY SUMMER SOLSITICE, SAFE & HAPPY
HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR READERS FROM TED & EDWINA!

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