The WSFA Journal

THE WSFA JOURNAL

MARCH 1984

Volume 7     Number 9

WSFA Minutes

Meeting of February 3, 1984, at the Gillilands'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.

The meeting was called to order at 9:15. It was agreed to waive the reading of the minutes as the February WSFA Journal was available. However, there is a correction to the January 6th meeting's "Old Business" section. NOTE: Delete the last line which reads: "A final decision of whether WSFA shall give $1,000 to Connie shall be made at that time." Change to: "On the basis of that information, WSFA will decide what action is to be taken." As the treasurer was absent, his report was waived.

Committees

MEMBERSHIP: Zip!

PUBLICATIONS: The February WSFA Journal was passed out.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Doll reported on the shuttle flight takeoff of that morning and stay tuned this week for further developments. Also, raga muffins will be served this evening. Furthermore, she reminded everyone that Bobclave/George The Party takes place on the last weekend of this month.

1984 DISCLAVE:

Chairwoman Jane Wagner noted that 99% of the flyers are in the mail.

OLD BUSINESS:

ConStellation Chairman Mike Walsh passed out three pages which contained Connie's expenses, revenues and outstanding bills. It was decided by a vote of 18 Yea, 4 Nay and 8 Abstaining that WSFA "forgive the $1,000 donation debt that ConStellation owes it with the understanding that no further requests or demands be made of WSFA from the ConStellation Corporation".

NEW BUSINESS: Zip!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Jack Chalker showed his latest book.
  2. Somtow Sucharitkul announced that the February 13th issue of "People" magazine will contain a short article about him.
  3. Martin Wooster reported that the January issue of "High Times" contains a large interview with J.G. Ballard.
  4. Lee Smoire noted that: a) there will be a poker game after the meeting; b) due to the Chinese New Year celebration going on right now, a Chinese restaurant in Baltimore is having a New Year's 10-course feast for $12.95 or $13.95. She'd like to get a group together for it next weekend. If interested, see Lee. c) if you'd rather go to EasterCon in England instead of BaltiCon, she has flyers with all pertinent information. d) Interesting Note: Judy Newton, Natalie Paymer Ellis and Phyllis Cramer are all pregnant and she's NOT!!!
  5. John Sapienza related that in the Sunday's New York Times' "Book World" section there will be an article on D.C.'s Moonstone Bookcellar store.
  6. Joe Mayhew recommended that everybody who doesn't plan on attending World Fantasy Con in October should go to NovaCon in Lancaster, PA as he will be the Fan Guest of Honor. Congratulations, Joe!!!
  7. Phil Cox pointed out that there is a comic/SF convention going on this weekend in Crystal City, VA.
  8. Rebecca Prather is having a MENSA Open House Party on the evening of Sunday, February 19th. If interested, please see her for details.

The meeting collapsed at 10:07.

More Minutes

Meeting of Feb. 17, 1984, at the Olivers'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.

The meeting was called to order at 9:17. It was unanimously agreed to waive the reading of the minutes which helped as the secretary had inadvertently left the transcribed minutes at home. The treasury stood at $5,678.20.

Committees

MEMBERSHIP: Zip!

PUBLICATIONS: The February WSFA Journal was still available.

ENTERTAINMENT: Alexis, speaking for Doll, reminded everyone that George/Bob Clave is next weekend. Everybody should bring some type of munchie.

DISCLAVE '84: Joe Mayhew, speaking for Jane Wagner, noted that there vill be a committee meeting at George/Bob Clave. Also, to Committee Heads, start drafting your helpers.

OLD BUSINESS: Zip!

NEW BUSINESS: Kurt Freedman brought to the club's attention the upcoming Gross National Parade scheduled for Sunday, April 15 from 2:00 - 4:00 (rain or shine) which will march down K Street; from the intersection of M and 18th to the intersection of M and Wisconsin and south on Wisconsin to K Street in D.C. This is sponsored by WMAL's Trumball and Core for the benefit of the D.C. Police Boys and Girls Clubs. For more details, see the secretary for a flyer.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Bob Oliver announced that he recently received some 400 software programs for his Texas Instrument Computer. "Some are good, some are bad; mostly so-so." If you're interested, see him.
  2. Rebecca Prather reminded everyone of her MENSA Open House Party which starts at 7:30 on Sunday, February 19th. To cover the refreshments, she's asking for $2.00 per person. For details, see Rebecca.
  3. Allan Lane noted that he now is employed.
  4. Brian Lewis has invented a new version of the computer "Hangman" game and is anxious to try it out. He's looking for a group of people and a computer to test it; the computer must have the capability to run MBasic language and there are one-player and two-player versions.
  5. Terry McCune is hosting an ASFA meeting at his home on Friday, February 24th at 8:30. For more details, see Terry.
  6. Beverly Brandt reported that Phil Grossfield of Moonstone Bookcellars in D.C. will mail out any order you may give him at (202) 659-2600 for the months of February and March and will NOT charge you for shipping. Now, that's a good deal!
  7. Lee Smoire has AussieCon travel flyers. If you're interested, contact Lee.

The meeting expired at 9:26.

Redwood City firm's rocket gets stuck at sea level

by Kathy Holub

via Bob Lovell

ABOARD THE CONDOR - The launch of a 10-ton rocket built by a private firm in Redwood City was scrubbed Monday afternoon after a nitrogen-gas leak and electrical problems developed at the launch site, 200 miles off the coast of Baja California.

The launch was called off at 3:30 p.m. by Michael Scott, president of Starstruck, the Redwood City firm that had hoped to fire the rocket three miles into the atmosphere. His decision came after the nitrogen gas, needed to open and close crucial valves in the rocket, began to leak.

As workers tried to find the source of the leak, an electrical short caused the rocket's nose cone to separate from the booster section. When a smoldering odor was noticed, 2.000 pounds of liquid oxygen fuel were released and both sections of the rocket were dumped into the ocean. They later were recovered.

The unsuccessful launch took place in the Pacific Ocean, about 200 miles west of Baja California and 280 miles southwest of Long Beach.

The rocket was carried to the site aboard the Blue Fin, a 165-foot oil-supply vessel. Starstruck crew members and other observers watched from aboard the Condor, an 88-foot fishing boat from Santa Barbara.

The nose cone's payload bay was filled with personal items belonging to Starstruck crew members and employees, including jewelry, stuffed animals, business cards and two bottles of champagne.

"We are very disappointed, but this is par for the course in rocketry," Starstruck spokesman Roy McDonald said after the mission was canceled. "Problems like this are bound to happen. But we are going to get back in the air."

He said repairs could take two weeks once the rocket is back in Redwood City.

Meanwhile, Starstruck is considering launching another rocket within a month.

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The above was taken from the San Jose Mercury News.

Upcoming Cons

March 2 - 4:
UPPERSOUTHCLAVE XIV located at the Park Mammoth Resort in Park City, Kentucky. GOH: Mike Lalor. Hotel Rates: S - $28, D - $34. Membership: $9. Write to: Conclave, P.O. Box 116, Park City, Ky 42160-0116
March 9 - 11:
KING KON 5 located at the Holiday Inn in Colorado Springs, CO. GOH: Connie Willis, FGOH: Courtney Willis, Toastmaster: Edward Bryant. Membership: $15. Write to: King Kon 5, P.O. Box 1284, Colorado Springs, CO 80901
March 9 - 11:
COASTCON located at the Royal D'Iberville Hotel in Biloxi, MS. GOH: Robert Adams, AGOH: Randall Spangler. With: Jo Clayton, Steve Jackson. Membership: $15. Write to: CoastCon, Box 1423, Biloxi, MS 39533
March 16 - 17:
EXPLORACON located at the Pavillion Convention Center. Emphasis on space exploration. NASA models. Write to: ExploraCon, 105 N. Plaza Trail #137, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
March 16 - 18:
MIDSOUTHCON located at the Quality Inn West in Riverview, TN, 271 Alston Ave. W. (901) 946-3301. GOH: C.J. Cherryh, FGOH: Margaret Middleton, AGOH: Steven Dodd, TM: Dalvan Coger. Hotel Rates: S - $30, D - $37, T - $41, Q - $45. Membership: $15; one-day rate: $8. Write to: Moore, 1229 Pallwood, Memphis, TN 38122
March 16 - 18:
LUNACON '84 located at the Sheraton Heights Hotel at Terrace Avenue in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. GOH: Terry Carr, AGOH: Tom Kidd, FGOH: Cy Chauvin. Hotel Rates: S - $49, D/Twin - $55, T/2 Double Beds - $65. Q/2 Double Beds - $75. Membership: $19. Write to: Lunacon '84, P.O. Box 779, Brooklyn, NY 11230 Attention: Walter R. Cole
March 22 - 26:
NORWESCON 7 located at the SeaTac Hyatt Hotel in Seattle, WA. 17001 Pacific Hwy. S., 98188 (206) 244-6000. Hotel Rates: $49 flat. GOH: Catherine Crook DeCamp, AGOH: Don Maitz, FGOH: Jack Speer, TM: Marta Randall. Membership: $25. Write to: NWSFS, Box 24207, Seattle, WA 98124 (206) 723-2101
March 23 - 25:
STELLARCON 9 located in the Elliott Center, University of N.C. GOH: Rebecca Meluch. With: Allen Wold, Richard Preston, M.A. Foster. Membership: $10. one-day rate: $5. Write to: SF3, Box 4, Elliott University Center, UNC-Greensboro, Greensboro. N.C. 27412
March 30 - April 1:
ISTACON I located at the Northlake Hilton Hotel on 4156 LaVista Road (I-285) tn Atlanta, GA (404) 938-1026. GOH: Anne McCaffrey, AGOH: Michael Whelan, Master of Ceremonies: Kelly and Polly Freas. Hotel rates: S/D - $45, T/Q - $51. Membership: $20. Write to: Istacon I, c/o 959-A Waverly Court, Norcross, GA 30071

Address Corrections

Mr. Kim Weston
[censored]
Baltimore, MD 21218
(301) 889-3981

Mr. Warren Rodgers
[censored]
New York, N.Y. 10040
(212) 942-4106

"UNFAITHFULLY YOURS"

Movie Review

- Geoffrey Gould

UNFAITHFULLY YOURS is an uproariously entertaining comedy concerning love and jealously, starring Dudley Moore and Nastassja Kinski. Not since 10 and ARTHUR has Moore been so humourous (although he fared quite well in the underrated LOVESICK).

Moore portrays symphony conductor Claude Eastman, married to Italian film star Daniella (Kinski). During a concert, Claude tells us his reasons for wishing to kill his young wife. Through a misunderstanding, Claude's manager Norman (Albert Brooks) hires a detective to keep an eye on Daniella during a four-day trip of Claude's. Although the misunderstanding is resolved, Claude learns Daniella is obviously having an affair.

Very early on we learn it is all untrue, but the jealously mounts in Claude as does the circumstantial evidence, and he believes his protege violinist Max Stein (Armand Assante) to be the culprit.

The comedy is well-timed, and climbs at a reasonable pace as Claude fantasizes his fool-proof plan of revenge. Of course in its execution (so to speak), nearly everything goes comically astray.

Host notable in the film is a sequence in which Claude and Max perform on violins in Max's father's restaurant. Convinced of his friend's betrayal, their duet becomes fierce and frantic, fabulously choreographed, remarkably resembling an Errol Flynn/Basil Rathbone sword fight.

Screenwriters Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson and Robert Klane make a fine team in this remake of the 1946 Rex Harrison comedy. Directed by Howard Zieff, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS is a tremendous addition to motion picture humor. Even for non-Moore fans, this movie is a must-see.

March's New Books

(Courtesy of Moonstone Book cellars. Inc.)
KEY: (H) - Hardback, (P) - Paperback &
(T) - Tradeperback.

Andrews, Allen: The Pig Plantagenet - $2.95 (P)
Asimov, Isaac & Martin H. Greenberg (Eds.): The Great SF Stories 11 - $2.95 (P)
Carson, Michael: The Experiment - $2.50 (P)
Chalker, Jack L.: Soul Rider: Spirits of Flux and Anchor - $2.95 (P)
Clarke, Arthur C.: 1984: Spring, A Choice of Futures - $14.95 (H)
Cleve, John: Spaceways #16: The Planet Murderer - $2.50 (P)
Cole, Alan & Chris Bunch: The Wolf Worlds - $2.95 (P)
Cook, Sy & Martha Moffet: The Sharing - $2.95 (P)
Craig, Robert: Trauma - $2.95 (P)
Forward, Robert L.: The Flight of the Dragonfly - $15.95 (H) & $7.95 (T)
Gravel, Geary: The Alchemists - $2.95 (P)
Haiblum, Isidore: The Identity Papers - $2.50 (P)
Hambly, Barbara: The Ladies of Mandrigyn - $2.95 (P)
Hubbard, L. Ron: Battlefield Earth - $4.95 (P)
Jeter, K.W.: Dr. Adder - $7.95 (T)
Lee, Tanith: Tamastara, or The Indian Nights - $2.50 (P)
             The Dragon Hoard - $2.25 (P)
Lofts, Norah: The Claw - $2.25 (P)
Marquez, Gabriel G.: Chronicle of a Death Foretold - $3.50 (P)
May, Julian: The Nonborn King - $3.50 (P)
McBain, Gordon: Quest of the DawnStar - $2.25 (P)
Moorcock, Michael: Stormbringer - $2.50 (P)
Niven, Larry: The Integral Trees - $14.95 (H)
Norman, John: Players of Gor - $3.50 (P)
Norwood, Warren: The Windover Tapes: Planet of Flowers - $2.50 (P)
Pini, Wendy & Richard: Elfquest: Journey to Sorrow's End - $2.95 (P)
Proctor, George W.: Starwings - $2.50 (P)
Ptacek, Kathryn: Shadoweyes - $3.50 (P)
Resnick, Mike: The Branch - $2.50 (P)
Reynolds, Mack: Chaos in Lagrangia - $2.95 (P)
Roberson, Jennifer: Shapechangers - $2.95 (P)
Robinson, Kim Stanley: The Wild Shore - $2.95 (P)
Rovin, Jeff: The Madjan - $2.95 (P)
Salmonson, Jessica Amanda: Thousand Shrine Warrior - $2.75 (P)
Saunders, Charles R.: Imaro II: The Quest for Cush - $2.75 (P)
Smith, E. E. "Doc": The Skylark of Space - $2.50 (P)
Spoto, Donald: The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock - $4.95 (P)
Straub, Peter: Floating Dragon - $3.95 (P)
Tolkien, J.R.R.: The Book of Lost Tales, Part One - $14.95 (H)
Tubb, E.C.: #29, Angado, Dumarest of Terra - $2.50 (P)
Webb, Sharon: Earthsong - $2.50 (P)
Wilson, F. Paul: The Healer - $2.50 (P)
Wooley, John & Ron Wolfe: Old Fears - $2.95 (P)
Wrede, Patricia C.: The Seven Towers - $2.50 (P)

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The WSFA Journal is the miscreant monthly newsletter of the Washington Science Fiction Association. Editor-in-Chief: Beverly L. Brandt, 3326 Lauriston Place, Fairfax, VA 22031. Telephone No.: (703) 573-8230

WSFA BIRTHDAYS!

3/2  John Ellis
3/14 Linda Melnick
3/20 Bob Lovell
3/25 Regina Cohen
3/31 Morgan Woodward

5th FRIDAY PARTY

Wayne & Joanna Dionne
[censored]
Temple Hills, Md.
phone: 301/ICE-LORD
March 30, 1984, 8 pm til ?

[map censored]

Artists' Corner

This month's title art is by a new WSFA member, Terry McCune. His version of an alien leprechaun is unique!

Also included in this issue: Charles Gilliland on Pages 1 - 4, Alexis Gilliland on Page 2, Virgil Finley on Page 2 and Joe Mayhew on Page 3.