Meeting of August 3, 1984, at Gillilands'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.
The meeting was called to order at 9:17. The Secretary, Beverly Brandt, being absent in her bed of pain, could not present the minutes (to be waived) and the WSFA JOURNAL was lamentably not ready for general distribution. Joe Mayhew, who as Vice President and therefore having nothing to do at the meeting, took notes of the proceedings.
Bob Oliver, Treasurer, reported a balance of $8,246.77 and it was suggested by several of the more serious and constructive members present, that we should have a party.
ENTERTAINMENT: Doll Gilliland announced that she was proffering a board game entitled "Trivial Pursuit" for the edification and spiritual development of those who wished to participate. She regretted that her hoped-for coming-out party for the anticipated Newton could not be held as yet, due in part to the fact that Judy hadn't delivered the goods. Lee Smoire commented that there ought, by right, to be a poker game. She also distributed copies of her travel report to selected fans. It was quintessential Lee.
DISCLAVE 1984: Jane Wagner announced that the membership fees and in the cases of Department Heads, one room night's costs would be refunded. The treasury reflected the amount she had surrendered to WSFA from the profits of this year's convention.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: Lee Smoire brought up the matter of WSFA's now traditional 5th Friday Party-convention (Whatever-clave?). She suggested a newly built Howard Johnsons in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, which had many deluxe features but which seemed a tad expensive.
Doll Gilliland asked whether it was a good idea to continue having these winter cons. Alexis felt they were unnecessary. Joe Mayhew asked that a show of hands be taken to discover the feelings of the club about whether they wanted to continue having winter relaxacons. There was 17 in favor, none opposed and 4 or 5 were not gruntled. Jane Wagner made the following motion, as amended by Doll Gilliland: "That WSFA vote on the question of whether to have a winter relaxacon at the meeting on the 3rd Friday in September." It was passed without objection. Dave Hastie pointed out that it was quite mad to vote on whether we would vote, as we could vote without taking a vote to vote. It was pleasing to see another fan discover the true nature of WSFA.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Joe Mayhew announced that anyone who wanted their announcement to appear in the Journal would have to give it to him in writing. The following was submitted by Lee Strong: "THE NEVERENDING STORY" IS SURPRISINGLY GOOD. It includes a serious statement on creative fantasy in human affairs (Redeeming Social Value!) although it can be enjoyed as a fantasy adventure story." (Editor's Note: See the monthly movie review on this film by WSFAn Geoffrey L. Gould in last month's Journal.)
The whole thing came to a shuddering halt at 9:40, when Alexis, after getting a pitiable wheeze of "Ayes" and a thundering chorus of "Nays", declared it adjourned and then Doll served Ice Cream and stuff.
Allan C. Lane
[censored]
Columbia, MD 21045
(301) 965-0642
Meeting of August 17, 1984, at Olivers'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.
The meeting was drummed into order at 9:15. The minutes - donated by Joe Mayhew - were read by the Secretary. Two corrections were made and duly incorporated into the preceeding minutes.
Rosa Oliver, speaking for the absent Treasurer Bob Oliver, noted that the treasury stood at $8,195.97. It was suggested, as usual, to have a party.
DISCLAVE '85: Chairman Mike Walsh informed the club that right now it looks like we'll be back at the Sheraton in New Carrollton for next year's Disclave. However, a final decision has not yet been made.
OLD BUSINESS: Zip!
NEW BUSINESS: After a short discussion, the club agreed to Secretary Beverly Brandt's request not to put out a September WSFA Journal; instead, she will do a double issue (September/October) like she did last year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) Rosa Oliver reported: a) Please pick up after yourself where beer/soft drink cans are concerned - don't leave them for her to clean up; 2) Judy Newton gave birth on August 12th at 7:04 A.M. to a GIRL, Meridel Hanna. She weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz. and was 21 inches long. Judy had a rough time, lost a lot of blood and needed three transfusions; but both mother and child are fine now. Congratulations to Judy and Barry and Welcome Meridel! c) She is giving away some books, check in the den near the rapidly dying black chair for them. What isn't taken will be thrown out!
(Editor's Note: At this point, unfortunately, the cassette tape recording of the meeting became incoherent. [Now you know why I keep hushing everybody during meetings.] Therefore, I am requesting that if anyone made an announcement after Rosa Oliver's three, Please Put It In Writing and Mail It to Me so I can include it in the November WSFA Journal; I would like to keep the minutes reasonably accurate. Thank you. However, ... I DID catch this .....)
The meeting adjourned at 9:44.
WSFAn Terry McCune's Halloween monthly art combines both horror and sf in a typical WSFA fashion: Partying!
Terry's art also appears on Page 7. Other artists in this issue include: Joe Mayhew on Pages 1, 2, 4 and 8; Alexis Gilliland on Pages 2 and 9; and Warren Rodgers on Pages 4 - 8. Thanks to those who contributed.
The following minutes are the fault of the attendees and were transcribed by Regina Cohen.
Meeting of September 7, 1984, at Gillilands'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.
The meeting was called to order at approximately 9:15-9:18 by general consent. The minutes were waived being unavailable as the Secretary was again sick. Get Well, Beverly! The treasurer reported a balance of $8,041.39 and offered the quarterly report for review.
DISCLAVES (Past and Future): All Disclave chairmen were out of town (with their treasurers).
ENTERTAINMENT:: Doll Gilliland pointed out that tomorrow is (was) the 18th birthday of Star Trek. Alexis was congratulated on his new Hugo. Yeah!!!
OLD BUSINESS: This went the way of the Disclave chairmen.
NEW BUSINESS: Avedon Carol wants to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Burbie's invention of sex in 1926 -- she knows that this occurred then since she read it in a fanzine. Entertainment will work on this celebration (along with the 18th Anniversary of Star Trek?).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:30 (or 9:27, depending on when you thought we started).
Meeting of September 21, 1984, at Olivers'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.
The meeting was called to order at 9:23. Due to the fact that the Secretary had again been sick and absent, and the minutes that had been taken had been inadvertently left at home by Alexis, the minutes could not be read and were waived. The treasury stood at $7,949.67. Dues are due and payable; Pay Up, People!
DISCLAVE 1985: Chairman Mike Walsh announced that next year's Disclave will have as its AGOH Bob Walters. As for Pro GOH, the following were suggested: 1) David Brin, 2) Edward Bryant, 3) M.A. Foster and 4) Keith Roberts. It was finally decided to write an invitation to David Brin first and if not accepted by him within the next two weeks, letters would then be sent to the others suggested.
ENTERTAINMENT: Newton Ewell described an exhibit entitled "Yesterday's Tomorrows" that is going on at the Smithsonian's American History Museum. It includes past views of what the future would be like. There is also a special showcase on what past movie producers have portrayed in various sf films.
OLD BUSINESS: A vote was taken as to whether we should continue to have the February relaxacons. The voting was 14 "Ayes" to 12 "Nays"; result: the cons will continue.
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The meeting adjourned in a stentorian manner at 10:03.
9/12 Jane Wagner
9/29 Alan Huff
10/5 Steve Smith
10/11 Lou Benzino
10/16 Judy Newton
10/16 Warren Rodgers
10/17 Mike Walsh
10/17 John Sapienza
10/18 Jeff Schalles
10/30 Lee Smoire
Ed. Note: Apologies to the following people who were inadvertently left off the August Birthday List: 8/14 - Rose Wolkoff, 8/18 - Donna Gause, and 8/19 - Andy Gause. Sorry about that.
The following are the winners of this year's Hugo awards. They are:
BEST NOVEL: "Startide Rising" by David Brin
BEST NOVELLA: "Cascade Point" by Timothy Zahn
BEST NOVELETTE: "Blood Music" by Greg Bear
BEST SHORT STORY: "Speech Sounds" by Octavia Butler
BEST NONFICTION BOOK: "Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction and
Fantasy, Vol. 3 Miscellaneous" compiled by Donald Tuck
BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: "Return of the Jedi"
BEST PROFESSIONAL EDITOR: Shawna McCarthy (IASFM)
BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST: Michael Whelan
BEST SEMIPRO MAGAZINE: "Locus", edited by Charles N. Brown
BEST FANZINE: "File 770", edited by Mike Glyer
BEST FAN WRITER: Mike Glyer
BEST FAN ARTIST: ALEXIS GILLILAND! (Congratulations!)
JOHN CAMPBELL AWARD: R.A. MacAvoy
Also: (1) Toastmaster Robert Bloch was presented a special presentation plaque commemorating his 50th year as a professional sf writer. (2) Robert Silverberg & Harlan Ellison (his only appearance at the con) stopped the show to acknowledge sf's debt to editor Larry Shaw and presented him with a Special Award from the worldcon. (3) Larry Niven handed MC Jerry Pournelle a tinfoiled solid chocolate Hugo-shaped rocket, playing off of Jerry's pet phrase and telling Jerry, "This is the Hugo that will get you through times of no money better than ......."
The 44th World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Atlanta, Georgia; they won on the first ballot. The vote totals were as follows: Atlanta - 789, Philadelphia - 301, New York - 242. The conversion rate for those who voted is, as of September 4th, $15 until the end of this year; supporting memberships are $25. Further prices have not yet been announced. The convention will be called CONFEDERATION (for obvious reasons, I think) and will be held from August 28th through September 1st, 1986. Their GOH is Ray Bradbury (FINALLY!) with Terry Carr as the FGOH and Bob Shaw as the Toastmaster. The con's mailing address is: CONFEDERATION, 2500 N. Atlanta St. #1986 Smyrna, GA 30080, U.S.A. Tel. No.: (404) GET-DXIE (404) 438-3943
IMPORTANT NOTE: Pre-supporting members of Atlanta receive a $5 discount off the membership rates if they did not vote, and receive a full attending membership if they did vote.
The following were taken from various issues of the "Thought Police Gazette" which was the daily newsletter of L.A. Con II. I include them for your edification.
Books Sell Better When the Author Is Dead reasons David Gerrold, so he's hosting his own wake in the Palisades Room at midnight. (Issue #5)
(Ed. Note: This is in reference to where the "Gazette" could be picked up.) We've been dropping piles in front of the party board, second level Hilton, but they're classified as litter by the hotel, and strangely, few fans have been disputing the decision! (Issue #6)
The Ladera Travel Desk would like to congratulate Eileen McCormick, who won a bottle of Tullamore Dew and has not been by to pick it up. They've been looking for her all day and are getting very thirsty ........ (Issue #7)
What Do You Do With a 30 Ft. PSYCHLO after the movies are made? Winners of this contest promoting the BATTLEFIELD EARTH movie were: (1) "Tie Jerry Pournelle to one of its claws and tie it to the top of the Empire State Building with a weak rope." (2) "Save it in case there's a radiation disaster and some guy grows to the height of 30 feet and needs a suit." (Issue #8)
(Ed. Note: This is pertaining to the Hogu Ranquet.) Elst Weinstein reminded attendees, "We started the Ranquet in 1972 to protest the high cost of the L.A. Con I WorldCon banquet -- $8. We met at McDonald's and ate hamburgers for under $2 a person. Twelve years later we meet in a restaurant, are waited on, pay 5 to 7 dollars for hamburgers -- and the WorldCon doesn't even have a banquet!" (Issue #9)
DeAnn Iwan says, "The real reason that WSFS changed the site bidding from a 2-year lead time to a 3-year lead time is so that there will be time to finish the masquerade!" (Issue #11)
From Dana Siegel, the Society Page Editor: "The runner-up last night for the best party was the SFWA suite. They showed real class in trying to keep out riffraff as Mike Glyer (with a Hugo under either arm). Unfortunately, he threatened to blow the door down and/or bash it in with the ratty Hugos, and they let him in. Well, that certainly ruined the neighborhood."
"Along the same lines, I would like to state here that I do not take the idea of bribes very well. A certain party last night (which will here remain unnamed, but they know who they are) tried to offer me money to make them the best party. I might be easy, but three dollars is way too cheap. Next time make it worth my while." (Issue #11)
Bruce Saul as Imperial Admiral (from "Foundation Series"), made by Tracy Scheleukman; Richard Payatt as Corwin of Amber; Leslie Johnstein as Fiona; Pat Hammer as S'danza; Kevin Roche & Jennifer Telft in Icarian Tropical Dress Garb; Dorsey Flynn as Milady DeWinter (made by Flynn and Verna Thompson); John Flynn as Athos; Marilyn Cole as Satira, Priestress of the Midnight Stars; Sally Fink as Duchess of the Admiralty; Pat Hammer as Dragon Tamer; Jacqueline Ward as Myrtis (from "Thieves' World"); David Joiner as Dark Elf; Judith Conley as Shaya of Shainsa; Karen Kuykendall as Black Velvet & Rhinestones; Pepper "Zahia" as Bodé Mascot; Julia Alderson as Mad Hatter on Acid; Charles Phillips as Cavalier; Jeanette Woodward as Flapper; Norma McQuaid as Flower Carnation from Planet of Flowers; Alice Jo Davies as Cavalier 1650 (made by Victoria Ridenour & Sherri Butterfield; Mela Hoyt-Heydoa in 1830s Garden Dress; Beth Stevens as Lady Elizabeth d'Altair; Kevin Po Roche as Icarian Ambassador; Jennifer G. Tefft as Alpherron T'Arfeni; Janet Wilson as Lady Aldis; Alison Dayne Frankel w/Robin Schindler as Lyette the Cat; Amy S. Povalski as Renaissance Maiden; Martin Gear w/Adrienne Martine Barnes as Gilhame ur Fajen; Barb Schofield as She-Pal; Mela Hoyt-Heydon as The Black Queen; Anita Thompson as Queen Alythea of Tolemac; Pat Hammer as Tanu Redactor; Leslie Johnston as Gloriana; Richard Payatt as Quire; Suford Lewis as Regency Lady (made by Peggy Kenkedy); Tony Lewis as Regency Gentleman; Julie Zetterberg as Imperial Relict; Kathy Sanders as Team Banzai; Richard Stierl as Ke-Seedra; and Victoria Ridenour as Ilsa.
Masters Awards:
ORIGINAL DESIGN: "Late One Night in the Draco Tavern" worn by Kathy Sanders, Steve Barnes, Dave Butterfield, Gavin Claypool, Sandy Corlen, Sue Haseltine, Lyle Lexor, Cary Martin, Dennis Miller, Larry Niven, Phillip Pournelle & Laurraine Tutihasi won MOST HUMOROUS; COSTUME AWARD FOR ORIGINALITY & JUDGES' CHOICE: "Kahiri" worn by David Joiner; JUDGES' HIGH TECH AWARD: "Terras Dyne of the Andrones" worn by John Mott; BEST GROUP: "Night on Bald Mountain" worn by Karen Turner, Kelly Turner, Rusty Dawe, Dianne Dawe, John Youden, Alys Hay, Melody Rondeau, Pat Witham, Julie Neff, & Laura Hoffman; BEST OF SHOW: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" worn by Victoria Ridenour, Adrian Butterfield, Victoria Barker, Greg Bevington, & Gayle Hutchens.
Journeymen's Awards:
ORIGINAL DESIGN: "The White Dragon" worn by James Brown as Jaxon & Willetta Grady as the White Dragon won for BEST FANTASY; BEST MYTHOLOGY: "Soul of Osiris Rising" worn by Jacqueline Ward as the Soul of Osiris, Patti Middleton as the High Priest, & Mary Leppik as the High-Priestess; BEST HIGH TECH: "Robot, or Batteries Not Included" worn by Stephen M. Parady; BEST ALIEN: "Ambassador From the Union of Barsoomian People's Republic" worn by Bruce Martz & Melissa Pearce; BEST CONVENTION BID: "The Mad 3 Party" worn by Sharon Sbarsky as Cheshire Cat, Skip Morris as White Rabbit, Alexis Layton as Mad Hatter, Shira Ordower as Dormouse, Donald Eastlake III as King of Hearts, Pat Vandenberg as Duchess, Tony Lewis as Tweedledee, Rick Katze as Tweedledum, Greg Thokar as Caterpillar, Susan Lichauco as Alice, Susan Hammond as March Hare, Claire Anderson as Queen of Hearts, Dave Anderson as Knave of Hearts, Anne Broomhead as White Queen, Suford Lewis as White Knight, Ken Knabbe as Trey of Hearts, Joe Rico as Trey of Clubs, Jill Eastlake as Red Queen, George Flynn as Trey of Spades, and Allan Kent as Trey of Diamonds; and BEST PRESENTATION: "Visions From the Hopi World" worn by Regina Nyahay, Lee Shankar, Rene Nyahay & Carol Salemi.
Novice Awards:
ORIGINAL DESIGN: "The Lady Mir'Hrim" worn by Dana MacDermott won BEST MAKEUP; MOST E-FEET: "Madame Luna Lander" worn by Paul Covington; MOST HUMOROUS: "Ring Worm Engineer" worn by Cary Riall; MOST ORIGINAL: "Offering to the Insect God" worn by Debora Wykle; MOST BEAUTIFUL: "Morgan, Priestess of the Drowned Lands" worn by Madeleine M. Tokach; BEST PRESENTATION: "Warlord T'en Chih-Yu" worn by Karey Leichel & John Leichel.
Recreation Awards:
BEST VILLAIN: "Klingon Warrior" worn by Peter Mosen; BEST CLASSIC FILM: "Metropolis" w/Patti Mercier as Maria, Philip Mercier as as Dr. Rotwang & Kathryn Mayer as Robotrix; BEST HORROR: "Elvira" worn by Janalee Urban; BEST WORKMANSHIP: "The Magnificent Maleficent" worn by Roberta Brubaker; BEST ELF: "Rayek" worn by Jaron Hollander; BEST RECREATION OF SHOW (Single): "Urzah, the Ritual Guardian" worn by George Docherty; BEST RECREATION OF SHOW (Group): "Dark Crystal" w/Carl Coling as Jen & Andrea Fontaine as Kira; and BEST ANIMATION: "Nicodemus" worn by Robert Beech.
Workmanship Awards:
FEATHERWORK: "Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes" by Janet Wilson; METALCRAFTING: "Pendragon Family Reunion"; FEATHER & FUR: "Eon" and "K.C." by Kishma Armstrong; APPLIQUE & SEQUINS: "The Soul of Osiris Rising" by Jacqueline Ward; ACCESSORIES & PROPS: "A Victorian Fantasy" by John Flynn & Dorsey Flynn; HEADDRESSES: "Visions From the Hopi World" by Carol Salemi; FABRIC PAINTING: "The Valar"; MOULDING & CASTING: "The Ritual Guardian" by George Docherty; BEADWORK: "A Midsummer Night's Dream"; and OVERALL EXCELLENCE: "Night on Bald Mountain" by Alys Hay & Julie Neff.
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The WSFA JOURNAL is the tendentious monthly newsletter of the Washington Science Fiction Association. Editor-in-Chief: Beverly L. Brandt, 3326 Lauriston Place, Fairfax, VA. Tel. No.: (703) 573-8230. In-House Artist: Warren Rodgers
CHICAGO - Three billion miles now separate Dr. John A. Simpson and the delicate yet sturdy instruments he once helped design for a rocket flight to Jupiter. Many thought the flight would fail, but Pioneer 10 is now beyond the solar system.
Simpson makes this spectacular distance seem like little more than a walk across the campus of the University of Chicago where he has worked since 1943.
"That's, uh, about 35 AUs," he remarked amid the comfortable clutter of his corner nook at the university's Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research (LASR). "Thirty-five times one Astronomical Unit -- the distance between the Earth and the sun."
Traveling at the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, a radio signal needs about 10 hours to reach and return from the instruments, which detect cosmic rays. They are among a number of scientific instruments aboard Pioneer 10, one of the most extraordinary spacecraft ever built.
Launched toward Jupiter in 1972, Pioneer 10's equipment is radically different from previous years and is designed to withstand fierce radiation around a most violently active planet.
When Pioneer survived handily, Earth controllers using Jupiter's powerful gravitational field like a slingshot skipped the spacecraft out across the solar system.
On June 13, 1983, the probe passed beyond Neptune and Pluto, the outermost known planets, becoming the first man-made object ever to leave the solar system, NASA celebrated.
Many of the discoveries concern the heliosphere, an envelope of highly charged magnetic forces created by the sun that surround the solar system. Simpson speaks of them with subdued excitement.
"We are in a whole new world now, getting a totally new view of space which you cannot see by telescope. For example," he said, "it was thought that when there are solar flares, the shock wave from the hot gases erupting from the sun would peter out some distance away.
"But we have found the shock wave of a flare at 30 AUs - beyond Jupiter. As the shock wave moves out from the sun, it accelerates matter to high energy. This is fascinating - a model for largescale things in the entire galaxy," he said.
It takes a leap of imagination to fit so tumultuous a picture of galactic happenings into the comfortable surroundings of Simpson's office, with its collection of potted plants and books, monographs, papers and computer printouts piled everywhere.
Several times a week, tapes arrive with signals gathered by NASA's Deep Space Net, whose powerful antennas have tracked Pioneer 10's 13-year odyssey. Simpson and his assistants, helped out by graduate students, patiently use computers to sift mountains of data.
"We have to fit the engineering data into a unified time line, and then we are ready for the scientific data," Simpson said. "We search for events, and that's how we found the solar flare shock wave at 30 AUs."
Unfortunately for Simpson, despite President Reagan's zeal for a Star Wars outer-space defense against missile attack, the esoterica of astrophysics holds little attraction for the administration. Budget cuts have forced reductions in Pioneer listening time by the Deep Space Net.
We're getting only a third of the data that actually is coming to Earth from Pioneer," Simpson said, "The rest is lost forever."
He said the situation was even worse for Pioneer 11, which is headed across the solar system in the opposite direction: "We're down to about 20 percent of (information) recovery on 11 .... We're losing an enormous amount of data."
There is irony in this for Simpson.
He pointed to the defense community's alarm over U.S. military telecommunications' vulnerability to Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP), a surge of electrical energy from a high-altitude nuclear explosion that could black out unprotected computers, transmitters and receivers across the country.
Simpson recalled that 15 years ago, he and other scientists were ignored when they were inventing instruments for Pioneer 10 - gear that could withstand the immense EMPs expected near Jupiter. "We evolved these things in the late '60s," he said.
A crash effort to shield the command-control network is now underway.
Meanwhile, Simpson said, the spacecraft is "moving deeper and deeper into the heliosphere."
Around 1990, when it is 50 AUs from Simpson's office and its atomic power source, ideally, is still functioning, Pioneer 10 is scheduled to cross from the vast heliosphere to galactic space.
"We're doubling man's knowledge of the universe every several years," Simpson said. "This is remarkable. This is such an exciting century. We're learning so much."
The following artists are all "first place": the Judges were: Richard Eney (FGOH), Bea Barrio, Don Simpson (artists). Winners: Christine Mansfield - "The Centaur Lovers Series"; Pat Ortega - "Cosmic Bestiary"; Michael Whelan - "The Narrow Way"; Carl Lundgren - "The Day of the Dissonance"; Steve Gallacci - "UH 638"; Judy King-Rieniets - "Creation of the Horse"; Pamela Lee - "Sin"; Real Musgrave; Lisa Free; Don Dixon; Dell Harris; Sandra Santara - "Master of Harmony"; Lela Dowling - "The Veldt"; Bob Dewitt; James Christenson; Pamela Breeding; Deborah Whitchurch - "Dragon Quilt"; Rhonda Green; Brett Bather; Joan Douglass (Thought Police Gazette, Issue #8)
KEY: Hardback - (H),
Paperback - (P), and
Tradepaperback - (T).
Anderson, Margaret J.: The Mists of Time - $10.95 (H)
Asimov, Isaac w/Martin H. Greenberg & Charles Waugh (Eds.):
Isaac Asimov's Wonderful Worlds of Science
Fiction #3: Supermen - $3.50 (P)
Sherlock Holmes Through Time & Space - $14.95 (H)
Young Extraterrestrials - $7.95 (T)
Asprin, Robert & Lynn Abbey (Eds.): Thieves' World #6: Wings of
Omen - $2.95 (P)
Attanasio, A.A.: In Other Worlds - $12.95 (H)
Baker, Sharon: Quarreling, They Met the Dragon - $2.95 (P)
Baskin, Leonard: Imps, Demons, Hobgoblins, Witches, Fairies &
Elves - $12.95 (H)
Bear, Greg: The Infinity Concerto - $2.95 (P)
Bell, Clare: Clan Ground - $12.95 (H)
Bethancourt, T. Ernesto: The Tomorrow Connection - $10.95 (H)
Bingham, Jack M.: Ariel - $14.95 (H)
Bradley, Marion Zimmer: City of Sorcery - $2.95 (P)
Chalker, Jack L.: A War of Shadows - $2.95 (P)
Cherryh, C.J.: Chanur's Venture - $17.00 (T)
Canner, Mike: Groupmind - $2.95 (P)
Cook, Glen: War of Wizards, War of Steel: Shadows Linger - $2.95 (P)
Dalmas, John: The Ungling - $2.95 (P)
Dann, Jack: The Man Who Melted - $14.95 (H)
Day, David: Castles - $24.95 (H)
Dear, William: Dungeon Master: The Disappearance of James Dallas
Egbert III - $16.95 (H)
Delaney, Joseph H. & Marc Stiegler: Valentina: Soul In Sapphire -
$3.50 (P)
Dickson, Gordon R.: The Final Encyclopedia - $18.95 (H)
Eshbach, Lloyd: The Land Beyond the Gates - $2.75 (P)
Forman, James D.: Doomsday Plus Twelve - $12.95 (H)
Frazier, Robert: Burning With a Vision: Poetry of Science and the
Fantastic - $14.95 (H)/$8.75 (T)
Grant, Charles L. (Ed.): Shadows #7 - $11.95 (H)
Grieb, William E. (Jr.): The Small Business Computer Today and
Tomorrow - $6.95 (T)
Hill, Douglas: Exiles of Colsec - $9.95 (H)
Jones, Diana Wynne: Fire and Hemlock - $1.50 (P)
Kherdian, David: The Animal - $10.95 (H)
Koontz, Dean R.: Darkfall - $3.95 (P)
Kurtz, Katherine: The Histories of King Kelson Vol. 1: The Bishop's
Heir - $14.95 (H)
Mason, Anne: The Dancing Meteorite - $7.95 (H)
McKinley, Robin: The Hero and The Crown - $11.50 (H)
Monteleone, Thomas F.: Night Train - $3.95 (P)
Nicholls, Peter (Ed.): The World of Fantastic Films: An Illustrated
Survey - $22.95 (H)/$14.95 (P)
Nolan, William: Look Out For Space - $4.95 (P)
Norwood, Warren: The Double-Spiral War Vol. 1: Midway Between - $2.75 (P)
Perrit, Patti (Photographer): The Faces of Science
Fiction, $35.00 (H)/$11.95 (T)
Pohl, Frederik: Pohlstars - $2.95 (P)
Pournelle, Jerry: The User's Guide to Small Computers - $7.95 (T)
Prescott, Dray: Seg The Bowman - $2.75 (P)
Randall, Marta (Ed.): The Nebula Awards #19 - $15.95 (H)
Resnick, Mike: Eros At Zenith - $17.00 (H)
Rogers, Mark E.: The Adventures of Samurai Cat - $8.95 (T)
Ryan, Alan (Ed.): Night Visions I - $18.00 (H)
Saba, Art (Ed.): The Year's Best Fantasy Stories #10 - $2.75 (P)
Sargent, Pamela: Homesmind - $7.95 (H)
Scarborough, Elizabeth Ann: The Harem of Aman Akbar - $2.75 (P)
Stableford, Brian: Future Man: Brave New World OR Genetic Nightmare? -
$17.95 (H)/$12.95 (T)
Stith, John: Scapescope - $2.75 (P)
Straub, Peter: Wild Animals - $17.95 (H)
Vardeman, Robert E.: Cenotaph Road #6: Pillar of Night - $2.75 (P)
Vinge, Vernor: True Names - $7.95 (T)
Waldrop, Howard: Them Bones - $2.95 (P)
Waugh, Carol-Lynn Rossel w/Martin H. Greenberg & Isaac Asimov
(Eds.): 13 Horrors of Halloween - $2.95 (P)
Webb, Sharon: Ram Song - $13.95 (H)
Westall, Robert: The Cat of Seroster - $11.50 (H)
Wilder, Cherry: Yorath The Wolf - $11.95 (H)
Wright, Betty Ren: Ghosts Beneath Our Feet - $10.95 (H)
A proposal has been made and a Study Committee has been set up to consider dividing the world along the Mississippi River and 60° East forming two regions for site selection. Items 1, 2 & 3 were ratified; they are:
Amendments were adopted (for AussieCon II ratification) to restore write-in votes on site selection, to raise the default voting fee to $20 (US money or equivalent), to have the NASFiC selected in the year following the selection of the overseas WorldCon (at the NASFiC if there is one), to allow the use of the national equivalent of Robert's Rules, to put the NASFiC in the purpose and the list of protected marks, and to fund the WSFA Standing Committee with 5% of the default voting fees collected with the Site Selection ballots. Motions were passed requiring the WorldCon to be neutral on site selection, requiring short titles on new business for the business meeting, censuring LA Con II for withdrawing an offer of a free table to Britain in '87 and requesting that the table fee they had to pay be refunded. (Thought Police Gazette, Issue #8)
STANDARD BLACKHOLE: Edwin Meese, Jesse Jackson, L. Ron Hubbard, Khadafi; INVISIBIlITY AWARD: ConStellation Profits; INCOMPETENCE AWARD: Senator Proxmire; PUBLISHER'S AWARD: Mike Glyer; GREED AWARD: Frank Herbert ("Dollars of Dune"); HALFASSED CON OFFICIOUSNESS: Rats; BROWN HOLE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALISM: Jon Estren; and BEST INVISIBLE DATE: Paulette Schainer.
Take the Scenic Route, Get Lost, Buy Peaches
Usually I go up to State College via a mega-highway which affords one vast panoramas of relentless vista. But this time my co-pilot, Alex Rowe, and I decided to take the byways through vista blocking cornfields and chocolate forests, in the hope of being spared Pennsylvania's official super panoramas. Naturally our route required an intricate reading of maps and frequent change of route numbers, and naturally, as Alex and I were having a marvelous time listening to ourselves, and feeling humble as we passed below towering walls of corn, so we simply couldn't have avoided taking in some extra countryside, and I must admit that if one is not in a tremendous rush, that part of Pennsylvania is one of the more pleasant places to get lost in. Of course I am speaking of areas quite remote from Philadelphia, which is a ghodawful place to get lost in.
Pennsylvania supports itself entirely by roadside stands. August is peach season, and we stopped for some so Alex could learn what a peck was. In Pennsylvania one can buy peaches by the peck. A half-bushel was $4.00 and a peck was $2.60. I suggested that a 1/2 bushel was too many peaches, and so we bought a peck. Alex asked me exactly what relationship a peck had with a bushel, and I, feeling marvelously older and wiser, vastly superior in my knowledge of quaint old measures, said, "Take a wild guess, how many pecks there are in a bushel." Alex replied, "At least one." Poor Alex, being a science type, had relied on visual experience rather than McGuffy's Measures. He had seen the orchardman's wife fill the peck backet to overflowing with about 3/4ths of the half-bushel basket. In that part of Pennsylvania if you get a half bushel for $4.00, for $2.60 you should get more than half of it. We both gained a new respect for folk measures.
Nineteen-Eighty-Four and All That
Paracon had a panel about how the speakers were weary of having to talk about 1984. Presumably Phil Klass, S.F. Pundit of Penn State and panel moderator spent a horrendous year lecturing on the subject so he and another 1984-weary don explained how it really wasn't his best book, other, more obscure works (certainly not ANIMAL FARM), vied for that honor. Simply everyone had demanded they discourse on 1984 that year and they sang a perfect chord of academic scorn. Then Hal Clement (a mere high school teacher) said that he hadn't been required to speak on the book much while participating on con panels this year, which was well as he had read the book when it came out and thought it was just one of many on a similar theme, which for some reason had caught the public's imagination. Phil Klass ventured that he had had trouble reading 1984 because, as a socialist, such a critique had infuriated him. Hal said he had found Velikovsky more annoying. Hal is such a gentleman.
Paracon Banquet Bubbles
Peggy Rae Pavlat made a brief FGOH speech at the Banquet. She explained that the superior bubble soap which everyone found at their tables was Fred Isaacs' special formula for trick-rodeo bubbles. Everyone was having a marvelous time with them, but those at my table judiciously covered their water glasses during the gentle madness which followed. ("Bubbles" Pavlat strikes again.)
No Rooms At the Inn
Because the Keystone games were being held at Penn State, every hotel was booked solid. This put a small cramp in Paracon. Alex and I lucked out because Evan Phillips' brother Jason, a freshman at Penn State, generously offered us the free use of a vacant dorm room a few blocks from the convention. Our only alternative was a half-hour's drive to Milesburg: Bless you, Jason!
Save The Last Dance For Me
Everyone was in a stoic mood about it being the last Paracon. "We've all moved away from State College," the Committee explained. To my surprise, several of the younger folk who were working on the convention, when asked, indicated they were still living in the town. So maybe they'll call their con something else, but I suspect there'll be a con there again soon. Besides, any con which has oceans of gourmet food in its con suite simply cannot be allowed to sunder due to lack of interest.
BEST HOAX AWARD: Democratic Presidential Nominee; BEST TYPEFACE: Mac Write's San Francisco; THE DEROACH AWARD: Lyndon La Roche; THE ARISTOTLE AWARD: Arthur Hlavaty; BEST NEW FEUD: Godless Commies vs. Olympics; BEST TRAUMATIC PRESENTATION: Ignited Negro College Fund; FANDOM'S BIGGEST TURKEY: Dick Smith; BEST RELIGIOUS HOAX: Battlefield Earth Fan Clubs; BEST PROFESSIONAL HOAX: "Eat It" video by 'Weird Al'; BEST FAN HOAX: The ConStellation Bailout; WORST FANZINE TITLE: "Philk Fee-Nom-Ee-Non"; BEST DEAD WRITER: David Gerrold; BEST HOAX CONVENTION: Lake Wobegon in '91; BEST PSEUDONYM: Gary Hart; SPECIAL BAGELBASH AWARD: Cabbage Patch Salad Dressing; DEVO AWARD: "V" (the movie); BEST HAS-BEEN AWARD: James Watt; FREE FOR ALL: "I break small animals"; MOST DESIRED GAFIATION: (tie) Richard H.E. Smith II, Smtih, Dick Smith, M. Basil Funds, Thing Attached to Uncle's Little, Dikbul Ak-Smithi, Sheik; MOST DISGUSTING SMURF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE: (4-way tie) Battlefield Smurf, Smurfosis of the Liver, Blue-Bonic Plague, Smurf Defects; MOST PUTRID SCENE FROM "RETURN OF THE JEDI": The Get Hi Knights; MOST BIZARRE NEW VIDEO GAME: G-Spot; "STAR TREK III" (Give It An Appropriate Subtitle): "You Klingon sons, you killed my bastard!"; MIXXED MEDIA (Campaign movies): Glenn "The Right Stuff", McGovern "The Left Stuff", Jackson "The Soul Stuff", Mondale "The Same Old Stuff", Hart "Stuff It!"; CLOSEST ENCOUNTER OF THE FOURTH KIND: Nancy Reagan & Mr. T; and MOST AVAILABLE FOR PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT: Robert Sacks.
Steve Martin's film career has been steadily fluxuating. His first film "The Jerk" was strange yet highly entertaining. While "Dead Man Don't Wear Plaid" was funny, it was mostly a fascinating gimmic film. Although "Pennies From Heaven" proved what a dramatic actor the famous comedian is, its dreary and depressing plot destroyed it.
Lily Tomlin's films have also tended to be less than enthusiastic towards their audiences. "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" was an interesting enough film, although it lacked much.
Both have succeeded immeasurably in their joint venture "All Of Me"; it's a wonderfully hilarious outing (again directed by Carl Reiner who's helmed Martin's better films).
Martin stars as Roger Cobb, a promising lawyer who'd rather be a jazz musician with his blind friend Tyrone (Jason Bernard). At 38, he's still dating his boss's (Dana Elcar) daughter Peggy (Madolyn Smith), apparently against his better judgment. The closest he is to his own wishes is his playing with Tyrone's band and bringing his dog Bix to his law offices.
Roger finds himself an unwitting victim in a cosmic mix-up when the soul of dying millionairess Edwina Cutwater (Tomlin) is dropped out a window (literally) into Roger's body, controlling the right half. The two had met briefly before her death, hating each other almost immediately (if not before), making the sudden joining of their minds even more comedically pronounced.
Soon Roger finds himself out of a girlfriend, a job, and the ability to go to the bathroom without extreme difficulty. The entire film's subject is treated with remarkable believability in its script and acting.
Prahka Lasa (Richard Libertini) as the Tibetan who was to have put Edwina into "Fred's daughter", is marvelous as the confused foreigner who, parrot-like, repeats what little English he hears, and believes toilet flushing makes the phone ring.
The film's twists are intriguing. "Fred's daughter" Terry, is played by the amazingly lovely Victoria Tennant, wonderful as a lusty British lass who turns out to be the film's cold-hearted villain.
Tomlin and Martin make an excellent cinematic pair. Their mental arguing and bickering are beautifully timed, as is the uncanny ability of Martin's to convince us that his right half is controlled by Tomlin in her upper-class character.
One can easily worry that the two of them could make another fast film to cash in on their comedic compatibility and ruin it just as quickly. As it is, "All of Me" is a wonderful fantasy of high entertainment, and worth seeing.
This year's nominations for the World Fantasy Awards have been announced; they are:
BEST NOVEL: "The Dragon Waiting" by John M. Ford (Timescape); "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King (Doubleday); "The Wandering Unicorn" by Manuel Mujica Lainez (Taplinger); "Tea With The Black Dragon" by R.A. MacAvoy (Bantam); "The Armageddon Rag" by George R.R. Martin (Poseidon); and "Lyonnesse" by Jack Vance (Berkley).
BEST NOVELLA: "The Lurking Duck" by Scott Baker (12/83 Omni); "The Mobkey's Bride" by Michael Bishop (Heroic Visions); "Nunc Dimittis" by Tanith Lee (Dodd, Mead Gallery of Horror); "The Red Hawk" by Elizabeth Lynn (Cheap St.); and "Black Air" by Kim Stanley Robinson (3/83 F&SF).
BEST SHORT STORY: "Silent Cradle" by Leigh Kennedy (Shadows 6); "Elle Est Trois, (La Morte)" by Tanith Lee (Whispers 4); "The 100 Year Christmas" by David Morrell (Don Grant); "Solitario's Eyes," by Lucius Shepard (9/83 F&SF); "Into Whose Hands" by Karl Wagner (Whispers 4); "Wong's Lost and Found Emporium" by William F. Wu (5/83 Amazing).
BEST COLLECTION/ANTHOLOGY: "High Spirits" by Robertson Davies (Penguin); "The Dodd, Mead Gallery of Horror" ed. by Charles L. Grant (Doubleday); "Red As Blood" by Tanith Lee (DAW); and "Tales of Wonder" by Jane Yolen (Schocken).
BEST ARTIST: Jill Bauman; Steve Gervais; Edward Gorey; Robert Gould; Don Maitz; and Rowena Morrill.
SPECIAL AWARD - Professional: Ian & Betty Ballantine, "The High Kings" (Bantam); E.F. Bleiler, "The Guide To Supernatural Literature (Gale Research); L. Sprague & Catherine de Camp, Jane Griffin, "Dark Valley Destiny" (Bluejay); Edward L. Ferman (F&SF); and Pat LoBrutto (Doubleday).
SPECIAL AWARD - Non-Professional: Robert Collins (Fantasy Newsletter/Review); W. Paul Ganley (Weirdbook); Stephen Jones, David Sutton (Fantasy Tales); Robert Price (Crypt of Cthulhu); and Douglas Winter (general criticism).
LIFE ACHIEVEMENT: Multiple awards will be given at the convention, but the nominees are not named in advance.