Ansible 292 -- November 2011
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ANSIBLE 292
NOVEMBER 2011
From DAVID LANGFORD, 94 London Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5AU, UK. Web
news.ansible.co.uk. ISSN 0265-9816 (print); 1740-942X (e). Available
for SAE or information on Squig Stars and drunfilers.
[NET NOTE. See http://news.ansible.co.uk/a292.html for the nice HTML
version. Mailing list subscribe/unsubscribe information appears below
-- please don't send such requests to my own e-mail address. DRL]
SF ENCYCLOPEDIA. The 'beta' release is out: www.sf-encyclopedia.com.
This went up on 10 October, there was a major update on the 25th, and
the _SFE_ team is still madly busy. General thanks for all the
feedback.
### THE LAW'S DELAYS ###
BEN AARONOVITCH gloats: 'My novel _Rivers of London_ has been
nominated for the Galaxy National Book Awards in the category of Best
New Author. I expect to be soundly beaten by _Pigeon English_ but I
thought you might find the inclusion of an SF book interesting. PS:
Your bloody encyclopaedia is already eating into my writing time.'
PETER BEAGLE has at last settled his long-standing complaint about non-
payment of royalties for the 1982 animated film of his _The Last
Unicorn_. This had to wait until ITV, owners of the offending Granada
Media, took on a new CEO who according to Beagle's publisher Connor
Cochran 'had no reason to cover up for anyone's past bad judgment or
mistakes'. Royalties on future takings and merchandise are now agreed,
with back-payments to cover the moneyless years. And about time too.
There's to be a $5m 'renovation' of the film itself, for re-release
with new footage, backgrounds and effects. (TeleRead.com, 15 October)
[RC]
PHILIP K. DICK's estate filed suit against Media Rights Capital and
others involved with the film _The Adjustment Bureau_, for trying to
avoid coughing up $500,000 in bonus payments on the flimsy pretext
that Dick's original story 'Adjustment Team' is in the public domain.
(_Variety_, 27 October) [PDF/AIP] Which it apparently is in the USA,
though the film people didn't learn this until a month after release.
The story was in _Orbit_ magazine, September-October 1954, and
copyright wasn't renewed in 1982 as then required. Interestingly,
though, the US copyright website records a 1983 renewal claim on the
basis that 'Adjustment Team' first appeared in _Imaginative Tales_,
September 1955 -- an issue containing nothing by Dick. The Dick estate
now insists that the _Orbit_ publication was somehow 'unauthorized'
and doesn't count.
SUZETTE HADEN ELGIN has conveyed through friends that she is now
disabled, unable to concentrate or continue her blog. (_PW_) Alas.
DAVID GERROLD confided to an intimate circle of 800 million Facebook
users: 'I am told that David Langford is one of the most unpopular
people in the SF community.' [CH] I couldn't possibly comment.
MITCHELL GROSS, a US author who as Mitchell Graham published a fantasy
trilogy beginning with _The Fifth Ring_ (2003), is undergoing federal
prosecution for swindling women into investing some $4.4 million in
one of his other fantasies -- a fraudulent company. (AOL, 7 October)
Martha Wells remembers his gift of the gab in sf circles: 'At the con,
he told a panel audience that as a child he had corresponded with C.S.
Lewis, and had a letter from Tolkien breaking the news to him that
Lewis had died. He told me he had a multi-million dollar movie deal
with Steven Spielberg for his fantasy trilogy. I could go on.'
LEONARD NIMOY said goodbye to conventions at the Creation _Star Trek_
con on 2 October -- his final appearance. (TrekMovie.com)
STEPH SWAINSTON has stepped down as a 2012 Eastercon guest.
### CONINGSBY ###
4-7 Nov [] IRISH DISCWORLD CONVENTION, Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co.
Clare. Euro45 reg; students Euro35; under-19s Euro30, under-16s
Euro15, under-8s free. See idwcon.org; irishdiscworldcon at gmail dot
com.
11-13 Nov [] ARMADACON 23, Future Inns, Plymouth. Pounds30 reg,
Pounds20 concessions. Contact 18 Wadham Road, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14
3BD.
11-13 Nov [] NOVACON 41, Park Inn, Mansfield Road, Nottingham.
Pounds40 reg. Contact 379 Myrtle Road, Sheffield, S2 3HQ.
14-20 Nov [] THOUGHT BUBBLE (comics), Leeds, inc. 19-20 Nov con at
Saviles & Royal Armouries Hall. See www.thoughtbubblefestival.com.
23 Nov [] BSFA OPEN MEETING, The Antelope, 22 Eaton Terrace, London,
SW1W 8EZ. 5pm for 7pm. Free. With Stephen Baxter.
23 Nov [] STARMAKER: THE PHILOSOPHY OF OLAF STAPLEDON, British
Interplanetary Society, 27/29 South Lambeth Rd, London, SW8 1SZ.
9am-4:30pm. 'Delegates' Pounds70; BIS members Pounds60; students
Pounds35. With Stephen Baxter, Andy Sawyer, others. See www.bis-space.com.
28 Nov - 7 Jan [] _HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE_ (play), Southwark Playhouse,
London. 3pm and 7:30pm Mon-Sat (not 24-26 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan).
Pounds16; Pounds14 concessions; Pounds50 family. Box office 020 7407
0234.
3-4 Mar 2012 [] P-CON IX, Irish Writers' Centre, Parnell Square,
Dublin. GoH Robert Rankin, Bryan Talbot. Euro20 reg: payment accepted
via PayPal only for the present. See www.pcon.ie.
10-11 Mar 2012 [] QED (science/skeptics), Piccadilly Hotel, Portland
St, Manchester, M1 4PH. Pounds89 (students Pounds68) via www.qedcon.org.
26-29 Apr 2012 [] KONTAKT (SFeraKon/Eurocon), Zagreb, Croatia. GoH Tim
Powers, Charles Stross, Darko Macan. Euro17 reg, Euro28 deluxe
(includes guided tour and airport shuttle) to 1 April 2012; then
Euro20 and Euro30. See zagreb-eurocon2012.com. James Shields is Irish
agent.
24-27 Aug 2012 [] DISCWORLD CONVENTION, Hilton Metropole, Birmingham.
_Now Pounds58 reg, Pounds39 concessions, rising on 1 March._ Pounds25
supp; under-13s free. PO Box 4101, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 9AJ.
30 Aug - 3 Sep 2012 [] CHICON 7 (70th Worldcon), Hyatt Regency,
Chicago. $195 reg, $540 family, $100 YA (17-21), $75 child (5-16),
accompanied under-5s free. Contact PO Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076, USA.
6-9 Sep 2012 [] THE ASYLUM (steampunk), Lincoln. Pounds22 basic reg,
with a lunatic variety of discounts and extras. Online booking only:
steampunk.synthasite.com. Contact majortinker at aol dot com.
27-30 Sept 2012 [] FANTASYCON 2012, Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton.
Details awaited 'in late November' at fantasycon2012.org.
31 Oct - 3 Nov 2013 [] WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION, Hilton Brighton
Metropole. Pounds75 reg _until 7 November 2011; Pounds100 thereafter_;
Pounds50 supp; no at-door or day memberships. Cheques to 130 Park
View, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 6JU; PayPal payments at www.wfc2013.org.
### INFINITELY IMPROBABLE ###
AS OTHERS SEE US. Salman Rushdie risks another fatwa: 'There was a
series called "Game Of Thrones" which was very popular here in the
United States, a post-Tolkein kind of thing. It was garbage, yet was
addictive garbage -- because there's lots of violence, all the women
take their clothes off all the time, and it's kind of fun. In the end,
it's well-produced trash ...' (_Haaretz_, 14 October 2011) [MPJ]
WORLD FANTASY AWARDS. NOVEL Nnedi Okorafor, _Who Fears Death_. NOVELLA
Elizabeth Hand, 'The Maiden Flight of McCauley's
Bellerophon' (_Stories: All-New Tales_). SHORT Joyce Carol Oates,
'Fossil-Figures' (_Stories: All-New Tales_). ANTHOLOGY Kate
Bernheimer, ed., _My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me_.
COLLECTION Karen Joy Fowler, _What I Didn't See and Other Stories_.
ARTIST Kinuko Y. Craft. SPECIAL, PROFESSIONAL Marc Gascoigne for Angry
Robot. SPECIAL, NON-PROFESSIONAL Alisa Krasnostein for Twelfth Planet
Press. [L]
POLITICAL COALITIONS MASTERCLASS. From _Doctor Who and The Crusaders_
(1965) by David Whitaker: 'No decision was more difficult for Susan or
easier for her grandfather [the Doctor], who knew in his heart that
she must share her future with David Cameron.' [JO]
R.I.P. _George Baker_ (1931-2011), actor who was a Number Two in _The
Prisoner_ and appeared in the films _Curse of the Fly_ (1965), _The
Canterville Ghost_ (1987) and _Back to the Secret Garden_ (2001), died
on 7 October aged 80. [SG]
_David Bedford_ (1937-2011), UK composer who was fond of fantasy,
sf and astronomical themes, died on 1 October aged 74. Explicitly sf
work included the 1989 concept album _Rigel 9_ with Ursula K. Le Guin,
and a 2001 cantata adaptation of _The City and the Stars_ with Arthur
C. Clarke narrating between movements. (_Guardian_/_SFE_)
_Derrick Bell_ (1930-2011), US lawyer and civil rights activist
whose disturbing sf racial parable 'The Space Traders' (1992) was
adapted for tv as a segment of _Cosmic Slop_ (1994), died on 5
October. He was 80. [PDF]
_John Burke_ (1922-2011), UK author and anthology editor who
began publishing sf with 'Chessboard' (1953 _New Worlds_) and wrote
much sf, fantasy and supernatural fiction, died on 20 September; he
was 89. [PW] He also wrote as J F Burke, Jonathan Burke and -- for
novelizations like _Moon Zero Two_ and _UFO_ -- Robert Miall.
_John Dunning_ (1927-2011), Canadian producer whose work included
David Cronenberg's early films _Shivers_ (1975) and _Rabid_ (1977),
died on 19 September; he was 84. [MPJ]
_Charles Napier_ (1936-2011), US actor with many genre credits
for tv series (_Star Trek_, _Incredible Hulk_, and the animated
_Legend of Tarzan_, _Men in Black_ and _The Mummy_) and films
(_Dragonfight_ and the _Austin Powers_ movies), died on 5 October aged
75. [SG]
_Alastair Reid_ (1939-2011), Scots tv director whose productions
included _Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde_ (BBC 1980) and _Artemis 81_ (BBC
1981), died on 17 August; he was 72. [MPJ]
AS OTHERS SEE US II. On the death of Steve Jobs, a little past
context: 'Computers were for geeks, science fiction enthusiasts and
others even further beyond the pale.' (Andrew Coyne, _MacLeans_, 14
October 2011) [JKS]
On our kinship with rappers: 'Eminem will say things about
chainsawing his granny but with him it's like science
fiction.' (Wretch 32, _Guardian_ Guide, 13-19 August 2011) [SS]
BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS. These generated much high melodrama in
October. NOVEL Sam Stone, _Demon Dance_. NOVELLA Simon Clark,
_Humpty's Bones_. SHORT Sam Stone, 'Fool's Gold' (_The Bitten Word_).
COLLECTION Stephen King, _Full Dark, No Stars_. ANTHOLOGY Johnny
Mains, ed., _Back From the Dead: The Legacy of the Pan Book of Horror
Stories_. NONFICTION Vincent Chong, _Altered Visions: The Art of
Vincent Chong_. ARTIST Vincent Chong. SMALL PRESS Telos Publishing.
MAGAZINE_ Black Static_. GRAPHIC NOVEL I.N.J. Culbard, _At the
Mountains of Madness_. FILM _Inception_. TV: _Sherlock_. KARL EDWARD
WAGNER (special award) Terry Pratchett. SYDNEY J. BOUNDS (newcomer):
Robert Jackson Bennett for _Mr Shivers_.
As pointed out by various people including Steve Jones (who
posted but later deleted a grumpy attack on most of the above choices,
complaining _inter alia_ of too much small press and not enough
mainstream publishing), the British Fantasy Society chairman David J.
Howe had found himself in the embarrassing position of having to stand
in for the awards administrator -- who'd abandoned this role for
unstated personal reasons -- and thus to preside over three wins for
his own Telos Publishing and its authors (novella, nonfiction, small
press) and two for his domestic partner Sam Stone. She, distressed by
the subsequent controversy, returned her novel award. Howe resigned as
BFS chair, replaced pro-tem by Graham Joyce, whose official statements
included an announcement of the BFS committee's 'firm belief that no
corruption or wrongdoing took place'. Joyce is working on an overhaul
of the awards procedure, since 'It was always a vulnerable system and
with its weakness to "boosting" votes now only too exposed, it is in
my view irreparable.' A side-effect is that David Howe and Sam Stone
pulled out as organizers of the 2012 Fantasycon planned for Corby,
Northamptonshire; this event will now take place in Brighton.
BLURBISMO. _Dept of 45 Years On and Still Getting It Wrong._ 'The 34-
year-old [Zachary] Quinto, known for his role on NBC's _Heroes_ and as
Dr. Spock in JJ Abrams _Star Trek_ reboot, talks about his sexuality
in an interview with _New York_ magazine.' (Salon.com, 17 October)
[AL]
AS OTHERS SEE US III. Glen Duncan of the _NY Times_ sympathizes with a
slummer: 'A literary novelist writing a genre novel is like an
intellectual dating a porn star. It invites forgivable prurience: What
is that relationship like? Granted the intellectual's hit hanky-panky
pay dirt, but what's in it for the porn star? Conversation? Ideas?
Deconstruction? [...] Colson Whitehead is a literary novelist, but his
latest book, "Zone One," features zombies, which means horror fans and
gore gourmands will soon have him on their radar. He has my sympathy.
I can see the disgruntled reviews on Amazon already [...] Broad-
spectrum marketing will attract readers for whom having to look up
"cathected" or "brisant" isn't just an irritant but a moral affront.
These readers will huff and writhe and swear their way through (if
they make it through) and feel betrayed and outraged and
migrained.' (28 October) [JW] Those who wallow in H.P. Lovecraft and
Clark Ashton Smith can't be expected to cope with obscure or even
eldritch words.
But zombies transcend mere genre, according to Charlie Collier of
the US network AMC, whose _The Walking Dead_ is a major hit on cable
tv: 'This isn't just a genre exercise. You get all the escapism of a
post-apocalyptic world, but you also get the character drama that
we've been delivering since we launched _Mad Men_.' (Adweek.com, 19
October) [TM]
MORE AWARDS. _The Kitschies_, awards for 'progressive, intelligent and
entertaining' sf/fantasy in the categories Novel (Pounds750 prize),
Debut (Pounds250), Cover Art (Pounds250) and Judges' Discretion, are
collecting publishers' submissions for a January shortlist
announcement. More at www.thekitschies.com.
_Monica Hughes Award:_ from the Canadian Children's Book Centre,
for children's sf and fantasy, to be awarded annually from October
2012 with a $5000 cash prize. To qualify, the author must be Canadian
or a permanent resident of Canada. [FM]
THE RICH LIST. 'Who are the wealthiest film characters?' is a question
that apparently torments some people in the small hours. _Total Film_
magazine did the sums, adjusted for inflation, and came up with a
genre-heavy Top Ten: Adrian Veidt (_Watchmen_) $74 billion, Richie
Rich (_Richie Rich_) $70bn, Bruce Wayne (_Batman_ films) $30.4bn, Lex
Luthor (_Superman_ films) $29.3bn, Dr Eldon Tyrell (_Blade Runner_)
$25bn, Jabba The Hut (_Return of the Jedi_) $25bn, Joh Fredersen
(_Metropolis_) $22bn, Tony Stark (_Iron Man_ films) $19.75bn, Willy
Wonka (_Charlie And The Chocolate Factory_) $19.5bn, Dr Evil (_Austin
Powers_ films) $15.9bn. A recount is being urgently demanded by
Scrooge McDuck.
OUTRAGED LETTERS. _Kyle McAbee_ adds a further note about Dan Hoey
(_A291_): 'Dan was an active science fiction fan until his death. For
many years he was a member of the Potomac River Science Fiction
Society, hosting one of our monthly meetings each year at his
apartment, usually in a summer month. Our June 2011 meeting was at his
place. Dan was a genius, yet modest. He could solve Rubik's Cube while
holding it behind his back. At his memorial service, we learned that
he had struggled with depression for much of his adult life. He was a
spirited and enthusiastic fan. We will miss him.'
WE ARE EVERYWHERE. The BBC2 comedy quiz _Mock The Week_ (13 October)
had the traditional 'If this is the answer, what is the question?'
round. _Answer:_ 'Booze, blondes and dwarves.' _Question_ (Andy
Parsons): 'Why did Gandalf go missing for so long in _The Lord Of The
Rings_?' _Question_ (Chris Addison): 'What are Carrie Fisher's main
recollections of filming _The Return Of The Jedi_?' (The answer
actually referred to the World Cup antics of the England rugby team.)
[MPJ]
More evidence that a genre fan is trapped in the _OED_ and
sending coded messages via its Word of the Day: the selections for 5-8
October were Planet X, Earthship, Multiverse (hello, Mr Moorcock) and
Perigee. Late in the month came Foo Fighter. [MPJ/JAT]
_Have I Got News For You_ explained international finance.
_Host:_ 'Does anyone know what a trillion actually is?' _Ross Noble:_
'A trillion is when a human mates with a Klingon.' [MPJ]
_Klingon Beauty Tips._ After repeated application of a Pounds90+
eyelash serum, 'your lashes will darken and fatten and seem to
multiply like triffids.' ('Beauty', _Evening Standard_, 28 October)
[RH]
CHANGE AND DECAY. Terry Martin of _Murky Depths_ magazine announced on
25 October that the current issue #18 will be the last.
Greg Ketter's DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis will close as a
physical shop at the end of January; catalogue/convention sales
continue. [SHS]
BY ANY OTHER NAME. Erik Masting reviewed an sf novel, _2030_ by Albert
Brook, in the _Times Literary Supplement_. How to describe it in
suitably upmarket terms? Aha: 'anticipatory fiction'. (30 September)
THE DEAD PAST. _50 Years Ago_, Brian Aldiss revealed: '"Hothouse" has
sold in hard covers on both sides of the Pond. Brian says that he is
working on a sequel called "Greenhouse, a Novel of the Beet
Generation" ...' (_Skyrack_ 39, November 1961)
_40 Years Ago_, Peter Roberts prophesied: 'NOVACON SUCCESS: The
first British November sf convention was held last weekend at the
Imperial Centre Hotel, Birmingham, and was judged to be an exceedingly
fine innovation with a pretty good chance of
continuing.' (_Checkpoint_ 12, November 1971)
_20 Years Ago:_ 'Meanwhile ace reviewer John Clute was poring
delightedly over his latest task, being _Futurespeak: A Fan's Guide to
the Language of SF_ by Roberta Rogow [...]. "This entry has more
mistakes than words," he marvelled: _SLANS (literary): Superhuman
successors to homo sapiens in a series of stories by A.E. van Vogt,
beginning in 1925 with_ Galactic Lensman....' (_Ansible_ 52, November
1991)
FANFUNDERY. _TransAtlantic Fan Fund._ The 2012 TAFF voting deadline is
_9 December_. North American candidates for the trip to Olympus 2012
(Eastercon) are Warren Buff, Kim Kofmel and Jacq Monahan. See
taff.org.uk for the ballot form.
_GUFF:_ Australasian candidates for the northbound trip to
Olympus 2012 are Grant Watson and Kylie Ding. Voting deadline: 22
January. See taff.org.uk/guff.html for ballot form.
C.O.A. _Harry Harrison_'s address is available to old friends.
THOG'S MASTERCLASS. _Art Dept._ 'Praetor Ming Lee resembled the
Chinese Princesses hanging in the ancient art galleries of
Beijing.' (Glenn Hough, _970 A.D.S._, 2011) [PM]
_Deep Emotion Dept._ 'Something salty and bright was searing a
deep, angry streak in her chest, and it felt like tears clawing their
way up her throat.' (Cherie Priest, _Boneshaker_, 2009) [FB]
_War Against Allison Dept._ 'She had discussed possible projects
for subtly revealing Military's gross misconduct of the war with
Allison.' (L. Timmel Duchamp, _Tsunami_, 2007) [AK]
### GEEKS' CORNER ###
SUBSCRIPTIONS. New procedure from October 2010: to receive _Ansible_
monthly via email, send a message to:
ansible-news+subscribe [at] googlegroups.com
You will be asked to confirm that you want to join the group. To
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ansible-news+unsubscribe [at] googlegroups.com
More details here:
http://news.ansible.co.uk/asubs.html
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LiveJournal syndication -- http://www.livejournal.com/users/ansiblezine/
Back issues -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/
Links and archive -- http://links.ansible.co.uk/
Email the editor -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/contact.php
Books Received -- http://ansible.co.uk/books.php
CONVENTION AND EVENT LINKS
[] British Isles (plus Eurocon, Worldcon) -- http://links.ansible.co.uk
[] London meetings/events -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/london.html
[] Overseas -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/conlisti.html
### ENDNOTES ###
APPARITIONS.
[] 4 November 2011: Brum Group, Briar Rose Hotel, Bennett's Hill,
Birmingham city centre, 7:30pm for 8pm; Pounds4 or Pounds3 for
members. With Ian Whates. Contact bhamsfgroup at yahoo co uk or
rog.peyton at btinternet com. Further meetings: 2 December, Christmas
Social at Selly Park Tavern, entry by Pounds10 advance ticket only; 13
January, AGM/Auction; 10 February, quiz.
EDITORIAL. The editor is too tired to write one.
PAYPAL TIP JAR THINGY. Support _Ansible_, cover website costs and keep
the editor happy! Or just buy his books.
http://ansible.co.uk/paypal.html
http://ansible.co.uk/books/index.html
http://ansible.co.uk/books/starcomb.html
TRAGI-POLITICAL SF. David Garnett sends a news item on Palestine's
admission to full membership of UNESCO. According to Nimrod Barkan,
Israel's ambassador to UNESCO: 'This resolution is a tragedy for
UNESCO ... UNESCO deals in science and not science fiction and
nevertheless adopted the science fiction reality.' (_Guardian_, 1
November)
NOVA AWARDS. As announced last issue, UK and Irish fans can now vote
by email in these fanzine awards, with a 7 November deadline. See ...
http://efanzines.com/Nova/index.htm.
MORE EVENTS.
9 Dec [] BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY OPEN NIGHT and (for members only)
Extraordinary General Meeting at the Mug House, London Bridge, London,
SE1 2PF. Official meeting start 7:30pm; EGM 6:30pm.
10-12 Aug 2012 [] Congenial (Unicon/RPG), Murray Edwards College
(formerly New Hall), Cambridge. GoH Phil and Kaja Foglio. Pounds30 reg
to Congenial, 19 Uphall Road, Cambridge, CB1 3HX. Discount for room
bookings before 10 January: see http://congenial.org.uk/.
Ansible 292 Copyright (c) David Langford, 2011. Thanks to Frank
Boehmert, Rafe Culpin, Rob Hansen, Colin Hinz, Martyn P. Jackson,
Amanda Kear, Locus, Andy Love, Todd Mason, Farah Mendlesohn, Petrea
Mitchell, Jonathan Oliver, Andrew I. Porter, Steven H Silver, Steve
Sneyd, Jonathan K. Stephens, James A. Tucker, Peter Weston, James
Worrad, and our Hero Distributors: Dave Corby (BSFG), SCIS/Prophecy,
Alan Stewart (Australia).
1 November 2011
NOVEMBER 2011
From DAVID LANGFORD, 94 London Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5AU, UK. Web
news.ansible.co.uk. ISSN 0265-9816 (print); 1740-942X (e). Available
for SAE or information on Squig Stars and drunfilers.
[NET NOTE. See http://news.ansible.co.uk/a292.html for the nice HTML
version. Mailing list subscribe/unsubscribe information appears below
-- please don't send such requests to my own e-mail address. DRL]
SF ENCYCLOPEDIA. The 'beta' release is out: www.sf-encyclopedia.com.
This went up on 10 October, there was a major update on the 25th, and
the _SFE_ team is still madly busy. General thanks for all the
feedback.
### THE LAW'S DELAYS ###
BEN AARONOVITCH gloats: 'My novel _Rivers of London_ has been
nominated for the Galaxy National Book Awards in the category of Best
New Author. I expect to be soundly beaten by _Pigeon English_ but I
thought you might find the inclusion of an SF book interesting. PS:
Your bloody encyclopaedia is already eating into my writing time.'
PETER BEAGLE has at last settled his long-standing complaint about non-
payment of royalties for the 1982 animated film of his _The Last
Unicorn_. This had to wait until ITV, owners of the offending Granada
Media, took on a new CEO who according to Beagle's publisher Connor
Cochran 'had no reason to cover up for anyone's past bad judgment or
mistakes'. Royalties on future takings and merchandise are now agreed,
with back-payments to cover the moneyless years. And about time too.
There's to be a $5m 'renovation' of the film itself, for re-release
with new footage, backgrounds and effects. (TeleRead.com, 15 October)
[RC]
PHILIP K. DICK's estate filed suit against Media Rights Capital and
others involved with the film _The Adjustment Bureau_, for trying to
avoid coughing up $500,000 in bonus payments on the flimsy pretext
that Dick's original story 'Adjustment Team' is in the public domain.
(_Variety_, 27 October) [PDF/AIP] Which it apparently is in the USA,
though the film people didn't learn this until a month after release.
The story was in _Orbit_ magazine, September-October 1954, and
copyright wasn't renewed in 1982 as then required. Interestingly,
though, the US copyright website records a 1983 renewal claim on the
basis that 'Adjustment Team' first appeared in _Imaginative Tales_,
September 1955 -- an issue containing nothing by Dick. The Dick estate
now insists that the _Orbit_ publication was somehow 'unauthorized'
and doesn't count.
SUZETTE HADEN ELGIN has conveyed through friends that she is now
disabled, unable to concentrate or continue her blog. (_PW_) Alas.
DAVID GERROLD confided to an intimate circle of 800 million Facebook
users: 'I am told that David Langford is one of the most unpopular
people in the SF community.' [CH] I couldn't possibly comment.
MITCHELL GROSS, a US author who as Mitchell Graham published a fantasy
trilogy beginning with _The Fifth Ring_ (2003), is undergoing federal
prosecution for swindling women into investing some $4.4 million in
one of his other fantasies -- a fraudulent company. (AOL, 7 October)
Martha Wells remembers his gift of the gab in sf circles: 'At the con,
he told a panel audience that as a child he had corresponded with C.S.
Lewis, and had a letter from Tolkien breaking the news to him that
Lewis had died. He told me he had a multi-million dollar movie deal
with Steven Spielberg for his fantasy trilogy. I could go on.'
LEONARD NIMOY said goodbye to conventions at the Creation _Star Trek_
con on 2 October -- his final appearance. (TrekMovie.com)
STEPH SWAINSTON has stepped down as a 2012 Eastercon guest.
### CONINGSBY ###
4-7 Nov [] IRISH DISCWORLD CONVENTION, Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co.
Clare. Euro45 reg; students Euro35; under-19s Euro30, under-16s
Euro15, under-8s free. See idwcon.org; irishdiscworldcon at gmail dot
com.
11-13 Nov [] ARMADACON 23, Future Inns, Plymouth. Pounds30 reg,
Pounds20 concessions. Contact 18 Wadham Road, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14
3BD.
11-13 Nov [] NOVACON 41, Park Inn, Mansfield Road, Nottingham.
Pounds40 reg. Contact 379 Myrtle Road, Sheffield, S2 3HQ.
14-20 Nov [] THOUGHT BUBBLE (comics), Leeds, inc. 19-20 Nov con at
Saviles & Royal Armouries Hall. See www.thoughtbubblefestival.com.
23 Nov [] BSFA OPEN MEETING, The Antelope, 22 Eaton Terrace, London,
SW1W 8EZ. 5pm for 7pm. Free. With Stephen Baxter.
23 Nov [] STARMAKER: THE PHILOSOPHY OF OLAF STAPLEDON, British
Interplanetary Society, 27/29 South Lambeth Rd, London, SW8 1SZ.
9am-4:30pm. 'Delegates' Pounds70; BIS members Pounds60; students
Pounds35. With Stephen Baxter, Andy Sawyer, others. See www.bis-space.com.
28 Nov - 7 Jan [] _HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE_ (play), Southwark Playhouse,
London. 3pm and 7:30pm Mon-Sat (not 24-26 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan).
Pounds16; Pounds14 concessions; Pounds50 family. Box office 020 7407
0234.
3-4 Mar 2012 [] P-CON IX, Irish Writers' Centre, Parnell Square,
Dublin. GoH Robert Rankin, Bryan Talbot. Euro20 reg: payment accepted
via PayPal only for the present. See www.pcon.ie.
10-11 Mar 2012 [] QED (science/skeptics), Piccadilly Hotel, Portland
St, Manchester, M1 4PH. Pounds89 (students Pounds68) via www.qedcon.org.
26-29 Apr 2012 [] KONTAKT (SFeraKon/Eurocon), Zagreb, Croatia. GoH Tim
Powers, Charles Stross, Darko Macan. Euro17 reg, Euro28 deluxe
(includes guided tour and airport shuttle) to 1 April 2012; then
Euro20 and Euro30. See zagreb-eurocon2012.com. James Shields is Irish
agent.
24-27 Aug 2012 [] DISCWORLD CONVENTION, Hilton Metropole, Birmingham.
_Now Pounds58 reg, Pounds39 concessions, rising on 1 March._ Pounds25
supp; under-13s free. PO Box 4101, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 9AJ.
30 Aug - 3 Sep 2012 [] CHICON 7 (70th Worldcon), Hyatt Regency,
Chicago. $195 reg, $540 family, $100 YA (17-21), $75 child (5-16),
accompanied under-5s free. Contact PO Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076, USA.
6-9 Sep 2012 [] THE ASYLUM (steampunk), Lincoln. Pounds22 basic reg,
with a lunatic variety of discounts and extras. Online booking only:
steampunk.synthasite.com. Contact majortinker at aol dot com.
27-30 Sept 2012 [] FANTASYCON 2012, Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton.
Details awaited 'in late November' at fantasycon2012.org.
31 Oct - 3 Nov 2013 [] WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION, Hilton Brighton
Metropole. Pounds75 reg _until 7 November 2011; Pounds100 thereafter_;
Pounds50 supp; no at-door or day memberships. Cheques to 130 Park
View, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 6JU; PayPal payments at www.wfc2013.org.
### INFINITELY IMPROBABLE ###
AS OTHERS SEE US. Salman Rushdie risks another fatwa: 'There was a
series called "Game Of Thrones" which was very popular here in the
United States, a post-Tolkein kind of thing. It was garbage, yet was
addictive garbage -- because there's lots of violence, all the women
take their clothes off all the time, and it's kind of fun. In the end,
it's well-produced trash ...' (_Haaretz_, 14 October 2011) [MPJ]
WORLD FANTASY AWARDS. NOVEL Nnedi Okorafor, _Who Fears Death_. NOVELLA
Elizabeth Hand, 'The Maiden Flight of McCauley's
Bellerophon' (_Stories: All-New Tales_). SHORT Joyce Carol Oates,
'Fossil-Figures' (_Stories: All-New Tales_). ANTHOLOGY Kate
Bernheimer, ed., _My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me_.
COLLECTION Karen Joy Fowler, _What I Didn't See and Other Stories_.
ARTIST Kinuko Y. Craft. SPECIAL, PROFESSIONAL Marc Gascoigne for Angry
Robot. SPECIAL, NON-PROFESSIONAL Alisa Krasnostein for Twelfth Planet
Press. [L]
POLITICAL COALITIONS MASTERCLASS. From _Doctor Who and The Crusaders_
(1965) by David Whitaker: 'No decision was more difficult for Susan or
easier for her grandfather [the Doctor], who knew in his heart that
she must share her future with David Cameron.' [JO]
R.I.P. _George Baker_ (1931-2011), actor who was a Number Two in _The
Prisoner_ and appeared in the films _Curse of the Fly_ (1965), _The
Canterville Ghost_ (1987) and _Back to the Secret Garden_ (2001), died
on 7 October aged 80. [SG]
_David Bedford_ (1937-2011), UK composer who was fond of fantasy,
sf and astronomical themes, died on 1 October aged 74. Explicitly sf
work included the 1989 concept album _Rigel 9_ with Ursula K. Le Guin,
and a 2001 cantata adaptation of _The City and the Stars_ with Arthur
C. Clarke narrating between movements. (_Guardian_/_SFE_)
_Derrick Bell_ (1930-2011), US lawyer and civil rights activist
whose disturbing sf racial parable 'The Space Traders' (1992) was
adapted for tv as a segment of _Cosmic Slop_ (1994), died on 5
October. He was 80. [PDF]
_John Burke_ (1922-2011), UK author and anthology editor who
began publishing sf with 'Chessboard' (1953 _New Worlds_) and wrote
much sf, fantasy and supernatural fiction, died on 20 September; he
was 89. [PW] He also wrote as J F Burke, Jonathan Burke and -- for
novelizations like _Moon Zero Two_ and _UFO_ -- Robert Miall.
_John Dunning_ (1927-2011), Canadian producer whose work included
David Cronenberg's early films _Shivers_ (1975) and _Rabid_ (1977),
died on 19 September; he was 84. [MPJ]
_Charles Napier_ (1936-2011), US actor with many genre credits
for tv series (_Star Trek_, _Incredible Hulk_, and the animated
_Legend of Tarzan_, _Men in Black_ and _The Mummy_) and films
(_Dragonfight_ and the _Austin Powers_ movies), died on 5 October aged
75. [SG]
_Alastair Reid_ (1939-2011), Scots tv director whose productions
included _Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde_ (BBC 1980) and _Artemis 81_ (BBC
1981), died on 17 August; he was 72. [MPJ]
AS OTHERS SEE US II. On the death of Steve Jobs, a little past
context: 'Computers were for geeks, science fiction enthusiasts and
others even further beyond the pale.' (Andrew Coyne, _MacLeans_, 14
October 2011) [JKS]
On our kinship with rappers: 'Eminem will say things about
chainsawing his granny but with him it's like science
fiction.' (Wretch 32, _Guardian_ Guide, 13-19 August 2011) [SS]
BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS. These generated much high melodrama in
October. NOVEL Sam Stone, _Demon Dance_. NOVELLA Simon Clark,
_Humpty's Bones_. SHORT Sam Stone, 'Fool's Gold' (_The Bitten Word_).
COLLECTION Stephen King, _Full Dark, No Stars_. ANTHOLOGY Johnny
Mains, ed., _Back From the Dead: The Legacy of the Pan Book of Horror
Stories_. NONFICTION Vincent Chong, _Altered Visions: The Art of
Vincent Chong_. ARTIST Vincent Chong. SMALL PRESS Telos Publishing.
MAGAZINE_ Black Static_. GRAPHIC NOVEL I.N.J. Culbard, _At the
Mountains of Madness_. FILM _Inception_. TV: _Sherlock_. KARL EDWARD
WAGNER (special award) Terry Pratchett. SYDNEY J. BOUNDS (newcomer):
Robert Jackson Bennett for _Mr Shivers_.
As pointed out by various people including Steve Jones (who
posted but later deleted a grumpy attack on most of the above choices,
complaining _inter alia_ of too much small press and not enough
mainstream publishing), the British Fantasy Society chairman David J.
Howe had found himself in the embarrassing position of having to stand
in for the awards administrator -- who'd abandoned this role for
unstated personal reasons -- and thus to preside over three wins for
his own Telos Publishing and its authors (novella, nonfiction, small
press) and two for his domestic partner Sam Stone. She, distressed by
the subsequent controversy, returned her novel award. Howe resigned as
BFS chair, replaced pro-tem by Graham Joyce, whose official statements
included an announcement of the BFS committee's 'firm belief that no
corruption or wrongdoing took place'. Joyce is working on an overhaul
of the awards procedure, since 'It was always a vulnerable system and
with its weakness to "boosting" votes now only too exposed, it is in
my view irreparable.' A side-effect is that David Howe and Sam Stone
pulled out as organizers of the 2012 Fantasycon planned for Corby,
Northamptonshire; this event will now take place in Brighton.
BLURBISMO. _Dept of 45 Years On and Still Getting It Wrong._ 'The 34-
year-old [Zachary] Quinto, known for his role on NBC's _Heroes_ and as
Dr. Spock in JJ Abrams _Star Trek_ reboot, talks about his sexuality
in an interview with _New York_ magazine.' (Salon.com, 17 October)
[AL]
AS OTHERS SEE US III. Glen Duncan of the _NY Times_ sympathizes with a
slummer: 'A literary novelist writing a genre novel is like an
intellectual dating a porn star. It invites forgivable prurience: What
is that relationship like? Granted the intellectual's hit hanky-panky
pay dirt, but what's in it for the porn star? Conversation? Ideas?
Deconstruction? [...] Colson Whitehead is a literary novelist, but his
latest book, "Zone One," features zombies, which means horror fans and
gore gourmands will soon have him on their radar. He has my sympathy.
I can see the disgruntled reviews on Amazon already [...] Broad-
spectrum marketing will attract readers for whom having to look up
"cathected" or "brisant" isn't just an irritant but a moral affront.
These readers will huff and writhe and swear their way through (if
they make it through) and feel betrayed and outraged and
migrained.' (28 October) [JW] Those who wallow in H.P. Lovecraft and
Clark Ashton Smith can't be expected to cope with obscure or even
eldritch words.
But zombies transcend mere genre, according to Charlie Collier of
the US network AMC, whose _The Walking Dead_ is a major hit on cable
tv: 'This isn't just a genre exercise. You get all the escapism of a
post-apocalyptic world, but you also get the character drama that
we've been delivering since we launched _Mad Men_.' (Adweek.com, 19
October) [TM]
MORE AWARDS. _The Kitschies_, awards for 'progressive, intelligent and
entertaining' sf/fantasy in the categories Novel (Pounds750 prize),
Debut (Pounds250), Cover Art (Pounds250) and Judges' Discretion, are
collecting publishers' submissions for a January shortlist
announcement. More at www.thekitschies.com.
_Monica Hughes Award:_ from the Canadian Children's Book Centre,
for children's sf and fantasy, to be awarded annually from October
2012 with a $5000 cash prize. To qualify, the author must be Canadian
or a permanent resident of Canada. [FM]
THE RICH LIST. 'Who are the wealthiest film characters?' is a question
that apparently torments some people in the small hours. _Total Film_
magazine did the sums, adjusted for inflation, and came up with a
genre-heavy Top Ten: Adrian Veidt (_Watchmen_) $74 billion, Richie
Rich (_Richie Rich_) $70bn, Bruce Wayne (_Batman_ films) $30.4bn, Lex
Luthor (_Superman_ films) $29.3bn, Dr Eldon Tyrell (_Blade Runner_)
$25bn, Jabba The Hut (_Return of the Jedi_) $25bn, Joh Fredersen
(_Metropolis_) $22bn, Tony Stark (_Iron Man_ films) $19.75bn, Willy
Wonka (_Charlie And The Chocolate Factory_) $19.5bn, Dr Evil (_Austin
Powers_ films) $15.9bn. A recount is being urgently demanded by
Scrooge McDuck.
OUTRAGED LETTERS. _Kyle McAbee_ adds a further note about Dan Hoey
(_A291_): 'Dan was an active science fiction fan until his death. For
many years he was a member of the Potomac River Science Fiction
Society, hosting one of our monthly meetings each year at his
apartment, usually in a summer month. Our June 2011 meeting was at his
place. Dan was a genius, yet modest. He could solve Rubik's Cube while
holding it behind his back. At his memorial service, we learned that
he had struggled with depression for much of his adult life. He was a
spirited and enthusiastic fan. We will miss him.'
WE ARE EVERYWHERE. The BBC2 comedy quiz _Mock The Week_ (13 October)
had the traditional 'If this is the answer, what is the question?'
round. _Answer:_ 'Booze, blondes and dwarves.' _Question_ (Andy
Parsons): 'Why did Gandalf go missing for so long in _The Lord Of The
Rings_?' _Question_ (Chris Addison): 'What are Carrie Fisher's main
recollections of filming _The Return Of The Jedi_?' (The answer
actually referred to the World Cup antics of the England rugby team.)
[MPJ]
More evidence that a genre fan is trapped in the _OED_ and
sending coded messages via its Word of the Day: the selections for 5-8
October were Planet X, Earthship, Multiverse (hello, Mr Moorcock) and
Perigee. Late in the month came Foo Fighter. [MPJ/JAT]
_Have I Got News For You_ explained international finance.
_Host:_ 'Does anyone know what a trillion actually is?' _Ross Noble:_
'A trillion is when a human mates with a Klingon.' [MPJ]
_Klingon Beauty Tips._ After repeated application of a Pounds90+
eyelash serum, 'your lashes will darken and fatten and seem to
multiply like triffids.' ('Beauty', _Evening Standard_, 28 October)
[RH]
CHANGE AND DECAY. Terry Martin of _Murky Depths_ magazine announced on
25 October that the current issue #18 will be the last.
Greg Ketter's DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis will close as a
physical shop at the end of January; catalogue/convention sales
continue. [SHS]
BY ANY OTHER NAME. Erik Masting reviewed an sf novel, _2030_ by Albert
Brook, in the _Times Literary Supplement_. How to describe it in
suitably upmarket terms? Aha: 'anticipatory fiction'. (30 September)
THE DEAD PAST. _50 Years Ago_, Brian Aldiss revealed: '"Hothouse" has
sold in hard covers on both sides of the Pond. Brian says that he is
working on a sequel called "Greenhouse, a Novel of the Beet
Generation" ...' (_Skyrack_ 39, November 1961)
_40 Years Ago_, Peter Roberts prophesied: 'NOVACON SUCCESS: The
first British November sf convention was held last weekend at the
Imperial Centre Hotel, Birmingham, and was judged to be an exceedingly
fine innovation with a pretty good chance of
continuing.' (_Checkpoint_ 12, November 1971)
_20 Years Ago:_ 'Meanwhile ace reviewer John Clute was poring
delightedly over his latest task, being _Futurespeak: A Fan's Guide to
the Language of SF_ by Roberta Rogow [...]. "This entry has more
mistakes than words," he marvelled: _SLANS (literary): Superhuman
successors to homo sapiens in a series of stories by A.E. van Vogt,
beginning in 1925 with_ Galactic Lensman....' (_Ansible_ 52, November
1991)
FANFUNDERY. _TransAtlantic Fan Fund._ The 2012 TAFF voting deadline is
_9 December_. North American candidates for the trip to Olympus 2012
(Eastercon) are Warren Buff, Kim Kofmel and Jacq Monahan. See
taff.org.uk for the ballot form.
_GUFF:_ Australasian candidates for the northbound trip to
Olympus 2012 are Grant Watson and Kylie Ding. Voting deadline: 22
January. See taff.org.uk/guff.html for ballot form.
C.O.A. _Harry Harrison_'s address is available to old friends.
THOG'S MASTERCLASS. _Art Dept._ 'Praetor Ming Lee resembled the
Chinese Princesses hanging in the ancient art galleries of
Beijing.' (Glenn Hough, _970 A.D.S._, 2011) [PM]
_Deep Emotion Dept._ 'Something salty and bright was searing a
deep, angry streak in her chest, and it felt like tears clawing their
way up her throat.' (Cherie Priest, _Boneshaker_, 2009) [FB]
_War Against Allison Dept._ 'She had discussed possible projects
for subtly revealing Military's gross misconduct of the war with
Allison.' (L. Timmel Duchamp, _Tsunami_, 2007) [AK]
### GEEKS' CORNER ###
SUBSCRIPTIONS. New procedure from October 2010: to receive _Ansible_
monthly via email, send a message to:
ansible-news+subscribe [at] googlegroups.com
You will be asked to confirm that you want to join the group. To
resign, send email to:
ansible-news+unsubscribe [at] googlegroups.com
More details here:
http://news.ansible.co.uk/asubs.html
RSS feed -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/rss.html
LiveJournal syndication -- http://www.livejournal.com/users/ansiblezine/
Back issues -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/
Links and archive -- http://links.ansible.co.uk/
Email the editor -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/contact.php
Books Received -- http://ansible.co.uk/books.php
CONVENTION AND EVENT LINKS
[] British Isles (plus Eurocon, Worldcon) -- http://links.ansible.co.uk
[] London meetings/events -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/london.html
[] Overseas -- http://news.ansible.co.uk/conlisti.html
### ENDNOTES ###
APPARITIONS.
[] 4 November 2011: Brum Group, Briar Rose Hotel, Bennett's Hill,
Birmingham city centre, 7:30pm for 8pm; Pounds4 or Pounds3 for
members. With Ian Whates. Contact bhamsfgroup at yahoo co uk or
rog.peyton at btinternet com. Further meetings: 2 December, Christmas
Social at Selly Park Tavern, entry by Pounds10 advance ticket only; 13
January, AGM/Auction; 10 February, quiz.
EDITORIAL. The editor is too tired to write one.
PAYPAL TIP JAR THINGY. Support _Ansible_, cover website costs and keep
the editor happy! Or just buy his books.
http://ansible.co.uk/paypal.html
http://ansible.co.uk/books/index.html
http://ansible.co.uk/books/starcomb.html
TRAGI-POLITICAL SF. David Garnett sends a news item on Palestine's
admission to full membership of UNESCO. According to Nimrod Barkan,
Israel's ambassador to UNESCO: 'This resolution is a tragedy for
UNESCO ... UNESCO deals in science and not science fiction and
nevertheless adopted the science fiction reality.' (_Guardian_, 1
November)
NOVA AWARDS. As announced last issue, UK and Irish fans can now vote
by email in these fanzine awards, with a 7 November deadline. See ...
http://efanzines.com/Nova/index.htm.
MORE EVENTS.
9 Dec [] BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY OPEN NIGHT and (for members only)
Extraordinary General Meeting at the Mug House, London Bridge, London,
SE1 2PF. Official meeting start 7:30pm; EGM 6:30pm.
10-12 Aug 2012 [] Congenial (Unicon/RPG), Murray Edwards College
(formerly New Hall), Cambridge. GoH Phil and Kaja Foglio. Pounds30 reg
to Congenial, 19 Uphall Road, Cambridge, CB1 3HX. Discount for room
bookings before 10 January: see http://congenial.org.uk/.
Ansible 292 Copyright (c) David Langford, 2011. Thanks to Frank
Boehmert, Rafe Culpin, Rob Hansen, Colin Hinz, Martyn P. Jackson,
Amanda Kear, Locus, Andy Love, Todd Mason, Farah Mendlesohn, Petrea
Mitchell, Jonathan Oliver, Andrew I. Porter, Steven H Silver, Steve
Sneyd, Jonathan K. Stephens, James A. Tucker, Peter Weston, James
Worrad, and our Hero Distributors: Dave Corby (BSFG), SCIS/Prophecy,
Alan Stewart (Australia).
1 November 2011
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