SPECIAL NOTE: Congratulations to all of the Nebula Award winners and nominees!
A particular shout-out to C.J. Cherryh on becoming a SFWA Grandmaster! (I had the extreme pleasure of dining with her sometime back in the late 70s and had some vague inklings that she was destined for this kind of thing!)
Another particular shout-out to all the women who nearly swept the awards this year (is this a record?) and, finally,
Based on reports and online images, congratulations to our own Steven H Silver (no period!) who obviously managed an excellent and well-received awards ceremony. (If we’re lucky, Amazing Stories readers will get a bit of an inside scoop on the proceedings from the man himself – after he has had a suitable period to recover!)
OTHER SPECIAL NOTE: This week – three weeks of accumulated news, so buckle your seat harnesses, take your acceleration drugs, seats back, meal trays up and HANG ON!
PRESS RELEASES & NEWSLETTERS (full text below)
2016 Nebula Award Winners (Pictures here); 2015 Bram Stoker Awards; Pandemonium Bookstore News; OMNI Magazine; RPGNewsletter #53; Project Hieroglyph; Rutherford, the Unicorn Sheep; GeeksOut; RPGNewsletter #52; Harlan Ellison Newsletter; Quantum Muse; Piranha Games;
SOCIAL
WARNING: MidAmeriConII Posts Weapons Policy (Make sure you ask them to store your gats where it isn’t moist)
What would happen if we just GAVE people money?
AI Could Be Disruptive Technology for Know-It-All-White-Men
Coming out as Trans: A Success Story
Closing Out Women in SF&F Month
More Reasons to Hate the Rich: Faster Internet
What’s That Tinder Perv Really LIke?
Hasbro Promises Female Empowerment
From the Mundane Politics Department:
Artist Gets Beat Up By Trump Supporter for Drawing Trump’s Penis to Scale (get out your microscope – if you even want to look)
ENTERTAINMENT
John Whalen’s Mordecai Slate Gets an Action Figure!
We’re gonna need a bigger boat: Independence Day: Resurgence Trailer
What Science Fiction was like for some of us
More Axanar Fandom (Parody video)
Star Fox (fan-made video, NOT about hot chicks in space)
Raising Them Right: How to Explain Religion to Your Kids NeoFans
Surprising Stories – the Latest!
If Earth Was a Moon of Jupiter, We’d Feel Like Someone Was Watching Us All the Time!
An Indie Sci-Fi Epic (Their description, not mine)
Wanna Play Quidditch? All you have to do is jump out of this perfectly fine airplane….
Harrison Ford’s Han Solo Gets Replaced by Some Guy
Karlo Yeager Short Story in Nature
Blue People (not Smurfs) Coming to Disney Parks
Go Fly a Star Wars Themed Kite!
INDUSTRY
SFWA Now Accepting Qualified Game Writers
SFWA Concerns About Non-Compete Contract Clauses
Paramount vs Axanar Still Chugging Along
Arthur C. Clarke Award Judges – In their own words
Edward Lerner’s Dark Secret Gets a Release Date
MidAmeriConII Chairperson speaks out
David A. Hardy – The Early Years
Pro Se Releases The Gotterdammerung
Event Horizon: Science Fiction in Edinburgh (over and done with – sorry!)
NYRSFR – Andrea Hairston, Pan Morigan (also past, sorry!)
Andrew Weston on World-Building
A Deluxe Hardcover of SIASL, intro by Gaiman
JCW On Morlocks (they eat the Eloi….)
Another Trek Fan Film Shut Down
SCIENCE
Yawn: Another successful pilotless landing at sea
I ran the London Marathon, Innnnn Spaaaaaaaace!
Technology doesn’t just Feel like it is accelerating
Peek-a-boo! Tiny Moon Found Hiding
SpaceX Shoots for Mars by 2018
Ghost in the Machine? Nah, just a Marten. Supercollider shuts down
THIS is a REALLY Cool Jellyfish
Interactive Map of the Human Brain
Three Terrestrial Planets Found in the Habitable Zone
NASA Astronaut Gets It: UFOs are not science. They’re not even Science Fiction
SpaceX Nails Another Landing (Someday you’ll be able to visit the Rocketport and watch the ships taking off – AND landing! Talk about SF Dreams Come True!)
How To Talk to the ISS (actually, the astronauts ON the ISS….)
PRESS RELEASES & NEWSETTERS
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America announced the winners of the 50th Annual Nebula Awards, the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and the Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Young Adult Science Fiction or Fantasy Book tonight in Chicago.
Novel
- Uprooted, Naomi Novik (Del Rey)
Novella
- Binti, Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com)
Novelette
- ‘‘Our Lady of the Open Road’’, Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s 6/15)
Short Story
- ‘‘Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers’’, Alyssa Wong (Nightmare 10/15)
Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation
- Mad Max: Fury Road, Written by George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Updraft, Fran Wilde (Tor)
Other Awards: Gay Haldeman presented the Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award to Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen.
Jodi Lynn Nye presented the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award to Sir Terry Pratchett. The Solstice Award is presented to individuals who have had a significant impact on the science fiction or fantasy landscape, and is particularly intended for those who have consistently made a major positive difference within the speculative fiction field, much like its namesake.
Cat Rambo presented the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award to C.J. Cherryh. This award is given by SFWA for “lifetime achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy.”
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2015 Bram Stoker Awards
Superior Achievement in a Novel
- Paul Tremblay – A Head Full of Ghosts (William Morrow)
Superior Achievement in a First Novel
- Nicole Cushing – Mr. Suicide (Word Horde)
Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel
- John Dixon – Devil’s Pocket (Simon & Schuster)
Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel
- Sam Weller, Mort Castle, Chris Ryall, & Carlos Guzman (editors) – Shadow Show: Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury (IDW Publishing)
Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
- Mercedes M. Yardley – Little Dead Red (Grimm Mistresses) (Ragnarok Publications)
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction
- John Palisano – Happy Joe’s Rest Stop (18 Wheels of Horror) (Big Time Books)
Superior Achievement in a Screenplay
- David Robert Mitchell – It Follows (Northern Lights Films)
Superior Achievement in an Anthology
- Michael Bailey – The Library of the Dead (Written Backwards)
Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection
- Lucy A. Snyder – While the Black Stars Burn (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction
- Stephen Jones – The Art of Horror (Applause Theatre & Cinema Books)
Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection
- Alessandro Manzetti – Eden Underground (Crystal Lake Publishing)
Other Awards: HWA’s Specialty Press Award was presented to Borderlands Press. The annual Specialty Press Award recognizes a publisher outside the mainstream New York City publishing community that specializes in dark-themed fiction.
The Richard Laymon President’s Award was given to Patrick Freivald and Andrew Wolter, moderators of HWA’s Facebook group. The award is named in honor of Richard Laymon, who died in 2000 while serving as the HWA’s president. It is given by the HWA’s sitting president. The Award is presented to a volunteer who has served in an especially exemplary manner and has shown extraordinary dedication to the organization.
HWA’s Silver Hammer Award went to Michael Knost. Knost provides one of HWA’s most beneficial opportunities to new members by chairing the organization’s Mentorship Program, which matches newer writers with experienced pros for a year-long intensive training.
The Mentor of the Year Award went to Tim Waggoner. The HWA’s Mentorship Program Chairperson and the Program’s Committee select the award’s recipient.
The Horror Writers Association recognized Alan Moore and George A. Romero withLifetime Achievement Awards. HWA gives Lifetime Achievement awards to individuals whose work has substantially influenced the horror genre.
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http://www.omnimagazine.com
This week marks Richard Feyman’s birthday
Celebrate with our classic Feynman Q&A on
The True Meaning of Physics
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RPGnet Newsletter #53
May 10, 2016
New Columns
Christopher Cecil returned from a short break to bring a new issue of Fuzzy Thinking: “Now That’s a Dice Pool!” They must have been playing Exalted.
New Reviews
RPGnet added five great new reviews last week.
Minivera reviewed the d6 version of newish RPG Red Mists: Swords against Sorcery.
And, perennial favorite Antonios S continued his look at Cthulhu gaming with reviews of:
- “World War Cthulhu: The SOE Handbook” (RPG)
- “World War Cthulhu: The Darkest Hour” (RPG)
- “Cthulhu Wars: The Dreamlands Underworld Monster Pack” (Board/tactical game)
- “Cthulhu Wars: The Dreamlands Surface Monster Pack” (Board/tactical game)
Threads You Might Have Missed
vitus979 asks a question in Other Media that has implications both for gaming and for consideration of sci-fi media: “WTF is up with Confederations in Science Fiction media?” There are lots of great answers from your fellow RPGnetters that may assist in your sci-fi gaming worldbuilding.
Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition has been much maligned in RPG circles (including by yr. humble editor, to be fair), but the game does have its undeniable good points. For some positive discussion of the latest edition of the grandaddy of RPGs, check out “Why 5e Is Good.”
“Splitting the party”: some say it’s rarely a good idea; others say that it’s a GMing nightmare; some say that it can be the heart of a good roleplaying session. Stop by the thread to learn how all of these viewpoints are correct.
Sign Off
Have a good week, everyone.
Iustum
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RPGnet Newsletter #52
May 3, 2016
Introduction
Huh. A year’s worth of Newsletter issues. We’ve discussed and highlighted a ton of great RPGnet content, the vast majority of which was created by, well, you, the people receiving the Newsletter. If yr. humble editor may be so bold, you’ve all done a great job this year.
If there’s something you’d like to see in the Newsletter, or if you have other suggestions for improving it, please send them along to me (Iustum) or Shannon.
New Columns
Brent Dedeaux offered up this week’s only new Column, the latest edition of Tales from the Rocket House: “One Roll to Rule Them”. In this issue, Brent ruminates on a new dice mechanic for determining both the nature and intensity of a result with a single die roll.
New Reviews
Take a read of all of these great new reviews from last week:
- GameBoy’s review of “GURPS After the End 1: Wastelanders” (GURPS supplement)
- GameBoy’s review of “GURPS After the End 2: The New World” (GURPS supplement)
- Ryan Isaacson’s review of “Civil War Essentials Event Book” (Marvel Heroic Roleplaying supplement)
- Bryce Lynch’s review of “Maze of the Blue Medusa” (OSR supplement)
- Antonios S’s review of “Cthulhu Wars: Great Old One Pack Two” (Cthulhu Wars supplement)
- Antonios S’s review of “Cthulhu Wars: Great Old One Pack Three” (Cthulhu Wars supplement)
- Cedric Chin’s review of “Dragon Scales: Anodized Aluminum Dice” (Dice)
Threads You Might Have Missed
There were several threads from last week that yr. humble editor wanted to call out, so let’s just do some quick hits:
Some fun was had (and is still being had) over in Other Media with a “Game: shortest crossover?”
Another question: “Did Terminator: Genisys make any sense?” “No” is the obvious answer, but getting there can be pretty entertaining.
Here’s a takeoff from a great thread from a few weeks back: “Horrible Miwtakes in Adventure Design.” Intentional typo in original.
For some suggestions on flavorful in-character imprecations: “RP Oaths, Expletives, Common Sayings, Phrases, Etc.”
Some biggish news in the Greater Geek Gaming Universe: “Plane Shift: Zendikar, or “Wizards releases its first D&D setting doc for an M:tG plane.”
Great suggestions for monsters and other things to populate your gaming world: “Favorite Underused Mythological Monsters.”
Sign Off
Thanks for reading, and please do send in any comments or suggestions.
- Iustum
Newsletter Editor
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Welcome to the first HarlanEllisonBooks.com mailing of 2016. I’m Jason Davis, editor and publishing facilitator of this soon-to-be-sixteen-volume exploration of Harlan’s previously uncollected work.
Yes, the mathematicians amongst you read the above correctly; I’m here to announce two all-new Ellison collections. To the left, you see the cover of the majestically titled THE LAST PERSON TO MARRY A DUCK LIVED 300 YEARS AGO, an impressive collection of essays and short-lived columns written since 1984, including a few things that have never been published.
The cover photo is by Harlan’s pal (and mine) Steve Barber. It was taken in the kitchen of the Lost Aztec Temple of Mars, and you can see more of Steve’s work at thumbnailtraveler.blogspot.com.
Long-time recipients of this newsletter know I never release new Ellison books without a BRAIN MOVIES in the mix. The cover for Volume 7 is to the right.
The photo is by Harlan’s old friend William Rotsler, who also took the pic on the cover of HARLAN 101. Our designer, Bo Nash, suggested using the picture (which previously appeared in HARLAN ELLISON’S ENDLESSLY WATCHING), and I added the bullet hole.
The price for the set is $80 plus shipping. I expect the books to be ready to ship in May (though they could slip over into June). For more information on the set, click here.
For many reasons (all of which are detailed here), this release will be different from our previous solicitations:
1) We will be taking pre-orders (which will commence as soon as Harlan’s approved the proofs).
2) The pre-orders will be fulfilled by HarlanEllisonBooks.com rather than CreateSpace or Amazon.
3) The pre-ordered books will contain material that WILL NOT be included IF we offer the books via Amazon or other distributors.
Because we are NOT offering these books via Amazon, you MUST MUST MUST click the button below to join the pre-order queue.
Reserve a Set for ME!
As always, I appreciate your support over the last five years and am looking forward to bringing you these new Ellison offerings.
In the mean time, check out the special offers below.
To those of you who pre-order, a very special thank you for helping me keep this beast alive.
Jason Davis
Editor, HarlanEllisonBooks.com
WAREHOUSE SALE
BRAIN MOVIES, Volume Three (Standard Edition, First Printing)
A collection of Harlan Ellison’s teleplays and dramatic treatments featuring:
CUTTER’S WORLD, Ellison’s two-hour 1987 pilot for a Western-tinged science fiction series
The unfinished novel that evolved into the award-winning OUTER LIMITS episode “Demon with a Glass Hand”
“Who Killed Alex Debbs?” the first of Ellison’s four teleplays for the 1960s crime series BURKE’S LAW
“The Ship That Kills,” a “lost episode” of the 1974 series THE MANHUNTER, starring Ken Howard
Cover by Michael Whelan
$25 with free US shipping
ORDER
BRAIN MOVIES, Volume Four (Standard Edition, First Printing)
A collection of Harlan Ellison’s teleplays and dramatic treatments featuring:
BRILLO, the two-hour ABC-TV pilot based on Ellison and Ben Bova’s short story
“Funny Money,” a further adventure for BRILLO
“Who Killed Purity Mather?” the second of Ellison’s four scripts for BURKE’S LAW
“Jeffrey’s Being Quiet” Ellison’s unproduced contribution to the THE SIXTH SENSE
Cover by Jason Davis & Bo Nash, based on the art of Leo & Diane Dillon
$25 with free US shipping
ORDER
BRAIN MOVIES 3 & 4
Save by buying them together!
$46 with free US shipping
ORDER
GENTLEMAN JUNKIE
and Other Stories of the Hung-Up Generation
Cover by Leo & Diane Dillon
$33 with free US shipping
ORDER
THE DEADLY STREETS
Stories Wrung Shrieking from the Shadows
Cover by Leo & Diane Dillon
$33 with free US shipping
ORDER
GENTLEMAN JUNKIE and THE DEADLY STREETS
Save by buying them together!
$60 with free US shipping
ORDER
4 BOOK COMBO:
BRAIN MOVIES 3, BRAIN MOVIES 4, GENTLEMAN JUNKIE, and THE DEADLY STREETS
Save by buying them together!
$100 with free US shipping
ORDER
Normally, I wouldn’t mention my own book in a HarlanEllisonBooks.com mailing, but there’s a lovely tie in to THE LAST PERSON WHO MARRIED A DUCK LIVED 300 YEARS AGO, which contains Harlan’s X-Files-adjacent essay, “Struggling for Interior Logic.”
Here’s the pitch:
In 2008, journalist Jason Davis conducted in-depth interviews with five writer/executive producers of The X-Files for Creative Screenwriting Magazine to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the television series as well as the forthcoming release of The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
Having interned in The X-Files writers’ room as a college student, Davis had enjoyed unrestricted access to the writers during pre-production for season seven, and knew what questions to ask when his work for Creative Screenwriting brought him back into the world of Mulder & Scully a decade later.
Creator Chris Carter, though guarded about the then-forthcoming feature film, was candid in his recollections of the series, quick to acknowledge the contributions of his colleagues, and clear on what made the series a success.
Frank Spotnitz (Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle) recalls how he landed his entry-level staff writing job on The X-Files—his first television gig—and how he came to be Carter’s frequent writing partner, crafting the series’s evolving mythology alongside its creator, and ascending to the rank of executive producer in four short seasons on the series.
John Shiban (Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons) remembers his unexpected transition from software developer to X-Files scribe and how that role prepared him for a stint as writer-producer on the CW’s Supernatural.
Emmy Award-winning writer Vince Gilligan (AMC’s Better Call Saul) explains how he “lucked into” The X-Files after a successful career in theatrical films, how he came to write some of the series’s funniest episodes, and how his girlfriend’s advice led to his second Emmy nomination. WRITING THE X-FILES also includes an early interview on Gilligan’s then current project, Breaking Bad, a series that would go on to win 16 Emmys.
The book concludes with Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Howard Gordon (Showtime’s Homeland), one of Carter’s original core of X-Files scribes, who also discusses his then-current series: 24.
To coincide with the 2016 premiere of Fox’s six-episode re-launch of The X-Files, Davis returned to his original interview recordings and transcripts to unearth pages of previously unpublished material for WRITING THE X-FILES.
You can buy the book directly from me for $18.55 (which includes US postage), or I can figure international orders as they are placed.
I’m happy to sign the book upon request.
ORDER
Copyright © 2016 harlanellisonbooks.com, All rights reserved.
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Quantum Muse
Well, it is May, and here in the Northeast US spring barely starting to show. We’re still scraping frost off our cars in the mornings. However, on the bright side the latest issue of Quantum Muse is up at: www.quantummuse.com.
The art of Kirsten Zirngibl is featured this month.
following is a list of this months selections.Escape by Harris Tobias Weatherman by Ishmael Soledad Dayton Ohio by Michele Dutcher The Return of Johnny Half-Finger by Astrid Nielsen
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