Patreon Changes Fee Structure and Unleashes Chaos
Widespread outrage greeted Patreon’s announcement of a new fee structure that will charge patrons (donors) for making donations, too, on top of the existing 5% fee paid by creators. Now patrons will be charged processing and transaction fees (2.9% +
A Festive Evening of Music and Comedy (But No Readings) at NYRSF Readings – With Valente, Pinsker and Miller
By Mark L. Blackman: On the rainy late autumn evening of Tuesday, December 5, the New York Review of Science Fiction Readings Series closed the first half of its 27th anniversary season at its venue, the Brooklyn Commons Café (in
Kids’ Comics Award Winners
Regina Telgemeier’s Ghosts was announced as the winner of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics at the Ann Arbor Comics Art Festival on June 18. The award runs in tandem with the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity and focuses
Pixel Scroll 12/9/17 All Pixels Great And Small
EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’. Fleen continues its epic roundups about the Patreon controversy and lists the alternatives: The logic of the decision is, if not in my opinion sound, at least defensible, but Patreon didn’t trust its users enough to defend
Detecting SF in Murdoch Mysteries
By David K.M. Klaus: I found Murdoch Mysteries by following disparate links, always one of the great things about the Web. It looks like great fun. Seasons 1-6 are on Hulu, 1-7 on Netflix, and 1-8 on Amazon, and I
Pixel Scroll 12/8/17 Is There A Hologram On My Shuttlecraft That Says ‘Dead Klingon Storage’?
CHECK-IN. The 1954 Worldcon chair Les Cole and Esther Cole, who live in the vicinity of the Ventura, CA fires answered Rich Lynch’s query about how they are doing — Thanks for asking. Les and I and doggies are
Jury Decides in Favor of San Diego Comic-Con
A federal jury ruled today that Salt Lake Comic Con infringed on a trademark held by San Diego Comic-Con by using the words “comic con” in their name without permission. However, the jury did not award the $12 million in
The Game Awards 2017
The Game Awards, produced by Canadian games journalist Geoff Keighley, were presented December 7 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The shortlist was selected by a panel of 52 people in the video game industry. Public voting counted towards
Pixel Scroll 12/7/17 Pixel, It’s Scrolled Outside
SOCIETY PAGE. Cat Valente and Heath Miller shared their news on Twitter. Jump onto the thread about the romantic proposal here — You guys… @veryheathmiller and I are going to a museum today…you know what that means! — Catherynne
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Official Trailer
There it is, the much-hyped trailer: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in theaters June 22, 2018.
Worldcon 75 Pass Along Funds
The Helsinki committee announced at Smofcon they will be distributing surplus funds from Worldcon 75. Also, members will soon get an email telling how those who weren’t at the con can receive an electronic and/or paper copy of the souvenir
Salt Lake Comic Con Defendants Take the Stand
A federal jury has been hearing witness testimony this week in San Diego Comic-Con Inc.’s suit against Salt Lake Comic Con, accused of trademark infringement for using the term “comic con” in its name. SLCC’s Dan Farr told Facebook followers
Forever War Comic Book Sequel
With the much-anticipated The Forever War graphic novel adaptation in bookstores this week, Titan Comics has announced the next installment in novelist Joe Haldeman, Gay Haldeman, and Marvano’s epic science-fiction comic book series, The Forever War: Forever Free. Titan’s new
Pixel Scroll 12/6/17 Pixels Came Naturally From Paris, For Scrolls She Couldn’t Care Less
MANIFESTO. Charles Payseur’s thought-provoking tweets about reviewing begin here — I could retweet threads about reviewing all day, people. Here’s a good one. https://t.co/ai2tr5HG3v — Charles Payseur (@ClowderofTwo) December 6, 2017 Some of the points he makes include —
Audible’s Best of Year 2017 Audiobooks
The editors of Audible, Amazon’s audiobook company, have named their choices for Best of the Year: 2017. Here are the winners of genre interest. SCI-FI WINNER: Artemis FANTASY WINNER: The Bear and the Nightingale GLORIOUS REBOOTS WINNER: The Handmaid’s Tale:
Shimmer Program / Storycom Offers Two Grants to Send Chinese Conrunners to Worldcon 76
Storycom is encouraging Chinese fans to take an active part in the Worldcons by offering grants for Chinese conrunners to attend Worldcon 76. 2 active Chinese fans will be selected and granted RMB 10,000 each, for their attendance in and
CompuServe SF Forums To Be Deleted
CompuServe (CIS) was the first major commercial online service provider in the United States, the dominant brand of the 1980s. It was known for its online chat system and message forums covering a variety of topics, including the CIS SF
Speaking of Seeger
By John Hertz: Having happened to enlighten Our Gracious Host about Pete Seeger’s “Wimoweh” (1957) and the Tokens’ hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)” (1961), “wimoweh” a mis-hearing of Zulu “uyimbube” (“you’re a lion”), I thought further about how Paul
CFP: Worldcon 76 Academic Track
A Call for Papers has been issued for a “Worldcon 76 Academic Track”: Deadline for submissions: February 5, 2018 Full name / name of organization: The 76th World Science Fiction Convention Contact email: nathanielwms@worldcon76.org Science fiction always plays a part
Pixel Scroll 12/5/17 Pixels Scrolling In An Open File
PETER JACKSON MUSEUM PROJECT AT RISK. The New Zealand Herald says the Wellington City Council got a long grumpygram from the famed director: “Peter Jackson threatening to pull plug on Wellington’s movie museum”. There are 55 things he’s unhappy
Candidates Sought for 2018 DUFF Race
The Down Under Fan Fund is taking nominations for the 2018 race that will send a delegate from Australia or New Zealand to San Jose for Worldcon 76 (August 16-20, 2018) or another major convention in North America in 2018.
Jeanne Gomoll’s Rotsler Award Statement
[Editor’s note: Jeanne wrote this in comments and I wanted to give everyone a chance to see it.] By Jeanne Gomoll: I am extremely honored to have received the Rotsler award and am grateful for this recognition for my work.
2018 TAFF Race Begins
Voters can now register their choice for the 2018 Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund delegate from among candidates Johan Anglemark, Fia Karlsson, and Helena McCallum (Adela Terrell). The winner will travel from Europe to North America to attend next year’s Worldcon in San
Goodreads Choice Awards 2017 Winners
The voters have spoken: here are the Goodreads Choice Awards 2017 winners. BEST FANTASY Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling BEST SCIENCE FICTION Artemis by Andy Weir BEST HORROR Sleeping Beauties by Stephen
Pixel Scroll 12/4/17 She’ll Be Scrolling Six White Pixels When She Files
HOME IS THE HUNTER. Amazing Stories’ Steve Davidson shared “SMOFCON 35: A Brief Report”: …I had dinner with the talented and lovely Regina Kanyu Wang, a contributor to these pages, one of the actifans of China’s largest fan group
Justice League: Non-Spoiler Movie Review
By Daniel P. Dern: So we went to see the new Justice League movie over the weekend. It was OK enough (more on that below), but at the same time, I didn’t come away with the happy I-just-saw-a-enjoyable-movie feeling that
2018 World Fantasy Awards Judges Named
The judges for the 2018 World Fantasy Awards, for work published in 2017, have been chosen. The judges will read and consider eligible materials submitted by June 1, 2018 — the earlier the better. Eligibility Qualifications: All books must have
Star Trek Primers
Compiled by Carl Slaughter: Civilization Ex is a YouTube channel dedicated to covering the histories of various fantasy and sci-fi worlds. Here is some of their work on Star Trek. Borg primer Romulan primer Klingon primer Q primer Ferengi primer
Pixel Scroll 12/3/17 There Are Certain Scrolls Of New York, Major, That I Wouldn’t Advise You To Pixel
NEXT SMOFCON. Santa Rosa will host Smofcon 36 in 2018. The con will be held November 30-December 2. Bruce Farr will chair, and Patty Wells will organize programming. Their hotel will be The Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa. (2)
2018 James White Award Taking Entries
The James White Award Short Story Competition is accepting entries through Friday, April 27. The award, established in 2000, offers non-professional writers the opportunity to have their work published in Interzone, the UK’s leading sf magazine. The author of the
San Jose and Dublin Worldcons To Award 1943, 1944 Retro Hugos
Worldcon 76 in San Jose and Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon have jointly announced they will present Retro Hugo Awards for the 1943 and 1944 years in addition to their regular Hugo Awards. Worldcon committees have long had the option
Pixel Scroll 12/2/17 And With Strange Pixels Even Scrolls May File
I SEE BY YOUR OUTFIT. Smofcon, the con for conrunners has convened in Boston. John Scalzi is there to share what pros expect from conventions. I’m wearing a @JoCoCruise shirt, a Wesley Crusher hoodie, and I’m traveling today to
2017 Ringo Awards
The inaugural winners of the Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards – known as the Ringo Awards – were announced the Baltimore Comic Con on September 23. All the nominees are listed, with the winner in bold. Winners of the
One for All
By John Hertz: (reprinted from Vanamonde 1276) “Turn!” he sang, with words Of a king, and of his own, “Do it now,” he meant, “All things change,” so go change them, “You can,” and from him, “you should.” Randy Byers
Pixel Scroll 12/1/17 HiphoPixeltamus Vs. RhymenoScrollos
EATING THE FANTASTIC. Famed comics writer Marv Wolfman joins Scott Edelman for gelato in Episode 54 of the Eating the Fantastic podcast. As I prepared to lunch with this episode’s guest, I was startled to realize I’d last interviewed
Top 10 Posts For November 2017
The controversy about Rocket Stack Rank overtook all others and resulted in last month’s most-read Scroll. The unfortunate title of a Windycon panel, developments in the Peter S. Beagle/Connor Cochran litigation, and efforts to make Tolkien a saint, were some
AudioFile’s Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks of 2017
AudioFile, a print and ezine, reviews audiobooks to “recommend good listening, top-notch performances and dynamic listening experiences.” The editors annually honor their choices of the best audiobooks across a variety of categories. This year File 770 is partnering with AudioFile
Pixel Scroll 11/30/17 Go Not To The Filers For Counsel, For They Will Say Both Scroll And Pixel
IT GETS WORSE. Amal El-Mohtar tweeted about her horrendous experience at the hands of TSA while trying to enter the U.S. to attend a retreat. Begins here — Heyyy who wants to hear the story of why I’m crying
Erin Roberts Wins SLF’s 2017 Diverse Writers and Diverse Worlds Grants
Erin Roberts is the recipient of the Speculative Fiction Foundation’s 2017 Diverse Writers Grant and 2017 Diverse Worlds Grant. The two $500 awards support any purpose that a writer recipient chooses to benefit their work. Both awards are intended to
Rocket Stack Rank Issues Apology, Hullender Off Locus Panel
Rocket Stack Rank has answered “An Open Letter With Respect to Reviews Published on Rocket Stack Rank” with an apology and commentary. The open letter was coauthored by Brooke Bolander, Indrapramit Das, Ada Hoffmann, Keffy R.M. Kehrli, Rose Lemberg, Sunny
Pixel Scroll 11/29/17 I Have Discovered A Truly Marvelous Pixel, Which The Margin Of This Scroll Is Too Narrow To Contain
ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING. A week ago Bleeding Cool reported “Adult-Themed Site Cosplay Deviants Has Trademarked Cosplay is NOT Consent”. An explosion of chatter has erupted online as people have taken notice that the cosplay-themed porn website Cosplay
Jeanne Gomoll Wins 2017 Rotsler Award
The 2017 Rotsler Award has been given to Jeanne Gomoll, of Madison, Wisconsin. The award, established in 1998 and named for the talented, prolific artist Bill Rotsler (1926-1997), is for long-time artistic achievement in amateur publications of the science fiction
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War Official Trailer
Avengers: Infinity War. In theaters May 4. As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A
Worldcon, NASFiC and Smofcon Bidder Questionnaires Released
Smofcon 35, the convention for conrunners, taking place December 1-3 in Boston, asked Worldcon, NASFiC and Smofcon bidders, and seated Worldcon committees to answer a questionnaire. The responses have been posted at Smofcon’s website under Fannish Inquisition. There will also
Pixel Scroll 11/28/17 Peering Into The Scrolloscope, I Perceived The Pixels of Mars
COLD TRUTH. Rudy Rucker was a Windycon 44 GoH – and he confesses what was going through his mind at the time. …Despite the good moments, I did have a very strong flash of “What am I doing here?”
Stathopoulos Portrait Wins Prize
Nick Stathopoulos has won the 2017 Black Swan “People’s Choice Prize” worth $5,000 for his portrait of Sudanese refugee and lawyer, Deng Thiak Adut titled “Deng 2.” The Black Swan Prize is a set of three cash awards for portrait
2018 Grammy Awards Nominees
The nominees for the 60th Grammy Awards have been announced. The awards will be presented at New York’s Madison Square Garden on January 28 and televised on CBS. Neil Degrasse Tyson, Carrie Fisher, and the music from sff productions like Arrival, Guardians of
Sci-Fi Roundup for November 28
Compiled by Carl Slaughter: (1) Vandalization of Star Trek (2) We now know Ash is Voq, but these super fans compiled plenty of evidence before the big reveal. (3) Discovery is Section 31 (4) Everything Wrong with the Wonder Woman
Pixel Scroll 11/27/17 And All I Ask Is A Tall Scroll And A Pixel To Godstalk Her By
MORE GIFT POSSIBILITIES. C.F. Payne, who has produced covers for Time and Reader’s Digest among others, has been doing portraits of various creatives (writers, artists, musicians, et al) as demos for his art students and selling them
Note: Featured Image by Jeanne Gomoll, promotion for Wiscon
