Edward Summer (1946-2014)
Edward Summer, who passed away November 13, may not have thought of himself as a fan but he had many friends in the SF and comics world and attended the occasional convention. He was best-known for staring the first comic … Continue reading →
Stu Shiffman (1954-2014)
Stu Shiffman died November 26, almost two-and-a-half years after suffering a stroke; he was 60. The renowned fan artist, who generously shared his talents in fanzines, apas and convention publications, received the Best Fan Artist Hugo Award in 1990 and … Continue reading →
Alamagordo Garbage Turns to Gold on eBay
Despite all doubt the legend proved true: in the 1980s Atari dumped a bunch of its unsold game cartridges in the Alamagordo, NM landfill, including copies of E.T. the Extraterrestrial, reputed to be the worst video game ever made. The … Continue reading →
Resignations From Context Committee Over Harassment Policy Enforcement
Context’s Programming Manager Steven Saus has announced his resignation from the committee saying “I do not have faith that the harassment policy will be enforced or that reports of harassment would be treated seriously at Context in the future,” even … Continue reading →
After Black Friday Comes Super Saturday
Didn’t get that special something you lined up for on Black Friday? Then treat yourself to this collectible — a George Reeves signed photo of the actor in costume as Superman from the 1950s TV show. Only $5,000, right now … Continue reading →
Episode VII Million Legos – The Force Awakens
After he saw the teaser trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, “Snooperking” stayed up all night reproducing it with Legos, shot for shot. So in his case the Force didn’t need to be awakened — it never went … Continue reading →
McCaffrey’s Fan Letter To John Schoenherr
Anne McCaffrey’s novella Weyr Search was published in the October 1967 issue of Analog and around the time it was hitting the newsstands she had an opportunity to visit John W. Campbell in his office and see the original Schoenherr … Continue reading →
Waukegan Group Wants Bradbury Sculpture
There’s already a life-size likeness of Waukegan’s other favorite son, Jack Benny. But if a local group succeeds in its quest to honor Ray Bradbury with a sculpture they say it could look like anything from a typewriter to a firefighter. “Bradbury … Continue reading →
New Zealand Worldcon Bid Locking In Regional Help
The NZ in 2020 Worldcon bid has announced that it can only continue if they get around 200 commitments by December 5 from people willing to work the con. We are delighted to have anyone volunteer because WorldCons are always multinational … Continue reading →
Today In History 11/28
November 28, 1971: Sci-fi TV movie Earth II premiered on ABC. The government of Earth II solved its problems with a direct democracy process known as a “D&D”. Don’t you agree this would be a better world if all major conflicts were … Continue reading →
Star Wars “The Force Awakens” Teaser Trailer
It’s Black Friday, which may explain the loonnnnggg black stretches between the very short scenes in the newly released teaser trailer for Star wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Or else they’re preparing us for the even fuller title — “The Force … Continue reading →
P. D. James (1920-2014)
Mystery novelist P.D. James died November 27 at the age of 94. She was best known for her series of novels about policeman Adam Dalgliesh. She also wrote a well-known dystopian novel, The Children of Men, set in England of 2021 where … Continue reading →
Smofcon 32 Program Online
The Smofcon 32 Program can be accessed here. The con runs December 5-7 in Manhattan Beach, CA. There are daily pages for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And there is a PDF that can be viewed or downloaded which is labeled “Pre-Con Program” … Continue reading →
The Traditional Thanksgiving Ape
Thanksgiving Day is a good time to revisit James H. Burns’ essay for The Thunderchild on WOR-TV’s odd tradition of showing King Kong on this holiday. Also, to note these words Jim recently shared with the Classic Horror Film Board: I … Continue reading →
Allan Kornblum Passes Away
Allan Kornblum, founding publisher of Coffee House Press, died November 23 at his St. Paul, MN home, of leukemia. Andrew Porter recalls, “He was on the edges of the Minneapolis SF crowd.” Kornblum’s death just about closes the book on a … Continue reading →
Walt Lee (1931-2014)
“I’m very sad to report that my father, Walter W. Lee, Jr. — physicist, writer, historian, consultant, and friend to the science fiction and fantasy community — passed away on the evening of Sunday, November 23, 2014, after a long … Continue reading →
Kushner Sherman at NYRSF Reading 12/2
The New York Review of SF Readings continues its annual tradition of Family Night with Delia Sherman and Ellen Kushner on December 2. Delia Sherman’s most recent short stories have appeared in the young adult anthology Steampunk! and in Ellen … Continue reading →
Voting Open for 2015 FFANZ Delegate
The choice is clear-cut: Melbourne’s David McDonald is the only candidate in the race for the 2015 Fan Fund of New Zealand and Australia. Just the same, he needs your vote and your donation to make the trip to New … Continue reading →
Loscon 41 Program and Participant Information
The Loscon 41 schedule can be perused at the link.
Eat Shark, Pray: Jurassic World Trailer Posted
The park is open again. The dinosaurs are hungry. And — holy leaping Sarcosuchus! — there are scientists who still haven’t learned their lessons… Jurassic World opens June 12, 2015.
Stan Lee Takes a Bath
Marvel’s Stan Lee has sold his Hollywood Hills West home for $2.8 million, which is $799,000 less than he bought it for in 2006. And it’s a huge markdown from the original $3.75 million asking price reported in the media just … Continue reading →
Chicagoans Get First Look at Lucas Museum
The proposed design for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art looks more like the architect was told to plan the Gort Klaatu Art Museum. All it needs is an exit ramp and a giant statue of Michael Rennie. The initial … Continue reading →
Madhvi Ramani Receives SLF Grants
The Speculative Literature Foundation announced on Facebook that Madhvi Ramani is the winner of the inaugural Diverse Writers Grant and Diverse Worlds Grant. Her successful application included her short story “Zafir, the Saudi Superhero.” Evidently, both grants were made to the same person. … Continue reading →
A Couple of Technologies Ago
Last week’s New York Times obit Carl Schlesinger, 88, Dies; Helped Usher Our Hot Type told about the passing of a former Times typesetter who helped make an award-winning film about the night in 1978 when the paper was produced with hot-metal type for … Continue reading →
Trial By Jury
Orange Mike Lowrey and James Nicoll have been selected as jurors for the 2015 Speculative Literature Foundation’s Working Class/Impoverished Writers Grant. This year’s SLF Working Class grant jury had six members, so expect additional names to be announced. SLF chooses … Continue reading →
Hyborian Times #1 (1967 archive issue)
Argentus #14, published on the centennial of Bob Tucker’s birth
Opuntia #290 & archive issue 69.1C, edited by Dale Speirs
Flavor Forecast #1, the first progress report for Operacon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 12-15 March 2015 is available at the convention website.
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