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Episode Three The Tipping Point
In the 604,800 seconds between the last column and the one I am writing today, I came to several crucial
profound and inescapable conclusions.
MyrstrevelationcamelatelastweekwhenImetwithseveralfriends,someofwhomhadattendedChicon7andotherswhohadgonetoDragonConoverthesameLaborDayweekend.(LettherecordshowthatIwasatChicon7,albeitworkingnearlyallthattimeintheWorldconsPressRelationsofce.Becausesomeone
hadtohaverelationswiththepressandIdrewtheoddlot.Well,onward)The couple who went to Chicon 7 stated that while they had a good time and the con was well run, they
weresurprisedthattherewasntahigherturnout(estimatesonattendancewerearound5000-5500)andwereshockedatthederogatorycommentsmadeduringtheraticationdebateoftheGraphicStoryHugoandthe
equally rude behavior as the Young Adult award proposal was debated.
ThefriendwhowenttoDragonConatlystatedthatshewenttoAtlantabecausesheusedtoattendWorldconsonaregularbasisbutstoppedbecauseofwhatshedescribedas,thebadattitudeoftheprogrammersandfansrunningit.Shesaidthatshefeltthattherewasapalatablebiasagainstfanslikeher,wholikeawide
range of activities beyond reading.
Thephenomenonshedescribedwasnotnewtome;sincelate1990s,Ihavenoticedagrowingschisminsffandombetweenthosewhoprimarilyreadgenrectionandthosewhoenjoywiderinterests,suchasmovies,
television,cos-play,videogamesandgraphicstories. ThedividebetweenthevariousfangroupsandWorldconattendeeshasgrownwiderthaneveroverthe
past decade. The numbers of fans who attend Comicon and Dragoncon have grown exponentially in the thou -sandswhiletheattendanceatWorldconshasstagnated.ThosefansthatdogototheotherconventionseitherdontknowaboutWorldconsorseefanswhoattendthemaselitistandremote,ordontcareabouttheHugosorWorldcon,atall.
Ive alsowitnessedthereverseattitudeinaction aswell; fanswho attend traditionalconventions, owhich,onanaverage,mostlyskewtobeolder,arenotverywelcomingtofanswithotherorwiderinterests.nowbelievethatasaresultofthis,Worldconsareasmarginalizedastheyhaveeverbeen. In1999,IbeganproposingchangesintheHugoAwards.Myprimarymotivefordoingsowastodemon-
Yet Another Rather Annoying Column of Commentaryby Chris M. Barkley
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stratethatthesegmentoffandomthatIhavebeencloselyassociatedwith(foroverthirtyyears)wascapableof
change. Change that would then attract more support from media oriented fans. I was also hoping these changes
wouldcombatvotercomplacencyandensurethattheHugoswouldremainrelevantandengaginginthe21st
century.
AlookatthestatisticsshowthatmembersofWorldconwhovotefortheHugoshaveincreasedslightlyoverthepastdecadeandtheyhavestoppedrubberstampingHugowinsforseveraloftheusualsuspectsintheArtist,Fanzine,Semi-ProzineandtheEditorcategories.However,thedownsideisthatthenumberofnomina-
tionsneededthegetonthenominationballotremainsabysmallylow,DoctorWhoseemstobeentrenchedin
theBestDramaticPresentationwinnercirclefortheforeseeablefutureandtheHugos,despiteeveryonesbestefforts,remainalowproleawardtothegeneralpublicatlarge. Asthispastweekendwounddown,Icametotheratherdisturbingconclusionthatallofthatworkwasfornaught.IwaswronginthinkingthatmerelychangingtheHugoswouldbeenoughtoaffectthechangessoughtinfandom.Thisrealization,inturn,leddirectlytomysecondrevelation. Inhis2000book,TheTippingPoint:HowLittleThingsCanMakeaBigDifference,authorMalcolmGladweldenesitasathemomentofcriticalmass,thethreshold,theboilingpoint. AfterwitnessingtheharshcriticalreactionandtheaccompanyingrudebehaviorattheChicon7Business
Meeting,Inowfeelquitecertainthatsffandom,oratleasttheportionthatrunstheannualWorldScienceFictionandadministerstotheHugoAwards,hasdenitelyreachedatippingpoint.
This branch of fandom cannot sustain itself into the next decade if it maintains this rather insular, sullenattitudetowardstherestofthefannishworld.AndifthesituationdoesnotbodewellforWorldcon,youcanimaginewhatthatmeansfortheHugoAwards. Afterthinkingallthisthrough,IrealizedthatIhavetoreassessmypositionontheYoungAdultHugo.decidedthatIwillproceedwithintroducingtheproposalatLoneStarCon3,asIpromised.Ifitpasses,IwillbemorethanhappytoseetheprocessthroughtoLoncon3.
Butifitfails,IwillnolongerpursueitspassageatanyfutureWSFSBusinessMeeting.Infact,IwillnolongproposeANYmorechangestoeithertheHugoAwardcategoriesortotheWorldScienceFictionSocietys
Constitution again.
IvegoneasfarasIcanforaslongasIcan.Now,Ithink,myworkhascometoanend.Toparaphrasetheoldlightbulbjoke;Howmanyfansdoesittaketochangefandom?Morethanonetobesure,butfandomhasto
REALLYwanttochange. Nextweek,wellsavetheWorldconandtheHugosbutpissalotofpeopleoffatthesametime.ItshouldbeaLOToffun,sostaytuned
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I Like Storiesby Christopher J Garcia
Nottoolongago,Iwaslookingforimagesinmyever-expandingcollectionofsciencectionmagsofthepast.ThistimeIwaslookingfor
imagesofcomputers.TherearequiteafewouttherethatIveseen,butitturnedoutthatIdonthaveanyoftheminmycollection. ThatistosayIvegotatotalofone. Thatoneisaclassic:EmEmshwillerscoverfortheOctober1957editionofAstounding.Itsagreatimage,especaillywhenyouno-
ticethatthetapedriveshavethreereels!Thatsnutty!Ihadseenthe
image, included it in a number of areas of the museum, including our
exhibitonComputerChess.Theblown-upimagewehadin thatone
now sits behind my chair at the museum, so anytime anyone comes to
mydesk,theyaresaringattheeyesoftheunfortunateoperatorofthatcolossal machine.
Ihadseenthatimage,butIcantthinkofatimewhenIactaully
read it.
Lookignatit,therewasonepartIcertainlywouldntbereading.
ITwasCitizenoftheGalaxy,aportionofitanyways,bythatRobertaHeinlein.ItriedtoreaditwhenIwasyounger,nevergotmorethana
coupleofpagesinandgaveup.IdonotunderstandhowamanwhoseprosefeelslikeitwascopiedoffaPostOfcepackigninstructionssheetcouldbecomethemostbelovedmaninthegenre.ThereweretwopiecesfromauthorswhowereeasilyHeinleinsbetteratthetime,soI thoughtaboutstartingthere.TherewasaRandal
Garrettstory,andIloveRandallGarrett(thoughnotnearlyasmuchasIlovestoriesaboutRandallGarrett,likethetimePhilFarmerchasedanakedRandallthroughaconventionhotellobby),butthisone,Gentlemen:Please
Note,wasoneIdreadnottoolongago.Theotherone,byanauthorIsayistheBESTauthorfothe1940sand50s:MurrayLeinster. Now,IvebeenreadingafairbitofLeinsterlately,largelystuffthattiesinwithALogicNamedJoe,whichImworkingonapieceforthemuseumabout.Ihadntreadthisone,TheGrandfathersWar,soIgaveitatry. Thethingisoneofthosestoriesthatwashardformetocotton,butIcouldntdenythatLeinsterwassogoodatwhathedidthatitkeptmereading.Itsapieceofpost-WWIIwritingthatfeelslikeitwaswrittenatatimewheneveryoneexpectedWWIIItohappenwithinthehour.IdontknowifIdcallitSpaceOpera,thoughtherewassomegoodSpace-faringoinon,butIwouldntcallitpacistSFeither.Ivereadenoughofthatfromthe1950stolastmealifetime.FocusingonaMedShipwasanicetouch.Thewritingfeltstrong,withprosethat
didntmakemewanttoputmystthroughthetombstonethatholdsdownthecorpseofHeilein. InowamCOMPLETELYinagreementwithStevenHSilveraboutthefactthatLeinsterhastobeintheScienceFictionHallofFame. TheotherstorywasCompensationbyChristopherAnvil.AnvilisanauthorIveenjoyed,andherehes
doing a story that plays wonderfully with almost nothing but dialogue. It tells a story about a society based on
telepathy,whichwasathemeofseveralstories(andanovelortwo,thoughoneofthemmighthavebeenanextensionofthisstory!) So,Ienjoyedit,whichremindsmeofsomethignIvebeenmeaningtodo,whichisreadmore...
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Inmid-September,therewasaconsiderablebrouhahaoveralmcalledInnocenceofMuslimsthatpur-portedtobeadocumentary.TheresapossibilitythemovieitselfmaynotevenexistonlytrailersforitweretobefoundonYouTube.ThecreditslistsomeonenamedSamBacileasthelm-maker,butthatalsowasonly
ahalf-truthatbest.Infact,SamappearstobeNakoulaBasseleyNakoula,anEgyptianCopticChristianlivinginCalifornia.GodknowsthatasaChristianminorityinanIslamicnationtheCoptshavebeentreatedliketheN-wordforcenturies,andhavereasonenoughtodespisetheiroppressors.Justwhatendthislmandthe
deception serves, however, is far from clear.
ThelmdepictsahighlyuncomplimentaryhistoricalMohammedthatisnoteasilyrecognizedasThe
ProphetreverredbyIslam.Predictably,manyoftheFaithfulwentballistic,andshowedadegreeofenlightenmentthatcontinuestospeakpoorlyofthatpartoftheworld.Whenwasthelasttimeyouweredriventomasdemonstrations,wantondestructionandmurderbecauseyourchoiceofKingJamesorLatinVulgatewascriti
cized?Thatsthesortofover-the-top,dial-right-to-elevenresponseyouwouldexpectofDutchShultzorEdwardTeach,notofapeoplewhoaresupposedlyleavingtheMiddleAgesbehindforanArabSpring. Nevertheless,therecentoutburstofreligiousparanoiaremindedofanotherexampleofwacky,goodnatured,anti-IslamichumouracomicbookIboughtonlineafewyearsago,calledMohammedsBelieveitorElse.TheauthorandillustratorwasnamedAbdullahAziz...orsoitsaysonthecover.ThepublisherwasabiblecollegeinLasVegas,leavingroomfordoubtwhetherornotthereeverwassuchapersonasAbdullahAzizWhoeverthewriterandartistwas,hisillustrationswerelaughing-out-loudfunny.HisstylewasalotlikeJack
DavisoneofthebestcartoonistsfromtheoldMadMagazine. Mostofthetextfollowsasimpleformula:AziztakesaquotefromtheQuranortheHadithswhich
areMohammedsleft-oversayingsandanecdotesandaddscartoonstoshowthemasthepatentlyridiculousorsuperstitiousnonsensetheyare.Theapproachisalittlerepetitive,butmakesforrichreadingthelevelo
absurdity is sometimes so far off the scale that you need you need to go around the dial twice. Typical gems
includeatribesofJewsturnedintoratsbecausetheyhadbecomelostinthedesert.Didyouevernoticethatratsdrinksheepmilkbutnotcamelmilk?Jewsdontherdcamels,yousee,theyherdsheep.Thatprovesit!Stilonthesubjectoftransformations,AllahonceturnedthepeopleofavillagethatlivedbytheseaintomonkeysbecausetheywereimpiousenoughtobehungryontheSabbathandcaughtsh.Alsomentionedisawarningtopraywithyoureyesloweredlestangelspluckoutyoureyeballs!
SomethingelseMohammedwarnsustowatchoutforisfallingasleepduringprayer.Ifyoudo,Satanwil
peeinyourear.Hewillalsocrawlupyournoseatnightforanap,so,forheavenssake,dontforgettoblowwhenyougetupinthemorning!AndifyoueatgarlicoronionbeforeprayingAllahwillnothearyou.Hellispopulatedmainlybywomen,nottoosurprisingly,anditisokaytodrinkwaterwithadeadyinit,becauseonlyonewingcarriesdiseasewhiletheotherwingcarriestheantidote.Ikiddeththeenot,unfaithfulone! Iboughttencopiesformydealerstable,guringthemassure-resalesandwasntdisappointed.Thecomic books themselveswerentexpensive; unfortunately theshipping andhandlingweremurderwhichbringsusbacktotopic. OffensivetoMuslimsastherecentlmis,toanunbelieversuchasI,however,itisnoblasphemy.Asan
atheist,itismyunshakeablebeliefthatthereisnoAllah,noJehovah,noGodtohavedivinelyinspiredtheprophetMohammedwhoistomenomoretomethanasuccessfulArabwarlord,similarintypetoCaesarorNapo
All Hell to Payby Taral Wayne
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52 Weeks to Science Fiction Film Literacy - The Fif th Element
TheultimatemessageofTheFifthElementistheworldwillgetweirderbeforeitwillgetmorenormalWHileotherSFlmsreliedonspecialeffectstodevelopaworldwhichseemedlikeitwouldbeentirelydifferent
inTheFifthElement,itwastheartdirection,andespeciallythecostumes,thatdidtheheavylifting.Thisisalmthatunderstandswhatlmcando. Thatsaid,theresalotofgreateffectsstufftoo,butletsnotgettieddownthere,shallwe? TheFifthElementisaverybasicstory.IcallittheMustCollectemAlltypeofstory.Therearealotothem,mostnotablylmslikeG.I.JoetheMovie.Thebasicconceptisthattheressomesetofthingsthathavetobefound,keptandinstalledbeforesomethingbadhappens.Itsasmartstory,aclassic,andeventhemostrecentIndianaJonesmoviecanruinit.Itsalotofintensestuffthatcanhappeninthesekindoflms,soitsagoodstructuretogowithifyouremakingamovie.
ThelmstartswiththeMondoshawans,anawesomealienrace,comingtocollectasetofstoneswhichistheonlythingthatcanstoptheGreatEvilwhichcomesbyeveryvethousandyears.Theresapriestwhoisthekeeperofthesecret,andtheresasarcophagusthatholdsTheFifthElement! See,simplehuh? Thenwegoforwardtothe23rdCenturywhereweseethearrivaloftheGreatEvilasitdestroyanEarthshipoutinspace.ThePriestwhokeepstheMondoshawanwaysalivegoestothePresidentandtellshimthestory.TheMondoshawanreturnbutanotheralienrace,theMangalores,arehiredbytheevilindustrialistJean-BaptisteEmanuelZorgtoblowemup.TheonlythingthatsurvivesisthehandoftheFifthElement.TheycloneitandthisleadstothecreationofLeeloo.Shefreaksoutandjumpsoffthebuildingtheycreatedherinandland
in the taxicab of one Korben Dallas.
KorbenDallasisexactlywhatwevebeentaughtmakesforagreatheroinasciencectionstory.Hes
fallenfromformergloryasamemberoftheSpecialForces,andhasendedupassomethingofahuskofhisfor-merselfasayingcabdriver.BruceWIllisisgoodintherole,ashewassortainatroughinhiscareer.HehadbeenthroughtheDieHards,hehadbeenthroughhisrstwaveofhalf-decentdramalms,buthewasntthestahewaseventhreeyearsbefore.Inafewyears,hewouldmakehisbiggeststringofhitsstartingwithTheSixthSense.HestillhasthatActionHerothinggoingon,buthealsohasthatfeelingthathehasseenbetterdays.And
he had.
KorbentakesLeelootothePriestCornelius,whoexplainsthatthestonesarewithTheDiva,asingerwhoisonaSpaceLinercruise.ThisleadsDallasformercommandingofcertoconvincehimtogoundercover
and get on to the cruise, which he does, though he brings Leeloo with him. That leads to a great performance
scenefromTheDiva,whoisthenkilled,thoughDallasguresoutthattheelementstonesareINSIDEtheDiva.
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weredesignedbythelegendaryfashiondesignerJean-PaulGaultier.AsIlearnedwhenIvisitedhisexhibitatthedeYoungMuseumthisyear,Gaultierhaslongbeeninuencedbythesciencectionofthe1960sand70s.Whilehehaddoneafewlms,hehadneverhadtheamountofinuenceovertheentiretyofthelookofalmashehadwithTheFifthElement.Hecreatednearlyonethousandcostumesforthetim,andtheyreallysetthestageInfact,asinglecostumemighttellasmuchofastoryasthescript.Theresascenewhereourheroesyanden-counterfutureightattendants.Theyareinshortskirts,croppedtopswithcentralcutoutsandbustiersexposedunderneath.Theyalsohavethesewonderfulhats,sortofacombinationofpill-boxandastove-pipe.Thedesigns
sayalotaboutwhattravelmeansinthetimethatsbeingportrayed.Theyarehyper-sexualized,Iwouldargue,as
theseouttsaredesignedtotittilate.Ifyoulookatthewaysinwhichthestewardessoutthasevolved,itsbeengoingintheoppositewaythatGaultierhastakenit. Andnoonemakesanymentionofit.Itsjusthowitgoes.Itsastatement. Thecostumesofeverycharacteraredeeplyconsidered,astheyareineverylm,butheretheygiveustheweirdbetterthaninanyotherlmIcanthinkof.TheiconicimagesofLeelooinherbirthingoutt,composedofaseriesofwhitestripsofplastic,iswhatdenesherasacharacter.ThelookthatGaultierchosemadeusseethe23rdCenturyasdisjointed,unrealattimes.Wethinkthatthefuturewillbemorestreamlined,morefunctionalThatsnotwhatGaultiergaveus.HegaveusBaroque,strange,undecipherable.Itsstyleoverfunction,whichisn
somethingwereusedtoanymorefromourvisionsofthefuture.ItsnotTheJetsonsanymore. TheFifthElementisoneofthosemoviesthatyoumightnotcottontoatrst,buttheresalotthereto
takeinsoasecondviewingisalwaysuseful.Once,justtakeintheimagery,especiallythemattepaintings,manyofwhicharedigitallyenhanced.Secondviewing,focusonthecostumes.Then,ifyoucanstandtowatchitagainlookattheacting.
After that, the world is your oyster.
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Let us start with the legenday Warren Buff!!!!! GoodtoseeyougotaroundtoJurassicPark.Thatwasabigmovieforme,asmyfolkshadactuallybeen
ratherstrictaboutenforcingthePG-13rating,anditwastherstlmIreallywantedtoseewithoneonceIwasoldenoughfortheirstandards.IthelpedthatIwasadinosaurfanaticasakid.Iveactuallybeenafraidtorewatchit,asitwassogoodinmychildhood,andIdontwanttorisklosingallthoseimpressionsofit.Afterreadingyouanalysisofitasalm,Imayactuallybetemptedtodoso.ItsoundslikeenoughwouldappealtotheadultinmethatIwouldntrisklosingthegloryfrommyyouth.
The funny story about Jurassic Park and me was that my graduation gift from high school,
while my other friends were getting cars and, in one case, an apartment, was a Jurassic Park
T-Shirt. Well, and college, but thats neither here nor there. It did help that the movie did open
the day of my graduation. Four years later, the second Jurassic Park movie came out, also re-leased the day I graduated from college. My gift then? A Jurassic Park t-shirt! Oh, and a party
the likes of which GOD has never seen!
Iwouldliketopointout,inresponsetoChrisBarkleyspiece,thatseventeenvotesintheWSFSBusiness
Meeting is not particularly close. The total number of voters rarely surpasses, say, a hundred and twenty, even in
instancesofhighattendance.IdidntndthegroansthatmetDr.Kloorsspeechtobedeplorable--itfeltlikehewasmakingacheapemotionalappealratherthanarguingthemeritsofthemotion,andtheBusinessMeetingislongenoughthatwithouttheout-of-ordercommentary,itwouldbecomeunbearable.Twoparticularinstancesofsuchcommentsthisyearparticularlyliftedmyspirits--CrystalHuffsquestiontoKentBloomduringthe
GraphicStorydebate(Pointofinformation:Doyoueven*read*comics?)andStephenBouchersremarkwhenGlennGlazeraskedEemeliAroifhethoughtthehighcostoftravellingtoEuropetwoyearsrunningwouldbe
prohibitivetoAmericanfans(Oh,crymeariver.--forthosewhodontknow,Mr.BoucherisfromAustralia).knowsomeofthestrictproceduralistsfrownonthesesortsofoutbursts,buttheyreallyaretheonlythingthatmakesthemeetingsbearable.Atmyrstsuchmeeting,Iwastoldthattheywereaboutasfunasgougingyoueyesoutwithaspoon.Idisagree,butwithouttheout-of-orderremarks,thatobjectionmightfade.
That Kloor statement did feel like pandering, though it did still shock me a little. I didnt re-
alise that it was Crystal who called out about the Graphic Story thing to Kent. That was a bit
brutal. I think that the cost issue with US folks will be a big deal for the Helsinki bid. I get it,
there are folks who have to travel to North America seemingly ever year for WorldCon, and I
think we should have about every other year outside NA, but two in a row for the majority of
voters I think will play a role in deciding who gets the WorldCon.
Letter Graded Mailsent to [email protected]
by my gentle readers
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IwouldfurtherliketostressmyobjectionstoaddingaHugoAwardforsomethingthatamountstolittlemorethanamarketingcategory.Wecurrently(andalwayshave)dividewrittenctionpurelybyitslength.Thereisanassumptionthatwedontneedtodenesciencectionandfantasy,becausethebaseofvotersarealreadyfans,andasufcientnumberofthemneedtoagreethatsomethingbelongsinthegenreforittogetnominated.Ibelievethistobecorrect,andthus,theonlydetaileddenitionwehaveinourwrittenctioncategoriesisthenumberofwords--andeventhen,wehaveaprovisionbywhichaworknearthebordercanswitchcategoriesifitisnominatedmoreinonewhichwouldbeinappropriatebasedsolelyonlength.Ourotherctionalcategories
--dramaticpresentationandgraphicstory--differsufcientlyinmediumthattheyarereadilydistinguishable
fromnovels,shortstories,andtheintermediateworks.IdonotbelievethatitispossibletodrawabrightlinearoundYoungAdultctionsuchthatmostreaderswillplacemostofthesameborderlineworksinandoutothecategory.Furthermore,Idisagreewiththenotionofdividingupavorsofsciencectionandfantasy.Wedont,forinstance,divideupsciencectionandfantasyfromeachother.Iftherewereasingledivisioninstyletomake,thatwouldbeit!
Knowing what I know about other awards, specically the Oscars, Emmys and, though I hate
to admit it, the Grammys, having something eligible in more than one category tends to be the
norm. In the Oscars, Best Animated and Best Documnetary are not barred from Best Picture. I
know there are a lot of folks who complain that the Hugos are Science Fictions Highest Honor
given to Fantasy works. I dont see the problem with it.
Butwedont--wehavechosen,asacommunity,nottocreatesuchdifcultdivisionswithinoureldAfterall,whichsortofstoryareLordofLight,Dune,andthePernnovels?Areyousure?Doyouthinkmostfanswouldsplittheminthesamewayyoudid(andno,Idontcareiftheyrefoolsnotto)?Instead,wehonorworks,dividedonlybyasimpleobjectivecriterion,whentheycanriseabovethegrandmeleeofallworksosimilarlengthwhichfallwithinoureld.TheargumentsforaYAHugoseemtocomedowntotheideathatthemethodoftellingaYAstoryissomehowsufcientlydifferentfromtellinganadultstorythatitdeservesto
berecognizedseparately,andthatthetargettingoftheseworkstoadifferentsegmentofthepopulationjustiessuchanawardasameansofdrawinginthatpopulationtoourcommunity.Butifthatargumentholdssufcientmerit,whynotsplitsciencectionandfantasy?Thereisclearlyadifferentstyletothestorytellingineach(oristhere?--seethoseborderexamplesabove!),andtheyarealsoclearlymarketeddifferently(andifyoudontthinksciencectionandfantasyaremarketeddifferently,yourefoolingyourself).Butagain,asIvesaid,wehavealready
chosenasacommunitynottofocusonthosedivisions.Isnowthetimetostart?Im not sure it would work, and could be a monster to administer, which is one of the reasons I
favor a test through teh discretionary Hugo process. We know that the Best Video Game didnt
work because we tried and it failed. I am really starting to think that we should keep that go-
ing.
ThisisntthatImopposedtorecognizingexcellenceinYAction.IminterestedinseeingifanawardonthemodeloftheCampbellcanbeestablishedforit.ButmakingitaHugowouldrequireabandoningalong-heldprincipleofunicationwithinourcommunity,andthatssomethingIcantstandfor.
This is where we are in TOTAL AGREEMENT! Well, at least on the Campbell-stylee.
AstoWorldconbidding,IthinksomeattentionoughttobegiventoNASFiCbidding.Phoenixhasbeenpre-biddingforthe2014NASFiCsincelastyear,andhavenowbeenjoinedintheracebyDetroit.ThatvotewillbetakingplaceinSanAntonioalongsidethevoteforthe2015Worldcon,whichshouldmeanweseevediffer-
entbidspullingoutthestopsontheirbidparties!ImexpectingthistobeafunWorldcon,especiallyleadinguptothosevotes.Thereisalsoapotentialinuenceonthe2015WorldconracefromtherealmofNASFiC,asTimMillerhasstatedhisintentiontobidHoustonforthe2015NASFiCshouldHelsinkiwintheWorldconIwouldntdiscountthepotentialofthattoinuenceTexanvotersintheWorldconrace(thoughIalsohavendoneacarefulstudyofwhethertheirattitudesruntowardorawayfromhavinganotherNASFiC--byallac-countstheirlastonewasgrand).
Really glad weve got Detroit in the mix! Ive seen their facilities and they seem really cool
Plus, its a state where I wouldnt be berated by my family for entering like Arizona!
-Warren
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And now... Lloyd Penney!!!!!
DearChris:
Afast,fastloconissues324and325ofTheDrinkTank.Notalotoftime,andwhoknowswhatImighthavetosay
A fast LoC on two issues! A bold manuever!
324HarryHarrisonandRayBradbury,twoSFgiantswhohaveleftus.Moreandmore,theresnosurprise,manyofthebignamesinSFIgrewupwitharegone.IthinkJoeKubertwasaguestatAdAstrayearsago,when
AdAstrawouldalsohaveaseparatecomicsconvention.AnexcellentarticlebyStevenSilveraslongastheirbooksareonourshelves,andwereadthemorremembertheirwordsfondly,theyreallyarentdead.Theywil
be with us a long time.
You know, I dont think Ive read enough of either of em. I have to x that.
IhaventbeenontheFancy3pageinsometime.Isanyonekeepingitupdatedandaddingmoreentriesorhasitbeendormant?IamhavingalookatitIhavetoaskMarkOlsonandtheLosconfolkstospellourlast
name correctly.
Loscon got it wrong! FOOLS!!!!! (runs off to check the spelling on his SFCOntatio page)
Terminator2:JudgmentDay.IcantsayIvereallylikedanyofArnoldsmovies,butIdidseethersttwoTerminatormovies.Hesbecomeaparodyofhimself;recentlysawthetrailerforhisnewestautobiography,and
evenhecallshimselfTheGovernator.TheeffectoftheT-1000wereneat,buttherewasntmuchelse.And in a way, Arnold parodying himself is more entertaining than the genuine thing! I point tothe highly under-rated The Last Action Hero, which when compared to the decent True Lies, is
a masterpiece!
325Andhere,IsawtheJPandJP2.Ifthereweremoreineitherseries,Imnotawareofthem.Good point!
WishweddoneChicon,butnomoneyforit,andstillsavingforLondon.TheresarenfaireintheChicagoarea?ItsoundsmoreliketheArthurianjoustingshownearExhibitionPlacehere,MedievalTimes.Isawitonceandfounditrathercorny,butthecrowdsseemtoloveit,anditsstillgoingafter15yearsorso.
We all missed ya! I just went by our Medieval Times in So Cal last week. I REALLY wanted to see
it again, but it doesnt show on weekdays!
Iamnotsomuchbored,butrealizingthatImightneedachangeofpace.Fandomisstillfun,butnewerinterestsinsteampunkandnowMurdochMysterieshasallowedusnewactivitiesandnewfriends.Youvegottokeepyourselfbusy,andifyoudontuseyourmind,youllloseit.
I wish that was true! What I wouldnt give for a lost mind these days!
JurassicParkgreateffects,nastysaurians,notmuchelseIcansayaboutit.Well,Ididgetaninterestingfontoutofit
Yeah, the materials promotion JP were great! One thing I should write up someday is the evolu-
tion of the Movie Opening Process. I especially loved the posters!
ATorontoThanksgivingWorldconbid?Thatisindeednewstome.ServesmerightfordroppingoutotheloopwhenitcomestoWorldcons.Montrealisstillbidding,butthereisconfusionastowhatyeartheywant.Im kinda shocked you havent heard about it seeign as youre the co-Chair!
And,Iamdone.Iamwaitingforane-mailfromanagencywhomightgetmeatwo-dayassignmentinthedowntownareaonMondayandTuesday,andthenonWednesday,Imightndoutif Igetafull-timeemployee-stylejobwithapublishingcompanyjustnorthofToronto.HurryupandwaitIhatethat,butIadmitImused
to it.
SeeyouatSFContario,comingupinsixorsevenweeks?Wehaventgottenalotoffeedbackfromthe
conventionaboutwhattheydlikeustodoforyou,butonceweallgureitout,wellgetitdone.
Yours,LloydPenney.Always good to hear from ya, Lloyd! To think, well see each other TWICE in November!
7/31/2019 Drink Tank Fifth Element
14/14