Volume 26 Number 2 Issue 308 July 2013
OASFiS Event Horizon Vol 25, Issue 308, July 2013. Published Monthly by the Orlando Area Science Fiction Society (OASFiS). All rights reserved by original Authors and Artists. Editor: Juan Sanmiguel, 1421 Pon Pon Court, Orlando, FL 32825. Subscriptions are $12.00 per year and entitle the subscriber to membership in the Society. Attending Memberships are $25.00 per year. Extra memberships to family members are $7.00 per year when only one newsletter is sent to the household. To subscribe or join OASFiS, send a check or money order to: OASFiS, PO Box 592905, Orlando, FL 32859-2905. To submit Articles, Artwork or Letters of Comment to the Event Horizon, send them to the Editor's address above or [email protected]. For additional information, call (407) 823-8715. OASFiS is a state chartered not for profit corporation whose goal is the promotion of Science Fiction in all its forms. All opinions expressed herein are solely those of the Author(s) and in no way represent the opinions of the Society or its members as a whole.
Birthdays
Steve Cole—July 28
Florida Supercon
July 4-7
711 NW 72nd Ave,
Miami FL.
$70 for 4 Days and $60 for 3 days
Guests:
George Takei (Sulu, Star Trek)
Kevin Smith (director, Clerks, Dogma)
Dave Gibbons (comic artist, Watchmen)
Al Plastino (comic artist, Superman)
Nick Cardy (comic artist, Aquaman)
and many more
www.floridasupercon.com
Southern Media Con
July 12-14
Hilton Bayfront
333 First Street South
St Petersburg, FL 33701
www.stonehill.org/vid_con.htm
Comic Book Connection
July 20-21
Holiday Inn
Baymeadows & I95
Jacksonville, FL
$3 at the door
Metrocon
July 26-28
Tampa Convention Center
333 S. Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida 33602
$55 for 3 days, $60 at the door
Guests:
Janet Varney (voice actress)
Phil Lamarr (voice actor)
D.C. Douglas (voice actor)
Scott McNeill (voice actor(
www.metroconventions.com
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
I spent some time doing my Hugo reading. All the
nominees are very good and deserve to be recognized.
This month, I plan to checkout both Florida Supercon
and Southern Media Con. There should be opportunities for
some pictures at both those events. There will be a couple of
reviews hopefully.
Events
Dice Tower Con
July 3-7
Doubletree Sea World Resort
10100 International Drive -
Orlando, FL 32821
Gaming
Sold out
www.boardgaming.info/convention/
July OASFiS Calendar
4th of July Party 12:30 PM, Patricia Wheeler’s House, 8029 Citron Court Orlando, FL OASFiS Business Meeting Sunday, July 14, 1:30 PM, Brick and Fire Pasta and Pizza Parlor (Downtown Orlando, 1621 South Orange Ave Orlando, Florida 32806) Come join us as we discuss the 2013 Hugo nominees. SciFi TBA. Keep an eye on the website. For more info
contact Steve Grant
To contact for more info: OASFiS Business Meeting 407-823-8715
Page two July 2012
OASFiS People
Steve Cole 407-275-5211 [email protected] Susan Cole 407-275-5211 [email protected] Arthur Dykeman 407-328-9565 [email protected] Steve Grant 352 241 0670 [email protected] Mike Pilletere [email protected] David Ratti 407-282-2468 [email protected] Juan Sanmiguel 407-823-8715 [email protected] Patricia Wheeler 407-832-1428 [email protected] Any of these people can give readers information about the club and its functions. To be included in the list call Juan
time, $5.
.
4th of July coming up at Patricia’s house around 12:30. Hang out
and swim. Eat, eat.
Some discussion about the Orlando in 2015 bid and how could it
aefffect con and club.
.
Doctor Who event at doubletree Hilton near Seaworld this Sat.
Called Summer Nights, look up at Hurricane Who site. One
celeb, Dan Starkey (Strax), the Sontaran. The host of Ghost
Hunter’s International is also appearing.
Neill Gaiman has a signing in Coral Gables, June 23rd, farewell
tour book promotion for The Ocean At the End of the Lane. Juan
carpooling if anyone interested.
Café Scientifique’ was hosted by a NASA physicist and gave a
good talk. Mostly on possible space travel in the future, maybe
solicit as a con panelist.
Iain Banks, British science fiction author, deceased today.
House party for Guardians of Gallifrey Saturday June 22nd. Julia
Langston’s house.
July meeting presentation by Juan—Hugo Nominees?
Also, Here be Dragons bookstore in Winter Garden closing for
health reasons. Books going for a dollar.
Book: Bug Jack Barron? Barren? On kindle or e-format. Also
paperback. Juan’s suggestion for August.
OASIS Meeting
Date: 6-9-13
Officers: Steve Grant, Patricia Wheeler, Juan Sanmiguel, Peggy
Stubblefield
Members: Rob Dickinson, Judy Dickinson, Arthur Dykeman,
Tom Reed, Dave Ratti, Hector Hoglin, Pat Sims, Roger Sims,
Kim Darin, Patty Russell, Ed Anthony
Guests:
Old Business: Convention recovery. Charity auction. Changing
dates. Different hotel.
Contalk/Rehash: Keycard business, con. Restaurants near hotel,
pro. Spare meeting room, pro. Art Show had a few skunked
artists, but we sold some pieces. T Shirt sizes, con Presales
dubious. Dealer room unknown. Massage Therapist had slow
biz but liked it. Some did not like that the sunroom was
commandeered by programming at short notice. Roof
accommodations would be nice as a gathering place. Motion to
not have ConSuite. Much discussion on restricting services of
the ConSuite to maintain health and safety. Also consider
changing to the International Palms Resort hotel. Nametag Font
too small, con.
Date changes: last weekend in April, off weekends in May (not
Mother’s Day weekend May 11th). Write better directions.
GOH with media and literary exposure, per Dave. Travis Taylor,
Orson Scott Card.
No answer on orders of large shirt sizes. Pending survey about
dates/hotel change.
New Business:
VP has Sci fi lite on June 21st at Winter Garden to see original
Pink Panther and dining at Urban Flats. Seven o’clock movie
Page three July 2012
their way in the world.
Raseed is book smart and is good with a sword. He is
weak on some of the ways of the world. He questions whether
the Falcon Prince is a hero or a criminal. Raseed does not know
what to make of his feelings for Zamia. By working with
Adoulla, he completse his education and becomes an effective
ghul hunter.
Zamia is the outsider. Even though she was a protector
for her people, they were wary of her powers. Now that she has
lost everything, she desires revenge but what is there after that?
Can her friends help her find a place in the world?
Litaz and Dawoud are also experienced in their field.
They are from the neighboring country, the Soo Republic. The
political mood causes them to consider returning to their home-
land. There is a reactionary movement as a result of the rebel-
lious activities in Dhamsawaat. There are people who wish to
keep things as they are and they see foreigners like Litaz and
Dawoud as a bad influence.
The Falcon Prince and his rebellion give the story a
modern feel. In the last few years the Middle East has undergone
great changes and the rebellion in Dhamsawaat reflects that. No
one knows which direction the rebellion will take, or whether the
Falcon Prince is better than the Khalif.
The point of view switches with the main characters.
This allows for some parallel plot development particularly dur-
ing the action-packed conclusion. It also lets the reader get into
the heads of the characters.
Ahmed has created an interesting world. It is rooted in
the past but has ties to the present day. This is part one of a trilo-
gy, and there are some big developments in this first novel. It
will be interesting to see where Ahmed takes us next.
Throne of the Crescent Moon
by
Saladin Ahmed
The world of Throne of the Crescent Moon is a com-
plete fictional setting much like Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Unlike
Middle Earth, its real world influence is not medieval Europe but
the Middle East. This is world of ghuls (demons) and magic.
This is also world with a corrupt and inefficient government fac-
ing a rebellion promising a new order.
Doctor Adoulla Makhslood is a ghul hunter in
Dhamsawaat, one of the great cities in Crescent Moon King-
doms. In his sixties, Adoulla wishes for a quiet life, but a request
from a former lover demands he looks into a ghul attack. He is
assisted by a dervish (monk) Raseed bas Raseed. During their
investigation in the desert, they meet Zamia Badawi. Her tribe
was wiped out by a pack of ghuls and has evidence which may
lead to source of these attacks. Zamia can assume the shape of
lion and was the protector of her tribe. Adoulla and Raseed take
Zamia back to Adoulla’s home and are attacked by ghuls. Zamia
is severely wounded in the fight. Adoulla and Raseed take her to
their friends Litaz, an alchemist and her husband Dawoud, a ma-
gus. While Adoulla and his friends are dealing with their prob-
lems, the Falcon Prince, a thief and rebel, is fighting to over-
throw the corrupt Khalif. Adoulla cannot count on the authori-
ties to help him. He and his friends have to figure out what is
going on before it is too late.
Adoulla is man good at his trade, but wishes he could
retire. He has fought the good fight and seen horrifying things.
His occupation has earned him a comfortable living and respect
among his peers, but cost him a relationship. He continues his
job because there are not many ghul hunters left and the threat
has not diminished. It is interesting to see an older lead character
in a fantasy story rather than the traditional young person finding
Award News
Locus Awards
(source Tor.com)
The winners of the 2013 Locus Awards were announced today at
the annual Locus Awards Weekend in Seattle.
Winners in each category are listed in bold:
SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL
Redshirts, John Scalzi (Tor; Gollancz)
FANTASY NOVEL
The Apocalypse Codex, Charles Stross (Ace; Orbit UK)
YOUNG ADULT BOOK
Railsea, China Miéville (Del Rey; Macmillan)
FIRST NOVEL
Throne of the Crescent Moon, Saladin Ahmed (DAW; Gollancz
’13)
NOVELLA
After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, Nancy Kress
(Tachyon)
NOVELETTE
“The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi,” Pat Cadigan (Edge
of Infinity)
SHORT STORY
“Immersion,” Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld 6/12)
ANTHOLOGY
Edge of Infinity, Jonathan Strahan, ed. (Solaris US; Solaris UK)
COLLECTION
Shoggoths in Bloom, Elizabeth Bear (Prime)
MAGAZINE
Asimov’s
PUBLISHER
Tor Books
EDITOR
Ellen Datlow
ARTIST
Michael Whelan
NON-FICTION
Distrust That Particular Flavor, William Gibson (Putnam)
ART BOOK
Spectrum 19: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, Cathy
Fenner & Arnie Fenner, eds. (Underwood)
The 2012 Bram Stoker Awards have been announced.
(source Locus website)
Superior Achievement in a Novel The Drowning Girl, Caitlín R. Kiernan (Roc)
Superior Achievement in a First Novel Life Rage, L.L. Soares (Nightscape)
Superior Achievement in a YA Novel Flesh & Bone, Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster)
Superior Achievement Long Fiction The Blue Heron, Gene O’Neill (Dark Regions)
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction “Magdala Amygdala”, Lucy Snyder (Dark Faith: Invocations)
Superior Achievement in an Anthology Shadow Show, Mort Castle & Sam Weller, eds. (HarperCollins)
Superior Achievement in a Collection (tie)
New Moon on the Water, Mort Castle (Dark Regions) Black Dahlia and White Rose: Stories, Joyce Carol Oates
(Ecco)
Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween, Lisa Morton (Reaktion) Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection
Vampires, Zombies & Wanton Souls, Marge Simon (Elektrik
Milk Bath)
Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times, Rocky
Wood & Lisa Morton (McFarland)
Clive Barker and Robert R. McCammon were the recipients of
the Horror Writer’s Association Life Achievement Awards.
Page four July 2013
Page five July 2013
Jerad Walters of Centipede Press won the Specialty Press Award,
and the Silver Hammer Award, presented for outstanding service
to HWA, went to Charles Day. The President’s Richard Laymon
Service Award was given to James Chambers.
Winners were announced at the 26th annual Bram Stoker Awards
Banquet held during the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend 2013
Incorporating World Horror Convention in New Orleans LA on
June 15, 2013.
John W. Campbell Award
(source Locus website)
Jack Glass: The Story of a Murderer by Adam Roberts
(Gollancz)
Theodore Sturgeon Award
(source Locus website)
“The Grinnell Method” by Molly Gloss (Strange Horizons 9/3/12
& 9/10/12)
(Continued from page 4) Science Fiction Hall of Fame
The 2013 inductees to the Science Fiction Hall of Fame are:
David Bowie (actor/musician)
H.R. Giger (artist)
Judith Merril (writer/editor)
Joanna Russ (writer/editor)
J.R.R Tolkien (writer)
Hurricane Who Summer Nights
Left: Pamela Salem, who appeared in two classic Doctor Who stories, “The Robots of Death” (1977) &
“Remembrance of the Daleks” (1988)
Right: Dan Starkey, who has appeared as Strax in several episodes Doctor Who
Pictures by Arthur Dykeman
OASFiS
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