Wheatland Press declared that they were on hiatus due to the current economic situation. Prior to the hiatus, they had made plans and purchased stories for Polyphony 7, the latest of their anthology series that began in 2002. According to publisher Deborah Layne, if they receive 225 pre-orders for Polyphony 7 by March 1, 2010, they will go ahead and print the book, otherwise all pre-order money will be refunded on that date and Polyphony will officially cease publication.
Los Angeles fan Phil Castora (b.1934) died sometime in July. Because of health issues, Castora was living on disability and unable to attend LASFS events in recent years. His death was discovered by fandom when two members of LASFS took distributions of L-APA to the facility where Castora was living and informed of his death.
The 2010 Browncoat Ball, bringing together fans of Firefly and Serenity, will be held from October 22-24 in Charlotte, NC.
For more information… (eventually, the site hasn’t been updated yet).
Author Robert Holdstock has entered hospital and is in intensive care, described by Ansible as “gravely ill.”
The candidates for the 2010 GUFF race to send a fan from Europe to Australasia have been announced. James Shields and Douglas Spencer are vying to represent Europe at Aussiecon IV. Voting runs until April 5 and is open to anyone active in fandom prior to August 2008 and makes a contribution of at least £5 or AU$10.
Nisi Shawl has been announced as the recipient of a private scholarship to attend next year’s Internation Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts. Arthur Hlavaty, Bernadette Bosky, and Kevin Maroney has previously announced that they would be giving a private scholarship to an individual to attend.
Paul A. Carter has announced his retirement from the John W. Campbell Memorial Award jury after serving for several decades. Sheila Finch and Paul di Filippo will both join the jury effective immediately. The John W. Campbell Memorial Award is presented annually by the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS.
Douglas Cohen has been named editor at Realms of Fantasy. Cohen has served the magazine as a slush reader, assistant editor, non-fiction editor, and art director. This promotion consolidates his titles. Shawna McCarthy, who has been the magazine’s editor since the first issue will retain her role at the magazine.
ALAMO has awarded two grants of $300 to Lauren C. Allison and Meredith Hines to attend the SMOFcon 27 convention-runners convention in Austin, TX, December 4-6, 2009. ALAMO is the Austin Literary Arts Maintenance Organization and was organized to run the 1997 Worldcon.
The Nova Awards were presented at Novacon the weekend of November 13. The Novas are given for excellence in British fanzines. Steve Green, the award’s administrator, has announced that he will step down, to be replaced by Martin Tudor.
Best Fanzine: Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
Best Fan Writer: Claire Brialey
Best Fan Artist: Sue Mason