29 September 2003

British Fantasy Award Nominations
Two categories have more than five nominees due to ties in the voting. The winners will be announced at the British Fantasy Convention on 23 November 2003 at the Tillington Hall Hotel, Stafford. The Karl Edward Wagner Award (Special Award) will be awarded by the BFS Committee and announced at the awards ceremony.

Best Novel (The August Derleth Fantasy Award)
Ramsey Campbell, The Darkest Part of the Woods (PS Publishing)
Jonathan Carroll, White Apples (Tor)
Mark Chadbourn, The Devil In Green (Gollancz)
Graham Joyce, The Facts of Life (Gollancz)
China Miéville, The Scar (Macmillan)

Best Short Fiction
Mark Chadbourn, The Fairy-Feller's Master Stroke (PS Publishing)
Paul Finch, Cape Wrath (Telos Publishing)
Andrew Humphrey, "Open the Box" (The 3rd Alternative #29)
China Miéville, The Tain (PS Publishing)
Michael Moorcock, Firing the Cathedral (PS Publishing)

Best Anthology
Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, eds, The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror: Fifteeenth Annual Collection (St Martin's)
Stephen Jones, ed., Keep Out the Night (PS Publishing)
Stephen Jones, ed., The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror: Volume Thirteen (Robinson)
Stephen Jones & David Sutton, eds, Dark Terrors 6 (Gollancz) Frank M. Robinson, Robert Weinberg & Randy Broecker, eds, Art of Imagination: 20th Century Visions of Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy (Collectors Press)
Robert Silverberg & Karen Haber, eds, Fantasy: The Best of 2001 (ibooks)

Best Collection
Ramsey Campbell, Ramsey Campbell, Probably: On Horror and Sundry Fantasies (PS Publishing)
Andrew Hook, The Virtual Menagerie (Elastic Press)
Stephen King, Everything's Eventual (Hodder & Stoughton)
Ursula Le Guin, Tales from Earthsea (Gollancz)
Clark Ashton Smith, The Emperor Of Dreams: The Lost Worlds of Clark Ashton Smith (Gollancz)

Best Artist
Lara Bandilla
Randy Broecker
Bob Covington
Les Edwards/Edward Miller
Dominic Harman
Chris Moore
J.K. Potter

Best Small Press
The Alien Online (edited by Ariel)
PS Publishing (Peter Crowther)
Roadworks (edited by Trevor Denyer)
Telos Publishing (David J. Howe)
The 3rd Alternative (edited by Andy Cox)

Heinlein Prize Formed
Prior to her death, Virginia Heinlein worked to establish the Heinlein Prize, which will be given out as frequently as annually to one or more individuals who have achieved practical accomplishments in the field of commercial space activities. According to the trustees of the Heinlein Prize, the award is for effort by an individual - not corporate or government sponsored activities - and that the Heinlein Prize is intended to be world-wide in scope. Nomination forms and information about the award can be found at www.heinleinprize.com.

Prism Awards Announced
The 2003 Prism award winners for science fiction and fantasy romance novels published in 2002 were announced in association with the Romance Writers of America(RWA) national conference.
Best of the Best: Contact by Susan Grant
Time Travel: The Promise by Dee Davis
Futuristic: Contact by Susan Grant
Fantasy: Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark Paranormal: Sacrament by Susan Squires
Light Paranormal: Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Novella: The Day Her Heart Stood Still by Susan Grant

Obituary
Con runner Marjorie Rosen died on September 29 following emergency heart surgery. Intially scheduled for a bypass, the doctors determined she needed a transplant, but she died before a heart could be procured. Rosen entered fandom in 1971 and worked on several conventions on the west coast, including L.A. Cons II and III. She has worked on numerous Westerncons and most recently served as the Bid Diva for the successful Seattle NASFiC bids (CascasiaCon).

23 September 2003

Tangent to Go Offline
David Truesdale has announced his intention to close Tangent after a decade of publishing the short fiction review 'zine, first in a paper format and more recently on-line. Truesdale is considering finding a new managing editor for the webzine, but if he can not find someone he feels will do a good job by the end of the year, he will shut down the venture. Website management will be taken over by Jeniffer Johnson until that time.

NASA Safety Panel Resigns
In the wake of the Columbia report which laid a substantial amount of blame on the NASA Safety Panel, the entire Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) has submitted its resignation to NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. The ASAP was established in 1967 following the Apollo 1 fire.

Additional Emmy Award Announcement
At the televised Emmy Awards on September 22, only one additional award was presented to a science fiction television show. "Taken" won the Outstanding Miniseries Emmy for the Sci Fi Channel.

17 September 2003

Technical Emmys Awarded
Two science fiction shows won technical Emmys as part of the 55th Annual Emmy Awards.
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Mini-Series, Movie or Special: Frank Herbert's Children of Dune
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series: "Serenity" (Firefly)

16 September 2003

Seiun Winners Announced
While the English language winners of the Seiun Awards were announced several months ago, the Japanese winners of the award were only recently announced.
Japanese Long Stories: Taiyou no Sandassha [Sun Usurper], by Nojiri Housuke (Hayakawa Books)
Japanese Short Stories: "Ore wa Misairu" ("I Am a Missile"), by Akiyama Mizuhito (SF Magazine February, May, 2002)
Foreign Long Stories: Illegal Alien by Robert J. Sawyer, translator: Uchida Masayuki (Hayakawa Books)
Foreign Short Stories: "Luminous" by Greg Egan, translator: Yamagichi Makoto (Best of 90s SF)
Media: Hoshi no Koe (Other Voices), Shinkai Asahi (Comics Wave)
Comics: Chrono Eyes, Okasaki Jiro (Kodansha)
Artwork: Shinkai Makoto
Non-Fiction: Uchu e Pasupoto [Passport to Space], Sasamoto Yuichi (Asahi Sonorama)
Free: Dezain no Ningen Robotto HRP-2 Saishu Seika [Final Robotic Platform HRP-2 (Promet)], Izubuchi Yutaka

King Receives National Book Foundation Medal
The National Book Foundation has announced that horror author Stephen King will receive the 2003 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. The medal will be presented on November 19 at the 54th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. King will present a keynote address. The award, created in 1988, comes with a $10,000 prize, which King announced he will "return...to the National Book Foundation for the support of their many educational and literary outreach programs for children and youth across the country; the Medal I will keep and treasure for the rest of my life."

Obituaries
Cartoonist Warren Kremer (b.1921) died on July 24. Kremer worked for Harvey Comics and helped create Ritchie Rich and Hot Stuff. He was instrumental in the redesign of Casper the Friendly Ghost into the character he is today. At Marvel, he helped create "Planet Terry."

Animator Jules Engel (b.1909), who worked choreographed the dance sequences for Walt Disney's "Fantasia" died on September 6 in Beverly Hills. Engel also collaborated with Ray Bradbury on the short "Icarus Montgolfier Wright," Dr. Seuss to create "Gerald McBoing-Boing," and worked on "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Engel founded UPA Studios, where he developed the character Mr. Magoo. Engel was born in Budapest.

Actor John Ritter (b.1948) died on September 11 following a major aorta in his heart rupturing. Although Ritter was best known for his work as Jack Tripper in the sitcom "Three's Company," he also appeared in numerous science fiction, fantasy, and horror based films including "Stay Tuned," "Bride of Chucky," and "Steven King's It." In 1990, he portrayed L. Frank Baum in "The Dreamer of Oz." His father was singer Tex Ritter and he was married to actress Amy Yasbeck.

Agent Marilyn Marlow (b.1928) who worked at Curtis Brown since 1959 and represented children's authors including Jane Yolen, Robert Cormier, and S.E. Hinton, died.

10 September 2003

Obituary
Russian SF author Kir Bulychev (b.1934) died on September 5. Bulychev was perhaps best known for his stories about a young girl named Alice Selezneva, which were collected and published in English as Alice: The Girl from Earth. Bulychev was born in Moscow as Igor Vsevolodovich Mozheiko. He first began to write science fiction in 1965 and also wrote screenplays for films.

9 September 2003

Europa Awards
The 2003 Europa Awards were delivered at FinnCon X/EuroCon 2003 on August 3rd in Turku, Finland.
Best Author: Sergei Lukianenko
Best Artist: Maurizio Manzieri
Best Publisher: (tied) NOWA and Kuasar
Best Promoter: Ivan Krumov
Best Translator: (tied) Michel Jakuszewski and Rafael Marin
Best Journal: Galaxia
Best Fanzine: Fenternet
Encouragement Awards for Best Young Writer: Viktor Tochinov and Georgi Malinov.

Black Gate Suffers Computer Crash
Fantasy magazine Black Gate has suffered a computer crash which destroyed about five weeks worth of records from July 15 through August 22. If you subscribed to Black Gate via their website during that time, publisher John O'Neill requests that you send an e-mail to john@blackgate.com to confirm your subscription information is in their database.

8 September 2003

Correction:
The Chesley Awards were incorrectly listed as giving the Best Cover Illustrations - Hardback Books Award to Todd Lockwood for "Resurgence." Lockwood actually won the award for his cover to R.A. Salvatore's novel "The Thousand Orcs." "Resurgence," one of the other nominees, was created by Bob Eggleton.

Shea Files False Arrest Charges
Fantasy author Michael Shea, who was arrested last July on charges of kidnapping, child molestation, attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, has filed false arrest charges against Sonoma County. The kidnapping and molestation charges were dropped by the prosecution and a judge later dismissed the entire case. Shea's lawsuit notes that the Sonoma County's Sheriff's Department manipulated evidence and ignored information that would have cleared him.

Birth Announcement
Fans Gwyn and Steve Krause are happy to announce the birth, on August 18, of their son Jens William Krause. Born eight weeks early, Jens weighed 3 pounds, 14 ounces at birth. Although Gwyn is home, Jens remains at the hospital and is not expected to join his parents at home until after September 22.

Shuttle Return to Space
NASA has announced plans to launch a shuttle on March 11 in its first manned launch following this year's February 1 Columbia disaster. Critics say that the space agency is hurrying to launch before rectifying endemic problems outlines in a lengthy report earlier this month. The report listed fifteen return-to-flight requirements. For nine of these, NASA has announced it will only make pledges or hold compliance discussions.

4 September 2003

Correction:
Due to potential changes in the site selection process, the Chicago is bidding to hold the worldcon in 2008, not 2009 as previously noted.

GUFF Candidates Announced
Pat McMurray and Doug Bell are running against each other for GUFF, the Going Under Fan Fund, this year. The winner will be sent from the UK to Australia. Deadline for voters is November 11 and a ballot and platform paper can be downloaded from http://www.ericlindsay.com/guff/.

Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award
The third annual Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award was presented to Edgar Pangborn, the author of Davy, A Mirror for Observers, and other stories and novels. The award is presented to an author, living or dead, "whose work displays unusual originality, embodies the spirit of Cordwainer Smith's fiction, and deserves renewed attention or 'Rediscovery'".

Rhysling Awards Announced
The Rhysling Awards are presented annually by the Science Fiction Poetry Association.

Short Poem category:
First Place: "Potherb Gardening" by Ruth Berman

Long Poem category:
First Place: tie: "Epochs in Exile: A Fantasy Trilogy" by Charles Saplak and Mike Allen & "Matlacihuatl's Gift" by Sonya Taaffe

First Heinlein Awards Presented
The Heinlein Society presented the first Heinlein Awards at a banquet in Toronto on August 29. The awards is presented to outstanding published work in hard science fiction or technical writings inspiring the human exploration of space.

Winners: Virginia Heinlein & Michael Flynn

Torcon Masquerade Awards
Torcon III held its Masquerade on Sunday evening. The following prizes were awarded. This year, Bantam Books sponsored an award for a costume based on Torcon GoH George R.R. Martin's series Songs of Ice and Fire series.

Junior Division:
Most Tasty: A Poultry Problem
Best Superhero: The Flash
Most Dramatic: Curiosity Kills

Novice Division:
Best Crustacean: Man from the "Lovecraft" Dating Agency
Best Political Statement: Professor A. Boffin
Most Fannish: Captain Worldcon
Most Romantic: Flora Regina
Best Media Re-creation: Vedek Deypa
Best Literary Re-creation: Jadis, Queen of Narnia
Most Original Novice: Saucer for Sale
Most Humourous: Lord of the Fling
Most Animated (Young Fan): Ash Ketchum
Best in Class Novice: Mike and Celia: Seeing Eye to Eye
Best Workmanship, Headpiece: Flora Regina
Best Workmanship, Beading: Jadis, Queen of Narnia
Best Workmanship, Latexwork: Man from the "Lovecraft" Dating Agency Best Workmanship, Handsewing: Sally
Best Workmanship, Creative Engineering: Saucer for Sale
Best Workmanship, Dyeing Technique: Redwood Fairie
Best in Class, Workmanship: Lord of the Fling

Journeymen Division:
Best Re-creation: Angel of Death
Best Collision of Universes: Arena
Most Beautiful: Morpheus (squared)
Best Presentation: Winter is Coming
Best Journeyman: Mighty Wing Lung Puff
Best Workmanship, Wings: Angel of Death
Best Workmanship Bead Detailing: The Faerie Godmother
Best Workmanship, Use of National Material: Miss Torcon 3
Best Workmanship, Use of Hot Glue: Arena
Best in Class, Workmanship: Morpheus (squared) - Tic
Best in Class Workmanship: Winter is Coming - Tie

Master Division:
Most Apocalyptic: Fire and Ice
Best Master: A Wildlife Adventure
Best Workmanship: Globe Construction: Fire and Ice
Best in Class, Master Workmanship: Trumps of Amber

Special Awards:
Best in Show: Trumps of Amber
Best in Show, Workmanship: A Wildlife Adventure
Bantam Books- Songs of lce& Fire Award: Winter Is Corning

1 September 2003

Torcon Memberships Numbers
According to the Sunday Evening Dam Write Daily, the Torcon III At Con Newsletter, the attendance at Torcon III was 3646 Warm Bodies On Site, 4018 Attending Members, and 4735 Members.

LACon IV Guests of Honor
The 2006 Worldcon, LACon IV, has announced its slate of Guests of Honor, including Author Connie Willis, Artist James Gurney, Fan Howard DeVore, and Special Guest Frankie Thomas, the original star of "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet." The convention will be held from August 23-27, 2006 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

CascadiaCon Guests of Honor
The 2005 NASFiC, Cascadia has announced its slate of Guests of Honor, including Author Fred Saberhagen, Artist Liz Danforth, Fan Kevin Standlee, and Editor Toni Weisskopf The convention will be held from September 1-5, 2005 at the SeaTac Airport Hilton.

Two Year Site Selection
The Torcon Business Meeting approved a motion to shorten the Worldcon Site Selection from the current three years to two years. In order to be put into effect, this motion must pass again at next year's Worldcon in Boston. If it passes at Boston, the 2008 Site selection will occur at LACon IV and there will be no site selection at Intersection in 2005. If the motion does not pass next year, the 2009 Site Selection will occur at LACon IV.

Torcon Art Show Awards
Amateur:
Tina Klein Lebbink, "Captain's Kitten"
Jacob & Wayne Fowler, "Phoenix Rising"
Cheryl Garrett, "The Egg: Fire Dragon 3 of 4"
Dan J. O'Driscoll, "Metropolis"
Rachael Mayo, "Serpent Star 3: Bluestar"

Professional:
Erin McKee, "Green Man"
Mai Q. Nguyen, "Sea Dragon"
Theresa Mather, "Mariner's Tale"
John Platt, "Chariots of New Frontiers"
Jean-Pierre Normand, "Asimov's June"
SoMK Sophie Klesen, "Cherudek"

Fan Taken Ill
Milwaukee Fan Tom Cason was taken to the hospital in Toronto shortly before noon on Sunday at Torcon. The immediate cause was unknown. Neither is it known whether his HMO will cover all costs.

2005 NASFiC & 2006 Worldcon Selected
The 2005 NASFiC will be held in Seattle, Washington. Seattle beat out Charlotte for the privilege of hosting the NASFiC. The 2006 Worldcon will be held in Los Angeles and will be called L.A. Con IV. Los Angeles not only defeated Kansas City, but also defeated the curse in which LA had never won a contested worldcon bid. LACon IV will be held 23-27 August 2006. The author Guest of Honor will be Connie Willis.

Chicago Announces Worldcon Bid
Chicago has announced a bid to hold the Worldcon in the Windy City for the year 2009. Currently, site selection for 2009 is set for LA Con IV in 2006, however, an amendment before the WSFS Business Meeting may alter the site selection lead time to two years.

Fans Marry
On August 28, four fannish couples took advantage of Canada's law permitting homosexual marriage to exchange vows. With Reverend Cheri DiNovo of the United Church of Canada officiating, Andrew Bethke married Joe Agee, Don Kaiser married Dan Heine, Don Sakers married Thomas Atkinson, and James Odom married Richard Wix.

Worst Year for Space-Related Fatalities
An explosion at a Brazil launch site on Friday, August 22 resulted in the deaths of 21 technicians. The accident, which also destroyed a substantial portion of the launch site, scuttled plans for a multi-satellite launch at the end of August. Brazil hopes to have its space program up and running again by 2007, although the loss of so much of its technical team will make further development difficult. This accident marks the third unsuccessful launch of a Brazilian rocket, following aborted attempts in 1997 and 1999.

Obituary
Pamela Lynn "P.L." Carruthers-Montgomery died on August 26 following a long illness. She was a former president and vice-president of the Southern Fandom Confederation as well as a member of the Southern Fandom Press Alliance. She was honored with DeepSouthCon's Rebel award. P.L. was married to southern fan Larry Montgomery.

Hugo Awards
The Hugo Awards were presented Saturday night at Torcon III.
Best Novel: Hominids, by Robert J. Sawyer (ANALOG 1-4/02; Tor)
Best Novella: Coraline, by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins)
Best Novelette: "Slow Life," by Michael Swanwick (ANALOG 12/02)
Best Short Story: "Falling Onto Mars," by Geoffrey A. Landis (ANALOG 7-8/02)
Best Long Form Dramatic Presentation: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (New Line Cinema)
Best Related Book: Better to Have Loved: The Life of Judith Merril, Judith Merril and Emily Pohl-Weary (Between the Lines)
Best Professional Editor: Gardner Dozois
Best Professional Artist: Bob Eggleton
Best Short Form Dramatic Presentation: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Conversations with Dread People" teleplay by Jane Espenson and Drew Goddard
Best Semi-Prozine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown, Jennifer A. Hall and Kirsten Gong-Wong
Best Fanzine: Mimosa, edited by Rich and Nicki Lynch
Best Fan Writer: Dave Langford
Best Fan Artist: Sue Mason
Campbell Award: Wen Spencer

Sidewise Awards
The Sidewise Awards are presented to honor excellence in alternate history.
Long Form: (tie): The Severed Wing, by Martin J. Gidron & Ruled Britannia, by Harry Turtledove
Short Form: "Empire," by William Sanders

2003 E. Everett Evans Big Heart Award
Given by Dave Kyle for outstanding service to the science fiction field.
Winner: John Hertz

First Fandom Hall of Fame Award
Winner (tie): Philip Francis Nowlan & Philip Jose Farmer

Moskowitz Award
Presented for excellence in science fiction collecting
Rusty Hevelin

Prometheus Awards
Best Novel: Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett
Hall of Fame Award: "Requiem" by Robert Heinlein

Prix Aurora
Best Long-Form Work in English: Permanence, , Karl Schroeder (Tor)
Best Long-Form Work in French: Le Revenant de Fomalhaut, Jean-Louis Trudel (Médiaspaul)
Best Short-Form Work in English: "Ineluctable", Robert J. Sawyer (Analog Nov/2002)
Best Short-Form Work in French: «La Guerre sans temps», Sylvie Bérard (Solaris 143)
Best Work in English (Other): Edo van Belkom, editing Be VERY Afraid! (Tundra Books)
Artistic Achievement: Mel Vavaroutsos
Fan Achievement (Publication): Made in Canada Newsletter, Don Bassie, ed. [webzine]
Fan Achievement (Organizational): Georgina Miles
Fan Achievement (Other): Jason Taniguchi, one-man SF parody shows

Chesley Awards
Artistic Achievement: Tom Kidd
Best Cover Illustrations - Hardback Books: Todd Lockwood for "Resurgence"
Best Cover Illustrations - Paperback Books: Tristan Elwell for "Briar Rose"
Best Cover Illustrations - Magazine: Todd Lockwood for "Dragon" #302
Best Interior Illustration: Scott Gustafson for "Classic Fairy Tales"
Best Color Work - Unpublished: Richard Hescox for "The Storm"
Best Monochrome Work - Unpublished: Maurizio Manzieri for "The Skimmer's Lagoon"
Best Three-Dimensional Art: Kim Graham for "ConJosé Dragon"
Best Gaming-Related Illustration: Todd Lockwood for "Spider Queen"
Best Product Illustration: Dean Morrissey for The Light Ship"
Best Art Director: Irene Gallo for Tor Books
Award for Contribution to ASFA: Geoff Surrette for design and management of the ASFA Website.

Spectrum Award
The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor works in science fiction, fantasy and horror which include positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues.
Best Novel: Fire Logic, , by Laurie Marks (Tor)
Best Short Fiction: "Three Letters from the Queen of Elfland" by Sarah Monette (Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet #11)
Best Comic/Graphic Novel: (tie): The Authority (issues 28 & 29), various (Wildstorm/DC) & Green Lantern: Hate Crime (issues 154 & 155), Judd Winnick (DC)
Best Other Work: Queer Fear II, edited by Michael Rowe (Arsenal Pulp) (anthology)