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Society Page: Mathews-Higgins Wedding Highlight of Chicago Social Calendar
by E. Michael Blake: Kelley Mathews and Bill Higgins were married on August 23 at St. Irene's Catholic Church in Warrenville, IL. More than 200 celebrants joined the happy couple there or at the reception in the American Legion Hall in nearby West Chicago. Bride and groom entered the reception through a gauntlet of crossed Swiss Army knives. The deep involvement of General Technics in the festivities was further evidenced by the prank directed at the groom's car, in which a dorsal fin was placed on the trunk, a beam cannon of red LEDs and lucite was attached to the hood, and an inverted, spinning ceiling fan gave a propellor-beanie accent to the roof. The bride's lacy white gown had been crafted splendidly by three of her friends, and her garter was a tasteful blend of white lace and blue LEDs. For many of the Chicago-area fen in attendance, the event marked one last opportunity to enjoy not being in charge of an official upcoming worldcon.
Home is the Hunter
Dennis Caswell has come home to Canada after a stint working in Saudi Arabia. "Even though this means I am not working, I am not greatly concerned about this. I have enough put away that I could live for at least two years with no problems."
Smoke and No Mirrors
Fannish skepticism has begun stalking the Berlin in 2003 bid, owing to its lack of visibility even in Europe. Eckhard Marwitz' announcement of the bid at this year's Eastercon has not been followed up in any systematic way. In online discussions he pointed to the high cost of international travel as a reason for not following certain advice about how to pursue North American votes. However, the bid's web page has also disappeared. Technical problems were blamed, though one Norwegian fan wondered why the bid hasn't set up a mirror site.
I Can See Clearly Now
Jean Weber celebrated the restoration of her vision through laser surgery in WeberWoman's Wrevenge 51. She had her left eye done March 27 and the right eye on April 10. Jean's surgery was even more successful than expected; a large amount of correction was needed, but when her vision "settles down" (she's still having intermittent double vision) the only time she will need glasses is for close work. She underlines that the "discomfort" she was told to expect translated as serious pain that panadol-plus-codeine tablets were barely adequate to control. Apparently, controlling pain was not a problem after the first night. The procedure cost A$2,300.
Major Kelly Freas Art Theft
Thursday morning, August 28, someone transporting $25,000 worth of Freas art to the Worldcon discovered it was missing from the trunk of the rental car upon his arrival at the Los Angeles airport.
There were 10 large-scale color paintings, matted and framed. The remaining 18, also matted, were mostly black-and-white, a few in color, some roughs, a few finished.
Kelly and Laura Freas' online message sounded resigned: "Actually we don't expect to ever see any of this again. Odds are that the thief is not oriented in the direction of art or science fiction, and that everything will have wound up in a Los Angeles dumpster. Got themselves one hell of a nice bag, though. Expensive!"
Always Coming Home
Eric Lindsay announces plans to visit the U.S. in October and November, attending Ditto in Cincinnati and local fans for a week. He'll move on and stay five days in Minneapolis. Then he'll meet Jean Weber in San Francisco and they'll fly to Las Vegas to see fans and attend Comdex. They'll spend Thanksgiving with Jean's parents before going back to Australia on December 1. Eric would like to catch up with an many fans as possible during his visit and invites anyone wanting a detailed itinerary to email him at eric@zen.maths.uts.edu.au
Now you can also find Eric's perzine Gegenschein on the web at http://www.maths.uts.edu.au/staff/eric/sf/geg.htm
He Auditions Among Us
You can find Norman Spinrad's "Electronic Soapbox" at http://outworld.compuserve.com/homepages/normanspinrad. Check there for his full rant about publishers' general disinterest in his new novel, He Walked Among Us. Read a chapter yourself. The many publishers who turned him down included L.A.con III, offered free a 5,000 word excerpt for its souvenir book. Spinrad said the excerpt was a thinly fictionalized account of one of his visits to LASFS. It was not what you would call a tribute.
A Contest For Fan Writers
Loscon 24 is sponsoring a series of (two) one-shot fanzines featuring Convention Reports of itself. The first of these will be limited to Reports written Pre-Con, with submissions due by November 24. The very best submissions will win a prize.
So: What Will Loscon 24 Have Been Like ??!!
Send your reports to: Loscon 24 Fan Lounge, c/o LASFS, 11513 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.
(Make sure Norman gets that address...)
Original Neofan Returns
After more than a decade, Bob Tucker's The Neo-Fan's Guide to Science Fiction Fandom is back in print again "to lead the sheep to the slaughter." This 8th edition follows the complete text of Bob's last major (and final) Guide revision, completed for the 4th edition in May of 1976 for distribution at the 34th Worldcon, MidAmeriCon, in Kansas City. To the 8th edition, contributing editor Ken Keller has added a three page afterword "From Kansas City...To Kansas City" which places this edition within the proper fannish context.
Additionally, one unpublished Jim Shull and nineteen never before published Bill Rotsler cartoons, drawn in the mid-seventies fannish era, have been added to the 8th edition, including front and bacovers. Most of the original fannish illos by Terry Austin, Grant Cantfield, Jay Kinney, Bill Rotsler, Stu Shiffman and Jim Shull have been reprinted.
Contributing editors to this edition are the late Robert Bloch and the late Red Boggs, Linda Bushyager, Dick Eney, Joe Fann (Bob Tucker), Ken Keller, Linda Lounsbury, Boyd Raeburn, and Harry Warner, Jr.
This 30-page 8th edition should be considered an interim edition, a still useful but nostalgic blast from fandom's past, until a completed updated and greatly expanded international 9th edition can be completed and published in a few years by Dick & Leah Zeldes Smith.
Proceeds from the sale of this edition (after printing and postage expenses) will go to The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, a joint project of the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction at Kansas University and The Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, Inc. (Author induction ceremonies into the Hall of Fame are held every July in conjunction with the Campbell Conference in Lawrence, Kansas.)
The Guide costs $3.00 in the U.S., $5.00 overseas (sent air mail.) Make checks payable to KaCSFFS, Inc. and sent to: P.O. Box 36212, Kansas City, MO 64171-6262. E-mail queries can be addressed to Ken Keller (SolarWind1@aol.com).
Medical Updates
Ross Pavlac Diagnosed With Cancer
Ross Pavlac has announced online that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pavlac, 46, has been in SF fandom since 1965 and was co-chairman of the 1982 World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago. In recent years he has edited the Worldcon Runners' Guide and a comprehensive bibliography of Christian SF and fantasy.
According to Ross, "Pancreatic cancer is one of the nastiest ones. Basically, when chemotherapy is started, it either kicks in or it doesn't. As a result, 50% of patients are dead in six months. The one year survival rate is 20%. If you make it to the one year mark, your life expectancy is measurable in single digit years, depending on whether chemo continues to work and how badly you are affected by chemo side effects. Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago survived for several years, but finally could not deal with the side effects crippling his lifestyle, so he went off of chemo and died a few months later."
Because conventional chemotherapy has such a poor track record against this type of cancer, Pavlac is, in consultation with his physician, long time SF fan and Chicon 2000 Fan GoH Robert Passovoy, looking into cutting edge research programs and emerging technologies that might improve the odds.
Ross describes his current mood as "pretty stoic" because he has a huge laundry list of things to do in event of the worst case scenario occurring. He feels a lot of sadness that his three year marriage to Maria may be coming to an abrupt end. He also feels frustration that certain major projects (such as a series of novels) are not likely to happen now.
If you wish to send condolences, Ross welcomes email at 76636.1343@compuserve.com. If you are a close friend of Ross, he is accepting a LIMITED number of phone calls at (773) 764-4583. Please do NOT contact Dr. Passovoy regarding Ross.
For those who adhere to the Jewish or Christian faiths, Ross welcomes prayer. His top three needs for the moment are:
1. Stop new tumors from forming.
2. Halt the growth of existing tumors -- and get them shrinking.
3. Enable Ross and Dr. Passovoy to find a research program with some emerging technology that will improve the odds.
Depending on his health, Ross is considering putting up an online journal on his web page. If he does so, notice will be posted on the net in rec.arts.sf.fandom.
Gary Anderson Test Results
Cat Devereux posted on September 5, "Gary Anderson has been diagnosed with a nasty, rapid growth brain cancer called 'glioblastoma multiforma' (GBM). As Gary and Janet got a chance to talk to people that were more familiar with the cancer, [survival] estimates got better -- six months to 2 years to we-just-dont-know. Apparently, the timing on the discovery of the tumors was quite good. The estimates from the doctors are based on the standard discovery time -- when the tumor is normally 2 or 3 inches and has tentacles running through out the brain, but Gary has none of these. He's got more than one spot, but the only mass of any size was on the surface of the brain and was almost completely removed. (It was just the size and flatness of a nickel -- much smaller.) The others are much smaller than even that.
"The bad news is that these tumors are not very responsive to chemo. It takes radiation to womp the nasty cells. However, the good news... since Gary is in very good health (outside of this) and the doctors found the tumors while they were very little, this makes him a great candidate for special experimental programs. They are looking into these now...."
Cat always keeps an upbeat tone in her posts. "One of the requirements by all the doctors is that Gary continue to eat well. Janet is cooking (no giggles out there) and Gary is washing dishes as part of physical therapy (left hand/right hand coordination exercises -- see ook wash, see ook dry, see ook pick up the pieces). They have asked for easy low fat side dish recipes... that do not use nasty onions."
Gary began radiation therapy September 7. "The good news is that because they are just frying his head, he's not likely to have symptoms like nausea. He's more likely to be sleep afterwards. Bad news is that since he has to wear hats outside, he gets to pick what hes going to be wearing! (You should see what he chooses for socks!) They're blinding."
After a week of radiation, Cat was happy to report there is a brighter side to things. "[Gary] is just warped. He's been having radiation for over a week now. Is he loosing his hair like he's supose to? No! It's growing incredibly fast so he's starting to look like a beatnik.... Also the doctors have him on steroids, so he should be gaining weight. Nah, he's eatting too healthy. So he's trimming down. Looking younger if not a little shaggy. Staying strong and giving great bear hugs."
Gunn Coming Around
Ian Gunn's newest e-mail update, "The Bald And The Beautiful," said he was due to get a CAT scan before his fourth chemo session. Ian's doctor, looking quietly confident, told him, "I know what the result will be..."
So fingers crossed!
Ian actually went to a Melbourne Science Fiction Club meeting, and thinks he'll be able to manage Basicon.
The Most Encouraging Words
Marjii Ellers, sent a letter to the LASFS in August to share the news about her recovery:
Grateful greetings from another cancer survivor. The chemotherapy has worked a wonder and all 8000 nasty little cs125 cells have packed their cheap suitcases and departed, leaving their rooms a mess. My cane is hung in the closet, and the maternity outfits are at Goodwill, if anyone is interested.
The trade of my eyebrows, hair, figure and eyelashes for this freedom from a deadly peril bothers me not a whit. Just glad to be alive says it all.
The Jewish and Christian Intensive Prayer Unit (Turtledove reference) and the good thoughts of the Secular Humanists have supported me in the past four months. No one can doubt the power of the intangible. Your three cheers for me on the 17th of April (my 58th wedding anniversary) came at the lowest point of my depression. From that evening on, I knew I would get through this somehow.
I read with interest the suggestion of posting the Saint of the week. Enclosed you will find me as I hold the whole world in my hand (Marian Anderson reference.)
Marjii Ellers, member since 1973.
The Good News Department: Webmaster Gets a Second Chance
by Chaz Boston Baden
It's been a year of second chances for this fearless reporter. After playing a minor role at L.A.con III, where I ran the web page, organized the Internet Lounge, and distributed the daily newsletter, Lynn Victoria Boston and I were married at my sister Dorothy's home in Huntington Beach on the first day of Autumn, 1996. (Upon which day, I took "Boston" as an additional middle name; it's not a hyphenated name, you can still file me under "Baden.")
This is the second time around, marriage-wise, for both Lynn and myself. The ceremony was held next to the pool in the back yard, with Greg Hemsath officiating and Lynn's daughter Maria participating. Greg boasts that of the dozen or so marriages he's performed, all of them are still going strong; he also gets a big kick out of telling people he married the three of us, as opposed to the more traditional two-people-at-a-time, since the vows included speaking parts for Maria and myself, her new stepfather, to exchange.
Fannish poet Tom Digby, local smofs Mike & Diana Glyer and Dan & Danise Deckert, L.A.'s Electrical Eggs booster Lee Wygand, and artists Kelly & Laura Freas were among those attending, along with many other friends and family members. The party favors included squirt guns; about half of the guests had brought bathing suits, and joined the general chaotic good fun that afternoon when Lynn & I took the plunge (literally -- hand in hand off the deep end). Colleen Crosby provided the delicious wedding cake -- chocolate with chocolate frosting, decorated with bears, flamingos, and frogs.
And if that wasn't enough to make any man deliriously happy for the rest of his life, in the spring I got a new job at Hirsch Electronics in Irvine. This would not ordinarily be fannish news, however the career shift means that we will be making it to Chicago for the Worldcon in three years, which will probably be the first out-of-state Worldcon for any of us. Which brings us to the other "second chance," and the nominal justification for using up so many column-inches in a fannishly serious newzine.
As some of you may know, ConAdian in 1994 was the first Worldcon to have a web page; L.A.con III was the first to have an Internet Lounge; and Bucconeer will be the first Worldcon to have had a bid page before the vote. But the first bid page to have a Worldcon will be Chicago in 2000; Chicago in 2000, and Boston in 1998, were the first Worldcon bids to put web pages on the Internet. Rick Waterson has been custodian of the bid's web page for lo these many years. Now that the bid has closed and the convention committee's work has begun, he's passing the torch. As of August 31, when the results of the uncontested race were announced in San Antonio, www.chicon.org is on the air, with myself as webmaster.
I've been working on writing up my "Webmastering the Worldcon" notes, off and on, for a year now; the rough draft runs 60 pages, with examples, printouts, program and script listings, and so forth. If you'd like to be informed when it comes near to publication, or if you think you might be able to contribute some illos to liven up an otherwise dry subject, please write. A severely condensed abridgement will appear in the Worldcon Runner's Guide; with any luck, the long version will be out before the next Worldcon or NASFiC.
On top of that, the NASFiC is coming to the Western Zone again, in 1999, and I intend to run its web page along similar lines as the Chicon page (only sooner). You can see it at www.99.nasfic.org.
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