Sunday, June 29, 2008

News and Blog Updates: June 29, 2008

Spcial Announcement:
The NWSFS magazine WESTWIND is coming out of hiatus and our new editor is seeking submissions for fiction to be presented in the magazine. While there are still a lot of details to be worked out, if you are interested in contributing a work of science fiction, fantasy, or horror fiction, please send an email to: westwind.editor AT gmail DOT com

I am still seeking assistants to help with this blog. If you are interested in reporting about fannish events or news for the Pacfic NW, please contact me at nwsfsnews AT gmail DOT com ~ Jim


News Headlines:
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Are We Alone - Next show available June 30, 2008: Encore Presentation "Sigh. It's Science"
Sigh. Science
Is the public interested in science? The signs aren't encouraging. The Hubble Telescope teeters on the edge of breakdown, and the public's response is lukewarm. Science coverage in the media continues to shrink like cheap cotton... and science superstars on TV or in the movies are as rare as lanthanum.
As we consider why today's folk give science the big yawn, we'll talk to people whose job it is to bring lab findings to the public. Also, a new study traces to childhood our psychological aversion to science. Plus, Seth re-lives his childhood at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Guests:

You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/ and be sure to check the Are We Alone Profile and Blog on MySpace.

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Marci Baun - Book Release Announcement
Released Tuesday: Weirdly: A Collection of Strange Tales, vol 2 - www.wildchildpublishing.com/

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Paul Roberts - Book Release Announcement
"THE BETRAYER is the first in a series of three entitled PROPHECY OF THE DRAGON. The story follows the exploits of a dragon' apprentice who tries to save his homeland from an army of reptilianites, whilst aiding the diminishing race of dragons. A must for all fantasy fans. For sample chapters and a chance to win a signed copy please visit: http://www.epicbpublishing.co.uk/"


Headlines From SF News Sites:
Clarkesworld Magazine and Wyrm Publishing is havnig a "Summer Sale". Get "The Full 10-34 About Your New Space Trucking Career" over at io9 good buddy! There are new books and magazines listed at Locus Online. There is news of "Space Chimps" and "Wall*E" over at RevolutionSF. And SF Signal Tubes, and Tidbits galore!

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Clarkesworld Magazine and Wyrm Publishing: Clarkesworld Books Summer Sale

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io9: The Full 10-34 About Your New Space Trucking Career [The Sf Alternative Career Guide], 10 Books That Were Better Off on Paper [Failures Of Cinema], Gaiman, Zelazny and More Coming To Your iPod [Interview], 3-D Journey Makes Studios Nervous [Journey To The Center Of The Earth], What's the Singular of "Fish"? [Ecological Dystopia], A-Blasts Propel the Atomic Pulse Rocket Into Space (1960) [Retro Futurism], Will The Sci Fi Channel Water Down The Doctor Who Finale? [Doctor Who], Some Notable Absences at Comic-Con [San Diego Comic-con], Tentacles and Cosmic SF: The Art of Lovecraft [The Jewels Of Apator], The Middleman's Last Defense Against Monsters Tells All [The Middleman], This Summer the Northwest Passage Opens, When the North Pole Melts [Geoscientific Futurism], Jericho Ads Appear More Often On TV Than Jericho [Jericho], & James Kirk's Earliest Challenge, In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek [Morning Spoilers]

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Locus Online: Monitor: New Books: fourth week June, Monitor: Other Magazines, second half June, Locus Magazine: Jeffrey Ford: Shadow Years, Locus Magazine: Daniel Abraham: The Long Price, & Locus Magazine: Comments from this year's Locus Poll & Survey

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RevolutionSF: Trailer Probe : Space Chimps (Feature), RevolutionSF Newsblast : Red Sonja, John Carter of Mars, GI Joe, Star Trek (News), Sci-Fi TV Actors Not Unemployed Again Yet: BSG's Six, New Amsterdam Guy (News), Hulk : Great Moments in History (Feature), Wall*E (Review), & Wanted (Review)

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Science Fiction Awards Watch: Sfinks Awards, Another Print Award for Aio & Zivkovic, & Janusz A. Zajdel Award Nominees,

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SciFi Scanner: Wall-E Review - Animation with an Agenda, & Daily Scan: 06.27.08 - Edgar Wright Talks Ant-Man; a Trailer for Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

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SF Signal: Sunday YouTube: The Fantastic World of Jules Verne, SF Tidbits for 6/29/08, Saturday YouTube: Star Cops, SF Tidbits for 6/28/08, This Week's Free Tor Book: Battlestar Galactica by Jeffrey A. Carver, Twittering ApolloCon, Friday YouTube: Buck Rogers and the Tranny, & SF Tidbits for 6/27/08

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SFScope: Updates to Previously Published Articles (22-28 June 2008), John Joseph Adams seeking reprint vampire stories for new anthology, Terry Goodkind moving to Putnam with three-book deal,
Paizo publishing original anthology of shared-world authors, Del Rey publishing five Clone Wars tie-in novels, & Tor's weekly free e-book and wallpaper


Selected Blog Updates:
Blogs to take note of: Kevin J Anderson - "ASHES OF WORLDS in bookstores July 1", Steve Anderson Design - "Can’t Stop the Serenity Charity Poster", and three new posts from Yasmine Galenorn - "Eight Questions With Camille", "Is it really twisted.", & "Friday Thoughts and Question of the Week"
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Bret Jordan - "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS PART II"

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Cathy Clamp - "Yay! Exciting book news!"

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Chuck Palahniuk - "Dennis’ Review Of Choke... The Movie! SURVIVOR T-Shirt Raffle! - 3 DAYS LEFT"

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David Louis Edelman - "Grasping for the Wind: “MultiReal” the “Empire Strikes Back” of the Jump 225 Trilogy"

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Di Francis - "selling a series/trilogy of books"

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Djibril - "Always Look on the Bright Side"

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Grendels Den Design Studio - "The Totally Normal Event"

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Harry Shannon - "Dead and Gone novel up for pre-order!", & "FearZone interview up, more coming... "

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Horror! Fullmoondirect.com ROAD SHOW Seattle, WA - "THE FULL MOON 4TH OF JULY MOVIE EXPLOSION!"

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J Erwine - "My Denvention Schedule"

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JAMES AND DADDY - "Update 29th June 2008"

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Jeff Carlson - "Plague Year on CD", & "Short Story Sale"

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Jeremy C. Shipp - "Ash Lomen interviewed me"

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Kevin J Anderson - "ASHES OF WORLDS in bookstores July 1"

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Louise Bohmer - Lachesis Publishing - "Skullvines Press Rocks the Socks!"

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Luna Books - "Interview with Maria Snyder on Write Place Write Time"

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Paul S. Kemp - " James Lowder Interviewed About Worlds of Their Own"

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Planet Pride - "Some papers of interest for the week ending 28 June 2008", "Cassini to Earth: ’Mission Accomplished, But New Questions Await!’", "SOHO the Comet-Finder — And You Can Help"
"On the South Side", & "Giant impact explains Mars dichotomy"

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Robert J Sawyer's Blog - Robert has been quite busy blogging. Take a look at all the blogs he has posted recently.

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Rue Morgue Magazine - "3-D Horror Fest at The Fox Theatre!"

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Scott Nicholson - "audible Scott"

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Spectra Pulse - "Author Notes: Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett"

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Steve Anderson Design - "Can’t Stop the Serenity Charity Poster"

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Willie Meikle - "The First Silkie on Podcast"

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Yasmine Galenorn - "Eight Questions With Camille", "Is it really twisted.", & "Friday Thoughts and Question of the Week"

Upcoming Local Events - July & August, 2008

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EMP|SFM - Events and exihibitions currently taking place at the EMP}SFM

  • Robots: An exhibition celebrating humankind’s fascination with robots. The exhibition runs May 16 to October 26, 2008, Pulsar Lounge Gallery.
  • Exposed: Inside Film at EMP|SFM: "The Objective" with Director and Screenwriter Daniel Myrick, Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 7:00 PM, JBL Theater
  • Out of This World Camp: Hosted by EMP|SFM and Seattle Children’s Theatre, Monday, July 21, 2008 - Friday, July 25, 2008, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Learning Labs
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The Elliott Bay Book Company - SPECULATIONS - ELLIOTT BAYSCIENCE FICTION & FANTASYBOOK GROUP:
"The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" by M.T. Anderson, Tuesday, July 15 at 6:30 PM

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Museum of Flight - Upcoming Events Calendar:
Here are a few highlights from the calendar of upcoming events at the Museum of Flight. You can view the complete calendar of events here.
  • Sunday, July 20, 2008, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Anniversary of the First Moon Landing, William M. Allen Theater
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Pacific Science Center - Things are really busy at the Pacific Science Center. Check the PSC blog

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Seattle Robotics Society: July 19, 2008 Robotic Fish - Kristi Morgansen and Daniel Klein from UW will talk about the robotic fish project and future Robotic Fish in Schools, Remote Control and Localization.

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University Book Store - Selected Highlights from the University Book Store Events Calendar July and early August
Below is a select listing of upcoming events presented by the UW Book Store. Complete details for these and other events can be found at the links above.
for the latest news.
  • Friday, May 30, 7:00 PM, U District store - Troy Denning, "Legacy of the Force: Invincible", Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, June 3, 7:00 PM, U District store - William Gibson, "Spook Country", Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, June 10, 7:00 PM, U District store - Nisi Shawl, Filter House, Reading & Book Signing
  • Friday, June 13, 6:00 PM, U District store - WizRock with The Remus Lupins with special guests Evan Brightly and The Good Cheer
  • Friday, June 20, 7:30 PM, UW Kane Hall, Room 120, Seattle - Clarion West presents William Gibson in conversation with Nancy Pearl, Discussion
  • Monday, June 23, 7:00 PM, U District store, - Jacqueline Carey, "Kushiel's Mercy", Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, June 24, 7:00 PM, U District store - Clarion West presents Paul Park: Paul Park kicks off the annual Clarion West Summer Readings Series.
  • Friday, June 27, 7:00 PM, U District store - Even more WizRock: The Parselmouths CD Release Party with special guests Tonks and the Aurors and Alas Earwax!
  • Tuesday, July 1, 7:00 PM, U District store - Clarion West presents Mary Rosenblum, Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, July 8, 7:00 PM, U District store - Clarion West presents Cory Doctorow, Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 PM, U District store - Clarion West presents Connie Willis, Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, July 22, 7:00 PM, U District store - Clarion West presents Sheree Thomas, Reading & Book Signing
  • Thursday, July 24, 7:00 PM, U District store - Jay Lake and Brenda Cooper, "Escapement" and "Reading the Wind (The Silver Ship)", Reading & Book Signing
  • Monday, July 28, 7:00 PM, U District store - Naomi Novik, "Victory of Eagles: A Novel of Temeraire", Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, July 29, 7:00 PM, UW Kane Hall, Room 130 - Clarion West presents Chuck Palahniuk, Snuff, Reading & Book Signing
  • Thursday, July 31, 7:00 PM, U District store - Dave Williams, "The Mirrored Heavens", Reading & Book Signing
  • Tuesday, Aug 05, 7:00 PM, U District store, - Kat Richardson, "Underground", Reading & Book Signing
  • Thursday, Aug 07, 7:00 PM, U District store - Eldon Thompson, "The Divine Talisman: Book Three of the Legend of Asahiel", Reading & Book Signing
You can find store locations here.

*****
Vancouver Art Gallery - KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art, May 17th - September 7th, 2008, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC Canada.

*****
Yasmine Galenorn - Upcoming book signings.
  • Saturday, July 12, Noon, Seattle Mystery Books, 117 Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-587-5737 - Signing for Dragon Wytch
  • Friday, July 18, 8:00 PM, Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center - Book signing along with a lot of other authors. Open to the public.

SFSFC Launches Westercon Bid for San Jose

Press Release 2008-1

SFSFC LAUNCHES WESTERCON BID FOR SAN JOSE

SAN FRANCISCO SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTIONS, INC.
A California Non-Profit Corporation
PO Box 61363, Sunnyvale CA 94088-1363 USA
info@sfsfc.org; http://www.sfsfc.org/

For release: June 29, 2008

SFSFC Launches Westercon Bid for San Jose

San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. announced today that they are launching a bid to host the 2011 West Coast Science Fantasy Conference (Westercon 64) in San Jose, California.

The bid committee is currently evaluating proposals from several properties in the San Jose area, including the San Jose Doubletree Hotel and the San Jose Fairmont Hotel. The Doubletree has hosted many SF genre conventions including Westercon 36, Costume-Con 26, BayCon, and SiliCon. The Fairmont was the headquarters hotel for the 2002 Worldcon and will be site of the 2009 World Fantasy Convention. The committee will announce a specific site later in 2008.

Glenn Glazer will chair the San Jose in 2011 Westercon bid committee. He and other members of the bid committee will be present at the bid's kick-off party, which will be at this year's Westercon in Las Vegas, Nevada.
San Jose in 2011 is offering "pre-supporting" memberships for $15 and a variety of other types of memberships to help fund the bid. Membership forms and additional information about the bid are available on the bid's web site, http://www.sfsfc.org/westercon64/. The bid accepts PayPal for online membership purchases and accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Westercon is one of the oldest general science fiction conventions in the world, with a history stretching back to 1948. Different groups host Westercon each year in a different city in western North America or Hawaii. Members of the 2009 Westercon in Tempe, Arizona will vote on where to hold the 2011 Westercon.

SFSFC was the parent non-profit corporation of ConJosé, the 2002 World Science Fiction Convention, ConFrancisco, the 1993 Worldcon, as well as Westercon 53 in 2000. SFSFC is also organizing the 2009 World Fantasy Convention.

Contact:
San Jose in 2011 Westercon Bid:
Glenn Glazer westercon-sj2011-info@sfsfc.org
Web Site: http://www.sfsfc.org/westercon64/
RSS Feed: feed://http//sfsfc.org/westercon64/?feed=rss2

SFSFC Inc.: Kevin Standlee info@sfsfc.org

General information about Westercon: http://www.westercon.org/

San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. is a California non-profit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under US Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).

"ConJosé" and "ConFrancisco" are service marks of San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc., a California non-profit corporation.

"Westercon" is a registered service mark of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society, Inc. "Worldcon" and "World Science Fiction Convention" are registered service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.

Convention Listing for July - September, 2008

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Summer Village Festival: July 19 - Aug 24, 2008 - Duvall, Washington
Website: http://www.camlann.org/summer_festivals.htm

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PDX Lan: July 18-21, 2008 - Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.pdxlan.net/portland/

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MerpCon: July 25-27, 2008 - Spokane, Washington
Website: http://www.merpcon.com

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Fandemonium: August 1-3, 2008 - Nampa, Idaho
Website: http://www.fandemonium.org/

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SpoCon: August 1-3, 2008 - Spokane, Washington
Website: http://www.spocon.us/

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Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire: Aug 02 - 03, & 16 - 17, 2008 - Belfair, Washington
Website: http://www.washingtonrenfaire.com/

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Subversion Anime Fest: August 2, 2008 - Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.dreamlandjapan.com/events/?p=14

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Fragapalooza: August 7-10, 2008 - Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Website: http://www.fragapalooza.com/

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Animethon 15: August 8-10, 2008 - Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Website: http://www.animethon.org/

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Dragonflight: August 8-10, 2008 - Bellevue, Washington
Website: http://www.dragonflight.org/

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Con-Version: August 15-17, 2008 - Calgary, Alberta Canada
Website: http://www.con-version.org/

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GateCon: August 12-24, 2008 - Vancouver, BC Canada
Website: http://gatecon.com/vancouver/

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CybCon: August 23, 2008 - Tacoma, Washington
Website: http://www.ggaub.com/tf/cybcon2k8.html

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Portland Zine Symposium: August 23-24, 2008 - Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.pdxzines.com/

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Anime Evolution: August 22-24, 2008 - Burnaby, BC Canada
Website: http://www.animeevolution.com/

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BC Renaissance Festival: August 29-31, 2008 - Ft. Langley, BC Canada
Website: http://www.bcrenfest.com/

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HârnCon VI: August 29-31, 2008 - Vancouver, BC Canada
Website: http://www.vancouvergamingguild.com/Harncon/

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Penny Arcade Expo(PAX): August 29-31, 2008 - Seattle, Washington
Website: http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/

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Kumoricon: August 30 - September 1, 2008 - Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.kumoricon.org/

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Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire: September 13-14, 2008 - Kings Valley, Oregon
Website: http://www.shrewfaire.com/

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FallCon: September 19-21, 2008 - Calgary, Alberta Canada
Website: http://www.fallcon.com

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Evergreen Air & Space Museum Model Show: September 20, 2008 - McMinnville, Oregon
Website: http://www.geocities.com/oregonshow/

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Portland Pirate Festival: September 20-21, 2008 - Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.portlandpiratefestival.com/

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Northwest Event Show: September 23 2008 - Seattle, Washington
Website: http://www.nweventshow.com/

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Foolscap X: September 26-28, 2008 - Redmond, Washington
Website: http://www.foolscapcon.org/

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RainFurrest: September 26-28, 2008 - Sea-Tac, Washington
Website: http://www.rainfurrest.org/

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Aurora-Con: September 27-28, 2008 - Anchorage, Alaska
Website: http://www.auroracon.org/

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Bell-Con: September 27, 2008 - Bellingham, Washington
Website: http://www.myspace.com/bellcon2007

Thursday, June 26, 2008

News and Blog Updates: June 26, 2008

Special Feature: No is no Special Feature for this week, but I do have a special notice:
While I still do not have anything for this weeks Special Feature, I do have a special notice below from the crew at Boxcar Astronaut titled "Guest Strip Project" that was also posted to their blog:

"A brand new comic strip by the co-creator of Boxcar Astronaut has just gone up at: www.moovok.co.uk/gsp/ For those of you not familiar with the Guest Strip Project, it is the brain child of Mike Rouse-Deane, lover of webcomics and organizer of ambitious projects. The concept of the Guest Strip Project is simple, enlist many of the top webcomic artists around and put together a long running strip featuring a different artist for each installment. Throw in the fact that any donations go to the Make-A-Wish International Foundation and you've got a winning idea!

So go to www.moovok.co.uk/gsp/ and read the latest installment by Marc Lapierre, and be sure to go back thorough the previous strips to see some of the fantastic work done by other webcomic superstars! If you find you've got some pennies laying around, make a donation while you're there."

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I'm still looking for contributors for this Special Features section, so if you are a local writer or artist, and have something you would like featured here, just drop me a line. Plus I am still looking for assistants to help with this blog, so if you're interested let me know ~ Jim


News Headlines:
*****
Jordan Krall - Book release announcement
"My new book SQUID PULP BLUES is due out this summer from ERASERHEAD PRESS. It's a 3-novella collection of bizarro crime fiction filled with lots of weird and horrific noir craziness. Not to mention grotesque violence and black humor. Think Elmore Leonard meets David Lynch after a run in with David Cronenberg. For more info please check out www.filmynoir.com/"


News Worth Reposting:
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Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest - 20% storewide discount - Apex Book Company
"We're having a storewide sale to celebrate four excellent events:
1) The release of Orgy of Souls by Wrath James White & Maurice Broaddus
2) The release of Beauty & Dynamite by Alethea Kontis
3) The release of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel
4) THE COMPLETION OF OUR WEBHOST MIGRATION!
Just enter the code NEWHOST on checkout to receive your discount: http://www.apexbookcompany.com/"

*****
Are We Alone - "Skeptical Sunday: The Science of Indiana Jones"
Indiana Jones
He looks great in a fedora - we'll give him that. But surviving a tumble over three 100-foot waterfalls or toughing out an atomic blast by climbing into a refrigerator? We love Indy, but his exploits seem to be over the top when it comes to elementary physics. From hovercrafts to the quartz crania of aliens; find out what scientific concepts in the latest bullwhip adventure are more than a little nutty.
Plus, the real crystal skulls, and the man who discovered that two of the most famous are fakes. Also, an incentive to tackle that to-do list: the 2012 Mayan apocalypse. And, If I were Indy, our Hollywood Skeptic puts himself in the hero's boots. It's Skeptical Sunday, but don't take our word for it. Guests:

  • Ian Freestone - Archaeologist at the University of Wales at Cardiff
  • Matt Springer - Graduate Student at Texas A and M University and keeper of the website, www.builtonfacts.com
  • Tom Rogers - Physics teacher at Southside High School in Greenville South Carolina, author of Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics and the founder of the web site of the same name
  • Phil Plait - Astronomer,and keeper of the Bad Astronomy web site
  • Jim Underdown - Executive Director, Center for Inquiry West in Los Angeles
You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/ and be sure to check the Are We Alone Profile and Blog on MySpace.

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PNBA Announces Changes to Fall Trade Show
PNBA's Fall Trade Show in Portland will run Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 15-17, in 2008 rather than happening on the more traditional end-of-the-week pattern. The Trade Show, the largest of its kind held in the region, also moves to a new venue this year: the Portland Airport Holiday Inn and Convention Center.

According to PNBA director Thom Chambliss, the change of dates and venue should not impact attendance. Most booksellers, he said in a recent interview with Book Publishers Northwest (www.bpnw.org), prefer to come to a show during the week rather than over the weekend. PNBA is also trying to expand the show's audience by inviting librarians as well as booksellers to attend the education sessions and tour the trade show floor.

More information about PNBA's Fall Trade Show can be found at www.pnba.org.

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Alma Alexander - "Cybermage" available for preorder!
The third and final volume of the Worldweavers trilogy, "Cybermage", is available for pre-order here. They don't have a pic of the cover up yet, but you can go see a preview of that on my LiveJournal blog ( http://anghara.livejournal.com/ )!


Headlines From SF News Sites:
As always there are a lots of posts from io9, take a look at the four new postings from Science Fiction Awards Watch, & StarShipSofa presents "Aural Delights No 30 Michael Moorcock mp3"
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Apex Book Company: HyperiCon4

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Clarkesworld Magazine and Wyrm Publishing: Clarkesword Update, & Realms is Available and the Clarkesworld Census

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io9: The Secret Masters And The Conspiracy Against Democracy [Hugo Awards], G'Kar's Face Forever Frozen In Time, In An Alien Museum [G'Kar Mask In Museum], Hugo Gernsback’s RoboCops of 1924 [Retro Futurism], Don't Count The Tenth Doctor Out Just Yet [Doctor Who], The Empire's Last AT-AT Act Of Destruction [Star Wars], Time for a Max Headroom Movie [Found Footage], Neuromancer, As Performed in a Missouri Barn by Hippies and Baptists [Neuromancer], Saturn Awards Crown Cloverfield Best Scifi Film [The Saturn Awards], Help Support SF Webzine "Strange Horizons" [Strange Horizons], Davies: Returning "Who" Cast Is Different, Except They're Not [Doctor Who], The Searing Laugh Of Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible [Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog], Atomic Cars of the 1950s [Retro Futurism], & An Amazing Collection of "War of the Worlds" Book Covers [Concept Design]

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Locus Online: Locus Magazine: Sample Reviews

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RevolutionSF: Sci Fi Hunks 2008 (Feature), Get Smart (Review), & Jumper (Review)

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Science Fiction Awards Watch: Rushdie Knighted, Hugo Nominees Listings, Saturn Awards Winners, The New Classics, Matheson Wins Tähtivaeltaja Award, Atwood wins Prince of Asturias Award, & Crotchety Thoughts on the Hugos

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SciFi Scanner: The Behind the Scene Connections in Escape From New York, What Are the New SciFi Classics?, Daily Scan: 06.26.08 - SciFi Beach Reads; a New Poster for The Day the Earth Stood Still, SciFi Dept - Attack of the E.T. Ripoffs, M Is for Mad Scientist, Like Wall-E, These Robots Are Cleaning Up After Us Now, & Daily Scan: 06.25.08 - Nicolas Cage Lends His Voice to Astro Boy; Favreau Reveals The Avengers Line-up

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SF Novelists: My New Day Job

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SF Signal: MIND MELD: Interesting Areas of Scientific Research, SF Tidbits for 6/26/08, Quick Meme: What Was the Last Book You Bought?, At The Trailer Park: The Dark Knight, Wolverine and the X-Men, Disaster Movie, & SF Tidbits for 6/25/08

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SFScope: Susan E. Connolly sells first novel to Mercier Press, Entertainment Weekly judges the top 1000 of everything pop culture (since 1983), 34th annual Saturn Film/Television/DVD Award Winners, Contents of Best American Fantasy 2008, Nick Mamatas moving to VIZ Media; Clarkesworld temporarily closing to submissions, & Jim Fiscus to be new SFWA WRD

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StarShipSofa: Aural Delights No 30 Michael Moorcock mp3,


Selected Blog Updates:
There are quite a few local blogs tonight, so take a look at the blogs from BELL CON 2008, BIFFnews, Dark Horse Comics, Donna Barr, King County Library System, Nicola Griffith, Pacfic Science Center, Portland Steampunk Society, Spokane Comicon, & Yasmine Galenorn
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Alethea Kontis - "...and before I forget", & "Jason Loves Me"

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Are We A Blog? - Discovery of Earth-size Planets

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BELL CON 2008 - "Clayton Crain is coming to Bell Con"

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Burrard Inlet Fan Fellowship - BIFFnews - BIFFs and Agendas Go Their Separate Ways

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Chuck Palahniuk - "SURVIVOR T-Shirt Raffle! - 3 DAYS LEFT"

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Cynthia Leitich Smith - "YA Book News & Giveaways", "Auden Media Launches New Book Packager", "YA Author Interview: Dana Reinhardt on Harmless", & "Jennifer O’Connell on Everything I Needed To Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume"

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Dark Horse Comics - "New Titles Shipping This Week from Dark Horse - 6/25"

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David Thorpe - "Phew! Finished"

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Di Francis - "character interviewing", & "agent chat"

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Donna Barr: All Things Barr - Scorboropolis

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Fran Friel - Storewide 20% OFF?? Yuppers!

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HARPER PERENNIAL - "Enter the 'Free Books for a Year'", & "The First of Many, Andre Jordan "

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Horror Library Blog-O-Rama - "Storewide 20% OFF?? Yuppers! - by Fran Frie", & "When The Words Don’t Come Easy by Erik Smetana"

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JAMES AND DADDY - "James 5th birthday"

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Jodi Lee - "Best case, worst case ", & "Apex Celebratory Sale!"

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Karina L. Fabian - My writing adventure: Organizing the plot

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King County Library System - "Win FREE books and more!"

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Maria V. Snyder - "My Daughter ratted me out!"

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NexGen Pulp Magazine - A tease of CL Freire's New Book - Preorder TODAY!!!

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Nicola Griffith - "twenty years"

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Pacfic Science Center - Is A 'Staycation' In Your Plans This Summer?, PacSci-Doku: Natural Filter, 'Lucy' Tickets On Sale July 1, 'Dark Knight' Tickets On Sale Now!, & Science On Tap: Merging Robotics & Neuroscience

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Paul Levinson - Mars Soil Hospitable to Asparagus - Can Humans Be Far Behind?

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Paul S. Kemp - "Update to GenCon Appearance Schedule"

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Planet Pride - "Abrams Planetarium, Night Sky Notes ", "NASA Cassini Significant Events 06/11/08 - 06/17/08", & "Planet Formation Around the Sun’s Dusty Disk"

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Portland Steampunk Society - "Steampunk Dance Night at Dementia"

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Robert J Sawyer's Blog - "Video: "A Galaxy Far, Far Away" My Ass!", "Canadian SF editors", "Risk is our business", & "Janis Ian on Saturday Night Live this weekend"

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Rue Morgue Magazine - "Add The Rue Crew to your Friends List!"

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Scott Nicholson - "the career novelist"

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Sherrilyn Kenyon - "FREE Sherrilyn Kenyon Ebook Offer!", & "Trying this again"

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Shroud Magazine - "BENEATH THE SURFACE garners critical praise!"

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Spectra Pulse - "Feasting on the Paranormal"

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Spokane Comicon - "2009 Dealer & Artist Information"

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Terry Goodkind - "Message to all my fans.", & "Terry Goodkind Moves to Putnam for Three-Book Deal!"

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Tor Books - "Cory Doctorow: a Little Brother reading (second in a series)"

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Writers Together - EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!!! CINDY’S NEWS and EVENTS

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Yasmine Galenorn - "I *KNOW* some of you have read Dragon Wytch already.", & "Guest Blogging & Radio Interview Link"

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

News and Blog Updates: June 24, 2008

Special Feature: No is no Special Feature for this week, but I do have a special notice:
While I still do not have anything for this weeks Special Feature, I do have a special notice below from the crew at Boxcar Astronaut titled "Guest Strip Project" that was also posted to their blog:

"A brand new comic strip by the co-creator of Boxcar Astronaut has just gone up at: www.moovok.co.uk/gsp/ For those of you not familiar with the Guest Strip Project, it is the brain child of Mike Rouse-Deane, lover of webcomics and organizer of ambitious projects. The concept of the Guest Strip Project is simple, enlist many of the top webcomic artists around and put together a long running strip featuring a different artist for each installment. Throw in the fact that any donations go to the Make-A-Wish International Foundation and you've got a winning idea!

So go to www.moovok.co.uk/gsp/ and read the latest installment by Marc Lapierre, and be sure to go back thorough the previous strips to see some of the fantastic work done by other webcomic superstars! If you find you've got some pennies laying around, make a donation while you're there."

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I'm still looking for contributors for this Special Features section, so if you are a local writer or artist, and have something you would like featured here, just drop me a line. Plus I am still looking for assistants to help with this blog, so if you're interested let me know ~ Jim

News Headlines:
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Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest - 20% storewide discount - Apex Book Company
"We're having a storewide sale to celebrate four excellent events:
1) The release of Orgy of Souls by Wrath James White & Maurice Broaddus
2) The release of Beauty & Dynamite by Alethea Kontis
3) The release of Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel
4) THE COMPLETION OF OUR WEBHOST MIGRATION!
Just enter the code NEWHOST on checkout to receive your discount: http://www.apexbookcompany.com/"

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Are We Alone - "Skeptical Sunday: The Science of Indiana Jones"
Indiana Jones
He looks great in a fedora - we'll give him that. But surviving a tumble over three 100-foot waterfalls or toughing out an atomic blast by climbing into a refrigerator? We love Indy, but his exploits seem to be over the top when it comes to elementary physics. From hovercrafts to the quartz crania of aliens; find out what scientific concepts in the latest bullwhip adventure are more than a little nutty.
Plus, the real crystal skulls, and the man who discovered that two of the most famous are fakes. Also, an incentive to tackle that to-do list: the 2012 Mayan apocalypse. And, If I were Indy, our Hollywood Skeptic puts himself in the hero's boots. It's Skeptical Sunday, but don't take our word for it. Guests:

  • Ian Freestone - Archaeologist at the University of Wales at Cardiff
  • Matt Springer - Graduate Student at Texas A and M University and keeper of the website, www.builtonfacts.com
  • Tom Rogers - Physics teacher at Southside High School in Greenville South Carolina, author of Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics and the founder of the web site of the same name
  • Phil Plait - Astronomer,and keeper of the Bad Astronomy web site
  • Jim Underdown - Executive Director, Center for Inquiry West in Los Angeles
You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/ and be sure to check the Are We Alone Profile and Blog on MySpace.


News Worth Reposting:
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PNBA Announces Changes to Fall Trade Show
PNBA's Fall Trade Show in Portland will run Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 15-17, in 2008 rather than happening on the more traditional end-of-the-week pattern. The Trade Show, the largest of its kind held in the region, also moves to a new venue this year: the Portland Airport Holiday Inn and Convention Center.

According to PNBA director Thom Chambliss, the change of dates and venue should not impact attendance. Most booksellers, he said in a recent interview with Book Publishers Northwest (www.bpnw.org), prefer to come to a show during the week rather than over the weekend. PNBA is also trying to expand the show's audience by inviting librarians as well as booksellers to attend the education sessions and tour the trade show floor.

More information about PNBA's Fall Trade Show can be found at www.pnba.org.

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Alma Alexander - "Cybermage" available for preorder!
The third and final volume of the Worldweavers trilogy, "Cybermage", is available for pre-order here. They don't have a pic of the cover up yet, but you can go see a preview of that on my LiveJournal blog ( http://anghara.livejournal.com/ )!


Headlines From SF News Sites:
io9 has a great article on what to read this Summer, RevolutionSF and Buzz are back in the rotation, and Science FictionStarShipSofa posted their Michael Moorcock interview
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Apex Book Company: Beauty & Dynamite, Beauty & Dynamite now available!, Apex Online 2.0 coming soon, & A new webhost, a new web developer

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Clarkesworld Magazine and Wyrm Publishing: Clarkesworld and Nick Mamatas

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io9: Twelve Books You Should Read at the Beach This Summer [Summer Reading], Buzz Aldrin Shills for VW, 1972 [Retro Futurism], First Teaser Poster From The Day The Earth Stood Still [The Day The Earth Stood Still], Asteroid Apocalypse Prevention Finally Gets Some Funding [Asteroid Avoidance], Pixar Artist Eric Tan Talks to io9 About Wall-E and Retro Design [Concept Art], One Step Closer to Tricorders, with Handheld Device that Identifies Life Forms [Mad Engineering], Meet the Pre-Jetsons of 1956 [Retro Futurism], & New Hints About What Mulder And Scully Are Searching For [X-Files: I Want To Believe],

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Locus Online: Monitor: This Week's Bestsellers, & Monitor: New Books: third week June

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RevolutionSF: RevolutionSF Newsblast : Bruce Campbell, GI Joe, Neil Gaiman, Smallville, Heroes (News), & RevolutionSF Newsblast: Dwight Schrute, Battlestar Galactica (News)

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Science Fiction Awards Watch: Handicapping the Hugos, & Gwyneth Jones Wins Pilgrim

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Science Fiction Buzz: Jun 17, The Science Fiction Buzzzzzzz! | News on Star Trek, Galactica & more!

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SciFi Scanner: Site of the Week - TheForce.Net, Daily Scan: 06.24.08 - An Interview With J.G. Ballard; Will John Carter of Mars Be Live Action or Animated?, Masters of SciFi - An Interview with Get Smart Director Peter Segal, & Daily Scan: 06.23.08 - Josh Brolin in Running to Play Snake Plissken; 2008 Locus Award Winners Announced

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SF Novelists: Who do you write for?, & The Book I Love and Can’t Sell

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SF Signal: REVIEW: Chris Roberson's Celestial Empire Stories (Part 1), TOC: Postscripts #15, Tube Bits for 06/24/2008, SF Tidbits for 6/24/08, REVIEW: Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves, SF Tidbits for 6/23/08, & Extreme Lego

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SFScope: Dexter Palmer sells steampunk novel to St. Martin's, Dan Simmons sells Hyperion saga to Audible, Postscripts #15 to be huge special WorldCon issue, Paizo publishing Gary Gygax's "lost" last novel, Infernal Sorceress, Zoran Zivkovic sells Escher's Loops to PS Publishing, Subterranean publishing massive Jack McDevitt collection, Mythic Delirium #18 now available, New writer Hannu Rajaniemi sells to Interzone, Antipodean SF's June-July 2008 Issue, & Comedian George Carlin Dies

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StarShipSofa: StarShipSofa Interviews Michael Moorcock mp3


Selected Blog Updates:
Alma Alexander writes about a "Viral Reading Summer Contest", Dark Horse Comics blogs of "Harvey Award Nominees", Pacfic Science Center has several postings of note, Spokane Comicon's latest news is the "2009 Dealer & Artist Information", and Tor Books listed "Releasing 6/24 from Tor Books"
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Anghara (Alma Alexander) - "Viral Reading Summer Contest"

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Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest - "20% discount storewide sale!"

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Are We Alone? - "Science of Indiana Jones, new episode"

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Boxcar Astronaut - "Guest Strip Project"

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Cynthia Leitich Smith - "Celebrating Vermont College of Fine Arts", "Author Interviews: Cynthia Leitich Smith", & "Author Interview: Debbi Michiko Florence on China: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book"

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Dark Horse Comics - "Harvey Award Nominees"

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David Louis Edelman - "Martiniere Wallpapiere", "Jara Learns to Love Her Inner Demon", & "Harriet Klausner Speeds Through Praise for 'MultiReal'"

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Di Francis - "bits and pieces and updatery", & "The End"

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Fantagraphics Books - "New signed bookplates available: Dash Shaw & Leah Hayes"

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HARPER PERENNIAL - "The First of Many, Andre Jordan"

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Horror Library Blog-O-Rama - "Short End - by Dan Naden"

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Horror! Fullmoondirect.com ROAD SHOW Seattle, WA - "ROAD SHOW DUDES!"

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Jeff Carlson - "Behind As Usual.... :)"

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Karina L. Fabian - "Orphan Sock Blog Week July 14-21"

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Louise Bohmer - Lachesis Publishing - "Quick Pimpage -- Apex and Fifteen Minutes", & "VCon Panels / Bits and Bobs"

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Luna Books - "Check out the Q&A with Maria V. Snyder at Zeek", & "Fire Study Review"

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Marianne De Pierres - "Yunyu"

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Matthew Peterson - "Another Honorable Mention, Sony eBook Reader, and Audiobook"

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Pacfic Science Center: "Lucy's Legacy: A New HVAC System", & "Science As Agent Of Change"

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Planet Pride - "Ithaca Chasma: The Great Rift on Saturn’s Tethys", "This week: End of Cassini’s Four-year Prime Mission", & "Bright Lines, Dark Canvas"

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Robin Hobb - "Caveat Emptor-- cell phone insurance"

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Robert J Sawyer's Blog - "Analog weighs in .", "Wake and Analog ... getting closer", "Sony Reader showstoppers", "Rochester rocked!", & "George Carlin passes on"

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Rue Morgue Magazine - "Rue Morgue Magazine Issue 80 Sneak Peek: Hellboy Returns"

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Shroud Magazine - "Shroud Makes the News."

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Spectra Pulse - "Havemercy Authors featured in Globe and Mail"

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Spokane Comicon - "2009 Dealer & Artist Information"

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Tor Books - "Releasing 6/24 from Tor Books"

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Willie Meikle - "Free Reads and Listens", & "Deja Vu Review"

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Writer's Market UK - "Talking Point: Learning the Craft", & "Talking Point: The Power of Words"

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Yasmine Galenorn - "June 25: Raven Talk Radio", "Also blogging at the Witchy Chicks today.", & "Dragon Wytch Countdown: Five Questions With Delilah"