News from the Cruise Director: March 04, 08

Saturday - 03/08/2008 – NWSFS P.K. Dick Social
Join us at William and Sally’s house in Federal Way, with the sneak preview of the P.K. Dick Finalists and a spirited discussion of their work! The judges of the 2007 Philip K. Dick Award and the Philadelphia SF Society are pleased to announce seven nominated works that comprise the final ballot for the award:

GREY by Jon Armstrong (Night Shade Books)
UNDERTOW by Elizabeth Bear (Bantam Spectra)
FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF DR. BRAIN by Minister Faust (Del Rey)
NOVA SWING by M. John Harrison (Bantam Spectra)
GRADISIL by Adam Roberts (Pyr)
ALLY by Karen Traviss (Eos)
SATURN RETURNS by Sean Williams (Ace Books)

First prize and any special citations will be announced on Friday, March 21, 2008 at Norwescon 31 at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport, SeaTac, Washington. www.norwescon.org

The social will begin around 5:00 P.M. and continue until around 10pm. As usual, this is a potluck; so bring your contribution of a main dish (occasionally have enough), side dish (rarely have enough), beverage, munchies (usually have enough), or dessert (often have enough, but then really, who could object to too much dessert).

Directions:
From North or South I-5, take exit 142-B
Go East on S 348th St
S 348th St will become SW Campus Dr
SW Campus Dr will become SW 336th St
SW 336th St will become SW 336th Way
Turn Right onto SW 337th St
Turn Left into 29th Ct SW
The house is on the right, about half way down the block.
Address: 33721 29th Ct SW, Federal Way, WA, 98023-7718

Friday - 03/21/2008 – NWSFS At Norwescon Hospitality – Noon to 4:00 P.M.
Stop by Norwescon Hospitality, late morning through mid afternoon on Friday March 21, as we lend a hand. Past, present and future NWSFS members welcome to participate. Let us know if you’re interested in helping with some prep and tidy and basically give the Hospitality director and her staff some time off. Email: mcitrak (at) comcast.net

Come and help out at Hospitality! We need folks to meet and greet and make people feel welcome at Hospitality! Our own Bert is in charge this year and would love it if NWSFS members stopped by during our time slot to help meet and greet as well as help in any other capacity she needs – whether that be putting out food and drink, running quick errands or just making folks feel welcome. Even if you can only drop by for 15 minutes, please come on in – we would love to see you!

Contact Michael Citrak at club-info@nwsfs.org if you are interested in volunteering. [Plus, this counts towards your volunteer hours. Drop by the Volunteer office afterwards for goodies, prizes and comfy chairs to plop down in!]

Thursday – Sunday – 03/20/08 – 03/23/08 - NWSFS Club Table at Norwescon!
Interested in seeing all of Norwescon yet eager to put your feet up? Come and table-sit at the NWSFS Club Table. Located in the lobby, this primo spot allows you to watch the never-ending fen parade as well as greet everyone you know!

Table-sitters will be handing out flyers for NWSFS and other events and organizations as well as meeting and greeting potential NWSFS members. It would be nice to have table-sitters who are able to handle money so we could take new memberships. Shift sitting in one hour increments, please.

If you are interested, please contact Michael Citrak at club-info@nwsfs.org for further information.

Powell Trek 2007
Just when I wasn’t looking, every weekend between now and Norwescon is filling, I’ll not be able to lead a trek to Powell’s book store in Portland until after Norwescon. However, if one of our members wishes to take charge, let me know. (hint hint hint): ( club-info AT nwsfs.org )

Other Cool Stuff
(Sorry for the late posting of item one, watch their web site for other upcoming events)

November 17, 2007 – April 27, 2008 - Innersphere: Sculptural Works by Rik Allen
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame / 325 5th Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
Box office: 206-770-2702, 1-877-EMP-SFM1 / empsfm.org

This exhibition of works by Washington artist Rik Allen features glass and metal sculpture inspired by his life-long fascination with technology and science fiction—in particular the excitement about the future suffused into the world consciousness during the middle of the 20th Century. Allen developed that sense of wonder as a boy reading science fiction stories, watching NASA launches on television, seeing futuristic films and spending long hours in the creative playroom of his own imagination. The powerful imagery of science fiction is the subject of his newest set of artworks. The transparent rockets and other works symbolize outward journeys of exploration as well as inward journeys of discovery.

Tuesday, April 15 – Exposed: Inside Film at EMP|SFM – The Golden Compass with Writer and Director Chris Weitz

EMP|SFM, in partnership with The Warren Report, present a new film series, Exposed: Inside Film at EMP|SFM. The series includes new films, cult favorites and classic sci-fi and music films. Each screening is followed by a behind-the-scenes look through an interactive discussion with actors, directors or screenwriters associated with the film. In April, The Golden Compass will be screened followed by a conversation with Writer and Director Chris Weitz. Local film connoisseur Warren Etheredge will host the evening.

Chris Weitz directed American Pie, About A Boy and most recently, The Golden Compass. He also wrote the screenplay for The Golden Compass and About A Boy, which was nominated for an Oscar.

About Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (SFM) is the world's first museum devoted to the thought-provoking ideas and experiences of science fiction. SFM's exhibitions promote awareness and appreciation of science fiction literature and media while encouraging visitors to envision new futures for humanity. In the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, the museum pays homage to the most respected of science fiction practitioners—writers, artists, publishers and filmmakers.

Museum Hours:
EMP|SFM is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 4, 2007 through May 22, 2008. EMP|SFM will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 23, 2008 through September 1, 2008.

Museum Admission:
General adult admission to both Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP|SFM) is $15. Admission for seniors, youth, military and students (w/ID) is $12, and admission for children under 5 is free. One ticket gives access to both museums.

Saturday March 15, 2008 at 7:00PM – “Jean-Michel Cousteau: The Great Ocean Adventure”,

An inspirational speaker who has seen the beauty and wonder of the underwater world, as well as the things that are causing great stresses on the water planet, the City of Olympia is pleased to host an evening with Mr. Cousteau at the Washington Center.
http://www.washingtoncenter.org/calendar/calendar_detail.asp?event_id=971
FREE and open to the public but you must have a ticket. The tickets will be given away at the Washington Center Box Office beginning March 1. Limit 2 per person.

The Washington Center
521 Washington St SE
Olympia WA 98501
Admin Office 360.753.8585
Box Office: 360.753.8586

Sunday, March 9 at 7:00 PM- Legendary computer graphics innovator Alvy Ray Smith - Talk
Legendary computer graphics innovator Alvy Ray Smith will discuss the evolution of computer animation and show clips ranging from John Whitney's early experiments in the 1960s to landmark visual effects and animation in popular cinema of the '70s and '80s. Smith headed the Computer Graphics Lab at the New York Institute of Technology in the '70s, was founding Director of the Computer Division at Lucasfilm, and co-founded Pixar. He'll give us a brief history of the innovations that made modern computer animation possible, and discuss the challenges that he and his colleagues faced when the field was in its infancy.

Tickets $8.50/general, $6/children & seniors, $5/NWFF members

To buy tickets got to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/28784

About Alvy Ray Smith:

• Dr Alvy Ray Smith cofounded - or was present at the beginning of - four centers of computer graphics excellence:
• Altamira Software Corporation: CEO and Founder 1991-1994 (Purchased by Microsoft)
• Pixar: Executive Vice President and Cofounder 1986-1991 (Now a multi-billion-dollar company) - see Pixar founding documents
• Lucasfilm Ltd, Computer Division: Director of Computer Graphics Research 1980-1986
• NYIT = New York Institute of Technology, Computer Graphics Laboratory: Senior Scientist 1975-1979
• He gave Pixar its name (an invented Spanish verb meaning, "to make pictures").

There's a bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvy_Ray_Smith

Sponsored by AIGA-Seattle, Cornish College of the Arts and Digital Kitchen
More information and full schedule for BYDESIGN 08 at www.nwfilmforum.org
See also: http://www.nwfilmforum.org/cinemas/calendar.php (then scroll down to March 9th)

Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98122

Wanted: Homes & Hosts

We need people who are willing to open their homes to a mob of fans for an evening. Every third Saturday of the month, NWSFS holds a social, and we need a selection of locations to alternate between to reach all areas. If you have room for 10 – 40 people and would be willing to host a social, let us know. Mail this form to: NWSFS, P.O. Box 24207, Seattle, WA 98124, or email this information to ( club-info AT nwsfs.org )

Also, if you know of events, outings, tours, book signings, books we should read, movies we should see, friends we should annoy, etc., keep us posted and we'll share with our membership.

Thanks. – Michael Citrak NWSFS Vice Chair ( club-info AT nwsfs.org )

__________________
Take Care

Michael Citrak
Northwest Science Fiction Society - Vice Chair

www.nwsfs.org