At the Con
eGaming Update
Due to unforseen circumstances, eGaming will not be open this weekend.
Classics of SF
Moderator John Hertz will lead discussions of three Classics of Science Fiction panels at Loscon XLVIII, one discussion each. Come to as many as you like. You’ll be welcome to join in.
Our operating definition is “A classic is a work that survives its own time. After the currents which might have sustained it have changed, it remains, and is seen to be worthwhile for itself.” If you have a better definition, bring it.
Each of the three is famous in a different way. Each may be more interesting now than when first published. Have you read them? Have you re-read them?
Charles Harness, The Paradox Men (1953)
Five crises have fused the Americas together; the Imperator is dead, leaving his widow Imperatrix Juana-Maria Chatham-Perez; there’s aristocracy, and a Society of Thieves rigorously trained who steal from the rich to buy freedom for slaves. Dueling. Research stations on the Sun. A star-drive is being tested, based on the square root of -1 and an acceleration of several million gravities. The hero doesn’t know who he is.
Robert A. Heinlein, Time for the Stars (1956)
The Long Range Foundation starts looking for identical twins – because a very few have proved to be telepathic – and rigorous tests can’t find that telepathy takes any time – so it looks promising for messages from starships traveling light-years away. The ships go. There are adventures. Eventually there are consequences – indirect ones – fruitful ones.
C.L. Moore, Doomsday Morning (1957)
Where others rant, this author lights a lantern: looking, as a Star Trek fan sang, at both sides now. Or more. Moore shows her fictional society, its fictional technology, through the human element; always the human element. And we learn why the actor-director protagonist is told he has to put on his play without changing the script even a little.
John Hertz
John Hertz infected fandom with Regency Dancing. Three-time Hugo finalist for Best Fanwriter. Big Heart Award (our highest service award). DUFF (Down Under Fan Fund) delegate to Aussiecon 4, the 68th Worldcon. Sent by one-time fund HANA (Hertz Across to Nippon Alliance) to the 65th Worldcon. Rotsler Award judge. Fanzine, Vanamonde. Fan Guest of Honor at Loscon 38.
Where others rant, this author lights a lantern: looking, as a Star Trek fan sang, at both sides now. Or more. Moore shows her fictional society, its fictional technology, through the human element; always the human element. And we learn why the actor-director protagonist is told he has to put on his play without changing the script even a little.
Ice Cream Social
Don't forget the Loscon social event of Friday evening - the Ice Cream Social! Come in costume or as you are - and with a sweet tooth. We will have the usual Chocolate, Vanilla and a mystery Sherbet flavor, PLUS Chris Marble is back again with his super-popular ice cream cooled by liquid nitrogen. This year's flavors, we are told, will be Lavender and Ginger.