Copyright 1998
The Electronic Edition
David Henninger, Editor
Robin R. Brunner, Publisher
The Circular of Janus is a publication of the Circle of Janus Science Fiction Club of Central Indiana. Subscription is included with membership, $10/year. For information, write to Circle of Janus, P.O. Box 68514, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0514 or e-mail davidhenninger@cs.com
IN THIS EDITION:
CALENDER
BYLAWS & OFFICER NOMINATIONS NEXT MEETING by David Henninger
SEC'S NOTES by Lynnette R. F. Cowper
NEW NEBULA AWARD (only in the print eddition ?)
SFWA RULES CHANGE by Linda Dunn (only in the print eddition ?)
BOOKS: SF & FANTASY
BOOKS: SCIENCE & NATURE
ROBERT SILVERBERG INTERVIEW
STAR WARS VS STAR TREK contributed by Pam Barker
"QUOTE!?" contributed by Andy Andrews
A COMPANY MEMO contributed by Pam Barker
CALENDAR
The next regular meeting of The Circle of Janus will be Saturday, November 7, 1998 at the Children's Museum. Doors open about 6:30 PM. Enter via the group entrance as usual.
There will be no meeting in December. Instead we will have a party! Details to follow.
BYLAWS & OFFICER NOMINATIONS NEXT MEETING.
The November meeting is going to be an important one. The amendment to the bylaws pertaining to the incorporation of the club will be voted on. This vote will empower the board of directors and fulfill the federal requirements of incorporation. The amendment was printed in full in the last Circular and read during the last meeting. It will be read again at this meeting.
Also of importance is the nomination of officers. Since everyone forgot that nominations always open in October for the election in January, nominations must be made at the November meeting so that people can think about them awhile. Remember, there is no business meeting in December. The floor will not close for nominations until before the election at the January meeting. If you like this club and feel that you have something to offer it, now is the time to show your appreciation. Run for something!
Since our search for a new meeting location has so far been unsuccessful (see Lynnette's column) we will be staying at the Children's Museum for a while. Flakey Jake's, our usual gathering place after meetings, has suddenly closed. Mike Cowper will be discussing alternatives.
Mike is also looking for a place for us to have our December Anniversary party. If you have an idea please send it to him ASAP. Mike, what do you think of a little road trip? How about the Oliver Winery in Bloomington? We would just have to have it a little earlier in the day. DAH
SECS NOTES
The October meeting of the Circle of Janus was held on Oct 3rd, 1998, at the Children's Museum. The meeting opened at 7:35 PM. 17 adults and 2 children were present. We had two guests-- Jim "Bear" Roysdon, a member of the ConSept convention committee, and sysop of the Forest BBS; and Kathy Watnes (sp?), a long-time InCon attendee. All officers except treasurer Linda Dunn were present. ConChairs for '99 and 2000, were also both absent.
The Secretary's report for August '98 was read and approved.
As the treasurer was absent, there was no treasurer's report.
In convention reports, Andy reported on InCon '98. While attendance was down, so were expenses, so we at least broke even and may have even made money. We are waiting on the final tally.
There were no con reports for '99 or 2000.
In old business, Dave still needs pictures and information for the Club Directory. Mike established the Anniversary/Christmas party as being the deadline for getting this in to Dave.
Andy reported on the matter of the meeting location that the Children's Museum has changed its policy back. We *can* meet there and all meeting dates are free. However, the price has been raised from $40 to $75 a meeting. Various people discussed advantages and disadvantages of staying there. The main disadvantage is the cost. The advantages mentioned are the lighted parking lot, it's guaranteed, there is security present, it's on a bus line, it's centrally located, it is well-known and established as our meeting site. Kat reported on her investigations that Sahara Grotto is booked on Saturday night through the year 2000. With the exception of the Garfield park location, which requires either sweat equity from the club members, which would require a great deal of organizing or a few club members doing all the work, or $35 an hour, there are no other viable locations. Lynette ended the discussion by moving, if it needs club approval, that we sign a contract with the Children's Museum and continue looking into alternatives as they are mentioned. Bob McGillem seconded the motion. Brooks moved that it be amended to mention pending approval of the contract by Club officers, which was seconded. The amended motion carried. The club officers will be going over the current contract.
Mike mentioned on the business of the club domain name and server that he could get a co-located server at IndyNet for $100 a month, his cost. A domain name would cost an additional $30 a year. If he were to do this, he would allow the CoJ and a couple of other non-profit clubs he is associated with to split his cost. As well as giving us a domain name, this would also allow the use of CGI scripts, larger and more Web pages, special addresses and mailing lists. No decisions need to be made at this time. Mike was merely bringing it up for our information.
The amendment to the bylaws, raising dues from $10 to $15 a year was read and tabled.
The amendment to the bylaws from the executive committee that, "The board of directors shall consist of the members of the executive committee, headed by a chairbeing elected every two years from among the current membership who have previously held office. The sitting chairbeing of the board shall not concurrently hold any other club office," was read and tabled.
The October non-meeting will be the 24th at the Dunn's. The last newsletter said the 31st. This will be clarified and detailed in the October newsletter.
In new business, there will be a ConCom meeting for InCon '99 on October 10th, at 1 PM, in the Riley Room at the Marriott.
In other announcements and reviews:
Ken mentioned that the new Babylon 5 comics will be collected into a trade paperback in November.
He also mentioned that there will be a gaming con, Pentacon, in Ft. Wayne on the second weekend of November. He commented that it is a good con averaging 600 to 700 attendees.
Chris Canary reviewed the new Fantasy Island, commenting that it was cool, but a lot darker than the original.
He also mentioned Highlander, the Raven, is still establishing its plotline, so he is waiting to make a review of it and that The Crow, Stairway to Heaven still has him ambivalent, but he's giving it more time.
He further mentioned that the TV show 7 Days premiers Wednesday. It's a time travel show and sounds interesting.
Finally, he mentioned Bitin' Off Hedz and other Cheapass Games. These are excellent games which are very cheap, running only $4 to $10 apiece.
Brooks then mentioned that next weekend is the Carmel Library book sale. Since they are moving locations, they are getting rid of a lot of their books, so this promises to be a large one.
He also mentioned that 2 weekends from now is the Indianapolis Military Collectors Show and that the Babylon 5 Model Kit is now out.
Kat mentioned two items of possible interest to a few club members-- next Friday is Eroticon and Sunday the 11th is the AIDS walk.
Chaos was declared at 8:53 PM.
The after-the-meeting gathering was at Flakey Jakes, as usual.
Further note: There should have been nominations made at the meeting, but it was overlooked. Those wanting to nominate club officers-- President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, or Sergeant at Arms-- or the Chairbeing of the Board or the ConChair for 2001 may do so at the November or January meetings or via email or proxy.
Respectfully submitted,
SF & FANTASY
The Best of Crank! edited by Bryan Cholfin
Crank! rocks. This cutting-edge SF magazine is the best place to go for border-blurring stories by great authors. Now you can read "The Best of Crank!"--put together by the magazine's editor, Bryan Cholfin. Expand your definitions of science fiction, and immerse yourself in short works by the giants of literary SF--Ursula K. Le Guin, Gene Wolfe, Michael Bishop, Jonathan Lethem, and more.
The Temple and the Stone by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris
Historical fantasy fans take note. Kurtz and Harris deftly handle this story of the famous Knights Templar, heroes of the Crusades and a powerful force in European history. "The Temple and the Stone" tells a tale of intrigue, political conquest, and spiritual warfare, with a dash of sorcery to season the mix.
The Merlin Mystery by Jonathan Gunson and Marten Coombe
The book: "The Merlin Mystery," a beautiful and intriguing puzzle with clues woven throughout. The prize: a golden, bejeweled wand, plus a cash prize that increases with every sale of the book. The winner: the bright kid or expert puzzler who solves the mystery first, using imagination and patience to find the clues. Could it be you?
Echoes of Honor by David Weber
Burial services for Honor Harrington don't signal the end-- not for our heroine! In fact, it's just the beginning of her adventures on the planet Hell. Weber's blend of military tradition, political intrigue, and vivid characterization make this one of the best books in this hard science fiction series.
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King; illustrated by Dave McKean
Fourth in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, "Wizard and Glass" tells a bizarre love story set in the wastelands of the West, aboard a psychotic train bound for nowhere.
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Haldeman's classic "The Forever War" is enjoying new popularity, thanks in part to his 1998 best novel Hugo Award for "Forever Peace." This allegorical tale of conflict on a strange planet draws parallels to the Vietnam War, as young soldiers find coming home to be as hard as anything they faced at war with the Taurans.
[Joe Haldeman talkes about his Viet Nam experience in his book, "The War Year." DAH]
NEW IN PAPERBACK
Last Summer at Mars Hill by Elizabeth Hand
This is a terrific collection of stories from Elizabeth Hand, the masterful fantasy stylist who wrote Winterlong and Glimmering.
Vast by Linda Nagata
A prophet's son carries a strange virus aboard a ship with survivors seeking out the aliens who murdered humanity. This is intricately detailed, fast-moving hard SF of the highest order.
Lord of the Fantastic: Stories in Honor of Roger Zelazny edited by Martin H. Greenberg
Talented authors pay their respects to the late, great fantasy master, Roger Zelazny. This collection features Robert Silverberg, Neil Gaiman, Gregory Benford, and Andre Norton, among others.
SCIENCE & NATURE
What Remains to Be Discovered by John Maddox
Former Nature editor John Maddox tells us that despite all the remarkable discoveries of the last few centuries, we have yet to answer some enormous riddles, such as: How old is the universe? Is there life anywhere else? Will science help us in an uncertain future? In "What Remains to Be Discovered", Maddox takes a look at the scientific road ahead and the questions that will challenge us in the coming century.
If a Lion Could Talk by Stephen Budiansky
Are humans the smartest animals? What is your cat thinking? Do you ever wonder how bees find their way back home? Most animals exhibit cognitive abilities quite different from--and often superior to--those of humans. Stephen Budiansky examines what animals do from a behaviorist perspective in "If a Lion Could Talk" and comes to some fascinating conclusions.
Civilization and the Limpet by Martin Wells
Limpets sit about, doing nothing much, most of the time, writes zoologist Martin Wells in "Civilization and the Limpet". This pithy collection looks at some of nature's unappreciated beauties. Wells's essays are elegant and funny, inviting readers to share his love of sea urchins, lugworms, and other denizens of the briny deeps.
The Baltimore Case: A Trial of Politics, Science, and Character by Daniel J. Kevles
Scientific American called it the most sensational case of alleged research fraud in U.S. history. The decade-long dispute over allegations of scientific misconduct involving Thereza Imanishi- Kari and Nobel Prize winner David Baltimore raised difficult questions about the scientific method and personal accountability.
Her-2: The Making of Herceptin, a Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer by Robert Bazell
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Her-2 tells the story of the search for the secrets of Her-2/neu, a protein that causes cancer cells to grow quickly, and the drug that inactivates it.
A Brief History of Time: The Updated and Expanded Tenth Anniversary Edition by Stephen Hawking
USA Today called Stephen Hawking "the man of the millennium ... the most famous living scientist in the world." In 1988, Hawking introduced a new science classic, describing the cutting edge of what was known about the universe. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of "A Brief History of Time" with this updated and expanded edition, with a new introduction by Hawking and new chapters on wormholes and time travel.
NEW IN PAPERBACK
T. Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez
The story of what probably happened to the dinosaurs is a fascinating one. Geologist Walter Alvarez examines the evidence for a cataclysmic deep impact that likely led to the terrible lizards' demise.
At the Fringes of Science by Michael W. Friedlander
Physicist Michael W. Friedlander helps you sort out the good science from the bad. He takes a look at some of the strange theories on the edges of conventionality and sees value in pushing the frontiers without going off the deep end.
The Jungles of Randomness by Ivars Peterson
Peterson, author of The Mathematical Tourist, explores the wild and wooly mathematical land of randomness and explains what relevance it has in everyday life.
AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT SILVERBERG
Robert Silverberg has been a science fiction writer for more than 40 years. He has won four Hugos and five Nebulas, along with an assortment of other awards, and his dozens of novels and hundreds of short stories have been translated into more than 24 languages. His latest project is the Legends fantasy anthology and its forthcoming science-fiction companion, Far Horizons. Silverberg discussed Legends and other things with Amazon.com's Craig E. Engler.
Robert Silverberg on Legendary Fantasy:
Amazon.com: How did you determine which authors were legendary enough to be included in this anthology?
Robert Silverberg: That was easy. I invited writers whose books were cherished by great multitudes of readers and whose work I admired personally.
Amazon.com: Did the authors choose what they were going to write about, or did you give them some direction for their stories?
Silverberg: Stephen King had to write a Dark Tower story, Robert Jordan a Wheel of Time story, Raymond E. Feist a Riftwar story, Terry Pratchett a Discworld story, etc. Beyond that they were completely free to choose themes, characters, plot. Aside from a certain minimum word-length they had a free hand about the size of the story as well.
Amazon.com: Aside from your own contribution, do you have a favorite story in Legends? If so, what sets that one apart for you? If not...come on, everybody has a favorite!
Silverberg: You certainly aren't going to get me picking and choosing among a bunch of stories that good! But one story does stand apart for a special reason that has nothing to do with its quality, although I do think it's a wonderful story. George R.R. Martin was deep in the second volume of his great new fantasy series, and way behind deadline on it. So as the unalterable Legends deadline of December 31, l997, arrived, it looked very much as though George was going to miss his chance to be in the book, and I started thinking about finding a replacement for him at the last minute. (We had to have all the stories in at once so that the book could be published in time for the 1998 gift-book season.) But George simply stopped working on his own novel, put in a tremendous round-the-clock effort on his story for me, and made the deadline with a couple of days to spare. Doing a magnificent story, too. I'm delighted with that story not only for its own sake but because we all came so close to losing it and were saved by a truly heroic effort by George R.R. Martin.
Amazon.com: Are there any plans for future Legends? Perhaps an anthology of the living masters of science fiction?
Silverberg: It's already on the way: coming in June 1999 from Avon Books' Eos series. The title is Far Horizons: The Great Worlds of Science Fiction, with stories by Joe Haldeman, Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, Orson Scott Card, Ursula K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffrey, Frederik Pohl, David Brin, Dan Simmons, Nancy Kress, and myself. Each story adds to the writer's well-known series--Card has done a new story about Ender, Pohl a new Heechee story, Simmons a Hyperion story, etc.
Amazon.com: Was this an exciting project for you? What's your next project after this?
Silverberg: It was exciting, all right--dealing with 10 great writers like that and watching them all come in with terrific stories right on time, like the pros that they are. Once I finished it I went on to write a new Majipoor novel--Lord Prestimion, the sequel to last year's Sorcerers of Majipoor--and now I'm really, *really* tired and I'm going to take some time off from writing and watch the flowers bloom.
The full text of Amazon.com's interview with Robert Silverberg is at http://www.amazon.com/silverberg-interview.
TOP TEN REASONS WHY THE STAR WARS CHARACTERS WOULD KICK BUTT IN THE STAR TREK UNIVERSE
10) In the Star Wars Universe weapons are rarely, if ever, set on "stun".
9) The Enterprise needs a huge engine room with an anti-matter unit and acrew of 20 just to go into warp --- The Millennium Falcon doesthe same thing with R2-D2 and a Wookie.
8) After resisting the Imperial torture droid and Darth Vader, Princess Leia still looked fresh and desirable --- After pithy Cardassian starvation torture, Picard looked like hell.
7) One word: Lightsabers.
6) Darth Vader could choke the entire Borg empire with one glance.
5) The Death Star doesn't care if a world is class "M" or not.
4) Luke Skywalker is not obsessed with sleeping with every alien he encounters.
3) Jabba the Hutt would eat Harry Mudd for trying to cut in on his action.
2) The Federation would have to attempt to liberate any ship named "Slave I".
1) Picard pilots the Enterprise through asteroid belts at one-quarter impulse power --- Han Solo floors it.
By Lynnette R. F. Cowper
Lynette R. F. Cowper
SUGGESTED BY AMAZON.COM
SUGGESTED BY AMAZON.COM
An Excerpt from an Exclusive Amazon.com Interview
contributed by Pam Barker