loc on Alexiad #69
Here we go again, Joe and Lisa: another issue, another loc.Nothing wrong with that, when you get down to it.
First off, the death of Ray Bradbury was not only a blow to our genre, but to literature in general. Bradbury was one of the few sf writers who appealed to the mass market not because he could explain scientific concepts clearly, but he put real people in situations that everyone could identify with, albeit on other planets or in other times. A true literary genius who will be missed. Thankfully we will always have his work to read.
It really was heart-wrenching to hear the morning before the Belmont was to be run that I'll Have Another was scratched due to a leg injury. Now reports are coming out that the horse had a history of ailments and had been under "prescribed care" for quite a while. All conjecture and rumor at present, for sure, but as further examination continues, more information will hopefully clear up this mess. Stay tuned, horse fans.
Like Lisa, I enjoy acquiring inexpensive books for my Nook; most come from Project Gutenberg, but I do peruse other websites that have free and very low priced books. It is definitely a pleasant past-time.
So now that flerovium and livermorium have been formally identified and approved, can upsydasium and unobtanium be far behind?
Lessee here... flipping through the reviews for any interesting titles to discuss....nope. Nothing I've read here. Lots of books that do sound good for future reading, but that's about it. Shortly before your next issue goes to press the latest Askance will be posted, and some issues will hopefully be mailed out. Your fanzine listing is always good for potential addresses, and I thank you for that.
Richard Dengrove mentions in his loc that my wife was dressed in Steampunk attire, which is not entirely accurate. She was wearing a Victorian era styled dress, complete with bustles, lace and frills while demurely carrying a parasol over one shoulder. Valerie has a picture of herself with Fencon VIII/DeepSouthCon 49 Guest of Honor Gail Carriger on her Facebook page, which I used in the December 2011 issue of Askance. Richard is definitely correct in that I was not in Steampunk garb, but that is changing. Even as I type this loc, Val is working on Steampunk costumes for an upcoming Steam Powered Giraffe concert in September the weekend before Fencon IX, which has C.J. Cherryh as Author Guest of Honor. It sounds like we'll be putting some miles on the car in a couple months, doesn't it? It all should be grand fun.
Joe, I have to agree with your comment to me that Chris Garcia's meltdown video is this year's Not-Dr. Who nominee in the Short Form Dramatic Presentation category, and also your "NOT Zombies" and "NOT Chicks Dig" nominees. Sad development, but this is still more evidence at the non-relevancy of the Hugo Awards. Oh, well. I still believe that no-one person should have more than one nomination per category, be it professional or fan. This might be a good proposition to put forth at a WSFS business meeting at a Worldcon. Maybe what I will do, since Valerie and I are planning on being at LoneStarCon 3 next year, I might draw up a proposal regarding this restriction concept and get some feedback from others. It's a good thought, I believe, that is worth pursuing.
Other than that, while there are many wonderful letters and reviews - as your zine always contains - throughout these pages, I think I shall stop here. Many thanks again for sending the zine, and I look forward to the 70th issue sometime in August.
All the best,
John Purcell
"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a
shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress."
- John Adams (1735 - 1826)