All posts by Cathy Palmer-Lister

Corona meetings from home

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 4 OF 7: Time for a break!

Get your Bheer & Chips!
It’s time for the break!
NEWS

WARP: Danny and Val have WARP113 just about ready to hit the presses! The next issue, 114, will need your input! Write a review, a short story, draw a cartoon or create a puzzle! Don’t wait for the deadline.

DISPLAY TABLE
Josée’s latest creation

Click to see more of Josée’s dragon eggs http://www.monsffa.ca/?page_id=22010

Cathy’s most recent jigsaw puzzle: Gandalf, cut from cherry. Pattern by Judy Peterson.

 

RAFFLE PRIZES

Click the thumbnails to view full size image.

Sturmovik Neko Girl, Japanese Capsule Toy, donated by Brian Knapp.

A SF classic: Rogue planet that threatens Earth is found to be habitable. Rockets prepare to launch-who gets to be saved?

60 cards portraying visual scenes from Burroughs’ creations like Tarzan, Mars etc. Card backs show more Burroughs artwork & Jusko’s commentary

3-D version: Radar Men from the Moon is a 1952  12-chapter movie serial, the first Commando Cody serial starring newcomer George Wallace as Cody, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_Men_from_the_Moon

Black unicorn standing jigsaw puzzle. Would normally sell for 30$, but the finish is not up to my standards. Would still look nice on your bookshelf! Design by Judy Peterson.

From Sylvain’s collection: 8 movie lobby cards (8″ x 10″) – two from each movie: The Incredible Shrinking Woman with Lily Tomlin – 1980 Battlestar Galactica – 1978 Futureworld – 1976 The Thing – 1982

Alan Dean Foster and Eric Frank Russell: Design for Great-Day Good condition

Small crystal ball which held in sunlight projects prisms of colour. Belonged to SSP.

Collaborative novel by George RR Martin & John J Miller., a murder mystery set in the Wild Cards Universe.

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Obituary

Obituary for Jennifer Bulman

Jennifer Bullman

MonSFFA’s Executive was saddened to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of Jennifer Bulman on 19 March 2023. Jennifer was a long-time fan who hailed originally from Montreal. Some of our members might recall that Jennifer, and her husband Henry Troup, joined us in February for the monthly MonSFFA meeting, during which we discussed book collections and how we accumulate — and dispose of — same. Their input was insightful, interesting and of value to the discussion. The Executive joins all MonSFFA members in offering condolences to Henry, and to extended family, at this time. Information on the memorial service, which will be live-streamed on 22 April 2023, is in the obituaries that have been published (links below).

https://www.barkerfh.com/obituary/JenniferMaryJennifer-Bulman

https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/jennifer-mary-jennifer-bulman-1087349344

MonSFFA Website

Dinosaurs in the news

Dinosaurs in the news

  • Patagotitan on show in London, UK
  • Did dinosaurs have lips? Canadian scientists say they have cracked the mystery
  • What fossil eggs found in Alberta reveal about how dinosaurs became birds
Patagotitan on show in London, UK
A colossus has landed in London: A cast of what was one of the biggest animals ever to walk the Earth is now on show at the Natural History Museum.

Watch: A timelapse movie of Patagotitan’s assembly at the Natural History Museum

Jonathan Amos, Science correspondent
By Jonathan Amos, BBC Science Correspondent
@BBCAmos

Patagotitan was a dinosaur that lived 100 million years ago in South America.

Measuring some 37m (121ft) from nose to tail, the beast could have weighed up to 60 or 70 tonnes in life.

The museum has brought over not just a representative skeleton but some of the real fossil bones first discovered in Argentina in 2014.

The largest is a 2.4m-long femur, or thigh bone. It’s been erected upright to give visitors an extraordinary selfie opportunity.

READ MORE: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65094602

Did dinosaurs have lips? Canadian scientists say they have cracked the mystery

As with many details about dinosaur physiology, an absence of living specimens has left a lot to the artistic imagination. Perhaps because humans are smaller than many dinosaur species, and also edible, popular representations of the ancient creatures are often strongly focused on their teeth.

Scientists and artists have developed two principal models of predatory dinosaur facial appearance: crocodylian-like lipless jaws, or a lizard-like lipped mouth. New data suggests that the latter model, lizard-like lips, applies to most or all predatory dinosaur species. This finding challenges many popular depictions of carnivorous species like Tyrannosaurus rex.Mark Witton

 

This tradition is evident in the Hollywood version of dinosaurs as depicted the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Many of the movie’s most memorable scenes feature a tyrannosaur with jaws agape. But even when the giant reptile’s mouth is shut its teeth remain plainly visible, like a row of murderous icicles.

READ MORE: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-dinosaur-lips-canada-scientists/

What fossil eggs found in Alberta reveal about how dinosaurs became birds
Fanzines

Fanzines to share!

A bumper crop of zines to share!

From Bill Burns:

Added today at https://efanzines.com:

Nic Farey’s The Incompleat Register 2023 Results. Full details of the FAAn Awards presented at Corflu Craic, 2 April 2023.

Opuntia #546, edited by Dale Speirs

Octothorpe #80, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line

Christopher J. Garcia’s The Drink Tank #446

Garth Spencer’s The Obdurate Eye #26

David Grigg’s The Megaloscope #6

—
Bill

From the N3F,

With this mailing, you are being sent the March 2023 issues of Ionisphere and of The N3F Review of Books Incorporating Prose Bono.

And note our new feature in the N3F Review of Books. On the second page, these authors have agreed to send you one of their ebooks, for free, in exchange for your promising to write a review of the book and posting it on Amazon, Goodreads, or social media sites, and sending The N3F Review a copy.

From Garth Spencer in Vancouver, BC, the Obdurate Eye.
From Nic Farey who send us news of the FAAn Awards:

Other news from the awards given at Corflu Craic in Belfast, NI earlier today:

fwa (fanzine writers’ association) Past President election:
2022 Past Presidents: Nigel Rowe, John D. Berry
1959 Past President: Keith Freeman

Corflu Lifetime Achievement Award: Rob Hansen

Corfu 41 awarded to Las Vegas, NV and will take place at the Gold Coast hotel and Casion, February 29 – March 3 2024.

FAAn winners summary:
FANZINE CATEGORIES
Best Genzine: Portable Storage (ed. William Breiding)
Best Perzine: This Here… (ed. Nic Farey)
Best Special Publication: 1957: The First British Worldcon (ed. Rob Hansen)

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Best Letterhack (Harry Warner Jr. Memorial Award): Jerry Kaufman
Best Fanartist: Ulrika O’Brien
Best Fanwriter: (TIE) Justin E.A. Busch, Nic Farey
Best Fanzine Cover: BEAM 17 (Alan White)

For a breakdown of voting, click  Incompleat2023results

 

Reading

Locus: New books for April

APRIL 2023

  • BENJAMIN PERCY  • The Sky Vault • HarperCollins/Morrow, Apr 2023 (1st US, hc, tp, eb)
  • BRENT WEEKS  • Night Angel Nemesis • Orbit UK, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • BRENT WEEKS  • Night Angel Nemesis • Orbit US, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • CATHERYNNE M. VALENTE  • The Best of Catherynne M. Va­lente • Volume One, Subterranean Press, Apr 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • CHARLIE JANE ANDERS • Promises Stronger Than Dark­ness • Titan Books UK, Apr 2023 (ya, tp, eb)
  • CHARLIE JANE ANDERS • Promises Stronger Than Dark­ness • Tor Teen, Apr 2023 (ya, hc, eb)
  • CORY DOCTOROW •  Red Team Blues • Tor, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • CORY DOCTOROW • Red Team Blues • Bloomsbury UK/Head of Zeus/Ad Astra, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • DAVID WELLINGTON  • Paradise-1 • Orbit UK, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • DAVID WELLINGTON  • Paradise-1 • Orbit US, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • DEREK KÜNSKEN • The House of Saints • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • FONDA LEE • Untethered Sky • Tordotcom, Apr 2023 (na, hc, eb)
  • GREG KEYES • The Basilisk Throne • Titan Books UK, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • IAN C. ESSLEMONT • Forge of the High Mage • Penguin Random House UK/Bantam Press UK, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • IAN R. MACLEOD • Ragged Maps • Subterranean Press, Apr 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • JAMES TIPTREE, JR.  • The Voice That Murmers in the Night • Subterranean Press, Apr 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • JULIET E. MCKENNA  • The Cleaving • Angry Robot UK, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • KAT HOWARD • A Sleight of Shadows • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • KATE ELLIOTT • Furious Heaven • Tor, Apr 2023 (1st US, hc, eb)
  • MARK LAWRENCE • The Book that Wouldn’t Burn • Ace, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • MARY GENTLE • The Landing • Orion UK/Gollancz, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • PETER S. BEAGLE • The Essential Peter S. Beagle • Volume 1: Lila the Werewolf and Other Stories, Tachyon Publica­tions, Apr 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • PETER S. BEAGLE • The Way Home • Ace, Apr 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • PETER S. BEAGLE • The Way Home • Orion UK/Gollancz, Apr 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • STEPHEN DEAS • Herald of the Black Moon • Angry Robot UK, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • STEVEN BRUST • Tsalmoth • Tor, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • SYLVAIN NEUVEL  • For the First Time • Again, Tordot­com, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • TIM AKERS • Wraithbound • Baen, Apr 2023 (tp, eb)
  • TIM POWERS  • My Brother’s Keeper • Charnel House, Apr 2023 (ss, hc)
  • TJ KLUNE • In the Lives of Puppets • Tor, Apr 2023 (hc, eb)
  • TOBIAS S. BUCKELL • Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance and Other Stories • Apex Book Company, Apr 2023 (c, tp, eb)
Books, Reading

Links of interest to readers of SFF

The Biggest New Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books for Spring

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2547-the-biggest-new-fantasy-and-sci-fi-books-for-spring?ref_=pe_3652430_706819200&rto=x_gr_e_nl_sff&utm_campaign=March_23_2023&utm_content=Spring.SFF&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sff_newsletter

45 Recent Standalone Fantasy Books for When You Just Can’t Commit to a Series

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2540-45-recent-standalone-fantasy-books-for-when-you-just-can-t-commit-to-a-s?ref_=pe_3652430_706819200&rto=x_gr_e_nl_sff&utm_campaign=March_23_2023&utm_content=Fantasy.Standalone&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sff_newsletter

Our Speculative Fiction Mood Ring: Find Your Next Read!

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2552-our-speculative-fiction-mood-ring-find-your-next-read?ref_=pe_3652430_706819200&rto=x_gr_e_nl_sff&utm_campaign=March_23_2023&utm_content=SFF.Tastemaker&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sff_newsletter

Astronomy News

Dazzling aurora !

Red is unusual. I have yet to see a red aurora. 
Some news items gleaned from news sites re last night’s show.
CPL
You don’t usually see the Northern Lights in southern Ontario, but Londoners got a treat from Mother Nature on Thursday, when the spectacular Aurora Borealis could be seen in the night sky.

Here are some pictures shared by Londoners.

The northern lights are green and purprle. Northern lights at around 11 p.m. on the outskirts of north London. (Supplied by Michelle Dzialakiewicz)
Red! Lots of red! Check out the pictures on the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65063765

Northern lights in Muston
Image source, WeatherWatchers/Steve BB Image caption, This display was spotted in Muston, near Scarborough in North Yorkshire
By Jess Grieveson-Smith
BBC News

The skies above parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have been illuminated by dazzling displays of colour thanks to the Northern Lights.

Stargazers were able to spot hues of red, green and gold through Thursday night into Friday morning.

Lots more photos here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65063765

Space Weather News for March 23, 2023
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.comSTRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress on March 23rd as solar wind flows through a crack in Earth’s magnetosphere. If the crack remains open long enough, sky watchers in northern-tier US states could see auroras tonight. Also, an amateur radio astronomer in Florida has observed a solar radio burst *at midnight.* Weird! Read all about it on today’s edition of Spaceweather.com.Geomagnetic Storm Alerts: Subscribe to our Space Weather Alert Service and you’ll receive instant text messages when geomagnetic storms are underway.
[] 
Above: Bright auroras at sunrise over Kalispell, Montana, on March 23, 2023. Credit: Philip Granrud

Space Weather News for March 23, 2023
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress on March 23rd as solar wind flows through a crack in Earth’s magnetosphere. If the crack remains open long enough, sky watchers in northern-tier US states could see auroras tonight. Also, an amateur radio astronomer in Florida has observed a solar radio burst *at midnight.* Weird! Read all about it on today’s edition of Spaceweather.com.

Geomagnetic Storm Alerts: Subscribe to our Space Weather Alert Service and you’ll receive instant text messages when geomagnetic storms are underway.

Above: Bright auroras at sunrise over Kalispell, Montana, on March 23, 2023. Credit: Philip Granrud