Monthly Archives: October 2009

Joe Haldeman “Band of Brothers” Update

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Mike Glicksohn delighted Joe Haldeman by visiting him at the rehab center on October 17, Gay Haldeman wrote on SFF.net. During the day the nurses thought Joe and both his visitors, Mike and Rusty (Hevelin), must be related, their beards creating a kind of family resemblance.  

Joe’s therapy that day included putting on his own pants — he succeeded.  Later, the pulmonary doc started him on the protocol to get off the trach tube. Joe did fine with it capped for four hours, with 8 hours planned for Saturday and 12 for Sunday. If all goes well, the trach tube will be pulled during the week.

Gay added on October 18, “He’s clearly stronger, though he’s frustrated to be so weak.  Looks like he’s lost 30 pounds on the famous ICU (lack of) diet.”

SF Not Manly Enough?

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Well, I’d sure hate to be the last blogger on the internet to run in circles, scream and shout because somebody complained about the feminization of science fiction, but it looks like I am. Whoever writes The Spearhead offered this thesis:

Science fiction traditionally is about men doing things, inventing new technologies, exploring new worlds, making new scientific discoveries, terraforming planets, etc.  Many men working in the fields of science, engineering, and technology have cited science fiction (such as the original Star Trek) for inspiring them when they were boys to establish careers in these fields.

The current generation of boys will not have this inspiration from science fiction, at least not from science fiction on television and in movies.

Shortly afterwards, Whoever got his comeuppance from Whatever, though in the course of administering a verbal spanking Scalzi refused to link to the offending post and forbade any commenters to do so.  As a result, only people who have heard of Google, or know someone who has, have been able to find the post and read it. And merely 28 other bloggers have linked to it. Well, 29 now, I guess.

Seriously, if I had 30,000 readers I’d think twice about rewarding the behavior, too, but whenever someone with such a large audience takes any notice of a miscreant he’s been rewarded. A Scalzi rant without a link — what difference did that make? Any time John fires his elephant gun people naturally want to see the target.

[Thanks to Janice Gelb for the links.]

Women’s Art Show Overcomes Vandalism

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A show by women artists in Bakersfield has bounced back after vandals damaged and removed some of the art. Photos in the Bakersfield Express indicate numerous fantasy-themed works are among the 300 pieces on display.

What started out as a joke – a way to get back at the discrimination and conservatism women artists felt they were experiencing in Bakersfield – has now grown so much that the annual Burn The Witch all-female group art show had to find a new venue this year.

But even that came with a price. Nearly two weeks ago, after the women had hung the first submitted art pieces on the wall to get ready for this Saturday’s event, curator Nyoka Jameson was horrified to find some of the artwork missing and vandalized.

Apparently, the two bingo groups that share the space at Westchester Hall didn’t like what they were seeing, Jameson said.

Damaging art and walking off with it are crimes, and the police are investigating.  

 

[Thanks to David Klaus for the story.]

Logo Logic

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Jeremy Kratz Hugo Award logo

Jeremy Kratz' Hugo Award logo

Jeremy Kratz’ new Hugo Award logo design seemed good at first glance and I like it more and more as time goes by.

Kratz’ design was the winner in a contest arranged by the Worldcon’s Hugo Marketing Committee. Out of the hundreds of entries, judges Chip Kidd, Irene Gallo, Geri Sullivan and Neil Gaiman settled on a simple icon, one that will hold its own on a busy paperback cover or on a banner hung in a convention center.

The use of the four-finned rocket in the logo was mandated by the contest rules. That’s what the award looks like, after all. But think how preferring a rocket must have complicated the judges’ task. They not only had to make an artistically sound choice, they also had to avoid selecting a logo that was likely to be confused with others already in use. There are a lot of sf-themed businesses and organizations using logos with rockets in them — Tor.com, the Science Fiction League, and many, many others.

One thing that amused me about the choice – prompted me to joke “We needed a contest for this?” – was its unwitting resemblance to an idea I’d had back when fans first started talking about having a logo.

I’d immediately visualized the Hugo nominee pins we used to get. They were little silver rockets with tiny vanes at bold right angles to the hull. (Mike Resnick has so many he wears them on a bandolier and looks like he’s about to say he doesn’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges.) I always thought the design looked straight off the drafting board, one that easily could be turned into an attractive graphic.

The rounded fins of Kratz’ logo show his inspiration was the rocket trophy rather than the pins. That said, isn’t it subjective reactions like these that drive a blog?

(And lest we forget, “World Science Fiction Society”, “WSFS”, “World Science Fiction Convention”, “Worldcon”, “NASFiC” and “Hugo Award” are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.)

Earhart Goggles Top Item at Auction

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The goggles Amelia Earhart wore during her historic 1932 solo transatlantic flight commanded $141,600 at Profiles in History’s October 8-9 auction. The goggles were the most avidly-sought flight-related item up for sale.  Among others, astronaut Gus Grissom’s worn Mercury flight suit brought $47,200 and the baseball cap Neil Armstrong wore after splashdown and recovery from the Apollo 11 mission went for $14,160.

Many collectibles of interest to fans also were on the block. The early Apple Macintosh 128 computer given to Gene Roddenberry by Apple Computer sold for $8,260. Walker Edmiston’s archive of Time for Beany show puppets and memorabilia went for $70,800. A John Steed derby hat from The Avengers yielded $57,500. A Harrison Ford signature hero “Indiana Jones” bullwhip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade fetched $56,050. 

All amounts include the hammer price plus the 18% buyer’s premium.

The full press release appears after the jump.

Continue reading →

Edward Valigursky (1926-2009)

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Noted commercial illustrator Edward Valigursky died September 7 at the age of 82.

He worked as an art director or did covers for Amazing Stories, IF and Fantastic Adventures in the 1950s and 1960s.

Decades ago when I haunted used bookstores looking for old prozines I remember how impressed I was with this cover from an issue of If. Ken Steacy’s site has several examples of Valigursky’s work.

[Via Robert Lichtman and Andrew Porter.]

Red Letter Days for Joe Haldeman 10/13/2009

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“The best day so far,” Gay Haldeman told SFF.net readers on October 12.

Found Joe wide awake.  He was evaluated for swallowing with apple sauce, juice and a graham cracker. He rolled his eyes and made happy faces when he had food in his mouth.  When the speech therapist asked him to smile, he made exaggerated monster teeth faces and cracked everyone up.  He’s been cleared for a soft diet.  If his pancreas enzymes stay down, he’ll eat on his own and be unhooked from the gastric tube. The whole visiting family got to interact with him.  Physical Therapy showed up, sat him on the edge of the bed for a while and he did well.  He paid attention as I was given a lesson in caring for his iliostomy.

He made writing motions, so we dug out the dry erase board Tim’s sister Jenny gave us.  Jag asked him if there was anything she could send him.  He pointed, slowly, letter by letter, to W-O-R-L-D   P-E-A… before we caught on.

On October 13, Joe had his iPod and a smile on his face. No fever. Real food. He was on a trach cuff and when the cuff was moved aside he could tolerate room air just fine.