Sime~Gen Perspectives Newsletter

JUNE 2005

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Contents:
*SIME~GEN FANDOM WINS FAN QUALITY AWARDS
*SIMECENTER
* NEW IN A COMPANION IN ZEOR
*NEW REVIEWS
*STARRED CROSS JEWELRY
*SIME~GEN PARTY AT WORLDCON
*HELP WANTED
*CONVENTION APPEARANCES
*AVAILABLE RELEASES and PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
*SITES TO REMEMBER
*SUBSCRIPTION AND CONTACT INFORMATION

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

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******SIME~GEN FANDOM WINS 'FAN QUALITY' AWARDS

Reported by Kaires Tevesu

Thanks to inputs from list members et al., Sime~Gen fandom won several prestigious awards at MediaWest*Con this year. The MediaWest*Con report can be found at http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/sghistory/cons/MediaWest05_rpt.htm .

We got four Fan-Q awards:
- A Companion's Duty [story-slash]*
- A Matter of Necessity [story-gen]
- Sime~Gen Cooperative Fiction-2004 [zine-gen]
and (are you ready for this):
- A Companion in Zeor #21 [zine-slash]*

You can find these award-winning entries on-line: http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/rimonslibrary/cz/cz21/CompDuty.html http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/rimonslibrary/cz/cz21/anb_8_01.html http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/fans/bev/ http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/rimonslibrary/cz/cz21/

* The 'Fan-Q' definition of slash fiction is, very simply, a story containing "same-sex physical relationships, not necessarily explicit." By that definition, "A Companion's Duty" could be nominated in that category. (And, apparently, the awards people decided CZ was a slash zine because it had a slash story in it.) This categorization caused a lengthy discussion on [Simegen-L]...because this is _not_ the common definition of 'slash'. This discussion is being assembled into a 'words from the web' entry for the current CZ issue .

(BTW, 'Gen' merely means 'general' in this context; no reference to larity.)

The lady who runs the awards said she got more nominations for Doreen DaBinett's "A Matter of Necessity" than any other item, in any category. (This is surprising--and exciting--because the 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' fandom is highly organized and HUGE.)

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******SIMECENTER NEEDS A NEW RECIPIENT

Readers, HELP! Give me your ideas:

- individuals or organizations to be our featured recipient

- authors who might be willing to contribute stories

As I have said, no one makes a lot of money via SimeCenter, but it's great advertising for everyone involved: recipients, contributing authors and artists, and the World of Sime~Gen.

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STRANGE HORIZONS - web-based magazine of and about speculative fiction - . This one was proposed by our currently-posted author, Susan Urbanek Linville. They actually answered my request but, alas, they said they'd rather not participate. (I just found out Strange Horizons is a 2005 Hugo Nominee!)
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PEN WRITERS FUND - Emergency fund for professional writers - . I've been after these guys off and on ever since I started managing SimeCenter (Fall 2001). This time, I have actually talked to a real-live person, who said he'll get back to me. There's hope.
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READING IS FUNDAMENTAL - Creating a nation of Lifelong readers - . Hey, get 'em young. (This was JL's suggestion.) No reply to EMail yet, and I haven't found a phone number. I'll keep trying.
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FUNDS FOR WRITERS - High Hope for the Freelance Writer. I found this one while tracking leads for PEN Writers Fund. I just started chasing them.
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DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

~Kaires Tevesu
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****** NEW IN A COMPANION IN ZEOR

A Companion in Zeor announces Lexie's new story: A FORK IN THE PATH .

We also mention that artwork from Kip Grimes will be added to A FORK IN THE PATH when the art piece is ready.

Companion in Zeor also has a compilation of the List discussion on "slash". Thank you Kaires, for preparing the compilation.

******

******NEW REVIEWS

THE HOUSE OF STORMS - Ian R. Macleod

THE GLORIETA PASS - Chris O'Grady

MOZART'S WIFE by Juliet Waldron

A STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Laurell K. Hamilton

FIRECRACKER JONES IS ON THE CASE by Christopher Klim

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS by Marilyn Gardiner

WE FEW by David Weber & John Ringo

SANCTUARY by Mercedes Lackey

THE GYPSY - Steven Brust, Megan Lindholm

ALIENS AND AIS by Lawrence M. Schoen

MAMMOTH by John Varley

DESTINY by L. C. Martin

EMMA'S CAMP by Stuart Ford

ESSENCE OF TRUST by Melinda Rucker Haynes

UNCLE DUBYA'S JIHAD JAMBOREE by Ron Callari

THE BEND IN THE RIVER - Susan Gibbs

MORTGAGE TRUTHS: THE FACTS AND FICTIONS - Ernest L. Wood

AUCH DAS SCHONE by Stephanie Dyrkacz Weidner

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******STARRED-CROSS JEWELRY NOW AVAILABLE

This page shows the four items:
- silver & enamel brooch (enamel can be ANY color)
- silver & gold brooch
- silver & gold outline pendant
- small silver pin
(The first three are 1-1/2" square; the pin is about half that size.)

Follow the link to the artist's own page for ordering.

Any questions or comments go to Kaires Tevesu. (Please mention 'starred-cross jewelry' in the subject line, because that address gets a _lot_ of spam.)

******

******SIME~GEN PARTY AT WORLDCON

We have reserved a room in the Party Hotel* to have our traditional Sime~Gen party on Friday night (August 5th). WORLDCON will be held in Glasgow Scotland this year!

Who is going to WorldCon (good folk on this list and friends)? Anyone want to help with planning and running the party? Anyone want to help post flyers about it? (We're up on the second floor--kinda out of sight--so we should advertise.)

There is a charge to 'rent' the space, so we're searching for other congenial groups to share the party...and the expenses.

I've queried Broad Universe (they always have a large presence at WorldCon), and the MensaFan group (not so large, but quite dynamic). What other groups might want to share? Either give me contact information, or proselytize them yourself and tell me the result.

* All parties will be at The Hilton - a long block from the Convention Center.

There are still two Worldcon memberships available at a discounted rate from fans who will be unable to attend. Grab them up! Please contact Karen and Kaires for more information. Please use WORLDCON MEMBERSHIPS (or WORLDCON PARTY) as the subject line. They know how to contact those fans offering the memberships for sale.

The Worldcon is called "Interaction" this year. Find out more information on this years convention at http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/ .

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******HELP WANTED

The spotlights section of Simegen.com currently needs interviewers, spotlight posting personnel, an assistant spotlights gatemaster, and a keygifts store manager. We are also requesting an Assistant Reviews Co-coordinator - duties include covering when other staff are unable to perform tasks. We are almost finished revamping our reviews section and expect activity to be at a constant high level. We're looking for a versatile quick learner able to put in some time daily. Pluses are: A good command of the English language (syntax, grammar, punctuation, in that order,) some computer experience or ability to learn, and an interest in books. Direct all inquiries to simegen@simegen.com.

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******CONVENION APPEARANCES

Both of SIME~GEN's co-creators, Jean Lorrah and Jacqueline Lichtenberg plan to attend the following Conventions in 2005 and 2006, unless otherwise noted below.

NASFIC~ Seattle WA SEPT 1-4 2005 (Jacqueline only)

COPPERCON~ Phoenix AZ SEPT 9-11 2005 (Jacqueline only)

LOSCON 32~ NOVEMBER 25-27 2005 (Jacqueline only)

WESTERCON~ San Diego CA, July 1-4 2006

WORLDCON~ Los Angeles CA, August 23-27 2006 http://worldcon.org/ for a list of all Worldcons including Japan

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******PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

Now available

~ the Omnibus reprint of Jean Lorrah's SAVAGE EMPIRE: DARK MOON RISING is #1 in the reprint program.

~ Trade Paperback edition of DREAMSPY from BenBella Books and you can order on amazon and some other places.

Read the comments here.

~ SAVAGE EMPIRE: PROPHECIES is #2 in Jean Lorrah's and Winston Howlett's omnibus reprint of the Savage Empire series.

Still Available in Trade Paperback, SIME~GEN: THE UNITY TRILOGY

TO KISS OR TO KILL finally has a definite publication date. June, 2006. Misha Merlin's next project with their new distributor, after spending this summer on a major promotion of their special Robert Heinlein collection, will be a Fall relaunch of THE UNITY TRILOGY with world-wide promotion and distribution, and a drive to get it into chain stores.

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***** Sites to Remember *****

Author spotlights

Chats

Romance articles

Reviews of books by Jacqueline Lichtenberg

Reviews

Shopping

Sound files of Jacqueline Lichtenberg pronouncing Sime~Gen vocabulary words can be found at http://www.simegen.com/jl/nivetsoundfiles/index.html .

To sign up for classes, go to http://www.simegen.com/school/SchoolForms.html .

To volunteer, go to http://www.simegen.com/agreements/helpwanted.html for the latest openings.

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*Please Note all material posted on Official Virtual Tecton is copyright © by Sime~Gen Inc. and all rights are reserved. To get your Sime~Gen(tm) material sanctioned for web posting or to get permission to repost from official materials, e-mail ambrovzeor@aol.comor contact simegen@simegen.com. Sime~Gen (tm) is the trademark of a fictional universe copyright © by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986 and Sime~Gen Inc. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.