Sime~Gen Perspectives Newsletter

AUGUST 2005

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Contents:
*SIMECENTER NEWS
*WORLDCON REPORT
*BORDERLANDS UPDATE
*NEW REVIEWS
*STARRED CROSS JEWELRY
*SIMECENTER FOR AUGUST
*HELP WANTED
*CONVENTION APPEARANCES
*AVAILABLE RELEASES and PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
*SITES TO REMEMBER
*SUBSCRIPTION AND CONTACT INFORMATION

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

******SIMECENTER NEWS

The latest edition of SimeCenter will be up very soon--the latest in a line of generously donated stories and artworks, in support of an impressive array of worthy recipients--updated every month for almost six years.

This may be the last edition of SimeCenter, because it's getting harder and harder to obtain a new story to post each month.

So, take a look--and make a donation to our worthy recipient--even if you never have done it before. The story and artwork, this month and last month (both of which are still available), are spectacular. ...And be sure to tell our recipient that you were 'referred' by SimeCenter.

Any comments? Please talk to SimeCenter's amanuensis: Kaires Tevesu.

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******WORLDCON REPORT -- Provided by Kaires Tevesu

WorldCon Report - General

I was a bit surprised to see my name on the program: a 'Rapid Fire reading' on the last day of the Con (eight BroadUniverse members reading from their work, five minutes each). I had told them I didn't want to participate, but Jean ordered me to do it.

Attempting to escape this fate, I lost my voice Sunday night--the start of a creeping crud attack that I still haven't completely shaken--but I got enough voice back by 'showtime' on Monday to make my/our presence known.

The audience was warned that my piece was in the Sime~Gen universe, but I assured them that Simes are just like other folk, except that they can sense people's emotions and they have tentacles.

I strewed various Sime~Gen flyers around the Con--and at the party, and at the reading--including my favorite: the 'Intimate Adventure' concept description.

WorldCon Party Report

Kathryn Sullivan (of EPIC) donated £20, and Kelly Green (of BroadUniverse) donated £5. Those amounts, plus £2.56 and 37¢ American that appeared in the Donations bucket, paid for all the food.

The Con charged £75 for using the room, but that included all the ice we required. It was unfortunate that there was no running water, but we survived.

We had enough tattoos to give one to every attendee who wanted one...and I had a sponge to use to apply them (kept freezingly moist by adding water from the ice bucket).

Even though the party ultimately lasted an hour longer than expected, there were plenty of doorprizes to give one out every half hour: four Sime~Gen books, three Savage Empire books, and a half dozen oddments left over from last year's auction.

Those last two--the tattoos and the doorprizes--earned us a complimentary write-up by the party reporter in the Con Newsletter ['Flick's Party Report: Friday', in The Port Authority #8]: "Eventually convinced lift to go where we wanted it, and popped into the Purely Potter party. Unfortunately, my Official Escort hasn't read the latests instalment, so our stay was cut short. Went to Sime~Gen party, where reception was v friendly even though we had no idea what Sime~Gen meant. Even after we read the leaflet that we got. Received exciting temporary tattoos and tasty snacks, but sadly did not win the prize draw in honour of our visiting the party."

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******BORDERLANDS UPDATE

The most recent update to BORDERLANDS is available now at: http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/fans/bev/boom/index.html#part . 14 More than 20 new episodes for Part 15 are created so far at: http://bae.secretpens.org . You can get at the Scrapbook from the link at http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/fans/bev/index.html (i.e. the Borderlands introduction page), or directly at http://www.secretpens.org/bae.

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******NEW REVIEWS

THE ELIXIR by Lori Soard

STRANGER IN THE MIRROR by Laraine Anne Barker

COMPANY MAN by Joseph Finder

CARPE DEMON: ADVENTURES OF A DEMON-HUNTING SOCCOR MOM by Julie Kenner

PAST INDISCRETIONS by Susanne Marie Knight

THUNDER ROAD by Tamara Thorne

CHILD OF TWILIGHT by Margaret L. Carter

STEALING INNOCENCE -- Sylvia Hubbard

OCEANS OF FIRE by Christine Feehan

THE EZEKIEL OPTION by Joel C. Rosenberg

THE LIGHT-YEARS BENEATH MY FEET by Alan Dean Foster

MAGIC STREET by Orson Scott Card

VELOCITY by Dean Koontz

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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.)

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******SIMECENTER FOR AUGUST

This month's story is by Stuart Palmer (and his wife, Jennifer), one of his many--but little-known--excursions into Science Fiction. The story is called "Brain Wave" (first published in Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1967).

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In the Art department, we have a rich, colorful abstract entitled 'Embattled Pixie', by G. B. Chew. This prolific artist has a huge range of expertise (see it all on - his website ...and he shares his many talents generously with SimeCenter.

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READING IS FUNDAMENTAL, the nation's largest children's literacy group, is our featured recipient this month. Visit their website , to learn about all the amazing things they do. (When you donate, be sure to tell them you were 'referred' by SimeCenter.)

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Please send your comments to Kaires Tevesu.

******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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To contact editor for any reason, please e-mail Lisa Saunders at simegen@simegen.com.

*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.