SF&F Literati Meet Monday

SF&F Literati Meet Monday, January 27, 2014
When: January 27, 2014, 7:00 p.m.Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Oak Park Mall
11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214 
On the 2nd floor by the windows 

Book of the Evening: Ack-Ack Macaque
Author: Gareth Powell

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Startling, fast-paced SF from one of the most striking new voices. A cigar-chomping monkey, nuclear-powered Zeppelins, electronic souls and a battle to avert Armageddon.

In 1944, as waves of German ninjas parachute into Kent, Britain's best hopes for victory lie with a Spitfire pilot codenamed 'Ack-Ack Macaque'. The trouble is, Ack-Ack Macaque is a cynical, one-eyed, cigar-chomping monkey, and he's starting to doubt everything, including his own existence.

A century later, in a world where France and Great Britain merged in the late 1950s and nuclear-powered Zeppelins encircle the globe, ex-journalist Victoria Valois finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the man who butchered her husband and stole her electronic soul. Meanwhile, in Paris, after taking part in an illegal break-in at a research laboratory, the heir to the British throne goes on the run.

And all the while, the doomsday clock ticks towards Armageddon.

Next meeting: February 24, 2014!

It's time to get started on February's Selection!

Book of the Evening: The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes
Author: George Mann

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

A collection of short stories detailing the supernatural Steampunk adventures of detective duo, Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes in dark and dangerous Victorian London. Along with Chief Inspector Bainbridge, Newbury & Hobbes will face plague revenants, murderous peers, mechanical beasts, tentacled leviathans, reanimated pygmies, and an encounter with Sherlock Holmes. 

Available from Barnes & Noble and other fine booksellers.

IMAGE CREDITS: Book cover image for Ack-Ack Macaque is courtesy of Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Book cover image for The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes is courtesy of the bilingual Norwegian and English blog of Cluva, "Bookworm with a Writing Itch."

 

Man of Steel Mini-Review by David Sooby

Title: Man of Steel
Director:Zack Snyder
Produced by: Warner Bros.
Reviewed by: David Sooby

Man of Steel.  Wow. How to remove the heart and soul from the Superman origin story, even with a blockbuster budget, and top-notch acting from several in the supporting cast, including Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner. No wonder it got "mixed reviews." I think the writer and/or director made the same mistake that Kenneth Branaugh made in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (1994): He neglected to give us any reason to care about the characters. Lois Lane was pretty much a non-entity, too.

IMAGE CREDIT: Many thanks to IMDB for the Man of Steel poster image.

KC Horror Book Club January 2014 Meeting

Quarantined

By Joe McKinney

Details:
Date and Time: January 12, 2013 (Sunday) from noon to 1:30.
Location: The Green Room Burgers and Beer
Address: 4010 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite D, Kansas City, MO.
Event Notes: 

Come and discuss Quarantined by Joe McKinney and grab some food too.

The citizens of San Antonio, Texas are threatened with extermination by a terrifying outbreak of the flu. Quarantined by the military to contain the virus, the city is in a desperate struggle to survive. Inside the quarantine walls, Detective Lily Harris is working burial statistics duty at the Scar, San Antonio's mass graveyard, when she finds a murder victim hidden amongst the plague dead. But Lily's investigation into the young woman's death soon takes a frightening turn as yet another strain of the deadly flu virus surfaces, and now Lily finds herself caught up in a conspiracy orchestrated by a corrupt local government intent on hiding the news from the world and fighting a population threatening to boil over into revolt. As the city erupts in violence, Lily is forced to do the unthinkable. With the clock ticking toward annihilation, Lily must lead her family through the quarantine walls and escape with news that just might save us all.

-Permuted Press & Earline Beebe

Check the Facebook Event Page for more information.

Please contact Earline Beebe for more information on the Facebook event page.
Image from: SITE. Published by Permuted Press.

Laser Rangers 2014 January Meeting

Family Spirit

Date: January 11, 2014
Time: 4:50pm
Location: David Sooby’s home theater with 51-inch Samsung HDTV, a 5.1 Surround Sound Dolby Digital sound system, a full set of audiophile-grade speakers, and upgraded seating for about 15 people without crowding.
Captain Laser: Corey B.
Food: Mexican & Seafood
Costume: Casual

To learn more, please visit our Facebook Event Page.

Short features will be shown before each feature. Don't miss them!

The Uninvited

(1944, 99 minutes) Directed by: Lewis Allen

Starring: Ray Milland, Gail Russell, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp, and Cornelia Otis Skinner

A composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past. -IMDB

Watch the trailer here!







~~~~~
After the first feature, please join us for a potluck dinner. Bring something to share. It can follow the theme, or be something you prefer. The movie below is the suggested title. Other options will be available for discussion during the dinner!
~~~~~

Feature Presentation!
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

(1945, 104 minutes) Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring: Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders

In 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted...and forms a unique relationship with the ghost. -IMDB

Watch the trailer here!








The home of the Laser Rangers is located about four miles north of the Kansas Speedway, NW of the intersection of I-70 and I-435 on the Kansas side of the Greater Kansas City area.

IMAGE CREDITS: The information for all of these shows come from the invaluable IMDB. The movie posters come from Wikipedia or the movie's respected distributors. 

The movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. The "Web Under Construction" sign comes from N-Media.net Many thanks to these websites!

Jon Moss Reviews "The Hobbit" (Book)

Book Review by Jon Moss

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkein
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reviewed by: Jon Moss
Star Rating: 5 out of 5

A delightful introduction to the world of Middle Earth. Follow the adventures (or misadventures) of a respectable hobbit turned burglar, a wizard and a baker's dozen of dwarfs in their quest to slay the dragon, redeem the lost treasure and restore peace and prosperity among dwarfs, elves and men. Along the way, the young audience will learn the pitfalls and consequences of greed, pride and arrogance, tempered with a hobbit's good sense, good cheer, compassion and self-sacrifice. 

(Editor's Note: With Peter Jackson's movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug out in theaters since Dec. 13 and with his earlier movie based on this book, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, this seemed an apt moment to publish this review from our intrepid reviewer friend, Jon Moss.)
HOBBIT MOVIE REVIEWS GLADLY ACCEPTED! 
Email to Jan S. Gephardt.

IMAGE CREDIT: Many thanks to School Library Journal's A Fuse 8 Production blog, for the classic book cover image.

Remember, No SF&F Literati Meeting in December!

SF&F Literati Meet Again January 27, 2014
Meanwhile, if you haven't started reading the January selection, get going!
Save the date:
When: January 27, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Oak Park Mall
11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214 
On the 2nd floor by the windows 

Book of the Evening: Ack-Ack Macaque
Author: Gareth Powell

Overview from 
Barnes & Noble:

Startling, fast-paced SF from one of the most striking new voices. A cigar-chomping monkey, nuclear-powered Zeppelins, electronic souls and a battle to avert Armageddon.

In 1944, as waves of German ninjas parachute into Kent, Britain's best hopes for victory lie with a Spitfire pilot codenamed 'Ack-Ack Macaque'. The trouble is, Ack-Ack Macaque is a cynical, one-eyed, cigar-chomping monkey, and he's starting to doubt everything, including his own existence.

A century later, in a world where France and Great Britain merged in the late 1950s and nuclear-powered Zeppelins encircle the globe, ex-journalist Victoria Valois finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the man who butchered her husband and stole her electronic soul. Meanwhile, in Paris, after taking part in an illegal break-in at a research laboratory, the heir to the British throne goes on the run.

And all the while, the doomsday clock ticks towards Armageddon.

IMAGE CREDIT: Book cover image is courtesy of Barnes & Noble Booksellers. 

KaCSFFS Meeting Postponed!

Winter Storm Cancels KaCSFFS Holiday Party!
 Due to icy conditions, the KaCSFFS meeting scheduled for 12/21/2013 is postponed.

The management of The Writers Place has advised us to postpone the meeting because "we cannot guarantee your safety on our sidewalks and in our parking lot during an ice/snow storm."

And, quite frankly, we were leaning that direction anyway.

Stay safe, everyone! And HAPPY Holidays, everyone!

IMAGE CREDIT: Thank you, Alpine Daily Planet, for the "Road Conditions" image.  It captures our situation today pretty well! 

December Meeting 12/21/13 at 6 p.m.

Come to the Christmas Holiday Celebration Event of Cheer and Merriment! 

"Wreath of Khan" by Annie Shapiro. Just 'cuz.

Where: 
The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
When: Setup at 6:00 p.m., Business meeting at 7:00.

Meeting agenda:
Old Business: We had a great Thanksgiving! A BIG Thank You to Everyone who helped make it possible.
New Business: 
BOD Reports
-Treasury
-Communications
-ConQuesT: First Science Guest Bridget Landry.

Food Theme:
Holiday goodies!  Bring your favorites to share with the group.

Holiday Book Fair!
We've had advance notice that at least one person will be bringing books to sell.  If you'd like to bring a few for swap or sale, you might be helping another KAXFAN find just the right gift for just the right person.

Our apologies: the art display that was previously discussed will not be held.

IMAGE CREDIT: The Wreath of Khan by Annie Shapiro is courtesy of Makezine.

Let's talk Star Wars.

Star Wars Hockey, anyone?

The Missouri Mavericks professional hockey team is sponsoring a Star Wars Night December 20. 

Star Wars fans can get a discount on tickets two different ways, according to Ticket Account Representative Steve Christiani:

"Anyone wearing any sort of Star Wars gear will receive $5 off their ticket at the Box Office.

"or

"Anyone who calls in and mentions Star Wars Night can get Buy One Get One Free Tickets."  The phone number for tickets is 1-800-745-3000.

Home games are played at the Independence Events Center, 19100 East Valley View Parkway, Independence, MO 64055.

How much about Star Wars can YOU draw from memory?
Knowing this blog's readers--probably a lot!

But an artist named John Hendrix might give you a run for your money.  Neatorama recently posted a drawing in which he challenged himself to sit down and draw out everything he remembered about Star Wars, just from memory. According to the Neatorama article, Hendrix wrote, of this work:

"I can never repay George Lucas for what Star Wars gave me. Star Wars is so close to my heart, I honestly couldn’t decide what image to make for this show, it was just all too important. So I just decided to draw everything… from memory."

Here's his drawing, courtesy of Neatorama:

I hope you can see enough detail!  This thing is pretty amazing.

Hendrix is an illustrator from St. Louis.  Browse his website, and you may recognize some of his book covers!

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to the Minor League Hockey Report, for the Missouri Mavericks logo image, and to Neatorama for sharing the Jonn Hendrix Star Wars drawing.

KC Horror Book Club December 2013 Meeting

NOS4A2

By Joe Hill

Details:
Date and Time: December 15, 2013 (Sunday) from noon to 1:30.
Location: The Green Room Burgers and Beer
Address: 4010 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite D, Kansas City, MO.
Event Notes: 

Come and discuss NOS4A2 and grab some food too.

NOS4A2 is a spine-tingling novel of supernatural suspense from master of horror Joe Hill, the New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box and Horns.

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son. -Harper Collins Publishers & Earline Beebe

Check the Facebook Event Page for more information.

Please contact Earline Beebe for more information on the Facebook event page.
Image from: amazon.com. Published by Simon & Schuster.