Laser Rangers 2017 November Meeting

Laser Rangers Annual Thanksgiving Celebration

Date: November 4, 2017
Time: 4:15pm
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: We're All Captains Today
Food:Thanksgiving Feast
Costume: Elegant Dinner Party Fashion

To learn more, and coordinate what food to bring, please visit our Facebook Event Page!

This is our annual Thanksgiving Feast extravaganza and the meeting where we choose the movies for the upcoming year. Please join us and share in the celebration as we recount old memories, make new ones, and plan for those yet to come. As always short features will be shown before the main feature. You won't want to miss this!

Feature Presentation!
Wonder Woman

(2017, 141 minutes) Directed by: Patty Jenkins

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, Elena Anaya

When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.-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. Many thanks to these websites!

Are you ready to overcome your Scientism and join Section 37?

If you haven't ordered or reserved your copy, NOW's the time!

The Kansas City SF&F Literati plan to meet November 27, 2017, at the Oak Park Barnes & Noble in Overland Park, KS, at 7:00 p.m. on the second floor, to discuss the November selection, The Clown Service, by Guy Adams.

Toby Greene has been reassigned. After one screw-up too many, he finds himself at a largely forgotten branch of the British Intelligence Service, working for August Shining, a Cold War relic, and charged with defending the country from paranormal terrorism. But when an ex-Soviet-era enemy returns with an insidious plan to raise the dead and destroy London, it seems Toby's impossible job is to save Great Britain—whether he believes it or not. (Description courtesy of Amazon)

The Clown Service is a Recommended Book of the Month from Fantasy Book Review, which called it "a fantastic read." Find out why a "loony Russian is hell bent on unleashing a horde of zombies on Blighty," and what Toby and his colorful colleagues can do to stop it.

IMAGE: Many thanks to Goodreads for the cover art image.

Discuss the Lightless experience Monday!

Date: Monday, October 23, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.

Title: Lightless

Author: C. A. Higgins

Available from: Fine Booksellers, including Barnes & Noble

Meeting Location: Barnes & Noble #2352, 2^nd Floor, 11323 W. 95^th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214

NOTE: All are welcome to the meeting, whether you’ve read the book or not.

What's the buzz about Lightless? 
Here's the publisher's overview.
Named one of the best books of the year by BuzzFeed and Kirkus Reviews.

“Gripping . . . sci-fi flavored with a hint of thriller.”—New York Daily News

“[A] measured, lovely science-fiction debut [that is] more psychological thriller . . . contained, disciplined, tense . . . The plot is compulsive. . . . Lightless is the first of a planned series, and you can’t help looking forward to learning what’s next.”—The New York Times

“Lightless is full of suspense and fun as hell to read.”—BuzzFeed

“Absolutely brilliant . . . This is science fiction as it is meant to be done: scientific concepts wedded to and built upon human ideals.”—Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of the October Daye series

“The stakes in this story are high—life and death, rebellion and betrayal—and debut novelist Higgins continually ratchets up the tension. . . . A suspenseful, emotional story that asks plenty of big questions about identity and freedom, this is a debut not to be missed.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A taut, suspenseful read.”—Tech Times

“Lightless is an exercise in lighting a very slow fuse and building the tension to an unbearable pitch while making us guess just how apocalyptic the ultimate explosion will be. . . . It is a high-wire act, a wonderment, and a fine accomplishment from a name we’ll be seeing again.”—Sci Fi

IMAGE: Many thanks to Goodreads, for the cover image for Lightless.

Scary stories, snacks and KaCSFFS Halloween Party

What: Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting
When: Saturday, October 21, 2017, 7:00 p.m. (6:00 set-up)
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
Food Theme: Scary Snacks for Halloween 

New featured program: Scary stories!
Our own Earline "Cricket" Beebe (also president of our local Horror Book Club) has arranged for local authors Sean Demory, Jack Campbell, Jr., and Sherri Dean to read some of their scary stories for us!

L-R: Sean Demory, Jack Campbell, Jr., and Sherri Dean, our authors giving readings of their scary short fiction.

Costumes (optional) for fun
At the start of the month we urged any and all readers who would be in the Kansas City area to consider wearing a costume and/or bringing a scary snack to the Annual Halloween and Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting. We hope you've been thinking and planning!

Here are some of the costumes worn to the 2014 KaCSFFS Halloween Party and Monthly Meeting.

Costumes make for colorful, interesting photos--but the main thing is please come! That's why costumes are optional: not everyone likes dressing up. If you don't, don't worry about being the odd one out. There are always members present who don't dress up, for a variety of reasons. We want everyone to come!

"Scary" snacks and decorated gourds

Find recipes for (L-R) Fruit Monsters, Screaming Donuts, and Oreo Spiders at sources listed at the bottom of the post.

Food is always welcome at any KaCSFFS meeting, but seasonally appropriate goodies for Halloween, while themed for the season or scary-looking, also must be safe to eat! For the sake of those among us with food allergies or dietary restrictions, please list ingredients of home-made goodies or bring package information if you bought them. Please also remember that some of us are diabetic, so soft-pedal the sugar! Thanks!

We also encourage all who wish to bring them to share their decorated pumpkins or gourds with the group. We'd love to gather enough imaginative gourd/pumpkins to do a group photo. Please also give us your thoughts on whether this should become a contest category!

Halloween: not just for traditional Jack-o-Lanterns anymore! How creative can YOU get?

Tabletop games are welcome!
We always try to encourage members bringing their favorite tabletop games to play. Ideal playing time is about 30-90 minutes. Board games or card games are equally welcome--especially if you have something seasonally appropriate!

Bylaws note:
The edited "Is-this-one-good?" draft of the new KaCSFFS Bylaws should be available to all dues-paid members via the KAXFEN list by the time we have our Halloween meeting/party. Remember, we're trying to have it finalized in time for a formal vote at the December meeting, but we are conducting our discussion online, NOT spending time on it at meetings. Please read this draft over and add your comments in a written format so your Board can consider your thoughts!

IMAGES: Many thanks to Jan S. Gephardt's Artdog Adventures for the photo of Sean Demory (the original source-page on the Johnson County Library website has since been removed!), Jack Campbell, Jr.'s website for his author photo, and Sherri Dean's NobleFusion profile for her author photo. The photo of the 2014 costume lineup is by Jan S. Gephardt, taken for KaCSFFS publicity purposes. If you post it elsewhere online, please include an attribution and a link back to this page as your source. Our "scary treats" montage is made up of Fruit Monsters from Listotic's post, "15 Super-Easy Halloween Treats to Make" plus Oreo spiders and screaming donuts from It'sAlwaysAutumn's post "20 Halloween Treats to Make with Your Kids." Check them out: Both include many more ideas, with recipes. Many thanks also to, L-R, Tiffany Jones Interiors, Lowe's, and Lowe's, (note: the Lowe's information includes how-to guidelines!)for the funky gourd-and-pumpkins lineup!

Laser Rangers 2017 October Meeting

Invaders from Space!

Date: October 14, 2017
Time: 4:15pm
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: Jessica G.
Food: Alien
Costume: Halloween Costume

To learn more, please visit our Facebook Event Page.

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

It Came from Outer Space

(1953, 81 minutes) Directed by: Jack Arnold

Starring: Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, Charles Drake, Joe Sawyer, Russell Johnson

It Came from Outer Space tells the story of an astronomer and his fiancee who are stargazing in the desert when a large fiery object crashes to Earth. At the crash site, he discovers a round alien spaceship just before it is completely buried by an overhead landslide. When he tells this story to the local sheriff and newspaper, he is branded a crackpot. Before long, strange things begin to happen, and the tide of disbelief turns hostile.-Wikipedia

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.
~~~~~

Feature Presentation!
The Andromeda Strain

(1971, 130 minutes) Directed by: Robert Wise

Starring: Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, David Wayne, Paula Kelly, George Mitchell,

A group of scientists investigate a deadly new alien virus before it can spread-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. Many thanks to these websites!

Special notice: This Friday!

Do you remember Becky Rickart?

Becky Rickart in 2004, at ConQuesT 35, which she co-chaired
 with dear friend Susan Satterfield.

A Celebration of Life Service for longtime KaXFAN and occasional ConQuesT Chair Becky Rickart will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, 2017 at the Vulcan's Forge meeting space above the store(s).

The address is 3936 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri. Come ready to share your stories, photos, and memories of this very special woman who was loved by so many.

The organizers have created Facebook event, where interested people can go to RSVP.

PHOTO: Many thanks to the indispensable MidAmerican Fan Photo Archive, for this photo of Becky doing something she loved.

In just two weeks, the lights go out!

October 23, 2017 is just around the corner!

Have you ordered or reserved your copy of Lightless, by C. A. Higgins?

The SF&F Literati meet at 7:00 p.m. every fourth Monday (with a couple of exceptions), on the second floor of the Oak Park Barnes & Noble Booksellers. If you'd like to see discussion notes from the evening, check the group's Facebook Page.

What's Lightless about? 
Here's the publisher's overview:

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUZZFEED AND KIRKUS REVIEWS

With deeply moving human drama, nail-biting suspense—and bold speculation informed by a degree in physics—C. A. Higgins spins a riveting science fiction debut guaranteed to catapult readers beyond their expectations.

Serving aboard the Ananke, an experimental military spacecraft launched by the ruthless organization that rules Earth and its solar system, computer scientist Althea has established an intense emotional bond—not with any of her crewmates, but with the ship’s electronic systems, which speak more deeply to her analytical mind than human feelings do. But when a pair of fugitive terrorists gain access to the Ananke, Althea must draw upon her heart and soul for the strength to defend her beloved ship.

While one of the saboteurs remains at large somewhere on board, his captured partner—the enigmatic Ivan—may prove to be more dangerous. The perversely fascinating criminal whose silver tongue is his most effective weapon has long evaded the authorities’ most relentless surveillance—and kept the truth about his methods and motives well hidden.

As the ship’s systems begin to malfunction and the claustrophobic atmosphere is increasingly poisoned by distrust and suspicion, it falls to Althea to penetrate the prisoner’s layers of intrigue and deception before all is lost. But when the true nature of Ivan’s mission is exposed, it will change Althea forever—if it doesn’t kill her first.

IMAGE: Many thanks to Goodreads, for the cover image for Lightless.

Advanced medicine

Beware! It's Fannish Friday . . . 

IMAGE: Many thanks to DarkJediKnight via FlickrHiveMind.net

To costume, or not to costume?

What will YOU be, for Halloween?
Perhaps you're among the creative people who've never stopped pondering that question, even after grade school (while everyone else got "serious" and kinda boring).

L-R: 2011 Costumes by Robin W. Bailey, Jeff Orth, and Tanya Holthouse. 

Significant portions of KaCSFFS are right there with you! We have just a few short weeks till October 21, 2017, and our traditional, costumes-optional celebration of the Spooky Season, starting with setup at 6:00 p.m. at The Writers Place in Kansas City, MO. Only a few weeks to plan scary snacks, too! 

L-R: 2011 Costumes by Inger Myers, Sherri Dean, Samantha Myers, and James Hollaman.

We hope this mini-gallery of photos from past KaCSFFS Halloween Parties will help to inspire you!

L-R: Costumes from 2013 by Jeff Orth and Tanya Holthouse ("Breaking Worst"), and an unidentified 2011 werewolf.

If you'll be in Kansas City October 21, 2017, we hope you'll put the KaCSFFS Halloween Party on your calendar!

L-R: Costumes by Corey Barber, 2013; The David and Marisa Means Family, 2011; Susan Ives and Carol Doms, 2013.  

PHOTOS: All photos in this post were taken by Jan S. Gephardt or Ty Gephardt for KaCSFFS publicity purposes, with the permission (indeed, usually the cooperation) of the subjects. These photos may be re-posted online with an attribution and a link back to this post as the source.