SF&F Literati Meet Monday, July 28, 2014

Poet Danger
TITLE: Lexicon 
AUTHOR: Max Barry
WHERE:  
Barnes & Noble #2352 at Oak Park Mall
11393 W. 95th St., Overland Park, KS 66214
On 2nd floor by the windows.
WHEN:  
Monday, July 28, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
AVAILABLE FROM: Barnes & Nobles and other fine booksellers.
 

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

At an exclusive school somewhere outside of Arlington, Virginia, students aren’t taught history, geography, or mathematics—they are taught to persuade. Students learn to use language to manipulate minds, wielding words as weapons. The very best graduate as “poets,” and enter a nameless organization of unknown purpose.

Whip-smart runaway Emily Ruff is making a living from three-card Monte on the streets of San Francisco when she attracts the attention of the organization’s recruiters. Drawn in to their strange world, which is populated by people named Brontë and Eliot, she learns their key rule: That every person can be classified by personality type, his mind segmented and ultimately unlocked by the skillful application of words. For this reason, she must never allow another person to truly know her, lest she herself be coerced. Adapting quickly, Emily becomes the school’s most talented prodigy, until she makes a catastrophic mistake: She falls in love.

Meanwhile, a seemingly innocent man named Wil Parke is brutally ambushed by two men in an airport bathroom. They claim he is the key to a secret war he knows nothing about, that he is an “outlier,” immune to segmentation. Attempting to stay one step ahead of the organization and its mind-bending poets, Wil and his captors seek salvation in the toxically decimated town of Broken Hill, Australia, which, if ancient stories are true, sits above an ancient glyph of frightening power.

A brilliant thriller that traverses very modern questions of privacy, identity, and the rising obsession of data-collection, connecting them to centuries-old ideas about the power of language and coercion, Lexicon is Max Barry’s most ambitious and spellbinding novel yet.

Get ready for August!
TITLE: Existence
AUTHOR: David Brin
Monday, August 25, 2014, 7:00 p.m.AVAILABLE FROM: Barnes & Nobles and other fine booksellers. 

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Bestselling, award-winning futurist David Brin returns to globe-spanning, high concept SF with Existence.

Gerald Livingston is an orbital garbage collector. For a hundred years, people have been abandoning things in space, and someone has to clean it up. But there’ something spinning a little bit higher than he expects, something that isn’t on the decades’ old orbital maps. An hour after he grabs it and brings it in, rumors fill Earth’s infomesh about an “alien artifact.”

Thrown into the maelstrom of worldwide shared experience, the Artifact is a game-changer. A message in a bottle; an alien capsule that wants to communicate. The world reacts as humans always do: with fear and hope and selfishness and love and violence. And insatiable curiosity.

IMAGE CREDITS: The cover image for Lexicon is courtesy of Micro-Sites in the UK. The cover for Existence is from MacMillan, the book's publisher.

Tevan Keltner Reviews "Insidious Chapter 2"

Insidious: Chapter 2 

Review by Tevan Keltner

Directed by James Wan (Writer)

Screenplay by Leigh Whannel

106 Minutes – Horror, Thriller

** out of ***** Stars

Hot off his immense success with his horror blockbuster “The Conjuring” director James Wan is at it again. Only this time, the first film did not warrant a sequel nor did it require an explanation of its twist ending, which is over analyzed and dragged out until the material is literally beaten to a bloody pulp, and buried. If you believe James Wan wanted to make this film, you are sorely mistaken. Even writer and actor Leigh Whannel was not in any way motivated, except by money, to write a gripping script.

Now is it entirely bad? No not at all. There are still elements of the film such as atmosphere and timing that deliver great scares and the actors are doing their best with a wooden script. They even find a way to bring back Lin Shayne from the first film. It is also a shame that Patrick Wilson gives a chilling performance in a script so boggled and pointless that it only serves to demean his performance. James Wan did a good job attempting to treat the material with as much respect as possible. Unfortunately, this movie did not need to be made. The first story was enough and beating a dead horse is supposed to be “Saw” territory.

 There is a story here and it is thought out. Leigh Whannel’s can definitely tell a tale. And it does live up to the Chapter 2 title. It’s a direct sequel and this movie literally starts the day after the first film ended. The Lambert family has moved into Josh’s mother’s (played again by Barbara Hershey) house, hoping to escape the horror of their last encounter with a series of paranormal entities. Hearing Barbara Hershey say: “Whatever was haunting my family isn’t done with us yet,” makes us groan. Another painful reminder of a sequel that should not be. This would actually have been a better Television series.

Is “Insidious: Chapter 2” recommended viewing? Even to “Insidious fans?” Probably not. While this film has characters and elements from the first film, it is overall a complete mess. While the actors do their best with a pitiful script - it just doesn’t satisfy. Spend that all so important discretionary income, instead, on another viewing of “The Conjuring” which should still be in theaters. One wonders, once again, if another paycheck is ever a reason to subject the world of film to this kind of mediocrity?

IMAGE CREDIT: IMP Awards website

Laser Rangers 2013 October Meeting

Atom Age Monsters: Bill Ostrander Memorial Laser Rangers Session

Date: October 12, 2013
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: Open to those who miss Bill and wish to contribute.
Food: Japanese and Soutwestern/Tex-Mex
Costume: Kaiju or Civil Defense Worker.

To learn more, please visit our Facebook Event Page.
Further appreciations of Bill are included below.

Due to the special nature of this production, there will most likely be a few shorts before each feature.

Them!
(1954, 94 minuntes) Directed by: Gordon Douglas. Starring: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness.

The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.

Be Thrilled, Horrified, Excited, and Mystified by this trailer!










~~~~~
Between features, we will have our traditional potluck dinner. Please join us this month and share you fondest memories of our dear friend Bill Ostrander.
~~~~~


Main Programming

Gojira
(1954, 95 minutes) Directed by: Ishirō Honda. Starring: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura.

American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast.

Behold the genesis of a legend among legends by getting a sneak peak here!


This film will be presented in it's original Japanese language with English subtitles.






Remembrances of Bill

"Bill O. was always full of energy and excitement. He was one of us, he shared our passions and our camaraderie, he always made folks feel welcome and a part of the scene.

Bill also had a great love of lousy movies as well as the good ones and it was great fun as a fellow MSTie to read of his Alternative Laser Rangers nights where he pitted bad movies against the group, who had no choice but to riff for their lives.

Today the sky is dark and rumbling, the rains flow like tears for Bill's passing, and remind us all of how quickly any one of us could be gone in a flash. To also remind us how important it is to continue to get together even if it's only in spirit.

I know Bill and Vince are putting something special together for us down the road.

Til we meet again Bill, adieu."

- Mike M.

"I first met Bill years ago thanks to Vince while visiting his always cozy basement film screening and collection room for one of Vince's many 16mm film screenings.

Our final conversation, one of hundreds we've had over many years, was just a few days before he was struck down. For me, Bill must always remain in my mind's eye as I last time saw him, how I last remember him at the April Laser Rangers gathering: Talking about future film programs we could put together for the group and the one we were going to co-host together on the very day he was struck down ("The Day the Earth Stood Still" [1951] and "Forbidden Planet" [1956]). I do wish he could have had that one last day, that one last film program most of all, but it was not meant to be."

--Ken

Bill Ostrander III

Bill Ostrander was born on June 25, 1958 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an infant, he returned with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained for the rest of his life. Bill passed away peacefully on Thursday,, May 30, 2013 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kansas City at the age of 54 with his family by his side. Bill (or Will as he was called by his family) attended Redemptorist and Hale Cook grade schools and was a graduate of Southwest High School.

He then attended mechanics school. However, his talent was in fine detail work which he turned into an over 30 year career at Root Dental Lab, making one of a kind dentures and crowns to order. After leaving Root in 2009, Bill was a school bus driver for Durham Bus Services in Blue Valley, Kansas. He was a former parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church and St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Bill was very active in a variety of local organizations such as the Classic Thunderbird Club of Kansas City, Laser Rangers and Great Plains International Plastic Modelers Society. He was a founding member of Starbase Kansas City. It was not unusual for him to go to a car cruise on a Saturday morning with friends, talk models at the local model store in the afternoon, and to attend a science fiction film festival the same evening. Bill was also an avid country music fan. He shared his interests with friends all over the country from Oregon to Memphis.

Bill was very kind and generous to all his friends and family, giving freely of his time to help out those who needed a ride to an event, or to obtain that special collectible item that only he could locate. He also assisted in helping his brother who had been hospitalized. He will truly be missed.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Alma (Sally) Ostrander, and his brother Jim Ostrander and by his best friend, cousin Vince Koehler. He is survived by his sister Judy Behee, her husband Bill, and their children, Kathy Kozak, Lisa Ragland, Bill Behee, John Behee and Brian Behee and their spouses and children; sister Mary Jane Minney and her husband John (California) and their children Anne Smoke and Patrick Minney and their spouses and children; brother Michael Ostrander of Kansas City; his uncle and aunt Hugh and Mary Ostrander and their children Bud Ostrander, Tim Ostrander, Mimi Puffett and Kathy Parker and their spouses and children; and aunts Ruth Penniston and Molly Evanoff and their children. Bill is also survived by the extended family of his late cousin Vince Koehler, including Marie Anne Koehler, and her children, Gerry, Mary Kay, Paul, Vince Jr. and John and their spouses and children.

Bill was always included in Koehler family events and parties and enjoyed being part of their lives. Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral Mass to be held in Bill's honor at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 SW State Route 150 in Lee's Summit, Missouri, followed by a luncheon reception at the church hall. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to Ronald McDonald House or your favorite charity on his behalf.

Published in Kansas City Star on June 9, 2013

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=bill-ostrander&pid=165211951

You will be missed Bill, and still are.[-ed.]

Next month: Avengers Assemble! Marvel's The Avengers
Our annual planning session will follow our main feature. Don't Miss it!

 

 
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 pictures of Bill Ostrander were posted by his family and friends on the Laser Ranger's Facebook Group Page.

The movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. Many thanks to these websites!

Time Is Running Out

Laser Rangers Jump and Jump Again into the Time Stream. 

(Alternate Laser Rangers Session Announced below and nearer to the date.)
Date: June 9, 2012

Time: Around 4:15 p.m., “fan time”

Place: 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 brand new seating for about 15 people without crowding.

Food Theme: Picnic Food & BBQ

Captain Laser: Mike McCain

The Program: "Time Is Running Out"

Check the Laser Rangers website for more information.

The Pre-Dinner Show

Kick off the evening is Timecrimes
(2008, 98 minutes, on Blu-Ray in 1080P)

IMDB Synopsis: "A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable consequences."

Watch a trailer for Timecrimes, from YouTube:

Dinner Break: Picnic Food & BBQ

The Laser Rangers take a dinner break between the two features of the evening, to share a potluck dinner and discuss the movie they have just seen, or get caught up on other events.

Shorts: 

KICHWA - A short fun story of the perils of time travel.

Selections from Ty's "Shorts!!" playlist on YouTube.

Second Feature: 

Source Code

(2011, 93 minutes, on Blu-ray in 1080P)
IMDB Synopsis: "An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train."

Watch a trailer for Source Code, from YouTube:

The home of the Laser Rangers is located about two 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. For the exact address and directions, e-mail David Sooby at the email address given here.

No Refunds Allowed

Date: June 30, 2012

Time: Around 4:15 p.m., “fan time”

Place: 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 brand new seating for about 15 people without crowding.

Food Theme: TBA

Captain Laser: Bill Ostrander

The Program: "No Refunds Allowed"

These alternate Laser Rangers features are held in various locations at odd times of the month usually to showcase something fun and unique. Please join us for a viewing of "Chillerama" and "Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus."


IMAGE CREDITS: The information and movie poster images for all of these shows come from the invaluable IMDB website. The movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. Many thanks to these websites!