Hugo Award Nominees Announced

LoneStarCon 3 Announces Hugo Nominees
In case you missed this announcement when it came out at the end of March . . .

Tim Kirk's 1976 Hugo Trophy design
for Midamericon in Kansas City.

Best Novel (1,113 ballots)
2312, by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit)
Blackout, by Mira Grant (Orbit)
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen)
Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, by John Scalzi (Tor)
Throne of the Crescent Moon, by Saladin Ahmed (DAW)

Best Novella (587 ballots)
After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, by Nancy Kress (Tachyon Publications)
The Emperor's Soul, by Brandon Sanderson (Tachyon Publications)
On a Red Station, Drifting, by Aliette de Bodard (Immersion Press)
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats, by Mira Grant (Orbit)
The Stars Do Not Lie, by Jay Lake (Asimov's, Oct-Nov 2012)

Deb Kosiba's 2012 design
for Chicon 7, Chicago, IL.

Best Novelette (616 ballots)
"The Boy Who Cast No Shadow," by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Postscripts: Unfit For Eden, PS Publications)
"Fade To White," by Catherynne M. Valente (Clarkesworld, August 2012)
"The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi," by Pat Cadigan (Edge of Infinity, Solaris)
"In Sea-Salt Tears," by Seanan McGuire (Self-published)
"Rat-Catcher," by Seanan McGuire (A Fantasy Medley 2, Subterranean)

Best Short Story (662 ballots)
"Immersion," by Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld, June 2012)
"Mantis Wives," by Kij Johnson (Clarkesworld, August 2012)
"Mono no Aware," by Ken Liu (The Future is Japanese, VIZ Media LLC)
Note: This category has 3 nominees due to a 5% requirement under Section 3.8.5 of the WSFS constitution.

Marina Gelineau's 2011 design for
Renovation, Reno, NV.

Best Related Work (584 ballots)
The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature, Edited by Edward James & Farah Mendlesohn (Cambridge UP)
Chicks Dig Comics: A Celebration of Comic Books by the Women Who Love Them, Edited by Lynne M. Thomas & Sigrid Ellis (Mad Norwegian Press)
Chicks Unravel Time: Women Journey Through Every Season of Doctor Who, Edited by Deborah Stanish & L.M. Myles (Mad Norwegian Press)
"I Have an Idea for a Book," The Bibliography of Martin H. Greenberg, compiled by Martin H. Greenberg, edited by John Helfers (The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box)
Writing Excuses Season Seven, by Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler and Jordan Sanderson

Best Graphic Story (427 ballots)
Grandville Bete Noire, written and illustrated by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse Comics, Jonathan Cape)
Locke & Key Volume 5: Clockworks, written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
Saga, Volume One, written by Brian K. Vaughn, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Schlock Mercenary: Random Access Memorabilia, by Howard Tayler, colors by Travis Walton (Hypernode Media)
Saucer Country, Volume 1: Run, written by Paul Cornell, illustrated by Ryan Kelly, Jimmy Broxton and Goran Sudžuka (Vertigo)

2009 design by Dave Howell
with base detail, created for
Anticipation, in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada.

Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
(787 ballots)
The Avengers, Screenplay & Directed by Joss Whedon (Marvel Studios, Disney, Paramount)
The Cabin in the Woods, Screenplay by Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon; Directed by Drew Goddard (Mutant Enemy, Lionsgate)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro, Directed by Peter Jackson (WingNut Films, New Line Cinema, MGM, Warner Bros)
The Hunger Games, Screenplay by Gary Ross & Suzanne Collins, Directed by Gary Ross (Lionsgate, Color Force)
Looper, Screenplay and Directed by Rian Johnson (FilmDistrict, EndGame Entertainment)

Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form)
(597 ballots)
Doctor Who: "The Angels Take Manhattan," Written by Steven Moffat, Directed by Nick Hurran (BBC Wales)
Doctor Who: "Asylum of the Daleks," Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Nick Hurran (BBC Wales)
Doctor Who: "The Snowmen," Written by Steven Moffat, Directed by Saul Metzstein (BBC Wales)
Fringe: "Letters of Transit," Written by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Akiva Goldsman, J.H.Wyman, Jeff Pinkner. Directed by Joe Chappelle (Fox)
Game of Thrones: "Blackwater," Written by George R.R. Martin, Directed by Neil Marshall. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (HBO)

2007 design by Takashi
Kinoshita, for Nippon 2007,
Yokohama, Japan.

Best Editor - Short Form (526 ballots)
John Joseph Adams
Neil Clarke
Stanley Schmidt
Jonathan Strahan
Sheila Williams

Best Editor - Long Form (408 ballots)
Lou Anders
Sheila Gilbert
Liz Gorinsky
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Toni Weisskopf

2003 design by Franklyn Johnson for
Torcon 3 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
 this is the Best Novel award won that
year by Robert J. Sawyer.

Best Professional Artist (519 ballots)
Vincent Chong
Julie Dillon
Dan Dos Santos
Chris McGrath
John Picacio

Best Semiprozine (404 ballots)
Apex Magazine, edited by Lynne M. Thomas, Jason Sizemore and Michael Damian Thomas
Beneath Ceaseless Skies, edited by Scott H. Andrews
Clarkesworld, edited by Neil Clarke, Jason Heller, Sean Wallace and Kate Baker
Lightspeed, edited by John Joseph Adams and Stefan Rudnicki
Strange Horizons, edited by Niall Harrison, Jed Hartman, Brit Mandelo, An Owomoyela, Julia Rios, Abigail Nussbaum, Sonya Taaffe, Dave Nagdeman and Rebecca Cross

1953 design by Jack McKnight, for the
10th Annual World Science Fiction
Convention in Chicago, IL.

Best Fanzine (370 ballots)
Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
The Drink Tank, edited by Chris Garcia and James Bacon
Elitist Book Reviews, edited by Steven Diamond
Journey Planet, edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, Emma J. King, Helen J. Montgomery and Pete Young
SF Signal, edited by John DeNardo, JP Frantz, and Patrick Hester

Best Fancast (346 ballots)
The Coode Street Podcast, Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
Galactic Suburbia Podcast, Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts (Presenters) and Andrew Finch (Producer)
SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester, John DeNardo, and JP Frantz
SF Squeecast, Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. Thomas, Catherynne M. Valente (Presenters) and David McHone-Chase (Technical Producer)
StarShipSofa, Tony C. Smith

1951 Retro Hugo for Millenium
Philcon: Frank Kelly Freas's
Best Professional Artist award.
Design by Michael Benveniste.

Best Fan Writer (485 ballots)
James Bacon
Christopher J Garcia
Mark Oshiro
Tansy Rayner Roberts
Steven H Silver

Best Fan Artist (293 ballots)
Galen Dara
Brad W. Foster
Spring Schoenhuth
Maurine Starkey
Steve Stiles

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
(476 ballots)This is an award for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2011 or 2012, sponsored by Dell Magazines (not a Hugo Award).
Zen Cho *
Max Gladstone
Mur Lafferty *
Stina Leicht *
Chuck Wendig *
*Finalists in their 2nd year of eligibility.

1996 “Retro” Hugo Trophy by Barry
Workman, Mike Donahue, and Shawn
Crosby, based on the 1946 Hugo trophy
design (identical except the film reel base was
copper-colored, and the 1946 film reel was
gold-colored).

The Hugo Awards are the premier award in the Science Fiction genre,
honoring Science Fiction literature and media as well as the genre's
fans. The Hugo Awards were first presented at the 1953 World Science
Fiction Convention in Philadelphia (Philcon II), and they have
continued to honor Science Fiction and Fantasy notables annually for
60 years.

Click here for more information about the Hugo Awards, including details about how to vote.

LoneStarCon 3 is the 71st World Science Fiction Convention.  It is scheduled to be held August 29 to September 2, 2013, in San Antonio, TX.

The 2013 Hugo Award and John W. Campbell Award winners will be announced Sunday, September 1, 2013, during the Hugo Awards Ceremony at LoneStarCon 3 in San Antonio, Texas.

The 2013 Worldcon will be held in San
Antonio, TX.

ABOUT THE WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION
Founded in 1939, the World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon") is one of the largest international gatherings of authors, artists, editors, publishers and fans of science fiction and fantasy entertainment. The annual Hugo Awards, the leading award for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy, are voted on by Worldcon membership and presented during the convention.

LoneStarCon 3 is sponsored by ALAMO, Inc., (Alamo Literary Arts Maintenance Organization), a 501(c)(3) organization. For information about memberships or hotel accommodation, visit the Convention's website. 

"World Science Fiction Society," "WSFS," "World Science Fiction Convention," "Worldcon," "NASFiC," "Hugo Award," and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.

IMAGE CREDITS: See all of these trophies and more on the History page of the Hugo Awards website; many have more information about the designs.  For individual Hugo trophy images, see: 1976, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2003, 1953, 1951, 1996/1946.  The LoneStarCon 3 logo image is from the Worldcon website.

Heads-up for SF&F Literati

Yes, they did just meet.  But the next meeting is a week early, and it's time to find and start reading the May selection!

SF&F Literati go Into the Storm, in May!

Selection: Into the Storm, by Taylor Anderson
When: May 20 (third Monday!), 7:00 p.m.
Where: Oak Park Barnes & Noble Bookseller, 11323 W 95th Street
Overland Park, KS 66214, on the 2nd floor.

Order this book from Barnes & Noble, or other fine booksellers.

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Pressed into service when World War II breaks out in the Pacific, the USS Walker, a Great War-era destroyer, finds itself retreating from pursuing Japanese battleships. 

Its captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Patrick Reddy, desperately leads the Walker into a squall, hoping it will give them cover, only to emerge into an alternate world. A world where two species have evolved: the cat-like Lemurians and the reptilian Griks, and they are at war.

With its power and weaponry, the Walker’s very existence could alter the balance of power. And for Reddy and his crew, who have the means to turn a primitive war into a genocidal Armageddon, one thing becomes clear. They must determine whose side they're on. Because whichever species they choose is the winner.

Note: there are four books in the “Destroyermen” series; this is Book 1.

IMAGE CREDIT: Many thanks to Taylor Anderson's website for the cover art.

A Few Quick Notes:

Time is running out for KaCSFFS advance voting!
If you are a dues-paid member of KaCSFFS, and want to vote for the next President of the organization in advance, do it soon!

The candidates are Diana J. Bailey, incumbent, and Tyrell E. Gephardt. For more information about them, go to our original announcement.

Voting members may still choose one of three ways to cast a ballot.  But not for long!
In-Person voting: During the regular business meeting scheduled for April 27, 2013 at The Writers Place.
Via Online Poll: Go to the poll on the members-only KAXFEN list to cast an online vote between March 21-April 26, 2013.
Via Paper Ballot: Print, mark, sign and date the ballot on the "Absentee Ballot" Page on this blog (top of the sidebar at right), or request a copy from the Treasurer.  Paper ballots must arrive in the KaCSFFS Post Office Box (see ballot for full address) BY April 20, 2013 to be counted.

Holiday Inn Express CoCo Key Hotel/Resort.

Time is also running out to reserve a ConQuesT 44 hotel room!
There are still a few rooms left in the ConQuesT hotel block, book now before the discount rate of $85/night expires on May 1st. Make sure to enter the event group code SFS when booking to lock in the ConQuesT room rate. It's very likely there may not be room availability after the deadline due to Royals games happening right across I-70 in the Truman Sports Complex.

Remember the club meeting is the 4th Saturday, not the 3rd! 
A scheduling mixup with The Writers Place bumped us from our usual, third-Saturday time slot, but we'll be back the following week, and resume our normal schedule in May. 

Thus, in April the schedule is:
Saturday, April 27, 2013, 
Board Meeting (which is open to the public)-5:30 p.m. 
General Meeting-6:30 p.m.

PHOTO CREDITS: The ballot box graphic is from 'The Nev Filter" blog. The photo of the Holiday Inn Express CoCo Key, where ConQuesT 44 will be held, is from the hotel's website. 

Kansas City Horror Book Club

The Strain 

By Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Details: 
April 14, 2013 11:30m - 1:30pm


"Trailside Center is next to the fire station and conveniently located a few blocks north of the intersection of I435 and Holmes."

Synopsis:

At New York’s JFK Airport, an arriving Boeing 777 taxiing along a runway suddenly stops dead. All the shades have been drawn, all communication channels have mysteriously gone quiet. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of a CDC rapid-response team investigating biological threats, boards the darkened plane—–and what he finds makes his blood run cold. 

A terrifying contagion has come to the unsuspecting city, an unstoppable plague that will spread like all-consuming wildfire—–lethal, merciless, hungry . . . vampiric. And in a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, an aged Holocaust survivor knows that the war he has been dreading his entire life is finally here. 

In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months . . . the world. 

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. (-Amazon) 

Here's the Facebook Link to the Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/240390542774184/

Quoted text written by Cricket. Please contact her for more information on the Facebook event page. Synopsis from Amazon.
Image from: spinoff.comicbookresources.com Owned by William Morrow publishers.

Laser Rangers 2013 April Meeting

Parallel Universe Nazi Killers

Datum (Date): April 13, 2013
Uhrzeit (Time of Day): 4:45pm (Fhanish time) Meet at 4:15pm for pre-show conversation.
Stelle (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 upgraded seating for about 15 people without crowding.
Führer Laser: David Bridges
Lebensmittel (Food) Theme: German Food!
Kleiden (Dress) Theme: Nazi/WWII

Learn German from the English!

Learn more at This Month's Facebook Event Page! 

A short will precede our first feature!

Iron Sky

(2012, Appox. 93 minutes); Julia Dietze, Christopher Kirby, Götz Otto, Peta Sergeant, Stephanie Paul, Udo Kier

The Nazis set up a secret base on the dark side of the moon in 1945 where they hide out and plan to return to power in 2018.

Check out this awesome trailer!









~~~~~
Between features, we will have our traditional potluck. Please bring something that matches our food theme above or bring something for yourself.
~~~~~

There will be a special showing of a chapter of Republic's Captain America movie serial between dinner and our main feature.

Inglorious Basterds

MAIN FEATURE!
(2009, 153 minutes); Starring Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, Mélanie Laurent

In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.

A truly fantastic reimagining. The Führer says to enjoy the awesome trailer!

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 distrubutors.  

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

KC Horror Club Movie Outing

Evil Dead

Details: 
April 7, 2013 2:00pm (Time subject to change, check Facebook)  

The Original Cabin in the Woods!

"It is time for another movie outing. I hope everyone is looking forward to this movie. If you cannot make this screening please support the Screenland Armour and see it with some other horror fans on April 4, 2013 at 10:00 pm after the screening of the original Carrie."

Synopsis:

Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods. The evil presence possesses them.

Here's the Facebook Link to the Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/470374866363858/?ref=2

Quoted text written by Cricket. Please contact her for more information on the Facebook event page. Synopsis from IMDB.

Bewildered Author Staggers into 21st Century!

M.C. Chambers' Silk and Velvet Now Available on Kindle
Many of us have met Mary Chambers at KaCSFFS meetings--but did you know she is a writer?  She writes as M.C. Chambers, and her latest publication is the Kindle edition of her novelette Silk and Velvet.

Silk and Velvet had been previously published in a print only edition of an anthology, Renaissance Festival Tales, by Hadley Rille Books.

"Stepping carefully in the footprints of authors braver than I, I took mouse in hand and began clicking" Mary said. "The experiment is a success!  The fantasy novelette Silk and Velvet is now available online in Kindle format. Now really, was that so hard? On to the next challenge..."

More about Silk and Velvet:

It's Midsummer in early Renaissance Scotland. A troubled clan chief charges a mysterious courier called Silk with a message that will determine the course of war in the Highlands. On the road to Edinburgh, Silk meets handsome musician "Velvet" Hugh MacToro. Will he prove distraction or salvation? Will she bring him luck - or ruin? The air is full of music and secrets . . . and more magic than you know.

IMAGE CREDIT: many thanks to Amazon for the cover art.