We’ve got a few comments from readers of the first two issues
The first to respond was Swajax Johnson, who enjoyed Chris Pyman’s article about a female Doctor… Read the rest
Ridley Scott’s Alien movies — an appreciation
When David commented that the three Ridley Scott Alien movies made a fine trilogy, Roman suggested he might like to expound further.
I first saw Ridley Scott’s movie Alien in London in 1979,
not long after it was released. We were on our way back home from the Worldcon, which had been held in Brighton that year. Filling in time before we had to head to the airport, we went to see the movie, which had been talked about a good deal at the convention.… Read the rest
Tweaking the design
Roman: As we mentioned last issue, one of the reasons we’re producing an online ’zine is to experiment with the possibilities of time-based media. Adam’s article this issue includes some videos of robots in action, and I’ve added a snippet of acrobatic Angels from Womadelaide.
We’re pleased to have some more pieces from Lynelle Howell and David Faber this issue, and a fairly lengthy article from longtime fan Leigh Edmonds.… Read the rest
Red Sparrow: the Book.
I thought I’d read the novel before seeing the film. (Red Sparrow is just the first novel in a trilogy)
This novel is by an ex CIA agent, so we would presume the spycraft is accurately described. There’s an interesting touch: whenever some dish is mentioned in the text, there’s a recipe at the end of the chapter, should the reader wish to try and replicate the dish.… Read the rest
Will the Sparrow fall?
Red Sparrow (2017)
Director Francis Lawrence
Starring Jennifer Lawrence
This may well be the best Hollywood propaganda film made since Hitchcock’s North By North-West during the First Cold War. It comes as no surprise then that it’s based on a 2013 novel by former CIA operative Jason Mathews. Spies never retire so they say, and as a writer Mathews would appear to vindicate this saying.… Read the rest
Impressions
Colours of Impressionism:
Masterpieces from the Musee D’Orsay
Art Gallery of South Australia
North Terrace Adelaide
Open until 29/7/2018
It is something of a cultural miracle that we in Adelaide are privileged to view these paintings from Paris. As the title suggests, the exhibition is aesthetically colour co-ordinated. Descriptive panels inform visitors about the colour theories and science and the critical interpretations which swirled around the Impressionist school of painters, so called polemically by critic Louis Leroy (1812-1885) after the title of a painting exhibited in 1874 of an impression of sunrise by Claude Monet.… Read the rest
Salvation
Salvation, a US science fiction thriller TV series filmed in Canada, is a surprisingly enjoyable yet odd show. It starts with Liam Cole (played by Charlie Rowe), an MIT student who discovers an asteroid that is due to collide with the earth, creating an extinction-level event that will destroy all of humanity.… Read the rest
Lessons Learnt from the First Robotics Competition
Robots are inherently cool. Accordingly, I’ve long wanted to build robots, but until a few years ago I wasn’t making any progress. The big problem for me (other than cost) was the skills required. Robot construction requires a mix of mechanical engineering, electronics and programming. The third I could do, but the first two were much more of a challenge.… Read the rest
North Tce at Night
As in previous festivals, images were projected onto building facades. This time, a more interesting sequence of animations on the Institute Building, Mitchell Building, Elder Hall and Bonython Hall. Here are samples from the Mitchell Building… Read the rest
The Craft Sequence, II
Roman continues his look at Max Gladstone’s Craft sequence, looking at books four to six.
Forty years after the God Wars, Dresediel Lex bears the scars of liberation—especially in the Skittersill, a poor district still bound by the fallen gods’ decaying edicts. As long as the gods’ wards last, they strangle development; when they fail, demons will be loosed upon the city.… Read the rest
Three days, two communities
Leigh Edmonds is a long-time SF fan with a keen interest in fanzines; we were lucky to score this convention report.
Like most people, I imagine, I live in more than one community. There is work, where I live, family and the people I chose to associate with for fun. They form a kind of boolean diagram of my life in which many of the facets intersect and others do not.… Read the rest
Of cons, and robots, and foxes
The cover this issue was snapped by Roman on his phone camera, slowly removed from a coat pocket, focussed and taken without scaring off the curious fox checking out the bucket at Joseph & Judith’s allotment. This issue unexpectedly covers the themes of fans, fanzines and conventions. And how to build robots!… Read the rest
A Trip to HEL
Last year, Roman went overseas to attend the WorldCon75 in Helsinki, amongst other things…
It was in February that i decided that I was going to the world con in Helsinki. Rather than flying direct to Finland, I thought I’d go via London so as to catch up with friends. I also decided — about a month before leaving — to make a side trip to St Petersburg.… Read the rest
Fandom isn’t just a Goddamned Hobby
Hi, my name’s Lynelle and I’m a New Zealand fan. I’ve attended most conventions in NZ since I joined fandom, been to one worldcon (1999) and visited Melbourne’s natcon scene too.
I was recently asked to describe how I got into fandom, and what I do within it. Well…the first is easy.
My boyfriend (now husband) took me to my first SF convention in 1993, six months after we started dating.… Read the rest
Going Solo
Set before Episode 4, this is a story of a young Han Solo: how he escaped poverty in a kid gang, deserted from the Navy, met Chewy and joined in a train heist. New actors play characters we’ve met later in their lives, and they do an excellent job.
Angels at Play
Above the crowd, two acrobat Angels circle each other, turning somersaults. Womad, 2018… Read the rest