Westwind #45 January 1981
Dublin Core
Title
Subject
Description
- Meetings
- In Memoriam
- Norwescon 4 Progress Report
- Meet the Pros
- Come Early, Stay Late!
- Science Fiction Fair
- Seattle
- Programming
- Short Fiction Workshop
- Dealer Room
- Banquet
- Masquerade
- Art Show
- Films & Video
- Hotel Accommodations
- Getting There
- Norwescon Registration
- Operations
- Help Wanted
- Important Phone Numbers
- Program Book Advertising
- Chariman's Corner
- Serpent's Tooth by Jon Gustafson
Creator
Publisher
Date
Contributor
Rights
Language
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
WESTWIND January 1981 No. 45
[Norwescon 4 Progress Report over art by Victoria Poyser of a faun and a dark-haired woman in a forest surrounded by butterflies.]
4th Anniversary Issue
WESTWIND - the newsletter of the Northwest Science Fiction Society. Issue #45 Jan 1981 Editors: Steve Bard & Kipy Poyser. Layout: Michael Brocha & Kipy Poyser. Typing: Steve Bard, Steve Bieler, Janice Murray, Thom Walls, Barbara Hunter, and Richard Wright. Printing: Michael Brocha. Mailing Labels: Tony Pepin. Mailing: Cliff Wind.
Contributors to this issue: Jon Gustafson, Janice Murray, Richard Wright, Steve Bard, Steve Bieler, Judy Lorent, Lauraine Miranda.
Contents copyright (c) 1981 for the contributors by the Northwest Science Fiction Society. WESTWIND is mailed monthly to members of NWSFS. Membership is $7 per year. Please mail to NWSFS, P.O. Box [REDACTED], Seattle WA 98124. Advertising accepted: must be recieved camera-ready by the first of the month of issue. Please mail to editor. Full page ad: $20 (7.5 x 10 ), Half page ad: $12 (7. 5 x 5), Quarter page ad: $7 (3.5 x 5), Eighth page ad or business card: $5.
Cover illustration by Victoria Poyser.
“Courtship,” the cover of this Westwind/ Progress Report, is a 14 x 18 watercolor by Victoria Poyser which was displayed and sold at Westercon 33 in Los Angeles. We thought the simulated sepia-tone would be more effective than running it as a b&w halftone. Credit for the idea goes to our printer Michael Brocha, and if it works out as it should, we may do a small edition of signed prints, on a heavier paper without the cover type.
Victoria Poyser first displayed her art at Norwescon I in 1978, and has since attended or exhibited work at 70 SF cons, winning major awards at many of them. She was also nominated for the fan artist Hugo Award this past year. She’s done illustrations for Ace, Shayol, Galaxy, Starship and dozens of fanzines and convention program books.
MEETINGS
JAN. 31: NWSFS MONTHLY SOCIAL. Dennis and Carolyn Pernaa’s, [REDACTED].
FEB. 14: LUPERCALIA. An SCA event celebrating an ancient Roman holiday. Call Draggi at [REDACTED] or Daniel of Shadeygrove at [REDACTED].
FEB. 20–22: RAIN TREE. Vancouver B.C.’s third annual relaxacon. Rembrandt Inn on Davie Street. $8 til 2/20, $10 at the door. Send to Rain Tree, P.O. Box [REDACTED], Bentall Centre, Vancouver B.C.
MAR. 25–26: SCIENCE FICTION FAIR. Annual convention at Seattle Central Community College with authors, panels, workshops, films, etc. For info contact J.T. Stewart, Dept. of Humanities, SCCC, [REDACTED], Seattle 98122.
MARCH 27–29: NORWESCON 4. At the Hyatt Seattle. Read all about it in this Progress Report.
MAY 22—24: V-CON 9. Holiday Inn Harbourside, Vancouver B.C. Guest of Honor: Vonda N. McIntyre, Fan Guest of Honor: Jon Gustafson. $12 til 4/15, $15 thereafter to P.O. Box [REDACTED], Bentall Station Vancouver B.C.
IN MEMORIAM
Susan Wood
B.C. Fan & Writer
An English professor at the University of British Columbia and long-time SF fan, Susan Wood had written columns for “Algol/Starship” on neo-fandom (“Propellor Beanie”) as well as book reviews. She was Fan Guest of Honor at the 1975 Aussicon WorldCon. Last year she wrote the LOCUS review of NORWESCON 3.
Susan Petrey
Portland Writer & Fan
A card from the Portland Science Fiction Society notified us of the death of Susan Petrey, PorSFis member and student at Portland State University. She has sold three stories to “Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine”.
H. Warner Munn
Tacoma Author
“Weird Tales” first published H. Warner Munn stories in the 1920’s. He had recently written two volumes of Tales of the Werewolf Clan as well as The Lost Legion and The Book of Munn, a collection of poetry. Harold was always a warm and pleasant presence at Northwest conventions — we will miss him.
[Art by Vicki Poyser of a long-haired woman in a white dress holding out a star-decorated cloak and wearing a tall crown.]
NORWESCON 4 PROGRESS REPORT
MEET THE PROS
Now, certain persons (who shall remain nameless) have accused NORWESCON of placing special emphasis on attending Pros. Unabashedly, we must plead guilty. After all, it is somewhat self-evident that without the writers “Fandom” wouldn’t exist. The science fiction “community” is probably the only literary or media field where the professionals actually enjoy attending “fan” gatherings. Thus, we celebrate the fact that these instigators of our reading pleasure (and a whole lifestyle) are not cardboard “Celebrities” worshipped from afar, but instead friends, colleagues, kindred spirits and “fans” themselves.
Alas, it seems inevitable that there will always be this insufferable element of snobbery within Fandom who have “passed beyond” into a sort of fannish Nirvana / stasis where mediocrity, disorganization, and poverty are fashionable. They cannot be bothered to help with conventions or clubs (but don’t hesitate to selectively take advantage of their assets) and have nothing better to do with their time than complain about them (and most everything else), making very much ado of nothing. In the best tradition of insecurity and sour-grapesism, they spurn “professionalism” on any level…but become strangely silent when they “make it” professionally.
In any event, whereas some 68 professional authors, artists and editors attended Norwescon 3, we currently project that around 100 of these interesting critters will attend NORWESCON 4. At the risk of giving credit where credit is due, I commend to you the following very preliminary listing of pro (and fan) guests who have, as of January 10, confirmed that they will attend NORWESCON:
Guest of Honor: Samuel Delany
As evidenced by an accumulation of four Nebula awards at last count, “Chip” Delany is a “writer’s writer”. He has been called a perfect example of what people ought to mean when they speak of a New Wave of science fiction, and has also been deemed “…the most interesting author of science fiction writing in English today” by the New York Times Book Review. Actually, his works speak rather eloquently for themselves. They include: The Jewels of Aptor, The Ballad of Beta Two, the Fall of the Towers trilogy, Babel 17, The Einstein Intersection, Nova, the controversial Dhalgren, and most recently, Tales of Neveryon. He has also written the autobiographical Heavenly Breakfast and the critical work, The Jewel Hinged Jaw.
Artist Guest of Honor: Rowena Morrill
For those of us who increasingly keep finding the signature “Rowena” on book covers that particularly catch our eye, this is probably due to her background in “fine Art” coupled with an impish and ghoulish imagination. If you look hard enough you will find about 75 Rowena covers from the past four years (and one forthcoming on the NORWESCON 4 Program Book).
Fan Guests of Honor: John, Pauline and Tilda Palmer
Pauline Palmer has published the fanzine “Wild Fennel” and has helped organize SF conventions at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Husband Jack Palmer is an artist whose store, “Postcard Palace”, features postcards, notecards and kites. Daughter Tilda at 12 publishes her own fanzine, Kumquat, and her own APA, CRAPA Jr.
Toastmaster: William Tenn (Philip Klass)
An outspoken satirist and humorist, William Tenn is the author of the novel, Of Men and Monsters, and many classic stories aggregated in the collections Of All Possible Worlds, The Human Angle, The Wooden Star and The Square Root of Man.
OTHER ATTENDING GUESTS
Vonda N. McIntyre
Willo Davis Roberts
George Guthridge
Joanna Russ
Theodore Sturgeon
Jayne Tannehill
Mildred Downey Broxon
F. M. Busby
Jessica Salmonson
Steven Bryan Beiler
Jerry Sohl
Frank Robinson
M. K. Wren
Eric Vinnicoff
Steve Perry
Julian May
Ted Dikty
Bill Gibson
Kevin Johnson
Victoria Poyser
LATE ADDITIONS
Alexis Gilliland
Richard Purtill
Jon Inowye
William Barnwell
Jody Scott
Wilmar Shiras
Eric Vinicoff
Patricia Jo Clayton
Susan Coon
Roscoe Wright
George Harper
Richard Pini
Cherie Wilkerson
Gene Van Troyer
Alan Ryan
Poul Anderson
COME EARLY, STAY LATE!
As thou shalt learn in the next blurb, there are copious skiffy reasons to arrive in Seattle well before Norwescon; however, be advised that Norwescon proper begins in earnest (— insert kazoo flourish here —) at about 8 pm on the evening of Thursday March 26 (data point).
This, then, would be our traditional gala “practice party,” resplendent with many munchables and positively overflowing with potent potables, no doubt. Oh, and don’t forget your dancin' shoes, neither!
Besides the marathon Monopoly game, there may very well be other covert programming on Thursday night, but your basic “formal” programming commences at 9 am on Friday (data point), builds rapidly to three full tracks and proceeds full tilt (rejuvenated hourly) throughout the weekend till 11 pm on Sunday evening (followed by the Dead Sasquatch Party into the wee hours). Yes, you heard right, the official reading of the Dreaded Chain Story and various other arcane amusements will run as late as that!
Now, for the select few of you who somehow manage to persevere through all that … as foretold for generations in fannish legend (and as actually witnessed last year!) … on Monday morning all diehard Truefans will ooze out of the rubble and ascend into the hotel coffee shop at 10:30 am! This solemn ceremony we have come to know as the “survivor’s brunch,” that one last tearful taste of fannish camaraderie before being dispersed to the four winds by the mandates of mundane society.
Now, despite our manifest admonitions last year, our spies and statisticians tell us that very many of you trekked vast distances at peril only to share that Saturday and a half of Sunday with us. For shame! What light through yonder noggen shines?
Clearly this is more than modestly foolhardy if you have any desire whatsoever to maximize your, uh, shall we say, “extraterrestrial gratification”, as it were. You’ll miss fully half the fun and what greater fannish torment is there, I ask you, than having to read about what you missed at a convention that you supposedly attended? Put yet another way, wouldst thou deign to taste our first eager blush and forego also our final passionate throes, thus devouring but the middle of the Oreo? How uncouth, how unsane, how uh … fannish. Oh, well …
Moreover, one shudders (alas and alack! etc.), to contemplate the negative cost-effectiveness of such an undertaking, particularly for you out-of-towners. Remember, Confucious say: better to take two days of vacation and die fulfilled than to survive to waste another trip. So, you will arive no later than Thursday pm and depart no sooner than Monday am, won’t you? Please?
Alas, there is yet another flavor of misguided Norwescon attendee. These are those of you who don’t live hereabouts and yet decline to add even the mandatory minimum two extra days to your trip in order to take in the must sightseeing. Attend:
SCIENCE FICTION FAIR
This year NORWESCON will be affiliated with Seattle Central Community College’s annual "Science Fiction Fair, " moved to immediately precede Norwescon on Wednesday/Thursday, March 25 and 26 (for you mathematicians, this results in FIVE contiguous days of conventioning in Seattle!). Organized by J. T. Stewart and Vonda McIntyre, the SF Fair will be held between quarters at SCCC’s Broadway campus in Seattle’s bohemian (fannish) Capitol Hill district. The Fair will have its own cadre of author and media guests (who will also attend Norwescon) and will feature workshops, films and panels with a more academic slant.
Major events at the Fair will include a hands-on studio workshop for fan and pro SF/fantasy ARTISTS, and a workshop on special effects in filmmaking. There will be a small admission charge for the SF Fair.
For additional information, contact J. T. Stewart c/o Dept of Humanities, SCCC, [REDACTED], Seattle, WA98122.
SEATTLE
One splendid reason to attend Norwescon is to experience the city itself. Seattle has been judged to be America’s “most liveable city” by six separate magazine surveys. Twelve hundred association executives rate us as one of the best convention cities in the U.S. Just recently we earned the further distinction of having the “best tasting water” in the country. (I mention this as a public service since most convention-goers seldom have an opportunity to sample that beverage.)
Seattle is, quite simply, a clean, friendly, unpolluted, modern seaport nestled between two great mountain ranges. This is a place where spicey Douglas firs, startlingly blue lakes, and an inland sea surround mirrored skyscrapers and a montage of unique communities built on seven hills.
Within the city you can tour historic Pioneer Square, taking time off from browsing turn-of-the-century shoppes, art galleries, and the incredible 19th century Underground Tour to enjoy a cup of Espresso and a plate of steaming butter clams at a sidewalk cafe. Two blocks away at the waterfront you can choose from a variety of seafood restaurants and import shops, drinking in the sweet salt air while you toss morsels of food to the seagulls to quibble over.
Be sure also to visit the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World’s Fair, where 74 acres of parks, fountains, and amusements surround a playhouse, stadium, restaurants, and various auditoriums. Many free concerts and other events are held year-round at the Center. Here, too, is the Pacific Science Center. Plan to spend at least one full afternoon there if you want to see the Laserium show and a significant percentage of the exhibits, displays, and hands-on science toys. Towering above all this is Seattle’s monument to science fiction, the 600-foot Space Needle. The food in the Needle’s revolving restaurant is almost as spectacular as the view.
You know, if Seattle were anywhere else, we’d have to charge admission.
We who live here tend to take it for granted, but perhaps the greatest attraction of Seattle for most visitors is the scenic splendor which surrounds it. Western Washington has an embarrassingly complete inventory of quiet lakes, salt water, islands, rivers, waterfalls, forests, beaches, snowcapped mountains, and even our very own active volcano. What more could one ask for?
One of our many dormant volcanoes, Mt. Rainier, not only has the greatest recorded annual snowfall of anywhere on Earth (and thus is the most glaciated peak as well), but is also one of the most majestic and beautiful peaks on the planet. Among the other must side-trips in any visit to Seattle are a one- day trip to our Pacific Ocean beaches and the nearby rain forests, a ferry-boat ride across Puget Sound to the Indian village on Blake Island, an afternoon drive past Snoqualmie Falls and up over the Cascade Mountain range to the “Bavarian” town of Leavenworth. Somewhat farther afield is a one-day boat trip up through the San Juan Islands to quaint old Victoria, British Columbia, where the Empress Hotel, Parliament buildings, museums, and Buchart Gardens are mandatory. Even farther afield, but no less unmissable, is a weekend trip along the rocky Oregon coastline with its sandy beaches, sea lion caves, and forty miles of the largest sand dunes in the world juxtaposed with lakes and forests of breathtaking beauty.
PROGRAMMING
[Art by Vicki Poyser of a satyr’s head.]
As previously alluded, NORWESCON is a full three + day convention this year. Despite our secret cloaking device (no advertising), NORWESCON 4 attendance may run as much as 1400 fen. Not to worry. What with the clever placement of time warps in strategic hallways and whatnot, we promise you won’t notice — just as you had no idea that there were 1275 of us at NORWESCON 3. Trust us. That down-home NORWESCON hospitality has not only been preserved, but enhanced!
NORWESCON on Friday will feature a somewhat larger percentage of films and fannish programming than Saturday, which will slightly emphasize professional and hard science programming. Sunday should be rather well stirred.
Fortunately, for those of us who are hopelessly unfannish and have had to make do in the past, Cliff Wind and others are assisting with the formulation of fannish programming this year (thank Ghod!). Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden will design and operate our new Neofan Room, complete with assorted fanzines, other esoterica and answers to everything-you- always-wanted-to-know-about-Fandom-but-have-no- idea-what-questions-to-ask.
NORWESCON’s Friday night festivities will commence at 8 pm with vaudevillian entertainments and Guest of Honor interviews. Thereafter begins the NORWESCONE Ice Cream Social/Party/Dance, and then the Volcano Party in the Hospitality Suite.
Saturday evening will feature the Meet-the- Pros autograph party (world’s largest) at 7 pm, followed by the masquerade, and culminating with the customary Seattle in 1981 bidding party.
On Sunday the Banquet, GoH speeches, and awards will run from 1 to 4 pm, bracketed by the two art auctions. Closing ceremonies, chain-story readings and final programming start at 8 pm and run through 11 pm. The recommended attire for the Dead Sasquatch party commencing thereafter is pajamas (jammies), togas and the like (footsies and trap-doors optional).
This year’s NORWESCON Computer Room will be larger and better stocked, with spirited gaming on Trash-80’s and various other micro-computers such as Sol 20, Atari, Apple, and PET. (Contact Paul Schaper at [REDACTED].) New this year will be a separate Video-Game Room with such tavern style games as “Space Invaders”, “Asteroids”, etc… . and maybe some pinballs.
The Brass Dragon Society will sponsor a wargaming tournament and open gaming during NORWESCON. For more information contact Don Forbis at [REDACTED].
Since the Canadians easily won the Fannish Olympiad last year, we expect you Oregonian, Eastern Washingtonian, and other fan teams to make a better (or at least less embarrassing) showing for our second annual fiasco. Why, Seattle may even have a team of its own this year. Since the bed-stuffing event reached a critical mass last year, it may have to be discontinued. The collating race, beer guzzling contest, and beer keg race across the swimming pool will be retained and improved. Please feel free to suggest other fannish events (such as hall party obstacle course, worst fannish shame, mimeo toss, etc.).
Again this year, many of our attending authors will take one hour shifts at a typewriter during the con to collaborate on one of the Dreaded Chain Stories (one SF, one fantasy).
The layout of the convention remains precisely the same this time around as last — except for the fact that we have expanded the Art Show into Phoenix E, formerly the third track programming room … which has been moved to the Flight Lounge, which it will share with the film program. Also, the microcomputers have moved to the larger Directors Room, the video games will be where the computers once were and the Neofan Room will be where the overflow Hucksters Room that no longer exists was. Oh, also, there will be two video rooms this year instead of one and registration will move from the convention lobby to the top of the ramp leading to the upper lobby … but other than that nothing has changed.
Special interest groups and those others of you who have great ideas for programming are encouraged to contact Steve Bard at and make with suggestions. So far there will be no trivia quiz unless someone volunteers soon to handle the whole thing.
Now, should you for any reason require a moment’s respite from the foregoing, stop by our Hospitality Suite for some coffee and goodies with the irrepressible Lizzy “Dragon Lady” Warren. Enjoy!
SHORT FICTION WORKSHOP
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN WRITE SCIENCE FICTION, EH?
Maybe you’ve got your mother fooled, but can you really make the grade? Here’s an opportunity to find out! NORWESCON 4 presents the second annual Short Fiction Workshop, in which a panel of professional writers and editors will mercilessly critique your most beloved literary work. Stories are now being solicited. Your story should be no more than 3000 words long, typed double-spaced on one side only of a good brand of paper (no erasablebrands, please). Xerox copies are fine. Include your name and address on a separate page — they should not appear on any page of your story. Mail to: NORWESCON Short Fiction Workshop, P.O. Box , Seattle Wa, 98124. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish your manuscript returned. Deadline: March 1. The best three stories submitted will be dissected by our voracious panel. Contestants will remain anonymous until the panel’s conclusion. Tacky prizes will be awarded!
DEALER ROOM
The Norwescon Huckster Room has acquired a reputation for being one of the best in the country. This year will be no exception with an assortment of quality dealers from the western U.S. and Canada. For three full days they will provide a fine selection of new and rare books, magazines, art, games, and other unusual science fiction and fantasy items. The Hucksters will again be located in the second floor Satellite Room with over 60 tables available. At $35.00 for the first table and $55.00 for the second, dealer tables are expected to sell out very rapidly. Full payment reserves your table. The Dealer Room is expected to open at 10–11 am on Friday, with some setup available late on Thursday. For further information, contact Dave Bray at [REDACTED].
BANQUET
Surprize, Surprize! Once again, your friendly con-com has decided to have a banquet at NORWESCON. After all, we all need to eat at least once during the convention, right? Actually, we continue to flog this tradition not just because your con-com are all irrepressable sadomasochists, but more importantly, for the perhaps the first time in recorded history, the foodstuffs at last year’s banquet were actually rather tasty and the quiche was fully superb! Now, such typically delectable Hyatt cuisine can always be expected in their Hugo’s restaurant and we have been assured by our friend, catering director Galen O’Brien, that this year’s incredible edible will surpass even last year’s. Once again, your meal will be a candlelit affair with roving musicians.
Due to the popularity of last year’s multiple choice meal, we will be repeating this ploy. However, we cannot guarantee you will get a choice if you wait and buy at the door, as we must guarantee how many of each to the hotel in advance. Moreover, if the tremendous pre-Con response we had last year is any indicator, we could be sold out for the banquet this year before you decide to indulge. We therefore humbly recommend purchasing your ridiculously expensive banquet tickets in advance if you know you will endup wanting to go anyway.
The banquet will commence at 1 pm Sunday. After about an hour the doors will reopen for those hungry only for G.O.H. speeches and award presentations.
Now, pens out and thinking beanies on. Here are the exciting entree choices for the omnivores and carnivores:
Quiche Lorraine: A generous piece of an egg and cheese pie with bacon (Highly recommended) or
Turkey Scallopini: Breaded turkey breast covered with a mushroom / monet sauce.
As if this weren’t enticing enough, along with your entree you receive the ever popular fresh spinach salad with hot bacon dressing, two2 vegetables, Rice Pilaf, beverage and the notorious Chocolate Mousse.
For Mr. Green Genes and his friends, Vegetarian plates are available on request.
Please fill in the following clever response device and mail it to us by March 16.
BANQUET ROULETTE COUPON
I have already paid for ____ ticket/s.
Enclosed is the outrageous amount of $_____ ($11 per ticket) for ______ banquet ticket/s.
My choice of entree is:
Quiche Lorraine
Turkey Scallopini
Vegetarian/Other
MASQUERADE
The NORWESCON 4 Masquerade will continue the tradition of providing a forum for the display of fine costume arts, along with exciting entertainment between the costume parades.
Our Saturday evening masquerade will be a formal costume parade across a center runway. Winners of each judging category will receive ca$h prizes ( as in money ).
There will again be two catagories for prepared costumes, science fiction and fantasy, and an “impromptu” catagory for costumes prepared at the convention. Entry forms and detailed information will be available at the Information booth at the convention. Or, write for information ahead of time.
The impromptu category of last year’s masquerade was so much fun and so strangely successful, that we encourage more of you to participate this time around. For the uninitiated, this category is for those of you who kibbitz each year: “Gee, I could make a much better costume than that! …” but never quite seem to get around to it. Well, here’s your chance! We will give you some tape and glue and turn you loose in a room full of such raw materials as tinfoil, body paint, balloons, yarn, hefty bags, glitter, cardboard boxes, nylons, pipe cleaners, and plastic wrap. So, after a 1–1/2 hour orgy of creativity just prior to the masquerade, whatever-it-is that you have become will have an opportunity to skulk or ooze across the stage along with the prefabricated costumes. Impromptu costumes will be judged separately based upon ingenuity under pressure — which is, in a sense, much more challenging than having weeks or months to design and prepare a costume.
The impromptu rules specify that you will be allowed to use only the materials provided in the impromptu room plus your body and one piece or set of mundane clothing. For example, you might start with a swimsuit or Danskin if you plan something revealing, whereas you might choose something bulky if you envision many attachments. We will have some helpers on duty in the impromptu room but you may also have a friend handy to help paint / wrap / sprinkle / coiffure / whatever you.
ALL contestants must pre-register at the convention information table.
ART SHOW
This year’s art show room will be about 60% larger than last year when 79 artists were represented. Of 611 pieces entered last year (many of which were not for sale), 172 sold for a total of $6,395. Once again, the winners in each of the various judging categories will receive ca$h awards.
In addition to our new tradition of featuring an artist G.O.H. (Rowena Morrill), a number of other professional artists are expected to attend NORWESCON and to have major works for sale in the show.
We have an experienced staff, plenty of space and many eager (and wealthy) buyers. If you’re interested in exhibiting, write early for entry forms and art show rules to:
Constance Maytum
[REDACTED]
Seattle Wa, 98103
Fees: Artist entry fee - free to NORWESCON members; $2.50 for non-members.
Sketch table: 15 cents per item; 40 cents per set of prints. Sales by flat price.
Regular art show: Minimum fee 50 cents. Five percent commission on sales. Sales by written bid or auction.
Hanging art:
1/4 panel (2 1/2' x 2 1/2') = $1.50
1/2 panel (2 1/2' x 5') = $3.00
1 panel (5' x 5') = $6.00
Standing art: 75 cents per sq. ft. of table space.
Deadlines:
March 27, 9am - Art show registration opens.
March 27, 12 noon - Registration closes. Art accepted later by prior arrangement.
March 27, 1 pm - Art show opens.
March 29, 4 pm - Unsold art removed.
Auctions:
The first auction will be just prior to the Sunday luncheon banquet, and the second will follow the banquet at 4:30 to 6: 30pm.
FILMS & VIDEO
Projection televisions in our two video rooms will feature a vast selection of your favorite science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other strange programs and films on videotape. The video program will operate 24-hours a day Thursday evening through Sunday evening, with both tracks also available as dedicated channels on the TV in your own sleeping room.
Norwescon expects to again feature the preview showing of a Major Motion Picture. The film program will otherwise emphasize various oddities which have not yet rendered themselves accessable to tape. We are attempting to acquire such mastepieces as The Bed Sitting Room, Creation of the Humanoids, The Corpse Grinders, and Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? Films will be shown predominantly on Friday and in the evenings.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Enclosed with this progress report is your personal reservation card for the Hyatt Hotel. Though room reservations will be available through March 13, you should nevertheless make yours promptly, particularly if you fancy one of the fashionable Sunday-Late-Checkouts. These will be awarded on the ever-popular “First-Come-First-Served” basis for those who so annotate their reservation card therewith. (But please don’t ask for one unless you really need it.)
The Hyatt will confirm all reservations. Should you manage to procrastinate into late March on your hotel reservations, or if you are temporarily embarrassed coinwise, there is an assortment of alternative (cheap, tacky) mo/hotels within a few blocks of the Hyatt.
This year the Hyatt offers a special Norwescon room rate of $45.00 for single or any multiple occupancy (two-bed) permutation. This convention rate is actually several dollars cheaper (!?) than last year’s multiple rate and certainly bears favorable comparison to their regular rates of $48.00 to $67.00 single and $63.00 to $79.00 double.
The Locus review of Norwescon 3 said that the service at the Hyatt is worth every penny of the room rates. We think you’ll agree. The Hyatt can be reached by phone at [REDACTED] or by horseback at:
Hyatt Seattle
[REDACTED]
Seattle, WA 98188
P.S.: The Hyatt will gladly hold your luggage in a secure place beyond checkout time on Sunday (or Monday) if you so desire.
GETTING THERE (…is half the fun if you do it right)
For the third time, the NORWESCON Committee has picked the Hyatt Seattle. It is still located right on Pacific Highway South (highway 99), at the north end of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Flying fen can take the free two minute shuttlebus from the airport to the hotel or spend hours discovering there is no pedestrian throughfare (or sidewalks) connecting the airport with any of the surrounding hotels.
Driving south on I-5 from the Northern lands you would be prudent to take the exit on your right marked “Burien-Southcenter Blvd” and follow the left fork (Burien) onto Highway 518. Proceed on up the hill for about a mile till you see the Hywy 99 exit. Travel southbound on 99 until you arrive at the Hyatt, which is on your right just after you cross 170th. (And just beyond the cemetary).
Journeying south (and then westward) on I-405 you will observe it to metamorphose suddenly into Hywy 518 at the Southcenter Shopping Mall. Don’t panic! Just proceed as the Northern folk from there.
Should you be migrating North from Or. and Ca. on I-5, may we suggest the scenic 188th Street (airport) exit, which you follow till you hit Hywy 99. Hang a right onto Pacific Hywy. S. (it’s 99), drive past dozens of hotels, and you will find the Hyatt to be the last one on the left at the end of the hotel strip. Take a left onto 170th and left into the Hyatt back parking lot. If you find yourself driving past the Washington Memorial Park (boneyard), you just passed it!
Those arriving in downtown Seattle by train, boat, or bus can take a taxi or bus to the hotel. Taxis from Seattle to Sea-Tac run $18 to $20.
Bussing to the Hyatt is simple. Coming from Seattle take a #174 to Sea-Tac. DO NOT get on a 174 Express or you may never be seen again. Downtown, the 174 runs west down Stewart St. and south on Second Ave. The 174 stops at every other bus stop downtown (they are marked). The Greyhound station at 9th and Stewart is on the bus line, and the King Street AMTRACK staion is one block away from the 2nd and Jackson stop. From the ferries, go east up the hill to 2nd Ave.
Bus fare from Seattle is 75 cents. If you get on before 6th and Stewart, you pay then and get a paid transfer coupon. Otherwise you pay when you get off at the Hyatt (Downtown Seattle is a “free-ride” area).
Coming from Eastside, Renton, or Burien areas, take a #240 bus. It connects with many other bus lines along the way. Fare is 50 cents.
Both the #174 and #240 stop right in front of the Hyatt. Metro’s information number is [REDACTED] if you need more help.
NORWESCON REGISTRATION
Well, here I am, back for the fourth time, despite attempts to get me committed and my better judgement. To all you other returnees, welcome back. To all our new attendees, greetings. Here is the who, what, where, when, and how of this year’s registration process.
SIZE: As of early December, we had 205 registered members. Due to a finite amount of space and an infinite number of possible attendees, we may be limiting registration to about 1400 this year.
1984 DEPARTMENT: We register everyone who is a member of Norwescon, from babies on up. If you are bringing children, let us know names and ages. This is helpful in case they misplace you during the Con and aids us in planning activities for our younger members. Also, if you leave something behind we can get it back to you faster when we know how to contact you.
FAN NAMES: If you want your fannish name on your ID, let us know ASAP.
WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW: Registration is moving this year up to the north end of the upper lobby (at the top of the ramp). The upper lobby is just above the main convention lobby where the main (Phoenix) programming rooms and the Info Desk will be. The convention lobby is not the hotel registration lobby. Access is the ramp on the north and the elevator and stairs on the south. There will be two separate lines, one for pre-registered and one for paying at the door so be sure you get in the right one. Registration is planning to be open (and hopefully awake):
Thursday — 7 pm - 10 pm (in the Con Suite)
Friday — 8 am - 10 pm
Saturday — 8 am - 8 pm
Sunday — 9 am - 5 pm
Preregistered people, do bring your receipt. It helps my marvelous staff look you up quickly and zip you through likewise. Payers at the door will each be given a card to fill out listing name, address, phone, and type membership desired. How fully they fill it out is up to them, but they will need one for every member of their group, regardless.
GUESTS OF ____ AND DEALERS NAMES: For those of you who bought memberships for someone else without supplying their name to us, you will be the only one who can pick it up. It is recommended you let us know ahead of time who they are so you need not waste time waiting for them to show up to give them their ID. Dealers should notify us when they know who their people will be.
LOST ID: ID cards will be replaced for free, but the card holders will cost fifty cents. PAYMENT: We accept cash or checks. Canadian money will be subject to whatever the March exchange rate is.
PRICES: The current rate is $12 (US). On and after March 17 the at-the-door rate of $15 goes into effect. Any memberships postmarked March 17 will be charged the higher rate. It is STRONGLY recommended (hint, hint) people pay at the door if they can’t get their money in before the 17th. One day memberships are and will be $10 (eeek!). Children 8 years old and younger get in free with an adult. NWSFS members who are paid-up get a $2 discount on the above prices. If you join Norwescon and the Society at the same time, you also get the discount.
LOST ADDRESSES: Mike Stuart (Westercon), Paul E. Palmer (Orycon).
If you would like to be part of my marvelous staff at the con, LET ME KNOW. The pay is non-existant, the hours rotten, but what the heck. See you all in March.
Lauraine Miranda
Memberships
OPERATIONS
NORWESCON OP consists of several departments all working together to help make the convention run smoothly. We do this by putting in many hours of pre-con planning. Also, and most important of all, we do it with your help. Our volunteers are the backbones of the convention. Without your reliable help, we could not make NORWESCON one of the most entertaining and fun SF cons in the world.
Following is a list of departments that still need volunteers.
Office Staff The purpose of the office staff is to keep the lines of communication freely moving between OP, it’s staff and events taking place at the con. For more info, contact Lynne Cheney Hess at [REDACTED].
Stage Management Volunteers needed to set up, run, and take down audio-visual equipment during programming at the con. Call Shelley Dutton at [REDACTED]. Evenings.
Masquerade If you can maintain the integrety of a poisonous atmosphere vessel, soothe the trauma of a heavy gravity entity and speak two or more off-world languages, you are desperately needed for backstage duty during the 3 to 4 hours surrounding the NORWESCON 4 masquerade. Also, if you have a talent for creating something out of almost anything and nothing, and would like to help costume people for the spontaneous masquerade, call [REDACTED] and ask for Kitty or Jennifer.
Security People needed to help keep traffic flowing smoothly in and out of programming rooms, to help protect properties from vandalism and to prevent entry by unauthorized persons into some areas of the hotel. Call Pat Mallinson at [REDACTED].
Gofers We need you to send and deliver messages and to help with the office, masquerade, security etc. Call Tami Vining at [REDACTED].
Films If you know how to run a 16mm projector and would like to help with films at NORWESCON call [REDACTED] and ask for Judy or Tony.
Troubleshooters This person will walk throughthe hotel checking programming rooms and helping to prevent trouble when possible. This person must be able to keep a cool head in unexpected situations. If you feel you are qualified, contact Don Glover through messages to [REDACTED].
The con will be running 3 full days this year so that you can see that to fill all these positions we will need a lot of “fan power”. Give one of the people above a call and be part of the fun. If your not sure what you would like to do but still want to help, give me a call and we’ll talk. My number is [REDACTED]. Thanks to all the people who helped last year and this year.
Judy Lorent
Operators Director
HELP WANTED (Please!!)
NORWESCON has imediate openings for slave labor. No experience necessary! On the job training! Great fringe benefits!
The pay is lousy (egoboo and other intangibles), but there is plenty of room for advancement to a position that will eat up all your spare time for half the year instead of just during the convention.
So, if you would like to be a part of the on-going convention planning and preparation, or if you would rather just work a shift at registration, gofer, security, operations, projectionist, or dungeonmaster during the con, please feel free to volunteer via a note to NORWESCON, P.O. Box [REDACTED], Seattle Wa, 98124 or phone the appropriate person on the following phone list.
And remember, NORWESCON is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, species, federation alliances, temporal displacement or physical dimensions.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Hyatt Hotel [REDACTED]
Official NORWESCON / NWSFS Telephone Line - Answering Device - Message Machine [REDACTED]
Registration - General Info: Lauraine Miranda [REDACTED]
Programming - Pro Liaison - Chair: Steve Bard [REDACTED]
Fan Programming: Cliff Wind [REDACTED]
Art Show: Constance Maytum [REDACTED]
Publications: Kipy Poyser . Olympia [REDACTED]
Dealer Room: Dave Bray [REDACTED]
Public Relations: Janice Murray [REDACTED]
Computers: Paul Schaper [REDACTED]
Video Program: Dennis Pernaa [REDACTED]
Brass Dragon: Don Forbis [REDACTED]
Masquerade: Kit Canterbury [REDACTED]
Operations: Judy Lorent [REDACTED]
Stage Management: Shelley Dutton [REDACTED]
Volunteers-Gophers: Tamara Vining [REDACTED]
Security: Pat Mallinson [REDACTED]
Hospitality: Liz “Dragon Lady” Warren [REDACTED]
Business Manager: Richard Wright [REDACTED]
SCCC SF Fair: J.T. Stewart [REDACTED]
[Ad: Comic Book Convention
Sunday February 22
Admisison - $1
10 AM to 4 PM
Norway Center
300 - 3rd West (Queen Anne)
Seattle (Two blocks east of Elliot Way / Ivar’s Captain’s Table)
For Information call NW Comic Collectors]
PROGRAM BOOK ADVERTISING
The NORWESCON 4 program book will be 48 pages, offset-printed, with full color cover by Rowena Morrill, and a back cover by Victoria Poyser or Leia Dowling.
Publishers and editors will find the NORWESCON Program book a fine showcase for advertising recent or forthcoming books by the attending authors.
The Dealers among you should also consider advertising in the program book. Even a small ad will give you an edge, and greater recognition, among the 60+ tables facing the bewildered fan. A quarter-page ad only costs $25 and we’ll even do the layout if you’ll get the copy to us a couple weeks before deadline. Just write out what you want, suggest an illustration, and enclose a check.
If you don’t plan to have a dealer table, you might still consider program book advertising. It’s an ideal means of reaching many SF fans and readers in the Pacific Northwest, most of whom probably don’t know of your store or merchandise. It’s also inexpensive. Printing and postage for a flyer mailed to our 1,400 members would be $200—eight times the cost of a quarter-page program book ad!
| Rates and Mechanical Requirements | width | height | price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 page | 7 1/2 x | 10 | $70 |
| 1/2 page, vertical | 3 1/2 x | 10 | $40 |
| 1/2 page, horiz. | 7 1/2 x | 5 | $40 |
| 1/4 page, vertical | 3 1/2 x | 5 | $25 |
| 1/4 page, horiz. | 7 1/2 x | 2 1/2 | $25 |
| 1/8 page | 3 1 /2 x | 2 1/2 | $15 |
DEADLINE February 15, 1981. Must be camera-ready; payment must accompany ad copy. Write or call for quote on inside cover rates: Kipy Poyser, [REDACTED], Olympia, Wa. 98501 [REDACTED].
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER
The January NWSFS Social will be held at the home of Dennis and Carolyn Pernaa, [REDACTED], Seattle (see map), phone [REDACTED], on Saturday, January 31, 1981.
[Hand-drawn map to the Pernaa’s home.]
You take the Rainier Ave exit off I-405, go north and take a left onto Renton Ave, then a right onto 78th Ave which becomes Mission. On Rainier from Seattle, take a right onto LakeRidge Drive, a left on Rowan for a block, and a left onto Mission. Park on the street and don’t block driveways.
There will be a NWSFS meeting at 5:30, pot luck dinner at 6:00, and the Social at 7:00. SF conversation, BYOB bar, and partying upstairs; video programming from the Pernaa library downstairs. Smoking on the porch, please.
This should be a really interesting evening. See you there!!
Hopefully by the time you read this, we will have installed the NWSFS-Norwescon HOTLINE!! [REDACTED]. This new telephone number (write it down!) will be answered 24-hours-a- day by a really friendly machine that will tell you the latest NWSFS and Norwescon news and let you leave messages. We expect that this will become an important new resource for our members.
Good news! Linda Hoffer is out! As many of you know, “Pepper” has been in and out of Group Health since last May, but now her doctor says that she can stay away from there for a while. We expect to see her smiling face at the next Social and working at NORWESCON.
And speaking of which … Elsewhere in this Progress Report is a call for volunteers to help out at NORWESCON. I hope that all of you answer that call (by calling Judy at [REDACTED]). You know that all of the NORWESCON staff is volunteer; we do it because it is interesting and fun and neat. Part of the real enjoyment of going to a SF convention is taking part in the ‘backstage’ efforts, too. You can also enjoy that side of the convention — join the NORWESCON volunteers!!
Anna Vargo, Kate Schaefer, and Gary Farber wish us all to join them in an open house at their new house, [REDACTED], on Saturday, FEB 7, at 8pm. Phone [REDACTED] for more info. Note this COA, too.
B.C. fan Fran Skene has been chosen fan guest of honor for Westercon 35 in Phoenix, July 1982. Fran has headed BCSFA and V-Con, has edited BCSFAzine, publishes “Love Makes the World Go Awry”, works as a children’s librarian, and is an all-around neat person.
Kathryn Krauel has just returned from Easter Island, her second trip there in a year. She must like it there, and so said her first-trip oneshot, “The Loneliest Island in the World”. We should be getting a followup report soon.
Seattle author Jessica Amanda Salmonson has really been busy. She just won the World Fantasy Award (a likeness of H.P. Lovecraft) for her editing of the anthology Amazons. One of those stories, “The Woman Who Loved the Moon”, picked up one of two Awards for San Francisco author Elizabeth Lynn. Jessica is now accepting stories for Amazons 2 at POB [REDACTED], Seattle WA 98105. One of Jessica’s stories, “Lincoy’s Journey”, is in the new Berkley Showcase. And, she is finishing Golden Naginata, the second in the Tomoe Gozen trilogy.
Seattle writer and NWSFS member Mariel Strauss has just had published Will the Real Guru Please Stand Up?, a study of occult happenings in Seattle and elsewhere during the last decade. Available at local occult bookstores, Unitarian churches, or from the publisher, Libra Publications.
[Ad: Shadow Star, PO Box [REDACTED] Bellevue, WA 98007. Specializing in S.F. & fantasy, wargaming, miniatures. Send for our free catalog listing over 400 items.]
SERPENT’S TOOTH
by Jon Gustafson
Gordon R. Dickson is one of those writers who seems to have been around Forever, consistently turning out well-crafted adventure-sf novels that are popular and sell well. WOLFLING is his latest offing from Dell Books (19633, $1.95) and strays not a hair from his successful action oriented formula. In it, Jim Keil is an agent for Earth whose mission is to investigate a race called the HighBorn, whose Empire is seen as a threat to human civilization. Keil rapidly changes his mission from one of observing to one of active participation in the royal intrigues of the Throne World, and ends up taking part in a power-struggle for the rule of the Empire. While the writing is Dickson’s usual solid, desciptive style, some of the plot and characterization don’t measure up to his standards; particularly weak is the rather unbelievable way that his hero fits into the Empire’s society…no fuss, muss or bother. Other than that, though, WOLFLING is an enjoyable read and well worth looking for.
Another book from Dell is Andrew M. Stephenson’s THE WALL OF YEARS (#19431, $2.75). On the surface, it appears to be one of your average time travel stories, one that sends Jerlan Nilssen back to the time of Alfred the Great to keep history from changing and destroying Nilssen’s world. The plot is fairly standard, complete with time loops and a paradox or two but what makes this novel better than most is the tremendous care Stephenson has taken with his research into the time of Alfred. Not only has he gotten the general information correct(names, date, etc.) but he’s gone into minute detail as to landscapes involved, the thud and blunder of ninth century warfare, weather, social mores and many other areas that breathe life into what otherwise would be a very ordinary sort of book. As with most novels, there are a few flaws, but nothing major. I recommend this book.
I recently read GATEWAY by Fred Pohl and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was thus excited when I received a copy of BEYOND THE BLUE EVENT HORIZON (Del Rey/Ballantine, #27535, $2.50), the sequel to GATEWAY. Robin Broadhead, now a multi-millionaire thanks to his fortune in the first novel, has a ship going out to a recently discovered Heeches food creating ship located in the comet cloud circling our sun. The four explorers find more than anyone could’ve expected and Robin ends up being a reluctant hero again. I found the book to be good, but not as engrossing as GATEWAY. I have found this to happen many times where the sequel was not as good as the first book and I have come to the conclusion that at least part of the disappointment lies with me. Because I so enjoy a novel and wish for another in the same vein. I put too much expectation on the author to equal or surpass his first effort and when he doesn’t…well, when you’re high you will tend to fall farther and hit harder. Anyway, BEYOND THE BLUE EVENT HORIZON is a very well-written book; I enjoyed it and recommend it highly.
[Ad: DUFF edition “Australterrestrials”. $6 postpaid to jan howard finder, P.O. Box [REDACTED], Latham, NY 12110.]
[Ad: Heritage Bookshop
OVER 1200 SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY TITLES IN STOCK
RENTON SHOPPING CENTERIN THE MALL
RENTON, WASHINGTON 98055]
[Ad: Fantasy Artists Network logo
FANTASY ARTISTS NETWORK
Fantasy Artists Network was established two years ago to foster communication in the field of science fiction and fantasy illustration. Beginners, professionals, collectors and art admirers are all invited to join an organization dedicated to helping amateurs get started, and to helping neo - professionals get established in the field.
“Fantasy,” the Network’s quarterly magazine, provides a forum and showcase in which to exchange ideas, techniques, concerns and artwork. It averages 32 pages per issue and is offset-printed with two- color covers. Circulation is now 800.
Each issue of “Fantasy” features in-depth listings for ALL upcoming convention art shows; market and con reports; and a Midsection feature on an outstanding amateur artist (including three recent Hugo Award nominees). A Profile column presents interviews with professionals working in various media. And, of course, the magazine pages are filled with artwork.
[Art of a two-headed dragon.]
Highlights of past issues include:
#1 - Lost wax casting, Dream Masters Gallery report, drawing with felt-tipped pens.
#2 - Screening, getting published, mainstream shows, Profile-Tom Scherman.
#3 - Agenting (Lea Braff), illustrating the sky, sculpture, Profile-Alicia Austin, Midsection-Victoria Poyser.
#4 - Gods in a Vortex (David Houston), Sculpture, exobiology, Profile-Patrick Woodroffe, Midsection-Joan Hanke-Woods.
#5 - Photographing your artwork (Janny Wurts), biomechanics, SF artshows (Jeanne Gomoll), packing art for shipping (Wilma Fisher), sculpture, drawing for fanzines. Profile-Eddie Jones.
#6 - Fidelity and reproduction (Ctein), SF artshows, phoney swords, creative job-finding, Profile-Dave Archer, Midsection- Jeanne Gomoll.
#7 - Creative job-finding, plaster casting, illustrating Clark Ashton Smith, getting art into genzines (Marty Cantor), SF art shows, real unicorns.
COMING UP: A full-color wraparound cover by Hugo nominee Victoria Poyser, and an interview with Michael Whelan, recent Hugo winner as Best Professional Artist.
$8.00 Network membership for calendar year 1981 includes four issues of “Fantasy.” Send to: Fantasy Artists Network, P.O. Box [REDACTED], Sherman Oaks, CA 91413.
Name
Address
City, state & Zip
Subscribers outside U.S. and Canada please add $2 for additional postage. Thanks.
[Ad: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT Jody Scott
“A real comer!” - editor, Playboy
"I’d like to see Jody Scott on a panel with Harlan Ellison. " - Theodore Sturgeon
"Handsome! " - Henry Miller
“What Paganini did to four strings and 3 1/2 octaves, Jody Scott does to our dear, undead genre.” Barry N. Malzberg
“You’re a spectacular success, more power to you.” - Vonda N. McIntyre
“The American, female, Jean Cocteau.” - O. Thompson Wood
“A Woody Allen flavor.” - Bastei Lubbe, Germany
“I hope Jody Scott wins the National Book Award. She deserves much; she has given freely of her great and demanding gifts.” - Barry N. Malzberg
[Art by Jody Scott of a woman whose hair forms the appearance of a dragon’s head.]
DON’T MISS IT!
The electrifying, provocative JODY SCOTT at NORWESCON 4.
See your program book for details.]
A Westwind subscription is included in NWSFS membership, at $7.00 per year. Westwind is mailed on the 15th of each month.
Changes of address should be sent to: NWSFS, P.O. Box [REDACTED], Seattle, Washington 98124.
Contributions of graphics, reviews, articles, etc., are welcome. Deadline is the first of the month of issue. Send to:
P.O. Box [REDACTED], Seattle WA 98124
Advertising is accepted — See page 2.