October 2011

Thanks to Allen & Unwin, the Bullsheet has three copies of Neal Stephenson’s new book REAMDE to give away. The winners will be chosen randomly from all newsletter subscribers and Twitter followers as of midnight October 15, and notified by email. So if you’re subscribed/following, you’re already entered, and if you’re not subscribed/following, you might like to do so for a chance to win (subscribe by form or email, or follow our rss feed; follow @sfbullsheet).

TWITTER EVENT: KELLY LINK is a guest of honour at next year’s Continuum, and her first two short story collections, Magic for Beginners and Stranger Things Happen are available to read free. Magic for Beginners contains Catskin, which Twitterers will be reading and tweeting about Monday 10 October, 7pm, hashtag to be announced.

Continuum’s major fundraiser, the 3rd Annual HALLOWEEN TRIVIA EVENT will be held on Saturday 29 October, from 2-5pm at the Celtic Club, Queen St, Melbourne. Inquizitor Narrelle M. Harris will test your knowledge on everything from androids to zombies. Prizes for the winning team and the most fantastically dressed, plus raffle and door prizes. For more information or to RSVP, email events@continuum.org.au with ‘trick or trivia’ in the subject line. (continuuum.org.au)

OBIT: Australian fantasy author SARA DOUGLASS has died of ovarian cancer.

SF2 Concatenation has posted its autumn distillation of major SF news worldwide. Australian news includes a mention of GRANT WATSON’s superlative film programme at Aussiecon 4, and a reference to upcoming CON 9 “golden age” film festival. The summary also lists new genre book releases that you might like to check out (www.concatenation.org; contributed by Jonathon)

Australian six-part comedy TV series OUTLAND will premiere at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. The series is based on the only short film to play both the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and the World Science Fiction Convention and focusses on the members of a gay science-fiction fan club and their adventures in our weird world.

Fortnightly from 6pm at City Library in Melbourne, find COMIC CLUB, a free graphic novel discussion group suitable for 15-year-olds and up. The next meeting is Wednesday 12 October and they’ll be discussing Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Read about the club and its organiser in an interview with Meld Magazine.

The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) is organising a COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS MASTERCLASS, run by US illustrator Colleen Doran. It runs on the weekend of 19–20 November from 9am-5pm each day, at the Aerial UTS Function Centre, Broadway, Sydney, and costs $135 for ASA members, $165 for students, and $195 for non-members. (comicsmasterclass.com)

Terry Pratchett’s MONSTROUS REGIMENT will be performed by Brisbane Arts Theatre starting from 8 October and running to the beginning of November. (www.artstheatre.com.au; courtesy of Discworld Monthly)

The Queensland Writer Centre is running a ‘Writing Science Fiction Short Story’ SHORT COURSE from 17 October in its Online Learning Centre. The course will be facilitated by Lee Battersby and runs for six weeks. It costs $150. (www.qwc.asn.au; submitted by Imogen Smith).

Powerhouse Museum in Sydney will be the only place in Australia to see HARRY POTTER: The Exhibition, opening on 19 November 2011. The exhibition offers fans a look at the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating the iconic props and costumes that have appeared throughout the Harry Potter film series. (www.powerhousemuseum.com)

We’ll have another giveaway next month.

NEW RELEASES

Neal Stephenson’s new book REAMDE is out for release this month (giveaway details already mentioned). Bullsheet editor has read an advance copy and can recommend it to Stephenson fans and those who like their thrillers meaty, complex and cyber. Allen & Unwin’s new book catalogue for each month is available online or by subscription. (www.allenandunwin.com)

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

DUFF update (progress of fundraising and detailed breakdown of 2011 voting results) is available from ehawkes at iinet.net.au.(contributed by Emma Harkes)

CONVENTIONS

Conflux, right now (Canberra). Also coming up in October are SHEKILDA Again and ARMAGEDDON Expo Australia, both in Melbourne.

November sees the last SUPANOVA Pop Culture Expos for 2011, in Brisbane (4–6 November, RNA Showgrounds) and Melbourne (12 November, The Plenary MCEC). (www.supanova.com.au)

Continuum in June 2012 is the Australian National SF Convention for 2012, and is seeking volunteers — info@continuum.org.au. (continuum.org.au)

Got more news? Add it in the comments and/or send an email to have it included in next month’s issue.