September 2011

Doctor Who! Hooray!

In a few short days, ALAN BALL, creative force behind HBO’s True Blood adaptation, will be appearing at the Sydney Opera House in conversation with Wil Anderson. It is on Thursday 8 September [corrected] from 7pm and tickets are available from $35. (www.sydneyoperahouse.com)

Wil Anderson also recently hosted a night with JOSS WHEDON (Buffy etc), which can be viewed online.

Submissions to FABLECROFT‘s speculative fiction short story anthology on the theme “Apocalypose Hope” close 30 September. The stories must in some way address the idea that after the apocalypse (whatever and wherever in your universe that might be), there is a future for the peoples who survive it. (fablecroft.com.au)

Conflux is almost upon us and the CONFLUX BANQUET will be held Saturday 1 October from 7pm. This year’s banquet is aboard the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin in its first round-the-world trip in August 1929. Dr Gillian Polack is once again designing a wonderful historically accurate three-course menu and entertainment. Embark from the Hellenic Club, Matilda Street, Woden ACT 2606. Tickets are $50. See the booking form or contact banquet@conflux.org.au for details. (conflux.org.au; submitted by Dr Gillian Polack)

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 SF HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA blog is adding regular posts and photos using the archive materials found in the Murdoch University basement, mentioned in Bullsheet March 2011. (history.sf.org.au)

Now in pre-production, all-Australian production THE 25TH REICH by Revolution Pictures and Tait Brady’s Acme Film Company Productions is based on a novella by Sci Fi pulp writer J.J. Solomon and is slated for release on May 2012.

Aus Spec Fic Blog Carnival for August.

Ticonderoga Publications have put together a recommended reading list for YEAR’S BEST AUSTRALIAN FANTASY AND HORROR STORIES for 2010. (ticonderogapublications.com)

The Queensland Writer Centre is running a ‘Writing Science Fiction Short Story’ SHORT COURSE in October in its Online Learning Centre. The course will be facilitated by Lee Battersby and runs for six weeks. (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)

NEW RELEASES

Check out THE TUNNEL, (relativly) new Australian horror movie — see it free, legally. (www.thetunnelmovie.net)

TimeSplash, time travel thriller by Australian author GRAHAM STORRS has been released in audio book format by Canadian publisher, Iambik Audiobooks. (iambik.com; submitted by Graham Storrs)

Australian author GARY J MCCLEARY has a new book out, Journey to a Far Away Place, published by Zeus Publications. It’s a speculative fiction novel about the afterlife, where “the only way to get out of hell is to invite your wife along”. Review copies and interview opportunies are available. (zeus-publications.com; submitted by Donna Munroe)

The second issue of Eye to the Telescope is out now and features Australian and New Zealand SPECULATIVE POETRY edited by Tim Jones. (www.eyetothetelescope.com)

WINDS OF CHANGE, a new anthology by CSFG Publishing, will be launched at Conflux on Friday 30 September. It includes stories by popular speculative fiction authors Nicole Murphy (Dream of Asarlai series) and Alan Baxter (Realmshift, MageSign), as well as showcasing a range of new Australian talent. (submitted by Rob Porteous)

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

The HUGO AWARDS winners have been announced. (www.thehugoawards.org)

The 2011 NED KELLY AWARDS winners, for Australian crime fiction, have been announced, and the award ceremony was held on 31 August. (nedkellyawards.com)

The 2011 AUREALIS AWARDS nomination period has opened. The awards are for speculative fiction works written by an Australian citizen or permanent resident published for the first time between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011. Entries close on 31 December 2011 and the finalists will be announced in March 2012, with the winners announced in Sydney in May. For more information contact the Awards co-convenors, Chris Barnes and Susan Wardle, at convenors@aurealisawards.com. (www.aurealisawards.com)

CONVENTIONS

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

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