Member: BarbN

I was using the term "science fiction fan" to refer to the group of people who attend and organise conventions, produce fanzines, etc. I became a fan in 1973, went to meetings of the Melbourne SF Club above Space Age Books, attended my first convention in 1974 (Melbourne Eastercon). I was roped in to work on Aussiecon I, the first Australian world science fiction convention in 1975 (and got to attend a live-in writer's workshop run by the Guest of Honour Ursula Le Guin! - though I haven't gone on to be a writer of any great skill), and married the Treasurer of that convention in 1977. We were on the organising committees for around a dozen conventions over the next ten years. The 1985 world sf convention (Aussiecon II) was mostly run out of our lounge room, since I was the membership secretary and Christine was the treasurer. After that we got kind of burnt out and real life more or less took over. It was a very interesting ten years, and I got to meet a lot of good and interesting people (including Anne McCaffrey, Joe and Gay Haldeman, Chris Priest...) and read a lot of good fanzine writing. My reading interests have broadened since 1975, and I don't actually get through a huge amount of sf these days, though I still have a guilty liking for heroic fantasy.

posted by dajashby at 6:43 am (EST) on Oct 18, 2009

Noticed you liked I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in reviewing my new novel and posting your comments here as well as a few other book-related sites. Thought you might like my book since it's also about a disturbed young girl's mental illness and also a bit dark. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like (I'm out of physical copies at the moment). Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 1:36 pm (EST) on Aug 13, 2009

Hi, Barb!

I wondered what was happening with you, but figured that as with just about everyone else, you were busy.

Yes, the election took up a great deal of emotional energy. We managed to vote from here, although, given the clowns who occupy the Island County auditor's office (I've had too many absentee ballot problems with these people over the years), heaven alone knows if my ballot was counted. we were ecstatic with the result--an end, one fervently hopes, to the destruction in almost every sector of US life that has been going on for 8 years. I imagine you, too, have been delighted with the science picks, both at the cabinet and other levels. Mary has corresponded with Lubchenko professionally and considers her top notch.

Fortunately, all 7 of us are in good health and enjoying life, although Ethel, our 14 year old black Lab, is recovering from minor surgery.

May you and all whom you love have a wonderful New Year!

Joyce

posted by Joycepa at 5:27 am (EST) on Dec 31, 2008

Hi Barb,

Thanks for looking at my library. We do share a lot of the same books. Yes, I totally agree that Cry to Heaven is the best Anne Rice. The characters are so compelling, and the prose and descriptions of Venice are beautiful. I liked the vampire books, but they got to be tedious towards the end of the series. And I love E. George's Lynley/Havers books. I've been trying to wait patiently until Careless in Red comes out in paperback, but I think if I see the hardcover on a really good sale I may have to pick it up. I'll look through your library when I have more time to see if I can find some new reads, since of course my TBR pile is so small (she says sarcastically). ;-)

Happy Reading!

Holly

posted by hohosmurf at 2:30 am (EST) on Dec 31, 2008