The WSFA Journal

The WSFA JOURNAL

JANUARY 1984

Volume 7     Number 7

WSFA Minutes

Meeting of December 2, 1983; at Olivers', Alexis Gilliland presiding.

The meeting was called to order at 9:18. As the December WSFA Journal was at hand, it was decided to waive reading the minutes. The treasury stood at $6,867.04.

Committees

PUBLICATIONS: The December WSFA Journal was handed out.

ENTERTAINMENT: Doll reminded everybody that the next meeting will be at their house and it will be the Tree Trim Party. Also, the next day they will be hosting the Solstice Dinner. If you're planning on attending, let her know what you'll be bringing.

DISCLAVE '84: Beverly Brandt is still selling memberships. Also, Chairwoman Jane Wagner announced that if you have anything to put in the Disclave flyer, please give it to Barry Newton as soon as possible.

OLD BUSINESS: Everybody was reminded that the Fifth Friday Party will be at the home of Lee Smoire and Mark & Jul Owings in Baltimore. The New Year's Eve Party - which is the following night - will be at Alan Huff's in Silver Spring. Lee Smoire had maps for the Fifth Friday Party.

NEW BUSINESS: Mike Walsh, ConStellation Chairman, stated that due to the large deficit the convention has, it will be unable to pay WSFA the $1,000 loan it owes the club. Also, would WSFA be willing to give another $1,000 to help prevent Connie from going bankrupt? After a long, heated discussion, it was decided to wait until the first meeting in January at which time Connie will present an estimate of where the money is going to be coming from and what the chances are of evading bankruptcy. Upon viewing this plan, WSFA will then decide whether or not to give Connie the requested $1,000.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Beverly Brandt noted that: a) the Birthday List is still available. Please make sure your birthday is on it. b) The newspaper, "City Paper", is available for your perusal. It contains a large article on SF with several WSFA pro members mentioned. c) Phil Grossfield of Moonstone Bookcellars says that Anne McCaffrey will be in the store on December 14th at 12:00 A.M. and will be available for autographs, etc.
  2. Brian Lewis says a friend of his is looking for an artist for a publication he's coming out with. Anyone interested?
  3. Bill Berg reported that ex-WSFAn Jim Dana will marry Martha Jean Measures on December 17th in Oxnard, CA.
  4. Alan Huff relayed the news that Charlie Ellis will marry Natalie Paymer on December 4th. Congratulations!
  5. Rebecca Prather announced that: a) Goodwill Industries Guild is having a book sale at the Washington Convention Center from December 1 through 7. b) The space shuttle will be visible on Saturday, December 3rd at 6:05 West to South and on Sunday, December 4th at 5:55 from West to Southwest.
  6. Rich Kolker is still selling memberships to Brave New Con.
  7. Lee Smoire says that there is also a book sale going on at the Pratt Library in Baltimore on Saturday and Sunday. Prices: Hardbacks are $1.00, paperbacks are 50¢.
  8. Bob Oliver asked for a meeting of the Membership Committee immediately following the meeting.
  9. Suzi Koon is still selling raffle tickets for a ceramic Xmas tree. Price: 3 for $1.00. Also, tickets for a portable TV with radio and a cassette recorder. Price: $1.00 a chance or 6 for $5.00.
  10. Jane Wagner has quit her job and is looking for a new one. Can anyone help her?

The meeting boisterously adjourned at 9:53.

MORE MINUTES

Meeting of December 16, 1983, at Gillilands', Alexis Gilliland presiding.

The meeting was called to order at 9:20. It was unanimously agreed to waive reading the minutes. The treasury stood at $6,612.48.

Committees

PUBLICATIONS:

The December WSFA Journal was still available (but it vanished completely before the night was over!).

ENTERTAINMENT:

Dolly announced that we have a Xmas tree upstairs to decorate. She then read the Solstice Dinner list. (For the list, see elsewhere in this Journal.)

DISCLAVE '84:

As Chairwoman Jane Wagner was absent, due to a death in the family, the meeting was waived.

OLD BUSINESS: Zip!!!

NEW BUSINESS:

A motion to send a condolences card to Jane was passed. The secretary will send a card from the club.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Ron Leonard has '84 calendars for anyone who'd like one.
  2. Mike Herrick has Hexacon flyers.
  3. Rebecca Prather has her yearly Xmas letter at hand.
  4. Martin Wooster, for the first time since he joined WSFA, weighs less than 200 lbs. Congratulations!!!
  5. Somtow's 31st birthday party will be at EveCon which will be held at the Sheraton International Conference Center located at 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, VA 22091. Room rates are a flat $46. Dates: December 30 - January 2. Membership: $15 at-the-door. Write to: FanTek EveCon, Box 128, Aberdeen, MD 21001
  6. Lee Smoire still has directions for the Fifth Friday Party. There will be a poker game after the meeting. Also, she's looking for someone who would like to purchase one of the tickets to Germany she recently won. If interested, please see Lee for further details.
  7. Joe Mayhew has his new Xmas musical tribute to WSFA.
  8. Bob Oliver asked for a meeting of the Membership Committee immediately following the meeting.
  9. Ellen Vartanoff has copies of "Speculative Fiction".
  10. Steve Smith related that there will be a Regency Ball on Friday, December 30th at 8:00 P.M. until ... Location: Trinity Episcopal Church in Takoma Park, Md. Admission Price: $4.00
  11. Barry Newton noted that he, not Wayne Dionne, has the sofa bed to give away as was indicated in the December WSFA Journal. (Sorry about that, Barry.)

The meeting disappeared from sight at 9:36.

WSFA BIRTHDAYS!

1/3 Mark Owings
1/4 Kim Weston
1/9 Allan Lane
1/11 Ginny McNitt
1/20 Doll Gilliland
1/20 Gary Oleson
1/24 Bill Berg

'YENTL'

Movie Review

- Geoffrey Gould

BARBRA SHARES a special moment with her papa, Reb Mendel (Nehemiah Persoff) in "Yentl."

YENTL, MGM/UA's impressive feature, was written and directed by Barbra Streisand who stars in the title role. Rarely has a film's pre-release hype been so well deserved.

In the early 1900's in Europe, the knowledge-hungry Yentl must learn her Jewish heritage in secret, taught by her father (Nehemiah Persoff) until his death. In order to escape the traditional life of a woman, she cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to join with a Yeshiva to learn.

She quickly befriends fellow student Avigdor, well-performed by singer Mandy Patinkin (and given no songs to sing) and the two of them debate about the Talmut, life, convictions, etc. Avigdor introduces Yentl to his love Hadass, played by the lovely and talented Amy Irving.

Never has Amy Irving come across so seductive while so innocent. Her liquid eyes and manner are possibly the best points in the film.

Unable to reveal herself as a woman, Yentl's feelings are expressed in songs written by Michel Legrand, whose songs all sound the same. Alan and Marilyn Bergman's lyrics, however, make up for it as many are very witty and never halt the film "just for a song."

Because Avigdor is suddenly forbidden to marry Hadass because his brother committed suicide, he entreats Yentl to marry her, and to keep Avignor, Yentl is forced to agree.

The humor behind the farcical marriage comes into play when Hadaas begins to have feelings for her "husband" and begins to forget Avigdor. Amy Irving claims she took the part in order to be the first actress to kiss Streisand on film.

YENTL is not a film to be missed.

Address Corrections

Linda Sweeting
[censored]
Seabrook, MD 20706
(301) 459-3787

Upcoming Cons

Jan. 6 - 8:
HEXACON 6 at the Brunswick Motor Inn, N. Prince & Chestnut Streets, Lancaster, PA 17603. (717) 397-4801. Room rates are: S/D - $34, T - $36 & Q - $38. GOH: Somtow Sucharitkul, AGOH: Phil Foglio. With Hal Clement, Marvin Kaye & Barbi Johnson. Membership: $10 at-the-door. On Saturday night there will be a Miller's Smorgasbord; $10.00 per ticket. Write: W/SASE to Bruce & Flo Newrock, Box 270-A RD 2, Flemington, NJ 08822
Jan. 13 - 15:
BRAVE NEW CON at the Sheraton International in Reston, VA. Room rates are $46 flat!!! GOH: Fred Pohl, AGOH: Frank Kelly Freas. Membership: $12 at-the-door. Write: W.A.C.O., P.O. Box 5818, Bethesda, MD 20814
Jan. 13 - 15:
CHATTACON 9 at the Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, TN. Write: Chattacon 9, Box 921, Hixson, TN 37343
Jan. 13 - 15:
ESOTERICON at the Sheraton Heights, 650 Terrace Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. Room rates are: S - $44, D - $60, T - $65, Q - $70 and Suites - $110. GOH: Jacqueline Lichtenberg, FGOH: Marion Zimmer Bradley. Special Guests: Katherine Kurtz & Jean Lorrah. Membership: $30 at-the-door. Write: W/SASE to Esotericon c/o Anne Pinzow, Box 290, Monsey, NY 10952
Jan. 20 - 22:
RUSTYCON at the Seattle Hyatt House in Seattle Tacoma Airport, WA. GOH: Robert Asprin, AGOH: William R. Warren, Jr., FGOH: Jerry Kaufman. Membership: $18 at-the-door. Write: Rustycon, P.O. Box 47132, Seattle, WA 98146
Jan. 27 - 29:
CORFLU at the Claremont Resort Hotel in Berkeley, CA. A fanzine convention. GOH: To be chosen at the convention. Toastmaster: Terry Carr. Presentation of First OGhu Awards. Membership: $24.31 (incl. banquet). Write: Corflu, 263 8th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118
Jan. 27 - 29:
GENUINE CONFUSION at the Plymouth Hilton in Plymouth, MI. GOH: Mike Resnick, FGOH: Martha Beck, Toastmaster: Dick Smith. Membership: $12 until 1/15/84, $15 at-the-door. Write: Ann Arbor SF Association, Inc., Box 2144, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 (313) 485-4824
Jan. 27 - 29:
PIRATE CON at the Ramada Inn, I-40 at Nelson, Amarillo, TX (806) 373-8333. Room rates are $38 flat! GOH: C.J. Cherryh, FGOH: Roger Tener. Membership: $12 at-the-door, $5 - 1 day passes. Write: W/SASE to Starbase Amarillo, c/o Dragons Cove. P.O. Box 30961, Amarillo, TX 79120

A Letter From Chick

Dear Beverly,

Blame it on the Season. A six pack of guilt, or just plain cussedness. Whatever. I am doing this crime against paper to thank you and WSFA for the consideration you have shown toward me. The Journals are very welcome.

As an old fan, and tired, I appreciate the thought; believe me.

I haven't given up on Science Fiction. I still read; mostly P.J. Farmer. But the growing crowds at the conventions and claves have more or less driven me to watch from the sidelines.

Besides, I've gone back to building model airplanes, a hobby that goes back as far as SF. To about 1932, I surmise. So you see what happens to old fans? They play with toy airplanes!

Without my help, or hinderance, the club seems to be healthy, both in members and in money.

For the coming year, bless Orwell, I see nothing but success for WSFA.

                Thanks again,

                Chick Derry

January's New Books

(Courtesy of Moonstone Bookcellars, Inc.) KEY: Hardback - (H), Paperback - (P), & Tradepaperback - (T).

Adams, Douglas: The Hitchhiker's Trilogy, Omnibus Edition (H)
Asimov, Isaac: The Winds of Change - $2.95 (P)
  w/Warrick & Greenberg: Machines That Think (H)
Brooks, Terry: The Elfstones of Shannara - $3.95 (P)
Chandler, A. Bertram: Frontier of the Dark - $2.75 (P)
Christopher, John: Fireball - $2.25 (P)
Cleve, John: Spaceways #15, Starship Sapphire - $2.50 (P)
Cook, Glen: The Fire In His Hands - $2.95 (P)
Datlow: The First Omni Book of Science Fiction (P)
        The Second Omni Book of Science Fiction (P)
Diamond, Graham: Marrakesh Nights - $2.95 (P)
Dick, Philip K.: The Penultimate Truth - $5.95 (T)
Farmer, Philip Jose: The Classic P.J.F., 1952-1964 - $7.95 (H)
Fisher, Paul: The Ash Staff - $2.25 (P)
Gray, Nicholas: The Seventh Swan - $2.25 (P)
Gunn, James: The Joy Makers - $7.95 (H)
Hawke, Simon: The Ivanhoe Gambit - $2.50 (P)
Kapp, Colin: The Chaos Weapon - $2.50 (P)
Knight, Damon: The Man In the Tree - $2.75 (P)
Lafferty, R.A.: Ringing Changes - $2.95 (P)
Lichtenberg, Jacqueline: Rensime - $11.95 (H)
Lindholm, Megan: The Windsingers - $2.75 (P)
MacAvoy, R.: Damiano - $2.95 (P)
Martin, George R.R. (Ed.): John W. Campbell Awards - $7.95 (T)
McCarthy, Shawna (Ed.): Isaac Asimov's Space of Her Own - $12.95 (H)
McEnroe, Richard: The Shattered Stars - $2.95 (P)
McKillip, Patricia: The Throme of the Erril of Sherrill - $2.25 (P)
Monaco, Richard: Runes - $2.75 (P)
Moorcock, Michael: The Bane of the Black Sword - $2.50 (P)
Oliver, Chad: The Shores of Another Sea - $7.95 (H)
Pini, Wendy & Richard: Elfquest, Book 3 - $10.95 (T)
Pope, Elizabeth: The Perilous Gard - $2.25 (P)
Russell, Eric Frank: Men, Martians & Machines - $7.95 (H)
Spinrad, Norman: The Void Captain's Tale - $2.95 (P)
Tolkien: Book of Lost Tales - $16.95 (H)
Watt-Evans, Lawrence: The Book of Silence - $2.95 (P)

Solstice Dinner

The following is the menu of the Solstice Dinner. Needless to say, we had a Feast!!! Thanks to all of you who participated.

Hors D'oeuvres   Hummus w/Toasted Wheat Crackers   Kiwi   Marinated Chicken Livers   Shrimp Dip & Tacos   Deviled Eggs   Clam Spaghettini   Turkey w/Dressing   Sauerkraut   Cornbread   Beef Curry   Sweet Potato Casserole   Tossed Green Salad   Broccoli Casserole   Macaroni & Cheese a la Lewis   Meatloaf   Green Beans & Mushroom Casserole   Fruit & Nut Bread   Stuffed Peppers   Blueberry Muffins   Bean Salad   Rice Pilaf   Peas & Onions   Cranberry Sauce   Fruit Salad   Mixed Veggies   Fresh Fruit Salad   Watergate Salad   Waldorf Salad   Strawberry Bavarian   Jello Molds   Pagan Tree Cake   Cookies   Pumpkin Pie   Pecan Pie   Apple Pie   Cranapple Pie   Rumballs   Mixed Nuts   Mulled Wine   Champagne Punch   Egg Nog   Coffee   Tea   Beer and Soft Drinks

And now, a word from our sponsor ...

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The WSFA Journal is the obstreperous monthly newsletter of the Washington Science Fiction Association. Editor-in-Chief: Beverly L. Brandt, 3326 Lauriston Place, Fairfax, VA 22031. Tel. No.: (703) 573-8230. Assistant Editor: Warren Rodgers