HUGO FOR WHO KILLED S-F
Bantam’s “A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M Miller
Jr was awarded the Hugo for the year’s best novel at the Seattle
19th World S F Convention, held last weekend 2nd-4th September.
Poul Anderson,whose novel “The High Crusade” was nominated won through
in another award section, his Analog story “The Longest Voyage”
taking the Hugo for the Best Shorter Work.
Analog Science Fact & Fiction broke a lengthy string of F&SF
successes by winning the Hugo for the best professional magazine.
Ed Emshwiller took the Best Artist Hugo for the second year in succession,
as did Rod Serling’s programme “The Twilight Zone” in the section
for best dramatic presentation.
In the fanzine field the award for best amateur publication went
to the bulky symposium "Who Killed Science Fiction".
Already a collector’s item WKSF was last year circulated through
SAPS by its producers, Nancy and Earl Kemp.
(Many thanks to our reporter)
VERY MUCH STOP PRESS:: Just too late to catch more than
a mention is a glowing report from Len Moffatt on Ella Parker’s
meanderings around Los Angeles,:: Bob Pavlat, in a cable from the
SeaCon, also reports that Ella is wonderful::: Further to the SeaCon,
late flashes are that Robert Heinlein, 1960 Hugo award winner (novel,
Starship Troopers) spoke at length about his worries concerning
the future of the world. Chicago took the 1962 World Con and 250
attended this year’s SeaCon. PARKER IN LOS ANGELES Rick Sneary reports
:: :VOTE TAFF – LAST CHANCE
ELLA’S IN WONDERLAND Ella Parker, leading
light of London fandom, arrived safely in Los Angeles after her
fifteen hour flight from Newark. Ella flew from London Airport on
22nd August and had to switch airlines and airports from Idlewilde
to Newark for her internal flight to LA by TWA. Ella made the switch
by helicopter and reports that she saw the famous skyline and the
Statue of Liberty. The plane to LA made up time lost on other stops
and arrived ten minutes earlier than scheduled. Ella reports that
she was presented with the first copy of THE WILLIS PAPERS which
are now out. She was met at the airport by Len and Anna Moffatt
and Rick Sneary. She mentions meeting the Los Angeles fans who were
delighted with their ATOM-produced SFCoL membership scroll
and who presented her with a Parker pen in return. Ella would probably
not be known to us stay at homes, it seems, for not only has she
bought a pair of shorts, but she is wearing them!
Of Ron Ellik, Ella writes that she is still supporting Eney for
TAFF, but that “Ellik is a dream of a boy and b----- good fun...he
is a lot more handsome (this is for the girls) than his pics would
lead you to think.” Ella also mentions being impressed by the cops,
the lack of pedestrians, but not at the Los Angeles traffic. These
blase Londoners.
Rick Sneary, that kind hearted cog-wheel of Los
Angeles fandom, was good enough to report on Ella’s reception in
LA.....
29th August: “This proved to be one of the saddest days I’ve
had in some years. All because Len and Anna and I had to see
Ella on her plane to Seattle this morning, putting an end to an
unbelievably happy visit. .... Whilst my regard for one Britisher
has gone up, my feeling towards the rest of you, has hit a new low.
Everything that I’ve read to date about the Parker personality has
been proven a base slander. Of course, I knew none of you were telling
the truth. You’re a bunch of nuts who love to, insult each other.
It didn’t seem likely that you chaps were spending so much time
at the Penitentiary just because she made good tea. Even so, it
hardly left me prepared to meet quite so wonderful a person. .....
None of you limies who call her "Auntie Ella” had better ever
come to California. Or I’m apt to blind the other eye, with me fist!
“Ella was due to arrive on Aug 23rd at 9 45pm but she was ten
minutes early. We drove her to the Moffatt’s where we put on a pot
of tea, and Ella relaxed and talked and showed us snaps of English
fans (No good shots of you with a beard - were there any?). Ella
was taken shopping the following afternoon and shown round the city
and on down to Ackerman’s. There she got the standard private tour.
From there to the Fan Hilton for a festive dinner. Ron Ellik had
to wash up even though he hadn’t eaten dinner. There were 40 or
so fans at the LASFS meeting, with the Schultheises from out of
town. A small group sat around talking until 2am.
Friday 25th Len and I took Ella to the Hotel Alexandria so she
could say she had had a drink in the Solacon Hotel. More sightseeing
followed.
Sat August 26th lunch at the Moffatts, over to Stan Woolston’s
and finally out to Rory Faulkner’s with the day given over to tea
drinking, talking and watching TV.
On Sunday 27th, Len and Anna picked Ella up at Rory’s, meeting
Ron Ellik and Paul and Ellie Turner. Then on to Disneyland where
they met Jack and Julie Jardine. Ron and the Turners took Ella to
dinner and a tour of their ghost town. Then to Ellik’s in Long Beach
where she met his mother and was given some moonlight sightseeing.
Aug 28th In the morning the Moffatts drove Ella to the
Beach so she could wade in the Pacific. In the afternoon we talked
and drank root beer and in the evening we sort of realised that
this was our last dinner together and that it was something of an
occasion. Ella put on a lovely flame coloured frock and we had wine
before the meal. I even remembered to help the ladies with their
chairs. Then, after washing up, we sat and had a last long talk.
Len and I couldn’t bear to be parted from Ella any sooner than we
had to so we followed her around as she packed things and sorted
those things to be mailed. As always with all good things, the last
night was the best. There was only one thing to do in the morning,
catch the plane – so we talked and talked and the bond between us
grew. Damn it all Ron, I guess I take back my earlier remarks about
your not saying enough about her. You can’t put Ella into words.”
All this, I should note, is condensed, - extremely condensed
– from a detailed four page letter from Rick. On 29th August, Anna,
Len, and Rick saw Ella off on the UAL flight to Seattle. The plane
was due to stop at San Francisco/Oakland and Portland before hitting
Seattle at 4.30pm. Ella had the idea of getting to Seattle a couple
of days before the con in order to catch the meeting of the Nameless
Ones and surprise Wally Weber. Did she make it? Well, we’ll have
to see next time round!
And many, many thanks, Rick, for such a glowing account.
BASTION 2 (Eric Bentcliffe & Norman Shorrock, 47 Alldis
Street, Great Moor,Stockport, Cheshire 1/6 per issue, 4 for
5/- 51pp) Running through this latest offering from
the Liverpool Group and Satellites are the usual worth-while-having
Eddie Jones illustrations and he’s given plenty of scope to show
what he can do with his stylus. There are three excellent pictorial
extracts from Starship Troopers. Faversham and Hurstmonceaux contribute
another Harrison adventure which is well up to the high standard
expected of them. John Owen gives the low down on Merseyside happenings.
Eric Bentcliffe sums up th Gloucester LXIcon. Doc Weir is present
with an article on historical sf, Avram Davidson’s Pittcon speech
is reprinted (re-?) in full. Millions of letters, illos by Joni
Cornell and Terry Jeeves complete this Harrison Approved publication
Get it
TAFF We are now in the last month for voting in
the campaign te bring over a delegate to next year’s National Convention.
Dick Eney and Ron EIlik are both good men (SKYRACK is supporting
Ellik) and it is hoped that one of them will get your support.
If you haven’t yet voted, VOTE NOW!!! Meanwhile, even before the
present campaign winds up on 30th September, the nomination period
for the 1962 return trip has been thrown open. Eddie Jones and Ethel
Lindsay have already filed for nomination. Any more? Votes, cash,
nominations, etc to Eric Bentcliffe (address above) or Don Ford,
RR2, Ward’s Corner Road, Loveland, Ohio, USA
10th ANNIVERSARY WILLIS FUND NEARS MINIMUM TARGET Axe,
that excellent newszine published by Larry & Noreen Shaw,
16 Grant Place, Staten Island 6, New York, reports that over $880
are already on hand, with a further $80 plus being guaranteed from
postal auction bids. The TAWF is going great guns and it is impossible
to see how it can fail. Contributions to Noreen or to Arthur Thomson
17 Brockham House, Brookham Drive, London SW 2
SINCERE CONGRATUlATIONS to Marjorie and Susan who
this coming week marry Stan Nuttall and Chuck Harris. Respectively,
I hasten to add. Both events will, I hope, be covered by Skyrack
reporters.
SKYRACK AMERICANA Dick, Pat and Poops Ellington
have moved to 1818 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley 3, California Dick
recently lost his job and is thinning out the dole by driving an
Oakland hack ::: Communal feed for the Willis Fund at Bill Donaho’s
place 23rd September ::: Miri and Terry Carr have split up
after two years marriage. Terry is now in New York (c/o Graham,
635 East 5th St Apt 8; New York 9, NY) is growing a beard and writing
a novel ::: Bob Lichtman, George Spencer and Andy Main have all
moved up to the Bay Area ::: Ted White is pushing a move to change
the date of the annual World Cons away from Labor Day Weekend :::
“Belle and I have made an amicable separation, pending divorce at
a later date” writes Frank Dietz. The word ‘amicable’ does tend
to soften the blow but to learn of another couple who are friends
of mine splitting up does not exactly give me joy.
I WONDER IF ELLA HAS PLAYED THAT TAPE YET? Bruce Burn,
Arthur Thomson, Jimmy Groves, Ted Forsyth and I cooked up a little
ploy on tape for Ella Parker at the SeaCon. Reports on how Ella
took the news that the Penitentiary has been burnt down would be
appreciated.:::: ALAN RISPIN tells me that Jhim Linwood is
shortly to visit Jim Norris and that I have to send this issue to
Jhim at Jim’s in order to surprise him. Oh yeh? :::: Sandra Hall
left 1st September for lengthy stay in Egypt.
PRONEWS Ken Slater writes:- “Difficulties over importing
US ACE paperbacks (due to the fact that “Ace” is imprint of another
publishing house in the UK) show no sign of being resolved. Odd
copies come through, but A A Wyn Co. quite rightfully will not export
to UK while the difficulty exists .... Bertram Chandler’s RIM OF
SPACE coming in US ACE soon .... Sep/Oct Doubleday BC selections
are FIFTH GALAXY READER and Nourse’s TIGER BY THE TAIL .... E.E.
Smith has a new serial in Nov IF .... Ace pbs up to 40 cents from
July .... Harry Harrison in Napoli. Back to Denmark mid-Sept. His
STAINLESS STEEL RAT coming Nov from Pyramid, and SENSE OF OBLIGATION
coming early next year in Bantam .... Penguin have put out Wolfe’s
LIMBO 90 at 5/- .... Bradbury profile coming October Amazing.”
Many thanks, Ken.
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