I have to admit, the temptation to title this update ‘Captain’s Log: Supplementary’ was strong, but I somehow resisted. Various things have come to light, which I wanted to bring to your attention now, rather than wait the statutory month to send out.
BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY AWARDS:
I got a note from Simon Clark, who said:
“The Night of the Triffids scooped the BFS award for
best novel; I snuck in with best short story too. I
was completely gob smacked as I had tough competition
from Graham Joyce and Neil Gaiman. Now the awards
stand proudly at either side of the TV.”
Simon is an old mate, and I’m delighted to see him win
this, especially as he beat Neil Gaiman, who just won
the Hugo for ‘American Gods.’ The details are:
BEST NOVEL (THE AUGUST DERLETH FANTASY AWARD):
Simon Clark, THE NIGHT OF THE TRIFFIDS (Hodder &
Stoughton)
BEST SHORT FICTION:
Simon Clark, "Goblin City Lights" (URBAN GOTHIC:
LACUNA AND OTHER TRIPS)
DMZ ONE DAY EVENT:
Those indefatigable folk over at DMZ, who organised
the highly successful CARITAS event in July are
starting up their season of on- day events, the first
of which will be in Wynne’s Hotel in Abbey Street in
Dublin 1 on Sunday the 17th of November from 10AM to
about 7PM or so. They’ll be showing season premieres
of Buffy, Angel and Smallville. I’m not sure of
admission charges, but you could have a look at their
website, which is to be found at
http://www.dmzevents.cjb.net/
THE THIRD PLACE EXPANDS:
Those of you who know The 3rd Place, a specialist
sci-fi merchandise shop in Crow Street in Dublin’s
Temple Bar area, will be glad to hear that they are
finally to expand the shop’s business downwards, into
the shop’s ample basement. This will be used for
RPGs, CCGs and DVDs. (That would be, for the
uninitiated, Role Playing Games, Customisable Card
Games, and Digital Video Discs…) The DVDs are both
region 1 & 2, I’m told. There will also be a
permanent sale section. The basement should be
opening this weekend (Saturday 28th), all going well.
SLOVO BOOKS:
Slovo Books is my own website, where I intend to
pursue various pet projects, from a tribute to Cathal
Ó Sándair, who was the only author to successfully
write SF in Irish, to my own family tree. It will
also, and more importantly in this context, be the
home for the archive of this newsletter, as well as
the various other NLs I wrote at various times. There
is still some work to be done, but you can go visit
the archive at
http://www.slovobooks.com/irishsfnews/index.html. I
am deeply indebted to Ian Sheppard, my Webmaster, for
making this all look so lovely.
OCTOCON UPDATE:
I am told that, due to completely unforeseen
circumstances, John Meaney will be unable to attend
Octocon this year. He sends his regrets.
THE PHANTOM CHANCER:
The Phantom Chancer is the superhero lead character in
one of Roger Gregg’s radio plays, which broadcast on
RTÉ Radio 1 last Saturday, 21st September.
According to the script: “The Phantom Chancer is really James Ó Méalóid, an unemployed website designer and sci-fi convention organiser who lives at 22 Tara Street Apartment 35. James is 31 years old. Likes jammie dodgers, Star Trek and Play Station. He thinks constantly about girls but seldom ever speaks to one. His favourite colour is green.” He’s also 16 stone, and runs a newsletter, which he is anxious to get on with writing, as he’s heard that Pratchett has a new hat.
I’ll admit to some of these, but not all of them! I think, in fairness, that the character is based on bits of me, and bits of various other people, who know who they are... It was interesting watching all the heads turn to look at me during the broadcast, though, seeing as this was one of the ones done before a live audience.
You can hear in over the ‘net at http://www.radio1.ie/weekend/crazydog/ in case you don’t believe me.
BARGAINS ABOUND:
I got a note from Gerry Doyle, who says:
“If anyone's interested I seen videos of the old Lost
in Space show going for 2 euros in Tommy's cheapie
shop in Northside shopping centre, and a basket full
of Dr. Who books in Oxfam in South Great George's St.
today.”
That’ll be in Dublin, I imagine, although Gerry in
now living on the outskirts of Ireland’s technology
town, Ennis.
If you’ve any news, opinions, or hot tips, don’t be
afraid to send them on to me. I thrive on gossip...
Regards,
Pádraig Ó Méalóid
Irish SF News