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THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Volume 15, Number
3, March 2001
[Editor's Note: The original format of this newsletter has been altered for inclusion in this website.]
THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Volume 15, Number 3Copyright © 2001Philip J. De Parto
The Starship Express is the monthly newsletter of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County. To become a member and receive the Express and other benefits of the Association, mail a check for $ 10.00 made payable to Philip J. De Parto, 136 Manhattan Avenue, Waldwick, NJ 07463.
All material by Philip J. De Parto unless otherwise acknowledged. Adapted for World Wide Web posting by James E. LaBarre.
You are invited to see some old friends or make some new ones on Saturday, March 10, 2001 at the monthly meeting of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County. The event will be held in the Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church, 314 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (201) 327 - 3960. Directions appear below.
Fans of the shows Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda are welcome to join us in an Armchair Odyssey and watch the broadcast of the two shows before the meeting. Show times are at 6:00 and 7:00 PM respectively.
Whether you are simply curious about Japanese animation or a dyed-in-the-wool fanatic, you are invited to show up for the 6:15 PM screening of the movie, Black Jack, a futuristic medical thriller.
Former club member Linda Zimmermann will give a talk and slide show about ghosts, hauntings, and other inexplicable local phenomena at the 8:00 PM general meeting. Ms. Zimmermann is the author of eight non fiction and fiction books including Ghosts of Rockland County, Haunted Hudson Valley, More Haunted Hudson Valley, Bad Astronomy (science), Forging a Nation (history), Civil War Memories (history), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Gettysburg (humor), and Mind Over Matter (science fiction). She has spoken at West Point, the Smithsonian, and at the National Mensa Convention.
The S F A B C meets on the second Saturday of the month and features talks, slide shows, and other presentations by people in the science fiction, fantasy, horror and related fields. The Association sponsors a Star Trek group, six book- related discussion groups, an art group, a movie group, a group devoted to anime, a group that watches SF television, a writer's critique group for aspiring authors, a fantasy role-playing game, a special activities group, and other events. We also produce this newsletter and invite you to visit our website at:
The Methodist Church is across the street from our normal meeting site, the Saddle River Valley Cultural Center. Additional parking can be found on the sides and back of the Church.
Important Note: The Methodist Church is on WEST Saddle River Road. One block further over is EAST Saddle River Road. Unlike streets in New York, East does not turn into West. The roads are on opposite banks of the Saddle River which is nothing more than a stream at this point.
Exit ROUTE 17 NORTH at the sign which reads SADDLE RIVER / WOODCLIFF LAKE. (This is the exit after Sheridan Avenue, Ho Ho Kus.) This exit puts you onto EAST ALLENDALE AVENUE heading East. Stay on road for about 1/2 mile and turn left at the first traffic light onto WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. Drive north for 1-3/4 miles. Shortly after passing a brick Catholic Church, the Church of the Presentation, on your left hand side you cross into Upper Saddle River. The Methodist Church is on your right hand side. If you come to a traffic light you have slightly overshot and hit LAKE STREET.
Note: You will see a sign marked WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD on Route 17 northbound well to the south of where you have been told to leave 17. If you take this exit, you will eventually get where you want to be, but it will take you a lot longer to get there.
Exit ROUTE 17 SOUTH at SADDLE RIVER / WOODCLIFF LAKE exit. This puts you onto EAST ALLENDALE ROAD heading East. You drive under the highway. Then follow the directions from Route 17 Northbound.
Note: This way takes you a little bit longer than the exit for UPPER SADDLE RIVER, but it spares you making hairpin turns on steep hills at night in bad weather on an unfamiliar road.
Take Exit 172, GRAND AVENUE, MONTVALE. (This is the last exit in New Jersey and is just past the Montvale Service Area). Turn left at the exit ramp and head west on GRAND AVENUE. There are a lot of small towns in this area, and the road that you're on will keep changing its name. At different points it is called GRAND AVENUE, MONTVALE ROAD, RAMSEY ROAD and LAKE STREET. At the second traffic light you will be at the intersection of LAKE STREET and EAST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. It has two landmarks that anyone in the area will know about: a 7-11 type store called Elmers and a Texaco station. Keep driving west. Do not turn. Turn left at the next traffic light onto WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. The Methodist Church is 1/10 of a mile down the road on your left.
Follow ROUTE 59 until you come to Norris Pontiac in Monsey and turn at the traffic light unto ROUTE 306. This road is also called EAST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. Head south towards New Jersey. (Note: Although the maps show this road as Route 306, and that's what everyone calls it, after you make the turn, the sign reads ROUTE 73. Don't ask me to explain it.) Stay on ROUTE 306 for 2.3 miles Note that there is a long stretch between the first and second traffic lights.
Turn right at the second traffic light which is the intersection of EAST SADDLE RIVER ROAD and LAKE STREET. A Texaco station and Elmers are at this corner. Proceed west and turn left at the next traffic light onto WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. The Methodist Church is 1/10 of a mile down the road on your left.
April 14, 2001 Cultural Center Upper Saddle River Authors Terry Bisson and Gregory Feeley May 12, 2001 Methodist Church Upper Saddle River Writer & small press publisher Barry Hoffman July 14, 2001 Peking Duck House Closter, New Jersey Artist Rowena Morrill & Author Doris Vallejo September 8, 2001 To Be Announced Upper Saddle River Editor & literary agent Shawna Mc Carthy
The memberships of Steve Herr, Kathy Holusha, James La Barre, Jerome Mendel, Cass Peterson, Ken Quintilian, Greg Rosewall, Lucy Schmeidler, Carol Smith, Jim Spinosa, William Wagner, Pamela Webber and Barry Weinberger have expired.
We welcome the return of Michael Piazza and Robert Savoye. Membership in the Association now stands at 64.
Anyone wishing to renew their membership or join the Association may send a check of $ 10.00 made payable to Philip J De Parto, 136 Manhattan Avenue, Waldwick, New Jersey 07463.
The club's Runequest on Mars Fantasy Gamers gathering will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2001 at 1:00 PM at the home of Pamela Webber and Philip De Parto, 136 Manhattan Avenue, Waldwick Lawn, New Jersey (201) 447 - 3652.
On Sunday, March 18, 2001, the Association's Writers' Critique Group will meet at 4:00 PM at the home of Pamela Webber and Philip De Parto, 136 Manhattan Avenue, Waldwick, New Jersey (201) 447 - 3652.
The March Special Activity will be a trip to Lunacon 2001 the weekend of March 23 to March 25, 2001 at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye Brook, New York. Anyone who has never attended a science fiction convention will find this conveniently situated and reasonably priced. We hope to be able to get a table for the Association to display literature and will be happy to give anyone new an overview and other assistance if you contact Philip De Parto at (201) 447 - 3652 in advance.
The Association sends its deepest condolences to club member Daniel Adler on the death of his wife, Alyce O' Connell, from respiratory failure due to pneumonia on Saturday, February 17, 2001.
The Association is saddened by the loss of club member William Wagner's father, William Wagner, Jr., age 77, to cardiac arrest on January 5, 2001.
The club also sends its regrets to Kathy Holusha for the recent death of her father, Henry, age 93, from complications resulting from a stroke.
The Association's Monster Book Group will read and discuss The Devil's Brood by David Jacobs at 8:00 PM on Thursday, March 1, 2001 at Barnes & Noble, 140 Rockland Plaza, Route 59 West, Nanuet, New York (914) 624 - 2920.
The Final Frontier will discuss "2001: What Went Wrong?" at its 7:30 PM meeting at Borders Books & Music, 530 West Mount Pleasant Avenue (off Route 10 West), Livingston, New Jersey (973) 535 - 9001 on Friday, March 2, 2001.
My Favorite Fantasy Story edited by Martin Greenberg will be discussed at the S F A B C Science Fiction Classics Group meeting at 8:00 PM on the second floor of Barnes & Noble, 765 Route 17 South, Paramus, New Jersey (201) 445 - 4589 on Tuesday, March 6, 2001.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury will be the book discussed by the club's Media Tie-In Book Group on Friday, March 9, 2001 at 7:30 PM, at Barnes & Noble, 518 Route 10 West, Livingston, New Jersey (973) 535 - 9595.
The Art of the Fantastic, the club's art discussion group, will meet at 8:00 PM to discuss the art of Moebius at Borders Books & Music, Paramus Town Square Mall, 240 Route 17 North Paramus, New Jersey (201) 634 - 0110 on Monday, March 12, 2001.
That's Science Fiction!, the club's monthly video group, will watch The Faculty on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 at 8:00 PM in the basement of Borders Books & Music, Garden State Plaza, junction of Routes 4 & 17, Paramus, New Jersey (201) 712 - 1166. Note that this is a different movie than was originally scheduled.
The Science and Science Fiction Group will meet at 8:00 PM on Thursday, March 15, 2001 in the cafe of Barnes & Noble, 4416 Palisades Center Drive, Palisades Center Mall, West Nyack, New York (914) 348 - 4701. Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven will be the starting point for a discussion of time and crosstime travel.
Family Tree by Sherri Tepper will be discussed by the book group meeting at the Cup and Chaucer Bookstore, 356 Bloomfield Avenue, 2nd Floor, Montclair, New Jersey (973) 744 - 4970 at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 19, 2001.
The Association's Author Discussion group will meet on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 at 8:00 PM in the music section of Borders Books & Music, Garden State Plaza, Paramus, New Jersey to discuss the work of C S Lewis.
The Voice of Science Fiction will present an Open Mic Night on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 at 8:00 PM at Barnes & Noble, 395 Route 3 East (just East of Main Street), Clifton, New Jersey (973) 779 - 5500. Come and join the fun.
The S F A B C Topic Discussion Group will meet at 8:00 PM in the cafe of Borders Books & Music, Wayne Town Center Mall (next to the Willowbrook Mall), junction of Routes 23 & 46, Wayne, New Jersey (973) 785 - 0037 to discuss Gonzo Sci Fi and Science Fiction on Tuesday, March 27, 2001. The anthology Single White Vampire, edited by Martin Greenberg is recommended reading.
Actors Claudia Christian, Gates Mc Fadden, and Brent Spiner are among the guests at the Slanted Fedora Media Science Fiction Convention held the weekend of Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March 4, 2001 at the Sheraton Hotel, 3580 East Main Street, Waterbury, Connecticut. Prices range from $ 20.00 for one day, at door general admission to $ 150.00 weekend admission including theatre, dinner and autographs. For more information, contact Slanted Fedora Entertainment: (913) 327 - 8735 or http://www.sfedora.com .
Author/editor Darrell Schweitzer will address the meeting of the Prydonians of Prynceton on Saturday, March 3, 2001. The meeting will be held at noon at the Mercer County Public Library, Route 1 Alternate South, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (609) 882 - 9246.
Writer Severna Park will address the meeting of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society held on Friday, March 9, 2001. The meeting will be held at 8:00 PM in the South American Room of the International House, 37th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (215) 604 - 3980 (PSFS Hotline).
On Saturday, March 10, 2001, editor Stefan Dziemianowicz will speak at the 11:00 AM meeting of the Garden State Horror Writers held at the Monmouth County Public Library, Symmes Drive (off Route 9 West), Manalapan, New Jersey (732) 583 - 8786.
The Fantastic Fiction Reading Series continues at KGB Bar, 85 East 4th Street, New York, New York (212) 505 - 3360 on Wednesday, March 21, 2001. Author Paul Levinson and another writer to be announced will read beginning at 7:00 PM.
Author Paul Levinson will read and sign on Friday, March 23, 2001 at 8:00 PM at Barnes & Noble, 395 Route 3 East (just East of Main Street), Clifton, New Jersey (973) 779 - 5500.
Authors Charles Sheffield and Nancy Kress and artist Jody Lee are among the Guests of Honor at Lunacon 2001, the annual literary science fiction convention run by the New York Science Fiction Society, The Lunarians, Inc. The event will be held the weekend of Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2001 at the Rye Town Hilton, Rye Brook, New York. Adult weekend at door admission is $ 45.00. Contact http://www.lunacon.org for more information.
Twister will be shown on Saturday, March 24, 2001 at the Hi-Way Hobby House, 806 Route 17 North, Ramsey, New Jersey. Be there before the store's 5:00 PM close for the 5:15 PM screening. Call Anthony in advance at (201) 327 - 0075.
Authors Harlan Ellison, Harry Turtledove and Timothy Zahn are among the Guests of Honor at I-Con 20, the annual science fiction convention held at the State University of New York's Long Island campus in Stony Brook, New York the weekend of Friday, March 30, 2001 through Sunday, April 1, 2001. Other special events are a live videoconference with Arthur C Clarke and an appearance of film legend Ray Harryhousen. For more information contact (631) 632 - 6045 or http://www.iconsf.org .
Attendees: @ Anime Associates @ * Armchair Odyssey * - At Nellie's Place - &Rejoined& [Not Officially Present] (Newcomers) # Post Meeting Only # Sharon Archer Theresa Mark Elizabeth Belisle Debra Matofsky Karen Boyle @ William Molendyk @ Vincent Carlucci- (Mark Ogren) - -#[Paul Dellechiaie]#- - Alan Polyniak - - Nancy Denker - Thomas Purdy - Mary Ann Denny - * Greg Roman * - Philip De Parto - &Robert Savoye& @ Charles Garofalo @ - Carol Smith - Roy Greenberg - Don Smith - - Moira Grey - * Eric Soencksen * @ Chris Hasselkus @ * Jim Spinosa * - Steve Herr - Steve Spinosa - (Laura Holmes) - - Pamela Webber - James La Barre -@ Taras Wolansky @- - Kate Landis -
Although there was no scheduled guest speaker, the members of the Association came determined to have a good time at the February 10, 2001 general meeting. Most people arrived just before the scheduled start of the meeting, which hurt the attendance of our pre meeting events, but they functioned nonetheless. The only minor glitch on that front was with a VCR, so the Anime Associates worked around that by showing Please Save My Earth instead of His and Her Circumstance.
The meeting proper began with an unrehearsed reading of Terry Pratchett's Cohen the Barbarian story, "Troll Bridge." Don Smith volunteered for the part of Cohen the Barbarian. Steve Spinosa was the troll, Mica. Pamela Webber, his troll wife, Beryl, and Mary Ann Denny, the troll child, Scree. Kate Landis wanted to be Cohen's horse, Horse. Carol Smith did the narration. A jolly good time was had by all, especially the cast, who cracked each other up, drifting in and out of accents and commenting on each's tongues.
About a third of those present left before the next event in the main room to join Taras Wolansky who was showing the anime movie: The Wings of Honneamise: Royal Space Force in the Wesley Room.
Those who remained took part in a trivia contest based upon factoids in Arthur C Clare's 2001 Science Fiction Calendar. There were no prizes and no one keeping score, but club members again displayed a vast knowledge of all sorts of science fiction trivia.
The evening concluded with about 45 minutes of Warner Brothers and other classic cartoons on a videotape brought by Pamela Webber. Then it was pack up, clean up, and off to Nellie's Place for a food and conversation. About the only down note was that Tom Purdy was left behind at the Church waiting for AAA to tow his car home when his key broke in the lock.
As usual, our thanks to Charles Garofalo for various refreshments, Roy Greenberg for the tea, Pamela Webber for far too many things to mention, and everyone else who helped out.
The Monsters of Horror Group met at Barnes & Noble in Nanuet, New York on Thursday, February 1, 2001 to discuss Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: The Evil that Men Do by Nancy Holder. S F A B Cers Paul Dellechiaie, Philip De Parto, Robert Le Bow, Greg Roman, and Pamela Webber were joined by regulars Ann-Marie Brown, Josephine Brown, and Kathleen Brown-Romeo.
Shows from Andromeda to Voyager were sliced, diced, praised and panned at the Friday, February 2, 2001 gathering of The Final Frontier at Borders Books & Music in Livingston, New Jersey. It was a classic free for all for Association members Bruce Bergmann, Vincent Carlucci, Philip De Parto, Steve Rubin, Jim Spinosa, Steve Spinosa, Pamela Webber and Barry Weinberger, and regulars Derek Epstein and Brian Gonigal. There were too many wonderful exchanges to record, from Brian's inquiry: "Does anyone get the feeling that the [Star Trek: Voyager] plotting is done by shuffling cards: nano-probe, time travel, engine core melt down?" to the volley between Bruce and Derek: "Passions is not a girly show. What's the matter with you?" "You talk like a man out of work!" Vince, Phil, Pam and Barry went to the Ritz Diner afterwards.
The War of the Worlds by H G Wells was examined at the meeting of the Classics of Science Fiction Group on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 at Barnes & Noble in Paramus, New Jersey. Club members Elizabeth Belisle, Philip De Parto, Chris Hasselkus, Asta Sinusas, Rey Viqueira, Pamela Webber and Taras Wolasky discussed both the book and its translation into other media. After the discussion concluded, Liz, Phil, Chris, Pam and Taras went to the Suburban Diner.
The Media Tie-In Group met at Barnes & Noble in Livingston, New Jersey to discuss Richard Matheson's The Invasion of the Body Snatchers on Friday, February 9, 2001. S F A B Cers present were Bruce Bergmann, Vincent Carlucci, Steve Rubin, Jim Spinosa and Steve Spinosa.
The Fantasy Gamers Group did not meet in February.
On Monday, February 12, 2001, The Art of the Fantastic Group met at Borders Books on Route 17 North in Paramus, New Jersey to discuss Artistic Interpretations of the Works of Jules Verne. Present at the gathering were Association members Philip De Parto, Chris Hasselkus, Robert Savoye, Eric Soencksen, William Wagner and Pamela Webber. Everyone except Eric went to the Tom Sawyer Diner afterwards.
Due to a mix-up, no one brought a copy of Time Bandits to the gathering of That's Science Fiction!, so we watched Frequency instead. Club members Philip De Parto, Chris Hasselkus, Steve Herr, Theresa Mark, Robert Savoye, Jim Spinosa, Steve Spinosa, Pamela Webber, Barry Weinberger and Taras Wolansky made it to the Garden State Plaza Borders on Wednesday, February 14, 2001. The whole gang made it out to the Suburban Diner where puns, word play, and "in" jokes went on for some time. Ask someone who was there about potatoes, chocolate hearts, or Pecker.
The Science and Science Fiction Group had a small turnout on Thursday, February 15, 2001 at Barnes & Noble in West Nyack, New York. Paul Dellechiaie and Scott Staton led a discussion of William Gibson's Mona Lisa Overdrive for fellow S F A B Cer's Philip De Parto, Pamela Webber and (during her break) Sharon Roberg. Paul, Phil and Pam went to the New City Diner later. The subject of the Darwin Awards kept resurfacing throughout the evening.
It was back to the Hi-Way Hobby House in Ramsey, New Jersey for the Special Activity on Saturday, February 17, 2001. The animated Titan A. E. was the featured film that drew Association members Philip De Parto, Chris Hasselkus, Steve Herr, Robert Savoye and Pamela Webber, regulars Anthony Mangano and Eric Soencksen, and a couple of other people to the event.
S F A B Cers Sharon Archer, Philip De Parto, William Good, Chris Hasselkus, Asta Sinusas, Bruce Wallace, Pamela Webber and Taras Wolansky attended the review of the works of Nancy Kress at the Tuesday, February 20, 2001 meeting of the Author Discussion Group at the Garden State Plaza's Borders Books & Music in Paramus, New Jersey. Phil, Chris, Pam and Taras went to the Suburban Diner afterwards where they were joined first by William Wagner and then by Eric Soencksen.
The Voice of Science Fiction met at Barnes & Noble in Clifton, New Jersey on Wednesday, February 21, 2001. The topic was Love and Romance and the gang came through with an interesting selection of stories by Isaac Asimov, Clark Ashton Smith, and Cordwainer Smith. Association members Philip De Parto, Kate Landis, Alan Polyniak and Pamela Webber were joined by newcomer Eric Soencksen.
The Writers' Critique Group gathering on Sunday, February 25, 2001 was cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Topic Group met in the cafe of Borders in Wayne, New Jersey to discuss International (i.e., non US/UK) science fiction on Tuesday, February 27, 2001. Club members Philip De Parto, Charles Garofalo, Chris Hasselkus, Kathy Holusha, Alan Polyniak, Steve Rubin, Asta Sinusas, Pamela Webber and Taras Wolansky examined works by Verne, Lem, Borges, and others.
Costs associated with producing a print copy of The Starship Express continue to rise. It costs $ .83 to print ($ .49 includes stapling and tax) and mail ($ .34) an issue. The Annual Membership Fee of $ 10.00 barely covers the print and postage expense for members who choose to receive a hard copy of the newsletter. Fortunately, many members now receive it electronically, so we do not have a financial crisis at this time.
We believe that the current fee structure is neither healthy nor fair. We propose to reduce the Annual Fee from $ 10.00 to $ 8.00, and to institute a $ 5.00 Print Fee for anyone who wishes to receive a hard copy. This would result in a more equitable allocation of costs.
There are currently 64 members of the Association. At this time, exactly half of the club receives a hard copy. Thus half of our group would see a savings of $ 2.00 from the current system and half would see an increase of $ 3.00 from the current rate. Overall, the Association would see a modest ($ 32.00) increase in revenue. Members who do not have E-Mail would have the option to decline to receive a copy of the newsletter.
There will be a short discussion of this proposal at the March meeting. There will be plenty of time to give feedback, either privately or at the next couple of meetings. Feel to question or comment.
There will be a vote on this matter at the May meeting.
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