2004 - 07/2004 Meeting

Page Created: 09/25/10. Last Updated: 10/28/10. Last Google Group Page Update: 05/31/08.

MULTI EVENT PROGRAM

Talk: Fantasy Writer Pauline Alama

Video: "Men into Scotsmen" by Monty Python's Flying Circus

Reading: "Schrodinger's President" by Patricia Nash

Pauline Alama's website is: http://www.geocities.com/paulinejalama/paulinealama.html

MEETING SUMMARY:

Meeting Date: July 10, 2004.

Meeting Site: Borders Books, Paramus, New Jersey.

Official Attendance: 20.

Meeting Program: Talk by Fantasy Writer. Video Screening. Reading of Science Fiction Story.

Notes:

Pauline Alama also spoke at the Association's August 2002 meeting. Patricia Nash is the Facilitator of the club's Writers of the Weird critique group.

Meeting Memories:

Newsletter Account:

The Science Fiction Association of Bergen County met at the Garden State Borders Books & Music on Saturday, July 10, 2004. Turnout for the meeting was light, handicapped by a tardy newsletter and the competition of the Barbecon cookout of the New Jersey Science Fiction Society and the Shore Leave Media Convention, so it is perhaps just as well that the originally scheduled speaker -- who lives two hours away -- was unable to make the meeting.

The Final Frontier met at 6:30 PM to discuss ghosts in television and movies. Among the movies and television shows discussed were GHOSTBUSTERS, GHOST, TOPPER, THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR, BEETLE JUICE, and NEARLY DEPARTED.

Fantasy writer Pauline Alama headlined the replacement program. She was accompanied by her husband, Paul Cunneen and their infant son, Sean. Ms Alama is the author of the novel, THE EYE OF NIGHT, and a handful of short stories.

She began her appearance with a reading fo the first part of a short story, "Home for the Holidays." The hero of the tale is the discontented son of Santa and Mrs Claus and will appear in the forthcoming original anthology, ROTTEN RELATIONS. The book is edited by Denise Little and will be on sale by DAW Books for the holiday season.

After the reading, Pauline talked a bit about THE EYE OF NIGHT, outlining the novel for audience members not acquainted with the work and answering questions from those who had read the book. Much of the discussion had to do with the similarities and differences between the gods of her world and Christian and Tarot icons.

She revealed that she had not made much progress on the sequel to the book because she was juggling a full time job and caring for pre toddler Shaun, whose bedtime routine prevented her from spending more time with us this evening.

We then introduced the second article of programming for the evening, the MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS Science Fiction Sketch variously known as "Men into Scotsmen" or "The Attack of the Blancmanges." It was surprising to see how many people had never watched this parody.

The final segment of the program was a reading of "Schrodinger's President" by club member Patricia Nash. The tale concerns the complications resulting from two groups of time travelers from different eras determined to settle the truth of what occurred in Dallas during the Kennedy assassination.

Our thanks to the staff or Borders Books and all who helped out.