If you attended the Science Fiction Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies this past June in Seattle, I would appreciate hearing any comments on the event or any views you might care to share.  The event, held in conjunction with the LOCUS Awards this year was moved from the SF Museum's "Sky Church"  and into a much smaller and less grand venue in a Courtyard Marriot.  I've heard that some fans were unable to attend due to the limited space.

As to why I'm interested: I founded the original SF Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Kansas City Science Fiction & Fantasy Society and Jim Gunn's Center for the Study of Science Fiction.  I served on the museum's Board of Advisors until that body was disbanded last year, and I have served as chairman of each induction committee since we transferred the SFHoF to Seattle.  I've attended most of the inductions, however this year scheduling just didn't allow for that. 

Note that I'm not interested in hearing about the LOCUS Award presentations.  I just want to hear how the SFHoF portion of the evening went.

 
Regards,
    Robin Wayne Bailey
 
 

Well, Diana is under the weather and Ron is under the weather, so my plans to head to Worlds of Fun for the best fireworks display in the world are on hold.  However, plan-makin' man that I am, I have a fall-back scheme. K-Mart stores are currently carrying a lot of old martial arts movies in their discount racks, including some old Jackie Chan works I've never seen (or heard of).  I picked up two of them a while ago.



REVENGE OF THE PATRIOTS is actually kind of a cool find, and I'm looking forward to this one - with lots of popcorn, of course.  However, this movie was considered lost for a lot of years.  It features, not just a young Jackie Chan, but a shitload of martial arts stars, like Bruce Li, Judy Lee, Carter Wong, Chan Wai Man, and others. Of course, those names mean nothing to you unless you're a total fan of bad martial arts movies - or Hong Kong Phooey, as I sometimes call it.  And I totally admit to being just that.  How can you go wrong?  A band of revolutionaries take on the Manchu goverment with nothing but their fists and feet!  Right!  It could happen!  And then, if all my brain hasn't run out my ears, there's ---



THE MAGNIFICENT BODYGUARDS!  Set in medieval China, Jackie Chan heads up a group of elite bodyguards who undertake to protect a noblewoman on a journey through dangerous mountains!  Lions and tigers and bandits - oh my!  "Rah rah ree!  Kick 'em in the knee!  Rah rah rass!  Kick 'em in the --"  well, you know the rest!

I anticipate a fine night.  I mean, how many times can you really watch reruns of old World War II movies on cable?  Or "news" coverage of fireworks on the Potomac?  Christ, talk about your brain running out your ears!  No, tonight, it's me and my new boyfriend, Jackie Chan.  I've got him, and you don't, so there!  :P

Happy 4th, everyone!
 

I've managed once again to get totally upside down in my sleep cycle.  For many years, I've written late into the night and slept half the daylight hours away.  Getting up at noon is okay.   But every now and then when I'm working intensely on a specific project, I forget the time and write the entire night away, often not quitting until seven or eight in the morning.  Of course, it then takes an hour or two to unwind enough to even think about sleep.  And of course I then sleep the entire day away.

I love being in that kind of "zone" when I'm writing, but I hate the effect this has on everything else.  My appointments falls by the wayside; I don't make it to the gym; most of all, I lose the daylight.  This tends to make me grouchy, and worse, when I do get up I still don't feel rested.

On the other hand, I'm pleased with the work.  Sigh.

It's been one weird and stressful weekend, and we stayed an extra night to allow both Diana and I to rest a bit.  We're packing to hit the road for home now.  Diana has a walk-in doctor's appointment as soon as we're back in Kansas City.  More later.

Well, the day got off to a fascinating start ... but.

With far too little sleep, I got up at six o'clock to get ready to meet the person who would drive me to Station KTUL, channel 8, for an interview yesteday morning.  We got lost on the way, but got to the station in plenty of time.  Time enough, as it turned out to have a pretty fun conversation with another guest in the waiting area - Ron Campbell, an older gentleman who was an animator for Hanna-Barbera.  He worked on the JETSONS, the FLINTSTONES, SCOOBY-DOO, among others, and also did the animation for the Beatles, YELLOW SUBMARINE.  He was well-versed in older science fiction, being familiar with Asimov, Bradbury and others, but said he found almost none of it of interest in the last decade or so.  He was in in 80's now.

After the driver got lost again on the way back, I arrived at the hotel to find  Diana in an anxious state.  I won't go into the medical details, but we took her to the emergency room of the nearest hospital, where we waited in the waiting area for four hours until I called KC for advice from our own doctor.  At which point, on his advice that we -not- make the drive back to KC I got medieval on the desk staff's asses.   They then admitted Diana right away.  After CT-scan and blood work and a few other tests, they determined that she was suffering from colitis.  We got out of the ER about eight-thirty.  I found a pharmacy, got her prescriptions filled, and she'll be spending the rest of the convention weekend resting up in the hotel room.  They didn't want her to attempt a drive home, or we'd just have called the convention quits.


Best,
    Robin

Tags: animation, conventions, emergency room, star trek
Current Location: The Institute for Really Unusual Research, Tulsa Branch

I got word from Moonstone Books today that they're -very- happy with the expansion on THE SPIDER - Death Votes Twice.  They've got the artist lined up already.  I'm afraid I haven't gotten the artist's name.  However, I'm excited.  Writing the story was great fun.  There are some touch-up "suggestions" to take a look at next week.

Meanwhile, I'm writing this from a Hilton Inn in Tulsa.  We made the drive down this afternoon in the scorching heat.  Tomorrow TREK EXPO begins with a really stellar line-up of actors and stars and a handful of writers.  This will be the third year I've served as Master of Ceremonies for this event.  It's great fun - but also exhausting.  I have to be up and ready to appear on a local television morning news program at 8 o'clock in the morning, which means getting up a six to dress and get breakfast.  I don't do six o'clock well - at least not on the "getting up" side of the day.  But, what the hell, I'm a trouper, and promotional opportunities are gold these days. 

I'm getting so respectable.  I turned down a chance to go with friends to the Tulsa Eagle tonight because I've got to get up so early.  Feh on respectability.

Did I say that it's scorching?

Tags: heat, star trek, the spider, writing
Current Location: The Institute for Really Unusual Research, Tulsa division

It's been a productive night.  Or morning.  Or whatever time is appropriate.  I got the galley proofs for one story yesterday afternoon, looked them over and got them finalized by evening.  Then, after a break, went to work to finish the expansion on THE SPIDER - DEATH VOTES TWICE for Moonstone Books.  I actually expanded it a bit too much.  Oops.  However, I sent it to the publisher anyway and told him that I'd wait for feedback before I made any further changes.  But personally, I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out. 

So, two stories taken care of in the same day.  Or night.  Or morning.  Whatever.  I call that productive.

And I think this damned pneumonia is finally breaking.  I suppose it -could- be the adrenaline rush that results from finishing an enjoyable project, but I was feeling basically pretty good all day yesterday, too.  I hope it's gone.  I'll still take the next few days pretty easy, because on Thursday I leave for Tulsa to emcee the annual Trek Expo.  Go, me.
 

Best,
     Robin

Tags: pulps, spider, writing
Current Location: The Institute for Really Unusual Research

... Is a fantasy movie called THE PROMISE.  I first saw this movie two years ago and rewatched it again tonight.  Watch this small clip and then find the film for yourselves.  You won't regret it.

 
Here's one of the trailers, as well.  The film is lush, gorgeous, and highly imaginative. 


And still one more clip, if only because I love this film and want to share it with everyone - or just watch it myself for days.  This may be the best of the three.

Oops. Got them out of order, darn it.  Not sure how to correct that.  But enjoy!

Tags: fantasy, films, martial arts
Current Location: The Institute for Really Unusual Research

While I've never stopped my karate training, it's been the better part of a year since I took part in formal class.  I have my own bag and considerable training gear here at home, and I occasionally worked with a Shotokan class while I taught at Longview,  but I've been absent for too long from Ryobu-kai.  While I've been recovering from pneumonia, I've been giving a lot of thought to changing that.  Ryobu-kai is one of the original five traditional Japanese styles.  Here is a video of my Sensei, Howard High, performing a kata called "Seiryu," which is specific to the Ryobu-kai style.


I really admire High Sensei and have known him since just after my cancer adventure ten years ago.  He was instrumental in my recovery in all sorts of ways, not the least because he didn't cut me any slack.  Nor was he impressed with any of my previous martial arts background.  He worked me hard and proved to be a more demanding instructor than any I'd had before.

Unfortunately, High Sensei has moved to New Jersy, and the local Ryobu-kai school is under the control of another.  Returning will not be the same.  No matter, I hope for a good experience. 

Tags: karate
Current Location: The Institute for Really Unusual Research

Ray Bradbury has long been one of my favorite authors for all sorts of reasons.  Here's a very entertaining article and interview with the 88-year-old writer.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/us/20ventura.html?_r=1&ref=us


Photograph by Ethan Pines for the New York Times.

Tags: libraries, ray bradbury
Current Location: The Institute for Really Unusual Research