Ion Newcombe

CoNZealand have announced that this year’s GUFF delegate is Alison Scott of London, UK. 

Alison has been active in fandom since the mid 80s. An enthusiastic congoer and conrunner, she’s chaired the Eastercon (UK national convention) twice, and run many smaller cons.

As part of the Plokta Cabal she’s won the Best Fanzine Hugo twice, and won the Rotsler and Nova awards for her fan art. However, she’s perhaps best known in her local fandom for staying up too late and partying too hard, and is spending lockdown actively working on finding ways to make that happen virtually.

She’s promised to make a trip to Australia and New Zealand when circumstances allow, but in the meanwhile she’s going to both attend CoNZealand and tour the continent virtually. She’ll be not flying to Western Australia in mid-July, switch to Australian time, and will then work her virtual way across Australia, reaching New Zealand a few days before the Worldcon starts. She’s hoping to meet as many local fans as possible, along with spending time in every available time zone and fitting in as many virtual tourist attractions as possible. So if you’re planning any virtual events during the period 11 – 29th July, why not get in touch with Alison (alison.scott@gmail.com) and invite her along?

Read moreConZealand 2020 (Virtual) GUFF Delegate Announced

It was announced on Friday, April 10, 2020 at Norwescon 43, in (virtual) SeaTac, Washington, that the winner for the distinguished original science fiction paperback published for the first time during 2019 in the U.S.A. is:

SOONER OR LATER EVERYTHING FALLS INTO THE SEA: STORIES by Sarah Pinsker (Small Beer Press)

Special citation was given to:

THE LITTLE ANIMALS by Sarah Tolmie (Aqueduct Press)

The Philip K. Dick Award is presented annually with the support of the Philip K. Dick Trust for distinguished science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. The award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the award ceremony is sponsored by the NorthWest Science Fiction Society. The 2019 award was given to THEORY OF BASTARDS by Audrey Schulman (Europa Editions) with a special citation to 84K by Claire North (Orbit).

Read more2020 Philip K. Dick Award Winner Announced

CoNZealand, the 78th World Science Fiction Convention, has announced the finalists for the 2020 Hugo Awards, Lodestar and Astounding Awards and the 1945 Retro Hugo Awards.

First presented in 1953, the Hugo Awards are the longest-running fan-voted awards in science fiction and fantasy. They recognise both professionals and fans, honouring written fiction and dramatic presentations, artists, editors and others.

The video announcing the finalists is available for viewing on the CoNZealand YouTube channel.

“Congratulations to all those announced today. Being a finalist for a Hugo Award signifies the high esteem in which the fan community holds your work. Getting to this stage is a huge achievement,” said CoNZealand Co-Chairs Norman Cates and Kelly Buehler.

Nominations for the 2020 and 1945 Hugo Awards were submitted by the members of CoNZealand, the 78th Worldcon, and Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon. 1,584 people submitted 27,033 nominations for the 2020 Hugo Awards, and 120 people submitted 1,677 nominations for the 1945 Retrospective Hugo Awards.

Read moreHugo and Retro Hugo Award Finalists Announced

From Bruce Gillespie

Helena Binns has just phoned Elaine and me to say that her husband Mervyn R. Binns, best known to everybody as Merv Binns, died yesterday, 7 April 2020, at the Kingston Centre, Monash Health, Melbourne. Born 8 July 1934, he was 85 years old. Merv had suffered serious heart problems during the last two decades. He was admitted to hospital about a month ago, then suffered a seizure on 2 April. He has been slowly slipping away since then.

Because of the coronavirus shutdown in Australia, his funeral can only be attended by a very small number of people, so Helena will arrange a gathering in celebration of his life and work as soon as feasible.

Read moreMervyn R Binns 1934-2020

From Tehani:

We all need a bit of joy in our lives right now, so it is with great pleasure we present the Aurealis Awards finalists for 2019. Congratulations to all the finalists, and a huge thanks to our panelists who have persevered through fire, flood and plague to deliver these shortlists, which contain a glorious diversity of work for your delectation. It’s a really important time to support your local creators, so if you are able, go hunt down some great reads today!

Read moreAurealis Awards 2019 Shortlist

A message from the organisers of Continuum 16:

Friends, Romulans, Countrypeople, I think you know what this is about.

With our current new COVID-19 reality, it has become increasingly obvious that it is not only impossible but irresponsible to go forward with Continuum 16 in 2020. Therefore, the Continuum 16 Committee has come to the decision to postpone Continuum 16: All Possible Futures to a future date in 2021.

Our intention is to retain our lovely Guests of Honour — Zen Cho, Glenda Larke, and Marlee Jane Ward — for the rescheduled con, and use this extra unexpected downtime to come up with some shiny plans for virtual gatherings and online workshops. Meanwhile, you can keep up with Zen on Twitter and Patreon, Glenda on Twitter, and Marlee on Twitter and Patreon. Consider supporting their Patreons, or purchasing their books if you can, because we love them.

Read moreContinuum 16: All Possible Futures – POSTPONED

CoNZealand, the 78th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), will be making history, as it becomes the first ever ‘virtual Worldcon’, CoNZealand Chairs, Kelly Buehler and Norman Cates announced recently.

“This has been an incredibly difficult decision, but one that had to be made now to give our guests and members some certainty during this extraordinary time for the world.

“The changes are coming fast and furious as New Zealand enters a four week lockdown. We are all dealing with an unprecedented set of circumstances that make it very difficult to plan for the future.

Read moreWorldcon Goes Virtual

Via Edwina Harvey:

FFANZ RACE 2020

Nominations are now open for the 2020 Fan Fund of Australia and New Zealand (FFANZ).

FFANZ was created to strengthen ties between Australian and New Zealand fandom. This fan fund financially assists the winning FFANZ delegate with travel and associated costs to attend the Natcon of the other nation.

In 2020 FFANZ will send an Australian science fiction fan to the 2020 World Science Fiction Convention, CoNZealand, being held July 29-August 2 in Wellington, NZ.

Prospective candidates have until 25th March, 2020 to file the documents required to nominate to run for the FFANZ ballot. Voting will run from 27 March, 2020 to 27 April, 2020.

Read moreFFANZ 2020 Race Nominations Open

March 10 2020

A report from the Swancon committee:

In light of information from the Department of Health, the Western Australian Department of Health, and the advice of medical professionals in our community such as Dr Karen McKenna, the Convention Committee, Convention Steering Committee and WASFF Board have voted to cancel Swancon 2020.

Read moreSwancon 2020 Cancelled

2019 Nebula Award Finalists

February 20, 2020

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) announced the finalists for the 55th Annual Nebula Awards, including the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and the Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Young Adult Science Fiction or Fantasy Book. The awards will be presented in Woodland Hills, CA at the Warner Center Marriott during a ceremony on the evening of May 30th.

Read moreNebula Finalists Announced