It's been an interesting summer and so far OryCon 18 continues to shape up well--it looks like it will be one of our bigger OryCons and we're working hard to make sure it will be a good one.
Congratulations to our Guest Gardner Dozois on winning the 1996 Hugo for Best Professional Editor.
Some of you have already heard--through Harlan Ellison's Sci-Fi Buzz commentary or elsewhere--of the needs of our local author Jo Clayton. She is hospitalized and receiving treatment for multiple myeloma, a form of cancer, and is in need of financial and emotional support. That is the reason for the special Oregon SF Emergency Fund auction which will occur in combination with our usual Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund auction. Cards and donations (payable to the Oregon SF Emergency Fund) may be sent to the Oregon SF Emergency Fund, c/o OSFCI, P.O. Box 5703, Portland, Oregon 97228.
E-mail messages should be sent c/o bourne@teleport.com. Auction donations are still needed and can be brought to OryCon but please let us know before the con if possible so that the items can be properly catalogued for the auction.
The other big news involves the hotel itself: Red Lion is being bought by Doubletree. However, this should have NO impact on OryCon 18 since the transaction will not be complete until after OryCon. And, we hope that the addition of Doubletree's "trademark" chocolate chip cookies will be the only effect on our future OryCons.
Through October 31, 1996 $25
At the door $40
One-day rates:
Friday $20
Saturday $25
Sunday $15
Children 5 and under Free
Children 6 to 12 Half-Price
OryCon 18(If the recorder answers, you have at least 30 minutes to leave a message.)
PO Box 5703
Portland, Oregon 97228-5703
Phone: (503) 283-0802
Web page: http://www.orycon.org/orycon18/
Email: ruths@spiritone.com & orycon.18@genie.com
Registration will be in the usual location--in the main lobby of the hotel. Registration hours are:
If you received this progress report by mail, you are an OryCon member. Your membership number is on the mailing label. If any information is incorrect, or has changed, please let us know. The best way is mail or e-mail, but if you must call, spell out the changes.Thursday 6PM to 10PM Friday 11AM to Midnight Saturday 9AM to 6PM Sunday 10AM to 2PM
Memberships and dealer's tables are transferable. If we are notified before the con, we'll have the new badge ready. Otherwise, we require a signed note from the original purchaser of the membership before we can accept the transfer.
Remember: if you requested a badge name, your real name will also appear on the badge, but in real tiny type. (With some exceptions, such as different forms of the same name or in the case of author's pseudonyms.)
Our Guests of Honor
DIANE DUANE grew up on Long Island but found her way to Ireland where she gardens, cooks, and writes wonderful books. Whether you've read her fantasy works, Star Trek novels, or Young Adult books (Door into Fire, The Wounded Sky, and So You want to be a Wizard? are just a few), played the computer games, or seen the animateds, you've just barely scratched the surface.
PETER MORWOOD escaped from his British civil service job in Customs and Excise to write fantasy and science fiction full-time,and we are grateful. Look for The Horse Lord, Prince Ivan, and Greylady just for starters--there's lots more. Military history and single malts are two of his passions.
GARDNER DOZOIS is best known as the eight-time Hugo award winner for Best Professional Editor while editing Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine for the past ten years and many of the field's premier anthologies. Here's your chance to find out more about his writing and wit without a trip to Philadelphia!
PATRICIA DAVIS has been sending her art work to OryCon for years and you've been eagerly buying her astronomical and fantasy works. This year she is our Artist Guest and can't stay at home in the Bay Area with her painting, writing, gardening, and study of Cantonese.
OryCon Programming
Patty Wells and Linda Pilcher
We're very gratified with the number of interesting and talented people who've agreed to appear on the Orycon Program this year. Below is a list of program participants at this time which we've strived to make correct.
Having collected surveys from this diverse group the programming trolls are now locked inside a dank dark sub-basement spinning program surveys into gold. Well, at least so we hope.
We look forward to seeing you at OryCon and thank everyone for their ideas and assistance.
In addition to our Guests of Honor, we also have these Program Participants:
Greg Abraham Sarah Goodman Theresa Reed Cathy Adkinson Eileen Gunn Paul Riddell Heather Alexander Jon Gustafson Arlin Robins Kim Antieau Tara Harper Alan Rodgers Steve Barnes Norm Hartman Bruce Holland Rogers Donna Barr Jane Hawkins Mary Rosenblum Betty Bigelow Nina Kiriki Hoffman Kristine Kathryn Rusch Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Marilyn Holt Richard Paul Russo Mark Bourne Kathy Ice D. F. Sanders Elizabeth Lawhead Bourne K. W. Jeter Kathy Sanders John Bunnell Kij Johnson Jim Sarafin Roderick Bunnell Jerry Kaufman Pippen Sardo Sally A. Bunnell Margaret Organ Kean Laurie Sefton Elinor Busby Meryle Korn Michael Shea Kurt Busiek Jean Lamb Robert Sheckley Gail Butler Durlyn Larson Louis Shiner Amy Sterling Casil Patrick S Lasswell Jon Singer David Clark Sonia Orin Lyris Dean Wesley Smith Mona Clee Mark Manning Kevin Standlee John Cramer Adrienne Martine-Barnes Julie Stevens Pauline Cramer Todd Johnson McCaffrey Amy Stout Debbie Cross Luke McGuff Steve Swartz Ctein Bridget McKenna Patrick J. Swenson Howard Davidson Donna McMahon Mike Tanaka Gary Davis Don McQuinn Janet Tanaka Joy Day Vicki Mitchell Susan Taubeneck John de Camp Mari-El Mor Amy Thomson Dan Duval Mike Moscoe Suzanne Tompkins Claire Eddy Rebecca Neason Roy Torley Marjii Ellers Larry Niven Edd Vick Ru Emerson Andrew Nisbet Chuq Von Rospach M.J. Engh Marybeth O'Halloran Ray Vukcevich Jim Fiscus Steven Oliver Elisabeth Waters Margaret Forsythe Alan Olsen Julia West Steve Forty Jerry Oltion M. Brook West Louise Foster Margaret Organ-Kean Leslie What Joan Gaustad Fred Patten Deborah Wheeler Janice Gelb John Pelan Tom Whitmore Stephen Gillett Elayne Pelz Theo Williams ElizaBeth "Lace" Gilligan Steve Perry Ben Yalow Molly Gloss Anthony Pryor-Brown J. Steven York Lenora Good Irene Radford Chris York
The OryCon 18 Art Show will feature the artwork of Artist GOH Patricia Davis, Ambrosia, Betty Bigelow, Gail Butler, Lela Dowling, Angela Jones, Monica Livingstone, D. Nilsson, Mark Roland, Carla Tirible, Marcus Willis, and many others. As always, we welcome artwork with science fiction, fantasy, comic or fannish themes. Display fees remain at $7.00 for a 4' x 4' panel or 2' x 4' table space; print shop space is available at $2 per reservation. OryCon collects a 15% commission on all sales. Mail-in art work is welcome with a handling fee of $15 (half of which is rebated if all your work is sold). In order to appropriately handle all of the artwork, there will be a maximum percentage of mail-in work accepted. Please make your space reservations as early as you can.
The show has sold out before the convention for the last few years and has had a waiting list. So, this is your warning: get those reservation forms back to us as soon as possible. If you are not sure that we have your (correct) address, please drop a line to the P.O. Box or use one of the OryCon e-mail addresses to get it to us.
To send us your input, receive an Art Show mailing, get more information, or volunteer to help with the artshow, write to the OryCon P.O. Box, e-mail to the addresses listed or phone Lisa Axmaker at (503)598-7464 before 10 PM. And, speaking of addresses, please, please, please, if you move (and want to stay on our mailing list) send OryCon your change of address.
Filksinging and Music Programming
Anita Page
At OryCon 18 we plan to have a full schedule of music programming, concerts, and song circles for your listening (and participating) pleasure! As the filking coordinator, I've been going over various e-mail printouts regarding music circles at the convention. All the opinions have been taken under advisement, and I will try to remain flexible, as the needs of the convention dictate. Please call me at home and leave a message if you have fresh opinions.
Bring your instruments, vocal chords, songs, and ears and get ready for a weekend of music! If you have any suggestions, comments, or requests please feel free to write to filk programming Attn. Anita Page at the OryCon PO Box.
Special Guests of Friends of Filk: Telynor
Cecilia A. Eng
We hope you will join us at OryCon 18 in welcoming Anna and John Peekstock who perform as Telynor. With a truly amazing collection of instruments from hurdy-gurdy and Celtic harp to didjeridu and cittern, Telynor draws its repertoire from the traditional songs of the British Isles, France and Appalachia as well as from their own original compositions. While they have many fans in the Seattle area and have graced many a stage from British Columbia to California, they are a rare treat for us in Portland, Oregon.
Be sure to catch their performance at the Saturday night music concerts (watch for further information in your program book, pocket program and our usual electric green music concert flyers at the convention)!
The Return of the OryCon Variety Show
Ann Hoffert, Tracy Bailey, Janet Borkowski, Vicki Harrison, Barbara Hoffert
You say you don't sign up for Masquerades because you don't like being judged?
You say you don't know if that old costume hanging in your closet is good enough for the stage?
You say you don't want to be mired down in complicated rules and regulations, do's and don'ts?
You say you have no place to play your accordion or ride your unicycle?
You say you fall asleep during half-time?
Is that your problem, Bunky?
Well!! Step out into the light! Join us at the OryCon 18 Variety Show. We promise not to judge, we'll love you and your presentation unconditionally, our sign-up guidelines are user friendly and we don't have half-time.
We're doing it like last year, only better. So please don't hesitate to join in. And for those who just like to watch (you kinky people, you), you're the reason we're doing this! So step right up, come one come all to the greatest...er best...er most interesting Variety Show this side of...Tencton.
Writers' Workshop
John C. Bunnell
The deadline has passed for submitting a manuscript for critique in one of OryCon's formal writers' workshops--but even if you haven't sent in a story, there will still be ways for you to participate in Writers' Workshop programming. We are presently creating a line-up of special events that won't involve signing up before the convention. Subject to available talent and programming slots, these may include:
Nor are we neglecting those who have sent in material to be critiqued. If this is you, you'll receive a packet of material to read before the convention, including information about your workshop section.
We're looking forward to this year's Writer's Workshop events, and we hope as many of you as possible will take advantage of them.
Internet Cafe
Janet and Charles DeVore
OryCon will be offering a place to connect to the 'Net.
Our plan at this time is to have several computers available for connecting to the Internet. OryCon attendees may drop by to get a tour of some interesting places, or learn about the features of the Internet and on-line communication. Realizing that many of you are already connected, you may wish to bring information on specific sites to share with others. The exact configuration of the hardware is still being worked out but should include Macintosh and Windows.
Dances
Doug Bissell
Contrary to previous reports, Kurt Daily will not be the DJ at the Saturday night dance, due to a time conflict. We are checking with possible replacements; however, anyone with suggestions, or possible volunteers, please contact Doug Bissell at Clypse@aol.com.
Any musical requests can be emailed to the same address. While we can't promise to meet everyone's needs, we shall do our best to play what the con-goers wish to hear.
Video
Mary Olsen & Andrew Montgomery - Video
Monica Olsen - Cereal and Toons
Greetings from video!
Andrew and I will have 24 hour video this year and, if all goes well, two video rooms in which non-hotel residents may view it.
For those of you familiar with Clark County, Washington's public access TV... we have close contact with the producers of the delightful little production called "Outer Space Patrol". There is a possibility that we may be seeing some original material produced just for OryCon from them.
Also, our contact from NOVA has volunteered people and equipment for projection of hard-to-find laser disc versions of a variety of movies. We hope to negotiate a time and room with screen from programming for this project. Please be assured that there will not be a preponderance of anime as was seen at last year's OryCon.
We are also pleased to announce the return of Cereal and Toons as brought to you by Monica Olsen. She has asked that if anyone has any toon preference to please e-mail that request to alano@teleport.com. She would also like to remind you that the time for Cereal and Toons is limited, so please keep the requests to shorts. (She may not be able to schedule all the requests she receives due to time limitations.)
Dealers' Room
Pat Steed
We're still sold out with a waiting list. We have had one change however; Charae Crystals had to cancel their reservation, so Firewolf will be there with a variety of interesting items.
OryCon 18 Dealers:
Pat SteedAngelwear Creations Loreen O'Heneghan Anna the Lost Ludicrous Games Book Vault Magika West Bryan Barrett Mon Droit Studio Dragon Tales Books and Gifts Quicksilver Fantasies Dragonfly Design Recycled Regalia Edie Reichard Rhonda Gheen Everett Comics & Cards Shadow's Treasure Chest Express Yourself Shipman's Star Props Eye-deas Springtime Creations Fantasy Creations Stone Cold Firewolf The Tooth Fairy Friends of Filk The Fantasy Connection Hypogriff Armoury/Creations by Tova The Magickal Aardvark, Ltd Lady Peg Leg Uncomyn Gifts Lady Jayne's Books Wrigley-Cross Books
The Trial of R. Lionel Fanthorpe
Debbie Cross
Nearly twenty-five years after the publication of the Badger books, R. Lionel Fanthorpe is being charged with a variety of crimes against the English language and the reading public. He was arraigned at a recent OryCon committee meeting and will be tried at 9:00 PM Friday night at OryCon.
The prosecution claims that, although we may now find the writing humorous, that does not bring a murdered metaphor back to life.... Prosecuting attorney Debbie Cross stated in a recent interview, "Although some people may think this is a laughing matter, we are deadly serious about exposing every mutilated analogy, bringing to light every flogged concept. We will show beyond a reasonable doubt that he assaulted the English language with a Thesaurus, padded every manuscript with excessive verbiage and defrauded the public by using 28 pseudonyms."
All OryCon members are summoned to the Klamath room to be seated on the jury for this momentous trial.
Gaming
David Mohr
This year OryCon's gaming room will be in a new location, downstairs in the remodeled Yakima room. Pre Reg games are as follows:
David Tackett
(206)531-3724
Combined Auction to Benefit Medical Emergency Fund and Petrey Scholarship
Jim Fiscus
OryCon's regular auction benefiting the Susan Petrey Scholarship Fund has been expanded this year to help meet a medical emergency. It will be held at 4:30 Saturday afternoon in the Klamath room. Portland writer Steve Perry has agreed to be auctioneer.
Portland Science Fiction and Fantasy writer Jo Clayton is in Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon, undergoing chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow (plasma cells). Multiple myeloma is not curable, but is treatable, and long-term remissions are not uncommon. Jo is responding well to her chemotherapy. In addition to chemotherapy, Clayton is receiving Aradia, a newly-approved drug that repairs much of the damage done to bones by the cancer.
Jo Clayton is the author of 34 novels and many short stories. Her best known SF work is likely "The Diadem" series (from DAW). Not counting sales of her latest book, Drum Warning, Clayton's works have sold over 1,250,000 copies. Drum Warning was published as a hardcover by Tor in June.
The Oregon Health Plan, Oregon's greatly expanded Medicaid program, will cover Jo's hospital expenses, but falls short of providing for vital medium- and long-term care. Donations to help Jo should be sent to the Oregon SF Emergency Fund to avoid endangering Jo's benefits under the Oregon Health Plan:
Oregon SF&F Emergency FundEstablished under Oregon Science Fiction Convention Inc's non-profit corporate umbrella, the fund will help destitute science fiction and fantasy writers from Oregon. Clayton is its first beneficiary. People wanting to donate items to the portion of the auction benefiting Jo should contact Jim Fiscus, either in care of the above address or by email at: fiscus@teleport.com.
c/o OSFCI
P.O. Box 5703
Portland, Oregon 97228
Updates of Jo's condition are posted in Clayton's topic on GEnie: SFRT 1,
Category 29, Topic 37, and in the Internet news group topics:
rec.arts.sf.written and
rec.arts.sf.fandom.
Going, Going, Gone!
Debbie Cross
Once again the Susan C. Petrey Auction will be held at OryCon to raise funds for scholarships to Clarion and Clarion West Writers' Workshops. This year we can boast such items as the manuscript for Steve Perry's Star Wars novel, Shadow of the Empire, with handwritten notes from the editor. Maybe you're more the type to bid on a piece of hand-crafted jewelry by Laurie Edison or Harlan Ellison's Mephisto in Onyx with signed bookplate. Whatever your tastes, we're sure to have something for you. Come preview the auction items at the table in the Dealers' Room.
Of course, we always need new and exciting things to auction. If you have something that another fan might want, we would be most grateful for the donation. We are non-profit and tax deductible. If possible, we would like to get donations beforehand so we can properly catalog and promote them. They may be sent c/o Wrigley-Cross Books, 1809 NE 39th Ave., Portland, OR 97212. We will continue to accept donations at the Susan Petrey table in the Dealers' Room. If you have questions, call Debbie or Paul at (503) 281-9449.
The auction starts Saturday at 4:30 PM in the Klamath room.
Hospitality
We're looking forward to another great hospitality suite--hosted by Ethan
Herget and Linda Payne. Food and beverage planning is underway and we'll
have lots more to tell you in the next progress report.
Here's a few updates to whet your appetites: Cereal & Toons will be return as a morning presentation in Hospitality; Saturday afternoon, thanks to Barbara Oldham and Joyce Zimmerschied, we have a tea party on the schedule--complete with appropriate goodies; to keep everything and everyone on an even keel, we'll again have a professional bartender and a nominal charge (25 cents) for beer and wine (some of Oregon's best). Soda and other non-alcoholic beverages will, of course, be freely available along with lots of good munchies--both healthy and fattening <g>.
Running Hospitality is a big job, so any offers of help will be gratefully received. There's work to do pre-con in food preparation and purchase, and plenty to do at con, keeping everything fresh, full, and clean. The hotel just refurbished the entire Interstate Wing--new carpeting, wall coverings, furniture--so we'll want to be especially considerate.
Child Care
Aaron Bodor
Child Care will be provided at OryCon by professional nannies as in recent years. It will be located in the Hayden Island Wing. Here are tentative hours and rates--please check at OryCon for any changes.
Please note that Child Care closes for an hour (5-6 PM) for dinner each day. Children must be picked up by 5 PM and by closing at the end of the day. Parents will be charged a premium for picking up children late.Friday 1 PM to 5 PM, 6 PM to 11 PM Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, 6 PM to 11 PM Sunday 9 Am to 3 PM
Our rates are not firm but will not be more than $4 an hour. Scrip will be sold in the convention office (Tualatin Room in the Interstate Wing). Our nannies have enough to do without handling paperwork or money so you will need to go to the office first to register your child or children and purchase scrip.
OryCon Volunteers
John Mead
OryCon, as with all conventions, runs on volunteers. While department heads are determined way in advance, and lots of planning occurs, the actual convention would not happen without the assistance of those wonderful people who VOLUNTEER on site.
We will need volunteers in the following areas: Registration, Art Show, Dealers Room, Hospitality, Dances, Convention Office, Fan Room, Programming setup/takedown, and a wide variety of areas too vast to mention!
As in past years, there will be a raffle, a Meet the Pros session, and new for this OryCon, a Meet the ConCom session!
If you find you have time on your hands, and feel like helping out, swing by the Volunteers table, in the main lobby near Registration; we will generally be able to find something for you to do (evil grin).
For more pre-convention information, please contact:
Sean Prescott
E-mail: seanp@efn.org
For the seventh year in a row, we're at the Red Lion/ Columbia River hotel, North of downtown Portland. The room rate this year is $78.00 (plus tax) a night, for up to four people in the room. Remember to indicate whether you wish the party or the non-party wing, and to include a deposit or credit card number to guarantee your room if you are not planning on arriving before 6 PM. At this time, suites are not available during OryCon weekend.
All persons/groups wishing to hold a party should request a room in the Party Wing, the Interstate Wing. The Red Lion hotel is requiring a refundable deposit of $100.00 for all open parties. A party sign-up list will be in the convention Office, as well as information about posting your deposit with the hotel. The hotel is providing extra cleaning supplies to party rooms, available upon request at the Front Desk or through Housekeeping.
Because we've been filling the hotel earlier each year, the reservation information is included in this progress report. You can make your reservation by cutting out and mailing the completed form, or (even better) calling the hotel directly at (503) 283-2111. Just make sure that you tell the hotel that you're with OryCon to make sure that you get the proper rates. (The toll-free number for general reservations is 1-800-RED-LION, but if there is any doubt about your reservation status, please call the hotel directly.) Make your reservation today! And when you receive your confirmation, please check it carefully to make sure there are no errors.
The rate listed above is good no matter when you make your reservation -- but remember, OryCon has sold out their entire block for several years in a row. This year we have fifty rooms blocked in the Red Lion Jantzen Beach, a short walk across the parking lot from the convention hotel. So, in addition to a Quiet Wing, we actually have provided a Quiet Hotel!
If you have any problems with your reservation, feel free to call me at (503) 231-8952 or email me at rverde@gstworld.net. We're here to help you.
How to Get to the Hotel
BY AIR: The airport is about 6 miles from the hotel. There is a free shuttle from the airport running every 30 minutes from 7 AM to 11 PM (it serves both the Columbia River and Jantzen Beach Red Lions). A taxi costs about $12.
(The following is from the PDX website.)
Due to Expansion of Portland International Airport, construction delays will affect air travelers and PDX visitors from September 1996 to April 1998. Plan on using one of the following shuttle or parking programs and keep hassles to a minimum:
BY BUS/RAIL: Union Station, the Portland Amtrak terminal, is right next to the Greyhound station. From either, walk a couple of blocks south (through the construction) to Everett, and catch a #5 Jantzen Beach or Vancouver Tri-Met bus. The fare is $1.05 cents, and there's a bus stop in front of the hotel. (A taxi costs about $12.) Note: It's actually more efficient to take Amtrak to Vancouver, since that station is very close to the Jantzen Beach area.
Hotel Reservation Form
OryCon 18
November 8-10, 1996Mail to:
Red Lion Inn/Columbia River
1401 North Hayden Island Drive
Portland, Oregon 97217or call:
(503) 283-2111
NAME: ______________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP: ____________________________________________________ Arrival date: ___________________ Departure date: _________________ Arrival Time: ___________________ CREDIT CARD INFORMATION: Name on card: ______________________________________________________ Card number: ______________________________ Exp. Date: ____________ Beds: One Two Rollaway ($15) PARTY WING: YES NORoom rate is $78.00 per night, plus tax of approximately 9%, for up to four people ($15 per additional person). Check-in time is 2PM. Rooms must be guaranteed with a credit card to be held past 6PM on arrival date. All unreserved rooms will be released on October 21, 1996. After that, rooms are subject to availability.
The Convention committee defines as weapons any object designed to cause bodily harm, or any replica of such an object and any other object the Committee determines to be dangerous. However the committee reserves the right to amend this definition of a weapon, and the right to impound weapons for the duration of the convention.
Any weapons purchased in the Dealer's Room must be securely wrapped before they are removed from the room.
The committee realizes that most people who would like to carry and wear weapons are sensible and careful individuals. However, because of the present liability laws, the risk of weapons causing accident or distress, and to preserve relationships with convention hotels, we have had to adopt this policy. The safety of convention members has to be our overriding consideration.
We recognize that many children in the 6 to 12 range are capable of independent activity. Therefore, as long as they are causing no problems, they do not have to be under adult supervision. However, if they are not capable of independence, then they must be under adult supervision, or in the day care facility, as above. Children 6-12 are admitted at half the adult price; ID bracelets are not required, but suggested.
Credits
Your progress report editor was Dale Ivan Smith. [Converted to HTML by
David Levine.] Like PR#1, it was compiled almost entirely from email submissions using Word 6.0 for Windows on an old 486/33 and printed on an HP855 ink jet. Cover art by Patricia Davis. All other material copyright 1996 by Oregon Science Fiction Conventions (OSFCI).
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