Asimov's Science Fiction: March 2014 Read online

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  SF CONVENTIONAL CALENDAR

  Erwin S. Strauss | 586 words

  It's time could marry the lusty, brutethe climax of a late Easter weekend. I'll be at Boskone and LunaCon. Through February, Asimovians should also consider ChattaCon, CapriCon, RadCon, ConDor and Potlatch. Plan for social weekends with your favorite SF authors, editors, artists, and fellow fans. For an explanation of our con(vention)s, a sample of SF folk-songs, and info on fanzines and clubs, send me a SASE (self-addressed, stamped #10 [business] envelope) at 10 Hill #22-L, Newark NJ 07102. The hot line is (973) 242-5999. If a machine answers (with a list of the week's cons), leave a message and I'll call back on my nickel. When writing cons, send an SASE. For free listings, tell me of your con five months out. Look for me at cons behind the Filthy Pierre badge, playing a musical keyboard. —Erwin S. Strauss

  JANUARY 2014

  24–26—ChattaCon. For info, write: Box 23908, Chattanooga TN 37422. Or phone: (973) 242-5999 (10 am to 10 pm, not collect). (Web) www.chattacon.org. (E-mail) [email protected]. Con will be held in: Chattanooga TN (if city omitted, same as in address) at the Choo Choo Hotel. Guests will include: None announced. A general SF, fantasy, and horror convention.

  24–26—ConFlikt. www.conflikt.org. SeaTac Hilton, Seattle WA. Amy McNally, Tim Griffin, Sunnie Larson. SF/fantasy/horror folksinging.

  31–Feb. 2—Foolscap. www.foolscapcon.org. Marriott, Redmond WA. L. Richardson, B. Peck. SF/fantasy writing & art: "Anything flat."

  FEBRUARY 2014

  6–9—CapriCon, 126 W. Wing #244, Arlington Hts. IL 60004. www.capricon.org. Wheeling (Chicago) IL. S. M. & J. Stirling, Tom Peters.

  7–17—SF Film Festival. www.bostonsci-fi.com. Somerville Theatre, Somerville (Boston) MA. Science fiction, fantasy and horror films.

  14–16—Boskone, Box 809, Framingham MA 01701. (617) 625-2311. www.boskone.org. Boston MA. S. McGuire (Mira Grant), D. Palumbo.

  14–16—RadCon, Box 370, 1761 Geo. Washington Way, Richland WA 99354. www.radcon.org. Red Lion, Pasco WA. General SF/fantasy.

  14–16—FarPoint, 11708 Troy Ct., Waldorf MD 20601. www.farpointcon.com. Timonium (Baltimore) MD. Phil LaMarr. Media SF/fantasy.

  14–16—AnachroCon. www.anachrocon.com. Marriott Perimeter Center, Atlanta GA. Lawrence M. Schoen, Lee Martindale, many others.

  14–16—KatsuCon. www.katsucon.org. Gaylord Resort, National Harbor MD (near DC). Voice actors Ellyn Stern and Richard Epcar. Anime.

  21–23—MystiCon, 3735 Franklin Rd. SW #228, Roanoke VA 24014. www.mysticon-va.com. Marina Sirtis, T. McCaffrey, A. J. Hartley.

  21–23—ConDFW, 750 S. Main, Ste. 150, #14, Keller TX 76248. www.ConDFW.org. Addison (Dallas) TX. Kevin J. Anderson, Alain Viesca.

  21–23—Potlatch, Box 103, Mt. View CA 94042. www.potlatch-sf.org. San Jose CA. "Where readers and writers meet." Literary focus.

  21–23—ConCave, 124 Fairlawn Ave., Lexington KY 40505. www.concaveky.org. Bowling Green KY. SF/fantasy/horror relaxacon.

  21–23—Furry Fiesta. www.furryfiesta.org. Intercontinental, Dallas TX. Artist Blotch, entertainer Big Blue Fox. Anthropomorphics.

  28–Mar. 2—Ring of Fire. www.rofcon.com. Virginia Beach VA. Multi-genre: SF/fantasy, anime, gaming, comics, cosplay, music, etc.

  MARCH 2014

  7–9—FogCon. www.fogcon.org. Marriott, Walnut Creek (San Francisco) CA. S. McGuire, T. Powers, James Tiptree Jr. (IM). Literary focus.

  7–9—OmniCon, Roaden Ctr., TN Tech U., c/o Box 5264, Cookeville TN 38505. www.omnicon.us. TN Tech U., Cookeville (Memphis) TN.

  7–9—CoastCon, Box 1423, Biloxi MS 38533. www.coastcon.org. MS Coliseum & Quality Inn. John de Lancie, K. Armstrong, A. Gilbreath.

  7–9—Wild Wild West Con. www.wildwildwestcon.com. Four Points by Sheraton, Tucson AZ. The eponymous TV show/movie. Steampunk.

  13–16—All-Con, Box 177194, Irving TX 75019. www.all-con.org. Crowne Plaza, Addison (Dallas) TX. N. Kaplan. B. Blair, H. Henry.

  14–16—LunaCon, Box 451, Suffern NY 10901. www.lunacon.org. Hilton, Rye Town (NYC) NY. J. Mayberry, R. Gallegos, M. F. Flynn.

  14–16—MillenniCon, 5818 Wilmington Pike #122, Centerville OH 45459. www.millennicon.org. Cincinnati OH. Jim C. Hines.

  14–16—Anime Matsuri. www.animematsuri.com. George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas, Houston TX.

  19–23—ICFA. http://iafa.highpoint.edu. Airport Marriott, Orlando FL. Okorafor, Ian McDonald, Csicsery-Ronay Jr. Academic conference.

  21–23—MidSouthCon, Box 17724, Memphis TN 38187. www.midsouthcon.org. K. Armstrong, the Bielaczycs, T. Weisskopf, L. Martindale.

  21–23—ConDor, Box 15771, San Diego CA 92175. www.condorcon.org. Town and Country, San Diego CA. Gail Carriger. SF/fantasy con.

  JULY 2014

  17–20—DetCon 1, c/o Box 3199, Ann Arbor MI 48106. www.detcon1.org. Detroit MI. No. American SF Con, with WorldCon abroad. $55.

  AUGUST 2014

  14–18—LonCon 3, 379 Myrtle Rd., Sheffield S2 3HQ, UK. www.loncon3.org. Docklands, London UK. The WorldCon. £105/A,C,US$170.

  AUGUST 2015

  19–23—Sasquan, c/o Box 1091, Woodinville WA 98072. www.sasquan.org. Spokane WA. D. Gerrold, V. McIntyre. The WorldCon. $140.

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  Information

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  Asimov's Science Fiction. ISSN 1065-2698. Vol. 38, No. 3. Whole No. 458, March 2014. GST #R123293128. Published monthly except for two combined double issues in April/May and October/November by Dell Magazines, a division of Crosstown Publications. One year subscription $55.90 in the United States and U.S. possessions. In all other countries $65.90 (GST included in Canada), payable in advance in U.S. funds. Address for subscription and all other correspondence about them, 6
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  Printed by Quad/Graphics, Taunton, MA USA (12/30/13)

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  Table of Contents

  Asimov's Science Fiction

  WALKING GEAR

  ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE MERMAIDS

  DECLARATION

  THE PLANTIMAL

  DRINK IN A SMALL TOWN

  SOLOMON'S LITTLE SISTER

  THE REDEMPTION OF KIP BANJEREE

  THROUGH PORTAL

  I

  II.

  III.

  IIII.

  IIIII.

  IIIIII.

  IIIIIII.

  IIIIIIII.

  IIIIIIIII.

  IIIIIIIIII.

  IIIIIIIIIII.

  IIIIIIIIIIII.

  IIIIIIIIIIIII.

  IIIIIIIIIIIIII.

  What a Time Traveler Needs Most

  GOLFING ON THE MOON

  Empty Cities

  AD ASTRA PER SACCHARUM

  Everything Decays

  EDITORIAL

  REFLECTIONS

  On the Net

  bot time

  Mars today

  making martians

  fragile humans

  exit

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  Readin' and Writin' 'bout 'Rithmatist

  The Spin Doctor

  SF CONVENTIONAL CALENDAR

  JANUARY 2014

  FEBRUARY 2014

  MARCH 2014

  JULY 2014

  AUGUST 2014

  AUGUST 2015

  Information

  SHEILA WILLIAMS

  EMILY HOCKADAY

  MARY GRANT

  Editorial Assistant

  JAYNE KEISER

  SUZANNE LEMKE

  KEVIN DORIS

  VICTORIA GREEN

  CINDY TIBERI

  LAURA TULLEY

  JENNIFER CONE

  ABIGAIL BROWNING

  TERRIE POLY

  SANDY MARLOWE

  ADVERTISING SALES DEPARTMENT

  PETER KANTER

  BRUCE W. SHERBOW

  CHRISTINE BEGLEY

  SUSAN MANGAN

  ISAAC ASIMOV