aka The Online Equivalent of Having Milk Come Out Your Nose
recovered July 12, 2019
At the late and very lamented Vonda McIntyre’s recent memorial event, I didn’t get a chance to tell the audience one of my fondest memories of her, which was watching her receive the 1998 Nebula award for Best Novel for “The Moon and the Sun.” I’d talked to her before the ceremony; she was utterly confident she would not win, because Connie Willis was also a nominee. In fact, she claimed the only reason she was even in Santa Fe was because she’d agreed to be part of a cutting-edge experiment to ‘live stream’ (we didn’t call it that back then) the “Nebs” (as they’re fondly called) on an IRC chat relay channel. I have no idea how she got her laptop online from her table in the ballroom; there may have been a really really long telephone cord running out the door.
Anyway, somewhat co-incidentally, I’d read over half of the nominated novels, and, personally, I thought that Connie’s book that year (“Bellwether”) was okay, but hardly her best work. Vonda’s real competition was George R. R. Martin’s book “A Game of Thrones.” (You might have heard of it?) I thought “Thrones” was actually a bit better in terms of literary craft, but it was also straight-down-the-middle High Fantasy, whereas “Moon/Sun” was a much more original and surprising concept, and I thought the SFWA voters might well value that more highly than technical prowess.
So, when they announced the winner, Vonda looked like somebody had hit her with a frying pan, and walked up to the podium in a bit of a daze. It wasn’t until months later that I ran across the transcript from the IRC channel. When I did, I burst out laughing. Here’s the key excerpt from the text:
<Vonda> Now for the novel. <Djonn> Kent: The question is whether Willis and Bujold will split votes and choke. <Lois> good point. <Vonda> Presenter is Fred Saberhagen. <Robt> Yeah but if so, then McDevitt and Williams have a chance <MMF> Hang in there, Vonda -- you’re doing great! <Keith> I really like McDevitt’s story <Vanguard-> More held breath in Seattle... <Vonda> Nominees are --? <Djonn> Actually, the only novel I think probably *can’t* win is the Elliot, demographically. <Moderator> did it earlier <Robt> Djonn: agree <Vonda> And the winner is... <Moderator> scroll up for nominees <Vonda> y;ie <Vanguard-> ??? <Terry> <strangled sound> <Marilee> She fainted? <Djonn> That sounds like a Seattle win to me.... <MMF> What’s happening?
It’s that “y;ie” that gets me every time.
For nearly twenty years, this transcript was part of Jim Bailey’s personal SFF-Net site. Regrettably, SFF-Net went dark March 31, 2017, and took this transcript with it. I managed to find the link by searching Google’s Usenet archives (part of Google Groups), and recovered the text itself using the Wayback Machine, aka the Internet Archives.
************************************************************
Segment 1: Warm Up (175 lines)
<Moderator> hi all. :-)
<Abbey> hi
<Moderator> Hi Abbey. :-)
<Lorrie> Maybe we should start talking about the Nebs? :P It’s far too quiet in here!
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<Moderator> hey M!
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<Rev> this is a test
<Moderator> hey Rev
<Lorrie> we’re alive Rev. :P People are chatting in #neb_lounge kinda
<Abbey> came through fine, Rev
<Rev> Hey Jim
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<Info> hi all
<Fox> Yo Info
<Fox> Or Jim
<Fox> Or someone
<Info> OK everybody, just to get things warmed up a bit, here are the nominees for Best Novel. :-)
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * *
<Info> * _A Game of Thrones_, George R.R. Martin *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Aug96) *
<Info> * _Ancient Shores_, Jack McDevitt *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Apr96) *
<Info> * _Bellwether_, Connie Willis *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Apr96) *
<Info> * _City On Fire_, Walter Jon Williams *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Jan97) *
<Info> * _King’s Dragon_, Kate Elliot *
<Info> * (DAW, Feb97) *
<Info> * _Memory_, Lois McMaster Bujold *
<Info> * (Baen, Oct96) *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
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<Fox> Up in lights. Very pretty *8)
<Lorrie> So has anyone read any of those?
<Moderator> I try. :-)
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<Robt> LOL
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<Christoph> Lorrie, I’ve read all but the McDevitt and the Williams.
<Abbey> Half those aren’t even available here in Australia except by special order
<Lorrie> I haven’t read any of them, that’s why I’m asking! :P
<Andy_R> Likewise here in England, Abbey.
<Robt> Cristoph are you kidding?
<bullet> Bellwether was terrific!
<Robt> Moderator is this being logged?
<Abbey> I have a copy of Memory but I haven’t read it yet
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<Christoph> I make an effort to read all of the neb, Hugo, and Stoker recommendations every year.
<Christoph> Oops, not recs, nominees.
<Christoph> Significant difference in numbers there.
<Robt> Cristoph me too. You missed two great books.
<Moderator> Yes, chats in both rooms are being logged, and we should have it available after the chat (maybe a
day or two to edit it down).
<Marilee> I’ve read almost all of the nominees.
<Christoph> BRB
<Robt> Cristoph, all the nominees are great books, it is an honor just to be nominated.
<Moderator> Cool, Marilee, any favorites going in?
<Robt> Williams didn’t get the nod last year for City on Fire’s prequel, do you think that might affect the
voting this year?
<Marilee> Sorry, I’m just going into my chat room. I’m the host for the Other*Worlds*Cafe 9pm chat tonight, and
I’ll be relaying..
<Marilee> info into our AOL chatters. Just a sec.
<Marilee> Or in to, even. ;)
<Moderator> ok, cool. :-)
<Christoph> Robert, I actually think the Hugo crop was (unusually) _much_ stronger than the Neb crop of novels
this year. Marilee do I know you from AOL about a hundred years ago? I would have been ChrisRowe or something like
that.
<Marilee> Ha! The man who kept my A PLANET CALLED TREASON for two years!
<Christoph> But returned it signed!
<Robt> Orson Scott Card used to produce some great fiction in those days.
<Marilee> LOL True. :)
<Christoph> Read them the inscription Marilee.
<Marilee> I can’t, I have chatters in the room, I can’t leave the computer.
<Christoph> Let’s see if I can remember it...
<Lorrie> Hehe, Marilee! :P
<Christoph> “Marilee, Chris Rowe stood in line in the rain for four hours to get this book signed for you. Orson
Scott Card.”
<Marilee> Yep, something like that. :)
<MMF> That’s impressive.
<Christoph> Also a lie, of course, but Card was good humored about the whole thing.
<Robt> Christoph, that is an interesting comment re the two different awards lineups, considering which two neb
nominees you havent read :)
<Marilee> Oof! Too many windows.
<Christoph> Wow, did I time that right or what?
<Christoph> Heh, good point Robert.
<Robt> hehe
<Robt> Moderator, check out the discussion in #lobby
<Christoph> I’ll restate. Based on my readings from the various bodies of work of all the involved authors, I
think the Hugo lineup is stronger than the Neb lineup (in the novel field.)
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<Marilee> For novel, I think it’s hard to pick between ANCIENT SHORES, BELLWETHER, and MEMORY. I really liked
all three, but if I *had* to choose, I guess BELLWETHER. It was very sharp.
<Robt> I won’t comment further: this is being logged. :)
<Christoph> Hey, I’m not saying any of the books were bad. Only stating an opinion as to various levels of good.
;)
<Christoph> By the way, I’d like to state that even though I do my net stuff under the name Christopher, my real
name is Robert Rogoff.
<MMF> BWAHAHAHHAAHA!
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<Robt> LOL Chris Rowe, you dont know my net reputation very well :p
<Marilee> For novellas, I like “Abandon in Place” and “... Where Angels Fear To Tread” best, but I must admit..
<Marilee> to being a friend of Allen.
<Christoph> Nah. I don’t know _anybody’s_ net reputation very well. I’m feeling my way along.
<Robt> Chris: trust me-- you dont want anyone to think you’re me. ;)
<Christoph> I want everybody to think I’m Gharlane of Eddore.
<Lorrie> Anyone want the list of novellas?
<MMF> Oh, come on, the Eddorian isn’t that bad.
<Robt> Chris: you mean you aren’t???
<Abbey> yes please Lorrie
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novella *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “Abandon in Place”, Jerry Oltion *
<Info> * (F&SF, Dec96) *
<Info> * “Chrysalis”, Robert Reed *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Sep96) *
<Info> * “Loose Ends”, Paul Levinson *
<Info> * (Analog, May97) *
<Info> * “Primrose and Thorn”, Bud Sparhawk *
<Info> * (Analog, May96) *
<Info> * “The Funeral March of the Marionettes”, *
<Info> * Adam-Troy Castro (F&SF, Jul97) *
<Info> * “...Where Angels Fear to Tread”, Allen Steele *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Oct/Nov97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Christoph> Actually, I just picked up that Old Earth Books reproduction of the book he got that name from,
Triplanetary? Raucous stuff! Dated, but tons of fun.
<MMF> He keeps telling me that I have to find the Lensman books and read them.
<bullet> Has anyone read any of the novella nominees?
<MMF> I keep saying, yeah, yeah, get in line.
<Marilee> Of Allens, Chris? They’ve done his last two anthologies.
<Robt> I would put my money on the Adam Troy Castro novella except this is being logged so I won’t.
<Christoph> I’ve read everything but the Sparhawk.
<Marilee> I liked that, Robt, but not as well as the others.
************************************************************
Segment 2: Our Host Vonda Arrives (484 lines)
<Moderator> Hi everybody, I guess we’re officially “on” now. Thanks for dropping by, feel free to discuss the
nominees and such until some of our guests start arriving.
<Christoph> No, I mean the EE “Doc” Smith stuff. I read a lot of the magazines, so I’m pretty up to date on
Allen, though.
<Marilee> Ah, okay. :)
<MMF> Yeah, I understood.
<Moderator> At that time, we’ll go to a semi-protocol method in this room. Just begin your messages with “??” to
highlight any questions you may have to anybody. :-)
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<Marilee> Hi Vonda!
<Abbey> Again, we have the problem of not being able to access the mags readily here although I’m in the process
of trying to order a couple of them
<Fox> Vonda!
<Vonda> Hi all
<Abbey> hi
<MMF> I sympathize, Abbey -- I live in the Netherlands.
<Moderator> Hi Vonda!
<Robt> hello Vonda, thanks for coming.
<Vonda> Heya Mod is that you Jim? This is weasels & mole rats.
<Marilee> Ah, Melanie, is that you?
<Abbey> even tougher for you, MMF, I would imagine
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<MMF> Yup, tis me.
<Moderator> Yep, that’s me behind the fancy suit. :-)
<Vonda> My pleasure.
<Lorrie> You got here, terry!
<Vonda> I have to run off for a bit -- back soon.
<Terry> :)
<MMF> I’ve learned to save up for fast dashes to England and Forbidden Planet.
<Moderator> ok, later. :-)
<Marilee> LOL
<MMF> Go VONDA!
* MMF does a cheer.
<Abbey> England’s a bit far for me to go, MMF :-)
<Info> Her come the Novelette nominees:
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novelette *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “The Copyright Notice Case”, Paul Levinson *
<Info> * (Analog, Apr96) *
<Info> * “The Dog’s Story”, Eleanor Arneson *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, May96) *
<Info> * “The Flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress *
<Info> * (Asimovs, Oct/Nov96) *
<Info> * “The Miracle of Ivar Avenue”, John Kessel *
<Info> * (Intersections, Tor, Feb96 & Asimov’s, Sep96)*
<Info> * “The Undiscovered”, William Sanders *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Mar97) *
<Info> * “Three Hearings on the Existence of Snakes in the *
<Info> * Human Bloodstream”, James Alan Gardner *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Feb97) *
<Info> * “We Will Drink A Fish Together...”, Bill Johnson *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, May97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Christoph> I’m now experiencing a moderately severe thunder/lightning storm here.
<Christoph> I’ve gotta go.
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<LaurieM> HI, folks
<Moderator> Anbody have a favorite among the Novelette nominees?
<Moderator> Hi Laurie :-)
<MMF> Oh, God, I’m feeling so out of touch -- I haven’t read ANY of these.
<Robt> Jim, I’ve already made too many comments :)
<Moderator> :-)
<Marilee> I know it probably shows my weird sense of humor, but I really liked “We’ll Drink a Fish Together.”
<Marilee> Hi Laurie!
<Ziggy> :)
<bullet> thats the only one I’ve read
<Lorrie> Don’t feel bad, Melanie. I haven’t read a single nominee in any of the categories.
<Moderator> So did I Marilee, a good combo of down-home sensibilities and SF
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<pff3> yo vonda
<Ferragus> I think she’s AFK pat
<Info> Vonda’s busy at the moment, she’ll be back with us. :-)
<pff3> ok
<Info> OK, Shorts nominees coming down...
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Short Story *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “Burning Bright”, K.D. Wentworth *
<Info> * (Aboriginal SF, Summer 96) *
<Info> * “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, James Patrick Kelly *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Jun97) *
<Info> * “Sister Emily’s Lightship”, Jane Yolen *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * “The Crab Lice”, Gregory Feeley *
<Info> * (Alternate Tyrants, Tor, Mar97) *
<Info> * “The Dead”, Michael Swanwick *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * “The Elizabeth Complex”, Karen Joy Fowler *
<Info> * (Crank! 6, Apr96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<MMF> PNH has got to be pleased about this lineup.
<LaurieM> Absolutely...
<Robt> If Feeley wins the award, this will be my last year in SFWA.
<Info> Yeah, half the field from Tor
<Marilee> Yeah, I like a lot of those, too, but I really loved “Sister Emily’s Lightship.”
<MMF> That was a beautiful one.
<Info> But also a couple of off-the-beaten track noms too, Abo and CRANK!
<Robt> The Abo story is a very strong contender considering its venue.
<Moderator> right, usually overlooked.
<LaurieM> I heard Michael read The Dead...a great story....
<Marilee> One of the reasons I like the Hartwell Year’s Best -- he looks further afield than Dozois.
<Moderator> That’s cool.
<Robt> And both anthos will be available within the next several months.
<Moderator> There’s a lot of good material out there, the problem is always finding it.
<Moderator> I suppose right now, all the people in Santa Fe are chowing down on the banquet. :-)
<MMF> Most likely. Video would be fun right about now.
<Marilee> LOL
<Moderator> “SFWAns at the Trough” <g>
<pff3> yeah!
<LaurieM> Mebbe next year... ;->
<MMF> Well, hey, I dunno about y’all, but I’m sitting here in my jammies and a baseball cap.
<Ferragus> So what’s on the Menu tonight in Santa Fe?
<MMF> I’d love to toast ‘em all.
<pff3> ‘Luminaries’ with soup dribbling in their beards
<Vonda> I’ll be back and forth. It will be a while before the ceremony starts.
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<pff3> refox
<Moderator> OK, thanks Vonda. :-)
<Fox> Yo
<MMF> Heya Vonda. Excited?
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<LaurieM> Yeah, it’s still early out there...
<Moderator> Hi Keith!
<Vonda> Heya Melanie. Actually not really. It was extremely cool to be on the ballot.
<Moderator> Glad you made it.
<Ziggy> re Keith
<Vonda> I don’t expect to win. I’m in pretty incredible company.
<Marilee> Hi Keith!
<Moderator> Jade has fixed the server to let more people on.
<Vonda> Thanks, Jim.
<sfreader> Thanks, I was one of the folks over the 20 limit.
<Vonda> Excellent. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get on. (Couldn’t for a while!)
<LaurieM> Ouch, there’s a 20 person limit?
<MMF> THAT would be a bit problematic. :-)
<sfreader> there was
<Moderator> I’ve heard a lot of people say good things about your novel, though Vonda, so who knows. :-)
<sfreader> now its 200
<MMF> Yup, V. I think you have an excellent shot.
<Moderator> right, that should be plenty.
<Robt> It is an honor just to be nominated.
<MMF> It’s even more of an honor to win. :-)
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<Robt> That too. :)
<MMF> Then again, I’m a competitive cuss.
<Moderator> Hi Adrienne, glad you could join us. :-)
<pff3> yo adrienne
<Robt> Vonda: how do you feel right now?
<Ziggy> re Adrienne
<Christina> I almost do think that being nominated is as good as winning. I know as a purchaser, I weight them
identically.
<Moderator> True, Christina, you know that the odds are that they’re all good, and that the winner is probably
more a matter of taste.
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<RuthS> Hi John. John & I are here.
<Moderator> Hi Djonn, Welcome. :-)
<Robt> Moderator, that is quite true, in almost all of the categories.
<sfreader> Actually, I’ve bought books because they were nominated, but I’m not sure that I’ve bought any because
they won.
<Robt> sfreader: exactly right.
<Christina> Yes, sfreader, exactly my case, too.
<Christina> Can I ask a stupid question, or should I go to the lounge for that?
<Moderator> no, fire away
<Christina> Who picks the winners?
<Moderator> We’re still under control here.
<Moderator> SFWA members vote in a 3 stage process
<Vonda> The members of SFWA
<Robt> There are no stupid questions.
<Vonda> The Hugo is awarded by the members of the World SF Convention.
<Vonda> So one is a writers’ award and one is a readers’ award. Pretty cool, both of them.
<Moderator> Right.
<Fox> Who here is actually at the ceremony at the moment then?
<LaurieM> The Hugo was about the first “consumer” award.
<Christina> Oh, Rob’t, give me an hour alone with you and I bet I could ask you a stupid question eventually.
<LaurieM> Predated “People’s Choice” by about 20 years.
<sfreader> Vonda, any coments on the first stage of SFWA’s nomination process? Is it too political?
<Moderator> And I find it great that both have high recongnition in the field
<Vonda> I’m in Santa Fe at the ceremoy.
<Robt> Christine, it doesnt count if you’re trying. :)
<Vonda> I don’t know about the politics, to tell you the truth. I’m on a little withered tendril of the
grapevine. ...
<Djonn> At home in Portland. Learning IRC via trial-by-Nebula.
<Vonda> I think most people vote for work they genuinely like.
<Vonda> Agree completely, Jim (Mod)
<sfreader> Vonda, I was talking about the exchange of nominations and active campaigning
<Moderator> Cool, Djonn, glad to have you and all the other new folks here. :-)
<Christina> How can you play politics in writing, anyway? I mean, isn’t everybody squirrelled up in their
disparate nests? It’s not like hollywood where the people have to be close to each other to put out the product.
<Vonda> I’ve never been asked to exchange recommendations, and the most “campaigning” I’ve encountered is ...
<Vonda> making one’s book available to other members. Since I think a perk of SFWA ...
<Moderator> There’s a little politicking, exchanging of recommendations at the early stage, but I don’t think it
can really influence the outcome at the higher levels.
<Vonda> membership should be free books, I don’t have a big huge problem with this.
<sfreader> <grin>
<Vonda> I agree with Jim.
<Robt> Moderator: I agree with you.
<Vonda> (Back in a bit.)
<Moderator> ok
<pff3> ok
<pff3> :)
<Christina> Yes, that’s what I was imagining.
<Moderator> OK, let me run through the nominees again, refresh our memories, and show off my nifty macros. ;-)
<Djonn> I haven’t been asked to exchange recs either (having very few stories in print affects this, of course
<g>).
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * *
<Info> * _A Game of Thrones_, George R.R. Martin *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Aug96) *
<Info> * _Ancient Shores_, Jack McDevitt *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Apr96) *
<Info> * _Bellwether_, Connie Willis *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Apr96) *
<Info> * _City On Fire_, Walter Jon Williams *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Jan97) *
<Info> * _King’s Dragon_, Kate Elliot *
<Info> * (DAW, Feb97) *
<Info> * _Memory_, Lois McMaster Bujold *
<Info> * (Baen, Oct96) *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<MMF> Amazing, innit, Djonn. :-)
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<Christina> I expect the Nobel prize for literature is a _lot_ more political.
<Moderator> Right Christina, there’s MONEY involved there. <g>
* Christina blushes furiously!
<Christina> I’m sorry, Moderator, I didn’t mean to write into the list.
<Moderator> Don’t worry about interrupting those, hard to avoid it.
<sfreader> Christina, in the first stage of the SFWA process they need 10 nominations, and individual members can
make as many nominations as they want. The later stages are different
<Moderator> Right.
<Djonn> OTOH, I’d grant, I think, that my protocols for recommending at the Prelim stage vary a bit from what I
think about on final balloting.
<Moderator> All the nominees with 10 of these recommendations get put on a prelim ballot.
<Moderator> How does the voting work at that stage, one vote per member, or five?
<Robt> Djonn: I think that’s common.
<Djonn> For the Preliminary Ballot, you get five choices.
<Moderator> OK, thanks.
<Djonn> Although you don’t *have* to use them all.
<Moderator> Then the top 5, plus perhaps an additional choice from a jury of peers, gets onto the final ballot.
<sfreader> If I’m not mistaken, the first level nominations are public, the next two levels are private
<Robt> sfreader, they are all private.
<sfreader> Thanks Robert
<LaurieM> ?Is this before the Preliminary Ballot? Because that’s public...
<Djonn> Sort of. The ongoing recommendation tally for the Prelim does list names of recommenders, whereas the
Prelim and Final ballots are secret ballot.
<Moderator> I think they mean the votes.
<Vonda> I’m going to go say hi to the SF Channel and see who I can get to come talk to us.
<Moderator> Right, so there could be leaks of recommendations, but not of actual prelim and final votes.
<Robt> Laurie, yes this is before the Preliminary Ballot.
<Moderator> OK, Vonda. :-)
<sfreader> Thanks Djonn, thats what I ment.
<Djonn> Technically, the NAR information is labeled not-for-distribution in the Forum. But that’s honored mostly
in the breach these days.
<Moderator> True, Djonn.
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<jnfr> Whoa!
<Djonn> And I think it used to be that the Preliminary Ballot itself wasn’t supposed to be circulated outside
SFWA, but I believe that’s been explicitly reversed in recent years.
<pff3> reyo jnfr
<Ziggy> re jnfr
<jnfr> HI all
<LaurieM> Djonn - I think you’re right. I don’t remember commonly seeing the prelim ballot before about three
years ago...
<Moderator> Yes, last year I remember it posted in a couple of forums, this year, it was only posted unofficially
IIRC.
<Robt> Laurie: yes, but trust me, you dont want to see the stages before the Preliminary Ballot :)
<Moderator> :-)
<LaurieM> I beleve you.... The prelim ballot is much longer than I would have expected.
<Djonn> That has varied from year to year, and the Prelim ballot this year was a good deal longer than in many
past years.
<Djonn> (Popular wisdom is that it’s an artifact of a rules change from calendar-year to 12-month rolling
eligibility.)
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<bullet> Then making the final ballot was even more difficult this year?
<Moderator> Hi Kent
<Kent> Hi, gang.
<sfreader> Mod- DO we have a list of tonight’s Presenters?
<Fox> Yo Kent
<Moderator> No, just that Vonda is Novelette presenter.
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<Moderator> When she gets back, I’ll ask
<Ziggy> hi Rev
<Rev> hi
<Djonn> Bullet: depends on the category. Novels, probably yes. Novellas, rather less so.
<jnfr> Hi rev
<Fox> Rev!
<Moderator> Right, there aren’t that many Novellas published a year.
<Moderator> But it is a strong field IMO.
<bullet> Djonn: Why’s that?
<bullet> Oh.
<Vonda> Back again.
<Kent> Hi again, Vonda.
<Moderator> Hi, do you know who the presenters will be? (beside yourself)
<Fox> Torn them up on the SciFi site then? *8)
<Vonda> You know, that’s a good question. I don’t.
<Moderator> :-)
<Djonn> Bullet: like the Moderator said. I think there were about seven novellas on the Prelim this year. That
makes it hard *not* to make the final ballot, relatively.
<Vonda> Right. All sorts of news i didn’t reveal here. (Not.)
<Djonn> By contrast, there were something like forty novels on the Novel Prelim ballot.
<bullet> Impressive!
<Moderator> Vonda, did you have a tough time deciding your own votes? (don’t have to reveal them obviously)
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<Robt> Djonn, thats secret information.
<jnfr> ?? Who publishes novellas these days?
<Ziggy> hi Bruce
<bullet> E-Zines and Magazines.
<Robt> jnfr Analog, Asimovs, F&SF, SFAge, RoF.
<Djonn> Robt: Whoops, right. <wry <g>> Actually, I’m not sure that’s true nowadays.
<Moderator> jnfr: The digests, SF Age, a couple of semi-pro zines, and a few anthologies, that’s about it I
believe.
<LaurieM> SFWA site doesn’t list the presenters but does list the following:
<jnfr> Thx
<LaurieM> Grand Master: Poul Anderson
<LaurieM> Toastmaster: Michael Cassutt
<LaurieM> Author Emeritus: Nelson S. Bond
<Moderator> Cool, thanks Laurie.
<Djonn> I *think* SFWA has been releasing the Prelim Ballot for the last year or so.
<Moderator> Let me pop on my macro about Nelson S. Bond. :-)
<Info> PROFILE:
<Info> Nelson Bond (Author emeritus of the 1998 Nebula Awards)
<Info> Charles N. Brown has done an extensive interview with Mr. Bond, from his boyhood in grammar school when he
started writing, through his start as a professional writer in 1945, to the present.
<Info> Check the Locus web page for publication information.
<Info> Mr. Bond is retired, and enjoying his retirement as he has enjoyed his entire life. He wrote fiction for
the major slicks for thirty years, then had another career as an antiquarian book dealer beginning in 1965. His stage
adaptation of Animal Farm (George Orwell) is still in print, and exists also as a musical.
<Info> Mr. & Mrs. Bond are in Santa Fe as guests of the 1998 Nebula Awards, where he is Author Emeritus.
<Info> Mr. Bond’s wife Betty Bond, who says she is “just along for the ride” in Santa Fe, is a talent in her own
right. Mr. Bond took great pride in speaking of her accomplishments.
<Info> “That looks easy,” she said when Mr. Bond began writing short stories. She wrote one and sold it. When he
began writing radio plays, she said, “That looks easy,” and wrote two and produced them both, and both won awards.
<Info> In Roanoke, where they make their home, she hosted the Betty Bond show on radio and TV for many years.
<Info> Mr. and Mrs. Bond have been married since 1935. They have two children -- one in business, the other the
production manager for the Rockettes.
<Info> Mr. Bond gets email from his nine year old great grandchild: she has just won her school’s short story
contest.
<Info> He communicates with most of his family, including his nine great-grandchildren, by email.
<LaurieM> Oops, forgot one: Keynote Speaker: Chris Crawford
<Moderator> Thanks again, Laurie. :-)
<MMF> You gotta love technology.
<Moderator> yep
<Kent> Chris Crawford has been working on something called the Erasmatron for the last couple of years ...
interesting new story-telling technology.
<LaurieM> yup
<Vonda> Jim, you asked about my votes. There were a lot of good stories. Hard to decide.
<Moderator> Yeah, I can imagine, I had at least 3 strong favs in each category.
<Moderator> The one that I really liked, though, was Jerry Oltion’s “Abandon in Place”
<Bruce> ??Vonda, in the eating part of the banquet over yet, and were you able to eat?
<Bruce> is
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<Kent> Buffalo steak, Vonda?
<Vonda> No, dinner is still going on.
<Vonda> Yes, as a matter of fact.
<Moderator> That’s good. :-)
<Kent> I hear the rattlesnake fritters were a Bad Idea.
<Adrienne> Heh.
<Vonda> It’s when you put the rattles in the fritters...
<MMF> Rattlesnake fritters -- and me without my Bowie knife.
<Vonda> This is a really nice hotel, by the way. Hotel Santa Fe. They’ve been really welcoming.
<Adrienne> That would be a tad crunchy, wouldn’t it, Vonda?
<Robt> When you put rattles in the fritters they start to play the song “Trouble” from the Music Man
<MMF> You could always form your own rhythm section after dinner, though.
<Moderator> Excellent.
* MMF imagining a conga line of SFWA luminaries lurching around the room, rattles shaking
<Kent> “Lurching” ... that may be too refined a term.
<MMF> Staggering blindly?
<MMF> While throwing champagne glasses at the electric lights?
<Ferragus> question from Chat, was there a veggie meal?
<Vonda> Yes.
<Vonda> Two of them, depending on if you’re a vegetarian who considers salmon a vegetable.
<Vonda> But we haven’t gotten that far yet.
<Kent> Grows on trees, dunnit?
<Vonda> Salmon? Yes, famous salmon-berries.
<Vonda> (Really.)
<Lorrie> salmon berries are good
<Robt> ??Has anything unusually amusing been said in any of the speeches so far?
<LaurieM> It sounds like people are still eating...?
<Ferragus> Debra Doyle says Hi Djonn, Hi all too:)
<Robt> ??Are people still eating?
<Fox> What on earth do Salmon-Berries taste like?
***********************************************************
Segment 3: Guests Start Arriving (340 lines)
Scott Edelman, Steven D. Howe, Michael Cassutt
<Vonda> Here’s Scott Edelman to say hi.
<sfreader> No nude gentlemen this year?
<Moderator> hi Scott
<Ziggy> chicken?
<Fox> Heya Scott
<Kent> Hi, Scott.
<Moderator> Thanks for joining us. :-)
<Robt> Hi Scott, thanks for coming.
<Vonda> [Scott] What do you mean no nude gentlemen? I’m not wearing any clothes right now!
<Marilee> Like most of the raspberry group, but mellower.
<Bruce> sfreader, I’m nude, but I’m at home.
<Adrienne> Hi, Scott
<Lorrie> Um, it’s been 14 years since I’ve had them, Fox. But kinda like a cross between raspberries and
Blackberries (they look like orange raspberries IIRC)
<Moderator> Pictures, we want plenty of pictures.
<LaurieM> Hey, howcom Locus never has pictures like that...;>
<Robt> sfreader: what about book covers?
<sfreader> Robert, <grin>
<min> yes, pics. min can’t read too well. :)
<Vonda> [Scott] So have you all been making book on who’s going to win? There’s a casino down the road and I was
hoping to get them to make us odds.
<Moderator> ?? How have the festivities been so far for you, Scott? Having fun?
<Moderator> <snap finger> knew I was forgetting something...
<Vonda> [Scott] Everything has been wonderful except for the buffalo...
<LaurieM> Nebula futures!
<Bruce> The bookies would look at most of us and say we were odd enough already.
<Vonda> [Scott] We should have one in Vegas next year.
<Fox> Buffalo?
<Robt> Laurie: why do you think its called speculative fiction?
<Vonda> [Scott] That’s what they are serving for dinner.
<Ferragus> I think we were having too much problem with the currency converstion
<Bruce> I love buffalo. Didn’t they prepare it well?
<Vonda> [Scott] Too tough.
<Bruce> Ah. Too bad.
<MMF> Could be worse. Could be ostrich.
<Rev> or tofu
<Robt> It all tastes just like chicken.
<Vonda> [Scott] Actually -- Vonda won’t tell you, but the Nebulas have been cancelled this year. It’s just the
two of us here...
<Moderator> sneaky!
<Bruce> Gee, I’ve had good ostrich, too. Must all be in the preparation.
<Djonn> <makes sign of cross against tofu>
<MMF> Should we start typing soft music in the background?
<Robt> LOL
<Kent> No, there are at least four of you there ... I’m on scifiweekly as well.
<LaurieM> I’ve heard ostrich is good...
<MMF> It’s a lot like beef.
<sfreader> Scott, do you visit casinos at every Nebula weekend?
<Robt> What about roo?
<MMF> But very stringy.
<Vonda> [Scott] I’m leaving for dessert. Here’s Vonda back again.
<Djonn> I’ve seen ostrich on a local restaurant menu, but haven’t tried it. Yet.
<Ferragus> Scott, Debra Doyle (in Chat) wants to know if the rattlesnake was tender?
<MMF> It’s not bad -- try it.
<Robt> MMF do you eat roo?
<Vonda> Hi, I’m back (Vonda) and I have Steven D. Howe, a new writer who has just sold ...
<Bruce> Holly’s making hungry sounds. I better go fix dinner.
<MMF> Never had the chance yet.
<Kent> Bye, Bruce.
<Vonda> a story to Analog. He’s a physicist here at Los Alamos and gave a couple of ...
<Moderator> Cool, Welcome Steven!
<Vonda> wonderful seminars over the past couple days. One on Lunar colonies. Here’s Steve.
<Terry> Hi, Steve. Congrats on your sale!
<Moderator> Yes, definitely.
<jnfr> HI Steve
<Ferragus> Hi steve, definately congrats!
<MMF> Great news, Steve!
<Sean> Always nice to see people with a hard-science background writing stories.
<Djonn> Analog sales are definitely a Good Thing. Congratulations.
<Robt> ??Steven, first congratulations. Are there any interesting recent developments in the area of physics or
cosmology, such as a new way to think about the cosmological constant?
<Moderator> Getting in some good schmoozing at the banquet? :-)
<Vonda> [Steven] Hello, this is Steve. Nice to meet you all. I had the pleasure of meeting Vonda here at the
Nebulas. She impressed me into service.
<Terry> Great of you to help out, Steve.
<Robt> ??Steve did you get my question?
<Vonda> I must deferr to answer the cosmology question. I tend to work in nuclear rockets and lunar base
technologies.
<Robt> Okay thats fine :)
<Moderator> Cool stuff.
<MMF> ??Steve, what’s the likelyhood of going back to the moon in the next twenty years or so?
<Fox> So was your sale one small step or a giant leap? *8)
<Robt> ??How soon can we expect to see a working lunar base?
<Vonda> [Steven] If I may ask your tolerence, I invite you to look at www.lunatechpress.com if you are interested
in lunar bases or Mars missions. I have written a novel dealing with such and would invite you to look over the sample
chapters. note-- Vonda said it was OK to plug my book.
<Moderator> Sure is. :-)
<min> robt, soon as the taxpayers put up the cash? :)
<Vonda> Thanks much, Steve! (Vonda here again)
<Moderator> Look forward to seeing your stories.
<Rev> ??Steve, do you think the much aclaimed find of Water on the moon is mostly hype, or is it actually
plentiful enough to be useful?
<min> (or the week after anyway...)
<Vonda> A bunch of us went over to Los Alamos the other day and Steve gave us a...
<Vonda> talk on nuclear rockets.
<Vonda> They’ve just served dinner, so I let Steve off to go eat -- released him from ...
<Moderator> OK. :-)
<Vonda> the press gang.
<Vonda> Mike Cassutt, the toastmaster, is here to say hi!
<Moderator> Hi Mike!
<Vonda> (Master of Ceremonies) (The initials match, he says)
<Moderator> Thanks for joining us.
<Ziggy> hi Mike
<Vonda> Mike: Lively crowd,
<MMF> We’re cute as well.
<sfreader> Hi Mike, want to share your best joke with us in advance?
<Moderator> Yes. :-)
<Robt> hahah sfreader
<Vonda> [Michael] Nelson Bond, SS, Walter Jon Willliams -- novella; Fred Saberhagen -- Novel.
<Vonda> [Michael] Thos are the presenters you asked about earlier.
<Vonda> [Michael] And Jack Williamson will be presenting the Grand Master Award to Poul Anderson.
<Vonda> [Michael] (The Grand master isn’t secret, like the others.)
<pff3> refox
<Sean> Nice collection. How large is the crowd at the ceremony...the in-person crowd, that is, as opposed to this
peanut gallery? :)
<Vonda> Vonda back -- I’ll try to give you Mike’s best joke. He had to go Organize.
<Robt> ??That one will probably be a great speech (The Grand Master)
<Vonda> It’s pretty big. There must be a couple hundred people here.
<Vonda> Yeah, and I can’t type fast enough to transcribe a speech, I’m afraid.
<jnfr> ??WHere is this happening again, physically I mean
<Vonda> But they usually publish them.
<Vonda> Santa Fe, New Mexico.
<Vonda> Back in a bit, will report if anything happens.
<MMF> I bet it’s warm, too.
<Robt> ??LOL Vonda :)
<sfreader> Vonda, was there any special recognition of Williams 80th Birthday and his new book release?
<MMF> What she needs to do is see if TNH is there, and plug her in.
<jnfr> Ah, Santa Fe. I love that place.
<Robt> bwahaha MMF
<Moderator> :-)
<MMF> Hey, the lady said it herself -- it goes in her ears and comes out her fingertips.
<Moderator> We have a few “thank you”s to pass out to people who helped to bring Vonda to us live from the
ceremonies. :-)
<Info> SPECIAL THANKS to the following for helping us bring Vonda to you live from the ceremonies. :-)
<Info> Pati Nagle, SFWA
<Info> Chris Krohn, thuntek.net in Santa Fe
<Info> Sage Walker, SFWA
<Info> George R.R. Martin, SFWA VP
<Info> Jeff Stewart, oz.net in Seattle
<Info> Brian Chinn, Professional Concepts in Seattle
<Moderator> Get the plugs out of the way. ;-)
<pff3> heh
<Robt> ??A round of applause for all of them
<LaurieM> Yay....
<Moderator> But seriously, Vonda and those people put in a lot of effort to make this possible, and I really
appreciate it.
<sfreader> <clap, clap, clap>
<MMF> Whee!
<Ziggy> <applause>
<Adrienne> <applause>
<MMF> Hey, that was a serious whee.
<Moderator> Yippeee! :-)
<Abbey> <enthusiastic applause>
<Ferragus> <applause>
<Kent> <clapclapclap>
<MMF> <taps her fan>
<Larry501> <stomping and whistling>
<sfreader> <standing applause>
<Bruce> <swinging a pig>
<jnfr> <more applause>
<Larry501> <ducking pig fragments>
<MMF> Swinging a pig?
<Bruce> Sorry. I got excited.
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<pff3> heh
<MMF> Just watch it with the pork, there.
<Vanguard-> Hello, Vonda.
<Vanguard-> (We’re xmitting from your office now.)
<Robt> Look out everyone, he has a pig.
<Vanguard-> :)
<jnfr> Which Vonda is this?
<Robt> One false move and this place goes up in oinks.
<Vonda> Hi gize!
<jnfr> Vonda one Vonda two
<Vanguard-> ‘Tis Constance and John right at the moment.
<Vonda> Cool -- you probably got on easier than I did. (I hope!)
<Moderator> Hi Vanguard, Vonda’s getting a bite to eat at the moment. :-)
<Ziggy> hi Vanguard
<Vonda> Heya, good to see your shining pixels.
<Moderator> Ahh, never mind
<Vanguard-> It was okay. I’m very pleased that things seem to be working for yuh there.
<Vanguard-> Hullo, Ziggy.
<Vonda> It’s working great. I just had to find the phone jack.
<Moderator> :-)
<Vonda> Not much is happening here right now; everybody is just eating their dinner.
<Vanguard-> That sounds good.
<Vanguard-> (I should do the same. <g>)
<Vonda> Really appreciate the help Jeff Stewart and Brian Chinn gave me in preparing for this, when I was back in
Seattle.
<Vanguard-> We’re going to let the crew know that it’s up and live and they can mosey over here and add their
salient comments.
<MMF> We already did the wave for them, Vonda.
<Vonda> And Pati Nagle, Sage Walker, George RR Martin, & Chris Krohn here in Santa Fe.
<Vonda> Great, but you can’t thank folks too much I think.
<Vanguard-> Yes, Brian told me that he’d been able to get your hard disk up and running. I was pleased that that
worked out.
<Vanguard-> I strongly agree.
<Terry> The people in telnet chat applauded enthusiastically.
<Vanguard-> hehehehehehehe
<MMF> Oh, I’m being perfectly serious about that. We do appreciate them, lots.
<Vanguard-> (Constance is downstairs phoning next door.)
<Moderator> I’ll run the thank you a couple more times later. :-)
<RuthS> Over on the Sci.Fi irc, they just now started talking about buffalo, shifting
<Vanguard-> BTW, Vonda, you did a good job with the instructions here. Have you considered the fascinating world
of computer technical writing as a career? <g, d, & r!> hehehehehe
<Moderator> LOL
<RuthS> to ostrich. Deja vu all over again...
<Vanguard-> BTW, I finally found out that it was Yogi Berra who said that.
<Vanguard-> Constance asks when the actual awards are likely to start?
<Vonda> No ostritches at this banquet.
<MMF> Ostrich was my bad, sorry.
<Vonda> It’s impossible to say. It depends entirely on how long the after-dinner speeches run, and they haven’t
even started yet.
<Vanguard-> Oy.
<Vonda> What,Melanie, are you multitasking again!
<MMF> A Renaissance Babe, that’s me.
<Vonda> Might pay better than fiction!
<MMF> Hey, I’m not even doing my Bears Fan routine at the moment.
<Vanguard-> There’s not but a fraction of the respect, though.
<Moderator> wow
<Vonda> I’m gonna go finish my dinner -- they want my plate. Back soon.
<Moderator> ok
<Vanguard-> Hokay!
<Vanguard-> There shall be folks poppin in here. I’ll have them identify themselves when they do.
<Moderator> So we have some time to kill. :-)
<Djonn> ??Mr. Moderator: you might run down nominees again. I don’t think we got past Novel last time.
<Vanguard-> I’m going downstairs a bit myself. BBS
<Moderator> ok, thanks, Vanguard
<Moderator> Yes, let me do that, thanks, Djonn
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * *
<Info> * _A Game of Thrones_, George R.R. Martin *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Aug96) *
<Info> * _Ancient Shores_, Jack McDevitt *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Apr96) *
<Info> * _Bellwether_, Connie Willis *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Apr96) *
<Info> * _City On Fire_, Walter Jon Williams *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Jan97) *
<Info> * _King’s Dragon_, Kate Elliot *
<Info> * (DAW, Feb97) *
<Info> * _Memory_, Lois McMaster Bujold *
<Info> * (Baen, Oct96) *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<MMF> I wonder if Connie Willis is there. . .
<jnfr> That was lovely
<LaurieM> You can also see the list at http://www.city-net.com/~lmann/awards/nebulas/90s.html#1997
<Moderator> No, Vonda was trying to get her to come in via chat, but don’t know if she succeeded
<bullet> Too bad!
<MMF> Maybe later.
<Moderator> hoping. :-)
<Vonda> Connie is here. She’s eating her dinner. Will see if I can get her over later.
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<Moderator> Oh excellent.
<Djonn> Meanwhile.... novellas, maybe? Novelettes?
<Moderator> Hi Chris
<MMF> Nah, I was talking to her about Oxford and Lewis Carroll at Intuition (the big English con) and I think I
came on a bit too OTT.
<Moderator> yes, allow me. :-)
<Marilee> Back, Chris?
<MMF> Basically wanted to apologize.
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novella *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “Abandon in Place”, Jerry Oltion *
<Info> * (F&SF, Dec96) *
<Info> * “Chrysalis”, Robert Reed *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Sep96) *
<Info> * “Loose Ends”, Paul Levinson *
<Info> * (Analog, May97) *
<Info> * “Primrose and Thorn”, Bud Sparhawk *
<Info> * (Analog, May96) *
<Info> * “The Funeral March of the Marionettes”, *
<Info> * Adam-Troy Castro (F&SF, Jul97) *
<Info> * “...Where Angels Fear to Tread”, Allen Steele *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Oct/Nov97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
******************************************************************
Segment 4: Guests Part II (325 lines)
Steve Smith, Connie Willis, Alis Rasmussen (Kate Elliot), Geoffrey Landis, Melinda Snodgrass
<Vonda> Here’s Steve Smith, a visualization scientist from Los Alamos. He organized the Los Alamos tours for us
yesterday.
<Christoph> Storms have passed. Any awards given out yet?
<Ziggy> hi Steve
<Vonda> [Steve] hi
<Moderator> Not yet, Chris
<Moderator> Hi STeve!
<MMF> None yet. hey, you still have that driftwood lectern you built at Clarion?
<Vonda> [Steve] who all are out there?
<Vanguard-> This is Kate Schaefer; I’m being the Vanguard representative for now.
<Vonda> [Steve] great...
<Vonda> [Steve] The tours yesterday went great
<Moderator> Hi Kate, glad you could join us!
<bullet> What IS a visualization scientist?
<Vonda> [Steve] We are hoping to repeat the experience sometime in the future
<Christoph> No, no. I cast it back into Eliot Bay so that future Clarion Westers would have the opportunity to
find it.
<LaurieM> Those sounded very interesting from the SFWA page...
<Moderator> ?? What was the highlight of the tour do you think?
<Vonda> [Steve] I work on VR and Computer graphics for other scientists
<Vonda> [Steve] We develop tools and apply them to visualizing scientific
<Vonda> [Steve] problems for analysis and for selling to Washington DC...
<Vonda> [Steve] Computer graphics basically...
<Vonda> [Steve] Connie is here now!
<pff3> awright!
<Moderator> Excellent, so all those theories are no longer just numbers and equations. :-)
<bullet> Cool. I saw a VR submarine General Dynamics has been working on once.
<Djonn> <wild eruption of applause throughout the land>
<MMF> Connie!
<Ziggy> hi Connie
<MMF> Sorry about the Lewis Carroll thing at Intuition!
<bullet> Great!
<Vonda> [Connie] Hi, everybody, I’m here at the Nebulas and have just eaten an entire buffalo and am now waiting
for the speeches to begin.
<Moderator> Welcome, Connie. :-)
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<woof> buzz buzz vonda, it’s nancy in san diego
<Vanguard-> How was the buffalo prepared? With or without horns?
<Ziggy> hi woof, Nancy, hi Jade
<LaurieM> Please try to tell us something about the speeches...
<Moderator> Hi Nancy, Vonda has temporarily transmorgrified into Connie Willis. :-)
<Vonda> [Connie] the crowd is getting restless, of course, but on the whole everybody has been comparatively well
behaved. Except, of course, Gardner Dozois, who has stuck a corn cob up his nose.
<MMF> What is this obsession we’re having with the buffalo?
<Djonn> An *entire* buffalo? <glyph of awe>
<woof> well, tell vonda i was here
<Moderator> She’ll be back shortly
<jnfr> A *whole* corn cob?
<Vonda> [Connie] the alternative was salmon, which was caught of course in the local streams by natives.
<Kent> At least it was his _nose_, Connie.
<JD> Hi, Connie. Good luck!
<Kent> Count your blessings.
<Vanguard-> Gardner could have stuck an entire salmon up his nose instead of a corn cob?
<Fox> With spears or dynamite?
<bullet> Loved Bellwether! Completely gaga. Good Luck Connie!
<Vonda> [Connie] Gardner is now shouting, “Hot sex!” and “Go, Viagra!” to the room at large.
<MMF> BWAHAHAHA!
<Moderator> LOL
<LaurieM> Kate - that would have been quite a site...
<Kent> Tell him to cut to the jets of salmon.
<bullet> Wow. Things are warming up!
<Djonn> The frightening thing about that report of Gardner’s actions is that it may be true.... <g>
<LaurieM> I spent part of my honeymoon with Gardner...;->
<Moderator> Woohoo, Laurie. ;-)
<Vonda> [Connie] Yesterday all the Nebula Novel nominees were at a signing together. We decided that instead of
the usual voting, we would have a tontine. We will attempt to kill each other off, and the one left standing at the
end wins the Nebula Award.
<Moderator> Now there’s a plan, leave some openings for us newbies!
<Christoph> Ten bucks on Martin.
<JD> Interesting idea, Connie, but would leave us less fiction in the future, eh?
<MMF> Oooh, and you can sell the video to those companies that produce shows like, “When Mailmen Go Postal.”
<sfreader> Connie, That is the GrandMaster
<LaurieM> Trial by battle, an ancient trial...
<MMF> Trial by conga line is more fun, though.
<MMF> Or by limbo stick.
*** JD is now known as JeffryD
<Djonn> And you still ate an entire buffalo *after* declaring the tontine. Very brave.
<Vonda> [Connie] I’ve got to go eat my dessert and pick the corn out of my teeth before they announce the
winners, so goodbye for now.
<MMF> “Today in Santa Fe, New Mexico, hundreds of SF writers and editors dislocated their knees during the Nebula
award ceremonies. . .”
<Christoph> Eating the buffalo gave her the beasts powers. Geez, don’t you watch tv?
<Moderator> Bye Connie, thanks. :-)
<Moderator> Good luck!!
<Vonda> Vonda here again. I have Alis Rasmussen, who in her other hat is Kate Elliott and nominated for the Best
Novel Nebula!
<bullet> Bye Connie, good luck!
<MMF> Kate! Cool!
<Vonda> Say hi to her -- here she is.
<Ziggy> hi Kate
<Ferragus> Hi Kate!
<Moderator> Hi Kate, glad you could join us! :-)
<Christoph> Hi, Kate.
<jnfr> HI Kate
<sfreader> Hi Kate!
<Djonn> Greetings! <refraining from “Kate and Allie” joke>
<bullet> Hello, Kate
<MMF> Heya! I once had a character named Kate Elliott.
<woof> buzz buzz vonda, it’s nancy in san diego
<Vonda> [Kate] Hi, everyone. I’m getting re-used to the internet since I’ve been living in Mexico in a small
isolaed town, and we have no telephone!
<Christoph> Cool. Where abouts in Mexico?
<Adrienne> <somebody whap Djonn>
<MMF> Welcome back to technology.
<Adrienne> How is everything in Mexico, and how are the kids settling in?
<MMF> Djonn, that one was really painful.
<Vonda> [Kate] I’ve almost forgotten what technology is! It’s great! Christoph, we’re living in Arcelia, in the
state of Guerrero.
<Vonda> [Kate] My god, I know some of you guys! Who let you in here?
<Adrienne> We snuck in, Alis.
<JeffryD> Hi, Vonda. :)
<LaurieM> No one locked the door...
<Moderator> Sorry, couldn’t keep them out!
<MMF> Underneath the fence, as it was.
<jnfr> NO getting rid of us
<Marilee> They’re still eating, Chris.
<Vonda> [Kate] Adrienne, the kids are doing fine, slowly adjusting to school in a language they don’t understand.
<sfreader> Mod- you tried! :-)
<Marilee> In the meantime, I’ve had an author here in my chat room, Megan Lindholm, but she had to ...
<Vanguard-> I’m about to be transformed from Kate Schaefer to Judy Kaplan. Good luck, Vonda. Bye.
<Marilee> leave to write -- coming up on deadline.
<Vonda> [Kate] Bye!
<woof> what kids are these?
<Moderator> bye Kate!
<Vonda> [Kate] woof, my three kids. Oops. moderator, I was saying good bye the the leaving folks not saying
goodbye yself!
<MMF> Hey, Vonda! Get Gardner over here at some point, wouldja?
<Moderator> oops, ok. :-)
<MMF> Oops, never mind, then.
<Vanguard-> judy here. Good luck!
<Vonda> [Kate] Geoffrey Landis is standing behind the chair, agitating to get online. I’ll say bye now and he’ll
start typing. Bye, all!
<Terry> Hi Geoff!
<Vonda> Hi, folks
<Moderator> bye :-)
<Moderator> bye :-)
<JeffryD> Hi, Geoff!
<LaurieM> Oh great, a midwesterner! Hi, Geoffrey.
<MMF> Hi, Geoff.
<Moderator> Hi Geoff, thanks for joining us. :-)
<Ferragus> Hi Geoff
<MMF> How was dinner?
*** Vonda is now known as Geoffrey
<sfreader> Midwest?
<MMF> Did you have the rattlesnake fritters?
<Ziggy> hi Geoffrey
<Moderator> excellent, thanks
<Geoffrey> Dinner was great.
<Geoffrey> No rattlesnake, alas, but we had bison, which was excellent.
*** woof is now known as yashmak
<Geoffrey> Also corn on the cob with hot pepper, and squash cheesecake.
<Djonn> Hmmm. We’ve had conflicting reports on the bison, then.
<Marilee> Hi Geoff! Hey, someone who knows how to change nicks!
<Moderator> You seem to be the first to like the buffalo. :-)
<Djonn> Squash cheesecake????
<Geoffrey> Well, *mine* was great.
<MMF> Can’t be any worse than bean pie.
<Moderator> That’s good.
<Geoffrey> (I had help changing nicknames from Vonda)
<Kent> Eeeeew. Sounds like I’m-A-Lima Sherbert to me.
<Geoffrey> People are beginning to get a little nervous around here.
<Geoffrey> Connie Willis just came by and said that if we’re bored, we should just
<Moderator> yeah, I can imagine. How are you holding up?
<LaurieM> just....?
<MMF> Actually, it tastes like pumpkin pie, leading back to the squash segue.
<Geoffrey> stick things up our noses. She says that Gardner does that all the time.
<Moderator> LOL
<Geoffrey> It is getting suspiciously quiet here.
<bullet> Squash Cheesecake would be a mess though.
<MMF> Not if you snarf it correctly.
<yashmak> we’re all picturing butternut squash cheesecake
<Marilee> I like pumpkin cheesecake.
<Robt> ??Are people still eating?
<bullet> Isn’t pumkin a kind of squash?
<Djonn> Suspiciously quiet? No one is laughing at the after-dinner speeches? <g>
<Geoffrey> There’s been some controversy here about whether it’s pumpkin or squash cheescake.
<Geoffrey> The consensus actually seems to be that it was in fact pumpkin cheesecake.
<bullet> Pumkin at least sounds edible!
<Ryuuen> Isn’t pumpkin a squash anyway? :)
<MMF> I thought it was.
<Geoffrey> Melinda is standing behind me, she’’ll be next.
<sfreader> Most canned pumpkin is actually squash
<bullet> deja vu...
<Geoffrey> --here’s the announcement, telling us to finish up so they can start--
<MMF> Melinda, breathe on his neck -- that’ll get him to move faster.
<Robt> There have been rumors the buffalo was tough. Any comment?
<Moderator> Cool, thanks for dropping by and good luck!
<sfreader> M. S. ?
<Geoffrey> bye-- here’s Melinda
<Kent> Luck, Geoff!
*** Geoffrey is now known as Melinda
<MMF> Best of, G!
<Terry> Hi, Melinda
<Ziggy> hi Melinda
<JeffryD> Bye, Geoffrey. Hi, Melinda.
<MMF> Hi Melinda.
<Moderator> Hi Melinda!
<LaurieM> Now THAT was a fast sex change. Hi, Melinda
<Moderator> Thank you. :-)
<Ferragus> hi Melinda
<sfreader> Bungie jumping this year?
<MMF> And she didn’t even have to go to Sweden.
<Marilee> LOL
<MMF> This creates an image of bungee-jumping transsexuals in Stockholm, I don’t know why. . .
<Moderator> heheh
<sfreader> <snarf!>
<Melinda> Hi, folks. Well, we’re in scenic N.M., it’s warm, and Gardner Dozois is razzing George R.R. Martin.
By the way, I’m the Melinda who did Reasonable Doubts, and that S.F. show. Anyway, speechs are starting so I’m going
to say goodbye.
*** Melinda is now known as Vonda
<Moderator> ok, maybe catch you again later. :-)
<Vonda> Hi, vonda here again. That was Melinda Snodgrass.
<JeffryD> Hi, Vonda. What’s happening now?
<Vonda> I really appreciate folks’ interrupting their dinners to come and talk to us.
<Moderator> Yes, give them a BIG thanks from us. :-)
<Vonda> The speeches are starting, as Melinda said, and I probably shouldn’t do too much bashing on the laptop
while that’s happening.
<yashmak> buzz vonda
<Vonda> I will indeed, Jim.
<Moderator> ok, we’ll keep ourselves occupied. :-)
<Vonda> Heya Nancy!
<LaurieM> Not even quietly?
<yashmak> i’ve been sucking down pizza and waiting to say hi
<Vonda> I’ll be on and off when the opportunity presents. The laptop isn’t TOO noisy.
<Moderator> I still need to run the novelette and short story nominees through here.
<Moderator> ok.
<MMF> Go fer it!
<Djonn> Nominees, right. Good plan.
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novelette *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “The Copyright Notice Case”, Paul Levinson *
<Info> * (Analog, Apr96) *
<Info> * “The Dog’s Story”, Eleanor Arneson *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, May96) *
<Info> * “The Flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress *
<Info> * (Asimovs, Oct/Nov96) *
<Info> * “The Miracle of Ivar Avenue”, John Kessel *
<Info> * (Intersections, Tor, Feb96 & Asimov’s, Sep96)*
<Info> * “The Undiscovered”, William Sanders *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Mar97) *
<Info> * “Three Hearings on the Existence of Snakes in the *
<Info> * Human Bloodstream”, James Alan Gardner *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Feb97) *
<Info> * “We Will Drink A Fish Together...”, Bill Johnson *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, May97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Moderator> Very interesting selection this year.
<JeffryD> If nothing else, gotta love JAG’s title. :)
<sfreader> I’m not nuch of a short fiction reader. I’ve read 3 of the novels, but none of the shorter works.
<Vonda> The speeches are still to come.
<Moderator> more delays, or just setting up?
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Short Story *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “Burning Bright”, K.D. Wentworth *
<Info> * (Aboriginal SF, Summer 96) *
<Info> * “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, James Patrick Kelly *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Jun97) *
<Info> * “Sister Emily’s Lightship”, Jane Yolen *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * “The Crab Lice”, Gregory Feeley *
<Info> * (Alternate Tyrants, Tor, Mar97) *
<Info> * “The Dead”, Michael Swanwick *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * “The Elizabeth Complex”, Karen Joy Fowler *
<Info> * (Crank! 6, Apr96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
************************************************************
Segment 5: Speeches (368 lines)
Michael Cassutt, Nelson S. Bond and Chris Crawford
<Vonda> George RR is introducing Mike Cassutt & all the shows he’s written for... but had to mention that all of
them are, er, dead.
<Vonda> The usual progression. Dinner, speeches, awards.
<Moderator> Ahh, ok.
<Djonn> “Speeches”, presumably meaning a Toastmaster speech plus a keynote speaker, right?
<Moderator> I think so, Djonn
<Vonda> yes, exactly.
<LaurieM> Are we missing any good gossip?
<yashmak> i think we are missing good cheesecake
<sfreader> Mod- What about a straw poll of the folks here, for the awards?
<Djonn> Who’s the keynote speaker this year? Lately we’ve had scientists--I remember K. Eric Drexler at the
Eugene Nebs.
<Marilee> I’m having Almond Roca as a sop.
<Vonda> If you like pumpkin. The folks who do like pumpkin say it’s yummy. Someone took mine quite happily.
<Vanguard-> Hello--John Hedtke here again.
<Moderator> Chris Crawford is keynote speaker
* yashmak shakes vonda silly
<Vonda> Chris Crawford, “the dean of computer game design.”
<Vonda> He started out as an astrophysicist.
<Kent> <-- knew Chris back in the Atari days
<pff3> heh
<LaurieM> Way cool
<Vanguard-> What’s happening at the moment? (I’m assuming that it’s a-d speeches, yesno?)
<Djonn> Vanguard: yes.
<Vanguard-> Theng kew, Djonn.
<Djonn> Or so Vonda’s been typing, as quietly as possible in the midst of the crowd.
<Vanguard-> :)
*** Joan has joined #nebula
<Vonda> Yes, the toastmaster speech. It really wouldn’t be polite to transcribe it without permission, even if I
could type that fast, which I can’t, sorry to say.
<LaurieM> How about just general notes, as if you were a reporter orsomething...
<Ziggy> hi Joan
<Vonda> He mentioned that Roger Zelazny lived in Santa Fe. I had the privilege of spending some time with him in
New Zealand not long before he died.
<Vanguard-> There are other people here, so I’m going to turn it over to them.
* Vanguard- gets up out of the chair and relinquishes it with a low and sweeping bow to the next contestant.
<Vonda> He was a terifically wonderful man. His son Trent is here -- a very nice, smart guy.
<Vonda> Hi all from Seattle.
<Vanguard-> Anita is now typing, with marcia looking over her shoulder ;-)
<pff3> welcome Anita!
<Vonda> Michael mentions that Jack Williamson will be at the 2028 Nebs celebrating his 100th anniversary as an sf
writer.
<Vonda> Hi Marcia! Hi Anita!
<Ziggy> hi Anita and Marcia
<LaurieM> Howl, what a great comment!
<Vonda> The gummy fish have been a great hit & I’m taking the rest of them to the Weird Candy party later on this
evening.
<Lorrie> So you want to boogie down, eh?
<Moderator> :-)
<Vonda> Michael is very funny. He’s only mentioned Harlan twice (he bragged).
<Kent> Say hi to Nina and Leslie for me, okay?
<yashmak> gummy fish??
<Vonda> Like gummy worms only with fins. I throw them to the audience when I read the “Fissshhh!” scene from Moon
& Sun.
* yashmak places a gummy fish in her ear
<Vanguard-> Marcia is giggling
<Djonn> I thought you used gummi worms to *catch* gummi fish.
<yashmak> ha, djonn
<Vonda> Several folks here at the Nebs were at Marcia’s panel at Norwescon and were singing her praises (which I
echo!).
<Vanguard-> Marcia blushes
<Vanguard-> “aw, gee...”
<Vonda> No false modesty, now.
<MMF> yashmak, you’re gonna have a hell of a time cleaning that out later on.
<Vonda> Michael mentions that the golden age of an sf writer’s career is... 13 years.
<bullet> MMF: At least its not pumpkin cheesecake!
<yashmak> yes, but now i undestand that my dogs are card carrying pizzas from the planet extra cheese
<MMF> Thank Zoroaster for small mercies.
<Vonda> Introducing Nelson Bond, Author Emeritus.
<Vonda> He published 300 stories, not only in the pulps but in the major slicks.
<Vonda> He also wrote lots of radio dramas. A novel, The Exiles of Time.
<yashmak> he wrote for the CBS radio mystery thearter, didn’t he
<Vonda> I believe so.
<yashmak> as did Jack Dann
<sfreader> Vonda, Can you say more about the career age being 13?
<Robt> hehehe
<Vonda> Michael did an average of people’s writing life (“something longer than the life of a running back but
less than a postal worker.”
<Moderator> heheh
<yashmak> ha
<Vonda> But I think he was averating in Nelson Bond, Jack Williamson, and Poul Anderson.
<Vonda> (averaging)
<Vonda> It’s a tough world out there in publishing these days.
<Vonda> (Also the joke he was referring to was, “The golden age of sf is 12.”
<Vonda> Mr. Bond reminisces about the old days -- he told a young fan who had just sold his first story that the
important thing was to send out another & sell it too. Years later he got a book with the inscription: “Thank you for
the best advice I ever got. Isaac Asimov.”
<Vonda> He met Forry Ackerman and Ray Bradbury when they were kids.
* Ryuuen wows.
<Vonda> When he began, Saturday Evening Post and Colliers & many other slick magazines published fiction.
<Vonda> You had lots and lots and lots of places to learn your craft.
*** Jack has joined #nebula
<Vonda> Mr Bond believes we’ll go to Venus, Mars, the moons of Jupiter, outer space -- ...
<pff3> rejade
<JeffryD> Re, all.
<pff3> yo jack
<Vonda> because SF gave folks the idea it was possible.
<Ziggy> hi Jack, re Jade
<Vonda> (Had to pause to join the standing ovation.)
<Adrienne> Yo
<Kent> Applauding out here too, Vonda.
<LaurieM> <clap-clap-clap!>
<Vonda> Thanks. Enjoying myself.
<LaurieM> Thanks, Vonda, that was interesting
<Ferragus> thanks!
<Moderator> Thanks, Vonda. :-)
<Vonda> Next up, Chris Crawford. He was “Mr Energy” touring schools for a while.
<Vonda> His speech is about “The Muse of Interactivity.”
<Vonda> We’re having the traditional microphone feedback dance right now.
*** Lois has joined #nebula
<Moderator> heheh
<Vonda> “Never trust machines!” he says.
<Moderator> Hi Lois, welcome
<Lois> Hi, all, and thanks. glad i showed up.
*** Darius has joined #nebula
<Moderator> Speechifying has just started, awards next.
<yashmak> vonda, i have to run now but i will try and come back later, break a leg
<yashmak> buzz everyone
<Vonda> Take care, good to see you
<Vonda> Mr. Crawford is asking for our help in saving his muse.
<Vonda> Though he admits it’s pretty bold of him to be cooking up a new muse after all this time.
<sfreader> Vonda, you are doing a GREAT job!
<Jack> ?? I personally have only one major question; How come Kathleen Goonan didn’t even get a mention in the
Nebula contendors?
<Vonda> I don’t know. Is she perhaps still eligible for next year? (Neb & hugo & calendar years are different.)
<Jack> Mississippi Blues would be I think.
<Moderator> Hard to say, she may have just missed on the prelims as well.
<Jack> But Queen City Jazz or Bones of Time would be this round IIRC.
<Vonda> That would give her more eligibility. What about the Hugos?
<Bruce_H_R> Bones of Time made the prelim ballot last year, I think.
<Vonda> Mr. Crawford is talking about art, creativity, and psychology.
<Vonda> “The human mind is an active agent, not a passive receptacle.”
<Robt> I thought Queen City Jazz did
<Vonda> Can’t just push a button and fill the brain up with knowedge...
<Vonda> Brains are messy biological modules slapped together over evolutionary times.
<Vonda> Natural selection, he suggests, selects not so much what a creature is as what it does.
<Vonda> The interaction with the environment is the important thing.
<Djonn> If my publication date source is correct, MISSISSIPPI BLUES still has several months of eligibility for
Nebulas. Can’t speak to the others.
<Vonda> The quality of that interaction determines the success of the creature.
<Robt> the other one was eligible last year and did not win
<Vonda> Mr. Crawford: Human mind is based on its interaction with the environment.
<Vonda> ...But entertainment can be seen as a passive process.
<Vonda> Even if you consider entertainment (reading i.e.) action -- it isn’t INTERACTION.
* Jack is of the belief that Queen City Jazz and Mississippi Blues are breakthrough novels of a kind. No one particular
thing that is new there, but the way it all fits together...
<Vonda> ... We can’t interact with current forms of art...
<Robt> Jack, I have an idea, why not joind #neb_lounge to discuss this further
<Vonda> ... fiction works against the natural [interactive] workings of the brain...
<Vonda> ... He admits that his lecturing us instead of interacting with each of us is a bit contradictory.
<Lois> i wonder he says that fiction works against the natural workings of the brain.
<JeffryD> He needs to define “interaction” much more clearly, imho.
<Moderator> Yes, we have a whole second room for the debates, which I’m sure will fill up when everybody’s
favorite comes in second. :-)
<Vonda> [just summarizing, probably not too well I’m afraid. I would look up the speech when it’s published, it’s
quite interesting.]
<JeffryD> You’re doing GREAT, Vonda!
<Vonda> ... he points out that with a lecture he can reach a lot more folks in a lot less time...
<Moderator> True, hard to pull highlights from an involved speech, but you’re doing great anyway. :-)
<Robt> It sounds quite interesting... at least worth thinking about anyway
<Vonda> ... but is trading off, losing something, losing the interaction.
<Lois> this is great, vonda. stimulating to get these extracts.
<Vonda> “Forced to sacrifice effectiveness for efficiency.”
<Vanguard-> I’m more inspired to write when I’m in an interactive forum such as posting to the newsgroups.
Writing with delayed feedback from the other writers/readers is less engaging. -- Michael Hoffman
<Djonn> Except that *we’re* interacting with the speech, in a sense, in the dialogue here.
<Lois> i wonder if it’s possible to post the speech somewhere on sffnet (later, of course).
<Djonn> Lois: will probably go into the SFWA BULLETIN.
<Vonda> No, it’s his speech. I would keep an eye out for where it’s published.
<Moderator> Maybe the SFWA site will have it posted afterwards.
<Vonda> I’ll find out and let you know, or remind me.
<Moderator> That would be the first place to look
<Moderator> OK, I’ll ask Melisa.
<Robt> Melisa gets a lot of stuff from the Bulletin; it is a possibility.
<Vonda> Mr. Crawford points out that computers might allow more interactivity between artist and people who see
the art.
<Sean> Hmm. Wonder if he’s aware of the theory that the process of learning and interacting are based on internal
narrative-building.
<Moderator> True enough here. :-)
<Kent> <nodding in Sean’s direction>
<Vonda> Points he wants to discuss:
<Christoph> There’s an exhibit at the Philadelphia museum that exploits that very idea right now.
<Robt> Sean you dont have to agree with what he’s saying to find it interesting.
<Sean> It’s a hot topic in educational theory.
<Vonda> 1. Loss of control. People can change your stuff.
*** Rosemary has joined #nebula
<Moderator> Hi Rosemary, glad you could join us. :-)
<Rosemary> Hi! Just checking in...
<Moderator> Speeches now, awards in a bit.
<Robt> Yes, it goes back to language acquisitin even.
<Sean> *nod Robt* Wasn’t disagreeing, just mentioning a related theory. I don’t know enough to hold a firm
opinion :)
<Robt> acquisition
<Sean> All of my educational theory has come from constructivist theorists, so I’m aware I’ve gotten only one
side of the field.
<Vonda> I believe some folks in the audience do hold some firm opinions on the subject.
<Kent> <g>
<JeffryD> This audience, too. :)
<pff3> heh
<Robt> Although his writing is impossible to understand, I think Chomsky is pretty much considered consensus
<Robt> heheh JD
<JeffryD> Just listening now, but will be interested in discussing these ideas in the newsgroups later. Very
interested.
<Vonda> Mr. Crawford points out that writers of fiction are omnipotent.
<Robt> Wow!
<Christoph> Playing to the room, isn’t he?
<Robt> heheh
<Moderator> Yes, just what I was thinking, this is a great starting point for debate.
<Vonda> ... Interactivity allows a writer to make the rules of the dramatic universe...
<Vonda> without having to worry about the details. “You can concentrate on the art.”
<Vonda> ...But there’s a problem.
<Vonda> ... your control is at a higher level of abstraction. ...
<Robt> Is this the guy who wrote Erasmatron?
<Vonda> ... but people work better with the concrete.
<JeffryD> ?? What’s the crowd reaction there?
<Vonda> Yes
<Vonda> Listening. Some quiet debate.
<Vonda> ... So artists must learn to use math. ...
<Vonda> ... At the level of algebra. ...
<Robt> phew, thats a relief
<Kent> (see http://www.erasmatazz.com for more)
<Vonda> ... (That was the second point.)
<Vonda> Third point he wishes to discuss about the Muse of Interactivity: ...
<Vonda> The Two Cultures problem. (ref: C.P. Snow.)
<Vonda> ... dividing into (approx) art and science.
<Sean> Hmm. Sounds like he’s advocating authors become game designers. Suppose that’s not entirely unexpected.
<Vonda> ... He points out for example that few artists can explain the 2nd law of thermodynamics, while few
engineers can recite a poem by heart.
<Djonn> <!>
<Robt> Djonn its just a speech
<Vonda> [being very roughly conveyed by YHOS]
<Robt> good point about being second hand
<Moderator> oooh, we’ll have a good ng debate on this one. :-)
<Djonn> Oh, I understand. And I will exercise great restraint....
<Vonda> ... folks call each other “propellorhead” and “artsy-fartsy”...
<Vonda> Neither should be acceptable in the mind of a civilized human being...
<Kent> Phbllt. Most of the SF writers I know can recite Shakespeare and the Second Law.
<Vonda> But he isn’t talking about sf writers.
<Sean> SF is a bit of an exception, involving as it does both halves.
<Christoph> Hey! Maybe that’s why this guy was invited to speak there!
<Vonda> ... He thinks the reluctance of some writers to embrace computer technology is a similar reaction to not
wanting to “embrace the muse of interactivity.” ...
<Djonn> <holding tongue>
<Robt> I would suspect most writers period can tell you the 2nd law and some Shakespeare
<Robt> I think more likely its lack of income
<Lois> <ditto, Djonn> ... Robt: yes.
<Terry> <ditto here too>
<Robt> Lois: good idea, I follow yours and Djonn’s lead.
<Vonda> ... He notes that in computer games, no characters (as writers perceive them) exist.
<Vanguard-> Hey Vonda, just wanted to let you know that I’m here (it’s me, Janna), along with Josepha Sherman.
We’re all waiting with baited breath. Anything exciting happening, or is it the usual corporate-dinner-type blather?
<bullet> Why do we always refer to technology when discussing interactivity?
<Vonda> ... He asks us, please, to take the muse of interactivity to our hearts, as we would any muse, though “no
great work of art has been created under her aegis.” ...
<Vonda> But she’s just a child. Give her a place. Give her a home.
<Vonda> [end]
<Djonn> <mfrpfl>
* Ryuuen wonders if it’d be impolite to laugh. :)
<Vanguard-> Thinking the same thing ourselves....
<Vonda> It was quite moving from this end; sorry I didn’t really get the feeling across.
<Vanguard-> <Bowing our heads in apology...>
<Robt> Vonda, I got that he was passionate
<Vonda> I don’t necessarily agree with everything he said, but it was a very interesting speech. ...
<Djonn> Oh, I think you got some of Mr. Crawford’s feeling across.
<Ferragus> that’s Ok Vonda, thanks so much for what you could do
<bullet> You did terrific Vonda!
<Kent> According to SFWeekly coverage, some folks were walking out.
<Vonda> I encourage folks to keep an eye out for it. Will try to find out where it will be published.
<Robt> Kent: cool!
<Lois> he made some interesting points, certainly a lot of items to debate. will be fascinating to read the full
text.
<Vonda> It’s been a LONG evening. The rest rooms are a ways away.
<Kent> I don’t think so ... seems kinda impolite, actually.
*************************************************************
Segment 6: Awards Presentations (400 lines)
SFWA Service Award, Best Short Story, Novelette, Novella, Novel, and Grandmaster
<Vonda> Now is the Service to SFWA Award, given by Michael Capobianco (Prez SFWA)
<Djonn> I *do* want to see the published text. But if the thesis is as Vonda paraphrased it, it’s not going to
be popular.
<Robt> Djonn: maybe he wanted to be Devil’s Advocate too
<Djonn> Meanwhile, back to the awards.
<Deb> Also, to slightly echo Terry, he seems to be thinking that everyone thinks the same way.
<bullet> That would encourage more interactivity wouldn’t it?
<Deb> Ooops, changed rooms without knowing it. Sorry.
<Sean> He may have fallen into overgeneralization, but that’s not uncommon in rhetoric. It’s a device.
<Vonda> Michael: Thanks the officers, George RR Martin (VEEP), John Miller (Sec), Regional directors Robin
Bailey, Michael Armstrong, A.C. Crispin, Edo van Belkom.
<Vonda> He wishes the successors (not announced yet) best of luck... they’ll probably need it.
*** Elisabeth has joined #nebula
<Djonn> Amen!
<Vonda> He thanks the Neb banquet folks -- they really have been sensational. (I can’t get all the names, sorry.)
<Vonda> (There are a lot. This is quite a “do”)
<Moderator> (refering people to the sfwa page for a list of proper credits)
<Vonda> Excellent.
<Kent> (http://www.sfwa.org)
<Vonda> The Service to SFWA award is for work above and beyond the call of duty. ...
<Djonn> <light bulb> And I think I know who’ll get it.
<Vonda> He has been an officer for 9 years, has acted as organizational memory. ...
<Vonda> Robin Wayne Bailey!
<Vonda> Standing ovation!
<Moderator> Woohoo!
<Adrienne> yay robin
<Djonn> <joins ovation, thwaps self for wrong guess>
<Terry> Neat
<Vanguard-> Go Robin!
<Kent> <clapclapclap>
*** JeffryD has joined #nebula
<Moderator> re Jade, Robin Bailey just won the service award
<JeffryD> Hi, all. Congrats to Robin.
<sfreader> Yeah!!!! I’m hanging up and calling Diana!!!!!!!!!
<pff3> rejade
<Vonda> Robin thanks Michael especially for the help. Also Haldeman, Greg Bear who talked him into running;
Barbara Hambly.
<Bruce_H_R> Hooray! <clap clap clap>
<Vonda> His final official act was to have the music in the dining room turned off for the speeches.
<Moderator> LOL
<Vonda> Pause for a moment of silence for the folks who passed away last year.
<Vonda> Now to the awards.
<Vonda> Short story is first.
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Short Story *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “Burning Bright”, K.D. Wentworth *
<Info> * (Aboriginal SF, Summer 96) *
<Info> * “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, James Patrick Kelly *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Jun97) *
<Info> * “Sister Emily’s Lightship”, Jane Yolen *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * “The Crab Lice”, Gregory Feeley *
<Info> * (Alternate Tyrants, Tor, Mar97) *
<Info> * “The Dead”, Michael Swanwick *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * “The Elizabeth Complex”, Karen Joy Fowler *
<Info> * (Crank! 6, Apr96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Vonda> Presenter is Mr Nelson Bond
<Christoph> Here we go.
<Bruce_H_R> Why am I so nervous??
<Terry> LOL!
<Kent> Settle down, Bruce. (Me too.)
<Vanguard-> We’re shakin’ in our boots in Seattle...
<Djonn> <chews fingernails>
<Vonda> And the winner is
<Vonda> Jane Yolen -- Sister Emily’s Lightship
<MMF> She da WOMAN!
<Moderator> Woohooo!
<Terry> Hooray!
<Vanguard-> WTG. Jane!
<Bruce_H_R> Brava!
<Vonda> [Chris] Vonda’s taking the stage to present Best Novelette...
<Robt> Great!
<Djonn> Congrats to Jane. One for one for me prediction-wise.
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novelette *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “The Copyright Notice Case”, Paul Levinson *
<Info> * (Analog, Apr96) *
<Info> * “The Dog’s Story”, Eleanor Arneson *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, May96) *
<Info> * “The Flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress *
<Info> * (Asimovs, Oct/Nov96) *
<Info> * “The Miracle of Ivar Avenue”, John Kessel *
<Info> * (Intersections, Tor, Feb96 & Asimov’s, Sep96)*
<Info> * “The Undiscovered”, William Sanders *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Mar97) *
<Info> * “Three Hearings on the Existence of Snakes in the *
<Info> * Human Bloodstream”, James Alan Gardner *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Feb97) *
<Info> * “We Will Drink A Fish Together...”, Bill Johnson *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, May97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Marilee> Yep, that’s what I picked, too!
<Terry> Timestamping showed one minute between Vonda’s “And the winner...” and “Jane Yolen.” That was a very long
minute.
<Vanguard-> It sure was...
<JeffryD> I was tempted to say that I had to take the server down....
<Terry> Aieeeee
<Kent> Hee hee hee ... they announced Jerry Oltion as the winner over on scifiweekly....
<Vanguard-> We hear that minutes are longer in Santa Fe....
<Ferragus> Lynching!
<Vonda> [Chris] ...presenter made a speech.
<Adrienne> And we all teleport to Texas and take Jade down.
<Moderator> (a reminder, please no .wavs or script playing in this room [other than me of course :-) ])
<Robt> LOLOL
<Robt> No wavs?
<Robt> its more realistic this way
<Vonda> [Chris] winner: “the flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress, (Asimovs)
<Moderator> sorry, just want to keep the room managable, not all people have them.
<JeffryD> Awright!
<Robt> I was right
<Bruce_H_R> Brava!
<Moderator> Excellent. :-)
<Robt> 0 for 1
<Robt> ooops
<Vanguard-> Congrats from Seattle!
<Kent> Good for Nancy.
<Robt> 1 for 2
<Vonda> Now for novella
<Marilee> We’re getting big applause from the O*W*C chat room on AOL. ;)
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novella *
<Info> * *
<Info> * “Abandon in Place”, Jerry Oltion *
<Info> * (F&SF, Dec96) *
<Info> * “Chrysalis”, Robert Reed *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Sep96) *
<Info> * “Loose Ends”, Paul Levinson *
<Info> * (Analog, May97) *
<Info> * “Primrose and Thorn”, Bud Sparhawk *
<Info> * (Analog, May96) *
<Info> * “The Funeral March of the Marionettes”, *
<Info> * Adam-Troy Castro (F&SF, Jul97) *
<Info> * “...Where Angels Fear to Tread”, Allen Steele *
<Info> * (Asimov’s, Oct/Nov97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Djonn> I waffled. One for two for me.
<Vonda> The presenter is Walter Jon Williams.
<Moderator> Oltion is my pick
<Kent> Me too.
<JeffryD> Yeah, mine, too.
<Vonda> And the winner is...
<Djonn> I’d like Jerry to win, but my predictor-radar says Sparhawk.
<Vonda> Jerry Oltion.
<Kent> Yes!
<Moderator> YES!!!
<Vonda> Abandon in Place
<Djonn> <shoots radar gun at self>
<JeffryD> Awwright! 2 for 3!
<Robt> Hrmmm
<Djonn> One for three for me.
<Bruce_H_R> Bravo! More Lucite for Eugene!
<Marilee> I’m two for three.
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award: *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * *
<Info> * _A Game of Thrones_, George R.R. Martin *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Aug96) *
<Info> * _Ancient Shores_, Jack McDevitt *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Apr96) *
<Info> * _Bellwether_, Connie Willis *
<Info> * (Bantam Spectra, Apr96) *
<Info> * _City On Fire_, Walter Jon Williams *
<Info> * (HarperPrism, Jan97) *
<Info> * _King’s Dragon_, Kate Elliot *
<Info> * (DAW, Feb97) *
<Info> * _Memory_, Lois McMaster Bujold *
<Info> * (Baen, Oct96) *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Kent> Hush up, Lucite Boy.<g>
<Vonda> Jerry says it’s a wish fulfilment story... and tonight that’s really true.
<Moderator> Good luck, Vonda!
<Vanguard-> Belated congratulations from the Great Northwest for our hometown boy!
<Moderator> Sure is, that was a wonderful story.
<Vanguard-> Fingers crossed in Seattle for Vonda!
<Djonn> Novel is hard to call.
<Vonda> He thanks Kathy, his wife;
<JeffryD> Don’t care about predictions, I’m rooting for Vonda!
<Vonda> Stanley Schmidt of Analog.
<Djonn> I’m also rooting for Vonda. And I think she has a shot at it, too.
<Vonda> And finally, KK Rusch, who read it at 5000 words and said “It’s silly to stop halfway to the moon.”
<Kent> Me too, Jeffry. However ... betting against Connie Willis seems kinda futile. ;)
<Christoph> Righto.
<Vonda> Now for the novel.
<Djonn> Kent: The question is whether Willis and Bujold will split votes and choke.
<Lois> good point.
<Vonda> Presenter is Fred Saberhagen.
<Robt> Yeah but if so, then McDevitt and Williams have a chance
<MMF> Hang in there, Vonda -- you’re doing great!
<Keith> I really like McDevitt’s story
<Vanguard-> More held breath in Seattle...
<Vonda> Nominees are --?
<Djonn> Actually, the only novel I think probably *can’t* win is the Elliot, demographically.
<Moderator> did it earlier
<Robt> Djonn: agree
<Vonda> And the winner is...
<Moderator> scroll up for nominees
<Vonda> y;ie
<Vanguard-> ???
<Terry> <strangled sound>
<Marilee> She fainted?
<Djonn> That sounds like a Seattle win to me....
<MMF> What’s happening?
<pff3> hahaha
<shred> Vonda won.
<Kent> Vonda won!
<Vanguard-> What’s going on?
<MMF> Woo-fucking-HOO!
<Ziggy> yea!
<Keith> WOWWWWWWW
<Lois> vonda won???? won!!!
<Kent> Hah! Outstanding!
<Vanguard-> Screams and cheers from Seattle!
<MMF> GO VONDA!!!!!
<JeffryD> HOO-HAH! FANTASTIC!
<Robt> SFF NET rulezzzz
<Moderator> Woohooooo!!!!
<Marilee> All right!
<Lois> Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<JeffryD> <screaming and cheering>
<Deb> All Right!!!!!
<Christoph> All right! Congrats!
<Elisabeth> Way to go Vonda. We knew it was you the whole time!
<Vanguard-> Yay for Vonda!
<Moderator> Vonda (had to go to SciFi to check :-)
* MMF doing flipping frigging handstands!
<Terry> Woo-HOO
<Vanguard-> vanguard screams!
<RuthS> Way to go VONDA!!!!!
<Vonda> winner: THE MOON AND THE SUN,, vONda
<Ziggy> <applause applause>
<Sean> Congrats, Vonda :)
<Robt> Vonda, congrats!!!!!!!!
<Djonn> Hah. I *thought* that might happen.
<Vanguard-> It’s the first time we’ve seen someone faint on-line!
<Bruce_H_R> Brava! Brava! Bravisima!
<MMF> Yes! Yes!
<Ryuuen> Woooo.
<Adrienne> Way to go Vonda!
<Moderator> Yes!!
<MMF> She da WOMAN!
<Keith> Take the computer up with you!
<Vanguard-> VONDA! VONDA! VONDA!
<Moderator> 3 of 4 winners are SFF-Netters folks!!!
<JeffryD> But of course!
<jnfr> WOO HOO!
<JeffryD> Oh, I’m so happy. Vonda really deserved it. Fantastic book.
<Kent> (congratulating Jeffry for putting on a hell of a show, these last few years)
<Robt> JD you should be up there!
<MMF> VonDA VonDA VonDA!
<JeffryD> Hah!
<Vonda> Yikes. is what I was trying to type
<Robt> Cool
<Kent> Giant hugs!
<Vanguard-> Way to go Vonda!
<Terry> CONGRATS!
<Moderator> Congratulations Vonda!!
<Djonn> Vonda: CONGRATULATIONS!!! (Now I am going to bail and see if I can be first back to Genie with the news.
<g>
<Robt> Cangrats Vonda!!!!!!
<Terry> Fly, Djonn, be fleet!
<Vanguard-> Congratulations from all of us here!
<MMF> Good for you, Vonda!
*** Djonn has quit IRC (Hi-yo Vonda, away!)
<Vonda> Standing ovation for Poul Anderson.
<Lois> vonda vonda: yahoo-o-o-o-o !!!!
<Marilee> Yep, I’m posting on AOL now.
<Ziggy> :)
<Vonda> Thanks all.
<Kent> Standing here for Poul as well.
<MMF> Toldja!
<Robt> Lois, not Yahoo, SFF Net. :)
<JeffryD> Vonda, mega-hugs. Well-deserved. Congrats!
<Vanguard-> Vonda, all your neighbors are going to wonder what’s going on here! the crowd’s gone WILD!
<Ferragus> Congrats Vonda!
<MMF> Vonda, what did you say on the podium?
<Keith> Vonda, don’t forget to breathe
<Elisabeth> Congrads Vonda. I knew it was you.
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Winners of the 1997 Nebula Awards: *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novella *
<Info> * “Abandon in Place”, Jerry Oltion *
<Info> * (F&SF, Dec96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novelette *
<Info> * “The Flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress *
<Info> * (Asimovs, Oct/Nov96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Short Story *
<Info> * “Sister Emily’s Lightship”, Jane Yolen *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Kent> Have fun and smile big for all those pix!
<Vanguard-> We’re all wondering what Vonda’s acceptance speech was like. What we got was “y;ie!”
<Moderator> heheheh
<Adrienne> Okay. I’ll hit Compuserve and post this now.
<Vonda> I said I thought I should call out the Novelet nominees again because no one could hear me in the back of
the room.
<Moderator> Plus Poul Anderson receiving the Grandmaster title.
<Vonda> Then I thanked everyone here for being a family of mine for 30 years.
<Vanguard-> (we love you, too, girlfriend...)
<Terry> That’s lovely.
<MMF> That’s so nice. Good on you, ma’am.
<Vonda> Very sorry not to report Jack Williamson’s speech about Poul but we couldn’t hear it back here in the
phone corner.
<Joan> woohoo vonda!
<Vanguard-> Ummmm, maybe you were busy thinking about something else?
<Vonda> Poul thanks us for the Grand Master award and says he is in wonderful company.
<Vonda> (No, I really couldn’t hear him. He’s a very soft-spoken gentleman)
<Vonda> Poul thanks us all as friends, fellow writers, editors, readers.
<Kent> Applause for Poul. A gentleman’s gentleman.
<Vonda> He also thanks the current and past officers of SFWA for making SFWA a strong and active organization,
which makes the Nebs as significant as they are.
<Vanguard-> Bravo!
<Moderator> Absolutely!
<JeffryD> Uh, doesn’t that mean butler?
<Vonda> Yes. He & Karen were so kind to me when I was an 18 year old nobody.
<Robt> heheh
<Kent> <phblllt!>
<Vonda> Karen is always first in Poul’s thoughts, he says.
<Vonda> She has published work of her own, and collaborated with him; in life she has always collaborated with
him.
<JeffryD> Awww.
<Bruce_H_R> Congratulations, Vonda. Are your hands shaking the least little bit?
<Vonda> She is his “primary and favorite researcher.” She reads all his first drafts, is his “resident nitpicker”
(her words)...
<Vonda> And helps in the tedious work of proofreading. “And she’s a nicer person than I am” (This may be true,
but it is darn hard! -- vnm)
<Vonda> Pause for standing ovation!
<JeffryD> <standing here>
<Moderator> <standing and clapping!
<Vanguard-> standing in Seattle...
<Vonda> Michael Cassut says, it’s 10:40 and Santa Fe is out there and waiting.
<Kent> <clapclapclap>
<Lois> just buzzing at this end..
<Robt> <stand and clap>
<Bruce_H_R> <applause>
<Vonda> “The winners are asked to stay for the official humiliating photographs.”
************************************************************
Segment 7: Wind Down (325 lines)
Guests: Chris Krohn, Susan Matthews, Kevin J. Anderson, George R.R. Martin
<Lois> ((applause))
<Joan> heehee
<Vonda> He made a final really really good joke but none of us could hear him back here!
<JeffryD> Go smile for the cameras, Vonda! Congrats again.
<Ziggy> lol
<Moderator> :-)
<Bruce_H_R> Your smile muscles are about to get a workout, Vonda.
<Kent> Those who didn’t win he calls the “Differently Victorious”
<Moderator> OK, winners again...
<JeffryD> LOL
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Winners of the 1997 Nebula Awards: *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novella *
<Info> * “Abandon in Place”, Jerry Oltion *
<Info> * (F&SF, Dec96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novelette *
<Info> * “The Flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress *
<Info> * (Asimovs, Oct/Nov96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Short Story *
<Info> * “Sister Emily’s Lightship”, Jane Yolen *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Vonda> I have to go have my picture taken -- back in a bit.
<Kent> Thanks, Vonda!
<Kent> And Jeffry.
<Marilee> Yep, many thanks to sff.net & Vonda!
<Vanguard-> Tami here - congradulations Vonda, I told you you would win!
<Vonda> [Chris] Vonda has left the keyboard for the winner’s photo ops.
<Moderator> Plus Robin Wayne Bailey for Service to SFWA and Poul Anderson, Grandmaster!
<Bruce_H_R> Thanks, Jeffry. This was my first IRC experience, and a very good one.
<Vanguard-> Hey, Vonda, how are those “losing gracefully” skills? Coming in handy, are they?
<Lois> thank you to sffnet, and thank you to vonda.
<Kent> Good night, folks.
<JeffryD> Glad you all could drop by.
<Vonda> [Chris] She’s now winning graciously.
<JeffryD> Feel free to stay and chat.
<Lois> thanks, jeffry
<Moderator> Very glad that all of you could make it tonight!!
<Vanguard-> <janna> Vonda, I’m DElighted for you!
<Terry> Very glad that SFF-Net hosted this!
<JeffryD> Mega-thanks to Jimbo for planning and running this event!
<MMF> It was great to be here. I’m heading off to bed, now. Night’all!
<Moderator> Yes, we’ll be sticking around for a bit to see what’s what.
<Vanguard-> Mark Manning here: You won! That’s cool as a moose!!!
<pff3> yes!!! Cheers for Jimbo!!!!
<Vonda> [Chris] test...
<Terry> So who is “Vonda” now?? <g>
<Vanguard-> Congratulations Vonda!!! (from Luke)
<Ziggy> good job, Jimbo!!!
<Ferragus> Cheers for Vonda!
* Moderator takes a bow
<Vonda> [Chris] This is Chris Krohn, one of the banquet assistants.
<Kent> See u
<Ferragus> very nicely done Jimbo
<Terry> Hi, Chris!
<Kent> you all in Baltimore.
<Moderator> Thanks, chris for stepping in.
<Ziggy> hi Chris
<pff3> welcome chris!
<Terry> <cheers for Jimbo>
<Vonda> [Chris] The banquet hall is slowly emptying out.
<Robt> Jimbo, well done
<JeffryD> Chris, type /nick Chris
* Xenith hands Moderator a long stemmed rose @}>-`,------}---- :)
<Robt> JeffryD you pulled it off well
<Vanguard-> Think they’ll have to reinforce the beams from all the screams from Vanguard? (from Josepha)
<Xenith> give one to vonda when she comes back
*** Vonda is now known as Susan
<Bruce_H_R> Anybody here have the phone number for the Nebula hotel’s front desk?
<Terry> Hi Susan
<Ziggy> hi Susan
<JeffryD> Susan who?
<Terry> Susan...Shwartz?
<Susan> Two female novel winners from Seattle!
<Susan> Matthews
<Robt> Bruce: 411? www.switchboad.com?
<Moderator> Bruce, might be on SFWA page, let me look
<JeffryD> Hi, Susan.
<Terry> Susan...Matthews! Hi. :)
<Moderator> phone 505-982-1200
<Susan> As a female novelist from Seattle I consider this an excellent precedent.
<Ferragus> Hi Susan!
<Robt> :)
<Terry> :) Susan
<Marilee> LOL
<Moderator> Yes, you’ll get your chance.
<Bruce_H_R> Thanks for that number!
<Robt> Well I could move to Seattle, but I stop at that!
<Terry> lol Robt
<Susan> Hi Guys! ::leaving now to cheer some more::
<Robt> :)
<pff3> hahahhah
<JeffryD> (Almost) anything to sell a story, Robt? :)
<Bruce_H_R> Good night, all.
<Terry> Nite, Bruce
<Moderator> night Bruce
<Vanguard-> Vonda: the yells from here may have woken Philby up! Congrats, Bruce and Margaret!
<pff3> night Bruce
<JeffryD> G’night, Bruce.
*** Susan is now known as ChrisK
<Robt> Jeffry, you saw what I submitted to you, what do you think :p
<JeffryD> LOL, Robt.
<Robt> :)
<ChrisK> Robt, it got a lot of yucks here at the Nebs.
<JeffryD> Going over to the chat side to see who’s there. G’night, all.
<Robt> hahah
<ChrisK> So how about that sex change?
<Lois> heading out. see you all later. was intense!
<Info> Once again, since I made such a neat macro. :-P
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> * Winners of the 1997 Nebula Awards: *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novel *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre *
<Info> * (Pocket Books, Sep97) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novella *
<Info> * “Abandon in Place”, Jerry Oltion *
<Info> * (F&SF, Dec96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Novelette *
<Info> * “The Flowers of Aulit Prison”, Nancy Kress *
<Info> * (Asimovs, Oct/Nov96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> * Best Short Story *
<Info> * “Sister Emily’s Lightship”, Jane Yolen *
<Info> * (Starlight 1, Tor, Sep96) *
<Info> * *
<Info> ******************************************************
<ChrisK> I think that a contingent of attendees is about to crash a Japanese bathhouse up in the foothills
outside Santa Fe.
<Robt> We’ll set up a committee to explore the ramifications
<Moderator> What a night!
<ChrisK> Not much more to report from the Banquet: most scintillating talk has moved to the other end of the
hall; I am surrounded by busboys.
<Moderator> Vonda will probably be back for at least a little bit, so you might want to stick around.
<Robt> Sounds dangerous
<ChrisK> She’s very popular at the moment.
<Moderator> ok, thanks, Chris
<Moderator> Yes, I imagine. :-)
<ChrisK> They’re trying to cockroach us. They’ve just turned on the Musak: White Wedding?!
<ChrisK> Vonda’s not here yet...so she roped me in here for a few minutes. this is Kevin J. Anderson too warm
and uncomfortable in a tux!
*** ChrisK is now known as KJA
<Terry> Hi, Kevin!
<Moderator> Welcome Kevin!
<Marilee> Hi Kevin!
<Moderator> Thanks for dropping by
<Ferragus> hi Kevin!
<Moderator> type /nick Kevin to change the name
<Ziggy> hi Kevin
<Terry> He did, he’s KJA
<KJA> Nebula banquets are a place to hang out with all kinds of editors and writers
<KJA> and here in Santa Fe we get really great N.Mex food, too!
<Moderator> Great.
<Moderator> Sounds like it was a quality event all teh way around.
<KJA> We were at the Bantam table, sitting with Brian Herbert, my wife Rebecca Moesta, Ed Bryant, George RR
Martin, and various editors
<KJA> And speaking of George RR...he’s going to chat here for a bit!
<Terry> Great!!
*** KJA is now known as GeoRR
<Terry> Hi, George
<Ziggy> hi George
<Sean> Hey, glad you could stop to chat.
<pff3> welcome to sff.net George
<Marilee> Hi George!
<GeoRR> hello
<Robt> Hi George
<GeoRR> glad to be here
<GeoRR> i am lusting after vonda’s nebula--- it’s gorgeous
<Robt> What did you think of that speech by Chris Crawford?
<Moderator> Great to have you. Condolances on the award.
<Terry> Congrats on A GAME OF THRONES being a finalist. It’s a fantastic book.
<Sean> Everyone over in my neck of the woods is eagerly awaiting the sequel to Game of Thrones. You had a lot of
fans here rooting for you.
*** JeffryD (JeffryD@ego.greyware.com) has joined #nebula
<JeffryD> Here am I.
<Ferragus> Jimbo can you run your award macro in the #lobby?
<Moderator> sure
<Terry> George also has a wonderful novella coming out in LEGENDS.
<GeoRR> well i told them i’d sing the theme song of MY MOTHER THE CAR if i won --probably lost it for me
<JeffryD> I’m here now, too.
<JeffryD> See it. Thanks!
<Robt> GeoRR that would kill my vote too.
<GeoRR> i have just finished the sequel, A CLASH OF KINGS
<Sean> *grin* There are some benefits to a text medium, I suppose. At least we’re safe from the singing.
<Moderator> Excellent, will look forward to that one.
<Terry> George, does it have a pub date?
<Robt> heheh
<Sean> Any word on when it might be ou...what he said :)
<GeoRR> early next year in the US
<GeoRR> the brits have it scheduled for November
<Terry> Ah! Good to know.
<Moderator> Lucky dogs
<GeoRR> now it’s on to the third book
<Terry> There’s always bookpages.co.uk, don’t forget.
<Terry> Are you starting it right away, or taking a break?
<Sean> May have to import that one, and be the envy of my peers.
<GeoRR> it was a fun ceremony here -- Nelson Bond was great
<Terry> Vonda paraphrased his remarks for us. Sounded wonderful.
<GeoRR> taking a break
<Moderator> Vonda did a great job of translating the excitement for us. :-)
<GeoRR> going to Australia
<Sean> Have any other projects you’re working on?
<Robt> Yes, any movie projects maybe?
<GeoRR> i have a FEVRE DREAM screenplay to do as well
<Terry> Fun!
<GeoRR> anywa, i’m gonna go party
<Lorrie> So you want to boogie down, eh?
<Moderator> OK, go have fun, thanks!!
<Terry> Have a good time!
<Robt> GeoRR nice to see you
<GeoRR> maybe i can get Vonda drunk and steal her nebula
<Robt> drop by sff.net again
<Sean> Have fun. Thanks for dropping by :)
<pff3> HAHHHAHHAH
<Moderator> <g>
<Xenith> hehe
<GeoRR> thabks, all
*** GeoRR is now known as Vonda
<Vonda> Hi folks, back again.
<Xenith> Vonda back?
<Terry> Everybody wants to be known as Vonda now. :)
<Vonda> Yep
* Xenith `~;`~`*~throws`;.~`;.�*`;.`~;confetti``*~�
`*~`;on.~`;.*`; Vonda `~`~`*~`;.~`;.*`�;.`~;.*`;.�`~;`~`
*~`;.~`;.�*`~`~`*~`; .~`;.*`;.`~�
;.*`;.;`~`~`*~`;.~`;.*`;.`~�;.*`;.`~;`~`�
`;.~`;.* `; Vonda
`~;`~`*~�`;.~`;.*`;.`~;``*~`;.~
<Moderator> Hi Vonda.
<Moderator> :-)
*** Robt is now known as Vondaclon
<Ferragus> hehe
*** Vondaclon is now known as Robt
<Robt> Vonda how do you feel right now?
<Vonda> Thanks for the confetti.
<Moderator> Big congrats once again, Vonda. See, you surprised us. :-)
<Vonda> Great.
<Vanguard-> Hey Vonda from Seattle. I throw confetti if I could. Tami
<Vonda> Thanks, Tami.
<Sean> No, no, you’re supposed to say ‘We knew you’d win all along’ :)
<Vonda> Listen, folks are kind of clearing out so I’m not sure if I can grab anybody else.
<Vonda> Surprised me too.
<Vanguard-> I did know you’d win all along. Told you...Tami
<Ferragus> thanks for all you did Vonda and congrats!
<Terry> You should go savor the moment!
<Robt> Vonda, but you’ll take it, right?
<Vonda> It was my pleasure to be on line -- I really enjoyed it. You guys are a great distraction!
<Ziggy> congrats, Vonda, and thanks for taking us along too :)
<Moderator> Yes, go party. :-)
<Lorrie> So you want to boogie down, eh?
<Vanguard-> Thanks from Seattle.
<Terry> Thanks =so much= for doing this, Vonda.
<Sean> Made me wish I could attend in person.
<Robt> Vonda go party, and we expect to see you do the same fine job of hosting the nebs next year :p
<Lorrie> So you want to boogie down, eh?
<Vonda> It was my pleasure. But they’re taking the room down so I think I have to get off their table.
<Marilee> Thanks, Vonda! Have fun!
<Vonda> I appreciate you all hanging in for so long.
<Vonda> Talk to you soon!
<Moderator> OK, this was a lot of fun.
<Vanguard-> CU in seattle.
<Moderator> Glad we could share your big moment with you.
<Robt> Bye
<Terry> Nite, Vonda! Congrats!
<Vonda> Thanks to Vanguard for being the hometown cheering section!
<Moderator> nite
<Vonda> Bye!
<Keith> Great Night Vonda!
*** Vonda has left #nebula
<Ferragus> Bye Vonda
<Marilee> Night, y’all!
<Ferragus> Night all! see you soon
* Ferragus waves
<Robt> nite
<Terry> Nite, Ferr!
<Ziggy> night Ferragus
<Terry> Nite, Ferr!
<Ziggy> night Ferragus
<Moderator> That concludes our official ceremonies, but you’re all more than welcome to stick around and chat.
:-)