This month, John Stith is our guest. He has written a number of novels in the hard-science vein, including Redshift Rendezvous (Nebula Award nominee), Manhattan Transfer (Hugo Award Honorable Mention), Reunion on Neverend, and Reckoning Infinity (on Science Fiction Chronicle's Best Science Fiction Novels list for its publication year, on the Nebula Award preliminary ballot), Scapescope, Memory Blank, Death Tolls, and Deep Quarry.

This month, Dr. Steve Lee will talk on some of his latest Mars research … always interesting and entertaining!

This month we will also finalize plans (meeting time, any other details) for the August picnic.

I didn’t make it to the July alternate (heat wipes me out) but the DASFA Facebook page is up and running … if you haven’t joined and arranged to Like/Follow us there, please do so!

June 2011 DASFA Director-y

This month, we are lucky to have Connie Willis as our speaker. Fresh from her latest Nebula ward win (best novel for Blackout / All Clear), she may be talking about classics that are being neglected … or something else. Whatever it is, it’s bound to be both entertaining and enlightening, so don’t miss the meeting!

This month, Rhonda will run the meeting as I will be out of town and unable to attend.

This month, DASFA will host the dynamic writing duo of Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem. The inimitable Ed Bryant will show up to perform toastmaster introductory duties (which may or may not involve newspaper clippings).

This month, we welcome Todd Neff. A former Boulder Daily Camera staff writer (2003-2007) who focused on science and the environment, his book From Jars to the Stars: How Ball Came to Build a Comet-Hunting Machine was published last year. The novel tells the story of how Ball Aerospace—an organization evolved from the Ball Brothers Company of Muncie, Indiana and a group of students in a University of Colorado basement—managed to blast a sizable crater in the comet 9P/Tempel 1 on July 4, 2005.

This month, join Gary Raham for his presentation, “Wandering on the dinosaurs’ last seashore,” and enjoy a journey to an ancient Colorado that features dinosaurs, sea monsters, giant crocodiles, and some surprising creatures that helped transform their world into the Colorado we enjoy today. Learn how Raham’s fossil hunting adventures and his love of good writing inspired his graphic short story, “The Dinosaurs’ Last Seashore.” See amazing fossils and some of the original art created for the work. Books available for purchase at $9.50 each.

We continue the year in a literary vein with Ed Bryant as our February speaker.

I’m kicking off my second term (this time around) as director with a great program. Award-winning fantasy author Carol Berg will begin her Soul Mirror book launch with an appearance at DASFA (we get her even before Tattered Cover!), The Soul Mirror is the sequel to The Spirit Lens. The Collegia Magica trilogy will conclude in 2012 with The Daemon Prism.

Our December meeting will be the annual and traditional Christmas Orgy, once again hosted by Bruce and Sandy in their palatial and art-filled party pad. I’m already contemplating what to make and bring to our yearly culinary blowout…I may also bring a game or two.

Looks like I’ll be directing for one more year. I don’t know yet what the January program will be but hope to get started lining up things by the beginning of the year (or earlier, if I get the holiday/time continuum under control).

Past/Upcoming Parties & Plans

Our October meeting will feature Six-Guns Straight from Hell Laura Givens, who will talk about her involvement with the anthology in her triplicate role as co-editor, contributor and art director. It’s a busy life!

There will also be a preview of MileHiCon programming … it’s coming up fast! … and quick discussion of plans for the DAFA con suite sponsorship.

I currently have no idea what the November program will consist of other than looking for nominations for next year’s officers. Be thinking about whether this is the year YOU step up to help run the club and keep it going!