Evelyn C. Leeper's Home Page: Books, Travel, and More

This week's MT VOID contents :

Science Fiction (and Other) Discussion Groups, Films, Lectures, etc. (NJ)
My Picks for Turner Classic Movies for July (comments by Mark R. Leeper)
A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE by Arkady Martine (book review by Joe Karpierz)
Hot Food (letter of comment by Paul Dormer, Scott Dorsey, 
     Robert K. Shull, and Sjouke Burry)
AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS (letter of comment by Andre Kuzniarek)
This Week's Reading (THE MARTIAN, BEYOND THIRTY, and William Morris) 
     (book and movie comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)
Quote of the Week

Featured articles, trip logs, and convention reports:

• Philcon 2017 (November 2017) (33K)
• Annotations and Thoughts on Moby Dick (FINALLY FINISHED!) (543K)
• Road Trip to Utah (October 2017) (56K)
• List of books read by the Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library's "Original" Book Group
• List of books read by the Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library's Science Fiction Book Group

Mark and I were Fan Guests of Honor for Windycon XXIX, November 8-10, 2002. Here are:

• My convention report
• A brief co-biography written for the Program Book by friend and seven-time Hugo nominee Bob Devney
• Further information on Windycon

What I do:

• I was for twenty years one of the judges for the Sidewise Award for Alternate History.
  • Click here for "AH 101," a quick introduction to alternate history.
  • Click here for a list of Jewish-themed alternate histories.
• I read books and write book reviews.
• I travel and write travelogues and science fiction convention reports.
• I maintain various lists and pages:
  • Lists of bookstores throughout the world
  • A Magical Realism page of discussion and links
  • A Harry Potter page: differences between the British and American editions of the first book (work in progress)
  • A Sherlock Holmes booklist
  • The rec.arts.books FAQ
  • The rec.arts.sf.written FAQ
  • The rec.arts.movies FAQ
  • The rec.arts.sf.movies FAQ
  • Recommended DVD commentaries

If you want to get some idea of my philosophy, check out my .sig quotes.

I have been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer twelve times, most recently in 2001.

The MT VOID is a publication of the Mt. Holz science fiction club.

To subscribe, send mail to mtvoid-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mtvoid/.

Table of Contents

• 06/26/20, Vol. 38, No. 52: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in July; book review of A Memory Called Empire; letters of comment on hot food, and on At The Mountains of Madness; and comments on books and films (The Martian, Beyond Thirty, and William Morris).
• 06/19/20, Vol. 38, No. 51: Comments on Ray Harryhausen's 100th birthday anniversary, on Jalape˜o peppers, and on the end of the world; television review of Stargirl; book review of Receptor; letters of comment on trucks, on The Wizard of Oz, and on Beowulf; and comments on books (Are We Rome, The Storm Before the Storm, and Alaric the Goth).
• 06/12/20, Vol. 38, No. 50: Comments on trucks and on The Wizard of Oz; letters of comment on books, on "The Changeling", and on "Trog"; and comments on books (Are We Rome, The Storm Before the Storm, and Alaric the Goth).
• 06/05/20, Vol. 38, No. 49: List of Nebula Award winners; comments on books; letters of comment on Marco Polo, on bats, on the Retro-Hugo Awards, and on scary movies; and comments on books (A Journal of the Plague Year).
• 05/29/20, Vol. 38, No. 48: Pointers to lists of good adventure and SF books; announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in June, and on Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker; letters of comment on alcohol, and on the Uncertainty Principle; and comments on books (Retro Hugo Award novella and series finalists).
• 05/22/20, Vol. 38, No. 47: Comments on alcohol; book review of The Light Brigade; letters of comment on scary movies and on cattle; and comments on books (Retro Hugo Award short story and novelette finalists).
• 05/15/20, Vol. 38, No. 46: Comments on cows and bull, and on Retro Hugo finalists in various categories; letters of comment on scary movies and television shows, and on polenta and eggs; and comments on movies (Retro Hugo Award dramatic presentation finalists).
• 05/08/20, Vol. 38, No. 45: Comments on eggs and on animals; and comments on books (Retro Hugo Award novel finalists).
• 05/01/20, Vol. 38, No. 44: Comments on signs of our times, and on the horror film; letters of comment on recent reviews; and comments on books (Hugo Award short story finalists).
• 04/24/20, Vol. 38, No. 43: Correction on COVID-19; announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in May; book review of Driftwood; letters of comment on non-fantasy "Twilight Zone" episodes, on The Wind on the Moon, on the "Prix Hugo" speech, on social distancing, on the zombie apocalypse, on Outbreak, on Moby-Dick, and on great American novels; and comments on books (The Decameron [Introduction and Day 1]).
• 04/17/20, Vol. 38, No. 42: Comments on The Twilight Zone, on feel-good highs, and on animals; film review of Contagion; book review of The Player of Games; letters of comment on hippos, on Foundation and Earth amd on COVID-19; and comments on books (Hugo and Retro Hugo nominees).
• 04/10/20, Vol. 38, No. 41: List of Hugo, Retro Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Finalists; comments on interpreting science; book review of At the Mountains of Madness; letters of comment on dogs and cats, the Day of the Animals, and the current apocalypse; and comments on books (The Decameron, What Does It All Mean?, Foundation's Triumph, Europe in Autumn, and True History).
• 04/03/20, Vol. 38, No. 40: Comments on the "Day of the Animals"; letters of comment on Corflu, Harriet, dogs and cats, and the current apocalypse; and comments on books (Foundation and Earth and The Daughter of Time).
• 03/27/20, Vol. 38, No. 39: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in April and Gmail clipping; book review of Salvation Lost; letters of comment on the Retro Hugo Awards; and comments on books (The Life and Writings of C. S. Lewis and The Last Battle).
• 03/20/20, Vol. 38, No. 38: Film reviews of Mary Queen of Scots, Harriet, and Queen and Slim; a science fiction picture game; letters of comment on dogs and cats; and comments on books (book sales and the effects of the current shutdown).
• 03/13/20, Vol. 38, No. 37: Information on submission to the MT VOID; film reviews of The Spy Behind Home Plate and Little Joe; letters of comment on Foundation's Edge, While Nero Fiddled, the MT VOID, Frankenstein, The Lady from the Black Lagoon, Auggie, Riverdale, Peri A[piston, the Retrospective Hugo Awards, sonnets, a possible Gmail glitch, and Steve Stiles; and comments on books (The Handmaid's Tale, and Little Women and Sense and Sensibility).
• 03/06/20, Vol. 38, No. 36: Film reviews of Abominable, American Factory, I Lost My Body, and The Invisible Man (2020); supplement to 1944 Retro Hugo Dramatic Presentations; novella reviews of "Exit Strategy" and "Come Tumbling Down"; book review of The Shock of the Old; and comments on books (Plato, and Foundation's Edge).
• 02/28/20, Vol. 38, No. 35: Correction on 1944 Retro Hugo Dramatic Presentations (Short Form, Part 2), announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in March; book review of Made to Order; and comments on books (The Chile Pepper in China).
• 02/21/20, Vol. 38, No. 34: Comments on the bishop of the moon, on 1944 Retro Hugo Dramatic Presentations (Short Form, Part 2), and on space settlement/colonization; book review of Agency; letters of comment on a temperature puzzle, and rude words and euphemisms; and comments on books and film (authors and series, and The Handmaid's Tale).
• 02/14/20, Vol. 38, No. 33: Comments on 1944 Retro Hugo Dramatic Presentations (Short Form, Part 1); book review of Becoming Superman; letters of comment on Isaac Asimov, 1944 Retro Hugo Dramatic Presentations (Long Form); a temperature puzzle; and comments on books and film (What to Think about Machines That Think).
• 02/07/20, Vol. 38, No. 32: Comments on 1944 Retro Hugo Dramatic Presentations (general comments and Long Form); novella reviews of "Auberon" and "In an Absent Dream"; book review of Underland; letters of comment on plurals and Seven Surrenders; and comments on books and film (The Great Courses and The Left Hand of Darkness, Mere Christrianity, and "Country Music").
• 01/31/20, Vol. 38, No. 31: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in February; film review of Color Out of Space; book review of Seven Surrenders; and comments on books (Men and Dinosaurs).
• 01/24/20, Vol. 38, No. 30: Comments on Mark's top ten films of 2019; book review of Poseidon's Wake; letters of comment on The Americans, Antarctica, a Calgary concvention, old-time radio, statistics, and Moby-Dick; and comments on books (Little Women).
• 01/17/20, Vol. 38, No. 29: Apology on "Star Wars" essay; comments on math as the safest science; film comments on "Star Wars"; letters of comment on Moby-Dick, King Kong, Frau im Mond, Die Nibelungen, The Aeronauts, Hotel Mumbai, John W. Campbell, The Americans, and Edward Gibbon; and comments on books (The Worst Journey in the World).
• 01/10/20, Vol. 38, No. 28: Announcement of the Online Film Critics Awards; film comments on King Kong (1933) and on "Star Wars"; letters of comment on memory and on Moby-Dick; and comments on books (Civil War Road Trip).
• 01/03/20, Vol. 38, No. 27: Comments on MT VOID delivery problems; film reviews of Buddy, The Serengeti Rules, and Brittany Runs a Marathon; letters of comment on Christmas movies and other entertainments; and comments on books (The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire).
• 12/27/19, Vol. 38, No. 26: Comments on MT VOID delivery problems; announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in January; and comments on books (The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire).
• 12/20/19, Vol. 38, No. 25: Film reviews of The Report and Hotel Mumbai; television review of The Americans; letters of comment on capsaicinoids; and comments on books (The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire).
• 12/13/19, Vol. 38, No. 24: Film reviews of In My Room, Depraved, ANYA, and Jojo Rabbit; television review of The Americans; letters of comment on cooking, on spicy food, and on Christmas stories; and comments on books (Hungry Hearts).
• 12/06/19, Vol. 38, No. 23: Comments on email distribution, and on spicy food; film review of The Aeronauts; letters of comment on Scrooge (A Christmas Carol [1951]) and Other Christmas Movies; and comments on books and films (The Haunting of Hill House and Gettysburg).
• 11/29/19, Vol. 38, No. 22: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in December, and on veggie burgers; letters of comment on A Russian Journal and Stalin, and Imhotep and Boris Karloff; and comments on books (Harold Bloom, The Western Canon, and Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human).
• 11/22/19, Vol. 38, No. 21: Comments on tana leaves and on the Astounding Award for Best New Writer; letters of comment on hair, on Moby Dick (1930), on Operation Crossbow, and on A Russian Journal; and comments on books (The Pioneers).
• 11/15/19, Vol. 38, No. 20: Comments on hair; letters of comment on Moby Dick (1930); and comments on books (Textos recobrados: "King Kong", "The Sign of the Cross", "Congo", and "Laws of the Detective Story").
• 11/08/19, Vol. 38, No. 19: Comments on memory; film comments on In My Room and The Quiet Earth; film review of Moby Dick (1930); letters of comment on spam email; and comments on books and film (Moby Dick and Moby Dick (1998)).
• 11/01/19, Vol. 38, No. 18: Comments on the Great Magdeburg Air Hoax and on the V-1 and V-2; film review of The Dead Don't Die; book review of The Fall; letter of comment on private rocketry; and comments on books (A Russian Journal, Diamonds in the Sky, The Department of Sensitive Crimes, and Waste Tide) (book comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)
• 10/25/19, Vol. 38, No. 17: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on changes to MT VOID delivery, and on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in November; book review of Peter Watts Is an Angry Sentient Tumor and Einstein's Unfinished Revolution; letter of comment on spam mail; and comments on books (To Be Taught, If Fortunate) (book comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)
• 10/18/19, Vol. 38, No. 16: Comments on spam mail; film review of Time Trap; letters of comment on Puerto Rican money, on British money, on food, on Downton Abbey, and on Ad Astra; and comments on books (Unholy Land) (book comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)
• 10/11/19, Vol. 38, No. 15: Comments on Puerto Rican money; film review of The Riot Act; letters of comment on Beate Uhse and on Metropolis; and comments on books (Golden State) (book comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)
• 10/04/19, Vol. 38, No. 14: Comments on Metropolis restored, and on kasha; film reviews of The Bestowal and The Day Shall Come; television review of Riverdale; letters of comment on Parkinson's, on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Munchhausen, and strange museums; on Typee, on kasha, and on Auggie; and comments on books (Peri Apiston (On Unbelievable Tales) .
• 09/27/19, Vol. 38, No. 13: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in October; book review of The New Voices of Science Fiction; letters of comment on classical music references, on the Retro Hugos, on "The Man Who Sold the Moon", on Typee, on kasha, and on Auggie; and comments on books (Incidents of Travel in Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland) .
• 09/20/19, Vol. 38, No. 12: Comments on kasha; letters of comment on classical music references; and comments on books (Typee).
• 09/13/19, Vol. 38, No. 11: Comments on the Frankenstein monster's flat top, and on kasha; letters of comment on classical music references; and comments on books (The Lady from the Black Lagoon).
• 09/06/19, Vol. 38, No. 10: Comments on The War of the Worlds, Soviet space posters, and The 27th Day; book review of Tiamat's Wrath; letters of comment on James Bond and VCRs; and comments on books (Astounding).
• 08/30/19, Vol. 38, No. 9: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in October, comments on the Marist Mindset List; letter of comment on The Magnetic Monster and Gold (1934); and comments on books (The First Men in the Moon).
• 08/23/19, Vol. 38, No. 8: List of Hugo winners; comments on The Magnetic Monster; film review of Gold (1934); and comments on books (Retro Hugo winners).
• 08/16/19, Vol. 38, No. 7: List of Retro Hugo winners; comments on possible MT VOID changes; book reviews of Perihelion Summer and Permafrost; film review of Driven; letters of comment on Ode to Joy; and comments on books (Father of the Bride of Frankenstein, The Dyke & the Dybbuk, and Mandelbrot the Magnificent).
• 08/09/19, Vol. 38, No. 6: Comments on claims; film review of Ode to Joy; letters of comment on "Mummy" movies, on Imhotep, on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and on a correction; and comments on books (Ahab's Return).
• 08/02/19, Vol. 38, No. 5: Correction to pop music comments; comments on "Mummy" movies; book reviews of Spinning Silver and Infinite Powers; letters of comment on The Mortal Storm and The Immortal Storm; and comments on books (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde).
• 07/26/19, Vol. 38, No. 4: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on Mark's picks for Turner Classic Movies in August;, and on Ursula K. LeGuin; letters of comment on Creating Woodstock; and comments on books ("The Man Who Sold the Moon" and Early Riser).
• 07/19/19, Vol. 38, No. 3: Comments on canine perception; film reviews of Astronaut and Creating Woodstock; letters of comment on canine perception and G. K. Chesterton; and comments on books (Exhalation, Pudd'nhead Wilson, The Turn of the Screw, and "The Yellow Wallpaper").
• 07/12/19, Vol. 38, No. 2: Comments on canine perception; film review of General Magic; letters of comment on canine perception; and comments on books (Is That a Fish in Your Ear? and Good Enough).
• 07/05/19, Vol. 38, No. 1: Comments on "Summer of Space" and "Universe of Stories", on canine perception, and on Toy Story 4; letters of comment on Frau im Mond; and comments on books (Setting the East Ablaze, Babel, and Limbo).

  Older back issues are available here and at fanac.org.
  

  
  
  
  "Enveloped in a common mist, we seem to walk in clearness ourselves, and behold only the mist that enshrouds others." --George Eliot, "Leaves from a Note-Book"
  
  
  
  

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  Here are some links to sites of interest:

  • the incomparable Mark R. Leeper's Home Page
  • The Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
  • Uchronia Alternate History List, Overview
  • Steven Silver's Jewish Science Fiction Bibliography

  Evelyn C. Leeper

  (eleeper@optonline.net)