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

This week's MT VOID contents :

Answers to Last Week's Questions (comments by Mark R. Leeper, 
     Steve Lelchuk, Tim Bateman, Peter Rubinstein, 
     and Evelyn C. Leeper)
A Terrible Shame.  Just Terrible. (comments by Mark R. Leeper)
Mathematics vs. Reality? (comments by Mark R. Leeper)
PIRANHA 3D (film review by Mark R. Leeper)
THE STONEHENGE GATE by Jack Williamson 
     (audiobook review by Joe Karpierz)
Charon (letter of comment by Morris Keesan)
Back Issues and FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON 
     (letter of comment by George MacLachlan)
Difficult Mathematics Problems (letter of comment 
     by Pete Brady)
This Week's Reading (ON EVIL and SURVIVAL OF THE SICKEST) 
     (book comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)
Quote of the Week

Recent articles, trip logs, and convention reports:

• El amor y el espanto (film review of film based on Borges's life and works)
• Jorge Luis Borges 101 (May 2010)
• The Atlantic Provinces of Canada (July-August 2009) (124K)
• Anticipation (August 2009) (21K) (no panel descriptions yet)
• Denvention 3 (August 2008) (139K)
• Why Jorge Luis Borges Is Not a Magical Realist
• Review of Leopoldo Lugones's Strange Forces
• Canadian Rockies Trip (June-August 2007) (217K)
• Ten Tips on Travel to Japan (updated for use by Nippon 2007 Worldcon attendees)
• What Is a Western?
• Time Travel on Television: The BBC/PBS "House" Shows
• Museum of Jurassic Technology (July 2005)
• Photo of restroom signs at L.A.con IV (trust me, you'll like it!)
• Commentary on Jorge Luis Borges's Book of Imaginary Beings
• Commentary on Jorge Luis Borges's "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius"

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 am currently 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

• 08/27/10, Vol. 29, No. 9: Answers to last week's questions; comments on bullfights on on mathematics versus reality; film review of Piranha 3D; audiobook review of The Stonehenge Gate; letters of comment on Charon, on back issues, on Flowers for Algernon, and on difficult mathematics problems; and comments on books (On Evil and Survival of the Sickest).
• 08/20/10, Vol. 29, No. 8: Comments on the future, on mosques, and on very hard math problems; letters of comment on housing developements and on mnemonics; and comments on books (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and 7 Women).
• 08/13/10, Vol. 29, No. 7: Comments on William Castle, on cyclical history, and on Turner Classic Movies; book review of Julian Comstock; letters of comment on Hugo voting, on Mel Gibson, on Triceratops, on The Cubs and the Kabbalist, on housing developements, on Pluto, and on mnemonics; and comments on books (The Cherry Orchard and Mammoths of the Great Plains).
• 08/06/10, Vol. 29, No. 6: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on natural irony and on triceratops; film reviews of The Kids Are All Right and Soul Kitchen letters of comment on Old-New Land, on Mel Gibson, on connecting the dots, on non-profits, on scanning books, and on Civil War poetry; and comments on books (The Cubs and the Kabbalist).
• 07/30/10, Vol. 29, No. 5: Comments on instant communication and on connecting the dots; announcement on the IRS and non-profit organizations; film reviews of The Stone Tape and Colin Fitz Lives! letters of comment on scanned books and on Nothing to Envy; and comments on books (Civil War Poetry and Old-New Land (Altneuland)).
• 07/23/10, Vol. 29, No. 4: Comments on counter-proposals, on the History Channel, on Fritz Leiber and the oil spill, on dog food, and on Civil War dates; film review of Inception; book review of Palimpsest; comments on Richard III; and comments on books (Globish and Nothing to Envy).
• 07/16/10, Vol. 29, No. 3: Comments on ingredient lists, on James P. Hogan, and on the film A Wednesday; film review of Despicable Me; comments on 3D and on The City & the City; and comments on books (The Radioactive Boy Scout and "Richard III").
• 07/09/10, Vol. 29, No. 2: Comments on domes and on 3D; audiobook review of Inferno; comments on The City & the City; and comments on books (Civil War Curiosities, Babel-17, and "Averroës' Search").
• 07/02/10, Vol. 29, No. 1: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on coincidences and on upcoming TCM films; film review of Toy Story 3; book review of The City & the City; and comments on books (Hugo short fiction--novelettes and short stories).
• 06/25/10, Vol. 29, No. 52: Comments on self-knowledge and on conventions; and comments on books (Hugo short fiction--novellas).
• 06/18/10, Vol. 29, No. 51: Comments on LIFE magazine, n portable electronics, and on failure; film reviews of Cypher and Nothing; letters of comment on Neanderthals, on Einstein's equation, and on The Circus of Dr. Lao; and comments on books (Food Rules, Moses and Monotheism, Ken Burns's Civil War, and "The Star" and "The Nine Billion Names of God").
• 06/11/10, Vol. 29, No. 50: Announcement of science fiction discussion groups; comments on "R.U.R.", on magazine covers, on political fallout, on Vulcan, Alberta, and on Einstein; film reviews of Splice and The Mini; book review of The Windup Girl; letters of comment on wavicles, on alternate pasts, and on oceanic disasters; and comments on books (The Circus of Dr. Lao, Cro-Magnon, and The Power of Babel).
• 06/04/10, Vol. 29, No. 49: Comments on particles and waves, on David Carradine, on Crack in the World, and on Turner Classic Movies in June; film reviews of Exam and Valhalla Rising; book review of Camouflage; and comments on books ("April March" and The Secret History of Science Fiction).
• 05/28/10, Vol. 29, No. 48: Comments on film posters, on mathematics films, and on five widescreen movies; film review of Whiz Kids; and comments on books (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ and Hot, Flat, and Crowded).
• 05/21/10, Vol. 29, No. 47: Comments on Arizona Iced Tea and on Moon Zoo; latter of comment on Frank Frazetta, on old movies, and on Boneshaker; and comments on books (Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times).
• 05/14/10, Vol. 29, No. 46: Comments on history repeating itself, on high-fructose corn syrup, on Frank Frazetta, and on upcoming TCM films; book review of Boneshaker; film review of The Nature of Existence; short film reviews; and comments on books ("Origins of Ancient Civilizations").
• 05/07/10, Vol. 29, No. 45: Comments on KFC and the dramatic long-form Hugo nominees; letters of comment on financial science fiction, on How to Train Your Dragon, and on the Rosenbergs; and comments on books (Steal Across the Sky, Kafka's Soup, and Paper Tigers).
• 04/30/10, Vol. 29, No. 44: Comments on gay dogs, on locations, and on mathematics; film review of The Human Centipede; book reviews of Skyfall, The Dream of Perpetual Motion, Galileo's Dream, The Hunt for Atlantis, The Tomb of Hercules; letters of comment on W. B. yeats, on financial science fiction, and on Roman Polanski; and comments on books (Strange Maps).
• 04/23/10, Vol. 29, No. 43: Comments on volcanos and on THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS; film reviews of City Island, The Ghost Writer, and Final Gifts; letters of comments on Brigadoon, on Finian's Rainbow, on mathematical science fiction, and on How to Train Your Dragon; and comments on books (The Best American Science Writing 2001).
• 04/16/10, Vol. 29, No. 42: Comments on taxes and on Brigadoon; film review of How to Train Your Dragon; book review ofThe Shadow on the Doorstop; letters of comments on the Army Transportation Museum; and comments on books (Borges y la matemática, and The Thirty-Nine Steps).
• 04/09/10, Vol. 29, No. 41: Comments on science fiction discussion groups, on the Hugo nominations, on wine, and on religion; letters of comment on sentence structure, on television, on Beethoven, on remakes, and on jet packs; and comments on books (An African Millionaire, The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, Cyberabad Days, and The Map That Changed the World).
• 04/02/10, Vol. 29, No. 40: Comments on cable television and on fax machines; book review of Pandora's Star; film review of In Search of Beethoven; letters of comment on Edison's Frankenstein, on remakes, on pi, on zeugma and syllepsis, and on impossible tasks; and comments on books (Stories of Your Life and Others).
• 03/26/10, Vol. 29, No. 39: Comments on A.D.D., on Philip K. Dick and BLADE RUNNER, and on impossible tasks; film review of Mutants; letters of comment on remakes, and on zeugma and syllepsis; and comments on books (The Dechronization of sam Magruder and The Great Taos Bank Robbery).
• 03/19/10, Vol. 29, No. 38: Comments on the 1910 FRANKENSTEIN, on strange science, and on remakes; film reviews of Attack of the Vegan Zombies! and Coasting; book review of Firstborn; letters of comment on pi and the powers of ten, and on Monty Hall; and comments on books and films (Literary Hoaxes and "Jewish Narnia").
• 03/12/10, Vol. 29, No. 37: Comments on science fiction discussion groups, on the color diet, and on the end of the line; film review of Afghan Star; letter of comment on pi and the powers of ten; and comments on books (The March of Folly, The Frodo Franchise, "Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations").
• 03/05/10, Vol. 29, No. 36: Comments on malls, on pi and the powers of 10, and on mythology; and comments on books and films (El amor y el espanto).
• 02/26/10, Vol. 29, No. 35: Correction; comments on spam, on animal advisors, and on pi; film reviews of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Shutter Island book review of Starship: Mutiny; letters of comment on football, on the Subversive Activities Registration Act, and on animal calls; and comments on books and films (Lone Star, The Invention of Lying, and City of Truth).
• 02/19/10, Vol. 29, No. 34: Comments on beautiful pulp art, on news of the week, and on the Subversive Activities Registration Act; film review of The Wolfman; letter of comment on thrillers; and comments on books (True Names, Dust Bowl Diary, Hiding the Elephant, and Around the World in Eighty Days).
• 02/12/10, Vol. 29, No. 33: Comments on science fiction discussion groups, on global warming, on William Tenn, on PONTYPOOL, and on the Wolf Man; book review of The Clan Corporate; film review ofPhyllis & Harold; letters of comment on bears, on Avatar, on thrillers, and on Pocahontas; and comments on books (Replay, Groundhog Day, and "Shadow Play").
• 02/05/10, Vol. 29, No. 32: Comments on mathematical conflicts and on thrillers; letters of comment on chopsticks, on bad starts, on The Hurt Locker, and on Avatar; and comments on books (Galileo's Dream, Acres of Diamonds, and niticking).
• 01/29/10, Vol. 29, No. 31: Comments on program items and on eating utensils; film reviews of The Lovely Bones, The Hurt Locker, and A Single Man; letter of comment on the Mayans and on Avatar; and comments on books (The Drunkard's Walk, Arcadia, and Serial).
• 01/22/10, Vol. 29, No. 30: Comments on bad starts and on utensils; film review of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; letters of comment on the Monty Hall problem and on linguistics problems; and comments on books (Linger Awhile, Island of Lost Souls, and The Island of Dr. Moreau).
• 01/15/10, Vol. 29, No. 29: Science fiction discussion groups; comments on a meta-problem; Mark's top ten films of 2009; book review of The New Space Opera; and comments on books (Cheap, And Less Than Kind, and Eye of the Crow).
• 01/08/10, Vol. 29, No. 28: Comments on things, on linguistic problems, and on writing memory; film reviews of Pontypool and Up in the Air; and comments on books (Questioning the Millennium ).
• 01/01/10, Vol. 29, No. 27: Comments on film releasing and on AVATAR; film reviews of Between the Folds; book reviews of The Accidental Time Machine and Newton and the Counterfeiter; letters of comments Myrrh, on AVATAR, on memory, and on Fantastic Mr. Fox; and comments on books (The Matrix and Philosophy and 2009 recap).
• 12/25/09, Vol. 29, No. 26: Comments on myrrh and on memory; film reviews of Avatar, 9, Crazy Heart, and The Young Victoria; and comments on books (Forty Signs of Rain and Land of the Dead).
• 12/18/09, Vol. 29, No. 25: Comments on science fiction and reality, on the Lake Peigneur disaster, and on who goes to college; film review of Invictus; letters of comment on logarithm and on steeplechases; and comments on books (Washington and His Colleagues, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and film design).
• 12/11/09, Vol. 29, No. 24: Comments on a paradox and on logarithms; film reviews of Fantastic Mr. Fox and Bright Star; letters of comment on the MT VOID, steeplechases, and Motel of the Mysteries; and comments on books (The Manual of Detection).
• 12/04/09, Vol. 29, No. 23: Comments on the Atlantic Provinces, on the large hadron collider, on steeplechases, and on the MT VOID; film reviews of The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Second Best Science Fiction Movie Ever Made; book review of Paul of Dune; letters of comment on Kiva, on ravens, and on "Ode to Joy"; and comments on books (The Marriage Bureau for Rich People and The Motel of the Mysteries).
• 11/27/09, Vol. 29, No. 22: Comments on odes and on God; letter of comment on a mathematics problem and on 42; film review of Outrage; and comments on books (Foundation).
• 11/20/09, Vol. 29, No. 21: Comments on Heinlein timeslines, on favorite science fiction films, on a math problem, on a joke, and on 42; letters of comment on "The Twilight Zone" and on the Continental Op; and comments on books (The Way of Chuang Tzu, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy).
• 11/13/09, Vol. 29, No. 20: Corrections, comments on science fiction book discussion groups, on celebrity of the month, on subtlety, on health care, and on Roquefort; letters of comment on time-travel books, on digital conventions, and on "The Twilight Zone"; and comments on books (Gaslight Grimoire).
• 11/06/09, Vol. 29, No. 19: Comments on time-travel books, on science fiction and philosophy, on culture, and on "The Twilight Zone"; and comments on books (Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings
• 10/30/09, Vol. 29, No. 18: Comments on humvees, on sleep, on Germany, on radio drama, and on disassembly day; film review of World's Greatest Dad; and comments on books (Beyond Rice and Beans, Julian Comstock, and Sudden Fiction).
• 10/23/09, Vol. 29, No. 17: Comments on humvees, on a mistake, and on prime-time Westerns; film reviews of Where the Wild Things Are and The Stoning of Soraya M; letters of comment on digital science fiction conventions and on water on Mars and the moon; and comments on books (Edgar Allan Poe).
• 10/16/09, Vol. 29, No. 16: Comments on humvees, on science fiction discussion groups, on the future Internet, on seeing it coming, and on the future of horror; answer to the puzzle; film reviews of Mary and Max and Guns on the Clackamas: A Documentary; and comments on books (Anchorwick and The City of Dreaming Books).
• 10/09/09, Vol. 29, No. 15: Comments on humvees, on convention reports; on dinosaurs, on Mark's first science fiction;, and on diabetes; a puzzle; film review of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs!; letter of comment on The Informant! and comments on books (Red Planet).
• 10/02/09, Vol. 29, No. 14: Announcement; comments on humvees, on prayer, on visions, and on water; film review of The Informant!; letters of comment on alphabetical order, on mirror neurons, on the OED, and on pi; and comments on books (The City & the City).
• 09/25/09, Vol. 29, No. 13: Comments on humvees, on politics, and on numbers; letters of comment on Great Books of the Western World, on the Worldcon, on the speed of light, on thunderstorms on saturn, and on genes and altruism; and comments on books (Reading the OED, Mad Professor, and on alphabetical order).
• 09/18/09, Vol. 28, No. 12: Correction; comments on humvees, on science fiction discussion groups, on fantastic art, on Saturn, on mirror neurons and on free will; report on the Worldcon; letters of comment on corkage and on units in physics; and comments on books (Why You Should Read Kafka Before You Waste Your Life and Eat My Globe).
• 09/11/09, Vol. 28, No. 11: correction; comments on humvees, on the Beloit College Mindset for the Class of 2013, on the Internet, on the Viking way, on the TCM Halloween films, and on magnetic monopoles; report on the Worldcon; book review of Fragment; letters of comment on the Worldcon art show, on Christmas, on overtaking technology, and on multiverses; and comments on books (Plastic Fantastic and A Great Idea at the Time).
• 09/04/09, Vol. 28, No. 10: comments on humvees, on a safe bet, on essential fantasy reads, and on changing the past; report on the Worldcon; film reviews of Ponyo and Inglourious Basterds; book review of WWW:Wake; letter of comment on stereoscopic effects; and comments on books (The Best of Frederik Pohl).

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

Here are some links to sites of interest:

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

Also available are: