I-Con VII Story • j********o@***.com 14/04/2001 13:25:13 UTC For stupid-ass Gorno reasons, I've pretty much dropped off of Usenet (which is probably a good thing, as I might actually start telephoning people again!) In addition to my normal regimen of whining and moping, I'm also working on what I think are some really cool short SF stories, which I will shortly inflict upon selected Forumites. (On that topic, what are the smallest categories, length-wise, of fiction? I'm not using a proper word-processor, so I can't do a word count, but the stories, stripped of overhead, range from 5-20 KB, which I'll approximate as 1,000-4,000 words.) But an I-Con anectode (which I will shortly email to Mike "Blabbermouth" Dauenheimer) came to mind, and I figured that I'd break radio silence to tell it. You'll recall Ralph Schiano's difficulty in dealing with people as equals. As he put it, "That's the problem with I-Con: too many chiefs, not enough Indians." Translation: too many freemen, not enough slaves! You'll also recall how I stubbornly refused to join the Committee or take any other formal responsibility in I-Con: having attended before becoming a Forumite (and having become involved in I-Con chiefly for a reason that would stun most of you), I continued to buy a ticket each year, so I could remain a free agent and wandering trouble-shooter without portfolio. This naturally earned me (a not-undeserved) label of "UPS!" I think this event occurred in the Polity conference room a few days before I-Con VII, when Ralph had just gotten a delivery of some sort. I sauntered in, and noticed that everyone was wearing suspicious "cat-got-the-canary" grins, so I knew something was up, possibly involving me. Ralph comes in with the box he'd received, opens it, and presents me with a Committee sweatshirt! I think there was even some applause from the gathered I-Conians. Now there aren't many greater compliments than to be appreciated despite your best efforts! I actually received a Field Commission! ("In the name of Saint Michael and Saint George, I knight you and grant you the right to bear arms and mete justice!") To be honored by my friends like that, to see the most important people in my life beaming at me was a wonderful moment. (I imagine this was also in part a veiled (and utterly unsuccessful) attempt to lure me into a more responsible role at I-Con. I wasn't falling for it, besides, I wasn't very good at taking hints, even really big, generous, important ones...) Maybe that's why JAM was so pissed off when I decided at the last minute to skip that I-Con. I used to go home every weekend to decompress, but had stayed on campus the prior weekend to prep for I-Con and study for a test, so I had been stuck there twice as long as usual; I missed my folks and my pets, and if I'd stayed, would have been stuck there for another maddening week (not to mention the psychic stress of I-Con itself!). Doc had invited Herr Sterner to stay in our dorm room (632-USA-1!), a plan I had acquiesed to despite certain forebodings, and he had already stayed at least one night. Now recall that this was Herr Sterner in his "Inter-Tricium" period, and he *really* had it "turned up to 11," if you know what I mean. To quote Dr McCoy, I was "teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown, if not insanity!" So, I helped JAM set up the Art Show, and the con was good to go, so I asked him and Doc if they needed me, if they would really mind if I went home. They were both taken aback, and tried to talk me into staying, but could give no compelling practical reason why I had to, so I went home (an odd "abandoning Hanoi"-like train-ride). I really did need to go home that weekend. I think JAM is stilled pissed about it (he wasn't pissed when I asked if it was OK!), but it was the right thing to do. I still have my box-office ticket for I-Con VII... Gorno Hey - I recently figured out why trying to select with "Control-Shift-Right-Arrow" never worked on my computer, and did a cryptic abortive thing instead: a long forgotten short-cut key! • s******j@f****.**o.com 15/04/2001 06:37:44 UTC On 14 Apr 2001 13:25:13 GMT, JohnGorno wrote: >For stupid-ass Gorno reasons, I've pretty much dropped off of Usenet (which is There are few bad reasons for dropping off of Usenet. >probably a good thing, as I might actually start telephoning people again!) In >addition to my normal regimen of whining and moping, I'm also working on what I >think are some really cool short SF stories, which I will shortly inflict upon >selected Forumites. (On that topic, what are the smallest categories, >length-wise, of fiction? I'm not using a proper word-processor, so I can't do >a word count, but the stories, stripped of overhead, range from 5-20 KB, which >I'll approximate as 1,000-4,000 words.) Stories this short are _relatively_ rare, but this doesn't mean that editors won't look at them. They may even want them for filling in gaps between large pieces. The manuscript and submission guidelines for Asimov's has some guidance: http://www.asimovs.com/info/guidelines.htm I have a file with SF market information, somewhere. Although half the zines on it are probably out of business. >I think JAM is >stilled pissed about it (he wasn't pissed when I asked if it was OK!), but it >was the right thing to do. I still have my box-office ticket for I-Con VII... I really doubt it. (Jam being mad . . . not that you still have your ticket.) [JOKE]Why, last summer he showed me this cool knife he was sharpening and polishing to give you as present. ("Just for Gorno, a gift from my heart into his" was how I think he put it.)[/JOKE] Stefan -- +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ SeJ@ay-oh-el-dot-com ~ stefanj@eye-oh-dot-com http://www.io.com/~stefanj/ CHARGES APPLIED FOR UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL EMAIL! • --None-- 17/04/2001 02:52:59 UTC > responsibility in I-Con: having attended before becoming a Forumite (and > having become involved in I-Con chiefly for a reason that would stun most of > you), I continued to buy a ticket each year, so I could remain a free agent and ..and I have the photographic evidence to prove it! > there was even some applause from the gathered I-Conians. Now there aren't > many greater compliments than to be appreciated despite your best efforts! I > actually received a Field Commission! ("In the name of Saint Michael and Saint I think we also put your name in the program book as a staff member, "office help," as well. > mention the psychic stress of I-Con itself!). Doc had invited Herr Sterner to > stay in our dorm room (632-USA-1!), a plan I had acquiesed to despite certain > forebodings, and he had already stayed at least one night. Now recall that > this was Herr Sterner in his "Inter-Tricium" period, and he *really* had it > "turned up to 11," if you know what I mean. I don't even remember that! Funny the things you forget > JAM set up the Art Show, and the con was good to go, so I asked him and Doc if > they needed me, if they would really mind if I went home. They were both taken > aback, and tried to talk me into staying, but could give no compelling > practical reason why I had to, so I went home (an odd "abandoning Hanoi"-like > train-ride). I really did need to go home that weekend. I think JAM is > stilled pissed about it (he wasn't pissed when I asked if it was OK!), but it > was the right thing to do. I still have my box-office ticket for I-Con VII... Was that the I-Con you came back to help out with clean-up? I remember after one I-Con, you and I were the last ones standing, doing clean-up in Javits, and we were playing toboggan with one of the hand trucks... Good Times...Good Times... --Doc