he next World Science Fiction Convention may be a good eight months away, but hotel bookings could open in as little as three weeks! This is just one of an array of useful Worldcon-related facts available on the official page of this mammoth convention, set to proceed on Aug. 29th in San Jose, Calif.
Worldcon pages have been evolving since the mid-'90s, and this is one of the most complete, prettily designed, and user-friendly, with information on everything from acquiring a convention membership to
biographies of its guests of honor—Vernor Vinge, David Cherry, Bjo and John Trimble and Tad Williams. As in previous years, the con's progress reports are available for download in PDF format, and data is available for those interested in renting space in the dealer's room or art show.
The Conjose page is undergoing constant revision, with new postings in subsections dealing with child care, special needs guests, sites of interest about San Jose and much more. As of yet there is nothing specific available about programming, but visitors can fill out a questionnaire about what they would like to see. As a result, Web surfers interested in attending the convention should consider this the first—perhaps the only—stop on the information-gathering trail.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—January 22, 2002
ublisher web addresses, scam warnings and advice on everything from submission no-no's to how to get an agent are all readily available at Preditors and Editors, a Web page that bills itself as "a guide to publishers and publishing services for serious writers."
Packed with stellar content, this is one of those pages that doles out large helpings of useful information and then sends visitors on to find even more. It's crammed with basic tips for writers, composers and artists, and the true backbone of this outstanding site is its exhaustive library of publishing-related links. Convention listings, writers' organizations, promotional services and much more are spotlighted here, along with comments about the status of the link, the usefulness of the service, and any writer complaints that may have been made about a company, market or organization.
Another endlessly helpful aspect of this site is its list of definitions, which include publishing contract terms and esoterica like the meanings of various industry acronyms. The page also runs an annual readers' poll which rates works published in the previous year, and an under-used listing of author signings.
Finally, Preditors and Editors makes an effort to recognize other Web pages that further the goals of aspiring authors, screenwriters and artists, including the Truly Useful Site Award and "sites of excellence" for artists and composers. By maintaining links to the selections, these awards highlight the best of the best, creating a top-notch selection of author-friendly information and places of interest.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—January 14, 2002
even-time Hugo Award winner Bob Eggleton maintains an official home page that serves as an SF museum online, a place where visitors can see sketches, paintings and otherworldly vistas... not to mention sea monsters, dragons and even Jar Jar Binks.
Known largely in SF and fantasy circles as a book illustrator, Eggleton's imagination has taken him across a range of projects, right up to conceptual work for film and even thrill rides. The page reports on his recent work for the Jimmy Neutron movie, as well as offering a sneak
peek at the art for the book Dragonhenge by Eggleton and John Grant, which is scheduled for release this fall. The page also provides purchase information for the artist's various book projects, making it easy for interested fans to get their hands on larger versions of his work.
The gallery section of the page is, needless to say, replete with Eggleton's art, containing thumbnail images from a large array of projects, including book covers for authors such as Spider Robinson and Lawrence Watt-Evans. There are magazine covers for a variety of publications, too, and self-commissioned works. The "Monster Vision" section of the gallery shows photographs of Eggleton working on a Godzilla-themed painting, complete with brief notes on his artistic process.
Eggleton's site also provides recommendations of favorite books and toys, as well as links to his favorite artists, organizations, writers and musicians. The list, like the Web page, provides insight into the artist's passions—from monster movies to ABBA. With fabulous images and a great sense of fun, the Bob Eggleton Web page is more than just a window into the world of SF illustration—it is an entire tour.
— A.M. Dellamonica
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