The National Science Fiction and Fantasy meetup (Au Contraire 2) and a Pantomime?

It's Tuesday, and although this isn't a genuine Tuesday Blog, it feels strange not to at least put something up.

So here goes...

'Twas a very strange weekend, which I imagine is par for the course at any convention, let alone one designed to celebrate all things weird and wonderful.

Somewhere between doing the can can, and defeating some evil prince or other with the awesome and ever so talented Butterfly Theatre Troupe (and feeling rather rubbish because most of the kids had done more acting than me) I found myself on a roller-coaster of planning to do one thing -- and getting sucked into doing something completely different...

But that's half the fun - the other half (more than half) is meeting so many fellow writers who are so passionate about what they do.  Ripley Patton's idea of having the Specfic meetup there was a masterstroke, because it brought a certain life, not only to the convention, but also to the SpecFicAGM which went off without a hitch.  Of course if you love Speculative Fiction of any kind, poetry, short stories and novels then this the organisation to join with so much energy, support, competitions and innovation I think they put some of our bigger writers organisations to shame - so if you think you like the sound of that why not join up?  They can be found here at http://www.specficnz.org/

So much energy and enthusiasm, and of course it isn't a National Convention without the Sir Julius Vogel Awards.  Check out the awesome winners here at http://www.sffanz.org.nz/sjv/sjvResults-2013.html -
and yes, of course I was disappointed not to carry off one of the stunning awards, but there is always next year and I do so admire all the winners.  They are all so amazing! :)

Hope to be back to poetry soon.
Miss it already,

A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.

Seven Rings for Mortal Man

Believe it or not, it's New Zealand SpecFic Blogging week. So I thought how about a little homage to the Lord of the Rings film in the hope that The Hobbit will eventually materialise.  (I'm dying to know if they are going to open with the scene of Smaug I've always imagined.)

Seven Rings for Mortal Man

I have a tale to tell to you,

A tale of woe and endless rue

Of dark things stalking in the night

and brave men come to do what’s right

Of Princesses and courage true

As seen on high from Godlike view

Of cameras scattered in the night

To catch this truly awesome sight

Now I would be a Hero

and wield a Hero’s blade

To smite the foe in battle rage

If only I could make the grade

Or evil crawling in the night

To fight the good with all my might -

It is not beneath my pride

To slaughter elvish scum upon an orcish tide

For these things I long, and many more

but to walk until I get footsore

And I absolutely swear

a dozen steps to get nowhere…

I’d do it all again for

This feature promises to bring

“Riders” dark and menacing

Dwarves and Elves and Men

And special effects beyond my ken

The stars the moon the absent sun

The stones on which the rivers run

Bless them all this awe-full night

In the promise of the sight

Of

One film to rule them all

One film to spell-bind them

One film to bring them all

and in the darkness…

just watch it!

A..J. Ponder - Amazon author page

ok maybe it's not pure spec fic but here's some others - one or two of which might be considered Spec Fic - hey what do I know?  I just write stuff.


SpecFic POEMS
Time Wyrm - The crack in the universe expanded
Kaitoke - 'nough said.
The Fair Folk by William Allingham
Ecila - I'm sensing a pattern.  A certain someone falling down the rabbit hole.

As You know Bob - prose poem by Tim Jones
Books in the Trees - Tim Jones.  Not actually a poem but definitely a fun read.
I know there are so many others but the slipper just fell off and the pumpkin is leaving.

NZ SpecFic BOOK REVIEWS

hundreds of SFFANZ book reviews (some of which will be NZ)

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier (lovely book, quite romantic)
Thornspell by Helen Lowe 
Brainjack by Brian Falkner 

Interviews with NZ SpecFic Authors

Elizabeth Knox (with Helen Heath, 10 Questions series)