Category Archives: MonSFFA Website

This category is for postings specific to the setup of the website.

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 7 OF 7: Answers to Quiz, Wrap-Up

This post closes today’s MonSFFA e-meeting.

10) ANSWERS TO ALIEN AND CREATURE EGG QUIZ!

Were you able to correctly identify each of the aliens or creatures from the single film-frame provided showing their egg, or eggs? How about the movies or TV episodes in which they appeared?

Here are the answers to our quiz, which was posted at the outset of the e-meeting, earlier this afternoon (Post 1 of 7).

This egg is that of, or these eggs are those of…

1) The Xenomorph, or Alien, the titular extraterrestrial star of director Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, and its sequels. This lethal threat begins life as a “face-hugger,” which emerges from its egg.

The Aliens are, perhaps, the most famous space monsters in all of sci-fi cinema, certainly among the most terrifying!

2) The Ymir, or Venusian creature, seen in Ray Harryhuasen’s 1957 monster movie, 20 Million Miles to Earth. Never actually named “Ymir” in the film, this designation is, nevertheless, well known by fans of Harryhausen’s fantastic films.

Brought back from Venus aboard a crippled Earth rocket, once hatched, the beast grows rapidly in Earth’s atmosphere from house cat- to elephant-sized, terrorizing Italy as scientists and the military attempt to capture it.

3) Velociraptors, the deadly dinosaurs featured in the Jurassic Park/World franchise.

Pilfered Velociraptor eggs are at the center of a pivotal plot development in Jurassic Park III (2001).

4) Crites, the rotund, voracious, hedgehog-like aliens of the Critters film and television franchise (1986-2019). Their large, wide mouths are filled with multiple rows of sharp teeth. A Crite can curl up into a ball, and many together can form a large sphere that rolls across the countryside causing destruction and eating everything in sight!

5) Dragons, the flying, fire-breathing icons of epic fantasy, these particular specimens appearing in Game of Thrones (2011-2019), the television miniseries adapted from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. The popular HBO show featured Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, and her trio of flame-belching reptiles.

6) The “Alien Cyclops,” a Martian monster using mind-control on human minions to help with a plot to plant its eggs throughout Manhattan in the 1980 sci-fi/horror film Contamination. The slime-oozing eggs have the nasty habit of exploding, spraying a toxic, viscous liquid on any person nearby, which instantly causes that person to, themselves, violently explode in a rain of guts and gore!

Contamination was an Italian/German co-production released in the U.S. as Alien Contamination. Writer/director Luigi Cozzi, working under the pseudonym Lewis Coates, freely admitted that his film was entirely inspired by Alien and parroted in many ways Ridley Scott’s masterpiece. Montreal-born actress Louise Marleau starred as a government operative assigned to deal with the situation.

7) The Roc, a giant, two-headed, mythological bird, as seen in 1958’s fantasy/adventure The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Travelling to the island of Colossa, Sinbad and his crew come upon a huge egg and kill the emerging hatchling for food, only to be set upon by the chick’s angry parent.

The Roc and other denizens of Colossa were brought to life on screen by stop-motion animation wizard Ray Harryhausen.

8) Q, or Quetzalcoatl, a dragon-like Aztec deity, as depicted in 1982’s Q—The Winged Serpent. Picking off hapless New Yorkers from rooftop terraces, Q has attracted police attention. The giant, stop-motion lizard has nested in the spire of New York City’s Chrysler Building, and there laid a single, colossal egg.

Michael Moriarty, David Carradine, and Richard Roundtree are among those facing off against the winged serpent in writer/director Larry Cohen’s well-received monster movie.

9) The Raxacoricofallapatorians, or the Slitheen, egg-laying aliens native to the planet Raxacoricofallapatorius in the Doctor Who universe. They resemble something of a twisted cross between the Pillsbury Doughboy and a Rancor!

Adversaries of the Doctor, the Slitheen are, in fact, a family of Raxacoricofallapatorians, but when referring to the species as a whole, their surname is used interchangeably with the proper designation.

10) Mothra, a daikaiju in the Godzilla monsterverse. When she dies, Mothra is reincarnated by way of the giant egg she leaves behind, effectively cheating death.

11) A vampiric humanoid race, the queen of which is featured in the 1966 film Queen of Blood. A beautiful, green-skinned woman, this Queen exercises hypnotic influence over the male astronauts aboard an Earth vessel.

After she kills two of the men by draining them of blood, and is herself killed by the lone female astronaut aboard, alien eggs are discovered hidden throughout the ship. It is deduced that the Queen of Blood sought for her race fresh breeding grounds. On Earth!

12) The Horta, an intelligent, utterly alien, seemingly monstrous silicon-based life form that secretes from its body a powerful corrosive, allowing it to effortlessly tunnel through solid rock. Featured in “The Devil in the Dark,” a 1967 Star Trek episode, the Horta’s eggs, numbering in the thousands, have been discovered by Federation colonists working a pergium mining operation on this, the creature’s home planet. Mistaken for valueless geological oddities, many of the smooth, volleyball-sized eggs were destroyed by the colonists. The maddened mother Horta responded in defense of her unborn children by wrecking the miners’ equipment and attacking colony personnel, her caustic expulsions instantly burning the men to ashes!

The Enterprise arrives, soon sorts out the terrible misunderstanding, and by episode’s end, the Horta and her newborns are helping the miners dig new tunnels to tap richer deposits of pergium. “The Devil in the Dark” is one of genre television’s finest examples of exciting, intelligent, thought-provoking science fiction.

11) THANK YOU!

We sincerely hope you have enjoyed your time with us these past few hours and encourage you to visit www.MonSFFA.ca regularly for additional content.

We thank Josée Bellemare, Kofi Oduro, Keith Braithwaite, and Cathy Palmer-Lister for their contributions to today’s programme. Thanks is extended, also, to all of our supporting contributors this afternoon.

And of course, to all who joined us today and took in our online get-together, we thank you for your interest and attention, and remind you to leave a comment!

12) NEXT MonSFFA e-MEETING

As club members are aware, our hoped-for return to in-person MonSFFA meetings has been stalled by lingering pandemic-related circumstances! We continue our search for an available, affordable meeting hall; we’ll keep you updated as to any progress in that regard, but frustratingly, there is nothing new to report at this time.

And so, join us next month, on Saturday, May 13, beginning at 1:00PM, right here at www.MonSFFA.ca, for another in our series of MonSFFA e-meetings!

13) SIGN-OFF 

Until then, fellow fans of all things sci-fi and fantasy, farewell and safe travels.

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 6 OF 7: “What Are You Reading/Watching?”

This is our April 2023 e-Meeting’s Post 6 of 7.

9) WHAT ARE YOU READING/WATCHING?

On ZOOM at this moment, we’re asking “What are You Reading, or Watching?” Give us your quick book report, or your brief review of a film or TV show you’ve recently been enjoying!

For those not participating in our ZOOM chat, today, you may contribute, nonetheless, by submitting your concise book reports or movie and television-series reviews via this post’s “Leave a Comment” option. Your input is encouraged and welcome.

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 5 OF 7: Your SF/F Top-Ten Lists!

8) YOUR SF/F TOP-TEN LISTS

We’ve asked club members to prepare a SF/F top-ten list on any science fiction, fantasy, horror, or fannish topic—for example, top ten classic Star Trek episodes, or top ten Hugo-winning novels, or top ten sci-fi film sequels, or the top ten scariest horror movies, movie monsters, top ten spaceships, comic book superheroes, games; it’s your choice as to the specific focus.

We’ve posted a couple of lists received below, but this portion of the meeting will take place largely on ZOOM, where each participant will have opportunity to present their list. We ask our list-makers to include, perhaps, a few illustrative images which can be shared with the group as they impart their top ten. And, be prepared to field questions and/or, perhaps, defend your choices!

Those unable to join our video chat today may still submit in writing their own SF/F top-ten list via this post’s “Leave a Comment” option. Include a quick description or outline of each of your entries and explain why you’ve included each, and why your fellow genre fans might also enjoy the selections you’ve listed.

In honour of Easter, her are my…

Top Ten Science Fiction and Fantasy Rabbits

By Keith Braithwaite

10) THE WHITE RABBIT: a character appearing in the many adaptations of Alice in Wonderland, including Disney’s and Tim Burton’s, shown.

9) THE RABBITS OF WATERSHIP DOWN: not a Disney movie, by any stretch!

8) THE GIANT RABBITS OF NIGHT OF THE LEPUS: ridiculous monsters in a ridiculous film; so bad it’s good!

7) FRANK: a darker Harvey (see next item), if you will, haunting the protagonist of 2001’s Donnie Darko.

6) HARVEY: a “pooka,” in celtic folklore, and the invisible McGuffin of this charming 1950 Jimmy Stewart film.

5) THE MONSTER RABBIT-IN-THE-HAT, TWILIGHT ZONE—THE MOVIE: a terrifying sequence!

4) THE RABBIT OF CAERBANNOG: a killer rabbit appearing in 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail; hilarious!

3) ROGER RABBIT: star of the ground-breaking 1988 live-action/cartoon hybrid Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

2) HUTCH, HIS FELLOW RABBITS, AND THE WERE-RABBIT: as seen in the wonderful Wallace and Gromit adventure Curse of the Were-Rabbit, all are deserving of mention, here!

1) BUGS BUNNY: his cartoon adventures traverse many genres, including SF, fantasy, and horror!

 

Top Ten Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors’ Pen Names

By Sue Denham 

10) STAN LEE: the legendary Marvel Comics writer’s real name was Stanley Martin Leiber.

9) PAUL FRENCH: pen name used by Isaac Asimov when writing his Lucky Starr juveniles.

8) DOUGLAS SPALDING: pseudonym used by Ray Bradbury.

7) A. N. ROQUELAURE: Anne Rice wrote her racy Sleeping Beauty trilogy this name.

6) MAGNUS FLYTE: pseudonym employed by writing duo Christina Lynch and Meg Howrey, authors of City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams.

5) VICTOR APPLETON: the publishing house pseudonym used by writers of the Tom Swift books.

4) RICHARD BACHMAN: pseudonym used by horror writer Stephen King; Bachman is derived from the name of the Canadian rock band Bachman, Turner Overdrive, a favourite of King’s.

3) JAMES TIPTREE, JR.: probably the most famous example of a female writer employing a male pseudonym to favour book sales; it wasn’t until 1977 that Alice Sheldon’s cover was blown. She also wrote on occasion as Raccoona Sheldon!

2) EANDO BINDER: pseudonym for brothers Earl and Otto Binder—“E” and “O” Binder!

1) CORDWAINER BIRD: when he felt that his work had been unforgivably fiddled with against his wishes, Harlan Ellison used this pseudonym!

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 4 OF 7: Time for a break!

Get your Bheer & Chips!
It’s time for the break!

NEWS

WARP: Danny and Val have WARP113 just about ready to hit the presses! The next issue, 114, will need your input! Write a review, a short story, draw a cartoon or create a puzzle! Don’t wait for the deadline.

DISPLAY TABLE
Josée’s latest creation

Click to see more of Josée’s dragon eggs http://www.monsffa.ca/?page_id=22010

Cathy’s most recent jigsaw puzzle: Gandalf, cut from cherry. Pattern by Judy Peterson.

 

RAFFLE PRIZES

Click the thumbnails to view full size image.

Sturmovik Neko Girl, Japanese Capsule Toy, donated by Brian Knapp.

A SF classic: Rogue planet that threatens Earth is found to be habitable. Rockets prepare to launch-who gets to be saved?

60 cards portraying visual scenes from Burroughs’ creations like Tarzan, Mars etc. Card backs show more Burroughs artwork & Jusko’s commentary

3-D version: Radar Men from the Moon is a 1952  12-chapter movie serial, the first Commando Cody serial starring newcomer George Wallace as Cody, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_Men_from_the_Moon

Black unicorn standing jigsaw puzzle. Would normally sell for 30$, but the finish is not up to my standards. Would still look nice on your bookshelf! Design by Judy Peterson.

From Sylvain’s collection: 8 movie lobby cards (8″ x 10″) – two from each movie: The Incredible Shrinking Woman with Lily Tomlin – 1980 Battlestar Galactica – 1978 Futureworld – 1976 The Thing – 1982

Alan Dean Foster and Eric Frank Russell: Design for Great-Day Good condition

Small crystal ball which held in sunlight projects prisms of colour. Belonged to SSP.

Collaborative novel by George RR Martin & John J Miller., a murder mystery set in the Wild Cards Universe.

​​

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 3 OF 7: Presentation—Mathematical Fiction

This is Post 3 of 7.

6) MATHEMATICAL FICTION: IS MAGIC JUST ANOTHER SOURCE OF MATH?

We continue on ZOOM with an exploration of “Mathematical Fiction,” described as a genre of creative fiction in which mathematics and mathematicians play an important role. Edwin A. Abbott’s Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions is, perhaps, the most familiar example.

“Mathematical Fiction might not be popular but has been around since 1884,” says Kofi Oduro, this segment’s presenter. “We will discuss how this can be relevant in many sci-fi/fantasy-based worlds and check some work on databases that keep track of it. How do we conceive such a world and what differences can we use to alter it from our world?”

Those not equipped to join our ZOOM discussion may contribute, nonetheless, by using this post’s “Leave a Comment” feature to ask questions and type in commentary.

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 2 OF 7: Under Lock and Key!

This is post 2 of 7.

5) UNDER LOCK AND KEY!

On ZOOM at this time we’re discussing those places, often secret, in science fiction and fantasy where are stored strange alien objects, or relics mythological, or books and instruments of magic, and other such items. Libraries, laboratories, warehouses, museums—what locales do you know of from SF/F literature, film and television, or comics in which things mysterious, powerful, dangerous, alien, or just plain weird are kept under lock and key?

Secret government warehouse, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

For those not participating in our ZOOM chat, today, you may still contribute by submitting your examples via this post’s “Leave a Comment” option. We welcome your input.

APRIL 2023 E-MEETING, POST 1 OF 7: Introduction, Agenda, and Quiz

1) INTRODUCTION

As we put behind us for another year the delicious indulgences of festive chocolate, we gather what rich, remnants of sculpted brown rabbits, chickens, and eggs remain in our refrigerators, place them on a snack plate next to our mouse pads, and hop to another of the club’s monthly online gatherings.

Welcome, one and all, to MonSFFA’s April 2023 e-Meeting!

We trust those of faith enjoyed a Happy Easter, or Passover, or Ramadan, all three religious holidays coinciding this year, an occurrence of only thrice per century, or roughly once every three decades.

Ice-coated tree branches snapped and fell all across the island of Montreal, blocking sidewalks, streets, damaging parked cars, and bringing down power lines.

Meanwhile, in a final, ruthless broadside, winter slammed the Montreal area in particular with a freezing blast reminiscent of 1998’s devastating ice storm, plunging well over a million Quebec households and businesses into darkness. Ice-coated, fallen tree limbs and branches littered neighbourhood streets and yards, and for many, power was out for two or three days, and for some, as many as six!

The West Island of Montreal was particularly hard hit.
Hydro Quebec crews worked around the clock for days repairing damaged power infrastructure.

But the weather has been warm and sunny in the wake of all that, and so do we shun the glorious spring and huddle around our monitors once again, eager to enjoy this afternoon’s agenda of sci-fi fun!

Let’s begin.

2) JOIN THIS AFTERNOON’S VIDEO-CHAT ON ZOOM!

To join our ZOOM video-chat, which will run throughout the next few hours, simply click here and follow the prompts: This Afternoon’s MonSFFA e-Meeting on ZOOM

If you’re not fully equipped to ZOOM, you can also take part by phone (voice only); in the Montreal area, the toll-free number to call is: 1-438-809-7799. From out of town? No problem; find your ZOOM call-in number here: Call-In Numbers

Also, have this information on hand as you may be asked to enter it:

Meeting ID: 897 1464 2092
Passcode: 576970

3) MEETING AGENDA

Here is the agenda for this afternoon’s get-together:

As always, all scheduled programming is subject to change.

4)

How well do you know the SF/F screen’s aliens and creatures, and more specifically, their eggs? In honour of Easter, just passed, we offer this quiz.

With only a frame of film showing the egg, or eggs of an extraterrestrial being, or a monster, correctly identify said being and/or the film or television series episode in which it appears?

We have prepared for you a dozen eggs!

Good luck! The answers will be revealed in this e-meeting’s final post of the afternoon, which we’ll put up at 5:00PM.

CLUB’S APRIL 2023 E-MEETING IS NEXT SATURDAY!

Join us next Saturday, April 15, at 1:00PM, right here at www.MonSFFA.ca for our April 2023 e-Meeting!

Take part by contributing your top ten list of sci-fi books, authors, heroes or villains, cool spaceships, epic movies, TV shows, actors or actresses, comic books, artists… whatever you choose to highlight, just as long as it has to do with sci-fi or fantasy!

Simply list your favourites in ascending order, tenth to first, maybe share a few illustrative images, and in a few sentences for each entry, tell us about of your choices!

You are welcome to e-mail your top ten lists and images (JPEGS, please, as e-mail attachments) to us in advance for inclusion on the site, or present them live on ZOOM during the e-meeting next Saturday!

Send your lists, in advance of the e-meeting, to: veep@monsffa.ca