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MonSFFA’s 2025 Field Trip Tomorrow!

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2025 Club Field Trip – Tomorrow, Saturday, June 14

We remind club members that, as our 2025 club field trip, MonSFFA will be visiting the new exhibition on knights at Old Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière museum. Mark tomorrow, Saturday, June 14 in your calendars!

This exhibition recently opened at “Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex” (the Pointe-à-Callière museum). The standard adult admission charge is $29, with various discounts available for seniors, students, etc.

Getting to the Museum

The nearest Metro station is Place-d’Armes; from there, it’s a 10 minute walk to the museum via rue Saint-Francois-Xavier. Also, the 50 bus, running along rue de-la-Commune, stops at the museum. Paid parking is available in the area, primarily in the Old Port.

Note: for those travelling by bus and Metro, a transit strike is expected to begin this week, however, regular service is promised by the striking union over the weekend of the 14th-15th. As such, buses and the Metro will be running, as usual.

MonFFen to Meet-Up at Museum

Our plan is to meet tomorrow, Saturday, June 14, in the museum’s main entrance lobby at 1:00PM (don’t be late!). We will then enter together at about 1:30PM. As always, each individual is responsible for their own entrance fee and any other expenses incurred, such as lunch or gift shop purchases. For any interested, we will make our way to a nearby restaurant after our visit to enjoy a post-field trip dinner.

Information on the Exhibition

Reads the museum’s promotional text, “Delve into the heart of history with ‘Knights,’ a fascinating exhibition that stirs up the spirit of chivalry. From the battlefield to the royal court, this exhibition explores the various aspects of the life of knights.” The world of knights is fully explored, including “their training, their place in society, and their code of honour.” Exquisite examples of European weaponry and armour, sourced from Italy’s prestigious Museo Stibbert, are among the over 250 pieces on display, showcasing the skill of the period’s craftsmen.

Note that there are also other exhibits of interest at Pointe-à-Callière, including studies of Montreal’s founding and past, the history of the iconic Dow Brewery, and an immersive and interactive family exhibition on pirates and privateers.

Pointe-à-Callière museum, Old Montreal

Museum’s Address and Contact Information

Address: 350 Place Royale, Old Montreal, QC, H2Y 3Y5

Phone number: 514 872-9150

Web site: https://pacmusee.qc.ca/en/

We’ll See You All Tomorrow at the Museum!

MonSFFA Website

CLUB FIELD TRIP THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 14!

2025 Club Field Trip – This Saturday, June 14

As our 2025 club field trip, MonSFFA will be visiting the new exhibition on knights at Old Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière museum. Mark this Saturday, June 14 in your calendars!

This exhibition recently opened at “Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex” (the Pointe-à-Callière museum). The standard adult admission charge is $29, with various discounts available for seniors, students, etc.

Getting to the Museum

The nearest Metro station is Place-d’Armes; from there, it’s a 10 minute walk to the museum via rue Saint-Francois-Xavier. Also, the 50 bus, running along rue de-la-Commune, stops at the museum. Paid parking is available in the area, primarily in the Old Port.

Note: for those travelling by bus and Metro, a transit strike is expected to begin this week, however, regular service is promised by the striking union over the weekend of the 14th-15th. As such, buses and the Metro will be running, as usual.

MonFFen to Meet-Up at Museum

Our plan is to meet, on Saturday, June 14, in the museum’s main entrance lobby at 1:00PM (don’t be late!), then enter together at about 1:30PM. As always, each individual is responsible for their own entrance fee and any other expenses incurred, such as lunch or gift shop purchases. For any interested, we will make our way to a nearby restaurant after our visit to enjoy a post-field trip dinner.

Information on the Exhibition

Reads the museum’s promotional text, “Delve into the heart of history with ‘Knights,’ a fascinating exhibition that stirs up the spirit of chivalry. From the battlefield to the royal court, this exhibition explores the various aspects of the life of knights.” The world of knights is fully explored, including “their training, their place in society, and their code of honour.” Exquisite examples of European weaponry and armour, sourced from Italy’s prestigious Museo Stibbert, are among the over 250 pieces on display, showcasing the skill of the period’s craftsmen.

Note that there are also other exhibits of interest at Pointe-à-Callière, including studies of Montreal’s founding and past, the history of the iconic  Dow Brewery, and an immersive and interactive family exhibition on pirates and privateers.

Pointe-à-Callière museum, Old Montreal

Museum’s Address and Contact Information

Address: 350 Place Royale, Old Montreal, QC, H2Y 3Y5

Phone number: 514 872-9150

Web site: https://pacmusee.qc.ca/en/

Space Travel / Exploration, Tributes

Marc Garneau has passed away

Marc Garneau has passed away, aged 76. He was Canada’s first astronaut. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice, first at the Canadian Space Agency in St Hubert, and again at an Earth Day celebration in Westmount. Tributes are pouring in. I heard Andrew Fazekas, the Night Sky Guy, this morning on CBC radio speak of how inspired he was by Marc.

Read about Marc Garneau here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/marc-garneau-passes-away-1.7552640

 

Books

Locus List of Forthcoming Books

JUNE 2025

  • ELIZABETH BEAR • The Folded Sky • Simon & Schus­ter/Saga Press, Jun 2025 (tp, eb)
  • ELIZABETH BEAR • The Folded Sky • Orion UK/Gollancz, Jun 2025 (tp, eb)
  • V. CASTRO • Maria the Wanted • Titan Books UK, Jun 2025 (h, tp, eb)
  • KATE ELLIOTT • The Witch Roads • Tor, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • AUSTON HABERSHAW • If Wishes Were Retail • Tachyon Publications, Jun 2025 (tp, eb)
  • K. IBURA • Tempest • HarperCollins/Quill Tree, Jun 2025 (ya, hc, eb)
  • ALLAN KASTER, ED. • The Year’s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories 9 • AudioText/Infinivox, Jun 2025 (an, tp, eb)
  • MERCEDES LACKEY & LARRY DIXON • Gryphon’s Valor • Titan Books UK, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • MERCEDES LACKEY & LARRY DIXON • Gryphon’s Valor • Astra House/DAW, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JOHN LANGAN • Lost in the Dark and Other Ex­cursions • Word Horde, Jun 2025 (c, tp, eb)
  • HELEN MARSHALL • The Lady • the Tiger, and the Girl Who Loved Death, Titan Books UK, Jun 2025 (pb, eb)
  • PREMEE MOHAMED • The First Thousand Trees • ECW Press, Jun 2025 (na, tp, eb)
  • MALKA OLDER • The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses • Tor, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • H.G. PARRY • A Far Better Thing • Tor, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • V.E. SCHWAB • Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil • Tor, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • V.E. SCHWAB • Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil • Macmillan/Tor UK, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Bee Speaker • Bloomsbury UK/Head of Zeus/Ad Astra, Jun 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Shroud • Orbit US, Jun 2025 (1st US, tp, eb)
  • CONNIE WILLIS • The Spanner in the Works • Orion UK/Gollancz, Jun 2025 (tp, eb)
  • JOHN WISWELL • Wearing the Lion • Astra House/DAW, Jun 2025 (v, hc, eb)
Astronomy News

SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH

SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A CME is heading straight for Earth–see below. NASA and NOAA models agree that it will strike Earth on June 1st. The impact could spark a severe (G4-class) geomagnetic storm with auroras visible across Europe and many US states. This won’t be as big as the famous May 2024 storm, but it could be one of the bigger events of Solar Cycle 25 if a severe storm materializes. CME impact alerts: SMS Text

MAJOR SOLAR FLARE AND HALO CME: Big old sunspot 4100 finally exploded–and it was a doozy. On May 31st at 00:05 UTC, Earth-orbiting satellites detected an M8.2-class solar flare. The explosion lasted more than 3 hours:


A long-duration M8.2-class solar flare recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

Although the flare was not technically X-class, it was close. Moreover, it was a slow explosion with lots of power “under the curve.” The blast was able to lift a massive CME out of the sun’s atmosphere.

Indeed, shortly after the flare, SOHO coronagraphs recorded a bright halo CME heading directly for our planet:

This is a very fast-moving CME. Type II radio emissions from shock waves within the cloud suggest it is traveling 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph. When it strikes Earth, the CME could spark severe geomagnetic storms with auroras at mid- to low latitudes. Stay tuned! CME impact alerts: SMS Text

Fanzines

Fanzine Roundup

Lots of zine to share!

I fell behind a bit ! Spring has sprung and all that.

From the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society: De Profundis

From Israel:

From the N3F, whose editors never sleep!

From Garth Spencer: 

From Bill Burns:

Catching up after our three-week Corflu and Eastercon trip to the UK, I’ve added twelve new issues at https://efanzines.com

  • Sandra Bond’s TAFF newsletter, Taffluorescence #8
  • Andy Hooper’s CAPTAIN FLASHBACK #77
  • Michael Dobson’s The Compleat Random Jottings #22
  • Perry Middlemiss’s Perryscope #53
  • Heath Row’s The Stf Amateur, May 2025 (apazine bundle)
  • Opuntia #597, edited by Dale Speirs
  • Ray Palm’s The Ray X X-rayer #183
  • New page for Two Chairs in Print by Perry Middlemiss and David Grigg
  • Leybl Botwinik’s CyberCozen – April 2025
  • Octothorpe #133, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon,
  • lison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line
  • Garth Spencer’s The Obdurate Eye #51
  • Nic Farey’s This Here…#86

New today at https://efanzines.com are:

  • Leybl Botwinik’s CyberCozen – May 2025
  • Octothorpe #134, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line
  • Journey Planet #90, edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, et al
  • Opuntia #599, edited by Dale Speirs

 

Club's Summer BBQ, MonSFFA Field Trip

SUMMER 2025’S MonSFFACTIVITIES!

MonSFFA will be active during the coming summer months; here’s what’s on our agenda:

KNIGHTS IN OLD MONTREAL

2025 MonSFFA Field Trip – Saturday, June 14

The club will first embark upon a field trip, set for Saturday, June 14, 2025; mark that date in your calendars!

We will be making our way to Old Montréal to take in the newly opened exhibition, “Knights.” We’ll be visiting our city’s “Archaeology and History Complex,” the Pointe-à-Callière museum, host of this exhibition.

MonFFen to Meet-Up at Museum

Our plan is to meet in the museum’s main entrance lobby at 1:00PM on Saturday, June 14 (don’t be late!) and enter together as a group at about 1:30PM. As always, each individual is responsible for their own entrance fee and any other expenses incurred, such as lunch or gift shop purchases. For any interested, we will make our way to a nearby restaurant after our visit to enjoy a post-field trip dinner.

Adult admission charge is $29, with various discounts available for seniors, students, etc.

Information on the Exhibition

Genre fans are, of course, familiar with medieval knights, who feature in many an epic fantasy tale. The museum invites us to “Delve into the heart of history with ‘Knights,’ a fascinating exhibition that stirs up the spirit of chivalry. From the battlefield to the royal court, this exhibition explores the various aspects of the life of knights.” We are offered a full exploration of the world of knights, including “their training, their place in society, and their code of honour.” Exquisite examples of European weaponry and armour, sourced from Italy’s prestigious Museo Stibbert, are among the over 250 pieces on display, showcasing the skill of the period’s craftsmen.

Images, Knights Exhibition, Pointe-à-Callière Museum

Note that there are also other exhibits of interest at Pointe-à-Callière, including studies of Montreal’s founding and past, the history of the Dow Brewery, and an immersive and interactive family exhibition on pirates and privateers.

Getting to the Museum

The nearest Metro station is Place-d’Armes; from there, it’s a 10 minute walk to the museum via rue Saint-François-Xavier. Also, the 50 bus, running along rue de-la-Commune, stops at the museum. Paid parking is available in the area, primarily in the Old Port.

Museum’s Address and Contact Information

The museum’s address is: 350 Place Royale, Old Montreal, QC, H2Y 3Y5

Phone number: 514 872-9150

Web site: https://pacmusee.qc.ca/en/

AFTERNOON IN PARC MAISONNEUVE

MonSFFA’s 2025 Barbecue-in-the-Park – Sunday, July 13

Our annual Barbecue-in-the-Park is scheduled, this year, for Sunday, July 13. MonSFFen and their families, as well as friends of the club, are invited to gather at about 10:30AM in Parc Maisonneuve on that date to enjoy a day of fresh air, sunshine, and fun with friends!

Sprawling Parc Maisonneuve, easily accessible by Metro (Viau, Pie-IX) or bus, is located in the city’s East End, adjacent the Botanical Gardens and the Olympic Stadium. Parking is available on site, or on nearby streets.

Our intention is to claim a picnic spot along one of the park’s lines of trees, not too far from the Chalet (washrooms) and parking lot; our “Preferred Picnic Area” is indicated on the map (below). Look for us within roughly that area.

Bring your own refreshments, snacks, and any meats you may wish to barbecue; MonSFFA will provide a grill. Should inclement weather scuttle plans, our rain date is Sunday, July 20, same Bat-time, same Bat-place.

As a handy reminder, download to your phone or print out to post on your fridge these flyers touting the club’s field trip and barbecue: 2025SummerActivitiesPromoFlyer(PDF)

AUGUST AFTERNOON OF “FANCRAFT”

“Fancrafting” Workshops – Saturday, August 16

Finally, we’ll wrap up this summer’s MonSFFActivities on August 16, returning to the club’s usual Nouvel Hotel meeting locale for the revival of an old, pre-pandemic tradition of MonSFFA’s, that of holding a number of “fancrafting” workshops throughout the course of the afternoon’s meeting. These hands-on demonstrations of SF/F-themed crafting projects, which we have dubbed “fancrafting,” will run concurrently, allowing folk to learn about and try their hand at each during the afternoon.

In past workshops we have learned how to fold sci-fi origami, for instance, tried our collective hand at stop-motion animation, realistically painted and weathered dollar-store toy guns and plastic knives for use as cosplay props, and “scratchbuilt” model spaceships from assorted household odds and ends.

Our workshops are hosted from among our own and allow all to exercise their innate creativity. This year, we’ll learn how to fashion beautifully decorative magic wands (of particular interest to those Hogwarts hopefuls among us!), explore “papercraft” model building, try our hand at making sci-fi hand puppets (for kids of all ages!), and more!

Dinosaurs and Company

What did dinosaurs sound like?

Interesting article found on the BBC.–CPL

What did dinosaurs sound like?

Alamy Artist's impression of Parasaurolophus (Credit: Alamy)

We tend to associate dinosaurs with ground-shaking roars, but the latest research shows that this is probably mistaken.

You’d feel it more than hear it – a deep, visceral throb, emerging from somewhere beyond the thick foliage. Like the rumble of a foghorn, it would thrum in your ribcage and bristle the hairs on your neck. In the dense forests of the Cretaceous period, it would have been terrifying.

We have few clues for what noises dinosaurs might have made while they ruled the Earth before being killed off 66 million years ago. The remarkable stony remains uncovered by palaeontologists offer evidence of the physical prowess of these creatures, but not a great deal about how they interacted and communicated. Sound doesn’t fossilise, of course.

From what we know about animal behaviour, however, dinosaurs were almost certainly not silent.

Now with the help of new, rare fossils and advanced analysis techniques, scientists are starting to piece together some of the clues about how dinosaurs might have sounded.

Tom Williamson Even without a larynx or voice box, P. tubicen may have still been able to produce sounds using its distinctive headcrest (Credit: Tom Williamson)
Even without a larynx or voice box, P. tubicen may have still been able to produce sounds using its distinctive headcrest (Credit: Tom Williamson)

Click here to read the full article , and also hear what various dinos might have sounded like.

Collecting

Sale of Collectibles

Hi, I received a notice from Sandra Phillips concerning a sale of collectibles. A few of the items might interest MonSFFA members and friends. They will be sold at the  citywide DDO Yard sale next weekend, May 24 &25.–Cathy

This is Sandra Phillips from Smart Shopping Montreal. I had your contact for collectibles and thought that perhaps I should reach out to you.. I have a large collection which I am ready to part with.

Many vintage (1970’s with wooden people) Fisher Price Toys (boat, airport, town, school, school bus, musical instruments in case, etc ) and a few collectible toys from 70′ & 80’s or $50’s ones.
Three vintage kids’ record players. Do you know of anyone in town that might want to buy them?
ebay prices:
– Vintage Jaymar Upright Miniature Piano  Pat 2641135 – $124
– – Merrythought from England Walking/Push toy plush dog   by Milestone Auctions  was $200 sold for $100
– Happy Toy finger magic 7.99 $22 in original round container box
– 50’s Richmond spelling board letters numbers circa 1950’s in fair shape $20-$36
Disney
Walt Disney World Good neighbor hotel sign  (hotel never built hotel but sign was ordered)  pin is $24.95  sign”?
Minnie Mouse bank $19.99 for both her and Mickey
Hat:: Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse around 1971 felt kid size  about $10
Posters
home alone poster $20
darth vader signed poster $150 or more plus ship
etc.
Pins (over 100) :
lots of political ones
like Nixon gold pin $11.98
Beatles $35
Michael Jackson before he fixed his face
Postcards going back to 1940’s – over 100
Star Trek books (about 20) , ebay at least $10= $75 each, Dungeons and Dragons one $35
Fast food giveaway toys from McDonald’s etc (one says $99 on ebay)
Few untouched beanie babies,
ETC
If you are not interested,  do you have any idea of who I should send this to? Getting ready to sell all at  the citywide DDO Yard sale next weekend, May 24 &25.
Happy Shopping,
Sandra Phillips

Montreal Science Fiction and Fantasy Association