All posts by Cathy Palmer-Lister

Fanzines

Fanzine to Share!

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We have received the following fanzine to share. Enjoy!

From Ahrvid Engholm in Sweden: Let’s invade & Kidnap a little!

Mission completed!

Intermission too. It’s a complex, chaotic world, and here’s something
to make it chaotier! We found Hugo Gernsback’s excuses for not paying his authors, take you on a tour through Bobby Heinlein’s fantastic home and present the A-Bomb’s mother. We go through the Ukraine peace plan, a conflict almost as intricate as some fanfeuds. Then we turn to poetry, a concon and prepare to join the paperclip-makers… An idea: Instead of Greenland, why don’t go for Blueland or perhaps Yellowland instead?
You need Intermission for national security!

Only necessary cookies,

–Ahrvid Engholm, editor-in-chief
Comments welcome! Due to some mail snags make CCs of comments to
ahrvid@atomicmail.io

Awards, Fanzines

Voting for the 2026 FAAn awards (for work done in 2025) is now open. 

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Voting for the 2026 FAAn awards (for work done in 2025) is now open.
The seven award categories are unchanged as follows:
FANZINE AWARDS
Best Genzine
Best Perzine
Best Special Publication/One-shot/Limited series
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Best Fanwriter
Best Fanartist (Steve Stiles Memorial Award)
Best Letterhack (Harry Warner, Jr. Memorial Award)
Best Fanzine Cover
Voting is open to anyone with an interest in fanzines, no memberships or voting fees are required.
Ballots must be received by 23:59 Pacific time, Saturday February 14th 2026, and the awards will be presented at Corflu Pickled (fanzine convention) in Santa Rosa, CA after the banquet on Sunday March 1 2026.
Anyone wishing to watch the ceremonies in real time will need at least a virtual membership, details at https://corflu.org/ along with The Incompleat Register 2025, the awards voters’ guide and pro forma ballot, which is also available for the asking from the awards administrator, Nic Farey, fareynic@gmail.com , and attached to this email.
Astronomy News

DO PLANETARY ALIGNMENTS AFFECT SOLAR ACTIVITY? 

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DO PLANETARY ALIGNMENTS AFFECT SOLAR ACTIVITY? 

There’s a planetary alignment this week. Could it affect solar activity? One researcher says “yes,” and explains how on today’s edition of Spaceweather.com.

Above: Jupiter, Earth, Venus and Mars are arrayed in an approximate line this week, exerting their “spring tides” on the sun. Can these feeble tides affect solar activity?

 

Fanzines

Fanzine Roundup

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Fanzine Roundup

From Matt Mitchell: De Profundis #616 – January 2026
I present to you the new issue, the first of 2026.  Feel free to distribute this among your membership. Thank you.

Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society

From Nic Farey, who says: “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools do.” TH 94r contains important info regarding Corflu and the FAAn awards.
From Garth Spencer:  Obdurate Eye 58
The first person you encounter on Mars says:
“Hello. We’ve been trying to contact you about your overdue account …”
From Bill Burns:

Just when I thought I had safely closed out 2025, four new fanzines arrived dated December 31st. Then on New Year’s Day, the first issue of 2026 arrived.

All these are now at https://efanzines.com

  • Opuntia #617, edited by Dale Speirs
  • J.L. Farey’s JenZine #13
  • Nic Farey’s This Here…#94
  • Journey Planet #92 & 93, edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, et al
Books

Locus list of upcoming book releases

JANUARY 2025

  • MONIQUILL BLACKGOOSE • To Ride a Rising Storm • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Jan 2026 (tp, eb)
  • JIM BUTCHER • Twelve Months • Orbit UK, Jan 2026 (hc, eb)
  • JIM BUTCHER • Twelve Months • Ace, Jan 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ROSHANI CHOKSHI • The Swan’s Daughter • St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books, Jan 2026 (v, hc, eb)
  • NICOLE GLOVER • The Starseekers • Harper Voyager US, Jan 2026 (tp, eb)
  • ISABEL IBAÑEZ • Graceless Heart • St. Martin’s/Sat­urday Books, Jan 2026 (hc, eb)
  • DEAN KOONTZ • The Friend of the Family • Amazon/Thomas & Mercer, Jan 2026 (a, hc, eb)
  • SEANAN MCGUIRE • Through Gates of Garnet and Gold • Tordotcom, Jan 2026 (na, hc, eb)
  • K.J. PARKER • Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead • Orbit US, Jan 2026 (tp, eb)
  • K.J. PARKER • Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead • Orbit UK, Jan 2026 (tp, eb)
  • CHARLES STROSS • The Regicide Report • Tor, Jan 2026 (na, hc, eb)
Events and Conventions

The Annual Convention listing

The Annual Convention listing

With thanks to Lloyd Penny.

 Montreal area events are in bold and marked with *

Watch for virtual CanCon, probably in April. https://www.can-con.org/virtual-cancon

Check for updates during the year by clicking “conventions” in the left menu. To add an event to the list, contact <webmaster@monsffa.ca>

2026

January 3 – Peterborough Comicon, The Venue, Peterborough. www.popculturecanada.ca

January 4 – Aurora Comicon, Legion Branch 385, Aurora. www.popculturecanada.ca

January 10 – PokeKon Fest – Rochester 2026, RIT Inn & Conference Centre, Henrietta, NY.  pokekon.com.

January 10 – Hobbyverse Expo New Year’s Edition, Weplay Centre, Markham. https://www.eventbrite.com

January 11 – Ontario Collectors Con, Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale, Mississauga. https://www.ontariocollectorscon.com/

January 17&18 – Ottawa Comiccon Winter Edition, EY Centre, Ottawa. Free admission! https://ottawacomiccon.com/

January 18 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. Hours: 9:30am-2pm. Admission: $5, $1 under 10. For more information, CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

January 24 – Compasscon: Oakville, Galaxy 707 Club, Oakville. Hours: 10am-4pm. For more information, https://www.compassconevents.ca/compasscon-oakville

January 30 – February 1 – Magical ConFusion. Hotel, Novi Sheraton Michigan, Novi, MI. Guests: Maurice Broaddus, Megen Leigh, Sarah Goslee, Andrea Phillips, more https://2026.confusionsf.org/

January 31 – Action Figure Comic Con, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto, https://actionfigurecomiccon.com/

January 31 – Belleville Comicon, Masonic (Temple) Hall, Belleville. Hours: 10am-3pm. Admission: $5 https://www.eventbrite.ca

February 1 – Bowmanville Comicon, Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, Bowmanville.  https://www.eventbrite.ca/

February 7 – Cobourg Comicon, Cobourg Community Centre, Cobourg. www.popculturecanada .

February 8 – Nerd Market 6, Hart House, University of Toronto. Hours: 12noon-4pm. For more information, check their Eventbrite page.

February 8 – Burlington Collectors Con, Holiday Inn Conference Centre, Burlington. www.ontariocollectorscon.com.

February 8 – Whitby Comicon, Heydenshore Pavilion, Whitby https://www.eventbrite.ca

February 13-15 – Motor City Furry Con, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Centre, Detroit. Guests: Pandez, Quack Quack Honk https://motorcityfurrycon.org/

February 14 – East Gwillimbury Comicon, Gwillimbury Sports Complex, Sharon. www.popculturecanada.ca.

February 15 – Angus Comicon, Angus Recreation Centre, Angus. Hours: 10am-3pm. Admission: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. www.popculturecanada.ca.

February 15 – Durham Games and Comic Expo, Ajax Community Centre, Ajax. Hours: 11am-4pm. For more information info@vendorsmarket.ca.

February 16 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. Hours: 9:30am-2pm. Admission: $5, $1 under 10. For more information, CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

February 17 – Carleton Place Comic Con 2025, Carleton Place Arena, Carleton Place. Admissions: Non-perishable food donation or $2, children 12 and under free. For more information, look for their Facebook page.

February 28 – Niagara Falls Pop Culture & Collectibles Expo, Fireman’s Park, Niagara Falls, ON. Hours: 10am-3pm. For more information, info@vendorsmarket.ca.

March 1 – Ajax Comicon, Audley Recreation Centre/Sportsplex, Ajax. Hours: 10am-3pm. Admission: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. For more information, www.popculturecanada.ca.

March 8 – Niagara Anime-Fest, Sheraton Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, NY. Guests: Greg Dulcie, Randy Pearlman, more. For more information, theniagaracon.com.

March 15 – Markham Geekcon, 7261 Victoria Park Ave., Markham. House: 11am-5pm. For more information, info@vendorsmarket.ca

March 20-22 – Toronto Comicon 2026, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto. https://fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto/

Furnal Equinox 2026 – Starbound Sabbatical, Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Toronto. furnalequinox.com.

March 21 – Bolton Comicon, Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness, Bolton.www.popculturecanada.ca.

March 21-22 – Tora-Con 2026, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester. Anime convention. Guests: Chalk Twins, AJ Beckles, Anairis Quinones, Matt Shipman, Allegra Clark, Zeno Robinson, Matthew David Rudd, EarlCray Tea, ChibiTifa, Lutavia, Starfall Blade, Empathy Studios. For more information, toracon.org.

March 26-29 – Penguicon 2026, Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI. SF/open source coding convention. penguicon.org

March 28 – Hobbyverse Expo Spring Forward, Weplay Centre, Markham. hobbyverseexpo@gmail.com, or pages on Instagram and Eventbrite.

March 28 – Stratford Comicon, Best Western Plus Arden Park Hotel, Stratford. www.popculturecanada.ca

March 29 – Cambridge Comicon, Oriental Sports Club, Cambridge. www.popculturecanada.ca

April 3 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages

April 3-5 – Anime Ottawa 2026, EY Centre, Ottawa. animeottawa.com.

April 4 – Kingston Comicon, Legion Branch 560, Kingston.www.popculturecanada.ca.

April 11 – Barrie Comicon, Eastview Arena, Barrie. www.popculturecanada.ca

April 17-19 FilKONtario 2026, Monte Carlo Inn & Suites, Markham. Guests: Mikey Mason, Tanya Huff, Debbie Gates & Wild Mercy. Filk convention. filkontario.ca.

April 18 – Compasscon: Cobourg, Cobourg Lions Community Centre, Cobourg. www.compassconevents.ca

April 25 – Sudbury Comicon, Garson Arena, Sudbury. www.sudburycomicon.ca

May 3 – Huntsville Comicon, Jack Bionda Area Floor @ Canada Summit Place, Huntsville. www.popculturecanada.ca.

May 9 – SDG Geek-Con 2026, Chesterville and District Arena, Chesterville, ON. For more information, check their Facebook page.

May 9 – Trenton Comicon, Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens, Trenton. www.sudburycomicon.ca

May 9 – Brantford Comic Con, Lions Park Arena, Brantford. Guests: Brian O’Halloran, Ming Chen, more. brantfordcomiccon.com.

May 9-10 – The Oddities & Curiosities Expo, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto. odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com.

May 16 – Orangeville Comicon, Orangeville Curling Club, Orangeville. www.popculturecanada.ca.

May 18 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

May 22-24 – Anime North, Toronto Congress Centre and hotels, Toronto. animenorth.com.

May 23 – Napanee Comicon, Best & Bash Arena, Napanee. www.popculturecanada.ca.

May 24 – Tweed Comicon, Tweed Community Centre, Tweed. www.popculturecanada.ca.

June 6 – Parry Sound Comicon, Bobby Orr Community Centre, Stanley Cup Hall, Parry Sound.www.popculturecanada.ca.

June 7 – Bracebridge Comicon, Muskoka Lumber Community Centre, Bracebridge. www.popculturecanada.ca.

*June 12-14-Scintillation, Montreal, https://www.scintillation.ca/index.php

June 13 – Manitoulin Island Comicon, Little Current Recreation Centre, Little Current, ON. www.popculturecanada.ca.

June 19 – Midland Comicon, North Simcoe Sports Centre, Midland.www.popculturecanada.ca

June 20-21 – KW Comic-Con, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Kitchener. Guests TBA  kwcomiccon.ca

June 26-28 – Nickel City Comic Con, Buffalo Convention Center, Buffalo. www.nickelcitycon.com.

June 27 – Brighton Comicon, Brighton & District Curling Club, Brighton. www.popculturecanada.ca

July 1 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. Hours: 9:30am-2pm. Admission: $5, $1 under 10. For more information, CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

*July 3-5 – Montreal Comiccon 2026, Palais de Congres de Montreal, Montreal. www.montrealcomiccon.com.

July 11 – Callander Comicon, Callander Community Centre, Callander. www.popculturecanada.ca.

July 11 – Rochester Anime-Fest, RIT Inn & Conference Center, Henrietta, NY. Guests: Greg Dulcie, Madeleine Morris, more. rochesteranimefest.com.

July 11-12 – Michigan Fantasy Festival, 28404 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI.  https://michiganfantasyfestival.com/

July 18 – FanaticCon Ottawa, Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, Ottawa.  https://www.fanaticcon.ca/

July 18 – Streetsville Comicon, Vic Johnston Community Centre, Mississauga. www.sudburycomicon.ca.

July 18-19 – Really Cool Comic Con, Dort Financial Centre, Flint, MI. www.reallycooolcomiccon.com.

August 1-2 – MiAnime Convention, Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, MI. www.michgananime.com

August 3 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages

August 8 – Orillia Anime-Fest, Orillia Square Mall, Orillia. canadaanimefests.ca.

August 16 – Fenelon Falls Comicon, Fenelon Falls Community Centre, Fenelon Falls. www.popculturecanada.ca

August 22 – Stratford Comicon, Best Western Plus Arden Park Hotel, Stratford. www.sudburycomicon.ca.

August 23 – Cambridge Comicon, Oriental Sports Club, Cambridge. www.popculturecanada.ca 

August 27-30 – Fan Expo Canada 2026, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto. fanexpohq.com/fanexpocanada

August 27-31, 2026: LAcon V, the 84th WorldCon, https://www.lacon.org

August 28-30 – Ozokucon 2026, Bluewater Convention Center, Port Huron, MI. eventeny.com/events/ozokucon-23407/ .

August 29-30 – Port Credit Renaissance Faire, Port Credit Memorial Park, Mississauga. niagararenfaire@gmail.com, or pages on Facebook, Tiktok and Instagram.

September 5 – Barrie Comicon, Eastview Arena, Barrie.www.popculturecanada.ca.

September 7 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton. CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

September 11-13 – Ottawa Comicon, Location TBA, Ottawa. ottawacomicon.com

September 12 – Kingston Comicon, Legion Branch 560, Kingston.www.popculturecanada.ca

September 13 – Peterborough Comicon, Peterborough Curling Club, Peterborough. www.popculturecanada.ca

September 26-27 – London Comic Con 2026, Western Fair Agriplex, London. For more information, see their Facebook page.

October 12 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hamilton CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

October 16-18, 2026 – CanCon, at the Brookstreet Hotel, Kanata https://www.can-con.org/live-cancon

October 18 – Whitby Comicon, Heydenshore Pavilion, www.popculturecanada.ca

October 22-25 – World Fantasy Convention, Oakland, California, https://wfc2026.org/

November 7 – Batawa Comicon, Batawa Community Centre, Batawa. www.popculturecanada.ca

November 7 – Detroit Retro Gaming Show, Southfield Pavilion, Southfield, MI. www.detroitretrogamingshow.com

November 8 – Lindsay Comicon, Victoria Park Armoury, Lindsay. www.popculturecanada.ca.

November 15 – Ajax Comicon, Audley Recreation Centre/Sportsplex, Ajax. www.popculturecanada.ca.

December 26 – Collecticon, Carmen’s Event Centre, Hailton.CollectiConCanada@gmail.com, or check Facebook or Instagram pages.

Fanzines

Fanzine Roundup

I fell behind, but managed to round them all up today. Enjoy!

PurrMew95 From Arizona, pictures of critters we don’t see around here. Reviews of books, cons, etc.

From Bill Burns, lots of updates came in, best to just click over to   https://efanzines.com.  

Last Spring, the N3F launched a new APA, A Gentle Stroll, focused on role-playing games. We have now reached issue 6, and are going bimonthly. AGS6

ObdurateEye57 From Garth Spencer in Vancouver. (Keith will like the cover.)

N3FReview202510 From the N3F, reviews of books

De Profundis #615 – December 2025 Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, oldest SFF club still running strong. They’ve got a clubhouse!!

PROBE 206X From South Africa.

ES202511 From the N3F, Eldritch Science

From Heath Row, in Madison, WI, The Wahflestomper Manifesto. Rather than issue a zine, he plans to write LoCs to all and sundry.
The Wahflestomper Manifesto shall be distributed initially to publishers and distributors of fanzines and amateur press associations that have been included in recent issues of The Zine Dump, The Incompleat Register, and Blue Moon Special. (Rest in peace, Guy H. Lillian III.) 

ObdurateEye58 From Garth in Vancouver, seems to have Cheese on the mind.

Gazette202512 From the 3NF

Tightbeam375 the N3F literary fanzine. We try to cover all tastes in fandom, such as anime, comics, cosplay, films, novels, biographies, poetry, music, short stories, food, etc.

 

Astronomy News

Alien comet, not an alien craft

31/Atlas is an alien comet, not an alien craft, even though it is not accelerating due only to gravity. –CPL

Space Weather News for Dec. 16, 2025
https://spaceweather.com

THE NON-GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION OF 3I/ATLAS:  New data from NASA’s Psyche spacecraft and ESA’s Mars Trace Gas Orbiter confirm that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is not moving under the force of gravity alone. It has a “non-gravitational acceleration.” The effect can be explained entirely by cometary outgassing, and allows astronomers to weigh the comet from afar. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.