Category Archives: Fandom

Fandom

Across the Fandomension with Garth Spencer”

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We have received an update regarding Garth Spencer’s website, “Across the Fandomension with Garth Spencer” . This is shaping up to be a valuable resource for fans of SFF.  –Cathypl

Dear Guys,

My SF information website, “Across the Fandomension with Garth Spencer” (https://www.vcn.bc.ca/~garth2), is now extended and updated. I intend to make additions and updates monthly.

This is still a bare-bones information website, so to begin with I have focused on simply finding the links to resources. If you spot errors and omissions in the information about clubs, conventions, fanzines, fandoms, writers’ resources, markets, or websites, please comment and criticize and suggest amendments. If you have suggestions for improved layout and format, I am open to them, too.

 

Yours cordially,

 

Garth Spencer

Fanzines

Fanzine roundup!

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Here are the zines that arrived in the virtual mailbox. Enjoy! and share!

Greetings, programs!
Attached you will find the January 2026 edition of Tightbeam, number 376, with reviews, recipes, and reminiscence.
You are invited to peruse and send a letter of comment.

Jason P Hunt
Publisher/CEO
www.SciFi4Me.com

Jason also sent us N3FReview202601

From Leybl in Israel: CCJanuary2026-v01

From Matt Mitchell at LASFS: Please feel free to distribute to your members.  Thank you very much. De Profundis #617 – February 2026
From Nic Farey: “The Enlightenment view of mankind is a complete myth. It leads us into thinking we’re sane and rational creatures most of the time, and we’re not.”
From Jason Hunt, N3F, two zines.  Greetings, programs! Please find attached the latest instalment of NAPA280_jan2026 
As we work out the kinks in the schedule, the goal is to get everything on track for a regular schedule of dates on which each of our ‘zines will hit your in-box. I appreciate everyone’s patience!
As we draw near the end of the month, as I contemplate the ridiculously cold temperatures and snow on the ground and wonder if the deer in the back are OK, I am sending to you this last ‘zine of the month (I think?) — the National Fantasy Fan for January 2026, beginning Volume 85.
Letters of comment are welcome. And please continue to send me any updates on e-mail addresses. I’m trying to keep everything as current as possible. TNFF202601

From Ahrvid Engholm: Intermission163

Intermission in the Epstein files?

It wouldn't surprise us, considering how morally corrupt it is! But in
the Engholm files (latest example #163 enclosed) we find Jules Verne!
(With his unknown, only English story!) And a whole bunch of writers
in deplorable filthy-pro magazines such as Beyond Fantasy,
Imagination, Startling Stories and others presenting your wettest,
wildest dreams! Blue films - at least one - also covered, and AI
translation.
  But we start with the latest goofs by Trump and Putin. Agent
Orange's Greenland plans get cold shoulders from the Arctic and
Putins's under-supplied alcoholic bumbs of an "army" is destroyed by
drones. And why don't media report on Putin' collapsing economy?
 Finally, don't miss ■■■■  and ■■■■, especially ■■■■!!!

Don't Put Hands In Running Mower,

--Ahrvid Engholm, edit■■■■or
  (Comments welcome, but whatever you write, make CC: to
ahvid@atomicmail.io, due to failing Microsoft...)

From the N3F: Tightbeam 377 is attached. There is an Alarming Event…we are back on schedule. On the topic of schedules, Mindy Hunt reports that the next issue of FanActivity Gazette will be delayed.

Updates from Bill Burns at d-fanzines
  • Perry Middlemiss’s Perryscope #56
  • Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation, Spring 2026 is now on line
  • Octothorpe #151, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line
  • Two Chairs in Print #12 by Perry Middlemiss and David Grigg [2025 issue]
  • Henry Grynnsten’s Wild Ideas #67 [2025 issue]
  • John D. Berry’s dot-fanzine: guillemets
  • Nic Farey’s This Here…#95
  • Andy Hooper’s CAPTAIN FLASHBACK #86
  • Opuntia #618, edited by Dale Speirs
  • Leybl Botwinik’s CyberCozen – January 2026
  • Christopher J. Garcia’s Claims Department #94
  • John D. Berry’s dot-fanzine: interrobang and dot-fanzine: colon [archive issues]
  • Two Chairs in Print #13 by Perry Middlemiss and David Grigg
  • Octothorpe #152, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line
  • Opuntia #619, edited by Dale Speirs
  • Garth Spencer’s The Obdurate Eye #59
Fandom

Announcing the Launch of an information website

Dear Guys and Gals,

Canadian fan, Garth Spencer

I am now launching a fannish information website, listing Canadian and Pacific Northwest clubs and conventions, as well as less regional information for fanzine fans and aspiring writers. Please check out https://www.vcn.bc.ca/~garth2/ and let me know if you find it useful. The plan is to edit the web page monthly.

Any critical comments or helpful suggestions are welcome, so I have put an email link on every web page to make it easy to contact me. I have no aesthetic sense, so this month’s edition is almost entirely text-only. (My smiling face is on the welcome page, but it’s a bit large – I think I must cut it down.)

Many thanks are due to the Vancouver Community for hosting this website, and to their Help Desk and to Kalin Stacey of the Canadian SF and Fantasy Association for getting me over some glitches.

Yours cordially,

Garth Spencer

Fanzines

Fanzine to Share!

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. 

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.
Fanzines

Fanzine Roundup

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
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.