Love to read?
The MonSFFA SIG for avid readers is scheduled for January 17, 13:00h.
MonSFFen will be sent the URL to zoom by email. Visitors are welcome, contact <webmaster@monsffa.ca> to request the link.
DO PLANETARY ALIGNMENTS AFFECT SOLAR ACTIVITY?
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?
JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF IMPULSE NOW AVAILABLE!
The latest issue of Impulse (January 2026) can now be viewed or downloaded here! (This issue will shortly be distributed directly by e-mail to club members.)
This and past issues of the club’s news bulletin are also archived on this Website. Visit the “Impulse” page, or for this latest edition, just click here: Impulse January
CLUB’S FIRST EVENT OF 2026 SET FOR THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 10!
MonSFFA’s first event of 2026 is the club’s January e-meeting, scheduled for this Saturday, January 10, just five days from now!
We’ll be comparing artificial intelligence as depicted in SF with the AI models currently in development in the real world! As well, we’ll feature a primer on perspective as a useful guide to producing striking works of sci-fi art, and we’ll remember fondly the classic SF&F toys of our collective childhood! Finally, we’ll also select our Executive Committee for the coming year.
Join our ZOOM-Chat this Saturday, January 10, from 1:00PM to 5:00PM for all this, and more…
Note that MonSFFA’s peak winter meetings are conducted exclusively online via ZOOM; February’s e-meeting is slated for Saturday, the 21st. We return to in-person meetings at our downtown conference room in March, as winter wanes.
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 …”
“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
CLUB’S FIRST EVENT OF 2026 SET FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 10!
MonSFFA’s first event of 2026 is the club’s January e-meeting, scheduled for Saturday, January 10, a little over a week from now!
We’ll be comparing artificial intelligence as depicted in SF with the AI models currently in development in the real world! We’ll also feature a primer on perspective as a useful guide to producing striking works of sci-fi art, and we’ll remember fondly the classic SF&F toys of our collective childhoods!
Join our ZOOM-Chat on Saturday, January 10, from 1:00PM to 5:00PM for all this, and more…
Note that MonSFFA’s winter meetings are conducted exclusively online via ZOOM; February’s e-meeting is slated for Saturday, the 21st. We return to in-person meetings at our downtown conference room in March.
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)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, NOTICE OF THE CLUB’S FIRST MEETING OF 2026!
Happy New Year!
MonSFFA wishes its members and friends a very Happy New Year, and welcomes everyone to another year of MonSFFActivities!
Our first event of 2026 is the club’s January e-meeting, scheduled for Saturday, the 10th, just 10 days from now! Mark that date in your calendars, folks, and we’ll see you then!
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.
Another zine to share!
Another zine to share!
Never fails–I round up the zines, and the next day another arrives!
CCDecember2025-v01 From Israel, review of Alien.