Our September reading is coming up very soon and will feature Mark L. Van Name & Amelia Beamer. We’ll have more details about them soon, but in the meantime please note that we’ll be a running a little later than usual this month. Doors will open at 6:30PM for a 7:30PM start.

Coming up on Saturday (August 21st) we have another fine reading for you. Here are the authors who will entertain us.

Cecelia Holland is primarily a writer of historical novels, but some of her books shade into the fantastic, and she has also written science fiction. Her latest novel, just published by Berkley, is The Secret Eleanor. It stars Eleanor of Aquitaine, a woman who divorced the King of France, married a man who later became King of England, and then was mother to King Richard the Lionheart and King John.

Mary Robinette Kowal is the current Vice President of SFWA, and an expert puppeteer. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2008 and was a 2009 Hugo nominee for her story “Evil Robot Monkey.” Her debut novel, Shades of Milk and Honey, has recently been published by Tor.

As ever, Terry Bisson will be on hand to introduce the readers and moderate the Q&A session. Books will be provided for sale and signing by Borderlands Books.

Door open 6:00PM for a 7:00PM start. The Variety Preview Room, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, 1st floor of The Hobart Bldg., San Francisco.

We have a horror double bill lined up for you in August:

• Army of Darkness; and
• House II

Doors open, if you dare, at 6:00PM for a 6:30PM start. There will be free popcorn. Zombie apocalypse is optional.

The Variety Preview Room, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, 1st floor of The Hobart Bldg., San Francisco

An exhibition of work by Bay Area artist Heather Robinson begins at the Variety Preview Room today. There will be a reception on Thursday August 5th, from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Come and join us for a glass of wine and some snacks.

For more information about Heather, please see her website.

The Variety Preview Room, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, 1st floor of The Hobart Bldg., San Francisco

Art Reception for printmaker Daisy Eneix – Friday, July 2nd – 5:30PM-7:30PM

Come and join us for a glass of wine and some snacks, and admire first hand the art of printmaker Daisy Eneix. We’ll be showcasing the work done by Daisy’s in the medium of handmade paper. Her work hearkens back to the age-old technique of brass rubbing, with a distinctly modern twist. Please join us to meet the artist in person, and pose your own artistic questions to her. Visit her site and see more.

Daisy Eneix was born and raised in NYC where she studied painting and drawing at the School of Visual Arts and worked for an extraordinary scientific illustrator. She received her BA from Oberlin College in Studio Art, Art History & Anthropology and her MA from San Francisco State in Creative Arts. She has been printmaking for 20 years and has exhibited internationally. In her ever-evolving body of artwork, Daisy explores themes of topography, intimacy, innocence and risk. As a member of the Graphic Arts Workshop and the California Society of Printmakers, she dreams of forming a gang of renegade printmakers who utilize non-traditional methods to create innovative images. Daisy also teaches art to children and adults, hosts art events, writes, models for artists and practices aikido.

Pre-release screening of [REC] 2

Friday, July 2nd, at 7:30PM

No need to RSVP – but first come, first seated!

(85 mins.) (this movie is rated R, and is not suitable for children under 17 – really!)

The highly anticipated sequel to one of the scariest films of all time (and remade in the US as Quarantine), [REC] 2 picks up 15 minutes from where part 1 left off. It is also a stand-alone, but starts off back in the quarantined apartment building where a terrifying virus has run rampant, turning the occupants into mindlessly violent, raging beasts (yes! ZOMBIES). A heavily armed SWAT team and a mysterious government official are sent in to assess and attempt to neutralize the situation. What they find inside lies beyond the scope of medical science — a demonic nightmare of biblical proportions more terrifying than they could have possibly imagined. Above all it must be contained, before it escapes to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting world outside. — Magnolia

This film is not yet released; it opens to the public on July 9th

Suggested donations for film nights is $5; drop a bill in the donation box, or buy a drink! ALL proceeds and tips go to Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California.

Our July reading will be on a Monday to accommodate the schedule of two very special guests. We expect this one to be very popular, so we are asking people to sign up in advance.

Monday, July 19th
Doors open at 6:00PM, Event starts at 7:00PM

Renowned faerie artists Brian and Wendy Froud are known to many for their work on the Jim Henson films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. The Frouds are appearing at SF in SF to discuss their beautiful new box set, The Heart Of Faerie Oracle, published by Abrams. The Heart Of Faerie Oracle opens the door into the Enchanted Realm as never before. It includes 68 oracle cards illustrated by Brian Froud and an accompanying guidebook written by Wendy Froud.

As conceptual designer for Dark Crystal, Brian Froud provided Henson with hundreds of paintings, drawings and sculptures to define the characters, and worked very closely with the construction of the maquettes. Wendy Froud, a key member of the original conceptual team, was in charge of creating the Gelflings and also operated the radio-control mechanism that gave Jen his subtle facial expressions. For Labyrinth, Brian produced the drawings that gave inspiration to screenwriter, Terry Jones.

Wendy Froud was also part of the team that created Yoda for The Empire Strikes Back, doing a major part of the developing, sculpting and puppet building.

Brian Froud is also well known for his literary works with collaborators the like of Alan Lee, Terry Jones, and Alexander Theroux, resulting in the delightful books Goblins, Master Snickup’s Cloak, Faeries, Good Faeries/Bad Faeries, Lady Cottington’s Pressed Faerie Book, Where Have All the Giants Gone?, and many more. Together with Wendy Froud and Terri Windling, he also gave us the delightful series comprised of A Midsummer Night’s Faery Tale, The Winter Child, and Faeries of Spring Cottage.

PLEASE RSVP FOR THIS EVENT TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT. All those who RSVP will be assured of a seat. If you do not, then it’s first come, first seated. This event is free and open to the public; seating is limited.

Please send an email with names to reserve to sfinsfevents [at] gmail [dot] com. Please RSVP for no more than two people.

Booksigning by the Frouds will take place in the lounge after the program. Books (no DVDs) for sale courtesy of Borderlands Books

If you cannot attend, but would like books signed by the Frouds, please email Jude Feldman at jfeldman [at] borderlands-books [dot] com for details.

Thursday, June 24th – Join us for two classics of Asian cinema!

NOTE EARLIER TIME
Doors and cash bar open at 5:30PM
Film start at 6:30PM

The Bride With White Hair – Bai fa mo nu zhuan (1993)(92 minutes, subtitled)
Ronny Yu’s The Bride With White Hair has become a classic of the supernatural genre. Based on a two-volumed 1954 novel written by Leung Yu-Sang. Two of the finest and most famous stars of Hong Kong cinema — Brigitte Lin (Chunking Express) and Tony Leung (Farewell My Concubine) — star in this magical, martial-arts filled tale about rival families. Lin and Leung play Romeo and Juliet-like lovers whose passion gives them the courage to pursue their romance. Unfortunately, they both are also the top warriors of their respective clans…. who may be forced to fight each other to the death. Even the emperor is forced to bow to the strength of their love and attachment, in the end. (Allmovies.com)

A Chinese Ghost Story – Sien nui yau wan (1987) (92 minutes, subtitled)
Ning Tsai-Shen, a humble tax collector, arrives in a small town to carry out his work. Unsurprisingly, no-one is willing to give him shelter for the night, so he ends up spending the night in the haunted Lan Ro temple. There, he meets Taoist Swordsman Yen Che-Hsia, who warns him to stay out of trouble, and the beautiful Nieh Hsiao-Tsing, with whom he falls in love. Unfortunately, Hsiao-Tsing is a ghost, bound for all eternity by a hideous tree spirit who sucks out the life essence of unwary folk…keep away from that tongue!!

This was a film that took various ingredients that HK cinema had used for years (flying swordsman, wildly choreographed martial arts and the supernatural) and blended them to create a film that was unique in its look, feel and execution. Forget the poor and unnecessary sequels it spawned, this is the original and best. (Allmovies, IMDB.com)

There will be a short intermission between films.

The Variety Preview Room, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, 1st floor of The Hobart Bldg., San Francisco

A Cartoon Arts Museum Exhibition

Saturday June 26 – November 14, 2010

Over the past decade, graphic novels have exploded in popularity with children and teenagers. The Cartoon Art Museum’s latest exhibition, Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages, features the work of ten influential cartoonists whose work broke new ground in bookstores and libraries. Their graphic novels are promoted as product for the children and young adult marketplace but these innovative graphic novels are captivating to readers of all ages. Co-curators Andrew Farago and Larry Marder have placed a special emphasis on the creative processes used by the individual artists. Visitors are invited to peek over the shoulders of the creators and follow along from the first sketchbook doodles all the way to the printed page.

Artists and strips on exhibition, and participating in programming, include: Mo Willems, Little Lulu, Larry Marder’s Beanworld, Stan Sakai’s Eisner-winning samurai epic Usagi Yojimbo, Bay Area-based Harvey Award-winning cartoonist Lark Pien, a sneak peek at Dave Roman’s upcoming comedic sci-fi graphic novel Astronaut Academy, and Jeff Smith’s epic cartoon/fantasy BONE.

Programming featuring Storytime! artists will take place throughout the duration of the exhibition. Details regarding these events will be announced as schedules are confirmed. Check the website so you don’t miss a thing!

Tuesday, June 22
Kids Event
Gail Carson Levine – Fairies and the Quest for Never Land
Kepler’s – Menlo Park

Wednesday, June 23 – 6:30 PM
The Other Realms Fantasy & SF Book Club will discuss The City and the City by China Mieville
Books Inc. in Burlingame

Thursday, June 24, 7:30PM
Aimee Bender – The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
The lush and moving story of a girl whose magical gift is really a devastating curse. Come hear one of the best short story writers out there.
Books Inc. in the Marina

Friday, June 25 – 7:00PM
Sci/Fi Book Club meets to discuss The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
Barnes & Noble Booksellers – El Cerrito

Saturday, June 26 – 3:00PM
Aimee Bender – The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Diesel Books – Oakland

Saturday, June 26 & Sunday, June 27
Gene Yang – American Born Chinese, Gordon Yamamoto, King of the Geeks
Comic strips and books have many roles throughout history; they serve as entertainment, political commentary, propaganda, and personal storytelling. Award-winning comics artist Gene Yang (author of American Born Chinese, Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks) discusses his creative process and his love for the comic medium. In addition to a technical discussion on the features of this medium, Yang will share his personal history as a Chinese-American, the inspiration for many of his books.
The Asian Art Museum, San Francisco

Wednesday, June 30 7:00 PM
Scott Sigler – Ancestor
Borders – San Francisco – Union Square

For June we are presenting two Chinese films.

• The Bride With White Hair (Bai fa mo nu zhuan) (92 mins.)
• A Chinese Ghost Story (Sien nui yau wan) (98 mins.)

TIME CHANGED
Doors and cash bar open at 5:30PM
Film starts at 6:30PM – free popcorn! Kids welcome!

The Variety Preview Room, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, 1st floor of The Hobart Bldg., San Francisco