Date: 26 Feb 1997 03:15:53 GMT



Toward a guide to the Minnesota SF community 2/24/97
 
Note that "Minnesota SF community" is larger than "Minnesota fandom" 
or even "Minnesota fandoms".
 
1) I have information on the Twin Cities -- but not on the rest of 
Minnesota, or on areas just across the state border.  If you know 
about clubs, bookstores, etc. in Duluth or Fargo or Thunder Bay, pass 
the info on to me.
 
2) I know there are groups in the Twin Cities which aren't even 
mentioned here.  Some of them won't be -- I don't see any purpose in 
listing an invitational writing group which doesn't have any openings, 
for example.  Some will be when and if I _have_ the information and am 
sure it's reasonably up to date:  open writing groups and Star Trek 
groups, for example.
 
3) Additions and corrections welcome.  If you _thoroughly_ disagree 
with what I say here, it's probably easier to write and post a 
competing guide than to change my mind.  
 
Written SF
 
Central Club:  Mnstf (aka Minn-StF, etc.) is less central than it used 
to be.  But it's where you go for information by phone (612-824-5559), 
mail (EINBLATT) or web (www.mnstf.org); and it runs Minicon, the 
largest local mostly-written-sf convention.  Mnstf meets the first and 
third Saturday of every month (usually); usually in someone's home.  
There is no programming.
 
 Formal discussion
 
Rivendell is the University of Minnesota Mythopoeic Society group.  
Usually meets once a month for discussion focusing on one fantasy 
book.  During the school year, usually meets at Coffman Union; in the 
summer, meets at people's homes.  
 
Gaylaxians is for gay, bisexual, etc. sf fans.  (The local group used 
to be the North Country Gaylaxians, but lately Einblatt has just been 
calling them Gaylaxians.)  They have good taste in restaurants.
 
Second Foundation meets about every six weeks to discuss one science 
fiction author's works.  
 
The Council of St. Valentine of the Snows is what Rivendell becomes when
it discusses books by Marion Zimmer Bradley. 
 
  Bookstores
 
Uncle Hugo's has a very good stock, both new and used.  The new books 
include some British paperbacks.  Note:  For most Post-Apocalypse 
novels, you'll need to visit the siamese-nonidentical-twin Uncle 
Edgar's Mystery Bookstore.  
 
Dreamhaven also has a very good stock.  Dreamhaven has magazines and 
books Uncle Hugo's doesn't and vice versa.  The Lake Street store 
could be considered two stores:  one for sf and one for popular 
culture.  The Dinkytown store is, I understand, mostly comix now.
 
Visual sf
 
Star Trek clubs include:  ?
 
Is there a Babylon 5 group?
 
Gaming
 
Gamesday Players meet on various Fridays.
 
I believe there are a couple of University gaming groups.
 
Writing
 
Minnesota Imaginative Fiction Writers Alliance (MIFWA) meets quarterly 
to discuss writing.  If you're looking for a writing group, or your 
writing group is looking for new members, this is a good place to 
start.
 
The Worldbuilding Society meets monthly to discuss worldbuilding -- 
that is, the background for sf and fantasy.  For further information, 
email dsgood@visi.com or call (612) 871-5461.
 
Open writing groups are ?
 
Music
 
Professional and semi-professional bands which play stefnal music 
and/or have connections with fandom, prodom and/or condom in Minnesota 
exist.  Those listed here will be the ones which have asked to be 
listed.  Or, if you're not connected with the band, you can provide a 
ten-page essay in Esperanto on why they should be listed; it won't get 
them listed, though.
 
There are, I believe, invitational music sessions with the kind(s) of 
music once performed at most Mnstf meetings.  If you think these ought 
to be listed, give me a water-tight definition of the difference 
between electrical and amplified-acoustic guitars.
 
There are now housefilks once a month, currently on the third Sunday.  
("Filk" was, originally, homebrew music associated with the written-sf 
community.  It has expanded into various related fandoms, and has 
developed a singer-songwriter movement.)



--
Dan Goodman
dsgood@visi.com
http://www.visi.com/~dsgood/index.html
Whatever you wish for me, may you have twice as much.

--
Filk Digest
(echomail and newsgroup readers disregard this as it doesn't apply to you)
To post to the list, send a message to filk-d-l@bdragon.shore.net
To (un)sub-scribe, send a message to listserv@bdragon.shore.net
with "subscribe filk-d" in the message body
|Gateway: Black Dragon Inn
|GateOp: root@bdragon.shore.net