Science Fiction q Fantasy q Gaming 
All Ages Get-together

MarsCon 2002: The Magic of Fantasy
March 1-3, 2002
Hilton Mpls/St. Paul Airport Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				CONTACT:	Mary Loving or Malasondra Doepner
									612-724-0687
									MarsCon Publications & Con Chair

WHAT:		Touching down at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Hotel in Bloomington, MN is MarsCon 2002, a fan-run Science Fiction & Fantasy convention for all ages.  MarsCon 2002 is sponsored by FenSF, Inc. [the Fans Educational Network for Science Fiction], a nonprofit organization devoted to teaching individuals how to promote and run amateur sf and gaming conventions.

		MarsCon 2002 will feature guests from the worlds of DOCTOR WHO, BABYLON 5, CRUSADE, STAR TREK, and STAR WARS as well as many other guests of distinction.

	C	Actor Peter Woodward plans to speak about his performances in such shows as Babylon 5 and Crusade, as well as his role as Co-writer and Host of the Emmy-nominated documentary Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids.

	C	Actor John Levene a/k/a John Anthony Blake will discuss his experiences filming eight seasons of Doctor Who and plans to host a Cabaret at the convention nick-named “Sgt. Benton’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” derived from his well-known character “Sgt. Benton.”

	C	Author Lyda Morehouse will be sharing passages from the sequel to her novel “Archangel Protocol” as well as joining in discussions on subjects as varied as Islam in science fiction and fantasy, images of Satan in popular fiction, and a comparison of the new Superman series Smallville to Lois and Clark.

	C	Artist Robin Wood plans to talk about digital art as a serious medium for artists and will host a round-robin discussion of paganism and ethics from a pagan/wiccan perspective.	

		C	Coach and Teacher to the Actor Lev Mailer will discuss his experiences working with neophyte aspiring actors and will share a few personal stories about the original Star Trek series and the acting business.

	C	Featured Guest Craig Lang plans to participate in discussions on first contact lore and methods used to investigate UFO sightings.

MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
  
WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002INFO@MARSCON.ORG

		In addition to these fine guests, there will be programming featuring the musical groups The Nick Atoms and Tri-Destiny, as well as authors Eleanor Arnason, Ruth Berman, Bruce Bethke, Adrian Drake, Paula Fleming, P.M.F. Johnson, Pam Keesey, Peg Kerr, Naomi Kritzer, Harry LeBlanc, Kelly McCullough, Sandra Rector, Joan Marie Verba, Laurel Winter and some surprise guests.  Many other fun events are planned for MarsCon, and they will include:

	C	24-hour Gaming Rooms featuring top-notch games, demos, and tournaments (i.e., RPGA events and a Dragon Ball Z tournament)

•	ab	A Costume Masquerade, Cabaret, Dance, Concerts, Plays, and Drum Jams

	C	A Charity Auction for the Camp Heartland Project [a charity for children affected by A.I.D.S.), and a canned food drive for the St. Paul Second Harvest Food Shelf

	C	An Art Show and Auction, and a Science Room with models, experiments and discussions

	C	Many interesting panel discussions on all facets of Science Fiction & Fantasy: books, movies, TV, costuming, UFOs, space exploration/hard sciences, and fan whimsy

	C	A Film Room (“Blue Mars”) showing obscure and beloved sf/fantasy films and anime!

	C	A Dealers Room selling terrific books, jewelry, toys, costumes, and lots more

•	ab		Parties with Science Fiction & Fantasy-related themes hosted by local clubs, and a Con Suite fully-stocked with soda and assorted munchies

•	ab		Opportunities for Science Fiction & Fantasy fans to connect, build the fan community, volunteer and contribute to fan-run conventions, and learn more about Science Fiction & Fantasy fandom

WHEN:		Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 3, 2002.
		
		Programming starts at 4:00 p.m., Friday March 1.  Opening Ceremonies begin at 7:00 p.m.  Members of the press are invited to visit MarsCon; they should check in at Operations (2nd floor) to receive a Press Pass.

WHERE:	Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Hotel, 3800 East 80th Street, Bloomington, Minnesota

TICKETS:	The at-the-door rate for adults is $50, children $25.  Day passes will also be available at the convention.

		Tickets may be purchased by using the registration form available on our website (www.marscon.org), using registration forms available at Comic stores in the Twin Cities, or by mailing us your name, address, phone number (important!), number of tickets and type (adult or child) and a check (U.S. funds) to MarsCon. 

		Mail registration forms to:	MarsCon
						P.O. Box 21213
						Eagan, MN 55121

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

		Call the number above or below, or email us at 2002info@marscon.org.   

    
MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
  
WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002INFO@MARSCON.ORG
Lyda Morehouse
MARSCON 2002 AUTHOR GUEST OF HONOR

A Brief History	

At MarsCon, Lyda Morehouse plans to take part in discussions on subjects as varied as the Cyberpunk genre of novels, Islam in science fiction and fantasy, the future of literary science fiction, images of Satan in popular fiction, and the joys of getting published. Lyda will give a literary reading and will also introduce attendees to members of her up-and-coming writers’ group the Wyrdsmiths.  

Lyda (pronounced LIE-duh, or LIE-dur if you’re from the East Coast) Morehouse has been a “professional” writer since 1997 when Angela Kessler bought “Irish Blood” for Dreams of Decadence for a whopping $9.27. Lyda was thrilled, even though the check was written out to “Lydia Morehouse.” Lyda has recently learned that this story will be reprinted in an upcoming anthology called Best of Dreams of Decadence. 

Since then, Lyda has had two stories that made the honorable mention list of Gardner Dozois’ Year’s Best Science Fiction (“Everything in Its Place” from the 1998 TOTU, and “Twelve Traditions” originally in the 1999 SF Age.) In May of 2001, Roc published Lyda’s first novel, Archangel Protocol, which topped out on the LOCUS Bestseller list at number 21 and also made LOCUS’ New and Notable list for July of 2001. A follow-up book, Fallen Host, takes place in the same universe as Archangel Protocol and will be out May 7, 2002. It is currently available for pre-orders. Lyda recently sold (on proposal) two more books in what is quickly becoming the Archangel Protocol series: Messiah Node and Apocalypse Array. At the same time, Lyda also sold a stand-alone urban fantasy/alternate history to take place in gangster era St. Paul. 

Lyda is also a stringer for Science Fiction Chronicle and has interviewed a number of science fiction luminaries including Melissa Scott, Neil Gaiman, Peg Kerr, Eleanor Arnason, Joan Vinge, Sherri S. Tepper, Nalo Hopkinson, Pat Murphy, and more. 

Being invited to be a Guest of Honor was one of Lyda’s four secret goals. Her others include: having her picture in Locus appear standing next to a sf/f celebrity and having the caption read: “Neil Gaiman and Lydia [??],” winning a Hugo, and getting punched by Harlan Ellison. Lyda’s website may be found at:  Her novels: 

ARCHANGEL PROTOCOL (Penguin Putnam/Roc May 2001) 
FALLEN HOST (Penguin Putnam/Roc May 2002) 
																MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, St. Paul, MN 55121
  
WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002I

Robin Wood
MarsCon 2002 Artist Guest of Honor

A Brief History

Robin Wood is a talented, self-taught artist and illustrator who has been published in a wide variety of professional and fan publications, and who has won numerous awards for her work. She creates art on paper, on the computer, and on disk. Fantasy art. Magical art. Art that looks at the world from a different, and “more wonder-ful” perspective. 

Robin started working professionally as an artist/illustrator in 1983, illustrating dozens of books for Llewellyn, including many of Scott Cunningham’s books. She did her first magazine cover for Dragon Magazine (of Dungeons and Dragons fame) in 1985. Since then, she has done several covers for Dragon Magazine and other books and magazines, and has worked in the gaming industry. Robin illustrated The People of Pern, based on Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. She spent 10 years creating the best-selling Robin Wood Tarot Deck which was released in 1991. Robin has also published books; one of which is about ethics from a Wiccan/Pagan perspective. It's called When, Why ...If. Another of Robin’s books is about her Tarot Deck called Robin Wood Tarot: The Book. Recently, she published a book based upon one of her pet theories, The Theory of Cat Gravity.  

Her painting entitled “Cat Toy” is featured here and was cover #181 of Dragon Magazine. Visit Robin's web site at www.robinwood.com to see more examples of her work or order one of her books.

Partial List of Published Works:
THE PEOPLE OF PERN (Illustrator/1988)
WHEN, WHY...IF (Paperback, 1997)
ROBIN WOOD TAROT: THE BOOK (1998)
THE THEORY OF CAT GRAVITY

		
MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55106
  
WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002INFO@MARSCON.ORG

John Levene
aka John Anthony Blake 
 MarsCon 2002 Actor Guest of Honor 

A Brief History

Born John Anthony Woods, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in the south of England, John Levene currently works under the name John Anthony Blake. He is best-known by fans of science fiction as the character “Sgt. Benton” of U.N.I.T. [United Nations Intelligence Taskforce] from the long-running hit British television series Doctor Who. 

John was initially encouraged to become an actor by Telly Savalas back in the sixties. After that, he acted under the name John Levene in over 50 BBC and ITV productions including U.F.O. and Z-Cars before beginning work on Doctor Who. John performed in eight seasons of Doctor Who, where his first roles were actually as a Cyberman and a YETI, before moving on to his portrayal of “Sgt. Benton.”

Since that time, John has appeared in Space: 1999, the Adventurers, Big Bad Beetle-Borgs, and other productions too numerous to list, as well as the films When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Permission to Kill. He formed and ran a successful audio visual company, Genesis Communications, in the late 1970s to mid-1980s, worked as a performer/comedian and MC on several cruise ships traveling around the world, and directed and produced the “Wings” Tennis Classic with Robert Wagner. 

At MarsCon, John will be discussing his experiences on Doctor Who and other shows, as well as his many travels. He will share for the first time with MarsCon attendees his video tribute to Doctor Who. John also plans to host the Cabaret and assist as an auctioneer during MarsCon’s Charity Auction for Camp Heartland. 

Partial List of Film Credits:
Return to Devil’s End (1996)
Myth Makers Vol. 7: Myth Runner (1989)
Wartime (1987)
Permission to Kill (1975)
Dark Places (1973)
Go for a Take (1972)
Psychomania (1971)
Lay Down Your Arms (1970)
Doctor Who (1963-1975)

MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
  
WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002I

Lev Mailer
MarsCon 2002 media Guest of Honor

	
A Brief History

For over 30 years Lev Mailer has been a veteran actor and director, coach and teacher in Hollywood both in film and television on and off camera beginning with the original Star Trek series. During that period he worked on stage productions both in Los Angeles and New York as an actor and director.
He has been associated with producers and directors: Clint Eastwood, Robert Wise, Sydney Pollach, Alex Rose, James Goldstone, Tom Schulman, Bill Shatner, and Leonard Nimoy as well as numerous casting directors and agents.
As National Chair of the Screen Actors’ Guild Conservatory he has participated in seminars with many other producers, directors, casting directors and agents. His own teachers include Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, Harold Clurman and Martha Graham.
He was on the faculty of the American Film Institute as well as five other leading Los Angeles area colleges.
Of his private teaching, the definitive Film Actor’s Complete Career Guide listed him among the best "in the teaching of acting techniques for beginning/intermediate and professional actors." He was honored to be on the same list as his own teacher Sanford Meisner.
				
Partial List of Film/TV Credits:
Star Trek [original series]
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
Firefox (1982)
A Price Above Rubies (1998)
The Greatest American Hero (1981)
Kate Loves a Mystery (1979)

									

MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
  WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002INFO@MARSCON.ORG

Craig Lang
MarsCon 2002 Featured Guest

A Brief History	

Craig R. Lang is the coordinator of field investigation for Minnesota MUFON, the local chapter of the Mutual UFO Network.  He investigates sighting and close encounter reports in the Twin Cities area, and in surrounding areas in Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin.  
He is a certified hypnotherapist, with the National Guild of Hypnotists, and research into the close encounter phenomenon.  His "day job" is as a computer engineer, working with an electronics firm in the Twin Cities.  He has been interested in astronomy, ET life and UFOs since childhood.  He is an amateur radio operator (KC0ZH), and also dabbles in writing science fiction.  He can be reached by e-mail at crlang@mm.com, or by phone at 763-560-1532.  The Minnesota MUFON web site is located at  www.visi.com/~jhenry. 

									

							

								

MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
  WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002INFO@MARSCON.ORG

Peter Woodward			
MarsCon 2002 Actor Guest of Honor
								
A Brief History
	
Peter Woodward is best known to science fiction fans for his role in Crusade and the Babylon 5 TV movie A Call to Arms as the mysterious techno-mage “Galen.” Galen is a kind of magician who uses advanced technology to simulate the effects of magic. Peter’s character “Galen” was recently featured in Jean Cavelos’ SF series of novels Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages.

Born into a family of well-known actors in London, England, Peter Woodward trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring in many of their theatrical productions. Since that time, Peter has appeared in numerous plays, television series and films, including The Patriot and The Brylcreem Boys among others. Peter is also an accomplished writer, producer, and fight arranger. 

Recently, Peter co-wrote and hosted the Emmy-nominated TV documentary Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids. Peter's latest role is in the WB series CHARMED. He plays a character that has been talked about a lot for several seasons, but never seen until now, known as “The Source.” (As in, “The Source of all Evil”)  Peter’s next History Channel Special on Masada, filmed in Israel, will be airing in the spring. Also soon to be released is the feature In God We Trust in which he plays a Philadelphia cop opposite Val Kilmer, Christian Slater and Darryl Hannah. His web site may be found at www.peterwoodward.com.

Partial List of Film/TV  Credits:
Masada (2002) - TV Documentary ... Host 
Charmed (2002) TV Series ...The Source 
In God We Trust (2002) ...FBI Agent Jarvis 
Walker, Texas Ranger (2001) TV Series ....Drake 
Egypt: Beyond The Pyramids (2001) ...Host  

The Patriot (2000)  ... Brigadier General O'Hara 
Crusade (1999) TV Series.... Galen 
Brylcreem Boys, The (1999) .... Captain Stossel  
Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999) (TV) .... Galen 
Gadget Man (1998).... Monro 
House of Angelo, The (1997) .... Harry Angelo 	

									MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
  
WWW.MARSCON.ORG            612-724-0687        2002I