As I put this issue of V/FT in circulation, I find myself looking back on my most recent convention, Loscon 34 in Los Angeles. I had a pleasant time there… not the least of reasons being that several people there had heard of Orion’s Arm.

Heh.

Not many of them knew much about OA, but there was substantial interest in what we’re doing, and what we’ve accomplished. When people heard there was a webzine, and fiction, to go along with the setting, the reaction was nearly always the same: “REALLY? WHERE?”

I keep hearing that science fiction, as a genre, has lost its “sense of wonder”, its interest in the “real” future (as if anyone knew what that was going to be), that the genre is regressing into retro fantasy. I don’t doubt that steampunk and science fantasy are popular… but I don’t think it’s because hard science fiction isn’t desired. I think it’s because it’s hard … hard to write; hard to extrapolate; difficult to get the science right, and to do well.

That makes me all the prouder to be putting this e-zine out.

Those of you who have contributed are doing something marvelous, here… doing hard science fiction, making every effort to get it right, sharing in the collaborative effort needed to fact-checke everything we can.

As long as you keep doing such marvelous things, I’ll keep publishing. And next year, at WorldCon, or DragonCon, or LosCon… well, maybe I’ll get on some panels, and share your work, and continue to spread the word about this thing we do.

I have yet to hear about any entries for our fan film contest. I know it’s early days, but it’s not too soon to be working on a script; recruiting actors; working on special effects. Tranquility Day 2008 / 39 AT is only a few standard months away!

For those of you who are of a more literary bent… watch for another announcement, in the not too distant future. Your turn is coming…