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The Daily Tar HeelThursday, January 31, 19855
Earthlings honor my thical universe of past, future
By SHARON SHERIDAN
Features Kditor
Those days are gone, my friend.
Hie need is at an end
For all those strange and mystic beasts
of yore;
Tlie dragon !v gone tonight.
He went without a fight
And left us here with science
evermore. ...
Thus sang Chimera member Carolyn
Waterson during the Outer Limits Cantina
in Great Hall of the Student Union Saturday
night. And, though no real unicorns and
wizards watched, their memories were
honored by the mortals in the audience. For
this was Chimera Con II, UNC's second
fantasy and science fiction convention, and
earthlings from throughout North Carolina
had gathered for a weekend of imaginative
activites.
About 180 people attended the convention
sponsored by the UNC Fantasy and Science
Fiction Club, or Chimera. Some came dressed
as warriors, space travelers or inhabitants of
an earlier century. They were ready to battle
in an Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
tournament, bid on paintings in the conven
tion's art exhibit, attend talks and panel
discussions, and watch videos such as "The
War of the Worlds," "Dr. Who," "Jabber
wocky" and "I Married a Monster from Outer
Space."
Entertainment Saturday night included a
speech by guest of honor Karl Edward
Wagner, a costume contest and the cantina.
A unicorn pranced across the stage during
the costume contest and was given the "cutest
tail" award. The award for the most original
costume went to "Simply Someone Out for
a Scoot," a guy in a spacesuit who propelled
himself back and forth in a plastic foam space
vehicle.
After the contestants presentations, a gypsy
served soda to the audience. She wore chains
of coins around her neck and waist, a rose
in her hair, a tambourine at her side and
was that a space weapon? Yes, she admitted.
"We have to adapt to modern times."
Next came the cantina, a variety of science
fiction and fantasy songs (called filksongs,
according to Chimera President Karen Fisher,
a junior from Nashville, Tenn.) and skits
performed by Chimera members. Performers
sang "Sounds of Science," "Farewell to Mars"
and "The Expansion Song" ( s a small world,
after all. I We're not satisfied at all. We'll go
build one not so small. It's a small, small
world).
During "Star Wars, The Musical," Princess
Leia watched Darth Vader destroy her planet,
then lamented: I'm looking over a small gray
boulder that was Alder on before. . . "Star
Trek Before the Motion Picture" featured
Uhura wearing a Walkman, Chekov playing
with Rubik's Cube and Captain Kirk com
manding from an easy chair.
Chimera members wrote as well as per
formed the skits, Fisher said.
Many club members are writers, said
Michael McVaugh, Chimera adviser and
professor of history at UNC. Because of this,
he said, several convention talks dealt with
the "creative process."
Wagner, for example, advised beginning
writers to "capture everything that is real to
you.
"If it is a nightmare, if it's a dream,
remember that. If it's a work experience,
remember that,", he said. "Even your worst
nightmares are eventually useful if you're a
writer."
Writers must learn to write sensibly,
convincingly and realistically, Wagner said.
"After that, the billion dollar contracts come
easy.
Wagner, who lives in Chapel Hill, has
received three British Fantasy Awards and the
World Fantasy Award. He attended UNC's
School of Medicine and served a year's
residency as a psychiatrist, then quit to
become a full-time writer and editor.
Other convention guests included artist Joe
Bergeron and writers Allen L. Wold, Orson
Scott Card, David Drake, M.A. Foster,
Frances Garfield, C. Bruce Hunter, Gregg
Keizer, John J. Kessel, Walter E. Meyers,
Mark L. Van Name and Manly Wade
Wellman.
Chimera began planning the convention
last summer, Fisher said. She estimated the
club had about 20 active members.
What attracts people to science fiction and
fantasy?
"I don't know, to tell the truth, why I enjoy
it," said Chimera member Toni Carter. "I hate
it when people say it's just escapist. That's
trash. People here, they read non-fiction, they
read horror, they read fantasy, they read
science fiction."
Carlton J. Cook, a retired Army colonel
and retired teacher, came to the convention
from High Point. He said he had been reading
science fiction since he was 12 years old, about
60 years.
"What's science fiction in one period of
history is fact in another period of history,"
he said, "and IVe lived to see (that happen)."
Still, not everyone approves of science
fiction.
"I think science fiction has a bad name
because they do have a lot of bad science
fiction," Fisher said. "But they also have
excellent science fiction and fantasy books,
things that probably can be ranked among
the literary greats." '
Some may disagree. And some folks will
tell you wizards disappeared with the onset
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DTH Jonathan Serenius
Master of ceremonies Johnny Gray leads Chimera Con II during the Outer Limits Cantina.
of science, unicorns are mythical creatures and
the last dragon they heard about was Puff.
Chimera members aren't so sure. As.
Waterson's song concluded:
Those days aren 't gone, my friend.
This need not be the end
Of all those strange and mystic beasts
of yore;
Who knows the dragon 's way?
He may return someday.
And all his friends may drink with us
once more.
WEEK'S FARE ; :
TODAY
Sullivan's Travels will be shown at 7 and 9:30
Jlp.m. in the Union auditorium.
Peppermint Soda will be shown at 7 and 9 p.m.
at the ArtSchool. Call 942-2041 for ticket
information.
A Bear Called State o' Maine will be performed
at 8 p.m. in 203 Bingham.
The White Animals will perform at 9:30 p.m. in
Great Hall in the Student Union. Call 962-2285 for
ticket information.
Eros, an exhibit of works by 25 N.C. artists, will
be displayed in the main gallery, and Constant
Gardens: An Orchid Series, by sculptor Peter Berry,
will be displayed in the members gallery at Center
Gallery through Feb. 24. A reception will be held
Friday at 8 p.m.
Roily Gray and Sunfire will perform at Cat's
Cradle. Call 967-9053 for more information.
FRIDAY
IThe World According to Garp will be shown at
7 and 9:30 p.m. in the Union auditorium. Call
962-2285 for ticket information.
Cloud 9 will be performed by the Play Makers
Repertory Company at 8 p.m., and at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, in Paul Green Theatre. Call 962-1121
for ticket information.
Pinchas Zukerman and The St. Paul Chamber
Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
Call 962-1449 for ticket information.
Works by Frances Kepchar will be displayed in
the gallery of the Morehead Building throughout
February.
FunAddix will perform at 9:30 p.m. at the
ArtSchool. Call 929-2896 for ticket information.
The Replacements will perform at Cat's Cradle.
Call 967-9053 for more information.
Export A will perform at Rhythm Alley. Call 929
8172 for more information.
The Apple Chill Cloggers and the UNC Clogging
Club will sponsor a square dance, with music by
the Red Rose Flyers, at 8 p.m. at the Presbyterian
Student Center. Call 929-62 10 for ticket information.
SATURDAY
2Entre Nous will be shown at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
in the Union auditorium.
The Rescuers will be shown at 1 and 3 p.m.
through Sunday at the ArtSchool. Call 942-2041 for
ticket information.
Measure for Measure will be performed by the
PlayMakers Repertory Company at 8 p.m., at 7 p.m.
Sunday and at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Paul Green
Theatre. Call 962-1 121 for ticket information.
Joshua Rifkin, the Bach Ensemble, and the
Society for Performance on Original Instruments
will perform Bach's St. Matthew Passion at 7:30
p.m. in Hill Hall Auditorium. Call 962-1032 or 962
1039 for ticket information.
Tony Trischka and Skyline will perform at 9 p.m.
at the ArtSchool. Call 929-2896 for ticket
information.
S.C.O.T.S. will perform at Cat's Cradle. Call 967
9053 for ticket information.
Blast Crisis will perform at Rhythm Alley. Call
929-8 1 72 for more information.
SUNDAY
3 The Tenant will be shown at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
in the Union auditorium.
The North Carolina Symphony will perform at
3 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Call 962-1449 for student
ticket information.
Vernon Pratt will give a gallery talk at 3 p.m.
at the Ackland Art Museum.
The ArtSchool Jazz Ensemble will perform as part
of the Sunday Jazz Series at the ArtSchool at 7
p.m.
MONDAY
4 Florence Peacock, soprano, and Dana Burnett,
piano, will give a recital at 8 p.m. in Browne
McPherson Music Recital Hall at Peace College in
Raleigh.
Rank and File will perform at Cat's Cradle. Call
967-9053 for more information.
TUESDAY
5 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter will be shown at
8 p.m. at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh.
Call 833-1935 for ticket information.
Billy Price and the Keystone Rhythm Band will
perform through Wednesday at Cat's Cradle. Call
967-9053 for more information.
WEDNESDAY
6 Summer Stock will be shown at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
in the Union auditorium.
MOVIES
Plaza I Micki& Maude at 2:30, 4:45, 7 and 9: 1 5
moves to 'Plaza II at same times Friday. Another
Country starts Friday at 3:10, 5:10, 7:10 and 9:10.
Plaza II That's Dancing! at 3:10, 5:10, 7:10 and
9:10 ends today. Micki & Maude starts Friday at
2:30, 4:45, 7 and 9:15.
Plaza III The Cotton Club at 2:10, 4:40, 7:05
and 9:35 ends today. A Passage to India starts Friday
at 2:15,5:25 and 8:35.
Varsity I Amadeus at 2 and 7, The 4th Man
at 4:50 and 9:50.
Varsity II Stranger Than Paradise at 3. 5. 7:30
and 9:30.
Varsity Lateshows Stranger Than Paradise and
The 4th Man at 1 1 :45 Friday and Saturday.
Carolina Blue Beverly Hills Cop at 3. 5. 7:15
and 9:30.
Carolina White The Terminator at 3:15, 5:15.
7 and 9.
Carolina Lateshows Magical Mystery Tour and
Jimi Plays Berkeley at 1 1 :45 and The Big Chill at
midnight Friday and Saturday.
Ram I The Flamingo Kid at 7:05 and 9: 15 moves
to Ram II Friday at same times. Heavenly Bodies
starts rnday at 7 and 9:10; weekend matinees at
2 and 4:10.
Ram II The River at 7 and 9:15 ends today.
The Flamingo Kid starts Friday at 7:05 and 9:15;
weekend matinees at 2:05 and 4:15.
Ram III Torchlight at 7 and 9 ends today.
Pinocchio starts Friday at 7 and 9; weekend matinees
at 2 and 4.
The Ram Triple Theaters will give a free sneak
preview screening of Fast Forward at 12:30 p.m.
iturrl'iv onlv
RamWCHL Lateshows Harold and Maude
and Pink Floyd The Wall at 1 1:45 Friday and
Saturday.
Carolina (Durham) Stranger Than Paradise at
3:30, 5:15, 7 and 9.
Carolina (Durham) Lateshow Stranger Than
Paradise at 1 1 Friday and Saturday.
Carolina (Durham) Saturday Matinee My
Friend Flicka at 1 Saturday only.
Compiled by Jeff Grove, arts editor.
Sunday, February 3
3:30 p an.
Memorial Hall
featuring:
Kevin Hanton's Strntne
Music Direction by:
Gerhardt Zimmerman
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You live comfortably and without
utility bill worries, because:
o Air conditioning and all utilities are provided
o The rooms are fully carpeted
o Only 4 people share each suite
Join us this fall at
Share the Gift of Life
11
Donate Plasma and Earn Extra Money,
0808100 a month.
An estimated 20,000 fetal deaths were avoided
this decade when Rh Immune Globulin, a product
produced from plasma, was used in the prevention
of hemolytic Rh disease in the newborn.
Donate plasma at Sera-Tec today. It may add
years to someone else's life.
For further information call 942-0251 or stop by.
109 E. Franklin Street
(above Rite-Aid Store)
SERA-TEC tlOLOGICALS
Honrs: Monday through Friday
8:30 am-3:30 pm
I New Donors: Bring this ad for 3.00
I bonus on your first donation. Coupon
I expires February 28, 1985
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Granvill
Towers
VJIiuro Convenience is Slandard
Applications now available for fall
University Square 929-7143
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