mn.sf (Minnesota SF) FAQ

Newsgroups: mn.sf, mn.general, rec.arts.sf.misc
Subject: mn.sf (Minnesota SF) FAQ
Sender: dsgood@visi.com
Summary:  Info on Minnesota (and nearby) sf resources.
 
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Archive-name: sf/minnesota-faq
Last-modified: 1997/11/26
Version: 3.0
 
From: dsgood@visi.com (Dan Goodman)
Message-ID: <MmsJ.157$tq3.659745@ptah.visi.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 05:42:04 GMT

'Add the following to your FAQ.
 
'For: First Minnesota:
"Meets Fridays 7pm-2am at The Source, NW corner of Snelling & 
Larpenteur." 
 
'Also add:
 
'18XX railroad gaming and Settlers of Catan: Mike Schneider, 
612-529-7168.  
 
'And don't forget mention of Red Dragon Hobby, on Lake Street.'
 
mn.sf Asked Questions
 
1.  How do I find gaming gatherings?
 
****SOME MINNESOTA GAMING GROUPS, ASSOCIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS****
 
Fantasy Role Playing Gamers Association
FRPGA is a student gaming organization at the University of Minnesota 
For info try Jim Felling at (612) 378-9581 or write c/o Dave Rust, 
1826 North Alameda Street. Roseville, MN 55113 
 
First Minnesota Historical War Gaming Society
Specializes in historical war gaming and multiplayer board gaming 
For info contact Source Comics and Games (612) 645-0386 
 
Gamesday Players
Board and card gaming almost every Friday evening
For info contact Richard tatge at (612) 824-5559
 
Lords of Chaos
Roleplaying emphasis on AD&D
For info contact John at (612) 698-6482
 
Midwest Area Gaming Enthusiasts
MAGE covers all aspects of gaming.
For info contact David Glewwe at (712) 722-1136, or 2802 360th Street, 
Rockvalley IA 51247 
 
Nepenthe
Writes, produces, plays and promotes live action gaming in the Twin
Cities
For info contact Maurice 'Skip' Manton at (612) 776-9881 or Penny 
Robinson at (612) 686-8830 
 
St. Paul Area Road Knights
SPARK is a Car Wars club.  Affiliated with the AADA.
For info contact Brian Strassman at (612) 487-6895
 
Role-Playing Special Interest Group
RPSIG is a loosely connected umbrella of gaming clubs focused on 
promoting the hobby of gaming, educating the community on role-playing 
and teaching members how to role-play.  
For info contact
 
Twin Cities    Becky Teed           (612) 646-8190
Winona         Karl Unnasch         (507) 454-5330
Mankato        Dena Connort-Millard (507) 625-4928
River Falls    Charles Hahr         (715) 425-9912
 
Twin Ports Gamers Guild
for info contact Jason Winter at (218) 728-1255
 
Southern Minnesota Gaming Society
SMGS does gaming, role-playing, board games and historical simulations,
and meets in Savage, MN
For info contact Todd (612) 895--1744, or Mike or Angie at 
(612) 731-1294 
 
Twin Cities Area Historical Miniatures Group
Military history and historical miniatures.
For info contact the Source (612) 645-0386
 
University of Minnesota Gaming Society.
for info contact same as Fantasy Role Playing Gamers Association (above)
 
Gaming BBSes:
Fire Opal            (612) 882-4812
Science Fiction BBS  (612) 423-7358
Greylien             (612) 623-7850
 
Gaming list provided by Michelle Bottorff 
Compiled Mar '97 **Some information may be out of date** Please send 
updates, corrections, additions and meeting times to 
bottorff@pconline.com 
 
2.  Is this an appropriate place to ask about a puzzling line in 
Eleanor Arnason's _Ring of Swords_?  (Approximately:  biters of rats 
and poisoners of socks).
 
Mon, 29 Sep 97 
David Lenander <d-lena@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
Re: mn.sf (Minnesota SF) FAQ 
 
'Actually, I THINK Eleanor has an e-mail address (unless it's lapsed 
in the past couple of months)....  I have an Eleanor Arnason page, 
 
'http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/m391/d-lena/Eleanor%20%26%20trog.html 
 
'and you could direct this question to me for asking her.  As it 
happens, I have asked this question, as someone asked it of me a while 
back.  It's a reference to CIA plans that became public in the 70s to 
try to assassinate Fidel Castro with poisoned socks.  The other 
reference is to G. Gordon Liddy (I think) who was deathly afraid of 
rats.  In some autobiography, he recounts how, in order to overcome 
this fear, he made himself eat a rat.  Unfortunately, these references 
were not as widely-known as Eleanor thought, and she regrets that she 
put them into the book in a fashion that confuses people--many readers 
seem to think they're missing another of the garblings of common 
American aphorisms, which is something that occurs frequently in this 
book.'
 
2. Are there any formal or informal groups which get together to Watch 
Babylon 5?  
 
3.  What sf organizations, stores, etc. are there outside the Twin 
Cities, in Minnesota and nearby parts of other states and provinces?  
(Fargo and Thunder Bay, for example.) 
 
4.  How does a newcomer get in touch with Star Trek groups in 
Minnesota?
 
email Joan Verba at verba001@maroon.tc.umn.edu for information.  
 
5.  Is there an organized Babylon 5 fandom in this area?  
 
The Minnesota sf community/communities
 
Note that "Minnesota SF community" is larger than "Minnesota fandom" 
or "Minnesota fandoms".  It includes, for example, people who 
regularly buy sf at specialty bookstores.  It's also larger than 
Minnesota.  
 
I know there are groups, stores. etc. not mentioned here.  Some will 
be, if you (or someone) send me the information.  Some won't be -- I 
don't see any purpose in listing an invitational writing group, for 
example.  
 
Additions and corrections from people in Minnesota (and adjacent 
states and provinces) are 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, 
usually starting at 2:30 pm.  There is no programming.  
 
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.  
David Lenander.  Internet: D-LENA@TC.UMN.EDU home: (612) 292-8887 
work: 626-3375 Rivendell Group web-page: 
http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/m391/d-lena/RIVENDELL.html 
 
North Country Gaylaxians is for gay, bisexual, etc. sf fans.  They 
have good taste in restaurants.  
 
Second Foundation meets about every six weeks to discuss one science 
fiction author's works.  Call Eric Heideman, (612) 825-9353.
 
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.  unclehugo@aol.com.
 
Dreamhaven also has a very good stock.  Dreamhaven has magazines and 
books Uncle Hugo's doesn't and vice versa.  The main store on Lake 
Street could be considered two stores:  one for sf and one for popular 
culture.  The Dinkytown store is, I understand, mostly comix now.  
dreamhvn@visi.com.  
 
Visual sf
 
For Star Trek groups, see Joan Verba, above.
 
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.  Call Eric Heideman, (612) 825-9353.
 
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 there any?
 
--
Dan Goodman
dsgood@visi.com
http://www.visi.com/~dsgood/index.html
Whatever you wish for me, may you have twice as much.