LoneStarCon 2 Announces Charity Auctions of SF Memorabilia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Date:     August 26, 1997
Contact:  Laurie Mann, LoneStarCon 2 Press Relations
          210-601-5343
          Room 108, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, San Antonio, TX
          http://www.io.com/~lsc2/press


SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- The 55th World Science Fiction Convention, 
LoneStarCon 2, will take place here from August 28-September 1, 1997.  
The Worldcon is the annual gathering of science fiction writers, artists,
publishers and readers.  LoneStarCon 2 will attract about 5,000
attendees from around the world and feature programming, an art show,
dealers room, masquerade, the annual Hugo Awards, and a 
series of memorabilia auctions for charity. Some
of these auctions will benefit central Texas AIDS charities, the Science
Fiction Writers of America Medical Fund, and the Real Musgrave Scholarship
Fund. 


Pediatric AIDS Auction

Time:           Friday, August 29, 4p.m. to 6p.m.
Location:       Convention Center, Room 210
Organizers:     Victoria White and artist Lee Seed

Pick up some really cool original art treasures and benefit central Texas
AIDS victims at the same time! Organized by the Fractures in Rhyme
Organization.


Ursa Major Brown Bag Book Auction

Time:           Saturday, August 30, Noon to 2p.m.
Location:       Convention Center Room 205
Organizer:      Judith Ward

An auction will be held to benefit the Ursa Major club, a group of science
fiction fans from San Antonio.  Random books will be auctioned in brown 
bags, so bidders won't know if they are getting a first edition Robert 
Silverberg or a copy of the latest sci fi junk.

The club collects books from members, authors, local bookstores, and other
clubs for their annual auction. The money raised helps hold a yearly
workshop and make contributions to the local library system.


TAFF/DUFF Auction

Time:           Saturday, August 30, 2p.m. to 4p.m.
Location:       Convention Center Patio Section A
Organizers:     Pat and Roger Sims

Fanzines, autographed books, art, and other memorabilia will be sold for
the benefit of the the Down Under Fan Fund and the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund.

The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund similarly arranges to send British and 
European fans to North America and North American fans to conventions 
in Britain and Europe.  The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund dates back to the 1950s, 
when conventions were less common and fanzines were the primary way fans 
got to know each other.  The Down Under Fan Fund was organized in 1972, 
modelled on the TAFF.   The Down Under Fan Fund raises money to send fans 
from Australia and New Zealand to conventions in North America, and 
to send North American fans to Australia and New Zealand to attend 
conventions there. 

Items for auction will include old fanzines, signed manuscripts donated by
SF authors, galley proofs, T-shirts and other one-of-a-kind fannish
artifacts from  the far corners of the world. As these funds have their
roots in fanzine fandom going back many years, some of the items for sale
will have great sentimental and historical value. But beginners and 
experienced collectors will find a lot of bargains at the auction.


Coffeepot Auction for the Musgrave Scholarship

Time:           Saturday, August 30, 3p.m. to 4p.m.
Location:       Convention Center Patio Section B
Organizers:     Mitchell Davidson Bentley, Cat Conrad, Brad W. Foster,
                        Real Musgrave

Brad Foster has solicited coffeepots and art about coffeepots for a unique
display at LoneStarCon 2. Proceeds from the sale of the coffeepots will be
used  to create the Real Musgrave Art Scholarship at Texas Tech University.
Musgrave will be donating money and a painting to help launch the fund.

Real Musgrave is a popular fantasy artist best known for his paintings of
cute pocket-sized dragons getting into mischief.


AIDS Project Auction

Time:           Sunday, August 31, 11 AM to 12:50p.m.
Location:       Convention Center River Section B
Organizer:      David Gerrold

An auction of books, manuscripts and other science fiction memorabilia will
be held to raise money for the Necessities of Life program the AIDS Project
Los Angeles, hosted by the renowned author and screenwriter David Gerrold.

AIDS Project Los Angeles is one of the largest AIDS charities in the world,
providing services to thousands of clients every month. This organization
provides food, counseling, medicine, hospice care, in-home care,
partnership-for-life buddies, and other services. The Necessities of Life
program distributes household supplies to clients so that they have more
money for expensive treatment and medicine.


SFWA Medical Fund Auction

Time:           Sunday, August 31, 2p.m. to 3:50p.m.
Location:       Convention Center Fiesta Section A
Organizer:      Peter J. Heck

This event will bring interesting science fiction manuscripts and
memorabilia to fans, for the benefit of the Science Fiction Writers of
America Medical Fund, which helps writers suffering from serious long-term
illnesses.

Some of the items include signed galleys from Gene Wolfe, Michael Swanwick,
James Morrow, and Nicola Griffith, screenplay manuscripts from George R.R.
Martin, Melinda Snodgrass, and others, manuscripts from Anne McCaffery and
Joanna Russ. Less conventional items include a t-shirt signed by Gene
Wolfe, a manuscript critique by Nancy Kress, two tuckerizations in a 
Spiderman novel by Keith R.A. DeCandido, and a hand-knitted Willy Warmer 
by a SFWA member who prefers to remain anonymous.  A number of unusual 
items will be donated at the convention itself.

Of special interest is the Tom Easton autograph collection, of cards and
correspondence exchanged between this long-time book reviewer for Analog
and several luminaries of the science fiction genre, including Isaac
Asimov, Stephen, Ben Bova, C.J. Cherryh, L. Sprague de Camp, Spider
Robinson, Donald A. Wollheim, Manly Wade Wellman, David Brin, Orson Scott
Card, and many others. Most items are in good condition. The items include
photographs, press clippings, long discussions of particular books,
rejection slips, brief notes. (There is a note from David Drake on the
stationery of Newt Gingrich.)



     LoneStarCon 2 is a service mark of Austin Literary Arts 
     Maintenance Organization (ALAMO), Inc., a 501(c)(3) 
     non-profit literary, educational corporation. All rights 
     reserved.  "World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", 
     "World Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC", 
     and "Hugo" are registered service marks of the World Science 
     Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.

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