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SCI FI - ARIZONA REPORT
March, 1998

We offer this report as a public service for our regular visitors and for 
everyone who is interested in science fiction and writing.  You can now reach 
us by typing http://scifi-az.com, or the usual http://www.scifi-az.com .

NEW NOVEL ONLINE

1.  This month we have a new novel online.  "Thunderstrike!" is a massive 
science fiction adventure of 140,000 words (500 pages in hard copy edition).  
When scientists discover a huge comet on a collision course with Earth, you 
would think everyone would forget their differences and work together to avert 
the disaster.  You would think wrong!

WRITER�S WORKSHOP

2. The March articles are now in the Writer's Workshop:

The Art of Writing Series: "Incidental Characters," a 5000 word article that 
reviews the importance of all those "little people" who circulate in the 
background of novels and movies.  They may not be in the scene very long, but 
how you handle them can make all the difference in the world to the success of 
your work.

The Art of Science Fiction Series: "World Building For Fun And Profit, Part 1" 
 After designing your aliens, you need to give them a place to live.  This 
month�s article (5000 words) begins a two part series on world design.  We 
study techniques for planting your world between the solar fire and the deep 
freeze of space, along with several other things one needs to know to make a 
planet both realistic and believable.   

3) We have collected all 16 articles in both of our series into two full 
length books.  If you came in late or otherwise missed some of the articles, 
here is your opportunity to get them all in one handy package!

4) We now have all our articles online in the archive page.   If you are 
interested in any past article, you can obtain it for the low cost of $1.00 
through the iMicros electronic payment system.  Please visit and observe what 
commerce is going to be like all over the Internet in the future!

ART GALLERY

5)  We have new images in the art gallery.  If you haven�t visited in a while, 
you may want to check it out again.

Since it went online in mid-June, the art gallery has proven to be our most 
successful feature.  Don Dixon's paintings of other worlds, both real and 
imagined, have made it possible for many people to experience the beauty of 
the universe. His spacescapes have graced over 60 book covers, scores of 
magazines, and are in the collections of Ray Bradbury and Larry Niven. We are 
extremely proud that he has chosen to exhibit his work in the Sci Fi - Arizona 
Art Gallery. You can download images and use them for wallpaper, or else 
purchase a high quality print signed by the artist.

WE NOW HAVE REAL BOOKS!

6)  We have something new and unique at our virtual bookstore -- REAL BOOKS! 
As a result of numerous requests, Sci Fi - Arizona is now offering hard copy 
books of the novels you have been downloading as electronic files for the past 
six months. The books are similar to large format trade paperbacks in size, 
but much closer to hard cover books in quality.  If you find that you have 
trouble reading your PC in bed, then we have the solution for you � a new 
miracle material for pixel display called PAPER!!!

7) FREE FICTION

We have added a FREE FICTION page that includes all of the short stories and 
novel excerpts that can be downloaded for free from the site.  The Free 
Fiction page is in response of your suggestions that we make it easier to find 
these resources.

Novel excerpts have been expanded to a minimum of three chapters 
(approximately 10,000 words).  Now you can be really sure that you like a 
novel before downloading it or purchasing the hard copy book.

8) GIFT BOOKS UPGRADED

Our limited edition novels in which you specify the names of the characters 
have also been upgraded.  The gift shop books have improved art and binding.  
They have also been reduced 50% from their original price.