BRUM GROUP NEWS June 1995 Issue 285

The monthly newsletter o f the Birmingham Science Fiction Group (Honorary Presidents: Brian W Aldiss, Harry Harrison & Bob Shaw)

Gro u p Chairman - Car o l Morton, S ecretary - A nne W oodford, N ewsletter Editor - Martin T udor, T reasurer - Steve Jones, Publicity Officer - Sar ah Freakley, O rd inary M ember - A lan W oodford, Novacon 25 C hairman - to n y m o r to n , Novacon 26 c h a ir m a n - C ar o l M orton. This months speaker is COLIN GREENLAND ON FRIDAY 16 JUNE 1995, 7-45 FOR 8-00 Admittance: Members £2.50 Visitors £3.75 (half-price for 14-18 year olds on production of proof of age). Born in Dover, 17 March 1954, COLIN GREENLAND wrote his first novel about a fire-engine that laid an egg five years later. Educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, Kent, 1964-72; Pembroke College, Oxford, 1972-79, BA in English literature and language (honours) 1975; D.Phil. in English literature 1981; his doctorate study of 'New Wave1 science fiction was published in 1983 as THE ENTROPY EXHIBITION. Fellow in creative writing at the Science Fiction Foundation, 1980—82, he was co—editor of INTERZONE, 1982- 85; coordinator, Eaton Conference on Science Fiction, University of California, Riverside/North East London Polytechnic, 1983-84; part-time tutor. University of London Extra-Mural Department, 1985-90; chair of the SF Writer's Conference, Milford, 1986 , Since 1989 he has been reviews editor of FOUNDATION, He received the J Lloyd Eaton award for criticism in 1985, and both the Arthur C Clarke and BSFA award in 1991 for the first volume in the 'Tabitha Jute' trilogy, TAKE BACK PLENTY, His other works include the novels DAYBREAK ON A DIFFERENT MOUNTAIN (1984), THE HOUR OF THE THIN OX (1986), OTHER VOICES (1988) and HARM'S WAY (1993). The second volume of the 'Tabitha Jute' trilogy, SEASONS OF PLENTY, appears this month from Harper Co llins, price £15,99,

[Thanks to 20TH CENTURY SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS, th ird edition, for much o f the above information, I

The BSFG meets at 7.45pm on the 3rd Friday of every month (unless otherwise notified) in the upstairs Function Room of the Australian Bar, corner of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham city centre. The annual subscription rates (which include twelve copies of this newsletter and reduced price entry to meetings) are £10.00 per person, or £13.50 for 2 members at the same address. Cheques etc. should be made payable to "the Birmingham Science Fiction Group" and sent to the Treasurer, Steve Jones, c/o 121 Cape Hill, Smethwick, Warley, West Mids., B66 4SH. Book reviews, review copies and other contributions and enquiries regarding the Brum Group News to: Martin Tudor, Newsletter Editor, 845 Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, B8 2AG. Leicester, tick ets £2.00 c a ll 0116 255 4854. COLOPHON 17 JUNE 1995: COLIN GREENLAND, author o f TAKE BACK PLENTY and the sequel SEASONS OF PLENTY (HarperCollins, £15.99), w ill be signing at Andromeda book shop from noon. Call 0121- The contents of this issue are copyright 1995 643-1999 for further details of this and the BSFG, on behalf of the contributors, other signings. to whom all rights revert on publication. 17 JUNE 1995: COMIC MART at Carrs Lane Church Personal opinions expressed in this Centre, Birmingham. Opens noon. Contact: publication, do not necessarily reflect Golden Orbit, 9 Stratford Way, Huntington, those o f the committee or the membership York, Y03 9YW. o f the Birmingham Science Fiction Group. 30 JUNE 1995: ROUJIN Z directed by Hiroyuki Kitabuko, based on a sto ry by the creator o f All text by Martin Tudor except where Akira, Otomo Katsuhiro, will be showing from stated otherwise. This publication 11.15pm at Phoenix Arts, 11 Newarke S treet, was printed on the CRITICAL WAVE L eicester, tick ets £2.00 c a ll 0116 255 4854, photocopier. For details of WAVE'S 1 JULY 1995: WOLVES OF FENRIC, DR WHO group competitive prices contact: meet at the Australian Bar, Hurst S treet, Martin Tudor, 845 Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, 3pm-10.30pm. Contact: 161 Ward End, Birmingham, B8 2AG. D angerfield Lane, Darlaston, Wednesbury, Staffs., WS10 7RU for further details. Many thanks th is issue to BERNIE EVANS 8-9 JULY 1995: SPACESCAPES '95. -Extravaganza" for producing the address labels, at the NEC, Birmingham. NB: We have now MATRIX, STEVE GREEN, CRITICAL WAVE heard rumours that th is event has been and WHAT'S ON fo r the news in the cancelled. No further details available. Jophan Report and Events listin g, 8 JULY - 5 AUGUST 1995: V-TOPIA: VISIONS OF AL JOHNSTON fo r his Phannish Fizzicks and A VIRTUAL WORLD an innovative exhibition of TONY BERRY for the use of his spare room. interactive art using video and computer technology which takes an im aginative and critical look at our increasingly-touted virtual future and the utopian thinking that FORTHCOMING informs it. Ikon Gallery, Birmingham. Admission free, Tuesday-Saturday llam-6pm, EVENTS Thursday llam-8pm. 14-16 JULY 1995: DIMENSION JUMP *95 the o ff ic ia l RED DWARF Fan Club convention, Stratford-Upon-Avon. Contact: Garden 15-17 JUNE 1995: THE RED BELLIED QUEEN the Cottage, Hall Farm, Scotton, Norwich, NR10 5DF. premiere of Foursight Theatre's bizarre play which explores the life, times and battles of 21 JULY 1995: ANNE GAY author o f MINDSAIL, Boadicea and her two, hitherto obscured THE BROOCH OF AZURE MIDNIGHT, DANCING ON THE daughters. Her bones are buried beneath VOLCANO and TO BATHE IN LIGHTNING w ill speak platform eight, Kings Cross Station. When her to the Brum Group in the upstairs room at the bones are shaken Boadicea, Queen o f the C elts, Australian Bar, Hurst Street/Bromsgrove red-blooded, brave and brutal, returns to life S treet, Birmingham, 7.45pm fo r 8.00pm. — and she means business. The Studio at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. Call 01203 21 JULY 1995: SPACE ADVENTURE COBRA d irected 524524 for details. by Osamu Dexaki, an old-fashioned Manga in a STAR WARS vein, with soundtrack by Yello, w ill 16 JUNE 1995: COLIN GREENLAND, author o f be showing from 11.15pm at Phoenix Arts, 11 TAKE BACK PLENTY and the sequel SEASONS OF Newarke Street, Leicester, tick ets £2.00 c a ll PLENTY (HarperCollins, £15.99), will speak to 0116 255 4854. the Brum Group in the upstairs room at the 28 JULY 1995: WINGS OF HONNEAMISE directed by Australian Bar, Hurst Street/Bromsgrove Hiroyuki Yamaga, involved 300 animators and a S treet, Birmingham, 7.45pm fo r 8.00pm. soundtrack by Ryuichi Sakamoto, showing from 11,15pm at Phoenix Arts, 11 Newarke S treet, 16 JUNE 1995: APPLESEED directed by Kazuyoshi L eicester, tick ets £2.00 c a ll 0116 255 4854. Katayama and based on the comic by cu lt 3 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 1995: LORD OF THE writer Masumune Shirow will be showing from FLIES the world premiere of Nigel Williams 11.15pm at Phoenix Arts, 11 Newarke S treet, stage adaptation of William Golding's classic tale, directed by E lijah Moshinsky. At The 23-28 OCTOBER 1995: RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon. Call: 01789 PLANET winner of the Laurence Olivier Award 295623. fo r Best Musical returns to the Birmingham 5 AUGUST 1995: WOLVES OF FENRIC, DR WHO group Hippodrome. Call the box o ff ic e on 0121-622- meet at the A u stralian Bar, Hurst Street, 7486 fo r fu rther d etails. Birmingham, 3pm-10.30pm. Contact: 161 D angerfield Lane, Darlaston, Wednesbury, Staffs., WS10 7RU for further details. 5 AUGUST 1995: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVES Wednesday 23rd October '95 fantastic tv festival at Stourbridge Town RETURN TO THE Hall, 10.30am-10.30pm. Send a stamped, s e lf- FORBIDDEN PLANET addressed envelope for further details to: at the Birmingham Kaleidoscope, 93 Old Park Road, Dudley, West Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Midlands, DY1 3NE. ANN WOODFORD is organising 5 AUGUST 1995: COMIC MART at Carrs Lane a block—booking for this Church Centre, Birmingham. Opens noon. performance (curtains open Contact: Golden Orbit, 9 Stratford Way, 7, 3Opm), Block—bookings Huntington, York, Y03 9YW. receive a £3,00 reduction per ticket, Ann is taking 18 AUGUST 1995: TOM HOLT, PATRICK TILLEY and deposits of £5,00 per HAYDEN YOUNG w ill speak to the Brum Group in person NOW! Either speak the upstairs room at the Australian Bar, Hurst to her at this mont h ' s Street/Bromsgrove S treet, Birmingham, 7.45pm meeting or call her on fo r 8.00pm.

18-20 AUGUST 1995: PRECURSOR small, informal convention at the Hertfordpark Hotel, Stevenage. Attending £15.00 made payable to 28 OCTOBER 1995: COMIC MART at Carrs Lane "Rob Hansen". Room ra tes twin/double £20.50, Church Centre, Birmingham. Opens noon. sin g le £23.50 per person per night. Contact: Contact: Golden Orbit, 9 Stratford Way, 144 Plashet Grove, East Ham, London, E6 1AB. Huntington, York, Y03 9YW. 24-28 AUGUST 1995: INTERSECTION, 53rd world- con, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, 3-5 NOVEMBER 1995: NOVACON 25 the Brum Glasgow. Guests o f honour Samuel R Delany, Group's own science fiction convention at a Gerry Anderson, Vin$ Clarke. Attending £90.00 new venue - the Chamberlain Hotel, Alcester u n til 22 July a ft e r which advance memberships Street, Birmingham. Guests o f Honour: Brian ,W close and it w i l l cost £100.00 on the door). Aldiss, Harry Harrison and Bob Shaw, with Contact: Admail 336, Glasgow, G2 1BR, Scotland. Special Guest Iain Banks. Attending member­ 2 SEPTEMBER 1995: WOLVES OF FENRIC, DR WHO ship is £25.00 u n til 1 October 1995. Supp­ group meet at the Australian Bar, Hurst ortin g membership costs £8.50. Progress S treet, Birmingham, 3pm-10.30pm. Contact: Report #2 and h otel booking forms are 161 Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, Wednesbury, available, deadline for hotel bookings is 20th Staffs., WS10 7RU for further details. July 1995. Contact CAROL MORTON, 14 Park 23 SEPTEMBER 1995: COMIC MART at Carrs Lane Street, Lye, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 Church Centre, Birmingham. Opens noon. Con­ 8SS, cheques should be made payable to tact: Golden Orbit, 9 Stratford Way, Hunting­ "Novacon 25". Room rates are now only £17.50 ton, York, Y03 9YW. per person per night in twin/double and 7 OCTOBER 1995: WOLVES OF FENRIC, DR WHO £35.00 pppn in a single, prices include full group meet at the Australian Bar, Hurst English breakfast. Street, Birmingham, 3pm-10.30pm. Contact: 161 Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, Wednesbury, 3-5 NOVEMBER 1995: ReContanimeTed 1995, anime Staffs., WS10 7RU for further details. convention at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Attending £21.00 u n til 30 September, £26.00 20 OCTOBER 1995: ROBERT RANKIN author o f the thereafter. Contact: Martin Pay, 29 Langton humorous Brentford T rian gle and Armageddon Avenue, Chelmsford, CM1 2BW, series will speak to the Brum Group in the 4 NOVEMBER 1995: WOLVES OF FENRIC, DR WHO upstairs room a t the Australian Bar, Hurst group meet at the Australian Bar, Hurst Street/Bromsgrove S treet, Birmingham, 7.45pm Street, Birmingham, 3pm-10.30pm. Contact: fo r 8,00pm. (NB: TO BE CONFIRMED.) 161 Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, Wednesbury, Staffs., WS10 7RU for further details. Silverb erg as p reviously announced. Attending 2 DECEMBER 1995: WOLVES OF FENRIC, DR WHO £20.00, supporting £10.00, cheques payable to group meet at the Australian Bar, Hurst "Wincon" to 12 Crowsbury Close, Emsworth, S treet, Birmingham, 3pm-10.30pm. Contact: Hants., P010 7TS. 161 D angerfield Lane, Darlaston, Wednesbury, 3-5 SEPTEMBER 1997: LONESTARCON 55 th World Staffs., WS10 7RU for further details. SF Convention, San Antonio, Texas, USA. Attending was $65.00. Contact: PO Box 27277, 17 NOVEMBER 1995: UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE Austin, TX 78755-2277, USA. featu ring the BSFG versus THE BIRMINGHAM 27 DEC 1999 - 2 JAN 2000: MILLENNIUM. Venue UNIVERSITY FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY. to be announced, but d e fin ite ly in Northern In the upstairs room at the Australian Bar, Europe (probably a BeNeLux country or UK), Hurst Street/Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham, £3.00 (flO.OO) p e r year, to be deducted from 7.45pm fo r 8.00pm. (NB: TO BE CONFIRMED.) eventual membership fe e (to be announced before 1997). Contact: Malcolm Reid, 186 Casewick Road, West Norwood, London, SE27 0SZ.

1------— ------BEER & SKITTLES □0000 at -the Samson & Lion, Wordsley on Although details are correct to the best Friday 15 December. of my knowledge, I advise readers to contact CAR O L MORTON is now -taking organizers prior to travelling. bookings for this popular Always enclose a stamped, self-addressed event. Deposit £8,00 per envelope when writing to any of the above person. Food, transport, contact addresses. Please mention the BRUM prizes and skittles will GROUP NEWS when replying to listings or be included in the final advertisements. price, (Last year it was I f you know o f any events which you £10,00 per person, we will think may be of interest to members of the announce the price for BSFG please send details to the Editor. this year as soon as If you have attended any events or seen possible. ) Book early as any films or videos that you would like to places are limited. recommend to o th e r members (o r warn them o f ) please feel free to write a report/review and send it to the editorial address.

16 DECEMBER 1995: COMIC MART at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham. Opens noon. Contact: Golden Orbit, 9 Stratford Way, Huntington, York, Y03 9YW. FREE admission 5-8 APRIL 1996: EVOLUTION 47th UK National Convention, the Radisson Edwardian H otel at to the BSFG meeting of Heathrow. Guests o f honour: Colin Greenland, Bryan Talbot, Jack Cohen. Attending £24.00, your choice! supporting £14.00. Contact: 13 L in d field Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3 6PX. Simply introduce someone 29 AUGUST - 2 SEPTEMBER 1996: LAC0N I I I 54th World SF Convention, Anaheim Convention to the BSFG and when they Center, Anaheim Hilton and Towers and Anaheim Marriott, California, USA. Guests: James join you will be issued a White, Roger Corman, Elsie Wollheim, Connie W illis (Toastmaster), Takumi and Sachiko ticket for FREE ADMISSION Shibano (Fan Guests o f Honour). Attending $90.00 u n til 30 June 1995, then $110.00. to the meeting of your Supporting $30.00, then $35.00. Contact: c/o SCIFI, PO Box 8442, Van Nuys, CA 91409, USA. choice! See the 28-31 MARCH 1997: INTERVENTION the 48th UK National SF Convention, Adelphi Hotel, Treasurer, Steve Jones, Liverpool. Theme "communication". Guests Brian W Aldiss and David Langford, US Guest for further details, to be announced but it WILL NOT be Robert cost US$5.00 from 40 South Brush Drive, Valley JOPHAN REPORT Stream, NY-11581, USA.

BEER & SKITTLES The 1994 T ip tree Award was jo in tly won at the Samson & Lion, Wordsley by Ursula K LeGuin's n o velette "The M atter o f on Friday 15 December, Seggri" (published in CRANK #3, spring 1994) CAROL MORTON is now taking and Nancy Springer’s n ovel LARQUE ON THE bookings for this popular WING. The winners each received $500, in event. Deposit £5,00 per addition to a Lark mask (created in ceramic person, Food, transport, and feathers by artist Michaela Roessner) prizes & skittles will be which was given to Springer and a typ ew riter included in the final price, and award plaque cast in pure milk chocolate (Last year it cost £10,00 per awarded to Le Guin. person, we will announce the Other nominations in a lengthy shortlist price for this year ASAP,) were: "The Lovers", Eleanor Arnason (ASIMOV'S, Book early! July 1994); "Necronauts", Terry Bisson (PLAYBOY, July 1993); "Inspiration", Ben Bova (FASF, A pril 1994); THE FURIES, Suzy McKee Cult TV 2, scheduled for Great Yarmouth Charnas (Tor, 1994); CANNON'S ORB, L Warren in October, has added X-FILES creator Chris Douglas (Del Rey, 1994); "Cocoon", Greg Egan Carter to its list of guests, subject to the (ASIMOV'S, May 1994); AMAZON STORY BONES, usual work commitments. The series it s e lf Ellen Fry (Spinsters Ink, 1994); "The Martian ended its BBC2 run on 16 March, although the Child", David Gerrold (F&SF, September 1994); second season is promised for the autumn. "None So Blind", Joe Haldeman (ASIMOV'S, November 1994); T h e Skeleton Key", Nina K irik i Red Alerts, the Jersey Science Fiction Hoffman (F&SF, August 1994); NORTH WIND, Fan Association, meets on the fir s t Wednesday Gwyneth Jones (Gollancz, 1994); "Eat o f every month at the Royal Yacht Hotel, St Reecebread", Graham Joyce and Peter F Hamilton H elier, from 8.00pm onwards. For further (INTERZONE, August 1994); "The Singular Habit details, contact Gavin Booth on 7 Palace o f Wasps", G eoffrey A Landis (ANALOG, A pril Close, St Savior, Jersey, Channel Islands 1994); "Forgiveness Day", Ursula K Le Guin (01534-34793). (ASIMOV'S, November 1994); A FISHERMAN OF THE INLAND SEA, Ursula K Le Guin (Harper, 1994); Terry Pratchett dominated the Water- "Understanding Entropy", Barry Maltzberg (SF stones sf bestsellers list for 1994, with SOUL AGE, July 1994); "Nekropolis", Maureen McHugh MUSIC and THE DISCW0RLD COMPANION (the latter (ASIMOV'S, A p ril 1994); "V irtu a l Love", Maureen co-written with Stephen Briggs) taking first McHugh (F&SF, January 1994); TEMPORARY and f ift h place in the hardback section, AGENCY, Rachel Pollack (St Martin's, 1994); whilst MEN AT ARMS and LORDS AND LADIES came UNCONQUERED COUNTRIES, G eoff Ryman (St second and fifth in the paperback section. Martin's, 1994); "Fan", G eoff Ryman The chain's topselling sf paperback was (UNCONQUERED COUNTRIES, St Martin's/INTERZONE); Douglas Adams' latest "Hitch-Hiker's Guide" TROUBLE AND HER FRIENDS, Melissa Scott (Tor, novel, MOSTLY HARMLESS. 1994); "Young Woman in a Garden", Delia Sherman (XANADU 2, Tor, 1994); "A Defence o f Donna Heenan won the 1995 FFANZ race the Social Contracts", Martha Soukup (SF AGE, and w ill represent Australian fandom at the September 1993); "Cold Iron", Michael Swanwick New Zealand convention Conquest over the (ASIMOV'S, November 1994); GENETIC SOLDIER, Easter weekend; she received 21 votes, against George Turner (Morrow, 1994); "I Know What one each for the other candidates, Marc You're Thinking", Kate Wilhelm (ASIMOV'S, O rtleib, Greg H ills and Fred X. Heenan was November 1994). also elected president of the Australian SF Foundation at its annual general meeting on The latest issue of George R Reis' and 22 January. Keith J Crocker's EXPLOITATION JOURNAL is a "Bloody British Special", featuring an Troma fans can now order uncut copies extensive interview with expat producer of the studio's movies direct — including Richard Gordon and an overview o f the careers such, er, "classics" as CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH. o f directors Pete (HOUSE OF WHIPCORD) Walker TOXIC AVENGER and ZOMBIE ISLAND MASSACRE and Norman (SATAN'S SLAVE) Warren. Copies Catalogues cost US$3.00 from Tromabilia, Radio City Station, PO Box 486, New York, NY-10101- 0486.

Bargains on offer in the latest edition of the Postscript catalogue include HORROR: 100 BEST BOOKS, edited by Stephen Jones and The Case o f God Kira Newman, Michael Moorcock's novel CASABLANCA, the Isaac Asimov collectio n ROBOT by A1 Johnston VISIONS, all at £2.99, plus John Atkins' biographical work GEORGE ORWELL at £4.99. To In the outer reaches of the mundane get on Postscript's mailing list, telephone world it has occurred to physicists that given 0181-682-0280. the increasing surrealism of the information they purvey, they might as well go the whole The Black Lodge, Birmingham's inform al hog and p on tifica te (Bullishly, one presumes, gathering of horror and dark fantasy fans, or maybe just en cy cle) about theology. which normally meets on the fir s t Tuesday o f Stephen Hawking claims we may know the mind each month w ill meet on the second Tuesday in o f God. Paul Davies announces that our June. ability to understand the Universe is proof Meetings are at the Old Fox public that it was designed and created; a theory house, Hurst Street, 8.30pm onwards. Copies that is somewhat undermined by the in a b ility of the group newsletter, THE REGISTER, are of most of this planet's inhabitants to available for a reply-paid envelope from 33 understand Paul Davies. Fizzicists often tend Scott Road, Olton, Solihull, B92 7LQ. to the atheistical, but as this is not considered to be an insurmountable career O WRITE magazine, which proclaims i t s e lobstacle f in religion these days (except by the "the high profile, high quality literary more traditional Islamic sects) there is no magazine for work by young people" is real reason not to join in the fun. appealing for w ritten work in any format on any subject. Work for inclusion is selected A major re lig io u s movement o f our times by a panel of Guest Editors — who have asserts that God had His one and only Son included John Mortimer, Ir is Murdoch, Seamus nailed to a tree about two thousand years Heaney, Roddy Doyle, A S Byatt and P D James, ago; purportedly for our general benefit. Entries must be o rigin a l pieces and each must This may explain qu ite a lo t actually, but I'm include the author's name, age and school. not sure I re a lly want to know. Some while Private entries are welcome but must include later people were still attempting to make the above information and the name and some sort of sense of this and came to the address of a contactable adult. For further conclusion that He might want to repeat details write to: The Administrative Editors, Himself, only clearer so the thickies could O WRITE Magazine, FCHS Pathways Publications, get it th is time. The upcoming year with a New Street, Frankley, Rednal, Birmingham, B45 lot of zeroes (okay three) in it seemed to 0EU or call 0121-693-5995. Deadline 30 th be as good a time as any, so they went o ff up June 1995. the nearest hill to get a good view and waited. It was probably as well that they took packed lunches as they were waiting Wednesday 23rd October quite a while. Probably still are. RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET Not long now from now there w ill be at the Birmingham Hippodrome, another year with a lo t o f zeroes in it. Most Hurst Street. ANN WOODFORD is o f us w ill trea t th is as an excuse (WHAT!? organising a block — booking for You need an EXCUSE?!) fo r a good p is s u p this performance (curtains party or waste the entire year arguing that open 7,30pm). Block bookings the third millennium really starts the next receive a £3,00 reduction per year. Sad or what? Some people, however, ticket, Ann is taking have convinced themselves that God is really deposits of £5,00 per person and definitely putting in a repeat performance NOW! Either speak to her at this time absolutely and for certain; only this month's meeting or call th is time it's not His relatives that get her on 0 121-559-7761 nailed to any trees. As these tend to be the for further details, type o f people who wave guns around and/or put nasty chemical substances in subway systems th is may be o f some concern. BOOK REVIEWS

Some reassurance may be sought in my prediction that it won't happen. Why? AXIOMATIC by Greg Egan The rise and proliferation of Product Millennium, £15.99, 289pp, h/b Liability Law. Reviewed by Tony Morton.

A few years back there was a spate of A new name fo r me — though on reading I accidents in the good il' US of A whereby the realised I had caught one of the stories, 'The occasional motorist would get his/her feet Cutie', in INTERZONE and quite liked it. mixed up on the pedals and press the However this didn't prepare me for the shock accelerator instead of the brake. Noticing an of the writing. This is it. Hard-hitting, increase in speed the driver would press cutting-edge sf, where the ideas roll off the harder on what they s t i l l thought was the page and grab you. brake. The resultant feedback loop would end The first couple of stories ('The with said motorist looking sad and confused Infinite Assassin', a parallel universe, drug sitting at the controls of a complete wreck abuse, detective yarn and The Hundred-Light- embedded in the nearest building, wall, other Year-Diary' concerning, as the title suggests, motorist, pedestrian or whatever. Product the possibility of writing your diary and Liability Law and a few good lawyers later sending it back into the past for you to read several carmakers were edged nearer earlier) are of such staggering eloquence, bankruptcy to the general enrichment of the passion and so b rillia n tly written, I was awe­ dumber portion o f the drivin g population and, struck and thought "Surely they can't all be of course, the legal profession. All this of this quality..." but I wasn't disappointed. despite the demonstrable mechanical The initial impact wore off as I read, independence of the braking and propulsion the remaining stories are all good (but those systems on any land veh icle more advanced firs two are so exceptional). The topics than the average roller skate. alone in th is book are o f such d iv e rs ity that they would keep other authors in work for Lawyers have had more practice since years. In 'Eugene' choosing a genius child then and w ill amass more in the next fiv e before conception has a wonderful twist; years. No God who knows anything, or even 'Blood Sisters' deals with identical twins — Everything, is going to risk being taken to one dies from a virus while the other doesn't the cleaners by showing up and admitting to and wants to know why; 'Safe-Deposit Box' being the Ultimate Creator of a Universe deals with an e n tity without a body wakening containing qu ite so many mad, sad, embittered, each morning as someone else; 'The Kidnapping' inadequate, dispossessed, disadvantaged or just touches on that sensitive topic from an plain dead human beings. The happy ones unusual angle (superbly); 'The Moral don't know enough lawyers; th is may be a V iro lo g is t' opens up a re a l can o f worms on causal relationship. evangelism and morality. I could go on to name all the other He may not exist; this doesn’t mean He's stories, but honestly each story has its own stupid. individual merit and style. I began to wonder whether 'Greg Egan' was in fact a conglomerate of authors, such is the diversity of these stories. He is certainly an author I shall seek out in future. CLASSIFIED ADVERT

GESTETNER 360 DUPLICATOR: GRAILS: QUESTS OF THE DAWN edited by Richard Gillian, Martin H Greenberg, Edward E Kramer Free to the first person who can arrange Roc, £6.99, 387pp, trade p/b Reviewed by Adrian Middleton. to c o lle c t it from a Birmingham address. An anthology o f peaks and troughs which Call William McCabe on 0121-440-5430. perhaps suggests that it has about as many high points as the Pacific Ocean. True, the contributor list is impressive enough — Mercedes Lackey, Andre Norton, Marion Zimmer novels based on them I will certainly buy Bradley, Gene Wolfe, Alan Dean Foster... the them. My favourite was 'The Road to list is endless (well, 26 in all). The cover Jerusalem' which featured the Knight Templars is equally im pressive, i f somewhat misleading, as modern day sold iers dedicated to God. as the book is not really about knights in Mary Gentle produces a varied and shining armour questing for the fabled Holy compelling assortment of stories suited to all Grail. It is instead a mis-matched mish mash tastes. From socio-political computer hacking o f poetry and prose, comedy and commentary, near—future to humorous and rats, changeling all joined together by a rather tenuous link weerdes in renaissance Europe and Knights — the Holy Grail. Templars as present day soldiers still Stories span from ancient Atlantis via protecting the pilgrim roads. Great fun, a Egypt, up to the Wild West and the War to End must for all Gentle readers. A ll Wars; through the contemporary era and into fictional universes. Of the s to rie s themselves, I was most THE GOLD COAST by Kim Stanley Robinson surprised by the appearance o f Marion Zimmer HarperCollins, £4.99, 389pp, *C' format p/b Bradley's Lythande, Adept of the Blue Star, in Reviewed by Robert P Jones, one of the better pieces in the collection. Also of note — one of the high points of the Since the 1960s, it has been by no means book — is Orson Scott Card's piece, doubtless unusual for 'mainstream' writers such as aided by it s length. Likewise, N eil Gaiman's Burroughs, Pynchon, Angela C arter and Martin contribution (the only British one?) works Amis to produce books that come very close to well because of its brevity (good jokes are being sf, without being marketed as such. always short) — so the book is not all bad. This book is by contrast a work published as Of the low points, I ' l l name no names, sf and by a writer thoroughly identified with but some o f the most famous w riters in that genre, that actually has hardly any science fantasy have off-loaded their turkeys science-fictional content at all. in this one. Reprinted for the mass market, Of course I am being slightly unfair, GRAILS started life as a limited edition. It since THE GOLD COAST is part of a highly should have stayed that way. praised trilogy presenting three alternative visions of near future life in Orange County, California. Whereas the other volumes LEFT TO HIS OWN DEVICES by Mary Gentle describe a post-holocaust scenario on the one Orbit, £5.99, 378pp, p/b hand, and eco lo gica l utopia on the other, this Reviewed by Sam Bennett. central panel assumes the ongoing triumph o f a corrupt free market capitalism — in other This was my fir s t Mary Gentle book — a words, something p retty much lik e what we've selection of four stories, one long and three got now. short. Only the fact that I know Mary from a Jim McPherson, the n ovel's cen tral con and have seen her give a live free fight character, is a 27 year-old would-be writer, performance prepared me for her book. disillusioned with the values of his well-off The first story (the title story) middle-class parents but lacking any serious features the characters from her 'White Crow* sense of personal or political direction. Like novels. I f you have read them you w ill have many intelligent young people, he despises the no trou ble jumping into a near-future, capitalist system whilst guiltily enjoying its greenh ou se-effected London with sword and comforts. His life of rather sad parties, computer fencing, lots of social and political hollow sexual relationships, and occasional problems and a liv e play weaving a ll the way drug taking is disrupted when he g e ts drawn through the story. Not having read her into an amateurish series of terrorist actions previous books left me at a loss at first, but against the aerospace firm for which his own I kept reading and discovered that the plot father designs advanced weapons systems. thickens n ice ly and with a certain tw istin g o f The narrative is leisurely, well viewpoint understanding of the story came. A characterised and complex, tackling urgent good story for the truly adventurous and contemporary dilemmas in a subtle, often tw isted o f thought, but not a beginners book moving, way and not o ffe r in g easy solutions. as it continues a storyline with only some Robinson's present-tense style may take a very basic background to establish the l i t t l e g e ttin g used to, but he employs it to characters. good effect. California's land and seascapes The three short s to rie s were excellen t are beautifully evoked and there is real in their own right and if there are any truthfulness behind many scenes and moments. But is it sf? And if it isn't, does it the previous Shannow novels. matter? Gemmell's artistry and the strong I am not an s f chauvinist by any meanscharacter of Shannow alone could carry the and quite capable of enjoying other kinds of story, proving again an exh ilaratin g mixture worthwhile writing. The problem I have with that provides a ll you could hope fo r — and THE GOLD COAST is not that it isn 't s f, but have it delivered. The addition of the that its strange lack of traditional sf ideas numerous subplots and character interplay: and concepts actu ally weaken Robinson's only add to the whole to give a masterly achievement. Not only does the technology of novel. 21st century Orange County seem hardly more advanced than that o f the present day, but there appear to have been no significant THE WHITE GRYPHON innovations in such fluid areas as fashion, by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon slang, socia l behaviour and the arts. The Millennium, £15,99, 305pp, h/b author clearly wants this world to look Reviewed by Sam Bennett. familiar, but it is so familiar as to be slightly unconvincing, bearing in mind the THE WHITE GRYPHON is the second book in rapidity of 20th century change. a series of three dealing with the Mage Wars That said it is good to encounter sf The fir s t, THE BLACK GRYPHON, introduced us t o that doesn't rely exclusively upon a final conflict between Urtho the Mage of action/suspense models to advance its plot. Silence, creator o f the Gryphons, and the e v il Robinson's is an important talent and this Mage Maar. In this giant b attle ground the book, though flawed, is good to have back in Gryphons play a major ro le with the Black print. Gryphon, Skandranon Rashkae, (black because o f camouflage paint) dealing the final killing blow to Maar. The end causes a ll magic to go BLOODSTONE by David Gemmell insane, the only escape being magical gates to Legend, £4.99, 298pp, p/b distant places. Reviewed by Tony Morton. THE WHITE GRYPHON begins ten years later with a small group of survivors cut off The cover says it a ll: "The New Jon from all of the others, slowly building a new Shannow Novel". In Shannow, Gemmell has life and city on the edge of a sea. The first created the ultim ate character and the few chapters introduce a ll the old faces and perfect foil for his plots. This time some new ones with an e v il empath thrown i n Shannow, after years of living peacefully as a to cause future trouble. preacher, once again takes up his pistols in I f you have not read the fir s t novel retribution. His quiet life is ended by the there are a lot o f referen ces to it but the murder o f some o f his congregation, but the book can stand on it s own merits. Not as vengeance he seeks goes way beyond even his meaty or excitin g as the fir s t, but then the intentions. Suffering amnesia after hunting fir s t dealt with a war o f mages and this is a down the murderers Shannow, unaware o f his d etective th r ille r with the added in terest o f past, travels aimlessly righting wrongs until a new people that our survivors have to open the Jerusalem Man emerges and the e v il doers diplomatic relations with. This is not helped quake. Here it is not only those recognizably by several gruesome murders which point to e v il that prove troublesome; the Deacon has Skandranon — now white plummed, without war gained power in the communities after his paint — causing some stra in on relations w ith "deliverance from the time of evil", passing the Empire o f the Black Kings. through time to the God-fearing future of During a ll these ups and downs we an Shannow's world. But a ll is not as it given a detailed view of Skandranon's feeling' appears. about being a leader, how it has changed him Furthering the plot Amaziga reappears to and how he regains his true self, the Black ask Shannow's help in a quest to "save" her Gryphon, again. husband's life and a group of Wanderers also A very nice book which shows Mercedes provide a strong subplot that adds to the Lackey has a talen t fo r collaboratin g with whole. Invincible, Shannow overcomes a ll the authors other than her husband Larry Dixon odds — but not unscathed. Terrible times see Ru Emerson. bring terrible dangers and in this Wild West In the front o f her books there is type lifestyle the morality of the God fearing 'tree' of a timeline for all her books. She brings real "eye for eye" retribution. And it has w ritten a huge sto ry with various people is that kind o f world, as we have found in countries, wars and battles usually in series of three. These can be read separately or why it has taken him so long to write a novel altogether forming a rich, panoramic, world with a woman as his lead character? view. I highly recommend her books i f you enjoy sword and sorcery novels. □□□□□

A R E M I N D E R IRONHAND'S DAUGHTER by David Gemmell Legend, £15.99, 283pp, h/b TO REVIEWERS Reviewed by Tony Morton. P l e a s e remember that This introductory volume to Gemmell's new 'Hawk Queen* series, IRONHAND'S DAUGHTER, reviews of books should catalogues the background o f Sigarni and the oppressed people she w ill rise to rule. reach MARTIN TUDOR at In itia lly we meet the main characters in their daily routine: Sigami herself as a 84S Alum Rook Road, huntress with hound and hawk; Ballister the dwarf as a tinker; Toni the baker; Asmidir a Birmingham, B8 2AG, sorcerous advisor; and many, many more. The "enemy" who conquered the Highlands within ONE month of your are also introduced and shown to be typical o f an occupying army with antipathy fo r the taking the book, lo ca ls and a Baron who wants more a fte r his "heroic battles" than he is given. Indeed, A number of reviews are Baron Ranulph Gottason has a craving fo r re a l power and hopes to move back to the c a p ita l currently overdue please in glory. This is the background fo r th is in it ia l ensure that these (and any ta le. The Baron decides to clea r the Highlands of the "rebels" and make his mark. others that are due> are He is not put o ff by the fact that there are no rebels, through a series of minor plots and passed to MARTIN TUDOR intrigues he creates the illusion that the Clans are rebelling and set out to slaughter at this month's meeting. them. The Highlanders — brave, but undisciplined, fighters, resist. The following reviews are outstanding: It falls upon the clans to find a leader to unite them and, indeed, there is a prophecy Lynn Edwards: DIAMOND MASK by Julian May which states one such w ill come. From the (March); THE WESTERN WIZARD by Mickey Zucker book's title (and the title of the series) it Reichert (March). is obvious that that one is Sigami. Her rise B em ie Evans: THE DEUS MACHINE by P ierre comes about after she is raped by the Baron's Ouellette (February); NIMBUS by Alexander men — thus showing their contempt for the Jablokov (March); TO BUILD JERSUALEM by John locals, and in return her anger at their act. Whit bourn (March). She becomes obsessed with k illin g a l l o f Robert P Jones: FEAR STREET: THE CHEATER these invaders and sets out to destroy them, by R L Stine (April). beginning with the perpetrators of her ordeal. S teve Jones/B'ham Uni: DRAGONCHARM by Convincing the clans that she is the Graham Edwards (January); TALISMAN by Sam "chosen" leader takes time and is well covered Lewis (January); WARHAMMER: RED THIRST ed. by Gemmell — particularly the reluctance of David Prin gle (March); WARHAMMER: WOLF RIDERS the fighting men to have a woman in charge. ed. David Pringle (March). Against all the odds Sigami wins through, Chris Morgan: ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE by though at a cost. The battle scenes reiterate Robin Hobb (A p ril); EVERVILLE by C live Barker. the clans' shortcomings and the Baron's greed Pauline Morgan: NORTH WIND by Gwyneth and, o f course, Gemmell's expert handling. It Jones (April). is all well constructed and develops at a Carol Morton: THE DRAGONS OF HEOROT by good pace, Gemmell produces tw ists in the Niven, Pournelle & Barnes (April). p lot that enhance the sto ry and characters Chris Ridd: THE WILD SHORE by Kim that (as usual) convince. My only query is Stanley Robinson (January); ARE WE ALONE? by Paul Davies (March). ANARCHIST ANGEL YOUTH POETRY MAGAZINE

A magazine devoted to printing the work of young poets and artists. Any time, any place and anywhere. . . SEND CONTRIBUTIONS AND QUERIES TO: Liz 5 Aylesford Close Sedgley, Dudley, West Midlands, DY3 3QB. The Novacon 25 Committee in Association with the Birmingham Science Fiction Group are Proud to Present NOVACON 25 Commencing Friday 3rd November 1995 Running Continuously Until Sunday 5th November 1995 Introducing

The Chamberlain Hote l, Alcester Street, Birmingham as The Venue With Room Rates From £17.50 per Person per Night (including Full English Breakfast) Starring Star of Stage, Screen and W H Smith’s, Author of "the Culture' novels. author of the "Helliconia Trilogy" Death-Defying Human Fly and and the Burnell Series Connoisseur of Fine Sherry Brian w , Iain M . Aldiss BANKS as A Guest of honour as A Special Guest Also Starring Creator of the Stainless Steel Rat Creator of (he "Slow Glass' Stories, and Bill, the Galactic Hero, author of the "Warren Peace" books, and Fandom’s Very Own White Haired guru Fandom’s Favourite Serious Scientific Speaker Bob Harry SHAW Harrisonas A Guest of Honour as A Guest of Honour ------Featuring------Guest Speakers Silly Games Films Quizzes Late Bars Panel Discussions Music Lots of Fun Programme Rook and Limited Edition Souvenir Booklet ------Br ought To You By------Tony Morton, Chairman Tony Berry, Operations Carol Morton, Registrations Chris Murphy, Programme Richard Standagc, Treasurer Martin Tudor, Publications ------The Cost?------£25.00 until 30 September 1995 Rising to £30.00 from 1 October & on the Door Cheques, made payable to "Novacon 25" should be sent to: Carol Morton, 14 Park Street, Lye, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 8SS. Queries should be directed to Carol or Tony Morton on 0131!4-82531!6 (before 9pm)