SCIENCE FICTION spring ‘D'EVK7T'LTXXT number 50 1984 JtvJ-J V 1-Tj W $2.50 The Fiction HARD SCIENCE FICTION They Deserve IN THE REAL WORLD By Charles Piatt By Gregory Benford

TWO DAYS WITH KURT VONNEGUT SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW ,SSN ™ P.O. BOX 11408 PORTLAND, OR 97211 FEBRUARY, 1984 ------VOL. 13, NO.l FWhE: (503) 282-0381 WHOLE NUMBER 50

RICHARD E. GEIS—editor & publisher PAULETTE MINARE', ASSOCIATE EDITOR ALIEN THOUGHTS...... 4 BY RICHARD E. GEIS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY FEB., MAY, AUG., NOV. TWO DAYS IN LEEDS SINGLE COPY ------$2.50 WITH KURT WMEGUT...... 8 BY ANDY DARLINGTON

HE FICTION THEY DESERVE...... 12 BY CHARLES PLATT COVER BY GEORGE KOCHELL THE VIVISECTOR...... 43 AND THEN I SAW...... 14 BY DARRELL SCHWEITZER BY RICHARD E. GEIS

LETTERS...... 18 TEN YEARS AGO IN SF - WINTER 1974 INTERIOR ART------JOIN GRIFFIN TRIMBLE BY ROBERT SABELLA...... 46 ARNIE FENNER tim kirk—2,4,14,27,50,62 AL JACKSON F.M. BUSBY THE JOHN W. CAMPBELL, JR. ROBERT BLOCH IfMORIAL AWARD BANQUET...... 47 RICHARD MCENROE GEORGE KOCHELL—-U,41 FEATURING JAMES GUNN BUZZ DIXON DAVID TRANSUE---- 11,32,40 STEVE GOLDMAN GEORGE H. SMITH ATOM---- 12,13,24,49 BRIAN ALDISS SANDRA MIESEL RAYMOND H. ALLARD---- 18 EDWARD F. KLUGE, JR. RANDY MOHR---- 21 WILLIAM ROTLSER---- 22 RONALD R. LAMBERT THE ARCHIVES...... 50 ALAN ELMS OLE PETTERSON---- 28^o BOOKS AND OTHER ITEMS RECEIVED ALLEN KOSZOWSKI---- 38,47 DARRELL SCHWEITZER WITH DESCRIPTION, CObNENTARY ALEXANDER---- 49 AND OCCASIONAL REVIEWS 0. ASHLEY---- 63

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BUT to open an old column, I do feel that obligation to report on/have reviewed the "heartland" of sf—the prozines—so...one more RICHARD E. GEIS | time...is there anyone out there who reads them religiously, who is a competent writer, who has some sfhal perspective and critical judgement, who would be willing to READING FOR FAR FRONTIERS IS IN MY for first publication rights for do a "highlights" column of the FUTURE,.. one year and non-exclusive anthol­ three-month-previous issues for ogy rights, against a pro-rata SFR? I've been asked by John F. Carr share of 50%. Rates, of course, (and Jerry Poumelle), Managing Ed­ But back to THE INTEGRAL TREES: will be higher for name authors itor of the upcoming magazine/paper- It will be a Del Rey hardback, to be and for those stories that fit in­ back FAR FRONTIERS [from Jim Baen published in March, 1984, at $14.95. to any of our on-going antholog­ enterprises] to review sf books for ies: THERE WILL BE WAR, Vol. IV; the new publication. SILICON BRAINS; LIBERTY AND JUS­ It will be a lot like the old TICE FOR ALL, and AFTER THE FALL. DESTINIES, will be quarterly. YOU READ ABOUT LETTERS LIKE THIS... 'Send all submissions to: but you don't really believe people # LETTER FROM J.E. POURNELLE J.E. Poumelle S Associates, At­ tention John F. Carr, Managing Ed­ actually write them...until you get AND ASSOCIATES one. SCIENCE FACT AND FICTION itor, 3960 Laurel Canyon Blvd, 12051 Laurel Terr Drive Suite 372, Studio City, CA 91604- 'Dear Mr. Geis, Studio City, CA 91604 3791.' I am interested in becoming a November 22, 1983 professional writer and was wonder­ ing if you could either send me MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT some information about becoming a FAR FRONTIERS writer and/or the addresses of the Editorial Directors: Jerry following science fiction writers: Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Poumelle § Jim Baen THE ROY TACKETT RAG Gordon R. Dickson, Jerry Poumelle, Managing Editor: John F. Carr is hard to take, but justly imposed, since I goofed and Alan Dean Foster. 'Thank you very much.' 'Jim Baen and Jerry Poumelle and he called me on it: 6 Associates will be editing a new 'Your "preview" of Niven's THE As Paulette noted with some paperback/magazine to be called INTEGRAL TREES ending with "There amaze, he didn't even enclose a FAR FRONTIERS. This new magazine is a treat coming to you in 1984: SASE. will be published quarterly and THE INTEGRAL TREES." brought the I have not answered. will consist of original fiction suddenly dawning light of what is and non-fiction. In conception it missing from SFR. Consider those will be similar to DESTINIES which of us who have enjoyed THE INTEG­ Jim Baen edited for ACE BOOKS. RAL TREES in 1983 already. Yes. In 'We are looking for the kinds ANALOG. You don't have any mention of stories that John W. Campbell of the science fiction magazines in would be buying today were he a- SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW. Why is live and editing ASTOUNDING. The that? Seems to me that SCIENCE FIC­ emphasis will be on hard science TION REVIEW is missing the very fiction and realistic speculative roots of science fiction. Is it fiction -- in essence, a good tale not? Is!' well told. We will also be pur­ Yes, but. I let my sub to chasing poetry and an occasional ANALOG lapse some years ago. At story of the type that would have present only AMAZING sends me re­ appeared in the pages of UNKNOWN, view copies. ASIMOV'S sends a or what Larry Niven calls rivets contents page lineup for the next and sorcery. We are also very in­ issue. I also let my sub to FGSF terested in good speculative non­ lapse... And so, the book publish­ fiction. Jerry Poumelle will be ers, who send all their sf and fan­ doing a science column as well as tasy and horror releases tend to introductions to stories. take over my mind as most-important. 'We will be paying a word 4 WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT---- were not paid on several books pub­ the cavity was in my far left low­ lished and royalties even less. It is biology, like it or not, legis­ er molar, and my dentist decided to was a major SF publisher with 6 avoid drilling out the existing late against it or not, villify it lines. Apparently Malaguti, who or not, mis-name it or not. metal filling to get at the new cav­ owned Libre, is now in Switzerland ity which was below the metal, in This from SCIENCE DIGEST 12/83, and has sent around a letter to all the pulp. sent along by a Canadian fan. subscribers (who were asked to send So he went into the back of the large sums of money in advance be­ 'Are male and female sexuality tooth, below the gumline. All fore Libra went out of business and really so different? Yes, says seemed well when I left his office got few or no books in return) in anthropologist Donald Symons in his an hour later; my jaw was still which he describes his new coming scholarly work, THE EVOLUTION OF dead and feelless from all that venture in SF. Here is how it HUMAN SEXUALITY—and the life­ Novacaine. should work: A Rumanian publisher styles of contemporary homosexuals Thursday, pain became known in will issue the books in Italian are the acid test. When men or that tooth, but I thought it was language and sell them through the women are not forced to compromise only the nerves getting used to the mail to Italian subscribers. Print­ with the opposite sex, says Symons, new, deeper filling. ing costs are much cheaper in Ruman­ the profound differences in their The weather, which had been ia and besides Malaguti states that sexual natures become clear. In the merely bitter cold, turned nasty he will not pay the rights as Ruman­ book he argues thus: with snow and ice, all with winds ia has not adhered to the copyright up to 50 mph. ’# There is a substantial male convention. He further says that Friday— More pain! I called homosexual market for pornography he feels free to publish anything by my dentist. No answer. He seemed and no lesbian market whatsoever. any author and adds magnanimously to have decided to not work the day This suggests that the tendency to that he might send some money to before Christmas. Okay. I could be sexually aroused by "objectified" said authors if the books prove live with the pain until Monday or visual stimuli is simply a male really profitable. Tuesday, I thought. tendency, not an expression of con­ "Nord of Milan, the most import­ But when I ate breakfast Christ­ tempt for women. ant SF publisher, had trouble be­ mas day---- AGONY! Hot coffee on that '# The tremendous importance of cause of the failure of its disrib- tooth triggered such pain as I did­ physical attractiveness and youth utor, the second one in the country. n't realize could be felt by the hu­ in determining sexual desirability Fortunately, Nord has a solid re­ man mind. among both homosexual and hetero­ cord and managed not to be dragged I quickly discovered that the sexual men implies that these cri­ down, but it was a close call. only relief was to keep the tooth teria are relatively innate in men. "Mondadori is still doing its cold. The only effective way to do '# Knowledge of a potential Urania line but translations are that was to sip cold water every partner's character----even via a abridged as usual. 30 seconds to 1 minute. Iced water brief conversation----can sometimes "Fanucci of Rome is issuing was best, since it kept the tooth diminish a male's sexual interest fewer books per year on a non­ cold the longest. by interfering with his fantasies. regular basis. How to get hold of my dentist? A female's sexual interest usually "Siad of Milan does only two I quickly discovered he had an un­ requires knowledge of the partner's ASIMOV PRESENTS THE GREAT SF STO­ listed number, did not have an an­ character and prior involvement. RIES per year, and two THE BEST OF swering service, could not be reach­ Among men, sex sometimes results in ISAAC ASIMOV'S SF MAGAZINE per ed by anyone short of God. intimacy; among women, intimacy year. sometimes results in sex. "The Italian edition of OMNI HELP! A look in the phone book '# Lesbians form lasting, in­ has seen its last issue this month. for emergency dental care—look— timate, paired relationships far It will turn into FUTURO, so no look---- aha, The Multonah County more frequently than male homosex­ right ((money)) will be paid to Dental Society blessedly has an emer­ uals do. The tendency to desire Guccione. They had trouble, too, gency dentist on call, even on this and enjoy sexual variety appears and lately they paid less than most-precious of holidays. But to be a male proclivity, manifested contracted for translations and they will not give out his home by homosexual men to an unprecedent­ rights. number; they will call him, then ed degree only because their behav­ he will call you. ior is notconstrained by the neces­ "Armenia has remaindered its Wait. Sip water. No call. whole SF line and again Siad has sity of compromising with women. Evening comes. Paulette calls the stopped publishing ASIMOV'S SF MAGA­ 'That homosexual men behave in Society. Sorry, Dr. is not ZINE. It was the second attempt many ways like heterosexual men, accepting emergency calls tonight. after Mondadori tried it a few only more so, and lesbians behave (His office is in Troutdale, out in years ago. like heterosexual women, only more East County, twenty miles away on so, indicates that some aspects of "To sum up: Sf (and Fantasy) is impossibly icy streets....) You human sexuality are not so plastic a sick man in Italy, too. Not that cannot argue with underlings who other genres are in better shape, after all.' are helpless to make changes in mind you." policy or force a dentist to give up time on Christmas Eve. I sat up all night, Christmas TERRIBLE NEWS FROM ITALY night,sipping cold water watching old movies on cable while the wind comes from Gian Paolo Cossato, who BAH, HUMBUG! howled and shook the house and wrote on the back of his renewal with each howl/shudder I was sure form as follows (as nearly as I can I wanna tell ya... This has the power wires would be broken follow, given his spelling, his been one hell of a Christmas for somewhere by a falling limb or desperate need for a new ribbon): me, one I'll remember for a long, long time. tree and our electricity would go "Here is an updating of the It­ It all began Wednesday, Dec. out AND THAT WOULD BE THE LAST alian SF scene which might interest 21. I went to my dentist to get a FUCKING STRAW! (Not seeing the you: cavity filled. The problem was, thrilling last reel of WILDCAT Libra Editrice of Bologne went with Richard Arlen and Buster bankrupt October last. Advances 5 Crabbe would kill me!) Christmas day we discovered NOTE: all these emergency ernment pretended it didn't know that a different dentist was on dentists say in advance they want what was going on; no one in the theoretical emergency call. Ha! cash for their services. No Miite House or the State Depart­ He called me. I splained my checks. My advice, if you are ment watched the evening news, it problem (between 30-second sips cash short, is to agree, and after seems. They professed shock and of ice water) and said I could be the work is done, give what cash surprise when the invasion happen­ at his office soon after one IM. you have, and write a check for ed. They must have been winking at He gave instructions on how to the balance. This time I had each other a lot. find his office in the Gateway sec­ forty dollars cash on me, and bor­ And when Israel didn't stop at tion of the county, just outside rowed $10 from Paulette. the Litani river and continued on the city limits on 102nd and Hal­ And further: get your doctor's to Beirut in an obvious and naked sey. Said to call him, as it would home phone number by hook or by attempt to settle the PLO problem take him a half-hour to get to his crook. AND make sure he has an once and for all, to drive the Syr- office. The nunber he gave me to answering service. iand out of Lebanon and to install call was his office number! (Doctors a Christian, pro-Western government and dentists, at least, would rather in Lebanon, what did the U.S. gov­ die than have their home phone known ernment do? We moaned and pissed to their patients! On TV and in THE LEBANON DISASTER and cried and forced the Israelis movies doctors are always available to stop their power play; we were and always ready to serve, noble A little history, professor, afraid of offending the Arabs, fellows that they are, even in hor­ if you please! Remember a few both moderate and radical. rible weather.) years ago when Israel was about The Big Money interests in­ Came 1B”1 and no answer at his to invade Lebanon? The U.S. gov­ volved wanted to keep on the good office. Call the Society. They U-S POSTAL MIHHCI say his father says he is in his STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION office. We decide to go to the (ffagufratf by 3» U.S.C. MMf A PUBLICATION NO office. 1. TITLE OF PUBLICATION 2. DATE OF FHJNG SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW ISSN 0 0 7 Sept.26.1983 Paulette, bom, raised in the 3H8|3|7 i fmoubnct or taauc A. NO. OF ISSUES PUBLISHED a. annual subscription midwest, is an excellent driver, ANNUALLY . Quarterly 4 59.00 and exceptional on ice and snow. She skidded and maneuvered the A COMPLETE MAILING ADORES! OF KNOWN OFFICE OF PUBLICATION /Straw. city. County, Side m ZIP Code) (Not prinlma) Torino to his office. Nobody P.O. Box 11408, Portland, OR 97211 there. No marks on the snow to in­ 1 COIMXTC MAUNG AOOMU OF THE HEADQUARTERS ON GEKRAL BUSINESS OFFICES OF tmC FUEUSXRS /Not dicate anyone had been there that 1525 N.E. Ainsworth, Portland, OR 97211

day. We called. Society says he «. FULL NAMS ANO COMPLETE MARUNO AOOMSS OF PUBLISHER. EDITOR. ANO MANAGING EDITOR /TM item MUST NOT to Mont) is out in his car according to his family. SURE! Richard E. Geis, 1525 N.E. Ainsworth, Portland, OR 97211 We waited from 1:30 till 2:55;

at that point I was running danger­ as above ously low on water, even though I supplemented with dirty snow. I decided we should go home. as above 7. OWNER tit bemed by a corporation. iB nanw and oddraii mutt ba t fated and alto immediately thereunder the namei and aOdrvtao of itoct not dorr Safely home. Call Society. oening or holding 1 percent or more of total mount of ittxt. If not owned by • corporation, rhe naiwj and addrettm ot the individual ovmert mmt They say he should have been at his be ti'rau. ff ovmed by a partnerahip or other unincorporated firm, ib name and addren. a* **•// at that o< a^th individual mutt be given. If the publica­ tion a pubiohed by a nonprofit or^niaation, id name and addrao mutt be ttated.) (Item mutt be completed) office all day. They cannot reach him. (Major league, industrial­ FULL NAME COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS Richard E. Geis 1525 N.E. Ainsworth, Portland, OR strength lying going on here!) 97211 We spent hours harrassing the Society service (poor lady), and finally she called a dentist with S. KNOWN BONDHOLDERS MORTGAGEES ANO OTHER SECURITY HOLDERS OWNING OR HOLDING i PERCENT OR MORE OF an office near us a mile away. He • TOTAL AMOUNT OF BONDS MORTGAGES OR OTHER SECURITIES (If tfBre are mt. to called and was sympathetic, but FULL NAME COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS none lived in the Mt. Tabor area and it was too icy to drive. He did refer us to a dentist who lived 1 FOR COMPLETION BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORIZED TO MAIL AT SPECIAL RATES (Section 411.3. OPP only) even closer, whose office was in Tto purpoM iunci"X' and nonprofit Staiuj of Ihii organization an<3 tna exempt slatus tor Feoerji income tai purmes (Ctoc* one) his home, and who might help me. We called, he was available, (V (Z) we went, he was nice, thirtyish, LJ PRfCEDWG 13 MONTHS 1—1 PRECEDING t3 MONTHS change with thb iWarwW) AVERAGE NO COPIES EACH LCTUAL NO COPIES OF SINGLE super professional, has top-of- IS EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION ISSUE DURING PRECEDING SSUE PUBLISHED NEAREST TO 12 MONTHS FILING DATE the-line equipment, and offered, A. TOTAL NO. COPW1 rHN Pm Ito*/ after an X-ray of the tooth, to 2600 2500 a f*A*n CMCULATIOM 1. MLCS TWOUGN DEALERS *M> CMWH STREET 49 6 pull or do root canal work to save VENDORS aae COUNTS* BALIS 517 it. (The problem was the low fill­ 1 NAM. SLMSCIHmOM 1639 1599 ing was irritating a nerve connect­ ed to an abcess at the bottom of C. TOTAL FAR) ORCULAHOR rto- ol’RIM W) 2156 2095 the root.) O HWI tMTSMUTKM ST MARL. CAAMO OR OTMCT KAM 0 0 I decided to have the mother ■ IWIII COtoL—1ITART. AAD OTWN AMS COMS pulled. ($175. for the root canal C. TOTAL OIITWBUTIOR (PtmUCmOI 2156 2095 f. corns not mrnwsuTED work seemed too expensive, for me.) i prawa UM.LIFT OVSR. MACCOUWTSO. BRMU® The tooth came out unwillingly, Arran MRRTMO 444 405 1 vbrumt mom mws aocnts in three pieces. But out it is. 0 0

And I got in ten hours of blessed tk TOTAL ts»atc. Fl atof - raM mn rwi Man a* Al 2600 2500 sleep last night. I am typing SIGNA TOM ANO HTL£ OF tOITO*. PUEUSMEA. AUSINESS ii 1 certify that the statements made by ranaom. oaojtea / this on the morning of December mo above are correct and complete 26, and am pain-free. Ahh...... 3&M 6 /Srr frail on rarerx; side of the Saudis (oil, oil, oil!) Computers are sweeping people avoidance of target areas not e- more than they wanted to get their out of jobs all over the place. nough. property and power back in Lebanon. The process is being hidden by the So if the radiation don't git Since then the oil glut has devel­ current fake recovery, but when you, slow starvation will, huh? oped and it's clear the Saudis are business slows down again, the rate The movie and the following not as powerful and influential as of unemployment—structural unem­ discussion seemed designed/stacked thought and need us more than we ployment—will skyrocket. to tell everyone there is no hope need them. And at that time the Computers are getting a great once an atomic war begins, and big money thought a deal could be image now. as educational tools for that the only way to survival is to cut with the Moslem forces in Syr­ 'the kids and as game players and make a disarmament deal somehow at ia and Lebanon. record-keepers for households. The almost any cost to avoid a nuke ex­ Now...now it's clear the Syr­ personal computer is the "in" thing change with Russia. ians (with Russia in the back seat, now. Great. Now, if only Russia helping to drive the car) are in­ But the speed-of-light progress felt that way. tent on taking over Lebanon as much being made in computer technology is But they don't. The Russian as possible. handwriting on the wall for millions rulers don't feel that way! They But in a half-assed, stupid, upon millions of workers, for with will continue to develope and test short-sighted, idealistic move, each quantum leap in memory, in chips, and deploy new and "better" and the U.S. government decided to in software, in applications, the bigger atomic weapons. And the negotiate a fair deal among all era of very, very smart robots is only way to avoid the atomic war the powers involved. Reagan want­ coming. Virtually every office job, portrayed in THE DAY AFTER is to ed to be a "peacemaker." Habib every construction job, every field have better weapons in better posi­ shuttled himself half to death, Mc­ hand job...will be robotized. tions with better delivery systems Farlane did the shuttle dance, too There will be a lot of disloca­ than they...or deliberately allow ...and the Syrians laughed at us. tion and maladjustment in societies the Russians to get so far ahead all over the world as this third or of us in atomic.weapons that we What was the stupidest blund­ fourth production/work revolution would not dare attack them or seek er in this unrealistic charade? progresses...until some methods and to defend/retaliate with atomic Creating the French-Italian-Ameri- systems are worked out to distribute weapons, the old "better red than can "peacekeeping" force in and the wealth and to create new areas dead" argument. near Beirut. It was an American of work. Since no American president ploy to create a fiction of even­ This process will possibly take could possibly get away with a handedness and impartiality in a generation, and adding these prob­ unlilateral disarmament policy, order to support the Western-orient­ lems to the debt collapse and deep­ the only option is to keep ahead ed Gemayel "government" which is a ening economic problems will likely in the arms race. We can afford it; fraud. cause all kinds of upheavals. quite possibly Russia cannot. The Moslems all saw through The next twenty years are going Russia's rulers know one over­ these "public relations" smoke­ to be vicious and traumatic. powering truth: because of their screens for what they were, a What a great time to be alive! vastly centralized government, if facade put up to placate the Ameri­ Moscow is nuked, the soviet empire can people. The Moslems decided will disintegrate. With the head to up the ante and play a trump: gone, the parts will go their own they made attacks on the U.S. mar­ THE DAY AFTER (ABC) ways. They cannot have any illus­ ines—some rather devastating is a nuclear ions about Eastern Europe, about attacks—which ripped the masks attack TV movie long on horrible the Ukraine, about the moslem-or- away. detail and despair, short on hope. iented southern areas, about those We have shifted policy again, It followed the disaster movie areas formerly known as Latvia, and now embrace Israel as our prime formula—set up your characters Lithuania, Estonia...about Mongolia. ally in the Near East. And our in­ and the basic approaching disaster, If push came to shove, also, I volvement is becoming naked: we for about one-third to one-half wonder how many missiles Russia will use the marines (sayeth Reagan the time/wordage available, then could actually get off the ground; December 20, 1983) to move in be­ have the disaster happen and dwell given the high, precision expertise hind the weak Lebanese army to pro­ on the awful consequences for the required to keep nuclear missiles vide security as the Lebanese army remainder of the time/space. in launch readiness, and given the seeks to expand its control through­ THE DAY AFTER was seemingly notorious Russian low morale and out the country. authentic and realistic, was rivet­ worker compenfence, the spare parts HO HO HO. That role, those ing once the nuke attack occurred, problem, the screw-ups and mis­ tasks, call for a hugely expanded and made its point that fallout management, the drunkenness endem­ marine presence and a very expensive and radiation poisoning is possibly ic in the work force and even in expansion of the Lebanese army and more dangerous and horrible than their crack military units... air force, which you-know-who will the initial blast effects. I'm also sure the Russian lead­ pay for. It left me with the feeling ers are aware of these problems. I Hope to God that Congress has that I had two options: become think they are 90% bluff and blust­ the guts to stop this idiocy now, fatalistic and accept doom in one er, and would back down in a real before we have 500,000 men in that shape or another by staying in confrontation. quagmire and re-enact the Vietnam Portland (or any other major metro But I also don't believe we disaster all over again. area), or move to an extremely should ever push them to the wall. down-state locale and stay there. They would't go nuke for Cuba, but But then the following experts' they would if "mother Russia" it­ discussion about a nuclear "winter" self were being dismantled by dir­ A BIG BYTE FROM YOUR ASS created by an all-out nuke ex­ ect American-funded and inspired change during which the weather revolutions. Do most people realize yet that would make crops impossible for I see no inmediate danger of computers are being bought by the years even in areas not directly nuclear war with the USSR. millions by businesses and govern­ affected by the Bombs, made simple ments for one reason only? To save time and labor! 7 h TENTATIVE TANGLING OF TENTACLES "One requirement is that the opening of a book be seductive. less smile plastered aslant, but lated into an incandescent film by If he's smart a writer will thankfully he doesn't offer his George Roy Hill (of "Gorp" and begin a little archly, a lit­ hand ... "Butch Cassidy 6 Sundance Kid" not­ tle cutely, a little too for­ He's about my height but oriety) . Around the same time Von­ ward. A stranger is going slouched; defensively drawn in negut's play HAPPY BIRTHDAY WANDA to open this book and either slightly despite the openness of JUNE less successfully became a TV decide to read it, to give his manner. His moustache is a movie starring Rod Steiger and Su­ it the next few hours -- or couple of shades greyer than his sanna York. Then '75 saw a kaleid­ not. And so if I'm a little hair, which is as tight-curled as oscopic phantasmagoria of various cute or a little too glitzy clusters of cartoon thought-bub­ elements from the Vonnegut canon in the beginning, this is to bles, like on the book covers but whipped up into a low-budget fly­ hook the stranger. This a little more disciplined, not as past for American cable and BBC person will not read the damn raggedy tousled -- as if he's made bio-pic slots called "Between Time and Timbuktu." Since then Robert book if you do not seduce them. an effort to smarten up his act for (M.A.S.H.) Altman reportedly tried It's... prostitution, yes. It this tour. His brown close-check for the still-born rights to "Break­ is 'I'll give you the best jacket doesn't match his pants and night you ever had if you there's a tiredness in his eyes fast of Champions" -- and was out­ give me $7.’" v . ,, that you pick up on lurking just bid; and John Cale even more re­ -- Kurt Vonnegut cently announced he'd completed behind the homely courtesy. (March 1983) the score for a short movie based It was then my biro snapped. Formalities disposed of, tape on Vonnegut's vignette "Who am I machine positioned between us, I This Time?". Director reputed to Sat alone in the swish ritz of confess that many of my interviews be Johathan Demmes of "Caged the Queens Hotel reception feeling tend to wind up in Rock-oriented Heat." vaguely displaced and disapproved papers, and -- priorities up front Are there other stories you'd like to be filmed? "No. I don't want to push my TWO DAYS IN LEEDS luck. I don't think my books make good movies. It's just the way I WITH KURT VONNEGUT write. I don't praise myself for this, but I am a presence in my own stories. So anybody who tries to make a movie out of a story of of, with the nib in one hand bleed­ -- ask his views on the state of mine is gonna wind up a character ing blood-blue bile and the open that art. After all, didn't the short. Because I am in fact, in it. mouth plastic tube in the other Grateful Dead name their music And I can't act for sour apples." drip-feeding my fingers a steady publishing company after his "Ice pulse of ink. 9” invention? didn't Al Stewart You were quoted as disliking tag a track off his "Modern Times" "Happy Birthday Wanda June?" Then the menopausal reception­ album for Vonnegut's "Sirens of ist stached-smiles at me. "You can That was the worst movie I ev­ Titan?" and isn't there, even now go up now, Mr. Darlington." er saw. There was a big depression out the window and across the in Hollywood when that was made and Maneuvering splintered plastic square, a band in Leeds called when "Slaughterhouse 5" was made. bits down between my shoes and Slaughterhouse 5? There were only two movies being soft-shuffling them back out of made in Hollywood at that time -- sight, streaking rich pile, I head Is it true that certain of your books are banned in certain and they were both mine! One was out for the elevator (chintzy in­ American States? the best movie ever made, and the ner decor of Yorkshire moors) and other was the worst movie ever angle down a corridor of doors, "Well, they try to ban them." made." carefully not smear-touching any­ The fact seems not to faze him. thing. What if Vonnegut wants to "It's illegal, but we have to sue With nothing else volunteered shake hands and I finger-print him, these people again and again. Per­ I go for the wide-angle lens. Kurt biro ink him? Cosmic confrontation iodically remind them of the First Vonnegut -- destroyer of worlds, time with the author of "Breakfast Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. black humorist, existential absurd­ of Champions," "Slapstick," "Play­ Somebody circulated a list of sup­ ist -- are you an optimist? er Piano" etc. etc., and I'm sticky posedly bad books and this list "As regards human nature -- fingering blue goo ... has never been upgraded. It just sure." An expansive shrug, a dis­ keeps floating round and floating First floor, Door 116. A room missive gesture with his hands. with window gawping out across City round, and it's 12, 13 years old "But I think what our culture re­ Square where cars revolve in end­ now, but school boards and parents quires us to do is extremely dang­ in small towns lift this list and less train and some armoured king erous. And so 'the culture' is a wonder if these bad books (which in equestrian statue is fenced in leading character in my books ag­ they've never read!) are in their behind a scaffold-cage having pig­ ain and again. And the culture is eon shit surgically sand-blasted. libraries. And they are. And a very stoo-pid task-master. It they throw them out!" Two chairs over-low slung are drawn makes these bizarre demands on us -- close to a gas fire ratchetted too Banned or no, his science fic­ and THERE IS, IN FACT, NOBODY high and in cherry-red intensity. tion travelogue of the Dresden holo­ THERE! There's an actual lack of Vonnegut in short red scarf is caust, SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5, was trans­ personality in culture (although hunkered down there miserly slurp­ ing up a surplus capacity of heat. He gets up, draws me in, his guile­ 8 BY ANDY DARLINGTON television is coming close to be­ and radio calls, some TV, world-in- ged out around a thematic clothes ing such a person in our lives a-trunk repetition chaperoned by line of his life achievements. now)." A pause. "But there have the brisk knife-edge-crease effic­ "I want credit as the man respons­ been these acts of mercy on battle­ iency of smart upwardly-mobile PR ible for (a) the Kilgore Trout fields vdiere someone has declined men. But in this inpersonal Hotel story (b) the Neuter story, etc. to kill. THAT'S what they're room slotted in 20-minute segments, etc." there to do! 'Why on earth are he unwinds the whole automatic-pi - A humorous, sometimes comic you here? Why on earth were you lot pre-programmed rigidly schedule­ performance received as Holy Writ ever bom? --in order to KILL this bound cat's cradle routine down to by the syncophantic assembled. person before you!'. And yet peop­ a relaxing interlude with an old Each anecdote rapturously received, le have declined to do this and friend. A neat trick it seems each in-reference smugly responded managed to survive themselves." comes natural to him. A calm, to, each hint of near-profundity Vonnegut talks slowly, humerously; slightly fuddled eye to the promo applauded to death. From "if you when he talks he gives his whole storm. want to hurt your parents and you concentration on you, eyes at pin­ The ink on my fingers suddenly don't have nerve enough to become a point attentiveness. When he talks not so outta place after all ... homosexual -- least you can do is he talks for you and no one else. go into the arts;" to "I was raised So you see social pressures "I thought scientists were a pacifist. I'm a pacifist now." stuck in absurd ruts; while indiv­ going to find out exactly Hi ho. So it goes. Vonnegut says idual acts provide an escape how everything worked and "Rolling Stone Magazine" gave him clause? "Yes. There's a great then make it work better. the '60s. And looking around I'd campaign in the United States by I fully expected that by guess this is something like a people who have guns and aimiunition the time I was 21, some sci­ photofit fake-up of what your stat­ to sell, that every household entist would have taken a istically average "Rolling Stone" should own a gun. And of course -- color photograph of God al­ reader might look like in '83. it's very American to have a gun, mighty -- and sold it to Still hairy but also rather thread­ supposedly. But I mean, this is "Popular Mechanics" maga­ bare. Brightly crosspatch and all just advertising. So much of zine. Scientific truth this culture has been created. was going to make us so hap­ How Americans act has been created. py and comfortable .... You KNQV7 you're LOSfN Road 18 Bedford Row Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 London. WC1R 4EJ on the end of his nose, a giant U.S.A. England case bulging in all the wrong plac­ CHARLES PLATT THE FICTION THEY DESERVE

Many people seem unaware that ated movie. It has been highly Well, it isn't. First of all, interactive fiction has already successful; already there are im­ interactive fiction doesn't really become an important subsection of itators. It seems that in this make the reader any more creative. science fiction. For these blis­ field, as in prime-time television, You can only choose between alter­ sfully naive souls, a brief re­ something that was originally de­ natives that have been pre-set by cap : vised to appeal to kids can be the writer; you can't invent new quickly (albeit marginally) modi­ paths through a story any more The first successful example fied to sell to adults. than you can invent new answers to in book publishing was Bantam's questions in a multiple-choice Several science fiction people CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Series. test. Devised by a New England school are now involved with interactive teacher to entertain his kids, fiction. At one end of the scale More to the point, interactive each novel consists of episodes one we have Byron Preiss employing fiction, by its very nature, has or two pages long, each culminat­ quantity-writers at modest wages to be episodic, codified, and ing in a choice such as 1: Fire to crank out CHOOSE YOUR CWN AD­ trivial. It is a big step away the ray gun, or 2: Run away. De­ VENTURE imitations...or spinoffs from characterization and subtle­ pending on which option you choose, -- for the juvenile audience, ages ty, in a field where these qualit­ you are told to skip to a differ­ 10 to 20. At the other end of the ies were already scarce. scale (and if you complain that ent page in the book. There is Before I argue further, I then another choice, and another, this isn't a very broad scale, I should mention my own background. suppose I must agree) we find James as the narrative branches and I'm not generally hostile to lit­ Baen employing more widely known branches again. Most paths erary innovation or computer tech­ through the book are six to ten and respected writers (e.g. Janet nology; I like to see experiments episodes long, and most of them Morris) to adapt existing science in fiction, and I enjoy computers end with the hero getting zapped. fiction novels or write new ones in enough to have sold many game pro­ the interactive format, for the a- The challenge is to find an ending grams and four nonfiction books on dult audience, ages 15 to 30. in which he survives. the subject. Nor am I arguing in Interactive computer fiction When I ran into Joe Haldeman a spirit of sour grapes; true, no is usually more complicated than at the world convention, he was one has asked me to write interac­ the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE type negotiating with Infocom, the most tive fiction of my own, but actual­ of book. The text is encoded on a successful publisher of interactive ly I sold my first (and only) in­ disk; the computer displays it on computer fiction. When I talked to teractive story back in 1971, be­ a video screen, and the user types Tom Disch recently, he was selling fore CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE choices on the keyboard. Typical­ some sort of multiple-choice com­ had even been thought of. My ef­ ly, you're a knight trying to res­ puter adventure to Harper and Row. fort was titled "Norman vs. Amer­ cue a princess, or an explorer We seem to be seeing the beginning ica" and appeared in the fourth trying to find gold and you have here of a whole new genre, in and last issue of QUARK, a quarter­ to get out of an underground maze, which the reader ceases to be a ly edited by Samuel Delany and Mar­ fight demons, slay dragons and so mere passive recipient and becomes ilyn Hacker. The interactive form on and so forth. You type your a collaborator. And most people seemed frivolous to me, so I did instructions in a primitive form seem to think that this is a great it as a comic strip in which a of English: STAB WIZARD or OPEN idea. naive young man had to choose be­ DOOR or CLIMB OVER WALL. The pro­ gram compares your instructions with its built-in vocabulary and jumps to an appropriate part of the story in response. Most computer stories of this type are guessing games, and like the books, they are tests of sur­ vival. Whenever you make a mistake you get zapped, and must start all over again; thus, you leam the correct plot choices the hard way and it can take several days to master a typical computer adventure.

The arcade game "Dragon's Lair" was the first attempt to dramatize this concept via a video disk, ef­ fectively putting the player in charge of the outcome of an anim­ 12 tween ludicrous options: whether to shoplift from Macy's or go to a rock concert; whether to become a dope dealer or a dildo manufactur­ er; and so on. It was reprinted subsequently in an avant-garde anthology, praised briefly in THE NEW YORK TIMES and subsequently translated into Swedish. Then, ap­ propriately, it died. Since it seemed an inherently trivial form, I never did any more with it. Had someone told me that ten years later it would become a hot trend in publishing, I would have been incredulous. Without wanting to sound old- fashioned, I believe that to be memorable and inportant, fiction must have structure, must be built around living, breathing charac­ ters of depth, must be carefully paced, and should move through a series of revelations to an ending which, in retrospect, has a sense of inevitability. It is the bus­ iness of a writer to leam to con­ trol these elements, consciously or unconsciously, and this is not a trivial matter. Structure, in par­ ticular, is both elusive and fund­ amental . No room for atmosphere, drama and half-minute commercials. Contin­ Now, in one sense, interactive narrative intensity. There is uity is no longer a virtue. fiction is highly structured. The room only for briefly described Second, by reducing life to a writer must plan out a complicated scenes, and two-dimensional menac­ series of arbitrary yes/no decis­ web of possible paths that branch ing figures that precipitate cris­ ions, all the disturbing complex­ and rejoin without loops, paradox­ es for the reader to resolve by ities of the real world are elim­ es or contractions. The logic re­ selecting Option 1 or Option 2. quired is similar to that in writ­ inated in favor of a codified scen­ ing a computer program. Interactive fiction then, can­ ario even more reassuringly simple- not be good literature. But it minded than that of a typical fan­ But this is not structure in a cannot even be good adventure. An tasy novel. literary sense. Indeed, by its engrossing adventure usually ach­ very nature, interactive fiction ieves its effects by building a can have no literary structure at complex plot, full of false trails, Third, the lack of characteriz­ all. The action must be divided twists and revelations. The pro­ ation becomes an advantage, rath­ into short episodes, each culmin­ tagonist uses resourcefulness and er than a problem. Most computer ating in two or three simple al­ cunning to solve each problem, in adventures are no longer written ternatives for the reader. To ways that are unexpected yet con­ about a protagonist; they are writ­ make a good game, the alternatives sistent with his skills and char­ ten in the second person, about the must seem more-or-less evenly acter. Ultimately, there is a weighted; thus there can be no reader. "You" are stuck in the climax and a visceral, cathartic labyrinth; "you" must decide wheth­ sense of events growing inevitably payoff. out of previous events, or evolving er to slay the dragon or run for from the motives and nature of the None of this is possible in cover. The idea of a central fig­ ure with interesting, complex mot­ characters. Plot becomes a whim­ interactive fiction. The hero be­ ivations has been discarded on the sical series of yes/no decisions, comes a mere figure, like a chess assumption that readers are less and the eventual outcome is like­ piece, moving from one incident to interested in other people than in wise reduced to the most primitive the next. Watch someone playing level: the hero either lives or "Dragon's lair" and ask why the themselves. Thus interactive fic­ tion is a fine form for members of dies. magic horse must steer left to avoid the third stone pillar, or the Me Decade. Since plot no longer grows why the knight must jump onto the And so the job of the writer is from character, characterization second wooden bridge, not the no longer to build a balanced, in­ is unnecessary in interactive fic­ first. These "correct" moves can­ tegrated whole, with dramatic e- tion. This is just as well, since not be deduced from the character vents and consequences relevant to there usually isn't room for it. of the hero, the story so far, or reality. The job is now to devise Within the length of a book or the the environment in which it takes multiple-choice games that put width of a computer disk, there place. The pattern is random. readers in the starring role, free must be dozens of separate adven­ to demand whatever they want. ture paths, many of them branching Why then is interactive fic­ into dead ends. As a result, the tion so popular? First, its The result can only be the length of any one path will seldom short segments suit the attention fiction they deserve. be more than 1000 words. No room span of video kids raised on half­ for memorable characters and com­ hour TV cartoons subdivided by plex interactions between them. 13 and then i saw...

THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS (R) THE SENDER (R) big! As superman his size is fine; is a isn't very coherent heroic stature, great build. But fine Steve Martin comedy, full of or rational as it shows a mother- when he plays normal men he looms jokes, sight gags, in-jokes, prat­ dominated young man with telepathic and towers and requires tall actors falls and naughty language. Some powers projecting his mental horrors to minimize his size. piquant nudity, too. into the minds of his beautiful young Don't bother with this film un­ The story? Oh, it's about this woman psychiatrist and fellow patients less you want to see Bujold do a brain surgeon, see, who has develop­ at a mental hospital. strip scene ed a screw-top method for getting at The film is effective but not the brain... He meets a fellow convincing beyond the moment. Watch weird scientist (David Warner) who it for the special effects. LADIES' NIGHT OUT has a large number of jarred, con­ stars Pudgy, a fe­ scious brains, falls in love via male Don Rickles. She's funny the telepathy with one woman's brain, first two times you see her shows, and... He's married to this prick­ STILL OF THE NIGHT (R) but soon palls as she repeats put- teasing broad, see,(Kathleen Turner is made watch­ downs and gag lines. [BODY HEAT]) who plays around with able by Meryl Streep's compulsively This gal is•exclusive with Show­ everyone but him... And the final involving performance as the suspic­ tine (cable) and uses a lot of dou­ segments of the movie involve switch­ ious mistress of a murdered man. The ble-entendre material in and apart ing brains...or rather the character/ man was the patient of a psychiatrist from her savaging of people's ap­ personality matrix in the brains... played low-key and mild-mannered by pearance, demeanor, character. It gets confused and is somewhat Roy Scheider who becomes involved In this show she acts as a glor­ forgettable in detail. The movie is with her via the police. ified mistress of ceremonies at a full of chuckles, smiles and some The story is pure formula, as Chipendale show--in which about outright guffaws. At least for me, another, psychotic woman is the real eight male hks do strip teases down and I might even be willing to see murderer who is intent on killing to strings-and-cup for an all-woman it again. Streep and Scheider as well, to keep audience. them from discovering her identity, Intersting phenomenon. The and then to keep them from revealing cameras capture some great reaction it. The art auction world is the shots from the young women as these THE VERDICT (R) backdrop. body-builder types accept tips in is superb as an ag­ exchange for giving kisses during ing, alcoholic lawyer given one last their dances. case by a friend, an open-and-shut settle-out-of-court malpractice suit which can make him well fin­ MONSIGNOR (R) ancially from his share of the set­ suffers and dies from tlement. miscasting, misscripting and misdir­ AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (R) But for reasons of pride and ecting. Christopher Reeve is still is shame he decides to fight for a vast­ too identified as Superman to be a really an old-fashioned movie that, ly larger award--by jury trial. believable priest. Genevieve Bujold less the love scenes and earthy lan­ A lawyer-reviewer derided the is not so subtly too old for him as guage, could be (andwas!) made in legal procedures used in the movie, an apprentice nun who has an affair the 30's and 40's arid 50's... but those are only the tools, the with him in Rome during WWII. Crude, footloose young man joins mechanism, the background against The script cannot cope with the which this story of character re­ novel's 30-year time span and Vati­ demption is enacted. Charlotte Ram­ can financial affairs; we have iso­ pling plays his new woman friend who lated dramatic moments as islands turns out to be a spy from the huge in a sea of dullness. [Bujold's corporate law firm defending the nude scene reveals a weathered torso, doctors, hospital and Catholic arch­ tired little breasts, popcorn nip­ diocese which owns the hospital. ples.] There is a short, no-action The movie is excellent for New­ after-the-orgy scene with two whor­ man's acting—you believe he is es. That was to acquire the R-rat­ that down-and-out lawyer fighting ing because I strongly suspect the to save his soul from the bottle and producers realized they had a dog probable eventual suicide. and wanted to lure people with an­ James Mason is devilishly slick ticipated naughtiness. and amoral as the defending lawyer. Reeve has a continuing problem Fine supporting cast. as an average person--he's too | RICHARD E. GEIS | Navy to become officer. Tough but needed money and decided to do a beautiful nudes. The acting is of caring drill instructor and sweet series of sex films. that flamboyant Italian style that young woman change his character In this and a few others she passes for humor over there, I sup­ and insure success. Love conquers bares her breasts and does nude pose. The plot sickens. all. He will marry her. scenes which show her as a woman A very good movie, extremely who for her age is in great shape. well done, well acted. Richard Gere But the face is better than the is fine as the soiled youth who seeks breasts, and her acting better than MANIMAL (TV) redemption in the Navy and finds this routine plot about a woman in­ was minimal. It has, love in a young woman factory work­ tent on maintaining her rich life­ rightfully, been cancelled. A rou­ er near the base, and finds another style at almost any cost. tine police series for children, or kind of love in Lou Gossett, Jr., his Of course after she made this those with childish minds, it said, drill instructor whose job is to film she came to America again and hey, here's this police detective push and prod the recruits to expose signed on as a bitch on the TV prime­ who has this mysterious power to character flaws which would be a time soap opera, DYNASTY. Now she turn himself (in seconds) into any danger to others in wartime, as a has fame and fortune--and these awful animal he chooses. Wow. And he has jet pilot. But he cares about his films rattling in her closet for all this beautiful young woman assistant, charges as human beings, too. to see. see, and a handsome young man assist­ The psychology--the inner, hid­ ant. .. den motives in several of the re­ I saw this show once. I could cruits besides Gere are shown clear­ barely swallow the detective lieuten­ ly, expertly. The character revela­ ant changing into a panther. When tions are what make this formula A CASE OF LIBEL is a play filmed for he shifted into a parrot in order to love story so very good. Showtime. Edward Asner plays an at­ hear the bad guys do seme plotting, torney who takes on a Pulitzer Prize­ I could only wonder about the problem winning columnist (Daniel J. Travan- of mass: a 175 pound panther--fine. ti)in an emotionally charged libel A 175 pound parrot would have wrecked suit brought by a war correspondent. that hanging bird cage. And as for flying.... HONKYTONK MAN (PG) An hour-and-a-half of courtroom fencing, revelations of character, The moron TV execs struck out is the tragic again, thank god. story of a tubercular, over-the-hill naked emotions... itinerant country 5 western singer and stacked decks. during the thirties as he journeys The author makes the conservative, to Nashville for a last-chance aud­ right-wing, rabid anti-communist ition at the Grand Ole Opry. columnist (based on Westbrook Peg­ Clint Eastwood is very, very ler?) into a cunning/stupid foil JINXED (R) good in the title role, and his for the Liberal, right-thinking features Bette Midler as son, Kyle Eastwood shows great nat­ good-guy lawyer, Edward Asner, who talented but unknown Las Vegas singer ural acting talent as his teen-age was cast to his liking, no doubt. who talks an unlucky (jinxed) casino nephew who accompanies him on the But Travanti out-acts him and with dealer into helping her murder her trip. a few obvious answers not dictated dbusive, shit-head husband (expertly It's a film of character develop­ by a leftist author would have played by Rip Torn). ment and revelation, as Eastwood defeated the libel case against him. Midler has a natural acting style struggles against his killing tuber­ Well worth watching for the I enjoy, and a raw energy I admire. culosis to get that big break, that fine acting. I liked the movie, but wouldn't one slim opportunity to gain recog­ see it again. nition as a fine singer and song­ writer while his life of failure and self-destruction seems to run FIVE DAYS ONE SUMMER (PG) like a black streak through his be­ isn't much. WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS (PG) havior, intent on frustrating and Sean Connery is stolid as a mountain­ wastes Ann destroying him. Yet he is a good, eering Scottish physician on an Al­ Archer, a good actress, as a pretty- kind man at base, and his triumph pine vacation with a young woman... geologist involved romantically with comes--too late--after his death. I've forgotten their relationship. a wildcatter in Texas. Eastman shows a surprisingly They pose as man and wife, though I didn't watch much of this. quiet, fine singing voice, and is no one is fooled. When a movie pads with lovingly pho­ utterly convincing as his character. Good climbing sequences for tographed scenery and other time­ John McIntyre...now in his seven­ this set-in-the-Twenties film. wasting footage, early, I often ties...plays Grandpa with great skill Eventually the girl goes back take the hint and leave the channel. and loneliness, and dignity. home. I think. As you see, the I suppose the heroine and hero This is a very good film, re- movie made a minimal impression on fought evil corporate oil interests conmended for at least one viewing. me. I always like to watch Connery, and corrupt government. It did not do well at the box office, however. though, because Clint Eastwood fans only want him playing loner/action/ violence movie roles. He does those for money...so he can then make an THE SEX MACHINE (R) SUPERCHICK (R) occasional "art" film like this. is an absurd shows a lot of Joyce Italian-made sex farce. In 2037 Jillson often as she pretends to act A.D., scientists solve the energy as a shy airline hostess with a split problem by harnessing the power of personality: her bold, swinging alter- THE BITCH (R) sex arousal. A couple, coupling, ego has a boyfriend in every city. was made in England, can light up a house. Etc. There's a plot involving dope in 1979, at a time I suspect, when All that interests here are the smuggling, as I recall. Watchable for nudity only. an aging, fiftyish Joan Collins 15 CONTINENTAL DIVIDE (CBS) In this movie the explanation quoted above chose to use the more is that a well-financed right-wing general 'Far East' description. Explains group of patriots are testing ad­ A TV movie like this is so why John Belushi was so depressed vanced biological weapons and... time-worn and cliche-ridden, you'd about his career that he turned well, I frankly didn't follow the think it was too awful to make, but to heavy drugs and eventually o.d.- logic very well, mostly because it anything goes when you're trying to ed. wasn't there. make it big in the ratings game, and In THE NEIGHBORS he was cast The movie producers wanted to I think late November, when this as a sane, long-suffering nebbish. make a provocative action movie, was shown, was a Nielson "sweep In this film he was cast as a hot- had Robert Urich available, and week"...or something. shot investigative reporter who wanted to keep costs down. (I GIRLS OF THE WHITE ORCHID might was bugging VIP public officials suspect the same "mutilated" cow have been made in 1933...and prob­ with exposes of their grafts and was used in all the mutilation ably was, in black and white. other rip-offs. shots, and a small town in Colo­ In case you want to know, the He was neat, clean, polite... rado (l think) was the locale.) sweet young (still virtuous) hero­ everything dull and boring he So the story followed formula ine is saved from a fate worse than hated as a personna of SATURDAY and ended with the destruction of a low-class dive and low class NIGHT LIVE, as the piggish char­ the bad guys' base, romance for whoring by her home town boyfriend acter he played in ANIMAL HOUSE, Urich (an embittered ex-NY cop), who flew over just in the nick of and the antisocial, unconventional and unsatisfied viewers. time. brother of THE BLUES BROTHERS. Urich does a good job of act­ His fame and fortune was made ing and is now older and more rug­ as a non-conformist, outrageous ged-looking. With the right roles bun, etc. and the attempt to make he could be a Bronson or Eastwood. LOVE CHILD (R) him a nice leading man type failed The R-rating here is for grue utterly. and violence. Hardly a bare-breast is a gritty, very Had he lived, had more per­ in sight. Well...two, at least. realistic story of a young woman spective, had better agents or ad­ Nothing special or erotic. inmate of a Florida women’s prison vice, he might have survived his (modern) who gets pregnant by a male flops and returned to slobsville guard. She fights to first avoid an where his further fortune lay. abortion, then to keep her baby for CONTINENTAL DIVIDE is a boring, GIRLS OF THE WHITE ORCHID (NBC) at least 18 months (her right accord­ juvenile comedy, and Belushi is ing to Florida statute). made ridiculous as a city dude 'A white-slavery ring exports Amy Madigan plays, very convinc­ trapped in the Rockies without gullible young women to the Far ingly, the plain-jane inmate. Beau enough cigarets. His backpack is East after luring them with the Bridges does his best with the guard ludicrously large and his prat­ promise of working as dancers.' role, but there's no apparent reason falls pathetic. Jennifer Jason Leigh stars for his being attracted to her and See it and weep for him. as a young, ambitious singer who his familiar movie-star face and succumbs to the misrepresentation, manner help destroy the illusion of and Ann Jillian (in a brown wig) docudrama built up to that point. plays an older, broken-to-the-sad- McKenzie Phillips (of ONE DAY AT dle exotic dancer who finally com­ A TIME (CBS)) playing a sympathetic AUTOMAN (ABC) mits suicide. butch lesbian (and now plump-faced, is a typical Glen The girls are pressured to 'be healthy, chunky, after her bag-of- A. Larson inspired production— nice' to the well-to-do Asian men bones, pock-marked appearance of a pure science fantasy. In this who come into the clubs and want to few years ago when she was strung case a police computer whiz play­ have sex as well as drinks. They out on drugs and was taken off the ed by Desi Arnaz, Jr. creates a tip the girls nicely, of course, show for a year at least) also de­ super crime fighter by creating a and the club owners are able to tracts from the "true Story" ap­ human-shaped hologram on his com­ legally prftve they are not running peal. As does Albert Salmi as Cap­ puter screen, piling on the power, a brothel. tain of the guards. and ZZZZZAAAP! the hologram ap­ The country in question is But this is worth watching. It pears in the form of a TRON-like Japan, the city Tokyo, but for accurately shows modern prison life male with full magic computer diplomatic reasons, perhaps, the for women, and has its very real- powers... Oh, it’s too absurd Portland CABLE CHOICE magazine moments of emotional tension. to describe. Don't waste your time. Not even once. Not even ten minutes.

ENDANGERED SPECIES (R) tries to explain why literally over a thou­ sand mutilated cattle have turned up on cattle ranches and farms all over this country. The distinctive aspect of the mutilations is that almost always the "mutilations," are not simply butchery, but are carefully done, surgery-level ex­ cisions of organs...most often the genital organs. The usual explanations are 16 devil cults and flying saucers. COAST TO COAST (R) es—hope, fear, denial, depression, isn't all that bad lashing out, rage, guilt, and final­ a movie despite all the bad-mouth­ ly (in an absurd, impossible ending) recovery of pride by means of organ­ SCIENCE FICTION, HORROR AND FANTASY ing Robert Blake gave it on the FILM AND TELEVISION CREDITS Johnny Carson show soon after he izing a work shift of men, invading By Harris M. Lentz III completed acting in it. the idle mill, firing it up, and McFarland 5 Co. Dyan Cannon plays a wife es­ working like hell for one last In 2 volumes, $69.95 caping a private sanitarium whose eight-hour shift to prove to them­ wealthy husband is trying to get selves they could put in a full REVIEWED BY FORREST J. ACKERMAN her money/keep her out of the way, workday and not screw around, goof- and Blake plays a scrappy gypsy off and really could earn the exorb­ It is unlikely that more than trucker who owes many back payments itantly high hourly union wages they a handful of individuals (the auth­ on his rig. had been making. or, the linotypist, the proofread­ And so he picks her up on the Exhausted, full of pride, they er, et al) will ever read the en­ highway, tries to get rid of her then go on to Texas (or where-ever) tire contents of these two volumes because she seems so nutty, but and seek other kinds of work, free -- they would be just the thing for she helps him evade a hard-nose of their emotional dependence on the Man in the Iron Mask to while repossessing agent...and they roll The Mill. away a few years in solitary -- along across country, in a fairly An opiate for the working but when needed, the information is funny comedy, in a predictable, stiffs. there for researchers, imagi-movie mostly absurd film. fans, terrorvision trivia buffs. The film ends with her driving A magnum opus over 4700 type­ the truck though a fancy garden written pages in manuscript form, YES, GEORGIO (PG) party thrown by her conniving hubby towering nearly two feet, this com­ ...and on through his precious, is for opera lovers. The world's greatest tenor, pendium of actors and actresses, lavishly appointed big house. Al­ directors, producers, writers and ways good for a laugh. Luciano Pavootti, cannot act, though he tries, in this opera­ "others" involved in motion pictures showcase story about the world's of the bizarre, outre, fantastic, greatest operatic tenor who falls horrifying, spacial and science- PORKY'S (R) in love with a lovely voice teach­ fictional has been condensed into er. 1374 pages of essential information is pure, naked Ameri­ You should have a high-fidelity on Karloff and Kubrick, on Harry- can male id in action: sex-on-the- hausen and Harrington, on Lugosi, brain high school boys, macho male TV set for best enjoyment of this film. Lorre, Lee, Lang, Landis, Lewton, pride, fighting, revenge, ribald from Atwill to Zucco. humor... It's all done with style and marvelous (apparent) unaware­ Overlooked in Raymond Massey's ness of the revelations yielded. obituaries is that, besides "Things It's a femminist nightmare of PROTOTYPE (CBS) ot Come" he played a part in the girls as sex objects, mocking of features two very futuristic melodrama of 1929, "High the antisex puritanism of some old­ fine performances: Christopher Treason" the second British talk­ er women, a male-centered picture Plumner as the head of a scientif­ ing picture, which predicted a from beginning to end. ic team (employed by a big corpora­ world on the verge of war in 1940 All that—and it's funny as tion) who develop a humanform robot saved by a pacifist's sacrifice. hell! At least to men. From its with high intelligence and human Did you know Christopher Lee has success at the box office it was emotions, who kidnaps the robot to been in something called "Albino?" funny to girls, too. keep it from being turned over to That John Carradine who claims he The story is formula and flows the military for irnnoral (espionage, has made "only a few" sci-fi/fant- from the campaign to provide one assassination) uses...and David asy/horror films, has been in 79 of the boys his first all-the-way Morse whoSe acting is a perfect such motion pictures and 20 tele­ sex experience. blending of awkwardness, puzzlement, vision movies from "The Invisible The movie portrays in humorous and growing understanding of his Man" in 1933 to "Frankenstein's and exaggerated form pure young untenable life (as the robot). The Island" in 1982? Lentz lists such American malehood in action; all robot happens to see the first (Kar­ things. There are minor errors the instincts are put on display loff) FRANKENSTEIN movie and sees such as THE WOLF MAN instead of without condemnation, and with high himself as the poor monster. In THE WOLFMAN, DR. WU instead of MR. hunor and low comedy. the end, the very human robot decid­ WU, and no one can ever seem to es to coninitt suicide—and does so. get the name of the Master of MET­ It neatly solves its problems, its ROPOLIS correct -- Joh (short for makers' problems, and the film's Johann) Fredersen in the German problems. version and John Masterman in the HEART OF STEEL (ABC) English, not John Frederson -- and is primarily there is no record of James Mason depressing as it details the person­ in THUNDER ROCK, nor of that Road­ al ordeal of steelworkers all at sea show classic of the 30s, HELLEVIS- for months and months after their I0N. steel mill closes down. They've But the accomplishment far out­ worked in the place all their liv­ weighs a few omissions or misin­ es and felt their jobs were set in formations; Lentz' compilation is concrete, as were the jobs of their an amazing achievement and no self- fathers. respecting university, library or But now their unemployment com­ cinephile should be without this ma­ pensation is running out and they jor contribution to the "odd genre." face losing homes, cars, manhood. Peter Straus plays a steelwork­ er who goes through all the chang­ LETTERS

# LETTER FROM J0H4 GRIFFIN TRIMBLE 969 S. Bronson Ave Los Angeles, CA 90005 November 10, 1983

'Thank you for SFR #49. I note that our mailing label has a "T" on it, which means, I 'spect, that you'd like to trade with us for TO THE STARS. I'm certainly willing, and have said so to our computer mailing list input. (My, doesn't that sound high tech?) 'Ted White's letter struck me as his usual opinionated, don't- bother-me-with-the-facts sort of thing. So circulation always wins the fanzine Hugo, eh? How does he explain Ron Ellik 8 Terry Carr tak­ ing it in 1959, with FANAC, against FANTASY SF TIMES still greater cir­ culation? Or CRY winning, later in the '60s? I find it interesting that Ted now feels that the fan categories should be eliminated from the Hugos; a marked about-face from the Ted White who expanded the Hugos, willy-nflly, to include the fan categories, back in 1967! 'In the same damn-the-facts vein, Ted goes on to call our "cam­ paign" for BATTLEFIELD EARTH "cyn­ ical." Far from it, we were mere­ ly attempting to make a point; namely, that Hubbard's book should be given fair consideration as

18 what it is: a monumental work of know how predictable Ted is. The dollar continues to gain purch­ SF, without a lot of nonsense about asing power, bankruptcies increase Scientology or Dianetics clouding 'Hey, Dick, why don't you re­ year after year (higher now than in the issue. vive PSYCHOTIC as a small circula­ 1982) and the international debt tion fanzine, and repeat Jack Gaug­ problems simply become more incred­ 'When we read BE, Bjo, Lora 6 han's trick from '67, and win two I loved it; it was fun, and excit­ ible and more impossible every (or even three, and do Jack one year. ing, and notably lacking in a lot better) Hugos at one crack? of the maudlin clap-trap that has ((Heavy industry cannot be done been present entirely too much in 'In your "Alien Thoughts" col­ without by this country----unless we SF in recent years. But we noted umn, I think you're taking too want to import all our steel and that darned few reviewers paid it much the view expressed by Casey 5 let foreign firms do all our ship­ any attention, and most who did re­ others who are banking on the "com­ building, locomotive making, car­ view it weren't willing to examine ing bad times," and are ignoring making. .. tank making.... We cannot it without bringing extraneous is­ the tremendous explosion in entre- be dependent on other countries for sues into the review. preneuring that's taking place to­ key defense industry manufacturing. day, where people are doing their Unless we're willing to be a colony 'When Andy Porter alleged, in own thing -- to a more successful of Japan.. .or Russia.)) SF CHRONICLE, that the only way BE degree than ever before. We're un­ could win a Hugo would be if hund­ doubtedly going to continue to have reds (if not thousands) of Scient­ a problem with heavy industry in ologists joined Constellation in this country, 'cause that's a dy­ order to vote for it, we saw red. ing part of our economy. But its So we decided on our infamous cam­ # LETTER FROM ARNIE FENNER place is going to be taken by in­ 9402 West 82nd Terr. paign. We contacted Author Servic­ formation-connected industry, and es, Hubbard's publicity reps, and Overland Park, KS 66204 the end product will be more em­ November, 1983 asked them if they had any fan ployment (and better working condi­ mail on the book. They did, and tions) than when we relied on heav- 'It doesn't matter that Ted offered to give us names 6 addres­ y industry. We're certainly going ses. We contacted Bill Evans, and White chose not to read my letter to live in "interesting times" (as as it was intended (as a response asked if they would have any prob­ the old Chinese curse puts it) lems with us circulating Hugo nom­ to Rich Brown's charges of unfair­ while the transition takes place, ness in the fanzine Hugo category) inating ballots, so long as we put but I don't think it's going to our name on them as circulators, as or that the "fanzine" titles men­ get anywhere near as bad as the tioned were originally brought up required in the rules. 30s. ' in Mr. Brown's previous letter. Nor does it matter that Ted makes 'They gave us the go-ahead comment on my qualifications to and we mailed to the list of peop­ ((I've thought about reviving PSYCHOTIC, or REG, or even starting discuss the subject even though le who'd written in about the book, he's as ignorant of me and my read­ plus people in the- SF field whom a new-title personalzine, in order to qualify for a Hugo or two under ing background as he claims I am we thought should know what we were of fanzines and the Hugos. doing. If we'd really been trying the new rules. But...I hesitate to to stuff the ballot-box, S had take on new, long-tern, writing/ 'It doesn't matter that Ted really had big money backing, we'd publishing projects while I'm bend­ has no way of knowing what type of have utilized our 20,000-person ing all my efforts (most all) to flack Tom Reamy took from true- mailing list (the one we used to trying to make a solid place for blue fen (gosh, wow, like Ted) re­ get 500,000 pieces of mail across myself in near-future thriller nov­ garding TRUMPET or that he is way President Ford's desk, to re-name els in the Hew York markets. As I off base and totally out of line the initial shuttle), and made sure grow older I grow more lazy. when he states that Tom didn't that the book was nominated. In­ ((And besides, what would I care about the magazine's editori­ stead, I think we played entirely write about in a separate personal­ al content and that TRUMPET was an fair. So, even if we failed of zine that I don’t naw in SER? All "expensively-produced piece of the goal of getting BATTLEFIELD I could promise is simply more of garbage." (Scantily clad people? EARTH nominated, I believe that we the same, in bigger, more frequent Where? Artistic rip-offs of mus­ made our point; from reviews I've doses. cle magazine male nudes? There's seen since then, and from conversa­ ((Now, if my fiction-writing only one drawing — the cover of tions with fans, after the Hugo career goes aground for lack of #1 -- that might, if you stretch nominations were closed, BE is be­ sales in the next six months, say, your imagination, be considered ing considered on its own merits. after I've turned out two or three such.) more partials (and if the collabor- 'And that's what we wanted. ation(s) with Elton Elliott yield 'Never mind that Ted wants As I've said, we loved the book. no more fruit), then I may succumb fanzines to conform only to his I know people who I like and res­ to the lure of PSYCHOTIC.. .or REG. definition of what a fanzine pect, who've read the book and hat­ But not till the August issue will should be. Or that he uses mechan­ ed it. Fine, but at least they've I (or the readership) know which icals, circulation and money as been willing to make the attempt, or what or when. determining factors in what is and which is something I don't believe isn't a fanzine — and doesn't take that they'd have been reat^to do ((The coming Bad Times of debt into account the intent of the per- if we hadn't attempted to DO SOME­ collapse and deflation---- worse than son(s) producing said fanzine. THING! I must say, however, that the 30's---- will be terrifyingly bad 'None of it matters. Because, the majority of fans we've talked for large numbers of people, and really. Who cares what Ted White to who've read BE have liked it. yet will be good times for even thinks? " larger numbers of others. As in 'I shouldn't really crab at 'Not me. Ted White; he won a bet for us, the 30's, there’ll be a vast series after all. But then, it was a suck­ of rolling adjustments and I suspect 'Take care, Richard. we are entering that period naw. er bet, 'cause Fred Harris hasn't 'PS: VERY nice cover this been around fans long enough to 19 issue!' # LETTER FROM AL JACKSON off the proofs, written my own # CARD FROM ROBERT BLOCH 4513 Pine, Bellaire, TX 77401 substitutes, and appended "Please 2111 Sunset Crest Dr November 20, 1983 use this instead." In all cases Los Angeles, CA 90016 my requests were granted; twice November 9, 1983 'Since I was an assistant edi­ the editor thanked me, saying he tor on TRUMPET at the time I can hated the original blurb too, but 'First off, congratulations on tell Ted White that we did indeed hadn't been able to do anything your awards.' about it. I still haven't a hand­ take flack because of the slick ap­ 'What Charles Platt says about le on hardback dust-jacket copy, pearance of the magazine. Tom the Hugos has been said many times Reamy's intention in 1965 was to though, because they never let you see that until too late.) before -- and will be said many publish a beautiful fanzine, even times again, because the situation though he knew he would be consid­ 'I think you know my views on won't change. A popular vote is ered as killing a rabbit with a the fanzine Hugo: that profit­ usually a vote for the popular, and cannon. As Ted correctly points making high-circ zines don't be­ the critical faculties of most out, TRUMPET became something else, long in the same league with low- fans, particularly the predominant the first in a long line of "slick circ zines conforming to the def­ majority of teen-agers, offer no SF" (Fantasy, comic, gaming, movie) inition of a fanzine as a Good guarantee that awards will be vot­ magazines. I think the name semi- Respectable Money-Losing Hobby. ed on the basis of excellence. prozine is too strong since most But the WorldCons are now setting Few fans can hope to read even a of these types of magazines have up a separate category, in which small portion of the hundreds of never paid a cent for their mater­ you and Charlie can compete by books and magazines pouring forth ials. For instance, the longest yourselves until the voters real­ in relentless profusion (as wit­ running one of these magazines is ize that all the semi-pro zines ness the number of current titles CI NEFANTASTIQUE, which I think ev­ are eligible therein. Since It'll listed in your present issue) so en still pays little or nothing for be a cold hellish day when 1^ do a even if granted critical acumen -- its content. genzine again, my concern is mini­ which is in fairly short supply -- 'I'm sure Ted's criticism of mal. So I hope it works out, and they can't be relied on to change TRUMPET comes from his recollection that everyone has fun. the present setup. of the first issue or two. We knew 'Am intensely pleased to see 'Yours, for example, is def­ we had to improve the prose con­ the Snyder-Busch-Meredith scam initely a popularity award -- and tent and I think Tom succeeded in come down in approximation of the as such, you should be proud of this. I know that Tom turned down dirigible "Hindenburg." Elton can it! ' many articles during this time like Herr Busch all he wants, but which he considered not up to stan­ I find it difficult to sympathize ((Oh, I am! I am! But...popu­ dard for the magazine. with a man who refers to written larity for what? The quality of my 'It is true that Tom started works only as "product." Anyone editorials and reviews and this kind as an artist and he worked for 12 who thinks only in terms of the of editorial response to letters? years as an art director for a Bottom Line is automatically the Or the content of my writings? Or technical publication department. enemy of 98% of writers. am I popular just because I publish In fact, he was an exceptional 'Personally I caught a few on time? Or is it because I don’t go artist but just as with his writ­ bad years from conglomerate horse- to conventions and shatter a lot of ing, he was too modest about his puckie but this year is much bet­ illusions? I'll (sob) probably abilities and never pursued his ter; next spring if all goes to never know.)) artwork in depth. It is Ted's op­ plan, I shall have books all over inion but I don't think that many the stands, jumping out to grab would classify middle-and-late- you by the antrims.' period TRUMPET as garbage.'

t (We've just received a copy of # Lt IItR FROM RICHARD MCENROE ((It wasn't that TRUMPET pub­ your new STAR REBEL from Bantam (too MV "Gully J" Island Bay lished bad written material, so late to include in The Archives) and Marina, Island Park, NY 11558 much as that the graphics and art­ it caught my interest in the first November 4, 1983 work tended always to overwhelm page.)) the text. The writing couldn't 'Once more into the breach ... live up to its framing, its dis­ writing to SFR is quickly becoming play.)) a worrisome habit: I'm told if I keep it up, hair will begin to grow on my typewriter keys, not to men­ tion that continued exposure to

# LETTER FROM F.M. BUSBY WERe 7© REMOVE ONE 2852 14th Avenue West J?" F»R each Seattle, WA 98119 MtSTAKE IN THiS u-ETTee Ms August 10, 1983 FtEWSH, You ujOULb be Town W MOT PANr,es WE XFACH w 'In "Archives," have you dealt secomt r low blows by quoting from the in­ ANY, HoNEf . house blurbs? The single-quote­ mark parts, I mean, that you've printed. Because any book can be made to look stupid by its own blurbs. (Personally, in the case -Xfal J of at least four of my own books I n have exed the house-written blurbs Darrell Schweitzer and Elton Elli­ way. SFWA and the agent's associa­ ott can result in tone-deaf prose tion were clearly correct to op­ and leaden exposition -- but what pose this deal, a fact that I the hell, even someone as terrific think is justified by the number as me needs one vice. of clients who were walking ar­ ound Baltimore quietly looking for 'Welcome to Charles Platt. I don't know if one column in SFR new agents...' will make up for the impending loss of THE PATCHIN REVIEW, but it's ((Yeah, the writer-as-chattel better than nothing by far/by a is a danger if the agent-packager good deal/by a decent amount/well, phenomenon takes hold and becomes hell, Platt's got as much right to a large chunk of publishing and/or shoot his mouth off as anyone else ... I'd like to add a couple of things he left out of his con­ vention report: the spontaneous movie-TV-making. The writer has applause that broke out in the back to keep tabs on his sales, how well of the hall when Chalker got to the his books do, and be willing to Best Novel Hugo and remarked that change agents-packagers to get bett­ he hadn't won that one, either, and er terms/advances/deals. A star the fact that the premiere showing writer will still get big bucks, of the final Yamato cartoon was gust as star athletes do. And better attended than the program there’ll always be agents who will for The Right Stuff -- evidently know who is who and what is what, there's a larger fan interest in who will act as agents handling writers for sale’or lease to the the mock-heroics of a bunch of vices and buying them. In fact, agents-packagers. No matter how militaristic Asiatics than there this practice has already spawned is in real-world courage. Also, a whole new class of show-business many games are played between the writer and the reader, the Market they must have stopped charging horror stories, of actors and writ­ for the long-boat rides after the ers who are deliberately not put will rule, and the writer who can sell a million books will always first day, because they were let­ up for roles or assignments because be king. This decade it is Stephen ting people row for free by Satur­ their own agents wanted to use them King, I guess.)) day. You should have tried it, in a package the agents were as­ Charles, not only was it a rare sembling. And, of course, there opportunity for a pallid little li­ is precious little the client can mey to see how one of those things do to redress such a grievance: looked from the driver's end for a they'd have to prove their agent change, but the sight of a boat­ had held them back deliberately, load of fans armored in D§D and and where are you going to get # LETTER FROM BUZZ DIXON Theives' World buttons suddenly the hard evidence of that? Also, 8961 Yolanda, Northridge, CA realizing what a real, live 12- clients who complain find their 91324 Nov 17, 1983 foot oar actually weighs was price­ number of offers in a curious de­ less. The looks on their faces cline. 'On the day SFR #49 arrived, I about halfway out into the harbor received the oddest rejection let­ might just have been worth five 'The parallel danger of pack­ ter (or rather, rejection package) dollars. aging in publishing should be ob­ vious. What writer whose agent is in my life -- odder than the re­ I'm surprised that none of into a packaging deal could ever jection from a network producer your writers has commented yet on trust his, agent to be acting in who returned my material by express the similarities between the recent his best interest? How could he mail within twenty-four hours of attempted Meredith/Pocket packaging or she ever be sure that the book receiving it with a nasty letter deal and the increasing incidence bought for three grand wouldn't belittling my ideas, scorning my of similar package productions in have gone for four or five or six writing ability, and doubting my the film and television industry. grand at Del Rey or Bantam or Berk- worth as a human being. Several agencies on the West Coast ley-Ace-Playboy-Whoever instead? 'I'd sent a short (under 400 have begun assuming the role of And why should that agent get words) humor piece to a men's mag­ producer. They assemble a property ten or fifteen percent of a sale azine. Since the piece was only from among their own stables of he or she made to his own package. two pages long, I mailed it folded writers, actors and producers and Editors and publishers don't get up in a regular long letter envel­ offer the fait accompli to the stu­ commissions. ope, with a folded up letter en­ dios or networks for distribution. velope as my return postage. But where this is not objectionable 'Packaging is not a new indig­ when performed by a studio or net­ nity. Back in the Fifties at 'I got back a large packet work, who after all are in busin­ least one well-known agency used from the magazine company. In it ess to perform just that function, to have standing deals with sever­ I found (1) my humor piece (2) my the same practice undertaken by an al of the cheaper men's adventure return envelope, unused (3) a stan­ agent presents an immediate and and skiffy mags to supply them with dard rejection note and (4) the glaring conflict of interest -- their entire fiction requirements. December and January issues of the because an agent is not a buyer of How many of that agency's clients magazine. his client's services,, he or she back then had their careers dis­ torted or aborted feeding their 'News stand price on the maga­ is contracted to get the best pos­ zines is close to six dollars. sible price for that client's ser­ representative's packages. We may never know, but the number is This is the first time I've ever vices on the market, a contractual profited by a rejection ncrte. realtionship it is clearly impos­ clearly greater than one. That sible to maintain when the agent agent is still in business, by the 'On to SFR #49. is both selling the client's ser­ 21 'Yes, Worldcon prices are get- ting steep. I realize there's a and indifferent work. A good book not quite as much profit, second, great deal of expense involved in should be well designed, well built unlike films, books do not tie up staging one, and, yes, those work­ and highly polished. I periodical­ the expensive services of hundreds ing on the committee should be ade­ ly weed my library to get rid of of people, and third, there's no quately compensated, but still ... all the Sears particle board junk deadline pressure comparable with $40 dollars going to $50? and keep only the Chippendales. TV. 'Sigh. I guess I'll have to 'I'm glad you have an editor 'TV writing certainly pays pay -- I haven't been to a Worldcon who seems to be operating with the well, but the status of the Holly­ since Noreascon back in '71 and I intent of honestly improving the wood writer (especially in TV) is have only been to three smaller book -- striving for clarity, brev­ that of the single most expendable conventions since then. It seems ity, and sturdier construction. person involved in the production. appropriate, almost compulsory, to Would that all editors, publishers We are expected to provide carp­ attend the science fiction conven­ and producers have her philosophy. entry work -- literally -- and tion of 1984. when we object to things not mak­ 'Far too often changes are made ing sense or working dramatically, 'I agree with you, though, in an arbitrary, irrational manner we are either ignored or looked up­ about voting/non-attending member­ hoping to cash in on some quickly on with bemused contempt. ships. They should be kept down to fading fad. Alan Brenner, the TV a reasonable level -- with adequate writer, wrote an article in STARLOG 'As Marty Pasko, a fellow TV/ program material sent to the non­ about how then NBC president Fred­ comic book writer, once said, "The attending members. dy Silverman ordered a dog added function of a writer in television 'The book business seems to be to an episode of BUCK ROGERS be­ is to write a scene with the power taking lessons from the movie bus­ cause the dog tested well with aud­ and intensity of Blanche's 'I have iness. Your examples of how book iences (no hint from the network always relied on the kindness of sellers are becomg de facto editors on how said dog was to function in strangers' speech in A STREETCAR reminds me of how the NATO (Nation­ the show). NAMED DESIRE; have the network tell you first that they love the scene al Alliance of Theatre Operators) 'A political columnist for the and second that they're changing members are exhibiting tremendous local paper pointed out that Reag­ the character of Blanche to a pen­ sway over what gets made, what an's popularity shot up after the gets shown, and what makes a prof­ guin; then wrack your brains to Grenada invasion because he didn't come up with a workable dramatic it. Certain films don't get re­ waste time with popularity polls reason for the penguin to be stand­ leased (Jonathan Kaplan's excellent or sounding out Congress or finding film, OVER THE EDGE, was never re­ ing under a naked lightbulb in cen­ out how the average American citi­ ter stage saying it." leased theatrically because theatre zen felt; if he had, there'd still owners feared Kaplan's vandalism be study groups wondering what to theme would inspire teens to riot do about the Marxist coup in Gren­ 'Re Orson Scott Card's letter: in the movie houses), others are ada. Instead, right or wrong, Rea­ Well, gee whiz, I happen to like sent back for reshooting and re-ed- gan acted decisively -- and people Hemingway and Fitzgerald and Updike iting (Disney took back WATCHER IN applauded him for it. and Henry James. While I concede THE WOODS after a disasterous there is a self-congratulatory screening for the NATO convention 'Publishers and producers do group of "literati" who make a lot in New York and chopped off the not seem to realize that giving of noise about authors they con­ old ending and filmed a new one in the people what they want is not sider important, the truth is they its place), others still simply the way to success -- giving them are a toothless old bunch. The are not pushed (STRANGE INVADERS-- what they didn't know they wanted only persons who take them serious­ an odd little SF film that got fair is the path to block-busters (pri­ ly are their own inner circle (much to good notices from critics -- or to opening, marketing surveys like science fiction fans, but I disappeared less than a week after indicated STAR WARS would do fair digress). business at best). it opened in Los Angeles; it had • virtually no media buildup in LA). 'Orson really dives off the 'I suspect there is less ar­ deep end with his criticism of 'One important factor in the bitrary fiddling with books than "top ... literary caste" writers continuing popularity of books -- there is with films and TV (which doing the same "formula" story ov­ even genre trash --is that it is is not to say there's none -- Pet­ er and over again -- you know, the an interactive form of entertain­ er Benchly added an adultery sub­ one about the creative person who ment. Despite the opinions of too plot when his publisher thought is misunderstood by others as he many network and film executives, married sex was too tame for JAWS). or she struggles to communicate most people enjoy putting at least First, there's a bit less risk and with them -- books like most of a little bit of work into their Stephen King's fiction or Robert entertainment -- it makes 'em ap­ Heinlein's competent engineers or preciate it more. Stuff that just ftc stt/K Mi of Hisrwt Ayn Rand's superheroes or Keith washes over you is quickly (and Laumer's Retief, stories we all deservedly) forgotten (like Satur­ HAD E/(- Meses know are loved and cherished by the day morning animation). New York literati. 'In a similar vein, I enjoyed 'As David Gerrold has pointed your piece on writing ("Construct­ out, ultimately every story boils ive Projects") and would like to down to the same basic plot: Some­ see more of the same in future is­ one or something is trying to keep sues of SFR. I know you've publish­ you from being the person you want ed columns and short pieces on to be. writing before, but I'd really en­ joy seeing a little more of these. 'If this is true -- and I've yet to see the story that doesn't 'Yes, In many ways writing can fit this definition of plot, be it be compared to carpentry. And BRECHT IS BACK or THE MOON IS A like carpentry, there's good, bad. HARSH MISTRESS or CAPTAIN FUTURE -- then there's almost no point in wr­ fiction and fantasy writers are ((I enjoy discussing writing, iting. The protagonist will eith­ mute. but I'm aware that it involves talk­ er (1) succeed -- as in Old Guard 'All this is not meant as a ing about my awn writing style and space opera (2) fail -- as in New technique, and I know this comes Wave (sic!) gloom § doom or (3) put-down of those who enjoy Clarke and Asimov and Doc Smith and a host across to some as bragging, showboat­ the protagonist changes for the ing, saying "Hey, I'm a Pro!" and better in a manner unsuspected by of others -- it's your money, gang, and if reading about Kimball Kin- like that. And there is an element the reader -- which is what good of that in my writing about writing. fiction is all about. nison defeating the evil Boskoni- ans turns you on, hey, more power Can't be helped. I may become in­ 'Most science fiction, fantasy, to you. sufferable if I make more book sales. and horror is B.A.D. -- no if;, I have a sneaking suspicion that ands, or buts about it. Most of 'But is is meant as a put-down I'm a damned good commercial fiction our wounds are self inflicted. of those who say a good ripping writer. I want to entertain people, yarn should be mere entertainment grap them by their hindbrain and not 'Any school of writing (I des­ and the equal if not the superior let go!—and slip an acid little pise the germ "genre" as prejora- to mainstream fiction. There are message into their cortex in the tive) that produces Ballard, Brad­ no classics that do not possess process. bury, Delaney, Dick, Disch, Elli­ sub-texts and multi-layers of mean­ ((I'm aware of the commercial son, and — yes, even that old war ing and theme -- VARNEY THE VAMPIRE elements required in mass market horse -- Heinlein is a school to was published in the Victorian era fiction now. I think it's a chal­ be taken seriously. Unfortunately, and sold quite well, but somehow lenge to use a strong woman in place too much gets written and publish­ fell from view while its competitor of the usual male hero; it requires ed that is simply "goshwow" stuff. DRACULA, has indeed become a clas­ adjustments in plotting, in action, I've met Asimov — he's a nice, sic work of fiction (DRACULA'S also in characterizations, in balancing, friendly man, I like the clever­ got Characterization and Meaning lou have to think of the fact that ness of many of his stories -- but laid on with a trowel). women buy most of the novels today, the man is only a marginally com­ and they want to read about tough, petent fiction writer. 'There's nothing that keeps competent women, and yet, too, they good writing from being entertain­ want heroic men, even macho men, 'The same is true for lots of ing, or entertaining writing from as well, and what I grew up on in people. Recently, I read the en­ being good (indeed, one criteria fiction doesn't cut any ice any more. tire collected short works of Saki, of good writing is that it is en­ We see emerging (DALLAS, DINASTI, Ambrose Bierce, and M.R. James. tertaining or interest-grabbing -- etc.) the bitch-queen villainess, Now, granted even the best of us most classics are indeed rousing who can take on any man in her fash­ have off days, the amount of med- good reads). But too many science ion. And why not? Women in the iocre-to-dull crap they wrote and fiction fans perfer not to think workplace are subtly, unknowingly, published in their lifetimes is about human behavior, relation­ throwing their increasing economic staggering. Saki in particular ships and motives (because of power around, and writers as well rests his reputation on one single their own personal failures in as many other professions, are short story (which, admittedly, is these areas?) and opt for spectac­ shifting to satisfy, to lure, to a doozy -- "The Open Window"). le. feed this power. It is no accident that more and more editors in pub­ 'The problem is (though "prob­ 'Indeed, one of the reasons I lishing are women. It isn't just lem" is perhaps too harsh a word) prefer horror fiction nowadays to because they (used to) work cheap­ that too many people are amused by most science fiction (and there's er. It's because they are in tune a clever little plot twist or in­ a lot of turkeys published in the with the majority of their readers. vention or bit of action, and horror category) is because horror ((I suspect this process may think that because they're amused, writers seem less interested in result in a trendline of men with­ ipso facto the author is a good how things work as why people be­ drawing from reading novels because writer. "Clever" plot twists have the yay they do. Shirley they sense most novels are slanted without adequate characterization Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL toward women...to the point where to back them up are just tiresome; HOUSE tells us precious little a- it won't be "masculine" to read 0. Henry's and Roald Dahl's and bout ghosts, but a hell of a lot novels. At that point no doubt a John Collier's short fiction works about human guiIt. publisher will hire a male editor where Saki's and Bierce's and M.R. 'In short, science fiction's and issue a line of super macho­ James' fail because the former tend worst enemies aren't on the out­ action, male dominating novels aim­ to populate their stories with side, but within our own camp. ed at a strictly male readership. people while the latter inhabited (Not porno, mind you, but with them with stick figures. 'Brunner's column was fascinat­ sex of the brief hardcore scene.) ing. I look forward to seeing the '(This, by the way, is a fine ((TV writing---- with all those rest of it. In regards to "Jap- example of a pot calling the kettle public-morality restrictions---- lish," here are two titles of Jap­ black. Ask me the weakest aspect seems a pit inherently frustrating anese films that Daily Variety of my writing and I'll concede it's to anyone who wants to do more translated too literally: NAUGHTY characterization.) than simply make money. Especially GIRL MAFIA and ZOOM-IN--RAPE PUBLIC network TV. Cable is doing some 'There are an awful lot of HOUSING. nice, interesting things, but hasn't clever people who write science 'In closing, the Piers Anthony the economic power to do much. And fiction. For entertaining light profile was fascinating and John cable, as it gains more millions of reading that's a cut above the av­ DiPrete should be informed that subscribers, will inevitably assume- erage TV show, one could do far CREEPSHOW and Warren comics are the-position and become afraid to worse than to read them. based on the old EC comics.' offend anyone. 'But when it comes to saying ((I'd love to see a myriad of something, to commenting on the expensive, low-numbers-of-subscrib­ Human Condition (or Life, the Uni­ ers special-interest channels on verse, and Everything, as Doug Ad­ cable, but doubt that will come ams would have it), most science 23 about. ((Cable will become ABC/CBS/ # LETTER FROM GEORGE H. SMITH # CMDenver, CO 80209 how many Meanings are there in Life, fact, I found that the tyro writers Nov. 2, 1983 ' after all? How many dramatic situa­ in that class were far more inter­ tions can be written to perfection? ested in what I had to say about 'As for flight to a safe place, So how come publishers keep churning Dean than in what I told them about Carl Sagan recently gave a speech out endless sf adventures, westerns, my historical novels; they were here, and is giving it around the romances, mysteries, etc., etc.? excited and enthused at his ap­ country, that puts to rest the id­ How come people will spend good money proach to writing. His fictional ea that there will be any safe reading in essence the same thing ov­ work is admired by such diverse place after atomic war on a large er and over and over? Why do we sit writers as Stephen King, John D. scale for this reason: If 50 bombs and watch TV sitcoms that repeat the McDonald and Gregory Benford. are exploded (and this is a mere same jokes we saw thirty years ago? fraction of the number that are 'Koontz does write under pen The same private eye series plots? keyed in by both Russia and the names, of course, and his success The same soap opera complications? U.S.), they will create such a is just as solid with those. I'm A deep hunger? A Need? A built-in mass of dust in the atmosphere not in a position to quote the ex­ appetite for diversion, fantasy, make- that it will take four years be­ act amount of his income, but I believe? fore the earth again gets enough can say from my own knowledge that ((Don’t you ever think you're sun to make photosynthesis produce he receives advances for every book ripping people off, telling the same enough vegetable matter for any he writes that are larger than the stories over and over, with small survivors of the animal kingdom to yearly income of which Mr. Anthony variations? Don’t you feel guilty? live on. He finds it hard to be­ is so deservedly proud. Most people seem to need a fiction lieve that a warring earth would "fix" every day or so. And supply­ 'Piers Anthony's lack of in­ be sufficiently organized to hand­ ing that "habit" is the living of formation regarding Dean's brilli­ le food supplies in a manner to the entertainment industry, of which ant career jnay be accounted for by get survivors through that four thee and me are willing, greedy his hermit's existence. You don't years; instead, he envisions mass members. But this is the way it have that excuse, Geis. I am sure starvation of any survivors, and is, baby. Here's a Meaning of Life you are quite aware of Koontz' ex­ prefers to believe that man will for you. Don't fight the tide, cellent reputation but you chose to simply come to an end and some oth­ don’t fix it if it ain't broke, permit Anthony to embarrass him­ er species may have its chance if and last as long as you can. Also, self without making any attempt at it can manage the fallout problem.' most important: always get out of correction. You're starting to the way of speeding trains. Of slip badly. I suggest you need Al­ ((Well, hell, if mankind doesn't course, you have to be smart enough ter back to keep you on the ball.' survive four years of no crops, how to recognize speeding trains; some­ can any other species? times they take the shapes of people, ((I knew that Dean had made a break- ((Some people would survive, of governments, agencies, religions, thorugh into the top league of fic­ course—if only by eating each oth­ etc. Very complicated, at times. tion writing, but I am not privy to er. )) There's more to say, but I’m running all the inside info you are, and out of room.)) never will be. If misstatements are made in SFR I depend on the readership to make corrections, and I thank you for this correc­ tion in re Koontz.)) # LETTER FROM RONALD R LAMBERT 2350 Virginia Troy, MI 58083 Nov. 8, 1983

'My discussion of the possib­ ility that super humans might be 24 produced in the near future, by means of artificial augmentation /IK (HAS mans. With increasing brain size and/or genetic engineering, was MTi-C/HL- comes increasing difficulty for intended as a minor point addres­ AM AH LOST. humans. With increasing brain sed to the plaint by Elton T. El­ size comes increasing difficulty liott and Vernor Vinge that the AH AH WAS AhT77-W0M£x/S for larger-headed infants to fit modern increase in knowledge will KIGHTS, an AH through the pelvic girdle of the soon become overwhelming. I did mother in childbirth. This prob­ not mean to carry on at such leng­ AHM AHTI-LIVE lem reputedly contributed to the th, but something tells me this FOMEUAH- demise of the Cro-Magnons (at might be important. The develop­ least as a pure genetic strain], ment of super humans is very like­ u)iTH LucK P causing so many Cro-Magnon women ly to happen, perhaps in the near AHll Lo to die in childbirth that the spec­ future. Today's "computer genera­ this 'uM ies had too low a rate of increase tion" of young people may repre­ in population to be able to com­ sent an evolutionary step in that pete with the rapidly-proliferating direction already. Neanderthals. (Some people sus­ 'I do not mind being called i- pect that modern man may be a dealistic, as long as that is not strain that arose from a hybridiz­ meant to imply naive as well. I ation between Cro-Magnon and Neand­ do not ignore human nature. In erthal. If so, then this would be fact, I prefer to study it close­ bad news for all the redneck de­ fenders of racial purity -- we are ly, objectively, not allowing my­ self to be biased by blanket judg­ all the result of miscegenation!) Genetically engineered super hu­ ments such as the one some people seem to make, that "human nature" mans would probably have to be de­ is a synonym for evil. livered by Caesarian section, or else be gestated in artificial 'History attests that people wombs. In view of this, creating do not always launch pogroms again­ super humans by means of implanted st anyone who is different. Some­ person has, there must also be com­ logic chips would probably be more times it has happened, and some­ pensating disadvantages. If a per­ practical. times not. Factors external to son has a high I.Q., he is suppos­ 'Naturally super humans would human nature appear to be involved. ed to be a klutz at sports and a For example, during the Thirty social boor. This notion of com­ rise to positions of leadership in society. People of high intelli­ Years War, Catholics and Protest­ pensation has absolutely no basis gence do that now, and we all re­ ants fought each other so ruthles­ in fact whatsoever. It is merely gard this as entirely proper and sly that the population of a large the result of wishful thinking on area of Europe was decimated. the part of the envious. So super desirable. If even more intelli­ Even today, Catholics and Protest­ humans need not be monstrous in gent super humans rise to positions ants still kill each other in Nor­ compensation for being super smart. of leadership, and as a result thern Ireland. But Catholics and They may well have all advantages things start working better for Protestants live together peaceful­ and no disadvantages at all -- not everybody, and general prosperity increases (perhaps to the point ly here in America. The very idea emotionally, socially, spiritual­ where there is truly plenty for of sectarian strife here is vir­ ly, or physically. everyone), then who is going to tually inconceivable. Is our hu­ 'Possessing neotenic charac­ complain? man nature any different than the teristics does not mean that they human nature of the people who live would be pitiable, large-eyed, 'Orson Scott Card said that he in Northern Ireland, or the people pudgy-bodied runts. Neotenic thought it was curious that my or­ who lived a few centuries ago in characteristics are things like iginal discussion concerning the Europe? Not likely. So what makes high forehead and erect posture. nature and merits of science fic­ the difference? Obviously other Scientists who have speculated on tion and concerning the congenial­ factors must enter in -- such as this say that genetically produced ity of knowledge took place in the the identification of Catholicism super humans would have to have context of the SF vs. fantasy de­ with Irish nationalism, the desire larger and stronger bodies to sup­ bate. I did not intend that any­ to preserve the political unity of port their bigger brains. Modern one should infer that I was siding the Holy Roman Empire, and the non­ man is almost twice as tall as with those who complain about SF establishment clause in the U.S. some of the early hominid species allegedly being "contaminated" by constitution which mandates a who possessed less neotenic charac­ fantasy. That was not the issue I strict separation between church teristics than we do. And Cro- was addressing. Now, however, I and state. Magnon man, who had a larger brain would like to address it. than modern man, was also slight­ 'My observation is that SF and 'In the case of super humans ly taller. Reconstructions of Cro- fantasy are not at odds. The idea of the future, you are assuming Magnons based on skeletal remains that they are mutually exclusive certain factors will be involved. strike most people as appearing and inherently antagonistic, and You depict the super humans as "noble." This is especially in­ that apocalyptic doom will result cold-hearted beings of pure intel­ teresting, because the possibility if some sort of literary apartheid lect and repulsive form who are as exists that by trying to genetical­ policy is not instituted, strikes elitist as medieval aristocrats. ly engineer super humans, we will me as repugnant and outrageous. If your depiction turns out to be actually be trying to recreate the Some people are always searching accurate, there might be- pogroms Cro-Magnon species. for new niggers. Now it is fan­ and jihads. But what if they are 'Referring to the Cro-Magnons tasy, proliferating in the SF not like that at all? however, we also can see one pos­ neighborhood, that brings cries of alarm from the defenders of cultur­ 'There is a common belief, on sible problem involved in trying the order of a superstition real­ to genetically engineer super hu- al purity. ly, that for whatever advantages a 25 'I have never experienced any conflict in liking Tolkien, Donald­ think that lightning will not # LETTER FROM ALAN ELMS son, Vance and Hogan. I like the strike them now, because they know UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS hardest of the hard SF, and I also it is only electricity. Things Dep't of Psychology 95616 like Hobbits. SF and fantasy are like telepathy, precognition, life December 21, 1983 really not all that different. To beyond death, the whole concept of paraphrase Arthur C. Clarke, any a spiritual dimension to reality, 'Issue #49 didn't include any science fiction sufficiently ad­ even in many cases something as letters on J.J. Pierce's "Treasure vanced is indistinguishable from seemingly technological as UFOs, of the Secret Cordwainer" from Is­ fantasy, anyway. The essence of threaten their cherished epistem­ sue #48, so let me offer my belated both forms of literature is play­ ological paradigm. They do not compliments. Without Pierce's work ing with ideas. Whether those i- want to be left without their phil­ over the years, Paul Linebarger deas pertain to scientific know­ osophical teddy bear any more than would be almost unknown among sci­ ledge expressed in empirical facts, religious people do. ence fiction fans, and the scope of or to spiritual precepts expressed Linebarger's future history in his in popular mythic figures, makes 'But there is abundant evidence Cordwainer Smith stories (as pub­ little difference. that all those fantastic things lished and as planned) would be exist. If a person's belief sys­ largely unrecognized. Pierce's SFR 'Perhaps SF is oriented to­ tem is so weak that he must blind article was a thoughtful and enter­ ward the logically analytical left himself tb entire bodies of data, taining survey of the material in hemisphere of the brain, while then inevitably it must collapse. the McMurtry collection (now the fantasy is oriented toward the in­ When it does, he may be left vul­ Kansas collection) of Linebarger's tuitive, dream-generating right nerable in a world full of preda­ papers. hemisphere of the brain. Pitting tory belief systems. SF against fantasy is as foolish 'An odd sidelight on Line­ as dividing the hemispheres of the 'People who can appreciate fan­ berger's very varied career, only brain against each other. You need tasy and play with the ideas of hinted at in the Kansas materials is them both. They complement each fantasy and frankly acknowledge that he was once L. Ron Hubbard's other. SF and fantasy alike have that fantastic elements yet exist editor! Linebarger and Hubbard be­ their places in the human spirit. in the real universe, have a far came acquainted as fellow under­ more genuinely scientific attitude graduates at George Washington Un­ 'I pointed out in my letter in than those who can look at a living iversity in the early 1930s. When SFR #48 that SF is a uniquely real­ person and see only an electrochem­ Linebarger became editor of the istic literary genre because it ically driven collection of atoms, student newspaper's monthly liter­ incorporates the element of radic­ and feel threatened if anyone ser­ ary supplement, he published a al, transforming change. It can­ iously suggests that there might be Hubbard story about a submarine not predict exactly what changes something more. crewman (not science fiction but will come about, but the inclusion 'In summation, fantasy has a rather pulpish in style). The two of the idea of change is what mat­ did not keep in touch after Hub­ ters. Now I would like to point liberalizing effect on the mind similar and complementary to that bard dropped out of school and out that something similar is true Linebarger graduated but Linebarger of fantasy. The real universe is of science fiction. We need more scientists who read Tolkien as well did get some sort of treatment from constantly full of surprises. We "Dianeticist" shortly after therap­ must presume that there are still as Heinlein. I hope the super hu­ mans of the future read both.' ist Hubbard went public in the late things science does not understand, 1940s. Linebarger praised Hubbard's and that until those things are science fiction but expressed res­ understood, they will seem to be (UUUMMM... .people of high intelli­ ervations about his psychotherapeu­ as magical and fantastic as rela­ gence do not vise to positions of tic system -- as indicated by the tivity would have seemed to Sir leadership in society. Not in our title (or subtitle) of Linebarger's Isaac Newton. Therefore, in order society. *Not in any society I can own unpublished book ETHICAL DIA­ to be true to life, literature see in this world. People of high NETICS (my underlining). should contain elements of fantasy. ambition and power-drives rise to It is not necessary to be correct 'I agree with Pierce that the leadership positions. Those are in anticipating what elements of proposed identification of Line­ emotional in origin, not intellect­ fantasy will some day turn out to barger as Robert Lindner's patient ual. be reality, just as it is not nec­ "Kirk" has been too readily accept­ ((Please don't tell me Richard essary for SF to be correct in ed as fact, "as if it were the on­ Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jirmy Carter predicting exactly what radical, ly thing worth knowing about Line­ and Ronald Reagan are the super- transforming changes will take barger." But if true, it would intelligent of America.)) place in the future. Inclusion carry intriguing implications both of the idea of fantasy is what matters. Fantasy is beneficial because it helps us to maintain a healthy sense of wonder at life it­ self, and a balanced mental atti­ tude that can embrace all of real­ ity and not be unsettled by sur­ prises. 'The real problem for some people appears to be that the very truth that reality contains nonund­ erstood fantasy elements is upset­ ting. Such people have predicated their sense of security on the as­ surance that empirical materialism has explained (or virtually ex­ plained) everything. They want to for a clearer understanding of the also in his book THE FIFTY MINUTE of the 20s" is James Branch Cabell Cordwainer Smith stories and for a HOUR) is about a psychiatric pa­ and the name coincidence is close re-assessment of Lindner's widely- tient treated by Lindner, who was but not exact: Cabell had a re­ read "Case of the Jet-Propelled convinced that the adventures of a curring character named John Char­ Couch." I've been pursuing the science fiction hero in a popular teris. book series were in fact his ad­ matter for some time and would wel­ 'I might also suggest that ventures: i.e. that he was really come any evidence for or against somebody as out of it as "Kirk" the protagonist of the books, and the question of whether Linebarger is reported to have been, would was Kirk Allen. Some of Lindner's they were biography, not fiction. He went on to write some himself, never have been able to hold the case-history details fit very nice­ diplomatic and intelligence posi­ filling in more of his "life." ly, with allowances made for approp­ tions that Linebarger did. I al­ Since the patient, "Kirk Allen," riate efforts to disguise the pat­ so have it on pretty good inform­ worked for the government on some ient's identity; some don't. ation that there was someone nam­ classified project, all this time 'Linebarger did see more than spent on places other than the ed John Carter involved in the Manhattan Project, who later went one psychotherapist during the lat­ Earth got in the way of his job, nuts. ter 1940s, but documentary evi­ and his superiors steered him to­ dence is understandably skimpy. ward a shrink (Lindner). Lindner 'So unless some pretty good (The frequent assumption that Lind­ continued to humor the patient's evidence turns up, I think the ner's patient was really named fantasies, asking for more details Aldiss/Stover "theory" should be John Carter does not appear to be of his adventures, etc., until one laid to rest forever. true, according to the best sources day "Kirk" said, "You know, Doc­ 'Another note: In BILLION I've located; but I'd be interest­ tor, none of this is true." YEAR SPREE Aldiss claims that the ed to hear what anyone has to say "Then why did you persist?" asked series described by Lindner is the about that too. If the "real" Lindner. "Because I thought you Lensman Series, not the Burroughs/ John Carter or Kirk Allen wishes believed in it," he said. Mars one. Lindner did indeed men­ quietly to stand up at this point, 'This is one of several case tion galactic empires, etc. But I'll preserve professional confid­ histories in Lindner's book. Now I think this was Lindner's attempt ences at whatever level he re­ Aldiss and Stover seem to have to conceal the identity of his pa­ quests .) come to the conclusion that this tient. He said explicitly that 'However, as Pierce suggests, is really the true story of the his patient identified with the SF Paul Linebarger was a fascinating early life of Paul Linebarger/ hero because the names were the man for many more reasons than the Cordwainer Smith. This is nearly same, which would make the pat­ possible connection with Lindner. treated as fact in the Nichols ient's name Kinneson. The link I'm now working on a psychological SF ENCYCLOPEDIA. I would like to between the author's name and Line­ biography of Linebarger, with an see the evidence. barger' s future byline is just too emphasis on his career as a writer 'The facts, such as are known tenuous. The Lensman novels were but with some material on his work about Linebarger, just don't fit. serialized in ASTOUNDING in 1937, in psychological warfare and Asian The boyhood of the patient doesn't 1939-40, 1941-42 and 1947. These studies. I'd be delighted to re­ match anything known about Line­ dates don't fit Linebarger, who ceive reminiscences or copies of barger. Further, Lindner said had collected his Ph.D. in 1936 correspondence from anyone who had that "Kirk" became fascinated with and had begun his career by then. personal contact with Paul Line­ the way that his own name appear­ He worked for Army Intelligence, barger. I'd also be happy to hear ed in the work of a "stylist of 1942-46.' from people who have figured out the 1920s." Later there appeared any of the more obscure names and a series of interplanetary adven­ references in the Cordwainer Smith tures, the hero of which had the WE ALSO HEARD FROM: stories. When I get something pub­ same name as the patient. lished, I will of course acknow­ DOUG FRATZ ledge the sources of any such mat­ 'This would have been in the CHET TWAROG erial .)' 1920s or 30s, in which very lit­ ED ROM tle SF appeared in book form. It MIKE GLICKSOtM is pretty clear that Lindner is RICH BROWN talking about books, not magazine RICHARD A FRANK stories. JOHN T. HARLLEE STEVE GALLAGHER # LETTER FROM DARRELL SCHWEITZER 'I should point out that HARRY WARNERj JR. 113 Deepdale Rd there was no "Paul Linebarger of DEAN R. LAMBE Strafford, PA 19087 Mars" series in book form in the BRUCE D. ARTHURS August 9, 1983 1930s. It is pretty obvious that NORMAN KAGAN the book series is Edgar Rice Bur­ WHOSE LETTERS WERE TYPED UP FOR 'I just read the J.J. Pierce roughs' "John Carter." Therefore, INCLUSION...BUT HAD TO BE CUT article on Cordwainer Smith. I the patient had the quite common FOR LACK OF ROOM. THANKS TO notice that Pierce mentions the name of John Carter, an under­ THEM AND THE OTHERS WHO WROTE Aldiss/Stover "Kirk Allen" theory. standable coincidence. (The only CONTENTS AND REACTIONS. My own feeling is that it's a other possibility, very slight, is courtesy to call this a "theory," Otis Adelbart Kline's "Robert and unless Aldiss and/or Stover Grandon" series set on Venus. can produce solid evidence, and Two volumes were published in the fast, it should be dismissed as period in question, in 1929 and utter nonsense. Were Linebarger 1930. Kline's Mars novels were still alive, it would also be li­ serialized back then, but not pub­ bel. lished as books until the 1960s.) 'To fill in quickly: Robert 'I suspect that the "stylist Lindner's article, "The Jet-Pro­ pelled Couch" (FgSF January 1956, 27 BOOK REVIEWS BY GENE DEWEESE

THE ANUBIS GATES tally believable and, if not sym­ STARRIGGER By Tim Powers pathetic, universally fascinating By John DeChancie Ace, Paperback, $2.95 and often touching. Ace, Paperback, $2.75

For once, the cover blurb of a In short, THE ANUBIS GATES is The Roadway is a maze of high­ book, extravagant as it sounds, is the sort of book that is so complex ways and portals stretching across actually fulfilled -- and then some. and unpredictable that it makes countless planets in this and oth­ THE ANUBIS GATES is a "time travel you wonder how it ever came to be er galaxies. Built by an unknown written. And so engrossing that novel you'll never forget." alien race, it is now used by hu­ you wish a lot more like it were mans and whatever other races have The story itself defies capsul- being written. discovered it, but no one knows ization. Suffice it to say that a where most of the portals go. Jake pair of millennia-old Egyptian sor­ McGraw is a "space trucker," driv­ cerers, in an attempt to open a ing a computerized behemoth that gate to the netherworld, open in­ can withstand the wildly varying stead a series of gates in time, ELEMENT OF TIME atmospheres, temperatures and grav­ through which twentieth century By Cathy Livoni ities of the worlds the Roadway English professor Brendan Doyle Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, $12.95 passes through. Sam is Jake's travels back to 1810, where through "truck," its computer imprinted a dizzying series of adventures and Sael, an "unstable" young man with the personality and memories misadventures, he becomes William with several latent psi powers, in­ -- and possibly the soul --of Ashbless, the 19th century poet cluding precognitive visions, tele­ Jake's dead father. And Jake is whose biography Doyle has been try­ pathy and teleportation, becomes being chased from world to world, ing to write. involved with the governing council flushed out of one hiding place And that is only the barest of of Galapix in an effort to save after another, all because someone beginnings. Doyle, with sidetrips that world from being destroyed by --or several someones -- think he to Eygpt and to 1684, becomes in­ a ship from the future. A fast­ has found a map of the Roadway, timately involved with, among oth­ moving, time-hopping adventure, al­ something that could open up the most a space opera, ELEMENT OF TIME ers: Dog Face Joe, a werewolf who entire universe to whoever gets his isn't really a werewolf; Amenophis easily holds your interest from hands on it. start to finish. The only problem Fikee and Dr. Romany, the sorcer­ All of which, jammed into a ers; Horrabin, a clown-painted beg­ is that much of the action and sus­ pense depend on the "science" which few sentences, may sound wild and gar king who looks like a giant the author invents but never ex­ unbelievable, but STARRIGGER pulls Punch from a Punch and Judy show plains. In a way, it's like the you into its oddball world skill­ and who spends his life on stilts fully, starting with exciting but because the touch of the earth is gobbledegook that fills most "Dr. Who" episodes, only here it seems seemingly familiar elements and deadly to him; the magically gen­ then twisting them and building on erated clone of Lord Byron, which to be intended to be taken serious­ ly. Still, if gobbledegook doesn't them, adding one wonder at a time, has been programmed to kill the bother you, you should have a rous­ so that by the time Jake and Sam King of England; a whole sewerful ing good time. end up driving through the digest­ of nightmarish creatures that had ive tract of a mile-wide, living been human before Horrabin perform­ ferry boat on an unknown alien ed his magical medical experiments world, your mind may be a bit bog­ on them; and of course, Jacky, the gled, but it all makes sense and beggar boy who turns out to be the seems plausible. woman destined to become Ashbless' wife. Above all, however, it's fun. Though there are echoes of Roger Almost as intriguing as the Zelazny's ROADMARKS and Robert W. story, however, is the 19th century Franson's THE SHADOW OF THE SHIP, London background, presented with STARRIGGER stands on its own as one so much realistic and evocative de­ of the best and fastest moving tail that you can almost feel the sense-of-wonder adventures of the filth and poverty of the streets year. With any luck, it could be and of the underground warrens the first of a series, since the where Horrabin and his beggars conclusion leaves plenty of unan­ live. Partly as a result of this swered questions about the Roadway wealth of detail, the characters, and its ancient, mysterious Build­ no matter how grotesque their ap­ ers. pearance, no matter how outrageous their actions, are made to seem to­ 28 IS THERE A TECHNOLOGICAL FIX FOR no suspense. In the same way that THE HUMAN CONDITION? the iron rules of the sonnet can force excellence within a narrow framework, paying attention to scientific accuracy can force co­ INTRODUCTION: I wrote this essay for a volume titled HARD CORE SF, herence on fiction. the collection of papers from the This rigor creates a fundamen­ Sth Eaton Conference at the Univ­ tal tension between dramatic needs ersity of California, Riverside. and the demands of accuracy and It will be published by Southern honesty. It is this which under­ Illinois University Press in 1985. lies the pleasures many seek in I wrote it for the academic intel­ hard SF. Those rewards occur ev­ lectual who is rather unacquainted en when hard SF types write what with hard SF, so some of what I say is by strict definition fantasy. may seem obvious. It's also not Consider, for example, Niven's written in a folksy style, which stories about the era before magic might alienate still more. But I (mana) was used up on Earth ("When thought it might prove interesting the Magic Went Away," etc.). as a translational essay, trying These regard magic as a piece of to bridge the chasm between Us and technology we have lost, and the Them. Counter-arguments are, of plot logic follows rules as strict course, welcomed. as a chess game. Heinlein wrote early stories ("Magic, Inc.") cel­ FoU-oW THE KiD ft IVITH STICKY FlM6r€KS, ebrating this same sense, rational­ -rtwsAfp.1 poo; izing territory previously thought UWAT? to be beyond the realm of "hard" People don't read science fic­ method. tion to learn science any more than others read historical novels The fidelity to an external to learn history. There are easier standard of truth makes hard SF ways to go about it. resemble the realistic narrative,

HARD SCIENCE FICTION IN THE REAL WORLD

Yet the most simon pure breed in that it becomes a realism of of SF, that based on the physical possibilities, guided by our cur­ sciences, somehow seems to be the rent scientific worldview. Varia­ core of the field. Its practition­ BY tions are allowed, since the same ers command SF's share of the best­ facts can be explained by new the­ seller markets. The gritty detail GREGORY ories. Thus time travel and fast­ and devices of the "hard" brand er- than-light journeys slip by, form the background reality of since they are probably impossible many SF films. To many it seems BENFORD but difficult to disprove. Indeed more true, less wishful, and more various notions of both spring hard-nosed than works based primar­ from the speculative end of phys­ ics -- Wheeler's "wormholes" which ily on the social sciences. Cer­ the universe, while constructing a tainly it seems to many more prob­ allow tunneling "through" the geom­ new objective "reality" within a etry of spacetime, or an intriguing able than that broad area of SF fictional matrix. It is not enough which copies jargon or emblems from result from black hole dynamics, merely to use science as integral which allows rapid travel forward the sciences without understanding to the narrative; thus, I rule out them. in time by tangential trajectories the works of C.P. Snow, Sinclair in highly curved spacetime. Why? What makes hard SF the Lewis' ARRCWSMTTH, etc. SF must center of the field? Answering use science in a speculative fash­ this goes beyond literary criticism ion. The physical sciences are Rigor can have drawbacks, of into realms of sociology, Zeit- the most capable of detailed pre­ course. Stories can turn on as geistery and political theory. I diction (and thus falsification by trivial a point as whether a match shall attempt a bit of all those experiment), so they are perceived will stay lit in zero gravity. in the process of mapping hard SF in fiction as more reliable indic­ This is the danger of overdoing -- detailing what I think it does, ators of future possibilities, or the constraint imperative, while what its primary modes are, some stable grounds for orderly specula­ ignoring the dramatic requirements voices it naturally adopts, and tion. of all powerful fiction. In the what personalities are drawn to SCIENCE AND ITS ROLES hands of a writer sensitive to the read or write it. My bias is that tension between drama and fidelity, of a scientist, so I shall first Using science in fiction in­ epics such as Herbert's DUNE can classify and later on attempt some troduces tools not generally avail­ move the reader while retaining the theorizing. First comes botany, able to ordinary fiction. The most internal cohesiveness imposed by then genetics. I shall tell you relevant of these is constraint -- building the planetary ecology cor­ how this remarkable region of SF defining what is possible or plaus- rectly. looks to me, as one who has worked ible. H.G. Wells admonished us to and socialized in it for decades. make one assumption and explore it; Hard SF authors call this fi­ a world of infinite possibilities is delity "playing the game" --by My minimum definition of hard uninteresting because there can be the rules, of course. Veering from SF demands that it highly prize the facts of science runs the grave fidelity to the physical facts of 29 danger of losing the audience. As Robert Frost said of free verse, of transport. They set about im­ to a fresh start on a new planet, much SF is playing tennis with the porting them, their ingenuity reaf­ in a new phase of cosmic evolution. net down. At first a netless game firming the self-sufficiency of so Hard SF is particularly good at re­ has an exciting freedom to it, a many hard science heroes. vealing the stark contrast of these quick zest, but soon you find that two attitudes; I cannot recall a In employing science's third no one wants to watch you play. non-SF work which so clearly drama­ role, as symbol, SF distinguishes tizes this. A reasonable standard, general­ itself from fantasy most clearly. ly shared by hard SF writers, is In roughly the 19th century sci­ Interestingly, Anderson achiev­ that one should not make errors ence became widely perceived as a ed this symbolic substance while which are visible to the lay read­ better way to understand our world violating the constraint of fidel­ er -- keeping in mind that the us­ than either religion or myth -- ity to physics. He needed his ual hard SF reader is sophisticated two elements which, used at face starship to travel through the re­ and not easily fooled. (Hard SF value in fantastic fiction, typical­ maining thirty billion years of types love to catch each other in ly yield fantasy. In SF, science outward expansion, in order to oversights; Heinlein once snagged appears as impersonal, not man­ preserve an Aristotelian dramatic me on a matter of the freezing centered. Tom Godwin's "The Cold unity -- keeping the central char­ point of methane at low pressures, Equations," for all its wordiness acters alive. This implied an en­ and I was mortified.) More inpor­ and melodrama, still retains its ormous rate of acceleration, far tant than the factwork, though, is effectiveness because it so clear­ above what the ship could attain an understanding of science, its ly states this case. Science in by scooping up interstellar hydrog­ methods and worldview. Hard SF hard SF is often a reality deeper en and burning it in the onboard types will deride fiction which than humanity's concerns, remorse­ fusion reactors. misrepresents how scientists think, lessly deterministic, uncaring of He was forced to make the ship too. A novel such as Fred Hoyle's' our personal preoccupations, and dive directly through stars them­ THE BLACK CLOUD, which realistical­ yet capable of revealing wondrous selves, to get more reaction mass. ly depicts scientists as they grap­ perspectives. It can either en­ But this would destroy the ship! ple with problems revealing their case us in the indifference of the How to get around this? He fines­ styles and quirks, will be forgiven universe, or liberate us. ses the issue, using an argument its sometimes stiff characters and from relativity which he knew to clumsy prose. These two reactions to extern­ al reality are called forth in be wrong, but hoped was convincing This demand for imaginative Poul Anderson's TAU ZERO. A run­ to most of his readership. He suc­ realism imposed by scientific con­ away starship cannot brake itself ceeded, I believe. Few readers straint provides a foundation for a and has no choice but to go on, noticed the deft way he slid it by. second major function of science leaving our galaxy. Boosting ever This is a clear example of a in SF: verisimilitude. SF must closer to the speed of light, rel­ contradiction between the constr­ imbue fantastic events with a con­ ativistic effects cause time to aints of hard SF and other, liter­ vincing reality, aided by a reader's slow on board. The ship witnesses ary aims. Such quandaries arise willing suspension of disbelief. the entire outward expansion of occasionally in any realistic fic­ The piling on of we11-worked-out our universe, during which whole tion, but in SF they appear at ev­ details, derived from firm science, species rise and fall. Here the ery turn, powerfully shaping the is a valuable tool. One can pur­ science of cosmology paints for the narrative. sue C.S. Lewis's "realism of pre­ crew a majestic vision outside the sentation" by working out names, ship, including the cyclic collapse VOICES FRCM ABOVE geography, maps, titles of nobility inward of all matter and the uni­ There are several narrative or government, etc., as in OUT OF verse's rebirth into the next ex­ tones often adopted by hard SF THE SILENT PLANET. This is a well pansion. In direct contrast, in­ writers, giving part of the "hard known technique in both fantasy and side the craft the crew breaks un­ feel." They contribute to the SF, used by authors as diverse as der the strain of their isolation reading protocols Delany has point­ Tolkien and C.J. Cherryh. from an/ enduring human context. ed out, providing the reader with They retreat into endless rounds immediate hints about possible pos­ of sexual misadventures and self A method strongly identified tures toward the material. with hard SF, pioneered by Hein­ pity. Science is the infinite lein, is to fix upon a few surpris­ here, and man falters before it. 1. Cool, Analytical Tone: ing but logical consequences of a Yet some of the crew persists, re­ This is commonly used by Clarke, society of technology.The more un­ tains its values and wins through Blish, Clement, Niven, etc. (In expected the implications, the bet­ Clarke the narrator is often an ter. The surprise of an ananticip- historian-chronicler, deliberately ated facet of the future, implicit the calculAT/on^ removed from the action by time.) in the author's assumptions, in­ ARen/t ukAth shit, It mirrors the scientific litera­ stills wonder and convinces the BUT AS MOPERn ART ture, where precision and clarity reader of an imaginary world's if isn't BAb. are paramount. The true language "truth." Often the best efforts of the hardest sciences is mathe­ come from noticing how human beings matics; some narratives seek to will use physical laws in delight­ reflect this pure, dispassionate ful ways. The moon colonists of statement of facts and relation­ Heinlein's "The Menace From Earth" ships, without placing an overt hu­ notice that low gravity doesn't man bias on them. merely mean you can carry more on your back -- you can fly. In his (1) This is also the origin THE ROLLING STONES thebasic fact of introductory quotations from that Mars is sandy and has light histories written in the far fu­ gravity is used to make the Stones ture, the "Britannica Galactica," a nifty profit, because they real­ etc. James Gunn used this voice in ize that bicycles would be a logi­ a novel way in his most scientif­ cal, cheap, but overlooked method 30 ically "hard" novel, THE LISTENERS, by inserting lengthy quotations the convergent personality. This from the scientific literature, would mean that the primary signa­ wherein radio astronomers debated ture of hard SF is an attitude. the philosophy of listening for ex­ Perhaps so; I suspect Godwin's traterrestrial intelligence. Of "Hie Cold Equations" became so pop­ course, there is an esthetic con­ ular precisely because it articu­ tent to science which is also con­ lated an attitude many felt but veyed by this tone. I used this were unable to express so clearly. effect myself in a chapter of TIME­ I personally resist relying solely SCAPE, in which a physicist keeps on such an easy classification, on working on the mathematical though it does have a partial val­ structure of a theory, rapt in in­ idity, a ring of truth. Yet hard tellectual beauties ... not notic­ SF does not always take such simp­ ing that the airplane in which he listic views of the alien, for ex­ is a passenger is about to crash. ample -- and as I shall argue la­ 2. Cosmic Mysticism: (Examp­ ter, the alien may be a core issue les: Clarke again in CHILDHOOD'S in hard SF. I myself have argued before (4) that fusing with the a- END and the 2001 novels; Blish's Cities in Flight series; Zebrow- lien is literarily possible, yet I ski's MACROLIFE; Anderson in TAU am clearly regarded as a hard SF ZERO and elsewhere; Stapledon in author. STAR MAKER especially, where the carries an air of the newly arriv­ We must be careful to disembodied point of view explores ed, and is beloved by those whose note that convergent does not inply and exhausts myriad sub-universes.) first introduction to SF was authoritarian, and divergent is This tone is an amplified form of through the Heinlein "juveniles" not necessarily, more "creative" the cool voice and dispassionate (variant forms of which have since than convergent. These arts grad­ overview science affords. Here the been written by Alexei Panshin, uates' simplifications ignore that objectivity is the viewpoint of a Joe Haldeman, John Varley and my­ scientific creativity is of a dif­ (usually unnamed) higher entity, self) . ferent sort than artistic creation often Godlike. The progress of MAINLINING THE SCI/TEQ1 FIX but no less difficult or original. physical law, often on a cosmolog­ In nineteenth century literature ical scale, is seen as the exemplar Martin Bridgstock (2) has ap­ a romantic equation of arts with of a higher logic and scheme, to plied the existing analysis of science was conmon and some SF re­ which humans would be well advised psychologist Liam Hudson (3) to the tains this odd shibboleth. to respond with a mingling of sci­ notions of Brian Stableford (4) entific interest and mystical de­ and others that fiction, including Such habits are probably based votion. The emotional impact comes SF, serves for its readers a main­ on both unconscious motivation and from the search for order (and per­ tenance function -- not to instruct ignorance. Scientists have become haps meaning) in the universe, and but to reinforce existing assump­ collaborators, even team players, confirmation of the role of reason tions and ideas. People who be­ in this century. After all, for in doing so. I suspect such vast come addicted to a particular gen­ writers it is difficult to deal perspectives fight feelings of pow­ re or subgenre, then, read to get with figures who do not dominate erlessness by putting the reader their "fix." the foreground, as would the lone at one with a universal scheme. We investigator, without slipping aut­ might describe this voice as ap­ Bridgstock uses two basic cat­ omatically into the reverse -- the propriate for a problem story in egories of reader: cliche scientist who is narrow, which the "problem" the reader The Convergent Personality, com- specialized, alienated, a cog in needs resolved is, What is the un­ mitted to order and rationality in the machine (a New Wave staple). derlying meaning to the apparent understanding and controlling the Literature has few depictions indifference of the universe? Is world. *This type must still deal which do not lapse into these rit­ there some purpose to intelligence, with irrationality and chaos both ual roles. Authors who are perhaps to tenacity and curiosity? from outside (other people) and wary but basically supportive of science usually unconsciously 3. The Wiseguy Insider: This from his inner, subconscious self. choose the first posture, the sci­ tone appears often in Heinlein, We might say in the context of entist as noble pseudo-artist. Pohl (GATEWAY, "Day Million"), Hald­ this paper that he seeks a rational eman (THE FOREVER WAR and rather or "technological" fix for the hu­ Thus romanticizing typically more cooly elsewhere), Varley, and man condition. seizes on the few figures who Poumelle. It provides a way for pie Diverrent Personality, ac- stand outside this trend -- notably initiates to recognize each other, cording to Bridgstock, "...special- Einstein -- and ring the same with a kind of boot-camp tone izes in the arts and humanities, changes upon this character as did suitable for instructing the raw is verbally fluent, good at "creat­ the conventional fictions. At ba­ recruit. There is a conspicuous ivity" tests, and perfectly at ease sis this is a failure of imagina­ ease with large matters -- the with a world -- and a self -- that tion or even of simple observation; aphorism expanded into social wis­ is not fully rational or control­ few scientists work that way. At­ dom, a wisecrack relegating whole lable." Hudson (3) suggests that titudes, craft, intuition, socio­ political views to oblivion, kern­ in the divergent personality, "The logy --in these and other ways art els of truth blown into a kind of alien is not eluded, or slain at differs from science profoundly. intellectual puffed rice. I be­ the boundary wall, but assimilated Fiction has so far had little to lieve this tone appeals to adoles­ and -- more or less effectively -- say about this. Further, by equat­ cents particularly, who need to ex­ defused." ing the moral issues of science tend their sense of personal power with those of art we lose the spec­ This leads immediately to the -- often gained by their knowledge ial , powerful role science plays suspicion that perhaps we can use­ in society. Thus in LeGuin's THE of science and technology -- into fully relate the hard SF reader to larger areas, where they may be DISPOSSESSED, Shevek did not need more uncertain. This tone often 31 to be a scientist at all, and in- deed the novel itself is marginal­ throughout modem times.) about SF: It is always easier to see problems than propose solutions. ly science fiction. FIXING A WHOLE: HARD SF AS A CLASS This makes the unforeseen-side-ef- EXPRESSION: There are prevalent glib gener­ fects story the easiest to write, alities about hard SF and the di­ In an outline of his general and the ingenious problem-solving vergent personality -- that readers overview of SF, as seen from a ones much harder. We should ex­ prefer little characterization or French Marxist perspective, Gerard pect to see more of the former as stylistic sense -- which have ob­ Klein stated: "The great character­ arts graduates enter the field, vious exceptions. Although Tom istic of recent SF is a distrust of particularly if we ignore that cit­ Disch's brilliant essay in SCIENCE science and technology, and of adel of hard SF, ANALOG. FICTION AT LARGE anticipated much scientists, especially in the ex­ Hard SF's central mode is the of Bridgstock's argument, I think act or "hard" sciences of physics, Disch overgeneralizes with his as­ problem story. These appeal to chemistry, biology and genetics." convergent personalities, the true sessment that hard SF disbars "... (9) He maintains that SF mirrors class that fits Klein's descrip­ irony, aesthetic novelty, any as­ a social class power from the 1960s tion. His error lies in assuming sumption that the reader shares in, on, thus confirming the pessimistic all SF readers are members of his or knows about, the civilization writers of the 1950s (Vonnegut in newly oppressed sci/tech class. he is riding along in, or even a PLAYER PIANO, Wolfe in LIMBO). For His examples of writers who have tone of voice suggesting mature • them, "...the appearance of imper­ "recognized the advent of tyranny thoughtfulness." (6) An obvious ialism was no longer so benevolent. counterexample is Clarke, who is based on monopolies" are Zelazny For SF there followed a period of (THE ISLE OF THE DEAD) and Spinrad often reflective. There is also skepticism, illustrated by the ap­ (THE MEN IN THE JUNGLE, BUG JACK Lem, who commonly writes not true pearance of a new kind of magazine BARRON). Yet these are not hard hard SF, but something closely al­ such as F6SF and GALAXY..." lied -- narratives about the struc­ SF writers. (Though Spinrad's a- ture of science and its limitations If Klein were correct, we would typical RIDING THE TORCH is an elo­ as a man-centered activity -- re­ expect hard SF to show increasing quent hard SF work.) Indeed, I flecting a familiar, ritual Eastern pessimism. Overall, I think it suspect the alienation besetting European skepticism which owes more has not. Hard SF is replete with some regions of SF arises from the to Hume, I suspect, than Godel. the image of the frontier, of dis­ usual sources -- not the familiar Typically, those who have widely asters averted by knowledge and whipping boy of capitalism, but the used irony or aesthetic novelty are hard work. As individuals, I have same forces that operate on all the occasional writers of hard SF, not found hard SF writers to be technological societies: the on­ such as Pohl, Gunn, James Tiptree, more pessimistic about the future slaught of fast communications, Jr., Greg Bear, Algis Budrys or than the norm. Quite the opposite, economies of scale, demographic Brian Aldiss in the Helliconia tril­ as their strong sipport for the shifts, and the multinational homo­ ogy. An odd variant of this is L-5 Society and scientific re­ genizing that follows. Barry Malzberg's GALAXIES, a com­ search in general attests. Indeed, POLITICS IN TWO DIMENSIONS mentary on Campbell and hard SF it­ even when considering such intract­ self. Its science is dead wrong, able problems as American urban de­ Many hard SF writers are de­ but its heavily ironic points are cay, Niven and Poumelle offered a scribed as politically conservative interesting. high tech fix with genuine thought --on the face of it, a surprising Consider the flip side of this behind it in OATH OF FEALTY (10). classification for people writing the "literature of the future." argument. Do those SF writers con­ Even Ian Watson's occasional hard cerned with "soft" sciences, "inner SF work shows a transcending of To study this, I propose a differ­ space," stylistic experiments, or the barriers of language, and tech­ ent way of plotting the political even outright fantasy all fit into nical means for communicating with spectrum. Keep Right and Left on a single divergent personality cat­ the alien, overcoming our own cul­ the horizontal scale (though I feel they are virtually useless egory? Here the polarity of the tural and specist biases. terms), perhaps denoting by the argument is obviously simplistic. Klein holds that "...literary With an eye toward keeping the es­ Right a desire to retain or return works are attempts to resolve to traditional values, while the sential argument intact, I suggest through the use of the imagination Left desires to bring into being we split the divergents into two and in the aesthetic mode, a prob­ new values (Socialist Man, for ex­ subgroups: First, the moderate lem which is not soluble in real­ middle who are not threatened by ample) . Perpendicular to this, ity." The problem here is who is add a scale with Statist at the rationality, though they may be expressing the worldviews of the top (believing in concentration of disrespectful toward science, think­ sci/techs? Increasingly, outside power in the hands of a state), in ing it has too many unanticipated hard SF, the influx of humanists opposition to the Anti-Statist. side effects, that its mind set and arts graduates, Clarion writing leads to rigidity in real-world school types, etc. has altered the I prefer such a two-dimension­ problem solving, etc. Second, the tone of SF. I fear many of these al scheme to the usual one-dimen­ far wing -- those genuinely fear­ people are largely antiscience from sional view, because it separates ful of sci/tech, unable to cope ignorance. (Though the most prom­ people who otherwise get lumped to­ with a society demanding more ra­ inent Clarion graduate, Ed Bryant, gether. Thus the Fascists are tionality and the expertise it im­ wrote the remarkable hard SF story, Rightist Statists, while Stalin plies. These people flee to the "Particle Theory.") was a Leftist Statist. The strik­ glades of fantasy, where human will ing similarity of Soviet and Nazi There is also a basic rule can command powers, bending the un­ architecture, for example, is then iverse to our will. The emotional not surprising. The Leftist Anti­ refuge sought by such readers hark­ Statists are Anarchists, while ens back to an earlier time, when their Rightish brethren are the the perceived world was smaller, Libertarians. I have also placed more cozy. (Little fantasy deals Mao, Hubert Humphrey (HH), Ronald with events outside the earth, for Reagan (RR) and Mitterand where I example, though the existence of think they fall. I've also includ­ other planets has been apparent 32 ed myself, GB, in the spirit of full disclosure. Of course, this ism. Despite the vast changes in in fiction the reader can know more choice of axes may not be the best cosmology and cosmogony since, this than the scientists, via narrative for clarity; after I advanced this strikes me today as the most dated devices such as the two points of diagram Jerry Pournelle showed me and naive feature of STAR MAKER. view at different times which I us­ a two-dimensional scheme he had The impulse to be "hard" and mech­ ed in TIMESCAPE. proposed, with Left-Right replaced anistically scientific can merely by "attitude toward planned social make one seem naive. My own instinct is that the progress." (11) Other choices problems confronting hard SF as it are possible. HARD SCIENTISTS attains a larger audience lie not "The great simplicity of science merely in better characterization Still, my sketch, aside from will only be seen when we under­ or smoother prose, but in integrat­ its possible utility in political stand its strangeness." ing all the facets of narrative. theory, does bring up a striking -- John Wheeler The constraint of scientific truth fact, indicated by the circle in Though he lurks in hard SF must be balanced against aesthetic the Rightist, Anti-Statist quadrant. imperatives. The scientific world This circle, I submit, contains a from the beginning, the scientist has gotten rather unfair, two-dim­ view, its methods and unfolding great majority of hard SF writers. discoveries, calls into question I believe Pournelle, Heinlein, And­ ensional presentation. Discounting the earlier mad scientist cliche, many of the assumptions of conven­ erson, Niven, Clement, Harry Stine, tional fiction. E.L. Doctorow has present since Mary Shelley, we con­ James Hogan, Spider Robinson, remarked that for him, "the great Charles Sheffield, Dean Ing and front the lab-smocked cardboard fig­ ures who thronged SF stories and root discovery of narrative liter­ several others fit in. Why, then, ature" is that "every life has a films of the 1930s through 1950s. should so many hard SF writers end theme, and there is human freedom up near the Right Wing Libertarians? Yet many hard SF authors were to find it, to create it, to make scientifically trained to some de­ it victorious." He wonders wheth­ I have no clean answer to this. gree (Asimov, Clarke, "Ralph Rich­ er "the very assumption that makes Writers are lonely types, individ­ ardson," Pournelle, Hoyle, Ander­ fiction possible', the moral inmen- ualist by nature; this alone may son, Hogan, Brin, Sheffield, For­ sity of the single soul, is under draw them toward the Anti-Statist ward, Stanley Schmidt, Vernor Vinge, derisive question because of The end. But why should they gravi­ Rudy Rucker, G. Harry Stine, Clem­ Bomb." By merely substituting the tate to the Right? Ursula LeGuin, ent, myself). They have direct ex­ larger canvas of science for The not a hard SF writer, occupies a perience, yet seldom give us deep Bomb, we can state the problem SF position I would take to be that portraits of scientists. Most of presents. Though science is a hu­ of Leftist, Anti-Statist. Ian Wat­ them have been concerned more with man creation, it casts doubts upon son -- mostly a soft science fic­ problems than with style or char­ the primacy of humankind in the tion writer -- is, he tells me, a acter, and so chose as handy con­ larger perspectives of time and Trotskyite. Clarke betrays little veniences the spaceship captain or space. Inevitably then, SF's clear political orientation, other savvy lab administrator as natural goals are sometimes at odds with than a desire for cooperation, re­ pivots of their fictions. They traditional methods and aims. We garding politics as transient and subscribed to the conventional wis­ cannot expect that a major work of not what the human race is basical­ dom that in hard SF things were hard SF will read more or less like ly "about." more inportant than people, intel­ a conventional novel, but with dol­ Hard SF types may reflect the lect dominates over the heart, and lops of science stuck in for reas­ innate conservatism of science it­ that ideas, rather than experience, ons of background, plot or atmos­ self, building on an edifice of will play the leading role in set­ phere. That would be a subversion accumulated facts and the provis­ ting, character and plot (1). of the potential of the field. SF ionally accepted theories which ex­ This view is still common, but fad­ by bringing to literature the ele­ plain them. The scientist's hab­ ing, as more sophisticated authors ments of science, inevitably cre­ its of mind -- painstaking accur­ seek to use the traditional ter­ ates fresh tensions between con­ acy, constant rechecking, careful­ ritory of hard SF. tent and form, character and ground * ly proceeding from what's proved Scientists actually doing sci­ The resolution of these tensions true, individual verification vs. ence are boring unless the narrator must be evaluated by critical authority, wariness of ungrounded can get deeply inside them. Con­ standards which simply do not yet speculation -- may militate against ventional literature seldom depicts exist, because the problems are the "leaps of faith" often requir­ them (12). Only devotees, such as new. ed by revolutionary social doc­ the ANALOG readership, will sit We occasionally hear calls for trines. But these are only gues­ still for extended technical dis­ higher standards in SF which hark ses. I submit that, in the spirit cussions between pieces of decorat­ back to the bourgeois novel of of doing botany, this is a curious ed cardboard. There are some ex­ characterization (LeGuin, in SF AT grouping which a socio-literary amples of solid SF characterization LARGE, Ref. 6). This oversimplif­ theory of hard SF should explain. of scientists -- Richardson's stor­ ies the difficulties, because one It is worth noting that if we ies, some works of Poul Anderson, of the prime tasks of SF is convey­ include the Stapledon of STAR MAK­ Paul Preuss's BROKEN SYMMETRIES, ing strangeness. Portraying peop­ ER as a hard SF writer, then to my others -- but not many. A major le living in a different future is knowledge he and Ian Watson are the hurdle in depicting scientists is harder than, say, getting into the only left wing statists on the the lack of science education in mind of a nineteenth century mayor chart. STAR MAKER is notable in our society as a whole. I feel of Casterbridge. SF presents gen­ that it attempted to span the phys­ that by showing scientists dealing uinely new challenges. Should the ical sciences and the social. He with a new problem -- not simply reader even be sympathetic toward invoked a Marxist dialectical evo­ showing a historically validated such people? Does making a charac­ lution, even on worlds inhabited study under way, as in Eleazar Lip­ ter "real" for our readers subvert by insects and sea-creatures, de­ sky's THE SCIENTISTS --we see the very strangeness SF strives to picting such diverse creatures un­ them most realistically. When the convey? How much of what we dergoing schematic evolution, reader can understand the problem "know" about character is in fact through the rise of a proletariat he is more involved. What's more, conventional wisdom of the times, to the eventual triumphant commun­ 33 and when is it necessary to destroy these preconceptions before pro­ tive strategy. Poul Anderson's science is not a mere stack of ceeding? moody, reflective and historically facts to be memorized, or an auth­ knowledgeable hard SF tales often oritarian structure, or the prov­ Surely we can say that the use show how certain elements of human ince of Strangelovian fanatics. of aliens who live in outre environ­ behavior will continue into dis­ ments but talk like twentieth cen­ tant, bizarre settings. High quality scientists are tury middle-class Americans under­ remarkably diverse, broadly edu­ cuts the elements of strangeness in Pursuit of the technically com­ cated, and by no means narrow vic­ Clement's MISSION OF GRAVITY and plex and aesthetically unfamiliar tims of Snow's polarized two cul­ Forward's DRAGON'S EGG. In con­ limits the hard SF audience. We tures. They usually have read trast, Terry Carr's deceptively might ask ourselves: What mainten­ hard SF; sometimes, despite a cram­ simple short story, "The Dance of ance function does the mainstream med schedule, they still do. SF the Changer and the Three," at­ provide for its readers? In part, uniquely displays the tension be­ tains an eerie sense of alien char­ I think, it reinforces their per­ tween realism and imagination, us­ acter without sacrificing its sense ception of humanistic values. Doc­ ing fresh materials. And hard SF, of a different perspective. In torow's assumed "iiunensity of the they know, plays with the net up. non-sf, William Golding's THE IN­ single soul" is personally reassur­ Indeed, this creative constraint HERITORS and Richard Adams' THE ing, and its comfortable, human­ is so apparent in hard SF that, PLAGUE DOGS strive in this direc­ centered world far less threaten­ like a sonnet, it can bring fresh tion. There are a variety of ing. angles and surprises, intriquing new ways of looking at our concen­ strategies possible; I myself have SF on the other hand cannot sus reality. used some of the techniques of mod­ guarantee to support these. It ernism to imply outre perspectives, cannot limit itself to the cozy This is, I think, the primary perhaps best illustrated by por­ confines of humanism. Thus, its pleasure scientists themselves get tions of IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT and message is unwelcome in some quar­ from hard SF. They see it not as in a novella, "Starswarmer." Though ters. (Often, people who cannot a literature of hardnosed techno­ of course we know that we cannot abide SF do respond to books or philes and adolescents -- though escape human categories wholly -- shows like THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE of course there are some -- but as a point Lem makes repeatedly, often TO THE GALAXY, which poke fun at an expression of the bittersweet with elephantine humor -- the de­ SF cliches, undermining the unset­ truths emerging in our century, an piction of people or aliens out­ tling strangeness of it all. An echo of man's progressive displace­ side our culture represents an alternate, highly successful strat­ ment from a God-given center of aesthetic challenge central to egy, is to use the props of SF to creation, so that mankind's pers­ hard SF. Regrettably, it is a retell a sentimental, human-center­ pective is now forever, like sci­ challenge seldom met. Although ed story, a la STAR WARS. These ence, provisional and ambiguous science can give us strange vistas, are all evasions of the core of and evolving. merely reciting this is not enough; the field.) Given its close assoc­ the Cool, Analytical Tone is a lim­ iation with the sciences which ited method. Different, perhaps yield the largest vistas in space totally new literary techniques and time, hard SF will remain in­ REFERENCES: must be developed. herently difficult -- indeed, al­ There are tensions between the most opaque --to many. 1. David Samuelson, VISICNS OF TOMORROW, Amo Press, NY, 1975, known and unknown, as Gary Wolfe This is unfortunate. For I do has discussed, that present unique Ch. 2. agree with Gerard Klein that hard 2. Martin Bridgstock, SFS 10, problems in SF characterization. SF, at least, is the underground We must face the fact that our no­ 1983, p. 52-56. literature of a usually silent 3. Liam Hudson, CONTRARY IMAGINA­ tions of character are themselves class -- not merely technology ethnocentric, and indeed, so is TIONS, Harmondsworth, London, hounds, but men and women who have 1972, p. 55. the assumption that character is seen the genuinely strange territ­ central. The perspectives science 4. Brian M. Stableford, FOUNDA­ ory that lies beyond the slick fin­ TION 15, 1979, pp. 28-41. allows will not always assume that ish of popularized science. It is human values or human interactions 5. Gregory Benford, BRIDGES TO an underswell of our remorselessly SCIENCE FICTION, So. Ill. Univ. reign supreme. Characters will be complex age, often fixated by fu­ molded by the universe in ways Press, 1981. turistic technology and drawn for­ 6. Thomas Disch, "The Embarras­ which will not pay even lip serv­ ward by unfolding vast perspectives ice to "humanistic values" -- which sment of SF," in SCIENCE FICTION are often simply the prejudices of These people are not mere fac­ AT LARGE, edited by Peter Nicholls, Western Europeans inherited from ile technophiles, as some critics Victor Gollancz, London, 1976, the last few centuries, and some­ (divergent types themselves, no p. 139-155. times merely those of people work­ doubt) imagine. They have a cer­ 7. Gregory Benford, THE PATCHIN ing in English departments. Hard tain ingroupishness, I suppose, REVIEW 3, 1982, p. 5-9. SF attempts to face this fact and within the small garden of hard 8. S. Finch-Rayner, J. Pop. Cult­ squarely, though not always adroit­ SF sometimes loyally mistake a rut­ ure, 1984, to be published. ly or even consciously. abaga for a rose. 9. Gerard Klein, SFS 4, 1977, p. 3-13. A minority may seem to propose 10. Richard D. Erlich, FOUNDATION One of the charms of Pohl's technological fixes for genuinely 27, 1983, p. 64-71. short "Day Million" is its street­ irreducible features of life -- 11. Jerry Poumelle, DESTINIES, wise expression of human values note, for example, the repeated Vol. 2 No. 2, Ace, NY, 1980. shifted by advanced technology. avoidance of death in Heinlein's 12. Gregory Benford, "Why is There He makes a bizarre technical fu­ work, and the frequent treatment so Little Science in Literature?" ture appear more understandable, of preservation through cryonics in NEBULA AWARD STORIES 16, Ed. by and far less ridiculous, than our by several hard SF writers (includ­ Jerry Poumelle, Holt Reinhart Win­ own times. Of course, some hard ing me). But overall the writers ston, NY, 1982. SF authors prefer to stress our and their natural audience, the continuity with the future, probab­ scientists themselves, know that Copyright 1984 by Abbenford Assoc. ly because this is a safer narra­ 34 stayed my welcome or otherwise got­ ten on his nerves but he almost un­ failingly was friendly. I helped install the machine gun turrets on the top of his house (just jok­ ing). Paulette, over that time has been very patiently editing my sometimes atrocious prose and has made some great grilled cheese sandwiches. The only black spot over these past seven years has been the insistence of Koo, Dick's cat, that my lap makes a great place to shed her fur. BY ELTON T. ELLIOTT About five years ago, I furth­ er imposed on Dick, showing him my first painful attempts at writ­ ing fiction. One day early in 1982 By the time most of you read got to know how to approach a per­ I told this notion I had about this I'll have been writing for son like this; if you read the fanatic Arabs and bizarre weapons. SFR almost seven years. It seemed last several issues you'll find He said let's write it up. We did. in this Fiftieth issue that a lit­ that he's installed this wood stove; A great agent by the name of Joe tle reminiscing is in order. keep the conversation centered a- Elder sold it and the rest will be round the wood stove, around things bestseller history. It was late in 1975 and I had that fascinate him." finished reading an issue of SFR where Dick Geis had recounted a Over time I began to realize phone conversation with Kurt Von­ I didn't say anything, but I that Dick was a mystery to most in negut. Dick said that Vonnegut thought that was the biggest bunch SF fandom. One guy did an inter­ got ahold of him because his phone of b.s. -- I mean, I KNEW what a view with me that consisted of no­ was listed in the Portland direct­ guy that published a science fic­ thing but asking me questions a- ory, and he gave the number in SFR. tion 'zine was into, intelligent bout Dick. Others in SF are jeal­ Being the rabid science fiction robots, Harlan Ellison, Isaac Asi­ ous of his many Hugo Awards. He fan I was in those days (I had or­ mov, Arthur C. Clarke, Mars, Alpha doesn't go to conventions (a smart ganized a local SF club in Salem) Centauri, politics -- I knew he man). He doesn't seem to need the and having just recently been in­ didn't like Teddy Kennedy (that slavish approbation of the numer­ troduced to SFR I couldn't wait to made two of us) -- wood stoves, I ous sycophants that inundate the call Dick. I mean -I had heard wasn't going to waste my time talk­ field. Bravo. this guy had actually won a Hugo ing about wood stoves. He and Paulette Minare' put award!, corresponded with Asimov I remember him gamely talking SFR out on time; others need staffs and actually talked with Harlan to do the same. Ellison. But I just couldn't call about wood stoves, and patiently putting up with my enthusiasm over up, I needed an excuse. Well, mor­ So for all the above and much bid fan that I was I found the op­ space flight, galactic empires, more, Dick and Paulette, congrats portunity when I read in the lo­ rocket ships, robots, etc. He ev­ on the 50th ish, cheers and happy cal paper that James Blish had di­ en put on consignment a box of holidays and a productive remuner­ ed. I figured that was important SFRs for me to sell at the SF club. ative 1984. I was barely able to carry them up enough to talk to the august Mr. the stairs. Talk about your 175- Geis. (Looking back on those, for MUSINGS: pound weaklings. me early days, I only plead I'd like to call off the fan- youth -- I was just nineteen.) With After that I talked to him tasy/SF controversy once and for great trepidation I called Richard many times over the phone. Tel­ all. It has generated more heat E. Geis. I remember little of ling him the latest news in SF. than light, but more importantly that conversation, other than Dick Finally one day he suggested I expressing regret over Blish's un­ write him a column, a news column. timely death. That gave me the I immediately agreed and rapidly courage to call him in the future. hand wrote the first column and All of the calls were extremely handed it in to him. He gently pleasant, so I decided to take a explained that in the future he fateful step and ask Dick if I would prefer the columns to be could come up and chat with him. typed, and even gave me a battered He gracefully agreed. Although old Sears electric, which I still knowing his reculsive nature as I use. do now, I suspect he was not eag­ The years passed by. I found erly looking forward to the visit. out that Dick likes sports, spec­ I rode up to Portland (I don't tator sports that is, as much as I think I had my license at that do. We went to several Portland time) with two other members of Timber soccer matches and watched our local SF club. They both read Ralph Miller's OSU Beavers blow it SFR and one of them subscribed. in the playoffs several times. I She had read the last several SFRs read in SFR how Teddy Kennedy thoroughly and was determined that would be elected president, how we put our best foot forward. I that would cause 25% unemployment. remember her telling me, "You've Numerous times I must have over­ if certain forces have their way threat to our freedoms, should THE ADVERSARY the entire argument will be rend­ know that I am considering start­ By Julian May ered more than moot. ing up a legal fund to fight the Houghton Mifflin, 470 pp. It has come to my attention would-be censors. If you're iir^ $15.95 (tentative) that a rabid fanatic preacher by terested or have suggestions or conments, drop me a card at my THE ADVERSARY by Julian May is the name of Gary Greenwald (he the long-awaited conclusion to the has a program called "The Eagle's address: Elton T. Elliott Pliocene quartet. It's already a- Nest" on the Christian Broadcast­ vailable in Britain and should be ing Network) has been slamming Dun­ 1899 Weissner Drive, NE Salem, OR 97303 in U.S. bookstores by the first geons and Dragons quite a lot re­ week in March. cently and has once again raised # # # # # the nasty, dirty haunting spectre Starting with the award-winning of censorship over the SF field. On a cheerier note let me THE MANY COLORED LAND, the Pliocene wholeheartedly reconinend George Ze- Exile saga has grown in dizzying He has been claiming that DSD browski's trilogy THE OMEGA POINT, scope and complexity. It starts is of the devil and I've heard that available together in paperback out in a future where humanity has he is about to broaden that attack for the first time. Ilie first two joined an alien federation that is to include the entire field of sections appeared earlier but have busy exploring and uniting the gal­ fantasy. I have heard that the been revised for this edition. axy in a mental union called the Catholic Church, which recently THE OMEGA POINT TRILOGY is a Unity. Many humans don't fit into issued a statement asking for gov­ this utopia and some travel via one­ ernment censorship of magazines roller coaster ride through revenge and retribution, mysticism and mad­ way time gate six-million years in­ which they consider pornographic, to Earth's past to find excitement, is going to join up with Greenwald ness. The novel centers around a character determined to terrorize adventure. They do, for Earth in and others of like ilk and call the Pliocene Era is dominated by for censorship and an outright ban and destroy Earth's civilization for imagined and real wrongs that two alien races, the Tanu and the on the playing of DSD in the pub­ Firvulag who have escaped from lic schools and in any public they have perpetrated on his civil­ ization in the past. Armed with their home galaxy some 270-million place. Licensing of all stores light years away in order to prac­ that carry DSD and other games like a whisper ship, an all-powerful spaceship linked via computer and tice their bizarre battle-religion it is also to be included in the undisturbed. Well, disturb them call. Greenwald is runored to be otherwise to its owner, the madman Georgias, sets out on his mission the humans do, at first giving the asking for a boycott of those tall Tanu the advantage over the stores that sell DSD. I believe of destruction. Given the radical Shiite terrorism in the Middle shorter Firvulag. But that isn't this might be used as a platform all. There is another faction from which to attack all fantasy East, the psychological motivation for Georgias is all too realistic. present on Earth, a band of rebels and then science fiction as well. who fled the galactic milieu in By using the protagonist as order that their leader, Marc Rem­ Now is not the time to bicker illard, might carry on his strange over differences, but to present a villain, Zebrowski makes some in­ teresting points about how the frightening experiments. This is front of solidarity to the would- typical adolescent SF power fan­ a tough, complex mix of characters, be censors and attackers of our tasies are so very close to fascism groups and events to manage, but freedoms. All other conflicts Julian May handles it admirably. must pale before this threat. If and fanaticism. THE OMEGA POINT is the most powerful indictment of you think these are just a bunch Julian May does a superb job of publicity-hungry nuts, you're SF's power fantasies since Spin­ rad's THE IRON DREAM. of characterization. Marc Remil­ probably right. But they do have lard is one of the most memorable power: Vonnegut and Ellison have THE OMEGA POINT is a prime ex­ personalities to ever appear in been banned in the public schools. ample of what Zebrowski, in the science fiction. He's complex, ut­ Science fiction has been banned in Afterword,*calls a genre night's terly ruthless, the adversary of some private schools all together. entertainment. Georgias goes from the book's title, yet I found him a young "freedom" fighter, a la This is a serious threat. The sympathetic. Another character is Arafat, to a monster so hateful same inpulse which led hundreds of Aiken Drum, the fiesty human rogue and so power mad that by the end thousands to be killed in Europe outcast who later becomes king of of the book he becomes one of the during the Middle Ages for minor the Tanu. Then there's Elizabeth, most frightening characters to ev­ religious differences is alive to­ the mysterious woman who can heal er come along in SF, right up day. Just as people died in wars others but whose own soul is haunt­ there with Rasalom in F. Paul Wil­ arguing over how many sacraments ed by the death of her husband many son's THE KEEP. The entire book should be used in mass, so today years ago. There are many others, is a marvelous character study kids are being beaten in private all fleshed-out humans based on wedded to a powerful narrative, schools because of the language certain archetypes of psychology. one of the bright spots of 1983 they use or the dress they wear. May approaches these books the way science fiction. There are kids today that have nev­ a historical novelist would. The characterization carries as much er seen STAR WARS or RETURN OF THE Zebrowski's work is historical­ JEDI because their parents won't ly important to science fiction be­ weight as the suspense elements. let them watch TV or go to the cause I believe he along with a This is not a mode of storytelling movies. All over America basic few others like Gregory Benford that is in vogue in all quarters. For too long clarionism has rend­ rights that the rest of us take mark an inportant transition in SF for granted are being denied chil­ from the old Yesterday's Tomorrow ered SF bland, boring and unread­ dren, usually in the name of God. way of portraying the future to a able. Julian May's writing is ex­ And some of the same people are more current Today's Tonmorow way citing and readable. trying to take these rights away of representing what might possib­ THE ADVERSARY is the stunning from us. ly happen. THE OMEGA POINT TRIL­ grand finale to this richly inven­ OGY is a transition along that Those of you that feel as I tive series. You'll want to read path for Zebrowski as he freely ad­ do and are concerned about this all four books over and over again. mits in the Afterword. OTHER VOICES

THE ROVING MIND Black Death, flying chairs, brain er. Also the universe is at stake. A power struggle is shaping up be­ By Isaac Asimov control, evolution, trapping ice comets for spacemen's water sup­ tween men and their intelligent Prometheus Books, $17.95 machines. (Apparently it has ex­ ISBN: 0-87975-201-7. plies, space tourism, cosmic gar­ bage dumps and word processors. panded out beyond the Detroit auto industry.) REVIEWED BY KARL EDD With his Radio Shack word pro­ A femme is involved. Fatale Asimov, always his own man, cessor, Asimov has produced and she is. Very fatale and very femme. ignores the advertising apothegm had published 141 books in the that Americans won't read essays past 138 months, exceeding even As usual with Asimov there are and calls his book "a wild miscel­ Max Brand in word production. long passages of dialog that con­ lany" of essays. In his chatty, Like George Bernard Shaw, Asimov stitute town meeting debates and persuasive way Asimov leads us in­ r-gus prswasivly 4 fonetic spel- intellectual Steve Allen-type de­ to the endless debate between re­ ing. bates, and intellectual dissection ligious creationists and evolu­ The book closes with a warm of ideas, paradoxes to equal those tionists. He is so logical that tribute to Asimov's father. As of Xeno, and zero base contradic­ creationists will probably not you close the book you regret that tions that are sneaked in the way understand him, but I don't think it was so short. A high compli­ Lewis Caroil sneaked relativity he cares. He sees them for the ment to an actor has always been concepts into ALICE IN WONDERLAND. simple-minded fools and bigots to say: "He could read the phone Asimov's method is never boring, that they are. book and make it interesting." usually entertaining, and always throught-provoking. Next he takes on "Reagan-log­ Asimov could write the phone book ic" with devastating wit. If Vol­ and make it interesting. Tallyho! We are off on a chase taire's audience existed today, ********************************** of ideas and a killer. The deduct­ it might erect a statue to Asimov ive adventure stimulates, and the to honor his willingness to clash orgasmic passages range from those with hypocritical mouthers of un­ Prolific science and science similar to a Harvard professor ex­ thinking platitudes. fiction writer ISAAC ASIMOV call­ plaining intergalactic sex to a Chastity Colony, to those as de­ He jousts with the Moral Majo­ ed from his New York University lightfully prurient as they are rity (God's Air Force), censor­ Hospital bed yesterday to say word-framed by a skillful pro who ship, sperm banks, UFOs, telepathy, that he is doing "very well" aft­ knows the fleshpot tastes. flat-earth people and birth-con­ er triple bypass heart surgery a trol foes. Asimov takes a more week ago. He expects to be out Periodically Asimov baits you positive stance then and discusses in another week and back writing with the tried and true suspense plate tectonics, earth magnetics, fiction. Asimov, who will be 64 technique of raising a crucial sun spots, solar wind, Maunder cy­ in January, pointed out that he question and dangling the inplicit cles, ice ages, magnetic pole re­ has so far published 286 books promise that perhaps in the next versal, Jupiter (remember his clas­ with 14 currently at press. "Sc chapter or two you will know the sic BUY JUPITER?), and Pluto (so- you see," he added, "even if I answer. When you get the answer, called from the first letters of had died, I would have published it in turn produces two or more astronomer Percival Lowell's name). 300 books in my lifetime." additional, intriguing questions. Asimov is not one to overlook —Chuck Conconi, "Personal­ The book is wordy at 419 pages, black holes, pulsars, tachyons ities," THE WASHINGTON but worthy to boot. Georges Sime­ that hypothetically move faster POST, Wednesday, Dec. 21, non brevity, Heinlein fat-triircned than light. 1983. prose, you won't find. Carter Those readers who like mental Brown fans may need mouth to mouth gymnastics will appreciate Chapter resuscitation if they attempt to 36, "Beyond the Universe," on the THE ROBOTS OF DAWN wade through this book. But for nature of the universe, how we By Isaac Asimov those of us who like our Asimov, perceive it and the nothingness Doubleday, ISBN 0-385-18400-X vintage any year, this pressing of that is beyond it. Molecular bio- $15.95 the words has produced the proper logy, an ever more inportant phase REVIEWED BY KARL EDD blend -- the humor of a Jewish elf, of modem science, is presented in Yankee wit, word conundrums, ment­ a thumbnail sketch along with some Elijah Baley, the interplanet­ al boxing practice, a bit of mind- intriguing postulates. ary detective who cavorted through bending, a story and a learning THE CAVES OF STEEL and THE NAKED experience. You will think much SUN (note the author's fondness about life, love, sex, alternate More of the myriad subjects for THE) is back in a caper that societies -- and crime. dealt with by Amazing Azimov: moves from Earth to planet Aurora, Energy, transportation, language, called World of the Dawn. "--he knew, from her position, corporate futures, robot labor, that the softness was her left computers, chemistry, sociology, A robot has been murdered. breast and that it was centered, postal services, geriatrics, edu­ But there is more. Baley's contrastingly, with its nipple hard cation, photoelectricity, politi­ career hinges on solving the murd- against his lips./Softly she was cal science, cloning, hotels, bot­ singing to the music, a sleepily any, genetics, Spanish flu, the 37 jouful tune he did not recognize." This is followed by lyric, po­ This paperback (8 1/2 X 11") investigations into a series of etic aftersex depicted from a has a beautiful full-color cover gruesome murders in Washington man's viewpoint, unmistakably, but of Shadow memorabilia and contains D.C. These murders contain simil­ sensual, tender and well phrased. art and pictures of the Shadow arities to a previous series of Ursula LeGuin's would be the fem­ and the principal people behind San Francisco slayings known as inine counterpart in delightful his career. Included are complete the "Gemini Killings" (including sex presentation even for those lists of Shadow novels and radio details known only to the police). too old to appreciate much more adventures, color reproductions Most troublesome to Kinderman is than the words. of THE SHADOW magazine covers, se­ the conclusive knowledge that the Gemini killer died years ago. Asimov, seated at his word pro­ cret codes, memorabilia and col­ He died --we learn later --at cessor, has fired an artillery sal­ lectibles, a previously unpublish­ the same time that Jesuit Father vo of words. They land squarely on ed Shadow novelette, a radio Damien Karras dove out the window target but, of course, we expect script, a complete adventure from to his death while conducting the that of him. the Shadow comic strip, a chapter on the Shadow movies, and more. exorcism in THE EXORCIST. ****************************** Don't miss this book. I'm LEGION moves more slowly than sure you'll treasure it as I do. Blatty's previous work, delving If you look around, you may find into man's capacity for suffering DINOSAUR TALES this book discounted at local and pain, the meaning of evil and By Ray Bradbury bookstores. the existence of God. Most of Bantam, 1983, 144 pp., $6.95 ********************************** this comes through internal mus­ ings of Lt. Kinderman, a man who REVIEWED BY ANDREW ANDREWS has seen so much blood and death he is able to ask the question Although the "illustrated "why" from a purely philosophical story" format in Bradbury's col­ point of view. lection of his favorite own DINO­ SAUR TALES is garish and unnerv­ As a counterpoint to the gris­ ing, the collection as a whole is ly recitation of the murders, Blatty uses a humorous portrayal notable for his own spiffy remin­ iscences of his love of the of Kinderman's home life -- in­ cluding a mother-in-law who comes beasts. While "A Sound of Thund­ to visit and insists on keeping a er" and "The Fog Horn" bring us intensely believable milieus, live carp in the bathtub -- and braced with conviction, tales lively repartee with his young as­ such as "Besides A Dinosaur, What- sociate Atkins to provide some ta Ya Wanna Be When You Grow Up?" very funny moments. are mushy and cornball, made for This book is a good read -- only the most childish reader. enough plot twist and dead ends But don't be mistaken. Brad­ (pun intended) to keep your inter­ bury's enchanting obsession with est and a few unexpected scares the lore is alluring. He gets to scattered along the way. While you -- in simple ways he shows you THE EXORCIST was a genuinely grip­ how to marvel over these awesome, ping novel -- and quite possibly startling creatures. There are the novel that spawned a resur­ poems that tell a strange rapture. gence tn mainstream horror (Steph­ And his happy-go-lucky writing is en King had yet to sell a book tarnished only by the paint-by- back then) -- Blatty's LEGION displays an excellent comnand of number running illustrations. Ig­ nore them, but take in what Brad­ believable dialogue and a talent bury revels about. for ethnic humor not found in his earlier work. ********************************** **********************************

THE SHADOW SCRAPBOOK THE THRONE OF MADNESS By Walter B. Gibson By Somtow Sucharitkul Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York Timescape/Pocket, 45439-0, $2.95 1979, 162 pp., $8.95 LEGION REVIEWED BY PAUL MCGUIRE By William Peter Blatty REVIEWED BY BILL WINANS Simon .8 Schuster The second novel of the Inquest- 248 pp., $14.95 or trilogy begins with one of the This fascinating volume con­ protagonists of LIGHT ON THE SOUND tains everything one could imagine REVIEWED BY STUART NAPIER (Timescape 44028) becoming one of about the career of the Shadow. the god-like Inquestors to gain his Most chapters are written by Wal­ If you were expecting a se­ compassionate revenge by destroying ter B. Gibson, longtime writer of quel to THE EXORCIST, Blatty's la­ their galaxy-spanning absolute rule. THE SHADOW magazine (under the test novel, LEGION, is not it. The Inquestors are utopia destroy­ pseudonym Maxwell Grant), others Instead, his new story features ers dedicated to the faith that by fan and author Anthony Toll in, homicide detective Lt. William humans are fallen creatures meant the preface by Chris Steinbrunner, Kinderman, a secondary character to suffer atonement eternally. Ov­ Vice President of the Mystery from the earlier novel, and his er the centuries they have develop­ Writers of America. 38 ed a disdain for mortals which makes the most arrogant feudal Sam­ Ones. There is a lot of introspec­ iented Netherlands-based publish­ urai's lack of concern for peasants tive and interraction meshed in a ing firm of Spartacus, POB 3496, seem like the love of Gandhi. Most fairly suspenseful plot. Events 1001 AG Amsterdam, The Netherlands) of the novel takes place on their do tend to fall in line easily for CROWSTONE represents a most ambi­ homeworld, Uran's Varek, a planet the expedition members, but is tious -- and audacious -- under­ the size of Well and River worlds. that any different than, say, taking. This complex novel has breath-tak­ LORD VALENTINE'S CASTLE? At 368 pages, it is the largest ing variety and beauty, and ranges The most obvious differences original work to be published by from a society which dances on the between ACROSS A BILLION YEARS Coltsfoot. At US $12.50 the copy surface of a sapient sun to a city and one of Silverberg's adult nov­ (in softcover), it is certainly the inside the living body of a serpent els are simpler character motiva­ most expensive. The market at and a city where the 20,000,000 tion, a complete lack of sex and which it is aimed is definitely not population is genetically program­ violence and an occasional ten­ the one in Uncle Hugo's or A Change med to create an eternal operatic dency for the characters to lecture Of Hobbit, but rather the increas­ symphony with their lives. In a the reader. ingly vocal minority of men who pre­ generous extravagance of invention fer and are involved in mutually- Mr. Sucharitkul all but throws The only people who might be agreeable sexual relationships with away ideas whole novels could have disappointed are those approaching boys below the legal age of consent. been built around. ACROSS A BILLION YEARS expecting a novel as complex as DYING INSIDE or The plot threads are finally SHADRACH IN THE FURNACE. Every­ Unlike previous Coltsfoot tied to a grand multi-player game body else should enjoy a good read. books, CRCWSTONE aspires to a lev­ of makrugh. What chess is to mort- el of graphic eroticism approach­ *********************************** als, makrugh is to these demi-gods. ing the pornographic. Preserving Although tne fate of their pieces the "quest" formula of S6S fiction, is ruthlessly enacted on the worlds it incorporates a number of peder- each represents, the Inquestors astic scenes that will baffle some care more about the corresponding CRCWSTONE By Hakim readers, disgust most and -- dis­ loss of face. In this final game turbingly -- arouse many. each wears a mask and a device to Reviewer anonymous Coltsfoot Press, The Netherlands Certainly the less glandular alter their voices. None of the $12.50 players know who is who, but the adventures of Valamiel the Scrive­ deals and betrayals of the game are ner and Zaek of Far Thuren are In the darkened, twisting neither more nor less outre than still binding on them and their streets of a city grown decadent plaything, the universe. But this those of most other such tales. with the centuries, an evil wizard Hakim's style of writing is rath­ game will be more unique than any enlists the services of two unlike­ bargained for. er less cloyingly turgid than that ly heroes. Their mission is to of at least half of the wordsmiths With a future technology ad­ penetrate the defenses of a great presently practicing in the Sword vanced to where magic would seem temple and steal from its vaults 6 Sorcery genre. like everyday routine, Mr. Sucharit­ the powerful Crowstone, a jewel of kul is a mystic magician, produc­ unspeakably malignant potential. Characterization and plotting ing ever more dazzling miracles. follow S6S S.O.P., though that a- One of the pair is a slim, lone shouldn't deter either of the His prose is musical. Even the grey-clad aesthete, adept with most bizarre images seem realistic two kinds of folk who're likely to sword and dagger and skilled in buy it. The hard-core fantasy fan once one has been drawn into the the thieves' trade. The other is a lavish and unique world here creat­ is perfectly happy with well-worn barbarian warrior from the Far story lines and stock characters, ed. This book could take a while North, by turns brooding and bois- to finish, however, because you may while the boy-lover will doubtless trous, prone to berserk rages. be constantly pausing to think a- suffer patiently through the scenes bout and appreciate the scene you Along the way, the barbarian of whirling blades and wizardry to have just read. falls in love with a little slave, get to the "naughty bits."

** ************** A*******A********* forced into prostitution in a wat­ It is left entirely to the erfront bordello. The grey-garbed conscience of the individual as thief, in turn, comes under the to which species of fantasy -- ad­ spell of a beautiful temple danc­ venturous or deviantly erotic -- ACROSS A BILLION YEARS er. Their passions become inter­ comprises the paramount reason for By Robert Silverberg twined with the quest for the mag­ purchasing this novel. TOR Books, $2.75 ical gemstone, leading them down **********************************A REVIEWED BY ROBERT SABELLA paths of treachery and deceit, un­ til only their courage and wits This is a Young Adult novel can save their beloveds and them­ that TOR has released without any selves from the plottings of their identification as such. Fortun­ shadowy employer. ately, like all the better YA novels, it can be enjoyed as much If you thought that this was by adults as by youngsters. about another of Fritz Leiber's stories about the Grey Mouser and DIRECT DESCENT Tom Rice is a graduate student Fafhrd the Barbarian, you'd bet­ By Frank Herbert in archaeology. He is fortunate ter think again. The author writes enough to participate in an exped­ Ace Books, New York, 1980, Paperbk. under the pen name of Hakim, the Illustrated, 188 pp., $1.95 ition searching for the remnants city is Suvyamara, not Lankhmar, of a billion-year-old race known and both prostitute and temple REVIEWED BY BILL WINANS as The High Ones. The expedition dancer are pubescent boys. members are a colorful mix of hu­ The cover proclaims this vol­ mans, aliens and an android. As Released by the Coltsfoot ume "the newest work by Frank Her­ the book progresses we learn as Press (a subsidiary of the gay-or- bert." But is it? The book con­ much about them as about the High 39 tains two novelettes: "Pack Rat Planet" appeared in the December the machinations of superior be­ 1954 issue of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE ings called the Designers. Also FICTION; the other has the same included in the emotion-filled setting, different but similar cast is Savaj, a full-Vulcan and characters and a similar story. legendary Star-ship captain, who The "Pack Rat Planet" is a takes command of the Enterprise far-future hollow Earth, with a (sort of), demotes Kirk to Science library containing all the know­ officer and elevates Spock to Cap­ ledge of the galactic empire with­ tain. The character development in its shell. The plot of each is illogical, i.e., Kirk pulls off story involves political elements so many no-noes that he should have who want to close the library, and been courtmartialed for insubord­ the efforts of the head librarians ination and the brilliant alien to keep the library in operation. Designers came across as unletter­ as Eugene Warren goes to the karma ed spoiled adolescents. Lots of The stories are easy to read of Dick's purposes in composing emotion-packed scenes mixed with and move quickly, but will not the alternate worlds, the MARTIAN opaque psychological insights and satisfy the demanding reader. The TIMESLIP, THE MAN IN THE HIGH many footnotes referring to prev­ illustrations, although quite at­ CASTLE and A SCANNER DARKLY, a ious ST books and TV episodes. tractive, add nothing to the story. revelation of the dope scene. Eh! The characters are wooden and un­ Portions of his life are pinned *********************************** interesting, the plot and conclu­ inextricably to his work -- Dick sions predictable. I was disap­ admits so in his own selection, pointed and can't recomnend this "Now Wait for This Year." book. Especially don't miss "Toward THE OZ BOOKS ft*ft*******ft*ft********************* the Transcendent: An Introduction By L. Frank Baum to Solar Lottery and Other Works" by Thomas M. Disch. It homes in REVIEWED BY NEAL WILGUS completely on the simpler ways of understanding such a complex writ­ Anyone interested in the Oz PHILIP Ki DICK er, if that is at all possible. fantasy classics surely knows that the 14 titles authored by L. Edited by Martin Harry Greenberg ********************************** and Joseph D. Olander Frank Baum have been available as Taplinger, 1983, 256 pp., $12.95 Del Rey paperbacks for several years now. What I discovered REVIEWED BY ANDREW ANDREWS when I began reading the series to my four-year-old son was that the "Philip K. Dick's fiction ... THE ABIDE OF LIFE Del Rey books have a minor short­ focuses on an intense, frightening By Lee Correy coming -- those excellent illus­ view of our society -- its mass Timescape Pocket Book, $2.50 trations by John R. Neill had to population, its artificial envir­ be reduced so much that many of onment, its confusion of the real REVIEWED BY ALMA JO WILLIAMS the details and much of the clar­ and the fake, its loss of absolute ity is lost. Since Neill's draw­ values. In the distorting mirror Our heroes are flicked by a ings are such a perfect match for of Dick's work, our commonplace gravitational anomaly into an un­ Baum's magic prose, this is vexa­ illustrations are paradoxically explored backwater portion of the tious indeed. warped into the shape of truth." galaxy and find a highly civiliz­ ed planet known as Mercan, revolv­ What a lot of fantasy readers -- From Chapter 9 ing around an unstable sun. Since may not be aware of is that there of PHILIP K. DICK the Enterprise was damaged, Kirk is another paperback edition of Let them do the walking, Mssrs. has to put in for repairs and must the Baum Oz books available, one Greenberg and Olander, because convince the leaders of the Mercad- that is large enough (5 1/4 X here they have brought before you ians (without overturning the 8 1/4) to reproduce the Neill il­ and me the treatise to end all and Prime Directive) that other people lustrations close to the original be all about speculative fiction do exist outside their sphere of size. What I'm referring to is writer Philip K. Dick. The quote influence. This has to be done the Coles Children's Books edit­ sums it up: And what a sublimely quickly because the sun is rapidly ion, published by the Canadian nutshell way of bookbinding the becoming unstable and may blow ev­ firm that runs the Coles Bookstore most intensely complete compendium eryone out of the sky. Story is chain (Coles Publishing Co., 90 of an author's Meaning and Purpose eh!, but the characters are be­ Ronson Dr., Rexdale, Ch tario, Can­ of writing I've ever read. lievable. ada M9W 1C1). Originally marketed ********************************** in 1980 with a price of $3.95 per The book sums up the aberrant each, Coles must have found the yet struggling writer completely, market was saturated, for when I examining Dick's forays into bra­ recently discovered them (spring, zen socio-political alternate and THE PROMETHUS DESIGN 1983) they were reduced to $1.99, future landscapes, a perspective then to 444 -- surely the book often dismal and majestic, and By Sandra Marshak and bargain of the decade. his sordid perception of our mech­ Myrna Culbreath anized society, our indifference, Timescape Pocket Book, $2.50 The Del Rey edition has two our lack of compassion. things the Coles edition does not REVIEWED BY ALMA JO WILLIAMS have -- original cover paintings Chapter 6 examines the "mad­ by Michael Herring and the "offic­ man's" political dispatches across The story line of this ST tale ial" map of Oz prepared by James the turbulent, unsound characters is simple (kind of). Our heroes E. Huff and Dick Martin for the of his fiction. It works well, must save the known universe from International Wizard of Oz Club. but not as sharply as Chapter 9, 40 Since the map is also reduced to near illegibility and the Herring Josh, he has no choice again as he and elicits a raised eyebrow at covers are rather uninspired, I'm is sunnoned by her when she wishes the daring, bizarre satire repre­ happy to have most of the Coles to meet her father. This hybrid has sented. The covers depict mostly titles to read from. So is my son. the power to end what is left of black humor, in the style of NAT­ ********************************** the world and there is a moral choice IONAL LAMPOON (although it is safe to be made. Do you kill a ten-year- to say that the undergrounds were old, however distorted her morality? precursors, not imitators, of the Or do you let her live and thereby LAMPOON -- and are by and large, time's dark laughter possibly doom everyone? a far more "psyched out" entity). Much is erotic; cartoons like this By James Kahn The secondary characters, from often exaggerate and play outland­ U.S.A., Random House, Inc., NY, NY; Jasmine the Neuroman to D'Ursu the ish tricks with the human form, Canada, Ballantine Books of Canada, intelligent bear to Beauty the fas­ striking at the libido of the Ltd., 5390 Ambler Drive, Mississauga, tidious Centaur are well drawn. pimply adolescent who is still Ontario, Canada, L4W 1Y7. From what little I know about the buried in us all. 1982, 318 pp., $3.25 first novel, I would say that Mr. Kahn has inproved his pacing and the This is not a catalog. Only a REVIEWED BY W. RITCHIE BENEDICT new one is more consistent in plot brief description is given for each item -- never enough to sate Science fiction and fantasy, by with fewer diversions from the main one's curiosity. The front of the their very nature, deal with realit­ line. I understand it is part of a book contains immensely readable ies that are odd. Some are odder projected trilogy. (to the underground comix buyer) than others, of course, and a few A well-written, but decidedly personal essays from the "greats" writers are so surrealistic that you unusual novel. like Ron Ulmer (LAST GASP ECO­ have difficulty in relating to their ****************************** ****** FUNNIES), Denis Kitchen (KITCHEN plots at all. Although the cover of SINK ENTERPRISES), Jay Lynch (BI­ this new novel describes it as SF, JOU Funnies) and many more. it is much closer in fact and spirit to fantasy. True, there are ties Highly recommended for col­ to our mundane century, but they are THE OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND AND lectors (adults only!). tenuous at best. Frankly, it reads NEWAVE COMIX PRICE GUIDE ************************************ like Piers Anthony combined with THE Compiled by Jay Kennedy ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU and a sprinkling Crown Publishers of Tolkien on the top. It is a se­ 1982, 273 pp., $9.95 THE ANNOTATED WIZARD OF OZ quel to the novel, WORLD ENOUGH AND Edited by Michael Patrick Hearn TIME (Ballantine), but can stand on REVIEWED BY JOtfl DIPRETE Clarkson N. Potter, NY, 384 pp. its own. Color illustrated, $20.00 Similar in concept to THE COM­ The locale is what is left of IC BOOK PRICE GUIDE, THE OFFICIAL REVIEWED BY ALMA JO WILLIAMS southern California (naturally) and UNDERGROUND AND NEWAVE ("New Wave") the time is many centuries in the fu­ OOMIX PRICE GUIDE is destined to This book is a MUST for any ture. There has been germ warfare, be a classic. It is endlessly Ozaphile and should be read by any­ atomic warfare, a maimoth quake, fascinating, beautiful, funny and one who wants to visit the wonder­ clone wars and it is all topped off deserving of fame. ful land of Oz, with its strange with a new Ice Age. The human race peoples. The original Denslow has mutated into many diverse spec­ The art and photo reproduc­ illustrations are used, color and ies, to say nothing of the animal tions are excellent: b(jw and col­ all. Michael Hearn should be ap­ and plant population. There are or covers are reprinted in full plauded for his historical delv- mermaids, centaurs and vampires glory, with the various word bal­ ings into one of the best-loved brought about by genetic manipula­ loons, art figures, and magazine stories of all time (except by tion, as well as technological in­ titles easily discernible and ap­ librarians, for some strange rea­ novations such as the bionic Neuro- preciated. * Breathless color is son) . The annotations are as much men and the Pluggers who bliss them­ featured on 16 glossy pages. Ev­ fun to read as the story. ery page has something to look at selves out with direct connections *********************************** to the brain. It is five years aft­ er the events in WORLD ENOUGH AND TIME and Josh Green is once again in danger. TIME TRAVELERS STRICTLY CASH By Spider Robinson He has had the helmet removed Ace, 200 pp, $2.25 that prevented him from being drawn to the City With No Name. As a re­ REVIEWED BY ALMA JO WILLIAMS sult, he continually suffers the equivalent of epileptic seizures un­ For devotees of tavern tales, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon is til he obeys. The Queen of this back -- with at least a few new city is something of a biological horror --an electronic Medusa who stories. But this book is not completely inhabited by the deni­ needs Josh in order to reproduce. zens of the Bar. We have Spider's He goes through with the act because he has no choice. tribute to R.A. Heinlein at the 1980 Bosklone Con, including his If the mother was bad enough, deathless rendition of 01' Man the resulting daughter is worse. Heinlein with guitar chords, his Not only does she kill her mother at Minicon "acceptance speech" and birth, but she is sort of a bird-hu­ several assorted short stories man hybrid with the power to manipu­ which do NOT take place in bars. late time and space at will. As she Fun book. is telepathically connected with ************************************ PET SEMATARY ical; yet he is capable of switch­ THE SEX SPHERE, By RudY Rucker By Stephen King ing point-of-view with greater Ace, paperbk, $2.75 Doubleday, '82, 374 pp., $15.95 ease than many writers today and ISBN: 0-441-75984-X REVIEWED BY STUART NAPIER uses this technique to draw the REVIEWED BY JAFES J.J, WILSON reader inexorably into confronting In PET SEMATARY, spelled phon­ the conflict of the story headon. Rucy Rucker is not a poet etically like a child would pro­ It's an emotional roller coaster but a story-teller for the 80s. nounce it, Stephen King puts into ride through someone else's night­ His is the voice of the quintes­ place another piece of what is de­ mare to a place that sometimes can­ sential male of the baby-boom gen­ veloping as his own unique "Horror not be avoided. It's, as the auth­ eration. His stories are based on History." While perhaps not as or suggests, "...a secret place ... ideas that one might only other­ precise as the "Cthulhu Mythos," you make up reasons ... they seem wise find in a late edition phys­ King's history is rapidly creating like good reasons ... but mostly ics text and yet these ideas are a horror mystique about Maine equal you do it because you want to ... woven into stories that are com­ to Lovecraft's Rhode Island. it's your place ... it belongs to pelling, thought provoking and eq­ Like many of his previous nov­ you, and you belong to it." ually entertaining (his short story collection, THE 58th FRANZ KAFKA, els, the setting is rural; this ************************************ time Ludlow, Maine, just down the Ace 1983, is a must read). road from Castle Rock where CUJO went bad with rabies --or was it THE SEX SPHERE seems to have just the evil spirit of Frank Dodd just about everything: crazed we thought had been dispelled in physicists terrorizing the streets THE DEAD ZONE? THE MAN WHO HAD NO IDEA of Rome with bicycles and toy ro­ By Thomas M. Disch bots , ecology-minded anarchists The story opens with Dr. Louis Bantam, 1982, 231 pp., $2.95 with atom bombs, hyperdimensional Creed and his family moving from REVIEWED BY RUSSELL ENGEBRETSON travel, 60s underground cartoon Chicago to Maine where he will be characters come to life, and taking over the post of Director Thomas M. Disch has reaped spheres from another dimension of Health Services at the Univers­ much praise for his novels, espec­ that can change shape to satisfy ity of Maine. Their new home out­ ially 334, CAMP CONCENTRATION and every man's sexual fantasies. As side of town is surrounded on three ON WINGS OF SONG. While I think a male bom during the "baby boom" sides by fields that back up to most of these are fine (CAMP CON­ post-war years I'd be very inter­ one of the largest undeveloped for­ CENTRATION wins my vote for one of ested to know what women think of est areas in the state. Behind the SF's near-masterpieces), where Rudy Rucker's stories; THE SEX house a curiously trim and well- Disch really shines is in the short SPHERE in particular. kept path curves off through the story. To many authors the short fields; Louis soon learns that the story is a means to an end, the It would be almost impossible path leads to the local pet ceme­ end being publication of a novel. to tell much about the story it­ tery located in the woods. Not so with Disch. Here is a man self without spoiling some of the who takes his short fiction seri­ fun so here are two small quotes Beyond this graveyard for be­ to whet your appetite: loved pets lies another, more an­ ously. cient burial ground. A place Lou­ What if people had to have a "Each part of the universe is finds wields a strange power ov­ license to start a conversation? makes its own contribution. er those who have visited it. And That is the premise of the title You are reading. I am writ­ may have reason to return. story, and there are few writers ing. Two spots of bright­ ness. Going out from you In PET SEMETARY King's rich de­ aside from Disch who could flesh out such an idea and pull it off are various bands of color, tails create characters a reader with such seeming ease. Unfortun­ indicating your moods and can identify with. Then slowly, ately, tljere are a few stories here predilections. Bands eman­ almost imperceptibly, through a that do not work so well. "The ate from me as well ... and series of thoroughly believable in­ Apartment Next to the War" is a where our color-bands cross cidents, reality begins to slip satire gone berserk, too heavy- each other there is inter­ away. handed to be effective. "The San­ ference. You change me as A family crisis midway into ta Claus Compromise" is flawed by I change you. Each part of the story forces Louis to examine its absurdist storyline, which is the universe makes its own his feelings about death and re­ silly without being funny. On the contribution." ligion; he must make a decision re­ plus side are "Josie and the Ele­ '"Listen to this,' urged garding personal acceptance of what vator: A Cautionary Tale," "The Huba, passing me the ear­ "fate" has dealt him. This psycho- Grown-Up" and "At the Pleasure Cen­ phones. 'Pink Floyd.' logical/moral dilemma is at the ter," and others too numerous to I put on the phones. A heart of the novel; to what lengths list. single drumbeat whhACKKed, can and should a parent's love for and then a whole cream­ a child extend? King's handling "At the Pleasure Center" weighs in at three pages and contains on­ pie of guitar lines of this question is chillingly pre­ ly two characters but it's a power­ splatted me. I closed sented and will surely touch in my eyes. For a minute I each reader a sensitive area we ful story, hard and razor-sharp. "The Grown-Up" is hardball fantasy forgot I was the Messiah have all probably avoided. The de­ and just dug the sounds." cision Louis reaches, and its im­ that juxtaposes childhood innocence with the bewildering and often sad pact on his family, make for as Rudy Rucker is not a great business of being an adult. taut and horrifying a novel as King writer, in the sense of classic has yet produced. And these are stories for all literature, but he is a damned fine of you adults who still read fantasy storyteller; he has the rare gift of making the impossible, and the and science fiction. Enjoy. PET SEMATARY is a novel from a often downright preposterous, seem writer at the peak of his form. *********************************** believable. King's style is strictly chronolog­ 42 *********************************** THE UIUISECTOR BY DARRELL SCHWEITZER

judge the health of contemporary We might spot a mini-trend AU- ABOUT SCIENCE FICTION science fiction, we should examine here. The old guard is back in We keep hearing from the anti- books which are science fiction. the limelight, winning awards, fantasy reactionaries (and others) Otherwise, the reactionary argu­ climbing up the bestseller lists, that science fiction is either de­ ments would have held up just as while the young turks and new wav­ cadent, dying, gone entirely, or well in the late 1950s when vari­ ers and great white hopes of the at least not at all well. From ous science fiction writers were 1960s are back in secondary posi­ Elton Elliott this seems to be the turning to detective fiction, his- tions. Make of it what you will, argument of someone who can't see toricals, porno, mainstream and but in THE ROBOTS OF DAWN, Asimov beyond this month's genre paper­ various types of non-fiction. But shows he has what it takes. no, in those days, perhaps, fans backs. Alexei Panshin has produc­ The book is of course, the were less worried about the prec­ ed a more literate version, with third Lije Baley robot detective ious bodily fluids of "their" elaborate historical analogies, novel, a sequel to THE CAVES OF field. but I still don't believe it. Has STEEL and THE NAKED SUN. Asimov anybody ever bothered to inform began and abandoned a third one in Let us look at some science Stanley Schmidt of this dire event? the 1950s. I am not sure if this From the looks of the last ANALOG fiction: is that manuscript completed after circulation figures I've seen, I a long hiatus, or a wholly new ef­ guess not. Any writer who stops fort. If the former, it is a seam­ writing SF because he thinks the THE ROBOTS QF DAWN less job, quite unlike, say, field is dead will simply be re­ By Isaac Asimov STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND where placed by someone who doesn't. Doubleday, 1983, 419 pp., $15.95 you can see the old Heinlein un­ And most of the established writ­ easily welded onto the new. Of ers don't seem to have gotten the Asimov's comeback is clearly a sustained phenomenon. For years he course, it is a legitimate mystery, word, because their science fic­ with the clues laid out, theories tion continues to appear without wrote only a few trivial short sto­ ries (plus his usual gargantuan out­ built up and knocked down and a interruption. I just got a new startling, but logical revelation Gregory Benford novel in the mail, put of nonfiction), and then THE GODS IHENE5ELVES came out in 1972, at the end. And of course, too, ACROSS THE SEA OF SUNS, which ar­ it is legitimate science fiction, rived too late to be reviewed a major work certainly, but follow­ ed by little SF of note until the speculative element integral this issue, but it looks like a to the crime, the evidence, and real live science fiction novel FOUNDATION'S EDGE. But now, only a year later, we have another major the detective's perceptions, and with enough science in it to keep we expect no less than that Asimov Hugo Gemsback resting in peace Asimov novel, one of the very fin­ est he has ever done. I suspect should play fair. It used to be and literate enough writing to the popular wisdom that you could keep the rest of us interested. I that as long as Doubleday is wil­ ling to put up huge sums of money, not write a science fiction mystery do not think this sort of book because the killer would enter the has been driven from the market­ we're going to see Asimov continue as an important figure in contemp­ locked room through the fourth di­ place by dragons and elves, at mension, in a manner no one knew least not quite yet. orary SF, rather than as the guy who wrote those classics before was possible, and the detective Pardon me if I seem naive, but you or I were bom, but is somehow would catch him with a Fourth Di­ it seems to me that if we are to still in his late youth. mension Entry Detection Device, which no one knew he had until he produced it. But Asimov showed us all how to do it thirty years ago and he isn't slipping. This much we can take for granted.

What is more surprising is that this book has merit as a nov­ el, the test being that you might want to reread it, even after you know who the murderer is. Were I to tell you that the butler did it, this would not ruin your experience. As in a typical Asimov novel, there is virtually no action, and the characters spend most of their time talking to one another (the big suspense scene involves Lije Baley getting caught outside in the rain -- and it is suspenseful), but the characterizations are ful­ ler than one expects from Asimov. There are subtle uses of percep­ chessplayer giving a novice an in­ History also teaches us, I tion, bits of cultural relativism teresting game. Well, the sequel think, that Silverberg's concept and prejudice which make his future is like a master giving an inter­ of monarchy is rather naive. The Earth and his extra-solar worlds mediate player an interesting game. Coronal and Pontifex of Majipoor seem like real places inhabited The new book is tighter, fas­ are absolute monarchs, governing by real people. Earth is fairly ter-moving. People who got bored by divine right. Every few years utopian by 20th century standards with CASTLE after a while probably the Coronal makes a tour of the (although robots are treated as won't with this one. The plot is provinces, so that the countless niggers), but in the eyes of the interesting enough: the shape­ millions of commoners will be awed Spacers, it is unspeakable squalid changers, the original inhabitants into renewed loyalty by his sheer and its inhabitants barely pass as of the planet Majipoor, are waging wonderfulness. Now we are told hyman. After awhile we come to a subtle biological war against that a potent personage called the understand why, and then it rings everybody else. Valentine, a man King of Dreams can punish the wick­ true: don't we sometimes think of of peace, has to deal with this ed, but he doesn't actually prac­ Calcutta or Bangladesh that way? without compromising everything he tice mind control on a mass scale, On the planet Aurora (the scene of stands for. At the same time, he so I wonder why Valentine's divine the crime) there are fifty robots would like to delay as long as pos­ right of kingship should do him to every human. This greatly af­ sible his elevation to the ponti­ any more good than that of, say, fects every aspect of society. In­ ficate, since the pontifex tradi­ Charles I. Further, it is a char­ volved in the crime is Glora, the tionally resides in a vast under­ acteristic of absolute monarchies Solarian woman from THE NAKED SUN. ground labyrinth as a virtual pris­ that the court is a snakepit of Cn Solaria, there are an hundred oner. (The old pontifex, symbolic deadly intrigue. On Majipoor there and fifty robots per human and the of all this, is kept in a glass is none of this. The only record­ most overwhelming taboo is against bubble on life-support, senile and ed coup was that against Valentine physical contact between people. mad, fantastically aged, but still in the previous novel and that In order to solve the mystery, Ba­ alive for reasons of state.) The was done by non-humans, the shape­ ley must acclimate hinself to a writing is polished and capable. shifters. Byzantine emperors rul­ strange society, then understand a There are even moments of striking ed as God's regent on Earth, and woman who is a stranger there her­ beauty and strangeness. The set­ were supported by awesome religious self, but from a society which dif­ ting is very well realized: Maji­ pageantry, just like Valentine. A fers from that of Aurora toward poor itself with its pageantry and lot of them didn't live to old age. the opposite extreme. exotic peoples is a memorable I don't see why Majipoori rulers should fare any better. All we This is real science fiction. creation. are told is that this is the most We are made to see how the specul­ But I am left less than satis­ placid of worlds. It had better ative premises affect every aspect fied. There is very little feel­ be, to be held together by such a of the characters' lives. In oth­ ing in this book. We watch events tenuous regime for fourteen thous­ er words, this setting is lived in. with some interest, but are not and years. The people are a part of it. really moved by them. But worse And their story is told convincing­ than that, there are some serious Silverberg seems halfway aware ly, and even with passion. I plausibility problems. The more of these problems, but never ad­ found none of these elements in we learn about the government of dresses them adequately. As the FOUNDATION'S EDGE, for all that Majipoor, the less believable it crisis mounts and at last the king­ book had its own merits. becomes. dom does start to fragment, with false coronals popping up every­ There's also sex in THE ROBOTS Now it seems that Majipoor is where, Valentine does a great deal OF DAWN, even sex with robots. The a world fallen into technological of nothing. He feels sorry for taboos are all different, so peop­ decadence, like Burroughs' Barsoom. le are open about it. It is only himself. At last he resolves to There are "floaters," which seem to go before the enemy leader and beg logical that the novel should be be a species of hovercraft, energy too. And when Lije Baley finds forgiveness. His party gets lost weapons an5 force fields, but Val­ in a jungle and he is believed that even going to the bathroom is entine's army comes equipped with a strange experience on Aurora, we archers. Ships seem to move by find out about that too. It is re­ sail. There is a certain amount levant to the case, for all that of controlled telepathy, but no ra­ my own Earthly prejudice leaves me dio, even when some form of reli­ feeling that there's a bit much of able communication over distance is this. We could have done without desperately needed. During the five pages of bathroom scenes. crisis, whole provinces are out of I suppose that since FOUNDA­ contact with the central government. TION'S EDGE won the Hugo last year, It takes messengers weeks or even the voters will want to give it to months to bring news, which made someone else this year. Which is me wonder why there are no air­ a shame, because THE ROBOTS OF planes, even of the rudimentary DAWN is a better book. wood and cloth variety, such as existed on Earth around 1910. But if we think these things through, it becomes hard to be­ VALENTINE PONTIFEX lieve that a world government (on By Robert Silverberg a planet much larger than Earth) Arbor House, 1983, 347 pp., $15.95 could hold together under such circumstances. History teaches us Silverberg's comeback is a that empires that can't comnunicate sustained performance too, but I'm with and move armies to their ex­ a little less happy with it. Some­ tremities in a hurry tend to fall one described LORD VALENTINE'S apart. .. CASTLE as being like a master dead. Finally his regents begin CUGEL'S SAGA is a direct se­ There's very little depth, and to take the decisive action Valen­ quel to THE EYES OF THE OVERWORLD, no seriousness at all, but there tine seems incapable of. Somehow lucounu the Laughing Magician has are a lot of historical gags (in­ he ramains on the throne, even played another delectable jest up­ cluding the world's first translit­ though the situation calls for a on Cugel, transporting him to a re­ eration of Chinook into hieroglyph­ Diocletian or a Constantine and mote country. The book consists of ics), outrageous situations and Valentine is a poor man's Mahatma Cugel's adventures on the way back memorable lines like: Ghandi. Yet another lesson of and his final encounter with the "I was not terribly amused, history is that amiable, gentle, magician. The adventures are in­ upon regaining conscious­ forgiving and ineffectual rulers dependent enough that this is just ness to discover that I had tend to get shoved aside. Silver­ barely a novel (indeed, two epi­ been crucified. That 1 was berg has not managed to make me sodes, "The Seventeen Virgins" and face to face with a bronto­ believe in the greatness of Valen­ "The Bagful of Dreams" have been saurus only compounded my tine's soul. published elsewhere as short stor­ discomfiture." (p. 208) ies), but it hardly matters, be­ And I wonder: Did the human cause Vance's sardonic wit and population of Majipoor ever have enormous inventiveness are going its Wat Tyler? How about its Karl full force. The story is filled Marx? Anybody as powerful as with memorable scenes, deliciously THE NEW WRITER OF THE ISSUE: Christ or Mohanmed? Or are we to ridiculous (but often sinister) SAVAGE TOMORROW believe that in all those fourteen situations and striking images. I By Trevor Donohue thousand years of divine right mon­ am particularly impressed by Vance's Cory 8 Collins, 1983, 154 p.,$3.95 archy, nobody has ever had an orig­ ability to sketch in a whole soci­ inal political or social idea? ety in a few lines, then make it The first few chapters of this real, where any other writer would bikers-bash-'em-after-the-blast have only been able to produce a epic seem to be a virtual noveliz­ one-dimensional gimmick. Thus Cu­ ation of the film ROAD WARRIOR. cugel's SAGA gel moves across a world rather The hero is a taciturn loner, a By Jack Vance than a featureless and cultureless superb fighter who drives a booby- Timescape, 1983, 334 pp., $14.95 landscape. Would-be fantasy writ­ trapped, super car. You even begin ers, take notes. Everybody else, to recognize scenes and characters This is actually fantasy or just enjoy. from the movie: the rape scene at least right on the borderline specifically, although it has a of fantasy and science fiction. different conclusion. The running As Silverberg points out in his in­ fight scenes are very much the same troduction to THE EYES OF THE OVER­ THE AQUILIAD with the same sorts of weapons. WORLD (Gregg Press edition), Vance By Somtow Sucharitkul The bad guys are straight out of is only pretending to write about Timescape, 1983, 224 pp., $2.95 s§m fantasies, there even being a the far future, for all his Dying leather-clad, whip-weilding bull Earth books are set millions of This is one of the most enjoy­ dyke who leads a band of femizons. years hence. The theory goes that able frivolous books science fic­ The Lord Humongous figure is named the science fictional gloss in the tion has seen in a long time. It Scar Tallon, who wears a mask over original, THE DYING EARTH, was nec­ is a gag from end to end, four half his face. essary in order to get it publish­ linked stories in a series that is ed, because there was no in-genre the contemporary equivalent of the But you also notice how fast fantasy in 1950, and most of the sort of thing Henry Kuttner used you're reading this. No doubt fantasy published in the mainstream to do: the Hillbilly Hogbens, about it, Donohue can write. He in those days was post-Thome Pete Manx, etc. But Sucharitkul has a real talent for furious ac­ Smithian whimsey. (Books like Kar- is more erudite. tion scenes. His writing is clear, ig's ZOTZ!) Well, maybe so, but clean and forceful. There are viv­ Th® premise is that the exper­ it is clear enough to me that the id images. iments with steam in Hellenistic Dying Earth series is about the times led somewhere. There were The book inproves when he remote future as mucK as THE NIGHT steamships in the early Roman Em­ starts getting inventive. We meet LAND or the Zothique series were -- pire. (Also steam cars, but alas, three quasi-clone children who they treat the future mythological­ Nero wrecked them all in the arena.) are part of a mad scientist's ly, rather than scientifically. As a result, the Romans conquered scheme to remake society. There You couldn't just transplant much of North America, only to find are lots of interesting ideas Vance's plots into the usual never- it inhabited by super-scientific touched on, rushed by, then for­ never land. They need to take Olmecs, sasquatches (who are real­ gotten as the climax arrives with place in the half frantic, half ly the ten lost tribes of Israel, the seige of a fortified museum exhausted decadence of the Earth's mutated by aliens), and Indians and more carnage. In the course of last days when the sun is bloody who seem to be a lot smarter than this our hero teams up with a sur­ red and may go out at any minute. the pompous Romans. The title vivor of the femizons and a smart, (In the new book there is a cult character, Aquila, is an old chief dopey guy who also comes right out which tries to keep it burning, modeled on Chief Dan George of of the movie. by beaming firelight into the sky. LITTLE BIG MAN who keeps saving the There are also optimists who carry If we give the author the bene­ ass of General Titus Papinianus lanterns to use in the caning dark­ fit of the doubt, we can say that (imagine him played by John Cleese) ness.) The far future fantasy he is manipulating all this mater­ in a series of adventures involving speaks in its own unique way. Ac­ ial for its mythic resonances, the a search for China (and crossing cept no substitutes. (Of course way Moorcock does with Jerry Corn­ the Rockies on elephants), the the most spectacularly successful elius. He certainly achieves this equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle, effect sometimes, even if it's in­ addition to the tradition in recent and finally an encounter with the advertant. But his science is pure years has been Gene Wolfe's THE Time Criminal who messed up the BOOK OF THE NEW SUN which is actual­ myth too: he clearly has no idea timelines enough to allow all this how mutations work, what radiation ly a little more science fictional to happen. than Vance.) does or what neutron bombs are for. All these elements are right out of HORRORS AND UNPLEASANTRIES Bentley Endicott, is the latest the popular consciousness on the By Sheldon Jaffrey incarnation of an eternal hero, level of superstition. Bowling Green University Pop. Press who cycle after cycle, opposes 1982, 142 pp., paper, price unlisted Prince Ombra, the Lord of Night­ I'd like to see his next book. mares. At times Bentley is clear­ With a little discipline, Donohue An excellent bibliography, ly possessed by the spirit of the could become a first-rate novel­ Hero, and he becomes amazingly ar­ ist. history and price guide of Arkham House books. Very well researched, ticulate. Then he reverts to his (Order from Cory 6 Collins, filled with interesting anecdotes childish self. The problem is Box 66, St. Kilda, Vic. 3182, and often quite technical details that MacLeish only seems to be oc­ Australia) of variants, states and even forg­ casionally so possessed. There eries. Did you know there are two are some fine passages in the Arkham House forgeries? Jaffrey book, sure. He has a feel for tells how to identify them. And the poetry of language even, but noted: most surprising for a price guide, it's completely out of control. The grandeloquent descriptions of INDEX TO THE SEMIPROFESSIONAL the values listed for out-of- print items are actually realistic. cosmic conflicts get very redund­ FANTASY MAGAZINES, 1982 ant very fast. Between them are By Jerry Boyajian 6 Kenneth R. A must for the Arkham collector. Useful for the student of the field. pages and pages of the most turgid Johnson style-deaf synopsis imaginable. Twaci Press, 1983, 28 pp., $3.50 MacLeish can't write in scenes. He can't write dialogue. His A valuable first attempt to characters seem to come right out keep track of this increasingly of a third-rate imitation of PEY­ PRINCE 06BRA important area of publishing. Mag­ TON PLACE. There's even a Wanton azines indexed include WEIRDBOOK, By Roderick MacLeish Woman who lives in a trailer out­ WHISPERS, RIGEL, SHAYOL, etc., all Congdon 8 Weed side of town, and a sinister vil­ of which publish good material by 1982, 305 pp., $14.95 lage idiot named Willybilly. No professional writers in print runs kidding. It's as if the spirit of in the low thousands. As they This one has been described as Inspiration tried to settle on start getting scarce, they'll be a mixture of Tolkein and Stephen someone totally incapable of doing sure to drive scholars and collec­ King. Indeed, it's about vast it justice. btacLeish has potent­ tors crazy. Twaci also does pro­ mythic conflicts taking place in ially good material here, but he zine indexes, filling in for the the present day in a little town lacks the most basic novelistic apparently inactive NESFA series. in New England. But think of it skills. as Tolkein and King as written by Terry Brooks. I wouldn't have brought this DE CAMP: AN L. SPRAGUE DE CAPP up at all, had I not been aston­ BIBLIOGRAPHY TEN YEARS AGO IN SF — By Charlotte Laughlin 8 ished by a favorable review of WINTER, 1974 Daniel J.H. Levack this book in a major news publica­ Underwood/Miller, 1983, Softcover tion, and massive advertising for BY ROBERT SABELLA the forthcoming Tor Books edition, 328 pp., $9.95 Ejler Jakobsson quit as editor Hardcover 6 limited/signed/special- complete with rave quotes from famous writers. of GALAXY. He was replaced by Jim ly bound editions available. Baen who had recently been appoint­ Could all those people be ed editor of WORLDS OF IF. In an Thorough and complete, listing wrong? Well, yes. If you don't attempt to boost IF's circulation, every appearance and edition of want to believe me, read the book Baen published a 594 issue and in­ fiction, non-fiction, radio scripts, and see who'S right, but don't troduced such new features as a verse, etc., all of it indexed and say you weren't warned. page of original art and a column cross-indexed. This is a sturdy by Dick Geis ... David Hartwell and handsome volume, up to the us­ PRINCE OMBRA is an appalling quit as science fiction editor of ual Underwood/Miller standards, piece of work. It's not quite on Signet Books and became SF consult­ with many reproductions of book the same level as THE STAR RIDERS ing editor at Putnam-Berkley — and magazine covers. Very useful OF REN, but it's getting there. Harlequin Books, publishers of an for untangling the often intricate The premise is that one small boy, enormously successful series of printing and binding histories of romance novels, decided to enter some items, and worthwhile to any the science fiction field with de Camp fan or collector. I've Laser Books. They would be edited spotted one error/omission: the MY AREN'T THINKS YOUR by Roger Elwood and use the same Rentploy editions of ROGUE QUEEN CASE |S GWK-RCiAi- Ai formula that made their romances and THE CONTINENT MAKERS are de­ HEL4-T Utovt-f you i^ke A, so popular: all novels would have scribed as having illustrated strong leading characters, happy boards and no jackets. My copies endings, similar lengths and sim­ have blank boards and jackets. ilar covers by Frank Kelly Freas ... ABC aired the movie KILLDOZER based on Theodore Sturgeon's SF story of the same name. It receiv­ ed uniformly poor reviews ... Ur­ sula K. LeGuin's new novel THE DISPOSSESSED was published to rave reviews by most critics.

46 Transcript of the John W. Campbell, Jr. Memorial Award Banquet

Featuring James Gunn, Steve Goldman, and Brian Aldiss

James Gunn was the host and cruit and make new writers out of The year 1982 in science fic­ moderator for the Banquet, which technicians, scientists, lawyers, tion novels was unusual. As some was held at the University of people who might have an idea of you may recall, in Arthur C. Kansas (Lawrence) on July 15, 1983. worth telling in a science fiction Clarke's award-winning novel REND­ The winner was announced as HELLI- story. He wanted to see stories EZVOUS WITH RAMA, which as a mat­ CONIA SPRING, by Brian W. Aldiss; reflective of what he saw around ter of fact shared the 1974 Camp­ runner-up was NO ENEMY BUT TIME, him: a scientific culture growing bell award with Robert Merrill's by Michael Bishop; there was no in importance. And under his tute­ novel MALEVIL, everything happened third-place winner. lage ASTOUNDING became the out­ in threes. The party of earthmen standing science fiction magazine who explored the spaceship in the Transcribed by James J. Murray in the country. It became so dom­ book discovered things always in and David Truesdale inant in the field that -- as I threes. Others speculated that recently wrote in an article -- this meant that Clarke was going Copyright 1983 by David A. Truesdale what was published in ASTOUNDING to write two more. He never did. was recognized as science fiction. However, in 1982, things seemed to That was how one defined it -- the follow this pattern. For instance, science fiction published in AS­ JAMES GUNN: I would like to wel­ three old masters of science fic­ come you all to the 1983 John W. TOUNDING was the "real stuff.” All tion returned to the scenes of Campbell Award Banquet for 1983. that one found in the other SF mag­ earlier triumphs. Arthur Clarke We are gathered here tonight to azines was somehow inferior -- may­ himself produced 2010, which was honor the memory of John W. Camp­ be liked, but not thought of as the sequel to 2001, subtitled ODY­ bell, editor for many years of the quite as good, or obviously John SSEY II. Robert Heinlein returned magazine which was originally cal­ Campbell would have published it. to some of the bigger enthusiasms led ASTOUNDING STORIES OF SUPER of his early years with FRIDAY, SCIENCE. When Campbell became edi­ and Isaac Asimov returned to the Campbell died in 1971 at the tor of it in 1937 hp renamed it subject matter of the Foundation age of 61. He had become the edi­ ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION. In the Trilogy, writing a fourth volume tor of ASTOUNDING at the age of 28. 1960s he renamed it again: ANALOG. called FOUNDATION'S EDGE. In the first years of his editor­ And it is by the name ANALOG that ship he created an upsurge in en­ I viewed this with mixed feel­ it is still read and published in thusiasm for science fiction that ings: I'd just produced a book about the Campbell tradition. later was looked back upon fondly Isaac Asimov's science fiction, and The Campbell tradition that by readers and writers alike under already it's dated. It seemed as got started in 1937 made a signif­ the general term the "Golden Age of if I might be fairly safe in doing icant difference in the way science Science Fiction." In his second that since he hadn't written a sci­ fiction was written and published year as editor of ASTOUNDING he ence fiction novel in 12 years. and read, because Campbell, unlike introduced writers like Isaac Asi­ Apparently I just have myself to eai;ly editors who were willing to mov, Robert Heinlein, Theodore blame, because in IS.AAC ASIMOV'S open their doors and accept any Sturgeon and A.E. van Vogt, all of SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE, which stories that came to them, picked whom went on to have outstanding previewed the novel, he said that out those they wanted to publish careers in science fiction. Two after he had accepted the $50,000 and sent back the rest. Campbell of them, oddly enough, came back that Doubleday thrust upon him to solicited material, solicited auth­ in 1982 to write new, significant write this fourth volume, he began ors, sent out ideas, tried to re­ novels of science fiction. to look over the earlier stories and ask himself what was there in this that really deserved a sequel, for their work who produced new has its cherished traditions. As and it all seemed pretty interest­ works. C.J. Cherryh, for instance, I said earlier, this is the 11th ing to him but then he'd written produced not one novel but two, year of the Campbell Award; this is it, and he couldn't see what other THE PRIDE OF CHANUR and MERCHANT- the fourth year it has been present­ people saw in it. ER'S LUCK; Gene Wolfe came out with ed on this campus. And I will an­ two books in his BOOK OF THE NEW nounce that there was no third Then he happened to pick up an SUN series, though his publisher place award; the votes were too article of mine about the Founda­ insisted that the last of these scattered to justify a third place tion Trilogy in which I said there came out in 1983, THE SWORD OF THE award this year. The second place is really no action and no adven­ LICTOR and THE CITADEL OF THE AUT­ award went to Michael Bishop for ture or romance in it, but what it ARCH; and Michael Bishop produced NO ENEMY BUT TIME, a spohisticated did have was a lot of solving of NO ENEMY BUT TIME. Three relative­ and well-written piece of work. puzzles. And he said he thought ly new authors produced novels that But now let me introduce my col­ he could do that, so he went ahead attracted attention during the year. league, Steve Goldman to present and wrote the fourth volume. This, John Sladek, who isn't really a the award for the best novel of the as I told some of my colleagues new author but hasn't been partic­ year. at the Science Fiction Research ularly productive in the science Association meeting in June, rep­ fiction field at least, produced STEVE GOLDMAN! I wish, by the way, that Fred Pohl would stop writing resents to me the real triumph of RODERICK; Spider Robinson, MIND­ so I could finish my book on him. criticism. Many of us are accused KILLER; and Hilbert Schenk, A ROSE of course, in writing critically FOR ARMAGEDDON. And of course, we GUNN: One solution is to just about the field, of making further had Brian Aldiss' HELLICONIA SPRING shoot them when you're done. writing impossible. which was to be sure, the first of (Laughter) a prospective set of three, and Incidentally, two of these GOLDMAN: Before I announce the ti­ it became a best-seller in Great three novels were on the New York tle, I'd like to say a few words Britain. Times best-seller list. This was about the book that won the John unique in science fiction history, But all such neat categories Campbell Award this year. One of and it has portents that I have of threes break down if you push the great games people who study difficulty coping with. Both Arth­ them too far. There was only one science fiction like to play is to ur Clarke's and Isaac Asimov's nov­ Philip K. Dick, and his death was attempt to define it. I will not els were on the best-seller list the biggest tragedy of the year. give you a definition of science for a dozen weeks; at one point He died at 53 and his last novel, fiction tonight, except to say that Clarke's was second and Asimov's THE TRANSMIGRATION OF TIMOTHY ARCH­ if there is any significant and third. As a matter of fact, anoth­ ER and the film, "Blade Runner," dominant characteristic of this lit­ er novel, SPACE, by James Michener, made from DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF erature we call science fiction, it also had a science fiction element ELECTRIC SHEEP?, appeared in 1982. is a tremendous sense of curiosity. to it, and it was number one for A sense of curiosity that appeals As for science fiction itself, many of those weeks. Heinlein's to usually a very special group of which has for years nibbled at the novel ended the year in the top readers; writers and readers who edges of genteel poverty since its dozen in hardcover sales. As a want to know what this world is matter of fact, at one time the creation, it suddenly became in now, what this world was like then 1982 the focus of big money to be top four books, and seven out of and what this world will be like made or lost. I noted Asimov ac­ the top ten books on the NY Times sometime in the future. And as a cepted a $50,000 advance for FOUND­ best-seller list were either sci­ result, science fiction presents a ATION'S EDGE and that plus the ence fiction or fantasy. unique literature to the reader Foundation Trilogy sold to Del Rey that builds new worlds so we can There's another trio of things for $1 million. Clarke got that examine the very real one we live that happened in 1982. In that much for 2010 alone, and Frank Her­ in now. John Canpbell liked to year three long-time prolific auth­ bert got Jfl.5 million for writing force his writers to create believ­ ors also had new novels published. yet another DUNE sequel. Frederik Pohl produced STARBURST, able worlds that made significant Roger Zelazny had EYE OF CAT pub­ But just to demonstrate that comments on what it was like to be lished and Frank Herbert, THE riches can be just as devastating alive now and what we could hope WHITE PLAGUE. It may be particul­ as poverty, a number of paperback for in the future. arly noted that none of these nov­ publishing companies ran so close els were part of a trilogy. It's to extinction that they were sold. The Campbell Award winner this of interest, perhaps too, that Fawcett, Ace and Playboy Books were year is a very new book, and yet a three women who have created sur­ sold to other paperback firms, as very old one. It will remind you prising personal followings for well as Popular Library, and yet of Campbell's own work, his own de­ their work came out with sequels. another company, Tower/Leisure sire to portray man as a possibly Julian May produced a sequel in Books, went out of business entire­ perfectable or at least advancing the pre-historic adventure series ly. And just recently, the most creature, a creature with tremend­ called the GOLDEN TORQ, Marion Zim­ successful editor of books in the ous curiosity himself about how mer Bradley produced HAWKMISTRESS field, at least in terms of awards, things work and why things work, and Anne McCaffrey, who has made a was fired. and that is in fact, in Campbell's big thing out of dragons, produced short story, "Twilight" what de­ CRYSTAL SINGER. Bradley, incident­ In the midst of these uncert­ fines man. ally, whose Darkover books have ain times, I think if is good to MISSION OF GRAVITY gloried in created their own fandom, had an have something more permanent to Arthurian novel on the 1983 best­ the creation of a strange new plan­ cling to. In this case we have the et with a strange system of grav­ seller list called THE MISTS OF John W. Campbell Award for the best AVALON. ity, and in the story of people science fiction novel of the year. dealing with mentally human-like Although science fiction is comfort­ aliens that dared to try and find able with change, can even exist Then there were three authors out something about their planet. comfortably with turmoil, it also who began their careers early in The Campbell Award winner this year the 1970s and who have won awards 48 is also in that tradition of world­ building, a marvelous world quite over this planet. You're aware unlike, yet so similar to what our that in fact, there's a strange Earth is like. A world that circ­ symbiosis going on here and you're les a very old sun and that sun in wondering whether these two are go­ turn circles a very new, very en­ ing to understand it in time before ergetic and very hot sun. And they destroy one another, when it since the course of the old sun is is all said and done. an ellipse, in which it comes clos­ The winner of the John Campbell est to the new sun every 1800 Award is HELLICONIA SPRING, written years (that's not precise) and by Brian Aldiss. It is a tremend­ then goes way out into space, you ous work of science fiction. It get fantastic changes in climate, will remind you of the Golden Age from tremendous heat to tremendous of science fiction and will remind cold. And in this creatures must you also of the tremendous leaps exist that periodically have their in literacy both the literature civilizations and their lives com­ pletely destroyed. And since this and the writers have taken since then. takes 1800 years, they have little or no memory of what that is like. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian In this novel we see the inves­ Aldiss. tigation of human curiosity, human BRIAN ALDISS: This is a beautiful invention: why it is we do things, award, but fortunately it's light­ I'm particularly delighted to why it is we invent things and er than the first ones were and I receive the good old Johh Campbell then finally, what it means when can carry it home. I'd be delight­ Award because I was in at the be­ we do end up inventing these new ed to do that. ginning of this with Harry Harrison things; how it changes not only Initially, I should tell you and Dr. Leon Stover. When we found­ these creatures on these planets this, Jim, this is the first award ed it, with the blessing of John W. but by extension, humanity itself. Campbell in the year before he Their problems are identifiably hu­ for fiction -- as opposed to awards for criticism -- that I've received died --we agreed that literature man problems; their future is iden­ was really not a democratic process. tifiably -- as a reader you can see this side of the Atlantic in almost 20 years. Well, I was beginning to It's something one man does, al­ it coming -- our future as well. worry -- for your sake, not mine. though later it becomes common The human characters in it are the (Laughter) property. And we decided that al­ stuff of fantasy, only they're though there were other awards in dealing with real worlds. The oth­ HELLICONIA SPRING is well, I the science fiction field -- some er creatures in it, and there is a didn't really think of it as a minor ones of which you might have competing intelligent race, are at trilogy. HELLICONIA SPRING is heard, the Hugos, Nebulas -- nev­ once identifiably intelligent, merely the first volume of a three- ertheless , there should be some identifiably perhaps more knowledg- volume novel. It's a subtle dis­ other process of judging than that able about the planet than the hu­ tinction that I'm aware of at the rather broad democratic one, and mans, yet at the same time you find moment, but you'll see what I mean that we should attempt to get a yourself terribly tom between when you come to the end of the few critics together to argue out these two competitors for dominance third volume. the pros and cons of the year's novels, and that's what we did. There's a particular pleasure, actually, in coming over to Kansas to collect this, because when it was under Harrison's and my juris­ diction it was floating. We tried to get it plugged into Oxford and we dam near succeeded. Eventual­ ly, one of their committees turned it down by only 13 to 14, so you nearly lost coming here, and Ox­ ford lost it instead. I resigned from this award com­ mittee three or four years ago be­ cause I was going to go on the Book of Prize conmittee, which has to do with the (mere) mainstream, and not the good old science fic­ tion field. Ctie thought we had in those early days was that we should try and look for the novel that was a little obscure and perhaps not likely to gain general atten­ tion. I'm glad to see that kind of tradition is carried on. Last year, for instance, it went to RIDDLEY WALKER and I'm very happy to see that you're still continuing that tradition; I'm very grateful and thank you indeed. 49 THE ARCHIUES

THE ARCHIVES RECORD RECENT SCIENCE distant earth. And we meet the em­ FICTION AND FANTASY RELEASES, SOME­ battled king of Borlien, who, be­ TIMES WITH ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY set by enemies, trusting none but OR RELEVANT INFORMATION. his phagor guard, decides to di­ vorce his beautiful queen and mar­ THE ARCHIVES IS A DATA BASE AND MAY ry instead the child princess of SAVE THE READER MONEY AND TIME IN Oldorando. His struggle to do so, DECIDING WHAT TO BUY...AND WHAT NOT while his foes, sensing his weak­ TO BUY. ness, encircle him, forms the plot of this novel, while in the back­ ground the Helliconia forests bum.'

FANE By David M. Alexander A WOMAN OF THE HORSECLANS Timescape, Aug. 1981, (c) 1981 By Robert Adams $3.50 'Beyond the stars a ter­ Signet, 1983, $2.50, SF novel rifying magic reigns! The peaceful Horseclans novel #12. planet Fane, home of earthlings and 'Shunned by her own folk as a four-armed Fanists, battles for creature of Evil, Bettylou Hanson survival against the deadly wiles found an instant welcome among the of a powerful wizard. Grantin, people of the Horseclans. Young, the wizard's bumbling nephew, healthy, intelligent and gifted plunges headlong into adventure in with powerful mindspeak potential, the Weird Lands, where a beautiful she was everything Milo Morai's woman waits to be saved.'... people looked for in a clan member. But even Milo himelf couldn't have foreseen the powerful role Bettylou THE HIGH CRUSADE was to play in the future of the By Poul Anderson Krooguh clan. For the frightened Berkley, Oct. 1983, $2.50 girl whom Tim Krooguh had rescued 'Like many another sleepy from certain death was destined to English village, Ansby was prepar­ become a living legend among the ing for the crusade to the Holy Kindred, a fighter whose courage Land. Until the day a strange would rouse the clans against a craft landed in a nearby pasture. foul and dangerous foe...' 'Suddenly the inhabitants of Ansby found themselves embarked on THE BREAKING OF THE SEALS a far different crusade ... a cru­ By Francis Ashton HELLICONIA SPRING sade which would take them light Donning Co., 1983, Trade paperback, By Brian W. Aldiss years away from England and pit $5.95, 359 pages Berkley, Nov. 1983, Paperback their pikes and battleaxes against 'A man of our own time sent $6.95, 361 pp. the advanced technology of an ali­ back into the past to solve the Book one of the Helliconia Trilogy. en super-power!' greatest mystery of all -- the 'Imagine a world in a system fall of Atlantis! If only he can of twin suns, where winter is 600 survive to tell the tale! ' ice-locked years and every Spring THE STEEL, THE MIST, AND THE is the first remembered. Imagine a BLAZING SUN By Christopher Anvil People finding ruined cities be­ Ace, SF, 1983, $2.75 neath the melting snows. Never 'Detente between the U.S. and PEBBLE IN THE SKY dreaming they had built them. And the Soviet Union has lasted for ov­ By Isaac Asimov would again ... Imagine Helliconia er 200 years -- but only because Del Rey, 1983, $2.95 And begin the most magnificent ep­ nuclear war has resulted in the two A Galactic Empire Novel (#3) ic since DUNE...' old enemies bombing each other back 'Onemoment Joseph Schwartz into the Stone Age. Now, as each was a happily retired tailor in HELLICONIA SUFMER country begins the long climb back Chicago, 1949. The next he was a By Brian W. Aldiss to industrialization, the remnants helpless stranger on the Earth Volume 2 of Helliconia trilogy of their populations find themselv­ during the heyday of the Galactic Atheneum, Nov\ 1983, $16.95, 398 pp. es once again at war. But war with Empire. Earth, as he soon learn­ 'This is probably Brian Ald- pre-First World War technology is ed, was a backwater world, despis­ is's grandest and most sumptuous entirely different from war with ed by all the other 200 million novel. His picture of an inter­ the nuclear weapons of 200 years a- planets of the Empire because its planetary summer that lasts for go: This time there will be a win­ people dared to claim it was the centuries is astounding, his char­ ner. And clearly, whoever wins the original home of man. And Earth acters memorable, from the Ice Cap­ bitter struggle for Western Europe was poor, with great areas of rad­ tain to the whores of Matrassyl. will rule the world for a thousand ioactivity ruining much of its We meet Billy Xiao Pin, who comes years.' soil -- so poor that everyone was to Helliconia from a different sentenced to death at the age of world -- one that still dreams of 50 sixty. Schwartz was sixty-two!' THE CURRENTS OF SPACE FOUNDATION S EDGE ACROSS THE SEA OF SUNS By Isaac Asimov By Isaac Asimov By Gregory Benford Del Rey, $2.95 Del Rey, 1982, $3.95, 426 pages Sequel to IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT A Galactic Empire Novel (#2) Book 4 of the Foundation Series. Timescape, 1984, $15.95, 399 pp. 'Rik had been psycho-probed Much of the background is derived Nigel Walmsley, on the star­ and his memories destroyed. Now from his Galactic Bnpire novels. ship, Lancer, has set out to dis­ he was only a helpless field work­ 'Hari Seldon, the great psycho­ cover that large orbitting satel­ er in the kyrt fields of Florina historian, set up the Foundation lites have attacked Earth. Back where every human being was owned, to bypass millennia of barbarism on Earth, there is war, aliens have body and soul, by the ruling world and bring about a Second Empire in attacked. A nuclear war on Earth of Sark. But slowly his memories a mere thousand years. Now, 498 in addition to a war in space, may began to return. He knew he had years after its founding, the destroy the universe. once studied the thin currents of Foundation seemed to be following space and that some terrible dan­ the Seldon Plan perfectly. ger threatened the sun of Florina 'Too perfectly, Golan Trevize MANDALA and Sark. On Sark, the Ambassador was sure. Such perfection was By David F. Bischoff of Trantor was searching for him impossible after the unpredictable Berkley, Oct. 1983, $2.50, SF and his dread knowledge. But the disaster of the Mule -- unless the 'Allelliph -- She was as Squires of Sark wanted no warning supposedly destroyed Second Found­ beautiful as her name. She left to upset their wealth-producing ation was still controlling human­ her peaceful planet for her coming monopoly on the sale of kyrt. ity. But his attempts to warn of age, and love was to lead her Somehow, Rick must warn both worlds others had led only to his exile as far as it was humanly possible before all life was destroyed. in space. to go. To the Universe's dark But what could a serf do against 'Stor Gendibal of the Second heart. To the dying, drifting the power of distant Sark?' Foundation was also worried by man-made world that had once been that perfection' ... 'Now he too the jewel of the galaxy ... to the has been sent into space to trace wondrous lost planet that held a TIE STARSj LIKE DUST the strange mission of Trevize.' secret and a power beyond all im­ By Isaac Asimov ...'He had found an impossible agining ...' Del Rey, 1983, $2.95 planet -- with even more impos­ A Galactic Empire Novel (#1) sible powers. Events had gone far 'Someone was trying to kill Bi­ beyond the Seldon Plan. And only ARIEL by Steven R. Boyett ron Farril, just as someone had Trevize could save the Plan -- or Ace Fantasy, Dec. 1983, $2.95 murdered his father. And behind destroy it forever!' ... 'Pete Garey, a young loner who that threat lay all the might of survived the Change and the mad­ Tyrann — Tyrann, the ruthless, ness that followed, spent two years barbaric Empire that was ravaging INTERGALACTIC ENTIRES wandering and scavenging the near­ and absorbing all of the Nebular ISAAC ASIMOV S WONDERFUL WORLDS deserted cities and towns. Then Kingdoms. He fled from Earth into OF SCIENCE FICTION, #1 one day, Ariel walked out of the space, seeking sanctuary. But all Edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. unpredictable wilderness: a uni­ he found was betrayal and the need Greenburg, 5 Charles G. Waugh corn whose dazzling beauty and pu­ to flee again -- into further be­ Signet, Dec. 1983, $2.95 rity captured his heart. She trayal. Now Biron was being forc­ 'From a time out of legend brought new meaning to Pete's life, ed to become a betrayer. Somewhere when Earth rules the starways, to and set him on the road to adven­ there was a rebellion world, and an isolated planet where men and ture . ' he was sure he knew the location. women become something more -- or But he was in the hands of Aratap, less -- than human, to a challeng­ powerful Autarch of Tyrann, and he ing game of interstellar diplomacy THE SWORD OF SHANNARA must either betray the woman he where the fate of empires hangs in By Terry Brooks loved or the rebellion world that the balance, here are visions of Del Rey, May 1983, (c) 1977 $3.95 offered the only hope for the fu­ the distant future, of conquerors 'Long ago, the wars of ancient ture! ' and conquered, of politicians, Evil had ruined the world and forc­ scientists, warriors, and adventur- ed mankind to compete with many THE WINDS OF CHANGE AND OTHER erers, dwellers all in ISAAC ASI­ other races -- gnomes, trolls, STORIES By Isaac Asimov MOV'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF SCIENCE dwarfs, and elves. But in peace­ Ballantine, Jan. 1984, (c) 1983 FICTION.' ful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea $2.95 'A 21-story salute fea­ Ohmsford knew little of such troub­ turing a levitating professor, les. Then came the giant, forbid­ alien traders bringing something B ding Allanon, possessed of strange to sell, a black hole hurtling to­ Druidic powers, to reveal that the ward Earth, the universe being NIGHTCHILD By Scott Baker supposedly dead Warlock Lord was created and many other matters of Pocket, Nov. 1983, $2.95 plotting to destroy the world. great import!' 'Lozan, orphaned at a young The sole weapon against this Power age and raised by a bizarre relig­ of Darkness was the Sword of Shan- HE FOUNDATION TRILOGY ious sect, the Priests of Night, nara, which could only be used by By Isaac Asimov learns that there is more to life a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, Ballantine, Nov. 1983, $8.95, paper than the endless rituals which last of the blood line, rested the FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION AND EMPIRE, take up all of his waking hours. hope of all races.'... SECO® FOUNDATION 510 pp. In a world where everyone worships 'Ulis extraordinary series -- the Goddess of Death, Lozan is which is to science fiction what quilty of the ultimate blasphemy THE ELFSTONES OF SHANNARA Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS is to By Terry Brooks -- he senses that he is alive and fantasy -- envisions a tremendous Del Rey, Jan. 1984, (c) 1982, $3.95 is determined to discover the sweep of future history and tells Sequel to THE SWORD OF SHANNARA strange connection which links him the story of a single planet striv­ 'Ancient evil threatens the to the long-lost planet of Nosfer- ing to preserve civilization from Elves. For the Ellcrys -- the atu. ' the savage barbarism of a million tree created by long-lost Elven warring planets.' 51 magic -- is dying, loosing the Spell of Forbidding that bars the THE CLOCKS OF IRAZ terror. 'They also have the added hordes of vengeful Demons from the by L. Sprague de Camp distinction of being the most Races of Man.'... Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.50 frightening tales ever to make a Volume II of THE RELUCTANT KING reader lose sleep or reach for the 'Wizardly schemes, Jorian knew, light switch with trembling hands.' TALONS OF SCORPIO By Prescot went oft a-gley. But this time the DAW, Dec. 1983, $2.50 [K. Bulmer] wizard's plan seemed simple. Since 'To finish the job of destroy­ ancient prophecy foretold that VOICES FOR THE FUTURE, VOL. Ill ing the hideous cult of the Leem the clocks would save Iraz, Jorian Essays on major SF writers was just one of the problems con­ must repair the great tower clocks Edited by Thomas Clareson fronting Dray Prescot, Earthman on that his father had built.'... and Thomas Wymer Antares' wonder planet ... While Bowling Green Univ. Popular Press rescuing kidnapped children from Nov. 1983, $8.95 the altars of sacrifice, Dray found THE UNBEHEADED KING Hardcover $19.95 himself fighting side by side with Volume III of THE RELUCTANT KING "This volume of VOICES FOR THE his own worst enemy, i is renegade By L. Sprague de Camp FUTURE continues the series begun daughter, Ros the Claw; who had Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.50 by Bowling Green University Popul­ pledged his death. ...' Published in hardcover, Mar. 1983 ar Press in 1976. It is, however, 'Three years earlier, Jorian the first collection to include had been the crowned King of Xylar. studies of major writers of fant­ H.P. LOVECRAFT: A CRITICAL STUDY But the laws of Xylar decreed that asy as well as science fiction, a Greenwood Press, Oct. 1983, $29.95 each randomly chosen King must be fact which in itself may say some­ By Donald R. Burleson 243 pp. beheaded at the end of a five-year thing about the development of the ...'Burleson blends a number reign. Jorian had a prejudice a- field in recent years. Unfortun­ of critical approaches in this work, gainst losing his head. With the ately its publication has been including formalist, philosophical, aid of the aged wizard Karadur, somewhat delayed by circumstances biographical, Jungian, and mythic- he managed to flee'... that neither Bowling Green Press archetypal criticism. The organiz­ nor I could control. Hopefully it ation of Burleson's study is es­ DRAGONS OF DARKNESS will be followed in the near fut­ sentially chronological, treating Edited by Orson Scott Card Ace Fantasy, Dec. 1983, $2.95 ure by a group of studies concen­ Lovecraft's works in the order in trating upon some of the earlier which they were written. In addi­ (c) 1981 Illustrated Companion to DRAGONS OF LICHT. writers of SF and fantasy whom con­ tion to the discussion of Love­ temporary critics have neglected." craft's major works, many stories 'Fifteen authors and fifteen -- Introduction that are less illuminative of Love­ illustrators join to bring you craft's work are grouped at the end dragons in all of their dark and of each chapter for lighter criti­ splendid forms!' THE SENTINEL By Arthur C. Clarke cal treatment. Berkley, Trade paperbk, Nov. 1983 ...'A valuable reference work THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS $7.95, 303 pp., Masterworks of in criticism and a text for courses By Jack J. Chalker SF6F, Ulus, by Lebbeus Woods on fantasy and science fiction.' Del Rey, Feb. 1984, $2.95, Fantasy Volume I of a series of illus­ 'Life had not been kind to Joe trated trade paperbacks which will and Marge. Now, according to the CLAY'S ARK By Octavia Butler include books by Fritz Leiber, St. Martin's Press, March, 1983 stranger who met them on a road Philip Jose' Farmer and Frank Her­ Hardcover, $12.95, 201 pp., SF that wasn't there, they were due bert. Introduction by Arthur C. 'Trapped in a self-imposed to die in nineteen minutes, eight­ Clarke, autobiographical, includ­ desert isolation, a handful of een seconds. But the ferryboat ing notes for each of the nine people exposed to a dangerous dis­ that waited to take them across the stories in the volume. "The Sen­ ease of extraterrestrial origin Sea of Dreams could bring them to tinel" formed the basis for the must fight a nearly irresistible a new and perhaps better life.' film 2001. "Guardian Angel" was compulsion to infect others. CLAY'S expanded into the novel CHILDHOOD’S ARK is a chilling, believable nov­ END. Also included are "Breaking el of desperate people clinging to WHEN VOIHA WAKES By Joy Chant Strain" and "Rescue Party." their humanity, to their human Bantam, Nov. 1983, $2.50, Fantasy consciences, even as they evolve 'This is the tale of a love ... even as their children are that shattered a world, between a 1984: SPRING, A CHOICE OF FUTURES bom hardly human at all. At stake woman destined to be queen and By Arthur C. Clarke is nothing less than the survival the young man who stole her heart Del Rey, Feb. 1984, hardcover orig­ of the human species.' with the magic of his music. Rah- inal, $14.95, nonfiction. ike was Young Mistress of Nara- 'In this extraordinary col­ methe, an exotic land of spice and lection of his articles, essays, wine where women ruled and men liv­ and speeches, Arthur C. Clarke, ed at their pleasure. Mairilek citizen of the world, expounds on was a humble potter, beautiful, the world's most serious problems: c graceful and strong, who defied war and peace, the frontiers of custom to play the music forbidden space and the need for global com­ to men, and loosed the power of THE GOBLIN TOWER munications, etc. Then in the more By L. Sprague de Camp the ancient sleeping gods upon the personal pieces, Clarke, citizen of Volume I of THE RELUCTANT KING earth.' Sri Lanka, takes on subjects near Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.75 and dear to him in a series of re­ 'King Jorian was rather attach­ vealing and delightful reminis­ DARK COMPANY, THE TEN GREATEST cences . ' ed to his head. Hence, he felt GHOST STORIES, Ed- bY Lincoln Child his promise to steal the Kist of St.Martin's Press, Dec. 1983, hard­ Avlen, a treasure trove of ancient cover, $12.95, 334 pp. manuscripts on magic, was little Ten stories of supernatural enough a price to pay for a chance to escape his own beheading.'... 52 THE WOLF WORLDS STARRIGER John DeChancie to permeate the air, the passen­ By Allan Cole § Chris Bunch Ace SF, Dec. 1983, $2.75 gers commence to become alarmed Del Rey, March, 1984, $2.95, 304 pp 'There's no life like the and reactions range from heroism 'THE WOLF WORLDS is the second wandering life of a stardriver... to panic that will propel some to in a continuing series of adventure especially when, like Jake, you're their deaths in outer space, while SF novels. Each book concerns the guided by an onboard computer that family and friends keep a helpless exploits of Sten, a young recruit is like a father. Literally. But vigil on the planet below.' to a secret military unit, as he who started the dangerous rumor undertakes and successfully com­ that Jake had found the ancient TI PE FOR SHERLOCK HOLFES pletes perilous but vital missions map that traced the Skyway to the By David Dvorkin on behalf of the Eternal Emperor.' legendary end of the universe?'... Dodd, Mead 6 Co., Sept. 1983 Hardcover, $14.95, 224 pages Doctor Watson and Holmes feel PIERS ANTHONY THE COSMIC PUPPETS By Michael R. Collings By Philip K. Dick young again after taking a youth Series ed. Roger C. Schlobin Berkley, Oct. 1983, $2.50 elixir discovered by Holmes. STARMDNT READER'S GUIDE 20 'Ted Barton stared at the old Searching for the murderer of Nov 1983, $5.95 ISSN 0272-7730 newspaper in terror. "Scarlet Fe­ Britain's prime minister, clues Included is index § biblio. ver Strikes Again. Second Child lead them to America where they Dies ..." The second child was find Professor Moriarty, who uses Ted Barton. He hadn't moved away the legendary Time Machine which WINDOWS he stole from H.G. Wells. They By D.G. Compton from Millgate on October 9, 1935. race through time to foil Moriar- Ace SF, Nov. 1983, $2.95 He had died of scarlet fever. But ry's plan to run back and forth Originally printed in hardcover he was alive! Sitting here beside through time murdering world 'Rod was a television report­ his wife in his car, his hands leaders, and thus rule the world. er with the ultimate gimmick. gripping the wheel desperately...' Thanks to the marvels of micro­ surgery, TV cameras were implanted DEUS IRAE in his eyes. He could broadcast By Philip K. Dick 6 Roger Zelazny people's actions without them ev­ DAW, Dec. 1983, $2.95, (c) 1976 E en knowing it. But when he was 'Set in bizarre future America forced to spy on a dying woman, he AND THEN THERE'LL BE FIREWORKS you will encounter: a bunch of By Suzette Haden Elgin deliberately blinded himself by backwoods farmers who happen to be Book III of the Ozark Fantasy overloading his sensitive circuits. lizards -- a tribe of foul-mouthed Trilogy (c) 1981 'Rod thought that he could opt giant bugs who worship a dead VW Berkley, Nov. 1983, $2.50 out of the tough choices that so­ sedan -- an automated factory that 'Crystal Invaders from the ciety was forcing him to make. can't decide whether to serve its stars, Cause Ozark much Dismay! He was wrong, of course. Dead customers -- or kill them -- Across Though Magic's might has failed wrong ...' this nightmare landscape -- pursu­ the test, Can Responsible save the ed by an avenging angel on a bicy­ day?' cle one man makes a painful pil­ grimage in search of the One who changed the world so drastically, MEMOS FROM PURGATORY the legendary, but very real, God By Harlan Ellison of Wrath.' Ace, Nov. 1983, $2.95 New Edition --1st Edition, 1961 D This autobiography was first THE WOUNDED SKY By Diane IXiane published by a small paperback THE BLACK CASTLE Star Trek novel house in 1961, sold out inmediate- By Les Daniels, (c) 1978 Timescape, Dec. 1983, $2.95 ly and seemed to disappear. It Ace, Dec. 1983, $2.50, fantasy 'A pretty alien scientist in­ was not available in used-book 'Introducing Don Sebastian, vents the intergalactic inversion stores -- owners of the book pas­ the vampire horrified by man.' drive, an engine system that tran­ sed it from friend to friend. By 'Spain. 1496. The inquisi­ scends warp drive -- and the Enter­ 1969 it "had become an underground tion. Screams. And the darkness prise will be the first to test it! cult item that caused an even smal­ that is Europe is lit by the human The Klingons attempt to thwart the ler West Coast publisher to bring bonfires of the inquisition. Even test, but a greater danger looms out a second edition." Rare cop­ those cold and courtly agents of when strange symptoms surface a- ies of the first edition sell for the Dark one, Don Sebastian de mong the crew -- and time becomes over $70. MEMOS has an updated Villanueva and his witch-consort meaningless.' introduction by the author. Margarita, are sickened by the 'In the mid-fifties, Harlan sound of cracking bones.'... Ellison -- kicked out of college SPACESHIP TITANIC and hungry to write -- went to New TIE FOREST OF APP By Richard Duprey 6 Brian O'Leary York to start his writing career. By Gloria Rand Dank Dodd, Mead 6 Co., 1983, 230 pp. It was a time of street gangs, Greenwillow Books, Nov. 1983, $9.50 $14.95, hardcover, SF novel rumbles, kids with switchblades A book for juveniles -- 160 pages. Contest winners are taken on and zip guns made from car radio 'The rhymers had often told a ride into space aboard the shut­ antennas. Ellison was barely out tales of strange creatures in the tle, Titan. A red light warns of his teens himself, but he took forest, faces glimpsed peering that #3 Engine is failing. a phony name, moved into Brooklyn's from the bushes, a snatch of song 'Should an attempt be made to dangerous Red Hook section and man­ heard late at night. Hunting part­ crash land the shuttle? Should aged to con his way into a "bopping ies always took care to skirt the the women and children be transfer­ club." What he experienced (and old forest near the town of App. red to the international space lab the time he spent in jail as a re­ The tales were told, and retold, with which they are to rendezvous? sult) , was the basis for the vio­ but few actually believed they As fumes of burning rubber begin lent story that Alfred Hitchcock were true.' 53 filmed as the first of his hour­ long TV dramas... This autobio­ LOVE SONG By Phillip Jose Farmer THE HOUR OF THE GATE graphy is a book whose message Dennis McMillan Publications By Alan Dean Foster you won't be able to ignore or 500-copy ed., signed 8 numbered Spellsinger Book Two forget.' by the author. (c) 1970 Warner, Feb. 1984, $2.95, 304 pp. $40.00 + 85< for $50 insurance 'In Book 2 of the continuing A bizarre gothic romance, SPELLSINGER saga by critically-ac­ PAINGOD AND OTHER DELUSIONS written for Brandon House, a porn­ claimed science fiction writer Al­ By Harlan Ellison, (c) 1965 ography publisher in California. an Dean Foster, grad student and Ace, Dec. 1983, $2.95 rock guitarist Jonathan Meriweath- Eight imaginative science er, continues to follow his fate fiction stories. NIGHT OF LIGHT as the maker of musical magic, the 'Passion is the keynote as By Philip Jose' Farmer powerful Spellsinger. In this you encounter the Harlequin and Berkley SF, Nov. 1983, $2.50 charmed universe of talking beasts, his nemesis, the dreaded Ticktock­ His classic novel of the ultimate Clothahump, turtle and wizard, and man, in one of the most reprinted religion. (c) 1966 Spellsinger prepare to battle the and widely taught stories in the 'Every seven years, for one dreaded plated folk. Spellsinger, English language; a pyrotic who night,' ... 'all who stay awake and accompanied by Mudge the Otter creates fire merely by willing it; take the Chance become what their and the lovely flame-haired Tal- the last surgeon in a world of ro­ inmost longings dictate: a beast esa, begin a suicide mission in bot physicians; a spaceship filled howling with lust or depravity, or search of allies through the sub­ with hideous mutants rejected by a godlike being flowering in truth terranean lair of Massawrath, Moth­ the world that gave them birth.'... and light. Thousands are trans­ er of Nightmares. It is a peril­ formed into monsters, and others ous journey that none has survived find perfect happiness. Those who before.' AGAIN, DANGEROUS VISIONS are afraid to take the Chance es­ Edited by Harlan Ellison cape by lying drugged in the Sleep. Doubleday, 1983, Paper, $12.50 John Carmody, a conscienceless ex­ In these 825 pages there are ile from Earth, arrogantly chooses G 46 original stories, with intro­ to take the Chance. It is too late THE END OF TFE EFPIRE ductions by Harlan Ellison. This to turn back. Shrieking in terror, By Alexis A. Gilliland companion to DANGEROUS VISIONS is he confronts the darkness...' Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.25 also available in a deluxe edition. 'For centuries the Holy Human 'Each story outrageous­ Empire had stifled change, and it ly introduced by Harlan Ellison, THE ASH STAFF By Paul R. Fisher paid dearly for that mistake. winner of more awards for imagin­ Tenpo Books, (c) 1979, $2.25 The "Empire" was down to one plan­ ative literature than any other A Magic Quest Book et and shrinking rapidly.'... living writer. Each story with an 'Pesten is becoming a wilder­ Afterword by its author.' ness of ice and stone. Dragons and wolfmen ravage the land. With SON OF THE MORNING AND OTHER STORIES the death of Rhawn, Mole has be­ By Phyllis Gotlieb F come a leader before his time. With Ace, Dec. 1983, $2.95 his band of fellow orphans, he must 'A galaxy of high adventure ... THE PARADOXICON destroy the loathsome sorcerer, from GalFed tales to child and­ By Nicholas Falletta Ammar ...' roids ... from the rich imagination Doubleday, Nov. 1983, $14.95 of one of today's most original 222 pp., Nonfiction, Illustrated SF talents!' ... 'Arranged alphabetically, each GUESS WHAT'S COMING TO DINNER? of twenty-five chapters discusses By Scott Fivelson, SHADOWS 6 and analyzes a classic type or fam­ Illustrated by John Caldwell The Extraterrestrial Etiquette Edited by Charles L. Grant ily of paradoxes, tracing not only Doubleday, Oct. 1983, $11.95 its logic (or lack thereof) but al­ Guide * Bantam, Dec. 1983, $3.95, 112 pp. Dark fantasy. A collection of so its history and philosophy, for 16 horror stories which are ... part of the lure of the paradox is 'All points are covered from menu planning to reading ET body 'bizarre, unsettling, haunting. its insolubility, which has at­ They will spirit you away to tracted the best minds for milennia. language. The average ET, un­ schooled in earthly manners, may worlds of lurking menace and shad­ More than a mere games book, THE owy dread. For they are filled PARADOXICON is a beautifully illus­ opt to stay long past dinner. Should this sticky situation arise, with creatures of the mind that trated excursion into the fun house refuse to vanish. And nightmares of logic.' the guidebook explains how to train your guest in household re­ that linger... even when the sun pair, gives ET dating tips and ad­ comes up.' THE GREEN ODYSSEY vice on seeking employment.' The author has won three World By Philip Jose' Farmer Fantasy Awards. Berkley, 1983, $2.50 'It was not enough that he had THE DRAGON WAITING by John M. Ford the misfortune of landing on a feud­ A Timescape Books Hardcover/publish- THE ALCHEMISTS By Geary Gravel al planet. Alan Green had to serve ed by Pocket/dist. by Simon 8 SchiFter Del Rey, Feb. 1984, $2.95, SF the Duke of Tropat as kitchen-slave Nov. 1983, $15.50, 365 pp. 'In its eagerness to expand, — and his wife, the beautiful but 'The year is 1478, the dawn of the Empire was often too willing unwashed Duchess Zuni, as official the Renaissance. The Wars of the to look the other way while entire lover, under constant threat of Roses have put Edward IV on the alien races were destroyed. When death. And if the Duchess's de­ throne- of England. Lorenzo the the Kin were discovered living on mands and her adored pet Alzo's ap­ Magnificent's brilliant, court blos­ the beautiful planet that men cal­ petite for human flesh were not en­ soms on the wealth of the great led Belthannis, Scholar Emrys head­ ough, Green had to do duty to his Medici bank. Leonardo da Vinci is ed the team brought in to judge the nagging slave-wife Amra and her at work on his anatomical studies. aliens' right to survive. The Kin retinue of children. Somehow he But all is not quite as we know it. looked human, so at first the ver­ had to escape and return to Earth." This is a changed world.'... dict was clear'.... THE WELL OF DARKNESS HEROES OF BEAR CREEK CONAN, THE DEFENDER By Randall Garrett By Robert E. Howard By Robert Jordan 5 Vicki Ann Heydron Ace Fantasy, Nov. 1983, $3.95 First Tor Printing, Dec. 1982 Bantam, Dec. 1983, $2.50 In these 423 pages, the author First Mass Mkt Printing, Dec. 1983 'Bearing the Ra1ira, Raith- of the Conan series combines three $2.95 'Embroiled in seething skar's most sacred gem, Rikardon novels: A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK, rebellion, sworn to defend the tot­ and Tarani flee a ruthless enemy THE PRIDE OF BEAR CREEK and MAYHEM tering throne of ancient Nemedia, across the burning deserts of Gand- ON BEAR CREEK. 'No collection of pursued by the luscious and shame­ alara. Protected by the swords­ Howard is complete without these less Sularia, Cimmeria's bravest, man's mighty warcat Keeshah, and hilarious, action-packed tales of most exciting hero challenges the the mystic bird called Lonna who Breckinridge Elkins and Cousin magic-spawned menace that cannot obeys the illusionist's commands, Bearfield Buckner. Theirs is the die: The invincible, diabolical the two discover the smoldering West that never was, where scound­ Simulacrum of Albanus.' passion they have long denied. rels and heroes clashed with six- But when Keeshah leaves them to guns and branding irons ... where fulfill an ancient mating ritual honor was only a word and survival in the Valley of the Sha'um, Rik- was everything." K ardon and Tarani must risk death THE CHAOS WEAPON By Colin Kapp in the Well of Darkness to fulfill Ballantine, Jan. 1984, (c) 1977 their destiny.' GOLD STAR By Zach Hughes $2.50 'Probability zero -- or Signet, Dec. 1983, $2.25, SF novel less. A man -- or a civilization 'The mass of the galaxy was -- can live with good luck and behind them ... Pete ran a star bad ... it somehow evens out in the search and found something else. long run. But when the laws of H ...He saw instead a Blink Beacon. chance are suspended and the breaks THE LADIES OF MANDR IGYN The contents of the Beacon's tape are all bad, that'.s the time to By Barbara Hambly made only a small disturbance on find out what's going on -- and to Del Rey, March, 1984, $2.95, 320 pp the surface of his ship's tape... stop it -- before it's too late!' Fantasy. 'The City of Mand- Just under a thousand years ago, rigyn was conquered and its men en­ a fleet had passed the Beacon. slaved in the foul mines of the ev­ And then there was nothing until, THE LOST WORLDS OF CRONUS il Wizard King, Altiokis. Now the loud and clear, there came a pre­ CAGEWORLD 2 By Colin Kapp women of the city, led by Sheera blink signal which was recorded to DAW, Dec. 1983, (c) 1982, $2.50 Galernas, had come to hire the mer­ indicate that the blinking ship had 'Mercury Shell, Venus Shell, cenary army of Captain Sun Wolf. skipped past the Beacon, flying Earth, Mars, Asteroid, Jupiter, Sa­ But Sun Wolf was too wise to be­ through subspace outward toward to­ turn. Each shell concentric, stud­ come involved in fighting against tal blackness.' ded with artificial planets, each wizardry ... until he woke to find planet embedded in its shell, spin­ himself kidnapped and offered a ning like a ball bearing. The grim choice by Sheera.'... whole Zeus-created in the service J of Man but now beyond his control. Now mathematics and space physics, THE ROAD TO THE MIDDLE ISLANDS THE SF BOOK OF LISTS THE WILDERNESS OF FOUR--BOOK IV By Maxim Jakubowski 8 Malcolm Edwards converging, suggested another shell, By Niel Hancock Berkley, Nov. 1983, $7.95, paper its existence hidden from Man. A Warner, 1983, $2.95, Fantasy 'From the most famous monsters shell of utter darkness, cold and ...'The story of the magical of all time, to the villains and silent where only extreme mutants coming of age of Olthar, the otter, heroes that readers love, to the could survive.'... called the Olthlinden. He has a most overrated SF novels ever, special mission to perform in the the editors have joined forces to PET SEMATARY battle to save his people from de­ create a beok that should satisfy By Stephen King struction by the Dark One. Olthar even the most demanding lists de­ Doubleday, Nov. 1983, $15.95 must fight savage warriors, wolves votee. ' A 372-page supernatural thril­ .dragons and snakes. Strange winds ler by the author of THE SHINING and mists pursue him, enemy spies and CARRIE. lurk everywhere, and Olthar begs REEL by Laurence M. Janifer ... 'PET SEMATARY begins with a to be released from the awesome Doubleday, Nov. 1983, $11.95 visit to the graveyard in the woods burden he carries. But the choice 'It's the Pleasure Planet, where generations of children have is not his alone and finally he the Las Vegas of the Federation. buried their beloved pets. But be­ joins with his friends -- earth­ Whatever you want, there's someone hind the "pet sematary" there is folk and waterfolk, who together on the Reel who'll provide it -- another burial ground, one that if you can pay the price. It's a fight the evil that threatens to lures people to it with seductive overrun them all.' world run by madams and casino own­ promises ... and ungodly tempt­ ers, a world whose only law is the ations . ' law of supply and demand. THE SHE DEVIL by Robert E. Howard 'Christie Chesson supplies: Ace, Dec. 1983, $2.50 she's working for one of the Reel's DEAD ZONE bY Stephen King With 8 pages of movie photos First time in paperback biggest pleasure houses, but she Signet, paper, $3.95, 402 pp. 'She is as beautiful as can't make enough to get out. On 'Johnny, the small boy who an African sunset, as deadly as a the Reel, if you don't have a skated at breakneck speed into an lioness enraged, as wanton as a sum­ piece of the action, the action accident that for one horrifying mer storm. From San Francisco to has a piece of you ... ' moment plunged him into THE DEAD Singapore, from the high plains of ZONE. Johnny Smith, the small­ Tibet to the jungles of India, no town schoolteacher who spun the man lucky enough to encounter her wheel of fortune and won a four- can ever forget the magnificent and-a-half-year trip into THE DEAD adventuress known to legend as THE ZONE. John Smith, who awakened SHE DEVIL.' 55 from an interminable coma with an accursed power -- the power to RENSIME By Jacqueline Lichtenberg 'THE ART OF RETURN OF THE JEDI see the future and the terrible A Sime/Gen Novel Doubleday contains stills, sketches, set de­ fate awaiting mankind in THE DEAD Jan 1984, $11.95 'Laneff Farris signs, production paintings and ZONE. ' is an anomaly -- an ordinary Ren- special effects sequences. A sep­ Sime in a family of highly skilled arate section is devoted to cos­ CHRISTOPHER By Richard M. Koff channel Simes and Companion Gens tume design and creature develop­ Bantam, Jan. 1984, $2.25, (c) 1981 dedicated to uniting the two branch­ ment, an acclaimed spcialty of Juvenile novel of a 13-year-old. es of mutated humanity. Unexpected­ these epic motion pictures.' 'Christopher carried his books ly changing over into a Sime, she to the locker in the hall and put kills the two who try, unprepared them on the top shelf. Idly, he to help her. When she finally dis- WITCHWOOD By Tim Lukeman looked into the mirror over the juncts, frees herself of the desire Pocket, Dec. 1983, $13.95, 190 pp. wash basin and what he saw sent a to kill to get energy-of-life from Vol. I of the Witchwood tetralogy shock through him. He could feel Gens, she vows no other child will 'A lost city. An ancient the hairs rise on the nape of his have to kill to survive changeover witch cult. A young girl's develop­ neck. Where was he? Hair, face, as she has.'... ing power to wield magic...a new clothes, mouth, eyes. He, Chris­ novel which begins the Witchwood topher, just wasn't there!' tetralogy, four books telling of channel's DESTINY the waking of the land of Therrilyn.' By Jean Lorrah 8 Jacqueline Lich­ PHANTOMS tenberg By Dean R. Koontz DAW, Dec. 1983, (c) 1982, $2.95 Berkley, 1983, $3.95, 425 pages A Sime/Gen novel. 'Zeth Farris's M 'Closer ... They found the father had been the first channel -- first body hideously swollen and the first Sime to extract selyn, DAMIANO By R.A. MacAvoy still warm. Then they found two the elixir of life, from a Gen with­ Bantam, Jan. 1984, $2.75 severed hands. Then two staring out killing, and Zeth's life-long 'He was called Damiano Delst- heads in wall ovens. 150 were ambition had been to emulate his rego: wizard's son, alchemist, heir grotesquely dead and it had hard­ father -- to help form a new breed to dark magic. Yet he was also an ly begun in the tiny mountain town whose special powers would redress innocent, a young scholar and mus­ of Snowfield, California. the perverse mutation of humanity ician befriended by the Archangel 'And closer ... At first they which had set man against man in a Raphael, who instructed him in thought it was a maniac. Then millennium of strife.' the lute....' they thought it was an obscene new disease. Then they thought it was PRINCE OMBRA the Russians. THE HORSE GODDESS By Roderick MacLeish 'And closer ... Then they By Morgan Llywelyn Pocket, 1983, $3.95, 439 pp. Tor Books, 1982, $3.50 found out the truth. And they saw 'Prince Ombra is the lord of it in the flesh. And it was worse 'Morgan Llywelyn's wondrous saga of the mighty celtic world every mortal nightmare. He has than anything any of them had ever appeared in the world a thousand imagined ...' that reigned centuries before LION OF IRELAND! ' times, and the rememberers have 'It tells the story of Epona, given him a thousand names -- Go­ LAWIAS NIGHT a Celtic chieftain's daughter. En­ liath, the murderous Philistine -- By Katherine Kurtz dowed with all the magical powers Mordred, enemy of Camelot. The he­ Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $3.50, 448 pp of the druids who are able to com­ roes of legend have offered their In the "Prologue", it is stat­ mand wind, fire, water and all the lives in confrontation with the e- ed that Adolf Hitler kept full­ beasts of the land, Epona chooses vil one. Among them have been Da­ time astrologers on his staff and not to become a druid priestess, vid and Arthur, king of the Celts. seems to have based many of his de­ enraging the powerful village They have had a thousand names. cisions in the Second World War on priest, Memunnos. Determined to The thousand and first hero was positions of the stars. Witches escape his tyrannical grasp, Epona bom on the northeastern coast of may have raised a cone of power to flees with a band of traveling America in the fourth decade of keep him from crossing the English Scythian horsemen, led by their the nuclear age. In his ninth aut­ Channel to invade Britain. This imposing prince, Kazhak, and rides umn, his life suddenly darkened...' novel tells how Hitler's belief in with them toward the boundless astrology and the occult may have steppes of the east. Kemunnos, shaped the events of history. however, will not let his prey es­ THE ARMAGEDDON RAG cape so easily, and pursues the By George R.R. Martin Scythians in the shape of a savage Nemo Press, 1983, 333 pp., $50.00 wolf, killing members of their ISBN: 0-914261-00-2 (Collector's L Edition); ISBN: 0-671-47526-6 THE GLORY GAPE by Keith Laumer tribe and afflicting others with dreams of terror. To appease the (Trade Ed.); Illustrated by Victor Tor Books, Dec. 1983, $2.75 Moscosco; Collector's Edition slip­ 'As the Hukk maneuver on the wild beast, the tribe plans to of­ fer Epona as a sacrifice, despite covered. fringes of Terran Space, the Terran 'At the gigantic West Mesa out­ Navy is about to begin the most her highly valued ability to com­ municate with animals.' door rock concert in 1971, Patrick important "game” in the history of Henry "Hobbit" Hobbins, the kinetic the human race. For too many years leader singer of the rock super­ the Hukk have been pushing, push­ group the Nazgul, was assassinated THE ART OF THE RETURN OF THE JEDI ing at humanity's frontiers, test­ as he belted out the sizzling lyr­ ing our strength and our courage -- Ballantine, Nov 1983, $17.95 Author: Lucasfilm, Ltd. ics of "The Armageddon/Resurrection and finding both wanting. Now the Rag." His killer was never found. Terran Hardliners have had enough. Included is the complete script 'Thirteen years later, on the They will use the coming war games of the film, by Lawrence Kasdan and anniversary of Hobbin's death, the to start a real war, even if it re­ George Lucas. Illustrated in col­ defunct group's manager, Jamie quires a revolution at home to or and in black and white. Lynch, is ritually murdered -- his clear the way for THE GLORY GAME.' 56 heart tom from his body -- while the Nazgul's final album Music to moreta: dragon lady of pern THE VANISHING TOWER Wake the Dead plays in the back­ By Anne McCaffrey By Michael Moorcock ground. The killer leaves no trace. Del Rey, Nov. 1983, $14.95 Book IV of the Elric Saga 'Demonic forces are using the 'Pern is a long-lost Earth col­ Berkley, Nov. 1983, $2.50, (c) 1970 power of Rock 'n' Roll to resur­ ony periodically threatened by eco­ 'Elric, cursed and beloved of rect the Nazgul and the revolution logical disaster in the form of the Gods, follows his black hell­ of the sixties. Ex-undergound Thread. When these silvery, myc- blade Stormbringer into the Vanish­ journalist Sandy Blair, now adrift orrhizoid spores from the Red Star ing Tower, gateway to the myriad in the eighties, sets out to in­ descend on Pern every two hundred planes of Earth and Time -- and to vestigate. . . ' years, they devour all organic mat­ the countless hells that are his erial they encounter. Enter the destiny.' dragons.' JOHN W. CAMPBELL AWARDS, VOL. 5 In this novel a mysterious ail­ THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE FICTION Edited by George R.R. Martin ment causes death to hordes of AND PHILOSOPHY: CRITICAL STUDIES Bluejay Books, 1984, $7.95 holders, craftsmen and dragonrid­ By Robert E. Myers, (Ed.) 'Bluejay Books is proud to pre­ ers, endangering the people's abil­ Greenwood Press, Dec 1983, $29.95 sent the nominees for the John W. ity to char Thread. 'Robert E. Myers has assembled Campbell Award for the best new a collection of essays which expl­ author of 1977: Jack L. Chalker, ore aspects of the realtionship be- asimov s C.J. Cherryh, M.A. Foster, Carter ' bween science fiction and philoso­ SPACE OF HER OWN Scholz. Here is the full flowering Ed. by Shawna McCarthy phy....The authors of individual of their talent: three novelettes, Dial, Jan 1984, $12.95 essays appreciate science fiction and a short novel, COMPANIONS, by Collection SF stories by women and the significance of the philo­ C.J. Cherryh, all written expressly authors. ...'Each and every sophical issues it touches upon. for this volume. Also award-winner story is sure to grasp your atten­ They bring to this study the in­ Cherryh's "The Dark King," altogeth­ tion as the author takes you on a sights of diverse .disciplines: phil­ er five thrilling stories that give tour of her own alien landscape, be osophy, social science, poetry, you the world .. and the stars. Ev­ it close to home or on distant linguistics, future studies, medic­ ery single one is a winner!' worlds. The days of male dominated al humanities, and literature. science fiction are long gone. As Dealing exclusively with topics re­ each of these outstanding stories lating to science fiction and phil­ HALLOWEEN 111 SEASON OF THE WITCH osophy they offer an initial ex­ Jove, Oct. 1982 and 83, $2.95 demonstrates, women now have a "space of their own." ploration of the philosophical By Jack Martin, based on a screen­ problems within science fiction and play by Tommy Lee Wallace their implications.' ...'Bloodchilling screams pierce THE THROME OF THE ERRIL OF SHERILL the air. Grinning skulls and gro­ By Patricia A. McKillip tesque shapes lurk in the gather­ Tempo Bks, (c) 1973, $2.25 ing darkness. It's Halloween. A Magic Quest Book. '"The road N The streets are filling with small will twist and turn three times ... THE INTEGRAL TREES cloaked figures. They're just and on the third twist there is a By Larry Niven kids, right? The doorbell rings hill, and on the hill is the black, Del Rey, March, 1984, $14.95 and your flesh creeps. But it's crumbling, rotting House of the A hardcover original, 256 pp., SF all in fun, isn't it? No, this Doleman. It has great towers with­ ...'Critics long thought Niven Halloween is different. It's the out doors, and walls like broken would find it difficult to surpass last one.' teeth, and strange shoutings come his Hugo-winning novel RINGWORLD -- from within the walls. My mother the story of an artificial world BE AN INTERPLANETARY SPY #6 says I must never go there!'"... 300 million miles in circumference and 1 million miles high. THE STAR CRYSTAL By Ron Martinez 'They were right. Despite the Bantam, Jan. 1984, 121 pp., (c) '83 FIRST THE EGG By Louise Moeri Ulus, by Rich Larson 8 Steve passage of 14 years he has never Pocket Books, 1982, $1.95, 116 pp since created an environment so Fastner, 20+ space games. 'No one in her Marriage and 'You are an interplanetary spy. vast, an ecology so well develop­ Family class could believe the as­ ed, or cultures so.original. Not Your mission is to protect the dip­ signment! Become the "parents" of lomat Quarboss Tro as he travels until now, that is. In THE INTEG­ an egg -- and treat it like a new­ RAL TREES Niven presents a fully- with the most valuable jewel in the born infant? Keep a baby book on galaxy, the Star Crystal. You must fleshed culture of evolved humans its progress? Carry it around for who live without real gravity in stop unknown agents from stealing a whole week, unless it had a baby­ the crystal and attacking Tro!' the doughnut-shaped gas tube that sitter? ' rotates about the neutron star. This is the novel his fans have RUNES OF THE LYRE been awaiting!' By Ardath Mayhar TIE WEIRD OF THE WHITE WOLF Ace Fantasy Book, 1983, $2.75 Book III of the Elric Saga 'The asyi sleep. On the world By Michael Moorcock called Hasyih, the tents of an Berkley, 1983, $2.50, Fantasy STAR GATE By Andre Norton army dot the Great Plains, but the 'The albino emperor meets Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.25 soldiers in armor of polished sil­ Queen Yishana. Now sword and man (c) 1958 SF Adventure ver, lie in the grass deep in en- are one. Elric's awesome loneli­ 'Kincar was heir to Styr's sorcelled slumber. An evil as ness, ironically, is ended. And holding on the planet Gorth, but powerful as the Asyi themselves the Eternal Champion and his blade when he learned the truth of his has destroyed world after world, Storrabringer must go forth through birth, he turned his back on that but the defenders sleep on. Only havoc and horror to carve out their part of his life. Most of the Star one thing can wake them from their Destiny.' Lords had abandoned Gorth, but a dreams: the notes of a lyre carv­ renegade group remained, and Kincar ed with runes of magic. Only the meant to accompany them through a queen of the Asyi can loose the Star Gate in their quest for an music from its strings'.... 57 alternate world...' SARGASSO OF SPACE By Andre Norton SPACEWAYS #14 ASSIGNMENT: HELLHOLE STARBURST By Frederik Pohl Book I in the Solar Queen series By John Cleve [A. Offutt] Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.75 Ace SF, Dec. 1983, $2.50 Berkley, Nov. 1983, $2.50 'The crew of the Constitution -■ (c) 1955 'Retired cop Alanni Keor scientists cum astronauts -- had '"Worlds for sale."1 was the bought the farm ... literally.' been carefully screened for ex­ startling cry that electrified She was happy farming with her tremely high intelligence and sup­ Dane Thorson of the space trader partners -- an Outie and and a erb physical qualities. They were Solar Queen. But who'd be crazy Jarp -- until a powerful politic­ to be the first explorers sent to enough to buy the newly discovered ian blackmailed her into becoming another stellar system. There they planet? The data is sealed: the an interplanetary thief. To steal would explore the planet Alpha­ planet could be a treasure trove the mysterious alien thing called Aleph and then return. They were or a radioactive desert -- and on­ Invisible Wisdom, she had to go to the toast of the world press -- ly a crew as desperate as that on Hellhole ... the planet that lived true heroes, for they were to go the Solar Queen would risk such a up to its name!' where no Man had gone before. Or gamble.'... so they thought.'... DEMON IN TIE MIRROR THE STARS ARE OURSI By Andrew Offut § Richard Lyon EXILES TO GLORY By Andre Norton VOLUME 1 of WAR OF THE WIZARDS By Jerry Poumelle Ace, 1983, $2.50, (c)1954 Pocket, (Reissue), $2.50, Fantasy Ace, Dec. 1983, $2.75 (c) 1977 'Earth in 2500 A.D. is no place 'Tiana crosses swords with de­ ... 'As a senior engineering stu­ for a young man with a dream of mons, barbarians, vampire nuns! dent at UCLA, Kevin seemed on the freedom. And Dard Nordis is worse On a quest to find her lost broth­ verge of realizing his ambitions, off than most; his brother was ex­ er, Tiana of Reme, foster daughter when one night he was attacked by ecuted for covert activities as a of a pirate captain, ventures on a murderous "youth gang" -- and ac­ Free Scientist in a world where a dangerous journey toward her cidentally killed one of them while science is blamed for all the evils greatest challenge -- the battle escaping. That's when it all that befell the world in the late of the Wizards!' changed: "You don't kill juvies in 20th century. Now Dard is a hunt­ this town," the homicide detective ed man, trying to find his broth­ told him. Suddenly Kevin Senecal er's friends before his brother's SPACE HISTORY By Tony Osman was on the run, and on all of Earth enemies find him.'... St. Martin's Press, Dec 1983 there was no place to hide ... ' $16.95, ISBN 0-312-74945-7 Illustrated, 215 pp. 'The ro­ mance, the challenges, the succes­ JANISSARIES THE BEAST MASTER By Andre Norton CLAN AND CROWN Ballantine, Jan. 1984, (c) 1959 ses, and the setbacks involved in By Jerry Poumelle 6 Roland Green $2.50 SF adventure man's age-old quest to reach beyond Ace SF, 1983, $3.50, 383 pages 'Left homeless by the war that our planet are compellingly cap­ 'For the first few years, Rick reduced Terra to a radioactive cin­ tured in Tony Osman's SPACE HIST- Galloway and his band of mercenar­ der, Hosteen Storm -- Navaho com­ ‘ORY, a one-volume, illustrated ies were doing well just to sur­ mando and master of beasts -- is chronicle of space exploration.' vive. They'd been swept off a drawn to the planet Arzor, to kill hilltop in Africa by a flying sau­ a man he has never met. On that cer, and deposited on an alien dangerous frontier world aliens P world where the other inhabitants and human colonists share the land A LITERARY SYMBIOSIS were human -- but from various and in an uneasy truce. But something SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MYSTERY unfriendly periods of history, all is upsetting the balance, and Storm By Hazel Beasley Pierce collected by flying saucer raids. is caught in the middle. He had Greenwood Press, (price not given) 'Rick has faced facts: This thought the war was over -- but 255 pages, indexed, the book planet is going to be home, per­ was it?' has four parts: "The Science Fic­ manently. And to create a society tion/Fantasy Detective Story;" safe for themselves and the famil­ "The Science Fiction/Fantasy Myst­ ies they are gradually building, ery of Crime;" "The Science Fict­ they need to do more than just 0 ion/Fantasy Thriller; "The Science survive. They must convince the JONUTA RISING; SPAC^AYS #13 Fiction/Fantasy Gothic Mystery." others that a unified, peaceful By John Cleve [A. Offutt] 'Contributions to the study of society is better than a collec­ Berkley, 1983, $2.50, SF science fiction § fantasy, #6.' tion of warring tribes. Force 'Even death does not mean the would not be Rick's chosen method end of Jonuta. Like the legendary of persuasian -- but on a planet phoenix, he is back, at the helm of THE COSMIC COMPUTER where the other dominant culture By H. Beam Piper the Coronet, living the only life is one brought straight from an­ Ace, Nov. 1983, $2.75 open to a Galactic spacefarer: cient Rome, force may be the only 'Merlin — the legendary name raiding, plundering, slaving -- way. ' while eluding the long arm of Trans- that conjures up visions of unlim­ Galactic Watch. Following a clue ited knowledge and power. Merlin, the god-like, infallible computer from the luscious captive Verley, THE PERILOUS GARD Jonuta traces his old enemy Eks to that could mean the salvation of By Elizabeth Marie Pope the "off limits" planet Arepien. a war-torn human race. But does Tempo Bks, (c) 1974, $2.25 But in spite of the unclad beauties such a fantastic cybernetic marv­ A Magic Quest Book 'Kate was who are eager to engage in sexual el really exist? Is Merlin just lonely. Banished to a remote cas­ congress with the gods descended another legend of the spaceways, tle in England's wild north, she from the sky, Arepien proves dang­ as most people believe? Or is it missed her friends and family. erous . And when Maj or Zahrad of really hidden somewhere on the Then she came across a strange TGW appears on the Coronet's tail, colony planet Poictesme? And if young man alone in the darkness, Jonuta realizes that the decisive, it is found, will it save mankind and discovered another world be­ life-or-death battle must at last ... or be its destruction?' neath her feet: the faery realm of be waged.' 58 Elvenwood, the endless labyrinth beneath the Hill, where the Fairy ed to another world and find they lots of room for variety. So who Queen imprisons gentle souls and are the characters whose roles else is out there — and what hap­ neither sun nor moon has ever they were playing. In this land pens when they and we meet?' shone....' of fire-breathing dragons and mag­ ic, they must find the Gate Between the Worlds to return back home -- THE SHATTERED GOEDESS and the gate is guarded by a dead­ By Darrell Schweitzer Q ly sleeping dragon. Donning Co., 1982, Trade paperback, ELLERY QUEEN'S LOST PEN $5.95, 183 pages Edited by Ellery Queen and 'When an evil witch secretly Eleanor Sullivan THE WAR FOR ETERNITY substitutes her own son for that Dial Fiction, (Doubleday), $12.95 By Christopher Rowley of a royal heir, she unwittingly Oct. 1983, hardcover; Stories Del Rey, 1983, $2.95 creates her own greatest nemesis. collected from ELLERY QUEEN'S 'The bearlike aliens of Fen­ Condemned to a hole-in-the-wall MYSTERY MAGAZINE; 288 pages. rille had long been allies of the existence at the bottom of society, 'The alumni reports of many fiercely independent human clans.. the true heir must study magic to colleges include a section listing Together Men and Fein ruled the survive. But when he discovers his Lost Men — class members who can wooded highlands of the odd plan­ own real identity, he learns that no longer be reached, who have et's single continent. And to­ to reclaim the throne he must un­ disappeared without leaving a for­ gether they grew rich, for only leash a.magic that will destroy warding address and have been im­ the people of the highlands could the world!' possible to track down. harvest the drug that kept men 'There are stories in this new forever young. ACROSS A BILLION YEARS Ellery Queen collection about just 'Then the masters of a distant By Robert Silverberg such men, men who lose touch with Earth sent a starfleet with a Tor Books, Dec. 1983, $2.75 their past, with their family and force of brutal Space Marines to 'Scattered throughout the friends, either intentionally or seize the planet. But they were globe of human-occupied space is for reasons beyond their control.' not prepared for the colonists' evidence of a civilization that stiff resistance — and no one bestrode the galaxy before humanity had warned them of the aliens' was bom. Now, a strange device very special defenses.' has been discovered that shows the R details of that great civilization. NIGHT OF TFE CLAW By Jay Ramsey The details include a star map and St. Martin’s Press, 1983, $12.95 hints that the High Ones are not Hardcover, Horror novel, 367 pp. s extinct after all.' When Alan Knight returns from bronwyn's bane Africa he brings a small parcel By Elizabeth Scarborough given to him by an anthropologist. Bantam, Dec. 1983, $2.95 OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN He is unaware that the anthropolo­ 'Bronwyn, Crown Princess of By Clifford Simak gist killed himself shortly after. Argonia, was born under an unlucky DAW, 1983, (c) 1974, $2.50 The parcel contains a talisman of star. Not only was she a strap­ 'They were our children's evil which will soon break loose, ping, awkward, hot-tempered girl children, and they came one day transforming his comfortable life. ill-suited to palace life, but she from nowhere -- walking through had been cursed at birth with a holes in the air into our world. spell that made her tell nothing By means of one-way time tunnels, HE LAGRANGISTS By Mark Reynolds but lies! When war broke out be­ they fled the ravening beasts with Tor Books, 1983, $2.95 tween Argonia and Albemarle, Queen teeth, claws and tentacles, that 'L-5, a point in the Earth- Amberwine sent Bronwyn away to keep reproduced like bacteria and were Moon system where orbits are forev­ her out of trouble -- to her cousin intelligent. They fled to escape er and the new age of Freedom and Carole, who'd inherited the gift the uncontrollable horror of their Plenty can begin. Now they're of musical magic from her hearth­ own far future, and we, their dis­ trying to kill the man in charge witch mother and minstrel father'... tant ancestors, housed and fed and of the first L-5 colony, and Pri­ comforted them, content in their vate Eye Rex Bader is the man who assurance that the tunnel was se­ will have to find and stop them...' URANIA'S DAUGHTERS By Roger C. Schlobin curely guarded from the beasts, Starmont House, Sept 1983, $6.95 whatever or whoever they were.'... MINDKILLER STARMONT REFERENCE GUIDE #1 By Spider Robinson ISSN 0738-0127 79 pages Berkley, Nov. 1983, (c) 1982, $2.95 THE GREEN FUTURES OF TYCHO 'The creation of one of our A checklist of women science By William Sleator most acclaimed young science fic­ fiction writers, 1692-1982. In­ Bantam, Jan. 1984, $2.25 (c) 1981 tion writers, MINDKILLER is more cludes index and bibliography. Juvenile. 'THE GREEN FUTURES OF than a science fiction novel. It Arranged alphabetically by authors' TYCHO tells of 11-year-old Tycho, speaks to the reader of a world names, included is "Directory of who digs up an alien silver egg just around the corner and of the Pseudonyms, Joint Authors, and Var­ while planting a vegetable garden most frightening possibilities in iant Names." Sequels are cross and soon discovers that his find that world for control of the hu­ referenced, series are identified. has the ability to send him back man mind.' and forth in time. At first young Tycho uses this power to settle ALIENS FROM ANALOG, Anthology #7 small scores with his siblings Edited by Stanley Schmidt THE SLEEPING DRAGON but then finds that he can use the By Joel Rosenberg Davis Pub., Dec. 1983, $12.95 egg to catch glimpses of his adult Book I, GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME 'Man is an interesting species self. To his horror, he witnesses Signet, 1983, $2.95, Fantasy but he is probably not the only in­ a variety of futures, seeing an Fantasy gaming becomes a mat­ telligent species in the universe. adult who is increasingly evil and ter of life and death when a group The universe is a big place, with dependent on the egg for power. De­ of college students are transport­ 59 termined to return the egg to the point in history when it was orig­ CHEON OF WELTANLAND the long night of space, fate brings inally left on earth by aliens, Ty­ Book I: THE FOUR WISHES him to his star. What happens cho finds himself on a life-threat­ By Charlotte Stone there is unexpected, nearly inex­ ening chase through the centuries, DAW, Nov. 1983, $2.95 plicable, and shocks him back into pursued by his older self who wants 'Freed from the tyranny of con­ sanity and life.' to keep the egg.' querors and the slavery of the ape­ people, ward and student of a Hy­ SPACEHOUNDS OF IPC perborean witch, the girl Cheon OTHER WORLDS: THE FANTASY GENRE By E.E. "Doc" Smith was to be granted four wishes. Bowling Green Univ. Popular Press Berkley, 1983, $2.50 This is what she said: "That no By John H. Timmerman (first published in 1931) man shall again do to me as the Nov. 1983, $7.95 (hardcover $16.95) On a passenger flight to Mars, Bunnish men and the men of the Dark 'Professor Timmerman looks at a space ship falls apart, and the Place did ... fantasy literature with a critical wreckage is towed off by an alien '"That I may grow tall and eye towards identifying the genre warship. The survivors escape in strong and skilled in the use of and locating its relation to liter­ a small module and set course for weapons, that I may slay me as I ary tradition. He has written a nearby Ganymede. A novel of cos­ please ... lively and informative text.' mic adventure. '"That I may be a witch skil­ led in sorcery, yet beautiful like STARDEATH the dawn... By E.C. TUbb LANDO CALRISSIAN AND THE STARCAVE OF THONBOKA by L. Neil Smith '"That I may be a queen as my Del Rey, 1983, $2.25 Ballantine, Dec. 1983, $2.50 father promised me, the queen of 'Ships occasionally disappear­ An SF novel based on the char­ the Northlands..."' ed in hyperspace, regrettable acters created by George Lucas. sacrifices to the luxury of faster- 'For a year Lando Calrissian than-light travel. But now one of FIRE FROM THE WINE DARK SEA the lost ships has been found' ... and Vuffi Raa, his five-armed ro­ By Somtow Sucharitkul bot astrogator, had roamed space 'The lucky ones on the lost ship Donning Co., 1983, Trade paperback, are dead. The others have been in the Millennium Falcon, seeking 301 pages, $6.50 or creating opportunities to turn turned inside-out in gruesome par­ The first collection of Such­ ody of human beings -- and they an easy, but not too dishonest aritkul 's work. Before his first credit. But now their partnership are still alive.' ... 'The enemy novel, Sucharitkul won the year's is unknown -- and the only way seemed doomed -- for Lando's un­ Best Science Fiction Writer Award. characteristic impulse to help a Vari can solve the mystery is to He is called "tha brightest new use himself as bait!' race of persecuted aliens had sud­ star in the SF galaxy." Included denly made him and Vuffi vulnerable are two interviews with Sucharit­ to several sets of their own enem­ kul. ies . . . ' V CUGEL's SAGA by Jack Vance THE VOID CAPTAIN'S TALE THE AQUILIAD Sequel to THE EYES OF THE OVekWORLD By Norman Spinrad By Somtow Sucharitkul TIMESCAPE, Nov. 1983, $14.95, 334 pp. Timescape, 1983, $2.95 Timescape, Dec. 1983, $2.95, SF ...'Cugel, the adventurous and 'Void captain Genro Kane Gupta 'Now, 100 years after Julius egocentric rogue, lives in a de­ is truly the master of his craft. Caesar's death, journey to another cadent future world of Machiavel­ Through the pleasure rooms of the dimension where time is warped, lian sorcery. Once again, he man­ Dragon Zephyr, he moves with haute Bigfoot growls, hot air balloons ages to survive a series of danger­ authority, the object of every wom­ sail, and Rome never fell. Discov­ ous encounters with monsters and an's desire. But the good captain er a wondrous new America where wizards by using his flamboyant hides a secret...The Void captain's bumbling General Titus and wily wit. Marooned half a world away libido and a woman's transcendent Aquila, fhe Eagle, lust for Aztec from home by long-time arch enemy appetite are short-circuiting the gold and battle an evil time trav­ luconnu, The Laughing Magician, Cu­ ship directly into the Great and eler and an invasion of flying gel cunningly works his way through Only -- to the ultimate calamity, saucers from a distant future be­ mud pits and bars, through village or the ultimate bliss!' yond the past.' manor houses and across the seas drawn by sea worms, back to the land of Almery to gain vengeance TFE ORPHAN By Robert Stallman upon the nefarious luconnu.' Timescape, (c) 1980, $2.95 A wild-eyed beast with a taste THE STEPS OF THE SUN for blood changed to human form, by Walter Tevis little Robert, and was adopted by COMPUTERWORLD By A.E. Van Vogt Doubleday, Nov. 1983, $14.95, 264 p. DAW, 1983, $2.50 a farm family. ... 'It is the year 2063 and all 'Robert had his own will and 'A.E. Van Vogt, master of in­ energy sources have been depleted novative science fiction, has wanted to stay human. Still the or declared unsafe. An ice age beast arose unbidden, shifting form brought this vision of the days to has begun, China's world dominance come into focus with his new nov­ without warning. Neither beast nor is growing, and America is sliding child could conceal the danger, as el, the story of our world under into impotence. the cold and emotionless eye of their dual nature threatened to re­ 'Belson, undaunted by the para­ veal itself, to destroy their cov­ the almighty computers in conflict lyzing apathy around him, haunted with the efforts of just flesh-and- er -- and to leave them at the by deep emotional problems that mercy of forces unknown!' blood people to achieve some way of are driving him toward suicide, em­ asserting free will beyond the barks on a highly publicized search scope of mechanical programming. for an extraterrestrial fuel sup­ Here is a novel to read after you ply that will reverse America's have re-read 1984 and to set along­ decline. Though he sleeps through side Van Vogt's classic works for 60 prophetic science fiction.' world's END By Joan D. Vinge WHAT DREAMS MAY COME THE CITADEL OF THE AUTARCH Volume 2 in the Snow Queen Cycle By Manly Wade Wellman By Gene Wolfe Bluejay Book, Feb. 1984, $13.95 Doubleday, Dec. 1983, $11.95 Pocket, Nov. 1983, $3.50 750-copy collector's edition also. A novel of the scholar/adventurer, Book IV of Book of the New Sun, 'Journey to WORLD'S END, with John Thunstone. completes the tetralogy its strange, twisted landscapes 'Thunstone wants to see Old 'Severian the fallen Torturer where madness awaits, BZ Gundhalinu Thunder, the historic giant whose pursues his grand destiny across is one who is brave enough -- or white outline dominates the steep the lands of Urth, in a journey foolish enough -- to venture there. slope separating Claines from the fraught with peril and wonder, an­ His quest: to rescue his lost rest of the world. And he's come cient memories and savage death. brothers from the wilderness and to see for himself the local ritu­ Fleeing the terrors of the deep to redeem the family honor ...' al of overturning the Dreamer Rock, water dwellers and the flying sliv­ a fallen obelisk of sandstone which ers of night, he moves inexorably lies at the edge of the churchyard. toward the final mystery -- the The townspeople observe this "pag­ long-foretold coming of the New an" custom every July 4th -- but Sun! ' w this July 4th might be a little THE YEAR'S BEST HORROR STORIES, different.'... SERIES XI, Bd. Karl Edward Wagner DAW, 1983, $2.95 Y "Wagner has done his work LIGHTRUNNER TALES OF WONDER well, and DAW deserves the thanks By Lamar Waldron 6 Rod Whigham By Jane Yolen of horror readers, and librarians Donning, Oct. 1983, Trade Paperbk, Schocken Books, 1983, $14.95 catering to them, for keeping this 8 1/2 X 11 Illustrated, 112 pages A book of 30 new fairy tales anthology going, its price low and in color, $9.95. compiled for adults. its quality high." -- BOOKLIST Limited edition, $30.00, with 'These stories embrace deep- slipcase, hardcover, color print, rooted and universal themes -- love signed 6 numbered bookplate. and separation, obedience and loy­ THE BOOK OF SILENCE Starblaze graphic novel, an epic alty, the true nature of happiness By Lawrence Watt-Evans science fiction adventure. -- which are taken from ancient Del Rey, Jan. 1984, $2.95, 336 pp. 'A graphic novel of life and mythology, medieval romance, nine­ Fantasy, Book IV of THE LORIS OF DUS death, loyalty and love, duty and teenth-century fairytales and mod­ 'Nothing had gone right for honor. A universe poised on the ern science fiction...' Garth the overman since he had brink of galactic war becomes the come to the human city of Skelleth. background for Burne Garrett's He had been exiled from his home, rite-of-passage from cadet-forcer forced to raid the altars of the to young adult. Framed for a crime Dark Gods, possessed by Bheleu, he did not commit, Burne must not 0PEGA POINT TRILOGY god of destruction, and tricked only prove his innocence to the By George Zebrowski into vowing to serve the god of Star-Stream assembly, but to his Ace Original, Nov. 1983, SF, $2.75 death through the god's high father, Thorvus Garrett, the fa­ 'Gorgias was a dangerous man. Stranded in the remotest galactic priest, the mysterious Forgotten mous Lion of Denna, as well.' King. wastelands, he was a relic of the 'Now the followers of Aghad, most evolved civilization humans THE BEST OF JACK WILLIAMSON god of hatred, had tortured his Ballantine, Jan. 1984, (c) 1978 ever dreamed possible -- and which wife and threatened to kill his $2.95, Classic SF they had destroyed. Now he didn't sons. He could only defeat them Fourteen stories, including figure into their plans anymore. by taking up the Sword of Bheleu "Nonstop to Mars"; "With Folded But they figured into his. He was again -- surrendering himself to Hands"; "The Happiest Creature"; a man with a mission: out to a- the rage of the ruthless god. Or "Jamboree"; "The Highest Dive." venge the past, with only his wits he could bring the Forgotten King and a fighting ship that couldn't be equaled.' the Book of Silence from a long- SHADOWINGS: A READER'S GUIDE TO forgotten crypt....' HORROR FICTION 1981-82 Ed. Douglas E. Winter STARM0NT STUDIES IN LITERARY EARTHCHILD By Sharon Webb CRITICISM I ISSN 0737-1306 AMAZING March, 1984, $1.75 #1 in the Earth Song Triad Starmont House, 1983, $6.95 Edited by George Scithers Bantam, 1983, 0750 'The definitive guide to con­ Two major items in this issue: 'It was called the Mouat-Gari temporary horror fiction, written an intriguing, masterful analysis process. It gave to all of Earth's by major authors and critics in of STAR WARS, Star Wars, and George children man's oldest dream -- im­ the field. Introduced and edited Lucas by Algis Budrys.... mortality. For Kurt Kraus, torn by World Fantasy Award nominee And GATEWAY III: WHERE THE HEE- from his family, attacked and per­ Douglas E. Winter ....' CHEE FEARED TO GO [Part One of Two secuted by a generation he was de­ Parts] The novel will be concluded stined to see age and die before THE WOLFE ARCHIPELAGO next issue. Under the title HEE- his eyes, the first years of etern­ By Gene Wolfe CHEE RENDEZVOUS it will be publish­ al life were the hardest. Zeising Bro., Oct. 1983, 119 pp. ed in May, 1984 by Del Rey Books. 'But as a century passed, and Trade Ed., 820 copies, $15.95 Also this issue: fiction by Kurt found himself one of Earth's Signed limited Ed, 200 copies, Robert Morrell, Jr., Alan Dean ageless rulers, he discovered im­ $30.00 Foster, and a story authored by mortality's terrible price, and A collection of Gene Wolfe's Gardner Dozois, Jack Dann, and Mich­ the awful choice mankind had to short stories with Introduction: ael Swanwick. make to redeem its future.' "The Island of Doctor Death 6 Oth­ Also: Opinion, Book Reviews, er Stories?', "The Death of Doctor Discussions, The Strategic View. Island" and "The Doctor of Death Poetry, and a Cartoon. Island." 61 the advantage of being based in the New York area and can personally follow up many stories neglected or even not known by the other SMALL newszines. Monthly, $18. per year for USA and Canada. Write for other rates. Address: P.O. Box4175, New York, NY PRESS 10163-4175. STARSHIP Winter-Spring 1982-83 $3.00 from Andy Porter, address above. Was this the final issue of STARSHIP? I think so. But it was NOTES a fine one and worth getting by mail, now. The small press scene is becom­ evil, supernatural evil, as a hated There's personal revelation you ing more and more professional and rock promoter's heart is literally rarely see in Jack Dann's "A Few expensive, especially in the limited torn from his chest in a grissly Sparks in the Dark," and in "Hear edition book area. ritual murder as a preliminary to How They Chirp" by Fred Pohl you the planned regrouping of the great can understand a professional writ­ THE WOLFE ARCHIPELAGO By Gene Wolfe rock band, the Nazgul. ers feelings about critics and re­ Ziesing Brothers, 1020 copies, 200 The evocation of the atmosphere viewers. "The Silverberg Papers" signed And numbered: unsigned copes and power of rock music is here by R. Silverberg gives up-to-date are $15.95; signed/numbered are $30. so well done that it is itself info on the business/technical side Ziesing Bros., 768 Main St., almost supernatural. Martin uses of professional sf writing. Willimantic, CT 06226. words to build images that sizzle And Letters and Gregory Benford The book is quality hardcover, and scald. His characterizations on the scientific perspective.... with an extraordinarily fine dust are true and solid. This sort of material is worth jacket painting by Carl Lundgren; This volume is, yes, a high- having and enjoying, no matter when some would kill for the original, priced collector's edition, but published. I think. the fiction--the novel--is worth The stories: "The Island of Dr. the money in itself. Death and Other Stories," "The Death Martin writes of demonic posses­ of Dr. Island," and "The Doctor of sion, of a takec er of the world Death Island" are all finely wrought by Satan...of the ultimate frenzy intricate (at first) and perhaps (if of the most massive rock concert BOP SQUARED By Dan Weiss you don't pay close attention) baff­ ever held. And more and more. Black Plankton Press, POB 9812, ling examinations of insanity and You can't miss with this novel. Berkeley, CA 94709. $4.95 + 63*. its consequences, and its kinds, and A novel, self-published, soft- its causes. cover format, which I read and Someday (if not already) books GROUND ZERO GRAPHICS, gradually disliked more and more will be written examining in exquis­ 1131 White Av., Kansas City, M0 64126 ite detail the subtleties of charac­ has issued two art prints of Leo and ter and event in these jewels of Diane Dillon's cover paintings for fiction. Whole careers will be built Vinge's SNOW QUEEN and Ellison's on Wolfe's writings. DEATHBIRO STORIES. There is, incidentally, a bonus They are big—18 x 24—and in the Foreward by Gene Wolfe—a on very heavy white cardstock, in short-short titled "Death of the glorious color. Not to frame these Island Doctor." There is yet anoth­ is a crime. er variation yet to be written, of I’ve misplaced the flyer detail­ course: "The Death Island Story, ing costs for these. Write Ground Doctor." Zero for details.

THE ARMAGEDDON RAG By George R.R. SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE for Dec­ Martin. $50. Special limited edit­ ember, 1983 blew my cover: Andy ion of 540 copies, autographed and Porter actually published two photos numbered, with slipcase. of me. The "Mystery Man" of fandom The hardcover book is itself a revealed! Oh, A-a-a-a-r-r-r-r-gh! work of art, with the dust jacket But seriously, folks, SFC does a painting by Victor Moscoso an added good job of reporting sf and fantasy bonus. news, views and events. Andy has This edition is published by Nemo Press/Poseiden Press. Order from Nemo Press, 1205 Harney Street, Omaha, NE 64126. The novel is simply marvelous! Martin's skill and talent are awesome as he evokes the rock band milieu of RICHARD E. GEIS the 70's and overlays it with somb­ er, vicious overtones of ultimate as the out-of-body experience of WHISPERS #19-20 $5.00 the teacher-character became more SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #35 Inter­ Edited & Published by Stuart David views with Fred Saberhagen and Don and more absurd and as the plot Schiff. Asst. Ed. David Drake. broke down and cried for mercy Wollheim; "The Way It Is" by Barry 70 Highland Av., Binghamton, NY Malzberg; "Noise Level" by John killing. The story seemed to begin 13905. as a Juvenile, but became too gross Brunner; "Coming Apart at the Another exceptional issue. Themes" by Bob Shaw. as the story invaded an underground WHISPERS publication has become an torture/prison run by school offic­ Event, and this double issue, feat­ ials and connected by tunnel to a uring work by Whitley Strieber, is SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #36 Inter­ public high school. another. 176 pages plus stunning view with Roger Zelazny; A Profile After that the teacher investi­ cover art...man, alive!—or dead! of Philip K. Dick by Charles Platt; gating this horrible situation by Sixteen pieces of fiction, five "Outside the Whale" by Christopher means of out-of-body traveling be­ articles/departments (Stuart's 10 Priest; "Science Fiction and Polit­ came involved in astro-plane mysti­ pages of cram-packed news items & ical Economy" by Mack Reynolds; In­ cism and I got disgusted. mini-reviews is incredible!) and terview with Robert A. Heinlein; many, many high-quality art pieces "You Got No Friends in This World" by Orson Scott Card. make this volume a must-get.

A NEW SETTLEMENT OF OLD SCORES SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #49 featur­ By John Brunner es Piers Anthony, Charles Platt, $1.75 PER COPY FROM #37 ONWARD A COLLECTION OF TOPICAL SONGS AND John Brunner, Gene DeWeese, Orson FILKSONGS ESPECIALLY COMPILED FOR Scott Card, Darrell Schweitzer.... SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #37 Inter­ CONSTELLATION, THE 41st ANNUAL WORLD view with Robert Anton Wilson; SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION "We're Coming Through the Window!" $8.00 + $1.00 postage and handl­ SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #48 "The by Barry N. Malzberg; "Inside the ing. NESFA, Box G, MIT Branch Post Treasure of the Secret Cordwainer" Whale" by Jack Williamson, Jerry Office, Cambridge, MA 02139-0910. By J.J. Pierce; "Raising Hackles" Poumelle, and Jack Chalker; "Uni­ This is a songbook of Brunner's by Elton T. Elliott; "Once Over ties in Digression" by Orson Scott original work and contains 32 songs, Lightly" by Gene DeWeese; "The Vivi Card. most with music. Each song is il­ sector" by Darrell Schweitzer; let lustrated by art contributed by 21 ters from Platt, Foster, Busby, SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #38 Inter­ of SF's finest artists. Bloch, Ellison... view with Jack Williamson; "The The volume is 8% x 11, 68 pages, Engines of the Night" by Barry N. heavy stock, perfect bound or plastic SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #47 Inter­ Malzberg; "A String of Days" by comb binding (for flat opening). views with Janet Morris and Charles Gregory Benford; "The Alien Inva­ Platt; "Philip K. Dick--A Cowardly sion" by Larry Niven; "Noise Level" Memoir" by Peter Nicholls; "Of by John Brunner; SF News by Elton Ground, and Ocean, and Sky" by Ian Elliott. HEART OF STONE> DEAR and other sto­ Watson; "Once Over Lightly" by Gene ries By R. A. Lafferty DeWeese; "Alien Thoughts" by REG. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #39 Inter­ view with Gene Wolfe; "The Engines SNAKE IN HIS BOSOM and other stories of the Night"-Part Two by Barry N. By R. A. Lafferty Malzberg; "The Nuke Standard" by Chris Drumm Books, P.O. Box 445, SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #46 Inter­ Ian Watson; "The Vivisector" by Polk City, IA 50226 view with John Sladek; "How NOT Darrell Schweitzer; SF News by These are small-size 46-page To Write Science Fiction" by Rich­ booklets of five short stories ard Wilson; profile of Larry Elton Elliott. each. Offset printing, heavy cover Niven; "Standing By Jericho" by stock. No art. $2. each, postpaid. Steve Gallagher; "The Vivisector" SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #40 Inter­ by Darrell*Schweitzer; "Raising These are original stories, ap­ view with Robert Sheckley; 4-way Hackles" by Elton T. Elliott. pearing for the first time, copyright conversation: Arthur C. Clarke, 1983. Harlan Ellison, Fritz Leiber 6 I like to read Lafferty every SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #45 Inter­ Mark Wells; "The Engines of the now and again, because he's so far view with Keith Laumer; "Pulp!" by Night"-Part Three by Barry N. from connercial writing, so far out Algis Budrys; Interview with Terry Malzberg; Darrell Schweitzer; in left field, with such a strange Carr; "The Vivisector" by Darrell SF News by Elton T. Elliott sense of humor—and of reality, Schweitzer; "Raising Hackles" by that he's weirdly delightful in his Elton T. Elliott. arcane way. And he says things of SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #41 Space importance when you're not looking SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #44 Inter­ Shuttle Report by Clifford R. Mc­ (even though you're reading, if you view with Anne McCaffrey; "How Murray; "Chuck's Latest Bucket" by follow). Sly old dog. Things Work" by Norman Spinrad; David Gerrold; Interview with Mi­ These booklets may be these sto­ "Fantasy and the Believing Reader" chael Whelan; "The Bloodshot Eye" ries only ever appearance, given his by Orson Scott Card; "Raising Hack- by Gene DeWeese; "The Vivisector" idiosyncratic style and worlds-view, Irs" by Elton T. Elliott. by Darrell Schweitzer; SF News by and (from a collector's POV) may be Elton T. Elliott. a rare item, soon, sadly given his age, and the distinct possibility SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #43 Inter­ that he may end up a minor genius of view with James White; "The Porno SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #42 Inter- American letters, one decade or oth­ Novel Biz" by Anonymous; "How To view with Ian Watson; "One Writer er, down the line. Be A Science Fiction Critic" by Orson Scott Card; "The Vivisector" and the Next War" by John Brunner; by Darrell Schweitzer; "Chee Over "The Vivisector" by Darrell Schweit­ Lightly" by Gene DeWeese; SF News zer; "The Human Hotline" by Elton by Elton T. Elliott. T. Elliott. 63 THE ALIEN CRITIC #9 "Reading SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #23 Inter­ BACK ISSUES Heinlein Subjectively" by Alexei views: A.E. van Vogt, and Jack and Cory Panshin; "Written to a Vance, and Piers Anthony; "The Pulp!" by Sam Merwin, Jr.; "Noise Silverberg That Was" by Robert Level" by John Brunner; "The Shav­ THE ALIEN CRITIC Silverberg. er Papers" by Richard S. Shaver. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #24 Inter­ NO OTHER BACK ISSUES ARE THE ALIEN CRITIC #10 Interview views: Bob Shaw, David G. Hartwell AVAILABLE with Stanislaw Lem; "A Nest of and Algis Budrys; "On Being a Bit $1-50 per copy Strange and Wonderful Birds" by of a Legend" by Algis Budrys. 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