NEW CANADIAN FANDOM Contents

JUNE-JULY/AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1981 News...... p. 2 Volume 1, Number 2/3, Whole Number 2/3 Last minute news...... *...... p. 29 ISSN 0229-1932 SF Convention Reports...... p. 6 PUBLISHER: MICHAEL HALL SAME AS EVER IT WAS EDITOR: ROBERT A. RUNTE Fan History by Tarai...... p. 10

NEW CANADIAN FANDOM, a Canadian science OFF THE SHELF fiction newsletter, is published by Be- Book Reviews by doug harbour...... P^14 flatte Publications in association with Negative Entropy Press. (c> 1981 by Robert PRESERVING THE FUTURE: > Runte and Michael Hall. All rights are Canadian SF Libraries...... p.x7 hereby returned to the contributors. Pub­ lished irregularly. Letter column...... p’:21 COAs...... Subscriptions: Free sample issue available upon request; limit of one Upcoming SF Conventions...... ;..Vi.p.28 per person. Subscription rate is five SKYWRITING editorial...... P»28 issues for $4 Canadian or US. Make all cheques payable to Robert Runte Flyers Enclosed: SF & Fantasy Collection NEW CANADIAN FANDOM is also available for of the Ward Chipman Library, U.N.B. and trade with other newsletters or fanzines, Pottersfield Press. news, accepted contributions of written material or artwork, letters of comment, mint copies of ENERGUMEN, CANADIAN FANDOM, Art Credits and other historic Canadian zines, and editorial whim. Tarai...... cover, p.17 Rand Gayner (Visions From The Edge)..p. 2 Mailing Address: NEW CANADIAN FANDOM Box 4655, P.S.S.E. Phillip Gagnon...... P* 7 Edmonton, Alberta Stu Shiffman...... p.ll Canada T6E 5G5 Barry Kent MacKay...... •...... p.13 The opinions expressed are those of the David Vereschagin...... p.14 individual contributor only, and are not necessarily those of the editor, the pub­ Jerry Collins...... •...... p.21 lisher, NCF, or Canadian fandom. Sources Schirm...... p.23,'**' for news items are (occasionally) given in brackets following the item. All un­ Terry Jeeves...... p.29 credited writing is by the editor, Robert Runte. PLEASE NOTE; Due to the four month back­ log created by the Canadian postal strike, fanzine reviews have been held over until next issue which will be a special fanzine review issue. news (2) MAJOR CANADIAN ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED money. It is 215 pages. VISIONS FROM THE EDGE is available in hardcover for $14.95 or as a trade paper­ back for $7.95 from Pottersfield Press, R.R.#2, Porters Lake, Nova Scotia, BOJ 2S0. John Bell also informs me that BOREALIS is to be published by Pottersfield Press and that an issue may be expected shortly. This is to be a double issue featuring Charles Saunders. Thereafter, BOREALIS is to become a "large Canadian SF and fantasy annual including articles, inter­ views, comic art, fiction, poetry, artwork, and other features." Submissions accompan­ ied by a SASE are now being accepted by John at BOREALIS, P.O.Box 3174 South, HALIFAX, Nova Scotia B3J 3H5.

OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS Ottawa fantasy writer Charles Saunders has sold a novel entitled IMARO to DAW Books, it is due out this fall. Vancouver fan/cartoonist/writer Bill Gibson had a story in the MAY 1981 OMNI entitled "Johnny Run 54" (if I can read my own handwriting) which was pretty good. WASTELANDS, a "small press zine that VISIONS FROM THE EDGE features written word with visuals" had a special issue on "Machines" this summer. John Bell, editor of the prestigious While not a fanzine, ”we find most mater­ Canadian semi-prozine, BOREALIS, and Hal­ ial is either SF, fantasy, or horror." ifax poet and publisher, Lesley Choyce, They are looking for writers and artists have combined forces to produce VISIONS for future issues on the themes of "myths, FROM THE EDGE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ATLANTIC magic, religion, macabre-horror, illusion, CANADIAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY. or evolution." No mention of payment, so Published with the assistance of the Nova I assume there isn't any. $2/copy; $6.50/ Scotia Department of Culture, this retro­ year. P.O. Box 300, Station A, OTTAWA, spective anthology represents a major con­ Ontario K1N 8V3 tribution to the field of Canadian SF. STARDUST "The Canadian SF Magazine" The book includes 19 stories by natives (*cough*cough*) featured a lead story by and residents of Atlantic Canada and Phyllis Gotlieb in its Spring 1981 issue. covers the hundred years, 1880-1980. Among The story, "Phantom Foot" was reprinted the writers represented are Sir Charles from 1959. John Robert Colombo's "Four Roberts, Simon Newcomb, Francis Flagg, Hundred Years Of Fantastic Literature In Laurence Manning, T.H.Randdall, L.M. Mont­ Canada", based on his talk delivered at gomery, Elisabeth Mann Borgese, Spider The Harbourfront in Toronto July 19, 1981, Robinson, and William Kotzwinkle. In was also featured. $1.95 from STARDUST, addition, there is the entire text of H.P. 150 Fermanagh Ave., Suite 7, Toronto, Blanchard’s AFTER THE CATACLYSM: A ROMANCE Ontario M6R 1M3. STARDUST pays IC/word OF THE AGE TO COME, a rare utopian novel for first North American rights. originally published in 1909. Each author No word yet on ULTRA MAGAZINE. is introduced by a half page biography. Edmonton fan/critic/prof, doug harbour, has co-edited an anthology of Canadian Illustrated by Rand Gaynor, the book is attractively produced and well worth the comic poetry with Stephen Scobie, this year's winner of Governor General's Award. (3) Entitled, THE MAPLE LAUGH FOREVER, it is STRIKES BACK for Best Dramatic Presenta­ published by Hurtig (Edmonton) and is tion; Somtow Sacharitkul for Campbell readily available in bookstores through­ Award (Best New Writer); and C.L.Moore out Canada. won the Gandalf Award (Fantasy). The 1983 WorldCon bid was won by Balti­ V-CON 9 RIPPED-OFF FOR $575 IN BAD more. (--- from SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE) CHEQUES V-Con 9 found itself holding bad cheques CANADIAN SCIENCE FICTION 8 FANTASY totalling $575.00 from art show sales. The cheques, written by a woman signing her­ AWARD self "Corwin Amber", were returned by the- The Canadian Science Fiction & Fantasy bank because she had closed out the account Award (CSFFA) for 1981 was won posthumously immediately following the con. by Susan Wood for "lifetime contributions "Corwin Amber" is the name of the pro­ to the field." The award was announced at tagonist in Roger Zelazny’s NINE PRINCES V-Con 9. IN AMBER series. Zelazny was Guest of Susan was one of the best known and most Honour at V-Con 8 last year. When asked important Canadian SF fans ever. In addi­ why V-Con would accept cheques from so tion to her ten Hugo nominations and four obvious-a pseudonym, V-Ccn Treasurer Tim win, she was an outstanding critic with Bolton stated that the woman had produced hundreds of articles, columns, reviews, a driver's license in that name...though and at least two books to her credit. She no one had apparently thought to take the was co-editor of ENERGUMEN, one of the all number down. Attempts to trace Ms Amber time great Canadian fanzines, and later and clear up the nonpayment were hampered published AMOR, a well respected personal by the postal strike. zine. She was also a leading feminist, The artists whose paintings are in Ms and one of the founders of A ROOM OF ONE'S Amber's possession have been paid, and it OWN, which was both a feminist magazine is V-Con which is out the $575. "We're and the name of the feminist programming still in the black, though" Mr. Belton she helped to introduce to SF conventions. assured NCF. She also made major contributions to the (-- Tim Bolton) field of Canadian literature, especially in the area of women authors. HUGO AWARDS The first CSFFA went to A.E.Van Vogt, again for "liftetime contributions to the The late Susan Wood won her fourth Hugo field", and was presented at HalCon3. The at the World Science Fiction Convention, third CSFFA will be presented at NonCon 5 Labour Day weekend. She was nominated for in Edmonton (October 1982) and the fourth the Hugo ten times and won it in 1973 for will be presented at MapleCon 6 (October ENERGUMEN (the famous Canadian genzine she 1983). Readers of NEW CAN 3IAN FANDOM co-edited with then husband, Mike Glicksohh) will be asked to nominate and vote on the and again in 1974 and 1977 as best fan­ Award— details to be announced next issue. writer. This year's award was also for best fanwriter. Susan diel November 12, 1980, at the age CANADIAN UNITY FAN FUND LAUNCHED of 32. The Ontario Science Fiction Club (OSFiC) Other Hugo winners were: THE SNOW QUEEN, has organized a Canadian Unity Fan Fund by Joan Vinge for Best Novel; "Lost Dorsai" (CUFF). Like TAFF, DUFF, and GUFF the fund by Gordon Dickson for Best Novella; "The would help pay travelling expenses for a Cloak and the Staff" by Dickson for Novel- selected fan to attend a convention, in lette; "Grotto of the Dancing Deer" by this case, for a Canadian fan to attend a Clifford Simak for Short Story; COSMOS by Canadian convention. The purpose of the Carl Sagan for Non-fiction Book; Edward fund would be to help overcome the geo­ Ferman (FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE) graphical barriers to a unified Canadian for best professional editor; Michael fandom by bringing a Western fan to the Whelan as Best Professional Artist; Vic­ East, and an Eastern fan to a convention toria Poyser as Fan Artist; THE EMPIRE in the West the following year. (4) CUFF continued: months, but that we were cut off from all Fund Chair Bob Webber has proposed the news, fanzines to review, and so on, so following rules: we couldn't even work on it during the (1) That any money remaining in the strike and have it ready to go as soon as fund after travelling expenses have been it was over. Furthermore, since NCF is paid be carried forward to the following mailed third class, it isn't safe to send CUFF it while there is still a backlog of un­ (2) That the fund be administered by sorted mail, and there was a backlog in some provincially registered SF club local Edmonton (always the last Post Office to either to the point of origin of the CUFF clear it) until Sept. All of this means winner's trip or the destination of the that some of the news in this issue is CUFF trip. unavoidably dated, and that we simply had (3) That all CUFF candidates be resident to drop some items that had gotten too old. in Canada at the time of their trip. Sorry. (4) That a donation of $1 be required Just to keep things interesting, the to nominate a CUFF candidate, and a dona­ only papermill in Canada that makes mimeo­ tion of $5 be required to vote in the graph paper was also on strike, in their CUFF race. A potential CUFF candidate case for eighteen months. Thus the horrid shall be required to receive at least colour of last issue and a further delay five nominations. in getting this issue out as our paper (5) A CUFF candidate shall be required order only arrived September 27. (Even so, to give a brief description of his/her this expensive 241b paper is the only background, and to state his/her intended mimeo paper we can get in Canada at any destination with the CUFF funding early time, whereas American fans can get fiber- enough to allow publication of the.infor­ ton/twiltone which retails for about 1/6 mation and its circulation to all people the price. Now you know why US fanzines interested in voting. are cheaper.) (6) Nominators and voters need not be resident in Canada. LEADING CANADIAN FANZINE FOLDS (7) CUFF funds may not be used to trans­ port any person who will be a publicized THE BIMONTHLY MONTHLY (formerly THE MON­ guest at his/her convention of destination. THLY MONTHLY) suspended publication with issue #14 (December-January, 1981). The The 1381 CUFF recipient was Michael Hall decision was formally made in May 1981 of Edmonton who received $50 towards his when TBM missed its first deadline, but travel expenses to attend Torque 2 in Tor­ the paper shortage and the mail strike onto. (See elsewhere in this issue for prevented them from sending out a notice his trip report.) to their subscribers. A final four page (-- Bob Webber and CHRONIC) issue clearing up loose ends is expected shortly. CANADIAN FANDOM STRUCK DOWN TBM was published by six of the ten members of the Gang of Four, and used a As most of you are already aware, rotating editorship to maintain a monthly the Canadian Post Office was closed from and later a bimonthly schedule. TMM/TBM June 30 to August,11 by a strike of the were widely acclaimed as Canada’s best inside workers. Foreign mail was returned genzine. to sender and no trade issues were leaving TBM is survived by its step-brother,NEW Canada, so some foreign subscribers may be CANADIAN FANDOM, which inherits everything. under the impression that various Canadian All articles, artwork, envelopes, and paid fanzines have folded. It has also been my subscribers have been handed over to NCF. experience that much third class mail and If you had artwork or articles in the TBM even some letters tend to disappear for files and wish it returned rather than good whenever there is a strike,- so if you have it appear here, just ask—but before are missing an issue or your loc isn't we publish it next issue, please. Paid listed in the WAHF column, I suggest you subscriptions to TBM will be honoured by check with the editor to see if it was NCF unless you request a cash refund. The lost in the mail. same applies to trades, though those send­ For NCF, the strike not only meant that ing six copies may cut down to two. the second issue was delayed for two (5) SHORT STORY CONTEST The US still has a separate postcard rate now 120 (up from 100). Third class mail The National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F) rates have been altered so that there is holds an annual short story contest that practically no difference between third is open to all amateur writers of SF and and first class, at least for the lower fantasy, whether members of the N3F or not. weight categories. This will really hurt First prize is $25, 2nd=$15, 3rd=$10, plus American fan publishing, forcing costs semi-finalists and honourable Mentions way up. receive a choice of paperback books avail­ (-- TNFF) able. Att entries receive critiques. Rules s DEATHS 1) Stories must be original, unpublished, JANIE LAMB not more than 7,500 words, and sf or fan­ tasy in opinion of judges. Janie Lamb, Secretary-Treasurer of the 2) Amateurs only: may not have sold more N3F since the 1950s died Wednesday, May 6, than two stories to professional publica­ 1981. She was 73. tions. She joined fandom and the N3F in 1949, 3) Manuscripts should be typed on one and was appointed Secretary in 1953. She became Secretary-Treasurer in 1955 and side of 8^x11" white paper, double-spaced, with the title on each page. The author’s served continuously in that position until her death, and held office under nine name should not appear anywhere on the presidents. manuscript to insure impartial judging. As reported last issue, Janie's house 4) Contestants may enter any number of burnt to the ground January 11, but she stories provided they are each accompanied had recovered from the fire and was again by a separate entry blank and fee. Self­ active in local Democratic convention when addressed stamped envelopes are required she died of a stroke. for the return of stories. Keep a copy in The new N3F Treasurer is Joanne Burger, case of loss. 57 Blue Bonnet Ct. Lake Jackson, TX 77566, 5) Entry fees are $1 for N3F members, $2 USA. (•-- Donald Franson, TNFF) for others. The money pays for the prizes printing, etc. NEO FAN'S GUIDE FOR CANADA 6) Send all manuscripts together with entry blanks and fees to Preliminary Judge, The EDMONTON SCIENCE FICTION AND COMIC Edward Ludwig, 16540 Camellia Terrace, Los ART SOCIETY’S GUIDE TO SCIENCE FICTION & Gatos, CA 95030. (Canadians should send FANDOM has been newly revised and expanded. post office money orders made out to Edward The new GUIDE has sections on the history Ludwig if you don’t have American dollars.) of SF; Canadian science fiction; recom­ 7)For more information or entry blanks, mended reading lists; introductions to SF write N3F President, Donald Franson, 6543 fandom, fanzines, apas, conventions, and Babcock Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91606. clubs; a complete fanspeak glossary, and 8) Contest deadline is December 1, 1981 George Scithers’ "Manuscript Format" guide. Final Judge this year will be R. Faraday This 2nd edition is intended as a proto­ Nelson. (--- TNFF,August 1981) type for an all-Canadian Neo fan's guide to be published by NCF in 1982. Comments, US POSTAL RATES UP corrections, and contributions of articles and art for the national edition of the While Canadian fans live under rumours Guide (tentatively entitled, NATIONAL of massive postage increase (100%!) when NEOGRAPHIC) are encouraged and should be the post office here converts to a Crown sent to the NCF P.O.Box. Corporation, American fans are bewailing Copies of the ESFCAS Guide are available increase in their rates which bring them postpaid for 25C from ESFCAS, P.O.Box 4071, in line with what we have already been Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4S8, or directly paying for the last two years: from NCF (P.O.Box 4655, P.S.S.E., Edmonton, First class, up to one ounce...... 18C Alberta T6E 5G5). Quantity discounts are 2nd ounce (plus 170)...... 35<= available for recognized clubs, apas, and 3rd ounce (plus 170)...... 520 conventions. 4th ounce (plus 170)...... 690 news Clare and I stayed the night in Steve's CONVENTION REPORTS XXX house in Coquitlam. Then we spent most of Friday taking in the sights. Calre was in heaven, as this was his first visit to Vancouver. A hearty break­ V-CON 9 BY RANDY REICHARDT fast at Steve1s favorite greasy sppon was followed by a ride up Mt. Seymour. The [V-Con 9, Vancouver, Holiday Inn Harbour­ weather was wonderful. (It only rained on side, May 22-24, 1981. Guest of Honour: Sunday, and that was a warm rain.) We Vonda N. McIntyre; Fan Guest: Jon Gustaf­ reached to the top of the road up Seymour son; Toastmaster: Jon Singer. Second An­ to discover tons of snow, including a nual Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Award (CSFFA) presented posthumously to downhill ski run with enough left for a Susan Wood. Retrospectively designated few more tries! Just like home. The Canvention 2. mountain provided incredible views of the city and surrounding areas. Back down Recently I phoned Robert Runte to con­ the road, and we were soon at the entrance gratulate him on NCF#1 when I found myself to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Steve promising a con report on V~Con. But I and Clare crossed it, but halfway across warned Robert, and I warn you, I attended I chickened out and went back. Ah well, virtually no programming. 'So who does?’ I’d been across twice before...(some suggested Robert. True. So consider this excuse, eh?). As the afternoon was waning, simply some memories of a weekend in Van­ we made our way to the Holiday Inn, regis­ couver that happened to include V-Con 9. tered, and Clare and I promptly left to I needed the time away, and I wanted to visit Vancouver Public Library, where I stretch it to the limit. Clare Coupland talked shop with a librarian. and I took the silver bird on Thursday That even ng featured the first of many night, May 21, and we were met at the air­ excursions to various restaurants on the port by one unselfish Steve Forty. Not Robson strip, including the White Tower only did Steve pick us up at the airport, and Red Robin, and for that wonderful he also spent most of Friday and Monday cheap meal, McDonalds. We topped it off playing tourist guide, and returned us to Sunday night with a fine meal at the Keg. the airport on time Monday night. Thanks As for V-Con, well...it's all sort of Steve. hazy. Not that I was on heavy drugs or From the airport we paid a short visit anything; it's just that, except for the to the Cairiere’s house (relatives, gang) trivia quiz panels on which I was a parti­ and then a quick trip to Queen Elizabeth cipant, I attended little of it. Park. This was followed by a short visit On Friday evening, Clare and I "hosted" to the hotel, with hellos to Vonda, and a Second City party at the con. For many, some serious discussion about SCTV. including Steve and Mary Fahnestalk, it Now, those of you who know me know that was their first introduction to the Great I have not read an SF novel for over a White North and the wonderful dialogues year, and that I have grown weary and of the McKenzie Brothers, Doug and Bob. bored with fandom in general. This is Take off, eh, ya hoser! Now Fahnestalk still true. Fandom can be very juvenile can add a Canadian accent to his repetoire. and, for many, functions as "institution­ But if he gets it wrong sometimes, don’t alized escapism" (ten points if you know bo sad, eh? I mean, geez, it’s not his where that prase comes from). Whatever. fault, ok? He's not from Ottawa Valley, Jon Gustafson, the Fan GoH (and many before and like, he doesn't eat enough back him) emphasized during his speech that its bacon, ok? So gid-day, eh? the people you meet and the friends you On Staurady evening, some incredible make that bring you back to fandom. This half-time entertainment was provided at applies to your writer, and V-Con 9 served the costume bachann 1. Two jugglers who to reinforce Jon’s statement for me. had a knack for the comedy thing combined I like to visit Vancouver. It is a beau­ skills with laughter much to everyone’s tiful city. If can see my friends and this delight. incredible place concurrently, I will be This was Clare’s second convention, and back. he decided to XXXXXX/X XXX/YX/X make new (7)

Towers. I wish them luck. I enjoyed myeslf as a tourist and as a con attendee this time. I want to visit Vancouver soon; I do not wish to wait until next May. You listening, Steve? Take off, eh, ya hoser...

TORQUE 2 BY MICHAEL HALL

[Torque 2, Toronto, Muir Park Hotel, July 10-12, 1981. Guest of Honour: Thomas Disch; Fan Guest: Ross Pavlac. Relaxicon.] Okay, I admit my trip didn't start out very well: A surly CP Air employee offer­ ing to exchange fisticuffs with me be­ cause he didn't like where I was standing, wedged in a crowd in the basement of Terminal One, vainly waiting for my friends by administering the Federal Civil baggage to appear. (It finally did trundle Service Examination to the other Canadians down out of the catacombs, one hour later.) at the Con, which we renamed the Canadian It ended up two weeks later (in Terminal Citizenship Test for the Americans present. Two, this time) on a pretty happy note, It is much too complicated to describe here, after a good time was had by all. but ask Clare about it next time you see In between, there was the Ontario Sci­ him. Rumours that certain conventions are ence Musetun (crowded with a million little putting out a contract on his life are kids who w re playing with all the knobs still to be confirmed. and switches I wanted to play with), the After watching the seabus cross Burrard Royal Canadian Science Museum in Ottawa Inlet umpteen times from the hotel, a bunch (not crowded, and I got to play with of us decided to go for a ride on it our­ everything!) and many other museums, selves. Continuing in our tradition of movie theatres, stores, freeways, historic talking to anyone anywhere, we eventually buildings, traffic jams, fish smells and started talking to some people sitting interesting bag people. across from us, who turned out to be from But on to more mundane matters. I Australia. We warned them not to visit turned out to be the first winner of the the States, but discovered they were going annual Canadian Unity Fan Fund, and this anyway. So we told them about the kind of fun trip was being partially subsidized people who live there and showed them Steve by the Fund and OSFiC. Fahnestalk. Torque 2 was my first Toronto conven­ And so went the weekend. Sunday morning tion, and will probably be the first of is always the beginning of the end, and many. While there were the usual col­ soon we were saying goodbye to Steve and lection of dozmos rampaging through the Mary, but not before Steve, Jon, Mary-Karen halls, dart and water guns in hand, the Reid and I had wrapped up our second strai­ people not engaged in these pursuits ght Trivia Bowl championship. Sunday even­ were for the most part fascinating and ing settled down into a relaxed party in erudite. The trip to the con itself was the Reid’s room, interrupted only by some worth it just for the opportunity to get singalongs, until I pooped out and put my to meet Moshe Feder, and to see Bob guitar to rest. Webber, Tarai, and Victoria Vayne. On Monday morning, Steve Forty, Clare, Torque was a small con, around 100 and I did the walking tour of Gastown, paid attendees, and reinforced my view followed by a trip to Stanley Park. There that this is the best type of con. we all coughed up $3.75 to see the aquarium Leave the circuses to others! I ran and caught the killer whale show, always into the Pro G st of Honour, Tom Disch, fun to watch. late Saturday night, while he was in So another trip to Vancouver and another the process of forming a new religion, V-Con is over. Apparently the con committee and Ross Pavlac, the Fan GoH, earlier is going to try to get back into Gage Saturday at a Chinese dinner. It wasn't (8) hard to find Tarai— he was flitting around clave 5 in Detroit. I can comfortably from place to place, seemingly as busy as compare them because they were similar if it had been a really large convention. in size (140 or so) and in the type of Early Saturday morning, Rosanne and I people they tried to attract — the fannish discovered that we had to make a sudden fan. trip to Hamilton. When I arrived back at Torque was a smashing success with hil­ the con, huffing and puffing, late for a arity, discussion and interchange all panel I was on, as I sat beside Mike Glick- over the place? huge amounts of smof, very sohn, he asked, "Why would anyone want to few asses, and 25 or so really delightful go to Hamilton?" I mumbled something fanzine fans creating this buzz of golden about being born there, but even I wasn't colour over the hotel. convinced. Autoclave 5 was a boring failure with Later that evening I told Moshe Feder, far too many jerks and buffoons (say 30%) "You know, that was the first real panel and too few trufen. Open antagonisn erup­ I've been on!" ted during the "Fannish Feud" game rematch Late Sunday evening I finally got a pri­ of the Dumb, Stupid and Infantile Team vate viewing of Victoria's stereo system, (their name) and the Politically Correct Moshe's bed, Tarai's famous models, Tarai's Team (also their name); and sporatically bed, and Bob's waterbed. (Please don't elsewhere in my vicinity, a little Slave/- get the wrong id a about this.) That Master playlet by some Goroids to upset morning I also got a chance to experience my tummy. Ich! Roger Reynolds (but not his bed) and Mike The differences between the two as I see Glicksohn together drinking. Here at last, them was that Torque had a superskinflint was my raision d’etre for attending the budget with only two function rooms until con! the con was in the black when another room The one question that still nags me, was rented, while Autoclave had two larg though, is: was it really Ross Pavlac rooms, the consuite, and two huckster rooms distributing those Christian comics? in a classier hotel. There were no one-day Earlier that week (to bring up a totally memberships at Torque so fringies were unrealted topic) I participated in the discouraged, whereas several of the prime most fascinating theatre experience I twits at Autoclave had one-day memberships. have ever been to in my life. Just picture There was no showy programming at Torque, in your mind a historic mansion near down­ no artshow, no costumes, sercon panels, town Toronto, a dark night, January 10, obscure movies, and' no video, while at 1927, a Facist Blackshirt, several guns, Autoclave had video and some of the other a stunning blonde.... The audience follows stuff to lower the quality of the clien­ the actors through the house as they act tele. Of course, the fringefen in Toron­ out scenes in different rooms simultaneous­ to had just had their own convention and ly, and you have to compare notes with . there was minimal advertising for Torque others in the audience at intermission to the Unknown Convention, whereas Autoclave find out what's going on. I could go on was a well known and promoted con. and on, but it is quite impossible to (— Sam Wa gar, Toron to) describe a play like TAMARA, you had to be there! (Michael Hall) BOREAL 3 BY ELISABETH VONARBURG [[If I may be permitted to draw a moral Depuis trois ans le fandom qu^becois from these two reports, you'll note that poursuit une experience originale en ce seasoned con-goers merely use the con as qui concerne ses conventions: elles sont an excuse for a trip/vacation, and don't situees a mi-chemin entre les (trop)gigan- actually worry about attending the con tesques foires attrape-tout des americains too much. Let this be an example to et les colloques un peu trop intellectuals those of you who believe you have to des europeens, en particulier des francais. attend all the panels and take notes in On a done retrouve dans la troisieme edi­ order to have a good time at a con. tion de la convention quebecoise, Boreal, And now some additional Torque 2 comments a la fois la fantaisie la plus debridee from Sam Hagar;]] (lors du party costume-maquille, ou les I have some lurid comparisons to make participants ont rivalise d'humour et d' for you about two conventions I attended imagination creatrice) et la reflexion la recently: Torque 2 in Toronto and Auto­ plus serieuse (lors des divers debats (9) proposes par les organisateurs.) editions Lemeac, une anthologie de texts Tout ce monde etait rassemble pour la de SF sur le theme du Nord, rassemblee find de semaine du 18 au 20 septembre, a par J. M. Gouanvic, redacteur en chef d' 1'Universite du Quebec a Montreal, lieu IMAGINE, et le numero special Fantastique propice aux reunions de ce genre. Tout publie par SOLARIS. comme la premier Boreal, a Chicoutimi, Comme tous les ans des Prix Boreal ont avait ete organise en 1979 autour des mem- ete attribue a la Meilleure Nouvele (Rene bres de la revue SOLARIS (voir notes), et Beaulieu et Jean-Pierre April ex-aequo celui de 80 par les membres de la revue pour leurs nouvelles LE GEAI BLEU ("The POUR TA BELLE GUELE D'AHURI (voir notes Blue Jay") et TELETOTALITE touts deux egalement), Boreal 3 a ete organise et parues dans SOLARIS; au Milleur Livre tres honorablement, en depit de la greve (J.P. April, encore, pour LA MACHINE A des postes, par les membres de la revue EXPLORER LA FICTION ("The Fiction Machine") IMAGINE (voir notes, toujours). La con­ recueil de nouvelles paru dans la collec­ vention— comme toutes les conventions de tion CHRONIQUES DU FUTUR; au Milleur SF ou qu'elles soient—offrait des activ- Article Elisabeth Vonarburg, pour sa ites variees: expositions d'art, de maquet­ serie ECRIRE DE LA FICTION, en parution tes, programme de films et de video, panels, actuellement dans SOLARIS, et au Meilleur et autres rejouissances diverses. C’est Illustrateur, Jacques Lamontagne. On au niveau des panels que la convention de peut en conclure que la SF (et le fantas­ cette annee brille par son serieux: ils tique) se portent fort bien au Quebec, reunissaient en ettet des noms aussi con- comme le confirme la naissance prochaine nus que ceux de Darko Suvin et Pierre d'une nouvelle collection consacree a la Sormany pour le panel sur"La Science et SF aux editions VLB la Fiction", et ceux de Andre Belleau, On devrait voir se confirmer cette vit- Andre Carpentier et Thomas Pavel pour celui alite de la SF quebecoise lors de le pro­ sur "Quel Fantastique Aujourd’hui?" (Une chaine convention, qui aura lieu de nou­ des originalites des conventions quebecoises veau a Chicoutimi en 1982, jumelee avec consiste en effet a porter autant sur la le Troisieme Congres International Franc­ SF que sur le fantastique— qu' il ne faut ophone, sous le nom de Boreal Et Compagnie. pas comfondre avec la "fantasy": il s’agit (On pourra trouver prochainement des in­ plutot de ce qui est chez les anglo-saxons formations sur cet evenement dans NCF.) "horror and supernatural", avec toutes ses Notes: SOLARIS, 565 rue Provence, Long- variantes.) D'autres debats tres inter- gueuil, Quebec J4H 3R3 essants ent ete egalement suivis avec IMAGINE, 403 ouest Bd. St Joseph, Mont­ passion par une assistance houleuse:"SF real, Quebec H2V 2P3 et Litterature Experimentale et La SF POUR TA BEELE GUEULE D'AHURI a momentane- Quebecoise Face aux Annees 80". Un ment cess£ de paraitre, mais de­ atelier-panel de plus de deux heures sur vrait reprendre bientot sa publication; la bande dessinee a coroble les amateurs l'adresse actuelle des responsables n'est d'arts graphiques, et un concours de pas disponible... novelles-sur-place a permis aux amateurs CHRONIQUES DU FUTUR: trois titres parus, d'ecrire des texts (les gagnants seront trois recueils de nouvelles: publies par les revues ) C'est une femme -L’Oeil de la nuit (The Eye Of Night) par qui a gagne cette annee (Francine Pelletier) Elisabeth Vonarburg exaequo avec le gagnant de 1'annee prece- -La machine a exploere la fiction (The dente (pierre Revellin). Je le signale Fiction Machine) par J.P. April parce que les femmes au Quebec comme ail- -Legendes de Virnie (Tales of Virnia) par leurs, sont tres rares dans las SF, et Rene Beaulieu que celle-ci avait participe aux. Ateliers S'adresser a: Editions du Preambule, 169 d’ecriture organises depuis trois ans dans rue Labonte, Longueuil, Quebec J4H 2P6 la mouvance de la revue SOLARIS. Ont egalement eu lieu plusieurs lance- Pour des retrospectives de la SF et du ments de livres et de revues: la troisieme Fantastique au Quebec, voir les revues titre de la premiere collection specialises SOLARIS et IMAGINE; voir egalement dans en SF au Quebec (CHRONIQUES DU FUTUR), un SCIENCE FICTION STUDIES #21, Vol.7, Juil- recueil de nouvelles de Rene Beaulieu, let 1980, "SF In Quebec: A Survey" par LEGENDES DE VIRNIE, le premier roman fan­ Elisabeth Vonarburg et Norbert Spehner. tastique de Michel Belil, GREENWICH, aux (-- Elisabeth Vonarburg) SAME AS IT EVER WAS

CANADIAN FAN HISTORY BY TARAL

Normally a columnists begins by insult- phone with John Millard and P. Howard his editor. He makes out how the editor Lyons, veterans of the 40s. Back at the begged and pleaded for the merest morsel typer I saw that my manuscript had only of the writer’s immortal words. But in reached 1957, and it was already 6 pages fact it was the other way around (as it long. At a conservative estimate, the probably is in most cases). I begged remainder would be 3 times as long if I Robert Runte for this column. I mean, kept the scale of detail the same. I if Robert is going to arrogate to himself fooled myself page by page into thinking the honour of reviving the original Can I could hold myself to that length, but Fan, he might pull it off. He might also 7 or 8 more pages crept by, checking my fall fait on his face, but if New Can Fan source material for almost every para­ succeeds, I want to be on the bandwagon, graph, and I'd brought the history up reaping some of the egoboo Robert has until only 1975, and only for Toronto at sown. that. I broke off and started again with But when I sat down to write a first Vancouver fandom in 1968, which I knew installment, the unexpected happened. For too little about. Out came another couple a long time I have dropped hints that I of feet of fanzines to read. More days would write a history of Canadian fandom. went by. Finally, with 18 pages of man­ Whenever asked when I would begin this uscript completed and still only up to tour de force, I would dote on the diffi­ 1975, it became obvious that even a culties of such a history. There were brief history of Canadian fandom was a literally yards-deep piles of fanzines major project, and not one suitable for that I had to read first, and many more an installment of a regular column. Be­ feet of zines that I had no copies of. I sides which, I was already past my dead­ would not be able to begin the necessary line. reading until I had compiled a biblio­ The result is that if you want any sort graphy. And that project was held up of complete history, you will have to wait. until I had catalogued my collection. Once The manuscript as it stands is half done that was done, the rest would follow. How and won't be abandoned. But it will pro­ far had I catalogued the collection? To bably appear in a Canadian fanthology "H"—as far as Harry Warner's Horizons later this year, along with illustrative to be precise. I see, and how long had reprints of art and fan writing from the that taken? About a year.... In other original Can Fan, A Bas, Hongue, Energumen, words, I was procastinating. Simulacrum, and other native specimens of It seemed only logical, though, to begin the past. The details of Canfanthology a column about Canadian fan history with haven't been worked out, but as there's a sketchy overview. After an introduction no egoboo in keeping secrets, you can bet I would sum up the last 40 odd years in a you'll hear about it when they have. In few pages, and then close off with prom­ the meantime, I have a first installment ises for future installments. I have of a column to write. rarely so miscalculated in ten years of *Ahem* fanac. Back in the good old days of fannish Only a half page into the history and I legend, when the aforesaid legends were realized that I didn't know what I was 14 and 15 and making names for themselves talking about. I dragged out the Can Fans acting their ages, Canadian fan history and began a jag of reading that lasted began in Aurora Ontario. There were two days, then I was back to the typer. A sporadic outbursts of fanac in Vancouver few pages more went by without trouble and before that, but nothing that established _hen I noticed more gaps in my understand­ a continuous tradition. In Aurora, how­ ing. I spent a couple of evenings on the ever, a small number of proto-fans dis­ (10) (11) covered each other in the guise of stu­ was immediately destroyed by the shocked dents of St. Andrews College for Boys. possesor. Luckily enough remained to Fred Hurter Jr. and Joe "Beak" Taylor piece together the facts. were the most important members of this Collectors are often not very nice peo­ nascent group, especially as they found­ ple. They fight, they haggle ver prices, ed Censored and Eight-Ball. Fred took and they jealously regard every book and Censored with him to Montreal upon grad­ magazine as "theirs" and every sale to a uation, and Beak took Eight-Ball to To­ competitor as a theft from their collec­ ronto. As it happened, Beak was first tion. Sometimes they go further extremes. to hit upon the idea of renaming his One old coot here resorts to a petty zine "Canadian Fandom", thus ensuring a strategy to price his books at conventions. monument to his imperishable memory. Fred, He offers the book for sale at every disappointed by this coup, publihsed only dealer's table, driving up the price as one issue of his zine from Montreal, then high as the dealer will go, then walks gave up to the inevitableness of history away.... Another gentleman is reputed to and wrote for Can Fan in future. give false information to researchers if The establishment of Canadian Fandom in he doesn’t like their looks. Some collect­ Toronto in 1943 was literally true, as ors who deal on the side hold out on trades Toronto dominated its history well into and sales until the desparate buyer agrees the 70s. In 1943 this was an easy feat, to include some valuable item in his col­ as there was no Canadian fandom found out­ lection as part of the price. This is side the boundaries of Muddy York, except impossible without the necessary privy in the person of Les Croutch, who lived information, of course, so they habitually in Perry Sound and visited Toronto as spy on one another, and just as habitually often as humanly possible. But Toronto let no one know the slightest thing about wasn’t really a fandom as we’d think of their own collections. They sometimes it today. When Beak arrived, he made steal from one another too. A friend of friends with a few people, including Al mine was caught up in such a caper, as Betts (an artist), and John Mason. The the inadvertant recipient of the goods. three of them would often get together, I could also mention a well known unemploy­ especially when Croutch was in town, but ed editor, and a Worldcon Chair as known it was said once in Can Fan's pages that thieves. (The latter also tried to sue never had more than six Toronto fans as­ his victim for copyright infringement.) sembled in one place. Nevertheless, there Failing all else, they destroy each other's were many fans known to Beak who he saw collections if they can. Films once infrequently or never met at all. Most available to Toronto cons are now with­ subscribed to Can Fan, or wrote letters. held after a series of raids resulted in The names of these people are found on a confiscations. The thanks go to one mean list of Canadian fans in Can Fan #7— all old bastard who tipped off the police to of about 25 long. Some of them, however, increase the rarity and value of his own never seem to have appeared in print out­ films. So much do they love the dreams side of this list. They are totally ob­ of their youth that many will extirpate scure. And yet they occasionally ring a every copy but their own in possessive bell in someone's memory, in another con­ madness. text. A more sinister one. There is a substratem to fandom that is rarely noted, and is largely unknown to fans with more sociable dispositions. There are the collectors who scrooge away their dusty tomes and disintigrating mag­ azines in dark cells of the home and soul. Theirs is a formless fraternity with a vague history. The historian can see hints of them in the early Can Fans as the orig­ inal fandom in Toronto, but virtually nothing of their story was preserved in print until a windfall in the form of the personal papers of original Derelict Bill Grant fell into modern hands. Most of it (12) Already anal-retentive about the whole came equally for both commodities, and thing, such excesses only encourage these are remembered as a pretty odd bunch by balding, dewlaped adolescents to be still one old fan. Correspondence unfortunately more upitight and more fiercely secretive now destroyed touched on an SSM apa called about their vice. Not only fearing their The Thing. At least one mailing is rum­ passion as a flaw in outward respectibil- oured to have been cut out in the shape ity, they must fear kindred souls as well. of a penis. I have seen what I take to And young upstarts who were soiling dia­ be a veiled reference to The Thing in pers when they were buying Astounding mint print in one fanzine of the time. off the newsstand? They put hate for each Grant passed on little enough informa­ other aside at the mere thought of such tion about the seamier side of Toronto johnny-come-latelies vying with them for fandom, but the inclination to kinkyness books. In such atmospheres are twisted emerged by itself in the Derelicts a few souls nurtured who take one step more years later. Boyd Raeburn, Ron Kidder, toward the perverse. Or many steps. and Gerald Stewart were a later genera­ Bill Grant himself was known by the tion of fans than Grant, and after a other Derelicts as a "leg man". He sav­ minor rift styled themselves apart from oured feminine appendages almost as much the others as the Derelict Insurgents. as he was excited by bridges, keeping They were the leather jacket boys, enthus­ plenty of photos of each. Legs and bridges iasts of that racey black music whose very appear frequently in the hundreds of feet name was slang for sex, smokers of funny of film Grant shot at early 50s cons. He cigarettes they got from jazz musicians, saw the humour of it, and made fun of his and one was homosexual. Not that that well known proclivities in a pan of a meant anything, to be sure, and the rest bare leg that ended at the rolled up of it stopped at sports cars and saxophones. trouser of none other than Bob Tucker. But the leather jackets strike a familiar (He was about as kinky as the Old Dere­ note that isn't on a blue's scale. licts got, too.) Consequently he was The Derelict Insurgents were only an approached one day by some creature of interlude though. The real thing emerged darkness about taking himself more seri­ again nearly 20 years later. George Hen­ ously. He recoiled, quite properly, and derson is little known in SF fandom, the creature of darkness skulked back but left his imprint on Toronto fandom by into the shadows. (By day he was no doubt helping to found the Ontario Science Fic­ a respected banker or educator.) It was tion Club, his help on FanFair I, and too late though. An outsider had been numerous acts of benevolence. Capt’n appraised of the intimate details of the George ran a junky place selling comics, group’s activities. The collectors went pulps, and movie memoribilia, called immediately underground. Grant knew ex­ Memory Lane. It was headquarters of actly which rock to look under for them, George’s Vast Whizzbang Organization, however, and it became generally known editorial offices of The Penny Dreadful that there were collectors in Toronto who and The Yellow Journal, and site of many went for whips and chains, leather, fetish­ OSFiC meetings in early days. Before ism, edged instruments, and other unnat­ opening Memory Lane, however, he had ural apetites as a direct outgrowth of another store, Viking Books, probably not their interest in fantasy and weird fic­ too far from the present day Bakka. Like tion. The cadaver was out of the grave, Rendezvous Books, Viking sold pornography nor could it be completely re-buried. too. George was even a pioneer in pub­ The account has become inexcusably pur­ lishing smut at a time when the city ple, but it’s terrific fun to write like fathers frowned much more sternly on moral that, and it is largely true. I can be decay than they do in these enlightened substantiated to some extent. The focal times. But unlike Hansberger, he was not point of these people seemed to be a store the centre of a degenerate cult. Not run by a man named Hansberger. Rendezvous until one fine day when Henderson nego­ Bookstore went in for pornography in a big tiated with the head branch of the Count way, and sold under-the-counter items in Dracula Society to set up a Canadian brown paper bags. At the back, though, chapter. Weird people began turning up... were a few shelves of Arkham House editions Very weird people, in fact. His doubts of Locecraft, Blackwood, Bierce, Smith, and matured during a television interview the other writers of the macabre. Customers with a hostile host. The host attacked (18) -Their Arkham House collection? they're The Space-Out Library. Contact David Ayl­ only missing two volumes. The librarian ward at the SOL or Anne Sherlock, 1600 A confided sadly that they-.were having Bloor St West, Toronto M6P 1A7. ’ ■ - - trouble getting the Toronto Public library The Spaced-Out Library is the largest to cough up the $1,000 it would take to public collection of SF in the world. buy them. But there was hope; they'd just bought a third missing volume for $600+. WARD CHIPM LIBRARY -Their Jules Verne collection: comic books, buttons, hardcovers,Apaperbacks, UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK originals, and not-so-originals— in French and English. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection -Their foreign language library: Russian, of the Ward Chipman Library of the Univers­ Danish, German, Chinese (at least they ity of New Brunswick, Saint John campus, is think the Chinese books are SF—they're Canada's other major SF library. The col­ guessing from the covers), Italian, and lection was founded in 1966 by five hundred anything else they can get their hands on. volumes donated by Prof. John Grube. In World travellers please note: They take 1971 the library was designated the Canad­ donations gladly. With delight, even. ian depository for the Science Fiction -Their SF stamp collection: small, but writers of America (SFWA). This means that sincere. I've never seen so many beauti­ copies of many books published by members ful stamps. A whole series dedicated to of the SFWA. are deposited in the Ward Chip­ Jules Verne, and another from Grenada (?) man library as a permanent separate collec­ featuring different scenes of the Enter­ tion, now with nearly 400 volumes. The SF/F Collection has approximately prise in action. (No, the real one.) 10,000 books, 6,800 magazines, 23 recordsB -Their short story index: every short 20 cassettes, 55 reels of microfilm, 320 story is indexed by author; an invaluable slides, 5 manuscripts, plus miscellaneous reference tool for researchers or stub­ calendars, posters, etc. Included under born readers. 'periodicals' are nearly 12 hundred fanzines. -Everything else: a small but well Unlike the Spaced-Out Library, much of chosen art collection, including many the material in this collection is avail­ pieces of original pulp covers; a file of able on loan. With the exception of rare miscellaneous newspaper clippings about and fragile items, the SFWA collection authors, conventions, book reviews; the (which is restricted by agreement with the bulletin board featuring articles on SFWA), and the periodicals, the collection pollution, nuclear power, the population is on 'open shelves' and is circulated ,on explosion, etc.; the fanzine collection, two week loan ho students, at the UNB. This including complete sets of ENERGUMEN, means it is also available on interlibrary LOCUS, and THE TOLKIEN JOURNAL; microfiche loan, so if you are a un.iyersity/college of WWII pulps; the rather impressive student (or have .a friend who is) you can guestbook, signed by researchers from all borrow the material through your local over the world; and last, but not least, campus library. The rest of the collection the exceedingly friendly and helpful may be viewed on the premises, or you can staff: Doris Mehegan (Head), David Aylward request photocopies at lOC/page (minimum (ass't), and John Dunham (dedicated part- charge =$2). timer) . The collection Curator is Dennis Abblitt, Hours are 10:00am to 6:00pm, M,Tu,Th,& and the address is: SF/F Collection, Ward F; 9:00am-5:00pm Sat; closed Wed.S Sun. Chipman Library, University of New Bruns­ The Spaced-Out Library, 40 St. George wick, P.O.Box 5050, Saint John, New Bruns­ Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2E4 wick, Canada E2L 4L5. Phone (416)-484-8015. (This is upstairs Included with this issue of NEW CANADIAN from the world-reknowned Osborne Collec­ FANDOM is a flyer on the collection which tion of Children's books—a fact note­ will give you more detailed information. worthy in itself.) —— Marrianne Nielsen LIBRARIES AND FANZINES The SOL also has its own 'lobby' group One of the frustrations experience by to raise additional funds and to keep the fan historians is the lack of primary Spaced-Out Library in the public eye and source material. Because fanzines are more fully utilized, called the Friends of produced and distributed on such a small PRESERVING THE FUTURE

Canadian SF Libraries

This article has two functions: First, collection of 5,000 volumes to the Toronto to acquaint the general reader with the Public Library in 1970 and the collection two specialized science fiction libraries has been expanding ever since. It now holds in Canada, and second, to tell faneditors over 20,000 items: hardcovers, paperbacks, where to send their zines to preserve them pulps, tapes, albums, paintings, postage for future generations. More of that in a stamps, fanzines, magazines, and memorobilia. moment, but first this report from Marianne Unfortunately, this is all reference mat­ Nielsen. erial. They will not allow you to take it home to Great Aunt Tildy who cut her teeth THE SPACED-OUT LIBRARY, TORONTO on WEIRD TALES. (Bring her down to SOL instead— she'11 love it!) BY MARRIANNE NIELSEN A little detail on some of the library’s more comprehensive features: If you were in Toronto on a sunny summer -The books (of course): an incredibly day, where would you head? Yorkville? complete collection, especially of anthol­ Young Street? The nearest green space ogies. I found two John Hershey SF books visible in the smog? Nope! Not if you’re I’d never heard of. And some of Tannith an SF fan (and I am). You’d pussyfoot Lee’s children's books. And these English your little feet as fast as you could to the Spaced-Out Library. (Catchy name, editions of Fritz Leiber's stuff I'd never yes?) seen, and a collection of Theodore's Stur­ geon's anthologies I've only dreamt about, The Spaced-Out Library (or the SOL) is what Judy Merrill's SF collection has and, etc., etc., etc.... All in mint con­ grown to in ten years. Judy donated her dition. I scribbled "I want...” notes to myself for an hour and a half. (17) (16) since C. P. Snow's THE NEW MEN, many years fully dead, yet true death is a necessary ago, have we been treated to such a truth­ aspect of the changing universe. The ful account of scientists at work.," but "God" is only half-alive, and to stay that Benford writes with more grace and emotion­ way it requires more and more half-dead al insight than did Snow and, with his own souls. Can the humans learn enough to background in physics, he sets up a problem battle the false entity before it swallows with sub-atomic particles that is specula­ them too? Well, at the end, Watson goes tive in the best sense. beyond even A. E. Van Vogt's transcendent TIMESCAPE presents two groups of research­ transformations to forge a new super-entity, ers, one in Cambridge in 1998, in a world but he makes it work. Food for thought of ecological disaster, and one in the aplenty in the speculations on the nature University of California in the halcyon of reality plus lots of narrative suspense days of the early 60s. The first group make GOD'S WORLD exciting reading. discovers a possible way, using tachyons (particles which move faster than light) CLASSICS to communicate with the past and try to warn people back there of what went wrong. Since we're talking about fully developed Benford's interest is not simply the warn­ worlds, it's with great pleasure I can tell ing but rather the way these scientists you of the new hardcover edition of Ursula work and live. He takes us into their K. Le Guin's great novel of the world lives, rendering their behaviour in the Winter/Gethen, THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS labs and at home with great specificity. (Beaverbooks, 213pp, $15.75). This immense­ These people are worth caring about, as is ly rich and deeply felt fiction is one of the classics of modern science fiction, a the way they think-- about their projects deeply moral, philosophical and humane and about their lives. exploration of a world in which everyone TIMESCAPE is full of fascinating specu­ can at different times be of both sexes. lation about the physics of time, but more But for all its thought-fuldisquisitions, important, it's a powerfully realistic all its scientific speculations, it is glimpse of scientist’s lives. first and foremost a powerful love story Ian Watson always takes on big philoso­ of the coming together of two solitudes, phical /scientific questions in his work, the Envoy, Genly Ai of Earth, and the and GOD’S WORLD (Clarke, Irwin & Co, 254pp Exile, in his own country, Therem Harth $20.95), "his first novel of outer space," rem ir Estraven. As these two slowly is no exception. It explores the problem journey toward understanding and communi­ of God's possible Being in the material cation with each other, we are taken into cosmos, and ways in which intelligent this other world and learn to love it too. species might encounter it. THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS is full of high GOD'S WORLD begins with "angel" mani­ adventure, political intrigue, social com­ festations all over Earth, calling humanity plexity and spiritual exploration, and to a world where a "God" provides immediate always that love story, a story of immense access to a life after death. The story power. This is a book to treasure. is complex, but the humans who make the [Portions of these reviews were previ­ journey to God's World find they're receiv­ ously published in the TORONTO STAR. ing conflicting messages, from both the doug harbour is a professor of English world itself and their dreams. It seems at the University of Alberta, a major people can live simultaneously on earth critic in both SF and Canadian literature, and in"heaven" (if one of a pair "dies"), and a prominent Canadian poet. He is also yet this world has lost its technology and well known in fan circles, contributing to its history. If there’s no past, there's various fanzines for many years. He was also no future. Civilization is in stasis, Toastmaster at the first three NonCons incapable of change and slowly dying out (Edmonton) and is currently a member of (which is why "God" needs new "worshippers" C/RAPA. This is the eleventh install­ from other planets). ment of his OFF THE SHELF column, the GOD'S WORLD is an intellectual adventure first ten having appeared in THE story. Shamanism and atomic physics, sex­ MONTHLY MONTHLY/THE BIMONTHLY MONTHLY. He uality and spirituality, rational argument will henceforth be NEW CANADIAN FANDOM's and paradoxical revelation continually inter­ regular book reviewer.] act. The dead who live in heaven are not (15) ture tales. GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE is not so much an Eileen Kernaghan's JOURNEY TO APRILIOTH adventure tale as a series of discussions (Ace Books, 439pp, $2.50), on the other and encounters which are political in the hand, is a pretty fair example of a well broadest philosophical sense. Lessons wrought sword (or in this case, axe)-and- are drawn; individual awareness is increase; sorcery tale set in the ancient past in revelations abound. Although the action what is recognizably Europe and the Middle is mostly intellectual, it sweeps you East. Young Nhiall, a novice priest in along. Leto sees (in his memories of the old Britain, is given a jewel carved in human past) how the continuing cycle of runes he can’t read and asked to deliver tyrannies works: it is "built into long it to the priests at Aprilioth. It's a forgotten survival patterns which the spe­ very long journey, with many detours. cies has outgrown, but never lost." This Nhiall is enslaved, trained as a horse­ striking novel proposes that someone of master, falls in love many times, trains his power could over the centuries create a prince and saves his life, fights in new survival patterns. As we watch its some great battles, and learns some spirit­ various, well-drawn characters encounter ual mysteries before he fi ally reaches his this primary lesson and either learn or goal. fail to understand it, we are drawn into Kernaghan handles Nhiall's physical a speculative narrative of marvelous power. travels and maturing with verve and a good Of course, there's much more to GOD feel for the conventions of the genre. EMPEROR OF DUNE than just the working out When she tries to suggest Nhiall's spirit­ of its major philosophical theme. Through­ ual growth, however, she stumbles somewhat, out his long life Leto has kept himself and so the ending lacks the power and sense provided with ghola Duncan Idahos, so we of finality she seeks. Still, the trip is have Duncan stillaround, with his memories an entertaining one, an enjoyable escape too. Leto has been breeding for the new for a few hours. humanity all this time, using the Atriedes line as the core. His major-domo and his CURRENT SF daughter, both Atriedes, are central characters, as is an Ix-designed human Simply because it's the fourth book in being who wins Leto’s heart through the the hugely successful Dune series, Frank absolute honesiyof her character. Leto Herbert’s GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE (Academic Press Canada, 411pp, $16.95) will be a best­ has created the Fish Speakers, a female armed service. The Bene Gesserit are seller. The good news is it deserves to be, still around, and all the other groups for it’s probably the best book since the who fought against the Atriedes in the original and is crammed with thoughtful past. Herbert is better at characteriza­ insights concerning the nature of humanity tion than he used to be; these are inter­ as a socio-political gestalt. esting, complex human beings. The ex­ At the end of CHILDREN OF DUNE, young Leto chose a form of near-immortality by tracts from various notebooks, journals, etc., he continues to use with great entering symbiosis with a sandworm because he foresaw the end of humanity if he didn’t subtlety. The whole performance is well done, and the book is one which you will become its guide. The new novel takes not want to put down. Yet, it is not place some 3,500 years later, in a massive simply the usual SF wish-fulfillment dream stellar empire which is nevertheless past­ of super power-- Herbert is using that oral. "A population which walks is easier to control," and the god emperor definitely particular genre paradigm to explore a controls humanity through the long centur­ number of important ideas concerning the nature of humanity and the possibilities ies of "Leto’s Peace." But this "peace" is designed for only one purpose: to bore for its future. It's because it makes humanity so thoroughly it will never seek you think even as it catches you up in its many intrigues that GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE the mediocre security of stasis again, but is such a fine book. will scatter outward forever in search of process and change. The novel concentrates Unlike much that is called science fic­ on the moment when certain individuals tion, Gergory Benford's TIMESCAPE (Musson finally begin to inaugurate the necessary Book Co, 412pp, $16.95) is truly a fiction changes by rebelling against the god who about the life of science as it is lived has long awaited them. by scientists. As Brian Aldiss says, "Not ______doug barbour

CANADIAN SF AND FANTASY IN PAPERBACK Canada hasn't produced that many popular times powerfully moving. science fiction and fantasy writers over Edward Llewellyn is the pseudonym of a the years but things are looking up. Four Toronto physician who has conceived a recent books, all from major U.S. paper­ fascinating future his ory in which to back publishers, are sufficiently entertain­ set his tales of adventure. After a cata­ ing to guarantee those necessary airport clysmic sterility reduces the world's and bus depot sales such publishers seek. population by nine-tenths in the early Since Canada needs popular writers as well 21st century (a contraceptive drug turns as serious literary types, I'm glad to see out to render female children born of some of our folk making it in this growing mothers who used it sterile for their genre. whole lives), the Age of Affluence dies, Phyllis Gotlieb has been publishing high­ Chaos follows, and then civilization slow­ ly polished SF for close to twenty years ly rebuilds using the technology left over now, along with her fine poetry. A JUDGE­ from the Age of Affluence. MENT OF DRAGONS (Berkley Books, 263pp,$1.95) Llewellyn's first novel, THE DOUGLAS is a delightful addition to her two novels, CONVOLUTION (DAW Books, 190pp, $1.75) is a collection of four novellas about Khreng set in 2070, about one hundred years and Prandra, two highly intelligent cats after the remnants of civilization had from a far planet who find themselves learn­ ing the oddest things as they carry out reorganized themselves. THE BRIGHT COMPANION (DAW Books, 176pp, $1.95) is assignments for GalFed, the Galactic Feder­ set in 2061, during the beginning of the ation government. Khreng is a good hunter reconstruction. In each book a strong man and a born diplomat; his mate Prandru is, and equally tough woman follow a kind of like most females on Ungruwarkh, powerfully endowed with ESP. Together they are a form­ quest towards both self-discovery and fuller awareness of just what their worlds idable team, always seeking peaceful solu­ are like. There are many intriguing twists tions to the problems they’re given to solve, whether they are fighting 'demons' of plot in both books (including time in nineteenth century Poland, solving a travel of a sort in the first). But what's mystery at GalFed headquarters, helping best about them is better than average capture a drug ring which is damaging the characterization and richly inhabited, ecology of another planet, or helping to widely varied social contexts. Llewellyn organizetheir society back home. makes his characters, and us, really under­ As is so often the case in Gotlieb's fic­ stand how society would have fragmented tion, they learn a great deal and mature as into so many different groupings. He also moral beings in the process. Needless to does a fairly creditable job of providing say, they are charming characters and their non-sexist heroines. All in all, these stories are fast, often funny, and some­ are very good eamples of futuristic adven- (14) (13) the Society relentlessly, attacked the their interests have never actually literature, and attacked the people who varied. The gaming and medievalism and read it. The people who read it mean­ SF is a thin tissue overlaying a consis­ while began to make animal noises from tent fascination with role-playing and the audience. Looking down on the leather costuming. During their earliest incar­ clad fetishists, the studded belt-buckles nation as comics fans, the boots and glassy eyes, rude slogans on carboard, tights seemed only natural to fans dress­ and obscene gestures, he suspected the ed up as barbarian swordsmen and harem truth about what he had started....or slaves, the jock straps and knives also merely gotten into? The Canadian Count seemed normal. But when they eventually Dracula Society ceased to have any real became SF fans, these things began to existence from that day on. seem out of place, especially as their With the disappearance of that likely models were Han Solo and Starbuck. No­ focal point, the weirdos went under­ body wanted to be Speaker-To-Animals, ground again, where presumably they Master Sean, or even C3PO. Why? Because remain, Rumour had it that many of those it isn’t the stfnal or fantastic that who turned out for the Dracula Society interests them primarily. It is more were the same ones who approached Grant likely the perversity of boots and lea­ in the 40s. Like they were truly the ther, and knives and guns, for their own undead. This is a charming conceit that sake, that appeals to most of them. The nevertheless cannot be dismissed easily. common element between these people is Whether or not the one group of zealots a middle class career or career ambitions is the same as the other, neither hide from which fandom is a secret escape nor hair of them has been seen since. that isn’t allowed to touch their mundane Like the Derelict Insurgents, the lives. They are inherantly conservative kinky tendancy of Toronto fandom has and often have military backgrounds. shown itself once again. This fresh They are usually reserved and suspicious contagion takes the form of a number of of strangers. One collects guns. An­ people who have variously styled them­ other shoots animals for sport. Others selves comics fandom, an SCA group, gamers, carry knives openly. Prominent belt and recently, science fiction fans. The buckles, ornamental whips on walls, and evolution is a specious one, though, and other signs that are all too familiar add up to complete the picture of fet­ ishism, machismo, and sublimated vio­ lence present in the current Toronto fandom. Commenting on the local scene, other Come, No*, Fensha^-- SMOFs agree with me that while there You’re not telling me are parallels between the obsessive be­ haviour of present-day Toronto fandom You’Re $taRtiN& To and the past, the differences are almost BELIEVE All this damn equally striking. The current genera­ RUBBISH A£>oot A tion is not into aberrant sexual acts SECRET RACE of to general knowledge. The whips probably MYSTE^fOUS stay on the walls, and the leather thongs Su^ER FEN. tie nothing but leather vests together. Nor do the modern fans have a taste for weird fiction and supernatural tales. This may explain, in fact, the less overt WELL....THE>?E sexuality in the group's hangups, just as pistols are less overtly sexual than WAS th fit funny g>U^INE$> vampires. (One is a mere phallic symbol, WITH THE and the other a parody of the sex act Cui^olec itself.) In spite of the differences, COAFLU”” the relation between the present case and its historical antecedents is obvious. Its meaning is less so, but I suppose that the consistent quirkyness (and querulousness too)are due more to the (concluded on page 30...) (19) scale? it is often difficult to locate a lous for such public exposure. (2)Others complete set of a particular zine years may be of too low quality (either in terms later when the editor and most of those of content or printing) to be worth pre­ on his subscription list have long since serving. Ask the library if it is inter­ left fandom. And since fanzines are gen­ ested in getting and preserving your zine erally produced irregularly, it is not before you put them on the mailing list. always possible to tell how many issues (3)Not all libraries are interested in SF there were to the complete set or how or comic fan publishing so ask first, and/­ many you're missing. or see the list below. (4)It costs lib­ I know? for example, that there were raries a fair bit to catalog and keep track at least two, and possibly three, organ­ of your zine, so they hate to set it up ized fan groups in Edmonton before the only to have you fold on your second issue. founding of ESFCAS (the current group), If you're new at fan publishing, save up but these have vanished without a trace. a couple of issues before you approach a I know they existed because one group library about taking your zine. It also tried to recruit my brother in the late helps them if you don't switch titles every 50s, and I have seen references to Edmon­ issue, and it's easier to bind if you keep ton zines in other (American) zines of to one paper size/format. the 60s, but I have never been able to Having said all that, which libraries actually get hold of any of their publi­ want your zine? cations. Thus, when I started fan publishing five THE NATIONAL LIBRARY years ago, I determined to leave some trace of my passing (even if I felt the Legally, every publication in Canada must send two copies to the National Lib­ quality of some of my zines didn't truly rary, just as American publications go to merit it) and to ensure that complete runs the Library of Congress, and British pub­ of the club newsletter, etc., could be lications go to the British Museum. In found by the next generation of fans when practice, however, you don't have to send I and my fellows move on. (Don't worry, that won't be for a while yet.) I would them your zine if you have a small print run as you can claim it's "personal cor­ like to urge other fan edi+-_rs to do like­ respondence"; not to mention that it is wise, not only to assist future fan his­ very unlikely they could catch you in the torians, but to effectively increase your first place. Most church and club news­ circulation as well. The potential read­ letters, and often even more official ership of most zines is very limited, publications, never get sent to them, and both by the small printrun and the esoteric nature of the topics discussed, but if they don't worry about it much. If you yoii can reach across time and make the are attempting to sell your zine? on the other hand, you can get a $50 fine for zine available to future generations of faijs (a fan generation being about two failing to send the National Library the required two copies. years) you can reach many more potentially If you do decide to send them your zine, interested readers. I happen to think you may rest assured that it will be cat­ that the whole point of fan publishing is aloged and lovingly preserved, no matter "communication", and if I can communicate how crumby it is. Eventually, the cata­ with the future, well, so much the better. log entry for your zine will be entered What this all comes down to, of course, into a computer and through exchanges with is donating copies of your zine to a the Library of Congress be available to library. Libraries will collect and pre­ all the public libraries in North America, serve your zines for you, binding complete set^s and/or microfilming them. Years which makes it easier for other libraries afijer you've gafiated or passed on, your to accept and catalog your zine. At the same time, the National Library immortal words will be entertaining new will assign you an ISSN, or International readers and/or helping fan historians Standard Serial Number, which you will fill in a few blanks. have to print in each issue, either on the Before you get too carried away with cover, backcover, or in the colophon. Again, this, however, a few cautions: (l)Not all zines are suitable for library use. the ISSN makes it easier to catalog and Apazines, personal zines, and letter sub­ keep track of your zine, but it also impres­ stitutes may be too personal and/or libel- ses the neighbours and relatives, and (20) comes in handy whenever you want something we do not know what we are looking for official sounding to put on job resumes, or where to look. We would like to post office box applicationsf or grant build a complete collection of all SF from the local cultural office. and fantasy novels and proxines, a If you change the title of your zine, large collection of fanzines, and a you are assigned a new ISSN. complete collection of Canadian fan­ One drawback to sending your zine to the zines. As for our assurance that the National Library is that they tend to take fanzines would be kept, you most cer­ you at your word; if you say your zine is tainly have it." monthly, they will actually believe this So by all means send him your zine, or even absurd claim, and start asking you where duplicate copies of other Canadian zines the next issue is only three months after if you have them. (What am I saying? If it's due. This can be embarrassing, and you have old issues of Canadian fanzines frustrates their catalogers, but on the you should send them to me in trade for whole they're more polite about it than NEW CANADIAN FANDOM! Well, the good ones some of the neos on your subscription list, anyway....) so don't worry about it. While the National Library has complete OTHER LIBRARIES sets of everything from THE MONTHLY MONTHLY to BOOWATT WEEKLY, it is not a lending I also send my fanzines to University of library, though researchers can use the Toronto Library where they are housed as materials on the premises I believe. So, part of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. you might want to consider some of the (They heard about THE MONTHLY MONTHLY from following as well. the National Library listing!) Inquiries may be addressed to Miss B. M. Lee, Head SOL AND WARD CHIPMAN of the Serials Dept, UofT Library. An American SF library worth noting is The next obvious choices are of course the Science Fiction Collection of the the Spaced-Out Library and the SF/F Col­ Popular Culture Library of Bowling Green lection of the Ward Chipman Library. The State University. As far as I know, this SOL is a bit pickier about zines than is is the major fanzine collection in the the Ward Chipman and consequently only has States. about a third as many fanzines in its col­ The most established and senior of the lection. The told Marrianne that they fan libraries is the National Amateur Press didn't want a fan editor sending them an Association's library. NAPA is the grand­ issue, missing a couple, and then sending daddy of all apas and now over 100 years another on (presumbably because of cata­ old. While not exclusively SF/fantasy loging problems/costs) and they told me oriented, the NAPA holdings include a lot that they weren't interested in NEOLOGY, of SF zines, and the current curator is though they told Marrianne they were. So Martin Horvat, who is definitely one of all I can suggest is that you send them a "us". sample issue and ask if they're interested. And of course, there is always your own. Dennis Abblitt of the Ward Chipman lib­ local public or campus library. There are rary, on the other hand, was very enthus­ also other libraries with special SF col­ iastic aboud the possibility of getting lections, but you'd go bankrupt supplying Canadian fanzines: them all and the above are more than suf­ "Our collections is sadly lacking in ficient to guarrantee the survival of Canadian fanzines and prozines and your zine for future generations. The yet we would like to make it complete others can pay for subscriptions like in these areas. I have continuous everybody else.... correspondence and contacts "South of the Border" and in the U.K. and yet ADDRESSES cross country, Canada seems to be the most difficult area in which to make NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA, Canadiana contact.... Any assistance that you Acquisitions, Legal Deposit Office, Ottawa may give in building complete collec­ Ontario, K1A ON4 tions of Canadian fanzines would be most welcome. Even titles and sources University of Toronto Library, SERIALS would be helpful. Most of the time, DEPARTMENT, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5 loc made it. Because of the overwhleming The NAPA Library, c/o Martin Horvat, 112 East Burnett St., Stayton, Oregon response to the 1st issue, some Iocs or portions of Iocs are being held over until 97383 USA. next issue. Science Fiction Collection, Popular Culture Library, Bowling Green State John Bell University, Bowling Green OHIO 43403 USA P.O. Box 3174 South Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3H5 The Spaced-Out Library, 40 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E4 As reported in NCF#1, HalCon 4 was held at St. Mary’s University in Halifax from Mr. Dennis Abblitt, Curator, Science March 6-8. Among the luminaries in attend­ Fiction & Fantasy Collection, Weird ance were Gordon R. Dickson (Pro GoH who, Chipman Library, University of New regrettably, was ill for most of the con­ Brunswidk, P.O.Box 5050, Saint John vention) , Galad Elflandsson, Spider and New Brunswick E2L 4L5 Jeanne Robinson, Ben & Barbara Bova, Barry & Jean Longyear, and Roland Puccetti. Membership this year was 525, down from last year, but more than sufficient to meet the con operating expenses of $6279.16. Contraty to the negative impression conveyed by Rick LeBlanc’s one-sided and flippant piece in NCF, HalCon 4 was largely a success. There were, naturally, some problems but most of these were attribut­ able to the fact that this year's con was a transitional one, involving both a move to new facilities and the formation of a new steering committee. I should, however address some of Rick's iniumerable complaints. Firstly, he ob­ jected to the con membership price struc­ ture. HalCon's 3 options may seem anoma­ lous to some fans but they are intended to both give members some choice as to the degree of their involvement in the con and generate sufficient revenue to pay for what is becoming an increasingly expensive gathering. Movies figure prominently simply because all feedback we have sol­ icited indicates that the vast majority of our members are not fans and would much rather watch THEM? than listen to Bova, Robinson, Dickson, and Longyear muse about the future. As a result, our memberships are priced and designed accordingly. Rick also complained about having to pay for a programme book. As he may have noticed, our programmes provide members with a substantial and attractive con souvenir. They were priced at 75C so that we wouldn't be losing any money on LETTERS them. For those who didn't want a book, we provided a free 4page flyer with all Due to the postal strike and the re­ the essential information. sulting overlong period between issues, The con suite that we didn't have was some Iocs have regrettably become too located in the Lord Nelson Hotel and was dated to use. Others are probably still packed with pros, con volunteers, and fans caught in the backlog (or lost forever) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Of so check the WAHF column to see if your course, how would Rick, who it appears (22) was only in attendance Saturday morning this, does not constitute a con suite in and afternoon,, know this without intro­ the accepted manner. If convention funds ducing himself to the con committee? are paying for this party, why isn't it Furthermore, as the sponsors of one of mentioned in the program book where those the country's largest and consistently who are funding it can find out about it? successful conventions, we don't especial­ As for charging 75$ for a programme book, ly need Rick's good wishes. We do regret I can only state that I was shocked. This that he had an unpleasent time at HalCon "substantial and attractive con souvenir" 4 and sincerely hope hell see fit to re­ consists of 4 sheets of double-sided photo­ turn. However, unless he's prepared to copy folded in half to make an lb page relinquish some of his preconceptions and booklet, of which 61 pages are paid adver­ abrasiveness, he'd probably be well ad­ tising. In contrast, at the Seattle con vised to stay home. two weeks later the program book was over A final point: you forge good relations 40 pages (full 81x1 I) on slick 601b paper, between the country's various fan centres with full-colour front and back covers, b&w by constructive dialogue and thoughtful photos of every guest of note s biographies, criticism not tactless, vitriolic attacks excellent artwork throughout (though sexist) on what for more than 40 people is a and it was FREE! I don't know what the labour of love. standards are on the Kastcoast, but if you tried to foist this off on a con anywhere [[To respond to your last point first, else in Canada you would have been lynched. I agree that a positive approach is best I'm sorry, John, but this is the worst pro­ for NCF's purposes, and I try to avoid gram book I have ever seen, and I have fan feuds and the such, but that does not never been to a con where they charged for mean that I am going to censor every sub­ the program book, no matter how elaborate mission of every critical comment. I it was. And if you are trying to tell me don't consider Rick's conreport to have that it cost 75$ to print this booklet been a "vitriolic attack" on HalCon, but (not even counting the revenue from the rather that it raised a number of serious 61 pages of ads) then you are dealing with issues about the manner in which that con the wrong printers. Somebody is getting was run. Nevertheless, I would have liked ripped off somewhere down the line. to have run a more favourable review of And finally, I object strenuously to the HalCon in the same issue next to Rick's, whole philosophy evidenced by HalCon 4. but was unable to find anyone to write it. Your's is the only convention in the world Furthermore, comment on HalCon 4 has that charges members by the film. Is Hal­ been universally critical. Linda Ross- con an SF convention or an Odeon theatre? Mansfield, for example, agreed with Rick's Even that wouldn't have been unacceptable assessment of Halcon: "batting 1000, guys, had fans been allowed to get into the all baaaaad" and went on to say the "Only other con activities without also buying mistake on the reviewer's ((Rick)) part into the movies. To see one panel you had was in identifying Jean Longyear as Barrtfs to pay for 3 movies (whether you went to sister." (Jean is of course Barry’s wife). them or not), 4 panels required you to pay Jan Howard Finder wrote, "I too had heard for 6 movies, and so on. that the chaps in Halifax ran a poor con. You state that "the vast majority of our One suggestion was that they try to attend members are not fans", but if a con isn't another con to see what a real con is like." for fans, why the hell are you and the And so on. In fact the only one who had other 40 ("labour of love") committee mem­ anything nice to say about HalCon 4 was bers killing yourselves to have it? What’s you, and as I believe you were one of the the point of a con if not to listen to the main organizers, you may be a bit preju­ pros? To party? But the con suite is in diced. another facility and not announced to the To take specific points: You say that membership at large. What's the point of there was a con suite, but admit that it holding a 'huge' con if all the fans who was in another hotel, and that the only attend come away disappointed? To make way you could find out about it was by lots of money so you can have an even larger asking the con committee—it's certainly number of nonfans next year? I sincerely not mentioned anywhere in the program believe that you and the other committee book attendees paid 75$ for. While it is members have lost sight of the real purpose not uncommon to have a closed party for "pros, con volunteers, and ((invited))fans", of a con, which is to be a gathering of (23) Stan G. Hyde 2841 West 13th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V6M 2H8 Is Rick LeBlanc putting me on or are MLp... there really cons where they "punch out" HER single panel options? That's really biz­ 1$ terminal... arre. Maybe the Halifax people could charge extra for the movies next year... and then create a toll for the door to the Huckster room. I can see it now... "This year's winners of the 'Merchant Princes of Fandom Award...") Sometimes I worry that we in fandom are going to end up becoming just another group of specialized merchandisers. I suppose the worst example of this is Star Trek fandom. Their idea of a con seemed to be to put William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelly on a platform in the middle of an arena and let hundreds of fans bow down to them. Mind you, it just might work. I was at a premiere showing of the Star Trek cartoon show at TorCon in 73 and as it began the people beside me were whispering subvocally, "Space the final frontier..." as if it were a litany. It's a shame such an effective army of amateur publicists axe not doing something worthwhile like lob­ bying for space or saving whales, instead of propping up the careers of some very light-weight actors. I can't help but feel that the business aspect of fandom runs counter to what is really valuable about fandom, especially when the success of a con is measured by how much money it made... Maybe some day a corporation will buy the fans out and fans, run by fans for fans. You seem to become the Secret Master of Fandom. have reduced HalCon to a purely commercial venture, where if anything, the fans work Anne Sherlock for and subsidize the nonfan movie-goers. 1600 A Bloor St. West What’s the point of it? What do you and Toronto, Ontario M6P 1A7 the other Halifax fans get out of it? I’m afraid I just don’t see it. I like your articles on the con scene. John, I hope you won’t take this as I am not surprised with the mercenary another "vitriolic attack" and write me attitude shown at Halcon as many US cons and/or NCF off. I and other fans are are going Media, Glitz and Profit orient­ deeply concerned over what we perceive as ed. The ordinary con attendee is being a trend in fandom towards more commercial left out as the race for bucks causes and impersonal cons, and we want to enter committees to hunt for special interest into a "constructive dialogue" with those groups who will pay to see their favorite in the "bigger is better" camp to see if stars, be they writers, actors or fan we can come up with a mutually agreeable gurus. Most groupies will pay for their compromise. I see no reason why Halcon fix of close quarter stardom and can be couldn’t benefit from the experience and suckered into paying on an individual advice of other cons/fans to enable it to event basis. In a few years the SF fan arranges things in a manner that would may find himself without a con to attend satisfy both the nonfan movie-goers and as the cons turn into three ring circuses. the ’trufans’.]] I have a quibble an^ that is with the (24) printing of your zine. A zine is only use­ very hurt at my comparison, but couldn’t ful if it can be read, and parts of mv copy give me a reason why. Where is the dis­ were so badly printed that it is very dif­ tinctive Canadiana in Canada, let alone in ficult to understand what is being said. Eandom? [[The printing quality of some copies was The idea of "Canvention" sounds like a below standard because the ink had gone bad good one to me. You might find American and it took me a while to realize what was fans attending as well, interested in and wrong. These sorts of problems will not trying to participate in what goes on reoccur as Michael Hall will be doing all "North of the Border". I see no reason why the printing for NCF from now on.]] Canada shouldn't host a NorthAmericon of their own, either; they're very much a\ Garth Spencer part of the North American continent 1296 Richardson St. I find it hard to understand what is Victoria, B.C. V8V 3E1 meant by "too Canadian—too esoteric".'as a rejection from American fanzines. That The Science Fiction Association of Victor­ is precisely the kind of material I hope ia has about 20 people, maybe 30 if we’re you'll be running through NCF. feeling numerous. Can you name any other groups this size that worked up a con? Jim Allan [[IMF in Winnipeg organized a one day con 29 Faith Ave. with only 6 people. UnCon drew 550 people Downsview, Ontario M3H 1W2 and made a profit of roughly $300.]] I’m mostly against nationalism, which seems to me only provincialism written'<• Krsto A. Mazuranic larger and grosser. Regionalism is fine,., D. Zokalja 1 there's a reason enough for people who 41430 Samobor happen to live close together to try to Yugoslavia organize or interact to common purpose. I wonder if there's anyone among the Can­ And I'm all for opposition to forced at- < adian fen who understands Croatian? Who tempts at a unified culture for all North can read YU text? Might be a good idea to America; and Canadian nationalism, ap \ run a sort of ad through the grapevine. well as various regional and trans-con- ■ Might prove an excellent link between our tinental and international subcultures | two fandoms! keep alternatives open. And as borders ’ To pick a nit: the typing ((on NCF#1)) is and separate governments exist, it is quite inferior. Done in a hurry? often more convenient to work within that same system, and to establish regional [[Typing on stencil—and usually first groups and organizations within political draft at that—makes it very difficult to boundaries, and it may involve certain correct typing errors. I know that NCF is extra difficulties to try to work across something of a rush job sometimes, but the them. But otherwise nationality should choice is between a semi-regular but flawed be one of the last things anyone is con­ zine, and a perfect one which comes out cerned with in an interest not connected once every five years.]] with nationality, and then the interest should be on breaking across national Leslie David barriers if they are an impediment, not P.O.Box 5057 trying to solidify them. Fort Lee, VA 23801, USA [[I see the function of NCF as one of What is the difference between Canadian overcoming the barriers between the iso­ and American fandom? How are they different? lated regional fandoms in Canada, not There seem to be the same fannish traditions one of shuting out the Americans. You and most Canadian fans I know (though I don’t have to be anti-American to be admint I don’t know very many) attend the pro-Canadian, H Would it US conventions. help if I said I was working towards a The first time I visited Toronto I real­ ' trans-provincial' fandom, rather than ized that I saw nothing that looked dis­ a 'national' one?]] tinctly Canadian YWY YYY Instead with its multitude of Loblaws and *Sigh* First sexist fandom with apas 7~lls, it reminded me of a very clean Min­ for women only, now antinationalistic neapolis. Severalcf the Toronto fans were fandom...maybe racist fandom next? Or (25; religious fandoms—Jewish fandom, Roman dom. Simultaneously, I think it would be Catholic fandom-- eventually an attempt wrong to try to find a metaphysical gestalt to organize fandoms and separate conven­ for Canadian fandom as something essential­ tions for Star Trek fans of mixed Chinese ly different in basic ways from United and Empire Loyalist descent of the Mormon States fandom or United Kingdom fandom. religion, under 30 years of age, and who Canada is too big, its fans are too differ­ like cats, and live in Prince Edward Is­ ent in their interests and natures, for land, but weren't born there, and support "Canadian fandom" to be more than a con­ the Progressive Conservative party. venient way of thinking about fans who reside in one particular nation. How many [ [Actually, part of the point of doing Canadians, on the mailing list for this NCF is to keep such various subgroups in first NCF can read SOLARIS, one of the fandom in touch and interacting with each best fanzines published in Canada? How other. Like it or not, fandom has grown many of the Ottawa fan club members would so large that Star Trek fans, and movie feel at home in the Canadian apas which fans and feminist fans, and con fans, and you list this issue? How many Canadian fanzine fans, and fans of mixed Chinese fans would become casualties if they got and Empire Loyalist descent can and do too excited in a debate on the question form their own fandoms. No less than six of whether Leland Sapiro and RIVERSIDE Toronto fans wrote me that the first they QUARTERLY should be considered parts of had heard about the other Toronto fans was Canadian fandom in exile? in my Toronto coverage in NCFftl. I hope to As a parallel, I'm very interested in bring fans together through NCF, not keep the Souther Fandom fanzines in the United them apart. But I can't possibly manage States, but I don't believe for a moment it on the scale of all of fandom or even that there's something superior about just all of North America—thus the limi­ dear old Dixie. Instead, I feel that the tation to Canadian fandom.]] Southern Fandom movement is a convenient way for a lot of formerly obscure or in­ Harry Warner Jr. active fans to grow more active by feel­ 423 Summit Ave. ing themselves part of a separate part Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740 USA of overall fandom, which isn't as bewild- I think the fanzine should meet a real eringly large in numbers and geographical need. But I’m not sure that Canadian fan­ coverage. dom should be thought about as something [[See my comments to Jim Allan above. different and distinctive in any but the I do, however, believe that there are geographic sense. Now that fandom is pre­ differences between Canadian fans and posterously large and divided into so many those elsewhere, but that such differences complicated subfields, there is an urgent are subtle and generally less significant need for fanzines like NCF which can cope than our common ’fannishness', if you with one segment of a fandom which is too will. But I don’t see that suggesting large to be covered by any one publication. a difference or separateness in any way But I think there is the danger inherent in implies a superiority. Americans seem this unavoidable segmenting of fandom: the to fear any assertion of differentness, possibility that the decision to limit sub­ perhaps as a result of their "melting ject matter will evolve into jingoism, the pot" heritage, while Canadians like to intimation that this is the chosen race of retain and even exaggerate such separate fandom. identities as part of our "cultural mosaic" So I like to think of fandom in Canada philosophy. I have argued this point at as something which possesses an impressive length elsewhere, so I won’t belabour it number of very talented fans, a lot of fans again here. with vivid personalities, .he origin of a As for your point that Canadian fandom half-dozen fanzines which reach me regular­ is currently too diverse to. have any ly and which I enjoy, a portion of fandom common identity, I have to admit that which will become more real to me as a there is a lot to what you say, but that’s whole if I can read so many facts about it where NCF comes in. I won't be able to as you've published in your first issue. do very much about English Canadians not A fanzine specializing in Canadian news reading French language SOLARIS,/Ottawa and Canadian material can be an excellent fans will at least be able to hear about rallying point which might induce more apas, and the others will learn about Canadians to become active in fanzine fan- (26) enough about their history to know that viable options for our thinking about the the RIVERSIDE QUARTERLY originated in future. Canada. And so on, but we’ll see how There are also possibilities from our things develop in a couple of years....]] past— the strong strain of co-operative- ism, the idea of group survival rather Michael Vernon MacKay than the individual in our pioneer history COA pending.... (simply because our climate is more severe than in the US), the continual problem of To tell the truth, Robert- I, as a Can­ foreign ownership and comprador leaders adian, find it hard to imagine the exist­ ence of Canadian SF. In my mind, Canadian and so on...all fertile, untapped ground for speculation, but needing the support and SF are a contradiction in terms. When I think of SF, I think of the American network of fen who identify with it, etc. stuff-- the prozines and the paperbacks— With the oft noted links between fandom all coming out of New York, and all still and pros, the nurturance and support as well as critical appraisal that fen give slightly reeking of the ghetto. In Canada, pros, developing a Canadian Fandom as a very little that is professionally publish­ distinct entity seems likely to more-or- ed is labelled “SF'. Therefore, I do not less directly lead to Canadian pros (but think of it as such. For example, I did in ten years, not immediately). not think of Richler's COCKSURE as being The bit in "Skywriting" about the "iso­ SF, even though it did have an SF element. lation and smallness" of Canadian fandom Rather, I thought of it as being Canadian. being an asset: sure thing, I can read In short, although I know (intellectual­ and get involved in all of the major Can­ ly) that Canadian SF can and does exist, adian zines, correspond with the Canadian I find it difficult to see books as being BNFs and have a reasonable-sized audience both Canadian and SF. for anything I publish.•.. That Canadian SF does exist, and that it does differ from American SF is some­ Niel Williams thing I’ll leave you to prove. You’re COA pending... doing an admirable job at it: I really liked your article in HOLIER THAN THOU. ...Canadian fandom is possible and des­ I fear, however, that John Robert Co­ irable. We have a definite culture here, lombo cast his net far too wide when look­ very similar to the American and British ing for Canadian SF. It's hard to explain cultures, but subtely different. This and I don't feel like it right now. What applies to the subculture of fandom as do you think? well. Though I agree with Einstein on the subject of nationalism ("an infantile Sam Wagar disease") I feel that in the arts it 861A Danforth Ave should be cultivated to some extent. Our Toronto Ontario culture is just now learning to stand on it's own; it has come of age and we should I'm really pleased by the number of Iocs be proud of it. Fandom is based on the you received, and the indication through arts. SF may not be art in the highbrow them of widespread support for NCF in Can­ sense, but I view anything creative as an adian fandom. Though I'm not a Canadian art form on the whole. Unfortunately, the Nationalist, I sure am a Canadian Cultural­ art form Canadian fandom is presently ist, and I want a lot of people to support based on is American. Whatever J.R.Col­ debating/meeting places for the develop­ ombo says, there is very little real Can­ ment and elaboration of our culture. adian SF. I suggest that everyone read And too, I’ve only read half dozen Can­ Christine. Kulykb article, "And The Cana­ adian SF books and I think that telling dian Way" in THE MONTHLY MONTHLY #6 [[Still Canadian fen (the writers of Tomorrow) available for 75b from NCF]] But fortune- that what they are writing is What We Want ately, Canadian fanzines have for the most through NCF and the exciting ideas of a part been truly Canadian, and for the mo­ "Canvention", Canadian SF and Fantasy ment, until more Canadian SF appears on Award, will produce many more, so Canfen the scene, this should be our base. need not believe that Heinlein and the Is Canadian fandom possible? Of course, libertarian Amerikkan strain on the one it already exists. All we have to do is hand, or Christopher Priest and Ballard get in touch and keep in touch with each and the British end-of-the-world-on-Tues- other. day strain on the other, are the only As for the permanent floating Canvention, University of Alberta.]] that is probably the most workable idea My immediate reaction was surprise that and a uniquely Canadian one at that. I there should be no national news-cum-gen- suggest that the NonCon 5 committee start zine in Canada, though "Skywrithg" points bolstering support and publicity for that out the geographic factors involved. In event. all it was a cogently argued piece which seemed to adopt a softly-softly approach David Palter to avoid alienating US fandom at one fell 1811 Tamarind Ave, Apt.22 swoop. Yet to my eyes, looking around Hollywood, CA 90028, USA Edmonton, the whole place seems very Amer­ ican, though no doubt there are differences New Canadian Fandom has gotten off to an to be found if you look, apart from the auspicious start and I have every confi­ fact that Canadians say,"Eh?" and Americans dence that it will succeed in acting as a say,"Huh?"! However, when 80% of Canadian focal point (although certainly not the firms are directly or indirectly owned by only focal point) for Canadian fandom, and US concerns and US culture has such a in helping Canadian fandom to develop a strong background in Canada one can but greater sense of national identity. This wonder how it will be possible to assert is a worthy purpose. While in some circles a Canadian presence, whether in fandom or it is now considered that a sense of nat­ football. Possibly the answer could be ional identity is undesirable, as national­ found in Quebec where something of a lang­ ism contributes to the tendency of nations uage barrier exists to buffer the influ­ to seek their own national welfare at the ence of US culture, yet without it do you expense of other nations, which in its most stand a chance? extreme form turns to war, humanity’s most I'm left seeing parallels between Canada horrible affliction, I still believe that and the Third World-— resource producers national identity and nationalism can be exploited by the manufacturing nations, enriching and valuable if properly approach­ especially the US. ed ; with a higher level of ethical aware­ Canadianism appears to be an idea whose ness one will seek the welfare of one's time has come and I'd say NCF was part of own nation in such a way as to do no harm that process; that it's no coincidence to other nations and if possible even con­ that it has appeared now, when US oilmen tribute to their welfare. Whereas if one bleat to Congressional committees about cannot identify with larger groups, one the damage Canada will cause her own cit­ may be left looking out only for oneself izens by taking controlling share in her and to hell with everybody else. The fan- oil industry— a sure sign that Canada is nish analogy is that a Canadian fan should on the right lines. So why not come out have a certain allegiance to Canadian fan­ with a full-blooded editorial declaring dom while also being aware of his/her role a rejection of US economic and cultural as a member of worldwide fandom, and ex­ imperialism? Afterall, that's what Cana­ tending friendly cooperation to other da suffers from, all the way from the oil nation’s fans. NCF certainly does this, industry to fandom. That way you could by devoting its attention to Canadian mat­ also call for the rejection of American ters while also publishing letters and SF which is so dire and utterly disastrous other contributoons coming from fans in for the evolution of the field. Encourage other countries (my own letter being an some truly Canadian SF which couldn't be example). I am hoping, therefore, that all worse, and if Christine Kulyk's article the leaders of the nations of the world [[in THE MONTHLY MONTHLY #6]] was anything will read NCF and be inspired by its ex­ to go by, would be far superior. ample, thus leading to a new age of peace There is of course an excellent reason and harmony among nations. To say nothing not to do this, and I don't mean that of a renaissance of SF. Harry Andrushack would nuke you for it, The people of the Earth are counting on but because you'd then be accused not of you. being Canadian, but of being British and merely following the line of Joe Nicholas Ian McKeer and the like.... 11150-73 Ave. Whatever you do and whatever the devel­ Edmonton, Alberta T6G 0C5 opment of a notable Canadian image in [[Ian is an British fan in Edmonton for fandom takes you, good luck; diversity and a year to do post-doctoral research at the change are the lifeblood of fandom, not to (28)

mention SF or the world in general. Lari Davidson (POTBOILER), Richards Rd., Roberts Creek, B.C. VON 2WO Cara Elrod Graham England, bei M. Koch, Steinstr. 7, 2012 Dollarton Hwy D-2800 Bremen 1, West Germany North Vancouver, B.C. V7H 1A4 Gary Farber, 4227-8th Ave. NE, Seattle WA 98105, USA Right On! Mike Glyer (FILE 770), 5828 Woodman Ave, Apt.2, Van Nuys, CA 91401, USA Daniel Huneault Marc Gerin-Lajoie Mike Glicksohn, 137 High Park Ave., Vice-President OSFS P.O.Box 2958 St.D Toronto, Ontario M6P 2S3 330 St. Denis Ottawa, Ontario Roelof Goudriaan, Postbus 589 Lelystad, Vanier Ontario K1L 5J2 KIP 5W9 The Netherlands Betsy Hatcher, 1567-70 St., Brooklyn, [[Both wrote lengthy letters disputing N.Y. 11228, USA Neil Kaden's account of an Ottawa SF Soc­ Neil Kaden (DOPPLEGANGERS), 1104 Longhorn Dr iety meeting last issue, and attribute Plano, Texas 75023 USA Neil's failure to gain the floor to com­ E.B.Klassen, 1329 Balmoral Rd., Victoria munication difficulties and Neil's failure B.C. V8R 1L6 to follow prescribed procedure.]] Dianne & Rick LeBlanc, Box 95, Alberta Beach, Alberta TOE 0A0 We Also Heard From (and may be publishing Barney Neufeld, 1025-2 St NE, Apt.211, some of these letters next issue): Tarai Hopkins, MN 55343 USA (who wrote thousands of pages), Barney Karen Pearlston, 816A Danforth Ave., Neufeld (Minneapolis), E.B.Klassen (Vic­ Toronto, Ontario toria) , Carl Wilson (Brantford, Ont.), Star Trek Winnipeg, c/o Mike Daly, 217 Mike Daly (Winnipeg), Steve George (Winni­ Dowling Ave.W, Winnipeg, Man. R2C 2K4 peg) , Andy Porter (N.Y., but he thinks he's Bob Webber Canadian), Arthur Hlavaty (N.Y.), Deloris Booker (Red Deer, Alta), Dave Thomson (Vic­ Bob Weir, 8820-85 St, Apt.104, Edmonton toria) , Linda Ross-Mansfield (Oromocto,N.B.) Bob Atkinson (Halifax), Paul Delany (Vic­ Alberta T6C 3C2 (468-4569) toria) , Monique MacNaughton (Fredricton), Sam Wager, 861A Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ont. Bob Webber (Toronto), Elisabeth Vonarburg Adrian Fischer, 10829 Westminster, Los (Chicoutimi), Lloyd Penny, twice (Toronto), Angeles, CA 90034 (213)-837-8752 Doug Orlowski (Thunder Bay), Irving Altman (Ottawa), Greg Hills (Wellington, New Zea­ land), Rebecca Reeves, thrice (Victoria), CONVENTIONS Leonard S. Wong,(Vancouver), Mike Nichols, (Winnipeg), Harland Ronning (Saskatoon, Sask), Chester Cuthbert (Winnipeg), Forest TORQUE 3, May 21-23, 1982, Muir Park Hotel, Fusco (Toronto), Howard Scrimgeour (Toronto) Toronto. Guest of Honour: Samuel David Badke (Calgary), John Mullock (Gander Delany; Fan Guest: Don D’Ammassa. $10 in Newfoundland), Steve Lehman (Montreal), advance, $15 at the door. MC Roger Reynolds. Harry Andruschak (L.A.), Stephanie Bedwell, Artshow, films, hucksters, programing, but (Toronto), Graham England (Deutschland), still a relaxicon. Write: 1812-415 Willow­ William Bains (England), Robert Bingham dale Ave., Willowdale, Ontario M2N 5B4. (Surrey, B.C.) , Steve Skyler (Toronto) , plus a host of others who asked for a sample CHICOUTICON (Boreal 4) The Third Franco­ issue and/or sent cash money. phone SF and Fantasy Convention, July 14- 18, 1982, University of Quebec at Chicout­ imi, Chicoutimi Quebec. Confirmed guests [COAs include C.J.Cherryh,Phyllis Gotlieb, J.P. Andravon, Dominique Douay, Y.Freition, Ion Deloris Booker, #302, 6243-61 Ave., Red Deer Hobana, E.Gille, R. Grunberg, M.Jeury, Alberta T4N 5R4 P.Versins, and a host of others from all Paul & Lynne Delaney, c/o Sacramento Peak over the world. $25 to Dec.31/81; $28 to Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico USA April 30/82; $30 thereafter. Write: Comite D’Organisation Du Troisieme Congres (29) Francophone Sur La SF Et Le Fantastique, go up again in the new year when the new University du Quebec a Chicoutimi, Depart­ doubled) Canadian postage rates go into ment des Arts et Lettres, 930 Est Rue effect. Readers are reminded, however, Jacques Cartier, Chicoutimi, Quebec, G7H that they can continue to receive NCF FREE 2B1. in exchange for published letters of comment, articles, artwork, Canadian fan news, in NONCON 5, Oct 1982, Edmonton Inn, Edmonton. trade for your fanzine(Canadian or not), etc. Guest of Honour: C.J.Cherryh; Fan If you are new to fandom and/or NCF, Guest: Steve Fahnstalk. This is also CAN­ please send for the ESFCAS GUIDE TO SF & VENTION 3, the national con, and the Cana­ FANDOM (25C from ESFCAS or NCF) or at dian SF & Fantasy Award will be presented. least the FANSPEAK GLOSSARY (free from Usual programming, art show, film/video, NCF, or as part of the GUIDE) so I won't hucksters, plus expanded Short Story Con­ have to explain what a 1loc' is every test. $8 rising to $15 at the door. Writes issue, and so on. NonCon 5, P.O.Box 1740 Edmonton, Alta. T5J'”’1 I would also like to see people support­ ing Canadian SF through actually buying and/or reading some of it. There are four Canadian mass market paperbacks reviewed in "Off The Shelf" this issue, and a small press publication under "news", all of which are quite worthwhile. I especially recommend VISIONS FROM THE EDGE, which is really very handsomely produced and well worth the $7.95 price tag. Response to NCF has been very gratifying indeed. I'd like to thank everyone who wrote in and/or subscribed for their support, and hope that I can live up to your expec­ tations . And now for some late news bulletins:

LAST MINUTE NEWS

PUBLISHING: Vancouver writer Bill Gibson has a story, "Hinterland", in October's OMNI magazine. He has sold OMNI SKYWRITING, a third short story, "Burning Chrome", due THE EDITOR S EDITORIAL out soon. He also has a short story en­ titled "The Gernsback Continuum" in Terry I've already done a good deal of editor­ Carr's UNIVERSE 11, and a novel co-author- ializing in the lettercolumn and elsewhere ed with John Shirley entitled SHADOWS out this issue, so I'll limit myself to more from Charles Grant Publishing. Bill also mundane matters here. read a story at the WorldCon in Denver. First, this is a double issue and counts Elisabeth Vonarburg of Chicoutimi Quebec as two issues against your subscription. has a novel due out in November. It is to The double issue was necessary to catch up be published in France by Denoel in £he on the-material left over from before the "PRESENCEDU FUTUR" anthology series Indw mail strike, etc.; the objective for NCF in its thirtieth year) and will be the.' is 16 pages every two months, so here's first time a Quebec SF writer has been June to September. published in France. The novel is entitled Even so, I didn't have room to do proper L’e Silence de la Cite ("Out of the1 Silent justice to the four month's accumulation City" or just "Silent City"). J k of Canadian fanzines and so had to hold For other French Canadian SF publishing the Fanzine Review section over until next & awards news, see the Boral 3 conreport issue. elsewhere in this issue. NCF's subscription rate has been raised CANADIAN POSTAL RATES are to double in to 5/$4 with this issue, and may have to January. 30C 1st class to 30^; 35C to USA, 60C overseas. SAME for 3 rd class. More details next issue...if I can afford to mail it! (30) repressed upbringing and the value placed expected a conversation to ensue from this on respectibility in as Victorian an en­ bold move, but was surprised anyway. He vironment as this city. It is in the was somewhat peeved, wanting to know how nature of the people to be tight-assed and I could lack the common sense so as to find release in sublimation or private draw someone’s personal dagger? Among his debauchery. A less inhibited background expostulations he said, "Did you know what tends to allow people a more wholesome you did was a misdemeanor?" expression of their urges. Drawing a knife in public? Yeah, I be­ Lest people object that I’m an odd one lieved it, but he wasn’t supposed to be to talk, I consider myself a good case in carrying it at all if it was over 2| inches point. (Although I do hope my outlets long. He was carrying enough steel for are more original. I merely want to be nearly three legal blades, and I told him carried away by a furry lover from the so. He objected at once. Pleiades. Take a last look at Toronto "Carrying a 6 inch knife is not a mis­ fandom for cnnnparison... .) demeanor! It's a felony," he said. Some time ago I was at one of the over­ Give me my neuroses any day. blown parties called "Baskon" that has been the focal point of local fandom over [The opinions expressed in this column the last few years. At the height of its are those of the author only, and do not career, 3 to 6 appartments in one build­ necessarily reflect the opinions of the ing were open to Baskon, and well over a editor, publisher, magazine, or Canadian hundred people were attending. Many of fandom. them with their military berets, boots, Tarai is a member of the New Derelicts, and other paraphenalia. One young fan sat a group of Toronto fanzine fans. He is on a couch, dressed all in black and co-editor of DNO (with victoria Vayne) a wearing a bloody big knife at his belt. It looked rather like an SS dagger. Since Toronto newsletter that turned into one of Canada's leading genzines. He has he seemed preoccupied with a young lady also worked on the executives of OSFiC to his right, I reached over and drew it and Torque, and been published widely in from the scabbard for a closer look. I all the top zines as both writer and artist.] THE BOREALIS POTTERSFIELD A Canadian Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy. PORTFOLIO

Available at your bookstore or from: . alive with experiment and honest search for themes and styles to catch the POTTERSFIELD PRESS region's many identities and aspirations. ’ ’ (Books Now) R.R. 2, PORTERS LAKE NOVA SCOTIA BOJ 2S0 “. . . the second Portfolio is as exciting as the Initial Issue.” (The Newfoundland Herald)

“Editor Lesley Choyce has assembled a first-rate collection of Atlantic material.” Bookstore and wholesale discounts — 40%. (Halifax Magazine) Inquiries welcome. Issue One “For any school offering a course in The Adventure School, SF in Quebec, 902-827-4517 Canadian literature the Pottersfleld Port­ Gene Day art, fiction by Spider Robinson folio Is well worth considering.” and more...... $5.00 (Canadian Materials) Issue Two Space Beavers, Saunders on Farmer, Subscriptions: 3 issues (3 years) beginning with J.R. Colombo’s Found Poems, Gaynor Volume 3...... $10.00 Portfolio, James DeMille: Canadian Pilgrim and more...... $2.00

Volume One — I ssue Three and Four combined: Farley Mowat, Gregory Cook, Christopher New fiction by Charles Saunders, Louis Heide, Spider Robinson, H.R. Percy, Little Portfolio, Gene Day and George Harold Horwood, Harry Thurston, Susan Freeman art, Tanith Lee on Charles Kerslake, Fred Cogswell, and 25 more. $5.00 Saunders and more...... $2.50 Volume Two — Alden Nowlan, Silver Donald Cameron, Allstair MacLeod, Enos Watts, Elizabeth Jones, bill bissett, Jeremy Akerman, Helen Porter, and 53 more...... $3.25 Beginning in 1982, Borealis will expand Volume Three — into a giant new annual of Canadian Pottersfleld Press is open to submissions Barry Stagg, Raymond Fraser, Percy Science Fiction and Fantasy. Three year Janes, Fraser Sutherland, Richard Lemm, of poetry and short fiction for The Portfolio subscriptions beginning with the Fall, by Atlantic Canadian writers as well as Kathy Vaughan, Alden Nowlan, Michael 1982 volume are $10.00. Nowlan, Hilary Thompson and more. $3.25 science fiction works for Borealis and potential book projects. Self addressed, stamped envelopes, please. VISIONS FROM THE EDGE

An Anthology of Atlantic Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Edited by John Bell and Lesley Choyce

VISIONS FROM THE EDGE is the first anthology documenting the contribution of Atlantic Canadian writers to a genre of popular literature. The editors have culled from magazines and story collections of the 1880-1980 period a first- rate collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy by such writers as Archibald MacMechan, Sir Charles G.D. Roberts, Simon New­ comb, Francis Flagg, Laurence Manning, L.M. Montgomery, T.H. Raddall, Desmond Pacey, and Spider Robinson. Educators and librarians will find the anthology to be an in­ dispensable introduction to an unjustly neglected aspect of our national and regional culture. Fans will find it a source of much delight as they encounter over 20 outstanding stories by many unfamiliar authors. Here are visions from the edge — from the edge of a conti­ nent, from the shorelines of reality to the depths of imagination.

Paperback: $7.95 ISBN 0-919001-04-1 Hardcover: $14.95 ISBN 0-919001-03-3 Available from: POTTERSFIELD PRESS R.R. 2 PORTERS LAKE, N.S. B0J 2S0