Science Fiction Review 27 Geis 1978-09

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1978 NUMBER 27 SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW Interviews: BEN BOVA $1.50 STEPHEN FABIAN

WHY BOVA'S LEAVING ANALOG / THE GALAXY MESS / SHOULD WRITERS BE SERFS...OR SLAVES?

HARLAN ELLISON - MARTA RANDALL - GEORGE R.R. MARTIN - POUL ANDERSON - MICHAEL MOORCOCK

ONE IMMORTAL MAN , . 8 4 I ————— SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW "g* Formerly THE ALIEN CRITIC 97211 COVER BY STEPHEN FABIAN Prom an idea by Richard E. Geis Sept,, 1978 — Vol. 7, No. RICHARD E. GEIS, editor & publisher

ALIEN THOUGHTS by the editor. . .A WHOLE NUMBER 27' PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY JAN., MARCH, MAY, JULY, SEPT,, NOV, INTERVIEW WITH BEN BOVA PHONE: (503) 282-0381 CONDUCTED BY ELTON T. ELLIOTT... SINGLE COPY $1.50

HE HEARS.., blood! the life and FUTURE TIMES OF JACK THE RIPPER REVIEWED BY MARK MANSELL 18 REVIEWS IN HIS IMAGE: THE CLONING OF A MAN 36 SHOULD WRITERS BE SERFS. . .OR blood! THE LIFE AND FUTURE TIMES SLAVES? the new pocketbooks OF JACK THE RIPPER,.... 18 THE PERSISTENCE OF VISION,. 37 CONTRACT AND RELATED THOUGHTS SAXON AND THE SORCERESS 23 STRANGE WINE 38 BY MARTA RANDALL AND RICHARD E. GEIS 19 OPHEMERA. 23 ANOTHER FINE MYTH .....39 XENOPHILE #40. 23 CHARMED LIFE.... 39 SMALL PRESS NOTES BY THE EDITOR 23 THE MANY WORLDS OF JACK VANCE & THE MARVELOUS VISIT ,48 HORNS OF ELFLAND 23 THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE. 48 INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN FABIAN THE SCIENCE FICTION AND HEROIC CONDUCTED BY RICHARD E, GEIS, ,24 THE TEMPTER ...,,..i.,t...... 48 FANTASY AUTHOR INDEX 23 ONCE UPON A TIME. 49 THE ALTER-EGO VIEWPOINT AUSTRALIAN SF NEWS #1 23 BY RICHARD E. OEIS & ALTER. ... ,31 DOMINIQUE ...... 49 THE LAST MAGICIAN 23 HEAVEN CAN WAIT 49 OTHER VOICES book reviews by sf & f 36 ..23 ORSON SCOTT CARD, MICHAEL GOW~ SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB MIDWEST SIDE STORY 23 AN, DAVID TRUESDALE, RAY NELSON, BAND , ...i.i,, ...... I.,,,, 50

FREDERICK PATTEN, DEAN R. LAMBE, THE LAST STARSHIP FROM EARTH. , . .31 THE SWARM 50 NEALWILGUS, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN I AM NOT THE OTHER HOUDINI 31 KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS ,50 WHAT DREAMS MAY COME 31 P RANHA . . , . , . . . . 50 THE HUMAN HOTLINE VOLUPTUARIES .31 SF News by elton t. elliott, . , ,44 EYES OF LAURA MARS, ,50 THE INCORRIGIBLES 31 THE ACKERMAN INTERVIEW DREAMSNAKE . 32 CONDUCTED BY ELTON T, ELLIOTT, ,4b PARALLEL BOTANY 33 INTERIOR ART- SPROCKET TO IE!!! SF, Fantasy stormqueen! 33 and Horror Film News TIM KIRK-—2, 4, 31, 64. BY BILL WARREN. 47 OUR LADY OF DARKNESS. 34 ALEXIS GILLILAND 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, JACK-IN-THE-BOX PLANET, ...... ,34 ONE IMMORTAL MAN part three A SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL THE SONORA MUTATION. 35 BY RICHARD E. GEIS 52 LORD foul's BANE ,35 JAMES MCQUADE—8, 9 ALIEN CONCLUSIONS JACK GAUGHAN IS BY THE EDITOR. 63 STEPHEN FABIAN 24, 26, 27, 52 HARRY BELL 29 ISSN: 0036-8377 ALLEN KOSZOWSKI 37 WADE GILBREATH 41 THE ALIEN CRITIC JASON KEEHN 46 SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW Available in microform from: OXFORD MICROFORM PUBLICATIONS LTL Wheatsheaf Yard, Blue Boar Street

. Oxford OX1 4EY

Science Fiction Review is published at 1525 NE Ainsworth, Portland, OR 97211 NO ADVERTISING WILL BE ACCEPTED Second Claes Postage Paid

at Portland, OR 97208 assigned to the contributors. .

LETTERS —

HARLAN ELLISON ill 4 Next Issue.. RENE W. ANDERSON ill 5

ARNOLD E. ABRAMSON. ... III 7

NEAL WILGUS III 19

ED POWELL III 19 WILL PROBABLY BE MADE OF THE FOL- LOWING: FREDERICK BAILEY. III 28 An Interview With Terry Carr JOE W. HALDEMAN III 29 "Beyieyond Genocide" by Damon JOHN BRUNNER III 29 KniIGHT

PERRY A. CHAPDELAINE. l 1 1 29 The Conclusion of ONE IMMORT-

DAVID A. TRUESDALE. . . III 30 AL MAN

SAM J. LUNDWALL III 30 An expanded "Other Voices" SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW RONALD LAMBERT III 40 'The Vi vi sector" by Darrell Schweitzer P.0. BOX 11408 SCOTT EDELMAN 1 1 1 41 Small Press Notes PORTLAND, OR 97211 JOY GOODIN III 41 "The Human Hotline" by Elton MIKE ASHLEY l l l 41 Elliott For One and Two Years POUL ANDERSON III 42 !" At Six-Issues-Per-Year Schedule "Sprocket To ft! ! by Bill Warren MICHAEL MOORCXK. , . . , l l l 43 UNITED STATES: $7.50 One Year "Johnny Wi recutter", a poem TRINA KING.... III 63 $15.00 Two Years by Neal Wilgus ROBERT WHITAKER ill 63 Alien Thoughts (of course) CANADA*: US$8.00 One Year NEIL BARRON l 1 l 63 US$16.00 Two Years *Canadians may pay with personal LEE SMITH III 63 and possibly: cheques if the chequing acct. num- "Occasionally Mentioning ber on their cheques is printed in Science Fiction" by Darrell computer numerals. (Thus we become 8-9-78 Final entry. After this Schweitzer slaves to the needs of the Machine.) I correct a few of the typos I've An Interview With John Brunner managed to spot and add page numb- UNITED KINGDOM: Send pound equiva - ers. Tomorrow this issue goes to AS WELL AS SOMETHING NOT IN-HAND lent of US$8.00 One Year the printer (who called a week ago WHICH I FEEL MUST APPEAR. US$16.00 Two Years to assure me they had enough paper to agent WM. DAWSON 8 SONS stockpiled to print SFR. There is Cannon Horse a paper mill workers' strike on Folkestone, Kent, the west coast, by the way...). CT19 5EE or write them for current quote. # Klaus Boschen, a NY subscriber, sent me a NY TIMES clip a few CURRENT AND BACK ISSUES OF TAC AND days ago, dated 13 July, 1978, of SFR ARE AVAILABLE FROM: z.iPpv some interest and importance. It wants- A FANTAST (MEDWAY) LTD. seems that NOVA, due in September CobA, I'M- <3ik£- H,M 39 West Street, Wisbech, Cambs., PE13 2LX from the publishers of PENTHOUSE, A Z-IPF/ c<5j>A- LAST is now officially named- changed JTST "RiP oFFTHET to OMNI. “ AUSTRALIA: A$8.00 One Year Two TA^-ES FHorA THE love The change from NOVA, of A$14.00 Two Years of THPefc FANZINES " X course, is due to the WGBH-TV to agent SPACE AGE BOOKS WROTE WHEiJ I WA? A suit over the title, since they 305-307 Swans ton St. have, they feel, prior rights to Melbourne, 3000 Vic. the word/title in their NOVA science show on Public TV. ALL OTHER FOREIGN: US$8.00 One Year Penthouse made a quick title US$16.00 Two Years search and concluded that OMNI All foreign subscriptions must be wasn't nailed down and fitted paid in US$ cheques or money orders their needs, and so made the except to agents. change. The new OMNI logo will use the same modernistic type style/design as their NOVA, and MAKE ALL CHECKS, CHEGUES AND all else about the magazine will MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO SCIENCE presumably be as scheduled. FICTION REVIEW

NOTE TO REVIEWERS: Make them § SAVE A HASSLE AND EXTRA EXPENSE short and to the point. I'd rather buy many shorties than a IF YOU MOVE WE NEED YOUR FORMER few longies. ZIPCODE AND YOUR NEW COMPLETE ADDRESS. ' . ': . . .

membership was able to overcome its ALIEN THOUGHTS personal feelings about me to sel- ect a story they felt was the best. I agreed.

won the Best Short Story Nebula 'My friend, Eileen Healy, and I, Award! The story says: planned a day in San Francisco. I 'Harlan Ellison, who had not did not attend either the Nebula programming or the Nebula ban- been at the banquet, appeared sud- Day denly to accept his short story quet. No one knew I was in town. Nebula. Fifteen minutes before the awards were scheduled to be handed out, I So there it stands, a mystery. received a phone call in my hotel, Is SFWA honoring non-SFWA-written and Eileen and I walked over to the stories, now? Sir Francis Drake. As I walked in I am not privy to SFWA publica- through the darkened reception room, tions and have not a pipeline into Fred Pohl was naming the short story their secret deliberations. I quit winner. As he said, "Accepting for several years ago by not renewing my Harlan Ellison will be..." I walked membership in and said, "I'll take it, Fred." I keep thinking. . .if Harlan had Then I made a few brief remarks not in fact resigned, wouldn't he thanking SFWA for honoring my work, have noted that fact in a footnote sat down, and left immediately after to the speech when it was published the rest of the awards were given. in 1978? So I stew. ...and, baffled, write 'While my feelings about SFWA this little commentary. have not changed since I resigned -- What, write Harlan or SFWA and and I must confess that a year with- BY THE EDITOR ask a simple question? That's no out the sturm und drang of SFWA pol- fun! itics has been heavenly -- it would Two major items were left over have been unconscionably rude to from SFR #26 a letter from Rene turn away with surliness from the Anderson which was too long for what # LETTER FROM HARLAN ELLISON high courtesy demonstrated by the I left at the time, organization. I chose to go to the little room had 14 June 78 and a letter from Harlan Ellison re- hotel and accept in good grace. sponding letter I sent which While I cannot argue that technical- to a 'You ask some questions and as was inspired by the editorial which ly I did "attend", my "attendance" I assume you'll make mention some- was — at least in my mind --so appears below. where in SFR of this tiny matter, minimal as to serve the demands of I undertake to answer briefly, as gracious behavior, indicating my follows thanks for SFWA's uncommon fairness, - 6 7-78 Is a puzzlement. In the ' How "Jeffty is Five" was nomin- without straining too hard my res- Spring 1978 ALGOL, Harlan Ellison ated is quite simple. An author olve never again to be a part of allowed to be published his famous need not be a member of SFWA to have SFWA doings resignation speech from the Science a story nominated. It's happened Fiction Writers of America. The many times in the past with writers 'It may well be minimally in- speech was given in April of 1977. as diverse as E.L. Doctorow, Edgar consistent, but though you raise the For publication in ALGOL the Rice Burroughs, Frederik Pohl (when question — as many who enjoy pick- speech was 'Specially Expanded and he'd resigned), Harry Harrison (when ing nits in my behavior will raise -- Corrected' he'd resigned), Philip K. Dick, the question a matter of some- The last paragraph of the printed Robert Coover, Italo Calvino, Ian thing less than world-shaking im- speech is as follows: Watson, Jorge Luis Borges and many, portance wot — I decided to be inconsistent and suffer the silly fan 'My resignation will be in the many others. I cannot remember an nit-picking (which, if not on this mail, and I will expect a refund occasion, however, when a non-mem- matter, would surely manifest it- on the balance of my dues. This ber won in fact. self on some other) in order to is the last time I will attend an af- 'That the story actually won , pay respects where due SFWA function. I don't want the ter I'd resigned with such anger stench of failure on my expensive and public defamation of the organ- 'That it should even occur to clothes . ization, forms the basis of my ac- you, or anyone, to ask me how and why -- when we both bloody well Pow. Right between the eyes. ceptance of the Nebula. know how and why -- disingenuousness Harlan reviled and insulted SFWA ' I was tipped that the story had does not suit you, Richard -- does up one side and down the other. won, and won in a runaway, just a not escape my understanding: I am Then, the July 1977 F§SF was a I few days before the banquet. had easy to rile, but I should think special Harlan Ellison issue, in not planned on going to get the serious people would have more ser- which appeared Harlan's story, trophy. I was going to have Silver- ious things to do with their lives. "Jeffty Is Five." berg pick up the physical award One more reason, one more example, Subsequently, I learned that and say some pleasant words . But one more occasion to turn me bven "Jeffty Is Five" had been nominated several members of SFWA who were more sourly against sf fans and fan- for the SFWA Nebula Award! planning to be there suggested zine publishers than all these past How could this be, if Harlan that the organization's overcoming years of time-wasting silliness have was. no longer a member of SFWA? Had their animosity to pick the story soured me. he changed his mind and NOT re- was both a compliment to the work signed? Did he forget ? 'And yet, there is seeming lack itself , and an indication that the Now, in the April 1978 issue of of understanding as to why I can be LOCUS I read that "Jeffty Is Five" 4 so mean towards fandom. Good old : / fandom. Sweet, kindly, camaraderie- kind of thing is one of the reasons al background and temperament has filled fandom. why a lot of Black people I know do put me somewhat outside the main- not read much science fiction, Dick. stream of Black life, I most cer- ' I hope this explanation has tainly know what it's about. "Black- served its purpose beyond getting in 'Personally, I find the premise ness" is something we're born with work-day. ' of the story intriguing and uniquely a short jab at my that goes much deeper than pigmenta- different from a lot of the stuff tion. You can't learn it and you that ' s been coming out in recent can't fake it. And even though some I responded with a short letter years. But, although you call it of the imitations are pretty damn' — something with instant, long- science fiction instead of fantasy, convincing, it just "ain't the real distance psychoanalysis [which I con- I'm wondering just what the hell the demn in others] having to do with thing". point is. I certainly hope you do the suggestion that in Transactional not get the wrong idea, but, intel- 'No matter how much sophistica- Analysis terms he might be playing a lectually, I must seriously question tion or education we accumulate, Game with fandom. ..a love/hate rela- the motivation that led you to create there is a way we have of moving in tionship. . .part of a life script... a protagonist who was originally the world, a way of reacting to our Harlan me. He was very called white (I suppose) somehow became im- surroundings, a way of responding sure that I was wrong . There was a mortal and came to be revered as a to situations that has so much more sad, almost plaintive tone to his god by the leftover white folks who to it than can be conveyed by one words ... He wants to . have nothing had gone ape, then managed to turn who does not know it inherently. more fans or aft- to do with fandom himself into a stereotypic, savage, There is something that is very evi- er his current fan covention commit- ruthless, cock-strong Super-Nigger! dent in our personalities that is-- ments are completed. He said he was COME ON NOW! us. Blackness isn't a color so much tired of fans using him. as a way of being , an experience. There is truth in that. We do 'I certainly wouldn't want to use Harlan. He's good copy. He's start a surge of Black-Whatever in 'The characters in good sf should a draw. But he must get something the field of sf, but I am amused, be like the characters in any other out of it some pay-off or he upset, and maybe even a little anger- — — viable literary form, solidly believ- wouldn't let us do it. ed by this sudden wave of "Blackness able and realistic without being However, he makes a good point: in sf. What is it? Spider Robin- overly-patronizing or pretentious. judge his work, not him. review son's "Isham" in TELEMPATH, Bob Sil- Isham and Jordan came the closest his stories, not his personal life. verberg's "Shadrach" in SHADRACH IN to that of any Black characters I Let's try to do that. THE FURNACE, your Vik (although I'd have yet seen in contemporary sf, call him a nigger by default), the but even they (or Spider) let the And now on to the long, potent little boy, David, in what I refuse inconsistency show through at times. letter that needs publishing and to glorify by calling it a story, Story-wise, TELEMPATH and Silver- commentary "David's Friend, the Hole", in the berg's SHADRACH. . .were very good July issue of FANTASTIC STORIES. and I enjoyed reading them, but, af- That is the worst piece of insulting ter a while, I had to keep reminding # LETTER FROM RENE W. ANDERSON shit I've seen published in a long myself “that these guys were supposed time. But I'll come back to that May 30, 1978 to be Black. later. 'For those who would say that 'One of several pieces that 'The point is, which is shared these characterizations are merely caught my eye in SFR #25 was the one even by my friends who are deeply the logical extrapolation of current on page 19 concerning WINDHAVEN, into sf, that all the Blacks in the trends toward equality and total in- the Matriarchal Fanzine (whatever stories either act the way whites tegration, I must find fault with the hell that's supposed to mean!) think Blacks are supposed to act or that premise. We've come a long way and I see where you make mention of they are whites' proj ection of the an article in issue #3 by Charles way they HOPE we will act in the fu- Saunders, "Why Blacks Don't Read ture. Science Fiction". THIS TALK ABWT NOT 3E|NQ- 'This field is not the only one ABt-E TO SOLVE TR.OBL5M? 3 'Curiosity prompted me to send to suffer from such blind spots; THROVE (M€r MONEY AT THEM \S for that issue of the magazine, but all of literature suffers, as well. the SILLIEST THiN

led over them as I flipped ahead to 'Let's hope I don't start some- read the first installment of ONE thing when I say that it is far eas- IMMORTAL MAN. ier for a Black to act white than vice versa. And although my person- 'When I had finished that, I was struck by the thought that that 5 ) ' probably have it or know where to 'After I've read Mr. Saunders' find it--if it's to be^ found. I sub- article, I may have more to say on scribe to all the pro-zines, most of the subject. And as for Black char-

the semi-pros, and a few of the bet- acters in sf stories ... well , I think ter fanzines, all of which I freely I've made my point. If you want to share with a couple dozen other know how not to write an sf or fan- Blacks who don't read science fic- tasy story, take a peep at that tion. We do, it's just that we're bullshit in July FANTASTIC. Talk more quiet about it than the rest about stereotypes! I really thought of you. (They're quiet, not me.) people would have better sense than that by now; but whoever this Grania 'Also, it's been my experience Davis thinks she is, she needs to meet more whites who don't like (?) to go back and come again. And, sf than I have Blacks. Why it's yeah, damn right, I was insulted by like that, I cannot say. Maybe that thing she'd written and that somebody knows the reason for that Ted White saw fit to publish. strange quirk. One thing that does surprise me, though, is the evidence 'The plot stinks to high heaven I've seen, at least locally, of a of racism whichever way you cut it. rather sizeable increase in Black The young white broad gets her vir- interest in sf with the coming of ginity ripped off by a Black stud STAR WARS. and she ends up very pregnant in her comfortable white, middle-class 'Now, I'm not about to join the home with her very humane and under- current fray over whether or not it standing white parents (no way. Ba- is sf (it isn't), or whether or not by) . She has her kid and keeps him it was a good movie (it was) . But and the kid grows up in a mixed I find it a bit strange that younger neighborhood mind you, and doesn't persons who did not have the pleasure , know anything about being Black! in the last three or four hundred of going to Saturday matinees to What kind of horse shit is that? years, but our basic Blackness, e- find out what the evil Ming had in ven in the most cosmopolitan of us, store for Flash Gordon that week and 'So Ms. Davis writes, David did has not changed all that much. What so cannot make the obvious connec- not like soul music, didn't like makes anybody think it's going to tions have flocked to it in droves soul food, . because his white momma change that drastically in the next and have fallen in love with it. and grandparents didn't cook any three or four hundred years? In The best part of a lot of those and inside, he FELT white!! Jeesus, might well grow more fact, it just droves happen to be Black. I've that story (?) makes me mad just intense. It's one of the few ways seen them all the times I've gone sitting here thinking about it! And we have of retaining some parts of back to see the movie. And their after awhile, everybody begins to our racial and personal identities. reasons for liking the thing are as think David is bonkers because he's 'And as for the supposed paucity many and varied as their personali- found a friend in the hole and they of Black sf readers/writers/fans, ties. (Although it may say some- want to send him away to the looney well, that may have been so ten or thing about Black temperament that bin. David chooses his hole over fifteen years ago... it certainly was the majority of those I've asked his family (I don't blame him) and just LOVE the character of Darth decides to go there to stay. He so when I_ started reading the stuff. But it is definitely not so now. In Vader. hits Happy Land just as the bull- dozer hits him and nobody's really fact, I have a friend who is a Larry 'However, the offshoot of this sorry because, after all, he was Niven freak and probably knows as is that Blacks are going out and only the white broad's trick baby, much about "Known Space" and the actually buying other sf in the anyway and what respectable family Kzinti as he does. Another is a nut bookstores and a lot of my friends would have wanted him around if for epic poems after the manner of who formerly didn't care about sf they could help it??? Ms. Davis, "Beowulf", etc., and she is current- one way or the other are now asking whoever and whatever you are : There ly writing an sf/fantasy story in me to recommend some good sf to epic poem. Five or is something really wrong with your the form of an read. I refer them to different au- head. And I would suggest that you six of the members of the small lo- thors according to their tastes. cal fan group of which I am a mem- get it fixed. Quick!! ber, the Dune Children, are Black 'If they want to read a techni- 'That's all for now, Dick. I cal journal, I tell them about Joe and I have been approached by other have more to say about some other Haldeman, if they want to be royal- Blacks who are interested in join- things in SFR #25, but I'll get to ly entertained, I send them in search ing the group. them in a few. One concerned Larry of Roger Zelazny, and if they want 'Personally, I cut my sf- reading Niven's reference to Jungian arch- a little of both, I give them Niven types--that' s my professional spec- "teeth", so to speak, on Asimov's and Pournelle or Asimov or else one ialty--analytical psychology, and FOUNDATION TRILOGY and Van Vogt's of the better anthologies. SLAN and THE WORLDS OF NULL-A. I've the archtype Kate meant in her story got a healthy collection of ASTOUND- 'This is going on in Pittsburgh; was possibly the "Trickster"; there ING SCIENCE FICTION which I have I can't speak for other places, but is no "Hounds" archtype, as such. jealously saved and guarded over the I would suppose it would hold true Read over Volume 9 of Jung's Col- years, I had read Tolkein long be- for them too. And, hopefully, this lected Works. It'll clarify the en- fore he became fashionable, and I new interest will generate an in- tire issue. crease in Black sf writers. Maybe discovered H.P. Lovecraft in an an- 'Take it cool and stay loose. cient issue of WEIRD TALES I'd found I've missed something, but. I don't at a garage sale one summer after- know of any current Black sf writ- noon when I was about 15. I won't ers. If they're our there, they are ((I can't speak for any other writer run on about it here, but I can being very quiet about it. And if who may use a black character in fia truthfully say that if it has to do that's so, I wonder why. tion. And I can only point out that with science fiction or fantasy, I Vik in ONE IMMORTAL MAN is not a 6 . . ' . black man. He is a world-weary man Word is, also, that Diana King page spread in full color showing who is into sex and danger to keep is out as editor of the new PENT- the first issue's cover and some himself interested in life. You don't HOUSE science/fact magazine, NOVA. full-color interiors. This advert- seem to care or note that he's not She had been active in recruiting ising was placed months ago, of much of a white man, either, since Name sf authors for the magazine, course he advocates slaughtering the invad- but that situation is also up in The cover price for NOVA is ing white savages. the air because WGBH, the Boston $2.00. It has a "modern" logo, an ((I'm not into writing relevant TV station, who originated and air intriguing, non-sf cover painting sf, Rene. My characters I hope act the science program NOVA, have hired (a distant vehicle at dusk, follow- like most men would given those cir- copyright lawyers and it is their ing what looks to be a picket fence) cumstances and given what I feel to intention (as per the NEW SCIENTIST in blues and purples, and featured be basic human instincts and person- contributors: Science Fiction : Isaac alities. Asimov, F. M. Busby, Ray Bradbury,

( (I am, on the margin, making a and L. Sprague de Camp; An interview # LETTER FROM ARNOLD E, .ABRAMSON statement about governments and peo- with Jacques Cousteau; U.F.O. Update ; UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING § DISTRIBUTING - ple in MAN, but if I use racism it Clones ; Microphotography ; and The Nat CORP. won’t be because I'm a racist. ure of Genius . 720 White Plains Road ((You’re right, of course, that The issue is dated October, Eastchester (Scarsdale PO), N.Y. 10583 a white person can 't really know 1978 and it is billed as a Collect- what it 's like to be black. When July 19, 1978 or's Edition. They want $18.00 for you 're sensitized to a personal real- a 12 issue subscription. ity you tend to interpret event and 'I'll answer your letter in the From the ad I get the impres- readings in those terms. . . Thus I order of your questions. sion that NOVA will be a high-power- often (who am slightly handicapped) ed version of VERTEX with an empha- '1) GALAXY will continue. For am positive you Normals have no idea sis on science — speculative science a temporary period the frequency may what it 's like to live in the private — over science fiction and science be bi-monthly. hell that can be the life of a handi- fantasy. capped person.)) '2) Five or six people have editorial job we ( (I don’t write Handicapped Writ- applied for the and er stories and don't make my major have not yet made a decision but characters Handicapped People. And Pierce is leaving us in a good enough shape to be ahead editorially so I do not think a black writer should 7-4-73 Happy 202nd birthday, Amer- that we don't have to act until we be a Black Writer. Nor do I think ica. The next ten years will be very are ready. there should be (though there are) rough for you. Women Writers. Before you know it '3) The long-time situation Black, there'll be a Jewish, Gay, concerning the arrearages to writers # The post office gave me a new Woman, Handicapped, Poor, Southern is this: When we first attacked shock last week, as the clerks, on Writer. . . the problem about a year and a half three different occasions, handed ((I understand Samuel R. Delany ago, we were in arrears to writers me, glee'fully, a printed sheet show- is black. Thank God he doesn 't in the amount of approximately ing a new, higher rate structure for think it 's important enough to become $40,000. We reduced that to $11,000 fourth class- -book rate. a Black SF Writer. There 's no way and then sales and cash flow slip- You might be interested in a lit- to tell he 's black from his fiction, ped again, pushing the arrears back tle history of postal rates for the and that's the way it should be.)) to $20,000, $18,000 of which was ow- last few years. Starting with 1975 : ed to writers and $2,000 to another Class 1st oz. 2nd oz, first lb. publisher. These amounts include the issue just closed but not yet 1st 10* 19* published. In the last two weeks 2nd 8* we've paid writers a little over 3rd 10* $3,000 in arrearages and so now the 4th 20 * net we owe writers is about $15,000. - 7 2-78 Since Ben Bova is no longer 1976 editor 'Difficulties notwithstanding, of ANALOG (having resigned 1st 13* 24* a few it always has been and remains our weeks ago over reported 'poli- 2nd. 10* cy differences' intention to pay the writers in fulL with the Conde-Nast 3rd 13* powers-that-be) I've decided to use We are moving to work out of our 4th 21 * the interview with him in this issue, difficulties corporately and there may be some word on this in the next and to try for some first-hand in- 1977 formation the matter. sixty days. on 4th. 30*

The resignation of J.J. Pierce ' I appreciate very much your ac- as editor of GALAXY raises questions tion in contacting me directly. 1978 May 29 1st such as : will GALAXY continue? The 15* 28* ownership is still into a hand-to- 2nd 10* mouth financial situation (the type- of 18 May, 1978) to seek a restrain- 3rd 20* setter won't release the issues un- ing order stopping Guccione (publish- 4th 36* til paid, the printer won't release er) from using the name NOVA. 1978 July 6 the issues until paid. ..and it ap- Considering the evidence of 4th 48* pears that writers won't get paid Dianna King's non-existence as edit- until they sue) or, now, perhaps NOVA- the -magazine For those fans and book publish- J.J. is scheduled to leave is on Hold for a while. ers who mail at single-piece 4th August 1st. There is no word yet But there has been expensive class book rates, the last few years on who will replace him. advertising placed promoting NOVA. have been a disaster. While those

Well I guess I ' 11 write a , The just-received July issue of who mail at second class transient letter and ask. That's what you PSYCHOLOGY TODAY has a luxurious two- pay me for, right? 7 CONTINUED ON P .19 . AN INTERVIEW Conducted By Elton T. Elliott WITH BEN BOVA

BOVA: You make the time to write SFR; How do you work with artists? and my writing routine is the four You mentioned that you fractured a days of the week when I am not in rule when you accepted art from Alex

the office. I'm 15) the first thing Schomburg. Will you explain how in the morning, and working general- you basically work with artists and ly until about noon, sometimes a how Schomburg is different? little later. But usually by early in the afternoon, I'm finished at BOVA: has been inpossible, in the typewriter. I just run out of almost every case, to deal with gas as far as writing is concerned artists who cannot get into the of- and then I clean up the work that I fice for face-to-face discussions didn't finish in the office. of the work with me and with the Art Director, and in the case of There are still lots of manu- the cover art, with our Circulation scripts to be read, sometimes cor- Manager respondence to be answered, and I'll take that stuff with me Thursday Our usual routine, is when I night from the office to home and buy a manuscript, I get a picture Tuesday morning bring it into the in my mind of the artist who would office again to complete it. be best suited to illustrate that particular story. Sometimes that SFR: Do you often get a chance to artist is not available and I have make a trip like this? (To Oregon) to get someone else. But we call the artist in, I give him the manuscript, we discuss the story in SFR: Could you describe your basic BOVA: Not too often, because the general terms, I want him to read working day as Editor of ANALOG? work that I leave behind me in New it, and then, very often, the art- York just piles up. The longer I ist will phone me back after read- That starts sometimes between BOVA: stay away the worse it is when I ing the story, with some ideas of 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning. I get get back, so you're really chained the scenes he wants to illustrate. into the office and start reading to the office to quite an extent. Then, he'll do, if it's the black- manuscripts and answering letters, and-white interior stuff, he'll do and I'm in the office Tuesday, Wed- Cjpp, Describe or generalize how the illustrations and bring them nesday and Thursday most weeks. I'll you'work, say, with a specific auth- in, and the Art Director and I will stay there until about ten in the or. look at them. If we have any qualms morning, other people start coming about them or if we want any changes in, phone begins ring, the the to BOVA: There is no basic general- made, we discuss it right there rest of the publishing world wakes ization. It is different for each with the artist. If we've got the up, and the quiet work, the reading person. Some of the writers who picture to the point so we can say, work, the work you do by yourself, have just come out of the slush pile, now, we want this over there or is more or less over. brand-new writers, we correspond, this figure looks a little weak -- Then it's meeting with people, perhaps. Take Hayford Pierce, for if you try to do this through the answering questions, making decis- example. He is living in Tahiti, mails or over the phone, it is lit- ions. Lots of writers and illustra- and I got a couple of stories from erally impossible. tors come in and out of the office, him. In fact, the first story I fans wander in from all over the got from him was really very good, How was Mr. Schomburg able world. and I published it. to get around this? We corresponded back and forth We had a lovely couple one af- Alex sent in a couple of and I noticed that the mail from ternoon, just wandered into the sketches and said if you like them Tahiti was coming in faster than building, completely unannounced, I'll do a painting completely on the mail from New Jersey. I men- came into the office. They had just speculation and if you don't like the tioned this in a letter and sudden- retired, they lived in Johannesburg finished job, then no harm done. We ly Hayford turned it into a Science all their lives, in South Africa, liked a couple of the sketches very Fiction story. This is the origin they have read ANALOG for 15 years much, made some changes, suggested of the Chip Foey Riders series. or so, and for their retirement, some changes on the sketches; we put they've given themselves a trip a- Incidentally, Chip Foey Riders, an overlay on the sketches, said, round the world, and one of the nobody seems to have noticed, is an 'move this here', 'make this strong- places they wanted to see was the anagram of Hayford Pierce. Write er', etcetera, etcetera. He took office of ANALOG. that in SFR, a First. the suggestions quite well, and we talked back and forth on the phone SFR: When do you get a chance to a couple of times, and he sent in write? 8 the painting, and it was exactly . what we wanted. He did a marvelous tastes rather slowly. They would SFR: After reading your novel, STAR job. not like, for example, to see fan- CONQUERORS, I became aware that tasy stories in ANALOG. They've It's very, very rarely that an there seems to be a common thread made that very, very clear. And yet linking of artist who is working on many dif- parts your work together, they do read fantasy, some of them such ferent assignments, can afford to as the novel, AS ON A DARKLING do, and many of them remember very PLAIN, the story, do a whole painting completely on short "Oh, Star, fondly, the old Street and Smith mag- Won't You Hide speculation. He wants some commit- Me" and your two azine, UNKNOWN, which used to be a stories in WEIRD HEROES. Was ment by the publisher, and it is this companion magazine to ASTOUNDING, planned? good for the artist to be able to and have asked for a revival of UN- see the Art Director and the Editor KNOWN. We are going to try to do and get the ideas squared away. BOVA: Yes, many of these books come that as a book, because you can do from a similar background. The a book as a one-shot. You're not background area It would seem that you would is the future world committed to do a continuing maga- have to be a seasoned professional. that I've created in my mind and the zine, and you can test the market For instance, Schomburg has forty novels are particular stories with- that way. If enough people buy UN- in this enormous or fifty years in the business. panoramic back- KNOWN WORLDS as a book, maybe we'll ground. I think, really, if you do two books in the same year, tales want stretch Well, we have very young ar- to a point, all of the of the unknown, mixing new material books I've done come tists working with us, newcomers to out of that with the reprints from the old maga- same background, all the field, too. We tend to go with of them includ- zine. And perhaps, if it goes well ing MILLENIUM. the more experienced people on the enough, we'll eventually do the covers, because painting an ANALOG books on a quarterly basis or maybe cover is really a very specialized even more often, if we build up an For those who aren't knowledge- thing. It's not merely a matter of SFR: audience able or perhaps are not awate that illustrating the story. Frequently you are writing a future history the cover paintings will not illus- What of ANALOG records? series, could you give them a short trate the story as exactly as the SFR; overview of the series? interior illustrations do. Because BOVA: That's in abeyance right now. the cover is aimed at selling the The interest has shifted from re- Those magazine. The cover has got to BOVA: who are not knowledge- cords to a radio series. We feel able of this should rush right out reach out to a passerby as he goes that there is no point in going for- and buy all the books and past the newsstand and grab him and read them ward with the record deal unless we thoroughly. Then they'll know as drag him to the newsstand and make get a national distributor. As we much about it as him pick the magazine and look you and I do. up looked into that, it occurred to us into be bold, it. So it's got to that an even more interesting pos- it's got to be dramatic, and it must siblity would be to do a national SFR: Why have you chosen to use instantly be recognized as a piece radio show. Once that gets started, mythic overtones in this series? of fine technology that the viewer if we can indeed do it, would auto- has never seen before. In years Every story has mythic over- matically, I think, give us a nat- BOVA: past, we have used photographs, we ional distribution for the records. tones . have done paintings of massive rock- We would do radio shows and offer ets -- they don't sell very well at recordings of them. all. Our readers are looking for high technology that they cannot SFR: These would be basically old see anywhere else in the world. classics, right?

SFR: Would you describe your new BOVA ! I think some of new classics, ANALOG book concept? too. I'd like -- I don't like to lock these things into the old back- The first two will BOVA: be an AN- ward-looking stuff. We did "Night- ALOG Yearbook, which is essentially fall" because it is one of the best a thirteenth issue of the magazine. stories ever done in the genre. It The second will be a collection of was selected by the SFWA members classic stories from ASTOUNDING cal- as the most popular short story led THE BEST OF ASTOUNDING and Alex eveF~cTone in science fiction. It Schomburg has done the cover for had Asimov's name on it, which is that. Again, by sending in a com- always good box-office, plus it plete painting and saying if you lends itself to good dramatization. like it, fine, and if not, don't worry about it, doing it on specu- SFR: Also you are now a judge of lation. Dial Press, James Wade Books.

SFR: You mentioned in the March, BOVA: No, I'm not. I dropped that. 1976 editorial, that there might be Isaac Asimov and I were sort of hon- some that new forms you can do in orary judges for the beginning of the ANALOG book format that you that series. But once they got un- couldn't do, say, in ANALOG magazine der way, I dropped out of that. Would this include more emphasis on sex or violence? SFR: Did you have your say in, for instance, the selection of the first BOVA: Not particularly. But I novel? think that the readers of ANALOG magazine have a very, very strong idea BOVA: We didn't have much disagree- of what they think the content of ment, so there was never a tussle ANALOG should be. They change their to see who had the say. s

SFR: It seemed to somehow work out I once broke my heart to the BOVA: I think that space flight much more powerfully when I real- whole Science Fiction Convention offers perhaps the only opportunity ized that "Oh, Stars, Won’t You Hide when I was assigned the negative we have to solve the problems here Ms" is actually a religious analogy. part of a debate. The resolution on earth. Most of the humans alive

was : Resolved that we must back today will never go off this plan- BOVA: I don't know if you could the O'Niell space colony concept. et and yet the few that do have call it religious. It's a story I was assigned the negative, and I the opportunity will bring back about the end of the universe. It pointed out to the audience that riches. Three kinds of riches: should have powerful overtones. they are all in favor of the O'Neill energy, raw material and new social That story began when I was a kid, space colony idea because they all ideas. This is the first time since listening to YOUR HIT PARADE. It have made the tacit assumption that the opening up of North America by was a radio and later a television they will go into space. I said, European colonists that we've had a show doing the top ten tunes of the "None of you will. None of you chance to do this. Most of the peo- week. And Snooky Lanson did a Lucky have the dollars and none of you ple in Europe, Asia and Africa never Strike Extra one week, a song that will have the training". The nega- left their land. They never became was not in the top ten, but they tive side won the debate. colonists and settled the New World wanted to do it anyway: the old and yet the development of the New folk song, "Sinner Man", the first SFR: Why did you not put O'Niell World changed the lives of every time I had heard it. And there it colonies in MILLENIUM? human being in Europe and Asia and is, there is that line, "Stars, wcn't Africa and all over the world. Very you hide me". And I said, "Wow, BOVA: I wanted to concentrate in few human beings will go into space, there's a story that should be the MILLENIUM, on the political revival and yet the things that they do last story in an anthology. The ul- of the cold war and the technology there will change the lives of all timate story. It took ten years for that I wanted to concentrate on was the people who remain on earth. me to figure out what the story the ABM satellites, which I think It has already changed our lives should be, except for that feeling. is an area that the L-5 colony more than we realize, more than we people have just not brought out at understand. The fact that we have SFR: Given your concerns in that all. MILLENIUM was actually writ- observation satellites, the mili- story, are you worried that if we ten and published before O'Niell' tary of both United States and Rus- got out to the stars, we would, not work came out. If I had thought a sia, have satellites that can count having matured properly, act like bit about it and put O'Niell's col- the number of missile silos each barbarians? onies in, it would have been a dis- nation can build, has led to the ruptive factor in the novel. You SALT talks, has led to beginning of BOVA: Not particularly. I think notice in MILLENIUM, I broke up a disarmament. Very few people cred we will be human beings, there will China. I said China is not really it the space program for beginning be the same mixture of saints and an important factor in politics. to lower the nuclear tension. devils among us. You could turn it We've gotten back to a two-nation around and say, "If we get to the confrontation, the Soviet Union and stars, that's a test of a certain the United States. If I'd played SFR: Do you believe that Jimmy level of maturity". But you can't fair and allowed China a major role, Carter will ever favor using re- get there if you destroy your plan- or even a United Europe a major sources in order to spur the O'Niell et with pollution or war. role, it would have complicated be- colony concept? yond endurance, the story that I One of the points that I am wanted to tell. I deliberately, BOVA: No, why should he? This bringing out in my new book, COLONY, and perhaps unjustifiably, pared should not be a national govern- is that the O'Niell colonies, this away complications, made the story mental job, this should be and will concept of colonizing the solar as clean and simple as I could, be- be done by corporations. system now, is incredibly important cause I wanted to tell a certain for many, many reasons. One of the story. SFR: First of all, where are cor- most important reasons is we will porations going to get the finances; have spread the home grounds of the SFR: What is your basic view of second, where are they going to get human race to beyond this one plan- the future of mankind in general the legal necessities to go into et. So if we do screw up this plan- and space flight in particular? space? et, as we show every sign of doing, there will still be a human race surviving elsewhere. And not just scratching out a living on the surface of the moon, but surviving in self-sufficient earth- like colonies.

SFR: You seem to feel very strongly about the L-5 or the O'Niell colony concept?

BOVA: The whole idea of expanding our habitat, our ecological niche, into space -- I don't think very many human beings will live in space in the next century or two. Space is inhospitable, it is a difficult area to live in, it will be very, very expensive, and only the very richest people, rich in either dollars or in technical wisdom, will be able to go. BOVA: The legal situation is being government working for ITT that It would be fascinating to consider ironed out right now. Every major destroyed the leftist regime in what the world would be like if corporation in the United States Chile. This has been on the front the Dark Ages had not occurred, if (and as far as I know, the same sit- page of the New York Times; it's the Catholic Church, in its infin- uation exists in Europe) are all no secret, it's no daring revela- ite wisdom, had not shut down the paying very high-priced planning tion, but it's a matter of looking School of Athens in the second or people to examine what they can do at the way the world is really go- third century A.D. And if there to make a profit in space. ing. had never been a Dark Age, if the All Science Fiction people as- knowledge of the ancient Romans SFR- So it is very much in their sume some day, and in the not-too- and Greeks had just kept on build- heads distant future, we will have a ing, if Galileo or his counterpart had done his experiments in the third world government. But I always ask RQY/'. It's very much in their the question, "How do you get there century instead of the sixteenth or heads. And they are all assuming from Tiere?" And nobody has ever seventeenth. And while you don't that the United States government been able to give me a satisfactory know what would happen, the concept will provide a transportation sys- answer. MILLENIUM was an attempt is still the territory of good tem. The first step of this trans- to show how it might happen. science fiction. That's where you portation system is the shuttle. examine these things, and you can have an awful lot of fun imagining SFR: You could have the beginnings SFR; What if we don't? in America with the ties between either good or bad outcomes or both. Jimmy Carter and the Tri-lateral But suppose we had stumbled onto BOVA: We will. Because the United Commission and the Rockefeller-Mor- nuclear power in the fifth century States government does what the gan- Rothschild banking establish- A.D. Would we be here today to corporations tell her to do. If ments. talk about it? Would there be a it looks good for RCA and General human race? Would we have an in- Motors and ITT, it's what the Unit- terstellar empire going? BOVA: No nation will surrender its ed States government winds up do- sovereignty. Neither Uganda nor ing. And other governments too. the United States will willingly There's evidence that some What we're seeing today is very surrender its sovereignty to an in- SFR: form of primitive computer existed similar to what happened in the ternational government. But the back in the third century B.C. Renaissance. The baronies and multi-national corporations are duchies were absorbed into something side-stepping the whole problem. new that nobody particularly liked, BOVA: Stonehenge is a form of prim- The nations can keep their sover- something called nations, and the itive computer and that dates from eignty. It just doesn't make any driving force behind that was the two or three millennia B.C. difference because they have no technology of deepwater ships and control over what the corporations gunpowder. We are seeing today a SFR: Did you know that the space do. planetful of nations being absorbed shuttle is already being attacked into a new political organization by certain environmental groups? Like Chase Manhattan Bank. that crosses national boundaries, SFR: They claim that a recent environment- called multi-national corporations. al impact statement shows that the BOVA: It's not a black-and-white Technology there is mostly electron- shuttle will cause damage to the situation. A nation as powerful ic. ozone layer, depleting it at the as the United States has an enor- rate of 0.2 per year based on an mous influence on how corporations estimated 60 shuttle flights per SFR: Doesn't that frighten you? behave, but the corporations have year. They also claim it will enormous influence on how the gov- No more so than the creation cause acidic rain which is damaging BOVA: ernment of the United States be- of France would have frightened me to plants in addition to causing a haves. Also on how the government if I were a Burgundian. sonic boom which will shatter win- of Salem, Oregon, behaves. dows near the space ports in Cali- What if the multi-nationals fornia and Florida. Based on this SFR: SFR: Jerry Poumelle has stated decided that in order to alleviate they say it should be scrapped. that he believes it is a do or die certain pressures on themselves Any reactions? situation, with space flight, that they would attempt to devalue the our generation is the only chance dollar BOVA: What do they offer as an al- mankind will have to get into space; ternative? if we don't do it now, it will nev- They've already done that. BOVA: er be done. Do you agree with him? SFR: Well, that we not violate God's What, say, if they decided a territory up there. SFR: BOVA: No. I think maybe for the democracy was not the best system next thousand years he might be to work with and attempted to im- BOVA: I'm reminded of a comment right but when you say 'never', pose some sort of aristocracy or made by the janitor of the Boyd you're including a long, long totalitarian government on us? Theater. I, as a young usher, was stretch of time. sent by the manager of the theater,

T think that's a very real to tell him that the thermometer BOVA: SFR: I hope I've quoted him prop- -- danger. date the corporations was down to 70 no, 69 and it To erly have been content to allow nations should be 70. He said, "You tell to have whatever internal politics that bastard to go pound sand up BOVA: Western Civilization suffer- they long as the corpora- his ass". I don't recommend that choose as ed a fifteen-hundred-year hiatus tion the nation. get as a course of action but I do think can run You between Aristotle and the Renais- into situations, particularly in that environmentalists have got to sance, between Aristotle and Galil- the smaller nations, like in Latin balance the gains against the los- eo, essentially. It was a long America, where we are just beginning ses. I think, perhaps, their fears time to wait for the next step, but to into conflicts. are overstated. But you wait until get obvious the next step eventually was taken. ITT had a war with Allende and Al- they realize that the L-5 business ende lost. It was the American 11 hinges on beaming large amounts of microwaves through the atmosphere, BOVA: No. SFR: The economics of pocket cal- you want to see screaming and cry- culators, for instance, shows that ing? You haven't seen anything yet. SFR: Why not? the cost eventually would come down, for L-5s. Also, another force against SFR: BOVA: Simple economics. If you're space by the folks who follow the going to get your raw material on BOVA: Oh, the cost would certainly Club of Rome, and have their own the moon, you're going to live on come down, but I do think that if predictions of limited resources the moon. There's no reason to go your real objective is to build so- space- flight, and who advocate a no- schlepping out to L-5 and build the lar power satellites to sell the "steady- state" fut- no- technology, colony for that kind of cost when energy, and you're going to build ure. what you really want are solar pow- these satellites with materials on er satellites in geosyncronous orb- the moon, you'll build them with a leads directly into BOVA: But that it around the earth. lunar station, not an L-5 colony. world totalitarian regime a total L-5 is a lovely idea and will even- like you would never be able to im- SFR: How would one then best go tually come to pass, I think, per- would have to legislate agine. You about making an L-5 colony? haps not at L-5 -- as a matter of could the number of children people fact, if you're looking at the aes- have all over the world. Can you BOVA: If you want to make an L-5 thetics of it, you would place your imagine what a crushing dictator- colony, you do it exactly the way colony at L-4, because you get a ship would be required to carry O'Niell has suggested. I don't much prettier view of the moon from that out? think you'll make one, not for a L-4. From an L-5, you're seeing a long time to come. I think the ec- lot of the back side of the moon SFR: These people would probably onomic drive would be to produce which is largely high lands and is be in favor of it. energy on the surface of the earth rather monotonous to look at. with solar power satellites that ' BOVA: No, they wouldn't, not for are SFR: On another topic, you were themselves. For other people it is built of lunar materials. L-5 sideways. one of the first to criticize STAR fine, control them, but when the is a needless step WARS in a letter to TIME magazine. government says, "Hey, you've got SFR: Do we know enough about three eggs in that refrigerator, WeH> They misquoted me. gOVA : and you should only have two", then closed- system ecology to create an they'd get a little upset. By then L-5 colony? SFR: Could you elaborate upon your it would be too late. The Club of criticism of the movie, first of all BOVA: No. I think O'Niell and Rome Study is the greatest argument your reason for writing the letter? in favor of space flight that has many other people who've examined ever been put on paper; it says in this have raised this question, so this is an area which needs much BOVA: What happened was, the staff black and white in computer goddam people TIME, who were going further study. We know enough a- at to printouts, "If you do not get out do an article about the movie, in- of this box, you're gonna have to bout it to write interesting nov- vited me to see the preview. I control everything." The amount of els, but there's an old piece of wisdom in the aerospace industry went with Victoria Schochet and air that everybody breathes will Robert Fones, my associate editor be government- issued. when a manufacturer comes out with a new airplane, a commercial air- and assistant editor. It seemed ob- liner: Wait a year before you buy vious to me before the lights went SFR: Yet, the majority, 92%, ac- a ticket one. There out and the movie began, that the cording to a recent Harris poll, on is always a little bug in the system TIME people^ who were there ostensab- are in favor of space flight, and somewhere that results ly to see the film so they could one proposed program that has at- in a crash. Or they say, "Aha, write an article about it, had al- tracted a large amount of attention yes, the door pops open when it shouldn't". All ready gotten the word from on high and is one of the factors in space you have to do is tighten this that this was going to be an extreme- flight's current popularity, is the screw a little more, then it's ly favorable article. L-S concept. Do you believe, that a perfectly wonderful airplane and goes into as it's being worked out right now, We watched the movie, giggling service for years without that L-5 will work? Technologically? 20 a and saying, "Oh, no, not that, not hitch. that cliche -- yep, there it is!" When the film was over, they took us out to lunch, and I spent the entire lunch telling them everything that I thought was wrong with the movie, which was considerable. The major things that I objected to, aside from the fact that there was not an original frame in the whole film, that it was all so highly imitative that I wished that I were seeing the real thing. I would much rather see Errol Flynn than that kid with the acne, whoever he is. The major problems I had with the film were not the technological problems, or the science fictional problems, but just plain old drama and interest. The film was dull, and as a story, there was nothing there. I mean, people running, going 'Boo!' really is not drama. The beautiful princess was neither beautiful nor had the slightest SFR: What are your feelings on the shred of royalty about her. She movie CLOSE ENCOUNTERS? looked and sounded and behaved like a dropout from Glendale High. This BOVA: I was rather disappointed in philosophy of "Trust the Force" is it. I expected a lot more. I be- straight out of Madison Avenue. lieve it builds up to a marvelous That's the philosophy for a slave. ending which is actually an anti- Don't use the computer, don't use climax. You expect something real- the technology that people have ly spectacular to come out and what sweated for centuries to create, does is the Munchkins. just wait for Alec Guiness to whis- per in your ear and everything will SFR: Five-year-old girls. come out all right. That is pure bullshit and it is Hollywood bull- BOVA: Yes, well, whatever they are. shit at its bullshittiest. It once again shows a total lack of imagination, of depth of thought, There are a large number of that goes into these films. things right about STAR WARS. After all, 200 million people have seen It is not enough to do wonder- the movie all over the world. I ful special effects. The basis of think for a large part, it is the science fiction is thought, think- Christmas tree phenomenon, however. ing of new ideas. These films are You turn off your brains and revert dealing with old hackneyed mater- to infantile fantasy. There are a ial, and they haven't produced a lot of people jumping around, there new thought yet. are a lot of bright lights flashing and nothing very much else is going SFR: Do you think current novels on. As far as science fiction is in science fiction could be filmed concerned, George Lucas has pointed today? out to people that it is not science is probably the worst thing ever could today fiction and was never intended to BOVA: They be filmed put on commercial TV. be science fiction, but that's the but I'm wondering if they would at- way it gets sold. The public tends tract a large enough audience? SFR: How did you get rooked into to think that anything with space There is a very big difference be- that? ships and rockets in it is Sci-Fi. tween science fiction novels and For somebody who has never read a science fiction movies. It is a BOVA: Well, it was Harlan Ellison's science fiction story they can now veiy curious thing which appears to idea. He originated the series go to see STAR WARS and believe be mental, and I'm to the point and it sounded very, very good. that they know what the genre is where I wonder if we will ever get Harlan went to Twentieth Century Fox all about. good science fiction movies. Be- and told them, "Let's do a novel on cause published science fiction, the television". They thought and pon- things that you and I read and write, dered and said, (this was many years SFR: Could you not forgive STAR is written largely for people who before ROOTS) "No, it wouldn't work" WARS its faults in view of the large enjoy thinking. And this is a rel- So Harlan comes up with a new idea, potential audience of readers it atively small audience. When you which is fantastically successful, could bring? spend twenty million dollars making only he's five years ahead of the a movie, you have to appeal to a idea's inception. Just, as he got BOVA: No, I don't believe it's large, large audience. So you himself totally barred from ABC for bringing in a large amount of read- have to appeal to the lowest com- a while for chiding them in print ers. mon denominator. for not picking up a new show called ALL IN THE FAMILY. The basic SFR: Are you aware that the reissue SFR: Some people would say that ideas he had were pretty good and of THX-1138, the novelization of the concept that science fiction he wanted a science advisor, some- the George Lucas movie which audience , you only appeals to a small body who could work with Doug Trum- did, is now out again with a cover smacks of elitism. ball, the executive producer. The blurb which reads, "From the Man other key people were TV people. Who Brought You STAR WARS"? BOVA: Yes, it certainly does. It was a lot of fun. I liked work- Which would you rather be with, the ing with Harlan. Depite all the BOVA: Yes, I am well aware of elites or the drones? You have terrible stories about Harlan, he is that. The publisher finally manag- read THE MARCHING MORONS. That’s very easy to work with, one of the ed to put in the last 3 pages which the fate of the universe, Charlie. few really professional writers in they had left out of the original If you're not with the winners, this business. It is very much a novelization. As you know, in the you're with the losers. pleasure to work with him. The novel, the book ends with old THX writers strike came along and for clamboring up a ladder. This was SFR: Speaking of losers, you were awhile there, while the writers not the real ending, of course, the the science advisor for a series were all on strike, they got some- publisher having, left out the last called THE STAR LOST. body to start doing scripts, which few pages. And I got calls from were pretty terrible. Eventually, all over the country asking me if I BOVA: (Laughs) Yes, I turned Twentieth Century Fox moved the had turned into a New Wave writer. that into a profit, fortunately. show to Toronto, partially because of the strike, and partially because SFR: Did it end in the middle of SFR- You mean the novel STAR CROS- they thought it would be cheaper. a sentence? SED'. Now, the big problem, the thing that really sank THE STAR LOST, in BOVA: No, it happened that the sen- BOVA: Yes, that television series twenty- twenty hindsight, was that tence ended at the end of the page. 13 they were not able to sell the concept of a big science fiction pack- Brown, have you had a chance to bear arms. They might not worry age to any of the 3 major networks. read what he says in his 1977 mag- about other issues, but when it's So they decided to do it in syndic- azine summary about ANALOG? their nose being tweaked, they get ation. Because then, it would not upset pretty fast. be in prime time, Twentieth Century BOVA: No, I haven't. Fox started cutting the expenditures SFR: Then you have no intention to the bone. Now off it went to SFR; In LOCUS 208, Charlie Brown of quitting? Toronto to be done by a group of mentions that ANALOG had a poor sales people who had never, never done a year in 1977. The magazine is dull BOVA: No, I haven't any intention dramatic television show before. and boring and he wouldn't be sur- of quitting. I think I might, prised, meaning Charlie Brown, if some day, do it -- I'm not sure SFR: Never? Ben Bova resigned. when. You see, I've always considered myself to be a writer, a pro- BOVA: Never. The actors, of course, BOVA: Well, I think he's hit the fessional writer, and the ANALOG had, but the directors, the backup nail on the head as far as the cir- job is financially, and you might people, none of the crew, had ever culation is concerned. We had to say, spiritually, a hobby. They're been involved in a dramatic TV show. raise the price to $1.25 and that paying me less than they did Camp- You saw the results. did cause a drop in circulation, bell. John certainly didn't buy but it is building back up. I think his groceries with the money he was SFR: Outside of a few movies, done as far as Charlie finding the maga- paid from ANALOG, and neither can I. in the 1950s, it is one of the There's just not enough money in- worst things I have ever seen. volved in the magazine.

BOVA:. I tell you, THE STAR CROS- SFR: You mean Mr. Campbell had SED, purely fictional novel, is a other outside writings? that was inspired by my experience there at THE STAR LOST. But although BOVA: No, he had other outside THE STAR CROSSED is wildly unlikely holdings. His family was much bet- and improbable in some respects, it ter off than mine. does not exaggerate the actual events re THE STAR LOST. In THE STAR LOST there was drama, conflict, SFR: How did you get the ANALOG pathos, danger behind the cameras. editorship? In front of the cameras, though, total bathos and utter boredom. BOVA: By surprise. When John died the Conde Nast management asked Kay SFR: Unfortunately, though, you Tarrant to prepare a list of poten- didn't get to take your name off tial replacements for John Campbell. it as Harlan did. Kay in turn asked several of the magazine's steady contributors to BOVA: No, I didn't have that op- make up lists for her. I was not a tion. All the people in the Screen steady contributor. Nobody asked Writer's Guild, had that option with me to make such a list, but apparent- their working contract. Science ly my name popped up on two or advisor, no. It is sort of like three of the lists, and I was in- being science advisor to Richard zine dull, that's his personal opin- terviewed along with several other ion. Nixon. Everybody listened to me, The letters we get from read- people. When they interviewed me I ers indicate that paid me quite a bit, said I was do- they find it any- said, "Gee, you don't say no to an ing a great job and in the end went thing but dull. We get a fair am- opportunity like this. It is like ahead and did things their own way, ount of letters from very young being asked to run for president". readers, which is good; we're try- totally ignoring my advise. I told the guy who was interviewing ing to reach the young reader with- me that my experience in editing out deteriorating the quality of SFR: Like taking the money and run- had been with very small magazines. the magazine. We have had several ning. I knew nothing about putting out a write in and say, "Gee, I've just national magazine. He chuckled and found a magazine that's really ex- BOVA: Yeah, except in my case, I said, "We know everything about put- took the money and flew. citing and I'm glad I happened onto ting out a national magazine-. We it". Of course, we get lots of don't know anything about ANALOG". letters from readers every week tel- SFR: Is there any chance of in- The man who was interviewing me, creasing the print size in ANALOG? ling me what I'm doing wrong. This by the way, is now the president of This is a question that several peo- is an important feature of the mag- Conde Nast. So eventually they azine. ANALOG should be an idea ple asked me to ask you. called me back, I was living in Bos- battleground and that's good. When ton at the time, and he read to me we stop having readers getting ir- BOVA: No. The print size? a piece of the fiction and non-fic- ate at the magazine, then we'll be tion of all the people who were con- in trouble. SFR: Yes, some people said they sidered. He said mine was the eas- found it hard to read. A recent story of ours, "To Keep iest to understand, so I got the and Bear Arms", has got many of the job. BOVA: I've never heard that com- gun people from all over the coun- I remained in Boston plaint before. However, speaking For a while try writing and calling in. They because my kids were still living of print size, how about Charlie are very upset over the pre- basic there and I commuted down to New Brown and LOCUS? Now LOCUS is hard mise of the story, which is an York three days a week, then went to- read. amendment the to Constitution say- back to Boston. Eventually, I moving that the people have a duty to ed into an apartment here in New SFR: Speaking of LOCUS, and Charlie 14 York. SFR: I remember in P. Schuyler Mil- ing. His editorials, his personal box and say, "Aha, now I know what ler's review of your first novel... conversations, his correspondence he is really like", but John was with writers and with everybody else always changing and changing the You know, I ran (because in science fiction anybody magazine, too. It is a shame, I BOVA : just across that. I was going through some old can turn out to be a writer) were think, that he died in one of his papers and things that my son brought aimed to produce stories for ANALOG. down periods. I think that in an- down from Boston and in them Sky's He was constantly heckling, badger- other couple of years he would have review of my first novel, THE STAR ing, trying in any way he could, to started off in a new direction and CONQUERERS. He was much kinder to persuade people to write. Now, I everybody would have thought once the book than it actually warranted. came into the magazine in a very, again, "He is a terrific innovator". very different situation. There were lots of writers out there. SFR: Do you have any desire your- SFR: When he said in the review Science fiction had very few maga- self to start off in a new direc- that he would like to see a lot zine short story outlets. I'm tion? more of you, I'll bet he never sitting at the top of the pyramid; thought you'd end up as his editor. everybody's sending their stuff to BOVA: I am doing that constantly. ANALOG first. What we are trying to do at ANALOG He couldn't have been BOVA: more is to broaden our own base of oper- surprised than I was. I was sure ation, so that we can keep the price somebody SFR: How was the transition period? else would get the job of the magazine fairly stable. I and the two I thought most likely The worst think it is a disaster for magazines were Poul Anderson and Harry Harri- BOVA: part of it was that in the five to keep passing on their cost inson. months or so between John Campbell's death and my coming creases to their readers.' You just into the magazine, nobody had read can't go on that way indefinitely. SFR: How do your philosophies dif- the manuscripts. There fer from John Campbell's? In par- was literal- ly a roomfull of SFR: Hopefully, that could be done ticular your editorial philosophy? manuscripts. I

BOVA: My philosophy's very simple. Try to do the same thing John did. I think John worked out a tremendous office management system which continues to work very well. His philosophy was we buy the stories that we like and that is what we print. And if you see a manuscript that you don't like and you believe needs some changes, you tell the author, "Make the changes and we will buy it". Too many of the editors feel they must buy the story from the writer and then rewrite or "better" it. I know that's happened to me many times. John's philosophy was, and I think it is a good one, is that when we buy a story we are buying the rights to print it, nothing else.

SFR: Do you bounce ideas off your put in a hell of a lot of work. Kay by accepting more advertising. writers as John Campbell did? Tarrant stayed on for the interim period and helped me with the off- BOVA: No, science fiction maga- BOVA: To a much lesser extent. I ice work and taught me about it so zines don't have enough readers to think John was a very unique man in that by the time I had reduced the attract advertisers No advertiser that he would send you letters of manuscripts to an average weekly in his right mind would spend money rejection explaining what was wrong pile I had a good feeling for the on ads to science fiction magazines with your story, which were many job. times longer the than original sto- SFR: How so? -- ries. Each page of his rejection SFRj What did she do did she would have 10 or 15 story ideas in retire? it. I've never tried to do that. BOVA: Well, because science fiction It Yes. was a special ability of John's BOVA: magazines have such a small audience and I don't know anybody else who that a national advertiser can get could How tough was do it. On the other hand, SFR; it in your early a much better return for his money when days of editing ANALOG? John took over the magazine in in another medium. What would you '37, there weren't enough stories advertise in a science fiction mag- that - When he liked. He had to create BOVA: people would write in azine that a specific reader would saying, the stories and in doing so he cre- "I'm going to cancel my not see elsewhere? ated some authors. He had to re- subscription because such and such story make science fiction into what he a or illustration appeared", Are you going to loosen the when in SFR; wanted, and he was always worried actuality John, not me, had restrictions on violence and sex in that the day would come when there bought the item in question. I ANALOG? weren't enough stories to fill the would usually tell them, "Well, un- magazine. Everything John did at fortunately John did buy it". Peo- ANALOG was set up to guarantee the ple kept trying to put John in a BOVA: There are no restrictions on magazine enough stories to keep go- 15 violence and sex in ANALOG. That .

has been my philosophy for a long a disaster. Take a look at our ed- tual results. I would compare it time. Just as I would not buy a ucational system in general. It's with the number of coal miners who story simply because it had sex or such a shambles that it's hard to get knocked off every year. The dirty language in it, I would not believe that teachers are getting number of people who die from a hy- -- reject a story because it had sex into science fiction -- they should droelectric power dam collapsing or dirty language in it. I think, be getting into reading and writing. nuclear power is very clean, very in many cases, there are stories Now, I realize that many teachers safe; as for those who are against where the language or the sex is do science fiction in an effort to it, I've been a journalist all my very extraneous to the story and get their students interested in life. I know slanted news coverage detracts from it. At that point I reading. As far as that is succes- when I see it. I have a feeling ask the writer to do something about sful, I guess it's okay. I have a that a lot of the people that are it. We have very few restrictions feeling that what we need in schools opposing nuclear power are being cov- now. On the other hand, many of is a return to some degree of auth- ertly supported by the Arabs. No our readers are very uptight. We oritarianism. School children are one stands to gain more by nuclear did a story with a verb "to fuck" not the equal of adults, and a power going down in this country in it and got several rather stiff teacher should not be a student's than the Arabs. letters from our readers: "If you pal. A teacher should be an auth- use that word again. I'll cancel ority figure who says, "Do this, it SFR: Then it is a conspiracy? my subscription". I wrote right is good for you, and if you don't do it, you will be punished". BOVA: Oh, I doubt it, but it would make a damned good novel. People SFR: You once said that GALAXY was are easily gulled. We were talking owned by the Mafia, or at least you about elitism a while back. If you were quoted as saying that at a are not a member of the elite, you Writer's conference. In Washington are a member of the hoi polloi. And state in 1977. the hoi polloi always marches off in the wrong direction. They are BOVA: UPD is not owned by it but easily manipulated. A lot of the the story in New York is that they stuff being said about nuclear pow- are up to their ears in hock. Uni- er and the damage it would do, is versal Publishing Distribution, that utter nonsense. One thing that is. And they have been selling concerns me about science fiction pieces of the company off to pay readers is how short-sighted they off their debts, and they have been can be. Nuclear waste will be with putting as little money as possible us for 20,000 years, some of them into the remaining pieces of the say. Bullshit! In 50 years it will company. They have been trying to be off the planet. get rid of GA1AXY for quite some By the way, did you know that time, but they have made the price today is the 20th anniversary of much too high for anybody to be the first successful orbiting of the seriously interested. So by putting Vanguard satellite? I was on the as as little money into GALAXY they project at that time, and about 20 possibly end result is that can, the years ago there were a lot of us or- one of the top magazines in the biting around up there. Right al- field is really struggling, finan- ongside the satellite. cially, editorially and in every other way. Jim Baen, at the end of SFR: Due to the success of STAR his tenure there, was working out of WARS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS there are long- his home, because UPD would no now a lot of magazines on the news- That is er pay to rent an office. stands which look at the visual the publishing business. You guys side of science fiction. There are only see writers and editors when also several new SF mags slated, they are haring fun, when they are most interestingly an entry from being lionized. The reality is Penthouse Publications, entitled much grimmer. back to them asking which particu- NOVA. . .

lar word it was . There are some we What are your thoughts on the can't do without. We have to be a $pp. BOVA: Yes, I had wine with Bob controversy surrounding nuclear little touchy about it. No doubt and Kathy Guccione. They asked me power? many of our readers do get upset. over to chat about NOVA. They are In fact some of them have even writ- very proud of what they are doing, . I feel like Frank Herbert, ten me and said, they like to read and I was quite impressed with the ours the country as an environ- ANALOG because they know there won't K fact that they seem to want to do a mentalist, and tells everybody that be anything in there to upset very reputable job. When I first nuclear power is the safest form of them. They don't get upset over heard about NOVA, I was afraid it power because no one has ever got- arguments about how to run an inter- was going to be naked broads in out- ten killed from it. stellar empire or nuclear power er space or Bermuda Triangle stor- plants but some aspect of sex and ies. But the main emphasis seems What would you say to those some gutter language does bother to be not just on science fiction who say that a lot of nuclear pow- them. but on factual science, of the Carl er plant workers have been killed Sagen and Isaac Asimov variety, but by leukemia which was caused from How do you view academe's in- that, I think-, is fairly eye-open- SFR: working the trusion into science fiction? in plant? ing in that they think there is a major market for that kind of stuff BOVA: I would like to see the ac- BOVA: I think academe's intrusion in this country. And I think they everywhere has been pretty much of 16 are right. They are going about . putting the magazine together the to writing, of whatever age. A and digest things in a certain man- way the big publishers would. And large part of our contributors are ner. There is a lot of lovely writ- they are looking first at, frankly, people who have turned to ANALOG ing and a lot of experimental writ- the kind of advertising they can and writing after years in other ing. The main audience out there get for it. That determines their careers just won't go for it. They want budget which in turn determines stories they can understand. They their format and circulation. There want to be entertained. In fact, If Guccione called you up will be a large amount of non-fic- SFR: while a reader is reading a story, and asked you tomorrow,- "Hey, would tion in the magazine. he wants to believe that he could would you like to be editor of NOVA," be in the story, that he could be you accept or not? SFR: Most long-time observers of the hero. It is why you find a Poul the field tend to view this current Anderson, a Gordon Dickson, becoming Probably not. magazine activity with cynicism. BOVA: successful, because they can write How it? a story which you can put yourself do you view think should be SFR: What do you into. done about some of the poor writ- Well, if I am cynical about BOVA: ing and ideation in the SF field? it, it is only because I believe we SFR: How do you feel about the Do you believe editors ought to be have enough readers in the United new . talent that is coming into the tougher? States to support big magazines. field? But I think that situation is chang- BOVA: No, given their position, ing. Look at Isaac Asimov, who BOVA: There are a lot of good writ- they are about as tough as they has a very loyal and steady reader- can be. Science fiction is an area ship for his books. And his maga- where the concept of the story is zine become quite success in has a considered more important than the a very short time. And look at Carl form. Sagan and the other science writers. They have carved out quite a slice So you would agree with the of the marketplace for their writ- SFR: critic who said, "SF is uniquely ing, and I think if handled proper- equipped to deal with the totality ly, a big, slick magazine of non- of human experience, yet it usually fiction and science fiction could gives us pat answers to complex work. Look at PSYCHOLOGY TODAY, problems, and treats us to ill-con- for instance. ceived, hastily-sketched characters."

SFR: Do you believe that a magazine BOVA: Well, that is the usual kind like NOVA would help ANALOG? of critic bullshit. The fact that the form is considered to be less Yes, very much so. I think BOVAl important than the content drives that the more science fiction we critics up the wall. They are ac- find the on newsstand, the better customed to examining individual each fiction magazine will science paragraphs and praising them for do. Also note that PENTHOUSE spent their beauty or lack of such. In five million dollars a three or over science fiction you have the sort four year period making VIVA a suc- of writing which is not usually us- cess, and it has just now got into ed in creative writing courses. the black. I think it is important It is stories about real people do- if starting magazine you are a ven- ing real things in fantastic situa- ture, to stay with it for four or tions. The form and style is not five years. It usually takes that as important as the idea, content long for a major magazine to make and background. Good characteriza- it. Too many magazine publishers tion is very important in science start out on a shoestring and fold fiction. It is very difficult to quickly because they can't wait un- do in the very short form, one rea- til the magazine shows a profit. son why I think the novelette is science fiction's best length. SFR: In that respect Asimov's magazine might be an anomaly. ers out there. As a matter of fact, SFR: As an undergraduate English that is one of the few joys an ed- major, I know a lot of professors Yes, it is. It was done on itor gets, finding a new author in BOVA: who view the plot as an unnecessary a a slush pile, finding something fairly small basis and it keyed evil. very directly into a very easily good out of that pile of incredibly identifiable and reachable market. bad manuscripts. BOVA: That is because they don't have the necessary brains to under- Where do you see the field SFR: How will NOVA affect ANALOG? SFR: stand it. Their minds get tired going? trying to follow something that com- Our authors, both the big BOVA: plex. They like to dissect para- ones in the field down to the new- BOVA: I think with the technolog- graphs, they cannot think in terms comers, know that ANALOG gives them ical data that is coming out about of stories. Science fiction writ- the best treatment for their part- colonization of space, the writing ers are doing what Homer did --we icular sort of stories. If NOVA can become much more realistic. Al- are entertaining a tough demanding begins to buy stories in the ANALOG so biology is an area where SF writ- audience that is easily distracted. vein, then we might have some comers can expand. We are telling stories for the same petition at the top of the market. reason Homer did, because the human But at ANALOG we still seek out the SFR: Where do you see your writ- nervous system is built to accept new writers, by that I mean not ing going or where would you like just young writers, but people new 17 to see it go? : .

BOVA: To the Nobel prize for lit- SFR: How about ANALOG magazine and City at the Edge of the World", erature . the ANALOG book line? Who will be which is the sequel to "Toy". The in charge of them for the moment? album is Alternate World's first SFR: Thank you very much, Mr. Bova. two-record set, and next to the su- perlative "Harlan!" album, it is Victoria Schochet, former SF BOVA: Thank you. BOVA: Alternate World's finest effort. editor at Harper 8 Row, will continue in the interim. Bloch's and Ellison's reading styles are almost completely oppos- SFR: How about the new editor of ite, yet their voices perfectly com- ANALOG? Two names I have heard are plement the stories. Bloch reads George R.R. in a calm, sedate fashion, while ADDENDUM Martin and Spider Rob- El- inson. lison's reading is excited, almost NOTE BY ELTON ELLIOTT: hysterically tense. For the stories BOVA: Neither one is being consid- involved, this is perfect, since Several months after the above ered. We are, however, in the pro- Bloch's two tales are more straight- cess of forward narratives, while Ellison's interview was completed, I heard recommending and consider- rumors that Ben Bova had resigned ing new potential editors; one name is filled with verbal pyrotechnics. I have recommended is Stanley Schmidt from ANALOG. I checked with Victor- The readings are all of such As for the final selection, I have ia Schochet, assistant editor of high quality it is hard to pick out some input but not the final vote. ANALOG, who confirmed the fact that favorite scenes. But I'd have to Mr. Bova had indeed resigned, and say that Bloch's describing the Rip- To another subject, have you on the sixth of July, 1978, I got SFR: per's activities in "Yours Truly" noticed that Pocket Books put 'SF' in touch with Ben via phone. and Ellison's telling of the replay on the spine of COLONY. I thought Here of one of the Ripper's killings are his comments it was to be marketed as a main- were two high points. There is some stream novel. SFR: Why did you resign? incidental background music in the Bloch tales, but is nearly absent All I know is that it is at BOVA: Well, I think seven years in BOVA: in the Ellison, which doesn't need the front of a lot of the stores I one place is long enough. Also it. The music for "Yours Truly" is have seen, but, God, yes, it is on Conde Nast was unwilling to put suitable dark, while that for "Toy" the spine. Well, let's hope the money into expanding their SF. I is light-hearted in keeping with average readers don't notice it. believe that SF should make great the tone of the story. strides. They disagreed, and so It does, however, have a cover which before the situation deteriorated looks like RETURN OF MANDINGO, which ought to make further, I said to hell with it. it sell like crazy. They are way too conservative. ************************************

SFR: Was it a matter of money?

No, it was a matter of policy. BOVA: .... I believe that SF should be at the HE HEARS profit center of publishing. I wanted to expand into records, books;, BLOOD! THE LIFE AND FUTURE TIMES OF radio, TV and new magazines. As a JACK THE RIPPER Heinlein character once said, "It's As read by Robert Bloch and Harlan raining soup. It is time to get a Ellison bucket". To answer a few questions Alternate World Recordings, Inc. your editor, Richard Geis, raised $13.95 in letter to me: Reviewed by Mark Mansell My resignation is not over more money for myself. It is not because Science fiction recordings have I wanted to make radical changes in become big business in the past two ANALOG. It is not because I wanted years. Although there are over a more money for writers. I found handful of companies putting out that the money makes no difference spoken-word records of various auth- as to the quantity or quality of ors, the two leaders in the field manuscripts. for As increased com- are Caedmon and Alternate World Re- petition from ASIMOV'S, they're past- cordings. Among science fiction oriented. This isn't the direction fans, Alternate World is the more I believe SF magazines should go. popular (although Caedman is larger) because of the excellent choices of What is All in all, this is an excellent SFR: the future for you? the author readings, and because the package, well worth the rather steep company is run by Roy and Shirley price. I hear that it has been nom- BOVA: I am looking over several Torgeson, who are closely involved inated for a Hugo, the first record editorial positions and offers. I in science fiction. would really like to just concen- to be nominated in the dramatic trate on writing for a while. BLOOD! is a collection of sto- category (although it is a foregone ries involving Jack the Ripper as conclusion that STAR WARS will win) SFR: Have you been offered a posi- read by Robert Bloch and Harlan El- The nomination is well-deserved, tion at NOVA? lison, the authors. The stories since the only bad thing I can say are Bloch's "Yours Truly, Jack the about the record set is the rather BOVA: I won't confirm or deny that. Ripper" and "A Toy for Juliette", mediocre Tom Barber jacket illustra- I believe that tells you what you and Ellison's is "The Prowler in the tion. need to know. 1 8 ************************************ . .' ,

T LETTER FROM NEAL WILGUS character . . . they 'd better be damn- CONTINUED FROM P, 7 to carry me and most June 12, 1978 ed good at it rates, the last few years have been readers. And in sf, DAMN FEW writ- very mild. This is because newspap- 'Your "impassioned editorial" ers are capable of that. ers and magazines use second class. (SFR #25, p.22) about writers way- ((I thought I had some content And they have clout with congress ward enough to write for intelli- in ONE IMMORTAL MAN, with more to commission. and the rate-setting gent readers rather than the brain- come ; subtle and not so subtle com- Since it has been to my advant- washed masses seems like a plea for ment on mankind, on people ... on single copies of SFR age to send one-dimensionality to me. Why are societies . . . Symbolism . . . Tsk. bookrate heretofore, I went that we always trying to impose a single You're just not looking deeply en- route. Now a six ounce SFR with env- criteria on such a hybrid creature ough. You're not WORKING HARD EN- elope costs 48

strike this summer) , it seems to me But there are many writers who do to the point, but they talk about that postage rates will continue to think in advance about Message or your story and why it was rejected skyrocket in the first, third and Meaning or Miscellaneous who also ... They're not mass-produced and fourth classes. Political considera- produce fine work and it seems point- standard, leaving you with the feel- tions and economic conditions will less and counterproductive to rage ing no human actually handled your determine the next first class raise against them as you do in SFR. Ac- MS. If more editors did this it ---and the "invisible" third and tion-oriented writers produce ac- might alleviate the despair over a book rate rates will get the goosing tion-oriented fiction and other-or- reject and, instead, prompt those continually. iented writers produce other-orient- new writers to produce the type of ed fiction -- and thank the Muses story editors want.' for such an ingenious plan. 'The first installment of ONE IMMORTAL MAN is a good example of the action-oriented story you advocate and I enjoyed it and look forward to continuing it next issue -- 7-7-78 Further word on the postal but surely you wouldn't want to lim- service rip-off it fiction solely to this level, rate structure: in 7-8-78 In the May, 1978 issue of even if you could. With its con- 1979 the single piece fourth class LOCUS was a front page article/story centration the sur- book rate will rise to 59if. Up from on glittering dealing with a new standard Pocket face IMMORTAL MAN what the latest rise to 48 $. The cost of ONE does you Books contract which is outraging want it which I assume to grip book rate mailing has virtually (or to is authors and agents. the reader's attention and compel will have) doubled by July of 1979, I think it so important that from him to carry through to the end of july of 1977, and will have I asked Charles Brown, publisher of the story/experience you've tripled from July of 1975. prepar- LOCUS, and Marta Randall, author of The postal unions' contracts run ed for him. Well and good, but so the analysis-of-the-contract article, out on July 20th of this year, though does every writer/ entertainer from for permission to reprint the story no one expects a strike. Well, may- Edgar Rice Burroughs to James Joyce and article. They both graciously and I see no need be New York .... to reject one agreed. It appears below. What I can't understand is the just because you like the other. I will have further comment seemingly arbitrary and fiendishly at the end of the article. contrived rate of 59<( for the first pound via book rate. You can bet ((You try to pigeon-hole me as your banana the post office will not an action/entertainment-only advo- the SFWA POCKET BOOKS make available any 59Joe Haldeman has been trying to ne- If those stamps are available. ((I can and do enjoy other-orient- gotiate some basic in it, but has I may just put 59 one cent stamps ' been unsuccessful. ed writers work . . . but if they re- on the envelopes and drive them nuts ject Story and lean on content and Peter Mayer, president of Pocket making sure they cancel every one of Books, feels there is nothing wrong them. 19 with the contract as a basic start- . . . : . : ing point and that various points Under the current PocketBooks con- manuscript; PocketBooks has, after are certainly negotiable. tract, however, the author owes ninety days, asked for revisions; Joe Haldeman contends that the PocketBooks the advance back whether you've made the revisions and return- new contract is so one-sided, it or not the book is sold elsewhere, ed the manuscript; a further ninety cannot be considered even a starting and, presumably, owes it back immed- days have passed with no word from point, especially for new writers iately upon rejection of the book by PocketBooks; you notify them as per who have no experience in the field. PocketBooks 5(b), and they have an additional The following discussion of the Clause 5(a): Within ninety (90) forty- five days to accept. That is contract by Marta Randall, one of days after delivery of the complete a grand total of at least 225 days, the first SF authors to receive it manuscript and related materials the or seven and one-half months, from as an offer, covers some of the Publisher shall determine whether the date of delivery. And, of course, points involved. the same are acdeptable to it in if they still decide not to publish, form or content. you have to pay them back their ad- CAVEAT AUTHOR: THE NEW POCKET The normal term for acceptance vance immediately. BOOKS CONTRACT or rejection is thirty days. This Clause 7(a): Publisher is auth- By MARTA RANDALL is three times as long. Clause 5(a) orized, in its sole discretion, to further states make any editorial changes, addi- PocketBooks, a division of Simon If Publisher requests one or tions, deletions, abridgement and § Shuster (who are in turn a division more revisions of the manuscript of condensation whatsoever in the text of Gulf § Western Corporation) has the Work. ..the publisher's time to of the Work, and is further author- recently printed up and is using a determine the acceptability thereof ized to title, sub-title, and change new standard contract, which may shall be extended for an additional the title and the chapters of said qualify as the most regressive, per- ninety ( 90) days after resubmission Work, and such authorization shall nicious and unacceptable contract , extend to by the Author. . . No request for re- any reprinting of the same going. Whether or not you are con- visions shall be deemed to obligate in any form. Publisher reserves the templating selling anything to Pock- right to omit any part of the Work etBooks, you should know about this submitted by the Author and to re- contract; the general feeling is quest substitutions or additional that if PocketBooks can get away material prior to publication, and with it, we'll be seeing this type Author agrees to make such revisions, of contract from all the other pub- substitutions, and alterations in lishers, too. the Work as Publisher may reasonably below are the most ob- Set forth request. jectionable clauses of the contract, This means exactly what it says first as printed by PocketBooks, PocketBooks may, "in its sole dis- then translated from the legalese. cretion" add, subtract, delete:, ab- There may be further clauses, not ridge, condense, and, in essence, discussed here, which various writ- substantially rewrite your book, ers will find objectionable, but I change the title, change the chapt- want to limit this discussion to the ers, etc. Don't be misled by the main events. last line of the clause: "Pocket- Books reserves the right... to request Clause 4: If the complete manu- substitutions", but is not required scipt (or related materials) deliv- to ask tie author to make the chang- ered by the Author, is not, in the es. This clause should be totally Publisher's sole Judgement, accept- unacceptable to any writer in her or able to it in content or form. Pub- his right mind. lisher may terminate this arrange- the Publisher to accept the final ment by written notice and upon such revision or to constitute condition- notice (or upon Publisher’s failure al acceptance thereof. Clause 9: Publish agrees to to accept the manuscript within the This makes six months after sub- publish and commence distribution of applicable Para- period provided in mission of the original completed the Work at its own expense during graph 5(b)), this agreement shall manuscript (supposing that you do the period commencing accept- terminate without further obligation the revisions at light-speed) during ance by the Publisher of the manu- or liability between the parties ex- which PocketBooks need not pay you, script, but not later than cept that all sums paid to the Author not even tell you whether they ac- after such acceptance. Publication by the Publisher hereunder be shall cept the book or not. shall be in any edition Publisher repayable by the Author, and except elects. as provided in Paragraph 22 hereof. In the contract before me, the Note "shall be repayable by the Clause blanks in this clause read "upon" Author". In PocketBooks' previous 5(b): If Publisher fails to accept the complete manuscript and "two (2) years", respectively. standard contract, and in any other (including related materials) or a The previous PocketBooks contract standard contract, the phrase reads revision thereof within the time a- stipulated eighteen months between "but only in the event the script is bove provided, the Author shall have acceptance and publication. What subsequently placed with another pub- the right to notify the Publisher in this means is that, taking Clause lisher and only to the extent of any writing that unless the manuscript 5(a) and (b) into account, it can be proceeds received thereby". In other is accepted within three years before your completed words, if the publisher rejects the forty-five (45) days after the delivery such no- book sees publication. And in view completed manuscript, the author has of tice, the manuscript will then be of the option clauses, discussed be- the right to sell it elsewhere, and deemed unacceptable and this agree- low, this can be a desperately long if it is sold elsewhere, the origin- ment will terminate in accordance period of time al publisher is reimbursed its orig- with the provisions Paragraph 4 Clause 17(b): If total royal- inal advance (except if you sell the of above ties due and payable are less than book for less than the original ad- You've turned completed Fifty Dollars ($50.00), the Publish- vance, in the in which case the original er may defer the rendering of state- publisher collects a smaller sum) 20 ments and payment until such regulc- . payment date as at least the said bracketed above was lined out, and factory manuscript of the Work. sum shall be due and payable to the I'm not sure whether this will be a There are a number of objection- Author. standard deletion or not. In any able things here. One is the lack Section (a) of this clause gives event, it means if PocketBooks re- of definition of "any other work PocketBooks five months in which to jects your next book, and another for publication in book form", which report sales and royalties from the publisher offers you more for it, could presumably include, for exam- previous semi-annual statement per- PocketBooks has the right to offer ple, the sale of a short story or iod. This is bad enough although you the same amount, and you'd have novella to a paperback or hardback present in the previous PocketBooks to sell the book to PocketBooks. original anthology. Second, the contract; what was not present was The option clause also extends clause requires the author not to the $50.00 cut-off amount. In the to: allow publications of any other book- previous contract, and standard with Clause 19(a): During the term length work until six months after most contracts, is a $10.00 cut-off of this agreement the Author agrees publication of the contracted book for royalty stement and payments. not to write or participate in writ- — including, presumably, a book $50.00 may be birdfeathers to Pock- ing nor publish nor authorize publi- previously written, as discussed a- etBooks, but to a number of writers cation of any other book-length work bove, or possibly even the reprint it represents the difference between upon the same subject matter as the of an old book. Third, the author water and milk. And, of course, Work which would be competitive with may not submit, to another publisher they hold your $49.99 for what could the Work without the prior written or even to PocketBooks, a second be a total of eleven months without consent of Publisher. book or a proposal therefore, until interest The phrase to watch here is "same after PocketBooks' acceptance of the Clause 18: Publisher shall have subject matter", which could conceiv- first manuscript. During that long the exclusive option to acquire upon ably be stretched to include "any period between delivery and accept- mutually agreeable terms the publish- science- fiction (or mystery or west- ance, you couldn't even offer Pock- ing rights to the next (i.e., writ- ern, or gothic, or etc.) book"— in- etBooks a proposal for another book ten after the Work hereunder) full- cluding one which may have been sold — but you could, presumably, sit on length work written by the Author your hands without breaching the con- until sixty (60)days after submission tract. What this is asking a writer such next work of the manuscript for NORMALLY,, WE APE to do is mortgage his or her future publi- or sixty ( 60) days after the MORE CIRCJJMSPECl to PocketBooks with no guarantee of cation the Work hereunder, which- of (N cott/n^- A MOVED, any return. ever is later . (Emphasis added. ) You KhJ oyj Clause 21: Gives the Publisher During the period this option the How of - sue for third-party Zb EAD Lime'S ARid* the right to Author agrees not to submit the said copyright infringement, at its own next work to other publishers , nor . expense; allows the Author to become to seek offers from or negotiate with a party to the suit, with costs and indirectly with others, directly or , recovery divided equally, and furth- respect thereto. If Publisher wish- er: es to publish the said next work, If the Publisher does not bring the parties shall negotiate in good such action, the Author may do so publishing faith the terms of a for any infringement at his own cost agreement. If the parties are un- and money damages recovered by the agreement the able to reach before Author for any infringement shall expiration of the option herein belong to the Author, except that granted, then the Author shall be money damages recovered on account free to offer the next work to oth- of loss of Publisher ' s profits shall ers, but only on terms more favor- be divided equally between the Auth- able than those offered by the Pub- or and the Publisher. lisher(, and Publisher shall retain Generally, in law, "damages" re- the next work the option to publish lates to actual loss of income from on terms no less favorable than an infringement; loss of income gen- those offered by any other publish- or completed before the signing of erally relates to a decline in sales er. ) the PocketBooks contract, but which of books due to unfair competition If you're fond of indentured has not been published by the time by the infringer; decline in sales servitude, this is your clause. What the PocketBooks contract is signed. of books affects the profits of the this clause calls for is an option Clause 19(b): The Author war- Publisher. Therefore, if you under- on the completed manuscript (not por rants that the Work will be his next take to prosecute somebody for in- tion, not outline, not proposal) of book (whether under the author's own fringing your copyright, pay all the your next book, and PocketBooks has name or otherwise) , that he will not costs yourself, and recover for dam- sixty days after submission of said undertake to write any other work for ages, you still have to share what manuscript or after publication of publication in book form before de- could amount to a fair part of the the original work, whichever is lat- livery to the Publisher of the com- money with the Publisher, although, er, to accept or reject the next plete satisfactory manuscript of the if the Publisher undertakes the suit book. Take the figures I've listed Work, and agrees that in no event alone and recovers, it keeps all the in connection with Clause 9: you've will he publish or authorize publi- money for itself. three years and some months of the cation of any other book-length work A section of Clause 22(a) re- completion of the contracted work in of which he is an author or co-auth- iterates the Author's pledge that which in which you must write a full or until six months after publication s/he has no prior agreement, commit- novel entirely on spec, without pay- of the Work. The Author further a- ment, or other arrangement, oral or ment of any sort, with no guarantee grees not to submit any full-length written, to write or participate in that the second book will be accept- work or proposal therefore in any writing any other book- length work ed by PocketBooks, and during such form to the Publisher or to any and will enter into no such agreement three-year-plus period, you may not third party until he has delivered until after delivery of the complete even discuss the possibility of sell- to the Publisher the complete satis- ing your next book elsewhere. In satisfactory manuscript of the Work the contract before me, the last line 21 hereunder which is discussed above - , . . in relation to the option clause, ditions on an author's negotiations president of Pocket Books has left but is important if you succeed in with an English publisher. Clause the firm. All due to the new, unfair getting the option clause struck, 34 gives PocketBooks the exclusive contract attempted by Pocket Books you may still get stuck by this one. right for three months in the open It isn't just the schlock, marg- Clause 22(b): The Author hereby market, in direct contravention of inal, venal publishers who attempt indemnifies and agrees to hold the the consent decree. In other words, to rip-off writers. A close reading Publisher any seller of the Work PocketBooks is asking writers spec- , of any publisher's contract will and Publisher's licensees harmless ifically to agree to, and become show them eager to take huge percent- from any danages, including reason- party to, a breach of the consent ages of subsidiary rights (their due, able attorney 's fees, in connection decree. That is, among other things, they think, because they are smart with any claim, action, or proceed- illegal. enough to recognize the worth of ing inconsistent with or arising out The original PocketBooks contract your book and are willing to publish of a breach of the Author's warran- gave the writer three months after you and probably make a profit off ties, representations and agreements the due -date in which to submit the , your work) herein contained. ..(emphasis added) completed manuscript. The new con- As dozens of authors in sf can Clause 22(c): Publisher shall tract gives the writer thirty days. attest, getting a true and prompt have the right to withhold its reas- What the contract doesn't pro- royalty statement from 'frontline' onable estimate the total damages vide for, among other things, is the of publishers can be difficult and oft- and expenses (including reasonable author's right to review and approve en impossible. They control the counsel fees) from sums otherwise the galleys, and the author's right bookkeeping, and what they say they payable to the Author pursuant to to review and approve the copy- edit- sell and the reality of a book's this or any other agreement between ed manuscript. The latter is some- sales is often widely different. the Author and Publisher, and to ap- thing which, unfortunately, is still I don't think any publisher ply such sums to payment of such in limbo in current contracts, but should ask or pay for any but very damages and expenses. the former has been an accepted con- limited publishing rights. I think This one is nifty. What it says tractual clause for quite a while. writers should sell each right sep- is that if anyone so much as makes It is easy to overlook its absence arately. a claim against you because of your in light of the other provisions of Why should a hardback publisher book, the publisher can withhold the contract. get 501 of the pocketbook rights what it thinks is a reasonable amount As mentioned at the beginning of sale? Or 40% of the movie rights for damages and expenses, from your this article, these are the main ob- sale? Or similar percentages of royalties (with no interest) for an jectionable points in the new Pocket- foreign rights sales? indefinite period of time, and that Books contract, and without doubt Frankly, I don't trust big or whether or not the claim is proven or some of you will find other clauses little commercial publishers. I've not, valid or not, adjudicated or equally unsettling. If this contract been screwed too many times. I no not, you, the author, are still lia- is allowed to pass, we'll be seeing longer consider it a privilege to ble for any costs incurred in defend- it from everyone else in the near fu- be fleeced. I no longer am willing ing against or defeating the claim. ture, and it will have set back au- to pay so high a price to be "accept- In most contracts you are liable for thor's rights by years. If you are ed" by a professional publisher. I've actual suits but not for mere claims. contemplating selling to PocketBooks paid my dues for twenty years and Here, however, if Joe Doakes of the or if you have reached an arrange somehow the Writers Union of the Maryland Home for the Bewildered Cheated seems too expensive. This writes to PocketBooks claiming that does not mean I won't sell to a big your book, GREEN SLIME OF MARS, has or little commercial publisher, but violated his right to privacy, Pock- THESE TEAjg STAINS' X it does mean there'll be a lot of etBooks may determine (God knows 4k£ ON TUI'S cc«Til/inj AbEuPAPT marked- contract clauses and dick- how) that it will cost ten thousand up ering . dollars to' defend against this claim. They immediately withhold your roy- I don't CARE any more if I have alties and hire an attorney of their the "prestige" of having sold to, own choosing, who, two years later, say, Pocket Books... or Simon § Shust- at a cost of seven thousand dollars, er. I want to write my novels, pub- settles the claim by proving that lish them myself in small editions, Mr. Doakes is a nut. You're out ten and offer them to the readership of thousand for two years, and seven SFR. I can live nicely this way, thousant total. thank you.

After _I publish my novels I will Clause 29(a) gives the author

•* offer them to the "big" publishers, the right to assign the contract, |jr- but only with the publisher's written— or even some small publishers who may be interested. approval. Clause 29(b) gives the Publisher the right to assign the ment with PocketBooks and are await- In many ways I'm in a unique position to this route contract without the author's approv ing or reviewing the contract, give do this — to go al. this matter some serious thought. By — but if that's so I've earned it. Perhaps the most typical clause signing this contract, you hurt not And I'm enjoying it. appears as a rider (Clause 34) to only yourself, but every other writ- One further thought: sf magazin- the contract before me. On November er, and for an indefinite period of es usually buy only First North Amer- 24, 1976 the United States of Ameri- time. ican Serial Rights when they buy a ca obtained a consent decree against ---MARTA RANDALL story. And that story can be a nov- Addison-Wesley Publishing Company **#*##*#*#* el. Why, then, do pocketbook pub- and twenty other named defendants, lishers claim a share in all other Simon § Shuster among them. The de- REG COMMENT: I've learned from a re- rights to the same novel? Why isn't fendants were enjoined from illegal- liable source that there has develop- the profit they make from the softly dividing the English-speaking ed a writers and agents boycott of cover edition enough for them? The market, obtaining a competitive edge Pocket Books, and that Peter Mayer, more I think about it the madder I over an English publisher in various 22 et ways, and imposing restrictive con- 8 - CONTINUED ON P, 28 ] , , ] ] ; . ' : SMALL PRESS NOTES

Let's start the parade with a self- published novel in paperback format, SAXON AND THE SORCERESS by John Tur- man. $2.50. Fair color painting cover by Mary Long, with an inside map of the alternate Earth involved. I haven't but skimmed a bit, but can say the writing is of professional level and this is more than your sword § sorcery hackwork, in intellectual content. If you like to support the alternative press/small press movement, try this book: order from Turman, 11503 Pollyanna Av. And editor Robert Offutt Jr. is im- Austin, TX 78753. ff SF § F 36 has a series of short proving. "The Secret" by Vance is interviews with the Nebula nominees a short story first published here. Gregory Benford, Terry Carr, David ff I remain amazed anew by the wealth and skill and dedication shown by film/ This is issue #2, costs $3., is Gerrold, Richard Lupoff and Fred offset, 64 pages, from: 484-H White Pohl. Well done. copy costs comics fans ... or aficianados . Here is A 75# a slick, heavy stock offset fanzine, Oak, Pinson, AL 35126. from Jim Purviance, 13 West Summit OPHEMERA, priced at $4., with old Dr., Redwood City, CA 94062. film stills, and strips by Wally Wood THE SCIENCE FICTION AND HEROIC ff MIDWEST SIDE STORY, written and and A1 Bradford. . . Here is fiction FANTASY AUTHOR INDEX Compiled by ff performed of the and an undated interview with Billie Stuart W. Wells III. by members Minnesot- Holiday... And here is a 68-page zine A very valuable reference work ta SF Society 'and the usual gang of idiots . without a contents page, which it des- is this. Specialized, of course, but 'The play takes place in an alt- perately needs . Obviously not for very complete and with feautures and ernate dimension. . bookstore sale. No price on the cover. info you can't find anywhere else: .with some differences.... Order from the editor/publisher Robert like who wrote the ATTAR THE MERMAN Ben Bova has a slushpile Stewart, reader; fanzine fans and convention 202 Highland Av. , #3, Somer- series who the FLASH GORDON novels ; fans are camps; ville, MA 02143. published in 74-5 by Avon which warring and Minneap- ; olis The trouble with this heavy-gloss- well-known sf authors wrote the has actually gotten around to holding stock publishing philosophy is that Planet of the Apes novelizations the 1973 Worldcon— and in the paper/cover-weight is Too Much in who did the SPACE: 1999 novels.... 1973, at that.' $2. from: Minnesota SF Society, cost and importance than the text and and so on. Inc. POB 2128, Loop Station, Min- art. Over 1000 authors covered, over , 5000 separate titles. Quality large neapolis, MN 55402. ff XENOPHILE #40 is out, and editor/ softcover, big easy-to-read-and-find publisher Nils Hardin is a dedicated type. Costs$9.95 in softcover, fan publisher who has gotten himself $15.95 in hardback, with 300 copies into a work-like-a-slave-for-nothing signed by the author and publisher routine who suffers too much if a few at $21.95. [dealers write for dis- people ungratefully complain about count info.] Address: Purple Unicom cost-necessary increases in rates. Books, 4532 London Road, Duluth, MN #40 is centered around "A Remem- 55804. brance of Early Pulp Collecting and Fandom: 1938 - 1943" by Virginia ff There has been launched an AUSTR- Combs (Nanek) Anderson. The lady ALIAN SF NEWS magazine. The first wrote to and was replied to by edit- issue, June, 1978, bears a striking ors, publishers, artists, writers... resemblance to LOCUS in layout and and of course other fans and collec- format (Why not copy the best?) It tors . She quotes from the letters is oriented to serve the Australian comments, and creates an aura, a sf and f feader, and has the major time- travel back to those almost for- USA and world sf news, too. Subs gotten days. ... [Including letters are the equivalent in US$ to A$5. from the legendary Francis T. Laney, for surface mail, or A$9. for air. no less . Address: 305-307 Swanston St., Mel- Nils regularly produces must-have bourne, 3000, Australia. [Published collectors items of XENOPHILE. This by Space Age Books . is another. $2. for #40, from XENO- PHILE, P.O. Box 9660, Kirkwood Branch, ff THE LAST MAGICIAN is a softcov- St. Louis, MO 63122. er collection of 9 David H. Keller WEIRD TALES stories. $5. From P.D. A. Enterprises, Box 8010, New Orleans ff THE MANY WORLDS OF JACK VANCE § LA 70182. These are photo copies of HORNS OF ELFLAND (combined) is an the original WEIRD TALES pages, com- interesting magazine — combination plete with original illustrations. of Vance stories illustrated by Also an article by Keller on his half Steve Fabian and Rod Whigham (who a century of writing, written in is "good amateur") Here, too, comic 1974. [More Keller collections are strippage melds into sf and fantasy. in the planning stages . . AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN FABIAN

SFR: How old are you now? Where would have had if I had remained in not it's an eight-hour day starting bom? When did your artistic talent the aerospace field, and so 1 find around 8:30 in the morning. At first surface? Have you had formal train- it difficult to drop specific cli- I tried different hours to see which ing? ents who gave me my start in this "shift" would be most productive for business and go searching for higher me. I know that some artists prefer FABIAN: I was hoping you would paying assignments. Especially the nighttime hours because of the not begin this interview with rou- since my income this year will be a quiet, and apparently their minds tine questions. I've reached the good bit higher than last year. work better at night. I found the age where I don't care to discuss night shift disasterous. After Right it. I'd just as soon we concentrate now I am content to go working nights for a few weeks I on the art of illustration and the on with my present situation be- finally realized I was accomplish- publishing business in general. As cause higher paying markets are being far less than when I worked dur- far as art training- -I'm self-taught ginning to contact me as the months ing the daylight hours. I guess 20 (and now years) which means I owe an awful lot to go by. I still do years of factory hours from 8 to 5 the Finlay- Bok- Cartier- Foster- Ray- mond- Hogarth- Eisne r- Loomis - Rockwe 1 1 -

Parrish-Wyeth-Frazetta- Freas , etc establishment. Getting started, that is published and encouraged is another matter. For that I owe fandom everything, and especially editors Seidman (Panshin) -Bowers-Geis- Bushyager-Hamilton-Wilson-Schiff- Van Hise and a bunch of others. Sol Cohen was the first pro publisher to encourage me to contribute to the pro mags, while Jim Baen was actually the first to publish my work in GALAXY.

SFR: We see a lot of your work in GALAXY and AMAZING and FANTASTIC and others, but not as yet (to my knowledge) ANALOG. Is there any particular reason why you haven't as yet appeared in ANALOG?

FABIAN: There may be two reasons. The first is the obvious one: Per- haps they may think my work is not suitable for ANALOG, for whatever reasons, ahd so they have not con- tacted me. On the other hand I have not as yet approached them for assignments either. Oddly enough, since I decided to go into professional illustration on a full-time basis (1975) I have never solicited work assignments from anyone. All my professional and fanzine work not feel any pressure to go out to have conditioned my mind and body has been and continues to be acquired look for other assignments, and so to that part of the day for work. by virtue of receiving mail and if my work does not appear in any phone inquiries as to my availabil- I am usually in the midst of specific prozine, etc. it's probably ity to do an assignment. I simply several projects at the same time, because they didn't ask me. don't need to look for work, it rearranging priorities as the days comes to me. Offhand you might go by and as the phone calls and the Are you a full-time artist? think this is an ideal situation,' SFR: mail comes in with new assignments, What is your work day like? but there is room for concern. I or if someone calls or writes press- could be doing a lot of work (on a ing me to deliver sooner. Once I FABIAN: Yes, I'm a full time yearly basis) for low-paying mar- decide which assignment I'm going to artist though it seems strange to kets now, whereas if I went out af- persue on a given day I go ahead say that after 20 years in another ter higher paying markets I might with it. Typically I handle a story field. be able to substantially increase assignment for, say GALAXY, this my annual income. Last year my an- There is some variation to way: During the reading of the st- naul income equalled that which I my work days, but more often than ory I will have underlined and bracketed several descriptive passages and probable scenes for illustration. Assuming that the assignment requires a title page, a full page and a half Conducted By Richard £ Geis 24 page illustration, I have to decide , . platform on which to get started. which scenes would best fit in these FABIAN: Last year (1977) I made a- places. After that is decided upon bout 5 trips to the N.Y. publishing I notice a common expression I consider the nature and mood of offices, all to paperback publishers among top name entertainers today. the story, which will help me de- I've not been to the magazine pub- They recall the numerous second- cide on which style to use for the lishers yet. The reason for that rate showplaces that they worked in illustration. Along with the style has to do with general policy dif- way-back- then and admit that the I'll also be thinking of which media ferences between the two. The difficulty today for aspiring stars to use, stipple paper, scratchboard, paperbacks usually ask for some pre- is that "there's no place for them smooth stock for half-tone, etc. In liminary studies (at least one in to be lousy". To put their act on making these decisions I must check full color) before deciding on a stage and work it out in front of what I've been doing in previous is- specific layout, so it's practical audiences, and refine it and perfect sues and on other assignments that to visit them for discussions, it. will the same issue. I will be in though I have on occasion handled In our field I suppose that look to avoid sameness in both the the whole thing by mail. But the fanzines (aside from AMAZING, FAN- type of scenes I do and in the style magazines (GALAXY, AMAZING, FANTAS- TASTIC § GALAXY) play that role, or and media I use. When these basic TIC) don't require preliminary at least they did up until now. The decisions are made I'll start with sketches, so it's not really prac- big fanzines today seem to be strict- the title page by first making a tical to make the trip to their of- ly professional. SFR and ALGOL come few very rough basic line composi- fices. By practical, I mean finan- to mind in that sense, and I don't tion drawings on scrap paper. Sel- cially. The paperbacks pay some- really regard them as fanzines any ecting the best one, I'll use it as thing around $400 to $1000 for a more. Anyway, I'm glad there are a guide to start the actual drawing cover, while AMAZING and FANTASTIC places for me to be "lousy" in, and for the title page. pay $50. There's not much sense in to polish up my act. wasting a day talking to Sol Cohen When this is done I usually I've had no real first-hand relax for a bit and consider how about a cover idea at that price. experiences with art directors as much inventive stuff I have to Actually, I for Sol Cohen work yet. The times I've been to N.Y., come up with regarding clothes because he wrote to me just at a time to the paperbacks, I dealt directly buildings, aliens, background, etc., I some when most needed kind of sign with the publishers. Since they all etc. and of course I review the des- that I might able make it in be to admitted to minimal (if any) art criptive passages that I underlined admit- the pros (back in 1974). He training, it's not really a profes- in the manuscript. If I have to de- low he ted to paying rates, but sional discussion at all. The four sign something I may want to do a stated and margins that sales profit publishers I've been to, to date, few brief sketches on scrap paper paying just don't allow for him rely on their own lay- judgement, before working on the actual draw- made was higher rates. The point he or they call in their wives, secre- ing. As you can see, doing an il- I the that if wanted to break into taries, whoever else may be at hand lustration is a continuous process pros, provide the his magazine would to voice an opinion. It's kinda of decision making. Actually it's exposure I needed to get started. sad, but that's the way it is where all decisions. Where shall I put At that time it made sense me to I've been. Of the four publishers the light source? What angles and and I was grateful. Let's face it, only Wollheim has rejected my work, perspective should I adopt for the if he could, or wanted to higher pay so in terms of sales success I'm picture? What must I do to make it rates, he wouldn't have to call me satisfied that things could be a science fiction picture if the for art work. So, in a way there is worse; they could all hire "experts" scene is not obviously so? Should a place in the pro marketplace for in which case I probably wouldn't I consider the drawing with regards low-paying publishers. That's where sell a thing. to selling it later? If so I can novices like me get started. Of spend more time on it and design it course it's not the best of all pos- Wollheim, by the way, origin- for possible framing or matting. sible worlds, but most publishers ally phoned me to ask if I'd be in- Virtually every line in a drawing who pay reasonable rates can be terested in doing a cover for Daw is the result of a myriad of decis- choosy about art work, and they are Books. Even though he later reject- ions. Education and practice make usually NOT the ones who "discover" ed my painting, he paid me for the them appear in the right place on new talent. It's the Sol Cohens of effort. That's class, and it's en- the paper; and experience makes the this world (whether his stated bus- couraging to know that there are decisions come easier and easier. iness-economics facts are true, or some good people in an otherwise whether he's just plain cheap... shoddy business. I can't seem to Now, assuming that I am using get most of my work back from Pyra- stipple paper and have pencilled in and I don’t really know which it is) and others like him, that pro- mid (I understand they moved and the drawing, I will then proceed to didn't let me know), Zebra has lost ink in most lines and solid black vide a door into the pros that is the only way many writers and art- my cover painting, Avon wanted to areas. After that I "tone" it with keep ny originals until I made a a black color pencil. Looking over ists get the necessary work and ex- fuss about it. (I understand that the light shade areas to make sure posure that's needed. that particular director is no long- as best I can that every tiny dot, I wonder how many top name er at Avon) . AND so it goes . . as thin as it is, is as black as I writers and artists practicing today can make it so it doesn't get lost went through a generation of low- SFR: Recent reports suggest that in reproduction. When the picture paying (if they even received pay- your Art Director position at GAL- is done I clean it, then spray it ment at all) assignments for the AXY is one of title only and that with fixatif. Usually that's it pulps, digests, etc. during the you do not have any real decision- for the day. 40s and 50s, and how many would making power. Would you care to have cashed in early had they not comment on that? SFR: Do you go into New York to been able to see print in AMAZING, confer with art directors often? WEIRD TALES, etc. etc. Probably What is a typical session with an quite few. Seems to me every art a FABIAN: Yes! Your recent reports art director like? Can you give a form has a need for an "AMAZING" are correct. I'll ask J.J. to re- specific instance and discuss a spec- move my name from that position on ific cover, for instance? 25 the contents page. I got my name in that spot as a gesture of thanks about it, wearing titles at GALAXY And, I get several free copies of from Jim Baen just before he left isn't too far removed from wearing the zine. In the prozines I must

GALAXY. Jim was having problems phony medals , so I'd like to shed always be concerned with whether I'll getting artists to do work for GAL- it as soon as possible. Fact is, get paid, I have to constantly re- AXY because of the payment situation as soon as the first issue of GALAXY mind the editors to return my work. and some artists were reacting with appeared with my name credited as I often get some artwork back dam- their own dirty tricks, like tel- Art Director, I got phone calls from aged, and several pieces have been ling Jim they’d have the artwork in people who wanted to congratulate lost in the two years since I turned just before the deadline time and me on getting the job, or from ar- pro. One pro editor refuses to give at the last minute telling him he tists wanting to send me artwork to me a free copy of his zines. If you can't have it unless payment comes look at and to consider them for as- are knowledgable about life in the on delivery. Anyway, I found my- signments from GALAXY. I told them prozines over the past 30 to 40

self doing some fast artwork in such it was an honorary title only, I had years , you must surely be aware that moments of crisis, and Jim thought no power, no pay, no real "decision- there is far more room for improve- that one way to repay me for help- making power" as Art Director, and ment in, than there is cause to be ing him was to have my name appear I was immediately sorry I accepted proud of, the treatment given arti-

in GALAXY as art director, which it in the first place. sts and writers , by the lords of might be of benefit to me in the fu- fantasy in the professional arena. ture. As I look at my latest issue Artistically, the small house of GALAXY (Sept. ’77) I see other SFR: You do a lot of work in the titles such as Consulting Editor, small press areas--the Fantastic publishers provide a glorious field Science Editor, etc. on GALAXY'S Nudes series, the Donald Grant for self-expression, experimentation and outright freedom to do your own heading. I seriously doubt that books, and many others. Are these the people whose names appear in outlets more important to you fin- thing the way you want to do it. those positions are getting paid or ancially and/or artistically, than I must note here that I am' not in- do anything in that capacity. Mind the prozines? cluding pro-paperback publishers in this comparison, since you are FABIAN: That may be a little dif- specifically asking about pro-mags ficult to answer. First things versus the small press. first though. The prozines reach Over the past few years the many thousands of people, probably small press houses and quality fan- 10 to 30 times as as the small many zine publishers have been growing press products so that in terms of , slowly but steadily in number. I probably more impor- longevity it is have recently returned an assignment tant for me to count on the prozines to AMAZING with a note saying, "Sor- to help perpetrate my professional ry, have to pass this one up, too art career. It seems logical to busy this month". I was too busy assume that if I can please the lar- with fanzine work and small press ger number of people I should re- assignments to fit in the AMAZING ceive the greater benefit. But it's piece. I guess that answers the complicated world. The fact is a question, except that I'm not likely that there are a great many more to pass up pro-mag assignments of- fanzines for which I do work as com- ten. I still believe that in the prozines (GALAXY, pared to the few long run they are vital to my car- AMAZING, FANTASTIC and GALILEO), eer. and believe it or not many fanzines pay more for a full page interior SFR: You mentioned in a letter illustration than the prozines. that you prefer not to do erotic The fanzines pay promptly, of- also drawings, yet your Fantastic Nudes you, I'm guessing here about that, ten in advance. The fanzines also series has been very successful. but I'd really be surprised to learn treat the original art with greater Would you care to explore this a that those other "positions" were respect and care. When I say fan- bit? Do you make a distinction be- actually active paying jobs. I I include branches zines, all the tween essentially static nudes and know how much the editor of GALAXY of that tree which includes every the erotic? What does "erotic" gets paid, and how much his "assis- general SF fan mag right through to mean to you? tant" gets paid, and knowing GALA- the specialized ones devoted to XY'S inner working methods somewhat single authors and themes, right FABIAN; My "preference" not to do I'd guess that Sturgeon and Pour- down to those that are comics orient- erotic drawings means that I'd pre- nelle have the title, but little ed. are fanzines There hundreds of to do drawings based on the else. Anyway, when Jim Baen offered fer paying various rates, and as I've traditional, imaginative aspects of the the art director title to me I amount of them indicated, a fair science fiction and fantasy, rather felt it would be bad manners to turn have higher rates than the prozines, than doing more "nudes". The "Fan- it down. I also thought it was a with seemingly a higher level of tastic Nudes" series were commis- pretty keen ego boost at the time, professional ethics. course, Of sioned by the publisher, and after and I suppose I had another silly there are exceptions on both sides, doing about 30 nudes in the past reason or two to say o.k. to the but overall my dealings with fan- year I think that's enough. It's title. Anyway, Jim's gone, I've zines is far more lucrative both time for other projects and subjects had my moment of fun with the title, financially and otherwise. I have Many of them will of course include so I guess it's time to drop it. never received a damaged drawing the drawing of women, but I want to Reminds me of a buddy I once had from a fanzine after years back 10 avoid doing more "Fantastic Nudes" when I was in the Air Force. He'd of contributing to fandom. I never for awhile at least. buy all kinds of war- hero medals at have to hound the fan editors to the Army-Navy store and pin them on get my work back when it is agreed As for erotica, I think that his uniform whenever he went out to that the artwork is to be returned. any picture "motivated" to arouse "paint the town". I despise that you sexually can be called erotic. kind of thing and now that I think 26 However, I don't generally classify "nudes" in the erotic category when ing degrees , they exist in all art- time and practice that goes into the point of the picture or sculp- ists. But in my case I really have good drawing. Some even invented ture is really anatomical beauty or not "mastered" anything as yet, so whole new schools of art to avoid artistic rendering. But I guess I approach each assignment as an op- it, and while I've read many an arty it's a personal thing really, since portunity to learn something, to dissertation on the nature of vari- some folks do not (can't?) differ- practice something, hopefully to ous art movements, in my opinion it entiate between the artist' s motives "invent" something that will advance comes down to this: If you have in and their own. me as an illustrator. If I'm lucky you a strong enough desire to be an the story I'm assigned to illustrate artist you will be one, even if you may provide a lot of the basic in- eventually find that you can't draw SFR: You mention a heavy work load gredients like exciting scenes, very well. There are so many "kind^' (in a private letter) . Could you good descriptions, interesting of art that somewhere you' 11 find give us an idea of the projects characters, etc. In my early assoc- you have a knack of doing something you have lined up? iation with science fiction and fan- well in some particular way. It tasy, as a reader only, I of course may even be a new way and make you FABIAN: Well, aside from regular evolved a preferred list of authors a genius, even though you can't draw assignments from AMAZING, FANTAS- that I liked to read and which I for beans. But for an illustrator, TIC, and GALAXY, which take up about modified as time went on. I think I believe being able to draw well one week out of every month, I have I rated as best authors those who is the essential ingredient. I've several books to illustrate and most excited me emotionally and in- tried to develop my skills, there- several art folios to do, and quite tellectually. But now, since I have fore, along those lines, and I hope a few private commissions for paint- to illustrate many of the stories that I'm improving with time and ings and drawings. I read, I notice a change, an awaken- work. criteria that I use in I've just finished 16 full-page ing to a new of writers. Vis- illos and painted a wraparound color my private ratings ual conception. I am now much more aware of what the writer is visual- izing as well as what he/she is "saying", feeling, and plotting. It has naturally made me much more critical of science fiction writers, though I try to keep my criticism to myself. Occasionally I'd let Jim Baen (editor at GALAXY until recently) know my opinions about a particular story, but even then I kept it down to very occasionally, since it's my business to illustrate and not to criticize.

At first whenever I read a story I had to illustrate and found at the end that the writer didn't "picture" a damned thing, not even bas- dj . for Jack Vance's hardcover EYES ic character features , it was depres- OF THE OVERWORLD to be published by sing. But then I decided that this Miller/Underwood. I'm now in the lack of visualization frees me to In the field of science fiction midst of illustrating GOLDEN BLOOD create the characters and backgrouxLs and fantasy, however, there is ano- by Jack Williamson, for hardcover. to suit myself as long as I don't ther important ingredient that is Next I have to illustrate Fritz Lei- violate some obvious premise in the required; that old phrase we have ber's SWORDS AND DEVILTRY book for story. In such cases the time all come to know as the "Sense of hardcover. I have another hardcov- spent in research is small, leaving Wonder". As a practitioner in this er Vance book to do (a 3rd Dying more time to be creatively arty, to field, I think that's my number one Earth book). I've about 4 art fol- experiment perhaps in some way with priority when I approach bach new ios lined up, based on the works of drawing materials and tools. From assignment. I think it can be HPL, C.A. Smith, R.E. Howard and a such undescriptive stories I have learned. There are methods, tech- initial general fantasy type. I have about learned how to take the niques , mental attitudes that can 5 commissioned paintings to do as steps one has to take to become be developed to make a drawing pro- well as a dozen individual black creative, and that ultimately, the duce that sense of wonder and as a and white drawings for private in- illustrator cannot use a poor story student of science fiction art I dividuals. Oh, and Stuart Schiff as an excuse for a poor illustration. pursue it. As for whether I can has just commissioned me to illus- do "this" better than "that", I But getting back to skills. I trate another hardcover book. Look- leave such analysis to others. think it's important to realize that ing at my assignment board I also simply knowing how to draw is basic see a few "letterheads" promised. D° you have any opinions ab- to being an illustrator. That seems SFR: That's about it as of today (March, out the work of other sf and fantasy obvious until you scan the vast 1978). artists? Their strengths and weak- field of art and delve into its nesses? practitioners. You will then real- do consider your SFR: What you ize that for many artists, learning greatest strengths and in which Some time ago in a fanzine to draw was too great an obstacle FABIAN: feel need more (SFR?) letter column Jack Gaughan areas do you you or task. Eventually they abandoned wrote, in essense, that one should skill? realistic drawing and went on to not really try to evaluate an art- working in styles and media that Actually, I don't think ist's work unless one knows some- FABIAN: didn't require all that knowledge, in terms of strengths and weaknesses thing of the artist. Well, I don't in my work though obviously in vary- 27 know any of the current practicing . artists, though I once participated Well, Powers may be doing fine arts I think he's right about publishing in a panel discussion at a conven- and doing it well, but I don't hold opinions. After all, things change tion where I did my share of talking with this "rising ABOVE" business. according to the state we are in on the subject of science fiction It's more a matter of his not being and it is seldom that our opinions illustration, along with DiFate and able to rise up TO it. I don't remain fixed over a period of time. Richard Powers. I can't remember think Powers has the knowledge , in- Opinions are like paintings in pro- much of what DiFate said, but Powers' telligence or proper attitude to be gress; as new information comes in, remarks stand out in my mind because a good science fiction illustrator. the brushstrokes alter the picture. I found attitude toward science his Besides , the fine arts are above or I'd like to paint a nicer picture fiction rather idiotic. The man below nothing. Science fiction il- of Powers, but I need some new in- considers the whole field of SF no- lustration and art occupy the same formation. thing but trash. All of it, past common level as every other art form present and future, nothing but Snobs create levels, but if they SFR: Thank you, Steve. trash. He never reads it, not even want to limit their knowledge and *********************************** for assignments. Now you tell me enjoyment, that's their problem. Note: the Fabian art on pages 26-27 what sensible person condemns a Science is reprinted from 1969. whole field of literature on a plat- fiction art requires an additional dimension from the ar- *********************************** form of not even reading it, ever. tists. After they learn to draw and He paints SF pictures because there ALIEN THOUGHT CONTINUED FROM P. 22 paint, they also need to invent and is some money in it, but otherwise create scenes and things new to the he has no interest in the subject human experience. And considering - In the October FANTASTIC and would not waste his time on it. 7 14-78 the infinite range of subject matter letter section, W. Paul Ganley, a So, whereas I once thought well of it is a challenge most artists can't long-time fantasy fan and publisher, Powers' work, I have now altered my meet. But, there opinion somewhat and consider his lucky for most, suggests that other FANTASTIC read- are shortcuts. pre- magazines sales mov- artwork to be of little importance If you aren't ers help the by pared to read a novel (or even a ing the copies they find in local in the field of SF art and illustra- short story for that matter) and ex- outlets from the (usually) bottom tion. The main reason being that it tract details and search out the has no honest thought or emotional magazine shelf to the pocketbook most pictorially inventive and and the mag connection with the field. He does at- racks. He did found tractive scene illustrate, and not concern himself with SF per se to sold every copy so moved. then work out whatever new life suggestion was welcomed at all when it cones to doing a This forms, architecture, artifacts, land- painting. He spreads his paints on by Ted White, editor, of course. scapes are required, you can just Trouble the digest- size maga- the canvas, arranges shapes that is forget all that work and go the arty zine format is too wide for most pb come to him spontaneously, reworking way. Splash lines here or there to give impres- some colors, dab some rack slots. blobs, whisk lines and mix the sions that are really related to some it I've always wondered why all so it looks weird, and maybe ailing sf nothing in particular. Occasionally up publishers of failing or do the pages, a recognizable shape appears in his you can whole thing between magazines don't go to 196 7 and 11 tonight. And a single column, and an inch of work, like a spaceship or a machine if you know a cut publisher who likes that kind of paper width from the right side. of sorts or a humanoid, but no work you got it made. As if magic they'd have a pocket- doubt these objects are suggested to by book! And their sales would probab- him by the publisher (editor) since You know, it occurs to me ly double. IF they could get pocket Powers hasn't read the book and they that Powers may have been putting us book rack distribution. are always done rather vaguely. The all on, at that convention, with his I suggested this to Jim Baen point is that his thought processes "science fiction is nothing but years ago and he had good reasons during the execution of a painting junk" responses. If anyone out for not suggesting it to the publish are totally occupied with colors, there in the reading audience was ers of GALAXY. Yet the first thing varieties of shapes and lines, unre- at the Playboy SF con at Great Gorge he seems to have done at Ace was lated to anything but the composi- New Jersey in '76, and attended move to begin DESTINIES. tion and the overall juxtaposition that panel discussion I refer to, I'll be very interested to see of the individual lines and shapes please respond to the I've comments if the "bookazine" concept will fly. involved in the painting. Virtual- made here about Powers. Because if ly no thinking takes place as re- it was all a joke, I'd hate to keep gards the ingredients that we nor- thinking so poorly of the man, and mally associate with science fiction obviously my criticism here would Universes # LETTER FROM FREDERICK BAILEY , planets , moons , life need alteration. forms, machines, robots, cities, June 19, 1978 But I think I read Powers structures, landscapes, androids, right. I used to think, in art astronomical phenomenon, spaceships, 'After recent frustrations with there were two classes of human be- aliens, humans, you name it and you Ted White and Sol Cohen at Ultimate ings. The first has ideas, which can be sure Powers is probably un- Publishing Company (AMAZING and FAN- it believes in fully perhaps, but familiar with it. TASTIC) in Flushing, New York, I alters to bring about "success". turned for help to Mr. Joe Haldeman So whatever it is that Powers The other class has ideas which it of the Science Fiction Writers of does, it is NOT science fiction art. believes in and must carry out ab- America. Mr. Haldeman graciously In my opinion it is abstract art, solutely, success or no success. responded with a letter to Mr. Coh- which is something else altogether. The first class has a tremendous en, a copy of which I have enclosed. Mind you, at times it is attractive majority and they are all slaves. I was advised to communicate all to the eye, works well as dj . art The second class are the only free this to you and a few other like and has lots to commend it, but not people in the world. Now I realize magazines. I am doing that now by as serious SF art. Somewhere recent- there is another class --they have sending you this. ly I read a comment by a "knowledge- no ideas at all and they don't care. able" critic that Powers has risen 'OSWALD'S BACK ALLEY concerns ABOVE science fiction, that he has Getting back to Jack though, an antiquarian author's search for entered the world of fine arts 28 the meaning of an equine haunting. : ' ) '

DELIVERED FROM EVIL concerns a man stories is self-defeating; he scares to his massive works. Bob had died 143 years old who has survived nu- away a lot of good writers who might about the time his last notes had clear fall-out. send him something if they could be come to me. He'd joined a religi- THE DRONE OF WINGS concerns surviv- sure they 'd be treated with common ous commune of probably a Buddhist al patterns of men stranded on a professional courtesy. nature outside of Phoenix, Arizona, humid planet. ((If Ted cannot or will not and while there, apparently had a And FIREBALL is a long story con- do the job, perhaps he should step massive brain hemorrhage. By the cerning the time-travelling search aside. ) time his daughter, Susan, arrived of a present-day astronomer for the at the hospital. Bob probably did origins of a seemingly cursed met- not know his daughter was present. eorite. ' 'I can tolerate his dying, your dying, or my death. I cannot tol- # CARD FROM JOHN BRUNNER erate the way Bob just went, with- 4 July 78 # LETTER FROM JOE W. HALDEMAN, out my knowing, or being able to CHAIRMAN, GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, ease his way. Bob was paranoid, 'What is this crazy American ob- THE SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS nasty-writing, out-spoken, and more, session with pharmaceutical drugs? OF AMERICA but he was also my very good, long Arne C. Eastman wants hypodermics time, and trusted friend. So far and Nembutol (is the spelling dif- as his so-called negative character- June 13, 1978 ferent your side of the water, or istics were concerned, I knew Bob is it a mistake?) to put down in- closely enough to know that many 'Dear Mr. Cohen: jured cats and dogs. At $5 for were brought about by others who euthanising he would do better to were 'This is to advise you that the even more paranoid, self-serv- buy a pair of canvas gloves and a following stories have been with- ing, and nasty-writing. bucket to put warm water in. At drawn from consideration at your blood-heat that's a merciful way 'But I'm not excusing Bob, any magazines out for most. more than I would try to excuse my- OSWALD'S BACK ALLEY self for stupid things done in life. 'You're being the MM again. In DELIVERED FROM EVIL I am trying to say in my own very my column I wrote "fortunately the THE DRONE OF WINGS limited manner that had fans, writ- pain had started to work through". FIREBALL ers, editors, agents, and publish- You turned it into "unfortunately." ers been somewhat more pleasant to 'The author, Frederick Bailey, Geis .... ! Bob, he'd probably not have devel- remarks that Ted White has refused oped some of those negative charac- to answer several letters inquiring teristics. Anyway, it was never as to the fate of these stories. ((No, please don't tag me a Meddling Bob's way to view life as a person- As far as I know, this is an exper- Moron. That was a simple mental ality contest to be won by those who ience he shares with everyone who glitch-type tyop. . . .er, typo. Much can collect the most fandom egoboo, has ever attempted to correspond apology. I cannot blame my invalu- kiss the most editorial asses, or with Mr. White on such matters. able Lady Companion typist, either, organize into the fanciest self- since I recall typing your column 'It would be well to advise Mr. backslapping vanity unions. Unfor- myself. ) ) White that these titles have been tunately for me (but probably for- withdrawn, and make sure that he tunately for Bob) I tended to ac- has not accidentally scheduled one quire some of the characteristics of them. As you must know, at least of those I felt impugned. Bob Wil- once in the past Mr. White printed liams being one, John Campbell an- a story some months after it had # LETTER FROM PERRY A, CHAPDELAINE other, and some still living that been withdrawn, and after it had Rt. 4, Box 137 shall yet be unnamed. been sold to a rival magazine. This Franklin, Tennessee 37064 'There is about Bob's wri- is unfair to the other magazines as much , Phone (615) 646-3757 well as to the author. tings that needs researched by July 15, 1978 fandom. I'm terribly sorry that Bob did not receive egoboo credits 'I impressed with the am surely while he was living. That alone professional aspect of SFR, which ( (This is just the latest surfacing might have staved off some of his improved considerably since I of the Ted White Problem at AMAZING has terrible loneliness. But now that in '76, in detail and FANTASTIC. I'm sorry to have last commented but he is dead, please, let us not '70. to ’publish these letters, but writ- in Congratulations! write off his death by quoting CON- ers should be aware of the situation 'I only express one beef, a thing QUEST OF THE SPACE SEA, THE LUNAR Ted White ' s policy of apparently not which was probably unavoidable, EYE and ZANTHOR AT TRIP'S END, answering queries from writers and but should be corrected. On page "among others". not keeping a coherent file of all that Rob- 48 Elton T. Elliott states 'Even now his daughter is having ert Moore Williams "died recently". difficulty piecing together -- for 'Not so! My good friend Robert example -- just his many pen-names. Moore Williams died in February, Bob wanted to be a hack writer. He 1977. I spent one and a half years grew up during the golden era of writing here, there and elsewhere -- pulps and with gladdened heart and fans, editors, agents, friends -- full consciousness, dived into the attempting to find Bob, as his let- field, and became one of the alltime ters were sadly missed by me. At greats in his chosen profession. last a query slipped through to Sus- Irvin Koch once long ago said it an Williams Manolakos in Syracuse, best. Paraphrasing, Irv described New York, Bob's daughter and heir Bob's works as many pieces that contained the germs of ideas that oth- 29 er writers picked up and carried . ' through into longer, more profes- LOG through many, many other things, vinced that h£ believed in what he sionally (literary) written stories including, as has been said, prob- was saying, even though I in no way and thereafter was acclaimed for ably the very first SF piece to did. But then again, I hardly knew having invented the ideas. While receive acknowledgement in a high him. Maybe Bob Bloch and some of Isaac Asimov is not a close compar- school literature book. (Also the other remaining Milwaukee Fic- ison to Bob Williams' level, there "Robot's Return"?) tioneers can shed some light on is a parallel in the stimulation Ray's motivations, whereas I, as a 'During Bob's later years, dur- that John W. Campbell freely gave fresh-scrubbed newcomer to Ray's ing the late sixties and early sev- away to Isaac during Isaac's train- ways, had to take him on face value.' enties, and especially when the now ing period, and the credit that Is- defunct New Wave was rolling away aac now receives for John's ideas. SF, changing it into Speculative

' In like manner it was often Fiction, or whatever, many fans, the same for Bob. His ideas stimu- writiers, and editors jumped on the lated others. in-group bandwagon, and Bob's writing form and skill was wrongly crit- ' I wonder how many know that icized. Had there been just a smid- often AMAZING was virtually filled # LETTER FROM SAM J. LUNDWALL gin of Christian understanding in with Robert Moore Williams, pen- this Christian community, I believe 14th June, 1978 name after pen-name? that Bob's last years on this plan-

' I wonder how many know that et might have been easier for him. 'Just a brief response to John- Robert Moore Williams could probab- The SF fandom community owes it to Henri Holmberg's letter in SFR/2S, ly be credited with the first SF Bob, and themselves, to dig into in which he tries to make you all piece in a high school literature his massive works and for once rec- believe that my publishing company. book? ognize that Bob was indeed one of Delta, is much smaller than it is. the early giants that later snot- I wouldn't mind one or two misin- 'And while SFWA carried on its noses rode high upon. formed letters like that one, but staunch battle against AMAZING's Holmberg has been spreading this liberal republication of older sto- 'What I have just written is my sort of thing almost everywhere ries, without author permission, opinion, only.' lately and I am getting tired of it. who was it that quietly got to Ray He ways that Delta publishes 15-16 Palmer Hamling and Davis, and had Perry, giving us SF books a year, plus a bi-monthly them write down and sign for him ((Thank you, for SF magazine, subscription only. what was their legal intent when the benefit of your special know- This is not true. Delta publishes purchasing stories? Robert Moore ledge of Robert Moore Williams, at the moment 3 books a month (will Williams and his writing.)) go up to 4 books a month next year)

' I know of no other SF writer which certainly is much more than whose biography sold under the title 15-16 books a year. At the moment of science fiction, in LOVE IS FOR- we publish some 50 books a year, EVER, WE ARE FOR TONIGHT, one of some 35-40 of which are SF. Our the most moving pieces I've read in magazine, JULES VERNE -MAGAS I NET # LETTER FROM DAVID A. TRUESDALE years -- probably because I knew (which is the Swedish edition of so much of it personally. July 12, 1978 F8SF) is sold through book stores etc. etc., and of course also on 'Then watch who brags about the 'From Bob Bloch's postcard in subscription. Incidentally, we most republished short story! For #26 it would seem that while he and will launch a second SF magazine a long, long time I'd bet that Rob- at least several others believe Ray next year. ert Moore Williams led the list, at Palmer's tongue was planted deeply 'Delta is by least until Isaac Asimov caught up. in cheek concerning the entire UFO far the largest SF The name I've forgotten, but it was and Shaver Mystery (Arthur Tofte of publisher in Scandinavia, publishing more SF annually than all other a Robot love story. ("Robot's Re- Milwaukee, for one, a reliable source turn"?) Scandinavian publishers put togeth- has told me) , it seems incredible er. Holmberg and a couple of friends 'Bob had credits in the TV to me that a man as intelligent as prod- are now trying to launch a small uctions, SUGARFOOT RAWHIDE, Ray would base his entire profes- and and publishing company, and it would be could sional life/career on the perpetua- have continued had he not ob- in their iriterest to appear like tion of an obvious hoax he in no jected to agents (producers) writ- bigger and important than they real- way truly believed. Do you really ing their own scripts and pretend- ly are. ing that their office concubines believe Ray Palmer was the sort of were the actual writers. person that thought of the world in 'Incidentally, when describing such a way that he had nothing bet- his great deeds as editor of the 'As a matter of interest, alter to do than play private jokes Askild § Karnekull SF series, he though we may very well be able to on it? Was Ray Palmer's pro UFO forgot to tell you that he was not reconstruct. Bob's many SF pseudo- and Shaver Mystery nothing but his the editor of that series. I^was. names, it is highly doubtful that own perhaps spiteful joke on us After I had left Askild § Karnekull the pseudonames used in Westerns and the world at large? Was he snub- to launch Delta, Holmberg did a will known. ever be fully If any- bing his nose at all of us in mak- brief stint as assistant to the new one thinks can they do so, Bob's ing -- at least some of us, and I SF editor (handling the addresso- daughter would sure appreciate same don't include myself in this cate- graph for the mail order business), I'll and gladly put them in quick gory -- believe what was in reality, but that was all. touch with her. at least to him, an out and out ab- 'Never trust Swedish fans who 'Bob was writer surdity? a hack in the are trying to fight their way into cheap penny (ha'penny) market by 'If so, it's too bad he had no- prodom. choice, by profession, by love, by thing better with which to occupy success. But that doesn't mean his time. At worst, he had me con- that all of his writings were poor CONTINUED ON P. W literature. And he ranged from ANA- 30 —. THE ALTER-EGO VIEWPOINT

St. Martin's Press likes the is expected. On the other hand, the

old reliable plots, too: WAITERS way things are going. . . ON THE DANCE by Julian Jay Savarin (one of a projected trilogy) is a- bout how Jael Adaamm and his wife THE INCORRIGIBLES (Exposition, Evahnna come to Terra way-back-when $10.00) by Harold McGowan, is quasi-

and established Atlantis. . . . And fiction which asserts that humans are it ends, sort of, with a space the descendants of criminals shipped wanderer named Yesul Chri'istl. here from Rigel. The book is due out in October ivicuowan Jias written ana caused and costs $8.95. Savarin is a to be published five other books. plodder. I think he's an intelligent nut.

Geis! Get out of the gardens and into the house! I need you to kibbitz during my reviewing. Harpers has indulged itself in "Can't do it, Alter. I've got a future psi-suspense-secret agent to save the carrots from the crab type novel by Michael Conner: I AM "Okay, Alter, I'm through garden- grass!" NOT THE OTHER HOUDINI. It keeps you ing for today. I can help you... You leave that crab grass alone! awake and entertained and involved. help... An 'intelligent nut?"' they're distant cousins of my spec- It is cynical about government and Of course, Geis! The intelli- ies! etc as is the current crop of writ- gent ones are the most interesting, "Then tell them to stop this ers (thank God). It reads a bit because they bring so much cunning outrageous aggression! It's kill disjointed, but that's okay. Buy and ingenuity- to their nuttiness. or be killed, Alter, and I've got the paperback whenever. The hard- Take you, for instance the hoe!" cover costs $9.95. "We will not take me. We will call it an issue and try to read more Selfish bastard. Alright, I'll books for next issue." review alone. No Geis on hand to I keep telling you, you can't mitigate and soften my views. 'Kill' You might think a new novel by write novels, write columns, put out he says, eh? Kill it will be! Richard Matheson, published by Put- nam's ($8.95) titled WHAT DREAMS MAY REG and SFR and still expect to do John Boyd, in his introduction COME would be a major event. You a lot of reading. Let the Other to the Penguin softcover editions of may be wrong. It is a fictionalized Voices do that. " his three myth- inspired sf books, display of past and current specula- "Well says of THE LAST STARSHIP FROM EARTH tion and assertion by occultists, Don't ciy, Geis. You're not that he wrote it hoping to sound psychics, and etc. on what happens much of a reviewer anyway. echoes in the racial memory of read- to your "soul" when and after you ers. die. What he produced is a well-done Story of a man killed in an (especially the first four-fifths) auto accident and his after- death dystopia sf novel of a future, rigid, efforts to contact and console and class society based on profession and help his wife and family. It is socialism. The formula happy ending persuasive, alluring and seductive. for the hero and heroine (and promis- Especially for anyone over fifty. ed for Earth) is hackneyed and con- It rationalizes most of after- temptible. death religious belief. It is also Since he admits changing the disciplined and moral. Good book. elements of the myths he used in the It'll make you think twice. making of his novels, I fail to see the point (perhaps the pretentious point) in bringing in myths in the VOLUPTUARIES ($8.95, Putnam's) first place. EVERY WRITER uses myth by Betty Ullman, is in the gothic- structure. The most common story horror sub-sub genre created by ROSE- plots and formulas are myth-based. MARY'S BABY In this a girl is "cap-.- So what? Big fucking deal! tured" by a group of amoral sensa- Boyd is very good when he writ- tion seekers, wealthy, who keep her es with a straight face. When he captive in an incredible office/ "indulges" in obvious satire he los- apartment building in Washington, es credibility and becomes a preach- D.C. The last third of the book is er. gripping, though hard to swallow. The three books in this "trilo- And, too, the girl seems too too gy" are THE LAST STARSHIP FROM gullible and long-suffering and maso- EARTH (Penguin, $1.95), THE RAKE- chistic. The horrors at the end are HELLS -OF HEAVEN (Penquin, $1.95), perhaps unfilmable, if a movie sale and THE POLLINATORS OF EDEN (Pen- guin, $1.95). 31 — . t . OTHER VOICES, OTHER VOICES, OTHER VOICES, OTHER

DREAMSNAKE By Vonda McIntyre Houghton Mifflin, $8.95, 1978.

Reviewed by Orson Scott Card

WHY DREAMSNAKE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF FEMINIST SCIENCE FICTION PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS NOT FEMINIST SCIENCE FICTION AT ALL

When I heard that Vonda McIntyre had added to "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand" to create the novel DREAMSNAKE I was appalled. The story was a gem perfectly polished. All that could be accomplished by adding to it was to remove the shine and add dross

That was why I bought the book whole new crop of healers, but also to make the right connections and with trepidation and let it sit re- the secret to their reproduction, pass through the Seldon crisis with- proachfully on rny desk for two mon- so that the supply will never be out aid. Picture, if you will, the ths before I read it. I couldn't exhausted again. limp effect WHITE LOTUS would have bear to have my vision of Snake and had if Hersey had brought in some And the dangers are created her world ruined by a clumsy attempt outside nation to save the anglos well. A crazy who ransacks her to capitalize on the stunning suc- in China, instead of having them camp, steals her diary, assaults her cess of the story. Sure, novels fight to save themselves. to steal her serpents, and finally make no money; but is there no Pur- nearly betrays her to death makes ity in Art? not just a good villain, but an ex- And yet- -there I was, while tremely interesting character in Snake was caught in a pit of dream- I need not have feared. Vonda his own right. Indeed, that is Mc- snakes, panting to have her boyfriend McIntyre's instincts were correct. Intyre's greatest strength- -her char- Arevin, come up on his horse and There was more to tell about Snake acters do come to life well and are rescue her. than the story had led me to be- reasonably different from each oth- lieve. That does not mean that the er without becoming obvious arche- Why? Truly I am not such a. fool novel is not immune from the prob- as to honestly believe that women types . lems of expansion, of course. There are incompetent- -my experience has are interminable incidents that have The character of Snake, however, been quite the contrary. But it is more in common with the Lone Ranger is the reason this book succeeds in such an inbred literary tradition than with good novel writing: Snake; doing something that in my opinion that women are rescued that I still the lonely healer, enters people's Tiptree and Russ have both failed expected a rescue to be the finish. lives and makes them better because at: bringing off a viable female And no, I haven't read that many of the love and understanding she protagonist. Indeed, by deliberate- gothics has to offer. Snakes instead of ly not being feminist, McIntyre has McIntyre did that on silver bullets, of course, but she created a world in which sex really purpose, too. She flashed saves little Melissa from the cruel doesn* matter. Occupations are to Arevin several child-molesting horse trainer who easily held by members of either times, always showing him on the has been exploiting her; she immun- sex. Of course, she is occasional- trail, only slightly behind her, so that izes the desert scavengers against ly cute about it: Both the charac- we would expect something to ter of are come of his quest for her. It re- lockjaw; she cures the sex problems Grum and a later guard in terms that minded me of Jerry Colonna's 'mad of young Gabriel, who had the hide- deliberately described stereotypically would make them seem chase in THE ROAD TO RIO; when ev- ous problem of being unable to con- male, leaving us to discover that erything was resolved without his trol his own reproductive powers they are women with a slight jar cavalry troop arriving, he turned and had impregnated a twelve-year- later on in the story. But cuteness to the camera and said, roughly, girl once with terrible consequences. aside, McIntyre achieved the acid "Didn't accomplish much, but it was thrilling, wasn't it?" But the superficially episodic test: her protagonist was self- story actually does tie together sufficient. Yet there was no sense of let- well. This is not an incipient TV Imagine, if you will, THE MOON down. Instead, it was exhilerating, series. It is more of a picaresque, IS A HARSH MISTRESS if Heinlein had exalting to have Snake find her own a quest from which the hero (damn brought in a race of aliens to res- way out of her problems . Then Arevin the feminizations, full speed ahead) cue the moondwellers at the last arrived, in time to provide life- is constantly sidetracked and on minute. Imagine how successful the saving help, but after the worst of which she finally finds herself. Foundation trilogy would have been the crisis was over. Snake had Snake is not just a bringer of sweet- if Seldon had actually intervened been largely self-sufficient; but ness and light. Her quest is to and saved Terminus at every crisis, her friend was not useless, either. replace the dreamsnake she killed; instead of relying on individuals They needed each other, yet not to instead, she finds not only a whole the degree that neither could sur- nest of them, enough to license a 32 vive without the other. ; . Which is why DREAMSNAKE has done the world, anyway) ; I did not want I have yet to see a field of more for the role of women in sci- the book to end. fossil tirils, erect in a matter- ence fiction writing (as opposed to less state of perfect preservation, Now, if I could just figure out women among science fiction writers) but in my house, I believe I have a way to turn my; short stories into than any other book I have read by an unblemished specimen of the Artis- novels . . a woman. She did not have to make ia candelabra. It closely resembles men weak and stupid in order to ************************************ a piece of rococo bric-a-brac, and make a woman (or women) seem strong indeed, that is what I mistook it and wise. She did not have to bring for, when I picked it up for a song the "war between the sexes" to a PARALLEL BOTANY at a flea-market, but it has roots ridiculous extreme. Instead, she By Leo Lionni, trans by Patrick which clearly connect it to the soil cancelled the war and gave us a vic- Creagh of abstract expressionism. Just so ious but beautiful world in which Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y., 1977, 181 pp. is PARALLEL BOTANY a cleanly forged people are people with little re- $12.95 link between Art and Science. gard to differences between sex. ************************************ Good and evil are not defined along Reviewed by Michael Gowan sexual lines; rather they depend on the way people act. PARALLEL BOTANY is a fantastic book. Leo Lionni, a painter and a The novel is not perfect, of writer has for the first time assem- STORNQUEEN! course. There are inadvertently com- bled a work that fully explores the By Marion Zimmer Bradley ic moments, as when the gatekeeper fascinating world of "parallel bot- Daw Books, #292, 364 pp.(UJ1381) at Center behaved exactly like the any". In it, he discusses the orig- For June, 1978, $1.95 gatekeeper at Emerald City in THE ins and morphology of "parallel" WIZARD I Reviewed by David A. Truesdale OF OZ. kept waiting for plants, and delves deeply into the him to say, "Well, that's a horse folklore and history of them. In of something. This Darkover novel precedes all another color" or And addition, each description is accom- McIntyre threw in plot bits that those written so far, and deals sole- panied by Lionni 's own elegant and ly with the Darkovans before Terrans cried out to lead to something accurately detailed drawings. more: The entire episode with Center have arrived. (do we Obviously, Lionni draws from a feel a sequel coming on?) Aliciane is widowed and has one Gabriel, a great character who profound knowledge of his subject, is son named Donal. She is taken as built and he writes in a precise and schol- to a high point of reader in- Lord Mikhail Aldaran's mistress when arly style, adorning each page with volvement and simply dropped; North, it is found that his wife, Deonara who seemed to be the most interest- gems of ineffable wit. What makes can bear him no heir. Aliciane, ing character in the book, but who it even more fun is that the book amidst much agony and pain, dies was never adequately explained. is entirely a product of the author's while giving birth to the female imagination; it is a work of science There were maudlin moments, child Dorilys around whom a major that is an utter fiction. — too. Melissa's gooey sweetness part of the story revolves, and who (people treated like shit usually But if it were only true! If is later named, because of her power- tend to become at least superficial- only one could discover a specimen ful laran (psi) abilities, the Storm ly shitty people, I've found- -for- of the whistling tiril, or the lab- Queen. give me, those of you who believe irinti ana, whose leaves are veined Eleven years following the thund- otherwise) was unrelenting and dif- with an impossible maze, with the ering and stormy birth of Dorilys we ficult to identify with. Everybody specific ecological purpose of frus- begin the story of Allart Hastur, finds a tender moment to thank the trating the insects which feed upon who, being sore vexed by his laran healer, too- -servants, rulers, it. Where could one possibly locate friends, enemies --everybody seems a specimen of the "Woodland Tweez- to touch her softly and say, "Thanks." ers", whose complex root system is Can't anybody show a little old- based on a competition for space fashioned ingratitude? It is the whose moves resemble the strategies dominant human reaction to kind- of a game of Go? I have been through ness, isn't it? Or am I the only the deserts of Arizona, but nowhere

person who has ever run into ingrat- have I come across the Protorbis . itude? Perhaps it is because it is composed of a substance which superficially Yet the occasional maudlinness, resembles stone. I may have climbed the episodic plotting, dropped the one, mistaking it for a mesa. It is plotlines were only mildly irritat- said that they often are that large. ing. Because the book is a great yam, with fascinating characters, Yet, despite the specious nature and it takes the reader deeply into of Lionni 's text, there is a certain a world that, like all well-created compelling air of reality about it. worlds, is too real for the reader Surely, with such an original and to really want to leave it. It is forceful mind at work, the world "be- ugly- -but so was Dune and so, for yond the hedge" will overlap our that matter, was much of Middle everyday perceptions. He apprehends Earth. It is not beauty that wins the world with the creativity of the a reader to an writer's created mi- scientist, and the methods of an lieu, it is depth and interest and artist. If that reversal of the us- the sense of reality. McIntyre has ual statement concerning the work of a gift for making her fiction seem the mind can be true, then other re- more real than my own setting (though versals are also possible. If Art there are those who would merely imitates Nature, cannot Nature imi- point out that I live in Salt Lake, tate Art? which isn't the most real setting in 33 s ,

ability to see many futures instead ing chapters are tremendous ; emotion- carefully researched background of of just one, has taken exile in a ally draining as well as mentally California literary history. The monastery in order to master his fri- stimulating as Bradley takes us on strange lives and stranger deaths of ghtening ability. His aging father an out-of-the-body mind journey to that literary coterie that included arrives to remove him, ostensibly to the very borders of the Otherworld. Jack London, Ambrose Bierce, George wed his betrothed since childhood This makes up quite nicely for all Stewart and Clark Ashton Smith are (Cassandra, chosen for her genetic the breastbeating and continual de- given an "explanation" in terms of traits), but once home Allart's fath- tailed maneuvering of plot and char- paramentals, leaving one half- sus- er dies leaving the elder brother, acters, although the detailing of pecting that these San Francisco bo- Damon- Raphael, Lord of the Hastur Do- the basics of matrix mechanics was hemians must have been toying with main. He forces Allart to wed and welcomed indeed. Things Man was not Meant to Know. bed Cassandra, in order to insure The prose is quite clear, crisp Of the recent flood of supernat- genetically bred heirs, but Allart and powerful, and Bradley's argu- ural novels only a few will still has sworn never to do so, for he has ments are logical and reasonable. be readable after the high-powered sworn never to pass on his terrible She deals with the contemporary is- promotion dies down. I'll bet on power to any child. sues of genetic engineering, abor- OUR LADY OF DARKNESS and perhaps Allart and Cassandra take a tion, men and women as sex objects, Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAM- leave of absence in a Matrix Tower what understanding, compassion and PIRE. Can you think of another? until they decide what they are to a call to reason can accomplish -- ************************************ do. In the meantime, it is found all against a backdrop of feudal in- that the child Dorilys has an unruly trigue and inheritance by a people groping to and deathly powerful laran , and a who are struggling and highly skilled Tower Monitor, Renata, understand and control their powers is summoned to aid the child in con- of telepathy, telekinesis and other trolling her awesome gift. Allart psi powers. accompanies her to Dom Mikhail ' A very well done is to be given castle, for he is to ask Lord Aldar- this thoughtful and detailed wonder- an's neutrality in the. war between ment. the Hastur' s and the Ridenow's. Al- -- daran agrees, but because of an in- P.S. But, Marion Zimmer Bradley heritance feud with this brother, is you must tell me why , after Allart about to war as well. tells his beautiful wife Cassandra that without total honesty they will The bulk of the entire middle have nothing, he fails to even so third of the book is taken up with much as mention his brief affair illustrating all the troubles brought with Renata. That hardly seems fair about because of the breeding pro- or honest, now does it? gram all the families adhere to -- ************************************ the injustices to men and women as well when they are treated as breeding stock --in order to insure and stabilize the various laran powers OUR LADY OF DARKNESS which Dorilys, the Storm Queen, has By Fritz Leiber evinced in powerful fashion. Berkley Books, $1.75 Allart sums up the central prob- Reviewed by Ray Faraday Nelson lem of the book thusly, as "He wondered why there was so much revelry The creation of a new species at a wedding, so much dancing and of monster is always an event worthy drinking --in order that the sons, of celebration among aficionados of and daughters of Hastur and Cassilda the bizarre. They have been, I sus- might forget they were being bred pect, partying non-stop since the like stud- animals and brood-mares first publication of OUR LADY OF for the sake of the accursed laran DARKNESS in the FfjSF January and that brought power to their line!" February 1977 under the title, "The P. 77. Pale Brown Thing", for this tale does indeed contain a worthy addition JACK-IN-THE-BOX PLANET The final third of the book to our bestiary of Things that Go By Robert Hoskins shows all the intrigues and plots Bump in the Night. Westminster Press, Feb. 1978, 155 for power come to a head, as Mikhail pp. $7.95 fights his brother Rakhal, who has Meet the "Scholar's Mistress", joined forces with Allart's evil one of many "paramentals". Paramen- Reviewed by Frederick Patten brother Damon- Raphael. Both Rakhal tals are a special sort of being and Damon- Raphael die, Dorilys 's pow- that haunts only large cities; when The first third of this novel ers grow so frighteningly out of the number of human minds brought originally appeared in F§SF (April control that she kills her half-bro- together in one place reaches criti- 1975) as "Pop Goes the Weasel". It ther and husband Donal with an un- cal mass, weird creatures made half was good enough that Lester Del Rey sought bolt of lightning -- and as of thought and half of odd scraps of picked it for his fifth annual Best she collapses into a coma from which paper and bits of old books explode SF anthology. Hoskins has now com- she will never awaken, with all the into the midnight streets, filled pleted the adventure, turning it in- with a terrible strength they borrow electrical power . the planet trap- to a smooth juvenile. Those of us ped and crackling out of control from the sheer weight of all the who remember nostalgically the Wins- within her mind, destroying her -- buildings around them. ton juveniles of the '50s will feel Cassandra, Allart and Renata encase OUR LADY OF DARKNESS gains an ad- at home with this one. her in a timeless force- field that ded feeling of reality from its Willie is a teenager who has will keep her, and her deadly powers 34 spent his entire life inside a tot- trapped in limbo forever. The clos- . . ally automated house. The skeletons dle-aged NYC narc and a seedy, forgettable THE BOWMAN TEST, Elias of his parents just outside the win- young botanist. Send said agents now has two strikes out of two, and dow indicate the mysterious disaster to Mexico on a "the Secretary will there's no reason to await the that destroyed his world. Willie has disavow any ... " mission, and third pitch. Granted, Avon has grown to hate being treated like a watch the dramatic climax unfold. not labeled this botch SF, but like four-year- old by his inflexible ro- Now, imagine what a real writer infants who put anything in their bot nursemaid and major-domo. "Pop would do with that plot. Look at mouths, some SF fans will buy any-

Goes the Weasel" tells of his trial- what Elias has done with it. . . feel thing with "mutation" on the cover. and- error attempts to escape his the tightening in your throat . . Caveat emptor. What? Why did I soft prison. the queasiness in your stomach? buy it? Ah . . . I was gonna review Right. Nausea ia never pleasant. it, see ... besides, it had' "muta- The new pages relate Will's 106 tion" on the cover. adventures as he seeks other surviv- THE SONORA MUTATION is so poor- ************************************ ors. His quest is complicated by an ly written that I really had to encounter with those who caused the force myself beyond page three; planetary disaster. Hoskins devel- and it's a shame, for Elias has a ops the action with care; Will's fertile, inventive imagination. LORD FOUL'S BANE predicaments are all plausibly sol- The man simply can't write his way By Stephen R. Donaldson veable by using the expertise he out of a paper bag. How else can Ballantine/Del Rey Books worked out while outwitting his one explain a President-Premier 480 pages, $2.50 paperback household computer. Hot Line conversation that feels dead-on, while all network newscas- Reviewed by Neal Wilgus Will is introduced as a likeable ter reports read like they were yet slightly repellant character. written by a five-year-old. Can it I wish I could give this book Since he's been treated as an infant be that Elias eavesdrops on the Hot the rave review I hoped to do when all his life, the center of his universe, he has the egotism of a baby. He sulks and pouts whenever he does- n't get his own way immediately. The story mixes human interest with humor as Will meets other people and 77-/) NfC. Op me AS learns to relate to them in an emo- VOUR, SOVL tionally mature manner -- though not without lapses.

JACK-IN-THE-BOX PLANET is light reading that all ages should enjoy. However, Westminster Press should be spanked for publishing it in a cheap plasticized cover similar to those "authorized TV novels" sold in toyshops for 79

Line, but never watches TV? Does I started reading it but things this writer expect readers to iden- didn't turn out that way. Don't tify with a protagonist named "Cone" get me wrong, LORD FOUL'S BANE is THE SONORA MUTATION and a botanist named "Buggsy"? Per- a good read, yes -- but, alas, it's By Albert J. Elias haps if the main character is view- not to rave about. Avon, 1978, 249 $1.95 pp, ed as being unstable when tipped The first volume of a trilogy Reviewed by Dean R. Lambe over, then Cone's neurotic love- collectively life makes sense after all. called THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER, Take this plot . . please . Paper-thin characters aside, this book introduces Deadly brown heroin appears on the the reader to the premise of the novel is scien- Covenant and Covenant streets of New York and other East- to the Land, tific nonsense. It's not even a the fantasy world where most of ern cities. The junkies are drop- mutation; it's a cross -pollinated the ping by the hundreds, by the thous- story takes place. In the "real" hybridization, and one with a prob- world Covenant is a young writer ands. The ghettos are aflame again ability far lower than a between- whose life -- pushers are being burned alive. and career are ruined the-eyes meteorite strike (poison when he contracts leprosy, loses The source of the deadly smack is ivy and poison poppy make it to- pinpointed --an isolated area of two fingers from one hand and be- gether . . . how sexy can you get) comes the Mexico. But the newly- elected "leper outcast unclean", And, the use of a spy- satellite living Mexican government refuses to co- alone in bitter self-pity laser to trigger the nuke warheads after his wife takes the baby and operate, is in fact, cuddling up of missiles, while the nukes are to the Russians. The U.S. Presi- leaves. Involved in a minor acci- inside a mine shaft, would have the dent, Covenant is somehow trans- dent's in a real pickle; it's the Dr. Strangeloves in the Pentagon Land Cuban missile crisis again, but lated to the where he is mis- laughing for days. taken for Berek Halfhand, the leg- with a nasty twist -- would Ameri- endary leader from the Land's glor- cans go to war to preserve the hon- With ious past. or, the Health, of junkies? And his previous, eminently two unlikely secret agents, a mid- 35 Covenant is the Unbeliever be- - . . cause he is convinced it is all a Thomas Covenant is the only with the one exception of the exper- dream that he can't afford to take character of consequence in BANE imenters' mysterious hospital in an seriously. But in order to survive and with his brooding seriousness unnamed "Third World Nation" which he is forced to play out his role, and floundering struggle to find is so lovingly portrayed that I am first as messenger from the evil himself in the confusing world of sure it is a total fabrication. (If Lord Foul to the Council of Lords the Land, he almost brings the whole a man was cloned, he was more prob- in Revelstone many leagues away, thing off. Stephen R. Donaldson ably cloned somewhere in the San and then as one of the leaders of learned about leprosy during his Francisco Bay area where Rorvik liv- the Quest --a party of Lords and formative years with his doctor- es and where so much of the most ad- others who seek to attack Lord father in India and what he learned vanced biological research is being Foul's puppet. Drool Rockworm, in there has served him well here in done.) True, the plot is weakened his evil stronghold in Kirin Thrend- invoking the hopeless feeling of by the narrator having no personal or under Mount Thunder. The Land the outcast, sharply contrasted stake in the cloning. is a relatively primitive place so with the magical fantasy embodied But science fiction has rarely Covenant has to walk or ride horse- in the Land. But the story is slow been strong on characterization, back most of those leagues through moving to begin with and as Covenant description or plot. IN HIS IMAGE a variety of mildly magical land- meets crisis after crisis still is, if anything, a bit above the cur- scapes and minor misadventures, struggling to resolve his own moral rent state of art in these strictly accompanied by such colorful char- dilemmas, the feeling arises that literary values. If science fiction acters as Atiaran, mother of a girl you're driving with the brakes on thrives while other genres die, it he rapes; the giant Saltheart Foam- or swimming upstream. is because of something other than follower; the immortal and sleep- Despite a tendency to throw in literary values. Science fiction less Bloodguard; the rather uncon- flashy words like "catarrhal ly" and and science fiction alone provides vincing Lords Mhoram and Prothall; "chiaroscuro" from time to time, us with a way of trying on various Lithe the horse lover and a number Donaldson is a better than average futures for size. of others. storyteller and stylist. He creates It is here, as a kind of pre- Donaldson has a flair for in- his own language and mythology, view of coming distractions, that venting unusual props such as the salts the text with just the right IN HIS IMAGE is so strong it would schmoo-like aliantha berries, the amount of blank verse and creates deserve a Hugo trophy or Nebula aw- healing hurtloam, the never-consum- an overall atmosphere designed to ard, except that it is presented as ed fire-stones called graveling and induce the suspension of disbelief fact. the Word of Warning, that yellow that's blocking your sense of wonder. globe of energy blocking the bridge The science in this science fic- Whether his designs will suc- to Kiril Threndor in Darrell Sweet's tion is real science, not the shuck ceed or not is up to you. cover painting. There are also a occultism of Castaneda or the jive variety of other races/forces ac- ************************ A** ********* time -travel of even such "hard" tive in the Land such as evil ur- science fiction writers as Heinlein viles and cavewights, wandering and Anderson. The vistas cloning Ravers and Wraiths, the Ramen and opens up are real vistas, as are the their wild superhorses called Rany- IN HIS IMAGE: THE CLONING OF A MAN vistas opened up by recombinant DNA hyn --as well as such miraculous By David Rorvik and life extension weapons and symbols as Lord's fire, Lippincott, $8.95 the Illearth Stone, the Staff of Rorvik has captured, in his care- Reviewed by Ray Faraday Nelson Law and Covenant's white -gold wed- fully researched background, the let- ding band. And there's a map by ter of modem biology, and more im- Is this book a hoax? Lynn K. Plagge and a Glossary at portant from a storytelling stand- the end to keep it all straight. I don't know, and because I don't point, he has captured the spirit, The question is, is it worth keep- know I am forced to deal with it as the fevered excitement of research ing straight and that probably de- a work of science fiction. Indeed, on the growing edge of knowledge. pends on what Donaldson does with the author admits in the foreword He has captured the suspense of ex- the two other books of the tril- that the details are "at considerable periments where everything can go ogy, THE ILLEARTH STONE and THE variance with reality". I have dis- wrong and send you back to square POWER THAT PRESERVES, both of which cussed IMAGE with Paul Segal, a cell one, experiments where thousands of should be available as Del Rey pa- biologist at the University of Cal- highly-skilled man-hours and tens perbacks soon. ifornia, and he too does not know if of thousands, of dollars hang in the Rorvik is pulling our collective leg. balance. I know some cell biologists Considered on its own merits Segal assures me, however, that there personally. They are not totally BANE has to be judged lacking in is nothing impossible in the book, logical walking computers like STAR several respects. Donaldson's col- and that if a man has not yet been TREK'S Mr. Spock. They are exhil- orful inventions are impressive for cloned, one may be cloned in the erated, frantic, haunted individuals awhile but as new wonders are pil- near future. All the research in exactly like Rorvik 's hero. Dr. Dar- ed on it all begins to seem arbit- is authentic, and the win. rary and make-believe -- something IMAGE all biological technology in the state of a fantasy writer especially can't So hoax or science fiction, IN development Rorvik says it is afford since it i^s all make-believe. HIS IMAGE is without doubt the most By using the anti-hero Covenant So, as science fiction, does mentally stimulating book you are and avoiding the more cutesy Hobbit this story succeed? likely to read this year and, if type creatures in populating the you fear change, perhaps the most I would say yes. Land, Donaldson probably hoped to frightening avoid being passed off as imitation True, Rorvik 's characters are ************************************ Tolkien, but unfortunately there made of cardboard, but a very good remain too many similarities to grade of cardboard. True, his set- A Sign Of The Times: Tolkien to be ignored. And perhaps tings are seldom described in enough SPLIT WOOD, NOT ATOMS it's picking nits, but villains detail to make me feel I am there, named and Drool Rockworm Lord Foul At A Nuclear Protest are difficult to take very serious- 36 ly- .

HISTORY OF THE FUTURE (REVISED) word-for-word basis, he seldom ap- the genre are forty or fifty or even proaches a hundred years old. Many of the By George R.R. Martin the richness and eloquence so often displayed by the likes of giants of the field have devoted en- Michael Bishop and Gardner Dozois. tire careers to ringing changes on THE PERSISTENCE OF VISION (Quan- His characters are clearly drawn, the same handful of basic concepts, tum, $9.95) is John Varley's first but not really memorable; carefully rationing whatever new short story collection, and anyone the pro- tagonists in particular contributions they cared to make. who needs more recommendation than often seem to be cut from a single cloth. At Really new ideas were few, and those that to go out and buy it just has their best, McIntyre, not always well received. not been following SF very closely Reamy and Benford have all achieved depth of these past few years. Nowhere can this be seen more characterization that is still be- clearly than in the realm of "future The Seventies have been a par- yond Varley's grasp. In these history". Ever since the existence ticularly fertile decade for the areas, Varley's work probably war- of Robert A. Heinlein's famous chart emergence of new talents in the rants only that much overused left- was first revealed by John W. Camp- genre. Dozens of young writers handed compliment, "promising". bell, detailed "future history" have broken into print and begun to But in scenarios have been beloved by read- build reputations, and several of the realm of ideas, Var- ley has done more than simply ers and writers alike. The writers them -- Vonda N. McIntyre, Michael promise. There he has are reluctant to discard a careful- Bishop, Greg Benford and the late delivered. ly worked- out background, and the Tom Reamy -- have already establish- Science Fiction has long prided readers seem to enjoy the depth a ed themselves as artists of the itself on being "a literature of future history can give to a body of first magnitude. And John Varley ideas". This has been seen by some work. Some also like to play the is arguably the best and most impor- as a good thing, while others have game of finding cross-references and tant of the lot. criticized what is perceived as an contradictions enphasis Varley's work did not appear in on the intellectual to the exclusion of the emotional. But Heinlein's own "Future History" professional print until 1974, but both sides in the debate have was an odd duck among those that since then he has rapidly been tak- ac- cepted as a given followed, a rather ramshackle cons- ing over the world. While he has the proposition that SF is, indeed, rich truction where the connections from yet to win a major award, he has al- in ideas. tale- to- tale were seldom evident to ready been a finalist more often Under close examination, however, those without the chart. It was than any other writer of his gener- that proposition rapidly begins to not Heinlein but Asimov who was to ation, his stories crashing on the erode. Many of the grand ideas of serve as the model for fashionable Hugo and Nebula ballots each year in twos and threes. He has twice been a nominee for the John W. Camp- bell Award for Best New Writer, los- ing to P.J. Plauger in 1975 and to Reamy in 1976, and thereby becoming incontestably the Best New Writer Never to Win the John W. Campbell Award. He is a fixture in the various Best of the Year anthologies, frequently with more than one story, something few other authors have ever managed to accomplish. His first novel, THE OPHIUCHI HOTLINE, was a singularly impressive book- length debut, rich, inventive, complex and terribly ambitious. It drew mixed reviews and failed to make either the Hugo or Nebula ballots, but ten years from now it will probably be read and remembered when other, more-lauded-and-more- routine novels of 1977 are out of print and forgotten.

John Varley, in short, is Good . If you are not familiar with his work, you ought to be, at least if you want to maintain any pretense of keeping up with what is happen- ing in contemporary SF,

This being established, the question immediately arises -- why is Varley good? What is he doing right? Why is he (arguably, as I've said) the best and most important new SF writer of the Seventies? He certainly has competition for that laurel, much of it formid- able, and Varley is still not the perfect writer. His prose style, for example, is smooth and competent, but seldom more than that. On a 37 ; future histories to come. In the entire corpus of work by the writers adds an introduction to the book, Foundation series, Asimov establish- cataloged earlier; cloning, memory and a preface to each story. The ed what Donald A. Wollheim calls banks, routine sex changes, symbs, Introduction -- "Revealed at Last! (in his critical book THE UNIVERSE the Invaders, the Ophiuchi Hotline, What Killed the Dinosaurs! And You MAKERS) "the cosmogony of the fut- disneylands, new arts, new moralit- Don't Look So Terrific Yourself". ure". His sequence of interstellar ies, new societies. Varley is not -- is a dangerous vision more fright- empire/fall/rebuilding would have for those most comfortable with the ening than anything Ellison put in- endless variants rung on it by lat- old and familiar, nor those who to his two anthologies of that name. er writers, some of the twists more cling to the maxim that one strange- You will never again feel compla- innovative than others, but the ba- ness per story is enough. cent about watching the boob tube. sics went unchallenged. Poul Ander- Unlike the prior Ellison col- son's Technic Civilization offered Varley is an original. Even in lection, DEATHBIRD STORIES, STRANGE two falls for the price of one, Jer- the three stories that do not use WINE is compiled of not-previously- ry Poumelle prefaced two empires his future history, he is striking- collected stories. There is no way with a CoDominium, Zimmer Marion ly fresh; it is hard to imagine to summarize an Ellison story -- Bradley pitted Darkover against a anyone else coming up with the no- they're so tightly interwoven with- thriving empire while Harry Harri- tion that forms the basis of the sup- in themselves that no summary can son set his Deathworlds after a erb title novella, for example. do them justice. I intend only to fallen one, other writers of less But even beyond his originality, list them and label them as to imperial tastes substituted repub- he has all the marks of a bom sto- whether light or dark in tone. lics and federations; but it was ryteller. Despite the density of hard to write a future history and lopsided, weird ideas, Varley never The collection gets off to a not use something of what Asimov stops to lecture, never bores; he flying start with "Croatoan", El- had set out. Even Ursula K. Le Guin is entertaining constantly, reliably. lison's story about individual res- fell in line; her Hainish books, ponsibility. It was a Hugo nominee with their League of All Worlds, John Varley 's style and charac- and illustrated that aspect of El- terization might justly called its fall, and its transformation in- be lison's style which Richard Delap to the Ekumen, partake heavily of "promising", as I commented earlier; calls "the art of razorblade fic- same ingredients. but to apply that same label to his tion". Reading it has the same ef- work as a whole is patronizing in fect' as being repeatedly punched Lest anyone accuse, I blush to the extreme. The work is the only in the gut -- the reader is stunned admit that the background against true measure, and in THE OPHIUCHI and dizzied by its narrative force. which the majority of my own stories HOTLINE and this collection, Varley is set is as much a derivation as has already contributed more, accom- On the darker side, there are any of these others; hopefully orig- plished more, than many of the gen- "Killing Bernstein", vdiich deals inal and interesting in parts, but re's old warhorses have done in a with a man who kills his lover/boss and kills her, and kills her . . still evolved from the same source, lifetime. If the work is not per- . the same wellspring of old ideas. fect, neither is it merely "promis- "In Fear of K" is about a being ing". The truth is, Varley step- which lives off a couple's mutual John Varley, however, works with hatred. "Hitler Painted Roses" and new ideas. ped beyond mere promise with his first published story. "The Wine has been Left Open too Long and the Memory has Gone Flat" Therein lies his strength and ************************************ the reason I insist that Varley is are about what people believe as important as well as entertaining. opposed to what they really are, It is no great thing to reject the and the heat death of the universe "future history" concept entirely -- as a means of relieving ennui, STRANGE WINE many of the young writers of the By Harlan Ellison respectively. Sixties did just that, and the ab- Harper § Row, $9.95 The other dark stories are: sence of a unifying background can "Lonely Women are the Vessels of even be seen as one of the charac- Reviewed by Mark Mansell Time", "Emissary from Hamelin", teristics of the New Wave of that "Seeing", "The Boulevard of Broken period -- but to take that old, old Let there be no doubt about it, Dreams", "Strange Wine", and "The literary tool and make something new a new Ellison collection is an EV- Diagnosis of Dr. D'argueAngel". and fresh of it is a major feat in- ENT. Harlan Ellison is one of the They cover such strange topics as deed. Varley did just that. best short fiction writers of our women who relieve loneliness in a time, and this newest collection He was not the first, of course. succubi fashion, the ghosts of dead gives ample evidence of his talent. Cordwainer Smith wove a tapestry Nazis wandering the streets of Ellison writes with immense force that was uniquely his; Jack Vance Manhattan, and being immunized and emotion. toyed with several. But the revis- against death by frequent innocula- ed and utterly new future history The cover is what first catches tions of small portions of death. that Varley developed in his stor- the eye. The dust jacket art is an So well-known are Ellison's ies beginning in 1974 went further arresting wrap-around painting by tales of the unpleasant inner mor- than either of them. the Dillons, who have come to be asses of mankind, that his lighter associated with Ellison's work. Anyone who has sampled any of tales tend to be forgotten. That They manage to catch the essence of Varley 's fiction knows already what is a shame, since Ellison's lighter Ellison's strange and fevered vis- I'm talking about. For those who stories have a cutting, ironic ions in their brushstrokes. This don't, PERSISTENCE OF VISION is a touch. dust jacket is possibly the best fine introduction to the Varley cos- work they've done. "Working with the Little People" mos. Six of the nine stories in was written for the F§SF Harlan El- the collection are set against the Ellison's books are more than lison issue. It tells about a writ- common backdrop of Varley 's Eight just a group of his stories slapped er who overcomes a writer's block Worlds, which also provides the between two covers. They capture with the aid of gremlins. "Mom" is backdrop for his novel. his personality. Lest readers miss about a man who is haunted by his the meanings of the stories, he Those six stories alone prob- Yiddish mother who tries to set him ably contain more ideas than the 38 up with a nice Jewish girl. "From . .

A to Z, in the Chocolate Alphabet" knights in shining armor. What top school for tutoring in Advanced is' a series of 26 Frederic Brown- charm the novel has lies in its Witchcraft. There Gwendolen is dis- type short- shorts written in the reasonably witty dialog, if the id- mayed to find that she is only one window of the L.A. SF bookstore, A ea of a fast- talking demon with a of many gifted children. Her atten- Change of Hobbit. "The New York Noo Yawk accent turns you on, and tion-getting pranks, which grow in- Review of Bird" is the story of if you can believe in the incredible creasingly nasty, are casually shunt- Cordwainer Bird's never-ending stupidity of everyone besides Aahz ed aside by the older students and struggle for truth, justice and good and Skeeve. The author (identified staff. in writing. the biographical blurb as an ex- Cat, watching quietly in the Klingon) also packs the text with There you are, 15 draughts of background, begins to notice that references to Darth Vader, Mandrake very strange wine, indeed. Through the others are not nearly as uncon- the Magician, Donal Graeme, Tevye, the years, Harlan Ellison continues cerned by Gwendolen's mischief- mak- Laurel and Hardy and similar pop to improve, never resting on his ing as they seem. She is being al- favorites ample laurels. This book is a must- lowed to get away with much more read. than any of the other lively stu-

ANOTHER . . Gradually it seems that her ************************************ FINE MYTH. reads like dents. what Laser Books might have wanted bad temper may have more behind it if it had been interested in UNKNOWN than spoiled petulance. Cat finds WORLDS- type fantasy. If it were the clues hinting that the headmaster price of an average paperback, I'd has had his eye on the Chants long

ANOTHER FINE MYTH. . say, sure, it's a nice bit of light before they were ostensibly brought By Robert Asprin comedy. At $5.00, though, it seems to his attention; he may have know- Norfolk, VA, Starblaze/Donning, 197% too frothy to be worth the price, ledge about the real reason for illus., 159 pp., $4.95 despite Freas' hilarious cover paint- their parents ' death. Cat soon Order from: The Donning Company, ing and funny interior sketches. fears that Gwendolen is not as child- 253 W Bute St, Norfolk, VA 23510. ishly unaware of the others' inter- ISBN: 0-915442- 54-X est in her as she pretends, but that she is also playing a game of her CHARMED LIFE own. As the maliciousness becomes By Diana Wynne Jones " more tangible, Cat frantically won- New York, Greenwillow, 1978, 218 HO, Ho" Ia^/leA TWA BAAJTiFVL pp., ders who is really using whom? -- $6.95 editor TiTEpuspC, but the Evil who is playing the deeper game? -- Order from: Greenwillow Books, Author merely GtKihh and why are both sides taking a sur- 105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016 VM I C-fCet>LY ANh COnT(NVAJ> To... reptitious but desperate interest IBSN: 0-688-80138-2 in him? Reviewed by Frederick Patten I'm sure that CHARMED LIFE owes I'm reviewing these two titles nothing to STAR WARS, but the plot together because I read them one can legitimately be summarized as a after the other, and they make a battle between the Good and Dark good comparison in showing the div- sides of the Force. Jones' story ersity of fantasy fiction that's com- is tightly plotted, with clever and ing out today. believable characters. If magic did exist, this is how it might affect ANOTHER FINE MYTH. . . is one of society, and how people would use the first four titles in Polly and it and allow it to mold them. There Kelly Freas' new series of Starblaze First draft noveu are two or three equally interest- Editions. It's an attractively il- ing sub -plots that I don't have lustrated quality- bound paperback. room to go into here. The tension Freas' humorous cartoon cover ac- builds gradually, sprinkled with hu- curately symbolizes the story, which mor, until the final third of the is slapstick sword- and- sorcery. book when things become desperately CHARMED LIFE is being marketed Skeeve, a scrawny teenage bar- grim. As with CONJURE WIFE, the as a juvenile hardcover. That means barian sneak- thief, has gotten him- real climax isn't in the final chap- you aren't likely to find it unless self apprenticed to a hedge magic- ter; it hits you by surprise a good you visit the children's section of ian, Garkin. Garkin is murdered by bit earlier. If there were a Hugo your library or a good hardcover a rival just after conjuring a de- category for Best Juvenile Fiction, bookstore. It's well worth the ef- mon, Aahz, to their dimension. Aahz, CHARMED LIFE would certainly be one fort, though. Think of the quality despite his scaly green skin and of my nominees (it was first pub- of a Heinlein juvenile with a CON- sharklike teeth, has the personality lished in England in 1977). And JURE WIFE- like plot, and you'll have and chutzpah of a used- car dealer. try to find Jones' earlier, excel- an idea of the reading pleasure to Aahz becomes Skeeve 's new mentor lent DOGSBODY, which seems to have be found here. and the two go on a quest to des- gone totally unnoticed in the SF troy Garkin' s arch- competitor be- The setting is an alternate- community. fore he can wipe them out, and to dimension England, where magic is ************************************ get Aahz back home. an integral part of society. Eric (Cat) Chant and his older sister 'A local school teacher advanced the The resulting series of misad- Gwendolen, recently orphaned, are theory that he was a yacht in the ventures is rather like a teamup be- believed to show promise and are middle of a pond and was surrounded tween W.C. Fields and Dick Van Dyke apprenticed to a local minor witch. by rafts . And to survive he had to in a landscape filled with cute baby Gwendolen is so talented that she make himself look like a raft. He dragons, ominous wizards, klutzy soon becomes the village pet. Her asked me whether I was a yacht or a professional assassins, sultry tav- spreads, and she (with Cat in raft. I told him I was a submarine.' ern wenches, humble merchants who fame her wake) are invited to England's turn out to be disguised monsters R.S. Harding of one sort or another, and bumbling 39 .

overabundance were made in 1953, of time to accomplish the impossible. CONTINUED FROM P, 30 less than one half-life of t-ritium To them that is merely invoking mag- after the first H-bombs were deton- ic. Furthermore, the basic concept With the rise of ISAAC 7-20-78 ated, so the tritium produced by H- of simple oragnisms evolving into ASIMOV'S SF MAGAZINE and the im- bombs wouldn't have had time to de- more complex ones by natural proces- minent appearance of NOVA, PULSAR generate into He 3 in large enough ses violates a known physical law, and DESTINIES, plus many also-rans, quantity to matter. the second law of thermodynamics the reign of "king of sf" may be (entropy) . How can natural proces- ended for ANALOG. 'As for the water vapor canopy ses, which are entropic, ever give Ben Bova has resigned, and the being an ad hoc creation, I did not rise to an anti-entropic process next editor will still be faced with say that. The canopy was primordial, (evolution)? If biology is not sub- the ghost of Campbell. Bova was a formed according to natural processes ject to the law of entropy as some strong editor though not as eccen- as the hot, molten primordial earth evolutionists claim, then it is the tric and fierce as John W. Until with steam i-n its atmosphere slowly only thing in the universe that is ANALOG is lucky enough to acquire a cooled. Logically, this is the not. Genetic mutation, which evol- singular personality. . .a unique com- way that any earth-type planet utionists point to as the mechanism bination of talents and character as should form. Our present situation of evolution, does not demonstrate editor, ANALOG will probably slowly is obviously abnormal. The only way any exemption from the law of en- be eclipsed and will settle down in- the canopy of water vapor could have tropy. Almost all mutations result to a respectable dotage, gradually been precipitated down was for dust in degeneration. Some are benefic- declining circulation... particles to be introduced (a la ial, like the mutation that causes As Ben Bova says in his inter- Velikovsky, perhaps) to provide con- a gypsy moth's wings to be dark col- view this issue, Conde-Nast, the densation nuclei for the formation ored in an area where there is in- publishers, do not want to change of heavier-than-air droplets or dustrial soot in the air, but that ANALOG or change their attitude to- flakes. Since water vapor in its does not represent an increase in ward sf or their level of activity dissociated, molecular form weighs complexity of the organism, and be- in the sf field. Stand pat. only .6 as much as air, it would sides, what we are calling a muta- They may feel that there will be not "freeze out", because tempera- tion in this case could be merely a a blow-off of the sf boom in a year ture does not affect weight and matter of certain genes that were or so, and most of ANALOG'S competi- water vapor does not condense with- previously turned off by inhibitors tion will die off, leaving the maga- out something on. to condense Some becoming turned on again -- a pos- zine pre-emininent as be- . secure and of those clouds see you floating siblity that would tend to blur the fore. high up in the sky are water vapor distinction between mutation and It may work out that way. But at below zero degrees F. variation. There has never been a as things stand now the sf field is 'People keep getting the idea single documented case of a mutation now a continent, and whole sf civil- that creationists are invoking mag- izations have sprung up in the that was clearly anti-entropic and ic to explain the formation of the twinkling of an eye... or a STAR WARS. resulted in an increase in complex- earth and everything else. That is ity of the organism. not the case. While at one time God must have created the universe and ' I have to comment on a state- set things in motion, since then He ment you made. You said that in your correspondence the creationist uses natural processes as far as position was outvoted. I don't mean # LETTER FROM RONALD LAMBERT the physical realm is concerned. to be snide, but since when was the

But life is unnatural . It had to July 6, 1978 universe a democracy? Surely you be specially created. This is a don't believe that physical reality logical conclusion, because no nat- 'By the way, is there any hope is determined by consensus of the ural processes are known to be able that I might yet get a chance to re- majority. That would be vox popul- to create life. Evolutionists may ply to John Chalmers in print? He ae vox Dei with a vengeance! Per- speculate about primordial amino caught me in one mistake that I sonally, I do not believe that the acid soups and lightning bolts (a would like to set straight, espec- voice of the populace is the voice la Frankenstein) but they have not ially since my basic argument is , of God. I think vox populae VEX Dei succeeded in demonstrating that still valid. My mistake was in mis- -- life can be created by such means. is closer to the truth if you reading my source (THE GENESIS Creationists are not impressed by will pardon the English anachronism. FLOOD, by John C. Whitcomb Jr. and the invoking of millions of years Henry M. Morris, p. 375). I said 'I still hope that somebody will' there was too much tritium in the air to be accounted for by the present rate of formation, and what I should have said was that there is too much He 3. That is a radiogenic isotope of helium that is formed when the tritium undergoes beta de- cay (emitting a nuclear electron so that a neutron turns into a proton) Cosmic rays strike hydrogen atoms in water vapor and produce tritium, which in turn decays into He^. The only possible explanation for the present overabundance of He 3 in the atmosphere is that prior to the Flood there was a water vapor canopy in earth's upper atmosphere. The H-bomb tests produced some tritium, but not enough, and anyway the meas- urements that discovered the He 3 ) . . ) ' . '

perform the experiments X previously which contained tales by Robert suggested that involve the use of Bloch, Ray Russell, Fritz Leiber and pressurized terrariums.' (among others) ... Harlan Ellison. oNLi AJeo, F%£P> TUB j I find it a bit odd that Harlan s £N' gets all the credit for breaking THING* BS/N< AN ((Of course, Ron, I do not believe new ground, when what he's actually PAHSBlSEE? SP&C/ES -HAS a quantity of opinions equals Truth. done is snatch someone else's idea PoHe Feft Aie IS i I jest reported you was not in the and used better P.R. Have you ever AAV !NS>U(U\NCE PREMIUM. majority, thas all. Shucks and shit, seen this book? I can't recall any- man, don’t read things ain't there. one ever mentioning it, and I'm sure ((I get/got letters from the if its existence were known in fan- relevant saientists/scienaes who dom, others would have demanded an seem to demolish your position and explanation and asked to hear less

statements . . . Then you come along about Harlan's much- vaunted origin- with a letter like this and I don’t ality. know which is what and tend, because of my rebellious nature and anti- 'I don't like reading serials until I authoritarian inclination, to side have all parts in hand, so with you just for the hell of it and I won't be reading ONE IMMORTAL MAN because Authorities have been glor- until next issue... or the issue after that ... whenever H- LETTER FROM MIKE ASHLEY iously wrong so often in the past. or you're done squeezing it into SFR. But 21 ( (I expect to get a letter or July 1978 two about how half-assed and wrong never fear, feedback will eventually arrive. this letter of yours is. 'Anyway, my main reason for pouncing at the keys for once is the ( ( This is a controversy which useful biblio on H. Beam Piper. is likely never to be settled as far ( (Thanks for the info on Brunner and I've often wondered why people rate as I'm concerned. Veil, I think for the Nicholson correction. Every- there should be some issues never body wrote and told me about Brunner. him so highly, because whilst his settled, some mysteries never solv- In fact, I've now ordered the two stuff is good, so is a lot of other ed. ... I suspect mankind NEEDS a all-Brunner books available. Five or work by other writers. I think it's few vital ambiguities and critical six people also mentioned the Nichol- chiefly because he's been overlook- insolubles son bit. ed for so long. It so often happens few dedicated fans cherish ( ( This comment comes to you ( (Your attack on Ellison is the that a courtesy of a bottle of Champale kind of thing that Harlan refers to the name of so-and-so, and then one on an empty stomach. Happy New when putting down' fans and fandom. day, beyond all their wildest dreams, that name is suddenly big Year. ) Even if he was inspired or triggered by the TABOO series, so what? The business. Then all the fascination "forbidden, censored fruit" idea is is lost because the name is on ev- not new. "NOV! REVEALED FOR THE eryone's lips. It happened with FIRST TIME..." That’s old, old basic E.E. Smith. Once his name was re- salesmanship vered and hallowed. Now many look down on his books with a sneer and 4 LETTER FROM SCOTT EDELMAN ( (Harlan does not claim cudos for new ground in sf. say to new readers, "You're not July 18, 1978 the idea of breaking Only, I think, for making it work so still reading that old rubbish". has to Love- well. ) Much the same happened ' I feel a bit odd writing to craft and Howard, I feel, and doubt- you solely to correct you on topics less will happen to others. It's of trivia when there are so many a phase. In due course they will more important things to be said become honoured Patriarchs, a la about rape, puritanism, Russian re- Wells and Verne. pression and TV violence, but . . # LETTER FROM JOY GOODIN 'But I'm rambling. Piper ... ' The artist whose name Alter July 1978 1) 19, you give some of Tuck's data on has. difficulty deciphering in the Piper on P. 10 since Wm. Denholm DOCTOR STRANGE paperback was Frank 'I'd like to add one more item says little is in print. I might Brunner, now noted more for having to the H. Beam Piper bibliography — also refer you to page 153 of the drawn the first issue of HOWARD THE a story entitled "Dearest", in the February 1966 ANALOG. There Camp- DUCK than anything else. March 1951 issue of WEIRD TALES. bell gives a reply to a reader's So far as I know, this completes '2) Bill Warren, in his "Sprock- letter asking why "Down Styphon!" the list. et To Me!!!" column, notes that Jack was printed in ANALOG after it had Nicholson played "the masochistic 'Another point that might be appeared as part of LORD KALVAN OF dentist in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS." of interest: the description of OTHERWHEN published by Ace some Wrong. He in fact played the den- the battle of Fyk, in LORD KALVAN four or five months earlier. For tist's patient who insisted on hav- OF OTHERWHEN, seems to be based on those without that issue to hand I ing his teeth yanked without novo- Paul Murray Kendall's description will quote in part as it throws caine. of the battle of Barnet, in RICHARD some insight onto Piper's suicide: THE THIRD. It would be interesting 'During a recent foray into used '"ANALOG bought "Down Styphon!" to know if Piper made use of other bookstores near Wahington, I came -- it was written for us as a sequel historical works the same way. across a paperback volume titled to "Gunpowder God" -- from H. Beam

TABOO 2: FOUR SHORT STORIES NO PUB- ' I hope your prediction works Piper through Piper's agent Ken LISHER TOUCH FROM FOUR LEAD- White. Unfortunately Ken White died WOULD out , and you do get an article on ING WRITERS. It was published in Piper. What I am really looking suddenly leaving all his affairs in 1965, two years before DANGEROUS forward to, though, is the inter- a chaotic mess. (It was this, in VISIONS, a book with the same con- view with C.J. Cherryh. part, that put Piper in such a fin- cept. What's more, an ad in the ancial jam, and caused the acute de- back of the book tells of TABOO 1 41 pression that led to his suicide.)" ( ' . )

'Whilst writing I might as well 'Turning one 's death. Even sadder, perhaps, elsewhere, another ramble about myself for a while, as is that I can't place M-ike Rosenblum. friend, Gordon Dickson, also makes I always have ulterior motives to A fan? some remarks which might be com- writing letters (as I'm sure Alter ( (For those who have info Mike mented upon. He thinks we're head- has I'm currently completing too!) can use in his project , he lives at: ing into a period of neo-puritanism. a book on the 7 Wonders of the World Mike Ashley, 4 Thistlebank, I think that we're already well in- and when that is finished I shall be Walderslade, Chatham, Kent, ME5 8AD to one, which is going to get much

engaged in two projects of research. UNITED KINGDOM. ) worse before it gets better. I'm hoping some of your readers may be able to help. 'At first glance this opinion may look ridiculous. Sexual permis- 'Firstly, I have obtained formal siveness, legalized pornography, approval from the Estate of Algernon widespread use of a variety of for and write Blackwood to research ft LETTER FROM POUL ANDERSON drugs, strident demands for equal a Biography of the man. I'd be in- 26 July 1978 rights for everybody with no men- terested in hearing from anyone who tion of equal duties, weakening of has any information on the writer, public 'Thank you for SFR #26, inter- law and order, collapse of especially if he had any dealings learning, esting as always. A couple of let- education and respect for with him, directly or indirectly; ters invite replies. all this and more have now been ad- or if he has any data on Blackwood's ded to that long-time American mat- magazine contributions. 'My friend, Sandra Miesel, is erialism and self-indulgence of under a misapprehension when she which PLAYBOY magazine is perhaps 'Secondly, I'm working on a calls me "a writer who considers the principal spokesman. So are complete Bibliography of British (!) literary criticism to be inherent- we not living in a totally hedonis- Science Fiction. I do mean com- ly worthless". It's just that, tic period? plete, however suicidal that may pace Ted Sturgeon, 99.99% of it is, are 'Well, let's think about that, sound. My terms of reference at least of what I have seen (Pre- very wide -- if in doubt, include. cisely because average quality of and start by defining our terms. original (capitalized) Puritans It's bad enough defining British this genre is so low, I seldom The let alone sf, but essentially my look at it, and therefore may well were, of course, reformers who main problem is identifying real have missed some items which are would either make over the Church of writers from pseudonymous . I ' d be good.) Criticism can be enlighten- England or break away from it alto- interested in hearing from any wri- ing, entertaining, and otherwise gether. By no means were all or ter of British birth or parentage possessed of literary virtue. Fov even most Of them ascetics, and (or who regards him/herself as Brit- example, George Orwell wrote some many were strong advocates of in- ish) who has sold any sf/fantasy brilliant essays on the works of creasing the freedom of the indiv- stories or novels anywhere in the others idual, at least in certain areas. world. I see the July/August 78 However, Puritanism did tend to at- ASIMOV'S SF magazine contains a 'Within science fiction, I can tract a certain personality cluster first sale by Canadian resident Pat- think of three or possibly four and to bring about a certain type ricia Nurse, but as she is of Eng- critics who are worth reading — of social order. We can find the lish birth and upbringing I shall indeed, well worth reading. Sandra same kind of thing elsewhere, e.g., almost certainly be including her is one of them. (This isn't my in Savonarola's little day, or cen- in this Biblio. My research must judgment, because she's said nice turies of Spanish history, or the things about some works of mine; be exhaustive (and exhausting) , since medieval Catharists, or the Wahabite over the years I've learned never to after all, she has disliked others.) sect in Islam, or .... trust anything in print. So much Otherwise, we have a lot of preten- 'If, therefore, in defining that is taken for granted turns out tious garbage mongers -- and, to be lower-case puritanism, we remove any to be false, and I'm endeavoring to sure, still more reviewers, who are attachment to a specific religion, contact personally every British quite a different breed of cat what is left that such movements writer of sf, or for those alas no from critics. have in common? Doctrinal rigidity, longer with us, friends or relatives 'In fact, I have published crit- tending toward holism; an ideal of So many have vanished into oblivion, icism myself. The quality of it is austerity and self-abnegation; zeal; and I've no idea what has become of for readers to judge, but surely proselytization and the strict en- Festus Pragnell, George E. Roches- , the introductions to books by Leib- forcement, by law, of all these ter, Douglas Newton, Vincent Clarke er, de Camp, and Clement, as well standards upon everybody in reach. and umpteen other writers, but some as my contribution to Bretnor's There is considerable truth in the day ... All and any responses will volume THE CRAFT OF SCIENCE FICTION, old difinition of a puritan as .a be welcome and dutifully acknowledg- count as critical essays. In all person who wakes up in the middle ed. of them I was mainly indulging my- of the night in a cold sweat at the 'Incidentally, I have already self in what Anthony Boucher called thought that somebody, somewhere, made some fascinating discoveries "the noble pleasure of praising". may be having a good time. on the matter of pen names and However, I did try to show some of background information on British the reasons why the works discussed 'Today's puritanism does not take an overtly religious form, and writers, but I realize what an ex- are outstanding. so is often not recognized for what acting job I have taken on. Still, 'Sandra is also mistaken in cal- it is. But let's just take a look I think it a job worth doing, and ling me "obsessively modest". Ac- even if no one else does, I'm hap- at the world around us and see what tually I'm such an arrogant bastard we find. py, and that's what matters. that I don't see any need to make 'Communism is the most conspic- 'PS: I suppose you've heard a fool of myself by tooting my own Though the ideal is the tragic news that Mike Rosenblum horn. When somebody calls me a uous example. crumbling in eastern Europe and died on June 29th of a heart attack. lousy writer, I don't get angry, I Soviet Union — where Solzhenit- Most sad. just quietly pity the poor, taste- the altogether less yut. syn says it's actually discredited -- it is still official; any- ( Yes , I am sad to hear of 42 and it appears to be flourishing ) . '

in countries such as China, which though I predict a crackdown in the But it's tacky. I can understand even maintains a sort of Anti-Sex fairly near future; divorce may re- Tower doing this sort of thing in League, and Cambodia, where genocide main easy and cohabitation legal; their struggle with the biggies for of more-than-Cromwellian ferocity in many ways, the next puritan era rack space and sales, but for Ace to

is simply getting more publicity would be unrecognizable by Cotton go this route. . . .tsk. than that of Stalin or Mao. Mather. Nevertheless, in most that matter people then, 'Socialism and "liberalism" are things to it will be puritan. somewhat milder examples in the # LETTER FROM MICHAEL MOORCOCK West. For instance, when John Ken- ' I expect to end my days as an neth Galbraith deplores "private af- old unregenerate who shocks the 17 July 1978 fluence and public squalor", what hell out of his grandchildren. he means is that you and I are ig- 'Thanks for SFR. As enjoyable norant, selfish slobs; our money as ever. It's funny you should men- should be taken from us at gun point ( (Of course the new puritanism tion what happens when you announce and given to the likes of John Ken- has abandoned religious and moral an SF magazine -- or just a magazine. neth Galbraith to spend, as they sin as its justification; social sin I said that contributions to NEW

see fit, for the good of Society. is the new evil , including ecological WORLDS should be laconic and in the

. . also promotes bureaucrat- 'The various "liberation" move- sin. and it form of news items. What do I get? ments demand that everybody drop ic empire building.)) Short stories full of tautologies everything else and give full ded- (I suppose we must blame Brautigan and Vonnegut) which these days ication to their causes. I have a small organization going known as pass as 'art' writing or 'new wave' The People's Movement for Libera- SF. It hardly seems worth all the tion from Liberation Movements. effort over the years when you read Anybody care to join? the same imitative junk written at 7-24-78 MONEY, MDNEY, MONEY, MONEY. even greater length than the junk 'The eco- freaks and "limits to BIG MONEY. Snap, snarl, grab! There you used to get -- the only differ- -- growth" types are another example is a story in the WALL STREET JOURN- ence is that there's less imagina- and here I speak as a long-time con- AL today; 'FOX FILM AND MCA WAGE A tive content in the new stuff. servationist. With missionary fer- LEGAL BATTLE OVER SPACE FANTASIES.' What can you do? vor, we are told how we must lower Fox thinks MCA's BATTLESTAR: GAL- 'Schweitzer's remark about UN- our expectations, adopt appropriate ACTICA is a copy of STAR WARS, and EARTH seemed a bit rotten. The technology, and so and so on. they want the ABC TV show to be cut a damned sight Facts (such as the health and safety from the ABC schedule. spirit of UNEARTH is more attractive to me than ASIMOV'S records of nuclear power plants or BATTLESTAR: GALACTICA is being the possibility of starting indus- shown as a movie in Canada now— any anything. All I know is that I flyers in the tries in space) are ignored; after Canadian fans have an opinion? Is throw ASIMOV 'market' whereas I've offered to all, a holistic faith explains ev- it a copy of STAR WARS? basket, for UNEARTH for erything, doesn't it? People are MCA has a countersuit; says that write new material afford. It's not ignored likewise. (We tell them in STAR WARS is a copy from two of their whatever they can the money turns a lot of authors on Bangladesh that there can be no properties : BUCK ROGERS and SILENT more economic growth. Herman Kahn RUNNING. these days, it's the kind of maga- estimates that the Sierra Club al- Ha. Ha. It appears that both zine they'll appear in. N.W. never one has cost the United States a Fox and MCA think space wars can be got its fiction by offering the billion dollars in goods and ser- copyrighted. Any space war, any- best rates in the field! It had most vices, which is to say jobs. But where, anytime. the worst time it was running then, such organizations don't think Billions of dollars are at of it's outstanding fiction. But British prosperity is good. In prosperous stake, here, folks, so these suits then we only bought 1st times, too many people can afford will be pursued to the bitter end. Serial Rights on principle and that to buy things that are in dreadful The WALL STREET JORNAL story and the habit of sending out proofs taste. goes on to say that STAR WARS will whenever possible and choice of il- so a be pulled from theaters on Sept. S, lustrator and on counts for 'I could go on, but doubtless lot, I ASIMOV'S is a perfect- 1978, and STAR WARS II is scheduled think. my point has become obvious. It is to be released' in the spring of 1980. ly good commercial magazine. But only emphasized by the well-being of then so is PLAYBOY ' so many puritan leaders -- such as that work- the liberals who decree # Speaking of STAR WARS copies and ing-class children shall be bused coattail-riding... Have you noticed all over town, then get in their the cover of the Belmont Tower book limousines and ride home to their 51283, STAR FIGHTERS? 'Red Rian, lily-white suburbs where their own Nila and Dann battle to free the children are enrolled in private stars from Lord Blorg's icy grip!' schools. After all, among the original Puritans, it was rich merchants AND the cover of Alan Gamer's and their well-fed clergy who most THE WEIRDSTONE OF BRISINGAMEN, a ardently told the laboring classes fantasy. Ace Books insisted on put- of the value of hard work and tem- ting a Darth Vader-like figure in perance. the foreground, with Ben Kenobi-like figure in the background wielding a 'In short, we've already had white sword. . . our hedonistic period. By now, action- PLAYBOY looks creakily old-fashion- There's nothing legally and similar- ed. To be sure, trends don't rev- able about these swipes erse themselves simultaneously, or looking picture elements, of course. overnight, or totally. So drugs and porn are still on the increase. 43 . .

THE HOTLINE wind tub id syllables HUMAN i :doa>V j 'PDT THE KBYMEi> ( VBK HWE/ AI>£WMN/ T-

# Prozine resignations : In addition to Bova's (see interview elsewhere this issue), J.J. Pierce has resigned from GALAXY. Diana King has quit NOVA citing personal reasons, which have no connection with the magazine in any fashion. when his § Alex Schomburg, now in his second retrospective col- H Rights to (Paul Linebarger) fifty- fourth year as a profession- lection/cum autobiography, OPUS 200 Cordwainer Smith's book, QUEST OF al artist, will have 3 double pages will be published. This information THE THREE WORLDS have been purchas- from ASIMOV'S later this year. Al- courtesy of Jim Wilson. ed by Del Rey Books. It will be so he will be illustrating 5 stor- reissued in December. ies for Ace Books, probably DESTINIES # Anne McCaffrey is writing mus- H Frederik Pohl's new novel, ic for some of the lyrics she wrote # Poul Anderson's latest novel, GEM: THE MAKING OF A UTOPIA, will THE AVATOR will be out from Berkley- for the Dragonriders series. Jon be serialized in GALAXY in the fall. Putnam in October. MERMAN'S CHILD- Anderson of the rock group. Yes, It will be published by St. Martin's REN is the name of the new novel he has agreed to help her; she thought Press in 1979. is working on, portions of which his music would be appropriate for Tony Rothman, author of the appeared in the FLASHING SWORDS an- what she had in mind. ft recent Del Rey'title, THE WORLD IS thologies . H Number 8 in Robert Weinberg's ROUND, is the son of the physicist Michael Moorcock's ELRIC AT Lost Fantasies series will feature Milton Rothman, who also wrote SF THE END OF TIME will be out in Brit- THE LAKE OF FIRE by Edmund Hamil- under the name, Lee Gregor. ain from Pierrot. It is described ton. The issue is scheduled for Elizabeth Lynn has sold a fan- as comedy. late summer or early fall at $5.50 ft tasy trilogy, CHRONICLES OF TORNER, per copy. The address is Robert H. Beam Piper's estate is now to Berkley for a five- figure advance # and Phyllis Weinberg, 10606 S. Cent- being handled under the auspices of ral Park, Chicago, IL 60655. Jack Vance has sold ten older Jerry E. Poumelle who is cooperat- ft books to Daw for an advance well ing with to bring out tt James P. Hogan is at work on Ace new books into the five- figure range. based on Piper's literary corpus. a novel tentatively titled MICRO- PLANET JANUS. Also in the works is William Tuning, a frequent contrib- ft Berkley will publish Tom Reamy's utor to ANALOG, is writing the a third novel in the INHERIT THE short story collection. Together third novel in the popular Fuzzy STARS/THE GENTLE GIANTS OF GANYMEDE with the just published novel, BLIND series. A sequel to SPACE VIKING series VOICES, it will be, due to his un- called SPACE VIKING'S RETURN is in fortunate death, most likely all of ft C.J. Cherryh has completed the works and will be authored by THE FADED SUN: SHON'JIR, second in his works that we shall see. Jerry E. Poumelle. her Faded Sun series. The hardback ft Del Rey will publish NIGHT- should be out any time now. She is WORLD by Dave Bischoff ft The Ace list for August should sometime in also at work on the concluding vol- include a double book, THE RIM GODS 1979. He and Ted White have sold ume in her GATE OF IVREL trilogy. and THE DARK DIMENSIONS by A. Ber- a book to Popular Library.

tram Chandler, the third in a six- ft Joe Haldeman is doing a non- ft Joan D. Vinge has sold two part series about Commander Grimes. fiction book on space travel for short novels to Dell for their Bin- The Del Rey list for July St. Martin's Press entitled THE ary Star editions; the names are should read SHE AND ALLEN by H. Rid- ENDLESS HORIZON. MOTHER AND CHILD and FIRESHIP. er Haggard. § Charles Sheffield, in addition Robert Silverberg Finally, the Berkley list for ft has sold the July should have the Suzee McKee to being one of the brighter new- rights for his new novel for comers to science fiction Chamas novel, MOTHER LINES, and the the scene, $127,500.00 to Harper § Row, the is also the Terry Carr anthology as hardcovers, vice-president of the highest sum ever paid for the hard- American with the rest as paperbacks. And Astronomical Society. cover rights to an SF novel. The name of the novel, LORD VALENTINE'S the Terry Carr anthology in paper- § Ace Books has doubled its CASTLE, is described as a long epic back should've read THE YEAR'S FIN- growth in the last year, moving it adventure set on an "extrasolar" EST FANTASY VOLUME 1, not VOL. II, from tenth to sixth in paperback planet twenty thousand years in the as listed in SFR #26. house size. The reasons, according future to Ace SF editor James Baen, are in # PEREGRINE, a collection of SF large poetry by Robert Frazier, the theme part the work of Tom Doherty, being man's "outward urge", will be president of Ace, and the purchase ft BATTLE STAR: GALACTICA NEWS available from SALT WORKS PRESS of Ace by Grosset § Dunlap, the the (Dennis, Ma.) in September. latter transaction giving Ace The first seven hours of the stable financial base any sound bus- series will be run as three movies # Isaac Asimov will celebrate iness must have. from ABC-TV around the second part book number 200 in February '79, 44 of September. The first movie will : , run about three hours, the next two Andre Norton -- THREE AGAINST THE Ron Goulart -- THE WICKED CYBORG will run about two hours apiece. WITCH WORLD A.E. Van Vogt -- EARTH FACTOR: X These will serve as an introduction Andre Norton -- WARLOCK OF THE November : for the network series which will WITCH WORLD appear on Sunday nights (8-9 pst). Andre Norton -- SORCERESS OF THE Jack Vance -- WYST: ALASTOR 1716 -- MASTER According to publicity releases WITCH WORLD Tanith Lee NIGHT’S -- they will feature Andre Norton -- TREY OF SWORDS Hugh Walker WAR- GAMER'S WORLD -- ORBIT "The Pearl Harbor attack for Arthur W. Landis CAMELOT IN -- openers, then take off like WAGON Arthur W. Landis A WORLD CALLED CAMELOT TRAIN and from then on it's cowboys and Indians".

ft BERKLEY NEWS: Gerald Page will have an anth- If this sounds exciting you ft ology coming out from Daw. The will be thrilled to know the movie October : FANTASY. It is an will also feature a robot dog cal- title is HEROIC Frank Herbert -- THE DOSADI EXPERI- led Muffit, the Daggit. original anthology. MENT Poul Anderson -- VAULT OF THE AGES Scott Baker -- SYMBIOTES CROWN Robert Silverberg -- ALPHA #9 ACE NEWS: ft *Samuel Delany -- EMPIRE

October : *This will be a trade book; it will have text-tipped full-color illus- ft SPOTLIGHT: James Baen -- DESTINIES (first issue) trations by Howard Chaykin. Colin Kapp -- THE ION WAR Featured Authors: Jack Dann and -- F. Paul Wilson Alexie 3 Cory Panshin EARTH MAGIC November : Fred Saberhagen -- THE VEILS OF AZ- L. Sprague De Camp -- HOSTAGE OF ZIR JACK DANN : LAROC Ted White -- SECRET OF THE MARAUDER JUNCTION, has sold to Harry Harrison -- SKYFALL ft A novel , SATELLITE Steve Wilson -- THE LOST TRAVELER Dell. It should be out sometime in Stanley Schmidt -- LIFEBOAT EARTH Ian -- 1979. Watson THE MARTIAN INCA -- -- Robert Silverberg THE MASKS OF Gordon R. Dickson PRO Another novel has been sold to -- TIME ft *Andrew J. Offutt CONAN AND THE Doubleday, titled DISTANCES, and a SORCERER short-story collection called TIME- -- * Larry Niven THE MAGIC GOES AWAY TRIPPING.

*Both books will be published in a ft He is at work on a novel for Harper Row entitled WHIRLCAGE. trade edition of six by nine inches. DEL REY NEWS: § They will appear under the Sunridge ft ft A novelette is forthcoming Press label, a division of Grosset October : from FANTASY § SCIENCE FICTION. 5 Dunlap, and will be published in Clifford Simak -- MASTODONIA A poetry chapbook, CHRISTS, is a mass market format about six mon- Juanita Coulson -- WEB OF WIZARDY ft out from the Bellevue Press. It con- ths later. Alan Dean Foster -- DARK STAR tains three poems (one long poem) Eric Frank Russell -- THE BEST OF two of which are SF, and the chap- Reginald Bretnor has sold an ERIC FRANK RUSSELL ft book is illustrated by John Fenton. anthology to Ace; it will be a James White -- THE WATCH BELOW It will be some thirty pages in three-volume set. The title is THE Poul Anderson — A MIDSUNMER TEMPEST length, the price is $4.00 unsigned, FUTURE AT WAR. Both reprint stor- November : $6.00 signed. Copies can be ob- ies and original work are needed. tained from Jack Dann, POB 555, John- Address: Reginald Bretnor, POB Patricia A. McKillip -- HEIR OF SEA son City, N.Y. 13790, or from the 1481, Medford, OR 97501. He has al- AND FIRE Bellevue Press, 60 Schubert Street, so sold a "Papa Schim- Jack L. Chalker -- QUEST FOR THE collection of Binghamton, N.Y. 13905. melhom" stories to Ace. WELL OF SOULS Cordwainer Smith -- NOSTRILIA Also available; an anthology Randall Garrett has sold sev- ft ft Robert Hoskins -- TO ESCAPE THE STARS of poetry edited by Jack Dann, a eral of the Lord Darcy stories to -- Howard Saunders § Jake Waldrop set of six. It includes poems by Ace. They will appear in chomolog- THE TEXAS § ISRAELI WAR: 1999 Disch, Le Guin, Aldiss, Dorman, ical order. Evangeline Walton -- PRINCE OF ANWEN Bishop and Yarbro; also included is

November : a poem by Jack Dann, all of which Phyllis Eisenstein has sold a ft can be obtained from the above ad- Fred Saberhagen -- THE HOLMES- DRAC- new novel to Del Rey entitled SOR- dress . ULA FILE CERER'S SON. Arsen Damey -- THE SIEGE OF FALT- ft In the works are short stories, ORA a mainstream novel and another anth- -- E.E. Doc Smith § Gordon Eklund ology with Gardner Dozois. LORD TEDRIC Anthony Bellairs -- THE FACE IN THE DAW NEWS: F. PAUL WILSON : FOREST ft Between 12/77 and 6/78 he has Ben Bova -- STAR WATCHMAN ft October : signed contracts for two novels, a Robert -- IMMORTALITY INC. Sheckley novella and two short stories. Ian Wallace -- Z' STING .Alexei Panshin -- MASQUE WORLD Jack Vance -- THE KILLING MACHINE The first novel is WHEELS WITH- Andre Norton -- ZARTHOR'S VANE ft Lin Carter -- THE PIRATE OF WORLD'S IN WHEELS, due in November from Andre Norton -- WITCH WORLD END Doubleday. It shares the same back- Andre Norton -- WEB OF THE WITCH ground as his first novel, HEALER, WORLD 45 still in print from Dell. these. ft The second novel, CARAPACE is is the first of On the rumor ACKERMAN: Well, the American dol- a mainstream written in collabora- horizon are about ten other maga- lar has slipped so much in compari- tion with Barbara Sloan; however F. zines. In my estimation, the mar- son with the German mark that they Paul Wilson's name will appear only ket for SF short fiction in SF maga- believe these higher prices are on the copyright page. It sold for zines will have quadrupled from reasonable. You know, it isn't as a five- figure and is due from Nal 1/76 to 1/79. This doesn't count if they need the money. They are in 1979. the science fiction skin mag market so big and make so much money that or the original anthologies which they don't care whether the U.S. ft The novella, THE TERY, will be are showing signs of recovering from has a Rhodan or not. In fact, when published in February by Dell as one the rise and fall of Roger Elwood. the writers of Rhodan in Germany of its Binary Star editions; it asked for a raise, the publishers will be paired with a Gordon Eklund But the really spectacular in- stated, "Hell, we'd rather drop it." novella. crease will be in books, where there

will be about 1000 to 1500 new tit- I ' ve been pestered to death ft A short story has sold to AS- les in 1979. Every major and most with the Rhodan business, what with IMOV'S. It's title is "To Fill the minor lines will be increasing their the subscribers and all -- why, just Sea and Air". output. A conservative guesstimate last week we had to write up a re- of the total cost to the completist port to send out to all of them. It A second short story, "Demon- ft collector and diehard movie-goer is to the point where I've told Wen- song" was purchased by Gerald Page would be around $4000.00. dy, it's not worth it. for his Daw anthology, HEROIC FAN- TASY. Whether this is the beginning SFR: What other things are you go- of a boom which will carry SF where ing to be doing? no genre has gone before, is debat- able. The alternative position, ACKERMAN: Well, I will make my el- held by many pros and fans, is that eventh appearance in a movie in a this is just a prelude to a nasty film called AFTERMATH. Wendy and CONCLUDING WORDS : bust. I will be guests of honor at the Fantasy Film Celebration in Pitts- In any case, whether short Although there are a number of burg in September. I'm doing a book pros who would be loathe to admit term or long, welcome to the big of rry best-beloved stf stories of it, STAR WARS has had a tremendous time, folks. See you next column, my youth for Bantam. I also will where I'll have an Iguanacon report. impact on SF. be doing a book called THE SOUVENIR The most visible example is BOOK OF MR. SCIENCE FICTION'S FAN- the publishers, who now believe that written SF might be able to make money. Whether STAR WARS has THE ACKERMAN INTERVIEW attracted the buyers necessary for the rapidly increasing production of By Elton T. Elliott TASY MUSEUM which will feature 800 SF is just one among many question color photos of top collector's it- marks. ems in the 4E SF Foundation. In re- the fall, Wendy and I will spend a TV is a case in point as It' s been several months since SFR: week among pros and fans in Spain gards expansion. The fall '78 sea- the first part of your interview; son features a half-dozen SF series, could you bring us up to date on and Portugal and I will be a judge with more in the wings. It's be- the Perry Rhodan situation? at the week-long movie festival in coming apparent that the failures Sitges, Spain. of recent SF series (LOGAN'S RUN, ACKERMAN: Sure, the biggest prob- THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS) are now seen, lem right now is the arrogance of SFR: Thank you so much, Mr. Acker- thanks to the STAR WARS and CLOSE the German publisher. His attitude, man. ENCOUNTERS successes, as -failures one of indifference, is costing ev- of those individual shows, not the erybody involved a lot of money. ACKERMiN: Thank you. failure of SF to attract a mass audience. Movie Activity remains pro- SFR: How? minent, with a dozen or more in the works. ACKERMAN: Well, we have on hand But despite all the activity some thousands of subscriptions on the screen (large and small) it's which we will have to return to the written SF where the real boom is subscribers. Also the months that taking place. are going by are costing the German publishers a lot of sales. The newsstand magazines now number There are now a large seven. SFR: What exactly is holding up handful of non-fiction SF maga- the republication of the Rhodan zines (STARLOG, FUTURE) where two series? years ago there were none. Plus the subscription- only zines (GALIL- ACKERMAN: They want an exorbitant EO, UNEARTH) and a reprint thing amount of money. Way too much for called SKY WORLDS. the small sales we would get from In the future we can expect a subscriptions-subsidized effort. paperback- zines, DESTINIES, and They are even asking for more money large-size, well-financed magazines from us than they asked of Ace. paying big bucks ($1,000.00 to for stories) to auth- $1250.00 short SFR: Why is this? ors and charging big prices ($2.00) to consumers. NOVA, from Penthouse, 46 . SPROCKET TO ME!!!

SF, Fantasy and Horror Film

BY BILL WARREN

The science fiction boom pre- dicted by so many in the aftermath of the stunning success of STAR WARS and the lesser but still not- able profits of CE3K, seems to me but I suspect this film won't be Bert I. Gordon has been filming to be rather slow in taking oflj at his version of JAWS to be called least in the U.S. There haven't made. DEVILFISH, for First Artists. Can't been many blatant imitations of One of my favorite -- pastimes anyone stop him? either of them yet, and the big that's an exaggeration -- is to semi-SF epic of the summer, THE plow carefully through VARIETY'S Milton Subotsky, formerly with SWARM, is actually just another International Film Annual, publish- Amicus in England has formed Sword disaster movie. CAPRICORN ONE may ed to coincide with the Cannes Sorcery Productions. No plans to not be SF in the first place. BAT- Film Festival. It's in this volume tart Lin Carter's THONGOR IN THE TLESTAR GALACTICA waits in the wings that most foreign producers an- ALLEY OF THE DEMONS in October. followups are plan- There are a few genuine imi- nounce their films for the coming Several Thongor ned as well as SOLOMON KANE, from tation STAR WARS items around, but year. I have a great time picking Robert E. Howard's character. they either haven't been released out all the fantastic films I can plan THE MONSTER CLUB, yet or may not be made at all. find. They also Japan didn't get SW until July horror short stories, LUC ORIENT There's a new- British film cal- of this year, and the delay enabled from the French-Belgian comic books, led THE SHOUT. Alan Bates is a a science fiction comedy called NO a Japanese producer to get his pic- -- lunatic who believes he has and TIME FOR HEROES, written by Sam ture onto local screens either just believes correctly --an aboriginal before Lundwall, and NIGHT OF THE CRABS or simultaneously with Lucas' power to kill with a shout. Re- film. A Japanese film magazine from a Guy Smith novel. Some of views from England have been favor- are get gives the title as MESSAGE FROM Stephen King's stories to able, so this may get released here. treatment, SPACE, and shows what seems to be the horror anthology a clipper ship made of aluminum, AIP plans to film THE AMITY - and three are to be combined into sails and all, tacking through the VILLE HORROR, one of those bogus one story with a man- vs -machines starry void. "true" books purporting to detail theme real supernatural happenings. They Harlan Ellison wrote a treat- Dimension pictures has THE RE- also plan to complete the film of ment DEEMER -- SON OF SATAN, which was called SEVEN WARRIORS, SEVEN Richard Condon's astonishing WINTER PLANETS for Filmation and Dino De already released in England. Another KILLS, which was 3/4 completed a Laurentiis. (He'd already wrapped apparently completed film is OUT OF few years ago. with Donald Pleasance up the script for I, ROBOT.) For THE DARKNESS and Nancy Kwan. They also announced Harlan's peace of mind, in a way I Jerry Weintraub will produce hope this doesn't get filmed, be- three "OH, GOD!" followups, each GIGGLING IN THE DARK (by Ignatz Na- cause with Filmation and De Lauren- to star George Burns. Jane Wagner, bokov?) and THE SEVEN INCH WILDER- tiis involved, it's not likely to Lily Tomlin's partner, will be writ- NESS, the latter from a script by be shot the way Ellison wrote it. ing and directing the first. The lb Melchior. I wish that his film could be made, other two will be written by Andrew There was a remake of JOURNEY but I'm afraid that's unlikely. Bergman and Josh Greenfield, and TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH a year all three are planned to be shot Filmation and De Laurentiis or two ago, which has never seen US back-to-back early next year. release, are also each making a FLASH GORDON and now there's also KING SOLOMON'S TREASURE. This seems to feature; Filmation 's will be an an- Chuck Jones is making some new feature dinosaurs, giant crabs and imated TV movie to be shown this cartoons for Warner Brothers ; one a huge fall, and De Laurentiis' will be a of these will be a sequel to DUCK volcano, judging from the live-action, theatrical film. DODGERS OF THE 24 1/2 CENTURY, and ads. The film is supposedly based is being written by Chuck and Stev- on Haggard's ALLAN QUARTEEMAIN. It Anne McCaffrey's DECISION AT en Spielberg. is directed by Alvin Rakoff and DOONA was optioned by Gary Youngman the executive producer was the de- Spider Robinson's CALLAHAN'S SAL- The VARIETY annual included a pressing Harry Alan Towers. The OON is being scripted. Robert Rad- full-page ad for a film to be cal- film stars David McCallum, John Col- nit z, producer of many fine family led GAD. The adline reads "The New icos, Patrick Macness, Britt Ekland films, such as A DOG OF FLANDERS War is Mind -- The New Mind is and Wilfrid Hyde-White. and SOUNDER, will film Arthur C. 'Gad'". I don't know what it means Harry Alan Towers' name on a Clarke's DOLPHIN ISLAND. either. It will star Malcolm Mc- Dowell and be written and directed film is Bad News. He's a man of no Roger Corman claims to want by Stephen Geller from his novel, taste or talent with a record of Peter O'Toole, Henry Fonda and Rich- not yet published in the U.S. really rotten films. Now Allied ard Burton for his planned space Artists has announced "H.G. Wells' spectacle, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, 47 THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME", with . -

Towers as Executive Producer. God ing its way out of a man's chest is al. It's not a great film, nor is save us all. not for children. The script was it in any way really bad (just pre- rated R, and the final film is John Richardson is scheduled naive); it's a nice little mood expected to have the same rating. to star in COSMOS: WAR OF PLANETS piece, nothing more. It may be the and INVASION ON PLANET, two ungram- work of a genius, but it's a minor matical titles of unknown foreign work at best.

origin (probably Italian) . They It's not likely to turn up in may have been completed. theatres, but it is available to colleges and may be shown on cam- Mark L. Lester starts produc- Okay. So much for news. Now on puses, in case you'd like to see it. tion in August on HIGH- SCHOOL 2000, to my favorite part of the column, in which teachers are computers, what I've been seeing lately.* Here Disney films continue to mine the principal is a robot and the I get to pass judgment on the hand- their own small but fertile vein of students refuse to obey. That's the iwork of crews of dedicated profes- science fiction. The most recent future? sionals, films which people have example is the entertaining and been working on for years, and over Richard Kiel, "Jaws" in THE SPY harmless THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE. which I get to run roughshod. I WHO LOVED ME and Eegah in the rot- It's written by Ted Key and direct- shall praise lightly or outright con- ed by Disney regular, Norman Tokar, ten old movie of the same name, is demn. The power is mine. I am God. is generally a cut above the starring in an Italian SF film, who other regular directors. called THE HUMANOID. It costars *For many of these films, I am deep- Barbara Bach and Corinne Clery, and ly indebted to Tim Wohlgemuth; he's The most amusing aspect of the will be (or has been) directed by the film coordinator for The Academy film is the opening, which affec- of Science Fiction and -Horror Films George B . Lewis tionately parodies openings of many founded by Donald Reed. I never Other new Italian fantasies in cheap SF films of the 1950s and cared for Reeds' Count Dracula Soc- later. The plot follows formula production, planned or recently iety, since the membership didn't completed, lines: the alien pilot, the kitty include RETURN TO AT- get much for their fee, but this LANTIS, of the title, finds a friend in the ENFANTASME, PAPE SATAN, THE Academy apparently is different. END OF THE WORLD (not the one with standard Disney intellectual neb- For $25 per year, each member is Christopher bish (here, Ken Berry, who is cap- Lee) THE ARGONAUTS, THE entitled to see free movies every SPACE TRAMP, DAWN OF THE able of better things) and with the FALSE GODS, week, often two. Many of the films DR. JEKYLL, EYES BEHIND THE STARS, help of several others, a necessary I see for each column were run by -- FRIENDS IN SPACE, WAR IN SPACE, and valuable item gold --is the Academy and selected and obtain- found which will enable the kitty to BATTLE OF STAR SPACE, WAR OF THE ed by Tim. ROBOTS, STAR ODYSSEY, BEAST IN return to his mother ship. There's SPACE, VOYAGE BEYOND THE UNIVERSE Marcel Came is a French direc- a warm-hearted twist at the end, and although the very last scene is a (and I said the SW craze hasn't tor who peaked early in his career, started?!), VOYAGES OF THE NIGHT, with the 1940s' CHILDREN OF PARA- total fizzle, the promise of sequels -- CANNIBAL GODDESS, TERROR and DAMNED DISE, often acclaimed as the great- is just that a promise, not a IN VENICE. est film ever made. (I think it's threat. pretty good myself.) In recent The film suffers from the usual Britain is making more fantasy- years, though, he hasn't done too oriented projects, with MACUMBA, Disney reliance on sports- done- fun- well, with most of his films not ALADDIN AND THE GIANT and ARABIAN ny, comic semi- gangster, and the even being released in this country. ADVENTURE (with Chris Lee) in pro- baffled military. However, the lines In general, I suspect the same fate duction. THE DUNMY is probably an- are reasonably fresh and the direc- awaits his new THE MARVELOUS VISIT, - tion is light and inventive through- other gee - the- ventriloquis t - is - con a film of one of H.G. Wells' most trolled-by-the-dummy story. out. Lots of silliness passing for obscure novels. science never hurts this sort of The adaptation film, and occasionally there's a A huge ad promised a film "One is apparently rather loose, but follows the same very nice scene with the balderdash step beyond STAR WARS and CLOSE EN- basic plot: science as a basis, such as when COUNTERS" in Milton's PARADISE LOST, an angel falls to earth near Berry finds that he can use the cat's which makes me wonder what on earth a small town. The film is psi- boos ting collar. they are going to do to the old gentle and romantic, and somewhat slowly-paced. The beautiful young blind man's story. Despite ample opportunity to male angel gradually discovers that do so, the film never attempts to JUBILEE is a punk-rock vision earth isn't heavenly at all. There emulate STAR WARS in any way. It's of the future which has been getting aren't many fantastic scenes, other pleasant, undemanding summer enter- smashingly favorable reviews in than the basic premise; it's mostly tainment and typically seems to be England. The Australian horror a working out of the can-innocence making a lot of money. The cat, by film PATRICK is apparently being survive theme. the way, is a stunningly well-train- recut for U.S. release. The town eventually becomes ed and photographed Abyssinian, who Now in production is the major very suspicious of the angel, and is much more interesting before he SF film for next year, ALIEN. It's eventually even the village priest gains his telepathic voice. a monster-is-loose-on-the-ship film, is unable to protect him, but the THE TEMPTER is a standard but one that promises to be excel- Ital- film doesn't really have a downbeat ian EXORCIST- ROSEMARY'S BABY imita- lent. The set design is novel and ending. tion, with Mel Ferrer and Arthur Ken- stunning, the cast is superior, and nedy turning up in the lushly-photo- the director (Ridley Scott) is prom- The basic problem with the film graphed story. A woman is possess- ising. is that the story idea is too slight for a full-length film and the direc- ed by what may be the Devil (al- This could well be an especially tor doesn't seem to be inventive en- though this is never clear), and be- good film. For one thing, they ough to fill out the running time. gins to act in typical fashion. It's are definitely not going the light- It becomes a little tedious, though somewhat better than most of these weight adventure route; a film which it is always thoroughly profession- things; the effects aren't particu- includes a scene of a monster eat- 48 larly good, but there's lots of . ,

them and they are imaginative in very good imagination, but also a of the type is KING KONG.) I wasn't conception. Albert de Martino dir- pseudo-intellectual writer's fail- expecting the sequel to be as good ected; he does many of these imita- ings and a lousy sense of pacing. as the original, but I also didn't tions of boxoffice bonanzas. There's Perhaps he can learn from the obvious expect it to misfire as this one one scene featuring one of my most- errors in this film the next out. has. Not that it's a terrible film; longed-for scenic ideas: a woman ONCE UPON TIME is certainly novel Roy Scheider's fine performance, has sex with an invisible man. It's in some areas, and consistently show- again as Chief Brody, is alone al- not done too well, but it's still ed a good sense of humor, but the most worth the price of admission. the best in the film, and together repetition, the shakiness of the But all the producers could come with what else goes on, it has a conception of the central character, up with is a rehash of the first certain power. There's not much to and the puzzling ending will probab- film's plot. The director, Jeannot recommend the film otherwise, ly prevent its ever being released. Szwarc, is certainly nowhere near though it is made on a reasonable DOMINIQUE is a lushly-photo- as good as Spielberg, and the char- level competence. There's really of graphed, numbingly-dull DIABOLIQUE acters aren't as interesting as those just nothing new about it, and ex- pastiche with an excellent cast. in the first film. This time, inst- cept for dyed-in-the-wool horror Jean Simmons fears the cold-hearted ead of seeming to be a super- intel- buffs, it doesn't offer anything to hubby Cliff Robertson is trying to ligent, almost diabolic creature of the viewer. drive her insane; she attempts to evil, the shark is just a big fish person- ONCE UPON TIME is an unusual get new chauffeur Simon Ward to help that eats people. It has no title for an unusual film. It is her, and failing that, commits sui- ality. cide. Thereafter, Robertson begins apparently a U.S. -Israeli coproduc- There's nothing like the thril- to be haunted by what seems to be tion, and if I recall correctly, ling sense of adventure JAWS 1 had Simmons' ghost (she plays the title was made when the writer- director when the three heroes went out to role) and eventually starts to go couldn't get the rights to Sturgeon's , meet the fish in his own element. bonkers himself. The film claims MORE THAN HUMAN; there are some plot Instead of the three sharkfighters to have a surprise ending no one elements in common. A moron with JAWS 2 provides only a bunch of rath- casually-used psi powers of various er innocent teenagers; this seems types forms an alliance with a Tel extremely distasteful to me. There Aviv C?) street kid and a girl are two death scenes that are down- who's been mistreated by her relig- right sick, one involving a boy be- ious-fanatic father. The basic idea ing smashed against the side of a isn't bad, and some sequences are boat by the shark, the other of a very good. It's extremely well pho- girl being engulfed by the shark be- tographed, but most of the acting fore the eyes of a little boy she's is all too amateurish. There's one been protecting. plot element that's so dumb that I suspect the writer dragged it in The ending is better than in solely in a mistaken attempt to in- Hank Searls' credible novelization, crease his commercial possibilities. but nothing else is. The film does manage to develop a great deal of When the strange, almost moronic uneasy, unpleasant suspense, nothing fellow comes upon the religious fan- like the thrill of anticipation of atic beating his naked daughter with the first picture. However, when a whip while laughing fiendishly one girl earnestly prays, I knew (the film is, at least, unabashed), nothing at all bad could happen the strange young man bums the thereafter; it would somehow mean father's eyes out. This is accomp- that the shark was allied with the can guess; that's reasonable, since lished in a far- too- long scene using devil. This film is mostly for the it depends on many off-screen hap- mattes in place of the eyes. When curious penings the audience cannot surmise. the authorities discover what's It's a trick, and a cheap one at HEAVEN CAN happened, they decide a new super- On the other hand, that. Is there anyone, anywhere, WAIT is probably for everyone. This laser must have been used, and so who is still fooled by the It's-all- early 1940s hit, the army begins to hunt down these is a remake of the a-plot Plot, or ever wants to see HERE COMES MR. JORDAN. (And has no- obvious enemy agents. That's 1950s it again? I'm only annoyed by it, thing to do with the other early- 40s cheapjack plotting, didn't be- and and wish producers would wise up. film, HEAVEN CAN WAIT.) Because of a long in a picture of the intended This was the first film of Milton cosmic mistake, a football player is maturity of ONCE UPON TIME. Also, Subotsky's Sword- and- Sorcery Produc- taken to Heaven before his predestin- nothing, absolutely nothing whatso- tions, and seems to be having trouble ed demise, and Mr. Jordan (James ever, comes of it; the urchin is finding a distributor. Despite my Mason), who seems to be God's right- captured and beaten by the army, but complaints about the plot, I suspect hand man, helps try to straighten that was just a plot device to ac- the real reason it has not yet found things out. The plot is complicat- complish certain ends that could a distributor is that it's so damned ed, and since it's a great deal of have been reached in many other- ways slow-paced. Despite gorgeous photo- fun to watch it unravel, I won't say And the ending is a puzzle. All graphy and some good performances anything more about it here. story logic, and. even any semblance (Jenny Agutter and Ron Moody are What I will talk about is Warren of a plot is abandoned; the final also in the cast) it really isn't Beatty. For years, I thought of scenes are apparently unrelated worth seeing. to him as Shirley MacLaines'' marginal- anything that has gone before and Unfortunately, neither is JAWS 2. ly- talented kid brother at least un- are inexplicable in them- and of The first JAWS was dynamite, one of til BONNIE AND CLYDE, when as many selves. I know what was intended, the most entertaining thriller of did I suddenly realized that he's ac- but it is so awkwardly done that its type I've seen. (Come to think tually a damned good actor in his the intent is almost totally obscur- of it, probably the only other film own right. He seemed to carve out ed. a special niche, that of the sexual- The director-writer does show a 49 ly- insolent, intelligent sharper and ).

do it perfectly. But I didn't sus- Steve Martin sings "Maxwell's frightening. And these days it pect he could play a role like the Silver Hammer" and is required to takes a hell of a lot to scare me. one he has in HEAVEN CAN WAIT. He mug so outrageously that I kept KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS doesn't produced the film, co-wrote it with wishing I was in the back of the really rate as a minor masterpiece, Elaine May, and co-directed it with theatre watching the film through but it's a lot better than anyone Buck Henry, so he must have been the wrong end of binoculars. had any reason expect. pretty busy on the set. Nonetheless, to It's too Irwin bad the advertising campaign is so his performance is nothing less than Allen used to make awful schlocky, superb; he's sweet, innocent, pig- science fiction movies, like the because that's one thing headed and charming. Joe Pendleton, color THE LOST WORLD and VOYAGE TO the film certainly isn't. It's THE THE to a hit at SF the football player, is a likeable BOTTOM OF SEA; his later TV probably going be guy. series, like "The Time Tunnel" and cons in the future. I have the ut- "Lost in Space" were also horrendous most respect for everyone connected Beatty's performance makes the turkeys. Later, he got into making with this film; they took an ex- film worth seeing, but it's got a disaster films, and lo and behold, ploitation theme and turned out a lot more going for it than just THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE and THE TOW- genuinely good movie. That's much that. The script is amusing through- ERING INFERNO actually were enter- harder than it sounds. out, never failing in its wit. The taining. Now he has crossbred Yet Joe Dante and his crew did other performances, with the unfor- science fiction with disaster and the same thing with PIRANHA. This tunate exception of Mason, are produced and directed THE SWARM. is Roger Corman's version of JAWS, fine, particularly Dyan Cannon and Unfortunately, it's a lot more like shot mostly in Texas. Bradford Charles Grodin as a pair of rut- his science fiction films than his Dillman, who's battling bees in ting plotters. (Cannon is one of disaster movies. It's a stupidly- THE SWARM, here encounters a flock those actresses who is always out- conceived, ineptly-executed, total of super-prolific piranhas, which standing and yet never seems to botch of a clunker. The film, goes can live in fresh or salt water of have gotten the role that would pro- wrong in so many ways it's hard to almost any temperature. Scientist vide her with the acclaim due her. know where to begin. The acting, Kevin McCarthy bred them for army This isn't likely to be the one, by a famous, badly-used cast, is use in Viet Nam, but now that the either. amateurish and hammy; the only star war's over, he doesn't quite have to keep his head above water is But the major virtue of the film the heart to kill the little bug- -- Henry Fonda, but I have never seen is just that its virtue . The gers. When Heather McKenzie ac- him let an audience down. Michael film has no violence, strong lang- cidentally frees them, they eat al- Caine and Richard Widmark are the uage, nudity, car chases, devils, most everyone who sets foot in the principal casualties, respectively sharks, spaceships or sex. And river including a lot of little kids playing Earnest Young Scientist and there's no discemable smugness a- on inner tubes. bout avoiding them. They just don't Pigheaded General. The dialog is come up. It's an old-fashioned film atrocious, there's no excitement, Dante and the writers were hand- in a very positive sense, and the the effects are obvious and repet- ed the assignment, and delivered the itive, and the film is continuously goods for Roger C. they also went best film so far this year. ; but accidentally hilarious. The some better and had fun themselves. It's not great. It breaks no Final Solution is stolen from an The picture is swiftly-paced, very new ground cinematically, it isn't even worse picture of the 1950s, funny in spots, and entertaining a showcase for anything, but its BEGINNING OF THE END, in which a throughout. It's not quite as good reliance on and use of all the trad- rowboat in Lake Michigan played the as KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS, because itional virtues of Hollywood at its grasshopper mating call and they characterization was sacrificed for best may mean that HEAVEN CAN WAIT all jumped in the lake and drowned. yocks, but it's still head and -- with STAR WARS having had most Here floats play the bee mating call shoulders above the vast majority of the same virtues --is pointing and they all jump into the Gulf of of this kind of thing and is defin- a new direction. The old direction. Mexico. THE SWARM is an inexcusably itely better than JAWS 2. It's full The film and Warren Beatty are gen- awful film. of injokes and odd gags and the uinely sweet without being cloying budget for phony blood dumped into But the evening I saw this had which is the hardest of all qualities the river must have been astronomi- its compensations ; on with it was a to produce in a movie . Please see it cal. film that took a year to get to Los Please avoid SGT. PEPPER'S LONE- Angeles, KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS The frenetic climax of the film, LY HEARTS CLUB BAND. This is a (not to be confused with EMPIRE OF full of skindivers, water skiiers, dismally fantasy fea- boring poprock THE ANTS) . William Shatner stars pigheaded generals, selfish resort turing some of the songs from that in this low-budget thriller, in owners, roaring police cars 'and famous album, plus a few other Beat- which tarantulas, altered by insec- voracious piranhas, reaches crazy les hits as well. But instead of ticides, become hive- dwelling and and giddy heights of excitement, the Beatles, we have Peter Frampton begin hunting domestic animals for culminating in a practical use for and the Bee Gees. I don't mind the food, endangering a small Arizona pollution. There's a solid support- Bee Gees as a group, but they cer- community. ing cast, too, with, such as Dick tainly aren't actors. Peter Framp- Miller, Bruce Gordon, Paul Bartel, This film succeeds in every way ton is a mediocre singer and a worse Barbara Steele and Barry Brown get- THE SWARM fails the characters are actor. He's cute, though; he looks ; ting in the way of Dillman and Men- well-drawn and believable. The Spi- sort of like Shaun Cassidy in need zies as they try to halt the piranhas ders seem real are real) and threat- of having his hair combed. But ( before they reach the open sea. The ening. The picture is well -paced and he's totally lacking in what smart- effects crew was largely under the well-written. The acting is uni- ass charm Cassidy has, and probably direction of Jon Berg, and they did formly fine -- I've never seen Shat- won't be acting -* if that's the a swell, convincing job. ner better. word --in any more films. The best The situation is care- thing about the picture, as might fully and logically developed so EYES OF LAURA MARS is an enter- be guessed, is George Bums. He that the premise, while not really taining film that could have been believable, narrates, appears occasionally and becomes credible and much, much better: the talent and sings one song; then the movie comes time were there, but somehow oppor- to life 50 tunities were lost. Faye Dunaway , . . plays Laura Mars, a famous fashion iated with another person's mind time. If they had occurred when and advertising photographer in Man- would have caused instant recogni- we really weren't expecting them it hattan who has recently been stag- tion when they meet, but this isn't might have been more interesting; ing sexy- violent ads, exploiting what happens. Damn! I'm stymied. but maybe letting us know when they murder in various ways. She's us- I don't think it's fair to give a- are coming does serve to build some ing murder to sell deodorant. way the surprise endings of films, suspense unless they've been around a while; But she has a problem: she's It's a workmanlike film* sus- the outcome of the picture made my begun having psychic flashes of mur- penseful and largely entertaining, wife and I speculate for some time der. Someone is killing friends but it could have been a hell of a on what could easily have been done and associates of Laura Mars, stab- lot better. It certainly qualifies but wasn't. So I'm tempted to re- bing them to death in the eyes (this as a fantasy of sorts and is one of veal all. is not heavily dwelled upon, thank the fanciest ones ever made. It's the be- heaven) ; Laura sees crimes The film can be appreciated for worth seeing but isn't what it ing committed through the eyes of the virtues it has. The dialog is should have been. the killer himself. occasionally good (it's also just awful in the romantic scenes in Tommy Lee Jones, who played and a scene between Laura Mars and her Howard Hughes on TV, is here a pol- ex-husband) and the women are ex- ice officer assigned to the case; , he begins by hating Laura for her tremely well-characterized. The exploitation of death and violence, men seem somehow to all be aspects including Auberjonois but eventually and predictably falls of each other, Dourif, play in love with her. and who respectively a swishy agent and a slovenly chau- The film was written by John ffeur. Carpenter (who co-wrote and direct- The ed DARK STAR) and David Zelag Good- acting is of a very high than man (who botched up LOGAN'S RUN) caliber indeed, much better the deserves. Duna- and directed by Irvin Kershner, whose film actually way has always fine at next assignment is STAR WARS II. been playing brittle women at verge of shat- The producer was Jon Peters, Mr. the tering; Barbra Streisand. The strong sup- she wears clothes well, porting cast features Brad Dourif even the rather unflattering out- and Rene Auberjonois. But with all fits in this film, and her flaky edg- this talent, something doesn't quite iness is used perfectly. She's real- click. ly convincing. Equally as good in an ill-defined part is Tommy Lee As a mystery, it doesn't work Jones (who looks like a brunette since we are given no clues whatso- macho Freff) ; this guy is likely to ever to whom the killer is; I fig- be a very big star. He is tremen- ured it out, but only by a process dously impressive and I hope to see of elimination, and avoiding the more of him. Auberjonois does a many red herrings; I think this is patented Rene Auberjonois turn and a form of cheating on the part of is lots of fun; Brad Dourif, who the film-makers. was the gentle young man in ONE FLEW The psychic link between Laura OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, is totally Mars and the killer is never ex- different here and is excellent. plored, and in the context of the The photography is very good, film, this is truly a lost opportun- mostly in muted browns and golds. ity. Why did Laura link up with the The film was made entirely on loca- killer when she did? There are hints tion in New York, and the locales that she and the killer are, in a are very well-used and mostly unfam- sense, made for each other, but this iliar. I think that the ESP scenes is not followed up on; it seems to were all predictable since Dunaway me that being so intimately assoc- isn't doing anything else at the

A LITTLE FREE PLUG MUSIC PERFESSOR. .

LOCUS, the newspaper of science fiction, published monthly on a sometimes bi-monthly schedule (little dig, there, Charlie) is so full of news and features that there's hardly room for the 40+% advertising. But seriously, folk, LOCUS is NECESSARY if you're a steady reader of sf and fantasy and want to know what's going on in the genre and the field. USA subs: $9. one year via 2nd class mail, or $13.50 via first class mail. Foreign subs (outside N. America) are $9. sea mail, or $18. by air. LOCUS: POB 3938, San Francisco, CA 94119. Tell them Alter sent you. . , ONE IMMORTAL MAN

A SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

BY RICHARD E. GEIS

Synopsis VIK KUNZAR, the immortal man, has lived through the horrible Bio-War of 2205 that devastated America, Europe, and most of Asia. He was a king for generations in the savagery and ruins of Europe as a new ice-age swiftly brought terrible cold and forced the new

barbarians southward. . . Moving ahead of the human tide, in the 27th century, he triggered one last resurgence of science and technology in Egypt and caused to be planted a new, wondrous ecology of genetically altered and mutated plants and animals in the heart of Africa, in the Congo When the white savages finally overran Egypt, Vik became a black and journeyed south to live in his new world. How, 500 years later, in the 32nd century, the whites are pressing south from the Sahara, seeking their god a man they call Kun-Zar, whom legend says is immortal and whom their priests say will be their king of kings again and make them forever the favored people on Earth. Vik has changed as the centuries have slipped past. He is now ever more devoted to sex and danger and the subtle manipulation of people and events. Yet, for all of his self-indulgence, he has a compulsion to maintain learning and culture, to keep civilization from being extinguished.

As ONE IMMORTAL MAN began he was known as Masil, Emperor Ndola's First Minister .... and secret ruler of the empire through vast commercial and banking power. Computer-run sensor devices secret remnants of 22nd century technology alerted him to danger as he was enjoying a tryst with the young and beautiful Empress Punia. Some- one was disturbing his medical re- .

cords at the estate-tree of his doc- and, knowing he was Masil, seduced He heard the distant mutter and muted of a large group of tor. by the huge promised reward, betray- talk men on the path. He crept closer. Vik sent Punia back to the pal- ed him to the authorities. ace trees and set off alone to in- Vik, ever suspicious and cautious, Soldiers. At least a squad. vestigate. He found two of Defense escaped from the sudden night raid And most of them were Nubians; tall army soldiers Minister Quebo 's agents torturing by the and killed many men like himself, and superbly mus- the doctor for information about him. during a water chase. cled. He killed the two and regretfully Vik angled away from the path, killed the doctor. He returned home deeper into the raw jungle. unseen. Another alarm told him other agents were investigating his Part Three Suddenly the spine-tingling faked birth records in Nubia. CHAPTER EIGHT shriek of a Howler sounded in the jungle. Vik cursed and began to Obviously Emperor Ndola, dying run hard. His thigh hurt again. of cancer, hopes that "Masil" is At dawn, Vik was limping through He damped the pain. the immortal man arid can be made the jungle twenty miles downriver to give up the secret. of Kinshasa. He hadn't given Quebo The Howler species, developed a chance to thoroughly organize by the Egyptians, was a small, blur- The following day in the gargan- and tighten up the shore patrols. ringly fast animal, extremely scent- tuan palace trees Vik had a meeting The night had helped. sensitive, which could track a fug- with Ndola and Quebo. Ndola offered itive virtually anywhere. Vik a visit by his Chinese girl who He was past the river search specialized in mouth love. area now, boldly moving parallel to It was part bloodhound and part On the way home that afternoon, a winding commerce path. He were snake. Its bite could be fatal. Vik and his party were attacked by only the lionhide around his mid- Usually its venom only caused excru- disguised agents and Vik was deliber- dle. But he was armed. ciating pain and a weakness in arms ately wounded in the thigh. He was heading for an arrow and legs that kept the hunted one He made it to his huge tree est- farm he owned personally. It was from running or walking. ate but was confined to bed. The going to be a ticklish business Once the Howler has bitten^its Emperor's private doctor arrived and when he arrived. The Emperor had prey its cry changes to a ululating helped treat the wound while covertly taken over his financial and com- wail that allows its masters to testing Vik for signs of his true mercial empire, but that was only find it -- and the writhing, whimp- age. by decree. Masil-loyal managers ering escapee -- in a short time. The Chines girl arrived later no doubt still held their positions and also in her fashion tested him. down through the chain in the out- Apparently the squad on the path Finally, she paralyzed him by inject- lying properties. And it would had had a Howler along, and it had ing a drug hidden in a hollow tooth. take time for the word of the de- been sensitized to a piece of cloth- Signalled by the girl, the army cree to spread. ing from Vik's tree ... taken by attacked Vik 'a estate and took him the soldiers before the blast. prisoner. Vik was counting on that, and the distance from Kinshasa — close Or maybe something from the He awakened in the army prison on to 100 kilometers bulbhut. Something provided by the palace, grounds. He was visited Consi. by Defense Minister Quebo and the He was very angry at Quebo. doctor and three guards. The man had virtually been given Vik ran swiftly away from the Using self-hypnosis, Vik lulled the empire -- subject only to Ndola's path, knowing from the shrieks of them into thinking him still paralyz- near-term inevitable death from can- the beast that it was gaining on ed. At the right moment he attack- cer -- and Vik had expected only a him. ed, killed the guards, and by holding half-hearted search for him. A But he was probably outdistanc- Quebo and the doctor hostage, escaped highly visible but not very long- ing the soldiers who were crashing unobserved into the underground sewer lasting or efficient effort. through the jungle after the beast. vines that serve the city of giant Instead --as last night proved And that would give him needed time trees. -- the capture of Masil had top to try to kill the thing. In the huge main sewer vine Vik priority, with a huge reward prom- He veered right and then right encountered a young man and woman who ised. again, seeking a certain type of were fugitives hiding in the sewer Of course Ndola was pushing Que- shrub in a certain type of location. system. He took their boat and bo desperately for results, but The Howler was almost upon him. forced the girl, Consi, to accompany there were ways for a Defense Minis- He didn't want to have to kill it him on the trip dcwn-sewer to the ter to disobey ... to come up empty. by dagger or sword. That would Congo river. prove that it had been onto him and helped him No, Quebo was into this all-out She cooperated and that he was close by. get past clusters of other criminals search for other reasons than orders and fugitives who live in the main from Ndola. The truth was that Vik wasn't sewer. Why wasn't the man content to sure he was quick enough to kill the beast. It was blurringly fast Vik decided to pose as a dis- simply let Vik go? Why try so hard in a ground attack. charged army veteran with a young to recapture him? Was he too now in- - tent on sharing the secret of im- wife . Once free of the sewer he He veered left past a stand of and Consi found temporary refuge mortality? Was he finally convinced trees and found what he had been in a small aorrmunity of lower-class of Vik's identity? looking for --a muddy bog and a hollowed bushes. people who live in large It didn't matter to Vik at the few Scagla gourds which have a designed ecology moment. What was important was He leaped off his left leg in- suitable for human use. staying alive and free. But he to the bog and waded further. Vik and Consi ab- After one day, knew he should have killed Quebo, the Con- Howler, shrieking its ear- ruptly boated further along in the prison. The go to another bulbhut cluster. Consi splitting cry, arrived a few sec- didn't like the constant moving 53 onds later. It darted into the bog . . . a few steps, realized it was vulner- Vik slashed powerfully at the to be a two-week-old injury, now able, and leaped backward. It stood, back of the brave man's neck and almost healed. The big meal he had trembling with frustration, and ran cut through the spinal column. The just eaten would help it even more. around the perimeter of the deep body went limp. mud. He turned his attention to the Vik stood listening. Then he Nubian soldier's identification closer, Vik deliberately waded quickly stripped the big Nubian tag. It was a slice from an iron- to lure it next to one of the Scagla body of the army tunic and equip- wood root, holed for the neck thong, bushes. If he was lucky ment. The tunic was fortunately with the man's name and number in- free of blood. He put on the tunic scribed on one side, and with his The mud at the base of the bush and, after a few seconds' thought, home village and province on the rippled and a wet brown ooze spider stripped the body of its loin cov- obverse. surfaced, attracted by the Howler. ering and substituted his own lion- Vik studied it, made a face, It was the size of Vik's fist and, hide. He searched for and found and dug up the expensive metal dag- within a short distance, was as the cut thong and identification ger. Only a tempered metal point fast as the screaming beast. tag. could make a convincing cut in the It had skittered across the in- He grimly mutilated the corpse's tag. He made some careful changes tervening space and was onto the face until it was unrecognizable. and alterations. Howler before the beast was aware Then he cut a thigh wound to match He used a tough Nymca root as of it. Its poison-bearing mandibles his own. He transferred the Jop a thong and tied the altered disc sank into the Howler's thin- furred scab dressing, and then he dragged to his neck. hide and found flesh and blood. the body into the ferns where insects would quickly cluster in the Vik was now Daina Tumma, aged The animal's cry died in sec- wounds and within hours make iden- veteran of the army, discharged onds, as it died, baffled and ter- tification even more difficult. after thirty years service and many rified at its inability to breathe. wounds; his home was in Abu Zabad. The big spider fattened visibly as With luck the other soldiers it sucked blood. would think their fellow had run Vik reburied the dagger and mov- off. The Nubians were known to be ed on, carefully, alert to the mul- Vik carefully slogged free of unhappy soldiers this far from tiple dangers of the jungle. After the deep mud. The soldiers were their homeland. four hours he rested and cat -napped near, but no longer guided by the another four. screaming. If they did find the With even more luck the body dead Howler they would see the bloat- would delay and confuse the search. He bagan to look for a safe ed spider atop it and think the After a night of insect and animal place to spend the night. Such beast the victim of a false scent damage the remains might fool an were few and far between in raw and bad luck. army commander into reporting the jungle. death of the escaped Masil, a vic- Vik could only hope that there As sunset turned the sky pink tim of cutthroats or desperate army would be time for the mud to smooth and darkened the jungle at ground deserters. The gold, the jeweled out and obliterate his tracks. level, he picked a Tsime tree and dagger and the sword would be mis- managed to climb its slick, smooth He circled wide, still limping, sing. trunk by means of coating his hands and wondered if he would ever have With bad luck they'd find the with the sticky sap of a smaller a few days respite in which to let body too soon. nearby tree, and by using the im- his thigh would heal completely. mense strength of his arms and He held his sword ready. The dag- Vik took along the soldier's shoulders ger was sheathed in his loin cover- pack and weapons. He stayed paral- ing. lel to the commerce path, but deep- In the high, thickly leafed er in the jungle. branches he felt secure. He created As he neared the commerce path a nest of small branches between After a kilometer he stopped he quietly rounded a clump of head- two close crotches, and once again and buried Quebo's dagger, along high ferns and came face to face slept deeply for short periods, with the elite guard's sword. He with a Nubian soldier in the act of concentrating on the fast-healing hated to leave the sword, but both squatting for a bowel movement. of his thigh wound. weapons were too distinctive and no There was an instant of intense doubt their descriptions were in- In the dawn light he finished sadness for Vik as their eyes lock- cluded in the Wanted At Any Cost his tenth short sleep and shifted ed. They both realized in a frac- leaves that would by now have been to examine his leg. The woimd tion of a second what was going to distributed to all search commanders, was 951 healed now, a thin pink happen. and all soldiers would have been line and a faint crust of scab at told to watch for anyone with such one end. No one would believe he The Nubian recognized him . . weapons had been stabbed to the bone three and would shout. Vik would kill days before. him. Vik had to kill him before the Vik also buried the spear, and shout was bom. But the price he had paid was all the gold went into the ground, high. He was weak with hunger and Vik lunged as the soldier drew too. He kept the soldier's worn dry-mouthed with thirst. His body breath. The sword slashed across and nicked ironwood dagger. was not rested; its recuperative the soldier's throat, opening the He found enough food in the powers man's windpipe below the larynx. had been focused exclusively pack for a good meal. There was The blade also cut the thong hold- on the wound. even a sealed bulb of wine. Vik ing the man's identification tag. ate and drank it all, and concen- He sighed tiredly and carefully The cry of alarm became a hor- trated on fast-healing for his thigh made his way to the ground. He rible exhalation. The soldier twist- rubbed his face and felt the stub- The wound had not opened again ed as he fell, reaching for his ble. He felt old enough to be a and the scab was small. It looked long spear stuck butt- first in the thirty-year veteran, and he hoped soft ground, next to his knapsack. 54 he looked it. " , Vik walked slowly, exhausted, The sergeant grunted in agree- A young soldier said, "I heard hungry and thirsty, toward the comment. "If this is your way, climb we lost a hundred thousand men merce path. He dragged the pack. up and ride. The army is generous there." His mind dredged up memory of this to its veterans." Vik nodded. "At least. And region. Vik made a point of being old they lost a half a million. There's Boldness was necessary. Between and clumsy as he mounted to the flat no way of really knowing. I think him and his destination was a yanya- wooden seat. He said bitterly, "I I've killed a thousand Whites. I infested river. The only way over would be happy if the army could see their painted faces in my sleep. was a bridge. It would be guarded recapture my home from the white They scream and yell so much when by army men. That would be a chal- devils . I would be happy if the army they fight. I killed them to make lenge. He might have to wait till could find the deserters who stole them stop screaming at me!" dark. The alternative was a trek my discharge leaves and my gold". "Have you been wounded?" through jungle east toward Kinshasa The sergeant said, "Not too and the nearest path bridge -- and "A few times. Nothing serious. loud about desertion. I'm afraid more soldiers. I was lucky". He showed thin, old to look around to see how many men scars on his arms. "I've spent But now he was starving, and I have left." He yawned hugely. the last ten years behind the fight- desperate for a drink. He had to "We've been on search for a day ing. Keeping records and teaching risk contact on the path. and a night, mostly in the raw be- youngsters like you some killing tween paths". He snorted. "I can When he reached the path (what tricks. My eyes are not keen enough see old Masil in the jungle!” the Whites would have called a dirt now for fighting. And I'm so slow road) he sat on the ground and wait- Vik nodded. "I have heard . . . The most important lesson is ed, eyes closed* head hanging low. something about him trying to over- to never take your eyes from the throw the Emperor ... I don't care point of your opponent's dagger or If an army patrol approached, about politics." spear or sword. Never." with a Howler along scented to him, he wouldn't have a chance. "Ndola wants him, to kill him. "I've heard the eyes — So we have to beat through river swamp and bogs. If Masil is any- "The point! Watch the point where he's on one of his estates and you'll absorb his balance and CHAPTER NINE or sailing on the ocean by now!" his posture automatically. You'll develop a sixth sense. You'll get Vik asked, "Can the army spare He heard them first. Men. to know all the tricks and fighting a veteran some food? I'm starving." Laughing, talking. The creak of a styles . But you always must see wagon, the hoof sounds of donkeys. The sergeant nodded and pointed the point of the weapon, and you Coming from the direction of the to a large box behind the seat. must always be sure to avoid it or Congo. He lifted his head and op- deflect it." Vik leaned back, lifted the lid ened his eyes. He didn't move. and took out a small bread loaf "But that is defensive! When The men started singing an obscene and a leaf-wrapped ball of dab nuts do you attack?" army song favored by the Numba and honey. "May you own a tree." tribe . He relaxed. The Numbas "When your opponent's point is He ate greedily. He drank morewina were from the northern provinces, out of position to kill you. When and were also tall men. The men straggling along behind you can thrust first. When he is called for a rest and some food and exposed. When you know his weakness He watched the army wagon pul- drink for them, too. as a fighter." led by four donkeys come around the bend. It was only about fifty met- The sergeant agreed and drove "And what about thrown spears ers away. Soldiers straggled along the donkeys and wagon into a path- and arrows?" behind, some dragging their spears. side clearing. Vik shrugged. "That's why you The driver of the wagon, a ser- Vik helped pass out the food are given a battle shield and why geant, saw him but didn't react. and wine skins. He joined the men you have keen eyes." The men saw him but remained care- in talk and jokes. "Shields weigh too much." less and unchanged in manner. The asked about his career in "So does an arrow in the guts. Vik slowly got to his feet. He the army. Your duty as a soldier is to kill, kept his shoulders slumped. When He told stories yes, but first your duty is to stay the wagon reached him he fell into alive and step beside it. ''Can you spare a "I fought mostly in southern in position. The Whites are hurry, always in a hurry. veteran a drink?" Egypt- When I was young we held in a them at the third cataract. Year They don't like to fight for Very The sergeant smiled and handed after year. They keep coming. long. The longer you avoid one of over a bulging hide of light wine. They fight at night a lot. We had their points, the better chance you Vik accepted it gratefully. He some good leaders then. We used to have to spot a weakness or seize drank deeply. When he handed it use our blackness, we Nubians, and an opportunity to kill them !" back he said, "Thank you, brother". slaughter them in the night. They The sergeant clapped a hand on and Then he added ironically, "May you put mud and stain on themselves Vik's shoulder. "I understand how live to be a veteran". learned our tricks. you have become a veteran". "Each year we gave up a mile or Vik grinned. "The most impor- The man was in his late thirt- two. It got so bad for us we were tant reason is that I am a coward". ies. He chuckled. "I'm not plan- brought south -- here --to serve Everyone laughed. ning on being a soldier another for a year as reserve. Then an em- twenty years". ergency in the northwest . . when A young soldier asked, "Have you "You may have no choice". Vik they broke through and took Lake had a white woman?" Chad." continued trudging along beside the "Many white women. The whites wagon. 55 keep their camps close to their line . . . . . — of invasion. They always press for- As they approached the bridge, Vik helped unload the wagon and ward with their people. There are Vik asked, "Where do you go after care for the animals. He ate the always thousands upon thousands be- we cross?" evening meal with the men and pur- hind them, wave after wave. . . They posely helped in the kitchens, mak- "I think we stop at the bivouac have to move forward to find food. ing friends. After dark he return- over there, to wait for orders. They never stop to plant and har- ed and played pongo --a card game rest.” He reigned in vest. They only know how to rob We need the -- with the guards as they loiter- near the bridge and got others of food." the donkeys ed drinking strong tea and eating of the down to talk with a sergeant pastry. "What are white women like?” guards At the right moment he filled "They usually stink. They're Vik appeared half drunk as he his pack with cheese, bread and wine dirty. gabble languages impos- They sat on the wagon bench, but his bulbs sible to understand. And their eyes darted alertly. He watched white flesh disgusts me. It doesn't the conference and read body lang- A few moments later he was on seem natural." uage. He tensed when the sergeant the path, running painlessly, and pointed at him and the guard ser- gracefully and silently further "But you've tried their women, geant squinted and nodded, study- south. The arrow farm was at least eh?" More laughter. ing him. seventy kilometers away, close to Vik smiled and shrugged. "When Maquela do Zombo. He faced at The two sergeants started to- I was young... Yes. Many times least three days' steady walk-and- ward the wagon. The tired soldiers our unit wiped out a white fighting run. clustered around the wagon, lean- pack and took their camp. First we ing against it, talking. One sold- had to kill all the children -- the ier asked Vik, "With your gold stol- boys because they would grow up to en, why don't you sign up here and be fighters, and the girls because train us? I'd like to learn some CHAPTER TEN they'd grow up to bear more whites of the tricks you learned when you -- and after that we were allowed were fighting." to for pleas- take the young women As he skirted the arrow farm he ure. Some of them were beautiful "Learn the basics well and the saw that they had a good crop, al- in their way, and some were eager tricks will follow on their own." most ready for harvest in this sec- to our poles in any way we taste tion. The thousands of one-meter- of white beaut- reached wanted. Some those The two sergeants the tall Tungo tree sprouts swayed ies their yellow hair . . . some wagon. The sergeant said, with guard slightly in the warm breeze, creat- with red hair . . . most with brown "Let me see your I.D." There was ing sensuous , rippling patterns in hair . . . some were wild to have us no hostility or suspicion. His key the vast field. They thought if they pleased us muscles were relaxed. we'd spare their lives. They were The third leaf was just begin- Vik leaned forward and flipped right, for a while." ning, the signal for cutting, dry- the ironwood disc from under his ing, dipping in zomba oil and point- soldier said, "We've heard A tunic. It hung away from his chest. hardening in fire. Feathering was Ndola has a white woman who sucks The sergeant steadied it and the final step. his pole day and night." read it, front and back. He glanc- After that most of the crop Vik shrugged. "I'd be sure her ed up at Vik's face, then stepped would go to the army — a single teeth were gone.” back. "You have any recent wounds?" band of red would be painted on the Everyone howled with delight. Vik shrugged. "A scratch..." shaft just ahead of the feathers and the rest to private guard com- The sergeant rose and ordered "Let's see it!" panies and small private armies. the men back to the path. "We have Each had its own registered identi- to cross the Zung at Mandinba by Vik casually pulled up his tunic and showed now faint evidence fication color code. noon." He climbed back up to the the of the stabbing in his thigh. Dur- wagon's seat. He gestured for Vik He carried the army pack and ing the long to join him again. morning ride, fueled wore the army tunic and ironwood by the wine and army food, his dagger. He was still Daina Tumma • bowed his head briefly with He fast-healing process had sloughed until he knew it was safe to sur- thanks up. and climbed off the last of the scab. All that face as Masil. Then the business The morning passed pleasantly was left was a jagged pink line in of dealing with Quebo -- and the his skin. Even that be -- for Vik. He drank occasionally from black would faltering empire could be begun. gone by the next morning. the wineskin and talked with the One problem was that he didn't sergeant. He was careful to probe "You're not Masil. He couldn't personally know the manager of this the man for key personality and even walk with the wound he's sup- farm, and establishing his true id- character clues, then fit himself posed to have." The sergeant look- entity might be a problem. to that template, so that in a few ed at Vik's other thigh. "Okay, Information first. hours he was the man's best friend Tumma, if you want to stay with and father- image this unit for a while, and do your He waved at field workers and share, you have permission. No pay, minutes later trudged into the farm's Yet there was a resistant core but you'll eat and have a bed.” hub of offices, the manager's tree to the man that Vik sensed and home, huts, processing sheds and could not probe. There lay a slight Vik nodded. "Mother army still warehouses uncertainty ... a slight danger. wants me." He headed for the workers' kit- They reached the small Congo Even the guard sergeant grin- chens and begged a small loaf and tributary, the Zung, around noon. ned. He waved the soldiers across wine. Veterans were res- The town of Mandinba clustered ar- the bridge. a gourd of pected and gratefully helped. Ev- ound the narrow wooden bridge. As. barbarian Whites Vik had expected, soldiers guarded eryone feared the Everyone had heard the horror stoi each end. 56 . " . .

ies of what they had done to the -- for himseif. Now he had to try Vik said, with authority boom- peoples around Lake Chad before the to salvage the empire. Masil had ing in his voice, "Move the Ibadan imperial army pushed them back to to surface and mount an overthrow shipment into the shade under this the Djado Plateau. of Ndola and Quebo -- that whole in- tree, and tear up the carpets any- competent bunch in the palace trees. where you can to cover other As she methodically cut yams ship- And now he had to restructure his ments if they must be for the evening meal, a young, big- in sun. And financial and commercial lines of sprinkle them with gin oil." breasted cook dealt him the latest power, to keep the empire function- facts and rumors. Everyone looked at him. As using --to keep the supply lines ual Vik towered over everyone. He "The manager ran away this morn- full and the social machinery work- threw the army pack into a comer. ing. His tree is empty. He heard ing. "I am Masil! I own this farm, and last night that Ndola is killing I am taking command of it!" all of Masil's men, the high tree He said to himself, half al- " ones, and most of the middle. We oud, I should have had those lion- expect an empire manager sometime, fuckers killed years ago . He strode around behind the big, tomorrow, killed-wood desk and casually shov- maybe. Gummi didn't know "Who was killed years ago?" where he stood, so he and his wife ed Baidoa out of the chair. took the south." "Is Baidoa in his office now?" path The foreman had not moved. He "Who runs the farm now?" "I suppose. He likes that desk stared impassively at Vik. and all the runners and being impor- She made a face. "The young Baidoa sprang to his feet. tant. You gonna ask him for a job kiss the pole "You can't be Masil!" But the tre- second, Baidoa. He'll here?" of the empire man and join the gov- mor in his voice said he believed ernment." Vik smiled at her. "Maybe more otherwise. He looked around for than that." He stood, squeezed a support "What if Masil comes here?" big handful of soft breast, kissed The foreman said, "If he is or She laughed. Her breasts shook her cheek, and walked out of the not,, he knows arrows. I’ll accept entrancingly. "Baidoa would drib- cookhouse those orders." ble shit he ran." She scowled. as She called after him, "If you "And he would run straight to the Baidoa said desperately, "I'm stay, big man, I've got an empty palace trees to tell." the manager now! The drums say the bed to share." Emperor has taken all Masil -owned "Are there many people here Vik crossed to the central of- farms and businesses. Even if you loyal to Masil?" fices built around the base of the are Masil ... you're a ... traitor. She was suddenly suspicious. manager's home tree. This tree was They'll kill you !" "Why do you want to know?" big; it had ten rooms clustered up The doorway was filled with the trunk and out along the major "I ... heard in the army that people, watching, listening. Out- branches, and height for more. " he pays very well, and cares for his side there was shouting: Masil . . workers. I'd like to work for him." Vik entered the office rooms at Baidoa cleverly said to the ground level. The living purple "He's never been here, but he foreman and to the crowded listen- rug underfoot was a delight to his has fair rules and pays good wages. ers, "If you believe this Nubian feet. There were workers and under- The manager before Gummi tried he'll get you killed or thrown in- managers clotted near the door of cheating us, it got to Masil, and to prison. He's not Masil! He's an inner room. A young woman was the man was jungled." only trying to run a bluff. He looking urgently through a thick wants whatever money he can find -- Vik nodded and turned away. He file of record leaves at a killed- and then he'll be gone! And you'll was furious with Quebo for the wood desk. be overrun by the army when word slaughter of the top management of No one paid any attention to gets to them that Masil is here!" all the Masil holdings and enter- him. He headed for the clot of men prises. He was furious with Ndola, Vik sighed and drew his by the inner door. He heard a dagger. too, but he could understand Ndola 's young man's voice cry out in exas- Baidoa rushed on: "If he is desperation and line of thought. peration, "But the army commandeer- Masil your danger is even worse! Ndola' s first priority was captured half the donkeys and wagons. So Anyone who helps him will be torturing Vik and securing the secret of there's no point in harvesting ar- ed and killed. So get rid of him immortality. To that end he would rows if we have no room for them now! Run him off! Don't risk do anything to cut Vik off from after they're processed, is there?" death!" high-level help, to isolate him, im- mobilize him, make him vulnerable. A deeper voice said, "We have Vik pointed his dagger at the room in the warehouses for thirty husky foreman. "What's your name?" But Quebo 's first thought thousand if we move the Ibadan ship- should be to preserve the managerial "I am Deba, head of storage and ment into the center court and shel- structure that largely kept the em- supplies." ter them with an Owo vine." pire -- and the war effort -- run- "Deba, take Baidoa ning smoothly. "I'm sure the Kwara of Ibadan and lock him will be happy with arrows stinking up somewhere." Those top men in Kinshasa who of Owo sap." Baidoa edged away. Deba did were not dead were in hiding or in not move. "Can you prove you're flight for their lives. The effect Vik pushed into the room. It Masil?" on commerce and finance and govern- was the farm manager's office, and ment would be catastrophic. a harried young man whose assistant Vik said to the crowd by the manager's arm bracelet was hanging door, "Has anyone on the farm been Six months from now the whites from a gold manager's necklace ar- to Kinshasa and seen Masil?" would find themselves winning a lot ound his neck was angrily facing a of battles and occupying enormous stocky foreman. They frowned and shook their new areas of central Africa. heads. They shrugged. Vik felt disgust and contempt 57 Baidoa risked another speech. . . He was near the door. "He knows any legal empire directive or with Vik wondered what had happened we're too poor to visit Kinshasa. any legal empire worker, appointed to his prized Copper Tom. Killed It's too far! He's here because manager, or army commander, subject in the attack by the army? Taken he's probably a deserter!" only to countermand by Masil." by some looting army officer? Va- porized when the pile went critical Vik smiled at him. "You're "When was this instruction the next morning? He hoped the big probably a dead man.” given?" cat was still alive. Baidoa fled the room. "On the evening of the four- teenth. The Masil tree had been He turned and started up the Vik said to the foreman, "The attacked the night before. Masil spiraling ramp to the living rooms defense minister is taking over the had been taken to the palace prison. of the huge Junto tree. The recent- empire. He thought I was his riv- ly fled farm manager had left most The Masil tree had . . . erupted . . al. He moved against me. I escap- and Masil had disappeared from the of his possessions behind. ed, but I had to pose as an army prison. Details of these events came striding the veteran recently discharged. Un- Deba across are lacking. Kinshasa is swarming big courtyard. "Masil!" til official word arrives . . . some- with army, searching for Masil. one with official papers or leaves Vik waited for him. "Did you Stories are spreading of inpossible that show I no longer own this catch Baidoa?" feats by Masil in his escape." farm... I do own it, and I will give "Yes. He's sitting in a dry- orders here!" "Do you know of the killings ing box. How long do you want him of my associates and high managers Deba grinned. "You talk like kept?" in Kinshasa?" you own it. You act like you own "Until I say. Maybe weeks. it -- " His smile faded. "But Mas- "No. I hear the drums, but Give him a tether and feed him. il is said to be an old man. You they are not to be trusted. Drums But lock him up at night. Is there have grey in your hair but black in are too limited." anyone missing, now, from the farm? your beard. And you move young." "Yes, they're no competition Now that it is known that Masil is He folded his arms across his thick for a Messenger, except they carry here?" chest a simple message far faster." "I've not heard that anyone is Vik said, "You make better ar- Kaloma said stiffly, "Simplic- gone. I'll count bodies and re- guments than Baidoa. I --" He saw ity is always deceptive." port later." unusual movement in the courtyard. The window membrane wasn't of the Vik laughed. "I'm not disput- Vik nodded. "And there is a best, but it appeared that a knot ing your value." He sat in the young woman cook I met when I first of workers were badgering a Messen- large manager's chair. "The bal- arrived. Send her up to me clean ger as he rode a lion to the tree. ance of your route is cancelled. and happy, in an hour." I will now give you the names and Vik had had contact as first Deba smiled. "Yes, Masil." places of men I wish a message giv- minister with almost all the Messen- en. Some may be dead, others may Vik turned to the five tree gers. He knew this man. be gone or in hiding. In no case servants who had served the farm A moment later the Messenger are you to leave this message for manager and were now waiting to entered the office. He stopped them or allow it to be forwarded. serve him. They waited on the first when he saw Vik. He showed both It must be delivered in person. tree level of living platforms and palms. "I have news and informat- You have been in empire and Masil rooms. ion for the great Masil." employ all your working life, so Ten minutes later, Vik had you know these men by face. The sighing "Ahh. ..." passed inspected A message is important and must be de- the tree, met the serv- through the onlookers. ants, told them what he expected, livered to as many of these men as and settled into the high manager's Vik smiled. "You are...Kal- possible, as soon as possible. The rooms. oma?" message is for Lusaka, for Rukwa of the Empire Bank, for Muwale of the He sprawled on the large The man nodded and smiled in Mid-African Construction Company, sponge bed, naked, and waited for a turn. "I carried your words and for Gitega of the Kinshasa Transport young woman servant to announce his instructions to the southern pro- and Shipping Company, and for Gulu bath. His mind was on his plans vinces one year ago." of the Congo Development Company. for the next few days. "I'm glad you're here now. A The message: Gather gold, arms, He listened to the drums from moment." Vik told Deba to carry trained weapons men, and send all the village a few kilometers away, out the instructions : inprison Bai- to Kikwit arrow farm near Kwilu. pounding out the major news from doa. Deba was now his second in You come fast and secretly. End. Kinshasa. . . Masil gone . Ndolano command. There was no doubt among Masil. Message in addition for find . Ndola sick worse . No ships those present now: a Messenger Gulu only. The Massage : If you leave . No fruit two days . Banks would never lie. This one had said haven't already, counterattack with closed . the Nubian was Masil. plan Oregon. End. Masil. End messages." The drums stopped. Far away, When the foreman had left and to the south, Vik guessed, another the room emptied and the door clos- Kaloma nodded. "I need a village drummer relayed the short ed, Vik turned to the Messenger. period of rest and a fresh lion, news bits. "What's the situation?" if you have one." The girl entered the bedroom, "My route is to all southern Vik nodded, rose, and led the stared at him, and managed, "The... Masil properties as made known to man out of the office. the bath is ready, great Masil." me by Lusaka, head the Congo As- of Thirty minutes later, Vik sociates and Development Company. watched the Messenger ride north He smiled. "I need it." He The instructions to the managers arose from the sponge bed and strode toward Kinshasa on a big, motheaten and seconds : they are to help Masil past to the bathroom. name male lion, the best of the three her Her in any way he wishes if he comes to was Salina. He gestured her to fol- lions in the farm pen. them. They are to cooperate with low. . : s — He eased himself slowly into seeking your place of hiding. Many the prison. They still don't know the hot, scented water. The tree's second and third level managers are how you escaped." bathing pod was large and he could in prison. Empire agents and of- Vik was mildly surprised. Ap- extend his legs completely. He clos- ficials are in control of the banks parently Consi had lied about where ed his eyes and said, "Salina, take and bank holding companies. Lines and how had of ownership and control are being she met him, when she off your smock, take soap and wash that night. traced. More companies are being betrayed him Or it me everywhere. Get in the pod could be that this Messenger's taken, daily, by Ndola. Many lower in- with me." formation was out date. level officers and managers are of She answered breathlessly, fleeing. Commerce is wilting and "The king of Malange arrived "Yes, great Masil." dying more each day. I obey. I for a state visit and the dedica- As she bathed him, using gent- obey. Instructions are being fol- tion of Ndola 's tomb on the day lowed. Masil-loyal guards and sold- you escaped. He left for home two le, reverent, soaped hands. . .silky hands... he relaxed even more. This iers will filter to you from all days ago, ignored, humiliated, and was luxury. And being able to free- areas. Gold comes in supplies for very angry." farm. I must hide now, at winery ly caress this young woman's body "He might be an ally." was luxury. six. Will come to you soon. End. Muwale. End message." "The great Masil knows better He had always been an admirer than anyone where allies are to be Vik nodded. "Thank you. I of lovely breasts, and this girl found in the provinces, and beyond." was endowed with a type he loved -- have a message for Enpress Punia. jutting, pointed, unmarred yet by Her ears only, in private. Message: Vik smiled. "Private inform- stretch marks, unaffected by grav- I am safe and well. You are in dan- ation for you only, and for Messen- ity. ger from Ndola. Go to the winery gers only. As follows: I am at- owned by Sunzu Company at Kenge. tempting to organize a government He reached to a shelf beside My agent, Muwale, will bring you to replace Ndola as soon as pos- the pod and poured nut oil into his to me. Please obey. Mask your pur- sible. He is insane. His agents palms bottle. from an ornate green pose. Do not trust anyone in the are deluded and greedy. I welcome He filled his hands with Salina' palace trees. End. Masil. End the services of the Messengers. perfect, youthful breasts. He clos- message." Their danger is now and will be ed his eyes lost and himself for a great. I guarantee triple for Kiriba said, "It'll be diffi- pay few moments in the velvet slickness them." of her flesh. He grew a tremendous cult to speak to the Empress alone." Kiriba said, "I think erection and enjoyed the feeling "I know. Do your best. I'll the com- of potency, of masculine power. pay you triple." mon people will support you. I hope you succeed."

. Salina responded. Her breath- "Ndola had a woman Messenger you. Now down ing speeded and she began washing drugged and questioned for informa- "Thank go and eat and rest. lion him there. Her touch was exquisite- tion about you. She died, of course, Your is being ly gentle. before speaking. She had no inform- fed, groomed, and rested. Will you leave at ‘dawn?" Vik asked, "Do you fear it?" ation, no messages, anyway." "Yes." "No, great Masil. I desire it." "He's desperate. A desperate man becomes a stupid man." Vik watched the slim Messenger He smiled, embraced her, and Kiriba nodded. "He's destroy- walk back down the tree ramps to lifted her as he gathered himself the ground. He looked out at the and stepped out of the pod. ing the empire. .. .everything. The Messengers now will not work for surrounding fields, at the workers harvesting the Tungo shoots. They joined on the living the government. No one can kill a sponge mat beside the pod. Vik dis- Messenger and go unpunished.” He shook his head. "If I had covered she was not as deep as he any sense..." He knew he should wished, and he was careful not to "Is that the Guild's decision?" simply get out. Forget the Congo. injure her. He was sure the older India and try resurrect young woman from the kitchens would "Yes. It's automatic. Ndola Go to to that ancient civilization. This one be capable of taking him. He would knew what would happen." was collapsing. enjoy her... and she him. ..for long Kiriba hesitated, then said, hours "I have a hard rumor, Messenger- to- But he had to try to save it. Messenger four times, that Ndola sus- If things fell into place... if en- pects a link between you and Em- ough key men still lived. . . if enough press Punia. He believes himself armed men could be gathered. .. if they had enough time. . . .if Ndola Four days later a Messenger duped and shamed for many years." had the terminal sense to die quick- arrived seeking Masil. Vik received "Thank you. Any other rumors ly enough If Quebo the man on the highest living plat- from the palace trees?" form of the tree. A new room was Vik made a sound of disgust. being grafted onto the five-meter "No. But the slaves in Kin- Too damn many ifs. thick trunk and three -meter north shasa are becoming very secretive limb. He had sent the workmen and and insolent, especially the white tree specialist to the ground for ones. Many are running. Many an early lunch. have had to be killed. The army is spending as much time dealing Vik said, "I welcome you, Kir- with slaves as with trying to find CHAPTER ELEVEN iba. Tell me." you." The Messenger stared at the "Quebo should have anticipated Her name was Dala, and she was sky. 'Message to Masil only in all that." fiercely passionate. Her large private, from Muwale, Message breasts quaked from her quick breath- "You Lusaka and Rukwa were taken, tor- shamed him terribly in ing and from the smacking jolts of tured and killed by Ndola agents S 9 his plunges. . — " " But his mind was occupied with Masil !" ess... but traumatized as a child plans . . . contingencies . . and now, in his early thirties, un- He had set out lookouts and able to stop eating. It was near dawn, three days patrols in the surrounding lands, after Kiriba's leaving. A single and on the paths. Vik sipped thick, powerful faintly illuminated coffee sweetened with honey and pink glowleaf He recognized Deba's voice. the bedroom. listened to Gulu puff and grunt up high He bounded from the living bed — the ramps. Vik had spoken to Deba candid- it sighed as he left — and emerged ly and gained the man's total loy- from the newly grown room onto the The fat man finally entered " alty-. The farm sheds had been pre- narrow porch. Yes?" the room. He was sweating and angry, but when he saw Vik he bow- pared to house many hundreds of "Armed men are coming from the men. The had been readied. ed his head and said, "I have obey- kitchens north. About fifty. They have a The villages had been pur- ed, great Masil." nearby supply train and important men on chased clean of all extra foodstocks lions." "Fine. Sit down and eat. I and supplies. The locals had been want a full report." told the army had decided to use "Army?" the farm as a barracks for five Salina carried a large platter "No. Many wear the Masil chev- of food from the small service ele- thousand men. ron and the Congo Trading Company vator at the rear wedge- comer of fingers insignia." Dala's kitchen- strong the room. flexing but- gripped tighter on his "See to their comfort when tocks. knees drew up higher, Vik dismissed her after a mom- Her they arrive. Send the highest man made sure she descended to a wider . . . She began to grunt and gasp ent, to me as soon as possible." in climax. lower level, and turned to Gulu. When Vik re-entered the bed- turned full attention to The hugely fat man had learned Vik room, Dala was slipping on her cot- his own pleasure. He feasted on to talk clearly while eating. He ton smock. She had smoothed the her ecstasy-contorted face which began, "Rukwa was able to bum some bed furs and plumped the pillows. enhanced his sensations, his parti- record leaves and papers before He kissed her and said, "I'll send cipation, his power. Ndola's men took the bank. Lusaka for you again, soon." was destroying records, too, but He had always loved this crit- She nodded, smiled, trailed fin- the Congo Bank is so big, and there ical time the helpless abandon of — gers on his naked hip, and left the is so much cross- filing and records the girl under him His long, — bedroom. ... They'll peel their way into deep, hot thrusts. knowing all your holdings eventually. He heard her descending steps awareness of the world, the Rukwa and Lusaka bought us some time His on the ramp as he entered the bath- farm, the room. . .faded. This was though." room to wash. Dala now talked to the moment of his greatest vulner- him as little as possible. She was "How many men are coming?" ability. focus was on his en- His still awed by his being Masil... and gorged loins, the rush of his cli- Gulu shrugged. His flesh shook. maybe Kun-Zar? He was as grateful max, the exquisite combination of At root maybe four thousand, but it for her silences and tact as he was overwhelming sensations will take a month or more to assemb- for her honest passion and erotic le them." Vik let himself bellow with skills. rapture. This was what life "How much gold?" Yes! He took a purple robe from the was all about! Orgasm, damn it! alcove and positioned its suckers "About three hundred thousand The incredible pleasure that lured in his armpits. The dull leafcloth in coin. Ndola confiscated mil- and rewarded everyone. slowly came to life and glowed with lions when he took the banks." royal light. Then the moment was gone and Vik said grimly, "Even if he he knew there was at least one more eats gold it won't keep him alive Vik left the bedroom and walk- important thing in the world: mon- an extra day." ed down the ramp to a larger room ey. Wealth. ten meters lower in the tree. It Gulu grinned and continued And another: death. The pow- had been the former manager's liv- eating. er to kill kill. The power to was ing and diningroom. He had had "Who did you bring with you?" the ultimate power in life. more chairs suckered into the tree and added a larger, killed- wood con- "Quilu, Sandoa and Pangala. He rolled onto his back, sweaty ference table. Good organizers." and sated, and slid an arm under Dala. He held her warmth and soft- He heard the contingent of "Do you have contacts in the we a private ness close , drinking it with his body. men arrive as he ate breakfast. He palace trees? Can get His mind kept toying with the ways rose from the table and crossed to message to Quebo?" of mankind. the young, clear membrane window. "Maybe. He saw fat Gulu on the biggest The ideal combination was to lion. He saw two donkeys carrying "I want to tie him up with a be a wealthy military dictator with only bulging, reinforced saddle deal. . .a prospective meeting. . .until a great capacity for love and sex. bags. That meant gold. he can be assassinated." Vik smiled in the pink dark- Vik returned to his breakfast. "Bunkeya would take his place. ness. He had been that, several " He told the attending Salina to Unless Ndola times. But his generals had always quickly order great quantities of wanted to use their power too much. "Reach Bunkeya first. Gold, wheat cakes, syrup and eggs. "And The trick was to go with the flow estates... The usual. Do you sweet wine. At least three bottles." of the invisible tides of the col- know his core?" lective unconscious. That way Brilliant, Gulu was a glutton. "1,'ve heard it's little boys. cunning, a great talent for bus in- A cry floated up to the high Gitega has all those files and the tree bedroom from the ground. 60 operatives in that area. He's on "" . . " " .

his way. He has gold and men, too." Vik again had the strong im- She was self-absorbed, talking to "I'm thinking of Punia as a pulse to simply walk away. him and to herself. "He's offering ten thousand gold emperors for your front after Ndola dies. It's about But he'd tried the hermit life capture, now. You must be brought time the empire had an empress. I seven or eight times, and each time to him alive." can stay in the background. You, boredom had driven him back to the Gitega, and Muwale will be the high action and excitement and danger of Vik idly caressed her breasts ministers. We can make it work if human affairs. under the blanket. He said wryly, we're lucky." "He steals my money and offers it He returned to Gulu. "When as a reward for my capture." Gulu poured more syrup over a you're finished eating, have your fresh stack of cakes. He smiled. soldiers set up a professional "I almost couldn't get away. Vik said disgustedly, "You military patrol and first alert net I had to trick Eyasi and bribe two eat too fucking much!" around the farm and the village." guards and even then Sese and I almost didn't get out of the city. "I have Quilu doing that now." "I long ago decided to fully It was awful." enjoy the pleasures of .food, know- "I'm going up to my bedroom "You made it. You're safe ing the risks. I do not expect to for a sleep. you're finished When now." live another ten years in any ev- eating— temporarily— call Sandoa -- ent. Our venture now opposing and Pangala up here and work out "He told me you're Kun-Zar. a terrified, desperate emperor and some detailed plans and options He said he had proof. He said you a cunning minister of defense --is with time frames." are immortal !" probably doomed. So I'm eating even more." "It shall be, Masil." "He's a dying man. He believes what he wants to believe. He's so "Why doomed?" afraid of death he's —

"It's a short leaf. No prepa- "I'm afraid of you. I know ration. . . Bad time and organiza- you're Masil. .. But you could be tion dynamics. But I choose to Kun-Zar. You've always been so . . marry your attempt, Masil... who- or young in the loins . . . and so much in ever you are — CHAPTER TWELVE command and sure of yourself and you know so much and your eyes can "I'm not Kun-Zar! Why would It was night, seven days lat- — get so cold . . .like I'm a bug to you you believe er. In Vik's high tree bedroom on- . . . like we ' re all nothing but bugs ly a single small glowleaf shed a "I'm no fool, Masil! I don't to you because you've lived forever minimal red light. Empress Punia care about your past. . .or pasts. . and you'll keep on living forever..." was too worried to make love. Vik I'm here for the adventure, for the Seh clung to him fiercely, sobbing. scheming and the game. I could be realized that immediately. He shift- in Gabon by now, eating happily at ed position and drew a wool blanket Vik fought the desire to push my estate in Kango. But that would up over them and prepared for an- her away. He fought contempt and be so dull..." He drank wine and other long duel with her fears. He disgust-. She was after all barely poured himself more. wished she were ten years older, out of childhood. Out of her depth more mature and emotionally tough. in every way. He had used her from Heavy footsteps approached on the beginning, and was planning on But he had for the ramp. One man. "Masil?" It picked her her using her again, and again... was Deba. body and her sensuality, not her courage and intelligence. He took a deep breath and de- Vik went to the door and spoke liberately relaxed. He said, "My She huddled against him. She to him on the ramp. One glance darling, I am not Kun-Zar. You guiltily stroked him. "Why did and he knew it was bad news. you mustn't be afraid of me or of the stop?" "What's the problem?" future. Before you arrived here, "Baidoa bribed someone. He's "You're not aroused, and there Gulu and Muwale and I sent couriers gone." is no pleasure for me in rubbing my and Messengers on the way to all pole in a dry hole." the empire's allies and client "Can he be caught?" states. Even some rivals to the. "I'm sorry. I keep thinking south. We'll soon hear of upris- Deba shook his head. "He knows about what you told me this after- ings and we ' get large numbers of this area too well. He knows too 11 noon . . . and I keep remembering how many people who will help him." troops from them, to help us bring Ndola had that second Messenger down Ndola and Quebo, and to place Vik said, "Thank you. See to killed. It was so... ugly. All he you on the throne." your duties..." did was talk to me for a minute. — And the army men everywhere in Kin- "But I can't Now it was a matter time... shasa... They're all so frantic. "You'll have me to advise you, and luck. How fast could word get Ndola has had high army people kil- and Gitega and Gulu and to the palace that Masil was here? others. led -- butchered -- for letting you You'll greatest How quickly could he accumulate and be the empress ever get away. He's even threatened known. You'll wipe out the whites organize enough fighting men to Quebo. He's insane with pain and and save the civilized fight the force Quebo and Ndola belt. You with a terrible lust to capture you. will be honored by artists and would send? He needed time to re- It's horrible when he talks about sculptors and writers. Replicas of cruit, to undermine the alliance, you." your beauty will be everywhere in to bring in rebellious eastern pro- the warm lands." vince soldiers and southern African Vik nodded. "When you're rul- troops if an "arrangement" could ing Empress, with good advisors, She continued to cry. you can change things. be made with those governments . . Ndola does- "You'll have anything you want, He needed time for the empire to n't have much longer to live." anytime you want, from anyone." grind to a halt. . .before he could Punia seemed not to have heard. save it and put it back together "Can I have certain people again. 61 killed? Like Chunya? I hate him!" . "Of course. You can have your ly and loins. He let himself thrust He gestured her to a higher teachers disemboweled if you like, deeper, shuddering her, quaking and ramp on a five meter- thick limb. and not have to learn anything more rippling the spongebed. They edged around until the trunk ever again." He hadn't realized shielded them from the fire. They He closed his eyes to more how immature she really was. were in a pool of darkness. thoroughly enjoy, the surging, gold- She might be difficult in cer- en climax. Abruptly --a ripping He motioned her to lie down. tain situations. But he had always sound, the shattering of a fragile He crept out onto a naked branch had to work with flawed tools. gourd, the sudden spreading flare that dipped slightly from his weight. of burning oil-and-pitch. He could see the ramp outside the Punia's crying ebbed. She door of the burning room, and the cuddled against him. Her hand Punia screamed. Vik recoiled man crouched there with a double teased him. "Is this the pole of a instantly from the flames. The crossbow cocked for firing. god?" small young room began to fill with acrid smoke. The carpet wilted Vik recognized him: Sumota, a He chuckled so she could hear. and blackened. middle-aged Captain in the guard His mind disengaged from the fol- contingent from a jop tree planta- lowing sexual byplay. His mouth Vik realized a simple but ef- tion. They had been the third large said words she wanted to hear, and fective incendiary bomb had ripped group to. arrive. his body covered hers, and he ent- through the south window. He pul-

ered her . . led Punia from the bed and retreat- The room was clearly now an ed toward the door. inferno. The killed-wood door was His greatest danger was the aflame. The man was settling back present unfocused, uncontrolled Another egg-shell gourd, with on his heels, confident one of the time of gathering forces -- and the lighted fuse, ripped through the bombs must have hit Masil. The em- next two weeks. There were groups membrane and splattered on the press was supposed to be in her of apparently loyal guards and pri- floor, adding its fuel to the spread- private room fifty meters lower in vate army men coming to the area ing pool of fire. the tree. every now. High people from day Vik hesitated, then went for various of his companies and comp- Vik peered down at the limbs the long, sharp metal knife he had anies owned by his companies. and branches where the fire bombs bought from a commander of guards had to have come from. He couldn't Several of them, he was sure, the day before. see anyone. There had to have been were traitors, or would-be traitors. Punia squalled with terror and two men; one to carry the fragile A few were enemy agents. A few tried to get to the door. roba gourds full of pitch and oil, were simply ambitious and greedy. and another to carry shielded fire. Opportunists. He had spotted a Vik held her. The fire bombs couple and had Gulu assign them un- were being lobbed into the room to There wasn't a gap in the ex- important posts and tasks. drive them out through the door. tended limbs, branches and foliage The ramp was the greater danger now. of the huge tree to allow for a Rumors were thick in the camps, There were other ways out. catapult of the bombs from the in the sheds ... He had heard one ground . And even if the tree guards saying Ndola would pay five thous- A third bomb struck the outside had been bribed or killed, a cata- and gold emperors for Masil's head, of the room near the tom window. pult was awkward and difficult to and ten thousand for him alive. The room began to bake. move quickly. It would be very But even five thousand was a Vik quickly hacked an escape hard to disguise. fortune. And it figured easier to hole in the rear wall next to the So the confederates were by kill Masil than capture him. tree trunk. The fibrous wood was now down the tree, or on the ground, In addition, the Kun-Zar sto- thin and there were no vine tubes probably joining in the confusion ries were spreading, becoming ela- or feeders in that section. and surge of people up the ramps. borate, bizarre. Some of the high Behind them the spongebed be- The Captain had to be very people had managed to bring a few gan to finally bum, giving off a sure Masil was dead before throwing white slaves. sickening stench. A small rivulet the crossbow into the fire. Then there was Quebo. The De- of fire crept toward them across Vik waited, judging the man. fense Minister might secretly order the dying carpet. Sumota had served in the army for Masil killed instead of captured, Vik pushed Punia out of the ten years and was an experienced now that news of Masil's rallying room onto a small access ramp half soldier. He would know all the of forces meant a struggle for the a meter wide. He placed her hands tricks of combat. But would be empire. Without Masil/Kun-Zar, the he on safety grips in the rough bark no match in strength. overthrow attempt would collapse. and urged her away, around the bole. And Quebo would have the throne for He yelled in her ear, "Out three He watched as Sumota finally the taking. Ndola could be declar- threw the crossbow through the meters, then up the trunk ! Look for ed incompetent. the insets and footholes !" weakened furiously burning door. He watched as Sumota pulled a metal The possibilities and conting- She obeyed. She trusted him. knife and hacked a water vine free encies were like a three-dimension- He followed, squeezing out through of its trunk suckers. al spider-web of ifs. It was the the irregular hole. The huge tree eternal game, the high risk game that trunk hid their escape from those When the first of the soldiers gave life meaning. who had thrown or catapulted the and servants pounded up around the final curve of the ramp to the ap- Vik's thoughts were penetrated bombs, and from anyone waiting on proach to the burning room, Sumota by Punia's panting wails of ecstasy. the ramp by the door. was using the water vine as a fire His driving, tireless loins had Below, cries and alarms spread. hose. There wasn't much pressure. given her the high pleasure again... But both Vik and Punia were naked, Sumota screamed, " Get the pump and go- now he could take his own pleas- black against the black of the tree !" ing ! Masil is in there ures. He immersed his conscious- in the fire- flickering darkness. ness into the rising tide of molten Vik had to admire the assassin- sensations that churned in his bel- 62 ation plan. He edged his way back " . . : to the platform where he had left Punia. "Stay here for a few more ALIEN CONCLUSIONS minutes. I'll send your girl up with a robe." Then Vik went down This is short-hairs time Robert Whitaker writes: 'For Ted the narrow side ramp to the inter- 8-5-/S ft and I'm disgruntled. I've had to Sturgeon fans and completists : Stur- section with the main ramp. cut two pages out of "Other Voices." geon has admitted to writing the El- Sumota looked higher than us- limit Alter to one page, limit lery Queen novel PLAYER ON THE OTHER ual and saw him descending. "Small Press Notes" to one page, SIDE, which was published in 1963. and if Darrell Schweitzer had gotten It was published in paperback in 1965 Vik took a certain satisfac- his column in before this I wouldn't by Ballantine. Currently it is tion in the widening of the man's have room for it. Also in the no- still in print in England as a Goll- eyes and the shocked realization of room slot are the two articles I ancz hardcover. failure. promised for this issue. 'An unverified rumor has it that But Sumota was quick and clev- WHERE HAVE ALL THE PAGES GONE? Avram Davidson is responsible for er. He pointed and yelled, "MASIL Well, the Bova interview ran very one Ellery Queen novel, perhaps two.' LIVES!" As all attention focused long but I found it so good and in- on Vik, Sumota moved downramp formative and timely that it was Neil Barron writes: 'Just talked through the guards and tree servants inpossible to cut it significantly. ft The third segment of ONE IMMORT- to Delap, who says he has a new job Vik had to remember he was Mas- beginning next month but who wasn't AL MAN took a large chunk. . .and both He bel- il, an aged man with a limp. Bill Warren and Elton Elliott ran very hopeful about resuming DELAP'S SUMOTA! He's an assas - lowed, "STOP their columns longer than expected. FfjSF REVIEW. In his format each ! sin ! Don't kill him copy costs $1-$1.25 to produce and NEXT ISSUE? The last, final segment mail, and you just can't recover There was a scuffle on the of ONE IMMORTAL MAN will use up fif- costs with his 800-1000 subscribers.' ramp. scream, more yelling among A teen or so pages. Other features some soldiers. A cry as Sumota will suffer, naturally. Probably crashed through the railing and only one interview. . .maybe the Terry From Lee Smith: 'Since you saw fell. ft Carr. And the Damon Knight article fit to publish my note about Ron A sergeant later reported to (which will blow minds) has to ap- Goulart's Joseph Silva alter-ego Vik. "He's dead. His head was pear. last issue, I thought I might as split open when he struck a limb on Look, if you write a letter for well follow up with a full list of the way down." publication, be succinct! Goulart's various pen-names: Frank S. Shawn And later: "Two men from his ft Some last minute news: in spite Con Steffanson unit are missing." of all the uproar about the Pocket Kenneth Robeson Vik dismissed the soldier. Books contract in this issue and in Howard Lee authors and agents, To Gulu he said, "Maybe those two LOCUS and among Josephine Kains contract is will report me dead rather than ad- it seems that the slave Jose Silvera still being sent to inexperienced mit failure... if they stayed long Rod Gray authors who (the corporation obvious- enough to know for sure." Under the Shawn pen-name, he wrote ly hopes) will sign it virtually un- 6 Phantom novels : 485, 788, and large Gulu smiled and ate a read and not-understood, or who need 10811. Under the Steffanson pen- Xilu grape. "One more maybe. My the money, or who haven't the guts name, he wrote those sub-Perry Rho- belly is full of maybes." to make changes or engage in long, dan attrocities in the Flash Gordon back- and- forth dickering on clauses. series: 1 through 3. Vik grumbled, "Your belly is 'Under the Robeson pen-name he full of shit." Steve Fabian is hard at work on ft wrote 12 Avenger novels : 25 thorugh covers and illustrations for Ace and 36. I was astounded to learn this. Dell and has had to refuse work for Kenneth Robeson was a real writer in at least a month ahead. the 30 's who wrote the original Aveng- That's great for Steve, but a er novels. In recent years these TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT ISSUE sadness for us small press publish- have been reissued. *********************************** ers . 'Under the Lee pen-name, Goulart wrote 2 Kung-Fu novels: 283. ft Trina E. King reports: 'Fred Pohl 'Under the Kains pen-name, he is taking over the editorship of ANA- wrote the novel: THE DEVIL MASK MYS- LOG. At least so I have been told on XERY. good authority.' 30 July, 1978. 'Under the Silvera pen-name he wrote a short story: "Confessions." 'Under the Gray pen-name, he wrote 9 Eve Drummer, Lady From Lust novels 'In addition. Goulart has written numerous short stories under these pen-names Max Kemy Ben Jolson John Easy Joseph Silvera.'

8-7-78 Darrell Schweitzer's column arrived today. Short, but it'll still have to wait till next issue. 63 See you all in November. . SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #17 In- BACK ISSUES terview with George R. R. Martin; Interview with Robert Anton Wilson; THE ALIEN CRITIC "Philip K. Dick: A Parallax View" SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW by Terrence M. Green; "Microcos- NO OTHER BACK ISSUES ARE mos" by R. Faraday Nelson. AVAILABLE #18 $1.25 per copy SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW In- terview with Lester del Rey; Inter- EACH ISSUE CONTAINS MANY REVIEWS. view with Alan Burt Akers; "Noise EACH ISSUE CONTAINS LETTERS FROM Level" by John Brunner; "A Short WELL-KNOWN SF § FANTASY WRITERS, One for the Boys in the Back Room" EDITORS, PUBLISHERS AND FANS. by Barry Malzberg.

THE FOLLOWING LISTINGS ARE OF SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #19 In- FEATURED CONTRIBUTIONS terview with Philip K. Dick; Inter- view with Frank Kelly Freas; "The THE ALIEN CRITIC #5 Interview Notebooks of Mack Sikes" by Larry with Fritz Leiber; "The Literary Niven; "Angel Fear" by Freff; "The Dreamers" by James Blish; "Irvin Vivisector" by Darrell Schweitzer. Birikin Meets H.P. Lovecraft" by Jack Chalker. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #20 In- terviews with Theodore Sturgeon THE ALIEN CRITIC #6 Interview and Joe Haldeman; "Noise Level" by with R.A. Lafferrty; "The Trench- John Brunner; "The Vivisector" by ant Bludgeon" by Ted White; "Trans- Darrell Schweitzer; "The Gimlet lations from the Editorial" by Eye" by John Gustafson. Marion Z. Bradley. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #21 In- THE #8 ' ALIEN CRITIC ’Tomorrow ’ s terviews with Leigh Brackett § Ed- Libido: Sex and Science Fiction" mond Hamilton, and with Tim Kirk; by Richard Delap; "The Trenchh- "The Dream Quarter" by Barry Malz- ant Bludgeon" by Ted White; "Ban- berg' "Noise Level" by John Brunner quet Speech" by Robert Bloch; "Noise Level" by John' Brunner. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #22 In- terview with John Varley; "S-F and — THE ALIEN CRITIC #9 "Reading —BACK ISSUE ORDER FORM S-E-X" by Sam Merwin, Jr. ; "After- Heinlein Subjectively" by Alexei thoughts on Logan's Run" by Will- $1,25 EACH and Cory Panshin; "Written to a iam F. Nolan; "An Evolution of Con-

Pulp!" by Sam Merwin, Jr.; "Noise sciousness" by Marion Zimmer Brad- Dear REG: I enclose $ . Level" by John Brunner; "The ley." Please send back issue (s) #5 #6 Shaver Papers" by Richard S. Shav- #8 #9 #10 #11 #14 #15 #16 er. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #23 In- #17 #18 #19 #20 #21 #22 #23 terviews with A. E. Van Vogt, #24 #25 #26

THE ALIEN CRITIC #10 An Inter- Jack Vance, and Piers Anthony; [ Circle #'s desired ] view with Stanislaw Lem; "A Nest "The Silverberg That Was" by Rob- of Strange and Wonderful Birds" ert Silverberg. by Sam Merwin, Jr.; Robert Bloch's Science Fiction Review SUBSCRIPTION COUPON Guest Of Honor speech; The Hein- SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #24 In- lein Reaction. terviews with Bob Shaw, David G. All you have to do is fill it in Hartwell and Algis Budrys; "On Be- with your name and address (or THE ALIEN CRITIC #11 Interview ing a Bit of a Legend" by Algis that of someone you wish to de- with Avram Davidson; "The Founda- Budrys stroy), enclose money, and your tion On Sands" by John J. Alder- life (or that of the other vic- son; "Footnotes To Fan History" SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #25 In- tim) will never be the same. by Larry Shaw. terviews with George Scithers, One 'fix ' of SCIENCE FICTION RE- Poul Anderson and Ursula K. Le VIEW and you will he hooked. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #14 In- Guin; "Flying the Saucers and Sty- How else can you become so pleas- terview with Philip Jose Farmer; mie Factor" Ray Palmer; ONE by antly addicted as inexpensively? "Thoughts On Logan's Run" by Will- I MORTAL MAN- -Part One. iam F. Nolan; "The Gimlet Eye" by Dear REG: Start my subscription John Gustafson. SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #26 In- with issue # terviews with Gordon R. Dickson and SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #15 In- Larry Niven; "Noise Level" by John $7,50 ONE YEAR / $15,00 TWO YEARS terview with L. Sprague de Camp; Brunner; "Fee-dom Road" by Rich- "Spec-Fic and the Perry Rhodan ard Henry Klump; "The Middle Earth Name Ghetto" by Donald C. Thonpson; War Games" by John Boardman. Address "Uffish Thots" by Ted White.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #16 In- City terview with Jerry Poumelle; "The True and Terrible History of Sci- State Zip ence Fiction" by Barry Malzberg; "Noise Level" by John Brunner; SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW "The Literary Masochist” by Rich- P.O. Box 11408 ard Lupoff. Portland, OR 97211