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Vol. 17 No. 4 August 2018 ALEXIAD (!7+=3!G) $2.00 September will be International month at the library. Each the next line. I’m still looking, Schirm.] branch draws a country which it will feature in its displays. This year ours is India. And so I have begun studying India and The 93rd Running of the Hambletonian (1st leg of theTrotting requesting books on it for our displays. I will continue to do so until Triple Crown) was August 4, 2018 at Meadowlands Racetrack September 20. Any later than that and the books will not get there in East Rutherford, New Jersey. won, the fourteenth in time. Labor Day is Worldfest here and I will seek out the India filly to do so. booth and buy something, perhaps some jewelry, perhaps some The 64th Running of the Yonkers Trot (2nd leg of the Trotting pottery, depending on what the budget allows. Triple Crown) is September 1, 2018 at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. — Lisa The 126th Running of the Kentucky Futurity (3rd leg of the Trotting Triple Crown) is October 7, 2018 at the Red Mile in Table of Contents Lexington, Kentucky. Editorial...... 1 Reviewer’s Notes ...... 1 The 64th Running of the Cane Pace (1st leg of the Pacing Triple Crown) was August 4, 2018 at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Awards Nominees...... 5 Rutherford, New Jersey. Stay Hungry won. Eclipse News...... 2 The 63rd Running of the Messenger Stakes (2nd leg of the Pacing Hugo Short Fiction ...... 6 Triple Crown) is September 1, 2018 at Yonkers Raceway in Sidewise Awards Nominees ...... 5 Yonkers, New York. On Jewelry...... 5 The 73rd Running of the Little Brown Jug (3rd leg of the Pacing Vision Report ...... 2 Triple Crown) is September 20, 2018 at the Delaware County Weight Report ...... 3 Fair in Delaware, Ohio. ...... 7 The Dormition of the Theotokos is August 15, 2018. Book Reviews JTM Benson, Space Odyssey ...... 4 Printed on August 14, 2018 JTM van den Boom, Kaiserkrieger 4: Der Aufstand ...... 3 Deadline is October 1, 2018 JTM Heller, Decision at Antietam ...... 4 JTM Campbell, Ascendant: The Genesis Fleet ...... 3 Reviewer’s Notes JTM Hynes, The Red Führer ...... 4 JTM Larson, To the Edges of the Earth ...... 5 I was wondering if something was wrong. We got JTM Palter/Rohde, The Fall of Malta ...... 3 acknowledgements but then . . . for a whole month . . . no locs. Did JTM Rogan, On to Chicago ...... 4 people not get the zine? JTM Turtledove, Hail! Hail!...... 3 Alternatehistory.com has some unusual trends. Now they have a Random Jottings ...... 2 separate section on alternate media works. This is dominated by alternate timelines, most even worse than the series. Letters ...... 8 And it proliferates. One contributor did a story where Westeros Sue Burke, Robert S. Kennedy, AL du Pisani, George W. Price, somehow got attached to Middle-earth. Taras Wolansky This promptly turned The Lord of the Rings into another Game of Thrones, with massacres (particularly at every wedding), pointless Comments are by JTM or LTM intrigue, and the natives being shoved well into the background. The show touches on some deeply held feeling in our culture. I don’t like Trivia: ...... 12 the idea of going there. [“Of course I’m out of my mind! It’s dark and scary in there!” – Mr. J.] Art: Sheryl Birkhead ...... 8 I am still writing, though as I lack the desire to write of time- Paul Gadzikowski ...... 12 traveling Nazi zombies being fought by leather-clad lesbian Alexis A. Gilliland...... 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 vampires no one seems to want to buy my books. My problem with Trinlay Khadro ...... 2 being blocked on one project now seems to be to start yet another. I’m not sure how that’s going to work out in the long run. [Marc Schirmeister sent more art. I put it somewhere where — Joe I knew it would be safe until I could scan it. I think you know Page 2 August 2018 Alexiad

him then to his grave feet first that his Pensioner. RANDOM JOTTINGS name may be whitened in the ears of by Joe those unborn, and that thence he may YOU’RE SO VAIN return again at the time appointed. It is by Joe spoken.” Now the Accuser lifted the book of There was a solar eclipse on August 11, a his accusations from the ground and, partial eclipse visible in Newfoundland, advancing, hurled it into the gulf in Greenland, and Siberia. The greatest extent token that it was blotted out. Then he was at 70E 24' N, 174E 30' E, off the coast of turned and vanished from the chamber; Russia near Wrangel Island. The eclipse was while the Advocate, taking up his book, part of Saros 155, which began June 17, 1928 gave it into the keeping of the priest and will end July 24, 3190. Oros, that it might be preserved in the The next total solar eclipse will be on June archives of the temple for ever. This 2, 2019, visible across the South Pacific and in done, the priests began a funeral chant Chile and Argentina. The longest totality will and a solemn invocation to the great be 4 minutes 33 seconds, at sea at 17E 24' S, Lord of the Under-world that he would 109E W. The eclipse is part of Saros 127, receive this spirit and acquit it there as which began on October 10, 991 and will end Buy my books. (All available on here it had been acquitted by the Hesea, on March 21, 2452. Amazon.com for quite reasonable prices, his minister. except the Hugo-nominated Heinlein’s — Sir H. Rider Haggard, Ayesha: The Return NASA Eclipse website: Children, which can be bought from NESFA of She https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html for a reasonable price.) — Advt. Other useful eclipse websites: MONARCHICAL NEWS The guys behind The Joker Blogs have http://www.hermit.org/Eclipse announced that the final three episodes will be We regret to report the death of William released soon. They’re putting a smile on our Speakman-Pitt, known as Bill Speakman, V.C. http://www.eclipse.org.uk/ face. on June 20, 2018, at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London. Born September 21, 1927 I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW http://thejokerblogs.com in Altrincham, Cheshire, Speakman joined the by Joe Black Watch when he entered the army. He was attached to the King’s Own Scottish When last we left my eye surgery, the OBITS Borderers when that battalion was sent to doctors had found out, much to their dismay, Korea. that the new lens in my right eye had tipped The tumult of has died. On November 4, 1951, when the left flank over a little. Naturally I would have to pay to passed away on the morning of his company’s position north of the Imjin get this fixed. of June 28, 1934 at his home in Los Angeles. River began to collapse, Private Speakman By now the procedure was getting all too Born May 27, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio, gathered up all the grenades he could find, took familiar; get on the van, go over to Indiana, Ellison began his life of creativity and turmoil six men, and on his own initiative moved to dish out $$$, get wrapped up and doped up, at a surprisingly young age, running away bolster the position. He conducted ten charges and let them do their arcane things. from home to do various itinerant jobs. before being severely wounded, but The adjustment didn’t seem to be quite as In , he leaped to notice as most disregarding them, continued to fight until the much an assault on my seeing as before, but noticeable member of Seventh Fandom — or company was withdrawn. He held the position then it only required one procedure instead of as some called it, the Phony Seventh. And he during this withdrawal. The commendation two; they didn’t have to fire the phaser banks continued his career of turnoil, from the door says: into the old lens. incident at MidWestCon through the dramatic And the next day I went to Dr. L., who semi-boycott of IguanaCon. His great gallantry and utter observed that things seemed to be going well He began writing for publication in 1949, contempt for his own personal safety and I should come back in two weeks. They producing a stream of fiction with edges so were an inspiration to all his comrades. are getting to know me there. sharp they made the reader bleed. As well, he He was, by his heroic actions, personally The swelling of the cornea in my left eye edited the famous (or at the last, infamous) responsible for causing enormous losses had pretty much gone down by then, which Dangerous Visions anthologies of trend- to the enemy, assisting his Company to was the other thing he was checking. It breaking science fiction. maintain their position for some four wouldn’t do to have the yellowish haze (from He did offend many in personal ways; one hours and saving the lives of many of his the lens) replaced by a whitish one (from the would have but to ask Christopher Priest, comrades when they were forced to cornea). So my eyes seemed to be in good Charles Platt, or . And four of withdraw from their position. shape. (As for the rest of the afternoon, the his five marriages broke up. Private Speakman’s heroism under less said the better; I had a bad time for a intense fire throughout the operation and different reason.) “I hear, I balance, I assess, but when painfully wounded was beyond It is interesting seeing colors so brightly judge I do not, who claim no such praise and is deserving of supreme and cleanly. My original lenses seemed to power. Let the Spirit who sent him recogntion. have deterioriated, not only in acuity, but in forth, to whom he is returned again, — Supplement to the London Gazette, 25th clarity, gaining a yellowish haze. The contrast pass judgment on his spirit. This dead December, 1951 is quite striking. one has sinned deeply, yet has he been My final appointment with Dr. L. was more deeply sinned against. Nor Speakman later served with the Special Air delayed because we had to go to a funeral. He against that man can be reckoned the Service, rising to the rank of Sergeant before surveyed the situation and said that recovery account of his deeds of madness. Cast retiring in 1968. In 2015 he became a Chelsea seemed to be going well and I didn’t need to Alexiad August 2018 Page 3 see him again for a while. (2017; reviewed in Alexiad V. 17 #1) though there is hail. It is 1826, and Levy Schönberg is a boy in WEIGHT Rob Geary and Mele Darcy must be used to Dornum, while Simon Marrix is yet to be born. by Lisa being discarded. The government of Glenlyon Nacogodoches is full of roaches, and also has gotten along just fine without them. Norteamericanos. This morning I stepped on the scales for Nevertheless, there is a “Ms. Darcy, we’re It would seem that Zeppo (Herbert) would my weekly weighing. 162.4. I am within needed” moment when the planet is threatened, be the most worthwhile, what with his thirteen pounds of the goal I somewhat again. Because of threats, the government has technical skills, but it turns out that Groucho jokingly set for myself seven years ago. This resigned itself to recalling Rob, even giving him (Julius) takes the lead. Particularly when he has been a mental journey as much as a the rank of Commander and command of a ship, gets called out, and somehow manages to shoot physical one. I have gone from being a couch while Mele is made Commandant of the dead a notorious norteamericano. In our time- potato to someone who thinks nothing of Glenlyon Marine Corps (a whole twenty line the man had a big part in the failure of the walking a mile to work. It has been a journey jarheads). Fredonian revolution. This isn’t going to from size 20 down to size 14. It has meant The result befits the legendary plaint, “We happen now. having to replace all my pants. Sometimes I the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing Indeed it’s “Hail, Hail, Fredonia!” and no find myself looking at the new pants and the impossible, for the ungrateful. We have Mrs. Teasdale to lend them money. The thinking there is no way I can squeeze into done so much, for so long, with so little, we are Marxes realize they don’t fit. There’s no place them. I have earned this. Size 18 was not that now qualified to do anything with nothing.” like home. hard to achieve. Size 16 took a bit longer. Size Some things never change. Only . . . timelines can have their own 14 required a lot of miles logged on my shoes. shifts. The unsuited outsiders find themselves I did not expect my stomach to shrink but it There are more links. The story never really in an environment where the response to smart has. I can no longer eat nearly as much as I ends, you know. In his search for crew, Rob gags won’t be laughs, or even boos, but hot used to. At a certain point my stomach will finds an engineer qualified enough to be XO. lead. Fortunately those clever jokes are backed refuse to accept any more food. Her name? “Vicki Shen”. A relative of Jen up by clever thoughts, but still . . . Shen of the Paul Sinclair novels? Or just a (Why all the commentary about Yiddish? ZERSTÖRERMÄNNER BAND IV coincidence of names? It’s nice to think the The Marxes were Yekkes, they spoke German; Review by Joseph T Major of former even though that way lies Wold see “Chico’s Bank Account” in Memoirs of a KAISERKRIEGER 4: DER AUFSTAND Newtonism. Mangy Lover where an Italian crime boss in an (The Emperor’s Men 4: Uprising) But then, it can be perhaps deliberate. The unnamed Southern city offers Chico Marx five by Dirk van den Boom council member who summoned Rob back to brothels if he will only stay there, and breaks (2018; Verlag Guido Latz; service later goes on a covert mission for aid. into Italian to indicate his affection for a ISBN 978-3864026102; $12.00; To pass through the enemy’s surveillance, she paisano. Chico almost replied in German. Amazon Digital Services; $5.99) uses a pseudonym. They look at this meek little Ach du scheiss.) http://www.atlantis-verlag.de librarian and figure she isn’t overdue and doesn’t need to be checked out. Even if she is “We are investigating other cases ARIES IAM MURO TETIGAT, the new named Alice Mary Norton. (If you still don’t get similar to the Hartley one,” said Emperor and his men might say. this, write and let us know.) Associate Commissioner Kapar Grann. „Das Rammen hat die Mauer berührt,” the “The initial case appears to have been new Magister Militum and his fellow LAND OF THE BRAVE AND FREE some fifteen hundred years ago, here, crewmen might say. Review by Joseph T Major of where a man known as ‘Mysterious The rebellion of Magnus Maximus and his HAIL! HAIL! Martinus’ imported what appeared to be Kaiserliche collaborator has surged out of By Harry Turtledove technology. He died before a Britain, and indeed into the Italian Peninsula. (2018; Swallow’s End Publishing (Kindle); Paratimer found him.” At the beginning of the Empire, some four $2.99) “And you’re saying this time-line centuries agone, the Senate and Pompeius split is another such case?” Vall asked. Magnus were faced with a like crisis, as Julius The soup had a familiar taste. “Ah, there we had a man on them Caesar had crossed the Rubicon and was Padway looked down into the bowl after immediately! But they struck him as coming to get them. his first spoonful and sighed. “What’s too funny to be of any effect. . .” Faced with this problem, Magister Militum the matter, Martinus?” Urias said. “The — Not by H. Beam Piper Rheinsburg has at least the ability to evacuate. cook went to a lot of trouble to make („Dunkirk? Vas ist ‚Dunkirk’?”) good duck soup.” IN A FLASH Let us hope that there is not a dismal scene “It’s the memory,” Padway said. He Review by Joseph T Major of similar to the one at Atia’s party, where the had seen that movie before . . . before THE FALL OF MALTA: guests argued over who should kill whom, and the transition, and the memory lingered. The Reich without Hitler: Volume 1 who would have to take her own life as last Rufus T. would have been even by Scott Palter with Mike Rohde survivor. One would think they were harder put to resolve the problems of (2018; Amazon Digital Services; $0.99) superstitious Judeans, stuck in a breached Gothic Italy, and the thought of throwing hilltop fortress. fruit at Justinian as he was stuck in an This is a book by a couple of wargamers. improvised pillory did not give him the Hitler dies in a plane crash after crushing WE THE UNWILLING reassurance it might have. France, and his Indomitable Will is obeyed, Review by Joseph T Major of — Not by L. Sprague de Camp bringing his Comrade of the Struggle ASCENDANT: Reichsmarshal Göring to the Leadership. The Genesis Fleet Arthur, Julius, Leonard, and sometimes Which involves a little bloodshed, as Himmler by “Jack Campbell” [John G. Hemry] Herbert are on a train to New York when they and most of his circle are found surplus to (2018; Ace; get diverted into the past, and no British Police current needs and disposed of. Except for one. ISBN 978-1101988374; $27.00; call boxes for them to take back home, they are But the Fat One is more interested in his (Kindle); $13.99) somewhat beyond their bounds. And in model trains and planes and such, so he Sequel to Vanguard Fredonia, not to be confused with Freedonia, presides, while others lead. Namely Generals Page 4 August 2018 Alexiad

Halder (?) and Beck (??), and the new chief of manages to lose the election. (2018; Sea Lion Press; $5.37) the SS, Heydrich (!!??). The Hangman did And indeed, everying gets reset to our time some very quick talking on that day, you see. line. Reagan steps down after one term as This is one of those things which seems to The new regime immediately lays off that Nixon’s VP, and Nixon is disgraced at have been so obvious, and yet never done talk about killing , and indeed enlists Watergate. RFK dies of a brain aneurysm before. What if were a them, along with surplus SS, SA, and any caused by a fragment of one of Sirhan’s bullets. Communist? other laybys, even Jews, into something called It’s not quite as bad as the total reset of The Plot The beginning is plausible enough; the the Niblelungenlegion, yet another Against America (2004; reviewed in Alexiad V impoverished artist in Vienna encounters a paramilitary force, which proceeds to clean 3 #6). member of an artistic movement more up. (Note: WND Books is associated with sympathetic to his style. In the discussions, That done, the Reich decides on the WND.com so be warned.) politics creep in, and Adolf becomes devoted to Mediterranean option, and a parachute drop on the liberation of the proletariat from the the Island of Malta is in order. Including a HOW MANY REMAIN oppression of the bourgeoisie. unit of the Nibelungenlegion. Review by Joseph T Major of From there, his wartime experiences Somehow, using an armed mob doesn’t DECISION AT ANTIETAM: diverge slightly, and he flocks to the Bavarian sound like the best idea. And how Zionist A Counterfactual History of the Civil War Soviet, instead of running into the Deutsche groups like Betar (as you know, Bob, the by Andrew J. Heller Arbeiterpartie. From there, he becomes a Betar was Revisionist, the ancestors of the (2018; Andrew J. Heller; rising star in the KPD, and when the time Likud, and founded the ZZW [Jewish Military ISBN 978-1983286995; $13.27; comes . . . Union] which undertook the Warsaw Rising) Amazon Digital Services; $4.95) There are a few stretchers here. Thus, suddenly become active German auxiliaries is when Hitler goes to Moscow to meet the left as an exercise to the reader. The author of Gray Tide in the East (2012; people currently running the Soviet Union, It makes an interesting wargame. See reviewed in Alexiad V. 12 #4) and its sequel they all speak the same language. Stalin didn’t under “Murphy’s Rules” for how interesting Gray Tide 2: Tidal Effects (2017) this time speak German, and I would think that (which had other interesting wargame bits like decides to stand Turtledove ( Kamenev and Zinoviev would be more likely how setting yourself on fire was the best way (1997)) on his head. More specifically, he has to speak Yiddish. to fight in a dungeon if you didn’t have a General McClellan not take counsel of Alan Also, the book is a little too full of the little torch, why it was impossible to commit Pinkerton, the desire to become the next people doing little things. As Part One of a suicide by shooting yourself, and other such President, and his fears, and attack the Rebs longer series that would be one thing, but at it interesting variations on reality). decisively at Antietam, with their battle stands it breaks the focus. dispositions to hand. As well, it skims over what one would RECURSION TO THE MEAN The result is catastrophic for the think would be crucial elements in the triumph Review by Joseph T Major of Confederacy, with just about the entire Army of of the Revolution. The KPD really wasn’t that ON TO CHICAGO: Northern Virginia taken captive. Yet the Young popular, and a coup by the Rotfront would Rediscovering Rober F. Kennedy and the Napoleon does not proceed to down likely lead to a civil war. Lost Campaign of 1968 Moscow, er Richmond, but pauses to Still, it’s not your usual German AH, and is by James Rogan reorganize, demand more troops, and lay in worth reading for that reason. In our history, (2018; WND Books; supplies. so many lower-level German communists ISBN 978-1944229986; $29.95; The next part of the war is marked by seamlessly transitioned to the Nazi party; why Amazon Digital Services; $9.99) desperate maneuverings by the Confederacy to not the Großkerl? form up some sort of defense, and desperate RFK going on to the election has been a maneuverings by the Union high command as it JOURNEY BEYOND THE STARS common bit of ever since, oh, shuffles and reshuffles. The Army of the Review by Joseph T Major of Russell Baker’s Our Next President (1968), Potomac runs through commanders while the SPACE ODYSSEY: when Bobby cleverly outmaneuvered new Confederate Army of Virginia has to gather Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the everyone else to become Acting President, up whatever it can in the way of boots (or, given Making of a Masterpiece thanks to some really inept bargaining by the circumstances, bare feet) on the ground. by Michael Benson Johnson, Wallace, and John Lindsay. The campaign is marked by extreme friction in (2018; Simon & Schuster; Mitchell Freedman wrote a BobbyWank, A the Clauswitzian sense. ISBN 978-1501163937; $30.00; Disturbance of Fate (2002, 2003; reviewed in Nevertheless, finally, finally, the Army of Simon & Schuster Digital Sales; $14.99) Alexiad V. 2 #5). Jeff Greenfield had a more the Potomac takes Richmond. The struggling nuanced view in the middle story of his Confederacy doesn’t so much surrender as it The four years from the conception of collection Then Everything Changed (2011; disintegrates. And then? Journey Beyond the Stars to the release of reviewed in Alexiad V. 10 #3). Gray Tide in the East was, in spite of things, 2001: A Space Odyssey were fraught with After surviving a shooting in the aftermath somewhat better than the OTL war in that it did many hazards. Fifty years later, there is now a of his California victory, RFK plunges on to not develop the agonizing disllusionment at certain perspective on them. the convention, Which turns out to be society that was the fertile environment for One can imagine the jaded fans of today unsurprising, except for some behind-the- totalitarianisms, even though it left Germany wondering how the CGI was handled. Kiddies scenes issues, such as the sudden shipment of dominating the continent. Will this sudden . . . there was no CGI then. Stanley Kubrick Johnson For President banners, posters, and victory break the formation of the Klan, and the wouldn’t have known what a green screen was signs, which never get used as LBJ has to grand pressure of Reconstruction and its lapse? if you had thrown him into one headfirst. respond to the winding-up of the Prague Like that book this is an interesting provoker of When he recovered, he might have used it, Spring. The convention goes on to nominate thought. though. him, and in response Nixon passes over the Benson brings up to date the story first alliterative governor of Maryland as his UNSER KAMPF expounded in Jerome Agel’s The Making of running mate, choosing instead the host of Review by Joseph T Major of Kubrick’s 2001 (1970). Kubrick began his idea Death Valley Days. Kennedy is plagued with THE RED FÜHRER with some intense research. Clarke, on the migraines throughout the campaign, and by Paul Hynes other hand, began the work with a desperate Alexiad August 2018 Page 5 need for money; between taxes, his failed highest mountain on each continent is more of marriage, and Mike Wilson’s bottomless an accomplishment, since they are usually more Short Form money pit of movie making work, not to difficult to climb. K2 for example is far more mention the unwillingness of Sinhalese difficult to climb than Everest and has a much Tom Anderson & Bruno Lombardi, merchants to take Mogul silver rupees in higher casualty rate. Then there is the True “N’oublions Jamais,” Altered Europa, payment, money was extremely tight for him Explorers Grand Slam, which involves reaching edited by Martin T. Ingham, Martinus then. (Incidentally, Mike Wilson’s movies are both poles and climbing the Seven Summits (Sir Publishing, 2017 lost; no prints are known to exist.) Ran Fiennes was first to do this), or perhaps Dave D’Alessio, “The Twenty Year The shooting had many unknown features. even also all 14 8000-meter peaks . . . Reich,” Altered Europa, edited by Kubrick hired a key aide literally off the In 1909, Chomolungma was out of bounds, Martin T. Ingham, Martinus Publishing, streets; and the man was useful in that he so Mount Godwin-Austen, now known as K2, 2017 could get around British union rules. Several the second highest mountain in the world, had to Nisi Shawl, “Sun River,” Clockwork astronomical scenes were filmed using a stand in for it, And in that year people tried for Cairo: Steampunk Tales from Egypt, vegetable substance known as “banana oil”, all three of the poles. Three different edited by Matthew Bright, Twopenny which started rotting under the heat and light. expeditions, however. Books, 2017 The model making was intricate. There In the frozen North, Robert E. Peary, his Harry Turtledove, “Zigeuner,” Asimov’s, are certain similarities between the models of loyal servant Matthew Henson, and several 9-10/17 2001 and of the epos, the other expeditioneers and Inuit set out for the Big complexity and the detail. Han Solo would Nail. It was Peary’s last possible effort, and Long Form not do as Heywood Floyd’s pilot, sorry to say. apparently his will was stronger than his body. The interior sets were equally complex. Larson agrees with Sir Wally Herbert, not the Gregory Benford, The Berlin Project, The rotating set of the Discovery crew National Geographic Society, on the Press, 2017 compartment, well, rotated, and the nearly accomplishment matter. Brent Harris, A Time of Need, Insomnia fatal intersection of a pipe wrench and In the frigid south, Ernest H, Shackleton set Publishing, 2017 computer theorist Marvin Minsky, come to out to outdo his now-disdainful former superior Elan Mastai, All Our Wrong Todays, admire the setup, had its own problems. and his own questionable health alike. In spite Dutton, 2017 But Kubrick was persuasive. Keir Dullea of his lackadaisical attitude towards finance, the Alan Smale, The Clash of Eagles trilogy [David Bowman] does not get along with problems with animal transport, and the hazards (Clash of Eagles, Eagle in Exile, Eagle heights, and yet Kubrick persuaded him to do of the area, he showed what improvisation, and Empire), Del Rey, 2015-2017 the air lock escape scene, which required him leadership, and sheer bloody hard-headedness Bryce Zabel, Once There Was a Way, to be hung by wires over a vertical tube. can do. He did not get there, saying he Diversion Books, 2017 [Look up the YouTube video “If HAL-9000 preferred to be a live donkey instead of a dead were Amazon.com’s Alexa” to see how it lion, but his efforts in the final stages of the trip DRAGON AWARDS 2018 could have been worse for Dave.] prefigured the rescue of the Imperial Trans- Amid all the problems, such as Clarke’s Antarctic Expedition. Best Science Fiction Novel coming on to Kubrick that he wouldn’t be Finally, the seemingly privileged Prince coming on to Kubrick (he was very close to Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duca degli Abruzzi, It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Gareth Hector Ekanayake) to the madcap sessions having been maimed once heading for the North Worthington and Stu Jones with the Kubrick family, the movie was Pole, decided instead to climb the highest Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey completed. And then released, to acclaim and accessible mountain. K2 is a surveyor’s name, The Mutineer’s Daughter by Chris incomprehension. After which Kubrick the way Chomolungma was known as Peak XV. Kennedy and Thomas A. Mays retired to study Napoleon, and when that But Chomolungma was called after the former Win by Vera Nazarian didn’t work out, to do A Clockwork Orange Surveyor-General of India, Sir George Everest. Sins of Her Father by Mike Kupari (or twenty out of twenty-one chapters thereof). Prince Luigi was following in the footsteps of Artemis by Aleister Crowley (fortunately in that alone) and WE SHALL NOT CEASE FROM his expedition strove mightily, pioneering the Best Novel (Including Paranormal) EXPLORATION most common route up the mountain. Strangely Review by Joseph T Major of for a climb of K2, the expedition did not have Shoot the Messenger by Pippa DaCosta TO THE EDGES OF THE EARTH: anyone killed. War Hammer by Shayne Silvers 1909, the Race for the Three Poles, and the So. None of our explorers succeeded at his Oathbringer by Climax of the Age of Exploration goal, though one claimed to. What have we The Land: Predators by Aleron Kong by Edward J. Larson learned? Sometimes failure is as great an The Traitor God by Cameron Johnston (2018; William Morrow; accomplishment as success. Just ask Gene A Tempered Warrior by Jon R. Osborne ISBN 978-0062564474; $29.99; Kranz. HarperCollins Publishers; $12.99) Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel A friend at church gave me a nice little Being a “Three Poler” — Everest and the pendant. That little pendant has woken in me a Cold Bath Street by A.J. Hartley North and South Poles, is not common even liking for jewelry. I have begun building up a A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. today but there are several people who have collection. Librarian K has put out a selection of Maas that accomplishment, beginning with Sir Ran beads and wire for patrons to make wire jewelry When Tinker Met Bell by Alethea Kontis Fiennes. It may interest you to know that with. I have made several such. Other library Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne while there are “Seven Summiters”, people staff seem to like them though they may just be Warcross by Marie Lu who have climbed the highest mountain on being polite. At any rate I have fun putting Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi each continent, and because of differing together combinations of beads I think attractive Adeyemi definitions there are several variations of and interesting, whether they really are or not. climbing the nine mountains that are the — Lisa Best or Fantasy highest peaks on the seven contients, some Novel climbers argue that climbing the second SIDEWISE AWARDS 2017 Page 6 August 2018 Alexiad

Communications Failure by Joe Zieja Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition by Points of Impact by Marko Kloos Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol Games Workshop Ghost Marines: Integration by Jonathan Monstress Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie Force and Destiny Role-playing Game: P. Brazee M. Liu, Sana Takeda, Knights of Fate by Fantasy Flight Price of Freedom by Craig Martelle and Vision (The Vision) by Tom King, Gabriel Games Michael Anderle Hernandez Walta, Bubblegumshoe – RPG by Evil Hat Legend by Christopher Woods Paper Girls Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughn Cooking with Dice: The Acid Test by A Call to Vengeance by , and Cliff Chiang, Image Comics Oddfish Games , and Thomas Pope D100 Dungeon by Martin Knight Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series Magic: The Gathering Unstable by Best Alternate History Novel The Expanse, Syfy Dark State by Game of Thrones, HBO The 2018 Hugo Awards: my thoughts on The Sea Peoples by S.M. Stirling Lucifer, Fox the short fiction Witchy Winter by D.J. Butler Supernatural, CW by Sue Burke Uncharted by Kevin J. Anderson and Star Trek: Discovery, CBS All Access Sarah A. Hoyt Altered Carbon, In the April issue, I wrote about the Nebula Dream of the Iron Dragon by Robert , Netflix short fiction nominees, and I was reasonably Kroese satisfied by the winners when they were Minds of Men by Kacey Ezell Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie announced in May. There’s a lot of overlap between the Nebula Best Media Tie-In Novel Incredibles 2 directed by Brad Bird and Hugo nominees, which made reading for : Ragnorok directed by Taika Waititi the Hugos easier. I’ve ranked all my Leia: Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Blade Runner 2049 directed by Denis preferences for the Hugo ballot above “No Gray Villeneuve Award”: while I’m a little harsh because I had Before the Storm by Christie Golden : Infinity War directed by to make choices, they’re all good stories and Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson Anthony Russo and Joe Russo well worth reading, no matter what else I say. Fear Itself by James Swallow Black Panther directed by (I’ve summarized my comments for the stories Legacy of Onyx by Matt Forbeck Ready Player One directed by Steven I wrote about in April.) Desperate Hours by David Mack Spielberg Deadpool 2 directed by Dave Leitch Best Horror Novel Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console 6. : Home, by Beneath the Lighthouse by Julieanne Game (Tor.com) This is #2 in the Binti series. A Lynch young woman named Binti, who in novella #1 Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero Fortnite by Epic Games had gone off to study at a university and in the A Time to Run by Mark Wandrey Cuphead by Studio MDHR process ended a war and became a , must The Cabin at the End of the World by Middle-earth: Shadow of War by now return home. As in the first novella, there Paul Tremblay Monolith Productions are complications with her family, with her Sleeping Beauties by and Destiny 2 by Bungie culture, and with the larger galaxy – and she Owen King Battletech by Harebrained Schemes must also find out more about her identity. It’s Glimpse by Jonathan Maberry Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus by a coming-of-age story with interesting details, MachineGames but the narration rambles and the plot twists are Best Comic Book few and not always surprising. The novella is Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game also clearly part of a series and doesn’t quite Mighty Thor by and James stand alone. Although Binti is charming, the Harren, Marvel Comics Planescape: Torment by Black Isle Studios storytelling about her is a bit less so. Binti #1 Doomsday Clock by Geoff Johns and Nocked! by Andrew Schneider won the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Gary Frank, DC Comics Lineage 2: Revolution by Netmarble 5. The Black Tides of Heaven, by JY Aliens: Dead Orbit by James Stokoe, Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition by Yang (Tor.com) In an Asian-like culture with Dark Horse Comics Square Enix two moons and fluid genders, twins are driven Mister Miracle by Tom King and Mitch : Hogwarts Mystery by Jam apart by their tyrannical mother, the country’s Gerads, DC Comics City dictator, who rules with a bloodstained iron Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona hand. Staples, Image Comics Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game 4. River of Teeth, by Sarah Gailey Star Wars: Darth Vader by Charles D. (Tor.com) The Wild, Wild West with hippos. A Soule and Giuseppe Camuncoli, Rising Sun by CMON Games fun farce of an old-fashioned Western, but I Marvel Comics When I Dream by Asmodee was hoping for something more solid and Mysterium: Secrets and Lies Expansion original. Best Graphic Novel by Asmodee 3. Down Among the Sticks and Bones, by Azul by Plan B Games Seanan McGuire (Tor.com) At age 12, twin Chicago Typewriter: The Red Ribbon by Red Dragon Inn 6: Villains by Slugfest sisters, Jacqueline and Jillian, or Jack and Jill, B r a n d o n F i a d i n o , D j i b r i l Games find a portal in the attic that leads to a Morissette-Phan, and James Greatorex, Photosynthesis by Blue Orange fantasyland. They’re glad to go. Their parents Dark Legion Comics aren’t abusive, just self-centered and clueless Brandon Sanderson’s White Sand Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures / in a way that makes both girls miserable and Volume 1 by Brandon Sanderson, Rik Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game emotionally stunted, one a tomboy and the Hoskin, and Julius M. Gopez, other a princess. In fantasyland, their roles are Alexiad August 2018 Page 7 reversed, and they change. After a few years, opening chapter to a novel – a fine opening New Zealand they have to escape back to reality, which is chapter, but there should be more. For me, that http://nzin2020.org/ where the story ends. I wish it had gone on diminishes what is in every other way an just a bit longer. I would have loved to see excellent work. 2021 how the parents reacted to their now older, 2. “Wind Will Rove,” by Sarah Pinsker Washington, D.C. wiser, and different daughters, one of them (Asimov’s 9-10/17) On a multi-generational http://dcin2021.org/ blood-spattered upon her arrival (not her own ship, the older generations cling to what they blood, either). Although the story was in some recall from Earth or have learned about it. For 2022 ways predictable, the plot twists sometimes the narrator, this means music. Chicago felt more like knife twists and kept the story 1. “A Series of Steaks,” by Vina Jie-Min surprising. A worthy contender for a Hugo, Prasad (Clarkesworld 1/17) A woman in China 2023 and it’s already won the 2018 ALA Alex agrees to make counterfeit beefsteaks for a Paris Award. client, then the deal starts to go sour. This also https://sites.google.com/site/parisin2019/ 2. “And Then There Were (N-One),” by won the Clarkesworld Reader’s Poll and got my Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny 3-4/17) Sarah vote for the Nebula. New Orleans Pinsker (not the author) gets an invitation to a Sarah Pinsker convention in an alternate Short story 2024 reality; the story captures that weirdness. This United Kingdom novella was also nominated for the Locus and 6. “Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady http://www.ukin2024.org/ Sturgeon Awards. Hand,” by Fran Wilde (Uncanny 9-10/17) A 1. All Systems Red, by visitor is led through an exhibition of what 2025 (Tor.com) A has killed in the past, is might have once cruelly been called a freak Pacific Northwest sure everyone hates it because of that, and show, and the visitor is tortured. Perth, Australia hates itself, too. This story won the ALA Alex 5. “Carnival Nine,” Caroline M. Yoachim Award and the Nebula, and it was also my (Beneath Ceaseless Skies 5/11/17) A wind-up NASFiC BIDS vote for the Nebula. toy robot mother makes great sacrifices to care for her robot son who has mechanical problems. 2019 Novelette Also a nominee. Utah 4. “Moon, Sun, Dust,” by Ursula Vernon http://www.utahfor2019.com/ 6. “Extracurricular Activities,” by Yoon (Uncanny 5-6/17) A farmer is bequeathed a Ha Lee (Tor.com, 2/15/17) A special ops magic sword by his grandmother on her The programming problem of WorldCon agent gets sent on a secret mission to rescue a deathbed. He has no use for a sword, magic or has got even weirder. got his fellow agent. The rescuing agent is supremely otherwise, however, and is quite content to go program schedule. Which he thought was a confident, and the story tries to be both tense on growing potatoes. His humble candor carries little odd since he wasn’t even a member. and humorous. It felt like a caper, and the story, which is gently and delightfully As you know, Bob, there was an initial obviously some people liked it more than I charming. I rank it fourth only due to stiff protest because some of the Hugo nominees did. Apparently it’s part of a larger series, and competition. It’s well worth reading. (who were members) weren’t even on the it might have helped to know that setting. 3. “The Martian Obelisk,” by Linda program. This got very bad. Still, to me the jokes seemed tired and the Nagata (Tor.com 7/19/17) As Earth is dying Meanwhile, the Rabid Puppies are gloating violence was not funny. I also don’t see from a long series of natural and human-made over the whole mess. Damon Knight knew what’s entertaining about sexual harassment disasters, an old woman is directing on them, even if he was before their time: “[The] just because it’s between two men. #MeToo Mars to create a monument to outlast humanity. test of the Organizer and Wrecker in fandom is 5. “Small Changes Over Long Periods of It may be a futile gesture, but there’s not much that when power wanes and wrecking palls, he Time,” by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny 5-6/17) A else to do – then something seems to be stirring drops out.” [In Search of Wonder, Chapter 14 man in the process of transitioning from on Mars. This quiet story depends on largely “Microcosmic Moskowitz”] female to male gets turned into a vampire. unstated emotions to carry it, and those Which is happening with that group, as they 4. “The Secret Life of Bots,” by Suzanne emotions lurk like leviathans: sorrow, defeat, retreat into their own circle. The Castalia Palmer (Clarkesworld, 9/17) A brave little anger, pain, despair … and defiance. Despite its House blog has almost stopped updating. Vox robot, Bot 9, must exterminate a sort of rat brevity, it made a long journey across my heart Day is no longer so vocal. The current loud— through the bowels of a spaceship. As it to do battle with dystopia. It won the 2018 spokesbeing seems to be Jon Del Arroz, who is happens, the future of humanity depends on Locus Award for Short Story. more infantile than persuasive. the success of Bot 9, which in turn needs the 2. “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Not that their opponents are all that good, help of other robots to catch the ratbug, and a Experience™,” by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex either. few protocols are broken in the making of that 8/17) An Indian guide for cyberspace tourists improvised rescue. This story is very cute. I’m offers Native American “Vision Quests.” It’s not a big fan of cute, but I will give already won an Apex Reader’s Choice Award, recognition to a job well done. If you like , and a Locus Award nomination. cute, read this story. You’ll be glad you did. Well deserved. 3. “Children of Thorns,” by Aliette de 1. “Fandom for Robots,” by Vina Jie-Min Bodard (Uncanny 7-8/17) In disguise, a pair Prasad (Uncanny 9-10/17) A sentient robot of spies from the dragon kingdom located discovers an anime series about another sentient under the Seine try to infiltrate the House of robot, Hyperwarp, and becomes a “hyper-big the Fallen Angels. The setting is a magically fan.” It was a Locus Award nominee and got my dystopic Paris, and the House is about to have vote for the Nebula Award. its own magical crisis. It meets Bodard’s usual standards of tight writing, characterization, WORLDCON BIDS and plotting, with wonderful details slipped in. My only problem is that it feels like an 2020 Page 8 August 2018 Alexiad

believed, either.” Richard Dengrove also low-level negotiators, not the leaders. The Letters, we get letters mentions some of the traditional targets of leaders stay above the fray until everything is conspiracy theorizing, such as Jewish bankers. solidly nailed down. (Hey, what about gentile bankers? Don’t they The leaders should never meet until all the ever conspire?) messy details are settled and the treaty is ready When someone asks me to believe in some for signing. Then they can have a big public vast conspiracy, I like to pose two questions: celebration with handshakes, hugs, and parades First: If this is such a secret, how did you as appropriate. find out about it? Do you have some special But there should never be actual substantive source of information? negotiations between the leaders in person. Second: For the conspiracy to work, how There’s too much chance of something going many people would have to be in on it, and is wrong, of fateful decisions being made without this a small enough number to keep the secret? adequate thought and analysis. When I am asked to believe in conspiracies involving thousands of hidden operators, none of whom ever get pissed off and rat out the From: George W. Price July 27, 2018 others — well, I just smile politely and dismiss 4418 N. Monitor Avenue, Chicago, IL the whole notion. 60630-3333 USA To be sure, most conspiraphiles don’t really [email protected] depend on evidence. They deduce the existence of a conspiracy to explain particular events, June Alexiad: simply because to them no other explanation Joe recounts his recent eye operation at “makes sense.” No evidence is needed. some length (in “I Can See Clearly Now”). He says, “They wrapped me in sterile gown, You could always add, “How hair-covering, and booties.” come they haven’t taken care of That’s very much how my cataract you yet?” operation went last November. When I asked —JTM why I had to strip even though they wouldn’t From: Robert S. Kennedy July 28, 2018 be working on my body, I was told that it was * * * * * 1779 Ciprian Avenue, Camarillo, CA because my clothing was not sterile — all 93010-2451 USA those precautions were not to protect me. No In this issue nobody said anything political [email protected] sir! They were to protect the operating staff to boil my bile, so all shall escape unscathed. against my germs. Now that induces a proper And I will manfully refrain from commenting Thank you for Vol. 17, No. 3 (Whole humility. on the president’s recent summit meetings with Number 99). the North Korean and Russian leaders. Instead, When I previously commented on my Well, I didn’t have to take off I will assert that summit meetings in general are medical problems I should have mentioned my my clothes. a bad idea. niece, her husband, their son, my nephew, and An unspoken assumption for the value of his son. When I was about to be released from Robert Kennedy says his cataract surgery face-to-face meetings between national leaders the care facility my niece, Sheilah, and her several years ago was highly successful. is that our man can get concessions out of the husband, Brad, showed up, took me home, and Richard Dengrove says he expects to need the other that the regular diplomats could not. That took care of me. Brad had to go back to work. operation fairly soon. I hope his turns out is, our leader’s intelligence, personal But Sheilah (who is a teacher) stayed for better than mine. magnetism, and charisma are so overwhelming several weeks. I was then on my own for a Well, strictly speaking, my cataract that the other guy’s normal judgment will be week at which point their son, Jacob, took time operations (both eyes, separately) were suspended and he will make spur-of-the- off from work and was here for some weeks. successful, but my vision continues to moment decisions favorable to us that he Then I was on my own for a week when deteriorate because I also have glaucoma. The wouldn’t have made if everything had been Sheilah showed up again and was here for upshot is that my reading speed has slowed mediated through diplomats and advisers. (And about six weeks. My nephew, David, and his drastically, and three weeks ago I gave up my of course, the other guy is making the same son Arron then arrived and there were four of driver’s license. When I flunked the annual insulting assumptions about overwhelming our us here in my house. Oh, and Scott Kennedy, license renewal test, the DMV people said I man’s better judgment.) In short, the parties to who is a surviving son of my brother’s son could take the test twice more, but I decided to a summit meeting are both flattering themselves Larry, came up from Hemet for a visit for an hang it up. I really have become a dangerous that they can play the other guy for a sucker. afternoon and evening. Even though I’ve lived driver — among other things, it’s now very One of them may be right, and I don’t want to by myself for 30+ years, it did not seem hard for me to see the yellow line — so it is take the chance that it is our man who will turn crowded. Now I’m on my own and seem to be better to quit now before I cause an accident. out to be the sucker. doing ok. Sheilah and David’s father (my Fortunately, Chicago has a good transit I will stick with the traditional style of brother John) died in 2006 at the young age of system, and I live half a block from a bus stop. negotiations, where each point is passed through 68. I still miss him. I am truly blessed that his And my stepchildren are happy to chauffeur negotiators who are continually getting analysis children and their families think so much of me when needed. and feedback from experts, and instructions me. from their principals. This precisely aims to So, the last person born in the 19th century * * * * * prevent those spur-of-the-moment decisions that has died. Thank you for reporting it. will come back to bite us. You have my very sincere condolences on Lloyd Daub makes some observations on This also has the virtue of not humiliating the loss of Slim. The photo of Slim and Lisa is conspiracy theories, notably that the theorists the leaders by forcing them to backtrack on incredibly depressing. assume that scientists lie, so “the scientific proposals when hidden pitfalls are discovered. facts used to refute the conspiracy are not Anything like that can be blamed on the They take a piece of our Alexiad August 2018 Page 9

hearts with them when they go. I didn’t because I don’t read enough fanzines to children are now talkative adults. I enjoyed We can’t afford the pain of cast an informed vote. hearing the long story of how my punctual having any more. Thank you, Taras Wolansky, for getting my great-Aunt Blanche was late to her own book. You also said you objected to funeral, which would have mortified her. Your cataract surgery and recovery seems anachronistic elements in “River of Teeth.” Had More importantly, I learned that the Fabry to be exceedingly lengthy. I do not need you continued, you would have found a lot more family was not French, as I had always glasses to work on my computer. I have of them – it is a very alternative alternate believed. They did indeed speak French and trifocals that are used for watching TV and history. Personally, I was more troubled by the came from the village of Saint-Denis, which I driving at night when it is harder to see. I also extreme violence. As for the real possibility of presumed was the one near Paris. No, they have a pair of reading glasses that are almost hippopotami in the New World, I recently came from the village in what is now southern always used even though I can read most learned that Pablo Escobar, the Columbian drug Belgium. At times it belonged, successively, to things without them. They just make it easier. lord and narcoterrorist, had his own little zoo, the Spanish Empire, Austrian Empire, Holy Good luck on your full recovery. Being able and after his death in 1993, some hippos Roman Empire, Napoleonic Empire – then to see clearly is wonderful. escaped to a nearby river. They are thriving, and there was that dust-up in Waterloo in 1815, the Columbia now has a wild hippo problem. retreat from which included a battle in Saint- They did one eye, then the Yes, Lloyd Daub, there will be a sequel to Denis – and subsequently it belonged to the other, then they had to fix the Semiosis – the manuscript has been delivered Kingdom of the Netherlands, and – after first one. I remember what and accepted, and the book should come out in another dust-up – eventually to the Kingdom of happened to my cousin U L and fall 2019. The novel even has a name, selected Belgium. took care. by my editor since I didn’t have any good ideas: A cousin working on our genealogy showed —JTM Interference. To explain why would involve me a copy of a birth certificate for our great- spoilers. I can say that we will learn more about great-great-great grandfather as a newborn Dale Speirs: Thanks for the mention of the the Glassmakers. citizen of the French First Republic. (We new Factsheet Five. I’ve been preparing for Worldcon 76 and briefly were French.) During that whole time, Richard A. Dengrove: I am a fanatic volunteered for the Publications Division. You however, the region has been Wallonia. I am a concerning what you call the Oxford Comma can see some of my work in the Souvenir Book, Walloon-American! I must explore my newly and I call the Serial Comma. Joe’s response and I’ll be helping to edit the daily newsletter. discovered heritage. Get ready for some clearly indicates why it should be used. Here Before anyone asks, yes, programming plans waffles. are a couple of books that I have found went seriously wrong, and a lot of us are interesting and useful even if I don’t always perplexed and troubled. Will this mean you give up get it right. Eats, Shoots & Leaves – The Zero reading Ian Fleming? Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne — JTM Truss (Gotham Books, 2003/2004). Incredibly, it was a best seller in Great Britain From: Taras Wolansky August 1, 2018 and I think that it did just as well here. The Post Office Box 698, Kerhonkson, NY other is The Well-Tempered Sentence – A 12446-0698 USA Punctuation Handbook for the Innocent, the [email protected] Eager, and the Doomed by Karen Elizabeth Gordon (A Mariner Book – Houghton Mifflin So sorry you lost your pal, Slim. Company, 1993). Alexiad June 2018: Well, that’s enough of that. It’s an interesting experience to read retro-Hugo nominees from 1942 while, more or From: Sue Burke July 30, 2018 less coincidentally, listening to an audio 5620 N. Winthrop Ave., #1R, Chicago, recording of Paul Malmont’s The Astounding, IL 60660-4422, USA voting has closed, and in this the Amazing, and the Unknown. It’s fun to be [email protected] issue, editors willing, I have an article about my a sort of fly on the wall as John W. Campbell mount-oregano.livejournal.com votes for the short fiction. I haven’t had time to tries to persuade his star, Robert Heinlein, to sueburke.site read, watch, or listen to much of the avalanche write some stories. semiosispax.com of other works on the ballot, although many Nic Farey: “Of the 20 or so contributors seem outstanding. and correspondents to thish, a mere three voted Congratulations, Lisa and Joe, for Alexiad Meanwhile, it’s been an unseasonably warm in this year‘s FAAn awards, and I wonder Whole Number 100. and damp summer here in Chicago. I’ve whether those that didn’t would be willing to Additional congratulations, Joe, for your attended a few neighborhood events and church say why.” My answer is, I wouldn’t know how successful cataract surgery. I have cataracts, festivals; my church picnic was driven indoors to vote for those awards, and if I did I don’t too, the cloudy kind. Lights have a haze by rain. think I should. I simply don’t read enough around them, especially at night, and In July, my South Milwaukee (Wis.) High fanzines (except at Hugo and retro-Hugo everything is a touch yellowish, but I’m a long School class organized a 45th reunion dinner. nomination time). I intend to broaden my way from needing surgery. It’s good to know Out of a class of 453 (we were baby boomers), horizons, but so far haven’t gotten around to it. it worked out well for you. about 50 came. I’ve heard you can only really Sue Burke: Another excellent con report. know 100 people. If that’s true, many of my 100 I think, in the long run, you’ll be glad you Yes, I am astounded by the closest acquaintances didn’t attend, but wrote these reports. Because, as I have found, brightness and clarity of colors everyone was friendly anyway. otherwise you’ll find it difficult to remember in the world. Also in July, the descendants of my maternal what happened at which convention. grandmother’s parents, Frank and Elizabeth I’ve never been to Wiscon. Generally And my condolences for the loss of your Fabry, organized a Cousins Reunion picnic in speaking, I will travel that far only for a cats. Milwaukee. More than 80 people came, from Worldcon or NASFic. It also gives off a Nic Farey asks why some of us babies to nonagenarians, and I knew pretty narrow-minded vibe, even by the contributors didn’t vote for the FAAn awards. many of them. The ones who had been talkative narrow-minded standards of today’s science Page 10 August 2018 Alexiad fiction fandom. they locked the doors and killed them all most of my reservation in. In theory I might I have to admit, though, there’s one panel (because, like the Sorbonne-educated Marxists have to stay in another hotel nearby for one I think I would have liked to see: “‘You Are they were, they believed that’s what it would night; in practice, I’m always able to add the (Probably) Not As Progressive As You Think’ take to fulfill Marx’s promise of a magical missing night, eventually. discouraged would-be allies from getting change in human nature under socialism). angry or confrontational on behalf of 1960s China: millions die. 1950s China: From: AL du Pisani August 2, 2018 marginalized groups because that makes the millions die. 1940s Germany: millions die. 9 4 5 G r a n d P r i x S t r e e t , marginalized group members seem angry and 1930s USSR: millions die. Weltevredenpark 1709, REPUBLIC OF confrontational, even if they aren’t.” Virtue SOUTH AFRICA Signaling Gone Wild! I do feel a bit sorry for [email protected] those “allies”, who have internalized false narratives that make them hate themselves. I did not plan to fall off the face of the There was a pretty funny example of this, Earth, it just happened. not long ago. This white guy who was leading Mostly caused by sleep apnea, resulting in a campaign to force the Cleveland Indians a me with no energy left for anything. It is a baseball team to change its name discovered terrible thing to drive to work and wonder if that actual Native Americans had no problem today will be the day where you finally lose with the name, and don’t mind being called focus long enough to have a crash. And Indians. (This may be because they don’t unfortunately I have a Medical Aid that in an have the inferiority complex that some other effort to protect me have managed to prevent groups have.) me from getting the treatment I need. Just a couple days ago, The Nation Hopefully I can get this sorted out soon. magazine was put to groveling apologies for You must have picked up that Adam Smith I had a holiday at the beginning of July, and publishing a poem defending the homeless. quote about businessmen oppressing the public went down to the family beach house. It was in Why? The white poet was accused of writing somewhere out of context, so you couldn’t tell the middle of Winter, and we had a couple of in an African American dialect. what it was actually about. Here’s the missing very cold days. And some days that could have Lloyd Penney: “All of our history is now first half of the quotation: “The proposal of any been in Summer. (My experience have been of in doubt, especially if that history conflicts new law or regulation which comes from a milder Winter than normal, especially at with someone’s political agenda. It is a [businessmen], ought always to be listened to night, where it did not gat as cold as last year, terrible disgrace that we may re-write our with great precaution, and ought never to be which was also a mild Winter.) history to suit some old white man who wants adopted till after having been long and carefully I managed to have the interesting millions in funds off his taxes.” What am I examined, not only with the most scrupulous, experience of buying shoes by phoning the missing here? It’s white men who are the but with the most suspicious attention. It comes salesman and describing what I want, and him butts of our rewritten history. from an order of men ...” (Emphasis mine.) In driving up the next day with the shoes. A funny example of this I ran into recently other words, businessman may oppress the Finishing up with me paying him via my is the attempt by certain historians to blame public through government coercion, not cellphone. the Indian caste system on the British. business activity. The rest of the holiday was restful. I had an (Similarly, a recent Anglo-Indian movie A classic example is how CBS, heavily interesting experience listening to my mother blamed the partition of India between Hindus invested in AM radio technology, bamboozled and her youngest sister gossip about people and Muslims on Winston Churchill.) But or bribed the FCC into strangling FM radio in they know, while making a set of curtains for DNA studies done in the last couple of years the cradle. my kitchen window. As I crocheted together have proved that caste divisions go back George W. Price: You may want to check hexagons into a blanket. thousands of years. out the 1972 film, Ulzana’s Raid. This is a film Locally we are suffering from the graying The obvious conclusion is, DNA studies that couldn’t have been made earlier, because of of fandom. I have been reflecting a bit, and must be banned! its explicit depiction of Apache atrocities; and it think that the turning point in our club’s life couldn’t have been made later, because of, well, was 1994. After that year more and more The latest news on my DNA its explicit depiction of Apache atrocities. people went overseas, and we our supply of study is that I am in the same Torture is presented as simply part of their younger people dried up. Not immediately, but DNA subclade as Duke Rollo of culture, rather than as any kind of retaliation or slowly we had less and less young people Normandy. A point in favor of an revenge. A particularly realistic touch: an joining. And health issues with a couple of club old family story (about the Apache scout helps the U.S. cavalry hunt the stalwarts have already caused disruption this Archbishop and his mistress). Apaches that left the reservation to go on their year. Just as we have stabilized at a new venue. murder raid. The dirty little secret of the Indian That was our other disruptor – Losing venues John Purcell: A conspiracy theory is how Wars is that there were Indians on both sides of after a long time of stability. Each time we lost people deal with a reality that is unpalatable. nearly every battle. a venue, and had a period of instability as to I see I’ve given two examples relating to where we will meet this month, and people India, above. In the case of the JFK Crazy Horse was trying to join stopped coming. assassination, to this day a lot of people don’t the Indian Scouts when he was I managed to read some interesting books want to admit that he (as befits one who killed (that due to a malicious during the past couple of months. The one I accused Eisenhower and Nixon of being soft translator). think is definitely fascinating is the “Annotated on the Reds) was murdered by a devout — JTM Old Four Legs”, where JLB Smith’s 1957 book Communist. where he recounts his part in the discovery of Sue Burke: “Corporations can act in ways Robert S. Kennedy: I’ve learned that, when the modern Coelacanth has been annotated fully equal to the most oppressive you input a range of dates into a hotel website, with all sorts of interesting things discovered government.” Naïve American! When the it checks the availability of all the dates. It since. Communists took over Cambodia, they doesn’t tell you if, say, six of the seven nights I also read Christian Davenport’s The Space ordered all educated people to come to are available. So I shorten my request, either to Barons and Tim Fernholz’s Rocket stadiums to begin rebuilding the country; then arrive a day later or depart a day earlier, and get Billionaires, and as a result finally read Ashlee Alexiad August 2018 Page 11

Vance’s Elon Musk biography. I found each reviewed in Alexiad V. 1 #6) for “For Africa bites like a tsetse fly, of the books to be worthwhile reading, with that story. and once the drug is in the blood it can each book complementing the others, even never be wholly exorcised.” though there were some overlap here and When I read Sue Burke’s review of the — Frederick Forsyth, The Dogs of War there. Nebula Award fiction nominees, I had the Words of Wisdom from The I found the Vance book to be interesting unfortunate response on almost all of the stories Outsider. for a view of the early years at SpaceX, even that I would cross the street to avoid reading —JTM though there were often places where I found them. Which is an indication that either I am that there were jumps in the narrative, where way outside the target market for modern SF, I hope for better days, more good books to I would have liked to find out more. that the Nebula Awards are rewarding stories read, and friends to meet. For instance, during the events leading up that are outside of the mainstream of SF readers, to their first launch, an experienced senior or any other combination of factors indicating space official criticized the SpaceX launch the I and the Nebula Award are not a good WAHF: team as having a lot of characteristics that was match for each other. Martin Morse Wooster, with various going to lead them into failure. Yet I can find items of interest. no indication of what those characteristics Join the club. I told Lloyd Lloyd G. Daub, the same. were, nor what SpaceX did to overcome them. Penney that instead of us gafiating Charles Lipsig, Cathy Palmer-Lister, (A similar story is mentioned in one of the from fandom, fandom had gafiated Patrick McCray, James D. Nicoll, Lacy other two books, once again without any from us — the dominant trends Thomas, with thanks. indication that the team or any form of were no longer the sort of thing we management got involved in changing things did or liked. And it seems that around.) science fiction itself is going on a Davenport’s book concentrates a lot more similar path. on the really big boys in space – Musk, Jeff Bezos, Paul Allen & Richard Branson, with In South Africa the main kerfuffle of the very occasional mentions of some of the moment is EWC – Expropriation Without smaller niche players. His is also much more Compensation, i.e. stealing land from white of a straight up competition between SpaceX owners to give to the People, usually the and Blue Origin, and contains some politically connected. I do not know how much information about Blue Origin I have never of the noise about it all is because the ANC got heard of before. Also, strangely enough, in his driven into a corner by the EFF (Economic book there are odd connections to South Freedom Fighters), and even more radical and Africa more often than expected. In addition, economically illiterate bunch than the ANC. it was surprising how often the players in How much is because the ANC leader, Cyril commercial space have known each other Ramaphosa, does not in fact have a good grip since their student days. on the ANC and it’s various factions, i.e. that he Fernholz tells a story much more focused is in a very weak leadership position. Or how on SpaceX and some of the smaller players much of things are just general economic around in the early 2000’s. I also learned illiteracy of the “Communism will make us all things I never knew before, like that each of rich” variety. the three NASA Administrators appointed by As part of the process leading to EWC there the two Presidents Bush came into NASA as were a bunch of meetings organized – Most of reformers, unfortunately not always able to them devolving into two camps where your own reform as much of NASA as they desired. guy’s speech is cheered, and the other guy’s From Vance I got a bit of an idea about speech is booed. Except for the one big trap that Elon Musk – A man who seemed to have was sprung – Tribal land. Because some chiefs invented himself a bit. Maybe not a good man, who are in de facto ownership of very large maybe a Great Man. areas of tribal lands asked if the tribal lands are I still think there is a couple of books still also going to be expropriated? And that if the to be written about the bit players in constitution was changes to allow for the commercial space – The people who tried and stealing of white owned land, what will prevent often failed to make a go of it in the mid 1990 the stealing of tribally owned land? to mid 2010 era, usually failing because they The immediate ANC response was that There is another passage from The themselves were not millionaires. But who tribally owned land is not up for expropriation. Immortal Storm that seems so relevant. managed to prove that some things could be Which caused anger from activists who want to done, albeit on a shoestring budget, that the break up the power of tribal chiefs, who think “The second meeting of the reorganized big boys could use to later. And I wonder how that taking the land away from the chiefs’ New York chapter was in progress, with much of commercial space is there because control is a good thing. Hornig presiding, in a New York school room. Henry Spencer argued on Usenet for a decade Somehow we have muddled through. I have Suddenly the clumping of many shoes was that we do not have to repeat the past, been promised blood and death since I can heard, and in burst Sykora and Wollheim at the different ways of doing things is possible. remember. And somehow it never was quite as head of eight other youths (not all science bad overall as all that. Terrible for the people fiction fans) recruited from the streets for rough The problem was that a lot of who was killed and maimed and their families, action if necessary. Sykora ... with the aid of the startups in the early days but somehow survivable. I just do not know if it his comrades ... chased Hornig from the were things like Rotary Rocket, will hold. platform. Producing a gavel of his own ... [he] “cool” ideas that didn’t work. My problem is that I have Africa in my proceeded to call the meeting to order in the See Elizabeth Weil’s They All blood. And that is a terrible thing to have. name of the New York branch of the Laughed at Columbus (2002; International Scientific Association.” Page 12 August 2018 Alexiad

He targeted the helmet. He could shoot All the way Captain Solo was saying, over FROM A JEDI TO A KILL through the viewing slot, perhaps a shot there and over, “Ben, Ben.” He had known the man! would penetrate. The man was taking it off! Bond had to support him, keep an eye out, and . . . Rey was angry and terrified and disgusted Fool! But a helpful fool! Bond looked down make tracks. The base was supposed to all in one. She had been dragged into this the sights and targeted the man’s left eye. explode, and if Rey and that trooper Finn affair by fate or by the Force, and now it The two of them talked. Bond now didn’t make it back they would have to be looked as if it would end in a First Order recognised the man, Commander Ren. How did written off. “questioning device”. they know each other? The other held out a But wait. There was only one storm tube, one of those light-sabres as Rey had been — Not from Lucasfilms or Goldeneye trooper watching her. She focused these carrying. They both took it in their hands. Productions powers that she had felt rising in her . . . Then Kylo Ren jerked the light-sabre and He took off his helmet. A cold-eyed, Bond pulled the trigger, all in a single motion. Co-Editors: Lisa & Joseph Major piercing gaze fell on her. This was no The shot suddenly flicked away, but the man Co-Publishers: Joseph & Lisa Major ordinary storm trooper; he was dangerous, a was distracted. Writers, Staff: Major, Joseph, Major, Lisa killer. He would hit what he shot at. Captain Solo stood there for a moment, “Who are you?” she said, pointlessly. dazed, about to be killed. Bond fired again, so This is issue Whole Number One There was his identification number: did that Chewbacca, the big hairy copilot. Now Hundred (100). Kylo Ren was trying to bat shots out of the air. FN-1824 Captain Solo finally awoke to his peril. He Art: What we are mainly looking for is ducked, drew his pistol, and began firing at small fillos. Your fillo will probably be One of an endless number, ground up and point-blank range. Somehow it didn’t seem to scanned in and may be reused, unless you pushed out by the First Order. But he spoke: affect the First Order leader, but he was object to its reuse. “My name is Bond. James Bond.” distracted fighting them all off. “Bond, get them out of here!!” Rey shouted. Contributions: This is not a fictionzine. It . . . Bond took his blaster rifle and stood watch Bond wasn’t used to taking orders from is intended to be our fanzine, so be interesting. as the masked man came out of the darkness. women but he could see the point. He said, The captain stepped forward, trusting. Too “Keep on covering for us, I’ll get Solo, and Material in Alexiad is copyright © 2018. trusting, perhaps. Bond longed for a smoke. we’ll get back to the Falcon.” All rights reserved. Upon publication, all rights revert to the original contributor, but we reserve the right to use any item more than once, unless otherwise specified by the contributor. All letters sent to Alexiad become the property of the publishers. Any material by the editors is available to other fanzines if they provide proper credit and send a copy. Available for The Usual (letter of comment, trade, contribution). Sample issue available upon request. Back issues $1; subscription $10/year. Alexiad is also available by email in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format. ALEXIAD c/o Lisa & Joseph Major 1409 Christy Avenue Louisville, KY 40204-2040 USA [email protected] http:/efanzines.com/Alexiad/index.htm